{ color } block

as you know, i'm a huge fan of brian atwood's work, and partnered with him earlier this year to help launch his secondary line, B brian atwood. i had a lot of fun working with his team, and thus was excited when they sent me a sneak peek of the brand's new video campaign ~ i couldn't wait to share it with you all!! it's the sexiest take on colorblocking i've ever seen:

can't live without the shoes in the video?! get 'em RIGHT HERE!! and tune in again later today, when i'll check back, wearing my favorite pop-of-color kicks from this collection!

{ b amazing }

i know i'm not the only one here who's completely seduced by the look of the new b brian atwood showroom ~ purple walls + leopard chairs + copious metallics and that insane sebastien l. agneessens sculpture all add up to total perfection!!

i was honored to introduce the first sneak peek of brian's new line HERE, and today i'm excited to let you know that the shoes have finally arrived in store. to celebrate the launch, saks is giving away a really chic sweetheart bracelet with any b brian atwood purchase (while supplies last), and following brian on twitter could win you a fleet of his favorite things, including a jo malone candle, vosges chocolates, and a handwritten note from the designer himself.

what's more, i'll be hanging out at saks fifth avenue's new york outpost (on the 5th floor!) on wednesday, september 14th, from 6-8pm, to fête the new line and show you all my favorite styles. mark your calendars and plan to stop by, won't you?!

{ introducing } b. brian atwood

as you may have gathered from the fun, flashy widget in my top right sidebar, i've teamed up with designer brian atwood to debut his new b brian atwood line, which is officially launching on august 25th via saks.com. every day this week, a new style from the collection is being unveiled on my page ~ and i'm as excited to see them myself as i am to share them with you!!

a few weeks ago, brian invited me to stop by the photoshoot for his print campaign (the photo above is a tiny preview ~ how dashing does the designer look in this cameo?!), and i seized the occasion to put on my best journalistic kicks. interview below!

in many ways, shoe making seems more akin to architecture than to fashion design. how did you learn this craft, and who were your role models as a young designer?
when i was younger i loved building model houses, but it wasn't until i started working at gianni versace that I learned the art of making shoes. it is like building a house. you need the correct foundation or the shoe doesn't support the wearer.

was it your background in modeling that inspired you to go into design?
i always knew that i wanted to be a designer. i started off in ready-to-wear and somehow found my love of shoes. modeling just allowed me to see the world and meet the designers that i would like to work with.

and how has that experience informed your work?
it gave me a broader viewpoint on design as well as what women want.

when designing a new collection where do you begin? does it start with developing new last shapes, materials, etc.?
first it starts with last shapes and heels that you would like to see, then you begin with your color card and material to follow. after that it all comes together as your vision evolves.

over the last couple years, shoe designs have gotten more outrageous than ever; each brand seems determined to outdo the others in structure, weight, height, etc. yet your designs maintain a classic appeal while still looking fresh. how do you negotiate this competitive scene but continue to set yourself apart?
i love all of the outrageous designs that are out there, but i do believe that women always need classic shoes with a twist. when clothing is busy you need cleaner accessories. if our shoes seem on the classic side then we "amp" it up in the height to give it an edge.

if your fans could only buy one of your shoes this season, which would you recommend and why?
from the "b" collection they should buy leise in silver metallic [in the middle picture above] or paradis in the patchwork leopard print boot [debuting in tomorrow's sidebar!].

{ you're invited }

you all KNOW how much i adore my sunnies, so i'm excited to be hosting a little sunglass soirée this weekend in the hamptons, with my friends at juicy couture. if any of you are planning to be out east on saturday afternoon, i would really LOVE for you to stop by! no rsvp required ~ just pop by between 3 & 5 to say hello and enjoy an après beach cocktail!!

{ more } midsummer

last friday, i posted an ensemble inspired by midsummer (one more photo below!). the shoot was staged in my bedroom, and designed to subtly reference a time-honored midsummer tradition, in which young ladies pick 7 different flowers and place them under their pillows at night, in hopes that the man they should marry will appear to them in a dream.

since my dreams veer more toward the sartorial than the matrimonial, i went a bit fashion-mad in my interpretation ~ filling my whole bed with flowers and donning the prettiest gown i own. i felt so summery and light, and wanted to re-capture that feeling for last week's midsummer celebration at the soho grand. so, i put on another fluttery frock, made myself a brand new floral crown, kissed the pup adieu and floated off into one of the most wonderful nights i've had in quite a while:



{ self-made floral crown, theyskens theory dress, badgley mischka shoes }

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click here to see some party pics, and remember to also click here to enter kanon's epic summer sweepstakes!!

{ a midsummer day's dream }

{ self-made flower crown, kelly framel earrings (coming very soon!), vintage gown via shrimpton couture, tiffany + vintage bracelets }

this week marks both the summer solstice (which officially kicks off the season) and also the celebration of midsummer ~ a largely northern european tradition that, while not as common a custom in the states, still makes for a wonderful excuse to party! CLICK HERE to learn more about midsummer and enter to win some pretty ridiculous prizes (including pamela love jewelry, bobbi brown makeup, and a 3.1 philip lim bag!!).

{ glamourai giveaway } how does $500 sound?

since announcing my guest editorship over at beso, i've only added (and added!) to my favorites list. beso is honestly one of my most-frequented shopping spots, and 'favoriting' is such an easy trick for keeping track of all the things i want online.

to get you one step closer to whatever you're currently coveting, beso and i are teaming up to give away a $500 credit towards your favorite things. to enter to win, all you have to do is:

1. create a beso account, if you haven't already (it takes 3 seconds and is a fun and addictive way to stalk all the things you want/need/love).
2. browse the site and 'favorite' (click on the gray heart next to any product and watch it light up) at least 10 items; you can even favorite your most-loved shops by clicking here.
3. then, leave me a comment with your beso username, so i can check out your faves and also alert you if (when!) you win.

pictured in this post are three of my most-favorite 'favorites' ~ karen walker sunnies (does anyone do it better than her?!), work-with-anything alexander wang shoes (totally bought em, totally love em), and cool thakoon shorts that offer a nice alternative to the chevron pair i constantly wear. you can view my complete collection HERE or HERE.

{ beso chic }

if you've ever clicked on the product credits in my posts, you've probably noticed i use beso.com as my preferred shopping portal. for a blogger trying to link up lots of products quickly (like myself!), it's a serious time saver. better yet, for an ardent online shopper (again, that's me!! and probably you too?), it makes simultaneously browsing lots of categories, stores, and brands a breeze.

anytime i'm looking for something super-specific (like animalistic apartment accessories), beso is the first place i check ~ and that's why i'm excited to be guest-editing their site for the month of june!

my good friend emily (of cupcakes and cashmere fame) is their style director, joanna (from a cup of jo) is their babies & kids editor ~ and i am proud to be the first in this new guest series. to kick it off, i've selected my favorite finds in fashion, beauty and home decor ~ preview a few below, and check them all out HERE!!

{ vote on }

just wanted to remind you all to keep voting for which handle design should go into production for schick intuition naturals' 2012 limited edition razor. every time you vote you'll be entered to win one of my three summer essentials prize packs, so why not vote every day till friday!? i for one can't wait to see which razor (and readers!) will win!

{ the glamourai } for schick

today i am so excited to tell you all about my latest collaboration (and most unique creative challenge to date): the glamourai for schick intuition!!

a few months ago, schick approached me about designing limited edition skins for their super-luxe intuition naturals razor. at first, i feared this was too far outside of my purview ~ i am certainly comfortable designing clothes and accessories, but product design on this scale is another story entirely. then, i remembered an inspirational quote from olivier theyskens, who said (of his move from luxury houses like rochas and nina ricci to the far more affordable theory), that he felt capable of designing anything from a glass to a cellphone. i thought (with arguably unearned arrogance): well then, so can i! from there, it occurred to me that nearly every person who reads this blog probably uses a razor ~ and wouldn't we all like to have the prettiest one possible? that's when i started getting really excited about this endeavor, accepted schick's challenge, and got right to work.
{ above: the glamourai for schick intuition naturals // from left to right: le love, le plume & le fleur }

i loved the curvaceous shape of the intuition razor ~ it reminded me of the fluid lines of art nouveau, as seen through a pop-art lens. so i dug into my library and pulled out my favorite biba book. after all, biba set the standard for pop nouveau in the sixites and seventies, blending fashion, decor, and bold product design to create an all-encompassing lifestyle juggernaut ~ and i think their attitude and aesthetic are still as fresh as ever.

my inspirational starting place established, i holed myself up in the studio and sketched my way through an entire night, coming up with dozens of ideas by sunrise. i couldn't believe how much fun i was having, imagining ways to fill the razor's hourglass shape with color and pattern and drama!! i wore out several pens (and fingers!) in the process, in the end submitting my top 12 favorites to my friends at schick, who in turn selected their top 3:

now i want to hear what YOU think! head over to schick intuition's facebook page to let us know which design you like best (voting will remain open until friday, may 27th). the winning style will be put into production for spring 2012 ~ then sold in thousands of shops around the world!

best of all, everyone who votes will be entered to win one of three prize packs, containing my personally selected summer essentials: a diane von furstenburg beach tote, missoni towel, karen walker sunnies (the same style i wore HERE), versace silk scarf (wear it as a turban!), and schick intuition naturals razor. bonne chance everybody ~ i can't wait to see which one wins!!

{ bvlgari } save the children

{ eryn brinie dress & bulgari ring }

today i'm pleased to be teaming up with bulgari, proudly wearing their iconic save the children ring. save the children aims to resolve the ongoing struggles children face every day — replacing poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease with hope for the future. this sterling silver and black ceramic band is the physical symbol of bulgari's commitment to their cause, of their devotion to providing quality education to the world's neediest children. it's available HERE, with $75 of each sale going directly to this worthy mission.

it is an honor to help spread awareness for their endeavor, and a joy to do so alongside many of my own favorite editors and bloggers, as seen in this photo gallery. if you'd like to learn more about save the children, including ways that you can get involved directly, please click here.

{ lipstick diaries }

recently, i collaborated on a day-in-the-life-style fashion story with refinery29 and dior, as part of their 'lipstick diaries' series (previous subjects include aimee song & louise roe). check out the resulting photos below, and a few more HERE. big thanks to dan mcmahon for the pics, and everyone else who made this day so much fun!!


{ wearing above: kelly framel leather loop earrings, dior addict lipstick in perfecto 991, 1930's vintage gown (last seen HERE), stuart weitzman boots }



{ wearing above: vintage anne klein earrings, dior addict lipstick in paris 762, l'ecole des femmes trench (last seen HERE), forever21 t-shirt, vintage chanel belt, vintage circle skirt (last seen HERE), kate spade shoes }


{ wearing above: dior addict lipstick in miami 635, steven alan jacket, catbird necklace (last seen HERE), rubber ducky dress (last seen HERE) }

{ south by south W }

as i mentioned HERE, i'm currently in austin, texas for sxsw. knowing that this is my hometown, my friends from the w hotels asked if i'd like to host a brunch here for some of the city's style cognoscenti (including my dear friend marie ely, who sweetly agreed to appear with me in this post). of course i said yes!!

this get-together kicked off the w's own three-day music series, and also paid tribute to their global glam collection (which is curated by fashion director amanda ross, and sold exclusively in the hotel's boutiques). i love getting to work with the w hotel team, as we share the same passions for luxurious interior design, great food, fashion, and travel! and i believe their brand-new austin outpost may just be their coolest location yet.

austin's idiosyncratic style has had such an influence on my own aesthetic, and it means a lot to me to be able to come back here and do even a little bit to support its ever-expanding fashion scene. the brunch we held was delicious, delightful, and attended by the best local fashion bloggers, magazine editors, and two of the w's global glam designers, shaesby scott and catherine nicole.

as soon as we finished our feast, the group decamped to the jaw-dropping pool area to sip on champagne and snack on strawberries ~ which is when marie and i snuck off into a cabana and launched this impromptu photo shoot!

{ marie wore: vintage hat, kelly framel necklace, vintage chiffon dress (from feathers, one of our favorite hometown stores), american apparel lace dress, topshop shoes // i wore: kelly framel caramel crystal earrings, vintage oscar de la renta sweater, vintage 1930's tea dress and vintage alexis kirk belt (all from feathers), l.a.m.b. shoes & OPI's 'i want to be a lone star' nail polish ~ a subtle tribute to my home state! }

{ we have a winner } rebecca minkoff kicks

thank you so much to everyone who participated in last week's rebecca minkoff x shopbop giveaway! i'm excited to finally announce that we have a winner; please join me in congratulating victoria knight ~ who will be taking home the strut pumps in nude!!

{ glamourai giveaway } rebecca minkoff x shopbop

{ gifted elizabeth & james cat-eye sunnies, assorted jewels (including kelly framel teardrop talon necklace), primary | new york f/w 2011 leather jacket, forever21 cardi, free people slipdress, michael kors watch, gifted rebecca minkoff classic clutch and femme fatale shoes }

this week, i'm excited to be partnering with designer rebecca minkoff (who is celebrating the debut of her first-ever shoe collection on shopbop.com), to gift one lucky reader with the shoes of her choice!! to enter, hop over to the shop, pick out your favorite style, then let us know which one you most love by filling out this entry form. and voila! you're on your way to winning that pair. the results will be announced next monday; bonne chance mes amies!
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UPDATE 03.07.11: this contest is now closed. thanks to everyone who participated! XOK

{ a stylish staycation }

this season for fashion week, the w hotels generously offered me a room in their union square location (smack dab in the middle of nyc), to more conveniently bounce around town to my many shows, meetings and parties.

i figured it would make for a fun mini-retreat ~ but underestimated just how much i would appreciate having a centralized changing room all week long (not to mention maid service and other ammenities!!).

in a week where i'm simply too busy to take proper care of myself (or make sure there's food in the fridge!), being coddled by an uber-comfy hotel (with an extensive menu of delicious room service options) has been a lifesaver. i owe them a very, very big thank you!

these photos were taken in their glamorous, garden-party-ready bar (aka my week-long meeting room), which happened to perfectly match these fun, floral palazzo pants. what stylistic serendipity!

{ tom ford 'anouk' sunnies (seen in 2nd pic), vintage boy's blazer, club monaco blouse (last seen HERE), gifted modcloth pants (i was lusting after them HERE), prada shoes (seen in better detail HERE), michael kors watch, vintage rings }
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for more info on the w hotels' hip happenings this season, including inside scoop on their fashion insiders (like designers frank tell and michael angel ~ plus their fab fashion director amanda ross), CLICK HERE.