* GOOP + VERONICA BEARD: A PERFECT FIT *

When we started three years ago, we always thought that goop, the lifestyle website founded by Gwyneth Paltrow, embodied the vision we had for our customer and her lifestyle. So when we were first featured as one of goop’s Fall 2010 picks we were floored! Cool, chic and classic are the elements that always drive our collections and seem to be ever present in the goop aesthetic, as well.

And, our exclusive collaboration of the Navy Classic Jacket with a Heather Grey French Terry Hood Dickey is a combination of all three. The genius of the jacket is its versatility for the women who both work and play. These are the Veronica Beard women and the goop devotees. Working on a collaboration together as part of The goop Collection is such a perfect fit and has been a great moment and milestone for our brand.

We expressed the same to goop in a note on the eve of the launch, below…

Enjoy the jacket exclusively at goop.com and check out the Spring 2013 pieces available as part of the GOOP Collection, as well!

xx

VMB + VSB

veronicabeard.com @VERONICABEARD  goop.com @goop

Image provided by goop

* Behind The Scenes: Backstage at the Fall 2013 Presentation

Thanks to Bobbi Brown, Essie, OriginalMineral + to all of the other artistes who helped behind the scenes, our girls looked a million bucks...and then some! Welcome to the backstage of the Fall 2013 Presentation and see what fashion week looks like on the other side of the curtain. Enjoy!

* LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: THE FALL 2013 PRESENTATION *

 U ARE FREE

“Eastward I go only by force; but westward I go free.”

- Henry David Thoreau

Fall 2013 is inspired by the pioneering American spirit ever present in the Veronica Beard brand. She is a maverick blazing her own trail.

The collection is inspired by American roots and the horse ranches of the west.  References to the American Flag, the buffalo and the bandana, worn leather chaps, western shirts, shearling and denim tip their hat to the iconic western uniform - the first true American sportswear.  Life’s journey is always informing the future for this woman and the references are never lost on her.  She pulls from the past when defining her personal uniform, where reality is borrowing from fantasy.

The prints, color and details found in the collection bend the tough masculinity with a feminine sensuality. This is visible in the juxtaposition of leather and lace, the wheat print, the silk chiffon, the lace trim, gold velvet and bronze accents. The color palette hums “America the Beautiful”- the blues of spacious skies, golds and browns of amber waves of grain, the purple mountain majesties and the lush greens of the wilderness run throughout.

And for your viewing pleasure, welcome to the Fall 2013 Presentation. Enjoy...

Hot off the presses, read the buzz about the Fall 2013 collection.

  xx

Follow our other channels to get up to the minute buzz surrounding the Fall 2013 Presentation!

* A Model's Guide to Looking Great *

While the old school (and new school) tricks of the trade for looking good are not the most enjoyable, we got some inside tips on how to ease the pain. One of our lovely models was kind enough to share some fashion-week-foodie secrets.  We love her "Whole-Meal Meatballs" so we're pleased to pass it on to our friends. Enjoy...

* Behind the Scenes: Fall 2013 Lookbook Shoot *

Shoots are always inspiring, fun and what woman doesn't love watching someone else play dress up?

Here was our simple recipe for the Fall 13 Lookbook shoot:  A natural beauty, amazing O & M (Original & Mineral) hair product and of course, the gorgeous Bobbi Brown make up...Oh, and we never forget good bites and great tunes!

Cheers to our team, VB and all the artists involved, for pulling it all together and making it perfection.

xx

* Where are you going? What are you packing? *

What are you packing in your bag?

  Share your style stories with us on Twitter + Facebook!

VSB

For all Veronica Beard Spring pieces - http://veronicabeard.com/shop/spring-2013

Filson Wheeled Duffle Large - http://www.filson.com/products/wheeled-duffle-large.71283.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=luggage/wheeled-luggage&fmetaProduct=1019

Jimmy Choo Clutch - http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/329905?np

Grace Coddington Memoir - http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/364647

Basta Surf Swimsuit - http://www.bastasurf.com/raglan.html

HERVÉ VAN DER STRAETEN earrings - http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/335017?np

VMB

For all Veronica Beard Spring pieces - http://veronicabeard.com/shop/spring-2013

Oakley Sunglasses - http://www.oakley.com/women/store/collections/womens-lifestyle-collection

Goyard Bag - http://www.goyardbagsonline.net/

Essie Russian Roulette Nail Color - http://www.essie.com/shop/shade-families-reds-c-2_7.html

O&M Original Detox Shampoo - http://originalmineral.com/

Celine Clutch - http://www.celine.com/en/collection/winter/leather-goods/zip-clutch/11

Proenza Schouler Boots

* OUR FIRST LADY HAS THE THREE KEY ELEMENTS WE BELIEVE IN AT VERONICA BEARD *

COOL+ CHIC+ CLASSIC

Michelle Obama looks amazing!!

And, we love the new bangs. Most of all, we love her in these looks!

1. The Thom Browne coat was so COOL

2. Michael Kors black sequin was super hot + CHIC

3. Jason Wu red gown was a show stopper - CLASSIC

“Like last time, I had to go with my gut. I instinctively had to think of the woman in the dress. After four years in the office, I thought the country was ready to see a confident First Lady in red. It just felt right.” - Jason Wu to WWD

We love that we have a First Lady who makes the rest of us look good. Congrats to all of the amazingly talented designers she chose!

Now all she needs is a VB blazer!

Xx

VSB and VMB

* Dispatch Katie: When in Egypt... *

“Katie, pleeease don’t go to Egypt,” were some of the words spoken by many of my friends and family when I broke the news that my boyfriend Jon and I would be traveling to Egypt this past November. Stubborn and determined, I went, and couldn’t be happier that I did not listen! 

We landed in Cairo to visit the great pyramids in Giza and the sphinx, along with the Saqqara pyramids. And no, I did not ride a camel, but I did get my tourist fix…. Here are some of my favorite pics from the trek to go with my highlights to share…(If only I had the Spring 13 silk tile print trek pants in time for this trip!)

The Cheops Pyramid in Giza (size really does matter)

   Loved this incredible lantern/light fixture/contraption at the Mena House Oberoi hotel…FOUR STORIES HIGH!

Talk about detail…not even sure which way was up when I snapped this one.

   We flew to Luxor to visit Karnak & Luxor Temples, and embarked on ‘The Sanctuary” to begin our cruise down the Nile River for 4 nights to Aswan.  We walked through Ramses II’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and visited Hatshepsut’s temple, the most memorable woman to me, and one of the most influential rulers in Egyptian history. She held the throne for 20 years - talk about empowerment, ladies! 

Just your average day…cruising down the Nile

My favorite store in Maadi, Cairo…and this was just one lens-full of it

   Rockin the ombre..

   Traveling is great for inspiration! Amazing color story.

The defining moment of my trip was in Luxor at Karnak temple, in which every piece of stone was hand-carved and painted in color at one time. (The same goes for all of the temples!) You can still see greatly preserved color in many of them today.

Our last sunset in Aswan…blissful and serene.

   Egypt is a “must-see” at least once in your lifetime (the cruise is definitely the way to go), and will leave you utterly fascinated by the rich history and immense strides in civilization that date over 4,000 years ago. 

VB Sales Exec and Fearless Traveler,

Katie xx

* The Perfect Holiday Idea from Veronica Miele Beard *

AN OUTSTANDING HOLIDAY IDEA: Grab your guy, friend or parents and go see the Rolling Stones! I just did this twice on two continents and it was spectacular…

Show # 1. London:  For Thanksgiving, we took the family to London.  My husband and I slipped away on a Sunday night to see the first Stones show on their “50 Years and Counting” tour! They brought back former band mates, bassist Bill Wyman and virtuoso blues guitarist Mick Taylor, and featured special guests Mary J. Blige and Jeff Beck.

Show # 2.  The Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY:  I am married to an obsessed fan, to say the least. We grabbed Anson and Jamie’s uncle, Peter Beard, and their cousin Zara, and our friends Annabel Tollman and Roy Liebenthal to attend the Brooklyn show on Saturday night!  It was a very special night for PB since he toured with the Stones in 1972 on their infamous “Exile on Main Street” tour as a photographer for Rolling Stone magazine (What a life!) Beforehand, we grabbed dinner with a huge crowd at “Queen” in Brooklyn Heights, which I love. This show was a little different, but just as memorable. The crowd was younger and people PARTIED! 

Annabel, VMB and Roy, above. 

Below, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Annabel, VMB and PB.

AN OUTFIT TO WEAR TO A ROCK CONCERT:  The ultimate rocker outfit definitely includes a Rolling Stones t-shirt…such a good collector’s item. Wear it with a pair of bell bottom jeans and a tux jacket… Yes, a tux jacket!  I wore my London Stones tee and our Navy Tux jacket from Fall ‘12, grounded by the bright blue and red/orange British flag colors.  To give the look that fun, unique touch to make it rocker, I wore my studded-clad Judith Leiber silver monogrammed bag for a little sparkle.

Mick’s costumes were brilliant.  I couldn’t help but think that L’Wren must have made or inspired them (turns out that she did!).  My favorites were the head to toe black feather cape Mick wore for “Sympathy For The Devil” and his burgundy sequined jacket with tails.

Both shows featured a searing rendition of the Stones classic, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” with the London Youth Choir and then in Brooklyn, the Trinity Wall Street Choir (who incidentally were nominated for a Grammy last week).  I never thought I would be emotional at a Stones show, but they were truly touching. I could go to ten of these concerts and they are exciting each time, all over again.

xx VMB

*50 OFF FALL*

Making the holidays happy.

www.veronicabeard.com 

* How To Build Your Dickey Wardrobe...and stuff your stockings *

Here is some advice from veterans... Start with a basic knit dickey like our classic Upstate fisherman knit, which was an original dickey for us when we started the line, and has stayed fresh and modern through the seasons.

We love the classic ivory but comes in navy and charcoal, too!

After you get your classic, you need some cool. We designed the dickies for mixing and matching, depending on your mood. We like to try out novel, unexpected looks like the Oxblood Leopard dickey in one of our favorite jackets, but certainly on the other side of the animal print vs. prep spectrum - The Glen Plaid.

Another is the Stripe Hoodie Dickey in a White Schoolboy jacket.  This look is a crisp resort look with just enough nautical. Or, when you're opting for less nautical, we love the Track Dickey - an orange waffle silk dickey - as a great standout color in any navy jacket.

With these in your closet, you’ve covered your dressed up look, your dressed down vibe and everything in between! You won’t believe how they change your attitude and look when you wear them. Not to mention, they are the perfect stocking stuffers for your girlfriends...and to the fellas - this is a no-brainer for the VB little lady in your life!

Xx VMB & VSB

* VSB LOVES STONE CRAB SEASON *

   I was born in Florida but raised in California so I really consider myself equal parts Florida girl and California girl. That is, of course, until I land in any Florida airport and then it becomes instantly clear where I feel most at home!!

There are a few things that make it clear you're in the Sunshine state...

 The blast of humidity on the jet way... the musty smell of the air conditioning in the terminal... The classic rock on the radio...The hypnotic rhythm of ceiling fans... The background noise of lawn mowers...7Eleven Slurpies...Cuban coffee... Beach walks...Sunsets... The green flash.  These are a few of my favorite things but nothing is more Florida to me than STONE CRABS!

  Stone Crab season is October 15th through May 15th and I look forward to it rolling around just as much as I look forward to Christmas and the 4th of July.

You too can have stone crabs and feel like you've been in FLA, but without all the travel. Order online and they can be shipped overnight anywhere in the US..

www.Flstonecrab.com

  Order 1lb of large crab claws per person and serve with:

Swanson Pinot Grigio

http://www.swansonvineyards.com/productinfotabs.aspx?ProductID=10PGC

 Use a knife sharpener to crack the crabs right before you plan to eat them for maximum freshness

My mom's famous mustard dipping sauce. I usually lick the bowl clean:

 3 parts Hellman's mayo

 1 part Gulden's spicy brown mustard

 1/4 teaspoon Worcester sauce

 4 drops of Tabasco sauce

 1/2 lemon's juice

 Salt and pepper to taste.

   Mix mayo and mustard

 Add Worcester and Tabasco

 Add lemon juice

 Salt and pepper

   Dig out crab meat from claw and knuckles and dip in sauce.

 Repeat as long as you can!!

 Drink wine..

 Have key lime pie for dessert.

   This is heaven on earth. Enjoy!  

xx VSB

* Cyber Monday. Get It While You Can. *

http://veronicabeard.com/shop/fall-2012

xx

* Black Friday. Get It While It's Hot. *

* Showtime *

We love having visitors. Our studio is like an extension of home base for us all. When we have people in we want everyone to feel at home, kick off their shoes, relax or even (in some cases) have a glass of the wine we keep in the fridge...for special occasions. Jospeh and the team from Style Boston came by for a quick on-camera interview and we all had a blast. Appreciate taking the 15 minutes to sit back and chat with friends..That is what it felt like today, even with the cameras!

xx

*When the lights go off...*

This photo (taken by Iwan Baan) for The Cut - New York Magazine's online blog is one of the earlier photos shot during Hurricane Sandy in New York, as the building in Tribeca is still aglow here. And even so, it sends chills to see Manhattan like this. If anything positive happened in the aftermath, it was that New Yorkers who came together in a time of need. People were opening their homes and many of the haves (and we mean even those who had outlets and working cell phones) were helping the have-nots. Our industry is doing its part, as well. That said, we are offering 20% OFF Fall 2012 on the site and we will give 10% of your purchase to Baby Buggy, to support their relief efforts! Shop for a cause...best way to shop! 

Our thoughts are with all those who are still recovering!

http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/11/more-images-from-new-yorks-sandy-cover.html

xx

The Veronica Beard Team

*Dining with OscarPRGirl*

What a trip. Sat next to one of the founding fashioneers of the social media world, Erika Bearman a.k.a. OscarPRGirl, at the Boys Club Fall Dance last night...She was such fun, super cool and looked elegant as ever with her black gown and new blonde look.

Bronson,OscarPRGirl and VMB (http://instagram.com/p/RJZJMujucV/)

Vogue.com caught her entire transformation to the fun side of life..as a blonde. From two longtime blondes to a newbie, we fully support the change! It stays true to OscarPRGirl’s brand. As the masses know, she is anything but boring.

http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/blonde-ambition-oscar-pr-girl-goes-platinum/#1

xx VMB & VSB