A Fashionable Life Radio

Before I left Cambodia for some final fashionable days in Hong Kong where I am staying at Hong Kong’s newest and positively grooviest hotels The Upper House, I was blessed by a Buddhist monk who showered me with scened water, flower petals and prayers before tying on a red string bracelet for lasting health and good luck. Laos and Cambodia are filled with hope and history. Hopefully, tourism and economic progress and development will not obscure the beauty and unique experience that hese countries hold for all of us to see.

More Magazine, November 2009Who wouldn’t want to get shrunk weekly by Dr. Betsy Schur Levy above. This dynamic New Yorker runs a private practice in New York City for adults, adolescents and children. As she shared her tips for dealing with stress during the holidays today on A Fashionable Life Radio, she suggests that we find our ” emotional resources” to cope. An extra workout at the gym or a shopping excursion, for example, might help you rely on your own strength and keep you on a “positive path” rather than thinking about the past, what could have been and your house full of guests!  For this fashionista, I need both so I am so grateful to Dr Levy for sharing all her sound advice with us today. If you would like to make an appointment with Dr. Levy, call 212-744-8596 and tune into our podcasts later this week if you missed the show!

This beautiful picture of Dakota Fanning at the NEW MOON premiere is a sheer pleasure to stumble upon! This is what the young faces of Hollywood should look like. Calm, composed, elegant and natural. I trust she will make the transition from child actor to successful adult actress, especially with poise like this! NEW MOON opens every where this Friday.

Our good friend, Jonathan from Lolipop designs has THE most prolific glass blowing business I have ever seen. He churns out the most beautifully designed jewelry and accessories in rainbow color glass. Each and every item is breath-taking and I am in awe of him mastering this unusual craft. As the holidays approach, please log to his web site and purchase for anyone. His jewelry is so spectacular and special. www.lolipop.ca.

What is less fashionble than a pair of black Tevas?? Black tevas with with socks? Well, yours truly wore her newly purchased Tevas wih deep regrets that she hadn’t invested in a pair of keenes the  ’a little more acceptable kayaking/boating shoe”.  My dear friend happened to be going to Paragon (THE best sporting goods store in NYC) .  I enlisted her to buy me a pair of shoes that would withstand a hardy hiking trek that had water, deep forest and kayaking. Tevas seemed to be the shoe for such an excursion….PS:  one LARGE blister  and two leaches later, a vow NEVER to commit such a fashion-less act coincided with possibly one of the most awesome and humbling days of my life. Thirteen women trekked through the forest to the Pak Ou Cave where THOUSANDS of gilded and wooden Buddhas are housed inside a cave on a towering limestone cliff  over hanging the Mekong River. Laos is truly heaven on earth. I am inspired to create an alter upon my return where I can put life aside and focus on he peace that comes from dedicating time to ourselves a little time every day. This dedication to a peaceful and fullfilling existence seems to be working for the people of  the village of Ban Xang Hai where for hundreds of years they have been making ‘moonshine” rice whiskey. Many the residents of this Mekong River town dedicate their efforts toward making this 55% alchohol, Grappa-like drink which when swallowed, leaves behind the unmistakable burning sensation of something highly medicinal and potent. Some of the bottles are filled with scorpians and others with a snake to promote fertility. Not that we will be branding A fashionable Life with rice whiskey anytime soon, after a long days trek and a zen state of mind…who knows?  Maybe his homemade metal vat will be anoher source of revenue for A FashionablelLife

After a night in Bangkok it was on to Laos. Luang Prabang is filled with people who reflect the Buddhist culture that defines this country. Dignity, pride and family are at the core of this quaint and bustling city. Tourism has only been part of the equation since 1999. This is still unspoiled territory. UNESCO has had a huge hand in helping to preserve the Laos culture while allowing commerce and tourism to positively infiltrate. These are people who do not cry at funerals so as not to allow their own pain to bring others down. Every purchase is met with a prayer hand gesture and a gracious thank you. Food is prepared with love. The food is rich in texture and flavors that favor tamarind, curries and chili as with most tropical environments. Buddhas in reclining poses and those with large and full bellies lie inside each jewel of a temple that we have discovered. A fierce game of Baci ball is being played by young men across the street as I blog in the only wireless spot in our hotel (Satri House). There is a calm here that all to casually skips over the story known all to well. This country in all its beauty, innocence and peaceful offerings was the target of relentless bombings during the Vietnam war. More tomorrow as I need desperately to catch up on my sleep.

There has been a lot written about “underpinnings” over the years but this new book by my good friend and fellow fashionista, Jene Luciani, is the NEW bible! Jene has done a great job covering all topics about “our girls” and dispelling old wives tales and myths. She offers practical tips about shopping for the best fit and even devotes a chapter to helping our men buy lingerie for us. Jene has lots of book signings over the next few months so log onto log onto www.thebrabook.com to follow her happenings. Also, tune into A Fashionable Life this Wednesday, November 11 to hear Jene live!

One of our favorite UK designers and human rights activist, Alice Temperley, is selling this  beautiful candle to mark Human Rights Day on December 10th. All proceeds will go to Amnesty International who for over 50 years has been leading the charge against all human rights atrocities around the world. The symbol of the candle wrapped in barbed wire is the original design along with the Chinese proverb, “Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

Candles are available at all Temperley boutiques and are $45. Great holiday gifts to show your love and support for mankind……and nothing is more “fashionable” than that!

Steve Madden is is in the closets of many  women in he same way as a pair of  flip flops, Frye boots or Tory Burch Revaflats might be. Dualstar Entertainment (Mary Kate and Asley Olson’s c0mpany) has just inked an exclusive deal with Steve Madden to design, make and distribute footwear and accessories for the Olson brand Olsonboye. Sold exclusively this Spring at JC Penney and JC Penney online.

Leave it to our good friends at Stuart Weitzman to lead the charge towards Spring 2010! Shoes have been playing such a strong role in all the collections and this Spring the wedge and cork remain strong trends. There are no shoes more comfortable than a pair of Weitzman so check out your favorite retailer….you are sure to find Stuart Weitzman shoes there luring you to a future with “happy” feet!