January 7, 2010

Giuseppe Zanotti: When Shoes and Art Combine

Shoes + Art = Giuseppe Zanotti. I was tweeting the other day about my favorite shoe designers. This included Brian Atwood, Christian Louboutin and Giuseppe Zanotti. Don’t get me wrong, Brian and Christian make some amazing shoes but Giuseppe Zanotti seems to have the most creative shoes. I consider them pieces of art to wear on your feet. They are absolutely stunning.

Although a pair of Giuseppe Zanottis can run anywhere from $550 for a simple pair of flats or sandals to over $2,000 for an amazing pair of boots, it will be worth your while. Take a look for yourself! How amazing are these shoes??

If you have read any of my previous posts, follow me on twitter, or have noticed my main photo icon, I absolutely adore Balmain. So, the fact that Giuseppe Zanotti designed a line of shoes for Balmain just leaves me speechless.

Worn by many of the models for the Fall 2009 Balmain show, these are my favorite shoes from Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain.

So now that I’ve nearly fainted putting this post together (yes, I think these shoes are THAT fabulous)…what do you think? Do you love Giuseppe Zanotti? Who is your favorite shoe designer? I’d love to hear from you!

January 6, 2010

Who Doesn’t Love a Good Sale?

How about a new one every day? Wouldn’t that be nice? Well ladies (and gentlemen)…your dreams have come true! There are a ton of websites out there that introduce new sales EVERY DAY! It’s like an online trunk show. It’s also the best excuse to buy what you want…and not feel bad about it.

These sales include designer clothing, fine jewelry, home decor, beauty products, hotel packages and so much more! These are all more than 60% off retail price. All you have to do is sign up…and it’s FREE! Yes I said free. Weird, I know. Not something you hear every day, right?

I’m sure there are many more than these websites out there but here are the ones I belong to (so I can write about them with legitimacy): Gilt (which includes Gilt Groupe, Gilt Fuse, Gilt Man and Jetsetter), Hautelook, Rue La La and Ideeli. The sales start at a certain time every day (depending on the specific website) and end [usually] within 48 hours. I’ve ordered some fabulous things from these websites and I couldn’t believe how much I saved. Some examples include an Elizabeth and James dress retailed at about $415 that I got on Gilt for less than $150 and a Free People dress retailed for about $150 that I got for less than $40 on Hautelook. How amazing is that?

So if you’re looking for some fabulous deals, check out these sites and sign up. Most of these work by invitation only which is cool because you can earn credit towards purchases when your friends sign up and make their first purchase!

Have you used any of these sites? Do you know about any others? Let me know. Always love to hear your thoughts!

January 5, 2010

Proenza Schouler

Proenza Schouler Spring 2010 Collection is my current obsession. I feel the collection has that laid-back California vibe because of the sunglasses, the hair styles, and the many separates shown (skirts and tops). The colors are absolutely amazing. I cannot get myself to look away from these unreal pieces of art I like to call Proenza Schouler’s Spring 2010 collection.

“We wanted something young, something that felt fresh, so we looked to surfing and skating, the things we grew up on,” Lazaro Hernandez said after the show (Full Story Here). Hernandez and his partner, Jack McCollough, are the geniuses behind Proenza Schouler which they started in 2002.

Here are some of my favorites from the show:

After going through numerous pictures of the many runway shows of Fall 2009, Spring and Summer 2010 (a hobby of mine), this is the one that really stood out to me and made me fall in love with Proenza Schouler…it’s also the background on my phone!

I love the model’s laid back look. The mix of prints and colors are amazing and the shoes…I have no words for the shoes. Basically, I would like them in my closet right about now (even though it’s too cold to wear them…but I would suck it up for a pair of these!)

For more information about Proenza Schouler, check out their website at www.proenzaschouler.com

 So, what do you think of Proenza Schouler’s Spring 2010 collection? What’s your favorite outfit/piece by them? I would love to hear from you!

January 4, 2010

Style A to Zoe

My very first post was about Rachel Zoe. She is so passionate about what she does, which is why I idolize her like I do. For Christmas, I received her book “Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour” which really gave me a new outlook not only about fashion, but about the smaller things in life. This post is partly a review of the book plus some of my favorite quotes and tips from Rachel Zoe.

The one thing this book continuously reiterates is to follow your dreams. Know where you want to be in the future and figure out how to get there. I think that’s a very important thing to keep in the back of your mind and never give up on anything you want in life.

My favorite quote from Rachel’s book: “I was always the overdressed one among my friends. But that’s who I was.” This quote really stuck out to me because I am definitely the overdressed one wherever I go.
But I get to wear clothes I love and personalize my outfit with various accessories which is what I love to do (why I want to be a stylist perhaps?) so I never mind being overdressed.

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

  • If you know anything about Rachel Zoe, she absolutely loves accessories. This is most likely why the first chapter in the book is dedicated to accessories. This includes shoes, jewelry, handbags, hats, belts and everything in between. She talks about essential pieces, where to splurge vs. where to save, how to pick out good vintage jewelry and so much more.
  • The second chapter, “Life is a Red Carpet,” is all about looking at life as an opportunity to dress up and show off your creativity and personal style. You never know who you’ll run into so it’s important to look your best at all times.
  • The next chapter discusses looking appropriate yet fashionable in the workplace. This covers everything from appropriate clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, etc. This is very important for the every day woman.
  • Traveling is something Rachel loves to do but she rarely has the time. She dedicates a chapter to jetsetting which includes how to pack, what to bring depending on destination weather, and much more.
  • Not only does Rachel choose the entire outfit (clothing plus every accessory) for her clients, she also has a say in makeup and hair as well. This is what the next chapter discusses. It’s important to know what makeup is essential for your skintype and what you feel most comfortable in. I personally could not live with concealer and mascara but those may not be essentials for everyone else.
  • Rachel used to have her studio in her home which can be very hectic. She dedicates an entire chapter to home décor and how to create an atmosphere at home to always make you feel comfortable and relaxed. Very important!
  • The second to last chapter is about entertaining at home which made me want to throw a dinner party immediately after reading. From throwing a cocktail party to getting dressed in the morning, Rachel really knows how to do it best.
  • Last, Rachel goes through each letter of the alphabet (hence A to Zoe) stating an important aspect of style for each. My favorite is “G” for Good deeds and Gutsy. It’s important to try and do at least one good deed everyday and it’s just as important to take risks in life and be gutsy.

Throughout the book Rachel gives numerous tips and checklists from “Inside the Stylist’s Toolbox” to how to pick out a fabulous vintage piece. If I still haven’t convinced you to get book, the pictures are just amazing. There are personal pictures of Rachel with her husband, Rodger, amazing photos of her clients in their gorgeous Red Carpet gowns and many more…you just have to wait and see!

This is my favorite picture (I took on my phone) of Rachel and Brian Atwood. I love it because she looks gorgeous and I think Brian Atwood makes some amazing shoes.

So what do you think? Have you read “Style A to Zoe” yet? Will you after reading this post? Let me know your thoughts!

January 2, 2010

American Fashion Defined: Michael Kors

Gucci, Fendi, Dior, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Chanel…any of these sound American? Nope…that’s because they’re not. Of course they are some of the greatest Fashion Houses in the world but who is going to represent America in this fast-paced world of fashion? May I introduce to you…Michael Kors.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Michael, he is a judge on Project Runway (and my favorite judge I might add). He’s also one of the greatest American fashion designers around today. His clothes are classic and chic but never boring. Something that’s difficult for a designer to do is to appeal to women of all ages. Not only am I a huge Michael fan, so is my 56-year-old mother…so I think he does a pretty good job with that. Putting on an outfit by Michael Kors makes you feel elegant yet sexy with a touch of luxury. Simply divine.

Michael Kors is one of the many designers trying to reach out to more women by creating lines for less. MICHAEL by Michael Kors is his way of doing that. Most items are under $200 and the quality is never compromised. The pieces are just as beautiful as the regular Michael Kors line. The best thing about the entire Michael Kors empire is that he not only makes fabulous clothes, but amazing shoes, handbags, watches and other accessories as well. He even has a fragrance called Very Hollywood. Is there anything this man can’t do?

Here are a few of my favorite items from MICHAEL Michael Kors and Michael Kors:

Left side (MICHAEL Michael Kors): Black Sweater Dress $180, Track Print Long Coat $140 (on sale from $200), Ponte Striped Dress $130, Kincade Slouch Boot $198, Faux Fur Coyote Vest $63 (on sale from $90)

Right side (Michael Kors): Coral Red Metal Tang Dress $930, Draped Coin-Dot Sheath Dress $768 (on sale from $2,195), Kimono Sleeve Chiffon Dress $791 (on sale from $2,635), Aviator Acetate Sunglasses $125, Gold Runway Watch $250, Runway Clutch, Neon Pink $417 (on sale from $595)

Interesting fact about the Runway Watch (besides the fact that it was love at first site for me and my favorite Christmas gift this year)…it’s called the Runway Watch because Michael gives it to his models after the runway shows. How cool is that?

Speaking of runway…this was my favorite Michael Kors moment. Fall 2009 Runway show:

The colors and the fur just make me smile. I first saw the coats and hats when I was in LA in August. I walked into the Michael Kors store and I was blown away by the colors. It was very un-Michael to do solid neon fur but I absolutely loved it. After I saw pictures of these pieces on the runway, I loved them even more. It reminds me of an 80s Aspen rave (only in the best way possible of course).

So, what do you think? What’s your favorite piece by Michael Kors? What was your favorite Michael Kors moment? I’d love to hear about it!