FOR COOL DADS AND STYLISH GRADS - BOTTEGA VENETA SUEDE BOOTS.

SUEDE LACE UPS - BOTTEGA VENETAWhat is it about suede boots?  I think they are the male equivalent of the platform heel for women.  No matter what type of shoe I'm shopping for - I'm drawn to suede shoes.   This Spring Bottega Veneta has two style options for any stylish guy on your list. 

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SWEET TREAT FOR ANY WEDDING GUEST

WHITE HEART COOKIES BY - BAKED@3FIFTY Any Brides or Grooms planning weddings this Summer?  You've probably already planned every detail.  Well here is one more - WEDDING COOKIES.   Click over to read about a hot new bakery from Michigan that ships these delicious treats around the country.   Fellow sweet tooths will understand.   I think I'd say I DO just for the cookies!!  Click COOKIE VOWS

THE RAINBOW CONNECTION CONTINUES IN 2016

STELLA McCARTNEY "POP FALABELLA" CLUTCHES IN A RAINBOW OF COLOR - CLICK IMAGE TO SHOP STELLA Color trends come and go in the fashion industry.   Fast fashion buyers typically jump in to runway trends be it with color pallette of silhouette.  On the other hand, designer shoppers making a bigger investment often take hints from runway, but keep things classic / neutral enough to last for seasons to come.  Enter the Rainbow Stripes of 2016!  In fact, the trend started back in 2015 (for some really 2014) and has truly crossed the Atlantic and shown up in French, Italian, American, and British collections.  Some designers picked a category to stripe like shoes or bags.  Some designer runways are really exploding with color! BLOGGER AND INTERIOR DESIGNER AIMEE SONG WEARS CHLOE SPRING 2016 RAINBOW TUNIC DRESS TO COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL - CLICK IMAGE TO SHOP THE LOOK

The exciting part - American women (and men!) are truly wearing and mixing colors more than ever before.   Mixing shades of the same colors like reds and blues.  Not matching as much as blending colors.  It's flattering and so so chic!  Find a color that flatters you and makes you feel comfortable.  Once you know the tones that make you look good, try layering and mixing shades of that color.  Then choose an accessory with a rainbow print on it.  If you are someone who always wears color, this ia no-brainer for you.  If you are someone that gravitates to darker colors, then go easy and work a rainbow into your story.  That way you won't feel like you're wearing a costume.  In general, don't feel limited to one color - Embrace the rainbow! 

SARA BATTAGLIA FOR FERRAGAMO "SOFIA" BAG Sara Battaglia for Ferragamo - Let's start with a fashion house that has a rainbow in it's DNA.   Salvatore Ferragamo created the designer shoe concept back in the 20's.  Having every leading lady and aristocrat having custom made shoes created by the designer gave him an incredible reputation and fame that would build a legacy. SALVATORE FERRAGAMO ICONIC RAINBOW WEDGE CIRCA 1938 In 1938 he would create the Rainbow wedge Platform shoe for Judy Gardland to celebrate the release of The Wizard of Oz.  SARA BATTAGLIA FOR FERRAGAMO - BUCKET BAG WITH TASSEL That shoe would become one of the most photographed shoes in fashion history.    Fast forward almost 100 years later, the house chose handbag designer Sara Battaglia to create a capsule collection of bags inspired by Salvatore's archives.   The result is a collection of the coolest bags of 2016.  The avant-garde rainbow theme is wearable, chic, and playful at the same time.  These bags are only available in select Ferragamo Boutiques and soon to be classics!   Get one now before they are gone!  **Mother's Day alert - PRIME GIFTING ** -   SHOP FERRAGAMO NOW

French fashion house CHLOE featured dreamy dresses in flowing rainbow stripes for Spring 2016.  The peasant and princess shapes have a 70's vibe that fits in so well with the Chloe image of feminine, pretty clothes that always seem to reference a slightly (or not so slight) vintage look.CHLOE RAINBOW LACED SANDALS FOR SPRING 16 - CLICK IMAGE TO SHOP CHLOE SHOES  There is always a softness to the look.  Even if the Chloe campaign woman has big rolled hair - you just know it would feel soft to the touch.  No bubble hair for sure!  That's the feel of the dresses for Spring.   Fashion blogger Aimee Song wore a Chloe Tunic / Dress to Coachella music festival last month.  It was a perfect expression of the collection.   The house also offered plenty of rainbow detailed accessories to compliment all the dresses - and all your other outfits!

Edgardo Osorio from Aquazzura fame has ALSO collaborated with Ferragamo recently to create an outrageous range of shoes to honor the legend of Salvatore Ferragamo himself.  EDGARDO OSORIO FOR FERRAGAMO - POLKA DOT SANDALS - CLICK IMAGE TO SHOPThe results were insanely cool! Your feet will scream with delight when you slip these sandals on. (okay - they might scream when you take them off too.. for differnt reasons.. but hey!).   You'll also make an entrance to remember!!   Flatter options that represent the rainbow theme are also available at BERGDORF GOODMAN- Click to shop now.  TASTE THE RAINBOW!!

FERRAGAMO FAREWELL FOR GIORNETTI

Massimiliano Giornetti - Former Creative Director of Salvatore Ferragamo - begins a new chapter as he leaves the brandLuxury fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo announced that the brands creative director, Massimiliano Giornetti is leaving.  In fact it seems Giornetti has already left the building as the Italian house said the collection shown two weeks ago in Milan would be his last.  Salvatore Ferragamo Fall 2016 - Slip dresses are a favorite silhouette of designer Massimiliano Giornetti.

Giornetti leaves Ferragamo with an incredible body of work behind him, as his runway designs were crucial in the brands repositioning itself from a global classic, to a true fashion runway collection.  While millions of women around the world have bought Ferragamo shoes for years, Giornetti's RTW designs saw the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Demi Moore, and other leading ladies of music and film looking sexy and modern as they accessorized with the brand.Ferragamo Resort 12 Collection - staged at the Louvre Museum in Paris  His strength was making you focus on the craftmanship and artisan details the house had mastered for decades with shoes and handbags, but blowing it up for the drama of the runway.  His Resort collection shows were "Ultra-Luxe" showcases of this craftmanship - taking place at equally luxurious locations like the famous Duke Mansion on New York's Upper East Side, and the Louvre Museum in Paris.

So as Ferragamo "the house" celebrated 100 years since founder Salvatore started making shoes by hand in Los Angeles last Fall, Giornetti was turning out press collections to catch the attention of editors and bloggers around the world.  Having worked with the company since 2000, Giornetti stands with a select few designers of his generation with a tenure as long, or significant with one luxury brand.  First serving as menswear designer, and then in 2011 taking the helm as Creative Director of the entire brand, Giornetti lived and breathed the Ferragamo ideal.   More than one editor remarked after his collection debut of Women's runway in 2011 - "Now that's what Ferragamo should look like". Ferragamo Resort 13 - The Red Carpet Collection staged at the Doris Duke mansion in NYC, a show that lit the spark for Ferragamo's new direction

This iconic house is in a strong position as it relies on the design teams to take the lead with Giornetti's departure.  This is not like Gucci finding it's way after Tom Ford left the company.  Ford had introduced RTW to Gucci, while Giornetti had given an existing collection a new direction.  It would be hard to think of another fashion house that was more stable, than this majority family owned, and family operated legacy brand.  With over 650 boutiques globally, the company has built an empire over decades that keeps Salvatore's design aesthetic constant.

What's next for Giornetti?  We shall all see.  With more than half a dozen major houses playing musical chairs, you never know until the music stops!  Who's next at Ferragamo?  Also interesting to wait and see.  Edgardo Osorio of Aquazzura fame?    As the fashion world turns...