Since we were only able to hit 1 night of Fashion Week, we sadly missed The New Garde presentation, featuring talented and innovative up-and-comers, Gar-de. So bummed that we missed it, but at least we’ll get to see them in person next week. Here’s a sneak peek:

all images via WWD

image via starworksny

Fashion Week officially kicks off tomorrow, and Arlene and I are lucky enough to be there. We’ll be heading out to NYC on Thursday morning (Arlene’s 9-year old daughter, Kit, in tow. Can’t even begin to tell you how excited she is. She started crying the minute Arlene told her — started saying it was going to be “just like the day we went searching for Rodarte for Target!” She LOVES to hang out at our studio — playing dress-up, waiting on imaginary customers — and she loves fashion. Oh, and she really, really wants to have her picture on our blog. She is a serious fashionista-in-training.)

Anyway, while we were able to set up a few appointments for Thursday and Friday (Sonia Rykiel inlcuded, we’re happy to announce!!!), the main reason for this trip is the Rachel Comey show. We just adore Rachel Comey’s easy, quirky, yet feminine style and are super-excited to be adding her to our shop this Spring. Can’t wait to see what she’s got on deck for Fall. Here’s a quick look back at Fall 09.

Love her knits, her furs, her prints, her layers, her shoes. Just love everything about her whole vibe. So easy and so cool, right? We’ll definitely give an update upon our return. And maybe even include a picture or two of Kit.

all images via Style.com

As we have established, I am a big, big fan of old Hollywood and all that sort of Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall, Bette Davis sort of glamour. So, one of my most favorite modern celebrities is the gorgeous Dita Von Teese. I’m not going to lie, once I saw those eyebrows I was hooked. If there is an aesthitician in the world who can make my eyebrows look like that (without surgery), I need her (or his) number!! 

Recently, I stumbled across these images of the stunning Dita wearing Gaultier. 

That last one kinda reminds me of this movie still of Bette Davis…

C’mon, she looks fantastic, doesn’t she?? Love the black and white photography. And the menswear look just kills me — I need that strappy, corset-y thing. Perfect.

When we launched, we worked with a very small number of showrooms and reps. One of the very first showrooms we went to was Steven Alan. We had this amazing rep. Liz. Like seriously, Liz was ah MAYY zing. Arlene and I have this ongoing unofficial game we play whenever we send a request or question to a rep to see if they can beat Liz’s record of Most. Attentive. Ever.

One of the many things that made Liz such an amazing rep was her honest and no-bullshit way of telling us what she thought we needed and what she thought we didn’t. And Liz knows what’s what. She steered us toward Lemlem, she steered us toward Demylee, she steered us toward that insanely perfect Boyy bag that drops in March, and… she steered us toward Sunshine & Shadow.

From the moment we were steered over to the mesmerizing wall of tie-dyed scarves, we were in love. Until now, we’ve only carried these bright and beautiful gems. Well with Spring two thousand and 10, that’s all about to change. For Spring, Sunshine & Shadow is offering some enchanting silk shifts in a gorgeous array of color-blocked combos. l.o.v.e. LOVE!!  

  Last week we shot our upcoming February cover story and featured a number of these darling little numbers.

Clearly our styling and vibe for the story are a little bit different from the S & S lookbook, but that only goes to show you how truly awesome these little shifts are! Here’s a little more of the goodness to come. 

We just loved the quirky styling in all these images — so cute with all the colored knee-highs and colorful sandals. And also love the creative uses of the scarves. So refreshing to see something that feels new. 

all images via Sunshine & Shadow Spring 10 lookbook. Check out the rest here.

Happy Holidays from our little family to yours.

XOXO,

Arlene and Brandon

How about some great style to start off the new week?  This is the stylist of all stylists, Ms Catherine Baba.  After Tommy Ton’s stalking post of Catherine, I virtually stalked her myself.  I love a woman who can really own her style.

images lovingly borrowed from Jak & Jil

Still looking for that perfect Halloween costume?  It’s challenging and daunting, right?  Unless you want to let it all hang out…there’s not much out there, huh?  Well, we can help  We want to help! We have a few ideas…

How about….CONVICT CUTIE (Brandon’s sold!  This is her costume!!)

jumpsuit, Mason - email us!  Just a couple of sizes left, not up on the site.

classic stilletos, April by Loeffler Randall

leather cuffs, Wendy Nicol

stick on numbers - Ace Hardware Store

cap - Party City

OR a mesmerizing magician….

quilted dress, Opening Ceremony - email us!  Not up on site yet.

red ornament pump, Belinda by Loeffler Randall

sleevless tux shirt, Notify - stylist own

red tights - American Apparel

hat, gloves & bowtie - Hollywood Mirror

cane - stylist own

The first lady of Halloween, Morticia Addams

long ribbed dress, Opening Ceremony

banded sandal, Opening Ceremony

ooooo…how about roller derby girl for all you roller skate fans, here’s your chance to roller skate all night!

NY tee, Sophomore

shorts & socks - American Apparel

sequined baseball cap - Hollywood Mirror

hot pink fishnets - stylist own

skates & pads - Sports Authority

Miss Kitty….

double breasted blazer, Opening Ceremony - email us!  (one fantastic blazer!)

shorts, Mayle - stylist own

flats, Theodora by Loeffler Randall

tights & kitty ears - Party City

ring, Sam Goldberg

AND last but not least…Van Gogh, bloody ear and all

flannel peplum shirt, Opening Ceremony - email us!

boyfriend jeans - stylist own

channel buckle booties, Rihanna by Loeffler Randall

arm warmers - stylist own

Shumura Campbell, photographer

Michelle Hicks, model - Ford Models

Gayle Ong, model - Ford Models

Jackie Gleason, hair stylist 

Julia, makeup artist

Styled by Arlene & Brandon

Thanks so much to all who entered our Loefflerpalooza contest and thanks especially for all of your kind words. Your support and encouragement are what keep us going! Arlene and I are so thankful that we get to do what we love every day and are equally grateful to have people with whom to share our love of fashion and the art of looking good every day. And we know as well as anyone that nothing takes an outfit to the next level quite like a fabulous pair of shoes. So, we were quite excited to share a pair of shoes with one lucky winner…

Coco and Kuma were both super excited…

and the winner is…

Congratulations, Monica!!! We’ll be contacting you shortly about your FREE NEW SHOES!!! Thanks again to all who participated. Here’s to many more anniversary giveaways to come!!

XOX,

A and B

I would most definitely give some serious consideration to the new FW09 fine jewelry collection designed by German designer Michael Zobel for Acne. Giant chunky rings, cuffs and pendants that make me drool. Each piece is a showstopper in itself and is guaranteed to make a statement no matter what you may be wearing. The collection debuted back in February but just now came across our radars. I am a sucker for a great piece of costume jewelry and typically shy away from the finer pieces because they are usually so dainty — the bigger they get, the more expensive, obviously (Don’t get me wrong — I do love and own fine jewelry and wear a diamond-chip studded chunky “B” around my neck on an almost daily basis.) Leave it to Acne to say, screw it if it’s expensive, we’re going BIG!!! In my dreams, I will be sporting these gorgeous baubles all around town. Actually, all around the world — I mean, if I can afford a $60,000 cuff then surely I can afford to flaunt it in Lake Como with George Clooney and Ibiza with Jade Jagger.

The big disc ring with the diamonds running through it??? Um, YEAH! And I’ll take one of these diamond box rings, too, please

I’d also like to point out the plastic pant in the background of shot #1. Nobody does it like Acne.