FALL COLLECTION ON THE GROUND NEAR YOU?

NATURES POTPOURRI AT INNISFREE GARDEN IN MILLBROOK, NY - PH: JASON JOBSONIf you ever have a chance to spend one sunny Fall afternoon driving around the North Eastern United States - take it!  Mother nature does not disappoint and can really make it clear how she inspires everything.  The Fall Foliage of Northern New York and New England is beautiful.

I was in Millbrook, NY last weekend and had the pleasure of visiting the Innisfree Garden.  The garden is one of the finest specimens of the CUP form of gardening in Japanese and Chinese traditions.  Every tree, field of flowers, and patch of moss was planned.  Planned in fact over 50 years, it is a masterpiece, and a wonderful place to spend an afternoon - Spring, Summer, or Fall.  Click the photo to see more of Innisfree Garden.  

To check the foliage status of the leaves this year - visit Yankee Magazine

If you do make it to Northwestern Connecticut or Northeastern New York sometime soon, be sure to check out..

The Mayflower Inn  GLACIAL LAKE SURROUNDED BY LIFE AT INNISFREE GARDEN   

Sharon Country Inn

Privet House

Michael Trapp

Community Table Restaurant

Irving Farm Coffee House

Hammertown Barn

TIFFANY TARNISHED? LUXURY BRAND LOSES LAMBERTSON TRUEX

TIFFANY & CO. With Tiffany & Co. opening a flagship on L'Avenue Champ's Elysees in Paris and recent earning reports showing the Chinese market giving it hope, it's not great news that the New York based creative directors of Leather goods Richard Lambertson & John Truex have left the company.   Recent management changes is giving an unclear message of what direction the accessory business is headed in.   Tiffany has failed to create a luxury lifestyle brand despite having added two veterans of luxury when they acquired Lambertson Truex in 2009.   Bringing two heavyweights on board to create a leather goods collection should have bolstered the brand in the eyes of fashion fans.TIFFANY FLAGSHIP STORE SHANGHAI  Leather goods have remained an afterthought in the storied house of all things diamonds and sterling silver.  Unlike competitor Bulgari that has launched a multi-million dollar campaign starring former French first lady and super model with a small s Carla Bruni, Tiffany has not found its fashion relevance in a post recession 2013.   Luxury is booming, but Tiffany seems to simply stick a big toe in the water with leather accessories, instead of diving in as Bulgari has done.   Regardless of the fact that few women are dying for a Bulgari bag, you wouldn't know it from the campaign.  On the contrary, many women would want a Tiffany clutch with the famous blue lining, but the bags rarely make it into the campaign.   Are you listening Tiffany?JOHN TRUEX & RICHARD LAMBERTSON

Fans of leather goods and Lambertson Truex rejoice - word has it the dynamic duo is re-launching the collection under the name Lambertson Truex & Co.CARLA BRUNI FOR BULGARI  Financed by Tiffany & Co. perhaps?  Save a space in your budget ladies, the bags are coming back!

THE A,B,CC'S OF CHANEL'S INFLUENCE..

Not a season goes by that you don't see derivative handbags, shoes, or ready-to-wear ensembles in the press that originally started out on a CHANEL runway.   Millions of fashion fans around the world worship Karl Lagerfeld and the storied house of Coco Chanel.   As a former Chanel executive I understand the draw - the house and legacy are simply magical.   However, it is pathetic that designers are earning millions, and billions of dollars off sub par accessories that they blatantly copy, originallly created by Karl and team Coco at CHANEL.  Producing these knockoffs in factories with less than first world working conditions doesn't seem to make them blush.  How can they call themselves designers?   Well in fact,  many don't.   Their titles often include every word but designer, because most work for American companies that have the figure head title of the brand who is the "designer".   You know them, in America it is usually a reality show- faux celebrity, who is allegedly in charge of the hot mess coming down the runway.   To be clear, these companies are hugely successful, so if you were raised to think success is only measured in dollar signs - bravo.. but I was not.

While I'm usually offended by the grifting that goes on in fashion, I'm gagging over the latest offensive in the beuty and skincare arena.  To see not one, not two, but several major beauty companies take advantage of one of CHANELS's most obvious logos - is sad to say the least. CC beauty treatments are available now from everyone from Olay, to Cover Girl, to Clinique.  These companies are major beauty conglomerates with thousands of employees, yet they can't create something iconic, or unique?  Instead are happy to bite off the legend Coco created a hundred years ago.   They can call it Color Correction, or  Creative Correction, or whatever they like.   The truth is that when anyone who follows fashion sees the letters CC together - they think of Chanel.   Anyone with more than a passing interest in fashion who said otherwise would be lying.   I don't care what benefit vitamin G can give your skin, if you saw a new GG skin cream what would come to mind?  Gucci of course.   So the thought that Almay, Covergirl, and Clinique launching a CC cream without realising the reference is a joke.   I'm sure the mentality is more along the lines of "if everyone does it, they can't sue us".  Sad.

Chanel has a CC Cream, and it is the only company that should have one.  A double dose of vitamin C or not,  Chanel owns Coco's legacy and the stories that built the empire.   Chanel skincare products are hands down the most amazing formulas on the market.   They are expensive, effective, and totally luxurious.   If you don't want to invest in the line, just try a sample the next time you pass through duty free at the airport - you might change your mind!   Ultra Correction Formula is my favorite.. under eyes, but any of the Ultra Correction products are excellent.   Of course, Sublimage is in a class of its own.  Over a decade in the making, it is the platinum standard in beauty products.

As for the drugstore bunch, I guess you were born to knockoff designer brands - but Clinique - I thought you were better than that.  Although I realize, only your name is French!

Click images and brand names to shop.   Just because I'm brand loyal, doesn't mean you have to be!  Enjoy.

DIVA MIRROR - FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

SHARON STONE IN FERRAGAMO - JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE - PH: GETTY IMAGESMADONNA - GIVENCHY COUTURE - SUPERBOWL HALFTIME SHOWHollywood glamour gal Sharon Stone was on the Jimmy Kimmel show and her look was flawless.  Stone, stars this month in Lovelace,  always knocks it out of the park with her fashion choices, as we have reported before.  Last night was no exception wearing head-to-toe Salvatore Ferragamo.   The Italian fashion house of all things Luxe gave Sharon a sexy gladiator like feel which was sophisticated and fun!  We've reported before that Stone always comes across as having a great time, even if you just know you wouldn't want to get on her bad side!

I couldn't help but do a double take at Stone.. who did that remind me of??   Madonna, of course.  With similar features, these two blond giants have started to look like twin sisters.  (They are close in age!).SHARON STONE IN SALVATORE FERRAGAMO ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE

You be the judge.   MADONNA IN GIVENCHY COUTURE - SUPERBOWL HALFTIME SHOW Flashback to Madonna at the Superbowl halftime show where she pulled a Cleopatra in her Givenchy Haute Couture!   Madonna meet Sharon - Sharon meet Madonna!   Both of you - GORGEOUS.  I don't care what you're injecting, cutting, or pulling - keep doing it!