Vivienne Westwood Jelly

As we reported back in January, the infamous Jelly Shoe is back.  What’s our issue with this warm weather shoe trend? Most Jellies are made from dangerous PVC. But we finally found an eco friendly alternative.

These sweet and modern Three Strap Sandals by Vivienne Westwood and Melissa, an eco-friendly manufacturer are ethically made in Brazil from MEFLEX and are…Ta dah! 100% recyclable.

MEFLEX is a non-toxic plastic made from recycled plastic that is far more breathable than PVC.  The Melissa shoe factory is itself a paragon of eco-friendly virtue when it comes to production. A startling 99.9% of Melissa’s factory water and waste is recycled and the Brazil-based company’s employees are paid above average wages and benefits.  Since these shoes are so eco friendly I think I will splurge and get the red flat peep toe jellies too!

April Showers, The Super Umbrella

If you live on the east coast, you know how unpredictable the weather can be during the month of April.  You can expect showers, wind, and maybe even snow. Instead of dreading the days ahead, it's time to try embrace the damp weather with our top umbrella pick.

What can slice effortlessly through gale force winds while keeping you bone dry? The Senz Umbrella. A regular  “guest” on Japanese talk shows, the Senz requires minimum force while providing maximum rain protection. The makers of this marvel claim “playing with the wind with the Senz is not only easy and comfortable, it’s a lot of fun”. Available for sale at the New Museum.

Sexy Vegan Style, Stella McCartney

Last night Stella McCartney was honored by the NRDC for her work as an industry leader in creating organic ethically correct fashion clothing.  We hope she scored extra points for the smoking vegan boots she designed and wore last night.

Covet the boots? Today Stella will be making an appearance at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco for an invite only trunk show. The boots along with bags, perfume, and of course tons of clothes will be sold during the event. This is one party worth crashing.

Kate Spade Rocks Mod

Kate Spade New York, a brand once solely dedicated to designing women’s handbags, (remember their iconic rectangular black bag?) showed their range and versatility in the world of fashion with a full line of women’s apparel and accessories at a presentation at their New York showroom last week.

"Why save your best?" said Deborah Lloyd, the creative director for Kate Spade New York. “Wear it everyday.”  We totally agree.

The classic all-American brand aimed to make fall fun again, adding bright spurts of color to simple black and white looks, with red and fuchsia tights, bags and accessories. Day dresses in lavender and sunshine colors were intricately decorated with beads and pearls around sleeves and neck giving elegance to the monotonous sheaths.  One of our favorite items included the statement necklace below.

Lloyd said the fall apparel collection is all about "things that make you smile - your favorite things." Polka dots were one of the happy design elements prominently used throughout the layout - on ruffle sleeved dresses, on the floor where mannequins and models posed, and subtly detailed a coated tweed raincoat.

Kate Spade New York outerwear for the fall season combined both utility and grace with wool overcoats in black as well as a vibrant burnt orange, in addition to fur shrugs and stoles that looked poised and chic. Charming jewelry with beads and baubles that hung down, some with acrylic circles and squares evocative of the symmetrical shapes that are a Kate Spade New York handbag signature, contributed to that simultaneously lighthearted and fashionable element of fun.

Now you can meet Tim Gunn at a Kate Spade location near you. Purchase $100 or more and get your picture taken with Tim. For more details visit the Kate Spade site.

The Yellow Brick Road

Today the NY Post went somewhere over the rainbow with their wacky Wizard of Oz fashion spread. I don’t plan on indulging my inner tin man this season with a silver Lyrca jump suit, but I am tempted to splurge on a gingham party dress and a pair of wicked green pumps. FYI, you can actually see The Wizard of Oz on stage at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Show closes Sunday.