My Guardian (Velvet) Angels...

I love shoes. I believe that I should have as many shoes as I do dresses. And halter tops. And necklaces. Okay, maybe not necklaces.

I especially love wedges and have accumulated quite the collection of them in the past several years. From sandals to winter boots, wedges are ideal if you love having the height but don't want to sacrifice the comfort of flats (YUCK- one trend that I have never accepted or bought into). However, I have grown a bit bored with the design of the typical wedge- which is why I adore these SICK cut-out wedges from my favorite shoe designer of-the-moment, Velvet Angels. They are modern, unique, yet simplified in design without having any complicated features. The slingback wedge is 5 inches in height with both smooth and snake-embossed leather. Just under $300, these are stylish without being overly trendy and to be honest, I think the price is quite fair.

Check them out at www.velvetangels.com. I swear, I'm in love with every shoe on their website! Props to the lovely Julia of Song of the Exile (read her blog NOW) for turning me on to this lovely luxury shoe brand.

Let There Be JEWELS!!!

It just occured to me that as someone who makes jewelry and accessories for a living- I have not yet once posted about them! Well I dedicate this post to my love of jewels and all that sparkles!

I have always been inspired by people who wear big chunky jewelry. I am not for the meek on this one. People who have the style and even more importantly ATTITUDE to pull off huge necklaces and earrings have always had a place in my heart. My love for jewelry began as a little girl when I'd go through my mom's jewelry box. My parents have always been well-travelled and my mom has collected some of the greatest pieces from all over the world. My particular favorites are her vintage cameo brooch and ring. So classic and timeless! Her love of jewelry took her one step closer to designing it herself. And today she is my favorite jewelry designer of-all-time, not to mention my mentor.

Anyway, here's a little eye-candy for all you jewelry lovers! If you don't love it, then you are NO friend of mine!!!

a classic is a classic...

After spending the past weekend watching fashion-y flicks like Coco Before Chanel and September Issue, I became inspired again by all things classic. Simplicity is a beautiful thing if you avoid being boring. There is a very fine line between the two but the Chanel movie really re-taught me the whole theory that less is more. And simplicity will always remain modern and clean. The classic Chanel suit is really so elegant and timeless. Pair the original jacket with a pair of faded denim trousers and you have a younger, modern version of the classic.

However, the modern version of the classic is more my speed. The detail of the cut-sleeve and the front open pleat in the skirt reminds me that appropriate black suiting doesn't have to be boring. Alas, I wish I had the $$$ to buy me one of these. Perhaps I should set up a Chanel suit fund, no? Every woman should have a Chanel suit in my opinion.

Make-Up 4Eva!

I'm pretty extreme when it comes to make-up. I either don't wear any (my mom tells me I like look a teenage rocker guy when I don't wear a lick of it- HA!) and when I do, I wear so much of it- it would make a drag queen jealous. HELLO!

But I've become obsessed with Make Up Forever's HD foundation. My fashion stylist girlfriend introduced it to me last year when she raved that this stuff was even better than the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (in which I was a slave to but I hated paying 60 clams a pop for it). It turns out our other girlfriend who is a make-up artist from NYC is also a huge fan of the HD line. Anytime any of these two give me any new product info, I am all over it. They really know their stuff and both are gorgeous and have amazing skin.

A bottle of the HD costs $20 less than the Armani (in this economy, every bit helps) and I've noticed that a bottle goes a long way. I only need a pea-sized pump full of it to blend into my skin. The high definition formula is smooth and will make your skin look flawless and not overly made up. They have several shades of colors to choose from so anyone can get pretty much exactly the same shade of their skin tone. The HD Microfinish Powder is also a blessing. Don't let the snow white powder scare you- it blends in perfectly over the makeup and really sets it all in for the whole day. You'll never need to re-apply makeup, even if you're going from work day to dinner date.

So ladies, and some of you gents, give this stuff a try. It's the best in the market- trust me, I've tried just about everything out there!

elementary, my dear...

The great thing about the fashion world today is that you don't need a lot of money to live in it. You just need a little creativity and a lot of resources. One of my resources is Modcloth, a website I have mentioned before. It's cute and affordable, just like this Sherlock Holmes-inspired jacket. It was featured for Fall/Winter 2009 but I can't stop obsessing over it even as we head on into Spring. Subtle yet sophisticated with just enough hipster in it to carry on well in the city streets. You can thank me later, Watson...

RIP Mr. McQueen

Today is a horribly sad day in the fashion world. We have a lost a legend in the making. Rest in Peace, Lee Alexander...

Disco Fever!!!

I am obsessed with the new Disco Pants from American Apparel. As of now, we have seen the 70's come back (remember the re-birth of the bellbottoms in the 90s?) then go back out (as if we were embarrassed that we ever let that decade make a comeback in the first place) and now we are desparately trying to make the 70's cool again. Well I got news for you- the 70's were always freakin' cool! I should know- I was born in that decade, which in itself makes that decade the greatest EVER!

Just under 80 bucks, these pants are like the cooler big sister of the skinny jeans and of course to that ugly-stepsister, the leggings. They also come in Black, Red, Navy, and Charcoal. That said, these pants are the rockinest. I know I KNOW, only like 5% of the general population would look hot in these shiny threads but if you can rock 'em, more power to ya'! Excuse me now, I have a date with my treadmill for the next week or so...

Reverse Black French Manicure

If your nails look like this, you are not only freakishly stylish and too cool for this school, but you are AWESOME. And bonus if you rock the HEAVY METALS.

Happy New Beer!

I'm not much of a drinker. Really, I'm not. In fact, when it comes to drinking, I'm like a European. A European ALCOHOLIC! I kid, I KID. I like a nice glass of wine with dinner. If I'm celebrating, a flute of champagne or an exotic cocktail when I'm out with the girls does me good. I have never been one of those party girls who gets all liquored up and then becomes the entertainment for the rest of the night. Okay, maybe just once or twice in my life. Or last week. :D

Beer, in reasonable amounts, is good for your soul, not to mention your hair. Remember that beauty secret? Put a little in your shampoo and it makes your locks super shiny. Every time I tried bringing a beer into the shower, I'd end up chuggin' it- not mixing it with my products.

With that being said, once in awhile, I like to have myself a brewski. And when I do drink one, my first choice is usually Fat Tire, a beer from New Belgium Brewing Company based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. The story behind Fat Tire is that one of the founders went on a bicycle trip through Belgium and went from brewery to brewery to concoct his perfect beer recipe. LOVE. His result? A rich ale that's neither too dark or too bitter. For lighter weights, there's the low-cal Skinny Dip version, although my dad always says that light beer is for WIMPS! Cheers, beers, and Happy 2010!