Confessions of a Glam Girl- Wear in the World? Net-A-Porter to the Rescue

Confession- I excel in the sport of people watching.  Nine times out of ten I can tell you where someone is from based on their fashion alone.  If people watching was an Olympic event I would have not only A gold medal I would have ALL of the gold medals.  Why am I so good at this game? You will remember from past confessions that I am from small town Canada where dressing up for dinner means Lululemon sweats instead of WalMart sweats (Confessions of a Glam Girl- Give Up the Prada).  Difficult to stay chic at home without looking out of place- very. Difficult to travel or move to tres chic location with appropriate wardrobe (as to not look like a tourist in a fanny pack)- incredibly.  Coping mechanism of people and trend watching with a location friendly mad shopping spree upon arrival, well that was the solution, until now.  With the launch of net-a-porter.com/live not only can I put my people watching skills to rest I can also pre order appropriate attire to fit in anywhere in the world.  This is how it works:

1.  Log on to net-a-porter.com/live

2.  Observe interactive world map and side bar tool featuring number of users also online worldwide

3.  Follow rotating side bar of fashions being added to shopping carts and whish lists internationally

4.  Observe user locations when browsing side bar fashions

5.  Add your own fashions and instantly see your own location appear on the side bar with your choice

Stats show that 4 million women worldwide shop Net-A-Porter.  This new interactive tool connects all shoppers to one social platform.  Flare.com reported that Natalie Massenet, chairman and founder of Net-A-Porter, was inspired to create Net-A-Porter Live by the oversized screens in her own London office which profiled the same shopping trends.  Now available to the public it will be interesting to see how trends will be influenced.

Without a doubt I am a fan of this progressive new online interaction in shopping, however, it must be stated that this Glam Girl takes it pretty hard when I see fashionistas worldwide adding to the shopping cart while I am stuck on the wish list.  Perhaps a better confession would be to say that with the launch of Net-A-Porter Live my green eye has now evolved to an international monster. -xo

Designer Diary: Congratulations to 2011 CFDA Award Winners

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (not for profit trade association of America's foremost fashion and accesory designers) hosted its annual awards gala and red carpet last night, June 6th 2011, in Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY.

Lady Gaga was less than dressed to receive her award for Fashion Icon.  She cried on stage, then giggled as she explained 'I can't believe I'm allowed in here!'  (Image by Jamie McCarthy/Wire Image)

On the red (purple) carpet; Liv Tyler was breathtaking in Proenza Schouler.  Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler were awarded Womenswear Designer of the Year. (Image by InStyle.com)

Judith Light of Ugly Betty revealed to the press that she felt her character from the hit series should have its own spin off show.  She was dressed in Pamela Roland.  (Image by stylebistro.com)

Pleasantly, the International Award was received by British Designer, Phoebe Philo of Celine.  Looking as crisp as her latest collection, Philo poses above with her award. (Image via Twitpic)

Congratulations to all that were nominated.  The full list of award recipients is as follows:

Womenswear Designer of the Year
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler
Menswear Designer of the Year
Michael Bastian
Accessories Designer of the Year
Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Womenswear
Prabal Gurung
Swarovski Award for Menswear
Robert Geller
Swarovski Award for Accessories
Eddie Borgo
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
Marc Jacobs
The Media Award
Hilary Alexander, The Telegraph
International Award
Phoebe Philo for Céline
Fashion Icon Award
Lady Gaga
The Founders Award
Hal Rubenstein, In Style
Board of Directors’ Special Tribute
Arthur Elgort

Confessions of a Glam Girl: Hockey is NOT as Important as a Glam Girls' Party

I'll be the first to admit that I refuse to age quietly.  As any good Glam Girl would I attempt to do it gracefully while looking chic at the most fabulous party I can plan -Glam Girls plan their own parties because quite honestly no one else would get it right.  Preparations for this year started VERY early because this year is a VERY big birthday -I'm 30 and don't care to admit it because I adore the look of shock that comes from sharing that information. 

With planning in place I extended one VERY special personal invitation.  I get that my weekend of luxury hotels, spas, hair and makeup applications, followed by a night of fine dining and trendy lounges doesn't appeal to everyone -why I haven't quite figured out yet. But it is my party and I have definetly been subjected to my share of testosterone pit parties and bachelor pad antics on behalf of this friend to warrant a weekend all about me -both types of boy parties are Canadian Fashion Girl hazards, Glam Girls should beware. 

Everything was according to plan, then yesterday happened. The timeline to my tantrum is as follows: 1 month out -invitation extended, invitation seemed to be accepted. No tantrum required.  3 weeks out -invitation is sweetened by the prospect of two other events in the city at the same time however the focus was to remain on my Glam Girl party. No tantrum required.  2 weeks out -no travel booked however still planning.  Anxiety sets in but keep tantrum to myself.  1 week out -Me: 'so you're not coming are you' Friend: 'Hey sorry, dont know if that's going to work. Get a good deal on tickets'. Tantrum starts now.  As I see red I ask myself is this some kind of pathetic joke.  Not a single mention of my Glam Girl party, my very special birthday that I had invited my very dear friend of many many years to -absolutely no mention of my big day, the only reason I invited you to visit in the first place! It was as if amidst Canucks playoff fever my party and a promise to come had dissolved in the tears of the overpriced tickets and accomodations.  Just like that hockey playoffs had kicked my sweet little party to the curb.  Did you not get the memo that the hockey game was merely a BONUS to the weekend and clearly not a good excuse to back out. Not a single acknowledgement to my weekend of Glam. Heartbreaking.

So I say this, I understand that this Lord Stanley thing is a big deal, I really do.  However, in 6 days I could care less who wins Game Five, I'm having a Glam Girl party because I'm turning 30 and that's all that matters to me.  Today, I'm having a Glam Girl tantrum because Hockey is NOT as important as a Glam Girl's Birthday Party and on my day I do not intend to share centre stage with Lord Stanley, The Sedins, Burrows, or any other Orca, unless of course they can remember that it is my day and that I was kind enough to share the stage with them -unlike some who became distracted somewhere between San Jose and Tampa Bay and forgot that an invitation to Vancouver June 10th originally came in pink and sparkles NOT blue and green.

P.S. if you think this blog is about you, you're probably right. -xo

Designer Diary: Marc Jacobs to Receive CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award

The Council of Fashion Designers of America has selected Marc Jacobs to receive the

2011 Geoffrey Beene Award for Lifetime Achievement. Previously honouredd with

the same award have been Michael Kors 2010, Anna Sui 2009, Carolina Herrera 2008,

Geoffrey Beene 1997 for whom the award has been named.

                                              

Awards will be received Monday June 6^th, 2011 at Lincoln Centre, New York, NY. 

Director of the CFDA Sofia Coppola, who is a longtime friend and muse to Marc Jacobs

will present the award to the designer.

Following the release of Marc Jacobs in 1986, Jacobs became the youngest designer to

ever win a CFDA Perry Ellis Award for womenswear, menswear, and accessories.

In addition to fronting his own collection Jacobs continues to front french fashion house

Louis Vuitton. Jacobs is also nominated this year as best womenswear designer; other

nominees in this category are Alexander Wang and Lazaro Hernandez and Jack

McCollough together for Proenza Schouler.

Anderson Cooper will host the awards. Lady Gaga will be in attendance to receive a

CFDA Fashion Icon Award. Jessica Alba and Grace Coddington are scheduled to

present, Karolina Kurkova will handle all three Swarovski prizes.

When interviewed by the Associated Press Jacobs stated,

“I mean, I have a lot more to do. 'Achievement' sounds final.

I'd like to call it 'Lifetime of achievement and for what's left

to achieve.'”