Meet Jen

This is my bff Jen and her style inspires me every day. Her Frye riding boots (from Sole Sisters in Royal Oak) are to die for...:) Jen was just in Mexico visiting her honey and came back wearing this headband. As I'm told, all the girls there wear this style. I think it looks adorable. Very Nicole Richie...

My look

Today I picked BCBG leggings, a Rachel Roy floral trench dress and Old Navy wedges. This is a close as I could get to sweat pants at work. For some reason, comfort was the order of the day. Last week I posted about Roy's new Rachel Rachel Roy collection. My boxes arrived yesterday and of the five pieces I ended up only keeping one. The pieces were good; my selections didn't flatter my body as I would have liked.

Here is the trench from Roy's collection. I thought it was more satiny than cotton. That wasn't the case but I actually love it more. Suppose if I had read the description the fabric blend would have been obvious.

Meet Michelle

Michelle is our Jil Sander specialist and I was loving her look yesterday. Where did you get the scarf!!!?? This is a good example of how an inexpensive, but brightly colored accessory (here a scarf) can perk up your black basics. The shirt's bottom detailing also adds interesting texture. She is a gem and you'll definitely see more of her here.

A good man

A quick post on something not fashion related. This is for every woman who has ever asked if good men still exist.

Yes, they do. As evidenced by the above BF Rulz care package assembled by a very special man in my life. He delivered this care package to me on his way to work after a fun, but long night out we had together.

Ladies: this is what I've learned after 30 years of dating all kinds of men.

When they like you, they will do anything for you. And that includes getting up at 6am to go to Starbucks for your favorite coffee and Walmart to get eggs, english muffins, Cheez Its, chocolates, Ibuprofen, and Us Weekly because they know you are in bed with a nasty headache. They leave you love notes in their own special voice telling you how much you mean to them. They talk endlessly to their friends about how great you are. They always think of you first. Yes, they do still act like boys saying stupid, thoughtless things, but at the end of the day you go to bed knowing that he adores you totally and completely.

Good men do exist, but you will never find them dating shitty ones.

My look

This what I picked for yesterday's outfit: Limited blazer, BCBG skirt, American Apparel tank, Tory Burch wedges, and F21 jewerly.

Summer event dressing

There are several dressy functions happening in the next few weeks here in southeastern Michigan. J Mendel is the perfect solution for the woman who wants to make a fashionable yet subtle statement. The number above is a perfect example. It can go so many places in a wardrobe. Sorry, my iPhone is not doing the colors any justice here.

I met Gilles last year at a client event and he is the most charming and delightful man. One small fact: I read that Mendel started making ready to wear after putting basic silk shifts in his store window to deter PETA protesters who took issue with Mendel's fur business.

Other looks from his Spring 2010 collection. Most we have in our store.

Free Tickets: A Fashionable Wednesday Night w/ IADT

WIN TWO FREE TICKETS BY COMMENTING HERE FIRST!!!

PSSSST... Deadline to comment is 3:30pm today...

Join me at the Fox Theater tomorrow at 7:30pm to celebrate the International Academy of Design Technology’s 2010 IMAGINE Fashion Show. Cocktails, music, fashion, models... what else can you ask for in a night?

As a Project Runway fan, it's thrilling to see what designers create when posed with a fashion challenge. IMAGINE show cases the work of 30 design students (whose runway challenge is their rigorous fashion design program) and their design inspirations. The evening's runway shows will be themed with these categories:

After 5, Wearable Art, Paper Designs, Little Black Dress, Sportswear, Detroit Inspired, and Alumni. While a full spread in Marie Claire isn't on the line for these future fashion super stars, getting the word out in their home town is so be there!!!

Who knows, maybe you'll get the first glimpse of the next Christian Siriano, Daniel Vosovic or Santino... I've included a little Santino clip to remind you...

See you there!

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More details...

IADT Detroit presents IMAGINE 2010 Please join us at the Fox Theatre on Wednesday, April 28 at 7:30pm for International Academy of Design Technology’s 2010 IMAGINE Fashion Show. We have a great lineup of student and established designers in the following categories: After 5, Wearable Art, Paper Designs, Little Black Dress, Sportswear, Detroit Inspired, and Alumni. There will be a performance by “The Contours, featuring Sylvester Potts,” and Charles Pugh (Detroit City Council President and former FOX 2 news anchor) will MC the event. A portion of the proceeds goes to The Ronald McDonald House of Southeast Michigan. This is surely going to be one of this year’s biggest fashion design program events! Tickets available at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling by calling 1-800-745-3000. $10 General Admission $20 Reserved Seating Fox Theater- 2211 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 (313) 471-6611

Overheard: Laura Craik

From Elle Collections Spring/Summer 2010, from an article, Straight Talk, by Luke Leitch where he reports front row from London Fashion Week for the first time:

Leitch writes: Laura Craik of the London Evening Standard set me straight on American fashion's young turks... "Proenza Schouler are like America's Christopher Kane; Rodarte are like America's Garth Pugh. They actually have ideas and vision."

RA RA RA Rachel Rachel Roy

Transformer Zip Apart Jacket

I was on Rachel Roy.com today because our store recently started carrying her Rachel Roy Signature line and I wanted the skivvy on what she's all about.

Rachel is a women's designer but so totally a business women herself. Hence the three lines: designer, better apparel and contemporary. Her contemporary line is Rachel Rachel Roy and I totally love it! It's very affordable and has pieces to mix and match to a modern girl's delight. Sure it's a tad commercial but Roy gives it a cool girl spin. I actually left the site purchasing 5 items... so stay tuned for pics and feedback. Curious about fabric and construction...

My heart was set on the transformer jacket (see above) but was sold out in my size... its awesomeness is here. Zips apart into three different jackets. Pieces like this are key; Roy clearly understands that her woman is a career girl and needs to unzip from day to evening like presto..

Roy designed RRR collection with a handful of lady entrepreneurs in mind. Women working on their dream as she puts it. The spring lookbook here.

What draws me in is that Roy's clothes, whether they be from the designer label Rachel Roy NY or RRR, give real women who work and mother or both or whatever, options to look sexy and relevant at reasonable prices whatever your spending. I could see several of my friends and clients loving this line as go to fun, funky for cheap.

Here's what I picked:

ebay fashion gets a make over

Check it out! I love eBay's new makeover. Same auction concept, but now has a boutique feel and search is MUCH more user friendly. My favorite update is the thumbnail view when you find your desired product category. Roll your mouse over each pic to see time left, price and # of bids.

Also launched is the Fashion Vault. Apparently it's time limited (48-72 hours) designer sales for eBay members. Their take on off priced merchandise sites - see Gilt, Ruelala, and The Outnet.

For those using eBay to fill their designer/couture/vintage/rare cravings, curious what you think...

Inspiration - weekend look

I pulled these looks from Intermix as inspiration for my weekend/causal looks. Will play around with it in Polyvore to give it my own touch, but elements I love: white pant instead of classic jeans and a denim day parka topped off with neutral accessories.

Geren Ford

I'm making my spring shopping list and on it will be this silk empire cami from Geren Ford on Intermix is one of my favorites. As I redefine my style, this hits all my hot buttons. It's sophisticated, sexy, and playful, but can do double duty under a blazer at work, chinos and flips at the beach or with wedges and a skirt for a night out.

BTW - Ford describes her clothes as coming from a world chic. Her collections, started in 2002, include unique, alluring and functional garments. The Geren Ford brand consistently creates an aesthetic of classic modernism: equally at home in 1960’s Paris or 2009’s New York, with day-to-evening practicality for the discerning modern woman.

Overheard

From Candy Pratts Price:

"The bootie's success stems from the fact that it translates with a coat and trousers; it translates with an evening dress; it even looks very cool with shorts."

Late Afternoon Inspiration

Spring closet cleaning and bagging old clothes from days gone by is exhausting. I'm on the cusp of my 30th birthday, and my style has changed enough that much of what hangs now will not do. I've been searching around the internet today looking for new pieces to bring into the fold. Not much luck there, but I did find some eye candy from Flickr.

Kooky Sweater Time

Leslie Hall

A little kooky can go a long way on drab, rainy days like today. Weird sweaters always brings to mind Leslie Hall who says phrases like "I have just made the largest gem sweater in the world."

My take on the breed, minus the rhinestones and grandma weave, is this beaut from Cynthia Vincent which reminds me of sitting on a ranch porch out west drinking coffee and watching the cattle roam.

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Vintage Dakota Cardigan

I also this Navajo sweater throw also from Cynthia Vincent on Intermix.

Certainly tame compared to the knits of Ms. Hall, but a perfect sweater to throw on for errands, lounging etc. To add a little sex, I would do tight fitting jeans and tall boots with a lacy bra and tiny tee underneath.

Take a mid-day break:

Melody Gardot

I don't do drugs; I let music and fashion turn me into an insane person bursting with mind boggling melancholy or exuberant joy. Both do very powerful things to my psyche. A good dress and/or song can frame up a kick-ass state of mind fairly quickly. Hell yes, I raise my left hand when Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" comes on...

Melody Gardot is my new favorite drug. Her rich sultry voice sends chills down my spine. I listen to her second album, My One and Only Thrill, constantly. First heard on Ann Delisi's Essential Music, I learned that Gardot was hit by a car while bike riding when she was 18, leaving her badly injured. After a long, painful recovery, she still suffers eye problems and has to wear sunglasses most of the time.

Her look is as sexy and sultry as her voice. Word on the street is that she's a big fan of Alber Elbaz at Lanvin. Makes sense. She is certainly rocking a vintage, understated glam look.

Top 10 Collections of Fall 2010

Posted today on WWD. Take a look, tell me what you think. Hard to imagine two days after hanging up my shorts, we are already onto Fall. More this week about the fashion calendar, style revolts and why my boyfriend hates slouchy pants.

Top 10 Collections of Fall 2010

Low Hanging Fruit

Missoni Wooden and leather kitten heels, Net-A-Porter

The low heel movement in fashion has my full support (my favorites above.) As someone who spends large portions of the day hauling bags, lifting boxes, heaving arms of clothes, and running up and down stairs, 4inch heels are no friend of mine. Love'em to death, but honestly, they kill me and my feet by the end of day. Bloody heels are never really worth it.

I do find heels sexier for times not spent working my ass off, but a smaller heel with plenty of interest perks up simple trousers or a skirt.

Variations on the low heel: Stella, Chloe, Marni, Marc Jacobs

Matt and Kim

This song has me dancing around my apartment like a lunatic. I love it. If there was a surgical operation to permanently pipe it into my brain for 24 hours of play time, I would go under in a second.

buy off the beaten path

Etsy is one of my favorite spots to troll for cool jewelry and gifts. Supporting small designers like jewelshine30 and her Wings of Horus necklace above I believe creates good juju in the fashion world. Plus, you get karma and style points for buying off the beaten path. The idea of having something not recognizable to everyone who walked into F21 or Nordstrom's gives you a cute little story to share when everyone wants to know where you found such a cool piece.

The Handbag Question

I came across this repost of LA Times Magazine's 50 Signature Handbags on Bagcraze. Even from an aesthetics standpoint, I love how the chart is put together. It's a very cool pictorial history of the legendary must-have handbags. I don't subscribe to the "it" bag philosophy, but I do appreciate the stories behind each piece's creation.

For example, the Hermes Birkin was originally created transport riding gear from home to the stable. Now you wouldn't dream of putting horse bits in your Birkin.

Bagcraze boils it down to her top 10 which seems fairly agreeable:

Clients always ask, "What bag do I need?" That usually depends on budget and taste. Some ladies have no budget and thus a closet full of Chanel and Hermes. Some ladies do - like me - and use Ebay to their advantage in amassing a decent high ticket purse collection. That said, sometimes, good style dictates a selection that comes with a story rather than a mind blowing price tag. One of my favorite bags is a simple caramel colored Coach bag I bought years ago after saving my part-time job money for 6 months. I love that little shoulder bag. It sits next to Hermes Bolide, but has a much fonder spot in my heart.

Just get what looks good and feels right. Buy what you love.

What's your favorite handbag?

50 Signature Handbags: Part 1

50 Signature Handbags: Part 2

50 Signature Handbags: Part 3

Untitled by Eimy999 featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

Items in this set:
Top von CONLEY'S ab 79,00 € im CONLEYS Online Shop, 79 EUR
Wool equestrian blazer, $630
Tie Dye Jamie Jeans, $90
Holalita flat ponyskin sandals, $465
Swarovski drop earrings, $395

Polyvore was my breakfast today and this little number from Eimy99 caught my eye. I love the set elements - graphics and clothes. Super cute, yet fun yet sophisticated.