Snap!

When it comes to New York society, being photographed by Patrick McMullen or one of his photogs is a must!!!

His photographs are taken at the most fabulous events and of the most fabulous people. The pics are then transfered to his webstie for all to see...and pray that they will someday be able to be snapped by him!

Well, I had the amazing opprotunity to be photographed by a Patrick McMullen photographer with my apt-mate Jen and my girl Zandile. We were attending a party held at the Chanel Boutique for the 80th Anniversary of the Little Black Dress!

Check it out: http://www.patrickmcmullen.com/website/pmc_screens/Event_selects.aspx?page=3&Event_ID=6836

I'm not quite a member of New York society.... but I must say it was a fabulous party and it's always nice to represent for all the fabulous BG's (black girls...which there were only five at the party counting the three of us)!


Love and Light....

Ahhhhhhh...I LOVE the Fall! It reminds me of my childhood. I can remember getting so excited for the Fall to arrive and school to start. I also appreciate the changing leaves and cozy clothes. If it wouldn't make me look like a complete crackhead...I would totally pile up some leaves on the corner of 121st and 8th Ave and jump in them. However, I'm sure I would quickly be deemed a lunatic! Which is exactly why I've been trying to travel home to PA as much as possible this season. With the rolling hills of Chester Springs, surrounded by horses and cows I can truly live out my country-bumpkin activities...



A few weeks ago Rahsaan and I traveled to Lititiz, PA for the 5th Annual Chocolate Walk. It's our second year in a row attending together and we never fail to have a great time. The Chocolate Walk consists of about 25 chocolatiers from around the area that setup in all the little shops in town...you buy a $10 ticket and travel from shop to shop and recieve samples of all the chocolate. It's heaven on earth!!! There is everything from chocolate covered potato chips to chocolate ristotto. Of course you can't eat it all in one sitting, so everyone brings a bag or tupperware to store some of the samples for later. One of the greatest parts of the trip is visiting the Wilbur Chocolate Factory. It's like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (I love that book/movie) minus the Oompa Loompas and chocolate river!

You know a trip with me can't leave out a fashion moment...

While visiting small towns like Lititiz, I try to hit up all the thrift stores or Antique shops for vintage costume jewelry (I'm a HUGE collector, if you didn't know). I purchased some really amazing pieces that would have cost me a small fortune if I were in the city. Shopping beyond the walls of NYC is a rare and thrify treat that I would love to partake in more often. A pair of vintage sterling silver and rhinestone earrings in the city would have been close to or over $100. My find this past weekend were $8!!!!!! Enough said.


I LOVE MY MOM.....she surprised me and decided to come to the city for a quick weekend trip last week. It's so nice to know that our relationship has continued to grow throughout the years. I still manage to speak with her almost everyday...and that's a feat when you factor in being a hard-working fashionista, friend, girlfriend and a good daughter. Phew! It can be done.

Back to the weekend....Before I met up with my mom I headed down to SoHo for a fabulous traveling vintage sale called The Garment Room (check out the website www.garmentroom.com). It was AMAZING! I purchased a Dana Buchman dress ($68), a sparkly gorgette top ($88) and fabulous rhinstone shoe clips ($68). The sale travels around to several different places in the USA and the owner Tiffany even hosts private sales. Did I already mention that it's AMAZING!!!! Again.... www.thegarmentroom.com



From there I got to spend time with my lovely Soror and friend Diamond! She looked fabulous as ever and even had the most amazing accessory of the season on her arm....a new MAN! (Soooo cute!) We hit up Century 21 where I had to restrain myself, since I had just spent $200 on vintage...but Diamond bought the cutest little dress. It was nice hanging out and catching up with her. I hope she comes back up soon!

After meeting up with my mom we decided to do what the Wilson women do best....SHOP! And I still had some money left on a Bergdorf Goodman gift card, so we knew exactly what to do. We headed up to 57th and 5th after a quick brunch and entered the fashion mecca that is BG! I really need some black tall boots so we focused on that, but were unable to find a pair that I loved and were within my price range. I work with expensive clothes all day, but you never really realize how pricey things are until you want to purchase them for yourself. Plain black leather boots were averaging $800!! Just as we decided to leave my eye caught a pair of Miu Miu (a line owned by Prada) wedges and it was love at first sight....and they were afforadable. We snatched them up and the rest is history! (Here they are with the fabulous shoes clips I bought at The Garment Room vintage sale...)




Love and Light...

Olympus Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 has come and gone, however I’m still savoring the memories that I made during those seven glorious (and hectic) days.

As with every Fashion Week I’ve been involved with, Zandile aka my-partner-in-crime, was my companion througout. When it comes to anything having to do with fashion, we are unstoppable. Please believe, you will be seeing our names at the top of a masthead in the near future.

Believe it or not, I made it to 21 shows!

Spring 2007 is looking more fabulous than ever and I was able to witness it first hand. Below you will find a rundown of all the shows I attended and what I thought of them. Hopefully it will help in getting you ready for a truly stylish spring season. Enjoy!

THE SHOWS I ATTENDED (in chronological order):
*Note: All photos were taken by me

MISS SIXTY---Rahsaan was my date for this show, which was held at the beautiful Guggenheim Museum. Note: It looks like denim overalls are coming back. I don’t know how I feel about this, but if you do it right…I’m sure it could be cute. Use Caution.

MARC BOUWER---Think the TV show “Dynasty” filmed in Miami. Not my cup of tea, but if I ever move down to Miami I’ll make sure to pick up a few frocks from Mr. Bouwer.

BABY PHAT---Great show, Ok clothes. Instead of buyers, Kimora fills her seats with celebs (50 Cent: who got in a fight before the show started, Trina, Brandy, Tyson Beckford, Mya, etc). The best part of the show: the music and star gazing. Bonus: the models were sporting blinged out grills as they stomped down the catwalk.



ACADEMY ART UNIVERSITY--- These students from San Francisco killed it. I was impressed with their work more than some of the established designers.

SABYASACHI--- LOVED IT! This designer from India really knows what he is doing. The clothes had subtle elegance. Muted colors (more like a Fall palette) with luxurious fabrics and a touch of glamour with the shapes and the occasional use of metallics.

ALICE ROI--- Think: the rebellious boarding school girl. Roi speaks to the girl who wants to look clean but show she doesn’t mind getting dirty. Note: Pick up one of her fab super-sized belted change purses.

ATIL KUTOGLU--- Another solid collection for Kutoglu. I always feel like I should be lounging by the ocean in the south of France when I see his collection. Very clean and airy with great colors.

ALEXANDRE HERCHCOVITCH--- An African militia was apparently the inspiration for this always over-the-top designer. Zandile loves his work and although I don’t really see myself wearing his super loud, statement making looks, I can appreciate the amazing craftsmanship.



JENNI KAYNE--- Fabulous!!! I was surprised by this semi-newcomer to the fashion industry. Her designs are amazing and I especially loved her leather jackets for the spring (That’s right, leather in the spring…get on it)!



SASS & BIDE--- The two Aussie ladies that make up this label always aim to please and they never fail. This collection was reminiscent of Norma Kamali at her best. The designers strayed away from their usual use of color, but that doesn’t mean it lacked sexiness.

LACOSTE--- A Classic. We all love that tiny alligator placed perfectly on the timelessly designed and executed clothing. This spring the label is showing off it’s versatility. The label covered everything from preppy looks of the 50's to street-ready wears of the 80's. You'll be ready for anything this spring in Lacoste.



TRACY REESE--- If you know anything about me, you know that Tracy Reese is absolutely one of my favorite designers. And after her spring 2007 presentation she has yet again claimed her place in my heart...and closet. A special surprise during the show were the latin dancers to uplift her spanish inspired clothing. One word: Dope!



DIANE VON FURSTENBERG---Adam is going to love Eve’s new duds this spring, especially since she is the inspiration behind DVF’s collection. We all know that Diane can make a helluva dress and she proved it once again. The colors, floral motifs and bold shapes are just a few of the reasons everyone should have a DVF in their wardrobe this spring.

ROSA CHA--- Itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny. There will be no squeezing any junk in these trunks. Rosa Cha is big on design, but small on fabric. I can appreciate the innovative way in which he sees the swimsuit (ex: adding suspenders…trust me, it looked amazing) but I can also recognize that I would look a hot-mess in one of this tiny numbers.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA--- I did it again! I sat in the friend-and-family section with one of my fabulous former editors for one of Fashion Week’s most anticipated and beautiful shows. Oscar never disappoints. The show was breathtaking and the only way I can describe it is: Flawless. If you need more explanation than that, go checkout the whole collection on Style.com.

NANETTE LEPORE--- The pinup girl is back and she’s more fabulous than ever. Nanette had the jet-setting fashionista in mind when designing this collection. I loved all the dresses and intend on taking them on my next trip to Italy (whenever that happens). The only thing that bothered me was her occasional use of exposed zippers. It looks just a little too juvenile to me.




HEATHERETTE--- This show is always a party and everyone wants to get in—Daisy and I accomplished the task and scored seats with no problem. It was so packed that even Patricia Fields didn’t have a seat and was sitting on the floor! Shame to the people around her that did offer her their seat….what an opportunity missed! Anyway, there surprises around every corner at the show. Strutting out first was Paris Hilton to her “Stars are Blind” song, and sprinkled throughout the show were Nicky Hilton, Tinsley Mortimer, Mya, Amanda Hearst, Amanda Lepore and the one-and-only Kelis (looking gorgeous as usual)!






MICHON SCHUR--- A pleasant surprise. This newish designer made a powerful statement with a collection of smart dresses, feminine blouses and the ever-present bubble-skirts that are flooding the runways. The paparazzi were also flooding the front row at this show….Misha Barton attended (is a friend of the designer).

CYNTHIA ROWLEY--- The first half of CR’s show was amazing. Angelic dresses with touches of colorful wicker details. The second half of the show was not in line with her initial looks and unfortunately weren’t as pretty. I’m hoping that the buyers in the audience feel the same way I do. Speaking of the audience…sitting front and center was the infamous Martha Stewart in all her pretentious glory. You gotta love her swagger though.

CUSTO BARCELONA--- Can someone say…A.D.H.D.? As always, this show had no real direction and was simply sensory overload. If you want to look like a gang of first graders attacked you with their arts and craft kit, then Custo is the collection for you.

DOO.RI--- Drop Dead Gorgeous! This woman knows how to drape fabric. Her jersey gowns and blouses have been the objects of my desire since seeing her show last fall. This spring she updating the legging trend by making them super long and detailed with a draped waist. Amazing! Did I mention that I love this designer! P.S. I totally want her to design my wedding dress.



HIGHLIGHTS:

*Meeting Robin Givhan (the amazing fashion journalist from the Washington Post that recently won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism—the first fashion journalist ever to win): Love her and her amazing hustle to the very tippity-top of the fashion journalism game! We are keeping in touch and when she gets back from the fashion shows in Europe, super-fab Zandile and I will be having dinner with her. God is too good!

*Chilling back stage at Heatherette: Thanks to my girl Zandile, who couldn’t even get into the show but managed to watch from backstage, Daisy and I were able to meet her back there after the show was over. Needless to say, we chatted up Travis Rains and Ritchie Rich (aka the geniuses behind Heatherette), complimented Tinsley Mortimer (socialite) about her amazing strut, watched Paris as she acted too good for all the hoopla and had a moment with Kelis. Another successful night at the tents!

Love and Light...