Record-Review Today's Woman 2016

TODAY’S WOMAN A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE RECORD-REVIEW

J

MARCH 25, 2016

A Vibrant Spring

T

he white button-down shirt.

Tried. True. Always in style.

Nothing’s better than a classic… except when it needs an update. The white Oxford shirt has undergone an identity shift this spring in the hands of creative designers such as Zac Posen and Phillip Lim. White retaining its classic crispness and traditional details of cuffs, buttons and collar, this season’s white shirt has broken all boundaries.

Look for it to become absolutely untuckable, sliced-open, lengthened, shortened, pulled off the shoulder, reversed and even worn as a dress, skirt or capelet. No more plain vanilla here. Vanilla and coconut granita drizzled with rum, maybe.

Fashion sparkles with exuberant details, fun colors and creative flourishes

By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG

X marks the spot Designers are throwing kisses to the challenge of the new, as they embrace a fresh silhouette this spring. In jumpsuits and dresses, the season’s favorite neckline is a criss-cross between last year’s off-the-shoulder top and the perennial summertime halter.

The combination creates a structured silhouette that is both daring (showing lots of shoulder, neck and upper chest) and secure (tied snugly behind the neck). Cold-shoulder sleeves may be long or basically nonexistent except for a loop of fabric draped over the upper arm. Take note: because of the drama of the exposed shoulders and the necessary drape of the fabric over the bodice, these necklines are difficult to pair with jackets. Best to save this look for warm spring evenings or summertime soirees. This style plays with the unexpected sexiness of the collarbone and shoulder line — so good posture is required.

Flamenco dancer Spanish influences abound in current spring collections. Part global, part fantasy, the look evokes exotic mystery and drama.

For some designers, it is an embrace of a Spanish bullfighter’s palette of bright red and deep black. For others, the inspiration comes from the rich embroidery of a matador’s gorgeous jacket and trousers. For others, the look focuses on the movement made by the bold ruffles characteristic of a flamenco dancer’s skirt.

Others capitalize on a celebration of lace. Poetry — a little bit tragic — combines with cool elegance and confident strength in all of these looks. Complete the perfect picture with a flower tucked into your hair, just behind your left ear. Bulls beware…

F-words: fishnet and fringe How do you talk dirty without saying a word? Fashion has two new F-words… fishnet and fringe. Last season’s popularity of fishnet tights has expanded to include allover net looks. Basic dresses, tops, jumpsuits and trousers are suddenly sexy when fashioned out of net. Look for traditional diamond-shaped weaves in a variety of sizes — in black, white and a variety of bold colors including tie-dye designs and screenprints. Variations include netlike laser cutwork in repeating circular, rectilinear and triangular forms. If modesty is an issue, layer net garments over opaque bodysuits and slips in coordinating colors or nude tones. A likely

Stripes likes these at Lester’s in Rye are in this spring.

Horizontal stripes create a shorter, wider illusion.

Continued on page 5A

INSIDE TODAY’S WOMAN: Danielle Butin – Afya founder making the world a better place ...2A

TODAY’S WOMAN: From Zoology to Insurance, Vivian Lem is at home professionally, personally ...3A

HAIR, THERE, EVERYWHERE: and how to get rid of it ...4A

BEAUTY: How to keep it all together when you’re coming undone...4A

ACCESSORIES: Spring accessories scream abundance, indulgence..5A

TODAY’S WOMAN – SALU SHRESTHA

To Katonah from Kathmandu, earthquake survivor adjusts to U.S.

S

By EVE MARX

alu Shrestha was born and raised in the historically significant and culturally rich village of Nuwakot, Nepal, perched idyllically in the foothills of the Himalayas. “I completed high school in the same village and moved to Kathmandu for further studies,” the now 24-year-old Katonah resident said.

“I am a tourism management student and expect to have completed my master’s degree in 2016.”

While living in Kathmandu, Shrestha worked as a marketing officer for The Last Resort, one of Nepal’s leading adventure tourism companies, best known for pioneering bungee jumping in that country. “I love adventure sports and photography,” Shrestha said. “My first adventure sport was rafting at the age of 16, bungee jumping at 17; I’ve done it now nine times. I’ve also scuba dived, paraglided, trekked, canyoned, motorcycle toured and kayaked. I am so looking forward to skydiving.”

All that outdoors adventure experience came in handy when Shrestha and her husband, Daniel Linden, a Katonah native and John Jay High School graduate, were in Kathmandu last year in April when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region, killing 8,000 people and injuring more than 21,000. As a result of the quake, more than 100,000 people were instantly rendered homeless as entire villages were flattened. For decades, geophysicists and other quake experts had warned Nepal was vulnerable to a deadly earthquake due to its particular geology, urbanization and architecture. Indeed, centuries old buildings crumbled in seconds, and some of the most beloved buildings in Kathmandu, including the Changu Narayan Temple and UNESCO World Heritage sites, were destroyed.

“The first week after the terrifying earthquake, our only thoughts were how to survive,” Shrestha said. “There was no electricity, phones weren’t work-

Salu Shrestha can be heading from Khumjung to the Mt. Everest base camp in Nepal one day and wearing a Lehenga, a traditional Nepali outfit, to celebrate Dashain in Kathmandu another day.

ing, people were afraid to go into their houses, we were hearing the news that World Heritage sites were gone. Numerous houses collapsed, many people were trapped in their homes, not knowing whether family members were safe or not. It was a heartbreaking situation.”

Most of the survivors lived in open space for a month, Shrestha said. “Dan and I weren’t together when the quake first hit, and for two weeks we both were living in different fields,” she said. “Slowly things

returned to normal and people became less frightened. We could communicate, the food supplies got better and more people went out to help. Basically we moved on in our lives.”

Shrestha met Linden three years ago when he

was working on a classical music project in Nepal. “My office organized an annual music festival, and as a staff member I was on a bus to coordinate with clients,” she said. “Fortunately, Dan was on the same bus.” Their courtship happened gradually, but in time they fell deeply in love and were married in February of 2014.

“Both our parents were very happy about the relationship,” she said. “We married, traveled in Asia and came to America as a couple.”

They moved into Linden’s family home in Katonah when they returned to the United States in November of last year. Shrestha commutes to Manhattan for work. “I’m just starting my career in the United States working for a leading travel company specializing in tours to Asia,” she said. “I’m also developing my skills as a photographer.”

While she misses her family and Nepalese cuisine, Shrestha loves New York for what it has to offer. “There are so many cultural and artistic events in Westchester, plus the proximity to the city offers endless possibilities,” she said. “I’ve already been to the opera, a Broadway show, classical concerts and museums. I like how people in New York are so accepting of differences, which makes me feel very comfortable here. I love Westchester for its natural beauty. Dan and I enjoy running on Reservoir Road. And I loved seeing snow this winter, Continued on page 2A

PAGE 2A/THE RECORD-REVIEW

MARCH 25, 2016

TODAY’S WOMAN

TODAY’S WOMAN — DANIELLE BUTIN

Afya founder making the world a better place

By MARY LEGRAND

Salu Shrestha

SALU SHRESTHA Continued from page 1A

as I can only see it in the mountains in Nepal.”

Very honored to be profiled for Today’s Woman, Shrestha said she is most proud of her ability to have freedom of thought.

“The world gets better as we think more broadly,” she said. “Being a woman I have this opportunity in this time of change and modernization and technology to create movements and awareness and make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities around the world.”

In Nepal she volunteered to lead motivational lectures and created team-building activities for company retreats. “I participated in programs such as cleaning ancient temples,” she said. “In my professional life a great deal of my job was corresponding with clients via phone and email, making reservations, training staff, using social media as an advertising tool.

“I taught seminars on tourism to local and international agents. Tourism is a significant part of Nepal’s economy, offering visitors everything from the world’s highest peaks to wildlife safaris in the plains to ancient temple complexes. It is a competitive industry, and I worked hard to develop a variety of skills that prepared me to enter the tourism industry in New York.”

Asked what advice she has for young women, Shrestha said, “Follow your heart. Do what you really want to do and what makes you happy. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Be confident and believe you can achieve a lot more than where you are now.”

An introductory story precedes every major story. That’s the philosophy of Hastingson-Hudson’s Danielle Butin, founder and executive director of the Afya Foundation, whose mission is to provide an environmentally responsible solution to the dire shortage of health care supplies in underserved communities globally.

The “major story” Butin refers to is how this not-for-profit foundation recovers surplus medical supplies and equipment from health care centers. Each year, American hospitals discard 7,000 tons of usable medical supplies. Afya collects and delivers these supplies, hospital equipment and humanitarian provisions, with some $26 millionworth recovered since 2008.

But it all began quite by chance — that’s the “introductory story” Butin refers to.

“Years before, teaching a class at Columbia, one of the assignments I gave my students was to go out and learn something new,” she said. “A couple of students learned African dancing and they demonstrated the dancing and talked about the utility of the activity. After watching those students I was hooked, and started taking West African dance classes at Alvin Ailey, started drumming, collecting African art. It was an early beckoning.”

Fast forward to 2007, when, after leaving a high-powered job with United Health Care, Butin traveled to Tanzania. She had never been to Africa, but, upon arrival, declared herself as being “at home.”

While sitting in a tent in the Serengeti Butin had a chance encounter with a British doctor who was in Africa doing volunteer medical work. The other woman tearfully expressed her intense frustration at having highly qualified medical professionals ready to help those in need in Africa, but held back because they lacked the modern equipment to do their jobs there.

“She was so defeated there,” Butin said.

“I took her words very seriously, and from that point forward began having conversations with African guides, staff, hotel people.

I had come from a huge deliverer of health care, but this was much more of a challenge: what were the global health implications if you have well-trained physicians and nurses but they have no access to supplies?”

To make the story short, Afya, which means “good health” in Swahili, was born as a result. Butin clearly thrives on challenge and what began as a relatively small

GIORGIO ARPATZOGLOU/AFYA PHOTO

A raft featuring many helping hands reaches shore to aid Lesvos in Greece.

TJ ALLAN/AFYA PHOTO

JAY STRAUSS/AFYA PHOTO

Danielle Butin of Hastings-on-Hudson makes a difference around the world through the Afya Foundation.

All ages are impacted by the work of Afya.

foundation, “sending a container of supplies a month, maybe every six weeks,” she said, has morphed into a major force among the organizations that respond to ongoing needs and catastrophic events around the world.

Along the way, Butin’s children — a son and two daughters, ranging from high school senior to age 23 — have been along for the ride as well, and Butin readily admits that it’s not always been easy.

“I have to say that at the beginning it was a rough road,” Butin said. “Anyone who thinks launching a nonprofit doesn’t take a toll has a misguided perception. I don’t think I realized how significantly it was go-

bat the paralysis of devastation,” Butin said.

“You can’t look at those images without being affected.”

That was just the beginning, and to learn more about the work of the Afya Foundation in Haiti and other places, a good place to get started is by visiting afyafoundation. org. Each year, hundreds of Afya volunteers donate a combined 20,000 hours of service to sort, inventory and pack recovered medical supplies. This process allows Afya to maintain a detailed database of its inventory so it can tailor shipments to its partners’ needs.

Afya has worked with public health care

ing to affect all of us. I’d stopped doing some things I prided myself on, like making killer breakfasts for the kids. I sat at the table with my daughters one day and said I was sorry I wasn’t being very attentive and that I had to get better at it. The three of us sat there and cried, and it was so freeing the more we could talk about it.”

The children have seen the foundation’s work “firsthand,” Butin said, and a number of their friends have been involved as well.

It was the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti that really put the foundation on the map. “When people are exposed to disaster they need to find a way to respond to com-

partners in 56 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, working with health care professionals to ascertain the specific needs of each mission and ship custom containers, pallets or duffel bags. Some $26 million worth of medical and humanitarian supplies have been shipped and airlifted abroad; 6 million pounds of medical and humanitarian supplies have been shipped abroad; 1.2 million pounds of supplies were sent to the Philippines immediately after Typhoon Haiyan, to Haiti and Japan Continued on the next page

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MARCH 25, 2016

THE RECORD-REVIEW/PAGE 3A

TODAY’S WOMAN

TODAY’S WOMAN – FROM ZOOLOGY TO INSURANCE

You, only better.

Vivian Lem is at home professionally, personally ivian Lem, who lives and works in Scarsdale, celebrated 25 years with State Farm Insurance in February.

Lem is an agent with the insurance company and it was always her goal to eventually become her

own boss.

“When you have something inside that you’ve always wanted to do, you just assume it’s going to happen and you’re going to do what you need to do to make that happen,” Lem said. “I guess it’s never occurred to me that it won’t happen, that if I worked hard enough, that if I did the right thing that it would come to me.”

As a child, Lem lived in Yorktown Heights, which she said she has few memories of, before moving to Scarsdale at age 9 in the Greenacres neighborhood. In 1986, she graduated from Scarsdale High School’s A-School.

Before studying at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Lem had her own babysitting business, which she used to save up to pay for school. “I actually opened a bank account at Scarsdale National Bank,” she said. “It was a bank in the village where the Chase is now.”

During her time at Madison, Lem earned a bachelor of science in zoology, a program with a lot of pre-medical or pre-veterinary students, originally thinking she might want to become a vet.

“When I was in college, my parents told me that I should study something that interested me rather than studying something that I thought would get me places in the future,” she said. “If I did well in the topic that I chose, your bachelor’s degree would show you’re committed to something, you were able to learn something, you were able to do well.”

After completing her studies, Lem moved to Chicago, which would eventually set her up in her career with State Farm. “My roommate and I decided we would move to Chicago with no jobs,” she said. “We had fun for like a week, but then we decided we needed to go get jobs. We needed to pay rent.”

Lem received three or four job offers after she sent her résumé out, including what she called a weird offer to sell food and toilet paper door-to-door. She settled on becoming an employment recruiter, also known as a headhunter. “It was a lot harder than I thought it would be,” she said.

Much of her work involved cold-calling people and following up on leads that another employee was previously working on.

She said some of the clients included major companies such as Nabisco, which has a large presence in Chicago. The job, however, was not enough to make ends meet, so she began waiting tables at night to supplement her income.

During her time with the recruiting agency, Lem befriended the only other woman working in the office and eventually met her co-worker’s cousin, Dave Rosebraugh, a State Farm agency manager, which was the first turning point in her career.

Lem contacted Rosebraugh when she was

JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

The village of Scarsdale has a special place in the heart of insurance professional Vivian Lem.

ready to leave the employment agency, but she was not ready to work as an insurance agent, as they are independent contractors and run their own businesses.

“At the time, he told me he thought I would be a great State Farm agent,” she said.

“That was very flattering. I think I was 22 or 21, but I didn’t have any money … It sounds like a really great career and you can spend your whole life doing something that’s helping people every day.”

In the alternative, Rosebraugh helped Lem become a claim representative, a competitive position. “He got me in touch with the human resources department with State Farm and only today do I realize how large the competition was to get that job,” she said. “Illinois is the home state of State Farm, so hundreds of people applied for the job, but I got the job and I started working as an auto claim representative outside Chicago on Feb. 11, 1991.”

Lem worked for State Farm in claims for eight years before becoming an agent. She said she never would have starting working for State Farm if Rosebraugh did not enter her life.

“I sent him a message right around my anniversary this year thanking him because he still works for State Farm,” Lem said. “He’s not an agency manager anymore. He is an agent like I am in the Chicago area. Really, I owe him my career. If I hadn’t have met him, I never would have started working for the company.”

Strangely enough, Lem’s zoology studies in college helped her considerably when working on injury claims because she was able to understand medical terminology right off the bat.

“When I first started with State Farm to be an injury claim representative, it all made sense to me because of what I had studied in college,” she said. “I learned all about anato-

my, your muscles, your bones, ecology, etymology, the whole 9 yards, so I think that’s what interested State Farm is that with injuries, reading lots of medical documents, you have to understand how your body works, how you could potentially sustain such an injury.”

Even she never would have guessed zoology and insurance would have made such a perfect pair.

Lem eventually made her way to Paramus, New Jersey. After moving from Chicago, she began to work on property damage claims, for example an auto accident where the insurance holder and other driver sustain damage to their automobiles. To perform this portion of her job, she attended estimator school and I learned how to write vehicle estimates.

The next stop was Rutherford, New Jersey, in an investigative unit for State Farm for nine months, which involved looking into claimed losses that actually did not occur. “If there was a file that had some sort of activity that raised your eyebrow, it went to the special investigative unit and you would investigate people who were submitting claims, let’s say, for bodily injuries that were not substantiated,” she said.

The investigative unit also looked into whether claimed total losses on vehicles were legitimate. “Someone had their car stolen and I’d find it in Newark burned out under a bridge and the keys were in it, things like that,” she said.

Lem also worked with consultants from McKinsey & Co., who were hired by State Farm, for about a year to look into the claims process and work on how it could become more efficient. Eventually a State Farm agent in Staten Island retired and Lem took over the business as an agent in January 1999.

During her time in Staten Island, Lem

DANIELLE BUTIN Continued from the previous page

TJ ALLAN/AFYA PHOTO

For Danielle Butin, Afya is a collaborative effort.

in the refugee camps there.”

Most recently, the foundation is “in the throes of a ‘more better, faster’ campaign,” as Butin called it. “We want to take over our building, double the amount of supplies that go in and out. We need people to share our work, support us. How can they get involved? There are so many interesting ways, not just sorting medical supplies. If people reach out and come to us, seeking a way to

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Butin’s office in Yonkers reflects not only her wide-open managerial style, with comfortable couches ready for co-workers and visitors to sit and express their needs and aspirations, but also her personal affinity for the color orange.

“I had an intern years ago who painted my office orange as a holiday gift,” Butin said.

“It is the color of the African sunset. It’s as

close to being in this sacred place as I can get.”

A recent initiative is Project Spora — “spora” meaning “sowing of seed” in Ancient Greek — which was set up in response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Europe. Butin traveled to Athens and Lesvos, Greece in January to assess the situation and identify the ways Afya could help. While there she helped assemble a diverse group of Greek and American business, governmental and religious groups, all with the shared goal of supporting the Greek health care infrastructure and enabling Greeks to attend to the needs of both their country’s people and the refugees arriving in droves each day.

“There is something remarkable, both here and abroad, about asking people who are never, it appears, listened to about what they need to do their jobs as well as they possibly can,” Butin said. “I asked one of the doctors at a hospital on Lesvos about what he needed and he said, ‘What are you talking about?’

“To start, he said, they needed 14,000 medical gloves. So I asked him to give the same question to every person working at the hospital. That investment in them creates the most unbelievable transformation when they are supported with the supplies they need to deliver care. Watching that transformation is exquisite.”

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in the wake of their respective earthquakes and to Pakistan after its devastating floods in 2012; 6,500 patients have been treated in Afya clinics in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, since the 2010 earthquake; 720 adaptive building projects have been completed by Afya builders in its patients’ homes in Port-au-Prince since 2011; and 33 Haitian men and women are employed by Afya as rehab techs and adaptive builders in Port-au-Prince.

“I’m an occupational therapist, so it is impossible for me to just do supplies,” Butin said. “After a site visit to Haiti, we saw that the need for rehabilitative services was pervasive — people with multiple amputations.

Because we function in many ways, embracing the big picture, it’s about looking at the entire environment and identifying how to facilitate long-term, sustainable change.”

Butin laughs when asked about her “average” day. “There really isn’t one,” she said.

“I’m not kidding. I could be running into the city working at a hospital that’s been remodeled and there are lots of infusion pumps about to become available. Or, just as an example, meeting with the Greek ambassador working on getting materials to people

became among the top 2 percent of State Farm agents in the United States and Canada. She said the main difference in her new role as an agent is that she was guaranteeing the work of the claims processors. “The best way to describe it would be that when you’re in claims, you’re fulfilling the promise that the agent sells to the customer,” she said.

Working as an agent also involves finding out who a customer is individually to be able to provide them with an appropriate policy.

“If you were to call me and say you need car insurance, we counsel the person to fit their needs: Do you own your own home? What kind of exposure do you have that we need to protect?” she said.

Lem said matching an insurance policy with a customer is more complex than rate shopping and that it is just as much about educating a customer about risk prevention.

“It’s really a lot more complicated than I think the media makes it out to be,” she said.

“We look at you as a person under the whole picture, so the mission of the company is to protect people from the unexpected. A lot of people think of insurance as a commodity, but it is really counseling and educating the customer on what could potentially happen and what their exposure is and how to protect it.”

2008 was a big year for Lem — she moved back to Scarsdale that January with her family (her son is now a freshman at SHS, her daughter a seventh-grader). Lem’s office is on Central Avenue, so she enjoys being part of the community as both a resident and businesswoman. In addition, her husband is a volunteer firefighter in Scarsdale.

“When my husband and I got married and decided to start a family, I wanted to move back here,” she said. “There is just so much to be proud of. Scarsdale people volunteer. They care about their neighborhood and their community. The kids get a great education. In my mind there is no better place to live. It is a beautiful place. You’re close to the city. You’re surrounded by people who are highly educated and motivated.

It’s a great school system for our children.”

She sells what she describes as the whole gamut of home insurance, auto insurance, excess liability insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, etc.

“I am very proud to be able to live by the company mission of helping protect people from the unexpected and helping them realize their dreams,” Lem said. “We are much more than an insurance office, we have an array of products that allow us to tailor our recommendations to the individual client.”

Lem said she did not picture herself working in insurance, especially for this long, but has no complaints about the path she’s taken.

“Most people go into insurance accidentally,” she said. “Originally, when I started working for the company, I didn’t think I would be here 25 years later selling insurance. It all worked out and it’s a great place to be. It’s a great company to work for. I get to be in my hometown. What could be better?”

C E L I N E M O S C H I N O M A R C J A C O B S LO U I S V U I T TO N T S E

V

By ANTHONY R. MANCINI

MALO BOTTEGA FENDI BLUMARINE ETRO

PAGE 4A/THE RECORD-REVIEW

TODAY’S WOMAN

Hair, there, everywhere… and how to get rid of it

P

By MAJA TARATETA

lucking. Tweezing. Threading.

Waxing. Shaving. Lasering. For what some anthropologists believe to have been thousands of years (think back to ancient Egypt), women have used a variety of methods, both safe and scary, to remove unwanted hair from various parts of their bodies.

And while experts agree that none of the methods listed above offers 100 percent permanent hair removal, they are among a wide selection of options available to achieve significant, lasting hair reduction, which is exactly what many women seek.

“In my experience, women want thorough and effective hair removal in a hygienic environment, all while experiencing as little discomfort as possible,” said Allison Adamiak, owner and esthetician at Balance Day Spa in White Plains, where waxing is the preferred removal method.

“The goal is no more shaving,” said Erica Breining, owner of Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center in Bedford Hills, where clients come for laser treatments to remove annoying facial hair (lips and chin), as well as hair on the underarm and bikini area, followed by legs and arms. Her clients seek trouble-free hair removal. As she put it: “No stubble.

No ingrown hairs.”

The procedure of removing unwanted hair in a salon or spa, Breining said, “has become so mainstream, it’s just like hair and nails.”

While for some women, the daily ritual of shaving in the shower with a razor and cream is a time-honored tradition, out-ofhome hair removal is an affordable luxury more and more women are seeking. Additionally, some areas, whether sensitive (bikini) or small (eyebrows), seem to respond better to more precise hair removal.

In fact, the personal waxing and salon industry grew an average of more than 7.5 percent annually between 2010 and 2015, according to IBISWorld market research.

In 2014 alone, more than 300,000 such businesses shared $11 billion in revenue, with the industry expected to experience additional growth in the years to come.

What is sparking the surge? Said Christie Lavigne, skincare director at Oasis Day

Spa in Dobbs Ferry, which offers both IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and waxing to remove hair, “Not having to worry about unwanted hair... changes your life.”

According to the book “Plucked: A History of Hair Removal” by Rebecca M. Herzig, the chair of women and gender studies at Bates College, recent studies show that 99 percent of American women voluntarily remove hair, and more than 85 percent do so regularly, even daily. “Over the course of a lifetime, one 2008 survey indicated, American women who shave (a relatively inexpensive way to remove hair) will spend, on average, more than $10,000 and nearly two entire months of their lives simply managing unwanted hair,” writes Herzig. “The woman who waxes once or twice a month will spend more than $23,000 over the course of her lifetime.”

Other processes can be even more costly. Still, those in the hair-reduction industry say that for some women, investing in a relatively expensive process like laser removal can prove to be cost effective in the long run.

“For a 21-year-old woman who knows that she doesn’t want to wax for the rest of her life, the IPL laser pays for itself within a few years,” Lavigne said. “There is an investment up front with laser, but the longterm benefits are ideal.” The “problem,” she said, is, in effect, “rectified.”

Indeed, “most women are looking for less maintenance” as their goal with hair reduction, said Dr. William Greenberg, M.D., of Skin Thera P Medical AntiAging Spa in Scarsdale. For more than 12 years, Dr. Greenberg has offered laser hair removal, as well as waxing, in his offices, with most women coming for removal of the hair found on their bikini areas, underarms and legs.

“Some want hair reduction on every area and some just on specific areas of concern,” he said. “It’s more of a mindset. Younger women are definitely more focused on doing it all than older women.

But the younger you start [with laser], the more you save over time.”

Lavigne said, “Efficiency people want to invest up front and then have it pay off for them.”

Laser hair reduction and IPL generally involve four to seven treatments and remove approximately 70 to 90 percent

NEWS NOTES

TODAY’S WOMAN

Wax: A form of semi-permanent hair removal that removes hair from the root. Can last up to four to six weeks depending on hair growth cycles. Strip (soft) waxing involves spreading wax over the skin and then applying a strip of cloth or paper, which is then quickly ripped against the growth direction of the hair. Strip-less (hard) waxing involves using a wax that hardens as it cools and then removing without the use of cloth or paper.

Threading: An ancient method of hair removal that originated in Asia, primarily used in the United States for shaping eyebrows. A thin cotton or polyester thread is twisted and then rolled over areas of unwanted hair, plucking hair out at the follicle level. Short lines of hair are removed at one time, as opposed to tweezing, which removes single hairs at a time.

Laser: Involves the removal of unwanted hair by exposure to pulses of laser light that destroy the hair follicle. It has been approved for “permanent hair reduction” by the FDA. IPL: IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light epilators, and this method uses xenon flash lamps to emit full-spectrum light.

Filters block out shorter wavelengths so only longer light wavelengths are applied to the skin, with similar results to laser.

Electrolysis: Can be used to remove 100 percent of hair from an area and is effective on all hair colors. A solid, hair-thin metal probe is inserted into each hair follicle, and electricity is delivered, causing localized damage to the areas that generate hairs.

— Maja Tarateta

How to keep it all together when you’re coming undone

T

Cathy Waterman

one-of-a-kind and rare pieces from her expansive fine jewelry collection. Peridot is delighted to introduce her work to you and invites you to share in cocktails with the designer herself, who makes select personal appearances.

County’s 4th European Wax Center opening in April David Coba, CEO and co-founder of European Wax Center (EWC), the leader in the beauty waxing service industry, announced the opening of its Eastchester location, its fourth in Westchester. The new center will open in mid-April and will be located at 777 White Plains Road in the Shoppes at Eastchester. EWC will bring its premier quality services to residents and local businesses in the area.

“Modern waxing is about feeling confident and sexy,” said Josh Coba, COO and co-founder. “EWC is the premier destination for revealing beautiful skin, offering guests everywhere the chance to walk into one of our centers and strut out looking and feeling gorgeous.”

Franchisee Jennifer Neumayer said, “We are thrilled to be expanding the European Wax Center experience throughout New York. We believe that high quality waxing is about helping everyone find their own ver-

fair skin, seems to have the highest success rate.

What can laser clients expect? “It’s somewhat uncomfortable,” said Breining.

“But the laser has a cooling head that cools the skin prior to the zap. Its very tolerable.

It’s not like the old equipment. It’s like a rubber band snap.”

Some women who are not deterred by the probability of a little pain are nonetheless reluctant to embark on hair reduction because they fear that removal can lead the hair to grow back thicker. Industry insiders say this is a common myth, but one that is untrue. “Anyone who has over tweezed

Hair removal methods

BEAUTY ON THE RUN

Peridot Fine Jewelry presents Cathy Waterman Peridot Fine Jewelry is thrilled to present a very special cocktail reception with fine jewelry designer Cathy Waterman on April 2, from 2-6 p.m. at 1903 Palmer Ave. in Larchmont.

Inspired by obscure motifs found in the natural world, Waterman’s sought after collection is crafted exclusively in brushed platinum and 22k yellow gold. Mixing rustic diamonds, white diamonds and hand-selected gemstones to create a rich tapestry of artisanal innovation to suit every taste, her unique design sense makes the delicate appear bold and the bold seem playfully artistic.

There is something mystical about Waterman’s pieces, as if they hail from another era and another hemisphere. Yet, her aesthetic is perfectly wearable and on trend with today’s fashion beat — characteristic of dark rhodium shadows accentuating hand carved and nostalgic milgrain details. That touch of edginess balances out her fluid, feminine lines of falling leaves and flowering garland bands.

On April 2, Waterman will showcase

of the hair. For the persistent remaining hairs, experts recommend electrolysis or waxing. Electrolysis is a medical treatment that burns hair follicles out by the root, but can be permanent. For the random stray hair, it can be worth the effort, expense and potential pain. Another option that is less painful though not permanent is light, relatively infrequent waxing as maintenance.

Not all treatments work for all women.

Caveats for laser hair removal include that it does not work on gray or red hair, and it is more difficult to have good results with blondes. Hair with the most pigment, on

their eyebrows knows that hair diminishes over time, not increases,” said Lavigne.

“Over time,” agreed Adamiak, “as the hair is repeatedly pulled out at the root, the root weakens, and your hair actually grows back much finer.”

Even men are getting in on hair removal. While many are concerned with hair loss on the tops of their heads, more men than ever are heading to salons to have it removed from other parts of their bodies.

At Bellava MedAesthetics, 20 to 30 percent of laser clients are men. Estheticians report the most popular places for men to have hair reduction treatments include their chests and backs.

“Men tend to be more comfortable with waxing,” said Lavigne of Oasis Day Spa, “but they are terrified. They are literally sweating and shaking.”

No matter your gender, there are some important things to consider before embarking on your choice of hair reduction procedure. Rule number 1: Pick a reputable business for your services.

“Do research,” said Greenberg, as opposed to using a Groupon for the lesstrained technician at the massage parlor that happens to have a laser machine.

“Make smart choices,” agreed Lavigne.

“Don’t leave a razor in the shower for three months growing bacteria. Don’t go to places where they double dip in the wax.”

Said Adamiak, “As with anything else, there are good waxers and there are not-sogood waxers out there. Regardless of your chosen method of hair removal, it is paramount that the establishment be clean and that hair-removal services be performed in a hygienic manner.”

Another big rule is investigating and trusting your instincts when it comes to the training and experience of your hairremoval technician. “It is of the utmost importance that you feel comfortable at your chosen establishment,” Adamiak said. “If you do not feel completely confident with your practitioner and their abilities, then you should leave and go elsewhere. Immediately.”

MARCH 25, 2016

sion of gorgeous and can be incorporated into everyone’s regular routine and skincare regime.”

Experienced and successful operators Neumayer and Peter Borboroglu value the satisfaction of their customers as the hallmark to a successful center. The operators, future employees and wax specialists for the new location are excited to bring the ultimate wax experience to the area.

EWC prides itself on revealing beautiful skin. With over 500 centers open throughout the United States, EWC makes it convenient for anyone to visit. The brand’s continual success can be attributed to exceptional guest care, premium quality services, proprietary products and a belief that luxurious waxing is about helping everyone find their version of gorgeous. Walk in, strut out.

For more information about EWC or to make a reservation visit waxcenter.com/reservations.

A special section of

The Record-Review P.O. Box 455, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914-244-0533 • www.record-review.com

PUBLISHER..........................................Deborah G. White SECTION EDITOR............................................ Todd Sliss ART DIRECTOR.....................................Ann Marie Rezen AD DESIGN............................................ Katherine Potter AD SALES.................Francesca Lynch, Thomas O’Halloran, Barbara Yeaker, and Marilyn Petrosa ©2016 THE RECORD, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IS FORBIDDEN WITHOUT PUBLISHER’S WRITTEN PERMISSION.

By JENNIFER LEAVITT

oday’s woman rarely has time to spend 90 minutes in front of a mirror, and those leisurely afternoons at a favorite salon and spa don’t materialize nearly as often as we would like them to. Whether it’s running for the train, jumping on a conference call or heading up the PTA, most women are constantly on the go, getting less than enough sleep and becoming consummate multitaskers.

It can be challenging to eke out opportunities for a touch up, much less deal with a blemish or hair disaster. And far too easy to relegate looking good to the bottom of the to-do list. But let’s face it, “Looking as if until you feel as if ” can be sage advice.

Most women feel more energetic and productive when we look our best and are not coming apart at the seams. So how can you keep it all together when you’re pretty sure you’re on the verge of coming undone?

For starters, “When you’re stressed out and running on empty, dark under-eye circles are a dead giveaway,” said beauty expert and fashion industry veteran Susan Giordano, who owns Giordano Beauty Boutique in Hastings-on-Hudson. She recommends a high quality concealer to “instantly refresh your face and make it look like you had eight hours of sleep.”

Be sure to use an eye cream or gel first, she added, to make for a smooth application and no creases. Also choose the color carefully. Concealer is designed to neutralize the darkness, so don’t call attention to what you are trying to hide.

To keep eyes looking wide open, curl lashes and add a coat of black mascara, Giordano said. “For the best curl, get the curler as close to the base of your lashes as possible,” she said. “After squeezing down on the curler, give it a lift by moving your hand slightly upward. And please do this before using mascara so you don’t lose any eyelashes!”

Also remember to tame your brows, she stressed. Monthly professional shaping can do wonders, and you can keep the look up in between visits with just a little brow pencil and gel. “Brows frame your face and when they are professionally shaped and tinted they can help you achieve a more polished look without a lot of time,” Giordano said.

The complexion speaks volumes about our health and well-being as well. “Take time at night to care for your skin,” said Kari Puckhaber of KD Studio in Katonah.

“Cellular turnover happens while you sleep, so it’s most important to wash, tone and hydrate with a great serum and moisturizer at night. In the morning when you’re short on time just use a toner to freshen the skin and apply serum and moisturizer.”

Puckhaber always tells her clients to ex-

On the run quick fixes • To quickly combat facial redness, pop a Benadryl, apply a cold compress and then work in some hydrocortisone cream. You’ll be fresh faced and ready to go in about half an hour.

• Ice will also zap a zit. Press an ice pack on the area for just a few moments, and follow up by dabbing some redness reliever Visine on the area.

• For makeup application on the run, buy products that come with built-in applicators or in stick form. At home, you have the luxury of multiple tools, but out and about make sure you can fit everything you need into a compact, designated touch-up bag.

• To avoid mascara mishaps when you are moving and shaking, place a business card right at the lash line, then swipe.

• Tanning in a pinch? Ideally, you foliate at least twice per week with either a chemical exfoliant, “Cane and Austin glycolic pads are great for this,” or a manual exfoliant, she said, adding that Doctor’s Scrub by Goldfaden is her favorite. “Your makeup will only look as good as the skin you put it on and if you have a layer of dead skin the rest of your skincare can’t penetrate,” Puckhaber said. “Set aside a night to do at home facials in between visits to our esthetician. In only two minutes you can revitalize your skin using Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser and Resurfacing Mask together as an at-home facial treatment.”

Everyone definitely benefits from looking healthy and hydrated throughout the day, said Devra Bader of Devra Bader Salon on Garth Road in Scarsdale. “A mineral enhancer swept over cheeks, forehead, nose and chin gives skin a healthy glow and

don’t want to rush self-tanner, but if you find yourself needing to do so, a hair dryer is your friend. For double duty, stand in front of a fan as you dry.

Mousse formulas perform better than lotions and gels in this regard.

• Wet nails are among the most hated beauty delays and mess ups. To shorten dry time and avoid smudges, stand in front of a fan and spray Pam Cooking Spray on your nails, then dunk both hands in ice water and use a baby wipe to de-grease your skin (but not your nails).

• If you find yourself with scratches and chips in your polish, make it all look fabulously intentional by using another color or two to quickly add dots and swirls to every nail.

— Jennifer Leavitt warmth to all skin types,” she said. Bader offers enhancers in many colors for application with a large brush that “gives a flawless application and makes a huge difference in appearance.”

Puckhaber agrees: “Always keep a hydrating mist in your bag. Tata Harper makes a great one. Can be used throughout the day to refresh the skin and keep it looking dewy, never dry or dull.” And “to simplify the makeup application process,” she added, “mix your moisturizer and foundation together to create a flawless finish in less time.”

Also must haves for beauty on the go are RMS’s living luminizer and master mixer, according to Puckhaber, who recommends “using your finger to apply anywhere the sun and light would naturally reflect off the skin.”

Once you’ve got your skin glowing,

“Add a little bloom to your cheeks with a sheer liquid blush,” Giordano said. “To keep your face fresh and bright, a pinky/ berry toned lipstick will work in a pinch.

Smile and place a dot on each cheek. Hold the smile and blend in a circular motion, taking the color slightly upward until it fades.”

A fresh face could fade into the background if lips look dry and pinched, though, Bader said. “Hydrated lips are the key to a healthy and young glow for everyone and the easiest thing to do,” she said.

“This step can make such a huge difference in appearance.”

To help her customers do just that, Bader carries Vibran-C Lip hydrator in both plain and color varieties, as well as flavored lip glosses for wear-anywhere color, moisture and shine.

And always “finish up with a pretty gloss or sheer lip color,” Giordano said, noting “medium to deep berry tones work on everyone and as an added bonus, the blue undertones will make your teeth look whiter.”

Of course, a little planning ahead can make on-the-run interventions seamless and effective. As far as makeup goes, “I would say keep your mascara and lip gloss on you at all times and you are good to go,” Setsuko Hosomi of Setsuko at Jean Claude Salon in Scarsdale said. “And if it’s an evening, just add lipstick and dab a little color on your cheeks.”

Noted Bader, “Running from work to dinner or an event can be simple with a quick and easy retouch. No need to carry a bag full of makeup to the office; just have the key essentials to perfect your look. Pat down any oils with a tissue, hydrate lips, clean under eye area with a Q-tip and add a touch of blush, a bit more eyeliner and a great lip color and off you go looking refreshed, not layered and heavy.”

Bader recommends maintaining an airbrush tan whenever possible. “It gives everyone a natural and healthy glow, so “in as little as 10 minutes you already look refreshed and less makeup is needed no matter where you are headed.”

If you are in too much of a rush to do your hair, “You can put it up in a loose ponytail or braid, or toss it up in a bun if it’s long,” Hosomi said. “If it’s short, gel it down” or make sure you always have a stylish hat on hand. The smallest amount of planning can save your day or evening when you just don’t have the time to do more.

You don’t need to bog yourself down, but “having the right tools should be top priority,” Giordano said. “With the right tools, makeup applications take half the time. Don’t scrimp on the importance of good makeup brushes.”

The smallest amount of planning can save your day or evening when you just don’t have the time to do more.

MARCH 25, 2016

THE RECORD-REVIEW/PAGE 5A

TODAY’S WOMAN

option. Look for thick, bold, colorful examples that reverberate with a visual quality of music. Vertical stripes lengthen the body, while horizontal stripes create a shorter, wider illusion. Diagonal stripes evoke movement and dynamic energy.

Tie-dye and batik are another inspiration to many designers this season. Capturing a Bohemian mood, dresses and tops in tie-dye and batik textiles seem unique.

Choose a pattern to express your individual personality.

A vibrant spring Continued from page 1A

match-up with net is fringe. After trending for several years, fringe has become one of the most defining details of the season. It adds beautiful texture and movement, and it can be used in dense layers to construct a skirt or in smaller proportions as decorative trim. Swing it, sister.

Cozy up It was an unusual winter, with mild temperatures and not much snow in the northeast. So, in case you’re feeling sweater withdrawal due to months of unseasonable temperatures, spring designers are giving you a second chance. Cozy up to the new spring sweater. Wear it as a cropped sweater top with a pencil skirt, as a layering button-down or as a belted alternative to a spring coat. The sweater of the season is soft, nubby and tonally mottled with heather pattern. Popular colors are gray, stone, cream, orange, pink and blue. And, yes, there is a slightly 1970s-esque groove — but probably less itchy.

Groovy gals The chill look of 1970s-inspired suede is back to relax this spring. In short skirts, vests, shorts and jackets, this cool girl vibe is absolutely hot. Traditional takes replicate a vintage flair with coffee-, burnt orange- and caramel-colored pieces and lots of fringe at skirts’ hemlines and jackets’ elbows. Contemporary interpretations include colorful suede ensembles and Aline dresses with waistline cutouts. Suede can be finished to a soft, supple texture or it can retain a nubby rawness. Either way, the inherent texture of the textile, against bare arms and legs, plays up the warm sensuality of the skin. Because suede lacks sheen, it balances well with shiny jewelry.

Go for bold, metallic accessories to amplify the look. You’ll be the coolest pussycat on the block.

Victorian romance Jane Austen? Charlotte Bronte? Emily Dickinson? They may not be typical icons of fashion, but their era is certainly a poetic fashion inspiration. Right now, a love affair is being courted between contemporary designers and everything Victorian. Think high-collar necks, ruffles down the chest, puffy sleeves, flouncy fabric encircling the wrists, old-fashioned floral prints, long skirts, peplum jackets and lace. The silhouettes are long and lean, with cinched waists accentuated by thin belts and balanced by lace-up ankle booties. It is an old-fashioned version of femininity, made modern by contemporary fabrics and bold colors and surprising personal touches, such as a leather bomber jacket thrown over a buttoned-up, ruffled dress or a bright pink bra strap showing through a demure lace shoulder. Wild, fun combinations of printed textiles — to the point of visual cacophony — are also indicative of the Victorian redux.

Paperbag waists Hmmmm… Not many women want added volume at the waist, so the predominance of paperbag waists surprised audiences at this spring’s presentations. With billowy legs and upward-standing pleats and midsection gathers, this look is about the decorative qualities of excess fabric. It is not a look that emphasizes the body. For most success, look for skirts and pants that include belts and ties for definition, rather than examples with elastic waistbands, which — sans belt — risk looking sloppy.

Belts and ties delineate the waistline and can even evoke the feeling of a wrapped parcel or gift, making paper bag trousers or skirts playful and special. In any case,

the challenge with paperbag waists is that you don’t want “more” to become “too much,” so be sure to pair up these looks with slim silhouettes and form-fitting separates on top. Wide, cropped trousers that show the slimness of the ankle can also provide a necessary balance of proportion.

Singing the blues

Unmentionables

If you love your jeans, you’ll adore this season’s obsession with lightweight denim.

Look for indigo dresses, chambray shirts and denim skirts in all wash-tone variations, from rich midnight blue to faded cornflower. Lightweight denim fabric allows creative freedom, fluid structures and beautiful movement. Popular silhouettes are boxy, labcoat-like jackets; ruffled tops; cold-shoulder necklines and Victorian-inspired, high-neck dresses — in addition to iconic jeans and denim skirts.

Head-to-toe denim — once a faux pas — is beautiful in a long fluid dress or tailored, lightweight jumpsuit. Tie a scarf around your neck or cinch your waist with a patent leather belt for added color and visual texture.

Silk, gossamer, sheer and lace beauties are not just for the bedroom anymore.

Lingerie-inspired garments are waking up the energies of daytime dressing. Femininity is championed in these sweet and sexy morsels. But can you really don them on the street? To keep dresses and eveningwear from being mistaken for nightgowns, many designers are pairing boudoir looks with tone-ontone boxy jackets and flat, edgy shoes such as platform sneakers and basket-weave loafers. The stylistic contrast grounds wispy, lingerielike looks in the realm of streetwear and presents them as overt, edgy choices.

Nothing like asserting a loud fashion statement from a whisper of a garment that is barely there.

Mimosa Red is the color of love. Yellow is the color of the sun. No wonder their combination — in orange — creates a range of hues possessing powerful energy. Definitely not a color for the shrinking violet, orange speaks the language of a diva. Hot and lively, orange cannot help but add zest and pizzazz to many spring collections.

Look for it (it’s hard to miss) in dresses, trousers, jumpsuits and jackets. Paired with red, pink or yellow, the brash intensity of orange might relax a bit. Juxtaposed against black or white, orange will pop even more than on its own. Positioned next to blue — the complementary color to orange — the pair electrifies in dynamic combination.

Shimmer

Checkerboard and stripes This spring, dare to be square because plaid on steroids is here. Supersized plaid is cool. Gigantic buffalo-check is hot.

Wear it head to toe in a fun jumpsuit or a two-piece ensemble. Black and white remains ever popular, but bright colors are a bold option. Looking for something more subdued? Match plaid pants with a solidcolored top, or pair a checkered blouse with a plain skirt. Vertical, horizontal and diagonal stripes are another graphic

Top row: Christina Lehr’s lightweight cashmere loungewear is easily incorporated into many looks at Katonah’s Catherine H.; From the Jordan Louis blazer and sport utility pant, top, to the Chelsea Paris caged sandal, below, the hottest looks are available at Churchills of Mount Kisco; This caning print halter dress is stylish from Vineyard Vines in Greenwich, Conn., and throughout the Tri-State area; You can rely on Lester’s in Rye for a complete head-to-toe ensemble.

Bottom row: At Churchills, this Jordan Louis metallic zoe vest and black zip skylar pant form a stylish look, while the Officine Creative shoes come from an artisinal laboratory of shoemaking and leather craft in Italy; A silk caning print top from Vineyard Vines is a perfect print; The off-the-shoulder dress by Alexis can be dressed up or down at Angela’s in Rye.

Designers have opened the treasure chest and discovered the richness of silver, bronze and gold. Sequins, crystals, rhinestones and metallic threads are the sparkly embellishments of the moment. In activewear, the look reaches toward an optimistic vision of the future. For evening, the mood is festive and exuberant. For daytime, metallic tones, particularly when presented with burnished finishes, function as rich, beautiful neutrals. Colorblocked metallics are a hot adaptation, inviting women to layer on jewelry and mix up metals with abandon. Be absolutely radiant and glow. This is a look that will inspire joy and spread enthusiasm — and maybe that’s what we all need right now.

Spring accessories celebrate abundance, indulgence

T

By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG

he devil is in the details. Accessories create magic. A statement necklace, a gorgeous pair of earrings, unique shoes or a killer handbag — these are the keys to a perfectly finished look, an elevation of the ordinary and the powerful expression of personality.

E v e r y w o m a n should have a few signature pieces that define her, as well as a cache of fresh options to experiment with new dynamics and change up outfits at whim. This spring, accessories are a wonderland of bold colors, dynamic shapes and playful fantasies. Be bold.

Be creative. Unleash the power of bespoke jewelry, handbags and shoes. To get you started, let’s take a head-to-toe stroll through the garden of fashion’s delights…

Hair jewelry Top, The Calleen Cordero leather flat sandal at Catherine H. in Katonah adds style and sophistication to any look. Bottom, The Bella Dahl chambray dress with Brave lionel and macario braided belts work together to form a hip look at Lester’s in Rye. Right center: The multi-strand tassel necklace at Vineyard Vines in Greenwich, Conn., will brighten up your look..

Beauty and brains unite with fashion jewelry for the head. Crown your locks with sparkly tiaras, leafy headbands, gold and silver combs and floral crowns.

Headpieces have long held precious esteem in Boho styles, but this season, they are moving mainstream. Whether your hair is long or short, coiffed or relaxed,

holding a pixie-cut or flowing free in beachy waves, you will be able to work in a headpiece or comb. Play with the overall look by moving the ornamentation around. Perch a headband on your crown or drip it around your forehead.

Place clips high at the temple, low at the nape of your neck or tucked behind your ear. Best of all, you can play princess with one of the season’s bejeweled tiaras, even if it’s not your birthday.

Statement earrings Frame your face in oversized earrings that possess a certain wow factor this spring.

In keeping with the season’s love of hyperbole, many of spring’s statement earrings are shoulder dusters. Call attention to your smile with sculptural metal shapes or sparkly chandeliers. Long, chunky stones dangle past ears; wisps of chain whispers against shoulders; geometric forms hang in suspended motion; feathers mix with hair. Choices are as individual as the women who inspire these earrings. Find your favorite and become the muse for your own inner fancy.

Oversized aviators Maybe bigger is better. Spring’s aviator sunglasses are generous in size and saturated in color this spring, attesting to the season’s love of everything bombastic. Look for nontraditional materials such as plastic and wood, in addition to traditional metal frames. Brightly colored lenses, fashioned with mirrored surfaces

or a reflective sheen, attract attention and make a statement. Some hip versions are styled with a modified cat-eye silhouette to feminize the look. Meow!

Chokers Designed for kisses and heads held high, necks are getting a lot of attention this season. To complement collarboneenhancing silhouettes and busy bustlines, jewelry designers have responded, in kind, with a plentiful choice of chokers.

Dramatic flat metal collars evoke Egyptian mystery and space-age cool. Thin collars, left sleek or embellished with gemstones, look modern and edgy, while simultaneously referencing Victorian cameos. Leather bands bound around the neck with clips and buckles suggest a badgirl edge.

of form. Look for a half-circle shape or a squat U, both with a strong horizontal top edge. Choose between examples with wrist straps, shoulder straps or no straps (i.e. clutches).

Colorful handbags Playfulness flirts with practicality in brightly colored handbags that pop. The look is reminiscent of a box of fresh crayons, and the mood is absolutely joyful.

Bold, structured forms create a strong background for primary hues of yellow, blue and red, as well as secondary shades of orange, green and purple. These bags are meant to stand out — so achieving a dynamic contrast between your bag and your outfit works even better than a matchy-matchy ensemble. Live large.

Live loud. Carry a statement bag.

Chain gang

White out

Motorcycle babes are cool — even without their bikes. This season, designers have plucked the best from their looks and are putting those quintessential chains everywhere. Look for heavy links on short-handled bags, long shiny chain belts, chainmail chokers and chain detailing on shoes and bracelets. Sexy body chains — worn like a backwards vest or a leash and collar — are another way to wear metal links this season. Ranging from delicate and sparkly to heavy and industrial, body chains make an impact.

Place them against your skin, nestled into a low dipping décolleté, or wrap them around a plain dress or jacket to challenge that look with unexpected edginess.

Structured white handbags are a fresh alternative to spring’s rainbow of colors.

White always looks fresh, clean and modern, particularly in contemporary geometric forms and oversized basket weaves.

Anything goes, from smooth, slick surfaces to richly textured constructions. Hardware in gorgeous metallic finishes adds to the cool elegance of this year’s white handbags.

Half-moon bags Under starlight or in bright sun, designers and celebrities are falling in love with a sleek new handbag shape, the half moon. The best examples follow strict geometry and maintain a linear clarity

Bracelet bags It’s hard to dance when you don’t know where to leave your bag. Designers have overcome the dilemma with a crop of bracelet bags containing built-in, wristwrapping handles. Beauty plus usefulness equals more fun — plus there’s never a chance you’ll lose your phone.

Patterned, metallic and wicker bags Graphic stripes, laser-cut patterns, woven trim, fringe, appliqués and playful patches are distinguishing a variety of small-scale handbags. Adding texture,

color and visual interest, enhanced handbags are anything but serious. Some even look charmingly DIY.

Platform sandals Heavy-looking sandals with thick platform soles combine comfort with a new definition of chic. To soften the look and increase visual interest, some versions feature chains, metal studs, colorful embellishments or wrap-up ankle ties.

Arts and crafts shoes Be careful you don’t fall… shoes have become untamed beasts, and anything — and everything — goes! Patent leather pumps, alligator heels and leather stilettos paraded down spring runways with a heavy step, as they were encrusted with excessive embellishment. Look for opalescent pearls, iridescent sequins, sparkly crystals, beaded fringe and more, more, more… These shoes are absolutely overthe-top, a little bit gypsy, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. They’re poised to go out and have a good time.

Comfort rules Flat, slipperlike mules are a continuing trend this spring. Comfort is queen in these slip-on beauties with rounded toes and open-back heels. To dress up the mules, designers are manifesting them in luxe fabrics such as velvet, silk brocade and woven tapestry. More robust choices included sandallike slip-ons in woven leather and banded canvas.

All tied up Lace-up shoes are playful and sexy.

Look for wrap-around straps that bind at the ankle or climb up the calf like a wild vine. This trend is so ubiquitous this season you’ll find it on examples of traditional pumps, chunky wedges and platform sandals. Just make sure you seal the deal with a tight, tidy bow.

PAGE 6A/THE RECORD-REVIEW

TODAY’S WOMAN

22K gold, platinum and diamond stacking bands

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MARCH 25, 2016