Faux-tton or Authentic Vuitton??

There’s a big debate in the shopping world over the sale and usage of imposter goods, especially handbags. Should you or should you not carry a faker, a Frauda, Chanel, Vuitton, Hermes, etc.? Are fake handbags good for business because they are walking advertisements, real or not? Manufacturers are getting craftier at masking the subtle differences of fake bags, which in turn, is leading to greater product security and authenticity measures from authentic couture and design houses.[polldaddy

Here’s a great article from the Wall Street Journal on spotting a fake designer handbag.

CLICK HERE: How to Spot a Frauda

0 comments permalink |  10:06 AM |  6.30.2011 | 

A Peek at Runway Rundown.

Celebrities a favorite source for fashion inspiration. My favorite celebrities in luxurious couture and ready-to-wear garments, such as Gwenyth Paltrow or Nicole Richie, to me, bring the runway to life. Now you can bring the inspiration of runway fashion to your life with one of my favorite sites offering the “look” for less, Runway Rundown.

A quick chat with Kim Hazle, Co-founder and Editor, gives us her inspiration on the site and fashion…

FP: What was your inspiration for Runway Rundown?

RR: Runway Rundown is a culmination of my favorite parts of the fashion industry.  From styling to seasonal trends, to the actual inspiration that designers build their collections upon.  I really wanted to share the artistic side of a runway collection with the everyday shopper as it so easily gets chopped up and lost after campaigns are shot and celebrities are styled in the clothes.  And most importantly offer my tips on how easy it is to get a similar runway look and feel on a budget, as that is how I do all of my shopping.

FP: How long have you been blogging runway looks for less?

RR: I have been doing runway looks for less since the Summer of 2009.  Its been great to see trends come and go and really get an understanding for seasonal colors and materialization.

FP: Can you name a few of your favorite finds of the past few months?

RR: Its so hard to choose just a couple as they each offer their own individual style and can appeal to so many different people for different reasons.  If I had to choose, a couple of my recent favorites are:

This Marchesa dress that I featured during our Wedding Week:
http://www.runwayrundown.com/wedding-week-extravaganza
Its avant garde and pretty much as stylish of a statement as you can make. Yet its still relate able to the everyday shopper through the alternative look I chose.  It still has that high fashion feel with the tutu skirt but
it is more wearable as a special occasion dress.

I also love this look from Carolina Herrera:
http://www.runwayrundown.com/eastern-influence
I love the styling that went into building this outfit out of basic pieces to create a very specific look and feel.  Its classic yet Eastern inspired.  Such a chic look that anyone could pull off!

FP: What was your last purchase?

RR: My last fashion purchase was a treat to myself, A David Yurman ring.  I love the idea of building a great jewelry collection as that is the final touch that completes an outfit and over the years it holds its worth more than shoes or clothes do.

FP: If you shop only one designer in the next year, who would it be?

RR: Thats a tough one, If I had to choose a runway designer I would choose Marchesa.  Even though I wouldn’t get much use out of the dresses on a day to day bases, I love Georgina Chapman’s designs and how she is able to,
season after season, create such beautiful statement dresses.

Now realistically I should also choose a contemporary designer as that is what is in my budget for shopping.  I would choose Winter Kate.  I love how Nicole Richie’s boho-chic style comes across in her brand.  It works
into my wardrobe really easily, especially living here in California, as I feel most comfortable having the option to keep it casual cool.

0 comments permalink |  11:13 PM |  4.9.2011 | 

Neil Lane

Introducing the Neil Lane Bridal Collection exclusive to Kay Jewelers, a new offering of 36 engagement and wedding rings ranging from $2,600 – $7,800. When Hollywood’s biggest stars need an engagement or wedding ring, they turn to Neil Lane. And now, you can do the same for the biggest moment of your life with a ring from Neil Lane Bridal™, a contemporary vintage-inspired collection celebrating Hollywood’s glamorous past and your remarkable future.

Fashion Phoenix had the pleasure of chatting with the delightful Mr. Lane recently about the new collection, just in time for the local launch of Neil Lane Bridal on Saturday at the Kay Jewelers inside Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale. As much as we love chatting about fashion, Fashion Phoenix LOVES chatting about LOVE…diamonds, rings, engagements and we were enamored with the endearing Mr. Lane and his inspiration behind the new Neil Lane Bridal.

For over 20 years, Neil Lane has been designing jewelry for Hollywood and the World’s taste-makers.  Describing his aesthetic as ‘pretty’, the master jeweler focuses on the entire ring setting (or as he describes as ‘the house’) for the stone, rather than focusing on the size of the center stone itself. Forgoing the simple, boring solitaires and wedding bands, Neil Lane is famous for his vintage-inspired, yet contemporary settings with inspirations from his collection of period jewels and implicating his love of art and architecture in each ring design.

We gleefully had a few minutes to ask the jewelry designer about the new collection and about the current trends and nuances of engagement ring selection. Here’s a briefing of our interview…

FP: Neil Lane Bridal is comprised of 36 engagement and wedding rings divided into four different inspirational styles including ‘Energy, Essence, Harmony and Timeless’. Can you tell us a bit about each and how to find what’s best for a bride-to-be?

NL: The collection offers a lot of variety. A woman’s engagement ring is a fashion statement. And women shouldn’t wear something that they aren’t completely happy with. So variety is important in the new bridal collection.

Energy is never-dying, eternal energy. It keeps the world going. Energy and the energy we create is always there, it never dies. (FP agrees!)

Essence has a historical reference in art and architecture. The essence is the basis of all design.

Harmony is creating actual design harmony between the big diamond and ‘the house’, which is the setting or mounting.

Timeless is from my fascination with period jewels – in the hand-work and details that I bring to my designs.

FP: How do you know what style of ring suits one best?

NL: Some people know what they like. Some people need reassurance of their selection. Sometimes one must eliminate what doesn’t fit their style to find what does. Most often, the reaction to a ring is natural, organic and it’s a physical reaction to the ring they love. One can build up their knowledge of their style and aesthetic through research before shopping.

FP: You mentioned solitaires aren’t as popular as in years past? How has shopping for engagement rings changed?

NL: Years ago, many women never liked their rings – they loved their husbands, but not their rings. Couples shop together now so there aren’t as many surprises and women can wear what suits their style.

FP: What do you think about the current colored diamond trend?

NL: Colored diamonds are not a staple and are not for everyone or everyday. The colored trend won’t take over the industry. White diamonds with white metals are just easier to wear. We use white gold in the Neil Lane Bridal collection, but you can special order some styles in platinum.

FP: What’s your favorite cut of diamond?

NL: I have fun with all cuts and it really comes down to the setting, but I love a cushion cut diamond because it’s romantic or a classic round is always nice.

FP: What was the inspiration for doing a more affordable bridal line with Kay Jewelers?

NL: It was kismet. Kay Jewelers is the perfect company for Neil Lane Bridal. It was serendipitous, from some divine inspiration. (just like love itself should be, right!)

FP: Any celebrity moments that you were most proud of?

NL: When Sandra Bullock won her Oscar last year (2010) in Neil Lane jewels. That was a proud moment for me.

Timeless

Energy

Essence

Harmony

Thank you, thank you to Mr. Neil Lane for the fabulous interview. Fashion Phoenix is super excited to try on the new Neil Lane Bridal collection and to meet Mr. Lane himself at Arrowhead Towne Center on Saturday. You could WIN a FREE ring!!

For more information about Saturday’s event, click Neil Lane at Kay Jewelers.

0 comments permalink |  1:42 PM |  2.9.2011 | 

These new, charming little locks in the great tradition of Tiffany & Co., are a modern twist to classic designs buried in the archives of the famed jewelry design house. In sterling silver, gold, rose gold, platinum and with pave diamonds, the locks are a signature piece debuting this Valentine’s season at Tiffany & Co. Scottsdale Fashion Square. Not all locks are available to the public just yet, but the fabulous staff is available to show you the new additions available now.  Sterling silver charms start at $80 and the chains are sold separately. Diamond locks are priced up to $6,000 and may be a special order at this time.

Large Diamond Pendant in Platinum $5,900

Blake Lively in Tiffany locks

0 comments permalink |  3:50 PM |  2.8.2011 |