What's Your Favorite of 2011?

Although we all definitely have our own opinions of what "fashion" means to us and which one we love the best, can you think of your favorite designer or design from this last season?
From the runways of 2011, with the gorgeous bright colors and lovely drapes and folds, we have moved into the trends of spring 2012.

I will be saying goodbye to some of my favorites. However, this only makes room for more items in my closet, and don't we all need to add to our wardrobe?

I loved the bright green in this Akris jacket, Akris Spring Collection 2011.

The classic black and white of Chanel Fall 2011 RTW was AMAZING.

Celine Fall 2011 showing off the wonderful throwback of the 20's.

Christian Cota and his wonderful mix of the use of the wide graceful draped pant and the beauty of texture.

Christian and I after a long day. He's a nice guy and I am very proud of his success!

This is a fun one! I love this Miu Miu Fall 2011 which seems to mix the 40's with the 80's - it's all rolled into one. So if you love history and fashion this one is for you!

I love the classics with Valentino.

I will wrap this up with one of my all time best friends and favorite designers and well known award winning blogger, my dear friend Anne Agoren, with husband Izzet and myself in Manhattan. (http://izzibag.com/,  https://twitter.com/izzibag,  Love you, Anne!)

No matter what your fashion tastes, this last year was a great year of many brights, fun patterns and fabric textures full of feathers and fur. Enjoy what you have of 2011 but get your closet ready for 2012.

Blessings!

New Year Resolution 2012: Are You Battling the Holiday Bulge?

Happy New Year!

If you are like most people around the world, this holiday season brings on additional weight that can be SO hard to get rid of.
Here are some tips to get rid of those extra ten pounds or the holiday 4.5 K.

A really FUN way to get rid of the extra weight is on the X-Box 360 with Kinect. Kinect has Zoomba Fitness and various martial arts games, fitness games, and interactive challenging games that burn calories and shape your body in a really fun and creative way.




I recommend the total butt kicker game YOUR SHAPE Fitness Evolved 2012. The Kinect actually tracks every movement, which means you cannot cheat easily on your workout. Amazingly I was totally surprised and elated to find a work out game that actually made me totally sore and sincerely challenged my abilities.



If you don't have time for the gym or a work out because of too many college courses or long work hours here are a few tips that are easy to add into your normal day:

1. Park your car in the farthest parking spot to burn extra calories going on your errands.

2. While getting ready in the morning do mini-push ups on the counter or squats as you are getting dressed or cooking.

3. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, it will burn extra calories and tone your legs and butt.

4. Walk or bike instead of taking the car. This not only is great for your body, but it is also eco-friendly and saves money on gas, which has become astronomical for your pocket-book.

5. Volunteer at a local establishment to organize or help build homes for the homeless such as Habitat for Humanity, http://www.habitat.org.





Another sweet way to burn calories and help others is to do yard work for the elderly. Volunteering not only burns up calories with the busy work, but you are helping others and in turn you get an inner boost as well.



My New Years resolution is to not only get into shape but to look into helping others as well.

Good luck and many blessings with whatever it is YOU choose to look great and feel better from the inside out.

I just got my website finished up! Take a look and let me know what you think...

Michael Kors has a wonderful selection of "season-less" designs for his fans around the world. One fan of note is Michelle Obama who loves the Kors design-wear. Could it be that these designs are reflecting her choices in bare arms? Hmmm... something to think about.

The use of the ruffled skits repeated throughout his selection as well as his feminine touches in every design make this season a must have for every female. There are fur embellishments, classic looks, gorgeous reds, yellows, and the ever neutral and accessible black. (Did I say spice colors?)

I especially loved his use of the very feminine fabrics, leather, the use of fur, as well as Kors also highlights the lovely transparent fabrics that are so seen for this season.

Very easily Kors designs can be in or out of the office.
This is one MUST see to appreciate for Fall 2010!

Happy Holidays!
Susan

All I can say is WOW - Chanel!

Wow. Quite sincerely!
Very few times in my life does my heart start to race and my pulse quicken when I see a designers line. Was it the pizza or too many cups of coffee? I hope not... because I LOVE the Chanel Pre-Fall 2010!!!

What a mix of what Chanel has been... classic historical style with the new look of the NOW. Gorgeous textiles and embellishments whilst mixing in the PERFECT amount of what is the future of fashion (can you say Asia?). How much more can that be spelled out but with Chanel taking control with this amazing mix of quite literally, Shanghai (as seen in the background) in their December 3rd show, within this season's mix of clothing.
Where else have we seen the" transparents" in the most modest way possible (can you believe it?), leather skinny's, and thigh high boots.. and yet... YET we still have the very strong Chanel feel to the line! It's to die for.

Miracle or genius? I think the latter! Take some time and look up the whole line, it is WELL WORTH it!!!

Happy holidays!
Susan

Oscar de la Renta is NOT known for being understated in any language and his Fall Pre-View was no different. The color palette was spectacular in the different spice tones that we have seen on the other runways for the Fall 2010 pre-view.
Do we sense a trend???
A mix of spicy yellow, striking pinks, and bright red were everywhere esteemed. There were also gorgeous watery greens and blues enhanced with orange. Embroideries and bold patchworks enhance his gorgeous designs.

Once again Oscar de la Renta inpires the world with his production of fabulous color and artistic designs which compel us to reach beyond ourselves, especially during our tough times. "You have to make a woman fall in love with your clothes." - Oscar de la Renta.

Happy Holidays!
Susan

Fall 2010 Pre-View

Let's talk pre-fall 2010...

On December 3rd 2009 Donatella Versace came out with her lovely pre-view for Fall of 2010. It is a glorious mix of color - hues of cobalt blue, oranges with apple green that wrap around a very feminine feel. Her designs are figure fitting and very leggy. Her gorgeous watery blues along her tightly fitting leggings suggest a very Asian feel that has dominated much of our forward thinking fashionistas. Versace's belted blazers are of note - so keep that in mind moving forward.

Another noteworthy designer is Alexander Wang with the lovely and never-going-out-of-style black on black. I appreciate the continued theme of lingerie, the transparent, and especially the suiting that is being seen for Fall 2010 as well as Spring 2010. The narrow trouser is highlighted as well as the layered look of skirts or shorts over leggings. Corsets played a nice part in Wang's collection to enhance several wonderful designs. Again, the suiting and ageless cocktail-wear is worth looking through online.

Tahari (December 2, 2009 show, NY NY) maintained the gorgeous collection maintaining to his usual crowd but also starting to go toward appealing to the younger generation with his excellent choices of color and amazing draping in his Fall 2010 pre-view collection. My first thought was of the lovely oranges, the watery blues and purples, and the amazing prints chosen in his fabric. Yet to look at the designs in nude and black gives one the choices throughout the collection to round out ones wardrobe. The dresses maintain a beautiful feminine flair and the trouser appealing to all that see it. The suiting is excellent - from the office to cocktail.