Listening to:

“Never Win” by FischerSpooner

.

Drinking:

Rum Rita

Mixologist: Jamie Mulholland of LOTUS

Ingredients
Note: One fluid ounce equals two tablespoons. 

2 2-inch cubes watermelon 
1/2 ounce simple syrup 
2 ounces Bacardi Límon 
1 ounce triple sec 
1/2 ounce Rose’s lime juice 
1/2 ounce sour mix 
Garnish: 1/2 lime

Simple syrup: 
1 cup granulated sugar 
1 cup water in a saucepan

Mixing Instructions
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add juice and rum, and top with chilled champagne. Garnish with a pineapple leaf.

Simple syrup: 
Combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil for a few seconds. Set aside to cool.

Wearing:

Tangled Machine Necklace by Made Her Think

What’s problematic about falling love with this season’s statement necklace? Unfortunately, the semi-coy, strategic mixing of this piece into your daily wardrobe has a much shorter shelf-life then the accessories of seasons past .

When I discovered the Made Her Think line, I was overcome by curiosity, smitten with their distressed, rusted and well-worn industrial pieces. Since acquiring my well-loved longer version of this necklace, I have made it an inseparable, day-to-night  permanent staple.

As all you ladies know, getting ready for a night out usually entails a brief run-down of outfit possibilities with the usual coterie of gal pals. However, it is a fairly bad sign when your friends can stop you mid sentence, their ESP rendering you completely speechless, knowing your exact strategy for accessorization. This may make for an embarrassing moment now and again, but I will easily overlook a brief cheek flush for this must-have accessory. 

Lusting:

Sequin Dress by 3.1 Phillip Lim 

 Don’t you just love holiday parties? Whether your swinging back eggnog, while a Bridget Jones look-alike is treating you to an off-key rendition of christmas karaoke or you are enjoying a flute of bubbly with your closest friends, while counting down to your fresh start in 2010, it is essential adorn an absolute show stopper. Many opt for a LBD, but we all know that you can’t settle for blending in, so why not stand out in dazzling sequins from head to toe. With options from Alexander Wang, Ashish and this little number by Phillip Lim.

Style with:

Doing:

Attending the Sassy Chicks Fashion Bash

Yes, I concur. It may be a thoroughly questionably named event, but with the prospect of purchasing a few self-indulgent  pre-holiday gifts, I am willing to overlook it. With prices up to 80% off you need not worry about making it on to Santa’s naughty list. 
Enjoy  a complementary cocktail or two while browsing deals from Chanel, Prada, Dior, Gucci, Nanette Lepore, Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg and  many more. 

Consider purchasing two VIP tickets for $20 which will ensure you get the fist dibs on the designer goods, avoiding the predatory fashionistas. If that isn’t enough to sway you, you will also be treated to a gift bag of goodies, complementary cocktails and complementary spa services. 

Bullet by La Roux

Drinking:

Town Asia

Mixologist:

 ALBERT TRUMMER of Town

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 sticks lemongrass, cut into 1/4-inch pieces 
Juice of 2 limes 
1 and 1/2 teaspoons simple syrup, or to taste (recipe below)
1 paper-thin slice of peeled fresh ginger 
2 ounces Tanqueray No. Ten gin 
2 ounces club soda

Mixing Instructions:
Place lemongrass, lime juice, simple syrup, and ginger in a food processor, and purée. Allow to rest for 30 minutes. Pass purée through a fine strainer. Pour the juice into a shaker filled with ice, and add the gin. Shake well. Strain into a glass filled with ice, dilute with club soda, and stir to incorporate.

To make simple syrup: 
Combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil for a few seconds. Set aside to cool.

Wearing:

Jennifer Gold Mine gloves by 2BD

I recently acquired a disturbingly fabulous Alice & Olivia dress ridden with larger-then-life shoulder pads and a strikingly sexy open back. Just when I couldn’t have been more pleased with my find, Serena van der Woodsen just had to make me wish I had purchased it in green, when she dazzled in it on this weeks episode.

To make the dress my own again, I have been on a hunt for fingerless driving gloves to add a rocker edge to this 80s style dress. Instead, I happened upon a scandalous array of studs on everything from sunglasses to shoulder pads at  the online boutique 2BD. However, it was not until I saw their array of gloves, especially these ‘Jennifer Gold Mine’ Gloves and the ‘Chain Reaction’ Gloves that I was absolutely smitten.

Lusting:

Combat Boots by Rag and Bone

Consider Styling with:

Those who know me could safely say I am definitely not a ‘combat boot person’, but this irrefutable clash reverence and femininity, makes these boots a pair that I would love to hate.  After styling your new utterly wicked alter ego, with the help of a bag and dress by Alexander Wang and a disastrous necklace of chains by Fallon, you will love the you, you no longer recognize. 

Doing:

Sample Sale ing

Let’s be honest…. who doesn’t love a good sample sale? And this weekend there are plenty to choose from:

What: Lela Rose
Why: Seventy-five percent off fancy outfits with a Southern sensibility.
When: Nov. 18-20. Wed. & Thurs., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 224 W. 30th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., 13th flr. (212-947-9204).

What: Christain Lacoix
Why: Coats, jackets, pants, tops, and dresses from past seasons are 75 percent off.
When: Nov. 18-21. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: 260 Fifth Ave., at 29th St., grd. flr

What: Rebecca Minkoff
Why: Our girl with the mean bag-making habit unleashes her latest (which includes ready -to-wear).
When: Nov. 18-22. Wed.-Sun., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Where: 17 W. 17th St., b/t Fifth & Sixth Ave

What: Inhabit
Why: Classic cashmere items are $80 (reg. $278-$328). Cotton basics are $50 (reg. $158-$198). 
When: Nov. 18 & 19. Wed. & Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 1441 Broadway, b/t 40th & 41st Sts., 24th flr

What: Steven Alan
Why: Blowout featuring labels you love (The Lake & Stars, Sophmore). House-label shirts for dudes are $65; Demylee cashmere cardigans for gals are $90. 
When: Nov. 19-22. Thurs. & Fri., 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., noon-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.
Where: 87 Franklin St., b/t Broadway & Church St. (212-219-3305). 

*courtesy of http://dailycandy.com

“Shoes” by Tiga

 Drinking:

American Beauty at wd~50

50 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002 

Ingredients:

3 drops white crème de menthe
1 1/2 ounces cognac (preferably Courvoisier)
1/2 ounce dry vermouth (preferably Noilly Pratt)
1/2 teaspoon grenadine
1 1/2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice, strained
1 teaspoon port

Directions:

Pour the first five ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, and shake well. Put 1 teaspoon port into a chilled martini or tulip glass, and strain the liquid from the shaker over the port.

Wearing:

Dolce Vita Marley Booties

Who doesn’t love a peep-toe bootie? Add a little hardware and a wicked wedge and you’ve found yourself  a day-to-night companion for your urban safari. While flaunting your still summer kissed legs for a few final days, pairing these booties with a contrasting classic tweed mini and a slouchy thick-knit cardigan will make your look a sassy meld of 

Style with:

Lusting:

All of Lavin Spring 2010

While eagerly checking my Style.com app. between classes, I found myself helplessly drooling over the sumptuous silhouettes of designer Alber Elbaz for Lavin. Their showing in Paris was a parade of delectably light fabrics, in which Elbaz transformed characteristically structured separates into freely sweeping shapes, sexily caressing the female form.  This allowed the line  to remain refreshingly youthful, yet still maintained a the typical Lavin sophistication.

I continuously find myself daydreaming about striding in to the office, stilettos clacking against the marble lobby floor, pulling off my tall leather gloves in a single swoop, as my airy pencil skirt sways and my blazer is gracefully swept aside as I stride forward revealing the soft neutral beneath. However, as the dawning of reality peeks over the horizon, I am brutally reminded that I will have to endure four months of Lavin deprivation before my stiletto clacking dreams become a reality.

Doing:

Embracing My Inner Frugalista

While unfortunately penny-pinching has become a mandatory hobby for the masses, it has also opened a new door of creativity, causing those dedicated to staying in accordance with Vogue’s creed to resort to alternate measures. While retail as a whole has been swimming desperation, resale, consignment, vintage and thrift stores have been monopolizing this resurgence. Repeatedly embracing the life of the unpaid intern, becoming a bit resourceful never hurt anyone. 

Manhattan is scattered with opportunities to make  someone else’s forgotten treasure and make it your own. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• DAHA Vintage, 175 Orchard St. LES  
• Screaming Mimi’s, 382 Lafayette St.
• Cheap Jack’s Vintage Clothing, 303 Fifth Ave. (at 31st St.)
• Chelsea Girl, 63 Thompson St., Soho
• Cherry Men, 17 Eighth Ave., West Village
• Encore Designer Consigment, 1132 Madison Ave., Upper East Side (near 84th St.)

Pamela Love Fall 2009

Doing away with their bow clad attire, the prim young ladies of seasons past have instead favored a wicked discord of leather studded boots, tousled groupie hair and bleached vintage rocker tees. This darkly intoxicating It Girl, has allowed her modesty to take a back seat, instead transforming last season’s muse into her ultra rebellious younger sister. This thirst for a rougher facade has become increasingly dependant on cultivating a stash of go-to accessories, mandating an assortment of studded cuffs, rocker boots, heavily tangled oxidized chains and harshly buckled platforms be found in every Fall wardrobe.

Love in Her Own Designs

I was first introduced to jewelry designer and Rock guru Pamela Love while working on the Frank Tell Spring show during New York Fashion Week. For Tell’s collection an assortment of raven’s claws were sparsely styled against a backdrop of space-age sophistication. Copper clawed brooches and bracelets were paired with each look. Some modernized 80s references crept in, such as a barrage of one-shoulder dresses, which were styled with dark, yet deeply sexy bracelets by Love on opposing wrists. Stylist Natasha Royt, pushed the collection away from convention by harnessing the collection’s strong shouldered ensembles and adding a significant edge. Raven’s claws were placed just- so; each talon curling under, barley grazing the surface of the shoulder. These accessories channeled an allure and an ambience only reminiscent of Poe prose. 

FRANK TELL SPRING 2010

“I think fashion is definitely going through a very tough phase. The popularity of Alexander Wang and Rodarte really show that there’s a more gothic or rock and roll, more morbid sort of curiosity in fashion right now. I think that translates into jewelry as well.”

             -Pamela Love 

Since Love’s recent exposure in both W and Vogue, she has become a commercial success. This downtown designer has quickly become the go-to girl for industry shows, contributing her creations to the shows of Zac Posen, Frank Tell and Yigal Azrouël. 

Other then being completely charming in person, he is a fellow Midwesterner, Ohioan actually, which earned him major brownie-points with me. To add to my growing admiration Manivong’s story is nothing short of inspirational. This once homeless, self-taught designer has risen to acclaim of Women’s Wear Daily and  Fashion Group International. He has also been featured in the documentary Dressed (to view the trailer, click on the clip below).

“This is my invention. Every woman who wears my clothes is also wearing a part of me. She will look timeless, confident, sexy, modern and yet classic all together. I want her to feel good, look good and ready to go out in her off-hours.”

Manivong not only seems to be an unmistakeably admirable individual, but also incredibly talented. His pieces are completely wearable, but also (as he alluded) will translate seamlessly  from season to season. He appears to have has a restrained opulence and  an ever present luxury that is wrought with a captivating femininity.

Spring 2008

Fall 2009

I found this last excerpt from an interview with the designer exceedingly beneficial:

“My advice to members of the younger generation out there is to be true to yourself. Of course you will have positive and negative people around you, but do go with the positive. Achieve something from nothing. You have to make it, and to make it you have to really be yourself, be who you are, be real and do the best for yourself.”

“Get Myself Into It”, The Rapture

Drinking:

Pisco Punch

You can always trust the Pegu Club to whip up a tasty Cocktail. Thank goodness New York Magazine stole the recipe.

Ingredients:

Pineapple Pisco
1 750-mL bottle of Pisco Capel
1 pineapple
Lime Syrup
2 limes
16 oz. simple syrup, chilled
Grapefruit Syrup
1 white grapefruit 
16 oz. simple syrup, chilled 
Punch
750 mL pineapple-infused Pisco
8 1/2 oz. lime syrup
8 1/2 oz. grapefruit syrup
12 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

Pineapple Pisco
Cut pineapple into chunks, and put into a covered jar. Add bottle of Pisco. Cover, shake to agitate, and refrigerate for 3 days. Strain and store in refrigerator.

Lime Syrup
Zest the rind of 2 limes into 16 oz. of cold simple syrup. Cover, shake to agitate, and refrigerate for 24 hours. Strain off zest and store in refrigerator.

Grapefruit Syrup
Zest the rind of 1 white grapefruit into 16 oz. of cold simple syrup. Cover, shake to agitate, and refrigerate for 24 hours. Strain off zest and store in refrigerator.

Punch
In large bowl, combine pineapple Pisco, lime syrup, grapefruit syrup, and lemon juice. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Place ice block into bowl before serving. Garnish chilled cocktail glasses with pineapple leaves. 

Wearing:

Flippa K Dress

Flippa K Dress

My mission as of late has been to master the day to evening look. Creating a wardrobe that works as hard as you do is rather daunting. A simple stand-by is a basic dress with stand-out accessories. 

This Flippa K dress has a simple neckline that keeps the goods under wraps, but also but shows enough to be able to “sex it up” for evening. The strong shoulders both keeps it in toe with the 80s ubiquitous reincarnation. 

Pair with a pair of peep-toe bootie, like the Brian Atwood pair featured below, with a patent sheen and enough height to parlay this dress  to your evening venue. The necklace by Dirty Librarian Chains, which let’s be honest, half of the fun is calling it by name, is a perfect pop of gold, with staggered lengths that will keep this look from being an office snooze.

Pair with the following:

Card Catalog Necklace by Dirty Librarian Chains

Brian Atwood Bootie

Miu Miu Tote

Lusting:

See by Chloe Dress

See by Chloe Dress

Envision a dimly lit club on Little West Twelfth. Smelling of sweet liquors swigged by dark gentlemen in tipped fedoras, melded with the gentle musk of cologne. After confidently striding past the bouncer in stomp worthy stilettos, you  make your entrance.

Your low-slung bag taps gently against your swaying hips as you move to the soft techno mix of the house DJ, slash your  soon to be BFF. It’s not your look that screams party girl, after all you chose to toss on that 80s vintage boyfriend blazer hidden in your mother’s closet, it’s just merely your attitude. 

As you engage in your usual social dance across the room, you steal the attention of every bad-boy you meet, drowning in a world of glamour, vanity and champagne.

As you awake from your delightful day dream, make sure you thank Chloe for your make believe moment as Ms. Vanderwoodsen.

Doing:

Painting My Apartment

Moving back from New York has proved to create a longer To-Do list than Nancy Pelosi’s. 

I recall a time, I believe maybe it was first grade, when your social status was define by both you and Crayola. I kid you not! You had committed a social faux-pas if you were missing one of the three critical colors; Razzle-Dazzle Pink, Jungle Green and Robins-Egg Blue. If only it were still that easy t stay among the in-crowd.

As a throwback to our Crayola Crayons of Old, when choosing what color to splash against my bedroom walls, I turned fondly to a familiar color. Adorning my bedroom walls will be a harmonious blend of Robins-Egg Blue, splashes of black silhouettes and white and black printed accents. Definitely not Elle Decor, but an attempt to make the drabness of  beige and white a bit more bearable and perhaps bring back a memory 

In the coming weeks I will be working on a new and improved website. This site, titled 7th Avenue Style, will contain a combination of a blog, free lance styling advice and fashion industry updates. It will be a multimedia site containing videos, interactive quizzes, online forums, email updates, a virtual interactive shopper and much more. I will keep you updated as the site progresses. 

http://www.7thavestyle.com

“Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Drinking:

The Kate Winslet

It’s been said that Kate Winslet, nominated for her role as a concentration camp guard in The Reader, doesn’t really drink, but she has been seen holding a glass of Champagne from time to time. For a cocktail that looks as aristocratic as Winslet does, start with a mixture of London dry gin and red-currant jelly and top it off with dry sparkling wine. Bejewel each glass with a garnish of fresh red currants.

2 Tbsp red-currant jelly
2 oz water (1/4 cup) 
4 oz (1/2 cup) London dry gin
1 (750-ml) bottle well-chilled brut Champagne or Prosecco

GARNISH: fresh red currants

• Heat jelly and water in a small saucepan, whisking, until jelly has dissolved. Stir in gin and chill until cold. Divide gin mixture among 6 Champagne flutes, then top with Champagne.

Wearing:

Amrita Singh Earrings

If you have already seen the film Slum Dog Millionaire, you were undoubtedly captivated by the spellbindingly striking elements of Indian culture. Perhaps it was the inspiring romance, perseverance or passion of the characters as depicted in the film that only perpetuated my intrigue. The lavish hues, opulent gold embellishments and airily draped silhouettes mesmerized, jumping off the silver screen. When shopping at Pinkmascara.com I encountered Indian designer Amrita Singh. These contrasting red and gold earrings will add an opulent charm to your ensemble, accessorizing you look with the allure discovered in this epic story and for a mere moment you too can feel like an exotic Indian beauty.

Lusting:

Rebecca Taylor Peasant Dress

After lines are presented at fashion week, depending on the designer, the designs are either taken back to design or are taken straight to product, where they begin to mull over the logistics to make these garments available to the mass market. Therefore, some designers sell a line that is inspired by their runway pieces or, as in the case of Rebecca Taylor, the items you fell in love with at fashion week can be the newest lust-worthy additions to your wardrobe within mere months.

I loved the bohemian feel of Rebecca Taylor’s collection. These hippie inspired pieces captured the laid back chic of summer. Casually airy peasant dresses captured my heart and I knew this particular dress had to be mine. Paired with a studded pair of deep mahogany gladiators and a braided head-wrap you will have the perfectly relaxed look for spring.

Doing:

Visiting Chicago

Eskell Boutique, Bucktown.

p.45, Bucktown.

I know that fashion week may be over, but that does not mean that the excitement is! I find myself endlessly pulled to Fashion Week’s home page, scouring the hundreds of pictures and reviews hoping that the inspiration seeping from the runways will penetrate the mundane makeup of the recent trends.

Daily Delight:

Tibi

I know that I have mentioned my new designer crush on Amy Smilovic of Tibi, but after her showing for Fall ’09 it is absolutely worth repeating that I have found exactly what my fashion tooth has been craving in Tibi. This season’s collection was the perfect combination of feminine playfulness and a flirty color palette that is typical of this designer. However, the line was further infused with the unpredictable accents based on the Russian folktale of “The Tale of the Firebird”, that kept this collection nothing short of refreshing.

 ”I’m pushing the envelope more,” she said before the show. “Every print is crazier. I’m designing pieces my girl has to have.” 

- Amy Smilovic an excerpt from the Style.com review

Chris Benz

Contemporary designer Chris Benz usually opts to hold a showing over the typical runway format. Although he has always had an instinctively offbeat appeal, Benz has never seemed capable of crafting a desirable balance of wearabillity and imagination.

However, Fall 2009 has turned a page, delivering my favorite show all week. In my book, surpassing many of the fashion powerhouses. This season Benz reworked 60s Mod pieces in a mix of primary and secondary colors. The majority of the show was dominated by monochromatic themes, bridging into the finally of colorful abstract splatter prints that solidly unified the collection. His use of unexpected metallics and asymmetrical patterns added an off-kilter tone, propelling this collection beyond just traditional notions of beauty.

Here is a clip of the showing:

Daily Delight:

Nanette Lepore

As many of you know, my loyalty will always lie with my favorite design team at Nanette Lepore. Being a long time follower of this native Ohioan, I was overjoyed to see the fabulous reception of her Fall 2009 collection. This collection seemed a bit of a departure from Lepore’s typical romanticism, instead trading this in for a contemporary bohemian edge. The most admirable quality of this talented designer is her ability to reinvent simple staples as cuts each season, carefully evolving these pieces with her ever changing customer.

Congratulations to the design team! Please indulge in a few of their many glowing reviews:

“Nanette girls are hippies at heart, which is why the free-spirited Ohio designer has such a loyal following. But this season, she toughened up her girly crew with small doses of leather pants, plaid jackets, and gold-grommeted LBDs. And it worked. Save for the distracting leopard print belts and booties, this collection was pretty, printed and exploding with must-haves come fall.

Cheerful combos of purple plaid coats, glittery gold skirts, silk paisley dresses, striped wooly gloves, and lush velvet frocks set our hearts aflutter – we’re already imagining ourselves in one of her embellished blouses tucked into tweed mini shorts.

“Staying true to herself, Lepore marched on with her “Save the Garment Center” cause (initiated last season), but took it a step further by handing out stamped postcards already addressed to Mayor Bloomberg. Attendees’ signatures were all that was required in an effort to promote “made in the USA.”

On the boldface front, “Mad Men’s” on-screen – and real life – couple, John Slattery and Talia Balsam took up front row real estate, but smartly kept a low profile. For any Nanette fan, the clothes are the real treat.”

- The New York Post

“When the lights flared and the music blasted–and the first technicolored dress rounded the corner at Nanette Lepore–the audience received a high dosage of sensory overload. These are clothes with punch, so no wonder Lepore churns out best-sellers time and time again. As usual, she takes a new twist each season, and those updated tweed jackets and twee ribbon dresses felt especially fresh, thanks to the a kaleidoscope of rainbow colors and modern cuts. Above all, the collection was the embodiment of cheer–just what fashion needs in times like these. Keep making these dresses, Nanette, and we’ll keep buying!”

- Fashion Week Daily
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