Summer Wedges

Summer is almost here, or so I like to think. This means that the search for the perfect summer wedge is on. Every year I go on the hunt for that shoe that is comfy enough for the whole day, and manages to carry me from day to night. Few succeed and I often find myself buying flats in the middle of a hot NY summer day when the failing ones let me down. Here are the finalists for Summer 2011. Some are out of budget, but a girl is always allowed to dream.

Click on the pics for more info on each.

Oh, and just in case you forgot, I’m a 6.5 and I accept gifts.

Yellow & Blue

I’m going to start this off by admitting I’m not very big on sunglasses. I stick to the classic big black frames and rarely venture away unless it’s for a cheap & fun pair to get me through a sunny summer day.

But these, oh these, had me falling in love at first sight (pun not intended). They have a classic shape that I adore, but with some fun coloring that adds a splash of fun. Gimmee.

Buy them (for me) here.

Swimsuit Summer

Summer is almost here, and swimsuits are everywhere. I hope this summer is as full of swimsuits for you, as (i hope) it will be for me.

Below are my favorite picks for beachware from Net-A-Porter. A bit out of budget, but a girl can dream.

Miu Miu’s feminine take on the bikini.

A unique Missoni crochet one-piece

DVF knows how to pull off a one-piece. It’s sexy yet stylish.

 

Herve’s take on the popular monokini. As expensive as his mini dresses

An amazing coverup by Mara Hoffman

This DVF cover up would make any  beach outfit complete

 

I’ve caught the summer bug. Hope these cloudy and windy days go away soon.

 

Behold

BHLDN (pronounced beholden), Anthropologie’s new Bridal shop, opened on February 14th to a lot of expectations. Though the dresses left a lot to be desired, the lingerie is worth a virtual trip into the new online store.

Enjoy

Vera Wang for David’s Bridal

Being on a recent college grad’s budget, I’m all for fashion for the masses. Designer collaborations make me giddy with their over-promises and attainable prices (as you can see here) . This one has no reason to make me excited personally, but I’m still happy for all those brides-to-be that, even on a limited budget, will be able to avoid tacky hideousness and go for a little Vera instead.

Enjoy the surprisingly pretty dresses below.

 

 

 

(via Fashionista)

 

 

Valentine’s Day

stats via the US Census, She Knows and TopCultured

Uggly Choos

I rushed to H&M the day the Jimmy Choo for H&M line launched. I was excited and hopeful I would find a fabulous pair of the coveted Choo for my closet. The trip was unsuccessful and disappointing. They were ill-fitting, hard, and cheap looking. So I moved on. I didn’t think about it twice.

Now they go ahead and announce a Jimmy Choo and UGG collaboration. What is Tamara Mellon on?! I will admit I am a closeted UGG wearer (I reserve them for trips to school and Whole Foods), but I don’t think Tamara Mellon will be able to make them look trendy and fashionable. The reworked UGGs, which will launch in October, will keep the same shape, but will include “classic Jimmy Choo design details”

If collaborations aren’t your forte you move on and carry on ding what you do best– mile high stilettos and embellished flats.

Gilt Noir

I thought I was cool. I was in on all the sample- sale sites before all of my friends. I was a Hautelook, Gilt, and Rue La La member before it was trendy (and before things ran out in the first two minutes.) I thought it was my own little secret, even though I knew millions were in on it, and that’s partly what made shopping on those sites so special. I was in on something. I was part of a shopping club.

Gilt has managed to make me feel out of the club. No, they haven’t kicked me out (can they do that?), but they have created an exclusive club within the club. Gilt Noir lets the top .01% of members get  in on the sales 15 minutes before they start. They also get special perks. According to W Magazine’s Editor’s Blog:

Noir members will have access to special events, such as wine tastings at Christie’s, cooking classes with Waverly Inn chef John DeLucie and training sessions with the U.S. ski team in New Zealand.

Who’s in?  Gwyneth Paltrow, the VP of Google Marissa Mayer and 1,800 others that spent more than $10,000 on Gilt Group in the past year.

One of the recipients of the card posted the list of perks, and a picture of her package online.

This is the basic gist about the Noir card:

Get to sign in 15 minutes before the sale and see the items first

Special sale events:
the finest luxury labels
unrivaled access to emerging designers
custom-made couture clothing and jewelry
private dinners prepared by world-renowned chefs

getaways to secluded resorts

Special invitations to fashion shows, trunk shows and screenings.

Needless to say, I want in!

For an invite to Gilt:  http://www.gilt.com/invite/dianamella

Kiddie Chic

I swear we must be related somehow.

via Lola

Coco Chanel is Rolling in her Grave

Perez has made his life criticising others. He’s made a ton of money over making people feel inadequate at what they do (or attempt to do). I won’t pretend I hate him, I was obsessed with his web page not so long ago, but I’m over his new self-promotion antics.  He loves dissing actresses that go into singing and singers that go into acting. He’s tried writing a book (didn’t sell as much as planned), and designing a fashion line (horrible), but his success has been through his gossip blog. If he recognizes that to each his own why is he going into fashion blogging? His new web page Coco Perez, which Perez refers to as “the ultimate destination for where celebrity meets fashion,” is an unnecessary attempt to dive into one of the areas he knows the least about. He knows nothing about fashion (see his own clothes and styling) and I think it’s ridiculous in venturing into this area. I doubt he’ll be feautring anything beside b, c and z list actors and actresses that don’t know how to dress. I wonder if we’ll be seeing any real fashionistas or stylish people there? And no, his obsession  Lady Gaga, doesn’t count as stylish.

The weirdest thing is his reference to Coco Chanel in his blog title page when I’m sure that if she were alive she’d want nothing to do with him.

Another interesting observation is Gap’s sponsorhsip of this page. It tells how desperate they are to jump into the “hip” and “fashionable” band wagon. I don’t think Perez is the best way to do so. The Sartorialist and other blogs of the like show people in classic, not trend, pieces that look great and might identify more with the Gap brand. Yes, Perez reaches a mass market, but it’s a mass market obsessed with Britney’s comeback, Katie Price and Lilly Allen’s stupid moves. I don’t think this is something that Gap, known for its classic looks, wants to be associated with. Their collaborations with designers was a much better way to get attention.

Though Perez is a media genius and I have to give him props for being able to get virtually unknown singers into everyone’s head and for adding charities into his blog posts, I think he should’ve learned from his past mistakes of venturing outsie his forte, and leave fashion blogging to those who know about it.

Some of my favorite fashion blogs:

• The Sartorialist - for stlyish street fashion from NY to Milan
• Easy Fashion – for street styles from Paris
• The Cut – Ny Magazines fashion blog. Great for info on Brands and
• Go Fug Yourself – for my dose of celebrity bashing with wit and amazing pop references
• Sea of Shoes - a sort of edgy fashion diary. so famous she got her own shoe collaboration with uo.
• Cherry Blossom Girl – a great mix between fashion and photography.
• Jak and Jil Blog-  amazing pictures of shoes and fashionistas.
• Who What Wear- celebrities and fashionistas with a unique take on trends.