GIMME FIVE!

We thought if New York-based designer, Jason Cauchi, the man behind the breezy cool line, Dallin Chase, could answer Fashionista's seven questions... then he could give us five!

If you weren't a designer, what would be doing?
Farming. I'd either have a farm upstate raising rabbits and maybe I'd have bee's to jar and sell my own honey. Or figs and lemons in Malta.

What would you spend $10 on right now?
Flowers - Peonies for my wife.

What's your favorite place to visit?
Gozo, Malta for sun. Paris for everything else!

What's your favorite song of all time?
Pump up the volume by M|A|R|R|S

If someone had to play you in a movie, who would it be?
Freddie from iCarly for my early years - my kids like that show. Adam Sandler for my 20's - my wife likes him. Eddie Murphy for my 30's - I'm planning to do a lot the next ten years. Johnny Depp for the rest of the way - Everybody likes him!

SEXY GNOME

When we saw yesterday's ELLE post, "Three Things You Don't Know About... Geren Ford" we wondered, what other delightful pictures is Geren Ford designer, Geren Lockhart, hiding from us?

Further digging in the designer's photo files and we discovered... him. The sexy gnome.

We may or may not have a crush on Lockhart's self-described, sexy gnome. Check him out, the come hither, hand on hip, side lean of a playboy pro! Plus, that happy green garb.

Let's be honest, he had us at the thumbs up.

PS - The bi-coastal designer's New York sample sale starts today. It's going to be major so get a move on and head over now for all your summer essentials.

Geren Ford
NY Sample Sale
54 Thompson Street
STE 202
Friday, July 9
10am-6pm
up to 80% off
sample steals starting at $20

WHO SAYS FASHION FOLKS DON'T EAT...

Last night Bedat & Co. - the luxury watches all of Krupp-dom is freaking out about- treated guests which included editors from Elle, W, Marie Claire, WWD, and Town & Country to name a few, to enjoy a private cooking lesson with Top Chef, Antonia Lofaso, an event co-hosted by CEO & President, Johnny Wizman, and Lofaso at the French Culinary Institute in New York City.

Guests sipped exclusive cocktail pairings, received a private cooking lesson instructed by Top Chef, Lofaso, and dinned on a three course meal of fresh salad, papadelle pasta hand cut "by guests" and specially prepared seared chilean sea bass. Guests received a Bedat & Co. candle, a copy of "Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook" signed by Top Chef, Lofaso and a French Culinary Institute apron.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTERS F, I and A

Today's summer Friday is brought to you by the letters F, I and A! We may or may not be streaming this morning's United States vs. Slovenia game on one of our intern's computers. We'll never tell.

If you're looking forward to spending your summer Friday in front of a giant flat screen with a drink and friends cheering on your favorite team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup games, we can't help but recommend taking your show of support one step further.

At Aloha Rag's NY boutique you can pick up a Luis Morais Bracelet in honor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Morais created 10 limited edition bracelets, one for host country South Africa and nine others for the nine top ranked teams competing. They're each designed with African glass beads in each country's signature colors and adorned with a skull symbolizing how we all are fundamentally the same at the core, regardless of nationality.

We think this might be the best souvenir you can get from the games... with out trekking it all the way to South Africa!

GIMME FIVE!

We love knowing silly facts about designers so much that we created a quick little questionnaire we're calling "Gimme Five" and bugged our favorite designers to spill!

First up, Geren Lockhart, Founder and Creative Director of Geren Ford. Raised by artist parents amidst the spirited Bohemian art scene of the 1970's and '80's, Lockhart embraced a childhood split between New York's famous SoHo district and California's Bay Area. We knew her answers would be good!

If you weren't a designer what would you be doing?

10 years ago if you had asked me that I would have 100 percent said travel, but now that I've got the bug I would say entrepreneur of some sort.

What would you spend $10 on right now?

A passion fruit cocktail from Casa Cruz in Buenos Aires (a friend is down there right now so it doesn't seem as far flung as it sounds).

What's your favorite place to visit?

Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris - It's my all time favorite and I am constantly inspired buy everything about it, how the Parisians live and what every detail of the city looks like.

What's your favorite song - of all time?

The White Stripes, Elephant, the whole album - I can't pick just one... it's like choosing between children.

If someone had to play you in a movie, who would it be?
Drew Barrymore.

To celebrate the re-launch of the designer's ecommerce site, GerenFord.com, Lockhart is offering 25 percent off with discount code MAY25 at checkout. We're freaking over this Ruffle One Shoulder Top and Crinkled Leather Shorts.

THE KRUPP CAKES LOVE US SOME ARM CANDY

The Krupp Cakes love us some nOir stackable pyramid rings, Giles & Brother by Philip Crangi skinny railroad spike cuff and some Jenny Kang bracelets by DAD (sold at Albertine). What arm gems are you obsessing over right now?

EVEN CELEBRITIES LABEL ENVELOPES

Like all of you, when the Krupp Cakes heard the news of Britt Aboutaleb's departure from Fashionista, we kind of had a moment there. And then when we heard she'll be heading over to Elle.com, we decided to smile another day and take a trip down some Fashionista-style memory lane.

We came across this 2007 post inspired by a 1992 Sassy spread on then intern, Chloë Sevigny. Besides reporting on her super 90's iconic style, the glossy reports Chloë is like any other beloved intern- girl can get down and dirty when it comes time to label some mailers.


None of our interns have ended up on the red carpet at The Met Costume Institute Gala, that we know of any way. But we have referred to some of them as rock stars and super-stellar-to-the-max! We're currently seeking the kind of intern that spent her milk money on the debut issue of The Gentlewomen, dreams in photoshoots styled by Grace Coddington and isn't afraid to mess up a manicure to break down a box.

Of course, the regular nitty gritty details include... maintaining the showroom, scanning and organizing press, trafficking samples, administrative duties and generally assisting the team. Knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook a must and a knowledge of Photoshop is a gold star plus.

Hey if Chloë Sevigny can do it, so can you! Contact Amy at akeller@kruppgroup.com to apply.

WHO SAYS FASHION FOLKS DON'T EAT...

We don't know if it's her Southern upbringing or if it was lesson's in her mother's kitchen but either way, designer Lela Rose is one heck of a great cook! We are crazy obsessed with anything that comes out of this lady's kitchen. Last night we were introduced to her homemade biscotti. Let's just say we wasted no time asking how we could make this in our own home.

In a large bowl...
- Put 2 Cups of Sugar
- Zest 3 Lemons over the sugar and knead with hands to combine
- Add 2 3/4 Cup White Flour and 1/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour plus 1 heaping tablespoon Baking Powder

Mix with a fork to combine all

Make a well in the center of the flour/sugar mix
-Crack 4 Eggs into the center
- Fold Flour onto Eggs with hands and combine all
You must knead by hand until the mix is all combined

Preheat the oven to 325
-Put wax paper onto 2 cookie sheets and split the dough into 2 parts (one on each)
- Press dough out evenly to almost edge of cookie sheet
- Press lots (no, we mean LOTS) of raw almonds into every little space of dough

Bake for 12 minutes
Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes
Put back on cookie sheet (without wax paper) on side (so cut side faces up)
Rebake for 10-12 minutes

*Biscotti are best when NOT overcooked and have time to harden, which is about 2 hours after baking and will last for days.. well, assuming you don't eat them all... which we always do.

Rumor has it Lela sells her homemade ice cream from her living room window each summer. You know as the temps keep creeping up we're going to be asking for that recipe too!

-AK

A-LIST CELEBS PARTNER WITH BOCHIC TO BENEFIT CHARITY: WATER

We love to watch a good red carpet- the glitz, the glam and sometimes even the occasional fashion faux-pas. But this year's flash bulb processions have been especially impressive with Bochic's unique charity initiative.

With the help of Bochic baubles some serious Hollywood favorites are turning their red carpet appearances into water. Bochic will be auctioning pieces worn by celebrities at all red carpet events during 2010 for the benefit of charity: water. Actors Sandra Bullock, Rachel McAdams, Jennifer Carpenter and Ashley Greene each chose to partner with Bochic to support this philanthropic endeavor.

The auction will take place at the acclaimed auctioneers and appraisers Doyle New York on Wednesday, April 21. The celeb-donned Bochic pieces will be auctioned alongside Antique, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Retro and Modern era pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, David Webb and Tiffany & Co. Proceeds raised from the auction of Bochic will be donated to charity: water specifically to fund their efforts to provide clean water solutions on the ground in Haiti.

A GIANT CUPCAKE FIT FOR THE KRUPP CAKES

We just adore our interns... especially when they bake us up a tasty treat like this.

SKETCHING IN THE SUN

We've come back to the office yesterday and today kicking and screaming. Who can blame us? With this amazing weather outside and the sun, sun, sun... we're definitely wanting another Sunday. Around the Krupp-dom, the start of spring is celebrated only after the official opening day at our favorite homemade Italian ice and ice cream stand, Uncle Louie G. Alas, Sunday was an absolute dream.

With our Bubbly Bubble Gum Italian ice in hand, we headed out for some serious spring shoe shopping. We're ready to bare some pale skin, well on our feet of course, and these brushed gold metallic Vince Camuto Rito gladiator sandals are definitely going to hit the spot.

We love that Mr. Vince Camuto is asking all aspiring designers to submit a sketch of their dream shoe for a chance to get it produced and sold in the fall 2010 collection! Posted on the Vince Camuto Web site, visitors will vote on which designs they like best with the top 10 voted designs judged by designer Vince Camuto and President Louise Camuto along with an editor from Lucky. The best shoe design will then be highlighted in the September issue of Lucky and the designer wins a trip to New York City to meet Vince himself!

So grab your sketch pads cupcakes, and let's head to the park to sketch in the sun!

SNOWY DAY ACTIVITY #ONE

It's a serious blizzard today in the Krupp-dom and half our Krupp Cakes got caught in the snow.

It's the kind of day you order from your favorite Chinese restaurant, like Suzie's and curl up in your favorite Inhabit sweater.

Catch their semi-annual cashmere sale today for up to 70% off your favorite cashmere styles, like the cropped cardigan for only $88.

BOOKMARK & READ TWICE... DR.'S ORDERS

Well let's just be honest, Krupp Cakes. We've been majorly kind of crazed with New York Fashion Week about one minute away and are currently suffering from a bit of an RSVP-induced fever. You know the signs... an online bookmark to the Mooncakes order form, complete email conversations at 1 a.m. and living in a constant rotation of your favorite five Inhabit sweaters. Don't say you aren't going through the same thing, right?

The only cure, well besides the Mooncakes' Miso-Glazed Salmon plate, are these amazing photos and completely snowy day necessary story shared by Aloha Rag New York's Vicen Akina of a recent trip he took back home to Hawai'i.

Bookmark and read twice as soon as the fever sets in - Doctor's orders.

Getting out of the city is always great, especially when it's going home to Hawai'i; nothing but white sand, clear water and great food awaits. It's funny to be in a blizzard one day and on the beach the next; Christmas in Hawai'i always seems so contradictory.

My top priority is to be in the sun as much as possible, enjoying the 80-degree weather and trying to tan my pale winter skin. My favorite beach is Lanikai, only five minutes from my house, it's absolutely gorgeous and peaceful.

One of my goals this vacation was to catch up on my reading, with such books as "The End of Fashion" by Teri Agins and "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It's Luster" by Dana Thomas. The best thing after a day at the beach is an Açai bowl from Lanikai Juice. This über-healthy treat was once featured on Oprah and is topped with fresh mixed berries, banana, coconut, granola and honey.

The nicest most convenient way to get around my town, Kailua, is often by bike. Especially when President Obama is in town also on vacation, causing the worst traffic Kailua has ever seen. With the combination of locals and tourists trying to catch a glimpse of the President and the Secret Service blocking off major roads.

A favorite destination- and road trip by Hawai'i standards- is a day spent on the North Shore, notorious for its large waves and surf competitions during the winter. One necessary stop along the way is Leonard's Malasada truck to pick up some of the delicious Portuguese fried pastries. The North Shore is very rural and laid back, lined with many hidden surf spots as well as touristy villages.

One of the best lunches I had was at Neiman Marcus Honolulu Mariposa restaurant. My entrée was the Seared Scallops dish, which included potato gnocchi, smoked prosciutto, kahuku corn, fava bean purée and roasted lobster jus. My dessert was a beautifully presented Lilikoi (Passion Fruit) Pudding Cake with Starfruit and other fresh fruit.

Not far from Neiman Marcus is the original Aloha Rag. I always make a point to visit the Hawai'i store when I'm there to say hi to the staff and check out their inventory since it's quite different than Aloha Rag New York. It's nice to see other Aloha Rag members such as Makoto and Ken, whom I usually only communicate with via email. ARHI has the same clean, organized and luxurious aesthetic that AHNY has, yet it has quite a different feel due to its largely European and American merchandise. Versus ARNY's Japanese-heavy stock.

By the end of my two-and-a-half-week vacation I was a bit restless. Sometimes the only thing better than leaving New York is coming back. - Vicen Akina, Aloha Rag New York

OUR HAPPY PLACE

With all the burrr and lazy snow falling outside here in NYC, we're already dreaming of the days when we can skip away again and enjoy a magical beach-side adventure filled with tons of sun, cocktails and late night swims.

Sounds like we're not the only ones...

A Krupp Cake fav, Fashionista's Abby Gardner, has picked out our perfect big surf wardrobe spread to play beach vacation dress-up in the St. Barth's backdrop from Geren Lockhart of Geren Ford's new year's eve bliss.

Naturally, we asked the designer if she would share some snapshots from her holiday jaunt to get us through it. Enjoy!

WHO SAY'S FASHION FOLKS DON'T EAT?

Remember those giant gougère puffs Lela Rose made for her family's New Year's eve dinner? Yeah, we were kind of drooling over them too. So we asked the designer to share the love and she so graciously dished out the recipe.

I know we promised we were on serious holiday detox from treats... but, these are bananas!

Preheat the oven to 400°

6 eggs - beat and add
1 cup whole milk
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 cup (6 oz.) grated gruyère cheese

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter, pour in batter and bake 30 minutes till golden. Sprinkle with sea salt, et voila!

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: ALL ABOUT THE SHINE

Last night's People's Choice Awards, held in LA at the Nokia Theatre, proved yet again, we're not quite over our love for the vamps. It was "The Twilight Saga," "True Blood" and "The Vampire Diaries" who took home the bulk of the night's trophies.

But let's be honest, the red carpet's where the shows at!

It was all about the shine with Kerry Rutherford, Katie Cassidy, Jessica Alba and Kate Walsh rockin' the dazzle at the step-and-repeat.

Katie Cassidy's champagne frock beamed with her matching CASADEI satin pumps and Kate Walsh chose CASADEI's signature platform pump to show off her gams.

Check out the entire fashion recap with Timm Gunn and scope out a complete list of the night's winners.

WERE WE THE ONLY ONES NOT IN ST. BARTH'S FOR NYE?

Maybe watching the annual Prospect Park fireworks from our chilly Park Slope rooftop wasn't the chicest way to spend New Year's eve.... but, it was a night filled with great friends and even better cocktails.

Fashion Week Daily gave us a little glimpse into the fétes had by some of our favorite designers....

Lela Rose: "I only do quiet new years. My family and I had dinner with friends over at my parent's house in Willow Wood. I made a roasted lamb with rosemary, currants and orange, giant gougere puffs, and coffee souffle with homemade coffee ice cream. They went well with our pomegranate margaritas!"

Irene Neuwirth: "After three months of traveling for trunk shows, I ended up spending my new years eve in Telluride, Colorado, where my family has a home. Myself and seven of my friends went skiing, snow shoeing, but for the actual night we drank wine, cooked an unbelieveable dinner and played 'running charades.' I must say... it was the best new year's so far!"

Philip Crangi: "I spent it in the best way possible: with my closest friends over a fantastic dinner."

Jeffrey Monteiro: "My partner and I were at our house in Delaware County with friends. We managed to get a bonfire going that night and ended it with a snow ball fight."

Rachel Comey: "I drank a bottle of Cava with my patternmaker and we painted our nails. Then I put on an insanely flowered outfit and party hopped a bit in NYC."

Geren Lockhart, Geren Ford: "St. Barth's, 2nd shortest runway in the world supposedly, Sun, Rain, Convertible Smart, Eden Rock Cocktails, Marc Jacobs at dinner with Rachel Zoe and their spouses, Pink Champagne, Good French Food, Pharmacy Visits, Beach Days, Saline & Gouvenour. NYE late night swim at Shell Beach yachts twinkling in the distance surrounding the bay, Private view of the only fireworks that ended up going off!, Yacht filled harbor then empty harbor because of the swell. La Plage, Russell Simmons (we saw him so often that either he's stalking me or I'm stalking him)... Blythe's black eye, Dr. visits, Maya's to go--YUM! Crepes, Pina Coladas. Swimming in our pool, and hanging out in the pool smoking what seems to be my last cigarettes while reading the marathon training book. Sweet Villa with amazing views, a neighbor that provided daily DJ services free of charge. Buzz on the island about Abramovitch's party, U2? Prince? Ended up being Beyonce from what we hear...but thank god we didn't try to crash since there are rumored snipers protecting the property. St. Barth's is paradise..." For other designer's new year's eve celebrations, check out the full story at Fashion Week Daily.

RESOLUTIONS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN, RIGHT?

If you're anything like us, you have probably already set and broke your New Year's resolution. But, who can say no to just one cupcake from Billy's Bakery?

Hearing of our very sad state, a few of our favorite designers came to the rescue. Hopefully their resolutions will help inspire you too.

Happy New Year!

Jason Cauchi | Dallin Chase
"Take more time to travel with my wife and kids and make the time to take a weekend getaway."

Jeffrey Monteiro
"Take up a new hobby - twittering!!!"

Melissa Joy Manning
"This year mine is to see my brother more often and talk to my parents at least every three days. Basically, taking time to find more balance."

Lela Rose
"Why Do them... Just a way to set failure!"

QUEEN OF "ALL THE REAL GIRLS"

Check out the recent issue of City magazine for Angela Craven's conversation with Rachel Comey to find out where this Queen of "All the Real Girls" gets her inspiration from and how she keeps it fresh - season after season.

Our favorite...

"You know her girls when you see them: natural beauties, noses often tucked in a book, hair a bit mussed. The kind of girl who can pull off something like a crop top with elegance (see Spring '09), or lend an understated sexiness to a pair of cloges (Comey re-imagines them season after season, in supple leathers and hefty wooden platforms)."

BET-TUR-BIN BELIEVE WE ADORE JEFFREY MONTEIRO

We adore Jeffrey Monteiro... it's no secret.


The Thread's Laurel Pinson's recent conversation with the designer has us starry-eyed and giggly.

Ps.. This scarf-hat is amazing, right? We're crazed by it too. Bet-tur-bin believe we're going to spend the better part of our night search the YouTube kingdom for a crafty little how-to video.