Happy Halloween!
When I was a kid this used to be one of my favorite holidays. My mom always went the extra mile with my costumes… and I definitely “assumed the role” of whatever I dressed up on any given year. It was an awesome transformation. I guess things don’t really change that much when you get older… I mean… doesn’t the thug feel more like a thug when he puts on baggy jeans, a white-t and a hoodie? Doesn’t the socialite feel more like a socialite when she puts on her Louboutins and her DVF? And doesn’t the goth kid feel more deviant when he runs the gel through his hair and paints his fingernails black?
We all have who we are… and then we have who we present to society. Sometimes they’re one and the same… but more often than not, I think, we augment that perception with the way we dress. The simplest choice in outfit can be the difference between “she looks respectful” and “she looks like a…. woman of loose morals” or “he looks approachable” and “I don’t even want to ride on the same subway car as that guy.”

I mean, when you really think about it… more than just about anything, the way you chose to present yourself (a large part of that being how you dress) determines how people are going to perceive, interact, and sadly, in some cases, judge you. In turn, those interactions are going to have an effect on you… like they way you end up seeing yourself and the way you end up feeling about yourself on a given day… or about yourself in general.  It almost begs the question… what came first? Who you are or who you chose to present?

Hmmm… I kind of went off there didn’t I? I have a little Tobin bridge road trip I have to prepare for so I guess I’ll have to finish this thought later.
Before I go, I thought I’d leave you with fashion-favorite Kevan Hall. Always putting his signature look ahead of the trends, this natural-born designer creates gorgeous gowns you are sure to love! About KH:

Detroit-born Kevan Hall’s fashion creativity emerged early. By the age of seven, he knew he wanted to be a fashion designer. After attending Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where he studied fashion design, he won first place as “Designer of Tomorrow” – a scholarship sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. While studying in California, he made a vision-enhancing trip to Europe, where at the houses of Cardin, Dior and most notably, Givenchy his lifelong love of luxury and haute couture was once again sparked. Upon graduation from the Fashion Institute, he received the Peacock Award for “Outstanding Fashion Design”.

In 1982, Hall with his wife and partner, Deborah launched Kevan Hall Couture. His collection melded a more relaxed couture look with sensible pricing that pleased retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, I. Magnin and other fine stores nationwide.

Hall was nominated in 1988 by fashion retailers and the press as one of California’s Top Designers. In 1989, he was not only included in the “Soul on Seventh Avenue” show sponsored by Fairchild Publications, but was also chosen by the NAACP to receive their “Great American Designer” award. In 1990, his participation in the national Absolut Vodka campaign featured in Vanity Fair underscored his broad-based appeal. In 1992, he was honored by the Center of Performing Arts in Southern California with a 10-year fashion retrospective. For many, this would be a career capper. For Hall, it was only a stepping stone as he branched out into motion pictures, acting as costume consultant on 1997’s “Gridlock” and “Eve’s Bayou” (the most successful independent film of the year).

Redefining glamour for a new generation is an interpretive art. Redefining the hallowed house of Halston into the next millennium was an even more challenging task. But Kevan Hall–who stepped into the prestigious position of Design and Creative Director from fall 1998 – spring 2000 revived the dormant brand to its former glory. His sleek eveningwear was worn by a distinguished coterie of celebrated artists- including Celine Dion, Sharon Stone, Angela Bassett, Charlize Theron, and Salma Hayek.

In 2002, he launched his own signature, Kevan Hall Collection with a fashion philosophy that emphasizes purity of style, incomparable tailoring and sensuously draped streamlined silhouettes; Hall has a natural design sense of sophisticated elegance and uncluttered modern design. Hall’s designs have been embraced by fashion retailers and the press. In 2001, Absolut Vodka honored Hall by showcasing his spring collection in their “Tribute to African Designers” worldwide tour. His lovely atelier in Los Angeles was featured in the July 2002 issue of Interior Design magazine. It confirmed his keen eye for design and impeccable color sense. Also in 2002, Hall won the 47th Annual Gold Coast Fashion Award in Chicago as “Designer of the Year”. In 2005, Hall was awarded “Stylemaker of the Year” by Life & Style Magazine for his ‘drop-dead glamour’ as seen on the red carpet with Felicity Huffman, Vivica A. Fox, Virginia Madsen, Garcelle Beauvais, Debra Messing and Renee Zellweger.

Hall has made guest appearances on national TV shows such as Inside Edition, The Better Half, SoapTalk, the Jane Pauley Show and Extreme Makeover where he discussed fashion‘s current trends. He has given lectures at the Norman Lear Center of the University of Southern California and for the Costume Council at the Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art on his inspirations and influences when designing his collection.

With his own Signature collection, his philosophy of fashion has remained true to those early days. “I enjoy the process of design from concept to execution,” he states. “But the most gratifying part is seeing a design come to life on a beautiful woman.” Rejecting trends and fads in favor of a lasting signature look, Hall’s hallmark of glamour with a modern sensibility is a priceless gift to the welcoming world.

I know all about expensive bags… at one point in my life I had a weakness for buttery soft Coach leather… anyway, I’ve come to a point in my life where I think that if a bag is going to cost over $100, it should do more than just hold my stuff… I mean, ideally it would make my life easier…  For example, how many times have I fished through my bag, looking for my iPod or phone only to find it uncharged? Bummer, right?
With today’s designer, Noon Solar, you never (and I mean ever) have to go uncharged again. Not only are these bags gorgeous, sustainably produced, and big enough to carry all of life’s necessities, they have built in solar panels to charge everything from your iPod to your celly. About the brand:

Noon Solar bags incorporate flexible solar panels to keep cell phones and iPods charged. Each bag is designed to be able to sit in a window at work or in the car to collect charges. The solar power is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack, weighing about 4oz, found inside the bag. Because the solar power is stored inside a battery pack, cell phones and iPods can be charged day or night.

Noon Solar bags are made from biodegradable materials so that the bags can skip the landfill and go directly into your backyard without hurting the earth. The bags are safe and non-toxic, and most of the materials will actually nourish the earth if buried. The other materials such as the solar panel and hardware can be removed and recycled or reused.

The founders personally hand dye, with natural substances such as pomegranate and weld, the organic hemp and cotton fabrics that comprise their bags. Noon Solar is one of a very small number of design companies using natural dyes on a production scale in the US.

To create textures and patterns on their bags, Noon uses the ancient Japanese dying method, Shibori, making each bag unique.

Noon bags use German leather that is tanned in similar ways to people tanning leather from hundreds of years ago. The leather is heavy metal free, and tanned and dyed with sustainably harvested materials such as rhubarb and walnuts.

How cool is that? Definitely worth the splurge!

Happy October 25th!
I can’t believe how fast fall went… I mean… I’m in the process of making plans for the Holidays!! It seems like just yesterday I was laying out on my roof-deck working on my tan. Now all I have left are tan lines… fading reminders of my crazy summer.
Anyway… on today’s must have designer… uluru.

How gorgeous are her designs? I love them!
About the label:

At uluru, there is great intent in each silhouette, seam, and detail. Less is more. The clothes are designed with your identity in mind … they are fluid not fickle and definitely not defined by a label. There is space in the garments for women to interpret, move, accessorize, layer, and wear.

Designer Caroline Priebe ‘s inspirations come from history, others and her own.  In addition to developing gorgeous clothes, Caroline also developed a sustainable business model. Her goal? That everyone in the process, from farmer to consumer wins.
I love her Tunic with Wings (above bottom)!

P.S. Over the past few weeks I’ve done my best to give you some economically-centered posts… free inspiration with Ndoema, free (technically, but you really should contribute something) music with Girl Talk and now some free shopping tips from one of my favorite blogs, The Budget Fashionista (Hello Kathryn). Far from being Palinized (click under the right side of the desk for reference), Kathryn created her own 26-piece capagne worthy outfit for less than $2,500. Check it out!

Pay what you can (you should really contribute something… especially since you’ll have this CD on repeat!), download and enjoy.
Besides, it’s Friday… great cruising music!

I promise you will love these mixes!

Oh yeah, be sure to check GT out on NPR (yes, J… NPR… and yes Mike, I referenced J in yet another post!)

I SERIOUSLY need a vacation.
Anyway, I’m running around like a crazy person today. On days like this, I’m always grateful for an amazing bag. You know, the kind that can be stuffed with: case-files, a change of clothes, make-up, that amazing book you’re reading, iPod, phone, wallet….
For that reason, I thought I’d write about fab-bag designer Heather Heron.

Heather Heron’s designs have always reflected what matters most to her. Be it familial or personal connections, fair and equitable opportunities for work or sustainability and low environmental impact of her pieces – she has channeled her beliefs into the creative process. The outcome of this reflects the clarity and grace of her motivations. Every step of the way Heather Heron oversees the production of her bags – from the selection of the most exquisite and sustainably produced materials, to the choice of the masterful hands of skilled artisans in the local Los Angeles area. Before claiming eco-friendly status became another way to increase sales, Heather Heron had been championing the ethical way to do business. Her use of Organic European Hemp as a background for all her pieces is a bold move in the world of high fashion – and it works. She adds another layer of beauty with her contrast fabrics – unique exceptional leathers, and hemp-silk charmeuse. The combination of high-intensive detailing with the stark, remote simplicity of hemp gives her pieces an austere yet totally accessible elegance. Expertly crafted to stay lovely for ages, Heather Heron’s pieces place her individual mark on the planet. That mark is a lovely symbol of what it means to be human.

Enjoy… and TGIF.

So as not to bore you with my day… I’m going to skip straight to the fashion…
I imagine I’ll have time to write tomorrow… but my trips to Chelsea always throw me for a loop.
Seeing as  you’ve listened to all of BunnyGreenhouse’s mixes ( I told you that you’d dance!) I figured you’d be ready for a night on the town.
Why not step out in something cool, comfortable and undeniably chic … like a Lara Miller, for example?

A graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, designer Lara Miller began her career in fashion while still in school. After interning with the local designers Laurenceleste and Cynthia Ashby, Lara began showcasing her garments at Wicker Park’s clothing boutique, p.45.

In 2002, Miller was chosen as p.45’s Exhibiting Artist, to run in conjunction with the Around the Coyote Arts Festival. The show was followed by publications in Chicago Social magazine, Ten by Ten, and the Chicago Tribune. Since then, the company, Lara Miller, has grown quickly. The Lara Miller collections are now carried in 17 retail stores in the U.S.

Lara Miller’s quest is to keep fashion fun by creating sophisticated clothing that allows women to feel comfortable at work or at play. Lara designed the trademark FLIP® Line that allows you to enjoy wearing a garment in a variety of ways and project your own style to the world. You may “flip” a breezy halter dress into a stylish skirt or wrapped knits into fluent body accessories.

How’s that for versatility?

All of Lara’s collection are grounded in geometry and architecture. Once on the body, angular lines retract, mimicking the sinuous curves of a woman’s body. Developed in a theory of animation, the pieces within each collection can be played with, flipped, and recreated for each individual wearer. Balancing these conceptual pieces are classic tailored garments that focus on distinct details. Together they create a line that exudes individual spirit mirrored by smart, clean sophistication.

Enjoy. I have the sniffles and am in desperate need of some NyQuil and ANTM.