izzi blog

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Anne Agoren at NYC Fashion Week 2011

As New York Fashion week got underway I was really excited to see what would come out of the collections on the runways. I have been invited to soo many shows that it has been really difficult to decide which, where and when to go. Anyway I wrapped up warm as it was very cold yesterday and scooted off to the Lincoln Center for the first show of the day Nicholas K I was really impressed with the ‘London Look’ created with a lot of bottle green, grey and a kind of caramel warm brown. The Grunge look he created was layers upon layers and more layers, in fact all the clothes in your wardrobe at one time should be worn this autumn. Having said that I loved Nicholas’s collection and I can’t wait for the fall to be able to put my own style stamp on this look.

I then moved on to the Victor De Souza show, which as it happens was in the building next to where I live so convenient to pop home and warm up a little bit. The show was packed and I was glad to be given a front row seat, I felt like royalty as the photographers came along the catwalk and photographed me, so check out the WWD today and see if you can spot me. The collection was really lovely and feminine I so loved his use of different textures and the motives of birds.

Victor De Souza

His two pieces were very pastel in color and the pale green was not what I would have expected for a fall collection but it somehow made me think that when we get to October, we will all be wishing for spring!

Victor De Souza Pistachio!

I rushed back to the Lincoln Center to the Tadashi Shoji which actually did not impress me that much and I was a little disappointed to see very boring day dresses strutting along the cat walk. Then just I was thinking of leaving and catching the end of another show the evening wear came out and boy what a change! The Organza floral detail was really pretty and the pleated silk chiffon moved and swayed so chic. The colors chosen were from Begonia, sun glow through to Navy, black and graphite.

Ramona, Housewife of New York

I spotted House wife of New York, Ramona as I left show as she was posing for pictures.

Eva Minge

My last show of the day was Polish designer, Eva Minge, I was excited to be again sitting in the front row and I brought izzi along to view her wintry style. We were seated opposite Kelly Rowland and her agent, Kelly was looking very glamorous although I wondered how she managed to walk in those 8″ heels. Eva’s main trend was the use of wool with warmth and imagination and her ready to wear collection was a fusion of prints and exquisite softness. Amazingly fluffy wool and handmade mohair woven with fabric really looked stunning. Eva likes to use a lot of black and for sure it will rule the runways this fall but she accentuated it with red prints and linings. I really loved her collection, she really is a perfectionist in both tailoring and bringing life to her vivid imagination. Bravo….

Check out the boots

As we left the Hudson Hotel, one of my favorites in the city (You may remember I lived there when we first moved to New York). izzi and I ran over to Michelin Rated Rouge Tomate for supper with friends. Have you ever been there ? if not make sure next time you are looking for a fabulous restaurant in New York you make it a date. The Executive Chef Jeremy Bearman and Executive Pastry Chef James Distefano have created a twist on Modern-American cuisine. The seasonally inspired culinary offerings rely heavily on locally sourced ingredients and are prepared in consultation with culinary nutritionist Natalia Hancock. The restaurant offers a carefully selected global wine list of over 200 domestic and international varieties, including a large selection of organic and bio dynamic wines and a handful of wines from local estates.I am going to enlighten you more on this place with a review next week, but for now just feast your eyes on this wonderful toast of Mushrooms, sheep’s milk, ricotta, leek and thyme and remember not to tell my diet that I cheated and ate carbs!

I feel hungry again already!

So today I decide that leopard print is the order of the day as I strut off to the Lincoln center and I am not sure that I made the right choice looking at the weather. I was not carrying an umbrella and I was wearing shoes that were really only fit for looking at in a glass case. But you know us girls will wear any shoes as long as they look good how they feel on our precious little tootsies is another matter!

Not sure who is the dummy here

Just in case you cannot appreciate the shoes from the picture above here they are a little closer up.

Not for walking in Shoes

So I am standing in line for the Rebecca Minkoff show and to be honest I really am not very patient especially as it was now 30 minutes late, the shoes were not feeling like they would last another 30 before I was going to be clawing someones eyes out if they didn’t move this line along. So finally I get into see the show, actually it was a presentation of her collection – this means that all the models just stand on a podium and get oogled at they do not waltz up a cat walk. Not great if you are standing for a long time! I have something in common with them and can now sympathize although I am not that thin so the sympathy doesn’t last that long.

A lot of Red for the SS collection 2011

The clothes to be honest did not really excite me, I felt that they would look just as comfortable in H&M as they would in Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s. But you decide…

Casual street wear

I thought these were very run of the mill

Top Shop - H&M class?

Well then I got a little bit excited because I spotted some shoes and then I realised that all was not lost at this show, what do you think?

I can say these are a 'I must have' pair.

and these are a ‘I can not possibly live without’ pair

Yummy Shoes

Maybe the model could have painted her toe nails before coming out today, but they still are marvellous shoes.

So that ends the day at New York Fashion week Sunday for me. I am a bit tired still after Fashion Night Out and izzi is still drooling over his JLO picture moment and the fact that she was so nice to him…. yawn yawn….

Anne at Rebecca Minkoff

And before I sign off note that it is not me that is crooked but the sign! Have a lovely week…..

OH where shall I start with this weeks Fashion Night Out? well actually I would like to start by talk about the move of Fashion Week in New York from Bryant Park to the Lincoln Center. It seems to have been a pretty smooth transition. The space is very professional looking and well laid out, unlike the grubby marquees that we are all used to. But I say that with tongue in cheek and not really meant the way it was said. We all got excited when we went to the tents amongst the fashion district of 36th – 40th streets of New York and having to clamber to get our seats on the make shift scaffolding was all part of the fun.

So here are some lovely pictures of yours truly on the First day of Fashion week September 2010.

New York Times Front Row

FNO T-Shirts for sale

I was one of the lucky ones that bought a FNO T-Shirt limited edition, whatever that means as they were all limited editions, but hey ho before the stock was stolen! how sad is that as they were for charity. I feel that whoever you are out there that stole them shame on you!

Maybelline are the official sponsors of the shows and they give away everyday a certain ammount of products. They invited me to their stand and here I am on the pink sofa, fit for a Princess!

Maybelline Pink Sofa

I think the highlight of the fashion shows has to be this magnificent dress by DHL, yes you heard it the ‘Get it to your door in less than 2 months’ delivery firm! (that is a story for another day) I guess you could call it ‘Bubble wrap me and ship me’ it sure gives a whole new meaning to bondage.

Bubble Wrap Me and Ship Me

OK, OK you waited long enough so here it is, the official night of izzi bag at New York’s Fashion Night out. Here we go, brace yourself and I hope you are sitting comfortably with a large glass of something in your hand you are going to need it….

izzi and I set off from our Mid Town, Manhattan Pent House and walked the few blocks to Macy’s one of my fav shops in New York. I am FYI wearing a Rachel Roy knitted fringed dress and my ummm very expensive new boots, no names mentioned  (Shush I told izzi that I got them in M&S). For those of you in the US this is Marks & Spencers..I am so glad to be wearing them as I constantly watch girlies tripping and falling in their high heels. I have been there lovelies so with my over the knee sox I am raring to go. Bring it on….

Fashion Night Out Starts Here

As we enter Macy’s Ground Floor izzi gets almost bowled over by Anna Wintour who is officially ‘leaving the building’ I thought her body guards (Pleeeeeze) were going to take izzi out before the night even started. She was driven away in her famous dark sunglasses in the blacked out SUV. I had better luck as I  bumped into Elton John, well actually that isn’t quite true, I did see his boots though, what do you think, will they ever make a come back? I am all for flying the flag..

Elton John's Boots

So we move around the store and I see that the Givenchy counter is being mobbed because Justin Timberlake had signed only 10 bottles of their new fragrance called PLAY and I asked one of the sales assistants to trot off and get me one of them as I couldn’t possibly be expected to push my way through this mob! (Do they know who I am ?) and guess what the lovely man did just that! so I am now the proud owner of a bottle of limited edition PLAY signed by Justin Timberlake and just to prove it here it is and duly signed. Offers in writing please and make it quick as I might just have to have a little tester.

Justin Timberlake

Well things then get a little bit annoying in my opinion, I went off to the 2nd floor poor izzi in tow (I am at this point feeling sorry for him, but not for much longer – read on!) I really wanted to meet Rachel Roy as I wear her clothes all the time and as you may recall above I mentioned I am supporting her tonight. Humpf, but she had so many body guards around her, you would have thought she was the Queen of Sheba. I was most annoyed as she wouldn’t let anyone get anywhere near her and her hangers on were actually so rude. She lost a customer – ME !

I'm Off

Well then I decided to go and see Rebecca Moses, she has just written a new book which I already have a copy of called ‘ A life of Style’ but I bought another copy as of course mine is neatly tucked in my book cabinet at home. Rebecca signed the book and here is what she wrote in it ‘ Dear Anne, To a very stylish lady, may the spirit of style keep you alive, Love Rebecca’ she was very endearing and she said she was looking forward to seeing me at her show later in the week. Bless her what a total difference from the previous DIVA !

Rebecca Moses & Anne

Ok so here it is and I now do not feel sorry for izzi anymore as his Man Flu of the last 3 days has suddenly disappeared and he is the fittest, healthiest man on the planet as he drags me to the 8th floor to meet, yes you got it JLO !

Words cannot express his face so just see for yourself!

Anne, JLO and izzi

JLO was so lovely and had time to speak to anyone and everyone that came to see her, I bought her new perfume called Love and Glamour and I am sure that once izzi gets back to planet earth from that little JLO Heaven he has been to for the last few hours he will enjoy smelling it on me.

I then dragged him off, but before we managed to leave the store Macy’s asked if they could photograph me for their FNO picture Library so here it is. I was very honored.

One Mighty Drop Fragrance at Macy's

As we were leaving the store, of course now everyone wants a picture, they obviously thought I was famous after the Macy’s picture so here I am posing with the Spiegel girls who were so funny. Thanks to you guys for asking me to have a picture with you.

izzi, Spiegel girls and Anne

izzi and I eventually managed to leave Macy’s reluctantly on part, I have to say because I spend far to much time and money in there, my fav New York Store. I want to tell you Brits a little secret, because if you go to their customer relations desk on the Mezzanine level before you start to shop you can  save 10% on all purchases as you are from out of town! worth remembering.

We shot off for a quick stop to Lord & Taylor as I wanted to see Wendy Williams but she had hot footed it out of the building as quickly as she arrived. So we missed her and although I would possibly have liked to linger on the 1st Floor with the NYFD, of course izzi wasn’t interested in anything else now or was he?

I had promised to visit my good friend Dickey at Hair Rules before we called it a night and so we quickly grabbed a cab. Actually to be honest we commandeared it, because the driver told us he was on his way home to celebrate the end of Ramadan, but he decided to be a good guy and take us to 54th & 9th to the salon. Big tip went his way.

We arrived at Hair Rules and it was rocking in there, Kara Young, Dickey’s partner was there you may remember her she was a cover girl and I have to say that she is absolutely stunning, beautiful, all the things I had heard about her.

Kara Young & Anne

I cannot miss out my Gorg hair stylist Dickey, he is such a good friend and he has changed my hair in the last 6 months to be the softest it has ever been and in the best condition. I really believe in his products and if you are a twitter fan you will have read that we give a lot away on his behalf. So log into twitter and follow us if you would like to have hair like mine. @hairrules and @izzibag

Dickey, Anne & Katria

I was absolutely stunned to see Russell Simmons sitting in the salon sipping a drink. I mean a guy that invented Hip Hop Def Jam sitting right there in front of me. I nearly fainted I mean this guy is a legend.

Anne with Russell Simmons

Two of the most important people in the salon are Katiria and Monique who take such good care of me and I had to mention them. I love you dolls.

Monique your blow out's are the best

Katria gives me sun kissed looks

So here it is, the end of the evening and how else would we choose to finish it but with a fellow Londoner. Estelle, what a lovely lady and so down to earth I so enjoyed meeting you.

Anne & Estelle

As I said would izzi ever top his evening and sure he did…

izzi & Estelle

Well FNO September 2010 came to a close and what a night, I am so blessed to live my life and meet the great people I do. OK so feet back on the ground let’s have a cup of tea.