Timeless elegance and sophistication. Shanghai Tang is east meets west. It’s a brand that has gone from traditional Chinese apparel to a contemporary blend. It’s modern, chic, and luxurious. When I slip into one their dresses I feel sexy, sensual, and mysterious. Who could ask for more? The silk jackets feel beautiful and have the power to elevate a simple pair of jeans. It”s worth a look – if you’re ever near one of the stores.

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Last night, The Style Coalition co-organized an event that brought Fashion and Social Media together. We wanted to see exactly what would happen if we mingled Tech-Geeks with the Fabulous Fashion World. Well…It was MAGIC! Ideas were shared, cards were exchanged, and alliances were made. The evening was a success!
This particular event centered around emerging fashion designers showcasing their creations for leading fashion bloggers, tech and online media influencers. As a co-founder of Style Coalition, it’s our mission “to get designers, trendsetters, tastemakers and other in the business of fashion to respect that independent writers, bloggers and journalists are indeed influential and will continue to have a heavy hand in shaping the trends, purchases and ultimately, success, of fashion brands”.

I was thrilled to wear an outfit by one of the presenting designers – Gilles Montezin. As always, he is lovely to work with! As you can see from the pictures, the dress was beautifully beaded, and had implicit detail. I felt like Audrey Hepurn, purely elegant. Arriving back to the Bryant Park hotel at midnight, I still wasn’t ready to take the dress off! That… is a sign of a GREAT DRESS!
As I sat on our ridiculously comfortable hotel bed, enjoying a Turkey Club from room service, I thought about all the incredible people I had a chance to talk with. Most were entrepreneurs who were risking a lot by following their passion, and were more than willing to help another find success in their own venture. There’s a special bond between entrepreneurs, one that simply doesn’t exist in so many other areas of business. Cheers to all who figure out how to create a business out of something they LOVE doing!

The Designers at the event:
Gilles Montezin Gilles Montezin
Rebecca Minkoff Rebecca Minkoff
Sylvia Heisel Sylvia Heisel
June Webers The June Collection
Kathlin Argiro Kathlin Argiro
Anna Lucid Lucid New York
Tamara Pogosian Tamara Pogosian
Brooklyn Royalty by Bob Bland Brooklyn Royalty
Papusza Couture by Kaytee Papusza Papusza Couture
KRELwear by Karelle Levy KRELwear

I love this shoe! There, I said it. I think Barbara Bui’s shoes are edgy and feminine. They make me feel like I’m on the cusp, without feeling like I’m over the top. I’m saving up for this one! So, Do you like this shoe?
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Get the shoe in this observation –> Barbara Bui Shoe

Kate Winslet was a big winner last night at the Golden Globes. Her dress was simple, but really elegant. We’ve shown you a couple of dresses that can give you nearly the same look – for a lot less. The long Nicole Miller dress is $420. The short ABS dress is $300. A long dress is perfect for a formal event. Or wear a short version, to a cocktail party. Belt the dress with a simple patent belt, or attach a diamond pin to your waist. That will accentuate your waist, and look a little more refined. Kate left her neck bare, but wore diamond dangling earrings. Gorgeous!

Black dresses in this observation:

1. Strapless dresses.

2. Flesh tone or Nude shades.

3. Black with shine and shimmer.

Jewels in this observation:

This dress is really fun, festive, and flirty. It accentuates the waist, which is exactly what you want to do. The full skirt makes it a good cut for all body types. Keep the accessories elegant. Simple patent pumps, a patent bag, and some gold jewelry is all you need to complete this look.

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Don’t feel like you have to avoid color. This color purple is a rich tone, that will make your face shine! This dress also does a great job of accentuating the waist, and well as the chest. The flutter sleeve is a nice element for girls who don’t want to have a bare arm. The key to making this dress work, is to make sure it’s not too tight. It should fall nicely, and should not pull. It’s such an elegant look for a party or dinner with friends. You will WOW them.

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Sparkle, shimmer, and shine! This is the best time of year to go a bit overboard on the glisten and the glam. Popping on a pair of crystal chandelier earrings makes even the most basic dress more festive. Keep in mind, when you wear statement earrings, like these, you want to leave your neck bare. If you wear a necklace, it will dilute the importance of the earrings. You can wear a cuff, or some kind of bracelet. The bracelet should relate to the earrings. It doesn’t have to be a set, but they should make sense together. You could also wear a cocktail ring. Cocktail rings are a big trend right now, the bigger the better. If you go with a big ring, don’t wear the bracelets. You can choose one other piece to balance out the earrings, but you don’t want to pour it all on. Keep it modern, and the focus on a couple of special pieces.

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Sarah Jessica Parker has been getting a lot of flack for the two-toned hosiery that she wore to Chanel’s Mobile Art Party. Sarah Jessica is known for being über-fashionable, and has an appreciation for supremely high fashion. So, it should come as no surprise to learn that the nylons are from the 2009 Chanel Collection. Haute Couture doesn’t always translate to everyday life. It’s about fantasy, pushing the limits, trying new things, and being innovative. Big fashion houses like Chanel have a huge impact on us, and inspire our personal style. I understand the Chanel hosiery, in fact I embrace it. I won’t be paying the $250 price tag, but I would buy an imitation. Would you?

With all the beautiful colors in the world, it’s a wonder why we all gravitate toward basic black. Yes, black is sophisticated, elegant, and easy to wear, but bold is a beautiful alternative. When you’re wearing color, the approach is different than with black. When you’re wearing a basic black dress there’s more room to play and “merchandise” it up. When you’re wearing a vibrant color, you want to let the color speak for itself. There’s no need to to go crazy on accessories – keep it simple and modern. A good way to keep it looking fresh and on trend (right now) : pair it with patent pumps and a clutch. Avoid matching the color of your shoes to your dress (that is dated.) So, the next time you’re standing in your closet wondering what to wear to the cocktail party, decide to be bold! I’m leaning toward the blue or green dress – which one do you like?

Colorful dresses in this observation: