Joseph Altuzarra is a testament to achieving your dreams by setting your goals and working towards it. He has an amazing story. Without a design education he landed jobs with Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler and Givenchy before creating his own line. He attended a normal liberal arts college that didn’t include design school. He just started working and, at the time, didn’t have prior fashion training.

Joseph went on to say that he always desired to have his own label and when he final did create one, it came at an inopportune time – right in the thick of the recession. However, it was “meant to be” because Altuzarra is thriving as a world renowned luxury brand. “In a way, it was kind of a good time to start a business because there was a lot of hope in the industry and people wanted to believe that their would be a new wave of designer energy, especially in New York,” said Joseph on the subject.

On the topic of design inspirations for his label, he was all about real woman – not the 25 year old, size non-existent model. Perhaps this is why his brand does so well? It’s nice to hear a top tier designer recognize (out loud) that not all women are built the same – a.k.a., stick thin and six feet tall. There are, indeed, curves and such involved.

“I was really interested in focusing on someone a little bit older who has a professional life and needed to do things through travel. But I also thought it was important for a women to feel sexy and seductive. It really came from a lot of different angles that most of these things do. I was thinking a lot about an engaging population.” – Joseph Altuzarra

Just looking through his most recent Spring Summer collection on the 4^th floor of Barneys New York more than proved that. And that’s what Joseph Altuzarra does and he keeps it in the family too. Which is the cutest part. His mother is the CEO of his company.

If you can’t make it to Barneys 4th floor anytime soon, you can always take a look at the Altuzarra Facebook fan page or Style.com for the entire RTW collection!

Cheers to Barneys and Joseph Altuzarra for a wonderful morning of fashion.  ~ Jessica

Event images by Nando Alvarez

Runway images via Style.com

Buying my new clogs introduced a whole new dilemma… What to wear with them? I converted to skinny jeans back in ’07 and luckily hung on to these randomly simple Juicy jeans I got a a clothing swap four years ago.. So who knows how old these are… But dang are they comfortable, and they seem to work with the clogs…

PS. In case you’re wondering why this post is so short…I’m doing some experimenting on mobile blogging. This was posted from my iPhone. Almost… If you have any tips, I’d love to hear it! xox

The ‘partner look’ has always kind of scared me a little. You know, the Beckhams had their matchy-matchy days, celebrity couples do it all the time. It’s weird. However, subliminally couples do tend to dress alike on a day to day basis, through color schemes, themes, even if it’s not so obvious. This morning, Rocky and I walked into the living room (I get dressed in my walk-in closet, he in the bedroom) both wearing black. Thank god we weren’t going anywhere together this morning, else I would have made him wear something different… he eventually did anyway.

On Easter, we met some friends for a late lunch, and this time we actually coordinated with each other to have a little ‘Easter-y’ vibe to our attire, and ended up both wearing polka-dot bows. Rocky is now warming up to bow-ties which I absolutely adore, and think more men should be wearing bow-ties on a regular basis. I wore my new favorite yellow polka-dot dress. Strangely, it fun to dress up together, we did it in a tasteful manner (I think), not wearing the same colors, not wearing matching outfits, but wearing complimentary colors in a consistent theme. Kind of like saying in a more obvious way, ‘We’re a family’.

So, do you ever coordinate your attire with your partner?

These days it’s hard to find actual vintage in a thrift store. Every now and then you’ll come across something vintage in a sea of last year’s H&M, and for that reason, I don’t frequent thrift stores as much as I used to back in the day… well, the ‘new clothes’ back then are now being sold as vintage. Yep, that long ago.

A few weeks ago, looking for furniture for our new apartment, I visited a thrift store that actually had a high percentage of vintage clothing and antiques. They were having a sale on coats, and never having enough coats, I took a look through, and found several vintage coats I wanted. One I had to leave behind, though it looked like it might be from the 1950′s, but it had stains, and was quite frail. Then this beautiful camel hair coat for $20. Holy moly, it has beautiful buttons and lining. The camel hair is soft and it fit perfectly. The only problem was that it was too long. Long coats are great for cold weather, but in California, it never really gets cold enough to where you need a long coat, and they often come across as too formal.

So here is the question… do you alter vintage?
Sometimes it feels like destroying the design by altering, taking away the elements that made it true to it’s time. Other times, it seems that a long skirt or a high neckline come across as frumpy by today’s standards, and a beautiful garment ends up sitting in a closet hoping the next generation finds it fashionable.

In this case I decided I would alter the coat. It was $20 and alterations on the length and the sleeves cost $35, for a total of $55 for a natural fiber, union-made, vintage coat. Even the $250 made-in-China coat I was wearing this winter started to pill because the fabric wasn’t sturdy enough (much to my annoyance). So these days you really can’t get good quality pieces for cheap. I’ve worn this coat a few times already since altering it on Monday, and I really find it goes with a lot of my wardrobe.

Before:

The coat passed my knees. This is a good length for colder climates, but in a place that never goes below 50°F it’s a little too much.

After:

The shorter length is more casual and versatile…works with jeans, and short dresses.
Now I’m thinking, heck what else can I alter in my wardrobe? I really want cropped jackets…we’ll see what comes up next.

All the sudden I realized, I’m new to socks! Well, I was familiar with the concept…though this last year sock wearing slowly crept into my daily essentials. I never wore socks before… not since, elementary school. I mean, I’ve owned socks, like to wear to the gym, but not with any kind of outfit to be worn in public. This year I find that I like wearing socks with everything.

The lovely Swan Clothing (aka SwanDiamondRose) sent me a pair of sock garters I had been lusting over for some time. The lovely swan detail on the garter really adds the girly touch to a menswear-inspired undergarment. After going in public for just a few minutes one of the ladies in my building complimented the sock garters…saying she loved them and never seen anything like it! That really made me proud for Swan.

I found a pair of lace knee highs that I cut off the elastic top as the sock garters would now hold these ladies up! And echoed the lacy sentiment in the lace print dress. I would have taken the time to get some nicer pictures…but it was literally freezing out (that’s a pile of dirty snow behind me) out and as you can see I’m wearing a blazer and nylons! Everyone else wore puffy coats and ski hats!

Attire: Sock Garters by Swan Clothing • Blazer: Fillipa K • Dress and stockings : Target • Shoes: Lumiani

It’s been a long time since I’ve done any real shopping. And to tell the truth, I hadn’t really found a shopping pattern like I had when I lived in San Francisco. For some reason in San Francisco, I could find the most darling things at a price I could afford, even when I was broke. It didn’t really occur to me that during the times I lived in Germany and in Chicago, my depleted shopping libido might be attributed to the fact I hadn’t spent years searching out the very best spots, and as much as I love online shopping there is something to be said about actually trying stuff on. I’m not saying one is better than the other, as I’ve actually had better luck with ordering clothes online than endlessly debating in the dressing room. But it’s always nice to see the details, as those are the little things you fall in love with. I promise I’ll be wearing these soon, but I wanted to show you all of the things I got just so you can see this unconscious color shift… seasonally inappropriate, perhaps, but I’m dying for some nice warm colors, perhaps for my visit to my mom’s home in the desert.

Above are the No. 704b. grey shoes I snagged at DSW for $60.. they’re leather with a stacked heel. I am so excited to wear them, but scared to wear them when I have to walk the hills… soon I’ll wear them, soon….

Moschino Cheap & Chic blazer with macramé trim $26 Can you believe it!?!!! I’m almost afraid to say where I got it, but between me, you and the lamppost the Pacific Heights Crossroads is amazing.

Marc by Marc Jacobs wool and silk empire waist dress $16… at the same place, admittedly these were both marked half off, but wow, it’s darling.

Vintage wool cardigan $24 from Seconds To Go, which also had a lot of designer clothes, though not as much as the Junior League, but to be honest, this simple cardigan is more perfect for me than I could imagine… it’s the perfect length, and I actually love the shoulder pads, and it’s soooo warm!


Here is the dress I got from H&M, it actually fits well to my figure, and love the color! $39

And last but not least I snagged this American Apparel boat neck dress for $12 at Crossroads, it’s a basic, but I have a feeling it’s going to get a lot of use (as I’ve already worn it twice!)
Thank god I’m leaving SF today, I don’t think I can take any more shopping (for myself… holiday shopping isn’t over yet).

I’m really excited. My sister is having a baby. She’s going to be a mom for the first time. The baby shower is in just a couple months. In the meantime, I’m learning there’s some pretty awesome stuff out there for babies. I had to share, so today I’m stepping away from my usual beauty beat to offer up a baby shower gift guide – fun stuff to help you with your shopping if you’re going to a baby shower or if you have your own little bundle of goo goo ga ga.

Shopping Hot Spots for Cool Kids

First off, there are two websites I came across that have a seemingly endless amount of great stuff. It’s so much fun checking out their goods.

I’m going to start off with the Uncommon Goods shop, because their Kimochi Cloud doll turned out to be a lovely model – very photogenic, great figure, and none of that “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000” model attitude. Uncommon Goods sells all sorts of things – from home décor and dishes to jewelry and kid stuff.

I adore the smart, quirky Kimochi Cloud doll. Kimochi is Japanese for “feeling.” This doll has a happy face on one side and a sad face on the other (head rotates for easy indication of mood change). But wait, there’s more. There’s also a pocket where kids can put a “feeling pillow” to express how they’re feeling. “Emotion packs” include a variety of pillows – from happy and grateful to hurt and pissed off (OK, maybe they don’t use that specific phrase). Each pillow has a word for a feeling on one side and an accompanying facial expression on the other side. You can even draw on your own. I chose to draw my morning face after not enough sleep (pre-concealer – it’s the one up in the top right corner).

There’s also a “Feel Guide” to help parents communicate with kids about their feelings. OMG, how cool is that? Perhaps I would have had less teen angst had my parents and I had a Kimochi Doll to help us communicate.

I also love the Monkey Towel Uncommon Goods carries. I wish they made these for adults. I think I’d look good in one of these; and bath time would be so much more fun. The craftsmanship and detailing are great with button eyes, stuffed mouth, and floppy polka dot ears. Eco-bonus: the outer shell is made with 100% organic cotton. Uncommon Goods has lots of other fabulous finds like the Organic Cotton Teether Elephant and organic Pee Pee Tee Pees.

Also at the top of my list for baby and kids goods is Black Wagon, where the cool parents shop. They have plenty of baby clothes, like the Milk on the Rocks Marionettes Romper that pretty much sums up the baby-parent relationship. Seriously. You’ll also find essential baby reading, like Baby Mix Me a Drink and Nietzche for Babies in convenient board-book form ready for slobbering and gnawing.

And today could be your lucky day! Black Wagon has generously offered to give one lucky Coveted reader a $50 gift certificate. Head to my accompanying post to get all the details and enter.

Some Smart Essentials

Some things I’ve come across are must-haves for parents and babies, like the Miracle Blanket (far left). It’s the world’s most pediatrician-recommended swaddler and totally lives up to its name. Fussy babies chill. Parents can get some sleep. Just wrap up a little one and watch them go from headache-making infant to a peaceful little angel. Swaddling has long been recommended to soothe babies. This swaddler also comforts with a “lateral belly wrap” that puts gentle pressure on the abdomen – works like a charm. Check out this video to see some parents work some magic with their babies. Hospitals should issue these with each newborn.

Now we come to the smart bib from Baggino. Most every other bib is stupid. Don’t you agree? They cover this little area under a babies dribbling mouth and leave a ring of nasty goo where it didn’t cover the clothes; and then there’s all the stuff that falls in the lap. Bibs often have super cute designs on them; but are they really worth the bother? The people at Baggino got crafty. They created the Learner Bib (on right above), a nice, thick, extra long bib with long sleeves and easy velcro closure. Feed child and take off bib to reveal clean clothes! Baggino also makes some inventive diaper bags that convert into changing “tool belts.” Visit their site to see a video of how they work.

Then there’s the Puj Go Sling – a super simple, easy, fashionable way to tote a tot. It’s not a contraption. There isn’t a single strap, zipper, or buckle to fumble with. And it folds up so you can just toss it in your purse. There are five patterns. I’m wearing Kate (isn’t it obvious what an excellent mother I’ll be someday?). They also make a really innovative, soft baby bathtub that fits in any standard bathroom sink. To see the Go Sling and Puj Tub in action, check out the Puj site to see their videos. Very cool stuff.

A Wee Bit Ridiculous

OK, and then there are some ridiculous things out there that just make me laugh. Jumpstart an obsession with Manolo Blahniks with Little Baby Heels – yes, baby’s first high heels. They’re soft shoes with little stuffed heels. No, baby is not supposed to walk in them. But won’t she be stylish?

Lastly, take the whole silver spoon thing to the next level with the Armani Pacifier at Saks for a mere $50 or snap up a $474 Baby Dior Infant Nursery Bag. Nothing but the best for the munchkin holding the marionettes.

Do Tell

Well, I hope you enjoyed this romp through baby land. What do you think of this stuff? Do tell.

Wanna get something cool for a new mom and dad or a fashionable little munchkin? Or perhaps you just want one of Black Wagon’s cool bags or some wall art with hip hop trees and dinosaurs all for yourself? This could be your lucky day. Black Wagon has generously offered to give one lucky Coveted reader a $50 gift certificate.

How to Win

To enter, head over to blackwagon.com and see what strikes your fancy. Come back here and leave a comment about what you’d spend your gift certificate on by Friday, August 14. One entry per person. One winner will be chosen at random to receive a $50 gift certificate. Please note: this contest is only open to U.S. residents.

If you want to see some awesome baby stuff written up here on The Coveted, check out my baby shower gift guide, including goodies from Black Wagon.

Good luck!

I got a sweet opportunity recently. I got to go on a shopping spree with a $500 A|X gift card so I could check out the new Premium Denim collection and share what my shopping experience was like. Normally, Jennine would do this sort of thing since she’s The Coveted Fashion Editor. But she’s in Germany where there aren’t any A|X stores so I was the lucky shopper. And now you have the chance to win your own $500 A|X gift card so you can have a shopping spree, too.

My Visit
I’ve admired Armani Exchange clothes in magazines but never been to one of the stores. I have to say it was a wonderful experience and not just because I had $500 to spend (although that certainly makes shopping more fun anywhere). I found lots of great items so I had a tough time choosing which pieces to get. But I left with a really good haul, because their new denim starts at $98 and they were having a sweet sale.

I got three pairs of jeans, lots of cool tops, a jacket, and even a beach towel. I also got discount cards to use at a later date when I bought the full-price jeans so I’ll be headed back soon.

What I Liked
• Fit. The jeans fit really well and were very comfortable. I was a little worried when I saw how form-fitting all the jeans were. I tend to wear looser jeans normally. But I was delighted to find they accommodated my “real woman” curves and ample hips and derrière. A lot of times jeans fit me in the hips and butt but are too big in the waist. This wasn’t the case with these jeans. And I didn’t feel like I looked stuffed in like sausage. The fit made me feel sexy.
• Details. I really liked the detailing on the jeans, like the wings on the back pockets of one of the pairs I bought (in photo on the left toward the top).
• Tailoring. I’m pretty tall at 5’10”; but I have a long torso. My legs are actually on the shorter side so jeans tend to run long on me. These were even longer than I was used to. Fortunately, they offer tailoring for free or $10, depending on what kind of finish you want.
• The Look. Personally, I’m not too keen on things with a lot of branding on them. There was definitely a lot of that on lots of the clothes. But I still found many other options I really liked and pieces with subtle branding that I liked – like the jeans with the wings on the pockets.
• Deals. I got a lot of bang for my buck on the new denim, which are a lot less than comparable jeans from Diesel and G Star, and because there were so many good deals in the sale section. Seriously, I got a jacket for $39.
• Accessories. I was really tempted by the purses and surprised to find most of them were only $98. In the end, I decided to go with more tops since I just bought two purses recently.
• Service. The staff was very friendly and helpful – not just to me but to all the customers. They helped me figure out what would look best on me and made great suggestions on things to try.

The New Premium Denim Collection
The new premium collection starts at $98. The jeans come in a variety of washes (light, dark, and destruction), in sizes petite 0 through 14 (short or regular). There are three fits:

• J57 Straight: low rise, classic fit, straight leg with a touch of spandex for stretch. I got two pairs of these – one from the new collection (in the photo above on the left, second from the bottom) and a lighter wash from a previous collection (I’m wearing them in the photo above, at top left).
• J11 Skinny: low rise, slim fit, skinny leg. Unfortunately, they didn’t have these in my size so I didn’t get to try these.
• J24 Boot: regular rise, classic fit, boot leg with a slight flare. I got one pair of these – the ones with the wings on the pockets. Even though they don’t stretch like the J57s, I felt really comfortable in them.

The J57 Straight and J24 Boot are my favorites. As I mentioned above, they fit really well. The rise on them is lower than I’m used to; but I like the change of pace. They would all look awesome with a pair of heels. I should’ve brought a pair to try them on with. Some A|X stores do sell some lovely heels, like the ones you see on the mannequins.

Limited-Time Promotion. You can get a $20 gift card valid on a $100 purchase or more when you purchase any full-price denim through July 15th (this Wednesday). It can be used on a future purchase between July 30th through August 15th.

Where to Get the Goods
I went to the San Francisco boutique on Union Street where they have a selection of women’s and men’s clothes and shoes. Apparently, the location downtown in the Union Square area has more stuff. I want to check out that location, too; but I’m happy I went to the Union Street store, because I really liked the intimate shopping experience. Sheila and RJ were incredibly helpful and very knowledgeable about everything. Definitely ask for them if you stop in.

To find a store in your area, check out the A|X store locator at the A|X website. You can also buy the goods online. Or check out the A|X blog for updates about the brand.

The Giveaway
You can win a $500 A|X gift card to get a haul of your own. The gift card can be used at A|X stores in the U.S. and online. You can enter two ways:

• Blog Comment: Leave a comment on our blog with the names or item numbers of the Armani Exchange Denim pieces you would buy if you won the $500 gift card. You can find names and numbers at ArmaniExchange.com.
• Tweet About It: Tweet this message: “RT @thecoveted is giving away a $500 @ArmaniExchange Gift Card! Comment or tweet to enter: http://the-coveted.com/”

Each comment and tweet counts as one registration. Each person can do up to two registrations. Entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday July 29th. Based on all entries, the winner will be chosen at random by IZEA, the company that’s organizing and managing the giveaway. The contest is open to legal U.S. residents at least 18 years old. Full contest rules are available here. IZEA will notify the winner between July 30th and August 15th.

More Chances to Win: There’s also a Text A|X contest, which you can also enter. You can win a pair of A|X denim every day of the month of July by texting the keyword “DENIM2” to ARMANI (276264). To get more info text A|X.

Good luck, everyone!

Do Tell
What do you think of the goods? Do tell.

Last week I attended the “Fairtrade in Spring” event that featured collections from socially conscious clothing company EDUN, which was founded by Ali Hewson and her husband Bono. I got to see some beautiful clothes and chatted with Ali to learn how they’re making a big impact in the lives of people in Africa, India, and South America.

A description of the current collection from EDUN…

“The Spring / Summer 2009 collection is a study in the romantic naturalism of the ‘Origin of the Species’ in which EDUN explores the utopian ideal of two cultures merging into one.  The romance inherent in European culture is grafted with the vibrancy of tribal Africana – weaving classic fabrics and timeless fits with exotic and striking colors and textures.”

Showcase at Clary Sage Organics

The EDUN showcase, which includes a Spring/Summer pop-up shop and Fall/Winter trunk show, runs through April 9th at Clary Sage Organics here in San Francisco. This really fabulous shop carries socially and environmentally friendly clothes and skin care, and offers natural health services. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth a visit. Whether you’re closeby or not, be sure to check out EDUN and Clary Sage Organics online.

Coveted Bonus

Get 10% off on any purchase at Edun Online. Offer good through through Earth Day (4/22). Enter the code: SONJA.

Do Tell

What do you think of EDUN’s collections? Are you being more conscious of the social and environmental implications of the clothes you buy? What do you think of the work of EDUN and eco-friendly stores like Clary Sage Organics? Do tell.