Gemma Has Arrived!!!

I have a new favorite line- Gemma! Gemma features adorable tops in 100% silk and at reasonable prices. First, there's the elephant tank in blue silk which is too cute. I about died when I first saw it at a show. The tank also has a great pocket on the lower left hand side that goes on to cover the side. Next, in the same gorgeous blue is the blue and black plaid shirt also in 100% silk. It really elevates the necassary plaid shirt with not only the material but also the buttons at the cuffs and slight extra volume in the sleeves. Then a gorgeous charcoal blouse with superflattering voluminous sleeves and pocket. Its absolute perfection tucked into a super fitted high waist black skirt. The prices are an added bonus- I would consider them to be worth even more once integrated into your wardrobe.

Elizabeth and James Cornelia Top

Its no secret that I am beyond obsessed with Elizabeth and James. My current love is their Cornelia Top in a gorgeous almost psychedelic print. In Rachel Zoe style I screamed out "I die!" when I walked in and saw it before ripping off my other new Elizabeth and James Cyber Tee which I also love and throwing the Cornelia top on. Its beyond gorgeous with buttons on the side and in the most sumptuous silk. The only problem I am running into is that my Cyber Tee is looking at me a bit forlorn so I may have to change back and forth a few times today Lindsay Lohan style. Because who doesn't love a costume change?

J Brand Jeggings

New shipments tend to be the highlight of my day. What could be more fun than receiving boxes full of glorious new clothes? Its especially thrilling when something I was not expecting arrives like today when J Brand sent the most perfect denim leggings. The J Brand 901 Legging in Olympia are the softest denim I have ever felt and super comfortable. The wash is amazing and superdark which is my favorite (besides black of course). Beyond being the perfect wash and fit the price is ridiculous- J Brands for only $138! Get yours quick because they are going to blow out.

Fall Has Come

Fall is my favorite season. I was fearful for a bit that the Chicago area had jumped straight into one of our brutal winters but todays 55 degrees and sunny weather is like a breathe of fresh air. After work I am rushing straight to Sephora to pick up a few bottles of my absolute favorite body wash- Philosophy's Pumpkin Spice. Then its time to wrap up in a cashmere sweater, Splendid makes my favorites as they all tend to be insanely soft. I love their brown and blue hoodie. This little gray v-neck is perfection layered over anything white. But my hands down favorites are any open front drape ones they make such as this gorgeous black one whose slightly ruffled shoulders make it feminine and special. Come in store to grab one before the last is snatched up.

Padma Lakshmi

One of my absolute favorite shows is Bravo's Top Chef, hosted by the beautiful Padma Lakshmi. Fortunately Ms. Lakshmi is not just another pretty face but has led quite an interesting life. She has modeled for Ralph Lauren, Helmut Lang, Alberta Ferreti, Emanuel Ungaro, Roberto Cavalli. Her first cookbook, Easy Exotic, was awarded the title of Best First Cookbook at the 1999 Best Cookbook Awards. Her followup Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet is a personal favorite. From 2004 until 2007 Lakshmi was married to British Indian novelist Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie- an intriguing personality on his own. Ms. Lakshmi has added yet another role to her resume, jewelry designer. As a huge fan of statement and Indian inspired jewelry I was quite excited to see what she would create and was not disappointed. Lakshmi "wanted pieces that were feminine and eye-catching without being gaudy or ostentatious--many statement pieces can look like that on TV--and while the inspiration comes from classic Indian jewelry design, my work in the kitchen and as a cookbook author definitely influence the shapes we choose." She is successful in lightening up traditional Indian jewelry and enhancing its feminity by adding a certain delicacy to the pieces. The line, called Padma, retails at Bergdorf Goodman and select Neiman Marcus.

Georgia May Jagger

Rockstars dating models may be a bit of a cliche but the combination sure does create some beautiful progeny. There is the ethereal Liv Tyler, daughter of Steven Tyler and model Bebe Buell. Then stunning Alexandra and Theodora Richards- daughters of Keith Richards and model Patti Hansen. The latest beautiful emerging offspring is Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Mick Jagger and model Jerry Hall. Her older sister Elizabeth is also a model and half sister Jade Jagger did her share of strolls down the runway. Seventeen year old Georgia May makes her big debut in a sexed-up campaign for Hudson Jeans. With her toussled waves and pillow lips she has already been compared to Bridget Bardot. Now she is following in Kate Moss's footsteps as the new face of Rimmel London. She also plays cover girl on the November issue of British Vogue, quite a feat for someone who is yet to turn eighteen. Be on the lookout for fashions newest It girl-we predict she will be around for quite a while.

Cy Twombly

I've always been a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to art. I think this stems largely from growing up in an equestrian household where horse and hound style oil paintings reign supreme. When my family lived abroad there were many trips down to Christie's and Sotheby's with my father to select new works which almost always fell into the same category of the pieces hanging all around my house.

Last week I went to the Art Institute of Chicago and after viewing all the usual suspects- Monet, Manet, Gaugin, Van Gogh........ I wandered into the new modern wing. While some of the work was over my head- the multiple video screens portraying a hysterical (and I dont mean in a funny way) clown only made me think of John Wayne Gacy- there were a few pieces I fell head over heels in love with. My runaway favorite were the beautifuls canvases by Cy Twombly- the use of color and sheer magnitude of the works really struck me. I really understood the huge source of inspirtation these beautiful works could have on a designer- the colors and style appeared to be almost print-like.

So while my favorite artists are still Lagerfeld, Decarnin, Galliano, and of course the inimitable Ms. Chanel, I now have another to add to the roster.

New J Brand

I tend to be a bit fanatical when I discover something I love- I have the dolman sleeve cashmere sweater I am wearing in three different colors. When something works I turn into a pack rat hoarding the items. My latest unhealthy obsession (or is it healthy because they look amazing....) is J Brand. And by latest I mean its been an ongoing habit that I just cannot seem to kick. While I have never been a smoker I imagine having to stop wearing J Brands would for me be comparable to giving up cigarettes. (in addition to being a compulsive shopper I also have some dramatic tendencies...)

J Brand makes the BEST skinnies. This is a fact and must be taken seriously as though handed down as the eleventh commandment. I tend to prefer those with the 12 inch leg openings to the skinnier 10 inch openings. Mainly because I tend to pull jeans on in a last minute hurried kind of fashion and the 10 inch require half a second longer. Of course there are exclusions that must be made and J Brand's Legging Jean with zippers in Bruiser made me eat my words. I love them. LOVE. The fit, the wash, the zippers!!! The day they arrived was a very happy one as in the same shipment were J Brands 12" Torn Pencil Leg in Jett. Jett as in black. Black as in my absolute favorite denim color. They are amazing. AMAZING. To quote Ms. Zoe "I DIE." Die. They are such a must have and so perfect for the changing weather.