Paris Fashion Week Fall 2014: Top Looks from Days One, Two & Three

We've reached the last leg of fashion month! I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. There are so many shows and looks, and I think I've reached visual sensory overload. Luckily, they've saved the best for last, as nothing beats Paris Fashion Week. These are my favorite looks from the past three days.

Lanvin

Nina Ricci

Milan Fashion Week Fall 2014: Top Picks for Days Four & Five

The last few shows from Milan wrapped up earlier this week and I really enjoyed what I saw. Dolce & Gabbana was amazing (as usual), but my favorite looks were the floral print dresses. I was actually surprised by how much I was liking the prints in Milan, as I usually don't go for them. The prints from Stella Jean were also favorites.

Bally opted to feature a look-book rather than a show, but a lack of a big production took nothing away from the amazing clothes. The collection contained tons of updated, classic pieces that can easily be mixed and matched.

These are my favorite looks from days four and five of Milan Fashion Week:

Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana

Street Chic: Milan Fashion Week Fall 2014

 Despite some rain, the street style in Milan has been fantastic. I would expect nothing less from the Italians. The slightly warmer temperatures had many of the ladies seizing the opportunity to break out some of the pieces from the Spring 2014 collections, which is always nice to see. These are some of my favorite street style looks from Milan Fashion Week:

Friends & Family Sale at Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown's Friends & Family sale started this morning! Now through February 28, all orders will automatically receive 20% off at checkout, with no special code needed. Additionally, when you spend $65 you will get free shipping.

I have to say that I personally love Bobbi Brown makeup products and feel that the quality justifies the expensive-ish price tag. I can never rid myself of tired eyes, but Bobbi's famous concealer duo has always done the trick. I think the secret is the ability to blend the two shades to get just the right match. 

Along with concealer, these items are on my stock up list:

Shimmer Brick Compact

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: It's a Choice

Milan Fashion Week Fall 2014: Top Picks from Days Three & Four

I was super surprised by what I saw on days three and four of Milan Fashion Week because I found myself really loving collections from designers that aren't usually on my must-see list. 

I am absolutely crazy about what I saw from Roberto Cavalli. I loved the fringe detail on the bottom of the dresses and the great use of accessories. The long necklaces where fantastic and I though the use of fur suited the clothes beautifully. I use to think that Cavalli was a bit too rocker chick for my taste, but I stand corrected after seeing this collection. 

I also really enjoyed what I saw at Emilio Pucci. The knit sweaters and jackets will be perfect for a casual-chic cold weather outfit and the beaded details on dresses were fantastic. I have always appreciated the craftsmanship that goes into Pucci pieces, but the details I saw in this collection took my appreciation to a whole new level. 

I think the best thing about fashion is that it always surprises you. Each season I have a preconceived notion about what collections I will like and not like, and every season I am proved completely wrong. And I couldn't be more happy about that! These are my top picks from days three and four:

Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli

Hey, Did You Hear...

The fashion on House of Cards has slipped in season two. Find out why - Fashionista

Roberto Cavalli is accusing Michael Kors of copying his designs - Vogue UK

The theme of Moschino's Fall 2014 collection: fast food - New York Times

Pharrell's infamous Grammy hat is up for auction - Vogue

Is the Duchess of Cambridge changing her trademark hair style? - The Telegraph

Happy Saturday!

Milan Fashion Week Fall 2014: Top Picks from Days One and Two

And we're on to Milan! I feel like Fashion Month has been flying by, and I must admit, it's been tough to keep up. Full time jobs and fashion month don't always go so well together.


I found myself really loving some shows (hello Gucci) and others not so much (I'm talking to you, Moschino). Oh well, you can't love them all. These are my top picks from the first part of Milan Fashion Week.


Gucci

Gucci

LFW Fall 2014: Top Picks for Days Four & Five

Apologies for the delay in posting my top picks from the second half of London Fashion Week. I know that we're in full-on Milan fashion mode, (more on that tomorrow) but I just couldn't not share these amazing looks. Enjoy!

Tom Ford

Tom Ford

Thursday Night Cocktail: Rum Lemonade

Recipe and Image via Bobby Flay and the Food Network

With three snow storms in less than two weeks, I am more than over this winter. To distract myself from the snow, I have switched gears and started to look ahead to spring. Spring sandals, spring dresses, spring vacation and apparently spring drinks. We've been drinking buttered rum and mulled wine all winter and it's time for something more refreshing. I think this simple rum lemonade drink will do the trick. 

Is it too early to buy spring sandals?

Ummm, no! I've been thinking about spring sandals since they started marking down the boots after Christmas. It also doesn't help that the tweet peeps at Jack Rogers are always sharing photos of their new Navajo colors. But seriously, if you don't follow them on Twitter, you really should. They bring a little Palm Beach to all their followers, no matter how cold it is outside. 

OK, back to my picks for new spring sandal options.

Heels

Clockwise from the left
Manya Heel from Coach // Charlize Sandal from Pour la Victoire

Jana Sandal from Charles by Charles David // Agnes Sandal from L.K. Bennett

Street Chic: London Fashion Week Fall 2014

Keeping with last week's post on New York Fashion Week street style, these are my favorite looks from the first few days of London Fashion Week. 

LFW Fall 2014: Top Picks for Days One, Two & Three

Fashion month has traveled across the pond to continue in lovely London. These are my top picks from the first three days of shows.

Matthew Williamson

Vivienne Westwood Red Label 

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Think In Couture

Preppy Food Experiment: Blueberry Scones

A little while back I wrote a post discussing the concept of "preppy food" and if it was good or bad. I had never considered preppy or Waspy food to be anything to write home about, but I recently came across a cookbook, aptly titled The Preppy Cookbook, and decided to check it out. 

First up on my preppy cooking experiment: a classic scone to enjoy with a cup of tea in the afternoon.

Hey, Did You Hear...

Kendall Jenner beat her sister Kim to Vogue - Huffington Post

Chanel's next cruise collection will be shown in Dubai - Fashionista

What to wear when the Fashion Week weather doesn't cooperate - New York Times

32 Great Author Quotes On Fashion - Refinery 29

Phoebe Philo is designing clothes for the quiet fashion girl - T magazine

Happy Saturday!!

NYFW Fall 2014: Top Picks of Days Six, Seven & Eight

Another three days of amazing fashion packed into one post. I know who I want my Valentine to be...Mr. de la Renta! Such an amazing collection. I would feature it all, but then that might be too much. Who am I kidding...there is no such thing as too much, especially when it comes to fashion.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren

Hey, Check This Out: Drybar Chestnut Hill

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of attending an event at the brand new Drybar in Chestnut Hill,  organized by the lovely ladies at Boston Bloggers. After a long week is was so nice to unwind and get pampered. They had tons of snacks and beverages for us and the staff at Drybar couldn't have been nicer. Keep reading for more details!

 The Blowouts

Thursday Night Cocktail: Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail

Image and Recipe via The Food Network

With Valentine's Day tomorrow this seemed like a fitting choice for this week's cocktail. Celebrating Valentine's Day is lovely, but the crowded restaurants and overpriced prix fixe menus can be a little bit too much for some people. If you made the wise decision to celebrate at home this year, pop open a bottle of bubbly and enjoy a couple of these.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon fresh pomegranate arils
4 ounces Champagne
1/2 teaspoon store bought pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon cassis

Directions

Place fresh pomegranate arils into a Champagne flute. Pour Champagne into flute, add pomegranate juice and cassis.

Cheers! I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with champagne and chocolate.

NYFW Fall 2014: Days Three, Four & Five

I've been a bit of a neglectful fashion week blogger so I have three days worth of my favorite looks packed into one post. Yes, I realize that is quite a lot of fashion, but trust me, it's all amazing! Especially the looks from Carolina Herrera and Zac Posen. Enjoy!

Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera

Street Chic: Fall 2014 NYFW

Street style doesn't get much better then New York Fashion Week, and the lovely ladies attending the Fall 2014 shows have not disappointed. These are my favorite street style looks from the first half of NYFW. 

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Stop Comparing

NYFW Fall 2014: Days One & Two Top Picks

New York Fashion Week has officially started! I have been following the shows via Style.com and I hope to provide updates on all the best looks every couple of days, if not everyday. These are my top picks from days one and two.

Rachel Roy

Rachel Roy

Hey, Did You Hear...

Gisele Bundchen is on the cover of Porter's first issue - Wall Street Journal

Michael Kors is officially a billionaire - New York Times

Coach is taking things in a whole new direction - Fashionista 

Alexander Wang is taking Fashion Week to Brooklyn - Elle

Changes are coming at Marc Jacobs - New York Magazine

Thursday Night Cocktail: Chocolate-Espresso Martini

Normally I shy away from chocolaty cocktails, but with Valentine's Day around the corner, I figured what the heck. 

Recipe & Image via Giada De Laurentiis at The Food Network

Ingredients

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

2/3 cup brewed espresso, chilled

2/3 cup Kahlua

2/3 cup vanilla-flavored vodka

Ice

Cocktail tools: cocktail shaker

Directions

Combine the chocolate and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl and microwave in 20 second increments until the chocolate is melted. Give it a quick mix to fully combine the chocolate and the water. Set aside to cool slightly.

Dip the rims of 4 martini glasses into the melted chocolate and chill the glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes.

In a pitcher, mix together the espresso, Kahlua and vodka. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. In batches, add the vodka mixture and shake for 10 seconds. Strain the mixture into the chilled glasses and serve.

Cheers!!

Valentine's Day Sweets

Truth be told, I find Valentine's Day to be slightly overrated (OK, really overrated), but the one thing that I do enjoy are the abundance of cookies, cake and candy available to sample.

I'll be using this classic linzer cookie recipe from Alex Guarnaschelli at the Food Network for a work party the day before Valentine's Day. If raspberry jam isn't your favorite, you can always sub in another one. 

Obviously, linzer cookies are just the tip of the Valentine's Day iceberg. Check out these other great recipes I found. 

Street Chic: Eva Mendes

What attracts me to Eva Mendes' personal style is the fact that her outfits have a distinct retro feel to them without being too retro in the literal sense. Her choices of day dresses, wide leg pants, hair bandanas, and high-waisted skirts echo popular styles seen in the 50's and 60's but it doesn't appear as if she is in some sort of costume.

The great Edith Head once said "Your dresses should be tight enough to show you're a woman, and loose enough to show you're a lady," and Eva pulls that off beautifully. She always looks gorgeous and attractive but she also always looks like a lady, which is quite an anomaly these days. 

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Chase Your Dreams

Hey, Did You Hear...

How Lady Edith Crawley went from drab to fab - New York Times

Rachel Zoe won't be showing at New York Fashion Week this year - Fashionista

Fashion critic Cathy Horyn is retiring - New York Times

The CFDA has launched an app for Fashion Week - DIY Fashion

Get a sneak peak of what to expect at the Fall 2014 shows - The Fashion Spot

Happy Saturday!!