The Gift Of Style

Cocktails Anyone?

I have been on an event planning tirade lately...one pop-up retail event to another with barely a week to catch my breath.  My latest collaboration with Ravinstyle.com was a great success...they transformed Wonderland Fashion Flea Market at the already fab Wonderland Beauty Parlor into indie shopping heaven.  They brought the best of the best from their popular ecommerce site which led to several new discoveries that I just feel compelled to blog about.  Today's feature is about the elusive cocktail ring...when I say elusive of course I am referring to my inability to find a chic bauble that will fit my petite fingers.  I have searched high and low and up until last Sunday, had failed miserably...I covet them and am always envious of the women who can pull off what I consider to be an essential accessory, so when I happened upon the Marcia Moran creations featured at the WFFM, I rejoiced!!!

Brazilian designer, Marcia Moran uses a stunning combination of semi-precious stones, wood, metal and gold to create sohpisticated statement rings that are not only feminine, but at the same time have a modern fashion edge that makes the typical glitzy cocktail ring look beyond dated.  I love the way she plays with shape and creates an asymmetry that is balanced...yes an oxymoron, but 100% true.  My favorite, and ultimately the ring I just had to have, was a striking amazonite stone set in a sleek organic wood ring with 18k gold plated trim...gorgeous and only $142 (crazy)!!!  I almost splurged and also bought a mutli-faceted, elongated topaz ring (my birthstone) for only $130, but came to my recessionista senses...not something I do often.  Finally, one of my colleagues was coveting the dramatic ring with a druzy stone, a textured oval blue stone with black and white flecks, set in an 18k gold plated open setting...for $180, gorgeous.

Each piece is really special and I haven't seen anything like them, especially at this price, so if you too are in search of the perfect cocktail ring, well search no more...Marcia Moran serves up some of the best spring "cocktails" around!!!

~Nancy

Ravinstyle.com At The Wonderland Fashion Flea Market -SUNDAY!!!!

OK so we are expecting a little frenzy at the Ravinstyle.com/Wonderland Fashion Flea Market event on Sunday.   Major press hits and rumor has it we were on the radio too (does anyone listen to radio anymore...I guess who cares, still kind of cool).  Don't miss out!!!

If you still need that little extra push to get you there, remember you will find lots of interesting brands you just don't see everywhere such as Rebecca Minkoff Handbags, Leyendecker Dresses, Daughters Of The Revolution, Les Halles (the hot new denim line), Gemma Redux Jewelry, Flutter Jewelry, Tolani Scarves, Kathryn Amberleigh Shoes, Matt Bernson (the must-have summer sandals), Cammie Hill Clutches, Cecelia Du Bucourt (punk chic fashion), Daftbird (cool girls answer to Splendid), Enza Costa Rogue (the best basic tees), Masacva (high-design dresses), Thierry Lasry Sunglasses, Olivia Song Home and Jessica Grindstaff (whimsical ribbon pins) and many more!!!

Finally, just stop by for a cocktail and to mingle if shopping is not your thing these days...I promise it will be one fun party!!!!

~Nancy

Ravinstyle.com At The Wonderland Fashion Flea Market Preview -Gemma Redux

So I had a little distraction today and had to write about Topshop...now I understand how my Miraval event kept getting bumped from confirmed press due to the Topshop opening.  Anyway, I am back and ready to continue blogging about the Ravinstyle.com/Wonderland Fashion Flea Market event.

Lets talk about one of my fav jewelry lines Gemma Redux, designed by Rachel Dooley.  I love her story...she never really intended to go into the design business, but as a creative outlet while she was studying for the bar exam, she developed what became a gorgeous collection of architectural, yet fabulously organic jewels.  Each design combines vintage inspiration (you know I love this) with natural elements and metalwork. 

The bracelets are powerful and statement making...whether twisted stainless and plated steel mixed with sculpted prehnite or wrapped gunmetal chains mixed with green quartz each one is the perfect mix of downtown hip and uptown sophistication.  The earrings are equally as spectacular.  I don't wear earrings (let my holes close up years ago) but these make me want to pierce once again.  The most covetable in my book are the simple twisted chains...so rocker, yet so delicate...adore them!!! Finally, the necklaces, like the bracelets will turn heads.  The Jade drop necklace is beyond beautiful...almost like a steel spiderweb and the knotted chain necklace is power girl perfection.  Love this collection!!!

         

          

       

You can experience it first hand this Sunday at the Ravinstyle.com/Wonderland Fashion Flea Market event from noon-5 at 418 West 13th...don't miss Gemma Redux!!!!

~Nancy

Ravinstyle.com At The Wonderland Fashion Flea Market Preview -Leyendecker

I am Leyendecker obsessed!!!  I cannot wait to see the line up close and personal on Sunday at the Ravinstyle.com/Wonderland Fashion Flea Market.  This LA-based brand is so cool and so Indie that buying it is almost like buying a vintage find... ok, yes you can find it at top stores, but the vibe makes you feel like you happened upon something one-of-a-kind.  If you want to make a grand entrance, but still look like you didn't fuss or muss Leyendecker is 100% the line for you.  There is just something about LA fashion that I just adore...

One of the brand's Spring 2009 is fringe, fringe and more fringe...not flapper-esque, much more modern and architectural.  The fringe is strategically placed to evoke movement and sensuality.  I also think the dresses are the perfect mix of boho meets fem rock-n-roll...edgy-check, hippie-esque-check, flirty/girly-check.  Are you sitting down??? These fab creations are under $300.  Come on, unheard of!!!

Don't miss Leyendecker at the Ravinstyle.com/Wonderland Fashion Flea Market on Sunday, April 19th from noon-5!!

~Nancy

Ravinstyle.com At Wonderland Fashion Flea Market Preview -Rebecca Minkoff

As promised, this week will be dedicated to the designers that will be popping up next Sunday at the Ravinstyle.com/Wonderland Fashion Flea Market, my newest Pop-Up event.  As a reminder, if you didn't read yesterday's post, this will be true indie/emerging fashion heaven, so be prepared to be inspired...

First on the list is the oh-so fab Rebecca Minkoff Handbag collection.  Isn't it time to forgo the Guccis, Pradas and Balenciagas for more wallet friendly luxury lines?  I think we still deserve our one or two new bags a season, so I love it when I find a line that allows me to still splurge without giving up style and quality.

Rebecca Minkoff's first foray into design was actually apparel.  She launched her first collection in 2001 with an eye for high-fashion and a love of the California lifestyle.  It wasn't until her good friend, actress Jenna Elfman asked her to design a handbag for a movie that she entered the world of the it-bag.  Her handbag collection has grown into a major business and has an amazing celebrity following.  The bags are so "it" that all of the right girls (Agyness Deyn, Hayden Panettiere, Blake Lively, Rachel Bilson and Bijou Phillips) can be seen about town carrying them.  Her cool girl creations give my latest Pop-Up just the right amount of edge-meets-uptown chic that shouldn't be missed. Ravinstyle.com is by far one of Rebecca's greatest champions so check out some of the bags you will be coveting come this Sunday!!!

The Ravinstyle.com/Wonderland Fashion Flea Market is Sunday, April 19th from noon-5.  See you there!!

~Nancy

Ravinstyle.com At The Wonderland Fashion Flea Market -Preview

So I continue with my quest to turn the world into Pop-Up Retail heaven...gone are the days of boredom via the usual retail outlets!!!  Isn't it more interesting and yes entertaining to shop in a new venue, to be inspired by fashion you just can't find everywhere??? I think it is... Add in the concept of limited edition, (meaning if you don't get there early, you will miss out) and I think we have the formula for obscene (recession-friendly obscenity that is) displays of spending and a whole hell of a lotta fun!!!

My friend Jill, of Flutter Jewelry fame introduced me the Ravinstyle.com team and for me it was love at first sight.  You see, Ravinstyle.com is one of the few eCommerce sites dedicated solely to supporting emerging designers.  If you recall, I founded my Pop-Up business with the desire to "save" the little guy, to give new brands an opportunity to get in front of the customer and the press, to help the uber creative stay afloat during these challenging retail times.  The minute I spoke to Biba at Ravinstyle.com, I knew they would have to be the next featured brand at the Wonderland Fashion Flea Market. 

If you need a little memory jog, the Wonderland Fashion Flea Market was launched as a Grace Group partnership with the beyond fabulous Michael Angelo's Wonderland Beauty Parlor in the MePa (Meatpacking for short). Michael Angelo and I collaborated to lauch our first flea market back in January with eight amazing brands and decided to shake things up this time around by working with an eCommerce brand instead.  Bringing the amazing Ravinstyle.com virtual world to life via a 3-D shopping experience not only is beyond exciting, but also lets shoppers get past the online shopping stigma.  We all just want to touch and feel!!!  In fact, WWD just did a story last week on how Net-A-Porter's discount site will be doing frequent Pop-Ups...I am thrilled that ours will be one of the first!!!

   

 

In true The Gift Of Style form I plan to write about all of the incredible brands we will be featuring.  This event will bring you true indie fashion at its best, so I promise you won't want to miss it.  To give you just a quick taste, we will be Popping-Up with Rebecca Minkoff Handbags, Leyendecker Dresses, Daughters Of The Revolution (see my feature from last week), Les Halles (the hot new denim line), Gemma Redux Jewelry, Flutter Jewelry, Tolani Scarves, Kathryn Amberleigh Shoes, Matt Bernson (the must-have summer sandals), Cammie Hill Clutches, Cecelia Du Bucourt (punk chic fashion), Daftbird (cool girls answer to Splendid), Enza Costa Rogue (the best basic tees), Masacva (high-design dresses), Thierry Lasry Sunglasses, Olivia Song Home and Jessica Grindstaff (whimsical ribbon pins).  Now for the best part, none of these brands will break you bank...the best recessionista fashion around!!!  Also, to top it all off, Michael Angelo's Wonderland Beauty Parlor has a retail store in the front of its fab space with design from the likes of Tord Boontje, Murakami, Harry Allen and many others.  One-stop shopping, Pop-Up heaven!!!

The event will happen on Sunday, April 19th at Michael Angelo's Wonderland Beauty Parlor at 418 West 13th Street, between 9th and Washington.  I hope you can make it!!!

~Nancy