Leeetle Lanvin



Those who know me well realize that my obsession with Lanvin is neither healthy nor financially sound. So, with Alber Elbaz's debut Lanvin Petite Collection, I have seriously gone into a tailspin. My MO pertaining to Lanvin has always been, " I have 4 1/2 months to save so that when X piece hits the stores, this will be my seasonal splurge." But now what? Splurge whilst knowing that my daughter will have to do without her own Lanvin trench? What kind of mother would indulge upon herself before her child? Ok, hopefully everyone realizes that I AM being facetious (kind of), but you may find yourself stowing away twice the amount of stash cash once you see what I'm talking about.
No, there is nothing petite about the cost of Lanvin Petite. Dresses will run just under $1,000. Crazy or just too precious to resist?





Late to the Party

So I found these amazing Hunter boots for my client Amy. Now, I'm normally not a huge Hunter boot fan (a bit bland and generic for my liking), but Amy needed boots and I happened to come across these beauties by chance. By the time I decided I needed a pair in my life as well, they were SOLD OUT! At least here in U.S.
Anyone taking a trip to London anytime soon?

Summer Check List

So after a much needed month long hiatus, I'm back feeling energized and full of inspiration! Just in time... Today I feel that slight stickiness in the air that tells me summer is, indeed, right around the corner.
Well, bring it on - Right after I buy these summer essentials.



These j. crew calf hair leopard print sandals are all the accessory
you'll need for a simple sundress or denim cut offs.



The perfect maxidress - wear this Calypso dress with tons of pearls
to a summer wedding or with flat sandals to a beach barbeque.



Hands down the best denim cut-offs EVER!!!
Not too short for the over 35 crowd. Thank you, Current Elliot.




Channel your inner Bianca Jagger with this white suit from
3.1 Phillip Lim. Sexy alternative to a sundress. 




These Belle peep toe booties are as versatile a shoe as they come.
Wear back to sundresses, shorts and full skirts.



A new classic from The Row. I'm loving the subtle
cream and black tortoise print.
tortoise



Dare to wear your cutest shoes in the rain this summer!
These Valentino jellies are bound to be your "go to" flip-flop.

Go nude at the beach? Absolutely! Tomas Meier's nude maillot
will make you irresistable!



 

Baking in the sun is bad. Say it again...Well, thank God for La Prairie's
new self- tanner. Sun kissed without a hint of Oompa Loompa.





Coachella



Based on all the Facebook status updates I've read today, looks like most of my LA friends are either headed to or are already at Coachella. Now for those of you who are in their 40's and have no clue what I'm talking about, Coachella is an annual 3 day music festival that takes place in Indio, California. Couple notes about Indio - it's hot as hell during the day and freezing cold when the sun goes down. And unless you have a VIP pass that allows all access (air-conditioned areas and real bathrooms), you are really in for some primitive conditions.
Some of the headliners in past years have included Madonna, Jay Z, Prince, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine and Paul McCartney. But better than the performers - the people watching is AMAZING. Whether you're star-gazing or fashion-stalking, it's a feast for your eyes.

2 PYT's sporting the Coachella uniform



Alessandra Ambrosia in sweet sundress and
must-have festival boots.




Camilla Belle dressed perfectly for the heat.




Diana Kruger always manages to look perfectly put
together for all occasions. This is no exception.




Neon pink - fashion knows no boundaries.
This fashionista imported it all the way to Indio.



Lauren Hill in my favorite spring Jil Sander striped maxi dress.



Emma Roberts in denim cut-offs - aka the Coachella uniform.






Whitney Port in ankle boots and crochet.



Coachella fixture, Nicole Richie, in her signature look.



The Perfect Ballet Flat

I pride myself on being a "ballet flat" connoisseur, if you will. Contrary to popular belief, they are not all created equal. In fact, there is such a disparaging difference in fit from designer to designer, that some friends and clients who once swore off this classic gem became converts after switching to the right brand.
Now those who personally know me, know that I have a penchant for Lanvin so you can either skip the rest of the post OR glance down lovingly at your happy, Lanvin clad feet and thank me (or curse me) for bringing these jewels into your life. These are, of course, my favorite.
Not only do they come in a variety of colors and skins, they are by far, the most comfortable ballet flat I've ever worn. Those of you with wider feet will especially appreciate the ever so slightly wider footbed and the super soft leather that stretches to mold to your feet in just a couple days.
So, that's the good news...The not so good news is that they're a splurge. But I still maintain that price per wear, they're a bargain. Think of all those sample sale purchases in your closet that you've worn MAYBE twice but couldn't pass up for $75.00 a pop. More is not always more, it just adds up to more money wasted.


Lanvin Ballet Flat  $495.00





 I DO realize that $500 is a lot of money and that it is just not feasible for everybody SO...
Second favorite is Repetto. Again, great for a regular width foot but pretty on a wider foot as well.
These also come in a million variations and colors as displayed on their website:
http://www.repetto.fr/boutique/chaussures/femme/ballerines.html
They run about half the price of Lanvin's flats and wear beautifully!



Repetto Ballet Flat  $260.00 Available @ Saks.





Then there's tried and true, J.Crew. Absolutely nothing wrong with their ballets if you have narrow to normal width feet. Great pricepoint, quality product. However, if you DO have wider feet, they tend to look a bit "squished" and the toe cleavage thing reminds me of boobs in a corset. But again, not everyone has my fat feet and for those of you skinny feet bitches gals out there, they always have them in super fashionable textiles and skins. Plus, they do great novelty ballerinas, like these:





J.Crew Triple Strap Ballerina  $175.00





On the Other Side

Photo: Sue Barr

                                                                                
Years ago, in my prior life as a stylist, I knew my place - It was BEHIND the photographer, or director. If a model/actor's wardrobe was out of sorts, they'd glance at me and in between shots I'd rush in and fix the offending article and jump out.
So, needless to say, when I sat as the SUBJECT for brilliant photographer and friend, Sue Barr, on Thursday, I felt completely like a fish out of water. However, as I was primarily responsible for this shoot, I tried to keep the complaints at a minimum. Let's backtrack and I'll give you the lowdown...
Sometime about a month ago I was told that I needed a headshot for my blog because people like to associate words and pictures with a REAL person NOT a personae. OK, fair enough, makes sense. However, I happen to be a person that HATES to have her picture taken. HATES as in I cringe whenever someone points a camera in my direction. Granted, since having children, I've gotten much better for fear that they, too, will develop my photophobia.
Anyhow, I make a mental note to reach out to Sue, who has been trying to get me to shoot with her for her blog Suburban Bliss. Now, I love Sue, but given that I barely let Cooper point his iphone in my direction without ducking, she'd have a better chance at having Michelle Obama sit for her. But back to the story...
On one of her frequent visits to 4B, I casually mention that I need a headshot - JUST a headshot - but telling that to a photographer who in her past life also happened to be the most sought after wardrobe stylist in the 80's - this does not compute. Immediately her head is swimming with visions of Jane Fonda in Klute - Ummm, hotpants? GTFO. My hotpant days died a graceful death with the birth of my 1st child. How about something more dignified? Something George Hurrell-esque? I'm thinking Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth... but wait... what AM I thinking? I need a simple headshot. Me, sitting with my tea, smiling "cheese" into the camera. But it's too late. Sue Hurrell is already producing the shoot. She's coordinating with our friend Christine, owner of Salon Concrete to come to the store where we'd shoot this puppy in a 5' x 5' space outside the dressing rooms.
Thursday morning arrives way too soon. I dig through some old vintage pieces I've tucked away in a remote corner of the house and head off the get make-up done. Which brings me to another point. I don't wear make-up. Well, I wear lipstick - but beauty products, aside from moisturizers and anti-aging serums, are not my thing. So, as I stand looking at my reflection, with eyelashes protuding from my lids like giant spiders and eye shadow painted on my brow bone like a Julian Schnabel canvas, I start to cry. I look like a clown. but I force myself to stop crying because I'm ruining my clown face.
Christine shows up at 1:30 and reassures me that I do not resemble anyone from the Bozo family and gets started on my overgrown mane - of which she promptly chops off 5". I feel better. The trim alone makes this worth it. She and her assistant Rachel attack my head 1 section at a time - spray, curl, pin, spray, curl, pin...
The end result was pretty phenomenal, as you'll see...
Sue comes in with her assistant, Kyle, and they drag out my antique French settee stored in my stockroom (remant from LA but no space for it at home) and set up a makeshift liliputian soundstage.
OK, we're ready to shoot. I'm in a vintage silk slip with my favorite bra. Where is my shot of whiskey? What, nothing to dull the pain? Oh Gawwwd....Here we go....
So, as you can see, Sue and Christine are GENIUSES!
Thank you to Rachel and Kyle for dealing with my neuroses. Definitely check out sue's blog to see more of this shoot as well as her Suburban Bliss series and Christine's salon if you are in the Red Bank area.

Oh, by the way, Sue DID shoot a smiley headshot for me. Who knows if I'll ever see them as I think she has an aversion to "happy" shots. Artists...


Photo: Sue Barr




Photo: Sue Barr

Update: Sue came through with the smiley headshots...



In the Trenches

Ahhh Spring! Birds are chirping, cherry blossoms are blooming and I am dying to pack away all the super-chunky sweaters and puffy coats that take up so much space in the closet. The plan? Replace them with 1 item - the perfect trench coat. Sounds impossible, right? Actually, it's not as crazy as it sounds. My spring wardrobe consists of silk shirtdresses, high waisted jeans, pencil skirts, georgette blouses/tops, t-shirts and lightweight pull-over sweaters and cardigans. I'm good with leather jackets, so the one thing I'll splurge on this year is a trench coat - not in khaki or black. These are my favorite options, thus far...



This is my first choice. Tried it on at the Lanvin boutique on Madison Ave.
Sadly for me but fortunately for Cooper, they did not have my size.





2nd favorite is, surprise surprise, Lanvin, again.
Barney's has this pretty little number with my name all over it!



Thought the color of this DVF trench would work perfectly
with navys, corals and mustards.



Stripes are always a favorite. Here, Alexander McQueen reinterprets a
traditional zebra stripe. 



This pretty little Derek Lam trench has the sweetest peplum detail in the back.
You almost want to twirl around in this.




Elsa Schiaparelli would be proud in this "shocking pink"
Burberry coat.




I love the idea of wearing this day to evening. Plus the color of this
Burberry trench is just to die for!





Hermes Sale



I spent the day in NYC yesterday with my East Coast Bestie, Tammy. We had planned on hitting up the Hermes sale so we geared up in full winter regalia to brave what would surely be at least a 2 hour wait in line. Of course, the day turned out to be one of the ugliest of the year. What started off as a drizzly, overcast morning soon became a downpour with raindrops that morphed into huge chunky flakes of snow. So as we walk out of Penn Station we can spy the line from across the street - or rather, the first portion of the line. By the time we reach the tail end ( up a long block and around the corner ), I was already cold, wet and calculating in my head that it would take appoximately 6 1/2 hours to gain entry.
Perhaps back in the day, when my legs were sturdier, my spirit fiestier and my bladder, well, you know...I may have approached this situation as a challenge fit to be conquered, but on this freezing early spring morning, I had to ask myself - Ok, Mimi, what the hell do you want so badly that you are willing to lose feeling in every appendage so that you can have it for 50% off? Being the sunny California native that I am, the answer was, of course, NOTHING.
BUT, I was not here alone. Tammy IS one of those gals that gets what she wants. In fact, she made it her mission to get my oldest son the "IMPOSSIBLE TO GET" toy one Christmas by braving a monsoon at 5 AM and camping out with a sleep deprived mob of parents at Toys R Us.
So I say to her, "This is insane! How committed are you to this event? Because if you want to wait, I'm in it."
Thank God I only choose rational women to befriend because she looked at me and said, "I don't need anything THAT badly." Hallelujah! FREE! We jump into a cab and hit Lanvin, Barneys, and Tammy's incredible jeweller, Mimi So. We even eat hotdogs off of a cart since neither one of our hubbys will allow it when we are with them. They are adamant that you will DIE if you eat anything from a street vendor.
As we race to Penn Station to catch the train back to NJ, we dream of Lanvin evening gowns, color-blocked shoes, horn cuffs, brown diamonds, and sparkly t-shirts. And vow to buy each other everything off of our wish lists should we win the Mega-Millions (does this fall under philanthropy?).
Oh happy, happy day!
Darn! Why didn't we take pictures?! Ah well, the next Hermes sale is in September... 

Spring Things

Ok, with 70 degrees predicted for Friday, it's officially time to get the Spring wardrobe together. After a major closet overhaul with all the "sorta/kindas" going in a bag to be donated, I've got a few empty hangers and about 4 inches of folding space to add some new pieces.

I WANT soooo much, but really need very little. Spring on the East Coast is over in the blink of an eye and I'd rather save my money and splurge on a few amazing pieces I spied on the runways for Fall '11. 

So here is what I'm doing for my Spring add ons:

                                  

I'll probably wear these J Brand Bette jeans every other day.
They may be the only jean I wear all spring.



These abstract leopard cargoes from Zara were too fun to pass up.
I'll wear these with all my American Vintage tees.




This Alexander Wang skirt is an alternative to my black
Leger that I've worn to death - plus the color is more "Springy."




You should always have a few novelty tees in your closet to
keep your wardrobe current. This one from Helmut Lang is a keeper.





Love this easy chambray dress from Zara. I could wear this
today layered with a long sleeve tee, blazer, tights and booties. 



I want to wear this Shiplet & Halmos silk tee tucked into my
Bette jeans or a brighly colored pencil skirt.



Ok, so I bought this DVF top because it looked really good with the
Alexander Wang skirt. but I'll also throw it on with my white sailor
pants and back to a fuschia pleated skirt.





Great for work - Edme & Esyllte skirt. Bought this to
wear with my Marni colorblock heels.



Fun little skirt from Fei. Cheap and cheerful -
couldn't walk away from this one. 



This 3.1 Philip Lim sweater will replace my favorite American Vintage
sweatshirt. I love the pleat detail in the back!



These Pelle Moda wedges are a no brainer at under $200.



So here's the Mac Daddy splurge. I LOVE these Zanotti wedges.
And at $1100.00 I'm committed to wearing them 24/7.



 Note: I have decided to pass on the Givenchy wedges even though I think they are quite marvelous. I've opted to keep the more budget-friendly version from Pelle Moda. I will be donating the difference saved to The Japan Society's Disaster Relief Fund:  https://www.japansociety.org/japan_earthquake_relief_fund .

       I urge you all to make a small sacrifice and give what you can. Every dollar makes a difference.