'Posen for Target'

Rihanna with Zac Posen

First there was Karl Lagerfeld for H&M, then we saw Matthew Williamson unveil his first capsule collection last spring for the Swedish fast fashion giant.

This past October, we saw Jil Sander at Uniqlo and squeezed as best we could into kidswear designed by Stella McCartney at Baby Gap.

And now, get ready for Zac Posen.

The fashion darling will design, according to WWD today, the next limited edition collection for Target’s Go International series – which has in the past delivered the creations of Jonathan Saunders, Alexander McQueen, Thakoon and Rogan. The exclusive collection is expected to hit Target stores nationwide and online from April 25 to May 30, 2010.

Posen, a favorite among budding socialites and young Hollywood (Sean Combs is a well-known financial backer of the label), has a flair for designing forties-inspired frocks with lace, fur and other luxurious extras for his adoring clients: Diane Kruger, Vanessa Hudgens, Demi Moore and Joy Bryant.

The 29-year-old designer created a collection of red-carpet gowns and tailored pants for Target Australia in 2008, although the two companies are unrelated in most respects.

Will we see some more ruffle-ridden, mini-floral dresses and black-tie pantsuits reduced to the $15 to $150 range?

Zac Posen Fall '09

I’m hoping the answer is “yes.”

One would think that Posen, whose pieces range from $900 to $12,000 in price, is trying to generate more visibility.

In a move similar to many of Posen’s fashion contemporaries, the capsule collections are a sure way to generate buzz and increase marketability among new, first-time customers.

Vanessa Hudgens in Zac Posen

For small fashion houses like that of Posen (insiders have filled me in on the hiring freeze in an effect – not so much a secret), thinking outside the ready-to-wear box is the only way to ride the recession wave.

In fact, plans are already in the works for Z Spoke, another more affordable line exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Whatever Posen’s motive may be, I expect to hit the stores early for a chance to buy my very own “Zac Posen” fashion masterpiece.

P.S. Happy Cyber Monday everyone! Don't miss out on the deals today! Only a few hours left!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of stylenews.peoplewatch.com; nymag.com; instyle.com

More Deals, cont.

As promised this Thanksgiving holiday, some more deals and steals at Décor Innovation to come your way:

Save $35.00

Now this is something to sink your feet into. This grizzly bear accent rug is now $84.99 from its original price of $119.99. Made almost entirely of acrylic and unlike others, the rug has a polyester backing. My sister already has this rug on her wish list, which she says is not only fuzzy, but warm and cozier than the typical floor rug.

Personally, I like the polar bear version in white, just as inviting, but a bit more glam (stick with the grizzly if you have pets or small children). The rugs are a great addition to a room with hard wood floors, or a room with a décor so modern that an Oriental rug won’t do.

And if you’re like my sister, you’ll love the gift.

Save $5.00

Don’t be fooled. This gift comes in a set of two. You can choose from a range of pillow styles – from faux chinchilla and mink to faux leather and printed floral motifs.

There’s an 18-inch square pillows for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Try the animal cow print and zebra for the college-bound student and brighten up her dorm room. Or gift a set of the faux leather pillows to the businessman or woman in the family, perfect for an office or study. For those with small children and infants, the donkey print pillow could be mixed and matched in the nursery or playroom.

I already have a pair black mink pillows for my couch; there to keep my chinchilla faux throw some company. The trio seems to be getting along nicely.

For more gift ideas, visit each week for a new list of featured products. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of Decor Innovation

'La Femme Fete'

Vintage clothing and jewelry, a fashion show, complimentary cocktails and gourmet cupcakes – my friends know how to kick off holiday shopping in style.

This past Saturday I was invited by friend and fashion-colleague-of-sorts Sammy Davis (Life and Style Weekly alum that we are) to Femme Fête – a night of fashion revelry and a formal introduction to the women of Sammy Davis Vintage, Happy Hill Vintage and Kim Last Designs.

Armed with my Prada shoes, and my best friend Sara with her Chloe bag, we clicked our way down the two blocks to the Femme Fête, not quite knowing what to expect.

What we found on the fifth floor of the 36th Street building were rows of like-minded attendees, racks of clothes and booths with must-have earrings, necklaces, rings, handkerchiefs and coin purses.

Sammy Davis Vintage hats and accessories

I indulged in some of the bite-sized cupcakes first, which were absolute pumpkin-flavored-heaven, and sipped my “eau de VeeV” before thumbing through the racks of Sammy Davis Vintage clothes. Within minutes, Sara and I were swooning over a gray faux fur mink coat and olive pill box hat with veil.

Having partnered with Sammy on a past photo shoot, I was more than aware of her affordable price range.

“100 dollars,” Sara said out loud as she inspected the wool coat, “Oh, my gosh. That’s nothing!”

I waved her over to the stand with the 1980s gold chain necklaces and cuff earrings: “$35, $40, $25…” Each piece was priced well under $50.

Vintage Jewelry selection from Happy Hill Vintage

We then stood by a suitcase in a corner that was spilling with straw brim hats, some more pill box hats and raffia bags. Our trying on was cut short by Sammy’s voice, rising above the DJ’s music spinning.

One by one, a handful of models walked out in pieces from the collections of the Femme Fête women: a gold sequin dress with an asymmetrical fringe hem and cap sleeves; an ivory boyfriend blazer and pink wrap-around dress; my best friend’s favorite fur coat in a brown variation, thrown over a teal dress.

Gold sequin dress with fringe hemline and cap sleeves

Multicolored sequin shift dress

Faux fur coat with teal dress

Pink boyfriend blazer worn as dress with turquoise Kim Last necklace

White boyfriend blazer over hot pink wrap dress

Sequin top worn over black pants

Sara and I left the party, the two of us already talking about ordering some of those gourmet cupcakes for her apartment warming party and me, making a mental wish list of what Sammy Davis Vintage I want for Christmas.

-S. Gonzalez

'Sealed With a Bow'

It was perhaps the single most embarrassing experience that could happen to someone who so confidently shared her recipe for tying the perfect bow not even three weeks ago.

There I was this past Sunday at a nearby nursing home – where I normally spend all my Sundays, helping the residents to tie a bow around their unfinished floral arrangements and coming… undone.

The residents had just finished a Bible study session that typically culminated with a religious arts and craft activity. They would be taking unused pots and using the green foam squares to concoct a floral arrangement out of Spanish moss and rich, autumn-colored silk flowers.

An inspirational verse from the Bible, tacked onto the end of a stick, and a decorative bow tied around the pot were to be the final touches.

With arthritis getting in the way of some essential bow-tying, the residents came to me for help. After all, I not only work as a merchandiser/stylist – I spent six years in high school and college working at a craft store that also specialized in custom floral arrangements.

Surely, I was a good person to ask for help.

Wrong.

I was too fixated on tying the bow I had so proudly talked about; not realizing that it cannot be made without the help of some kind of wire to anchor its center.

In case you should run into the same dilemma, I've included another "how to" of how to tie a simple, but symmetrical "bow knot." (There are many other variations of bows you can try, but is the most widely used.) Because everyone can tie a bow, but not everyone can achieve that perfect, "figure 8" swoop:

*You will need two pieces of ribbon:

1. Tie a bow out of the ribbon already wrapped around the pot/gift/box, etc. Make the bow whatever size you want.

2. Fold over the first side of the bow and then the other.

3. Take the second piece of ribbon – this piece will serve as the “faux bow tails.” Tie the ribbon around the ribbon knot.

4. Adjust the bow and tail length accordingly so that you have a nice, symmetrical bow.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of www.daniellesrockawayflorist.com and www.mysilkweddingflowers.com