Tiger’s attire for press statement a hole-in-one

While time will tell if Tiger Woods’ public statement regarding his adultery was convincing, the disgraced king of golf made excellent fashion choices when he finally faced the public Friday.

Woods, 34, needed to hit the right note sartorially as well as rhetorically for the occasion, the first time he has allowed the public to see him since he crashed his SUV outside his Windermere, Fla. home early Nov. 27. He went into seclusion immediately after the incident, and in ensuing weeks upwards of 20 women went public with sordid stories of sexual trysts and long romantic relationships with the husband and father of two.

It was enough to send the world’s number-one golfer from role model on a pedestal to poster child for infidelity faster than you can say “fore!” After that, we had only one glimpse of him until Friday, courtesy of a photo taken of him reportedly at a sex-rehab clinic in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Woods may not have sounded totally convincing during his tightly scripted, overly rehearsed, no-questions-allowed “press conference” Friday. But he couldn’t have dressed more perfectly. He wore three simple pieces that as an ensemble helped rather than hurt his cause.

The dark blazer said, “I take this moment and the audience seriously.” Dark colors connote serious occasions. Black and navy convey a high level of respect for an occasion and for those taking part in it.

The gray trousers said, “I’m a stable, respectable professional.” Gray pants are the go-to for working professionals, easy and familiar and versatile. Gray represents longevity and strength, it suggests reliability, and it is associated with intellect, resoluteness, and dignity.

The pale blue, open-collar shirt said, “It’s a new day and everything’s going to be okay.” Blue is the most popular color, universally loved and connoting truth, constancy, peace, and serenity. An open collar is a sign of vulnerability and invites the other to relax.

Of course, the average person doesn’t consciously process such visual cues. They are taken in subconsciously, subliminal suggestions that something is wrong - or, in Woods’ case, right - with this picture.

Had Woods been dressed too casually, he would have risked being perceived as arrogant or unrepentant. He would have come across as too slick had he worn a suit or even a necktie. Polish would have reminded the public of his fame and wealth when all they really wanted to see was themselves - a flawed human being standing in the need of another chance.

And so, Woods wore no prints or patterns. No bold colors or jewelry. Nothing to distract from his words or to suggest that he was taking the situation lightly.

His youthful face, clean-shaven as always, said, “You can believe in me.” Time will tell if his wife - and legions of fans -are willing to do so again.

10 Valentines Day gifts that show style

Valentines Day is a time to remember your sweetheart, and you don’t have to empty your bank account to give a thoughtful and memorable token of love. Gifts can range from practical to indulgent, depending upon the recipient’s likes and personality. And in this age of time crunches, high fuel prices, and unpredictable weather, there’s nothing like surfing the ‘net and sending quality, affordable gifts from the convenience and comfort of home - or anywhere else you have access to the Web.

We’ve done some looking for you and come up with 10 items for men and women that might inspire you as you mull seemingly endless options. You can click on any picture to browse and see what else the e-store has to offer. It seems that everybody has some great merchandise on sale.

For the woman who likes pampering, Fabulosity Body Souffle’ is an amber-infused delight at BabyPhat.com. With notes of plum, coconut milk, Tasmanian honey and vanilla absolute, she might be tempted to eat it.

 

 

 

 

If she has a thing for haute shoes, she might like this textured, 4-inch peep-toe pump at Dereon.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brown is the new black, and messenger bags are taking a back seat to sleek leather briefcases such as this model at Wilson’s Leather.

 

 

 

 

A chic bag is always appreciated. Debbie Rott Boutique’s funky Dolly Red design with silver hardware is at eBags.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With months of cool weather still to go, he can ward off the cold in style in this silver metallic North Face jacket. It’s reversible to black.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some guys collect watches like women collect bags. MisterWatch.com has this Tommy Hilfiger beauty of stainless steel and silver enamel that conveniently self-winds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gift of diamond conveys deep love. The Past-Present-Forever necklace at Gordon’s Jewelers has an overall diamond total of 1 carat and is set in 14-karat white gold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most guys appreciate a great pair of jeans. Ben Sherman’s five-pocket, button-fly Icon style can be dressed up and down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any chocoholic would appreciate this Ghirardelli gift basket at Chocolate.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For lovers of interior accessories, UncommonGoods.com has this interlocking-hearts paperweight hand-carved from lead-free pewter.

5 winter-survival grooming essentials for men

Any man of style worth his collar stays knows that he can’t follow the rest of the pack and hibernate for the winter, casting most of his grooming regimens aside until spring. Preserving the handsome is a year-around job.

To help you do that, I’m recommending a half-dozen of my favorite products that can keep any guy in shape from head to toe. Winter weather is much harsher than summer’s, so it doesn’t make sense to slack off at such a critical time.

Incorporate some of these products into your ritual, along with exercise, healthy eating, dietary supplements, and lots of good water. The economy and weather might be dismal, but your appearance doesn’t have to be.

What it is: Gillette Fusion Power Razor

Where it is: AtHisBest.com

What it costs: $9.99
Why it’s important: It’s a sad day at my crib when I’ve run out of cartridges for this, the king of disposable razors. Wet shaving is better for the skin than dry shaving, especially in the winter, because it provides the many benefits of water. Shaving helps exfoliate dry, dead skin from the face, which is more likely to occur in winter’s harsher weather. The beauty of this five-fold blade is that it ensures a clean shave through stubble with a single swipe. There’s a special blade on the reverse side made just for trimming mustaches, goatees and special-attention areas such as near the ears and just under the nose. Each blade head lasts for quite a few uses, making it perhaps the best value among disposable razors on the market. For under $10, you get the razor and two cartridges.

What it is: John Masters Organics Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask

Where it is: Beautorium.com

What it costs: $30

Why it’s important: .Everything else might look weather-beaten this time of year, but your face doesn’t have to. Like living room carpet, everybody’s face needs a good deep-cleaning on the regular. Whether once a month or every two weeks, this product does a great job cleansing pores. Formulated for oily and combination skin, it sucks out impurities and dead skin that cause blackheads, pimples, ingrown hairs and razor bumps. It purifies and balances without drying, thanks to ingredients such as sunflower, lavender, and an anti-inflammatory ingredient - oat beta glucan - that also protects against UVA damage and stimulates collagen production.

What it is: Jack Black Protein Booster Skin Serum

Where it is: AtHisBest.com

What it costs: $60

Why it’s important: Yep, we’re parking on the face with one more product because your face is your number-one billboard. It’s never enough to just wash your face, especially in the winter. Nourish, protect, and heal it and it will be one of your biggest assets for decades. Serums just might be the best over-the-counter products to maintain a healthy complexion, and this one is one of my favorites (along with Erno Laszlo’s and La Mer’s). It also may be the most environmentally correct. It contains ingredients such as peptides, certified organic green tea and omega-3 antioxidants, and natural sorghum stalk. It’s also free of colorants, parabens, and fragrance. The result is a vegan, high-performance potion that firms, strengthens, smoothes, moisturizes, and protects skin. And it makes aftershave and moisturizer unnecessary.

What it is: Juara Invigorating Coffee Scrub

Where it is: Juaraskincare.com

What it costs: $37

Why it’s important: Beneath all those warm layers of clothing, your skin is crying for moisture. You would be wise to apply lotion or cream from neck to toes every day in winter months. But first, you’ve got to eliminate scaly, flaking skin caused by cold, dry weather and clothing that chafes. The solution? A scrub that does the job without irritating or burning. This might be the most man-friendly body scrub on the market. It’s a paraben-free, one-step shower - no need for a cleansing bar or body wash because it contains gentle, sulfate-free cleansing agents. It stimulates circulation and, when used in the morning, has the added benefit of an invigorating java aroma courtesy of fresh Indonesian coffee beans.

What it is: Bond No. 9 Riverside Drive

Where it is: Apothica.com

What it costs: $135 for 1.7 ounces

Why it’s important: There are colognes, and then there are colognes. What separates the men from the boys of men’s fragrances are the ones that are sophisticated without being stuffy, uncommon but not bizarre, and lasting yet never overpowering.  The New York-based cult brand Bond No. 9 makes such scents. And this one, in eau de parfum concentration, is one of my favorites. With notes ranging from pineapple to basil to sandalwood, it combines a diverse range of olfactory categories: earthy, woodsy, spicy, fruity . As such, it’s a liquid microcosm of The Big Apple. Riverside Drive will put you in a New York state of mind. And what could possibly be wrong with that?

Michelle Obama style book great for collectors

However you feel about Michelle Obama’s sense of style, her influence on fashion is undeniable. Along with breaking racial barriers as the first black first lady of the United States, she has broken fashion rules and protocols and is writing her own.

So after nearly a year in the White House and twice as long in the public eye during the 2008 presidential campaign, it’s not too early to document her trendsetting ways. Mary Tomer does so beautifully in her recently launched book, Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy ($25.99, Center Street).

Ms. Tomer is contributing editor for Mrs-O.org, a Web site she founded in September 2008 to chronicle and celebrate Mrs. Obama’s style. The blog gets more than 2 million page views a month from visitors in more than 220 countries, testimony to the first lady’s popularity around the world.

The 236-page hardback is destined to become part of the library of any who love Mrs. Obama, and there are many millions who do. The colorful book is breathtakingly thorough and attractive, chock full of sketches and hundreds of photos taken around the world. It also includes more than a dozen question-answer interviews with fashion designers she has worn and other fashion authorities, including Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo, Isaac Mizrahi, Michael Kors, Diane von Furstenberg, and Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley.

The tome’s tone is unfailingly flattering of the confident, brainy first lady. It clearly was published to praise her personal style rather than to evaluate her objectively through the lens of cultural criticism. But that won’t matter to the legions of Mrs. O fans, and perhaps it shouldn’t.

Purple is winter’s hottest pop color

It’s not always clear why a particular color emerges as a strong trend each season. Color is always in style, but it seems that each new season is defined by a pop color or two common to many designer collections and clothing lines.

Purple has emerged as the most prevalent signature color this fall and winter.

Fusing the coolness of blue and the heat of red, purple is mysterious and intriguing, often associated nobility, royalty, spirituality. It tends to be a favorite color among children and artists.

Eggplant, amethyst, and other deeper shades of purple evoke a sense of wealth. Lighter hues such as lilac and lavender conjure images of romance and cheer.

For this winter, Lela Rose and Nanette Lepore incorporated menswear-inspired purple plaids into attractive coats while Tadashi Shoji and Zac Posen were among those stitching soft, shiny purple fabrics into elegant uptown gowns and cocktail dresses.

Menswear also has taken to the color, with Victorinox using varying shades in pants and shirts and Banana Republic offering a cashmere V-neck sweater in a handsome color right up the middle of the purple spectrum.

Purple is like pink in one respect - it can be worn by anyone, it’s just a matter of finding the right shade, hue, or tint to fit your skin tone.

Check out a few of the season’s hottest purple pieces below.

Bold eyeglasses making a style spectacle

I became disinterested in my black-framed Donna Karan eyeglasses shortly after I bought them a few years ago. I got them as eyeglasses began to cycle back into favor after taking a backseat for years to contact lenses.

I’m wearing those eyeglasses more now to give my look some variety and, quite honestly, to rest my eyes from daily contact wear. And I’m surprised at how many compliments I get.

But I’m on the prowl for some new ones. I spied a pair with those stylishly cerebral half frames when I recently went to buy some new contact lenses. I tried on several pairs and decided that the style, along with rectangular lenses, would best enhance my facial features.

I’m not too daring when it comes to spectacles. I have a lot of respect for people who dare to wear a bold color or a highly unusual shape. I always thought glasses should be so subtle that others almost don’t realize you’re wearing them.

But fashion trends disagree with me. The pendulum has swung back decidedly to the side of loud and colorful conversation pieces. I think funky reading glasses and the continuing rise of dramatic accessories have fueled the trend.

Many eyeglasses now are designed to be worn by men and women, crafted in shapes and colors that might appeal to everyone. Consider the Aegean style pictured here. The red metallic frame retails for about $120 but is $39.95 now at GlassesShop.com. Like many retailers, the site has all sorts of bargain styles for men, women and children.

As for me, I saw a pair of half-frames I like that I just might buy with non-prescription lenses for a new fashion statement. The braver folk can have the colors.

Trend with a twist: Tiffany’s new charm bracelet

Stacked bracelets and large metallic cuffs are hot adornments for women’s wrists in the increasingly accessory-driven fashion world.

But a bigger style story flying under the radar is the charm bracelet, a personalized piece popular among all age groups. They can be had for a few dollars at stores such as Target and Delia’s, and they can cost thousands when created by the likes of Prada, Gucci, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.

Tiffany has scores of charms ranging from under $100 to a stunning gold and diamond Jean Schlumberger Egg charm for $7,200. Some Tiffany stores have “Charmed by Tiffany” bars where customers can assemble a charm bracelet, anklet, or necklace on the spot. Charms are embellished with diamonds, pearls, colored gemstones, and the like and are made of lacquer, sterling silver, stainless steel, platinum, titanium, and yellow, white, and rose golds.

Tiffany’s newest charm bracelet pays homage to the luxury brand’s storied history. It’s a platinum design with 20 platinum and 18-karat gold charms handset with gemstones and diamonds. Each is a brand icon, from the Tiffany key and Atlas medallion to the world-renowned Tiffany Blue Box in hand-carved turquoise.

It’s not surprising that Tiffany would take something as simple as a charm to lofty new heights. This was the company that made headlines back in 1837 when founders Charles Lewis Tiffany and John Young dared to set non-negotiable prices for their fine stationery, silverware and luxury gifts.

In 1940, Tiffany moved to its current flagship location at 57^th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Designed by Cross and Cross, the same architect that designed the Lincoln Memorial, it was New York City’s first business to have central air conditioning.

Among some of Tiffany’s many other famous but not widely known distinctions are the design of the NFL Vince Lombardi Trophy, Major League Baseball’s World Series Trophy, the Great Seal of the United States, the Medal of Honor, the invitation for the 1886 opening of the Statue of Liberty, and numerous sets of White House china.

What Sammy Sosa’s skin says about us all

The dramatically lighter skin that baseball great Sammy Sosa has purchased for himself is now a source of controversy. Sports commentator and former basketball star-Charles Barkley has clowned Sosa on camera, going so far as to have a makeup artist apply pale cosmetics to his laughing face while ribbing Sosa to knock off whatever he’s doing that has changed his complexion from caramel to vanilla.

The Dominican Republic native, who turned 41 on Nov. 12, is being hammered by some who say he has succumbed to societal pressures to make himself appear more white - or at least less black. Others speculate that the depigmentation is actually vitiligo kick-started by steroid use.

Sosa, however, claims the lighter, brighter him is a side effect of a cream he’s been using to soften his skin. I suppose he could be unaware of the scores of face potions available that soften skin without bleaching it.

But maybe his critics should lighten up. (I couldn’t resist.) What Sosa has done to himself says much about human nature and the never-ending quest to be “better.” In America alone, hundreds of millions of dollars a year are spent on face lifts, nose jobs, bust enlargements, breast reductions, cheek implants, lip-plumping injections, hair-straightening products, hair-curling products, hair plugs, toupees, tummy tucks, butt reductions, butt lifts, penile implants, wrinkle erasers, false lashes, fake nails and colored contact lenses.

Some people wish they were taller while others want to be shorter. Some crave more curves or muscles, others want to be thinner. Some don’t want their freckles, others apply fake beauty marks. The redhead wants to go blonde and the blonde dyes her locks brown. Someone with pale skin maintains a tan while one with dark skin secretly wishes to be lighter.

Talk to the most drop-dead gorgeous models on the planet and the honest ones will tell you that there’s something about their physical appearance that they don’t like. There’s at least one physical attribute they would change if they could. Most everyone possesses at least one physical feature that we would change if we could.

That’s because there’s some insecurity - and perhaps even self-hatred - in all of us. We alter our appearance, sometimes permanently, because we think it will make us feel better about ourselves. Or we hope it will make us more attractive to others. And then we cover up the feelings of inadequacy with high-sounding words like “augmentation” and “enhancement.”

It’s not hard to see shades of Michael Jackson in this whole Sammy Sosa color-change thing. But when you get down to it, they aren’t the only ones who had issues with the man in the mirror.

From the grave, Laszlo still transforms skin

Erno Laszlo changed my face.

Doesn’t matter that the Hungarian dermatologist had been dead for decades by the time I learned of the prestige skincare line based on his formulas. My 44-year-old complexion is unusually healthy largely because of his face-splashing ritual and Laszlo products in my regimen such as Advanced Retexturizing Complex, TRANSpHUSE, and the near-miraculous black Sea Mud Soap.

Now there’s a new Laszlo product, adding a splash of bright blue to an ocean of clinical black-and-white jars and bottles. The color is appropriate, because Laszlo Blue Firmarine SPF 30 contains mineral-rich deep sea water to nourish skin.  The firming face cream, formulated for skin types ranging from slightly dry to slightly oily, also contains organic green tea, a multi-mineral complex, and vitamins A, C, and E to lift and tighten skin and promote collagen production by increasing circulation.

The product is $195 for 1.7 ounces at ernolaszlo.com and select upscale retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue. The price tag is predictably hefty because Laszlo’s “surgiceutical” skin care line occupies the same rarefied air as Darphin, La Mer and La Prairie. All of these luxury brands command higher prices largely because of the quality of their ingredients - all vitamin Cs are not created equal - and their reputation for delivering results.

What makes Laszlo unique is his long list of firsts. He was the first to create sunscreen products, to pH balance skincare, to formulate water-based products for oily skin, and to create skincare items specifically for men and teens.

The doctor emerged in the 1920s, initially treating a small roster of clients handpicked from among European royalty, nobility, and high society. He opened the Erno Laszlo Institute of Scientific Cosmetology in Budapest in 1927 and quickly gained a renown that forced him to branch out to other continents. He moved to the United States and established his U.S. institute on New York City’s posh Fifth Avenue in 1939, and along with wife Sibille became a U.S. citizen in 1945. Until his sudden death of heart failure in 1973 at the age of 75, he treated some of America’s most famous faces: Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, Lillian Gish, Gloria Vanderbilt, Truman Capote and Yul Brynner, to name a few. Even Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy, who we assume were never booked back-to-back.

Dr. Laszlo customized skincare regimens at a time when that was unheard of, convinced that any complexion could be healthy if it were properly cared for. He created a clock that categorized skin types far beyond simply dry, oily, or combination, and he was passionate and strict about the discipline of a skincare ritual that prevented, corrected, and protected. He once nearly threw Ava Gardner out of his office after gazing at her countenance and accusing her of lying about implementing a regimen he had prescribed. She fessed up and was allowed to stay after promising to follow his instructions faithfully.

“A woman may not tell me the truth about everything,” he once said, “but her skin will never lie.”

Jo Malone’s Vanilla & Anise fresh and exotic

Thanks to so-called reality TV shows, all many people will ever know about Madagascar is the hissing cockroaches.

But the Indian Ocean island off the southeastern coast of Africa is where rare vanilla orchid blossoms were harvested at daybreak for use in Jo Malone’s newest fragrance, Vanilla & Anise.

Research tells us that vanilla, one of the most versatile natural ingredients in fragrance-making, is a scent equally appealing to men and women. It forms the heart and base of this new cologne in combination with star anise, a spice that sort of sparkles.

Notes of bergamot, neroli and frangipani keep the cologne somewhat light while white amber, tuberose, vetiver bourbon, vanilla bourbon absolute and Madagascar clove counterbalance with an exotic warmth in the drydown.

Like every other Jo Malone scent, it can be combined with other colognes in the line for different effect. It becomes even more lively and uplifting combined with Grapefruit, more feminine and elegant when worn with Orange Blossom, and more sultry in tandem with the cedary nutmeg aroma of Vetyver.

Vanilla & Anise is $55 for one ounce and $100 for 3.4 ounces at Bergdorf Goodman, select Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores, and at jomalone.com.

Next Page »