Recession special.

recession-special.jpg  Last Thursday I went on Fox Business to talk about the dismal retail sales numbers and the midst of my conversation with the lovely Liz Claman and awesome David Asman, I said the "R" word. All day, people were speculated that we might be on the brink of one, danced around the topic, insinuated we may be heading toward that direction, but from what my research told me, I felt I had to call a spade and spade. And so I just said it. 

During times like these, the last thing anyone wants to do is admit that we are in fact, headed straight towards a crap economy, but when economic indicators like retail sales start to slow, and the amount of available jobs are next to nothing, there IS definitely something negative happening. So I will say it again people-we are on the brink of a recession!! Hunker down- it's unfortunately on the way!! 

Special secret guest on Tyra this Friday!!

OK, so I found out the Tyra Banks Show will have a special guest this Friday. While I usually talk about fashion on this blog, this guest has nothing to do with it (if you take one look at her you will know what I mean). I will give you a hint- her undergraduate degree is from my college's sister school and her husband's name rhymes with Phil. Can you guess who it is???

Oh.My.God.

chanel-cs.jpg Peeps- I know what you must be thinking and it's not true. I don't spend my all of my time on discount web sites and shopping sample sales. I just get notified about them Every.Single.Day. Anyway, this week my friends over at Hautelook  insisted I check out the Love YAYA sale starting today (meaning January 15th) at 5 am pacific standard time. On January 16th and 17th, Hautelook is featuring Robert Rodriguez. Everything for that sale will be 75% off. AND later in February, Hautelook will be host a Decades sale (the best couture vintage)  featuring CHANEL. That's right. CHANEL. I almost passed out at my computer when I read that bit of info.

...and speak of Milan fashion week and style.com...

scott-schuman-blog-pic.jpg You should FOR SURE check out my friend Scott Schuman's (aka The Sartorialist) photographic coverage of Milan on men.style.com. Not only does he take the most amazingly candid street shots of super stylish men and women, he is wildly talented and nice too. And I'm not just saying that because he took my picture for style.com during fashion week in September!!

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This was taken right after the Thom Browne presentation. I was sick with a cold, sweaty from running around from show to show during a taxi strike, but he still thought I looked ok enough to take my picture. Maybe the heat was getting to him too! Just kidding Scott!

Fashion on crack.

As much as I love fashion I am SO HAPPY I am only covering one fashion week (that would be Mercedes Benz fashion week Feb 1st-8th). To give you an idea of the insanity other writers are going through right now covering Milan, then Paris then New York and then off to London, check out this piece about the crazy 4 day schedule everyone is enduring  right now in Milan. Amazing to see elegance is really a focus for fall menswear, but  I would literally lose my mind trying to cover all those shows in 72 hours. Thank God for style.com. !!

A creative way to do Golden Globes fashion coverage.

people-magazine-julia-roberts-dress.jpg (According to People.com, these are two dresses Julia Roberts may have worn to the Golden Globes. The one on the left is Valentino, the one on the right is by Oscar de la Renta.)

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month, you know tonight's Golden Globes ceremony has been canceled due to the writer's strike. Boo. BUT, someone alerted me to this totally funny piece People.com did entitled "Golden Globes: The Dresses We Wish We'd Seen." I LOVE IT. If you can't actually COVER what the celebs are wearing on the red carpet, why not speculate what they might wear?? According to the People Magazine writers, Julia Roberts would wear something classic like a basic black, bias cut dress by Oscar de la Renta or Valentino. Keira Knightley would wear an ethereal piece by Chanel (naturally, she is the face of Chanel) or Rodarte.

Taser someone and look fashionable at the same time!!

TASER just unveiled the leopard print stun gun with a built in MP3 player at CES in Vegas this morning just in case you want to look hot while pumping mega volts of electricity into a potentially dangerous person. To read the AP article, click here. Below is a picture of the weapon/accessory. Would you get one?? taser_c2_1.jpg

Words of wisdom.

vivienne-tam.jpg   "For me, it's most important, a vision, determination, and to never say no to yourself. And be open to criticisms, open to learning, and open to criticisms and knowing nothing about the business; nothing, so you can learn everything by knowing nothing, you know, and be successful in the things that you didn't know." - Designer Vivienne Tam in an interview with CNN's Andrew Stevens.

 I've always been a fan of Tam's collections, but this interview made me admire her even more. We need to be reminded that believing in yourself is 99% of achieving your goals. I know I needed to hear it today!!

First look: Christian Louboutin handbags!!

I know it's hard to think about Spring when it is literally 10 degrees outside (for those of us stuck here in NYC) but the new Christian Louboutin bags are about to hit the stores!! Here are a couple I thought were interesting: louboutin-bag-1.jpg

 The Minilou Marron is great match with a khaki dress and a pair of leather wedges or heels. It's sleek, classic and will only fit your lipstick, wallet and keys!

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Here is the Minilou in black!

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This is the Loubette in Bronze. It's a little too punk rock for me, but I think with the right outfit (skinny jeans, white t-shirt and stacked patent leather heels) it could be ok.

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Ahh the Fred Noir!! This bag is totally me. It's big and nuetral, with multiple handles. I love it!!

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Hmm. Patent leather and neon are big for Spring '08, but I am still on the fence with this Mini Aionoeud. Maybe with an all black outfit? Or a white tank top and a pair of camo pants and heels??

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Another patent bag from Christian Louboutin. The Col Roule Noir has the potential to be be cute, but the mini dangley high heels on the chain handles are just dumb.

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YES!! This bag (Newspaper Bleu) reminds me of this handbag my mom used to have in the early 80s. This would be my "going out" handbag.

Museum worthy fashion.

vivian-westwood-heels.jpg  (Vivienne Westwood platforms circa 1990, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

For all you in Boston or New York, you should definitely check out these two exhibits. The first is The Metropolitan Museum of Art attempt at going high tech with blog.mode: addressing fashion. I have a slight obsession with the Costume Institute so I think this exhibit is definitely worth while- at least to see the fabulous  L' Air du Temps dress designed by Olivier Theyskens for Nina Ricci or the Vivienne Westwood platform pumps circa 1990 up close and personal. The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston has their National Design Triennial complete with designs from Nike, Thom Browne and Kid Robot. I haven't been to the ICA, but this exhibit sounds COOL. This isn't the first time clothing has been on display as works of art, but for some reason these exhibitions seem totally worth while.

Fox Business today

Just got back from doing a remote for Fox Business (yeppy, still here in New Mexico visiting my family) on gift cards. Did you know people gave and received almost $29 billion in gift cards this year?? BUT, about $8 billion will never be redeemed! I am partially to blame for that $8 bil. figure- I find it IMPOSSIBLE to cash my gift cards in unless they are from a place I frequent. I.e., Barneys...

I swear I don't spend my ENTIRE day perusing sample sales.

miguelina.jpg (This dress is available on the hautelook.com members only Miguelina sample sale, but the only way you will know when it starts is if you sign up!! www.hautelook.com.)  

I just think this site is so worth your while! Hautelook.com is a new members only web site that alerts you to online sample sales by designers like Rock and Rebublic, Miguelina, and LaROK. Just last night I was tracking a black cropped fur jacket by Ya-Ya (for those of you that love Ya-Ya as much as I do, the sale ended last night). I have been OBSESSED with this jacket for an entire year now, and on Hautelook.com I found it for $200 down from $750. I was PSYCHED. The next sale is for Genetic denim on 1/08/08 so be sure to sign up! I'm waiting for the Robert Rodriguez sale which starts shortly after!!

Hitha earrings.

jemma-lulu.jpg (OK this is not a Jemma Lulu "Hitha" bracelet, but I still love it!!)  

You've heard of purchasing and naming a star, tree even an island after a loved one, but what about a pair of earrings, a bracelet or necklace?? Jemma Lulu, NYC accessory designer will help you do just that.  Gina Lu (the person behind Jemma Lulu) will have a lengthy conversation with you about the apple of your eye, asking all kinds of questions about what they look like, their interests, hopes and dreams (just kidding about the hopes and dreams part). Next she goes to work creating a piece that reflect the person. Talk about a totally personalized gift!! Three years ago, Lu created a pair of "Hitha earrings" for me made with peridot and citrine stones and they are SO GORGEOUS. I went to check out some of Lu's new spring collection today (come February, all of her designs will be done in precious metals and stones- that's right- bling baby!) and everything was exquisite. Until then, you can check out her semi-precious collections at www.jemmalulu.com.

Yet another AWESOME sample sale.

bensoni.jpg  (One of the many amazing shirts at the Bensoni sample sale today and tomorrow!!)

I interviewed Benjamin Clyburn and Sonia Yoon the designers of Bensoni years ago when they were at Parsons. When I got the e-mail they were having a sample sale I was PSYCHED. These kids had such amazing talent when they were in college three years ago, and now create the most adorable feminine, yet edgy pieces that everyone can wear. I am so going later this afternoon and you should too if you are in NYC. Here are the deets:

Bensoni, Dessous and Malia Mills Sample Sale

WHAT:      Bensoni collection, Dessous by Sophie Simmons and Malia Mills sample sale – FIRST EVER BENSONI SAMPLE SALE

                       

WHY:      Up to 70 percent off CURRENT FALL PIECES - coveted clothing, coats, lingerie, underpinnings and swimwear

WHEN:      December 18, 19 & 20, Tuesday thru Thursday

              10am – 7pm

WHERE:    263 West 38th Street, 13th Floor

New York, NY 10018