Kitten Lounge

Fashionable Fridays ~ Checkin' in With Kimmie

KittenCouture — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Whether you catch me at an event, see me talking to someone on a show or you just happen to catch me out, you know that clearly I'm all about style. When I'm out and about, people will ask what made me think of Kitten Lounge back in 2007 and I always let them know that Kitten Lounge actually originated as an Internet show back in 2004 when it covered my favorite artists and blended my love of fashion but even that is not an accurate description so I thought it would be good to tell you how it came to be and why it is such a driving force for everything that I do. First off, hi - I'm Kimmie, the Editor in Chief of this site and although I'm not really into the whole "Letter from the Editor" setup, it's nice to understand who is bringing you all of this content and why it's all here!

I fell in love significantly twice when I was younger the first time was at the age of 3 when I remember looking through Vogue and loving gorgeous dresses that showed me that you could be a princess everyday. For those that know my love for accessories, only the big baubles caught my eye! I loved going with my mom to fabric stores where she would make items from Vogue patterns into reality and when she later opened a boutique of custom design clothing in Indianapolis, I was in love. My world opened up to gorgeous brides, sequins, shantung, gaberdines and more and I had an AMAZING closet. That love came from my mother.

My father gave me a second love - at the age of 5, he taught me how to use a computer. We had an Apple and I loved it (don't ask me why I have an HP now although I have to give it some love too even though I continue to dream about a Mac book haha). I loved playing games on it and wondered what would the possibilities of that machine be? Who knew that in college one of my majors would be Telecommunications with a focus in New Media? Leaving IU and coming to NYC, I began doing PR for independent music artists who were only available online and I assisted them in getting spins and getting them booked. Why not, my Great Uncle was Joe Henderson, tenor saxophonist with Blue Note, Verve, etc so it was in my blood and I loved it. But then again fashion kept pulling me back in.

Is it true that I modeled (yes lingerie/swimwear), had a fashion line and currently have my own jewelry line Kitten Couture, and also assist firms with their Social Media via my other company Sikara Designs Group - check it all. But is it true that Kitten Lounge has been around more than two years? Absolutely. It initially came on board in 2004 as an Internet Radio show that I hosted daily for an hour each day for 3 years. Then I played DJ's who had crazy mixes and then talked with indie artists about their personal style. I loved it but realized after I began blogging for another site that I wanted to talk about more than just accessories on that site and do more than just host a radio show. The Kitten Lounge became my place to talk about fashion, style, beauty, food, music and travel. I believed that as a whole person all of this was important to me and that I wasn't alone.

I realized that I'm around stylish and amazing people who they need advice on where to go or how to dress when they are not in the settings that tend to go to all the time. People have always gravitated towards the way I present things and what better way then to introduce my world of showrooms, designers, industry shakers and more to you! Where do I go from here? Because of Kitten Lounge, I have been able to attend Fashion Weeks, go to Project, Magic, see private presentations, launches of all kinds and more. But I truly loved it when I made the cross over to personality when I shot an episode of To Be a Star which comes out later this year. Sharing the importance of accessories, finding your signature look and ultimately branding yourself was so important to me and to the 6 aspiring models that I worked with to achieve it, I'm very proud that I could be apart of that experience.

It is my goal and vision to continue to push various themes that are not only keys to my success but are core mental investments: I feel that accessories are an essential way to set yourself apart and that in the vein of Audrey Hepburn, you can take great classic pieces and look amazing. In addition, you can be someone that crosses over into a lot of areas (hello - I run a style blog, have my own jewelry line, create Social Media strategies for fashion/entertainment firms and am a personality as well) and yet still make it truly your own. Finally and most importantly, Kitten Lounge is about community whether it's introducing you to my favorites that you may not be aware of, reaching out via Twitter (@cocoabebe) or checking in with such favorites as the Holiday Gift Guide which launches Nov 1st (I can't wait to share the fab giveaways that we'll have, those who will be in the guide and a list on who to keep an eye out for in terms of industry must knows for your business). The experiences that I have had and those that will come have come to pass as I'm always open to reaching out, learning and helping someone else. In doing so it has created friendship, trust and has allowed me to interact with groups that I would have never come across if I had done it alone. The power of collaborations and having good people as your checks and balances definitely come in handy when you're running 300 miles an hour - no you're not crazy, you just know that you can do 48 hours of work in a 24 hour cycle and still go out to grab drinks and have a little fun! I want to thank everyone that has made this brand successful and who has been with me in each phase of re-invention that I have been through and look forward to sharing a lot of AMAZING items that are coming up soon!

Treasure Tuesdays ~ Web 2.0 Soap Opera

KittenCouture — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:33:16 -0700

I have never been bitten by the Soap Opera bug, the lingering stares the obvious connections and the music that doesn't really bring any form of anticipation. The characters are not people that I have ever felt were real. I simply have never been hooked UNTIL (hit the music as someone peeps behind the door to hear my secret that I say ending with the lingering pause and look) - I fell upon Chicago to Coronado, a Twitter Soap Opera that is done in 140 characetrs complete with links to images and video! I don't want to give too much away but Coronado is a Navy SEALS town and the main character @kirsteno comes here from Chicago (interestingly, there are a lot of Chicago connections here that built the town) and finds herself here and as much as she wants to leave, her new life and love of flip flops keeps here here. There are some interesting characters that somehow all link up even when you're totally surprised. In addition, you can become a character of this saga (oh I so want to be a character - let @kirsteno and for some reason I started looking at the tweets and realized it was a story after clicking on some links I was lead to her homepage where you can begin the story at wherever you left off (but if you follow her you can get the story in real time) and that's how on a night back from hanging out with my girlfriends and heading to Long Beach, NY I found myself getting hooked and reading this story! Good job team and I love the fact that everyone in the story is all about Reinvention! This is something that many of us know about starting anew whether it's in a new location, job, etc. Don't think that you have to be a military buff to follow along nor is it heavily military where you feel like you're reading a history book. The staff have an AMAZING mix of history, military info, fashion, etc - I would so be the fashion advisor anytime they need it! Check it out and get hooked on an amazing story and the first Twitter Soap Opera and follow the characters of the story as well!

Wearable Wednesdays: Project Detox

KittenCouture — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:54:08 -0700

I'm so excited to temporarily break from our normal fashion lineup to share information about a friend who is launching an amazing site that is being launched with it's first focus: Project Detox. We may be in different life stages but all of us juggle a million balls at once and we may find that one of two things happen - we have no time to simply breathe or our personal/business goals seem to go on the back burner. Maybe you're all about your day job as you love a challenge, but when you leave the office, you're running to do your second gig - where you hope to become a pastry chef full time! These are situations that we have to deal with and I feel that it's important to share these issues on the site from time to time. I wanted to introduce a soon-to-launch blog about infusing balance into every day life which is filled with philosophies that I share.

Recently my friend Keren, who has worked within the beauty and fashion industry for over a decade and who has worked with amazing brands like L'Oreal Paris to styling for Celebrities and Photo Shoots, told me that she wanted to provide insight into what it means to have the elusive life balance whether you're running multiple companies or are balancing being a mother who works full time but still wants to achieve a number of goals. Throughout various posts, Keren's Journey will include her week away, where she will travel to various spas in the west coast in Arizona and California and they will be included within future Trendy Thursday posts to include within our beauty segment. I'm so excited to bring Keren in as a Guest Life Balance Editor, here on Kitten Lounge! As someone who works in the fashion industry, is a mother and comes with a lot of experience and know how; however, she is pulled in a million directions and is 'off-balance'. It took her hubby and son traveling overseas for her to not only take some much needed Me Time to travel but to finally get her interests on the table as well. I'm excited for this project and we will continue to check in on her as it goes from the planning stages to the launch but please take a moment to read on about Keren, her new blog and Project Detox in her own words (yes that is Keren with her adorable son, Etamar). Sneak peak at what's to come...

Speed of NYC. Commute. Pollution. Recession. Relationships. Full-time working Motherhood & Momtrepreneurism.

This Libra is way off-balance and is leaving the East Coast (and all else) behind to scour the West for equilibrium.

No life jacket required.

Just hiking gear, swimsuit & my BB Storm. (Ok, Ok ...and my poly jersey Norma Kamali convertible skirt that I dare not travel without)

'Project Detox' is Phase One of the ‘Journey into Myself’ in order to hop back on to the balance beam of life.

Step One: Send the boys away on a fun bonding trip for two weeks (aka perfect time to visit in-laws overseas)

Step Two: Spend the first few days "having a plan and going with the flow"

Step Three: Trade in the high-speed-pollution-infested NYC for a few days in healing-dessert-stillness of Tucson followed by the coastal hiking-alfresco dining-soothing waters of sunny L.A. Sure it’s only 7 days, but in Mommy Years--where one hour of Me time is like a full day massage B.K. (Before Kids)--this trip will feel like a lifetime and be life changing!

Step Four: Chuck-out before you Check-in.

Chuck the Universal Mommy Guilt at the airport & know that your little one's perspective of Mommy Years offsets your own. One hour of quality time with the Real you is better for him than 2 full days of being with the stressed, busy & overworked version

Step Five: Explore. Infuse balance into every part of your being. Get inspired ...& inspire!

Keren Weinstein is a seasoned professional in Fashion & Beauty with over 12 years in Integrated Marketing, Advertising and Celebrity Fashion Styling.

Mingling Mondays: Internet Week NY Is Here!

KittenCouture — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:04:49 -0700

Hey everyone! This week posts will be a little different as Internet Week kicked off today! From now until the 8th, I will be covering this as one of Pepsi's Social Communicators! There are a total of 9 of us and you should check us all out as we will be bringing you to the forums, parties and a lot more. Much like Fashion Week, there are a lot of activities and I'm really excited to tackle them but I also want to see what everyone else thinks of the events that they're going to as well. My first event is tonight at the ContentNet Mixer and I will also be heading out to Tech Set Party at the Bubble Lounge as I had already planned on heading there prior to being chosen as one of the 9 SCs! I can't wait to share everything that I'm seeing and to Tweet all of you! You'll see me talking via @pepsico with the extra ^ks so you know it's me! I will also Tweet via @cocoabebe as well! One of the things I was asked was why I wanted to be apart of this! As someone who uses social media, I love that it is applicable to whatever it is that you're passionate about and allows you to find those that have the same interests and those that may have never been, but suddenly become that way. It's an amazing progression to see that all this technology brings us closer together and allows the person with even the smallest of budgets to put their business out there in a way that we couldn't have done 10 years ago. For those of us in fashion the runway and windows of the world take on a new look and make things much more accessible. So , I hope you enjoy my coverage and those that are apart of the team as a whole - I can't wait to begin this experience!

Snazzy Sundays: Tasty Morsels Bakery x Bust Craftacular

KittenCouture — Sun, 17 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

By the time you're reading this I'm probably on the subway heading to Brooklyn to help set up for one of many Tasty Morsels Bakery's events! We'll be at the Bust Magazine's Spring Fling Craftacular at The Warsaw in Williamsburg, NY. First of all, I'll be Twittering (@cocoabebe) all day from this event and also taking some footage which will find it's way to On the Radar later on in the evening! Come out to not only support all the hardworking indie vendors but my friend and founder of Tasty Morsels Bakery - Crystal Horton (@Tasty_Morsels). We will be sampling cookies and of course you can buy some to bring home to your friends as well!

I have attended and assisted many shopping events but this is definitely one that makes me really happy to be apart of it - so definitely don't be shy in saying hello. I'll give you info about this event of course and you'll have tons of pics to enjoy. I can't wait to see you there and look forward to saying howdy and with it only being a $2 admission, it's a fab way to spend the day! We'll be there from 12 - 7 and look forward to seeing you there.

On The Radar: Episode 1

KittenCouture — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:46:22 -0700

Each week, I will share random facts with you that are way too long for Twitter (sometimes 140 characters isn't enough) and yet a blog post would be too random. So enjoy hearing what's going on and all the events that I attended this week and will go to next week!

Sippin Saturdays: On the Bookshelf

KittenCouture — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:02:04 -0800

Oh man! So on March 7th I will be heading to the Dominican Republic for 8 days of sun and warmth! Seeing that I am not into scuba diving and all of these various sports, I need to have a great book while my boyfriend enjoys the water sports! There are so many great books out there (and sagas - last year I was able to read all of the Harry Potter books which was amazingly good)! I have to say that I am excited about reading some of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's works as I have only read 100 Years of Solitude, it is rumored that at the age of 89, he has worked on a new book where he has a few versions of it (I got this from Latina Magazine which has an amazing look in this month's issue about Sessilee Lopez) and is currently torn between which one to go with. With all the comments on Twitter, I have started to become curious about Twilight but will only dive in if I read everything! In addition, there are some other great books on the horizon as well! So if you see me on the beach, you'll see me in my bathing suit with my large hat, Marc Jacobs sunglasses and peeking out of my Tory Burch beaded bag - one of these books that are my current picks! If you don't agree, let me know what you're reading or will be soon.

Treasure Tuesdays: Stay on Twitter With Baby Phat

KittenCouture — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:00:00 -0800

Fact, it is hard to get into various Fashion Week shows unless you know someone or do a great song and dance to get in. As we go from season to season, many designers are finding ways to make the runways accessible whether it's running the footage on their site or having Twitter access. Baby Phat is doing just that! For those of you that are on Twitter or have been on the fence about it, if you go to Baby Phat's Twitter name and follow them, you'll know what's going on during the show! I love this as you'll not only hear about what's hitting the runway but you'll know tidbits that some of the people watching the show many not be privy to! Don't say that it's impossible to get in as you just got the best access one could ask for!

Mingling Mondays: Agent Provocateur

KittenCouture — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:00:00 -0800

I love it! Yesterday I talked about S Factor and today I'm all about one of my favorite lingerie lines. For those of you that may or may not know, I used to do fit work for a few lingerie brands and although I never did this for this brand, I love how amazing they are! So this week I'm all about Valentine's Day and sharing the best of what I know in terms of great things that are good for the day and beyond! Agent Provocateur is one of my favorite lingerie stores and this is defintiely something that you should consider when thinking about expanding this portion of your closet. In addition to having an instore or an online presence in terms of shopping, there is also a blog called Hello Agent Provocateur! Not only do they talk about one of my favorite subjects but they also talk about a lot of items that are in pop culture. Currently they have posts about Daniel Craig's new movie (yum), the fact that we should wait to see "He's Just Not That Into You" (we all need a movie night at home) and so much more. Also, for those on Twitter, you should also check them out at msprovocateur!

Sippin Saturdays: Busy Day

KittenCouture — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:35:27 -0800

Today I will be running around and so my actual post will come later on today. I am heading to Beam Laser Spa for my third laser treatment for my underarms. In addition, I will be in Brooklyn interviewing Lisa Price, owner of Carol's Daughter and Dominique, former America's Next Top Model and winner of Modelville (she will be one of the spokesbeauties for Carol's Daughter). You know that I am such a fan of the line so I'm eager to sit down and do a little chat with them! So watch out for my tweets and Facebook updates!

Modern Romance Bridal Event

KittenCouture — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:01:07 -0700

Last night I went to the Millenium Hotel's Hudson Theater to attend the Modern Romance Bridal Event. Now before anyone starts spreading stories, I am not engaged nor does that seem on the immediate horizon; however, I know it will happen one day and I am a fan of various Bridal shows and in lieu of hearing from people on Twitter, those I have lunch with and more announcing their engagements, I felt that this was something that I wanted to know about. Now I have attended many bridal events which are bona fide tradeshows where there are booths of the same types of services that are run by various companies, I would find this very overwhelming and difficult in terms of just focusing on the moment,. I wasn't sure what I was walking into but I was very intrigued to not only attend the event but to also see the Jenny Yoo Collection which I am familiar with many of her dresses.

Upon entering, I knew that this wouldn't be a massive and impersonal show.. For $25, brides were able to come to the event with a guest and to sample various foods, beverages and an extremely select group of vendors from entertainment, spa, makeup and more. The best part, this was extremely intimate! There weren't large groups of people the entryway of the theater (which at one time had actually housed various Broadway productions prior to their purchase of the Millenium Hotel next door) allowed everyone to check in, receive their goodie bag and to meet with the vendors. This space was illuminated with lighting and large mirrors. I know I began thinking about having an event here as the mood was definitely in place. As you walked into the theater, you were welcomed with tasty sweets on the right and on the left various meats and appetizers. Both sides had bartenders and of course there were passed beverages and drinks as well. I was very pleased to enjoy the champagne. The theater not only had tables set in various motifs that were created by James Abel Events (I love the amber inspired table), but there was seating for the fashion show and on the stage the band played. This was very soothing and kudos to the organizers to hold the event from 6:00 - 9:30. Although the fashion show didn't start until nearly 8:00, it was nice to come early and to have ample time to talk to the vendors while also recognizing that some brides would be unable to come until later.

Most of the attendees had a guest with them (kudos to the fiancees that appeared) although I felt bad for those that were alone as this was definitely an event to begin honing in on the decisions of your wedding while also enjoying the atmosphere. Mental note: these events are the best to go to and I would prefer to not go alone - friends and family beware!

I could go on and on about each vendor but I focused on certain areas but if you have a question, you can contact me and I can pass on what I know/heard. Jo Malone attended this event and as I have always been a fan and tend to walk by their Flatiron location, I was pleased to learn that they have an interesting way of offering their services. Obviously, they are available to have the bride and their party come to their location to enjoy their services and they are also able to travel as well. This is a great way to get pampered and to enjoy one another's time. But the most interesting element that I enjoyed was learning about their Fragrance Combining. This service is where the bride chooses a particular scent that will be worn for the wedding and then her bridesmaids will have various notes of this scent with other items layered in. In this way, the bride has a signature scent and her bridal party has elements of it while being different from hers. She doesn't have to worry about competing or offending scents as it is complimentary. I loved this concept and was so pleased that the two ladies attending this booth were so knowledgeable about this. Pampering and a signature scent - fabulous.

This event also had a great blend between traditional versus having your own element within your wedding. The band played traditional songs such as "Just the Way You Look Tonight", "Night & Day", "What's Going On", while also putting in a Stevie Wonder song that had elements of Will Smith in the song. They were not only playful and welcoming but they showed their range as we listened to the different songs and heard from the male and female singers respectively. This was enjoyable as we had Tuna Tartar, Spicy Shrimp and more.

Prior to the fashion show, I was able to see Tarte Cosmetics offerings, Cake Alchemy, Jerry Kravat Entertainment and more. Our hostess for the night who I thought was very warm and shared many of her experiences as she had recently been married, introduced the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. This couple did two dances (shown in the video) with a traditional dance and then one that was a salsa for the first dance. Once this was completed, we were treated to the Jenny Yoo Collection which had wedding gowns and then vibrant hues for bridesmaids dresses. These are definitely not the dresses that I have seen in Bridezilla epidsodes where the adventurous bride strives to find the most questionable dresses. These are beautiful gowns that you could use for other dressy occassions and that are very flattering whether you're looking for long, short, strapless, halter and more. Of course no fashion show of dresses would be complete without showing the super cute flower girl!

I left this event thinking that there are no shortage of events that "assist" brides and their friends and families with the options available to them. But when it is my turn, I want to attend events such as this that have a select group of vendors, a small number of attendees and then having a staff that caters to everyone so that you can feel special leading up to your day.

Mingling Mondays: Gorgeous Weekends Ahead

KittenCouture — Mon, 26 May 2008 05:23:00 -0700

Yes today is Mon and I am all about Mingling but I wanted to share with you something that will be changing in terms of "Sippin' Saturdays", which has been all about drinks, Snazzy Sundays which tends to focus on home decor and Mingling Mondays. Although from time to time this summer, these days will cover the topics mentioned previously, I will also take these topics to another level by taking in the best of what we can do on our long weekends! In these posts, you'll find great ideas and fun places to go to that are in the area or in our own backyard. I am so exited to share with you and if you have a restaurant, city, boutique, etc - share with me and I will come out to check it out! Consider this segment to be something like the travel channel of sorts and I will be your guide on fun items. In addition, due to the continued condo hunt that my boyfriend and I are on, I will also bring you yummie places to eat in the Hoboken, Jersey City and Williamsburg area as well.

Back to Mingling Mondays, I had the luxury of enjoying my first half day Friday of the season by heading to Bryant Park and watching other people enjoy the day as well. I am really getting into using my Flip and can't wait to start using it for my ultimate projects which will be revealed within the next few days and of course available on my You Tube channel! Until then, enjoy watching footage of people hanging out in the park and can I say that I loved being able to chat with everyone on Twitter as well. If you have an account check me out there and of course you can always catch me on Facebook as well!