Fashion and the Steal

Totally in Love with charitybuzz

I've fallen in love with charitybuzz. This organization combines high-end fashion with auctions for international charities. Their slogan is "Do Good, Live Well" ... gotta love that.

I see charitybuzz more like the double shot of satisfaction you get from an exquisite chocolate and champagne dessert ... you feel great supporting wonderful causes while bidding for some truly awesome treats.

The auctions include amazing fashion experiences and items such as VIP tickets to fashion week with behind-the-scenes access; lunches, shopping sprees and personal styling sessions with top designers; couture gowns; bespoke suits; designer handbags and jewelry; celebrity fashion closet finds; fashion memorabilia; and more.

I get giddy just looking at some of their auctions ...

A sampling of the top fashion items that were recently auctioned off include:

An Internship at Vogue with the Chance to Meet Anna Wintour
VIP Seats at Ralph Lauren's Fashion Show, Meet Ralph and Take Home a Look from the Runway
A Couture Costume from Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour
A Chance to Watch Simon Doonan Create the Barney's Holiday Windows
Lunch and a $10,000 Shopping Spree with Vera Wang
A Styling Session with Betsey Johnson and Cyndi Lauper
A Shopping Spree and Lunch with Tim Gunn
A Chance to Go Behind the Scenes for a Full Day at Project Runway, Watch the Challenge & Judging Process

Here's what charitybuzz is all about:

"charitybuzz raises funds for nonprofits around the globe through incredible online auctions, giving its bidders exclusive opportunities to make a difference. We are all about a "do good live well" philosophy. We've worked with top fashion industry icons like Anna Wintour, Simon Doonan, Bar Rafaeli, Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Cynthia Rowley, Betsey Johnson, David Yurman, Stella McCartney, Andre Tally Leon, Judith Ripka, Diane Von Furstenberg, Kimora Lee Simmons, Gisele Bundchen, Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi and tons more to raise funds for more than 1,000 nonprofits around the globe."

A list of just a few of the charities and celebs they work with:

Action Against Hunger
American Red Cross
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Diamond Empowerment Fund
Doctors without Borders
Habitat for Humanity
Help USA
Emeril Lagasse Foundation
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
LIFEbeat
Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation
Mayor's Fund to Advance NYC
Michael J. Fox Foundation
Musicians on Call
North Shore Animal League
Oceana
Oxfam International
Robert F Kennedy Memorial
Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic
Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation
Save the Children
Ted Turner's Captain Planet
The Guggenheim Museum
US Fund for UNICEF
VH1 Save the Music Foundation

CEO Coppy Holzman founded charitybuzz to lead nonprofits toward a new, collaborative era of fundraising. With the goal of harnessing technology and pop culture for good, he launched the world’s first charity auction web site out of his home in Westport, Connecticut in April 2004 with co-founders Serena Chew and Brad Reisner. He had only one rule: Do Good, Live Well.

The folks at charitybuzz have been busy helping people do just that ... they've hosted more than 500 online charity auctions and raised more than $40 million for nonprofits. This is quite amazing for a staff of 20 (obviously very dedicated) employees.

For more info or to bid, go to: charitybuzz

Fashion Events/Sample Sales to Check Out

Recent events on the fashion front:

MaxMara
Watch the Max Mara Spring - Summer 2011 fashion show, through the eyes of Chinese movie star Xu Qing, in Milan for a Grazia China' exclusive story:

Mark Sanchez Teams up with Victoria's Secret Models

Victoria’s Secret PINK is bringing New York Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez and New York Giants Running Back Brandon Jacobs into downtown Manhattan to celebrate the launch of the VS PINK National Football League (NFL) collection. Mark and Brandon will be joined by PINK models Erin and Chanel to greet and snap photos with customers at the VS PINK store in Soho. The first 100 people in line will have the opportunity to pose for photos with the group.

It's all taking place at the VS PINK store in Soho on Monday, Nov. 1st at 6:30pm.

Sephora's gone mobile:

Sephora US now has an iPhone app

Sample Sales:

I recently received several invites to sample sales. Here are a few:

At CLOTHINGLINEFOR WOMEN & MEN
Elegant, contemporary, stylish - beautiful: Capture the essence of Italian craftsmanship at its finest with Furla's accessory collections.
WOMENHandbags, wallets, cosmetic cases, belts, keyrings and more in a variety of fine full grain leathers, exotics and other materialsMENLimited selection /quantities for Men Briefcases, messenger bags, totes, weekenders, wallets, card cases and more
in a variety of fine leathers, exotics and other materials
A L L S A L E S F I N A LHours:

Tuesday	October 26	10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday	October 27	11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday	October 28	10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Azzaro Showroom (AU)

423 Clarendon Street

South Melbourne

(03) 9696 2611

Musings & News

Burberry

has a new fragrance... The Beat. I really liked their Brit scent.

Natori

Josie Natori had a runway show in Philadelphia at the Rittenhouse Hotel in conjunction with Neiman Marcus. The proceeds will benefit the Breast Health Institute - Nice!

Ralph Lauren & charitybuzz

I recently learned that Ralph Lauren has teamed up with the charityuzz to present the Pink Pony Auction ... 100% of the net proceeds goes the Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Foundation. For more info or to bid, go to: charitybuzz.

Market News

Retailers think the luxury market & online sales to rebound ... I've definitely contributed to that cause.

Fashion News & Events

From the house of Prada...

Prada is opening a new store in Vegas:

Prada Crystals at City Center

3720 South Las Vegas Blvd.

#110

(702) 740-3000

Donna Karan, Uma Thurman & Saks
Team up for KEY TO THE CURE

Donna Karan has created a T-shirt in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Designer Donna Karan created a limited edition T-shirt exclusively to benefit KEY TO THE CURE that will retail for $35 at Saks Fifth Avenue stores, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and on saks.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds from each shirt sold will be donated to local charity partners.

"For me, it's not just about dressing women; it's about addressing the issues that are so important to all of us,” says Donna Karan. “I lost my mentor Anne Klein and my best friend Lynn Kohlman to breast cancer. We've made great strides, but we still don't have a cure.”

“Who better than Uma Thurman to represent this campaign?” states Donna Karan. “She's a mother and an artist and is passionate about making a difference."

Saks Fifth Avenue’s charity shopping weekend will take place October 21 to 24 at all Saks stores nationwide, all Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and through saks.com. Saks will donate 2% of sales Thursday to Sunday, October 21 to 24, up to $500,000, to local and national women’s cancer charities. Saks Fifth Avenue will also make a donation of $375,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Bright Lights & Jaeger

It seems Jaeger is becoming a celebrity favorite. Just look at the pictures below.

Rose Elinor Dougall in Boutique by Jaeger

Olly Alexander in Jaeger London

Rachel Stevens in Jaeger London

Pixie Lott in Boutique by Jaeger

Passion for Fashion

The For a Day Foundation is celebrating 10 years of service to pediatric cancer patients.

October 18th, 6-10pm
INC Lounge, Time Hotel
224 West 49th Street
NYC

Fashion Showing: 6-7pm
Featuring pediatric cancer patients modeling designs and accessories from Nolcha Fashion Week: New York designers - Vivienne Pash, Evolve45, and MBrulee

Open bar sponsored by Pristine Vodka from 6-7pm
Cash bar and music by DJ Jove from 7-10pm

Silent auction

Ticket price: $35
Event registration: For A Day Foundation

All proceeds benefit The For a Day Foundation, a 501C3 non-profit organization. The For a Day Foundation is committed to creating emotionally therapeutic experiences for seriously ill children—and providing them and their families with a joyful and much needed diversion from the strain of chronic treatment. Hosting Queen for a Day, Hero for a Day, and Designer for a Day events, we use role models, make believe, and play therapy to give each child the opportunity to imagine and live out a fantasy while experiencing a moment of the childhood they all deserve. For more information, go to: For A Day Foundation.

Riller & Fount Sample Sale

Dresses, tunics, tees, tanks, leggings, and more from the LA-based contemporary brand
Pieces from spring/summer 2009 all the way to the current season up to 80% off retail prices

Recent Temptations

There will always be temptations. But I've included a couple of the pampering temptations for the body and senses this time.

Body Lotion by DaLish Cosmetics

This lotion is not your ordinary lotion. It comes is a jar, has the consistency of a cream and feels like the most moisturizing souffle-textured cream. This lotion just feels lovely on the skin ... I've tried plenty.

It's all natural (perfect for vegans) and contains wonderful products like avacado, shea, vitamin e and camillia oil (a key ingredient in Shu Uemura's famous Essence Absolue). It's very soothing. I have very sensitive, eczema-prone skin and this lotion does not irritate it at all.

You can buy it individually or purchase it as a set, along with the Dead Sea Salt Scrub. The flavors are Grapefruit Medley, Coconut, Lavender, and Strawberry.

DaLish also has cosmetics - hence the name DaLish Cosmetics. DaLish's line includes foundation, concealer, blush, mascara, eye liner & shadow, glosses plus face creams(including the Mermaid's Secret on the right).

Melanie, the founder/creator/owner, was kind enough to send me makeup samples when I mentioned my plans to feature the lotion. To see more, go to: dalishcosmetics

Tom Ford's Black Orchid

While trolling around in the local Sephora, I decided to explore the scents. I fell head-over-heels in love with this exotic, sensual scent.

Here's the description from Sephora:

The exclusive and über-rare TOM FORD black orchid is the show-stopping note in this incredibly luxurious scent. While sultry woods and rich dark accords help to bring out the skin's natural perfume, the jet black, art deco-inspired bottle adds to the fragrance's overall glamour.

Whatever! I just fell in love and had to get it. I've been wearing it faithfully since that day.