Archive for the ‘eBay Insider’ Category

Of all the fashion capitals, London produces the most daring fashion. So naturally, the trends that come off the London Fashion Week runways are usually the most progressive of the season.

Mark Fast & Mary Katrantzou (Photo by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage)

Balenciaga Kaffiyeh Beaded Dress (winning bid, $2,036.99)
 
 

 
Marni Golden Silk & Wool Patchwork Tank Top (buy it now price, $269)
 
 
 Robert Cordero is editor at JC Report, an influential online global style publication, where he also works on the new media company’s business development and marketing initiatives.
 

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Save the date! eBay and designer Narciso Rodriguez announce February 15, 2010 as the official on-sale date of the much-anticipated Narciso Rodriguez for eBay Collection. The designer’s first-ever original capsule collection will be sold exclusively through the Narciso Rodriguez eBay store, redefining how and where savvy shoppers can buy designer fashion at extraordinary value.

Save the date! eBay and designer Narciso Rodriguez announce February 15, 2010 as the official on-sale date of the much-anticipated Narciso Rodriguez for eBay Collection. The designer’s first-ever original capsule collection will be sold exclusively through the Narciso Rodriguez eBay store, redefining how and where savvy shoppers can buy designer fashion at extraordinary value.

The eight-piece limited-edition collection bears the designer’s signature, streamlined look and sophisticated color blocking, created in a red, black and white color palette. The collection will be offered at accessible, fixed price points ranging from $65 – $350, in sizes 0 to 14, and available for purchase exclusively through the Narciso Rodriguez eBay store.

Download the eBay iPhone app now to shop the Narciso Rodriguez Collection for eBay on the go starting February 15.
 
Rodriguez, a three-time Council of Fashion Designers of America winner, is a celebrity fashion favorite who regularly dresses the likes of Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Weisz, Claire Danes and Jessica Alba. For more information, visit http://pages.ebay.com/NarcisoRodriguezforebay.com/

**Collage composed of Narciso Rodriguez’s sketches for the eBay collection.**

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Still searching for a Valentine’s Gift that’s a little more heartfelt than chocolate and roses? The Inside Source Editorial Director Meredith Barnett appeared on Fox & Friends this Sunday to offer truly personal gift ideas inspired by some of the latest trends. Watch the video with host Alisyn Camerota.

Still searching for a Valentine’s Gift that’s a little more heartfelt than chocolate and roses? The Inside Source Editorial Director Meredith Barnett appeared on Fox & Friends this Sunday to offer truly personal gift ideas inspired by some of the latest trends. Catch the video here with host Alisyn Camerota, and check out the specifics below.

Plus, for more great gift ideas, check out our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.

Trend 1: OLD WORLD ROMANCE

Your love should be as timeless as these heirloom style pieces.

Antique Heart Shaped Keys: Antique keys are a beautiful collectible and can also be strung on a chain and worn as a necklace. The little hearts in these make them special for the holiday.

Vintage Valentine Cards: These are really special. They are Valentine’s cards from the early 1900s with gold paper and lace. So much more romantic then sending a modern paper card; you could absolutely put them in a frame.

Victorian Cabachon Brooch: The pink stone is a nod to the holiday, but the brooch can be worn year round. Make this look modern by wearing a bunch of clustered brooches on a t-shirt or blazer.. [$40 on eBay]

Small Heart Shaped Dishes: These litte dishes look like mother of pearl so they have that very nostalgic tough. You can use them all the time – to store jewelry, to display candy, etc…[$30 each, by Jan Burtz]

Trend 2: RETRO ROMANCE

Graphic, clean-lined mid-century modern collectibles inspired by Mad Men let you escape to another era.

Glass Cocktail Tumblers: These glasses are actually brand new but they have such a retro look. We mixed them with this authentic mid-century cocktail shaker. [$150 for set of six]

1950’s Cocktail Pitcher: If you decided not to splurge on a romantic meal out this year, host a big night in with friends. While th red Bakelite handle makes this feel seasonal, you can use it all year round. [about $40]

Vintage Super 8 Movie Camera: Low tech is hip again. Use this authentic 1960s-era movie camera (it still works!) for making romantic home movies with an old-timey vibe.  [$20 on eBay]

Antique Cufflinks: Cufflinks are always a no-fail gift for guys and come in a huge variety of price points. Look for a pair with a hint of the holidays, but that doesn’t go overboard. Red enamel or Bakelite are always a good bet.

Trend 3: ANTI-VALENTINE’S DAY

Valentine’s Day icons like hearts and flowers can be so cloying. For likeminded skeptics who crave a little edginess without venturing into the realm of bad tattoo art territory, here are some objects that help you think outside the heart shaped box.

“Aorta” Vase: This creamy white porcelain bud vase is so classically elegant, but the fact that it’s modeled after the real blood-pumping muscle gives it a slightly macabre feeling. ( $40 on eBay)

 Jonathan Adler “Love” and “Hate” pillows: Jonathan Adler makes wonderful, whimsical things for your home like these “love/hate” pillows—in a very old-is-new again needlepoint.. The juxtaposition between the words and the is so fun — it will definitely make your Valentine’s Day Grinch smile. [$175 each]

 Heart and Dagger Pillow by Michele Varian: The dagger is tough, but the bright pink suede keeps this pillow sweet. This gorgeous throw pillow makes a statement all year round. [on sale for $171]

 “Love is Not Dead” Necklace: This acrylic comes from designers Alex + Chloe. You can see the way the letters are melting — they manage to be both cheeky and flirty and dark all at the same time. [Vday sale for $30]

 True Blood Season 1 DVD set: Millions of caught on to the guilty pleasure of this hit HBS show. Join in the campy fun or revisit for a second time around. [$50 on sale at Barnes + Noble].

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One of eBay’s top diamond sellers tells us why it’s more fun to design your own engagement ring. Give it a whirl—you could win your dream ring (valued up to $25,000) with eBay’s Build Your Bling contest.

Sure, a Valentine’s Day proposal is romantic, but it’s even better if you’re happy with his ring choice, right?

One of eBay’s top jewelry sellers has joined forces with the online marketplace to make designing your own engagement ring easier than ever before. They’re even giving away a brand new diamond ring. (See details below.) eBays new Diamond Ring Designer allows shoppers to build a bauble based on cut—cushion, round, princess, etc.—clarity, color—white, blue, pink—and of course, price. You also get to choose your setting as well as the metal from which your band is made. There are 50,000 stones available, which really makes it pretty easy to find exactly what you want.

Charlie Hollander, owner of the Gem Stone King, is the seller partnering with eBay to run the program. He says that every stone available on the Diamond Ring Designer is approved by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which means its quality is vouched for. What’s more, Hollander deals directly with about 15,000 suppliers, which cuts the cost of the middlemen involved in sites that sell branded diamond rings. He says that, along with great value, the appeal of the site is choice. “There are literally thousands and thousands of options to consider,” says Hollander. And it always helps that the Diamond Ring Designer is run by a company that consumers already trust. “You feel confident of the quality when you’re shopping on here, which is important.”

Want to try to build your own ring but need a little inspiration? Hollander was kind enough to lead us on the inside track to the latest trends in engagement rings.

Colored Diamonds

Colored diamonds are still going strong years after Jennifer Lopez’s canary yellow diamond hit the tabloid pages. “They’re still very much in fashion,” says Hollander.

1.4 Carat Round Certified Pink and White Diamond Ring (buy it now price, $2,250); 1 Carat Certified Pink Diamond Solitaire (buy it now price, $2,850); 1.32 Carat Canary Yellow and White Diamond Ring (buy it now price, $2,850)

Diamonds and Silver

As shoppers continue to keep their wallets tight, the combination of silver and diamond is becoming a more accepted alternative to platinum or gold, according to Hollander. “People want to get the most value for their money these days.”

Natural Diamond Silver Ring (buy it now price, $29.99); .16 Carat White Diamond and Silver Ring (buy it now price, $98); .1 Carat Black Diamond Ring (buy it now price, $65)

Cushion and Round Cut Diamonds

When it comes to diamond shape, vintage-inspired cushion cut and round diamonds still rule.

3.9 Carat Natural Black Onyx and Diamond 14K While Gold Ring (buy it now price, $785); 2.14 Carat Round Certified Diamond Engagement Ring (buy it now price, $4,395); 6.5 Carat Round Platinum Diamond Eterinty Wedding Band (buy it now price, $7,950)

Want to score your dream ring this Valentine’s Day? eBay and Brides magazine invite The Inside Source readers to enter “Build Your Bling,” a nationwide contest whose winner will win a new diamond ring worth up to $25,000.

Through February 19, visit eBay’s Diamond Ring Designer and submit your dream ring design. The public will vote on their favorite design and the creator of the winning ring will see her vision realized.

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The Narciso Rodriguez for eBay collection goes on sale today! Read our interview with the celebrated designer.

Just days away from his Fall 2010 show for New York Fashion Week, designer Narciso Rodriguez spoke to Constance White, eBay’s Fashion Expert, about his design philosophy and his collaboration with eBay, which goes on sale today. Click here to view images of the collection and here to start shopping.

Constance White: How did you approach designing your eBay collection?

Narciso Rodriguez: I only had eight pieces to deliver. It’s much easier to design when you have those parameters—when you’re focused on delivering the message with eight pieces. You have to consider what it is you stand for, what you want to say. When I’m designing my other line, [I] just keep going and it’s a bit undisciplined. [I] can do so much.

Narciso Rodriguez attending his 'Retrospective' in November, 2009 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by GV Cruz/WireImage)

CW: What else makes designing this line different?

NR: The thing that’s different about it is that you have to be practical. You want to give the best price, but use the best materials. Because [this is] the first season [of the collaboration with eBay], it’s also [about] starting the look of something you want to continue. It’s building the foundation.

CW: Like a love affair, is the most exciting part the beginning?

NR: [Laughs.] It is. I agree. I thought about that—and what I did at the beginning of my career [versus] what I should do now. What would endure? I have racks and racks of clothing that Kathy [Kalesti, vice president of his company] is dying for me to get rid of. But I like things that endure. So much of fashion today is inexpensive and disposable. I’ve never been interested in things that don’t endure.

CW: How does it feel to be going into this kind of partnerhip with a company like eBay?

NR: For me it’s very exciting. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to do a more affordable collection, but I wanted it to be very personal. I’m such a hands-on designer. I want to create good clothes that can reach a broad audience, but not just a mass product. The things that sell out best in the store are the things that are the most personal. I want to keep designing and creating and this is another way to do that.

CW: What about the business side?

NR: From a business point of view, it’s a great moment to have everyone look at what we do and to grow the business. With my signature collection, I would be reaching a fraction of the people I’m reaching by having a store on eBay. The way it works, it’s also very streamlined [selling the collection on eBay] and I’m all about the streamline. Secondary lines are big for a moment and then disappear. I prefer slow and steady rather than big and gone.

CW: What are the three things you stand for as a designer in general?

NR: One thing I love most is a graphic message. And I love to keep it very honed, and very sexy, and have that black and white [a signature motif in his collection]. 

CW: What are your three great sources of inspiration?

NR: First, architecture. I like Oscar Nedemeyer’s work. Sonja Braga recently sent me picture of buildings in Brazil that he’s done. Second, people on the street. Life on the street. I get more work done in my head on my 15 minute walk to work [than I do in hours at the office] looking at buildings, the sidewalk, color, action. Third, music. I love Brazilian music. It’s so romantic and beautiful the way the Brazilian musicians express themselves. I love Cuban music. I listen to rock. I just got all my old Missy Elliot out and I’m listening to that.

From left to right from the Narciso Rodriguez for eBay collection: Python T-Shirt, $70; Reversible Trench, $350; Jersey Dress, $250

CW: You’ve had an enviable career. What are the two biggest highlights so far?

NR. Dressing Michelle Obama. That Michelle Obama chose to wear one of my dresses on election night, something I designed, meant a lot to me. That I could be a small part of an important moment in history, the history of the world, was amazing to me… And dressing Carolyn (Bessette Kennedy) for her wedding to John. They’re both very dear moments to me.

CW: Why do they stand out?

NR: Obviously, because of the media attention and recognition from people who wouldn’t necessarily see or recognize my work. But for me personally, they are important because those are both beautiful and independent women. They are inspiring to me. With Caroline, she was the love of my life: That she wanted me to create something for her to marry the love of her life was to me a very beautiful moment.

CW: What advice would you give to a woman on how to use fashion to look her best?

NR: First, keep it simple. There’s a reason people love a little black dress. It’s something that you can dress up or down. Second, have it fitted. No matter how hard I try or any designer tries to reach women with something that fits them perfectly, it’s not going to happen all the time. It’s such a simple thing to look in the mirror with a tailor and say, ‘Take that little bit out.’ It makes everything you own so much better. I get everything tailored. Third is comfort. Feel comfortable physically, but also mentally in your clothes. Wear something that makes you feel great.

Constance White is eBay’s Fashion Expert. To purchase the Narciso Rodriguez for eBay collection, click here.  

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The style setters behind three top U.S. shops let us in on their eBay must-haves for 2010.

Boutique owners are constantly on the lookout for the latest and greatest items to line their shelves, but sometimes that means their own shopping needs are forgotten. Three of the country’s top buyers reveal their 2010 shopping resolutions to The Inside Source.

Wendy and Larae Kangas of Duo

The sister team behind this year-old boutique in New York City’s East Village stock a mix of vintage pieces (including plenty of Pendleton plaid shirts and Bonnie Cashin-era Coach purses) as well as New York-based indie designers such as Keller, Lewis and Dusen Dusen. This year, their resolution is to collect more vintage home decor.

Glass Apothecary Jar (buy it now price, $34.75; above, left) We use these glass jars for making terrariums to put on our fireplace.

Vintage Hubbell Navajo Yei Rug Weaving (buy it now price, $149.99; above, right) We’re also on the hunt for wool Navajo rugs to use as wall hangings.

Cameron Silver of Decades

Known for its pristine collection of 1960s and 1970s vintage eveningwear, Decades is a must-stop for celebrity stylists and their clients when preparing for a trip down the red carpet. Gwyneth Paltrow, Chloe Sevigny, Nicole Kidman and more have made headlines wearing designers like Christian Dior, Loris Azzaro, Yves Saint Lauren and Thierry Mugler sourced from this influential boutique. The driving force behind Decades, owner Cameron Silver is renowned for his ability to make vintage feel contemporary, even fashion forward. This year, the Los Angeles-based collector and curator would like to buy himself a pair of Givenchy oxfords from the label’s Spring 2009 collection. “I thought they were hideous when I first saw them, but they grew on me. Then it was too late and they had sold out!” says Silver. While the particular pair he’s after aren’t currently up for auction, here are some alternatives:

John Lobb Oxfords (buy it now price, $499; above, left) A pair of John Lobb lace-up shoes never looks dated.

Givenchy Boots (buy it now price, $299.99; above, right) These sleek black boots will work nine months out of the year.

Adele Berne and Michael Kuhle of Epaulet

The owners of this men’s and women’s boutique in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens neighborhood not only carry plenty of contemporary labels—including United Nude, Cheap Monday and Melissa—but they also design and produce their own line right in New York City. The Epaulet house line includes ethnic printed dresses, plaid shirts, and denim with a definite hipster feel. Owners Adele Berne and Michael Kuhle’s 2010 shopping list currently includes mid-century furniture and unique knickknacks, such as these:

Knoll Barcelona Chair (buy it now price, $3,500) This Mies van der Rohe-designed piece is an architectural classic.

Vienna Bronze Boston Terrier Figurine (starting bid, $129.99) A petite bulldog would like great in the store.

Lauren Sherman is a fashion and culture writer based in Brooklyn. She founded  The Fashion Beat in October 2009 after working for four years at Forbes.

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If you forgot to make plans for the long weekend that just passed, there’s another one right around the corner! President’s Day Weekend is February 13th through 15th—the same weekend as Valentine’s Day, so you really have no excuse not to get away. Forgo the chocolate and roses and splurge on a romantic weekend somewhere warm. And if romance isn’t in the cards for you, even better: Grab your girlfriends and get on your way.

Suzanne Singer served as the Accessories Editor at ElleGirl and most recently, as the Associate Accessories Editor at Lucky. She can usually be found wearing at least eight rings and five necklaces

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As the founder of Unique Los Angeles, the country’s largest independent design and gift show, Sonja Rasula is arguably the new face of a growing made-in-the-USA movement. She’s also an passionate collector whose primary resource is eBay. She reconciles her eBay obsession with Unique Los Angeles’ commitment to shopping local because both show a commitment for supporting independent merchants. “To me, buying local is not just buying where you live, but is also very much about buying within and supporting the U.S. economy. When it comes to eBay, I can purchase great antiques from someone in Ohio and I know I’m supporting the buyer, the place where he/she buys packaging materials from, etc.” she says.

In December, Unique Los Angeles, the country’s largest independent design and gift show, was a buzzing, commercial enterprise in an otherwise languishing retail landscape. With over 300 vendors that attracted 11,000 shoppers, the holiday sale—staged over a weekend in a sleek office high-rise with panoramic views of Los Angeles—was a wide-eyed rediscovery of all things local.

Sonja Rasula, the founder of Unique Los Angeles, is arguably the new face of a growing made-in-the-USA movement. In 2008, the energetic and community-minded Los Angeles native spent the better part of the year volunteering to register voters.  When faced with having to find a job after the election, she developed the concept of a large-scale event in Los Angeles that promoted local design. Using her own savings and drawing on the diversity of her work experience in journalism and new media (she was also an interior designer on the popular TLC’s home makeover show, ‘Trading Spaces’ and HGTV’s “Home To Go”) Rasula set out to create a shopping showcase of local and independent design that “rivaled the mall.” Since its sure-footed debut in December 2008, Unique Los Angeles has doubled its attendance, becoming a model for the 21^st century independent marketplace. For the $10 admission, guests get a limited edition, show-specific tote bag and enjoy a host of free services, including portraits at the ‘Oh Snap! Studios’ photo booth, Eco gift wrapping, drinks and magazines. Shoppers can even hit a series of workshops offered by designers, illustrators and writers. Of course, the ability to buy directly artisans and their teams (and in some cases from the names on the label, like fashion designer Eva Franco, who was at the most recent event and was also featured here on The Inside Source) is the real draw.

For vendors, the bi-annual design and art show is a win-win opportunity. Booth space costs a small fraction of what it does at trade shows. And selling directly to the customer offers not
only the opportunity to conduct informal customer research, but also puts money directly into a seller’s pocket as opposed to selling wholesale through a traditional retail channel. The show is also a chance to move samples or old stock without having to liquidate it. “Much of the show’s success boils down to a lineup of stellar designers and their fresh and modern wares,” says Rasula.  “There are more people who apply than can take part, which allows me to really narrow-down the selection.”

Vendors Two Rabbits and Hunble at Unique Los Angeles.

The 33-year-old Rasula wears a number of hats, from securing the space for the show to writing a newsletter, updating the blog, designing logos and handling promotions. And then there’s outfitting the imposing 100,000 square foot event space. “I scour eBay for décor items that help create the mood for each show,” she says. “I know how to make a lot out of little to no budget, so I use eBay to all of the time to find great deals on things like Chinese lanterns, fabric, antique holiday ornaments, antique milk crates, old mannequin forms and furniture. Or I could consider just blowing the budget on this amazing vintage arrow sign.”

This “buy local” champion is also an avid collector and eBay shopper in her personal life. “I’m obsessed with collecting vintage typewriters, radios, vintage wallpaper, antique cups and saucers, antique glass Christmas ornaments, old interior design books and lamps” she says. More unexpectedly: “I love displaying vintage sports equipment, so I’ve been collecting vintage wooden golf clubs (drivers to be specific). Once I get a few more, I plan to display them standing up in a large ceramic vase in the corner of my studio. I’ve purchased many cool old tennis rackets on eBay, which I hang up on the walls as art.” 

Pressed to explain the unifying force behing her collections, she explains that for the most part, it’s all about “just stuff that is aesthetically pleasing to me… I love mid-century modern items, from furniture to radios to art.  There is, however, actually one thing that I collect on a more emotional level: antique portraits of people from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Obviously, it’s not family members selling the heirlooms; something in me connects with these people who are forgotten. Each one had a history, a life, that we’ll never know.”

Though Rasula has always loved collecting, she turned her passion up several notches when she bought her first place ten years ago. eBay had started thriving around the same time, and “because I worked in new media and was online all-day long, I went to town! Being a designer on a TV show also helps fuel the need to find great items, and well-priced ones at that.” She continues to feel drawn to eBay both for the sheer volume of merchandise and because of easy accessibility of product information. “It’s easy to search and find items, as opposed to spending an entire day searching at a flea market,” she says. Rasula even taught her grandmother how to use the site and signed her up for an account six years ago; now, she uses the site to buy fabric and surf for jewelry.

Rasula’s antique cup and saucer collection and Christmas ornament collections, both of which include many items purchased on eBay.

Rasula reconciles her eBay obsession with Unique Los Angeles’ commitment to shopping local because both show a commitment for supporting independent merchants. “To me, buying local is not just buying where you live, but is also very much about buying within and supporting the U.S. economy. When it comes to eBay, I can purchase great antiques from someone in Ohio and I know I’m supporting the buyer, the place where he/she buys packaging materials from, etc.” she says.

The Unique Los Angeles spring show is scheduled for April 24-25 at the California Market Center. Meanwhile, Rasula is already planning to expand the event into other markets, including New York and Atlanta. “I’d then like to grow into other cool international cities, like Tokyo, Toronto and Berlin,” says Rasula. For someone who once worried about finding a job, she has created an extraordinary amount of work for herself. “I knew [that] in order to achieve my goals for the show—to contribute to the sustainability of the artists and to educate the masses on buying local— it needed to attract thousands and thousands,” she says. “I am passionate about teaching people the worth and value of great design and how buying local supports the local economy. All along my motto was ‘go big or go home’.”

Rasula’s vintage radio collection (left) and the vintage Eames radio she is eyeing on eBay (buy it now price, $34.99).

Rasula is coveting vintage Star Wars wallpaper (current bid, $19.99, left) and vintage geometric wallpaper (buy it now price, approximately $28, right) to add to her vintage wallpaper collection (center).

Rasula would add this mid-century tiger lamp (buy it now price, $107.99, right), to her collection of vintage lamps, like the one at left.

**Images of Unique Los Angeles and Sonja Rasula provided by Rasula.**

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To commemorate the launch of the new Barbie Basics line, twelve of fashion’s biggest stars have styled one-of-a-kind Barbie Basics figurines to auction off on eBay to benefit the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Barbara Millicent Roberts, known the world over as Barbie, celebrated her 50^th birthday in style last year, with fashion designers and style makers lining up to toast the doe-eyed doll at what felt like a 12 month-long party. First came runway shows in New York and London, followed by tailor-made clothes by Christian Louboutin and Comme Des Garcons, cementing her every-girl’s-fantasy status. Over the holidays, Barbie Fashionistas (a line of runway-inspired dolls) were a top seller, and there are currently huge billboards on Manhattan’s west side encouraging fans to vote for Barbie’s next career. (Should she be a news anchor, architect or computer engineer? You decide.)

Still youthful at 51, Barbie remains as popular as ever. Currently, there are nearly 165,000 Barbie-themed goods on eBay, ranging from a collection of holiday Barbie dolls with a starting bid of $13,000 to Barbie doll clothing that can be purchased for one dollar. (The average selling price of Barbie dolls on eBay is around $25.) Recently, a lot of vintage 1950s and 1960s Barbie dolls was sold for $9,979 after nine bids, though the highest priced Barbie doll sale in recent years was a rare 1959 Original Vintage #1 Ponytail Barbie with a box and stand that sold for $14,600. Barbie dolls are the most popular doll on eBay, representing the largest majority in the Dolls category.  Sales spike in December for the holiday season, and seem to be recession-proof, as total sales continue to grow year over year.

Barbie’s most recent breaking news is her new streamlined look: Mattel has just introduced a line of Barbie Basics, featuring dolls clad in a simple black dresses with accessory kits packed with shoe, scarf, handbag, and jewelry options so girls can customize her look.

To commemorate the launch, the Council of Fashion Designers of America has corralled twelve of fashion’s biggest stars to style one-of-a-kind Barbie Basics figurines to auction off on eBay. The participating team includes Devi Kroell, Betsey Johnson, Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel Roy, Albertus Swanepoel, Lorraine Schwartz, Alexis Bittar, Botkier, Philip Crangi, Tory Burch, Subversive Jewelry and Kate Spade. All were given free rein to tinker with Barbie’s look any way they saw fit. The result? Each doll has a distinct skin tone, facial features, and hair color, and their outfits—some bedecked with loads of glitzy sparkles, others sleekly minimalist—are similarly disparate.

Kate Spade co-president and creative director Deborah Lloyd altered Barbie’s sheath with a ribbon belt and fringed tiers on the skirt, and added a polka dot tote and oversize crystal necklace, giving her a modern Breakfast at Tiffany’s vibe. Lloyd told The Inside Source, “This project was so nostalgic for me, as I began my ‘career’ designing beautiful dresses for my Barbie at the age of six. Now it has come full circle and I absolutely adored designing for her again. It made me remember how much I love what I do and that I am living out my childhood dream!”

Though jewelry designer Alexis Bittar admitted, “I never played with dolls, so it wasn’t something I was exposed to, [though] I totally understand the fascination of playing with Barbie and getting to dress her up. And the idea of making Barbie even more glamorous was appealing.” The designer described his design to The Inside Source: “We came up with this asymmetrical crystal pattern on her dress and reversed the jewels to make them look more like spikes, and gave her a super-messy Italian Vogue hairdo” he says. “She has a retro, going-to-the-Palladium-in-1992 feel.”

Each doll is completely unique and exclusive to eBay. Bidding for Barbie opens at $100 and kicks off this Thursday, January 28^th, through February 7^th, with proceeds benefitting the CFDA’s educational initiatives and scholarship program. 

**Barbie photos coutesy of Mattel.**

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With the long Martin Luther King weekend right around the corner, book at trip to one of these five resorts. Each one is renowned for its slopes, but also offers plenty for folks who prefer the wintry lodge lifestyle over the actual skiing.

Admittedly, I’m not a skier. I don’t snowboard either. But I do like a walk in the snow. And I love everything about a wintry lodge—hot chocolate (or a scotch, neat), roaring fireplaces, friends sitting close to each other, and the honest tired that you only get after spending the day outside in the cold. The Europhile in me would love to be jetting off to Sils Maria in Switzerland or the Bregenzerwald region of Austria (the hikes are so charming and the food is so good), but the truth is that there are some fantastic resorts Stateside too. These properties really are so perfect—as much for you skiers and snowboarders as for the reader/lounger/foodies like me)—that you can skip the transatlantic flight and buy extra lift tickets (or massages at the spa) instead. With the long Martin Luther King weekend right around the corner, book at trip to one of these five resorts instead.

Whiteface Lodge Lake Placid, NY

Located in the charming town of Lake Placid in the Adirondacks (about a five hour drive from New York City), the Whiteface Lodge sits on the edge of Lake Placid and is minutes from the village and skiing area of Whiteface mounted. The resort was completed as recently as 2005, though it was designed in the traditional style of the grand old lodges of the Adirondacks, where tall beamed ceilings and rustic, hand-milled furniture feel authentic, but luxurious. Each of the rooms is a suite, with at least one bedroom, a kitchen and laundry. Breakfast, which is included, is a stellar buffet, with eggs, pancakes, organic yogurts and breads and fresh juices. There’s even a bowling alley. Phone: 800-903-4045.

Take With You: Fur Hat with Ear Flaps (buy it now price, $59) 

Ritz Carlton Highlands Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe, CA

Just four hours from San Francisco, Lake Tahoe is the ideal retreat any time of year. The drive is beautiful; the views of the lake are unbelievable, and the area is just so pristine, it feels caught in time. Somehow, the region never had a renowned luxury hotel brand until this December, when the Ritz Carlton Highlands had its grand opening. With its ski-in and ski-out option and a location mid-mountain in the Northstar-at-Tahoe resort, the hotel provides an epic opportunity for skiers. For the rest of us, there’s a 17,000 square foot spa and a restaurant from renowned chef Traci des Jardins.  Phone: 530-562-3000.

Take With You: Kandahar Winter Boots (buy it now price, $22.99, above right) 

Woodstock Inn & Resort Woodstock, VT

A comfortable and upscale resort in a charming New England town, The Woodstock Inn is minutes from both Suicide Six, a renowned downhill ski area with over 20 trails, and great cross country skiing areas. (It’s also just 15 minutes from The Farmer’s Diner, a delicious restaurant that sources most of its ingredients from local farms.) The Inn went through a very smart renovation in the last couple of years and feels equal parts Shaker, modern, and New England. We love the 10 foot tall roaring fireplace. And we always make sure we’re back at the hotel by 4pm for tea time, where we can fuel up with endless trays of homemade cookies before dinner (hey, it’s vacation), when we’ll enjoy the hotel’s hearty restaurant, The Red Rooster, which uses organic and local product as much as possible. Phone: 800-448-7900.

Take With You: SmartWool PHD Light Ski Socks (buy it now price, $21.95)  

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, WY

Located in the Teton Mountain Range in Wyoming, Terra is a boutique hotel that you can feel great about supporting: It’s incredibly affordable (ski packages start at $109 per person, include your room, breakfast, and lift ticket), and it’s very environmentally aware. The hotel boasts LEED certification and constantly pushes to be as green as possible, with energy efficient windows, state-of-the-art water conservation systems, in-room recycling programs, organic bedding and way more. While Jackson Hold is known for its stellar skiing, for those for those who would rather stay off the slopes, there is plenty to take advantage of, like like sleigh rides in the National Elk Refuge, the charming town of Jackson Hole, and the spa back at the hotel. Phone: 307-739-4000.

Take With You: Moncler Long Down Coat (buy it now price, $449) 

Viceroy Snowmass Snowmass, CO

Designer Kelly Wearstler has impeccable taste (learn more about it in our interview with her), so the idea of seeing her approach a mountain resort in the Rockies is super exciting. The Viceroy just opened in late November, so it’s brand spanking new, and from the look of it, it’s worth booking flights now.  The spa is insane, the restaurant smartly done, and the rooms are modern-meets-alpine chic. There’s even a year-round outdoor pool. And yes, it’s at the base of the mountain, so it’s a ski-in, ski-out resort.

Take With You: Fur Headband/Scarf (buy it now price, $69.95) 

**Photos provided by the featured hotels and resorts. The photos of the Viceroy are by David Matheson.**

Yolanda Edwards is a travel and lifestyle writer and author of the blog Travels with Clara. She was the founding travel and lifestyle editor at Cookie magazine.

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