Jackie Collins Launches Goddess of Vengeance

Earlier this month, Jackie Collins debut her 28th novel, Goddess of Vengeance ($26.99), bringing back our favorite leading lady, Lucky Santangelo. Which for any Collins fan is the ultimate. Lucky is the girl we all want to be –and ones who don’t are likely pretending. We’ve watched her character grow from young bride, rouge adolescent to powerhouse jet-set mother of three; with a movie star husband and thriving career with the popularity of her casino and hotel business. While fans may have thought her wild days we’re over, with a title like Goddess of Vengeance, I look forward to seeing her unleash her wrath; after all, you know that families famous motto — Never fuck with a Santangelo.

And if you follow me on twitter (@prettyconnected) you’re well aware that Jackie Collins novels are my not-so-secret guilty pleasure. In fact after a particularly exhausting fashion week, amidst starting my own company and keeping up with my blog; I decided my reward for getting through the 4-hour sleepless nights and never ending to-do list would be to curl up in bed, shut out the world and read her latest book.

Lara Eurdolian, Jackie Collins

I’m not entirely sure what I was thinking having a Jackie Collins book in my possession for almost 2-weeks and resisting dropping everything to read it. I just knew that once I opened it, I would not be able to stop until it was finished. And last night, with the unappealing weather and gray NYC skies it was the perfect excuse to pour a glass of wine and enter the world of Lucky and her famous family and friends, while Armoand, a misogynist prince (who I’m hoping is the subject of Lucky’s vengeance and takes down) tries to take over her hotel. Although the character I’m most excited about watching

DVF at Lucky FABB + TODAY ONLY 20% off Harper-Connect Bag!

DVF at Lucky FABB showing off her NEW Harper-Connect bag

Last month, the Pretty Connected team attended Lucky Magazine’s 2nd annual Fashion and Beauty Blogger (FABB) Conference. Highlight of the day was keynote speaker Diane von Furstenburg, who’s all around fabulousness inspires us to no end.

Her energy, her innovation and her support of women motivates us to be the entreprenuers we strive for at Pretty Connected –especially with our recent incorparation of our sister consulting company, Pretty Social (website and more info to come!).

We’re so used to women in this industry being powerhouses or workaholics (we’re slightly guilty of that), so to see the mother-ship of powerhouse women be so calm, collected and balanced made us hang onto her every word and feed off her advice. She stood before us composed, head to toe in her signature label; slim, tan and gorgeous (as always), spreading her message of ‘you can have it all; a great career, a wonderful family and healthy lifestyle’.

As she spoke out to a room of 250 predominantly female bloggers, she listed these three things all women should have (surprisingly enough a DVF wrap-dress was not one of them):

1. The most important relationship you will ever have is the one you make with yourself.

2. All women should have children.

3. It is very important for women to have an identity outside of their career.

DVF Harper-Connect bag

To each their own on #2 (especially since we’re not there yet, but look forward to that day), but we couldn’t be more thrilled and in agreement over #1 and #3; which we take to heart as we navigate to find a healthy work/life balance.

She also made a great social media point about when she tweets (yes when she signs ‘love Diane’ at the end of the tweet, it’s actually her!), that the non-sales, non-promotional, more heartfelt tweets are always the ones that get the most attention and responses!

She also took a moment to show off her new DVF Harper-Connect bag, which looks like any other gorgeous, well constructed, perfect-sized everyday bag and then opened it up to display that it doubles as an iPad case! To die for! And exclusive today only (September 29th) on DVF.com,  she’s offering the bag for 20% off!!!! Use the code HARPER20 at checkout to redeem.

So if you have the means, take advantage. We’ll be infinitely jealous of all who do!

Also on our radar, is the new DVF fragrance, Diane, which debut last week at Bloomingdale’s. Described as a floral woody scent that combines the Mastery of the Frangipani Flower with the Softness of Violet Leaves, I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds divine!

Patrick Melville for AVEENO: Win Nourish+ Shampoo & Conditioner

Quality hair time with Patrick Melville!

I’ve been a huge fan of the Patrick Melville Salon for some time now. I used to frequent the salon when I worked in Rockefeller Center and exercised at The Sports Club LA (where the salon is located in NYC).  Although in all my visits (and they are literally responsible for some of my best blow-outs and manicures), I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Patrick himself until Fashion Week.

Aside from running his successful salon and being one of the most sought after celebrity hair stylists, Patrick is also a consultant for AVEENO’s hair care lines. And as a major perk of being an AVEENO Ambassador (yay for me!), I was offered some one on one time with the hair guru and a blow-out. We talked about AVEENO and his role with the new NOURISH+ collection which has been receiving so much praise in what feels like a never expanding line of shampoos and conditioners with the recent addition of NOURISH+ Volumize and NOURISH+ Revitalize.  Patrick consults on everything from the formulation to the smell and considering they are all clinically proven help repair damaged hair within 3 washes (and add strength, softness and shine!) and carry a price tag of $6.99, I’d say that’s pretty incredible.

Win it! Leave a comment...

And I can vouch for it! After one use and Patrick’s generous offer of cleaning up my ends, my hair looked amazing! I walked in with a frizzy, unkempt disaster and walked out with beautiful, shiny and healthy hair. If I could bottle Patrick I would, until then I’m content with the Aveeno Nourish+ collection. Patrick is so lovely, talented and incredibly knowledgeable and approachable, it was truly an honor.

WIN IT! I’m giving away NOURISH+ Revitalize or NOURISH+ Volumize Shampoo and Conditioner (winners choice) to TWO lucky winners on my blog.

To enter leave a comment! Tell me anything about your hair to enter… like why you’d like to win, or your favorite hair trick is. Any (non-spam, happy) comment automatically enters you into the drawing.

An extra entry will be given if you are a fan of Pretty Connected on Facebook as well as if you follow me on twitter and tweet the giveaway using @PrettyConnected. For instance tweeting: “RT & Follow @prettyconnected to win AVEENO Nourish Shampoo & Conditioner. Additional chances to win & details @ http://bit.ly/oDWeZo #win”

Official Rules:

Pretty Connected Photo Credit in Elle!

How exciting! My first MAJOR photo credit in Elle!!! As most of you know I partnered with supermodel, extraordinaire, Elettra Wiedmann to join the PR team for her GOODNESS pop-up restaurant during New York Fashion Week. Elettra is also the face of Lancome and during GOODNESS, Lancome hosted a private beauty editor event — as in literally all my hero’s in the beauty industry were there (*contain excitement*)!

My first Elle photo credit! Look it says "Photo: Lara Eurdolian/Pretty Connected"
My first Elle photo credit! Look it says "Photo: Lara Eurdolian/Pretty Connected"

And fortunately for me, they asked if I would shoot the event! While I’m an amateur photographer at best, I have to say, I did pretty good for myself!

I mean seriously, how beautiful does Elettra look in this picture?!?! It’s a good thing she’s flawless — it made my  job super easy! And I’m so grateful to Elle for such a thorough photo credit! “Photo: Lara Eurdolian/Pretty Connected”, MAJOR!!!

For the complete article visit http://fashion.elle.com/beauty