Carnival Del Barrio

Recently Keyshia Cole at the House Of Hype Island Def Jam Grammy Party at Wolfgang's Steakhouse on February 8, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California was photographed in the new Cristian Louboutin "Carnival " shoes and I adored her entire outfit from head to toe including jewelry and choice of hairstyle, which is very rare for me.

This past weekend Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony were at Madison Square Garden on Valentines Day Her feet were also decorated with the same very cute pair of Christian Louboutin with crepe satin feathers on the heel cap.

J.Lo wore the Louboutins with a stunning black Marchesa asymmetric dress ($3,550) (Which is currently available at Net-a-Porter.com.)

I like both looks, and I'm usually all about everything J.lo. I would have to give Keyshia Cole my vote. Though I feel less is not more, rather MORE is MORE. Excessive ruffles can become tricky, so when doing ruffles on top and bottom its important to proceed with caution.

I felt like J.lo's Marchesa was a beautiful dress but paired with the Carnival shoes it just seemed like a lot of ruffles everywhere. Carnaval heels ($1,665)

Thank you and Goodnight...no seriously GOODNIGHT

This years New York Fashion Week will be without the big party and glamor formally thrown by Baby Phat and Kimora Lee Simmons. Kimora has moved her collection out of the tents and into a much smaller venue and she cut her guest list in half. “Now’s not the time to be running all over and flaunting the money that we don’t have,” Kimora says. “Now’s not the time to have all these people come to the show who are coming because they’re your best friends — the people who need to be there are the buyers who need to see the clothes, the editors.”

Following this trend, a couple of weeks ago we learned Marc Jacobs not only canceled his Fashion Week after-party but cut his guest list down from The number of invitees has been cut from 2,000 to 700. Typically, 1,100 sit while 900 stand, but this season only 500 to 700 will sit while 200 will stand, with virtually all of the standing spots this season going to employees.

"This isn't the time to spend the money to entertain the entire world…. Everybody thinks it costs the same money to entertain 500 people as opposed to 2,000 [when you've got the space]," "It doesn't. All those 2,000 people still need to be seated, they still need to check in, this one needs this, that one needs that, and you know what? It's very costly."

Agreed!

Tranny Ice Cream... and all things that Sparkle

So, I got the idea for Tranny ice cream from one of my favorite new designers, Project Runway season four winner Christian Sirriano. I'm actually going to show his spring and fall collection from fashion week in an upcoming blog. So on this particular episode, the designers task was to create outfits for female wrestlers, and when asked he opinion on another contestants disaster pink sequined ensemble, Christian said, "it looks like tranny ice cream." Ahahahahah! Super funny! I swear I laughed about it all night! I guess you would have had to been there. Anyway, so with all the new metallic and sequined everything that I see everywhere I figured what better way to give a glittery nod to one of my favs, Christian by titling this post Tranny Ice Cream?! Enjoy....

In honor of Eccentric entertainment star and fashion industry icon Grace Jones' cover of V magazine

I present to you, one of my FAVORITE trends of this season....

"Sequins, Sequins, Sequins!" said Naomi

"

Karl Lagerfeld sent sequined hot pants down the runway for the S/S 2007 show... Paired with a simple lux jacket and fierce accessories, that one simple look deactivated an entire decades' worth of antagonism towards glitz and before you knew it, sequin was the look du jour." And is back this season for MORE!

During the 90's, the sequined look disappeared off the runway due to an overdose in the 80's. Sequins became associated with Dolly Parton, Vegas, and prom dress gone wrong. There is something utterly fantastic about sequins and it's ability to simultaneously conjure both playfulness and visual sensuality in a garment. Reflecting lights, sequins attract the eyes but at the same time compels the audience, the viewer, to look away. It's cheap if done wrong and pure splendor when done right. You can be both understated and bawdy at the same time. A socialite in one second and naughty lady in one look.

This has really nothing to do with this post but hellloooo hot pink graffiti leopard andddd Grace Jones? WORK!

LOD (Look of the Day)

Today's "Look of the of the Day" spotlight is on Keyshia Cole. I really feel as though she is following in the footsteps of Mary J Blige and Eve as far as evolving in the fashion world. All three were ladies who started off in more of an urban street wear look and evolved into more high fashion and refined looks.

Below we have Keyshia Cole attending the the House of Hype Grammy After party hosted by Def Jam on February 8, 2009 following the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

I know some people found this statement necklace to be over the top or too much with this outfit, but, I'm all about excessive diamonds. The more the merrier!

These shoes are to DIE for!!! They are Christian Louboutin - Carnival shoes for the low low bargin price of $1,665 !!!

I love them I think they are lots of fun, they're available on the Barneys website as well as the store. (Also Barney is having their warehouse sale in Chelsea, right this moment!)

I'm not exactly sure who is the designer of the this skirt, I want to say it has a tulip hem but I also wan to say its layered and ruffled so I'm having trouble describing it properly in order to find the correct designer, however if I had to guess I would say 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Tulip skirts are a huge deal this spring and very flattering because their fitted with just the right amount of extra fabric strategically placed depending on the design of the skirt it could also have pleated detail. Net-a-porter has a great selection of tulip style skirts as does Nordstrom. This outfit is an absolute winner!

I'll continue my search for the correct designer of this skirt in the mean time time check out 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 09 show (-:

Meow Mix

MAC's new Hello Kitty Colour Collection hosted by V magazine at Cedar Lake on February 5, 2009 in New York City co hosted by A.C's John Demsey and Stephen Gan

Among those in attendance were Ciara, Lindsay Price, Cecilia Dean, Derek and Fabiola, Leigh Lezark, Ari's wife from Entourage, and The City's Adam Senn.

Malinda Williams

B.J Coleman and Malinda Williams

Actress, Malinda Williams, looked beautiful in a Robert Rodriguez white halter ruffled dress from the Spring 2008 collection. I love that with a black kitty shes wearing white, love the contrast

Ciara rocked my world in white ruffled skirt, black cropped leather jacket and black YSL Tribute Two pumps. I also adore her hair coloring....I'm thinking about it

Here's Teyana Taylor and friend (who may I point out is wearing my dream wedding Christian Louboutin shoes WORK!)in gold sheer embellished corset and the hot pink knee-high boots adorned with fur. Do I need to tell you that I love?

Teyana's really growing in to her own unique fashion look, I think her hair and makeup are great shes really owning her look.

The Hello Kitty collection consists of two collections: the Hello Kitty Color Collection (shown left) and the more high-end Hello Kitty Kouture (right)

The Hello Kitty Kouture Collection consists of two shades of Dazzleglass, each $28, each feature a reusable silver chain pendant with Hello Kitty outlined in white Swarovski crystals on black with a pink crystal bow. Sheer Mystery Powder, $90 and available in three shades, is packaged in a silver powder compact with Hello Kitty outlined in white Swarovski crystals with a pink crystal bow on a black background.

Here are some more attendees;

Stephen Gan and Cecilia Dean

Valerie Steele

John Demsey, Cecilia Dean, James Gager, Stephen Gan

Katie Fogarty, Myf Shepard, Imogen Morris Clarke

And Super Exciting.....

30 Designers including Herve Leger, Catherine Malandrino, The Blondes, Zac Posen, and Ungaro created designs for the promotion that will be auctioned on EBay next week to benefit the Museum at the Institute of Technology

I'll be sure to check this out for those of you who are unavailable....I'll keep you posted!

Ring Your Neck, Collar Candy

Feeling down this valentines day because he hasn't "Put a ring on it?" Don't! Why not ring your neck?! Collars are making a come back. These extravagant bibs can be paired with your favorite little black dress or just a plain tee for an uber glamorous twist on a classic item. This seasons necklaces are about making the boldest statements in the smallest spaces.

Top, clockwise from left: A necklace from Super Fertile's spring/summer '09 collection; Tuleste Market Solid Petal Necklace, $60, available at Shop Bop; 3.1 Phillip Lim leather gem neck piece, $425, available at Net-A-Porter; Chanel Black Glossy Resin Crescent Collar, $1,196, available at Bluefly; Viktoria Hayman Chunky short necklace, $135, available at Blue Fly.

Above, clockwise from left: Fallon Krystle Collar Necklace, $385, available at Barneys New York; Herve van der Straeten Two Circle Necklace, $275, available at Vivre; Fallon Sammy Jo Silver collar, $199, available at Barneys New York; Kenneth Jay Lane pave collar necklace, $165, available at Shopbop.

Aurélie Bidermann Gold lace choker

Missoni gold, pink and cream structured necklace

Yves Saint Laurent silver metal cage necklace

Marc Jacobs white stone necklace with gold chain and onyx

Celine plate necklace

Marni white necklace stone detail

Juicy Girls Have All the Fun!

Customize Your Own JUICY COUTURE

650 Fifth Avenue @ 52nd St. Saturday, February 7th 12-4pm Join Us For Tracksuit Monogramming Jewelry Engraving Designing Your Own Charm Bracelet and Much More!

Three Ring Circus.....Bring on the Bangles

Reminiscent of Nancy Cunard, the rebellious Jazz Age heroine famous for wearing armfuls of African bracelet. The great thing about fashion is that it’s always repeating itself but it’s up to the designers to make it fresh and new each and every time. Bangles are back and were seen in heavy rotation at this years Paris couture shows. Edward Enninful, stylist for Alessandro Dell’Acqua’s spring show for Malo, mentions “The clothes were so urban, clean, and refined; we decided to pile bracelets on to give the collection a tribal edge.” Wilder still were the ornate leopard versions at Louis Vuitton, while pieced glass numbers added Arabian Nights sparkle to the Moorish lineup at 3.1 Phillip Lim.

My only request, please dont wear boring bangles! Here are some ideas.

Snake Bangles by Kenneth Jay Lane

Bottega Veneta Ayers intrecciato lizard Skin Bangle

Cara Couture Leather Bangles

Roberto Cavalli Gecko wooden bangle with inset crystals

Amitra Singh

Marc Jacobs Bangles (on sale at Bloomingdales for about 60 bucks!

Roberto Cavalli Mirror Bangles

Burberry wooden bangles with snakeskin detail

Felder Felder beaded cuffs

Emilio Pucci plastic flower cuff with diamante

Paula Ka cream cuff with black stones

Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti white studded cuff

Lara Bohinc `Saturn` honeycomb cuff

Not sure yet how to wear this trend, or if this is right for you. Start small and build. Have some celeb support for inspiration.

Here Jennifer and Ashley are layering lots of thin metallic bracelets. This trend in jewelry is being seen all over Paris and now Hollywood. So why not your block?!