In honor of the 84th Academy Awards, Voli Light Vodkas has prepared a series of cocktails celebrating this year's best and brightest.
The Crystal Cosmo (an ode to this year's host, Billy Crystal)
1 1⁄2 oz Voli Lyte
1 oz fresh lemon juice
2 oz Cranberry Juice
1⁄2 oz Agave Nectar
Top with Prosecco (OPTIONAL)
Garnish: Lemon twist In a mixing tin, add ice, Voli Lyte, lemon juice, agave and shake. Stain into a martini glass and top with Prosecco
Approximate calories: 150
As Fashion Week came to a close the MAC team was just getting started, celebrating the launch of the latest iteration of the Viva Glam campaign, this season fronted by Ricky Martin and the incomparable Nicki Minaj photgraphed by David LaChapelle. Celebrities, beauty girls and makeup artists alike came out to celebrate.
If you're not familiar, the Viva Glam campaign is unique, in that every cent of the purchase price of Viva Glam products goes to benefit the MAC AIDS Fund. Founded in 1994, the MAC AIDS Fund raised over $38 million last year alone. These funds are then used to support organizations around the world not only dedicated to the fight against AIDS, but assisting those affected by HIV/AIDS. If you think that your purchase of a lipstick means nothing, think again. This is one instance where it could make all the difference.
This year, Ricky and Nicki have lent their superstar power to the cause and have been immortalized in beauty history as a result. For Ricky, a gender-friendly colorless Lip Conditioner ($15). For Nicki, a bold pink lipstick in a bright yellow pink satin formula ($14.50). It's worth nothing that Viva Glam Nicki is different from her very limited edition Pink Friday, a bright blue-based pink.
There have been a lot of great Viva Glam colors throughout the years (and some are still best sellers to this day). I'm curious - what's your favorite Viva Glam shade?
It's no secret that I absolutely adore Robert Verdi. I've gotten to know the amazing, multifaceted person that he is over the past couple of years and I have the utmost respect for him. He's super talented in all things design, not just styling, and is a truly genuine person. Naturally when he announced the launch of his exclusive collection of sunglasses on HSN, I had to take a moment and get to know the line a little better. I played with a few pairs at his lounge during Fashion Week and fell in love with how affordable they are - $25 - but I had a few questions I needed to know the answer to, including how sunglasses became his trademark. Check out his answers, below.
I don't think I've ever seen you without a pair of sunglasses on your head. How did they become your signature accessory?
When I first started working in television, I was seriously insecure about being bald, so I put sunglasses up there on my head as a pseudo hairline-slash-hat-slash-wig, and no one ever noticed I was bald again (wink).
You've worked with a lot of celebrities in your career and I have a feeling a few of them have a pair of sunglasses named after them in your line - can you tell me more about how you chose the name for each style?
The sunglasses are all named for fabulous women in my life, and while some of those fab women do happen to be celebrities, they all are uniquely stylish, interesting and inspiring women. When naming the glasses, I envisioned the women in my life who best represent the characteristics of each particular frame, be it tom boy, beach bunny, powerful executive, working mom, fashion editor... or all of the above! Those are the women they are named for. There's even a pair coming out in the next collection named after my first must, who happens to be my sister.
There are some bold colors and prints in your collection - any tips on how to wear those for spring?
For women who are color lovers, this will be a seamless addition to their wardrobe and another way to add dimension and flare to her already colorful style statement. For women who are shy to wear color this is most exciting accessory to buy, because its an easy way to add a pop of excitement and drama in the form of bright, fun color. These bright colors are also great in the spring when women are wearing bright stripes and floral prints, these accessories will coordinate easily. The best thing about these sunglasses is that the various styles can really reflect your personality and let you be who you want to be, and there's something for every spring outfit so you can mix and match to create the right mood/look that YOU are feeling this Spring!
A lot of people don't know that you actually started your career as a jewelry designer. You've since designed handbags and now sunglasses - any aspirations to design clothing or perhaps a home decor line?
I have aspirations to take over the world, Sarah! I'd like to take everything I've learned working across all fields of style - fashion, home design and entertaining - and create fabulous products that make peoples lives easier and more stylish. That is my job!
To catch Robert's debut on HSN, tune in on February 22nd at 10pm and February 23rd at 7am and 5pm, all times EST or be a smart cookie & shop Robert's collection on HSN.com before it sells out!
