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    Fashion Week: Twinkle by Wenlan

    The Twinkle by Wenlan collection is one that is chic and comfortable. Big chunky sweaters to see-through knits, Wenlan Chia has assembled a line that is stylish, timely and cozy. By mingling knit gauges and piles, Wenlan’s designs become three-dimensional and full of texture. After all, a cozy sweater is a lot more than an throw blanket with sleeves. The Twinkle collection is currently sold at more than 350 boutiques and specialty stores throughout the world, including Wink, in our neighborhood.

    Twinkle by Wenlan Fall 2010

    Who is the customer: Bergdorf’s 5th Floor, (although it’s not currently sold there.)

    Why buy: Sophistication and style transcend the chunk

    What to buy: We love how this oversized sweater looks belted. We also liked the way a wild printed legging looked with a great solid knit sweater.

    Bypass: Brown print dresses.

    Overall contribution to fashion: More stylish and novel than Vince but also affordable.

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    Dress Up at Kimberly Taylor

    A few weeks ago we happened to stumble upon a great discovery – the new Kimberly Taylor boutique in the Meatpacking District. This chic store features a beautiful collection of silk jersey cocktail dresses, silk party dresses, vests, tops and skirts, all of which retail for under $325.

    Better yet, Kimberly Taylor is currently holding a Valentines Day promotion where customers receive $100 off any two items they purchase from the new Spring 2010 collection. An amazing deal, considering that certain pieces such as the silk dress shorts are only $125. The cutout dress above is just $250 and can be fashionably worn to hang with Patricia Field at the Hudson Hotel`s Good Units or to a romantic dinner at Daniel.

    Kimberly Taylor boutique
    400 West 14th Street
    212-206-0618
    www.kimberlytaylor.com

    Sponsored Post
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    Fashion Week: Christian Siriano

    Christian Siriano may have found his voice on Project Runway but he is truly one of the greats. One can only hope that this young talent has a good CFO because there is no lack of talent. The collection was, fierce! Black coats, jackets and dresses were fitted perfectly and touched with soft flouncing. Each look was more fabulous than the next but the real show stopper was the shoes, which were inspired by Louie XVI.

    Christian Siriano Fall 2010

    Who is the customer: A fashion lover who has the nose to know great talent when she sees it.

    Why buy: You appreciate great tailoring and imagination.

    What to buy: The obvious choice is a ball gown for the red carpet. If you’re not in the market for white tie attire, go for a fitted dress or coat with flouncing.

    Bypass: Chiffon layered trapeze dress.

    Overall contribution to fashion: This was Siriano’s third collection shown at Bryant Park and we know there will be decades more. (Well maybe not at Bryant Park, but you get the point.)

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    Fashion Week: Ports 1961

    Under the creative direction of Tia Cibani, Ports 1961 has turned out women’s ready-to-wear lines that are classic but never boring or predictable. The designs are often structured with a romantic twist or a note of ethnic roots. This collection took a bit of a turn showing lots of unstructured and draped dresses and coats in neutral tones like, beige, olive, dark gray and coffee.

    Ports 1961 Fall 2010

    Who is the customer: The Ports 1961 customer is sophisticated, worldly and very astute to quality. We love that the designs are feminine but always chic and sometimes edgy.

    Why buy: As usual the fabric and textures were a major component to the collection. Watching the show you just wanted to reach out and touch every garment. Any and all of the looks could be worn straight off the runway .

    What to buy: A wonderfully tailored coat.

    Bypass: The print jumpsuit. It looked great belted on the model but most of us aren’t models.

    Overall contribution to fashion: Looking pretty doesn’t doesn’t mean giving up on the chic factor.

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    Fashion Week: Duckie Brown

    The duo behind Duckie Brown, Steven Cox and Daniel Silver, have a knack for attracting the cool guys. And you know where cool guys go, chic girls follow. Much of the collection was a combination of traditional plaids that were always mixed and never matched. All of the looks were worn with cropped pants. We loved the use of color especially as it was used in tweeds.

    Duckie Brown Fall 2010

    Who is the customer: Bavo’s Launch My Line, contestant and consummate dandy Patrick McDonald, Ugly Betty’s fashion loving kid brother, Mark Indelicato and a fashion forward Jeffery customer.

    Why buy: You don’t work at Goldman and have you do have a knack for looking great.

    What to buy: A cool combination of plaids

    Bypass: Too much matching tweed

    Contribution to fashion: Dressing up can be fun, exciting and lux. Daniel, Steven and the men who wear Duckie Brown are living proof.

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    McQueen Tragedy

    We wanted to take a moment to reflect on the talent and artistry Lee Alexander McQueen gave the fashion world and his customers. We will forever be inspired by his work.

    The McQueen website and online store has been taken down– we hope — temporarily. Be sure to take a look when it’s live again because his spring collection was amazing. We were/are looking froward to purchasing his yellow and black prints. This collection will be archived and catalogued like the fine art it is. If you can grab a piece of fashion history.

    McQueen was a fashion icon and like many of the good ones, he died too young.

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    Henri Bendel Instant Savings

    Henri Bendel may not be selling ready-to-wear any longer but they have done a super job concentrating on their jewelry department. Just in time for Valentines Day, the department-store-turned-accessory-store is offering instant discounts when you spend $200 or more from
    Just got your FB message: I can do the 17th too.

    This isn’t one of those department store shopping incentives where you spend some now and then get a gift card where you end up spending lots of money later to use your silly $50 gift card. The savings is instant. The price levels are as follows:

    Spend $200 ore more, receive $35 off
    Spend $350 ore more, receive $70 off
    Spend $500 ore more, receive $125 off
    Spend $750 ore more, receive $185 off
    You get the picture…

    We love these rivet stack bangles ($98) and very David Yurman. Take a look at this mulit strand pearl necklace ($198). It’s a great way to dress up a black cashmere sweater and jeans combo. Or try this rocking cocktail ring ($78).

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    Retail Therapy: Liz Lange and Jane Wagman

    Liz Lange made a name in creating chic clothing for women baking with babies. But there comes a time that every baby must grow up. Liz Lange is moving onto ready-to-wear and launching a collection– Completely Me by Liz Lange–which will range in price from about $25 to $60, on HSN starting Feb. 19.

    It’s hard not to develop a serious shopping problem when you grow up on the Upper East Side. Liz and her sister, Jane Wagman, started their careers working at the fashion temple we fondly refer to as Vogue. The sister duo is now hitting the world wide web and sharing their eye for fashion on Shopafrolic where they pick out best buys and wonderful fashion finds. Today we get some serious shopping tips from sisters who both love shoes, specifically Chanel boots, and the exhilarating powers of a really good buy.

    Hey, you’re bound to learn a life lesson or two when you spend enough time playing in the rock garden of the YSL boutique. What do you think?

    What’s your most prized “deal?”

    Liz Lange: My most prized deal changes from season to season but at the moment it is a large oversized navy patent leather Prada pocketbook with great gold hardware. I snagged it at half price and it is big enough to fit everything I need in a day. It’s great for travel and since in patent leather, I feel comfortable bringing it to the pool. It was under $1,000, which for Prada, is amazing.

    Jane Wagman: The Silver tipped, Fox fur coat I just scored at the Manhattan Vintage show for $650 (cash). The bottom zips off to transform the coat into a perfect car-coat and then I can wear the “bottom” as an amazing fur wrap. It’s a 3-for-1! I did pass a Siberian Husky on the street today and thought we looked separated-at-birth, so that might explain the price.




    Biggest regret that you didn’t purchase?


    LL: Shopping like life is about never looking back. There are no items that I truly regret not purchasing. That said, there was a little jersey dress in the Gucci resort collection, this season, that I saw in Palm Beach and should have grabbed!

    JW: The black Chanel knee high boots Liz bought this season. I wanted them in brown so badly. Dreamt about them but didn’t buy them. I should have as they are classic. I still think about them. Every time I see Liz in hers I get a little (or big) pang of regret.

    This season you are looking for…

    LL: This season I am looking for anything and everything Chloe. They really have their game on right now. Also, nautical. I can’t get enough navy, white, red and rope! Chanel and Gucci all have fab looking nautical pieces this season.

    JW: Spring/Summer – short shorts, skirts, dresses, flirty tops. Already thinking about next Winter and I want a fur hood (a la Audrey Hepburn in Charade)



    What’s your number one shopping tip?


    LL: My number one shopping tip is, when in doubt walk away. If you can’t stop thinking about it, then you should go back the next day and buy it. If you forget about it after leaving the shop, clearly it wasn’t meant to be. And nothing is too expensive if you wear it all the time and conversely even the cheapest item is too much money if you never end up wearing it.

    JW: Buy it… and lie about the price! You only live once. A new purchase really makes you happy.

    What’s your biggest weakness?


    LL: I have a huge weakness for little short skirts and little dresses. My favorite “little black” ones are Prada but really I buy them everywhere and anywhere from forever21.com to Versace and everything in between.

    JW: Is shopping an answer or is that the given and the question is “what is my shopping weakness?” I would have to say shoes. Good shoes transform any outfit. I often pick my shoes first and then plan the outfit to go with them.




    Is there an item for which a shopper should never mind paying full price?

    LL: You should never mind paying full price for great shoes. Shoes are delivered early in the season (particularly boots!) and if you don’t buy them then, you greatly run the risk of losing out. I always buy my Louboutins, Manolos and Chanels at full price when I see them and I wear them forever, so I don’t feel badly about the price.

    JW:Shoes, Bags, watches. But always try for the sale! You can often find amazing things at the end f a season/ But if you love something buy it full price or you risk not getting it.


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