Image courtesy of soulfulaffluence.com

Regular access to NOLA Fashion Week not enough?  We got the next step for you.  The Material Girl Lounge is a new addition to the lineup this year.  Brought to you by ilovematerialgirl.com the Lounge is a chance to talk it up and sip it down with the material girls and guys of Fashion Week such as sponsors, artists, and retailers. Every night, it is taking place at Burgundy Bar in The Saint hotel and is hosted by some of your favorite style bloggers including New Orleans Tidbits, Chanel Craves, Studio Swag, A Pinch of Lovely, and iHeartNOLA

The lounge will be happening at 10pm on March 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th.  Want access?  The lounge is reserved for benefactors, trendsetters, scenesters, retail affiliates supporters, and guests.  If you have a seat for the show you’ll be on the list for access to the lounge on the night of the show(s) that you attend. Become a member of our circle here so you too can have access to the Material Girl Lounge: nola-fashionweek.com/support

Contributed by Kelsey Hunter

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! (Or should I say Single’s Awareness Day)…. Now with another holiday celebrated and gone by, it’s time to celebrate another ‘holiday’ that might not immediately come to mind: your Quarter Life Crisis.

With StudentCity, celebrate your Quarter Life Crisis in Sin City, Las Vegas from March 20-23, 2012 at the renowned Palms Hotel & Casino.

Roll deep with MTV at this celebrity playground and 24-hour party zone – access to MTV and celebrity concerts, pool parties, and events are right at your fingertips – the StudentCity wristband guarantees endless perks and exclusives.

Interested? Check it out here.

http://www.studentcity.com/quarter-life-crisis/

After clicking the link above, follow these easy instructions:

1. Click “Get Started” to book
2. Choose “Nick Landry” from the drop down box
3. Input your group size (*NOTE: pricing is based on 4 to a room, if you have less than 4 your price increases)

The deposit is only $75, due by February 25^th.

Your Quarter Life Crisis has never been so sinful or tasted so sweet.

Image via apinchoflovely.blogspot.com

Next time you’re strolling down Oak Street, take a second to stop into Abeille NOLA, the trendy new boutique that offers contemporary clothes, shoes and accessories.

Located at the corner of Joliet and Oak, Abeille (pronounced <ahh-bay>, it means Bee in French) carries local and national brands that won’t burn a hole in your wallet.  With 80% of the store under $100, shopping has never been so enjoyable and affordable!

Try on SOLD Design Lab denim, a top seller for the store – their jeans fit like a charm on all body types. Other designers at the boutique include BCBG Generation, Genetic Denim, Jolie & Elizabeth, Volatile Footwear, Hanky Panky, and much more.

Stop by soon before you miss Abeille’s Winter Clearance Sale – anything that’s fall or winter (about half the store) for 50-75% off!

Also, for all the struggling students out there, every Tuesday is Student Discount Day – 15% off your total if you show your Student ID.

Get in the know and join their Email List, they send out special offers and updates on the latest arrivals (not to mention they attach a coupon to one email per month)!

Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 11am-5pm.

Abeille NOLA | 8438 Oak St. | Uptown | 504.324.3488

Contributed by Khaki Martin

Say hello to FRIEND, the newest addition to Magazine Street, offering the latest in casual men’s apparel.

We stopped by FRIEND to see owner Parker Hutchinson, who recently moved back to New Orleans from New York City to begin his venture into retail. Parker brought back with him casual, laid back styles for men looking for relaxed, everyday wear.

You immediately feel at ease in his simple, clean space, with the white walls, large wooden counter tops and the weathered concrete floor. The full glass window front lets in a lot of light, giving FRIEND a healthy energy for your shopping pleasure.

FRIEND carries the latest from Saturdays Serf NYC, Armor Lux, Stevedorf, Burkman Bros, Shades of Grey – all your essentials for leisure wear. Also check out the musky scented candles, cologne, and La Colombre whole beans (mmm coffee).

And ladies, if you’re still looking for a perfect Valentine’s Day Gift, stop by this weekend and pick up an ethically sourced deer antler bottle opener or key chain from 18 Waits.

So unwind, take it easy, and pick out something great from this up-and-coming store. Check out FRIEND on Facebook and Twitter.

Friend | 2115 Magazine St | Garden District | 504.218.4214

Contributed by Khaki Martin

Image via offthepresses.blogspot.com

If you are of drinking age and living in New Orleans, or anywhere in America for that matter, chances are you have heard of Cure (4905 Freret Street) – an Uptown cocktail bar that is widely regarded as one of the best in the country. In December of last year, Neal Bodenheimer and Kirk Estopinal, two of the mastermind mixologists behind Cure, opened a new cocktail lounge located in the Hotel Modern.

Bellocq, as it is called, gives drinkers a throwback to the late 19th century – the time at which its namesake, E.J. Bellocq, secretly began to photograph the madams of Storyville, New Orleans’ infamous red light district. This racy time in the city’s history is embraced with a bit of a contemporary vibe. As Bodenheimer puts it, “We’re doing a concept that’s based on a cocktail and style of drinking from 1820 to 1900, a style of drinking that basically has vanished. It’s still a modern interpretation. We’re not doing a period piece.”

The distinctive feature in this style of drinking is the cobbler. Cobblers traditionally consisted of a fortified wine such as sherry, fresh fruit, sugar, and tiny ice (shoutout to Sonic for keeping that cool). Bellocq allows drinkers to be as creative as possible, with the option to order wines and liqueurs such as sherry, port, Chartreuse, and Creme Yvette from the menu, or to create their own combination. “Without being medieval times about it, we’re trying to return some of the old drinking categories and styles,” says Estopinal. Cobblers are not the only option at the lounge – customers can also order from an extremely unique wine and beer list. The wines include some lesser-known French bottles, and the beers are served by the glass, from 22-ounce “bomber” bottles.

Drinks at Bellocq cost between $6 and $9 – very affordable, especially considering the regular live performances from international artists, burlesque troupes, and more. This helps the lounge to attract a local dinner crowd from the Warehouse District. Spice things up a bit and give Bellocq a try!

The Hotel Modern | 936 St. Charles Ave. | On Lee Circle | 504.962.0900

Also check out our post about Tamarind, the French-Vietnamese restaurant located across the courtyard from Bellocq in the Hotel Modern.

Contributed by Adam Cohen

With NOLAFW just a month away, be sure to keep up with updates and new information on designers, locations, access, and more by following NOLAFW on Facebook and Twitter! And you can always check out the NOLAFW Website: www.nolafw.com

Want to know more about Fashion Week? Check out the video below for a recap of the Spring/Summer ’12 Shows!

NOLA Fashion Week S/S ’12 Recap from NOLAFW on Vimeo.

Want to make sure you have access? Check out your options here:

See you there!

Watch out New Orleans, The Saint Hotel is bringing us the newest hot spots in beverage and dining this season, first with the quirky and elegant Burgundy Bar and now with the upscale bistro Sweet Olive.

Brought to you by renowned executive chef Michael Stolzfus of the popular Coquette, this brand new restaurant serves a modern twist on classic American cooking (focusing on Southern and New Orleans cuisine). Executive sous chef Mason Hereford (also from Coquette) will run the kitchen and Zac Miller joins the team as pastry chef.

The all white room with gorgeous wooden floors combines modern and antique elements, and original works by folk artist William Hemmerling adorn the walls.

The menu changes seasonally, focusing on local produce and products. Guests may choose among four-course, three-course and a-la-carte options. Featured dishes include: Wild Boar Rillette, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, She Crab Soup, Sapelo Island Clams, Hanger Steak, Mississippi Lamb, Fried Quail, and the grilled oysters.  Be sure to check out the Velvet Elvis on the dessert menu!

Sweet Olive is open for breakfast 7 days a week from 7AM to 11AM, and for dinner from 6PM to 11PM (lunch menu coming soon!).

Sweet Olive | Saint Hotel | 931 Canal St.  | French Quarter | 504.522.5400

Contributed by Khaki Martin

NOLA Fashion Week is just around the corner and the month countdown can finally begin!  The website is being updated with all specific events, dates and locations so stay tuned. As the excitement is growing, the blog will be giving updates about all the info for the week of March 3rd to -10th.

Contributed by Kelsey Hunter

Many of you know that Micah Nickens has been doing a Gaudet Bros NOLA Pop-Up Salon for the last few months, and many of you have been using him.

There has been such a demand for guys’ cuts, that he has decided to take it 100% male-focused!

So now, every Monday and Tuesday, Gaudet Bros Pop-Up Barber Shop will be at the Merchant Café in the Maritime building – because at some point, you have to get a grown man’s hair cut.

9 am – 5 pm, men only, barber cuts and clean ups. Walk in or calls. To book you appointment, please call 225.387.8783.

Ladies – you can still book appointments with Micah, but you’ll have to make the drive to Baton Rouge.

Guadet Bros Pop-Up Barber Shop | Merchant Café | 800 Common St. | French Quarter | 225.387.8783

Contributed by Khaki Martin

Next time you’re in the French Quarter, be sure to stop by the Burgundy Bar at the newly transformed Saint Hotel!

This brand new modern jazz club features live jazz music from Thursday to Sunday.

The décor channels a bordello chic vibe, yet also provides an elegant ambiance that celebrates the signature style of New Orleans. The draped burgundy velvet walls, accented with custom chandeliers, bring glamour and sophistication to this high design space.

Burgundy Bar (pronounced <bur-GUN-dee>) is open for lunch and dinner, with a casual dress code. Patrons can play a round of pool on the billiard table adjacent to the bar while enjoying the traditional jazz and street musicians.

Be sure to check out two specialty drinks in particular, The Gatsby (hybrid of a Pimms Cup and a Mojito garnished with fresh berries) and the Bloody Oyster Shot (Absolut Peppar, Olive Juice, Specialty Bloody Mary blend and garnished with shrimp, spicy bean and an oyster).

Burgundy Bar | Saint Hotel | 931 Canal St. | French Quarter | 504.522.5400

Contributed by Khaki Martin