As far as I'm concerned Hello Kitty is always having a moment, but this month she has been busier than ever.
She released her debut album, "Hello World" which features 11 tracks of original pop tunes performed by up & coming young artists (HK Fun Fact: Hello Kitty doesn't have a mouth because she "speaks from the heart," so she can't talk...or sing).
She opened a posh boutique in New York City called Sanrio Luxe...The 1,200 square foot space is accented with black crystal chandeliers and refurbished Victorian furnishings upholstered in jet black, and it stocks rare products from Japan, handbags & shoes from Italian design house Camomilla, Columbian couture apparel from Mabel Palacio, and Kimora Lee Simmons' diamond jewelry collection (and that's just for starters).
...and in celebration of her November 1st birthday (her 34th!), Hello Kitty created a limited edition t-shirt to benefit her friends at the Humane Society. It will be available starting this Saturday at Sanrio.com.
On this week's edition of "Inside In Style" on CNN.com, I caught up with PARIS accessories designer Deborah Moreland at the Warwick Hotel in New York City and got the dish on how brides should dress up their dresses. (Hint: the tiara is old news -- try a headwrap on for size to indulge your princess fantasy)
Designed specifically for the superb shopping site, the dresses are classic Roland Mouret constructions: curve-hugging, waist-cinching, below-the-knee sheaths made even sexier by the addition of accordian pleats and subtle drapes. Hues include grape and deep forest green; each dress is $2,065.
Mouret, of course, has mastered the art of creating
the perfect, sexy-yet-sophisticated silhouette. Even more impressive, he has mastered the art of making women look -- and feel -- extraordinary.
Legendary home to all things retro-hip, Screaming Mimi's (est. 1978) renowned vintage boutique in New York City has also earned the impressive accolade as THE place to go for haute haunting garb. A special team of stylists hunts for the best costumes year round, and the shop boasts endless archives and a staff well-versed in all things pop culture. They have tricked out trick-or-treaters from Chloe Sevigny to Tatum O'Neil to Trudi Styler to supermodel (and bride of the White Stripes' Jack White) Keren Elson.
Known for getting in the holiday spirit via their kitschy-cool window displays (Simon Doonan eat your heart out), this year is no exception. The theme?
HALLOWEEN IN OUTER SPACE
Laura Wills, the boutique's owner and founder, explains:
"We chose this theme because it is the 50th anniversary of Sputnik and the dawning of the space age which made us think of all kinds of characters from films and tv of the past decades inspired by space fantasies... Barbarella, the Jetsons, Star Trek, even David Bowie in the movie the The Man Who Fell to Earth as well as Ziggy Stardust. Astronauts, aliens and now that water has been found on Mars, maybe there's an Elvis character out there somewhere? It's a good time to offer a fun escape and let people masquerade as something far from planet Earth."
Despite an out-of-this-world theme, Screaming Mimi's is always down-to-earth. Prices are not astronomical, and you don't need an appointment to launch your costume search. They make everyone feel like a star. (har har har)
Screaming Mimi’s is located at 382 Lafayette Street in
New York’s NoHo neighborhood.
What does Clay Aiken do on a Wednesday night? Spamalot pub crawls? American Idol reunion parties? Nope.
Apparently, he goes grocery shopping...just like me. (With his bodyguard...not just like me.)
That's right -- I ran into Clay last night at my local market. The singing sensation -- and recent People cover boy -- was filling his basket with bananas and Chef Boyardee ravioli. I asked him about his self-professed favorite (Breyers peach ice-cream), and he laughed and said, "I didn't get any. I'm getting fat!"
Always friendly and always down-to-Earth, Aiken perused the store wearing jeans, an argyle sweater and sandals with socks.
Personal style is always best when spied in unexpected places.
Check this out! A picture from that very night (bodyguard on left) provided by a STYLE SPY reader. THANKS XOC!!!
Channel your inner GG (double entendre intended), and make a beeline for the main floor of Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. Today. As in now.
(Read while you run. That's why we have Blackberries.)
Gucci cuts the ribbon on their accessories boutique and -- as if the thrill of that alone weren't enough -- the luxe label has created fifteen one-of-a-kind bags exclusively for the posh outpost. Each is crafted in Bergdorf’s signature lilac color (how convenient for us that purple is the shade of the season!) and boasts an engraved silver hangtag that announces “GUCCI loves Bergdorf.” Now that's some Bergdorf Bling.
All your favorite bag styles (“Hysteria”, “Jockey” and “Indy”) are represented in patent, Guccissima leather and "precious" skins (croc, ostrich and python).
Speaking of exclusive, take a gander at the gorgeousness that awaits...Style Spy scored this picture of a purple python Indy just for you.
Prices start at $1,295 and reach a crescendo of $29,800.
Stock market, schtock market. I'll race you to 57th Street.
One of the coolest items I've seen is Aquatalia by Marvin K's special edition Wasabi boot; the best-seller has been reimagined in rose ombre patent. Love these! Sleek-n-chic! Instant rainy-day-blues chaser! (I have them in black, but I may need to add to my stash...)
Marvin Krasnow (aka Marvin K, founder and creative director) has teamed up with Saks Fifth Avenue to benefit the Key to the Cure program -- a percentage of sales will be donated to local organizations through the Entertainment Industry Foundations's Women's Cancer Research Fund. The rose ombre Wasabi boot (also available in grey, olive and berry; $285 per pair) is featured at Saks stores in New York City, Boston and Chicago.
Want to meet the man behind these must-have boots himself? Krasnow will be at Saks in NYC on October 16th from 5 to 7pm to help kick off Saks’ nationwide charity shopping weekend hosted by celebrity ambassador Gwyneth Paltrow.
