Want It Wednesday

What: Walk On Maps has taken a great idea in stride. This young, urban fashion company has created an imaginative way to celebrate New York City: flip-flop sandals that sport a print of an official NYC subway map. What better way to take Manhattan than to keep it under your feet?

Why: Not only will I relieve my footsies of the scrunched up pressure 5 inch stilettos give my innocent toes, but I wont have to use HopStop.com. I just have to hop on one foot and have a map readily in hand!

Grab it too! http://www.walkonmap.com/

Product Love

Yesterday I visited my local mall to get a refill on my Clinique foundation... but I couldn't just get that...I had to try the new chubby stick they put out on their beauty line.

One word.. irresistible. I love love love this product and will stock up on this, in every color they have. Sadly, they only have a handful of colors, ranging from Chunked up Cherry to Graped Up, but the 8 colors they do have are gorgeous!

The super nourishing balm is loaded with mango (mmm) and shea butters. I got Woppin' Watermelon and my lips look ravenish(ly) juicy after applying this chunky stick gloss.

NYFW: Betsey Johnson 2012

For spring, Betsey’s theme was T & A (yep, that sure as hell stands for tits and ass). And there was tons of it, not just in the brightly-colored bras and panties themselves, but also in more layered looks...like see-through party dresses that highlighted the lingerie underneath. Patterns and textures were classic Betsey Johnson (leopard, rhinestones, skulls, frills), but with one totally new influence: Mary Katratnzou.

Want It Wednesday

What: Rejuvenated Vintage Typewriters

Why: NYC-based Kasbah Mod restores vintage typewriters to their fully functioning glory. With an added line of custom paint jobs in single and two-toned shades—under the moniker Kasbah Mod(ified)—their well-oiled typewriters might look like art, but they’re also inspirational, practical and reliable writing tools. Perfecto..for a gal like moi.

Grab it: http://kasbahmod.com/

NYFW: Rafael Cennamo SS 2012

Up-and-coming (not to mention super cute) designer Rafael Cennamo's first real throw at New York Fashion Week was this week, for his Spring 2012 collection. Mr. Cennamo, who has been designing his line for years, showed for his first time at Lincoln Center this season!

"It feels like I am now really part of fashion, you know," Mr. Cennamo said during his presentation. "I feel super excited. I took my time, and I am very happy."

The 22-dress collection was lovely. Cennamo took inspiration from collectable dolls, and hair and makeup on his models really pushed that idea. Dresses were organized, distinctive, and were presented by style and color. Cennamo turned heavily to white, lilac, and black. The palette, if seemingly flat, was anything BUT that with tremendous detailing of lace, beads, and feathers.

The mood was relatively light in The Box. Servers passed champagne, each with a single raspberry at awaiting at bottom. Whitney Port, of MTV's The City, enjoyed the showing. "It's gorgeous, so pretty," she said.

Backstage Beauty: Prabal Gurung SS 2012

The inspiration: Neo-feminist. Inspired by Nobuyashi Araki's photographic series, "Sensual Flower."

Makeup: Lead artist Charlotte Tillbury, for MAC Cosmetics, focused the look around a matte fuchsia lip.

"Prabal wanted the lips to feel like there was an orchid growing out of them," says Tilbury. "Dreamy, but in an intoxicating way." She first lined the lips with MAC PRO Lip Pencil in Process Magenta, then filled them in with a blend of Lipmix in Fuchsia, Burgundy and Black -- creating an ffect that was darker on the inside, like a flower. Tilbury wanted the rest of the skin to have a high-shine effect: "Almost sci-fi looking," she says.

MAC Metal-X Cream Eyeshadow in Young Venus and Warm Thunder (available next spring) was then applied to the eyes, followed by a bronze sculpting powder below the cheek bones to highlight and define.

Tilbury then added MAC Strobe Cream in Pearl right above the cheeks to create even more sheen. She finished the look by adding a swipe of mascara to the outer lashes and gelling up the eyebrows.

Hair: Fekkai hairstylist Didier Malige wanted the models to look like they'd done their hair themselves: "Like they just washed it, and combed it back," he says. To get the slicked-back, still wet-looking style, Malige prepped the models' hair with Fekkai Coiff Extra Control Styling Gel. Then with a fine comb, created a center part. He then added Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Sheer Shine Mist to enhance the sleek, gelled style. The bottom half was flat-ironed straight and left dry.

Nails: Jin Soon Choi partnered with Sally Hansen to create three custom colors for Prabal's Spring 2012 collection: A minty, seafoam green (Barely Bluebell), a deep fuchsia (Purple Posy) and a dark, dark gleamy-metallic purple (Loves-Me-Not). For the show, this last shade was applied over Sally Hansen Lacey Lilac -- allowing a sliver of lilac to show -- creating a two-tone, reverse half-moon effect.

It's Showtime!!

NYFW: Venexiana SS 2012

Venexiana's S/S 2012 collection was a parade of shimmering couture gowns, it took glitz and glamour to a whole new level! The models followed in single file to anarchic punk and rock n roll music. The combination of show stopping evening wear and vibrant runway tracks always get the blood flowing back into our numb, heel-abused feet. This season, the crowd rocked out during the finale walk to a very modern cover of the classic rock tune, “Louie, Louie”, made famous by The Kingsmen.

The first look, a pink off the shoulder evening gown embellished with Swarovski crystals. The collection featured an astounding 71 looks which were predominantly glimmering-detail gowns and cocktail dresses.

Just about every color of the rainbow made an appearance at one point or another in and on the runway...Stern was definitely feeling bold hues such as blood red, burnt orange, bright fuschia, and most of all, golds and silvers! Details that were absolutely essential for her Spring designs were the Swarovski crystals, maticulous embroidery, sewn sequins, and flower detail.

Whether Venexiana unleashes your inner punk-rock cinderella, or might be too extravagant for you taste, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Stern’s rebellious spirit. While most designers opt for a quick wave and bow after their show’s finale, Stern took the full length of the runway and made the show’s ending just as exciting as its commencement. Bravo!

NYFW: Tadashi Shoji SS 2012

If you need to read the show notes to see the inspiration behind the designers collection, there is just something not right! With Tadashi Shoji, you didn’t have to read the show notes to pinpoint immediately thatTadashi Shoji was inspired by tulips this season, more specifically the tulip conveyed by photographer Ron van Dongen. The show opened with gorgeous petal and tulip skirts, dresses in a variety of colors and continued with a one-shoulder dress with a side puff akin to a bouquet of flowers. Other cocktail dresses came down the runway with accented grass-like washes of color.

The collection gave a sense of pleasant, airiness...it must have had to do with the silk linen, embroidered lace, and draped tulle. To describe his collection in one word, there is no other way than to say, Tadashi Shoji was simply...breath taking.

NYFW: Pink Tartan SS 2012

Mod met French chic met '50 at Pink Tartan, where designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran presented an array of fun, flirtatious looks at The Box in Lincoln Center during NYFW SS 2012. Looks ranged from a great white full-skirted shirtdress to a lovely tank dress in blue and aqua stripes.

The collection had a sexy yet classy, glamorous retro vibe. With sequin shifts, drop-waist dresses, and a few monochromatic looks, this was a great collection with pieces every and any girl can incorporate into their wardrobe.. The pops of color including fuschia, burnt orange and various shades of blue were my absolute favorite!

Ruffian SS 2012

Bran Wolk and Claude Morais made the unthinkable possible yesterday, gearing up sporty with chic for their Spring/Summer 2012 collection!
The designers, inspired by the horse country of upstate New York, Saratoga Springs to be exact, featured jockey jerseys and seriously amazing color blocking!

With colors like neon pink and orange mixed and blues and greens, immediately, I had fallen in love. The collection was prim and trim, and even featured a tank suit with a diagonal spice across the torso!

Personally, this was one of my favorite shows so far for MBNYW SS 2012, the application of colors, color blocking, you can say their Spring lineup was straightforwardly sporty, yet chic.