Femme

Femme by divadebbi featuring a white shirt

Lela Rose white shirt / Burberry coat / Paige Denim blue jeans / Alexander Wang leather shoes / Jimmy Choo crossbody purse / Elizabeth Arden lip treatment / John-Richard Asian Quince Botanical

For Lidia

For Lidia by divadebbi 

Lela Rose petite cocktail dress, $740 / Lanvin outerwear / Christian Louboutin sandals / Edie Parker black and gold clutch / Raxevsky leopard bracelet, $19 / Face makeup / Chloé fragrance, $75 / 

One of the nicest things about my Polyvore obsession, is that I have gotten to know fantastic women, from all over the world.  

I "met" the incredibly talented Lidia Solymosi long before I actually saw her. Lidia is one of the most popular creators on Polyvore.  Her eye is impeccable and whether she is creating fashion or art sets, they often, literally, take my breath away. We connected because we liked each other's style and communicated through messages in Poly.

In June, Polyvore sponsored a meet up in NYC.  Lidia flew in from Canada and it was amazing to finally get together.  Knowing my style to a tee, she bought me the lovely Valentino leopard scarf I'm wearing in the set above.

Lidia recently made this charming set for me, so I created this for her.  I think of her often and especially when I wear this pretty scarf.

I'm thankful for Polyvore, because it  allows me to be creative, stay ahead of the fashion curve and sharpen my eye to style my clients.  It also has been the catalyst for creating new friendships.

My mother recently spent a week with us as she recuperated from cataract surgery.  She is convinced that  because of technology, people are going to lose the art of communicating. I can see her point...she saw my family tethered to our iphones and ipads, but on the flip side, if it wasn't for technology, I never would have gotten to know Lidia.

The world is a changing...and I am not the least bit nostalgic for my answering machine.

xox,
DD

Black Tie...with Sleeves!

This is my second article in a series of two that I wrote for the website Women's Voices for Change about dressing beautifully for a wedding. The first covered daytime venues.  This time we focused on Black Tie. With both, the challenge was to create fashionable looks on Polyvore with sleeves. I like the range of these options.


It was particularly thrilling to see this spectacular Lela Rose gown arrive at Richards this week. Sometimes, my dreams do come true.


xox,
DD

It’s official: Official wedding attire is no longer set in stone. This spring, Vera Wang, the trendsetting bridal designer, sent her models down the runway in shades of dahlia, scarlet, crimson, and vermillion. As brides make the leap to new traditions—and, make no mistake, they will—the “rules” of proper guest attire will again be blurred.

A few years ago, no one would have dreamed of wearing black to a wedding. Now, complete wedding parties, Moms included, wear black.  This makes shopping in or out of your closet a bit easier for a guest . . . particularly for those who are “sleeve challenged.

The Lela Rose gown on the left beautifully marries fashion and elegance. The exquisite silk and wool skirt with ruffled train is topped by a tulle bodice with a face-flattering bateau neckline, hand embroidery, and, yes, a sleeve. It’s an important gown, one that would make a fabulous choice for the mother of the bride at a black-tie wedding. (This dress is also available at Richards, contact me  at DivaDebbi@gmail.com for a personal viewing.)

Every closet should include a pair of perfectly cut black evening pants. If they are a lightweight wool, jersey or silk, they will be wearable 365 days a year.  The Talbot Runhof black lace coat, paired with the Etro pant, is an elegant and versatile wardrobe addition. The coat would also be lovely on top of a classic black dress or one with a pop of color.

Legs became the new “booty” the minute Angelina Jolie flashed us a thigh-full of Versace at this year’s Academy Awards.  Elie Saab, master of impeccable eveningwear, is always ahead of the curve. This seemingly simple jersey gown has it all; lot’s of leg, a long sleeve, and the color of today—vermillion. This is the type of dress that would look elegant anywhere in the world, and it would pack beautifully too. Now would be the perfect time to wear it to a black-tie wedding: Next year, vermillion may be off limits.

Ensembles that multi-task are a dream.  When both pieces pair as well with each other as with items you already own, that is true investment dressing.  The black cotton and silk top, from Alessandra Rich, looks fabulous with the ivory lace skirt, but would look equally good with the black Etro pant or slim-cut white jeans. Conversely, the lace skirt would look chic paired with a black turtleneck and boots at a holiday party.

Mama Mia! Clarisonic Mia is Marvelous

Clarisonic Mia now available in colors to match your newest jeans. $119

Inexplicably, I sometimes can't get myself to splurge on a beauty product.  Even one that has received glowing online reviews and raves from anyone I know who uses it.

Clarisonic's cleansing system seems to be the one to beat.  Using it for just two minutes a day will greatly improve your skin's clarity and texture, help your creams work more effectively and your makeup application smoother.

I had contemplated purchasing Olay's Pro X system which claims to rival Clarisonic's hand held system, for significantly less money,without mentioning names.  I couldn't pull the trigger on that one either.

Happily, last week we had a Lela Rose trunkshow at Richards, and there lovely reps came bearing grab bag gifts...O.K...so I peeked.  Shoot me.

After charging it overnight, it was ready to roll the next morning in the shower with me.  After just one use, my skin was glowing more than usual.

Falling in Love: Fall Trends at Richards 2011

Giorgio Armani Milan Runway Fall 2011

How can it be? Poof! Summer is nearly gone...What can I say to cheer me you up???  Well, for starters, Fall is looking mighty luscious!!!  As the new collections pour into Richards, the prevalence of certain trends becomes obvious.  It's always interesting to see which collective fabrics and colors seep into the consciousness of the design community and how cohesive the results are. Great like minds do think alike.

Here are some of the trends you can look forward to seeing at Mitchells Stores: