Find the Perfect Dress at Shabby Apple

I feel most comfortable (and pretty!) when I'm wearing a dress. I love the ease, the femininity and of course, the fact that I don't have to worry about separate pieces to complete the look. Emily and CK, founders of Shabby Apple.com feel the same way and that's why they created a site that is dedicated to providing women with stylish dresses that cover enough skin to make you feel comfortable without needing to add a tank top, cardigan or slip.

Shabby Apple is designed to help anyone find a dress that fits well with great tools including a quiz to determine body type followed by specific recommendations and "Dear Shabby" an email function that allows you to email a stylist and receive a response within 72 hours. There's even a great maternity section for all those stylish mama's to be out there. You can also find out the latest Shabby Apple news on their blog. Save 20% now by entering Summer20 at checkout! (Excludes Manhattan, Skyscraper, Bridemaid, Accessories)

McQueen Memorial Scheduled

A memorial service for British fashion designer Alexander McQueen will be held September 20th during London Fashion Week according to a spokesperson from the Gucci Group. The service which is scheduled to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral will be a celebration of the designers life and work. Friends, family and colleagues of McQueen are all expected to attend.

McQueen committed suicide in February of this year and the Gucci group promptly named Sarah Burton as his successor. Burton went on to direct McQueen's last unfinished collection which was presented during Paris fashion week. A grad of Central St Martin's College, Sarah grew up in Manchester and joined the McQueen design studio a year before she graduated. In 2000 she was appointed its head of womenswear design. Check out the Fall 2010 McQueen Collection by clicking here.

Vogue Increases September Page Count (again)

Nearly one year after the debut of The September Issue Vogue is back with yet another heavy weight issue for September 2010 featuring cover model Halle Berry. At a time when ad revenues for many magazines are steadily declining, Vogue pushes onward and has managed to increase their total page count for the September 2010 issue 24% from last year, for a total page count of 532.

And speaking of Vogue, editor Anna Wintour hosted President Obama in her Manhattan home last night for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at which the price tag for attendance was $30,000+. More details on that story to come!

And finally- If you love Vogue and are obsessed with fashion (aren't we all?!) don't forget to check out this years Fashion's Night Out taking place September 10th, 2010 in NYC. Click here for more info on Fashion's Night Out. Follow Fashion's Night out on Twitter @FNOnyc.

Clean Skin: Clarisonic

Before Clarisonic came out with their Body Brush Kit I was already using my brush in the shower to smooth my arms and legs. I just bought an extra brush head and switched it out after I washed my face in the sink but before I jumped in the shower. Thank god they finally came out with a real body brush which has a larger surface area than the original brush so that I don't have to worry about mixing up the brush heads! The Clarisonic Body brush works like magic to buff and polish my skin and has completely abolished the pesky dry skin on my elbows. (Hooray!) Benefits of the body brush include smoother skin, improved skin tone, fewer dry patches and better absorption of skin care products.

The Clarisonic Skincare system has won multiple beauty awards from Sephora, InStyle and Allure magazine and is counted amongst Oprah's favorite things. Let's face it, I'm all for anything that removes 6x more make-up than manual face washing. The body brush is just a bonus! Using the Clarisonic Body brush in the shower feels like a mini spa treatment and I can definitely appreciate that! Don't forget to check out the Clarisonic Blog!

Introducing: Dandelion Earth-Friendly Tote Bags

Going green is now more fashionable than ever with the perfect roomy, chic and portable bag that is so versatile to take just about anywhere. Look no further with Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods’ new collection of organic cotton canvas tote bags that are made entirely of organic cotton and use no pesticides or chemicals in the growing cycle.



Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods has pushed aside those days when organic was thought of as being simple and mundane and has created organic chic. The organic cotton canvas bag will carry all your essentials wherever you may go. With six different inspirational green phrases and designs, it becomes impossible to only have one. Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods is committed to using eco-friendly materials, dyeing processes and packaging throughout their products. Dandelion’s new tote bags are made from organic canvas, with organic cotton shoulder straps. The shoulder straps and printed designs use low low-impact, fiber reactive dyes which require less water, less electricity and use fewer chemicals in the dyeing process.

Dandelion’s Earth Friendly Goods organic cotton canvas bags are available at gift specialty and natural product retailers nationwide. Please visit www.dandeliontotes.com for more info.

Make the Postman Blush

Natalie Grunberg and Lori Sholzberg have always had a cheeky passion for pretty panties and now they're sharing it with the world through their Vancouver,B.C.-based online subscription service Pantybypost.com. Panty by Post is a monthly subscription service that sends adorable French panties in the mail to anyone, anywhere, at any time. You pick the style, the frequency of delivery and the size and Pantybypost.com takes care of everything else! You can make it a one-time thing, a two-time deal (aka the "Double Dare" or surprise yourself (or someone special) every month with "The Commitment" package!

"When your pretty panty surprise arrives monthly, the nostalgia of the packaging, note and tissue paper is a sensual experience bound to generate a mood to help you discover your inner sexiness," says Natalie. This means you can enjoy a taste of French romance every month (*wink,wink*), or, share this sensual surprise as a thoughtful gift for a friend.

Who wouldn't love a pair of pretty panties in the mail? I know my BFF would think this service was ahh-mazing!

"Our vision is spread the news all over the world about our global service. We want to make sure every woman from Whitehorse to SanFran, Dubai to Marakesh, knows about and shops at Panty by Post!" adds Lori. PantyByPost.com already has a loyal following in Canada, the U.S. and even France. Once you check them out, we're confident you'll love them too!

So here's to making the postman blush, one pair of panties at a time. :) Don't forget to check out the Panty by Post blog!

Tony Hsieh: Delivering Happiness to the Masses

I never make time to read books unless they are about business or fashion. Fortunely Tony Hsieh (pronounced Shay) of Zappos.com recently penned a book that fits into one (or possibly both) of these categories. I've literally devoured every page of "Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose," because it's written in a way that's totally relatable and really quite funny. (Worm farm, anyone?) Coming from a guy who took Zappos from nearly nothing to grossing over $1 million in merchandise, this book is worth the read. Tony is an unassuming expert on building brands and forming a company culture that cultivates engaged employees, happy customer experiences and higher workplace morale. We could all learn a thing or two from this man. There's a reason why this book is #1 on the New York Times best-seller list. Do yourself a favor and buy the book now.

Modern Vintage: Maximal Art

Vintage-inspired jewelry designer John Wind loves creating pieces that clients will connect to and fall in love with. His line, Maximal Art is comprised of unique pieces that are stylish, sophisticated and destined to become instant favorites in your jewelry box. John originally started making jewelry in college while studying at the Slade School of Art in London. On weekends he would peruse the Portobello Market and look for great vintage trinkets that he could use to create custom jewelry. "I'm really inspired by the past. I love everything ‘Vintage’, from Victorian to the 1970’s. That’s where my creative process starts, and then I look for a modern, contemporary balance to counterpoint the old," says John.

The line features great pieces including this Mid-Summer Nights Dream Necklace that has a great woven metal mesh collar adorned with flowers, rhinestone birds and even a sweet lady bug.

The Jewelry Box also includes a beautiful 3 strand glass pearl collar with a crystal vintage clasp. So pretty for a summer wedding or for a black-tie event.

These days vintage jewelry fiends can't get enough of John Wind Maximal Art. The line was even featured in InStyle magazine in May 2010 for a gold-plated daisy necklace with crystals for a mere $59. Pieces from the collection have also graced the pages of O Magazine, Brides, Country Living, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

When it comes to vintage jewelry, John Wind finds a way to make everything old new again. The end result is a beautiful collection of truly timeless pieces.

Want to Socialize?

Follow John Wind Maximal Art on Twitter by clicking here.

LIKE John Wind on Facebook by clicking here.

Madonna Launches Material Girl

Exactly one month from today Madonna will debut her new clothing line, Material Girl, in 200 Macys stores nationwide. The line will include clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories and handbags and may expand into additional categories including fragrance. Designed for teens on a budget price points for the line will be between $12-$40 with some speciality items retailing as high as $80. The marketing campaign will begin in late July with ads in Teen Vogue, Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Nylon, and Instyle. When asked to describe the Material Girl customer, Madonna told Women's Weary Daily: "A Material Girl is interested in fashion and interested in music and interest in fun." Enough said. Can't wait to see the collection! Follow the line on Twitter @materialgirlcol

5 Perfect 4th of July Dresses

It's 4th of July weekend and that means: beer, barbeque and breezy summer dresses! (Three of my favorite things!) Here are my 5 top dress picks for all of your crazy 4th of July weekend plans

When it comes to the Backyard BBQ you need a dress that's fun and carefree. This hot pink dress by Free People features pretty polka dots printed on lightweight jersey. The lace trimmed v-neck is oh-so-sweet and the button placket gives the dress a cool and casual vibe. Pair this with some gold sandals + jewelry and you're ready to go!

If you're beach bound this holiday weekend I recommend a colorful cotton tunic to keep you covered while you stroll the boardwalk and the beach. Add a straw beach bag, an oversized hat, some big sunglasses and a pair of simple sandals and you're ready to roll.

If you're headed to an outdoor patio party then you'll want an outfit that you can dress up or down depending on the crowd and of course, the location. I like this maxi dress from JB by Julie Brown. Pair with some black gladiator sandals and you're all set.

If there's an outdoor summer concert in your future you need a dress that is light and leisurely. I like this tank dress by Hale Bob with an abstract print and a pleated empire waist. I love the oversized butterflies!

And last but not least, if you have no idea what you're doing this weekend but still want a great dress that can go anywhere, I recommend this turquoise jersey dress with a beaded detail by Tbags. It's cool and casual without looking overdone. Add a pair of gold sandals and a fistful of bangle bracelets and you're ready to celebrate the 4th.

Have a Safe and Stylish 4th of July!