Kwiat

This is a week of memories… I remember when. Well I do remember when I saw my first pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. Beverly Hills, Oscar week, L’Ermitage Hotel. One of my colleagues popped out to buy a pair because they “looked great and are SO comfortable.” The look then was sling back, not so high heel and yep, kinda fabulous.

I’ll tell you something, I don’t think making a name for yourself in the shoe department is the easiest thing to do. From a PR standpoint, getting great press on shoes can be a challenge, because they are on the feet after all. When we get one of our fashion clients shot on the red carpet, it’s all about the dress. We work pretty hard to make sure our jewelry is covered. But shoes. Wow.  

We did a big to-do a few years ago when our client, Kwiat, partnered with Stuart Weitzman and did a pair of “million dollar” slippers for the Academy Award red carpet. I give his PR people credit, they did an incredible job getting press, and it’s just not easy. BUT here’s the thing. Of all our personal fashion items I think it’s safe to say that shoes rank pretty darn high. And Jimmy Choo broke out and made it happen, on the red carpet and off. They are a success story that other brands should consider studying. And now they are partnering with H&M to bring fabulous to the masses (not unlike other brands that have gone before, Stella, Karl Lagerfeld and Matthew Williamson). I think it’s a good thing. I’m a fan!

It’s a big deal to be able to use the words “Recession-Proof Business” in 2009. Luckily, our client Kwiat uses it often when speaking about their bridal business, which is healthy and thriving. In the past year, our team has helped an In Touch editor buy the sophisticated Infinity ring as an anniversary band.  Actress Emmy Rossum loved the one-of-a-kind drama pieces when she visited the store in the Spring but spent most of the time leaning over the engagement ring case—you can imagine my surprise when her secret marriage came to light recently (She is a good actress). And Kwiat definitely has the attention of some very big wedding gown designers, news of which we hope to share with you soon...For now, enjoy these Kwiat danglers on the cover of BRIDES’s September/October issue along with their pink diamond Fidelity ring in the “First Blush” rose gold story. At least something’s coming up roses these days!

The one line plot summary of Godard’s 1967 film “Week-End” according to IMBD: A supposedly idyllic weekend trip to the countryside turns into a never-ending nightmare of traffic jams, revolution, cannibalism and murder as French bourgeois society starts to collapse under the weight of its own consumer preoccupation.

Funny, that this past weekend (my first trip to the Hamptons ever) would remind me of this film.

Friday morning, I picked up my cute Jetta ZipCar named Julianna in Manhattan. Picked up my cute co-worker Stacie in Brooklyn with some Hottie McDiamonds by Kwiat for the PYTs at the Social Life Magazine party Saturday night. Missed the Long Island Expressway (Stacie: Laura, don’t you need to take the L.I.E. to Long Island? Laura: What’s the L.I.E.?). Sat in traffic—when in Rome…Ate some tasty nachos at World Pie in Bridgehampton. Scored some much needed pool time. Checked out the charming little Surf Lodge in Montauk (You MUST order the Gin Blossom. I recommend drinking four before going into the Tracy Fieth boutique). The weekend had all the trappings of a lovely jaunt to the countryside, n’est pas?

I should have known that this idyllic weekend was too good to be true when Stacie and I rose early Saturday morning to head into East Hampton center for some breakfast at Babette’s. First off, the waitress spilled coffee all over the table. Then I walked in on a gentleman in the restroom who forgot to lock the door. And then Stacie tells me that she thought Marion Cotillard was sitting in the back before there was time for me to rush back and assault her. Nevertheless, we made it back to the pool for some sun worship—after I found a divine beaded Collette Dinnigan sarong at Collette Designer Consignment of course.

Tanned and happy we collected our jewels and ourselves and headed to Watermill to the Social Life Magazine Estate. We met my pal Kristian Laliberte who promptly took us on a tour of the spread. Upon surveying the pristine pool and pastoral back lawn, I promptly ran into a lounge chair gashing my leg and then brusquely rubbed up against a brick column in my all white chiffon Cynthia Steffe dress, which immediately created little ripples of pulls down the front. (So very uncool.)

The next few hours were a whirl of dressing up lovely ladies such as Bettina Prentice, Annalyne McCord, Cena Jackson, Kelly Bensimon and Sarah Basile in Kwiat Vintage and Legacy Collection sparklers to compliment their Great Gatsby-inspired ensembles. Fun and games. Then it was 11 p.m. and Stacie and I were faint with hunger. So we packed up the booty and headed to World Pie for Round II of those demon temptress nachos. The fact that Ivanka Trump was there looking all thin and ethereal did not stop us from shoving corn chips slathered in guac and cheese into our mouths. Oh, no.

Finally, it was time to head back to our mutual favorite location: BED. But, oh no! At 11:30 p.m. on Montauk Highway an errant child who chose to tailgate yours truly for nearly twenty minutes, rear-ended our car. All I have to say is that he was lucky we were well fed.  After the whole rigmarole of shattered glass, flashing lights, police reports and sundry declarations that I would never go back to the Hamptons ever again, we were released.

I guess the only way to wrap up the story of my ‘week-end’ is to quote dear old Granddaddy Godard: A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end... but not necessarily in that order.

A Robert Graham shirt on a patron at Surf Lodge

Sarah Basile

Laura Modeling for Kwiat

Stacie Modeling for Kwiat

Cena Jackson at Social Life
 

One of the most interesting things about Las Vegas is the people watching.  Though I was quietly stalking Lionel Richie because I had heard faint rumors that he was attending the jewelry show with his daughter, Nicole Richie, I ended up running into a “star” of one of my guilty pleasures the Real Housewives of New York, Jill Zarin. 

Jill popped into the Kwiat pavilion to admire the collection and found a FANTASTIC pair of earrings, called the Charro earrings, which she fell in love with.  Big and bold, much like her personality, they perfectly accented her red mane.  She promptly tweeted about her experience with the Kwiat team- Greg Kwiat and Bill Gould personally attended to her.  Jill, much more adorable in person, was a breath of fresh air.  Just today I stopped in to her apartment to drop off jewelry for the Gracie Awards (June 3, 2009)—I was greeted with a hug and she even kept her petite pup from biting my ankles.  We found some common ground though…love of accessories! 

Upon entering her phenomenal apartment, I was immediately mesmerized by a stunning set of oversized art deco mirrors – which I am now dedicated to purchasing.  Jill was lovely enough to get on the phone directly to negotiate some pricing for me and put me in direct contact  with the retailer.  LOVE!

Until tomorrow then, when I can share more of the BBChic team escapades….

Sources: kwiat.com, traditionalhome.com, www.dreamame.tumblr.com

Check out BBChic’s pix of the best and brightest editors from the Las Vegas Couture Show.

Most impressive heels

Lottie Oakley (impeccable from head to toe) stopped by the Kwiat Pavilion looking flawless in stiletto lace Givenchy heels and cropped black pants paired with a beautiful black silk top. 

Chicest day to evening party look

No one sports silk harem pants and a black t-shirt like Brooke Magnaghi, the perfect day to evening look. 

Best dance moves

A tie between Talya Cousins and Graham Kostic—I’m jealous!  They both drew an amazing crowd of onlookers.  Watching the two of them boogie (just one seat over from Christina Aguilera) was the closest thing to a battle at Tao since Cameron Diaz and Jimmy Fallon on his new show.  LOVE!  Where else can you experience something like that? 

Sources: www.newyorksocialdiary.com, www.facebook.com, www.artinstitutes.edu, www.shopping.yahoo.com

Okay, Las Vegas might be my least favorite place to visit for more than 2 days with the exception of during the jewelry shows.  The top jewelry designers in the world descend on Las Vegas for the  Couture, JCK and Luxury accessories shows each year—and I was lucky enough to mingle with quite a few top designers (both burgeoning and well-known), as well as my fav editors.  Thank goodness for Graham Kostic (Modern Luxury), Tanya Dukes (Elite Traveler) and Samantha Milner (Vanity Fair) – they made it fun and kept me sane. Luckily, the show was also filled with some real talent.

Sevan Bicakci, a Turkish artisan, features full cityscapes sculpted into proportions so dainty that he was able to fit them into a stunning chandelier earring.  His work, which was new to me, moved even the toughest Vogue editors. Janice Debell, design director for Kwiat diamonds, actually introduced me to the collection.  Her latest addition to the Kwiat collection—a finely cut rose gold diamond Lotus flower ring was my favorite piece at the show. Her use of negative and positive space along with cognac diamonds was astounding. The Lotus flower truly looked as if it was floating lightly on my finger.

Hard rock jeweler Stephen Webster took away the award for hottest party (hosted by an uber platinum blond Christina Aguilera), and Best In Diamonds. Kwiat diamonds rose gold red carpet cuff with rose cut diamonds was also featured in this category. 

Rachel Zoe, who is a huge supporter of RARE Vintage NYC, was on hand at the awards ceremony to honor her friend Yossi Harari with the Best Haute Couture design award. I was able to sneak in a quick hug and brief hello before she breezed on stage in a stunning nude cascading dress and gold platform heels. 

Have some cocktails and debauchery in honor of Vegas, until next time….

Sources: www.elenavotsi.com, www.sevanbicakci.com, www.stephenwebster.com, www.kwiat.com