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.”

Barbie Basics LBD Collection - event recap

Yesterday I told you about the Barbie Basics LBD collection of dolls. Well, I had the chance to preview the one-of-a-kind designer dolls last night at Openhouse Gallery. The Kir Royale cocktails were flowing, the hors d’oeuvres were being passed and I got a chance to catch up with some of my favorite fashion bloggers. Then came the unveiling. Oh boy! If only I could have Barbie’s one-of-a-kind outfits for myself! The looks were everything you’d expect – and more! All of the dolls were styled amazingly, but my faves had to be the Betsey Johnson Barbie with the wide sheer skirt, the Devi Kroell Barbie with mirrored pants and an ‘exotic’ handbag, the Lorraine Schwartz Barbie with $10,000 of real diamonds on it, and the Subversive Barbie with a chunky, layered pearl necklace! Icing on the cake – designer Justin Giunta (Subversive) was there and told me about his inspiration for accessorizing Barbie, his jewelry line and his upcoming jewelry collaboration with Tory Burch!

Overall, all of the dolls were nothing short of fabulous! And as promised, bidding has begun on the dolls so if you want to get your hands on these one-of-a-kind designer dolls, whip out your credit cards and snap up one – or a few! Proceeds will benefit CFDA education and scholarship programs.

Make sure to follow Barbie on Twitter (@BarbieStyle) and check out her blog, where CFDA designer Justin Giunta has a guest blog about his designer doll.

Special thanks to Attention PR, Steven Kolb - Executive Director, CFDA, and Stephanie Cota - SVP, Barbie for hosting this event!

Photos via Racked and TrendHunter

Barbie Basics black label collection of little black dresses

Barbie is the luckiest girl in the world. Who else can say that they have a closet full of little black dresses (LBDs), designed just for them by 12 of the world’s top designers?

To celebrate the launch of Mattel’s new Barbie Basics doll, featuring twelve customized Barbies with varying hairstyles, skin tones and a basic LBD and accessories, the company also invited Council of Fashion Designers America (CFDA) designers to customize twelve one-of-a-kind dresses for Barbie. Designers include Deborah Lloyd (Kate Spade), Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel Roy, Tory Burch, Alexis Bittar, Betsey Johnson, Devi Kroell, Justin Giunta (Subversive), and Monica Botkier. Wouldn’t you just love to have a closet full of their stuff?

Each designer is auctioning their doll on eBay until February 7. Starting bid is $100 and net proceeds will go to the CFDA’s education program and scholarships.

And tonight, I’ll be tweeting live from the first-ever Barbie tweet-up, where we’ll get to take a peek at these one-of-a-kind dolls. Follow us on Twitter: we’re @WhatsHaute!

And follow @BarbieStyle for more updates on the dolls!

Make 2010 your sexiest year ever with Affinitas Intimates lingerie

Have you been keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions? We all tend to make the commitments to lose weight, exercise more, and drop the bad habits. For 2010, how about a resolution to feel more beautiful, to toss your worn-out sensible undergarments and go all-out sexy?

Affinitas Intimates makes affordable, gorgeous lingerie that is well-made, sexy and most of all, comfortable. I had the privilege of trying out the Natalie bra and panty set, and I must say, it really boosted my confidence knowing that even though I was in my everyday attire, I had this really sexy lingerie on underneath. The Natalie set is true-to-size, well-constructed with impeccable detailing, such as contrast trim, bows with dangling charms, and lightweight yet supportive materials. Spring 2010 is the perfect time to upgrade your underwear wardrobe because Affinitas has a fresh, new line that incorporates fresh florals, vintage satin and lace, an all-white bridal line, as well as familiar styles in bright, vibrant colors. Whether you need bras, panties, camisoles, bustiers or babydolls, Affinitas Intimates has both everyday pieces, as well as special occasion lingerie, all at prices to fit your budget. And don’t let the prices fool you, all the pieces in the collection are made of high-quality materials, such as satin, lace, cotton, and even a technologically advanced seamless fabric.

I totally love a bunch of the collections, including the Samantha, which is ultra sexy and racy, but don’t take my word for it, view for yourself at Affinitas Intimates. The lingerie is available in stores or online, and you can locate a retailer in your area here.

Affinitas Intimates can help make 2010 your sexiest year ever! Start your lingerie makeover today.

H&M in New York City slashes its merchandise - literally

Wonder what happens to H&M’s clothes that don’t sell? Well, unlike many retailers who sell their unsold merchandise to discounters like TJ Maxx and Marshalls, H&M reportedly takes a knife to its clothes. According to the New York Times, instead of slashing prices, H&M just slashes its merchandise. (Apparently, this is Walmart’s practice too.) The slashed goods include everything from shirts and pants, to socks, gloves and children’s shoes. Even tons of plastic hangers are tossed. Why? Allegedly, because it’s cheaper than shipping the items and it’s also to prevent the items from being worn or re-sold. But wouldn’t it be better and more socially responsible to just donate the unsold items to charities?

What do you think – is it wasteful or worth the savings?

NYT reports that its inquiries to H&M’s US headquarters were not yet responded to.

She’s here! The Cat Burglar Barbie by Christian Louboutin

Last month we told you about Christian Louboutin’s collaboration with Mattel to create a limited-edition Barbie doll. And now, just in time for the holidays, she has arrived – the Cat Burglar Barbie by Christian Louboutin. The limited-edition doll is super stylish, but would you expect any less of Monsieur Louboutin? She wears a black catsuit with the red-soled Louboutin Differa sandals and comes with 3 extra pairs of mini Louboutin shoes; the Miss ankle boots, the Claudia peep-toe shoes and the Altameche knee-high boots. Each pair comes with its own shoe box and bag. The doll comes packaged in a brown Louboutin box with a copy of Christian and Barbie’s travel journal. Gift it to the young fashionista in your life, or get it for yourself! Go ahead, we won’t tell!

$150, Net-a-Porter.com

Zac Posen to design for the girl on the street: introducing Z Spoke

Don’t you just love when designers launch lines for the everyday woman? We do. We’ve long been fans of Zac Posen but stuck to shopping only his accessories since his evening dresses reached exorbitant price levels. We’re happy to learn that Zac, according to Women’s Wear Daily, is launching a new lower-priced collection for spring called Z Spoke. The contemporary sportswear line which includes separates such as knits, cotton shirts, blazers and pleated khaki shorts will be exclusively sold through Saks Fifth Avenue, in 17 stores and online at Saks.com.

Z Spoke is said to represent Zac’s “new minimalist and utilitarian mind-set with a strong sportswear sensibility”. While Zac Posen’s high-end collection ranges from $900 to $12,000, and custom pieces reaching upwards of $20,000, the Z Spoke range will retail from $78 to $675 and includes everything from a basic cotton T-shirt to Posen’s signature knit dresses.

What do you think of the collection? Will you be buying Z Spoke?

Photos by Kyle Ericksen via WWD

Barbie by Christian Louboutin

Since it’s almost Christmas, you know what that means – a new version of the Barbie doll is hitting stores for parents to fight over. But this time, they may be fighting for it for themselves and not their daughters (or sons as the case may be). That’s because shoe designer of the moment (or many moments as his shoes remain in demand after numerous seasons) Christian Louboutin is styling three Louboutin Barbie dolls, who will come with mini Louboutin boxes and doll shoes. And of course, since Barbie always comes with controversy, the red-soled shoe designer is said to be re-shaping her feet because apparently, according to a Louboutin spokesperson, the designer believes Barbie has ‘cankles’. Who knew? Anyway, if you want these haute couture shoe/skinny ankled dolls, they launch in December 2009. The first in the series is the ’Cat-burglar’ Barbie by Christian Louboutin, dressed in a sleek hooded black cat-suit. Becuase all haute couture shoe/skinny ankled dolls are thieves. Didn’t you know?

Rent the Runway: haute couture that you love, wear and return

UPDATE: Rent the Runway is currently INVITATION-ONLY. In order to join, please email me at editor (at) whatshaute (dot) com.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a fickle shopper. ‘Buy today, return tomorrow’ has long been my motto. Not everything of course – I do like to keep my closet well-stocked. But I like to buy something, try it on at home, test it out with a few accessories and see if it ‘works’. If not, it’s going right back to the store. But with more and more stores adopting a “No refunds” policy, what’s a girl to do?

Enter Rent the Runway. Dubbed the ‘Netflix of Haute Couture’, this new site brings high-end fashions to the masses. But not in a lower-priced, mass-produced kind of way. No, these are the actual runway pieces so you can wear what celebrities wear, at about one-tenth of the cost. You can rent dresses and exclusive runway pieces from fashion designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Hervé Léger, Proenza Schouler and Christian Siriano. Siriano’s ready-to-wear pieces traditionally go for up to $3,000, but on Rent the Runway, you can get pieces from his line for $150 to $200.

Other perks include:
A reservation system to ensure that you can get a specific dress for the night you need it.
On-call stylists
Returns within 24 hours of rental, for any reason
A second style of dress as a backup, for an additional $25
A custom garment bag and fit kit including double-sided tape, bra strap adjusters and deodorant stain removers

Are you ready to Rent the Runway? “Love. Wear. Return.” Now that’s a motto we can shop with.

Gabriel Aubry is the new face of Louis Vuitton

Halle Berry’s hottie boyfriend (and baby Nahla’s daddy) Gabriel Aubry has just been named the new face of Louis Vuitton. This is definitely a step up from Keith Richards. The Canadian-born, Calvin Klein and Versace model has already shot photos in Ibiza for LV’s spring campaign. Aubry’s agency, Wilhelmina Models, got him the contract. Madonna had been pushing for her alleged lover Jesus Luz to get the contract but he was beat out by Aubry. The house of LV reportedly also replaced Madge with model Lara Stone.

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