Monthly Archives: May 2016

VEUVE CLICQUOT – CLICQUOLOGY

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I was in Reims, France with the lovely Veuve Clicquot team to learn every little thing about champagne and learn about their latest creation, CLICQUOT RICH. We began our trip at the exclusive Hotel Du Marc. It’s a luxurious house turned private estate owned by the Veuve Clicquot family, and only used to host parties and invited guests. Talk about one very special experience. 

But let’s start from the beginning. “Veuve” means widow in French and it was Madame Clicquot who took over the family champagne business when her husband died unexpectedly, leaving her widowed at a young age. The company then became called Veuve Clicquot and we believe it was their daughter Clementine who was the inspiration for the iconic yellow seen on the label. Madame Clicquot had some major girl power. Back in the day, women weren’t ones running businesses, but Madame Clicquot is what I like to call a GIRL BOSS. She wanted to continue the family business, perfect the production of her wine, and build the luxurious Veuve Clicquot brand.

Now let me take you back to Hotel Du Marc. This extremely chic hotel has a brilliant library, a dining room unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and a stunning lavender staircase, inspired by the rich hues of the grapes used in each wine. On the second floor are rooms that each represent a different country. I fell in love with the seafoam green walls of the guest bedroom representing France, and the extra large pink kimono draping along the wall of the Japanese room. Each part of this hotel was breathtaking. It was only a short drive from the Veuve Clicquot cellars… where the wine is made, left to age for years, before being distributed and enjoyed all around the world.

I am so excited to introduce you to Veuve Clicquot Rich. Rich is inspired by mixology, and that’s why we call it CLICQUOLOGY. Clicquot Rich is a bit more sweet due to its higher concentration of sugar. It’s meant for drinking in a large wine glass, served over ice, and accompanied with fresh ingredients including pineapple, celery, tea, pepper, cucumber, or grapefruit. For me, I personally love adding in the green and red bell peppers. The spice gives it all a little kick! It’s delicious and refreshing. It’s totally my summer rooftop drink. My friends are going to be obsessed. And it’s nice going to champagne for a change, over a wine or a classic cocktail. I love this new, innovative take on mixology and champagne.

CLICQUOLOGY took a while to perfect. Finding the right amount of sweetness. Finding the right fruits and veggies that complement the champagne well. But it was worth the wait!

Here is a little insight on what goes into producing champagne. This process takes 4 years!

1. The grapes are harvested by hand in September in the vineyards of Reims, France.

2. Gentle press to a juice, then it becomes base wine and goes through fermentation.

3. It’s blended and bottled in February to sit for 3 years.

4. The second fermentation. Yeast and sugar are added and natural carbon dioxide.

5. Open the bottle, remove the years, and add alcohol.

6. Last step is dosage. This determines if you are making something sweet or dry, or something really potent, like a dessert wine. The Clicquot Rich is in between. It’s not a vintage. It’s a bit more sweet and made to be mixed with fruits or vegetables to enhance the champagne’s flavor.

So now you know a bit about champagne, straight from the city of Reims! See you at the NYC polo match this weekend.

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// Finders Keepers top, Milly pants, AGAIN Collection fringed dress, Jocelyn fur coat, Dear Frances mules, Ax + Apple jewelry, Dannijo earrings //

THE PERIOD SHOP BY U BY KOTEX

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Working with U by Kotex‘s The Period shop in creating a video series was honestly so much fun, because there was so much to capture and so many aspects to work with. The Period Shop pop-up was on 138 5th avenue for only 3 days and it was indeed a period shop, full of fun and quirky items to satisfy your period cravings. You couldn’t miss it. You could see the bright pink neon lights from down the street. Talk about one big girl fest.

The Period Shop marks the launch of U by Kotex’s new Period Projects, a groundbreaking series of projects, each inspired and led by a real woman who shares the brand’s passion for creating change. The Period Shop itself was inspired by a Tumblr post from a young woman, Sarah Michelson, who worked with U by Kotex to make her vision a reality on 5th Avenue in NYC. Part celebration, part proclamation, the Period Shop is proof that, together, we can change how we think about, talk about, and shop for periods. And we’re only getting started. So why Period Projects?It is a groundbreaking series of projects inspired and led by real women who share the brand’s passion for change. All proceeds from the pop-up went to Susan’s Place charity to help provide food, clothing, and shelter to women in need.

We think that talking about your period shouldn’t be a taboo. All of us women have to go through it, so why not have a little fun with something that is just part of our lives and embrace it?! U by Kotex has found a million ways to fulfill our “time of the month” cravings. There was a full wall of delicious chocolate (because I mean who doesn’t crave chocolate on their period?)… manicures and massages upstairs… along with an ice cream bar, a photobooth, and most importantly the empowering message of embracing what makes you a woman. Yep, just GO WITH YOUR FLOW. The tote bags and sweatshirts all had little quirky quotes that encourage you to love yourself with ways in dealing with that time of the month. Now how cute is that “feminist” underpant?

And even if you missed the pop-up, you can purchase all of my The Period Shop favorites here on jet.com.

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See inside The Period Shop launch party:

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Watch our PERIOD TALK here. Follow it all on Youtube.

Now get shopping.

HOW TO SURVIVE A FESTIVAL WHEN ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS PASS OUT

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Team Suarez has so far survived SXSW in Austin, Texas and we just tackled Coachella in Indio, California with our Reef Girls crew. Where to next? Can you say…BONNAROOOOOOO! This one may be the craziest festival of the bunch. There’s a lot more body paint, hoola hoops, and some of the best music all in one sweaty field. Yes, our hashtag is #justpassingthrough but there have been times when we were literally #justpassingOUT. I love Tennessee. The accents. Those Southern dishes. Walking around with a beer belly. I just remember the whole camping experience at Bonnaroo last year and boy, did I learn a lot about the best festival survival tips.

Tip #1: Don’t sleep in your car.

Unless there are BUGS in your tent. I’d just seen the midnight show of Billy Joel and headed back to our tent to find a gigantic spider right by the head of my pillow. Screaming, I grabbed my blanket and sweared the whole way to our SUV. Yes, I was the girl in the driver’s seat only to wake up with a really bad neck cramp. The next nights I sucked it up and slept on my cot with my wet towel as a blanket. At least I was laying flat.

Tip #2: Do take a shower.

Babywiping is acceptable for day 1. But after that, nobody wants to come near you.

Tip #3: Do sleep in.

You don’t want to go hard in the morning, and realize by 2pm that you’ve fallen asleep in the middle of the grass only to be woken up with a bad face burn. Oh, and you just got stomped on by a bunch of topless teenagers in booty shorts.

Tip #4: Pack snacks and always have a bottle of water on you.

Healthy snacks! Like grapes, nuts, and Cliff bars. Eating the festival’s pizza or Chinese noodles daily combined with your beer belly is not cute when wearing your tiny high waisted shorts. Plus, you’ll for sure be hungry at 2am when all the food stands are closed and you’re stuck crying to your friend for food.

Tip #5: Dry shampoo and deodorant are key.

They’re easy. You won’t look like a total bum. And you can still wave your arms up and dance like a long haired hippie to Florence and the Machine.

Tip #6: Bring a jacket.

Because if someone breaks into your tent and steals all of your things, you’ll have your jacket as a blanket to sleep with that night. Trust me, it can get freezing at night.

Tip #7: Dance.

Embrace your sweaty surroundings and let your freak flag fly.

Tip #8: Take a lot of photos so your friends get really jealous.

Even though half the time you’re crying in your tent wishing the band would stop playing at 4 am while you’re trying to sleep and you’re calling Mom to pick you up.

The beauty of festival season is getting a really bad sun burn, mosquito bites, and still trying to look fly for your Instagram pics. Happy Festival surviving everyone. See you at Bonnaroo.

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– CAMP tee, Intermix leather shorts, Liebeskind backpack 

– Roe + May white mini dress, Perverse red sunglasses 

– Haute Hippie fringed leather skirt 

– Reef sandals 

THE SLIDE-ON

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New York City living is all about comfort. I LIVE in my shoes. When I get a new pair, I know that with all the walking I do, my shoes will hang onto their very last breath. Right now, I’m all about the classic leather slide-on mule…especially this one by Matisse that I picked up at the Bloomingdales 59th street store. The Clover. They’re edgy yet simple and go with just about everything. I’m already eyeing the leopard pair. Here I’m caught leaving Vinegar Hill House, one of my favorite brunch spots just on the border of my DUMBO neighborhood. Slide-ons are perfect for just that. Lazy walks to your favorite brunch spot. No socks required. Keeping things easy in black and white, but of course with a little hint of sparkle. Now, walk this way baby.

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// Matisse shoes available at Bloomingdales 59th street, Haute Hippie jacket, LoveshackFancy top, Jerome Bocchio handbag, Sabrina SL choker, Ax + Apple necklace //