season five

welcome to the hotel missoni

The Ritz is where I will retire myself when I am old and gray and wish to spend my twilight years in quiet luxury. That said, at this moment I'm young and I want to stay at the loud, overstated Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh,UK and have a good time. The first of a proposed chain of hotels, the six-story building is dressed head-to-toe in signature Missoni patterns and bold colors. The hotel also brings in the design sensibility of Marcel Sandes, Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobson and Hans Wegner. Rooms start at $355 a night.(via Cyana.Trend.Land)

mad for plaid

This fall brings the English countryside as inspiration for cool weather dressing. Escape the hustle and bustle of urban living with some natty traditional plaids with a modern twist. Think hounds tooth checks, buffalo plaids, and large complex Scotch plaids. Made of natural fibers such as wool and cotton the updated plaid looks best when paired with sleek body hugging denim and fierce heels. Look for plaid jackets, dresses, and even capes for covering up. Elizabeth and James features some of the best plaid blouses adorned with their signature casual yet sophisticated style. Take your new look with you to the country for a tranquil retreat or don the plaid with boyfriend jeans for a casual look in town.

As seen on the Fall ‘09 runways, the Marc By Marc Jacobs “Abbey” Plaid Dress (upper left, $458 at Bloomingdales.com) is a twist on the traditional. The pure wool mini dress tunic has a drop waist, cowl neck, two front pockets and banded sleeves. The Fei Polaire Vest (top middle, $118 at Anthropologie.com) is a pretty and dramatic corset-style top with a flared peplum. This vest would pair nicely with a slim pencil skirt and platform pumps. From Smythe, a wool-blend jacket (top right, $525 at Net-a-Porter) Pair Smythe’s blue tweed plaid jacket over a tank and skinny jeans for a dose of English countryside eccentricity. From Ann Taylor Loft, a sweeping and dramatic Brushed Plaid Cape (Bottom right, $148 at Ann Taylor Loft). This classic double-breasted cape is lined, has a banded collar with button closure. From Elizabeth and James (Bottom left, $245 at Net-a-Porter) a gray and cream cotton-blend plaid shirt with a distressed finish, button front and two patch pockets. Pair this wardrobe staple with your favorite pair of jeans and fiercest boots for a cool downtown look.

Save with Coupon Codes from Bloomingdales.com TheFind.com’s new coupon site.

This is a geust post from my friends at thefind.com.

designer spotlight: ralston handbags

Handbag designer Paige Ralston Fromer has worn many hats throughout her career including Washington DC television anchor, which is how I came to know her more than a decade ago (my then-roommate was a producer at the same station). She recently launched a new luxury handbag line, Ralston Handbags, to critical acclaim in the DC area. Having grown up there, it is hard to imagine this city as a hot bed for fashion and new designers. Trust me, this city has changed. First with amazing boutiques, like Hu’s Shoes and Relish, and then with the inauguration of our first lady, Michelle Obama. (She wears Maison Margiela, enough said). The launch of Ralston Handbags is testament to this city’s style transformation. The handbag collection, carefully designed by Ralston Fromer’s team of talented Argentine designers, includes 13 designs made of exquisite, lightweight leather. Popular styles include the hand woven “Luz” and the very classic (and DC appropriate) oversized “Raquel”. My favorite is the “Cindy” in giraffe print – because it suits my (slightly wild) acquired San Francisco fashion personality. Check out the entire line at www.ralstonhandbags.com.

isabel marant gives me another reason to plan a quick trip to NYC

It is official! Designer Isabel Marant will open her first US store in Manhattan at 55 Green Street on the corner of Broome Street in February 2010. The store will carry Isabel Marant, Etoile, accessories and jewels. Like the Left Bank Paris Store, Marant’s husband, accessories designer Jérôme Dreyfuss, will have a adjoining space for his beautiful handbag collection. Isabel Marant's neigbbors include Top Shop at Broadway and Broome. Roadtrip! Photo Style.com

DVF returns to russian roots for first retrospective

50 dresses, personal artifacts and original works by Andy Warhol, Francesco Clemente and Horst will be assembled in Moscow later this month for Diane von Furstenberg’s first major retrospective. Curated by Vogue’s André Leon Talley, the exhibit is slated to run through Nov. 21 at the Manezh exhibition hall near Red Square. The exhibition will group the designer's fashions thematically under the categories “American Dream,” “Studio 54,” “Luxe” and “Empowerment,” echoing stages in the designer’s life. Von Furstenberg characterized the retrospective as a homecoming of sorts, as her father was born in Russia, immigrating to Belgium in 1929.  (via WWD)