Before it hits the catwalk, YSL Spring/Summer 2011

By Laura Medina

Before the supermodels set foot on tomorrow's catwalk at YSL, here are the hottest picks from the Spring/Summer 2011, titled, "Manifesto."

What is the "Manifesto" for the hot weather?

It's Stefano Pilati's reaction against twentieth-century extreme masculinity by embracing female empowerment and feminism.

For this collection, he used the Twenties and the Thirties with a sultry color palette. Mr. Pilati said that during that time, women came into their own in arts and philosophy.

With the sporty and elegant jumpers, halters, and rainforest hues, Mr. Pilati has also mined the original Yves Saint Laurent's archive during his Seventies hey days.

Mr. Pilati is very aware how macho our world has become. He wants this collection to admire and celebrate feminine strength and power.

These are the sneak peeks of what might set foot on the runway tomorrow in Paris but the Beverly Hills store will have these outfits tomorrow.

Target's Greatest Hits Reissued

By Laura Medina

It's been five years since Target took a risk and plucked the emerging designers off the vine. Some fresh from design school. Others on the horizon, ready to take off. Then, asked them to design a limited-edition capsule for their GO International Designer Collective.

There was a lot of hope and wishing and hand-wringing for reasonably price but stylish edition but...it became an insider's secret, building up a devoted cult-following that have fashionistas panting with anticipation.

To celebrate these five years of cult hits and instant vintage treasures, Target culled through the data and the archives and brought back the biggest hits from each collection.

They selected the biggest hits, accumulating into a sizeable 34 dress collection that is going to hit March 13th. Like any other limited edition collection, it's seasonal, disappearing by April 10th.

They may be reissued hits but they're on point on what is current right now.

Another reason why they are re-released, to great fan fare, Target's GO International Designer Collective has proven to provide classic dresses, coats, and tops that had proven to be instant vintage finds that had reached hundreds and thousands of dollars on the vintage resale circuit, long after the collection has been off the market.

Think of this reissue as a redo, a second chance to grab proven classics that can be worn again and again for those special occasions.

With prolifteration of blush on the red carpet and the whispers from Los Angeles' top stylists, blush isn't shying away from Spring any time soon.

The folks at Target must had figured that because they included, in their greatest hits collection, a Rodarte peach-blush satin number that is ripe for the red carpet.

Rodarte is behind "Black Swan"s rhinestone-festooned black feathered bustier, tutu, and headdress.

Another uncanny inclusion is Erin Fetherston's rocking cute Bunny Print Dress, in time for Easter. This was way before her guest collaboration on Juicy Couture's Holiday Collection.

With Spring, comes flowers and florals. This is much to be expected. Before he became a household name outfitting First Lady Michelle Obama, Thakoon Panichgul developed line for Target two years ago in 2009.

This Thakoon gathered dress in bold cyber floral print is still fresh today as it was two years ago.

Recent releases, such as Tucker, to the earliest contributors, Jovovich-Hawk, there are a bounty of floral tunics and dresses to flower a closest, from prim and proper to hippy-bohemian.

Of course, there is always the crisp and classic Black and White. From fragile swiss dots tulle overlays to bold graphics on a sheath dress, there's a dress for everybody.

Now, take advantage of this redo before this disappears as well.

A Year for Milly by Michelle Smith

By Laura Medina

Milly by Michelle Smith Fall 2011 Collection swoon under Seventies Parisian Disco Fever.

It was rich in velvet and felt in hot hues, such as golden rod yellow and feverish red.

Pouty lipstick prints made ladylike shirtdresses smoldering.


But, you do not have to wait until Fall to wear Milly.

Milly must be on an empowering movement when it became "Gossip Girl" Blair Waldroff's prefered power ensemble-with mismatching shoes.

Regardless, Ms. Waldroff power-suited herself in the Daisy Tee in Ecru with the concentric circles and the Colette Sheath Dress in powerfully polished but fashion-forward shimmering Winter White. She pretty much banished the Baby Booomer rayon shoulder pad power suit.

You can still get lighthearted and fun with Milly for Spring...and it's portable and accessibe for under $100, her "Pretty in Print" limited edition for Clinique.


The pink and brown eyeshadow palette and warm pink blush in a cute, embossed compact is clutch-sized friendly.

The universal skin tone friendly compact, the go-with-any skin tone watermelon pink blush, the lipgloss in Milly Pink and the High Impact Mascara in Black are the pops of color essentials in a cheery, breezy Milly Print Pouch.

The pouch print is from her signature print collection. She found inspiration from a vintage Sixities couture print then reworked it in her signature Milly print.

The flexible, no-fail skin tone friendly palette is influenced also by Michelle Smith's print and color palette.

Both Ms. Smith and Clinique's makeup artist, Kayleen McAdams, agree women want a pop of color in welcoming Spring. Something light and bright.

Ms. McAdams suggests sweeping the ivory eyeshadow from brow bone to lash, all over the eyelids. Brush the whole eyelids with the pink eyeshadow then add depth with the shimmering brown eyeshadow in the creases and the outer corners. Use the rich, matte brown shadow to rim both the upper and lower eyelids.

Ms. McAdams' favorite piece from the palette is the Precious Posy pink blush, a warm pink that heats up winter-weary cheekbones. All you have to do is smile and swoop it on the apple cheeks.

To finish a wholesome, warmed-up look, slick on the mauvey but light Milly Pink for a sweet smile.

It's going to be year-around of Milly by Michelle Smith.

Target is Toasting Up to Spring 2011

By Laura Medina

Spring is gradually thawing in certain parts of the country.


Slowly rolling out for Spring 2011, Target brings easy casual for the whole family and for everyone.


Converse's collegiate-meets-rock n' roll Women and Men lines are great in-between season pieces. All for under $100. Teens and college students can afford to build up their closets without the hurt.


The women's billowy Miriam Top on Pink Plaid topped with Marissa White Jacket is jaunty enough for early Spring/late Winter. Perfect for dashing between classes, projects, internships, and shopping.


The men's line is campus-to-beach. The hoodie provides warmth in the cold sea breezes while the board shorts say "Surf's up!"




Merona is the more elegant contemporary line where fashionable pieces can be had for under $20.

The colorblock shift dress in two-tone blue has its finger on the pulse for military-inspired yet mid-Sixities Mod. Put together, it's fresh for Spring 2011 for $39.99.

The black & white striped cardigan on black & white polka dot dress pops out at $55 for the whole outfit.

The curvy woman is no longer the "forgotten woman."

Actually, the Pure Energy line is the most ready for Spring.

The flower-print red empire waist top with ruffled collar, on the left; and the kimono-neck in daintyy but poppy black and white prints for $17.99, offer the most fun in Target's Spring 2011 Line-up.

These are just warming up for Target's next upcoming Greatest Hits Collection around the corner.

Expect More...soon.

Oh! Oh! What to wear on Oscar Night!

By Laura Medina

Haute couture designers may get the standing ovation at the end of their shows.
But, the real test is the Oscar's red carpet.
They will see which design, which gown,...let's face it, if their house or brand will make, not just one but a couple of appearances on the red carpet.
They know when a gown makes that defining moment when an actress hoists that statuette in the air in their gowns; it will launch droves of shoppers and waves of knock-offs that will forever define fashion of that era.
Trust this scribe...the world's most influential editors will be ensconced at home or hotel like everyone else, watching on the sofa, the red carpet and the acceptance speech.

Here are the trends you will be catching on Sunday's red carpet.

The first one, on the left, is an instant buy. A little "young" for the world's most prestigious award show but a great, flirty, year-around, seasonless go-to Little Black Dress. This short number is sassy enough for the Golden Globes and fun enough for the GRAMMY. This is why it's the first-if you see it, get it.

Glamour does need an injection of color, especially hot, sultry pink for the arrival of Spring which transition into hot, sexy Summer. As classic as it may be, that does get predictable with a sea of black. A shot of color never hurts. Think of it as blush and lipstick for the body, it'll warm up the skin tone.

Oscar night is Cinderella night for the starlets. They have every right to go "Princess" and be frilly such as this creamy number with the ruffle train. Debutantes may have to pay notice in watching Sunday's red carpet.

Oscar night is ok and encouraged to go glitz-with taste. This golden medallion on smokey grey crepe silk is an unexpected but elegant stunner. Very mysterious but stunning-in an Angelina Jolie way.

Expect more fabulous finds during this Oscar Week.

A Black Swan Baby Party for Natalie Portman's Baby

By Laura Medina

Left, Handbag designer, Timmy Woods. Middle, Kristie Swanson. Right, Amyn the Jeweler.

Any week leading up to a major awards show, fretting over hair, makeup, and what to wear, is stress enough for the participants to break out from acne to heat rash...and nervousness and anxiety attacks under the spotlight don't help.

Clever luxury providers and haute couture designers are smart enough to help arrivals and nominees in guiding them in the right hair, the right makeup, and the proper gown while pampering their stressed out skin, muscles, and nerves in pop-up but private message and facial spas in getting them ready for the big night.

Speaking of big night, someone has to fix their nails.

This is why and how gifting suites and style lounges emerge, making everything easy by catering to the nominees' beauty and grooming needs under one roof, rather having them driving all over town crazy.

One of the first Oscar "Beauty Suites," is the 15th Annual Roger Neal Style Hollywood Academy Award Beauty Suite in Beverly Hills. As the premiere and fore-runner of pampering lounges, Roger Neal Beauty Suite is a time-honored Oscar tradition.

Timmy Woods' "Black Swan" Handbag.

Since being glamourous and fashionable are also time-honored traditions in award seasons' beauty/style suites, they have to move on with the times and celebrate one of the best films nominated-the most fabulous one in the running-"Black Swan."

Speaking of good timing, Ms. Portman is nominated and pregnant, expecting at any moment.

In honor of her good fortunes, the glamour providers/vendors gathered under Mr. Neal's Beauty Suite and assemble an impromptu "Black Swan" themed baby shower for her.

As proxy, ballerina, Nady and principle dancer, Golden Koscuik of Masterpiece Dance Theatre, stand-in for Ms. Portman in accepting a black lacquered and red rhinestone-encrusted Black Swan evening clutch from former ballerina and handbag designer, Timmy Woods.

Obviously inspired by the movie, the Swan clutch is in black lacquer and red rhinestone from Nina Sayer's manic drive for perfection.

It will be worn by a star on Oscar night then auction off with half of the proceeds benefitting the Masterpiece Dance Theatre and the other half donating to mental health organizations.

Another Hollywood institution honors Ms. Portman and her impending motherhood, ninety-years old bakery, Hansen Bakery baked not one but two cakes for this special unveiling.

The first one is for the movie, this swan cake, above, trimmed in gems. It's just as chic and delicate as the title character.

The world's most expensive baby safety pin & teddy bear pendant.

But, they saved the best for last.

The showstopping finale was Ms. Portman's multi-tiered baby cake, topped by the world's most expensive baby safety pin and teddy bear pendant.

Celebrities-in-the-know jeweler, Amyn the Jeweler of Jewelry on 7th, especially tooled and encrusted the safety pin and pendant in diamonds.

The dangling Teddy Bear Pendant is as tiny as a thumb nail. The tummy is encrusted in chocolate diamonds while the rest of the body is covered in white diamonds, as is the safety pin.

Ms. Portman is going to be one lucky mama.

Tracey Reese goes Bold & Deep

By Laura Medina

The usually demure lady designer, Tracey Reese, has detoured for Fall 2011 into deep terrorities then went bold with patterns and prints.



The Seventies, specifically Seventies Paris, current runs through Ms. Reese's Fall 2011 Collection, too.

The mannish-Yves Saint Laurent of the liberated Seventies marched on in strong window-paned checkered pants suits or bold black and white swirls maxi-tunics belted with bohemian tooled leather belts.


Ms. Reese's take on Seventies Parisian chic is wearable and accessible with interchangeable pieces.

A fur-trimmed sweater, pussy-bowed blouse and slimming sailor trousers, on the left.

On the right, the embroidered ivory silk, off-shoulder peasant blouse over the utilitarian black leggings. Everything in these photos are interchangeable with ease. Maxing out your wardrobe with two outfits. Done deal.

Ms. Reese has not abandoned her ladylike ways.

The prim and proper swiss dot made itself known in several pieces, from the black tulle wrap top through the shimmy shift dress with ruffles to a delicate overlay in gray.

Tracey Reese has gone bolder and richer, with a touch of Seventies sex appeal.