101 Fashion Tips and Tricks every Gal Should Know

I’m a list maker.  A task master, if you will.  So when I come across lists on line, I scoop them up, especially when they are as helpful as this one, full of useful tips and tricks.  This one comes from Fashionista and details some unique and creative ways to tackle fashion issues, look your best and keep your clothes in great shape.  I hope you find a useful tip or two… or twenty. Enjoy!

101. Despite what it says on the tag, cashmere is best washed by hand. To dry it, use a salad spinner, which releases excess water in seconds.

100. Use white wine to remove red wine stains.

99. Wash new jeans twice before taking them to the tailor. Why? Because jeans will always shrink in length when washed.

98. To stop angora or mohair from shedding, fold the garment and place it into a zip-top bag and freeze it for at least three hours.

97. Remove odors from vintage or thrift clothing by spritzing them with a mixture of one part vodka, two parts water.

Fashions Night Out 2012

Tonight, cities everywhere will host Fashion’s Night Out, the brainchild of Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue Magazine.  In 2009, when the retail market was suffering and quiet whispers were saying that Vogue had “lost its touch” Ms. Wintour instated the first Fashion’s Night Out in New York City.

Nuit des Musees (Night of the Museums) occurred every May, when for one night participating museums in Paris stay open until 11pm, well past their everyday exhibit hours.  During the extended hours,  individuals can take in and explore the art culture at night. Seeing that it was such a hit in Paris, Ms. Wintour brought the concept to the States and created Fashion’s Night Out, in an effort to revive the shopping and retail industry in the Big Apple.

The first year, 200 tickets were sold for the evening.  In 2010, 1500 shoppers were sold tickets to the event, which took place in Lincoln Center with proceeds going to the New York City AIDS Fund.

Celebrating it’s fourth year, Fashions Night Out is a global initiative, with 18 countries participating this year, and sponsored by Vogue and the CFDA. The 4,500 events scheduled here in the States support local restaurants and businesses by bringing in traffic well into the night. In New York, stores stay open until 11pm, with celebrity appearances, beauty treatments, champagne and snacks.  Braid bars, tarot card reading and chocolate samples are everywhere from Barney’s to Bendels, and the night brings out editors, musicians and fashion lovers alike. It’s truly a unique experience, from whichever city you experience the night.

To share your instagram photos, mark them with the hashtag #FNO for the chance to have them shown on FNO Live, which kicks off at 5pm EST tonight. For more information visit the official Fashion’s Night Out website at: http://fashionsnightout.com/

How SJP met Manolo Blahnik

“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world” Marilyn Monroe

On Saturday, a group of women gathered at Neiman Marcus to watch a parade of gorgeous shoes walk down a carpeted runway.  George Malkemus, President of Manolo Blahnik, was in store to share with us the Spring collection of shoes.  Everything from high heels to flats were showcased on the feet of the models, who showed the shoes in a graceful fashion.

Mr. Malkemus has been president of the famed shoe company for 30 years, since buying the rights to North and South America from Mr. Blahnik in 1982, when they bonded over their love and ownership of Scottish Terriers.  While one is the creative designer, the other is financially savvy — a partnership from which many an elegant woman benefit.

Mr. Malkemus told us the story behind each shoe and how comfort is the most important element when designing the classic, never trendy shoes.  “The shoe should never be the totality of the woman, but always a complimenting factor,” he told us.  If you have trouble wearing slingbacks it’s because you have a narrow heel. (Marc Jacobs puts a dab of mustache wax on the heels of his models to secure the skinny slingback straps.)

As the last model walked down the runway in the shoes that Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie lost on an episode of Sex and the City (When Tatem O’Neil required her guests to remove their shoes before entering her home for a baby shower) we were told the story of Sarah Jessica Parker and how her connection with Manolo came to be…

 

 

Many years ago, when SJP was dating Robert Downey Jr. (we’re talking 80’s here), the dynamic shoe duo were having a trunk show in Los Angeles.  The new starlet asked Mr. Blahnik if she could purchase three pairs of shoes, but needed to put them on a layaway plan, as she couldn’t afford to pay for them outright.  Mr. Blanhik, hailing from Italy and confused by the term “layaway” asked Mr. Malkemus how they should proceed?  For the first, and only, time they agreed to the layaway plan.  Several years later, when Sex and the City burst onto the TV and cultural scene, Ms. Parker repaid the company by requesting that Manolo Blahnik shoes be used on the show and in the movie.

Neiman Marcus was the first department store to purchase the shoes, initially securing a total of 60 pairs, 30 for Beverly Hills and 30 for their San Fransisco store.  How the times have changed! The shoes are now available in all Neiman stores, as well as Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, as well as in 14 independent retailers and two stand-alone stores, in New York and Las Vegas.

The day wrapped with Mr. Malkemus in the shoe salon, assisting women with their selection and doing what Mr. Blahnik credits him as doing best, “knowing what women want.”

Spring Trends have Sprung

A few weeks back, Neiman Marcus invited a handful of Media Mavens to view their Spring Collections.  Being a true girly girl, I always enjoy my get together with girlfriends for brunch, but this brunch was different… it included shoes, clothes and accessories that were sure to fly off the racks this Spring.

What better way to kick off the first day of Spring than with a visual online runway of what’s hot this season?

1. Pinks.  The burgundy and bordeaux from Fall is replaced by all shades of pink. Think magenta, bright pink, light pink, fuchsia, coral.
2. Patterned pants.  Leopard, floral and snake-skin, oh my! Fancy pants are the way to go!
3. The Clutch: On the New York Fashion Week runways, models strutted their stuff carrying clutches and handbags.  The difference this season lies in the way in which the handbag is carried, which is clutch style, not tossed over the shoulder.
4. Silver shoes: Silver wedge or strappy sandal, Neiman’s tells us “all over metallic makes a statement, a single detail makes it modern.”
5. Prints: Prints are not only for pants! Floral is front and center this season, but so are graphic prints.  And Ken Downing says “At Neiman Marcus, the animal never dies.”  This spring/summer 2012, the print is zebra!
6. Dramatic Earrings: Even in jeans, earrings can make your outfit pop.  Think BIG!
7. Tribal: More Aborigines and African and less Santa Fe, this trend is everywhere from pants (fancy pants!) to dresses.
8. Yellow: A difficult color to wear for some skin tones, yellow is the new neutral.  Find the tone that works best with your skin tone and wear it with blue, red, green, white… the choices are endless!
9. Sports Influence: Velor tracksuits and yoga pants not included.  Think of it as more one item that has sporty influence, like a duffel shaped bag, and less about looking like you just walked out of the gym.
10. The Spring Face: Brows: keep them groomed ladies, they frame your face!

 

 

The excitement was endless and there was chatter about the pieces that were drool worthy.  The one everyone agreed on? The Alexander McQueen clutch.  Weighing approximately 5 pounds, it looked fabulous on every single one of the ladies well-groomed and manicured fingers.

 

 

Veterans Day PM P.S.

Happy Veterans Day and a heartfelt “Thank You” to the families of service men and women, and of course, to all those who have served our country, to preserve and protect our freedom.

Today’s PM P.S. brings one piece from Culture, Food, Fashion and Fitness. Let’s take a look:

Culinary: The New York Times brings us an article from culinary creator Mark Bittman, on the multitude of uses for brown rice, claiming “it’s not just for hippies.”  Filled with recipes and detailing the difference in various types of brown rice, this piece is a win-win for a girl who could live on this grain.

Culture: Giorgio Armani opens a new hotel in Milan, with 95 rooms decked out in chic decor. Vogue Magazine calls it “a grown-up space, that bucks the traditional baroque theme, found throughout Milan.

Fashion: “Reading Between the Lines, This is a Big Day for Corduroy Fans” shares with the reader the excitement of the corduroy fan club for today’s date: 11/11/11, as it most closely represents the look of the pant.

Fitness: With holiday season knocking on our door, eating is sure to take center stage in the next few weeks and through the New Year.  Take a look at 58 ways to burn 100 calories, so we can still enjoy all the deliciousness the Holidays have to offer.

{Fashion} ELLE Fashion Next Presentation

While in New York for Fashion Week, I checked out the ELLE Magazine Fashion Next Presentation.  This was the second year of the magazine’s show, and it was nothing short of spectacular and inspiring, showcasing the fashion collections of 22 design students.

Inside the Ford Theater, Lincoln Center

ELLE Magazine partners with Savannah Collage of Art and Design (SCAD) to help students gain exposure and provide mentors as they finish up their senior year and move in to the world of fashion.  Sitting in the front row at Lincoln Center was a panel of industry judges, who included Karolina Kurkova, Iman, Joe Zee, Chris Benz, Ken Downing and Julianne Hough. Watching as the models, dressed in the collections paraded down the runway, their job was to select a winner for the $25,000 ELLE/SCAD Design Award.  Other prizes awarded included a People’s Choice Award worth $10,000 and Maybelline New York Fashion Next Award for $25,000, meant to help a student launch his/her own collection.

After the presentation, the group spilled out onto the balcony, overlooking Lincoln Center, beautifully lit up not only by lights, but also by the well-dressed, well-heeled fashionistas who attended the incredible evening…

 

rag & bone in DC

Someone recently asked me to name my top five favorite designer clothing brands.  Sounds easy right? Imagine you could only wear those five brands, meaning they would have to encompass every look and piece in your closet, from casual wear and swimsuits to black-tie events and workout clothes, as well as shoes, jewelry and handbags for good measure.  It took me a few days, but I narrowed it down and have my five selected.  Among my five, you will find rag & bone.  They have been designing clothes for a few years now, but their F/W 2011 sealed the deal. I loved it and have been hooked ever since…

rag & bone was founded in 2002 by two Englishmen, David Neville and Marcus Wainwright, whose sole intention was to create a line of clothing that their friends would wear.  With no formal design training, the fashion neophytes began by making jeans and expanded to menswear in 2004 and womenswear in 2005.  The dynamic duo was named Menswear Designers of the Year in 2010, an award given by the CFDA.

Wonder about the moniker? An interesting, and historical, concept delivered the name to the designers.  The rag  & bone man, found in England over a century ago, was the country’s first foray into recycling.  He would circle the villages, in a horse and cart, and collect scraps of metal, wood and old furniture that he could reuse. Garbage collection filled the space of the rag & bone man, with very few remaining today.  Wanting to tip their hats to his conservation efforts and historical creativity, the men names their company after the age-old working man.

The opening of the Washington, DC store, situated amongst the hustle and bustle of  M. Street, was the company’s second store opening stateside, its first in Soho.  The space, with its clean lines and industrial appeal, exposed brick and two-floor layout, was packed to the gills with VIP DCers.  Also in attendance were the rag & bone brand ambassadors and the two designers, fresh off their runway presentation in New York’s Fashion Week.  The DIY Project focused on the brand ambassadors and found the individuals photographing themselves while wearing rag & bone, doing what they do, everyday.  A wearable line of clothes, captured on film, by local residents and tastemakers, an idea as unique and evolutionary as the designers themselves. (As we were leaving the party, Doug and I talked with David Neville for a bit, who was as down-to-earth and as kind as they come.  The passion for the brand and his fondness for the space and its new store was apparent and heartwarming.)

Blue cropped jacket with white edging, classic piece

Flowing pants, layering on top

Orange jacket, turquoise pants, great together or mix & match with white for S/S 2012

David Neville (L) and Marcus Wainwright (R), rag & bone designers at the end of their Spring/Summer 2012 show

* All images are from the rag & bone Spring/Summer 2012 show in New York City on September 9, 2011; photos from style.com

Margherita Missoni for Target: A behind the scenes look

That’s right… The Missoni Line for Target is available in stores and online September 13 through October 22 (or as long as this great collection lasts)! Hear Margherita Missoni talk about the collection here.

Hilary’s PM P.S. for Wednesday

Check out what I’m reading today:

• Budget Travel: These public pools make a “stay-cation” feel like a luxurious vacation.  The catch? Only two are found in the United States.  Find out if they’re near you!
• ESPN: Think he has a bright future? Real Madrid Football signs a seven-year old boy to their roster
• Grist: Our food doesn’t have as many nutrients as it did in the 50’s.  Find out why our food supply is decreasing in nutrition.
• The Atlantic: The Paleo Diet cuts out processed foods and gets down to brass tacks.  Eating only food from the land, is this diet a fad or does it have staying power?
• Vogue: Vogue does a great series showing Five looks, in Five Days, with one girl.  This week it’s Jessica Sailer, the magazine’s Fashion Market Editor.  See what she wears and how she wears it.  It’s a great visual tool that I use for my own outfit ideas.

 

Where Food and Fashion Meet

Do you have  favorite candy? You know, your “go to” candy, the old stand-by, the one that makes you smile? Mine, hands-down are Peanut M & M’s… I love them any time of day or night.  Akin to Green Eggs & Ham, I could eat them in a boat, with a goat, in the rain and on a train.  When I came across this dress, I knew I had to share…

{Photo via ecouterre.com}

This one-of-a-kind dress was created by Chicago based couture designer, Christina Liedtke, using 600 Peanut M&M wrappers, from which the 1,800 flowers used in the design were cut, handmade and applied to the 5 yards of silk charmeuse and silk shantung.  The design took Ms. Liedtke over 100 hours to create.  Incredible.

The wearable artwork depicts flowers in bloom. “The top of the dress displays the initial budding, while the middle portrays a “landscape of blooming vibrant poppies,” according to the designer. “Finally, the bottom of the dress expresses a collage of fully bloomed mature flowers,” she adds.

Would you wear this?