Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

After driving fashion lovers mad with his H&M line, Matthew Williamson is dishing up his first official accessories line via Sarwovski. While the jewelry is a bit out of the norm, I appreciate the strong geometric shapes and design.

via Coutorture

If this is the first time you’re visiting Ami’s blog, you’re probably wondering who I am and why I’m writing on her blog. Today Ami and I are doing a switcheroo and she’ll be guest blogging on my blog, while I’m over here writing on hers today. While Ami lives in LA, I’m across the country in NYC! Have you ever driven cross country before? I haven’t, but I would really love to one day! My little cousin has and she had some gorgeous pictures so show afterwards. While we’re so far away, we are both in two of the largest cities in the world with so much awesome stuff going on in them!

I thought I’d do a little show and tell about where I live and some places you should definitely see if you ever come by and visit NYC. First, start with Union Square Marketplace and park on 14th street. In the Fall, its gorgeous. Stores like Starbucks, Whole Foods and Forever 21 encircle a little park that includes a dog park, and a large paved area where protests, a huge pillow fight and street performers do their thing. In the winter, the Christmas markets encompass the whole park and red and white tents are put out with lots of homemade goodies for sale. Before the holidays and after in the Spring, the Green Market takes over where loads and loads of fresh veggies and fruits and plants are sold from local farms from upstate NY and NJ. There are fresh tomatoes, apples and greens. Every time I walk through there I smell a delicious aroma of fresh basil and tomato! This past weekend I walked through there and saw some gorgeous artwork. It seems that most of the people showing there stuff are into green living, so it was nice to see an artist reflect that too. Her one painting was a huge tree with little tiny doors throughout it, I was thinking she was meaning it to represent the tree as an animals home. Another was of rolling hills while under one large hill was, what it looked like, a superimposed outline of a naked woman curled up underneath the ground. It reminded me that the earth holds us within her womb and she sustains us just like within the womb of a woman holds a child and sustains the child. It was such beautiful wholesome artwork and simple but meaningful.

Another cool thing to go on in NYC is Fashion Week! Fashion Week is sponsored by companies like Maybelline and Mercedes-Benz. The show takes place in Bryant Park at 42nd Street next to the NY Public Library and shows off fashion designers like Anna Sui and Calvin Klein, among many others. It happens twice a week, once in February, and once the week of September 10th and kicks off with a huge party where celebrities, fashionistas, designers and socialites mingle. I’m sure you’ve seen the Sex in the City episode (and the movie too!) where the girls go to Fashion Week in NYC! I haven’t gone yet but a few people in my office have, and they say it is AWESOME! And the parties are so much fun. Its a great place to show off upcoming collections for designers and for all of us to go and check out new and some of the best fashions in the world!!!

About.com says of Fashion Week in NYC- “Fashion Week is an excellent opportunity for American (and a few international) designers — ranging from Oscar de la Renta to Zac Posen — to show off their upcoming collections. The fashion shows are often entertaining, accompanied by loud, mood-setting music and changing lighting. The press writes about and photographs the runway collections for newspapers, magazines, internet and television so the general public can see what is going on in fashion.” Its a great time and you should definitely check it out if you’re thinking about visiting over here!

Well thats one aspect of me, where I live! I hope you’ll stop by and check out more of my blogs, recipes and Frugal Friday tips!

Thanks for stopping by! Nikki

Thank you Nikki of Simple Travels in My Homeland!

I’ve never been to the circus or seen a single Cirque du Soleil show. Kind of ironic seeing as how I used to live in Vegas, but still I just never made it. The circus itself kind of freaks me out, but the classy Cirque is obviously in a whole realm of its own. While looking for unique and fresh fashion ideas for Halloween, I keep being mesmerized by the ads for Kooza from Cirque du Soliel. Their intricate costumes are beyond impressive and most have to withstand some sort of body contouring or death defying stunt. While I’m not looking to get into that kind of trouble on Halloween, I am looking to to have something flashy and flattering on.

Anyone could dress up as a Cirque du Soliel character – just wear a colorful, bizarre outfit with some sort of head piece and you’re good to go. It’s the ultimate playful costume and even though you may be no trapeze artist, you’ll get cred for originality.

I know I’m going to have a little Cirque flair this year. After seeing the glamorous Laurie B Style‘s interview with the Kooza Icon I can’t stop thinking about that hat she’s wearing. I want one for my Halloween costume so bad – I may even try a DIY project. See what I’m raving about:

Oh and if you’re braver than I, you can see the Kooza show currently in Santa Monica, but it’ll be making its way through Irvine and San Diego in the coming months.

Images courtesy Cirque du Soleil

I love me some Coca-Cola, they are far hipper and classier then that “other” soda company that tries too hard with their trendy marketing/pr antics. Besides, if their cuddly Coke drinking winter polar bears don’t warm your heart, then you’re probably not human. Let’s not forget those classy designer bottles that were all the rage during Milan Fashion Week. What most people don’t know is that the bottles were made to raise money for the earthquake victims of Abruzzo, Italy. Isn’t that sweet?

With all this goodness I’m a bit annoyed at their newest social media – trying to be cool – international campaign called Expedition 206. The company somehow selected three teams composed of finalists from various countries. I can’t seem to find any information about a “Social Media Happiness Ambassador” contest though. I would have most certainly entered seeing as how my job isn’t exactly going anywhere. Oh, and zero of the nine contestants currently reside within the states. A few have lived here fora bit, but none currently make our country their home. Regardless, the winning team will travel to 206 in one year promoting the Coca-Cola brand. That’s A LOT of travel and sounds like they’ll have a grueling schedule zig-zagging the globe. The team will provide lots up dates via photos, blogging, videos, and such on the Expedition206 website.

The thing is, with all of this international outreach what about America? After all, they are headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. With Budweiser owned by some German company, and car makers in the red, there seem to be fewer and fewer high powered US companies still standing. So, shouldn’t they maybe take some of their dollars and work on an American social media campaign? Brand loyalty is being put to the ultimate test with the economy in the dumps. More and more consumers are switching to generics and cheaper brands. Just my 2 cents. I guess I’m glad I’m not the publicist in charge of that traveling bandwagon.

I’ve always hated frayed jeans or trendy jean holes. I think they are so ugly and destroy the denims integrity quicker. I had a pair of True Religions back when they were cool, with a tiny hole on one leg, that was as wild as I ever got with the whole super distressed denim trend. Lets just say that the infamous hole has now been properly patched up, so it won’t stretch out my jeans so they last longer.

For some reason this dress from the Viktor & Rolf Spring 2010 collection is irking those same hole-y feelings from me. I just want to fix the model’s dress so bad; it looks like someone took a bite out of it. However, the Dutch duo’s other looks are much more artsy and innovative with their creative shapes and 3D textures. Nobody ate those.

via TodayandTomorrow

After the whole Balloon Boy fiasco took over media airwaves and became a trendy meme, I’ve found helium balloons are getting attention in a big way.  First, I’m pretty sure the streets of West Hollywood and elsewhere will be overrun with silver balloons floating from the belt-loops. Balloon Boy will undoubtedly be the easy, cheap, and comical costume of the season. It’s already Newsweek’s number one costume prediction pick.

Next, I’ve found that the helium trend is spreading its legs into fashion. Designer Krizia Robustella unveiled these balloon purse creations during her show at Madrid Fashion Week. Her quirky women’s line was accented with familiar balloon characters. The balloons look partially deflated – not the most flattering setting for a helium life force. Perhaps so they wouldn’t pull a Falcon and float away?

via Trenddelacreme