GET THE LOOK: Ginnfer Goodwin

I’m obsessed with Ginnifer’s amethyst eye make-up. I’ve been on the hunt to find the perfect shadow to recreate this look. Lots of make-up brands have this color but these are my favs!

GET THE LOOK

TOP TO BOTTOM: Color Design Infinité, ‘302 Vibrant Violet’, $24.50, by Lancôme. “Moondust Intergalactic’ eye shadow, $20, by Urban Decay available at Sephora. ‘Longwear Powder Smoky Amethyst’ eye shadow, $20 by Benefit Cosmetics available at Sephora. ‘Jewel Amethyst’ eye shadow, currently on sale $10 (originally $20), by Stila. Eye shadow, ‘Wisteria Shimmer’ $8, by Jane. ‘Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Lavender’ eye shadow, $32, by Stila.

FASHION CONFESSIONS: ELLIOT STAPLES Senior Vice President of Design for The Limited

In celebration of The Limited’s 50th Anniversary they’re throwing a private fashion show tonight, October 24th from 6 to 8 PM at The Limited Water Tower (845 N. Michigan Ave., 4th floor). Walking down the runway along with the models will be guest bloggers (including myself!!) showcasing the current key trends for the season. I sat down with The Limited’s senior vice president of design, Elliot Staples, to find out some of his fashion addictions.

WHAT’S YOUR FASHION ADDICTION?
Denim and classic mariner stripped tees

WHAT’S THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE 50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION?
The dresses were inspired by different decades. The roaring and glamours 20s, 30s movie star icons and the lady-like 50s.

WHO’S YOUR STYLE ICON?
Tom Ford. He has a uniform. He is true to his form and lives his brand.

WHAT’S THE MOST PRIZED POSSESSION IN YOUR CLOSET?
My prized possession of the moment is my camouflage printed dome satchel Prada bag.

WHICH DESIGNERS DO YOU WORSHIP?
Professionally a key influence to me is Miuccia Prada because she is courageous and provokes thought. She combines art and fashion.

ONE THING YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
My Comme des Garçons double zip wallet.

Elliot Staples and I at The Limited's 50th anniversary party.

Coming up I’ll show you how to get my equestrian runway look at The Limited.

FASHION CONFESSIONS: ROBERT RODRIGUEZ Fashion Designer

I sat down with the talented designer, Robert Rodriguez, on the eve of his 10th year anniversary party at Neiman Marcus to ask the really important questions in life.

WHAT’S YOUR FASHION ADDICTION?
Shoes!!! I love shoes I actually have a love affair with shoes. I will buy shoes before I buy anything else. I have roughly over 50-60 pairs in my closet. I can wear just a simple pair of jeans and a white T-shirt everyday but I have to wear a fabulous pair of shoes. And that’s me.

WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU MADE TO THE BRAND FOR YOUR 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY?
After 10 years we wanted to give it a face-lift. We’ve revamped the collection, taken it into a fresh direction. We’ve also launched a new logo and built a new showroom in NY –it looks like a spaceship very futuristic and very cool. We’re all just so excited about it.

Autumn/Winter ’13 Collection

WHO’S THE ROBERT RODRIGUEZ GIRL?
She’s a lot of things. You know she’s a downtown girl and uptown girl, she’s strong, she’s confident and fashion forward. Loves fashion and a hip girl who loves fashion.

YOU HAVE DRESSED SO MANY STYLISH WOMEN INCLUDING AGNELINA JOLIE, SCARLETT JOHANSSON, NICOLE KIDMAN WHO’S BEEN YOUR FAV TO DRESS?
I love all of them but Eva Longoria stands out for me. I did a black dress for her and she was really sexy in it.

WHAT’S THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS SEASON’S COLLECTION?
Fall/winter collection was inspired by glam punk. I wanted to reference the late 70s and early 80s but show how a girl would wear it today. So I didn’t want it to be literal and I didn’t want it to be obvious. I played around a lot with Debbie Harry’s look. That was my muse.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN LA?
LA is very inspiring for me as a New Yorker. The lovely weather, beautiful nature and architecture are all very inspiring. There is also a very eclectic feel and lots of amazing street fashion, which I love.

Autumn/Winter ’13 Collection

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
I’m very simple, t-shirt, pair of jeans, great shoes and a watch –no other jewelry. It’s understated elegance!

WHAT’S THE MOST PRIZED POSSESSION IN YOUR CLOSET?
A deep red vintage leather motorcycle jacket that I won’t ever give up. I normally don’t wear color so I treasure this piece and I know I won’t ever find something like this again.

Autumn/Winter ’13 Collection

HOW ARE YOU PLANNING ON CELEBRATING YOUR 10th YEAR ANNIVERSARY?
We’re party hopping! We had a big launch party in Toronto two weeks ago. Tonight we’re celebrating with Neiman Marcus as part of their new store renovation and launch of the CUSP boutique, which is really cool. Then Off to LA for fashion week and then to South Beach Miami for an event at Art Basel.

Robert Rodriguez and I at his 10th year anniversary party.

GET THE LOOK: Fashion Junkie

This coat turned out to be a Best Buy for me, a real show stopper. Everywhere I went I constantly receive compliments.

Every time I wore it to a fashion event I was photographed. What makes it even more fabulous was the price, I got it in the sale for $97.99 (originally $350)!

From NEW YORK FASHION WEEK HIGHLIGHTS: day three & four post

From NEW YORK FASHION WEEK HIGHLIGHTS: day five post

Unfortunately you can no longer buy this J.Crew coat as it’s from the A/W 2012 season. However I did find something very similar in style but I can't say the same for the price.

GET THE LOOK...

Neon pink cashmere-blend Epsom coat, $925, by Paul Smith Black Label.

Photos of Fashion Junkie by Très Awesome.

TALKING TRENDS: Runners

Forget about the wedged sneaker, it’s now all about the runner sneaker. Starting on the street…

...this trend has been featured in the collections of both designers and high street stores this fall.

MaxMara autumn/winter 13 campaign

Topshop autumn/winter 13 campaign

GET THE LOOK

TOP TO BOTTOM: Pippa-02 Sneakers, $39.95, by Qupid available at DSW. Ama color block runners, $75, by Topshop. 'Little Runner' sneaker, $70, by Nike available at Nordstrom. 550 runner, $49.45 by New Balance available at DSW.

REAL v DEAL: Burberry v Karen Millen

If you were like me you were obsessed with Burberry's tartan peplum trench coat from the A/W 12 collection. Unfortunately it was completely out of my price range ($3,595) and sold out before it went on sale (boohoo). If you still can’t get over it check out this new trench by Karen Millen which seems to be inspired by Burberry and at $425 it a great deal!

REAL: Belted tartan peplum trench coat, sold out (originally $3,595) by Burberry Prorsum.

DEAL: Cotton and tweed trench coat, $425, by Karen Millen available at Bloomingdale’s.

However if you could never contemplate wearing a style from last season here are some of Burberry’s latest trench looks that are also worth obsessing over.

Burberry Prorsum Autumn/Winter 2013

I’m always a fan of the unconventional trench, something with leather or satin detail to make it a bit different.

TALKING TREND: Kiss

Kiss it’s not just a hard rock band but also a hot print for both the fall and spring.

Milly, runway image Fall/Winter 2013

Giles Deacon, runway image Spring/Summer 2014

Last week’s Grazia cover designed by Giles Deacon exclusive for subscribers.

'Lips' by Andy Warhol, 1959 was the original.

‘Portrait of a Perfect Pout’, $16, by Stila.

GET THE LOOK

CLOCKWISE: Sweater with gem stone lips, $68, by Halogen available during the holidays at Nordstrom. Kiss print dress, $13.80, by Forever 21. iPhone cover, $9.95, by H&M. Loafers, $29.95, by H&M. Perspex lips clutch, $390, by LuLu Guinness. Leather envenlop clutch ‘Leila’ with Perspex lip clasp, $465, by LuLu Guinness.

FASHION CONFESSIONS: GEORGE KOTSIOPOULOS Co-Host of E!’s Fashion Police and Hollywood Stylist!

I chatted with the truly fabulous George Kotsiopoulos to find out the truth of what he really thinks about Miley Cyrus. Plus some great tips on how to get the perfect red carpet look.

WHAT’S YOUR FASHION PET PEV?
I’m not a big believer in wearing a designer head to toe…unless you are like completely not creative then it’s fine.

WHO’S BEEN YOUR FAV GUEST ON FASHION POLICE?
You know who was actually great was Karma Lee Simmons she was so funny. Nicki Minaj was great and she was pretty sweet too, a little unexpected. You wouldn’t expect her to be sweet but she was. We’re always hoping to get actresses on the show but it’s really hard, cos no actress wants to come on the show and judge their peers.



HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE CRITICS OF THE SHOW?
Ultimately I view it as a comedy show and I’m there to give fashion advice. I’m not there to critique people personally or professionally but to talk about the clothes and simply whether it’s good or bad. I also talk about what they can do to improve their look in someway, making sure women watching at home can learn something, especially with our “Takeaways”.

Hosting RUNWAY TO HOPE's charity fashion show in Orlando, FL, Sept 2011.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MISTAKE A CELEB CAN DO ON THE RED CARPET?
Not wearing the right undergarments I don’t care how beautiful your dress is – if you don’t have the right foundations underneath it will ruin the entire look. Posture and how you carry yourself is also so important.

George Kotsiopoulos and I in Orlando, FL.

WHAT CAN WOMEN DO TO LOOK THEIR BEST AT AN EVENT?
Wearing clothes that don’t fit you properly is a HUGE mistake, but so many people do that. I always say know what your size is — too small doesn’t work, too big doesn’t work. Sometimes you just need a great tailor. Also, not dressing your age. I think it’s important to dress a little bit older when you’re younger and a little bit younger when you’re older. Now, I’m not talking 15 years, more like five years.

WHO ALWAYS GETS IT RIGHT?
Right now Emma Stone has been nailing it 99% of the time. She’s a star, a total star and seems to get it. She likes wearing fashion and knows not to wear just one designer. She’s fortunate enough to have the body that can wear many things and she’s willing to take chances and risks. What Emma’s managed to do is please the Us weeklies and the Vogues. When you can please both those audiences then you’ve completely utterly succeeded. Because you can only push fashion so far before you start alienating people. I always like the idea of mixing a little wired with a little glamour, which Emma does so well.

WHO ALWAYS GETS IT WRONG BUT HAS POTENTIAL?
That’s a tough one. Well I think someone like Miley Cyrus, I’m not really a fan of the way she dresses, but also I give her a lot of credit for trying new things. She’s a young girl trying to find her style. She’s taking these chances cos she’s at an age where she wants to be taken more seriously. I feel she’s dressing older than she should and it just isn’t working. But she does actually have a lot of potential.

You can catch Fashion Police on E! every Friday at 9pm EST.

Cover of M, The Mall at Millennia magazine

This interview was originally conducted back in Sept 2011 when George was hosting the charity fashion show, RUNWAY TO HOPE at The Mall at Mellenia. As editor of M magazine I was covering the event and sat down with George to get his thoughts on today’s fashion scene.

MY LONDON FASHION DIARIES: Stella McCartney, Tom Ford and ME!

My London Fashion Diaries
Throughout my 12 years in the fashion industry I have worked with amazing talents, gone to worldwide exotic locations, and met some incredible people.

Episode 1
One of my favorite fashion events was about 10 years ago back in London when Stella McCartney opened her first flagship store in Mayfair. It was the party that everyone wanted to go to! My first reaction was OMG I’m going to meet PAUL F**KING MCCARTNEY! My second thought, which every fashion junkie can relate to was, what am I going to wear?!

I was a relative newbie in this industry and I wanted to impress. I remember it took me days to pick an outfit and I may have tried on every combination possible in my closet. But I was ready.

I arrived at the red carpet to a sea of paparazzi. Yes, I thought, I’ve finally made it! However, to both my surprise and disappointment no one took my photo. Not a single one. Was this my Andy Sachs (Devil Wears Prada) moment? Was I really just a girl in a schlubby-oversized sweater surrounded by fashion icons? So disappointing.

I didn’t really get a chance to dwell on these fleeting thoughts of self-doubt, because I walked into Stella’s store and boy was I impressed with the design, décor and size. I remember being told it used to be a Dior showroom back in the 50s or 60s…or was that the Matthew Williamson shop a couple of stores over? I really should write these things down.

With all four floors packed with Stella’s ‘closest’ friends (and the fashion press), it was obviously a highly sought after invite. I started having a few more moments of self-doubt. Why am I here? How the heck did I manage to score an invite? I suppose I was working for the Telegraph Magazine –published every Saturday with The Daily Telegraph newspaper (which outsells The Times). So that was a start. A good start! BTW one of the most exciting parts of the job was working with the journalist and author, Drusilla Beyfus also known as the mother of British Vogue’s editor, Alexandra Shulman.

Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue.

My fav Drusilla Beyfus book.

Drusilla herself was a writer at Vogue before Anna Wintour fired her back in the 80s. I sat directly behind her in our office, I always remember hoping some of her brilliance would rub off on me. She did compliment me on my outfit the other day. I started to regain my confidence. Yes, I thought, I’ve worked hard, I love fashion, and I do belong here.

Ralph Fiennes on the cover of Telegraph Magazine, styled by ME!

Just then I spotted Tom Ford across the room. OMG, I thought, he was incredibly handsome. With my reinstated confidence I was ready (and also dying) to introduce myself. I smoothed back my hair, put my clutch under my arm, and started to walk towards him. Just then a fellow fashion junkie grabbed my hand and told me that it wasn’t a very British thing to do. You don’t just go up to someone like that and introduce yourself, she said. So instead I just admired him from a distance.

Looking back do I regret not introducing myself? Would he have thought I was a nutter or a groupie? I guess I’ll never know, but I do often like to replay the scene in my head with an alternate ending. One in which I walk up to him, introduce myself, he compliments me on my outfit, I compliment him on his latest fall fashion line. We become friends. Okay, back to reality and to this story...

Besides the fabulous Mr. Ford, also in attendance were Mary McCartney (beautiful in person), Madonna (still rocking it) and Gwyneth Paltrow (lovely hair). Unfortunately, Paul wasn’t there because he was out of town. Totally gutted!

All in all, it was truly an amazing night. I had a marvelous time, even though the paparazzi didn’t take my photo and I might have missed an opportunity to become Tom Ford’s best gal pal, it was still a night to remember. It was, however, not as amazing as the Giorgio Armani party I went to at a future date, but I’ll save that tale for another time.

Looking back now, the funniest part of the whole experience was I can’t for the life of me remember what I wore that night. After all that planning and stressing over what to wear, I have no clue what I was wearing from top to bottom. This actually might be a good thing since I was still developing my style and I didn’t always get it right… but more on that later too.

The snap that never was!