Ask any girl what some of her beauty hacks are, and you’re likely to get an assortment of tips that you can start using immediately. That’s what Stacy London—best known for the television shows What Not to Wear and Love, Lust or Run—was counting on when 15 students from FIT assembled at Tiny’s in Tribeca to “Dish With Stacy.” And dish they did.
Using purple shampoo to maintain platinum blond strands (“It also keeps brown hair glossy and shiny,” London added), a devotion to eyebrow cream, taking eye makeup off with baby shampoo, using coffee grounds as an exfoliating scrub, employing nine different face washes, and keeping a “beauty drawer” at work were just some of the secrets revealed.
London, who is just as approachable, warm, and funny off-camera as she appears onscreen, is the brand ambassador for Hollywood Fashion Secrets, a line of essentials to perfect one’s appearance when style emergencies happen. The line makes products like fashion tape to fix hems on skirts and dresses and gaps in blouses, perfume atomizers, cotton swabs soaked in eye makeup remover for touch-ups, lint-removing sheets, and stain-removing wipes. “These are all the tips and tricks I used as an editor,” London said. “These are the things you see in every stylist’s kit.”
The event was held to help raise awareness of the line in the consumer market and to be a forum for brainstorming ideas for new products based on needs such as chipped nails and pantyhose runs. The students also chimed in with their ideas for where to market the products, such as through bridal boutiques, personal shoppers, and gifting services. The students were as passionate about their own beauty regimens as they were about having a chance to share their thoughts, and about meeting and chatting with London, who graciously took photos and selfies with everyone at the end of the discussion.
“Being prepared is part of being stylish,” London advised the group. “You always want to be in control of your own image, whether you go into fashion or another field.”