SJP+LBD = FAB

The news recently broke about the new SJP LBD (Sarah Jessica Parker Little Black Dress) collection coming to Bloomingdales and your  LBB/MBB/BBB - Little, Medium, or Big Brown Bag this spring.

One dress was released early to kick off the collection that will consist of  a collection of re-imagined timeless Little Black Dresses. 

Fittingly the first offering is called "Title", a new take on the iconic white tu tu and pink tank combo her famous character of Carrie Bradshaw wore in the opening title sequence of Sex and The City for its 6 season run.

We were first introduced to "Carrie" in this white vintage tutu that stylist Patricia Field procured at a thrift store in New York and it really set the style tone for this character. It re-appeared when Carrie was cleaning out her closet in the first SATC film as she celebrates the parts of her past she will 'keep'. And far right the real deal SJP in the new Title dress that could also be your for $395 and if you are a size 0-12. BUY IT HERE

Jersey Top with layered tulle.

When I first realized I would have to sit this dance out, because I am not a size 0-12 I became reflective. I also read a few articles along with the comments about women over a size 12 sad, hurt, and angry that they were not thought of or included in this collection. I thought about the business of fashion, design, sales, target markets, etc. 

I have to say that I will be cheering on the sidelines for the success of this collection and all others who do not cater to women of all sizes. I have realized that not all designers choose to design from an inclusive perspective and not all buyers are interested in selling to certain clientele. I also realized that there are some that do, so anyone over a size 12 can shop there. 

The little black dress has been a style staple since the 1926's when CoCo Chanel introduced the world to her version in VOGUE.  The color black an dresses have a history before Mademoiselle Chanel but she has been credited for bringing it to the style masses. Since then in has morphed into so many versions, fabrications, shapes and sizes. There IS something out there for everyone, don't worry ladies.

I am excited to see SJP's collection evolve and all of the offerings to come. I suspect this dress will make it onto the Bloomingdale's racks soon. I love the simplicity of the design,  full skirt and pockets!! The styling possibilities are truly endless with LBD's!

Will you shop the collection? 

Fear not ladies if you cannot access this collection you can always buy the amazing shoes via SJP Collection! There is truly something for everyone there. I am waiting on some resort sparkle to make my next purchase(s)! 

A Decade Of Lovely

It's been 10 YEARS since style maven Sarah Jessica Parker launched her fragrance, Lovely. To commemorate the last decade of her fragrance enchanting the olfactory senses of women and men alike globally her loveliness, Sarah Jessica Parker has re-released the fragrance in a new Anniversary bottle! 

It is available at over 7,000 CVS stores across the USA, MyChemist in Australia and Boots.com in the UK

She has also designed a limited edition grey sweatshirt , a lovely new take on one of her favorite items which you can WIN by sharing your most lovely moments of the last 10 years. (see official contest rules HERE).

"Ten years ago, born of a lifelong devotion to fragrance, I created Lovely.

Inspired by my love of fragrance layering, Lovely includes notes of creamy orchid, white amber, musk and a touch of ripe apple.

A timeless scent, both then and now. I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as I have". …X, Sj

Follow On Instagram

Use hashtag LovelyTurns10 AND Sweeps on  Instagram  and/or Twitter to be entered. You must use both hashtags and the tag for SjpLovely or SJP for your entry to count!! Sarah Jessica herself will read EVERY entry and choose the winners. We have all had MANY lovely experiences over the past decade. I encourage you to share for your chance to win before the contest closes November 22, 2015.

I hope to get my hands on this fantastic sweater!

Stay Lovely everyone; shower the people you love with love and don't forget to share some of that love with yourself.

The original bottle and an SJP stationary set. Both items graciously gifted to me. I love to write love letters and thank yous! 

Passion For The Portrait: Tara Deetscreek

The Artist in her studio

The Internet is a magical place at times. I enjoy connecting with people online and thoroughly enjoy the positive social networking side of the Internet. I love Instagram and sharing images. I had the pleasure of connecting with an artist recently who's gift's I would like to share with you.

It was this image that I shared which sparked some inspiration for Tara.

She transformed this 1950's Dior model into the ultimate shoe maven Sarah Jessica Parker and surrounded her with various SJP Collection Styles

Tara Says, "My love for art began at a young age.  I started to draw everything in sight around the age of 8 and my obsession continued through adulthood.  I ended up pursuing an art studio degree and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree with my focuses being in drawing and ceramics.  I have always worked in 2D and 3D, loving different qualities about both.  It has always been a struggle trying to keep art a priority alongside being a wife and mother, and with different seasons I have focused on different mediums with varying degrees of time commitments.  

Since graduating about 15 years ago, I have done everything from murals, to pottery shows, to custom work. After raising my 4 boys and keeping my art career more on the side lines and being a mother in the forefront, I decided in 2014 that it was time to let art take more of a priority in my life than in past years.  This meant deciding to look at it more like a job and committing to work every day creating in my studio and searching for my personal voice as an artist.  It has been an exciting year for me, because even though I have created my whole life, I feel as though this year I have become an "emerging artist" in my own sense of the word.  

I looked within and searched within myself for the things that were always there.  I looked to inspirational artists, Bo Bartlett, Frida Kahlo, Alphonse Mucha, and Gustav Klimt, to name a few. I have always been inclined to draw people and love capturing a feeling, mood, or characteristic about a person.  Telling people's stories through portraiture is my passion.  Nothing excites me/ terrifies me more than creating someones likeness, and if I can capture something more about the person I am painting or make them feel beautiful through my work then its even better.  I have always been kind of a dreamer and my work tends to have a strain of fantasy in it.  Fabric and pattern have also been influential in my work, as have nature and everything vintage.  

Self Portrait

As I searched for my voice, I also searched for the perfect medium.  Drawing with pencil and painting with watercolor have been my mediums of choice, but I was frustrated at the size limit of a sheet of paper.  I found the perfect mixed media for me which is working on canvas with fluid acrylics (which act as watercolor) combined with colored pencils. I feel like after finding this medium combination I have been able to develop my work and have some consistency which is so exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing my work continue to develop and to learn people's stories along the way!"

When the UPS delivery man knocked on my door on Friday imagine my surprise to receive the most AMAZING portrait from Tara.

 She even gave me a peek at her process

I feel so honored that she used her time and talents to create this portrait for me. In the image I was in the Hearst Castle gardens of hydrangeas wearing a headdress from The House of Kat Swank. I love this moment and am truly thrilled it is now captured forever. The addition of the peacock feather is perfect for me too and I truly adore every element of this piece. It will proudly be displayed on my living rooms magenta accent wall.

Thank You Tara! 

Commission your own unique piece for your home or as a gift from Tara!

Connect:

EMAIL

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

Happy 1st Birthday SJP Collection!

Image: Jochy Fersobe

For the past year dear reader you have seen several post featuring the SJP Collection Shoe line designed by Actress/Producer/Style Maven Sarah Jessica Parker.  I fell in love with the line from the moment she cut the grosgrain ribbon at their first pop up shop in New York last year on a chilly New York day in February.

The shoe collaboration started with the retail chain Nordstrom and in this past year it has expanded to Neiman Marcus, Zappo's Couture and into the Middle East: Harvey Nichols Dubai and Bloomingdale's Dubai. Each retailer has a wide variety of the collection along with exclusive shoe's and all inventory is different. The brand has also evolved past just shoes and into bags, candle and initially a fabulous trench coat (In 2 colors)!

Her collection was the answer to my styling prayers. I have an eBoutique where I sell Vintage clothing. I re-style fashion's past into the contemporary closets of my clients. This collection I have dubbed "The NEW Classic". The designs and colors are so new and contemporary but their sole firmly planted in fashion's past AND the future of all who buys and wears them. Years from now I will be wearing these shoes and they will still be current and classic.

Image: Jochy Fersobe

Top SJP Moment's This Year:

I bid farewell to 35 and celebrated my 36th year in SJP Gina (coral) and Vintage Pink Glass Fawn Pumps.

I had the pleasure and honor of being invited to New York to attend the Footwear News Awards with Sarah Jessica as she was being honored for launch of the year. I wore Vintage Fringe the "Alyssa" Bootie in Purple.

 Image: SJP Collection Instagram

 and she wore the Carrie in nude.

I rang in 2015 with my Parent's and Husband in URSULA Peep Toe in Metallic Foil

URSULA did double duty as Snow White's Magical Slipper at my daughter's Royal Celebration for her 7th Birthday! (Ursula also available in Silver for all the Cinderella's reading this)

The SJP "Carrie" in Black accompanied me Christmas Day

To the Thanksgiving Table

and to celebrate 6 amazing married years to the love of my life, styled with vintage of course.

 No Halloween could be complete without "Anna" in Asparagus and a dash of Maleficent. How else could I deliver treat's to my daughter's 1st grade class?

Last, my eternal gratitude to Sarah Jessica and her fabulous team of stylish ladies for making a double shoe donation to the National Down Syndrome Society Charity Auction in New York. The proceeds from her kindness went to benefit people with Down Syndrome and their families. Plus two wonderful women have the pleasure of having a modern day Cinderella moment in their autographed "Marlene" and "Daphne" heels.

As you can see the SJP collection has been with me every step of the way this past year. I look forward to seeing what is next for this brand as it continues to populate my closet and inspire me. Congratulation's Sarah Jessica and your gorgeous team. Thank You for the authenticity of this product and doing it YOUR way, straight from the sole. You are my SHOEro!

Marlene in Purple Foil

Image: Jochy Fersobe

NDSS Gala Auction: Gratitude

Each year the NDSS (National Down Syndrome Society) Hosts a Gala evening in New York with an associated auction to raise money for this organization and essentially people with Down Syndrome and their families.

The wonderful people from NDSS reached out to me following a post they read about beginning my journey with my son Blake. During a time of emotional confusion and hormone overload post partum they were so kind and welcoming me to the fabulous Down Syndrome Advocacy community. I have been helping to give back each moment since.

I wanted to publicly express my gratitude to the people who took the time and resources to contribute at my request to this year's gala auction.

Sarah Jessica Parker and the SJP Collection. The gorgeous, high-end shoe brand (Sold exclusively at Nordstrom & Neiman Marcus in the US) had graciously donated TWO autographed pairs of shoes complete with autographed dust bags. Thank you Sarah Jessica for stepping up for this cause so near and dear to my heart. 

MARLENE 

(as seen on SJP above)

in a US size 10) - EURO 40, blue foil.

"Marlene, ah! The perfect foil. So to speak. Powerful, feminine and sexy. The colors are a wonderful new neutral and the metallic gives the flash I have been wanting to add to the collection. Marlene Dietrich, known for toying with gender, was the inspiration behind the name for this shoe. The spectator is typically thought to be a man's shoe. I can see this pump even paired with a women's tuxedo!" —Sarah Jessica 

BID NOW: LOT 601 

DAPHNE

Coral Grosgrain

US Size 7 - EURO 37

SJP Wearing Daphne in Purple - Harpers Bazaar Arabia 2014

"I'm in love with this shoe! What more can I say? She's gorgeous. I'll sleep in them. And evening! At last!" —Sarah Jessica Parker

BID NOW: LOT 602 

Ruthie Davis - The luxury shoe and bag designer has donated a gorgeous clutch bag for the event. Ruthie has been a generous donor to the NDSS for the past 3 years. She does so with love in honor of her Nephew Michael. Retail: $1,025.00

BID NOW: Lot 604 

Johanna Ely: Good Girls Studio kindheartedly donated this vintage re-vamped necklace (retail $220). This is her second year donating one of her hand made creations to the NDSS auction.

BID NOW: Lot 606

Eileen Davidson: Emmy Award Winning Daytime Actress (Days of our Lives & Young & The Restless) as well as newest cast member of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has graciously donated a pair of earrings worn on Days of our Lives as her popular character Kristen DiMera, along with an Autographed image.

BID NOW: Lot 306

Tori Spelling: This is also the third year Tori has lovingly donated items for the NDSS auction. She has been instrumental also in sharing my story over the years through her blog EdiTORIal (read the latest HERE) and supporting the Down Syndrome Community and all children with special needs (Did you see her ad campaign featuring Blake and kids of all abilities? See it HERE). This is your chance to get an autographed copy of her entertaining book CelebraTORI. She is known for being a creative, crafty hostess and its a gorgeous edition to any soiree sister's library!

BID NOW: Lot 309

Natasha Mrkovich - Portraits of Legends Has kindly donated a print of her famous 1950's Elvis Presley drawing. She is one of a handful of  artists who are licenced to reproduce Elvis Presley's image and this drawing is an official Elvis Product. She is a talented artist and friend who produces gorgeous images of the legends of the entertainment industry. There is no bigger legend than ELVIS. She supports this charity as an artist and a member of the uniquely abled community.

BID NOW: Lot 804 

Lori Graystone - Lori is a Pole Fitness instructor: Owner/Operator of RockNPole as well as an Artist. Lori is also  my sister who lovingly donated this gorgeous painting and tribute "Viva Frida" of my favourite artist Frida Kahlo. The painting is 28" x 22" Acrylic on Canvas. Frida was also part of the disability community who because of polio was left with a physical disability in childhood and at the hands of an accident in her teens suffered from chronic pain, being wheelchair bound and eventually leg amputation. Lori has captured the essence and spirit of Frida beautifully. She donated this piece on behalf of her Nephew Blake!

BID NOW: Lot 803

Marty Parker - Marty Parker Art  has kindly donated two Giclée Prints of the legendary musician John Lennon. Marty is a sweet friend who has been very supportive on my journey with Blake. He is a sibling of a person with unique abilities and loves to give back to this community. He is an amazing pin-up artist too!

BID NOW: Lot 805

 “John I” 

Signed print

Pencil on paper

2006

“John II”

Signed print

Pencil on bristol board

2006

Last, I never ask people do do anything that I would not do myself so my business, Evolution Vintage  donated a one-of-a-kind Vintage cuff  (Evolution Rewind) and a Vintage burnout t-shirt to the auction.

BID NOW: Lot 607 

From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU to all who have donated and all who will bid! There are many more exciting auction items and it is open for bidding until 9:30Pm EST JANUARY 29th.

Blake and I are so grateful for your kindness ....

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." - 

Lao Tzu