Love of Vera Wang Collection

The site Gilt Groupe is one of my most favorite things ever. The deals you can get for such high quality merchandise is amazing. Even when items are out of my price range, it is still fun to "window shop", like these items from today's sale of Vera Wang Collection:

Coco Avant Chanel

This movie looks amazing! It looks like an instant classic that I could watch over and over.

Exciting Stuff

Not a few weeks goes by that I don't spend a day missing Domino magazine and looking through the dozen past issues that I do have, so imagine my excitement to read on the adorable blog M.A. Belle that the author, Michelle Adams and her business partner had this announcement:

"As a special treat for you, we've rounded up some of your favorite (and boy do I mean favorite!) editors, designers, artists, bloggers and friends, and in September, 2009 we will be launching our premiere issue of an online decorating and lifestyle magazine called Lonny."

Yes! Then, I found a new blog that I like, High-Heeled Foot in the Door, and the author had this cool idea: "My idea for the new feature would be to let you, my lovely readers pick out a shop for me in the NY area that you would love to get a sneak peek into. I would then go and snap pictures and capture the experience for you and report back to you. Maybe I can even pick up a little memento and do a give-away as well!"

Not a day goes by that I don't question my decision to leave our teeny tiny West Village apartment, so I'm going to appreciate this! Finally, the mood board below is from the site of Australian Diane Bergen Interiors.

If you visit the site, you will be amazed. Seriously, it is that good. All so very inspiring!

Today's Temptations

I love Jonathan Adler anything, but I don't need any of these pretty wares. The sale prices are sooo tempting though.....To shop, go to www.gilt.com.

Tall Gold Bird
Retail:$98
Gilt:$48

Chinese Figurine Box
Retail:$125
Gilt:$58

Corset Lamp
Retail:$330
Gilt:$165

Irresistible Sales

I have been absolutely obsessed with all of these websites that have designer sales for a limited time. It is so hard not to buy something when it is such a good deal! Anyway, today I'm obsessed with Gilt Group's bedding sale. Loving the peony and dogwood print duvets from Manuel Canovas, the adorable sheets from Matouk, and, a classic luxury, white Frette sheets. The savings off retail on the items that I have pictured below are almost $400 EACH. Happy summer shopping!

Manuel Canovas

Matouk

Nest Clothing Sale

How cute are these damask tunics for toddlers by Nest? Too cute is the answer! They are on sale through HauteLook.com for $16. I wish I knew a mini-fashionista to buy one for cause I love them. The wallpaper pleated dress ($26), ruffle dress ($24), and embroidered tunic ($16) are all equally adorable.

Aspiration Boards

Late last night (after 24 hours of traveling), my boyfriend and I returned home from a business trip to Monte Carlo, Monaco for the PokerStars EPT Grand Final, and I noticed my aspiration board. During the middle of winter when I was feeling down, I put one together that was kind of a combination of a mood/aspiration board. Anyway, it blew my mind that soooo many of the pictures I had pasted to my board came true! We flew through Paris, and I saw a bird's eye view of the Eiffel Tower-much like the perfume ad in the middle of my board. When putting together the board, I pretty much just cut out things that I loved, and one of those was shutters, which I saw tons of on our trip. Silly, I know, put I'm going to get started on another one soon!

Cindy Crawford's Home Collection

The goods look nice, but I really liked the Chelsea townhouse presentation of Cindy Crawford's home collection for JCPenney. Such a good idea!

Photos: Wendy Goodman/NYMag

First Look: Cindy Crawford's New Home Collection
{NYMag.com}

Shop It To Me Contest

Hopefully you all have had the chance to watch Running in Heels, the awesome reality show that follows the staff (mostly the interns) of Marie Claire magazine. In honor of the season finale this Sunday, ShopItToMe is giving away some free subscriptions to the magazine. All you need to do to win is visit the ShopItToMe blog and comment on what office fashion faux-pas is the most offensive. There are already so many comments and worth looking at just to make sure you aren't guilty. And while you are there, be sure to sign up for their SaleMail. I just ordered a DVF dress for like $98 yesterday that I found on my SaleMail.


I have to share what I think is the greatest office fashion offense I have witnessed-Ok, so I usually like what someone wears as long as they use it to express themselves, but when I had a new job and we had what I thought was an important lunch meeting at a casino, the girl that was to be my coworker wore a halter top and on her shoulder blade she had a huge color tattoo of her baby daughter's face. Moral of the story is to cover up, especially in public when you are representing not only yourself, but your coworkers and your company!

Faces of Faith

I just rediscovered tumblr and love it! I read and see so many interesting things on the web that I think it is a great way to share my finds. Visit me at JenniferJanesStyleJournal.tumblr.com.

Yesterday I featured a Redbook magazine photo shoot of Faith Hill. I don't listen to country music much, but I love her because she is so pretty and southern. Gilles Bensimon (Kelly's, from Real Housewives NYC, ex husband) shot Faith as three iconic blondes: Twiggy, Brigitte Bardot, and Grace Kelly. She looks fab!

photos: Gilles Bensimon for Redbook magizine

{RedbookMag.com}

Idyllic Ireland

Everything on television for the past two days has been St. Patrick's Day themed, so I couldn't help but do a little day dreaming and go real estate shopping online. I found this too cute Irish farmhouse near the village of Oola (190km from Dublin, the only city in Ireland I have visited, but I so want to visit again and see the countryside).

The inside is adorable with tongue and grove ceilings, recently renovated with new insulation and plumbing, and a large original stone arched inglenook in the kitchen.

Images: propertyireland.net

The outside is really, really sweet: slate roof, lawn enclosed by mature hedges, an apple tree and two walnut trees, herb garden, large natural pond, graveled terrace edged with lavender and rosemary, and a couple of stone outbuildings. There are views of the Galtee Mountains and the Tipperary hills. All this for 259,000 euros, or about $336,000.

I also really enjoyed seeing the group Celtic Woman perform yesterday on the Mike and Juliet show. So so pretty. The Today Show had a special segment on traditional and current Irish fashion. Philip Treacy, the milliner, grew up in Ireland and started sewing when he was about 5. He lived across the street from a church and loved watching the weddings held there.

As much as I love tv, I love blogs even more and my new favorite for this week is Design Undercover. The author Nathalie created a Dublin city guide for Design Sponge last year and continues to bring us great stories, like the image below. Too too cute!

Urban Outfitters

$250

I read a really really interesting article (at least to me) on Home Textiles Today's website regarding Urban Outfitters. I love browsing UO's site because the style is similar to sister store Anthropologie, but just a little younger, hipper (talking just interiors here, not clothing which is very very different), and less expensive. When I first moved to NYC, there was an Urban Outfitters store that I would pass everyday, so of course I stopped in to shop at least once a week. I fell in love with all the empty black frames they had hanging on the landing between the two floors and the floral covered flask that I bought for half price.

$100

Anyway, back to the article. CEO Glen T. Senk said "we take risks. If we don’t want to own it ourselves, we don’t put it in the line. It must differentiate us, but also be a commercial success.” I think they do a great job and often when I browse the site, I wish I had known about the site in college-the prices are so great! The article went on to say that the company’s design team is now in Australia where they are deriving inspiration for new product ideas. Just another reason for us all to be obsessed with Australia! This season, many of the products have a South African influence.

$8

Some other points made: In addition to operating Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, they operate Free People wholesale, which sells products – not including home – to about 1,500 specialty stores and select department stores, 30 Free People stores, a catalog, website, and one Terrain garden center.

Senk said, “Our place is supporting artisan, hand crafted merchandise and trends rather than competing with the commodity market. We love making limited editions."

The iconic Vera brand will be revived for both home and apparel. Marimekko also is an important program and Tracy Reese is doing well (because it is gorgeous!).

$15

$42

Urban Outfitters Plays it Differently
{Home Textiles Today}

New Show: Running in Heels

I've only watched about the first 20 minutes of StyleNetwork's Running in Heels, but I'm already addicted! A reality show about a magazine equals fab in my book. It premiers on March 1st, but you can watch the full first episode now on fancast.com

Snaps for Gilles

Photo: Marcio Madeira via Style.com

Rachel Zoe taught us the importance of The Dress, and Fashionista's Natalie Hormilla thinks that the closing dress of J.Mendel's fall 09 collection was D-I-E worthy. She described the dress and the audience's reaction as "a strapless, metallic, silk moire gown...with pleated tulle, massive ribbons, and a back that floated to give the dress a sort of ghost train. It set off our favorite part of Fashion Week - Instant and genuine applause from a grateful crowd (a Fall 09 first)!". I must agree-very, very pretty! I also like second to last dress, pictured below, with those too cute shoulders straps.

Photo: Marcio Madeira via Style.com

First Look: J Mendel
{fashionista.com}

Bangin Bangs

Photograph: Billy Farrell/PatrickMcMullan.com via ParkAvenuePeerage.com

I pretty much love anything this girl does, so of course I love her new bangs. Tinsley Mortimer was looking adorable at the NY screening of Two Lovers last week.

Two Lovers
{Park Avenue Peerage}

This Little Piggy Went to Market...

And saw interior designer Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors Inc.! Celerie was interviewed by Melinda Sheckells of Las Vegas Home & Design as part of the World Market Center's winter show. She's one of my all time favorite interior designers and has such great taste~just check out all of the PRESS and the publications she has been featured in. There are 56 pages of pictures of her on Patrick McMullan's website! Celerie spoke of how she doesn't really have "a look" that is all her own because it is her job to decorate based on her clients' wishes. Her book, To Your Taste, is not just a pretty coffee table book. Celerie walks the reader through making choices in their own home while showing examples of her work. Add to this her fabric and furniture collections, and you see that Celerie is one amazing gal.

Valentine's Goodies

I hope everyone had a beautiful Valentine's Day! Mine was very nice with some great presents. Early in the week, my wonderful boyfriend got me an iPhone, then on Saturday he surprised me with two orchid plants and the Sex and the City DVD. We went to the theater and saw Confessions of a Shopaholic and then had sushi from our favorite local place. A perfect day!

Fashion Week Barbie

Fred R. Conrad, Gabriel Dance and Simone S. Oliver/The New York Times

Loving this display in the tents at New York Fashion Week! So pink and pretty! Look at the link below for the full interactive feature of inside the tents. Also check out the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week site for all your need-to-know fashion week info and a video of the Barbie show.

More Than Just Tents
{NYTime.com}

Stylish Seaton

Lately I've had to take the dogs out ALOT, and this requires a whole new wardrobe for me. We live in a townhouse community, so I know that I could be seen at any moment and my pjs just aren't doing the job. I just discovered the brand Seaton through HauteLook.com, and I think their leisure clothes would be perfect for dog walks. Seahorses are so unique and mysterious to me and make for a great logo. Best part? Seaton is on sale!

Yoga Coat
Originally: $298 Now: $104

Blanket Cardigan
Originally: $395 Now: $138

Rugby Stripe Tunic
Originally: $150 Now: $53

Deep Heart Long Sleeve Tee
Originally: $70 Now: $25

Flare Pant
Originally: $134 Now: $47

For even more sales, visit SeatonSurf.com.

Posy Hoodie
Originally: $152 Now: $53

Pineapple Vitale Smocked Dress
Originally: $255 Now: $64

Honey Crochet Mesh Tunic
Originally: $162 Now: $57

Navy Jasper Tunic Dress
Originally: $208 Now: $52

Vogue Cover Lady

Annie Leibovitz for Vogue

Michelle Obama looks just fabulous on the March Vogue cover! I love her style~perfect for a professional woman who is first a mother. For the Vogue story, visit here. Andre Leon Talley did a great interview on this morning's Today Show giving me more reasons to love our new first lady.

First lady Michelle Obama graces Vogue cover
{Today.com}

Leading Lady
{Style.com}