Sue Wong- So Right!

Sue Wong is an exceptional designer specializing in cocktail attire and evening gowns. Yesterday, I experienced a shopping explosion when visiting Elizabeth Michaels Store on Grand Central Avenue in Vienna.

Armed with a list of events, and knowing I needed several new items for the Fall season I headed to one of my favorite boutiques in search of the right dresses and accessories.

I was so lucky to find a Sue Wong Lace Overlay Dress with a dramatic bell sleeve. Lace is so popular this season with designers as we feel a strong resurgence of the styles of the 1940's on the scene. The owner, Jane Engelke, exclaimed "that's a Kim dress!" and I knew I must have it for an upcoming wedding party.

Next, I needed a conservative dress for a rehearsal dinner event. I headed over to the Nicole Miller rack and sifted through several fabulous dresses, eventually finding the perfect dress. It was a geometric print dress with lots of gathering to create a perfect 1940's old-hollywood shape.

Check! Now that I've checked those two items off the list what's next? Well, I headed back over to the Sue Wong rack and grabbed everything in my size. After careful consideration of my conservative image and attire Ifound myself taking a walk on the wild side as I yelled "ring it up" and shoved a leopard print tribal dress on the counter. The global trend has been strong for a couple seasons but I also can feel safe in knowing that leopard prints never go out of style.

I thought I had done enough damage when Jane let me know the Whiting and Davis Handbags were on sale. 75% off!!!! I fell in love with a little elongated fringe number but option for the conservative black beaded bag, afterall I was already taking a personality risk by decking myself out in a wild leopard dress.

Ring Me up! What a fabulous shopping excursion. I love it when I can visit one shop and get everything on my list.

Leggings, a global phenomenon!

I just returned from London with a new-found love for leggings. Sure, I can be easily pursuaded and have been know to give into peer pressure a time or two but this trip caused me to fall in love with the leggings trend.

The women of London are incredibly fashionable, wearing the trends so well. They embrace the archetectural designs of the top designers with ease and typically leave the basics for others while they embrace the latest fads.

The leggings were everywhere and on everyone! From 16 to 60, the trend was unescapable! Now, as a fashion designer myself, I've been working and reworking this trend for two years, searching for the perfect fabric with the right amount of coverage for me to feel good in this trend.

So now I challenge everyone to give the trend a try. At first, you might feel a little exposed, but by the end of the day you'll be searching for more leggings in various colors and patterns.

Jessi Pierson, Miss WV USA, wearing leggings from the Kim Parrish Collection and a top from Express.

PARRISH TO KICK OFF ‘KIDS CLUB’ AT TRANS ALLEGHENY BOOKS

Parkersburg, WV, September 2009---Trans Allegheny Books located at 725 Green Street in Parkersburg, West Virginia will kick off their monthly “Kids Club” event with former resident, Kim Parrish, and her newly released children’s book called The Snapdragon Princess on Saturday, September 26th. The event will start at 1:00 PM with a reading of the book followed by an opportunity to have the book signed by the local author. The event is open to the public.

“I’m excited to launch the book at my favorite bookstore in my hometown,” said Parrish. “I’m looking forward to meeting children in the area and introducing them to a story that was inspired by my grandmother while growing up in the Mid Ohio Valley.”

National television host Kim Parrish and best-selling children’s book author Deb Landry came together on this project to explore how role models can be found in our ordinary, everyday lives. The Snapdragon Princess (Bryson Taylor Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9773738-6-4) is available nationwide.

The Snapdragon Princess, for ages 6-11, revives the legacy of a real princess in a delightful intergenerational story of family treasures, enchantment and cherished times gone by. McKenzie is an astonishing young girl who dreams of becoming a princess. With the help of her grandmother, she embarks on a journey and discovers that being a real princess is much more than crowns and dress-up.

Each month, Trans Allegheny will host a “Kids Club” featuring a reading from a local author as well as an autograph signing event. Among the 500,000 titles of used books and 1,000 new West Virginia titles, vintage wooden cases located throughout the building hold rare and collectible items.

The Snapdragon Princess will be available at numerous local bookstores including Trans Allegheny in Parkersburg as well as other online retailers. More information can be found at BrysonTaylorPublishing.com.