I love when the country and city come together.
Fresh farm produce across the street from the hustle and bustle of Lincoln Center...
Classic lace up hiking boots with a stacked high heel in a coco suede...
It's fun when lifestyles collide.
Looking at the surroundings and ingredients on this holiday, I chose the warm
earth tones of wheat, chestnut, cinnamon and nutmeg.
A well fitted chunky cable knit sweater, flat front, high waisted
full leg pants, an oversized wool paisley throw trimmed in
chocolate suede used as a wrap and a wonderful vintage
textured skin bag all seem to blend to create the right recipe
for this season.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I was thrilled to attend Harper's Bazaar Book Party,
Your Guide to Personal Style. Saks Fifth Avenue hosted the
designer-studded event.
Rachel Roy, Saks Fifth Avenue's President Ron Frasch,
Harper's Bazaar Editor-in Chief Glenda Bailey, Tory Burch
and Georgina Chapman.
Catherine Glaser and Glenda Bailey
Catherine Glaser and Ron Frasch
Saks Fifth Avenue President, Ron Frasch and Harper's Bazaar Editor-in-Chief, Glenda Bailey
signing books with Catherine Glaser. It was a fabulous night!
Sometimes you come across a piece of art that makes you take pause.
This J. Mendel olive cashmere coat dress has all the elements of great modern
design and superior workmanship.
Look carefully at the play with proportions and contradictions. The different
size collars, the sweeping movement against the sharp structure of the dress
all work in perfect harmony.
The brilliant design, stunning pleating and extraordinary finishing
details brings the current trend of "military" to a whole new level!
Worn with Prada black suede peep toe platform sling back shoes,
Stephen Dweck smoky quartz cabochon cocktail ring and
handcrafted beaded horn necklaces by, Ashley Pittman Collection.
All items available at Neiman Marcus, Paramus, NJ.
Tip:
Take a moment to examine the details. The closer you study the more
you will appreciate and celebrate great design.
This "safari inspired" outfit is easy and comfortable. I often encourage
my clients to find that "uniform" that fits and flatters their figure and
works for their lifestyle. This is definitely one of my "go to" looks.
Yves Saint Laurent light weight trench jacket with leopard print lining.
Soft black leather over the knee boots by Stuart Weitzman, comfortable
and practical! Tom Ford aviator sunglasses.
Special black horn cuffs with brass studs by Ashley Pittman. This collection of
jewelry strives to combine the craftsmanship of many Kenyan artisans and
exclusively uses indigenous materials such as horn, bronze and semi precious
stones mined in East Africa.
All merchandise available at Neiman Marcus, Paramus.
Collaborating with stylist Ann Caruso. Gorgeous coral necklace from Oscar de la Renta’s
Resort 2010 Collection...
Just not the right accessory with this neckline and style of this dress.
Tricks of the trade...
Clips to fit my dress, wish it were this easy in real life!
Big bold Hermés bangles work great with this Escada dress.
Here it is in print. Check out the behind-the-scenes video!
A big thank you to Robin Katz of Blackbird Design and Jordan Glaser for all your help with
the images, video and music.
Just finished getting a hair touch up on set.
A fun linen Fendi dress from the Resort 2010 collection,
Manolo Blahnik heels and fabulous beaded necklaces.
High tech monitors give the photographer instant full length and close up images.
A big thanks to “the girls” from the photo team. Great day!!
Final photo selection and behind the scene video in next post!
The November issue is out now!
I wanted to share some behind the scene images from my photo shoot.
There were several wardrobe options, here is the first out of three.
Test Lighting.
Stylist Ann Caruso adjusting on the set.
Dramatic Louis Vuitton trench, Tommy Hilfiger dress,
very high heel leopard Jimmy Choo shoes and of course,
the outrageous bib necklace and gold cocktail ring!!!
More photo's of Harpers shoot to come in my next blog.
It's fun to experiment with the different elements from
the same theme, in this case a nautical look.
Black cropped pea jacket, Chanel scarf and various chunky
gold bracelets.
Slowly peeling away the layers.....
High waisted, flat front, wide leg sailor pants with leather buttons
by Diane Von Furstenberg worn with a classic boat neck stripe top by H&M.
Keeping things more simple with a punch of color!
Red felt hat by Jacques Le Corre and black Prada peep toe
platform shoe bootie.
Vintage sunglasses from Robert Marc and Vintage black
handbag. I think the gold rope chain adds a nice nautical touch.
Tips:
1. Take some time to play with your clothes and accessories.
2. Study what works and makes you feel comfortable.
3. If in doubt, leave it out.
It is important to know and stick to what shapes and
silhouettes work best with your figure. I loved this dress
when I saw it, but immediately knew the V neck style was
not my best look. Fortunately, the dress had no zipper so it
was easy to "turn it around" and make it work for me.
Olive is one of my favorite colors and a big trend for fall.
Camel, another favorite of mine is timeless, classic and
the perfect neutral.
Zara dress worn with pony Roger Vivier shoes,
vintage YSL belt and Ralph Lauren Polo camel coat.
In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness this October, I'm thinking
Pink! We tend to associate pink as a spring/summer shade, but don't
limit yourself as we enter this Fall.
Shades of pinks paired with the rich warmth of brown
is totally chic. Try to keep colors in the same tonal range
and balance textures so they play off each other.
Vintage Perry Ellis handmade sweater with full sleeve
and peplum worn with Ralph Lauren tweed pants.
I like to look for color combinations in different places. This wallpaper
has great depth. The various tones inspired me to play with a rich palette
for fall.
Wanting to work around these pony shoes, I chose this deep peacock satin
skirt and paired it with a fine merino knit sweater in chocolate brown. To tie
the look together and add some depth and texture, I mixed turquoise beads
with a 3 strand vintage necklace made up of various amber glass beads.
As we enter a new season, it is fun to experiment with colors, textures and
proportions.
Take a moment, look around and think differently from your usual pairings.
It's refreshing to play with new ways of putting what you already own together.
The new location for New York's Fashion Week at Lincoln Center is
truly fabulous! Dramatic, spacious, iconic and totally NYC!
I love this voluminous full cement skirt for the staircase entrance.
So chic!
I was invited to the Spring 2011 Adrienne Vittadini show.
I am really excited about the future of this classic brand!
The Collection was shown in a gallery setting.
This was a really nice change from a runway show. It had a relaxed casual feel.
As waiters passed trays of mineral water, I was able to meet and visit with
industry people and view the line up close.
Vintage signature knits and wonderful
new chunky resin jewelry by, Joan Goodman for Pono.
Here I am with Irenka Jackubiak, Creative Director of Accessories at
Adrianne Vittadini, RJ Graziano, Designer and Owner RJ Graziano and
Wendy Converse, PR Director, RJ Graziano.
Sometimes you can find the perfect dress, but don't have an
event on the calendar...
With no place to go, I still had to play with this outfit so my husband shot
this a few months ago. Yes, I am wild about animal prints. I think
Dolce & Gabbana and YSL do it the best. The colors and scale of this
pattern is total perfection. For a fun twist this Fall, I am loving red with
cheetah and leopard. A strong lip color and a vivid pair of sling back
Christian Louboutin's make this outfit feel current.
When I was asked by Neiman Marcus to participate in Fashion's Night Out,
I was thrilled and excited. I was also relieved because I had the perfect outfit!
I showcased 4 color trends for Fall – camel, olive, grey and red (and a touch of denim).
Using my animal print dress as a canvas, I showed the women how easy it is to mix and match.
Here I am with Deanna as she tries on a fabulous grey sweater
vest with detachable fur collar.
With Kris, Laura, Elena and Jen. Everyone was excited about their new Fall finds!
A great night for all!!!
TIPS:
1. I encourage women to keep an eye out for that "perfect/timeless" dress.
Don't wait for an event to make that great purchase. This way you alleviate
the stress of hunting under pressure.
2. When adding an accent to a bold pattern, be mindful not to over do it.
Just a touch will add big impact.
3. Keep everything else simple.
A timeless classic, Grey Flannel (an essential in every fall wardrobe)
is being used in new and fun ways this Fall. Playing with different
textures and going with the grey tone on tone is fresh, modern and
on trend.
The fitted sheath dress with 3/4 sleeve by Diane von Furstenberg is
worn with a cozy chunky knit sweater by Trina Turk. I think this adds
the right amount of volume and interest to this outfit. Elbow length
dove grey leather gloves add that perfect touch of femininity. Anchoring
this theme are these fabulous Christian Louboutin grey flannel lace
up booties – these are serious heels.
As an accent, I am loving vivid red. Featured is a Prada oversized handbag
with just the right amount of gold hardware. This deep scarlet works perfectly
with jeans, camel, black and even animal prints. I am confident that this
color can "carry you" for seasons to come!
Here are some great grey flannel options in shoes and boots.
Look around, be inspired!! All items are available at Neiman Marcus Paramus.
Spending time in Vermont = going to the Orvis Flagship Store in Manchester. I found this fabulous Barbour jacket on sale. A figure hugging polyamide quilt, with a vintage wash effect, suede patches on shoulders and lined pockets in olive couldn't be more classic. Plus, green is a big color for Fall 2010!
It is truly a "town and country" jacket to be worn for years to come. I like to use this Orvis canvas and leather "gun shell" bag for lip gloss and my car keys. I also found this great wool plaid cap - it's perfect for bad hair days and colder weather.
Orvis fly fishing vest features a breathable mesh body and many pockets. I think it's fun.
This original Abercrombie & Fitch fishing jacket was my mothers (yes, she did like to fish). A nicely worn in corduroy collar and multiple pockets is my favorite go-to crop jacket.
I love the form and function of of these items. True, I don't hunt or fish, but these styles really speak to me. Maybe because they are grounded in tradition and practicality.
Look around, be resourceful, draw from your history and take a risk. At the end of the day..... it is all about making these items your own.
Having wit, humor and courage are some of the hallmarks of personal style. Taking fashion risks is fun, but it is important to be strategic and make sure all of the elements of your outfit coordinate.
These exaggerated black and white checker board pattern cropped linen pants are far from quiet. There is a preppy quality that appeals to me, yet it is modern and playful. Even the patent leather oversized buttons add just the right amount of whimsy. A sleeveless black turtleneck, various gold chunky gold bracelets and an oversized skin handbag help balance the boldness of the pants and blend into an updated classic look.
Black perforated leather lace-up open toe "gillie" works great with this outfit. Edgy because of the height of the heel and platform, yet a nod to the past. They can be worn with or without stockings, with dresses, pants, jeans and more.
I am already planning fall outfits around them!
It all started when I spotted these gorgeous Roger Vivier pony sandals on sale.
I had one problem, the shoe fit in the length, but the main strap was not fitting securely over my instep. Everyone advised me to return the shoes, but I was determined to make them work.
So I saddled up and took a ride to "the" top shoe repair shop in NYC. Over the years The Leather Spa has resoled, repaired and dyed many of my favorites. Candidly, I have never had shoes "tailored", but I took a leap of faith and stepped up to the platform. The well trained technician took careful measurements to perform the custom alteration.
Keeping my fingers crossed, 5 days later I picked up my perfectly fitted ponies!!!
I promise, you will see these ponies galloping into the sunset in future blogs...
TIPS:
1. Never give up!
2. Do the research and be resourceful - there are many expert services available.
3. A small investment in time and money can bring you to the winners circle!
Well, my ponies took their first ride to my photo shoot for Harpers Bazaar and they got rave reviews! Here I am when I arrived at the editorial offices. Worn with a black cotton sundress (and no makeup!). I will be featured in the November 2010 issue. More details to come in future blogs!
There is nothing like wearing white in the summer. Crisp, clean, light. This cotton sundress is a great cut for me. A fitted bodice and a full skirt. Lady like dressing is coming back. Think 50's and 60's. Mad Men, I love it!
I chose a pair of cork sandals... a favorite among clients and fashion stylists! The low heel (practical for walking) and the neutral look just disappear and elongates my leg. Your eye focuses on the pure simplicity of the lines and freshness of the dress.
TIPS AND INFO:
1. Always be true to the style and silhouettes that work best on your body frame.
2. Summer is a great time to pare down and keep everything light and easy.
3. Sometimes less is really more. Keeping accessories to a minimum can have great impact.
4. Zara straw tote with white patent trim, Saks Fifth Avenue private label dress, Vaneli shoes.
The hunt is over! I couldn’t resist this fabulous “old world cat” leopard print Giabattista Valli coat! The colorations and markings roar versatility. I am optimistic this ‘big cat” is a great investment. It is current, yet it could be vintage. Leopards are known for their adaptability! Worn on a summer evening: Calvin Klein strapless black silk crepe dress with H&M bangles and Guess lace up cork wedges.
And a look for all seasons: Black silk knit tank with Zac Posen peacock colored satin pencil skirt, nude patent peep toe heels (elongates the leg and brings your focus to the main event – the jewelry!) H&M necklaces mixed with my favorite RJ Graziano turquoise beads.
I promise, you will see this leopard exploring new territory in future blogs.
TIPS: When you feel a connection to a special piece... trust your animal instinct. That's what having Personal Style is all about!