Breakfast with lia sophia founder Elena Kiam, stylists Jeannie Mae and Dani Stahl, and Tami! to preview the latest collection, Zingara (Photo via Talking with Tami. No, we didn’t coordinate):

This satchel matches my OPI nails at The Cambridge Satchel Co. presentation at Alice’s Tea Cup (interview with founder Julie Deane to come! Photo via Momtrends):

At alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet Fall 2012 Presentation with Yakini (photo via Reality TV Fashion):

[jacket: kenneth cole (c/o lucky mag) / skirt: anthropolgie / blouse: zara / scarf: c/o ash&dans / earrings: miram salat (c/o lucky mag) / boots: dv by dolce vita]

Farah Angsana, last show under the tents (photo via STYLEMOM):

[shearling: old from the grand bazaar istanbul / blouse: old uniqlo / skirt & booties: zara / bag: chloe (similar)]

Strut, The Fashionable Mom Show, featuring our very own gorgeous Nicole Feliciano (sitting next to the BlogHer team and The Budget Fashionista. Photo via Zimbio):

[dress: dvf / tights: gap / shoes: from argentina / necklace: bauble bar / cuff: c/o kara ross / bracelet: c/o stella & dot]

Have a glamorous week!

“Monday Mingle” is a weekly fashion/style link-up rotated between Momtrends, BonBon Rose Girls, and Glamamom. The linky is being hosted at Momtrends today with more Strut coverage. I’m also linking up with The Pleated Poppy.

Each designer showcased their hometown perspective in three themed fall looks to an intimate audience that included: Kristin Chenoweth, Debra Messing, who I’m loving in Smash, Mary-Kate Olsen, Kelly Rutherford, Miss J, Jay Manuel, and that “is he gay/isn’t he gay guy” from Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

It was standing room and tough to photograph the individual looks but I found this great video recap of the event:

{I was not compensated in any for this post.}

While the spring collection is fit for a garden party, dominated by ruffled pastels and jewel tones, the inspiration for the opulent fall/winter 2012 collection is the Golden Age of Shanghai, with rich, dramatic velvet, lace, chiffon, and silk drop-waist dresses, column gowns, and extended hemlines in brilliant colors of marina and seagrass, and classic black, red, and gold.  Here are my favorites:

The still photos really don’t do the collection justice.  They moved so beautifully down the runway oozing effortless glamor with their modesty and classic silhouettes.

Real clothes for real women.  Always a bonus at fashion week.

Can you imagine yourself somewhere fabulous in one of these?

{I was not compensated for this post. Collection photos via Style.com}

Here’s what I wore last week…

Day 0: Lunch at Chelsea Market with Nicole from Momtrends, popping into IFB Conference, The Red Dress Collection, and dinner at Soho House with Glam Media (pictured with with Yakini from Reality TV Fashion and Christine from Tineey):

[shearling: old from the grand bazaar istanbul / scarf: old anthro / pants: rag & bone / blouse: kosiuko argentina / boots: dv by dolce vita c/o tjmaxx / bag: chloe (similar) / watch: michael kors]

Day 1: Tadashi Shoji and Pepsi Style Studio shows:

[dress: dvf / vest: old from argentina / cuff: c/o kara ross / boots: dolce vita (not shown)]

Day 2: Rock & Republic:

[blouse: vince / leather skirt: zara / necklace: bauble bar / bracelets: j.crew & anthro]

Are you following the fashion week coverage?

Have a glamorous week!

If you’re linking up with Monday Mingle, one participant this week will win A Roll in the Hague from OPI’s  Spring/Summer 2012 Holland Collection.

“Monday Mingle” is a weekly fashion/style link-up rotated between Momtrends, BonBon Rose Girls, and Glamamom. For sponsorship options, contact jill@glamamom.com

{I was not compensated for this post. Photo 1 via Momtrends, Photo 2 via Reality TV Fashion, photo 3 via Glam Media. I’m also linking up with The Pleated Poppy.}

While heart disease remains the #1 killer of women, it’s encouraging to learn that over the past 10 years, the number of heart disease deaths in women has been steadily declining.  More women are finding out their personal risk for developing heart disease and taking the necessary steps to maintain a healthy heart, which include: not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, being physically active, eating right, and having a physician evaluate personal risk factors.

Like previous years, the 2012 Red Dress Collection was a star-studded collaboration of designers and 18 celebrities who walked the runway showcasing the red dresses, symbolizing women and heart disease awareness.

Chatting with the ladies on the red carpet, I learned that most of them have been personally affected by heart disease, like so many of us have, and they’re watching their diets and exercising not only to look good but to live an optimal lifestyle. Linda Evans, of Dynasty fame, said she walks one hour every single day. Patti Stanger, the Millionaire Matchmaker, “lives at Whole Foods” and makes eating heart healthy a priority.

Rebecca Romijin opened the show in Marchesa, followed by Aisha Tyler in Badgley Mischka, Chaka Khan in Project Runway fave Chris March, Christie Brinkley in Pamella Roland, Cindi Leive in Jason Wu, Debbie Phelps in Adrianna Papell, Elisabeth Röhm in Nicole Miller, Giselle Blondet in Oscar de la Renta, Gloria Estefan in Narcisso Rodriguez, Jeanette Torres-Alvarez in Carols Miele, Jenna Elfman in Alberta Ferretti, Jennifer Nettles in David Meister, LaLa Anthony in Rachel Roy, Linda Evans in Tadashi Shoji, Minka Kelly in DVF, Patti Stanger in Marc Bouwer, and Rose McGowan in Donna Karen.

My favorite dress by far was the DVF sequin wrap number worn by Minka Kelly.  Oh, and there was almost fashion roadkill with veteran Christie Brinkley and Rose McGowan getting caught up in their gowns.  But like true pros, they recovered gracefully to a roaring crowd of supporters.

{I was not compensated in any way for this post.}

When I first moved into the neighborhood, the infamous nightlife institution had been closed for several years but later re-opened as another nightclub called Avalon, a stop on Britney Spears’ 2004 NYC club tour, then shut its after-hours’ doors for good.

Today, the Gothic Revival brownstone is buzzing once more as Limelight Shops, a 3-story shopping emporium offering a mix of trendy fashion, art, beauty, home furnishings, and dining.

New York Fashion Week officially kicks off on Wednesday with the Red Dress Collection but Limelight Shops hosted a pre-Fashion Week soiree,  “Art Meets Fashion,” showcasing an art exhibit by famed fashion photographer Fadil Berisha and 3 full runway shows featuring spring/summer womenswear from house boutique ModaListas, menswear from W Shop and Edwing D’Angelo, and accessories by the legendary Patricia Field.

Melissa Chapman from Married My Sugar Daddy and I covered the event for Collective Bias and mingled among fashion’s elite and household names like David Blaine, Jill Zarin, and Woody Harrelson (who incidentally I’d been tweeting about earlier that day as being the only actor cast in the upcoming The Hunger Games who is anything like I imagined when reading the trilogy.)

Since Glamamom doesn’t cover menswear, I won’t delve into those presentations but the ModaListas show has me eagerly anticipating spring and shedding my drab gray and black winter uniform. The styling was gorgeous with kitschy accessories and bright colored Jeffrey Campbell’s:

Clearly, color-blocking and brights are on trend again for spring/summer so go bold or go home!  If a head-to-toe explosion isn’t for you, try a neon skinny belt or graphic scarf to update your look. A little neon goes a long way!

And if you’re in New York, I highly recommend giving Limelight Market a stroll.  The unique setting is fun to roam, from the top-floor wine bar overlooking the entire space rich with history, down to the trendy boutique shops and eateries including: French Connection, FACE Stockholm, Kangol, Marie Belle, Caswell-Massey, and Grimaldi’s.  I’m certain you’ll find something for everyone on your shopping list and of course a little thing or two for yourself.

If you’re linking up with Monday Mingle, the linky is a BonBon Rose Girls today.
“Monday Mingle” is a weekly fashion/style link-up rotated between Momtrends, BonBon Rose Girls, and Glamamom.

{Disclosure: I was compensated to cover “Art Meets Fashion” via Collective Bias.  All opinions expressed herein are my own.}