100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubenstein + Joe’s Jeans = Newfound Holiday Spirit

Text, Vivian Kelly

Yesterday, I finally edged my way into “the Holiday Spirit”.

The event that got me into the spirit was  InStyle Fashion Director Hal Rubenstein’s Book Signing  at Joe’s 77 Mercer Street, orchestrated by Paul Wilmot Communications.

Hal Rubenstein, Author of 100 Dresses, fashion guru-personality

I’ve blogged about Joe’s Jeans before because I was entranced by Paz de la Huerta in the recent campaign that was more art than commerce [love that].  The most recent campaign – colored jeans – grabbed me too, but in a different way. The last time I wore colored jeans was in the Eighties. It was Christmas Break at Duke, and I had some money to spend and found myself at Macy’s, in the Ralph Lauren Department. I was inextricably drawn to a pair of Tiffany blue jeans. What would I wear with them? I didn’t know, or care. I wanted them, they were on sale and they were “something else”.

Years later, [last night] when I had a look at what Hal wrote in my copy of 100 Unforgettable Dresses, I was reminded of those jeans.

His signature in my copy reads, “ To Vivian, Wear Something Unforgettable, Be Someone Unforgettable”. H.R.

Every time I wore those jeans, I got compliments from fraternity guy friends, and was thrilled that “stepping out of the box” could reap ego boosting benefits.

Every since then, I’ve gone with my gut – something Hal recommends. If you love it, GET it, you WILL wear it. Last night, I luxuriated in a pedicure and gobbled up as many entries in the book as I got the opportunity to read some of the entries. A few favorites:

Slip for Butterfield 8 [Elizabeth Taylor in Helen Rose

Green Evening GownFor Atonement [Keira Knightlley in Jacquelyn Durran]

Revenge Dress [Diana Princess of Wales in Christina Stambolian]

Elizabeth Hurley launches her career thanks to Gianni Versace's "safety pin dress"

 

Many of these dresses are about one of my favorite themes, “The right time and the right place”. Take Elizabeth Hurley’s career making Versace safety pin dress. Prior to her 1994 appearance to then boyfriend Hugh Grant’s Three Weddings and a Funeral, she was “the girlfriend” aka arm candy. After that  came a those lucrative Estee Lauder contracts.

There’s so much more than this, consider this as an aperitif on a book that’s the perfect gift for anyone on your Holiday list who’s interested in any or all of the following: fashion, fashion icons, fashion history.

As far as the jeans, there are 55 colors to consider, but for now, the parakeet colored ones are in first place. Hey Santa, are you listening?

#1 on the list - Parakeet colored Joe's Jeans

The Tibi Spring/Summer 2012 Collection Show at Lincoln Center

Text, Carey Reed Zamarriego

Images of Front Row and two Runway Looks, CRZ

Individual Runway Looks, from Vogue UK

“I think women should dress in a way that’s effortless but never lazy,” Amy Smilovic, the American designer behind the Tibi label has said. Naming the ladies of Charlie’s Angels as the epitome of chic style, Tibi strives to provide pieces that take the effort out of creating laidback, modern looks. A feat that’s easier said, than done. I know I toiled away in front of the mirror the morning of the show agonizing over my outfit and trying to piece together an effortless, yet contemporary. In the end, I settled on a billowy red and white striped tank, navy boyfriend cardigan, gray skinny jeans and black booties. However, when placed under the bright lights of the runway show, my cool, collected appearance quickly began to melt.

Diagonally across from me though, were three ladies who seemed to beam in the heat of the show lights and represented the crisp, effortless modern style of Tibi to a T.

Socialite and part-time reality TV star, Olivia Palermo sat flanked by a male companion on one side and TV actress Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill). On the other side of Bush was Emma Roberts, tween actress (Nancy Drew) Julia Roberts’ niece. Olivia looked fresh and classic in an oversized gauzy cream blouse, a skirt so short it disappeared when she was seated, and animal-print pumps. Sofia opted for a strapless rouge leather dress, paired with a python clutch and Emma was decked out in a deep shade of plum.

The show began with a series of shorts, pants and tops in cream and pale hues of pink, green and blue, exuding Tibi’s effortless chicness. Next, there were pops of color with mustard and outfits pairing royal blue and black. Different textiles played off one another, some more successful than others. I didn’t really care for the short-sleeved leather tops, which awkwardly flared out at the models’ waists. There were several textured pieces: an eyelet black ‘nude-illusions’ dress and shorts, and several dresses that looked like they had been pressed with prints. Well-constructed, wide legged trousers and long cargo skirts were paired with sleek, feminine tops and represented Smilovic’s desire that “a woman should dress in contradictions – youthful and sophisticated, masculine and feminine, bold and muted colors.”

The show closed with a series of tops, shorts; and my personal favorite, a strapless, pocketed genie jumpsuit, which all had the same delicate white Asian flower print atop an emerald green and black background. The look was possibly inspired by Smilovic’s time spent living in Hong Kong. My other favorites included a strapless dress in mustard and Tibi’s gauzy halter neck dresses in baby blue and cream, all of which would easily roll up and travel nicely in a bag to the island for a day on the beach and transition, with heels, for an evening out.

Trends for spring/summer:

Return to long, cargo-style skirts

Wide-legged trousers

Royal blue and black; mustard and cream; slate blue and blush

Trends for fall (as seen in the crowd):

60’s styles a-la Mad Men

70’s boho chic: large, floppy velvety hats, oversized clutches, bellbottoms and hair left long, wavy and parted in the center.

80’s preppie style a-la any John Hughes film from the time

To view the collection and for more information on the Tibi brand, visit www.tibi.com

If you’re in NYC, drop into their  SoHo Location, at  120 Wooster Street, to browse.

Carey is the Editorial Director for (W)anderlust Writing. To see more of her work and current project, visit:

wanderlustwriting.com

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The Rachel Zoe Spring 2012 Collection

Text, Vivian Kelly

In line in the lobby in the Garment Center, we predicted that the Rachel Zoe spring 2012 collection would be heavy on smoke and mirrors and light on content.

When the elevator finally swooshed us up to her studio, it felt as if we were on set for “The Rachel Zoe Project”, complete with a white Diptyque candles and white calla lilies everywhere.

No sooner had we entered, than we were approached by a USA Today videographer doing a behind-the-scenes about the collection.

“So, what do you think?”

I tried to be tactful, it’s not a lot of stylists who can transition from advisor to creator. Victoria Bartlett does a good job over at VPL, but still it’s not a major brand and strictly for the Downtown girl.

“Well, I haven’t seen a lot but she’s done a nice job in that it’s age appropriate  and a lot of the looks resemble those she dresses her clients in. There’s the boho chic look [pointing to ruby forest devore t-shirt and maxi skirt] and I could see a young girls wearing the “black textured canvas petit tailleur” ie: a short skirt suit that a 17 year old with good legs can pull off. The 30 looks featured Zoe’s signature style – the floaty seventies chic, the one shoulder short party dress and skinny cigarette pantsuits here young Hollywood clientele go to her for. Hers is a head to toe styling proposition which includes big structured handbags that could pass for the Hermes Birkin she carries [at a distance] and her own famous face [black lined eyes, tan skin, center parted long blonde hair and high gloss nude lips].

Reflecting on it over some ice coffee at Starbucks, we concluded that it was imitation but not inspiration. That is not necessarily a bad thing as this collection is akin to Garanimals for the twenty year old set who want to look au courant but may not know just how to get that  look on an assistant’s salary. Hopefully, the collection will remain in their price range and be available on QVC.

>The Duckie Brown fall 2011 Show: Ruminating Backstage With the Duckies

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Text, Vivian Kelly

“Is this a ‘men’s collection” or a “women’s collection?”
UGH.
Like Steven Cox, 1/2 of the Duckie Brown label, I find the question rather, well… dated. Perhaps a better word would be, “anachronistic”".
Back in the early Eighties, we had Grace Jones and Brigitte Nielsen. They looked FAN-TAS-TIC. They made the point that you could be masculine AND feminine – all at once. Both sported looks such as white “wife beaters” and “men’s” black tuxes in now-iconic photographs. They helped spout the notion of “androgyny” which photographic legend, Helmut Newton, helped to make fashionable.
Another famous example is Bianca Jagger, back in her Studio 54 Days. Her most famous outfit was a white PANTsuit. In the Seventies though, it was considered “daring” to wear pants to work.

Then-Vogue Editor, Grace Mirabella, was considered to be “daring” to propose this as “a work option”. As I later learned, as one of her Assistants, in the early Nineties, Miss Mirabella meant what she said. I cannot recall a SINGLe day she did not walk into the office in slacks. Her favorites were: Geoffrey Beene, Calvin, and Bill Blass, not necessarily in that order.

Even in the mid-Eighties, when I was going on my first job interviews, I wore SKIRTS – no question. Pants, were not really an option.
The whole topic seems ridiculous in retrospect. Just a year earlier, I’d gone on a road-trip to UVA [The University of Virginia] for a weekend of party hopping. The scene I lived out that weekend was straight out of Tommy Hilfigger’s tailgate glossy ads. What’s interesting is that when you inspect it closely, “preppy style” can ALSO, like “East Village Punk”, look quite uni-sexual. We college co-eds were from a dozen or so different colleges and universities but we all looked like the frat boys whose parties we attended.
The uniform: Lacoste shirt [untucked], Levi jeans [unwashed and stiff] and Sperry Top or Docksiders. Sounds limiting? Not really, when you consider how many different colors the Gator shirt was available in.
Okay, I made-up that word, “unisexual”. At the end of the day though, most of us are looking for clothes that we, as people, can just wear.
SOME “PEOPLE’S FAVORITES”
-The “wife beater tank
-Converse “Chuck Taylors”
-A really WELL CUT pair of trousers – Duckie Brown! Oftentimes, they will be black.
- Levi’s original 501′s. You need to break them in, it just takes time. Be patient.
-A Woolrich red and black buffalo plaid jacket
-Docksiders, the originals.

So, why can’t a man wear women’s clothes and vice-versa? Duckie designers Steven Cox and Daniel Silver ponder the question in our pre-show interview, here.

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>A Creative + Cultural Snow Day: Redecorating + The Last Picture Show

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TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY

Yesterday brought the third blizzard of the winter, but, as Rhett Butler so famously said to ‘Scarlett’ in Gone With the Wind, “frankly, my dear, I couldn’t give a damn.”

Why? What?!

No, I’m not part Aleutian or soft in the head.

I just need to be forced to stay home to have the excuse to indulge and work on some projects that are near and dear to my heart.

First – there was the ongoing redecoration of TheFE Home Office inspired by a page in the Farrow & Ball catalogue I picked up at Robert Verdi’s Luxe Lounge last NYFW. To say that attaining the garden gazebo look on the page has been obsessing me these past few months is an understatement. Yesterday, I finished the cream trim and applied the first layer of ‘arsenic’ paint on two walls – only partially though.

While rolling away, I had the stepladder strategically placed so I could watch The Last Picture Show on my little Home Office TV, rigged only for DVD watching. I had the Comcast Cable guy do this as part of a commitment to watch old Hollywood Classics, Art Films, and anything else that promises to have good sets and costumes in it.

Last weekend, Victoria, my favorite Reference Librarian, raised a well arched brow when I asked her if they had The Last Picture Show on DVD, and ‘was it in’?

We both agreed that the movie was worth watching if only for the pool scene in which a young gorgeous Cybill Shepherd ‘Jayce’ literally and figuratively strips-down, shedding her pristine white foundation garments and innocence, while poised on the diving board.

I wound up of course, getting wrapped-up in the movie and what should have been a one-hour painting job extended into three, four even. I played back over portions of the black and white masterpiece to hear scenes I’d missed while turning my head towards the wall.

While I said I tend to watch movies for their visual bang, this one has a h–l of a good story attached to it as well – several stories in fact.

First and foremost, there’s the indescribably gorgeous ‘Jayce’. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, Cybill got across beautiful and cruel character of ‘Jayce” who as the iMDb reviewer captured in this description, “Jacey is Duane’s steady, wanted by every boy in school, and she knows it. Her daddy is rich and her mom is good looking and loose. It’s the general consensus that whoever wins Jacey’s heart will be set for life.”

She looks great in every single frame and I’m seeing references to her style in her every outfit:

• The party dress – Christian LaCroix’s “poof”
• The foundation garments she strips-down to at the party -Eres swimsuits
• The plaid shirt, dungarees – Abercrombie & Fitch
  
• The white shirt tied under her breasts in the pool hall scene – Guess Ads for the last 15 years
• The slippers in the opening car necking scene – Chanel slippers

‘Picture Show’ gave me much more than I’d bargained for. In addition to the clothes, there’s a little bit of a history lesson here about what it was like to live in West Texas in the fifties. Some things never change, all small towns rely on sports, the social pecking order, sex, secrets, and how tough it is to come-of-age.

Today, the bamboo trellis wallpaper arrived, as the UPS Man bombed through nearly two feet of snow to deliver it to my garage. My biggest challenge now is to find another movie that will equal or top ‘Last Picture Show’ as I resume painting the next wall tomorrow.

Any suggestions?

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>ACCESSORY TREND: Bracelet Bonanza, Armed and Fabulous. Bring on the Arm Candy!

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TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY

Since last summer, I’ve been noticing THE RETURN OF THE BRACELET. I’m not talking about a discreet gold bangle or one or two CARTIER LOVE BRACELETS. WHAT’S ON FOR FALL AND MOST LIKELY SPRING 2011 IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELET BONANZA. IN SHORT – THE MORE, THE BETTER, AND THEY DON’T ALL HAVE TO BE MATCHY-MATCHY.
Rather, IT’S ABOUT INDIVIDUALITY, MUCH AS A CHERISHED CHARM BRACELET IS. THINK OF IT AS YOUR SLEEVE [not the tattoo ink kind] MAKING A STATEMENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE.
AN ARMFUL OF BRACELETS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL SPORT ON A DAILY BASIS. IT WORKS FOR JUST ABOUT ANY SITUATION – WHETHER IT’S TO ATTEND AN ART OPENING, FASHION SHOW, GO TO WORK IN OR TO JUST WEAR WHEN ON THE RUN DURING THE WEEK.

Here’s an opportunity to mix it up: you can combine rubber bracelets such as the black/red rubber “CURE SMA” [Spinal Muscular Atrophy"] I bought at my Aveda-Shine Salon, or my vintage MONET CHARM bracelet, or the diamond and platinum pave ones by Leslie Greene.
TAKE A PAGE FROM THE FABULOUS SHARON STONE. TRY SOME HIGH-LOW ACCESSORIZING. IT’S RELEVANT BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE MOST STYLISH WOMEN AROUND HAVE BEEN DRESSING FOR THE PAST DECADE. SHARON made a “bold” statement by daring to wear a generic BLACK TEE with an ARMANI COLLECTION COAT and VERA WANG SKIRT to the 1996 Oscars, when she was up for an award for her role in “Casino”. Fashion folk couldn’t stop talking about it, and before you knew it, everyone was out in the open, proudly going “high-low”.

Fast-forward to the recent 62nd ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS. Some of the season’s most beautiful gowns were on display but what hit me were THE MOUNTAINS OF BRACELETS. Some of the best on the Red Carpet were wildly different. Below, a few of my favorites.

EMMY LOOK #1: BREEZY, EASY, + MODERN

KYRA SEDGEWICK’S stack of monochromatic beaded bracelets by SYDNEY EVAN, which complimented her cranberry pleated gown to perfection.

EMMY LOOK#2: HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR
Nail this always-right look with stacks of DIAMOND BRACELETS. LESLIE GREENE makes some great ones, as worn by KIM KARDASHIAN and ELISABETH MOSS.
For some less pricey options, you’ll only have to wait until September 12, when TARGET UNVEILS THEIR “TUCKER FOR TARGET” collection. I’m looking forward to picking up their GLAM STUDDED CUFFS. Another good piece to add-on is Jewelry designer CYNTHIA GALE’s bronze and recycled silver ECO SECRET SECRET GARDEN CUFF, Inspired by the famous novel, The Secret Garden.

STYLE TIP: HAVE FUN – THE LOOK YOU’RE GOING FOR HERE IS “MODERN AND EFFORTLESS” IE: IF THE PIECE SPEAKS TO YOU, PUT IT ON. The possibilities are endless.

Shopping
LESLIE GREENE jewelry is available on www.lesliegreene.com and on www.QVC.com
GEO ART is available at www.store.geoartnyc.com

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>Frederic Fekkai’s Adir Abergel Transforms Kristen Stewart’s Tresses for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Premiere

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TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY

Well, the countdown is almost at an end. What countdown? The one we’re on at my place for the midnight showing of ECLIPSE, the 3rd of the 4 TWILIGHT films that made KRISTEN STEWART and Rob Pattinson the stars of the moment.
If you’re a teenager or have a teenage daughter in your life, you’re well aware that Kristen’s style is one that many teens aspire to. So far, that’s meant, low-key indie style – concert tees, Keds, Converse and skinny jeans.
Although a reluctant star, Kristen has finally embraced her celebrity status and looks beautiful and grown up on the Red Carpet.
She teamed-up with the king of sophisticated dos – Frederic Fekkai, to attend the premiere of ECLIPSE.
One of Frederic’s team of stylists, ADIR ABERGEL, did a a soft take on the 1950’s pompadour. You girls who are going to prom or who are bridesmaids, take note. This is a great grown-up party look that doesn’t look overly done – perfect for a young girl.

HOW TO GET THE LOOK: Here’s the step by step info on how to get this look at home or you can simply give the directions to your favorite stylist so they get it just right.

STEP 1: Apply Fekkai Full Blown Volume™ Styling Whip at the roots throughout the hair.

STEP 2: Using a round brush, blow-dry the hair away from the face, and place it in pin curls.

STEP 3: Allow the hair to cool before removing the pin curls.

STEP 4: Style the hair by hand raking the hair into a side pompadour and secure it with pins.

FINISHING TOUCH:
To shape the face, pull a few pieces in front, and secure the look with Fekkai Coiff™ Sheer Hold Hairspray.

The sophisticated result beats Kristen’s day look, hands down. Nice job, Frederic and Adir!

WHAT YOU NEED/PRODUCT LIST – all available at www.fekkai.com,
Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue.

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>An Ode to "Easy Rider" – Dennis Hopper R.I.P. and the Boys on Bikes

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TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY

It was a shock to hear last night to hear that one of our acting legends, DENNIS HOPPER, passed-away. He wasn’t one of my favorite actors [I hated 'Blue Velvet'], but there was no denying that he was a great one. A few films he’s appeared in include: Giant, Rebel Without a Cause, Gunfight at the OK Corral. His acting has a blazing authenticity to it because he actually lived the life he acted. In 1969, Hopper wrote EASY RIDER – a “counterculture road movie script” he produced with just $400,000. Hopper directed it himself, and starred it it alongside Peter Fonda, Hopper and Jack Nicholson. The film did amazingly well at box-office because it hit a nerve with the nation’s youth, by appealing to the anti-establishment youth culture of the times. It is widely regarded as the first anti-establishment film. Many other me-too films followed, produced by major studios, which featured hippies, bikers, draft dodgers and pot smokers. There’s only one EASY RIDER, and one Dennis Hopper. If you haven’t seen this movie, you owe it to yourself to do so.
Dennis, we salute you.

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>HOLLYWOOD! GOLDEN GLOBES MANIA – MAKEUP MAESTRO, MICHAEL KORS

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TEXT, VIVIAN G. KELLY-VAN ZUTPHEN

We’re tired of the obvious fakery of the whole GOLDEN GLOBES exercise, but like an addict, we’ll take some, even though we know the product’s inferior.
That said, we’ve got to congratulate our former boss, MICHAEL KORS, for getting the formula down right.
There IS a formula for RED CARPET makeup and he delivers it in the MICHAEL KORS VERY HOLLYWOOD Collection. Model, Hilary Rhoda, looks red-carpet ready in the counter signage.

Kors states in a press release that for the Rodeo Pink palette; he was inspired by “the iconic pink of the flowers that line Rodeo Drive and the bright colors of the homes in the Hollywood Hills.”
What the colors reminded us of were old-time Hollywood Glamour stars like Liz Taylor and Grace Kelly had in spades.
The afternoon of the Golden Globes we spent a few hours in our local DANBURY FAIR MALL and hit Macy’s and Lord & Taylor, in search of the “Marilyn Monroe red” lipstick Lancome Harper’s Bazaar featured in a beauty editorial.
While we didn’t have any luck finding the said lipstick, we DID stumble onto Michael Kors’ brilliant totally mini limited edition cosmetics collection.
We tried “honey blonde” and “bungalow pink” lipsticks, and “sunset coral” blush.
We’ll probably come back for bungalow pink but left with a L&T bag containing our purchase of “Hollywood Gold”, the PERFECT nude-beige we’ve been on the look-out for, seemingly forever.
It’s nice when satisfaction comes at a mere $19 price tag.
To buy, visit your Estee Lauder counter or shop on www.esteelauder.com

The Collection is available at Estee Lauder counters now, until supplies run out.

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