Be Seen in Green

From "A Year in the Emerald City," WSJ

 

According to an article by Christina Binkley in today's Wall Street Journal, the color green will be the color pick of the year for 2013 --- a retro throwback to the 1980's in fashion, jewelry, housewares, furniture and even cars!  

 

Green was designated the "it" color by Pantone, a company who sells codes that manufacturers use to replicate colors that will determine the "it" color each year based on surveys, sales of color swatches and the opinions of the general public.

Deep greens were seen on fashion runways of the spring 2013 collections of labels such as Valentino, D&G, Marni and Roland Mouret.  

 

Akris Spring 2013 Runway / WSJ / Getty

 

Accessories such as sunglasses by Oliver Peoples will also be making you green with envy this spring:

 

Oliver Peoples / WSJ

 

For some emerald inspiration, check out Jennifer Connelly (below) and other celebrities in green in this Marie Claire gallery.

Dana's Dream Buy of the Day: Philip Lim's "All Eyes on You"

3.1 Phillip Lim All Eyes on You T-Shirt $550

I recently had the opportunity to sit in on a photo shoot and one of the highlights on the experience was getting to check out the fabulous fashions that were flown in for the shoot. One of my personal favorites was a fantastic look from 3.1 Phillip Lim, dubbed "All Eyes on You."

You can see the "All Eyes on You" T-shirt above, but you really need to see the amazing detail up close, so take a look at the image of the exquisite embellishments below as well.

I am totally coveting this look, but with a $500-plus price tag on the T-shirt version (Lim also has dresses in the "All Eyes on You" collection), for now I'll just be dreaming of all eyes on me in one of these amazing garments.

Susan Says: Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's

 

Katie Holmes in a Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's Dress ($70)

 

On November 7th Kohl's DesigNation will launch a line by Cuban-American designer Narciso Rodriguez. This limited-time collection will be available exclusively online at Kohls.com and in Kohl's stores.

 

In 1996, Rodriguez garnered international fame when he designed Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress for her wedding to John Kennedy, Jr. On November 4, 2008, Michelle Obama chose to wear a dress from the designer’s Spring 2009 Collection to celebrate her husband's election. For the Kohl's line, Rodriguez was inspired by his love of Istanbul. Pattern interplay and minimalist design make the line irresistible and the pieces are crafted to fit flawlessly and gracefully. 

 

 

 

 

 

Stars such as Katie Holmes, Emma Roberts and Julianna Margulies stepped out in New York City in gorgeous dresses from the new line to celebrate the imminent launch.  Margulies, who wore a two-tone dress (retails at $64), is such a huge fan of the designer that he even created her wedding gown. Margulies told InStyle, "(Rodriguez)... cuts dresses to look best on a woman's body.  He loves a curve. And this dress?  It's just not going to go out of style." 

Juliana Margulies in Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's /Jemal Countess/Getty Images North America

 

There are lots of great, wearable styles in the Kohl's collection.  A black peplum top is  on my immediate wish list.

Star Struck

Giant Dwarf Starlette Sparkler $18

We were star struck when we spotted these star sparklers. These accessories are beautiful for side swept bangs or as a crown of stars for evening glam.  Bobby pins will never be the same!

 Lucky Magazine's November 2012 issue featured these Giant Dwarf Starlette Sparklers in silver or gold ($18 for one large star or for two smaller stars; $48 or $78 for an entire crown of stars). The felt stars are spangled with actual shards of glass and sterling silver.

The Giant Dwarf designs are inspired by early 20th century hair adornments and each piece is hand-crafted using fine materials  like German glass glitter, reclaimed wool from sweaters & their own line of wool blend felt.  Their web site says the designs are "guaranteed to make any woman feel glamorous whenever worn." To see the complete selection visit Giant Dwarf's web site. 

Jewelery That Rocks

Electric Picks "Centerfold" Bracelet

At a recent event in New York City I was introduced to MJ Barton and was immediately enamored with her armful of amazing bracelets, which, as the designer behind the brand Electric Picks, were all of her own fabulous design.

MJ Barton

I chatted with MJ about her background and Electric Picks, her line of rock-and-roll-inspired jewelry. (Of course, I also had to invest in a couple of bracelets myself, too!)

"I've always made jewelry, ever since I was really young," MJ explained. Besides making jewelry, MJ also loved music, playing piano and guitar for years.

Prior to launching her line, MJ worked as a nonprofit events planner in Miami, but in April 2011, MJ says she had a dream about putting a guitar pick into a bracelet. "I couldn't go back to sleep," she says. "I knew I had to do this!"

When MJ moved to New York, she got to work and launched Electric Picks one year ago this month. Her company quickly took off and continues to grow at an amazing pace. 

Each bracelet is intricately crafted and one of a kind and the guitar picks are all either custom or vintage.  The bracelets have names which are in keeping with their rock-and-roll inspiration, such as this bracelet named for the Guns N' Roses song:

Electric Picks "Every Rose" Bracelet

I also was intrigued with all the spikes and studs that MJ is featuring in her jewelry, which have such a dangerous, edgy look yet are still fun and feminine.

Electric Picks "Tommy Guns"

Electric Picks "Idol"

Check out the entire line at ElectricPicks.com.

Black & Blue is Not a Fashion "Boo Boo"

Reporting about the top trends for Fall 2012, Marie Claire said, "The 'it' color combination of the season is most definitely all about black and navy blue."

The color combination was seen on the Fall 2012 runways at Carolina Herrera and DKNY, among others:

Carolina Herrera Fall 2012

DKNY Fall 2012

The look has also been spotted on the red carpet as well as the runway. Jessica Chastain combined two fall trends when she wore a black-and-blue dress in leather from Jason Wu to Fashion's Night Out in New York this year:

JUSTIN CAMPBELL/startraksphoto.com

Actress Sarah Paulson accessorized her blue Reem Acra dress with a black belt, bag and shoes at the 2012 Emmy Awards:

Source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America)

We love this trend because it looks great on women of any age, and it doesn't involve major shopping! In fact, you can try the trend right now by simply shopping your closet (or your mom's, daughter's, sister's or best friend's).  Just mix black and blue basics you already have, or punctuate a blue dress with a black belt like Sarah Paulson. 

Of course, if you do want to shop the trend, there are lots of great on-trend pieces in stores now, such as these blue heels with a black platform from Cole Haan:

Cole Haan Mariela Heels $328 @ Bloomingdale's

 Here's a color block sweater from Michael Kors:

Michael Kors Chunky Colorblock Sweater $348 @ Saks

And a fun cardigan from Gabriella Rocha, available at a discount at 6pm.com:

Gabriella Rocha Cardigan $67.99 @ 6pm.com

20 Years of Thinking Pink

Next month marks the 20th anniversary of the Estée Lauder Breast Awareness Campaign. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was founded by Evelyn Lauder (1936-2011) who was the Senior Corporate V.P. and Head of Fragrance Development for the Estée Lauder Companies, and who helped name the Clinique Brand, and developed such globally successful fragrances as Beautiful and Pleasures. 

Lauder's personal experience with early stage breast cancer in 1987 led her to co-create, with Alexandra Penney of SELF magazine, the now ubiquitous Pink Ribbon in 1992. The Pink Ribbon is a universal icon and is recognized as the worldwide symbol of breast health. 

In 1989, she and her husband, Leonard Lauder, son of the late founder of the company, raised $18 million to establish the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, which has become a worldwide model for coordinating supportive services for breast cancer patients.

In 1999 and again in 2007, Lauder was featured in Crain's New York Business magazine as one of New York's 100 most influential women in business. In 2010 Ms. Lauder received the Fashion Group International Humanitarian Award in recognition for her work with BCRF and her tireless work to eradicate breast cancer.

Lauder's good work continues posthumously as her campaign celebrates its 20th year. This October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) there are a wide array of products for sale with a portion of proceeds benefiting the cause, including a hand cream from Aveda, hairspray from Bumble and Bumble, and blush from Bobbi Brown. You can see a selection here.

Estee Lauder Evelyn Lauder Dream Lip Collection $29.50 @ Nordstrom

At Nordstrom,  The Evelyn Lauder Dream Collection includes Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Candy, Pure Color Gloss in Pink Innocence plus a pink snakeskin-printed clutch.  For each purchase of $29.50, Estée Lauder will donate 20% of the purchase price to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation from August 2012 to June 2013.

JCPenney is supporting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, too, by offering free styling and haircuts to breast cancer survivors at its salons, and donating $1 for every free haircut it gives (up to $50,000) to the Foundation. The store is also raising funds through customer donations, asking customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with the difference going to the Foundation. 

In loving memory of our dear friend, Barbara Minsky, who we lost to breast cancer in October 1990- two years before the launch of the Estée Lauder Breast Awareness Campaign.

Immortalizing Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen with Kate Moss Photo:Anne Deniau

The friendship between a young fashion designer and a French photographer began in 1996, when the late Alexander McQueen and Anne Deniau met when she worked for the House of Givenchy where McQueen, then age 27, had been appointed Creative Director.

Love Looks Not With the Eyes: Thirteen Years with Lee Alexander McQueen by Anne Deniau @Amazon

Love Looks Not With the Eyes: Thirteen Years with Lee Alexander McQueen (1969-2010) is a new book of never-before-seen photos of Alexander McQueen's fashion shows, taken during the thirteen years that Deniau worked behind the scenes with McQueen and gained a rare view into his runway shows.  

Deniau told The Telegraph,  "People say he turned fashion into art but that is wrong.  He was an artist and fashion was his medium; that is different." 

The title of the book refers to a line from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, which McQueen, who took his own life in February 2010,  had tattooed on his right arm: "Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind."

Although many considered McQueen to have a dark side, Deniau told The Telegraph, "..that is absolutely not the man I knew." She explained, "He had dark moments like any creative artist, great highs and downs, but apart from that he spread such light."  

Even those with the most avant-garde tastes in fashion will be amazed at many of McQueen's unbelievable creations captured in these exquisite photographs.

The British Are Coming (to Nordstrom!)

Topshop, on the top of our shopping list in the U.K., has partnered with Nordstrom!

Fourteen Nordstrom store locations are featuring the British brand, with 2,500 sq feet allocated to womens' apparel, accessories and makeup and 1,500 sq feet dedicated to mens' apparel and grooming items. If you don't live near the fourteen Nordstrom locations which carry the line, don't fret; some items also are featured online at nordstrom.com.   

Nordstrom is the sole department store to get the line; Topshop's other locations in the U.S. are in Las Vegas and Soho in New York City. 

Phillip Green, President of Topshop and Topman, told The New York Times that Nordstrom will be receiving weekly deliveries of merchandise so it will keep customers coming in to the store more frequently.  Kate Phelan, Topshop's creative director, recognizes that although  Nordstrom tends to cater to a more conservative clientele, "...we make them feel it is easy to mix a combat jacket with a lace skirt."

Some of our online favorites include this sequin peplum top:

Topshop Sequin Peplum Top $64 @ Nordstrom

 And this camouflage sweater:

Topshop Camouflage Sweater $80 @ Nordstrom

As a footnote to the story, Mr. Nordstrom sealed the deal with Mr. Green over lunch at a Nordstrom cafe (the Bistro) in Las Vegas, nearby to a Topshop store- the great food at the Bistro is another reason to love Nordstrom (as if the fashions were not enough)!

The Turtleneck Comeback

Everyone from Philip Lim to J. Crew is featuring turtlenecks as a must-have. Seen on the fall fashion runways, the turtleneck is having more than just a "fashion moment."

The Turtleneck Trend on HarpersBazaar.com

HarpersBazaar.com showcased the photo above in a feature on Pre-Fall Trends, highlighting how three major designers each styled the turtleneck: under a jacket at 3.1 Phillip Lim (left); under dress at Missoni (middle) and under a trench at Erdem (right).

Penelope Cruz, W Magazine Sept issue

You can wear your turtlenecks standing alone like Penelope Cruz did above on the W Magazine September cover. Cruz was styled in a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci stretch wool turtleneck with an incredible 18k gold-plate and lapis Lynn Ban statement necklace.

Or you can wear the turtleneck as an underpinning, as shown on the designer runways featured above. This can be a great way to extend your wardrobe and transition your summer pieces into fall, which is something we blogged about the other day.

For example, the turtleneck was shown under sleeveless dresses, as shown on the J. Crew runway:

Layered Turtleneck at J. Crew

FABSUGAR has an entire feature entitled, "Celebrities Wearing Turtlenecks 2012," which highlights how 7 stars did a spin on the turtleneck in 7 different ways to kick off the fall season, with everyone from the ever fashionable Kate Middleton in an olive green turtleneck dress cinched with a black belt to Gwen Stefani in a printed turtleck under a leather jacket with skinny jeans. Check it out for some style inspiration.

Shop your closet (or your mom's or daughter's!) right now for this fall staple.

Susan Says: Kick Up Your Heels

The YSL Tribute Platform Pump $825 has a 4" heel

High heels are certainly here to stay; in fact, figures on murals dating from 3500 B.C. depict an early version of high heels.  And unless you are very tall in stature, we all want to add a little height by sporting a pair of heels of the "non-killer" type.  

Here is some sage advice from notable female podiatrists, who just happen to love wearing high heels (Dr. Suzanne Levine, NYC podiatrist, loves her heels so much that she has been known to perform surgery in her favorite Manolo Blahniks!), as outlined in the September issue of Glamour Magazine:

• Shop after lunch:  I worked in the "Salon Shoes" department of a major retailer for years and so I know from experience that shoes which fit you in the a.m. may not fit very well after lunch!  That is because the foot expands as the day progresses; also the hotter the day, the more feet will tend to swell.  

• Forget about "breaking them in:" So says Dr. Carolyn McAloon, a podiatrist practicing in San Francisco.  Dr. McAloon states "If (the shoes) hurt in the store, they will kill on the street." Dr. McAloon suggests taking your new heels home and walking around in them on carpet; that way you may still be able to return them to the store if they prove to be uncomfortable.

• Think platforms or wedges: If you like your heels to be higher than two to three inches, consider styles with platforms or wedges.  According to  Dr. Jacqueline Sutero, a podiatrist practicing in New York City,"A four-inch heel with a two-inch platform is technically only a two-inch heel."

• Know your size:  That includes width.  Wide widths can be hard to fit, especially for some notable high-end designer heels that tend to run narrow.  You might trying go up a half a size if the heels are your heart's desire.

• Mind your posture:  Shoulders down and abs, in according to Dr. Elisa Kavanagh, a New York City podiatrist who treats The Radio City Rockettes.  If you can't maintain your posture or walk properly by hitting the floor with the outer heel first then pushing off the big toe, the heels are too high.

• Think inserts:  Arch supports help toes from crunching.  Swipe soles with deodorant to helps combats clamminess. 

• Finally, when you kick off your heels, try running your feet over an ice cold plastic water bottle.

Now & Later: Wardrobe Transitioning 101

Katie Holmes, Lily Allen & Kate Moss wearing shorts & tights on People.com

Fall is synonymous with shopping for new, transitional wardrobe items, but maybe we can skip some of the shopping? 

With the arrival of the fall season, many of us tend to re-arrange our closets, relegating our summer clothing towards the back and bringing the darker hues forward. 

But as temperatures fluctuate, it is possible to continue making good use of summer favorites with just a little bit of thought and flexibility. 

With the state of the economy, Dawn Del Russo, fashion expert and author of 101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle (as told to The Costco Connection, September 2012 edition) advises: "It would be a shame to go and buy new clothing just for fall and then possibly not get to wear it because there's a sudden unexpected hot spell.  Better to save your money and splurge on solid winter pieces like boots or a coat instead of buying in-between clothing you don't necessarily need to have."

So here are some tips to extend the life of your summer wardrobe as outlined in The Costco Connection by Rachel Stafler, a fashion and beauty freelance writer:

Don't be short on shorts:  Keep shorts long into fall by wearing them with tights.  Legwear is also key to transitioning summer skirts and dresses into fall.  Look for shimmering metallics and geometric prints.  "You can completely transform your look by changing what you wear on your legs,"stated Laura Godsall, founder of online tights retailer AlexBlake.com. "With a couple of new pairs of tights you can make a statement and follow the latest trends."

Layer upon layer:  Keep your t-shirts and tank tops around in fall by adding layers like blazers, button-down shirts and cardigans.  According to Lucy Sutherland Knaus, a New York-based fashion stylist, "Start with a bright tank top, throw on a button-down shirt and then top with a sweater if needed. ........you can peel off or add layers as the weather changes through the day."

Winter brights:  Jewel colors are abundant this season.  However, don't ditch the neons ......a brown sweater works well with coral jeans.  Surely we all are aware that the "don't wear white after Labor Day" "law" has been repealed, so think white pants with boots or with a darker top and heavier jewelry. Winter white is always right!

If you do go shopping... : According to Del Russo "If you want to buy a few new pieces, keep an eye out for embellishments, like pyramid studs on jewelry and gold rim on scarves and clothing.  Fall can be a great time to reinvent the wardrobe you have."

Hey, Big Spender!

Vera Wang and some of the other biggest names in fashion are all over 45!

When it comes to style, guess who are the big spenders? 

 AARP The Magazine's September 2012 issue reports that the big spenders for apparel are women in the 45-plus age range.  In fact, mature women spent $42.8 billion on apparel for the year ending April 2012. That's some serious spending!

George Simonton, a designer and professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, says that these sales are boosting the appeal of older designers. 

It's amazing to note that such iconic designers as Ralph Lauren (age 72), Giorgio Armani (age 78) and Oscar de la Renta (age 80) are all over 70 years of age. 

Other designers in the 45-plus age range include some of the absolute biggest names in fashion, such as Vera Wang, age 63; Isaac Mizrachi, 50; Diane Von Fursternberg, age 65; Michael Kors, age 53; Christian Louboutin, age 49; Donna Karan, age 63; and Karl Lagerfeld, age 78.

It seems that some of the most coveted designers and some of their most loyal (and deep-pocketed!) customers are over age 45!

Anti-Aging Beauty All-Stars

On the Today Show recently, Jennifer Goldstein, Beauty Editor of Prevention Magazine revealed the magazine's picks for the top eight beauty products. The winners were selected from a pool of 1,700 various products and were tested by dermatologists. 

What's so great about these products is they contain anti-aging and other beneficial ingredients, so you are actually improving your skin while you wear them. We are putting these items on our shopping list!

Skin Bloom Blush by VMV Hypoallergenics $40

Best Blush:  Skin Bloom Blush by VMV Hypoallergenics ($40).  This non-irritating blush contains moisturizing virgin coconut oil, providing extra moisture for cheeks along with natural colors.

BITE Beauty Lush Lip Tint $24 @ Sephora

Best Lipstick: BITE Beauty Lush Lip Tint ($24, exclusively at Sephora). A lipstick that is good enough to eat? This product contains only food-grade colorants.  As a bonus, these lipsticks even contains resveratrol, which is found in red wine and which Dr. Oz has touted as an anti-aging super-food, so you are protecting your lips from aging as you wear. 

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus All-Smooth Makeup $33

Best Foundation: Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus All-Smooth Makeup ($33). After 6 weeks of use, Prevention readers who tried the product, which contains anti-aging ingredients, reported that they observed fewer wrinkles, even when they weren't wearing the makeup! 

Clinique Even Better Concealer $19.50

Best Concealer:  Clinique Even Better Concealer ($19.50). This concealer contains vitamin C to help fade spots and discoloration. Pat on to apply so you get the maximum benefit.

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadows 2.0 $20

Best Eye Shadows: bareMinerals READY Eyeshadows 2.0 ($20) This pressed mineral makeup actually revitalizes eyes with marine complex (called SeaNutritive Mineral^TM Complex) and other anti-aging ingredients, and give great color payoff with just a single swipe.

Rimmel London Volume Accelerator $8.53 @ drugstore.com

Best Mascara: Rimmel London Volume Accelerator ($9)  This thickening mascara contains ingredient to helps prevent eyelash breakage and keep lashes healthy!

Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex $25.59 @ drugstore.com

Best Primer: Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex: You can use this product under makeup as a primer, or alone (without makeup) to blur pores helps fight wrinkles and fades spots.

La Fresh Eco-Beauty Waterproof Makeup Remover $9.99

Best Makeup Remover: La Fresh Eco-Beauty Waterproof Makeup Remover ($9.99) These wipes take off even waterproof makeup remover and are biodegradable.

Fall for Burgundy

This Fall, the color of the season is burgundy, which was widely featured on the Fall 2012 runway, so much so that Marie Claire magazine, in their report on Fall 2012 runways, declared, "Burgundy is the new black!"

 

DVF Fall 2012 Runway Look (Credit: Imaxtree, as seen in Marie Claire)

 

Jason Wu Fall 2012 Runway Look (Credit: Imaxtree, as seen in Marie Claire)

Alexander Wang told InStyle Magazine, ""Burgundy is neither a brown nor a red, but it has the best qualities of both."  "Think of it as a new neutral.  Try it in place of beige, navy, gray or black," the designer added.

 

The color looks good with most complexions and was seen on Natalie Portman at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and on Emma Stone at the Golden Globes.  

 

Natalie Portman at the SAG Awards 2012

 

Emma Stone at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards

 

Proving that burgundy is not just for young starlets, Helen Mirren, age 67, donned a burgundy dress and looked stunning at a movie premiere last year:

 

Helen Mirren at film premiere

The color works well with shades such as ebony and white, sky blue, cobalt blue, forest green, burnt orange, peony and peach.  Try the trend with an investment handbag in burgundy which will go beautifully with either black or brown outfits or go for burgundy shoes to add a pop of color in lieu of black shoes.  For a monochrome look pair with a light blue pashmina.

 

Try the trend with these possibilities:

7 For All Mankind Jeans $189 @ Nordstrom

Rag & Bone Harrow Boot $495

Butter London Polish in Shag $14