This is the 22nd time I have travelled to Geneva to cover the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie), the invitation-only Richemont affair showcasing the new introductions of 18 elite Swiss watch brands. It is the first SIHH, however, about which I have written a blog.

German inspired Wolfslair Biergarten is set to open the second week of January. In the spot formerly occupied by Cafe W in the Sunset & Vine Center, this new brew hall hails from Art and Allan Davis who are the guys behind Voyeur nightclub.

What beats an amazing night with friends and family? A sparkling fashion sense that will make you stand out from the crowd. Start the year off right in a celeb-worthy look straight off the red carpet. Get inspired with tips from Fashion Designer and Expert Claudia Patel and channel your inner starlet

Walk This Way

A shift in season means an opportunity to accessorize
with a whole new slew of killer footwear.

While the winter months come equipped with the invitation to shop for boots and fur-trimmed stilettos, spring similarly brings the promise of shoe shopping. The assortment, decidedly different, offers varying incarnations of sandals, sling-backs, and other toe-cleavage bearing options. And this season proves no different: wearable gardens bedecked with flowers, color-blocked, strappy sandals or even pastel flame-throwers are walking the tight rope at this season’s shoe circus. See you under the big top.

Fringe Benefits

The fashionable set is dripping in fringed ensembles and accessories reminiscent of decadent fashions of decades passed.

The anonymous indie DJ duo known as Flight Facilities appealed to the most decadent dreams of women in their hit, Crave You when they referenced, “walking into a room, dripping in gold.” It seems top designers were also power plating while looping the track on repeat, for the fashion world is definitely dripping in varying implementations of luxury. Fringe hangs softly from dresses, evening bags, totes and even fine jewelry to put a little extra swing in our step the next time we walk into that room.

Why, Naturally

Shoes in pared-down shades are the perfect compliment to the brights happening in men’s fashion this spring

There’s an obvious influx of bright and bold fashion for men this season. The ante has been upped and the boys are officially making some noise; but we also find a strong presence of neutrals happening below the equator. Shoes in crisp shades of white, natural, cream and camel prove practical in most instances and whether you’re looking to complete a high-fashion evening ensemble or just kick it in some espadrille-inspired sandals, the options are endless.

Boldly Go

Injections of brights in ready-to-wear and accessories have the boys going bold

Menswear tends to err on the side of safety for the most part. The fashion set sometimes pushes the envelope but more often than not, a busy print is as far as most will go. This spring, designers have taken it upon themselves to expand the acceptable palette beyond blacks and blues to introduce extra bright pieces on the menswear scene. From a shoe to an iPad cover and even an entire suit, there are options for every man to boldly go where never before.

Face Forward
Cameos, once acting as representations of rulers or important dignitaries, are making their way back on the scene.

Dating back as far as the third century B.C., cameos employed a method of carving reliefs on to anything from semi-precious gemstones to hard stone, shell or glass. Acting as objects d’art before rapidly becoming a jewelry trend thanks to Britain’s Queen Victoria, cameos became a tradition with history that most other jewelry trends lack. Today, we’ve modernized the trend and made it all our own; including tousled loose-waved hair and jewels placed in all the most anatomically correct spots.

The Bougainvilla House, a new residential facility that offers emotional and financial support to the families of terminally ill children, hosted an exclusive “Saturday Night Fever” themed event to celebrate the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade and Grand Marshal Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees at the historic Needham Estate on the New River on Saturday, December 10, 2011.