Archive for the ‘Things’ Category

Carlos Falchi Henna Event at Bergdorf Goodman

We recently attended an event at Bergdorf Goodman for Carlos Falchi’s special edition henna design inspired bags!

There were tons of fabulous people there, including Carlos Falchi himself, Derek Warburton, Kate Falchi, Loris Diran, Brenda Vaccaro and Ramona Singer.

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Check out more pics from the event!

“Little Kids, Big City” Launch Party

We’ve been a little behind here at Chic Unique with all the amazing events we’ve been attending, so we’re playing a little catch-up!

One very exciting event we’ve been at is the launch party for “Little Kids, Big City”, by Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen of the Real Housewives of New York.

Described as a book about parenting “from the trenches”, Alex and Simon talk about the joys and struggles of raising kids in the great metropolis of New York.

What’s really fantastic about this book is that you don’t have to be a parent to enjoy it! If you ever had a parent or lived in a city like New York, then you’re going to love this book.

Definitely highly recommended!

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Click here for more pictures from the launch party!

Kara Ross’ Latest Collection

We recently had the opportunity to view Kara Ross‘ latest collection of accessories, jewelry, purses and clutches. It was, as always, a delightful experience! What I particularly love about her designs are the rich textures that she uses. Every piece seems to have an organic lovliness about it!

You can see more pictures by clicking here, but below are some of our favorites from the collection!

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Kara Ross: Organic Jewels Worthy of Eden

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This past  June, Ed and I attended The Robert Verdi Event, which was a Housing Works Charity cocktail party to promote the upcoming Robert Verdi reality show. Being a board member for the charity and the organizer for this event, I was in my usual state of tension-drenched euphoria, hoping that all would run smoothly. While standing there sipping my cocktail, I noticed this impeccability dressed breathtakingly beautiful blond woman walking in my direction.  Although her beauty was stunning,  it was the deliciously organic necklace she was wearing that caught my attention. It was comprised of wood beads inset with DIAMONDS!!!! I had never seen anything of the sort before. I was captivated by the entire package of the beautiful model and the sinfully decadent jewel around her neck. Being pulled in every direction, I was not able to formally meet the mysterious lady, but I was able to briefly compliment her taste in jewelry.

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Fast forward to last night. Our dear friend Derek Warburton from the fabulous website ‘Derek Loves Shopping‘ invites us to a cocktail party being held in the studio of New York based jewelry designer Kara Ross. The soiree was held in honor of her new web site, and the guest list was made up primarily of bloggers from various fashion websites. Upon entering the studio, fashionably early as we always are, I was greeted by one of the many beautiful ladies who make up Ms. Ross’ staff. Attempting to cool off (the temperature outside was in the 90’s), I notice another lady entering from the back office who introduced herself as Kara Ross. As we were exchanging pleasantries, I notice behind her on a wall of her Resort jewelry collection the same necklace which I had seen months before at the Housing Works event! My heart started pounding because I realized that Kara Ross was the same breathtaking lady I had briefly met that evening wearing her own creation. The necklace on display was constructed in the same shape as the previous one, except that the materials were resin and rock crystal instead of the wood pebbles and diamond creation Ms. Ross had been wearing. Upon realizing our previous connection, she graciously showed Ed and I her Resort costume jewelry collection, Kara by Kara Ross, which was on display in her studio. It is a combination of modernistic pieces of brass with gold plating, semi-precious gems and python and stingray skins in vivid colors such as turquoise and coral,  bringing to mind a retro jewelry style that was popular in the 70’s and 80’s in Italy. Also part of the collection are vintage inspired snake cuff bracelets and necklaces that coil around a wrist or neck beautifully, a modern version of Whiting & Davis pieces from the 40’s and the 50’s.  Her collection ranges in price from the low $100’s to the $500 mark and is available at department stores such as Bloomingdales and online at KaraRossNY.com.

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Along with the collection of jewels, Ms. Ross also has a line of luxury handbags in skins such as stingray, python and leather in subdued pastels and muted creams. Some were adorned with jeweled clasps, which add just the right touch for the endless cocktail parties in the waning summer months.

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Of course I could not leave without purchasing a piece of jewelry. I was trying on various cuff bracelets in bright colors when Kara informed me that she had the same bracelets in a gun metal finish with black python and hematite. I was ecstatic when she presented it to me from the back stock and I knew that it had to be mine!

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Although her Kara by Kara Ross jewelry collection is stunning, my head kept swimming from the memory of the fabulous wood necklace that I had seen, and so I asked her if  she had it in the studio. Alas it was not, BUT she did have other wooden couture pieces that she could show me. Upon inspecting a tray of wooden cuff bracelets, pendants and an amazing massive wooden chain link necklace, I was intoxicated by the feel of the perfectly polished wood and precious metal/jewel combination. It is something that has to be touched in order to be appreciated fully. Pure organic luxury is the only way to describe the pieces. If Eve ever wore any jewelry in the Garden of Eden, these baubles are what she would be rocking. No doubt!

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Finding “The Find”

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Anyone who knows me knows that my heart belongs to Housing Works, a charity in New York City. So when menswear designer John Bartlett invited Ed and I to a book signing at his Seventh Ave store, I was absolutely elated to hear that it was for the book “The Find”. This book has been in the making for over four years, and is a collaboration between author Stan Williams (of Maxim magazine and Latina magazine) and Housing Works. The basic premise of the book is a treasure hunter’s finds that were purchased at thrift shops, such as Housing Works, flee markets and resale shops. Each chapter is dedicated to a celebrity or a designer who has used what they have found in their own designs and homes. Having volunteered at the thrift shops for over thirteen years, I personally know the amazing merchandise that passes through our doors daily. Anything from vintage couture clothing to beautiful antique furniture and, my personal favorite, fantastic, chic jewelry!
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Other then Mr. Bartlett and his partner, John Esty, fashion/accessories designer Marisol Deluna was also in attendance, among other friends and business acquaintances. The book sells for a modest $27.50, which is a bargain considering the wealth of information inside. Since this is a collaboration between Housing Works and Stan, a portion of the proceeds go to the charity. In case any of you are a bit foggy on the work that this charity does on a daily basis, please allow me to explain. Housing Works is a non-profit organization in New York City that provides housing, food, medication and job training to men, women and children living with AIDS and HIV. It is a fantastic organization, and has raised over ten million dollars per year through their thrift shops. For further information on this charity, please visit HousingWorks.org or ShopHousingWorks.com.
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If you haven’t purchased your copy of ‘The Find”, please do. It is available through Amazon.com, most major bookstores and any of the ten Housing Works Thrift Shops.

The Best Bag I Ever Bought!

 

John Bartlett BagI like this bag. I mean, I REALLY like this bag! Why? Because it’s the most useful bag that I’ve ever bought!

This bag, designed by John Bartlett, is the one that I use every day.

I can’t help but use it, because it’s so well designed! First, the bag has a flat base, which is great for keeping the things you put inside of it stable and flat. Things don’t tend to spill in it. In addition to that, it’s styled after a doctor’s bag, and has a very wide opening, which makes putting things into and taking things out of the bag very easy.

The flat base and wide opening also helps to maximize the usable space in the bag itself. So although the bag is very compact, as you can see in the pictures below, I can fit my mail, t-shirt and shorts, lunch, digital SLR and bag of random stuff easily inside of it!

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Another nice thing about the bag is that since it’s designed to look like a doctor’s bag, it has a very masculine feel to it. It’s a really nice change from bags designed for men that are either messenger bags, or feminine looking murses.

I hope that he’ll make more of these bags, because I would DEFINITELY buy more of them without hesitation!

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