BANG BANG BOOKMARC

BOOKMARC - 400 BLEECKER STREET PH: Jason JobsonWhat might seem like a lost episode of the Twilight Zone is in fact just another day in retail on Bleecker Street in New York's West Village.   The street has become infamous for the waiting line for cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery.  More recently  the lines at the Marc Jacobs accessories boutique that sells Marc Marc Jacobs leather goods, t-shirts, and trinkets was rivaling the bakery!    Jacobs was the first designer to call the street home, and has increased his number of boutiques there year after year.    Last week the company opened the fifth store front on the street (seventh in the neighborhood).   BOOKMARC is the first full scale book shop for the company...   click   BOOKMARC-ED to read on and see more pictures of what's in store!

BONJOUR DIOR BEVERLY HILLS

FASHION SPY IN DIORMy trip last week to sunny California for Dior was a dream come true for this pale and grumpy New Yorker.  From the moment the plane landed, I was in LA LA land.  (Incidentally I sat next to Andy Cohen from Bravo on my flight -very nice.  I'm sure he cherished the down time away from the ladies of the Real Housewives!).   There is something about L.A. that is unlike any other place.   Of course it's the sunshine, the palm trees, and the Hollywood effect.  The movie industry has the whole city in a permanent trance.  If you turn heads in other places, you get stares in Los Angeles.   People in L.A. do a unique double take to everyone they pass on the street.   You get that extra moment of glance and you can almost hear the thoughts "who is that?", "is he famous?"   VIA RODEO  For this reason alone - how can you not like spending a few days in L.A?

Then, for a die hard New Yorker like myself to have the chance to drive a brand new rental car ( trying to get the most gas efficient model available!) gives me flashbacks to high school.   Those first months when you could drive by yourself and have total control of your destination.   Of course this doesn't last long in L.A. as after 10 minutes of euphoria I am in bumper to bumper traffic on the 405!   But still happy - as I have 45 minutes all to myself to listen to every new top 40 song I didn't know existed!   Hi Eminem, hi Usher - I remember you guys!

RODEO DRIVE -SUNDAY MORNINGRodeo drive continues to dazzle and captivate tourists from every corner of the globe.   The level of quality craftsmanship that you see from boutique to boutique is staggering.   There truly is no other place on earth that has such opulent and luxurious fashion one shop after another.    There are also more exotic sports cars than you have ever seen in a 5 block radius!

Dior has an impressive location on Rodeo.  All product categories from Fine Jewelry to Accessories, to RTW, to Shoes are all here.  The Dior Fall collection - beautiful.   Really, John Galliano is on a level that few can ever reach.   The vision and story he is able to bring to one of the most prestigious fashion ateliers in the world is amazing.   Keep in Mind that Dior and Chanel are the only two major fashion houses with Couture roots.   Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, & Hermes are all beautiful, but do not originate from a couture collection.   This gives a quality and savoir-faire to collections like Dior and Chanel that cannot be duplicated.   

MISS DIOR FLOATS ON A CLOUDThe really great news is that designer houses have become very considerate of the fact that women are thinking twice about price points when they invest in these RTW pieces. DIOR WOOL KNIT W/ HAND LACED RIBBON - $2,600.00  Also keep in mind that designer handbag prices have increased steadily for the last 10 years.   That means if you are buying designer handbags today, you can afford designer RTW.  Case in point at Dior.   There are amazing knitwear and classically tailored jackets shown on the runway that retail in the $2,600.00 - $3,000.00 range.  Galliano's vision of Miss Dior for Fall is full of equestrian detailing of the classics and romantic shapes for those Libertines at heart! 

CLASSIC DIOR JACKET - $3,000.00Of course, these pieces are very expensive.  However, for a designer garment hand crafted in France or Italy - there is great value in those price points.   These pieces are made from the finest raw materials on Earth and manufactured by skilled Artisans who have the finest working conditions and labor regulations in the world.   There is no finer product outside of true French Couture.  In addition, these items will be relevant for life.

Preview the Dior Fall collection now!  Click - Dior for Sure.

WESTSIDE PARK-ING

CHELSEA PIERS OVERLOOKING HUDSON RIVER PARKThe Westside riverfront of Manhattan has been transformed into a luxurious park that stretches all the way from Battery Park City on the Southern tip up to the George Washington Bridge.  The project is amazing and has changed the quality of life of millions of residents.   ACRES OF MANICURED LAWNSThe parks have also become a selling point and built in amenity automatically increasing the market value for thousands of apartments steps from the parks.     Click - PARK WEST to see more and read on.

GET YOUR SWIM ON!

JANTZEN CLASSIC SUITIt's not too late to get yourself a great swimsuit for the season.   If you waited until the week before your summer vacation, you are actually going to get in on some great sales on just about every brand and style out there.   There is no reason to break the bank in your quest to look super chic on the beach, patio, or rooftop sun deck!   Shopping on-line is never easy for most clothing and can be crazy for swimsuits - but I have a few sources that make it a breeze!

Click - BIKINI - to find out more and see a great on-line swimsuit fit guide!