A Tribe Called Quest

For every moment it took me to think I wasn't in love with the current tribal trend equaled an additional thirty minutes of finding pieces that absolutely moved me. The more I thought about it the more it made sense. Tribal inspired pieces are everything I am, or at least everything I strived to be. Strong, bold, powerful, and full of intent. More important than that, these items symbolized a journey, told a story, and represented a people. Struggles, triumphant and unity displayed through art. Lets have a look at a few of my favorites;

1. Rich and Rebellious "Rio de Oro" Tribal Necklace
2. Nicole Romano at Marissa Collections
3. Banana Republic The Tribal Chainsis
4.Surevolution Gujarat Cuff
5. ASOS Wide Patterned Textured Cuff
6. Lanvin Necklace

Dear Rachel, Please Don't Play with My Emotions.

Bravo Bravo and Bravo to an excellent marketing team. While checking email this morning I discovered this personalized blast from RachelRoy.com And like a five year old because it was personalized with my name and so visually appealing it must be especially made for me. Off to the website I went to check out the latest and the greatest.  Which wouldn't be a bad thing if; A. Rachel Roy wasn't becoming a staple in my wardrobe and a dent in my savings or B. I wasn't just there a few weeks ago lusting for the Cold as Ice Necklace! or C. Name a pair of pants "The Sari Pant"! Now of course I must have them.

Here are my top choices from this time go round;

FLY AWAY DRESS, SHIPS 4/29

$119.00

"Bon Voyage" printed short-sleeve dress with tie waistband. Please note this style is available for pre-order and ships no later than 4/29.

PLEATED DENIM LINEN PANT, SHIPS 4/29

$89.00

Denim linen pant with two front pockets and pleating. Please note this style is available for pre-order and ships no later than 4/29.

THE SARI PANT, SHIPS 4/29

$99.00

Indian inspired wrapped twill pant with elastic waistband. Please note this style is available for pre-order and ships no later than 4/29.

xoxox Sari

Haven Spa Soho

I"ve had a slight delayed reaction lately. I have been working hard, and trying to pull off wearing many hats without looking clown like. Needless to say, I have chic Daphne Guinness days, and equal amounts of Bozo the clown days. I have days where I am the jack of all trades and days where I am the master of none.
In the midst of it all, I've managed to miss spa week. Not because I over looked the numerous email blast, blog postings or even my actual friends telling of the various luxurious spa treatments they receieved followed up by "what spa are you checking out and when are you going, its almost over. Simple because I have been swamped.

I recently discovered, what should be named "the mulit-task magician pedicure". Over at Haven Spa, available now is the "Ipedi". All pedi guests of Haven Spa will have complimentary access to iPads during any pedicure service. I feel as though I've discovered the world was round!

Its gets even better, they also offer a service called Chain Pedicure;
The Spiced Chai Pedicure ($45 for 45 minutes) soothes the soles leaving skin smooth and nails polished. The seasonal service begins with a warm foot bath infused with exotic spices. Next, a seasoned nail technician uses a Spiced Chai sugar scrub to slough away winter woes and dry skin. A luxurious moisturizer is then applied, to replenish lost moisture, leaving winter worn skin softer and smoother. An added perk with this pedicure: complimentary Chai Tea Latte.
Ipad, Chai Tea and a pedicure, both relaxing, accommodating and functional. I can't wait to give this service a try this weekend with a few of my favorite girlfriends and report back here!
calling.

 Haven is located at 150 Mercer Street, New York, NY 212-343-3515.

The Sartorialist in Harlem

This weekend I took a trip to the burbs as I do every year to visit my mom. I took fantastic photos of my weekend's excursions and in the midst of dog sitting, car show, family dinner and Easter egg hunting I forgot not only my favorite pair of Gucci sunnies, but my camera! Can you believe it? Me either.
 I digress, while checking out my daily blog roll, and everyones holiday festivities, I came across The Sartorialist, Easter in Harlem photos. What an amazing photographer as we all know, but does a great job of just capturing the spirit and heart and soul of Harlem.

Photos from The Sartorialist

Change Clothes and Go-Daphne Guinness

The anticipation of the MET Ball, has my eyes darting back and fourth and my palms sweaty as i gather as many details and tidbits on who's who, who's wearing what, and who's arriving with what designer date on their arm.
Heres the most exciting update thus far, my number one fashion icon (whom I affectionately refer to as my fairy God mother) Daphne Guinness according to Racked will be dressing for the MET Ball in the Barney's window! Heres what racked reported;
"I am not doing a burlesque—no way," Guinness told the Times, sounding the way approximately 99% of people would if someone asked them to change their clothes in a department store window. "I’m going to be getting dressed behind something. I’m not Dita Von Teese, nor shall I be." The live display kicks off at 5pm next Monday, May 2.
 I simply, cannot wait.

Gap Band-Abbey Lee Kershaw for Vogue Russia

June Ambrose Launches Turban Line

On any given day in New York, veteran celebrity stylist June Ambrose, can be seen around the city clothed in the latest of fashions, the highest of shoes, and the most clever of head wraps. A true visionary, June as of late, took it a step further with the launch of her very own line of chic turbans leaving the media world, not only buzzing but inspired.

Ranging from $125 to $150, the turbans come in an array of rich jewel tones such as gold, fuchsia and teal and fun graphic prints like leopard, cheetah and the ever so popular tribal inspired patterns.

Not sure how exactly to twist and turn the fabric in to a gravity defying work of art, check out the below tutorial;

To purchase your very own check out, June's online boutique at www.juneambrose.bigcartel.com 

Alexander the Great via Vogue

As “Savage Beauty,” a retrospective of Alexander McQueen’s astonishing and provocative work, opens at the Costume Institute, creative director Sarah Burton shares with Sarah Mower her memories of working at the late designer’s side.

WIDOWS OF CULLODEN, 
FALL 2006

“The collection was about the 1745 massacre of the Scottish Jacobites by the English, which Lee felt so passionately about because of his Scottish family heritage, which his mother had researched. The women were the widows of the slaughtered army. This dress was actually based on my wedding dress—I got married two years earlier. We had to figure out how to make lace work in the round with those ruffles because Lee hated gathering. So we cut out all of the flowers from the lace and reappliquéd it on tulle to make our own fabric. This is the collection most people remember as the one with Kate Moss in a hologram. Oh, my God, it was so beautiful. He loved that show.”

VOSS, 
SPRING 2001

“So much of this show was about the collective madness of the world. It was presented in a two-way mirrored glass box in London, and the girls had bandaged heads, acting like inmates of a mental asylum. Lee wanted the top of this dress to be made from surgical slides used for hospital specimens, which we found in a medical-supply shop on Wigmore Street. Then we hand-painted them red, drilled holes in each one, and sewed them on so they looked like paillettes. We hand-painted white ostrich feathers and dip-dyed each one to layer in the skirt.”

On model Stella Tennant: red-and-black ostrich-feather dress. 

NUMBER 13, SPRING 1999

“This was from the amazing show in London where Shalom Harlow stood on a turntable and was spray-painted by robots. This particular look was made from wood to form the shape of a fan: It was all about the craftsmanship. The wooden wings were in this show, too, and the prosthetic legs he had carved for Aimee Mullins, who walked in the show. That was so moving. There were so many ideas in there. Each of his shows was like ten of anyone else’s.”

On model Karlie Kloss: leather halter top and wood fan skirt.

SARABANDE, SPRING 2007

“The collection was based on Handel’s ‘Sarabande’ in the film Barry Lyndon. It was held in the round at the Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione in Paris, with classical musicians playing onstage under a giant chandelier. This dress had fresh flowers on it. We put them on just before she went out, and they started to fall off one by one as she walked. I remember people saying Lee timed it. We had a laugh about that. It was an accident!”

On model Caroline Trentini: silk dress embroidered with silk and fresh roses, hydrangeas, and peonies.

IT’S ONLY A GAME, 
SPRING 2005

“All the girls were dressed as chess pieces, and the show was choreographed as a chess game. It was about the chessboard of fashion. Lee did have foresight and a sense of humor! This is one of the two horse pieces. He made it by commissioning Steve Powell, a hospital prosthetics expert, to make the body. And the horsetails were from the same suppliers who make the plumes for the queen’s Royal Horse Guards.”

On model Raquel Zimmermann: molded leather dress with horsehair skirt.   

 

VOSS, 
SPRING 2001

“This is a straitjacket, a kimono with the sleeves strapped around the back, embroidered with raised birds and flowers, and the flowers on the hat were real. I saved all the showpieces from every collection because I’m an obsessive, obsessive hoarder. Sometimes Lee would look at them again, just to remember what he’d done with something. It was his dictionary he was building, really.”

On model Coco Rocha: silk-embroidered wool jacket and cigarette pants.

Images and commentary via Vogue.com

Cakes by Brown Suga

So many special occasions, so little time, this month headway what seems like a domino effect of girlfriends birthdays, baby showers and wedding season! Besides finding the perfect outfit, to wear to this event whether it be, a major soiree or an intimate affair, more importantly what do you get the girl who has it all? How about a cake custom designed into something beyond her imagination, and surpassing her wildest dreams?  Maybe its her favorite car, her favorite pair of shoes, or my personal favorite, the ultimate handbag cake, made with the richest of ingredients, crafted after luxury and designed for those special few who allow themselves to think outside of the box, the cake box that is!
Sculpted 3-D cake connoisseur Rochelle over at Cakes by Brown Suga, gives us a peak into her whimsical handcrafted world of artsy designs that are as life like, as they are glamorous!







Images and contact courtesy of http://cakesbybrownsuga.com/

Rachel Roy Jewelry Collection~ What I Need NOW!

Rachel Roy has become one of my favorite go to American designers.  Her designs are easy to wear, well draped, well made and smart.  As we all know, Rachel Roy launched her diffusion line, RACHEL Rachel Roy, which is sold exclusively at Macy’s in 2009 and of course has been a major hit. Along with clothing, accessories were also made available and the jewelry line melts my heart. Have a look below, at my favorite promo shot, of her jewelry line, and by now you can guess why. It exudes, punk with hints of golden chained metal glamour, the Punk and Privilege lifestyle in a very sexy nutshell. 

Here is my most favorite piece as of late, the "Cold As Ice" Necklace which features a gold crescent link and gold chain wrapped Lucite necklace with abalone detail. Along with matching bracelet, worn separately, Im sure your thinking, but no, not me. At these amazing affordable prices, Layer it on pile it high and rock completely out.

• RACHEL Rachel Roy
• Measures 16.5"
• Snap Closure
• Imported
• Cold As Ice Necklace

Grace Coddington's 70th Birthday Bash!

How do you fit a lifetime's worth of style and grace into a mere 70 years?

By having the best of food, the best of drinks the best of fun, the best of fashion and most of all, the best of friends all in one place to celebrate 70 years of high style excellence. 

Grace & Andre Leon Talley, Pat McGrath, Karen Elson, Anna Wintour, Edward Enninful, & Naomi Campbell, Marc Jacobs & Grace Oscar De La Renta Anna Wintour, Seth Meyers, Calvin Klein & Annie Leibovitz, Karlie Kloss & Grace, Marc Jacobs, Naomi Campbell & Stefano Pilati

GRACE