Green accessories trend

Try the luck of the Irish in these green hued accessories. Combine fun shamrock tights with classy pumps and add the scarf for an overall fun and elegant look. Complete the look with a lucky clover hair accessory and stone ring.

1. Sabina Les "Green Reptile" long oblong silk scarf $85, 2. Stone ring $95, 3. Shamrock Magnetic Hair Clip $7, 4. Bulga bag $336, 5. Shamrock stockings $3.99, 6. Charles by Charles David Pompadour pumps $101

Zebra print accessories trend

Take a walk in the urban jungle in these elegant and graphic Zebra print accessories. This hot trend for Spring Summer 2010 spices up any solid color outfit for an instant boost of glamour.

1. Sabina Les "Tonal Zebra" long oblong printed silk scarf $85 (free domestic shipping), 2. DiManno Designs headband (As seen in "Ugly Betty") $40 3. Temperly London Zebra canvas shoulder bag $600 4. Rosato Diana Zebra handbag pendant $444 5. Michael by Michael Kors Dermott pump $132

Styling tips on how to pick colors that compliment your complexion and skin tone.

Styling tips on how to pick colors that compliment your complexion and skin tone.  

If you like this post you might like these styling tips:

Infinity scarf styling

A week of Scarf styling tips

Scarf styling as in Twilight Part 1

Scarf styling as in Twilight Part 2

Scarf as fashion travel accessory

Scarves in movies

Video on how to pick colors best suited for your complexion

Fun pics from a shoot

Some fun pics of the scarves from a shoot for a custom made beaded bags InnaNYC

Signature Profile Leather Net 36" large square scarf worn as top

 Large square 36" scarves worn as tops:

Signature Profile Leather Net Blue and Circle Chain Net

Signature Profile Paisley Long Oblong

Care for silk scarves and other silk items

With the approaching holiday season we're making sure that our holiday best looks its best. Here are some tips on how to clean silk scarves and other silk items to keep them looking vibrant and beautiful. All natural silk fabrication blends are delicate and required a softer touch.
Before you wash your silk scarves please take in consideration the overall quality of the item. If the scarves are at a lower price the chances are the quality of printed inks and fabrications are not the best and will be more susceptible to color fading, ink bleeding as well as fabric stretching. Please test a small portion before preceding with the wash. If your scarf is a little more expensive then the overall manufacturing process is of a better quality in terms of inks, fabrication and with careful maintenance it can last forever.

The easiest way is to have the scarves dry cleaned but if you'd like to get involved here are some easy suggestions:
Hand wash silk scarves in lukewarm or cold water using soft detergent. I like using "Woolite", "Tide" or "All" dye and fragrance free versions. Do not use Bleach not even color safe bleach. Soak the scarves for a few minutes. Stained areas can be gently rubbed with fingers and a little extra detergent. Wash the detergent off and squeeze to remove excess water. Do not twist or wring the scarf and hang or lay to dry.  Warm iron can be used if needed.

Extra maintenance tip: avoid spraying perfumes directly on any fabric to prevent color and fabric damage.

If you have more silk scarves cleaning suggestions please share.

New beautiful color choices

Presenting new colorways for Reptile Chain 10"x60" long oblong scarves just in time for the holidays

                       

Make your scarf fashion experience more complete with my long oblong scarf styling tips 

Anna Sui, Spring 2010 NYC the Tents

Anna Sui Spring 2010 September 16th

*All photos by Sabina Les/Totally Cool ® Photos are allowed to be used with permission and a courtesy link would be appreciated

  

Anna Sui giving interview after her show

Participating in "Accessories the Show" Sept 22-24 at the Javits Center Booth#159

I'm very excited to be selected to participate in a prestigious "Accessories the Show" trade show Sept 22-24, 2009 at the Jacob Javits Center at 655W 34th St, NYC, NY 10001. My Booth#159 and it's on a border with the Moda show. Please stop by to look at the scarves, say Hi and enter to win one of the scarves. The Fashion Coterie and Sole Commerce will be going on at the same time. 
Today was spend in the initial preparation to get as much materials and promotional items done on a super short notice. I'm thrilled that i was able to get great tote bags that are perfect for the upcoming weather and all year around. A great display is being done as well. I've been fortunate to work with understanding and helpful people all over the country. Can i say how much i like "live chat"!:)
Trying to keep sane while doing 100 things at a time:) The show materials are being designed and printed. Interesting booth configurations are in my head for now since i didn't have even a minute to work on it today. 
Feel free to share your trade show experiences, suggestions and anything else...

Hayden-Harnett “Lava field of Love” Spring Summer 2010

Brooklyn’s own Hayden-Harnett presented their “Lava field of Love” Spring Summer 2010 collection at The Gabarron Foundation-Carriage house Center for the Arts. The modern two stories gallery setting with oversized black and white works of art on the walls was filled with amazing and radiant voices of the singers from OCB (The Opera Company of Brooklyn) accompanied by piano music. The center of the space served as a presentation display for the very popular Hayden-Harnett bags and accessories. 

As someone who owns some of the line’s items and have friends who are H-H bag junkies I was excited to see some pieces that made me want to grab them and run awayJ As a huge fan of strong colors like green and purple and almost anything reptile pattern these bags made me want to become a fashion thief.

The collection was inspired by desert landscapes and modern nomads and manifested in tans, reds and black colors on natural fabrics like linens, leathers and silks.

       

Occasional geometric print looks organic and breaks up the uniformity of solid colorways. The models lined up against the walls were sporting exciting accessories and attention getting handbags ranging in colors, sizes and shapes. Each look presented a very well put together ready to go and take on the town outfit. HH girl has a choice of dresses, separates, rompers with very in exposed zippers and bold silhouettes and 50’s looking high waisted bathingsuits.
The natural trend continued in the fresh, summer kissed and wholesome make up and hair. The make up look was barely there browns with nude lips and hair was sleek and pulled in on a side long ponytail. 

 
*All photos by Sabina Les/Totally Cool ® Photos are allowed to be used with permission and a courtesy link would be appreciated

9/11 Tribute at the Tents & fashion auction to benefit the victims

A commemoration of the 8th anniversary of the World Trade tragedy was held in the Tents Lobby on September 11th, curated by Fern Malice and David Paine with the attendance of such designers as Yigal Azroel, Lubov Azria, Joaquin Trias and Charlotte Ronson who was about to start her fashion show. A prominent non-profit group MyGoodDeed.org created by the family members and friends of 9/11 tragedy victims unveiled a Mail Lobby exhibit to support the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. David Paine, president and founder of MyGoodDeed.org and Fern Malice, senior VP of IMG Fashion announced the kick off of an online charity auction featuring selected items from Spring 2010 collections donated by top designers, including Carmen Marc Valvo, James Coviello, Tommy Hilfiger, Tracy Reese, Donna Karan, Max Azria, Vivienne Tam and many others at www.911dayofservice.org/runway

From left to right: Yigal Azroel, Joaquin Trias, Charlotte Ronson, David Paine, Fern Malice, Lubov Azria

From left to right: Joaquin Trias, Yigal Azroel, David Paine, Fern Malice, Lubov Azria

*All photos by Sabina Les/Totally Cool ® Photos are allowed to be used with permission and a courtesy link would be appreciated

A customer’s point of view on independent designers and retailers

This post is inspired by an interesting phone call that I just got from a potential customer who complained that all new designers he’s interested in and wants to purchase are only retailing on line and he wants to see the merchandise. He voiced his opinion retailers should look into buying newer and fresh independent designers. That conversation made me feel better since I’ve been thinking about the subject and was afraid that I was being biased because I’m an independent designer myself.

From my perusing of various social sites I noticed that it seems to be a hot topic on fashion preferences that are spiking up all over the world. As one example is a post on a very popular international social site: “I hate (very recognizable two letters initials)” that resulted in about 9,000 views and comments alone. Practically, every social site has numerous posts searching for some new names and posts stating how bored the people are with seeing the same design on every third woman on a street. It seems like potential customers from the entire world are uniting in their mutual quest and desire for some new, fresh names and designs and art with a combination a familiar quality.

Granted that well known brands have a lot to offer in both, quality and emotional values, and I personally own some of those names I do mixed them up with less know names.  Better yet, I wear less know names and spice them up with well-known brand names. There are some designer’s brands that I refuse to buy because they look like their own fakes or I don’t want to wear an uniform from that brand.

In this economical environment it’s safer for the retailers to be safe with brand names that require very little promotion but is the price worth it the long run. The question is: would the retailers be benefiting from the infusion of new designers and stimulate customers with fresh names. Perhaps, sell floor ratio of well-know brands and new designers should be modified accordingly and be a little more daring with taking chances on new talents.

Visual collage recap: Barbie 50th Anniversary Fashion Show

With less than two weeks to the Spring 2010 fashion week we’re all giddy with anticipation and, perhaps, with some apprehension of running between The Tents, Milk Studious and other off-site location we all should take a few deep breaths and relax. 

Personally, i love the designer collective shows like the Snoopy fashion show presented by Met Life (one of my favorite characters that i've worked with for about 2 years) and Barbie's 50th Anniversary. Hopefully, one day i'll privileged to have my designs in a designer collective like these two.

To take some of the stress edge off here is a brief visual collage recap of some fashion shows from the last season starting with the Barbie 50th Anniversary Show. This colorful and fabulously fun show featured designs by 50 of the most talented designers showcasing their work for the iconic doll:

*All photos by Sabina Les/Totally Cool ® Photos are allowed to be used with permission and a courtesy link would be appreciated.

One of the greatest Barbie Dolls displays:

Who wasn't tempted to take one of those amazing Barbie® Fashionistas™ dolls out of the letters

 

Not to be missed photo opp:)

            

Invitation         

Her are some designer looks:

Catherine Malandrino

The make-up job on the models was amazingly doll like. 

Lyn Devon

Reem Acra

Vera Wang

Alexander Wang

Kenneth Cole