Missoni Makes MORE Magic!

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Margherita Missoni - third generation!

Margherita Missoni with her adorable grandparents
(the founders of the Missoni brand).

While scrolling through my collection of Missoni family pictures from their various ad campaigns, I decided to do a little research (I also decided to make the pics a tad large to show all of the amazing detail!). I have been in LOVE with Missoni since I was about 10-years-old and can even remember the first time I saw a piece of Missoni in person, so my randomly doing this isn't all too random. After reading about the many milestones that occurred for Missoni during its 60 years of history, I came across some interesting and exciting news about the brand that I had surprisingly never heard of! Back in 2005, the plan to have a luxury hotel was born! The company signed an agreement with the Rezidor Hotel Group to create 30 hotels by this year.  Although they are a little behind, (just like I am with hearing about this development), you can now check-in to this lifestyle hotel in Edinburg, Scotland and Salmiya, Kuwait! They're currently in the process of completing hotels in Turkey and Brazil and hope to be open by 2013. It all looks and sounds fantastic except for one thing: make one in America, please and thank you!

Fashion Finds ALMOST Too Good to Share!

During my extensive quest to find a pink dress for a friend's wedding, I utilized a website that I had heard about years ago and it has been SUCH a great help! Not only has it resulted in me finally finding "the" dress, it has also led me to the discovery of some fabulous new web stores! Shop Style is an online shopping search engine that allows you to, not only search for specific fashion items but also, narrow down your search to the size, color, style, price, store, brand, etc! During my online shopping excursion, I came across two exciting sites: The Outnet and Asos.

The Outnet is an online store that sells men's and women's designer merchandise up to 70% off.  Most discount sites I've experienced offer the "stepchildren" from particular lines, but this site has a surprisingly tempting selection on (almost too many) beautiful discounted items!

The other site, Asos, is a men's and women's UK store that, thankfully, offers specialty sizes including maternity, petite, and "curve" and free shipping on all returns! After my recent visit to Las Vegas, I became almost restless while "window shopping" in some of the most luxurious malls around, BUT this online store may be my solution! Many of their designs are extremely reminiscent to the high-end styles featured in various spring/summer fashion magazines but for a fraction of the price! They also have a fun and edgy online magazine showcasing styled items of their merchandise in an editorial layout.

All dresses shown can be found on www.Asos.com

A Car Fit for The King

Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln MKZ

The new 2013 Lincoln MKZ definitely has some style worth applauding! The front grill isn't my cup of tea but the rear and overhead design are gorgeous. I love that the back view is a little reminiscent of a retro sports car but the roof is sleek and modern. The polished, luxe look of the new design is definitely a step up from last year's body style!

Although cars aren't necessarily a given when it comes to a style blog, oddly enough, they have always been an interest of mine. At a very young age, I fell in love with Elvis Presley. I now realize that I am still just as intrigued with him because I have a whole new appreciation for him, not just as a musical legend, but as The King who invented the "celebrity".  Elvis exceeded a man with musical and acting talent. He also had the wardrobe, the plane, Graceland, and his impressive collection of fabulous cars. (Where my interest began.) No star had ever had so much of their life in the public eye but his world, and all of the fabulous toys in it, created the iconic celebrity lifestyle.  Companies of all shapes, sizes, and types understand that selling "the lifestyle" is what is effective and alluring to the masses. I am one of those people. I love all of the different elements that create someone's lifestyle. Whether it's fancy or not, it's still interesting to see all of the styled qualities that create an individual's image and the visual life they live. I just needed to give my reasoning for showcasing cars on this blog and give Elvis the credit he deserves! I like pretty things, so expect all things pretty to be included.

Elvis preferred Cadillacs over Lincolns but I thought I'd include a few from his collection!

1956 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible



1960 MG MGA - one of my favorites! He liked it so much while driving it during the filming of Blue Hawaii, he bought it.



1960 Jeep CJ-5 Surrey Edition - Used for security at Graceland but later, made to look like the Jeep used in Blue Hawaii.

1960 Cadillac Coupe Deville - When Elvis later had this car painted, he took it to the body shop and slammed a vine of grapes on the hood to show the exact color he wanted.

1971 Stutz Blackhawk - Elvis purchased this from Frank Sinatra.

Pretty Things Worth Sharing!

Since warm weather has FINALLY arrived, even making mention of fall 2012 seems a little depressing...until you see the stunning shoes that have come down the runway!!! A few of these styles would be much more fitting in an enclosed case than on my feet but, nonetheless, they need to be appreciated for being pure art!

Aquazurra - classic style with a pop!

Aquazurra 

Aquazurra - updated classic

Aquazurra 

Alexander McQueen

Burak Uyan - ah-mazing

Coach - impressed with their fun alternative to the rain boot!

Dolce & Gabbana - high fashion meets Marie Antoinette/ Rococo period!

Lanvin

Stuart Weitzman - he has officially perfected the shape of the pump.

Stuart Weitzman - same style but worth showing twice!

Stuart Weitzman - perfect for a wedding shoe..and affordable!

Tabitha Simmons - these would be even more perfect with Helmut Lang leggings.

Yves Saint Laurent - museum quality

Zoraide

Arfango

A Celebration for Ferragamo's Frangrance!

                          Eugenia Silva, in Salvatore Ferragamo.                       

Emma Roberts and Kate Mara

Rachel Chandler, Alexandra Richards, Bianca Balti, Stella Schnabel, Theodora Richards, and Lauren Remington Platt, all in Salvatore Ferragamo.

Last weekend, a gorgeous party was held to celebrate the launch of Salvatore Ferragamo's new fragrance, Signorina.  Ferragamo, the creator of the wedge and many other brilliant shoe designs, is known for elegance and detail, two things that were not lacking at this evening event!  A uniquely clever touch was to incorporate notes of the new fragrance to the actual venue, "On one hand, you had musky, oak moss wafts from the floor-to-ceiling wood paneling that lines the ground floor of the West Village building, and on the other, a blend of pink pepper, peony, rose, and the panna cotta accord of the new scent.." (Celia Ellenberg, Style.com)

Signorina is said to be a celebration of chic young women, lending the sweet key notes of jasmine and panna cotta. The hosts for the evening were a collaboration of beautiful socialites who represent chic young women to a tee; rockstar royalty: Alexandra and Theodora Richards, Rachel Chandler Guinness, Lauren Remington Platt, and model, Bianca Balti (shown above). The campaign also includes these glamorous ladies keeping up with a blog called The Girls About Town, hosted by Salvatore Ferragamo!

My new mission: smell this fragrance immediately and definitely keep up with their new blog...and incorporate more amazing spring colors (like these) into my wardrobe!