Hi!

Ready, Set, Shop! Launch sale…15%off everything off now through April 2nd –ENJOY!  Check out the online boutique and invite your followers to shop with you.   Tori Nichel on Ebay–Click the link.

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All of  you Central Harlem residents are sure to love this one…..

N Boutique is asking you to join them along with  Native Restaurant as they toast the Oscar nominated film Precious and Best Actress nominee and Harlemite Gabourey Sidbe at an Oscar viewing party.

The event takes place on Sunday, March 7th. Champagne and refreshments at N Boutique from 12:00 -6:00 pm viewing party at Native Restaurant from 6:00 pm- 11:00 pm

Shop at N Boutique, bring your receipt to Native and get a complimentary Mango Tart & Oscar cocktail--The O-No.  Guess the most Oscar winners and receive a $50 N Gift card or dinner for two at Native.

***-N Boutique is also offering $20.10 off new arrivals & N branded products and Native has a select 3-course menu for $20.10 as part of Harlem’s Restaurant and Retail week.

Hi,

As part of Harlem’s first Restaurant & Retail Month, N Boutique is offering select items for $20.10.  Featured are N’s exclusive line of apothecary (see photo above).  The item of the week are their candles.  The candles are made of 100% soybean wax, will not emit toxins while burning and are biodegradable.  Choose from three great scents: Pomegranate Guava, Vanilla Lavender and Chocolate Kisses.

Enjoy now…a month goes awfully quick.

Hello,

Playwright-turned-Actor-Producer-Director Tyler Perry will present at the 82nd Academy Awards®, telecast producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic announced yesterday.   This will be Perry’s first appearance on the show.

Perry, who is the driving force behind Tyler Perry Studios, writes, produces and directs films in which he also often performs.   Perry wrote, produced and starred in “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” in 2005. His subsequent film credits include “Madea’s Family Reunion,” “Daddy’s Little Girls,” “Why Did I Get Married?,” “Meet the Browns,” “The Family That Preys” and “I Can Do Bad All by Myself.” “Why Did I Get Married Too?” is scheduled to be released in April.   Perry also created and directs two current television series, “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns.”

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

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On Monday February 22nd longtime Celebrity Makeup Artist Sam Fine launched Sam Fine by Cavage .   The celebratory launch taking place at Dex Studios, home base of Dexter Phillip (See photo above) a fellow celeb makeup artist who offers a eco-friendly makeup line for women of color, was a packed house.   Beyond the multitudes was Mr. Fine himself standing proudly next to his new line, a collection exclusively comprised of ballet flats for today’s cosmopolitan woman.

We were thrilled to see the live models in the windows of Dex Studios with sexy Sam Fine slip ons. We were even more thrilled to see Broadway stars J. Bernard Londell (Memphis),  Saycon Sengbloh (Color Purple) our in support.  Much of our time was spent in the cocktail room where we ran into the famed AJ Crimson, of Kissable Couture fame, and of course Mr.  Dexter Philip himself. Mr. Phillip explained that the pairing of the LIVE shoe models we’d seen in his window were only part of the draw.  Guests could have their make-up done in a color palette that was in line with Mr. Fine’s new shoe collection-tres magnifique we thought!

Other attendees of the launch included: Celeb Make up artist John Edington, Debra Guinard, DJ Journey, etc.

***-CAVAGE shoes are fashioned from the highest-quality raw materials, with the use of refined leathers, Swarovski strass crystals, and imported fabrics and satin. Furthermore, genuine exotic alligator and snake skins are also used. CAVAGE is one of the few Brazilian companies in this field that owns a special license issued by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources – IBAMA, to manufacture, sell, and export shoes made from exotic animal skins.

*photos by The Quest for “it”

Ocean Elements are said to be the inspiration for Designer LaQuan Smith’s Fall 2010 Collection.  The visually stunning presentation comprised of 15 distinct looks have been created to appeal to speak to a woman’s “inner self”.   The La Quan Smith woman is said to  be “the personification of  Modernity, Sensuality and Liberation in Femininity.

For Fall 2010 the La Quan Smith woman is front and center sporting standout looks that include: a Water Blue Spark  Slinky Dress ( see photo above), a Blue Scuba Motor jacket with Nude Body Suit, and Face Mask Net Dress with Scuba leotard–all looks that emphasize the modern “liberated” woman. Leotards, Body Suits, Motor Jackets all symbolize freedom from constriction.

Classic, timeless and utterly refined looks signify a gentility– receiving a seal of approval from the likes of renown Fashion icon Andre Leon Talley.   These include the Gold Pleated Skirt with Bronze Mesh Turtleneck.  Color, texture and precision are all what make this collection such a true stunning visual.  Clean lines and and body conscious silhouettes are done with grace, appearing easy going and comfortable.

La Quan Smith is one to watch for 2010–a true visionary talent on the rise.

*photo by The Quest for “it”

Korto Momolu’s  Fall 2010 Collection unfolded with a bold display of contemporary chic and exotic style.  Looking for the  colorful frocks that  we came to love during final episodes of  Project Runway–Season 6? Never fear,  there are still  bursts of color via fuschia, purple and deep reds amidst a number of dramatic black, charcoal grey and brown.

The beauty of the collection lay in its versatility.  Ms. Momolu offers  a complete spectrum of  choices all of which can go from day to night–cocktail length day to dramatic evening gowns.   Fabric choices include wools (crepe, stretch wool, cashmere), silks (jersey, crepe), and denim. Standouts include a red asymmetric vest over a black long-sleeve blouse and matching black sequin mini-skirt or an orange flutter sleeve silk jersey dress.

Momolu’s own luxury wooden jewelry line, the Saba Collection, is prominently paired with each look providing the “exotic” style mentioned previously.   Saba meaning gift in African is comprised of four fine sustainable precious woods from the rainforest.

*photo courtesy of  Korto Momolu

Hello!

Celebrity Hairstylist Amoy Pitters (see photo above) made her mark this New York Fashion Week when she opened her very own Upper Eastside salon on the famous Lexington Avenue stretch known for the better African-American Coiffeurs.

The opening of Amoy Couture Salon, an evening, hosted by Joy Bryant (see photo above), included music by DJ Cassidy (see last photo). Guests, including celeb fashion stylist Phillip Bloch and famed fashion designer Rachel Roy (see photo below), enjoyed cocktails by Cîroc Vodka and Oriel Wines while nibbling on gourmet bites.  Joy toasted her longtime friend and hairstylist, Amoy, congratulating and praising her to attendees at the close of the evening.

As a full-service beauty salon, Amoy Couture Hair offers a wide range of beauty treatments for hair, nails and skin. With a chic, intimate atmosphere, every client that walks into Amoy Couture Hair is guaranteed to receive true VIP treatment.  Plush seating and the glittering light from the chandeliers that hang overhead, clients are treated to luxurious comfort in a stylish setting. Amoy Couture Hair also boasts a Celebrity/VIP Room where shy style mavens can opt to have their hair styled away from the rest of the salon. Amoy’s special brand of expertise sets the salon apart from others in the industry.

One of Amoy’s most sought-after signature styles is extensions, having perfected a number of techniques.   Her one-of-a-kind approach to this complicated beauty procedure is known for creating beautiful looks that are easily maintained, modified and recognized in the industry as Amoy’s trademark.   Amoy’s expertise also includes editorial, bridal, celebrity, blow-dry, cut and color styling.

***-Amoy Pitters, A New York beauty industry veteran, mentored by industry icon, Odile Gilbert – and featured in the famed work Her Style – Amoy launched her impressive career as a sought-after hair stylist, booking her career-first fashion show in Paris, styling the locks of the runway models for the Christian Dior couture collection in January 1998. She’s also worked with Donnatella Versace.  Current clients include: Naomi Campbell, Alicia Keys, Sheryl Crow & Rihanna.

*photos by Derek Salters for The Quest for “it”

Hey There!

One sure fire place to run into a celeb or two during New York’s famed Fashion Week is to visit the source– IMG’s Official –Daily Suite. This year Beauty Bar, as it was so aptly titled, took place on East 56th Street’s Townhouse  Spa. This season, the suite offered massage, makeup application, and killer manicures and pedicures for industry insiders, editors, and of course CELEBS. After, a few bites from the elaborate culinary spread courtesy of Blue Dog Cafe, a few handfuls of Pop Chips, and a sip or two of Vita Coco…we were ready!

Our special guest? The vivacious Adrienne Bailon! The gorgeous Latina recording artist (Adrienne is of  Equadorian and Puerto Rican descent) spoke with us briefly, giving us the 411 on her latest ventures.  Read on …..

TW: What are you up to right now?

AB: “I am working on my solo album with Island Def Jam we’re picking the single in a couple of weeks then we’ll be going  full fledge with it, shooting a video and everything and the album comes out this summer.”

TW: We FIRST saw you at Fashion Week 2 years ago when you were dating Even Ross & attending B Michael’s collection at the time. What were you into back then, what has your transition been?

AB: “Back then I was in a group called the Cheetah Girls a Disney Group and were touring and doing all the stuff that we did with the Cheetah Girls–like movies, filming, and I think actually when I went to that ( B Michael Spring 08) I had just gotten back from  either Barcelona or India. I’ve ALWAYS been into fashion it’s always been something I’ve been passionate about.”

TW: Your with MTV now right? Anything else your working on….

AB: “I started hosting on MTV since I’ve got back to New York. It’s been a year now that I’ve been with MTV, doing a bunch of coverage for them and also hosting the afternoons. I actually have a  movie coming out.”

TW: Now that you are back from LA which do you prefer new York or LA and why?

AB: “I prefer New York, because I am a New Yorker, there’s not all the paparazzi and crazieness.  I think you can lay low here and arrive to events that you choose to go to and at the same time be able to live your life comfortably  the way you want to.  ALSO, I just love it because my family is here and that’s really important to me as well.”

*photo by The Quest for “it”

Hello!

21 year old Designer LaQuan Smith showed on Tuesday morning February 15th at 11:30 am to a select group of  Fashion Industry insiders.  The Upper Eastside locale of The  Society of Illustrators,was the ultimate setting the oceanic elements of  La Quan Smiths’ Fall 2010 Collection.   The renown Vogue Editor at large Andre Leon Talley was present as was Celebrity Stylist Misa Hylton , Janice “Mama” Combs, and Ebony Magazine Creative Director and noted Fashion Journalist Harriette Cole. The show was electric and we LOVED the “approving applause” from a one Mr. Talley for two particularly innovative styles.   To follow are precious photos from the event.

Left to Right: Model Victoria Britto & Designer LaQuan Smith; Andre Leon Talley;  Janice “Mama” Combs; Misa Hylton

*photos by The Quest for “it”