Archive for December, 2007

Fortune magazine lists scarves, fashion sneakers (this means Lacoste and Michael Kors branded kicks), see-through clothes, industrial fabrics, and retail based spots to “hang out” as 5 hot fashion trends for 2008. Is this writer kidding? Clearly she didn’t do her research!  Last fall I spoke to several trend forecasters from the Doneger group as well as looking at research done by market and trend forecaster, Faith Popcorn for a piece I did in Forbes.com.  This is what I came up with:

1)  Menswear goes neon: That’s right kids (ehem, men) you are going to see neon dominate everything from suits to over coats and shoes. If wearing a bright pink jacket is too much to handle, try rockin’ a pair of green neon socks with a navy or grey suit.

2) Channel your inner Sid Vicious: If you work in an investment bank, then you definitely can’t go too extreme with this trend either but wearing grommets on your shoes (like the Mad Mary Louboutin heel) is perfectly acceptible.

3) Stealth wealth is in: David Wolfe, creative director of the Doneger Group as well as [Faith] Popcorn agree lifestyles of the rich and famous are going to be embraced even more in 2008. What happens if you don’t have $20,000 to drop on a fur coat? Fake it ’till you make it by purchasing faux.

4) It’s not “industrial fabrics” silly, it’s eco-friendly fabrics!!:  Designers have been using fabrics made of plastic, rubber or recycled aluminum for decades. What’s really hot right now are environmentally friendly fabrics made of organic cotton, hemp, bamboo or recycled polyester.

5) It’s all about Beijing, baby: News flash- Beijing will be hosting the 2008 Olympics. Since this is a major global event, fashion will of course reflect it.

I’ve decided to bring back my old column I used to write called “To Lie For, To Die For.” If any of you read Allure magazine, it’s not that different from the “Lust/Must” page they do every month. I came across these amazing patent leather Mad Mary Christian Louboutin heels for another piece I am working on and loved them. I’m not a HUGE fan of white shoes but the gold grommets give them a little edgy touch. The point of these shoes is to NOT wear them with jeans or long pants (you don’t want to cover up the awesome detail!). Instead, stick to an A-line dress in black. navy or purple or if you are in a warm climate wear these with a pair of long bermuda shorts and an empire waist shirt. HOT!!!

(Mad Mary Ivoire heels by Christian Louboutin,$865. For more information, visit www.christianlouboutin.fr.)

If spending close to $1000 on a pair of shoes is out of your price range, check out the Nine West Ketro sling backs. For $90, you can wear them with jeans or with a short dress- just make sure your jeans are Ernest Sewn and your dress is Phillip Lim. Wearing a cheap dress with cheap shoes will make you look… um, cheap.

(9 West Ketro heel, $89. For more information, visit www.ninewest.com)

 Not because she is a celebrity OR is married to a very cute celebrity. She’s cool because she does not give a shit what her hair looks like! At the “There Will Be Blood” premiere last night, Gyllenhaal was wearing a totally sleek black dress with gold heel ankle boots but looked as if she forgot to do her hair. It was awesome!!! It’s a look I try to rock often, because my hair is the worst to tame. What other celebs do the disheveled hair thing? Mary-Kate Olsen, Sarah Jessica Parker (circa 2001) and sometimes Nicole Richie.

I rarely have time for lunch- much less a sit-down-two-hour lunch, but today was SO WORTH IT. Saks Fifth Avenue held their annual Holiday Luncheon for the fashion industry peeps and not only was I able to see old friends, it was also nice to take a minute and indulge in some holiday cheer (since I hate the holidays). Catherine Maladrino was unusually nice. She sat at our table and was wearing a bright red dress with a pleated skirt, accessorized with a black patent leather belt. Zac Posen was wearing a tweed cape and Peter Som was casual in jeans and a sweater. Thank you to the lovely ladies at Saks PR team for inviting me- you know who you are and I adore you!!

 Years ago my dermatologist told me to stop spending so much money on luxury face washes and lotions because they just don’t work!  Instead, she told me to walk directly over to Duane Reade and get a tube of Oil of Olay Regenerist. Within a week of using this stuff, my skin totally cleared up. In fact, I rarely break out now. For those with ultra sensitive skin, this formula may be a little harsh at first- but stick with it. If your skin feels too dry, use an oil free moisturizer. I swear you will love the results.

 (The City Tote $468)

(The Jet Setter Jr. $492)

Every year my totally sweet amazing ex-boyfriend makes a splurge purchase on a handbag for me (as a joint birthday and holiday gift).  I am currently obsessing over the Foley and Corrina City Tote, but I can’t decide if it is too 15 minutes ago. I also LOVE the Jet Setter tote in black because it is so huge…  

If you haven’t noticed, I don’t really sleep. So instead of making a midnight snack, I am forcing myself to read Eat,Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Wow this book is horrible. It should be called Whine, Preach, Settle!! Not only does her message suck I LOATHE her voice. I thought this book had exciting stories about overcoming obstacles and travel around the world!! It’s super boring!!

I’ve decided to not rejoin my gym, but instead go to Exhale (thanks to a very special person who gave me a month of unlimited classes for my birthday) to do core fusion and yoga classes twice a day. My first class is at 8:15 am. If you haven’t been I totally suggest you go.  The classes are SUPER tough but you feel amazing and (most importantly) skinny afterwards…

Stock Tickers:(TGT), (SKS), (JMN), (M), (JCP)

Nicole Richie‘s baby can rock – and be rocked – at the same time, thanks to gifts from Mischa Barton.

“I got her a bunch of rocker tees for the baby, with different types of logos of rock bands on them,” Barton, 21, told PEOPLE at Wednesday’s launch party for Keds’ spring 2008 campaign. “And she loved them!”

Barton explains, “She is going to have the most fabulously dressed baby, I am sure, because she is so stylish herself.”

The Rolling Stones and AC/DC logo T-shirts were impulse buys for Barton. “They were so unique,” she said. “I just loved them!”

Richie, 26, is due when January, with her first child with boyfriend Joel Madden – and Barton had to shop not knowing the baby’s gender.

“She actually doesn’t know what she is having,” says Barton. “She wants it to be a surprise.”

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