NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

THIS WILL BE THE LAST BLOG I WRITE IN 2009. I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING, "BUT ISN'T TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY?" WELL KIDDIES, I WILL BE DRUNK TOMORROW AND, THANKS TO MY TAILOR WHO IS CURRENTLY HOLDING MY NEW YEARS DRESS HOSTAGE UNTIL MONDAY, I WILL MOST LIKELY BE NAKED.

EVERY YEAR PEOPLE MAKE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS AND BREAK THEM. I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT I AM INCREDIBLY LAZY AND HYPOCRITICAL, SO I NEVER EVEN BOTHERED. BUT HEY, NEW DECADE, NEW START.

NUMBER 1

CAREER:

I WILL HAVE ONE.

NUMBER 2

MY LINE:

JACK GERMAIN HANDBAGS HAS SURVIVED ANOTHER YEAR. MY PHOTOS NEVER DID MAKE IT UP ON MY WEBSITE BEFORE THE END OF THE DECADE, BUT HEY, WE'RE ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD AN EPIPHANY ABOUT MY HANDBAGS AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE EPIPHANY I HAD IS THAT THEY AREN'T REALLY GOING ANYWHERE. THERE WAS MORE DEMAND THAN MY NIMBLE FINGERS COULD HANDLE, AND THEREFORE, I HAVE DECIDED TO DOWNSIZE. NOT IN CREATING, BUT IN ACTUAL SIZE. SMALL LEATHER GOODS- IT'S THE NEW PLASTIC (GRADUATE REFERENCE, PLEASE TELL ME YOU GOT THAT..). MY RESOLUTION IS TO WORK MY ASS OFF AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I REFUSE TO BE A 25 YEAR OLD UNFAMOUS DESIGNER.

NUMBER 3

NAIL BITING & GYM:

STOP. GO.

NUMBER 4

DATES:

I WILL NOT AGREE TO GO ON THEM WHEN I'M DRUNK. AS WE'VE LEARNED, THIS LEADS TO MEN WHO MAKE COMMENTS LIKE, "ARE YOU GOING TO CRY WHEN I EAT THIS MEATBALL? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE ANIMALS.."

(WHILE WE'RE ON IT)

NUMBER 5

MEN:

TRY AND AVOID MEN WHO DON'T LIVE HERE AND WANT TO MOVE HERE FOR YOU, HAVE SECRET DRUG PROBLEMS, OR HAVE AN AFFINITY FOR GRABBING YOU INAPPROPRIATELY IN PUBLIC.

NUMBER 6

FRIENDS:

START ACCEPTING OFFERS TO SOCIALIZE AT OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES. THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO COME TO YOU AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SIT ON THE COUCH. PLUS, IT'S PRETTY EMBARRASSING WHEN PEOPLE COME OVER AND NOTICE THE ASS DENT IN THE CHAISE LOUNGE.

NUMBER 7

FAMILY:

SEE THEM MORE. ALSO, SPEND LESS TIME ARGUING IN IKEA AND MORE TIME EATING ICE CREAM SUNDAES AT THE CARLYLE.

(SUMMER 2005)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

NEW YEAR'S COCKTAILS

I HAVE THIS STRANGE HABIT OF TRYING TO MAKE ORDINARY EVENTS INTO SPECIAL OCCASIONS. ON ANY GIVEN DAY, I WILL HIT UP EAST VILLAGE CHEESE SHOP, MIX A SIGNATURE COCKTAIL AND HAVE MY FRIENDS OVER, BECAUSE HEY, THE OFFICE IS ON. SO WHEN IT COMES TO AN ACTUAL CELEBRATION, YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW CRAZY I CAN GET.

A FEW MONTHS AGO I CELEBRATED MY 24TH BIRTHDAY. IN TRADITIONAL JACK GERMAIN FASHION, I BEGAN RESEARCHING RECIPES AND COCKTAILS MONTHS PRIOR TO CREATE THE PERFECT ATMOSPHERE IN MY LITTLE L.E.S. APARTMENT. UPON THE GUESTS ARRIVAL, HORS D'OEUVRES WERE SERVED AND MY SPECIALTY GINGER AND GIN HOUSE DRINK WAS DISTRIBUTED. UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE OBSERVED THE LIQUOR-TO-DELICIOUS RATIO EXCEPT FOR ME, WHICH IS WHY I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T DIE THAT NIGHT. OKAY, SO NOBODY DIED, BUT IT WAS BAD...REAL BAD.

THAT BEING SAID, I WAS PRETTY SHOCKED WHEN MY FRIEND SARAH ASKED ME TO MAKE THE HOUSE DRINK FOR HER UPCOMING NEW YEARS EVE PARTY. AFTER ALL, SARAH WAS ONE OF THE MANY CASUALTIES FROM THAT EVENING, SO I WAS QUITE FLATTERED AND, OF COURSE, STARTED MY RESEARCH IMMEDIATELY. BELOW ARE A FEW COCKTAILS THAT WILL SURELY TAKE YOUR NEW YEARS PARTY TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU WON'T LOSE ANY FRIENDS IN THE PROCESS.

FRENCH 75

• 1 lemon
• 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) gin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) simple syrup
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) dry sparkling wine, such as brut Champagne, chilled

ZEST A LEMON TO CREATE A LONG, THIN SPIRAL. RESERVE LEMON FOR ANOTHER USE AND SET PEEL ASIDE.

IN COCKTAIL SHAKER, COMBINE GIN, LEMON JUICE, AND SIMPLE SYRUP. ADD ICE AND SHAKE VIGOROUSLY FOR 20 SECONDS.

STRAIN INTO CHILLED CHAMPAGNE FLUT AND TOP WITH SPARKING WINE.

CURL LEMON PEEL AROUND FINGER TO CREATE A TWIST. GARNISH AND SERVE IMMEDIATELY.

PISCO PUNCH

• 1 4-pound pineapple, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 750-ml bottle Pisco (SOUTH AMERICAN BRANDY)
• 2 cups Simple Syrup
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated white grapefruit peel

• 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• Ice cubes
• 12 pineapple leaves (optional)

PLEASE PINEAPPLE PIECES INTO A LARGE JAR. POUR PISCO OVER. COVER AND REFRIGERATE FOR 3 DAYS, SHAKING OCCASIONALLY. DIVIDE SIMPLE SYRUP BETWEEN 2 BOWLS. MIX GRATED LIME PEEL INTO 1 BOWL AND GRATED GRAPEFRUIT PEEL INTO THE OTHER. COVER AND REFRIGERATE BOTH SYRUPS OVERNIGHT.

STRAIN PISCO INTO PITCHER. DISCARD PINEAPPLE.

STRAIN BOTH SYRUPS INTO PISCO. ADD LEMON JUICE; STIR TO BLEND. FILL 12 SMALL GLASSES WITH ICE & PUNCH. GARNISH WITH PINEAPPLE LEAVES.

BLOOD ORANGE CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

• 1/4 cup crème de cassis (black-currant liqueur)
• 1 1/2 cups strained fresh blood orange juice (from about 6 oranges)
• 1 750-ml bottle chilled brut Champagne or dry sparkling wine
• 8 blood orange slices (optional)

SPOON 1 1/2 TEASPOONS CREME DE CASSIS INTO EACH OF 8 CHAMPAGNE FLUTES. ADD 3 TABLESPOONS JUICE TO EACH GLASS. FILL EACH GLASS WITH CHAMPAGNE, THEN STIR GENTLY. GARNISH COCKTAILS WITH SLICE OF BLOOD ORANGE.

MULLED RED WINE

• 8 whole cloves
• 4 whole black peppercorns
• 4 (3- by 1/2-inch) strips fresh lemon zest
• 4 (4- by 1/2-inch) strips fresh orange zest
• 4 cups dry red wine (from two 750-ml bottles)
• 1/2 cup kirsch or other cherry-flavored brandy
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
• 1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise

PUT CLOVES, PEPPERCORNS, AND ZEST ON CHEESECLOTH, THEN TIE CLOSED TO FORM A BAG.

COMBINE WINE, KIRSCH, WATER, SUGAR, CINNAMON STICK, VANILLA BEAN, AND CHEESECLOTH BAG IN A 4-QUART SAUCEPAN AND BRING TO A BOIL, STIRRING.

SIMMER FOR 10 MINUTES AND SERVE WARM.

*****ALL RECIPES AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF EPICURIOUS.COM*****

BEACH DRESS CODE

STEPHEN SPROUSE TOWELS. CHECK.

BLACK BIRKIN. CHECK.

MAN CANDY. CHECK.

CHRISTMAS EVE

IT'S NOT EASY BEING A JEW ON CHRISTMAS EVE. IT'S EVEN HARDER TO NOT BE A JEWISH STEREOTYPE ON CHRISTMAS EVE. TONIGHT I WENT SHOPPING FOR MYSELF, WATCHED 2 (WORKING ON 3) MOVIES, AND ATE A FALAFEL AND HUMMUS PLATTER. YUP, IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS.

THIS MORNING WAS A VERY DIFFERENT STORY. DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, NEW YORK SEEMS TO RADIATE A FEELING OF WARMTH AND LOVE. OUR CITY, WHICH HAS THE UNDESERVED REPUTATION OF BEING UNFRIENDLY, SUDDENLY SEEMS LIKE A DIFFERENT KIND OF TOWN. TODAY, IT WAS SOMEWHAT (SOMEWHAT..) OF A PLEASURE TO WAKE UP AND GET MY DAY STARTED. MARIAH CAREY'S "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS" BLASTED THROUGH MY HEADPHONES AS I DRANK MY PEPPERMINT MOCHA. CHRISTMAS WAS SO CLOSE I COULD TASTE IT, AND IT TASTED LIKE MELTED THIN MINT GIRL SCOUT COOKIES.

FLASH FORWARD A FEW HOURS TO THE FALAFEL PLATTER AND HERE I SIT WAITING FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO BE DONE WITH AND FOR ALL OF MY FRIENDS TO RETURN FROM THEIR VACATIONS. IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL SPEND MY LONG WEEKEND WITH FAMILY, MY NEWLY ARRIVED RODARTE FOR TARGET PIECES, AND STYLE.COM.

FOR MORALE'S SAKE, I HAVE COMPOSED A BEAUTIFUL ARRAY OF HOLIDAY INSPIRED PIECES FROM THE UPCOMING SPRING 10 COLLECTIONS. ENJOY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

3.1 PHILLIP LIM

BALMAIN

BURBERRY

CHANEL

CHANEL

CHRISTIAN DIOR

EDDIE BORGO

EDDIE BORGO

ERICKSON BEAMON

FENDI

LOEWE

MISSONI

PRADA

PRADA

STELLA MCCARTNEY

TOM BINNS

V MAGAZINE GOES PLUS SIZE

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY HEARD, V MAGAZINE IS COMING OUT WITH AN ISSUE THAT FEATURES ALL PLUS SIZE MODELS. AS THRILLED AS I AM TO SEE THE FASHION WORLD EMBRACING CURVES (LARA STONE = BABY STEPS) IT'S SAD THAT A MAGAZINE FEATURING PLUS SIZE MODELS HAS TO BE CONSIDERED A 'SPECIAL EDITION'. REGARDLESS, I AM COMPLETELY INTRIGUED AND HAVE BEEN WAITING ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT FOR A GLIMPSE.

EARLIER TODAY, A SNEAK PEEK OF THE ISSUE WAS RELEASED AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT LOOKS GORGEOUS. THIS PARTICULAR PHOTO SHOOT WAS SHOT BY THE BRILLIANT TERRY RICHARDSON AND FEATURES TWO MODELS IN IDENTICAL OUTFITS AND POSES, EXCEPT ONE IS PIN AND ONE IS PLUS. THE JUXTAPOSITION OF THE TWO MODELS IS REFRESHING AND IT WILL HOPEFULLY CREATE SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT (NO PUN INTENDED) FOR THE INDUSTRY AND OUR YOUTH.

SCARY CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE, WHICH MEANS ONE THING- WE FINALLY GET TO STOP SEEING THAT GAP COMMERCIAL FEATURING THOSE SCARY LITTLE CHILDREN. I MEAN, HAVE YOU SEEN THAT LITTLE BLONDE ONE SCREAM? SOMETHING ABOUT HER REMINDS ME OF...HMM...WHO IS THAT PERSON AGAIN...OH YEA, SATAN. WANT TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY? JUST SHOW THIS ADORABLE VIDEO TO SOME HIGH SCHOOLERS AND YOU'LL SCARE THE PANTS RIGHT BACK ONTO THEM!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

RODARTE FOR TARGET

I WOULDN'T GO AS FAR TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T ENJOY GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN, BUT IT SURE WAS FRUSTRATING. I FELT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WAS LIVING IN THE FASHION WORLD, WHILE I WAS JUST AN OUTSIDER SILENTLY OBSERVING. GROWING UP IN SOUTH FLORIDA FELT LIKE YOU WERE ON A PERMANENT VACATION IN A DESOLATE PLACE WITH NOT MUCH TO DO. IT CAN BE FUN FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT AFTER A WHILE, YOU JUST KIND OF WANT TO GET OUT OF THERE. MY ESCAPE PLAN WAS FOUND IN FASHION MAGAZINES, THE OSCARS AND NEIMAN MARCUS FASHION SHOWS. LIKE ANY SMALL TOWN GIRL WOULD AGREE, YOU WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL YOU CAN WORK WITH IT ALL.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE LIVED AT HOME AND AS THE YEARS TICK ON BY, IT'S EASIER TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF A SMALL TOWN LIFE. THIS NOTION BECAME INCREASINGLY APPARENT THIS MORNING AS I AWOKE TO FIND HALF OF THE RODARTE FOR TARGET COLLECTION TO BE SOLD OUT. ONE CALL TO MY MOTHER BACK IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND SHE WAS AT THE CLOSEST SUPER TARGET WITH THE ENTIRE COLLECTION IN HER HANDS. IT AMAZES ME THAT ONLY A YEAR AGO, MY MOTHER COULD BARELY SEND AN EMAIL AND NOW SHE CAN FILL UP MY ENTIRE INBOX WITH PICTURES FROM HER IPHONE.

RODARTE HAS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE DESIGNERS SINCE THEY BURST ONTO THE SCENE IN 2005. THE LINE IS CREATED BY SISTERS LAURA AND KATE MULLEAVY WHO, LIKE ME, ARE ALSO FROM A SMALL(ISH) TOWN. THE MULLEAVY SISTERS HAD NO FORMAL EDUCATION IN REGARDS TO FASHION AND THEY TAUGHT THEMSELVES HOW TO DRAPE AND CREATE BY GOING TO THE LIBRARY. THEY MADE CONNECTIONS ANY WAY THEY COULD AND EVEN SENT OUT LITTLE PAPER DOLLS WITH MINIATURE VERSIONS OF THEIR CLOTHING. WITH ALMOST NO HEADS UP, THEY WERE ASKED TO BRING THEIR WORK OVER TO THE OFFICE OF ANNA WINTOUR, AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

ALTHOUGH I HAD ALREADY SEEN THE LOOKBOOK FOR THE COLLECTION, IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING TO SEE THE PRODUCT IN THE FLESH. BELOW ARE A FEW ITEMS THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING IN MY CLOSET:

HOLIDAY TABLE SETTING

I MAY NEED TO THROW A PARTY JUST TO REPLICATE THIS GORGEOUS TABLE SETTING FROM ELLE DECORATION MAGAZINE:

PHOTO CREDIT: IDIY.COM

OSCAR DE LA RENTA PRE-FALL 2010

NOTHING GETS ME MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS THAN WATCHING OSCAR DE LA RENTA'S SPARKILY DRESSES PARADE DOWN THE RUNWAY. FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF SEASONS, THE FASHIONABLE HIERARCHY HAVE BEEN GIVING US CLOTHES THAT ARE SAFE. CLOTHES THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER IN OUR CLOSETS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TOO CRAZY AND NOT TOO DULL- THEY'RE JUST RIGHT...FOR RIGHT NOW. BUT WHAT WE'VE COME TO LEARN FROM STOCKING OUR CLOSETS WITH THE PERFECT BLACK DRESS AND THE PERFECT TAILORED JACKET IS- WE NEED SOME MOTHER F-ING COLOR UP IN HERE.

MR. DE LA RENTA IS HERE TO SAVE THE DAY WITH INFLUENCES FROM THE 50'S, 60'S, 70'S, PATTERN, OMBRE, BEADS, GLITZ, GLAMOUR, AND COLORS FROM ALL OVER THE SPECTRUM! OKAY, NOW THAT I'M ALL RILED UP, LET'S GET TO THE GOOD STUFF...

THE SHOW STARTS OUT WITH PATTERN, SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER BEEN A HUGE FAN OF, BUT EVEN I CAN GET DOWN WITH SOME IKAT AND SUZANI EMBROIDERY. AND JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THIS COLLECTION FOR A LITTLE NEON, HE THROWS IN THIS NUMBER..

I LOVE WHEN FLOURESCENTS ARE SO BRIGHT THAT YOU CAN BARELY TELL WHAT COLOR THEY ARE. IS IT ORANGE? IS IT HOT PEACH? WHATEVER IT IS, IT LOOKS INSANELY DELIGHTFUL NEXT TO THAT BLUSH PINK BLOUSE. THIS OUTFIT TAKES THE COLLECTION INTO A SEA OF BRIGHTS THAT ANYONE WOULD WANT TO DROWN IN.

THE COLLECTION IS FINISHED OFF WITH OSCAR'S SIGNATURE BEADED PARTY DRESSES IN BLUSHY TONES, LACE, AND MY FAVORITE, OMBRE.

PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

WITH THE HOLIDAYS IN FULL GEAR AND AWARD SHOW SEASON JUST AROUND THE CORNER, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OSCAR, FOR REINVIGORATING OUR LIVES AND BRINGING LIFE BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY.

OBSESSION #1: LADY GAGA

I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO LADY GAGA ABOUT TWO APARTMENTS AGO BY A FRIEND OF A FRIEND. I WAS DISCUSSING MY DESPERATE NEED FOR SOME NEW MUSIC WHEN SHE SHOWED ME A MUSIC VIDEO CREATED BY A GIRL WHO WENT TO HER HIGH SCHOOL. SHE PUT ON LADY GAGA'S 'JUST DANCE' VIDEO AND MY MIND WAS OFFICIALLY BLOWN. FROM THE MOMENT I WITNESSED MISS GAGA DRY HUMPING A BLOW UP SHAMU IN A KIDDIE POOL, I KNEW I WAS IN LOVE.

THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS TO LOVE LADY GAGA THAT EXTEND FAR BEYOND HER FASHION PROWESS. SHE IS A STRONG GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST WHO ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO NEVER HIDE THEIR REAL SELVES AND TO TAKE PRIDE IN WHO THEY ARE. DURING THE HOLIDAYS, SHE IS MATCHING UP TO $25,000 IN DONATIONS MADE TO YOUTH HOMELESS SHELTERS IN THE US. AND NOW, SHE IS THE FACE OF MAC'S VIVA GLAM SPRING 2010 CAMPAIGN, WHERE 100% OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO THE MAC AIDS FUND. THE MAC AIDS FUND HAS RAISED OVER $150 MILLION SINCE 1994 AND HELPS TO SUPPORT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS WORLDWIDE.

'VIVA GLAM GAGA' WILL BE RELEASED ON MARCH 18TH, AND YES, I WILL BE IN LINE WITH ALL OF THE 'LITTLE MONSTERS' JUST WAITING TO GET SOME GAGA ON MY LIPS.

PRINGLE PRE-FALL 2010

PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

AS MUCH AS I LOVE FASHION THAT IS MORE ARTWORK THAN CLOTHING, I CAN GET JUST AS EXCITED ABOUT A COLLECTION THAT IS COMPLETELY WEARABLE. THE PRINGLE PRE-FALL 2010 COLLECTION SPICES UP BASICS WITH LASER CUT KNITS AND STRUCTURED OUTWEAR. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES FROM THE COLLECTION IS THE LEATHER KILT SHOWN IN A DUSTY TEAL. IT ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE WHEN GOOD CLOTHES CROSS OVER TO THE DARK SIDE.