Monday

Breaking News: Jane Magazine is Being Scrapped.


Jane will publish its last issue this August at which point the website will also be shut-down.

Staff returned to the office this morning after the 4th of July long weekend to the news.

Another one bites the dust.

Get the scoop at Fashion Week Daily.

Other commentary at Gawker.

Friday

Love it!: Chloe's New Fall Collection

In his first collection as the new designer for Chloe, I think that Paulo Menim Andersson did a great job (though I know many seem to be pining for old Chloe's more 'flow-y' look)....of course this is coming from a girl who loves dark colors and simple shapes.

Love the colors (olive brown, to-die-for), love the cuts and drape, love the simplicity. These are wonderfully wearable pieces to build upon....classics!


A smattering below.

Secretary Dress. Absolutely ADORE this dress. Stunning.

Silk Keyhole Dress.


Quilted Ankle Boot. And the boot to match.


Button Top. Simple, chic, timeless.

Printed Silk Top.

Thoughts? And what of designers taking a label in a new direction. This seems to be heralded sometimes, often lamented by others (Isn't change good?) who want labels to have a certain sense of continuity or in some cases downright scorned upon (think Marc Jacobs in the 90's with the grunge Perry Ellis collection for which he was fired--of course we all know how this turned out).

I think like anything its about balance.

xo,
BG

Tuesday

Cool Summer Watches!


From Life & Style, on newstands this week.

You can't see this that well (so click on it to enlarge to full size), but they are featuring my Swatch! Cool. I don't really know how to work any of the fancy features they are talking about..I just liked it cuz it's big and gold, you know to tide me over 'til I get my gold Rolex like Ashley (speaking of, I know I have been deficient in my posting of Olsen fashion the last month or so due to my prolonged trip...so expect an update soon)!

Hope you all are enjoying the summer! Stay cool.

xo,BG

Monday

Awwwwww Cute Couple.


This makes me happy, they both seem like such nice people. Hope it lasts.

Image from Perezhilton.com

Friday

From Bergdorf's New Fall Missoni Collection:

A glimpse of Missoni's pre-Fall collection, new at Bergdorf Goodman. I actually tried this Ribbed Dress (at left) in Montreal last month (they pulled it from the 'special' back room as it had just arrived) and loved it. Now I have to admit, I am not yet a Missoni girl, I've always been a little scared of too much pattern and color...I know, I know, I'm so 'boring New York clad in black girl', but its true. So when I tried this dress it was a happy medium, dabbling in a little Missoni without all the color. Now some might argue, 'whats the point then'?, but even without the color you still get that wonderful Missoni fabric weave and delicate blend of silk and wool to pull off a beautiful shape and hang to the dress. Soooo for those of you that have not yet forayed into the world of Missoni, I would suggest this dress as a nice stepping-stone. I've heard like Louis Vuitton's it becomes an addiction! And hey there are far worse addictions than buying valuable, collectible, highly re-saleable pieces such as Missoni clothes and Louis Vuitton bags, right? Or at least that what I tell myself!


A few more pieces below:

Cashmere Turtleneck. With Ruching, love it!

Dotted-Striped Dress. So chic. So easy, just add tights and boots and your done.

Have a wonderful weekend dahlings!
xo, BG

Thursday

Cool Opening Tonight at Clarabella on the LES!


BUILDINGS by SHAUN KARDINAL

New to the Lower East Side art scene, boutique/gallery CLARABELLA is pleased to present BUILDINGS, the inaugural New York City exhibit from Seattle based photographer, Shaun Kardinal. Photographing rooftops has been a hobby of the artist's for many years. Though an avid digital artist in his teens, it was not until his twenty-third year with an antique medium-format camera in hand that Kardinal developed an absolute passion for the subject. It was the way the buildings looked as he gazed through the viewfinder, playing with the vibrancy of Seattle's sunsets, the richness of her summers, the austere dullness of her grey winters. It was a love affair with a new city encouraging familiarity, ushering these monoliths in as kin, good friends, integral parts of Kardinal's daily walks to and from work. In this way, his photographs are meant to be seen as intimate portraits.

These buildings, at once solitary and full of life, seem to play with and against each other: three skyscrapers playfully fall against one another; an isolated wall dares to stand alone; a telephone pole bisects a brick building, while sagging lines tease its rooftop; four more in four corners, never to embrace; another still, reflects on the day as the sun plays its final notes on a bright pink sky.

Clarabella, 279 E. Houston Street (between Clinton and Suffolk) NY, NY 10002

Showing from June 1 – July 31

Reception: June 28, 2007 from 7 – 9pm

Gallery Hours: Tues – Sat 12-8pm, Sun 12-7pm

P.S.
Hope to see you there! I am juggling a few events tonight...but I'm hoping to make it!

TaTa, BG

Wednesday

Two Greats in One Week: The Loss of Designers Liz Claiborne and Gianfranco Ferre

After the devastating news last week of Ferre's death now Liz Claiborne.

It is always sad when an iconic 'Great' passes away.

I adore Gianfranco Ferre's clothes and collect any vintage pieces I find.

Liz Claiborne in addition to being an inspiration for her pioneering work in fashion as a women in the 50's, 60's, 70's and onward was also later in her life an inspiration in 'doing good for the world' with your success. Claiborne and her husband retired from active management of the company in 1989 in order to pursue environmental and charity work. The Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation was established in 1989 to provide support for protection of the wilderness.

Thursday

Hamptons Antiques Show


OMG, I'm dying. I soooo wish I could be there for this. Hello Georg Jensen silver jewelry. Have I mentioned I'm dying. In case it has been missed I am insane for old stuff. Love the hunt, adore the sweet success of "the find", scoring the "goods". Can you tell I am missing NYC yet, my hunting grounds?

TaTa Dahlings!

PS Back in NYC late next week, so regular posting should resume!

More Info on the show:

Beautiful, sophisticated, chic, charming – all describe this highly-anticipated three-day event opening at noon on Friday, June 22nd in the heart of Bridgehampton. The three-day show takes place in high-peaked white tents on the lawn of the historic Corwith House at the Bridgehampton Historical Society on Montauk Highway.

Cutting-edge exhibitors offer modern (like the dining set from Mode Moderne pictured above), formal & early continental furniture, hard-to-find garden antiques (like the Mexican mahogony table & chairs from Bridges Over Time) , paintings (like the Richard Wengenroth from Larry Sirolli Fine Art) & sculpture, folk art, and exquisite fine and vintage jewelry.

The June Hamptons show will feature an exceptional selection of art from outsiders to posters to impressionists. Paul Manning will be set up near the entrance with stunningly restored high power WWII binoculars. The Druckers will be showing exquisite silver, specializing in Jensen. Americana is well represented by Bird in Hand, Susan Parrish and others. James Butterworth is showing period wicker. There will be Art Deco, midcentury modern, industrial design and sublime style on view by Skyscraper/ Catwalk Couture, XX Century, Needful Things, Glen Leroux Collections, Lowstudio and so many more.

Show hours are Friday 12 Noon to 7:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $8.

For more information, Stella Show Mgmt. Co., 212-255-0020;
www.stellashows.com
You can reach us during show hours at 201-410-1547
Parking is free, plentiful and right on site! Want to come by train, bus or jitney? It's easy...

MTA, Long Island Railroad, Bridgehampton schedule
Hampton Jitney

Wednesday

Catherine Malandrino Summer Sample Sale



FYI.

Mark your calendars.

Ummmm Catherine Malandrino. Love it.

Friday

FYI: 'The Row' is Now Available Online

Continuing to continue on in the hoopla surrounding celebrity fashion lines, wanted to let you know that MK and Ashley's line "The Row" is now available online from the always cutting-edge chic British establishment Browns. Previously the line was available only at Barneys NYC and Maxfields in LA.

If you live in NYC and haven't checked out the collection in person yet, do! It is a wonderful line, with great basics to build into your wardrobe. The pieces are a bit pricey so beware, but they are definitely quality items worth investing in. Selma Blair is already a fan and we all know she is the queen of cool when it comes to style!

Oh, and for the more budget conscious cats they have a new lower price-bracket line set to launch this fall aptly named Elizabeth and James (after their other lesser known sibs). That line will be available at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Intermix.

One of their awe-inspiring T's that are being praised for their couture style cling and unbelievable drape (due to the infamous "single seam"). Get it here.

Oh and apologies again for the scattered and infrequent posting. I am off in far-far-away lands where connections to the Internet are rare, inconsistent and definitely not high-speed. In the meantime enjoy catching up on old posts.

Ciao Dahlings...
XO,
BG

Sunday

Love it: Valentino Pin-tucked Shopper Bag


Still love it, now in faded Gray. Even Better than before!!!! I posted this bag in the red and off-white awhile back , and now its available for pre-order ONLY at Bergdorf Goodman. Loooooooooooove gray, you know I keep saying its really the new black. Seriously coveting this bag. Amazing.

Get it here.

• Maison Style.
• Aged silver leather.
• Silver-tone hardware.
• Shoulder straps with rings; zip top.
• Pintucked body.
• 11 1/2"H x 13"W x 4"D.
• Made in Italy.

Enjoy!

And Speaking of Celebrity Fashion Lines...Kate Moss's Topshop Barneys Collection is Re-stocked and New Items are Added.


By the way, meant to tell you about this days ago...apologies, this vacation is slowing me down! So if you care, the Kate Moss collection for Topshop at Barneys has been replenished and new pieces are in as well.

Get it here.

Yawn.

Thursday

Celebrity Fashion Lines: The Demise of the 'Real' Designer?

The 'celebrity perfume' phenom seems like its been around for ages, but the recent furious increase in 'celebrity fashion lines' (think SJP, the Olsen Twins, JLo, Kate Moss, Madonna, Kylie Minogue....Oy it gets tiring just typing the masses in) has some critics questioning where this leaves the 'real designers'?

The NY Times featured the topic in today's Style section, check it out!

Thoughts?? Much as I love MK and Ashley (and the new 'Row' line), I gotta admit that the whole thing (more-so the Madonna/Kate Moss/H&M/Topshop bit) does seem like a bit of a celebrity wash. Some lines appear solid like 'The Row', others seem just lame, such as SJP's 'Bitten'. The fact that celebrities have so much more financial capital to build upon and the tails of their success, seems to give an unfair advantage in an extremely cut-throat and competitive arena. Is fashion going the way of pop music? Are we selling out in some way? How much of a free-market approach is 'too-much' when it comes to the creative arts like fashion?

It appears to me that too often money is driving fashion rather than talent.

Monday

Sex and the City: Wardrobe Secrets Revealed!


OK, um maybe I've been in a closet somewhere, but when I stumbled upon this resource for a complete break-down of every outift worn on SATC, I was totally excited (and surprised). What a great idea, and I know several of you that have seen every episode like 10 times who may not even have to re-watch to know which outfits these are (you know who you are.....).

Outfits are broken down to the last detail. Select a season, then an episode and then voila, each outfit as worn in each scene is described in detail, with color and designer!

Cool!

Thursday

Georgia Rule? Well...Lindsay Lohans wardrobe certainly rocks!



P.S.

I watched Georgia Rule today. What else to do in the Montreal rain? (Have I mentioned its been raining ALL week?) Anyway: unlike some who have dissed LaLohan and the movie, I loved it. Besides Lindsay's wonderfully covetable wardrobe (amazing skinny jeans, flow-y white tops, great wedges, to die-for sunglasses, etc)...I was drooling half the movie...I think it was a good performance....and a good movie. I really enjoyed it. Judge for yourself. The perfect opportunity? Well, the 93 degree weather I left behind in NYC or the cold dreary rain of Montreal!

Escape to the movies. Covet Lindsay's clothes.

Barneys Summer Sale


Umm, it's hard to write about this, since I am in Montreal and its rainy and cold-ish. Not summer at all. I totally mis-packed and neeeeeeed Barneys. Anyway. Hello: wardrobe change!

Wednesday

Tory Burch Fall 07 Preview at Bloomies

Get your Tory Burch for Fall before everyone else...who doesn't love a little UES/Hamptons playwear?

Bloomingdale's
Thursday, May 31
5-8pm

Reservations:
212-705-2332

Shop here.

Tuesday

LookBook Gets it Right: New York Magazine Finally Features Someone Actually Stylish

The always wonderful Parker Posey this week.


Last weeks feature, though not terribly creative and requiring some large amounts of money is still very beautiful, polished and actually looks good. This is a vast improvement over more recent picks such as this (see below):

Friday

Steal My Clothes

I've been sooooo busy but I've got a few things up on SMC and sooooooooooo much more to come. I am so excited to show you!!!

Check out 'Steal My Clothes', I promise there are great things to come!

Two new pieces of info:

Appointments

If you are in the NYC area appointments can be made. I also make house-calls. Browse through the selection, let me know what interests you and we can arrange for fittings.

Scouting

If there is a particular item or style you have been yearning for, let me know and I will do my best to locate it for you. Can't make any promises, but I'll try!

P.S. I am going away for a few weeks...so posting may be spotty. While in Montreal...I should be connected..but after that who knows. So catch up on old stuff you missed!!

xo,
BG

Thursday

Back to Blonde: Jessica Simspon Returns to Her "Roots"

Jess in NYC this week.
Yay. We like you better blonde Jess.

Again in NYC. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this looks like the interior of "What Comes Around Goes Around' in Soho...a great place for vintage if you don't want to search yourself and your willing to pay premium dollar (said with a tad sarcastic tone).

first pic courtesy of Splash, second: US Weekly

Heidi and Spencer Get Engaged.


All we have to say is, Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

If you've ever watched The Hills, you understand.

Story from US Weekly here.

90's Supermodels are Back?! Claudia Schiffer and Stephanie Seymour to Star in New Advertising Campaigns.



Ferragamo will be featuring not one, but two greats in their upcoming print adverts. Stephanie Seymour and Claudia Schiffer, two of my old-time favourites, will be starring in Ferragamo's Fall Ad campaign. In other big news, Stephanie Seymour was the cover girl for German Vogue in the April edition (above!), looking stunning. Schiffer is also being featured in the upcoming Chanel cruise collection ads.

See Fashion Week Daily for the full story.

Wednesday

For Your Reading Pleasure

A couple of new blogs I have stumbled upon the last few days that I'm loving:

Making up the British (and in LG's case part NYC) contingent, Roller Girl, LibertyGirl and Lipstick Lady. Ab Fab.

And in NYC, Emma of If You Can't Think of Anything Nice to Say, Come Sit Here by Me.

Enjoy Dahlings.

xo,
BG

P.S. I've got one item up so far on Steal My Clothes, I have a bunch more to post that will go up this week...the whole thing took far longer than I anticipated.

Tuesday

Love it: Valentino Pleated Knot Bag!


Pleated knot bag. Available at Bergdorf Goodman.

• Black satin with tonal embossed leather trim.
• Top handles; framed top.
• Pleated body with knot detail.
• 11 1/2"H x 13 1/2"W x 8 1/2"D.
• Made in Italy.

Monday

Olsen 'Pic' of the Day: Mary-Kate in LA with Beau Max...Rocking the Long Scarf and Prada Fringe Bag




Mary-Kate in LA yesterday with beau Max.

Love the long scarf look. Adore the faded black skinnies..I think they have zippers, which is doubly cool (and also makes them possible to get on, while still giving you the max thinness at the ankle!). Love aviator Ray-Bans (these are the smaller frame version) but not such a fan of the blue/purple tinted lens... and speaking of I have a few pairs of Ray Ban Wayfarers to feature on Steal my Clothes! Also, personally, have never been a huge fan of the upper arm cuff...I just think its uncomfortable and looks weird. She's still working the strappy sandal/heels and Prada fringe purse. Me: not so much buying into the fringe trend...its never been much my style, looks cute on her though.