Labor Day Haute Links

Happy Labor Day! Check out our round-up of haute links from around the web:

• 10 Ways to Have Better Sex (College Candy)

• Was summer 2010 your worst summer ever (Lemondrop)

• The worst dating advice from movies (All Women Stalk)

• Would you wear these? (College Fashion)

• Can your shoes clean the floor? (Fashion Pulse Daily)

• Fall’s hottest trends (Hot Beauty Health)

• 8 ways to transform his style (YourTango)

• Fictionary: Nail Fail resulting from a cocktail (Beauty Blogging Junkie)

• Jerry Lewis wants to smack WHO in the face? (The Frisky)

• Fall fashion tips for curvy girls (Fa(s)t Fashion)

• Can you be smart and sexy? (AlreadyPretty)

• Forget beach reads and focus on fall books (Tressugar)

• Who wore it best? (Styleite)

• An open letter to my friends…who are always wrong (Crushable)

• September fashion bloggers to watch (Stylecaster)

• The safe sex fashion show (video) (The Gloss)

• Chanel wants to tattoo you (What’s Haute)

3 shoes we want for Fall – from Nine West

At the start of every season, we always check out the new offerings at Nine West. It’s been one of our go-to shoe stores for years thanks to the on-trend, comfortable, durable and affordable shoes. So this season is no different. We previewed the Fall collection at the Palace Hotel a few months back and mentally made a list of what to buy for Fall. Check out our top three picks:

Nine West ‘Estefania’ ($109)
Calf hair shoes are always a fave of ours but even better when they’re in camoflauge! On the lines of the military trend, camouflage is making a return appearance this fall in the ‘Estefania‘ boot, and there’s not a more glamorous way to wear it than mixed with calf hair. These booties are gorgeous with their unique black suede lacing down the side.

Nine West ‘Minimal’ ($169)
This boot may be called ‘Minimal‘ but the vibe it gives is rocker-chic to the max. This 4″ high heeled bootie features a fold over flap accented with a side zip and silver pointed studs. The platform gives it an added layer of comfort while you rock out in them.

Nine West ‘Donley’ ($129)
Featured in the Fall trend video, the ‘Donley‘ is right-on this season’s military trend. We love the olive green suede lace up bootie with complementary brown leather straps and those chunky brass buckles we’re seeing everywhere. And the lug sole adds a rugged edge to it (as well as keeps you from slipping). Love.

Which Nine West fall shoe is your fave?

Click here to preorder now

Isabel Toledo for Payless - available online now

Isabel Toledo for Payless High Ghillie

Isabel Toledo became a household name when she dressed Michelle Obama on Inauguration Day. And now, fresh off of her collaboration with Target with husband Ruben, she just launched her Fall footwear line with Payless ShoeSource©. Payless first joined the ranks of mass market retailers who collaborate with popular designers, several years ago with brands like Abaete, Lela Rose, Christian Siriano and now Toledo.

The Isabel Toledo for Payless collection is currently available in stores and online with three handbag styles soon to follow. The shoes consist of seven styles and were inspired by the designer’s life in New York. She thought of what shoes she would need and stuck to chose black, red and silver as the color palette. Prices range from $35 to $60.

The styles range from lug sole booties, laced-up flats, a satin peep toe pump and a furry stiletto boot. We’re loving the ‘Sliver’ bootie and ‘Toreador’ pump – perfect for holiday parties.

Toledo says: “This is heaven-sent because all of a sudden I am going to create work that is going to get out there on a mass level,” Toledo said. “As a designer that is your goal, to communicate to the public and having someone wear my work, to see my work on someone else is very exciting. It’s what you work for.”

Which ones catch your eye? Will you be buying?
Isabel Toledo for Payless Front Fold Bootie
Isabel Toledo for Payless Pom Pom Flat

Isabel Toledo for Payless Metallic Ghillie Flat

Isabel Toledo for Payless Sliver Bootie

Isabel Toledo for Payless Toreador Pump

Isabel Toledo for Payless Poodle Boot

H&M teams up with Lanvin for Fall womenswear and menswear collaboration

With every season comes more and more interesting designer collaborations and one of the most exciting ones we’ve heard about in a while is the H&M collaboration with Parisian fashion house Lanvin. Designed by Alber Elbaz, Lanvin’s artistic director and Lucas Ossendrijver, menswear designer, the collection will consist of both womenswear and menswear and will be available in stores on November 23, 2010. But fans will be able to preview the collection through a special film launched online at www.hm.com on November 2.

Alber Elbaz commented: “H&M approached us to collaborate, and see if we could translate the dream we created at Lanvin to a wider audience, not just a dress for less. I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public. This has been an exceptional exercise, where two companies at opposite poles can work together because we share the same philosophy of bringing joy and beauty to men and women around the world.”

Margareta van den Bosch, creative director of H&M stated: “We are thrilled about Lanvin’s collection for H&M, it is such an exciting moment. Lanvin will bring to H&M a luxurious French tradition that is also modern and playful. It is very much a Lanvin collection, using their cut and tailoring, with lots of focus on form and details for both women and men. The launch in November is going to be full of wonderful surprises.”

Elbaz joined the label founded by Jeanne Lanvin in 2001. His personal touch and design aesthetic has been very influential in the fashion world, as he has pioneered some of the biggest trends of the decade, including ribbons, bows, pearls, raw edges, color block, metallic embellishment and more. In short, you know a Lanvin design when you see it.

We can’t wait to see the results of this collaboration. We’ve been pretty impressed with the previous H&M designer collaborations (including Jimmy Choo, Roberto Cavalli, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons and Sonia Rykiel). Will you be buying Lanvin for H&M?

Sponsored post: Fall for short skirts

Summer may be ending but that doesn’t mean you can’t bear one of your best assets - your legs. Stash those short shorts but get ready to ‘Fall’ for short skirts. To get maximum exposure from your mini skirts, pair with a flowy top and blazer, ballet flats or platforms and of course, a smoothly shaved leg. Click the image below to learn more from Schick Intuition.

Join Nine West and Nigel Barker for Runway Relief

We love it when fashion does good.

Nine West is raising funds and awareness for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer through its Runway Relief campaign. Nine West partnered with industry heavyweights like the CFDA, photographer Nigel Barker, Sony, Omron, Elite, IMG and Marilyn modeling agencies, and top models Coco Rocha, Jessica White, Michelle Alves and Lisalla Montenegro, to participate.

The models will rock the limited edition Nine West Runway Relief boot – each equipped with an Omron GOSmart Pocket Pedometer (HJ-303) to track how many steps each model takes throughout New York Fashion Week, from castings and fittings to shows and parties. With each step, a donation will be made to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

Join Nine West tomorrow to kick off the campaign with Barker hosting a photoshoot in NYC’s Meatpacking District (details below). If you’re one of the first 10 fans to arrive, you’ll receive a Nine West gift card to purchase your own pair of the Modelinia boots and the next 25 fans will get a signed copy of Barker’s book.

Doing good and getting something for it – a win win!

Can’t make it to the event? Tune in online to check out the photo shoot streaming live on the Nine West Facebook Page and at www.modelinia.com/ninewestrunwayrelief

A limited supply of the Runway Relief boot ($199) will be also be available for Nine West Facebook fans exclusively, starting on 8/31. Buy the boot here.

WHEN: August 31, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
WHERE: The Meatpacking District - at the corner of Hudson and Gansevoort Streets, New York, NY

Of course we’re in love with Rebecca Minkoff’s new shoe collection

(Left) A shot from the Spring 2011 campaign. (Right) The Brooke sandal in Nude and Metallic Silver Snake leather.

It was only a matter of time that Rebecca Minkoff announced her own line of footwear. Die-hard RM fans and accessory addicts know it’s time to rejoice! We’ve only seen a few of the 25-style shoe collection but what we’ve seen so far has us whipping out our credit cards, ready to pre-order. We love the color palette, the vintage vibe and her signature leather detailing, called the “MAB flap” (named after her Morning After Bag). The shoes will debut at her RTW Spring 2011 Fashion Week presentation in New York and the line will be sold in the Spring starting at $160-$395.

Rebecca Minkoff said: “I’ve always been obsessed with shoes. I’ve been wanting to do this for three years, but I wanted to wait until it felt right.”

It looks right to us! What do you think of the collection? Which pair(s) will you be buying?

Images from Rebecca Minkoff

Sponsored Post: The Trendsetters - Five Style Icons Who Influence and Innovate

In fashion, it’s easy to follow the trends but we admire those who set them. We’ve picked our top five favorite style icons who we always watch to see what they’re going to do and wear next. Check it out:

1. Vivienne Tam
Vivienne Tam was already a renowned fashion designer when she decided to take her innovative genius to the next level. She partnered with Hewlett Packard to develop special range of designer computers, computer accessories and packaging. Her first special-edition notebook debuted on the runway at New York Fashion Week, with models clutching the designer notebook like a small purse. Tam’s “digital clutch” is the first of its kind, and the first time a computer company has partnered with a fashion house to create an innovative new laptop and have it debut on the runway. She was one of the first designers to embrace the marriage of fashion and technology and for that reason, we love her.

2. Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama has many roles as the First Lady but we love that she maintains her polished look while taking on everything she does. Before even entering the White House, many women clamored for Michelle Obama’s everyday style. We love that she mixes it up – J. Crew and H&M one day, Narciso Rodriguez the next. She embraces high and low fashion, is loyal to her hometown designers (she’s a longtime client of Chicago fashion designer Maria Pinto), and let us breathe a sigh of relief when she ushered the low, kitten heel shoe and flats back into popularity.

3. Tory Burch
Tory Burch redefined ‘classic’ and gave it a fresh new appeal. In just a short period, she has been hailed “The Next Big Designer” by Oprah and we have to agree. Her fashion influence reigns, as evidenced by the many, many women spotted wearing her signature Reva logo flat. Tory Burch’s personal style is felt throughout everything from her collections to her chic boutiques. Every piece feels as if it has been carefully curated by her, just for you.

4. Kenneth Cole
When Kenneth Cole made forty-thousand pairs of shoes, rented a trailer to sell them out of, and staged his own production – “The Birth of a Shoe Company,” he was destined for success. This innovative thinking led the way to almost 30 years of trendsetting footwear, followed by apparel and accessories, as well as trendsetting in the way of socially conscious advertisements. We love that every ad has a message, so you’re not only getting a trendy new purchase, but a thought-provoking urge to act as well.

5. Sarah Jessica Parker
There are arguably few style icons that are as trendsetting as Sarah Jessica Parker. With her influential role as Carrie Bradshaw on HBO’s Sex and the City, SJP wowed us with her pithy takes on love and relationships, and even more so with her wardrobe (styled by Patricia Field). Even off-screen, SJP’s fashion touch is gold – anything she wears is coveted and bought by fashionistas worldwide. We’re guilty.

America’s first 4G phone is also the first to deliver download speeds up to 10x faster than 3G and be a mobile hotspot for up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices. Not to mention front and rear-facing cameras and the ability to stream live video to the Web. And you get access to over 65,000 apps you’ve come to expect from an Android. So the only question is, what will you do first with EVO? http://sprint.com/firsts

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Sprint via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sprint.

Haute vs. hot: Derek Lam and Carlos Santana

We found these super sexy Derek Lam Suede Double-Platform Lace-Up Sandals that are the perfect transition from summer to fall. Paired with everything from harem-style pants to boho dresses, these shoes are simply stunning. But if the $790 is too much for you to bear, try the almost identical Carlos Santana Shoes Tamingo Sandals ($99). They’re just as nice (and for a fraction of the price).

John Derian, Mulberry and Tucker for Target - all coming to Gilt!

Yes, you read right! For one day only, you can preview and shop upcoming Target collections on Gilt!

Living in New York, I always have the chance to shop Target’s designer collabos before they hit stores. But now Gilt is giving everyone the chance to shop three designer capsule collections: John Derian for Target, Mulberry for Target and Tucker for Target - all before their official store releases. Get early access to flirty dresses and tops from Tucker (by Gaby Basora), fab handbags from Mulberry and haute home goods by John Derian. We’re particularly excited for the Mulberry collaboration - fingers crossed for Mulberry Bayswater and Mabel styles.

On Friday, August 20 at noon ET, Gilt is offering an exclusive advance look at several pieces from each collection. Click here to sign up for Gilt and be sure to stop back here and let us know what you picked up!

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