WHAT ARE YOU DOING MONDAY AFTER WORK? IF YOU ARE IN NEW YORK CITY, YOU NEED TO BE HERE: THE BAG TRENDS ARM CANDY PARTY

new york - my wonderful friend pamela peckerman is throwing her second annual bag trends arm candy party. the event attracts all the bag loving fashionistas in new york and beyond and is a great place to meet wonderful fashion professionals, designers, while enjoying great drinks and spectacular fashion. it is the premier shopping event of the season. check out the invitation for rsvp and location details or log on here. i wish i could be there with yall!

I AM OFF TO ITALY, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS...

london - no my dears! i am not going to elope with a hot italian (i'm still trying to make it work with my hot dominican.) but what it does mean is that i will probably not blog for a week as i have no computer access in italy. if anything changes though, please believe that i will be posting pictures, etc for you guys. i am going there for six days to check out the fashion industry in southern italy and in milan. it will be a good time and i can't wait to share all the photos and stories with you when i return. i love you to bits. xx, zb

LAST NIGHT @ ISSA: THE BEST BACK STAGE OF ANY FASHION SHOW AT LFW

me & pat mcgrath.

me and edward enninful. 

chanel iman, me and her mom. (isn't this lady gorgeous!?)

me and jourdan dunn! she was super nice. 

london - ohmygod! blaynistas, i am having mobile phone drama in the u.k at the moment, which is why i was not able to twitter blow by blow accounts to you last night, but i had the best and most surreal evening ever. i went backstage at issa to report on the show for paper magazine. more than any other show, i was thrilled to be at this one, why? because edward enninful (major stylist for vogue and fashion director at i.d), pat mcgrath (i mean....you gotta know who this make up maverick for vogue, vanity fair, etc is) and guido (legendary hair stylist) were all back stage. what i didn't know was that so was naomi campbell (who i totally walked in on while pat mcgrath was doing her make up....i quickly left when i saw it was her. i don't want no drama!) jourdan dunn and chanel iman.) i just cant take. being around these legends and watching them work was just the high point of my eve....i don't even know what more to say. enjoy the pics readers. xo, zb

TYRA BANKS IN V MAGAZINE: I LIKE

BTW - ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FAB FASHION INTERNSHIP? TRY ME!

worldwide - blaynistas! are you a college freshman or sophomore with an interest in fashion and/or journalism? do you love blogging? researching? and sending emails for hours on end? then we need to talk. i am looking for students to intern/assist me for a variety of projects. send your resume and a brief intro letter to info@zandileblay.com. x, zb (p.s if this has nothing to do with you, but you know some one who might be interested, pls send their way.)

Guess Which Fashion Writer Is Doing A College Speaking Engagement?

london - if you guessed me, you guessed right! it's official. i am doing my first (well really my second) college speaking engagement. it is free and open to the public and takes place at quinnipiac college on october 13th. i am also doing a radio appearance that morning. blaynistas in the connecticut area please come. would be great to meet you in person. check out the announcement here. i feel proud of myself on this one. :-) (p.s don't you love how i bust out the old headshot knowing i look NOTHING like that now with my shaved head? i may pop on a lace front for these young kids so they can appreciate me in all my 32 inch spanish deep wave glory.)

JUST HAD TO SHARE: SCENE OUTSIDE HENRY HOLLAND SHOW TODAY

london - i actually didn't make it into the show. i had an invitation and seating and everything. but my camera died midway and i simply couldn't stand the possibility of seeing celebs and beautiful clothing and not being able to capture for you guys, so i chose to leave. i guess its all or nothing at all for this fashion blogger huh? i sorta regret that dumb move after seeing how amazing the clothes were.

JUST HAD TO SHARE: LONDON'S VERSION OF "THE TENTS

london - this is the scene outside london fashion week. its no where near as crazy and frenzied as new york. at most i think i see maybe twenty people outside staring - and that's a lot. here's where i check in every single day to scout stories and fashionable people. it feels much more professional in the sense that there aren't a ton of gawkers or if people do look, they keep it moving. its cool, but there's nothing like the rockstar vibe of ny fashion week though.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS GUY IS? I JUST FOUND OUT AND I WAS STOCKED

london - so i was invited to the nathan jenden show today and will be honest - i had no idea who he was and since this fashion week has been a bit of a nightmare for me i wasnt up for going. but my boy joshua invited me, so i made my way to it. i got there late ( i actually missed the show) but not too late to catch a glimpse of diane von furstenburg (FLAWLESS IN PERSON! the chic is BAD!) giving him a hug and congratulating him on a job well done. as it turns out, diane is his boss: jenden is creative director at dian von furstenburg. cute. since everyone seeme to be on a very personal basis, i didn't want to look like the groupie out the crew and ask for a picture with diane, but i sort of regret it. after interviewing jenden, he and i took the pic above together. really enjoyed meeting him and seeing his collection online. i will post pics shortly. in meantime check out my stories here and here.

BRILLIANT: THATS REALLY ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT THE CHRISTOPHER KANE SHOW

london - see, my first day and first show and first fashion week in london will always be tied to christopher kane. i literally headed straight from the airport to backstage and got a first hand glimpse of the hype: anna wintour personally came back there to check the clothes, legendary artist gucci westman and hair stylist guido were there as well. who is this guy? and why is he so relevant? i did enjoy his collection, but really thought the whole and substance of him was just hype. so far....so wrong. this is the third collection of his i've paid attention to and i'm very keen on it. this guy is a talent thats here to stay.

OOOH! I FORGOT TO SHARE THIS TIDBIT FROM NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

new york - did i mention my eva longoria sighting? now usually i play it cool with celebs and am not ever particularly fussed (unless its stella mccartney or maxwell). but last week thursday, when longoria stormed the tents .v for a brief twenty minutes - i sorta had a change of heart. the t.v star was in town to celebrate pamela roland's special collection for m&m chocolates. yep, you read right! in honor of fashion week, m&m decided to roll out the red - or rather green - carpet for fashionistas and went all out with a guerrilla fashion show and celeb appearance by longoria. (check out the models for the show on the left.) longoria looked beautiful and was very gracious to press and fans. it was cute. i loved it, and just had to share.

JUST OVERWHELMED...

london - yeah...so guys if you've been following my twitter (right above, you know this isn't necessariy the best fashion week ever for me right now) there's so much going on etc, that my coverage has barely been on point. forgive the lack of posts i promise to get back on my grind when things sort out for me a bit. love you, miss you. xo, zb

A QUICK NOTE FROM ZANDILE

london - hey lovers! so i am in london. got here super early this a.m. i am trying to sort out a trip to italy at the end of the week before even digging in to this monster sandwhich called fashion week. but hitting a party tonite so stay tuned for juicy bits. okay? miss you love you and especially missing nyc right now. xx, zb

BLINK AND YOU MISSED IT - VIVIENNE TAM DEBUTED CLUTCH SIZED COMPUTERS ON HER RUNWAY

new york - if you found yourself admiring the little purses models held down vivienne tam's runway during new york fashion week, then please look again. while reviewing my video of the show and scrolling through pics on style.com, i realized that they are actually - computers! the mini-laptops were crafted by hewlett packard and the flirty floral prints on them were ripped right from the runway. this is the result of a first time collaboration between hp and tam. in a press release, the designer said, "the notebook is a true reflection of the needs of a modern woman who cares about fashion but is also passionate about her technology. i wanted to create a notebook that would appeal to ...all ages, ethnicities and income levels across the globe." mission accomplished! this computer is the best thing i've seen on the runway all season. check out the pics to the left and my video of the show here.

FASHIONABLE OR FUGLY? RATE CASSIE'S LOOK (PERSONALLY, I LOVE IT)

COMME des GARÇONS for H&M

worldwide - earlier i blogged about the much anticipated collaboration between h&m and comme des garcons, well here is more from the line which is set to hit h&m stores this fall. what do you think? hot or a hot mess?

VIDEO FROM RUSSELL SIMMONS'S ARGYLE CULTURE SHOW

WHAT INSPIRED NICOLE MILLER'S SPRING 2009 COLLECTION? FIND OUT IN THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

MY INTERVIEW WITH DON KING RIGHT BEFORE THE U.S OPEN - HE WAS AT THIS EVENT TO PROMOTE IT

PLEASE GET INTO THESE PICTURES FOR NOW...I WILL GIVE U DEETS IN A SECOND

JUST HAD TO SHARE: ME AND LEGENDARY FASHION AGENT BETHANN HARDISION AFTER THE ARGYL CULTURE SHOW

I AM RESPONDING TO YOUR COMMENTS!!!

blaynistas, please look on the right of your screen. i have re-installed the comments box on my blog. so you can see my responses to your messages as i post them. besos y mas besos. zb

DOUBLE AIR KISSES TO...

sir charles....anoma...sonya...and all the super chic and beautiful blay report readers i met this week. thanks so much for your support. it makes this  style blogger feel all warm inside to know someone actually reads her musings. xo, zb

THE HOTTEST SWEATER OF THE SEASON IS FROM....OLD NAVY!? BELIEVE IT!

worldwide - blaynistas, with all this fashion week business going on,  i've decided to rebel against aspirational fashion and talk about my favorite thing: functional fashion. enter old navy, or "viejo azul" as i like to call it. this season, they've launched a line of ultra-lux, super comfy,  sweaters that are as stylish as they are affordable. the wrap sweater is my absolute favorite because a)it flatters my figure and b)it fits my wardrobe. i can throw it over any ensemble, be it a cocktail dress or casual tee and jeans. i have the pink and blue stripped one, but i plan on expanding my collection - so i decided to show you all the options in stock. log on here to get it. at $34.50 it's a steal that looks like a splurge! 

JUST HAD TO SHARE: TOP SHOP BILLBOARDS IN SOHO... THE BRITISH INVASION IS COMING SOON!

JUST HAD TO SHARE: ME & TYLER RIGGS

new york - 'member him? i was first reporter to write about him, followed by new york magazine. we caught up with eachother at the prada party last night. his career is going as good as his looks. (that was clever, wasn't it?)

JUST HAD TO SHARE: THE GANG AT LA ESQUINA

new york - so remember my furious twitters about my fab evening last night? well here are the cast of characters from it: alexander allen, who styles artist takashi murakami; julee wilson, fashion editor at real simple; don't know dudes name unfortch but he's amazing; and kaili mcdonaugh and me. we went to dinner there on a whim, enjoyed char grilled fish, lamb, steak and two bottles of champagne and took a limo home. so random. so fun. so fashion week!

WHAT ANGELA SIMMONS THINKS OF HER UNCLE RUSSELL'S NEW CLOTHING COLLECTION

new york - russell simmons' argyle culture collection really was doing the most. more deets on that lata but right after the show i approached his niece angela to get her thougts on the collection. it's predictable - but still sweet. check it out.

JUST HAD TO SHARE: ME & MENA SUVARI AT PRADA PARTY

new york - i'm gonna keep it all the way real, i never thought twice about this chic - twice. but when i met her last night her hair was SITTING so i simply had to go up to her and complement her. not only was she cool as heck, her friend was amazing and even took the photo for us. i seriously felt like i'd known them since junior year of highschool. i am officially on the mena suvari bandwagon. and mena, if you read this blog (i mean, doesn't everyone!?) have your agent call my agent so we can do drinks and launch a remix of "ebony and ivory." lolz. but seriously....

GUERILLA INTERVIEW WITH HEIDI KLUM AT HER JORDACHE COLLECTION LAUNCH

Victoria Beckham Debuts New Fashion Line

new york - victoria beckham. she's a mother, wife, Spice Girl, supposed style icon, and now, apparently, a fashion "designer." this week posh will be launching a new line of dresses in new york, each retailing at $1,500 to $3,600. let's hope that this newest endeavor will go better than her line of "dvb" jeans.