Book Smart is the new Chic!

The clutch handbag for me has always been synonymous with being the perfect pairing to any ensemble day or night.  This is especially true when the final touch to your look is the want to embrace the "less is more" adage.  Spring 2013's fashion accessory direction is focusing on pint size chic.

With this new silhouette trend direction, coupled with the fact that I am a book worm at heart, it was an instant love affair when I put my eyes on these book clutches.  Check out my top 4 choices that can accommodate any budget, after all book smart is the new chic!

Olympia Le-Tan
Where: http://bit.ly/V6Y9E0

Monika Chiang
Where: www.monikachiang.com

Kate Spade
Where: http://bit.ly/V1Lx2O

ASOS
Where: http://bit.ly/Sr4EUV

Olympia Le-Tan
Where: http://bit.ly/V1OMHm

Cat Eye Sunglasses: Instant Ensemble Changer!

My number one accessory that I never leave home without on a beautiful warm sunny day are a pair of chic sunnies.  Truth be told I actually always carry at least 2 pairs with me at all times (sadly sometimes I have 3 pairs).  At the moment I'm in love with the cat eye shape not only because they are a great nod to the glamorous 50's and 60's but are also a great way to infuse the current trend of modernizing the shapes and silhouettes of that great fashion era.

Check out my Top 6 Cat Eye Sunnies you can score right now!

Pictured above: 1. Elizabeth and James 2. The Row 3. Mauricio Stein for ASOS 4. Marc Jacobs 5. Dior 6. House of Harlow 

[Style Review] My 2 Obessions have collided! Bow-ties & Collars

This Rocker Chic bow-tie was the inspiration for my custom piece

Last Fall I became obessed with chokers, collars & bow-ties.  I'd scoured the net and shops for unique and statement making pieces.  I'd found a few great pieces in very eclectic showcases or markets and even snagged a few amazing pieces on my visit to Hong Kong this past January. 

After acquiring quite a few pieces that I absolutely loved and adored individually, I couldn't help but wish that there was a way for me to infuse alot of these pieces together i.e. pair one of my collars with one of my bow-ties or chokers.  Many who know me are quite familar with my love and obession of fashion accessories.  I'm all about a killer accessory, because that's what tells my style and outfit story.  So naturally, trying to combine all these pieces to create the ultimate fashion accessory statement is no surprise.

Searching everywhere for the perfect combination piece that infused my current obsessions proved to be more difficult of a task than I had initially anticipated.  Just as I had started to lose hope, an up and coming Chicago designer came to my rescue! Arianna Green, of ASSATA Designs, answered my twitter request/plea asking the Chicago fashion community where I could find a combination piece that merged a bow-tie and a collar together.

Assata Designs inspiration board for my custom piece

Arianna and I met and consulted on what my vision and expectations were for the piece.  I sent her my inspiration picture of what direction I wanted the piece to go and within a week we were sitting face-to-face having a design consultation.  She showed me the insirpation/mood board she'd created based off of our initial consult and I was floored.  This girl nailed it with the exact elements and the look and feel I was going for with my custom piece.  I had my new "Rocker Chic" collar & bow-tie custom piece in a week! It such a pleasure to not only work with such an attentive and speedy professional.  From start to finish it was such a seamless process.

My custom ASSATA Designs 'Rocker Chic' collar and bow-tie piece

Check it out! I'm wearing my new custom bow-tie to Emma Arnold & Amy Creyer's Topshop Event:

Designer Arianna Green & myself at the Topshop Event

If you are in the market for a great custom fashion accessory piece definitely don't pass this new emerging Chicago designer up! Contact her via twitter or email, you won't regret it. 

[Pasifika Fashion Series] Fashion Forward Fibre Artist, Shona Tawhiao!

Fibre Artist & Fashion Designer, Shona Tawhiao

Shona Tawhiao is a fibre artist and designer trained in traditional Maori weaving techniques and methods.  Tawhiao designs and creates garments entirely made of native flax or Harakeke complete with matching accessories such as hats and shoes.  The key distinguishing factor between Tawhiao and other Pasifika Fashion Haute Couture designers is her strict use of native flax  to create her unique haute couture designs. Unlike other designers, Tawhiao mixes traditional Maori weaving skills with her eye for contemporary design. Tawhiao has exhibited extensively with her style of woven art, has produced TV sets for the Maori Television Service worked in art and costume departments for films 'Maori Merchant of Venice' and 'River Queen' among others. She has been producing award winning woven garments where she has developed techniques and designs that are unique to her aspirations of Maori culture and other indigenous nations.

Tawhiao's Haute Couture collection 'Te Whiri' under her label 'TAWHIAO' is inspired by her fascination with Japan’s Harajuku girls and is influence by her interest in Maori, Japanese and Roman warriors.

"My collection is inspired by traditional warrior wear, Samurai, Roman, the Masai, and Maori of course. It's totally military warrior woman meets marching girl. --Shona Tawhiao

She goes on further to state that, "Everything Japanese is inspirational to me. How an indigenous culture creates a subculture, I think is really cool. Maori don't have that yet."

Her pieces are definitely in a class of their own.  Her pure usage of flax is truly fashion forward and innovative in creating such great peplum shapes, distinct clean lines, and movement.  Tawhiao’s pieces flow with grace and dignity in a very similar fashion to the warriors that she draws so much inspiration.

*Photo Credit: Shona Tawhiao

Check out my favorite pieces from Shona's collections:

2012 Grammy Awards 'Best Dressed'!

The ladies who made my list not only had great stand-out ensembles, but had that key signature touch that completes any red-carpet worthy ensemble.  That signature touch can be hair, a fashion accessory or the statement gown itself.  My 2012 Grammy Awards 'Best Dressed' goes to the only songstress who in my opinion had the whole ensemble pulled together: Hair, Make-up, Fashion Accessories and of course the Gown.

*Photo Credit: FabSugar
Check out my runner-ups for the 2012 Grammy Awards 'Best Dressed':

Katy Perry wearing Elie Saab 

Kelly Rowland wearing Alberta Ferretti

Adele wearing Giorgio Armani

Fergie wearing Jean Paul Gaultier

Alicia Keys wearing Alexandre Vauthier

Carrie Underwood wearing Gomez-Garcia

Gwyneth Paltrow wearing Stella McCartney

Kelly Osbourne wearing Tony Ward

Jesse J wearing Julien MacDonald

There was only one songstress who not only embraced the opportunity to make a great fashion statement, she also took this chance to redeem herself from her pre-Grammy Show flop with the Marni dress.  The 'Best Dressed' of the 2012 Grammy Awards goes to Corinne Bailey Rae in Christian Siriano's Fall 2011 collection.  The British songbird nailed it for me by wearing an age appropriate fun & flity gown that matched her unique personality and music.  Her sideswept hair and berry colored lips were the perfect finishing touches to her Grammy Perfect ensemble!

Corinne Bailey Rae wearing Christian Siriano

[Pasifika Fashion] Innovative Pasifika Milliner, Lopeti Etu!

Fashion Designer & Milliner, Lopeti Etu

The signature touch to any ensemble is the accessory.  This vital piece can either reward you with rave reviews & approval or forever categorize you as a fashion victim (don’t believe me, just ask Kristen Wiig).  Many of us have a key accessory that we deem as our “go-to” to tell our fashion story.  For many, that final added piece to complete the look is a hat. For this next installment of my series highlighting innovative and ground breaking Pasifika fashion talent, I introduce to you, Lopeti Etu.

Lopeti Etu is an innovative fashion designer and milliner based in New York City who draws inspiration from the world around him. Etu hand blocks all his hats, and creates one of a kind pieces using local suppliers and craftspeople.

After having worked in the fashion industry for many years, Etu took a risk and started his own millinery label in 2010 with business partner, David Balluff. They aspire to bring daring and verve back into the New York millinery world.

Lopeti Etu first became introduced to hats and hatmaking when his grandfather made him a straw hat in his native Tonga for a school dance. Etu recalls that while most children were wearing store-bought hats, his grandfather's hand-woven creation made him happy. 

His millinery designs have appeared on the cover of French Vogue, and in editorial shoots for Elle, Bazaar, O, Glamour and Self. Several of Etu's hats also made an appearance on the first season of Bravo's Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, worn by contestant Nao Bustamante.

*Photo Credit: King Redman 

Check out some of my favorite pieces from Etu's Spring 2011 collection:

Fellas: Valentine's Day Inspiration to the Rescue!

Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. This year give her something that she will not only undoubtedly love, but will remember the next time you want to have a late-night Guys' Night out with your bros.

Check-out my Top 10 picks that will make any girl swoon:

100 years Necklace by Lulu Frost 

Alexander McQueen Skull Ring

Bramley Necklace by DANNIJO

Great Expectations Cuff by Erickson Beamon

Jose & Maria Barrera pave drop earrings

Lanvin Flower Brooch

Lanvin Heart Drop Earrings

Love Ring by Sydney Evan

Miu Miu Bow Bracelet

Wrist Wring Bling by Jules

P.S. Your Welcome! ;)