Thanks to Queen Buzz!

Thank you to Deana and Queen Buzz for the awesome write up!! Click here to read the interview. xxJZ

the urban grocer: television edition

I've been starting to spread the word on the new cooking channel special, airing april 10 at 8pm that I produced, along with two tall productions and starring my smarty pants lil sister, caitlin. and since I'll be chatting about it up until it airs, I wanted to give you the exclusive scoop on the who, what and where. my sister caitlin started up the urban grocer a little over a year ago from her room in centro america where she had little to watch on television in english except for the food network. having a lifelong love and talent for food (and the food network), she wanted to create a place online where international foodies can gather, post and read up on all of the creative, fresh and fun foodtuffs that are out there. seeing as how she currently lives in geneva, switzerland and also has lived in mexico city, nicaragua, born and raised in new york, worked as a sous chef in boston and grad school in chicago, she has an expansive palette and global point of reference. the ingredients were mixed and the urban grocer was born. once it was picked up by some major peeps, the site was a hit heard around the world! over the summer, with an opportunity to head to LA on a getaway, we met with some production friends that really saw the potential of a television show. together we packaged and they pitched to the holy grail of food entertainment, the food network... and the food network bit! they loved how the urban grocer fit with their newest television endeavor, cooking channel, which offers young, fresh and fun shows that cater to the global foodie. just like the urban grocer. so, we were off to buenos aires to shoot the hour long special that you'll see April 10 at 8pm on the Cooking Channel. It was the trip of a lifetime and one of the best work experiences of my life. And that passion and love for food and travel shows in the show. My sister, who hosts The Urban Grocer is adorable and smart and navigates Buenos Aires like an adventurous ex-pat. We hope you'll join us. Click here for showtimes and if you wanna help spread the word - Cut, Paste and Retweet: Turn On Your TV! @theurbangrocer is On! - http://bit.ly/hKdJNg ...and see you on April 10th!! xJZ

(I could just) Burst TV!

Burst TV - Episode #1 **Adding COLOR With ROC NATION Artist Bridget Kelly** from Nitika Chopra on Vimeo.

my everyday enlightenment girl, nitika chopra is the founding editor of your bella life. she's been expanding her awesome online wellness and lifestyle magazine to include all types of yummy goodies. the latest offering from yourbellalife is burst tv. this debut webisode is adorable, informative and adds so much color to my day. on behalf of my friend, @yourbellalife, take a peek and share it with friends.

elimination fashion?

I am obsesed with american idol this season. and even got my bfriend in on the action. while we do have DVR, we choose (or I choose and force him, ha.) to sit on the couch most wednesday and thursday nights to watch the top 12. I put my dibs on casey but do have a soft spot for that young blondie, lauren. too bad she was a freeking fashion disaster last night in a ruffled baby blue dress over jeans!?!? UGH. what was the show stylist thinking letting her go out there like that. I honestly believe she may get kicked off on her outfit choice alone. those kids these days... who's your pick to win?

sunglasses for your face shape

its a pretty easy rule of thumb when buying sunglasses that if you've got a round shape, square glasses like a ray-ban wayfarer is best and if you've got a square face, bring on the oversized circular shades. I've always been a purist when it comes to my sunglasses, rocking the ray-ban aviators in gold and silver. I have a collection that includes wayfarers, oversized chanels, embellished gold chanel aviator and even the heart shaped sunglasses you catch in my blog pic. those I got on the set of vh-1's glam god and have loved them ever since. eyewear is a very specific style choice for both men and women. and these twin girls, coco & breezy certainly know how to do it up. if you like what you see, click that link and 'like' it on the page and let me know what shades you are wearing at night?

new post up at glamour.com!

what's red and red and red all over?

hot dang, ladies - work that color! my fave red dress of oscar evening was the valentino that anne hathaway wore. overall, I loved halle berry's nude and sparkley dress by marchesa with mila kunis in a lovely, lavendar elie saab coming in a close second. whose was your favorite?

never say never

if u have not had the great pleasure of catching wunderkind justin bieber's docu-flick, never say never, I highly recommend taking the time this weekend to pop in on what I can only describe as a cinematic success! it's inspiring, its fun, you'll clap, laugh, squeal and smile and what is bad about any of that. never say never. oh! and then click on over to my latest glamour blog on how I've gone completely bieb crazy in my closet.

retail dreams do come true!

if u haven't already read and posted a comment on my most recent glamour post about swimwear line bikini thief making the sports illustrated swimsuit issue, it's a quick & inspiring read with a very happy ending. take a peek and leave us a comment on the glamour page.

rock the color block

lots of ladies have been seen rocking the color block trend. from red carpet to front row, from lois eastlund in the lower east side to macy's, read all about it here.

Who is YOUR favorite Indie Designer?

My latest post on Glamour celebrates the Indie Designer of who I always support. It was on the eve of her Fall-Winter 2011 fashion show, I was invited downtown for a pre-show fitting by budding fashion designer, Sheila Frank. The color story, composed primarily of midnight navy and black, reminds one of an 18th century factory. While handmade production was overtaken by machine production during the Industrial Revolution, make no mistake about it, Frank's collection is carefully crafted with intricate details and hand sewn attention to each willowy black and gauze-y blue garment. Which you can view the full photo set here. Who do you think is an Indie Designer to watch? Post your comments here.

hey YOU - I need YOUR comments!!

in celebration of the beautiful spring like weather in new york city and my mumsy's upcoming birthday, I will be giving a yummy gift away from make-up to exclusive styles to gift certificates EVERY DAY starting tomorrow and through this Wednesday, 2/23 for the reader, blogger, man or woman who writes the most comments on any of my Glamour site posts found here: http://www.glamour.com/contributors/jess-zaino -- here's a tip: if you re-post to your Facebook and Twitter communities and they post a comment on my Glamour site posts with an @____ linking back to your name - that counts as a post for you!!! some really fun posts up that I'd love your thoughts and comments on, like sexy sleepwear and the diva exchange in the comments between me & marilyn monroe impersonator jimmy james on my most recent post. read, set, comment! xxJZ

no one ugly allowed...

I am obsessed with Jimmy James' dance hit, Fashionista. with one click of play on You Tube, it hasn't stopped in my daily rotation. so, I had to reach out and get the goods on this dude. Turns out, in addition to being a singer/songwriter, Jimmy James is a world famous impersonator. For more than a decade he played the incredibly beautiful Marilyn Monroe to a T, fooling fans and skeptics alike. his makeup job as Marilyn (and Cher. and Gaga) is so believably unbelievable, I wanted Ms. Jimmy James to share his Marilyn makeup secrets with the world for the every day girl. click here for the list (and 'like' it on the Glamour post, please). we want to be loved by you ; )

milly muse: peggy guggenheim

during a quick chat and tour of her new collection, michelle smith of milly confessed her collection muse was the fabulous, ms. peggy guggenheim. read the glamour post (and 'like' it) here. I had heard of peggy guggenheim but the big, bright citrus florals michelle embellished her collection with had me wanting to know more. peggy guggenheim, was born in the late 1800's into the wealthy guggenheim family. her father went down with titanic and with that, she inherited a small fortune. rather than squander her riches, she worked as a clerk in an avant-garde bookstore. it was there that she met a group of artists who she began to foster, finally opening an art gallery in london to showcase her new friends. over the course of her lifetime, she collected an unprecedented collection of art, donating it to the guggenheim museum in nyc. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the most important for american art of the first half of the 20th century.

how NOT to get laid on valentine's day

why is it that the most comfy trend, which is considered high style amongst the female fashion elite is the thing that guys hate the most? I get that there is a certain poopie pant look to the harem pants and that a woman's best asset is covered by a plastic bag of layering...but again, so comfy. and in some cases, as paired with a cotton tank, chanel jacket, a ton of pearls and a bootie heel, so chic. proves that men are from mars and women love clothes. happy valentine's day lovers. get some.

new york fashion week: friday

the fashion world is abuzz for mercedes benz new york fashion week. it started this past thursday and goes through next thursday. for the designers to watch, check out (and 'like') my Q&A with simon doonan here. last night, I hopped the the 1 train to lincoln center to catch the nicole miller show. while the show left something to be desired, it was the scene in the tents that caught all of the action. and most surprisingly, despite rumours of a kelly green & citrus season, a lot of fabulous fashionistas were rocking big, bold reds. I guess valentine's day is in the air warming the hearts of the coolest. for the full photo set and behind the scenes tour, click here.

before it was barneys

I am a third generation New Yorker, so my ties to the city are true blue. My Dad, who was raised in the borough of Queens, Astoria specifically, had this hilariously heartbreaking story to share when I told him I would be interviewing Barneys New York Creative Ambassador Simon Doonan for Glamour Magazine... "Barneys Story, Funny or sad? Both are the same. I was a husky size, short and stocky. Back in the day Barney's on 17th Street always prided itself on fitting anyone. You guessed it I was in a small corridor of the store as a last resort and did not get any suit to fit my size. Is this what you want?? Humiliation and embarrassment." Thanks, Dad! To note, my Dad is still one of the hippest dressers around, always sporting the tortoise-shell Ray-Bans and Jack Nicholson-like combo of popped collar with his Brooks Brothers cashmere. And that short and stocky was passed down to me, which I love, so thanks for that too!

michelle obama fashion icon

I freeeking love first lady michelle obama!! at the gym this morning, I had the pleasure of spending an hour working the elliptical on a level 12 incline (I must, I must, I must decrease my... a**!) and watching regis & kelly. on walks our first lady of awesome, michelle obama. she is class. she is sass. she is smart and substance. she has instilled in me a new level of pride to be an american. her letsmove.gov initiative is spectacular and her story of the bee hive which produces organic honey on the south lawn had me begging for more. as if anything could top that, she's got on an incredibly cool, flowy trendy polka-dot dress belted at the waist with a pop of red showing off her legs for miles. she is it! always pushing the fashion envelope, including mostly an independent designer lineup in her bevy of beautiful outfits, michelle obama is absolutely the coolest first lady ever! as jackie o. was to chic and eleanor roosevelt was to action and hillary was to smarts, the mighty ms. o embodies white house cool. I'm forever a fan.

love the leather

elly clay is a hot handbag line. I had the pleasure of interviewing the designers behind it not too long ago. two sassy chicks living in brooklyn raising babies and making awesome, leather, grown-up rock n' roll bags. read it here: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/50691/

online or hard copy?

mercedes benz fashion week is right around the corner so invites are swiftly making their way to the fashion elite. turns out, I'm considered included in this group, so woe! is me, my mailbox is filling up with invites of all shapes, sizes and weights. additionally, I get the online invites too, which usually come accompanied with a yes or no reply box. easy peasy. so, my question is, is it better to receive a gorgeous invite with all of the fashion week fixins in the mailbox or does an eco-friendly email pack the same fancy pants punch. you decide...

I want my JZTV!

what's up, ma? how's your day going? I uploaded a new vid to the right of this post, under press play, if u care to take a look => => =>