I cannot remember the very first time I met designer Nicole Romano, but after running into her at a few events (where she always looked fantastic), we ended up working together on her spring/summer 2008 collection presentation. Now, I can honestly say that Nicole is one of the nicest designers in the industry and not only does she design clothing, but also a killer line of jewelry!

Nicole grew up in Rhode Island and studied apparel design at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) before landing a coveted internship with Nicole Miller upon graduation. Wanting a label of her own, Nicole set out out to work on her first collection which immediately caught the attention of Sex and the City stylist, Patricia Field. Both Nicole’s jewelry and ready-to-wear can be seen in countless episodes of SATC including the one where Samantha first bags Smith (then known as Jerry Jared).

I had the privilege of visiting the huge, fabulous, dreamy wardrobe department of Sex and the City: The Movie  with Nicole early last fall (which at the time was filled with options for Carrie’s wedding gown, hundreds of pairs of shoes, and clothing and jewelry for as far as the eye could see). We showed Field and her team Nicole’s latest collection and also brought them pizza and beer from Patsy’s - Nicole’s favorite restaurant -because that’s just the kind of cool girl Nicole is. Several of her pieces made it into the movie including earrings seen on both Miranda and Samantha, as well as the awesome striped skirt seen in the opening sequence featuring what is meant to be four younger versions of the original SATC ladies.

So what makes her collection so perfect for fashion-forward city girls? Nicole’s aesthetic vision is one that celebrates the individuality, femininity, and strength of women - and she isn’t afraid to have fun with fashion, which is part of what has made her a favorite of celebrities including Rihanna, Jessica Alba, Lindsey Lohan, Alicia Keys, Heidi Klum, and more. I recently caught up with this lovely and extremely talented designer to get her answers to my 21 questions.

1. Name: Nicole Romano
2. In 5 words or less, describe your personality: A true Leo
3. In 5 words or less, describe your style: A true Leo
4. What do you do? Fashion and Jewelry Designer in New York
5. What would you like to do? Exactly what I am doing
6. What do you covet? My truck that allows me to escape whoever I want!
7. What are you most into: shoes, handbags, clothes, jewelry? Clothing and jewelry because I’m literally up to my knees in work on a daily and nightly basis!
8. Latest obsession? Rene Furterer Naturia Shampoo
9. Favorite stores? Té Casan
10. Favorite artists/designer? David Foote
11. Favorite runway collections? Preen
12. Last book you read? Perfume
13. What is your favorite piece from your new collection? My favorite piece is the powder blue denim dress with rose pink denim inserts
14. What are you listening to? I listen to big band and swing when I work because it keeps me moving at a fast pace!
15. Drink of choice? Ty Ku Lover’s Lemonade
16. Favorite restaurant/coffee shop/bar? The original Patsy’s Pizzeria in East Harlem
17. Favorite sites? Fashionweekdaily.com
18. Favorite blogs? ThoseExtra4Inches of course! runners up: TheSartorialist, Facehunter
19. Best party you’ve ever been to? A magazine party on Liberty Island - I never thought I would be dancing and drinking champagne by the ankles of Lady Liberty!
20. What’s your favorite thing in your closet? My Fendi Vanity clutch
21. One thing people should know about you? The thing I cherish most is my family

Next week I’ll be attending Nicole Romano’s Spring/Summer Collection celebration at espace and will definitely give you guys a sneak peek of what she has in store for the future. Also, VIVRE.com will be selling a large selection of her jewelry within a few days, and I swear that I want almost every piece…

What does fashion week inspire? Shopping of course!!
Go out and invest in some great fall classic pieces you’ll wear now and fall more in love with each passing season…I swear you won’t regret it.

First, the good news (I love my iPhone and I love runway shows, so this is more than just ‘good’ news, its great news): The New York Times reports that Style.com is launching an application for the iPhone expected out sometime this week - and more access to the shows is alright by me.

And now, the bad/annoying/what-is-the-point news: We’ve all heard of pop-up boutiques before, but a pop-up health clinic? In an effort to promote ‘healthy’ model weight, WWD reports that the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is setting up a health booth inside the tents. Set up specifically as an eating disorder treatment facility, the booth is there to provide answers, referrals and overall outreach to any person interested in treatment or worried about someone they are working with, which sounds good, but seriously - who is going to sit down in the tents and discuss body image, weight, food, etc??! Aren’t people with eating disorders supposed to be very embarassed/ashamed about their bodies, have low self-esteem, be disallusioned about their issues, and so forth and so on? Does the CFDA really think any of these girls will call attention to their very private issues in the middle of Bryant Park where the most judgemental people in the entire world will all be gathered to watch their rivals walk down the runways? I just feel like this is being done to put on a good face, and is merely a weak pr attempt if anything. If the CFDA really wanted to help these girls it needs to be done in a different way; This kind of stuff just proves that the industry doesn’t really want things to change at all - and it is sort of infuriating. Anyway, I hope this stupid booth provides help to those who need it, but wish the CDFA would do something more impactful.

This post marks the first of a new series I’m doing on fall fashion. I’ll bring you my top picks, the best trends, as well as the essential pieces you need to buy this season, all from A to Z.
Hope you enjoy!

Shop the above picks here:
Alexander McQueen Bag
Bing Bang Earrings
Elizabeth and James Necklace

I’m a Hills fan and tonight I watched both the pre-show special and the premiere episode of season 4.

During the pre-show, Lauren Conrad wore a dress from Roberto Cavalli’s Spring 08 collection and I can’t help but wonder why. I’m sure some of the other girls were wearing dresses from LC’s label, but why did she chose something that isn’t her own, that’s so recognizable, and is now totally on sale? Maybe, that’s it, maybe she just got a great deal! Don’t get me wrong, she looked cute: her hair was put up into some sort of braided beachy up-do and her skin was super bronzed…and the dress looked good…it’s just, well, I guess I expected more from such a major fashionista who’s style is supposedly defining a generation.

Who else? oh yes, Whitney looked pretty (waay better than the last premiere) and Audrina’s hair looked as if she arrived on the backseat of Justin Bobby’s motorcycle sans-helmet.

And as for the episode: 1. Audrina is right - Lo is sort of bitchy. 2. Heidi fades on screen, especially whenever her new Hermes Kelly bag is in the frame. 3. The black nails are back. 4. Lauren is asked on a second date by Doug before their drinks even hit the table. 5. This eason looks waaay better than the last one.

And now a slightly related random thought from my late night TV musings: I love watching Chelsea Lately, but I absolutely hate having to suffer through the Sarah Mclaughlin “in the arms of an angel’ commercial for the ASPCA.

Running, smudged mascara seems to be the biggest thing right now.
So who’s responsible for this?

1. Lauren Conrad. MTV has been playing specials on The Hills all weekend and I’ve been forced to watched poor LC crying her eyes out while talking to Audrina over and over again. I knew Lauren wore a lot of eye makeup, but wow. Good thing she’s now the spokesperson for mark. (new cosmetics line by Avon)

2. Duffy. I love LOVE her video for Warwick Avenue because it it reminds me of Radiohead’s No Surprises and because the girl just looks so beautiful when she cries and mascara is smudged below those pretty eyes.

3. Sad, pretty girls in general. They’re simply irresistible.

4. Those damn vibrating mascara wands

I first heard Heidi Montag’s new single ‘Fashion’ a week or so ago on E!, I thought the same thing as everyone else - OH MY GOD.

For whatever reason, I was on PerezHilton.com today and ended up listening to the song once more - realizing that not only is this a terrible song, but that it is the worse pr plug any designer could ever have. Listen to Heidi’s ‘Fashion’ on Perez here and you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Read selected lyrics below…

I am, I’m too fab-u-lous
I’m so fierce that it’s so nuts
I live, to be model thin
Dress me, I’m your manne-quin

J’adore Vivienne. I really want. Pucci, Fendi, and Cardin. Valentino, Armani too. Madame love them Jimmy Choo

Ohhhh Ohhhhh La La La
We love designer

I need, some new sti-le-ttos
Can’t walk, down the street in those
You are, who you wear it’s true
A girl’s just as hot as the shoes she choose

J’adore Weitzman I really want. Louis, Dolce Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, eh ou. Madame love those Manolo

Fashion put it all on me
Don’t you want to see these clothes on meh
Fashion put it all on me
I am anyone you want me to be

If were a designer mentioned in this song, I would sue her. And can she even recognize Alexander McQueen?! She’s trying to do something funny and fabulous like Aqua’s ‘Barbie Girl’, but she’s just too lame.

There are (many) times when I ask myself, ‘Why on earth don’t you do something else? Make more money? Work with intelligent people?!’

Well tonight (after my roommate and I watched The Devil Wears Prada for the first time), we began talking about fashion, Anna Wintour, why her hair style has been the same for decades, etc. and I ended up defending many of the things that so often drive me crazy, realizing (yet again) why this ridiculous industry is the one for me.

I enjoy getting dressed in the morning, pulling together an outfit and walking out the door confident, comfortable in my outer shell. Today I wore my plaid cape with the skinny jeans and felt cool, smart, fun and lovely. And that is what fashion does to us - it brings out the you that you were looking for, whichever one will make it through another day.

Fashion might be pretentious at times, might be a tad too serious, over-the-top, unrelatable, whatever, but that is what makes it great and gives it such appeal. Through fashion we are able to constantly redefine and further explore ourselves, which is perhaps why I do love it so much, that and all of those damn heels!