Pamella Roland Fall 2010 Collection – Chic. European. Classy.

I’m not ashamed to admit it.  I fell in love last season when I was at the tents.  There was a designer who had barely made it onto my radar, but for some reason I attended her show.  And I fell in love.

Pamella Roland.

If you’re my friend on facebook or you follow me on twitter, this is a song that you know the lyrics to already.  But I don’t care.  Since it’s my favorite song, I’m singing it anyway.  Roland quite literally took the industry by storm when she released her first collection at age 42 – instantly winning over critics and gaining a huge celebrity following.  Her red carpet looks are to. die. for.  Yes my friends, when I die please make sure I’m wearing Pamella Roland.

Her fall 2010 collection was inspired by Venetian Glamour, and I was inspired as well.  Inspired to go out and buy it all.  True story.  Ah, the fashion writer’s dilemma.  The collection was extensive, from chunky, colorful knits, regal purple gowns that were dripping with sophistication, and fresh takes on the wool shift dress.  The evening gowns, always a favorite of mine (I blame the Princess complex), were nothing short of stunning.  Roland sent a final piece down the runway – a bridal gown – which was simply a perfect, airy confection that seemed to float down the runway.

I threw a few photos that I took from my seat during the show into the graphic above, but if you really want a good feel for the show, check out the video below courtesy of IMG.  Some of the best 3:40 of your day, I promise.

Swoon with me in the comments, please.

Recreating Jade Frampton’s Chic Look {2010 Fall Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week}

I have been devouring the pictures and videos coming straight from the New York Fashion Week tents this past week.  As I’m sure with the rest of you, I can’t wait to hear all about Erika’s Fashion Week adventures.

Some of you may not know, but I love to people watch. Sit me down on a bench and I could be content for hours just watching people walk by!  I get inspired seeing how people translate looks to make them their own. People watching during Fashion Week with all the uber-stylish people is even that much more inspirational.

I loved the look ELLE’s Market Editor, Jade Frampton, pulled together. Not only did she address the outside elements of winter cold and snow, but managed to look effortlessly chic in multiple layers. Her look is easy to recreate.

Begin the look with ASOS’ pleat detail tulip skirt {$45} and a GAP long sleeved white t-shirt {$16.50}.  Layer a T by Alexander Wang striped tank dress on top {$110}.  Add Banana Republic’s black classic belt {$49.50} at the waist for definition. Step into a pair of black flat boots like these Tori boots from Ciao Bella {$99}. For the final layer add a classic trench coat.  Try ASOS’ Gap Linda Trench {$139}. Add a scarf at the neck to complete the look and stay warm! Have some fun and play with printed scarves to add your own flair to this classic look.

Have a styling question you need answered?  Comment or tweet me your question and I will feature it on my next “Questions for a Stylist” column. Have a fabulous week!

Reinventing Beauty {Video!}

Have I ever mentioned to you that I have no concept of time?  Really, I don’t.  It annoys the heck out of people – even people who have known and loved me since I was a child want to shake me over this ridiculous lack of time-consciousness.  I’ll say I’ll be right back and I show up 4 hours later – tell you I’ll call you in 10 minutes and call you in 10 days.  I’m not denying that it’s annoying.  I live in Erika world, on Erika time.  It’s not one of my more charming qualities.

Speaking of never doing things on time – this brings me back to why I’m here.  Remember back in September I went to NYC to attend this little thing called Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week?  Well, while I was there I was invited to the CVS Reinventing Beauty Lounge – a pop-up spa like experience where I was basically pampered by having my nails, makeup, and hair all done.  While I was there, I was able to hang out with both Robert Verdi and Nigel Barker.  If it sounds like heaven…well, that’s because it is.

The highlight of the event was having my makeup done by Cover Girl Makeup Artist Jake Bailey.  He explained all of the different Cover Girl products to me, and gave me a rather stunning makeover with all of the products.  My absolute favorite of the bunch, which I have now incorporated into my daily routine, is the Outlast Lipstain.  It looks and works much like a marker — just paint it on your lips and go!  Jake also showed me a technique using a lip brush to get a lighter color from the lipstain that just made me look like I had these fantastic, naturally flushed lips.  I also fell in love with the Simply Ageless Foundation – and I am very loyal to my Clinique foundation, so that was a big jump for me!

Not that you are at all surprised, but I also made this video of my experience at the CVS Reinventing Beauty Lounge – it’s a lot of fun, and a little of me being silly (imagine that!) so enjoy!

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.