Who’s got Royal Fever? Just about everyone! My inbox has been flooded with press releases all about Kate –her hats, what dress she should wear, what her hairstyle should be… everything down to if I want do a giveaway on the reproduction of her see-through dress she wore that now available for sale (I dunno, do I?).
My favorite email though came from Jo Malone, who is celebrating the royal union with a specially designed window in their London store on Sloane St. I like that it honors both Kate and Will.
A few weeks ago while I was at Katie Holmes’ John Frieda event, I ran into a group of friends I hadn’t seen in a while. Amidst our departure one of them mumbled something about how we should go to this play, Sleep No More, where you wear a mask and it’s totally ‘Eye’s Wide Shut’ like. I didn’t really know what that meant at the time –was I going to watch a play and be seduced while wearing a mask? Especially since it was at a hotel I had never heard of –the McKittrick. I was intrigued.
The emails circulated, tickets we’re bought and next thing I know I’m entering a set of large unmarked black doors and being asked to check everything. When in Rome… I gave them my purse, coat, cell phone –it felt kind of liberating. I then walked to the 2nd floor bar and joined my friends. And that’s where the journey began. You walk through this maze of darkness feeling your way through and come out in something set out of the 1940s. Live entertainment with tables and a bar. The hosts all dress to a tee as if we’re all at a masquerade ball –only at this point we weren’t required to wear masks. The ticket alone was worth hanging out at the bar all night.
You’re given a card as your ticket (I had a jack), which designates your group. And call different cards up to enter the hotel. Once yours is called you follow the seductress into a small room where
This month reality TV series DC Cupcakes premiered the season finale of their 2nd season. The show, which is centered around two sisters, Katherine and Sophie, who traded their corporate jobs to open the cupcake bakery, Georgetown Cupcake.
The finale, labeled “Katherine’s Surprise”, follows Sophie as she attempts to plan and surprise her sister with an engagement party for her and fiancé, Ben. Funny enough, I was there for the party and taping of the episode (random, right?). Although until the finale aired I wasn’t able to talk about it –I signed a waiver.
Enjoying my amazing cupcakes gift box! Dress: Nicole Miller
Ben and I share a very close mutual friend who asked me to be his date to the event. I’m not sure what I was expecting out of a surprise engagement party –maybe a huge crowd and an even larger cake? Frankly I didn’t care. It was filmed in mid-January, back when I was recovering from a partially collapsed lung (and you thought you had a bad week), and needed out of NY. Any excuse to get out of bed, void of take-out and sweats and put on a form fitting dress (ahem Nicole Miller) sounded like a dream.
The party was hosted in a private room at contemporary Asia-French fusion restaurant, OYA. I walked in and was surprised to see it was an intimate gathering of close friends and family of maybe 25 people…and uh, me!
Ben and Katherine walked in and we’re both glowing, as the crowd yelled surprise. I would like to take a moment to appreciate the ginormous cupcake engagement ring Sophie made! It was unreal!
Photo booth pictures! Lara Eurdolian (me!), Mex and the City Creator Erika Mercado, and "The Moogie Man"
Mex and the Cityis a very cool cultural website and blog created to promote the free thinking, enterprising, and artistic efforts of young creatives in New York City. Created by Marina Garcia-Vasquez, Iris Avelar, Ruby Vizcarra and Erika Mercado, it is a blog that speaks about the increasing Mexican culture in the New York landscape in a fun and personal tone.
Basically they are the authorities on all things Mex in this city and throw incredibly fun events. Last night we celebrated their one year anniversary at the Hous Projects, a very cool space decorated in their blog posts! So creative… It was a hip crowd, toasting with delicious margaritas by Milagro tequila, bonding over photo booth
Bon Jovi Live at Madison Square Garden 2.24.11Hash 55 Signature Cocktails
What do they have in common? They were all apart of my Thursday night. And, no, not literally hash (although the invitation did promise “hash brownies”); it was the opening party for Hash 55, a new modern, eclectic lounge and hookah bar in Midtown.
Generally, I’m not one for Midtown bars, but the timing worked out perfecting since I scored two tickets to Bon Jovi at Madison Square Garden and figured, why not? I grabbed my date, got a drink and endured an over-booked party –we lasted about 20minutes. I don’t care how much free alcohol is in tow, it’s not worth being constantly bumped into because a party is at capacity. And I’d love to comment on the food (mainly the brownies), but literally the poor waiters would come out with horderves and would get pounced on. The problem was the party was thrown upstairs in the lounge, which is a very cool, intimate space that on a non-open bar, invite-the-entire-city type of an evening, would be a great hang out. And their signature cocktails are great! The downstairs is a large seated restaurant with bar. I wish they extended the celebration into that space so we had more room (the restaurant only had a few reservations). So naturally, my date and I
Jason Wu Fall 2011 Collection. Photo Credit: Imaxtree
I have a sweet spot for Jason Wu, not only because he’s brilliant, but also because I had the honor of attending his first runway show back in 2006; when Fashion Week was held at Bryant Park and he was the new kid on the blog. I don’t remember every detail from the show, only that I walked in not knowing who he was, and walked out with an ever-lasting impression of his work. So in 2009, when Michelle Obama choose to wear Wu for her inaugural gown, it felt like such a warranted success. I haven’t been to his show since, so I felt very fortunate enough to be able to cover his Fall/Winter 2011 fashion collection and share it will all of you!
Jason Wu Fall 2011 Collection. Photo Credit: ImaxtreeJason Wu Runway at 2011 Fall/Winter Fashion Show
For this collection, Jason Wu was inspired by the photographs taken by Robert Polidori in his book “Parcours Museologique Revister,” which documented the restoration of Versailles. As you will notice from the video (posted below), his show began with more traditional sportswear; tailored pants, and jackets then segues into evening wear, before the grand finale of this long, bright pink, silk chiffon strapless gown. While the strong change in silhouette, palette and fabrication would generally make this collection not feel so cohesive, it was the progression of his clothing and the accents of embroidery and lace he embedded within the pieces that really converged it all together. I also really like this little, black, feminine bow-tie he’s introduced.
Makeup by MAC, Nails by CND
What always stands out about Jason Wu is his attention to detail. His ability to carry over this baroque theme went beyond the clothing. We saw it in the hair, makeup, nails—all the way to the stage. He had this incredible custom runway, which looked like antique mirrors.
Roxanne Valinoti for CND created the nails for the runway show. She fashioned a gold gilded burgundy manicure using two coats of CND Dark Ruby layered with one coat of Bloodline, and gilded with Gold Chrome on the tips. To create this look at home, simply put the Gold Chrome shade on first, then apply those French Manicure stickers on the tips and paint over it with the remaining colors. Then peel the sticker off to reveal the gold tips and voila!
Makeup face chart by MAC
These manicures matched the burgundy shoes we saw on the runway and complimented the slicked back twisted low ponytails (with a flash of gold leaf accent) hair look created by Odile for Aveda.
As for the makeup, the look was created by Diane Kendal for M.A.C. Cosmetics, I mean look at this gorgeous intense gold highlighted, deeply shadowed
Happy Birthday? Happy Anniversary? In this case it’s one and the same since today, February 20th is the day that the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened it’s doors in Manhattan in 1872. Originally, it resided in a rented space at 681 Fifth Avenue and moved several times before migrating to the east side of Central Park to the home we know today (at 1000 Fifth Avenue). The Metropolitan Museum of Art is now more than 2 million square feet and contains more than 2 million works of art divided into nineteen curatorial departments.
Event: BULLETT + Jessica White Co-Host Fashion Week Kick-Off Event When: February 9th Venue: BULLETT Loft, NYC
BULLETT Magazine kicked off Fashion Week with an exclusive event, hosted by Jessica White to celebrate the launch of their inaugural edition, Volume 1: The Premiere Issue. Jessica is featured in the issue baring it all (except for a black rose Colin Yeo hat and Louboutin’s); I like her tattoos.
BULLETT is a quarterly unisex fashion and lifestyle magazine that features fashion, art, film, music and travel by way of fashion spreads, designer and celebrity interviews and travel and artist features.
Cindy Crawford graced the cover of the premiere issue, and looks absolutely stunning in her 10-page spread. The fashion photography alone is worth owning a copy, and the styling is phenomenal (I’m still stuck on the Cindy Crawford lay outs). I was also happy to see an interview with Simon Spurr included. He’s one of the male designers I’m covering for fashion
Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Bricklin, Rob DeSalle, and Will Shortz at the Museum of Natural History
On January 19th at the American Museum of Natural History, Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Bricklin, Will Shortz, Rob DeSalle, and Wendy A. Suzuki lead a panel discussion appropriately called ‘Your Brain on Ping Pong’, on what’s so great about the sport and the effects
The check presentation! In this picture: Justine Koons, Jeff Koons, Cheryl Vitali (General Manager, Kiehl's Worldwide), Chris Salgardo (President, Kiehl's USA)
Earlier this week I joined Kiehl’sfor their holiday party and benefit, hosted by contemporary artist, Jeff Koons. Back in October (you may remember me posting about this), Kiehl’s and Koons had launched a limited edition Creme de Corps collection with all the net proceeds benefiting The Koons Family Institute, an initiative of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC). The theme of the collection and party was a Wonderland of Merry. And the evening was just that, complete with a special check presentation by Kiehl’s President, Chris Salgardo to Mr. Koons for the amount of $225,000 for his charity.
Kiehl's + Jeff Koons Limited Edition Creme de Crops Collection
With ribbon surrounding the store, treats provided by Momofuku, music by DJ Paul Sevigny (yes, Chloe’s brother), a room filled with artists, models, designers and celebrities all celebrating a great accomplishment by Mr. Koons and Kiehl’s –it was
