Top Five Trends of Fall 09

Feathers
Make lots of room in your closet this season—feathers are taking over and flying with style. Anna Sui was one of the many designers who added touches of feathers to her collection, balancing romantic florals and brightly colored legwear.

Wide Leg
If you’re tired of skinny jeans, fall 09 is the perfect season for a welcomed change. The Oscar de la Renta and Ossie Clark collections added hints of flare with satin wide leg pants and jumpsuits. Pair with fitted belted cropped jackets, and satin ruffled tops for sophisticated bliss.

Shorts - Hot Pants
Hot pants don’t exactly scream the “go anywhere” look, but this fall, Giles Deacon and Phillip Lim have managed to dispel those myths. Hot shorts and pants for fall are paired with colorful tights and leggings, offering a combination of naughty sassiness. If you’re really daring, rock your tiny shorts with thigh high boots.

Neons
Michael Kors set our hearts on fire with bold lime colored dresses, while Marc Jacobs opted for wallpaper inspired tights. And who could forget Malandrino’s hot pink skirts?

Ruffles
Sass & Bide designers Sarah Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton have always been a tad unconventional, but this season they rocked the house with rock ‘n’ roll inspired pieces with touches of ruffles for added femininity. Included in the mix of ruffled lovers are Tracy Reese as she showcased ruffled short-sleeve sweaters, and Douglas Hannant’s ruffled Poiret collar blouses.

Fashion Week Nail Trends

From sheer, smoky silvers to popping pomegranate plums, nail trends for fall ‘09 leave room for wearers to gracefully express their personalities. According to nail maven Noni Crème from Butter London, her polish choice this fall is nude. At the Lela Rose show she proclaimed “We will be leaving dark nails in the dust!” as she used Swinger, an antique gold shade with a slight green content to give the nails a “wet” look. However, despite her prediction there was an assortment of dark colors present throughout the shows, including at the Vena Cava show, where Crème laquered up the models in British Racing Green - a dark, bold greenish shade set to launch exclusively on Beauty.com this Fall.

Dark colors were used as accessories this go-around and were present in the majority of shows. Chris Benz used Lancome’s “Declaring Indigo” collection (set to launch this Fall), filled with dark blues, golds and red shades. And Monique L’ Huiller combined Essie’s Aruba Blue and Licorice to give a penetrating dark glow.

Dashing Diva followed the dark trend while offering an array of deep shades with hints of lighter tones sprinkled throughout courtesy of manicurist Alisha Rimando. Jillian Lewis showcased Carrie-d Away, a peachy pink shade on fingernails but darkened the toes up a tad with City that never Sleeps an opaque, midnight blackberry. Erin Fetherston and Charlotte Ronson shared Dashing Diva’s Jet Set - a dark, burgundy frost, while Lorick opted for Central Park After Dark, a crème plum noir, and Catherine Holstein’s models sported Mulberry Street a dark, vampy burgundy frost. Bold and nudes were combined yesterday at Trovata, where we saw a new twist on the classic French manicure, a combination of West Village and She E.O. with Limo Service at the tip.

So whether your layering colors or wearing alone, captivate your personality down to your fingertips with bold shades and nude tones.

To re-create the look at Trovata, simply follow these five steps:
1. Polish all nails with True Color Base coat.
2. Polish all nails with West Village.
3. Polish all nails with She.E.O.
4. Use Limo Service just at the edge of the nail and lean the brush slightly onto the surface of the nail to achieve a 1/16″ black edge on the nail.
5. Cover all nails with True Color Topcoat.

ic! berlin: A Union of Traditional Masculinity and Feminine Modernity

The spring season may be a month away, but ic! berlin's newest sunglasses will make you want to look like a solar god(dess) stat.

Since 2005, the brand has fused unconventional styles and spontaneous modernity. ic! berlin produces slick, screw-less eyeglasses comprised of sheet-metal parts crafted into eclectic designs that laugh in the face of boring.

ic! berlin has always been popular with the fellas but the brand is ready to switch teams - at least for a bit. This year's new, 'Tres Chic!' line is a vintage inspired collection of sunglasses developed by an all-female team for the women of the world. Other hits I want in my own collections are the aviator styles and funkier plastic frames. But if singling out modern glamour is your trademark, look to ic!'s special editions in particular, 'i see one' - a minimalist, futuristic series produced in a limited run of 500 pieces.


Visit ic! berlin for more information and to find out where to scoop a pair for yourself.

Twinkle by Wenlan Uses Audrey Hepburn Character—A Damsel in No Need of Rescue

Last night I headed over to a preview of Twinkle by Wenlan’s fall '09 collection and experienced a fusion of exaggerated chains, beads, geometric patterns and relaxed and roomy blouses. The sweaters were very flirty and the waistlines were high and tight.

And to top it off, the collection was a union of classic style and the 21st Century age of hybrid modernity. I’m totally not a car-lover but I must say the Porsche’s and Ferrari’s were to die for!

Get Close with Jimmy Jane

The Valentine’s hoopla may be over, but keep the love flame burning with Jimmy Jane candles. This unique candle isn’t your typical burner, once you snuff out the flame the wax melts into room-temperature massage oil—perfect for drizzling over your loved one. Made of ember, the oil nourishes and hydrates the skin leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy all over.


And although it’s still a tad nippy outside, Jimmy Jane candles are laced with scents offering touches of spring. Combination scents include: Saffron and Neroli; Habanero and Grapefruit; Coriander and Quince; Truffle and Gardenia; Ginger and Date; and Lychee and Lapsang.

Monique L' Huiller Trends

Here are a few make-up and hair tips I grabbed from backstage at the Monique L' Huiller show earlier today. Remember, you got it here first!


M.A.C Make Up trends:
-The goal for fall '09 is to achieve a 'hard edge' look.
- The look is simple: a black band across the top eyelid with a light shading on the temple.
- The liner used is called smoulder
- Studio Sculpt foundation is very popular this season


Nail Trends:
- Rita Hazan Salon did all the nails for the models. The 1st coat is Essie Aruba Blue, the 2nd is Essie's Licorice

Hair Trends:
- The look is a low ponytail chignon. The inspiration is taken from a ballerina look. However, the look is the ballerina heading home, not to the performance. The look is clean, yet lived in. The goal is to find a balance of clean and non-perfection.

Get Funky with Funky Lobes

In the spring of 2008, Marie Jean Baptiste stumbled upon something in her Brooklyn neighborhood that changed her life—a going out of business fabric and yarn store. Marie immediately took advantage of the deeply discounted merchandise and purchased tons of yarn. “When I finally got home, I didn’t know what I wanted to make,” said Marie. “I just wrapped the colorful yarn around some earrings and things just started coming together.”

A few months and ideas later, Marie birthed Funky Lobes, a jewelry line filled with handcrafted yarn earrings, bangles and necklaces. Exploring new colors and fashion trends are important to Marie, and since her debut last year, she has upgraded to imported yarns from Italy.

Within her jewelry collection you’ll find an array of multi-shaped pieces daunting gorgeous palettes. Although the pieces are easy on the eyes, the process for making the jewelry is no easy task. Aside from using her strength to tightly wrap the yarn, Marie uses three glues for binding purposes. “It’s a long process,” says Marie. But it’s a task she embraces.

“There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on new outfits when you can spice up your already owned pieces with one of our fabulous pieces,” said Marie.

So what’s up next for the fashionable gal? Marie is planning to create a collection of yarn handbags and provide a small collection of vintage dresses for Marie’s Closet, a clothing rental boutique for industry professionals—another endeavor Marie has up her sleeve.

Funky Lobes retail anywhere from $15 to $55 and can be found in Pieces and Kiini Ibura boutiques or online at http://www.funkylobes.com.

It’s Official: Michelle Obama in VOGUE Mag!

Next month, Michelle Obama will hit the stands in Vogue Magazine. Following Hillary Clinton, Michelle is the second First Lady to grace the cover. It’s not confirmed what exactly she’ll wear, but we do know she’ll be flaunting Jason Wu. The Washington Post reports:

In the cover photo, taken by Annie Leibovitz, Obama is leaning on a soft beige sofa at the Hay Adams Hotel, where the first family stayed days before the historic inauguration. Obama is wearing a magenta dress by designer Jason Wu, who designed her inaugural ball gown. Her hand rests under her chin. Her left hand folded beneath her. She is wearing a diamond that you do not often see her wearing in recent appearances.

Honestly, the last few articles in Vogue have been rather lackluster. So, Michelle will add a bit of color…literally.

Share the Love with Fashion

Valentine’s Day is like dessert after a delicious meal—you either love it, or find it to be completely pointless. But regardless of your relationship with the so-called-romantic day, it can’t hurt to have a bit of fun. Right?


Head over to N Boutique tonight to enjoy displays of sophisticated dedicates, bra fittings and a naughty show—er, fashion show.

See you there!

114 West 116 Street
Off Lenox Ave.
Time: 6-8:30pm

rEtAiL tHeRaPy

If you think the web world is filled to capacity with discount clothing sites, think again.

Truly Networks, a next-gen online retail development firm, launched a shopping site for women who enjoy high-end fashion apparel and accessories. Entitled, RedTagCrazy.com, The social shopping model combines top brands with huge markdowns, limited quantities, and a very limited time to purchase.

Sound like chaos? Not so much.

Let's be honest, In these hard economic times, everyone is looking for a way to save a buck, right? I know I sure am! And unlike the sample sale sites, you don't need to get invited or be a member. It's open to everyone—for a limited time.

The item Du Jour is a graphic stretch tee from Big Star. And, it's only $11.37!

I Want to Meet Rahni Flowers

Hairstylist Rahni Flowers is the man standing behind the first lady...literally.
Since Michelle Obama was 18, Rahni Flowers has been managing her tresses, making sure her look is always up to par. In his recent interview with Rachel Ray, Flowers discusses Inauguration style preparations and even offers tips on how to score the first lady look.
Rachael asked if he will continue to work with Michelle now that she's away from his Chicago salon and in Washington D.C. Flowers then stated: "It would not be a very pragmatic thing to fly me back and forth to Washington D.C. in light of the economic climate in the United States." Instead, he's training people who live in D.C. to maintain her look and her schedule.
How's that for a savvy stylist who isn't afraid of saving a buck or two. I'll take him!

Check him out on Rachel Ray