HOLLYWOOD—The holidays are upon us, so it’s time to think of buying gifts. When it comes to buying gifts for women, men tend to wait for the very last minute and end up buying something that is returned the day after Christmas. Fragrances are very personal, unless you have been dating for a long time, at least for over six months. We have to thank the late Elizabeth Taylor, who kick-started the celebrity fragrance trend.
Dame Elizabeth Taylor, back in 1991 started with White Diamonds-which has gone on to become a global blockbuster and a perfume classic. Back in those days, celebrity fragrances were as rare as the egg diamond on La Taylor’s finger. Now, barely a bus goes by that isn’t emblazoned with a scantily clad starlet cuddling her life-size signature scent. As everyone knows celebrity scents tap into aspiration and escapism. Smelling like your favorite star, is the way many fans think they are getting close to them, it’s like stalking by scent.
Another reason why certain fragrances linked with famous faces become bestsellers, they actually smell sublime. Look no further than the new fragrance by Paris Hilton, she released a few months ago her new scent entitled ‘Gold Rush.’ The perfume is a mixture of citrus, floral and warm cashmere with a hint of vanilla. It happens to be her 20th fragrance since 2004.
Then you have ‘Glowing’ by J-Lo which is a clean-scented hit with its innocent baby touch of cleanliness like soap. Then you have Madonna’s ‘Truth or Dare,’ with hints of gardenia and tuberose scent. The scent evokes a sexy, white floral femme fatale of a fragrance.
Jewelry is always a bit pricey, especially deep-blue diamonds, if they are D-color and flawless. Emeralds that are top grade from Columbia are beautiful as well. Pink Diamonds are still very popular. Watches from Michael Kors to Rolex to Richard Mille Panda Tourbillion watch, encrusted with black and white diamonds. They are limited with only 15 of them worldwide. Then you have the Tourbillion RM-018 with a whopping price tag of $1 million. The luxury watch is made from chondrite meteorite from an asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars.
Handbags are very popular from Chanel, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci or Hermes. The Hermes bag is always a must-have for those that can afford a Birkin. There is always a Coach bag for moderate incomes, which is very affordable especially if purchased at an outlet.
While some of us are shopping for the holidays others are grieving. Country music star Dolly Parton is heartbroken over wildfires that have killed three people and injured 14 near her Tennessee resort. Mandatory evacuations are under way around Gatlinburg as wildfires have set hundreds of buildings ablaze. The fires threaten Dollywood, a theme park owned by Dolly Parton, and an aquarium hosing thousands of animals.
Dollywood, in the mountain town of Pigeon Forge, has evacuated guests from some of its properties, with several cabins and vacation structures being damaged, a spokesman said. Parton, 70, had appeared in a public service advertisement on November 27, asking people nearby to take steps to prevent spreading the fire.
Another tragedy happened on November 28, when a plane carrying the Brazilian soccer players crashed in Colombia. In the air traffic tower tape, a pilot can be heard repeatedly requesting permission to land due to a “total electric failure” and lack of fuel. Just before the tape ends, the pilot says he is flying at an altitude of 9,000 feet. Six out of the 77 people on board survived the crash. The plane which was carrying Brazil’s Chapecoense football (soccer) team and 20 journalists were among those killed. The team was flying to Medellin on November 28 for what would have been the biggest match in their history. There has been an outpouring of grief and support from the soccer world.
Rose’s Scoop: Elvis Presley’s friend and aide has passed away at age 78. Joe Esposito was a member of Elvis Presley’s inner circle, known as the “Memphis Mafia.” Esposito died of natural causes in California last week after suffering from dementia.
