LupRocks Gossip

Rain Rain Go Away!

Since 90% of my New York Facebook buddies have posted status updates relating to the weather--from the mundane ("Ugh.  This rain is bringing me down.") to the clever ("Just spotted Noah floating down the 4th fairway at Bethpage."), I figured I'd blog about the rain today.  I know, not much to be said about the rain other than, well, it's wet, but I've been focusing a lot on the most effective rain-combating styles since clearly my puma/jeans choice was the wrong one. 

One of the most popular city-slicker rain looks is the rubber rain boot.  The boots shown below can be found at J.Crew from $50-$115, but you can also pick up a more standard pair at an Army Supply store for around $25.  Sure, the industrial ones won't have cute characters on them, but no matter how you spin it, these things are always pretty ugly.  Capable of plowing through the giant pools that form on street corners, but ugly. 

While the below look might seem like an impractical choice, any New Yorker can tell you that one of the most disturbing things about the rain is having the bottoms of your jeans dragging on the wet ground, picking up all kinds of nastiness on your way to wherever you're trying to go (ideally to the doctor for a tetnus shot).  This look prevents that nastiness, even if you do need to precariously hobble.

The O.E.D. defines "Inadvertist" as "One who persistently fails to take notice of things."  I'm sorry this word has fallen out of popular use, especially when I want to scream "Inadvertist!" to any number of people who know nothing of umbrella etiquette and fail to notice, well, my head while weilding their unweildy umbrellas.  As effective as they may be, the ubiquitous golf umbrella should be avoided unless one is on a golf course. 

I think the best way to establish the most effect rain-combating attire is by looking at those who are forced to be outside, no matter what the weather, for extended periods of time.  Messengers, traffic cops and food delivery guys usually opt for the simple, classic poncho look.  At just a few bucks in any drug store, this seems to be the best rainy day choice.  Either that or a taxi!

Backstage from the Design Cares Kaleidoscope of Dreams Fashion Show

LupRocks.com partner, Nolcha, was the production sponsor of last night's star studded Kaleidoscope of Dreams fashion show, which benefits the very worthwhile St. Jude Children's Hospital.  We emailed some questions to Nolcha founder Kerry Bannigan and got some insight into what was going on behind the scenes:

What time does the show start tonight?  8:30pm so lets say 8:45pm incase Philip Bloch, Veronica Webb and Chanel Iman speeches extend – we all know they love to talk fashion ;o)

Tell me what’s going on right now....are the models there?  Models are running late – tell me something new ;o) The team is calling the rest of the models now to chase up on arrival time and rehearsal. Most of the models are important figures of society so have very busy schedules.

When do you start with hair and make-up?  4pm hair and make-up start. Mac and Warren Tricomi are doing samples to show the team at 3:30pm. Great teams to work with and a shout out to Moani at Mac.

Who do expect to attend the fashion show?  Tonight’s roster so far will have Shannon Doherty, Real Housewives of NYC, Access Hollywood, E!, Trump family and city socialites.

Nolcha is the backstage production sponsor, what does that entail?  Making sure the show happens!  Nolcha is running backstage and front line production. We work with the light and sound technicians for the show. Getting the models ready – full hair, makeup and gowns – order for the show and then calling the runway show to make that the models are sent out on time and everybody gets to enjoy the beautiful gowns that have been donated by major designers for auction including Versace, Valentino, Gucci and Karl Lagerfeld.

Most importantly, will any of these models be wearing jewelry??  Alexis Bittar provided the jewelry.

I'm sure we'll all be seeing pictures from the event in the media very soon...even further proof that LupRocks.com was right on track when we decided to partner with a venerable organization like Nolcha!  Contact us if you're interested in participating in Nolcha's event at September's New York Fashion Week.  Thanks Kerry! 

Blogger's Block

I'm sure some of you have noticed that I've had a pretty bad case of Blogger's Block lately.  I've got a lot going through my mind, but I don't have the wherewithal to translate my thoughts to words.  So I'm going to keep things simple today and, since it is Fashion Week in Paris, keep up with the French theme by digging into the archives of Modes de Paris, an old school French fashion publication that I'm currently obsessed with. 

I love this picture of these women in their "dressing gowns."  Can you imagine, having a seperate "gown" to put on while you're going through the process of getting dressed?  Just tack on one more costume change to the night, I'm in heaven!   

 

And check out all of these women looking like they're ready to go kick some corporate butt, French style. 

Now I'm going to follow the advice in the above linked to blog and hopefully come up with something relevant to say tomorrow. 

Stacy London Shows Us What To Wear

This morning on NBC's Today Show, the ever-fabulous Stacy London adeptly answered the question on every fashion-conscious gal's mind these days..."I need a wardrobe overhaul but I don't want to spend any money!  How do I work with what I've already got??"  Stacy always has the answers and this morning was no exception.  She showed us how to re-vamp and re-work a basic white shirt, a straight skirt and a simple trouser through of-the-moment trends including safari, texture and "Hollywood glam." 

Of course, an integral part of freshening up your wardrobe is choosing the right accessories.  The bold and beautiful jewelry of LupRocks.com designer Gabriella Francesca went a long way towards the "Hollywood glam" look and of course, all of the looks were complimented by sunglasses from LupRocks.com designer Chinese Laundry.  The best part??  Everything on the segment retails for under $100, meaning you don't have to be a millionaire to look like a million bucks!  Speaking of looking like a million bucks, Miss London was, as always, gorgeous!

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Paper covers Rock, Wood covers Sun

In light of a weeklong headache (pun intended – my headache is from the extra bright and sunny sun) I have had all week, I wanted to share an amazing line of sunglasses that we here at Lup HQ stumbled upon this week. FYI - UV rays are coming down from the sun even when it is not sunny out, and everyone should be protecting their eyes with shades. Oh, and while you are taking those precautionary actions, you may as well do it in style. Oh, oh, and while you are doing it in style, you may as well be eco-friendly. We here at Lup HQ love all that “be green” jazz we keep hearing so much about these days.

 

This line of iWood ecodesigns sunglasses are all designed using a beautiful limited supply of wood. Plus, “Each pair of iWood ecodesigns sunglasses is designed with the environment in mind, using the highest quality, eco-sustainable, exotic wood veneer.” I am a huge sunglasses fan, partly because I get an instant migraine if I go out in the sun with out them, and partly because they just make people look more fabulous in general.  The shape and the material of iWood, stands apart this season from anything else I have seen, and I have seen it all – I do my homework.

 

Photo taken from iWood.

Grey Matters at Paris Couture Fashion Week

One of my favorite words of wisdom Coco Chanel left us with is “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” These wise words seemed to resonate with all the designers who showed collections at Couture Fashion Week in Paris this week.  Amongst them, Karl Lagerfeld brought to life this wonderful idea, by bringing his wild thoughts to life in a collection that will be remembered forever. The collection plays on volume, stitching, draping, and structure to bring back to fashion what has been missing from the past few years - innovation.  Plus a palette of muted gray and black was a refreshing break from the neon invasion to be seen over this summer.     

(Images all Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel)

Accessories seen in Paris that you should keep an eye out for are thick multi strand solid color bead necklaces seen on the Dior runway, lucite heels seen on the Chanel runway, clutches of all shapes and sizes on the Armani Privé runway, and electric tights and wide chap-esque boots from Givenchy.

(From left to right: Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Armani Privé, Givenchy, John Galliano for Dior, John Galliano for Dior, and Givenchy. )

The color at the forefront of this past week is defiantly shades of grey. Besides Chanel as previously mentioned, Grey was also seen on the runways of Givenchy, Elie Sabb, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, and Armani Privé, and although other bits of pastels and hues of purple and navy popped in and out of the various collections grey and black outlined what is to be expected for Fall.

 (From left to right: Givenchy, Elie Sabb, and John Paul Gaultier)

Couture brings out all the stops. With extraordinary trims, clever draping and structuring, plays on volume, and of course plenty of hand-done extras, this was a couture showing true to form and absolutely exquisite.  See all the shows at Style.com!

 (From left to right: Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Valentino.)

All photos taken from Style.com .

 

 

 

Alternative Apparel

I love watching fashion shows.  I love window shopping on 5th avenue.   But more importantly, I love practical clothing I can actually afford and wear on a daily basis. Case in point: Alternative Apparel (not to be confused with another similar retailer, this line of cotton staple t-shirts and tanks do not use child pornography in their advertisements).  Extra long cuts keep the styles current, while extra soft cottons will have you throwing the Hanes v-neck you stole from your boyfriend in the trash.  Oh, and for those of you activists out there, this PC company produces everything in America, and you can be pretty sure the people sewing these lovely threads are…um, how do we say…not children!

I have the Debbie Tee and the Carly Baby Doll.  I find them so comfortable and versatile.  On Sunday, I wore the Debbie Tee tucked into a high wasted pencil skirt to go to brunch.  Then at night I threw on a pair if jeans with it to grab some beers with friends (Then I fell asleep in it.  Is that gross?! I don’t care…they really are that soft!).

"Alternative exists to promote the quest of free-thinking people to individuate by wearing t-shirts when and where they want."
-Alternative’s Reason for Being

Purple will reign for Fall 2008

Besides playing with textures, ruffles, layering, plaids, and colored tights for Fall 2008, the one trend I want to draw attention to is the purple haze seen looming over all the runways. Different shades of plums, violets, and royal purple’s will be a forefront color this fall, and that means jewelry and accessories as well! 

“Not since Prince hit the stage in 1984 to praise purple rain have varying shades of violet, eggplant, and aubergine held so much allure.” - Elle

First of all, I just want to say thank God! I am starting to see rings of neon lights around everything I look at. Good bye yellow, which was not mellow this summer, and hello plum gorgeous.

Second of all, this means exciting things if you are thinking about your collection for Fall. Almost all colors pair well with the hue de jour. Yellow, rose, pink and green golds compliment the color perfectly, while all jewel toned gems help highlight the main purple hue being worn. All purple ensembles will be big as well, mixing shades of purple in an outfit, and then pairing with purple accessories as well.

From left to right: Jeremy Laing, Costello Tagliapietra, and Harve Leger by Max Azria. Photos from Elle.com.

A New Purse-spective on SATC

I have held back until now from blogging about the Sex and the City movie. Mostly, I refrained, because I was not sure exactly what to say about it. Bottom line: Seeing the four leading ladies is enough for me to say “I loved it,” but the movie itself was not actually very good.

The acting was incredible. I expected it to be, and it surpassed my expectations. The issues and conflicts were relevant. I cried. (A lot.) I laughed. (A lot.)

The fashion was okay. It was not great, it was just okay, and Patricia Fields is not to blame for that. She had to balance the organic product placement (Manolo Blahnik) with the overabundance of artificial product placement (Bag, Borrow, or Steal). Considering the circumstances, she did the best anyone could. Patricia Fields is an artist, and they restrained her, gave her rules, and it showed!

The truth is the movie was bad because they turned it into a Spiderman. A Batman. Except instead of little Carrie action dolls in your McDonald’s happy meal, you got written-in plugs for Bag, Borrow, and Steal and H Stern. You got Samantha driving a Mercedes Bends. (Do you think that the whole reason she lived in LA was so they could have that one shot of her in the car make sense? Don’t kid yourself …its possible!) You got a belt on all four ladies in every shot, and you got a designer label dropped every six seconds.

I care a lot about product placement. It can make a brand huge. It worked for Manolo Blahnik. (It can work for you!) However, this is product placement gone sour. We will never know if the hit series really would translate to the silver screen, because that was not a real attempt.  It was a money-grabbing attempt from any big company willing to pay the big bucks. It was an auction off of camera time. It was ultimately a disappointment.

Superheroes, Super-stars, and You

It’s a bird. It’s a plane.

 

No, it’s just celebrities arriving on planes, and birds live in the sky, seeing one is only inevitable if you look up. Although we hope it doesn’t pooh on the red carpet. And by red carpet, we speak this week of course of the always fashionably a-list attended Gala at the Costume Institute (Met) which kick-started the new “Superheroes” exhibit, showcaseing the costumes of comic book heroes and the fashion they have inspired. No fashion crimes in need of special powers, the attendees kicked some serious fashion behind. To see images of the amazing haute couture worn by your favorite celebs check out Style.com or Fashion Wire Daily.

 

But on to the real news - jewelry. This exhibit comes at the perfect time. With a big focus on statement pieces, a new line by Diane Von Furstenberg inspired by Wonder Woman, and a craving for gold hardware (people want most what they can’t have – gold prices rise, so does the desire), there is a huge open window for some great jewelry pairing. For example, when costumes and superheroes were all the buzz this week in the blogoshphere, I happen to clip a page out of JCK Style for a friend, Nicole Landaw, who had a great yellow gold and diamond star ring placement.  The funny thing is when I told the designer how much the ring fits in with the trend de jour she laughed because the ring was created two years ago.

 

Moral of the story: You never know when your designs will have relevance. With the ever fast pace of fashion and more imaginative inspirations, your designs will shine when ready. 

 

Oh, and now to the bat-mobile!