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Swivel virtual dressing room to relieve the pain of long lines and virtual mishaps

13 Jan

You know what it’s like to stand there, and stand there, and stand there waiting for someone to come by and open the dressing room door, or perhaps you just don’t feel like taking something off to try on one lousy blouse…

That’s where Swivel, the virtual dressing room, could save you a whole lot of aggravation.

Swivel was demo’d this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  FaceCake Marketing Technologies, which developed the snazzy proprietary software is hoping that it will be used by virtual as well as mall-based retailers.  Swivel makes good use of motion-sensoring technology in webcams and Microsoft Kinect to scan your body and then fit you into the items you’d like to try on.

Here’s a screen shot from the Los Angeles Times video of how Swivel works:

Honestly, if I happen to be in a store, I’d rather just buy something and then return it if it doesn’t fit.  However, I can see this as a boon to online retailers.  I will often not buy from online retailers if I am not sure of  their sizes.  Size charts help but sometimes there are multiple manufacturers sold by one online retailer.  Sometimes they have manufacturer/designer specific charts and sometimes they don’t.  Product reviews help (esp. when they note if an item fits too small or too large.)  To have the addition of a visualization before ordering an item could certainly save a whole lot of return troubles!

Note:  I believe I saw Swivel, as well as some other and quite different virtual try-on software at the Fashion 140 conference in New York City last spring.

Product Review: L’Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray Holds for the Holidays

22 Dec

Over a 30 year period I believe I’ve tried every single hairspray out on the market.  Everything from high-end (Bumble & Bumble) to ultra-cheap (Aqua Net) and found the results to run the gamut from failed-to-hold to frighteningly firm.  So when I heard all the raves for L’Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray, I took them with a grain of something ozone-free….

But wow!  This is truly the best hairspray I have ever used!  Tremendous hold, even in humidity, and still I could comb it out and not break hair by the handfuls.  That was with the Extra Strong Hold–which I probably don’t need but was the only sample size available on my day of purchase.

I noticed also that it did not have a weird smell nor did it make my hair old-lady shiny.  The “satin” finish is very natural and it lives up to the promise of “unscented.”  So no clashing with my favorite fragrance.

While you’re checking out the L’Oreal website for more info on Elnett, check out other features like Special Offers and all sorts of beauty tips underneath the various tabs (Cosmetics, Hair Care, Hair Color, etc.)  Since some of my favorite products are L’Oreal, I’ll be visiting the site often for more information.

You can purchase Elnett at most drugstores and retailers like Target

At Macy’s, eco-friendly is the new black

6 May

Macy’s, the nation’s department store, is about to change one of the most important fixtures in its stores:  plastic hangers.  Starting  this fall, Macy’s will replace the ubiquitous clear plastic (non-environmentally friendly) hangers with matte black plastic hangers made from recycled plastics.

This is really big, when you consider that clear plastic hangers have been an industry standard for decades and, as a result,  occupy many of our own closets. (I’d rather use them in my closet and recycle wire hangers at my dry cleaner.)

That’s not the only step Macy’s plans to take to be more environmentally friendly.    The retailer also plans to install electric vehicle charging stations in San Diego,  install energy-saving LED lightbulbs in stores, increase its number of solar-powered systems at stores and other facilities, and eliminate foam packaging at all its in-store restaurants nationwide.

Click here for more info o Macy’s new sustainability actions.

Hat tip to Women’s Wear Daily’s print edition for the lede…