Project Runway Party Video Recap!

My head is still spinning from covering Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and basically feeling like I had a full-time, real person’s job for roughly a week.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved every.single.second.  I am already making plans to return in February, to attend the final week in the tents at Bryant Park.  Not only did I have an amazing week at the tents, but I was fortunate to wrap up my week by covering the Project Runway Reception and Screening for Lifetime Moms.  I made the awesome video below for you, so you can feel like you were right there with me.

We were able to attend a reception at the Hearst Tower (where I totally had a “Confessions of a Shopaholic” moment when I was going up the escalator!) for Project Runway’s current season, after which we all piled into a lush executive theater to watch the 5th episode of this season!  You’ll find three of my favorite pictures below, but you can see all of my photos from the Project Runway Party in my Flickr stream.

These two were really, really nice!  I was originally standing to the left of both of them, and they insisted that I jump in the middle.   If you watched last week’s Project Runway, you saw Louise puncture her finger with the sewing machine — I asked her how she was doing, and she showed me that her fingers healed nicely.  She did share with me that she was so upset at the camera men when that happened, because there was one guy on each side of her, and both of them kept filming, neither of them made a move to help out.  Ahhh, the woes of reality TV.

Irina was the winner of the challenge in the Episode that we watched (where they used newspaper and she made that awesome coat with it!) and I had a great time chatting with her afterwards.  She was really nice — you can see her waving to me and my ubiquitous Flip Cam at the end of the video.

Then, of course, there was Althea Harper, whom I absoultely adored.  I talked to her mom for quite a while when Althea was on the red carpet being interviewed, and she and Althea both invited me to Althea’s Fashion Show the next night.  Unfortunately I coudln’t make it, but they were both so, so sweet – and I was really impressed with Althea in general.  We chatted about Tory Burch (I had just attended her show/presentation the day before), how it is to work for/with her, and about the fact that she designed what she was wearing.  She was so down to earth, it was like talking to an old friend!

I was so impressed with the entire cast of Project Runway Season 6 – they were all cheering each other on, supporting each other, applauding and squealing when Heidi told each of them that they were “safe”.  Watching that episode with them spoiled me, really, and just made me want to have a Project Runway party with all of them each week so that I could continue to feel the camradarie.

Think my mom will clap with me this week everytime we discover someone is “safe”?  It’s worth a try.

On the Catwalk for Victoria’s Secret!

Victoria’s Secret is looking for a few good…women.  Bikini-ready beach-bod types can apply to strut their stuff on the catwalk (it’s here where I’m *so* tempted to burst into song) in the annual televised Victoria’s Secret runway show. Starting October 1st, hopefuls can enter online or you can go to one of the casting calls in various cities.

Did I mention that you have to be between 18-30 (suddenly I feel way old at 27), 5’8″ in bare feet, and available to be in NYC for the entire month of November?  So yeah, not many requirements AT ALL.  Even so, if this is a fit for you, it could be a very cool opportunity to cross something off of that “list” of things you always wished you could do.

I say go for it!

Global Bazaar – My International Wish List

So I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I like to shop. On the internet, even. Imagine that.  I inevitably happen upon some amazingly awesome product that I am ready to add to my cart and buy right then and there.  But then, it happens.  I realize I’m on some international site, and they don’t ship to the US.

Groan.

So, seeing as how I can’t actually buy these products, I thought I would do a post to share two of the items that happened to catch my eye today.  Please, feel free to drool over them with me – maybe that will make me feel a little bit better.  So, without further ado, here are some things that I love that I JUST CAN’T HAVE.

I’m in love with this adorable makeup bag that says, “jamais sans mon blush!” – or for those of you who are the non-francophilic types (yes, I just made up francophilic.  It’s a word now.) – “never without my blush!”.  This adorable little treasure is from Petite Mendigote – I swear, I could purchase almost the entire collection.

A Bento is a Japanese lunch to-go.  A Bento box — well, it’s the box that your Bento comes in.  I feel like we already know of this concept … don’t we have those things called “lunchboxes”?  Right.  Anyway, these are two Bento boxes – and all I can think is that if I had an office to go to and bring my lunch, well, I’d want to bring my lunch in these babies.  How chic are they!?  From Mon Bento – sadly – they are keeping them all to themselves.  Forget international shipping.  Drool.  (This is where I take a moment and remind myself that I don’t, in fact, work in an office.  Therefore, I would have absolutely no use for these.  But oh, how I want them!)

I’m sure this is only part 1 of this list, I’ll be sure to share more awesome finds with you as I, well, find them.

Dress To Impress With Talbots ($250 Gift Card Giveaway!)

Red Chair Confessions has been creating quite a bit of buzz in the blogosphere with their fun videos that piqued the curiosity of almost everyone who watched them, including me!  I had no idea who was behind the fun videos that were clearly taking the web by storm, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was Talbots!

Apart from the fact that I once had a $300 blue jean emergency on the emergency credit card my parents gave me in college (look, NOT buying them would have been like losing money – they were on SALE!) I do have a different confession to make – and it’s this:

I thought only teachers and moms shopped at Talbots.  Oh, wait.  I am both a teacher and a mom.  Hmm.

In all seriousness, I never really gave the place a chance!  There is a Talbots a mere half of a mile from my house, and I never bothered to step foot inside of it.  Which, really, is crazy, considering how much I adore shopping.  And the teacher/mom thing aside – honestly I just never really thought about trying Talbots when I was looking for new clothing.

But, um, wow, I was so wrong!  Last week I ran into Talbots, shaking the rain from my hair and turning around to close my umbrella before I turned around and saw them. It was love at first sight.  I’m talking about the most exquisite pair of brown leather riding boots, with perfect gold buckle accents on each side.  Clutching my $250 gift card, I hurried forward and asked the salesgirl for a size 9.5, praying they would fit.  Naturally, they didn’t, but the size 9 did! Sweet victory!

Elated with the discovery of my gorgeous new best friends, I continued browsing the store, wishing that I had a good reason to buy a new wool coat. (I live in Louisiana, sweatshirts and light jackets are about all we need, sadly.)  I moved on to the sale section, and snagged a nice black and white summer dress (which I  wore today!) and a couple of sleeveless tops to carry me through the fall season.

I also loved the pink sheath dress and pencil skirt, I wish I could have taken them both home!  Pinks and purples are great fall colors, and I just think both of these items would go a long way towards updating a basic wardrobe with a young, chic look. I loved the tailored look of the clothing, but that it was still young and even a bit edgy.  I fell in love with some of the bold colored items, including a mustard-colored jacket, and was even tempted to bring home some leopard-print shoes.  Overall, I was very impressed with the selection, and I think if you haven’t been to Talbots, or haven’t been in a while, then it’s time to check it out!

So, want a fall wardrobe makeover for yourself?  Talbots is giving away one lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader a $250 gift card to shop online or in one of their stores!  So, how do you win?  Well, you can go check out the contest rules but it boils down to this:  Click on over to Talbots.com and them come back here to let me know what your favorite items are!!  You can also enter by tweeting the URL to this post, and including the hashtag #redchairconfessions so that we can find it!

This contest ends on September 28th, at 11:59 pm CST.

Denim Diva: The Right Look For Your Body

Oh, the headache and pain of shopping for denim.  I think almost all of us have been there – that feeling of dread as we try on every pair of jeans in the store, before throwing our hands up in disgust and sulking next door to the bakery to pig out on a cupcake and a full-fat latte.  (Oh no!  Did I just tell on myself?  I mean, I don’t reallllly do that.  Nuh-uh.  Nope.  Not me!)  I promise you that it took me quite a long time, and more pairs of ill-fitting blue jeans than I care to count to figure out how to shop properly for this must-have item.  In my days as a youngin’, I was a “Denim Specialist” at the GAP, and it was then that I discovered how to not only outfit my own body in the perfect pair of curve-hugging denim pants, but I learned how to help other women do the same.  So then, here ya go!  I’m going to continue to spread the wealth and share some of my suggestions with you, so that you can (hopefully) avoid disappointment in the dressing room.

1.  Know your body type. If you are a slim type, without many curves, you should avoid jeans that are cut for women who are curvealicious, and vise versa.  Just like a petite woman wouldn’t dream of buying a pair of extra-long jeans, a woman with some extra shape should avoid straight-cut jeans and other looks that won’t accentuate her best qualities.  Go into the store already aware of what your best physical attributes are, and it will be easier for you to shop to accentuate them.

2.  Read the labels. Generally labels are rather straightforward and will give you the most insight into your denim dilemma.  Descriptions of the cut of denim will assist you in knowing which pairs of jeans are even deserving of your time in the dressing room.  Often you will read things like “straight through the hip and thigh” or “relaxed through the hip and thigh” that can help you to determine what this pile of material in your hand might actually look like when it’s on.  If you go in knowing your body type (see number one, above!), then ruling out the cuts that aren’t for you will be a cinch!

3.  Color is important. It’s ALL about the color!  Known as the “wash” or “rinse” to those “in the know”, color will make a ginormous difference!  A dark wash can help to lenghten your legs and generally give an overall slimming effect (the same idea behind wearing black).  Similarly, a lighter wash is great for the long and lean variety of women, and someone searching for curves can try a bit of whiskering on the outside of the jean, to create a more girly appearance.

4  Shop snug. When I try on jeans in the dressing room, I like them to fit a bit snugly.  Denim is a very strong material, but it will give, especially if you are considering a denim that is “stretch”.  After you’ve been wearing your jeans for a few hours they will loosen up, and if they weren’t a bit snug to begin with, you end up with a baggy jean.  Unless you are going for the “boyfriend jean” look, you won’t feel as comfortable or sexy in them after a few hours of wear.  This doesn’t mean you should buy jeans that are a size too small — they won’t give that much (and frankly, nobody likes a muffin top!) — but a pair that hugs your body comfortably will keep you confident all day.

5.  Don’t give up!  I often have to take 7 or 8 (or 11 or 12!) pairs of jeans into the dressing room with me so that I can even hope to leave with a single pair that fits properly, and often times I leave without one at all.  Think of shopping for denim as a time investment, and the payoff is you looking HOT!  Not all jeans are made to fit all body types, so give yourself ample time to find that perfect pair of denim.  If you find a brand and style that you fall in love with, save the tag or write it down.  In a pinch, you can always order another pair in a different rinse off of the internet!

So there ya go!  It doesn’t matter what kind of body you have, you can absolutely find the perfect pair of jeans.  How do you shop for denim?  Share your tips with us in the comments!

Oh la la! Jean Paul Gaultier and Tar-jay!

Oooh, the fashion world is abuzz with speculation that Jean Paul Gaultier will be next in a line of well-established designers to collaborate with Target.  Word on the fashion street is that Gaultier is in talks with the mega corporation, and that his designs will follow in the footsteps of other designers like Anna Sui and Alexander McQueen!

Not since the release of the Jimmy Choo for H&M news has there been such hubub and excitement.  I suppose it’s the budget-conscious fashionistas (like myself) who are the ones celebrating.  Of course, that is assuming that Gaultier can make some fun designs that are not Lady Gaga-esque.

Because, you know, last time I wore head-to-toe lace…well…let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

Pamella Roland Spring 2010 Collection

WOW.

Before I arrived at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I was only slightly familiar with designer Pamella Roland.  Yesterday, however, I had the opportunity to attend her Spring 2010 Runway Show, and I must say, I was absolutely blown away. Roland presented a collection inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe – and what an inspired collection it was.  So diverse, so imaginative – I truly believe there was something in the Spring line for everyone.  Tailored, flowing, dramatic, conservative — each piece was dramatically different than the last yet gorgeous in its own way.

The delicate florals, the red carpet looks (which are a personal favorite, though I never have anyplace remotely that fancy to go!) and the bright colors all won me over – I have emphatically told everyone that asks what my favorite show has been that it was Pamella Roland.  I think it’s because, while other shows and designs were fantastic, I could picture myself wearing almost every piece from this collection.  And for me, that is saying something.

Right before I went into the show, I ran into my friend Anna (who is the most amazing designer and has her own line of handmade jewelry!) who was taking photographs of the show.  She helped me film a part of the video below, and we also took some fun pictures together on the runway after the show. We had a bunch of fun hanging out together and it was so nice to be able to catch up!

In addition, Anna is a talented photographer, and she gave me permission to steal some of her high-quality photos from the show to post here.  Check out some of the amazing pieces from Pamella Roland’s Spring 2010 Collection.

And last, but not least, I made a video of my experience at the show.  I was sitting in the second row, in the middle of the runway, so I had a great view.  I was directly behind Nigel Barker and across from Amanda Bynes, Bethany Frankel, Lisa Rinna, and Luann de Lesseps (“The Countess”), among others.  I managed to catch almost the entire line on video, so watch and enjoy!

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (And I’m THERE!!)

Oh hai.  It’s me.  Little old Erika.  I’ve been a bit MIA lately, because, well…

I’M IN NYC AT MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK!

(Are your ears ringing from my loud shrieking?)

Lifetime has given Audrey and I the opportunity of a lifetime (no pun intended) by sending us to New York to cover Fashion Week for Lifetime Moms.  We will be updating our coverage every day on Lifetime Moms, and if you head over there to comment then you can win one of five $200 CASH prizes (that’s cold, hard cash people!!) just for leaving us a comment!  That’s it!  Simple!

In the meantime, you should check out our video recap from yesterday, when we attended Carolina Herrera, Jill Stuart, and Donna Karan.  They were all breathtaking, but, well, you can hear more about them if you watch the video below!

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week September 14th Recap from Erika Lehmann on Vimeo.

How To: Get Michelle Obama’s Toned Arms

I’m somewhat obsessed with having perfect, sculpted arms. Have I ever acheived this? Well, no.  Not even close.  But that doesn’t mean I can’t be slightly preoccupied with the idea, right?

I saw this segment on the Today Show this morning and thought I would share it with any and all of you who wish for the same perfect arms that I do.  Or for those of you who are just curious or maybe looking for a new workout.  I’ve gotta say – that mountain thing looks like it will kill me but BY GOD if that is what I have to do to get arms like that then I am most certainly going to try it.  Even if I do give up after 10 seconds.

Ahem.  Without further ado.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

How to Wear: Ruffles

Feminine and frilly is all the rage this fall so don’t be afraid to embellish your look with ruffles.  (And yes, I did indeed just say “all the rage”.  And then I used indeed.  See how I did that?)  This is an easy trend to pull off, but you should be careful that you don’t go for too much of a good thing.  If you have ruffles on your shoes, then skip the ruffled bag.  If you have a cute ruffled top, then skip the ruffled skirt.  You’re smart – you get the picture.

The key to rockin’ this trend is to KISS.  (Keep it simple, silly.)  (Ok, ok, the real phrase is Keep It Simple, Stupid – but frankly I didn’t think it was very nice to call you stupid.  You’re here, right?  Ten automatic smart points!) Pair a ruffled top with a tailored pant or a pencil skirt and simple shoes.  Think of it as your signature item.  If you wear fire engine red shoes, you’re going to keep the rest of the outfit and accessories simple, right?  The same goes for ruffles.

Check out some of these awesome ruffled and frilly looks for fall.  I’m especially in love with the Walter dress on the right – it has a cutout back with a simple tie, and it is just gorgeous.  Be on the lookout for it on Leighton Meester in the season premier of Gossip Girl on September 14th.  So, what do you think?  See anything that catches your eye or stikes your fancy?

First Look: The Fashion Of SATC 2

Sex and the City fans and fashionistas the world over are buzzing over the first look at Sarah Jessica Parker on the set of SATC 2.  Patricia Fields is up to her old tricks, and I’ve gotta say, she’s really rockin’ it. SJP stepped out onto the streets of Manhattan looking stunning in a 3/4 length sleeve white Halston Heritage dress.  It was glammed up with gold mirrored aviators, a gold  Chanel clutch (drool), and the most incredible Christian Louboutin “Pigalle” pumps.

I have to say that while I always admire what Patricia Fields has done with Carrie’s many “looks”, sometimes they are far too complicated or far-fetched for me.  I think this look is simply stunning, and would wear it in a heartbeat.  (That is, assuming I could even dream of affording $3,000 shoes to begin with.)

Check out the clip below, via popsugar.tv.  Warning:  watching this will absolutely make you want to “squee”.