944

H&M has a long history of collaborating with innovative designers. One of the more recent collaborations is with Swedish Hasbeens, which is comprised of childhood friends Cilla Wingrd Neuman and Emy Blixt. Worn by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Maggie Gyllenhaal, these wooden-soled Swedish Hasbeen clunkers are reminiscent of traditional Swedish clogs of the 70s. Cue "Swedish Hasbeens" joke now. Anyway, three fashion-forward wallet-friendly styles will be available in select H&M stores worldwide on April 20th.


Visit www.hm.com for more information.


Visit www.swedishhasbeens.com to learn more about Swedish Hasbeens.

Written by: Erica Henderson

It's been a while since I've blogged, and my sincerest apologies. Much has happened in the life of Nine Four Four, and all of the fine editors of this establishment spent many recent hours perfecting our February's Wedding Issue. We've never published an issue like this before, but all of us, including me, are now attuned to all things betrothed. With that said, the Dallas edition included a journey of sorts, of a local bride ten days leading up to her finest hour -- her wedding day. We asked her to keep a diary and share her innermost bridal thoughts -- good and bad -- with all of you. And for the next week or so, I will be publishing her daily bridal journal (the almost unedited version) through my blog. If anyone ever wanted to know what it feels like for a bride to be -- then read on, dear reader.


As written by newly wed Olivia Guerra Long

Day 10:
I am convinced I was born without the bride gene. This suspicion surfaced when I came home from Hawaii and announced "I'm engaged!" Women would squeal as they grabbed for my left hand and the questions would start. "When's the date?" "What are your colors?" "How many bridesmaids will you have?" "Where will you honeymoon?" I did not have answers. All I knew was at some point in the future the people my fianc and I love and care about would gather to witness and celebrate our legal commitment to one another. People were stunned when I did not have immediate responses. Apparently, every woman is expected to have been born with the wedding gene, which prods her into planning her entire wedding from start to finish prior to ever getting engaged. I had barely become betrothed and was already behind.

Fortunately, I have an immense network of friends who were willing to step in and help me get moving in the right direction. My BFF since the first day of kindergarten, Kelly, took it upon herself to ship me a "Bridal Planning Bible" from a few states away. Then my friend Renee dragged me to my first bridal show where I became overwhelmed with all the offerings. How was I ever going to pull this off?

I chatted with my future husband to be about our budget. It was agreed we would search for a planner to help me with my bridal gene deficiency and help us both not put ourselves in the poor house. No, we didn't hire David Tutera. Instead, we got Stephanie Watkins of One Event Design, a gregarious gal who immediately honed in on my tastes and has been helping me navigate the tulled, taffetaed, topsy-turvy, and oft-tumultuous terrain of getting married.
Written by: Michelle Parsons

I want a girl with extensions in her hair
Bamboo earrings
At least two pair
A Fendi bag and a bad attitude
That's all I need to get me in a good mood
She can walk with a switch and talk with street slang
I love it when a woman ain't scared to do her thing

LL Cool J in 1990 knew what he wanted. If it was only that easy. Entering my prime, everyone from nagging Jewish mothers who swear "their daughter is perfect for me," to my nagging (in a very loving way) Jewish mother who claims she found the perfect girl for me every time she meets a single girl are constantly trying to set me up. Of course, being so shallow (or is it judgmental? I can never distinguish between the two), my first reply is always "What does she look like?" So, after further review I
decided to actually sit down and make a list I love lists for those of you who don't know me of what I really want.

1. Yes I want to get married and only once. Not that I have an issue with divorce but I think some people view getting married as buying a shirt at Neiman's and returning it if they don't like it.
2. Religion. Hopefully open-minded cause my view is religion is a dying business and we shouldn't be forced to believe a certain set of codes, but what we actually feel is right.
3. Looks. Yes, I can't be with an ugly girl or even a 6. Call me what you want, but I am who I am and I ain't gonna change. I will also say that over the years I have learned the lesson that I will take a sane 8 over a crazy 10.
4. She has to be fun and open to being adventurous, and not just behind closed doors.
5. Honesty is the best policy. That's my real breaking point. I can tolerate a lot, but not lies. Everyone makes mistakes, but once the trust is gone you have nothing left.
6. Body. I love to work out so she has to be someone who cares about how she looks. The fake shit ain't for me, while its not a deal breaker I like au naturale. (But please support our plastic surgeon advertisers, they keep our lights on and a good set is always fun to look at.)
7. OK, here comes the real asshole comments, but it's hard to argue against it. A good girl needs to have her nails always neat and her car not looking like it's a yard sale. And compromise is meeting in the middle but there are certain things where compromise doesn't work. For example, if I like my place super neat and organized and you don't care to clean up around yourself and you don't mind your place looking like a dorm room after a long weekend party took place, there is no option of compromising. I am not compromising on whether a place should be clean versus dirty. That's a deal breaker, end of story, period, the end.
8. Family. I can't fault her if her family is dysfunction junction, but hopefully she can differentiate between how she was raised and how she should've been raised.
9. There is nothing more sexy than a girl with drive, confidence and a feeling of accomplishment.
10. Tattoos. Well I used to be really against these as you don't put a bumper sticker on a Bentley, but I guess if it's super important to you then it is what it is.
11. And last but not least, someone who is caring, compassionate and emotional as I am an emotional teddy bear.

You find me that person and the un-marryable will get married.

MARC LOTENBERG
Commander of Dysfunction Junction/Heartbreaker/Administrative Assistant to Moni D.
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg

Written by: Marc Lotenberg

It seems that when it comes to makeup, sporting a more subtle look is common practice on both the runway and the red carpet. After watching Hollywood's elite strut their stuff at the Golden Globes, one could easily see the multitude of celebrities that have embraced the nude trend for spring. Pink-y beige lips, paired with neutral, yet elegant eyes, a touch of bronzer, and decidedly mute nails, were all the rage as celebs vied to achieve the effortless, yet spot-on glamor of Hollywood generations past. Skin is kept satin and luminous as eyes are sculpted using an array of neutral browns and grays. Lips are outlined using a nude liner and are kept looking fresh using subtle shades of peach and pink. Sophisticated, yet understated, nails this season are deliberately opaque and highly pigmented for a bold, fresh, yet unexpected statement, and they come in peachy, grey, and taupe-y varieties to suit every skin tone. Above are some tried-and-true favorites that will help you achieve this low maintenance, spring look for yourself. Written by: Keira Rowland

Did you know traditional Chinese medicine is recognized along with western medicine as the only two true medicines in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO)? It is, and acupuncture, in addition to herbs and potions can be very effective for just about anything that ails you. It's great for pain management, migraines, allergies, asthma, fertility and even losing weight and quitting smoking. Sterile disposable needles are used that are so small, once in, are not felt (If you look closely there are needles all over my body, including in my ears and my scalp). The needles open up meridians, channels and redirect blood flow for desired effect. Acupuncturists can also treat for multiple problems at once. For example, in addition to my regular therapy, she has targeted my left hip which has been bothering me, with extra needles and electric current. Cables are attached to a few key needles running through which feels kind of like a gentle tapping. Acupuncturists must study for 4 years in the US, and 5 in China to be certified. Don't knock it till you try it.

My recommended acupuncturists in Miami: Lori Bell at the Standard Hotel and Dr. Amy Chen on 41st St. Written by: Hadley Henriette

I always get excited when I find new raw food options - even though my diet is probably only about 45% raw food right now. It seems all of the raw bars on the market are sweet and fruity, dried fruits and nuts have a really good shelf life, even without preservatives - and they taste really good. That's certainly the case with the new Love Force bars I found at Apple A Day on Miami Beach. They have many flavors, but because of my cashew and apple allergies I was limited to only two. But those two were quite good as evidenced by the half-eaten Fig Ginger bar here (and it wasn't too sweet). I wolfed down half of it when I realized this would be a great blog. Any of the raw food bars (Lra Bars, Raw Revolution, Pure) make a great snack for yourself or kids and contain only 100% living, raw foods with no bad stuff whatsoever.

http://www.loveforce.net/ Written by: Hadley Henriette

Written by: Kira Coplin

The addition of fluoride in America's water supply mid-century may have given us the collective jump on pearly whites that people in the British Isles seem to be lacking. But just because our teeth are cavity-free doesn't mean fluoride is good for us to ingest. In fact many people feel it's downright toxic. Even the FDA is reducing the level deemed safe' for fluoride exposure. According to the Douglass report, and local Miami dentist Dr. Sharp, it was a toxic waste approved for use as rat poison and insecticide. Putting the massive doses in local water supplies was seen as a solution in getting rid of it. Dr. Sharp took matters into his own hands, creating his own line of fluoride-free toothpaste. It's delicious and come in Green Tea flavor, Whitening Mint and a kids Strawberry flavor.


http://www.drfluoridefree.com/ Written by: Hadley Henriette

Hot pink, blood orange, fuchsia, violet...as we mosey our way towards spring, brightly-painted mouths can easily breathe new life into our otherwise muted winter wardrobe. When paired with shades of black, grey, white or nude, a neon lip draws attention to the lips, brightens up the face (hallelujah!), and adds polish and edge to your outfit. If you're worried that bright orange lips aren't going to sit well with your boss on Monday morning, have no fear - there are an endless number of sheer gloss and tint variations on the market that'll come out more coral-y and less tangerine-y for daytime. Scared that someone will accuse you of having "purple lips'? Make sure you select a warmer violet shade that complements your skin tone, think more magenta and less blue-violet, and keep the rest of your makeup simple. Here are some ways to try a bright lip, whether you're looking for a sheer wash of color or a lipstick that packs a punch.

1. Yves Saint Laurent Lip Liner Pencil (True Red, Fuschia) A richly-textured lip pencil that packs a lot of color and doesn't feather or smudge. Helps your lipstick last between cocktails. $28. www.yvessaintlaurent.com

2. NARS Bento Box - a limited edition of two Kabuki cups hand-poured with two shades of a special high-pigment lipstick formula (only 1,000 for sale in the U.S.) Comes with a special kabuki lip brush in a handmade bento box and delivers both a bright pink and red - did we mention the cute-ness factor? $120. www.narscosmetics.com

3. Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencil in Crime - Finally, effortless bright color in a super sheer, super moisturizing "draw on" gloss. www.lipstickqueen.com

4. NARS Lip Gloss in Easy Lover - A sheer hot pink, perfect for an easily touched-up bright pink lip in one simple and easy step. $24. www.sephora.com

5. Beauty is Life Lipstick in Orange - for a highly-pigmented pout made from natural ingredients, Beauty is Life lipsticks have a soft, velvety texture with high shine. $28. www.barneys.com

6. Makeup For Ever Glossy Full Couleur in Cherry Red, Coral, Fuschia - these glosses have a light, non-sticky texture, pack a punch of color, and last for hours. The minty taste is also a plus. $19. www.sephora.com

7. MAC Cosmetics Stylishly Yours Lipstick in Style Curve - this lightweight, cremesheen formula lipstick is the perfect violet hue and complements a variety of skin tones. For a limited time only. $14.50. www.maccosmetics.com

8. Stila Longwear Lip Color in Outrageous - A lipstick and a gloss all in one that boasts long wear time while keeping lips soft in a pretty tangerine hue - I think I'm sold. $20. www.stilacosmetics.com
Written by: Keira Rowland

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Guangzhou Taiji Electronics gave the guys over at Engadget an extra-special treat with their ArtPro Nail Printer line. The printer offers completely customizable nail art that is mind-numbingly easy to apply, you literally strap in individual fingers, and the machine does the rest of the work. Here is what the metro-savvy Engadgeters had to say on the subject:

You put a couple of white base coats on, stick your hand inside, align the desired image to your nail, and hit print -- and an inkjet head (we saw a Lenovo cartridge inside) goes to work. A few seconds later, you're ready to seal the deal with clearcoat. A simple idea, well-executed and highly satisfying.

Uh, yes please!

Want to see how it works? Check out this video on Engadget: www.engadget.com/2011/01/10/artpro-nail-printer-v6-1-hands-in-video/ Written by: Erica Henderson

Dark wine-stained lips, iridescent skin, and black winged-liner are all the rage this season, especially after Natalie Portman sported intricate, Avant-Garde performance makeup in "Black Swan" - here's an easy way to take elements of her makeup in the film and adapt them to your daily routine!

A dark lip can be easily worn with minimal effort to make a bold statement without changing the rest of your makeup - it's on trend for winter and spring (see: Marc Jacobs Spring 2011) and adds an edge of mystery that's perfect for a night on the town or that highly-anticipated holiday soiree.

Luckily, MAC Cosmetics, who not only provided makeup for the film itself, has also come out with an array of new hues and products to keep us experimenting with our color palette all the way into Spring...

Lips: For a solid dark lip that lasts, first prime the lips with a dab of foundation, then line the entire mouth with MAC's "Vino" lip pencil. This will ensure that the color remains true, even if the lipstick happens to come off after eating or drinking. Finish off with a sweep of their limited-edition Marcel Wanders lipstick in "Digna" (a fabulous blackened red). Skipping gloss and keeping this lip relatively matte will ensure that it lasts for hours after it is applied.

Face: Another way to further enhance this look is to apply a champagne-colored highlighter to the tops of the cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of the nose, as well as a tad in the Cupid's bow. MAC's Special Reserve Highlight Powder in "Chez Chez Lame" is a finely-milled iridescent pressed powder that when applied to select areas of the face, gives you a subtle, head-turning glow perfect for either day, or night.

Eyes: With this look, a solid line of black along the lash line keeps attention on the lips while subtly incorporating the dark, dramatic effect to another feature of the face. Try MAC's Fluidline gel eyeliner in either "Blacktrack" or "Dark Diversion" (a fabulous, limited-edition blackberry hue). Apply carefully with a small angled liner brush. Finish with a swipe of your favorite volumizing mascara and you, my friend, are ready for a night on the town!

Go ahead, embrace the dark side.

Written by: Keira Rowland

The last year was filled with an equal amount of chaos and celebration.

Here is my top 20 list of things that stood out.

-Bedbugs crawled their way into your bedroom.
-General Motors exits bankruptcy and then does a record breaking IPO, which will be written about in business books from now on.
-The vuvuzela became a international buzzword.
-Conan O'Brien stood tall again with a comeback.
-Betty White somehow rode the fame train all over again.
-Kanye West went from most hated entertainer to No.1 album chart topper.
-The Facebook movie comes out and now your parents joined Facebook.
-Drake puts out more songs that sound exactly the same yet still all sell.
-Lindsay Lohan realized she just doesn't have the power she thought she did. You are not OJ, sweetheart.
-The iPad becomes a revolutionary product even though the iPhone winds up not being a good working phone.
-Groupon explodes and convinces people to buy things they don't need but with an expiration date to later find out its illegal to put expiration on currency.
-Jetblue flight attendant Steven Slater freaks out.
-Haiti earthquake starts the year off with tragedy and the U.S and others come to the rescue with a star-studded TV charity affair
-LeBron James gets overexposed.
-Lady Gaga rocks a sexy outfit made purely of meat. Really, people?
-Somehow Chelsea Clintons wedding became top news. It must've been a boring week. Or was it top news that someone married her?
-BP turns into Public Enemy No. 1.
-Angry Birds don't seem so angry when looking at their bank account.
-Bieber Fever.
-944 enters chapter 11 reorganization on April 6, and against all odds exits on December 17. Entr'acte


MARC LOTENBERG
CEO/Equinox Addict/Professional Flirt
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg
Written by: Marc Lotenberg

Juicy Couture looks more couture than ever as the new year approaches, filling most of their Rodeo Drive store with fur jackets, shoulder padded blazers and skinny jeans rather than the typical lounge wear. The Erin Fetherston collection, which uses the velour in a trendy way, is proudly on display for the Holidays. Their latest fragrance, Peace Love and Juicy Couture, gives the room an aura of fresh, floral scent, reminiscent of a serene coastal setting. Inspired by the free spirited female, the chic bottle is adorned with bohemian embellishments and turquoise stones which is present as a perfected backdrop for the evenings scene.

With Girls Next Door off the air and Lauren Conrad taking a year out of the spotlight, Kristin Cavallari is 2010's favorite reality blonde. The Laguna Beach and The Hills star is known for her vivacious personality and Southern California good looks, but off screen she is a philanthropist and fashion mogul. But how does she relate to Juicy Couture? A fan of the fragrance and an avid user, she has teamed with the scent as well as the Girl Up foundation in order to give back to adolescent girls in need during the holiday season. On that particular, pristine Beverly Hills evening, she tweeted about the fragrance from her post within the Rodeo Drive location where she reflects on 2010 while lucky guests sip champagne and shop at Juicy after regular store hours. For each re-tweet, Peace Love and Juicy Couture made a donation to Girl Up on the tweeters behalf, intending to give a fresh start to the young girls of Girl Up. The brand and the actress acknowledge the significance of charity as well as their fashion ideals. Kristin clearly has humanitarian hopes for 2011, and she willingly shared her plans and predictions for the new year with 944.

944: What encouraged you to get involved with the project?

Kristin Cavallari: First of all I thought the perfume was just perfect for me. It's very beachy and very girly and feminine, and of course everyone associates me with the beach from Laguna Beach. It's also for a great cause!

944: What kind of woman do you believe can wear the perfume?

KC: I think anybody. I think it's light enough that younger girls could wear it, but I think it's also sexy enough that anyone could really wear it. I don't think it's restricted to one category of women.

944: What does giving back mean to you?

KC: I don't see a reason why not to. I have my charity One Kid One World which helps rebuild schools in El Salvador and Kenya. I'm actually planning a trip to Kenya right now, hopefully in March. But we bring in text books and pencils and everything these kids don't have for the education, and we pay for the teachers' salaries. When kids aren't in school that's when they're getting in trouble. It's a great feeling.

944: Do you have a New Year's resolution?

KC: I usually don't make one because I usually don't keep it, and I don't want to beat myself up about it.

944: In 2011 what fashion items do you believe are going to take off?

KC: I hope wedge shoes because I'm designing a shoe for shoedazzle.com right now that will come out in May or June. It's going to be a wedge, so I hope that those are popular. I think for spring I love brighter colors and I want to start bringing that back into my wardrobe.

944: Any specific pieces you're particularly obsessed with?

KC: For fashion week I saw a lot of tailored shorts but they were a little bigger. I thought those were really cute like with a belt and some awesome heels would be really cool.

944: If you could travel anywhere in the New Year to relax where would that be?

KC: I've been looking at the Maldives. They look beautiful! I know it's like a thirty hour trip from here but they look so relaxing!

944: What's your best memory from 2010?

KC: It's been a great year! I guess, meeting my boyfriend.

944: What are you working on for the future, career wise?

KC: I'm filming The Middle next week for ABC with Patricia Heaton, and my shoe for shoedazzle.com. I'm also developing a reality show right now; I'm in the middle of contracting so of course I can't talk about it. So I'm producing and heading in that direction but also doing a little bit of acting here and there.

**Retweet the message posted on @KristinCav and the Peace Love & Juicy Couture fragrance will make a donation to Girl Up on your behalf. Written by: Kira Coplin

We are right in the thick of cold and flu season and everybody seems to have already gotten sick at least once here at the 944 offices. Well, the perfect sick in bed book just came out. Called The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick', it delves into how those people who never get sick do it. Of course never will this subject be more pertinent than when you're lying in bed ailing. Each chapter is titled with one person's secret to health. The tips run from expected helps like eating garlic, taking probiotics and eating a plant-based diet to less obvious hints like taking cold showers, stretching and napping. While I pride myself on knowing all the best home remedies and preventions, I even learned a thing or two. The only thing I take issue with is the assumption by the author, Gene Stone, that most people get sick once a year. I get 1 to 2 flus and countless colds, even if they're not really bad. What about you?

secretsofpeople.com Written by: Hadley Henriette

Available for winter for a limited time only, CLARINS Beauty Flash Balm (AKA 'coffee for the skin') celebrates its 30th Birthday. Eliminating signs of fatigue and instantly brightening/tightening skin, Beauty Flash Balm is a fusion of makeup and skincare.

How to wear? Apply before foundation to immediately smooth the skin and create an overall refreshed look.

Available for winter, for a limited time, CLARINS Beauty Flash Balm comes in a fancy bottle with Swarovski crystals adorning the cap.

$48 | clarins.com Written by: Kira Coplin