Enter to win two tickets to the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour in What’s Haute Magazine’s 5 days of giveaways!

To usher in the 5^th month (May), and to thank you, dear readers, for helping us reach over 500 followers on Twitter, What’s Haute is celebrating with a weeklong giveaway! Our 5-day giveaway will consist of various prizes to thank you for your support.

Today’s prize is ‘BIG’! It’s a gift certificate for two tickets to the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour, which runs daily (an $84 value). The gift certificate never expires so you can use it anytime!

The Sex and the City Hotspots Tour incorporates more than 40 locations from the movie and the TV show including the shop where Charlotte bought her “Rabbit,” the trendy Meatpacking District, and a stop to drink a Cosmopolitan at ‘Scout’, the bar owned by Aidan. It’s the perfect mix of shopping, drinking, and sightseeing in the hip neighborhoods of New York City. There are also locations from Sex and the City: The Movie interspersed in the tour.

Tour highlights include:
• Shopping at the store where Charlotte bought her “Rabbit”
• A stop at “Scout,” the bar owned by Aidan
• Enjoying cupcakes like Carrie and Miranda
• Going on location to the art gallery in SoHo where Charlotte worked
• Shopping at the hottest boutiques & stores in Greenwich Village
• Visiting Buddakan, site of Carrie and Big’s wedding rehearsal dinner
• Seeing new locations from Sex and the City: the Movie

*To enter to win, simply click the links to follow What’s Haute Magazine on Twitter and On Location Tours on Twitter. You can also become a fan of What’s Haute Magazine on Facebook. If you’re already following or a fan, leave a comment below letting us know and you’ll be automatically entered!

For extra entries, tweet the following: “Please RT: I want to win 2 tickets to the Sex and the City Hotspots tour from @WhatsHaute and @onlocationtours!“.

(The contest is only open to those who live in Canada, the United States or Mexico.)

That’s it! The winner will be randomly selected on or around May 15, 2010.

Special thanks to On Location Tours for sponsoring this giveaway!

Click here to enter more giveaways on What’s Haute.

About On Location Tours, Inc.
On Location Tours, Inc. is a bus tour company based in New York City, specializing in TV and movie location tours. On Location Tours also operates the tour of Sopranos Sites and Gossip Girl Sites, the New York TV and Movie Sites, Washington DC TV and Movie Sites, and the Central Park Movie Sites. The company was founded in 1999, by Georgette Blau, a 1996 graduate of Skidmore College.

On Location tours has launched Sex and the City girlfriend getaways and bachelorette packages that include the tour of Sex and the City Hotspots by limousine, dinner at a location used in the show, and entrance into one of the nightclubs where scenes from Sex and the City were filmed!

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit On Location Tours or call 212-209-3370.

EXCLUSIVE: An evening with Bluefly and the winner of Project Runway season 7

Sadly, another season of Project Runway comes to an end, but I got the incredible opportunity to spend the evening watching the finale at a party hosted by Bluefly and this season’s contestant Anthony Williams and season three contestant Laura Bennett. Can you say amazing? The party was held at Bennett’s fabulous two-story loft and her husband and kids mingled with the crowd. The environment was intimate, yet fun and fab – with an assortment of chic fashionistas, sushi, cocktails and cupcakes and Project Runway fan favorites! I spotted Anthony and Laura, of course, Seth Aaron Henderson, Maya Luz, Kevin Christiana, Kelly Cutrone(!), Epperson, and Althea Gibson, along with some of my favorite bloggers – Kristin from Fashion.Style.Beauty. and Dina from Eye 4 Style.

Throughout the show the crowd was treated to Anthony’s entertaining sidebar comments and the fabulous garments coming down the runway. If that wasn’t enough to satisfy your fashion fix, pieces from Laura’s final collection were also on display in her loft and if you thought they were amazing on TV, they were even more incredible in person. Project Runway has discovered some truly talented designers. But back to the show – we were on the edge of our seats waiting for them to announce the winner – even Seth Aaron had to get a glass of wine! But when it was revealed, he and his wife and children shared a moment and the crowd cheered! His looks were definitely the crowd favorite!

I chatted with Seth Aaron right after his win was shown on TV. We spoke about what he’s doing now – currently a mix of media and press tours to talk about winning the show, and between the time the show ended until now, he was sewing original pieces and doing trunk shows throughout Portland, Oregon, which sold out every time! And I’m not surprised – who wouldn’t want a Seth Aaron original?

What’s next for Seth Aaron? Well, he said that he’s currently looking for a manufacturer in Los Angeles, hired a sales rep, and is already planning shows at both New York Fashion Week AND London Fashion Week! When I asked him about his inspirations, he said that he doesn’t go out seeking inspirations – rather, it just comes to him. And I asked him about his Tim Burton-style pieces. He said he’s a huge fan of both Burton and Rob Zombie films as well, and loves his own ’dark’ aesthetic that he injects into his clothes. I love it too – it’s fun and fanciful and stunning - on the runway and off. I definitely can’t wait to see what happens next for Seth Aaron. I’ll be watching. And wearing, hopefully very soon.

Editor’s note: I chatted with Anthony Williams who is designing a handbag line (check out his gorgeous gold jeweled bag below) and Kelly Cutrone about her new YouTube TV channel with BFF Justine Bateman. Both were absolute sweethearts!

RACHEL Rachel Roy ushers in Spring 2010 collection with a performance by Estelle

Last week I was invited to attend a preview of the Rachel Roy Spring 2010 collection at Macy’s - Herald Square. The opportunity to meet Rachel was enough for me to be excited about, but on top of that, her friend, singer and jewelry collection co-designer Estelle was scheduled to perform as well. The two gorgeous and talented ladies came on stage and Rachel introduced Estelle, who then performed a set of several songs, including her new hit song ’Freak‘ and my personal fave – ‘American Boy‘. Then Rachel met with fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs while models posed in her latest collection.

I chatted with Rachel – who was an absolute sweetheart, by the way – about her fashion line, women entrepreneurs, and accessories. She complimented me on my necklace; I adored her Skull Two Finger Ring, which unfortunately is now sold out! I wore my RACHEL Rachel Roy 24hr Dress for the occasion, and spotted a new version of it for spring – the Mini Painted 24hr Leopard Dress. This has to be one of the most fabulous dresses I’ve ever owned because the fit is simply amazing. This modal dress hangs and drapes in all the right places, and you can dress it up with heels and jewels, or dress it down with flats. It’s extremely comfortable and flattering for any figure, and the leopard print adds a nice touch for the season.

Buy for $99 at RACHEL Rachel Roy online, or at Macy’s.

J. McCarthy/Wireimage

Relax, rejuvenate and refresh with Exhale Spa on Rue La La

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to meet with Rue La La insiders at their Exhale Spa event. I chatted with the Marketing head (who recognized What’s Haute Magazine immediately – I’m guessing I shop at Rue La La a bit much!) about the sample sale site’s designer offerings and company direction. She assured me that Rue La La was not your typical sample sale site, but rather a lifestyle site. Thus the sponsored event at Exhale Spa.

The evening was divine. Bloggers and editors gnoshed on champagne, fruit and cheese while we were treated to signature services from the Well Bar. I got a pretty pink mani while others received lip exfoliation, facials and a few even bravely participated in Exhale Spa’s Core Fusion class. It was the perfect event to usher in spring, a time to relax, rejuvenate and refresh.

Today on Rue La La, treat yourself to some holistic pampering, reconnect your mind and body and experience some essential core training in the Exhale Spa Boutique! Locations include New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Santa Monica and South Florida.

Packages will be available Thursday, April 1 at 11AM ET for 48 hours.

Click the link to sign up for Rue La La!

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!

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

Fall shopping at Marshall’s

Several weeks ago, What’s Haute Magazine was invited to a red carpet fall shopping event at Marshall’s. We joined a very small, hand-selected group of fellow bloggers, including Eye 4 Style, Style IT, Felicia Sullivan, I’m Not Obsessed and Nanodism with host, Alison Deyette, to get a behind the scenes look at off-price shopping and “shopportunity”.

I’ve always been a fan of both Marshall’s and TJ Maxx. Though off-price shopping is not for all, it’s great for those like me who love the thrill of the hunt. In my lifetime I’ve found tons of amazing authentic designer picks at both stores, including everything from Dior and Gucci sunglasses, to Valentino dresses, Emilio Pucci accessories, Katherine Kwei and Michael Kors handbags - you get the picture. And this instance was no different. We saw everything from Calvin Klein dresses, to Coach bags, to Diane von Furstenburg shoes gracing the racks.

In case you thought off-price meant “last season”, you’d be surprised to know that Marshall’s provides clothes that are in season. They have buyers that visit manufacturers all over the country looking for stylish finds. When designers have an excess of shirts, shoes, bags, etc. from their designs not selling out in department stores or boutiques, the clothes are returned to them and they need to figure out an alternative to selling it. This is where Marshall’s comes in.

After department store or boutique buyers place their orders, Marshall’s buyers purchase the excess and put them in stores right away. (Marshall’s and TJ Maxx get 10,000 pieces of new merchandise each week, spread out among their 1,600 stores.) That means that you can get the same pricey department store or boutique clothes in Marshall’s at the exact same time and for a much lower price! And they don’t return any clothing to the designer - they just mark it down until it’s sold and if it doesn’t sell, they eventually donate it.

And a great little shopping tip we learned is that you can always ask Marshall’s salespeople if they have your size back in the storeroom. Alison took us on a tour around and in the back of the store and we saw tons of recent deliveries, and more to come that day! With all that merchandise, they couldn’t put everything on the shelves so some of it stays in the back, just waiting for you to ask!

Speaking of merchandise, I picked up some gold DvF strappy sandals, an awesome black designer jumpsuit and a purple and black print dress – totaling only 120 bucks!

What “shopportunities” have you discovered at Marshall’s?

Self Salon Brooklyn - Blogger Beauty Night

You know the questions “If you were running out of a burning house, what three things would you grab?” and “If you were on a deserted island, what three things would you want with you?”. Well, in both instances for me, at least one of those things would be a bag of hair care products, including shampoo and conditioner, some sort of hair treatment, a blowdryer and a flat iron. I’m a little obsessed with my hair (I try my hardest not to have bad hair days), so when I was invited to check out Self Salon and get a hair glossing and blowout, I jumped at the chance.

I trekked over to Williamsburg, Brooklyn and immediately felt relaxed when I entered the fresh and airy, all-white space. The space was like a large art studio and the atmosphere was so calming. It was just what I needed after a long, stressful week! I chatted with some fellow bloggers, nibbled on Greek food and had a few glasses of wine before Jeffrey started my hair glossing process. The process was simple – he put the gloss in and just let it sit for about 20 minutes. Once it was rinsed out, Jeffrey was working on another blogger so the adorable owner, Maria Barca, took care of me.

Maria was nothing short of fabulous. To begin with, she was a sweetheart and super nice – a quality that seems to miss many stylists – at least most of the ones I have encountered. She explained everything that she was doing to my hair, and asked me many questions like what I wanted in terms of styling, what types of products I used and/or preferred, etc. This was all in an effort to get to know her client’s (my) needs well so she could provide the best service.

In addition to the amazing service, she is also an amazing stylist! She gave me a blowout which was very relaxing (I kept dozing off!) and fairly quick (no all-nighters here) which turned out beautiful. Then she offered to give me one of her signature “dry cuts” – I graciously accepted. I liked that she offered but didn’t push it, and even gave me a mirror and spun my chair around to show me exactly how much she was going to cut. No stylist has EVER done that before – they usually just start cutting away and you have to cross your fingers and hope for the best. When she was done, my hair had that shine, bounce and swing that you typically only see in hair commercials.

If you want awesome service, and ‘commercial-quality’ hair, hop on a train to Brooklyn and grab yourself a seat at Self Salon. It’s only $45 for a blowout and you’ll be in and out in a flash. A hair glossing goes for an affordable $75, and lasts for approximately 10 washes. They also have a ton of other services (like coloring, highlights and hair treatments) hair and beauty products that you’ll want to check out. And Self is currently running a 20% off special until October 31st, in case you needed another reason to check them out. They also provide other services like acupuncture and makeup. I’m heading back soon to get a bridal makeup consultation so check back soon for photos of that! Learn more by visiting their website at SelfSalonBrooklyn.com.

Self Salon
147 Grand Street (between Bedford and Berry)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Telephone: 718.599.1449
Email: selfsalon@verizon.net

Directions: L train to Bedford Avenue, walk south on Bedford to Grand and turn right
J, M or Z trains to Marcy stop, walk north on Bedford Avenue to Grand and turn left

Click here for more specials at Self Salon.

Fashion’s Night Out #FNO09: Anna Sui for Target pop-up shop

I recently reviewed the Anna Sui for Target collection so I knew what to expect upon entering the store. The store was cutely decorated in newspapers covering the walls with the headline “Anna Sui for Target”. It was laid out like a closet, with each Gossip Girl character the collection was based on, grouped in separate areas. Models lounged in chairs and sofas throughout. My favorites were the “Blair Waldorf” dresses. I tried on the blue belted mini dress but it was way too big. Unfortunately by the time I arrived, all of the selection had been picked over and only mostly extra large sizes were left. So I guess I’ll be picking up my pieces in Target when the collection rolls out in stores on September 13th!

In New York? Visit the store:
Anna Sui for Target pop-up store:
54 Crosby St.
Thursday, September 10th, 11 pm - 11 pm
Friday, September 11th, 11 pm - 11 pm
Saturday, September 12th, 11 pm - 8 pm

Stay tuned to What’s Haute for New York Fashion Week coverage!

Fashion’s Night Out #FNO09: RACHEL Rachel Roy pop-up store

I headed over to the RACHEL Rachel Roy pop-up store and the line was down the block! Not surprising since this collection has been buzzworthy for months. And once inside, I saw that it was worth all the fuss. Usually designer diffusion lines are poorly constructed or cheap fabrics are used, but this collection was very well-made and just lovely. I wanted to grab just about every piece in the store but only left with the ‘Love’ script necklace and Peace Sign earrings.

The store was like one big party - in the front there was an area filled with graffiti panels designed by renowned tag artist SenOne. Guests could leave their own tags too. Drag queen/DJ Lady Bunny put on his/her own outrageous show, twirling around the store and dancing like a madwoman….or madman.

I chatted with a few celebs - RACHEL Rachel Roy model Karen Blanchard. I adored her bag, which I initially assumed was some couture designer creation but was actually scored on the cheap at a vintage store. And she studded it herself! Fabulous and resourceful - my kind of girl! I also ran into Malvin Vien of the current season of Project Runway. We chatted about what he’s been up to since the show - he’s designing his own line and also involved in non-profit work. I also spotted Renee Neufville of former R&B group Zhané. I gushed over her music as well as her style. She looked amazing in a brown and white zebra print hooded jumpsuit (vintage Diane von Furstenburg), a gold belt from her mom’s closet and a red leather clutch by Alexander Terekhov (Terexov). Loved her throwback wide fingerwaves, blue nails and neutral makeup. She revealed that she’s working on a solo album that may drop in December. I for one can’t wait! She was at the event to see her friend Estelle, who was scheduled to perform but I took off before she got there - had to finish my shopping rounds.

 

 

 

 

 

In New York? Visit the store:
RACHEL Rachel Roy pop-up store:
111 Spring Street (between Mercer and Greene)
September 9th through September 16th
Open 11am-8pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am-8pm on Sunday

Next up: the Anna Sui for Target pop-up store.

Stay tuned to What’s Haute for New York Fashion Week coverage!

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