JOSH GARCIA - VIDEO JOURNALIST & TRAVEL HOSTNew York City is home to travellers from all over the world.   If you can name a country, you can bet it is represented in here in NYC.   Millions of people dream of getting here to follow that dream.   Then there are those of us that live in NYC, and spend our time travelling around this big beautiful world.   I travel for assignments in the fashion world and people like my buddy Josh Garcia do it for the adventure and thrill of exploring exotic locations.  Garcia is a video journalist and travel host, so his trips take him to all sorts of exotic places.  He might be cliff diving in Mexico or climbing mountains in far East, but it is always an adventure.   Josh and I first met in a hot tub on the set JOSH PRACTICING HIS MANDARIN?modeling in a Heineken ad here in New York, but that's a story for another article on how crazy NYC is!  These days, Josh is a finalist in not one, but TWO amazing travel host contests that could take him around the world with a fat budget, a film crew, and a smile from ear to ear!   

It's clear to see why out of almost 50,000 entries from over 200 countries, Josh was chosen as a finalist by the Australian Tourism Board for the Outback Adventurer Host.   Josh has a genuine curiosity, and passion for meeting people and learning about different cultures.   You can see how children react to him, even when they don't speak the same language - they want to connect, and so does the viewer.  Josh was born and raised in Southern California and I'm sure that has more than a little to do with his outgoing, adventurous personality.  If Josh wins this one, he's off to the massive countryside of Australia's Northern Territory.  You know,JOSH GARCIA CLIFF DIVING IN MEXICO the part you haven't been to on holiday!  I hope he brings some strong sunscreen!  

Exciting enough?  Apparently not - Josh is also a finalist in MY DESTINATION'S Biggest Baddest Bucket List.   This adventure will take him around the world for six months - visiting famous sites from all the continets on everyone's bucket list!  The journey begins with one week in the U,K.  Don't forget the passport Josh!

I don't think it is a coincidence that both contests singled Josh out of all the thousands of entries.   This guy deserves to win!!   Click on the links above to learn more about both contests.   Hey, you might want to enter next year.  Why not? 

While you are clicking around, connect with Josh on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  Also, watch his videos on YouTube.  Follow along with him.   If you like travel and like to smile, I promise you won't be disappointed.

GOOD LUCK JOSH!!

OSCAR de la RENTA as styled by JOHN GALLIANO - FALL 2013The Spring 2013 fashion season in NYC proved to be a bit of a sleeper.   The biggest news the main stream press covered was the "will he" or "won't he" take a bow speculation about John Galliano and his strange "residency" at Oscar de la Renta.  This would have been Galliano's first appearance in front of a fashion crowd since his very public fall from grace in 2011.   In the end, Galliano was nowhere to be found when cameras were snapping and Mr. de la Renta was coy and awkward about Galliano's contribution.   Even at 80, Oscar wants all the attention.   Good for him I guess as it is his name on the label.  However it must be said, the collection never looked better...you decide who to thank.

The most creative New York designers in my book are the dynamic duo of  Proenza Schouler.   $SQUARE TAMBOURINE BAG - $4,695.00 Jack and Lazaro have been able to do what few American designers have in the past few years.   Create original fashion.  New York based collections have always been over shadowed by those inPROENZA SCHOULER SPRING 2013 EXOTIC COAT AND LEATHER SKIRT Paris and sometimes Milan.   A generation ago, super talented creatives like Geoffrey Beene and Bill Blass broke the mold and emerged as unique, international houses of fashion.  

While the American design companies of today are global names with billions of dollars in sales, too many are produced in PROENZA SCHOULER PRINTED SILK & LACE DRESSChina and watered down versions of collections already shown in Paris or Milan.

Proenza Schouler has found a niche with handbags that don't look like CHANEL (surprising how unusual this is!) and tapping into print and color stories that are modern, flattering, and creative.   Magical.   Let's watch as these two talented young designers become legendary before our eyes.  Click Proenza Schouler to learn more.

DARK JACKET / CRISP WHITE SHIRT / STRIPED PINK TIE - RITZ CARLTON GOLF - NAPLES, FLThere are so many different styles and patterns of ties that it is no wonder many men are confused as to the best choice. Here we take a look at what it takes to find the right men’s tie for the right occasion.

What tie to buy?

When you are thinking of buying a new tie then one of your first considerations should be the colour of shirt you wish to team it with. If is it is a tie for a special occasion then you can afford to go a little wild and to spend some money on something unusual and eye catching. Do remember however that you must never wear too much pattern at one time or you will look eccentric rather than stylish.

ALIGHT SUIT / PINK SHIRT / DARK TIE - ALL FERRAGAMO white shirt is a perfect canvas to begin with if you are unsure of what suits you or if you are new to wearing ties. Any colour and shape of tie will go well with a crisp white shirt. Whether it is skinny or kipper shaped – well maybe steer clear of kipper shaped – you will find that for the beginner this will be your best bet!

In general, a skinny tie looks best with a close fitting single breasted suit and not a large “boxy” style or double breasted jacket. When choosing a skinny tie, you cannot go wrong with classic black and a textured fabric will add more interest. You must also always remember to choose one which looks in proportion to your frame. Try a few on and see which looks best. Skinny ties are a style classic.

What colours go with what?

Ok, so we all have our tried and tested favourite colours which we know suit us. However safe can become boring and sometimes we all need to step out of our comfort zone! So let’s say that you have bought a:DARK JACKET / PALE SHIRT / DARK TIE

• Light blue shirt – this will go well with ties of virtually any colour, especially those in shades of deep yellow, gold, deep red and dark blue
• Tan coloured shirts look good with bronze ties, sometimes with black
• Light pink shirts can be worn confidently by most men and a deep burgundy tie will compliment this look very well
• If you wish to play it safe then matching your shirt colour to your tie colour is always acceptable too

How to match the right tie with the right suit

• If you are looking to match a tie to a full suit, begin with the suit first. Buy one which you know looks good on you and which fits you well. Choose your shirt next and then make the tie the finishing touch!
• Be on the lookout for clashing colours or patterns. All stripes is a no no, also do not mix many patterns at once. Combine patterned with plain and take your body dimensions into account when choosing pattern size. Big flowers will swamp a smaller fellow!
• Always combine a mix of small stripes with larger when wearing a pin striped suit and tie.
• Colours should harmonise and balance!
• Be careful with checks, you don’t want to look like Rupert the Bear!

If in doubt, keep everything simple. A simple white shirt and dark suit can look amazing with a patterned or coloured silk tie. Keep having fun with your ties and it will all come together! 

THE 100 - MADE UP OF CREDIT CARDS & COMPUTER CHIPSIt was late October when Arianna Huffington hosted her HuffPost's 2011 Game Changers Event.  The night was a celebration of the 100 innovators, visionaries, and leaders, who as Arianna puts it -are changing the world and the way we live in it.    Huffington gave her readers 12 categories to choose from including Politics, Media, Green Technology, etc.   One from each category was chosen to be honored on a cool New York night in October.ANDREW CUOMO & ARIANNA HUFFINGTON 

Aside from Kim, the event was a really smart evening, honoring brilliant people in Science, Medicine, and Charitable causes.  Of course, Huffington herself is at the top of any Game Changer list.   Arianna proved once again that America is the place where dreams can become reality.  BELLES OF THE BALL - NICOLE ARRIGO & SIA SANNEHWhen a girl from Greece moves to America and works her way up from political housewife, to syndicated columnist, to media personality,  to Editor in Chief of a company she has sold this year for $315 Million,  that has American dream written all over it.   Huffington is as smart as a whip and charismatic as can be.  Undoubtedly the magic combination of brains and charm made her success possible.   But the point is that there are women in countries all around the world with brains and beauty and charm that are not given the chance to shine.   Instead they are routinely passed over and held back by the men who run the establishment.  

I expected to meet people of great substance at the Game Changers event, but I never expected to see some really stylish women!  I was pleasantly surprised to find the sexiest dressed woman of the night was also one of the smartest.   Nicole Arrigo is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Columbia University - excuse me!!  That's right, forget everything you thought about scientists spending all their time in lab coats, because Nicole proves there is a whole new generation that are highly educated, and also appreciate great style.   When I saw Nicole across the room in this awesome printed dress, my first thought was Stella McCartney.   When I asked Nicole if it was Stella, her face lit up with a smile as she laughingly said "I wish".  I'm guessing Postdoctoral Research Scientists aren't paid nearly as much as fashion models, too bad!   In any event, Nicole was right on trend from head to toe and I really have to commend her on the great work her talented team is doing at Columbia involving infectious diseases.   The lovely lady with Nicole, also very chic in her little black dress is Sia Sanneh.  Ms. Sanneh is a Yale educated Lawyer and much sought after professor at Columbia.. I told you the room was chock full of smart!  JOHN PRENDERGAST - ENOUGH PROJECT

Ms. Sanneh is also the wife of John Prendergast, one of the honorees of the night.   Mr. Prendergast is a human rights activist and founder of the Enough Project - an organization to end genocide and crimes against humanity.  The project is focussed primarily on the crisis in the Sudan, Congo, and areas in Africa where some of the worst atrocities in the last century have occurred.  

For this debonair crowd, fashion was really just the icing on the cake - refreshing!

Thank you to Ms. Arrigo, Ms. Sanneh, Mr. Prendergast, and of course Ms. Huffington for making the world a better place one day at a time.  click HUFFINGTON POST GAME CHANGERS to read more.

JASON JOBSON & JUDITH LYNCH AT FERRAGAMOReaders of this site know that sales of any kind are not the usual topics covered on any of our pages.   In fact, in the three years since I launched aLIFEofSTYLE.com, I have never written about the oh-so-popular designer resales.   Although the requests come in regularly, I've never felt comfortable giving one my stamp of approval.  COCO'S PROFILE - CALF/ FELT W/ COSTUME JEWELRY That is, until this month!  A very special private sale is happening now in Michigan and it is one that any serious fan of designer handbags should not miss.    It makes sense that a super chic woman is behind this rare event.  GUCCI TOTE & DRAWSTRING IN PRISTINE CONDITION Judith Lynch has style by the mile, and she is that special type of collector that has put her on the "best customer" list of the biggest names in fashion.   Ms. Lynch is a trunk show staple at the Neiman Marcus and Saks 5th Avenue in Troy, Michigan - however that's just when she is in her home town.   A connoisseur of fashion like Judith has the private numbers of sales associates in New York and Beverly Hills, and she has been known to do some serious shopping in Florence, Paris, and a list of international cities.  Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Chanel are among her favorites, as well as Dior and Celine - and her inventory is in the hundreds.

In all my years in the industry, I have never seen a collection like Judith's. VINTAGE LOUIS VUITTON VALISE  In fact, I personally witnessed many of the purchases made in Troy, during various events and trunk shows over the years.   If a handbag was unique or limited, Judith was drawn to it.   Like a serious collector of fine art or jewelry, Ms. Lynch has the skill of an editor.   Her natural instinct and style gives her the ability to look at a collection of thirty bags and know which will be the top three or four best sellers.   Obviously one smart cookie, it is no surprise that Ms. Lynch has an engineering degree and has worked in the automotive industry for many years.  Even with the tremendous challenges that industry has seen, Lynch remains a sought after consultant in the field, specializing in drive systems.  Style and brains - winning combination!CHANEL COSTUME JEWELRY - NECKLACE, BRACELET, EARRINGS

It makes sense that handbags have attracted a serious class of collectors over the last ten years.   The quality and savoir faire that are utilized to create these bags has never been higher or finer.   Certainly, the price points too have reached astronomic levels.    Putting everything in perspective - handbags and shoes have risen dramatically when compared to ready to wear clothing.     When I worked with Thierry Mugler fifteen years ago, a skirt suit retailed for $3,000.00, and that was one of the most expensive in the industry. CHANEL -PINK TWEED CLASSIC  At that time, it was possible to purchase a designer handbag on the main floor of Neiman Marcus for $800 - $1,000.00.    Fast forward fifteen years and a designer skirt suit is now about $4,000.00 - (typically broken up as a $3,300.00 jacket and $900.00 skirt).    Handbags on the other hand now regularly retail for 3, 4, and $5,000.00 from many designers - some with no legacy at all.  So while clothing has increased 30% to 40%, bags have increased 4 to 500%!     Serious collectables indeed!

Ms. Lynch's love of designer creations doesn't stop with handbags. CHRISTIAN DIOR TOTE WITH HARDWARE  Her collection of costume jewelry is probably the largest private collection in the U.S., and that means - probably in the world!   In many cases, Judith would buy multiples of the same style - keeping them intact and ticketed - just as any true collector would!

Just like many who collect antique furniture, fine art, or jewelry, Judith has reached the point where she is finished collecting.   No one can say when or why, put only the collector knows when they are done.  Judith and I caught up at a Ferragamo Creations event in Troy and she let me know she was planning her sale.WRIST TO ENVY! - ARM FULL OF LOUIS VUITTON RESIN BRACELETS    After gifting dozens of items to friends and family, she has decided to sell her carefully cataloged and organized collection.  The bags are kept packed away like little works of art, and they are carefully stored in a professional facility.  Judith plans to arrange small group showings, or one on one appointments before the holidays, and a public sale sometime in the new year.

This opportunity is not to be missed, and I highly recommend passing along this information to any fashion fan you have in your life! 

To inquire about this most spectacular collection-Click- Email Judith

STARBUCKS - GIVING BACK TO AMERICANSIn addition to creating tens of thousands of jobs for hard working Americans, the coffee giant has seeded a program to help even more Americans get back to work.   For every $5.00 you donate, you get a made in the U.S. red, white, and blue bracelet with the message - INDIVISIBLE.   Click over to Starbucks site to see how your $5 donation, actually turns into $35.00 in the community. 

Bravo Starbucks!CLICK IMAGE TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION   If all corporate giants took similar actions - the unemployment rate in this country would fall.  Let's hear from other corporations that have a plan to help the U.S. economy!

Don't forget to order your gift cards today... trust me - who wouldn't appreciate one?

JANE'S CAROUSEL - DUMBO, BROOKLYNIf you haven't been to Brooklyn recently, you don't know Brooklyn.  The borough with some of the liveliest residents and most famous reputation, has been undergoing a transformation in every way.  New parks, new housing, and new transportation.  You name it, it's new.  From the massive Ikea in Red Hook, to the gourmet market Foragers in DUMBO, there are new things to discover every day.THE HAPPY HORSES - JANE'S CAROUSEL

One of the most beautiful additions to the borough is Jane's Carousel.   A full scale carousel from 1922 that took 25 years to restore is not something you see every day.   A gift from Jane and David Walentas, the carousel is the icing on the cake of the newly developed Brooklyn Bridge Park.   DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass)is the lucky neighborhood to receive this beautiful addition, and the Walentases basically created and own DUMBO, via Two Trees Management.  David is a developer with an eye on the future, and wife Jane is an artist with an eye for design.  The two purchased the carousel at auction in the early 80's saving it from being broken off and sold piece by piece. JEAN NOUVEL PAVILLION - JANE'S CAROUSEL

The steel and glass structure that now houses the carousel is designed by world famous Architect- Jean Nouvel.   The sleek structure is as modern and clean as the carousel is vintage and detailed, and the two are a perfect compliment to each other.   Of course, the setting on the East River between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridge, and backdropped by lower Manhattan creates just about the most postcard worthy pictures you can imagine!

Housed in a nearby brick warehouse (next to St. Ann's Warehouse Theater) for the past 20 years, you can almost see the horses smiling about their new home! READING THE WHOLE STORY - JANE'S CAROUSEL

Visit the Carousel anytime.  Open or closed, it is a great place to visit.  DUMBO is also the easiest area to visit in Brooklyn for all you Borough-phobes.   You know who you are.. in fact, I used to be one.  Trust me, taking the F train to the first stop in Brooklyn is about as easy as it gets.  JANE'S LOGO AGAINST THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE The whole trip takes about 15 minutes from 34th street in Manhattan.

JANE'S CAROUSEL - DUMBO, BROOKLYN

AMY WINEHOUSE DIES AT 27

British singing sensation Amy Winehouse was found dead today.  At age 27 she joins a tragic list of legends, who like herself struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.   Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, & Jimi Hendrix all died of overdoses at 27.  Kurt Cobain committed suicide at 27.  Winehouse's death is likely to be ruled an overdose, but it was also a suicide.  How else can you describe actions so reckless?  While Winehouse had a voice that set her apart from most female performers of her generation, however it was her very public addiction to drugs and alcohol that stole the spotlight as her fame grew.   Her last performance earlier this month in Serbia was a disaster, with Winehouse being booed off the stage.

Winehouse's sexy style became as famous as her voice right from the beginning.   A mix of Bettie Page "kitten with a whip" overt sexiness, with a dose of grunge thrown in to cool it off.   Her style influenced fans and fashion designers around the world.  She can be credited with bringing back the big hairstyles ala the 50's and 60's.  (MTV Media monster Snooki is sure to have copied the style).

It is a sad day for music, and humanity.  That someone would allow themselves to destroy a life so rewarded seems unbelievable.    Someone could have, and those close to her should have helped.  

It seems her BACK TO BLACK  album will be the last we remember her for.   The songs were destined to be classics, but with her overdose Amy made sure it happened even faster.   Her most famous song to date was ironically titled Rehab.     Click the Album cover here to visit itunes now.  I know I'll be listening to all the songs again now myself.