A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Lauren Moffatt in Los Angeles.  I can definitely say that she has that innate sixth sense of style - and it is 100% reflected in her collections.  Even though summer is technically coming to the end soon, it’s still hot, hot, hot!  That means it’s the best time to scoop up some of your favorite Moffatt spring/ summer designs since they’ll still be weather-appropriate but they’ll also be on sale! Here are some of my favorites: 

This Scoop Neck Dress with Buttons is perfect for the office year-round. Modern meets minimal here with the graphic print splashed simply across off-white silk. A simple scoop neck, single-snap at the cuffs and 4-snap closure at bust, keep it looking very traditional. However, rounded pockets and the curved seam detail at the front make it a bit sporty. Though you could wear this by itself, there’s always the option of belting it as well. I would also accessorize with a simple, but striking pair of earrings like these from Prismera Design and you’ll be all set!

If you are longing to hold onto summer for just a bit longer, there’s nothing better than this little Slip Dress (also available in red). Held up with tiny spaghetti straps in contrasting piping, it features a lovely geometric/floral print with banding and ruching at empire waist. It seriously makes the waist look teeny and is ideal for throwing on for Sunday brunch with a light cardigan and flip flops.

This stunning Deep U Neck Sleeveless Dress will definitely take you from now straight through the holiday season.  Available at Shopbop in red, this is a stretch satin frock that has a bubble skirt hem and tiny ruffling at the waist. There’s darting at the bustline and stud detailing at on-seam hip pockets, for a touch of toughness. Throw on a leather jacket and take it to any evening soirees this fall…or hold onto it for those holiday parties that you’re bound to attend.

When I go to Nordstrom.com, I first hit up the sales and then browse the new collection in the Via C department - emerging designers and contemporary favorites. Now that we are transitioning seasons, I find the sales section to be a bit picked over but did find a few gorgeous pieces in the Fall 2008 lookbook that I’ll be keeping my eye on.  I thought I’d let you take a peek into my web browser…

First off, I love this silk tank from Alice + Olivia. This rich dark berry color will flatter any skintone and the pleats add an ultra flattering twist. You can wear this with jeans or skinny black pants in the beginning of the season and layer it under a cardigan when the weather gets cooler. For a fashionable twist on the work wardrobe, this would go perfectly under a slim fitting suit - whether black or beige. Simply remove the jacket after office hours, and voila you’re all set for the evening without having to run home and change.

I love the shape of this D&G Bustier Dress. You really have to have a tiny waist to pull it off in all its glory. The voluminaous skirt serves as a flirty counterpoint to the sultry, fitted top. It’s carefree and fun meets suductress. Wear it with a fitted cardigan at work and then take it out for a twirl on the dance floor.

I am also a big fan of the Alexander Wang Silk & Wool Dress. Compare this sexy bottom/ fuller top with the D&G dress. I am toned on the lower half of my body and not the upper - so I’ll probably choose this over the D&G to show off legs while covering problem areas. Contrast is in every part of this dress - the texture, shape, and color. It’s very artsey to me. I’ll probably wear it with opaque tights while at work and then out with killer flatform heels or knee high boots. Since this dress is priced at $650, I admit I’ll probably be stalking Nordstrom.com every day waiting for it to go on sale.

Paige Adams-Geller is the founder of Paige Premium Denim, one of the most beloved denim brands by women worldwide.  Having been a fit model for numerous denim labels (many of which had male designers at its helm), Paige sought out to create classic styles, washes and fits - for real women, by a woman.  Now, the label also includes men’s, maternity and kids lines in addition to women’s.  And who’s worn her jeans?  Just about every celebrity you can think of - and most of the women we know.   Paige kindly took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for us - dishing about her personal closet staples to her tips on finding the perfect jean (to make your butt look great - because that’s what really counts, right?).  Read on!

The Daily Obsession: You began as a fit model for top denim brands. How do you think that experience has shaped your brand, and helped differentiate you from other denim labels?
Paige Adams-Geller: I got to learn the ins and outs of the business by observing some of the most innovative and creative designers in the industry. I learned about seam placement, pocket structure and more. But more than anything I saw a hole! Most of the designers were men; they didn’t understand a women’s body, her curves and her desire for a classic jean. I was able to take what I learned from them and create a product that puts a women’s perspective on it.

TDO: You’re one of the very few premium denim designer to incorporate larger sizes into your line. How did it come about that you broke that 24-32 mold?
PAG: A lot of designers have an idea of their ideal customer – that was the mold I wanted to break. I wanted every girl to be able to wear my designs not just tall girls or slim girls, etc. I had grown up in the modeling industry and knew what kind of mentality it breeds, and I wanted to fight that kind of conformity. (more…)

When it’s hot and sticky outside, my biggest complaint is makeup that instantly sweats off or disappears. It’s hard enough for me to look cute when I’m sweating, I need my makeup to help me! Make Up For Ever’s new Aqua Eyes Bronze Collection has been my eye makeup savior this past month.

A limited edition, this collection of five travel-sized eyeliners will get you through any occasion - from pool party to black tie event, there’s a color that’s just right for anywhere you need to go. (The Copper and Silver shades are my personal favorites). The eyeliners are highly pigmented, so they last forever, and go on smoothly, so they only smudge when you do it yourself (not from just walking around, like some liners). The colors are completely waterproof, so they’ll stay on even at the beach or when you’re swimming, and the fact that they’re travel-sized makes them even more portable than usual. (It does, however, also make them easier to lose, so be careful. The Gold shade got wedged into a corner of my purse and I had to say a sad goodbye to it until I stumbled upon it a few days later. Don’t you hate it when that happens?)

The Aqua Eyes Bronze collection retails for $35 and is available at Sephora stores and online at Sephora.com.

Can you believe the Fashion Week calendar is already out? Can’t wait!

Courtesy of COACD

With the warm weather, I’m getting creative about ways to stay cool and look gorgeous at the same time. One solution I’ve found is throwing on embellished tank to jazz up your outfits (and you can skip the heavy jewelry!). Here are a few of my picks:

First up is the Delicate Tank by Dream Society ($158). This light and airy silk tank is gorgeously beaded at the neckline with a few cutouts. I love the smoky hue, which makes it so versatile - whether you’re wearing it under a suit for work or with jeans and sandals on the weekends. (Side note: It’s recently been worn by a slew of celebrities including Blake Lively, Lauren Conrad and Cameron Diaz.)

I’m also loving this elegant Mint Embellished Tank. The white silk tank is trimmed in black at the neckline. I love the embellished gemstones at the neck, laid out in a vintage-inspired floral pattern. The back panel helps form a racerback with a tiny keyhole. How great with this look with skinny jeans or a bright mini for a night out? Normally $330, it’s actually on sale for $99 at BasicBoutique.com.

Want something a bit more colorful and different? Try this printed Coin Beaded Bib Top by Milly ($272). This totally reminds me of Miami since it’s bright, tropical and cheery! The hot pink with the orange print somehow works together, and the gold coins add an elegant, luxurious touch to the top. I say, try it with a pair of white pants and get yourself a icy fruity drink with an umbrella!

Among the editors here at TDO, we can’t count the number of times where we’ve begun a sentence with “I want…” and followed with a link to a runway photo. Sadly, none of us can actually afford these pieces on a regular basis. But what would you say if I told you that you could snag something off the runway of Zac Posen’s Resort 09 collection without breaking the bank?

No, Zac Posen’s frocks didn’t get any more affordable…but the sandals worn by the models are from Matt Bernson, so you can definitely pick those up right now! The collection utilized 16 pairs of Bernson’s KM Gladiator sandal in gold souffle and black. The soles are so flexible and cushy, so your feet will be in heaven when you’re walking around in these.  The leather is super, super soft and comfortable, too! It has fairly sleek and elegant lines, but the rivets toughen up the overall look a bit. If you go through the entire collection, you can see how gladiators can be so versatile, working for various outfits from romantic floral frocks to glitzy evening gowns.

Source

Bridging their tradition of travel with the digital age, Louis Vuitton is now offering mp3 audio guides to some of the world’s greatest cities. Fans of the classic LV City Guide can now download city walks onto their iPods (or launching today, the iPhone 3G - the perfect host for these audio video recordings). As a preclude to the upcoming Olympic Games, the Louis Vuitton Soundwalk has released tours of 3 Chinese cities: Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Each is recorded by a Chinese star native to that city: Shu Qi for Hong Kong, Joan Chen for Shanghai and Gong Li for Beijing.

I am actually finalizing my own trip to all three of the above cities in October and have already downloaded the entire trilogy to install onto my new iPhone. Each Soundwalk is an hour long and synchronized with the itinerary. In addition, they are accompanied by the local sounds of the city and stories of the narrator’s own experiences.

Previews of the Soundwalk can be seen on the LV site. The videos are absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to experience the cities with Louis Vuitton. I am already quite familiar with the city of Shanghai, but plan to take the Soundwalk with me as I explore Hong Kong and Beijing in a few months.

Photographs © Stephan Crasneanscki for Louis Vuitton

Over the last few years, Hayden+Harnett has become one of the hottest new names in handbag design. They’ve developed an incredibly loyal following, and with good reason - HH bags have that magic blend of hip style and functionality that women are always after. The line has become so popular that HH has recently launched a fabulous ready-to-wear line as well - and that’s just the beginning. In anticipation of the release of their gorgeous fall line, we sat down to chat with founder Toni Hacker to talk about her background, her style, and her skills with a hula hoop.

The Daily Obsession: After reading a little bit about you, I get the feeling that handbag design was sort of an accidental calling for you. Can you tell us a little about how that happened?
Toni Hacker: Definitely an accident, but a very serendipitous and happy one. My formal education is in industrial design with a strong studio arts background in sculpture and metalsmithing. I’d always loved fashion, but had no intention of becoming a fashion designer. My first “real” job was in industrial design, but I didn’t feel super challenged there. I posted my resume online and a fashion accessory company approached me to join them as their design director. I learned so much there about developing accessories in all types of fabrications. This is where my interest in fashion really combined with my product design background and things just started to click. (more…)

I truly believe that most woman wouldn’t turn down a little help from a brand like Yummie Tummie (unless your body looks like Coco Rocha’s). I mean, who doesn’t want to look their slimmest year-round?

Designer Heather Thomson began developing Yummie Tummie with their signature tank top, specifically reated to slim the midsection and smooth over any bumps underneath clothing. What’s great and unique about this shaper, is that it does not compress the bust area like so many others. (It can create a weird shape underneath clothing.) It only really minimizes the midsection with a secret panel, while the top and bottom are made of breathable cotton - that looks perfectly normal peeking out underneath a tee.

I’ve been wearing the white version of this, and it’s so comfortable. It also makes you look like you’re a size or two smaller! I definitely recommend picking one up, since it’s so versatile that you will keep it in your closet for a long time. It’s available in Long or Regular. Tip: If you are petite, definitely go with the Regular since the Long will be more like a slip for you.