The Gift of Social Media Friendshps

For dear @divadebbi by emavera featuring magnolia home decor

Victoria Beckham fitted dress, $3,510 / Giorgio Armani cut-out shoes / Pier 1 Imports magnolia home decor / Valentino's New Flagship Opens Up At Fifth Avenue - Pursuitist


Sometimes, I'm just amazed at how my world has been enriched by the Internet and social media.  Yes, at times, I too tsk tsk about how much of our time is spent gazing into our palms when we could and should be more present in the moment.

That being said, I have also made scores of new friends and rekindled old friendships via Polyvore, Twitter, Facebook and more recently Instagram. 

My very talented friend Vera created this Polyvore set to celebrate my blogs 7th anniversary and so nicely, to honor my style.  I am deeply touched. (You can see more of her fabulous sets here.  The lovely "Emavera", as she is known, as over 55,000 followers!).

Maybe the goal should be to balance it all a bit better...remaining "unplugged" in the presence of friends, colleagues and family, yet still recognizing magical connections can and do happen in cyberspace.

I'll work on it...how about you?

xox,
DD

Happy Birthday Emavera!!!

Happy Birthday Emavera!!! by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

M Missoni maxi dress / Brian Atwood gold shoes / SERPUI MARIE white purse / Dolce Gabbana rhinestone jewelry / Crystal jewelry / Giorgio Armani cheek bronzer / Topshop manicure tool / Pier 1 Imports floral decor

Off the Cuff

Off the Cuff by divadebbi featuring an orchid flower arrangement

Missoni multi colored dress / Casadei black heel sandals / Anya Hindmarch zipper handbag, $935 / Bracelet jewelry / Pier 1 Imports orchid flower arrangement

Spring Ahead...Finally!

Despite the continued cold temperature, my spirit is still blooming looking at all the fabulous, fresh fashion at Richards in Greenwich.  This month, I will celebrate my 14th anniversary as their Personal Shopper, working exclusively by appointment clients who prefer complete one-on-one attention. 

To all my lovely, loyal clients and friends who have been with me for nearly 20 years in Greenwich, I think you know, you mean the world to me, and I have enjoyed every moment of assisting you and your families with seasonal wardrobes and milestone occasions. 

Here's to many more...and of course, I always enjoy meeting new clients so if you have always thought you would like to work with a Personal Shopper or Stylist, call me! The beauty of having a relationship, is trust. It is my solemn mission to only sell you what fits you and your lifestyle and flatters you perfectly. (203-622-0551203-622-0551). Why would we do less?

Before each season everyone always asks me what are the major trends of the season? 
It's always amazing how key colors and ideas find their way into every important collection. Here is how Spring 2014 took shape:

Go Global 
Designers the world over created dresses and ready-to-wear with ethnic prints in rich, saturated hues:

Valentino

The Row

Peter Pilotto

Etro

Oxford Bound
The allure of cool crisp shirting, showed up in many designers collections in dresses, over slim pants and pencil skirts:

Brunello Cucinelli

Giorgio Armani

Valentino

Pop Art
Echos of Roy Lichenstein, Peter Beard, Frank Stella and Jean Miro could be found in designers collections.  Bright pops of color were woven onto knits and printed onto silks, with photo prints also popular:

Akris Punto

Alexander McQueen

Phillip Lim

Flower Power
Lush blooms were featured prominently adding a dreamy feminine glam to many collections reminiscent of exotic locations:

Giorgio Armani

Dolce and Gabbana

Stella McCartney coat

Simply Chic

Simply Chic by divadebbi showing what to wear with shirts & tops

Rag Bone shirts top / Monki long jacket, $89 / Harvey Faircloth cotton wrap skirt / Giuseppe Zanotti high heel shoes / Ted Baker crocodile leather handbag, $415 / White gold jewellery / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics matte eyeshadow / Topshop lip gloss makeup / Giorgio Armani black mascara / Butter London gel nail polish / John Richard home decor

Peaches and Cream

Peaches and Cream by divadebbi featuring an orchid plant

Lanvin dress / Nina Ricci white top / Christian Louboutin gray pumps, $865 / Valentino red handbag / Diamond jewelry / 18k earrings / Givenchy lip pencil / Eyeliner / Tory burch perfume / John-Richard Asian Quince Botanical / Pier 1 Imports orchid plant

Friends and Family/ Black Friday Beauty Deals

I have been inundated all week with pitches about beauty deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  I've narrowed my list and research to some of my favorite skincare and beauty companies.  Jessica Cruel at Bellasugar did a comprehensive round up which you can access here.  Click the links below for details:

Kate Sommerville- 30% off thru December 2nd.  I'm mad for Kate's 360 Body Tanning Towelettes, which are streakless, stinkless and create the perfect golden glow for the Holidays. (I am also hearing great buzz about True Lash $35, her eye makeup remover which has the benefit of actually helping eyelashes grow-- a lot).

Smashbox- 25% off all purchases over $50.  I'm crazy about their BB cream and recently purchased two of their gorgeous Wondervision Eye Sets, a fabulous value that includes a stunning palette of shadow, a black liner and mascara for $32.  Buy one for yourself and give another for a gift, (my favorite strategy).

Si by Giorgio Armani

Cate Blanchett the face of Giorgio Armani's new fragrance Si

Is it possible that one fragrance can smell delicious on everyone who tries it?  I would have doubted it, since I know from my own experience that certain fragrances, delicious on others, can smell like Raid on me within a matter of hours--until Si.

I have just returned from a fantastic visit to friends in London, where I enjoyed a whirlwind of shopping, theater, good restaurants, great museums and a trip to the country to tour Blenheim Palace.  Too divine and best of all, we laughed non stop.

Nancy is also a beauty product aficionado, sweetly running out and buying all my raves.  She is no slouch either, so I will have days of reporting some of my new finds, at her behest.

I brought her a few of my new faves, including Hada Labo's fantastic skin plumping gel and cleanser, both have which have earned a spot on my Holy Grail/Best of 2013 finds.  I was thrilled when she called me in the middle of touring the National Gallery from her Derm's office, (not so the attendant, who quickly hustled me into the hallway,)  He noticed her glow and immediately wanted to know what she was using...seeing is believing, but I digress.

Nancy had recently smelled Si and wanted to share it with me.  I was instantly smitten, but I know from experience that the only way to purchase fragrance is after sampling it and seeing how it mixes with your chemistry over a couple of hours, so we doused.

Miranda & Flynn

Miranda & Flynn by divadebbi featuring silk flowers

American Vintage v neck top, $150 / Givenchy coat / Rebecca Taylor skirt, $285 / Platform stiletto boots / Valentino leopard print purse / Linda Farrow retro sunglasses / Kevyn Aucoin cheek bronzer / Giorgio Armani lipstick / Pier 1 Imports artificial tree / Sia silk flower, $7.96

Style Goddess: Rosie Huntington Whitely

Style Goddess: Rosie Huntington Whitely by divadebbi featuring Shiseido

J Brand sweater / Mini skirt, $185 / Isabel Marant booties / Giorgio Armani tote bag / Linda Farrow Luxe round tortoise sunglasses / Shiseido lip gloss / Chloé fragrance, $74 / Pier 1 Imports dogwood tree

Rosie Rocks the Jumpsuit

Rosie Rocks the Jumpsuit by divadebbi 

For me, the true measure of celebrity style is not what she wears on the Red Carpet, but what she looks like day in and day out, left to her own devices, sans stylists.

 'Steet Style".

Women like Olivia Palermo, Miranda Kerr, and Rosie Huntington-Whitely consistently look chic, effortless and completely confident in their choices, making the rest of us look like Ellie Mae Clampett, (if you don't know, don't ask or of course, Google).

I loved how Rosie cuffed this Gerard Darel jumpsuit and paired it with a fabulous baby George blue Giorgio Armani tote (since I do act as their Brand Ambassador at Richards.) Killer sandals, Miu Miu tortoise sunglasses...yup, she just rolled out of bed.

I'm utterly gob smacked by these creatures.  Ladies, I bow to thee...

xox,

DD

Don't Box Me In

Don't Box Me In by divadebbi featuring a bauble necklace

Miu Miu dress / Tucker bustier top / Charlotte Olympia platform shoes / MSGM / Kate Spade bauble necklace / Bracelet bangle / Napoleon Perdis lip liner / Topshop / Kate Spade perfume / Kevyn Aucoin beauty product

I'll Drink to That...

I'll Drink to That... by divadebbi featuring an orange tote

Victoria, Victoria Beckham colorful dress / Pierre Hardy wedge / Orange tote / Z Gallerie - Phalaenopsis Orchid - white Set of 3

DivaDebbi's 2013 Academy Awards Report Card

I started watching Red Carpet coverage for the Oscar's at about 5:45. By the time it wrapped up, well after midnight, I had taken in Girls on HBO and Shameless on Showtime. Good God, it was dull.

I'm not a twenty something male, so I know precious little about Seth McFarlane and if that is the demographic they are trying to cultivate, well, good luck with that...The Academy Awards are not called, "the Superbowl for Women" for nothing. I found him tedious.

Five words of advice for next year---Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

On a personal note, all of my favorites won, including the magnificent Christoph Waltz, the talented and lovely Jennifer Lawrence and in a roundabout way, Ben Affleck.  Seriously, how can a film win for Best Picture and not nominate its Director???

Anyway, on to the Fashion.  Overall, the women looked quite beautiful and there were far fewer gaffes on the Red Carpet than usual damn it.  Trend favorites included strapless, pale washes of color, metallics and the shades of love, red, corals and pinks.

Still there were some almosts and some clear misses....

The A Team:

As Richards Brand Ambassador for Giorgio Armani,  I was thrilled to see both Jessica Chastain and Naomi Watts looking incredibly beautiful in Armani Prive.  When it comes to Red Carpet elegance, Mr. Armani can always be counted on to make his star and those he creates for, shine.

Jessica Chastain. Her best of the season. Adored the red lip.

Naomi Watts. Flawless. Loved the dress, hair and makeup.

Stacy Keibler in Naeem Khan. The bod, the dress, and that hair. K. O.

Jennifer Lawrence, the new face of Miss Dior Handbags in
Dior couture, by Raf Simons. Breathtaking.

Always stunning, Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen

Kerry Washington, who has yet to miss on the Red Carpet
 this awards season, in Miu Miu. Impeccable.

The always beautiful Charlize Theron in Dior. Flawless, even
while growing in a buzz cut, worn in a recent role.

I loved Anne Hathaway's Prada gown more from the perfectly
 fitted  back,then the slightly ill fitting  front, but all in all, she killed it.
I haven't completely forgiven her for dissing Mr. Valentino though...
the press release was already issued, when she made her switch

A very happy Mrs. Affleck in custom Gucci, looking very polished.

Le Miz co-star Samantha Berks, exquisite in a simpleValentino
cut to there.  Divine.

Robyn Roberts looking happy and healthy in a sapphire velvet
Mark Bouwer beauty

The B Team:
Here's where it will get nit-picky, since some of these may have been your faves.

Sally Field in Valentino. Her hair and makeup couldn't have been prettierI wish she missed this train...
 

Nicole Kidman looking Va Va in L'Wren Scott.  I was
thrilled, until they panned down below the knees.

Jennifer Aniston in Valentino. Meh. Flat hair didn't elevate it either,
Especially since she now owns a chunk of "Living Proof".

Jennifer Hudson in Cavalli. Pretty dress. Too much hair.

Reese Witherspoon in Louis Vuitton. Great hair. This pretty dress
felt deja vu of other RC looks we have seen on Reese.

The lovely Zoe Saldana.  I was so much happier before I saw the
bottom of this Alixis Mobile gown.

Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta.  Beautiful dress, but the color is just too
wishy washy. Her hair also looked too undone for this much dress.
 A little Elnett would have gone a long way...

Wild Things

Wild Things by divadebbi 

This set features a stunning Lanvin top.  I am so excited that we now carry this beautiful collection at Richards/Mitchells.  Reknown designer, Alber Elbaz loves to use feminine fabrics that drape like silk charmeuse.
His clothes are often quiet on the hangar, but oh-so elegant on.

xox,
DD

It's Better in the Bahamas...

It's Better in the Bahamas... by divadebbi 

Let's just leave it at I wish... 

xox,
DD