tara and evy

tara&evy stackable bracelets

a decorated arm full of conversational bracelets and big faced watches are on the top of everyones wants and needs list.  i find myself eyeing wrists of everyone walking by or sitting near me, wondering where they got certain cute bracelets and the story behind them.  tara swed, the designer behind tara&evy, has a piece for everyone, especially for those decorating their wrists with colorful and distinctive bracelets.  each piece has its own eclectic and eye catching detail.  i had the pleasure of interviewing her and seeing her collection.  it has grown in the past year, and i am excited to see what she has in store for us next.  these pieces can be found in specialty boutiques around the us, including ny stores; mixology, 25 park and  periwinkle blue.  she also has a website- http://www.taraevy.com/ where you can inquire about a certain color or gem stone or pick from the amazing selection she has already.  

Q.  How did you get the idea to start making your own jewelry?

 A.  I've been making jewelry since I was 5 years old. I used to make string and lanyard bracelets for all my friends and family. It has always been a passion. 

Q  Where do you get the inspiration for the colors and styles you use?

 

A.  I get inspired from everywhere and anything. From the hottest new trends in magazines to designs or just interesting things that I see on the streets in NYC or when I travel abroad. 

Q.  What are your favorite pieces that you have made?

 A.  My favorites are the classic gemstone bracelets with gold or silver nuggets. They are great to pack on your wrist and totally versatile in style. 

Q.  Is there one piece in your collection that you think every woman should own?

A.  Everyone woman should have stackable beaded bracelets that they can mix and match with any outfit.  They go with almost everything and can totally spice up an outfit. 

Q.  How does your personal style influence your jewelry?

A.  I like clothing that I can mix and match and dress up or dress down. In turn, I create jewelry that is meant to do the same - it can be worn with your most simple outfits to your most extravagent dresses.

tara&evy seen on whitney port

Paris part duex

the sights were amazing in paris (i especially loved these little tile monsters hidden on buildings all over).  however, shopping and dining were the highlight of our trip.  hidden outside the main streets, where zara and hm are home to, you can find unique jewelry, antiques and local designers' boutiques.  each disctrict has there own distinct shopping:


1. Louvre, Tulieries and Le Halles  (1st Arr)
      Versace, Hermes and YSL can be found in this area, along with other high end fashion designers.  dont miss the beautiful shopping boutiques along the jardin du palais royal, this was my favorite shopping spot in the 1st arr.  shops include linda farrah, marc jacobs and a dont miss boutique- didier ludot.  didier ludot has two vintage shops next to each other on the strip, one for all vintage "little black dresses" and another full of amazing vintage jewelry, coats and furs.  it was hard to pull away form the chanel necklaces and dior furs.

    

palais royal

didier ludot


Best Italian (if you want a change from French):
 Olio Pane Vino
after having way too much beef the night before we decided to try italian.  we were gracously greeted by the owner, an italian native.  he was warm and welcoming, i felt finally at home.  entrees on the blackboard change daily, depending on what their delivery of the day is.  we tried one of everything and not one dish disappointed.  

2.  The Marais (4th arr)

     eclectic and unique jewlery can be found here. marais is very laid back and has a hipster vibe to it.  one of the best areas to find great places to dine at night or have lunch and people watch.  

Best Steak Frite: 
Le Relais de l'Entrecote

  only a two minute wait and we were seated in a cute intimate table in the corner.  no menus, but we were asked how we liked out steak cooked which was written on our table.  before we knew it we were being served steak in an amazing sauce and frites on the side.  while we were all finishing our meals and chatting about our first day, we see our waitress bring over a second serving of our delicious steak and frite.  tres magnifique! they need to open one of these in ny!

3.  St. Germain (6th arr)
     my favorite part of paris would have to be st germain.  we ended up here every day just to walk around and see what we could find.  up and coming designers rent out shops in the area to keep their costs down, but everyone else's curiosity up.  this area is known for its bohemian feel and the streets are small and windy which gives it more of an intimate feel.   two famous places to go and dine or have drinks are le duex magots and brasserie lipp.

Best Macaroon:

Laduree

we went here everyday, along with visiting their main store in champs- elysees.  by far the best macaroon that you will ever put in your mouth, i highly recommend coming here.  if you can make it to paris, they opened a store on the upper east side in nyc!  my favorite was the rose water and even brought home the rose water marshmellows.  i cant say enough about these sweet treats.

laduree st germain

4. St Ouen Flea Market in Porte de Clignancourt 

the most anticipated part of our trip was this flea market.  we read up on it and were ready to spend some serious euros on vintage chanel and louis.  after taking the metro to clignancourt we went on a hunt for the biggest flea market in paris, with over 2000 stalls.  after going through hundreds of fake nike and rhianna t-shirt selling stalls we stumbled upon a side road with antique furniture.  if i could redecorate and ship every piece i found back to ny without it costing an arm and a leg, i wouldn't hesitate.  its a furniture shoppers paradise.  after browsing through old mirrors and varnished silverware, we stumbled upon chanel scarves, hermes ties and vintage louis luggage.  it was parisian heaven.  we struck up a deal with one vendor to buy a chanel necklace and louis duffel package.  its key to talk these people down, because they will break sooner or later.  

until we meet again paris....

Paris part un

sorry about the flatline in posts, i was only in paris..... beautiful 75 degree weather, great friends, amazing vintage finds and of course good eats; i couldnt have asked for anything else. 

the city has so many sights and stories to see and tell.  for the amount of time i was there, i think i got my fair share of it.  we had no plan no itineraries nor rhyme or reason of our trip, we figured we would just wing it and that was the best plan of them all.  we saw every tourist attraction there was and shopped every where possible.  now i can see where the term carpe diem comes from.

stairs to sacre-coeur

Dont Miss:

Eiffel Tower:  walk up the stairs to the second level, dont waste your time on the longest line in paris just to get on the elevator.  have a drink and take in the city.

Notre Dame:  so beautiful and to think they wanted to tear it down.  the stained glass is enough to take your breathe away.

Sacre-Coeur: this white domed cathedral sitting on top of a mountain gives the best views of paris once at the top.  

Louvre Museum:  the largest museum can not be missed.  this is home to mona lisa, you have to atleast say hello to her.

Lock Bridge: this bridge connects the louvre to st germain.  lovers from all around the world bring their locks and secure their love here.  

After mastering the metro, it was so easy to get around this city.  there is plenty of walking to be done but its so much better knowing a metro is somewhere close.  these are much easier to understand than ny subways and each station is decorated differently. 

stained glass in notre dame

 stairs going up the eiffel tower

view from the eiffel tower

sacre-coeur

lock bridge

 the louvre pyramids

 hey girl

food and shopping to follow...

spring ceviche

the first day of spring didnt disappoint new york yesterday.  time to pack up your long winter coats and fur inserts and take out your sandals and maxis.  besides fashion being in the front of my mind, food comes in a close second.  nothing screams warm weather to me than fresh ceviche.  its time for bbqs and picnics and here is a dish to impress everyone.  

{ingredients}

1/2 cup diced cucumbers

half of a small onion or two shallots minced

1 lb fresh tuna or salmon chopped

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons capers, rinsed

Fresh ground pepper

salt 

sprinkle salt over diced cucumbers and let them sit for about 15 minutes, this gets all the excess water out of them.  while the cucumbers are sitting mince your onions and put them in a bowl of cold water and cover for five minutes, this tames the bite and mellows out the flavor.  rinse cucumbers and onion and drain on a paper towel.  


in a nice size bowl, toss cucumbers, onions, fish,  cilantro, capers, lime juice, rice vinegar and olive oil together.  season with salt and pepper.  chill until ready (not too long though, the acidity from the lime juice will start to cook the fish.

Brow to the Queen

image thanks: pinterest, polyvore, flashyshades.com

sunglasses are an accessory that can reshape your face as well as your outfit.  there are so many styles, colors, shapes and textures out there, its hard to have just one.  in an earlier post, i showed my favorite cat eye sunglasses.  i cant believe i left these out which is why i want to dedicate a post to them.  a good friend of mine showed me these and i just cant get them out of my head.  i need these badly and will be on the hunt for them.  prada had them hit the runway in their 2010 fall / winter show.  the cat eye shape gives them a retro feel, while the colored brow puts a modern twist on them.  sunglasses or eyeglasses, these are amazing.  

on the street Paris Fashion Week

image sources: fabsugar.com; pinterest; oystermag.com, ellecanada.com, marieclaire.uk

spring is in the air this week during fall 2012 paris fashion week.  prints are bold, neons are in your face and furs are blowing in the wind.  if its one street style to watch for fashion week, paris is the best,  in my opinion.  i cant wait to walk to streets of paris in three weeks!

shelf help

image source: pinterest, apartmentthereapy.com, chiccheapnursery.com

bookshelves are always a great conversation piece.  i love walking into a place with bookshelves covered in personal pictures, nik naks, souvenirs from far away places and of course....books.  these are some of my favorite bookshelves, that use different and interesting combinations of book and shwag.  changing up your bookshelves is always a great way of updating a room. 

neon

image source: plentyofcolor.com

1. theyskens' theory anen mini flap bag

2. marc jacobs party balls cross body bag

3. marc jacobs neon croc-effect leather shoulder bag

4. moyna tie dyed beaded clutch

5. cambridge satchel co. upwardly mobile satchel

neons are a predominant color seen in springs' layout of apparel, jewelry and accessories.  if the bright hues scare you, maybe try just a little dose of the color as accents (such as the theyskens theory bag)  a little bit goes a long way, as they say. 

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012

elizabeth and james; marchesa; alica + olivia 

rebecca taylor; elie tahari; mara hoffman; jcrew

february is known for snow, cold, valentines day, more cold and new york fashion week.  the city is all a buzz for a week, bringing in the most desired models, actors, editors, buyers and a-listers to the big apple. trends and colors are mapped out for the fashion conscious to plan out accordingly of what to keep, what to toss and what to purchase.  last night concluded fall 2012 ready to wear collections after over 300 shows presented.

rich jewel tones set the stage in almost every collection that was paraded down the runway.  ruby, emerald, cobalt, orange and magenta were the top picks for accessories and apparel alike.  vests, bags, collars, cuffs, sleeves and accessories were adorned in luxurious fur; both real and faux..... this could most widely be seen in michael kors, jason wu and carolina herreras collections.    headbands came back with a vengeance with the help of orlando pita crowning the models with this hair accessory in the doo.ri, carolina herrera and oscar de la renta shows.  dresses, dresses and more dresses strutted down almost every runway.  short and long hemlines were equally distributed with one not being favored over the other.  my  favorites were mara hoffman, rebecca taylor, alice + olivia and j. mendel (shown below) collections.

j. mendel

other highlights to be seen were; moncler grenobles show presented on ice, husband beckham and anna wintour were neighbors in the front row at victoria beckhams show, 14 year old models were hired by none other eccentric marc jacobs for his show, christie brinkley and rose mcgowen almost take a spill on the runway, nicholas k shows off his dog and of course, i will always love you whitney houston...

cupid

flowers can make you smile or can make you cry.  the smell can spark a moment in your memory that you will never forget.    flowers can set any mood, they can be fun and bright or sexy and sophisticated.   valentines day is right around the corner.  i personally dont celebrate this holiday, but for those who do and are expecting a lovely bouquet of flowers or need ideas for your the person your lovin; here are some of my favorites (shown above)......

anemone

peonies

amnesia roses

ranunculus

poppies

Jean.... Is that you?

left to right: ag stilt cigarette denim ikat blue; current/elliot stilleto skinny jean; citizens of humanity mandy floral roll ups; paige denim toulouse verdugo in tumble; jbrand houndstooth skinny jeans; 7 for all manking jeans twill crop skinny jeans in ikat toffee

 after shopping around the past couple of weeks the big trend ive seen and lovin is printed denim.  florals, animal, chevron, houndstooth.... you name it, it is out there.  these prints and colors are so fun and can be mixed and matched with any solid or print top.  what a way to jump into spring!

dolce vita

image source: style.com

its never too early to start thinking of what your spring closet will look like, especially when its cold and dreary out.  dolce and gabbana's spring 2012 collection would brighten anyones day with their use of color, texture and silhouette.  of course, who can afford any of these frocks strutting down the runway? the least that can be done is take inspiration from this collection. 

bright bold colors such as this tangerine (number one pantone color of 2012- tangerine mango) will be seen all over stores come spring.  happy florals and prints can be mixed and matched with solids or other prints, this can make a vibrant statement. textures such as the floral dress above, gives added depth to any ordinary outfit.  sheer tops and dresses are staying in trend this spring.  pair a sheer top with a sheer tank to add a perfect cover up underneath.  how can we forget about jewels, sequins and sparkle?  sequin and jeweled accents go a long way,  replacing the disco ball dress worn on new years eve. sparkled collars, cuffs, belts and headbands add just enough bling to your overall look for the warm weather. bright accessories are also in tote for the spring.  greens, aquas and oranges can be seen on bags, scarves and shoes. 

nail files

images source: pinterest

 i couldnt think of anything better than getting a mani, pedi and maybe throw in a 10 minute massage.  but sometimes its also nice to sit home, hang out with the pooch and attempt to get your right hand looking as great as your left with a diy mani.  i added some inspirational pictures of how to add some layers and oomph into your nails.

all of these deco shapes and lines can be done by just using tape.  cut out any shape you want and put it over a base layer.  give it two coats to make sure you cant see the base color coming through.  peel the tape off while the polish is still damp or else the polish will dry and rip up the base coat along with the tape. throw on a good top coat (always splurge on a good top coat) and voila! everyone will be asking where you got that done!

 background image source: spoonflower

free people

image source: free people

im lovin january 2012 catalogue from free people.  insides spread is a ny vs la story which gives inspiration for so many spring looks.  i put up two of my favorite shots along with some great new additions to their website.  they always have the best shoes, accessories and jewelry ..... spring cant come soon enough

me- oww

lately ive been really loving cat eye sunglasses.  since aviators have saturated the market, its always fun to see whats different out there.  cat eye sunglasses were in full revival in the SS 2011 runways and have now hit all sides of retailers from designer to fast fashion stores.  this style is a throw back from the 50's and 60's and add an ultra modern yet vintage feel to any outfit - here are some of my favorites...

from left to right: black elizabeth & james lafayette; chocolate havana gucci cat eye; black tom ford martina; tortoise urban outfitters extreme cat eye; (my fave) black tom ford nikita ; brown dior square cat eye

metallic branches diy

inspiration can come from anywhere.....nature, magazines, paintings, fashion, pictures, songs.....  if i see something in a magazine ill tear it out, if i see something outside ill take a picture of it, if i hear something i like i write it down.  you never know when and where a good idea will come from.  

i love looking at visual displays in stores.  these are created by a very talented group of people to attract and inspire consumers.  i got the idea of the metallic branches from anthropologie's rock center store in ny last december.  below are some pictures i took to give me ideas of colors, shapes and arrangements.  

i asked my dad to help me out and search for the right branches (in particular birch since nature is ever so kind to start you off with a white canvas) after getting together enough sticks (10-15) i pruned them up so there were no stray twigs shooting out.  i sprayed each stick differently; lighter on some and heavier on others.  i liked how copper, silver and gold were used in the display so i switched off between these colors and also left some natural to add in the mix.  paint these in an open space with lots of air....

sole sista drama

image thanks: pinterest

the greatest form of flattery is imitation.... a line popular when you were in high school has appeared to be true in the court case hearing between Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent.


in april 2010, Louboutin filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against YSL for breaching its copyright of the unmistakable red sole for 1 million dollars in damages and to order YSL to halt production of all red soled shoes in production.  Louboutin asked YSL to refrain from using red soles in january of 2010 and did not receive a response. Louboutin spoke out to the evening standard saying,

"  My company has a trademark on the red sole and if we don't enforce it this would leave the door open for other brands to copy us while jeopardising the identity of the Louboutin red sole.  The red sole has become widely recognised as the distinct sign of my brand in the eyes of women all over the world."  

YSL fired back saying, 

"Red outsoles are a commonly used ornamental design feature in footwear, dating as far back as the red shoes worn by King Louis XIV in the 1600s and the ruby red shoes that carried Dorothy home in The Wizard of Oz," ."

this response, to me, seems a bit juvenile.  they are scraping to make a case by bringing up Elizabethan era garb and cinematic glittered ruby red shoes, i dont feel this is a great comparison to the topic at hand.  with no decision made, Louboutin requested for an injunction in August to stop the sales of YSL's red soled shoes.  Judge Victor Marrero denied this injection, which wasnt good news for Louboutin.  The Judge stated,

"Because in the fashion industry colour serves ornamental and aesthetic functions vital to robust competition, the court finds that Louboutin is unlikely to be able to prove that its red outsole brand is entitled to trademark protection,"

Tiffany and Co flew in, with their turquoise blue cape on, stating that a color- like its own distinct unmistakable blue boxes can be trademarked and not be copied.  This strengthens the case of Louboutin's argument and has made the company very happy that Tiffanys has weighed in.  Louboutins fear is that fast fashion retailers will start mixing up vats of red dye and paint the town red .... and every sole that walks in it. 

 Louboutin filed an appeal against the court's decision not to grant an injunction stopping YSL's production of red soled shoes.  in a traditional diva like fashion, YSL has filed an appellate brief on tuesday, january 3rd, YSL fired back with a appellate brief in response to Loubs appeal of the court ruling. 


these shoes are coveted and adorned by any one who wears them or wishes they could.  the red cloud that is walked on has a special meaning behind them that no other shoes has.   besides, who wants to do a double take of a forever 21 knock-off?  with this ruling, i wonder where we will see red soled shoes next?

if the shoe fits

image source: decor

as of late i have been on quite a shoe binge.  you would think i didnt own one shoe before this month started.  for some reason, everywhere i turned there was an amaze sale going on that i could not pass up.  i bought flats, heels, wedges, boots, open toe (for the summer of course...) you name it i snatched them up.  with amaze sales comes the occasional 1/2 size too small or even 1/2 size too big.... but you figure youll make it work for the price!  here are some tips on making shoes bigger, smaller and more comfortable

making shoes bigger:

*   a shoe repair man can always stretch out your shoes.  they have a special machine to stretch those puppies out, which will usually take about 24 hours.  probably the most effective way to stretch out your shoes.

*  theres an archaic looking product out called a shoe stretcher, go figure.  these are inserted into shoes and can be wound to stretch length-wise or width-wise. 

*  wear thick thick socks and dance around the house with them on.  this will slowly stretch them out. 

making shoes smaller:

*  thick insoles will add a nice cushion and less room for your foot to move around.

*  heel guards will push your foot up and help them to stay in place. 

more comfort:

*  a slew of products are on the market and can be found in any drugstore to give a little oomph in the comfort of your poor feet.  foot petals have everything that you can think of to rescue the heels, balls and insoles of your feet.

*  everyone knows that the summer is notorious for tans, sun and blisters.  band aid has patches to put over any blister that will speed up the process of healing and protect it from the environment.  they also have a stick to roll over any area that will form a protective layer to cut down on any irritation.