Author Archives: chicalarusse

Pom-Pom {Obsession!}

Posted on by
Reply

MG_8791

It all began with Candice. Since I laid my eyes on this particular image a while back I knew I must have the perfect Pom-Pom hat for fall, or to be more precise a chic version of it for the cold New York winter… As I started my search, I shortly found out that finding the right fit with the right Pom-Pom is everything but breezy. And if you’ve been on the go these past couple of days, finishing up your Christmas gift hurrah like me, you probably noticed that a good hat is not only a matter of a fashion statement but a true necessity. And I hate to be so judgmental but let’s face it, most “ladies” don’t go the extra mile when it comes to hats and in cold days you’ll see more then enough heads covered up with sloppy “beanies” (in Israel we call them “sock-hats” because it really does looks like you put a sock on your head!) that are mmm, how should I put it, not quite flattering for most. There are a few exceptions to the rule of course. If you are head to toe fabulous, a beanie can pass, The Glamourai is probably the best example for the case (I’ve never seen a girl looking so chic- in a beanie!), OR if you are the epitome of perfection and there is absolutely no way to meddle with your 6 feet tall confusing presence… However, if you belong to the majority of us humans and look beyond silly with a beanie (like me!) it’s time to be creative. I personally think that a Pom-Pom is the most adorable solution ever. Whether you decide to make a statement and go big or stay within the subtle boundaries of humor is up to you, but either way have fun with it ;)

PomPoms

I love the ones that have a little bill at the front, to give it more structure, like the one above from FRASSY, but if you’re more into the colorful scheme of things asos.com have a pretty neat selection. I recently found the cutest Diesel knitted cap, however lacking the Pom-Pom! If that’s the case, you can always add the pom-pom yourself! I found a great selection of fur pom-poms in both M&J Trimming, and at Joyce in the garment district in the city. Can’t wait to test mine!!!

{SnowFlake}

Posted on by
2

SNOWFLAKE

Despite the fact that I have my French final today, my mind finds every possible way out of memorizing yet again the demonic grammatical rules of the Passé Compossé… And you are me witnesses, I have tried and forced my color coordinated self (I was in the mood for warm shades of brown today if you must know…) to what seemed like an eternity (mmm more like two hours in which I battled my sporadic urges to check my Instagram/ my email account…) of reviewing and rewriting until I simply could not do it anymore! And at this very moment, as I was escaping from the library for some hot tea I was simply charmed by the crafty librarians that self made snowflake decorations cut out of fresh white paper and sprinkled them along the main window… I love snowflakes. It blows my mind how fragile and detailed those tiny creations can be, crafted by natures only effort. I’ll never forget the first time I laid my eyes on one. I was around 5, playing in the snow, bundled up to a fault, ready for a real Russian winter. When it started snowing we tried to “catch the snow”, I looked closely at the white flakes falling into my lap faster then I could contain and there it was… Impossibly beautiful, unbelievably real and so swift to lose its glory… I think it’s hard to deny that no matter how old you are, snowflakes have a certain charming influence on us… I suppose I’m not the first to notice a snowflake’s beauty, and surely not the only one to attempt and prolong their stay in our world… I searched for quite a bit a compelling photo that captured one at it’s best, but to be completely honest, there’s no photoshoped image that can compare to witnessing one by your self… If you’re lucky, one will fall in your lap too! After all, it’s almost Christmas…! Speaking of which, my wishful snowflake concoction at your disposal :

1.White Gold Rhodium Plated CZ Snowflake Pendant from here, 2.Snowflake Pearl and Created White Sapphire Pendant in Sterling Silver from here, 3.Snowflake Napkin Holder from Crate&Barrel, 4.Silver & Crystal Snowflake Brooch Pin by Anne Koplik, 5.Holiday Snowflake Table Runner from here, 6. Snowflake Decorations from here (Surprisingly, all very moderately priced and all below 50$)

{The Hermès Shoe Boutique} ShopBAZAAR

Posted on by
2

Hermes Shoe Boutique

Mmm Hermès… Simply pronouncing the name slowly in my mind makes my day just a tad more glamorous… I think it won’t come across as a complete revelation when I say that the Hermès enterprise is simply genius, driving the entire world absolutely crazy for a Birkin bag or yet another colorful concoction of art (they call a ‘scarf’…) I can’t help but admire not only the end product we are all so familiar with but also the way it is all served. If there’s one thing I can say about Hermès is they truly know CHIC, from the craftsmanship that goes into every bag, scarf or a pair of shoes, all the way to the magical campaigns you see in Magazines… Speaking of which, as you all know not too long ago Harper’s BAZAAR launched a brand-new shopping website featuring the season’s top trends, editors favorites, wardrobe essentials (I see it as a brilliant extension to the magazine, where you can actually reach those items you’ve been secretly covering while flipping through the pages…) AND for a limited time only they had struck a collaboration with Hermès. To be a little bit more specific, The Hermès Shoe Boutique includes six exclusive shoe styles—all hand-picked by the editors of BAZAAR—and are simply fabulous. I sneked a couple in the image above but you absolutely must check the entire collection for yourselves!

Oh, I could’t help myself, I had to share these with you…Bette-Franke-Hermes-Fall-2012-Ad-Campaignhermes-spring-summer-2011-ad-campaign-100211-3Hermes Latest Fall / winter Fashion 2012 ad campaignHermesFW12c

Vogue’s Naked Heart {Art & Toy Auction}

Posted on by
Reply

2vogue russia december 2012

I don’t know why but Christmas time always brings along sweet childhood memories, and I know we still have a couple of weeks to go but it’s already “in the air”… Back in the day, when my family was still residing in Russia, each year we would have a huge Christmas tree, incredibly (overly) decorated (a joyful side effect of hours spent around it, crafting away glitzy ornaments) and a pile of boxes all wrapped up, awaiting to be discovered… In Russia, new years eve is a great excuse to dress up, and I don’t just mean stilettos and a fur coat, but costumes. Elaborated, well ahead though out, home sewn costumes. Well, at least that’s how it played in my house… And considering the up and coming festivities I could not ignore this whimsical editorial from Vogue Russia, showcasing all the items created by Russian designers for VOGUE’s charitable auction in support of the Naked Heart Foundation, from Natalia Vodianova, which took place last night (following the Russian “glam-gang” on Instagram has it’s perks!)

7vogue russia december 2012vogue russia december 20124vogue russia december 2012 3vogue russia december 2012 5vogue russia december 20126vogue russia december 2012

Vogue Russia December 2012. Style: Olga Dunina. Model: Antonina Vasilchenko / IMG. Set Design: Natalia Obukhov / AD. Assistant Photographer: Denis Avramenko. Found Here

{Holiday Spoiled}

Posted on by
1

Last night I finally received the long anticipated package from my family back home, and there are no words to describe how happy those kind of things make me… Homemade apricot jam, Israeli Tahini, a jar of red caviar and a bunch of Russian chocolate candy sprinkled in between…! Just a tad of my mom’s jam this morning equals super food at it’s best! Now that a cease fire been declared and my family’s life is back to normal I can think of what kind of lipstick should I wear again…! I know, I know, but a lipstick can change a girl’s life! I came up with a little concoction of a few goodies that has been on my mind this morning (Inspired by Caviar and jam are we???)

Reed Krakoff Patent handbag, Clarissonic orange brush, Yonka Masque no.1, DOT Marc Jacobs perfume, Sephora travel size hairbrush, DIOR sunglusses, Michael Kors iPhone case, Smashbox red lipstick and a red Banjo & Matilda cashmere star sweater from Net-A-Porter (Yes Please!). 

{Full Fury}

Posted on by
Reply

In my wildest dreams I never though the day I will be writing a post about politics and terror acts will arrive, but I simply cannot sit here and post yet another concoction of all things fabulous and ignore what unfortunately became very real to me. It’s one thing when you are watching news or reading an article online about this and that and how tense things are in the middle east but it’s an entirely different scenario to know your family is at the line of fire.

I won’t be sitting here and stating my political views, nor will I be bashing the news and saying how inaccurate and completely misplaced things often tend to be, but I can tell you my side of the story. My family lives in the south of Israel, and if you’ve been getting any whiff of the latest reports, you know that it’s the last place you would want to be at at the moment. Schools have been shut down for days, the city, according to my parents is a ghost town. Retail stores and commercial centers closed their doors to customers and except for a few grocery stores the city gone quite. At first, relying on their usual set of well tested coping mechanisms they were laughing the whole thing off, having a smoke on the balcony and listening to the sirens with a great deal of indifference, telling me everything is “just fine”. But when a missile landed in it’s full fury in our back yard, only steps away from a children’s play ground, it became really hard to remain falsely amused.

It goes without saying I speak to my family every day and check in in every chance I’ve got but to be completely honest I don’t know how one can deal … The all mighty tune of “the show must go on” is stuck on repeat at the back of my mind; Coats are waiting to be sewn, projects to be submitted, internships obtained and galas to be covered but even from a distance, obliging to most of my daily tasks, my heart is with all of you that for some twisted reason have to be in such unspeakable circumstances to begin with. To be afraid at your own four walls, to be mortified to board your usual form of public transportation for work, and to be constantly guessing where will they strike next? Stay safe and well protected, I am sending you my virtual support and strength to face the day…

I’ve decided to pair this post with the work of Theo Altenberg, a German artist which creations I find incredibly moving, as though he was stirring a storm of color an the canvas…

Fashion Gala TLV {by Dor Chadash}

Posted on by
Reply

It was my absolute pleasure to take part in a beautiful ,first of it’s kind, Gala this past Thursday, representing Tel-Aviv’s emerging designers here in the big apple. Not too long ago, I introduced you to Maria Berman’s splendid collection, and not even 4 months later there it was marching right in front of me in New York City, not too shabby ha? I’m sure many of you heard of Dor Hadash (meaning, New Generation), a dynamic community, empowering a strong network of Israeli and American Jews. Well, this time, to make this event possible they joined forces with an outstanding young woman and a genuine veteran of the Israeli fashion industry, Galit Reismann, the curator of the show. On a more day to day basis – Galit is the owner and founder of TLVstyle that offers personalized tours into the fashion arena in Tel Aviv to anyone from international buyers to fashionably curious tourists interested in a peak behind the scenes and exploring the local scene… Even Rumi from Fashiontoast stopped by along with 4 other bloggers…

I would like to Thank Galit not only for having CHIC a’ la RUSSE at the Gala, but also for putting together such a lovely show, it was beyond exciting to see Maria’s work “in the flesh”, Yosef’s flowy beauties (with whom I worked closely back home) and promising new comers such as CommonRaven that showcased strong urban aesthetics that certainly left me curious to see more…  I hope this is the first episode of a new tradition. Oh, and in case you haven’t noticed, I was wearing {straight off the runway!} jacket by Daniel Silverstain, that also happened to be my date for the night!

With all the joy it brings me, I must say I was quite torn as I sat down to write this post. Word travels fast these days, and it’s not a secret things have been immensely tense in the middle east and although everyone that knows me will testify I’m not big on politics but the past few days were an absolute nightmare for my friends and family back home in Israel. I’m sending you my love and hope you are all safe and protected at this difficult hour, and I can only hope that bits and pieces of fashion will raise your spirits and maybe if just for a short while, will serve as a pleasant distraction…

Photography by Oren R.Cohen

Tease Me {Primary New York}

Posted on by
Reply

So besides the fact I always had a thing for Asian beauties (I haven’t decided quite yet who is the more ravishing from the two featured in the video below…) I find Primary New York to be the irresistible urban reply to casual chic. Since in 2010, the Vancouver bred Cleo along with Detroit born Steven, supplying a rather rare product, essential wardrobe bliss that is not overpriced. I am indeed impressed.

P.S- Thank God for Instagram! I suppose being an avid follower of TheGlamourai always pays off… Kelly is styling their new collection, and been posting snaps of the backstage at Bryant Park…

Dior {Dressy Nudes}

Posted on by
Reply

The last time I was sitting at a Dior make up chair was in Paris. I had just turned 19, and was completely enchanted by the most romantic city I’ve ever seen… The coffee was splendid, the streets alive, and the make up artists snooty and well, oh so French. I was already a huge fan of Dior and had my father carrying goody bags from his trips to Europe on a regular basis, so you can only imagine how excited I was to discover that my first assignment for the Harper’s BAZAAR collaboration was testing out the new Dressy Nudes line, which to be honest, I quite like.

The make up artist, Wilson, was pretty thorough and started from the foundation (Air Flash) that to my surprise came in a spray, and according to Wilson, is great when you are having your picture taken (note to self!) and touched up with the Skin Flash concealer. After complexion was perfect, he applied the new Dressy Nudes palette, in a rather light manner - for day, and explained that it’s very simple to touch up for evening if you’re headed for a drink with friends after hours (there are 5 colors in each palette, so it’s really up to you how dark you want to go…). He finished things up with shimmery blush (J’adore!) and made sure lips are glossy, but still very natural and light (#227 was the best match for me), and Viola!

No doubt I had already had a soft spot for Dior make up but the new palette is a great addition to a girl’s make up repertoire… Thank you to Wilson Rodriguez for giving me the VIP treatment, Oren R Cohen for documenting with such grace and last but not least Harper’s Bazaar for giving me just what I needed at the end of this insane {Hurricane Sandy} week!

{Post Sandy}

Posted on by
Reply

Wow. What a week! Honestly, I find it rather challenging to regroup my thoughts after seeing two blocks of my neighborhood completely covered in water, as in, if I was to walk into my favorite cafe, I would be covered up to my shoulders, with the head poking out, at best… I guess no one really expected Hurricane Sandy to leave such horrendous destruction behind, I know I haven’t…

Without going into too many details, climbing up the stairs to the apartment in what turned into dimmed generated light, we were shocked and once we realized the power outage cut off our water supply as well, we knew it’s time to evacuate to safer (and more elevated) grounds… All I can say is that we were incredibly lucky to have been in the heart of the storm but out of harm’s way. It’s been almost a week and our power along with any shred of normal life is still absent… However, it’s in times like these, when you can really tell true friends from faux allies (I can never thank my dear friend enough for giving us shelter AND delicious food on our plates at this prolonged term…I know it hasn’t been easy…)

I hope you all are safe, and coping with the brutal after math as gracefully as you possibly can, trust me when I say that staying CHIC is close to impossible without hot water or light! Stop by tomorrow for the first episode of my Harper’s BAZAAR assignment! After all, the show must go on…!