Coquette

Rachel Zoe's Fall 2011 Collection Now Available for Pre-Order at Neiman Marcus

Season 4 of The Rachel Zoe Project will premiere on August 2nd at 9pm EST/PST and I can't wait! It's on this season we'll get to go behind the scenes as Rachel Zoe launches her own high-end fashion collection (as well the documenting of the birth of her son Skylar). This week online at Neiman Marcus, Rachel Zoe's Fall 2011 collection made it's debut. You can actually pre-order your favorites now for shipping by early September for most items. One of the things I love about Rachel Zoe's fashion taste is that she can create bold style with key pieces and her entire collection holds true to this. Her handbags are some of the most stylish and affordable ones I have seen in a long time!

My clothing favorites from her collection are the Double-Breasted Jacket ($295) as seen on Rachel in her WWD shoot earlier this year (post here) over the Strapless Organza Dress ($395) and the Ruffle Shift Dress ($395). (I have a feeling the jacket will sell out so I just pre-ordered it!)

I also LOVE her coats! I can't imagine Rachel without a faux-fur vest. She does have a few in her collection, but the faux-fur piece that stands out in my book is the edgy Faux-Fur Turnlock Coat ($550). There is also a lot of vintage inspiration in her collection and I love the look of this 60's inspired Wrap-Collar Cape ($695).

Her shoes are all super high but the prices are all under $500. Pictured above are the Suede Platform Sandal ($295) and the Suede Platform Pump ($295).

I'm saving the best for last because Rachel Zoe's new handbags are going to give Michael Kors and Rebecca Minkoff a run for their money. Rachel loves carrying her Hermes Birkin, Chanel, or Chloe Paraty bags and you can see how those classic bags have inspired her here. These four are my favorites for their fabulous style. I love her signature chain/peg closure. It's very different from anything I've ever seen. Also, I'm happy to see bags that are under $1000, with most of them under $500. I am looking forward to seeing which bags Rachel carries around town. If she's smart like Kate Moss, she'll make a point to carry her own bags most of the time from now on.

Top Row: Pamela Tote ($495), Edie Crossbody Bag ($375)
Bottom Row: Leslie Chain Clutch ($325), Zoe Leather Tote ($450)

Neiman Marcus has also launched "Oh So Zoe" on their Facebook page, an interactive challenge where you can show off your styling savvy. The winner will meet Rachel Zoe and Ken Downing, Neiman Marcus Fashion Director at the Los Angeles Neiman Marcus store, and will receive a $2,500 gift card. The challenge runs from June 28th through July 18th.

Play Oh So Zoe on the Neiman Marcus Facebook page now.

Shop the Rachel Zoe Fall 2011 collection and read more about it in this Neiman Marcus photo/editorial spread.

DKNY PR Girl Blog

@dkny is one of my favorite Twitter peeps and it's so fabulous to see her have her own blog now on Tumblr. Visit dknyprgirl.tumblr.com for daily inspiration. I love the cute design and layout. Today's post features a gorgeous fashion sketch by Donna Karan for fall 2011.

Isabella Oliver 365 Lace Shift Dress + Summer Sale

This Isabella Oliver 365 Lace Shift Dress is now on sale for only $173.40 (was $289) as a part of the summer sale going on now. This dress is the perfect summer piece for outdoor parties or dinners out!

Shop the Isabella Oliver 365 summer sale.

Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere

Out of all the Louis Vuitton bags, the most iconic one that every gal should have in her handbag collection is the Louis Vuitton Speedy. I did a post about the LV Speedy last December with Audrey Hepburn toting the top handle bag at an airport in 1965. Now the Speedy gets an updated look with the Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandoulière which comes with a removable strap so you can also wear the bag on your shoulder or crossbody. (The famous lock is now moved to the zipper.) The Speedy Bandoulière comes in 4 sizes and right now only in the Monogram print: Speedy 25 ($1,065), Speedy 30 ($1,090), Speedy 35 ($1,115) and the large Speedy 40 ($1,140). You can buy the Speedy Bandoulière online or at LV boutiques.

I love these photos by photographer Boo George featuring stylist Caroline Sieber. You can see all 10 of the photos on the Louis Vuitton Facebook page.

Web Snob Weekly Roundup

Here is this week's Web Snob with the latest in fashion, beauty, celeb, and lifestyle:

• Rough edges can be beautiful - just look at the artful irregularity of this woven Prada bag at Bag Snob.
• Want to know what the StyleBakery editors are loving this summer? This week, they each share their top 10 lists for the season.
• Beauty Snob has an easy, peasy, lemon squeezy way to make that beautiful ballerina bun every girl wants - even if you don't have enough hair to pull it off!
• Second City Style can't get enough of the lace-up sandal trend for summer.
• The Jet Set Girls spoke to Brooke Burke about her favorite ways to splurge.
• KRISTOPHER DUKES is hating Marks & Spencer mini umbrella with case.
• Shopping and Info loves Emilia Clarke from the Game of Thrones and the nude Sergio Rossi platforms she wore in Monte Carlo.
• The Shoe Goddess thinks this Prada Platform Boot would be a great addition to any girl's closet!

Pick Up the Volume in Your Beauty Routine

Stylehive shows you how to pick up the volume in your beauty routine from thick luscious lashes to full bodied hair.

Sequin Strap Tote

This Sequin Strap Tote (on sale for $41.99 at the Gap) was stylishly worn by Dephine from Non Dairy Diary when we both attended a friend's outdoor garden wedding (Tami from Fete a Fete) back in May. It instantly caught my eye as being the perfect summer tote! I thought it was French since Delphine is French. Instead, she surprised me by telling me she found it at the Gap! I love the softness of the gray version with the cool sparkle of the silver sequins. I love the outside pockets for easy access to your cellphone or lipstick. There's also an inner zip pocket inside too.

Other colors available are natural and black.

You can also pick up a straw tote version that's full price at $49.95.

The reason of course this tote seemed like it was French is because it was inspired by French designer, Vanessa Bruno's popular sequin Cabas Moyen Tote (as seen on Jessica Alba).

Tea Collection - Fall 2011 Women's Preview

It's hot out here in SF but I'm already looking forward to getting warm and cozy this fall with some fabulous pieces from the fall 2011 women line by Tea Collection. I visited their design studio recently and was able to preview both their new women's and kids' collections. My favorite pieces are the orange poncho and asymetrical stripe top. The colorful cowl knit tops are also great layering pieces that I can see myself in. The pièce de résistance is the lovely gray patterned knit sweater that was so soft I didn't want to take it off. All of the pieces will be available in the womens section on the Tea Collection web site in August.

If you have kids, you can see my post today on Coquette Maman: Tea Collection for Kids - Fall 2011 Preview

Here are more photos from my visit:

Related Posts on Coquette:
Women's Spring 2011 Sale at Tea Collection

Estee Lauder International Makeup Artist Alan Pan at Macy's Stonestown this Thursday in SF

I'm so excited that Estee Lauder's Alan Pan will be in San Francisco again this Thursday working his magic! I learned so many makeup and skincare tips and techniques from Alan last fall. He lives in the UK and is back visiting the States again. If you are in the SF area, book an appointment now to have your makeup done by this fabulous expert. He's hilarious, entertaining, and knows everything on how to bring out your own natural beauty. In fact, for this busy mom he did my makeup in 10 minutes to show how easy it was to create a natural look for daytime.

The key things I learned from him:

- Dab on eyeshadow with brush. (Do not sweep to brush on eyeshadow.)
- Layer on eyeshadow with the dabbing technique going a shade lighter and higher each time.
- You don't need a lot of face powder on your large brush. Dab it lightly with your brush from the container lid.
- Estee Lauder Spotlight is AMAZING to even out your skin tone! (I've passed that nugget on to many friends.)

Estee Lauder Alan Pan Event Details:

Thursday, June 23
10:30am-6:30pm
Macy's Stonestown
1 Stonestown Mall
San Francisco, CA

To book an appointment call 415-753-4000 ext 2356 or email america.brown[at]macys[dot]com.

Please tell her Coquette sent you!

Here are some photos from his visit last November to Macy's Union Square:

Like I said, Alan is very entertaining. He shares tips on the mic and is just super hilarious.

Here he is giving my friend Susan a natural daytime look. You can see how he dabs on the eyeshadow over the eye to create the wonderful soft look.

Here's Susan in all her beauty!

Alan is also an expert on makeup for Asian eyes. Atsuko and I were the models on for Alan's training day with the rest of the Estee Lauder team. She looks gorgeous here and Alan did wonders with her eye makeup!

Related Coquette Post:
Estee Lauder Event with Alan Pan on Thursday at Macy's Union Square

Easy Summer Lips + Cheeks with mark.

Summer makeup is no fuss in my book. I love the look of a warm summer glow and have been using these 3 products over and over the last couple of months so much so that I thought I should share them with you. They are always with me in my bag when I'm on the go. I skip powder in the summer days when it's hot but after I moisturize, I dab on mark's Just Pinched ($8) in Cheeky on my cheeks and rub it in. It keeps me a nice pinky glow and looks so natural.

For my lips, I like it neutral and have been using mark Lipclick Full Color Lipstick ($10) in Toasty which feels like and sheer on my lips. When I want some shine, I add a layer of mark Gloss Gorgeous Stay on Lip Stain ($10) in Bare on top. It's all so easy and I'm done in less than 5 minutes.

Check out mark's tutorial for no-makeup' makeup for more easy summer makeup tips.

Don't spend a lot of money on makeup! I love mark products for their quality and range of colors. Their products are also perfectly compact that you can easily slip them into a bag or beach tote!

Note: Review products above are courtesy of mark.