Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

Paris is one of the most prestigious events in the fashion calendar and the most important of all the fashion week's. This season, I jetted off to gay Paris to work with Pierce Mattie PR client hairXpression by Balmain Paris. For the second time in a row, hairXpression by Balmain hair accessories (clip in, clip out hair pieces) were used on the catwalk to create the new looks for Spring/Summer 09.

The Celebrity branding of yesteryear mainly consisted of a celebrity almost obnoixously parading around with their name and face attached to some new fragrance, clothing line, or in Derek Jeter’s case a 24 hour Fitness center named Jeter24.  The idea here is to directly use a public figure as a brand with little or no departure from the celebrity’s own image by including the famous moniker in the brand’s name.

Regardless of which nominee you are voting for in November (Al Gore, jk!) one thing that came out of the debate was a makeover. Hey – this is Pierce Mattie after all. We don’t talk politics; we talk fashion, beauty and lifestyle choices. Are you ready to examine? And no we won’t go there on Gwen Ifill’s signature Key West green colored sports jacket, it was a smart choice considering who she was interviewing.

Let’s start with Sarah Palin:

Here we are again, last week we critiqued Biden and Palin and this week it’s Obama and McCain. Remember this is Pierce Mattie after all. We don’t talk politics; we talk fashion, grooming and lifestyle choices. Though they reference Reagan, JFK and Roosevelt, let’s remember – they are none of the above. Are you ready to examine?

Some of us might be taking the recent headlines as an order to re-evaluate your budget.  I can bet a lot of us might be looking at gym memberships as a cost you can do without.  In a stressful time in your life, a gym membership could be the most important investment you make.   Here are my top three reasons why it’s a no risk-high return investment that we shouldn’t ignore (and what sounds better than a no risk high return investment right now?)

Read the complete post on our Fitness PR blog!

I've turned off the television these last few days; the DOW goes down, people are panicking and all of America is wondering when we'll hit bottom...and if/when we do, how will we make ends meet? Everyone is re-evaluating their budgets, everyone is trying to figure out how to tighten their belts, but does that mean brand loyalty goes south when times get tough?

Being a Beauty PR firm means that when you are watching the debates and the elections news, you are not only focused on what the commentators and candidates are necessarily saying, but often find yourself wondering who the person is behind their makeup. This is something Pierce Mattie picked up on when he compared Palin and Biden then McCain and Obama over the last two debates. I know I certainly wondered how the candidates were able to maintain such a matte look to their skin when under so much pressure, what about you?

Michele Probst working with Chris Matthews before the Presidential Debate at Oxford.

Michele Probst, CEO of Menaji Skincare, is one of those makeup artists working skillfully behind the scenes to make the on-air personalities look flawless and the politicians look trustworthy. Her artistry can be seen on the faces of Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell, Al Gore, Tom Brokaw, Howard Dean, Katie Couric and Barack Obama. Being the seasoned professional that she is, I decided to ask her if she could reveal her tips to making these hard working folks look so good on camera and even tell us the products that work so well.

What makes an off-price retailer so much fun to frequent? The mystery of “How did this <insert brand name here> White Linen Size 6 Dress end up here and in my lucky hands!”  Mystery no more ladies and gentlemen, I present to you three off-pricers who are mass communicating the way in which they acquire their inventory as way to improve their image.

Three major off-price retailers, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Burlington Coat Factory, have all approached brand communications with a similar goal: to educate the consumer on how the brand labels end up in their stores at lower prices than traditional retailers.  Through this approach they glamourize the process by showing well-dressed buyers the consumer might have previously only associated with a high-end retailer.

 TJ Maxx Website

Read the full post on our Fashion PR blog, The Fashion Rag

Let’s face it; it is close to impossible to find a news feature, blog or television story that doesn’t have an angle on the current economic crisis. From fashion stories to travel stories, political ones to technical ones—it seems all the writers of the world are chained to a gurney and forced to begin their article with something to the tune of “As wall street crumbles so does the apple pie at XYZ Bakery.”  If you are feeling as heavy as I am by reading these worrisome stories (and I’ve even written a few myself) then let’s find little luxuries we can still afford to pick us up.

High-fashion magazine: If you can’t buy all the threads your heart desires then why not live inside a high-fashion magazine for a few hours?  The long-legged models wrapped in pricey prêt-à-porter might take your whisk away from economic matters to a world where luxury rules and champagne flows.  Note: the goal here is not to envy but to appreciate the finer things in life as a something to aspire to.

Caviar at a small price: As featured in this Sunday’s issue of Page Six Magazine, "The Millionaire Egg."  Why should caviar, truffles and gold be reserved for the über wealthy?  For $15, a truffle-infused deviled egg topped with sturgeon roe, celery and a gold leaf garnish is delivered to you on the Empire Hotel Rooftop.  If you don’t live in the New York Area, a lot of restaurants offer the same “small plate appetizer” concept with otherwise expensive ingredients.

Last night my fiancé, Skie Ocasio, took me to see Broadway Voices for Change Benefit Concert at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Skie was excited to see his Broadway favorites Audra McDonald & Barbara Cook. As the seats packed to no availability and Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick came out to greet the crowd with an introduction, I just kept staring at her shoes-- they were the gold version of Dorothy’s from Wizard of Oz.

Though their introduction speeches were lackluster and similar to what we saw at the Runway to Change event with the word “great” being used three times in one sentence, I admired Sarah’s tenacity in getting out there to do this over and over again. Though, as a publicist, their repertoire could have been crafted a little better as they read them off large pieces of copy paper. Matthew even had the uncomfortable giggles with what was coming out of his mouth as if he was reading it for the very first time. Never the less, the message last night amongst all of us that live in theater district was clear; support for Obama is at a fever pitch.

As Audra placed an Obama Ken Doll on the piano and Barbara taught the crowd life’s lessons over her decades of experience, she glistened in her usual signature oversized necklace. Skie and I left with goose bumps and he asked; “So what did you think?” My response? "I loved Sarah’s dress."

*Photo Credit: Celebrity-Gossip.net/Splashnewsonline.com

How The Present Economic Conditions Could Force Consumers to Choose Saving Money By Opting For Conventional Products.

Listen up Boils & Ghouls! As you prepare for Halloween, keep in mind the potential dangers that lie ahead. Each year, thousands of wild-eyed hooligans subject their peepers to harmful contact lenses that may look like the perfect finishing touch to their costume, but can leave a long-lasting impression on their vision.

According to a consumer warning issued by the FDA, consumers who wear non-corrective, decorative lenses [at Halloween] sold without a prescription and without proper fitting by an eye care professional are at serious risk of permanent eye injury and potential blindness. Other injuries reported by the FDA include corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis.

David A. Schlessinger, M.D., F.A.A.C.S., a New York-based Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon board certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, offers the following tips to keep your peepers safe this Halloween:

2009 will be the year we see a greater interaction between brands and their targeted consumers thanks to social media and influence of the digital platform. The evolution began slowly, but in the last several months, in combination with a fragile economy, companies small and large, emerging and established, are beginning to see that interacting with consumers, rather than talking at them, has a profound effect on sales, brand loyalty and positive word of mouth.

While many may feel that social media is becoming more fragmented and expanding vastly at such a fast pace, I also think that as social media continues to evolve, there are certain aspects that have become very niche. All you have to do is look at the blogosphere, or Ning for that matter, to see that more and more people prefer to become a part of community that shares their talents, career interests and similarities. Where TheSpaProject.com may be a social network for spa goers, Spa Clique is geared towards spa and salon professionals to connect them and keep them up to date on the inner workings of their industry.

Any bride-to-be knows that their wedding gown is a piece of art that makes for the centerpiece for their big day. There are so many things to consider when choosing the perfect gown to reflect your personality and that to me lies within the details. Pierce Mattie recently attended the WeddingChannel Couture Show at the InterContinental-Barclay Hotel which showcased Spring 2009 bridal gowns from some of the top brands in the industry. Simone Carvalli was one such brand in attendance and Pierce was able to capture the intricate details of her couture wedding gowns up close and personal.

Read the complete post on our Fashion PR blog The Fashion Rag.

What does Halloween mean to the population over the age of 12? Trying not to eat all the candy you bought for trick-or-treaters for one.  Maybe it’s trying to figure out what your children are going to be for Halloween: does your daughter really have to be the fairy princess that wears such a specific tiara?  Or maybe you actually dress up yourself on the occasion and make it an excuse to party and have a good time.  On any other Halloween I might say the last answer was the least evident—but this year, I think people will use a Halloween character as a way to escape the economic woes that are sweeping the nation right now.

Bideawee, NY S.A.V.E., and Montel Williams are hosting the StarPet 2008 Awards Luncheon on Monday, November 10th at 11:30 AM at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. Six dog and cat finalists will show off their tricks to compete for the grand prize of talent representation by Celebrity Pet Trainer Bash Dibra. Ticket purchase supports two great humane organizations here in New York.

StarPet 2008’s Star Line-Up: Host: Montel Williams

Celebrity Judges:
Paulina Porizkova
Michael Musto from the Village Voice
Roberta Flack
Mike Jerrick from the Morning Show with Mike and Juliet
Amanda Setton and Michelle Hurd from Gossip Girl
Jill Rappaport from the Today Show
Jenna Morasca from Survivor

Honorary Chair: Eileen Fulton, As the World Turns

Special Celebrity Guests:
Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Constantine Maroulis from American Idol
David Best, MD and Elvis from the Greatest American Dog TV show
Laurie and Andrew from the Greatest American Dog TV show

Celebrity Pet Trainer to the Stars: Bash Dibra

Check out the video with a message from Montel Williams and Bash Dibra on The Doctor's Channel. To purchase tickets online, visit www.starpet2008.com.

Tags: Lifestyle PR

The media landscape has been changing since the emergence of social media as a highly influential platform. Everyone has a soapbox and everyone wants to be heard. Some voices are louder than others reaching further and riding that digital wave. Not every brand out there understands how to effectively become part of that conversation and if there is any one thing that people tell me when I talk to them about how social media is instrumental for businesses today, it's that there is so much fragmentation that it makes their eyes cross. They often wonder, where do I begin? Which social media tools are the most effective? Do I have to be on every single social media site out there for it to have any impact on my business?