HP Project Runway Party

At Style Coalition Lounge testing the HP TouchSmart. I'm in the background talking about how I want Bert to win. 

Last week I attended the Project Runway Season 9 premiere viewing party at the Style Coalition lounge, and got a chance to try out HP's TouchSmart desktop. There was a Project Runway-like design challenge going on, but my artistic ability is limited to stick figures so I sat that one out. However, as mom to a girl who loves to draw and is obsessed with my iPhone, this HP desktop is a potential lifesaver. I can see her spending a good hour creating on that screen, and hey, that's stimulating and educational, right?

The winner of the challenge, Clutch 22's Jordana, drawing right on the screen. Users have multiple options with drawing tools and colors. Also, note the lack of tower. It's all inside, a big yes for us apartment dwellers.

Where on 34th Street can a chic tech mom get the desktop preferred by Project Runway? B&H Photo and Video, of course. B&H is the fashion industry's go-to tech and photography resource. Just ask any Fashion Week photographer or international blogger if they visit B&H before, during, and/or after NY Fashion Week, and you'll hear Yes.

Dying to try your chops on a Runway Design Challenge? Go here and enter to win a TouchSmart PC or EliteBook Tablet and learn more about all of HP's Project Runway tech tools.


B&H Photo & Video 420 Ninth Avenue between 33rd & 34th Streets

Same Day Beauty From Sephora

Have you heard about Sephora's new Same Day Beauty service, available in Manhattan? It's makeup delivery, people! Yes, beauty delivered to your doorstep. Or your lobby if you have a doorman. If not, make them come to your office. I'd bet a hundred that we've all experienced beauty package theft. It really makes you lose faith in the humanity of your fellow loft dwellers (ahem 63 North 3rd Street circa 7 years ago) when your skincare product mysteriously never arrives.

Yes, there are days you can't make it to 34th Street and shop our gorgeous Sephora located between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. I forgive you. So while you're lying on your couch, stuck home sick, or feeling like you can't bear to go outside during a heat wave, pick up the phone and order yourself a nice cheer-me-up. And that Sephora Mini? If I can wear the chauffeur hat I want the job.

Call 1-877-SEPHORA for same-day delivery

Get Your Friends & Family Early At Gap Herald Square

Today and tomorrow you can pre-shop Gap Herald Square's Friends and Family before the actual event begins on Thursday, August 4th. Just visit Gap Herald Square (you can also call ahead for an appointment at 212-760-1268), pick out what you want, and the store will hold your merchandise with payment information for a completed purchase pick-up during F&F this Thursday through Sunday.

Why do I want to go two days early, you ask? Because you need to jump on this:

Gap Edition leather jacket: A little unzipped...and all zipped up.

My full-length, dressing room mug shot. I love this jacket so much I'm oversharing it with you.

Gap Herald Square has some great items in store now. The above brown leather Edition jacket is $298. To properly prepare for fall weather, get this lightweight jacket, too (reg. $69.95):

The red/orange tank is on the sale rack for $14.99, and the wide-leg khakis are $49.94. 

I don't care if this jacket looks like the Isabel Marant style everyone knocked off last year, I adore it, the fit is great, and it's a total closet keeper. Meaning I don't know why you would ever purge this from your wardrobe.

 Gap Herald Square
 60 W. 34th Street at Broadway

Forever 21 in Jumpsuits

During an accessories trip to Forever 21 last week, when I was helping a colleague shop for an upcoming wedding event, I spotted this disco-era, Mary McFadden-esque jumpsuit and knew I had to come back and try it on.

Here are the bangles....and here is the jumpsuit. For those of you not familiar with designer Mary McFadden, she is associated with accordion pleats, goddess looks, and, allegedly, 11 ex-husbands.

Yeah, I like the concept but it didn't work so much for me. I then tried on what looked like a blue jumpsuit on the floor, that magically turned purple in the dressing room. I really dislike taking photos in F21 dressing rooms. The lighting is, *ahem*, crap! But their bangle selection was very cute. And I'm still wondering if I should have bought this jumpsuit...both are $24.80.

Forever 21 50 W. 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues 

34th Street Weekend Sales Picks: Summer Sale Countdown

#1. JCPenney

Because their MNG by Mango dresses are marked down (see below), and pretty much everything else is, too! Last chance for some cute summer looks.  Manhattan Mall lower levels 1 & 2, 33rd Street & Broadway

#2. WHO.A.U
Because they have the cutest striped strapless rompers for $19.50, summer dresses are 30% off, and girl's swimwear is 30% off.  22 W. 34th Street

#3. Gap
Because not only are there racks of basic T's, tanks, and jeans on sale, but when you buy two regularly priced items, you get the third free. And there are lots of pretty new styles in store (ahem studded cross-body bags).  60 W. 34th Street

#UGGSocialista = Fabulista Fun

SocialistaNY's Amy of Midtown Girl on UGGAustralia terrace

Gorgeous Midtown Girl hosted her first Socialista event this last Tuesday with UGG Australia on their beautiful showroom terrace, and it was pretty fabulista. If you're a fashion blogging, "social media fashionista" type you need to join this group.

Loved meeting Kimmie from Kitten Lounge and always love seeing Jenni from I Spy DIY!

This shot is from UGG Australia's showroom in Midtown, where we headed soon as the rain came pouring down. I'm doing my trademark "eyes-closed" pose. I do this exclusively in the fashion blogging world, it's all mine, ladies. What am I wearing, you ask? 34th Street, of course! The shoes are from Pierre Hardy's first Gap collaboration (old), the pants are from Strawberry Manhattan Mall (new), the shirt is from H&M (old), and I just got the jacket Monday from H&M. I love this cropped H&M jacket. It's $29.95 from the first floor of the Herald Square store.

Here are some other things I love from the UGG Australia showroom.

I've said this before, but let me reiterate here: UGG Australia is not just about the classic UGG anymore. Kimmie and I discussed this at great length: we will always have a classic UGG boot in our closets. We need them for snow, snowed-in weekends, and cozy snow days. But the leather UGGs and small but well-edited collection of  jackets, vests, and accessories (available at their Madison Avenue store) need to be shopped. I fell in love with their leather boots, etc. at the Madison store opening, and the Socialista party just confirmed my enthusiasm. I really love me some UGG. 

For more #UGGSocialista photos check out UGG Australia's Facebook page

Kimono Jsuits, Really

It's jumpsuits like this that make me think perhaps I should just pack it all in and start a 34th Street H&M Tumblr.

This is from the Herald Square store, first floor, front middle section. Even though it's small for me, and even though the shoes I was wearing yesterday don't go with, it's still freaking awesome. This is a GREEN KIMONO STYLE JUMPSUIT. If there was a size 10 I'd say bury me in this. But there are no 10's, just this lone 8 (as of yesterday afternoon), several 2's, 4's, and a couple 6's.

This will go down in my H&M lore with drop crotch baby pants (below, 0-3 months, from September 2010) and, of course, the drop crotch maternity pants I still wear now for the gym, and to bed, and maybe sometimes to work.

H&M Herald Square 34th Street and Broadway