I’m sort of in a daze this morning, so please excuse the late post and any typos that might result. I’m trying to make sense of all the craziness in my life right now… which of course means late night conversations and contemplations which can create a zombie-like situation the next morning. I guess that’s what large (or Venti or whatever, I Starbucks-lingo) iced caramel macchiatos are for! I will try to write more later… in fact one company actually approached me about writing a kind of diary-style blog about my life. I really don’t think I’m that interesting so I will likely stick with the fashion. If I change my mind, you’ll be the first to know! Speaking of fashion…
Today’s post is about a fun, whimsical, NYC based design house called Doucette Duvall. About the line:

Stephanie Doucette and Annebet Duvall met in March 2003 as neighbors in Manhattan’s Little Italy, where they chit-chatted on their Mulberry Street fire escape.

A few years later, on Valentine’s Day 2005, the pair launched Doucette Duvall, a dress and coat line that sought to fill a fashion void in their own wardrobes. Their whimsical yet timeless designs embodied the wit and elegance of their mothers, grandmothers and aunties. And like the women who influenced their fashion style, the designers strongly encourage the personal interpretation of each piece.

Doucette Duvall practices environmental and social responsibility by manufacturing the entire collection in New York City’s historic garment district, using pre-existing fabric and trim, shunning extraneous garment bags and hang tags, and shipping in recycled boxes only. Look for the “little green dress” in each collection as a reminder of their commitment to Madame Earth. A portion of the proceeds from the lgd are donated to the non-profit group, Build it Green, who share a similar reuse ideal.  For more information, please visit: www.bignyc.org.

Doucette Duvall is selectively distributed in fine and specialty boutiques throughout the United States and abroad.

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions, please keep them coming! The best brands are the ones you suggest. Just drop me a line: brooke@urbansocialite.com. 

Nothing like stopping someone on the street and being like, “OMG, where did you get that jacket?!”
See the lengths I go to to bring you great fashion?
The jacket, I was told, was from Elevate and Collide an up-and-coming label due to release their first full collection in stores soon (they’re scheduled for Pool in 09′). E&C designer Susan Brunet recently did an interview with  Shopflick and you can find a couple of her pieces at Revolve (love the grey jacket).

I need to elevate myself from this seat and collide with a shower before I’m super late for work. That was cheesy, I know … I’ll try to post more later on today.

A certain someone has had me smiling incessantly for weeks (months?!) now. To the point I told this certain someone that they are personally responsible for the ever-increasing smile lines that have developed since I’ve known them. I was going to make them pay for Botox (ok, it’s not quote at the Botox level… yet….) but then the Gods from Prescriptives sent me a little miracle in a tube known as “Super Line Preventor Xtreme Lifting Concentrate.” Yikes. A mouthful, right? I figured I try it, because it seems like there’s no end in sight to my perma-smile predicament. This stuff, like everything Prescriptives makes (I still use and obsess over “Good in Bed”) is awesome! It even got rid of the little worry line I have been developing on my forehead since I was like, 18. Or maybe it’s the smiling that did that? Either way I’m hooked on both (the Lifting Concentrate and the source of my smiles).

Moving along to another addiction/ obsession. I’m so excited about Pre-Loved because they are just that, Pre-Loved by moi, so I know you will absolutely adore them.
Pre-Loved designer Julia Grieve is a true renaissance woman. After working in the international fashion industry for over a decade, Julia was ready to transcend the world of modeling and invest her energy and fashion sense into designing for her own retail store. Now celebrating its 14th year of business, Pre-Loved is one of the hottest spots on Toronto’s Queen Street West. The company has made its mark with their second store on the trendy St. Laurent strip in the fashion Mecca of Montreal as well as a wholesale clientele that spans the globe.

Julia started this company 13 years ago with a fashion first focus. “The environmental aspect of the company wasn’t in the forefront,” said Julia. However, her practices have proven to be good not only for your look, but for the planet as well. To date she has recycled over 60,000 (WOW!) sweaters and turned them into gorgeous pieces like you see above. Love the fact that she was inadvertently ahead of her time with her proven-to-be eco-friendly practices!

You will love the way she takes vintage pieces and fashions them into modern looks. Check out this interview with Julia and Peter Friesen, two of the designers behind this  innovative fall collection. Also be sure to check out the song of the day below.

With all this talk of eco-couture I realized I’ve been neglecting one of  the most important parts of dressing… your underwear of course!
Sometimes the thing that makes or breaks an outfit is what lies beneath… which is why you will heart T. Luxe!

T. Luxe is an innovative lingerie line that uses sustainable practices with the lowest impact on the environment possible. They use organic silks and bamboo, eco-friendly dying processes and even the energy used to produce the garments is off-set through carbon off-set programs.

All that eco-stuff aside, their lingerie is sexy, comfortable and will definitley add to that already confident bounce you have in your step.

I have to go to East Boston today. I’m a little scared.

More later.

Running late, as always. I hope you like my song of the day. I’ve had it on repeat at the gym for the past week. Just like the fashion world, I’m feeling old school right now…. lol. Anyway, today’s designer is Yael Aflalo, the creative mind behind YAYA AFLALO and LOVE YAYA. Over the past nine years Yael has focused on a building a company that focuses on the individual. As a result, her collections feature unique, sexy, and decidedly comfortable pieces. Instead of designing for the masses and gearing her looks towards the trends, she designs for herself  and the “YAYA girls.” The result are two gorgeous collections and clothes that will help you define yourself, instead of defining who you are (you know how some companies do, with gaudy labels and tragic trendiness….).

I have 15 min to pull myself together… this should be interesting!

Ok that title has absolutely no relevance to my life right now… but I thought it worked because the brand of the day is eventide. It was either that, or a play on Pearl Jam’s Evenflow… and I figured I’ve already given you enough crazy music for one day.

Designers Sarah Spratt and Christian Stroble were influenced by their “stark and industrial hometowns” (Detroit and NY) and an appreciation for classic modern style. My favorite designers are those who take classic shapes and give them a modern twist. Never a slave to the trends, eventide is just that, a consistently even-keeled design house offering super-wearable pieces. Be sure to check them out!

• Ok… about fashion week. As you know I don’t usually write about fashion week. I figure everyone else is and I’ve never been one to do what everyone else is doing.  Coutorture, of which I’m a member has some great coverage.  My favorite site for Fashion Week is NY Magazine. I could spend hours clicking through their catalog of runway photos. So far I’m liking what I see from Rock & Republic, Catherine Malandrino and Monique Lhuillier.

• Also of note, Top Shop opened their US store yesterday… as you know, KM has her collection there. It’s definitely worth checking out (and exciting we can shop there now!)

• Lastly, Kardinall Offishall has finally released a new album. It’s a bit more commercial than Firestarter and his mixtapes, but there are some really great songs!

A simple conversation led to a certain feeling, that feeling created the need for a five mile run, that run prompted the runner to ask for a sign and 45 minutes later the runner literally ran into it… pretty cool huh? Anyway that’s my continuing explanation for the song of the day (below).  The 90s was such a special time.
Today’s designer is BB Dakota… you’ll notice when you click on her website there’s music playing. Generally I DESPISE when fashion designers play music on their sites… to the point where I’ve actually questioned my judgment in their ability after listening to their taste in music. No joke. Anyway, I have to hand it to Gloria Brandes, she has excellent taste in music and an even greater talent when it comes to her designs.

BB Dakota catapulted onto the fashion scene in 2005 and continues to evolve its unique and fashion forward line of clothes each season.  Gloria  brings her unique French sensibility to the clothes that she creates. The look is not overtly sexy but it is devastatingly hot just the same. It holds back and is elegant. The BB Dakota girl has attitude and confidence. Offering its customers “big fashion at small prices,” it is Gloria’s mission  “… to make great fashion more accessible.”

This week is a week of happy endings and new beginnings for me.
As I sit here listening iTunes, I wonder how its possible to feel somewhere between Hellogoodbye- Here (In Your Arms) and Zion I & The Grouch - Hit ‘Em. For the record, I do. . . and it’s all thanks to random things like… nervous anticipation, messy cars, enlightening conversations, Island Music, and of course my undeniable love for a little place I like to call DOT. Sorry to be so secretive and all, but I’m sure you understand…

Speaking of secrets, how much do you love Jamaica’s best kept fashion secret, fashion designer Yola Gray? I love her African, Egyptian and Rastafarian inspired collection, featured at Style Week Jamaica 2008. Seriously, I want this dress. Anyway, I apologize in advance if I’m flighty this week. It’s kind of my thing.

We’re coming to that odd part of the summer where everything is still for about a month. The weather tends to settle down, work tends to fall into a pattern, and there are no crazy holidays to break the cycle. We have to wait until September for things to kick off and when they do it’s like a jolt. I always get restless mid-July through August. Like I’m waiting for something to happen… but then, in retrospect once things start to happen, I always look back on this languid period with a sense of longing. Isn’t that always the way?

Speaking of longing, you’ll be longing for Anna Kim’s handmade womenswear collection, Lemonstory (named so because the color yellow usually makes her feel bright and warm when she sees it.) Anna, who always wanted to be an artist, explains that, “Clothing is the piece of art that we position closest to the human body. It changes the look, the character, and the mind of the person who is wearing it.” As such, all of her designs are made to order, paying special attention to detail and to the individual buying the garment.

Anna strives to make timeless pieces that are both unique and feminine. One look through her Etsy shop and you’ll see she’s definitely achieved her goal! She’s been getting buzz from Sprig and Gen Art Pulse so be sure to shop her site before she gets seriously backed up with orders!

I wish I had more time to write… but I’m already running late. This post is for those of us who are more athletically inclined… introducing a bra specifically designed for those with A- B cups! The makers of the itty bitty bra (ok, get over it,) understand the challenges and frustrations of intimate apparel shopping first hand. They have used their personal knowledge and understanding of the market to design their very own line of bras. The goal? To give customers the best fit, comfort, and selection in smaller sizes. Frankly, they were tired of dealing with bras that did not fit! As a result they have developed a product that will not gap, pucker, or slip… plus they’re adorable! Seriously, I wish I had more time to write.

Drama drama drama is how I would classify my weekend. It’s part of the reason I’m running so late. More later.

If I remember my sophomore year philosophy class correctly, Plato was the one who said something about necessity being the mother of all invention. I will google that later to confirm… but for now I’ll write about indie boutique, Blooming Rose (see, sometimes I do read e-mails from the top down).

Blooming Rose- The House of Glam Rock is a new online boutique dedicated to the whole “glam rock” thing. Featuring only indie brands, the boutique caters to the woman who has that girly, yet edgy sensibility. “She’s fun. She’s a party girl. She’s also about business,” says founder Jennifer Rose. Jennifer is a current college student from LA who created BR because she couldn’t find anywhere else that catered to her personal style.

Currently, Blooming Rose sells up and coming brands like Kahri by Kahri Anne Kerr, Glen Quest, and Lexy Charms Couture. BR also has a cool handbag collection as well as fun jewelry.

The second part of my post is devoted to “Shimmery Minerals”– MAC’s New View Collection to be exact. You know how I love MAC and literally have all of their fabulous collections. This is one of my favorites. The whole “mineral makeup” concept appeals to me, in part, because I’m a marketer’s dream… but also because, if I’m going to put something on my face, it might as well be something derived from nature. Most importantly, I love how it looks on. More about Skinfinish:

Unlike most powders that are pressed into traditional metal pans, Mineralize Skinfinish is moulded onto small round terracotta tiles and carefully baked for 24 hours, allowing for an exceptionally sheer and light application. The Natural portion of the duo will provide a dimensional yet natural matte-finish, while the shimmer portion will add buffed-up highlights to cheeks and brows, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face. This unique powder contains vitamin A and E derivatives, which help buffer the skin from environmental aggression and jojoba oil, which calms and soothes the skin.

Also be sure to check out their cool eyeshadow!

You’d think that my current move/ living situation would give me more free time, however I feel like I’ve been running around incessantly ever since. For those of you who have e-mailed me with link exchanges, I promise to update my links this weekend. For those with site suggestions, I’m (embarrassingly) still in May and have no real method to my madness when it comes to opening e-mail, but I promise I do read all of them. To Mr. Hanley and Genevieve, I promise I’ll be a better person. By the way, you’re both invited over for wine, cheese, and brainstorming. (For those of you who don’t know Mr. H and G, you will!)

Anyway, now that we’re through all the “housekeeping” stuff (don’t you hate that expression?) it’s time for the fashion. Today I bring you, Turk + Taylor.

Turk+Taylor is a little homegrown business poised to do big things. So far they’ve produced two collections of unique and charming hand-dyed organic t-shirts and a bolder, snappier more refined third collection that includes hoodies, skirts, and tailored shirts. Their newest collection combines a fresh vintage-inspired throwbacks with modern pieces. Each piece is hand-dyed using natural fibers. Keeping with the brand’s philosophy of creating a unique product, favoring quality over quantity, all styles are limited editions, and all pieces are hand-numbered.

From designers Mark and Andrew:

From color to graphics to fit, we grapple with every detail. Sometimes no-brainers, often heated debates, especially when perfection of the product is at heart. Navy stripe tickings, neon green silk linings, fun pocket fabrics, and imported Italian buttons are just a few details that sprouted from these arguments. Even what to name these babies—this season the styles take on the names of spring greens and lettuces. And the tag is a sewn pouch containing extra buttons for the garment and a handful of sow-worthy organic treviso seeds.

These little gems are hand-crafted the old-fashioned way, with love and sweat. Our salute to the artisan effort. Your chance to shine.

I really like their tailored Spring 08′ collection, and I think you’ll find their tee’s charming as well!

Finally! A weekend where it’s not 100 degrees, I’m not moving, and I don’t have overwhelming plans. Don’t you find that more you do, the harder it is to actually relax? Anyway, that’s what I’m devoting this weekend to– complete relaxation!
When I think “relaxed” my mind drifts to some of my favorite designers. The kind that make clothes that you can just throw on and instantly look great. Dorothy Lee is a perfect example.

Growing up in Los Angeles, the daughter of an architect, Dorothy Lee came to appreciate the beauty in landscaping, interior design and fine arts. Her family bestowed in her a discerning eye for quality and comfort, which is the basis for her debut collection.

After studying Statistics and Art at the University of California, Berkeley, Dorothy decided to follow her passions and pursue further education in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins in London. Dorothy continued on to graduate from Parsons’ post-graduate program in Fashion Design. While at Parsons, she contributed to the design team of Peter Som and the marketing team at Chanel.

Upon graduation, she returned to her native Los Angeles and took a position with designer William Beranek and later joined Leon Max’s design team.

Dorothy currently resides in Los Angeles where she enjoys spending time at home with her husband, Phil, her mischievous dog, Nacho, and daydreaming about where her next vacation will be. Fall 2007 is her premier collection.

One look at her collection and you’ll want a closet full of her clothes. Each piece screams wardrobe staple and is easily paired with anything from jeans to a sequined skirt. Her look is chill, refined and romantic– just like you! You can find her stuff at Mint Julep in Harvard Square.

Whoever said moving is one of the most stressful things ever is right!! I was lucky enough to have five people help, which was awesome… in fact, if ti wasn’t for them (T, Maggie, Tez, Wayne and Lang) I think I’d still be trudging up the steps to my second floor suite as we speak!

My new place is gorgeous and is finally coming together (clearly, I’m assuming that you care about my living situation). On that note, I have a new project for all of you wonderful site suggesters… I’m looking for some unique apartment decorating tips/ products, etc. I’m currently obsessed with Anthropologie but I can’t even walk in that store without take a trip to the poor house afterwards (I literally want one of everything).

Anyway, I took days off to recover from the moving project. As the title of this post suggests, I have two projects to talk about today. Project Alabama is a great design company that believes that “life is in the details.” One look at their lush collection and you know it’s a motto they live by…

Their line is a fresh mix of vintage, avantgarde, sexy and understated. Their seasonal collections are fun, luxurious, and free spirited. The Green T Collections are cool, casual and eco-conscious. Head designer for the Green T collection, Shannon Schmalfeldt, has been with Project Alabama since its early days, and has devoted her time to learning and practicing the processes that form the roots of the design craft.

Darena Yee, head designer, for ” Project Alabama Machine” is a San Francisco native, who commenced her career designing for Calvin Klein CK and Mica amongst other reputed names. She currently lives in L.A, and her “city chic” designs are influenced by her time Cali and NYC.

I have some great products to review this week, including some great Italian shoes and some NYC Tees. Right now I’m going to sit back and enjoy my last day of vacation!!

*Sorry for the Fergie reference this early in the morning…
Anyway, I know I may seem kinda two-dimensional when you read these posts… the whole court vs. couture thing. One thing that’s extremely important to me that I rarely write about is the gym. I try to go everyday, but of course life gets in the way from time to time. I used to be a super-competitive runner… I have to say its absolutely the best therapy out there. No matter how bad my day is, I can usually reconcile things with a couple laps around the pond or a good workout at the gym.

Sometimes, even when life doesn’t get in the way, I have a hard time motivating. I know it may be sad, but on those days, I’m always grateful for the collection of adorable (yet highly functional) gym clothes I have. The mere practice of getting out of a work suit and putting on a gym outfit is therapeutic in itself! Honestly, if I could wear guy clothes like Ivee’s all the time, I’d be one happy girl!

Ivee is a new line of high performance workout clothes for women. A lot times, collections designed specifically for women fall short in the performance department and try too hard to be cute. Not so with Ivee, they do a great job of creating a stylish line that’s full of functionality! I love the Sydney bamboo pants! If you’re fitness minded you’ll love their stuff… if you’re looking for a little motivation why not grab a cute new outfit and show it off at the gym?