Nordstrom Designer Preview Spring 2012

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Nordstrom's Spring 2012 Designer Preview, at the Port Pavilion, on San Diego's Broadway Pier. It was a fantastic evening, showcasing the spring collections of both American and European designers, including my favorite Jason Wu, as well as Chanel, Oscar De La Renta, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, and others. The evening benefitted Promises2Kids, an organization that works to prevent child abuse. 

This event is starting to be one of the highlights of my year. It's so glam and fun. Please note, this is a very photo-heavy post (thanks so much to my friend June, who came along with me and took the photos). To see larger versions of the smaller photos, just click on them.

The "boutique" area, where guests mingled, ate, and shopped, prior to and following the fashion show.

 Guests were greeted by chicly garbed mannequins in the entrance hall. These are Oscar De La Renta's  Cascading Cowl Neck Dress (left) and Chanel's Drop-Waist Dress with Tiered Skirt (right).

Water's Catering provided cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before the runway show...

...and then served delicious desserts afterwards. (Yum!)

What I wore:

Rachel Zoe Jacket, Anagram Dress, Jimmy Choo Shoes, Jason Wu for Target Clutch

The shoes at this event are always stunning. I found myself loving the clean, structured quality of these Marni platform sandals.

Speaking of shoes, some of the most amazing ones were on the feet of the attendees:

Chanel accessories

Chanel handbags (*happy sigh*)

 My seat!

The fashion show runway, before the start of the show.

Sitting across the runway from me was Ferdie Lopez (in the dark-blue/gray suit and black shirt, center), Nordstrom's National Senior Designer Retail Director.

And some looks from the runway show:

Chanel (far left and center left) and Dolce&Gabbana (center right and far right)

 Dolce&Gabbana Floral Print Shift Dress and Lambskin Leather Jacket

Dolce&Gabbana Lambskin Leather Jacket, Print Short Sleeve Shirt, and Bootcut Stretch Jeans

Dolce&Gabbana Floral Print Stretch Cotton Dress

Marni (I love the bubble necklaces, and the mint/neon-pink combo of the last outfit to the right.)

 Naeem Khan (far left and center left) and Dries Van Noten (center right and far right)

Jason Wu Houndstooth Print Shirtdress (I love this!)

Jason Wu Floral Print Shirtdress

 Jason Wu Taffeta Scuba Dress

Jason Wu Chiffon Cascade Back Dress

Missoni (far left and center left: Cap Sleeve Tunic), Donna Karan (center right), and Oscar De La Renta (far right)

 Oscar De La Renta Silk Dress

 Oscar De La Renta

 Oscar De La Renta

My thanks to Nordstrom for inviting us to this wonderful event! And as always, to you, for reading. Have a great day!

Photo credits: June Bayha

Sweeties (OOTD)

 Today, it's cold, windy, and rainy here in San Diego (it even hailed for a few seconds! It was like a half-hearted imitation of an upstate NY rain storm) and there's nothing I'd like to do more right now, than crawl back into bed with a good book and cuppa tea, and just hibernate for a while.

Alas, there are small children to be cared for and work to be done, so none of that, thank you very much. But speaking of small children, I want to introduce you to my niece, Ava, whom I got to visit with yesterday, while in the OC, to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday (happy birthday, Alex!).

She wants to know why she wasn't told she would be taking an OOTD photo, which my sister - who is Ava's mother - so kindly snapped for me ("Mom, seriously??? I'm not even wearing my hairbows! I need my accessories, MOM!"):

Carol's outfit:

Sweater: Kate Spade Bow Ellis Top

Shirt: J. Crew Perfect Shirt in Gingham

Pants: J. Crew Minnie Pant in Stretch Twill

Shoes: Madewell Leopard Print Skimmers

Kate's outfit:

Sweater: Cherokee Long-Sleeved Cardigan Sweater (now on clearance!)

Skirt: Cherokee Ruffled Tiered Skirt (similar here, here, and here)

Tights: H&M sweater tights (similar here and here)

Shoes: Crocbands

Ava's outfit: Carter's Coverall

And look at Ava in this pic! (SO CUTE):

Seriously, couldn't you just eat her up??? Sigh...almost makes me want to have another baby. Almost.

Celebrating 2 Years!!! (A Blog-iversary and a Giveaway!)

It's our 2nd blog-iversary!

If you all lived nearby, we'd throw a big party and everyone could have a pretty cupcake!

image via

But, er, since you don't, we'll just celebrate with a giveaway instead. (We love a good giveaway, don't you?)


What will one lucky reader win? How about...

A Jason Wu for Target Straw Clutch?

What, not enough?

Okay, well, what if there's a $50 gift card to your choice of three stores - Anthropologie, J. Crew, or Nordstrom - included inside?

We know. But it gets better. Four other readers will win necklaces and/or bracelets from Ember Arts, a socially-conscious company that partners with Ugandan craftswomen, helping them to design and sell jewelry made of recycled paper beads for fair trade prices, while also providing them with additional training in money and business management.

To be included in the drawing for this giveaway, this is what you have to do:

1) Be a follower of our blog (if you're not already, it's easy! Just click on the "Follow" button in the sidebar to the right, and follow with Google Friend Connect) and

2) leave a comment on this post, letting us know which store gift card you'd prefer, along with your first name and last initial to help us tell the difference between all of you with common names (e.g. Sarah L., Jessica M., Lisa C., etc.)

To get extra entries (up to 2 more!) you can

3) blog or tweet about this giveaway (be sure to include a link to this page in your tweet or post), and leave a comment telling us you did. If you blog about the giveaway, be sure to include a link to your blog in your comment. If you tweet, be sure to cc: @raphaela235;

4) "Like" our page on Facebook by clicking on the button in the sidebar to the right. Leave a comment, letting us know you did it.

Entries will be accepted through next Sunday, March 4th. We'll tally all the entries and then do a random drawing for the winner. Just a note - please don't leave your email in the comments. We want to help you protect your contact information. When we draw the name and number of the winner, we'll post it on our blog, along with directions for that winner to contact us. If for some reason, the winner doesn't get in touch with us within 48 hours, we'll redraw, and announce a new winner, etc.

Good luck to everyone!

***The entry period for this giveaway has now closed. Thank you for your interest!***