New York Fashion Week SS2016 with Project Runway, Ten Tomorrow and Calvin Klein

New York Fashion Week SS2016

New York, NY 
SS2016 New York Fashion Week kicked off in Midtown on September 10th. No longer centered around the hub of Lincoln Center Plaza, the shows now are all over with Givenchy holding his first NYC Show at Hudson River Park.

I spent my time running between shows and events but was able to catch 4 runway shows at Gotham Hall at Broadway and 36th. 
One of the events I attended, NEXTPERTstyleXTech, was hosted at Studio 450 where runway shows are also on tap. However this was a special media invite from the producers of the hit TV fashion reality show, Project Runway.

Project Runway star & fashion designer, Anthony Ryan Auld

Brother Fashion
Also on hand - Brother Sewing Machines which are the official sewing machine for Project Runway.
Brother has amazing printing, embroidery and sewing machines including the ultimate bling machine shown below.

Brother Sewing and Printing Machines: My new tee hot off the press.

My NYFW SS2016 Outfit: Truth, NYC -Ten Tomorrow, HI and Calvin Klein NYC

On the Red Carpet at the Project Runway VIP Event

Top by Truth, NYC. Skirt by Ten Tomorrow, HI

Lucette Mirror Metallic Leather Shoes by Calvin Klein

My Accessories
My black and white colorways had a touch of sheer, especially on my Alexis skirt from up and coming designer, Ten Tomorrow. So perfect for SS2016! To compliment this outfit, I worn a crystal watch by Issac Mizrahi and a diamond bracelet with earrings by Cate & Chloe. This sparkle was complimented by the smooth silver of my Lucette Mirror Metallic Leather shoes by Calvin Klein. These shoes are a medium height and ride snug at the heel. They give a log legged look by leaving the foot open from the toe, all the way up the leg. Smashing! I was seated in the front row for ALL the runway shows at NY Fashion Week.

Watch by Isaac Mizrahi. Bracelet and Earrings by Cate & Chloe.

Metallic Leather shoes by Calvin Klein

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Diamond and crystal jewelry. Fanfare Painted Peruvian Box & Tray by TenThousandVillages.com


Next up...the fashion show-stoppers from the runway at NYFW SS2016!!!!

Mother's Day Celebration + Gorgeous Gift Ideas

Beautiful Mother's Day gifts for that trend setting Mom...or yourself!

Mother's Day is the day to celebrate our Moms and enjoy being a mom (if that's the case). Today's moms are young, fresh and even athletic. We've learned that it's "O.K." to carve out time for ourselves each day and to sparkle when we go out. Here are some super gifting ideas for her and or to enjoy for yourself!

Cate and Chloe CZ Jewelry

Cate & Chloe Jewelry makes a wonderful gift as you can mix and match earrings, bracelets and necklaces to make a lovely presentation set. Here I am wearing the Diana "Divine" Necklace based on jewelry owned by one of the most glamorous Moms in the world, Princess Diana. The sterling silver necklace has an extender so you can adjust the length. I paired this elegant necklace with the Eleanor "Shining Bright" Hoop Earrings.  These are CZ studded hoops with a dangling CZ stone with silver plated accents. See more lovely jewelry selections at CateandChloe.com

Cate & Chloe Diamond Earrings and Necklaces

Helen Ficalora Sterling Silver Charm Jewelry

Helen Ficalora MOM Charm in Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver Charms that you can mix or match to make your own personalized gift for Mom. They all easily fit on the fine sterling silver chain and look beautiful with a clean, simple appeal. See more jewelry selections at HelenFicalora.com

Add  extra charms to your Helen Ficalora necklace.

Shari Dixon Handcrafted Jewelry
These unique, organic pieces are handmade in the USA by jewelry artist and designer Shari Dixon. The pendants contain actual plants and flowers preserved in resin while the lockets can hold a little photo of a child for Mom. A keepsake and jewelry all in one! Visit ShariDixonInc.com. Shown below are her: 
Bamboo Oval Locket Adjustable Ring
Yellow Achillea on Olive Locket Bracelet
Thyme Seed Pack Pendant Necklace

Love Shawls Scarves + Jewelry

Love Shawl Glam Blush with 24k Gold Accents

Love Shawls are a lovely combination of a scarf and jewelry. Embellished with fresh water pearls, gems and gold or silver accents, these add instant polish and elegance for every outfit.
Love Shawls are handmade and absolutely lovely to wear as you can see. See all their current styles online at LoveShawls.com

Love Shawl Goddess-Bordeaux with silver accents and beads.

American Tourister Overnight Bag & Coco-Mat and Luxe Me Now Slippers 
Travel-Mom will love these! New, lighter flight ready American Tourister Bags are the Official Luggage of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland. The Atomosphera 2 Overnight Bag as a telescoping handle and two large wheels. It has multiple exterior pockets for easy last minute access. The interior is fully lined with cross straps and a large mesh zippered inner pocket. Weight? Only 6 lbs. and just the right size to fit in the smaller airline on flight boxes.

Coco-Mat & Luxe Me Now Slippers
Natural Fiber Slippers by Coco-Mat are made of organic cotton. Soft and lightweight, especially for summer travel. I've worn my Luxe Me Now slippers to Crystal Springs Spa and even to breakfast at the Hotel! They are the ultimate in glamour and Mom will feel like a movie star wearing them on vacation or at home.

Coco-Mat Natural Organic Cotton Slippers

Sublime Beauty Sampler - Travel Set
TSA Flight Friendly set of 9 of the most popular Sublime Beauty products for face and body:  Vitamin C Day Cream SPF 30, Retinol Serum, Collagen Serum and Mask, Hyaluronic Serum, Glycolic/Salicylic Serum, Luxurious Facial Oil, Cellulite Whisperer Body Gel and Lotion. Visit SublimeBeautyShops.com or order on Amazon.

Sublime Beauty Sampler

Posh Gardening Tools by Liberty of London
Does Mom like to garden? Here are some ideas for her flower bed and rose garden: Liberty of London Gardening Tools and Tote are lovely but you can find similar pieces at your local gardening section at most major stores. Add a canvas tote and a few seed packets for an extra special touch.

Pretty Gardening Tools from Liberty of London

Rose & Herb Wreath and Onion/Artichoke Dip Sets from Creekside Farms
Does Mom like to entertain? Send her this beautiful Rose and Herb Wreath to welcome her guests and this lovely Onion and Artichoke Dip Set to serve them! Dried flowers and herbs are hand arranged by artisans at Creekside Farms and ship anywhere in the US. The Dip Sets are a beautifully painted Red Onion and Artichoke and hold a LOT of dip. Visit Creekside Farms for more floral, herb wreaths and gift ideas. Best Picks Magazine readers receive 15% OFF with Coupon Code MOM15 on all Creekside Farms orders.

Floral-Herb Wreath and Dip Sets from Creekside Farms

Dixon Sun Hat from Pistil Designs
This is the perfect laid back beach to picnic hat sure to become one of Mom's favorites. The Dixon is a natural fiber woven hat made paper straw, so it's light and cool. Shown here in Sienna, it has a chin strap and the Pistil logo metal piece on the braided headband. The brim has thin wire in it to help keep its shape. See more from Pistil Designs online.

Dixon Sun Hat in Sienna by Pistil Designs

Honeysuckle Sport Tote by Fitmark
Mom will love taking this handy tote to the club, pool or spa as it is soft, light and full of soft lined pockets to hold everything. It even has a separate, removable antimicrobial wet bag plus a Fit-Hydrate pocket with insulated liner to hold your favorite sports bottle. Totally tricked out, Mom or you will have heads turning when you enter the club with this tote. See more from Fitmark Bags online.

Art & Sole is a spectacular selection of more than 150 fantasy art shoes from the Stuart Weitzman Collection. What Alexander McQueen is to fashion, Art & Sole is to dress shoes.  This book is a lovely presentation with its red cloth binding and gilded edged pages showcase approximately 150 breathtaking to whimsical shoes.  Author, Jane Gershon Weitzman is Executive V.P. of Stuart Weitzman and the first Vice President of retail. 208 pp/hardcover/Harper Collins.

Art & Sole Gift Book

Whatever gifts you choose, just be sure that's it's from the heart and beautiful. These select Mother's Day Gifts deliver on both points spectacularly!

Lead Photo: Winter Garden Dress by Cindy and Johnny, Tan Leather Ballet Flats by T & N (Sagar)
Eye Wear by Jack Eyes, NYC

Holiday Gift Guide - Designer Jewelry Presents in Gold, Silver and Precious Gems

Silver Vines Cuff made by Old Delhi artisans in India. Via WorldVision

The Holidays are coming! Check out the gift giving updates to my Best Picks-Lucky Gift Guide. This year what's hot are handmade artisan pieces in precious metals and jewels. Why? Well, it  has a lot to do with an artistic concept executed in the piece itself. Of course bespoke or one off jewelry is height of good taste but here are some pieces that are uniquely beautiful with artisan fingerprints all over them!

Pyrite Stardust Bracelets by Designer Jaimie Nicole
Iron Pyrite, otherwise known as "Fools Gold" makes this set of bracelets sparkle with gem like quality. 

Pyrite Stardust Bracelets and Earrings by Jaimie Nicole.

Description:
Pyrite with Stardust Bracelets. 6x8mm faceted rondelle pyrite beads with choice of one one 8mm 14k gold filled or one sterling silver stardust bead. Visit JaimieNicole.com for more designs.

Pyrite Stardust Bracelets at Manhattan Proper

Stone Agate Guitar Pick Necklace
Crafted by Artisan Studio Works in sunny California by musician and designer Greg Atkin.
Beautifully polished translucent agate doubles as a guitar pick! Inter-changeable, you can change the stones to go with your outfit. Take them to a gig for yourself or the lead guitarist!

These Stone Picks come gift boxed

You can give these as jewelry or a guitar pick or BOTH. Each is one of a kind due to the uniqueness of the natural stones.

Wearing the Stone Pick for a gig!

Silver Vines Cuff by Old Dehli Indian Artisan from World Vision Gifts
World Vision is an amazing humanitarian organization who publishes a gift catalog each year of wonderful opportunities to purchase farm livestock, fish and other empowering necessities for independent living.
The Silver Vines Cuff is an adjustable sterling silver bracelet crafted by Old Delhi India Artisans. This beautiful bracelet is a FREE GIFT in consideration of a donation of $85 or more. So for that amount you will receive this bracelet AND purchase 10 ducks, a fishing kit and 2 chickens, a goat or 5 ducks + 2 chickens for a needy family.The best gift is one that keeps on giving! See more charity gifting opportunities and Christmas presents that give back at the WorldVisionGifts.org website.

Detail on the Silver Vines Bracelet

Silver Vines Cuff is adjustable.

Vanesa Farfan Leather and Cord and Silver Wrap Necklace/Bracelet
This transitional piece is just so much fun for a Resort Holiday at the beach or tropics. Why, well, you can choose to wear it as a bracelet OR a necklace. Premium leather with sterling silver jewels. One of my favorites along with her AMETHYST, AQUA, GREEN, WHITE AND PINK CHALCEDONY LONG GOLD NECKLACE  pictured below, both from VanesaFarfan.com

Cord and Silver Bracelet/Necklace by Vanesa Farfan

AMETHYST, AQUA, GREEN, WHITE AND PINK CHALCEDONY LONG GOLD NECKLACE by vanesa farfan

Cate and Chloe Turquoise Earrings
Cate and Chloe offer a monthly subscription service where you can receive lovely pieces like these gorgeous earrings. I love the Native American vibe and the setting is very pretty. Makes the perfect gift for the jewelry lover on your list this year.

Cate and Chloe Turquoise earrings.

Cate and Chloe's subscription is a great value and I was very impressed with the monthly installments of jewelry. The turquoise earrings were part of the fall box are were perfect for my fashion photo-shoot for Carve Designs of CA.

Cate and Chloe Turquoise Earring in the Carve Designs shoot.

Gold Druzy Necklace by Designer Jaimie Nicole
If you look at the photo above, I am also wearing this Gold Druzy Necklace by jewelry designer Jaime Nicole. What I especially like about this piece is the delicate gold chain which has the designer's tag or signature attached. Such "signature" pieces are far more desirable as they show that they were made by an actual designer and not simply copied for mass production. See it at JaimieNicole.com

Diana Kauffman River Rock Bracelet and Jaimie Nocole's Gold Druzy Necklace.

Diana Kauffman Designer Jewelry
The River Rock Bracelet in the above photo is by Pittsburgh jewelry designer, Diana Kauffman.
I probably wear Diana's pieces more on an everyday basis because of their natural and organic beauty as well as their ease of wear.

Diana Kauffman River Rock & Sea Stars Bracelets

The River Rock & Sea Stars Leather Bracelets have a magnetic clasp and beautifully polished stones or "rocks". Great for the outdoorsy nature lover on your list!  See more designer jewelry pieces at DianaKauffmanDesigns.com

Wearing the River Rock Bracelet by Diana Kauffman

Jewelry pieces c/o the respective designers so mentioned herewith.

Fall Looks: Carve Designs Separates - Michael Kors Knox Tassel Handbag - Naturalizer Josette Leather Boots

Falling for it! Carve Designs separates & Naturalizer Josette Leather Riding Boots

by Best Picks Magazine on Oct 08, 2014

Crisp fall days are made for apple and pumpkin picking in these comfortable cozy knit separates from Carve Designs of CA. The Cedars Tuxedo Top has an easy button down front. The Napa Skirt has a fold over waist band with a flattering A Line fit.

I'm also wearing Naturalizer's buttery soft Josette Leather Riding Boots in Banana & Black with full length zips and gold details at the strap. My bag is by Michael Kors - his signature Knox Leather Tassel Bag so on trend this season. Adding a bit of sparkle is the Gold Druzy Teardrop necklace by Jaimie Nicole and Turquoise earrings from Cate & Chloe. River Stone Bracelet is designed by Diana Kauffman. Straw Cowboy hat by Dorfman-Pacific. Sunglasses from Converse All Star Collection. The season's hottest accessory? Those Lamborghini Ear Phones! The bass in these is unreal. Perfect for your fall walks with your favorite iTunes.

Makeup: Kett Hydro Foundation via airbrush. Lipcolor: NEW Pure Color Envy by Estee Lauder in Envious

Fragrance: NEW Wild Essence by Halle Berry

Clothing, jewelry and accessories c/o of the respective designers mentioned here.

Michael Kors Knox Leather Tassel Handbag - Mine