La Florida Chic: designers

Sunday

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK Highlights

New York Fashion Week ended on Friday - closing seven days worth of fairly low-key parties (Prada had a simple cocktail hour, unlike its lavish bashes from years past); celebs making their rounds in support of their fave designers or designers who pay them to advertise (see Eva Mendes at Calvin Klein) and then there was the almost funny battle between the Retro depression-era- and Retro 80s-inspired frocks. Yawn. An interesting juxtaposition...in any event, I'm not sure any of us really want to return to either decade - why can't we just keep the "Green" movement alive or invent some new look that incorporates solar-powered Harem pants???

Here are a few designs that really caught our attention - including Christian Siriano's new line of shoes for Payless! (This IS exciting.)

Friday

Etsy Top 10

Etsy.com - the website for t-shirt designers, jewelry makers, shoe cobblers and anyone who makes stuff and wants to sell it - is the online version of FLEA-MARKET HEAVEN!

Except on Etsy there are fewer stalls selling crystals and incense and more fashion-forward stuff that just might end up in mass-market chains like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie.

As of this month, here are my top 10 favorite things on Etsy!!! What I love about Etsy is that you can find awesome cute and clever stuff for your home AND also one-of-a-kind (or at least very limited edition) clothes for women, men and kids. It's the perfect place to pick up affordable (and unique) gifts - plus you're supporting independent craftspeople, artists, etc.

C'est cool, indeed.

Let me know if you find anything else to add to the list - I'd love to start an ongoing Etsy roll call. There's just so much stuff to sift through - a lot of incredibly cool things mixed with a lot of "what-the-eff-were-you-thinking?!" crapola, too.

+++++(I've included the name of the shop - so just go to Etsy.com and search the shop name!)+++++