I hope you all had a good week and are as excited for the weekend as I am!! I am looking forward to some rest and relaxation after a long week which was complicated by the messy weather here in Manhattan. It is currently snowing as I write this post and apparently there is more snow on the way.  It is also supposed to drop 20 degrees tonight, which I know I am most definitely not looking forward to!! Brrrrr!

This frigid weather has me dreaming of the Summer and counting down the days until I can head to the beach again. Unfortunately, Summer is a long way off and there is a lot to be accomplished before then. Due to the fact that my job consumes most of my time and has a quite demanding schedule, I will not be jetting off to a balmy destination any time soon. Fashion Week in New York will soon be upon us, then Milan, then Paris etc. etc. so both Nancy and I will be very busy until around late March.

However, this does not mean I cannot fantasize about vacation, sun, surf and having to wear considerably less in the coming months. Thinking about the Summer and the sun has made me nostalgic for the Cote d’Azur’s St. Tropez, which always seems to conjure up images of one of my other favorite fashion icons, Brigitte Bardot.

The original French bombshell, Brigitte Bardot

The Secret Spot in St. Tropez that my friend Massimo showed me...

I had the pleasure of visiting St.Tropez last July for work, for the Philipp Plein boutique opening, one of the other fabulous designers that I work with. Philipp Plein is a hugely talented and amazing designer who has a cult following across Europe and is a rising star in the United States. His lifestyle luxury brand caters to the international jet set crowd with boutiques in Monte Carlo, Cannes, Vienna, Moscow and Kitzbuhel, so naturally the St.Tropez boutique was the perfect addition to his ever growing fashion empire.

Philipp Plein Boutique St. Tropez

The Philipp Plein boutique is located in the center of the enchanting town, surrounded by boutiques from some of the fashion worlds heavy hitters…

The gates to the Chanel boutique in St.Tropez; they had this incredible Chanel surfboard that I was dying over...

The Blumarine Boutique in St. Tropez, one of the other amazing collections I get to work with...

Dolce & Gabanna Boutique, St. Tropez

The intoxicating colors of St. Tropez

The weather was almost intolerable, it was so hot. I was informed by my friend Massimo that this was due to the Ghilbli Winds that blow up from the Sahara Desert, but even in the soaring temperatures, St. Tropez was still absolutely mesmerizing and magical.

A beautiful entrance to a home close to the sea....

A “covet” worthy home near the center of town…

A perfect palette

The party for the opening was beautiful; there was a fashion show and French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s son, Pierre, was the DJ for the evening (he also happens to be the face of the new PP ad campaign for men). The after-party was held at the famed Cave du Roys nightclub and was the perfect end to the evening.

Doing my best to stay cool and still look Glam with Ivan at the Philipp Plein party...

Anyhow, back to Brigitte Bardot! While we were in town, there was a huge exhibit of photos and artwork at a gallery on Brigitte as her name has become synonymous with St. Tropez…

One of the many posters advertising the exhibit on Brigitte Bardot

Her famous pout, recognizable almost immediately...

Brigitte's sultry gaze

An indescribable allure...

The exhibit reminded me of what an iconic beauty she was and why I fell in love with her look and style in the first place.

Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born in 1934 and rose to fame as an international sex-symbol for the role she played in the movie “And God Created Woman,” directed by her then husband, Roger Vadim at the young age of 18; the movie also thrust the sleepy fishing village of St. Tropez into the international limelight and in turn put St. Tropez on the map. It also was the beginning of the public’s enduring fascination and association with Bardot and St. Tropez.

A young brunette Brigitte

Doe Eyed Brigitte

Brigitte in the bikini she helped popularize

Brigitte grew up training to be a ballerina and later began modeling, which eventually turned into acting after she met her Vadim. During the 1956  filming of  “And God Created Woman” in St. Tropez, the cast and crew hung out and filmed on the beach Plage de Pampelonne, located in a somewhat remote and difficult place to get to at the time. There was a family, the Colmonts, that had a tiny restaurant “Cinquante Cinq” that they ran out of the small beach hut they lived in located at Plage de Pampelonne. Somehow, the Colmont family ended up catering for the cast and crew of the movie and the rest is history…

“Cinquante Cinq” or Club 55 is now one of St. Tropez’s most legendary hot spots. It is the place to be seen, especially during lunch. The restaurant and bar is filled with a posh international crowd, clamoring for tables, as getting a reservation can be quite tricky I have heard. The only way to get to this storied spot is via a long, narrow road or by yacht!

I never made it there, but one of my favorite boutique owners and buyers that I work with, has been several times and she said there is nothing like dining at Cinquante Cinq on the blue cloaked tables and the restaurants fine cuisine all under a starry sky by the sea.

Perhaps Brigitte was heading over to Cinquante Cinq on her Hinckley for lunch?

Brigitte went on to make many more movies and marry several other men after she divorced Vardim, but she will always be remembered for her role in “And God Created Woman” and her love for St. Tropez.

A couple of years after the filming in 1958, she purchased her own home La Madrague, in St. Tropez, where I believe she still resides.

Brigitte donning the hot pants with a corset tank, a look that has become synonymous with her name

Wearing a dress with the low cut "Bardot" neckline, named for her

The beehive chignon hairstyle also known as "the choucroute" that she popularized

Fabulous choucroute

Her iconic style and fashion sense remains to this day.  When I think of Brigitte and St. Tropez I think of pedal pushers, hot pants, gingham, bustiers, capris, crop tops and fabulous little striped knit tops.

In fact the Blumarine Spring Summer 2011 pre-collection was inspired by Brigitte Bardot in St. Tropez on the French Rivera. The collection was full of amazing little pants, gingham dresses, knits and crop tops that Brigitte would most definitely have worn. In the showroom, we named the prints in the collection after cities of the French Rivera…

Sultry in nothing but thigh highs

Brigitte in gingham

Wearing a bustier

Looking Divine

Although, she has become somewhat controversial in her later years for her various political statements and special interests, she will always be remembered as one of the foremost international sex symbols and fashion icons ever.

Simply gratuitous…a few more images.

Enjoy!

BB

POUT

BB

A parting shot...

Hope you enjoyed! If you are in New York, stay warm, it is cold out there!!

Until next time Covet Shop readers…

xoxo

BPT

Clockwise, from left: Queen Latifah, Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Taylor, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Binoche, and Benecio Del Toro

Vintage Chanel

Pisces are typically found enjoying the finer things in life, such as strolling Via Montenapoleone or attending an exclusive museum fundraiser. What to wear? This Chanel pant suit, of course.

Chanel 2pc Pant Suit (new!); Rochas Square Patent Pumps

Water Sign Frocks, and Nails to Match

Since I only discovered new BFFs, Ginger + Liz during Fashion Week at the Robert Verdi Luxe Laboratory Suite, I hadn’t included them in my nail polish round up last week. So in honor of these two gorgeous ladies and their polish collection (which is free of toluene, formaldehyde or DBP), here are two of their smokin’ shades paired with some new Covet Shop outfits.

From left: See by Chloe Color Block Tank Dress with Hold the Drama polish; Temperley Jumila Kaftan Tunic with Trance polish; Etro Flutter Silk Dress

Last But Not Least – Shoes

Because Pisces must always maintain an air of mystery and left-of-center edge, let’s not forget important details such as shoes. God forbid a Pisces should ever have to wear dreary loafers or simple pumps, so we’ve put together these selections for the more boho Pisces – perfect for spending the workday lounging around at your friend’s studio drinking sangria, or sneaking off for an illicit tryst.

Stella McCartney Knit Booties; Jill Stuart Claudia Boots; Prada Butterfly Wedges

Tripping Out? Go ask Alice

Inset, colored fringe and a soft punk edge for the hair at Cynthia Rowley; Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter

Is anyone not running out to see Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland when it hits on March 5? The thought of this psychedelic  overload is inspiring us to be a bit more daring these next seasons — and along those lines we loved Cynthia Rowley’s new fall/winter collection (above, with jewel-toned fringe). Being backstage, we also got to see Eva Scrivo’s crimped extensions up close: Gorgeous, textured and edgy, and practically good enough to eat.

Dying to know who did Johnny’s makeup…speaking of beauty, you’ll also need to get your hands on OPI’s Alice in Wonderland collection, reviewed here brilliantly by All Lacquered Up.

Absolutely Alice; Mad as a Hatter

Now that you’re in the mood, some Covet Shop picks we’ve assembled for the occasion:

Outfits, from left: Temperley Mini Kaleidoscope Dress, Balenciaga Giant Work Bag, Stella McCartney Velvet Stud Sandals; Milly Ruffle Tube Top, Missoni Geometric Skirt; Marni Circle Shift Dress, Pierre Hardy Suede Pumps

Delicious reds, for your nails

Valentine’s Day ends tomorrow, of course, but celebrate red nails all month anyway (it is, after all, American Heart Month). Booking an appointment at my favorite nail salon, Jin Soon, as we speak, after assembling this juicy collage.

Jin Soon for M.A.C., Dance All Night; Sephora's Red Alert 6; Chanel Le Vernis, Shanghai Red; Nars' Vintage, Limited Edition in Hunger; Essie's After Sex; London Underground by Butter 3Free

Tattoo You

We heard that Anya Hindmarch opened some Pop-Up Tattoo Parlours this week in London and NYC (which unfortunately ended yesterday), but what a fabulous idea. We heart the mermaid (below, at left). But if you want to go hard-core, pay a visit to Sailor Jerry (”Stewed,” at right). And don’t forget to pick up your new, bad-ass consignment outfit online at Covetshop.com.

S.W.A.K., the Covet Shop team

On point were panelists Deirdre Sullivan (Social Media, PR, & Partnership Director at IDEELI), Orli Sharaby (Sr. Social Marketing Strategist, Lifestyle at 360i) and Ziv.

Needless to say, our ears perked up when the discussion turned to…

1) Up High or Down Low: Do trends emerge from haute couture or street style?

At left, remixed street style looks from Looklet, on-the-street with the Sartorialist, and a look from the Weardrobe 100. Couture runway looks at right

This is, as panelists pointed out, about the creative vision, inspiration and fantasy of couture — as opposed to real human beings going about their daily lives (albeit very stylishly). Who’s inspiring whom and despite the tension between the two, are they more intertwined than may be obvious? According to Ziv, the most inspirational online style influencers are focused on unique pieces that represent who they are; and the key is mixing high and low. “There are no more trends, seasons are irrelevant,” she says. “They are all about putting their personality out there.”

2) The future of fast fashion, vintage and consignment

Fast fashion? It has it’s place, but — said panelists — for bloggers and new designers using social media to promote their brand, building identity and voice means pieces that feel fresh. “No one needs another jersey dress in this economy,” said Sullivan.

“People are consuming way too much,” said Ziv. “Now, I’m seeing people buying, wearing and selling to the next generation. These objects can and should be preserved — not something disposable.”

We agree. A quality garment has a history, a story that can and should be passed along.

Vintage bags, grab 'em while they're hot. From left: Louis Vuitton Neo Cabby GM; Chanel Vintage Floral; Bottega Veneta Clutch

Case in point: Almost all our vintage pieces — such as all the hot items we listed in this first post about Virtual Vintage in October (including my faves, the Dior floral pant) — get swiped up so fast it’s become hard to keep up. However, on a sad note the NY Post recently reported that many of the classic vintage shops on 7th and 9th streets in the East Village and throughout the city have had to close shop. Let’s hope that’s not the case. We need on and offline inspiration in our constant hunt for those iconic pieces around which to craft personal style.

The iconic sailor shirt makes a comeback.

For example, The Wall Street Journal reports on “stripes galore” in spring orders at Saks, parades of blue-and-white clad mademoiselles promenading in the streets of Paris, and the allure of hunky deck swabs; while WWD’s couture preview says Anne Valérie Hash has slashed up a Jean Paul Gaultier Breton shirt for her upcoming show based on reworked garments. Fortunately, Covet Shop has some fabulous new Chanel finds that we’ve just released!

From left: Chanel Vintage Quilted Shoulder Bag, Temperley Beatrice Sweater Tunic, Chanel Patent Riding Boots; Chanel Vintage Floral Bag, Marc Jacobs Ruched Cocktail Dress, Christian Louboutin Heart Patent Pumps

Perusing the blogs further, the craze for green polish, especially Chanel’s Jade Le Vernis nail color, is going strong and (at post time), we noticed a bottle that sold on Jan. 19 for $305. Mon Dieu. Does this mean we’re out of the recession?

Bags, bags, bags. Here’s a tip for you Wise Men out there stumped for gift ideas: I can’t think of any woman who wouldn’t love to receive a hot new handbag, no matter the occasion. That you saved a bundle on it can be our little secret.

Somehow, these reminded me of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. From top: Cartier La Dona Satchel; Marc Jacobs Stam bag (reduced to $475); Balenciaga Cherche Midi clutch (reduced to $495)

A gift…for you. Sometimes holiday entertaining makes us just want to escape south to Florida or the islands. For such pursuits, you deserve a new dress and sunglasses after all that cooking and baking.

From left: Milly Truffle dress (reduced to $110) and Gucci Buckle glasses; Cavalli Leopard Sheath dress and Tom Ford Samantha sunglasses; DVF Lura dress (only $62!) and Marc Jacobs Gold Bar shades

And finally, Five Golden Rings. This is actually more like 12, interlinked, to form a cuff for the classic vintage Chanel lover on your gift list.

Vintage Woven Cuff by Chanel: $800, reduced from $895

Nancy's October Picks

1. Chanel Vintage Logo Earrings (on SALE for $265)

2. Thread Social Cowl Neck Dress ($200)

3. Alice + Olivia Stripe Boyfriend Blazer (on SALE for $112)

4. Balenciaga Cherche Midi Clutch ($550)

5. Pierre Hardy Ruffle Heels (on SALE for $148)

An entire designer outfit for under $1300!

But don’t take it from us: Style icons such as Kate Moss and Zooey Deschanel know how to do it right. The trick? Cleverly mixing vintage to create looks that are modern and uniquely yours. And don’t forget – if you’re very creative, like Kate was when her Vintage Dior accidentally ripped at a 2007 V&A event, you can always alter your vintage finds to make them even more personal.

Kate goes from Glamourous to Rocker by cutting her vintage Dior gown

As an extra bonus, there’s no easier way to go green than by buying used or vintage clothing.

It’s a pretty simple concept: By recycling fashion, demand goes up for the vintage/resale market, which can help reduce global impact of clothing manufacturing. Another effect is purely inspirational. As other designers take note of consumers’ appetite for used clothing, they may be encouraged to use recycled materials in their new lines. Below, some of our favorite Covet Shop online vintage designer finds.

Sorry, but how can you live without these vintage Dior floral pants?

A vintage dress line-up. From left: DVF Justin Wrap Dress with Chain Print, Vivienne Tam Embroidered Dress, and Narciso Rodriquez Seam Dress

These vintage deals have SOLD, but that's all the more reason to Covet Shop often for vintage finds! Dior Vintage Austria Sunglasses, Pollini Chair Jacket, Chanel Lambskin Backpack Bag

1. Coco Before Chanel, starring Audrey Tautou. The film, directed by Anne Fontaine, has received mixed reviews thus far: Panned by the NY Post as celebrating a glum heroine and her success via luck and prostitution; and picked apart by the New Yorker, in part, because gamine du jour Tautou can’t shake Am?ieand isn’t sour enough. However, we are looking forward to seeing it so stay tuned for our thoughts (after we have a chance to check it out this week).

2. Chanel at Covet Shop, of course. Pay homage to Chanel with these late summer/vacation or fall ensembles. Visit covetshop.com for more Chanel items!

Clockwise, from left: Terry Swim Dress, Vintage Logo Earrings, Vintage Blazer, Cambon Reporter Bag, Caviar Backpack Bag

3. The gorgeous new Chanel N?5 ad/film. Have you seen it yet? Perhaps I’m lacking Tautou’s haunting eyes, fabulous hair, and sensual insouciance, but all the lads I met on trains while living in Europe for two years didn’t quite measure up. Then again, I wasn’t wearing Chanel N?5 at the time, so guess all it makes sense.

Chanel N?5 Ad

4. Chanel Nail Colour. Remember the absolute mania Chanel caused for black nails thanks to Vamp (in the ’90s) or Black Satin (more recently)? Not sure anything can quite reach those epic levels of nail frenzy, but based on the online coverage for this limited edition Jade…let’s wait and see.

Also comes in Jade Rose, if you're not feeling quite so... envious

5. Chanel Iman. OK, this one’s not about the House of Chanel—but we happened on a Style.com blog post from the fall 2009 shows stating that Chanel Iman, like Covet Shop fans, loves a good designer deal. The model was reported as saying her favorite pastime, while in Milan, is shopping for discounts.