Friday, May 30, 2008

Vogue's Ice Queen

"That why I love [Anna Wintour]. ‘Cause she doesn't give two fucks about what nobody thinks–even when she does controversial shit, it always goes to her benefit. She's a genius chess player.” –Pharell Williams commenting on the fierce first lady of fashion, Vogue Editor In Chief Ms. Anna Wintour

Usher's Baby Fragrance


6 month old Usher Raymond V (pop superstar Usher is the fourth generation) is stealing some of the spotlight from his celeb daddy. At a Philippe dinner on Wednesday night honoring Usher's new fragrance, he announced that his son has inspired several new projects including a baby fragrance, still in the works. Usher, who has nicknamed the tot Cinco (after the V) and Rabbit ("because he's always jumping"), says his son is the inspiration to everything he does.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Hermes Men


Hermes has announced plans to open its very first men's only store on New York's Madison Avenue thiscoming fall. The 4 level, 6,000 sq. ft. men's only store will be directly across the street from their already existing flagship. With plans to double the men’s business with the new store, an entire floor will be dedicated to customization and made to measure items. With the continued success of the new store across from the NY Stock Exchange and a new men's focused ad campaign they hope to raise men's sales to more than its current 45% of brand sales.

ABT: Swan Lake


ABT principal ballerina Irina Dvorovenko had a breathtaking performance in Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera last night. Above is her white swan outfit, feathered and bedazzled in all of its "fairy-tale princess cast under an evil spell" glory. The pure white tutu has applique detail on the waist with a skirt made of feathers and tulle. Not photoed but equally brilliant was her crystal sparkling, meticulously detailed black and gold evil-Odile tutu.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Father's Day Frosty by Eva Longoria


Eva Longoria spent so much money on shoes this year she had to take a second job at Wendy's. Just kidding. But she did spend the day in a Juicy Couture dress serving special Father's Day Frosties at a Wendy's in her hometown Corpus Christie, Texas. No need to freak out offspring, Father's Day is still 3 weeks away and I have no idea why she was celebrating so early.

Fendi Debut


Fresh out of the Fendi oven is Doctor B, their latest and greatest new signature bag. A modern interpretation of the classic doctor bag, it comes in large shoulder strap size and a mini hand held size, both sporting the signature "B" buckle.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Sex & The City Premiere


The hotly anticipated Sex and the City Premiere in New York is finally here. Tonight at Radio City Music Hall, a hot pink carpet bedazzled in thousands of dollars worth of Swarovski crystals will host hot celebrities and haute outfits while New York welcomes Carrie Bradshaw and her 81 outfit changes to the big screen.

Ooh La La! Fifi Chachnil for TopShop


Parisian lingerie designer Fifi Chachnil has created an oh-so-sexy capsule collection for TopShop boutiques, debuting July 20. Not only will your certain someone appreciate extra rosebuds and vintage black lace in your lingerie collection, but you will appreciate the prices: the pieces range from $40-120, half the price of her main line.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Straight Hair Anywhere


Metropolis Technology has released a L-ion wireless mini hair straightener that can tuck right into your purse. Brilliance. For $150 you will never be caught off guard on a humid day again. Take that, precipitation.

Censored: Eva Mendes + Calvin Klein


Calvin Klein’s new “sophisticated and intoxicating” scent Secret Obsession headlines Eva Mendes in a racy ad too provocative for network censors. The ad, which apparently combines too much skin, too much provocative music, and too much Eva-has-a-secret sexy voice, has been banned until further notice. The print and tv spot originally set to release in September was shot by Steven Meisel and directed by CRK, Calvin Klein’s in house ad agency.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Spotted: Bad Highlights

Here's the most stereotypical thing ever: I saw Eric from Gossip Girl on the subway getting off at 68th and Lexington, uber common Upper East Side resident stop! Filming a new episode or doing some real life hanging out in the show's neighborhood, who knows? The real question is: for the outed gay guy on the show, why do your highlights look so streaky? Also notable in real life were his Freshman backpack and tinyman 5'0" stature. Ouch.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Packing Shoes

Hard to pack high heels have found a new home: Bally's Annita shoe bag fits four pairs of sky high heels comfortably inside individual suede lined compartments. Best of all, the compartments are detachable, protecting your shoes if you pick only one pair to tote around.

Luxe Tech: Christian Dior Cell Phone


Dior decided to take a more luxe approach to the tech world and create its own cell phone from scratch. Boasting scratchproof, sapphire casing and an HD screen, all the software, imagery, and built in videos on the phone are exclusive to Dior. Each phone includes a mini phone version of itself that ladies can clip to their purses or wear on a necklace, solving the problem of endlessly digging through a bag. The mini, which functions like a bluetooth, also has a mirror screen, so it can double as a compact. $5,100 will get you the simple version, while a deluxe model studded with 640 diamonds with an alligator sheath will run up to $27,000.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Beach Bum


You pack the ipod, grab extra sunscreen, and even bring little ziplock baggies to keep the sand out of your cell phone, and now you're supposed to look cute too? Mastering the "I'm naturally this carefree and goodlooking" sunkissed beach look can be somewhat tricky. Here are a few of this season's beach favorites to help in every girl's cause: Look adorable and feel as if you're wearing a towel in an organic hoodie by Surfmonk; skip burnt soles with some new summer style Havaianas; protect your eyes while rocking the perfect surfer girl accessory with Oliver People's aviators; mix and match your bikinis with this large assortment at Vix; and keep your skin sea scent fresh hours after you've left the ocean with Christiane Celle Calypso perfume.


Summer Nails


When your summer tan finally comes in, sport shades of beige rather than pink to really bring out the bronze. An understated tone like Essie's Cafe Forgot is perfect.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Engagement Re-do

In the rare occasion when an engagement ring is no longer an engagment ring, a girl used to be stuck with few options: give it back, pawn it, or engineer it into a brooch. Hidalgo Inc. is trying to save those rings from being smashed into earrings with their luxurious new ring mountings . The jewelers new ring collections have stones embedded on the sides so rings can easily be translated into gorgeous pendants on a necklace, with no work on the ladies' end. A good insurance policy if you quote the mantra 'Men may come and go, but a diamond is forever'.

Margarita With Those Jeans?


New Houston boutique 310 Rosemont brings a literal meaning to the term "denim bar". Housing over 89 styles for men and women, denim specialists will help find your best fit while you sip on delicious margaritas (compliments of the house, of course) and pick out your new hot pair of Seven jeans.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Naked Models: America Goes European


V-Magazine's latest issue features some controversial nude pictures of IMG's latest, greatest models, including the girl-of-the-moment Jessica Stam. Is America starting to catch up to what Europeans have appreciated for decades and accept nude photography as art? We'll see, the magazine has hit news stands this week.

Friday, May 16, 2008

SJP Saved

SJP totally redeemed her fashion tragedy at the Sex and the City premiere in Berlin. This killer Versace dress was topped off with even deadlier Roger Vivier Haute Couture Lux’or nude crocodile shoes with 22 carat gold appliqués and a Roger Vivier Sesame bejeweled pailette clutch, (which retails for $5,250!)

Sex and the City Premiere


The Sex and the City premiere was in London this week and Sarah Jessica Parker decided to wear...this hat. Although she did wear a bird on her head, it did distract all media from talking about her non-airbrushed wrinkles, so all in all it's some good PR.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

MisShapes Model


Everyone's favorite drop-dead gorgeous MisShapes DJ Leigh Lezark has signed with IMG Models for modeling and endorsement opportunities. Not shy in front of the camera, this gig shouldn't be hard as she has already been featured in Elle, V, Allure, Blender, Vogue, and Teen Vogue. Does this mean divorce for the MisShapes? Of course not! But it does shrink their weekly parties to one a month. The next one is June 7 at the TriBeCa Grand Hotel to coincide with the launch of their online magazine MisShapes.com

Resort Season

Get your shades and pina coladas, it's time for Resort/Holiday collections to show in NYC. Kicking it off was Christian Dior (above) looks ready for a poolside fiesta. Stay tuned for pics from this week.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Celebrity Surf Line

Because Matthew McConaughey is constantly shot at the beach he has somehow qualified to start a surf wear clothing line. This raises two very obvious questions in my mind: First, how does a man who barely wear clothes think he is creative enough to design them? Second, isn't celebrity-turned-designer starting to get a bit old? America is over wanting to smell like Tim McGraw, pretending to fit into Posh's jeans, having Hannah Montana's hair (which is a wig so I really don't get that one), or wear anything that can be traced back to Paris Hilton or Heidi Montag. McConaughey has dubbed the line j.k. livin, as in Just Keep Livin, a cheesy cliche at best. The surf line, debuts on the studly star's website www.matthewmcconaughey.com this summer.

"Tom Ford Has Lost His Mind. It's Genius"



Tom Ford has always been pushing the provocative side of fashion; his YSL M7 fragrance ad featuring full-frontal male nudity or his Gucci ad featuring a "G" shaved into a girl's pubic hair to name a few. This spring Tom Ford For Men ads appear on the back cover of Dutch magazine Butt. It features a bottle of the cologne resting in one lucky male model's butt crack, as another man's hand massages it (the bottom, not the cologne). "Tom has lost his mind. It's Genius" says Nick Verreos of Project Runway.

Ralph Lauren Rhinelander Mansion Store


Ralph Lauren has set plans into motion to turn its full line store in the Rhinelander Mansion on Upper Madison in New York into a men's only flagship. It will showcase all men's labels and categories throughout the 11,500 sq. ft. space. Like moths to a flame, the store is sure to draw upper-crust men (and those who look the part) to shop. Women's and home lines will move across the street to a 4 floor space designed after the Rhinelander.

Becks' Package Worth $41 Million

Since the racy February debut of Emporio Armani underwear ads starring David Beckham have been on display for the world, sales for the brand have skyrocketed. There was a 50% jump in white underwear sales at Selfridge's and a 30% rise a week after the British press announced the soccer star's role as the Armani face. His compensation pacakge of $41 Million seemed a good deal on both ends, and the three year contract makes it a good viewing deal for audiences through 2011.

Louis Vuitton: Invading Your Ears


Louis Vuitton introduces a series of one-hour walking tour mp3 guides to Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong narrated by famous Chinese actors. Available for download at the Louis Vuittion website, the tours were produced to coincide with the high tourist rates of the Olympic Games in Beijing. After its TV commercial phase, we leave it to this fashion giant to find yet another medium in which to promote its brand.

Travel Tip: Luggage


Alexander McQueen and Samsonite Black Label luggage have partnered for the second time in creating stylish, high quality travel gear. Ranging from $800-2,500 the bags are coated in shiny, UV resistant paint that won't crack or scratch, making them long lasting and easy to spot. The silver limited edition wheeled luggage collection will debut this fall in Samsonite Black Label boutiques.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Spring Sandals


A hint of gladiator without going over the top, these colorful snakeskin sandals by Shoes for Lovely People are the perfect accessory to brighten up any springtime dress.

Lillys Are Blooming


It wasn't until I saw my roommate's closet that I truly believed adults like to dress like crayons. I saw, in all of its lime green and flamingo pink glory, her explosive Lilly Pulitzer skirt. To make matters worse, I look over and saw a sundress in the same print! I will never understand the WASPy niche of Lilly, but apparently some people do since they just launched a new store on Madison Avenue

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Vogue Controversy





At first I didn't understand the controversy in the Lebron/Gisele Vogue cover until the NY Observer did one of Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Enjoy.

Superheroes at the Met



Summer equates to fun, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art 's new exhibit Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy captures just that. The fashion party of all parties, the Costume Institue Gala, celebrated the opening of the exhibit Monday night with super-celebrities, many who had their own renditions of superhero outfits. It was highly appropriate since the exhibit discusses the relationship between costumed superheroes and high fashion designers. From Balenciaga to Versace, you will find around 60 items of highly intellectual fashion inspired by favorite superheroes of comic books' past.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Fashion Desktop Design


iGoogle has teamed up with 70 artists to create new background themes for their personalized homepages. Oscar de la Renta, Tory Burch, Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Mark Ecko, and Nigo are among the fashion brands included. They aren't just ordinary background designs either: Dolce & Gabbana's trademark Animalier print shimmers with gold reflexes, lighting, and shading. During the day, the reflexes and texture sway left to right representing the sunrise and sunset. A private launch party was held at One Little West 12th Street, where the iGoogle themes were projected onto the buildings at the Gansevoort Street, Little West 12th, and Ninth Avenue intersection.

Tory Burch: Accessories of the Year Nominee


For those who don't know, the CFDA Awards is like the Oscars of Fashion and it is a huge honor just to be a nominee. One of those in the running for Accessories Designer this year is Tory Burch, the mastermind behind those every present, gold emblemed ballet flats. Blake Lively will be her date to the awards, representing the demographic that sweeps the shoes right off the sales floor every season.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Edun: AIDS and Tshirts


The celebrity studded charity Edun is in the business of selling tshirts. The comfy tops are made in Lesotho, creating jobs to support local area economy while helping them heal too: $10 of every $40 sale provides AIDS medication for factory workers and their family members.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Solar Bag


For those of you who are afraid of techy clothing, CNC Costume National designer Ennio Capasa's Solar Bag disguises solar strips on the front of her bag that provide power to the inner lining. In burgundy or black suede, this is a chic and subtle way to always have a fully charged cell phone or iPod.

More Robo Wear


Fashion technology has been on popping up in different venues, made prevalent by their scientific materials and even more scientific names. Newest on the list: piezoelectric material, born by Amanda Parkes at Piezing. Debuted in tech-Hollywood, San Francisco, the pieces include electricity-generated fabrics around the body's elbow joints and hips. Mechanical stress energy charged through movement turns into stored voltage via built in batteries, which can later be used to charge your phone, iPod, or electric razor (useful because you never know when you'll need to shave on the go). Thanks for the tip tech-loving blogger Megan

Coachella 2008


Apologies on being MIA in the blog world, but I've been planted in Palm Springs for the hipster loving Coachella Music Festival. Music ranged from Prince to Justice to Roger Waters and every type of fan including celebs, hipsters, and LA royalty were represented. Pics of the killer west coast style seen in the desert venue will be up soon!