CEW Achiever Awards 2015

I had the pleasure of attending the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) Achiever Awards 2015 this past Friday. It was held at the Waldorf Astoria, no less—a deserving location for the honorees and greatest women in the beauty industry.

My last-minute invitation left me scrambling for something appropriate to wear. Or new, I should say, as is the go-to for any big or special event in tow. Nothing I owned felt good enough; my wardrobe’s currently in a disarray of clothing that’s too casual for work, or too night-out for normal evenings. I thought about going on a last-minute shopping frenzy to find the perfect dress for the occasion but decided against it. Reason won: I would wear the same, go-to Zara LBD I always wore for work-related things that I never knew how to dress right for.

Turns out I was appropriately dressed. When in doubt, always wear a black dress (thank you Zara for always making perfect silhouettes at affordable prices). I can’t say my accessories were up to game in a sea of worn-in Birkins and limited edition Chanels, but what I can say is this: the CEW luncheon was every bit aspirational as it was inspirational.

The line-up of speakers and honorees was incredible, to say the least. There was Mary Dillon of ULTA Beauty delivering the keynote; Leonard Lauder (yes, the Leonard Lauder, who was a total hoot); Lorraine Coyle, of L’Oréal Paris; Sandra Main of La Mer (whom I instantly developed a girl crush on); Rita Mangan of Shiseido; and more.

I left inspired—and about 30 pounds heavier.

.   .   .

xx