Carmen Marc Valvo fall 2015 New York Fashion Week

photo 2 (1) image (1)image (2)image (3)image (4)image (5)image (6)image

Photos: Cathy OBrien/Bay Area Fashionista 2015©

Carmen Marc Valvo showed his fall / winter 2015 / 2016 collection at New York Fashion Week on February 15, 2015 in The Theatre at Lincoln Center. The collection was filled with shades of black, red, white and grey. There were school-yard plaids on gala gowns, bright and cozy furs, and a vibe reminiscent of childhood.

I was fortunate enough to be sitting in the second row for Carmen Marc Valvo’s show at New York Fashion Week; I was especially fortunate since my DSLR wasn’t working at the time and I had to rely on my iPhone to capture these photos. The texture on the fabrics and fur was amazing. Carmen Marc Valvo used the finest cashmere, organza, taffeta, mink, flannel, and wool gauze on his clothing. The details were beautiful and included silver with Shadowplay diamonds, white sapphires, white agate, white quartz, black spinel, bead-work, and more. It was a feast for the eyes, and the collection instantly transported you to a red carpet event, or gala event, where you could wear such finery. 

Carmen Marc Valvo was inspired by school-yard memories for his fall/winter 2015/2016 collection. He included the following poem as part of his inspiration for the show:

“Lasses and Lads

Intartan plaids

Dressed up in the latest fads

Hoping one day to be grads

Lads and lasses

In schoolyard glasses

Skipping rops and

skipping classes

Memories of playground retorts

Being lousy at sports

and too many reports

Mmeories of cheering stadium bleachers

Mean-spirited teachers

And Sunday school preachers

Memories of apples

And school-marms

Mother’s loving arms

And long lost innocent charms”

We will definitely be seeing many of Carmen Marc Valvo’s gowns on the red carpet later this year. To learn more about Carmen Marc Valvo and his work, please visit CarmenMarcValvo.com


Shopbop Friends and Family Sale on now!

shopbop spring sale

Spring 2015 is in full swing, which means our wardrobes need to be in full swing for spring! Stores are still selling spring 2015 apparel and accessories at full-price, which can make building a spring 2015 wardrobe a little bit difficult. Thankfully, Shopbop is having a fabulous Friends & Family sale right now!

This amazing sale offers 25% off spring merchandise! Love that! Now, it is a little bit easier to fill up our closets with everything we need for the spring 2015 season. 

To shop ShopBop’s Friends & Family sale for spring and save 25% off, please click here.

Here are a few of my favorite items from Shopbop’s Friends & Family sale, I hope you love them too! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉


Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color review

laura mercier lipstick review laura mercier paint lipstick

Pictured: c/o Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color in Red Brick

Laura Mercier’s Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color is a new lipstick alternative from Laura Mercier. A fusion between lip gloss and cream lipstick, Laura Mercier’s Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color “paints” on your lips like a gloss, while offering the finish of a cream lipstick. Love that!

As lipstick trends toward darker hues in cream or matte finishes for the spring and summer seasons, Laura Mercier’s Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color is the perfect lipstick alternative to rocking this trend. Instead of worrying about a thick cream or matte lipstick which can cake up, as well as travel past your lip lines while on, Laura Mercier’s Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color stays exactly where you “paint” it on, and offers the lightweight feeling of a gloss. Perfection 😉

I tested out Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color in “Red Brick” from the spring 2015 collection. This lip color offers a classic red hue which looks like a timeless red, cream lipstick. I loved how it felt lightweight like a gloss. Sometimes cream lipstick is too thick and does not stay in place on my lips. Laura Mercier’s Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color stayed exactly where I put it on my lips; giving me long lasting, worry-free color!

In addition to “Red Brick,” Laura Mercier’s new Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color comes in a variety of classic, and of-the-moment hues including Coral Reef, Fuchsia Mauve, Golden Peach, Orchid Pink, Petal Pink, and Vermilion Red. You can find Laura Mercier’s Paint Wash Liquid Lip Color online here.