I arrived early – there were only a few other people at the boutique – so I made myself comfortable with a bottle of water from the open bar and perused the decor along the walls. A short while after, a few more people began to arrive when I heard someone say behind me, “This place is so cute, isn’t it?”

I turned to see who was talking to me and found a petite woman standing with a bouquet of tulips. As it turns out, the woman, named Aida, was the knitter who worked on several of Anthony Franco’s collection pieces. She had known the designer for about 15 years and had worked on his collections before. After a very nice chat with Aida, and learning about what I was going to see, the first model opened the show.

Here are some of my favorite pieces…

Winter White Cashmere Tux (the opening piece)

Red Chiffon Gown with Built-in Corset

Grey Plaid Suit & Vest, Grey Shirt and Chain Tie

Sand Beaded Gown (the closing piece)

The collection was reminiscent of a glamorous past; the 70′s to be exact. Combinations of gold and black, knitted frocks, hand-dyed feathers and draping, beaded gowns graced the showroom floor of the Craig Olsen Boutique. In the end, the show was a success, and Anthony Franco closed the show receiving a great round of applause from all the guests.

You can catch glimpse of the entire collection here, as well as a sneak peek of the backstage action with the models and the designer.

All images courtesy of Jeff King Photography.

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One of my favorite collections of the season was Proenza Schouler’s. Not only were the Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough-designed fashions stunning — I mean seriously, the boys made velvet and fringe look to-die-for cool — but the hair was absolutely spot-on and made for a look that I’m sure many woman will be looking to re-create.

The look was created by Paul Hanlon for Frederic Fekkai, who remarked that he “sought to bring out the purity of the Proenza Schouler collection by keeping hair natural, glossy and pulled back to accentuate an open neck.” Hanlon envisioned the hair of a Navajo Indian-meets-All American girl. This was definitely in keeping with the inspiration for the collection, which stemmed from a trip the designers took from Santa Fe to Wyoming. The result was hair all one length with soft, razored ends to give the girls a style that felt easy and wearable, but a touch sassy grunge.

Get the Look

By adding 22-inch extensions around the crown of the head and paying special attention to any areas with shorter layers, you can achieve a long languid silhouette ready to pull back into this pony. That is, unless you already have long hair. Once finished, hair should rest just above the waist.

Start by parting the hair slightly off center, and apply the Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to the front of the hair, forming a frame. Next, apply the COIFF Perfecteur Anti-Frizz Silkening Crème and Fekkai Advanced Salon Technician Color Care Anti-Fade Top Coat to the hair, ironing the front pieces to seal in sleekness and shine. Gather hair midway down the back and pull into a low ponytail and tie the end into a slight knot. To finish the look, spray the Fekkai Coiff Oceanique Tousled Wave Spray and Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray. This will create a dry, rough texture for the back of the hair that makes the style feel relaxed, unique and individualized.

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First of all, if you are an avid follower of this blog, you may already know that I adore H&M. They make the best clothes for the lowest prices. If you want to look fabulous without the excessive strain on your wallet, itÂ’’s the place for you.

But perhaps you donÂ’t know that I am absolutely smitten with Lanvin. Artistic director Alber Elbaz is literally a genius. He creates the most luxurious clothes imaginable; amazing silhouettes, dresses that float down the runway and separates with structure in perfect color combinations.

I could spend hours salivating over his runway photos. I wish I could live in a Lanvin store. The fashions are eye-catching, mouth-dropping and crave-inducing.

Basically, they are sublime.

So you can imagine my sheer giddiness when I found out that one of my all-time favorite design houses was going to collaborate with the best chain store for low-priced fashion loot. Yep. I pretty much fell off my computer chair.

Today, the first ads for the line hit the Internet, and the world got a glimpse of the collection. What should you expect? Structured shoulders, rich-hued mini-dresses, black satin and oversize blazers are just a few items to look out for. I cannot wait to see more.

Elbaz was recently quoted saying that he wasnÂ’’t a “cool designer.” Well, after a string of highly successful runway shows and a taste of this next venture, I would really have to beg to differ with that skewed perception!

The line debuts in its entirety Nov. 2 on the H&M website. Watch for the fashions to hit H&M shelves on Nov. 23. And while you are waiting in anxious anticipation, I would strongly recommend checking out the photos of the latest Lanvin catwalk for Spring/Summer 2011. They are pretty much phenomenal.

Do you love designer collaborations as much as I do?! Which fashionable labels would you love to see pair up? Let me know in the comments.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/fukagawa/1969750018

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The World Fair Trade Association promotes fair trade modules of consumerism and production: larger companies promise to enrich and support life in poorer areas of the world from buying their goods from the area and offering fair prices and comparable salaries for work and trade. Organizations like People Tree are founded on the principle of promoting fair trade in fashion.

So while the designs are contemporary and come from the freshest designers in the United States and Japan, the wools and dyeing processes happen in less-developed areas of the world, but these areas are given a generous and fair compensation for their work efforts.

People Tree is a United Kingdom organization dedicated to healthy, sustainable modules of fashion and clothing production. You can check out their website here and a list of ways to get involved here.

Celebrities are quickly catching on to the Fair Trade changes in the fashion industry – People Tree is currently supported by Emma Watson, who has just promoted her own line through the company. Awesome!

Image courtesy of peopletree.uk

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“Fashion is all about looking good. But in these eco-conscious times, consumers are also looking to feel good about the clothing they wear.” – Mission Savvy and GG2G Partner with Farm Sanctuary

What does it mean to be eco-friendly? We usually think about turning off all the lights when we go to bed at night and only eating locally-grown produce. But what about what you wear? What do you need to know to dress eco-consciously?

Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading animal-welfare protection agency, is partnering with many fashion retailers and designers to work towards sustainable, animal-free fashion. Companies like GG2G and Mission Savvy have already signed up, and their styles have really heated up thanks to this partnership. The companies are pledging not only to change to safer chemicals for their manufacturing, but also donating a cut of their profits to animal protection organization. The Mission Savvy Voice collection has pledged to donate directly to Farm Sanctuary’s advocacy work for animals. GG2G will also be using recycled materials for their new line of handbags. Looking at the styles, I’m convinced: this is a movement to be a part of.

So what should you keep in mind for your eco-friendly fashion? Look for companies that pledge to use recycled or partially-recycled materials, donate a cut of their profits to animal or environmental advocacy organizations, or pledge to use non-toxic materials. Also, don’t be afraid to buy vintage. Reuse clothing: stuff still looks great if it’s been warn a couple of times. Your vintage shoes, scarves, shirts, etc. will feel like new.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/volantra/3531586044

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Shopping for designer jeans was a nightmare. Everything was the wrong length, and even with a professional hem, the jeans would not have looked good. After trying on maybe one hundred pairs, I settled on a pair of Seven for All Mankind Jeans that were okay. After I got them hemmed, I hated them. They ended up sitting in my closet until I finally gave them away. What a waste of $150!

As I’ve grown older, my tastes have evolved, and I’ve become much smarter about how I shop for jeans. I’ve noticed that what makes or breaks a pair of jeans is where the “intended” knee hits the “actual” knee. You can notice this discrepancy by looking at how the designer intended the jeans to fit. Before you buy or try on, look at a photo to compare with how the jeans look on you. Got an iPhone or other smartphone with Internet? Take it out to take a look while in the dressing room.

My personal rule: if the intended knee is lower than the actual knee, the jeans won’t look good – even when hemmed. As hard as it is to separate yourself from that perfect jean wash, you must move on – the perfect jeans are out there somewhere, and you need to be picky before you settle.

So how should you shop for designer jeans as a petite woman?

Tip 1: First, don’t rule out the possibility of a good hem job. If the jean fits perfectly everywhere except below the knee, chances are that you’ll be fine with that particular pair. Don’t be afraid to buy and take it to a tailor.

Tip 2: Wash your jeans before you get them hemmed so that you can avoid any shrinkage. Your inseam is better too long than too short.

Tip 3: Try to find brands that make jeans in petite inseams. Joe’s Jeans and Citizens of Humanity are two brands that fit petite women well. I have a pair of Citizens that I wear quite often, and I absolutely love the washes, styles, and cuts of Joe’s Jeans. Unfortunately, Joe’s don’t fit me – women with wider hips tend to do well with Joe’s.

Want to keep browsing through more brands? Check out women’s petite jeans from Smarter.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/helga/3754731106

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After reviewing jewelry designed by Carla Reiter, I have a newfound appreciation for art within a jewelry piece: a winning combination of quality and style. This jewelry maker has a strong handmade feel for knitted silver, gold, and copper material used in her collection. Her jewelry is not mass produced or renditions of marketplace accessories: this is pure art.

After looking at some styles in her collection, I was unable to grasp the concept of the design in itself. Knowing the materials and intricacy of each design had gained my interest. But when I saw a picture of a model wearing this stylish sculpture I was in awe. When worn, the captivation of each piece is inexplicable. She mentions that her jewelry is made to accentuate the curvature of the wristbone or collarbone, paying attention to detail and how the material lays on the human form. Carla Reiter is able to combine a sophisticated understanding of anatomy, physiology, and aesthetics.

My favorite styles are the ones which are richly patinated copper with small diamonds. The mixture of sparkly gemstone and rawness of copper make a unique balance of subdued elegance. I have never seen anything like this anywhere, and the only thing that would make me hesitant is the weight of the materials used when worn. Other than that, this is truly a perfectly tailored piece of nature’s beauty.

Carla was born in Palo Alto, California and raised in the Midwest. She went to Indiana University to study silversmithing but switched to sculpture after absorbing the rudiments of jewelry technique. She had imagined such elaborate designs and the possibilities of such techniques challenged her creations. With her background and knowledge of art and sculpture, this creative silvermith started hand- knitting three dimensional pieces with an understanding of the human body.

Check out Carla Reiter’s collections.

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Apparently, the technology has been in the works for quite a while. In simplistic terms, it’s possible to coat cotton fibers with solar-absorbing nanoparticles that are less than 100 nanometers thin. As a resullt, the cottom remains flexible,  allowing the dress can drape naturally. Cornell University has patented this technology.

In theory, I like her idea. Sometimes, I get really lazy about charging my iPhone, camera, and music player, so having a sun-powered dress or tee shirt would really come in handy. I’m not kidding: if it looked good, I would wear a solar-powered outfit.

Abbey’s professors pioneered the technology, and Abbey innovated and ran with it. For taking an idea and making it real, she deserves a high-five.

At the same time, I’m iffy about the application of her design. The dress looks a little too space-age for my tastes, and I believe that the futuristic design coupled with the futuristic stigma of this concept will immediately turn people away. Here are the knee-jerk reactions that I visualize: “a solar-powered dress? That’s weird” or “a solar powered dress? That’s cool, but I’d never wear it.”

Quite frankly, I don’t want to look like I’m wearing a tribute to The Jetsons. Instead, I’d like my solar technology, functional fashion sense, and electronics charging to be a bit more subtle and discrete. After all, it’s not always pretty when the worlds of fashion and gadgets collide.

Liebman plans to expand her fashion line with additional designs. I’m interested and excited to see what she creates and if she can somehow incorporate this great idea into something that’s fashion instead of a gadget. Women’s clothing always needs innovation, and experimentation is the best way to accomplish great results.

Photo Credit: Tina C

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Some of the top Dolce & Gabbana styles to check out this season:

Dolce & Gabbana Wallet Handbag: $469.00

Awe the crowd with this dandy little purse, sleek and elegant to pair with night or day looks!

Dolce & Gabbana Monokini: $207.00

Sweep the beach with this sassy style, brought to you in the best quality and cut from Dolce & Gabbana’s classic look.

Shop for more Dolce & Gabbana women’s clothing at Smarter.com.

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To get ready for your own movie premiere, here are some clothes to wear to the theatre in honor of the glitz and glamour that will glitter this screen:

Robert Rodriguez Glitter Strapless Dress: $594.00

Pleaser USA Thigh High Boots: $69.00

Shop for affordable women’s boots and women’s dresses.

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