VeryVeryChic

Look Who's Talking Very, Very Chic!

 

                                                                                        photo courtesy of Fashionologie

 

FNO Heats Up With The Lanvin Dance-Off!!

 

  

 

Fashion's Night Out is almost here.. And what better way to celebrate than the Lanvin dance-off??!!!  Last year the French house converted its store on Madison Avenue into a game night venue. This year guests can get their groove on. The contest is inspired by the dance moves in its Fall 2011 campaign video featuring Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmerman. You know its uber cool since it was directed by Steven Meisel - think couture clothes, and some serious fun!! Elson and Zimmerman will serve as judges for the contest - all the details on Vogue Daily. If you plan to join the FNO festivities and are seeking inspiration - be sure to practice the moves in the Fall campaign video. And just for fun, have a look at the Spring 2011 video below  - love, love the kitsch and the drama!!

 

   

Beyoncé is Very, Very Chic at the VMA's!!

 

                                                                    photos courtesy of Getty Images/MTV

 

 

Beyoncé is so Very, Very Chic!! I just posted the smashing menswear-inspired look she wore on stage, but she gets my vote on the red carpet as well. How beautiful is she in this beautiful Lanvin gown? Baby bump included. Congrats Beyoncé and Jay-Z!!

"She's The MAN" at the VMA's

 

    
                                                                           photos courtesy of Getty Images/MTV
        

 

What was hotttt and so Very, Very chic at the MTV Video Music Awards??

It wasn't the over-the-top candy coated look of Nicki Minaj or Katy Perry (even in Dior!). It was Beyonce and Lady Gaga dressed in their hotter than hot gender-bending menswear-inspired threads. The theatrical intro Gaga - aka Jo Calderone - gave before opening show was meant to be packed with drama to deliver the message of her award-winning "I Was Born This Way" video. Appearing as her alter ego and sporting men's threads was a way more cutting edge way to drive home the social activism message of the song. (The video won for Best Video With a Message). And Beyonce and co. in men's inspired tuxedos? SO chic!! It was refreshing to see classic styling - clean lines, white shirts and the ever popular wide leg trouser after the past several seasons of sequin body suits and high tech futuristic costumes. A tuxedo was especially an interesting choice as Beyonce announced her pregnancy - yes, on stage! Nothing could be more "Sasha Fierce" than a powerful woman taking charge and entering motherhood. Menswear is one of the hottest trends for Fall and it dominated the stage at the VMA's so you can be sure this trend is here to stay.  

For my forecast on the look go here.

 

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Beyoncé

 

 

 
Lady Gaga - aka Jo Calderone

 

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Lady Gaga

 

 

More videos from the VMA's here

 

VeryVeryChic LOVES: CAFÉ GRATITUDE

 

                                                                                                    photos courtesy of Cafe Gratitude

 

 

"I Am Dazzling" "I am Connected," "I am Courageous" "I am Grateful" may seem like a Jack Handy kind of validation list, but it's actually the menu for the delectable Vegan restaurant Café Gratitude. The Woody Harrelson-endorsed cafe opened earlier this year on Larchmont Avenue in Los Angeles and has become a mecca for Larchmont's chic entertainment scene. Everyone from actors to producers, studio execs and  yoga Moms frequent the hot spot located just south of Hollywood Blvd. Originally founded in the Missiom District of San Francisco, it has six locations in the Bay area and a farm in Vacaville, Calif. where all of its produce is grown. After an extremely busy summer (and dare I say toxic diet), it's my latest happy discovery. I went there recently to have lunch with and upon the suggestion of the lovely Elissa Kravetz of Kravetz PR. The menu, made from 100% organic raw and cooked food, is indeed transformational. Think beyond fresh juices and the requisite wheatgrass shot to the "I Am Calm" pot of chamonmile tea infused with lemongrass, lemon myrtle, and spearmint; the "I Am Fulfilled" salad with mixed greens, carrots, beets, tomatoes, sprouts, avocado and teriyaki almonds; and the "I Am Extraordinary" BLT sandwich with sautéed maple coconut, romaine lettuce, sliced tomato and avocado served with chipotle aioli on toasted Panini bread. Hungry yet?!! And then there is the "I Am Grateful." It's a community supported grain bowl (shredded kale, quinoa, black beans and garlic-tahini sauce) created to allow for those in financial need to have access to organic vegan food. Payment is by donation and no one is turned away. Promoting consciousness and sustainability as well as health and well being for all including the planet? Awesome. And it couldn't be more chic. 

 

 

Café Gratitude

639 N. Larchmont Blvd. 

Los Angeles, CA 90004

(323) 580-6383

 

Tiffany & Co: Celebrating Love, Romance, & Style

 

 

"Tiffany & Co.'s stunning diamond engagement rings and beautifully crafted jewelry have made special occasions a reason to celebrate. The iconic jeweler has a rich heritage whose style has graced major events throughout history and continues to live on in legendary fashion." 

                                                                                                 - N. Jayne Seward for M Magazine

 

 

Tiffany & Co. is classic, but it is also so, so modern. Its new product line and social media campaign is captivating. It launched a new Frank Gehry Watercolor collection just last week and look for the new Tiffany Era collection, bold, graphic jewelry inspired by archival 1970s pieces, set to be fete'd on Fashion's Night Out in select Tiffany & Co stores.

The name is synonymous with love and romance, so it seems a perfect fit that it recently launched a site dedicated to the subject. WhatMakesLoveTrue is a website and iphone App for the true romantic. Love notes, love songs, the latest wedding rings, relationship advice, real life love stories and Edward Burns' short film "Will You Marry Me" are all reasons to check out the new site and Facebook page. And if you're visiting NYC, the site has a full section dedicated to the city of romance. Tips for two on where to sip a cocktail, enjoy a fabulous meal or watch a sunset are all included.

If you're not so into the love topic, but just love great product, Tiffany & Co. is constantly collaborating with iconic designers. - Frank Gehry, Paloma Picasso, Elsa Peretti - and creating beautiful new jewelry. Think Tiffany Locks and Tiffany Keys, the chic Tiffany Twist jewelry collection which launched for Mothers' Day and Tiffany Yours, a popular collection or rings, bangles and charms. Recently, I learned all about Tiffany's new summer product selection while writing a feature story for Newport Beach-based M Magazine. The luxury lifestyle publication is focused on all things chic, so it was a natural fit. Scroll down for the intro to my story..... and for the full read go to p. 30 of the online mag at mmediasite.com.

On a personal note, I'm a huge fan of Tiffany's for supporting coral conservation. The high-end jeweler discontinued selling coral jewelry in 2002 and has initiated projects to raise consumer awareness for this important issue. Tiffany also supports the nonprofit organization SeaWeb and the Too Precious To Wear campaign which seeks to educate both consumers and retailers about coral conservation. Read more in my "Under the Sea" blog post here.

 

Photos courtesy of Tiffany & Co./M Magazine

 

 

"Tiffany & Co.'s stunning diamond engagement rings and beautifully crafted jewelry have made special occasions a reason to celebrate. The iconic jeweler has a rich heritage whose style has graced major events throughout history and continues to live on in legendary fashion. From the iconic 128 karat Tiffnay diamond necklace worn by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffanys" to the jewels worn by First Ladies and celebrities on the red carpet, its name is synonymous with high style. The famous Tiffany Blue Box is almost as coveted as the elegant jewelry it holds. Timeless appeal and a legacy of exclusivity and flawless craftsmanship makes it style unsurpassed. Pioneering design and ongoing collaborations with iconic designers such as Frank Gehry, Paloma Picasso, Elsa Peretti and the late Jean Schlumberger keeps Tiffnay & Co.'s glamorous products consistently in demand. 

This season, the iconic jeweler has many exciting new products to add to its cache. Tiffany Locks and Tiffany Keys are just a few of the reasons to open the jewelry case. There are new engagement rings, the chic tiffany Twist jewelry collection which launched for Mothers' Day and Tiffany Yours, a popular collection or rings, bangles and charms. Engravable spaces and pre-engraved phrases such as "I Iove you," and "Close to my heart," makes these pieces especially popular. In addition, designer Elsa Peretti has added new styles to her iconic Portofino-inspired Bottle collection and a recent collaboration with Richard Lambertson and John Turex has expanded the brand's reach into handbags."  More here.

                                                                                                                   - N. Jayne Seward

Handbags by Richard Lambertson and John Turex

 

The bold  1970s archival design Tiffany Era collection is set to launch at Fashion's NIght Out

 

CARINE Roitfeld by KARL Lagerfeld

 

                                                          photo by Karl Lagerfeld courtesy of Interview

 

 

"French Vogue is now "so Carine" in its aesthetic that it's hard to believe she only took up the reigns 10 years ago. Her departure in January carries with it the knowledge that, though it might well retain its influence, French Vogue will never be the same...." 

                                                                                                                - Interview magazine

I'm not one to repost stories, but this one is toooooo good. Karl Lagerfeld interviewed Roitfeld for Interview magazine and it gives a great back story on Roitfeld's legendary career as well as life after French Vogue. Karl Lagerfeld, a long-time friend and collaborator, spoke with Roitfeld in late July in Paris and shot a few pics. Here is the Q&A, for the full article go here.

 

 
                                                      photo: Stephane Feugere, courtesy of Interview

 

KARL LAGERFELD: How far can you take an image?

CARINE ROITFELD: I think that when you're taking pictures with my principles, you can try anything. Dare to do a lot of things—dare with sexuality, dare to break taboos as long as it remains photogenic. As long as I find an elegance and beauty in it, I am not afraid to tackle anything.

LAGERFELD: I think it was Marlow who said, "There is no beauty without some strangeness in the proportions."

ROITFELD: Exactly. I think that something needs to be weird in order to have a real beauty. Beauty can be quite boring, especially if you're talking about beauty that doesn't last. And what lasts is exactly the thing that maybe wasn't pretty at first—it comes over time to be beautiful or interesting or exciting—

LAGERFELD: For example, during the golden age of movie stars, there were plenty of actresses who were deemed unattractive at the start of their careers, but struggled and finally appeared more beautiful and more iconic. Sometimes that idea of being truly iconic has something to do with not necessarily being beautiful and thus trying harder.

 

                                                                                     David Sims for Vogue Paris, March 2006
 

Quote of the Day

 

 

 

 

 

There are Three Kates in London (and they all got married this year)

 

Kate Moss for Agent Provocateur bridal, photo: Fashionista

 

Make that three. Kate, Katie, Katherine......

From the Royal nuptials to the wedding of fashion royalty, this has been the year of romance. There are three Kates in London and the world knows all about their biggest day. The couture gowns alone conjure up visions of fairytales - Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh and John Galliano. Need I say more? And then there are the flowers, the hats, the cakes and star studded guest lists. It's simply the year for the glamorous occasion. (I suspect the wedding business is very, very good right now with all this chicness to live up to!) The highly televised wedding of Kate Middleton to Prince William captured the attention of millions igniting the fairtytale imaginations of women and girls worldwide. We can't seem to get enough of the Duchess of Cambridge's style. And, yes, the Princess Catherine and Prince William dolls were released just yesterday. The fashionista wedding of Dazed & Confused's Fashion Editor Katie Shillingford (best friend of Gareth Pugh) to Alex Dromgoole - lesser known to the masses, was highly blogged and covered in fashion circles. And now Vogue has featured an elaborate photo spread by Mario Testino in its highly anticipated September issue - dubbing Kate Moss' nuptuals to Jamie Hince the most romantic wedding of the year. Perhaps there is only one Kate in London....

For more on each wedding...click the links...

 

THE ROYALS

photos courtesy of People

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The Royal procession

The Dress. The $400,000 dress that is by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen set to go on display at Buckingham Palace this summer, photo courtesy of Stylecaster

 

photos courtesy of lbtimes.com

 

Dolls

 

KATIE SHILLINGFORD & ALEX DROMGOOLE

Photos courtesy of Amy Gwatkin/AnotherMag

Hairdresser Alex Brownsell fixing Stephen Jones' veil on Shillingford

Katie Shillingford and Gareth Pugh

First dance

 

KATE MOSS and JAMIE HINCE

Photos courtesy of Vogue

Kate Moss and Jamie Hince as featured in Vogue

Moss and co.

Moss and daughter Lila Grace

ROCK STARS: Hince and Moss channeling a modern-day Mick & Bianca Jagger recreating their 1971 backseat wedding portrait


Vogue's September issue

Get Your Gold Glitter TOMS.....

 

 

.....While they're in stock.

If you have one pair of TOMS, you know they're not only stylish, but super comfy. The insanely popular Gold Glitter Classic has been sold out, but it's now back in stock. Get it while it's hot and help a child while you shop. (Just in case you didn't know), for every shoe purchased, TOMS gives a pair to a child in need.

 

Boozacarooza Rocks Santa Barbara!!

 

 

Five bands, good friends and a birthday celebration - all added up to Boozacarooza! It was an amazing two hour cruise out of Santa Barbara enjoying the sounds of Chris Schiflett (Foo Fighters' lead guitarist) and his band The Dead Peasants as well as Retrodemon, The Spreewells and The Playing Favorites! Oh, and Santa Barbara's very own The Lost Kittens!!! Happy Birthday to Luke Tierney and thank you to Erika for the invite - it was a blast!! What was the dress code? Rock n' roll cool meets nautical chic. Guests wore everything from leather jackets, fringed purses and head scarves to clean white suits, stripes and sailor caps!! What did I wear? Rocker girl gear obvi - Black leather jacket, black dress, plaid shirt, leggings and boots. Check out the pics below!!

 

Sit right back and you'll hear a tale....

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm on a boat, yo!

 

CHRIS SHIFLETT & THE DEAD PEASANTS:

 

 

 

Chris Schiflett

Styling "THE WEST" for Apparel News

LUCCA COUTURE top. PAPER CROWN skirt. THE BOHEMIAN SOCIETY leggings. GASOLINE GLAMOUR 'feather collar, photo: Ben Cope/ApparelNews

 

Spring's cool mix of sophisticated separates gets a dose of Western style when it heads to the desert. Here are images from my latest shoot for Apparel News which published today. Joshua Tree is the perfect backdrop to set the scene for this season's Native American-inspired look. Clean stripes, Navajo prints, denim and oh, so of the moment feathers are tres chic! Designers include Ever, 7 For All Mankind, Paper Crown, Nuco, Avelaka, Fremont, Chambers, The Bohemian Society, MJM, Lucca Couture and Isabel Lu. And did I mention Gasoline Glamour?!! The brand's fabulous plumage is to die for in this shoot!! ie - the fierce feather collar pictured above and feather earrings and foxtail and horn accessories below. The full shoot on ApparelNews.net.

 

A big thank you to our team who traveled to the desert and pulled out all the creative stops to produce this shoot!!

PHOTOGRAPHER: BEN COPE/7ARTISTMANAGEMENT.COM; STYLIST: N. JAYNE SEWARD; MAKEUP: GARRET GERVAIS for PRTTY PEAUSHUN at OPUS BEAUTY; HAIR: TARA JEAN for ARTMIXBEAUTY.COM/UNITE product; MODELS: AMANDA at PHOTOGENICS and JON PAUL at FORD LOS ANGELES; STYLIST ASSISTANTS: JACQUELINE BOSMAN and JOHN ALLEN THOMPSON

NÜCO sport coat and ikat short. MJM tank. KELLY LYONS necklace. CHUBBY BOOB foxtail.

Left: AGAVE DENIM shirt. KILL CITY poncho. Right: 7 FOR ALL MANKIND dress. NORMA JAYNE choker.

AVELAKA lace tank. LUCCA COUTURE maxi skirt. THE BOHEMIAN SOCIETY vintage fur vest. AK VINTAGE necklaces. KELLY LYONS turquoise wrap and Brazilian agate cuff. GASOLINE GLAMOUR feather platforms.

CHAMBERS toggle cardigan and tee. FREMONT short. VENTIDUE lambskin bag. CHUBBY BOOB foxtail.

 

Left: AVELAKA shirtdress. Right: 7 FOR ALL MANKIND jean jacket. NÜCO tank. CHAMBERS jean.  GASOLINE GLAMOUR foxtail accessory.

 

EVER's blazer. ISABEL LU maxi dress. GASOLINE GLAMOUR feather earring.

MJM's mesh top. CHAMBERS waxed denim jean. GASOLINE GLAMOUR horn collar.

Joshua Tree. Sunset. A Pictorial.

 

 

 

Joshua Tree. August 6, 2011.

 

Southwestern CHIC

                                                                                       photo courtesy of ApparelNews

 

 

Southwest style is trending for Fall and for Holiday it gets a glamorous twist. Bold geometric shapes and an understated sophistication makes this look chic, chic, chic. Think arrows, native American prints and plenty of fringe! Here is the cover layout for my accessories feature out in Apparel News this week. Designers include Martine Wester, Lena B., Bryna Nicole, Glynneth B, Josefina De Alba, Kris Nations and more. To see the full story, go to my home base at ApparelNews.net

 

 

All Over Prints

                                                                   Photo: Gregory Harris/V Magazine.com

 

 

Chic.