Dinner at La Estufa Resturant

My very good friend invited me out to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants in Inwood La Estufa. She is very particular about where and what she eats, and when she mentioned we were headed to an organic restaurant I was skeptical. To my most pleasant surprise, we had a wonderful time. The candlelit Italian-American fusion restaurant was intimate, and quaint we were tended to by friendly knowledgeable staff. The food however, nothing short of amazing;

Starting clockwise we had Lobster Empanadas, Organic Chicken Breaset, Sauteed Spinach in garlic and Olive Oil, and Lamb Skewers

Call for reservations at: 212.567.6640

5035 Broadway (Bet. 214th-215th St)

Tocca Bianca Eau de Parfum

Tocca's Eau de Parfum in Bianca (1.7 fl oz/ 50 ml, $68).

 

If you follow my very random twitter account, you may recall me raving about having lunch with my dear friend and sniffing completely up her arm after having been intrigued by a scent that was so light and delicate, with soft floral hints. I was willing to place my usual Chloe perfume down and indulge in a new treat. Tocca's Bianca is perfect. 

Rich and Rebellious Jewelry Pre-Fall Mark Downs

http://www.richandrebellious.com/

Zara Fall/Winter 2011

Zara, has always been one of my favorite stores to shop. The clothing is well made, well tailored and affordable. Every season, I have new staple items to look forward to whether it may be a holiday dress, or a summer blouse, or my favorite Zara's collection of Winter coats. This year shopping at Zara becomes even easier and more accessible with the launch of its e-commerce site in the US on September 7th, just a few short weeks away. Here is a look at the Fall/Winter 2011 campaign, featuring Stella Tennant, then onto the Look Book to give you a glimpse into what's to come;

Photos Courtesy of ZARA

WHO WHAT WEAR Girl of the Month Jennifer Missoni

Girl of the Month: Jennifer Missoni

Dries Van Noten Beaded Clutch ($1271, 212.753.7300)
Missoni's bag of choice is a visually interesting clutch, so finding a fabulous option for today's story was absolutely crucial! Our reason for selecting Dries van Noten's Beaded Clutch is simple: its design is sophisticated and chic, just like Missoni, not to mention the fact that we think she'd be drawn to the bag's tribal-inspired beaded design. Whether you're headed to an afternoon luncheon or a fancy date, this clutch is an excellent choice for a number of occasions, making it an investment-worthy purchase indeed!

Missoni for Target V-Neck Combo Chiffon Sweater ($45, 800.800.8800) in Blue Multi
Mark your calendars, dear readers, because the Missoni for Target collection hits stores September 13th, and this is one collaboration you don't want to miss! We've already got our eye on a few things, including the zig-zag print shawl cardigan and totally cute beach cruiser, but our favorite item is definitely the V-Neck Combo Chiffon sweater, and we think our style subject would agree! It's a standout option for sure, thanks to its slightly sheer fabric and mix of signature bright Missoni prints. Even better: this lightweight sweater is an excellent transitional piece! Wear it now with a pair of denim cutoffs a la Missoni, then style it with a chic coat when the temperatures begin to cool down.

H&M Shorts ($35), 310.855.9683) in Peach
Oh how we adore these little shorts from H&M. We're totally smitten with the peachy hue, which can easily punch up a neutral ensemble, and we're positive Missoni would approve of the clean and simple silhouette too. We suggest wearing them with a white button-up blouse and heels for the office, or if you're feeling a bit daring, wearing it with an equally bright top for an eye-popping colorblock look.

3.1 Phillip Lim Regine Heels ($750, available August 22nd) in Pewter
Our footwear selection for today's story was obvious: 3.1 Phillip Lim's Regine Heels. With an of-the-moment pewter hue, cool braided detailing along the front and back, and delicate ankle straps, these killer heels are perfect in keeping with our subject's glamorous sensibilities.

Day Birger et Mikkelsen Day Tribe Set of Three Bangles ($110)
In case you hadn't noticed, Missoni tends to favor minimalist pieces, and the same goes for her jewelry as well. As such, we think this trio of bangles by Day Birger et Mikkelsen would be the perfect finish to her more streamlined looks. Each bracelet has a unique shape and design that exudes an uptown elegance, so wear all three stacked together or on their own for an equally chic result.

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer ($22) in Psychedelic Orange
If you're anything like us and can't get enough of spring's vivid nail polishes, you'll be happy to know the gurus over at Dior beauty have created some additional bright shades for fall! That's right, the new Vernis Nail Lacquer collection features a number of amplifying hues, including Psychedelic Orange, a fun pinkish-orange hue that would look amazing on every skin tone.

Zara Sleeveless Dress ($80, 323.935.5041) in Teal
We're currently obsessed with Zara's fall collection, as it's filled with affordable, on-trend pieces like this amazing green sleeveless dress! Not only does the classic silhouette speak to Missoni's less-is-more approach to dressing, but it's also a nod to the '60s-inspired mod look that is happening right now. Go ahead and mark this one as a "must-buy immediately" piece!—Jessica Baker

Courtesy of WHO WHAT WEAR

Barneys New York Holiday 2011 Campaign: Lady Gaga’s Workshop

As if holiday shopping could be any more exciting at Barney's, add Lady Gaga into the mix and you've got a wicked treat for all the little monsters on your list. Recently announced, Barney's New York Holiday 2011 campaign will interface the talents of Eli Sudbrack and Christophe Hamaide Pierson of Assume Vivid Astro Focus (AVAF), and Mugler Creative Director and Lady Gaga Fashion Director, Nicola Formichetti, to create Lady Gaga’s vision of the Santa’s Workshop. The entire men's floor in the Madison Avenue location will be cleared to make room for Gaga's take over. Complete with limited edition trinkets, Gaga-curated books and music and rock candy jewelry and debuting mid November. GAGA’S WORKSHOP will be available on a special custom section of Barneys.com, and will be launched via The Window. Here are the deets;

For the first time ever, Barneys New York will convert an entire floor of its Madison Avenue flagship in New York City into a dedicated space for the holiday initiative. Starting in mid-November, GAGA’S WORKSHOP will be brought to life throughout the fifth floor of the Men’s Store at the Madison Avenue flagship, and will also be supported in the store’s iconic Madison Avenue windows.

Barneys New York has worked closely with Lady Gaga under the creative direction of Nicola Formichetti to design a range of exclusive, limited-edition, small gift items, which will be available for a limited time only at GAGA’S WORKSHOP. In addition to GAGA’S WORKSHOP in New York, a selection of items from the collection will also be available at Barneys New York locations nationwide and online at Barneys.com. Barneys New York will donate 25% of sales from all items featured in GAGA’S WORKSHOP to a charity of Lady Gaga’s choice in honor of this special program and in the spirit of the holiday season.