I am so excited that I just updated my tote bag with a new notebook. This beautiful lined journal by my friend, artist and illustrator Samantha Hahn. Her Parade of Shoes Journal ($11.01 on Amazon, published by Potter Style) features a bevy of fancy watercolor painted shoes from Louboutins to vintage Dior. Artwork for the journal is from the fashion/astrology gift book, Shoestrology.
The 128 page journal also features many more beautiful shoe illustrations inside, giving you that extra eye candy inspiration as you write. The hot pink elastic band is also a great colorful bookmark that keeps everything in place. It's been fun to spot the various designers shoes like the studded Valentinos, alligator Gucci boots, and more. The blank journal is the perfect gift to a shoe lover in your life!
Congratulations to Heather from Lena, IL for winning my 10 book picks in my recent Give Books giveaway from Chronicle Books. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Shop for all your holiday gifts with this special 30% off promo code from Chronicle Books:
Now through December 31, enjoy 30% off + free ground shipping on all holiday orders at ChronicleBooks.com. Enter discount code GIVEBOOKS at checkout.
A new fashion book, Stars in Dior by Jerome Hanover ($65, published by Rizzoli) will be available this May in France and later in September in the U.S. From old Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich to today's celebs like Charlize Theron and Natalie Portman, few knew that in 1942 Christian Dior himself got his start as a costume designer before his couture house was created in 1946. This book features 250 photos of film stills, location shots, photographs and portraits of actresses – all dressed in Dior.
Fashion industry veteran Sasha Charnin Morrison gives you a glimpse inside the world of fashion and stylists with her amazing book, Secrets of Stylists: An Insider's Guide to Styling the Stars (published by Chronicle Books). As the current fashion director at US Weekly, Morrison has over 20 years experience working in the biz for such publications as Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Allure, Vanity Fair, and more. She has her finger on the pulse of trends and celebrity fashion, all with an amazing sense of humor. She loves a very high heel and if you follow her on twitter or tumblr, you'll see the many nuggets of fashion eye candy she'll share each day.
What I love about Secrets of Stylists is that it goes deeper into what it takes to be a stylist. As an addict to the Bravo fashion stylist reality TV shows of Rachel Zoe and Brad Goreski, this book is a godsend. From the nitty gritty details of inventory to the drool-worthy trays of high-end jewelry and racks of gowns, Morrison gives you a complete in-depth look into this glamourous as well as tough as nails world. Even if you aren't looking for a career in fashion styling, the book gives you plenty of tips and advice on how to carve out your own personal style. I love, love, love all the photos of celebrities but what I love the most is the detailed photos she includes featuring sketches, supplies, array of outfits, and scribbled detailed notes – a true behind the scenes peek at this fabulous world.
Book Giveaway
Just in time for fashion week! Two lucky Coquette readers will win a copy of Secrets of Stylists! Just leave a comment to this post. The giveaway ends on Friday, February 10th at 5pm PST Monday, February 13th at 5pm PST. Good luck!
I also got a chance to talk to Sasha Charnin Morrison and ask her some very important fashion questions. Click for the interview after the jump!
Congratulations to Danielle from Baton Rouge, LA for winning a one year subscription to People StyleWatch magazine in my recent giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered. I will have more giveaways soon! xo
Are you feeling stressed over your holiday list? Never fear! People StyleWatch Magazine's Deputy Editor Leigh Belz took some time to answer a few of my questions on holiday shopping and holiday parties in the video above. She has lots of great budget-friendly picks - just what we need!
Coquette Giveaway
One lucky reader from Coquette will get a free one year subscription to People StyleWatch magazine! (Must be a U.S. resident.) Just leave a comment below to this post by Noon PST on Monday, December 19, 2012.
I love Project Runway! The challenges, seeing the design process, the cast and THE DRAMA. Getting the chance to attend the HP Project Runway Designer Reunion party during New York fashion week was a dream.
Seeing all the designers in one place and the camaraderie amongst the casts between the seasons was fantastic. They do really like each other! I tried to mingle and talk to as many of the designers as I could.
Here are the highlights:
Becky, Season 9
"Project Runway was emotionally draining, but I'm thankful for the opportunity. Life after Project Runway is weird, everything about me is on the Internet. I have an avatar! But, life is just beginning. I want to design for the average woman, a woman with curves who likes good design. I would love to [eventually] sell my line at Target."
Michael, Season 8
"Life after Project Runway is really great! I've been working on my own line Michael Costello Couture and having fun doing it."
Bert, Season 9
"Project Runway allowed me to get back to design after 20 years and it felt good. There was an age gap with the other designers and I have not really used technology to design before, but I want to. I'm learning!"
Mondo, Season 8
"I'm really happy. I've been focusing on activism. A lot of people expect a lot from me and that is hard. I just want to make an impact!"
Danielle, Season 9
"Project Runway was a hard balance of staying true to my design and making good TV. I learned a lot. I love being back in Minneapolis where there is so much design inspiration. "
I really like the integration of technology in to the planning/sketching phase so it was fun to try out the HP TouchSmart computers and create my own design – just like a Project Runway fashion designer!
You can see photos of the party on HP's flickr set and video below.
Who do you think will win Season 9? Leave a comment with your vote!
Last night I watched the fashion documentary Seamless which focused on three out of the ten CFDA finalists in 2005. The three were Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Alexandre Plokhov of Cloak and Doo.Ri Chung. The winner ended up being the young and fabulous Jack and Lazaro Proenza Schuler but who impressed me the most was Doo.Ri. There really aren't a lot of women fashion designers who make it – much less an asian one. What impressed me was that she worked by herself in the basement studio under her parents' dry cleaning shop in New Jersey. As she worked, you could see how meticulous and detail-oriented she was. Her draping and clothing have an angelic quality to them. She's now a designer I am definitely going to look out for more.
I love her edgy yet sophisticated style. This Torqued Draped Dress (On sale for $268.50 at Shopbop) and Draped Dress with Leather Hem ($995 at Shopbop) are a couple of my favorites. You can shop for more Doo.Ri at Shopbop.
Doo.Ri Chung at the CFDA awards in 2009 via Harper's Bazaar.
I still can't believe we have to wait until 2012 for the next season of Mad Men. To hold us through, Banana Republic's Mad Men collection is now on sale at Gilt Groupe! Featuring lady-like clothing inspired by Betty Draper, the collection is still fresh for our modern life today. Sizes are going quickly but some of the standouts I love are the Begonia Print Dress ($150) and Leopard Print Cardigan ($89.50) with Betty Scarf ($39.50).
And if you want your man to be dressed like Don Draper, there are a few mens selections too. Pictured above Tailored Silm Two-Button Blazer ($375).
(published by 
