CULTURE | Jay Z Partners with Barneys New York

  

  Barneys New York is partnering with hip hop icon Jay Z to create its annual holiday collection.  Dubbed 

 "A New York Holiday" this collaboration will have Jay Z working with designers to create special-edition merchandise.    

  Last year's theme was all about Disney and the year before it was Lady Gaga.  This time around Jay Z worked with several designers including Lanvin, Balenciaga, Balmain, Rick Owens and Proenza Schouler to create special edition items.  The pieces are high-end designer items ranging in price from $70 up to $33, 900.  You find everything from a leather backpack from Balenciaga to a cashmere blanket by Elder Statesman, a Barney's T-shirt and a Shawn Carter by Hublot watch with alligator straps.  Twenty-five percent of sales will go to Jay Z's Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.  

  

  "A New York Holiday" will be available online and in-store at Barney's starting November 20, 2013. 

  

How to Wear Sequins this Holiday Season

Left to right: Rachel Zoe, Paco Rabanne, Ralph Lauren.

Just in time for the holiday season, sequins continue to be one of the hottest fashion trends.  How to wear it can be one of the tricky parts though.  It's a look that can be glamorous but can also come across as tacky with a severe throwback to the disco era.  

Sequined sleevless tops look great
with simple jewelry. 

How do you wear it?  Well it's simple.  If you don't want to go overboard simply choose one item that is sequined.  The easiest is selecting a sequined top or blazer and pairing it with a simple skirt or skinny trousers. If you don't feel comfortable in skinny trousers then try a pair of straight leg or bootleg.  But a nice pencil skirt is an item that easily goes from the office to a night-time affair.  

Lisli Tiffany Sequined cardigan.

     Sequined pants are another trend for the season that has gained a lot of attention.  But this look can really bring attention to the legs, hips and thighs. So if you don't feel confident in your figure, it's best to avoid wearing them.  

  

  Celebrities have been seen wearing sequined pants as an option for evening-wear.  They make them look so easy to wear and in fact they are.  Just wear them with loose-fitting button down shirts, fitted tops or a sleeveless silky tank.  Whatever you decide keep it simple on top since the bottoms will draw so much attention.      

Angie Harmon, Blake Lively and Eva Herzigova strut in glittery pants.
(Photo: Donato Sardella/WireImage, Jackson Lee/Splash News Online, Can Nguyen/LFI)

Holiday Glimmer

First shown for spring summer 2012, this trend continues into the holiday season.

The holiday season get glimmering in gold, silver and bronze.  Evening wear makes a much bolder statement in these shimmering metallics.  Color blocking using metallic and a neutral black, white or gray is also a big trend for the season.  It's a great way to down-play the shock value that some metallics can have.

It's also important to be careful of the silhouettes you choose since these fabrics can emphasize areas of your figure you may not want to draw attention to.  The key is to mix it in a way that it makes the ultimate statement when you walk in the room without looking tacky.  Too much glimmer can also look like you are stuck in the disco era.

Left to right: Prabal Gurung, Monique Lhuillier and Rachel Zoe.

Left to right: Jil Sander, Versace and Emilio Pucci