After months of patiently waiting, it finally arrived. It arrived on an ordinary Thursday, when I least expected. When I first saw it I wasn’t quite sure it was it. It wasn’t until I saw those three words GUINNESS – WORLD – RECORD that I immediately knew. That’s right folks, Purple Lab is officially in the books as the record holder for the Largest Speed Dating Event in Guinness World Record History.

Guinness World Record!

For those of you who are a bit lost and may be thinking why a beauty brand would break a record for a dating event, I’ll refresh your memory. Back in January, Purple Lab teamed up with the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ to launch our latest lip stain and gloss duo, Luvah, equipped with libido stimulants and aphrodisiacs. How better to launch the sexist lip product on earth with “Find Your Luvah,” the largest dating event on earth?

Speed Dating in Action

To add that extra dose of dating and relationship street cred, we signed on Steve Ward, the expert matchmaker behind the VH1 reality series, “Tough Love.”

Karen and Steve Ward, the hosts

The event was a huge success attracting 313 speed daters which can be seen in the official certificate. The funny part was, gathering 313 people into one room to speed date was a breeze. The challenging part was proving to Guinness that we met the task. To be officially recognized as a record breaker we had to send in the following information:

1. A recap of the event

2. Signed statements from two witnesses that details exactly what they saw us do, including times, scores, dates and the location where the attempt took place. Each statement needed to be on letterheaded paper from the witness’ company, and include their contact details

3. A signature from each speed dating participant (which we collected at the event)

4. Official video footage of the event

5. Official photographs of the event

6. Official press coverage of the event

The above information had to be gathering and sent to Guinness within two weeks of breaking the record. We mailed the supporting materials in February, 2010 and we just received recognition on Thursday, July 1, 2010.

They take their time in London at the GWR head courters.

Receiving the official certificate from Guinness was a very exciting moment for me as I worked extremely hard on the “Find Your Luvah” event. Here I am holding our award proudly!

So its official, Purple Lab is in the books and has made world record history – we may be a small indie brand but how many other companies can say they achieved Guinness Record status?

Mwah!

Sharon
Communications Queen

Every season, fashion designers have a look book, a book that’s curated to perfection, showcasing the collection. It’s not something beauty brands would typically do. Being that I’m such a fashion girl at heart, I was a little jealous! I wanted one!

Today we launch our look book (the cover image is above)!

So I asked some of our favorite bloggers and F.O.P.L. (friends of Purple Lab) to strike a pose. We turned my apartment into a photo studio.

The kitchen was the Dolce Gusto coffee and muffin “craft station” as they say on movie sets.

The living room is was saved for hair and makeup. Turns out that Britt, our multi-tasking maven (a.k.a. intern) who also wound up in one of the pics, is genius with hair! To give you a sense of the mayhem – 11 models, 3 makeup artists, Sharon and a team of 4 interns, 2 Dolce Gusto girls manning the cappuccino, 1 photographer, and me.

Our makeup artists rocked! Thank you to Stacie Ford, Ani Hovhannisyan, and Donna Beretsky-Neidecker, who are so talented and smoke out an eye like nobody’s business! And then there’s Ana Schecter, photographer (or as I like to call her, photographess). She is sooooo talented, it hurts! Love, love, love you Ana, Stacie, Ani and Donna!

We carefully plotted which look would be right for each model. Extreme and edgy red liner (Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Red Sole doubled as shadow for the day) for Karen Blanchard of Where did U Get That – she has such a downtown vibe that we knew she could pull it off (not everyone in the world can, but we also gave her a natural look).

Meanwhile, Todd was on the roof deck, morphing it into a photo ready studio. We hung a white blanket on the fence between our deck and our neighbor’s (for a stark white background), removed the table, chairs and grill and set the stage.

This is Ana at work, shooting a pregger and beautiful Mildred of Beauty Logic Blog.

And here she is with the lovely Audrey of Homerun Ballerina, whose birthday is today by the way! HAPPY B’DAY PRETTY GIRL! J’ADORE! Audrey has such a natural glow about her so it was fun to get enhance it with the highlighter of Luxury Squared.

Now, Virginia Nam of Lovely 20s and The Examiner. She looks like such a perfect little porcelain doll so we had to go with it for this very Asian-inspired look, using Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Lychee Martini on the eyes (it really works well as a shadow but you do have to let it dry!)

P.S. We’re working on shadows, BTW! Coming somewhat soon-ish!

Christine from My Style Pill pulled off a really out-there, runway-ready eye – words won’t do it justice. The rest of the face was super natural so that the eyes were the main attraction. See below and drool!

It took a while to perfect the heavy rock star eyes for Anne of The Jet Set Girls. I love the contrast of the dark, dark eye on her fair skin. And that red hair! She was so fierce, I couldn’t stop kvelling all over her!

Noelle and Joelle of The Owls Are Not What They Seem, gave us the glamour – each with two looks.

But check out the eye on Noelle. When the eye was open, it just looked like a thin cat eye but when closed, it was ON!

And Joelle – no words!

F.O.P.L. included Amanda, the cutest blond! She entered our model search contest and we fell so in love with her that we asked her to be in our look book (she came with her mom, Andrea, who started a Twitter account called @vote4amanda when her daughter was racking up votes!)

Hello Bridget Bardot eyes (Ani, amazing job!).

Barbara Dial, our resident pole dancing teacher (from S-Factor, the inspiration behind Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Kitty Poledancer, soft nude-pink), is the consummate California girl. So we edged her up with a side bun and red-red lips.

There was one more look we were dying to do at the end of the day – something kind of hippie chic with a long side braid and we turned Britt into a model! How gorgeous is she here?

More Behind the scenes pics are on Facebook.

And there’s a great video as well, created by Kendra Elise (there she is below).

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

I have a pile of WWDs stacked up to my knees. I can’t quite find the time to go through them all but yesterday, I stopped dead in my work-tracks when I noticed the cover of Monday’s issue.

The makeup! I die! It was calling my name!

It was an image from Dior’s resort 2011 collection and the eye, which may be hard to really tell in the photo, was deeee-vine! A gray winged cat eye just below a pink liner that started at the corner of the eye by the nose.

I had Sharon drop whatever she was doing so we could recreate the look.

There’s something about her that’s so 60s to me! I always tell her she looks like she stepped off the set of Mad Men (counting the days until it’s back on air). Here we are in the “makeup lounge,” a.k.a. my closet.

Here’s how to get the look:

1. Using Lashionista Modelista’s liquid liner portion, line the top lid. This should be very thin.

2. To get the wing shape in a soft gray, create another line using the same product, right above the first line, but not touching it.

3. Smudge it out with a short bristled brush. As you smudge, it tones the shade from black to gray. The more you smudge, the lighter the shade becomes.

4. With a small eye liner brush, swipe Cheek Implants in Six Inch Heels (a soft pink hue) right above the gray smudged cat eye, like a stripe that extends from the tip of the wing to the corner of the eye by the nose.

5. Curl the lashes and use two coats of mascara for an extra thick lash

6. Using Luxury Squared’s highlighter, add a touch of shimmer under the brow to enhance the brow bone.

7. Add a nude lip. The nude is key because you want the eyes to stand out – a dark shade would be too much at once. I used Luvah in Mama’s Boy.

The final creation:

Yesterday was a nonstop meeting marathon with beauty editors. Eight of them to be exact. They’re called desk sides (Last week, I wrote about how Sharon made this happen here). It’s when you bring your products to the editors at their desks, which makes their lives a lot easier.

This is Sharon getting our presentations ready.

Looks are everything with these things. You have about 10 to 20 minutes, 30 if you’re lucky, to make a good impression.

Our day was a little insane – up and down, east and west, we were all over the city, schlepping these boxes. It was rainy and icky. And because we cannot afford a driver and it would have been hell to hail cabs with our arms full, Todd drove us.

We sat in the back of his truck and everything. While he didn’t wear a little cap, he was certainly the hottest driver in town! I have to tip him!

I got to see a lot of editors I “grew up” in the industry with – it’s kind of crazy to see the girls I was once an assistant along side and where we are now. My freind Gwen, from US Magazine, actually inspired a future shade of Lashionista Modelista that, if I can do well, I’ll call “Made for Gwen.”

She loved everything. Yay! I don’t want to give her secret shade away but know this – she’s got fair skin and auburn hair. It works really well with that type!

The celebrity weekly magazines are all about celeb names. If you can say you have a good following, it’s vital. Luckily, we just received the loveliest thank you note from one Cindy Crawford.

She wrote “Love the blush!” So Sharon’s cute line was “supermodel stamp of approval” and then I say “for modelesque cheek bones.”

Some editors, however, are very poker-faced about the whole thing. You have to remember – they see, I don’t know, 100 brands a week, minimum! They show no emotion, like front row perennials at a fashion show.

So you leave wondering if they liked it, if you’ll get in. It’s almost like sorority rush or taking a test you studied so hard for and leaving totally unsure of whether you passed or failed.

Today, we’re going to try a new approach to show Lashionista Modelista – I’m coming armed with a little angled brush and doing Sharon’s eyes on the spot so they see the billion ways to use it.

Ready to take on the magazine world.

Wish us luck!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

The spring runway – and even many fall runways – were stalked by glamazons sporting a fresh-faced, natural, no-makeup-makeup look. Have you noticed? So we put Ashley, one of our multi-tasking mavens, to the test and create the look herself.

Meet Ash:

She is an all-natural kind of girl to begin with (not to mention the most amazing singer ever – full on jazz vocals a la Norah Jones).

Armed with Silk Sheets luxe foundation infused with silk, Luxury Squared under-eye concealer and highlighter, collagen-packed Cheek Implants in Backstage Pass (ripe, delicious peach with golden undertones), Lashionista Modelista and Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Worship Kate, she turned herself into an exact replica of what Stella McCartney’s models looked like on the catwalk. (Love Stella, BTW.)

Here’s how to get that youthful, clean, natural look.

More how-tos to come! And do let us know what you want to see us create!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

You know we have a new liquid liner/mascara duo called Lashionista Modelista. Both are full of growth-enhancing peptides and conditioner. And the shade After Dark has diamond dust in the liner (Modelista). You know I love a good diamond (I’m an Aries, after all).

We were insired by Bridget Bardot and did some playing on Friday to create the ultimate smokey eye look.

While After Dark is more black than bling, I wanted to bring out the sparkle of the diamonds and create a steel gray look worthy of Studio 54. Halston, not required.

Here’s the step by step:

1. Draw a line along the line of the top lash from the inside corder to the outside corner

2. Build the line so that it gets thicker and thicker as you move away from the inner corner of the eye, almost shading in the entire lid, winging it out VERY slightly at the edge (it’s not about a major cat eye but it’s nice to get an almond shape)

3. Don’t panic if it looks VERY black – it will but it won’t stay that way after the next step

4. While the liquid liner is still wet, begin to smudge it with a short-bristled brush

5. As you smudge, you will see the black will fade and the diamond dust will emerge more and more 

6. Blend evenly so that the color is dispersed equally across the lid

Hot, isn’t it?

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

My last post, I talked about how some of the negative remarks – not even on the products, but about me as a person – were hurtful and upsetting. I received so many beautiful comments that I am so thankful for – all full of support and appreciation.

And I have now fully, 1000000% let it all go.

No need to have that bring me down.

When I created Purple Lab, my first thought was all about women, to build a brand that could be aspirational and inspirational, to have fun, to laugh, to offer something with serious ingredients and a nice side of cheekiness, and most importantly, to empower.

My message is that all of us women should feel fabulous, glamorous, amazing – inside and out, in our sweats or in our heels.

Yes, some of the harsh words on the forums and in other comments on blogs were upsetting. A tear or two streamed down my face (or maybe more than two). Then I had a little heart to heart with myself.

I have SO much emotion tied to Purple Lab. I give it every ounce of my energy and soul, as does Todd. This is truly our baby. We visited our products in stores on Mother’s Day last year!

It was somewhat disappointing to not be able to share that excitement 
with everyone – or feel that it was mutual.

But I am taking a lesson from my own brand – I will transcend the negative words, the frustration, and just do what I love, what makes me happy, and share the passion I have for it every way that I can.

And no more forums for moi. Not a single one!

Thank you all! You rock!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

The best thing about partnering with HSN – I’m living my dream.

The down side - other people have something to say about it and not always so nice.

I don’t think every product is for every person. And I don’t expect the entire planet to live and die for Purple Lab, though I do wish they would! But I never quite expected to see some of the comments that have been popping up on forums and on my AOL blog, Beauty Blab.

One person said I looked like a short, fat Farrah Fawcett in my jumpsuit.

I know I’m short. Yes, I could lose a few lbs. That stung, even though a Farrah comparison is nice (just not the fat part).

Another comment said I should tame my hair.

I don’t like a lot of things about my physical appearance. Believe me. No one is harder on me than I am. But I’m just not a tame hair kind of girl. My crazy unruly curls suit me.

I also saw a little drama going down on one forum. Some people said “shame on HSN” for having Purple Lab and someone who follows us on Twitter and Facebook jumped in to say how and why she loves the brand. Thank you, Tabathia! You’re such a doll!

The person who started the convo, however, did not agree. She retorted, “This must be Karen writing this.”

I was in tears by the end of it. There was a lot of confusion over names of the colors of the lip glosses – like No Panty Lines and Worship Kate. Worship Kate is inspired by my style icon Kate Moss (one person didn’t understand why I’d worship a “drug addict,” but really, it’s about a personal sense of style that I worship, not a substance abuse habit. I don’t even drink!).

I couldn’t understand where so much anger was coming from. Like I said, I welcome all feedback on products – good or bad – because I can learn from them and improve. I know that every product is not for every one. It’s like perfume. My mom wears a Cartier fragrance that I love on her – but it’s horrid on me!  

Don’t get me wrong – there were amazing reviews as well. Yay! For some reason, it’s easy for me to focus on the negative.

I’ve always been the type to look at myself in the mirror and see only the flaws – never would I do that with someone else, but me… I’m fair game! 

Todd threatened divorce if I ever go back. I can’t change the way people see things and not everyone will take the time to really get to know Purple Lab or me as the Creatrix of the products.

So I have sworn them off – forever – and I just hope that we can all be friends! Is that so wrong?

Just my musing for the day.

Enjoy yours.

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Not a moment of rest since HSN went down. We’re in the midst of planning the next group of shows for the April, for which I’ll be bringing contest winner Jessica Harlow with me! (I’m meeting her this week  – so excited!)

Plus, the manic manufacturing phase for Pearlesque Show has begun. Below, a comp of the design for the componentry.

Sharon and I are furiosly planning PR and marketing – desk sides with the major magazines, adding content to the site, starting to shoot how-to videos, and a special initiative for Pearlesque Show’s launch (cannot give deets yet – but it will be fierce).

While I shared the design comp for the component, we’re still working on the box it goes in (a.k.a. unit carton). All of the wordage, however, has been sent to HSN’s legal for approval. I’m praying I will get it in the next two weeks so I have time to do something pre-launch.

Always a mad rush. I dream of the day it’s not!

In the meantime, don’t ask me about tax situation. It’s a wreck. And I would guesstimate that I’m a good year away from having a real office, which means I am putting aside baby making plans for later. No way could I imagine having an infant in my home office with five interns, a desk in the living room, no door to shut (the apartment is loft-like, hence no privacy and I often take conference calls in the closet or bathroom), and running around the way I do.

I swear, if I did give birth right now, the baby would surely turn out to be the unibomber. Sorry mom and dad! I have to wait another year – not the best idea considering I’m verrrrry close to 40.  

Thank God my brother is having a child in April – alleviates a little of the grandparent-pressure!

There are big conversations in-office about retail expansion – are we ready and if so, where? It’s hard to grow in the traditional brick and mortar arena.

Imagine you’re in a massive store with 200 locations.

You have to provide point of sale displays to each, along with multiple testers of all products. You have to visit each store regularly, send a team in to train staff and often, you send someone to work the floor in your name. There’s marketing for each location on top of it all.

Meaning: MONEY!

Selling IN is one thing… selling THROUGH is another. That requires support.

Back to MONEY which is not at my disposal, sadly.

Even as you sell products on HSN, any money coming in goes back to fuel the growth of the company, manufacturing, cost of goods, photo shoots for the site. Need I go on?

I’m also talking to the chemists about some products for July for the HSN presentations then. Totally hush-hush so I can’t go there now, but if the testing we’re doing works out, OMG, will I have something insane for your makeup bag!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

You don’t understand. I NEVER stay up late. I don’t go out. I don’t drink. I don’t do coffee. I like to be in bed NO later than 11p.m. When I heard I’d have a 2a.m. slot on HSN, I immediately panicked. How would I make it?

Lots of sugar-free Red Bull (I know it’s poison, but I had no choice). Lots!

First of all, for the slot, I got decked in purple Proenza Schouler sequins and skinny Current/Elliot jeans. Six inch heels go without saying. Hair, kind of Farrah’d out for the night.

Bobbi Ray Carter, a sprightly petite brunette with loads of good energy, hosted. And I have to thank her right now. It was the first time she did a 2a.m. spot in 27 years. Bobbi – to what do I owe this honor? Mwah!

I got to the green room at midnight and watched Diane Gillman’s show, which was right before. The woman is madness on HSN! 28,000 pairs of jeans sold in two hours! I worship at her altar!

Her models were also wearing Purple Lab makeup!

I’m a fan of the cross promotion! Bobbi was donning her white skinnies – and looking skinny!

Oh! Gigi Levangie called in to give a testimonial! She’s the best-selling author of Queen Takes King, Maneater, and the Starter Wife, which was a Lifetime movie with Debra Messing. And she said Huge Lips Skinny Hips is the only gloss she uses! Love you, Gigi!

When a caller is on the line, there’s a screen on set that says “Phone Call from Gigi, Los Angeles, CA” to alert you. The first time we had a call in, I got so excited and blurted it out.

Oops! That’s what the hosts are supposed to do.

I was totally loopy after the show – oddly high on energy and exhausted at once. I had a 10a.m. flight back home the next day. And when I got there, I literally slept for sixteen straight hours!

Before I sign off, I thought I’d share two pictures and moments.

This is Jen Bates, one of the producers I worked with and fellow Jersey girl. She was on hand at speed dating as well, capturing it on film (will have footage soon).

En route to the set as the makeup is touched up and the ear piece is shoved in!

I’ll be back on HSN in April, so stay tuned for more information, new shades of Huge Lips Skinny Hips and Lashionista Modelista in midnight blue (it’s so dark, it’s like black but the blue brings out the whites of the eyes – it’s called Modern Classic because, like a trench, it’s a staple we should all have in our repertoire).

Be on the look out for the new primer, Pearlesque Show. Details to be revealed soon.

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix