Arrivederci Prada…Bonjour Lanvin

February 14th, 2011 . 2 Comments »

 

The Madison Avenue Salesgirl hasn’t posted an article for the past four weeks.  My new articles that appear on the widely popular website genConnect.com every two weeks are keeping me busy, but that’s not the only reason I haven’t posted on Madison Avenue Salesgirl in more than two fortnights.  There is something more personal that has kept me away and I’m just beginning to deal with it emotionally.  And I’m now ready to be honest with you, the Madison Avenue Salesgirl community.  So here goes…

I’ve been going through a divorce of sorts.  Leaving your lifemate, maybe even your soul mate — who you’ve loved for more than 14 years and know better than anyone else – is a hard thing, especially when the relationship was going so well.  Rarely a day went by that we didn’t see each other, share a  smile, even a laugh.  I am one of those rare individuals who always saw the beauty in their better half, even when they went through periods where they didn’t look their best.  I’m one of those hopeless romantics who sees the one they love everywhere they look, a reminder always within eye-shot.  I could walk down Madison Avenue, or just about any other street in the world, and call to mind the reasons I fell in love so many years ago.  And now, and I’m ready to move on.

I’m of course speaking of no longer being the Prada women’s specialist at Barneys, the chicest store ever created.  You didn’t think I meant my marriage, did you?  I couldn’t get rid of my husband even if I wanted to.

For those who read the article in WWD.com you are well aware that the chicest store ever created  is striving to be even chicer.  Part of this includes the decision to no longer carry Prada women’s ready-to-wear.  And if you read my recent article Prada’s Monkey Business or saw Prada’s Spring 2011 collection then you would agree that the new leadership of Barneys  made the right decision. 

When faced with this dilemna I began asking myself questions, “What does the Madison Avenue Salesgirl do now?”   Who are my favorite designers?  Whose design style captures a woman in her entirety, allowing her to be both powerful while not asking her to sacrifice femininity?  Whose design style reflects the very purpose of why couturiers exist in the first place?  For me the answer was only one man and the house he runs: Alber Elbaz, head of legendary Lanvin.

I am proud to announce that I am now the new Lanvin Specialist at Barneys New York.  I can also tell you that I have met Alber Elbaz and think the world of him.  He is one of those rare gems of a man who is kind, understanding, thoughtful, and appreciative.  He is a visionary couturier who — through his designs, demonstrates a clear understanding of the modern woman as well as her needs and desires in a complex world filled with role playing and posturing.  Alber Elbaz and Lanvin has figured out a way to bridge the gap and dress women so they sparkle, shine, empower, and most of all…look like women. 

Posted in Fashion

Iron Fashionista

January 5th, 2011 . 1 Comment »

Happy New Year everybody!  The Madison Avenue Salesgirl is back from the holiday break where I enjoyed being snowbound from the 6th worst snowstorm in New York City history.  I had tons of time to catch up on my magazine reading.  I was thrilled to see all the vivid colors from the runways.  They reminded me of good cuisine.  The fuchsias are the color of radicchio, the bold greens like fresh spinach leaves, soft purples like edible flowers, and luscious blues like the frosting on my favorite Crumbs cupcakes.  As you may notice I’m associating everything to food.  That’s because I have a new obsession: Iron Chef America on the Food Network.  If you haven’t seen it and love amazing cuisine, then tune in.  The basic idea is for two chefs to come up with the best five dishes in an hour.  And what these artists can accomplish in such a limited amount of time is incredible.  They are judged on originality, taste, and plating.  It’s very similar to the challenges I face when I have a client who has a fashion 9-1-1.  Iron Chef America reminds me of my approach to dressing my clients when giving their wardrobe a Madison Avenue Salesgirl update.  I use the finest ingredients, combined with refined taste, and the overall look is, of course, the plating.  So here’s my tip of the week: find the best quality you can within your clothing budget (even an untrained eye can spot a poorly constructed piece of clothing as well as a finely tailored one).  Make your look appear effortless as if its a part of you, not you a part of it.  Finally, plate yourself like the best tasting chestnut stuffed kobe beef with cornbread over a puree of butternut squash and lemon confit.

Here’s some exciting news that I’d like to share with you.  The Madison Avenue Salesgirl is now the fashion contributor for genConnect.com, the wildly popular website featuring genConnect TV.  I have joined the more than 150 experts of genConnect.com and will be contributing to the genConnect website. Please take a moment to stop by to browse articles, videos, interactive Q&As and live chats direct from the experts themselves.  I’ve written an article about how to spice up your look.  To read it click here.  You can also vote in the genConnect fashion poll that I designed and read my genConnect profile.

Posted in Entertainment, Fashion

Time

December 13th, 2010 . 2 Comments »

Some of you may be wondering where the Madison Avenue Salesgirl has been over the past few weeks.  Well, a funny thing happened on the way to Thanksgiving dinner.  I found myself in intense pain and had to be checked into NYU Medical Center for some emergency surgery.  It turns out I had an infection and the doctors had to work their magic.  Five days later the Madison Avenue Salesgirl was allowed to go home and heal.  As a result, I missed work for two weeks.  During the busiest time of the year!  Barneys was  bustling with holiday shoppers and I didn’t get to see one minute of it!  I was so frustrated not being at work.  So I’m unlucky, right?  No.  I’m far from it.  And I learned something that I wish to share.  I learned about time.

I  have always had a love-hate relationship with time.  When I was a teenager I wanted time to pass quickly so I could move forward on my life-path.  When I was in my twenties I was in a rush to get married and have children.  In my thirties I wanted succeed at work as quickly as I could, building a tremendous client base.  And now I’m in my forties and I want to control time so I can do all the things I want.  There just isn’t enough time.  Time is the enemy, I thought.

So there I was, laying in my hospital bed wondering — after all I had already been through — how did I get here and what did I do wrong to deserve this?  Another surgery, another recuperation period, more pain, and another setback.  Why was the universe giving me this wake-up call?  And then it hit me.  I remembered a conversation I had four days prior to falling ill.  I said to someone, “When I was diagnosed with cancer, I immediately knew what the enemy was and made a decision to fight it.”  Here’s the problem.  I’m over my cancer now an therefore there’s no clear enemy to fight.  And that’s where I was under a misconception.  In my moment of epiphany I realized that the only enemy I have is me.  It’s no accident that a mere 96 hours later after saying those words I was back where I started this journey two-and-a-half years ago.  That’s a pretty short period of time between cause and effect.

After my surgery I had lots of time to reflect on what I need to do to move forward.  I had to stop looking at time as something that works against me, but rather something that works for me.  Time is healing, time gives opportunity, and time is the thing we really need to cherish.

And by the way, there’s still time to come visit me at the greatest store in the world — Barneys of course — and do some holiday shopping.  I’m back at work starting today and looking forward to spending some time with you.

Posted in Inspiration

Thanksgiving

November 22nd, 2010 . 1 Comment »

Rochas Spring 2011

There’s so much to be thankful for this year, particularly this past month.  I would like to thank the Fashion Gods for bringing Marco Zanini into my life.  He worked for Donatella Versace for nine years, so his resume is pretty darn good.  But this year Marco breathed new life into the Rochas Spring collection in a way I’ve never seen before.  Some of the fabrics he used were buried in mud in China and then made into dresses.  The colors are magnificent, many of the designs looking like suede.  Who thinks like this?  Pure genius!  He also designed a line of breathtaking ballgowns.  Then there are the bold floral prints against soft hues.  More genius!  Marco recently met with Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington.  As a result Rochas will be featured in a few fashion editorials in Vogue in the next couple of months.  Of course Marco met the Madison Avenue Salesgirl and she fell in love…in a fashion sense, that is.  We don’t want to make Mr. Madison Avenue Salesgirl jealous.

Lanvin Spring 2011

What the Madison Avenue Salesgirl may be most thankful for is last week’s Christian Louboutin sample sale that would have women from all over New York City waiting in line to pick through whatever was left that Blake Lively didn’t take.  The first day of the event was by invitation only.  The second day was for press and their friends.  The third day was for everyone else.  Somehow, against all odds, the Madison Avenue Salesgirl got to go the first day.  Remy and I got there at 7:00am (ouch!).  It’s a good thing that she saved her babysitting money because got ther hands on pair of shoes that were never produced and couldn’t let go of them.  She also picked up a spectacular handbag that is Fab-Fab-Fabulous.

I’m also thankful for the incredible Spring 2011 collection we’ll see from designer Alber Elbaz, the mastermind behind Lanvin.  He is taking the famed fashion house in a direction that the Madison Avenue Salesgirl loves.  Trust me when I tell you that python is the new leopard!  Lanvin could certainly make any style-hungry girl switch allegiances if given the opportunity.

Of course I’m thankful for my family, friends, health, wonderful clients and coworkers, the Madison Avenue Salesgirl readers from 89 countries around the world, and, of course, the greatest store in the solar system…Barneys New York.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Posted in Style

Crak, Bam, Boom

November 9th, 2010 . 7 Comments »

Here’s a trend that I promise you will not read about on a website like this.  The trend I speak of that is sweeping the Upper East Side (with many of my clients included) is none other than the highly addictive game of Mah Jongg.  Yes, Mah Jongg, the game which many of our mothers played with girlfriends while eating bon-bons and gossiping about  everyone they knew.  But the latter-day version of Mah Jongg is much different.  Today, Mah Jongg players are eating healthier snacks while they gossip about everyone they know.  I happen to play in a weekly Mah Jongg game every Saturday.  My husband has never shown interest in the game, thinking it’s for old ladies.

Here’s how I know that Mah Jongg will become a huge trend in the coming years: one Saturday, I, along with my friends, convinced Mr. Madison Avenue Salesgirl to give it a shot and play.  He had no idea that what he would be learning is actually a centuries-old form of poker, conceived by the Chinese.  He was immediately hooked.  Actually, he became obsessed.  He started researching and learning everything he could about the game, including its complex strategies.  Mr. Madison Avenue Salesgirl managed to turn Mah Jongg into a contact sport, finding ways to get under the skin of his opponents  and subsequently into their heads.  And he got really good at it very quickly.  But not as good as I am.

Mah Jongg is hardly a typical topic for this website.  But, the Madison Avenue Salesgirl often discusses trends, and Mah Jongg is experiencing a resurgence in a huge way with women (and men) of all ages.  It requires skill, strategy, intense concentration, and a bit of luck.  And the sets you can buy range from basic to customized ones costing a small fortune.  And if someone in your life plays, I have the perfect gift for them.  Just click on the video below and I assure you that anyone who plays would kill for one of these.  For those who want one, visit www.wherethewindsblow.com.  They have an amazing selection of Mah Jongg accessories.

Posted in Trends

14,228 Steps

November 1st, 2010 . 3 Comments »

 

The Madison Avenue Salesgirl Gets Her Daily Exercise At Work

When I walked in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure (see story Fighting the War in My Rack with the T-Birds) I received a gift bag that included a pedometer.  I decided to put it to good use recently.  I wanted to find out how much exercise I was getting at work.

14,228 steps.  According to my pedometer, that’s the total number of steps I take each day once I set foot in Barneys.  At an average of two-and-a-half feet per step, that’s a little more than seven miles up, down, to the basement, the ninth floor and all floors in between, with stops along the way at the stockrooms, the shipping department, and tailoring.  Everything aches at the end of the day, especially my feet.  All this so that I can help others whose thresholds for fashion is extremely high.  That is, those women who will wear anything for the sake of looking fabulous.  My clients and I are kindred spirits, each of us willing to put up with a little discomfort for the sake of vanity.

The Madison Avenue Salesgirl’s daily routine is a sort of walkathon for the elite, and with each step I take great pride.  But these days I mostly wear flats.  After all, walking a combined total of nearly one thousand seven hundred fifty miles annually for all of my clients in the pursuit of the next great find is a lot easier in comfortable shoes.  I’m so relieved to know that I’m getting my aerobics in!

Posted in Health

Who’s That Girl?!

October 25th, 2010 . 3 Comments »

There are times when people come to see me and they look famous, yet I have no idea who they are.  Call it a sign of aging, or spending no time watching  MTV and VH1.  A week or so ago I had one of those exact days when an adorable, blonde, twentysomething girl walked into the Prada department on the second floor at Barneys.  She needed a coat.  A very specific looking coat.  It needed to be camel-colored.

Behnaz Sarafpour Rocks...Literally

Prada isn’t showing camel coats this season, so I suggested we take a look on the third floor while I scratched my head thinking of ways to help her.  After scouring the different designers, I came up with four great choices.  This girl was so lovely and nice.  Hearing her British accent made me think of my trip to London this summer with my daughter, Remy.  Ultimately, she chose a gorgeous coat by Behnaz Sarafpour.  After she paid, she told me that she was going to wear the camel coat in a music video she was shooting at that very moment in New York City.  She went on to tell me how happy she was to have met me and the great service she received because she had less than 10 minutes to find the perfect coat and that no one else in London would have it.  Everyone in London would want to know where she purchased it, and she said she would proudly say, “From Jayne at Barneys.”

I can’t reveal who she is because the Madison Avenue Salesgirl just doesn’t spill the beans.  However, here’s a picture of the most fashionable camel coat that’s taking London by storm.

Posted in Fashion

Time to Broaden My Horizons

October 18th, 2010 . 1 Comment »

When I started Madison Avenue Salesgirl, I did it for only one reason.  I wanted to help people facing any difficult situation in life, particularly those related to health.  At the same time, I realized I had a broader spectrum of subjects to discuss.  I could also write about fashion, style, celebrity, trends, and working at the chicest store in the world; besides, who wants to read a blog strictly about cancer?  People would tune in only once or twice.  However, Madison Avenue Salesgirl readers are loyal, I think, because we offer other interesting content.  They are as loyal as my clients, who constantly remind me that I give them so much tender loving care many of them consider me a member of the family.

The time has now come for me to broaden my horizons and Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Inspiration

Prada’s Monkey Business

October 11th, 2010 . 16 Comments »

Oh. My. God.  I’m surrounded by Carmen Miranda, radioactive neon monkeys, giraffes, and bananas, all dressed in hospital scrubs and L.A. County prison uniforms.  Is this a nightmare that woke me up in the middle of the night?  No.  It’s the Prada collection for Spring 2011.

There are those who will think Prada’s latest offering is absolute genius.  I’m not one of them.  This latest collection is even more disastrous than Prada’s African tribal inspired Spring/Summer collection of 2003, the one I couldn’t give away.  First, the collection incorporates an overabundance of horizontal stripes, sure to make the typical Prada lover look three sizes wider.  The size zero models (looking like their hair was done by the people who styled new-wave band Devo) who had the misfortune to wear these Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Fashion

The Anti-Social Network

October 3rd, 2010 . 5 Comments »

On Friday I saw The Social Network, the movie about the creation of Facebook.   The Madison Avenue Salesgirl is giving it two huge thumbs up for being a compelling story about creativity, greed, friendship, and betrayal.  The movie is peppered with fantastic dialogue courtesy of Aaron Sorkin, with equally good acting.  David Fincher, director of The Social Network, extracted brilliant performances from his actors, particularly Andrew Garfield, who is getting lots of Oscar buzz.  But this isn’t the main point of this posting.  Over the past few months I’ve received many emails asking me to discuss Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Entertainment, Lifestyle

Judgement Week

September 19th, 2010 . 3 Comments »

Do you hear that?  Listen closely.  I don’t hear anything either.  I don’t hear any excitement or buzz whatsoever.  And that’s how I’d sum up Fashion Week 2010.  There was nothing terribly special and it was much ado about nothing.  Oscar de la Renta had an oddly accessorized show.  L’Wren Scott, who never duplicates, put together a strong collection, as did Calvin Klein and Diane Von Furstenberg.  There was also the resurrection of Imitation of Christ, a brand that just came back from its hiatus with a collection of simple, ethereal, and lacy pieces.  But to be honest, Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Fashion

Fighting the War in My Rack with the T-Birds

September 13th, 2010 . 4 Comments »

Fashion Week is in full gear and Madison Avenue Salesgirl will be reporting on the shows next Monday, courtesy of my daughter Remy, who will be attending as many of the runway events as she can handle.  Because I’ve been so busy dressing New York’s elite for the past month, and getting them ready with the looks they’ll be wearing during Fashion Week, I haven’t written anything inspirational lately.  However, I had an incredibly inspirational day Sunday, that I must share.

When I was Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Inspiration

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree

September 2nd, 2010 . 3 Comments »

The Madison Avenue Salesgirl is a proud mother!  My daughter, Remy, launched her very own website this week called RemyToWear.com to rave reviews.  As many of you know, Remy is a succesful fashion hauler.  If you aren’t familiar with this amazing new trend, I encourage you read an article I posted titled Haulers to learn more about this phenomenon that  New York Magazine called the next revolution in fashion.

To give you a better understanding of the RemyToWear concept, I’m going to quote directly from the RemyToWear website:

Welcome to RemytoWear!  Here you’ll find everything from product reviews, to YouTube hauls, to perspective on fashion’s hottest topics.  Having worked for Seventeen Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Anna Sui, and Showroom Seven, I thought it was time to do my own thing.  Each week we’ll not only discuss what’s hot right now, but I’ll also be giving you an insider look on what it’s like to go to school in one of the most fashionable cities in the world: New York.  Fashion shows, showroom visits, interviews and more, prepare for a fresh and young take on the fabulous world around us.  You can subscribe to my YouTube channel called Remy To Wear, where I promise to only show you fashions that are hot, chic and will make you look your best.  So whether you’re a fashionista teenager, twentysomething, mother, or simply share my passion for fashion, this is the place to be.  In the future expect hauls about everything from basics to couture, which is representative of my closet.  I’ll also show you affordable chic shoes you can buy at your local mall, to the most incredible Louboutins ever created by the master himself.  Finally, be sure to click on the links in my posts.  You’ll see videos and websites that are interesting and fun, all devoted to the thing girls love most: CLOTHES!

Please be sure to visit and bookmark RemyToWear.  We’ll be back Monday, September 13th with a new Madison Avenue Salesgirl post.

Have a great holiday everybody!

Posted in Fashion

Great Products I Found for My Hive

August 29th, 2010 . 2 Comments »

Recovering from breast cancer took a massive team effort, which included doctors, family, spirituality through Kabbalah, and a holistic practitioner who is considered one of the best in the country.  Her name is Annie and she drummed into my head the importance of removing harmful chemicals from my home.  As a result, I’m always on the lookout for exceptional natural and organic products.  For instance, I no longer use shampoos with sulfates because they aren’t very good for you or your hair.  Someone recently brought a product line called Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Products

Nip and Tuck

August 27th, 2010 . 5 Comments »

Hi everyone! 

It’s Jayne, your Madison Avenue Salesgirl.  I’ve taken a few days off to get a little nip-and-tuck, post breast cancer plastic surgery this past week.  Even though it is completely gone, cancer is a condition that keeps reminding you that you once had it, but I’m almost all finished with my reconstructive surgery, and by next Monday I’ll feel as good as new after this round.

Since I began this adventure two years ago, I’ve done everything possible to surround myself with only pure and healthy products that I use, and on our upcoming Monday’s post I’ll be telling you about a great product line that I discovered from one of my readers.  One more great benefit of being the Madison Avenue Salesgirl is that people are always sending me their products hoping that I’ll discuss them on this website; and I only discuss those I myself use and truly believe in, so be sure to visit us on Monday and I’ll fill you in on my latest find.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Posted in Health
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