Archive for March, 2008

My TV time is limited these days. And while I have been tuning in to “The Real Housewives of New York” and “Top Chef Chicago” (they are amongst my favorites), I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that “The Hills” is back! Even though they have not been far from the public eye, oh how I have missed Lauren and her girl gang of 3.

Here’s what Team Hills has been up to:
L.C. officially launched her fashion line at LA Fashion Week, Audrina has been busy wearing tunics and cropped leather jackets at LA’s hottest clubs, Whitney announced she is getting into the fashion game too, and Heidi, well, she’s been mugging for the paparazzi with her Claymation-created svengali of a boyfriend, Spencer Pratt. These girls get a serious amount of ink and I have all of the back issues of the tabs to prove it.

If you don’t “know” what I am talking about or what the show’s premise is (duh, it’s like, about LA!), read Gawker’s “Non-Watchers Guide to the Hills”. It offers a perfectly concise (and smartly cynical) synopsis of the cult program. Or, you can just get the DVDs and have a Hills marathon…blonde hair and a bad attitude are not required.

*Photo licensed to: Photorazzi.com

Gwyneth Paltrow has cut her signature mane for spring. Gone are the down-to-there locks that made GP look like a modern day mermaid. Her new style is casual chic—perfect this on-the-go yummy mummy. Her twisted look can be achieved like so:Use the CHI 1.5 inch curling iron to achieve Paltrow’s “lazy curl” look. Finish your coif with a dollop of Dirt…literally. Jonathan Dirt Texturizing Paste is the ultimate for hair that has a slept in, sexy appeal. Plus, the sweet almond scent is divine—I would not be shocked if your beau was caught dipping his fingers into the Jonathan jar too!

*Photo licensed to: Photorazzi.com

No, I don’t mean me. I’m talking about the first shows. I feel elated about the start of fashion week. Designers like Nicole Miller, Kimora Lee Simmons and Max Azria for his BCBG line, who usually appear lost in a blizzard of commerciality, contributed to a rousing, creative start.  Sitting stage-side at the Baby Phat/Kimora Lee Simmons show was spiritual fashion guru Russell Simmons…

I was furniture shopping a few days ago and saw this amazing couch made by the eco-friendly furniture maker Eco-Terric. All of their pieces are made from sustainable materials. Not only are they great for the environment, they offer the perfect balance between style and comfort.

I’m actually looking to get one for myself, because unlike many of the traditional comfortable couches on the market, this one is not obnoxiously big and overstuffed…for one it’s very deep (42 inches), and it’s also low to the ground with wonderfully thin arm rests. So while their couches are a step away from the modern streamlined look that I currently have in my apartment, they are so ridiculously comfortable…

I love playing video games. They always make me feel
stronger and cooler!  I particularly like
Guitar Hero and Rock Band, Halo, Gears of War and Wii Sports. And I like to
play games on my Nintendo DS whenever I’m traveling.  I’ve always been into games and the other day
I saw something on eBay I just had to have – an old school, stand up arcade
game for $650!  It’s pretty rad. I could
have Miss PacMan in mi casa and play whenever I want! This is truly a classic
that will never grow old.

Video Arcade

I also noticed that I could win an entire collection of
Atari games and any of the systems (although I grew up playing with a 2600 so
I’m partial to that one), for next to nothing! Pac Man, Maze Craze, Night
Driver, Kaboom, and Asteroids are just some of the great games I remember from
my childhood; and, now practically the only place you can get them is eBay. So
jump in and enjoy the virtual swim!

Maze Craze

A fireplace is a beautiful addition to just about any home, but unfortunately they tend to be messy—from back draft to noxious smoke-filled rooms, from messy ash to burning handles. Luckily there are some amazing alternatives. I love the EcoSmart fireplace. It doesn’t have a flue and doesn’t require any installation or utility connection for fuel supply, which makes it ideal for any home (even modern New York City apartments!). Plus it’s fuelled by renewable energy allowing the fire to burn clean and virtually maintenance free. Though its $5,000 price tag definitely makes it an investment piece. I also love the vent-free, log-free Fire Ribbon fireplace that comes in a 6-foot long model….so cool!

However, there are ways to have a mess-free fireplace in your home without spending thousands of dollars. Pre-fabricated fireboxes are a wonderful option—especially the gas ones because you can turn them on and off with the touch of a button. This allows for instant heat. I have wood burning pre-fabricated one in my house upstate and I was inspired to do something a little more decorative and contemporary by French designer Paul Dupré-Lafon (1900-1971). Instead of having a traditional mantle, I used a pine one and stained it a dark brown. Then, I placed these two little plinths to the left and right of the fireplace opening, allowing me to sit closer to the fire.

Here are some great vent-free fireplaces and fireboxes available on eBay!

Gas Fireplace

Gas Fireplace

Gas Fireplace

CONSTANCE WHITE SHOWS TODAY SHOW VIEWERS HOW TO FIND STYLISH
SHOES FOR SPECIAL FEETNBC: Friday, March 2
Watch the clip here! http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3041413/ It’s not just Carrie on “Sex
and The City” who has shoe issues. It’s a challenge for any woman - who wears more or less than
the average size 9 medium - to find stylish, comfortable footwear.

Kylie, a model-tall, Chicago high school
student with a size 13 foot, has trouble finding shoes she likes.

But with a little help and research, Kylie
doesn’t have to settle for wearing sneakers everywhere as she’s been doing. The
same goes for Amanda, who appreciates fashion’s new high boots, but says she has
“a terrible time finding boots because I have thick calves.”

Though Amanda’s calves are proportional to her
curvy, size 16 body, the lack of boots roomy enough to accommodate athletic
calves, is a common complaint among women of all sizes.

If you’re having trouble
finding shoes that fit well and look good, the first step is to check your shoe
measurements. Sounds obvious, but many women mistakenly assume they wear the
same size as they did five years ago: No wonder the shoe doesn’t fit.
Pregnancy, athletics, bunions or illness, can all alter shoe size.

Next step, surf the web. The
internet is a god-send for those with special feet. Sites like eBay have a depth and breadth of sizes that is hard to match off-line.
Nordstrom is famous among women who wear so-called “extended sizes”. Many wait
it out for the “Over and Under” sale at select Nordstroms where unusual sizes
are showcased at a discount.

Steve Madden also offers a DYO option. Short hand for design your own, this is truly fun
shopping. Choose from among 30 stylish looks including ballerinas, peep toes
and pumps. Pick a color, a trim and – a size. Medium is the only option for
width, but lengths run 4-12. Prices start at a reasonable $89.95  and the company promises to have custom shoes
delivered in three weeks.

The local shoemaker and neighborhood
drugstore are key tools to assembling a wardrobe of stylish shoes. Why? For
boots that are the height of style but too tight in the shank, have the
shoemaker insert a gusset of leather or stretch fabric into the boot. We had a
pair done for Amanda. The Bandolino boots cost $69.99 from Lane Bryant and the
gusset cost $40 for a total of $109.99. Not bad for boots that are stylish,
comfortable and can be worn for years to come.

Many people do not have feet
that are exactly the same size so even if you wear a size 5, for instance, shoes
may never fit perfectly on both feet. This is where shoe inserts or orthotics
come in. A variety of inserts are available at drugstores these days.

If you prefer shopping at
boutiques or specialty stores, Foot petals “for those who have a love/hate
relationship with our sexy shoes”, according to the company, are fancy shoe
inserts. They offer a wardrobe of options to improve a shoe’s fit. And the shoe
has to fit if so you can wear it.

SHOE RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL SIZES

Your local shoemaker for making boot shafts bigger

Payless

eBay.com

Nordstrom

Steve Madden

Naturalizer

Ferragamo (good for narrow feet)

Stuart Weitzman

Manolo Blahnik

Christian Louboutin

Footpetals

(Constance wore an orange, jersey wrap dress from Stephen Burrows on the segment.)

I’ve been seeing a lot of rich jewel tones lately, so I definitely predict this will be a growing trend as summer approaches. I particularly love emerald green, plum and aubergine, especially mixed with taupe grey or a nice, bright white. It’s so easy to achieve a really great dramatic look by painting your walls in one of these rich tones and then off-setting it with some crisp white sheets. You could also paint your ceiling in a deep wash and then keep your walls a light, warm color to help tone it down and create a cozy feel.

There are so many paint color variations available on eBay. Here are some color swatches to help guide you when you’re picking out colors!

Aubergine

Emerald Green

Taupe

Plum