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 graduating to hit brands, he made menswear and womenswear equally important.  The floral prints had a 1980's edge.  They reminded me of the color palette and looks my Mom used to favor when I was a child.  She was a stylin' Mama.

The sportswear separates were flattering and casual.  Exactly what I would want to wear on a typical day in Spring.

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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 to come down the runway were dramatic swirls of printed chiffon. 

The rest of the looks that followed were draped, sexy silhouettes showing off bronzed legs, bared shoulders and long necks.  Sunny orange, one of the most popular colors in the Spring 2012 collection was important in this collection as well.  Vivid blues and greens to reflect the beaches of Brazil were also very prominent.  The popular pattern were variations on a painterly swirled design interpreted in different color palettes.

Fabric manipulations were popular as a design detail on several gowns.  Fabric was twisted and braided.  Other gowns featured a gathered fabric floral technique. 

When spring hits NYC, I'm usually wading through dirty slush thawed from the winter.  If there is any luck in my world, next spring I'll be instead on a beach in Brazil, with a caipirinha in hand and a regal Mielle gown on my back...

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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 my peeps up North by a good dose ofshopping. 

Cougar Pillow Boots are an iconic fashion item in thehistory of Canadian outerwear.  The branditself came roaring back in recent years mixing their signature craftsmanship andcomfort with newfound fashion relevance. If you saw my tweets during last winter’s blizzard, you can see exactlyhow much I appreciated their black Ringo Star boots during the slushy frigid month. 

The Pillow Boot is one of the most comfortable, cushy bootsI have ever tried on.  I am so used toheels and impractical footwear, that I never realized boots could feel thisway.  While the Pillow Boot is adeviation from my usual girly style, I found it worked perfectly with Joe FreshLeggings, a cozy scarf and edgy All Saints cardigan.  The boots are made in Italy and based onfriends who still hang on to the originals, last a long, long time.  

Joe Fresh is a supermarket clothing chain in my favorite grocerystore, Loblaws.  That alone should haveany fashionista running for the hills. Surprisingly, it has cute, trendy pieces with a very affordable pricepoint.  The brand is putting in a bigeffort to market itself as a serious fashion collection.  It was one of the most sought after invitesat Toronto Fashion Week last fall.  Itopened a pop-up shop on the Main Street of East Hampton, and now opening twoboutiques on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

My little suede boots here have antiqued gold grommets and ahard-core rubber sole for serious walking. Despite the 3-inch heel, they almost feel like flats.  My Mom liked these because they could besporty, or paired with a very feminine printed silk chiffon CatherineMalandrino skirt and denim jacket.  Theleather rose headband is from another Canadian brand, Le Chateau.

How does a New York Fashion industry vet merge her CanuckEx-Pat roots for autumn? She shows love my marrying labels above and below theborder.

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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 be considered Catholic chapel-friendly: Her gold plate necklace, which was emblazoned with a very unpleasant 4-letter word that begins with a "C."

It's likely that Rihanna just hadn't thought her accessories through on this particular pilgrimage. There's also the fact that she uses the C-word pretty liberally, even applying a modified version (NSFW-ish) of it as a nickname for her buddy Katy Perry in public on Twitter. She definitely didn't intend to offend.

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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 the season 2 premiere Sunday!  

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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 palette.  These looks were still bold, but might appeal to a more mainstream audience.  Either that, or obnoxiously cute couples who insist on dressing alike.

The show brought out celebs, from Gossip girl's Matthew Settle , True Blood's Carrie Preston and former contestants of America's Next Top Model.  

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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 in an effort to decide which cause is most near and dear to them. The royal couple will visit the center on September 29, where they will meet staff and patients and take a tour of the facility.

Kate seems to have plans for other major charitable endeavors as well. "The Duchess is using the next few months to get to get to know a number of charitable and other causes better, so she can make well-informed decisions about her future role," a palace spokesman said in a statement.

In a world filled with daily Lohan shenanigans and celebs who take themselves way too seriously, it's great to see this classy couple using their influence to help make the world a better place.

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