Josie Natori Spring 2013

Josie Natori has had a great year. She celebrated her company's 40th anniversary with a beautiful book, a museum exhibit in her home country and a gorgeous tropical fantasy of a collection for spring 2013.

The color palette was bright, like the sunny colors of the beaches.  There were a lot of figure-flattering (and disguising) draping and gathers for soft silhouettes.  Her signature embroidered details were present in the white cotton sleepwear the designer showed.

For accessories, there were several beautiful fan-like handbags.  Shoes were bright and strappy.  I would love to be able to wear the fresh orchid hairpieces on the models, but they are not for sale and far too high maintenance!

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Kara Ross Spring 2013

Luxury jewelry and handbag designer Kara Ross showed her love of the city at NY Fashion week. She created a gorgeous necklace to be shown in a jewelry design exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design.

The necklace encased pieces of concrete from the Hudson Yards as well as photographs of New York City. While most pieces like this end up looking gimmicky, this one looked architecturally chic.

The rest of spring 2013 showcased the designer's skill with interesting leather treatments, like the two-toned snakeskin clutch, or the bracelets, necklaces and rings that had expert jewelry settings using leather and collages in addition to stones.

What do you say, are you ready to wear a bit of your city around your neck?

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NY FASHION WEEK: BCBG Spring 2013

BCBG Max Azria showed a sexy spring collection with a simple color palette for NY Fashion Week.  Black, white, grey and pops of coral seem to be the only colors they will offer next season.  The looks were a mix of edgy leather, chiffon and lace with some faded floral prints.  The silhouettes were a lot more constructed than the previous fall season.

I was surprised at how much of the runway show was very dark when every other designer showed brighter, lighter colors.  I wonder how many of the styles were  a spillover from holiday 2012?  There were a few styles that had bandage-like details, similar to their sister line of Herve Leger.  That indicates to me that their collective design teams are likely overworked when styles overlap like that.

Handbags, which are very popular from BCBG were variation upon variation of the big envelope clutch.  They have been offering the envelope clutch for several seasons now, so it must be a bestseller, becoming a signature item, (or the overworked design team just gave up).  The size and scale were quite similar, as well as the styling and finish.

Whether redundancies were in this runway show or not, I still look forward to shopping the clothes I viewed in 2013.  

Full collection:

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Accessories Report - Miami Fashion Week Edition

I hope you're enjoying our runway reports of all the shows from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim. The bikinis were hot, but the accessories of South Beach were stars on and off the catwalk.  When I wasn't shooting from the photographer's pit, I did my style hunting with my phone on Instagram.

South Florida fashionistas are all about color. The sun is bright on the beach and the women are no wallflowers. Statement necklaces are more of a declaration on the runways of Mara Hoffman and Red Carter. A bunch of guests even had a chance to DIY their baubles at an event under the tents of the Raleigh Hotel.

Shoes were bold, following trends of color blocking and big floral embellishments. Handbags in Miami were far from demure. I spotted a flashy metallic envelope clutch and a neon trimmed woven rattan purse.  The Caffe Swimwear fashion show had a parade of big, brightly colored straw beach bags with over-sized tassels and wrapped handles.

One popular accessory unique to the South Beach fashion crowd is the updated turban. Maybe it's the heat, but I haven't seen that look too often in the Northeast. Variations includes luxe designer scarves, retro bows and wild prints.

Until next time SoBe!

Now you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for power. Introducing the ultra-sleek, ultra-responsive Ultrabook™, Inspired by Intel. Visit intel.com/ultrabook for more information.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Intel via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Intel.

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Street Style Accessories: Summer Edition

When the sun is beating us into submission, clothes reduce to a minimum and accessories ramp up to a maximum.  Intel's Ultrabook is this season's sleekest tech accessory and its ready to hit the streets.  In honor of Ultrabook, I went hunting through the streets of New York with my trusty Instagram...  I tracked boho divas down on the Lower East Side then bagged some of my best fashionistas in the Garment District during an open casting call of NBC's Fashion Star...

Summer's top trends of neon, rattan and bold prints were well represented in handbags.  In jewelry, earrings could be huge door knockers or demure, but brightly colored (different for each side).  Statement rings are slowly competing with statement necklaces as the conversation piece.  Heavy jeweled cuffs can also double as tools for self defense.  In shoes, bold hues and platform heels make loafers sexy, while DIY bedazzled ballet slippers were very sweet.  

What accessories are YOU rocking this summer?  I'll soon have you in my cross hairs!

Now you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for power. Introducing the ultra-sleek, ultra-responsive Ultrabook™, Inspired by Intel. Visit intel.com/ultrabook for more information.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Intel via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Intel.

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Kara Ross Resort 2012

Is there a lovelier way to spend an early summer evening than admiring luxe baubles over the Manhattan skyline?  I don't think so.

Designer Kara Ross previewed her gorgeous collection of handbags and jewelry on the rooftop lounge of her Columbus Circle building.  There were plenty of her signature glittering pieces with lots of stones and exotic envelope clutches.  

What always sets her handbags apart for me, is her innovative treatments of the leather.  She takes surface design on her leathers a step further.  A glazed python clutch is additionally airbrushed with metallic.  Deeply dyed ostrich is two-toned on the spots.  The trend of Ikat patterns is re-interpreted in snakeskin with handpainted designs right on the leather.  

A neon group of jewelry was a departure for Kara Ross and my favorite of the evening.  The designer took the craft of decoupage upscale with using pieced collages of fashion magazines on top of wood and finished with acrylic for a stone-like mosaic look.  The bright patterns were paired with striking neon for amazing statement pieces for resort. 

Ladies Who Lunch Travel host Mdivani Monroe had a chance to speak with Ms. Ross about her Fall 2012 collection.  Learn about her design inspirations and what a sweetheart she truly is:

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Parsons Fashion Show - Accessories

The graduating class of Parsons School of Design students held their finale show Tuesday. I have a very long list of photographs that I need to edit from the runway show. In the meantime, I wanted to showcase the accessories designers that were on display outside of the auditorium.

Fanciful platforms with avant-garde heels dominated the shoe category. Mixed colors, patterns and structures elevated the footwear into high art.

In handbags, Coach and Li & Fung were major sponsors. Thus, the purses on display were a mix of practical, functional and highly fashionable. Creativity blossomed in the mixed materials and treatments. There were some interesting frames and multi seamed silhouettes that would look perfect on the shelves of Bergdorf's or Bendel's!

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Remi & Emmy Launches Crowd-Sourced Handbags

 Last night, an innovative handbag line launched at Caravan Stylist Studio and Socialyte.  Remi & Emmy is a project of handbag superstar Rebecca Minkoff.  The collection is available at department stores like Lord & Taylor and Dillard's.  One of the pioneers in leveraging social media and blogger relations, the company took it a step further by working with top fashion bloggers to design the product and star in their campaigns.

 Hypnotiq served up girly cocktails and a chic dessert table of cupcakes, giant marshmallows, crystal pops and cookies.  The stylists at the studio gave ladies the VIP treatment with hair and makeup makeovers.

The bags were a mix of pebbled leather and faux leather.  Some great python textures and white trim were perfectly on trend for spring.  Gold studs added some edge to bold black, red and white bags.  Zipper teeth were also used as another great accent.

The democratization of fashion has long been coming.  I think this line just elected it's consulate.

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Neon Pop L.A.M.B. from Gwen Stefani Fall 2012

Pop art and music go hand in hand. Pop icon Gwen Stefani merged the two into a bright, fresh update on 1980's style references along with 1960's sweater girls.

The Fall 2012 collection for L.A.M.B. Had a vivid palette of black, white, yellow and neon colors. Soft shoulder graphic t-shirts mixed with tailored suits in oversized neon houndstooth prints.  Big pop graphics and retro glen plaids mixed with short skirts and cigarette pants.

Handbags ranged from simple clutches with the houndstooth motif, to extra large patent neon or glossy black carryalls.  The hair was swept up in one of the season's most popular up-dos.  The semi-beehive with long hair at the back.

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Kara Ross Spring 2012

Need more bling in your life?  Jeweler Kara Ross has gems on her mind this spring, along with exotic leathers, metals and style.  All shades of turquoise, lapis and amethyst dominated this seasons' collection.  You could see it in the shades of painted skins on the envelope flap bags or embedded in the jewelry.  

Some of Kara's signature touches are the faceted finishes resembling the closeup view of precious stones on rings and cuff bracelets.  The other is the jeweled clasps on her purses for that extra luxury touch.   Some of the rarer skins used in the handbags are then set in metal like a jewel for a truly symbiotic design process across categories.  Is that an artists' perogative? Thrifty or an eco-minded creative process?  Either way, Spring's blue skies will be beautiful.

Mdivani Monroe interviews Ms. Ross to discuss her baubles in depth:

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Calypso Accessories Boutique Launch

 Finished all of your holiday shopping yet?  What about your own wish list?  Calypso St Barth opened its accessories-focused boutique on Manhattan's Lower East Side Recently.  The creative director designed it to be like a fantasy closet filled with all of your favorite baubles.

The store has an international mix of scarves, candles, handbags, jewelry, wraps, a few furry jackets too. I have to admit, the boutique is exactly what I would personally want as my closet.  It's cozy, and you can sit in the center of the quilted pouf surrounded by your glam goodies.
Calypso Accessories, 280 Mott Street, New York NY 10012, 212-965-0990

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