Is this not the most stunning accessory???

So, as a Net-A-Porter ambassador for San Francisco, one of my job responsibilities is to facilitate Net-A-Porter in putting together chic (and they REALLY know chic) events. A couple weeks ago, they were in town for their style suite, which basically means that they bring curated pieces from current designer collections and we get to ogle and/or shop to our hearts content. In this case it was various items – ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, jewelry and other accessories from Spring/Summer ’19 that we could buy immediately and a few Fall/Winter ‘19 items, that we could order for late summer delivery. Why were you not invited, you ask? Well, my dears, you’ve come to the right blogger and influencer (still have a tough time calling myself “an influencer” and am in the process of coining a new term for what I do - any suggestions?) so, just shoot me an email or DM me and I’ll make sure you’re invited to the next style suite.

My favorite pic - especially because Alessandra took it with my camera:))

Alessandra and I. Feather earrings!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyhow, on one of the evenings Net-A-Porter and I co-hosted cocktails and a mini fashion show of sorts at the Fairmont Penthouse Suite with Alessandra Rich!!!! Yes, I am utterly in love - with Alessandra’s effortlessly chic, soft spoken yet authoritative presence and of course, with her incredibly feminine, anti-trend (hallelujah!!!) and ultra-sexy ready-to-wear, costume jewelry, bags and shoes. Italian-born Alessandra Rich founded her company in 2009, which is headquartered in London while all her manufacturing is based in Milan.

The evening was sexy as hell. Or, as my kids would say Sexy AF. “Fantasies coming to Fruition with Lots of Feathers, Lace and Sparkles”, is how I describe her brand. Long dresses in the most luxurious fabrics, polka dots for this season and the next, lace, feathers, and exquisite rhinestone hardware are just some of the hallmarks of her designs. And don’t even get me started about her insaaaaaane, oversized to perfection, crystal and pearl earrings. Droooooling at the mere thought of them.

My dearest Jeff Luhmann, personal shopper and stylist at Net-A-Porter

Every time I wear Alessandra’s designs – be it clothes or jewelry or headphones (how much do you love them in the first pic?) I feel I’m on a yacht in Saint Tropez surrounded by the glitterati (of course, I’m the “glitteriest” of them all) heading to a very posh (favorite word that the Brits use) party, where I’ll be surrounded by women dressed in opulent chic clothes (all designed by Alessandra, of course) and where champagne and oysters will be plentiful. But then I feel I can wear a dress of hers to a pretty lunch too, but definitely not the ladies-who-lunch kind of a lunch;)

My friend, MB, took this with my iphone!!!!!:)

Okay, enough of my take on this – you see the pics and decide what and how it makes you feel and do not forget to share your thoughts with me, please. Oh, but before I go, I want to share something Alessandra said to me at dinner that night that really stuck with me. I asked her what she loves about her work and she said that she enjoyed her previous work immensely too (she worked in real estate and home decor and prior to that helped her husband, a third-generation art dealer, sell art works but who now manages her business) but it never felt like she was doing it for herself. There came a point, she said, when she decided to do something just for herself. I so loved this statement and sentiment from her. We may talk about doing things just for ourselves - be it travel, adopting a hobby, learning a language, starting a business etc. - but how often do we actually take the bull by its horns and go for it? I believe, not often enough. It could be the tiniest thing, like going to the museum one afternoon, but going for it is what I strongly propose:)