Five Trunk Shows I'd Die To Attend

Vera Wang Bridal 2012 Gowns.

[#7]

This weekend I will be attending the Vera Wang Bridal trunk show at Saks Fifth Avenue. I am extremely excited for the event, as trunk shows are like a mini fashion show. All of the gowns are displayed, and there are usually a few models to show you how to wear them. Of course, a trunk show is on a much smaller scale than the stage at Bridal Week, but this can sometimes be an advantage. A major plus is that there are hardly any crowds, so you really have the chance to get up close to the designs and make a better decision about which one to purchase. And, sometimes the designer even makes an appearance!

Here is a video from Vera Wang's Spring 2012 Bridal Show. I will be seeing the same designs this weekend!

I've been to only one trunk show before, and I have to say it was an incredible experience. I went to a Jovani trunk show during my senior year of high school. I was in search of the absolute perfect prom dress, so needless to say, I was in heaven amongst all of the couturesque designs. Here are a few more shows I'd love to attend:

1. Alice and Olivia. Not that the designs are incredibly high end, but they're just so unique and free-spirited! I'd love the chance to see them up close as an entire collection.

2. Chanel. What girl doesn't  love Chanel?! Karl Lagerfeld is an absolute genius... His designs are so classic and timeless.

3. Vera Wang RTW. Not only does Vera Wang design beautiful bridal gowns, but she also has a history of creating excellent Ready to Wear collections. Everything 'Vera' seems to have a gorgeous romantic twist.

4. Miu Miu. When Miu Miu first came on the scene, a lot of fashion critics thought of it as nothing more than a spinoff of Prada. Now, years later, Miu Miu has involved into a line all on its own. I love the whimsical inspirations!

5. Alexander McQueen. The true designer himself may have passed on, but Sarah Burton has certainly made it understood that she will carry on the legacy of McQueen. Each season, I look forward to seeing what kind of shocking designs will make their way down the runway, and I'm never disappointed.

DIY Candy Corn Nails

Who doesn't LOVE Candy Corn?!

After checking out Marie Claire's new website, I noticed an interesting link under the Beauty section. The link, Simple Halloween DIY Nail Art Designs, brought me to a slideshow with step-by-step instructions of how to create three simple Halloween nail designs, including blood splattered, spider web, and candy corn designs.

While I was quickly obsessed with the grotesque blood splattered and intricate spider web designs, my favorite by far is the candy corn design. It should be noted that candy corn is the best non-chocolate candy in the world -- and that's not just my opinion. It's a fact.

Below are five steps (and a few pictures!) to help you recreate the design, all courtesy of Marie Claire!

And, if  you enjoy this tutorial, check out my other nail how-to: Jil Sander Inspired Nails.


Step One: Apply a base coat and two very thin layers of white nail polish. You want the white polish to be completely opaque. Try A-ha Moment! from Sephora by OPI ($9.50)

Step Two: When the white nail polish is completely dry, apply two coats of a bright orange shade to the top 2/3 of each nail. For best results, apply thick enough to assure that the shade is totally opaque. Wait approximately five minutes for the polish to be completely dry. I suggest using Hi Def from Sephora by OPI ($9.50).

Step Three: Wait five minutes for the orange polish to dry. Then, paint the top 1/3 of each nail with a layer of yellow polish. The shade you choose should be a bright, opaque color, like Cab Fare from Sephora by OPI ($9.50).

Step Four: This step is totally optional. If you'd like to add more shine to the bold design -- or conceal any errors! -- try adding a coat of glitter. I suggest Don't be Eggnogious (copper sparkle) or Spark-tacular! (rainbow glitter, which also acts as a topcoat), both by Sephora by OPI.

Step Five: Don't forget to add a topcoat after your design is complete -- you want to protect it as much as possible. If your glitter polish acts as a topcoat, this step can be omitted. If not, try out Topcoat from Sephora by OPI.

Nicole Miller Spring 2012

Spring 2011. Classic Nicole Miller.

Before you say it, let me admit that this post is a little biased [not to mention late]. I mean, I've been working in Nicole Miller's PR department since August, filling my schedule with busy days of trying on (ahem, I mean picking up) samples from magazines, photographers, and stylists. So, needless to say, I've been exposed to the Nicole Miller aesthetic pretty much nonstop throughout the last three months. But -- intern or not -- when the Spring 2012 line arrived, I was 100% in love with it!

Now, this isn't just typical me, becoming obsessed with one designer at a time, and choosing a new one at the start of each season. No, this is me admiring the proposed change in direction from an extremely established designer.

Spring 2012. A new, retro-styled runway look.

Let me explain. Nicole Miller is known for her classic, sophisticated [but still trendy] styles. She's a favorite among multiple celebrities -- including Alexis Bledel and Ashley Tisdale, both of whom sat front row at the show -- and editors alike. Although not typically the most daring designer [think the anti-McQueen], her designs still manage to remain relevant multiple seasons after their original debut.

So, imagine just how shocking it was to find that for the Spring 2012 collection, Miss Nicole Miller was inspired by none other than 'glam' rocker David Bowie (presumably during his 'Ziggy Stardust' days).

The entire collection is a polar opposite of her classic runway style. And, although, I've always been a MAJOR Nicole Miller fan [why do you think I work here?!], I can't help but say that I'm extremely excited to see not only how this collection sells, but whether Nicole sticks with the new 80s vibe, or transcends back to her classic aesthetic come next fall. Only time can tell, but for now, enjoy the video!

[This is Blog Post #6 for my Creative Fashion Presentations class at FIT. If you're not from FIT, feel free to comment anyways!]

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Chanel Spring 2012

Florence Welch performing in a giant clam at the Spring 2012 show.

[This post was done as an assignment for my Creative Fashion Presentations class at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It is blog post #4. If you are not a student at FIT, feel free to read, comment, and obsess over the photos anyways, because HELLO -- It's CHANEL, and I'm pretty sure you'll LOVE it!]

For this assignment, I focused on an article in the New York Times blog by Cathy Horyn. If you have no idea who Cathy Horyn is, then we have a lot in common. Or, at least we did as of earlier this week.

A few days ago, I was at a coffee house outside campus while on a break between classes. Thanks to my new phone [finally!] I can now waste even more time by Googling random fashion shows not only from my awesome apartment, but from virtually any place I please.

Cathy Horyn attends about as many shows as Anna Wintour.

As I browsed through the New York Times' Runways blog [which apparently exists - who knew?!], I came across this article written by Ms. Horyn, who discusses the Paris shows of those whom she is dining with. She gives an insite to Kanye West's odd attempts, and describes the Celine Spring 2012 collection as a 'club sandwhich'. Honestly, the article was a little wordy, but by the end, I was hooked!

So, when it came time for this assignment, I already knew which blogger I would focus on -- None other than Ms. Cathy Horyn! But as for the collection I would zero in on, well, that wasn't too hard either. After all, when in doubt, choose Chanel! [Yes, you can quote that.]

The main factor that draws me to Horyn's writing is her dictation. She's so detailed, which allows the reader to picture the garments as well as the atmosphere as if they were actually there. Here are a few examples of Cathy Horyn's descriptive language:

1. SILHOUETTE & DESIGN

"...Mr. Lagerfeld’s new pared-down suit silhouette: a lean skirt or dress in ivory or black wool worn with an opened, cropped jacket."
"The shapes were soft, mostly short and slightly rounded, with a sense of mobility."

2. DETAILS

"No Chanel braiding or chains."
"...embroidered along the edges with slivers of mother-of-pearl."

3. COLOR

"...silver leather or white with black lines."

4. FABRIC

 "...ties formed from the linings, often printed chiffon."
"Many fabrics had a glistening effect..."

5. CREATIVE “JARGON” 

"...other materials that reflect Mr. Lagerfeld’s obsessive interest in techniques that give lightness to clothes."

Below are my Top 10 favorite looks from the Chanel Spring 2012 show! :)

Chanel Holiday 2011 Collection: Les Scintillances de Chanel

Chanel's Holiday 2011 Collection, Les Scintillances de Chanel, focus in on the four iconic colors of the Chanel brand: Gold, red, beige, and black. The collection is filled with golden, shimmering highlights and festive shades for the eyes and lips. Les Scantillances de Chanel will be available later this month.

The Lumiere Sculptee de Chanel Highlighting Powder retails for $72.00.The powder not only brings natural coverage, but it is filled with gold shimmers to highlight the skin perfectly for the holiday season. The palette also includes hints of pink, ivory, and pearlescence.

The Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour retails for $32.00. It is available in two shades: Enivree, a shimmering pink, and Famous, a shimmering red.

Le Vernis Nail Colour retails for $25.00. It is available in Chanel's brightest iconic hue: Rouge Carat, a luminous red.

Poudre Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder retails for $52.00. t is available in Feerie Soft, a shimmering pink.

Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect retails for $45.00. It is available in Brun Rose, French for 'brown rose.'

Ligne Extreme Liquid Eye Liner retails for $32.00. it is available in Or, which is French for 'gold.'

Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow retails for $28.50. It is available in Blazing Gold, a shimmering gold, and Beige Lame, a  bright shimmering beige.

Ombres Contraste Duo Eyeshadow Duo retails for $42.00. it is available in Noire-Ivoire, an black with hints of ivory.

Rouge Allure Laque Luminous Satin Lip Colour retails for $32.00. It is available Empire, a pink rose.

Levres Scintillantes Glossimer retails for $28.50. It is available in Sparkle d’Or, a gold shimmer, and Sweet Beige, a beige shimmer.

Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss Pure Shine Intense Colour Long Wear Lip Gloss retails for $32.00. It is available in Discretion, a luminous beige, and Triomphal, a shimmering red.

Laura Mercier Holiday 2011 Collection

Laura Mercier has recently released her Holiday 2011 collection. Rather than focusing on individual products, the collection instead includes six gift sets.

The Baked Eye Color Palette (above) retails for $48.00. It includes five shades: Sienna, a rich chocolate brown; Terracotta, a warm bronze; Ballet Pink, a soft peachy pink; Pink Petal, a pale baby pink; and Lilac, a smoky lavender violet.

The Eye Portfolio (below) retails for $98.00. It includes12 eye colors (Rich Sienna, Morning Dew, Black Coffee, Pink Crystal, Sable, Royal Gold, African Violet, Mica, Golden Cream, Fig, and Sparkling Night) and three travel brushes (Ponytail, Crease, and Smudge).

The Color Portfolio (below) retails for $98.00. It Includes six eye colors (Primrose, African Violet, Merlot, Truffle, Topaz, and Stellar), three Tightline Cake Eye Liners (Ground Espresso, Black Ebony, and Burgundy Wine), two Second Skin Cheek Colors (Rose Petal and City Pink), and three travel brushes (Ponytail, Crease, and Flat Eyeliner)

The Travel Brush Set (below) retails for $85.00. It includes five brushes : Double-Ended Secret Camouflage Powder Brush, Double-Ended Allover Eye Color Ponytail Brush, Double-Ended Flat Eyeliner/Smudge Brush, Double-Ended Brow Definer/Brow Grooming Brush, and Finishing Brush.

The Mini Kohl Eye Pencil Set retails for $32.00, and it is available exclusively at Sephora. It includes five mini eye pencils: Kohl Eye Pencil in Brown Copper, a coppery brown; Antique Jade, a metallic deep green; Black Turquoise, a black with turquoise pearl; Black Violet, a black purple charcoal; and Purple Sapphire, a bright eggplant.

The Nudes Mini Lip Glace Set retails for $38.00, and it is available exclusively at Sephora. It includes four Lip Glacés: Bare Blush, a deep champagne taupe; Bare Naked, a beige champagne; Bare Pink, a light pink; and Bare Beige, a light neutral brown.

MAC Giftable for Holiday 2011

I probably shouldn't be blogging about this, but I couldn't help it! There's a whole slew of information on MAC's Holiday 2011 Collections online all of a sudden, but unfortunately, there's not much of it. The positive side? I have the photographs!

The first MAC Holiday Collection I will be blogging about is the Giftable Collection. Its not necessarily a cosmetics-centric collection, but it is a MAC product. And -- that simple fact makes it undeniably awesome.

So, what exactly is in the MAC Giftable Collection? Well, its two silver bags in different sizes. Yes, that's all. And no, I'm not kidding.

Take a look at the bags. They're constructed with silver foil, with a white spiral design throughout. And, there is a large decorative, semi-functional ribbon on each, which is adorned with festive silver sparkles.

The bags are perfect for wrapping a gift in, obviously. But, if done correctly, they can also be made into semi-permanent clutches! I'm picturing an amazing DIY project:

1. Trace the shapes of the four sides and bottom onto a thin piece of cardboard.
2. Carefully cut out the five pieces of cardboard.
2. Secure the pieces in place inside the bag with a gluestick.

And voila! Now you've got an adorable new clutch to bring to any holiday parties this season! And the best part? No one else will have it, because its a Mallory in New York exclusive. ;)

Color Club Backstage Pass collection for Holiday 2011

During my morning coffee [Starbucks Caramel Mocha], I was browsing through Temptalia. Amid the newly listed cosmetic launches for the Holiday 2011 season, I spotted a nail polish line that I couldn't go another moment without blogging.

The line, called Backstage Pass, is the newest collection from Color Club, a brand that we all know and love. The small-but-sweet collection includes six sparkly colors with musically themed names, listed below. The sparkles are much larger than you'd find in the average glitter nail polish, and far richer in color as well!

As much as I love the awesome shades and the rockstar/VIP theme, the chemical makeup of the polish itself is definitely something that drew me to the line. As a proud vegetarian, I naturally admire any product that does not include any animal byproducts [even if I do not plan to eat it]. Backstage Pass is 100% vegan, which is sure to attract environmentally-friendly beauty addicts and PETA supporters alike. And, as we all know, many brands [ahem, OPI] include harsh chemicals that can lead to breast cancer and other diseases, Backstage Pass is completely free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP and paraben.

The shades and descriptions are listed below:

1. Take the Stage Gold - glitter with silver flakes
2. Wish Upon a Rock-Star - Multi-colored glitter with purple
3. Backstage Pass -Silver and purple hex glitter
4. Platinum Record - Silver glitter
5. It’s a Hit - Purple big glitter
6. Fame & Fortune - Red base with silver flakes

Illamasqua Freak Eau de Parfum

British brand Illamasqua, commonly noted for imaginative themes and eccentric colour palettes, is launching its first ever perfume! The scent, very fittingly name "Freak", has hints of Black Davana, Opium Flower, Belladonna, Poison Hemlock, Datura, and Queen of the Night blossom. The base scent contains intense aromas of Frankincense, Oud, and Myrrh.

In addition to the otherworldly theme and photography, the perfume bottle is also of note. The bottle [pictured below] is a square-shaped glass. A drastic change from conventional perfume bottles, Freak is missing a corner, so it stands at a sharp ankle, perfectly balanced. The bottle is of dark purple colour, with black swirls throughout. There is also a silver snail crawling up the upward most side of the bottle. According to the press release, the design symbolizes "an addictive passionate path of desire that is both distinctive and unusually provocative."

In addition to Freak, Illamasqua is also launching three limited addition products: Nail Varnish in Hemlock (pale opal green iridescent), Pure Pigment in Queen of the Night (blackened plum), and a Sheer Lipgloss in Datura (neutral mauve). Each build on the similar theme of an alternate reality.

The collection is now available to pre-order on Illamasqua.com. Freak will officially launch on October 20th, 2011, and will be priced at $59 for a 75 ml bottle. It will become available at Sephora and Space NK in November 2011.