Norweigan Rain x T. Michael launch party on Sunset Blvd.

This Thursday I was invited to the official launch party for Norwegian Rain's California debut, sponsored by a team from LA Fashion Week. LAFW welcomed international designers Alexander Halle and T. Michael.  The party was held at the exclusive LA boutique H. Lorenzo on Sunset Boulevard.  Voices from the crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk on the unusually warm November night and a friendly hostess greeted me straightaway as I walked into the party.  Antique Norweigen furniture decorated the modern space and the beat of techno fashion music played in the background.

I was greeted by the designer himself, Alexander.  It was clear the quiet wellspoken Norweigan was excited to be in L.A. The tall designer sported a Norweigan look with his blue suit and hat, punctuated with a red feather.  

The Norwegian Rain brand was founded in 2009.  Alexander and T. Michael partnered to make outwear with a Japanese influence; their brand was inspired by living in Bergen, the rainiest city in Europe. Thursday night they brought their designs to LA with the help of LAFW to, according to T. Michael see what would happen when they put all the best things they knew of together. The raincoat design incorporates the newest waterproof technology and traditional men's tailoring.  In my exclusive interview with Alexander, I learned how the brand was born.  Alexander told his story of perseverance. When he first pitched the idea to T. Michael, Alexander said, "Of course he said 'No.'" But he continued to visit each time it rained, and with the frequency he finally got his chance. T. Michael acquiesced saying, "Let's talk, because you're just going to keep coming back." Alexander had a less traditional route to his career as a fashion designer starting out studying business, but with this project he got to live his creative dream by launching his raincoat designs.  In the collection he described how they use Japanese material to incorporate the latest in sportswear technology.  They tailored the coat with the idea of hidden functionality; the smooth designs with perfect symmetry hide interior magnetic clasps and adjustable fit. He pointed out the unisex black raincoat on display at the front of the room as one that can be adjusted for personal preference.  

He also hopes to set a trend of sustainability and always designs consciously.  He gestured to a chic gray plaid cape that is made with recycled materials. 

As I walked around the room I noticed the interesting accessories including scarves, satchels, and shoes placed throughoput.

  I interviewed designer and tailor T. Michael about his brand new release of eyewear. 

The bold curvy design of the glasses was very unique. T. Michael explained that they were made from buffalo horn from Asia which allows them flexibility to form to your face.  He also chose this material because it is very durable and can last for years. According to T. Michael,"The glasses are a bold look for a bold person so that you can walk into a room and say, Noted, it's me." 

The collection was a hit with the L.A. fashion crowd that attended the party.  Many guests tried on the raincoats and glasses and some bought scarves and accessories.  As the team from LAFW said, "There is plenty of room for international designers in L.A."  This collection is especially timely with the approaching El Nino. This collection might turn out to be for more than staying in fashion after all in our usually sunny city.

Travel Review: Colorado Skiing

Colorado Skiing

Heading out to Colorado from Los Angeles I packed practically every sweater I own as well as my new snow pants and bright pink ski jacket. And too many scarves and hats. I will be spending New Years at a ski resort in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, some of the best skiing in the world. I am still worried if I will  be warm enough 8000 feet high in the Rocky Mountains. I am definitely excited to go skiing though. I will be staying at the ski resort for 6 days. I am planning on taking some refresher ski lessons and staying close to the bottom of the hill. LOL. I can’t wait to make hot chocolate and relax in the lodge as well. Now I'm going to take a nice sleeping pill and try to make it to Colorado in one piece! Haha! I'll be posting daily updates of my vacation here and let you know if I like the resort and location. Follow along if you are interested in taking a ski trip to the Rocky Mountains!

Well I made it to Colorado in one piece! Today was my first day in the mountain. The ski rental desk was very nice and helpful and supplied me with great ski equipment. That is one of the most important things when you are skiing; so always make sure you have the right size boots and skis if you are renting. I took a level  4 ski lesson all day, which I would highly recommend to anyone who is unsure of their ski abilities.  My instructors name was Tom; he was very nice and informative. He is a professor at the local university around here. He teaches Spanish and history and we talked a lot about art history and the Spanish golden age, one of my favorite subjects. His friendly attitude definitely made me feel more comfortable on the slopes and I really made some progress. I think tomorrow I'll take another refresher lesson in the morning and then I'll be ready to hit the slopes for real! The skiing today was great because it wasn't too crowded and there was hardly a line for the lift.  The pine trees lining the hill make the skiing picturesque and relaxing.

My condo is nice and spacious with a patio that has a great view. Although it is way too cold for me to go outside right now. I am definitely glad I brought all my warm sweaters. My ski outfit looked fashionable and did a great job of keeping me warm though!

Continued ski lessons today ans I made it to the top! And back down again! I'm definitely ready for some fun now. My instructor took me up to a hidden path at the top called stagecoach which is super easy and fun for beginners! It winds its way back down the mountain through the pine trees in a serpentine pattern. The top of the mountain is so silent you can hear the snowfall. It's a great feeling to connect with nature. After I made it down I decided to hit the restaurant in the lodge for lunch and to warm up. The food was great and the hot chocolate was even better. Maybe it was just the freezing temperatures but that was excellent cocoa. I ordered a cheeseburger that tasted great and kept me satisfied all afternoon. That wasn't the only thing on the menu though. They had many options including wraps, melts, and sandwiches. I'm sure there is something for everyone in this cozy lodge.. After finishing my delicious lunch I headed back to the slopes and tried Bill's run. It's a fairly intermediate run from the top. I enjoyed the occasional steep drops and nice turns. I headed back to my condo for some rest and I an't wait to get back out there tomorrow. 

Today is New Year's Eve and I am heading to the slopes fro the morning. 

I had a great time exploring the top today I did stagecoach again just for fun and did another run from the top. This evening at 6 there will be a New Years celebration at the lodge and a torchlight parade of skiers coming down the mountain! For now I'm just relaxing in my condo and enjoying the beautiful view.

The torchlight parade was awesome! And standing out in the freezing cold at night was totally worth it for those great fireworks! There was nice turn out at the lodge for the New Years party and everyone was having a great time. There was a DJ and lights so people could dance and hang out. If you are looking for an intimate New Years celebration I definitely recommend Powderhorn resort. Not to mention the great skiing!

Spotlight: A weekend at the Broadmoor Colorado Springs

                   If you are looking to get into the holiday mood with a weekend escape I've got the perfect place. The historic Broadmoor hotel provides a serene escape set against a naturally beautiful backdrop and it is kid friendly. Located in the beautiful town of Colorado Springs, the Broadmoor hotel is a great place to relax and recharge. I was so excited to spend a weekend enjoying all the wonderful amenities the hotel had to offer. After a long drive through the snow I arrived to find hot apple cider waiting for me. The welcoming hotel staff also informed me that they would be happy to open the gift shop at any time of the day or night (can you really tell I'm a shopaholic that quickly?). The hotel was elegantly decorated for the holiday season and a giant Christmas tree stood in the lobby.  For anyone who likes gingerbread houses, there is a whole gingerbread village on display upstairs.

I enjoyed exploring the grounds and seeing all the Christmas decorations.

The next morning I found delicious chocolates under my pillow, my favorite thing about the hotel so far. I ordered a delicious breakfast from Lake Terrace dining room including fresh fruit and Belgian waffles with fresh orange juice. Next I headed downstairs to the indoor heated pool, another reason why this hotel is perfect in the winter and the summer.

After a nice swim I went upstairs to freshen up and enjoyed a cup of the Broadmoor's signature hot chocolate. Nearby there is a cute Christmas town called Santa's Village with rides, churros, and of course Santa Claus. If you are looking for a place to take the kids while you have a relaxing spa day in the hotel's 5-star spa, this is the place.

 For dinner there are several delicious options including La Taverne, the hotel's steakhouse, Del Lago, featuring Italian Cuisine, and the Natural Epicurean that uses local ingredients from the surrounding Colorado wilderness.

 If you are looking for drinks after dinner the Golden Bee offers a quintessential mountain tavern experience and fine ales. I enjoyed picking out Christmas gifts in the hotel gift shop and found embroidered towels and beautiful ornaments. The next day I got ready to leave early because I was heading to the garden of the gods on my way out of town. The Garden of the Gods is a National landmark in Colorado Springs full of the ancient and gigantic red rock formations. I definitely recommend stopping by because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the beautiful rock formations.

Visit www.broadmoor.com for more information on planning a visit. Has anyone been to the broadmoor? Did you enjoy your visit? Let me kn ow in the comments below!