Hanky Panky Sample Sale: Get Your Thong On!

Everyone's favourite everyday lingerie Hanky Panky (or at least all the girls in the know!) is having a sample sale. Apologies for the late notice, I was too busy fighting in with the masses for my share :)!

You've still got 2 days to pick up some new pieces.

All bottoms are 10$ each including their low-rise thong, a perpetual favorite for good reason (it allows us to still wear underwear with the impossibly low-er trend of jeans...) and they have cami's for 15-20$ as well as an assortment of other accoutrement's.

Be careful girls, its wild in there!

Gossip Girl Back on Track.

Ok, for a while there, my interest had been waning, but last nights episode was gooooooood. I'm back in.

We all love a little old-fashioned class war drama.

And how hot were those final scenes between Nate and Blair????

XOXO,
BG

French Fashion Focus

I have been meaning to mention that FIAF is focusing on fashion this month (other than the fashionable crowd that routinely attends their functions). Besides featuring wonderful french films of Fashion Icons at their Tuesday Cinema screenings they also have three fashion talks with: Véronique Nichanian of Hermès, Bruno Frisoni of Roger Vivier, and Olivier Theyskens of Nina Ricci. I attended the Hermes talk and it was great, get your tickets now.

I highly recommend!

I recently saw:

And God Created Woman (Et Dieu créa la femme)

Roger Vadim, 1957.
With Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Louis Trintignant
Color. 100 min. In French with English subtitles.

and it was so so wonderful. If you haven't yet seen it, do!

Read This:

Fugitive Denim: A Moving Story of People and Pants in the Borderless World of Global Trade
by Snyder, Rachel Louise.

Description
From Azerbaijan to New York City, a human-scale view of global trade.
In the business of making and selling clothes, "Made in" labels do precious little to convey the constellation of treaties, countries, and people at work in the assembly of a simple pair of jeans. In "Fugitive Denim" journalist Rachel Louise Snyder reports from the far reaches of this multi-billion-dollar industry in search of the real people who make your clothes. From a cotton picker in Azerbaijan to a Cambodian seamstress, a denim maker in Italy to a fashion designer in New York, Snyder captures the human, environmental, and political forces at work in a dizzyingly complex and often absurd world. In a disarming and humorous voice, she ponders questions of equity, sweatshops, and corporate social responsibility through narratives of individual people, making an often academic subject accessible and compelling. Neither polemic nor prescription, "Fugitive Denim" captures what it means to be at work in the world in the twenty-first century.

Get it here.

Go.

For Fall, in love with...

THE DRESSFrom Chloe, Trapeze Dress. Absolutely Amazing.
• Black.
• Bateau neckline; three-quarter sleeves.
• Front angled welt pockets.
• Button detail on back.
• 56% wool, 44% cotton.
• Dry clean only.
• Made in Italy.


THE BOOT

Chloe's stunning and versatile Quilted Ankle Boot. Yes I know I profiled this before, but what can I say it's perfect! We don't always have to be chasing after the next new thing.
• Black leather.
• Quilted shaft and quarter.
• Back zip.
• Platform sole.
• 2 7/10" heel.
• Made in Italy.


THE HAT
Raccoon Fur Hat from Intermix. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love a big, dramatic (and very warm) hat. Ah, the statement piece!

THE BAGS (because a girl can't have just one)

Yves Saint Laurent Catwalk Small Flap Bag. This is just stunning. So chic.

• Black quilted patent leather. • Tonal topstitching. • Gold-tone hardware. • Shoulder strap. • Front flap. • 7 1/10"H x 9 1/10"W x 2 2/5"D. • Made in Italy.

Prada Chevron-Quilted Nylon Dome Bag. Very classy and quite practical.
• Gold-tone hardware.
• Chain and leather shoulder straps; 9" drop.
• Zip top with combination lock.
• Signature logo on front.
• Metal feet protect base of bag.
• Dark brown logo-detailed fabric lining.
• Inside: front slide pocket, 4"H x 5 1/2"W; back zip pocket, 5 1/2"H x 8 1/2"W.
• 10"H x 14 1/2"W x 6 1/2"D.
• Made in Italy.

TIGHTS, TIGHTS, TIGHTS!!

Wolford Satin Opaque 50 tights. These are wonderful with a bit of sexy shimmer and come in six great colors, navy and anthracite being my personal favourites!

Wolford Velvet De Luxe 66. The perfect absolutely matte tight in black.

Wolford Mat Opaque 80 tights. For some variety in matte tights, these come in five colors, isn't the fuchsia-like 'India' exciting!!

P.S. If you are looking for Wolford tights in the US, they can be found at nearly every high-end department store, boutique, and lingerie shops as well as these free-standing locations.

THE SWING COAT
Bottega Veneta Swing Coat. Ummm, this is buttery luscious and something to bring a little light to the black-heavy fall and winter collections (but, hey I'm not complaining!!).


Alexander McQueen Cashmere Swing Coat. A shorter swing in a traditional black. LOVE IT!!! I have a very similar vintage French one from the 50's and I can't tell you how wonderful it is. If the prices of these jackets scare you, look for similar pieces from the 40's and 50's at a higher end vintage store or show. They are easily found and much, much cheaper! Happy hunting.

P.P.S.
Sorry for the slowness in posting on my end, a lot going on here, including a big move. We'll be back into the swing of things soon enough though!

XOXO,
BG

Gossip Girl Update

To see where in the city GG will be filming, check out the interactive map of the shooting locations.

Gossip Girl Premiere

Soooooooooooo?

What did you all think?

Was there enough drama and cattiness for you? Do you love that a gossip blog is the main fodder of a hot T.V. show? How great is the styling?

What about the cameos? Bendel's much? Love that this is filmed here in NYC!

Love it!!!

P.S. How hot did S look in that gold dress. Very Sienna.

P.P.S. To see a good portion of the show, check in here.

XO,
BG

Christina Aguilera, Poppin'

Spotted: A very cute and preggers Christina Aguilera, out for dinner in Brentwood, Ca. last night.

We love her t-shirt, it sports a print of one of our fave paintings, 'Lips' by Andy Warhol. We've seen this before!

Anita Roddick, Founder of The Body Shop: Dies.

This is so, so, so sad. I was alerted this morning by Mrs. Fashion that Anita Roddick, the founder of The Body Shop, had passed away. What a great loss, Anita was an inspiration to women everywhere. She not only established herself as a dynamic successful WOMAN in business, but she was a pioneer in the field of environmentally conscious beauty products, especially fair trade. If you've never visited her website, please do, it has been listed as a link under my 'Girl Power' section since this site's inception and is an invaluable resource for progressive thought in social justice.

Anita died unexpectedly from a brain hemorrhage. She was just 64.

The Star, reports:

Roddick began her beauty and retailing career in 1976 in a little hippie shop in Brighton, England. But the 33-year-old entrepreneur set herself apart by underscoring the ethical properties of her formulations, created with natural ingredients, often sourced from the developing world.

Roddick pioneered ethical beauty long before it was fashionable, long before Dove campaigns and Stella McCartney.

Adrian Bellamy, chairman of The Body Shop International, said in a statement that "Anita was not only our founder but she was also the heart and passion of The Body Shop and with her we achieved so much, whether on animal rights, human rights, Community Trade, or through the founding of organizations like Children on the Edge. It is no exaggeration to say that she changed the world of business with her campaigns for social and environmental responsibility."

Roddick pioneered ethical and environmental beauty decades before it became fashionable, earning the royal title "Queen of Green." In 2003, the Queen made her a dame in recognition of her contributions."

Anita you inspired others to do good with your actions.

You were HUGE, you were one of my hero's. You will be missed.
Love,
BG

Making the Front Page of The New York Times Today: The Fashion Copy-Cat Outrage!

Left, a dress from the Versace Spring/Summer '07 collection, which retailed for $1,685 when it was offered by Neiman Marcus this spring. On the right from Bebe, which sells their most expensive comparable dress for about $130. Forever 21 also sold a similar dress later in the summer.

Adding to the copyright debate....on today's front page of the NY Times and coinciding very purposely with New York fashion week:

"Before Models Can Turn Around, Knockoffs Fly'

Having worked deep within the depths of this issue (particularly in how items are manufactured for big department stores private labels), I've seen first hand how the 'copying' process goes down, and it ain't' pretty girls. New York is a mecca for companies whose sole purpose it is to dissect emerging trends and translate (aka copy/steal) them into affordable pieces carried by large mainstream stores and small alike.

The NY Times article does a great job of revealing the process behind the scenes. Oh, and however which way you feel about the issue, I couldn't leave out this fantastic quote from the copycat designer they focused on:

"She sees her work meeting the needs of the vast majority of consumers who cannot afford designer prices. “Especially the younger girls do not have so much money,” Ms. Anand said, “but they want to wear fashionable clothes.”

“They want to look fabulous,” she said. “It’s their right to look fabulous.”

Love it.

Enjoy!

NY Fashion Week and the High Holiday Debate. G-D Wins!

Oh and speaking of NY Fashion week, I had been meaning to post this, one of the myriad reasons I love NY. Came across this upon my return from vay-cay, yay for being back in town!

In case you missed the raging scheduling debate that occurred after last years fiasco with Paris Fashion Week being scheduled on top of the High Holidays (only the most religious holy days for Jews), here's a little primer.

Now, the biggest question remains? What am I going to do for the High Holidays??

Ciao, Dahlings.
XO, BG

Very Long Overdue: Highlights of the Montreal Trip

So yeah, I know this is sooo overdue, but some thoughts on my Montreal trip. Sorry for the delay, it seems I have been swamped since I returned and this posting just required more time than I had!!

In July I unfortunately missed the great One year anniversary party for 'Don the Verb' held at the Grand Hotel. Boo hoo. I was sooo looking forward to going, but got sick at the last minute. But I know they were launching the debut of their new private label line, which includes these wonderful shiny black pants (above). Now I don't actually have to covet these, because I picked up a similar and equally great pair from "T by: Thomas Tait", the Montreal designer of the same name (pictured below) in the fantastic Montreal store Reborn. If you are interested in his designs, either stop by Reborn a total gem in Montreal which carries his designs or contact him by email at T.Tait@hotmail.com.



Other cool Montreal spots:

Olive + Gourmando for wicked brownies and yummy sandwiches.



La Rose Blanche for wonderful European cuisine and a delightful atmosphere
355 St-Paul Ouest
tel: 514.285.0022

Bodhi Spa for some relaxin'


And finally the very funky skater/raver/coolcat under-groundish newly opened 'Ed Shop' where you can find very hot sneakers, and jackets made from parachute material! Owner Benjamin Deras says they opened very recently and are establishing themselves in the Montreal fashion scene. They should have a website up soon. One of the coolest items they have are these Italian made chairs/couches/sitting items that resemble rocks. They are located on the garden level of a great carved out industrial-feel space at 387 St. Paul Ouest in Old Montreal. You can contact them at 514.656.4635 or at ed.shop@hotmail.com.

Don't Miss Intermix's Bi-Annual Sample Sale!

Running until Sunday August 26th!

The wonderful twice-yearly Intermix sample sale!!!!

You can't miss this great opportunity to score fantastic designer (Stella McCartney, Chloe, Geren Ford, Matthew Williamson) pieces at steal-worthy prices (expect cuts of up to 70% off!!).

Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St., nr. Sixth Ave. (212-741-5075, ext. 218);
8/23–8/25 (9–8); 8/26 (10–6).

P.S. Be prepared for loooong lines.

P.P.S. Apparently Hermes also has a sample sale going on, same dates, same location but on the 4th floor. There will be accessories and Ready-to Wear for both men and women available.

Enjoy!

Holiday!

Going on Holiday for the next few weeks, so posting will be intermittent....Have a wonderful rest of the summer.

xo, BG

Currently Taking Inspiration From: Madonna (circa 1984), Jane Birkin, Audrey Hepburn, and the Beauty of Flowers and Simple Ceramics.

Jane Birkin, with the worlds most adorable bulldog that I have been coveting for years, oh yeah and her famous namesake bag. Love the hair, love the comfortable laid back way, love the attitude.

Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg.
That hair!!! By the way, take note of the bangs trend featured in the next few pictures.

Madonna in her Desperately Seeking Susan phase (circa 1984). Love the use of yellow and navy, layers and charms. Who can forget that wonderful scene in DSS when 'Susan' changes tops and the jangle of all her necklaces clinking together. Remember to bring meaning and the texture of life into your everyday!

Audrey Hepburn carrying her staple Louis Vuitton Speedy. Polished and perfect as always!

Wonderful bouquet courtesy of Paris Parfait (a wonderful delightful blog). Take a glance at her antiques feature if you have a moment, she has the most beautiful collection, very inspiring!!

Whole Foods and Anya Hindmarch's "I'm Not a Plastic Bag": July 18th Launch

So I met a friend for lunch yesterday at the Columbus Circle Whole Foods...where I was reminded about the Anya Hindmarch stateside launch of her "I'm not a plastic bag" bags through the Whole Foods Market. Like other things (Facebook) I was trying to avoid the "INAPB" tote trend. I think these were released and sold out the same day at AH's NYC store locations a month ago (I wasn't in the city, nor was I terribly interested) and, while I believe this is a lovely sentiment and I'm happy that people are getting hip to being environmentally responsible...I somehow doubt that if this really were an awakened consciousness to responsible behaviour that it would really necessitate near-rioting for ONE PARTICULAR BAG. Why not any cool canvas bag, take your pick, the MET, Museum of Natural History, Bloomies, the plain Blick art tote or crafters version, or my favourite the LL Bean tote (with your initials, ohhhh) heck why not just the Whole Foods canvas bag that already exists. Obviously like any good cult trend, its the bag more than the sentiment. Fine, if it gets you doing the right thing than that's right by me.

In any case, I am happy to provide the following information for you as per Whole Foods (well at the Columbus Circle location anyway)....so get your alarm clocks set, I'm sure it will be a madhouse in there....I mean there's huge lines on any given day just to get sushi!!!

*Bag Rules* (their words not mine!)

• Limit 3 bags per purchase; first come, first served. We will have 3,000 bags to sell; when they're gone, they're gone.
• Bags will be available for purchase at MAIN REGISTERS ONLY not at ECO (whatever that is) or the COFFEE BAR.
• We will have several registers dedicated solely to bag purchases in order to expedite your visit.
• If you are doing other shopping, we recommend you buy your bag first.
• If you are not familiar with our store, please follow the bag signs; there will be a Team Member holding an "End of Line" sign indicating where you should line up. His name is Gabriel. Say "good morning"!
• Due to overwhelming response to this promotion, we thank you in advance for your patience.
• Remember when you reuse this bag, we'll give you 5 cents off your purchase (yeah as if that is the incentive getting all you girls out there, but I like how they stuck it in at the end anyway, it sort of has some dark humour to it)!
  

And if you want to pay 200$ for one on Ebay (don't be ridiculous) you can just click here.

Oh and when you decide that this is all a little silly, let me know and I'll tell you where to hit up for some equally cool totes that do the job just the same (and hey not everyone will be carrying one)...cuz you just know this is going to start a whole cascade of copy-cat bags with deep eco-messages. Be real, get a canvas bag at your local health food store!!! When we go grocery shopping we pull out our assortment of canvas bags from health food stores around the world instead of using 6 or 7 plastic bags.

****
FYI:

From July 18th I'm Not A Plastic bag will be available to buy from the following East Coast Whole Foods Market stores.

Purchases will be limited to three bags per customer at Whole Foods Market stores

95 Houston Street, New York, NY 10002
250 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001
The Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Circle, Suite SC101, New York, NY 10019
905 River Road, Edgewater, NJ, 07020
90 e. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830
429 North Broadway, Jericho, NY 11753
222 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940
2101 Northern Boulevard, Munsey Park, NY 11030
471 Rte. 35 North, Red Bank, NJ 07701
187 Millburn Avenue, Millburn, NJ 07041
701 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042
44 Godwin Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Union Square South, New York, NY 10003
110 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, NY 10605
235 Prospect Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052

New Pieces listed on 'Steal My Clothes'!

I've put up a few new pieces on Steal my Clothes, and will be listing others this week! Enjoy.

Donale for Lolita Jaca flow-y Summer Top

'Margaret Loves Peter' Boho Chic Summer Top

Victor De Souza Black Satin Corset--Collectible

I have a huge inventory at this point, which I am slowly posting...so if there is a brand, style or particular piece you are looking for let me know...and I can see if I have it!!!

Thanks for your support so far!!!

xo,
BG

Gossip Girl: Can't Wait!!

OMG, I just saw the TV trailer for Gossip Girl with the scenes set to Fergies 'Glamorous'. It looks sooooooooooooo good. Can't wait!!!

I won! I won!

Cool. I never win anything, and I was having a pretty crummy day at that. So what a great surprise!!!

They said:

"One of the coolest blogs to have surfaced recently on the fashion blog scene. Original, diverse, quirky and inspiring! "

Check it out!!

Awww, Thanks guys!

xo, BG