How do we feel about this dress?  Oh, I understand the frock, believe me.  It’s subtle on one side, and daring on the other.  I get the innuendo and metaphor of “this is how I am as a WOMAN!” Kate Winslet is trying so desperately to convey.  Along with the simple nude make-up so as not to look vulgar, she’s looking awfully calculated.  There are no mis-steps.  Nothing that looks remotely spontaneous.  Perhaps that’s how we want it? I’m not sure.

Kate Winslet in Stella McCartney – 2011 Winter Collection

The same dress on the runway for Stella McCartney’s 2011 Winter Collection

It’s not often that I don’t have a strong opinion regarding a subject I’ve chosen to write about, so this whole piece is odd.  I must say, I prefer the shoes the model is wearing.  Something about the closed-toe adds more mystery to the entire look.

Help me out here.  Are you as confused as I am?  Hit or a miss?

Kate Winslet, who is 35 and a mother of two, appears utterly flawless and wrinkle-free in her new advertisements.   I’m already reading complaints about how very impeccably smooth and perfect Kate’s skin appears.

Would we want it any other way, really? No. We wouldn’t want the face of our favorite cosmetic or fragrance line, whether it’s Queen Latifah for Cover Girl, Keira Knightley for Chanel or James Franco for Gucci startlingly and garishly REAL.

We need to face facts; it’s all part of the FANTASY of BEAUTY. If I want to see dark circles and under-eye bags, I will look in the mirror when I first wake up.  I certainly don’t want to see them in beauty ads.

Retouche Viva, oui?  Oui.

What do you think of her new look? The color and cut definitely make a bold statement. We think it looks fabulous except we wish her eyebrows weren’t so dark. Go Kate!

Philip Kingsley – hair expert to the stars and maker of cult hair conditioner, Elasticizer (Kate Winslet‘s apparently a huge fan) – has a few great tips for keeping your hair in perfect condition. Some may even surprise you…

• Wash daily – contrary to some views, hair is not “self-cleaning”.




• Stick with products you know work for you – hair doesn’t become “used to” the same product over time.




• Rinse thoroughly until your hair “squeaks” – dull hair is caused by left-over residue.




• Natural bristle brushes can damage your hair – go for wide-placed plastic bristles with balls on the end.




• Blowdrying only damages hair that is already dry, so turn down the heat as you go. Always use a serum to protect the ends from splitting.