Runway to Red Carpet: Oscars 2012

Photos Courtesy of Red Carpet Fashion Awards

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Graphic Black & White

Photos Courtesy of Style.com

With the abundance of color we’ve seen lately, both on the racks & on the runway, it is a bit refreshing to get blasted with such a clean pop of black & white.  From head to toe stark snow is contrasted with velvety onyx in a diverse mixture of graphic prints, geometric shapes and vivid lines.  Whether inspired by mod moments like Alice + Olivia’s two-faced Parisian number or Narciso’s pinwheel printed shift, bohemian & tribal mixes like Naeem Khan’s stripey cut out caftan or graphic in it’s truest form like Ohne Titel’s optical illusion-trick playing jacket, it is no doubt that designers are merging opposite sides of the spectrum in the most dramatic of fashions this season.

Xx ASK

Spring’s New Sunglasses: The Round Wayfarer is Cooler than Cool!

As Winter slowly comes to a close and we dream about springing in to warmth, we can’t help but fantasize about airy little dresses and fab strappy sandals and of course drawers full of our favorite sunglasses.  Each season, though we continue to love the oldies, all of them, there is no way around the necessary purchase of a new pair.  And each season we torture ourselves figure out whether to invest in aviators or oversized frames, tortoise cat eyes or gleaming gold metal, and just how much we’re willing to dig in to our pockets for the perfect new pair.  This time around both problems are solved…there is only one must-have style, the updated yet totally retro and endlessly cool rounded wayfarer – and we can pretty much get our hands on any of the best since we discovered SmartBuyGlasses, an awesome site that has every designer & every style for a fraction of the price.  Find these favorites (pictured above & listed below) and almost every other amazing option at Smart Buy & let us know which you’ll be rocking this Spring!

Top to Bottom:

Persol – $251.95 (NZ)

Barton Perreira Windsong – $396.95 (NZ)

Gucci – $314.95 (NZ)

Giorgio Armani – $203.95 (NZ)

Tom Ford Campbell – $324.95 (NZ)

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Beading Up & Down

Photo Courtesy of CameoBlog.com

There is always a touch of glamour on the Fall runways but this season was especially fanciful as we saw model after model own the catwalk in lavish head to toe embellishment.  Length was all the range from hemline to sleeves but what really took the cake was the endlessly sparkling textile that made each look so exuberant.  Whether black, white or metallic, dresses were adorned top to bottom in beading, sequins, even laser-cut embroidery popping off the body in what appeared to be a fluid movement of never-ending glimmer.  Patterns played a large role, with inspirations ranging from twenties to tribal and each piece, a true work of art in its own right, skimmed the body in a way that despite the abundant material, mysteriously left little to the imagination, a combination that may be one of the sexiest we’ve seen in a long while.  Definitely digging it, bring it on Fall 2012.

Xx MKG

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Jewel Tones

Photo Courtesy of CameoBlog

Fall 2012 is in full force in New York City and as the shows go on we can’t help but focus on heading a head start on expanding our wardrobes in the perfect direction.  As in true fall form, jewel tones are all over the runways – emerald, sapphire, ruby, garnet, precious stones have inspired the richest autumn looks – but this season designers are mixing it up in the best way, together.  Tailored pants in deep aqua hues are complimented by luxe silk and velvet jackets in teal and forrest while navy and merlot meld into a symphony of royal color creating a casual opulence that instantly reminds us why we love this season so much.

Xx MKG

DC’s Georgetown Cupcake Lands in NYC!

The only thing we love more than a pink runway is a pink cupcake shop, which is why we couldn’t help but gush over the fabulous grand opening of Georgetown Cupcake in our very own SoHo – finally!  Sisters Katherine & Sophie have garnered quite a bit of praise over their exquisitely scrumptious cupcakes, so much so that they landed themselves on their own show, DC Cupcakes…but it certainly takes an expert to know what’s best and we here in New York are certainly self-proclaimed cupcake-a-holics with our fair share of top notch bakeries specializing in the one-of-a-kind treat…all we have to say is that there is a reason these babies have been flown in to our city so left & right, they obviously take the cake (pun definitely intended) and we are pretty psyched that they’re finally here to stay.  If it isn’t enough that the girls’ heavenly flavors speak for themselves, everything about Georgetown Cupcake makes us fawn over them from the chic pink & black packaging to the DIY cookbook to the matching pink dresses we met the brilliant bakers in, K & S just know how to do it right and we can’t wait to get back in to their brand new NYC bakery.

Xx MKG & ASK

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week from Home!

NYC’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is back and as Lincoln Center and other fab venues prepare to showcase the Fall 2012 collections from over 90 incredibly talented designers & brands, most of us have to convince ourselves it is a luxury to kick back and enjoy the show from home.  Thanks to the brilliant partnership of YouTube, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Maybelline, we can all sit back and relax while being the first to view each remarkable look as over 25 shows are streamed live via YouTube.com/LiveRunway.  In addition to minute by minute coverage, you can enjoy behind the scenes interviews, fashion trend roundups from the experts, backstage beauty tips & more.  Full broadcast schedule above & don’t forget to stay on top of Twitter & Facebook to follow insider information & conversations throughout the week – February 9th-15th.  Best week ever.

Xx ASK

The Best V-Day Gifts for the Ones You Love!

It is our favorite time of year – time to celebrate love!  We’ve rounded up a few of the best gifts for the fabulous women in your life and trust us, you can’t go wrong with any of them!

1 – Elva Fields One-of-a-Kind Necklaces – $98-$348

2 – Alexandra Beth Love Necklace – $98

3 – Lauren Wimmer Signet Ring – $210

4 – Madame Mathilde Vintage-Adorned Clutch – $395

5 – Erin Håkansson Red Coral Reversible Necklace – $275

6 – Wanderlust + Co Eternity Knot Ring – $22

7 – Kira Kira Rose Gold & Diamond Marrakech Ring – $2,841

8 – Katrina LaPenne Solid Perfume Locket – $325

9 – LaLucca Hand-painted Clutch – $350