My One Night Stand with 3 Dresses in LA

After 2 months of really hard work and no play, my best friend and I decided to meet in LA for the weekend.  We were due for some fun in lala land in order to take our minds off of work, so I flew down from SF and my best friend flew west from NY.

As soon as the ticket was booked the very first question that came to mind was of course; what will I wear?

Packing for a trip like this would be a monumental task as you‘d want to look fabulous given all the hottest spots we were going to and the celebrities we were going to hang out with but I decided to try something new this time. Something I had never done before.

Instead of packing 10 dresses, 5 pairs of shorts, 4 pairs of jeans, multiple shirts, 6 pairs of shoes, 4 purses and endless jewelry pieces….you get the point, I decided that I wanted to make my life simple.  Really simple.   Because let’s face it, we all know that half the stuff we girls pack for a trip never gets to venture outside of the suitcase.

As a replacement for going through all that packing headache and deciding which items were worthy of LA, I rented 3 stunning dresses from 3 stylish women in SF through Stylend.co which is an app that allows women to monetize their dresses sitting in their closet by renting them out to other women in their city for a tenth of the retail price.

Not only did I not have to worry about what to pack for the trip but my luggage was 3 times smaller than usual and on top of that I did not have the usual dilemma before heading out which of the 10 dresses I had packed I should wear that night. This time I only had 3 to choose from, so it made the decision simple.  Assign a dress to the first night and go from there.  All three were new to me so I was equally excited to wear any of them.

With only $195 total, I wore 3 designer dresses that would have otherwise cost me $2000 if I had purchased them and the irony of it is that I would have worn them only once and then they would sit and collect dust in my closet.  For some reason wearing a dress a second or third time does not excite me as much as wearing it for the first time.  There is something about the one night stand that is so exciting.

Needless to say this experiment turned a success.  I had multiple stylish LA boys and girls coming up to me saying that they loved my dress each night and in turn that made me feel great because who does not like a compliment.

The best part of all of this was that at the end of the weekend I went back home put the dress back in the same packaging the girls had handed to me and gave it back to them. No need to dry clean, ship or worry about finding space in my closet for yet another dress I only wore once…….

DSquared

Alexander Wang

ALLSAINTS

DSquared

ALLSAINTS

Alexander Wang

Fun Bobs

Ever since I cut my long hair into a long bob I’m obsessed with this hairstyle.  It is so chic and above all so easy to upkeep.   I can’t believe how much less time it takes to wash my hair and blow dry it.  I have to thank my best friend Joli for giving me the idea.  When I was in NY a couple weeks ago she took me to her favorite hair dressers at Warren Tricomi at the Plaza.  She showed the hairdresser Gwyneth Paltrow’s bob and she did the rest.  I’ve gotten endless comments ever since and I’m so glad I listened to her. If you are contemplating whether to cut your hair I’d say check out one of these models below and go for it

Here are some of my favorites.  What are yours?

Dream Dresses

Lately I have been obsessed with the dresses from Elie Saab. So obsessed that I missed my flight to Germany as I was happily pinning away on Pinterest while they were calling my name several times.  All the while sitting right in front of the gate and supposedly keeping an eye for boarding.  I ended up on another flight to Germany which made my adventure even more fun. But I digress….. I love his attention to detail and his ability to always come up with the most feminine, sexy and elegant dresses.  He has mastered the fusion of east and west to produce nothing short of stunning couture gowns.  Below are some of my favorites but one can do no wrong with any gown from Elie Saab.

Details Details Details

Rare Hermes Constance Mini Bag

This beauty is of my dear friend Lisa.  She just got the ultimate bag “The Birkin” and she wants to give the Constance a fun new home.

I LOVE this bag! If it was mine I would keep it and wear it every day.  The leather on the outside is so perfect.  The highest quality I have ever seen and touched which makes it worth so much because it will look and feel new for a very long time. This leather does not wear easily let me tell you. The stitching is impeccable.  Not one deviation from a beautiful straight line all the way through even around the rounded corners.

My favorite part is when you open the bag, the interior lining of leather is so soft it actually rivals a baby’s bottom.  So soft that it is a pleasure taking out and putting back my iphone for the 100th time.

And the Color. Ah the color is ah-mazing!!!  It is that kind of shade where you only get in very high end items like Hermes because both the pigment and the leather have to be of the highest quality to culminate in a stunning color like this one.   Need I say more?  Here are some pics of it and where u can buy it!

Hermes Constance Mini Bag

BUY HERE

Hermes Constance Mini Bag

BUY HERE

Hermes Constance Mini Bag

BUY HERE

Hermes Constance Mini Bag

BUY HERE

Hermes Constance Mini Bag

BUY HERE

Shades of Summer 2013

Having sold all of my sunglass collection on ebay, I am in the market for new pairs of sunglasses to rock this summer in the Croatian, Albanian and Greek coast during yacht week.  Here are the shades I’m in love with right now.  Let me know if there’s a cool style you like that I should consider.

Holes Kaleidoscope SunGlasses

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Ray Ban

Ray Ban classic club master

Chelsea sunglasses by house of Harlow

Minkpink Kitty sunglasses

Minimal Baroque sunglasses by prada

KLS black & gold polarized sunglasses by 9five

Baron 12k gold frame sunglasses by Dita

Flat top cheetah by retrosuperfuture

Giaguaro trio by super

Braverman sunglasses by oliver peoples

House of Harlow

Accessorizz!!

As spring comes upon and the weather gets warmer, naturally we show more skin and with that comes the opportunity to showcase our personal style through the latest on trend accessories. I’m in love with the accessories for spring 2013, from chunky necklaces, to delicate/fine ones you will be sure to find your pick and wear it as your go to piece.  When I find a piece that I love, I made it my go to piece and wear it over and over again.  This comes from being too practical (or lazy in my case).  While I love accessories because I believe they complete one’s look, it is one more step added to my daily routine, so I love it when I have a versatile necklace, earrings or ring that I can put on as I walk out the door and still look fabulous.

Here are some of my favorite works of art.

Inspired by Vintage

Vintage is a word that is often thrown around when describing articles of clothing/accessories that are used or old. But many people often fail to make the distinction between something old and valuable and just pre-loved fashion.

Did you know that Vintage comes from the wine-making business and it is meant to describe the process of picking grapes grown and harvested in a single specified year therefore creating the finished product a vintage wine?

So in the fashion world, the word Vintage refers to any clothing item that was produced after 1920 and at least 20 years old from the present day.   Vintage items are those that were produced in 1993 or earlier.

I happen to love when certain vintage fashions come back in style giving us the ability to mix and match the new with the old.  Here are some of my latest loves in vintage.

Vintage Levi’s Denim Cuttoffs

Vintage patent leather clutch

Robin Piccone ‘Penelope’ Crochet Overlay

Vintage leather tote

How about some vintage Cindy Crawford…..back when models were sexxxy

New Year, New You

Fashion Resolutions for 2013

1.  Be Feminine

“Women should look like women. A piece of cardboard has no sexuality” –Alexander McQueen.  Enhance your look by wearing pieces that accentuate your curves and make you feel powerful for the woman that you are.

Striped Dress H&M

J. Mendel Spring 2013

2. Indulge in more Color

“Going into the new year, I, and women all over, need to indulge in more color. I’ve been guilty of gravitating toward black and muted colors. However, I’ve become immersed in the idea of mixing colors, which we’ve come to know as color blocking. It’s an instant mood changer and visually provocative. It was a huge hit this year, and I plan to take the trend into the new year.” -Jil Sander.

NYFW Spring 2013

Ethnic Color

J. Mendel Spring 2013

Lanvin Spring 2013

3.  Shades of Blue

Blue Eyeliner is the eye makeup statement for Spring 2013.

New Year’s Eve 2012 Dresses. What will you wear?

I was looking online to find some inspiration on what to wear for New Year’s Eve and I did not find anything I liked in the top 10 lists that magazines had compiled. I found most of them cheesy, for lack of a better word.  I love sparkle but it has to be tasteful and chic to look just right.  Hope you find some of these looks interesting in terms of dresses, hair and make up.

Burberry

Balmain

Elie Saab

Faberge

Nior By Lazaro

Bhutan, happiness is a place

As soon as we approach the check-in counter at Katmandu airport and before we could make out the words “can we please have a window seat on the left side of the plane”, the answer was no. By the quick reply i could tell that The agent gets this question from every single passenger every single day.

The reason:for the duration of the flight you can enjoy being at eye level with the worlds highest mountains in the Himalayan range including of course Everest the highest of them all. So now you can see why those seats are in such demand. A good trick that worked for us was to upgrade to business and get that window seat.

Before boarding the flight, I was a little skeptical of whether Bhutan was worth the $$$$ price tag that was mandatory to experience the country. As it turns  out, this country of 700,000 people was that kind of special place that it was worth every penny. It was a once in a lifetime experience where authenticity, tradition and exceptionally beautiful nature lived in harmony.

Unfortunately this “last authentic place on earth” as Time magazine calls it, is changing quickly as more & more tourist are able to afford the minimum spend and is in danger of loosing what makes it so special.

The three things that impressed me the most were:

1. Wild untouched nature.

 70% of the country is forested with beautiful pine, fur, cypress etc. Mountain ranges reach up to 7500 m and run across very narrow valleys with terraced rice fields up to 4000 meters.

Luckily the national road is cut out of the edge of the mountains along the valleys and rivers so it allows for some of the most magnificent vistas as you look straight down 1000-3000 m or look out at mountains and valleys criss crossing ahead for miles.

2. 100% Traditional architecture.

The only architecture that you see in Bhutan is traditional Bhutanese 3 story buildings with intricate painted roofs and windows. These are the most distinct houses I have ever seen and they look magnificent against the backdrop of pine covered mountains and fairy tale valleys.  The religious temples and monasteries are even more impressive as they sit tall at the edge of a 3000+ meter mountains and have the most spectacular views one has ever seen.  Its no wonder it is the preferred meditation place for lamas.

The government has made sure that even the new buildings confirm to traditional architecture.

3. Traditional dress.

90% of all Bhutanese we have come in contact with wear traditional dress.  This may change in the future but seeing most of this nation reflect their customs in their wear is such a pleasant and again very very unique sight. Can you think of a place where all people of one nation still dress in their traditional dress? I certainly have not seen it throughout the 50+ countries I have visited

I have to say that food and accommodations leave a lot to be desired but I hear that if you stay at the Aman resorts you won’t have to worry.

Facts:

Archery: national sport

Chillies & cheese: national dish

70% forest cover

Favorite places:

Phobjika

Phunaka

Tigers Nest at sunset (no tourists)

Chume Valley in (Bumthang)

Tiger’s Nest

The King and the Beautiful Queen of Bhutan

 

 

Voluminous Coats

The statement piece for AW 2012 is the oversized coat which we have seen in the runways of Celine, Jil Sander, YSL, Dior, Burberry Prorsum, Simone Rocha, Acne etc. Although I personally prefer more form fitting lines, I can not help but like the look of these coats if you keep a sense of proportion and strike the right balance with the pairing pieces.

Jil Sander Aw12

Celine AW12

Maison Martin Margiela

Celine AW 12

Spring/Summer 2013 Fashion Weeks Around The World

I love the “big four” fashion weeks (NY, London, Milan, Paris) because they each offer something different and special that speaks to almost all tastes.  I love New York Fashion Week because of its designer melting pot. I love London Fashion Week because of its edginess and you are always guaranteed to find the most unique fashion.  Milan fashion week because of the classic Italian Designers and Paris because of the elegant and classy haute couture houses.

Here are our favorite looks:

NY Fashion Week:

I love this look because of the colors, cut and combination of fabric. The sunglasses are spectacular and transform the outfit from girly to edgy.

DVF SS 2013

Love the color combination and the flowyness of the design.

DVF SS 2013

Super feminine and classy.  Reminds me of Breakfast at Tiffany’s!

Zac Posen SS 2013

I’m all about the cool pattern cut outs this season. Can’t help but admire this sophisticated and sexy dress.

Michael Kors SS 2013

LONDON Fashion Week

I’m a sucker for sheer organza and chiffon so any time I see a creation this sheer I can’t help but be drawn to it.

Christopher Kane SS 2013

More cool patterns and cuts.

LFW

I find this look very pure but rebellious at the same time.

Fashion Fringe SS 2013

I admire the creative design in the fabric.

Antoni And Alison SS 2013

MILAN Fashion Week

Loving the patterns and colors in the Gucci Collection.  Classy and feminine as always.

Gucci SS 2013

Gucci SS 2013

Fendi SS 2013

I’m not huge into animal print in general but this look I like.  I also love her hair and make up!

Just Cavalli SS 2013

Love the lace detail on the side of this pant dress.

Roberto Cavalli SS 2013

PARIS Fashion Week

Mysterious and sexy.

YSL SS 2013

The knit work on this dress is exceptional. I love the colors, the shape and the length of sleeves. Very flattering for a woman’s body.

Balmain SS 2013

Tres Chic all around!!!

Jean Paul Gaultier SS 2013

I want this bathing suit from Chanel.  The bag is a little much but I believe it is just for show.

Chanel SS 2013

Amazing Montenegro

Sveti Stefan

I knew I wanted to visit Montenegro the first time I laid eyes on some pictures of Sveti Stefan Island now part of the luxury collection of Aman Resorts .

From those of you that follow my blog, you may remember that Sveti Stefan was one of the destinations on this list that I was dying to discover so naturally I jumped at the first opportunity and visited in early August.

As the pictures below reveal, the island is stunningly picturesque from the outside and naturally it is the star of countless pictures by tourist from all over the world. However having the opportunity to experience the island in its entirety and all of that the resort offers is the most impressive part. I have a weak spot for history and ancient architecture and this island has an abundance of both. And the Aman Group has done a superb job in restoring this 1800s fishing village into an exclusive haven that is enjoyed by the rich and famous.

Since you can read most of the details on Wikipedia I will keep this short and sweet.

Here are the key words that put this resort at the top of the list for me:

Old world stone construction, historic significance, cute churches, 3 private beaches with crystal clear blue water, infinity pool overlooking the Adriatic under a shade of pine trees, beautiful piazzas and verandas, contemporary modern guest suites, Mediterranean landscape (fig, cypress and pine trees), gourmet restaurants with unmatched views of Budva and the islands, impeccable service.  What more can one ask for?

Sveti Stefan

Aman Sveti Stefan Private Beach #1

View from inside the private Island

View of infinity pool inside the private Island

Villa Milocer and Private Beach #2

Villa Milocer up close

Dining area in front of Villa Milocer

View from Vila Milocer and Private beach towards Sveti Stefan

Queen’s Chair Restaurant (part of Aman Sveti Stefan)

Montenegro

Given that I was going to Albania in August anyway, I said to myself why not set a few days aside and check Montenegro off my list.? Being that Montenegro is Albania’s northern neighbor, I had put off visiting it for so long and instead explored further away countries. In a way, I am glad that I visited Montenegro after having visited some 40+ countries because it gave me a deeper appreciation for its unparalleled beauty and amazing people.

So I flew into Tirana, Albania rented a car and off I went on my own to Montenegro.  I had no plan or itinerary except the phone number of NinaPetkovic (a famous Montenegrin singer) who is best friends with the friend of my best friend (I know very complicated.)

Driving through the border was a breeze and it was kind of fun since I don’t usually get to cross borders in a car.  99% of the time I cross borders in air space; not as exciting.

The first thing I noticed when I crossed the border is that Montenegrin drivers are as crazy of drivers as Albanians so in a sense I felt home and I loved every minute of it.  What can I say, rebellious driving and not obeying most traffic laws is in my blood and makes me feel alive because in order to survive and spare pedestrians at the same time you have to be alert at all times.

As I made my way towards Budva in the interior roads I was stunned by the wild beauty of the gargantuan mountains all around and never-ending.  The perfectly paved, windy roads with unrivaled views were excellent for driving a Maserati or any other luxury car. Not so much in my Fiat Panda rental. But nevertheless I had a smile on my face listening to my favorite music and driving really fast through the sea of mountains.

When I arrived in Budva I was overwhelmed to see the beach wall to wall with people.  There was not an inch in the sand that was left to walk.

Since that was not my scene I immediately took a boat to the island across from Budva named “Hawaii”.  This was ironic because in a sense Hawaii was very serene and calm just like the real Hawaii is. And the water; much less infested by crowds.

Just before sunset I started driving towards Tivat & Porto Montenegro to meet Nina Petkovic, my gracious host.  Surprisingly I was able to find Porto Montenegro by just following road signs, no Google maps nor directions needed.

Porto Montenegro impressed me immediately.  It is a brand new luxury yacht marina complete with, residences, restaurants, boutiques and bars. Built just a couple of years ago by a Canadian businessman Peter Munk who owns 54% and a smaller percentage owned by members of the Rothschild family. Although the port is brand new, the architecture and buildings have been done very tastefully and it still retains its Mediterranean feel. Condos on this port start at $1.5m, and from what I head most of them are owned by Russians.  The yachts that are docked here are just as impressive as the ones in St Tropez, Cannes and Monaco, in my opinion.  In fact by the time the port is complete it will offer 650 berths and 150 of them reserved for super yachts.

After walking around, I naturally choose Al Posto Guisto which in Italian it means “At the right Place” to meet Nina.  This perfectly situated restaurant/bar offered the best people watching while enjoying the sunset and sipping cocktails of freshly squeezed juices.

Thanks to technology (namely Facebook & Apple) we are able to spot each other immediately.  Nina is beautiful, full of energy and her smile lights up the atmosphere even more.  We connected right away and strangely felt like we had known each other for years.  After we savor our Gorgonzola gnocchi and a few more fresh juice cocktails ,Nina has to run off to her performance since she is one of the most famous singers in Montenegro I find out.  But I am left in the company of her friend Vukasin Brajic, a dear friend she had met during a reality show similar to American Idol and his beautiful PR agent.

In the days to follow Nina & Vukasin show me more of their beautiful country including the Bay of Kotor, more of their favorite beaches and of course the night life which they were the starts of.

Going to Montenegro was an unexpected adventure, which turned out to be one of the best trips I have ever had.  The culture, the people, the sights were fascinating and they must be experienced. I would recommend all of my friends to put this country at the top of the list before it becomes too touristy like Croatia.

“Hawaii” Island off of Budva

Tivat

Porto Montenegro

Sunset @ Porto Montenegro

Nina Petkovic (middle) after her performance @ Porto Monenegro.

Bay of Kotor

Bay of Kotor

Kotor

Koi Suwannagate “It’s All in the Detail”

Koi Suwannagate is a worldwide renowned designer whose collections have been carried at Barneys New York, Nordstrom, Harvey Nichols and various exclusive boutiques in the U.S. and around the world.

Artistically inclined and imaginatively beautiful, Koi captures nature’s fleeting beauty in her trademark hand-sculpted creations of multilayered luxurious fabrics.  Creating an ethereal fantasy, she tempers delicate arty hand-embellishments with elegant real-world clothes.  Her prolific three-dimensional designs not only accentuate feminine contours but they envelope the female body in flowing lines.

Born in Bangkok and living in Los Angeles, Koi Suwannagate launched her line in 2001.  She made her New York Fashion Week debut in 2007 to high acclaim from fashion press and retailers.  The same year, Vogue and The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) recognized her talent with a nomination for the prestigious Fashion Fund Award.  Most recently, WWD Women’s Wear Daily named Koi Suwannagate’s S/S ’09 collection one of The Top Ten Collections of the season.

Her collections have been featured in the pages of the world’s leading fashion journals, including Vogue, W, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, and her garments have been seen on A-List celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, Kirsten Dunst, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman.

I was first introduced to Koi‘s collection in November of 2011 through my good friend Lisa Kieu and immediately fell in love with the cashmere dresses, tops and skirts that I tried on.  Those that know me will understand that the reason I am obsessed with Koi‘s designs is because the creme de la creme fabrics she uses, the stitching and above all the amazing fit.  It seemed like her collection was made to order for me but later I found out that many more women feel the same way as I do because the luxurious cashmere and expert stitching hide any imperfection in the body masterfully.

Below you will see some of the most amazing designs from her sample sale. I hope that you can take advantage of the 70% off sample sale like I did and wear her dresses to life’s special occasions.

Photography: Isabella Bejarano

Styling: Noah Shaw

MUA: Cynthea & Desiree

Model: Lona Alia Duncan

Photography: Dan Rappa

Styling: Mia Gonzalez

MUA: Cynthea & Desiree

& Kathleen Mclemore

 

Buy Here

 

Fendi, St. John & Gucci

Fun Facts:

Fendi is unique in that it has been run not by male members of the family but by five sisters, daughters of Adele and Edoardo Fendi, who became involved in the business after the death of their father in 1954. Fendi originally specialized in producing high-quality furs and leather goods on Via del Plebiscito in Rome in 1925.

Although Fendi produces a ready-to-wear line, the name is probably best known in the fashion arena for its dramatic fur collections, which have been designed by Karl Lagerfeld since 1962. It has been the company’s relationship with Lagerfeld that brought the Fendi name to the attention of the fashion press. Lagerfeld was also responsible for designing the double-F-griffe  that is almost as well recognized among the fashion cognoscenti as the double-C and double-G symbols of Chanel and Gucci.

Purchase Here

Purchase Here

Purchase Here

St. John is short for St. John Knits International Inc.  It is labeled as an upscale American fashion brand that specializes in women’s knitwear. The garments especially appeal to executive women or women in positions of authority, due to the use of gold buttons reminiscent of military or nautical officer clothing

Purchase Here

Purchase Here

Guccio Gucci (awesome name by the way) opened a small saddlery shop in 1906 and started selling practical leather bags to his horsemen customers in the ‘20s. As a young man, he rapidly built a reputation for quality, hiring the best craftsmen he could find to work in his atelier. The quality was so outstanding he quickly gained a reputation and started to expand his line in Rome. The third store opened in Milan in 1951. By the time the fourth store opened in Manhattan in 1953, Guccio had died and his sons were running the business.

The brand was famous for a while, thanks to famous customers like Jackie O., Grace Kelly and Aubrey Hepburn, but by the ‘80s Guccio’s grandsons were running the company into the ground. They started to dull the appeal of the high-name brand by agreeing to strange partnerships…designing the interior of the AMC Hornet station wagon. Knockoffs were everywhere, and the grandsons started fighting…yes, physically. One business meeting ended in a fight, and reportedly one of the grandsons hit the other one in the head with an answering machine! haha.

Purchase Here

Louis Vuitton Lust

Louis Vuitton Malletier born, August 4, 1821 in Jura, France. Moved to Paris in 1835 and there, he became an apprentice Layetier to prominent households. Because of his well established reputation in his field, Napoleon III of France appointed Vuitton as Layetier to his wife, Empress Eugénie de Montijo. Through his experience with the French aristocracy, he developed expert knowledge of what made a good traveling case. It was then that he began to design his own luggage, setting the foundations for LV Co.

Fun Facts:

• 99% of all Louis Vuitton bags in the world are fake but the bag below is definitely not :).
• Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854, but only began making handbags after the 1892 world’s fair.
• The first LVs sold in the United States were sold in 1898 by Wanamaker’s department stores
• Though it’s been around since 1930, the Speedy didn’t gain a massive following until it was redesigned for Audrey Hepburn in the 60s.
• The “LV” monogram was originally meant to foil counterfeiting attempts

Purchase Here

Purchase Here

Purchase Here

Chanel

Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel is perhaps the most well-known fashion designer of all time. Forty years after her death, her namesake fashion house is still one of the world’s most popular luxury brands, boasting legions of devoted fans worldwide, and continues to grow.

And here at LuxResale, it’s safe to say we’re big, big fans of this woman. We certainly count her among our top favorite designers, and we’re sure many of you agree!

Fun Fact: The very popular fragrance, Chanel No. 5, got its name because the number five was Gabrielle Chanel’s lucky number. This also prompted her to premiere the fragrance in 1921 on the fifth day of the fifth month. Side note and bonus fact: Coincidentally, Marilyn Monroe’s favorite scent was Chanel No 5. which led her to become the official face of the fragrance. This is arguably one of the first records of a celebrity endorsement/spokes model.

Purchase Here

Purchase Here

 

Purchase Here

Salvatore Ferragamo

Fun Fact: Salvatore Ferragamo invented the cork wedge.

Ferragamo is also credited for inventing the stiletto heel. But instead of heels we are showing off some of his best work in terms of bags!!!

Purchase here

Purchase Here

Purchase Here

Prada

Fun Fact: Prada first began as an Italian leather bag manufacturer in 1913, created by Mario Prada. But the Prada name is most famous due to the success of his grand-daughter, Miuccia, born 1949. While it was Mario Prada who started creating the magnificent bags we know and love today, it was Miuccia who introduced the men and women’s clothing lines in the early 90s

Prada Evening Purse. Worn once.

Buy it Here

Where I’d rather B

Since the previous post was all about swimwear, I wanted to give you some options on amazing places where to wear each piece.   Below are some of my favorite spots, most I have been to and others I still have to explore.   I hope they inspire you to travel more!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

The Ionian Sea, Albania

Aman Sveti Stefan Resort, Montenegro

Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como

La Grota, Greece

Hezen Cave Hotel, Turkey

Anse Source D’Argent Beach, Seychelles

Fira Village, Santorini

One & Only Reethi Rah Resort, Maldives

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Banyon Tree Seychelles

Oia, Greece

Paradise Island, Bahamas

Wishing for Summer in San Francisco

Summer is just around the corner and although San Francisco is not known for its summer,  my Mediterranean spirit can not help but get excited and start to day dream about how I can wear these amazing bathing suits this beach season.  My mind goes off to St Tropez, Ibiza, Mykonos and of course the beaches of Albania.  Loving these 80s inspired suits that feature cool floral prints and feminine shapes from Zimmerman.  Where are u going this summer?

Zimmerman Collection 2012

Zimmerman Collection 2012

Zimmerman Collection 2012

Zimmerman Collection 2012

Zimmerman Collection 2012

Calzedonia Summer 2012 Swimwear

Dineila Cut Out Halter One Piece

The Local One Piece Swimsuit by Tavik

Nicole Olivier 2012- Amazone Bathing Suit

Mikoh

Australian Fashion Week 2012

After having attended Australian Fashion Week 2010 I was glad to see that now Mercedes Benz is sponsoring it and that it’s getting the coverage that it deserves.

Here are some highlights from the week and my favorite collections:

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012. Magdalena Velevska

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012. An Ode To No One collection.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012. Zimmermann collection.

The Dress of Cannes Film Festival 2012

Out of all the stars that walked the red carpet in the Cannes Film Festival this year, I was only impressed with one dress. That of Diane Kruger which was by Giambattista Valli.  It looked glamorous, elegant and yet very current.  Love the color and the light/flowy fabric that Giambattista used.

Unfortunately I was unimpressed by all the other dresses including the one Eva Longoria wore, Naomi Watts, Freida Pinto, Salma Hayek and Marion Cotillard.  With all the beautiful colors that were available to play with this season every one of these ladies played it safe in terms of colors and design.

Here are a few shots of Diane.

SFMOMA Modern Ball 2012

SFMOMA Modern Ball was the month’s most fashionable event to see and be seen.

Some of the city’s most prominent individuals were invited to the biggest art bash of the year and for SFMOMA its largest fundraising event.  The VIP list included Marissa Mayer, Vanessa Getty, Danielle Steel Steele and DJ Chromeo spinning for the young fashionable crowd.

I attended the party with my friends Lanya Bingo from NY, Tiffany Lee fashion blogger, and Xander Mahony of dfj .  Because we all love fashion we were super excited to see so much variety and self expression through anything from floor sweeping gowns to tuxedos to Picasso inspired colors and prints.

The deserts in the back room were to die for.  I’m pretty sure I cleaned off the platter of macarons before Tiffany arrived so we had to beg for another round since she loves the French almond delicacies as much as I do. We’ve had a secret obsession with Laduree rose macarons for as long as we can remember.  Way before they became popular in the US.

Needless to say we had a blast dancing, eating, catching up with friends but like all parties in San Francisco it ended at 12 midnight promptly

Marissa Mayer, Lona Alia Duncan

 

Lona & Tiffany

 

Lona, Xander Mahony, Tiffany Lee

 

Lanya, Lona, Xander, Tiffany

 

Favorite Spring 2012 Trends

Shiny fabrics & Jewel Colors are statements pieces of this summer

Love of the Week: Milan Fashion Week Edition

In celebration of Milan Fashion Week we decided to showcase our favorite items, looks and videos of the event. There is something great about the fashion in Europe, we love the color and texture combinations!

We hope this inspires you for the weekend!

Here is the amazing video of a show in Milan. Obsessing over the colors, music and lighting!
Milan Fashion Week Runway Video

 

Milan Street Fashion: Perfect combination of chic and laid back

Great Color Combination

Accesories Heaven

Celeb Spotting at Fashion Week

As promised here are the best pics with those celebrities that I spotted during Fashion Week. Personally I am not starstruck nor do I like to bother them for pics but since everyone was doing it I thought why not. Maybe the readers of our blog might appreciate seeing what the scene was like.

First up is Narciso Rodriguez and Claire Danes. Narciso is one of my favorite designers so I was happy to congratulate him on an amazing show. Gloria Estefan was also present as she is a big supporter of Narciso.

Further down my best friend and I were so impressed by Bibhu’s collection that we made him take a pic with us. He was very genuine and seemed nervous from all the attention he was getting. Well deserved.

Claire Danes, Narciso Rodriguez, Lona Alia Duncan

Gloria Estefan

The very talented Bibhu Mohapatra

Russell Simmons

Nigel Barker & Joli

New York Fashion Week Highlights

New York Fashion week came to a wrap yesterday after 8 intense days filled with fashion shows, parties, after parties and special events. I made it back to San Francisco exhausted after too many days of sleep deprivation and the sheer over stimulation of the brain from seeing beautiful fabrics, colors, patterns and of course beautiful people.

I have to say that once you see 3 fashion shows you get really spoiled and all the shows after are not as exciting as they should be. This was my first NY Fashion week as a guest and comparing it to London Fashion Week a few months back I felt that the buzz, glitz and glamor was missing somehow. Not what one would expect from the most coveted Fashion Week of the Year. I also found the street style and the guests at London fashion week to be far more stylish and daring than those that were present for NY Fashion week. But that’s just my opinion.

My hustler skills came in handy when it came into getting into any show we wanted. Most of the time I was able to get front row seating and took descent pictures. Starting with this post there will be a series of posts including favorite looks, celebrity spotting and backstage all access.

Before I share my favorite looks from NY Fashion Week, here are some of the trends I spotted. First, when it came to evening wear, there was an abundance of elegant sparkly sequin sprinkled throughout all collections so if you find sequin items on sale definitely purchase them. Especially gold, dark green and brown. Leather was also central to most of the collections as well as loose fitting outerwear. It seems that the loose fit trend will still continue through fall/winter. And finally, most of the collections were absolutely ready to wear. I could see myself wearing all the designs. There were not many haute couture pieces on the runway. But that is to be expected since the top fashion houses like Chanel, Dior, YSL etc do not exhibit at NY Fashion Week.

So without delay below are some of my favorite looks from the shows attended.

Reem Acra Fall 2012

Bibhu Mohapatra Fall 2012

Dennis Basso Fall 2012

Pamela Roland Fall 2012

Narciso Rodriguez Fall 2012

Narciso Rodriguez Fall 2012

Love of the week

Happy Saturday!

Here are the trends we are obsessing over from the 50’s to the flower child- we love how the best fashions of the past are coming back!

Dior Spring Collection

Flower Power

the 70's are back!

Maxi Day

This must have been the coldest day in NYC this winter and my friend Daniel and I were crazy enough to go out and shoot some street fashion. Daniel had come down with a cold a couple days earlier but since I was only in NY for the weekend he kept his promise. And although our hands and noses were numb by the end of our adventure we were glad we captured the moment.

The outfit underneath the coat was very intricate and delicate but those shots came out terrible. My facial expression gave it all away. All I could think during those few minutes was how do supermodels look super hot when they are shooting in freezing weather?

This coat is my all time favorite and the only place I really get to wear it is in a place like new york. In fact I bought it 2 years ago and the only place I have worn it is indeed NY. I love the details, the fabric, the careful stitching and and above all the way it fits. It was worth every penny!!

Photography: Courtesy of the talented Daniel Martinez

Coat: Narciso Rodriguez, Scarf: Burberry, Shoes: Steven, Skirt: Rych 2, Purse: Furla

Coat: Narciso Rodriguez, Scarf: Burberry, Shoes: Steven, Skirt: Rych 2, Purse: Furla

Coat: Narciso Rodriguez, Scarf: Burberry, Shoes: Steven, Skirt: Rych 2, Purse: Furla

LOVE of the Week

This week we are starting a new weekly post! We will be posting anything and everything we are in love with for the week from fashion trends to beauty products. We hope this offers our readers a little insight on what the girls at Stylepal are obsessing over.

Pictures below were taken from Elle.com

Spring Trends: Pastels

Spring Trends: Pastels

Purse of the week!

Since we had some rainy weather- a nice sweater top.

A splendiferous Gala

On January 19th I had the privilege of attending the “secret” soiree that was part of the San Francisco Ballet Opening Night Gala. The venue was the beautifully lit and decorated San Francisco City Hall. As I walked in the front entrance I was greeted by a sea of Tuxedos and colorful evening gowns who were cheerfully chatting, taking pictures, dancing and enjoying a special evening in company of socialites. I have to say that my expectations were very high in terms of fashion and although there were some gorgeous dresses present the majority could have done better given their financial means.

Nonetheless concern for fashion did not stop the crowd from having an amazing time. The high point of the night came when Justin Bieber look alike took over the turntable & spun the best electronic house mixed with Latin beats. Sebastian Vinet was his name and he was from Chile. Not only was this DJ just 20 years old but also part of the SF Ballet and had just performed on stage just a short while before. DJ-ing was so natural for him and he completely stole the show…… and I’m sure many young women’s hearts.

The pictures below are courtesy of Drew Altizer.

Paula Carano

Paula Carano

Marissa Mayer and Zack Bogue

Deepa Pakianathan

BA City Lights

Shoes: Steven Pants: Joe's Shirt: Nordstrom Jewelry: Nordstrom Purse: Reed Krakoff. Photography: Edgardo Delfino

Shoes: Steven Pants: Joe's Shirt: Nordstrom Jewelry: Nordstrom Purse: Reed Krakoff. Photography: Edgardo Delfino

Shoes: Steven Pants: Joe's Shirt: Nordstrom Jewelry: Nordstrom Purse: Reed Krakoff. Photography: Edgardo Delfino

City LOVE in a RED dress

Dress: Hanjii, Bag: Chanel, Shoes: Steven and Jewelry: Vince Camuto. Photography: Denno Dushs

Dress: Hanjii, Bag: Chanel, and Jewelry: Vince Camuto. Photography: Denno Dushs

Dress: Hanjii, Bag: Chanel, Shoes: Steven and Jewelry: Vince Camuto. Photography: Denno Dushs

Color Splash

Skirt: Alice & Olivia, Shades: Alexander Mcqueen, Shoes: Sam Edlemann, Purse: Reed Krakoff, Shirt: Hanjii. Photography: Denno Dushs

Skirt: Alice & Olivia, Shades: Alexander Mcqueen, Shoes: Sam Edlemann, Purse: Reed Krakoff, Shirt: Hanjii. Photography: Denno Dushs

Skirt: Alice & Olivia, Shades: Alexander Mcqueen, Shoes: Sam Edlemann, Purse: Reed Krakoff, Shirt: Hanjii. Photography: Denno Dushs

All I want for Christmas is a Red Vespa

 

Dress: HH (Haute Hippie), Purse: Tory Burch, Necklace: Van Cleef & Arpels, Shoes: Sam Edelman, Shades: Oakley,Photography: krussphoto

Dress: HH (Haute Hippie), Purse: Tory Burch, Necklace: Van Cleef & Arpels, Shoes: Sam Edelman, Shades: Oakley,Photography: krussphoto

Dress: HH (Haute Hippie), Purse: Tory Burch, Necklace: Van Cleef & Arpels, Shoes: Sam Edelman, Shades: Oakley,Photography: krussphoto

Bohemian Buenos Aires

Photography: Facundo Bengoechea. Styling: Loli Echevarria Cohen & Vir Greco.

Photography: Facundo Bengoechea. Styling: Loli Echevarria Cohen & Vir Greco.

Photography: Facundo Bengoechea. Styling: Loli Echevarria Cohen & Vir Greco. Model: Agostina Zanlungo

Holiday Uniform: Simple

Holiday Uniform: Simple by stylepal featuring platform wedge heels

EQUIPMENT silk sleeveless blouse
€209 – jades24.com

Dorothy Perkins tux jacket
£39 – dorothyperkins.com

J Brand stretch pants
$361 – my-wardrobe.com

Prada platform wedge heels
$950 – bergdorfgoodman.com

Cymbal Green Placemat
£3.50 – habitat.co.uk

Spring in November

While on a short trip to the southern hemisphere we had the opportunity to collaborate with some very talented photographers, stylists & models. Below  are some pictures of the first of the collaborations.  This particular shoot took place in Soho, Palermo, Buenos Aires where the renown photographer Facundo Bengoechea has his studio.  The masterminds behind the styling were Loli Echevarria Cohen and Vir Greco.  They used a mix of vintage and new pieces to create the looks.  Please leave a comment if you like their style 🙂 Finally, the beautiful Argentinian model is Agostina Zanlungo.  Very cool and mysterious chic!!!

Hope you like this post and a couple more to follow from South America

 

 

Weekend Chic: Black & Grey

Dress: Elizabeth & James, Purse: Furla, Shades: Oakley Photography: krussphoto

Dress: Elizabeth & James, Purse: Furla, Shoes: Elizabeth & James, Shades: Oakley Photography: krussphoto

Holiday Uniform: Rocker

Holiday Uniform: Rocker by stylepal featuring a keyhole shirt

Keyhole shirt
$80 – witchery.com.au

Helmut Lang stretchy pants
€246 – my-wardrobe.com

Giuseppe Zanotti satin shoes
$595 – giuseppezanottidesign.com

LowLuv pendant
$67 – bloomingdales.com

Holiday Uniform: Girly

Holiday Uniform: Girly by stylepal featuring a pleated skirt

STONE_COLD_FOX vintage blouse
$110 – revolveclothing.com

Halston Heritage faux fur vest
£312 – my-wardrobe.com

Preen pleated skirt
£260 – farfetch.com

High heels
$185 – topshop.com

Noemi Klein stud earrings
£85 – farfetch.com

Fall into 70s

This Fall the best way to take outfits up a notch is by throwing on a hat or grabbing your leather satchel. Layer up with deep colors and tans, channel your inner 70s gal, whether at the disco or watching the Stones!

Proenza Schouler satchel handbag
1,465 – net-a-porter.com

Isabel Marant drop earrings
$210 – net-a-porter.com

Rag Bone wool felt fedora
$150 – net-a-porter.com

Rag Bone black hat
$140 – stylebop.com

Liberty London silk shawl
135 – liberty.co.uk

Karen Walker Eyewear tortoise sunglasses
$180 – lagarconne.com

Purple Rain

Sweater: Milly, Shirt: Jean Paul Gaultier, Skirt: Alice + Olivia, Shades: YSL Photography Mike Byrne © http://www.faction.co.uk

Shirt: Jean Paul Gaultier, Skirt: Alice + Olivia, Shades: YSL, Shoes: Snake skin from Bali. Photography Mike Byrne © http://www.faction.co.uk

Gucci bags in the making

Tonight we went down to the Gucci store on Union Square to check out their artisan event.
All day today and the next two days you can watch the Italian craftsmanship that goes into handmade Gucci bags right in the store.
The collection in display is especially made for this San Francisco store and can not be found anywhere else.

Runway Trends 2012: Christian Siriano

Loving the new collection from Christian Siriano. Many of you may remember his drama on Project Runway but this talented designer has carved an interesting niche look for himself. Would love to wear some of these pieces!!!

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Christian Siriano RTW Spring 2012, Photo: Style.com

Street Elegance

Dress: Alexander Wang, Shades: YSL, Clutch: Tory Burch, Shoes: Coach

Dress: Alexander Wang, Shades: YSL, Clutch: Tory Burch

Dress: Alexander Wang, Shades: YSL, Clutch: Tory Burch, Shoes: Coach

Dress: Alexander Wang, Shades: YSL, Clutch: Tory Burch, Shoes: Coach

Fall White Out

Dress: Nanette Lepore, Clutch: Python leather from Bali, Gold cuff: Nordstrom. Photography Mike Byrne © http://www.faction.co.uk

Top: H&M, Skirt: Cheap Monday, Shoes: Weekdays, Bracelets: Mix from markets in Shanghai. Photography Mike Byrne © http://www.faction.co.uk

Dress: Nanette Lepore, Sunglasses: Oliver Peoples, Shoes: Fendi, Clutch: Python leather from Bali, Gold cuff: Nordstrom. Photography Mike Byrne © http://www.faction.co.uk

High on Pink Candy

Dress: D&G, Shades: Oakley, Shoes: Black Sand by Dune. Photography Mike Byrne © http://www.faction.co.uk"

 

Shoes: Black Sand by Dune. Photography Mike Byrne © http://www.faction.co.uk"

Dior at the Mythical Hotel Particulier, Paris.

Dive into all the ‘savoir-faire’ of the House of Dior at the Mythical Hotel Particulier 30, avenue Montaigne, Paris; in which was born the ‘New Look’ of Christian Dior: from the Haute Couture workshops, to the Fine Jewellery, Mens Suit, and Leather Goods, but also the universe of Dior perfumes and make-up.

I saw this post on Dior’s facebook page and I could  not help but be romantic about avenue Montaigne.  This is one of the most important streets in fashion.   It is home to the world’s high fashion labels such as  Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Fendi, Valentino and of course home to several other upscale establishments such as the Plaza Athénée hotel where you can often spot famous guests and fashionistas.

Living a block away from this street meant that I had to pass by the shops more often than my wallet could afford.  But on a beautiful Parisian day, I would find myself at L’AVENUE on avenue Montaigne for lunch in place of window shopping.  This fine establishment was my favorite place to people watch since there were more Kelly bags and cute dogs than people.

Dior

Dior

Dior

Dior

Hot pink on a hot San Francisco day – outfit post

By Maja
Today Lona and I were doing a street style photo shoot of some of our outfits. Once the pictures are edited we’ll post them on here and on StylePal. Did you make sure to get early access to our private beta yet? Click the link to sign up 🙂
Here are a few behind the scenes photos for you.

L….lanvin…louboutin….LV….

Love all things that start with L by lona-alia featuring silk tops

Lanvin silk top
695 – flannelsfashion.com

Lanvin silk top
695 – flannelsfashion.com

Oasis skinny straight jeans
25 – oasis-stores.com

Christian Louboutin high heel shoes
€765 – luisaviaroma.com

Diamante jewelry
€4.100 – colette.fr

Louis Vuitton shiny belt
$1,740 – louisvuitton.com

Gold Aspirations

Gold: This season’s hottest accessory

With the price of gold at an all time high anything in the color gold or in the material itself screams of luxury. As gold approaches the price of diamonds it takes the starring role as it were the gem rather than the supporting role it has been used to through the decades. Personally I have been more of a white gold kind of person but lately I adore all accessories in gold. It’s nice to see yellow gold as the “it metal” of this season. Daring designers are using modern twists in the details making this metal even more glamorous yet urban chic.
I find it fascinating to witness how fashion and what is in style affect our taste. It seems that every 10 years yellow gold makes a strong comeback. From about 1999 to 2009 white gold was the star of every fashion jewelry line but now we are in the middle of a luscious gold age and I am embracing it!!!

Gold Age by lona-alia featuring gold jewelry

Alexis Bittar crystal bangle
$395 – charmandchain.com

Alexis Bittar gold jewelry
$275 – intermixonline.com

Yves saint laurent ring
$250 – net-a-porter.com

ASOS vintage style jewelry
$26 – asos.com

Brass ring
$422 – farfetch.com

Arielle De Pinto chain necklace
$755 – net-a-porter.com

Long necklace
fantasyjewelrybox.com

Sterling silver jewelry
54 – exoticindiaart.com

Below are catwalk pictures from the collections of Dolce & Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood, Moschino & Bottega Veneta who adorned their winter collections with gold in all shades and shimmers. Pictures courtesy of fashionista.com and style.com

Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta

Moschino

Moschino

Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood

For the Love of Paris

By Lona

Paris Fashion Week is already in day 4 and I’m really excited to present some of my favorite designers and pieces from their collections.  But first a little note on my love for Paris.

Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world.  I know that is a little bit cliché because EVERYONE is supposed to love Paris but my love relationship with Paris did not start until I lived there.  In fact on my very first visit some 11 years ago I was very unimpressed and could not understand why everyone was so charmed by this city.  Years later, when I was lucky enough to spend 4 summers in a row in the capital of CHIC I finally understood it’s magnetic allure.

Amongst all the usual suspects that Paris does best like Macarons , foe gras, fashion, art, joie de vivre what I love most about Paris is the sheer history that spans over 2000 years and encompasses some of my favourite eras.  You can feel and touch the history all around you. Every building you see has a historic moment tied to it whether it was a famous moment in history or .  What I enjoy doing while in Paris it to take a picnic spread and sit  by the fountain in the Jardin de Tuileries  directly across from the Louvre.  On a warm summer day it is such a beautiful sight and feeling to sit there and imagine how the Louvre was 100, 200, 300, 500 years ago and get lost in that world.  Below is a picture of that view.

One of my favourite quotes of all times has to be the quote from MIDNIGHT in Paris “To know that Paris exists and anyone would choose to live anywhere else is a mystery to me”

 

Nina Ricci: Picture coutesy of Fashiongonerogue

Nina Ricci: Picture coutesy of Fashiongonerogue

Nina Ricci: Picture coutesy of Fashiongonerogue

Nina Ricci, Picture coutesy of Fashiongonerogue

Balmain: Picture coutesy of Fashiongonerogue

Balmain: Picture coutesy of Fashiongonerogue

Balmain: Picture coutesy of Fashiongonerogue

Emerging Talent

By Lona

While at fashion week, in between the catwalk shows, I had a chance to visit the exhibits that were set up at Somerset House, home of British Fashion Council and where most of the fashion shows were taking place.  At these exhibit, young designers that either were not ready or did not have the budget to show their collection on the runways, had a chance to obtain a booth and display their work to be seen and touched by hundred of professional buyers that came to LFW to purchase for their stores.  These exhibits help emerging designers develop relationships and build their profile and business.

One of my favorite designers was Sophie Hulme because I love her authentic simplicity yet unexpected twists she adds to her bags, belts and garments.  SOMA magazine describes it as “Utilitarian Chic”. Hulme herself said “I am always attracted by menswear—the utility and the toughness,”

I personally loved her bags and belts and wanted to purchase all of them. Luckily for the bank account the collection was purely for display.

Another fun and innovative designer that stood out from the crowd was CLEO B.   She was adorable.  CLEO was no more than 25, beautiful and super nice.  I loved the retro shoes that she had created in all the various jewel tones.

CLEO B

When it came to clothing and ready to wear collections I fell in love immediately with D.EFECT.  This designer from Latvia captured my attention because of the form fitting clean lines and high quality materials she used for her spring collection.  I tried to find some pictures of the latest collection but all I could get was the autumn 2011 collection which was not my favorite I have to say.

Below are some more interesting new designers:

Joanne StokerJoanne StokerJoanne StokerJoanne StokerJoanne StokerJoanne Stoker

George Angelopoulos

Kim Kwang

Kim Kwang

London Street Style

By Lona

Fashion is an expression of one’s self.  While I was tempted to write a blog on what not to wear at fashion week I realized that it would not be fair to judge based on my personal taste and what I think is beautiful.  So here are some images I took while waiting to get into the runway shows.  You can be the judge on whether you think they have great style or not.

Creative Patchwork

Matching screen

Shy Vintage

 

 

The woman and the Bird

London Fashion Week Report: Day 3&4

By Lona

Day 3 & 4 at London Fashion Week was when the big name designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Mulberry, Paul Smith, Tom Ford and Burberry Prorsum showcased their S/S 2012 collections.

But Burberry, with its impressive set up in Hyde Park away from the usual venues of the London Fashion Week pulled in a star studded FROW including Sienna Miller, Andy Rodick, Mario Testino, Kanye West etc.  Unfortunately our bus from the main venue (Somerset House) arrived late to the show due to surprise surprise London traffic so I was not able to see the show first hand however I’m sure that many of you were able to watch it live via Facebook and perhaps via “Tweetwalk” which tweeted pictures of every look before it hit the runway.

The International Herald Tribune wrote that Christopher Bailey took the coat to places it had never been before.  Indeed the S/S 2012 collection was a real departure from the traditional Burberry pieces.   It embodied artisan elegance through the African-Inspired prints.  Backstage Christopher Bailey was quoted as he described the concept behind the collection. “I loved the idea of craftsmanship, and things that were made by hand, as a contradiction to the pace of the digital world. These pieces were slot to make and made to treasure and last.”

This quote rings very true to us that live and work in Silicon Valley; the heart of the digital world.  Where everything is created and resides in digital space.  There is something to be said about creating beautiful tangible things with your hands.   This is why I love fashion especially couture since most pieces are created by hand and are meant to last and be treasured for a lifetime.

Below are some pictures I snapped and those professionally taken by style.com

The crowd outside Burberry Prorsum

Two bloggers having a fashion conversation after taking pictures of each other’s outfits

LFW: Day 3&4 continued

By Lona

In addition to the Burberry show I was able to make it to two other shows.  Mark Fast and Louise Gray.

At Mark Fast the provocative crochets in his spring collection came in all colors.  “We worked with yellow, orange and fuchsia and feathered printed neoprene to compose a tropical exotic surge of color.” Explained the British designer.   One of the models was constantly getting her shoe caught in the long crochet dress and about to fall but she managed to walk the runway despite this difficulty.   I’m guessing there was no practice run 🙂

Louise Gray’s collection was at the Topshop Show Space where many of the attendees were super excited to be there, mingle with each other before the show and show their strong support for this very quirky and exuberant British designer.   Her collection had to be one of the most distinct I have ever seen.  Gray’s signature is her mishmash of color, pattern and texture. “Its how my mother taught me to dress,” she said, “everything matches if you like it.” I think she is extremely creative and original but at the same time I cannot say that I would wear some of the pieces from this collection.  Below are some of the photos I snapped during the shows yesterday.

Mark Fast

Mark Fast

Mark Fast

Gift Bags at Louise Gray

Louise Gray

Louise Gray

London Fashion Week Report: Day 2

Yesterday was so packed with fashion shows and activities around London Fashion Week that I did not get a chance to run to the computer and blog with all of my excitement.:)

The day started off by arriving at the Somerset House where this time I found it fully packed with Fashionistas, buyers, VIPs and lots and lots of bloggers.  The organizers said that this year they had such an explosion in bloggers that they had a very hard time keeping up with all the requests.

Indeed the designers were all different and their collections were nothing short of innovative and inspiring.  I had not heard of most of these talented British young designers but given their aptitude I’m sure we will hear and see their pieces worn by celebrities and used in fashion magazines. I was fortunate enough to meet Claudia, the CEO of gobritish.co.uk in the front row of Felder Felder fashion show and she was kind enough to give me tickets for all the shows yesterday.

The first show I went to was Jean-Pierre Braganza.  I loved the collision of femininity and graphicness of this collection.

Then I moved on to Felder Felder . FELDER FELDER was launched by identical twin sisters Annette and Daniela Felder, while still studying at Central Saint Martins in London 2006/2007.  As per the PR this collection celebrates the tough yet feminine woman who wears her heart and her armour on her sleve.  I’d say I loved 25% of the collection.  The rest was not quite my style.

After Felder Felder we moved to the power prints of Basso & Brooke. I have to say this was one of my favorite collections.  The colors were stunning and the fabrics luxurious.  I would love to own one of the dresses from this collection!!!

Finally, at end the day we enjoyed the collection of Ann-Sofie Back Atelje. This season’s collection showed a collective austerity, a crisp and holly aesthetic according to the designer.  The fabrics used were a mix of linen, heavy structured organza, linen/nylon knits and wovens. The colors of choice were midnight blue, ecru, white and black.

Below is a mix of my photographs and professional photographs from style.com

London Fashion Week Report: Day 1!

London Fashion Week kicked off this morning and I’m so excited to be here and report back on the latest trends for Spring 2012.  The vibe, the designers, the venue are totally different from New York Fashion week but that is what gives it its charm.  Today’s collections were edgy and dark as you would normally expect from London’s catwalks but I have picked out some colorful favorites as color is what I love.

The Rodnik Band

Sass & Bide

Maria Grachvogel

Maria Grachvogel

.

 

PPQ

Sass & Bide

Jean-Pierre Braganza

Joanne Stoker

Corrie Nielsen

Runway Favorites from NY Fashion Week

By Lona

It’s day 4 of New York Fashion Week and I have picked a few favorites from the shows so far.

Jason Wu

For his Spring 2012 collection he cited KAWS, the graffiti artist who came to fame in the nineties for inking up bus-shelter ads of Kate Moss, as a major source of inspiration, according to style.com. Jason Wu is a usually a favorite of red-carpet starlets and First Lady Michelle Obama.

He pushed the boundaries in the areas of fabric innovation and embellishment.  Wu used a nearly weightless nylon “that moves like chiffon” for his outerwear which I thought was very cool.

Monique Lhulier

“Lhuillier was focused on the body this season—most notably, on the athleticism that makes the body worth focusing on—and she fused elements of sport into her couture aesthetic. Bold color-blocking and sculpted seams lent an aerodynamic edge. The first look out, a strapless, seamed, blue and black corset dress, was as tight as a scuba suit, but much more appealing. Harness detailing appeared throughout; bodices were banded with leather, and sides were slashed open to expose sections of sheer black lace. An off-the-shoulder, cobalt blue cocktail dress wrapped in twisted tulle elicited actual sighs of desire from the front row.” style.com

Mandy Coon

“The DJ-turned-designer rolled out graphic lambskin halter dresses, disco-era jumpsuits, and kilt-like miniskirts patchworked together with pleated chiffon strips, which served to deliver an altogether brighter, more polished mood; albeit with a disheveled edge, in keeping with her youthful vision. What struck most was her playful use of color; a digital, Balenciaga-esque drip print in cobalt, moss, and lemon, promised to lure a more commercially minded customer to her growing band of acolytes.” Vogue.com

Coon’s inspiration? Artist David Altmejd’s towering, figurative sculptures, which incorporate a madcap mix of textures. That, and a nerdy childhood fascination with crystals and rock formations, whose structure played into that inaugural use of pleats. “It’s an indirect translation of those two things,” she says with a shrug. “And an evolution of the discipline I brought into my work last season.” Vogue.com

Ruffian

Inspiration: “Thoroughbred” -Brian Wolk and Claude Morais

Luca Luca

Inspiration: Designer Raul Melgoza said backstage, “I was thinking about sensuality.” This collection is super femme!!!

Yigal Azrouel

This New York-based designer took inspiration from painter Pablo Picasso for his Spring 2012 collection. The collection displays a mix of slim silhouettes, nautical prints and ethnic patterns.

Real time pictures from fashion week

By Maja

Being from San Francisco where the tech scene is as hot as the fashion scene in NYC, we see a lt of cool startups popping up everywhere. Heck, we have one ourselves 🙂

A really cool one is Picture.ly started by my buddy Eoin. Picture.ly is a live feed of twitter pics sorted by hashtags. Right now you can find all the cool photos from fashion week posted on twitter by searching by the hashtag #fashionweek. Here are some I found:

Pic sources missing, apologize for that.

 

Fashion’s Night Out SF

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is almost here and even though this year I will not be attending I’m super excited to be in San Francisco and celebrate along thousands of fashionable women & men @ Fashion’s Night Out SF.

This is a worldwide event that takes place on the starting day of fashion week.  On the 8th of September numerous fashion houses and retailers join forces to put on a glamorous evening filled with trunk shows, cocktails and delicious treats while allowing everyone a chance to interact with the latest collections.  Some of the companies participating in San Francisco are Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, H&M, Banna Republic, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, BCBGMaxazria, Betsey Johnson, Alexis Bittar, Saks Fifth Avenue, Cole Haan, Bebe, Vince etc.  For more information check out http://fashionsnightout.com/

Looking forward to seeing everyone in the streets of fashion on Thursday.

Timeless Elegance

So for the past 8 months I have been obsessed with the Calatrava watch from Patek Phillipe.   I adore this watch and its beautiful simplicity.  I think it is the ultimate timepiece that will withstand the test of time and fashion.  It exuberates elegance and nobility.  Yet it is very understated and unassuming.  Patek Philippe is not a name brand you hear of everyday like Rolex.  However ,their watches are synonymous with the highest quality, impeccable style, perfect design and superb performance.

Patek Philippe has always amazed its fans by innovation in watch making.  In fact on May 10, 2010, a Patek Philippe wristwatch became the most expensive to be sold at auction when purchased by a Swiss museum, through Christie’s in Geneva, for 6.26 million swiss francs ($5.50 million US).

Below is my favorite model.

Style is knowing who you are, what to say and not giving a damn

Ever since my early teenage years I have had a fascination with Kate Moss.  Her cool persona and her unique style have made her a global fashion icon and extended her modeling career through 3 decades so far.  Which by the way is very impressive for a model’s career.  Just as an example fashion and runway models have a career of 2-5 years and commercial/print models generally 10-15 years.   Of course Kate Moss is not just a model she is a super model which makes a big difference in ones earnings but still, as a supermodel she proved to have the most longevity out of the supermodels of her time despite her shortcomings in body dimensions and lack of curves.  She is only 5’6’’ compared to most supermodels which you find in the range of 5’9’’ to almost 6’0’’ and she is known for her boyish figure and very small size.   In fact she went on to become the “anti-supermodel” of the ’90s when supermodels like Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell were knows for their curvatious and tall bodies.  She made popular the heroin chic look of the 90s which worried even Bill Clinton who spoke against this growing trend.  Despite all the controversy and scandals in her life she is still at the top of her career.   Ultimately I believe that her distinct style and her ability to have endless looks in her repertoire make Kate Moss timeless.

 

This is one of my all time favourite pictures of Kate.   Mario Testino (photographer) has worked with Kate since she was 16 and he also had the honor to shoot her wedding album.  Those pics can be found in the VOGUE September issue.

Reflection of Culture

It is said that architecture is as much about style as it is function. I believe that architecture defines a place and gives it its uniqueness.  Algarve, Portugal a region I had the opportunity to visit just recently reflects its style in its beautiful architecture. The outfit below is inspired by their beautiful blue ocean, white walls, blue mosaics and intricate coble stone roads.

Shoes: Tods; Skirt: Leifsdottir; Sunglasses: Tory Burch; Bag: Chanel; Old T-shirt.

 

Simply Chic

Although I think Christian Louboutin is an extremely talented designer for some reason I don’t always find myself oozing over the latest collection.  However, last week while I was waiting for my flight in Tirana, Albania to board I saw these beautiful ankle boots on a very stylish woman and I fell in love with them.  I immediately emailed a picture of the booties to my two best friends in NYC wondering whether they were comfy. And of course they replied right away saying that they had already scoped them out and had tried them on.   Unfortunately as I had imagined they reported back that the booties were not the most comfortable.  But then again how often do you see fashion and comfort pair up to create incredibly beautiful high heel shoes? Almost never……ahhh the pain we endure in the name of style.