A whole new world!!!

Well my lovely readers, I am diversifying. I will still be blogging for my baby (The Girl Who Rocked Versailles), my labor of love, but I will also be writing for the Courier Journal Hot Spot Blog. This is a big step for me because I will try my hand at writing on other subjects that are also near and dear to me, or that have a greater connection to the community and the world. I hope you all continue to read this blog, but if you are wondering about my alter-ego, check out the blog sometime...I will also be putting a link on this blog under "Favorites".


picture from the Disney Movie "Aladdin" courtesy of http://www.disney-vacation-time.com/img/aladdin/aladdin-4.jpg

Pinch me...I think I've died and gone to fashion heaven: My trip to Rebecca Taylor

On my recent trip to New York City, I was able to have a very unique opportunity to live one of my dreams and visit one of my favorite designer's studio, Rebecca Taylor. I have always loved Taylor's clothing. Although her direction is always fashion-forward, there is a distinct feminine aspect about her floaty fabrics and precious prints that is timeless. It is impossible to wear her clothes and not feel beautiful, let alone utterly stylish.

In the cab ride over to the studio in the Fashion District, I could barely hold in my excitement. I had been waiting for this since the moment the arrangements had been made for my visit. My mom and I walked through the doors of an unassuming narrow building, took the elevator, and watched as the doors opened into a room bathed in a soft light. I couldn't help myself but turn into a dumb little fan-girl for a few moments as I stood there admiring the space. Every inch of the loft was covered in some pretty little detail, reminding me of a dollhouse. A rack of clothing held the Resort collection nearby. Swirly patterns decorated the walls. Cat images, Taylor's signature logo, were sprinkled everywhere.

We were greeted by Frank Ricci, a sharp and stylish sales executive, who gave us the grand tour of the studio, including rooms filled with bolts of fabric, trims, buttons, bows, and all sorts of crafty materials that eventually are sewn, stitched, or embroidered to become garments. We were taken to a room filled with sketches for upcoming seasons, and I even briefly met Rebecca Taylor herself as she was fleeting down the hallway, and I was immediately taken with how she was so down to earth and did not put on any airs.

My experience at Rebecca Taylor was a delight, the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae which is New York. Thank you to all who had a part in giving me the opportunity to live one of my dreams! Maybe in the future I could be blessed with a career in such a fantasy world...

Summer Must-Have: FitFlops

I have a confession. I am a runner, and like to pretend that I am a hard-core-Spartan-athlete, yet I'm a very naturally lazy person. When I'm having one of those days in which I lack the motivation to do anything other than shopping or running errands, I reach for my secret weapon, my FitFlops.

Maybe it's the hype, maybe its the gimmick, but I can't get enough of these shoes. First off, they are incredibly comfortable and have just the right width to support your feet when walking. They are also supposed to tone your legs by tensing the muscles in your calves and thighs as you walk. I believe I can vouch for this because the first day I wore them my legs were sore by the time I took them off. This reassured me that there was "something" going on. Now even when I'm having a lazy-day I can feel like I'm somewhat of a Spartan, even if the only thing I am hard-core about is taking it easy.

GO International: Richard Chai

Mention chai...and I'm already biased. You see, I mix my own Chai tea latte every morning...it's my own version of a cup o' joe. Now I have a new chai to love, that is, Richard Chai. He is the next up-and-coming designer to collaborate with GO International to create another fabulous collection. Out this August, the collection is sure to retain Chai's tailored, yet romantic aesthetic.

As a side note, I am constantly impressed with the talent that Target acquires. Always on the cusp of major success, the designers are never over-exposed and the designs are always fresh. Keep 'em coming Target, I need my GO International fix just as much as my daily java.

picture courtesy of http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2008RTW/complete/thumb/RCHAI?trend=&page=3

Bang for the buck: Lip Balm

Looking for a clear gel to shape your eyebrows? Here is a nifty trick: just use lip balm. It keeps the hairs in place while moisturizing the skin under the brows! No more hard, crusty residue! A lip balm with SPF, like one of my drugstore favorites Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner with SPF 15, even protects that delicate area that is often neglected. And for all those out there with an OCD for lip balm application, you now have a new reason to break out the tube.

Summer Must-Haves: Nylon shorts

I have the weirdest, most unlikely obsession with nylon. Yes, I am a die hard fan of Nylon Magazine, which could explain why I am drawn to the material's shiny, slick finish. The origin of this fetish, I cannot say. Maybe it is my love of the famous Prada nylon bags. Maybe it is because I was not alive in the eighties to experience the nylon trend in the height of its popularity. I can experience the style for the first time without worrying that I look like a retro-hot-mess.

Which leads me to my must-have piece of clothing for summer, the nylon Soffe short. Not only a quintessential teenage item, these lightweight shorts have also been a lifesaver on many occasions. They are perfect for all types of unpredictable summer situations: concerts in the sweltering heat, getting stuck outside in the rain, for use as a bathing-suit cover-up at the pool or beach, and spontaneous excursions to amusement parks. I love, love, love these shorts.

Excuse me, I have to go listen to Olivia Newton Jone's "Lets Get Physical" now...

Oxymoron Beauty: Neutrogena Color Boosting Sunblock SPF 30

Ah yes. Nothing says summer more than a glorious, glowing tan. Nothing says melanoma and skin aging more than UVA/UVB rays. I live in this dichotomy, and so I am always searching for products that create that beachy color without sacrificing the health of my skin. Well the other day I was browsing my local drugstore and, lo and behold, I found this Neutrogena Color Boosting Sunblock SPF 30. It shields your skin with the power of Helioplex while also giving you a subtle boost of color. I have been loving this for its light application, pleasant smell, and the warm glow it gives to my skin, making me look forward to my daily SPF application before an afternoon run.

A sunscreen that shields the skin from tanning yet gives your complexion a glow...oh the glorious, glorious irony!