It’s every designer’s dream — land a trunk show with Henri Bendel’s Flagship in NY. After all, it’s how Anna Sui and Todd Oldham got started. Twice a year, Henri Bendel’s buyers (and interns?) take time out of their busy schedules to participate in “Open See” — an event where emerging designers line up at un-holy hours, wait for the doors to open at 9 am, shuffle into the basement in front of said buyers to pitch their lines in hopes of landing said trunk show. It’s a humbling experience — but one that could change your life forever.

Watch the video:

Source: http://nbcnewyork.com.

Our brand’s second attempt (first one was for the Bucklette) was not fruitful, but Suzette and I had the great pleasure of being in line (at 4 am) behind Julia Vallelunga of La Raffinerie, a Montreal-based designer who was the first chosen to host a trunk show at the end of April.

Julia’s line of necklaces is unique — a mix of gemstones and wrapped ribbon that exude a vintage vibe with a totally modern feel.

“La Raffinerie draws inspiration from the colors and the beautiful sceneries of South America for its 2012 Spring/Summer collection “Frida”. The famous artist-painter Frida Kahlo is the muse of this collection with vivid colors and a look both modern and exotic.”

I couldn’t help but get one for myself…although I had a really hard time deciding which one! We hope Julia’s Trunk Show at Henri Bendel is a sold-out event!

*Images were used with permission from the designer.

I am a huge fan of buying local, seasonal fruits and veggies. So when summer finally arrives and farmers markets are packed with heirloom tomatoes and baskets full of basil, you can bet that’s where I’ll be Saturday morning - gathering ingredients for some simple yet spectacular meals.

This past weekend, we headed to Linvilla Orchards where we spent the day picking our own strawberries and peaches, and found the sweetest tomatoes for homemade pizzas.

I like to make my own pizza dough, which I started before we left. I seasoned the dough with sea salt, pepper and dried rosemary, and baked it for about 10 minutes in a 400 degree oven. Then I sprinkled on tomatoes, sauteed onions, basil and a little parmesan cheese. I also did a version with sauteed mushrooms, gorgonzola and my secret ingredient: truffle oil. Yum.

After a small feast, we relaxed and watched a little TV — funny that Anthony Bourdain and his No Reservations crew’s visit to Naples (the pizza capital of the world) was waiting on our DVR.

Last summer, my husband and I took our 5 month old son to the Finger Lakes for a little R&R…Well, as much R&R as you can expect with a newborn. We rented a charming cottage on Seneca Lake and spent the week swimming, taking long walks, picking raspberries, visiting wineries and reading. It was, for me, an ideal summer vacation.

The owner of the cottage, an interesting woman named Carolyn, was kind enough to share her bumper crop of rhubarb and family recipe for canning pickles. She was a wealth of information on the history of the area and sites to see.

What I didn’t realize about the Finger Lakes, is that it is quickly becoming a serious wine region. My husband (who happens to be the Philadelphia Wine Examiner) wrote a beautiful essay after our trip chronicling his take on the area.

Although our next stop is Napa, we’re dreaming about a second visit to the Boathaus very soon.

People often ask what it was like to develop and launch the Bucklette. In the November-December 2009 issue of Phlare Magazine (a free, bi-monthly publication created for Philadelphia’s “20-40-something,” career-driven woman), I lay it all out — along with the top five ways to avoid bloopers and ensure success.

Please visit Phlare’s web site to download the full issue and read the article. And don’t miss “On Air”, the feature on Marilyn Russell, Morning Show Host and Host of Sunday Morning’s “Woman of the Week” on 95.7 Ben FM.

Style Map | Southern California: An irresistible mix of both beauty and good taste. Blessed with incredible weather, Southern Californians are surrounded by breathtaking views, architectural marvels, innovative and delicious food and valleys so rich in agricultural assets that even the French are jealous!

Our first stop, Los Angeles. With a perfect ocean view from our balcony, our stay at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica was quite luxurious. For food, it was tapas down the street at Pinxto, and Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood. If you can get in, don’t miss the fennel sausage, panna, red onion and scallion pizza — it’s to die for. All the meats come from Mario Batali’s father’s butcher shop in Seattle.

We managed to cram a lot in our two days — a great run along the coast, shopping, a fantastic trip to the Getty hosting an enormous exhibit of Irving Penn’s photographs and a tour of the Hollyhock House, another stunner designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

After a beautiful drive up Pacific Coast Highway, we entered the Central Coast Wine Country and landed at our second stop, Solvang, a charming little Danish village. We pulled into the Hadsten House (recently renovated and fully equipped with a restaurant and spa) and immediately went for a dip in the indoor pool and outdoor spa. A walk through town and a sizzling steak at the Hitching Post II (made famous in the movie Sideways) rounded off the evening.

With so much to see, eat and drink, it’s a foodie’s heaven — appetizers at Root 246, a romantic dinner at the Ballard Inn, and more wine tastings than one can handle — unless you spit of course. We were honored to score a decadent four-hour tasting with Joe Davis, winemaker at Arcadian. Not only did Joe share personal stories of his life and work, he poured nine different varietals and treated us to a spread of figs, nuts, meats and hard-to-get French cheeses.

Another highlight: Enjoy Cupcakes in the Saarloos & Sons Tasting House in Los Olivos. The room itself is design nirvana, but with a menu that changes weekly and recipes that include syrah, chardonnay, wine-soaked blackberries, mascarpone mousse, and chocolate pecan pie filling, these cupcakes left me wondering how I could manage a shipment each week!

We also made stops at Clairmont Farms where I stocked up on holiday gifts of lavender-infused soaps, moisturizers and honey, a lovely garden center called J. Woeste, and a stylish little boutique called Tin Roof.

The last leg of our trip was Santa Barbara. We stayed with a friend who was kind enough to shuttle us around to all the local favorites: happy hour at the marina, a stroll down State Street (full of great little shops like Lovebird and Rooms & Gardens), and La Super-Rica Taqueria. Although there’s great Mexican food everywhere, we stood in line for 45 minutes behind 20 other people because, well…because it must be good if there’s 20 other people in line!

We didn’t miss the Mission or the Court House and thankfully, we were discovering the area with a local. Otherwise we may not have seen the Art from the Ashes installation at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden ravaged by fire in 2009, and we never would have found and hiked to the ruins of Knapp Castle, perched high on a hill overlooking the valley — a perfect end to our California getaway.