New York City, a city of melting pot of cultures from around the world, it opened 5th Avenue for a day of Hare Krishna festivities where people of all ages, races and cultures donned on traditional Indian attires, saris et.al to dance and rejoice. Anyone could have easily mistaken the big apple for Calcutta in India. I had stumbled into the parade while on my way to view the meat/barbecue fair going on just a few blocks away despite being a vegetarian. As faith would have it, I was soon drown to the colorful crowd by the exotic rhythmic drums, their excitement and merriment was contagious. Instantly I thought of my 5 saris I had acquired during my visit to India a few years ago. I thought to myself this would have been a perfect place to wear it. Perhaps next year now that I know of such a parade.

You’ve got to love New York City, anything goes here. I actually enjoyed filming and taking loads of pictures while wiggling my hips here and there to the rhythm and humming the Hare Krishna chant. I had a blast!

Please preview the video footage below and take in some of the colorful pictures from the festivities further below the video. I hope you like my style of photography. Namaste 🙂

 

My personal total count is now at 3 with the latest being the most affordable that will get the most wear since the others are more like collectibles to be placed on mantles. Well…that is just a dream. I intend to wear them all!

Many fashionistas thought the heelless would come and go but that is not appearing to be the case. Each season major brand names like Alexander McQueen and Giuseppe Zanotti keep coming up with newer and revised versions of their previous heelless collection. Case in point, Giuseppe Zanotti just unleashed a new series of beaded, exotic and crystal studded version, different from the teaser plain gold leather version he first showcased last year, which I couldn’t help myself but to get one. For the Fall season, he went further with the show stopping, megawatt heavy duty crystals that left jaws wide open earlier on this year. Top retailers are jumping in on the action such as Zappos offering the casual wooden platform version for everyday wear, Neiman Marcus selling the plain suede versions in black and red colors, and international couture online retailer Farfatch offering up a genuine snakeskin python design.

So, what’s not to like? The market has every styles and price range. I for one recently bought a pair by Privileges for only $70 bucks! I had never heard of the designer before until yesterday when I spotted it in a store’s window in SOHO. Just seconds after paying for it another lady in my size came in asking for it but was told I had just bought the last size 10. Wow! Talk about luck.

Rihanna (image shown below) wore hers with socks to her 24th birthday party. Not exactly my preferred way of wearing it tough. Socks with open toes? Hmm…this killed it for me 🙁

I am certain that just about everyone on the planet knows that smoking could or is in fact bad for pregnant women. Apparently not all women got the memo of this heavily campaigned bad habit.

 

 

May 27, 2012: Gays have parades, Puerto Ricans have parades, Carribeans have parades, Irish have parades and let’s not forget the Africans either. So why not Vegetarians? Well, as you can imagine, this is New York City where anything goes. I witnessed for the first time, a Veggie Pride Parade which marched from the Meatpacking District before concluding and settling down on Union Square Park, organized by the Viva Vegie Society. This took place during the Memorial Day holiday weekend when the city empties out to the Hamptons with people in search of serenity on sandy beaches.

I myself, as a newly minted vegetarian going on one year now (if you don’t count my occasional fish consumption once in a blue moon, which I am looking to give up next) I was more than eager to listen to what the guest speaker had to say. I actually learned something new, things like eating right and supplementing some products to gain the necessary nutrition for my body. The event had insightful vendors present to further educate people on diet and raised animal cruelty awareness using disturbing, heart wrenching images of maltreated animals that would make any red blooded humans to think twice before eating meat next time.

Obviously it wasn’t a mass appeal event, so it wasn’t crowded. I was able to hear them speak and took my time in collecting pamphlets and networked with other vegetarians present.

 

Actor Will Smith of Men In Black smacked a Ukrainian reporter during a world tour for the 3rd installment of the MIB franchise. See the video footage

A budding man who won’t take “No” for an answer. The boy just won’t let up. Can you blame him? Talk about persistence! So adorable 🙂
See the video footage below.

I am extremely nervous and excited at the same time. A weird mix but thrilled nonetheless even if this might be the only time I can do this. I hope to be able to do many more. Oh well…time will tell. (Amen)

Without further ado my dear friends, I present my first billboard ad for Shoeholics Magazine on Times Square! What is that saying? “Adapt or die?” Whew!

 

It’s official, Summer is definitely here! I finally caved and added an espadrille to my shoe collection. This would also be my very first pair of shoes by Bebe! Can you imagine that? I can’t even imagine what took me this long to own an espadrille much less from which brand. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would own a pair from the chain store. I own some of their comfortable everyday clothing for street wear but none of their shoes. It’s not just any espadrilles, it’s a particular pair featuring multicolored beads on vegan leather. Since my skin is brown, the colorful beads stand out as I walk. I love it!

However there is only one downside to this “vegan” leather. It has a potent rubber smell or that distinctive, unmistakeable factory smell that I now have to spend days airing out with hot steamy shower! What was I expecting for $129? I guess I have to suck it up and just enjoy my purchase. Not sure if the picture does it justice. Good things still come in small packages 😉

I love art and I think the Versailles Palace in France falls in this category. The Versailles Foundation Fundraiser Gala, held once a year centered around a Royal Personage, is a non-profit organization that rehabilitates and preserves important historical monuments in France such as the Claude Monet Museum at Giverny and The Chateau De Versailles. I have been a supporter of their mission for quite some time now and adore what they have done so far keeping the palace and museum “alive” in France. Thanks to them, tourists visiting the grand opulent palace once home to the larger-than-life Marie-Antoinette, have something to marvel at during their visits.

In the past, I have had the opportunity to meet the likes of Queen Noor of Jordan, Princess Michael of Kent, King Simeon II Saxe-Coburg and Gotha of Bulgaria, to name a few at this annual gala. This year, I had the pleasure of meeting HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex for the second time (the first was a few years ago pictured farther below. He’s the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II). The Prince gave a lovely speech on Henry VIII with it a different spin that makes one forget they have heard the story before. Had he not been a Royal he would have given the likes of Comedian Billy Crystal a run for their money. He has an uncanny sense of humor and an unmatchable wit. His aides (handlers) were equally friendly and very approachable. I only wish I could say the same for American aides who guard our so called celebrities on this side of the pond. I don’t remember the last time I had this much fun at a charity gala. I had the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

I wore a dress by Ralph Lauren, filigree gold leather clutch by Kippys, shoes by Dior and jewelry by Chanel and vintage Ciner.