June 2009

Check out BBChic’s pix of the best and brightest editors from the Las Vegas Couture Show.

Most impressive heels

Lottie Oakley (impeccable from head to toe) stopped by the Kwiat Pavilion looking flawless in stiletto lace Givenchy heels and cropped black pants paired with a beautiful black silk top. 

Chicest day to evening party look

No one sports silk harem pants and a black t-shirt like Brooke Magnaghi, the perfect day to evening look. 

Best dance moves

A tie between Talya Cousins and Graham Kostic—I’m jealous!  They both drew an amazing crowd of onlookers.  Watching the two of them boogie (just one seat over from Christina Aguilera) was the closest thing to a battle at Tao since Cameron Diaz and Jimmy Fallon on his new show.  LOVE!  Where else can you experience something like that? 

Sources: www.newyorksocialdiary.com, www.facebook.com, www.artinstitutes.edu, www.shopping.yahoo.com

Francoise Sagan said it best—A dress makes no sense unless it inspires men to want to take it off you…

Placing beautiful jewels and clothing is a wonderful conundrum to have…which outfit is the best for each person and for each event.  It’s as if I am lucky enough to have access to all of my client’s closets (by extension all of their fantastic resources as well)—RARE Vintage, Kwiat diamonds, Carelle fine jewelry, Verrier, Cynthia Steffe—and the opportunity to dress living Barbie dolls, some of the most stunning women in the world.  My work affords me the opportunity to come in contact with some of the most interesting and stunning living dolls in the world.  After all, half of this is making the correct choices for each personality and the other half is about making one moment into a memory.  Each look should be inspirational.  It should be as moving as the most beautiful painting that you have ever seen. 

I was a romantic child, the little girl that always dreamed of the silver screen moment of being dressed in a cascading dress and massive necklace when the man of my dreams grabs me and kisses me. I found those moments in fashion catalogs and magazines. I remember receiving the Bergdorf Goodman catalog- I would wait until the mail man came and run out to steal it before my mother had a chance to take a look (she would be so angry) because I was so excited and inspired by the images in the Holiday book.  Surrounded by all of my favorite books and magazines, I would read them from cover to cover—and then skim them again just to take in the breathtaking images of inspirational ladies like Sophia Loren and Jackie Kennedy. 

Now, when the exciting and demanding emails come in from stylists to pull clothing and accessories, I wait anxiously to see which lovely lady (Kate Beckinsale, Angelina Jolie or Elisabeth Moss) and/or gentleman (Forest Whitaker) will be sauntering across the red carpet in one of our looks and how someone else interpreted our pieces.  So here they are, some of my favorite moments.  Some I have been a part of creating, and others were just too lovely to deny.  I hope they inspire you. 

Mahwah, Enjoy!

 Sources: www.rama-nrf.org, www.gettyimages.com, www.cinemaviet.blogspot.com

Though I am sporting flip-flops today in my office, I am not an advocate of flats, flip-flops or sneakers.  I can barely walk in flat shoes, and took a massive (and embarrassing) spill on 5^th avenue a few weeks back in flats and I am now forced to wear flip flops while waiting for my knee to recover!  Barring extreme injuries, my mantra is high heels at all times –snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night will prevent me from wearing my skyscrapers.  It might be my California upbringing (spending half my day in a car, and parking directly in front of my destination) that has made me such a fan of stilettos, not to mention those fantastic 80’s music videos glamorizing beautiful models in sky high pumps—think Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love.  Nothing can dress up a t-shirt dress, or jeans and a t-shirt like heels and bold lipcolor!

Today, sneakers are THE  look to go for in Hollywood as well as in Washington.  From Michelle Obama, to Cameron Diaz, even Gossip Girl Leighton Meester has signed on as the new face of a sneaker line.  Generic Surplus, Supra and DC Admiral collaborations now rival Alexander McQueen and Miu Miu in price and fan following.  Full sites are dedicated to the most underground and hard to acquire kicks.  Even I, the queen of stilettos, have a pair of solid gold snakeskin tennis shoes designed by Patricia Fields (which I will probably never wear but will definitely admire)!

Which do you prefer—comfort or the challenge of a 5” heel?

Source: www.whowhatwear.com, www.thestilettoeffect.blogspot.com

Anyone who has been within 10 feet of my personal space since 4 pm EST Tuesday knows that I have been to Hawaii. Evidence: Glowing tan, caramel highlights, lazy smile, easy walk and random declarations of “Aloha!”

The trip afforded me the opportunity to hang out with nearly twenty members of the Thomas-Shea family amongst turquoise water and sublime sunsets while also checking out some new summer time products. Here’s what I find worth sharing with you, lucky reader, and you’ll still have cash to spend on a Kukui nut necklace.

DDF Enhancing Sun Protection SPF 30

I know that sunscreen saves lives yadda yadda yadda, but this sunscreen is life changing. It has these little color spheres that even out your skin tone so that you don’t get red or blotchy. And it works like Gangbusters! I have the best tan of my life and I didn’t burn one bit.

L’Oreal Paris Bare Naturale Lip Conditioner in Soft Bloom

Okay, so I stole this lippy from our beckoning beauty closet because L’Oreal Paris is one of our clients and I was working on a Saturday looking a mess and had to run to a date. Not only did I look super fine at my date, but I also put on one swipe each morning before beaching, kayaking, hiking, you name it and my lips were super soft all day long. Plus, it’s great for a natural, beachy shimmer that isn’t overdone.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Take Charge Curl Boosting Mousse

I have been in denial that I have curly hair since I was 15 years old stemming from a very real fear of looking like Slash from Guns N’ Roses. I rise each morning and spend 30 minutes blow-drying it straight in multiple sections to keep up the farce. However, the humidity and heat of Hawaii render this process impossible. (Believe me, I tried and ended up as wet from sweat as I did from showering—futile!) Luckily, John Frieda was in my suitcase. It kept my curls in tip-top shape without the crunchiness that makes me cringe at the mere mention of the word “mousse.”

J. Crew Men’s Straw Trilby Hat

Two of my all time top pet peeves are wearing sunglasses while reading at the beach (the sweat makes them slowly slide down my nose) and sunglass tan lines.  So, whilst at J. Crew I picked up this hat and it was a godsend. I was able to wear it for most of the trip for unobstructed views, uninterrupted beach reading and red nose prevention.

Timex Ironman Triathlon Watch

For under $50, these watches rock for an island vacation. I wore this watch body surfing at Three Tables on the North Shore, climbing Kailua’s Pillbox trail, running along Lanikai Beach, eating at Buzz’s, shopping at Long’s and everything in between. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking is right!