Amp-up the cool quotient on anything in your wardrobe with wild ‘n wacky, head-turning accessories from Cynthia Ferraro Creations. Definitely not for wallflowers, this avant-garde yet affordable jewelry line, created by Canadian artist, Cynthia Ferraro, is the best thing to happen to bijoux since those stackable, Madonna-inspired neon gummy bracelets we sported up to our elbows in the early ‘80’s. Not your Bubby’s baubles, Cynthia’s one-of-a-kind trinkets are causing a commotion from the streets of Montreal to Manhattan. Touted for transforming the ordinary into extraordinary, Cynthia’s handmade candy-colored necklaces, earrings and rings are instant conversation starters.
Eco-friendly fanatics will be happy to know that every core item in the collection is constructed from recycled plastic that’s first heated, then molded into wearable works of art. Nothing gets tossed in the trash. The end result is an explosive fusion of color, ranging from purple cable-cord necklaces with chunky crystals to red button rings blended with miniature hoops and copper coin earrings woven with strands of frayed, fuchsia yarn. Just wait ‘til you set your sights on the kid’s selection – an unbelievably hip roster of rings topped with everything from mini-shaped gingerbread to teddy bears.
Some pearls of wisdom: Cynthia’s inventory sells out super fast, so place those phone orders pronto…
Looking to satiate your Spanish footwear cravings without boarding a red-eye to Barcelona? Pocket that plane fare and sprint to Té Casan, a Catalan-inspired collective filled with slews of drool-worthy shoes!
A shoe-a-holics dream, this sprawling 7,500 square-foot Soho flagship boasts three floors of eye-popping, limited-edition luxury lines created by 7 indie cobblers wooed from haute fashion houses such as Dries Van Noten and Dolce & Gabbana. Praised for superior service and an ultra sleek design, the private, space-agey fitting rooms alone will make you look and feel like royalty. Weekly shipments of femme fatale heels ranging from patent-leather platform stilettos to high-tech trainers look strikingly similar to, dare we say, Louboutin and the all-mighty Prada. As if the stylish inventory alone wasn’t enough to make you loco, everything sold at this global footwear haven is a fraction of the cost!
You’d better run, don’t walk – there are only 74 shoes for every featured style (each complete with an imprint of the number from that series on the sole). So if you’re debating over those black satin, crystal-encrusted ballerina flats that Mena Suvari snapped-up, don’t ponder too long. Once they’re sold out, re-ordering is out of the question. Now that Natalie Portman’s designing an exclusive vegan collection that’s set to debut this fall, you’d better plan your shopping strategy pronto to ensure you’re numero uno in line. Olé!
Get set for a smash hit this summer with “Vinyl,” a kaleidoscope of eye-popping nail polish that will make your hands and toes sizzle. Created by celebrity manicurist-cum sultry Jazz chanteuse, Deborah Lippmann, Vinyl is a tribute to those ‘80’s-inspired, rock ‘n roll fashion trends and in-your-face, fluorescent colors sported by the likes of Cyndi Lauper and Boy George.
It’s hard to believe this popular nail-preneur concocted her very first collections in her kitchen back in ‘99. Today, this in-demand diva can be seen beautifying the fingertips of famous Hollywood starlets à la Sarah Jessica Parker.
Now, with Lippmann’s latest offering of 13 gotta-have-it hues, you too can nail the hottest mani/pedi looks of the season. You’ll flip over the limited-edition trio of neon picks, including Call Me (bright orange), You Give Love a Bad Name (punchy pink) and Beautifully Obvious (a subtle pink with flecks). For the faint of heart, there’s subdued shades such as Get Together (opaque pink) and Make Me Love You (clean coral), which are part of the 10-piece permanent collection.
As if Vinyl’s long-lasting formula and high-gloss finish weren’t enough, the launch of Lippmann’s new line conveniently coincided with the release of her second LP by the same name. Talk about cross-promotion, each electrifying shade is even named after a song on the album. Plus, every bottle of polish is Toluene and DDP free, meaning you needn’t worry about inhaling any nasty (and potentially toxic!) fumes. Just swipe on one coat, and you’ll be singing.
Vinyl is available exclusively at Bath & Body Works
Get set to hob-knob with New York’s fashion élite at next Tuesday’s ninth annual Gen Art Style Awards.
Why all the hype? Thirty emerging fashion designers from around the globe will compete on a sixty-foot catwalk for more than $35,000 in cash prizes. Plus, a star-studded judging panel will be on the premises including Cynthia Rowley, Rebecca Taylor, Liya Kebede and other A-List industry experts. As if that’s not reason enough to purchase a ticket, it’s also your chance to see emcee Robert Verdi (TV host of “Fashion Police” on E!, Full Frontal Fashion) in action.
Lots of drinks (Perrier, Moet & Chandon and Peroni), dancing (DJ tracks spun by Rene Arsenault) and guaranteed fun.
Be there or be square!
What: Gen Art Styles International Design Awards & Runway Show
Where: Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street, NYC
Stuck in a fashion rut? Don’t sweat it – transform your wardrobe from ho-hum to hurrah with Asian-accented apparel and accoutrements from Han Feng. Fashion designer by day and gourmand by night, this international tastemaker is shaking things up in her native Shanghai and here in the West. What started out as a small, impromptu collection of pleated silk scarves (which can double as sexy shawls and shrugs) has since morphed into a coveted line of edgy clothing, jaw-dropping jewelry and elegant crystal-encrusted silk handbags.
Known for creating the vivid Asian-inspired costumes for last season’s Madama Butterfly opera in New York and London, Feng’s Spring ‘07 collection showcases a similar theme. A fantastic fusion of East meets West, her designs combine silky silhouettes and natural fibers with multi-colored checkerboard prints, striped patterns with oversized flowers, polka dots and butterflies.
Even more head turning are her handcrafted pearl necklace concoctions. Not your grandma’s pearls, these super-sized, avant-garde South Seas strands are guaranteed conversation starters. Each one-of-a-kind piece is made from the highest quality materials in the Mainland, from cleavage-plunging, double-stranded jade pendants to chic freshwater chokers with knotted silk ribbon details. Now that the complete line is available at New York’s upscale AsiaStore, there’s no excuse for feeling jade-ed.
