A Charmed Life...

I had the last minute opportunity on Wednesday night to attend the L'etoile and METRO Magazine's Charmed Life event at the International Market Square in Minneapolis. It was so fun and I had a great time helping out my friend Kristy at her table for her JNRR Fall Line!! The event was trunk show style and they had a photo stylist contest that was awesome to see, where they featured clothing and accessories from the designers around the event. I also had the opportunity to talk with Christopher Straub from Project Runway and saw Cheryl Tiegs shopping around before the judging.

At Kristy's table

Shot of the main floor

Style contact model wearing 1 of Kristy's dresses!

Erika and Christopher

Christopher & Cheryl Tiegs at the judging table

Jewels for a princess in a twisted romance.....

I've always been kinda obsessed with jewel tones. In fact I have come up with a name for my style thanks to Destini; we've decided my style is a bit of a 'Twisted Romance"! If I ever get a clothing line up and running, that will be it's name. I love lace, dark jewel tones, dark nail polish, some leather filtering in, black tights and huge chunky shoes ala Rumi!!! I'm also major obsessed with bib necklaces...the bigger the better as far as I'm concerned!

I'm so glad that jewel tones are all over F/W 09 and into 2010! I've always loved them and it's probably because they love me back. Seriously though, I can't wear pastel, can't be even standing near anything that is close to yellow and look a bit green if I venture towards the autumn color palette so the jewel tones this season sit just fine with me! I loved Alberta Ferretti's main & Philosophy collections. They always seem to be full of beautiful dark, lush jewel tones and rich fabrics. I've also always loved paisley so I'm glad to see it appearing in a major way this season!

Friday's Fairytale

What a wonderful surprise it was yesterday when scampering through etsy I happened upon a beautiful shoppe called wristielove! I was immediately in love with all of the whimsical wonderfullness of this shoppe. Everything is appealing to the eye and exceptionally crafted. My favorites are the brooches and corsages, especially The Natural is Nice Mod Corsage and the Five-Thirty Clockwork Collection brooches! Oh and not to disappoint, she also has a blog (http://www.wristielove.blogspot.com/☆) with beautiful interior design pics. Check it out!!

Costumes!

Halloween is just around the corner, which means I need to get finished with my 'circus girl' costume that I started in Pattern Development class last quarter. I still need to finish all of the hand beading and attach the lining to the top, then I need to sew up some bloomers and create a jacket with tails! Those should be quicker since they won't entail all of the couture detailing that was required for class on the bodice. Destini has decided to be Cindy Who from Whoville so we are on the lookout for the perfect red and green accessories and then I will be making a coat with a circle skirt bottom! Should be fun but the challenge will be getting her hair to stand up like Taylor's does in the movie!!

I did pick up some costumes for the cats this year as well. Just wanted to see if they could handle things on their head since t-shirts don't see to work (they fall over, fall of chairs, fall down the basement steps)! So far, the hats work much better although it doesn't mean they like them any more ;o) Check out the look of disgust on Cheruboo's face (Pumpkin) and Vinny (Chicken), well he was fine with it as long as I didn't strap it down but only because I petted him with the chicken costume for a while first!!

Sneaky Peaky!!

I'm so excited about my new fall/winter collection for Sweet Luna!! For those of you following on the Sweet Luna blog...you get the first peak at what will be available for the preview tomorrow!!

Oh Vera!!

Let's face it, I'm into fashion but don't have the budget of say, Rachel Zoe. Although I do shop vintage like said Rachel and hunt high and low for unique trendsetting finds, I cannot afford to walk into a store and see a few things and say 'I'll take them all and can you send them to my hotel suite?' So because of this, I look to the discount retailers to supply me with adequate items that I can mix and match with my unique vintage pieces. Target is a big one for me because a) I work there and I know what's coming and frankly GO International does if for me!! b)they do the best at staying in trend and c) DISCOUNT (hello)!! But every once in a while I peruse the competition online to see what they are doing with their big name designers at a lower price point. So today I happen along Kohl's and pop in to see the ever so precise and stylish Vera Wang and what she is doing with her Simply Vera line for them. Color me disappointed!!! What is happening? I stop in expecting to see exciting pieces intermixed with the blah of the normal kohl's Midwestern housewife attire and see none of these! I see basic tees with a hint of ruffles, black leggings and conservative flat shoes (and the mini socks you can hide under them). YUCK! There was no little leather bolero, intricately draped evening dress, or mega ruffled collar cardigan to pine over. GROSS! I think Vera drank that nasty kool-aid they serve there and has forgotten about us little people. Seriously why do people feel the need to conform? I just don't understand what happened unless she completely stepped out of the designing and just signed the Simply Vera name over to Kohl's and said have at it! It looks just like all the other brands there like Axcess or Apt.9. I was more impressed with Avril Lavine's line Abbey Dawn. At least she's staying consistent, while Vera seems to be watering down her line with every season. I should be relieved though really. I didn't feel right trying to run into Kohl's to find the latest line anyway. And don't EVEN get me started at what H&M THINKS us Minnesotans want to buy! Give me a break!! If they supply us with one more season of conservative, button down, puffy sleeved tops I will have a blouse burning party! Sadly the one person I'm impressed with is Patrick! I saw the new things happening at The Gap and he still continues to impress! I LOVE him. I really think Target should have hired him to take over where Isaac left of but since I'm not a decision maker here, that wasn't an option and Gap snatched him up! I'm surprised at all these designers and their empty promises of bringing high fashion at a lower cost! It's really NOT that hard people! I could do it!! I guess I really just expected more! Wait, that's Target's slogan....Expect More, Pay Less. I guess I will stay where I know I will be happy ;o) Next designer coming to Target....(wait for it).......Anna Sui!!!!!!!

Sad Simply Vera (or should I say Simple Vera)

Sneak Peek at Anna Sui for Target (inspired by Gossip Girl)

All Anna Sui pics courtesy of nymag.com

I've joined the CIRCUS!!

Okay not really, but lately I've been really obsessed with all things circusy. At least when it comes to fashion that is! I recently bought some cute circus-like tops from H&M that I am loving with black skinnies! One is a trapeze-type of tank tunic and the other is just a puffy sleeved tee. They both have characters on them that are very circusy and I just LOVE them!




Circus Girl - by SweetLuna on Polyvore.com

Me after a party at a friends house. My hair is a bit fluffy, but c'mon it was like 2am!!
Long sweater coat - can't remember but bought at Opitz, circus dance tank - H&M, black tights - Target, Jeffrey Campbell platform shoeties (no longer on), multi chain necklace - JC Penney's