luxist-awards

Where does cashmere come from? Why is it so expensive? Is all cashmere created equally?
Not all cashmere is of equal quality, says Sharon Haver, fashion guru and founder of FocusOnStyle.com (see video above).

"Fine cashmere comes from a longer fiber," she says. "What you want to look for in better cashmere is that it has a longer fiber. It will be more sturdy and will have a better drape to it. Cheaper cashmere usually has a shorter fiber and can break or pill and won't last as long."

Check out the Sharon Haver's related video on how to care for and store your cashmere.

If you haven't yet met the StyleList Network, a group of first-rate fashion bloggers, please do. And then introduce them to your friends! http://aol.it/g7SCdC

In the video above, wine expert Neil Smith explains
why special attention needs to be paid to the acidity and sweetness in wines when pairing wines with food.

"Sauvignon blanc has a high level of acidity, so you need to think about the food and whether it has the equal amount of acidity," he says. "Acidity in food can tame the wine and they can work well together."

Likewise, sweetness can make a highly acidic wine taste even sharper and even unpleasant. "A sweet wine, like a German reisling, can work well with spicy foods," he says. "The sweetness in the wines can tame the spicyness of the food." Watch the video above to learn what types of foods work well with sweet wines.

See our review of The Best Wine Clubs offered directly from wineries here.

Celebrity Weddings and Event Planner, Robert C. Smith
of Laurel Events, recommends to his clients that they look at platinum when looking at wedding bands (see above video).

"It is so durable, it is heavy, it has a weight to it, it is not something that is too feminine, so it is an obvious choice for grooms," he says. "I really recommend that the bride and groom wear the same material."

Smith also urges couples to take the time to go to a good jeweler well in advance of their wedding date. "Look ahead of time, don't rush, and choose platinum and you will be great every time," he says. "Don't wait until the last minute to pick your ring. It is one of the most important decisions you are going to make. So get out there, educate yourself and find out what platinum is all about."

If you haven't yet met the StyleList Network, a group of first-rate fashion bloggers, please do. And then introduce them to your friends! http://aol.it/g7SCdC

What are the best ways to open a bottle of wine? In the video above, wine expert Brandon Walsh, president of Reston, Va.-based Hosted Wine Tasting will show you how to operate the most common wine opening techniques, including a waiter's corkscrew, a winged corkscrew (also affectionately referred to as the two-armed bandit) and a lever corkscrew. See our related post on how to use a wine key.

See our review of The Best Wine Clubs offered directly from wineries here.

To find out if the three resorts in the Park City, Utah area really do represent "The Greatest Snow on Earth", we skied and apres-skied and learned first-hand how fabulous the town and it's amenities have become. Indeed, the area has come a long way from the area's poor, silver mining history.

During the recent Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah was teeming with glittery Hollywood types littering local restaurants and bars, meanwhile abandoning the perfectly powdered slopes. Over the ten-day stretch, those idyllic resort town slopes– located less than an hour's drive from the Salt Lake City airport, stand virtually empty. It's an insider secret that the week and a half is ideal for powder junkies hungry for crowd-free runs during high season.

(Good luck finding a hotel room though!) As it turns out Hollywood isn't so into that kind of snow.

Fortunately out west ski and snowboard season run long. A good year means soft, fluffy snow starts falling just after Thanksgiving until -- if you're really, really lucky -- as late as Cinco de Mayo. Utah doesn't claim "Greatest Snow on Earth" for nothing -- the trademarked white stuff maintains a unique blend of "consistency, abundance and quality," says Ski Utah's Director of Communications Jessica Kunzer, "Anyone who skis dreams of skiing out west. You might like skiing wherever you're from originally -- if it's Minnesota, or, out east in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, [but] the general wish is to experience our soft, ice-free slopes."

The fleeting effects of Sundance come and go, but the snow steadily falls and the apres ski scene never dies. Here are three stellar spots to kick back and relax between smooth runs and story-worthy wipe-outs.

The best wine clubs in the U.S. include several award-winning wineries that produce some of the best wine this country has to offer. Luxist examined the benefits of some of the best, most popular ones, including those from Domaine Carneros, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Far Niente and Cakebread Cellars. There are certain advantages to be had when subscribing to a wine club offered directly from a winery. Here is what we learned:

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
Located just outside the historic town of Kenwood, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, is known for its intensely flavored and complex award-winning wines. St. Francis grows 100% of its grapes in Sonoma County and was among the first to plant Merlot in the Sonoma Valley, enduring many a raised eyebrow for daring to plant a blending grape on prime soil. In June, the winery was a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Nominee for Best Domestic Red Wine.

Wine Club:
St. Francis offers three different wine clubs. Called "The Patrons Society", the difference between the three options are selections and shipping schedules. Its "red wine club" ships four, six or eight times per year. The "white wine club" includes six-bottle shipments four times a year (February, May, September and November). The Zinfandel Wine Club ships three bottles per shipment over a six month schedule (February, March, May, June, September and November).

Benefits of Membership:
Members are given the ability to sample small production wines before they are released to the public. Often, the wines are so exclusive, that only wine club members have the opportunity to purchase them, as most never hit store shelves.

Discounts:
Members receive a 20% discount on all Artisan wines and a 25% discount on all Sonoma County tier wines. They also receive a 20% discount on all retail merchandise and on reserve wine & food pairings for two (reservations required).

Freebies:
Complimentary wine tastings at St. Francis' Visitors Center and opportunities for "members only" activities at the winery. Members also receive recipes from the winery's Executive Chef, David Bush, for foods that pair well with the wines. Invitations are extended to members for St. Francis regional events around the country.

Cost:
Price varies, depending on size of shipment and does not include tax and shipping (which costs $14 to $21 for a three bottle shipment by UPS Ground). The white wine club ranges from $80 (for a four bottle shipment) to $91 (for a six bottle shipment). The zinfandel wine club ranges from $96 to $108 (for three bottle shipments). Click here to sign up for the wine club. For more information, call (800) 650-5437.

How to pair wine with food? The old adage that white wine pairs well with fish while red wine works with meat, serves as a good basis to start from, according to wine expert Brandon Walsh, president of Reston, Va.-based Hosted Wine Tasting (see video below).

Wines should always be served at their optimal serving temperatures, as well.

Another consideration, he suggests is the concept of matching weights of the wine with the food.

Lighter-bodied white wines include reisling and pinot grigio. Medium-bodied wines include sauvignon blanc while chardonnay is a fuller, heavier-bodied wine, he says.

Lighter-bodied wines go well with salads, as well as light fish, such as sushi. Medium-bodied wines works well with light and flakey fish as well as poultry. Heavier-bodied whites, such as chardonnay, pair very well with salmon or swordfish.

Red wines also range from light to heavier, fuller-bodied wines. A lighter-bodied red wine is a pinot noir or beaujolais. A medium-bodied red is a merlot, syrah (shiraz). Heavier, fuller-bodied wines include cabernet sauvignon. Pinot noir pairs well with salmon as well as some poultry. Syrah and merlot pairs well beef or pork. A cabernet sauvignon pairs well with beef, lamb and game.

See our review of The Best Wine Clubs offered directly from wineries here.

No one wants a ski vacation cut short by an injury. So how to best protect yourself from injury? Don't ski late in the day.

Statistics have shown that most ski injuries occur toward the end of the day, according to the Steadman Clinic, which specializes in sports medicine and orthopaedic surgery in Vail and Frisco, Colorado (see video below).

"If it is 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon and you are thinking of taking one more run, you may want to think twice about that because more people are hurt at the end of the day," says Tom R. Hackett, orthopaedic surgeon with the Steadman Clinic in Vail who is also a team physician for the U.S. Snowboard Team.

Even a small amount of grease or oil can dramatically dull the brilliance of your diamonds. This is why it is important to clean your diamond jewelry regularly, advises Philip Press, president and chief executive officer of Renaissance Platinum (see video below).

"I find the easiest way is to either use a specialized jewerly cleaner or a straight clear, ammonia," says Press. "Let the piece of jewelry soak in the solution for an hour or more. Use an old toothbrush and clean the sides and bottom of the diamond and then rinse it very well under hot water. Don't be afraid of over cleaning your diamonds." Be sure to be gentle with the brush, however, as diamonds can become loose from their settings if they are treated roughly.

A few words of warning: Jewelry should not be cleaned in or near the sink. If there is no better location for the cleaning, be sure the plug is in, to avoid the jewelry going down the drain.

Also, it is very important that you to store your diamond jewelry separately, such as in individual compartments or pouches so they do not touch other gemstones. "Because a diamond can scratch another diamond," advises Press. "It is even more important to keep your diamond jewelry separated from your other gemstone jewelry because diamonds will certainly scratch other gemstones."

If you haven't yet met the StyleList Network, a group of first-rate fashion bloggers, please do. And then introduce them to your friends! http://aol.it/g7SCdC

Vivienne Westwood is a busy Dame. Dame Vivienne, that is. The iconic London-based fashion designer is one of the rare few who shows her collections in various cities, including Milan, London and Paris. When Luxist had the opportunity to experience her work up-close on Sunday evening when she unveiled her Red Label Fall/Winter 2011 collection, it was on the third day of London Fashion Week. Earlier that day, her Austrian-born husband, Andreas Kronthaler, Vivienne Westwood's Creative Director, noted, they did a fitting with Helena Bonham Carter for the Academy Awards. A busy day, indeed.

Vivienne West's show was larger than life (see video below). It was presented at the grand Royal Courts of Justice at London's Strand, a gothic cathedral-like setting that was befitting for a designer of Dame Vivienne's stature. The inspiration behind her "Red Label" collection show was Lewis Carroll's "Alice through the looking glass" which evoked a feeling of British society and change. Models wore tartan prints, dresses with mis-matched seams, fantastic oversized hats (designed by Prudence Millinery, some were crowns), over-the-top makeup (including gold-painted faces) and hair styles that seemed to defy gravity. A video of the entire show can be seen on Vivienne Westwood's website.

Bold face names at the show included Jo Wood (ex-wife of Rolling Stones Ronnie Wood), singer Paloma Faith, Boy George, former tenns pro Boris Becker, Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes, and contemporary artist Tracy Emin. All were wowed by the show which was as magnificient a production as the Red Label Collection itself. "I am a big fan of Vivienne's, so I enjoyed the show," Nick Rhodes told Luxist backstage after the show. "She always has a few surprises. She is remarkably good at cutting things. So it has always reminds me of the Japanese, but I think they took it from Vivienne. I thought some of things were really exquisitely beautiful. There was one skirt and blouse toward the end that was quite classical. It was a black skirt with a white blouse that I thought was just exquisite---beautiful."

Former pro tennis player Boris Becker was equally impressed with the collection. "I thought, as always, she was spectacular with the different designs and the makeup--one girl was golden," Becker told Luxist. "Her creativity never stops. The Royal Court of Justice is a unique location with a very long runway. The girls did have to walk a long time, but nobody faulted and everyone did a good job."

Today, Ralph Lauren proved exactly why he is in a class by himself. The Ralph Lauren Fall 2011 Collection presented during NY Fashion Week, was timeless, glamorous and dramatic. "It was a masterpiece," André Leon Talley, Contributing Editor to Vogue, raved to Luxist after the show. "It was unmistakably Ralph Lauren. It was a simple masterpiece. He is unstoppable in his sense of taking his classics and giving them new twists and new drama."

Much of the collection was influenced by Chinese fashions, such as a black glossy silk illusion sweater dress, a jade silk panne velvet wrap dress and a red silk shantung embroidered smoking jacket that was shown under a black cashmere cocoon coat trimmed with long hair shearling.

The collection also included glossy smoking jackets, silk embroidered shearling coats, tuxedo jackets, velvet quilted jackets and pinstripe jackets paired with matching vests and trousers. A burgundy silk velvet wrap smoking jacket over a white cotton wing collar formal shirt with black sable tuxedo trousers was particularly striking. Several evening dresses were embroidered and beaded while many had an Art Deco feel.

Ralph Lauren's Asian inspiration was explained by his son David, who is the Senior Vice President, Advertising, Marketing and Corporate Communications for Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. "This past year he traveled to China," Lauren told Luxist. "It was his first trip there and he was inspired by what he saw. The future of our company is very much going to be expanding in China over the next couple of years. It has been in the air everywhere we turn. He is very inspired. For him it was a trip he took through a Ralph Lauren lens and what he saw, which is very different from what exists there, or it even never existed there. It is his interpretation of a China that could and should be."

The Badgley Mischka Fall 2011 Collection fashion show during NY Fashion Week was inspired by old Hollywood glamour, according to its designers, Mark Badgley and James Mischka.

Beautiful gowns were presented with a dramatic backdrop. On a large screen behind the runway, was a fog-filled urban scene that set the mood, as models dressed in gowns made of crepe de chine, chiffon, taffeta and tulle made their way down the runway (see video below).

There were magnificient gowns, including one made of crepe de chine in magenta (seen above) that one might expect to see on the Academy Awards' red carpet. A gold/argent lame and chiffon gown was striking as was a black crushed velvet gown (both from the Couture Collection). There were several pieces presented from the lower price point Mark+James line, including a black matte jersey and tulle dress, black stretch tuxedo twill skirt and pants, and a silver/black gauze lame trench coat, among others.

Betsey Johnson's Fall 2011 Collection, which was presented at this evening at Lincoln Center during NY Fashion Week Fall 2011 was a spectacular production---and definitely is the highlight of the entire week. The "He Loves Me...He Loves Me Not" show was more fun to watch than most of the theatrical productions currently headlining on Broadway--and was a wonderful way to spend Valentine's Day eve.

The collection was colorful and whimsical, as one would expect from the eclectic and charismatic designer. The show started with models (each with a blunt, dark wig) wearing the "Black Tag" Collection, described by the program as sophisticated, sexy and sleek. Each look had a name, such as "Wicked Game" and "Heartbreaker". The collection featured a fantastic black and white leopard print suit and wonderful dresses, including one that was both dramatic and sculpted (accessorized with a black and white leopard shawl and matching hand-warmer). Next up was the "Pink Patch" Collection, which is described in the program as "Affordable (under $100), Accessible and True-Blue Betsey". The fantastic footwear worn by all of the models throughout the show, called the "Lizzzy-L" collection (seen on the model in the above photo), was provided by Steve Madden and is available exclusively at SteveMadden.com and Steve Madden's mobile site for a limited time.

After her models walked the runway, employees of Betsey Johnson's fashion empire strutted the runway, too, wearing what looked to be pieces from previous collections while wearing blond Betsey Johnson-look-alike wigs. The "real models" included store managers, regional managers, design assistants, stylists, the knitwear designer, and even the VP of Retail Operations. The "real models" were of all shapes and sizes. One was pregnant (she looked adorable, by the way) while the last to walk (more like dance down) the runway was the lone male in the group (a store manager, named Seth Lefkof, according to the program) who revealed his identity after tossing his wig into the audience.

Carmen Marc Valvo's Fall/Winter 2011 Collection which was presented last night was glamorous and elegant. Valvo, the designer-to-the-stars (many of whom were presented at the show) featured a collection made with such rich fabrics as chantilly lace, chiffon, organza and tulle.

The show was presented at the Nasdaq Marketplace, with all attendees seated along long winding corridors, with the models passing by only a few feet away. Katie Couric, Star Jones, and singer Kat DeLuna all in attendance.

Highlights of the beautiful collection included exquisite cocktail dresses and formal evening wear including a latte metallic lace gown, a persimmon iridescent silk chiffon and lace gown, and a black strapless lace gown with multi-tiered chiffon applique. (See video of the show below).

"The collection was inspired by ballerinas this season," Valvo told Luxist backstage after the show (see video for full interview). "I gravitated towards them for their sense of beauty, poise, their grace, their elegance and their sensuality and femininity. So I wanted the collection to evoke that sense of beauty and movement. It is a collection full of romance and poetry. Lots of laces were employed, silk chiffons and metallic tulles."

Derek Lam's Fall 2011 Collection which was presented at NY Fashion Week this morning was nothing short of glamorous.

"In this collection, I have used new combinations to make clothes that look fresh, fluid, weightless, yet also appropriate for the Fall/Winter season," says Lam. "Some of the new combinations are logical: sleeves and backs of heavier weight clothing are made of slippery cloths. The usual layering of clothes are lightened, the arm slips easily under coats; the bulk is eliminated where you don't want it."

There were tunics in flannel, doubleface jersey and military gabardine that were combined with liquid twills and laundered poplins on bottom. Dresses were sewn with jersey bodices attached to wool felt skirts and vice versa so they look sleek and also tailored. Evening dresses had leather bodices, with laundered satin or poplin full skirts, for a kind of raw and casual glamour.

"I think that Derek Lam is one of the great American designers who has given American Fashion Week something very unique and sophisticated," Andre Leon Talley, Contributing Editor to Vogue, told Luxist backstage after the show. "The clothes are modern and they give modernity a new definition. They are clothes for women who work, who are grown up and who are refined. The sense of luxury of fabric is extraordinary. The glace leva jean skirt is one of my favorites. A varsity stripe on a trouser with a red leather car coat is wonderful and is the way women want to dress. I think he is exceptional. I am always more and more impressed each season with his work and I think this is one of his most outstanding moments in his career."