Since 1895, the delicate silk flag has been preserved at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It had been given by Culbertson to Charles and Rose Fowler of Detroit in approximately 1880 and was purchased from Rose Fowler Reidel by a public contribution in 1895. The flag carries an estimate of $2 to 5 million and proceeds from the auction will be used by the museum for future art purchases. The guidon will be unveiled to the public in September.

“This immortal battle flag represents the spirit, the bravery and the tragedy of one of the most dramatic moments in American history,” commented David Redden, Vice Chairman of Sotheby’s. “Battle-worn and bullet-torn, the Culbertson Guidon conjures the ferocity of that terrible battle.”

“The Detroit Institute of Arts has been a steward of this flag for more than 115 years,” said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director. “In 1895, the flag fit in with the wide range of artifacts collected and displayed at that time. It remains, without doubt, an important historical treasure, but has long since ceased to meet current criteria as a work of art. It makes sense for us to sell it for the benefit of the collection.” According to an article in the Detroit News, the museum has not revealed any information on what objects might be bought instead. The flag itself will hopefully find a home in another museum’s collection.

For more information on rare flags, check out our recent piece on the Stars and Stripes as folk art.

It also has 22 unsold condos, the Se Residences, that sit atop the hotel. The hotel has struggled to find its place in San Diego’s tourist market but does have a thriving nightclub, Siren, a rooftop pool bar & lounge that is popular with both locals and vacationers. The hotel has received good reviews and was on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2009 Hot List. The Union-Tribune reports that in the filing Fifth Avenue said it would make almost $4.7 million over the next 13 weeks with total expenses of around $4.4 million. There are signs that a turnaround in both the hotel-condo and luxury travel markets is coming but the question is whether or not the property can manage its finances well enough to hold on until then.

The hotel remains open for business and is offering a Summer Lovin’ package that includes accommodation, a summer facial in Sè Spa, Sè Spa Pedicure featuring OPI Summer Collection Polish, daily breakfast for two ($50 daily credit) and valet parking starting at $429 plus tax.

Giving yourself a professional pedicure is an 8-step process. The first step is to remove the old polish from your nails.

Instead of cotton balls (which will leave fuzzies), we suggest using a lint-free cotton pad, such as Miss Webril ($5.60 per box; 800-545-2506) or our favorite, Lippmann Collection The Stripper To Go .

Saturate the cotton pad with acetone remover & rub off the old polish. If the color isn’t coming off easily, press the saturated cotton on the nail & let it soak in first. A tip for removing stains from nails: try rubbing whitening toothpaste on your nails. You can also rub a drop of lemon or lavender oil on each toe & rub a buffer back & forth over the nail. This will remove the yellowed outer layer.

Tip for picking the perfect polish remover: Alcohol- and acetone-free removers are less drying, but don’t work as well, especially on dark shades. Use the ‘free’ stuff on lighter shades.

The Top 3 Reasons I Despise Shaving

Reason #1: The smooth results last only an hour. I have sandpaper leg hair, which means within a few hours of shaving, my legs turn into a fine grain. A couple days later and the fine grain has grown coarse.

Reason #2: Wintertime shaving. There’s nothing worse than when goosebumps develop in mid-stroke. (I have sworn for years that you can FEEL the hair grow when you get goosebumps).

Reason #3: The rashes and the nicks. It’s a rare occasion that I have a rash-free and nickless shaving experience. In fact, I’m certain it’s never happened.

After years of shaving I discovered waxing. There were many things about waxing I loved. The results leave you smooth as a baby’s butt and last a long time. But here I offer…

Three Reasons I Will Never Wax Again

Reason #1: The pain. Want to know what waxing feels like? Take a 6-inch length of packing tape and apply it to your forearm. Pat it down so every hair is firmly attached. Hold on to one end, take a deep breath and RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!

Reason #2: The growing out period between waxes. For waxing to work, you need longish hair for strips to adhere to. This means if you want to wear skirts outside the house in summer and you’re at the point where you’re Just About Ready for Wax, you have to endure sandpaper legs.

Reason #3: It’s not cheap (about $60 a pop for bikini and legs, at least in NYC).

I should mention there were other reasons I hate waxing including wicked in-grown hairs, an accidental burning that turned into what seems to be a permanent dark spot and having to lay down half-naked several times a year and make small talk with a complete stranger while she rips the hair from my body.

And This is What Led Me To Become a Laser Hair Removal Guinea Pig

It for all the reasons listed above that I decided to research what I felt was my very last option for hair removal: laser hair removal. I wanted to know how much it hurt: my body AND my pocketbook. What were the chances the hair would grow back. Would it scar me or cause in-grown hairs and did it matter where I got it done (some places seemed much cheaper than others).

Here are 5 questions I asked and the answers.

How does high-tech hair removal work? There are a couple options, both of which rely on heated lights: Laser beam or intense pulsed light (IPL). Lasers are focused beams, whereas IPL uses interspersed flashes. While one visit will result in a lot of hair removal, it takes about 5 visits each one month apart to kill as much as 70% of the hair. Hair grows in cycles so you want to make sure you get as much of it as possible.

Is everyone a good candidate? Lasers work best on people with pale skin and dark hair (like me!), but these days there are even options for women with dark skin and light hair. Keep in mind dark skin may require 2-3 more sessions.

Are the results guaranteed? It’s impossible to predict how successful lasers will work on everyone. Results depend on the quality of the laser, the type of hair you have and the number of procedures you have done. Never trust a company that guarantees hair removal. I suggest you try to a consultation in person before you sign up.

How much does it cost? Depends. Laser hair removal isn’t cheap (about $200-$500 a session depending on where you live and the areas being treated. Again, it takes about 6 sessions to get rid of 70% of hair permanently. Touch-ups are always an option at about $100-$150 a session.

What about scarring? When I looked into getting this done for this article, the ex-editor of Glamour told me a ‘funny story’ about a writer (I think she referred to her as the magazine’s ‘guinea pig’) who got her entire body treated carpe diem. She ended up scarred for life. For this very reason, you want to skip the discount places and get treated by a trained technician at an established medical facility. These places do NOT offer discounts.

What about in-grown hairs? Because lasers kill the follicle, hair won’t grow back causing in-grown hairs you get with waxing (waxing damages the follicle, it doesn’t always kill it and hair can grow in on itself).

Now that I had all the information I needed, I decided to research facilities. The first place I found (which will remain nameless)offered discounts and when they found out I was a writer, they were eager to help me get rid of hair everywhere for free. Further investigation showed they had unsatisfied customers.

I realized this was a medical procedure, therefore, I needed the very best, so I found out rather quickly that the very best high-tech hair removal place in Manhattan is Completely Bare (212-366-6060). I booked a consultation. Find out what happened in Part II of Diary of a Laser Hair Removal Guinea Pig.

Cardigan

This is not your grandfather’s cardigan. It’s a different kind of sweater that has a slimmer, more modern cut that you can wear at the office or on a date. It’s thin enough to wear over a dress shirt and underneath a jacket. It can even be worn over your favorite tee with a pair of jeans. It’s one of the most versatile items you can have in your wardrobe. Try one made out of light weight merino wool or cashmere and that has a double zipper so you unzip the bottom when you are sitting. And for an extra kick, try a cardigan with small pockets or some sort of patch on the elbows. See My Favorite Men’s Fall Cardigans.

Pinstriped Pants

Pinstripes are classic. Perfect for formal or more casual occasions, the detailing on pinstriped pants spices up what otherwise might be an ordinary ensemble. It doesn’t matter what you go with–navy with gray pinstripes, gray with brown pinstripes, or black with any color of pinstripe, they are all good. And for a modern look, try matching them with a fun striped shirt and/or an argyle sweater.

Striped Shirts

Every designer and manufacturer has come out with some sort striped shirt or another. Just get one. It can be worn independently with jeans, with a suit or under a sweater. Remember, fall is about layering and from bold and thick stripes to thin ones; it’s a good look that you will find easy to incorporate into many ensembles.

Blazer/Sports Jacket

A cool blazer is definitely a must-have item, and the styles available really give blazers a life of their own. You can find some with patch pockets and/or elbow patches, others with big lapels and double-sided vents, but they are all a revival of retro looks. And don’t forget moleskin and corduroy options which can be a less formal look than tweed. Or choose a nice wool or wool and cashmere combination with three or two buttons. Don’t get to wild with color though; go for a neutral tones that can easily be worn with jeans and dressier trousers as well as a dress shirt or with a printed tee underneath. It has so much versatility. See My Favorite Men’s Sport Coats and Blazers.

Flat-Front Twill Pants

Pick up some twill flat-front pants–they are a great, simple addition which will go with just about everything. And they come in an array of colors and patterns to boot. Go for straight-legged version and whose fabric features a textured look. They are great for a night out with your friends, with anything from a turtleneck to a printed tee, or for a more casual day at the office, with a button-down shirt or a merino wool sweater.

Jeans

The last few years have seen jeans take a stronger role in the American wardrobe. And it seems every few months a new, high end jeans company pops up. I might add some of the prices these jeans are fetching are quite steep; even The Gap has a high end, pricier line. In terms of color, we’ve seen everything from dark to light washes, but one thing is for certain–the washed-out, worn-in look is here to stay. Since there is so much variety there is no excuse not to pick up a pair that enhances your best features. More importantly, they can be paired with just about anything. Choose well and you just can’t go wrong. See My Favorite Premium Denim Jeans for Men or my list of Less Expensive Jeans for Men.

Society has come a long way now that TV’s hottest stars are (gulp!) over 40. Finally Hollywood has learned what many of us have known all along: Women are sexy at any age. Since ‘Desperate Housewives’ came out, America has been transfixed. So how do these women manage to look so hot at 30, 40 and older? We’ve collected all their beauty bits and pieces from TV, magazines and more and here we share them with you.

Teri Hatcher’s beauty secrets. US Weekly reports the secret to Teri’s look is the old adage, ‘less is more.’ Since Teri is 40, less makeup makes her look fresher. Her makeup artist and hairstylist, Don Malot, adds a luminescent liquid to her foundation to make her skin ‘dewy and glowy.’ He also uses a brown shadow with shimmer to make Hatcher’s brown eyes stand out.

How to get her hair. Although Hatcher has naturally wavy hair and wore soft curls on the red carpet the night she won the Golden Globe, she prefers it straight. Since even wavy hair can look flat (and flat, straight hair is not ‘in’ at the moment), Malot gives it extra body by applying Redken Spray Starch to damp strands before drying Hatcher’s hair straight.

How to look 30 when you’re 40. InStyle Magazine pulled together a photo gallery of her hairstyles from 1986 to now. Check it out. You’ll notice she’s grown out her once short locks. This is a great hint for those of you over 40: don’t go for short-short hair or over-coiffed do’s. Instead, opt for a shoulder-length shag with layers. Avoid the blunt cuts.

Plastic Surgery: Has she or hasn’t she? The UK’s Daily Mail puts Hatcher under the plastic surgery microscope. Experts debate whether she’s had an under-eye lift (Hatcher tends to have baggy eyes), Botox and a nose job. Hatcher admitted to using Botox on Oprah in April, 2006. See photos from then and now and then judge for yourself.

Eva Longoria’s beauty secrets. Longoria, the only star on the show under 40 (she’s 31) tells Us Weekly, “I don’t overdo the hair and makeup.” Like Hatcher, she knows the secret to looking young is to not pile on the makeup. Instead, Longoria adds color to her dark looks by adding a bit of gold shimmer cream from Girlactik to her cheeks & forehead. The actress also loves the line’s Star Shadows in Timeless & Satin.

How to look 20 when you’re 30. Do highlight your best features. Longoria, for example, shows off her legs, not her cleavage. If it’s your eyes, play them up. If you have full lips, show them off with a gloss or dare to go red. Don’t use a thick concealer, it will settle into fine lines highlighting your flaws. For a dewy glow, try Longoria’s favorite foundation, Laura Mercier Foundation .

Marcia Cross’s beauty secrets. More than the other stars on the show, Cross is known for her porcelain complexion. How does she keep her skin so gorgeous at 43? Us Weekly reports Cross uses the ultra-luxe and super-hydrating Crème de la Mer to keep her skin soft. She then applies a creamy foundation and tops it all off with a pressed powder. For lips, she uses glosses by Dessert Beauty (try Desserts Deliciously Kissable Plumping Lip Gloss in Dreamy.

Want Cross’s hair on ‘Housewives’? Newsweek reports that when Cross showed for the photos for the magazine’s article in late 2004, she balked when asked to pose as Bree Van Der Kamp. It seems Cross didn’t want to pose in her character’s trademark ‘do, the flip that has helped make her famous. But if you want the look it’s easy to do, simply blow dry your hair straight but flip the bottom up with a round, steel brush. The aluminum barrel on these brushes rely on the heat and act as a curling iron for your hair.

Nicollette Sheridan’s beauty secrets. Us Weekly reports Sheridan treats her face to monthly customized Super Performance Facial Treatments ($200 a pop) at L.A.’s Jim Wayne salon. These facials help treat her skin (which is dry & sensitive according to her facialist, Octavia Ellington). As for her hair, Jim Wayne cuts her trademark blonde locks in long layers for a ‘young, sexy, hot look,’ he tells Us. The makeup artists on ‘Housewives’ use pink tones on the actress, who is reportedly a ‘gloss maven’ and prefers Jessica Simpson’s link textDessert beauty line.

Has Sheridan or hasn’t Sheridan? Whether or not Sheridan has gone under the knife has been under debate for years. Her post-Knots Landing face drew notice from gossip columnist Liz Smith, who dubbed it ’startlingly exotic’ & ‘a little transgendered-esque.’ Sheridan immediately fought back with a statement that called Smith’s allegations, ‘malicious and patently false rumors… sprung whole cloth from … feverish, overactive and inaccurate imaginations.’ She even had plastic surgeon Frank Ryan examine her face without finding a single scar. Judge her transformation for yourself on InStyle . AwfulPlasticSurgery.com debates whether Sheridan has had breast implants.

I say, “no.” Despite surface-level plot machinations (y’know, that she’s dating two of the Universal Monsters) everything about The Twilight Saga is soul-crushingly normal. These films are an orgy of uninspired middle-class values, and, were I still an angry undergraduate or one of those lunatics who smash Starbucks kiosks during G-20 summits, I’d feel some sense of moral punk rock obligation to rage against the franchise’s backwarding effect on our culture.

Bella Swan, racing toward marriage at age eighteen, can’t plan anything in her life that doesn’t revolve around the approbation from or inclusion of a man. Do I read anything into her planned move to Alaska? You betcha!
Social politics aside, it is also a dull movie.

Much like the low point of high school dating, Eclipse is mired in endless conditional discussion. While this may add a nice dose of thematic realism, it is an oil painting up on the screen. For every vampire or werewolf attack that comes along to wake you up, there is another fifteen minute conversation. I feel as if this film should come with a phone cord to twirl around your finger as you engage in eternal dating gossip.

Kristen Stewart, the core of The Twilight Saga does nothing in this film to deflect charges (from some) that she is sluggish or unlikable. Yet Bella is still nothing but wanted. Edward, the chaste, soft-spoken vampire and Jacob, the hulking, hot-blooded werewolf both desire her like no man has ever desired a woman before. Victoria, the red-headed evil vampire, wants to kill her as vengeance for crimes committed way back in the first picture. Dakota Fanning and the Volturi want her for some nefarious scheme they have yet to reveal. And her father just wants her home for dinner, protected from the lustful stares of that dumbass in the James Dean haircut.

After the graduation party and Edward/Jacob heart to heart in a camping tent (the only scene in this movie with any electricity) there is a battle where the vampires and werewolves team up against Victoria’s evil “newborn army.” It is a well-shot and well-choreographed sequence – a “thank you” to everyone who was dragged to this movie by a friend or lover who is, inexplicably, a fan of this franchise.

The biggest punchline is this: The Twilight Saga: New Moon concluded with Edward and Bella deciding to marry. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse concludes with Edward and Bella deciding to marry. In an effort to retain a little bit of punk rock alluded to at the beginning of this review, I’ll throw in the phrase “ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?”