My trip to Las Vegas would not have been complete if I didn’t stop into Yoga Army’s booth at Project. I will give you the short version of the story but basically Sebastian and Sandy (the brilliant people behind the brand) were some of the first people I met when I moved to LA two years ago. They introduced me to their collection and I have been a fanatic ever since. Their dresses are sexy, stylish, and comfortable. The best part about them (I think) is that the pieces are so easy to dress up or down (as you can see here).

The collection the were showing at Project was phenomenal and showed that they are setting trends and not following them. Look out for handmade corseted dresses, intricate beading, ruffles, and chiffon. One of their ruffled dresses that is now selling at Fred Segal was worn by Lindsay Price from Lipstick Jungle, so you know it’s super-stylish! They hooked me up with two very sexy dresses that I will be wearing during fashion week, so be on the look out for that. But in the mean time check out some of my Yoga Army favorites that are available now.

One weird thing about being in Vegas alone is being in Vegas alone. I took on this trip all on my own with no real agenda except for working my ass off at the shows. I spent day 2 at Project, which like I mentioned before was an incredible show. All of the hot contemporary and premium denim companies were there and the vibe was much more party-like than MAGIC and Pool. Since I had such a good time I pretty much lost track of time. I didn’t eat, drink water or anything while I was there — I was full off fashion.

When I got back to the Bellagio I had a little snack at Yellow Tail then went back to my room to work. I was on a roll with the work but I started to feel a bit odd. For starters I was hungry again and also I felt guilty about working. I know, in what world does that make sense but in Vegas it does.

I put on my new Yoga Army dress, slapped on some makeup and headed over to FIX for a snack and a cocktail. I read that the lobster tacos were amazing so I got those. Besides the fact they are about the size of my fingernail, they were great. While I was dining alone a giant group of guys sits at the table next to me. The dudes start hitting on me and I blew them off like the bitch that I am. They ended up getting up and moving tables.

Naturally I assumed my rejection must have been too much for them 😉 But as it turns out, it was a professional basketball team and they were being moved to a bigger table. The one I blew off is apparently pretty famous … whatever. Little did I know that my basketball player blow-off would snowball into one crazy night. There was a guy next to me that thought my blow-off was pretty hilarious. We ended up sharing a desert and about 55 cocktails. He even called his friend down who was a total bad ass.

The boys taught me to gamble. I don’t know a thing about gambling and I still don’t but I do know that we played the game with the spinning wheel and I bet on #23 and #25. The table next to me hit those numbers about a dozen and a half times, while our table hit it once. We were up big time at one point but we wanted to keep going until I won enough to get a pair of YSL Tributes. Let’s just say I should have stopped when we hit two grand.

We lost all but one $25 chip. The dudes gave me the chip and I cashed that sucker in for cab fare. No Tributes this time but next time I go to Vegas … it’s on.

Today I decided that I had enough of MAGIC and wanted to check out the Project tradeshow because I heard it was the best one. I heard right, it was freaking amazing. I saw tons of amazing brands and met up with some fashionable friends like Sebastian and Sandy from Yoga Army (post coming soon), Habitual Jeans, Rachel Pally, Meghan Fabulous, and Joe Ponce from Velvet Angels.

You may remember Joe Ponce as he was ThisNext’s first Designer of the Week. Or perhaps you know him as the former lead designer for Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. and Harajuku Lovers shoe lines. Now Joe Ponce has his own collection of sexy shoes called Velvet Angels that I am just smitten over. I mean, I knew I loved Joe’s shoes before but after seeing what’s coming out in the coming months … I am starting to clear some space on my shoe shelf. There is a lot to look forward to folks! Great flatforms, cutting edge shapes, and an amazing use of color.

The shoes pictured above are my personal favorites are available now.

Velvet Angels Informer Boots-

If you want boots that will make me people turn around and say “Where did you get those boots!” then you probably need these boots. They are totally unique looking and would look amazing with black skinny jeans and a chunky black sweater … all black with a pop of fabulous shoes. If you really want to look spectacular, wear red lipstick too.

Velvet Angels Lady Luck Shoes-

Another great piece of footwear from Joe Ponce’s Velvet Angels. I love the animated quality of these shoes. They are cute and sexy at the same time, kinda like, well, kinda like me (haha). They come in black, red, and white. The black pair is my favorite, plus I can wear these with just about anything.

Velvet Angels Peepshow Shoes-

Joe Ponce had these Velvet Angels shoes on display at Project and I decided that they just have to be mine. I mean look at them … hotness! They are right on trend too with the silhouette, the open toe — but what makes them so magical is the twists that Joe added in. The crisp white color, the gold buckle, the quilting, and of course the opening down the foot.

I can’t wait to wear these because there are so many possibilities. I am thinking I will wear the first with my black Betsey Johnson cupcake dress, a studded belt, and a wide headband. I can also see them with my blue J Brand skinny jeans and an oversized sweater. Whatever I wear them with I know these shoes are gonna turn heads.

Velvet Angel Charlatan Shoes-

These shoes come in 4 colorways but I actually love them in yellow the best. My home girl Lindsay Lohan picked up a pair in the natural color, so you know they are cool.

Today I am wearing …

• Orange one shoulder chiffon dress (minus the slip) from Yoga Army
• J Brand Skinny jeans
• Betsey Johnson Glitter shoes
• 3 Linea Pelle studded bracelet
• White tank top by Mossimo
• and of course … my Gucci Hysteria bag

No, no, not with some random Las Vegas slut-man with my new purse.
Last night, after one too many cocktails I took myself and my five inch heels back to my room. I did my usual before bed routine; checked in online, washed my face, changed into my Betsey Johnson pj’s, then tucked myself and my Gucci Hysteria into bed.

Call me crazy if you want but I love fashion so much that I will actually take it to bed with me. And if I have had more money I would have brought these items into bed with me last night too.

See more of my Shopping with Fashion Kitty, Las Vegas Style list at ThisNext.

I blogged from a bar. Yeah that’s right, I am blogging from a bar. A few alcohol induced observations …

– People in Vegas feel that it’s okay to walk barefoot in public.

– It’s acceptable to smoke indoors (this is odd to me coming from LA)

– Whores (actual whores) walk among us normal people.

– There are more fake LV bags in Vegas than in any other US city.

– Guys here think their money will get them lucky. It won’t. It will just make them broke.

– What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas unless you meet me.

Xoxo,

Fashion Kitty

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right? Wrong! My little piece of Vegas is coming back with me to Los Angeles. I gave in and bought my first investment piece, a Gucci Hysteria bag. Let me break down exactly how the purchase went down.

I went into the Gucci boutique at the Bellagio (damn close proximity shopping) hoping to find the bag I was obsessing over (you remember the bag.) When I approached the counter I saw another bag from the same line that was similar but not quite the same. I picked it up and asked the salesman if they had my bag in stock. He told me that they didn’t but the bag that was in my hands was totally hot and it was much less. Much less eh? Oh yes, it was much less. The bag was $750, which was a steal compared to $995.

But was I settling?

I didn’t want to so I had to be sure. I carried that Gucci bag around the store for damn near 30 minutes — perhaps more. I thought about it, I made up fake-fashion-scenarios in my head (mostly me imagining all the compliments I would get), and I of course Twittered about it. I even did something that I hate to do … I asked a complete stranger what they thought about it. My final straw was phoning a friend and that was the straw that broke the Kitties back.

I marched my little ass back into that boutique and went for it. Ahhh … feels so good.

What feels so good about it you ask? Well even though I spent $750 I feel like I saved because I was willing to spend $995 (fucked up thinking but whatever). I also feel good about the fact that I bought a shape that doesn’t have a giant waitlist … you know I don’t like having what everyone else has or will have. I also feel good about buying a piece that will carry me through the years. And lastly, this has forced a shopping ban upon me. Yes, $750 for a bag does seem crazy but I consistantly go on $300+ shopping sprees per week. And for what? Yes, some damn cute stuff but for some damn cute stuff that I wear once (or never at all).

Anyways … thanks for my Twitter army for coaching me through my big spend and to my phone a friend who helped kicked me over the edge. And really, if men can come to Vegas and accidentally gamble away thousands of dollars on then I can’t spend a mere $750 on a bag that will carry me through the rest of my damn life? Makes sense right? I think it does.

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE NY HOSTS NINA GARCIA IN 10022-SHOE TO LAUNCH HER NEW BOOK “THE ONE HUNDRED”

WHO: Nina Garcia, Fashion Director & Project Runway Judge, Fashion expert and industry insider, as well as judge on the hit show, Project Runway, Nina Garcia showed women everywhere what her personal style philosophy is with her debut fashion guide The Little Black Book of Style. Now, a year later she returns with THE ONE HUNDRED: A GUIDE TO THE PIECES EVERY STYLISH WOMAN MUST OWN (Collins; ISBN 0061664618; on-sale August 26, 2008; $21.95). Former Fashion Director at Elle Magazine, Nina Garcia will start her new Fashion Directorship at Marie Claire in September.

WHAT: On Wednesday, August 27 customers of Saks Fifth Avenue and the public will have the opportunity to meet fashion expert and industry insider Nina Garcia, at the public launch of her new book “The One Hundred, A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own.”

For every full priced pair of shoes purchased that day in 10022-SHOE, customers will receive a complimentary copy of the new book and Nina will be in the store signing the books and greeting guests from 2 to 4 p.m.

In The Little Black Book of Style, Nina Garcia set out to illustrate an overall philosophy she knows many women who consider themselves fashion-forward oftentimes forget; that true style isn’t about trends, or following the fashion herd, and all about developing one’s personal style-point-of-view.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
12-2 p.m. Press Interviews
2-4 p.m. Personal Appearance

WHERE: Saks Fifth Avenue
611 Fifth Avenue, 10022-SHOE on eight
Between Madison & Fifth Avenue

I just got back to the hotel from Day 1 of the MAGIC Convention and omg my feet are killing me. I wore my most comfortable heels, which are fine to walk in without pain but after 7 hours of walking … they hurt like hell.

I hit up the Pool show first even though I had been told that it sucks. The show wasn’t that sucky but I did see the suck value in it for sure. There were a lot brands who obviously put their life savings into their collections and really shouldn’t have. Poor bastards, I hope there is someone out there who likes their crap.

But like I said there were some brands that weren’t crappy at all, brands that I would even consider blog-worthy like …

• Alternative: I was just at their party at Fred Segal the other day. They are good for basics and “going green” with their eco line.

• Delux Hats: These hats were pretty darn cute, they were shaped like little animals and believe it or not I can see myself rocking one.
• LeSportsac: An old familar favorite that had some really cute bunny prints coming up for spring.
• Tokidoki: Another favorite who had more of the same cute cartoony stuff.
• Urban Aid: This brand makes funny little survival kits like the Shame on You kit.

I didn’t spend a whole lot of time at Pool because I was so anxious to head over to MAGIC. I went to the eco section first, more on that later.

xoxo,

Fashion Kitty

More pictures from Pool and MAGIC on my Flickr page.

MAGIC survival tools

Hey Little Kitties!

I got my room changed to a non-smoking room, thank goodness too because I was gasping for air all night in the other room. I am all dressed and ready to go tackle my first day at MAGIC. I am going to walk around to check out the scene, talk to some people, see some fashion shows, and attend some seminars. I am really excited.

To kick off my first day in Vegas I thought I would dress appropriately — in leggings. Not just any leggings (I am not going all trashy for Vegas) but my Sass & Bide Black Rat leggings. Warning … the lighting blows in this hotel room so the pictures aren’t perfect.

• Top- Lauren Moshi
• Leggings- Sass & Bide Black Rat
• Cropped jean jacket- Betsey Johnson
• Shoes- Michael Kors
• Earrings and Bracelets – designer unknown