Chic Style Tips, Style Advice, Trends & News for your fashionable look, stylish home, and lifestyle

Bette Midler Auction- Costumes and Possessions from the Divine Miss M

You could probably clue in that I wasn't a generic kind of kid when I had to reach to "someone" I admired for a school project and that someone was Bette Midler... fresh out of her bath house days and immersed in campy chutzpah. Honestly, I think my mom was more impressed at the time that a large 9x12 envelope from Ms. Midler's agent/manager arrived in the mail addressed to me with clips and autographed photos of her Divineness.... my mom never let me forget how "valuable" those items are, and they were never discarded but buried around here somewhere. I still love the Divine Miss M and her couture campiness and if I were her, every last bedazzled and platformed

In the wake of Kim Kardashian's divorce announcement and her pr-powered mega wedding event, one has to wonder how her divorce will impact the way consumers see her brand. Could this possibly be the beginning of the end on fashion and beauty products built on celebrity brand power? Let's think celebrity products- does it really ever work? Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Simpson , The Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez, The Olsens, and The Housewives franchise... love their products or leave them? I need to address this subject; as much as I love Sarah Jessica Parker's, her Bitten line has long bit the dust, as has her days at Halston Heritage. Is there really a market for fans to

La Maison des Champs Elysees Hotel by Martin Margiela

There's no secret around here at FoS that I'm a huge Martin Margiela fan. There's a minimalistic, yet futuristic simplicity of perfectly pared down, yet well-designed pieces that are always timeless, yet still maintain an avant-garde edge. So when a favorite label fashion expands it's aesthetic to interiors, like Rick Owens or Jean Paul Gaultier, I'm sold... well, more so if that winged back chair was perched in my living room. Let Richard Nahem take you on a tour of the super stylish hotel in Paris. -- S.H. I have always loved designer Martin Margiela's obsession with the color white. And while Margiela retired as chief designer from his eponymous label a few seasons ago, the brand continues to flourish with his design signatures. Maison

The “Lucky Stars” Material Girl Model Search Video with Mama Madonna and Lola

It's comforting to know that even in this behind-the-scenes' mockumentary, like any other teenager and their worrywart mom, Madonna's daughter Lola (yes, Lordes) doesn't pay much attention to her either. Madonna even accuses Lordes of being a lookist and an ageist... well, we know those stories. For all the moms who still have it going on and who happen to have a mini me, take a peek at the Material Girls "Lucky Stars" model search video: For more on the Material Girl model search, go to materialgirlcollection.com/fall_2011/ for contest details. SHOP The Material Girl Collection in stock at Macy's: In their words... Madonna and Lola announce the Material Girl “Lucky Stars” Model Search with Macy’s. A celebrity-driven panel of judges, led

Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge Attends 'In Kind Direct' Charity Event At Clarence House

p.s.. It's not from this season! It's a First Lady and Royal day here at Fos today. I have to say that we've kept our pledge of only covering the looks that we feel are worth the second notice and offer something that YOU can take away. Kate Middleton stepped out for her first solo engagement as a royal yesterday and the blogosphere was aflutter about a perceived mark that was thought to be that of hair extensions. Instead, according to the dailymail.co.uk, "The spokesman for the Duchess at St James’s Palace confirmed last night that it was the result of surgery as a young child. ‘The scar related to a childhood operation,’ they said." Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge Attends 'In

Trish Summerville, Costume Designer for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" movie brings the Stockholm Collection to H&M

Fast fashion and Film Frenzy unite...Mark your calendars as H&M sets the frenzy surrounding one of the season's most anticipated films, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," into an even deeper craze with the launch of its Dragon Tattoo Collection which hits Colette exclusively on November 28th. The movie is from the Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy book series, and directed by David Fincher. Watch behind the scenes video of H&M Dragon Tattoo Collection by Trish Summerville: To make the range even more desirable, Trish Summerville, a celebrated Hollywood costumer who worked on the film, was tapped by the company to conceive the limited edition line inspired by the film's anti-heroine, Lisbeth Salander. The line will also hit select H&M stores on December 14th

First Lady Michelle Obama wearing a Tracey Reese sweater

I'll Have What She's Having: Michelle Obama Plays With A Twist On A Classic In Chicago For A Cause We've been a lull on our Michelle Obama style watch for a while, but this striped Tracey Reese sweater got our fashion engine going again for some can-do, every day style chic. While in Chicago yesterday to promote healthy eating initiatives in low-income areas, style maven Michelle Obama radiated a cool playfulness in a classic ivory and black striped sweater from Tracy Reese that featured an asymmetrical key-hole cut-out and an unexpected bow at the neckline. MORE: Michelle Obama style We love the fact that the classic elements of Reese's striped pullover keep Obama looking appropriate and put together while the

The 21st Annual Tomkins Square Dog Parade

FocusOnStyle is going to the dogs today and we love it! >> Try some ready made Pet Costumes You all know that we're suckers for a pooch in a good costume around here, so without further adieu.... we bring you 500 dogs, 3,000 spectators, and a wild and wooly time for all, with some of our faves from the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Dog Parade this weekend. My Donald Trump Boys Two-headed poodle Princess Beatrice's fascinator More dogs in halloween costumes, 'cause we know you love it too! [nggallery id31]

There's a very "inspired by" version of the Isabel Marant "Poppy" bow pumps that Emmanuelle Alt had been sporting quite a bit over at the GAP. So what if the sold-out style was from last season, they are classic, super cute, and very French Chic. Pair them with skinny jeans for a Parisian take on understated lady-like look or wear them with your favorite plaids of the season. You can't go wrong and if you don't tell anyone, I won't mention that the GAP Suede Bow Pumps version has the bow at the back rather than at the side. Superb!

Inside the atelier with Sally Perrin... Sally is glamorous, chic, and fun. She spends about 2/3 of her time in Los Angeles and the rest in Paris with her husband who is originally from Limoges and their two daughters. She recently started to design a line of sumptuous handbags and leather accessories and invited me to the atelier, where I went ga-ga over the gorgeous leather goods. Later that afternoon Sally kindly invited me to her apartment for tea and we chatted for hours about love, life, and of course, Paris. Sally and Michel Perrin A few years ago you launched a new luxury line of handbags and leather accessories, reviving a multi-generational family business of your husband Michel. Can

Geez, the last time I spent an evening on 10th Ave. and West 41st street with Sharon Haver was probably in 1986 when a famous diner sat in that location! Truck drivers, drag queens, and runaways with a dream filled the booths. This time my foraging to the West Side of Manhattan was for the premiere party for "Mad Fashion" on Bravo, starring Chris March. The show celebrates the fab, new and wild fashion designs of its star, previously known to most from "Project Runway." When asked what the premise of the show was Chris replied: "lots of fashion and fun". It sure is! We chatted with Bra Style Expert Jene Luciani, AKA the "Bra Book Lady," who had plenty to say

The Real Cowgirls of Jackson Hole, WY: Jolene and Jamie

You all know that saying about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. Well, sometimes for me, it's the other side of the arena. As a native New Yorker and die-hard city girl, I'm always fascinated and in awe of the effortless and authentic cool of cowgirls. Having a vacation home in Jackson Hole, WY, I also have a closet with plenty of plaid snapfront shirts and cherished western boots that I never get to wear unless I'm trying to ride a horse. That's where Jamie Putnam comes in as she instructs me and my family Western riding lessons. Jamie teaches Introduction to Rodeo and regular Western riding lessons at Putnam Horesmanship, when she's not training barrel/ rope

Whether in Paris or stateside, sometimes the name of French restaurant is more than simply, "restaurant." In a country where food is supreme, Richard Nahem provides the what's up on the types of French restaurants. --S.H. I was asked to explain the different distinctions of French eating establishments by a client last month, and I thought it would make an informative blog post. Below are four categories: Brasserie, bistro, café, and salon de thé.  Brasserie    A brasserie is a restaurant that serves the same menu all day, sometimes with a few specials/plat du Jour. The cuisine is classic French with dishes like charcuterie, plats de mer, steak tartare, onion soup, and confit de canard. Brasserie also means brewery and many of them serve a good selection

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Bette Midler Auction- Costumes and Possessions from the Divine Miss M

Kim Kardashian’s divorce news, is it the beginning of the end on celebrity products?

Fashion Meets Interiors- Martin Margiela designs La Maison des Champs Elysees Hotel in Paris

The “Lucky Stars” Material Girl Model Search Video with Mama Madonna and Lola

Kate Middleton wears a rather bare dress for her and it looks amazing

Cheap Chic Alert- “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” clothing launching at H and M, video

Michelle Obama wears a striped Tracy Reese sweater for a bit of French Chic style

HALLOWEEN DOG COSTUMES at The 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade

ADVENTURES IN EXTREMES- The Isabel Marant Pumps that Emmanuelle Alt Loves or the GAP version

Paris Style- An interview with Sally Perrin of Perrin Paris luxury handbags

Mad Fashion on Bravo is pretty darn fabulous

Cowgirl Chic- Get The Look of The Real Cowgirls of Jackson Hole, WY

French Dining Glossary- Is it a Brasserie, Bistro, Café, or Salon de Thé… definitions s’il vous plaît

Female Entrepreneurs: Helping You & Your Business Get Out There!

Chic STYLE Tips

Female Entrepreneurs: Helping You & Your Business Get Out There!