rainbow cookies!!!

it's christmas eve!! which means my sister, the urban grocer, is in from switzerland and whipping up my grandma's passed down recipe and my holiday favorite, rainbow cookies!!! she baked the batch you see pictured this morning. yumm!

the coolest store in america

2009 has afforded me a bit of travelling the states. I can tell you from hard experience, that the cooolest store in all of america is the john varvatos store at the hard rock hotel in las vegas. my goodness is it cool. 3,000 square feet where music and style groove. most weeks they clear out the inventory and host concerts there. and the employees smoke cigarettes. too cool for school. plus, they've got incredible design and product to match. rock on.

the forecast calls for smooth skin

I am obsessed with beauty products, so I figured why not write all about 'em and share it with you in a very stylish format. I am now writing beauty reviews for stylecaster. want to know which face cream best keeps the wrinkles away? click here for my first piece.

red and green

red and green are familiar colors of the holiday season so its no surprise that they are the leading nail polish trends right now. debuting on the paris runways was the emergence of the chanel jade polish, a minty green polish that looks more like split pea soup then glam polish. I say skip the green and go right to the cherry red pop of essie's lollipop. a perfect stocking stuffer or pressie for friends when tied up in ribbon with nail file, clippers and cuticle oil.

parlour tricks

where can you get a massage, a new 'do, freshly made ice cream and tattoos all in one fell friday swoop? at the 20th installment of ryan mcginness' 50 parties party, parlour night, of course. beauty props from this beauty expert as the girls were rocking n' rolling early 1950 updo's with a punk twist that made it feel like prom. lucky for us, there was the freshly made ice cream offered in the ice cream parlor of the burnt sugar and pumpkin spice variety to accompany the urban innocence of friends getting fucked up at a friday night house party. yumm. me and maaj waited on line for tattoos, of which ryan chose some of his choice images for guests to permanently parade around. never made it to the front of the line but met some lovely (and tall - hi karen and mamie) new friends along the way and saw many of ryan's friends get their tattoo cherry popped. mazel. made our way out as the party was winding down and michael hearst packed up his theramin. can't wait for next week when our t-day leftovers will be put to good use.

arsenic and old lace

everybody who is anybody is wearing leggings or stockings or some variation of the look. take a step up to sexy (and trendy) with a very flirty pair of lace leggings like the ones pictured. perfect with heels, high top chuck taylors with an oversized sweatshirt or better yet, this seasons best boot. be bold and get lace-y , lady.

uniquely uniqlo

ever since M. got a hot pair of jeans that show off his incredibly hot bum, I've been jonesing for a good pair myself. I have recently fallen in love with the very cool japanese brand, uniqlo. situated on broadway in downtown new york city, they have soft and wearable v-necks for guys for $4.90 so you can imagine the collection they carry for girls. ooooo child, I picked up a pair of deconstructed straight leg skinny's that are medium waisted, alleviating my muffin top and lifting my ass. G*d, I love these jeans. check out the site, the store and run, don't walk to get your hands on a pair of anything from this affordable, trustworthy and trendy brand.

stoop sale this saturday

What do u get when you mix a celebrity stylist and a celebrity organizer? A totally f'n awesome stoop sale...

This Saturday, November 7
8AM - 3PM
395 Adelphi St. btween Greene and Fulton
Ft. Greene, Brooklyn NY

DESIGNER RE-SALE, VINTAGE, ACCESSORIES, DESIGNER SHOES, NEW BEAUTY PRODUCT, FURNITURE, MUSIC, BEDDING, RUGS, KITCHEN WARES and a WHOLE LOT MORE!!!

C to Lafayette stop
Most trains to Atlantic Ave. stop

Come on by, say hello and pick up some cool sh*t, don't ya know. Pass it on to your Flea Market friends. Cheap-o prices on quality stuff

shiny choos

shoe designer jimmy choo has finally made his debut at H&M. fabulous shiny shoes at fabulously small prices. one thing is to be said for these "tight" times, they've got some unbelievable items to offer that wouldn't readily be available for the real folk. walk tall, stiletto sisters.

costume design

in preparation for challoweenie, I stopped by kmart in penn station to pick up a good costume. there are a lot of fab parties this weekend to hit and I must ensure that me and the man are working the holiday. I came across a gorilla hot costume for kids that was 1/2 priced. after trying on the gorilla gloves, I figured the 3 yr. olds + costume would surely fit my sweetie. I was right. upon coming home (after a very fun night with wendi who is visiting from l.a.), M. tried on his costume with much success. and what we found was even cooler and trendier. the freekin' gloves rock. more than michael's gloved hand. more than madonna's laced fingers. M. is rocking the gorilla glove and I highly recommend you getting on this gorilla train. oo oo. ah ah.

O.C.D(e-clutter).

I am obsessed with the brother p-touch. I label most available spaces. I make my bed the second I am up and put my foot on the floor. even the pic I posted is bugging me out. and I don't think it helps that this morning when my sweet as sugar bfriend made a delicious and beautiful breakfast for me, all I could think about was that the linen cabinet he pulled the breakfast napkins out of was open. some call it O.C.D. some call it being super organized. I like the latter. don't want to be considered a type-A, high-maintenance neat freak? have my super organized, type-A friends do the work for you.

hot cross buns

my roomie meg d. who is a fabulous and trendy hairstylist at salon V in the east village came home the other day with a loose side bun. if she's doing it, you know its the rage. and if you're in nyc want her to style it for you, hit her up here. tell her trendster sent you.

style high club

I have traveled. a lot. planes, trains and automobiles, I have done it. I tend to get quite comfy when I am travelling, kicking off the ol' manolos and opting for bare feet instead. today, something happened that changed my view of this forever. I am wearing some very high heel, thigh high boots. on my five hour flight from JFK to las vegas, I decided they were too high maintenance to take off, so I left them on... and to my surprise, kept my feet comfy and warm the whole ride. rather then having my feet fall asleep, something about the angle of the heel made my ride quite comfortable and pins and needles free. fabulous.

support my girl sheila frank. support style.

Please join SEAM COLLECTIVE, as we host Forté , a groundbreaking charity fashion show, at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan next Wednesday night, October 21st.

Your ticket purchase will help raise money for a worthy cause, with 50% of all ticket sales benefiting Gilda's Club NYC, a nonprofit organization that creates welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer.

The night will debut a never-before-seen collection by Project Runway finalist and Forté's headlining designer, Kenley Collins, as well as the Spring/Summer 2010 collections of Marissa Erskine, Elizabeth Rynish, and Sheila Frank.

REDUCED TICKET PRICES - Standing - $35, Seating - $45
Open Bar
Doors open at 7pm for cocktail reception. Show begins at 8pm.
A Silent Auction at the event will benefit Gilda's Club NYC.

PLEASE NOTE: ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED.

To purchase tickets to the event, please go to:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/78564

Press interested in covering the event please RSVP to
rsvp@polinafashion.com with your credentials for complimentary press passes.

Location: Metropolitan Pavilion North, 110W 19th street. Between 6th & 7th Avenue.

cozy vs. cute

as nyc welcomes another fall season, is it more important to be cozy or cute? I live in sweats and comfy joie cashmere sweaters when I'm chillin with my man at home but can't get anough of short dresses when we hit the town. problem is, it's getting cold out there?! what comes first? the cute or the cozy...

grape escape

if u haven't heard, purple is the thing this season. make sure to pick up a juicy piece to compliment your wardrobe, be it a purple dress, purple leggings or if you really want to on trend, rock the purple bag.

won't you take me to... cougar town?

I'm a 33 year old female. my bfriend is a sexy 27. does that make me a cougar? I headed to my new pal and renowned artist ryan mcginness's 50 parties, party no. 13, cougar town to find out. upon arrival, I was given a pamphlet provided by website, single and the city that listed what cougars would be on the prowl in attendance and what cubs were there to take the babe bait. the graduate was playing on the wall and a sexy 1970's telly savalas spun on the record player. under the disco ball lights, I met with a hottie of a 40+ hot mama, carmella, who was from brooklyn, was married twice and loved to smoke. over pink cosmos, she told me her youngest lover was 24 and it was the boy toys that kept her looking and feeling young. that, or the sparkly, slinky black micro-mini she was sporting. after a bit o' party research, I learned that a cougar is typically eight years her lover's senior, so although I don't qualify as a cougar with my younger man, I say here's to you mrs. robinson.

ksino loves lacey

I've currently been consulting with a brand new menswear line that will rock your world and shatter style forever. ksino is revolutioning how gamblers dress for their game. redefining an industry. we've been doing a ton of fun vidz (produced by yours truly that you can find here) and yesterday we signed the hottest girl in the game, lacey jones. make sure to stay tuned and be a friend on facebook. are you in?

pocket full of pencey

my boy matt, who runs hotspot, the eldridge, amongst other various fabulous nyc places just picked up a cute line of women's clothing to outfit his female concierge's at da club. pencey fuses hipster-chic, lower East Side style with a refined, yet sophisticated upper west side look. It is a favorite with fashion icons katy perry, lindsay lohan, rihanna and molly sims, and matches simplicity and style.
pencey is sold in high-end boutiques across the globe in such stores and can be found on shopbop.

smokin' style

September, 2009 - HOLLYWOOD, CA- SmokeStixx is pleased to announce the launch of America’s first set of customized decals for cigarette packs. Primed to become America’s newest fun fashion accessory, casual or regular smokers can now personalize cigarette packs to reflect their personality or mood. SmokeStixx decals come in a variety of colors and designs. Each SmokeStixx sticker is specially dye cut to adhere to the dimensions of every standard brand package, turning that old pack of cigarettes into an interesting conversation piece. With new motifs launching every month, cigarette consumers can constantly stay ahead of the “pack.”

janice dickinson loves my bfriend!

What a night! The red carpet was rolled out for our Kick-Off to NY Fashion Week party at The Eldridge in celebration of The Boyfriend Shirt for SEW and hosted by supermodel, Jamie Rishar. We had tons of celebrity friends show up including Kid Cudi and Lizzy Grubman and even had a special appearance made by Miss Janice Dickinson who fell in looooove with our Boyfriend Shirt. She even convinced her own BF to swing by the shop and pick up a couple for her. Now that’s a good Boyfriend.

kick-off ny fashion week with my boyfriend

in living color

take a look around - lots of purples, reds and fuschia's. pick it up.

it's all in the eyes

I'm all about pharmacy chic. a quick pop in to any local duane reade, rite-aid, genovese does me good. this past week I stopped into a spot on lower broadway to spend some time and money on new beauty products (a trend expert always has to test out the latest merch!). I must watch too much madmen, because I completely bought into almay's newest product campaign for intense i-color mascara. the way it should play out is that you dash a coat of this on your lashes and your blue/brown/green or in my case, hazel eyes are enhanced in their color. this does not happen. I was promised a wow factor and all I got was a pow-bang-boom to my wallet for such a useless purchase. next time, I sticking with my maybelline great lash.

your ticket to tahiti

if you are in love with the scent and feel of celeb favorite, Body Glow by NARS with its unique blend of Monoï de Tahiti oil combined with a rich chocolate shimmer for glowing, healthy and naturally fragrant skin but can't afford the steep pricetag, I've found a fabulous alternative -- c. booth's dry oil spray, tahitian monoi. for a mere $6.99 at your local drugstore, you can feel and smell like a tropical getaway... or a $70 bottle of nars body glow. you glow girl.

very sperry top shoe trend

a few years ago, I called for a resurrected trend of men wearing sperry top-sider boat shoes. never did I think that a few seasons later, the women of nyc would take on the trend strong. the brown boat shoes look adorable on hip feet and are a great compliment to shorts, jeans and fun little dresses. come sail away with a pair of your own.

polkadots & moonbeams & secret sales

if you love polkadots&moonbeams in los angeles as much as I do, you'll love that their semi-annual sale starts this friday 7/31 online AND in-store/s. their sales are famous since they only hold them twice a year which means it is going to be BIG! get on it before the goods are gone. xxo.

hey kid! come in my van, I've got candy.

I recently mentioned a lower broadway window shopping excursion. high end designer windows styled to entice even the tightest of wallets. I fell in love with a buttery black nappa tote that at $2250 better come with two bedrooms and a dishwasher at the budget I'm working with these days. lucky for me, something else happens on lower broadway: the black market for designer bags. yep, the illusive knock-off. so many poo poo the trade which I understand. and I want to stimulate our american economy as much as the next guy. but it's PRADA!? this morning I ventured out to a street corner and waited for the chinese women that whisper the secret passwords: gucci, dolce, louis, PRADA!? I demurely strolled up and asked, "have you got the new fall prada collection?". I was then ushered into a van that was parked nearby. I nervously climbed in to find rows upon rows of knock-off bags of every brand. there was a light and a chair and I sat and was showed all of today's trends for a mere fraction of the price. and its true what they say: the pieces are made in the same factories as their originals and look pretty darn good. unfortunately I didn't find my coveted piece and I was ultimately freaked out by the exchange so maybe I'll stick to bag borrow or steal or a strong layaway plan.

stellaaaaaa!

I usually don't walk down broadway in soho coz its tourist trap city. I did today. and now I see why its a tourist trap. there are some incredible windows between spring and canal on broadway. namely prada and their incredible rain boots. I just had to get the scoop and of course they were only made for the paris runway but a couple of pairs will come in for $1400 in the fall. yeah, right. a girl could dream. and the adidas store that houses stella mccartney's athletic line? it is SPECTACULAR! the adorable white tennis dresses could be a bridal dress and the shoes are to. die. I'll be taking that route a bit more.

olsen twin top honours

granted its not frugal friendly, but those alien twins, mary-kate and ashley olsen sure know how to design a nice looking piece of clothing. named for their other non-twin siblings, the olsen twins have taken making blueberry lipgloss at wal-mart to high fashion with their elizabeth and james line in one easy jump. kudos to those two. and by kudos, I mean the actually snack food. bitches need to eat. I saw them at the chateau marmont once eating a piece of iceberg lettuce together with a fork and knife. true story.

whose in style?

make sure to pick up next week's release of the fall makeover issue of in style magazine! I did a very fun food diary for a week that they then analyzed. oy. I definitely tried my best to not eat spoonfuls of peanut butter that week. too bad I couldn't say the same for the cocktails.

mcD's is the new black

we all know people are turning to more frugal economic choices in this day and age, so propers to the high-fashion advert for a japanese mcdonald's. mcloverly.

you like-a the italy?

vote for your fave pair of italian shoes and win a trip to the homeland.

domo arigato tokyo joe

when I was living in california, one of my favorite places to recycle designer duds (and then pick up fab new finds on the cheap) was crossroads on santa monica blvd. when I got to new york, I was having a hard time finding a place to trade in my stuff. low and behold, I came across a newly opened manhattan buffalo exchange on 11th street. the store is great for getting some quick cash but they cater to a very hipster clientele, so one must make sure that their items will be what a lower east side lady wants. on my last excursion to the store, I had a bag filled with brand names and I didn't want to be offered less for the luxury. turns out that right next store is a funky little shop named, tokyo joe. they've got racks upon racks of delicious designer from chloe to chanel to my newly traded-in moschino. if you're visiting the big apple on a shopping spree, I definitely recommend this store as a stop.

number onesies

I love onesies. I have three pair and can wear them everyday if it was fashionably acceptable. no shame in my onesie game.

dance off pants off

I was shooting a commercial not too long ago and while on set with one of the cutey actresses, she introduced me to a fab new excercise program... the tracy anderson dvd series. a combination of pilates moves and hard core dance training (which is just me thing), apparently this stuff really works. clients madonna and gwenyth paltrow are avid followers and their bodies show off their results. I jsut ordered the DVD from amazon so I will keep you posted. if u wana do it with me, get the DVD and let's get it on.

tunic trend

according to katja at polkadotsandmoonbeams in lalaland, tunics are all the rage this summer. they are the perfect style for every age and shape! pair it with your DIY demin cut-offs or over the teeny bikini at the beach for a sexy look. the alka vora featured here is pretty and affordable.

save saks

I have a client I am shopping with this week, so I decided to do some prep work and get the low-down on what's what and what to wear in saks fifth avenue on fifth avenue. have u been? I haven't in a while and boy! was it worth the wait... it's like an f'n museum in there. I can't believe people get to go in and try on the most beautiful and up-to-date fashions from the most powerful designers in the world as if they are shopping at target. there was talk of it going under due to the stinky economy, so I implore you, if you love the fashion, I would highly recommend a trip to saks for a full day of try-ons and fashion treats.

H2ohhhhhh

Saks Fifth Avenue just launched a program to benefit charity: water, a non-profit organization that funds freshwater wells...
From April 22 to June 30, Saks will offer charity: water t-shirts, bracelets and well sponsorships nationwide. Each $40 t-shirt purchased at Saks Fifth Avenue or on saks.com, a $35 donation will be made to charity: water ….. and amazingly every single t-shirt purchased will give 7 people in a developing nation clean water for 5 years!! Last year, Saks raised over $500,000 for the charity, which aided in the construction of over 100 wells that will serve 37,000 people in Central America, India and Africa and with your help we will raise even more this year! Cute tee for a great cause. Get thirsty.

is it a belt?

much like the clear, plastic bra straps that came out a few years back, isabelt is a new product with the same philosophy that you can wear your fave jeans, skirt or trousers (as they said back in the day) without a belt... or so we think. isabelt is a "thin, strong and flexible clear plastic belt, that virtually disappears when worn, providing you with the assurance that all is secure without even knowing it's there". I tried this one on for size. I knew it was there when I couldn't get it to adjust around my size 4 waist. it is clear and plastic though, so there's that.

holy hermes

a little insider birdie told me that hermes is the only true luxury brand left. if there is one piece I covet above all else, it is the kelly bag. hey, p.s. what's up with kathy griffin's bod? bitch paid for that, right?

easter candy

some of my favorite yummy spring collection finds include: anything by charlotte ronson. jewels by house of harlow. loving the newest collection of tory burch totes. juicy couture's peace sign BFF shades are cute and make a statement of luxury and world peace. fab.

top shop

since its grand opening on april 2, the broadway topshop has been packed complete with police, velvet ropes and lines around the block. all hail the new queen.

secret shoshanna sample sale... shhhh...

from the powers that be at one of my favorite lines, shoshanna...

Hope you can make it to our private sample sale!
Thursday April 2nd 10am-5pm
Friday April 3rd 10am -4pm

Dresses-$50
Tops-$35
Bikinis-$25

Shoshanna Showroom
231 West 39th Street Suite 422
New York, New York 10018
212.719.3601 Fax: 212.719.0745

f*ck the recession

alexander mcqueen may be designing his discount line for target but in the window at the 14th st. store, he has got an unbelievable jewel-encrusted corset for thousands. next time I'll take a pic. yummy.

spoiled pretty

this was super fun. thanks daneen. xxo.

home of the $12 blow-dry !!??!

I needed to get a blow-out for an event but couldn't spend the high price tag. so I took to the internet. with a little bit o' search, I came across this unbelievable find. a $12 blow-dry somewhere in chinatown. could it be true? or is this some urban myth to trick beauty-loving babes into some sticky situation? sure enough, after getting lost in a remote section of chinatown, I found my way to pell st. (oddly enough, its like five blocks from my apt). sitting pretty at 32 pell st. is the top ten hair salon. its busy and there is a wait, but I was given a yummy smelling shampoo, condition and head massage. then into the chair for a fantastic blow-dry and finish it off, an iron to boot! I was sure that the extra wash and iron would bump the price up a bit but no, ladies and gentlemen, this salon is one of its word. I recommend you run, don't walk to take advantage of this incredible deal before the tourists take over.

flowers for m'lady

everywhere you look, bright bold floral prints are popping up for Spring.

seasonal style transition

with the changing of the seasons and a lack of funds in the pocket, easy ways to change up your wardrobe but not spend too much is to get a pair of spring shoes (I mentioned my picks previously) and rock the brightly colored nailpolish (cheapie from drugstore self mani/pedi). the two small updates will quickly and inexpensively freshen your winter wardrobe.

sprung

I am obsessed with shoes. and now that it is officially Spring, I need to transfer over my Winter boots for some very high heel strappy wood-soled sandals. I know Tigerlily and I were like oil & water on VH-1's Glam God but lady had fierce style. especially when it came to shoes. I'm stealing her look for my Spring sandal choice. If you're looking for a geat flat, I found a phenominal one at Wal-mart for $17. so go high on price or low but apply the same thing to your heel.

10 minutes with Jess Zaino