Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

   As the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City comes to a close, I am still amazed. "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" broke Met attendance records, had fashionistas standing in line for hours just to see it.
    Unfortunately, I was not one of those people. But I have watched every video, read every article and grilled all of my friends who were lucky enough to get there.
   And I bought the exhibit book which I marvel over. I can't stop looking at it. You can't just look at a McQueen piece once and see everything. Study it and you will see so much. The craftsmanship, the delicacy of the material, the tiny details.
   McQueen was inspired by everything around him...the weather, nature, movies, music, anarchy.  He also used unusual and different materials in his clothes.  One dress that stands out is made of razor clam shells. He also used feathers, stuffed birds, antelope horns and scraps of material from fabric stores.

"Every piece is unique and has emotional content. I want to create pieces that can be handed down like an heirloom."

Alexander McQueen Another Magazine Autumn/Winter 2006

   His collections were often very dark. You can see that in some of the exhibit pieces. But you can also see the beauty. He wanted you to see something, feelsomething when you looked at his pieces.

   And every collection told a story. About 2008-09 "The Girl Who Lived in the Tree" he said, "In this collection she was a feral creature living in the tree. When she decided to descend to earth, she was transformed into a princess."  That collection included a dress of ivory silk tulle embroidered with red glass crystals and was shown with a red silk bolero. Amazing.

   Now it's up to the woman who was next to McQueen for 15 years, helping his creations come to life. Sarah Burton has been there since the beginning

"There is no way back for me now. I am going to take you on journeys you've never dreamed were possible." Alexander McQueen quoted in WWD, Feb 12, 2010 from the show's program notes

   Sarah Burton is the perfect person to head the House of McQueen. Autumn/Winter 2011 was her first collection as the new Creative Director.  It received rave reviews and then of course, there is the dress she fit for a future queen.

   Burton designed Kate Middleton's royal wedding dress when she wed Prince William in April.

   "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty"  closes August 7. There's talk about trying to make it a permanent exhibit at the Met. Since McQueen was a British designer there may be some who will want to move it to a museum in London.

   Burton said, "Lee (Alexander) was amazingly loyal, with a great belief in people." Clearly he believed in Burton and she in him.  I can't think of a better person to continue the amazing journeys Alexander McQueen's collections have taken us on. 

   Where will she take us next? 

   Fashion Week is in September and I can hardly wait to find out .

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   More about the McQueen exhibit (buy the book!) http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/ 

Manolos Made to Order

Manolos Made to Order
   Check out this link! (click on Manolos Made to Order) It's my dream come true! A chance to design your own pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes?! Once you submit the design, the shoe is made just for you in Italy....I can hardly breathe!

You Can't Fake Fashion

So I go to the eBay Fashion Vault excited to see and of course buy, a tote from the new "You Can't Fake Fashion" campaign. But they were sold out! ALL of them! They went on sale at 11am and I was on ebay at 3. Gone. All gone except for the plain tote.
   I was so happy to read that the CFDA teamed up with eBay on a new campaign to bring awareness to counterfeit goods and stolen designs. 
   eBay had canvas totes for sale in their Fashion Vault that were designed by some of today's biggest names. Written on every tote is the slogan "You Can't Fake Fashion". A tag line that rings true for the designers who took time to specially create their own tote.

  Milly, Anna Sui, Catherine Malandrino, Rodarte and Stuart Weitzman are just a few of fashion's best who took part in this campaign.

 

 
    Some of the other 50 designers included Diane von Furstenberg who adorned her tote with colorful lipstick kisses in pink and orange. (that's the one I really wanted!)  Jason Wu's tote flourished with black flowers.
   I read in the New York Post today that a computer glitch made the sale start hours before it was supposed to and that's why the totes sold out so quickly.   
   But don't despair my fellow fashionistas! The plain canvas tote with the slogan on it (not touched by a designer, but still very cool) is still available for $35.
   Get to eBay now because there are limited quantities available.
   Funds from the tote sales will go to the CFDA Foundation, Inc. a separate, non-profit company which raises money for charitable initiatives and campaigns on behalf of the American fashion industry's designers.
  Fashion for a cause!
  I got my tote! Hurry up and get yours! No really...HURRY!
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Get your tote! http://www.ebay.com/

LIghten up makeup for summer!

   It's no secret J'adore Chanel! The handbags, the jewelry and the iconic boucle jackets. I can never get enough!

   So when I saw Chanel's Rouge Coco Lip Shine, a chic new look of sheer...I couldn't wait to try every color! Rouge Coco Shine is a perfect hybrid of a lipstick and a lip gloss.

   It's light enough to wear on its own, or line your lips with one of Chanel's liners to brighten the color. Either way, it's fabulous!.

    It glides on like silk and hydrates your lips. The colors range from Chance a powder pink, LIberte a sheer apricot, Monte Carlo a pink red, Sari D'Eau a coral shimmer or Boy a natural rose.

   They can bring your look into fall with violets, berries, neutrals and browns. Check out Elise, a berry rose or Bel-Ami a plum brown. There is a color for every skin tone!

   And you may notice the names of the colors. They represent something in Coco Chanel's storied life.
  The color "Boy" is named for the love of her life, Boy Capel. She was known as a "Rebelle" in the fashion world when she tore away the structured clothing for women and introduced them to a much more comfortable jersey.
   Also places she loved to go... "Monte Carlo",  or "Deauville" where she set up a hat shop.
   And she always took a "Chance". (one of my favorite colors. I wear it alone or with Chanel's Pretty Pink lip liner.) So far I have seven colors and I wear one everyday. Love them! They glide on like silk and even though they're sheer, the colors last.
   A lighter look for summer lips....but how to lighten up the rest of your make up?
   I went straight to someone who knows. Danielle is a make up artist at my hair salon, Maxime, in Hingham, Massachusetts. They have a mineral brand of make up called b.yoffi which means "be beautiful" in Hebrew.
  Danielle and I played around with the beautiful colors just in for the season. Pinks, corals...all perfect for a lighter look.
  But what if you want that fabulous summer glow? She told me to try the b.yoffi bronzer because it doesn't have any shimmer to it. So you get that  sun kissed look with any shine. Love it!
  With a lighter lip she said play up your eyes with a bronzing gold and use other highlighting shadows to add a pop of color without over doing it. The best advice? Only accentuate one of your facial features at a time. Your eyes, or your lips...but never both.
  Keep it light for summer!
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DC Natick Consignments

As soon as I opened the door I knew this was my kind of store. There was a display with two Manolo Blahnik shoe boxes. Ahhh...love it! Then I looked toward the back wall which featured beautiful spring clothes in colorful pastels. On the side of the display.....three Chanel boxes.

I was trying to remember that I was at DC Natick Consignments for this blog, not to shop! It was my mantra for the entire time I was there. Had to keep repeating it as Mike Hajjar, the store's owner, showed me around.He opened the upscale consignment store on Route 9 in Natick two years ago, right next to his family's men's store. And on a funny little side note...he's related to Denise Hajjar, a Boston clothing designer who has her shop in the Fairmont Copley. Most definitely a small world.

DC Natick is more boutique than consignment. The clothes are current styles and are only around two years old. Designer jackets, jeans, jewelry...and shoes! Oh the shoes! Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Dior and Fendi. Just to name a few. I picked up a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes....black pointed toe kitten heels. Adorable. I also checked out a pair of Fendi stilettos that had the iconic logo covering the shoes.

On the counter was a display of fantastic and fun cocktail rings. Handbags were gently placed on the shelves above the racks. You could access everything without feeling as if you had to push other things aside. The racks were organized by style and size. I pulled out a cropped jacket that I could pair with jeans or a skirt. It was cream with a silver thread sewn through the tweed fabric with three quarter length sleeves. Oh the places we could go!

I also spotted (though it was hard to miss) a new addition to the inventory, a Louis Vuitton weekend bag with wheels on the bottom. The bag still had the box from Louis Vuitton and the gigantic Louis Vuitton store bag. Since the store puts prices at about 1/3 of retail, someone is going to get a great deal on a barely used Louis. (no I didn't buy it. I kept repeating my mantra!)

Since the store opened in May 2009 they've become a go-to spot for consignment shoppers....and consignors. In just two years they've developed relationships with 1200 consignors. Some of them have specialties. Mike told me there is a woman who consigns a lot of Chanel (I need to meet her) and there is another who brings in a lot of Tiffany jewelry. So you know when you're in that shop you're getting the best from people who have taken care of their things. Now it's your turn to enjoy them.

I did ask Mike how he handles it if someone brings in a questionable handbag. One that could be counterfeit. And I knew that I could never promote a store that sells counterfeits. So I was glad to find out he's incredibly careful when accepting handbags from new consignors and if he ever questions the bag's authenticity he won't take it.

He's also selective with the quality of the items. No rips, tears...nothing a customer would have to repair. Mike says the consignment shop is like an upscale recycling center. Consignors will clean out their closets, looking to add new things. Instead of throwing out perfectly worn outfits, they bring them in to the consignment shop. He does a 60/40 deal with consignors. The store gets 60% of the sale, consignor 40%.

It's a way for fashionistas to "trade up" their style. If you want designer clothes, but don't want to pay designer prices, a store like DC Natick is the perfect place.

A fashion lover's paradise.

While I was there I met Lauren, a frequent consignment store shopper. She said DC Natick was one of the best she's been in. And I could tell by the store bag in her hand it was a successful trip.

It was successful for me too. i learned about the world of consignment. And I spotted a few things I think I may go back for.

After all...I've written the blog, now I can shop! Wonder if those Manolo Blahniks were in my size.....


Find more information about DC Natick Consignments on their websiteL http://www.dcnatick.com/

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Fit for a future Queen

The anticipation was killing me! I was watching the Royal Wedding of William and Kate, but I was waiting for THE DRESS. One of the best kept secrets. We didn't know the designer, what it would look like. How long would her train be? As long as Diana's? Shorter?

And then the answers. Kate Middleton was helped out of the car in front of Westminster Abbey and it took my breath away..

Amazing. Beautiful....designed by Sarah Burton, Creative Director for the House of Alexander McQueen. With a V-neck lace bustier, a full embellished skirt, long sleeves and a nine foot train, it was a dress fit for the future Queen of England. Sarah Burton told Elle UK, "It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what me and the Alexander McQueen team have created."

And what they created is a dress that will no doubt start a flurry of copies with brides-to-be dreaming of wearing it and designers making it.

So how did she choose? It's hard enough to choose a dress when you're getting married. But you're marrying a Prince in front of 1900 guests and 2 billion people around the world watching your every move. No pressure.

The official statement from Buckingham Palace said "Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing." The details of the workmanship are just unbelievable.

The hand-cut English and French Chantilly lace for the bodice and the skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework based at Hampton Court Palace. Within the lace were four emblems of the United Kingdom: the rose, thistle, daffodil and the shamrock. The Palace's statement revealed that "The workers washed their hands every thirty minutes to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours, to keep them sharp and clean."
Sarah Burton oversaw the creation and then she put it together by hand.

The ivory satin bodice curved into a nipped waist. The hips were slightly flared, which is a signature of a McQueen design. The skirt echoed an open flower, with arches and pleats. The back was finished with 58 buttons.

She also wore a veil of tulle and a tiara on loan from the Queen. The 'halo' tiara from Cartier was a gift to the Queen (when she was a Princess) from her mother on her 18th birthday. Kate's diamond earrings were a gift from her parents for her wedding day.

Kate Middleton was a glowing bride who carried herself with grace and beauty. The dress was understated elegance and she wore it well.

But we were in for one more surprise! The Prince and new Princess drove out from Buckingham Palace in his father's convertible Aston Martin which was decorated with balloons and a "Just Wed" license plate. They were on their way to Clarence House before going back to the Palace for a party.

She arrived as a commoner and left a Princess.

All done in royal style.

In-JEAN-ious!

Jeans.

We all have them. We all love wearing them.

But who likes to try them on?! You have to look for the right fit, cut, length, style, color, rise.....

So when I was invited to a fundraiser called "Denim After Dark" at the National Jean Company in Newton Center, Massachusetts I admit, I had some reservations. An entire night...surrounded...by...jeans?

But It was for a really good cause. And I knew it would be a fun time to catch up with friends and chat about fashion with new ones.

So I went.

And I'm so glad I did!

The fundraiser was for Youk's Kids. An organization started by Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis. It raises money to help local kids. On this night the National Jean Company which features the Hudson Brand, was not only giving customers 15% off their purchase, they were donating 10% of all the night's sales to Youk's Kids. Money will go to a program called "Athletes for Heroes" (other Boston athlethes are involved as well). It will help kids who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Whether the parent was a member of the military, a firefighter, police officer or just a regular person. Kids will have help paying for sporting activities, anything to do with the arts or even a bereavement camp.

Everyone was shopping for the cause, but they didn't have to do it alone. At the National Jean Company the sales associates are experts in all things jeans. I've never seen so many women come out of dressing rooms smiling and HAPPY with their jeans!

I spoke with one woman who was just like me. Not thrilled to try on jeans. Especially in a store with ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE! We were laughing about it until the woman behind us held up a shopping bag and told us we had to see one of the store's sales associates, because she took one look at her, picked up a pair of jeans, led her to the dressing room...and voila! Her Denim Dream came true! New jeans that she absolutely LOVES.

What?!

I had to find out more. Not just about the sales associates at the store, but about jeans. What's in? What's out?

So I went to the source. Store manager Sarah Spalding. She gave me some advice on how to wear one of the new trends...colored jeans. Red, blue, yellow, green....oh my! But she said to keep the jeans as the focal point of your outfit. Simple accessories and a neutral top.

But the best advice? She said, "What's in, what's big is what looks good on you." Love it!

So how did a store that sells jeans and a local athlete come together?

National Jean Company is always looking to help local charities and it just so happens that Kevin Youkilis' charity was looking for some help.

So far Youk's Kids has raised $300,000. Judging by the VERY long line, which never seemed to slow down the entire night....I'm thinking they raised a whole lot more.

It was just a perfect fit. An In-jean-ious pairing!

And I'll definitely go back to the National Jean Company to find my perfect fit.

But I'm going to wait unitl the store doesn't have so many people in it.....

A Standing Ovation

Wearing my little black dress, accessorized with Chanel and my silver Manolo Blahniks, I walked into the Boston Park Plaza Hotel's Ballroom with my fabulous friend Christine. She looked amazing in a little black dress draped in all the right places, killer shoes and a vintage clutch.

We were greeted by two impeccably dressed servers who held trays with glasses of champagne.

Couldn't think of a better way to start the night.

The room was full. Everyone was here to see Boston designer Michael De Paulo's Fall 2011 collection. The event is tres chic....literally. It's also a fundraiser for Ovations for the Cure of ovarian cancer called CHIC: Cure Her in Couture. Tres bien, non? Mais oui!

We found our seats and waited for the show to start.

And what a show it was! Michael De Paulo is known for his attention to detail when creating his fabulous dresses.

He used bold colors such as red, purple and royal blue.

This dress was one of my favorites. It's architecture chic. The combination of colors is breathtaking.

All of his dresses have movement whether the beautiful fabric is draped or pleated. The models, don't just walk down the runway....they float.

So maybe you'll be floating down the aisle soon....lucky for you De Paulo also showcased a few of his new bridal designs like this one. Amazing!

Every dress was beautiful and there was something for everyone in this collection. Oh, but how to choose?!

The show closed with a jaw dropper. The theme song for the movie "The Social Network" played and Tonya Chen Mezrich (her husband Ben Mezrich wrote the book "The Accidental Billionaires" on which the screenplay for the movie was based) came out in the dress she wore to the Oscars this year. Loved it!

I gave a standing ovation. Not just for the show, but also for the cause.

Ovations for the Cure and events like this one, raise money to help women with ovarian cancer through programs such as Healthy Habits (meals for ovarian cancer patients). Funds raised also go toward ovarian cancer research and education about the disease.

Lisa Collamore, Director of Ovations for the Cure, told me "Fashion shows give (patients) something to look forward to, a girls' night out."

I'm sure the founder of Ovations, Patricia Franchi Flaherty, would have been proud of Michael's show and the supporters that packed the Park Plaza Ballroom.

Fashion for a cause.

A fabulous reason for a standing ovation.

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Photos Courtesy of:

Dimonika Photography http://www.dimonikastudio.com/

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The Oscars: The good, the bad and the what was she thinking?!

I love this time of year! Award show after award show, capped off by the best one of all...the Oscars!

Ok, so I really just love the red carpet and seeing what and who the celebs are wearing....and how they're wearing it.

And this year's Oscar red carpet had the good, the bad and the what was she thinking?!

The Good
Jennifer Hudson in a tangerine/orange Versace gown was AMAZING! Everything was perfect. The hair, the makeup and accessories only accentuated the beautiful gown. She took my breath away!

Mila Kunis in a flowing, lavender Elie Saab with ruffles and lace. A refreshing feminine look in a color not usually seen on the red carpet. Loved it!

Michelle Williams in a short-sleeved, white, beaded Chanel Haute Couture gown. With her pixie hair cut and perfect makeup she carried herself with an understated glamour that only a few celebs can pull off. She did it beautifully in Chanel.

14 year old Hailee Steinfeld. Um, are we sure she's only 14?! She looked like a princess in her beaded, custom made Marchesa nude, crystal gown. The fitted bodice and the full skirt which stopped just above her ankles was not only age appropriate...it was gorgeous! Thank you for looking your age and not trying too hard.

Halle Berry in a nude, crystal encrusted Marchesa gown with flowing tulle at the bottom. BREATH TAKING!

A glowing Natalie Portman in a plum colored, off the shoulder Rodarte gown. Fabulous! But of course, her best accessory was her baby bump.

Reese Witherspoon. Seriously, she can do no wrong. I did have a conversation about her hair with a fashionable friend and we were split. I thought it looked retro and different. She thought it looked like they added a too much hair to her head to make the high ponytail. But the Armani gown? THAT we agreed was a highlight on the red carpet. Simple elegance. She does it best.

The Bad
Oh Gwyneth....what were you thinking?! You are an Academy Award winning actress with a grace and class that only a few women in Hollywood possess The Calvin Klein straight gown with the straight hair was boring, boring, boring. I actually thought of that line in the Cee Lo song you sang on Glee when you whine, "Whyyyy, whyyyy?!"

And I definitely expected more from Cate Blanchett who wore a pink, pleated silk Givenchy Couture gown that looked like some sort of strange table cloth. Definitely left me confused...

Sandra Bullock. Oh boy. Her red, Vera Wang gown just looked like it didn't fit. Maybe if the top of the dress was pulled higher up? And she definitely did NOT need that bow on the back of the dress. The dress screamed for a necklace or maybe some drop earrings. Something to make it look Oscar ready. And maybe another fitting...

What Was She Thinking?!
Nicole, Nicole, Nicole. Oh Nicole Kidman, I adore Dior, but I did not adore your Dior. The awkwardly placed material on her hips looked like small wings. What woman wants anything extra on her hips? Odd. And her orange shoes. Um...what? I just didn't get it.

All in all I suppose the red carpet had something for everyone. It was nice to see a lot of color on the carpet. What I didn't see was a lot of bling. No huge diamonds or rubies. Very little jewelry. Maybe the celebs were toning it down this year.

Or maybe I just expect more. It is the Oscars after all.

So! Thank you to those who put their best foot, and gown, forward to take my breath away and make me say WOW!

But wait....if anyone sees Gwyneth could you ask her to pump it up a little more next year? Just a little more dress, maybe an updo...but all is not lost! I am glad you're going to be on Glee next week...

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Fashion Forward for 2011

I never make New Year's resolutions. What's the point? I never keep them! So when I opened up the January issue of Vogue and read that Anna Wintour feels the same way, I had to laugh. Of course she doesn't make New Year's resolutions! But she does want to look forward...forward to a fashionable new year. That's why the title of her editor's letter is "Ten For Eleven".

Brilliant!

Ten things she's looking forward to in the new year.

Love it!

So I've decided to be Fashion Forward too. Ten things I'M looking forward to in 2011.

1. BOSTON'S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
The museum has two fabulous fashion exhibits currently on view: "Avedon Fashion" and "Scaasi: American Couturier". I can't decide which one I'm more excited to see!

2. MEETING AND INTRODUCING YOU TO BOSTON DESIGNERS
Last year I had the pleasure of meeting Boston fashion designer Samuel Vartan, who has become a wonderful friend. I can't wait to meet more of Boston's best designers.....bring you their stories and of course their fashions!

3. NEW FASHION STARS
I'm also looking forward to reading and seeing what the new, up and coming designers have for us in the new year. I'm loving Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu.

4. FASHION WEEK
I always look forward to Fashion Week, but it's not just New York, Milan, London and Paris. One of the best fashion weeks takes place right here in Boston in September. Can't wait!

5. CHANEL FASHION SHOWS AT NEIMAN MARCUS
Each season I am incredibly lucky to be one of the select few who is invited to the Chanel spring/summer and Chanel fall/winter fashion shows at Neiman Marcus in Natick, Massachusetts. As you've probably guessed, Neiman Marcus is my favorite store and I LOVE Chanel! So the two together is a definite treat to look forward to this year.

6. SPEAKING OF CHANEL.....
Chanel has a new handbag I can't stop dreaming about. I keep seeing it in all the magazines and every time I go to the store I HAVE to visit it. But, which size, which color? Decisions I'm most definitely going to make! I'll post photos once I finally decide!

7. GETTING IT RIGHT ON "PROJECT RUNWAY"
I'm not sure what happened on season 8 of my favorite fashion show, "Project Runway". I was NOT happy with the winner. I actually yelled at my television when Gretchen's name was announced! So this year, I'm looking forward to the judges getting it right and picking a winning fashion designer...one who will make a splash on the runway...not one who makes me want to change the channel. (clearly the winner should've been Mondo)

8. FASHION'S NIGHT OUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
This event gives fashionistas a reason to shop. The goal is to get back into the stores and spend some cash...supporting and boosting the economy. Something we can all look forward to!

9. MFA FASHON COUNCIL
I adore being a member of Boston's Museum of Fine Arts Fashion Council. Last season I got to meet and interview Mario Testino and Neil Lane. What's up next? You'll have to look forward to new posts here on The Fabulous Fashionista Files!

10. LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST.....
I'm definitely looking forward to telling you about my latest fashion adventures! Not just on this blog, but also on facebook. You can find The Fabulous Fashionista Files Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Fabulous-Fashionista-Files/140944165939514

So bring on the new year! We have a lot to look forward to!