Martina Borgomanero Basabe

It is now December 11 and everywhere pre-vacation congestion starts and I am not talking about the flu. Traffic gets crazy, stores get busy, people invade the streets for Christmas shopping, whether it is tree, tree decorations, or a very large amount of presents to buy for family and friends.

Not in Miami.

In Miami, second week of December equals to ghost town. Restaurants are empty, people are zombies, streets are deserted and all of this because of one reason and one only – Post Basel Syndrome (PBS).

Let’s start from the beginning – allegedly Art Basel runs for four days, this year from December 4 to 7. NOT TRUE. Art Basel runs for a solid ten, starting the weekend before and finishing the weekend after the week of the actual exhibits, and reaches a peak during those four days and three nights that is comparable only to a freight train that derails, hits everyone and everything around it, but just keeps on going leaving desolation behind. Hence – ghost town.

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By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Eight blissful days of runway shows and presentations showcased the trends for next spring and summer at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2013 in New York City.  It appears that brilliant orange, is next season’s “hot pink” a perfect complement to our year-round Miami tan. Just ask Carolina Herrera, Victoria Beckham, Nanette Lepore, Zac Posen, or Peter Som.  In addition to the typical pastel shades, floral prints, and free-flowing fabrics, geometric patterns and stream-lined styles appeared in several shows.  While it’s difficult to pinpoint pervasive trends, as the looks were as varied as their designers, many collections boasted bold colors, solids, cut-outs, black and earth tones, leather and lace, pleats and pantsuits.  Some designers gained inspiration from foreign lands, including Mexico, Spain, France and India.

Minimalist pieces in black, white and nude were present in a number of shows including Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Alexander Wang, Narciso Rodriguez, Vera Wang, Herve Leger and Donna Karan- opting for solids over prints and color blocking.  Sexy cut-outs allowing for a peek of sun kissed skin were also prevalent. Geometric shapes and stripes were everywhere- dominating the Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors shows.   Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week took over New York City from September 8-15, with a line-up of 99 designers showing their spring 2012 collections in Lincoln Center and various other venues throughout Manhattan.  Amid the silks, chiffons, organza,  floral prints, neon colors, geometrical shapes, and pastel prints that graced the runways, Mercedes-Benz showcased its latest fashion statement, the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster (think Barbie DREAM CAR on steroids) and C63 AMG Coupe, two all new models available later this year. Our favorite designers this season included Mercedes-Benz presents designer, Derek Lam; Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg, Nanette Lepore, Pamela Rolland, Milly by Michelle Smith and Diesel Black Gold (especially since Gerard Butler! was sitting front row).   Enjoy our stories about a few of the stellar parties we attended and a little bit about the lounges- the other side of Fashion Week. Read the rest of this entry »

On South Beach, where every night is New Years Eve (and/or Halloween for that matter), actually going to a party on the last night of the year seems like going to the Paris or Venetian hotels in Vegas in lieu of visiting the actual cities. Can we say overkill? Not to mention that the sticker price on most NYE events brings to mind the SNL Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers’ segment, REALLY???!!! “$300.00 for Lady Gaga, REALLY???!!.” “$300.00 for general admission, REALLY???!!” While we veterans still consider NYE to be amateur night, opting instead to cozy up with a couple of bottles of Dom and a few pounds of stone crabs (George Stone Crabs will even deliver them to your door: http://georgestonecrab.com/ 1 (800) 273-CRAB) and to celebrate on the 30^th or the 1^st, we will admit that New Year’s Eve will deliver a champagne-soaked, celeb-filled debauchery, as promised. So for those of you who insist that two months salary is worth spending on a night you won’t remember, here’s a rundown of some of the best the final night of 2009 has to offer.

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