style icon: Carine Roitfeld

No question, French Vogue's Carine Roitfeld is chicer than I could ever pretend to be. It's compelling when a fifty-three year old¹ woman — an international fashion mag editor, albeit — serves as the perfect archetype for le beau monde; more so than the contents of her magazine, or any others for that matter. Ms. Roitfeld seamlessly blends sophisticated glamour with a cavalier French chic in a manner that mere (non-French — ha!!) mortal women could only dream!! I mean she's single-handedly resurrected the elegance of Givenchy² footwear — the (ankle) gladiator sandals in particular, and made oh so very chic last season's Manolo Blahnik silver tipped ankle boots (for Christopher Kane); all the while donning couture, essentially.

Lord help me if I ever complain about five inch heels ever again as it's obvious Ms. Roitfeld wears them right out of the tub and for 23 hours of each day!! And her confident dislike for accessories and makeup dares me to put my best nude face forward. NOT happening!!³ (I still wish she'd tend to those eyebrows, however. Shhh... I know, how dare I even think it??!!) Anyway, I terribly want to be her when I grow up :).

Footnotes:
1. I know, I know. Age ain't nothing but a number... Still...
2. After feeling like pathetic saddo for continuously disregarding the oh so delightful banalities that take place on MTV's The Hills, I actually tuned in one night last week to watch some reruns. And what episode did I happen to watch?? The one in which the girls have arrived in Paris: while been chauffeured, they're deliberating, with such passion, which stops to make when Lauren's friend blurts out Give-nchy!! Poor Mr. Driver winces — as if in physical pain!! — as he corrects her pronunciation and I practically blush with embarrassment at the comical sadness of it all. I must admit, however, that I was totally in lust with Lauren's huffy-scruffy French admirer!! Eeewww!!!
3. I just love make up, I'm sorry. I love the natural look that says I-may-look-like-I-have-great-skin-and-my-cheeks-just-catch-the-sunlight-so-but-I'm-really-wearing-expensive-makeup.







French kisses (ha!!)

Thanks for all your votes over at the Glam Network Annual Awards. Love you!!
P.S. I may be back to label her outfits. Or... I may not.

'Buns'dchen

Even as I anticipate when wearing this deliberate variety of shorts would ever be appropriate — FWD's Chic Report intimates shots in the July fall preview of V mag — I must say I'm developing a strange predilection for Gisele Bündchen's butt!! So, I decided to document it.
So very sad, I know. It's just so errr... lovely??






Kiss. Kiss.

P.S. Vote for me in the annual Glam Network Awards FASHION category.Thank you very much!! :)

for Giambattista Valli

Of course it's naughty and I'm totally up for anything Mr Valli wishes... à la Henry Holland:

Half-nude in your alley
'Battista Valli.

Seriously, only a man who successfully juxtaposes ruffles and rock chic is capable of understanding the complex nature of a woman's mind. Body. Both.
(Available at one of my fave across-the-pond ports: Luisa Via Roma should you want to get it for me. As it is, I'm contemplating a foolish thought that will involve that dress shipped to me and going on a new diet of ramen noodles for at least two months. I'm biding my time for now, however...)


I still dream of last summer's famously photographed fuschia-pink mini-dress!! Chichi chic!! (Don't know the dress?? You better ask somebody!!)








Intricate lingering kisses.

Gilt Groupe: men

I've neglected my wonderful male readers who dare to love my notes because they're just as vain as I am. *giggle* The neglect continues, except that I'm posting a gilted announcement: Gilt Groupe’s Men’s Sales which will premiere on April 16th, starting with John Varvatos!! There'll be two sales a week for the guys (women get four sales a week!! ha!!). Dolce & Gabbana, Hickey and Rag & Bone sales will be coming up thereafter. I strongly advocate treating yourselves.
Here's the email/mini-press realease.
I should do a post on men's shoes :)






Friendly kisses.

chic simplicity: Jil Sander

The shoppes are stocking up on large cherry poppy prints à la D&G and Prada's trembling blossoms. Perhaps, this will entice mother nature to accelerate its course into spring. I mean I don't feel an ounce of sunny warmth in the weather, do you??!!

Amidst these ornate blooms — in stark contrast — is the Jil Sander collection put forth by creative director Raf Simons; stalks, unwavering, stripped bare of any petals ornaments. In his clothes, Raf Simons' technique — him, having come from designing menswear — suits, and indeed, is exquisite on the puerile models strutting his stuff; for the woman with a butt, we'll see... This strict technicality, however, renders in his accessories a quintessential chic simplicity that I just adore. The clean minimalist design is a perfect testament to its founder, Jil Sander's own aesthetic perspectives and Japanese influences. The understated glamour of Simons' pieces is anything but, even at first glance. I can't get over the details — simple, but oh so chic — and the construction, especially of his shoes. They incite a fierceness that I'm thinking we'd all love. He steers the conversation back to the perceived and redefined practicality of many-a-woman's fave accessory — the purse. I'm terribly crazy about the half-bracelet clutch (especially the one pictured left); although of course, I'm wondering if it's got some type of hidden extender, just in case your wrists don't slip through. *A.w.k.ward*







Tell me you want these sandals as much as I do... (Not yet in stores)





Meanwhile, Madeleine's run away. She's demanded a name change: "It's Astrid," she says.
Silly trick!!
I'm coaxing her back. Wouldn't you believe it, it seems it's the guys who are miss her more. Oh men....





Delicious kisses.

chic fashion: trembled blossoms [weeping willows. ha!!]

Chic: the Prada Trembled Blossoms Collection. The fairy bags are causing a ruckus!! It's fundamentally chic fashion and style among the haute elite.
C.r.e.e.p.y: the video. I couldn't even bear watching the entire thing when it launched back in February. (I still can't.)
Non è bello quel che è bello, è bello quel che piace, vero??
[Italian for beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it??]







Kisses on your blooming cheeks!!

P.S. The annual Glam Network Awards is taking place now, until the 10th of April. You can vote once each day for in your fave categories. If you love reading my fashion memoirs, vote for me in the FASHION category.

Thank you very much!! :)

my prerogative

I may have completely neglected to acknowledge my birthday — 'twas on Sunday¹; or come to think of it, the first anniversary of my chic fashion memoirs (this past Feb); but I'm awfully thankful to have shared with you every minute of my fashion-craving life this past year.

Birthday haiku (of sorts):
One day, anew,
A Butterfly from the caterpillar —
An older me.

I've received immeasurable support from my lovely younger sisters, my most wonderful friends, as well as from you, dearest readers — both regular subscribers (some of who have also become friends) and the puzzling number of guests who stumble upon my page seeking those simply decadent Alhambra necklaces!!²

And just because I can't get it out of my head... (I dare you not to love the accompanying song.)³ Speaking of Bobbi Brown, perhaps we can include some palettes in the gift rewards.





Double lip-smacking kisses on each cheek!!


Footnotes:
1. My original bday plan will take place at some point this week, it'll involve a quiet dinner by MYSELF at one of my fave places, and an hour or two at the Boston Hèrmes store, since I've never been in. Can you imagine??!! I'm simply a loner in my real life. On Sat night, however, I made a record-breaking four drive-bys at four different locations in my beloved NY!!
2. I shouldn't find it odd that I've received a fair amount of emails looking for these Van Cleef & Arpels beauties; but honestly, you can only get these in-store or through a personal shopper.
3. I refuse to speak on the sad case that has turned out to be Bobby Brown. And I most certainly never saw an episode of that Bobby-Whitney unholy fright on TV!!

P.S. I should have pics huh?? I'm just not a pic all-over-the-internet kinda gyrl.
P.P.S. The annual Glam Network Awards is taking place now, until the 10th of April. You can vote once each day for in your fave categories. If you love reading my fashion memoirs, vote for me in the FASHION category.Thank you very much!! :)

hues news

If you haven't yet, I'd suggest you hobble on over to JCrew — or type in jcrew online, ha!! — for some of spring's most delicious colors and trinkets. The prettiest things ever, I tell ya!! That, and the fact that I'm simply a sucker for darling presentations!! I love love their new jewelry and the pictured belt (below). In actuality, that pic of the belt is perfectly deceptive because it's not one, but four belts (sold separately!!). Good marketing ploy JCrew cadre!! I'm already thinking there's no way I'd love just one belt by itself; at least two, perhaps — but certainly, not all four. Ahh — yes, I'll take the entire outfit in the upper right pic (without the sandals — I'll just stick with the beauties).

[Can I say something sorta awful: I don't like that clutch at all!! It's just that I wanted to show you the gorgeous rings.]

Bright kisses!!

P.S. The annual Glam Network Awards is taking place now, until the 10th of April. You can vote once each day for in your fave categories. If you love reading my fashion memoirs, vote for me in the FASHION category.Thank you very much!! :)

a lady's sitting room

I came across this chic sitting room picture in Timeout NY last night. It's up and coming interior designer Gina Merulla's space and wouldn't you know, it's in one of my fave NY neighborhoods, Gramercy Park. Love it!! It's a pity I can't have my living room look like this even though I have that same sofa!! Pathetic!! I need to work harder at revving up my entire apt.







Kiss kiss.

VALENTINO PR INTERN POSITION IN NY!!

Hi Everyone,
I occasionally will get messages from readers asking my opinion or something like that, but here's an offering from a very kind and thoughtful reader with respect to an intern position at Valentino. I'd sent the message last night to the Chic Simplicity group members on the facebook group page. Here it is:

Hi, I was wondering if you could send a message to the group about this job opportunity at Valentino in NYC. I've had a wonderful time here but I have to head back home, to Tanzania, so I need someone to replace me. It would be great if it were a Chic Simplicity fan! The information is below.

Valentino Fashion Group USA is looking for a committed, driven PR intern to start work immediately. Internship responsibilities include:
-Sample trafficking using a computer database
-Assisting PR department with media tracking
-Liaise with entire PR department on media and celebrity outreach
-Coordinate shipments of samples to and from Milan and Paris

The best person for this position is first and foremost someone who loves fashion and is open to learning everything they can about the industry. This is a high-pressure position and it requires someone who is focused at all times. A good attitude is mandatory. The PR director, the PR managers, the PR coordinator and the PR assistant rely on the intern at all times. The ability to manage time and prioritize responsibilities will lead to success in this position.

This internship is full-time and unpaid. Compensation comes first in exposure to the top fashion talent in New York City, and second, in the constant possibility of promotion. Almost every single person in the PR department started in this position. This is a golden opportunity for anyone looking for entry to the fashion industry.

Please do not apply if you are not able to make a long-term commitment to Valentino.

E-mail *xxxx*@valentino.com with your resume and a short paragraph as to why you are interested.

I'm not sure what the conditions are for releasing the attached email publicly, so I've just taken it out, and if you are interested just send a quick one-line reply and I will send it to you!!

Ciao!!



Big kisses on each cheek!!

P.S. The annual Glam Network Awards is taking place now, until the 10th of April. You can vote once each day for in your fave categories. If you love reading my fashion memoirs, vote for me in the FASHION category.Thank you very much!! :)