Hats off to Eric Javits!!

L: Lana Hat, $315.00; R: Luigi Floppy Hat, $290.00 at Neiman's.
Indulging my love for hats, I applaud Eric Javitz whose signature Squishee† material, similar to straw, is intricately sculpted into yummy-colored hats and bags!! Every year, his pieces are super-chic cruise/spring/summer essentials!! And natch, I just happen to be chic, so I hope to be sporting some of his hats. Someone please have a spring/summer wedding so I can really have an apt occasion to wear them. Or maybe I could go on a yacht, I'll definitely need a hat then!! Haha

Sugar-splenda kisses.

The Chic Hatter

I love hats. With spring in the air, I'm talking broad-brimmed, considerably ornate and colorful straw/linen hats; but, everyone is pointing me in the direction of the Kentucky Derby (in May)!! Haha. I happened to try some on this past weekend at Saks NY, and each time the Derby came up, even though I'd gone in with two different friends on two different days!! Am I the only one who is mad for these chic hats??!!!

Pretty!! Pretty!!
From hats.com - Top left: $97.99, Top right: $108.99
From hatsinthebelfry.com - Bottom left: $400.00, Bottom right: $400.00 (That's a bit much for some hats; but funnily, these are found in the "Kentucky Derby" section.)

Bijoux!! Bijoux!!: Stephen Dweck necklaces

I went through a period of intense fondness of chandelier earrings, perhaps three summers ago. They were trendy!! (sigh) I just couldn't get enough of huge, dangling, mini-fanlike jewelry that almost grazed my shoulder blades. And, if they came with gemstones, all the better!! I began a love affair with Miguel Ases' earrings even before his line became available at Neiman's and everywhere else - I found his jewelry at Fragments.com - he'd make beautiful earrings and I'd buy them. It was such a beautiful relationship. I am still in love with most of my pretty earrings; although I don't wear them often. I'm really just a (teeny-tiny) studs kinda gyrl.

Now, I'm all about making a statement with necklaces!! Somewhat fussy - a chic balance is crucial!! - these bright, bold baubles are in of themselves magnificent pieces of art. I'd sooner be adorning them with nothing else!! Yes, I mean going nude. Hahaha. Okay, seriously, I'm not advocating abandoning clothes and all possible facade of sanity. Umm. No way!! It's just that these eye-catching necklaces, especially courtesy Stephen Dweck, make a lavishly adequate statement all on their own. I have taken a huge tumble and fallen head over heels with Dweck's necklaces.

Top left: Four-Strand Necklace (Shanghai collection), $1560.00, Neiman Marcus; Top right: Graduated Turquoise Necklace (Vera Cruz collection), $1965.00, Neiman Marcus; Bottom: Multi-Strand Malachite Necklace (Shanghai collection), $945.00, Saks.

I remember the first piece of the designer's jewelry that I admired: a pair of small floral mother-of-pearl stud earrings with silver centers. It was around the same time I was eagerly searching for unique chandelier pieces. The following fall season, I also found the earrings available in Tahitian pearls. It was classic and elegant; there were matching necklaces as well. Stephen Dweck creates unique pieces of jewelry from many different natural stones and minerals from all around the world, fusing his love for sculpture and jewelry. He also creates "One of a Kind" (OAK) jewelry pieces, which are made from his substantial gallery of collected stones and are never duplicated. They are simply brilliant showpieces.
I love love the necklaces from Vera Cruz and Amalfi collections this season, okay I love his collections every season, to be honest.

I found out that his pieces will be shown:
~Tue May 8th, Neiman's, Boston, MA.
~Fri Apr 13th, Neimans Westchester, White Plains, NY.

p.s. I started writing this last week; but... ahhh, my birthday wkend; 'twas absolutely divine, thanks to my most wonderful friends and NY, NY!!

Springtime: The Classic White shirt

[It's five in the morning, I should be asleep!!]

The requisite social hysteria that accompanies prominent Fall fashion weeks has subsided; somewhat. Trendy socialites - someone pls tell me what this word means and why I'm even using it - may take respite from their ferocious bids for camera-time for all of about two point three seconds; and superskinny, puerile models may treat themselves to a carrot stick (psych!!) and snort a gram less in the meantime. Thereupon, mere mortals, like myself, anticipate - helplessly - what pieces, original and/or reshaped, will end up in stores; that is, after fashion editors and store buyers get their butts and toes kissed, natch, by the designers!! Oh what compromises!! The great fashion industry we live for!!
I'm contented to wait.
Good thing too!! Spring is here. I don't care whether it rained and snowed two days ago!! That was just an anomaly and - in my head - it's going to be beautiful weather from now!! It has to be. My birthday is on Friday!! My huge barely-contained-on-my-face smile quickly amends itself as I remember I have no birthday outfits for the entire weekend!!
No worries. Yet.
In my mind's blossoming spring, I do mini-pirouettes down a street. I've shed at least three layers of clothing and putting one leg in front of the other is oh-so simple. Life is grand. I need a quick spring fix and I know just the thing: a white shirt. An easy, classic luxury. Before I start my enchanting fling with colors, a white shirt will do just beautifully. Even when I can't seem to stop admiring chiffon prints and patterns, the white shirt will remain my ideal faithful. It really suits any and every occasion, day and night. It's so understated, it's glamourous. I did a bit of shopping around and found some great pieces. This (pic from March's Vogue, I finally got a chance to glance at the pics, I haven't read it yet, sad) is my fave updated look of the classic white shirt!! So weird, but I promise I came up with a similar ensemble (black top, though) before seeing this look!! Tousled Haute!! I can't believe my genius!! I know, right!! Neither can you!! It's slightly difficult to pull off, but I think I did well.

You know, posting pictures really is sooo blah!!! And, I'm really tired. I think I need someone to ummm.... do them for me whenever I finish writing. It's just so tedious!! And I feel bad, like I'm letting you, my lovely multitude of one or two of readers, down when I don't put up as many pics as I'd like, just to show you what I'm thinking!! *Tear-drops* I'll get used to it soon, I promise.

Tons of sugar kisses to make up.

p.s. I wonder if Ms. Wintour's people have come up with another word for b.l.o.g.

Two Airbus 380 Navigators in US today!!

...I'm such a dork.
This has nothing to do with fashion, per se; but two airbus 380's land in the US - NY and LA, today!! Exciting!! This aircraft is actually referred to as "the Beluga." Actually, it has much to do with fashion, the shopping facilities in one of these things is monstrous!! Imagine how much more I'd be able to purchase on the airplane - all DUTY-FREE!!
Now, I really better start planning a trip for Dubai!!!

Dolce & Gabbana Ad again: Fantasy Rape...

Lack of sleep for no obvious reason prevents me from thinking straight and I'm really awful at updating my thoughts. They pop in my head and then, poof!! They're gone!! During the day, yesterday, I meant to write about the sad ad campaign idea my lovely Italian boys came up with, but I forgot. Well, 'it' can't really be called an idea since it actually materialized.
Anyway, when I looked up the man-with-tennis-ball-in-his-briefs ad on the DG website, I couldn't find the controversial 'fantasy rape' ad. Dolce and Gabbana had taken it off. Good job guys. I'm not even going to ask, because I know there's no such thing as fantasy rape!!!! MSNBC has the story and the ad. As penance, the designers should hop on each other's necks, in turns - like they made their male models pose inanother of their ads?? What are they smoking??!!!! - and walk the grounds of their villa!!! It'd serve them right for making those boys look soooo beyond ridiculous.
On second thought, I think, however, the duo would rather enjoy the burlesque exercise, missing the obvious ridic-ness of it all!!
Hrrrmmph!!

p.s. Sorry pics of men bolstering each other on their necks will not be shown on this post.
Visit the DG website.

Air kisses.
(I am slightly put off by this whole thing, to say the least.)

Dolce & Gabbana Ad...

Am I the only one who ponders this ad?? I mean, specifically, the iffy magnitude of the man's package?? It looks like there's a tennis ball is in his briefs.
Really!!
Every mag has this particular DG ad and I just can't help wondering.

Ms. Anna Wintour: errm, I don't use that word... *scowl*

Haha. I did burst into laughter when I read this, but I can't help but agree!!
Snooty, much??!! Whatever!!
I detest the word b.l.o.g.!! I don't use it if I can help it and certainly, not in reference to my (errm) writings!! Haha.
Guess who else hates it too... story here: Anna Wintour hates the word blog.
I guess we have something in common after all. Ok yeah, that, and the fact that we're b*tches.

KissKiss.

Lanvin debuts in the U.S

...guess a few French have decidedly overlooked their teeny dislike of Americans.
Lanvin is the oldest and one of the most prestigious couture houses in France. Founded in 1889 by its eponym Jeanne Lanvin, the couture house is an essence of the Parisian industry of fashion luxury, elegance and refinement. Since recently reverting to its independent standing, fashion enthusiasts worldwide clamour to obtain Lanvin pieces. I don't know why, but the leather material on their handbags, and ballet flats, especially, is as soft as a baby's bottom!! Open the pages of any U.S. Vogue or Hearst magazines, and you're sure to find praise and acclaim for Lanvin flats; and natch, you'd be able to find the brand at Barneys!! I remember calling up my ex-roomie this past Jan. when I was having a mini-crisis at the shoe dept: wondering whether to pick up a pair of floral lace-covered wedge shoes on sale by Alaïa (another French couture house with no premier base in the U.S). Yes I did pick them up!! I'll show you, I love them but I've'nt worn them yet.
Anyway, we walked over to the handbags section and we just couldn't stop touching the Lanvin bags... so, so soft and lush!! I loved the bag pictured above!! I truly am drawn to shiny objects, aren't I?? Well, yesterday, the company opened its first office in the U.S. (142 Greene St., NY.) Albar Elbaz’s Lanvin fall 2007 show pieces will be the first collection in the new showroom.

Check out the calendar for Fall 2007 trunk shows and beauty events on the Barneys website.

My shoes: I found the only picture at Gregory's Shoes online. Picture 'em with a pair of super skinny cropped black pants (love the Audrey ones they had at the Gap) or jeans.

Airport-ready Chic...

...or just a made-up reason to love these, and those below.

Dolce & Gabbana Patent Convertible Bag and Leather Pumps that just scream chic!! The Bag: Black patent leather with clear PVC, gold-tone hardware. Love it beyond words!! (Maybe I'm just really drawn to shiny objects.) Top handles with buckled sides and the entire thing is foldable. Did I mention airport-ready chic to the max?? And just check out the heels on these pumps, zoom in. At the moment, I think these are available just at Neiman's (online store).

Speaking of heels, you wouldn't want to mess with a chic in these Dior Extreme Pumps!! Pictured as well, is the Jeanne Bag, the new It-Bag from Dior!! Look for dark browns, deep indigos; for fall. Available at Eluxury.