Happy Holidays from Ms. Fabulous

Happy Holidays my stylish friends! It is my sincere wish that you are spending some time with the people you love most. I am fortunate enough to be doing that right now.

It has been an interesting year for the fashion industry and for myself. 2016 should be more fascinating still. My treat to myself this season is getting back to sketching and making stuff. I am back to creating embroidered fashion accessories for my fledgling label Weng Meng Design (new pieces will soon be up on Etsy). I took my love of a good craft cocktail to the next level by experimenting with making artisanal bitters and liqueurs. Those who attend my next house party will be subjected to tasting them!




I may not have posted quite as frequently the last two months as I have been busy knocking out style and entertainment stories for MODE. You'll find my geek-tastic take on your favorite pop culture trends and how they have taken over the fashion world.

I'm looking forward to finally watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens today and diving face first into my sister's culinary achievements tonight. Hopefully by the end of the day I will NOT have broken any limbs either skiing or skating, but I DO hope there will actually be enough snow to give me the opportunity to. (Should we in the Northeast be happy or terrified of this heat wave?)

May your holiday season be a great one. Thank you to all of my friends, collaborators, mentors and special people in my life that put the FAB in Ms. Fabulous. I hope you know who you are.

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New Year's Eve Fashion Fundraiser for Goodwill Rescue Mission

Are you in NYC for New Year's Eve? Looking for a stylish party (and open bar) to get a head start on your New Year's resolutions to do more good in the world? Come dance with me and toast to 2016 at the Goodwill Rescue Mission fundraiser.

The evening will feature artists and designers showing their work and musical performance. There will be a huge dance floor under the dramatic architecture of the Holy Apostles church in Chelsea. $40 gets you an open bar, some complimentary nibbles and a guilt-free night as you know that you're helping others.

Guys, there are going to be a ton of models and actresses at this party. Ladies from Vogue Italia, The Sopranos, Redken, LAFW, Orange is the New Black will be there. Women, meet guys from The Blacklist, Bravo TV, Law & Order SVU... Who knows who you will be spending 2016 with after this night?

Proceeds from this event go to Goodwill Rescue Mission and support their efforts to help the poor and homeless of Newark, NJ. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://daretohope.eventbrite.com/

Party with me!

 New Year's Eve to benefit the Goodwill Rescue Mission

UPDATE January 2: Check out red carpet photos from the Goodwill Rescue Mission NYE gala by Jim Sewastynowicz.

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Angel Sanchez Spring 2016

Looking for some tropical inspiration for your winter getaway? Angel Sanchez designed his spring 2016 collection around the Carribean 'Cayega'. We know it as the hibiscus flower. His runway for NY Fashion Week was blooming all over with them.

Sanchez took the vibrant hues of fuschia, orange and citrus yellow silk and paired them with grassy greens and neutrals of black and white. The motif of the hibiscus flower was played out in within the collection in every way you can imagine. The one print was of a beautiful painted red hibiscus against a white background. There were dresses that where draped like a flower in literal or more abstract shapes,

There were floral fabric, leather or acrylic appliques for a more contemporary interpretation. You can always wear the elegant black ensembles. The white outfits make great modern bridal looks, especially for a beach wedding. However, the ultra-vivid ballgowns? That's how your make an entrance! Accessories included big floral applique mules that look great in a contrast hue.

Angel Sanchez has never been afraid of color. I also love how he mixes traditional evening wear dressing with super-contemporary details to keep his collection fresh. The fashion show attracted everyone from The Walking Dead's Mercedes Masohn to opera singer Renee Fleming. If this runway doesn't inspire you to take a vacation, you deserve to stay home.

photos by Mariana Leung

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Blogger Love: Holiday Survival Guide

This week's tribute to my other bloggers incudes gift guides for all budgets, odes to Star Wars and help for styling yourself this winter in every situation. It also addresses ethical shopping and advice on authenticating that second hand designer find. Happy holidays my friends!

• Anti Muse: We Love | Star Wars
• Cat Eyes & Skinny Jeans: {Holiday Gift Guide} Under $15
• Cubicle Chic: Holiday Celebration Continues | Don’t Forget Your Furbabies
• Elements of Ellis: Leather Pants
• Fleur d’Elise: DIY | Tasseled Star Ornaments
• From the Soles Up: Dressing the New Bod | Classic Black & White with a mix...
• Hey Just Jei: #AskHJJ | Being 100% Ethical?
• Jennifer Kaya: Winter Fashion Tips | How to Wear a Knitted Cardigan or Sweater
• Life in the Fash Lane: Dressgal Kimono
• Maggie a la Mode: Wednesday Wishlist | Looks for Less
• Modavracha: The Useful Gift Guide for Christmas 2015
• Mornings with Madge: All That Glitters | Sparkling Holiday Style
• Ms. FABulous: Jacqueline de Ribes The Art of Style
• MySelf Expressed: Giving in Color | Neutral
• Musings of a Fashion Designer: Fashion Pakistan Week | Winter Festive 2015 Day 3
• So Versailles: Sunday Riley Review
• Storybook Apothecary: Why the Hell Aren’t You Following Me?
• The Fashion Hour: Holiday Outfit Ideas
• We Are Ready Made: Our Wishful Thinking X-mas Wishlist
• Wish and Wear: Real or Fake?

SPONSOR: Amazon's Shopbop findersKEEPERS, 3x1 Jeans, Vince Sweaters, Stone Fox Swim, SALINAS, OYE Swimwear, Black and White Blouses, Statement Jewelry, Evening Gowns, Men's Belber

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Indie Designer Heaven - Brooklyn's Bust Craftacular

It's your last weekend to get in some good holiday shopping. Shop small, shop indie designers for a special gift. Bust Magazine's Bust Craftacular is one of the best holiday pop-ups in NYC. You'll find tons of fashion and accessory designers, jewelry makers, gourmet edibles, crafts and home decor artisans.

The magazine curates the show very tightly, so the caliber of work is impressive across all categories. It's female-centric, as is the magazine itself. I absolutely hate the word "hipster" but the aesthetic of the Craftacular defininitely skews more young and artsy as opposed to the more granny-friendly shows out there.

The show is on Saturday and Sunday of this weekend. Check out the Bust Craftacular vendors to see if you can recognize your favorite. You can make a day of it, shop the show, eat the nibbles, have a drink at the uber cool Greenpoint bars. The location is at the Brooklyn Expo Center, 72 Noble Street, Greenpoint Brookyn. 

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Jedi Chic: Greg Lauren Spring 2016

Are you already lined up for the Star Wars Force Awakens opening? Greg Lauren's upcoming spring 2016 collection looked like it was designed for the new Jedi warriors. The look was rugged, post-apocolyptic yet elegant in its own way.

The nephew of Ralph Lauren, Greg was first known as an actor (Boogie Nights, Batman Begins) and artist. His artistic work has a certain romantic, decimated earth look to it that translates into his fashion collection. If the Mad Max Fury Road crew and the Hunger Games coal miners had a designer boutique, this label would fit right in.

While the runway looks may look a bit theatrical, the individual garments are very wearable. They have a comfortable, upscale linen look to them. A mix of European relaxed elegance and American swagger. The fabrics have multiple dyed and faded treatements to them. The silhouettes may look loose and casual, but they actually hang on the body with a deceptively tailored fit.

photos by Mariana Leung

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Jacqueline de Ribes The Art of Style

I treated myself to a morning with the latest fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jacqueline de Ribes: The Art of Style was an interesting study of an actual Haute Couture customer and designer who actually designs for herself.

Many of the big costume institute exhibit at the Met is a retrospective around a theme or designer. It is celebrated for the artistic merit, detached from human beings who wear it. This was one of the first exhibits that showed the relationship between the designer and client.

Jacqueline de Ribes was a countess and celebrated style icon. Leading couturiers of the 1960s like Yves Saint-Laurent, Valentino, Guy Laroche, Christian Dior and Emanuel Ungaro had a working relationship with her. Seeing her archives demonstrated how a customer buys from a designer at this level. She doesn't always buy the looks straight from the runway, she might collaborate with the designer to tweak it like remove the sleeves, order it in different colors, re-order pieces from past seasons. When each piece is handmade for you at this price point, designers are accommodating.

Countess de Ribes wasn't going for the trendiest look. She preferred timeless flattering outfits. She loved sorbet bright colors, but also classic black and white for the evening. She became a fashion designer herself, clearly learning from the couturiers she patronized. Her own aesthetic was a combination of beautiful fabric drape and expert tailoring to the body. Each of her designs had a special detail that was the focus of the look. In observing the ensembles throughout the exhibit you can see these details in both her own work and the pieces she chose for herself from others.

My favorite room was the one hosting three masquerade ball costumes. As only a countess could, the elaborate looks were cobbled together with chopped up Haute Couture pieces, fabrics and trinkets from discount jobbers and upcycled into fabulous period piece fantasy gowns.

If you have ever wanted to imagine yourself as an aristocrat with the most fashionable life ever, the Jacqueline de Ribes The Art of Style exhibit might be the closest you'll get to that experience. Enjoy it until February 21, 2016.

Check out The Top Fashion Exhibits Headed to Museums
by Ms. Fabulous at Mode

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Irina Shabayeva Spring 2016

Taking to the streets. Irina Shabayeva, season 6 winner of Project Runway showed an edgy street wear collection for NY Fashion Week. As we are used to seeing sweeping ballgowns and dramatic silhouettes, this paired down casual collection was out of the comfort zone.

We last covered Georgian designer Shabayeva's bridal collection with the gigantic skirts. When her girl strolling the sidewalks instead of the aisle, she is wearing cute, body conscious mini-dresses in vegan leather or winged prints with an asymmetrical hem. As outerwear, spring/summer 2016 includes extra long hoodies with extended hems.

The shoes included cage booties and fringed boots in pale vegan suede from Machi Footwear.

The designer is also expanding into intimate apparel. She recently debuted a collection of lace lingerie that includes vintage silhouettes with dramatic kimono sleeve robes that she presented at Midtown restaurant Sushi Roxx. The crazy pop-tech Japanese themed venue was the perfect backdrop to her sexy pieces.

Runway photos by Mariana Leung, Lingerie photo by Charles Farrah

Check out Project Runway All-Stars: What Are They Working on Now?
by Ms. Fabulous at Mode

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Blogger Love: Cozy Chic

This week's Blogger shout-outs contain a lot of gift guides for all types of style or beauty fans. There was also a lot of guidance on winter chic, both dressy and casual for the winter weather, whatever climate there may be. 

Happy Holidays !

• Afternoon Glow: Winter Style Inspiration
• Attire Club: 2015 Holidays Gift Guide
• Cat Eyes & Skinny Jeans: {Holiday Gift Guide} Stocking Stuffers
• Everyday Starlet: Chanel Christmas in Paris Tablescape
• Happy. Pretty. Sweet.: Holiday Sparkle Under $50
• Hey Just Jei: Alternative Gifts for the Ethically Inclined
• I’m a Norbyah: Repeat Outfit Offender | Fashion Faux Pas or Ecochic?
• Lady Goodman: Small Business Saturday | Placard
• Lil Miss Bianca: La Dolce Vita
• Maggie a la Mode: Giving Back While You Shop
• Ms. FABulous: Geeking Out on the Costumes of The Whiz Live
• MySelf Expressed: Giving in Color | White
• Petite Silver Vixen: 15 Tips to Cope with SAD
• Prime Butterfly: 6 Unique Fashion Gifts for Her
• Rain of Peonies: Fur or Tweed? I Say Both
• Sassy Ethnic Bohemian: In Which We are Invited to Holiday House by Harris Tweed
• SassyPlus: Holiday Casual with Haute Style
• This Season’s Gold: Warming Up | Check Coat & Flat OTK Boots
• We Are Ready Made: Join a Digital Trip
• Yukova: River Island Spring Summer 2016 Press Day

SPONSOR: Shopbop Holiday Gift Guide, MM6, Madewell Dresses, Veronica Beard Jackets, MDS Stripes, SAME SWIM, Emerson Road, Infinity Scarves, Vests, Men's Accessories

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Santa's Hipster Makeover

How surprised was I that the Santa from my hometown shopping mall was making headlines around the world? The  #YorkdaleFashionSanta from Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto has been rebranded and given a very chic makeover. 

While the beard is intact, it leans more Williamsburg lumbersexual than the faux glue-on variety. The nylon furry red suit is replaced by designer menswear. Yorkdale Shopping Center has some of my favorite restaurants for lunch and houses boutiques showcasing many of Canada's top designers. On the rare occasion that I venture out for Boxing Day shopping it will probably be there. I'm not at all surprised that their festive holiday rep would look like this gentleman.

Fashion Santa's alter ego is a model working his third decade in the industry, Paul Mason. He has appeared in campaigns for DKNY, spreads in GQ and named one of Toronto's Best Dressed prior to his current jolly gig.

I can imagine more adults want to sit on his lap than children. Unfortunately for his fans, his lap is not available, but you can take selfies with him instead. For every selfie posted online tagged with #YorkdaleFashionSanta, Yorkdale Shopping Center will donate $1 to the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. This is the city's most progressive research intensive pediatric facility that helps, you guessed it, sick children. If you're not in town to pose with sexy Santa, you're welcome to help out the hospital online.

Toronto Fashion Santa Paul Mason

photos by Chris Nicolls for Yorkdale Shopping Center

Check out Hollywood's Sexiest Santa Helpers
by Ms. Fabulous at Mode

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Holiday Giveaway: Free Spa Pedicure in NYC With Gift Bag!

To my NYC peeps, who needs a pampering pedicure tomorrow or Friday? Coastal Living magazine is treating us to at treatment at New York Nails and Spa to celebrate their Bradenton Florida collection of nail polish.

All you have to do is call New York Nails and Spa to make your appointment and tell them you would like to redeem the Coastal Living Offer. To be eligible, you would need to choose one of the lacquer shades above.

The spa is located in a posh space at 145 West 55th Street, New York NY 10019. Enjoy!

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Geeking Out on the Costumes of The Wiz Live

Oh yeah. Finally caught The Wiz Live today and bam! The production was fantastic. I expected no less considering the talent, but being the fashion girl that I am; the costume design was what blew me away.

Paul Tazewell's Costume Designs Were Over the Top Fantasy

I loved how costume designer Paul Tazewell brought in all sorts of historic fashion and costume references into this show. If you are a Broadway fan, you are already familiar with his work in shows like "In The Heights" (shout out to my 'hood), "Caroline or Change" and "The Color Purple." The difference is that those productions were grounded in reality. Tazewell's designs for The Wiz were over the top fantasy. (Ironically he had already costumed this production once for high school).

I drooled over Mary J. Blige making an entrance in this cyber-goth ballgown as Eviline. The evil witch silhouette and hair was a bit Queen Elizabeth I, while the rubbery tubes reminded me of The Matrix. Uzo Aduba as Glinda, the good witch, was described by Tazewell as a "ball of light". I don't know if most viewers noticed the lit fibre-optic threads she was wrapped in or the hand embroidered crystals sparkling over her skin or the gold horsehair skirt ruffles that helped them look like they were floating on air.

While press photos showed the major glamor pieces like the ones above, the supporting cast costumes were just as spectacular. When Dorothy first arrives in Oz, the pleated pieces are reference Japanese designer Issey Miyake. Amber Riley's character AddaPearl had a bright blue contrasting costume that read techno-geisha. She had the voluminous wig flowing coat with medallions that were reminiscent of kimono shapes and Japanese crests without aping them. Designers, THIS is how you design with a culture that you're inspired by, without cultural appropriation. Take the spirit, pay tribute but don't just regurgitate it. Redesign and update.

Speaking of redeeming cultural appropriation, how fabulous was that voguing number at the emerald city? The stage looked like a neon green (and LED embroidered) runway inspired by 1990s Thierry Mugler. However, voguing was NOT Madonna's dance craze. Vogue balls and competing vogue houses originated in African-American and Hispanic neighborhoods with communities that were largely marginalized during gritty times in New York City. The movement hit its peak in the years after The Wiz movie debuted. I caught the end of this era when I first moved to NYC, watching dancers voguing on the top floor of Webster Hall like they were rock stars. This might have been just a creative choice by the director, but others saw it as reclaiming a part of LGBT culture.

In looking back at the original movie version of The Wiz (I not fortunate enough to see the original Broadway version), I was a little disappointed that the NBC production lost all of that grittiness. The movie terrified me as a child, but rewatching it as an adult, I appreciated seeing the real New York locations, a little worn, still edgy. It gave the movie soul. Tony Walton created the costumes for the movie back then. Eviline's costume was still spectacular, though not as glam as Mary J. Blige.

The lion's fur was more afro to the 2015's dreads. The tin man was more colorful in Walton's design like he was cobbled together from found metals and cans. Ne-Yo's tin man had an industrial look, but shinier and polished. Michael Jackson's Scarecrow had a wild, boho artist vibe while 2015's scarecrow was made to look like a collage of artsy hipster findings. 

Queen Latifah as the wizard made her entrance in what Tazewell intended to be an androgynous, severe look. Think Grace Jones, but much more green. When she revealed herself towards the end, it was in an elegant, but very mundane look that was almost jarring next to all of the other costumes. She looked like she was an executive who had walked onstage to interrupt the show. Shanice William's Dorothy costume was more of a chic urban school look. She had the cranberry colored moto jacket paired with a high-fashion plaid skirt with the sharpest pleats I have ever seen. I was a little disturbed by uber-masculine Common's sparkling emerald suit, but he still looked hot. 

So thank you for indulging in my nerdgasm over The Wiz Costumes. The show was a mix of my love of NYC club nostalgia, costume and fashion design and geekery over Broadway musicals. I hope the show's success is only the beginning of many more creative collaborations on television.

Costume portraits by Paul Gilmore / NBC, Screenshots from NBC, movie stills Universal Pictures

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Art Basel Miami - Where The Fashion Crowd Parties

Art Basel is Miami's annual celebration of all that is art. The top earning artists and galleries down to the up-and-coming sculptor displaying his work at McDonald's. The fashion crowd headed south this week to check out stylish parties in South Beach and boutiques in the Design District.

Art Hearts Fashion is a travelling collaboration showcasing young artists and designers for one of the sexiest parties in each city. After NY Fashion Week and Los Angeles, they held a party at Spectrum Art Fair along with runway shows of Mr. Triple Ex, Amato Couture and the House of Li Jon,

Valentino's 3-story emporium of high fashion opened in Miami's Design District this year. For Art Basel, the boutique hosted a celebration in honor of fellow Italian artist Pietro Ruffo.

Also in the Design District was biker chic jewelry designer Chrome Hearts hosted a cocktail party in collaboration with the Sean Kelly Gallery. They know the fashion crowd, treating them to cocktails and macarons from Laduree.

william mackrell art basel shot by BFA

The Gen Art organization came roaring back this year after a few years on hiatus. They helped launch runways shows for up and coming fashion designers during NYFW. Now in South Beach, they presented artist  William Mackrell in a performance art piece at the Mondrian Hotel.

With big international names, Art Basel seems like it might be an event that focuses on outside creatives. Worry not, local Miami knitwear fashion maven Karelle Levy is hosting an event with 3000+ local influencers on Friday at the Miami Hearts Design bash. If you didn't get an invite to the other parties, you can actually pick up a reasonable ticket for this party. It will feature an installation from artist and performances from hometown entertainers MILLIONYOUNG, Afrobeta and DJs Bedside. 

Stay cool, stay stylish and enjoy Miami's Art Basel everyone!

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#GivingTuesday 'Tis the Season!

Did you get your shopping on? I know I advocated to avoid Black Friday in lieu of giving, adopting or shopping online. If you missed your chance to be generous, you now have Giving Tuesday. Today is set aside to volunteer or donate to great causes in the spirit of the holidays.

Canada Cares Auction
My friends and family have been working on supporting a family of refugees from Syria. The family members recently arrived in Toronto, but they still need a lot of help now that they have landed. The Canada Cares Auction has a great range of everything from spa treatments, fashion, Broadway tickets, gourmet goodies, etc. that you can bid on to help those in need.

BreastCancer.org
Want your generosity to be doubled? Now through December 31st, your donation to Breastcancer.org will be matched by one of their top donors. The organization serves to educate, support and inspire women on breast cancer and breast health.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Our favorite source for blockbuster costume exhibits and of course, the Met Ball, they have an opportunity to match donations until the end of the year as well. Double your donation to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Shikshya Foundation Nepal
Remember the victims of the Nepal Earthquake? Their struggle isn't over. Fashion designer Prabal Gurung has been very passionate in helping the people of his home country. He rounded up top celebrities and other fashion icons to get the word out. He is on the board and acts as ambassador for the Shikshya Foundation to raise funds for earthquake relief. You can donate to Shikshya Foundation here.

UBER & (RED) Team Up to Fight AIDS
December 1st is World AIDs day. You know you're ordering your UBER car today anyway. Just confirm when your ride is over to donate a few dollars to the UBER +(RED) organization, the global advocacy group intent on ending AIDS. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match donations on top of yours so you can be doubly generous once again. If you can't ride with (RED) Jimmy Kimmel will also host his Shop-a-thon to raise funds for the organization tonight.

Does that give you some inspiration on who to help for #GivingTuesday? If you need more ideas just search the hashtag anywhere on social media on ways to help.

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