Via Spiga Creative Director, Paola Venturi

The Madge

The Eve

[Images via Rose Lou]

Italian luxury shoe brand, Via Spiga invited Fashion Pulse Daily to their SoHo boutique for a private runway show introducing new styles for the summer (along with a free shoe giveaway and private shopping party) hosted by the brand’s Creative Director, Paola Venturi with an intimate Q&A at the end.  Having been inspired by a Native American themed exhibit at a museum in Canada, Venturi began to draft up designs for the Spring 2011 Via Spiga collection, using the materials (such as leather and beading) and patterns/designs she had witnessed in the exhibition as a model.  Seen necklines and neck pieces prompted similar circular spheres laid in increasing diameters to act as decoration for the top of the foot before once again circling into another foot strap on both sides to connect the dark brown wood heel as a whole, with the style being named Madge.

Other featured styles include the Eve, a thick wooden wedge with either dainty white details or fully black, as well as the Priti, a sleek flat sandal with a beaded thong.  When asked about what kind of woman would wear the collection, Venturi responded with, “A sophisticated, luxurious woman with taste and whom feels comfortable and confident in her footwear.”

- Rose Lou

[Image via PritiNYC]

Vegan and eco-friendly/organic beauty company, PritiNYC, recently launched a new soy-based nail polish remover product that comes in a convenient & portable wipe format and leaves out the typical hazardous chemical properties of other nail polish remover products that may cause cancer, birth defects, and various negative long term side effects. The  PritiNYC wipes are not only 100% biodegradable, but have also been stamped and approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and besides the naturally-occurring origin of this product, the wipes can also be shipped via mail due to the non-hazardous properties of this eco-wipe that clears away both harmful chemicals and nail polish.

The PritiNYC Soy Polish Remover Wipes (10 Count) are available for purchase online at PritiNYC’s website, selling for $9.99 USD per product package. Also, for more information and updates on PritiNYC, visit their Facebook and Twitter pages.

- Rose Lou

As courtesy of renowned fashion label Tibi, the brand has pulled silk remnants from their collection resources to create stylish headscarves out of the 1-yard strike-offs for teens with cancer to stylishly tie on.  These silk scarves by Tibi are solely dedicated to benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Pediatric Cancer Care and Research and in exchange for purchase of these lively and colorful variety of printed silk headscarves alongside a selected donation amount, 100% of these proceeds will go toward the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Kids Walk for Kids with Cancer happening on May 7th. Headscarves can be purchased for $75, and donations of $25, $50, and $100 can be made online at Tibi’s website. To find out more information, please visit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Facebook page, website, or Tibi’s blog.

- Rose Lou

What’s great about World of Good is the mission: to ensure a fair trade deal between the buyer, and the artisan and to verify that the artisan receives the proper and legitimate amount due for his/her craftsmanship.  So, it’s basically like shopping online at the local market tables in less-developed nations such as Indonesia, India, Peru, Cambodia, Mexico, Kenya Coast Republic, Nepal, Malawi, and/or Vietnam, among others. Some great Mother’s Day presents available on this website include an “Out on the Town” black leather round-handled purse from Peru; a handmade ceramic set of Blossomed Spa Oil Bottles from Indonesia, a Balinese sterling silver handcrafted pendant also from Indonesia, a Paisley Shimmer handwoven shawl by Novica from India; and a Mata Traders Fair Trade Bolero Jacket in grey from India.  Go to the website to search for further fair trade items/Mother’s Day gift ideas and for more information about WorldofGood.com. There’s also free shipping on select item.

- Rose Lou

[All images via Rose Lou]

As part of a six-city wide bus tour and beauty brigade, world-renowned haircare product company, Garnier Fructis stopped by Times Square in New York City to lend a green thumb. Inside the tour bus, shelves were stacked with bottles and samples of Pure Clean Garnier Fructis hair products to clean, style, and nourish air-polluted locks – an unfortunate downside to urban lifestyles.

The main goal of the tour/beauty brigade is to increase popular participation in saving the environment – and by default, the world – by pledging to collect recyclable items/used beauty product containers and shipping them to TerraCycle within two weeks to receive 2 cents per item that is donated towards any charity of choice. To get involved with this enviro-saving brigade, simply visit the Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Official Website and click on the Get Involved tab for the Cleaner Greener World Tour Beauty Brigade.

You can also have your personal commitment published publicly  on Garnier Fructis’ Facebook page. Garnier Fructis and TerraCycle are diligently collaborating to raise awareness about the extra help our environment needs and get the public to actively participate in their earnest efforts to help save the world.  With the ingenuity and help of TerraCycle, various post-beauty products (not limited to only Garnier Fructis product bottles) have been and are being converted into other items for everyday use, such as nootebooks, containters, baskets, or board slates that can be put into making a children’s playground.  So, get all your old,empty bottles of shampoo and other beauty products together, put them into an old shoe box, label it, and ship it to TerraCycle for them to refashion into an enviro-friendly manner!

- Rose Lou

Beginning  May 2011, Topshop is debuting its first collaboration with New York based jewelry designer Pamela Love.  The affordable and enviable jewelry collection (priced at $35-$100) combines inspiration from South America and Native America while keeping the Topshop girl in mind.  Pamela Love for Topshop has a youthful feel that uses delicate designs carved onto strong metals.  The range includes, Dreamcatcher, Hearts & Arrows, Frozen Links, and Chain & Stud collections.

The Dreamcatcher combines Love’s interest in magic and folklore to create a matching necklace, earrings, and bracelet.  The Hearts & Arrows collection offers a mix of femininity and edge to the baroque-inspired pendant, earring, cuff, and ring.  Frozen Links has a utilitarian feel and features a single cuff, multi-cuff, link chain, and earrings.  The Chain & Stud collection includes a necklace, bracelet, and ring with a definitive Aztec influence.  The collaboration, being both fashion-forward and certainly unique, is bound to be a success for both Topshop and the CFDA 2011 nominee Pamela Love.  Shop online and in-stores starting May 19th!

-Dana deBoer

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Just in time for summer, Target is partnering with Calypso St. Barth, the global luxury brand known for it’s upscale resort wear, to introduce an affordable and limited edition collection for fashion and home.  The line will feature chic resort wear and accessories for women, girls, babies, and will even include home furnishings.  Prices will range from $1.99 to $79.99 and the collection will be available May 1st through June 11th exclusively at Target stores and Target.com.  With summer right around the corner, there is no excuse not to start shopping for all those cute swim cover-ups and flip flops!

-Dana deBoer

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[All images via Nars]

Founder & Creative Director of world-renowned cosmetic company, NARS, François Nars highlights the importance and beauty of bright, exotic color usage. Starting April 15th, 2011, the Nars Summer 2011 Collection is available for purchase either online directly from their website, as well as through various beauty retailers (such as Sephora and Bloomingdale’s).

Austrian model Iris Strubegger was hand-picked by Mr. Nars for her deeply bronzed skin to properly accentuate the intense pigments infused into the collection of neon orange, bright white, cantaloupe, oceanic greens and blues, and bright pink.  The highlight of the collection is the Cap Ferrat Trio Eyeshadow, which”fuses three cool-toned variations of teal for an effortless day-to-evening transition” and was originally inspired by the Alpes-Maritimes region of France.

The collection is priced at $17 for nail polish, $24 for lip and shadow pencils, and $45 for the eyeshadow trio (complimentary shipping is also made available after a purchase of at least $25 on the NARS website). For more product and company information, behind-the-scenes exclusives, and a detailed Q&A with François Nars, don’t forget to visit their “The Latest” tab on Facebook.

-Rose Lou

The "Iris" - Exclusively Found at De Beers to Ensure Diamond Quality

[All images via De Beers]

Luxury jewelry brand De Beers Jewelry has taken the online initiative and is declaring its online presence with the re-launch of the newly developed website, that even includes such features as online shopping and procedures for arranging a viewing of any piece that has caught the glimmer in one’s eye. The new website further allows the De Beers company to establish and strengthen the buyer-seller relationship in an all-encompassing manner, as would only be expected from a luxury brand. With beautiful and engaging images elegantly appearing on the screen, the online shopping experience is easily friendly, with options to filter out any extra items that may distract you from finding that perfect, specific engagement ring you’ve been dreaming about every night since coming of age.

Another plus for brides-to-be is the “Inspiration” tab under the “Bridal” category, alongside “Advise“, which will also in one month’s time house a space for a piece of you and your wedding story with a cache of engagement stories, as told by customer brides.  De Beers’ diamonds are reputably known to be of the highest quality, thanks to a mechanical diamond reader known as The Iris, which has the ability to test the 4C’s of diamonds – Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat weight – to ensure that only the best of the best are used in their pieces. The website may look simply elegant, but is chock full of information for the De Beers customer, with a range of design sketches, shopping and viewing options, company information and more.

-Rose Lou

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This may come as no surprise, but wedges are one of your best bets when it comes to wearing heels. They’re not only easier to walk in, but they allow an even distribution of pressure on the foot. And with summer coming up, think of how cute these pairs will look with short shorts and flowy dresses. L-R: Lanvin Ankle Wrap Wedge with Python Platform, $1,400, LR X Suno Erin Lace-up Wedge, $645.

Platforms are a trickier matter. Though there is the solid base beneath the ball of the foot, don’t be seduced into wearing the highest heel possible. Go for 2- and 2½-inch heels. L-R: Prada Platform Mary Jane Pumps, $950, Belle by Sigerson Morrison Neutral Leather Platform Sandal, $412.50.

For the woman who goes for designer four-inchers no matter what, a lot will depend on your foot type. The more you know, the more your feet will thank you. For example, women with wide feet, Prada is your best friend. Above (L-R), Vitello Butterfly Wedge, $695, Platform Slingback Sandal, $720, Rainbow Cage Patent Pump, $795, and Elastic Crisscross Sandal, $595. Have narrow feet? Thank your lucky stars, because Louboutins were made just for you. Below (L-R), Deroba Denim Wedge Ankle Boots, $595, Martel Platform Sandals, $895, Laser-Cut Leather Slingbacks, $795, and Toutenkaboucle Strappy Canvas Sandals, $995.

Now that you know a little more about being good to your feet, there are also some basic exercises you can do to make strutting in those heels even easier. Dr. Levine suggests picking up pencils with your toes, and walking on your heels, the forefoot, and on the balls of your feet. You can also roll a ball back and forth under the ball of your foot.

And as for the bad rap high heels get, we saved the best news for last: high heels aren’t really that bad for you! Those pesky varicose veins don’t have anything to do with wearing heels. There are even some conditions, like plantar fasciitis, that involve high heels in the treatment. It’s all about moderation. Flats today, your favorite pair of heels tomorrow. It’s a win-win.

-Kaci Hamilton

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