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Let's Have a Parade! Behind the Scenes at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:36:13 PST

Strike up the band; the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is ready to go! A time-honored tradition for many families, the nationally televised parade is the perfect mode of entertainment for multiple generations who've gathered together for the holiday. This is the 85th year Macy's has put on the parade that winds its way through New York City, and it looks to be bigger and better than ever. With 15 gigantic balloons - including new friends such as Paul Frank's Julius, the Aflac duck, and a new character created by Tim Burton, as well as longtime favorites like Kermit the Frog, Mickey Mouse, and Spider-Man - 27 floats, 800 clowns, and 1,600 cheerleaders, there's plenty to entertain fidgety tots.

I got a behind-the-scenes look at the helium-filled wonders tonight, as their handlers - the large balloons require up to 100 handlers each! - got them ready for their moment in the spotlight. Under the direction of a new grand marshal, the parade gets underway bright and early on Thanksgiving Day. If you don't plan to be one of the 3.5 million people who line the streets to watch the festivities pass by, check out my sneak peek at the fan-favorite balloons, and then tune into NBC to see just how high they fly!

Macy's Teams Up With Doo-Ri For Next Designer Collaboration

Chi Diem Chau — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:42:29 PDT

Timing couldn't be more perfect for Macy's next designer collaborator: Doo-Ri Chung. The designer who's known for her beautiful draped dresses and separates - Chung's gorgeous purple dress was worn by Michelle Obama at the state dinner welcoming South Korea last week - will emulate the same aesthetic in her collection for Macy's Impulse line via short and maxi-length dresses, leggings, blouses, and trenchcoats using jersey, knitwear, and art prints. “Women definitely want clothes that are versatile. I love pieces that you wear for day, and when you accessorize, become perfect for evening, too,” said Chung.The collection is set to retail from $39 to $159 and will be available Feb. 15 online and in stores. Check out the slideshow to see Doo-Ri's latest Spring runway collection plus two sketches from her line for Macy's!

See the Complete Giambattista Valli For Macy's Collection

Chi Diem Chau — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:31:10 PDT

With fans like Sarah Jessica Parker, Zoe Saldana, and Jessica Biel to name a few, it's safe to say Giambattista Valli is a favorite among the red carpet crowd. Lucky for us, the designer teamed up with Macy's and created a flirty collection set to debut Oct. 26. With the impending amount of holiday parties and cocktail hours to attend this season, the line, filled with leopard prints, ruffles, and metallic touches, comes at the perfect time. “This capsule reflects my enduring loves but is really a celebration of my biggest inspiration of all - the energy and vitality of women themselves," said Valli. "I love dressing them for all their happiest moments, making them feel as special as possible. This collection is a passport into my world and a chance to experience the passion and romance of my house and Paris itself." See our top three pieces from the collection below.

This cool patchwork shift dress is perfect for night out with the girls.
The leather detailing and drop waist on this leopard-print confection are a luxe touch. Just pair with booties and you're set.
We love the idea of wearing these statement trousers with flats and a plain tee for chic downtown vibe.

Now check out the slideshow to see the rest of the collection, plus the full ad campaign.

Judging a Culinary Competition: It's Not as Easy as You Think

Susannah Chen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:15:11 PDT

I've always envied the chairman and all the judges on Iron Chef America. After all, who doesn't want to sit down to live entertainment and not one, but two, incredible dinners made by star chefs?

Naturally, when I was recently approached to judge the Macy's Mystery Basket Battle in San Francisco, I couldn't say no. The event featured two local celebrity chefs, Staffan Terje from Perbacco and Hoss Zaré from Zaré at Fly Trap, facing off in a 45-minute battle to create at least one dish that incorporated the following six ingredients: kabocha, mint, fennel, cocoa powder, anchovies, and animal crackers.

The event wouldn't have been complete without a live audience of about 50 and a judging panel (which included myself, Masterchef finalist Alejandra Schrader, blogger Carolyn Jung of Food Gal, and SF City Dish founder Kevin Blum). But judging a competition wasn't anything like I thought it would be. Read more for some surprising postcompetition observations.

Confirmed: Giambattista Valli's Collection For Macy's Will Debut This Fall

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:00:25 PDT

After earlier speculation in June, it has now been confirmed that Giambattista Valli will design a collection for Macy's. The designer, who's known for his decadent gowns worn by celebs like Emma Stone and Selena Gomez, is the fourth designer to participate in the Impulse Only at Macy’s collaboration. He follows on the heels of Karl Lagerfeld, whose collection debuts in September. Just in time for the Holiday season, expect a much dressier collection from Valli when it bows on Oct. 26. Drawing inspiration from his signature namesake collection, Valli's creations for Macy's is set to feature a predominantly red and black palette of cocktail dresses, skirts, blouses, jackets, and pants made in lace, tweed, brocade, fake fur, and tulle. The best part? The whole collection is set to retail from $50 to $150. There are no pictures yet, but we'll be on the lookout. For a refresher in Giambattista Valli's designs, check out his Fall 2011 runway collection.

Check Out the Karl Lagerfeld For Macy's Collection

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:23:00 PDT

The Karl Lagerfeld for Macy's collection is one of the most anticipated collaborations of the season and the latest batch of photos from the line reveal some promising pieces for Fall. The 45-piece collection, dropping in stores and online on Aug. 31, stays true to Lagerfeld's classic aesthetic showing a good helping of black and white pieces, via tweed coats, high-collar cotton dresses, and faux leather pants, along with a smattering of hot pink tops and Karl-print tees priced from $50 to $170. Here are our favorite pieces from the collection:

This simple black dress, seen above, with a slightly oversized collar. We can already see cool girls like Alexa Chung and Zoe Saldana wearing it with heels or loafers.

The moody floral print sheer blouse. We'd wear these black leather shorts and booties for a fresh, Fall-transition outfit.

The high-collar tweed dress. The modern racer-back detail and strong neckline are the perfect contrast against the classic tweed texture.

Check out the rest of the collection now!

A Peek at the Karl Lagerfeld For Macy's Collection

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:24:46 PDT

Karl Lagerfeld and Macy's announced their exclusive capsule collaboration last November, giving fans hope of owning a piece of the Kaiser at an affordable price. Now, feast your eyes on the first images and sketches from the collection, set to debut Aug. 31 in 235 stores and on Macys.com. Prices for The Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse collection run from $50 to $170 and will feature 45 pieces including statement jackets, tweeds - we're crossing our fingers for a Chanel-inspired topper - "shocking" pink tops, graphic tees, and dresses, which range from soft and feminine to more sculptured, tuxedo silhouettes. Also set to be included in the mix are crocodile prints and chic rock 'n' roll leggings. Excited? We are - check out pieces from the collection in the slideshow right now.

Madonna's Material Girl Is Expanding Into Beauty

Brittney Stephens — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:26:49 PDT

The Material Girl will get a little prettier come Aug. 15. The brand, developed by Madonna and her 14-year-old daughter, Lourdes Leon, will start offering beauty products alongside its juniors' denim, innerwear, and party dresses at Macy's. The collection will include nail polish, lip gloss, body sprays, and lotions, with eye palettes arriving in September. Though Madonna is involved with Material Girl, the emphasis is firmly on the girl part. These are for tweens and teens, and each product ($7-$12) will have cutesy names like Flirty Fruit, Midnight Magnolia, and Viva Vanilla. See more of the product photos after the jump.

Try Estée Lauder’s New Even Skintone Illuminator!

Sponsor — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:05 PDT

Looking for beautiful skin? Try Estée Lauder’s new Even Skintone Illuminator! Keeping a flawless complexion can be difficult, but with Estée Lauder’s new Even Skintone Illuminator, you can reduce the look of redness, sun spots, and uneven skintone, leaving your skin fresh and radiant. Since it’s an oil-free serum, new Even Skintone Illuminator won’t leave your skin too greasy or shiny either. Trust us: in just two weeks, 62 percent of women showed a significant improvement in skintone in a clinical test. It’s all in the science! With Triple-Optic Technology leaving your skin brighter and CorrectTone Technology reducing unevenness, it’s gentle enough and intensive enough for all types of skin. Learn more and buy it now so you have nothing to hide!

Link Time: Dressing For the Office When It's 90 Degrees Outside

FabSugar — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:44:26 PDT

Dressing for the office when it's 90 degrees outside - Vogue Daily
Get Jessica Biel's Freeway frames for $100 - Refinery29
Would you wear chevron stripes? - College Fashion
Macy's workers have voted to strike - The Cut
Niki Taylor looks good while doing good - InStyle
This Dolce Vita dress is basically perfect - Nylon Blog
Gasp! Here's a glimpse of Celine Resort 2012 - Purse Blog
Lanvin unveils its childrenswear line - Vogue UK