Ever since I saw Blake Lively in a pair of white and black silk Lanvin track pants (pictured below), I have been looking for something equivalent but not as pricey. Enter in these chic Vince Silk Track Pants ($275 at Neiman Marcus, preorder now for Dec) that brings a touch of sportiness and color that makes a pair of black pants, way less boring. Add some strappy heels and you are good to go.
The entire Vince look above will look perfect if you want to stand out as a style setter, but I love simply how Blake paired hers with a silky top and chunky statement necklace. Simple meets chic.
I've been using Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Hand Cream ($14.69 at Target) each day for the last two weeks. It's my morning and before bed ritual. I love that it makes my hands feel soft and light. With broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 15, I also feel assured that my hands are protected from sun exposure.
I remember watching recently on the Today show where a doctor mentioned that the skin on your hands are just as delicate as the skin on your face. Most women don't realize this and aren't protecting them. I started to get really dry skin on my hands earlier this year which has made me pay better attention to them. I also saw a photo of Sarah Jessica Parker's hands and realized I don't want my own hands to age me. I have even made an effort to wear plastic gloves when I'm rinsing dishes for the dishwasher. Anything helps!
I love the UK brand Boots ever since I first went to London back in the early 2000's. I love that their products are now available in the US at your local Target stores and online at Target.com or Shopbootsusa.com.
I just started to feel that first chill of fall when I know I need a cozy sweater to live in. Don't get caught up on dark blacks and grays this season, instead add more splashes of color with a colorblock sweater. Two of my top favorites are the Vince Colorblock Sweater ($295 at Shopbop) at left and the Splendid Colorblock Knit Sweater ($188 at Neiman Marcus).
Brad Pitt is the new face of Chanel No. 5 and the new commercial or "film" as they call it, is now unveiled. What does this mean? This ad is a far cry from those luxurious locals or black tie events dripping with jewels. The mood is more everyday, perhaps more every woman? It is an interesting branding approach I must say. If anything it's getting attention and setting itself apart from the other perfume ads out there now. (Blake Lively for Gucci Premiere, Natalie Portman for Miss Dior and so on.) Brad isn't in a black tie, he's the hipster dad with long hair and a goatee. He looks like he's ready to chill with you on the sofa, am I right?
Will all this translate into more perfume sales this holiday season? We shall see... If it works, we may start seeing more men promoting women's perfume.
If you love the colored jeans trend, you'll love getting cozy in LOFT's super stylish skinny corduroys ($59.50) that come in an array of juicy colors like blue, red, purple, navy, khaki, and more. The look is sleek when you pair them effortlessly with fall's cozy sweaters or a smart blazer. (Psst! They also come in a curvy size too!)
If a skinny silhouette isn't your thing, go with the classic Marisa Straight Leg Corduroys ($59.50) with some great pop of color like this one in pink that benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Other colors include lilac, mustard yellow, red, and more.
Visit LOFT.com for more great fall apparel & accessories.
Watch this beautifully edited video on the history of the perfume and it's historical context and amazing longevity. My favorite quote from the video is that Chanel No. 5 "Resists the whims of fashion and the passage of time." Enjoy the beautiful graphics, typography and animation. No one really thinks that perfume can change the world, but this little sweet smelling bottle has been doing just that for around for 91 years.
My favorite personally is the softer scent of Chanel No. 5, the Eau Premiere version. I have worn it for almost 3 years now and it's my signature scent. I don't feel like anything else smells better or softer. Perfect for everyday and for a night out.
Get ready to go shopping at Shopbop's sale where you can get up to 70% off some amazing pieces! A gal can never go wrong with a DVF dress. They pretty much last season to season. I have my eye on this Diane von Furstenberg Della Two Dress (On sale for $262.50, was $375) and the Diane von Furstenberg Noralie Dress (On sale for $278.50, was $308).
October 2nd is Batik Day, a celebration in Indonesia and around the world for batik fabric. Batik fabric is created by an intricate technique that uses a manual wax-resist dyeing. The technique is very detailed and batik artisans usean intricate copper tool to draw out the liquid wax. It can take from a month to a year to finish a piece of batik cloth, depending on the complexity of the desige. Because of this complicated production process, batik can be considered to be high end and expensive.
I was honored to be asked by Shinta from BatikAntik in Indonesia to help bring awareness to the art form and help celebrate the amazing artisans in Indonesia who painstakingly create these beautiful pieces.
In 2009, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, which is "the totality of tradition-based creations of a cultural community expressed by a group or individuals and recognized as reflecting the expectations of a community in so far as they reflect its cultural and social identity."
I am wearing a pink chiffon crinkled batik scarf made by Riana Kusuma. The colors are beautiful pastels of pink, purple and coral featuring beautiful hand drawn flowers. As a crafter and fabric lover, I am amazing that I had not known about all the details on what goes into creating batik fabric. I of course knew about the patterns, but didn't realize how tedious the actual production work was.
This fantastic BBC article about Batik designer Josephine Komara of Obin explains a lot about the creation of this artform. Obin has brought batik out from the shadows of state functions, to to trendy cocktail parties where batik and Hermes bags go hand in hand. Watch the video above to see more of the handmade process of batik.
Today you can see batik fabric designs used by some of the top fashion designers like Dries Van Notten, Diane Von Furstenberg, Armani and Nicole Miller.
($92.15 at Amazon) or 
($115 at Amazon).
