target + neiman marcus holiday 24 lookbook

It's finally here! Well, images at least.

Yesterday Target and Neiman Marcus released the lookbook for their hotly anticipated Holiday 24 collection. A collaboration between the two retailers and 24 CFDA fashion designers, the collection includes 50 truly covetable items and some refreshing surprises. Some of the items are pretty unexpected, like the super cool Derek Lam skateboard (!!!), the adorably quirky Band of Outsiders cookie cutters, and the incredibly beautiful Altuzarra cocktail glasses, shaker and croc embossed tray. There is also a good selection of the clothing and accessories people expect from a Target designer collection, but thanks to the Neiman Marcus connection, they seem a bit more elevated. Think real leather gloves by Brian Atwood, calf hair slippers by Derek Lam, his-and-hers Thom Browne blazers, and an accordion-pleated, beaded little girl's dress by Marchesa. If you're one of the smartypants who ordered the CFDA Mystery Package from Neiman Marcus, good for you, because this collection is sure to fly off the shelves when it hits Target and Neiman Marcus stores and the web on December 1. Check out the entire collection, with prices, below and tell me your favorites in the comments!

wish list: neiman marcus and target cfda mystery package deal

Neiman Marcus unveiled its Christmas Book yesterday in Dallas, and if you've ever wondered what to get the girl who has everything, you might find something among the luxury department store's fantasy gifts. How about a Heritage Hen Mini Farm, modeled after Marie Antoinette's Le Petit Trianon? Or a 2013 Neiman Marcus Edition McLaren 12C Spider sports car?

While designer chickens and high-end cars are wonderful, fashionistas probably have designer goods of another kind on their holiday wish lists. Namely, the 50 pieces that are part of Neiman Marcus's mega-collaboration with Target and 24 CFDA fashion designers. One of the fantasy gifts available this year is a Neiman Marcus and Target CFDA Mystery Package Deal. Why is it a mystery? Because orders have to be placed by October 15, the day before the collection is revealed to the public. The mystery package includes the entire collection, which has items for men, women, children, pets and home. At $3,500 dollars, it's either a super luxe gift for one lucky individual or a fantastic way to get all your holiday shopping done in one fell swoop. And who doesn't love a good mystery?

Check out all of the Neiman Marcus 2012 Fantasy Gifts, as well as the complete Christmas Book, here.

the hunt: perfect parkas - 2012 edition

It's that time of year again. The air is crisp, the leaves are exploding with color, and morning frost has replaced the summer's morning dew. We're deep into fall, and while it's time to make your annual trip to the pumpkin patch and cider mill, it's not quite time to pull out your heavy winter jacket. Luckily, this season there are a slew of great parkas available for any budget. Whatever the price point, look for special details like fur-trimmed hoods, floral prints, or even faux leather sleeves. Check out this year's picks below:

in high school i lettered in fashion

Madewell Letterman Sweater-Jacket, $158 at Madewell

There's something about fall - it always feels like the perfect time to add to my wardrobe. It's a sartorial reflex caused by years and years of back to school shopping (blank notebooks and unsharpened No. 2 pencils were just as exciting to me as the outfit I picked out for the first day of class), so you can imagine how happy I was to spend all day yesterday catching up and shopping with my friend Alison, the super fab chick behind Viva la Diva Events. Five stores and one Strawberry Basil Limonata (yum!) later, my closet has some lovely new additions. My absolute favorite acquisition, and the piece I know I will wear constantly this fall, is Madewell's Letterman Sweater-Jacket. It's just begging to be worn to a football game on a crisp autumn day, embellished with button pins and a varsity letter. See, I told you I was nostalgic about back to school shopping...

Embroidered varsity letters, $10 for 2 on Etsy.com

Vintage buttons, $12 on Etsy.com

fashion's night out is tomorrow!

Fashion's Night Out - the international shopping event spearheaded by Vogue editor Anna Wintour - is tomorrow, and while we may not have the celebrities, models, and fanfare that New York has, there is plenty going on here in metro Detroit. Check out some of the evening's happenings below!

Figo Salon is offering free Kerastase treatments and blowouts, wine and light appetizers, and 20 percent off all products. 6-9 p.m. | www.figosalon.com

Start practicing your fiercest poses - Tender is giving guests the chance to let their inner model shine with an in-store fashion shoot. 7-9 p.m. | www.tenderbirmingham.com


Indulge in Blue Jeans and Red Wine at Caruso Caruso - the denim emporium will be pouring glasses of vino, serving tasty hors d'oeuvres and offering shopping discounts. 5-8 p.m. | www.carusocaruso.net

Addicted to Instagram? Stop into a BCBGMAXAZRIA store, deck yourself out in a head-to-toe look, and snap a picture. Be sure to tag your photo with one of the brand's key fall trends (see their site for more info) for a chance to win a $2,500 BCBG wardrobe. 6-9 p.m. | www.bcbg.com

Enjoy sips, sweets and a Braid Bar at Madewell, plus, guests who spend $100 or more get a free Stateside Tote. 6-8 p.m. | www.madewell.com

Saks Fifth Avenue at Somerset Collection is launching their new 10022-SHOE department and fundraising for HAVEN. 5:30-8:30 p.m. | www.haven-oakland.org

For more FNO events in Detroit and around the country, check out fashionsnightout.com.

keenan kampa is a doll

If there's anything I love more than fashion - ok, as much as fashion - it's ballet. I love watching it, I love doing it, I love reading about it, I just love it. So when I had the chance to interview Keenan Kampa, the gorgeous ballerina who recently became the first American to join the famed Mariinsky ballet, I did a happy dance of my own. Keenan is in town to dance at the third annual "Stars of Russian Ballet" gala at Ann Arbor's Power Center this Saturday, and I'm going with a few of the ladies from the studio where I take class. My favorite part of the interview was at the very end. I asked Keenan what pieces she would be dancing on Saturday, and after she told me, I said I couldn't wait to see her dance them. Her voice lit up, and she said, "Oh, you're going to come? That's so great!" So sweet, so genuine. I told her I wouldn't miss it.

Read my interview with Keenan here.

get the look: dressage

Zara Phillips riding High Kingdom during the Eventing dressage phase at the London 2012 Olympics

Is there a more elegant Olympic sport than dressage? Not only does it showcase beautiful horses trained and ridden at the highest level, but the riders are turned out with incredible style, from the tips of their top hats to the toes of their sleek black boots.

The riders competing in Eventing took to the arena for their dressage tests earlier this week (including Zara Phillips, above, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth), and the individual and team Dressage competition starts August 2. Equestrian style was also a major influence on the fall 2012 runways  (see: Gucci, Givenchy and Ralph Lauren), and with the collections making their way to store shelves, now is the perfect time to indulge in some haute horsey attire. Here's how to get the look: