Live blog from Saks’ Fashion’s Night Out…9/8/11

Hi everyone, Fashion’s Night Out may have come and gone but there was a lot to chat about and for you to read about as I quizzed many of Houston’s most stylish gals and guys on just what they were looking for from Fall Fashion, 2011.  I blogged as we talked, live (well, sort of a little internet glitch kept it from you,  but I got great info just the same), and most had a lot to say….some very definite opinions on just what they wanted and in some cases who they wanted it from.

One thing was for sure…..everyone was raving about and purchasing from  the new Miu Miu Handbag Shop that was launching that night in Designer Handbags on the First Level.

So read on, please, and listen to what all the fun and excitement of the evening was about, as I chatted about fashion live at Saks Fifth Avenue for Fashion’s Night Out, 2011…..

6:00 p.m. I’m thrilled to be here at Saks for Fashion’s Night Out, positioned at the entrance aisle to the new spectacular Miu Miu Handbag shop at Galleria……it’s just starting and the entire first floor is beginning to get a real buzz!!!!

6:15 p.m. Omar from 002 Magazine/Last Night Photos

Took my photo…..gotta love him!  Had to ask him,  “Are you happy to be here?” Omar says, “Yes, I’d rather be in NYC but I do have to admit that it’s a lot of fun, very cool here at Saks, lots going on, a real party!”

6:20 p.m. Visiting with Renato De Pirro, head chef  from Hotel Granduca’s Ristorante Cavour, who provided all of the food for the Miu Miu opening night party (delicioso!)..Renato is mi amico from being my Chic Chef for February……he presented his lusciously prepared food with his staff; Also, at Saks were Granduca’s top management, Mary Grace Gray and Ray Guyton.

He loved meeting my UH Intern, Taylor McLaughline, who is minoring in Italian.

BTW, she just happens to be gluten free…..SIDE BAR AND GOOD TO KNOW:  Ristorante Cavour will do gluten free pasta or an entire meal if you call ahead.

Food from Cavour at Granducca is the main food attraction….crab salad looks yummy, Hey Terry Zmyslo, do I get to eat on this gig???? (I had to sneak some, too yummy!)

6:25 p.m.  Showcasing beaded bag by Miu Miu, hit attraction, Shirtless

David, model with Neal Hamil Agency, walked the first floor carrying a Miu Miu fave bag on a silver platter; do I need to say how popular he and his friend were with the ladies…..did I mention the bags were great too!?

6:30 p.m. Chris (2^nd model) with Neal Hamil  Ditto from above……(Tough job but somebody has to do it, right guys?!)

6:35 p.m. Jared Lang and Cara Morales stopped by from Fashion Houston and had just arrived and ready to see it all, for inspiration for their big week I’m sure……Cara looked smashing in all over beaded, taupe two piece to die for!  I didn’t ask, by whom? (a lot of pressure here to be quick when you’re live!)

6:40 pm Natalia Flores and Almu Robledo; St. Agnes High students; PYT’s for sure! Attracted to many of the newest pieces at Saks that they haven’t seen anywhere else yet, very exciteing!  Love fashion as a hobby, not as a career (BOOO);  these girls have it!!!

6:45 p.m. Heather Pray and Maria Vilchez. Part of the Hosting  Group of Miu Miu party…..early appointment in the a.m. so not hitting all of the events, only there to support Saks and catch a glimpse at all of the great Miu Miu handbags.  Heather looked darling and very classic  in her LBD and Maria’s skirt was so fashion right…..all about black fringe with a sharp white shirt…..just the right look!

6:50 p.m. Luis Arsenio Gonzalez, Visual Director of Saks……Very chic in his Goodwill jacket that he made his own with just a little paint….ah to be so talented!!!!

6:55 p.m.  Leisa Holland Nelson and Terry Zmyslo stopped by.

Asked Terry, General  Manager of Saks what makes him happiest as he looks forward to Fall, response that “summer is over” (I think after the summer we’ve had, many of us feel the same way!!)  Leisa Holland Nelson, ContentActive CMO and a lover of tech, predicts that Saks will go WIFI for  future. (you had to be there!)  She was headed to the mall to check out the other goings on and  closed with “see me later at Simon Fashion Show.” We’ll all meet up at Houston Magazines’ VIP section.  Ask LHN what her  one purchase would be this Fall?  “Most fabulous shoes…..fave, she saw that night at Saks glam shoe department, Valentino with bow and peep toe in burgundy suede, the color of the season!”

7:05 p.m. Rachel Simon; personal shopper for Saks, great knowledgeable gal with so much fashion info, could have chatted with her all night, but hey, I’m working this gig and must spread my time ……I asked her, “what are people most interested in now to purchase?”  Response…”shoes and bags to wear now, brought me Miu Miu bags to see so that I could appreciate the value, very  affordable……$395 $495 clutches……

Also, Reed Krockoff, who I have known and appreciated for his tasteful merchandising genius from his days at Coach,  also gives a lot of style for not a lot of bucks…..$490 clutches!

Rachel took me back to the Reed Krackoff accessory store……so many bags to die for; python, clutches in colors…..RK collection clutch in cobalt blue for $490 had my name all over it for a pop of color that is not red!

7:20 p.m. Jennifer LeGrand, Marcey DeLuna…had cocktails in hand and having a great time at the Saks party; Asked what were some of their favorite things they were looking forward to purchasing for Fall.  Here  are their collective comments…..

Colored Jeans, Wide Leg Corduroy from J. Brand; Flat  Riding Boots for all the football games, Go UT, UT, UT, says the ladies!  Jennifer added that she also loves the tall flat boots with dresses…like the short floral print dresses with riding boots for sure; just got here and heading out to check out Saks for sure and then maybe out to the mall.

7:25 p.m. Sara Tucker, Make-up artist for the popular Do Bar, I asked about some of her favorite looks in makeup for Fall; “liquid eye-liners, more drama, color purple huge ion the lips, even lip gloss; red lips (did she just say that for me? No, it’s a trend); told me about new skincare line at Do Bar….exclusive to them, Arcona, out of L.A. (Rachel Zoe, Julia Roberts are fans) only found here and Austin in Texas.

7:30p.m. Lauren Fisher; Marketing Consultant; first time for FNO;  love Miu Miu; love the fact that Fall in general is all so  rich and opulent …..colors she loves, burgundy and green; love lots of the bold, chunky jewelry that she’s seen.

7:35 p.m. Granduca is passing out tira misu…..it looks heavenly, do I dare….I am working, will Terry be upset if I have just a taste??  I did, yuuuum!

7:40 p,m, Lisa Finger, Heather Ronningen, “For Fall I love the poncho, love the line, Alabama Chinan that has the poncho I want? Love fall color…fave is orange, love browns ; Gucci fox shrugs (H) for winter wedding in Montana…(Heather doesn’t have the guy yet, picked out the outfit tho’, Gucci purple fur shrug over Ivory dress).

Same color of shrug, purple….bridesmaids….good luck, Heather, find that guy!!!!

7:45 p.m. Culture Map’s Clifford Pugh and John……cruising the scene; touching bases before Clifford leaves tomorrow for Fashion Week (envy!!!).

7:50 p.m. Lots of friends stopped by at once…. Clifford and John, Carrie Carson; too much chatter to keep up;  they looked great, of course….and these folks know all about Fall Fashion!

7:55 p.m. Isabel David, Kristy Bradshaw, Jennifer Roosth stopped by……Kristy had a new  Miu Miu bag that she just purchased from the new shop and wanted me to know that she was wearing with “real Missoni Dress”…with the Target launch on Sept. 13,(today)…. she felt it was necessary that I knew that!  Isabel commented that she is excited to see the new Target Missoni; ( we all are?!, should have seen the eager shoppers lined up outside of Target at 7:00 a.m.!)     For Fall, Isabel is in love with the feminine style, including ruffles, Nina Ricci was a fave so far.  She was in love with her  new shoes from Celine…black suede with leather ankle strap (stunning!) Both Ladies were very excited about Leather for Fall and were in love with Leather dresses (one of my personal fave trends for Fall, look for my Culture Map story on this in a couple of weeks). We also discussed the need for a Boot wardrobe; Kristy has her eye on a  camel-colored  Jimmy Choo!

8:00 p.m. Joy Sewing, Fashion Writer for The Houston Chronicle,  stopped by for a smooch, take photos and talk about her upcoming trip to NYC for fashion week…..oh how I miss it!!! (sigh!).

8:05 p.m.  Jennifer Roosth;  What is she in to for Fall right now? She wants Red lipstick and Nude shoes to continue and feels they are still good; (good thing as I was wearing both last night).   “Chunky gold jewelry is what I’m looking for.”
She is also very much in favor of color blocking, as long as it’s strategically done, that slims the body and enhances women’s figures in.

8:10  p.m. Laura Wood, formerly of Symphony and now Development Director at the Alley Theatre, sporting a spiral adornment in her hair…..she says, “feathers are out and spirals are in as the new hair accessory!” Whatever you say, Laura!

8:20 p.m. It’s time to shut down to make it to the Houston Modern Luxury Party to ensure we get our V.I.P. seat passes for the big 9:00 p.m. Simon Fashion Now Show that features all of the biggies like Saks and Neiman’s as well as many of the high-end fashion boutiques like Fendi, Max Mara, Jimmy Choo, CH Carolina Herrera to name a few…..details on that show will follow.

What a great night we had at Saks’ very fun party and great talking fashion with the ever-so-chic crowd…..thank you Terry, Sylvia and Tijuana, let’s do it again!!!!

8:57 p.m. My brother, Steve Tyrell texted me that he was looking for me at Saks……how sweet is that?!  Of course I was gone, seated in my seat at the big Simon Fashion Now Show. Thanks, Steve for coming by to catch my live blogging!

THE END!