The Winter Pastel Trend!

     Just when you thought that pale colors were supposed to be saved for the spring season there has been a slight change in plans.  Lilac, cornflower, mint and peach are all colors that we noticed on the autumn/winter runways.  And now it's time for them to come out with us and freeze in this weather.   There is absolutely no need to stick to black this winter, break out of your shell a bit.  
     I'm kinda digging this trend, to be honest.  I love that we can have a little Easter blast of color in the freezing peak of winter.  Peach cashmere sweaters worn with light blue corduroy pants, while it's snowing outside, perfect.  And how about a coat?  The stores are crawling with pastel cover-ups, so, take your pick!
     Accessories are even following this trend.  Splashing in a pale pink bag with a structured outfit makes for a great new-season alternative to the deep dark usual winter colors.  You don't even have to stick to the dark nail colors either.  Go on and pick out those great colors from London's Butter collection.  It's nice to add a little color this season, it will keep everyone smiling!

Peachy keen!

Ciao, 

Annie

UNICEF Snowflake Ball!

     Last night UNICEF held the Snowflake Ball, New York Cities most notable black-tie affairs, to honor those whose philanthropic commitments help save children's lives through out the world.  This is a great way to help raise money for children in need and many celebrities are proud participants of this group.  Since 2005, the debut of the Ball, this annual holiday occasion has raised over $16 million for the UNICEF program.  Holy s**t, that's fabulous!  As a reminder, a snowflake hangs high in the heart of New York City (57th & 5th) as a special symbol for the world's most needed children.  Below are images of celebrities who help make this foundation possible.  Not to mention, fabulously dressed, as well.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Louis Vuitton

Selena Gomez in Dolce & Gabbana Custom

Katy Perry in Naeem Khan

  

Kelly Ripa 

Allison Williams in Naeem Khan

Kate Mara in Jason Wu

Bringing holiday cheer!

Ciao, 

Annie

I Knew You Were Trouble When You Walked In!

     Taylor Swift stood out at the American Music Awards last week in her long-sleeved Zuhair Murad mini dress.  She changed things up from her usual gold, sparkling embellished strapless gown.  Taylor decided to show off her long legs in a glittery, form-fitting mini dress.  Still dazzling with jewels, but this time she bared her back for all to see and softly covered her arms with a sheer decorated sleeve.  Apparently, gold is her color and she couldn't stray from that path.  Her nude lip and twisty updo was much more subdued than the usual red lip we are used to seeing, but it accented the dress perfectly.  To top it off she wore a strappy Jimmy Choo gold sandal.
     Further on in the evening she went on and gave an outstanding performance for all AMA guests to see.  Check it out -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS9YaQcxT7s

Way to go Swift!

Ciao, 

Annie

Pajama-rama!

     Pajama-inspired clothing has been in style for a few seasons now.  Hell, why not wear your pajamas in public?  Well, pajama-like clothing.  It's comfortable, super cute and looks fabulous.  In fact, instead of wearing a stuffy stiff suit, this easy just-out-of-bed look seems to be the attire of choice.  Just look at the celebrities they are big adapters of the pajama trend.  Red carpets tend to be a common occurrence for these stars and every once in a while it must be nice to throw on the soft silky outfit and hit the carpet.  

     Whether you prefer the full look from head to toe or just the top and bottom singly, they are such easy styles to pull off.  These looks are far too stylish to be hidden between the sheets, the evening wear option sounds much more seductive to me.  Who would have thought we would be pushing for the elegant pajama pant and the dress down double breasted slouchy satin top?  It's happened, so go on out there and show off your PJ's.  But, please exchange your slippers for heels!

   

Snuggle up!

Ciao, 

Annie

A New Face For Balenciaga Perfume!

     Balenciaga has brought on the starlet from The Twilight Series, Kristen Stewart.  She is currently their new face for their fragrance, Florabotanica.  Stewart says that the imagery of this fragrance is one of a girl sifting through a garden, gorgeous but intoxicating.  Flowers in gardens can be sweet and soft along with poisonous and dangerous.  The fragrance is meant to be worn by women who are mysterious and daring.  I think Kristen Stewart is a perfect face for this scent because she is trendy, edgy and generally plays mysterious characters.  Go out and test it and tell me what you think!

Smells devine!

Ciao, 

Annie

A Little Collaboration!

     Ani Sui's Fall/Winter 2012 runway show reveled a two-piece collaboration that combines the legendary Coach Legacy silhouette with the classic Sui bohemian aesthetic.  These limited-edition bags are beyond exquisite with the one hand-crafted details of leather interwoven with contrast stitching and the other having an old Western feel with the whipstitching trim and burnt leather pattern.  It was an unusual collaboration to see Coach and Ani Sui being on different ends of the design spectrum.  But, Ani Sui said herself that the Coach Duffle was such an iconic part of the Coach brand and that she was honored to be able to put her own twist on such a classic design.  Personally, I think it is great when designers decided to do collaborations with one another.  It allows us to see how they put their ideas together and create such wonderful pieces of artwork.  There are so many ideas going on between designers and design houses, check one of them below!

Collaborate with style!

Ciao, 

Annie

Keeping Your Fingers Warm & Fancy!

     Do you ever go outside to get in your car and you notice the frost that has softly coated the door handle?  Then you get in the car and put your hands on the freezing cold steering wheel?  Nothing solves this problem like leather/pleather gloves.  They are the driving (and walking, for that matter) savior!  As the tight fabric snugs next to each individual finger somehow it creates such warmth to the hands.  I've noticed that designers are getting fancier and fancier with their driving gloves.  As you can see below there are bright colors, studded additions, woven fabric, chain and fur accents, and they are even extending past your elbows now.  Quite a change from the original black or brown sleek leather look.  But, it's good we have moved on to bigger, better and more dramatic things.  This is a winter accessory that can add a bit more fuss to your outfits.  I would advise you all to go out there and get your gloves before your phalanges start getting chilly.

Bottega Veneta

Causse Gantier

Haider Ackermann

Valentino

Burberry

Causse Gantier

Miu Miu

Fingers need some snuggling too!

Ciao,

Annie

Barneys & Disney!

     Imagine this, Barneys New York, the luxury brand specialty retailer, and the Walt Disney Company, the world's leading entertainment company, clashing together!  Unveiled at the Barneys New York on Madison Avenue, the flagship store, on November 14th was the 2012 Holiday project, Electric Holiday.
     This was the launching of the store and the brand coming together and creating products, window displays, a short film (screened in the Barnys windows), and a 3D light show all as part of the collaboration Electric Holiday.  In this short film clip, Minnie Mouse realizes that she has had a life long dream of becoming a Parisian model and ends up stomping the runway in a Lanvin dress.  Along side her is Balmin dressed Goofy, Dolce & Gabbana wrapped Daisy Duck and Balenciaga wearing Mickey Mouse.
     This is an amazing idea.  Bringing together the two legendary worlds.  Everyone can relate to the Disney characters, if they didn't grown up watching them, their kids did.  Now, they have changed the image of them for the Holiday season, giving us yet another way to remember them.  What do you think?

Goofy in Balmin

Daisy Duck in Dolce & Gabbana

Minnie Mouse in Lanvin

Star guest Sara Jessica Parker with Minnie Mouse

Remembering Childhood!

Ciao, 

Annie

A Vintage Story: A Tale About Me!

     In every fortunate woman's house, packed away in boxes that are stacked carefully on top of one another, is a collection of what is now considered vintage couture that tells the story of a fabulous women who, back in her day, had it all.  I'm sure many women in their 40's-50's have those few boxes that shelter their fashion memories.  But, nothing tells a story like the ones I have seen.
     As I sat, staring at these boxes that read Chanel, Prada and Gucci in worn black permanent marker, in a home that I felt so familiar and comfortable in, I died to see what lived in them.  I wondered if the pieces inside were returning the stare through the tiny torn up peep hole in the corner.  Without even knowing what was inside, I asked myself, do they crave to be worn as much as I crave to wear them?  Taking a sneak peek in one of the boxes, just to fulfill the wonder that was going on in my head, I find a tan linen Chanel suit meticulously folded, label up.  As I carefully unfolded I came across bottoms that were wide legged, elastic waste, and perfectly pleated down the front.  Then the top, baseball jersey inspired with outlandishly large Chanel C's across the left breast and then the gold symboled buttons trickled down like rain.  That was a turning point in fashion history for me as well as the time that I got into deep trouble with my Aunt for rummaging through her dearest collection.
    Then it all came to me, at my age she was wearing all of this.  The full make up, the designer suits, the labeled shoes and best of all she got the invite to all the parties where she could show it off.  It shows that celebrities aren't the ones that have all the fashion secrets.  They are hidden amongst the changed women of our lives that can no longer fit into them, have no place to wear them or they are mothers that no longer have the time to get themselves ready like they used to.  It's the vintage secret, these women's pasts hold the key to the future that young women wish to live in.
     As I sat there dripping in vintage Chanel, because I had to try it on,  I wondered to myself, why let this go to waste?  In the lifetime of the clothing, it had been in style, went out of style and is now back in full swing.  Why keep them locked up in the basement where they can't breath?  It should be against fashion laws (i'll look into it!).  These pieces should be past on to the next generation, without worry because clothing speaks for itself.  The more it's worn, the more stories it will generate.  And for those women that pass it on, there is no need to worry about their stories getting lost amongst the crowd because they are the ones that started it all.  They are what inspires and creates the younger one to be like them.  And that is just a little vintage tale, about me.

Vintage is the new black!

Ciao, 

Annie

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2!

     For all of us out there that are lovers of The Twilight Saga you will be happy to know that the premier of Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 was held in LA last night (Monday, November 12th).  Whether you are Team Edward or Team Jacob you will come to find that both men were dressed quite spiffy in their unusual colored suits.  The dark green paired with the blue dress shirt deemed sharp on main actor, Robert Pattinson.  As for Taylor Lautner, the grey tones accented perfectly with his rich skin color.  As for the women, beautiful and mysterious as always.  How about that gold revealing leotard dress we saw on Kristen Stewart, with the bustier top, now, that's something to daunt about.  As for the rest of them, they were all dressed with a little spunk (even the men) because there isn't going to be one thing plain about the last Twilight film!

In theaters on November 16th!

Ciao, 

Annie