BellaSugar

Who Wears the Angled Bob Best?

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:57:58 -0700

This modern twist on the blunt bob has really taken off in Hollywood. It's a chin-length crop that's cut straight around the back, with a longer, angled layer in the front to frame the face. Do you think that Star Jones, Rihanna, Jenny McCarthy or Victoria Beckham wears it best?

How Do You Prefer Rashida Jones's Hair?

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:00:27 -0700

You might know Rashida Jones from her roles on The Office and I Love You, Man, and now she's starring in a new series, Parks and Recreation. It's very rare that we see the actress without bangs, but at last night's kickoff for the new show, Rashida switched it up, wearing a side-swept braid. When it comes to Rashida's locks, do you prefer her with her signature blunt bangs or do think she's on the fringe of something good with this style?

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Bella Donna: Diahann Carroll

BellaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:00:18 -0800

Born in the Bronx in 1935, Carol Diahann Johnson started singing in her church choir at age six. Ten years later, she auditioned for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts show using the name Diahann Carroll, eventually winning the contest and performing on the daily radio show for three weeks. She sought modeling gigs, but her voice and presence presented her biggest successes.

Up against the color barrier on the big and small screens as well as on the stage, Carroll worked through it debuting both on Broadway in a supporting role in the Harold Arlen/ Truman Capote musical House of Flowers as well as having her film debut opposite Dorothy Dandridge in Carmen Jones, an all-black, updated version of the Georges Bizet opera "Carmen." Upon reflecting on her early years, she later told a reporter, "I like to think I opened doors for other women, although that wasn't my original intention." Regardless of what she planned, that's just what she did. Find out what happened next for Carroll when you read more.

Still unable to climb to the top ranks of film with a leading role, she briefly returned to Broadway (winning a Tony for her performance in 1962 musical No Strings, a role was written just for her by Richard Rodgers of famed duo Rodgers and Hammerstein). Next up: Her big breakthrough to become the first black actress in television history to star in her own series. Carroll's role as the lead character in NBC's Julia convincingly portrayed the sophisticated actress as a nurse and widow struggling to support her small son. At her request the show ran for only two seasons but she came out with a Golden Globe for "Best Newcomer," an Emmy nomination, and the clout needed to get her first leading film role.

Acting as the title character in the 1974 film Claudine, Diahann Carroll was then nominated for a "Best Actress" Oscar the following year, making her one of only seven African-American actresses to ever receive this honor. With a career now spanning nearly six decades, she's still as beautiful and active as can be most recently acting in a recurring role (as Jane Burke) on Grey's Anatomy and releasing an autobiography in 2008 titled The Legs Are the Last to Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying, Mothering and Other Things I Learned Along the Way. I'm a big fan of her varied hairstyles - and our shared love of eyeliner - so check out her glamorous shots over the years in the gallery below.

View 22 Photos ›

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Bella Donna: Dorothy Dandridge

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:00:25 -0700

It's time for this week's installment of Bella Donna. Last week I sung the praises of Joan Jett, and this week we're going back in time to talk about Dorothy Dandridge. The first African American to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, she was an immensely talented singer and actress.

For many young black women, Dorothy was one of the few Hollywood stars to look up to. But as you'll see, her life wasn't always as beautiful as she was. To view a gallery of this silver-screen beauty and to find out how to get her look, read more

You could say that Dorothy was practically born performing. As a child in the 1930s, she and her sisters toured the country as The Dandridge Sisters, and at age 13, Dorothy had her film debut in an Our Gang short. As she matured, she appeared in several films, but was mostly cast in stereotypical parts for African Americans. Rampant racism affected her solo singing career, too: She often found herself performing at hotels, only to discover that would not let her stay there because of her skin color.

Hollywood-and America in general-was a more blatantly racist place in the 1940s and 1950s, and leading roles for black actresses were scarce. But when Dorothy heard about an all-black film version of Carmen Jones, she successfully fought for the part. Her Oscar-nominated performance made her a star and landed her a spot as the first African American to appear on the cover of Life magazine. Other films followed, such as Porgy and Bess with Sidney Poitier.

Although Dorothy was finally a respected, famous actress, her off-screen life was tumultuous. As a child, she had been abused by her mother's partner; as an adult, she suffered from abuse at the hand of her second husband. Her only child was mentally handicapped, and she developed severe problems with alcoholism and depression. After a few attempts to regain her health, she was found dead of an overdose in her home. She was only 41 years old.

Dorothy Dandridge once said, "If I were white, I could capture the world." I think she's right. Her talent and beauty were remarkable, and a less prejudiced society would have allowed her to become an even bigger star. And her struggle to win quality roles serves as a legacy for the African American stars who have followed her. (In a coincidence, actress Halle Berry, the first African American woman to win a Best Actress Oscar, once portrayed Dorothy Dandridge in a TV biopic.)

To mimic Dorothy Dandridge's classic look, follow these tips:

Wear full but groomed eyebrows, with a defined arch
Eyes should sport neutral shadow and black liquid eyeliner
Dorothy favored bold, orangey-red lipsticks
She also drew small beauty marks on her face occasionally
For hair, go for soft, voluminous curls.

View 7 Photos ›

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The Enchanting Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean Perfume

BellaSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:00:51 -0700

Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean was inspired by Catherine Zeta-Jones and her love of and fondness for the Mediterranean Sea. It was created by perfume artisan Claude Dir, who successfully captured the essence of Capri and Sardinia, where blue skies and warm sea breezes meld with the smell of mountains and warm sand.

The fragrance features floral and wood notes such as peach nectar, sorbet, wisteria, sandalwood, mandarin plum, star magnolia, orchid, musk and amber. The feminine, oval bottle is made from cerulean blue heavy glass, ostensibly to match the color of the sea. The cap is hammered silver-a gorgeous compliment to the icy blue fluid.

The Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean collection consists of a 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray for $47.50, a 3.3 oz Eau de Parfum Spray for $57.50, 6.8 oz Body Lotion for $29.50 and a .63 oz Body Shimmer Powder for $35. It's available now, and is much more affordable than a plane ticket and seaside vacation!