When It Is Cold Outside: The Best of Resort 2010

I wish that I could really get into the winter. But as I have gotten older, I have grown to detest the winter. Winter clothes have gotten better over the years but I still loathe it. Why would I want to hide my fab outfit under a wool coat? I don't! So in my little twisted brain, I am strolling around Rio de Janeiro on the most perfect sunny day and heading to have a fabulous lunch with my girls for a little sangria and people watching. Want to know what I packed in my fabulous suitcases? Well, it would definitely be a little bit of Alexander Wang (who recently won me over) and a little bit of Jonathan Saunders and Diane von Furstenberg and absolutely touches of the fab Rachel Roy and Erdem and my fav Miu Miu (because Miuccia Prada knows what a girl really wants). There are a few others that I must have. So here we go!

Sonia Rykiel


Moschino


Miu Miu


Rachel Roy


Jonathan Saunders



Jason Wu


Giambattista Valli


Erdem


Preen


Diane von Furstenberg


Chris Benz


Alexander Wang


3.1 Phillip Lim


{all images via Style.com}

Deal of the Day: Cardi Love @ Victoria's Secret

Totally lovin' this belted cardi available at Victoria's Secret for $29.99 (also available in purple).

What To Wear Out To Party: Top 12 Dresses for Your New Year's Eve

Okay ladies - you only have a few days left to pull it together for the big New Year's Eve bash. So you have your evening planned but no dress. Thanks to overnight shipping, you still have a chance to pull off that perfect look that will take you into 2010. Here are my top 12 picks.

Sequin dress, Haute Hippie @ Shopbop.com, $795.00


Satin floral dress, Charlotte Russe, $32.99


Vintage Sequin dress, Nasty Gal Vintage, $298.00


Orange and Fuschia Satin dress, Lulu's, $49.00


Metallic Linen dress, Erotokritos, The Outnet, $238.00


Ikat Dress, J.Crew, $149.99


Satin dress with Sequins and Flower Embellishment, House of Spy, $91.00


Sequin Fringe dress, Gaspard Yurkievich @ Forward by Revolve, $425.00


Cream Sequin dress, Haven @ Bluefly.com, $79.00


Black with Gold Sequin Design, Forever 21, $29,80


Japonais Print Silk dress, Elizabeth and James @ Net-a-Porter.com, $395.00


Pink Satin Asymmetrical dress, BCBG Max Azria, $124.00

Fab Vintage Find: Italian Riding Boots @ 11Eggs

There is nothing in the world like Italian shoes. The craftsmanship is phenomenal. Hence why I love these fab Italian riding boots by Sesto Meucci. Too small for me which is lucky for you. Otherwise, these fab boots would be mine. The shoes are somewhere between a 6-1/2 and a 7. Get more information at 11Eggs.

Fab Vintage Find: Black and White Delight @ Lucky Sparrow Vintage

Once again, I love you guys but trust me - this would not have made it to the fab vintage find if it were a few inches bigger. LOL. I am loving this black and white sweater dress with this amazing design to it. Get it at Lucky Sparrow Vintage.

Deal of the Day: Snakeprint Clutch by Big Buddha

This snakeprint clutch by Big Buddha is hot. Unfortunately, only the brown one is available. It is too bad because the gray one is way fab. Get yours at Victoria's Secret for $32.99.

Local Designer Spotlight: Darrell Cortez and Capetown

You can tell when a designer has put in his time. When you go to a fashion show and the clothes are impeccably finished and the fabrics are amazing, you know that the designer has been involved in just about every aspect of the fashion industry. Working as a design assistant at DKNY, DC native Darrell Cortez has seen it all. He knew that his life would in some way revolve around fashion. Cortez, the youngest of five, was mesmerized my his older brother's stylish garb. His brother wore Burberry and Polo and Brooks Bros., just to name a few. Cortez would happily accompany him on his shopping trips. These shopping trips made an indelible impression on the 7th grader who would later graduate from the Visual Arts program at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.



But New York was calling and Cortez initially enrolled at Pratt Institute but later transferred to the Fashion Institute of Technology majoring in what else - Fashion Design. But his real studies began at DKNY. As a design assistant, he was privy to that special insider knowledge that one only gets at a design house. He was researching information, running errands, working with designers to get the fabrics that were sent back from the buyers during their travels, helping with model fittings for shows, as well as, doing whatever was needed to help DKNY designers get ready for Market Week (which are the shows/viewings by the buyers that occurs after Fashion Week). He learned things about the industry that he would not find in his textbooks at FIT.



After 2-1/2 year year stint at DKNY, Cortez came back home. He immediately began to build his clientele. But in order to pay the rent, he worked as a costume designer with the renown costume designer, Reggie Ray. Not bad for a job to pay the rent. But NYC was calling him and calling him. It wasn't long before he moved back to NYC to work with celebrity stylist June Ambrose on everything from Busta Rhymes videos to Puffy videos to touring with Missy Elliott. Life was good. Well, almost good.

Back in DC, Darrell's sister was fighting for her life. Funny how life will put things quickly into perspective for you. She was fiercely battling Lupus. Even though it had seemed that she was winning her battle, the Lupus has unexpectedly re-appeared in 1990. He continued to travel back and forth from NYC to DC to support his sister. But in late 1990, Darrell received that one phone call that he had been dreading - come home now. Darrell returned to DC to have those last precious moments with his sister. She passed away in September 1990. In honor of his beloved sister, Cortez became an advocate for Lupus.

His advocacy is a big part of why he became involved with NOVA Fashion Week, set to happen some time in March 2010. The Lupus Foundation is one of the beneficiaries of the week's events. Cortez will be showing his Resort 2010 Collection during NOVA Fashion Week and will also be working feverishly on his Fall/Winter collection for a September debut. Cortez is also focused on styling some of the city's rising stars including Tameka Jones, Kyonte, and Fatso Skinny.

I was fortunate enough to attend his debut of his Spring/Summer 2010 Collection entitled "Capetown," inspired by the Janet Jackson video of the same name. The pictures included in this post are from his Capetown collection. The collection was fabulous. All of the clothes were impeccably finished and his fabric choices were superb. I loved how he mixed patterns - a total risk in this city. The yellow striped jacket is my favorite thing in the collection. Not for my man, but for myself! LOL. But I am a woman who loves a well-dressed man. In DC, that can sometimes be hard to find. So Cortez is focused on helping to change what defines a stylish man in D.C. Yeah! Please do.

Deal of the Day: Rimistyle

This fab belt with its weathered look will go perfectly with your sweater dress, leggings and riding boots. Available for $18.00 @ Rimistyle.

Capitol Fashionista Outing: Hanging with the Guys from TheSmugger.com and my pal Darrell Cortez

Last night, I was invited to attend a trunk show of the collections of my pal Darrell Cortez and Designer Bill Johnson at Bill Johnson Studio. First of all, Bill has a gorgeous house. He is not only a fashion designer but he is an artist. So he practically made all of the furniture in his house. He also had the most amazing drapes (silk dupioni with fringes hanging throughout the fabric). Just gorgeous.

So I walked around to view Bill's collection of menswear. I loved his explanation of his line. He told me that he wanted it to have that "futuristic retro feel." Trust me, it did. So did he. He had on a fab retro outfit and fab shoes. He also restores vintage leather. He had some amazing pieces including this drop dead gorgeous leather coat with a fur color. But I missed getting his picture because he was totally working the room.



I was very excited to see Darrell Cortez's lookbook of his Spring 2010 line called "Capetown." I went to his first showing of his "Capetown" line and it was so fab. I love how he is brave enough to mix patterns in menswear. Take a risk guys! Could you just please take a risk!?!

Darrell Cortez (on the right) and one of the guests

Model John Barnes (with the green striped linen suit) and one of the guests








One of the Founding Editors and the Marketing Operations Director @ TheSmugger.com


But the best part of the evening for me was the conversation that I had with Darrell Cortez, the Editor and Marketing Manager from TheSmugger.com, model John Barnes, and some of the other male guests. It started out with a little history about the usage of the word "Haute Couture," which is reserved for design houses in Paris, only (with the exception of Ralph Rucci - the only American designer allowed to formally use the term). There was discussion about Ready-to-Wear and other fashion industry information. But the conversation got hot when we started to talk about what's missing from the menswear scene here in DC. I was ranting about how guys here don't take risks. That they follow whatever said "Rapper of the Minute" is wearing and go with that. We talked about how we can redefine the term "urban wear" here in DC. How can we expand it to encompass the sort of sophistication that is severely missing from the men's fashion scene in DC.

Enter TheSmugger.com. TheSmugger.com is a D.C.-based lifestyle men's blog. These guys say that they are devoted to changing how men in this city look at fashion. They want the urban look to be a little street, a little sophisticated, and each man's unique statement of who he really is. So much so that they are calling the men who can successfully blend all three, the "urbane male." Bring on the urbane male, please. Again guys, take a risk! So I told them that I am holding them to task, as I am with District Cut, another fab D.C. menswear blog. We women will be forever thankful to you if you guys successfully show men the way to dressing better, caring about their image, and maybe a few lessons in chivalry. Or am I asking for too much?

Deal of the Day: Have Some Fun with Bright Colored Bangles

Put some color in your life. Get some of these fab PONO Italian transparent resin bangles dyed in beautiful, bright colors. On sale for $28.00 @ Rilee and Lo.

How To Wear A Suit With Short @ sublet clothing

Although, I don't see me wearing a shorts suit to work because work dress for me is somewhat conservative. Even though I regularly see women dressed like they are going to the club. But I digress. This is the loveliest suit that I have seen. I just couldn't figure out how it would work. But sublet clothing has figured it out for me. If I worked in a different environment, I would rock this look. I love the cutesy blouse underneath, too.