Giovanna Battaglia Got the Animal Print Memo

Giovanna Battaglia at Paris Fashion Week 2013. Photo by YoungJun Koo.

Straight from Paris Fashion Week 2013, I love this picture of Giovanna Battaglia, one of my favorite style setters, in her leopard print dress. I am digging that cowl neck and I especially love the length of the skirt! I can’t keep track of where Giovanna works. I thought she was at L’Uomo Vogue, but I gather she is now at W magazine.

Cascade cardigan by Etro.

Is it just me or does animal print seem especially hot for fall? I never get tired of leopard print, although I’m drawn to it in non-traditional colors right now, like the Etro cardigan above, and I am definitely loving snakeprint, in any shade! Consider this your friendly reminder that Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget) and I are accepting pictures for “How I Wear My: Animal Print” until October 1. Join us!

A silk chiffon Equipment blouse. I’m still obsessing over it!

A Gucci stiletto boot in  python.

A Tom Ford zebra-print sandal.

All images of the clothes and shoes from Bergdorf Goodman.

Lisa Eldridge Makeup Videos

A screen grab of Lisa's Work/College makeup tutorial.

I don’t know why it took me so long to discover the English makeup artist Lisa Eldridge but I have to say I’m quite addicted to her video tutorials right now. She has an easy and fun manner about her and gives great directions and product information. My favorite tutorial so far is the Work/College Look, not just for its instructions but because halfway through there are thumping sounds in the studio, which Lisa apologizes for, then explains there are 9 and 11-year old boys jumping around in the room upstairs, who she asked to be quiet, but “It’s not working,” she says. All the while she continues to calmly apply mascara like an unfazed mom. Hilarious!

Lisa loves nail polish so of course I love her.

The tutorials are of differing lengths so if you can spare 5-10 minutes (or longer) you can learn a few tricks of the trade from a personable professional!

If you are already a fan of Lisa and love a particular video of hers, please let me know which one so I can check it out. I saw the entire list of them the other night and realized I have only scratched the surface.

The pictures are screen grabs from Lisa’s website. Sign up for her mailing list to get her newsletter sent right to your email inbox.

Boys and Ballet

Capezio Teknik Ballet Shoes in white leather.

My son started 6th grade at his new middle school two weeks ago. The school he got into requires the kids to pick a talent that they study during the three years they are there. My son is starting his second year of ballroom dance at the wonderful Dancing Classrooms Academy in Manhattan so he picked dance as his talent at school and was accepted into the program. The students will eventually study modern dance and jazz, but they are starting with ballet, which led to an experience I never thought I’d have: Buying ballet shoes for a boy.

The teacher required all the boys to have white shoes. White? I asked my son, Are you sure it’s white? And not black? No, it was white. So last weekend we went to the flagship Capezio store in midtown Manhattan to buy him white leather ballet shoes. It felt very weird to me but no one batted an eye in the shoe department. “For boys’ ballet shoes the color choices are white or black,” the young man helping us said. None of the mothers buying dance shoes for their daughters seemed surprised that we were there and even my son seemed okay with it. He put the shoes on, stood up, did a plié, sat down, and said, “They fit.”

Where did this kid come from, I ask you? I have no dance in my background and nor does my husband. My son is completely comfortable on the ballroom dance floor doing the waltz, the tango, the swing, the rumba, the salsa, the cha cha and the foxtrot. In fact he taught me the meringue!

The shoes with the box they came in.

He is not bothered that there are only 5 boys in his class or that they are starting the semester with ballet. I’m not bothered either, ballet is one of those worlds that I find inherently fascinating, and part of me is thrilled my son will take some ballet and even be in the school’s production of The Nutcracker this December!

These are full-soled shoes but you can also buy a split-sole option.

But I worry, oh do I worry, that he might be made fun of at some point by boys who consider ballet, or any form of dance, too feminine. Reading Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson has not helped. They have a whole chapter devoted to the culture of cruelty that boys face in adolescence. A mother worries!

If you have any advice on this subject, do share it. I have been telling my son that ballet dancers—male and female—are disciplined, focused, and strong. All that worry aside, here is what I’ve learned so far about boys in ballet:

Boys wear a white T-shirt and black dance pants or tights, although in France the standard color for shoes is gray, because they prefer gray tights, or so I’ve read on the site Boys Do Ballet (another great site I just discovered is Dave Tries Ballet).

The elasticized bow: not just for show!

The ties in the front of the shoe are NOT just for decoration. I have been brainwashed by the fashion industry thinking they were just for show! Pas de tout! They tighten the top of the shoe. So my son tightens the bows and then sticks them under the top of the shoe as shown in the top photo.

Have you known any boys who have taken ballet?

Linda in White with Cat Eyes

I love the bell sleeves and the black belt.

My photographer friend Denton Taylor was able to get pictures of Linda Fargo, Senior Vice President of Bergdorf Goodman, on two different days during New York Fashion Week and it’s interesting to me that Linda wore pure white with no embellishment on both outings. I am sure it was because it was so humid and muggy here, it felt like mid-July! I love it paired with her cat-eye sunglasses, which I think must be the same ones as in this post, a strong red lip, and her perfect silver bob!

On a different day, a tailored all-white ensemble with cat-eye sunglasses and red lips. Perfection!

Oh to have hair like this.

I always feel a little skittish wearing white in NYC because it’s so dirty everywhere, but after a few spins around Brooklyn in my white jeans I relax and worry less about messing them up.

What do you think of an all-white look?

Photos by and courtesy of Denton Taylor. You can see more of his work on his website, or check out his great blog Silver-Haired Beauties. Put Linda at the top of that list!

Farewell to the Rachel Zoe Project

Rachel on the cover of Capitol File.

I was sad to hear The Rachel Zoe Project is ending, yet I understand why too. I read ratings were down and it was focusing far too much on her personal life and getting away from the original intent of the show—allowing us regular folk a window into a wild world of fashion, styling, and egos, my God, the egos!

I have to say that since one of my pet areas of interest is Women in Business, it was interesting to watch in Season 4 as she juggled her marriage, her pregnancy, her styling business, and trying to get her label launched. All sorts of fun lessons if you were paying attention like you don’t sleep much, disaster lies around every corner, and multitasking is key!

This capelet is from Rachel's Fall 2013 collection. I love it!

I know Rachel drives a lot of people crazy but I like her, I can’t help it! I first saw her in a special feature of Mad Men as one of a few experts talking about the costumes of the show. She sounded so knowledgeable about the look of the early 60s I couldn’t help being impressed. And when I first read her book Style: A to Zoe, at a time in my life when I was a little depressed, it really lifted my spirits. I think it also planted the seed in my mind that yes, in fact, I could start a blog devoted to fashion. Why not?

All of this to say I could never resist her show and one thing I always loved about it was just her sheer enthusiasm for fashion.

I saw Rachel last year at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street, where I worked for the holidays. I snuck upstairs during my shift to see her, she was doing a trunk show to launch her jewelry line. She was very glamorous and so friendly to everyone who stood in line to meet her in person. I would’ve been one of them but my manager spotted me in the general crowd. Whoops! #embarrassing

I would love to meet Rachel in person!

Since I don’t have cable I’m a year behind on the show so if you saw Season 5 let me know what you thought of it.

Rachel’s new book comes out in March 2014.

There is a new article on Rachel in Capitol File magazine. Have a look if you get a chance! And Rachel’s new book Living in Style: Inspiration and Advice for Everyday Glamour comes out next March.

All photos except for the book cover are from Capitol File.

New York Fashion Week by Denton Taylor

I love this shot. Isn’t she gorgeous?

I had to share a few of my favorite street style shots by my friend Denton Taylor. In between his full-time job he has found a way to make it over to Lincoln Center to attend some of the shows for New York Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2014 and photograph the interesting faces and looks of the fashion crowd. I think he is a really talented photographer and I hope I get to work with him soon!

Click here if you’d like to see more of his shots from New York Fashion Week.

I am so digging these two.

This outfit is right up my alley. And what a great Céline bag!

I know the shirt is flipping us off, but I still love this entire look.

The ever-stylish Linda Fargo, SVP of Bergdorf Goodman.

Can anybody tell me who this lady is? She is amazingly beautiful!

I am so into the longer skirt length, the turban, and all that pink.

I love a dog in a Burberry check skirt!

All photos by and courtesy of Denton Taylor.

The Great New York State Fair

This sculpture is made entirely of sand!

For the past four years my family and I have gone to the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY, and we always have a great time! Because the fairgrounds consist mostly of gravel and sand, I keep it pretty low-key when dressing for the occasion. My one nod to glamour was my butter LONDON polish in Two-Fingered Salute and Julie Vos Corsica stacking rings. Everything else had to be able to deal with dirt, sunscreen, barbecue sauce, hay, bird droppings, even rain!

My nod to glamour: butter LONDON polish and Julie Vos Corsica stacking Rings.

All of this means there was no way I could wear my favorite white jeans. I went with dark denim and my trusty J. Crew navy linen shirt. I wish I would’ve bought another one of these. I have worn it all summer long.

Waiting with my daughter for the Go-Kart race to begin! (We came in last.)

If you ever get a chance to visit the New York State Fair I highly recommend it. It usually runs for 12 days at the end of August and a few days into September. The food is terrific, there are a ton of interesting exhibits, great people watching, fun rides for the kids, and you can get the coldest (and best) milk ever for twenty-five cents a cup!

And don’t even get me started on the glamorous chickens and handsome roosters.

What a good-looking fellow!

I love a glamorous chicken. I want a dress that looks like these feathers.

I always spend time seeing all the prize-winning cows. 

Neon was everywhere.

The Rainbow Milk Bar is always popular.

The best, iciest chocolate milk ever! And only twenty-five cents.

I loved the colors in this ribbon-winning quilt by Estie Mowry from Oswego, NY!

A First Place Dahlia.

In the parakeet feeding tent. I love a budgie, especially one coming in for a landing.

Birds flocked to my son’s feet, which he thought was hilarious.

I’m joining the fun over at Visible Monday and I hope to see you there!

How I Wear My: Neon

Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget) with the adorable Daisy!

With summer winding down but not over just yet, what better way to celebrate the end than with a boost of Day-Glo color? While it may seem as though neon is the domain of construction crews, athletes, and kids, is there a way to add a shot of it to your outfit in a fun or even glamorous way? Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget) and I decided to investigate this month in “How I Wear My: Neon”.

These ladies are far more neon adventurous than I am and I tip my hat to them, they make neon look amazing!

Adrienne, above, wore a super glam Aryn K sequined neon top to a recent tour of a distillery that makes limoncello, which she got to sample, lucky lady! Read about the fun she had here. And do not even get me started on her beyond adorable dog Daisy—so stylish in her leopard harness! Here is Adrienne’s outfit in its entirety.

Adrienne looks summery and beautiful in neon, sequins, and stripes!

Sacramento of MIS PAPELICOS.

Sacramento of MIS PAPELICOS was genius to pair this neon blouse and earrings with the pink silk vest and floral skirt. It’s neon-meets-Dangerous-Liaisons and is now my favorite outfit picture of her ever.

Cyrillynn of Any Second Now.

Cyrillynn of Any Second Now is wearing a fun neon print skirt with a pattern made up of cassette tapes. I love it, especially that she styled it in such a ladylike way. You know I never get tired of ladylike glam!

Trina of Tea Time With Trina.

Trina of Tea Time With Trina says she liked to use the anchor of neon for a particular outfit she was wearing. You can read about it, and her method of pattern mixing, here. I do love her neon cardigan!

Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb.

Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb said of her fantastic neon look:

“A lot of people shy away from neon but I think when it’s pink it can be super-flattering. I’ve worn this jacket a few times before on the blog, but this time I went daytime casual with a pair of muted teal skinny jeans and sandals with a neon pink trim.”

Gracey of Fashion For Giants.

Gracey of Fashion For Giants is wearing a thrifted dress, a pair of neon Tommy Hilfiger sandals, and a neon scarf by Echo. Because of the gray dress, I like this as a transitional look as we head into fall.

Lucky Teresa in front of a sign for Fashion Week! Photo by Denton Taylor.

Teresa is wearing a neon skirt from an Albert Nippon suit, a bright red Dooney & Bourke All-Weather Leather “Big Duck” bag, and Prada sunglasses from the Prada Flame collection. What a way to kick off New York Fashion Week! Photo by Denton Taylor.

Annette of Lady of Style.

Annette of Lady of Style wears an elegant neon lime blouse with a glamorous glittery necklace, another look I never get tired of! Isn’t this outfit perfect for the end of summer?

Silk Path Diary. Neon Look #1!

Silk Path Diary says of her neon cardigan—from Zara Girls!—“I wear it dressed up with an ivory dress and heels on holiday and casually with boyfriend jeans at home. Neon is especially good for me because I have a very classic neutral palette so it really helps to give my outfits a little boost.”

I love both versions, don’t you?

Silk Path Diary. Neon Look #2.

Tori of Healthy Food Nerd.

Tori of Healthy Food Nerd (and Adrienne’s gorgeous stepdaughter), got these cool pants from H&M. I love the print and the repetition of the neon. It reminds me of the intense colors you’d see in stained glass windows.

I love all the colors in these pants!

Ana of Mrs. American Made.

Ana of Mrs. American Made is wearing a Nanette Lepore jacket with a neon green belt. This is exactly how I like my neon too, in smaller doses, and Ana does it perfectly.

Ana is lovely in neon!

Guess who?

Revealed! Terri of RAGS against the MACHINE in a neon orange morph suit. You must read her hilarious and provocative post about identity and gender and see all the people who collaborated with her by slipping into this thrifted suit.

My regular rings and a neon manicure!

When Adrienne suggested neon for September I admit I was hesitant. I didn’t think I owned any and I also thought, Isn’t that just for workout gear and teenagers?

Well.

Within an hour I was obsessed with the idea. Neon. Why, yes! Since then I’ve noticed it everywhere and, interesting to note, I’ve seen it more on men than women, particularly older gentlemen, who wear it either as a T-shirt or as the fabric or laces of their athletic shoes. Everything else will be neutral and normal and then Bam! Neon.

I decided this was the approach for me too, except I did mine in a very subtle way!

I swear to you, there is neon here. Come closer!

Soo Nails in Crazy Hot Pink.

I loved this neon nail polish by Soo Nails in Crazy Hot Pink. I was expecting it to be super pink but it had more of an orange tint on my nails and was not shiny at all. I was going to brush on a top coat then decided I liked the matte neon look. This color looks great next to big rings and made my skin seem more tan. It was difficult to photograph the exact color. Who knew neon was so hard to capture on camera? I paired it with my Hermès Hapi 3MM bracelet and made the nails and bracelet the focal point, letting everything else be my regular Mom uniform of dark wash jeans, a black cardigan, and black sunglasses.

Neon nails go so well with a vodka gimlet. I toast to you!

Hermès Hapi 3MM bracelet and neon nails against a leopard rug. Rings by Julie Vos.

If you are shy of neon like I am, nail polish is a great way to give it a try! I also remembered that my Grand Manège Twilly by Hermès has flashes of neon in it. I usually wear it like this.

Hermès Twilly in the Grand Manège pattern. It was love at first sight when I spied this beauty!

Have you noticed a lot of neon on people this summer?

The fall fashion magazines are declaring animal print is hot for fall but really, isn’t that something that never goes out of style? We feel quite certain you own at least one item that borrows its beauty from an animal so join us in October for “How I Wear My: Animal Print”. Send a photo to Adrienne or me, or to our new email account: [email protected] by October 1, 2013.

Don’t limit yourself to leopard, we would love to see it all—zebra, giraffe, lizard, snake, Dalmatian, cow and pony! If it mimics an animal, we want to see it on you!

Head on over to Adrienne’s to see even more neon looks.

And thank you to all the fine foxes who participated this month!