Behind the scenes of the January cover shoot

Color, texture, big weaves, fur, leather, animal prints and metallics -- all are must-have fashion trends for winter according to Paulette Pitt, executive assistant at Saks Fifth Avenue at the Stamford Town Center.

Saks provided the clothing for HealthyLife's January cover model, Dr. Sabrina Strickland. An orthopedic surgeon with the Hospital for Special Surgery, Strickland has an office in Greenwich and met HealthyLife at SFA a few days before the cover shoot to get her wardrobe lined up. Pitt, along with Jennie Wright, a sales consultant in SFA's Contemporary department, made strategic picks for what they thought Strickland should wear to look great and feel great.

The outfits they chose were "simple, yet sophisticated, easy to wear and made an under-stated statement," Pitt says. "She is well-dressed, yet not too trendy. She is current and modern -- in control and put together well. These pieces reflect that philosophy."

From a textured Theory jacket to a ruffled Eileen Fischer cardigan and a Laundry dress with bold colors, weave and pattern, Strickland was dressed perfectly for a date night with her husband, lunch out with friends or simply to run errands with the kids. Jeans by Adriano Goldschmied and Joe's Vintage were a perfect fit and necklaces by Ippolita added just the right amount of bling.

The clothes also were a perfect match with the modern digs used as the shoot location. The LockWorks, a brand new apartment complex that's part of the Harbor Point development in downtown Stamford, opened its two-bedroom model unit -- including a beautiful outdoor terrace -- for HealthyLife to use for the January cover shoot.

The modern furnishings and black and white theme of the unit were spot-on as a backdrop. Harbor Point staff -- our special thanks to Missy Smith -- made sure we had everything we needed and also took care of most of the room styling, leaving us the time we needed to focus on getting great pictures.

And we couldn't have gotten great pictures without the help of the Lanphier Day Spa, whose staff styled Strickland's hair and applied her makeup for the shoot. They went for a casual, feminine look, smoothing out Strickland's long hair into soft waves that framed her face and applying just enough makeup so she looked finished without being over-done.

On the day of the shoot, Strickland began her morning bright and early at Lanphier's Darien location just off the Post Road on Old Kings Highway North. Farrah Brady, a master colorist, refreshed Strickland's color and highlights and applied a glaze to give her hair life and shine. Brady recommends a glaze treatment every month -- especially for those who have their hair colored -- because "it adds crazy shine and it also prolongs the life of your color."

And although Strickland wanted to keep her long locks, she did let Lanphier colorist and stylist Julia Aslamazi do some trimming to add shape and eliminate any split ends before styling her hair in ultra feminine soft waves.

Morgan Anita Lee, a Lanphier aesthetician, expertly applied Strickland's makeup and offered some skincare tips in the process. Most women, she says, use too many different products. "They use five different (skincare) products in six weeks and they don't give the product time to do its work -- they change too quickly."

Toner is important, she says, because it helps keep the skin's pH balanced. "You should use a cleanser until your skin is clean," she says. "Test (your skin) with a cotton ball and don't stop until the cotton comes back clean."

Salon manager Patricia Mavrides also traveled from the Darien spa to the LockWorks building to make sure that Strickland's hair and makeup stayed picture-perfect throughout the entire shoot. Not only did she pay attention to the hair and makeup, but Mavrides also helped with clothes styling and had fun offering pose suggestions for our model.

The LockWorks is at 121 Towne St. in Stamford, adjacent to the new Fairway Market on Canal Street. For more information on the LockWorks building or the Harbor Point development, visit online at www.harborpt.com or call (203) 846-1900.

Saks Fifth Avenue is in the Stamford Town Center mall at 100 Greyrock Place. For more information, visit www.saksfifthavenue.com or call (203) 323-3100.

Lanphier Day Spa is at 25-52 Old Kings Highway North in Darien. For more information, visit online at www.lanphierdayspa.com or call (203) 656-4444.