Jeffrey Campbell Morrow Bootie in Black vs. Alexander Wang’s buckled leather ankle boots

How many pairs of Jeffrey Campbell shoes should one girl own? Here’s hoping the answer is ‘as many as possible’, because it seems like we spot a new pair of JC’s covetable shoes on a daily basis! We were bummed that we never got to snag a pair of the Alexander Wang Hanne buckled leather ankle boots but to our suprise, Jeffrey Campbell designed a similar version (which we think looks a bit better, and naturally is more affordable). The Jeffrey Campbell Morrow Bootie in Black is a taller, chunkier version of Wang’s boot with the same three rows of buckled straps, but with a more rounded toe - perfect for us girls without model-thin feet. As the proud owner of several pairs of Jeffrey Campbell shoes, we can vouch for the high-quality of the leather, comfort and construction. And the price cannot be beat - $195 for Campbell’s version, vs. $690 for Wang’s. Which would YOU buy?

Haute to shop: Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960 footwear collection

While we refuse to ever wear a pair of Jessica Simpson’s shoes (we don’t care how darn cute they are - they’re still ’made’ by Jessica Simpson!) we’ll certainly step into some of Nicole Richie’s shoes.

Her jewelry line, House of Harlow 1960, had us swooning when it first debuted. Now, under the same label is a line of shoes set to debut this spring. If you love Richie’s boho-glam style, you’ll love this collection. The line has the same aesthetic as the jewelry line - an artsy, bohemian feel with geometric, tribal and art-deco detailing on all of the looks. Highlights from the line include chunky fish-scale peep-toe platforms, beaded moccasins, towering platform shoes with whipstitched, tribal detail on the heels, Navajo-inspired flats and stiletto sandals, and flat laser cutout booties. All the pieces would look great with any spring look.

What’s your take? Will you be buying House of Harlow 1960 footwear?

Buy at shopbop.com and Singer 22.

The Future of Fashion hosted by Robert Verdi’s Luxe Laboratory: the ultimate New York Fashion Week retreat

Believe it or not, fashion week can be uber-stressful so any and all opportunities to take relaxing breaks are very much-welcomed. So I was thrilled to be invited to the exclusive New York Fashion Week retreat: The Future of Fashion hosted by Robert Verdi’s Luxe Laboratory. Verdi organizes these fashion Week retreats with a specially curated group of partner brands in fashion, beauty and lifestylen to offer ‘exclusive services, little indulgences and innovative ideas that are shaping the future of fashion & the way we live’.

The Luxe Laboratory is set up in an intimate, studio-style setting, and if I could live in the cozy space, I absolutely would! I visited the lounge on Valentine’s Day, and upon entering, was greeted with a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere of food, drink, fashion, beauty, artwork (from Jen Bekman gallery), and fellow fashion bloggers milling about. I was served yummy Absolut Berri Açai champagne cocktails (sadly I just missed the healthy brunch from BluePrint Cleanse!) and gnoshed on my favorite kettle corn popcorn from Popcorn Indiana. On one end of the Luxe Laboratory was a Rock & Republic denim bar so we could take a peek at the hottest new styles from the brand, alongside custom fittings from Maidenform and ShāToBu™ shapewear, Carrera sunglasses and a furnishings by Modern Dose.

On the other side of the main room was a spa-like lounge area where we could get all dolled up! Ginger + Liz, two ladies who started their own line of fab nail colors, were there providing manicures using their haute collection. My fave was ‘Swagger’. Makeup was provided by Neil for Jouer Cosmetics. He did such a fab job on my face that I sorta hired him to duplicate the look for my upcoming wedding! A professional hair stylist from PHYTO was also there to provide blow-outs. Yes, I felt spoiled for the day!

The Robert Verdi Luxe Laboratory event was amazing! It was such a great space to relax, mingle with other fashion bloggers and editors and get up close and personal with the brands I already write about.

Thanks Robert Verdi! Hope to pay another visit to the Luxe Laboratory very soon!

Burberry show and the front row at London Fashion week and more on Weekly Shopping and Goodies

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Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy deflates Aqua 24 Viva Lips! cream claim to fame as a lip plumper.

Couture In The City deflates rock and roll style with 2010 fall collection Diesel Black Gold

Fashion Cents gives you the ammunition to address the style basics. Enter to win now!

Fashion Hippo can’t believe the price of this chic Melie Bianco Satchel

Handbag du Jour wants to know if you think the Alexander McQueen Thriller Faithful Glove Clutch is macabre or a must-have?

Ladybrillemag.com says Lukando Face of Africa Winner Does Lunch with Iman!

Quinta Trends comments 10 reason why it still loves The Devil wears Prada.

Straighten those locks! Raging Rouge reviews the Hana Elite Flat Iron.

Shopping and Info is giving away a messenger bag from Aspinal of London.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com is giving away a Pea in the Pod gift certificate. Enter to WIN!

Style Eyes is really pleased about The Green Room for more ethical and eco fashion at ASOS.

StyleMaven is lusting after the luxe shearling aviator jackets shown at Burberry Prorsum for London Fashion Week.

TheFind Blog is replacing her heavy winter coat with a lighter and Spring-ier MICHAEL Michael Kors Sateen Trench.

What’s Haute Magazine is giving away 5 copies of House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival. Enter to win!

Jean Paul Gaultier rocks the house with ‘Designer Collaborations’ collection at Target

If you’ve had enough of the winter (we’re talking to you snowstorms), you’re probably already checking out spring fashions and deciding what to buy. Well so are we! And one of the must-buys on our list is a few pieces from the Jean Paul Gaultier for Target collection. The collection launches March 7, as part of Target’s ‘Designer Collaborations’ series. Gaultier is the third designer in the series, which features “well-established designers who draw inspiration from a collaborative partner, muse or creative element.”

Since we just couldn’t wait to see it in stores, so we stole a peek at the looks from Nitrolicious (via Refinery 29) and we likey! So, it’s not the most cohesive collection (Tim, Heidi, Nina and Michael might not approve) but still, the individual items are worth a trip to Target. We spy lovely floral print dresses and skirts, some covetable spring trench coats, bombers and moto jackets (especially loving the two-tone black jacket with red underside flaps!), tattoo print leggings, graphic tees with side ties, Breton-inspired striped tops, bathing suits, solid cardigans, gingham bustiers – you name it! As Tim Gunn would say, there’s a whole lotta look here but at least there’s something for everyone!

From JPG:
“My collection with Target pays homage to the wide range of personalities that make up the diverse styles of American women. From ingénue to rock ‘n roll, this collection celebrates women of all ages and a host of distinctive, iconic American styles.”

What will you be buying? (Click images to view larger)

Exclusive look at Ramona Singer’s new Jewelry Line for HSN

Ramona Singer of The Real Housewives of New York is back with new jewelry to wow us all. Her gorgeous, affordable, estate-inspired pieces have been exclusively available on HSN. With a new Real Housewives season about to air, get a head start on shopping for her new collection, which you’ll see highlighted on this season of The Real Housewives of New York.

With an extensive design background, and a flair for fashion, Ramona’s new line consists of pendants, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings that will be sure to please everyone. With glamorous art deco and auction-inspired designs, Ramona wants to create jewelry that every woman will want to own and pass down to their daughters one day. Trendy jewelry comes and goes, but classic style is timeless. I purchased one of Ramona’s lemon quartz rings and I can attest to the beauty and quality of her pieces. Be prepared for tons of compliments when you wear Ramona’s jewelry.

I have been lucky enough to get a preview of the new line, and it is full of gorgeous pieces to add to your jewelry collection. Ramona’s fabulous designs incorporate apple quartz, beautiful hues of chalcedony, smokey quartz, dramatic large diamond hoop earrings, and my personal favorite, rose vermeil paired with gemstones and diamonds. Tune in to HSN on March 2nd to see Ramona debut her new collection at 1pm-3pm and 10pm-12am EST.

In the meantime, check out all of Ramona’s current pieces available at HSN.

Brulee Lingerie: Questions and answers with designer Kristian Giambi

The dilemma women often face when shopping for lingerie is sacrificing comfort for sexy. How great does the combination of comfortable and sexy sound when thinking about high-quality lingerie and loungewear? Well, that is just what Kristian Giambi had in mind when she designed Brulee, a luxurious line of lingerie that is all handcrafted in New York. Composed of fine materials, such as cotton, silk, and jersey, Brulee was born out of necessity. When she couldn’t find the type of loungewear she was looking for, Kristian decided to create beautiful yet sexy pieces that were feminine without all the frills.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Kristian some questions about her new line, and I am very excited about the debut of Brulee. If you are looking to indulge yourself in a new piece of lingerie to spice up your undergarment wardrobe, Kristian suggests a sexy bodysuit, adding that just because “…it is lingerie does not mean that it must go unseen. For example, pair a bodysuit with skinny jeans or a pencil skirt and jacket during the day, then simply remove the jacket for instant transition into evening & night.”

If you are revamping your lingerie for 2010 and want to splurge while adding more ’sexy’ to your underwear drawer, then look to add some teddies. Kristian feels that “they are unbelievably comfy while still being beautiful and so sexy.” In fact, comfortable, sexy, empowering lingerie and loungewear were the driving force in starting Brulee.

Available in select boutiques and online at Brulee.net, Kristian feels that women will find Brulee’s pieces to be classic and full of glamour, yet with an edgy twist. One great tip is to try on a bunch of different styles to find what best suits your body type, however, don’t discount finding a good tailor if you need a small adjustment in the fit of your lingerie.

With a wide variety of styles, all with intricate details and fine workmanship, women can wear Brulee undergarments and feel sexy, confident, and most of all comfortable! And as if that isn’t exciting enough, Kristian reveals that in 2010, Brulee “…promises to leave you wanting to see what is underneath.”

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen

The fashion world suffered a huge loss today. On the heels of the start of New York Fashion Week and several weeks before before he was set to unveil his new collection at Paris Fashion Week, it has been reported that iconic fashion designer Alexander McQueen has died. Reportedly, McQueen took his own life, three years after his close friend and mentor Isabella Blow, herself committed suicide.

McQueen, in our eyes, was a fashion innovator and genius. He took all the right risks, always pushed the envelope with his creativity and continually made us fashionistas fall in love with his fashions, time and time again. His apparel collections were vibrant and over-the-top, and at times paid homage to his native England. His shoes and handbags were innovative, ranging from Victorian-style to gothic (with signature skull details), to funky (his alien-footed shoes from his Spring ‘09 show) and even paid homage to icons (we see the Michael Jackson influence in the McQueen Faithful Glove clutch).

In the fashion world, where trends are fleeting and icons are rare, his influence and stamp on the industry will be everlasting, and sorely missed. Rest in peace Alexander McQueen.

Check out our favorite McQueen picks below:

H Williams’ python spring shoes now available at Saks

We recently stumbled upon some smokin’ hot shoes while perusing a bridal magazine. A preliminary search came up with a Facebook fan page but nowhere to buy! So we were thrilled to discover that the smokin’ hot footwear – H Williams by designer Heather Williams – was just picked up by Saks Fifth Avenue! Starting February 8, the H Williams “Rueda” zippered bootie in tan and blue python, ($895), along with the “Ruby” zippered cage flat in embossed rose python, ($475), will be available for purchase in the Saks 10022-SHOE department. If you can’t get to New York, no worries - the H Williams Spring 2010 collection will also be available at specialty retailers including Madison in Los Angeles and IN Step at the Wynn Las Vegas.

H Williams’ Spring 2010 collection was inspired by the designer’s love for New York City. The Rueda and Ruby were inspired by the Brooklyn Bridge’s steel wires and the architectural structure of New York’s bridges, skyscrapers and scaffolding was incorporated into all of her spring footwear line.

Don’t you just love?

Pour La Victoire to launch bridal shoe collection exclusively on Zappos

Just when I thought my search for bridal shoes was over, I found out some news that made me pause. I just discovered French-inspired, Brazilian-crafted footwear brand Pour La Victoire is set to launch its bridal footwear line in March! Imagine the European-styling of a sexy Pour La Victoire shoe combined with the elegance of a beautiful bridal gown and ta-da! – you’ve got a gorgeous collection of fashion-forward wedding footwear.

I checked out the collection and there are some interesting looks, including your typical heels, flats and wedges, embellished with bows, beading, lace, crystals, ruffles and floral details. In total there are twelve bridal styles and I love them all! But one of my favorites is the Divia Wedge in Ivory. At times I prefer wedge shoes over stiletto heels, and the design of these with the side bow detail makes the shoe look elegant and feminine, and not at all clunky (like some wedges can).

There’s no word yet on pricing but it will likely be competitive with other bridal footwear brands, as well as Pour La Victoire’s mainstay footwear line, which ranges at around $200. The collection will be available exclusively on zappos.com.

Which one is your fave?

Check back to see which shoes make the cut for my big day!

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