NY FASHION WEEK: Richard Chai Spring 2012

Is next spring going to be really chilly?  What's with the blue lips?  I kid of course, I was just happy to see bold makeup when so many other shows displayed nude lips. I went to school with Richard Chai where he was lovingly called "Richie Rich" (not to be confused with the blond club kid).  He showed graphic contrast stripes and bright colored cottons.  Like many emerging designs...

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NY Fashion Week: Carlos Miele Spring 2012

"Will there be Samba musicians down this runway?"  There is only one designer I can think of where members of the photographer's pit would ask this question.  Carlos Miele brought his brand of sophisticated Brazilian chic to Lincoln Center for New York Fashion Week.  There were no dancers or musicians, but the models brought South American style to Manhattan.  The first few looks...

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Cougar Pillow Boots & Joe Fresh Suede Boots

One of my favorite parts of fall is to shop for boots.  While cute strappy shoes are pretty in thesummer, the grungy NYC commute and wet rainy streets make open toes adisgusting part of summer.Two new acquisitions for the season are a shout-out to twoof my favorite accessible Canadian brands. I grew up in Toronto, and while I love Manhattan, I gladly take theopportunity to reconnect with...

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Rihanna Wears C-Word Necklace to Check out a Jesus Statue

Rihanna's been having a blast this week in Brazil, where she's performed in itty bitty hot pants, partied with Katy Perry, and visited some of the country's most famous landmarks, including the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio and its adjacent chapel.While Rihanna was relatively covered up in a yellow blouse and denim Daisy Dukes, there was one aspect of her ensemble that couldn't possibly...

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Boardwalk Empire Costumes

Is there a show on television more gorgeous than HBO's Boardwalk Empire?  The period sets and costumes are researched, then executed in meticulous detail by a hard-working team.Watch our exclusive interview by Mdivani Monroe with designers John Dunn and Lisa Padovani (Costume Guild Award winners!)  The interview took place right in the design studio on the Boardwalk Empire set:Don't forget...

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Custo Barcelona Spring 2012

Explode into Spring 2012 with the most patterned, printed and embellished brand on the market.  Custo Barcelona did not disappoint for their Lincoln Center show.  Jackets, skirts, pants, swimwear and dresses were splashed with attention-screaming looks. While it doesn't happen that often, menswear was given equal attention.  The runway saw coordinated pairs in a somewhat more neutral...

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William and Kate to Open a Children's Cancer Center

Prince William and wife Kate Middleton (that's the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to us common folks) announced today that they will open a children's cancer center at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Princess Di was the former president of the London hospital, and Prince William was appointed to the position in 2007.Wills and Kate have reportedly been quietly researching various charitable organizations...

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Lacoste Debuts La Machine and Fragrance Launch

The little crocodile invaded Grand Central Station.  I'm not talking about an urban legend about Manhattan sewers.  Iconic brand Lacoste threw a fun soiree to celebrate their fragrances, Blanc, Vert and Bleu, as well as introduce their social media installation, La Machine.The fragrances were inspired by the brand's signature colors.  Co-ordinating cocktails were created to fete the...

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NY FASHION WEEK: Douglas Hannant Spring 2012

Do you love the China Club?  Not the cheesy one in Midtown Manhattan, but the posh one in Hong Kong.  Never been there?  That's ok, Douglas Hannant brought the glamor and elegance of 1930's Shanghai to the famed New York Plaza Thursday.The designer did not use obvious Chinoiserie motifs in the clothes.  Instead, he evoked the atmosphere of the era in the bamboo backdrop. ...

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NY FASHION WEEK: Vera Wang 2012

The queen of all things bridal, Vera Wang showed a breezy spring collection at Lincoln Center this week. I meant breezy in a literal sense.  A fan blew the chiffon tails of the multiple short/long hems of dresses on the runway.  The collection was very pretty, more avant-garde than one would expect from this designer known for classic elegance. There was an interesting use of seaming and...

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NY FASHION WEEK: Zang Toi Spring 2012

Dreaming of Marrakech. Malaysian designer Zang Toi was inspired by a journey to North Africa for his Spring 2012 collection. He took influences from the desert for the rich browns and the deep sapphire blue from the night sky. There were a few djeballa type silhouettes included as a nod to traditional Moroccan attire. There were gold appliques in motifs inspired by Moroccan architecture that...

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NY Fashion Week: LAMB Spring 2012 by Gwen Stefani

 Are YOU just a girl?  If so, you had plenty of fun, casual options for Spring 2012.  The Gwen Stefani helmed collection showed quietly in the small 'box' studio of Lincoln Center without the designer.  In previous seasons, her shows were big, celebrity-filled paparazzi-bait. The clothing did not show a distinct theme, and you didn't really see the pop star's distinct personality...

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NY FASHION WEEK: Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2012

She's the girl next door, just much more stylish than the rest of your neighbors.  Rebecca Minkoff sent a light, breezy spring collection down the runway that any girl should want.  There were lots of easy, floral prints and bright Spring colors.  Dresses and skirts were flirty. Relaxed pants were paired with semi-tailored blouses or fitted, shrunken leather jackets.Handbags included...

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NY FASHION WEEK: Betsey Johnson Spring 2012

The Betsey Johnson show is one I most look forward to every season. Is it the fond memories of college? Or the fact that these are clothes I fantasized about wearing as an adult when I was eight years old?  I wasn't alone in this anticipation as other female photographers in the pit with me had the same giddyness prior to the show.  Whatever the reason, Betsey Johnson represents fun, flirty...

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NY FASHION WEEK: Diane Von Furstenburg Spring 2012

 The iconic designer and head of CFDA, Diane Von Furstenburg presented one of the most talked about fashion shows so far.  She sent lots of brightly printed large florals down the runway. The designer also showed sold separates in beige, lemon yellow and pops of turquoise blue.  The prettiest pieces were the shimmering pastel day to evening looks.  There was a iridescent print...

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NY FASHION WEEK: Cynthia Rowley Spring 2012

All that shines here is gold.  Cynthia Rowley brought her tongue-in-cheek contemporary dressing to Lincoln center yesterday with a gilded flair.  It started with a shiny gold runway that was being polished by multiple people prior to the show.Silhouettes were fit and flared with skirts and dresses above the knee.  There was a black and gold grouping with graphic Aztec-inspired prints...

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NY FASHION WEEK: BCBG Spring 2012

Max Azria's brought simple dressing to the forefront for spring 2012. By simple dressing, I mean garment after garment of flat panels hanging off shoulders, swing silhouettes, and an avoidance of sleeves at any cost... Look after look contained big easy shapes that looked like it could be one-size-fits-all flowing off the body. I wondered if the design team or pattern makers were going for ultimate...

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NY FASHION WEEK: TSE Cashmere Spring 2012

When spring and summer come around, do you think cozy cashmere?  If you don’t, the Spring 2012 collection for Tse Cashmere will make you reconsider.  The edited presentation at their Soho boutique was clean and knits were feather light.The sportswear had easy silhouettes.  The superfine gauge sweaters looked like chiffon ready for the beach.  There were a few ultraglam draped dresses...

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Cynthia Rowley Glambulance

Any situation that requires a band-aid is never a pleasant one.  Even worse, a bandage incident is never an attractive one either.  When Cynthia Rowley came out with her limited edition collection of glammed-up first aid kit staples, I rushed out to grab a set.  While the sequin and jewel printed band-aids don’t take the physical sting out of your wounds, at least they soften the emotional...

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Fashion's Night Out - Shop Your Heart Out

It's that time of year again.  Get ready to shop for fall, holiday, your gifts and make all of your fashion fantasies come true.  It began as an initiative by Anna Wintour to help the struggling retail industry.  Now, every fashion conscious citizen knows it is a night for shopping, partying, gifts or discounts with purchase or fun mingling with celebrities...The events take place in...

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Karl Lagerfeld at Macy's

 Yes, the Kaiser is coming to Herald Square.  On Tuesday, September 6, there will be a red carpet arrival of celebs and the Chanel designer himself at the Macy's store in Manhattan.  This is to celebrate the highly publicized arrival of Karl Lagerfeld's collection for Macy's.This is the man who commented that those who purchased clothing on sale did not deserve to shop at his regular...

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THEIA Fall 2011

Red carpet favorite, handsome and charming Don O'Neill gave the Ladies Who Lunch team and Ms. FAB an exclusive interview about his journey to create THEIA.The designer started designing with Christian Lacroix and evolved through Carmen Marc Valvo and Badgley Mischka before starting his own Goddess-inspired collection THEIA.  Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester love his dresses.Oprah Winfrey recently wore one of his...

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