This past weekend, Edward Garou and I attended Brooklyn Fashion Weekend, held in Fort Greene at the Irondale Center. Divided into three days, the event gave a platform for up and comming Brooklyn, international and NYC designers to showcase their Spring 2010 collections. The highlight of the weekend was the Loris Diran collection, which was shown on Sunday night. Beautifully tailored clothing with flowing chiffon and beautiful bright yellow satin creations! It was truly a master collection of elegance! Three of his most alluring models were none other then Alex McCord, Ramona Singer and Kelly Bensimone, stars of the Bravo Reality show “The Real Housewives of New York”. In attendance was Simon Van Kempen and Jill Zarin, also from RHWNY. It was an amazing evening, MCed by none other then Derek Warburton, the larger than life fashinista from DerekLovesShopping.com! Being on the Board for the event, Alex, Simon and Derek were responsible for the magical evening. We’re really looking forward to attending this comming spring for the Fall 2010 collection previews. For more info on Brooklyn Fashion Weekend, please go to  bkfashionweekend.com. C’est chic!!!!!!!!

For more pictures of the event, the fabulous designs, and the Housewives, click here!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Yet another fabulous NYC opening!

Alex McCord, of “Housewives of New York” fame, hosted a celebrity-packed cocktail party yesterday evening celebrating the opening of “Second Time Around” at their new Nolita location. “Second Time Around” is a designer consignment shop selling luxury goods that run the gamut from Ralph Lauren bags for around $30, to Yves Saint Laurent shoes for around $270, to Chanel coats for around $5000. Indeed, there was fashion and luxury to be had in every shape, size and price-range! The company is originally from Boston, but Alex, as their consultant, has brought them to our New York City doorstep. In an economy where luxury goods are becoming less and less affordable, stores such as “Second Time Around” are a blessing to the New York budget-conscious fashionistas

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As always, Alex was absolutely charming to all her guests, who were eagerly purchasing treasures left and right. And if fashion wasn’t enough, there was also Voga Sparkling Pinot Grigio, Salontea, and sweets from the Cupcake Stop truck on hand to gratify everyone’s sweet tooth. By the end of the evening, all the guests found themselves well-refreshed and absolutely glowing from the nirvana of shopper’s bliss!

Celebrity guests were in abundance for this event. John Bartlett, head of menswear for Liz Claiborne, fellow “Housewife” Kelly Killoren Bensimon, “Project Runway” vet Kevin Christiana, and celebrity stylist Derek Warburton from “Derek Loves Shopping”, among others, all came by to view the merchandise and lend their support.

In addition, Derek Warburton collaborated with “Second Time Around” owner Jeff Casler and Alex McCord in featuring his own line of clothing in the store, with a portion of the sales from that evening’s event being donated to “The Bottomless Closet”. “The Bottomless Closet” is a New York charity that helps disadvantaged women gain economic self-sufficiency by providing career development, training, and business clothing. But Derek is more than just a donor to “The Bottomless Closet”. This prêtre de mode is also the host of “How to be Derek Fabulous”, where 20 underprivileged women are given beauty and style makeovers with Derek and guest celebrity artists from the fashion world. They also receive gift bags containing products that will help them after the event is long over. He is truly proof that fashion cares, and can be both life-enhancing and empowering.

More pictures from the event:

What do you get when you mix one part classic menswear designer, one part generic menswear line, recession proof pricing and beautiful tailoring? A superbly elegant concoction that is “Claiborne by John Bartlett”!

On Wednesday June 17th, legendary New York based menswear designer John Bartlett celebrated the launch of his new Claiborne line by hosting an intimate cocktail party at his Seventh Avenue boutique. His personal retail space, where one can normally purchase his eponymous collection, was revamped into a “Claiborne by John Bartlett” Pop-up shop just in time for Father’s Day. Here, savvy shoppers can purchase stylish, well-tailored clothing in bright summer colors for recession proof prices. This ain’t your dad’s Claiborne in standard beige poly-blend! John has infused his brand of clean, deconstructed tailoring into a line of clothing that once induced a collective yawn in the fashion community. For years, Claiborne menswear built its reputation (and has since lost it) on clothing that was generic, standard issue department store menswear in generic, standard issue colors. Now, bright colors and rich textures are par for the course. I believe, though, that the best way to describe this collection is a quote by John Bartlett himself taken directly from the tags of his merchandise: “A breakfast meeting, contract signing, movie date, dinner date, ‘take the Mustang out for a spin’ date, get a haircut, get a girlfriend, get a compliment, woo your wife, give the kids a piggyback ride, dress with a bit of genuine refinement.” ‘Nuf said!

Being compulsive shopaholics, Ed and I could not leave the party unless we purchased something, therefore, we each purchased a beautifully tailored white summer chintz blazer priced at $188.00. A STEAL!!!! Bright colored polos in stunning orange, pink, blue and green will set you back $39.50. Bright pink, blue and green dress shirts with stylish white colors will cost you $69.50. The clothing is true to size, and some pieces in the collection are very democratic in cut and go up to an XXL. This is just a small selection of the incredible merchandise available at his shop until June 22nd, and coming soon to a department store near you.

On hand to show their support (and shop) was John Bartlett’s partner John Esty of ‘Esty Framing’, one of NYC’s premiere framing studios. New York based clothing designer Peter Som. Hand bag designers Rafe Totengo of Rafe and John Truex of Lambertson Truex fame (one of my favs!!), both New York based designers. Menswear designer Jeffrey Banks. Former president of the Counsel of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and design legend Stan Herman. Senior Vice President of Production and Programming at the Bravo cable television network, Andy Cohen. “Project Runway” season 4 veterans Kevin Christiana and Jack Mackenroth. “The Housewives of New York” power couple Alex McCord and Simon VanKempen and fiery “Housewife” Ramona Singer. Celebrity stylist Derek Warburton, and a host of other fashionistas and celebrities. And last, but certainly not least, John Bartlett himself, whose genuinely sweet disposition makes purchasing any of his merchandise that much more satisfying.

For further information on the Claiborne by John Bartlett line please visit claibornebyjohnbartlett.com.