Project Runway All Stars???

Oh Dear!!!

Pattern-and-Draping Buddies: Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos, judging Season 8 Los Angeles Castings

Yesterday, I got a little "announcement" from the Project Runway Blog on Lifetime.com in my Email Inbox: Lifetime Network was getting ready to film a new Project Runway--well, I figured as much since they usually shoot in the Summer...

That's when we filmed, six years ago in Season 2 (the BEST Season!!).

But, there was also some additional news: they were also going to do a "Project Runway All Stars Season"--yes, kids an entire season! (OUCH!). It was entitled:

"Project Runway" Season 9 Premiere Summer 2011, Plus Announcing "Project Runway All Stars" and "Project Accessory"

And well, they also have a "Poll" up entitled "Which designers would you like to see compete again"...And yes, my name is up there.

Don't know if I would ever do this (for a Charity maybe like "Top Chef Masters" !!??) but...
you can go ahead and vote HERE.

Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Gala Red Carpet: Stella McCartney for All!

Stella Crazy....

Not sure why Designer Stella McCartney was such a big presence on Monday Night's Met Gala Red Carpet---Was her company a co-Sponsor? Is there a British Connection? Or most likely, it is because both Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney are part of the PPR Group. Who knows...but there were plenty of A-Listers wearing Stella McCartney at the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Metropolitan Museum Gala this past Monday in NYC. The gowns/dresses went from 70's Disco, all-over sequined red carpet stunners to "McQueen-esque" high-low gowns. I'm not so sure what Stella McCartney's House stands for in terms of gowns, but most were very pretty....

Let's take a look:

Stella McCartney: Love the high-low silhouette, but the odd shaping and rippling at the seams, well, makes me wonder? Was it intentional? It's a bit odd. On an actress, we probably would rip it. Your thoughts?

Naomi Watts: Sooooo very Figure Skating Costume!!! Which may not be a good thing (even though I love me some Figure Skating!). The Ombre effect of the crystals is beautiful. I'm just getting a bit bored with the entire blush/nude effect on gowns. And why does she look like Mischa Barton? Just asking....

Maggie Gyllenhaal: FAB. No More. Love it. The sky-blue all-over sequin gown fits beautifully. She's gone form "Geek to Chic" in one $30,000 gown!!!!

Kate Hudson: She's pregnant and wearing a custom-made Stella McCartney gown. Because she can. Enough said. She looks radiant and pretty. I'm not so sure about the center part hair crystal detail but other than that: Very Nice Miss Kate.

Rashida Jones: Love the color and love its simplicity. Also, that "Hair Feather Wisp" is so chic Miss Rashida! Perfect length as well.

Hailee Steinfeld: Academy Award-nominated "True Grit" Actress wore a gold/nude organza applique high-low gown with mini cap sleeves. I actually really like this on her. I know many people have a extreme (bad) reaction to high-low dresses, but I think that this dress captures the youthful and fun quality of Hailee (she is only 14!), while still being elegant and sophisticated enough for the event. Also, love the shoes!

Eva Mendes: One Shoulder Disco. Look at Miss Eva. She is looking for Rudolf Nureyev and where the illegal substances are. This "Fortuny Pleated" one-shoulder purple gown with a blouson and Dolman sleeve is this side of "Go Girl!". The high-arched eyebrow look and pose, well, is better than the gown to be sure! Go Miss Mendes. The Gays approve: You WORK.

Remix All the Right Colors!!!

Both Irene's and my hubbies are on their business trips which leaves us taking care of kids alone!! Oh, well, we actually think everything is much easier and simpler without hubbies' being around nagging and judging the way we do everything at home.   That being said, a break from hubby are nice and we'll miss and cherish the time we spent with each other even more..... ^o^


Friends are all into bright color mode these days..... When dressed in their brightest color, friends make everyone seems to be in a good mood as well!! How lovely!! 

Irene and her bumble bee outfit... {Ok, I think she might complaint to me about my bumble bee comment tomorrow ...:P}



Wed. is my day-off as kids attend school from 8 to 5:30!!



{Hat, Juicy Contour; Sunglasses, Chanel}



( Above Left to right)Cathy in her neon pink Stella McCartney tank and deep forest green skinny jeans, YSL LTD turquoise Crayon eyeliner


(Below Left to right) Turquoise eyeliner around eye corner and Laura Mercier glitter silver eyeliner at lower eyeliner, post-Royal wedding syndrome.......{the hat} 

Max & Co. cream/greenish bomber leather jacket with stitches (Sorry about the misleading color as those are taken under different lights.)

My Outfit Du Jour


1. Top:
Max Mara weekend neon yellow knot racer-back silk tank w/ pocket 
Max & Co. cream leather biker jacket with stitches and buckles details


 2. Bottom:
Levis high rise skinny jeans


3. Accessory:
Chanel 11' distressed lambskin Rouge Fonce reissue 226
Africa multi-color turquoise necklace 


4. Shoes:
BCBG Generation nude wedge 








We are going to have a girls night chat and PJ party at my house tonight...... ^O^ 
xoxo Rachel 

Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Gala Red Carpet: The Models!!

Posin' Pros...

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Burberry: Victoria's Secret Supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (how much do we just LOVE that "Upper Class"-sounding name of hers?? I have a feeling she didn't grown up in the "Projects" my dear!). She looks radiant, even if a bit wrinkled in this Burberry gown. PS: This is Burberry? Didn't know they were into silk charmeuse! And PPS: That IS a SLIT kids!

Red Bombshell: Brazilian Supermodel Gisele Bundchen in Alexander McQueen. OK, B**ches: SIT DOWN, the Queen has arrived! If I was a girl standing within ten feet of her, I would have run for cover. Trust me ladies, you would not want to be competing with this. How do you say "fabulous" in Portuguese?

Crystal Renn in Zac Posen: Pardon me for asking but, SHE'S supposed to be FULL FIGURED???? She looks like a Runway Size 2 to me. What happened to all the "I want to be the Poster Child for 'Real Women with Curves' stuff"? You can read more about the controversy HERE. Oh well, she still looks SAVAGE in this black silk taffeta Zac Posen . Loving that hair too! One word: WORK!!!!

Valentino with model Natalia Vodianova in Valentino: Pretty and Regal. Her hair and make-up (especially the EYES!) are on-point. Love the red clutch. Yes, Valentino is a bit orange, but hey it is VALENTINO! He gets a pass.

Miranda Kerr in Marchesa: Who got in a fight at a Mexican Girl's Quinceañera? Miranda Kerr did. I know that I have said this before "Models can get away with wearing (Almost) anything!!!" Well: Exhibit A of "Almost" above.

Karolina Kurkova in Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring 2011. Question: Is she wearing Guipure Lace Pants?

Answer: Yes. Here's the gown--and matching pants from Gaultier's Spring 2011 "Can Can Couture" Collection (above). It kinda works on me! Let's just be happy she didn't add that feathered headdress (or maybe she should have!).

Elettra Wiedemann in Prabal Gurung. Elettra--in case you didn't know--is Isabella Rossellini's daughter, she's a model, darlings. And wow, is she gorgeous! Not so much for the dress. It's a RUCHED mess if you ask me. I love me some Prabal Gurung; he's one of the most talented US Designers and in Miss Anna Wintour's "Little Black Book" of Faves. But this was a bit of a miss.

Joan Smalls in Tom Ford. Three words: At A Girl. And two more: Slinky and smoldering.

Jessica Stam in Tommy Hilfiger: Next. She's going to the Met Gala not a High School Dance in 1953. I hope she didn't actually pay someone to do her hair that night...Just sayin'.

Hillary Rhoda in Alexander McQueen: Edwardian Dandy Meets Equestrian Diva. I bet she probably could ride a horse in that! Or go Fox Hunting!

Coco Rocha in Alexander McQueen: This has the right amount of "Valley of The Dolls" element (the chiffon gown, the updo hairstyle) which makes me want to be pool side in some fab home in Bel Air in 1967 drinking Martinis and popping pills! Love it.

Chanel Iman in Dolce & Gabbana: Can you say Michelle Obama, size 00?? Prim, proper, almost "Diplomatic". The perfect white lace sheath dress. Chanel looks radiant.

And Last But (Certainly) NOT Least...Miss Naomi Campbell:

In Alexander McQueen. I'm sure up close this gown is a Piece of Work and incredible in fact. And I'm sure on the runway, those layers and layers of sliced chiffon did their magic. But on Naomi, she just looked like a Grecian Goddess Statue...who got stuck in a tornado, unfortunately. On a Positive Note: The hair reminds me of my Mom, Raquel in Caracas Venezuela circa 1975 at the "County Club".

Actress Garcelle Beauvais in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul Spring 2011

Garcelle Gorgeous!

Raspberry Queen: Actress Garcelle Beauvais in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul, "Race To Erase MS" red carpet

Last week, actress Garcelle Beauvais attended the the red carpet event, "Race To Erase MS" at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Los Angeles in Century City. And she wore one of my creations--a NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 raspberry silk jersey tunic dress with croq-skin leather shoulder accents--co-Designed by myself and David Paul.

It features a cowl front and plunging deep-cowl back, as seen from above.

Here's the photo from our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Look Book

Make sure to follow and "Like" NIKOLAKI on Facebook and click HERE if you are already a Facebook member.

Adele-ation

I have loved Adele and her voice ever since the first time I heard Hometown Glory in 2007. There are many great singers out there but few who have that special something that makes them enigmatic and have a way with words that makes them able to connect to people on a deeper level through their own joys and heartbreaks.

Adele is gobby, effortlessly funny and incredibly talented beyond her years. Despite her billowing sail of a voice and song-writing abilities, she is a contradiction in terms displaying an unusual mix of defiant confidence and occasional self deprecation which enamours her to the public all the more. These are the reasons I love Adele…

 I believe every word that she sings

It always seems like she puts everything into her performances. She broke down after her Brit Awards 2011 performance of ‘Someone Like You’ and recently revealed that she was in tears because she imagined her ex-boyfriend laughing at her. She wrote the song about her split with her ex-boyfriend and said that while she was singing it, she pictured him revelling in the fact that he still has a hold on her. "I was really emotional by the end because I'm quite overwhelmed by everything anyway. Then I had a vision of my ex, of him watching me at home and he's going to be laughing at me because he knows I'm crying because of him, with him thinking, 'Yep, she's still wrapped around my finger.'"

She suffers from fierce stage fright and gets flustered around celebrities

…just like any of us would! I love that she doesn't see herself as a celebrity.  She was quoted as saying in Rolling Stone Magazine “I was about to meet Beyoncé and I had a full-blown anxiety attack. Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, 'You're amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I'm listening to God'".  Adele took inspiration from Beyonce’s on-stage alter ego ‘Sasha Fierce’ and created her own… ‘Sasha Carter’. The composite of Sasha Fierce and late country icon June Carter is apparently pulled out whenever Adele needs to give herself a shot of confidence.

She flies the flag for voluptuous women

She makes no apologies for being curvy and refuses to conform to what some industry people think she should be.  “My life is full of drama, and I won't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like," she said. "I don't like going to the gym. I like eating fine foods and drinking nice wine." She has also said "Even if I had a really good figure, I don't think I'd get my t--- and a-- out for no one," she said. "I love seeing Lady Gaga's boobs and bum. I love seeing Katy Perry's boobs and bum. Love it. But that's not what my music is about. I don't make music for eyes. I make music for ears."  “It doesn't bother me. I'm not naive, I don't believe I need to look like that. I'm very confident. Even when I read people saying horrible stuff about my weight. Until I start not liking my own body, until it gets in the way of my health or stops me having a boyfriend then I don't care. I'm fine. Since I was a teenager I've been a size 14 or 16, sometimes 18. And it's never been an issue in any of the relationships I've had. None of my friends, girls, are obsessed with weight”.

She’s not a music snob

Adele has sited everything from the Spice Girls to Etta James as influences on her own style.  There's something refreshing about artists who listen to all genres of music regardless of whether they are deemed to be cool or not.  This usually results in an more open-minded approach to song writing and style and keeps things fresh.

"No one really mentions my songs. I think they just assume I haven't written them. I've written my whole album. I love love songs. But I love pop music as well: Girls Aloud, Kylie, the Spice Girls, East 17, Mika. I'm not that into credibilit... I mean, of course I wanna be a credible artist but you gotta have a laugh, innit? I used to be obsessed like that, I was a real indie kid, but I'd secretly go home and listen to Celine Dion. She's got proper ballads!"

I love her makeup

Whenever I see her in interviews or performances, her makeup is always immaculate and usually takes on a 60's vibe with thick black eyeliner and nude lips.  Her hair is always gorgeous too and I love the reddish, sometimes strawberry blonde colour.  This is a great tutorial by Nic at Pixiwoo on how to achieve the Adele look...

Her sense of humour

She has always struck me as the type of girl I would like to have as a friend, with her infectious cackle of a laugh and dirty sense of humour.  I always find myself smiling when I watch her in interviews because she comes across as SO down to earth.  Stories like this make me laugh:

“Over the Atlantic there was all this turbulence, the plane was shaking and I just stayed watching my film. But then the air hostesses had to put their belts on – and that’s when I started screaming. In economy. There was a five-year-old boy sitting next to me laughing at me ’cos I thought I was going to die. Very embarrassing. So the air hostess gave me wine until I passed out.” She cackles. “I hate flying anyway, that’s one thing I’m dreading doing more of. You’re not supposed to be in the f***ing air! That’s why we have gravity!”

She keeps it real

Adele has made it clear that she doesn't lead a glamourous life away from the camera and gigs.  She enjoys the simple things in life and has the same friends and team since she started out in the business.  She certainly isn't planning on becoming a diva...

“If I was walking in a straight line, people would walk round me. People fussing over me. Giving me my water in a bottle with a straw. I was like, I can do it myself. I’m not Mariah.”

She even had embarassing crushes as a teenager:

"Will Young was my first proper love. I was obsessed. The Gareth Gates fans were horrible to me and I wasn't having any of it. We had a fight and I was called into the head teacher's office and sent home. It was serious. It was so embarrassing when I met Will. I've loved him since I was 14, and the first thing that came out my mouth was, 'I voted for you 5,000 times!"

She looked and sounded amazing last night performing on Later With Jools Holland!...

Style Crush: Fan Bing Bing

I first heard about Fan Bing Bing on Fashion Police on the E!Entertainment channel where she completely outshone J-Lo by wearing the same Elie Saab dress but in a completely innovative way.  She basically wore a jewelled shawl as a turban! It was pure genius and it really made her stand out from the crowd.

Fan Bing Bing is a 29 year old Chinese actress and singer who is fast becoming one of the new major style icons of 2011.  She has been turning up in the front row of many a fashion show and has been pictured with some major celeb friends.  She is a veritable fashion chameleon who jumps from audrey hepburn-esque demure sophistication to masculine tailoring and then to red carpet glamour.

She has been called "China's answer to Monica Bellucci" but her often retro styling shift more towards China's answer to Dita Von Teese!  She always seems so graceful, chic and sophisticated in whatever she wears.  She has a real air of vintage elegance and her immaculate appearance never seems to waiver.

And here is the genius turban creation which, admitedly I would look downright ridiculous in, but Fan Bing Bing somehow carries it off beautifully...

Her style is definitely one which is meticulously well thought out and manicured to absolute perfection so more often than not, her designer ensembles aren't something you would chuck on to go down to the shops.  However, I do like the little touches she puts on things.  I have always thought there are two types of style icons...those who wear outfits straight from the catwalk and ones who mix and match designer with budget to create an altogether unique look.  I would say Fan Bing Bing belongs to the straight off the catwalk gang but I love her all the same.

I particularly love this nude silk mousseline pleated Elie Saab Spring 2009 Couture gown she wore to the Cannes Film Festival last year.

I recently heard that Lauren Conrad from The Hills has set up a website called The Beauty Department with her hair and makeup team, Amy Nadine (makeup artist) and Kristen Ess (hairstylist) in order to "offer beauty tips: how to do the hottest runway tricks. How to wear purple eyeliner. How to do beach curls. The idea is to eventually roll out a cosmetics and hair line."  I have always thought of Lauren as a young Jennifer Aniston because she really has that 'girl next door' quality about her, both in style and personality.  She is always quite safe with her fashion choices and her makeup rarely takes a departure from her staple of a cat eye and nude lip/red lip.  I think that has always been her appeal though, that girls feel like they can relate to her.

I have had a look and it's still very much in the baby stages of development but it may be of interest if your a fan of Lauren, her style/makeup or you're just looking for a bit of beauty or fashion inspiration.  It will offer video tutorials, tips and printable step-by-step how-tos on hair and makeup. 

Would you be interested in this website? Would you buy products from Lauren's cosmetic or hair line?