Free + Empowering: Lingerie Photoshoot

From women's magazines to shows like Carson Kressley's "How to Look Good Naked," something we've noticed over and over again is the power of perception on women who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder. I've always felt that most women, at least all the women I know, suffer from slight body dysmorphic disorder and think they're fatter/bigger/lumpier than they are. One type of "pop-therapy" that seems to work wonders on mild cases of BDD is a good old fashioned photoshoot. There's something about getting the photographs and seeing yourself from a third-person sort of distance that can dramatically alter the way you think about your body. Looking in the mirror just isn't the same, you know? Anyway, I think it's so cool that British lingerie company Bravissimo is offering a free lingerie photoshoot with bra fitting for a limited time at a handful of their UK locations. Now, if only an American lingerie retailer would follow suit...

Click through to the Bravissimo site for more info:

Bargain of the Week

Spa day: Free.

New Stuff

Retro paper mobiles, vintage apothecary jars, and more new stuff in New York stores.

Bernard Julian, Aspiring Musician/Retail Employee

“I was always told that because I was born in the nineties, I couldn’t appreciate Michael Jackson—but I really did! I bought all I could, and I tried dancing like him for a while. I was horrible.”

Everybody’s talking about Pixie Lott

Eighteen-year old Pixie Lott just released her first single in June and now she's everywhere in the UK, everywhere. Her album doesn't drop until September (in the meantime she's working on a Simlish -- that's Sims language -- album with Electronic Arts), but savor what you can right now -- Lott's voice is like finely aged musty dusty-rose silk. And her look? Pure popstar.

Unconventional Beauty

It's hard to come up with a modern day equivalent for Napoleon Perdis's muse for his newest makeup collection, the Marchesa Casati. I guess you could say she's like Dave Navarro meets Paris Hilton - an over the top socialite with an unconventional gothic beauty.

The Marchesa is famed for having her own exotic animal menagerie and preferring to lounge in the nude covered only with a fur coat. For the preview of The Divine Marchesa line, exclusively at Ulta stores this fall, Perdis outfitted his midtown apartment as the Marchesa would. There were statuesque models passing finger foods, decadent animal print rugs, and deep purple Calla Lilies accenting the tables displaying the upcoming line.

The line includes a lightweight spray foundation available in a variety of shades ($49), a quad of deep eye shadow perfect for the dramatic night out ($35), a matte finish jet black nail polish ($10) and a mini red lip shine in a compact designed as a black rose (a gift with purchase). Ulta is a national chain which has yet to his this city but all the Perdis products will be available online at ulta.com. Come fall when the weather starts to cool, you'll want these darker warm colors so you too can channel the luxurious Marchesa lifestyle.

- by Calla Salinger

Just in from Urban Outfitters:

An extra 15 percent off all sale merch now through June 30 at urbanoutfitters.com . Plus free shipping and returns on all purchases over $150.

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Where to Find Secondhand Sofas, Vintage Caftans, and Leftover Lucite

The best shops for secondhand clothes, accessories, knickknacks, domestic miscellany, shoes, and rugs.

The Neighborhood Below

Where and how to while away a summer day along (and beneath, and beside) the city’s favorite new public space.