Mary Kate Olsen takes a peek at some nudes...at the New York Academy of Art bash...

The annual Take Home a Nude bash run by the New York Academy of Art was all a buzz last night at Sotheby's as the diminutive Mary Kate Olsen tip toed in  - past a weird picket line of Teamsters, (who i'm guessing were venting their rage at upper east siders being out on a Monday night in their natural habitat of, oh... the upper east side....)

The event, as usual, was a high octane spin through a few galleries of art pieces up for auction. Armed with a pencil, a cocktail and a credit card to burn, it's funny how the bidding seemed to escalate as the countdown to each gallery room closure was yelled across the mic by the weirdly gimp masked master of ceremonies.

Padma Lakshmi took a turn around the room, as did Harpers editor Glenda Bailey and the ever frothy Robert Verdi (sans signature shades on his head...pourquoi?).

Sadly the closest I got to phsyically taking home a nude was peering at a haunting photo of an Ipanema beach scene...once I'd figured out I could probably fly there and take the same photo myself for less money, the item had been snapped up by someone else.

In terms of fashion, we saw beautiful Erikson Beamon statement necklaces, new Prada pumps with this seasons heel...appropriately in nude, (as sported by my blog buddy Photos From a Stylist). As well as some bizarre fascinator flower head gear that seemed to be missing the point that the wearer was neither a) Kate Middleton nor b) at the Kentucky Derby.

As for me? My Adrienne Landau marabou feather gilet got it's fair share of papparazzo attention, so it had to be hastily retired and packed off back to it's Stepford gilded cage, for fear of it catching fright and taking flight into the nippy New York air.

 For more Notes from a Stylist click here....

Citi and American Airlines Launch new MasterCard in Style

If you're looking to launch a new MasterCard in the current economy, let's face it, you better either have some damn good incentives, or a super hot launch party complete with requisite celeb stylists and rock stars. Funnily enough, just last night, Citi and American Airlines managed to pull that off all under the stunning backdrop of Grand Central Station in New York, where they've brought The Admirals Club lounge to Vanderbilt Hall

Commuters were drawn to peek in at the buzzy atmosphere as Gavin DeGraw belted out his hit 'Not Over You', and whilst this Stylist was swooning over her new musical crush, she also managed to sneak in a quick free 'messy up-do' by celeb stylists Joel Warren and Edward Tricomi of Warren Tricomi fame.

After a little banter with the boys about their own rock band adventures, the latest on the New York club scene, and some advice on creating my 'up-do' at home in 5 minutes with a curling iron....yeah right...it was time to pay attention to Citi's Terry O'Neil.

So here's the gig The Citi Executive/AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard hands you a bunch of member privileges as well as let's you spend money - what's not to like?

There's Admirals Club membership privileges, no foreign transaction fees on purchases, enhanced airport experiences like priority check in and pre-boarding, as well as waived baggage charges for your first domestic checked bag. Quite frankly they had me at 'priority check in'...but Gavin DeGraw did probably swing it for them on the night.

Clearly Terry O'Neil must have seen a few airport lounges in his time, so when asked which is his favorite globally he plumped for JFK.

As for the style on the night? Apart from Messrs. Warren & Tricomi who belie their years and ooze effortless style, we saw this seasons polka dots in dresses and pumps and the most gorgeous vintage booties amongst the city suits.

The Admirals Club lounge is at Vanderbilt Hall until Wednesday, opening daily at 11.30am, so pop on in on your commute home.

For more info on the card take a peek here...

For more from Notes from a Stylist have a nose here... 

Fashion Trend Alert for Spring/Summer 12...Orange!

Jenny Packham S/S12

As the old fashion adage goes: 'And three's a trend' - if you've been investing in orange this summer then you've already nailed one of next Summer's brights. You can't sit through a fash week show at Mercedes-Benz fashion week in New York without that citrus hue jumping out at you.

Callula Lillibelle S/S12

Carlos Miele S/S 12

Jenny Packham S/S12

Today, from polka dots at Callula Lillibelle, to draped gowns at Carlos Miele through to orange sparkles at Jenny Packham - if it ain't orange it ain't hip. Get your Tom Ford sunnies on and start working it.

Carlos Miele goldfish print skirt : S/S12

With that in mind, I'm hot footing it to my local mall as soon as the week is over to see what I can snag in the last call sales...

For more New York Fashion Week news take a peek at the Notes from a Stylist blog here

Spring/Summer 11 Trends...Are you Team Ballet or Team Burlesque?

I blame Nathalie Portman and Christina Aguilera for this one... a couple of dance movies and what do you know? Designers turn to tulle and lace with a vengeance. There hasn't been dance inspired clothing like this since The Red Shoes plie'd onto the silver screen back in the day...

I can’t figure out whether to be on Team Ballet or Team Burlesque...

The Shearling trend... the origins

Ever wondered where J.Crew and the like got their basic materials for this season's uber cozy shearling vests? The Welsh mountains of course....

For more Notes from a Stylist take a peek here...

Sara Delaney - The Brit Bloggers crash New York Fashion Week

The Brit bloggers crash New York Fashion Week       Even Amber Rose looked sullen in the front row of the Christian Siriano show on Day 2 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion week and she had a seat!. Kanye's gal was front and centre as the models strutted their stuff at the show where we found that 2 invites actually means 1 in the fabulous world of fashion.   An early entrance by my good self meant I bagged the 'standing' ticket and managed to weadle my way down to a 4th row seat through sheer charm and blagging power. Less luck for my trusty co-hort and blogging babe Welsh Alien in NY, who was left swimming in the sea of sadness that is the free bar at the Tents.   With her usual bravado and stiff upper lip she managed to fall into the company of some charming chaps who are in New York from LA to develop their burgeoning clothing line Anjgiles. Cheering her up with their banter it was off to the Waldorf Astoria to take a peek at the Edwing D'angelo show - until that is we realized our tactical error.   Instead of sticking at the Tents where we could have spotted the likes of Naomi Campbell and her chums at the Fashion for Relief Haiti show, we stumbled into a scary world of 'wannabe' fashion. The once fabulous Waldorf was playing host to a 'couture show' - more like 'comedy show'.... think Camden market meets Singapore stall trader.The place was packed with tables of bizarre tat for sale with a ballroom area for so called fashion shows. Luckily we realized our error within minutes, turned on our heels and re-grouped in a cocktail lounge before heading to Chelsea for Antonio Berardi's show.   So what of the clothes ; It felt a bit like I'd spent the day on the High Street.   Christian Siriano was all ruffles and layered pleats in dark neutrals with the occasional pop of color. His show stopping evening gown of hot pink with an enormous train had the model wibbling on her heels but maybe that was something to do with the sky high Payless heels she was wearing . Overall the looks were wearable if a little dull, by the look on her face I'm not sure Amber Rose will be hurrying to slip into any of the pieces either.     Alexander Berardi was a little too mass market for me - any of the looks could have easily been pulled off the racks at Zara or H and M - certainly not worth the 30 minute line outside in 28f at the end of a long day.       Surprising though it may seem, there is space in the hectic Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion week Fall 2010 schedule for mens clothes as well as oodles of shows for the ladies. The Mik Cire by Eric Kim show (which had us befuddled for a while until we figured out Eric Kim had just put his name backwards for his new label) was a show strictly for the boys. Eric - who was the founder and CEO of fab fashion label Monarchy, has just launched his new menswear label.   Legendary catwalk instructor Miss Jay was in the front row and was showing some keen interest in the uber cool looks that were sashaying down the runway. With an urban military vibe that oozed downtown boy meets Eastern european checkpoint guard, this may not be a look I could get my husband to pull off, but I'm looking forward to seeing all those fashion savvy gents in the audience embracing it.   Coolest look of the show? has to go to Eric Kim taking a bow with his cute son.... bless!   Blog from Big Apple Brits - http://www.bigapplebrits.com

Posted via web from Big Apple Brits - British Expats, Anglophiles and Brit Culture Lovers New York City