Coquette

NYFW: Lorena Sarbu Fall 2012

(Photos: Lorena Sarbu)

Lorena Sarbu hit our radar when Kelly McDonald donned her green and purple sequin dress and Heather Morris from Glee wore her gold form fitting flutter sleeve dress to the Golden Globes last year. I was excited to see what she had in store for Fall 2012.

(Photos: Lorena Sarbu)

The show was so glamorous that it was hard to beleive this was her first time presenting at New York Fashion Week. Lace, sequins, feathers, jewels were the key trends that I spotted. That and of course, everything that sparkles! I wish I had more formal events to attend so I could wear each of the gorgeous gowns!

See photos from the Lorena Sarbu Fall 2012 Collection.

~Leigh

NYFW: State of Style Summit

(photo: StyleCaster.com)

I attended the State of Style Summit this past week, a new edition this year (and deemed the unoffical kick-off) to New York Fashion Week put on by StyleCaster and the 92nd Street Y. It was a day packed with fashion insight and best ways to leverage technology from some of the best in the field.

 

(photo: StyleCaster.com)

The panel I most enjoyed and had the best takeaways was "From Social Commerce to Soho: Where Does Digital Drive Traffic."  Lauren Indvik, Media and Fashion Editor at Mashable moderated with panelists: Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, Co-Founder and CMO of Gilt Groupe and Catherine Moellering, EVP, Tobe Report of Doneger Group.  Wilson said Gilt's value proposition has become a place for brands to get the word out and market to consumers, a leap from where they started as a discount ecommerce site. She shared some data that I found interesting (and validates the mobile device usage surge), 30% of sales on the weekends are from mobile devices. And if you can believe it men buy more via Gilt mobile. Her advice to anyone in fashion is to be helpful – help drive consumers to a brand's retail store, website, social media or mobile app.

Catherine shared a ton of great data from The Tobe Report her company publishes on retail trends. Her advice for anyone who wants to see what consumers want for free, use Pinterest. She feels it is the best way to forecast trends, see what people are interested in and see what people are sharing. She would love to see conversion data shared to determine if people are actually buying the products they pin.

If you would like to read more about the event and see photos, Stylecaster has a great wrap-up and slideshow.

 

~Leigh

Share Your Crush Story to Win $10,000 in Wedding Photography from Crush

Two of my awesome friends Gene Hwang (@x) and Jack Hyunh started their own photography business after the dot com crash. Over 10 years later, Orange Photography is one of the top photography agencies in the Bay Area. (So popular I couldn't even get these guys to photograph my wedding. They were booked over a year in advance!)

They just launched their new retail service, Crush providing wedding, baby, special events, portraits and even photo booths! To celebrate, they are kicking it all off with a 10K Crush Contest where you can share your crush story for a chance to win $10,000 in wedding photography services! Find out more details about the contest and how to enter.

NYFW: DKNY Fall 2012 Fashion Show

(Video: Vidcom)

(Photos: Imaxtree.com/Matteo Volta, Elle.com)

It doesn't feel like New York Fashion Week without DKNY's runway show. For Fall 2012 Donna Karan's DKNY line brings us more sleek and stylish looks with an emphasis on lots of leather. The tulip-shaped skirts and dresses were my favorite. I love the little flounce that happens when models strut down the runway.

These violet hued floral prints work perfectly.

With the numerous looks in black leather, the vibrant colored leather was a beauty to behold. Donna's tip is simple: Pick up a colored skirt this fall to mix into your wardrobe. These skirts look fabulous paired with basic black.

From bright fuchia to deep cobalt blue, the evening and party dresses were minimalistic, soft, and flowy. Hem lines were either above the knee or floor length.

And I always say, you can never go wrong with a little black dress. These girly yet elegant dresses are perfect for holiday parties and can live on for years in your closet.

View photos from the entire DKNY Fall 2012 Fashion Show on Elle.com.

ASCII Heart Necklace

My friend Becky Stern's famous ASCII heart necklace ($130) is the perfect way to type out your love this Valentine's Day. This geeky pendant is made in sterling silver in NYC. <3! :)

Web Snob Weekly Roundup

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

• You’ll find good use for a tote any time of year, but it’s the summer when the style really comes into play. Findo ut what BagSnob chose for her Top 5 Summer Totes!
• Ready for your next pair of jeans? Stiletto Jungle has some denim for your consideration.
• Kate Bosworth’s Chanel chain ankle booties seen on the cover of Nylon magazine is still on Shopping and Info’s wishlist for spring 2012..
• Katy Perry has signed her divorce papers...with a smiley face! See it for yourself at Allie is Wired.
• Want shampoo that leaves no residue after rinsing? With Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour Duo you’ll find your hair so clean, touchable, and easy to manage, without feeling stripped. At BeautySnob.
• The Jet Set Girls share some tasty Valentine's Day cocktails.
• The Beauty Stop picks the perfect Valentine's Day manicure.

Kris Nations Jewelry: 2012 Collection Inspired by the American Southwest

Kris Nations' new 2012 Trend Collection is inspired by the art and architecture of the American Southwest. which mixes Art Deco style from the 1920s and 30's with the vibrant colors and decorative motifs of Navajo textiles and Zuni pottery. I love the burst of color that these pieces can bring to an entire outfit. Her pieces are the perfect Valentine's Day gifts too!

To see more, visit kristnations.com.

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Hello! Lucky Cards

Valentine's Day is a great way to send a love note not only to your honey, but also to your BFF, your parents, and friends who now live far away but are still dear to your heart. I took a little visit to the Hello! Lucky studio recently and got a preview of their new Year of Love box set ($24). It features 12 letterpress cards in an array of beautiful designs. You can also purchase individual cards you like from the set or others in their greeting cards category. There are also some fun all occasion card kits for sale too.

Visit the new Hello! Lucky blog as well as their prescence on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: Year of Love box set courtesy of Hello! Lucky.

Secrets of Stylists: Exclusive Interview with Sasha Charnin Morrison + Givaway

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!

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics – Pretty Powerful 2.0

Bobbi Brown's Pretty Powerful goes 2.0 with thirty new women of all backgrounds, careers, and lifestyles to celebrate beauty in all it's unique incarnations.

What makes me feel Pretty Powerful? My focus this past year has been on de-stressing nd creating a more healthy lifestyle. I have focused more energy in trying to eat well, drink more water, and incorporate any amount of exercise into my busy daily routine. I can be pretty lazy by nature when it comes to exercise so I've been easing myself back into it. It's all about baby steps. On nice days, I try to take long dog walks with Lulu in the morning. On busy days, a five minute yoga stretch session before bed may be all I have time for. Regardless, I've come to realized after all these years of long hours on the computer, I just can't put myself and my health on the back burner anymore. Being healthy is a vital part of what keeps me feeling good in my skin and body.

Visit Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Bobbi Brown via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Bobbi Brown.