Amika Styling Tools Create the Runway Looks in NYC

When you think of Fashion Week, you think of backstage chaos and prepping before the big shows. Well, let me tell you about a recent experience I had that was like no other I’ve ever seen…

Compliments of my PR friends at Tractenberg & Co., I had an exclusive backstage pass to the GreenShows at the Metropolitan Pavilion last week. My objective: to get the inside scoop on what really goes on behind the scenes during “hair & makeup.” I wanted to get up close and personal with the hair team responsible for turning the long straight locks of the Samantha Pleet models into SEXY, SILKY CURLS.

Curls?! For any girl with stick straight hair, I’m sure you can imagine this is a hairdresser’s worst nightmare… That is until they were told Amika would be sponsoring the Styling Tools & products that would help create the fabulously curly looks!

By the time I arrived on the scene…I swear there was no hair struggle in sight. Stylists were crowded around each of the models – sometimes 3-4 per girl! but they were working in a rhythm rather than a teased frizzy…

I watched as they wrapped sections of straight hair around the Amika tourmaline curling barrels; waited a few seconds before releasing the strands so the smooth waves could cascade down the models’ necks. I was awed at how easy it was to curl hair as straight as a toothpick and for the hair to remain curly for hours on end without spraying it with concrete!

What makes Amika’s curlers one of the best?! They feature a tourmaline barrel fused with ceramic. Tourmaline is a natural source of negative ions and far infrared heat, which provides faster styling with less damage. The negative ions eliminate frizz and close the hair cuticle to create smooth, shiny hair. The clip free curler doesn’t tug or break the hair either.

Say bye-bye to the hair crimp your old school curler used to make and say hello to one of these stylish Amika curlers! Trust me; you’ll get the waves you’ve seen celebrities rockin’ on the red carpet for months.

xoxo,

Mia

The Stars were Shining during FNO, but ILORI had the Shades to Kick Up the Brightness

138 Spring Street, NYC

Ok, ok…so I’m a bit tardy on my posts about SS11 Fashion Week. I can’t help it though…I’ve been caught up with the hustle and bustle of all the shows that it gets sticky to find time to write my recaps! Heck, you should see the hurricane that hit my place…I think Igor already touched down!

Anyway…my girl and I joined thousands of others last Friday for Fashion’s Night Out (aka FNO) and we hit the town starting in SOHO. Among our numerous stops were John Varvatos - they served sweet killer vodka & lemonade drinks; Chanel - they were offering FREE manicures which showcased 3 of their new nail colors and last but certainly not least, ILORI (pronounced ĭ-lôr-ē) – this high-fashion eyewear boutique was offering up cute EcoBag totes with any purchase of their fabulous shades.

ILORI’s a leader in distinctive eyewear so it didn’t surprise me that they’d come with a new idea for FNO. The flagship store on Spring Street was crowded with beautiful people and not only did we enjoy trying on all the trendy shades, but we also got to see our Eco tote bags personalized on the spot with a hip ink print. Check out the bag they sent me home with!

After ILORI I swung down to the Meat Packing and ran into the likes Celebrity stylist Robert Verdi, fashion designer Robin Brouillette, and Peoples Revolution founder Kelly Cutrone.

I hope you enjoyed FNO as much as I did!

XOXO,

Mia

Women's Mafia - 3 Winning Designers Show

"Design by Phoung My"

It’s been a long exhausting weekend, and now it’s back to the grind at work. I haven’t had my first cup of H2O yet (I don’t drink coffee), but I’ll try my best to stay awake and give you a quick recap of what went down over the weekend.

Unlike the average Joe, I kicked off my weekend on Thursday and attended the Women’s Mafia fashion show at Tela Design Studio in the Meat Packing district. This sold out event featured the top 3 winners of the “Are You Runway Ready” competition. People lined up shoulder to shoulder to catch a glimpse of the SS2011 designs of Phuong My, Dominique Auxilly and PRIESTESS NYC by Cody Ross.

Hands down I thought Dominique’s designs stole the show. Her fitted bodices, with flowing fabrics made every girl in the room swoon. I heard an outpour of women saying they wanted this dress or that…I even heard one fashion stylist say she’d love to get married in one of the dresses!

Here’s a look at one of my favorite Dominuque designs of the night:

Photos by Arthur Eisenberg

I hope you enjoy the looks as much as I did.

xoxo,

Mia

FASHION ALERT EMAIL!!

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!! I want to tell you about your chance to snatch up an Olivia + Joy bag at over 50% OFF the retail price!! Here's what THE LUXURY SPOT has to say:

"It’s fall, and that means it’s time to update your wardrobe. We’ve got an ultra-cute bag from Olivia + Joy for only $34 with free shipping that normally retails for $78. Olivia + Joy is the line that celebs are going wild over for their trendy styles, and animal-friendly materials. You can rock this bag with leggings, jeans, heels, or some gorj mini dress that’ll make everyone jealous of your style.


Katherine McPhee was recently caught in her Olivia + Joy bag, and you’ve been seeing this line pop-up in Life & Style Weekly, AM New York, and NBC’s Today Show. We suggest scooping this one up fast because we have limited quantities, and the price is insanely low! Check out the full description here."

This is a steal! I'm already on The Luxury Spot's site ready to buy.

xoxo,

Mia

It's NYC SS2011 Fashion Week!!

I'm baaaaaack. I know it's been ages since I last posted, but to be honest, I felt so ashamed of neglecting my site after I had started working full time again that I needed to go to blogger rehab.

But here I am 1 year later...My life is certainly different now - I'm working a 9-6pm job 5 days a week & still trying to maintain friendships and a social life after work. I didn't realize how zapped I'd feel after working 9-10 hr days (just because my hours are 9-6 doesn't mean I don't work free overtime). I often long for the old days of my fashionista ways i.e. running around the city day & night visiting showrooms, meeting designers, and eco-fashionistas like yourselves! It'd be nice to have my cake & eat it too, but let's be realistic, life doesn't really work like that...a girl's gotta pay her bills.

Don't be fooled however to think that I've been completely M.I.A. I'll definitely be out this week and next for the Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week here in NYC.

There are plenty of shows to attend, and even a few back stage appearances at the Metropolitan Pavilion next week for the Samantha Pleet show. I'll be getting the behind the scenes exclusive during the pre-show hairstyling sponsored by Amika. Celebrity and fashion stylist Michael Dueñas will be heading up the team, using Amika ceramic and tourmaline curlers and stylers as well as the Obliphica product line made from the magical healing fruit of the Sea Buckthorn!

All I can say is stay tuned...(and keep an eye out for me this week!)

xoxo,

Mia