Thursday, November 19, 2009

CHIC CHOCOLATE LOOKBOOK: HOLIDAY @ HENRI BENDEL!



No trip to NYC is complete for me until I visit Henri Bendel! It is one of my FAVORITE stores in the world! It's a shop-o-holic's paradise! From the waif of fragrances and makeup on the first floor entrance to all the gorgeous accessories, walking into Bendel's is like fashion on steroids! You simply cannot get enough!

If you have a chance, get to Bendel's to see some of the great things they are offering for the holidays. God-willing, I want to take a road trip to NYC to stock up on some nice pieces for myself.

Some of the great items I've spied are the Whiting and Davis Bracelet Clutch, Henri Bendel City Scape Tote, Bendel Girls Half Moon Zip Cosmetic Case, and the Felix Ray Bling Travel Jewelry Case. Pure heaven!

Now if they could bring Henri Bendel to DC...

Chic-ly Yours!

Monday, November 16, 2009

NEW FEATURE: CHIC CHOCOLATE UNDERGROUND DESIGNER SERIES: ELSPETH NEW YORK!

Hello to all my Chic Chocolate followers! As you know, Chic Chocolate celebrated it's one year anniversary recently and as promised, there will be some new features on this blog. One of my favorite things is discovering new and upcoming fashion talent. I love seeing how independent designers interpret style and design and finding out what fuels their creativity. With that, I'd like to introduce the new The "Underground Designer" series on Chic Chocolate.

Meet an amazing handbag designer from New York, Elizabeth Phillips of Elspeth New York!

CC: Hi Elizabeth! We know that in the “world of fashion” there are shoe girls and there are handbag girls. I’m definitely a handbag girl! I’m very happy that you decided to do an interview for my fashionably astute readers!

I read a little blurb on your bio and I was impressed to see that you designed bags for Coach, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Tell me a little more about how you got started as a handbag designer?

E: It all started with my love for the fashion industry. In college I had a wonderful opportunity interning in NYC with Calvin Klein, I worked in the Design department of Ready to Wear Women’s & Men’s collection for New York, Italy, & Japan markets. This experience gave me the motivation to move out to NYC 2 days after graduation and find the perfect job.


West Village

My 1st job out of college was with Coach working with a wonderful designer named Rebecca Heigley in the accessories design department. She guided me through the whole design and development stages of leather accessories, my new passion of working with leather had begun. There were so many ways to work with leather and so many concepts that could be created with leather; I wanted to learn all I could about the industry. That is when I had the opportunity to work with a Licensee who designed accessories for Michael Kors and Calvin Klein.


Royalton Tote

I was able to not only be on the forefront of the designs; I learned every other aspect of the labor from Production to Sales. More and more I came to realize that I wanted to do more then just design for a company, I wanted to create beautiful products for everyone. After starting a handbag/accessory department at another job and not getting the promotion I deserved, I decided to take the leap of faith and get into what I was born to do.

Handbags was the easiest thing that came to me, I love handbags as much as the next girl that is why I have started creating handbags for the everyday girl. I take the material in my hand and draw right to proportion on paper exactly how I want the bag to look, the outcome of my samples are not too far off from my idea I started off with.

CC: Elspeth New York has been getting a lot of blog buzz and media attention lately, can you describe the general process you go through to design and realize a great handbag? What or who inspires your designs?

E: Living in New York City has always been my biggest inspiration; where else do you get to see so many people from so many backgrounds with their own sense of style? New York is real, down to the core and I love it for that. Everyday living also inspires me, having practical uses for my designs is very important along with quality to last for years. For example, I found a screw on the subway stairs and it set my mind off to make a custom piece of hardware for our Fall/Winter 09 collection. I am a visual designer, what I see in my head is usually what will turn up after I have created it. As I mentioned before my passion for leather, this material really gets my creative juices flowing. I love going to Italy to the leather shows and feeling all the luscious skins and textures that are offered. Just looking at a blank skin and I can envision what it will look like with the right cut and stitch.


Richfield Hobo

CC: As I stated early on that I’m a “handbag-kinda” girl! Lately, I’ve been so into clutches. Clutches are so chic to me. What is your favorite handbag to carry?
E: Of course I only carry an Elspeth New York handbag. This current season we have the Jackson Fold Clutch and Charlotte Clutch, I tend to use both of these girls equally. The Jackson, I use when traveling, it is thin with a lot of pockets which is great for holding any IDs or important documents. It is great as an everyday clutch. The Charlotte is a cute flirty clutch with a little hardness to it. The inverted pleats give it a fun clutch to carry around to events, not to mention all the space inside to carry what you need for the night.



Charlotte Clutch

CC: Where will we see Elspeth New York next? What are your plans for the future?
E: Elspeth New York has set a goal to become a Lifetime Brand, with quality and stylish products that you can count on for a durable lifetime. Next year we will be starting on the Tradeshow scene, to help get our brand out to as many states and local boutiques as possible. I would love to see Elspeth expand in to all other avenues of the accessory world, such as Shoes, Belts, Wallets, Outerwear. The list keeps growing.

CC: Thank you, Elizabeth for a great interview and I wish you all the best.

E: Thank you for your interview! All the best to you!

Chic-ly Yours!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

CHIC CHOCOLATE LOOKBOOK...




Chic-ly Yours!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

HAPPY BLOG BIRTHDAY!! CELEBRATING CHIC CHOCOLATE'S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! + THE WINNER OF THE ARTISTRY TOTAL MASCARA CONTEST!

Today, Chic Chocolate turns 1 year old! This is truly a blessing. When I started this blog, my initial idea was to have a "lifestyle" blog that featured everything from great food to great fashion and everything in between. I had no idea that Chic Chocolate would morph into a full fledge fashion and beauty blog! My very first post was about cupcakes! The responses and feedback that I got from publishing this blog have been tremendously positive. I thank God for that! Since Chic Chocolate's inception, I've met so many wonderful, talented and positive people. It's been such a pleasure to share with you my "view" of fashion and beauty from "my little corner of the world!" It's been a fantasic ride so far and I hope to keep it going!

I want to thank each and every person that has or still is a follower of Chic Chocolate and I want to thank those who take the time to leave a comment or two on this blog. Your support is so appreciated.

As for the future, I have some things cooking in the background and I hope year #2 gets even better from here! Thank you & Many Hugs!

Chic-ly Yours!

The winner of the Artistry Total Mascara Contest is IvyLi! I think your look for the holidays will be amazing!! Please send your address to editor@chicchocolate.net. Congratulations, IvyLi!! Enjoy the mascara!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

CHIC CHOCOLATE MAGAZINE: STYLE BAZAAR!

I LOVE this magazine! I hope you will enjoy it, too! Click on the mag to flip the pages!



Chic-ly Yours!

GET YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING ON EARLY!


Attention DC Area Fashionistas!! Get your holiday shopping done early this year! Check out the Shop-O-Nomics Holiday Shopping Event Friday, November 20th at the posh Helix Hotel in Dupont Circle in DC! This event promises to be a fun filled evening of deals and steals! The price of admission is $5 and all proceeds go to help bring awareness to Habitat for Humanity.

Hope to see you there!

Chic-ly Yours!

CHIC CHOCOLATE LOOKBOOK + ARTISTRY COSMETICS TOTAL MASCARA GIVEAWAY!






I love the holidays! All the hot parties and good food are just another excuse to look hot! Get started on your look with some of the hottest looks from some of the biggest celebs on the planet! Get that skin glowing with a touch of MAC Strobe Cream mixed with a little foundation or wear under a powder. Give your eyes a shot of gorgeous color in rich jewel tone colors to bring out those beautiful "baby browns!" Add a beautiful coral-y, peachy pink blush to your cheeks for a healthy glow! Sex up your lips with a shimmery nude shade or get those long feathery lashes with a pair of natural lashes.

And speaking of lashes, post something about what look you plan to rock for the holidays and a winner will be chosen to win the new Artistry Cosmetics Total Mascara in Black! This mascara is THE mascara EVERY woman should have in her makeup bag!

Artistry Total Mascara ($15.40) does so much! It lengthens, volumizes, and separates lashes. It's waterproof and smudge-proof! And when I say smudge-proof, it really is! It lives up to its claim!

The winner will be chosen on Friday, November 13 by 11:59 pm. This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only. Good Luck!

If you're interested in purchasing the Artistry Total Mascara, you can purchase directly from Chic Chocolate!


Chic-ly Yours!

 
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