Thousands of NYC fashionistas received a Vogue invitation in the mail to come out and support Fashion Night Out featuring Anna Wintour and all the heavy-hitters of the fashion industry. On September 10 the streets were filled with women of all ages and sizes decked out in their edgiest couture ensembles, gracing the streets from Macy’s at Herald Square to Bloomingdales and Bergdorf Goodman.
The main purpose of the event was to boost sales and initiate encouragement for the retail industry; it has been one of the most effected industries in U.S. since the recession. Dozens of designers such as Diane von Furstenberg, Elie Tahari, Ralph Lauren, and Gwen Stefani representing her Harajuku Lovers Fragrance appeared at the event, but how effective was it in boosting sales?
Though thousands of fashionistas, students, onlookers and curious by-standers mobbed the stores to catch a glimpse of the designers and shake hands with them, retails sales remained stagnant as people schmoozed over popcorn and DKNY-themed champagne bottles – they were not buying anything. One could infer that this perhaps seemed more like an intro to Fashion Week rather than sales boosts. So what does this say about the retail industry? Should designers lower the prices on their collections, or is couture on its way towards becoming a once a year event? Whatever answer you feel is best, FNO 2009 was filled with beautiful people in beautiful garments, and it was a great night to come out, view all the latest styles, and be up close and personal with the designers.
There is more to a fashionable handbag than a well-known logo. The perfect stylish handbag is comprised of quality, creative structure and functionality. ELSPETH meets all of these expectations.
As any New York female may notice from Elizabeth’s designs, her handbags are inspired by the energy of the city that never sleeps. From exotic leathers, bold hardware and creative designs, ELSPETH offers a variety of styles for the fashion devotee. But the most important aspect of ELSPETH is versatility, perfect for both work, gym, dinner and cocktails. With its classic structure, fabrics and bold accents, ELSPETH’s Fall 2009 collection harmonizes well with fashion’s Fall 2009 theme of simplicity and elegance.
Now that the hurdle of renting an apartment is out of the way (see last week’s story:Living in NYC), the next task to consider from a design standpoint, is how to decorate your apartment. In this case with a tough market: How to decorate your apartment with style and on a budget! Design-wise, the way an apartment should is decorated convey a person’s taste, lifestyle, and optimize the use of space. Monetary-wise, your apartment can always be decorated with the year round sales offered by companies facing financial hardships. At this moment, it is a buyers market so be sure to take advantage of the great savings and deals!
In addition to other fees to consider when moving such as, deposit/ broker fees and utilities, it is understandable that decorating fees might be the last item on the check list. So, for the NYC fashionista on a budget, here are some tips on how to save money when seeking out the perfect furniture for your new place:
Step 1: Before hanging up a single painting, make sure you have searched the apartment for any damages, cracks, holes in the walls and a) take pictures of it for reference, and b) report it to the landlord as these repairs might cause a problem with receiving your full deposit upon the end of your lease
Step 2: Next step is to figure out what materials you will use to decorate: nails, paint, wood floor cleaners. Before you hang up your favorite Madonna Sticky & Sweet Tour or CoCo Chanel smoking poster that was banned in Paris, consider using small nails to minimize the amount of plastering/ fixing before moving out of the apartment. If you are considering repainting, make sure that the paint in the bathroom is premixed with primer and anti-mold agents!! If you notice that mold is forming and after a attempting to clean it with competent solvents, report it to the landlord as this is a serious health hazard!
Step 3: The actual furniture and accessories: we know that square footage for a Manhattan apartment costs an arm and a leg. Be sure to make the most of your space by minimizing clutter, use of space savers (ie: shoe organizers, coffee tables with drawers), and remember to practice a little feng shui at least once a year to recharge the energy of your uber chic place!
For more tips and suggestions, feel free to leave us a comment and ABJ will be happy to find the latest styles for you!
Once the market crashed and the economic downturn became pandemic through out NYC with an astonishing estimate of over 660,000 new claims for unemployment benefits, I decided that instead of panicking about the unpredictable future, I would seized the moment of turning negatives into positives-beginning with finding a new apartment!
In order for me to move, I had to consider a few things; and I would recommend this to any fashionista to consider before moving, especially if you hail from other states!
• Step 1: I knew I had to find a chic place to live. A fashionista should look into a neighborhood that has attractions that others find alluring and trendy. Bistros, lounges, local markets and boutiques are always a good sing that you’re in the right place at the right time! Location! Location! Location! Is the key element in apartment-hunting.
• Step 2: Research the person/ company that is posting the ad. My first experience was a fraud scam from craigslist with a posting that seemed “too good to be true.” Turns out, it WAS! There it was; a perfect apartment in trendy Park Slope for an unusually low price. I replied and received an email from a totally different email address than the one I requested information from and the person was asking for wire funds to the U.K. When I googled the email & phone number, it led me to another link where over 70 people had gotten the same scam from different parts of the U.S.-asking for the same amount of money and personal info from the renter!! Be sure to check out google and Yelp! To see if anyone else has reported the listing you are inquiring about as a potential fraud.
• Step 3: The Broker: brokers are tricky. I looked at an apartment with a broker that showed me a dirty apartment with used contraceptives on the floor and wanted me to give him cash for a processing fee. Again, I suggest you research the company and make sure the broker (if he is legit) gives you his business card. It is always best to give a realty company bank checks and make sure you ALWAYS READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SINGING AND GET COPIES OF WHAT YOU SIGN! ** To report a Realty Company/ Landlord, contact the Better Business Bureau
Moving is never an easy task. And while the headache of finding an apartment may feel like a nightmare at the time, it will all be worth it once you receive the keys to your own little pagoda!
When I first encountered Kevia’s jewelry collection, I was captivated by the craftsmanship of each piece and I instantly knew that Kevia’s designs mirrors her love for what she does – creating fabulous jewelry. But let me not forget to mention the affordability of her jewelry which celebrities have adorned themselves with. And so, when the opportunity to interview Kevia arose, I took it.
ABJ: When did you begin designing jewelry and what led you to decide to become a jewelry designer?
K: My career path has not been straight and narrow. While studying in Zimbabwe on an undergraduate study abroad program I found a store that sold loose stones. I began to collect locally mined and cut stones, sketch designs, and found local jewelers to make my creations. I returned two years later to do post baccalaureate research and again began to design pieces for my personal collection. I planned to become a university professor and was close to finishing my doctorate when I realized my hobby was where my heart was. I am not sure that I would have thought about selling my work if a local boutique hadn’t asked me to make items for their store after they noticed a necklace I was wearing. Within three months of selling to my first boutique the line was picked up by 20 stores. Once I decided to work on the business full time, the line continued to grow. We sold to over 400 stores in the last year.
ABJ: Where do you get your inspiration from when creating each collection?
K: I develop about five theme based collections per year. They all start with an experience (e.g. harvesting honey on a friends farm), a trip (my favorite Etruscan museum in Tuscany), or my fascination with a newly found raw material. Once I have the core concept, I design rings, earring, bracelets, and necklaces around the theme. Each of the collections tell a story both in the text we write for each collection and in the way the items can be merchandised together. When I first started out I made metal or clay based models for each new style. I now do must design work digitally.
When traveling or living abroad I visit museums, cathedrals, and learn about local jewelry techniques and aesthetic preferences. I am fascinated by ancient Egyptian and Etruscan jewelry, you really get the since that ancient gold jewelry was rare, precious, and revered. While I respect the advances we have made in modern jewelry fabrication, my preference is handmade work both because it feels strongly tied to the earliest jewelry making techniques and because each piece is slightly different and thus one of kind.
ABJ: You have a long list of celebrities that have worn your jewelry and your collection has been featured in popular publications such as InStyle and Lucy; yet, you sell your pieces at affordable prices when you could easily sell them for more? Please explain.
K: My goal has always been to offer fine jewelry quality designs that are affordable. I approach designing and cooking similarly: I prefer to make things from scratch. By prioritizing sourcing raw materials rather than buying components from manufacturers, I have been able to price my jewelry competitively. I want women to be able to collect my pieces without breaking the bank. I am mindful that despite the tightening of our collection belts during this economy, women want to feel beautiful without comprising their cost consciousness.
ABJ: I love the Artisan collection, especially the 3-layer necklace, because I’m intrigued by the carved details in each gem stone. What’s your favorite collection and why?
K: Each season I think the newest collection is the best I have designed to date. I fall in love with new collections over and over again. I am hopeless romantic when it comes to the design process. I would say my favorite, in terms of my work, is a category rather than a collection. I have a love affair with rings. For days I want to feel glamorous, cocktail rings are fantastic. My favorite cocktail ring juxtaposes 22K gold vermeil with high gloss stones on top of an earthy ebony wood base. I wear a set of three stacking rings set with diamonds on my right hand to add a little sparkle to my day.
ABJ: What are your future plans for “Kevia Jewels at your Fingertips”?
K: I am currently working on a line of handbags that incorporate some of the metal work from the jewelry collections. Our new website which will feature online shopping has just launched.
ABJ: Please provide any information you would like our readers to know.
K: Support for independent designers and green companies is more important than ever. I don’t think you need to sacrifice your environmental principals for fashion. I worked in the environmental field for eight years before becoming a designer so sustainability is important to me. Our Woodland collection features reclaimed ebony wood that we finish with lint seed oil, instead of conventional wood finishes which are chemical laden. Our factories filter runoff water, recycle metal, and we have a streamlined packaging system that reduces shipping, storage, and labeling materials. On the administrative side of the business we incorporate sustainability principles in our use and purchase of packaging materials, office supplies, and energy use. We recycled as much as possible to reduce waste. Each year I try to tackle a new way to green the business. This year I plan to set up a carbon off-set program to decrease the impact of our international and domestic shipping. Our new retail website will offer customers the chance to offset the environmental impact of shipping their order.
Looking your best is a professional must in New York City. TriBeCa MedSpa, a therapeutic environment that offers effective and innovative medical aesthetic treatments, knows that appearance is key for both women and men. Ladies, that means wearingsky high-heels and gents, it’s time to lose the lines that reflect the signs of the time on your face. TriBeCa MedSpa’s array of injectables and facial treatments, offer every client a one-stop shop for all of their skincare needs.
Below is a sampling of the services New York City’s TriBeCa MedSpa offers.
Injectable Treatments:
Podiatric Dermal Filler- This is an essential treatment for any New Yorker. You can once again walk on hard, city pavement, up and down subway stairs, shop all day and dance all night without that painful feeling on the bottom of your feet. Dermal fillers restore and replace lost padding and cushioning by stimulating your body’s natural collagen production. You will feel like you have pillows on your feet!
Axillary Hyperhidrosis- BOTOX® is FDA approved for severe sweating of the underarms, hands and feet. BOTOX® helps control this condition by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops.
Facial Treatments:
NYC Breakout Buster- Got Hormones? Got Stress? Our skin is the first to show signs of unbalanced hormones and stress. This unique combination skin therapy offers a corrective facial with a medical grade salicylic peel, dermaplaning and Blue Light therapy to correct those sporadic breakouts that are associated with hormonal imbalance and/or stress. You will leave feeling calm and corrected!
Wall Street Facial- The Wall Street™ Facial combines therapeutic relaxation with corrective skin care treatments tailored especially for men. Our male clientele can unwind while promoting and maintaining skin that is well balanced and free of imperfections. A combination of facial massage, hydrating facial mask, and VibraDermabrasion around the delicate eye area and nasolabial fold is performed to rejuvenate and nourish the skin.
City Grime Detox Skin Therapy- Check your skin into detox at TriBeCa MedSpa to fight city grime! Environmental factors such as pollution, bus and subway exhaust, and poor air quality can wreak havoc on your skin. This detoxifying treatment starts with a nectar cleansing facial massage along with an exclusive fruit enzyme to gently stimulate and exfoliate your skin to remove city pollutants for a healthier, fresher look. We then remove the buildup on the skin with dermaplaning. We finish the treatment with a blue light therapy to rid the skin of bacteria that could lead to unwanted irritation and breakouts.
TriBeCa MedSpa provides the expertise of New York’s top plastic surgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and experienced medical estheticians in a spa-like setting. Our medical spa offers the area’s most effective medical skin treatments. Whether concerned about fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation, acne, scarring or other conditions, TriBeCa MedSpa will design a treatment that rejuvenates and revitalizes your skin while preventing future damage. TriBeCa MedSpa, understands skincare and are committed to making you look and feel beautiful.
What happens when a former actress/model decides to become a fashion designer? A clothing line as beautiful as its creator emerges. In 2008, Lauren-Elaine officially launched her clothing label with her Fall 2008 “Mirage” collection. The feminine silhouettes and flouncy fabrics reflect Lauren-Elaine’s girlish and possibly hopeless romantic personality. The elegance, grace, and beauty contained in each structure make Lauren-Elaine Designs (LED) absolutely noteworthy.
I don’t think there is a cosmetic company that truly understands the meaning of “organic” or “natural” like Crush Groove Cosmetics. Makeup artist and CGC founder, Jenique Bell understands from first-hand experience the positive benefits organic skin care and makeup. Battling severe skin conditions, eczema, psoriasis and acne, Jenique discovered that it not only what we put in our bodies but also what we put on our faces and began to adopt a holistic lifestyle. As a result, Jenique developed makeup and skin care products made with only the best organic and natural products. Crush Grove Cosmetics is Jenique’s green magic to beautiful skin and she’s generously sharing it with us. I recommend trying the Remix Serum. It’s a fantastic moisturizer which leaves your face feeling comfortable and incredibly smooth.
P.S. It’s definitely worth taking advantage of the Petite and Grande Sample Packs, $15 to $25, which is perfect for testing each makeup product and trying the different shades available.
Featured: 
Judy Mi Cha
sashasu
