Portfolio in Motion

We were delighted to partake in the fashion show celebration of design at Marymount University in Arlington Virginia last night. The room was filled with an eclectic mix of style, excitement, anticipation, great food, flowing wine, students brimming with enthusiasm as well as attitude. Our all time favorite gown from the show was made by our very own Kendra McCullough; not only is she talented but beautiful.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hermes - Festival of Crafts

I visited the Festival of Crafts exhibit next to the Hermes store on route 7 yesterday (it is being held in the old Gucci space.) There were a few areas set up with expert craftsmen at each station; saddle making, scarves, watches, ties, color selection etc. In an age where everything appears to be made by machine it was quite wonderful to see how much true quality and care goes into each and every piece that Hermes makes.
There was an actual demonstration of a scarf that had 8 colors in it. I watched Henry, a man who has been working at Hermes for over 30 years; change each screen after pouring the rich, saturated paint onto the heavy white silk, pushing the paint with a squeegee (I think that is what it is called) through the perforated pattern and leaving behind the design. Talk about watching paint dry – it was exciting!!
I was in awe from start to finish; hand-sewn buttonholes, hand-made saddles, I loved watching Tony insert diamonds into a sold gold bracelet while he looked through a microscope (Tony was kind enough to take my camera and shoot a picture of the diamonds he was working on thorough his lens) There was a watch maker with all of the mechanisms for the watches in front of him as well as quite a few watches to hold and marvel at.
The show only has today and tomorrow left. Tuesday March 29, 2011 and Wednesday march 30, 201l from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. so if this is your idea of bliss you had better get a move on.

Quick Trip to Brooklyn and NYC

I love to think of the history behind vintage clothing and accessories. I try to imagine the people and come up with a vision of who wore the pieces as well as guess what they might have been doing back in the day. It was inevitable that I should find myself in New York at the Brooklyn Museum as well as the Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan. A very kind person sent me a booklet (you know who you are) apprising me of the show in Brooklyn and then Vogue had an article about the display at the Met so I decided to pop up to see both shows. I was able to indulge myself once again in some of my favorite passions - fashion, clothing, friends and food.






The first stop was the Brooklyn Museum where I was thrilled to see the clothing up close and personal; the collections were comprised of designers that I had not heard of before as well as some that I have read about over the years. There were beautiful "four-leaf clover" dresses by Charles James that were wonderful, as well as pieces by Schiaparelli, Chanel, Balenciaga, Charles Frederick Worth, etc. etc.! The fabrics, the draping, the colors, the lace were a feast for the eyes. I kept thinking I should run back home and put on something a bit finer than I had on :) The beauty of these pieces were in the tucks, pleats, buttons, hand-stitching and the careful attention to detail, line and form.






The dresses on display began with the late 1800's (and sheesh, did the ladies have some itty bitty waists back then; they almost seemed unreal they were so tiny) and went forward through the 1980's.








It was great that the museum let you take some pictures as long as you did not use a flash. There were fabulous shoes and hats as well. They had a green velvet hat worn by Scarlett in Gone with the Wind that had rooster feet as an adornment on the top! (The guard said that there were about 7 or 8 of that hat made back in 1939 for the film).






I also took a few minutes to visit the Andy Warhol exhibit which was an additional treat.




That evening we had drinks with friends at Prime Meats where I enjoyed an "aviator", a rather innovative, tasty cocktail. After that we went right next door to Frankie's for dinner. I tried out Frankie's last year over the Christmas holidays and it was just as good this time around; Fresh, fresh food, prepared with love.





On Sunday we were off to the Met where we got free parking a block and a half away in the shade! I know...too perfect. The American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity was also brilliant. It was quite a bit different than the Brooklyn showing but both were delightful in their own way. No photos were allowed here so that was disappointing but so be it. There was a book about the clothing but some of my favorite pieces did not make the cut such as the art deco dresses and coats produced by Liberty of London.




The Brooklyn show ended at the beginning of August but the clothing at the Met is on display until the 15th of August.

A Fashion Moment with Charles Nolan

What would you wear when you decide to take a stroll through the Gardens of the Versailles Palace? Why this wildly romantic Charles Nolan coat, of course.

Charles Nolan is a New York based designer, his own store is in Manhattan's trendy meatpacking district. Nolan is reputed for rejuvenating designer brands into successful fashion labels.

This coat is a two-piece set with a skirt, made with the same material. New To You styled an outfit with a pair of dark denim slacks and a satin cream blouse. This look goes from casual to a fashionable evening out.

A Fashion Moment with Azzedine Alaïa

Azzedine Alaïa is a Tunisian-born couturier and shoe designer. Celebrities like Katie Holmes, Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Sandra Bullock, and Heidi Klum adorn themselves with Alaïa's body-clinging garments. Michelle Obama, also loves to dress in Alaïa's designs- She's been photographed wearing an Alaïa dress to the Ballet in New York, and an Alaïa black knit dress to the NATO dinner with President Obama.

Alaïa was voted "Best Designer of the Year" and "Best collection of the Year at the Oscars de la Mode" by the French Ministry of Culture in 1984 in a memorable event where Grace Jones carried him in her arms on stage!

"It's Fashion that gets in the way of making a classic" ---Azzedine Alaïa (Harper's Bazaar 2010)

(Photo)- Grace Jones at a fitting with Azzedine Alaïa

Azzedine Alaïa Pink Croco Ballet Flats at New To You!

Enhancing your Wardrobe this Season!

So, did I hear it right, the recession is over? Great, let's go shopping! Well, how about this, let's shop right, and do it to enhance our wardrobe. As women, we have probably all accumulated lots and lots of garments and fabulous pieces in our closets, now we can work with what we have and accessorize it. So, make a statement with what you are wearing...its easier than you think, I promise.

Key Trends in Accessories this Season:

Statement Earrings! - Scour the house and your mother's stored-away jewelry...or come to New to You! Don't frown upon the clip-ons, there are some fabulous ones out there and can glam up any outfit. You don't have to be walking down the red carpet to pull off these head-turners, just throw them on with jeans and a simple top, and walk out the door. They make the outfit effortlessly!

Belts, Belts, and more Belts! - You are a woman, so accentuate that figure! There are millions out there, and a million ways to wear them...over a jacket, dress, collared shirt, or slung on your hips. Don't be shy, just test it out, or come in here, and we'll show you how to wear it!

A Good Bag isn't Hard to Find! - We have tons of great handbags in at New to You! World-class designers that are right on trend. If you are going to splurge this is the item to do it on. A great bag will last you for years and years if you take care of it. We have some stunning one's in here from Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balenciaga, and so many more!

Resale in New York

My daughter, a couple of friends and I went consignment shopping in New York City and Brooklyn recently and had a fabulous time. It was so exciting to see how popular resale shopping is in a big city. Every shop we went into had a mass of people scooping up all sorts of fun bargains and great style. We saw everything from pure vintage to designer labels to an eclectic mix of medicore to one of a kind fashion. It was such a good time to find people that are interested in refining their own look instead of just following whatever is dictated by the big chain stores of the moment. Everyone of us managed to pick up a number of pieces that made our hearts go pitter patter; from purses, to boots, to sweaters, to colorful tops we just shopped, shopped, shopped until our time was done. I managed to pick up a number of business cards while shopping so will make sure to give you some names of the shops we enjoyed the most the next time I blog.

Shoes, Fabulous Shoes...

Wondering where to get the latest in designer shoes, but not at the designer price?

Come in and take a peek at our latest collection of shoes from designers such as Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Ysev Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, Manolo Blahnik. Many are still available in stores now!

Take a pair home today.

What's your opinion?

Take our poll and tell us which designer is your favorite!