SWIM WEEK & MERCREDES BENZ FASHION WEEK 2015 - DAY 2

SWIM WEEK: 2015 RECAP

THE BEST OF DAY 2: WILDFOX, FRANKIE'S BIKINIS, BEACH BUNNY

DAY 1    |   DAY 2    |   DAY 3    |   DAY 4    |   DAY 5   |   DAY 5 FINALE

DAY 2: WILDFOX

FLASHBACK FRIDAY was in full effect as the much-anticipated WILDFOX collection hit the runway. We could barely stay seated as the speakers blasted some of our fave tunes including: BBD's undisputed party hit, "Poison," old-school Mariah Carey and TLC. The swimwear collection featured whimsical graphics, iconic logos and well-known sayings. Pop colors and #CertifiedCOOL styling details like classic Reebok high tops completed the looks. This was one of the week's most enjoyable shows.

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THE EDIT

WILDFOX finds for ya mind

DAY 2: FRANKIE'S BIKINIS

Frankie's Bikinis runway show took place in the Grand Cabana at the Raleigh. Once again, we saw crochet on the runway. This time, the technique was used in a way that added interest to the collection's one-piece swimsuits. The beach-blown, loose side ponies tied with raffia and strips of left-over fabric and nude make up really gave a sexy beach hippie vibe to the show. The same raffia ties were also used as bracelets. Overall, the collection was calm, care-free and #CertifiedCOOL of course.

 

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

About Frankie's Bikinis
Frankie's Bikinis takes Southern California’s coast style and infuses it with the Hawaiian shoreline in an exotic, feminine and flirty low cut ready to be surfed in, tanned in or hung out to dry after an invigorating day at the beach.Inspired by Malibu, Frankies Bikinis are fun bikinis that encompass what it means to be a carefree beach girl. Never compromising style, each piece is uniquely designed by surfer and teen entrepreneur Francesca Aiello, a native to Malibu, who is inspired by her love for the ocean and her passion of bikinis. Born into the surf community, Frankies Bikinis aims to satisfy the needs of surfers who demand functionality and a great look when they hit the wave.

Get Social with Frankie's!

Twitter/Facebook: FrankiesBikinis

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THE EDIT

Inspired by the coolness of Frankie's Bikinis Swimwear Collection 2015

SHOP FRANKIE'S BIKINIS

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DAY 2: BEACH BUNNY

At the grand cabana, day 2 ended with glitz and glam as Beach Bunny's Blondes took over the runway. The over-the-top swimwear collection featured bold embellishments, luxurious textiles and clear references from lingerie. The hair was definitely giving us #BigHairDontCare attitude and the makeup was feminine and sexy with a strong eye and pouty lips. We're wondering if anyone else got the Bond Girl vibes like us.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

About Beach Bunny:
You’ll find Beach Bunny Swimwear gracing the beautiful bodies of the world’s sexiest women. Designer Angela Chittenden is the brains — and body — behind Beach Bunny Swimwear. Angela’s passion for couture kicked in at an early age. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved fashion and swimwear,” she explains, taking a momentary break from her jam-packed schedule to speak about her design philosophy. “So being able to combine the two is a dream come true for me.” "There was nothing out there that was sexy and elegant. So I decided to design my own.” In designing that first Beach Bunny Swimwear line, Angela knew she wanted to create something different, something special, “something that would let women show off their bodies, feel sexy and confident, glamorous, flirty and fun all at the same time.”

She searched for unique fabrics, experimented with sexy cuts, added embellishments and hardware no one had ever thought to add to swimsuits before. Rather than looking at other swimwear designer lines, she found inspiration in the bedroom, blending elements of upscale lingerie into her styles.“Some people said I was crazy, that my designs were too risky, too out-there to catch on,” Angela remembers with a sly smile. “I guess they were wrong.”Angela’s boudoir-inspired lines were an instant hit with women looking for swimsuits that make a bold statement. By ignoring trends, Beach Bunny Swimwear started setting them. And grabbing the attention of the fashion, media and celebrity worlds. Sports Illustrated dedicated more pages of its Swimsuit issue to Beach Bunny Swimwear than any other line. 

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THE EDIT

Inspired by the glamour of Beach Bunny Swimwear Collection 2015

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Get social with Beach Bunny:
Instagram: @beachbunnyswimwear
Facebook: BeachBunnySwimwear

What was your fave of the day? We'd love to hear from you! Comment below.

SEE DAY 3 COVERAGE

DAY 1    |   DAY 2    |   DAY 3    |   DAY 4    |   DAY 5   |   DAY 5 FINALE

MIAMI FASHION WEEK: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

By: Joanne Joseph

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada recently attended Miami’s fashion week 2014 where her latest designs walked the runway. And catch this, all of the designs on the clothes were painted by hand. How COOL is that! Before she became a designer, Agatha had a passion for painting and wanted to become a painter. Its shows as her designs incorporate lots of colors. "Everything I make has a lot of color and strokes and I think it goes very well with the style in Miami. A lot of the clothing you are going to see is my point of view on Miami" (Source: miami.racked.com)

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada walks the runway at Miami Fashion Week 2014

Agatha is one of the best- known designers and personalities in the clothing industry.  Agatha’s fashion career began in Madrid where she displayed her first collection in a Design Centre called Local.  She opened her first studio store in the early 80’s in Madrid and soon became a trendsetter. Through her fashion shows, Agatha began to gain international recognition in France, Spain, Colombia, Italy, and Puerto Rico just to name a few. Her designs are bold and colorful reflecting love, humor and optimism.

When asked what her next project would be, Agatha states that she hopes to maintain what she has built and survive in the industry. One thing we know for sure, is that Agatha's pieces are #CertifiedCOOL.

  

FASHION FILES : Another Brilliant Designer Collabo

Hooray! Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's - Fall 2012

(Check out the tv spot for the collection... cool that the commercial is set to Santigold.)

To be honest, we've never been to Kohl's, but Santigold and Narciso definitely inspires. Obviously, major designer collabos are nothing new in the biz—affordable retailers

like H&M and Target have been doing them for years. Its just nice to see more designers

lending their genius to affordable retailers for "everyone" to enjoy. Anyways, go forth

and save... but don't forget to let us know how you did! 

See more COOL here.

COOL SPOTS : HOTEL HOPPING IN THAILAND

Our Adventures in Thailand feature continues with a look at our cool hotel experiences. Over the years, we've really developed a love for staying at boldly stylish hotels which Thailand has no shortage of. We only chose to stay at hotels that offered impeccable service, convenience, and remarkable design. Each of our hotel stays in Thailand offered those things in their own way.

St. Regis Bangkok

There really is "no address like the St. Regis." From the large, open and airy feeling you get when you walk through the front door, to the grand arrangement of floral artistry you encounter on your way to the check in bureau... the St. Regis Bangkok really serves up a mega dose of modern elegance. It is not too overstated, but unmistakably luxurious. The service, as you can imagine, is perfect with someone always on hand to anticipate your every need.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Elemis Spa complete with a thoughtfully designed boudoir for guests to get prepped for a day of pampering. The hot-cold muscle toning treatment involved us getting into the jacuzzi and then plunging into the cold pool that was connected to it. After getting over the initial shock, it was actually unbelievably rejuvenating. We later lounged in the floating pods of the wet area which St. Regis describes as a "fine balance of tradition and innovation."

Our most memorable dining experience would have to be the breakfast (when booking, make sure your breakfast is included here). And even more impressive was Sunday Brunch hosted by Dom Pérignon... need I say more? The food, ambiance and service really came together to create an unforgettable welcome to our stay in Thailand.

  
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

After spending a few days in the bustling city, it was nice to get out to the mountains and check into the lush sanctuary that is known as the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai. As we arrived to the outdoor check in area, we were greeted with beautiful jasmine garlands and freshly made juices.

Our upgraded room was spacious and it had a cool private balcony situated in a jungle-like oasis that featured a narrow creek which served as a natural soundtrack. We immediately suited up to enjoy the main pool which is an infinity-edge swimming pool that offering breathtaking views of the Mae Rim Valley across picturesque rice terraces.

Perhaps two of the most unique of the many details that made the resort so special were the floating flower designs found all over the property (reminded me of the temple patterns we saw a few days earlier) and the famous pink water buffalo (which we got to ride on).

Hotel Muse
 
"Inspired by the social and artistic milieu of fin de siècle Europe and King Rama V-era Thailand, Hotel Muse combines cosmopolitan chic with playful elegance amid a new golden age of Asia."

After spending several days luxuriating in the mountains, we returned to Bangkok for one more night before heading back to the states. This time we stayed at the boutique property, Hotel Muse. Located in a trendy, upscale soho-like neighborhood, this hotel offers a totally different experience than the others.

The design is a masterful combination of European opulence and Asian tradition punctuated with modern technology. Think Bond... James Bond. As we were being transported to our suite, we could not help but notice the illuminated button in the elevator labeled The Speakeasy. "There's a Speakeasy!?" "Yes there's a Speakeasy," the host replied. We both then replied, "Now That's COOL!"

Just when we thought things couldn't get cooler, we realized that the room was the kind that turns on and greets you as you enter. The bathroom is luxurious with a glorious venetian mirror and a claw-foot, roll-top bathtub on a black marble floor that leads into a separate rain shower. The extravagant bath tub is situated right next to a floor-to-ceiling window with a built in sound system so you can soak and peacefully watch television simultaneously. The wall baroque-inspired wall pattern compliments the dark wood floors and masculine furniture in the main room.

As we relaxed in the intimate infinity edge pool that overlooked the cityscape, we had the pleasure of meeting Alex, the super cool general manager. He was fun, full of energy and eager to make sure that our stay was everything we expected and more. The worst thing about the hotel is that eventually, we had to check out. Just when we thought we were alone in this sentiment, we met a local medical doctor who decided to stay there for 3 months just because she thought it was so cool! 


From the decor and design to the sipping and spa-ing (needed an 's' word)... The legendary Thai hospitality really lived up to the hype.

Hotel links here:
http://www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai
http://www.hotelmusebangkok.com
www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/bangkok

Stay tuned for more cool from our Thailand adventure.

TREND TALK : BLACK OUT

Black has long been associated with elegance, formality, wealth, and mystery. Black gives the feeling of perspective and depth. A black suit or dress can make you look thinner. When designing for a gallery of art or photography, you can use a black matte to make the other colors stand out. It is considered to be a very formal and prestigious color .

Black also has negative connotations that include, death and exclusion. What draws me to the color is that it has such powerful connotations that are both positive and negative. It's interesting that a color that is so decisive has such a split personality. 

Either way, the famed Jay-Z phrase, “All Black Everything,” is really what we're featuring in this post. Black-on-black design is incredibly sexy, stealthy and modern. Black never goes out of style, but black-on-black is on another level of cool. The best way to execute black-on-black design is by expertly combining textures and finishes, and using simple dramatic angles and curves. For example:

-The Minimalist Black House, Q House by asensio_mah + J.M.Aguirre Aldaz is designed with simple, clean lines, which will make it look ultra modern forever.

-The Black Lamborghini Avenger is already pretty modern looking, but the hit of black matte takes it beyond.

-Black lipstick looks best when its shiny and your foundation and eyeshadow is perfectly matte.

-Wearing black on black clothing looks best when you mix layer with different fabrics and textures to help break it up a bit.

-Shamballa Bracelets are hot, but all black Shamballa Bracelets are hotter and look more expensive. I'm noticing more men wearing these.

-Nike HOV Collection uses the same Air Force design. Blacking them out just gives the design a new edge.

-Black out watches like the Hublot Big Bang black out watch uses a brushed metal, a combination of matte finishes for a super stealthy effect.

-Black leather drum kit (via Fancy) is just too cool.

-Oneida Black Flatware uses minimal lines and matte black finish for a modern and elegant effect.

-DeLonghi Geodesic Brilliante Kettle is designed with an interesting geometric pattern that takes it from just another black coffee maker to a work of art that just happens to make coffee.

-I love the heavy use of black in interior design, but it only works with super simple and minimal furniture.

-The Black Swan Superyacht 70m by designer Timur Bozca. Its a black yacht. Need I say more?

-And of course we must end this post with a nod to the godfather of black-on-black... Mr. Carter. Thanks for being so COOL.

See more COOL features on our blog THAT'S COOL. Just click and scroll down.  

MIAMI EVENTS + PEOPLE

MIAMI FASHION BLOGGERS EVENT AT NEIMANS
SEE THE STORY HERE

TREND TALK : FALL 2012 COLOR REPORT

For the organization and clean freaks out there we know you're about to embark on a journey of SPRING CLEANING. So before you go filling garbage bags with clothes for Goodwill be sure you aren't about to give up anything valuable for the fall! Check out the Pantone® Fall 2012 Fashion Colors. Tangerine, the hottest color of the year, will be carried over from spring and summer. My personal favorite is the UltraMarine Green which illuminates brown skin. I would love to be one of the people that get to sit around and decide what colors are going to be the it colors of the season. That's a COOL job. See more COOL features on our blog THAT'S COOL. Just click and scroll down.   

TREND TALK : MINT COLOR TREND

Mint Color inspiration by COOL Creative

Mint popped up on many fashion runways last Spring. Since then I've been obsessed with the color. This color is so versatile and can be carried over to any season. I love that a color so soft and subtle can make such a huge statement. The color pops beautifully on darker and olive skin tones... and give lighter skin tones an ethereal glow. Its one of those colors that I believe anyone can pull off. 

Some of my minty picks include: Chanel Vernis in 407 Jade (hard to find however ESSE carries Mint Candy Apple which is absolutely fabulous), Lime Opaque Lipstick, Mint belt, watch, dress and more available at ASOS. 

One of my fave pass times is to play with my internal color wheel and Mint is such a fun color to experiment with. For a more summery feel: try mint with pop colors like hot pink and chartreuse. For a bold and interesting look, try it with a black and white pattern. If you want to keep it light and sweet, pair it with neutral colors. You can finish off your minty look with some shiny gold shoes. The matte feeling of the mint against the shiny gold texture will really give your look a rich quality. 

Fresh inspiration that's cool for any season.