izzi blog

The official izzibag blog

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.

It seems everyday now I am reinventing something about myself. I am not sure is this the effect New York has on people or is it just me? well I have been on holiday since I last posted a blog story, I think perhaps I should keep that episode for another day. So this week I met with my good friend Dickey from Hair Rules, his salon is on 54th & 9th and if you live in New York you must visit them. Someone needs to have a word with him about the goatie he has hanging from his chin!

I feel really privileged  to know Dickey he has styled Michelle Obama’s hair, Estelle, SJP and now me!

First Style With Dickey

Well this week we were going to a really big Fashion event in Bryant Park called ‘Picnic in the Park’ with the Accessories Council. They had sent out to various designers a picnic basket and asked them to fill it with goodies. I was so impressed with some of the baskets, by Kate Spade, Nine West, Hair Rules and my good friends at JW Maximal Art who had only put one thing in the basket, but of course it was a Tiara fit for a Princess…. well that would be me then!

John Wind from JW Maximal Art with a Princess

Slightly suntanned looking I felt that my new Body Con dress did not look too bad especially as it was cream, what do you think?

Anyway I bid on lots of the baskets as all the designers had nominated a charity for the monies raised to go to. I thought that was great as they were all different and therefore lots of charities would get something. Unfortunately I did not bid enough on any of the baskets but it was a great evening and a great cause.

Here is a lovely picture with izzi and I think it is the first time I have looked at a piccie and felt we look totally healthy and relaxed in a while. (Shame I did not move my arm so you could see my Ostrich Skin Tigi Bag)

Anne Agoren & izzi

The week just became busier and I got a little sad as our intern Casey left us on Friday I am truly not sure what we will do without her sense of humour and willingness to do anything we needed. She told the whole office every single day where the sample sales were going to be and believe me the office was normally deserted about ten minutes after her shout outs! I can’t count the times that she ran errands in the rain and the sweltering heat and I will sadly miss her but she is going back to Penn State to finish her schooling and I wish her every success in all she does. Clearly this picture was taken outside of the office – noted by the glasses on the table, water it was only water honestly! I know that because here in New York it is really not on to order a glass of wine at lunch time and a bottle is unheard of. I am sure the Americans think we Brits are total lushes. Well I am here to tell you that it is not true, well not on a day with a Y in it, the other days they do not count. I have no idea who the other person in the picture is! of course I do that is Debs everyone’s girl Friday, she is a total Gem.

Casey's last day at the office

Then of course it was off to the event of the weekend at Dickey’s, my hair stylist, sounds great to say that, he is a great friend actually and always tells me when my hair looks dreadful and how to put it right.  In fact on Saturday I did not have time to get to him before his BLOG HER event as I was busy working. I jumped into the shower using Hair Rules daily cleansing cream, followed by quench ultra rich conditioner and the curly whip. As I ran out of the door after trying to fight izzi to get in front of the bathroom mirror I ran some hydrating cream into my almost dry hair and this below is the result. Dickey said I look so much younger with curly hair ummmm.

Anne & Dickey

Sunday came and went far to quickly for me but that was taken up with all those horrid chores I hate doing as well as spending time on some much needed catching up of paper work. Have a great week and remember that some days are so worth the make up…