Hey New Yorkers, Grab A Cocktail And Take Charge Of Your Life!

Perhaps taking charge of your life isn’t as easy as sipping a glass of Pinot Noir, which is why you should take a few minutes next Thursday to hear Amanda Russell speak on how to grasp hold of what you want in life. Not only is she gorgeous and in uber great shape, but is also Olympic-trained, a celebrity fitness expert, a model,  a motivational writer, a spokeswoman and founder of the AR Program. Pretty impressive right? Well she didn’t get there by wishing and waiting.

Four years ago, Amanda fractured her femur just as she was on the right track headed for the Olympics. I’ll let her tell you the whole story, but running was her passion and she was determined to get back on track to a healthy lifestyle despite what everyone around her was saying – and she did!

Did I mention she also landed a partnership with Zico Premiun Coconut Water as their new face of the brand? You may have seen her face on billboards around Manhattan.

Convinced yet? For $10 you can come have a cocktail, listen to Amanda’s wise tips, and be entered to win something pretty amazing.You can RSVP here.

When: February 24th, 2011 at 6pm

Where: Jackson Square Lounge (122 Greenwhich Avenue)

For complete event details, click here.

xoxo

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!

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.