Oy but why should we stop there? It’s time to roll out our Monthly Fashion Themes, and with this being usually the chilliest month- here we go with our debut of January: Cold Weather Clothes!

Stay tuned for facts, figures and anything else warm and interesting about how we dress and prepare for cold weather.

Fashion Societé appreciates when hot New York restaurants, including Crown, Cain, The Dutch and Locanda Verde offer superb values on their wine lists~

Scribbling in her Moleskine notebook on a plane ride back from a wine festival, Jordan Salcito, the wine director of New York’s Crown restaurant, had an epiphany.

“I wanted to make wine approachable,” she says. “Wine is still an intimidating subject and sommeliers are often stereotyped as being stuffy.”

With a mission to democratize the art of appreciating wine, Salcito launched her own label called Bellus, a Tuscan red made from Sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot grapes that pairs well with tomato-based foods, red meats, charcuterie and poultry.

Hoping to “empower people to learn their own likes and dislikes,” while extracting wine’s “intimidation factor,” Salcito teamed up with designer Tory Burch to conceptualize the bottle’s label, which succinctly quantifies the wine’s level of acidity, body, tannins, minerality, oak and complexity.

“Tory has been super supportive. She lent me one of her designers for the label to make it more polished,” Salcito says. “In return, I gave back to her foundation.”

For every bottle of Bellus sold, Salcito will donate 75 cents to the Tory Burch foundation. If all 20,000 bottles sell, Burch can expect a hefty $15,000 donation — which is a distinct likelihood — considering the wine’s $19.99 price tag.

Starting today, Bellus will be available exclusively through Gilt Taste for three days. After that, it can be bought through Crush Wine Company and Belluswines.com. Bellus, which means “beautiful’”in Latin, will also be sold at Crush Wine’s retail store in Midtown Manhattan for $22.99, and at select New York restaurants, including Crown, Cain, The Dutch and Locanda Verde.

“I really wanted to create something with superb quality and a really accessible price point,” says the passionate Salcito. “What I love about wine is that there’s no such thing as knowing everything about it. There are so many different regions. Things are always changing. Wine has such history.”

Fashion, taste and style are commonly interchangeable words. Yet they’re quite different elements. After all, Fashion is material expression of the current time– garments are chosen to be worn to clothe, through offerings by designers/retailers who feel it will sell. Taste is the preference for a particular design. Tastes range widely to the extent that the “best taste” is usually considered one’s own.  Style is the most complex derivative of clothing and expression. Dressing codes are combined into types, take on a name, become recognizable, and are often associated with groups of people.  But the true essence of style- whether it’s worn, a common thread in music, or found in an author’s work- is a free use of the proper which German poet Friedrich Holderlin explains is the freedom to break rules. Whether a person is “well-dressed” is often a unique interpretation of this 3 element-combo.

With reality TV hosts mocking then transforming the lucky subject to the glee of the family, how many of us can relate to that poor soul when he/she first appears? Their taste is bashed, their possessions discarded and a new style is handed to them. Do we take notes throughout so that we improve upon the end credits, or do we watch for giggles? Personally, I love “How Do I Look?” and  I’ll never give up my subscription to Marie Claire or Lucky. Time spent with these are rewards for tasks such as writing this.  With popularity such as Elle‘s- the largest with 42 international editions in over 60 countries, we can expect to see the new trends, the newest it bags, and fresh ways to put it all together better. With all the coverage and “suggestions” we are led to internalize this ourselves- whether its back to a familiar rut or an actual seasonal metamorphosis.

How’s that going? Magazines work. Shows entertain. It’s basically passive stuff. I believe we need to get proactive. After all, these economic times require all we’ve got.

First published November 7, 2011 in womenpartner.org.

Having an image that is of a consistently high standard projects a message of quality and self confidence; it increases your responsiveness to your clients and colleagues, and removes the attention of yourself and onto the needs of the ones you are serving.

As people begin to see your name and become aware of the benefits and knowledge that you offer, before you know it thousands of people will not only know who you are but they will begin to seek out your services and expertise. They will identify with your brand which is you.

1.  Don’t overlook the power of a good first impression. People make amazing assumptions about your professional  credibility and potential performance based upon your appearance during a first meeting. It’s very difficult to overcome a poor first impression, regardless of your knowledge or expertise.

2.  Be notable! Identify the components that differentiate you. How do you stand out among the other options? Perfect an eloquent descriptive and memorable introduction of yourself and your position. To promote yourself effectively, you must know (and be able to articulate) who you are and why you do what you do.

3. Ultimately, it is always the person who dignifies the position, and not the position that dignifies the person. If we want others to take us seriously and view us as a professional, we must first view ourselves as one.

4. Body language is defined as a type of communication between one or more persons which does not utilize verbal words. Instead, body language is read by each person by carefully watching the facial  expressions, hand gestures, posture, and movements made by another person.  Body language can dominate the spoken words.

5. Raise your professional and personal standards until even you are impressed. The pursuit of excellence is not only politically correct it is also highly profitable. Do not settle for mediocrity.

6. You are always making visual statements. No matter where you are going or what you are doing, you are telling people something about yourself.  Thinking “big picture” means that to get where you want to be in three years, for example, you may have to pay extra close attention to those visual statements you are making today.

7. Invest in quality instead of quantity. Have clarity about the purpose you are buying for. Don’t spend money on something that doesn’t look great on you even if it’s almost free! Dress better than you have to and don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd.

8. One of the main elements of an introduction is your smile, or at the very least, a pleasant facial expression. A smile sends a positive message and adds warmth and an aura of confidence. Others will be more receptive if you remember to check your expression.

9. Managing your attitude is an important business tool for every successful leader.  Your attitude is infectious and drives behavior, make it work for you.

10. There is power in perception. To those you meet, how you are perceived is who you are. What kind of image are you projecting? Remember, your career could depend on it.

Charmaine conducts transformational Image & Etiquette consultations worldwide through teleseminars, phone coaching and face-to-face consultations.  Her head office is based in Toronto, Canada.   http://www.advanceimageconsulting.ca

Through her column in Features, Patty is in charge of spreading the urban style of trendy women in order to inspire and… of course, entertain. She chooses 4 from many, and arranges them on the page so that their head-to-toe sartorial choices are in full view. Each woman gives a translation of her look, and Patty shares their mood alongside the photo. Her favorite “interview” so far has been a mother-daughter combo, where the senior of the pair (Mom) was dressed colorfully, looking vibrant and energetic. The younger half was all in black– completely comfortable in classic New York chic!

With some columnists’ sour outlooks on fashion caused by the volatile economy, sitting with Patty was really refreshing– she reaches outside the box, and gathers her arsenal of special, unique subjects from places we don’t normally expect to see a array of high style. A teen trip to the Bronx Museum resulted in a wealth of great subjects! Furthermore, this pretty young lady does all her own photography- carrying around her Nikon D90 DSLR- and never photoshopping anyone– it’s all naturalll! Enjoy our choice of selections from Patty’s many columns below~

See Foodspotting   South Bronx Style    Staten Island’s Vibrancy

I'm one of forty plus women selected by the Women's News Bureau!

I’m proud to be one of forty plus women selected by the Women’s News Bureau to follow on LinkedIn today.

The Women’s News Bureau (http://womenpartner.org) has gathered over 40 women for you to network with today on LinkedIn to help you maximize your membership.  Read their news snippets and invite them to connect.  Then strike up a conversation about collaborating to introduce each other to your respective clients.

1. Women ages 20 to 36.

2. Women whose look could use some freshening up.  Maybe she thinks mom jeans are ironically cool (they’re not), or darkens her eyebrows with a Sharpie (true story), or is holding on to a hairstyle that made her hot ten years ago (but isn’t doing much for her these days).  The more outrageous her fashion or beauty transgressions the better. Don’t worry about offending her–she’ll be too excited about getting a makeover to be upset.

3. Women who could use some pampering. Perhaps she’s a single mom, or she’s fighting cancer, or she’s putting herself through college singlehandedly, or she lost her job earlier this year.  We want to make her feel amazing for a day.

4. Live in the New York City area (surrounding states are fine).

Do you know someone who meets ALL these requirements?  Please email us if you do (YES, you can nominate yourself), or pass this post on so they can respond to the questions.

Send an email that answers the following questions to fashionsocietenyc@gmail.com by Thursday, September 22 at 12 noon EST.

Name:
Age:
City, State:
Email address:
Why she NEEDS a makeover:
Why she DESERVES a makeover:

If you were only going to buy one style of handbag this fall, what would it be and why?

Anytime I am faced with the dilemma of choosing just one option of any particular item—I often encounter this predicament when traveling—my instinct is to always go with the most classic, versatile choice. So if I was going to carry only one handbag all fall, I can say without hesitation that it would definitely be a tote!

While shoulder bags, lady bags, and oversized clutches are also very on-trend this season, a tote, which has always been my #1 arm candy of choice, is the most essential option to accommodate all of your belongings while you’re on-the-go. (New moms take note: they are a fabulous alternative or addition to a diaper bag to stow all of your baby gear!)

Breaking down a few different styles, my top pick would be one that is solid leather, like 3.1 Phillip Lim’s , Diane von Furstenberg’s or even my personally designed , which I am currently relying on to hold all of my necessities amidst the NYFW mayhem!

Other tote-ally chic options to love include any that incorporate the coveted color-block trend. DKNY shows us how it’s done with their , while Pour La Victoire’s Bordeaux Medium Tote and ASOS are equally gorgeous interpretations of the look. Finally, I could never forget to mention a few exotic choices à la Malene Birger’s Reptile Nylon Tote and Nine West’s Island House Large Shopper. What will you be toting around this fall? xo RZ

Fashion Societe and Stylista Shopping Tours present – Sep 23 2011 | Crain’s New York Business.

It’s next Tuesday night September 13th at 7PM on West 36th Street… a few tickets are still available.  And to warm up for it check out this great find from Glamour:

Psst! How Do You Feel About Dirty Talk? : glamour.com.

Seduction is about attracting someone to you by offering the promise of what they want. Any advertising expert will tell you to sell the dream, not the product.

Recipe for seduction:

Start with a specimen that caught your eye at the market. Add flirting to make it interesting. Fold in spontaneity to make it come alive. Next, pour on playfulness, a bit of intrigue, a dash of dramatic flourish, a sprinkle of glamour, a heaping spoonful of kindness, stir in some generosity and let simmer. Now blend in food, wine and spirits to make it especially delicious. Whisk in interesting ensembles that beckon to be touched for texture. A dab of fragrance to awaken the senses, candle light for glow and music to suite your taste. A bit of dancing if you dare! Now turn up the heat! Presentation is crucial, serve warm with imagination. Garnish with a sense of adventure. Enjoy!

5 Pet Peeves about Business Cards

NAFE member Linda Hollander, the Wealthy Bag Lady, is a 20-year entrepreneur and author of the best-seller, Bags to Riches: 7 Success Secrets for Women in Business. She teaches entrepreneurial women about small business success and is the founder of the Women’s Small Business Expo. Here are her suggestions for creating a professional and effective business card.

Business cards are your chance to make a brilliant first impression that will either lead to profits or frustration. When a person views your business card, you want them to know immediately about what you do, if you can help them, and how they can contact you. Sounds simple, right? Here are some of the most common mistakes:

1. CROSS-OUTS WRITTEN OVER IN PEN. The most egregious mistake! If your phone number or email has changed, please print new business cards. Don’t use a pen to cross out and write the current information.

2. CONTACT INFORMATION IS MISSING. A card with no physical address brands you as a teeny tiny micro-business. If you’re a home-based business, I don’t recommend giving the address of your house – but there are alternatives. Private mailbox rental locations are great because they also accept packages. You can get a post office box, or use a friend’s office as a physical address. When I read your business card, I also want your phone number, fax, web site and email address. Without your email, you look like a dinosaur. If you have a web site, don’t just list it – give people a reason to go there (free report, articles, tips, etc.)

3. MORE THAN 3 PHONE NUMBERS. Too Much Information. Choose the best phone numbers to reach you. I don’t list my cell; I forward my calls to my cell phone if I’m out of the office. If you’ve read my book, Bags to Riches, you know that I’m not a fan of the combination phone/fax. If you’re serious about your business, invest in a dedicated fax line.

4. FONTS THAT ARE HARD TO READ. Fancy fonts for your logo are great, but please choose a standard font for the contact information on your business card. Arial and Times Roman are clean and convey credibility. Another common mistake is colored type too light to read. I’ve seen yellow type on a white background too many times to count. One more point: the difference between a professional designer and a hack is the use of negative space. A beginner crams too much information on the card, creating clutter.

5. NICKNAMES. The name on the top of the card says Elizabeth “Betty” Jones. I have no idea what name to use. Am I crossing the line if I use your nickname? Is Betty only for your close friends? Which name do you prefer? Please pick one name and use it on your business card.

ALWAYS carry your business cards. Your business cards won’t work unless you do. (If you meet people who don’t have their business cards, ask them to write their contact information on the back of yours.) Now, go out there and network!

1. Be comfortable with yourself. Remember your mother saying beauty is within? Well honey, she couldn’t be more right. Confidence is one of the best accessories a girl can have in life and that holds true for pictures, too.
2. Play up your assets. Are your eyes Miami Beach blue? Your smile megawatt? Understand what traits are your best and show them off.
3. Know your angles. Most of us do have “a good side” and its up to us to find what that side is. A camera’s eye is different when it sees you head on, from the side, or above or below your eyeline. Find out which angle is the best one for you and stick with it.
4. Shift your weight. Situate yourself so that one leg stands in front of the other and your weight rests on your back foot with your whole body standing at a soft angle. Not only does this create a slimming effect but it is also a more natural head-to-toe stance.
5. Practice in a mirror. Hey, the models do it, too!
6. Relax. Figure out what triggers make you mellow—thoughts of cool winds on the beach, the smell of fall’s changing leaves, Brad Pitt’s butt in tight denim (ahhh). Think of this trigger for your next picture and you’ll have calm, cool, and collected written all over your face.
7. Think like a model. Make your signature poses second nature and you’ll never have a bad shot again. Models go from chatting to posing to eating to posing to sleeping to posing seamlessly! In time, you won’t be waking up for less than $10,000 a day either.

What a fabulous event last night in Soho at Arrojo with the NYC Fashion Bloggers Meetup Group.  Enjoyed the tousled curls hair styling from Arrojo’s Gardner, and my style consultation from Emily.. really re-thinking my do after our chat!

Lora Condon read from her book Spa Wars – The Ugly Truth about the Beauty Industry – which was hilarious. The book is quite an entertaining read.

J. Rudy Lewis’s new collection was SO unique- I will wear their earrings  tonight and have a yearning for the wide cuffs forged from sterling silver with 18K yellow gold accents set with rough diamonds– looks like it is ancient, hugely stylish and could have been buried treasure.

Yanil, Monroe and Sahra were warm hostesses – it was fun getting the group shots with the crowd and LaDorian ~

Editor Reardon chose the younger Miss Middleton as a cover girl with the caption”Pippa: The Bottom Line.”  She did so because Pippa “has no security protection, has no advice on how to deal with the media, yet always looks cheerful, graceful and enthusiastic.”  This correlates into her concept for the Tattler: “The most fun girl at the party, not the rich girl you want to slap.”

uncomplicated chic

What is your signature summer style? C’mon, we all have one. Well, if you haven’t figured out what yours is yet, there’s still time! And thanks toThe New York Times Magazine you’ve got some inspiration to help get you there. Maybe you’re a hot weather siren, draped in crimson as the temperature rises. Or are you currently trapped in electric ladyland mixing bright accent with bold garment. Personally, we’re spending this summer both uncomplicated and chic with distressed boyfriend jeans, feminine heels, and blousy tops a la Katie Holmes. Whether you’re ready to change up your style halfway through the season or just need a little motivation to bring this summer home, T magazine has it in their Summer Style article. See ya under the sun, gorgeous.

hair: Nanette Lepore, fall 2011; dress: Marc by Marc Jacobs

We’re always itchin’ for a little extra advice and what could be better than nearly a week’s worth of hair and dress combinations? Be still our beating fashion heart! Refinery29.com doesn’t disappoint with their collection of matching looks and we’re bringing them right to you. Whether parisian prep or total flower girl, summertime is here and there are fashion and beauty ideas aplenty! The best part about this gallery is that it draws from the runway and translates those sometimes wild looks into practical ensembles with all the product haircare details you need. Which combo are we ready to piece together? Twist our hair into a nouveau braid a la Nanette Lepore’s fall 2011 runway and give us a geometric printed dress to drape ourselves in. Now if we only had a party to go to with brightly colored cocktails…