Confessions of a Shopaholic: ELLE Picks for H&M

Yesterday as I was strolling my neighborhood waiting to have coffee with a friend, I wandered into my local H&M and was pleasantly surprised to find that they've stocked up on most of their Fall line already. Even more surprised was I to find a beautifully merchandised front section of the store littered with little tags reading "Elle Picks".

 The editors at Elle Magazine have teamed up with H&M in a nationwide campaign featuring their absolute favorite Fall items this season. I think it's so great when fashion brands and publications team up like this. I mean who wouldn't take a second look at a fashion editor's favorite things?

I fell in love with this metallic faux leather mini on the racks. Not sure if I could pull it off, but I imagine it would be super cute with a tight bustier, a fitted blazer and some killer platforms.

Can you believe this is faux leather?? Neither could I. That's always a good thing...

Not sure if this was one of the ELLE Picks but it's certainly a LoveBrownSugar pick. Cognac lace-up booties are huge for Fall! Currently scouting my own pair. I'm tempted to add these to my "Bootie Calls" installation. If I can find a size 10 in the tri-state area, I'll tweet about it.

Bootie Calls: Jeffrey Campbell FL'10 Lookbook

So this week's Bootie Call is a shoe orgy of sorts. Instead of obsession over one particular shoe for fall, I'm completely head over heels about Jeffrey Campbell's Fall 2010 lookbook. I swear this man is one after mine own heart. These shoes give me chills. Warning, the following collage of images from Jeffrey Campbells' Fall 2010 Lookbook may cause excessive drooling....

I might die if I don't get my hands on a pair of the black laceups with wooden heel on the top left. Ugh, still drooling...

What do you guys think of the collection?

Check out Jeffrey Campbell at their Website. For new arrivals, check KarmaLoop...

Images Source

Confessions of a Shopaholic: Twinkle By Wenlan Sample Sale

For all you LBS fashionistas on a budget like myself, get your fashion fix minus the extra dollar signs with sample sales like this one. I must say the Twinkle By Wenlan show for Fall 2010 was one of my absolute faves. It's where I met the lovely Angela Simmons sitting front row and center. 

Wenlan Chai, the designer behind the amazing Twinkle line has an amazing aesthetic. Romantic, fun, girly and free - those are words that come to mind. If you're in the NYC area - be sure to line up early. These steals will be gone in no time. Enjoy!

LoveBrownSugar Fashion Week Coverage: Thuy, Tibi & Milly

The following three collections were among my favorites at Bryant Park this season. Primarily for their fresh and feminine perspectives on fall/winter 2010. It's always great to see a vibrant collection for fall/winter and each of these fit the bill very well.

Thuy Fall 2010 Collection

 The Thuy Fall 2010 Collection was a refreshing departure from all the minimalist collections shown this season. From the color combinations to the fabric choices, the Thuy collection had a number of amazing statement pieces to build an entire wardrobe around.

Thuy showed some awesome separates in magentas, nudes and copper. This collection gave me "young and sophisticated in the city"...

For more of the Thuy Collection, view my album HERE.

Tibi Fall 2010 Collection

The vibrant prints and feminine silhouttes at Tibi were both inspiring and exciting. This collection was for the hip and chic girl who exudes easy summer swag even when the weather changes...

She used a few neutrals and vibrant pops of color here and there...

Sadly, my camera shut off in the middle of the show but overall I loved this collection! It was the most "me" I think. For more pictures from the Tibi show, check my album HERE.

Milly Fall 2010 Collection

The Milly Fall 2010 Collection was girl and free and uber-Parisian. The collection had a certain exuberance and reminded me of a younger Chanel. Very uptown, Gossip Girl-appropriate and fun. Unfortunately, this was the day I left my camera's memory card at home, so enjoy these press pics instead...

 "Mi-chelle, my belle!"...Designer Michelle Smith put me right back into my semester in Paris....from the berets to the patterned and ruffled miniskirts with tights, I could almost smell the macarons from Laduree...

 

And I loved these bubble gum pink tights layered under the miniskirts - so cute! Goes to show a little color goes a long way, especially in the fall.

Image Source

*Special thanks to my amazing friend Dana who invited me to the Milly show - you're awesome!

LoveBrownSugar Fashion Week Coverage: Perry Ellis & Max Azria

The following post is unexpected as well as surprisingly fulfilling for me because 1) I don't normally cover Men's fashion and 2) I didn't get an invite to Max Azria (by some stroke of luck, my boss at HoneyMag couldn't make it so I went in her stead!) That being said I'm extremely happy I had the opportunity and exposure to attend both shows.

 Perry Ellis Fall 2010 Collection

Although I don't normally cover men's fashion, I had the amazing opportunity to preview the Perry Ellis Fall 2010 collection. I happen to have some male clients that I freelance style for so I thought it only appropriate to attend Perry Ellis. From my view, it was a clean collection - not overly tailored, but just right.

I loved the accessories they paired with their looks as well. Truth: suspenders can look classy. And it seems the infinity scarf (loop-shaped, no ends) serves as unisex accessory for fall. I love these, I have 2 already!

The velvet blazers were yummy. I can't see any man looking less than pristine in pieces like this. Well done!

Spotted: Terrell Owens sitting front row at Perry Ellis!

Max Azria Fall 2010 Collection

 Minimalist in style & structure but intricate in fabric detailing, the Max Azria Fall 2010 show was a refreshing contrast to his more body conscious collections of past...

 There was clear consistency in the collection. Muted and neutral colors, lots of transparent overlay up top and very subtle details throughout.

 

Spotted: Estelle front row and backstage at Max Azria

 For more pictures from the Perry Ellis Show and the Max Azria Show check me out on Facebook!

LoveBrownSugar Fashion Week Coverage: Tracy Reese

Tracy Reese Fall 2010

 I must say the Tracy Reese show was one I was most excited about this season. I've always been an admirer of Tracy Reese, being a young black designer in an industry dominated by fashion heads not quite her color. I've come up reading articles about her in Essence and watching people interview her on TV about her success. Needless to say, it was an absolute pleasure to be invited. Below are some show highlights:

I loved the styling at Tracy Reese. She used these amazing chunky oversized scarves to adorn each look. I thought the textures and the fabrics were spot-on for fall/winter. Lots of plush knits, great fur pieces and beautiful prints...

Backstage at Tracy Reese, I caught up with darling beauties - Georgie Badiel and Ariel Meredith. Two of the brown girls seen prancing down the runway at Tracy Reese.

 I recognized Georgie from the Arise runways on Saturday night - she confirmed for me that she did walk. She was also the cover girl for the Arise Magazine May 2009 issue:

 More celebs I spotted backstage at Tracy Reese and after the show:

On the left, Julia Stiles and Kristen Bell backstage at Tracy Reese. On the right, petite and lovely Adrienne Bailon formerly of 3LW and well-known as one of the sassy Cheetah Girls. This Tracy Reese printed dress is divine on her.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Jacque Reid of Let's Talk About Pep. She's gorgeous - inside & out. 

For more pictures from the Tracy Reese Fall 2010 Collection showing, view my album HERE.

LBS Fashion Week Coverage: Weekend Recap

 What a whirlwind my second and third days of shows were! My goodness, it's now Day 5 of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and I feel like it's been a month! Anyway, I went to some very impressive shows this weekend. Twinkle by Wenlan, Arise Fashion Collective, and Vassilios Kostetsos. All were very different, but so amazing. I'm so excited about this year's fall trends. This might be the season that gets people back in the stores. Here's my recap of Twinkle and Vassilios Kostetsos:

Twinkle by Wenlan Fall 2010 Collection 

The Twinkle collection was fun and flirty, but still very practical which I loved. I could see my friends and I walking straight off the runway in her pieces. They were great originals that overall felt like they needed prime placement in a LoveBrownSugar chick's closet. I loved that she included splashes of vibrant color.

 Check out all the photos from the show as well as backstage access in my album HERE.

At the Twinkle show, I also had the opportunity to meet Daddy's girl Angela Simmons. It's not often that you meet celebs and they're as beautiful and friendly in person as they are on TV...

 Well, Miss Simmons was all that and then some. She looked absolutely stunning in this hot pink frock, skillfully accessorized with a statement necklace and skinny royal blue belt.

 She's gorge and we love her style! Her company Pastry Shoes co-founded with big sis Vanessa Simmons, is releasing a new line of heels and boots which I cannot wait to dive into. Given her and Vanessa's style, the collection is fitting to be SWEET indeed (pun intended)!


Vassilios Kostetsos Fall 2010 Collection

Greeks clearly know how to have fun. The Vassilios Kostetsos collection made me want to just party! From the prints to the fabric combinations, the overall energy of the collection was volcanic. Models exploded onto the runway sparkling in sequins, bound in lace and leather, and vibrantly adorned in passionate shades of red, black and blue...

 

 

I thought the styling was impeccable, the silhouettes were sleek yet fun, and there the collection overall was well crafted and a joy to watch! There are so many celebs I can see wearing this stuff. It most definitely won't be my last time at a Vassilios Kostetsos show - it was flawless.

Check out all my close-ups of the runway show in my album HERE.