Aidah Fontenot is a talented lady. Not only does she make a mean piece of couture, she’s well versed in graphic design, photography, and fine art! Her new Etsy shop features her Aidah Collection, a sexy, elegant, relaxed line of one of a kind pieces. Her line is inspired by art and nature and is designed to enhance your natural curves. I plan on making several trips to the Cape this summer and Aidah’s designs are perfect for a relaxing day by the ocean . . . she also has some beautiful gowns (like the Amber gown) for those hot nights out!

Everyone knows that everyone needs to do more to reduce their environmental footprint. We get it. We do what we can . . . we buy organic products, we use canvas bags instead of plastic and we try to shop at places that care. One thing that’s kind of annoying about the whole “green movement” is the in-your-face aspect of it . . . I mean, I guess some people need a constant reminder to be eco-friendly, but you have to admit some people are over-kill. They drive up to you in their Pruis, step out in a green shirt, with the green recycle symbol on it, sip their organic soy- latte from their 100% recycled and reusable travel mug and scoff at you as you order you accept your macchiato in a landfill cluttering paper cup (yes, I actually had someone tell me that I “really should consider bringing” my own mug). Anyway, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t all strive to be better, I’m just saying we can be subtle about it. That’s why I love Lika Volkova and Alessandro DeVito’s hot collection SANS. Using innovative fabrics like soy, organic Japanese denim and recycled polyester, SANS creates sexy modern shapes that are gorgeous and eco-friendly.

While their stunning collection is more suitable for a gallery opening than for the day to day, SANS also offers a cute line of soy socks for those who want to to spice up that boring suit (which I don’t have to wear today because I have the day off!!). Anyway, SANS does the whole eco thing in a very cool, very sexy, very subtle way. You’ll look great in their designs and you can feel good about buying them!

Also check out:

We make $ Not Art reviews Biospiracy-the new colonialism

Being Hunted loves Organic Pharmacy Skin Care

Your daily does of Protein offers a review of Little Zero

I’m hoping to do more site updates this weekend. I keep going back and forth as to whether or not I want to have an “Urban Socialite Shop” section of the site. . . many of you have suggested it and I’m still trying to figure out exactly the best way to make it happen. Anyway, if I did have a shop on this site, I’d be sure to stock great brands like Roberta Oaks!

Hailing from gorgeous Hawaii and dedicated to supporting ethical practices and a sustainable economy and planet, Roberta Oaks is most definitely a brand with conscience. She uses eco-friendly fabrics and creates all of her designs at a local sewing shop in Honolulu. Roberta Oaks Power started this island-based company in 2004, selling her gorgeous designs on the beach and at art fairs. Lucky for you, she’s branched out into various boutiques around the world and a fabulous online shop.

By now you probably know my style and this line does a great job of defining it… sexy, comfortable, breezy, unique and inspired! Hopefully youe weekend is all of those things and more! Later.

The Star50 handbag contest has finally come to an end! I’ll randomly select one of the submissions and post the winner tomorrow. Thanks so much for all the entires and all the cool facts about your states, I really enjoyed reading them! Good luck!!

Today’s featured designer is Nixxi…. This Canadian based company was founded on a love for design, a respect for nature, and a focus on social sustainability. Nixxi is committed to making beautiful clothing in a conscientious fashion.
Designer Jada-lee Watson ’s collections feature fabrics that have been made with organic and sustainable fibres. This is not only an ecologically conscious choice, but an inspired one, “In finding so much inspiration in the luxury and texture of eco-fabrics, we couldn’t imagine using anything else.”
Offering timeless styles with careful attention to quality, beauty and versatility; Nikki’s hope is that everyone who wears nixxi feels comfortable, playful, and sensually beautiful.

TGIF. Seriously. I’m in desperate need of some R&R. Last night at Girl’s Night Out the wine and lemonade cocktails were flowing… all I really wanted was a massage, but the line was literally out the door. I figured the stress it would have caused me to wait in line would negate the whole purpose of the massage… better just to fork over the money and not have to deal with it, you know? Anyway, the scene was full of “look-at-me” ladies, scrambling to snatch up bargains from the various vendors there. Fun times!

Today’s featured designer is Katherine Pont, of Mine, London. I love her ability to do feminine with a twist of tomboy! Katherine takes a holistic approach to design as each collection is composed with a story in mind which unfolds as the collection takes shape.Everything down to the naming of each individual garment is considered in this process. It is this fairytale sense of creation coupled with Katherine’s hand drawn embroidery and print embellishments that give her line it’s signature style. The Mine aesthetic is sophisticated with a playful spirit… it has distinctively vintage feel coupled with a cool modern interpretation.

Stop by her site, check out collections, and be sure to check out Katherine’s MySpace page as well!

Did any of you catch the C’s and Cav’s last night?? What a game! I’m so excited for the C’s success this year. . . but I have to admit it was hard seeing Big Ben and King James lose like that! Speaking of losses, isn’t about time for Hil Hil to throw in the towel?? Okay, I”m done with the personal commentary for today. . . on to fashion.

Doie was “born from the idea that it is possible to be stylish and comfortable while still helping the environment.” All of designer Sara Kirsner’s clothes are made with a combo of bamboo jersey (super-soft, breathable, and earth friendly) and silk. Doie’s luxurious creations are comfy enough for lounging around on the weekends and sleek enough to carry you into the night. The cutest part, is that Sara named the collection after her grandmother who, well into her eighties, is still a style icon! How cute! All of her pieces are made locally in NYC and can be purchased at various online boutiques like Nimli and The Öko Box.

For those of you who have been commenting, I finally fixed the comments box so it fits my template. I’ve been teaching myself CSS which is actually more intuitive than HTML, but the comments box thing really threw me for a loop. Anyway its all fixed, so comment away!

I actually have the day off because my crazy (and I mean that in the endearing sense) friend from college is getting married. She’s the one in the “about” section who has climbed Mt. Everest several times. She loooves Nepal and it’s only fitting that I post about a great online boutique, Uttam Direct.

The brand was founded over 10 years ago by Uttam, who in 1994 began selling knitwear from his home country of Nepal, in London’s popular Camden Market. Uttam’s hand-made goods, constructed with vibrant colours, hand-stitched embroidery, and creative embellishments, gained local and international popularity. The continuing growth and success of the brand led to the development of the Uttam Direct website, and the launch of the stylish new Yumi brand.
Inspired by the East, Uttam Direct’s designs embrace the traditions and beauty of Nepal, India, and Japan. The site only sell clothes by Uttam and Yumi, whose styles are created by a design team renowned for using techniques such as patchwork, tie-dye, appliqué, hand-stitched beading and embroidery, and printed knitwear, chiffons, and silks. The collections are developed carefully – often involving several sample stages until the design is perfected.

You’ll love their colorful designs (you guessed it) just in time for summer!

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My inbox is still flooded with contest entries!! The chance to win Star50’s bag-a-kini will be open until March 12, so keep the entries coming!

In the spirit of all things good for the planet and all things fun to wear, I felt compelled to introduce you LA-based fashion designer Amanda Shi and her creative label, Avita.

She developed the name Avita from the Italian word “vita,” meaning life. And it is obvious that her vision encompasses not only the richness that clothing brings to our lives, but in the case of eco friendly apparel – “vita” means making our planet a better place to live.

Her aesthetic designs blend classic with contemporary touches, and include sweaters, tanks, dresses and a variety of sheer over-lays with bold patches, asymmetrical lines and strategically placed cutouts. The result is unique, offbeat designs that can be worn for work or play.

Avita is committed to ethical and sustainable fashion, and championing the idea that luxury can be socially conscious. By utilizing recycled, organic and earth-friendly materials, Avita has crafted collections that are truly eco-friendly, indulging customers in high fashion and social awareness.

One of the coolest things about her collection is you can literally shop right off the runway (at very reasonable prices)!

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Of course I’m sure you all want to know about the contest. Urban Socialite is giving away the bag-a-kini!! Just in time for the summer!

The e-mail responses have been overwhelming, that being said, it’ll be hard to pick a winner!

Some highlights:

- A ghostly entry from Virgina has enlightened me about the state’s mythical “Fairystones.”

- Sydney, in Ohio, has to deal with those annoying cicadas every 17 years (we have them on the Cape too… ewww!!!)

- Shana, from Michigan, loves to camp in the “thumb” of the mitten every summer.

- Naomi, in Kansas, says that trees there grow at an angle because the winds are so strong.

- Anne says that everyone in Florida is from somewhere else, and she’s proud that her kids are 4th generation Floridians!

I love the pictures that some of you have been posting with your responses. Keep this up and I’ll have to do giveaways more often!
Sue, who organized the whole giveaway, and I are really excited about the fun responses we’ve been getting. Keep ‘em coming!
Just e-mail something cool or unique about your state to brooke@urbansocialite.com or use the form in the contact page and select option “contest entry.”

If you’re a designer and would like to set up a giveaway to UrbanSocialite readers, just drop me a line at designer@urbansocialite.com .

After a complicated day, there’s nothing like reviewing Mobius Lounge’s simply spectacular clothing line.

Mobius Lounge is all about crossroads. The brand focuses on creating gorgeous garments that soften the frenetic busy lifestyle (ugh, don’t I know it) and give a luxury feel to the casual side of life. In other words, Mobius Lounge is “life simplified.”

Mobius Lounge is a two-year old company that specializes in premium knitwear for men and women. They use the soft and comfortable fabrics in an effort to counteract the harshness of the day. Mobius means “infinite,” (the mathematical property of being non-orientable), a fitting word for a line that offers infinite possibilities for men and women who need and appreciate choices. Geared toward a city-casual lifestyle, the philosophy behind the line is a mix and match approach to fabrics and style, making dressing a snap for both business and pleasure.

Their motto? “Life can be complicated, but dressing for the moment has never been so simple.”

Simple is good. So is sleep. I’m about to crash.

The tricky part about style is looking great while at the same time, looking like you put no effort into it whatsoever. (Some of of our face-painted fake-boobed celebrities still have a lot to learn). Anyway, I love it when women come off looking like they just rolled out of bed looking fabulous. That effortless beauty. Finding an outfit that can achieve that for you would normally take a day on Newbury Street (if you live in Boston, of course) scouring boutiques and braving the Newbury Street style-clones (seriously, they all look the same!) Luckily you have me and I have Tricky Threads!

Tricky Threats designer Sarah Goldstein gained retail fashion industry savvy by spending six years as a buyer for the Emphatic Boutique in Fred Segal Santa Monica. By paying close attention to trends and listening to her customers, Goldstein noticed that there was something missing. In 2002, she decided to fill the void by launching Tricky Threads, her own lifestyle collection carried exclusively at Emphatic.

Goldstein wanted to provide her customers with wardrobe staples that were comfortable but also sleek, practical but also fashionable. Tricky Threads introduced convertible pieces made of buttery-soft jersey with fits that transitioned from an easy everyday skirt to a sassy little dress perfect for a night out.

For Emphatic customers, it was “love at first fit” and the line had a tremendous sell through. Almost instantly, the boutique created a massive database of customers who requested to be notified as soon as a new Tricky Threads piece hit the sales floor.

Slowly, Goldstein began to introduce more tailored, fashion-forward items into the collection. In Spring 2007, Tricky Threads opened distribution and was picked up by over 100 specialty boutiques worldwide!!

Find a Tricky-Loving boutique near you!

One of the most frustrating things about a lot of my featured designers is that I could never wear them to work. It’s always a super-formal suit with a cool pair shoes and maybe some flashy jewelry, although nothing too flashy. I always get excited when I find a designer that’s versatile enough to wear to work and fun enough to wear on the weekends. Hence, my obsession with designer rag & bone. The company was founded in 2001 and all of their clothes are made in the USA. I love their sleek sexy lines and their sophisticated take on classic cuts. To shop check out shopbop, cusp, or tobi.

Lalesso is a brand I fell in love with a while back and I thought today would be a perfect day to share this wonderful Kenyan clothing line with you!

Lalesso was created by Alice and Olivia who met while studying fashion design in Cape Town. The pair traveled to Olivia’s home country of Kenya over a holiday where they were inspired by the beautiful “khanga” or “lesso” which prompted the creation of their trademark Lesso skirt. The ‘lesso’ is actually a spotted handkerchief brough to the East African Coast in the 19th century from India. Kenyan and Tanzanian manufactures loved the scarves and began creating their own, using the rich vibrant colors that you see today. (For more check out “The History of the Lesso“).

Alice and Olivia not only create beautiful clothes, they run a holistic company as well. By using the ‘khanga’ Lalesso supports the threatened cotton industry as well as the textile manufacturing industry in both Kenya and Tanzania. The fabric is hand washed in the Indian Ocean before being individually hand crafted into one of their gorgeous designs. The brand manufactures in Kenya using previously unrecognized talents of local seamstresses and tailors. They employ seven people and pay their employees much higher than the average wage. Their goal is to create beautiful garments while increasing the quality of life of their employees. I especially like their employment of the ‘beach boys.’ They describe the beach boys as a group of young men who had been type-cast as “useless outlaws” who had been “rejected from the their families.” The company hired them for their “coconut button project” where they make hand made buttons for the garments from coconuts. Alice and Olivia certainly made the right decision as the details in their clothes are yet another thing that sets them apart. Furthermore, the ‘beach boys’ lead by Mohamed, Jumaa, and ‘co.’ have shown incredible initiative with the project. “Not only this, but now have a stable and adequate income, not just for themselves but they have been re-accepted into their families as they can now contribute.”

Lalesso is definitely a brand you can feel good about buying and you’ll definitely turn heads in their gorgeous designs and beautiful fabrics!

For an interview with the designers check out Jamati Online (April 7).

Be sure to check out the Bazaar section of the site to shop (sometimes the site takes a minute to load, so be patient! It’s worth the wait!)

I’m feeling a bit under the weather today which is ironic because it’s supposed to be 80 degrees here in the bean. I can’t wait for summer to start!!
Anyway, a few things. One, with spring here and summer just around the corner, its time to start stocking up on some breezy summer-wear. If you’re around NYC between April 30th and May 2nd, be sure to swing by 161 W 22nd Street (this means you Chloe) for Olga Kapustina’s annual spring and summer dress sample sale. At 50 - 70% off you can afford to stock up! Click here for video of her Spring 2008 collection.

Sample Sale Details:

WHO: Olga Kapustina
WHAT: Annual Sample Sale
WHEN: Wednesday, APRIL 30th & Thursday, MAY 1ST, 9AM- 8PM / Friday, MAY 2nd, 9AM- 7PM
WHERE: 161 W 22nd Street, Between 6th/7th Avenues, 3rd Floor
WHY: 50-70% off summer and spring dresses! Silk “party dresses” and cotton office looks. Sizes 0-10.

Two, if you’re around Boston and are looking for something amazing to do around the same time, stop by Style Fixx’s “girls night out” May 7th and 8th. I’ll be there with my ever-so-stylish friend Lauren, sampling all the great services (mani’s, pedi’s, makeovers, massages, etc.) and all the yummy food and cocktails! On top of that, dozens of great designers and brands are going to be there (including your new favorite, Ame and Lulu) so be sure to stop by!
Let me know if you’re going and I might be able to hook you up with a great deal!

Not in Boston? Check back often for upcoming events in LA, Atlanta, and Chicago!

Lastly, this week is Administrative Professionals Week! Be sure to celebrate those wonderful professionals who get you through your day! While you’re at it, stop by the Naughty Secretary Club’s annual sale (celebrating this week of recognition) and get 25% off everything!! Hurry, sale ends April 26th!

“There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams — not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion…”

- The Great Gatsby

I think I’ve read that book about two-dozen times. Every time I read it I’m blow away by Fitzgerald’s writing. His prose is just breathtaking and of course I love the story and the way each character develops. I never really liked Daisy, but then again she’s not meant to be a likable character. Despite her obvious flaws, one thing is certain, you know she was a fabulous dresser. Remember that part where she and Jordan are sitting on the giant sofa with the wind blowing through the open windows? Well I always imagined Daisy was wearing something like the dress above.

Thanks to Lovenia designer Heidi Handler, such fashion doesn’t have to be left to the imagination. Combining couture fabrics such as natural silks and cottons from the best mills in Europe, quality American tailoring, and fresh silhouettes that are at once feminine and architectural, Lovenia is a modern take on true personal luxury. “It’s all about what feels good on your skin and unexpected proportions,” says Heidi Handler.

I love her light and airy dresses inspired by the Jazz era. She combines classic silhouettes with bold new proportions creating a contrast between controlled structure and ethereal fluidity. There’s ultra-feminine draping and layering plus surreal touches like overlapping bands that graze the arms, low-hanging shoulder straps, sexy shirred bodices and sophisticated peplums. Colors, meanwhile, range from midnight blue to natural oatmeal. “It’s pure glamour, but it’s organic and there’s a modern ease about it, too,” Handler says.

The quintessential Lovenia girl, Handler says, “is both an international glamour girl and someone ‘earthy.’ She’s independent and free-thinking. These are dresses you treasure, ones that you will want to wear forever.”

Gen Art Pulse also loves Lovenia!

I’m not much of a shoe person… but I almost fell out of my chair when I saw these adorable heels from Naugthy Monkey. The best part? They’re under $100! The floral tunic? Under $40! Both items are from the same place and, I’m not gonna lie, part of me wants to keep this on-line boutique to myself. I love going out in something no one else has and looking like I spent tons of money on it… especially when it was great deal (remember, I’m subsisting on a “public interest” salary here). But, in light of Ali’s suggestion that my readers would love her boutique, I thought I’d share.

LuLu*s started with the vision of providing the latest for the fashionably hip along with providing exceptional value, quality, and superb customer service. Since its’ inception in 1996, LuLu*s has grown from a mother-daughter dream to one of the web’s most outstanding shopping experiences. They offer a select choice of clothing, shoes and accessories. Their brands consist of emerging new designers and their buyers travel the world [lucky them!] so that you can find a style to call your own. They buy in very limited quantities and many of their items come fresh from our designers’ studios.

I’m literally obsessed with this on-line shop. Not only does it have some of the cutest things I’ve seen in a long time, its totally user friendly and fun to browse. They also add new items every week, which means you have an excuse to keep stopping by!

I need coffee… more later!