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)!