Spotted: Eric

Name: Eric

Style: "Loose on the top, tight on the bottom, things that make me look bigger than I am."

Inspired by: friends and people in the past.

Shops: designer consignment

Reads: Selectism, HighSnobiety

First spotted Eric by his cool color blocked shirt. He had a great neutral palette going. Though, not to be missed is the pop of color on his feet with those tie-dye chuck taylors! How awesome are those?!

BeautyBiz: Natural Beauty

With many Americans following a diet philosophy of organic foods and limited preservatives, the natural progression is the expansion of organic products into the beauty and cosmetic department.

Organic beauty products are promoted as the alternative to harsh chemicals, protecting both the environment and the consumer. With the growth of the natural food industry and markets such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market, the access to many of the new organic products is limitless. After sampling many of the products, I thought I’d share my favorites. The smell of natural products is by far superior and pleasing then the generic chemical counterparts.

Alterna Hemp Shampoo smells refreshing while keeping the brand's promise of shiny, healthy hair. Hair is light to the touch and the cleansing quality equals that of chemically enhanced shampoos. Visit alternahaircare.com for more info.

Josie Maran cosmetics are environmentally sensitive and pleasing to use, making the wearer look as good as the supermodel founder. The case of the Natural Wonder Powder Palette is pretty for carrying around this spring, adorned with a butterfly motif. Unless plagued with a serious skin issue, such as acne needing the requirement of heavy foundation, organic products may be the way to go. The products may be slightly more expensive, but are a good alternative for the healthy conscious consumer that still wants to look great. Visit josiemarancosmetics.com for more info.

-EH

James Franco Gets Wet For Gucci

James Franco is starring in a new role as the face of Gucci's new fragrance for men - Gucci by Gucci Sport.

World famous fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shot the campaign poolside in Cannes. How decadent! Thoughts on Franco in a wet t-shirt?

Visit Gucciparfums.com for more info, photos and video.

-AL

[images via Gucci]

Spin It: A Little Bit Remix

Almost a year ago we posted music by Lykke Li. Since then, we'd shifted focus onto other artists and genres, but this remix of the Swedish indie rocker single "A Little Bit" brought us right back to loving her sound. Featuring Drake, this remix has an added eerie edge compared to the original. Lend an ear below:

-AL

[image via]

Add To Cart: Gingham

[J. Crew Giant Gingham Shirt, $69.50]

Despite the little dip in weather in New York City this past weekend, there's no denying that it is officially spring. Color will slowly make its way into our wardrobes and intensify in the coming weeks, but starting out slow with some spring classics is always a safe bet. Gingham is a tried and true pattern, with many refreshing varieties. This navy and white gingham shirt from J. Crew combines the original color palette with a youthful oversized check. It's has a tailored fit and J. Crew recommends going a size up for a boyfriend fit -- a perfect complement to a pair of distressed, boyfriend jeans.

- AL

Spotted: Noel

Name: Noel

Personal Style: Prim and proper -- with a little bit of quirk

Blog: MissCouturable.com

Reads: Luxirare.com, Fashionista.com, Purple, W, Vogue Nippon, Lula, Teen Vogue, ELLE, National Geographic, The Economist

We spotted our friend Noel during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, but never got around to sharing her quirky style with you until now. That day she was wearing an awesome giant pink bow on her head and was sporting some very victorian-looking leggings. Be sure to check out her blog and follow her on twitter!

Demi Moore Graces Harper's Bazaar's April Cover

She's lived in the spotlight for decades, but with her modern family, fresh style and takeover of Twitter, this actress is ahead of her time. In Harper's Bazaar's upcoming April issue, Demi Moore talks about the first time she met Ashton and why she prefers being called a puma over a cougar.

On whether she'd prefer being called a cougar or puma: "Cougar has become so distasteful. I really hate that expression." She said recently that when it comes to her relationship, she'd prefer to be called a puma. "It has a sweeter quality, more elegant. And then somebody said to me, 'Pumas are only for people in their 30s.'"

On the first night she met Ashton: "I knew it had the potential to be something special right away. It was like meeting somebody that I've just known where you just recognize one another. It was so disproportionate, the level of emotion we were experiencing to the time we had spent together. But when you don't know someone, you can't just jump and say, 'I love you.' 'Nice to meet you, I love you!' Yeah. No. We used to end our calls or emails with 'And everything we don't say.' It just seemed too much, too soon."

On Alexander McQueen: "McQueen was a genius. I was always thrilled to wear his clothes because they were more than fashion; they were truly works of art."

The issue hits newsstands March 30th.

-AL

Spring Is In The Air

Finding fresh, youthful, fashion-forward apparel brands can be as difficult as the search for the perfect pair of jeans. There are many apparel brands that strive to create cutting edge garments for the twenty-year-old age group, but sacrifice quality in return for cheaper prices. Quality of material and cut is imperative to how the item will hang on the body, not to mention durability and longevity in your wardrobe.

Alice + Olivia's contemporary line strives to target the young city dweller. Their spring collection features a color palette to match the trends presented during this year's spring 2010 fashion week. Alice + Olivia's spring collection captures the season perfectly with sweet blues, royal purples and apple reds that mimic colors found in nature. The line not only fits the 5"9 slim model, but everyone else as well. Their apparel has a versatile look, appropriate at a variety of occasions. Many of the dresses have pockets, which is perfect for a casual, comfortable feel.

Another favorite line for spring is Rebecca Taylor, whose namesake brand is as stylish as the designer herself. The spring collection is focused more on whimsical patterns, including animal prints and a retrospective of polka dots. Rebecca Taylor's dresses and tops are adorned with innocent floral prints in blush colors that don't overwhelm their wearer. Most of the styles are body conscious, appealing to all shapes and sizes.

As the first few days of spring are upon us, fashion has already begun to brighten the streets, with only more to come!

-EH

Gisele Covers Vogue's April Issue

Gisele Bündchen is on the cover of Vogue's April issue and we're loving the retro look! The cover seems like a bit of a homage to the supermodels of the 80's and 90's. And speaking of, it's great to see models back on the covers of fashion magazines, a trend we've noticed this spring on quite a few of our favorite glossies.

Inside the issue, the 29 year old Brazilian beauty talks about her son Benjamin Rein Brady and the launch of her new natural beauty line. Click here to read the story. Photos from the shoot by Patrick Demarchelier below:

-AL

[images via Vogue]

Redbook Beauty Bash

WHAT: Redbook magazine is kicking off spring with a day of pampering at the Redbook Beauty Bash in New York City.

Grab your girlfriends for a chic-o-nomical day of spa treatments and indulgences from the experts at Spa Chicks on the Go, including mini manis, massages and more. Sample the hottest beauty products, enjoy delicious refreshments and take home a goody bag filled with can't miss items. Plus, meet Redbook Editor-in-Chief and author of Falling Apart in One Piece, Stacy Morrison.

WHO: Women of all ages!

WHERE: Metropolitan Pavillion
123 West 18th Street
4th Floor Gallery
New York, NY

WHEN: Saturday, March 20, 2010
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

COST: $10 Advance tickets can be purchased at www.rbbeautybash.com or purchase at the door for $15

No RSVP necessary. For more info and advanced tickets, visit www.rbbeautybash.com.

-AL

So You Think You've Got Style?

Harper’s Bazaar’s Personal Style Competition is looking for one fabulously stylish winner, who will receive a trip to New York City, a photo shoot to be published in a future issue of Harper’s Bazaar and a $10,000 shopping spree provided by Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s preeminent specialty retailers of American and international designers.

“At Harper’s Bazaar, we believe that fashion should be fun and above all, reflect a woman’s individuality and point of view,” said editor in chief Glenda Bailey. “We celebrate women who make great style a way of life.”

Readers are invited to nominate themselves or other women with outstanding personal style by completing the online entry form at www.harpersbazaar.com/personalstylecontest.

Entries must include:

one close-up color photo of the face

three color full-body photos, each taken within the previous two years

A testimonial of 50 words or less describing why the person being entered has brilliant personal style and deserves to win.

Must be female, 21 years or older. Deadline for submissions is March 30, 2010.

-AL

Jet Setting Through Life

As the end of a long week approaches, it’s time to think about weekend plans. It’s been a long, cold winter with weekly snowstorms hampering my commute. While most people dream of going to a beach locale with warm, gentle breezes and a cool tropical drinks, I fance the opportunity to shop and fine dine. My destination of the moment is Chicago. The windy city in the winter… I must love the city.

Flying standby last minute always makes for interesting opportunities to meet new people and for the occasional celebrity sighting. If you make it on the plane, there’s the chance to turn left as you enter the aircraft door and enjoy the benefits of first class. The disadvantage however, is becoming too accustomed to turning that direction, making it very difficult to ever go back to that smidgen of seat in the "main cabin".

Chicago is an easy destination for East Coasters, as it’s a short two-hour flight and Central Standard Time gives back one of those hours flying out. The city is user friendly and a great place to visit. A day rail pass for $5 gives you full access to the system and the blue line runs from the airport right into central Chicago.

You can purchase same day performance tickets at the Oriental theater at a discounted rate. A a few doors down from the theater is Garrett's popcorn, a local favorite snack. The flavors are yummy and the samples are generous. If you plan your day just right, you can pick up the tickets in the morning and have a few hours to shop on North State Street a few blocks away. For dedicated shoppers, Nordstrom rack, TJMaxx and Filene’s Basement along with my perennial favorite, Loehmann’s, are a short walk from the theater.

Other favorite Chicago sites includes art museums, the Shedd Aquarium and for baseball fans, Wrigley Field. Dining options are numerous with my favorite being Greektown serving traditional Greek specialties, like moussaka and spanakopita. Michigan Avenue is home to designer lines and great window-shopping.

As March approaches, Chicago is preparing for its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. Not to be undone by other city's celebration, Chicago goes beyond the traditional parade to color the Chicago River green with food dye. Though a large city, Chicago still wins me over with its Midwestern charm.

-EH

[image via source and source]

Add To Cart: Platform Perfection

We've been obsessing over these Burberry Prorsum shoes for months since the brilliant Christopher Bailey sent them down the runway. While we're still slightly on the fence about the idea of socks in sandals, there's no denying that these shoes are hot. The twisted leather band style appeared on other runways, with to-die-for numbers by Givenchy as well.

Remaining loyal we've decided to share this pair with you and if you've followed us this past year, you'll know we have a thing for neutrals. The Burberry Twisted Band Platform Sandal comes in black as well, but we recommend the nude color for the coming spring/summer season. Save the black for fall. These shoes come in at $795 and are a sure head-turner. If you're looking to make a statement this spring, these are your answer.

[first image via Style.com]

Amber Heard On The April 2010 Cover Of FASHION Magazine

Whoever came up with that tired old axiom, “If you love something, set it free; if it comes back to you...” might have been thinking about actress Amber Heard and her beloved 1968 Ford Mustang. The powder-blue head-turner has been stolen more times than Heard can count, yet the two classic beauties always end up back together... "I love that car, even if I have to hotwire it to get it home from the junkyard."

She can hotwire a car AND rock a Fendi gown (dress in cover shot)! Amber Heard covers FASHION Magazine's April 2010 issue and she looks gorgeous as ever in the shoot by photographer Michael Willams. Inside the issue, the 23-year-old actress talks about her role opposite Johnny Depp in the upcoming romantic drama The Rum Diary.

In person, as in films like Pineapple Express, The Stepfather and this month’s satire The Joneses, Heard’s a real traffic stopper, all big hair and dangerous curves, like a pinball-machine cartoon bombshell come to life.

We've loved the rising star ever since we first watched her as Greta in The CW's Hidden Palms, back in 2007. Not knowing where she'd be once the show ended, we were happy to see her appear in Pineapple Express and The Stepfather. According to the feature interview, it sounds like we'll be seeing a lot more of Heard in the near future too.

Check out the behind-the-scenes video of the cover shoot below:

-AL

The Sound Of Fashion

While the focus of Fashion Week is on the clothes, there's no denying that the show production does play a part in one's enjoyment of a show. The music is always a highlight for me and even weeks after Fashion Week has passed, the sounds live on. When I listen to each song, I am immediately taken back to the runway, re-living the show.

The song choice is important for designers, who want their show to embody the collection, visually and audibly. Hence, the songs are usually pretty great. Here are some of my favorites from the F/W 2010 season of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week:

1. "Lose Your Soul" by Dead Man's Bones at Rebecca Taylor

2. "Ponta de Lanca Africano (Umbabarauma)" by Jorge Ben at Carlos Miele

3. "Somebody Tell Me" by Muchuu at Twinkle by Wenlan

4. "Poison Lips" by Vitalic at Custo Barcelona

-AL

A Fashionable Life: Paloma Picasso

In the March issue of Harper's Bazaar, fashion legend Paloma Picasso takes readers on a private tour of her charming Moroccan home, revealing her splendid retreat in the heart of Marrakech.

After spending her glamorous youth in the spotlight of the New York and Paris fashion scene, as Karl Lagerfeld's and Yves Saint Laurent's muse, Paloma found her calling in a visual medium that separated her from her artistic legacy. Now in her 30th year as a jewelry designer, she is, according to Tiffany's design director John Loring, "just what the company needed to take Tiffany into the 21st century."

Paloma Picasso finds her design inspiration in the lush, verdant oasis - "I feel perfectly happy here," she says of the enchanting estate, surrounded by a garden of date palms, citrus, fig and olive trees.

Her wardrobe reflects her chic lifestyle, with highlights including "flowing colorful caftans in the summer and, on cool winter afternoons, soft ample sweaters and slim trousers made for her by a local tailor," as Bazaar observes.

In the interview, she opens up about her father, Pablo Picasso: “When I see some of his paintings, it brings back the memories of when he was creating them.”

On her career, from costume designer, to accessory, home décor and jewelry designer: “I felt I had to prove myself. I don’t have anything to prove anymore. I can relax.”

See the full story in the March issue of Harper's Bazaar, now on newsstands.

-AS

The Mitzi Baker Collection

Some girls yearn for Jimmy Choo shoes, others Tiffany's jewels, but my obsession is a soft and subtle leather handbag in a given season's hot color. An oversized bag to sling over my shoulder is perfect to hold my essentials for a busy, productive day. Not just another accessory to store a wallet and iPhone, a handbag is an investment for one's wardrobe. A quality bag is a true piece of art and a great way to add personality to an otherwise simple outfit. It is often the handbag that lifts a plain black outfit, commonplace on the streets of Manhattan. A good bag fits comfortably over the shoulder, is made of durable materials and has the same attention to craftsmanship on the inside lining as the exterior. A well-designed bag combines utility with style and thus the hunt for the perfect handbag can be just as exciting as the find!

I am fortunate enough to enjoy the travel benefits of a family member and consequently many of my favorite bags were purchased during Milan's summer sale season. I have always preferred the smaller designer names over the more popular luxury labels. One of those smaller brands belongs to Mitzi Baker, a California designer and longtime favorite of mine for years, after having discovered a tangerine hobo bag at a local TJMaxx. Baker's signature bold use of color and shape has been featured in prominent fashion magazines and her logo is noticeably absent, allowing the designs to stand alone on their own merit. Along with the current Mitzi Baker collection, the company’s website also carries a few of last season's bags at a substantial discount. Production is limited and sells out fast, so get your favorites before they’re gone! Click here to visit mitzibaker.com.

-EH