Recently in The Snob Files Category

I've been saving this interview for two weeks, I wanted to feature it while I am actually at the Donna Karan show (which I am right now as you read this)! I was extremely nervous to meet Donna, I mean this is a woman who changed the way women dressed forever with the debut of her namesake line in the late 80s, a modern fashion icon! (When asked why she named it DKNY she said because 'Donna Karan' simply sounded too boring and she is from NY, loves NY and it made perfect sense).

I've been buying her clothes since college, even blowing almost an entire year's salary on her Fall '93 collection when I graduated and entered the 'adult' world. I still have many of those pieces, and when I described them to Donna in our interview, she knew each one as if she'd just designed them yesterday, not 16 years ago.

Okay peeps, get your questions together and leave them in comments. I'm interviewing and having brunch with Donna Karan herself on Tuesday 8/25. Am I excited? Uh, yeah! After college I decided I needed to wear Donna Karan to look grown up and smart. I bought almost the entire Fall collection in 1993. It cost more than a year's salary for a new college grad but did I care? I looked and felt confident and fabulous! I still have most of that collection for sentimental reasons. There are many women in the fashion industry who have inspired me throughout my life-- Bobbi Brown, Diane von Furstenberg and Donna Karan are the top three. Getting to meet all of them has been a dream come true! Okay, enough about me. Tell me, what do you want to ask Donna? Leave your questions in comments! I'll be twittering live from the brunch and interview so make sure you are following me here!

And if you didn't get a chance to buy the Small Gotham Tote in organic distressed lambskin when I reviewed it, get it now! I've been using it daily and love it! I will be carrying it to meet Donna but can't decide if I should wear vintage Donna or new Donna. I have a few new things from the current season but thought it would be fun to wear my very first Donna Karan suit and get a photo with her in it. Maybe I'll bring a few things and change!?!? Would that be stalkerish?

We interviewed our favorite mom snobs of the fashion and beauty industries in honor of Mother's Day this weekend; from Bobbi Brown, Anya Hindmarch to Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, you will love reading about these busy moms! Read Mom Snob Features Here.

We all know VBH for their envelope clutches but there is an entire world in their vast collection that is way more spectacular and so luxurious it is almost absurd. As soon as you walk in to their Madison boutique (at 74th St.) you know you have arrived in a special place where special things can be bought. It is an old bank building with super high ceilings and different sitting areas for you to lounge as you mull over your purchases. Who would be so bold and fabulous as to lavish us in such fine fashion?

I had the pleasure to sit down with the man behind VBH at the Beverly Hills Hotel on the Friday before the Oscars. Let me tell you, that was the place to be because everyone was there (he introduced me to his good friend Carolina Herrera!!)! Vernon Bruce Hoeksema, who goes by Bruce, started the line in 2001 to fill a void in the luxury bag market at a time when everyone and their mothers (literally) were using the same bags - the LV, Gucci and Prada's. He worked for Valentino for 25 years (he started off in fashion as a model, can you tell?), negotiated the sale of which for £211 million in 1998 and finally left after the transition in 2000. He was fully equipped and ready to start his dream collection of bags and jewelry.

Tina's headband made of python flowers by Paige Gamble

I interviewed Carine Roitfeld two years ago after she featured us in Paris Vogue and she is definitely the most gracious and fabulous woman alive not to mention the most stylish.  I ran into her last night at her son Vlad's party and she was as nice as ever.  I asked her if she really liked the Marc Jacobs show and she responded that she loved it.  I am in awe of Carine, I mean look at her-- she is insanely chic!  Who could pull that dress off but her?  She also told me her secret to youthful skin is daily facial massage. 

A sincere thank you to our dear friend, Florence The Shoe Goddess, for the introduction!

I had the chance to interview handbag guru Rebecca Minkoff who is one of the few designers who has mastered designing beautiful handbags in the $500-600 range and besides giving some insight into her style and what the fashionista totes around in her handbag, I found-out that come Spring 2009 clothing will be added to the mix! The San Diego-born designer actually began her foray into fashion by designing clothing and she launched her own line in 2001. It wasn't until her friend and actress Jenna Elfman asked her to design a handbag for her next movie that the 'Morning After Bag' was born! Of course now, we've all seen the likes of Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Debra Messing in her bags, but I can't wait for RM to venture back into clothing in the upcoming seasons! See what she had to say below! How would you describe your aesthetic? Modern Vintage What you favorite Rebecca Minkhoff handbag to date? Devotte stud tote. Can you tell us about your current fall collection? It was really inspired by travel with a French theme. More after the jump!

Read our interview with Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig of Marchesa! 

Marchesa at Neiman Marcus and Net-a-porter.com.   Or Call Robin at 214-363-8311 and ask for the couture department.  Neiman Marcus at North Park stocks the best Marchesa selections!

I have to give a shout out to my karaoke BFF-  David Ninh of the Dallas Morning News-- thanks for the cute photo!

Les Trois Generations: Louis, Georges et Gaston avec les Ouvriers D'Asnieres en 1888

It has been three weeks since I toured the original Louis Vuitton home and Atelier in Asnieres (a small suburb just outside of Paris) but I have been putting off writing the actual entry because frankly, I feared I could not convey my thoughts properly in words and do it justice. How do I share the privilege of touring a home that carries with it the legacy of one of the most important fashion dynasties in the history of fashion without sounding contrived or boastful? It is a delicate balance of offering factual details of the visit with my interpretation of everything I saw that day-- one that I hope I achieved through the following pictorial tour. I am posting the pictures in the order that I took them so that you can feel as if you were on the tour along with me. I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I have newfound respect and understanding for the brand but this entry is not about the latest "it" bag or a discussion of whether or not we should purchase Louis Vuitton bags; rather, it is a stroll through the history of time.... so grab a drink and have fun :)

Oscar de la Renta is considered an International Fashion Designer but we Americans prefer to claim him as our own (For the record, Mr. de la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic, part of the Americas. He also resides predominantly in New York City, actually, he IS New York --so yes, we win). I wonder if the 18 year old boy from the D.R. who followed his dream to study painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid knew that he would one day become one of the most influential designers in the history of Fashion. I don’t think there is a woman alive today who has not heard of Oscar de la Renta! Every one of my girlfriends has an “Oscar” story-- the first time they obsessed over one of his beautiful creations.

I remember the first Oscar piece I coveted, it was a shimmering champagne colored frothy gown worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in 2001 (I still have a photo of it from Vogue in my desk, not kidding). I was planning my wedding at the time and was determined to wear it as my wedding dress (so it was a bit see thru and it was not white-- but it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I wanted it!). Unfortunately, I was not the lucky fashion blogger that I am today with a direct line to the Oscar folks and was unable to locate the gown. But my love affair with Oscar de la Renta began, and it has grown to epic proportions ever since I met the iconic designer this spring. Tell me, do you remember the first time you fell for Oscar?

Born in San Francisco, to a fourth-generation Chinese-American family, Derek Lam spent his childhood among the racks of clothes his parents imported from Asia. He especially adored the wedding gowns at his grandparents' garment factories and spent many happy afternoons with the seamstresses there. Little did he know, his destiny was being shaped, as he tirelessly watched stitch after meticulous stitch. I first met Derek in 2005. He was in his second year of showing his collection and had not yet signed on as Tod's creative director. He was soft spoken, sweet and accommodating. I was so enamored with him and his beautiful clothes that I became a dedicated Derek Lam fanatic, picking up pieces each season. Of course, I've also been a Tod's bags and shoes junkie since college (Tod's platform boots circa 2002? I have 5 pairs!) so there was no one more excited than I when it was announced that Derek would be heading up the classic Italian brand.

We met up again last Wednesday at a brunch co-hosted by Tod's and one of my closest friends, Kimberly Whitman. I stole Derek away from the other guests, so that we could catch up and give our readers a chance to meet him, up close and personal. Jump to see the entire interview!

Softy Messenger bag and tote in python. Call Tod's 214-363-6600 to order