i'm a barbie girl in her barbie world

OMG!!!! the queen of cool, patricia field who you may recognize as the woman responsible for the wardrobe of such pop culture icons, sex in the city and the devil wears prada previewed her new line this morning at directives west. in collaboration with our american icon barbie, patricia worked alongside mattel to create a line of real-life, real-girl designs entitled barbie luxe by patricia field. the collection knocked my barbie pink socks off!

mad about madden

wanting to build out his global brand, steve madden made a special appearance this morning at the directives west fashion show: time to shine california and unveiled his newest line of spring 2008 dresses. you read it here first - our fave shoe guru is now doing clothes. and cute ones to boot (no pun intended. heehee) but what else can you expect from this master?

look out, it's LA!

wowie zowie fashionistas - I just got a glimpse of the fashion future and it is fiiiine. people put so much emphasis on l.a. fashion week but the real gem is directives west held at the california market center in downtown l.a.'s fashion district which allows buyers to make their purchases for what will be in the stores, spring 2008. more than fashion week, we're seeing the creme de la creme of california couture. it is here that you are getting a first glimpse of west coast chic. lots of short dresses (get a good razor), purple, silver metallics, leggins in different colors, bright colors, bold prints, patent leathers and funky little english hats. my stand out faves include baby doll dresses from voom by joy han and re:volve tees with a globally green message. start global cooling and give peas a chance.

georgie porgie and mrs. p

I love the crafty fun that is associated with our american commercial holidays! each season brings kitschy kitchen towels and scented candles of the hallo-christm-easter kind. this halloween is no exception in finding some holiday fun. finola recommended a great pumpkin patch in calabasas that S. and I hit up this weekend. we came back with the two pumpkins you see here, georgie porgie and mrs. p (who is tre exotique with her third eye bindi). I then made a pumpkin pie from our pumpkin family's innards (completely forgetting the sugar making for a disgusting treat) and got some pumpkin scented candles annnnd pumpkin ale from the grocery turning S.'s place into a pumpkin paradise (or maybe hell? bwahahahahhha).

suspenders surprise!

my hair stylist and good friend andi and her good friend, jen roop got me the cutest pair of skinny suspenders from urban for my birthday. not one to have considered wearing such an accessory, I gave it a shot tonite paired with high waisted bitten jeans ($14.95) and a models and bottles tee. I like it. I'm all in.

shiny happy sneakers

as an inexpensive and sparkly alternative to the chuck taylor, check out this fun find.

modern girls, HDIL and fashion week, oh mY!

yes, l.a. fashion week was here... and went. I did catch the sue wong show at the top of last week (which you can check out the exclusive footage for on youtube) but because of a tre busy work with the style network I was unable to get any other good shows in. no matter, I can assure you sightings of california casually-dressed kim kardashian, nicky hilton and bai ling were what this l.a. fashion week was all about. while the hollywierd hotties did their wanna-be haute thing, I was happy shopping with jane buckingham for a modern girls guide to gift giving. make sure to check it out on its air date the day after thanksgiving. I also worked with finola and the gang on a vintage-inspired how do I look? more details on that to follow. so fashion week for me was all about dressing and gifting modern regular girls which I'll take any day over a starlet in sweatpants sighting.

wicked winter wardrobe

the season's change as quickly as time moves forward and although we are at the beginning-ish of the fall season, trendsters are already thinking ahead of what to wear for winter. I like how the look is moving towards something that is a bit more camp. a bit more vamp. a bit more womanly za-za-zoooo as carrie bradshaw says. think darkly colored nails of blue, purple and statement silver. rock a flapper 'do or a campy mascara circa liza 1972. dress as viciously as dorothy parker's round table and buy a corset just to be smarty (a lovely sunday activity is carousing through local thrift stores). go dark and remember this trend won't last too long past the new year so a have fun being a new you.

style warz

I got down with my old friends, top couture designers and art punks extraordinaire, house of diehl a couple of months ago to participate as a judge in their newest live and in your face fashion experience , style wars. two budding designers, five minutes, mad-max style competition to the designer death. read all about it (and catch their nationwide tour) at their website. are you tough enough?

internet killed the video star

I'm trying to do this style webisode thang. what do u think? I shot this at the sue wong show the other day at smashbox from my front row seat (complete with sue wong interview). my man, mister wilson did the music and zachary weintraub did the edit. try this one on for size, it's super deluxe style.....................

right or wong

just got back from the l.a. fashion week suites and shows. really loved the black with gold detail look of the boulevard bags in the design suites. also thought heidi merrick's line of clothes were country club cool with a twist. jack rabbit's chanel inspired handbags were so of the moment with tassles and buttery leather and hovey lee's eco-friendly jewels can save the world (or at least yourself from bad accessories). had a front row seat at the sue wong show. she is such a class act. most of the collection followed her high art eye but I was surprised to see so many pieces made for the young and thin. she certainly tried something new following the l.a. trend of colorful and interestingly shaped, but it was nothing a girl who needs a bra (or something to eat) could rock. ms. wong however is a stand out, stand up designer who I respect, so maybe next time she'll hit the elegant for everybody mark.

gooooooooal!

last night, S. and I were invited to a fab event for sassy shoe maker, faryl robin. faryl put together an awesome event that included the l.a. galaxy, martinis, posh & bex and her fab new line of fall shoes. we got to event suite 2 at the home depot stadium after kick-off (watch out for traffic if you're planning a trip there!) but that didn't stop us from enjoying the game, meeting new style friends or checking out the fabulous line of footwear that faryl robin has created. unfortunately, faryl robin was out sick and couldn't enjoy her own event but she did send her stylish vibes our way with frequent video visits on skype (get better!). inspired by fairytales gone wrong, her line takes on a vintage feel with a modern girls sense of fun fashion. great colors, buttery leathers and interesting heel work make this line worth a throw down with a wicked witch. a true statement for your tootsies, her shoes are uniquely one-of-a-kind and will have all of your seven dwarves asking, "where'd ya get that?". p.s. we did see becks, we did drink martinis and we did get to see the galaxy win over the toronto f.c. thanks to karyn, lia and lara for the invite!

purple rain

I did it. I caved and bought a trench. after all the stir I spit about not thinking it was appropriate outerwear, I found a really cute satin-y purple version at target for a very affordable $40. it's perfect for l.a. fall weather and really slims the silhouette. plus, its got the great collar I can pop. so, to follow the previous post, I highly recommend trying the trench on for size.

baby it's cold outside

having just spent the month in new york, I became quite acclimated to the brisk fall weather. I was able to correctly assess the temperature then successfully add the appropriate outer layer to my wardrobe. mets game in the nosebleeds - track suit. birthday dinner with friends - pashmina wrap. montauk weekend trip - my boyfriends oversized wool sweater. I came back to l.a. thinking I'd find an indian summer filled with cute button down sweaters and the occasional custo barcelona wrap. wrong! it's cold here. not what I expected at all for early october but then again who knows what the weather is doing these days. that said, what is a girl to wear in this semi-cold weather purgatory? here's a five point list of what one should consider to look extra cool in the (not too) cold...

1. love the swing jackets. those cute little 3/4 sleeve duster pieces that really play up shape and add as much or little color as you'd like. plus, it adds a high level hip factor to anyone's ensemble.

2. I love a double-breasted topcoat in a thin fabric for a form-fitting chic look. think jackie o. hits the new york public library. this season's jewel-toned colors like deep purple and royal blue mixed with plaid or houndstooth add a sophisticated pop of color.

3. a few posts back, I wrote of heidi klum in that lovely floor length kimono style sweater jacket. although we may not pull off (or find) such an item, an oversized wrap sweater in cashmere and gray is great for a luxuriously casual pulled-together look (and keeps you cozy to boot!).

4. I love a little bit of a rock n' roll so a fitted leather blazer or jacket that cuts at the hip creates a perfectly edgy rock star look.

5. anything metallic will surely have you looking out of this world. peacoats, a classic trench or leather bomber in silver, distressed gold or bronze is a trend wonder. a fun statement to add for this season.

et voiLA!

mercedes benz fashion week l.a. is coming in strong and for a first time in a while, I think they are getting it right. it's short, sweet and to the point with provocative designers showing from heatherette to randolph duke to jeremey scott. I hope to get a front row seat to give you all the good fashion dish. cali fashion week certainly stands alone with its casual vibe and loose rules. you better work, duuuuuuude.

first magazines first

I had a very fun photo shoot for first for women magazine in nyc today. it started off with a long island car p/u and a trip to the warren-tricomi salon for hair where I learned that the hair trend du jour includes bobs and cuts close to the head (think katie holmes' short 'do). I then hopped in a cab downtown to the loft 05 space on broadway where the shoot was held. the theme was holiday party makeovers and I had the pleasure of working with a terrific team including makeup artist sonia kashuk. we did up the ladies in deep jewel-tones and silver sparkles. I kept in mind a pants look, something to flatter the tummy (a wrap dress) and a really fun fuschia frock. they also caught this picture of me goofing around on the set. look for the story hitting stands everywhere, december 13.

sailin'

me and S. were in montauk for a wedding of a buddy of his from nyu baseball. since it was out east and at a yacht club, the boys decided to dress to the nines in yacht club chic. should you want the yacht club look yourself, stick with blue blazers with gold buttons for the boys and pearls for the girls.

party like it's my berfday

last thursday was my 31st birthday. I am no longer a twenty-something. I am a full grown adult and as my mother so lovingly puts it, inching towards my 40's. bring it on. anyhoo, I was fortunate enough to be in new york to celebrate and celebrate we did! my boyfriend, S. put together a spectacular day that was kicked off very early in the a.m. with presents from my parents including a kalologie on robertson gift certificate (laser hair removal anyone?), betsey johnson shoes, a victorias secret gift card and ralph lauren polo blue for men (I roll like that). from S. was a great I heart new york bag (coz I do), a one-of-a-kind hello kitty tank, a mixed tape and a book (found on our san fran trip). we then headed into nyc to the ettia day spa uptown for my facial/sugarscrub/massage birthday combo. wow! this place is not a well-kept, oprah approved secret for nothing. great services on a dime. afterwards we had lunch at the new york institution, tavern on the green. we then headed over to tiffany to pick up a trinket which was a gift from my sister (who was already back in geneve). I opted for a silver venetian link bracelet. the store , blue bag and jewelery piece were a terrific part of a terrific day. by now, we're exhausted but still had the piece de resistance to attend. saundi planned a dinner at cuba on thompson for 10 of my nearest and dearest new york family and friends and we got down with the hand rolled cigars, live music, mojitos AND A FUDGIE THE WHALE CARVEL CAKE!!! until we closed the joint. it was an amazing birthday filled with such amazing presence and presents. I am now 31. I am blessed.

maybe next time