We can all agree that animal prints are sometimes a bit too much. To avoid over-doing it, try to use this type of accent in a very simple room, where the furniture is not overly [...]]]> More and more I am seeing the use of animal print carpet, surprisingly when done well it looks amazing.

We can all agree that animal prints are sometimes a bit too much. To avoid over-doing it, try to use this type of accent in a very simple room, where the furniture is not overly ornate. It is advisable to use such a carpet in the living room or up a staircase, trying to match it to something just won’t work, use it where it may be unexpected with bold colors.

Some of the best colors paired with animal prints are coral, red, grass green, and purple!

First and most importantly, Alexandra went to Hollins College. She was actually just a year older than I was and I remember her vividly. She had the best style—simple and sophisticated. She was smart and unique, and I knew way back then she was going to [...]]]> Exotic Handbag Queen Alexandra Knight is my idol.

First and most importantly, Alexandra went to Hollins College. She was actually just a year older than I was and I remember her vividly. She had the best style—simple and sophisticated. She was smart and unique, and I knew way back then she was going to be a woman worth watching. I guess the old college motto is true, Women who go places start at Hollins!

About Alexandra Knight

When fashion editor and stylist Alexandra Loyd Knight married and moved from Manhattan back to her native Houston, she was in for a rude awakening. As a former fashion editor at Allure, who was also an assistant stylist for Vogue and Vanity Fair, Knight has long worked with such leading photographers as Helmut Newton, Irving Penn and Annie Leibovitz. For these prestigious shoots, stylists often have designers custom-make items, whether it is reworking an evening dress in vivid red or heightening the heel of a stiletto. Once back in Texas, Knight realized it was an opportunity denied most consumers. As she remembers, “I thought, ‘Why can’t designers and manufacturers just make what you want?’ If I could do it as an editor—knowing that factories can make those kinds of changes—why can’t the client?”

Knight also sensed a need in the market for something new. “I was going to more and more black-tie events and all of the evening bags out there were either too ornate or too mature,” she explains. “It was impossible to find young, chic evening bag that was understated but still very elegant.”

Alexandra, who is now working on designing her 100th shape, has quickly become one of the world’s most innovative designers of handmade alligator handbags. “No hardware, no logos,” announced a “Fashion Newsflash” in Vogue, “Alexandra Knight’s pieces are just fine in their own skins.” A complete range of handmade bags in the finest alligator skins, Alexandra Knight takes classic elegance and makes it modern. The style starts with such timeless forms as the perfect clutch, the oversized tote and the hobo bag. These signature shapes are then handcrafted with the most exquisite alligator skins—both farmed and wild—from the swamps of Louisiana. Most are created from one perfect skin, always taken from the belly of the beast, and lined in alligator, leather or suede. Vibrant colors give the line its punch. The palette ranges from Pepto Pink to Cherry Red to Mandarin Orange, as well as darker hues like Chocolate, Cognac and Noir. For Fall, shades that have come straight off the runways include a deep, dark purple and the perfect army green. New shades, created every season, are exclusive to Alexandra Knight.

Alexandra Knight embodies two of the most important trends in fashion: customization and individuality. Sophisticated clients now want a hand in the design process and insist on setting themselves apart from the crowd. Every Alexandra Knight bag is entirely made-to-order. The client chooses the color, whether it is one of the signature shades or a color-match with anything in the wardrobe (recently, one customer created an evening bag matching the ivory tulle of an haute couture gown). The alligator skin can be a rough matte or a sleek glazed finish. The lining—in alligator, leather or suede—can be fashioned in any shade—matching or contrasting the exterior. The straps can be lengthened or shortened. Each takes between six and eight weeks to produce and comes with a sterling silver plate on the interior, engraved with the owner’s name and the birth date of the bag.

Alexandra Knight also represents another stylistic trend: discreet luxury. Her forms are always classic, there is no hardware and logos have been banished. “Women want beautiful accessories that will complement their look, not compete with it,” Knight says. That kind of simplicity, however, requires that everything be perfect. Knight insists on using only the world’s most luxurious leather—Grade 1, Louisiana alligator. Unlike others who rely on lesser skins like caiman, a form of crocodile, Alexandra Knight uses only the most flawless alligator skins. Knight also employs a technique called “Bombé,” where the skin is heated to raise the center of each scale (it gives the skins a richer texture and shows the brilliance of the scales). Knight’s ribbons—in grosgrain, satin or velvet—are by Mokuba, known as the most exquisite ribbons in the world.

Knight is a designer involved in every aspect of the process, from marsh to market. She has traveled to Louisiana to learn as much as possible about the raising, farming and trapping of alligators. She went to Georgia to work with the best tannery, understanding how to select skins and how to dye them. And she works with the most renowned factory in the United States, where her bags are entirely made by hand.

Alexandra Knight lives in Houston, Texas along with her husband Brady C. Knight and her 2 boys – Thomson (5) and Truett (3) and their 2 English Labs, Ella & Luna. Alexandra Knight’s handmade alligator accessories: American Express’ Departures magazine calls them, “The best little bags in Texas.”

Check the Alexandra Knight website and blog for the entire collection or sign up for their daily deals at sales@alexandraknightonline.com.

Enjoy!
PS

Of course the title of the blog is close to my heart, but more importantly this sweet girl has the greatest style and ideas. She recently posted about the Juice Cleanse mania. I have been [...]]]> A few months ago I came across this little gem of a blog called A Little Dash of Ash.

Of course the title of the blog is close to my heart, but more importantly this sweet girl has the greatest style and ideas. She recently posted about the Juice Cleanse mania. I have been meaning to do a bunch of research on this, but her post really did such a great job of giving details and images of all the hot cleanses that I asked permission to re-run it on ProductSnob!

Enjoy!
PS

From A Little Dash of Ash:

Thoughts on… Liquid Lunch?!

If you haven’t noticed… juice fasting is quickly replacing dieting! I think everyone I know is thinking about some sort of juice diet – including myself (only because Rue La La is having a major deal on a local 3 day cleanse)! So… I need your opinions!! Have you tried a juice cleanse? Do you know someone who has? Does it taste as miserable as I can only imagine?! I love fruits and veggies but I’m not sure I could really drink them… unless it’s in a smoothie with vanilla yogurt and cinnamon! I have a feeling it is not going to be that yummy…

 This is the cleanse I am thinking about:

This year, I [...]]]> The amazing thing about the leopard pattern or any animal pattern, really, is its ability to recycle season after season, year after year. I have many animal print items that I still wear that are over 10 years old, I have even started to introduce the leopard pattern into my home.

This year, I have taken an interest in the leopard wedges. I have found a great sampling both from a SAVE and SPLURGE perspective! Google “Leopard Wedge” and you will get a ton of great results!

Steve Madden Wedge

Nordstrom Wedge

J. Crew Wedge

Ivanka Trump Wedge

Christian Louboutin Wedge

This season there has been an overwhelming response to the uber-wedge. While I think they are great, I would break my neck.

Enjoy!
PS

Elissa Gore paints large, atmospheric landscapes. [...]]]> Recently, I have taken a liking to landscape artwork, mainly the abstract stuff. There is something so serene about looking at a clearing, a river or lake surrounded by greenery and seasonal attributes. I stumbled across Elissa Gore not too long ago and fell in love with her work.

Elissa Gore paints large, atmospheric landscapes. Her works are meditations on harmony in nature. She looks for places where the balance of natural elements: sky, earth, trees and water evoke a sense of “stopped time.” She delights in changes in the atmosphere and the color of light.

Once strictly a watercolorist, five years ago, Gore began to add oil pastel to her works to solidify the appearance of the land and trees. She explains, “When we look at a landscape we perceive two different kinds of light. The light that illuminates the sky is transmitted light and is very bright. I use watercolor to paint it, because I can get the purest bright color. When this light strikes the ground, it becomes reflected light, The colors that result are darker and more complex. I use oil pastel to describe them because of the rich solid darks it produces. The contrast between the two media mirrors this difference in the quality of light and gives my paintings their luminous skies.”

This year, she has refined her focus again, working out these ethereal compositions in oil paint on linen canvas.

Gore has exhibited widely, both in solo and group exhibitions across the United States. Her most recent solo show was last year in New York City at Kathryn Markel Fine Arts. She has received many awards in national juried exhibitions, including the bronze medal from the Baltimore Watercolor Society and merit awards from the Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors and the Watercolor Society of Alabama. The Cooperstown Art Association has honored her with awards five times in the past ten years. She is a fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, The Catskill Center (New York State) and The Hambidge Center (Georgia.)

Elissa Gore was born in Philadelphia in 1950. She studied painting and sculpture at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts and medical Illustration at the University of Texas. She has taught at Parsons School of Design, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Pace University and the New York Botanical Garden. Currently, she devotes all her time to landscape painting. Her studio is in Northern Manhattan. She also works on site in the Blue Ridge area of Virginia, coastal Maine and upstate New York. Places that clearly hold a special place in my heart!

These three beauties were found on One Kings Lane this week, I adore.

These are a little less abstract, but still breathtaking nonetheless, all images found on the Elissa Gore website.

Enjoy!
PS

While their designs are heavily influenced by both Eastern [...]]]> The Bungalow 5 collections are designed and produced by a group of architects and designers who are based in New York City. Working with in-house cabinetmakers and finishers, the Bungalow 5 team produces unique and stylish pieces often using unusual materials sourced from distant places.

While their designs are heavily influenced by both Eastern and Western classical archetypes, they are informed by a modern sensibility to silhouette, material, and color; and possess a versatility which allows them to slip as comfortably into a traditional room as a modern loft or sun room.  The hallmark of a Bungalow 5 piece is that it always feels comfortably familiar yet strikingly fresh.

I am absolutely obsessed with everything they have and while I cannot have everything, here are a few of my favorites!

Hopefully I will win these set of lamps on the Elements of Style Giveaway!

Enjoy!
PS

Ladies, do you know what this means? Less Heat, More Style = Less Damage. Cloud Nine owner Robert Powls has introduced his new line of heat induction technology hair products, The O, The Wands and The Irons.

It is [...]]]> Cloud Nine Heat Induction Hair Technology “The O” Enters the United States Hair Care Market.

Ladies, do you know what this means? Less Heat, More Style = Less Damage. Cloud Nine owner Robert Powls has introduced his new line of heat induction technology hair products, The O, The Wands and The Irons.

It is rumored that Princess Kate used these products on her hair for the wedding and is now hooked. Anything Kate loves, I love too!

 Facts about “The O”

• “The O” uses a Pod and a special Velcro style roller with an alloy core
• The Pod heats in 4 seconds
• The roller is cool to the touch, no heat is ever in the Pod
• The roller warms from the inside out leaving your fingers free from burning hot plastic
• Clips aren’t always necessary to secure them the roller since it is a Velcro like technology

 Facts about “The Wand”

• Has a special baked coating that adds shine to the hair
• Three different temperature settings
• Ability to create tiny tight spiral curls to big bouncy loose curls

 Facts about “The Irons”

• Irons curl as well as straighten
• Sleek black plates contain special mineral based coating that actually takes three days to bake into the plates instead of the sprayed on coating of most irons
• Mineral based coating allows the hair to glide smoothly over the plates which adds unbelievable shine to the hair
• 7 different temperature settings on the standard and wide irons and
• Each plate has a computer chip that checks the temperature 4 times per second, which ensures one never lose heat as you style your hair
• The temperature gauge also contains a chip so the heat remains consistent
• The “trick” to using these irons is to pull slowly through the hair, no faster than the steam that rises from the hair. Only one pass necessary to get straight, sleek, frizz free hair

About Cloud Nine

The Cloud Nine revolution was originated by Robert Powls, who was part of the team that created ghd, a line of hair tools that became the industry standard in Europe for the last 15 + years. Driven to always perfect his craft, Robert wanted to take the “industry standard” to a new level and left ghd to create what is now Cloud Nine. Cloud Nine and The O recently won the Innovation of the Year from the British Hairdressing Business Awards for The O.  They have also been nominated for the 2011 Prix de Marie Claire Awards in Australia.

For more information on where to buy these miracle irons visit the new Cloud Nine US website.

Enjoy!
PS

Each shade is a sharp take on a classic with a straightforward [...]]]> RGB is a product line dedicated solely to nail color and care. RGB creates nail color as an extension of one’s wardrobe; they use color as an accessory. It started with the RGB Ten collection: ten iconic colors with a modern edge.

Each shade is a sharp take on a classic with a straightforward name to match. While the classic ten will always remain the same, new colors are added seasonally. The chip-resistant and high shine formula is free of harmful chemicals. There is no Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP (dibutyl phthalate,Formaldehyde Resin,or Camphor in RGB products. All RGB products are cruelty free and made in the USA.

My new favorite is the HIPPxRGB line. Green Celebrity Nail Stylist Jenna Hipp has teamed up with RGB founder Gina Carney to create HIPPxRGB. Upon meeting, it was only a matter of time until Jenna and Gina combined their taste and expertise to create a cosmetic approach to nail color. In turn, the HIPPxRGB collection was born.

HIPPxRGB created the first skin tone specific, full coverage, all nude nail color collection. Similar to the concept of foundation for the face, Nail Foundation is the first nail color of its kind designed to match and compliment for a flawless even finish. Available in four shades – F1, F2, F3, & F4 -, Nail Foundation can be applied with two coats or worn under a favorite neutral for a custom blend with added coverage.