Recessionista: The Laptop Yoga Retreat

What: The good people behind website Yoga Today, based in scenic Jackson Hole, offer a new one-hour yoga class every day at a very nice price: free. This week’s innovative offerings include “Yoga for Skiers and Snowboarders” and “A Connection Between Star Wars and Yoga.” However, I’ve got my eye on “Energizing the Body, Relieving Fatigue.” The Grand Tetons soaring majestically in the background are a nice touch.

Why: Because since having my first baby in April, my two-times-a-week yoga practice has been all but obliterated. It’s been five months since I’ve stepped foot in a studio.

Where: At yogatoday.com, streaming on my laptop every Saturday morning when the babe and his daddy are at swimming lessons.—Nicole Phelps

Photo: Courtesy of Yoga Today

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—Nicole Phelps

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The Kennys’ Latest Konvert

The rise of twin Jerseyite models Ann (right) and Kirby Kenny continues. Their latest admirer is Hedi Slimane, who shot a series of the sisters together for his updated-when-he-feels-like-it Fashion Diary. They’ve already bedeviled Miuccia Prada (who chose Ann for Prada and Kirby for Miu Miu) and our own model-watcher Romney Leader (who included them in her top 10 models of Fall 2010 list); now Slimane—world domination (or at least a few blue-chip campaigns) is sure to follow.

Photo: Hedi Slimane

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Evan Rachel Wood In Alessandra Rich – Elle’s 18th Annual Women in Hollywood Tribute

Whilst most people wore Calvin Klein to Elle’s 18th Annual Women in Hollywood Tribute in Beverly Hills yesterday evening, it was Evan Rachel Wood who unsurprisingly stepped out of the box.

The actress wore her third Alessandra Rich Fall 2011 dress to this event, following the gorgeous looks she wore at ‘The Ides Of March’ Venice Film Festival premeire and the ‘Mildred Pierce Venice Film Festival premiere.

Her full-length black sleeveless dress was paired with Giuseppe Zanotti cut-out ankle boots and a long silver necklace with a pendant.

The dress is majorly lacking a wow factor for me. Even with the sheer panels on the side.

I wish she added some inspiring accessories.

Credit: Alessandra Rich.com & Getty

“A Nightmare On Elm Street” LA Premiere – Rooney Mara In Alberta Ferretti

Rooney Mara is very much the new kid on the block.

The young actress is the star of “A Nightmare On Elm Street” – yes they are still going – which had its LA premiere last night.

For her first major movie premiere she glowed wearing an Alberta Ferretti Spring 2010 dress.

The crepe pleated ivory dress has an apricot apron like overlay which ties to the waist.

I love the jeweled hair accessory which holds back her enviable thick wavy hair.

The look is perfected with a champagne clutch, nude Louboutin’s, Dana Rebecca ring and a red lips.

A+ for the first time out.

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Credit: Style.com & Getty

Hublot $5 million — SOLD —

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Basel 11th of March 2012

Presented by Hublot at BaselWorld 2012 the “US$ 5 MILLION” watch – the most expensive watch of the fair – has been sold to The Hour Glass Singapore. It will be showcased first in the Hublot boutique in Marina Bay Sands and then in the Hublot corners at The Hour Glass boutiques.

It is a unique piece an exceptional and incredibly rare feat. And a completely different approach was used for its creation. Unlike an Haute Joaillerie piece where the design and technical construction are created to “emphasise and serve” stones which have already been selected the opposite approach was adopted. The diamond cutters started with a design and then found the diamonds which best matched the complex construction of the case dial and bracelet. Cutters and setters then employed all of their expertise to resize them to ensure a perfect fit.

First challenge: to develop the design of the Big Bang replica breguet watch whilst retaining its graphic codes to ensure it cohesively integrates more than 3 carats of diamonds. Once the technical design was finalised replica watches then the diamonds had to be found and combined. It took one year for the largest stones which came from all four corners of the world and the same for the 1276 others. Every stone was individually selected to ensure that all were of a consistent quality and colour. They then had to be resized one by one to make them a perfect fit for the watch. A renowned “master cutter” from New York with over 40 years’ experience was responsible for single-handedly cutting the largest GIA-certified stones to ensure they all had the same cut “signature”.

It was a lengthy process to complete: 14 months of work for all the different disciplines combined including 7 months’ work for 12 cutters and the same for the 5 setters odm sapphire watches with all the major specialists working on the piece full-time. A total of 1282 diamonds more than 100 carats of baguette diamonds a dazzling expression of the work of the best craftsmen in their field.

This watch can be considered as a veritable collection of diamonds. Like a collection of paintings. Each was individually chosen in relation to the others to create a harmonious whole. This is the most precious watch ever created by Hublot and its long-standing partner Atelier Bunter in Geneva. The diamonds selected by Hublot are all of the highest quality graded A VVS in clarity and Top Wesselton in colour.

Source: Hublot

Paula Patton In Azzaro – “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” Tokyo Photocall & Premiere

Paula Patton kick-started the press circuit for the latest ‘Mission Impossible’ film, ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’, in Japan yesterday.

The actress showed off two very different looks in Tokyo.

At the photocall Paula displayed her girly side in a grey t-shirt dress with a flared skirt, paired with a black harness belt and red suede Brian Atwood booties.

This playful silhouette paired with a high pony is exceptionally charming and daring red booties give it a fun touch.

The belt is a nice, figure-flattering touch, but seems almost a bit too heavy and competes with the shoes. That necklace is a whole other story, clashing completely, but almost in a good way.

Later on, Paula ditched the sweet look for full-on sexy, wearing a shiny black Azzaro Resort 2012 jumpsuit and silver Dolce & Gabbana pumps to the film’s Tokyo premiere.

The material of the jumpsuit seems too shiny to be leather – pleather, perhaps? PVC?

We get that Paula is playing up the femme fatale role, but this is ‘Mission Impossible’, not ‘Catwoman’.

A form-fitting pair of high quality black leather pants would’ve been much sexier.

Which of Paula’s looks do you prefer?

Credit: Image.net

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend design by Sarah Yates Photography

Your wedding is a sacred event. When you finally make it to your nuptials, the last thing you should be worrying about is the carbon footprint your walk down the aisle is playing out on the planet. Wedding flowers arguably carry the heaviest environmental impact but are also one of the easiest areas you can lighten the load. Thank goodness because next to the bride, wedding floral is the second most important belle of the ball! The following guide will help bring the greenest greens, whether you are the savvy couple looking to hire conscientious vendors or the DIY modern bride braving her own arrangements.

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend design by Sarah Yates Photography

Shop local & seasonal

The United States floral industry imports 60% of its flowers from as far away as Colombia, Kenya, and Holland and you can imagine the human and environmental resources needed to cut, process, ship, and preserve flowers in a state of suspended freshness… a 24-48 hour process over thousands of miles from growing field to supermarket. Ack!

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend design by Joielala Photographie

In just 40 years, the US has gone from producing 1.2 billion blooms of the major flowers (roses, carnations, chrysanthemums) and importing only 100 million, to currently importing two billion and growing only 200 million (see this Smithsonian article for more info). When I decided to offer green weddings, I was concerned that my local flower options would be limited. Not only did I find a vast floral palette locally available, I consistently find that the quality of fresh-from-the-field flowers far surpasses the imported — and especially the non-seasonal — varieties. Check with local floral marts or refer to online guides for a list of seasonal and if possible, locally-grown flowers. This will not only spare the environment a heavy toll but choosing seasonally will save you money.

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Photo via Utterly Engaged

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend design by Sarah Yates Photography

Go go organic

Organic flowers are slightly more challenging to procure but the greater demand brings greater supply so keep asking every chance you get. The flower industry is the number one user of agricultural chemicals; chemicals known to be extremely harmful to humans, particularly the workers who process them, and the environment as a whole. 50% of Costa Rican floraculture workers are said to suffer pesticide poisoning, floral artists often battle dermatitus, and who wants to be inhaling toxic chemicals when taking a whiff of nature’s blossoms? Ew. Buying organic supports local farmers committed to responsible farming methods, methods that yield numerous and far-reaching benefits for planet, flower, grower, processor, designer, retailer, and consumer. And it’s just a down-right kind and meaningful thing to do for your oh-so-special day.

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend design by She Wanders Photography

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend design by Scott Caligure Photography

Rethink the pruning shears

I don’t mean to sound unromantic but have you ever looked around a wedding and silently sighed at the excess waste being generated for only a matter of hours? So much planning and money for something that goes by in the blink of an eye…it just doesn’t seem fair (for the people nor the environment). One way to move beyond the rampant single-use consumerism of the wedding world is to incorporate sustainable floral.

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
JL Design by Aaron Young Photography

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Monochromatic succulent & local flower design by Tend, shot by Picotte Photography

Tip 1: Potted succulents can serve double duty as a table marker and fantastic party favor: stick an escort card in the soil and voila, folks know where to sit and get to savor their living gift for years to come (move over Jordan almonds).

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend design by Sarah Yates Photography

Tip 2: Use all or some living flora in your centerpieces and personal body flowers. Replace cut flowers with potted succulents, bromeliads, bulbs, ferns, moss, grasses, edibles, and tillandsias. Wire succulent cuttings and air plants for bouquets and boutonnieres, then return them to their natural habitat after the event.

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend designs by Scott Caligure Photography

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend designs by Scott Caligure Photography

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Living table runner by Tend and Sugar & Fluff, shot by Brandon Kidd Photography

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend succulent, local flower, & tilly design, shot by She Wanders Photography

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Kale, succulent, and tillandsia air plant design by Tend. Photography by Scott Caligure

Tip 3: Dried or preserved botanicals allow you to use out-of-season flowers with the added benefits of durability (great for hot weather conditions) with the fun of the unexpected. Preserve your own in advance or check your local floral supply or craft store for things like balsa wood flowers, strawflower, millet, lotus, echinacea and scabiosa pods, mossy branches, and amaranthus.

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Local & preserved flower, cut grass, and succulent design by Tend, photography by Kristin Genna Photography

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Tend design by Teresa Heath Photography

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Local berry & grass design by Tend, shot by Joielala Photographie

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day

Or for the crafty couple, paper flowers in the vein of installation artist Ashley Meaders can be a show-stopper and will similarly last a lifetime. Couture lovelies available here.

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Photo: Kyle Hale

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day

Tip 4: Grow your own. Cutting gardens are the ultimate way to minimize your enviro impact. Cultivating blooms from bulbs and shrubs you have grown yourself gets you top honors for both green practices and DIY effort!

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day

MilkWeed: Greening The Big Day
Cutting garden design of local succulents and protea by Tend

To love — and healthy planet — ever-lasting!

Recommended reading: The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower’s Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers, Revised and ExpandedMilkWeed: Greening The Big Day by Lynn Byczynski, The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the WorldMilkWeed: Greening The Big Day by Michael Pollan, and eco-enthused blogs such as Style Me Pretty, 100 Layer Cake, Utterly Engaged, and Green Wedding Shoes.

Cate Blanchett In Louis Vuitton – Louis Vuitton Maison Australia Opening

Cate Blanchett was on hand to help Louis Vuitton open a new boutique in Sydney, Australia earlier today.

The talented actress and object of my affection wore a Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 dress.

As much as I want to say I love this look, I just can’t.

Like Dita von Teese, Cate’s lip colour prevents her from being washed out by this white embroidered dress with a sheer overlay, but the dress itself is the issue.

The high neckline on the overlay bothers me. It feels like they forgot to cut the ‘V’ into it.

I don’t think this look is doing anything for her.

There are so many other looks I would’ve preferred from this collection for Cate. This would’ve been the last, behind the argyle romper – I kid.

White Louis Vuitton ‘Merry Go Round’ pumps, as worn by SJP earlier this week, complete her look.

Love or loathe?

Credit: Style.com & Getty

Moonlighting Models Bring Their Wares To Colette

Colette faithfully adheres to the mosh-pit school of event promotion: Position a bunch of people with interesting new ventures on the store’s upstairs fashion and art floor at bustling evening hours, have them invite all their friends, turn up the music, and watch the elbows fly to get in.Monaco-based jeweler Gaia Repossi and her new best friend, the lovely model-cum-jewelry designer Anouck Lepère, can at least say their melée was in the service of a good cause. The two joined forces to benefit the children of Rwanda, whose plight Lepère saw firsthand when she visited the country two years ago. She and Repossi commissioned Rwandan villagers to braid rope for bracelets, cuffs, and armbands, which Repossi then embellishes with silver and gold chains and sells to benefit the nonprofit Kageno (”a place of hope” in Kenyan dialect). The pieces will be available at Colette this summer and more venues in the future. And to hear the ladies talk about it, it seems like the collaboration may not be the last. “This is my first time working for a charity and what I enjoyed was producing pieces with the people,” said Lepère, who traveled with photographer Dana Lixenberg to document the project (above).Meanwhile, in another section of the store, Claudia Schiffer (above, with Carine Roitfeld) was on her own mission for quality. Schiffer’s cashmere knits launch this fall. “I’ve wanted to do something in fashion for a long time,” says the supermodel, who was escorted by Mario Testino. “But I didn’t want it to be the usual celebrity clothing license. I wanted this to be something to be proud of.” The line came about after Schiffer was invited by Suzy Menkes to speak at the International Herald Tribune’s annual luxury conference, held that year in her native Germany. After Schiffer spoke about what she looks for in a fine brand, she was approached by the son of the founder of Iris von Arnim, the Hamburg-based cashmere house founded in the 1960’s. The supe was smitten, and the collection was born—eventually. “It has taken nearly two years to perfect the look,” says Schiffer of the black, white, and gray classics—think stripey cardigans and easy pullovers—”and now we’re on Net-a-Porter.” The label boasts no involved backstory, just a good match between a woman, a brand, and a longtime favorite. “I’ve loved [cashmere] since I was a little girl,” Schiffer said, “when I used to go into my mother’s closet and steal her sweaters.”

On The Ugly Betty Set With America Ferrera Carrying A Fendi Velvet Squirrel Spy Bag

Earlier this week America Ferrera was spotted filming scenes for “Ugly Betty” with co-star Eric Mabius.

America as Betty was surprisingly toned down for her character.

Normally Betty is seen wearing clashing bright colours, but on this occasion she wore subtle navy and black, with the only pop of colour colour coming from her sandals.

This look allowed her Fendi Velvet Squirrel Spy Bag to stand-out.

This 2005 Limited Edition Fendi Velvet Squirrel Spy Bag is made of a soft burgundy velvet, with an embroidered detail which included a squirrel – hence the name – plus sparkling rhinestones woven into the embroidery.

If you’re thinking “that’s one ugly bag”, the demand for this bag back in 2005 was huge.

Happy Thanksgiving xxx

Credit: Purseblog & PacificCoastNews