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Handknitted and remarkably soft to the touch. As an added bonus, they're eco-friendly. Available at VivaTerra.com.
- Lesley Scott
With a 60th birthday looming, along with the demise of her 33 year marriage, Meg Noble Peterson decided it was high time to see the world. Armed with only a backpack, open ticket, empty journals, and a camera, Peterson headed for Africa & Asia for eight months of deadline-free wandering across Africa & Asia.
Chronicling her experiences in Madam, Have You Ever Really Been Happy?, Peterson covered four continents and 12 countries from the crowded streets of Cairo, to contentious apartheid South Africa, to India's Taj Mahal, to the peaks of the Himalaya. "In 1987, after a divorce, a career, and raising five kids, I decided to escape everyday life and travel around the world," she explains. Traveling on a shoestring and making plans as she went along, Peterson ventured well off the beaten path. She rode on dilapidated buses through Egypt and Zimbabwe and squeezed into hot, crowded trains in India. In Kenya, she encountered roadblocks and Masai warriors, and in Nepal she found romance with an Austrian scientist. Abandoned at 14,000 ft. by their drunken guide, the two climb to Everest Base Camp through the snow and ice, and were almost buried by an avalanche before they reached Kala Pattar at 18,500 ft.
"My memoir illustrates that it's never too late to strike out for places exotic and unknown," notes Peterson, now 78. "I didn't let the fact that I was a woman approaching sixty deter me from traveling. I had some of the most exhilarating and thrilling experiences of my life."
For more on her recent travels, visit MegNoblePeterson.com. The book is available at Amazon.com.
Via The Travel Snob.
Fly around the racetrack at 175+ miles an hour in a real-deal stock car with a pro racing instructor at the wheel. Available at SignatureDays.com.
- Lesley Scott
Regardless of your figure "challenge," Kasil's got a pair that will make you look your denim-clad finest. The sexy Evie is a super-skinny low rise; Devoted is tailor-made for for bootylicious chicas; hourglass figures will appreciate the lack of gapping in back in a pair of the Eleanor; Gia is great for anyone with tummy issues. And tall girls with any of the above? Feel free to choose from any of the styles, because they all come with a long inseam!
For a podcast interview with the designer, check out L.A.Story. Find a pair at store near you at KasilJean.com.
- Lesley Scott
A slim & chic convertible shoulder bag/clutch that's just large enough to hold a cell, lipstick & hand mirror. Available at Zappos.com.
- Lesley Scott
A recent spate of articles in the popular media have focused on how sexy Halloween, and, in particular, Halloween costumes seem to have become. However, research by Youth Trends indicates that earnest & well-meaning writers may have missed the humor - and the boat - altogether. "Like many other youth-focused topics covered by the mainstream media,
this looks to be another mis-guided effort, because I can tell with a
very high confidence level that 90% of the feedback we received from
our panelists concerning Halloween, Halloween costumes and Halloween
parties, is the polar opposite of what the so called "experts" are
being quoted as saying in most of those articles," explains Josh Weil, CEO of Youth Trends in a piece on his GenDigital blog. "For young people today (for many whose dress code would be considered
racy on a normal Tuesday morning) Halloween is a "theme" party to dress
up and pretend to be something they're not, to get a few laughs out of
their friends, and party."
- Lesley Scott
(photos: HalloweenMart.com)
Just in time to capitalize on holiday shopping madness, diminutive disco diva Kylie Minogue will be dropping her new fragrance, Darling, coinciding with the start of her Showgirl Homecoming Tour in Sydney, Australia on November 11. A collaboration with Coty Beauty, the fragrance will be launched in the U.K., Ireland & Australia, and be available in Europe and the Americas in the spring; distribution will be a mix of chi chi department stores and mass retailers – mirroring the crossover appeal of Minogue. "She's a democratic entertainer," Steve Mormoris, senior vice president of global marketing for Coty Beauty, told WWD. "[Darling will] be in different channels of distribution, as consumers shopping in both prestige and mass channels know Kylie Minogue and want to buy a fragrance by her."
Because of the millions of dollars at stake creating, launching & marketing a celebrity fragrance, a vast amount of market research is always the first step in the process to verify that the celeb indeed has global appeal. "Kylie Minogue has proven to be one of the leading celebrity entertainers," explains Mormoris about the star’s A-list status in the U.K., Australia, Asia, Europe, Canada, and select U.S. cities. "She's a celebrity who reaches people of all socioeconomic specifications…She has strong appeal with three generations: women and men in their 20s, 30s and 40s. This is rare in the celebrity marketplace. Kylie is a musical artist, she's a beautiful woman, she's accessible and charismatic. All of these characteristics we know translate well into a fragrance."
Priced in the 15 to 35 Euro range ($20-$45), insiders guesstimate that the fragrance, shower gel & body lotion will rake in a cool $50 million in retail sales the first year. Because of her large & devoted gay following, a men’s fragrance is not surprisingly in the works. "Some men have asked about it already, as they know Darling is coming out," says Minogue about the fragrance which is named for her pet moniker for friends & loved ones. "To have interest is such a luxury." (via WWD)
The deets on Darling – a chypre-floriental scent created by Thierry Wasser of Firmenich:
TOP NOTES: passion fruit, freesia & lychee
HEART: lily and boronia (an Australian flower)
BASE: sandalwood, amber wood and vanilla
- Lesley Scott
(Luella Bartley Fall 2006)
Amelia Earhart wouldn't have looked out of place in this Luella ensemble, striding smartly toward her destiny. If you've got the pennies saved to splurge on an authentic shearling, it's without question a piece that will look fab for many seasons to come. If a more affordable - but equally cute! - faux version is more in your budget, let the jacket set the color tone & build the rest of the outfit around it. This budget-friendly chocolate version (below) dictates a slightly more brown hue in the pant & the bag than the Luella runway version - but the groovy overall vibe it still the same.
Great options for workin' it Luella style on a non-Luella budget:
Faux shearling aviator jacket - HSN.com
Cuffed menswear trouser - Nordstrom.com
Shearling trimmed bag - Zappos.com
Chocolate platform pump - Piperlime.com
Fashion Focus studded bronze belt - Amazon.com
- Lesley Scott
Each 12k goldplate bracelet is woven with a pink silk ribbon, and adorned with two heart-shaped charms containing a mirror and berry & a citrus flavored lipgloss. Available at NeimanMarcus.com.
- Lesley Scott
From khakis to cocktail dresses, this scarf walks the line. Available at Greenloop.com.
- Lesley Scott
They reach to mid calf, and encouraging stomping stylishly. Available at BrownsFashion.com.
- Lesley Scott
18k white gold plus a bundle of pave-cut sapphires, diamonds & rubies. Available at TheoFennell.com.
- Lesley Scott
(Dries van Noten - Fall 2006)
Since Greta Garbo decided she vanted to be alone - or vanted to be left alone..whichever - menswear on a chick has never been out. And what makes Dries van Noten worth his weight in fashion gold is the clever way he rethinks fashion classics. With fun metallic kicks, a timeless white buttondown, flattering high waisted pant, and cleverly taking a guy's tie off the neck to encircle the empire, the outfit looks fresh and edgy. However, for the non-models in our midst, high waists come with a risk: looking like an old man with his pants hiked up to his ears. This fate is best avoided with a long flowy leg skimming swimmingly over a ladylike heel.
Some options to try to get the Dries look for less:
Trina Turk cuffed wide-legged trousers
Solid black men's tie (2 tacked together might be needed to get the desired length)
- Lesley Scott
(runway photo: Style.com)
Limited (way limited) edition Gucci iPod.
There’s swag and then there’s swag.
To celebrate the opening of its 8-story flagship extravaganza in Tokyo, Gucci teamed up with Apple to give guests 1,100 logo’d 30 gig iPods that are doubling as press kits – complete with a mini movie about the Ginza store, looks from the spring/summer 2007 collection of clothes and accessories. "This is a breakthrough experience we are providing to the press and VIP customers for our Ginza opening and reinforces the commitment to creativity and innovation we have at Gucci," Gucci chief executive officer, Mark Lee, told WWD. Mary J. Blige will be in the house performing for the November 2 event.
The specially etched iPods, nestled in their silvery La Pelle Guccissima cases, are representative of a few major trends: the need to devise ever more ritzy & glitzy swag to even be memorable to members of a typically swag-overloaded & jaded crowd; the continued intersection and interdependence of music & fashion; the influence of technology on fashion. Cellphones, laptops, blackberries, pagers, PDF’s, Sidekicks – gadgets are such a part of life that they’ve become fashion accessories. And what better than one that combines everything that makes a fashionista’s heart sing: flash, logos, and exclusivity…so exclusive, they’re not even for sale! (via WWD)
- Lesley Scott
Made from formed laminate over a carved wood core - and easily mounted to a wall with glue, screws or nails. via Stylehive.com
- Lesley Scott
Silk-backed & comes with a shell kilt-pin fastenener. Available at PapaStour.com. (via Indie Fixx)
- Lesley Scott
It's halloween! Check out Beauty Newsletter's halloween makeup ideas from the past.
FASHION:
ACCESSORIES & SHOES:
BEAUTY:
LIFESTYLE:
- Lesley Scott
Whether you actually drive or not, chic chicas will look fab in a pair of Juicy Couture suede & leather driving gloves, while fashionable fellas will want to snag a Moods of Norway zig zag scarf.
- Trisha Okubo, Omiru.com
(Jewelry at Viktor & Rolf Spring 2007)
At the recent Premiere Classe accessories show in Paris, 12,984 retailers (compared with 12,300 last year) were in attendance, over half which which were non-French (U.S. attendance fell from 11 percent last year to 8 percent). According to WWD, retailers were on the hunt for novelty pieces, undiscovered designers, and plan to beef up the amount of selling space devoted to accessories. "We come here for individuality, for mid-price levels with a point of difference," Nicky Sugden, leather goods buyer for British department store chain House of Fraser, told WWD.
Some of the accessories trends at Premiere Classe:
FANTASY The chandelier necklaces – with life-sized chandelier crystals seen on the Viktor & Rolf spring 2007 runway – are part of a general fantasy jewelry trend observes jewelry and accessories designer Hedieh Loubier, who was attending to get a handle on the trends for private clients. "Trends in jewelry change so fast," he notes. "If you buy less expensive costume items, you can change them after four months."
ANTI-TRENDS "I need to start reading magazines so I know what not to buy," notes actress Phoebe Cates, owner of NYC’s Blue Tree boutique on Madison Avenue. Having established a reputation for showcasing under-the-radar designers, Cates was in search of handmade accessories, and was all over Japanese brand E.M. and their rings which stack and chandelier-shaped earrings printed with initials. "We were the only ones to carry it in New York last season, I think. We had their big rings," she explains. "We tend to find Japanese designers here…We buy two pieces at a time, so there aren't 20 people with the same thing…This show is great for good weirdo stuff."
THE EIGHTIES Cates was also on the hunt for 80s inspired accessories, especially from Atelier VM, Sakurako Nibe from Japanese chain Free's International. "The concept for our shop will be Eighties, so we are looking for kitsch jewelry and charms," she says.
CLEANER, BOLDER PIECES Overall, the key trends were "bolder and cleaner pieces," reports Alissa Emerson, owner of Tuesday's Child, a designer shop in Scarsdale, N.Y.
(via WWD; runway photo: Style.com)
(Antonio Berardi Fall 2006)
This stunning mix of ruby hues from Antonio Berardi is unusual because designers tend to stay away from mixing and matching reds. What makes it work is that one of the reds is darker - almost a cranberry - and the wide black obi belt visually separates them, drawing attention instead to what the two halves of the outfit have in common. For interesting cuts & shapes a la Antonio, look to indie designers rather than mass chains whose cutthroat pricing precludes any production that's the slightest bit tricky (and therefore costly). Add fun accessories: enormous belt, ladylike gloves & pumps, and a coquettish feathered hairpiece & prepare to shock & awe.
Good options for interpreting an Antonio Berardi look:
"Portal Dress" by Laura Dawson
La Crasia long leather gloves
Wolford sheer tights
Isaac Mizrahi for Target Mary Jane
A dramatic feathered headpiece to top it all off!
- Lesley Scott
(runway photo: Style.com)
Four teensy black onyx donuts banded together with gold wire. Available at CharmingSam.com.
- Lesley Scott
Between now and early December, be sure to weigh in on important topics such as whether Linslo, Nicole, Kates Hudson or Moss are it girls at Glam.com.
- Lesley Scott
A girl in a hat like this can expect to be double-taked, admired, feted....Available at BlueStreetDesigns.com. (Thanks to Indie Fixx for the heads up about these happening hats!)
- Lesley Scott
Waltz into the new year on the Majestic Imperator Luxury Train, based on the Imperial Train of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which was inaugurated by Archduchess Maria Christina von Habsburg-Lothringen, descendent of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth.
On December 31, the Majestic Imperator will travel through and around Vienna by night, allowing revelers to enjoy the view - all the while fine dining at a black tie formal dinner, followed by dancing onboard at the New Year's Ball. At midnight, the Majestic Imperator will stop on a bridge on the Danube, affording a fabulous view of Vienna’s magnificent firework display, accompanied by the Strauss waltz ‘The Blue Danube’. The live music and dancing then continues in the piano bar, and later, goulash soup and Sacherwürstel, a traditional Austrian sausage will be served. From 2 am, the Train will call at various Viennese stations before arriving back at Wien-Süd at 4 am.
Tickets are 285 euros (approx. US$357) per person, and include:
For more info, visit TrainChartering.com.
- Lesley Scott
Carved from Sesse wood, this is a stylish symbol of love & devotion that represents the idea that you don't leave the ones you love behind. Available at Overstock.com.
- Lesley Scott
Spread on the style with this snazzy housewarming/wedding/birthday/whatever gift. Available at WhatOnEarthCatalog.com.
- Lesley Scott
The incredible cute factor of this "Raquel" clutch is a great inducement to travel light. Available at MightyFlirt.com.
- Lesley Scott
Designed by Robert Tonner, these 16" high fashion dolls boast hand-painted features, glossy saran manes, designer outfits...and even come with a poem:
Scanty clothes and cheerful grin
Are not the style of Ellowyne.
My eyes are lustrous, large and deep
Chopin always makes me weep.
Boredom is my greatest foe
I wallow in a well of woe.
Flowers, lace, and frippery
Help save me from my great ennui.
My pretty painted house divine
Which lies upon the earthquake line
Is filled with treasures I adore
From grandma and the dollar store.
I’d like to give my cat a kiss
But Sybil wants to scratch and hiss.
We drink our tea from silver trays
While kitty eats a mouse and plays.
My spirits wilt just like a rose
My pretty poem is at a close.
Sweetly pained I feel inspired
But no, perhaps not…I’m just too tired.
Poem by Lorraine Bonecki © 2006
Ellowyne Wilde dolls are available at WildeImagination.com. (via YPulse)
- Lesley Scott
