Mad About Janie Bryant: Dress Just Like Joan, Peggy & Betty

When I heard that Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant was creating a clothing and accessries line for  QVC,  I became overly excited. Each episode leaves me wanting to head straight to Saraz Closet to search for a Joan-like ensemble.  Her line is called Janie Bryant MOD and the looks are inspired by the 50’s and 60’s with a Mad Men flare. Not only can you now look like your favorite Mad Men character, but you won’t go bankrupt with these fabulous pieces. The collection is very simple and offers lots of layering items in order to accentuate what you already own! Check it out:

Bring out your inner-Joan with the Janie Bryant MOD Reversible Swing Coat ($112). Perfect for wearing over a cocktail dress during fall, and even cute paired with some jeans and riding boots. Slap on some red lipstick and you’ll be instantly transformed. The coat pictured above reverses to a chocolate color – 2-in-1 is always good!

I secretly love Peggy’s innocent “Secretary” look, she pulls it off so well on the show. Janie Bryant created this awesome cardigan ($83.25)  that has a detachable faux fur color. This is a classic sweater that will take you from day to night. Wear it to work without the fur for a more reserve look, and attach the fur for after work festivities for a more sassy vibe.

My favorite collection peice – the MOD 2 Button Faux Fur Coat ($144). It looks just like my grandmothers coat and I can picture Betty strutting around town in this with Sally and Bobby. A great addition to everyone’s winter wardrobe.

My favorite Betty look so far – she looks  sexy and seductive and the jewels are to die for. Janie Bryant created the MOD Timeless Bead Necklace ($44.50) and Timeless Drop Earrings ($29.50) which almost mimic the look pictured above. I am a sucker for vintage and vintage inspired jewelry, and these will definitely be mine soon!

Obsessed yet? There are also a few bags, hats, etc. that weren’t mentioned above – be sure to check them out on QVC.com

xoxo,

JR.

Marchesa SS 2011: Gorgeous Gowns Fit For A Princess Bride

I wasn’t able to attend the Marchesa show this time around but I’ve been drooling over the images from New York Magazine for the past week or so. The collection is very glam meets oriental and I found myself daydreaming of walking down the isle in several of them. The label also offers a separate bridal collection but these were far too beautiful and had to share.

For the edgy, non-traditional bride:

I’ve always loved over-the-top wedding gowns and non-traditional colors. These are perfect for the bride who’s not looking for the “safe” standard all-white gown.

For the Sexy Glam Bride:

The gown on the left is a perfect visual of how I would describe my fairytale  “wedding” dress. These both are glam and glitz, and perfect for the bride who wants to keep in tradition of wearing white while making a statement.

For the reception outfit change:

As Rachel Zoe would say (and probably did over this collection), “I DIE.” I am obsessed with the fact that the dress on the right has a train. How cute would this be for an outfit change for the reception? And the baby doll look of the other dress is stunning. Perfect for any spring cocktail or wedding. Can spring hurry up already?!

And if I’m lucky:

My  10 yearhighschool reunion is right around the corner and if I’m lucky enough I’ll be wearing this amazing Marchesa dress! Again, “I DIE” over it…the color, the bodice, the way it flows. I plan on rocking it with some pretty ridiculous Christian Siriano pumps so stay tuned for pictures in a few weeks!

What do you think of the Marchesa Spring 2011 collection? I image we’ll see heaps of celebrities prancing around the red carpet in a few of these in the months to come!

Freebie Of The Week: Foot Petals Sweaty Pedi & Pedi Fume

Fall is here, which means your tootsies are about to be covered up for the next few months. I hate having my feet trapped in winter boots and closed-toe heels. My feet feel sweaty and cooped up, but luckily I’ve found two great products to help my feet out: Foot Petals Sweaty Pedi and Pedi Fume. Read on to find out more about these handy products, and to see how to get them for FREE!

Not only does Foot Petals Sweatly Pedi ($9.95) absorb icky foot perspiration but also helps prevent those very unwanted blisters. It’s also mess-proof and hands free, so spray the amazing Lavendar and Vanilla scent anytime to calm and comfort your tired soles.

And Foot Petals Pedi Fume ($9.95) helps refresh swollen feet with a time release cooling sensation (great for the gal who’s addicted to heels)! The Jojoba wax can also prevent and calm razor burn on the legs, and Arnica helps to quickly heal bruises and relieves muscle pain. This 3-in-1 wonder gel has a hands free applicator and works hand in hand with Sweaty Pedi.

How to win these products:

Simply enter your name below under the red “response” tab below, and one lucky winner will be chosen on Friday, October 1st at 5pm EST. The winner will be notified via email for address verification. Spread this contest around on Facebook and Twitter, and GOOD LUCK! Stay tuned for more great giveaways in the future.

Prize details: One lucky winner will receive Foot Petals Sweaty Pedi and Pedi Fume, valued at $19.90

xoxo,
JR.

On My Fall Wardrobe List: A Faux Leather Jacket

Sure, pleather used to be un-cool and it was a crime to be caught dead in something faux, but this fall it’s quite the trend. I found some really cool ones for under $100, as opposed to that lovely $550 Alice + Olivia Luiza Leather Jacket at Bergdorf’ I’ve been drooling over. It’s quite trendy too, so spending that much money on a jacket that I may only wear for one season seems crazy. I can purchase a couple faux leather jackets this season, not feel guilty, and still look super stylish!

Check out these fun faux picks:

This Arden B Leatherette Ruched Jacket ($69.99) hardly looks fake with it’s deep, rich chocolate color and gold metalware. The perfect jacket to pear with jeans and a pair of aviator sunglasses. And right now you can buy one, get a second for $10 – WHAT A DEAL! Perfect for a fall birthday gift or you and your bestie can split the cost of $79.99 and both walk away with the bargain of the century.

The Bisou Bisou Ruffle Pleather Jacket from JC Penny looks strikingly similar to the Alice + Olivia jacket I’ve been eyeing, and is on sale for $49.99. It’s a bit feminine and perfect to wear over a dress with some heels for a night out on the town.

I must confess that I’m a bit obsessed with the designers on QVC these days. K-Dash, the Kardashians very own clothing label, made it’s debut on QVC during Fashion Week and has been a huge success. This K-Dash Faux Leather Motorcycle Jacket is just what I need for riding on my boyfriend’s new bike (if he’ll let me that is). The studded metal on the collar makes it uber sassy, and also comes in an Army Green shade. ON SALE for $89.96!

Forever 21 is always a great place to find affordable, trendy items – you just have to have patience to weed through the crowds and half of the Jersey Shore-like outfits for the good stuff! Their version of the Faux Leather Jacket offers a tailored-like fit and is girly yet tough looking at the same time. The most recession friendly by far at $32.80!

And if you can’t get over the pleather factor but can’t shell out a few hundred bucks for the real thing, try thrifting around (one of my favorite hobbies). This vintage 80’s Leather Bomber Jacket is only $89 – who can resist leather from the 80’s?! Check your local Salvation Army or search online – there’s tons of vintage stores and Etsy.com is a great place to start.

Happy Shopping!

xoxo,

JR.

My Love of the Week: Elizabeth Olsen

Or perhaps it’s more of my “obsession” of the week! Elizabeth Olsen is almost identical to Mary Kate & Ashley, which is kind of freaky. If only they could have been triplets – there could have been three different Michelle Tanner‘s on set. And think about all of their childhood films, like Double, Double, Toil and Trouble…how fun would it have been to have all three of them running around on screen?!

Elizabeth Olsen is even more of an enigma than Mary Kate and Ashley in my book. Where has she been for the past 21 years and why aren’t there hardly any pictures of her online? I did manage to find a couple:

She just finished shooting “Peace, Love and Misunderstanding,” which will make its debut in 2011. Amongst Lizzie Olsen’s cast members are Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chace Crawford, Catherine Keener and Rosanna Arquette. I’ll definitely be purchasing an advanced ticket for this one.

While you can’t purchase Lizzie Olsen, I think she’s definitely one to keep your eyes on. And I leave you with my favorite image of MK&A:

Best shot ever! Let me know if anyone hears of any EO gossip.

xoxo,
JR.

Win This: Foot Petals Stiletto Stylist Kit

How would you like to walk around on cloud 9 all day, while still looking stylish in your platform heels? Well here’s your chance to win a Foot Petals Stiletto Stylist Kit ($44.95) that I recently raved about!

Stiletto Stylist Kit in Black

This fabulous kit contains the follwing (click on the link to read more):

1 Tip Toes
1 Killer Kushionz
2 Strappy Strips
1 Heavenly Heelz
1 Haute Heelz
2 Sole Stopperz

To enter for a chance to win, all you have to do is enter your name in the “response” area at the bottom of this post (in burgundy)! I’ll pull a number out of a box on Friday based on total number of entries, and will announce the winner that afternoon. Good luck, and spread the word – this is one kit you definitely want handy in your closet.

xoxo,
JR.

What You Need Now: A Pumpkin Enzyme Facial at Eve

I had the most amazing Pumpkin Enzyme facial ($14o for 60 minutes) yesterday at Eve Salon in the West Village. It’s their new facial for fall and man it sure does work wonders. Although Eileen my amazing facial esthetician says that I’m too young to need a facial, she still managed to make my skin look a few years younger! It’s a perfect way to reverse sun damage and hyperpigmentation, smooth enlarged or clogged pores, as well as get rid of flaky skin cells. Relaxation is also a key component for great looking skin so what better way to relax than spending 60 minutes in Eve?!

The first step was the Pumpkin Enzyme Mask to brighten and even out skin tone, while also improving the penetration and exofoliating effects of products used throughout the facial. A Microderm Creme was applied next, which gently refines the skin’s surface and helps minimize the size of large pores – also great to get rid of blackheads. The last step is adding AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) exfoliation to the mix for an extreme exfoliation that reveals new and refreshed skin! Eileen also told me to lay off the coffee and soda, and to always put SPF on before going out each morning (something everyone should do).

This facial really helped with my fall allergies as well – I came in all stuffy and walked away with clear sinuses! If you’re around the NYC area you should stop into Eve. If you’re not in the mood for a facial, their mani/pedi’s are the best I’ve ever experienced!

You can also opt for the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel for a do-it-yourself solution/to use in between facial appointments. I tend to go only 2-3 times a year for a facial, and use a product like this to maintain my healthy looking skin.

xoxo,
JR.

The Pumpkin: Light It, Sip It, Eat It, Bathe In It!

In order to celebrate the first official day of fall, I wanted to express my love for the Pumpkin as it always reminds me of the cool fall days ahead. With so many pumpkin products out there, these are a few of my absolute favorites:

Light it: Slatkin & Co. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candle is an amazing scent of spicy pumpkin puree with sweet butter and vanilla cream all blended together – hungry yet? I leave this candle in my kitchen and light it at night when I’m reading on the couch. It’s super relaxing, lasts up to 65 hours of burn time and is only $19.50. I am really picky when it comes to candles, so you can trust that this scent won’t let you down!

Sip It: There’s nothing like a pumpkin spice latte and Starbucks knows how to win me over every year. While I’m not a fan of the rest of their coffee drinks, I can’t resist this warm latte on a cool night mixed with espresso, pumpkin, spices, steamed milk and sweetened whipped cream.

Eat It: How mouth-watering does a pumpkin spice cupcake with a maple-infused cream cheese frosting topped with a fondant maple leaf sound? This is my favorite cupcake on earth, and it happens to be all the way in DC. Although there are many different choices of delicious cupcake shops in NYC, Georgetown Cupcake beats them all by far. Order online for nationwide shipping ($26 for a dozen of your choice, and $29 for shipping). It’s worth it, I promise.

Bathe In It: Philosophy has some of the most amazing scents in their collection of body washes including Cinnamon Buns, Cookies N’ Creme and Cherry Angel Food Cake just to name a few (and they smell just as good as they sound.) Leave it to the brand to create a decadent Pumpkin Spice Muffin and Caramel Apple duo for Halloween for a mere $20. Best part is that you can use these for shampoo, body wash AND bubble bath (mix them together for a delicious fall bath).

What reminds you of fall?

xox0,
JR.

A Bit Of Grace Added to the Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 Collection

I’ve been drooling over Marc Jacobs‘ whimsical collections since the glorious college days, and even remember my first MJ purchase. It was a Marc by Marc Jacobs three-quarter length knitted sweater with pale orange, blue, yellow and pink butterflies embroidered on the front, and the huge buttons with the MJ logo engraved. I still wear it – it’s definitely going to be vintage one day.

Anyhow, the Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 Collection was a bit of 70’s meets 30’s style, with lots of red, burgundy, pink and fuchsia in the mix:

And then there’s my favorite part of this collection – Guido Palau of Redken‘s hair inspiration, which was based on Grace Coddington (most of you know her from The September Issue) of Vogue’s frizzy locks! She’s a huge icon in the Fashion world so it’s great to see her incorporated into the runway, as she was once a model herself!

Grace Coddington of Vogue                                       Marc Jacobs Model

Grace Coddington modeling – 1960’s

While I agree this hairstyle is only a look suited for the lovely Grace, it works very well with some of Marc Jacobs’ collection pieces. Or perhaps we could use some of Guido’s tips on how to get the “Grace Frizz” for Halloween – now that would be fun!

xoxo,

JR.

One Designer To Watch: William Tempest

William Tempest impressed everyone this year, as he debuted “The Siren’s Song” for Spring 2011 at Lincoln Center. After 3 seasons of showing in London, he’s finally bringing his elegant and sculptural designs to us New Yorkers. His inspiration for the collection was goddess like creatures that were half beauty, half sea creatures.

“The Siren’s Song” in the making:

“The Siren’s Song” presentation at Lincoln Center:

I even got a second to chat with Jessica Vartoughian, founder of Jessica Cosmetics, who created a whole collection of custom colors for the William Tempest presentation. You can’t purchase the Jessica William Tempest Collection until spring 2011, but here’s an exciting preview:

The grey and pink colors to the left are shimmery and absolutely amazing. Put a ticker on your calendar for these!
xoxo,
JR.