Countdown to Uniqlo in midtown!
In a short 24 hours, New York Fashion Week (excuse me, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) will begin and Lincoln Center will be abuzz with fashion editors, designers, models, and other artists. However, I believe the less couture-oriented among us will appreciate this other fashion tidbit: Uniqlo’s coming to midtown!
Uniqlo flagship store to come, 5th Ave at 53rd St.
Opening on Friday, October 14, the Fifth Avenue location (at the southwest corner of 53rd St.) will be the Japanese retailer’s largest global flagship store. Yes, Fifth Avenue has plenty of flagship stores, but Uniqlo will be a great addition to It Books’s little stretch of the avenue, saving us from Hollister/Gap/H&M fatigue. Come the holidays, tourists will no doubt choke up the sidewalks even more, but I for one am happy to have another mid-market shop. And it’s always nice to see an empty store front find a new store to call it “home”!
Don’t Dream It, Be It
When I was an aspiring punk kid in the 80s, regular pilgrimages to St. Mark’s Place were a must. This was the punk girl’s (and boy’s) Ladies’ Mile, where all the important stores were. I was never prouder than the day I acquired my pleather bustier from Trash and Vaudeville. And of course no proto punk was complete until you’d bleached your hair to a crisp and then MANIC PANICed the hell out of it. (My color of choice: Lagoon Blue.) The shop and its namesake hair-dye line were started by sisters Tish and Snooky (no, not that Snooki), members of Blondie’s earliest incarnation, and denizens of the East Village scene. The original St. Mark’s boutique is long gone—a victim of the upward mobility of the East Village in particular, and Manhattan in general, along with other alt.culture mainstays like, CBs, Unique, and Zoot—but now for a limited time only you can capture that retro 80s look in all its Liquid Sky glory with a new line of MANIC PANIC cosmetics: Creature of the Night. What better to wear to that Missing Persons reunion show?
Bring the Bling
Kim Kardashian’s engagement ring from her NBA player fiancé Kris Humphries weighs in at an outrageous 20.5 carats. And it puts her in some big bling company with the likes of Beyonce, Mariah, and Posh.
The over-the-top ring, designed by Lorraine Schwartz, features a 16.5-carat emerald cut center stone flanked by a pair of 2-carat trapezoids, for a total weight of 20.5 carats.
Khloe, whose own 9-carat engagement ring from husband Lamar Odom was trumped by her sis’s new diamond, said in a recent interview that Kim and Kris’ wedding will be one extravagant affair.
What do you think of the ring?
Some Noteable Double-Digit Bling:
Christian Aguilera
Xtina’s now-ex-husband record label exec Jordan Bratman gave her a 20-carat sparkler when he proposed to her on February 11, 2005.
Paris Hilton
Billionaire Paris Latsis gave his socialite fiancé a 24-carat canary diamond engagement ring… and a 15-carat white diamond ring for, you know, when yellow didn’t match her outfit. Since they never married, I wonder if she gave back the rings!
Beyonce Knowles
Jay-Z presented an 18-carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring to his pop star wife, designed by Lorraine Schwatz.
Mariah Carey
Singer Nick Cannon gave new mom Mariah a 17-carat pink emerald cut diamond made by Jacob & Co.
Melania Knauss
Donald Trump invested in some major bling for his third wife, Slovenian model Melania – a 15-carat emerald cut diamond.
Heidi Klum
The happily-married supermodel and mom rocks a 12-carat canary cushion cut diamond from her singer husband Seal.
Victoria Beckham
The former Posh Spice sports an 11-carat marquis cut diamond from soccer star husband David Beckham.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Michael Douglas presented the Welsh actress with a 10-carat marquis diamond cut engagement ring.
Which is your favorite?
Bridesmaids have more fun.
Source: http://a-red-lipstick.blogspot.com/
Ruth Hussey was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of “last-minute” bridesmaid Elizabeth Imbrie to Katharine Hepburn’s Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story.
- Source: http://twoweddingbelles.blogspot.com/
Cameron Diaz could have picked a better choice of bridesmaid than Julia Roberts in My Best Friend’s Wedding.
MOLLY RINGWALD’S TOP 10 THINGS YOU NEED IN YOUR CLOSET
To celebrate the paperback publication of Molly Ringwald’s Getting the Pretty Back, here are her top 10 staples every closet should have:
1) JEANS: “The best thing to do is determine your body type and match the jeans accordingly.”
2) BLACK CASHMERE TURTLENECK: “A black turtleneck looks chic under a trench (a favorite combination of mine – very Yves Saint Laurent) and can also dress down beautifully under a casual jean jacket.”
3) HERMES SCARF: “There is nothing better for style or function than a silk Hermes scarf.”
4) WRAPAROUND DRESS: “It’s nice to have one dress that you can wear no matter what and still feel beautiful and sexy.”
5) TRENCH COAT: “The trench is a wonderful piece to take you from season to season, and of course it never goes out of style.”
6) HANDBAG: “Choose wisely. After all, this is something that you will be carrying every day.”
7) T-SHIRTS: “They are necessary for layering and can also just be worn on their own.”
8) A NUDE HEEL: “A nude heel really does extend the leg, much more than a darker shade.”
9) BLACK BLAZER: “Something that always makes your outfit look sharper is a well-fitting black blazer. I particularly love the tuxedo. A black blazer can make you look more finished.”
10) LINGERIE: “Beautiful underwear is the ultimate morale booster; it’s like walking around with a wonderful secret.”
Love Marchesa
Marchesa has become my favorite designer for romantic red carpet looks. The dresses have all the glamorous, high drama that I crave, with just enough soft details to keep it feminine. The Fall 2011 collection, shown yesterday at New York Fashion Week, delivered all the feminine and often opulent glory that I have come to expect from designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig. Below is a look back at some of my favorite Marchesa gowns, and a look forward at the dresses that will surely be gracing red carpets soon!
I realized my love for Marchesa this week when the fashion-forward Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl wore a stunning metalic dress to a Valentine’s Party.
Giovanni Rufino/The CW
My Favorite Red Carpet Marchesa Looks:
Olivia Wilde at the 2011 Golden Globes
Getty Images
Sandra Oh at the 2009 Emmy Awards
Jason Merritt/Getty
Reese Witherspoon at the 2008 Country Music Awards
Getty Images
Lucy Liu at the 2010 Tony Awards
Marchesa
Sandra Bullock at the 2010 Academy Awards
Getty Images
Vera Farmiga at the 2010 Academy Awards
Getty Images
And here’s a peak at my favorites from the Fall 2011 collection:
Photos: Amanda De Simone / GoRunway.com
What are you favorite Marchesa looks?
Grammy Awards 2011: Best & Worst Dressed Recap
The Grammy Award’s red carpet looks are much more eclectic than the other award shows. Rockers and pop princess, rappers and jazz singers, all share the red carpet, creating a very different fashion palette Here’s our take a look at the best & worst (& other) dressed of the 2011 Grammy Awards.
BEST
Jennifer Lopez — Because who doesn’t love a hot Latina mama dressed as a disco ball? Seriously, she is too hot not to include. Damn, girl! (Wearing Emilio Pucci)
Selena Gomez — Nice to see the Disney crew all grown up. She looks impeccable without being overdone. (Wearing J. Mendel)
Lea Michelle — As much as her bubbly personality, immense talents, and unimaginable successes rub me the wrong way, Lea Michelle looks fab. (Wearing Romona Keveza)
Julianna Hough — Great pattern and a very flattering cut for her. She looks young and fun! (Wearing Malandrino)
WORST
Ciara – Just no. It looks like she’s auditioning for the role of Wonder Woman. (Wearing Pucci)
Hayley Williams — I love Paramore and this alterna girl’s look. But last night? Something went wrong, very wrong… (Wearing Jeremy Scott)
Natasha Bedingfield — There’s a lot going on with this dress: floral pattern, beading, and sheer. Too much, in fact. And her pinned up ’20s hairstyle doesn’t help. (Wearing Abed Mahfouz)
Jordin Sparks — She’s young and beautiful So why does she look stiff and dowdy in all that satin? Plus, its wrinkled! (Wearing Zang To)
OTHER
Rihanna — She’s beautiful, and often on the cutting edge of style. And yet, here we are looking at what appears to be a toothpase Halloween costume. (Wearing Jean Paul Gaultier)
Party with Neil Strauss and Ben Greenman in NY this Thursday
Join It Books and our friends at Harper Perennial this Thursday, November 4th at Brooklyn’s powerHouse Arena for a party and reading featuring Neil Strauss (Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead, Mötley Crüe’s The Dirt) and Ben Greenman (Celebrity Chekhov and Gene Simmons’ Kiss and Make-up). The evening will feature a performance by the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe, on-site memoir ghost-writing, alcohol, and more!
RSVP here.
Learn more about the event here.
COVET: What I Want Right Now
At brunch yesterday I spotted my friend Jackie wearing the most adorable classic black flats. But they had a twist: a plastic PVC upper and three buckle straps snaking up the ankle. She told me they were part of the Vivienne Westwood + Melissa collaboration and that there were more styles online. Of course, I had to find out more!
The inspiration
Turns out these cool plastic shoes come in multiple styles and colors. There is an attractive heeled version of the flats:
And a fun buttoned ankle boot:
Not to mention tons of kitschy peep-toe heels for summer:
The best part is that these shoes are very well-priced, ranging from $85 to $200, especially if you find them on Zappos.com.
What do you think, will you pick up a pair of these “rain chic” shoes?
Written in indelible Ink
In case you haven’t noticed, we have a thing for books, and for tattoos. We just had to share this great video featuring THE WORD MADE FLESH: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide by Eva Talmadge and Justin Taylor. Just released by our friends at Harper Perennial, this book is a beautifully packaged full-color collection of literary tattoos and short personal essays.
Meet Kat Von D
We are thrilled to announce the following appearances where Kat Von D will meet fans in conjunction with the release of her latest book The Tattoo Chronicles, on sale Tuesday, October 26, 2010.
If you’re unable to meet Kat on tour, pre-order your copy of The Tattoo Chronicles today.
Complete schedule after the jump.
(more…)
The stories behind Mad Men revealed
The wait is finally almost over… the new season of Mad Men premieres July 25th on AMC. It’s about time. The recently released Season 4 poster has been getting a ton of attention including this in-depth examination and search for hidden meaning from TV Guide.
But to find out the real meaning behind the hit show you’ll need to read Mad Men Unbuttoned: A Romp Through 1960s America by Natasha Vargas-Cooper, the woman behind the highly popular blog The Footnotes of Mad Men.
In the book, Vargas-Cooper turns her eye to everything from Lucky Strike to Madienform, gray flannel suits to Burt Cooper’s Japonism, Grace Kelly to John Cheever — and examines iconic morsels from the show and the error. Very Short List agrees, Mad Men Unbuttoned is like a little time machine that takes us, as Mr. Draper so elegantly put it, ‘to a place where we ache to go again.’”
Still need more Mad Men in your life and on your computer screen? You can download two Mad Men wallpaper designs for your computer: What’s in Don Draper’s Desk and What’s in Joan Holloway’s Purse.
Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders or Books-a-Million.
Molly Ringwald gets the pretty back
The iconic Molly Ringwald shares intimate stories and candid advice in Getting the Pretty Back, a fun, stylish, and sexy girlfriend’s guide to life.
Buy Getting the Pretty Back today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders or an independent bookseller.
To her millions of fans, Molly Ringwald will forever be sixteen. As the endearing and witty star of the beloved John Hughes classics Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink, Molly defined teenage angst, love, and heartbreak. While remembered eternally as the enviable high school princess Claire, or the shy, vulnerable Samantha, Molly has just celebrated her fortieth birthday. Facing a completely new, angst-inducing time in her life, she is embracing being a woman, wife, mother of three, actress, and best friend with her trademark style, candor, and humor.
In Getting the Pretty Back, Molly encourages every woman to become “the sexiest, funniest, smartest, best-dressed, and most confident woman that you can be.” She shares personal anecdotes and entertaining insights about the struggle to get through the murky milestones and identity issues that crop up long after the prom ends. Whether she’s discussing sex and beauty, personal style, travel and entertaining, motherhood, or friendship, Molly embodies the spirit of being fabulous at every age, and reminds us all that prettiness is a state of mind: it’s “the part of you that knows what you really want, that takes risks.”
Lavishly illustrated by Ruben Toledo, Getting the Pretty Back is sure to charm women of all ages with Molly’s unforgettably personal, refreshingly outspoken take on life, love, and, of course, finding that perfect red lipstick.
Read an excerpt from Getting the Pretty Back, view Molly’s favorite fondu recipe from Artisanal Bistro, read an interview with Molly on Tonic.com and become a fan on Facebook.
Where to stay for New York Fashion Week
After a long day of walking in heels and hitting all the shows and parties at New York Fashion Week this February 11th to 18th, without a doubt the best place to return to has got to be Paramount Hotel. As if the highly-recomended Library Bar is not reason enough to stay there, Paramount is offering a Runway Deal tied into Fashion Week.
Between February 8 and February 20 guests will receive two fantastic cocktails per night in any of Paramount’s bars, a free copy of Amanda Brook’s book I Love Your Style, plus a luxuriant 3pm checkout on your day of departure. And the added knowledge that you’re staying at one of New York’s premiere spots just a few blocks from the Bryant Park and the center of the Fashion Week World. Victoria’s Secret top model Marisa Miller agrees, Paramount is the only place to stay.
Make your reservation HERE and keep up to date on Facebook and Twitter.
Cooler than cool
*** Full Disclosure: I just hijacked this piece from the wonderful website Iceland Review because I like what they have to say. Read their blog. ***
Cooler Than You: The Tragically Hip
Hot damned Reykjavík is cool. Coolest place on earth, always has been, always will be. Cooler than whatever town you are from, even if you’re from Reykjavík.
And if you think you can come here, slip’n’slide your way into the hip crowd. Well that’s just not possible. These kids are hipper than a year’s worth of surgery in a specialist hip replacement ward.
Or that was the case. Until now, until my sure fire 12-step guide to being hip in hipsville.
1. Find your own style.
First and most important. You gotta make your mark in zero seconds flat, from across the room, across the street. Across the town. Every hip kid has his or her own style. Fortunately it’s easy to find your own, just remember this mantra: I want to be an individual, like all the other individuals. Look around, copy, steal.
2. Drink coffee.
This is your daytime activity. From the moment you wake (no earlier than 1 pm) till the kids go home, you are going to subsist in 101 coffee-shops. Latte, espresso, black or with milk, doesn’t matter what you like, that’s not the point. Drink whatever everyone else drinks, just be seen doing it. Books, pen and paper are for hippies, PC’s for losers, make sure to have a Mac in front of you at all times.
3. Drink. At bars, a lot.
This is how you spend the night. Every night.
Weeknights: Drink beer, the watery stuff from the tap. Weekends: Beer and sugary shots. 1 for 1. Spend all your time at the bar, sit on it for extra marks. Never ever try to dance, no one is impressed. By anything. Ever.
4. Eat out.
Always eat out. Time spent at home is time not seen—ergo time wasted. It doesn’t matter if the food is bad. Taste and the hip go together like toothpaste and orange juice.
5. Be seen, be heard. Ad nauseam.
This is a war of attrition people. The hip of the town are the most seen—in the most places, with the most people. If people aren’t sick of the sight of you, then you aren’t working hard enough.
6. Act like you own the place.
You’ve wheedled your way into the communal hip consciousness, now you gotta get the act down. No problem, just remember this one word. Obnoxious: You’re hip, it’s your right, it’s your duty. What’s the word: obnoxious!
7. Talk about projects you are working on.
Incessantly. At any given opportunity. No one was ever hip just for being hip. You need to be seen to be doing something, and people need to know about it. Something creative, exciting, energetic. Something hip.
8. Never ever work on your projects.
Of course no one who was hip never actually did anything, apart from being hip. This isn’t a contradiction, it’s a paradox. A hip paradox.
9. Tell everyone you love them when you are face-to-face.
Diplomacy is all important in a city as small as Reykjavík. Like any good politician, learn to press the flesh.
10. Criticize everyone behind their backs.
As soon as the schmoes turn their back, get ready to drag their name through the dirt.
11. Never express an opinion that might come back on you.
Diplomacy is a balancing act—with no net. Get it wrong and a fall’s coming.
Remember this: your opinion is worth nothing. The only opinion that is, is the opinion of the Greater Hip. If you have to stand up for your words, then they’re the wrong words. He who stands alone, falls alone. Mean what you say, never say what you mean.
12. Take a day off every now and then.
Mystery is good. It gives the impression that you have more important matters. Of course you don’t, but who’s to know?
This is the perfect time to look up those YouTube clips to screen in coffee-shops, and to dream up hilarious(ly hip) updates for Facebook and Twitter. If you aren’t big on the net, you aren’t big on the streets. Just don’t get too big—500 friends maximum.
So, there you go, that’s it. Follow these 12 steps and you too can be obnoxious, arrogant, ubiquitous, irrelevant.
Though when you put it like that, it just doesn’t sound quite so… What’s the word?
Hip.
Get Your Own “Mad” Style
Long to emulate the classy vintage style of the ladies of Mad Men but unsure how? Janie Bryant, the costume designer for the show, wants to help you. Along with fashion journalist Monica Corocan, Bryant has written a new style advice book to help fans learn “how to tap into their inner ‘leading lady’”.
According to EW.com, the book will explore vintage couture, including that of screen icons from Clara Bow to Brigitte Bardot. But fear not! The purpose of the guide will not be to turn you into a costume character. Rather, the goal will be to teach you how to incorporate elements from your favorite decade into modern dress. The as-yet untitled book will land in bookstores this fall from Grand Central.
The only decision you have to make now is: are you a Betty, a Peggy, or a Joanie?
Betty
Peggy
Joanie
Our Favor!te Things 2009: Kevin
Considering he saw (500) Days of Summer eight times (at last count), we’re pretty surprised that our marketing head honcho Kevin Callahan actually had time to enjoy other pop culture delights this year. Apparently he did, and apparently these were his favor!tes.
Favor!te Film: (500) Days of Summer. Because “this is not a love story.” Because in the hands of actors less talented than Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel the movie could have taken an entirely different direction, but what they do in it is remarkable. Because I want to live in Tom Hansen’s apartment. Because of this.
Favor!te Concert: Nirvana, Live at Reading. Because very rarely can you be transported back in time and witness something amazing happen.
Favor!te Album: Green Day, 21st Century Breakdown. Because five years ago Rolling Stone wrote “Tell the truth: did anybody think Green Day would still be around in 2004?” and Green Day not only proved their importance then with American Idiot but far-surpassed it in 2009 with 21st Century Breakdown. Because seeing Billie Joe Armstrong in concert is a religous experience. Because What’s the latest way that a man can die / Screaming hallelujah? Because even though Billie Joe has a son in high school, you still believe him when he tells you how mom and dad will never understand.
Favor!te Book: The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet, Reif Larsen. Because every now and then you can get completely lost in the mind of a book’s character and forget that he doesn’t actually exist. Because Reif Larsen has created an inventive forms of storytelling. Because the interrior looks like this.
Favor!te Art-type thingy: Hamlet. Because Jude Law made the funny lines actually funny. Because he didn’t over do “To Be or Not to Be.” Because the scene of Polonius’s murder was the best version I’ve ever seen. Because in my opinion Getrude is the toughest role to have and Geraldine James was incredible in it. Because the costumes and set decorations were brilliant in their simplicities. Because it snowed on stage. Because I’m a Hamlet snob so for me to like it as much as I did, it must be good.
Favor!te Fashion: Hoodies. Because a hoodie under a blazer is warmer than a winter coat. Because 2007 was the last time GAP made a decent hoodie. Because 2007′s hoodies are now perfectly worn-in.
Favor!te TV Show: Gossip Girl. Because I lost a little faith after Seaon 2, but Season 3 has more than made up for it.
Favor!te Blog/Website: HTMLGiant. Because it contained the Best Essay of 2009: Blake Butler‘s “James Joyce does not exist.”
Favor!te Real Housewives: Dina Manzo and Caroline Manzo from Real Housewives of New Jersey. Because they are thick as thieves.
Favor!te Twitterer: @God. Because, well, he’s God.
Favor!te You Tube Video: When Pandas Attack. Because this is the video proof that underneath all that fur, pandas are mean fuckers.
Bonus:
What are you most excited about for 2010? Emile Hirsch’s Hamlet may surprise a lot of people. Ed Westwick as Heathcliff and Gemma Arterton as Cathy in a new Wuthering Heights. And I still have high hopes for Shutter Island.
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve? Patricia Highsmith. Because “My New Year’s Eve Toast: to all the devils, lusts, passions, greeds, envies, loves, hates, strange desires, enemies ghostly and real, the army of memories, with which I do battle — may they never give me peace.” – Patricia Highsmith, January 1, 1947. 2:30 am.
Nina Garcia answers some questions
Buy the entire Nina Garcia Collection below:
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Your It List has had the honor of hosting Nina Garcia as she guest blogged about her new book The Style Strategy. If you can’t catch the final episodes of the latest Project Runway season, Nina’s collection of style guides are without a doubt the next best thing. Below, Nina took the time to answer some of our questions about her style, her books and how to look your best and paying less!
Your new book, The Style Strategy, is about shopping while saving money. Is that even possible?
Of course it is! You don’t have to spend a fortune to look fabulous, or sacrifice style when you’re on a budget. The Style Strategy is not about doing without; let’s be clear on that. It’s not about feeling deprived. It’s about realizing that you can get the same euphoria that buying high-end brands may give you by simply reworking the clothes you already have, or finding great bargains and turning these items into the perfect expression of your personal style. This past year has reminded us all that we MUST be conscious of the money we spend. And being practical while remaining stylish is the ultimate chic.
What was the inspiration for this book?
My absolute favorite new mantra is: Shop Smart, Stay Chic, and Make it Last! This mantra has fueled every single page of this book. The sense of accomplishment you get from knowing you’ve truly lived by this mantra, and look great while doing so, is the best feeling in he world. Every shopper should be armed with a strategy. This book guides shoppers through a strategy that works.
Why do you think women will respond to the advice in this book?
If we ladies are anything, we’re resourceful. Long before we earned our own paychecks, we were in charge of stretching pennies for the entire family in order to create and maintain a warm, comfortable home. Through the ages, we’ve seen it all. No era has been without its crisis. And women have always been a tremendous part of the glue that holds everything together while working through such a crisis. Our ingenuity and flair for survival has saved the world many times over. But our ability to beautify the world as we save it is what really makes it all worthwhile. I think women innately know solid advice when they read it, and they will appreciate the fun spirit frugal fun and pampering that line this book.
There are a lot of interesting facts and history in The Style Strategy. What made you decide to include such information?
I want people to know some of the specific moments and ideas throughout history that women have exhibited incredible ingenuity and flair in the name of looking great. When going through a rough economic downturn, sometimes it’s easy to forget how good we have it in comparison to other periods throughout history. I truly admire the women who lived through the American Civil War, the Great Depression, and World Ward II. They were really tough, and so creative. I want to honor them by writing about the great strategies they came up with, and all without the help of huge discount stores and sample sales that we’re so used to.
What is one piece of advice you would impart from the book?
There is so much wonderful information to choose from! But if I had to pick just one, I would say that a good rule to follow when out shopping is to never buy anything unless you have at least three items in your closet that it will go with. A smart shopper always creates options for herself.
You include great quotes from celebrities in this book. Do you have a favorite?
I have the hardest time narrowing down the many quotes I find through my reading. There are so many brilliant people in the world, saying such thought provoking, inspirational things. But if I had to choose one quote that specifically applies to the message I convey in The Style Strategy, I would have to choose one by the legendary designer, Vivienne Westwood, who said “Buy less, choose well, and mix it all”. That pretty much nails it. I simply elaborate on how to do just that.
There’s a real social component in The Style Strategy. On more than one occasion, you encourage readers to gather as often as time allows, share saving tips, clothes, advice on what looks good, and even go so far as to show how to throw a good “swap party”. What’s your aim in including this in the book?
It’s so easy to feel deprived, and even a bit isolated, when you are forced to financially tighten your belt. I want to remind women that community, friends, and family are important, and such a vital part of getting through difficult economic times. And of course I love any excuse to have a party. We’re all in this together, and there are few things more uplifting in life than playing dress up with the girls.
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With her signature eye for style, Nina Garcia is best known for her appearance as the unerring, formidable fashion judge on the hit show Project Runway. An elite authority in the industry, she has worked in fashion houses and in fashion media, with everyone from Marc Jacobs to Elle magazine and Marie Claire. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of The Little Black Book of Style and The One Hundred. Originally from Colombia, she now makes her home in New York City.
Nina Garcia talks Style
We are thrilled to have the amazing Nina Garcia as a guest blogger on Your It List. The new season of Project Runway has just debuted and Nina’s new book The Style Strategy hits stores this week. Her latest book is filled with smart shopping strategies for style on a budget, interesting fashion tidbits and lists of bargain fashion musts.
Photo by Barbara Nitke
I am a working mother and a wife. I am a sister and a daughter. I am a student of fashion and a shopper of everything. Each experience in my life fuels what I do, who I am, and, more important, who I see myself evolving into as tomorrow dawns.
I have goals. For myself, for my son, for my family, and for the people who listen to what I have to say about fashion and style.
Every day I plan, I organize, I schedule, I strategize. And the most important thing I’ve learned is that while no amount of planning fully prepares one for life’s inevitable speed bumps, knowing that I’ve built a strong foundation enables me to negotiate such bumps with assurance. I must problem-solve at a moment’s notice. And sometimes even change course altogether in order to adapt to whatever circumstances are thrown in my path. I have to be quick. I must embrace spontaneity while always keeping my feet on the ground. I must have unwavering trust that I’m making the right decision. If I even begin to doubt myself, I crumble, and nothing gets done. Or rather, nothing gets done correctly.
It is with this goal in mind—of imparting my strategy for achieving this level of self-assurance and confidence, while also economizing—that I decided to write this book. As I look at the women around me—on television, in the news, and throughout the world—I realize that although different circumstances may rule each of our lives, we share the core elements of who we are. We’re survivalists. We’re nurturers. We’re women.
An essential aspect of being a woman is not only taking care of everyone around us, but also taking care of ourselves and each other. We figure out new ways to look and feel gorgeous. Sharing our notso-secret tips with each other is probably the easiest, and definitely the most fun, way we care for ourselves. As women, it is in our nature to reach for perfection. And although perfection may not be 100 percent possible, getting close is. In fact, I see women getting closer to perfection every day.
I witness this striving toward an aesthetic ideal in the wonderful designs I handle as a fashion director. I see it in pristine garments, astute styling, and impeccable tailoring, among many other examples of the craftsmanship I’ve come to adore. But I also see perfection embodied in the women walking down my street. Fearless, creative, stylish women who inspire me.
But getting there is a process. It requires a strategy. Taking command of your style and staying chic is but one step in this process— an important one, mind you, but not the only one. Shopping smart and saving our hard-earned money is another very important step. And although it can be a challenge, being practical while honing your style can also be a damn good time. Trust me.
The Style Strategy by Nina Garcia
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With her signature eye for style, Nina Garcia is best known for her appearance as the unerring, formidable fashion judge on the hit show Project Runway. An elite authority in the industry, she has worked in fashion houses and in fashion media, with everyone from Marc Jacobs to Elle magazine and Marie Claire. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of The Little Black Book of Style and The One Hundred. Originally from Colombia, she now makes her home in New York City.
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Photos by Mathu Andersen
RuPaul, the world’s most famous drag queen of all-time and television host of Logo’s RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE, is writing the book we’ve all been waiting for…
WORKIN’ IT! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style!
The book, published by It Books, is part style guide, part confidence manifesto and just like Ru, entirely fabulous.
WORKIN’ IT will provide helpful and provocative tips on fashion, beauty, style and confidence for girls and boys, straight and gay – and everyone in between!
No one knows more about life, self-expression and style than RuPaul! With photos by Mathu Andersen from the new season of RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE and a fresh look at style and inner beauty, WORKIN’ IT will pick up where show leaves off… and you know you wanted more after the fierce first season! The book will be as colorful, fun, and intriguing as RuPaul, with insights into makeup, clothing choices and the illusion of drag. Fans of RuPaul will get piece of Ru’s philosophy on style and attitude – and how it’s more than the clothes that make the man, or woman!
“If you weren’t lucky enough to inherit a fabulous sense of style from your parents, you can certainly cultivate one using the tried, tested and found true tools in this book. ” RuPaul
Look for this in stores in Winter 2010, just in time for the second season of RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE on Logo produced by World of Wonder.
Gilt Fuse Launches Today at Noon
If you can’t resist fashion bargains, than you probably belong to Gilt Group–the invitation-only designer sale site with up to 70% off retail prices.
Sounds great, right? But if you’re like me, you excitedly joined Gilt Group, only to realize that designer clothes on sale still means…really expensive clothes. Not so great.
But this may be the lucky day for all us poor fashion lovers out there. Gilt Fuse, the sister site of Gilt Group, launches today at 12pm EST, advertising a wider range of styles at…wait for it…lower prices. The site debuts with sales from Kova & T, Generra, and Modern Amusement. Like on Gilt Group, each sale includes goods from a single designer and lasts for 36 hours.
If you’re already a member of Gilt Group, you automaticaly belong to Gilt Fuse, but if you still need to sign up, go to membership@gilt.com. And remember, Gilt Fuse is women-only right now (sorry, men).
This sounds promising, but we’ll have to keep checking in to see how low these prices will really go.
The Klippan’s had a pretty good run…sofa’
1979 is an excellent vintage in both the world of humankind and upholstery-kind. Your humble blogger is turning 30 in less than a month, and now I’ve been tipped off, by Apartment Therapy, that I share a birth year with Ikea’s Klippan sofa as well. Anyone who’s ever had a dorm room or studio apartment knows the allure of the humble Klippan: it’s small, affordable and offers a bunch of interchangeable slip covers for commitment-phobes. This brief video shows the evolution of the Klippan (although, sadly, it doesn’t feature the traffic-cone orange version that graced my first post-collegiate apartment circa 2001).
