10/31/09

Stockings 101: Thigh High Tips - DivineCaroline

"Make sure your skirt is long enough not to have the thigh highs show out from under your shirt when you sit down! If you plan to wear them, here are some good tips on making them work without a garter."
Just the other day, I had my last date with my boyfriend, and I wore one of my favorite pairs of thigh high stockings under...

Inside a Man’s Mind: What They Really Think About Your Shoes - DivineCaroline

"Interesting... I wonder if my male clients would agree."
Supremely confident in his metrosexual ways, my straight friend Trent once declared to a room full of women that he could read their shoes like...

Countdown to Jimmy Choo

The countdown continues for the Jimmy Choo for H&M line arriving in San Francisco on November 14th!  Look for me in line at 6:00am (yes, on a Saturday), to get my hands on a pair of these beauties!




I will be buying both the bag and shoes this model is wearing!!!!!  All the other women in line with a size 6.5 foot better watch out for me :)












10/28/09

Meet Alexis Bittar at Neiman Marcus SF


PS- It's MR. Alexis Bittar....  See you there!!!







Image(s) courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Thank You!

I received this wonderful "thank you" from a client of mine in Illinois after our Skype consult for a wedding she was attending the following day.....

I got the leather boots from 9 west and and patton pumps.  I also got the long black string beaded necklace from nordstrom.  Wearing it with the boots and love how I feel and my man loves how I look...success!
Much appreciation to you!   Peg

Gratitude is not given out as readily as we feel it.  The art of thanking people may not be dead, but the notes that should follow are.  Thank about that next time someone does something you are thankful for... send them a note!  People like to receive something in the mailbox other than bills :)










Image courtesy of Nordstrom.com

The Ten Worst Fall Fashions - from DivineCaroline


Here is an interesting article I found in one of the many blogs that I follow. It addresses some of this season's top trends (acid washed jeans cutouts, shoulder pads, stirrup pants), and why they might be big NO NO's.

The Ten Worst Fall Fashions - Page 4 - DivineCaroline

While I don't agree with their assessment of all of these trends, it makes some good points. Especially the fact that most of these trends are not appropriate for the work place... Enjoy!









Image courtesy of Divine Caroline

10/27/09

Who's Who in Fashion: Jimmy Choo's Tamara Mellon


I previously posted that Jimmy Choo is coming out with a clothing and accessory line for H&M on November 14th, 2009.  Just in case you've been hiding under a rock, therefore unaffected by the craze that Sex and the City caused over the brand of footwear, here is the 411 on the brand and the woman behind it all.

Jimmy Choo was launched in 1996 when Tamara Mellon, Accessories Editor at British Vogue realized the potential demand for stylish but wearable shoes and approached Mr Jimmy Choo, the couture shoe maker based in the East End of London, recognized for his excellent craftsmanship. Tamara partnered with Mr Jimmy Choo to start the ready-to-wear shoe company and opened the first stand alone boutique on Motcomb Street, London along with a strong wholesale business. Sandra Choi, Mr Jimmy Choo’s niece, was named Creative Director, a position she holds to this day, reporting to Tamara Mellon.

In 1998, Jimmy Choo opened its first boutique in New York followed by Los Angeles in 1999. Sparking an immediate success amongst young Hollywood, Jimmy Choo became synonymous with the “red carpet” shoe of choice and was hailed the lucky charm for Oscar winners such as Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, Hilary Swank and many other Hollywood actresses.

In April 2001, Mr Jimmy Choo’s equity share of the business was purchased by Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. During this period, Jimmy Choo saw its first significant expansion and the introduction of handbags. In November 2004, Lion Capital acquired a majority shareholding, valuing the company at £101 million. In February 2007, a majority shareholding of Jimmy Choo was acquired by TowerBrook Capital Partners, the international private equity firm, a deal which valued the company at £185 million.

Today, Jimmy Choo encompasses a complete luxury lifestyle accessory brand with women’s shoes, handbags, small leather goods, sunglasses and eyewear. Its products are available in the growing network of Jimmy Choo freestanding stores as well as in the most prestigious department and specialty stores worldwide. From its original base in the United Kingdom and United States, the Jimmy Choo store network now encompasses over 100 locations in 32 countries.1


Mellon had frequently visited Choo’s Hackney workrooms when she was at Vogue, often having him create shoes for a shoot. With her father as chairman of the new company, she opened a shop that she filled with the sort of shoes she liked to wear. “It was only logical,” she points out. “I am the customer. I understand the lifestyle. I know what sort of shoes women in my world need. I have the ideas and Jimmy’s niece designs them for me.” From the first collection, her Knightsbridge shop became a magnet for the international super-rich and sexy.
Since buying Jimmy Choo, Mellon has moved fast, and is now seen less as a society princess and more as a driven businesswoman.2











1 Info and images courtesy of http://www.jimmychoo.com/scat/thestory
2 Info courtesy of http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article5390414.ece

10/25/09

Jimmy Choo for $100!!!!!


In case you haven't already heard (and there aren't many people who haven't), Jimmy Choo has designed a line for H&M available November 14th, 2009!!!!!

Here are a couple of my favorites from the line...



I know I'll be waiting in line for the store to open..... who's with me?












Image courtesy of http://www.944.com/blog/jimmy-choo-for-h-m/

Bluefly Video: How to Sport Bracelets This Fall


Bracelets big and small are adorning the wrists of women this fall.  Bluefly.com's blog Fly Paper posted a cool video showing you how to make sense of the trend.












Image(s) courtesy of

10/24/09

Valentino Uses Milliner to Design AMAZING Shoes with Feathers

I previously blogged about feathers on footwear being a huge trend for spring.  From Paris Fashion Week, check out Valentino's interpretation.... lace wings!!

London-based milliner Philip Treacy is the mastermind behind this amazing footwear.  I can't wait to get my hands (well... feet) on a pair.


 

Images from http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2010RTW-VALENTIN

10/23/09

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day- Period Piece Showcases Current Fall Fashions?

I watched Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day while blogging on my couch last week.  It wasn't so much the story that had me captivated, it was the fashions!  Take this dressing gown/robe (see left). I am not a huge fan of pink on myself, but don't those maribu feathers make you want to glam up your boudoir ASAP?  Add pair of kitten heeled slippers (wouldn't my downstairs neighbors love that) and I'd be set.

What amazes me the most is how some of the current fall trends came from this war-time era.  I'm looking forward to femininity and luxe being back in style.

If you haven't seen the movie yet, you really should.  It's not a period piece of Titanic proportions, but a fun film with plenty of pleasing fashion to look at.  Check it out on IMDB.










Images courtesy of http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/

10/22/09

Pics from the Verrieres and Sako trunk show 10/09

The Verrieres & Sako trunk show was so much fun last night.  It was a barrage of designer duds left and right.  And for a fraction of the cost of some of the handbags being worn by the beautiful ladies, my entire outfit cost less than $700 (accessories included).

 Left- Stephanie Verrieres     Right- Me
 
 Left- Me      Right- Diana Todd

What I wore:
  • animal print cropped jacket I bought on sale from Guess a couple of years ago
  • pearl necklace from Banana Republic 
  • black Prada dress circa late 2007 with enough stretch in it to look amazing on me :)
  • gold stretch bracelet and Michael Kors chained handbag in purple suede
  • Jeffrey Campbell shoes (the best part!!!)

Since the shoes were the most amazing part of the outfit (not sure why they didn't make it into any of the photos), here they are :)

What I bought:



Get one for yourself... http://verrieres-sako.com/vs/


Thank you to Drew Altizer Photography for being so quick to post the pics.











Image(s) courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography
http://www.drewaltizer.com/album.php

10/20/09

Verrieres and Sako- Trunk show at Bently Reserve tomorrow night!


 

Fabulous fashion designers, and personal friends of mine, Stephanie Verrieres and Kimie Sako are the amazing design duo being featured with Amber Marie Bently's jewelry line at an event to help save the coral reefs.  I am VERY excited to be shopping the girls' new fall line.  I am hoping ot find something perfect to wear to my London wedding blessing/reception in December.  Stay tuned for more pics from the event.

On a side note, I have the red dress featured above (top left), and it is AMAZING!!!!!


Verrieres & Sako Fall 2009 Collection


Style architects, Stephanie Verrieres & Kimie Sako have drafted a collection with the same elegance, glamour and sophistication that epitomized the Art Deco movement of the 1920’s. Joining staples like the Ruched Dress, High-waisted Pencil Skirt and classic Dress Coat are the Deco Panel Front Panel Dress and the One Button Shawl Jacket.

While previous collections have focused on their signature “ruckling” technique and figure flattering ruching, Fall 2009 utilizes pleating. Silver and plum are the accent colors joining the classic color palette of black, ivory and grey. Fabrics used include: Wool, Silk, Satin, Cotton Voile, Taffeta, Organza, Stretch Charmeuse and Tulle.

“Organized chaos.” is how Stephanie Verrieres would describe the collection. “Kimie and I were inspired by prisms, art deco and geometric shapes. We were excited to focus on pleating, something more modern and mathematic.”

Expectations of stellar separates, sophisticated work wear and sexy cocktail dresses are met with Verrieres & Sako Fall 2009 Collection.

For sales inquires please contact sales@verrieres-sako.com
For press inquires please contact pr@verrieres-sako.com












Image(s) courtesy of Verrieres & Sako

10/17/09

Who's Who in Fashion: Marc Jacobs

Even people who have been hiding under a fashion rock have probably heard of Marc Jacobs. Whether they know it or not I'm sure they have even seen his clothes being worn around them.



Who

Despite his rocky personal life and recent substance abuse issues, Marc Jacobs remains at the very top of the fashion biz.

Backstory

Jacobs was born in the city; his dad died when he was seven, and he spent his childhood bouncing around the tri-state area, with stints in New Jersey, Long Island, and the Bronx. It was while attending the High School of Art and Design that he began embroidering jeans and sold his first line of knitted sweaters to the Upper West Side boutique Charivari,

where he worked as a stock boy. He went on to Parsons and then launched his own label in partnership with Robert Duffy, who had attended his senior year fashion show. Although the line was well-received by critics and received orders from Bergdorf and Bloomingdale's, it was far from profitable; it only lasted a year before Jacobs joined Perry Ellis as creative director in 1988. Four years later, Jacobs made waves with his legendary grunge collection, which earned horrible reviews and resulted in his dismissal (although ironically, he won the Womenswear Designer of the Year award from the CFDA that same year).

Jacobs and Duffy re-launched the Marc Jacobs label, opening a small showroom in SoHo. In 1997, with the label again struggling financially, Jacobs accepted an offer to become creative director of Louis Vuitton, a deal that also required LVMH to fund the Marc Jacobs label. He's juggled both jobs ever since, updating Vuitton's once-stodgy luggage brand via collaborations with modern artists like Takashi Murakami as well as building his own eponymous fashion empire. As has been the case since the beginning, Duffy, the omnipresent man behind the curtain, handles the financial side of Marc Jacobs Inc., which allows Jacobs to focus on design.

Of note

Though Jacobs' work has evolved over time, he's generally known for his clever revamps of vintage styles, and a quirky, indie-rock aesthetic that appeals to hipster celebs. Sofia Coppola is a close friend and muse, and has appeared in his ads. When Winona Ryder went to trial in the fall of 2002 for stealing clothes (including some by Marc Jacobs), she exclusively wore his demure secretary's outfits and appeared in his Juergen Teller-shot adcampaign the following year. Now one of the

most influential brands in fashion (even though Duffy says it only became profitable in 2006), the Marc Jacobs brand encompasses women's and men's lines, a lower-priced Marc by Marc Jacobs line, the Little Marc children's line, fragrance lines, and an accessories line.

Indeed, the business is growing so fast that there are now four Marc Jacobs stores on Bleecker Street. Jacobs has reportedly also signed the lease on a fifth West Village store, at the corner of Bank and West 4th Streets, leading some to snipe that his brand is becoming as ubiquitous as Starbucks—and that's not the only negative attention the designer's been getting lately. On top of widespread bitching about his love life and his appearance (see below) his September '07 show didn't go down great with the fashion press, which deemed the clothes, and Jacobs himself, "obnoxious" (WWD) and "a parody" (Suzy Menkes). Not that the designer is necessarily too worried: As he admitted to the New York Times in November 2007, "what I love more than anything is attention. That is about as honest of a statement that I could possibly make. I want a reaction, because I want the attention."

In person

The designer has recently undergone a dramatic physical transformation: previously pale and verging on chubby, with long hair and big black-framed eyeglasses ("for 20 years, I wouldn't even look in the mirror," he's claimed), Jacobs is now crop-haired, skinny, and tanned, and sports contacts and Harry Winston diamond stud earrings. He says he spends two hours a day with a trainer and eats an exclusively organic diet. The new physique—as well as his appallingly corny tattoo of a smiling M&M man—was displayed in a spread in the September 2007 issue of Out where he posed in his underwear.


Image and information from http://cityfile.com/profiles/marc-jacobs

Clothing images from Neimanmarcus.com

10/16/09

Nail Adornments- Not the "Lee Press Ons" of the 80's


If you want to walk on the wild side for $10, with only a two day commitment, give these beauties a try!  Available at Sephora now!












Image courtesy of Sephora.com

10/15/09

Tips to Maximize Your Closet Without Spending a Dime

This vary gracious client of mine allowed me to post her pics, but kindly requested I didn't identify her (fair enough).  These photos were taken during her in-home wardrobe consultaton.  Here are a few of the outfits we put together for her, using two black dresses and various layering techniques.  All items we pieces she already had in her closet... So much for "having nothing to wear".
















You can't see it very well in these photos (my apologies), but we used her black vest and paired it with a couple of her jersey dresses.  In this first picture (left) the jersey dress was quite shapeless and looked like a sack on her nice frame.  By layering the fitted vest, it re-defined her waist line and accentuated her nicely shaped arms.  The necklace and black boots helped to complete the look.

The dress on the right was more of a sweater knot, and quite fitted.  The vest is layered on top added visual interest and dressed up a plain black sweater dress.  Obviously there were many other options we could have done with a great staple like a black sweater dress, but that's for another posting :)







We took the same black jersey dress (above left) and layered a gray wrap sweater on top.  Just like the vest, layering something more fitted on top of a shapeless dress can bring your wait line out of hiding.

In this last picture, the black sweater dress was belted and we threw a sweater coat on top.  The belt accentuates her nice waistline, and the sweater coat give the outfit a bit of ta-dah.  The beauty of this is that she can take the coat off and still look more put together than if she had just worn the dress alone.

What she learned most from this experience (and I've heard this many times before), is that she needs to be more open minded and creative with how she pairs items in her closet.  Any closet maximizes exponentially if you know how to layer and accessorize properly.  Don't limit yourself to the possibilities you may not even know you have in your closet already.



Images taken by Jennifer Held

Sexy Rain Boots- No longer an Oxymoron

Sexy rain boots actually do exist!  Thank you Splendora for yet again, turning me onto a great find.  DKNY has unleashed to the fashion world, a leopard print rain boot with a heel!  It would be hard not to sport these on a sunny day as well.













Image courtesy of Splendora.com

Tips for Maximizing Your Closet

I previously blogged about the "closet clean out" process I go through with my clients, and how I help them maximize their current wardrobe.  How do I do this?  I take key pieces that are multi-functional and put them together into as many outfit possibilities as possible.  These pictures are from my client Lisa's wardrobe analysis.  I took the purple BCBG wrap sweater and completed three separate outfit ideas for her.




Lisa works from home, and has many occasions to wear jeans.  She wanted to update her look to have some more style.  It was more than just changing the tops and the shoes she paired with it.  Wrapping the sweater (image 2) and having it tie in the back added some visual interest.  Placing a black turtleneck sweater, pearls, and velvet pumps gives this outfit a bit more warmth.  The other two looks (images 1 and 3) are a bit more summery.

Lisa loved all three looks and will feel more than comfortable in any of them.








Image taken by Jennifer Held

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