Vintage Jewelry: that’s different decorative arts April 30, 2007

50s fashion is in and will always be, so collecting some cool, silver vintage jewelry is the best way to look cool, edgy and unique.

Check out some mid twentieth century Scandinavian silver offered at That’s different Decorative Arts.

When you pick the piece you like, just email them for the price and information on the designer, company, period or even the exact year. And I left the best part for last: they change wholesale prices. Can’t get better than that!

I am loving the brooch featured above.

How to choose the right pair of sunglasses? April 28, 2007

Gucci Women’s sunglasses Oliver peoples Men’s sunglasses

The spring is finally here, and the sun is bright. Time to put on lots of sunscreen and sunglasses. It is important however that you choose a frame that compliments your face and features. How to choose the right pair? Take this list with you when you go shopping for eyewear:
- If you have a broad forehead and a narrow chin, try on shades that follow your bone structure. A great shape for you is the aviator style.
- Do you have long & lean face? Opt for shades that are wide, like an oversize geometric shape.
- But, if you have full cheeks and a round jaw-line, go for something completely different that your face. Try finding a contrast angular shape.

Happy shopping!

The First Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards April 23, 2007

The 1st annual independent handbag designer awards have been scheduled for June 20, 2007.

The event will take place at the Museum of the City of New York, will feature not only the new best and hotest handbag designers, but also Carlos Falchi, who will be presented with a lifetime achievement award. The judging committee is the cream of the cream of the accessories and fashion world and academia: Carrie Chapman (Senior Accessories Buyer for Barneys NY), Irenka Jakubiak (Editorial & Fashion’s Director for Accessories Magazine), Paula Correri (Accessories Editor), Rebecca Weinberg (Costume Designer), Phyllis Magidson (Curator of Costume Design & Textiles for MCNY) and Julia Poteat (Assistant Professor at Parsons School of Design).

There is a limited number of tickets, so hurry up and get them now. Click here to purchase tickets.

Nomads April 23, 2007

A little bird wooden necklace, by Peggy Li Creations

Nomads are the peoples who have no permanent home but move about according to the seasons. As this is happening in the desserts of Asia and Africa, they need to wear light clothes, which cover them well, and protect them from the fierce sun.

The Nomad look has been worshiped by the fashion savvy for decades now, but now the look is hotter than ever. It is chic, practical, ethereal and very forgiving. Try loose fitting blouses and dresses in white and beige palettes, paired with natural looking bangles, wood necklaces and statement rings. You’ll look & feel like a breeze in a warm summer day…

New York Fashion Now! April 17, 2007

Planning any trips to London, UK this summer? The famous Victoria and Albert Museum is having a show on New York Fashion worth seeing.

The exhibition will feature twenty start-up stories of NY designers who launched their own labels between 1999-2004. It will address the question of how design productivity was able to overcome the economic downturn that we experienced in NY at the turn of the 21st century, and will give us insight on how so many young hopefuls have prevailed at this particular moment.

The exhibition will be live from April 17 – September 23, 2007 and it is free with admission. For more information, click here!

Stripes on Stripes April 17, 2007

Polo Shirt & Tie
Stripes is one of the main trends for this spring, a classical look that is big again. To adopt this look and make it look fresh again try wearing stripes on stripes. This can be done tastefully, as long as you remember a couple of rules:

- Stick with one color scheme to make things safer for you. For example, if you want to pair a striped blue and white suit with a striped shirt, the shirt should be the same blue and white as your suit is.

- If you want to do the striped suit & striped shirt combo, make sure the finer stripes are on your shirt. If you are going to wear a tie, wear it in a solid color.

- When you want to wear a stripped shirt with a stripped tie, keep the finer stripes for the shirt and keep the same color scheme. In this case your suit should be a solid color.

- Boss and Ralph Lauren have some nice stripped suits this season, which are really versatile and can take you from the office to a night out, or if worn with sneakers and a T, are perfect for those summer parties.

- Something to try: I really like the striped shirt & tie combination with jeans, sneakers and a vest.

Singing in the Rain April 16, 2007

Gucci wellies $200 at Bluefly.com wellies $19.99 at Target

There is no use complaining about the weather, but lately I have been doing it a bit, just because I am eager for the spring, long walks in the park and flirty floral dresses. Also, it has been raining. Lots. And until last week I did not own any wellies. Shocking but true. I’ll tell you why:

Being Mediterranean, I never owned any wellies, and I never found a strong enough reason to get any. In the east Mediterranean it doesn’t rain that often, and wellies are associated with doing work in the garden. Yeah! I know…there are all silly ideas.

When I moved to NYC however, I soon discovered that it rains a lot ☺but still… For many years I was resisting to get a pair. Until I realized that ruining my dressy boots every time it rains, it is not really an option any more. So, wellies entered my life and closet. Now, even I get excited every time it rains. I put on my boots and get out there in the crazy rain. I just wish that I had the ‘epiphany’ of getting a cute pair of wellies earlier.

Needless to say that there is a pair out there for every budget like the ones featured here. They all promise to show off your style and keep your feet dry. That’s a reason to sing in the rain!

‘It’ Bags for the Mommy-to-Be April 12, 2007

One thing I remember when I had my daughter, was the dilemma of what bag to wear. I didn’t not want to look ‘momsy’. I wasn’t going to compromise style with convenience, but on the other hand who would want to spoil a beautiful Tods tote by carrying bottles with liquids, snacks & diapers. I guess designers out there heard my prayers.

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Get a cool shirt and help kids in Africa April 12, 2007

How would you feel if you could buy a unique T, but know that 100% of the money spent on that T would go to those who really need it? Great! Right?

I came across this cool vintage T on line boutique, Defunkd. They offer rare vintage Ts from a large spectrum of collectible concert Ts, from hip-hip to punk rock to pop culture, mostly from the 80s. Currently they are auctioning 20 mint vintage Live Aid concert Ts online with 100% of profits donated to benefit the original cause. The auction will be on until May 10, & store visitors will have an opportunity to bid on original concert shirts from Live Aid - the world’s biggest rock festival held in 1985 to raise money for starvation in Africa.

This charity auction is the result of a partnership of Defunkd and Africa Aid, a non-profit organization, which provides financial assistance to underprivileged African communities through a range of initiatives, from AIDS-related issues to education and sustainable development.

One cannot claim to be a knowledgeable shopper, if one doesn’t check out vintage stores. When buying vintage one can be assured of uniqueness and pop out from the mainstream. An easy way to start buying vintage is T-shirts. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to wear a unique and cool T and in many cases the only way is vintage.

Check these websites out: www.defunkd.com and www.africaaid.com

Dress the Part April 9, 2007

Last week I was out shopping with a client, when in one of the stores I ran into my ‘competition’; 2 stylists/personal shoppers who were dressing a 16-year old young woman.

It is always interesting to meet your competition face to face and I am all for it. We all exchanged a polite glance and of course a quick once-over: this is something that always happens at this profession: one takes a quick look of what the other person is wearing and comes to a conclusion of what that person’s fashion sense might be like: sporty, feminine, modern, easy-going, likes flashy brands, subtle, elegant, clueless about dressing fashionably, trashy etc.

I have to say that I was astonished with my competition’s inexplicable dress sense of the day. What I will describe was worn by one of the stylists. Yes, all of it:

A white top-hat with a black and silver brim, a ruffled black shirt, jeans with lacey trimmings, gold jewelry, a western-type belt with a huge silver buckle, grandma type sensible black shoes and a beige/brown snakeskin satchel bag with gold details. She also wore a fur/leather coat: the kind that resembles the dead animal itself. Ew!

The only thing that I could think of is: WHY?!? Why are my eyes hurting? Why are these people calling themselves stylists? A stylist should dress the part. The same rules that apply to one’s client apply to the stylist too. Less is more and the goal is to look pulled together.

Some learnings from this traumatic experience:
- One flashy accessory per outfit. In the case above the lady should have worn either the white hat, or the belt or the bag. Not everything together.
- When you want to go western, don’t mix it up so much: a bag and a belt, or a belt and earrings and a western inspired bracelet is plenty.
- If you want to wear lace, keep the rest really simple. Even if it is detailing on your jeans.
- Coats that look like dead animals belong to the Stone Age, unless it is Halloween and you want to dress up as one of the Flintstones.

The young woman these ‘stylists’ were dressing, was as cute and fresh as a breeze: she was dressed in a simple top and leggings, paired nicely with a 60s type coat and a cute bag. She did not need any of that ‘weird’ styling. She should have kept her money and spent it on something else.

For all the stylists out there and for you also: if something is right don’t try to fix it. You should only update it so it looks current. And… take a good look in the mirror before going out and take off one thing. Maybe two. Maybe three!!!