Holiday Bonanza Giveaway
‘Tis the season for giving and here at PageDaily we have a very special holiday bonanza giveaway for you. Simply subscribe and you will automatically be entered to win our unique gift set stocked with goodies like a ShopBop gift certificate, L’Occitane hand cream, a Jay Godfrey dress, and much more!
Enter to win a total value of over $1500 including the following gifts:
- Urban Decay cosmetics & nail polish
- A $325 Jay Godfrey Aubert dress
- A $250 Shopbop giftcard
- Jennifer Miller earrings
- Striiv Fitness Device
- Jacques Levine ballet slippers
- 3 3-packs of Affinitas undies & 1 Berry Ball and Bag care set
- 2 Tasting Room Wine Samplers
- L’Occitane hand cream bouquet
- 10 Braced-lets bracelets
- Handset by Native Union Pop Phone
- Make-up Brush Set by Sonia Kashuk
Subscribe to win!
The winner will be notified by email on December 19. Share the holiday spirit this season by sharing our giveaway with friends!
10 Perfect Holiday Dresses
One of the reasons I love the holidays as much as I do is for all of the great party dresses designers roll out! Whether you have cocktail parties, workplace events, or family gatherings coming up, finding the perfect dress can be a challenge. In honor of the season, I selected some great options so you can look and feel your best wherever the holidays take you!
1. Lanvin Sequin Print Cowl Neck dress, BUY NOW, $1890
I love just about anything Lanvin and this dress is perfect for any holiday event you may attend. This sequin-print dress has a modest hemline, cap sleeve, and playful cowl neck—you can wear it to corporate parties, family get-togethers, and everywhere in between. You can rock this same look for less with another one of our favorites, RACHEL Rachel Roy: Ice Capade dress, BUY NOW, $129.
2. Ramy Brook Caftan, BUY NOW, $495
My favorite new designer Ramy Brook does it again! I purchased this fun dress in red to wear at some of my upcoming holiday events. Its asymmetrical (short) hem is flirty and it comes with its own belt that cinches below the waist for a super flattering fit. The dress is really festive in red, but it is also available in several colors!
3. Jay Godfrey Color Block dress, BUY NOW, $365
This one shoulder color block dress is a great party dress for everyone because of its flattering silhouette. Not only does cobalt blue work on all skin tones but the cut works on all body types. Sure you could pair it with black tights and pumps, but for a more holiday feel, go for metallic accents and sparkly accessories.
4. Ali Ro Sequined Lace minidress, BUY NOW, $365
Ali Ro’s mini dress is your quintessential holiday dress! With subtle striping, sequins and lace, could a New Year’s outfit really need more? Okay fine, maybe just a great pair of chandelier earrings, a statement clutch, and tights (if you are ringing in the New Year in the cold).
5. J.Crew Metallic Jacquard dress, BUY NOW, $350
Jacquard is a holiday favorite and must have. This J.Crew style is great for anyone who prefers to show off their natural waist line, as the dress has one sewn in for you. And let’s not forget that this is one of those dresses you can get away with wearing multiple times as it can be styled many different ways (think ankle booties, chunky bangles, and a studded clutch or bordeaux pumps, pendant necklace, and a velvet shoulder bag).
6. Alice & Olivia Wrapped Goddess dress, BUY NOW, $264
The Alice & Olivia Goddess dress will keep you feeling like a Goddess no matter how many hors d’oeuvres you may find yourself eating! The silk chiffon draped mini hides belly bloat and the one shoulder construction is a great way to show off your figure. If you are heading tropical for the holidays, try this style in white or dusty rose. This fab dress is a celebrity favorite and available in a variety of hot colors.
7. Urban Outfitters Cooperative Plumage dress, BUY NOW, $199
This fun dress screams party and we love it for that alone. With a chiffon top and feathered skirt, it’s hard not to want to pair this dress with your favorite spiked-heel dancing shoes.
8. Topshop Reverse Panel Bodycon dress, BUY NOW, $130
The lace panels on this dress make it truly something special, not only do they make for an alluring neckline but the cut outs on the side give any waist great definition. Because this dress has a lot of character, keep your accessories to a minimum–go with a classic timepiece, a simple pair of stud earrings, and a large vintage cocktail ring. Also, try a fun up-do to show off the lace detail!
9. The Limited Color Block dress, BUY NOW, $118
The Limited color block dress is another one of those wardrobe staples. It’s simple enough to act as a great canvas for virtually any styling you may want to add to it. Should you want a belt, go ahead and add it, a chunky necklace, certainly, patterned tights, why not? Have fun with this dress and don’t be afraid to make it your own!
10. BB Dakota Clarissa dress, BUY NOW, $110
Normally floral dresses make you think of spring, but the color palette makes this dress perfect for the holidays. The gorgeous floral pattern looks hand painted and the brush strokes give it a modern update. Love the retro style!
A Day in the Life of Jay Godfrey
It’s fun to learn what your favorite designers do on a daily basis, let alone every half hour. I recently sat down with Jay Godfrey to get his play by play on a typical day, and what gets him going (Espresso!). It’s a guarantee he’ll never leave home without his iPhone and an ingrained image of his baby girl, Allegra. Get a glimpse into JG’s life:
5:44 am: I hear my alarm go off. Ok, no I don’t! I hear my one year old, Allegra, crying. Ok, not that either. Why the hell am I up?! Must be thinking about work. Back to sleep I go.
7:16 am: Ok. Now I am really up. I hear Allegra calling for me and her mommy to come get her from her crib.
7:19 am: Diaper change. “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” sung. Espresso machine on and heating up.
7:35 am: Espresso gone. Make another. Go get the NY Post and NY Times to get some news at my front door. Tired of “debt ceiling” and Casey Anthony stories. Loved restaurant reviews in the Times and can’t wait to try David Bouley’sBrushstroke, which received two stars this morning.
8:02 am: Steam, shower, groom, pick out my clothes (Nudie Jeans, American apparel Deep V, Jil Sander cotton navy blazer, Duckie Brown for Florsheim no lace brogues). No socks today.
8:30 am: Third espresso. Eating two slices of whole wheat toast my wife Dara made me with peanut butter and Nutella. YUM!
8:44 am: Hop on the E Train north to the garment district.
9:02 am: Arrive at the office to a LONG LONG LONG LONG to do list. Start returning emails to my factory in China.
10:00 am: Full team meeting to chat about all things going on in the world of Jay Godfrey. I mention to the team about an appearance I am going to be making on a Bravo reality show about matchmaking.
11:05 am: Design meeting with associate designer to discuss Spring 2012 prints in Photoshop. Some fab kaleidoscope prints are being concocted in front of my eyes.
11:55 am: Surprise pop into the studio from my wife and baby. Made my day!
12:33 pm: Starting to get hungry but somehow the girls in my office start talking about the Bachelorette and I get roped into a conversation about who I want to win. Massive fake argument ensues.
1:39 pm: Still haven’t gone for lunch. Getting ravenous (and maybe a bit grumpy). Need to eat. Off to grab a sandwich and return to my desk.
2:22 pm: Phone rings and big Hollywood stylist calls me in a frantic (albeit funny) fit. She needs a particular dress made ASAP in two different colors. DEEP BREATHS! Okay!
3:00 pm: Japanese luxury trim manufacturer coming to show me and my associate designer their latest and greatest.
3:45 pm: INSPIRED! Some great and exciting new trims. My mind is racing with ideas. Need to sleep on some of them, though.
4:12 pm: Production manager comes to my office saying that the factory in China is having difficultly telling which color I call “Lipstick Red” and the one I call “Bordeaux”.
4:33 pm: Bravo show producers drop in for a quick “site visit”.
5:02 pm: In the sample room with my head of production, VP of Sales, patternmaker and sample maker, discussing options for exclusive styles we’re creating for Intermix.
5:18 pm: Step into meeting with our CFO, Sean, to discuss the possibility of a JAY GODFREY retail store! Sounds exciting. A bit scary too.
6:46 pm: In a taxi home to play with Allegra and put her to bed.
7:46 pm: Dara made a DELICIOUS salmon teriyaki. Have a delicious glass of Provence-style rose.
8:43 pm: Off for a jog along the Westside highway. Thinking about Spring 2012 and cant get it out of my head.
9:35 pm: Return to my apartment – totally and utterly exhausted. Time for my wind down – steam, bath, book, news.
10:33 pm: A few emails come in as China opens. Nothing crazy.
11:30 pm: In bed. Ready to sleep but Spring 2012 is still on my mind. I get up, go to my sketch book, and quickly jot down some ideas.
11:52 pm: Back in bed. Need to rest!
Buy Jay Godfrey in the US: Intermix, Nordstrom, Saks, Tootsies, Neiman Marcus and Cusp.
Buy Jay Godfrey Internationally: Holt Renfrew in Canada, Vakko in Turkey, Aishti in the Lebanon and Dubai and Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong.
 Lindsay Brooke Weiss (Cohen) is a fashion and accessories editor and on-air style expert. She was previously Haute Living’s editorial director, Niche Media’s fashion and accessories editor and fashion editor for L-Atitude.com. Lindsay has been a frequent contributor at styledon.com and is a regular guest stylist on NBC’s “Gossip Gram.” |
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: The Jay Godfrey Live Report Day 6
Fashion Week 2011 Wrap-Up
So, this is the last day of NY Fashion Week and overall, I think it was a pretty solid week for American fashion.
Ralph Lauren & Jeffrey Monteiro Collections Impress
It is a ritual for Ralph Lauren to show on the last day, and this year was no exception. I have always looked up to Ralph because he, more than any other global brand with the sole exception of Señor Armani, is a complete lifestyle. You know something is Ralph Lauren the second you look at it—and that’s something very few designers have ever accomplished at 1 price point, never mind at 20+ price points. For fall 2011, Ralph clearly has his sights set on China, and his inspiration, silhouettes, and fabrics showed this. The strongest looks amongst a stellar collection were a blood-red peekaboo-shoulder velvet gown and a dragon-motif brocade smoking jacket, which I am sure will be both commercial and editorial hits.
Jeffrey Monteiro mined the Bill Blass archives with his second collection for the re-emerging house. I am a huge fan of the original Bill Blass, so I was hoping that Monteiro would be able to live up to the legacy. For the most part, I would say that he succeeded! The show location, Monkey Bar, seemed odd and cramped and is a disservice to a lengendary 7th Avenue icon. With this said, some of the clothes were simple, luxurious, and smart. The long-sleeved red jersey gown with knotted side cutouts could be worn by women across a broad age spectrum.
L’Wren Scott Leaps Forward at Fashion Week
Finally, stylist-turned-designer L’Wren Scott is proving to the world that she’s really more than Mick Jagger’s girl. Scott took a giant leap forward this season by experimenting with different fabrications and prints, and the results were awesome. Aside from the sexy JFL’d hair and the black, slut eye makeup, Scott’s strongest pieces were her signature long and lean cocktail dresses. There were also a couple great looks that ombré’d from navy to ivory and were executed beautifully!
—Jay Godfrey
Related Links
• Jay Godfrey Found Some Collections Ridiculous, Unsellable, Unbearable! He Loved a Few
• Jay Godfrey on Hating Polka Dots but Loving the Marc Jacobs Polka Dot Fest
• Jay Godfrey’s Take on Victoria Beckham’s Pregnancy & Fall 2011 Collection
• What Does Jay Godfrey Think About Christian Siriano?
• A Photo Shoot, 3 Espressos & Zac Posen: Jay Godfrey on NY Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: The Jay Godfrey Live Report Day 5
The Highs & Lows of Fashion Week
So Wednesday was a great day for fashion AND a not-so-great day for fashion. First off—why do some people show collections that are meant for fall? OR better yet, why do they show clothes that are ridiculous, utterly unsellable, and completely unbearable? Who knows?? But thankfully, there was A LOT on Wednesday to keep a fashion lover’s spirits high. Rather that talk about the people who won’t be around in a season or 2, I am picking my 3 favorite shows of the day. Phillip Lim, Reed Krakoff, and Michael Kors all stand for something and have points of view that are uniquely theirs.
Phillip Lim & Reed Krakoff on the Runway
Phillip Lim showed a gorgeous lineup for fall. I particularly loved his coats and how he used the raglan sleeve as a basis for many different shapes throughout the collection.
Reed Krakoff also scored big. His girl is chic, modern, and fashion-forward. But she’s also a bit of minimalist who loves color. His biggest hits were his asymmetrical snake geometric skirt, cowhide coat, and his take on a sleeveless toggle coat in cocoa.
Michael Kors Scores at Fashion Week
Michael Kors deserves much praise for his successful 30 years in business. Big MAZEL! If he can teach any younger designers anything, it really is to understand who your customer is. And for 3 decades, Kors has never waivered from this. He’s an incredibly consistent designer who designs clean, American sportswear and chic, draped evening dresses for the uptown girl. It’s obvious that he’s a big fan of the original Halston, as shown in how he works with silk jersey and how he pares down his sportswear. (But so am I—how could you not be?) These are real clothes for really wealthy women with great taste, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
—Jay Godfrey
Related Links
• Jay Godfrey on Hating Polka Dots but Loving the Marc Jacobs Polka Dot Fest
• Jay Godfrey’s Take on Victoria Beckham’s Pregnancy & Fall 2011 Collection
• What Does Jay Godfrey Think About Christian Siriano?
• A Photo Shoot, 3 Espressos & Zac Posen: Jay Godfrey on NY Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: The Jay Godfrey Live Report Day 4
Marc Jacobs’ Polka Dots at Fashion Week
OK, so I hate polka dots. I mean really, really dislike. SO, you can imagine how surprised I was that I loved Marc Jacobs’ polka-dot extravaganza last evening. Marc, always one to surprise and make you think, made polka dots sexy AND sophisticated. Who woulda thunk? But it wasn’t JUST about polka dots. There were also beautiful lace pieces, fully embroidered dresses,
skirts of rubber disc-like paillettes, and a gorgeous color palette that included standouts like inky blue, scarlet, and a stunning peacock-ish teal.
Fashion Designer to Watch: Kevork Kiledjian on the Runway
Another thing I really love about fashion is that there are always new names to watch for. Kevork Kiledjian—the first thing I thought was, who the hell is that? But now, after seeing his show, I am truly impressed. His collection was extremely sexy, and his use of fringe, leather, lace, and lamé only helped him create a steaming hot collection.
Donna Karan’s New Collection: No Cliché
Donna Karan showed another breathtaking collection of real clothes for real women. It’s almost cliché at this point to discuss the beauty of her draping, but honestly, there is no other way of describing it. While the collection was refined and covered, the silhouettes were extremely sexy in their own way.
Related Links
• Jay Godfrey’s Take on Victoria Beckham’s Pregnancy & Fall 2011 Collection
• What Does Jay Godfrey Think About Christian Siriano?
• A Photo Shoot, 3 Espressos & Zac Posen: Jay Godfrey on NY Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: The Jay Godfrey Live Report Day 3
Oh, don’t I love Mondays. But this Monday is different. First, it was lovely to see so many of my contemporaries put on stellar shows. When the economy is struggling, the best thing any designer can do is ramp up the creativity and push the boundaries.
On Saturday morning, my wife, Dara, and 7-month-old baby, Allegra, all ventured uptown to check out Jill Stuart’s fall 2011 collection at Lincoln Center. This was Allegra’s first fashion show and there were lots of photogs clamoring to get our little fashionista’s photo. Jill Stuart didn’t disappoint. I particularly liked her use of colorblocking, pleating, and longer lengths. I’m sharing a few of my favorite looks.
After taking Allegra for lunch at the Mark Hotel on the Upper East, it was time to relax before a big market week. I did, however, find a few minutes to catch a few other shows online.
Alexander Wang did a really terrific job, showing off what he does best—appeal to that tough, edgy, downtown girl. He hit the nail on the head this season with some great capes, fur treatments, and lots of leather.
Diane von Furstenberg’s show on Sunday was also very strong, although it was much more sophisticated than we are used to, thanks to her new design director, Yvan Mispelaere. I loved how she sliced and diced pieces of metallic lame and combined them with both solids and prints. There were also some terrific furs, and 3 sequined numbers that were show-stoppers.
Victoria Beckham’s pregnancy no doubt affected the way she developed her silhouettes for fall. While Madame Beckham has primarily been known for body-con, structured pieces, this season there were much easier, looser bodies in extremely vivid colors like canary, fuchsia, and a stunning peacock blue that closed the presentation. I will say this much—Victoria Beckham has a great sense of color and truly understands who her customer is.
Looking forward to when the big boys like Marc, Oscar, Donna, and Ralph show this week! Will keep you posted.
Related Links
Christian Siriano, A Model with Attitude & Vodka: Jay Godfrey on Fashion Week, Day 2
He’s Finished His Collection, Now Off to the Runways: Jay Godfrey on Fashion Week, Day 1
Hot Young Hollywood’s Favorite Designer, Jay Godfrey: Why I Love Women
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: The Jay Godfrey Live Report Day 2
It was a whirlwind for the first official day of NY Fashion Week. My team and I assembled at Noho Productions, an amazing photo studio, to shoot fall 2011. I was so excited to see it all come together. This season, the inspiration was the sultry style of Carine Roitfeld. Our model Madlena completely captured the essence of Carine and sizzled the entire day. Love when beautiful models with the right amount of attitude can elevate your work to a new level! But enough about me. 
After 10 hours of standing on my feet, I was ready to sit or have a drink very, very soon! But I had committed myself to attending a fundraiser and decided I would fight the fatigue. After 2 vodkas and some hors d’oeuvres, I had my second wind.
After the third and fourth pops, I decided that I should probably go home and check out all that I missed online from day 1 of NYFW.
What I Love So Far From Fashion Week
BCBGMaxAzria continued their take on languid, light dressing with the effective use of colorblocking. They pushed their boundaries a bit by dropping the waists and in turn lengthening the skirts, creating an elongated, fresh silhouette.
The leathers at Wayne looked pretty sick. Great to have the legendary Norma Kamali back in the mix. She did a stellar job, especially when she mixed fur with grey heather sweatshirt fabrics. Very fresh and new. Also loved her studded swimsuits! Very sexy indeed. Willow from Australia was a beautiful lineup, especially the perforated or laser-cut leather tops and shift dresses. They used what is quickly developing as the color of fall—deep teal, according to me (. . . and, err, Pantone). While I am gravitating toward a more fluid, fuller pant, Willow’s printed, hatched black-and-white cigarette pant looked really cool when paired with a crisp, crisp, white, white and a moto-inspired riding jacket.
Finally, Christian Siriano. He’s a talented boy, no doubt. The pieces were indeed beautiful, BUT some of the opening looks were a little bit like Givenchy of the last few seasons. Where he really shone—his mossy green cocktail dresses and gowns, toward the end.
Related Links
He’s Finished His Collection, Now Off to the Runways: Jay Godfrey on Fashion Week, Day 1
Hot Young Hollywood’s Favorite Designer, Jay Godfrey: Why I Love Women
Visit the Studio of PageDaily’s Fashion Week Guest Blogger, Designer Jay Godfrey
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: The Jay Godfrey Live Report
It’s the crazy official first day of Fashion Week, where it’s always a mix: tons of work (finishing my own collection), lots of shows to see (be it online or in person), and dinners and parties galore!
Last night my team and I put the final touches on my fall collection and prepped for our look-book shoot. After a solid night of sleep and a trio of strong espressos, I’m ready for the day.
Usually it starts with catching up on what I missed yesterday on the ’net. Checked out Z Spoke (Zac’s midrange collection) where he showed a much more sophisticated group than his first. Loved seeing Posen regulars like Crystal Renn, Anna Cleveland, and Coco Rocha in the images. Also, saw M.Patmos–super-cozy layered knits in putties, sands, and other neutrals. Well-done and welcome back.
More tomorrow when Fashion Week gets into full swing. Off to my photo shoot!
Related Links
Hot Young Hollywood’s Favorite Designer, Jay Godfrey: Why I Love Women
Visit the Studio of PageDaily’s Fashion Week Guest Blogger, Designer Jay Godfrey
Designer Jay Godfrey: Fashion for Beautiful Women
New York-based fashion designer Jay Godfrey is the founder and creative director behind his eponymous collection of sleek, sexy, and sophisticated designs. Perpetually inspired by the chic New York woman, Godfrey’s goal as a designer is to meld the classic tailoring techniques of Savile Row with modern silhouettes and luxurious fabrics. The result is his distinctive contemporary collection of women’s dresses and separates that accentuate the female figure.
Hugo Boss to Parsons New School for Design to Oscar de la Renta
Godfrey realized his dream of becoming a designer while working his first summer job at Hugo Boss. He studied finance at Montreal’s McGill University in order to gain a grounding in business and accounting. Upon graduating, Godfrey headed to Wall Street and worked for Citigroup. While learning the fine points of finance, Jay’s goal of designing a collection led him to Parsons New School for Design. An internship with Oscar de la Renta honed the young designer’s style and technique, and helped him determine the ultimate Jay Godfrey woman.
Jay Godfrey Dresses Are Hot with Celebrities, the Media & More
Having only been in business for a little over 3 years, Godfrey has quickly cultivated his signature aesthetic which perfectly lends itself to the fashion-forward and glamorous woman. The collection has caught the media’s attention and has been featured in WWD, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, and the New York Post. Godfrey’s designs have also captured a loyal celebrity following and he is proud to have dressed Megan Fox, Eva Mendes, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Walsh, Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Eva Longoria, Angie Harmon, Zoe Saldana, Hayden Panettiere, Ali Larter, Eve, Carrie Underwood, Zoe Kravitz, and Kim Kardashian, to name a few.
Spring 2008 ushered in new accolades for Jay Godfrey. Parsons New School for Design presented the designer with the 2008 Parsons Alumni Achievement Award in recognition of his talent and recent accomplishments. In addition, Godfrey appeared on America’s Next Top Model as a special guest designer, where he had the honor of dressing the contestants for a red-carpet event.
Jay Godfrey is sold in Barneys, Intermix, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong, and Holt Renfrew, as well as numerous luxury boutiques worldwide.
