You know the bulk of my posts highlight unique, independent and up and coming fashion designers. Every now and then some of the major brands deserve a little bit of attention. Especially when what they’re pushing is fun and doesn’t cost a dime. Jumping on the whole DIY hand-bag thing (like I’m really going to spend $975 on a Fendi bag I have to color-in myself), Hermes has a playful interpretation of craze on their website. Just go to their home page and click the little cut-out-purse icon and you’re on your way to a PDF download pattern of their classic Kelly bag. From there, let the creativity begin!

If any of you actually do this (ahh to have free time on my hands) be sure to send me pictures of the final product!

Thanks to Coquette for the heads-up!

Amber, from Naperville, IL is the lucky winner of the Star50 handbag contest! She wrote about visiting Jane Addam’s settlement house museum in nearby Chicago. Thanks again to everyone who entered and I promise will try to have more contests in the near future. Lucky for you, the trendsetters at Brandhabit are giving away a beautiful Denise Cox Cultured Pearls & Amazonite necklace. All you have to do is fill out the form on their site for a chance to win! Good luck!

Although I’m not technically giving anything away, I am about to tell you about a site that practically gives away brands like Doir, Lanvin, Vera Wang and Lagerfeld. Ideeli is an invitation-only community where you can get luxury handbags and more for 50 to 90% off. Plus they have weekly giveaways. You have to be sponsored by a member to get in, but I’m a member, so you’re in luck! Click here for your invitation to join ideeli… if that doesn’t work, email me and I’ll send you an invite! There are two levels of membership. . . “1st row” members get the best deals and first dibs on their amazing giveaways!

I love the concept behind Ideeli! Definitely a splurge-worthy site!

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 .

I’ve written about Naketano in the past because I absolutely love the brand. I wear my Lari Grey Multi all the time… it’s seriously the most comfortable sweatshirt ever (plus I always get tons of compliments whenever I wear it). Anyway, Christina and Jozo are always great about updating us with their latest collections. This time they wanted you to be the first to know about their their new spring/summer collection (I got the e-mail a while ago, sorry I’m just posting about it now!) Anyway, I’m sure you’re going to adore their new line as much as I do. I especially love their dresses and tank tops!
From the site:
“In the eyes of Nicole Christensen, Naketano´s head designer, a fashion designer receives ultimate accolade when a piece of clothing becomes a favourite piece. When one buys and wears other garments solely to combine them with the one, the favourite piece. Whoever craves to wear one item constantly (if possible or hygienically bearable), on any occasion and in all possible and impossible combinations, awards that item´s designer to the max and, at the same time, defines the benchmark Naketano perpetually aims to reach.” Nicole has certainly achieved this benchmark with me! Definitely an Urban Socialite obsession!

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!

For all of your Earth Day celebrations, I’m going to go ahead and direct you to the Green Loop.

Greenloop is a great site that provides you the opportunity to do good without sacrificing your sense of style. The site provides sustainable fashions made by conscientious companies who are committed to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Greenloop is committed to the environment in everything they do, and they donate a minimum of 1% of your purchase to support the environment. GL supports sustainable textiles, recycling and re-use, renewable energy, reduction of green house gases, organic farming, sweat-shop free production, and environmental non-profit groups every single day through the products they offer. Plus, if you spend over $50 this week (which shouldn’t be hard with great fashion designers like Anna Cohen, Carol Young Undesigned, Edun, Linda Loudermilk and Stewart+Brown just to name a few), they’ll send you the cool bag pictured above for free!

Speaking of free… Origins is naturally (pun intended) excited about Earth Day as well. Visit them today only and receive a Free Peace of Mind® On-the-spot-relief sample, plus free Standard Shipping with any order while supplies last. Everyone can use a little stress relief and I hear this product works wonders!

I’m always looking for cool t-shirt companies and this one might be my favorite so far. T-Post is a Swedish based design company with a truly creative idea. It’s a subscription based t-shirt company… kinda like subscribing to a magazine, but instead of getting pages and pages of waste that will eventually find their way into the trash, you get an awesome t-shirt in the mail every six-weeks. Every shirt is based on a news item (they hand pick stories of importance that may or may not be in the mainstream media) and each comes with a colorful graphic and story inside! How cool is that?! The graphics are fabulous, the news stories are worth reading and the whole concept just makes me happy!

Also! Be sure to check out the widgetized version of Urban Socialite by clicking on the icon to your left. You can a mini-version of the blog to your google homepage, blog, or facebook page!

“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!

There’s nothing like owning a piece of couture. A true hand crafted original. Armour sans Anguish has great, eco-friendly line that I’m sure you’ll adore!
Armour sans Anguish garments are constructed entirely from salvaged and recycled materials. Since 2004 designer and proprietress Tawny Holt has been committed to reclaiming what might otherwise be wasted to create clothing that is at once both shamelessly romantic and wearably modern. Working from her studio in California’s lush Central Valley, Tawny reclaims garments and fabrics from her inspiring surroundings and send them off into the world utterly transformed. Each Armour sans Anguish piece is one-of-a-kind, so if something you like is sold, be sure to email Tawny and something similar can possibly be produced for you! Be careful though, like any great designer Tawny’s designs sell out it fast. If you see something you like, grab it before it’s gone!

Victoria’s Secret just doesn’t do it for me… I mean as much as I enjoy their marketing, the actual products just don’t impress. The bras are fine, but not worth $48. Their undies are cute, but not amazing. That’s why I love Elsie’s custom line On The Inside. She makes everything to order, which means each piece is made just for you! No longer do you have pick between sizes that almost fit … she’ll custom tailor whatever you order to fit perfectly. Her designs are lacy, beautiful, and super comfy (just check out the feedback from her customers). The best part (yes, there’s always a best part), her bras go for around $30!

Today was opening day for the Red Sox (they won!)… now I know it makes me a bad Bostonian, but I have to say I’m not the biggest Sox fan. Baseball just doesn’t do it for me (I’m more of a Celtics girl). I am however, a big fan of the Bean and of Amy Tangerine’s adorable Red Sox T’s and sweatshirts. Her Sox gear is sold exclusively at The Queen Bee and is so adorable I’m tempted to go to a game, just so I can show it off. Check out her exclusive one-of-a-kind designs at The Queen Bee (all garments have amazing details when you click the close ups), and get ‘em while they’re hot (read: before they all sell out)!

I told my co-workers I’m trying to keep my sense of humor this week. Along those lines, this post is for Alana.
I told you they make booty underwear. In all honesty, there’s so much I could say about this, I’m speechless. (For some interesting perspectives see Butt Seriously, The Rebirth of the Booty, etc.). Anyway, here’s the skinny (that’s the wrong word, isn’t it?) from Booty Pop:

“More women than ever are wanting the perfect behind - shapely, round and lifted. It is no longer about making the behind disappear. The attention that behinds are getting is due in large part to celebrities like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Biel who confidently strut their full behinds.

Booty Pop is the first hip and trendy padded panties to hit the retail market. No cosmetic surgery necessary! In the same way enhance themselves with their fashionable padded bras, now Booty Pop is available as the panties that make you Booty Pop!”

So if you’re looking to enhance your natural assets… (come on, it was too easy)… here you go.