There are perks to being a petite fashion blogger. Among them, the opportunity to keep up with gals like Peggy Li, a fellow petite and jewelry designer in San Francisco. Another perk? The opportunity to win one of her beautiful creations — one lucky serafina reader will win Peggy’s handmade Soaring Seagull silver necklace.

For over six years, Peggy has been creating handmade jewelry that has caught the attention of TV’s Grey’s Anatomy, Without a Trace, Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, and publications such as Oprah Magazine and Lucky.

To win, simply write a brief paragraph explaining what you like about Peggy Li’s jewelry. Is it a particular stone or metal? A bigger fan of her earrings or necklaces? Anything goes, ladies.

Send your answer along with your mailing address to info AT serafinablog DOT com by midnight EST May 30th. And please subject your email with “Peggy Li Giveaway”. We’ll announce the winner on June 2nd.

Did I mention this is Peggy’s first-ever giveaway? serafina is thrilled to be part of it! And if that isn’t enough, Peggy is offering our readers 20% of all merchandise on her site — Enter coupon code serafina at checkout for the discount. Thanks, Peggy!

I’ve have found that some of the hippest and most unique collections come from petite designers. I guess all that frustration with trying to find stylish clothes for smaller frames becomes a rich source of inspiration. Newcomer Teresa Le is one such designer.

TLE Designs, pronounced “T-Lay,” features dresses and tops with a contemporary, colorful vibe. Teresa’s designs are handmade to complement petite frames, and her production is limited, making each piece as unique as the lucky gal who dons it.

In addition to dresses and tops, TLE Designs also features a vibrant array of headbands and fabric belts for the modern fashionista.

Her collection is carried by boutiques in Chattanooga, TN, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Atlanta, and online.

It’s about time you were introduced to gorjana Jewelry. This collection of fine and fashion jewelry is sold in over 400 boutiques and online, including Henri Bendel, Fred Segal and shopbop.com. Her designs are amazing — I’m in love.

And, lucky for me, I had the opportunity to chat with gorjana about her line.

Tell me about your line. When did you start it?

I had always wanted to start my own business, so I started the line in the summer of 2004. I saw a gap in the jewelry industry for a well-priced, simple, everyday collection that was easy to wear. Our main collection is sterling silver and 14k gold vermeil and we just launched our fine jewelry collection this past fall.

Tell me about your inspiration this season.

Currently, I am getting ready for summer, focusing on statement pieces mixed with turquoise. The combination of the two is so flattering on most everyone, especially after a day in the sun.

What drives your design?

I get a lot of my design ideas just by observing people and their style. I look at what is influencing clothing and wonder what piece of jewelry would make a perfect accessory to an outfit. My goal has always been to stay current, without being too trend focused.

What is your favorite metal or stone to work with and why?

I work predominantly with silver because it is such a versatile metal. It can be worn casual or dressy and goes beautifully with every color palette.

I usually obsess over a few pieces every season and wear them constantly. I have two favorites right now, the Poppy Wrap and Bali Grand Bangle. The wrap is a great delicate piece that goes with everything, while the bangle is a great statement piece.

What’s the most popular piece?

Our simple hoops are our most popular pieces season after season. They are just so versatile, and can be worn everyday.

What else would you like my readers to know about your line?

We recently upgraded the e-commerce SHOP section of our Web site. We really wanted to offer our customers a wider selection of our main collection, add our fine jewelry, and simplify the shopping experience.

Newcomer Fernanda Carneiro is debuting her spring/summer ready-to-wear line this month. Fortunately — for both me and my wardrobe — I had the opportunity to meet with her at her studio last week for a sneak peek at her new collection.

Two words: delicate and lovely. Fernanda’s line features colorful short dresses that fall just above the knee, each well-tailored of fine silk and charming details that will stand out in the boutiques. This line is a sure success with tasteful and elegant designs that are perfect for weddings and other springtime events. Her contemporary pricing is much like what you’ll find on 3rd Street or Robertson. And, more importantly, they’re designed to fit.

Tell me about your spring/summer line.

I’ve designed a petite line of dresses for women 5’4” with a wider hip. I’ve designed it with 100% silk, twill, jersey and charmeuse.

In particular, my line is designed to accentuate a woman’s curves with a modern, feminine, and sophisticated take on vintage dress designs. I have seventeen dresses for spring/summer.

A few of my dresses feature my own print designs. The point was to make designs that were totally unique, so I wasn’t keen on using materials that were available to everyone.

What is your favorite fabric to work with and why?

I really like silks, which is why I used them for my current collection. My fall collection will have silk blends, plus a bit of cotton and wool.

What is the sizing of your line?

My knits sizing is XS – L, and woven sizing is 0-12, all true to size. And, I do plan to include XXS and 00 in future lines.

Do you have a favorite dress in your spring/summer collection?

I love the cut and color of the ivory and black dress, as well as the raspberry dress — both are sophisticated designs with a bit more detail. I plan to make a full set of dresses for myself! I also love these dresses because the bead accents take the place of an accessory-jewelry. The accessorizing is done for you! Another dress that I love is the all black dress with the pleated grosgrain ribbon detail. I think this is the perfect “little black dress” that can be dressed up or down and can be worn for years without going out of style. In general, I feel these three dresses represent the concept of my spring/summer collection.

I find inspiration in everything, so I can’t say I have a particular designer that I look to repeatedly. That’s not to say I don’t admire many designers. My favorites include Carolina Hererra, Temperley, Oscar De La Renta, Marchesa, Badgley Mischka, and Valentino. I prefer a more classic design.

My designs are also inspired by frustrated shopping trips – the ones where I leave a store empty-handed, with a perfect design in mind. And I lean a lot on my Brazilian heritage – I am greatly influenced by Brazilian art and culture.

So what drives your design?

I’ve long dreamt of becoming a fashion designer. My drive has always been to design clothing that truly fit a woman’s body. So I’ve set out to fill a niche in U.S. fashion. Rather than designing basic apparel with a wider audience, I wanted to design lines that start with petite sizing. I feel that petites deserve to have designer clothing too!

In the future, I’ll expand my lines with regular sizing to appeal to all women. But petite sizing will always exist.

Where are you being sold?

This season, my collection is being sold in California, Florida, and Texas, with delivery expected near the beginning of April.

California
House of Petro Zillia on 3rd Street in LA

Florida
Lears Closet on Marco Island
Rumeur Boutique in Miami Shores

Scarlett in Pinecrest

Texas
Kacky & Carl in Dallas

As for tradeshows, my line was recently featured in Atlanta at the Americasmart Premiere, and I hope to present at Designers & Agents in New York, and, of course, Los Angeles.

Is your collection available online?

No, but I expect to sell to an online shop in the near future. In the meantime, please visit http://www.fernandacarneiro.com and e-mail me to get in touch. I will be adding an e-mail list to the site soon. I’ll let you know when my collection is available online and notify you of any future events.

How do you feel about US sizing?

Returning to Brazil is always inspiring because I find clothing that actually fits! U.S. sizing is much less friendly to petite women, and the quality is lesser.

Of U.S. designer collections, the fit is even more difficult. Everything features a straight cut, particularly the higher end lines. It’s important to remember that most women have curves and we require lines that accentuate them. My line provides just that.

Furthermore, the U.S. grading system is outdated. What is true is that Americans are getting larger, but not taller. When I researched U.S. sizing, I discovered that the average height of women in the U.S. is 5’4”. The shortest fit model is 5’7”. I think it’s time we moved away from this sizing standard.

What do you love about being a designer based in Los Angeles? What don’t you like?

LA is a great place to work on design. It’s certainly less competitive than New York, but on the other hand, it’s harder to find the right people for production and sewing. But I do love LA. The city’s design constantly evolves and grows, and it’s only getting better.

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

It’s a tough business! Don’t get discouraged, and remember that anything is possible. Find the people that are willing to help, and stick with them. And, you have to really, really want it to succeed.

What am I missing? Anything else you’d like to share with my readers?

Look for my designs in boutiques at the beginning of April. I’ll be available online in the future as well. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me through my Web site.

*Fernanda is looking for a sales rep. Reps please contact her at sales@fernandacarneiro.com.

I’m thrilled to announce the arrival of 3.1 Philip Lim on eLuxury. Lim’s spring ready-to-wear collection features beautiful dresses, jackets, skirts, and tops in both neutral and bright palettes — a little something for every style. To add dimension and personality to each piece, Lim embellishes lush fabrics with hand-stitched details.

From sexy minis with exposed zips to a backless fringed cocktail dress, your spring wardrobe is going to love these additions.

3.1 runs small, so size 00s should opt for 0.

A few of my favs:

3.1 Phillip Lim Rolled Collar Coat | 0 | $525

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3.1 Phillip Lim Dolman-Sleeve Dress | 0 | $475

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3.1 Phillip Lim Omai Pleated Shoulder Bag | $626

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3.1 Phillip Lim Silk Lattice Blouse | 0 | $355

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As an added bonus, eLuxury offers free ground shipping on all orders. So you can shop all you want without worrying about the extra shipping costs.

I’m eagerly awaiting the Project Runway finale. Inspired by tonight’s episode I made a visit to the Project Runway Web site only to find that they’ve been auctioning off the contestants challenge designs. Currently the Hershey’s episode designs are up for grabs. The finale lines for Rami, Sweet P (yep her name is listed), Jillian, Chris and Christian are ‘coming soon’.

You can also purchase designer illustrated t’s for $24. The sizing starts as small but its noted that the t’s run small.

If you love the jewelry Heidi is wearing each episode you’ll be thrilled to know that its sold on their site. They make it easy for you to accessorize by episode. Strangely they don’t list the jewelery designers.

Here at serafina, we write a lot about denim because finding the perfect fit (and style and color) is an elusive task. Often, we end up paying a fortune. And that’s before the requisite trip to the tailor.

Well, things are changing, thanks to the new custom jeans brand indi. With indi, petite women can rejoice in custom-tailored denim. Shall I repeat that? Custom-tailored denim.

Each design is entirely unique with over a hundred style variations to choose from, including denim, wash, waist, leg style, distress, pocket-length, and more. indi also allows you to create your perfect jean from start to finish. Their philosophy: you aren’t mass-produced, so why wear clothing that is?

Accurate measurements are key, of course, so if you are unable to take them yourself, see that trusty tailor (because he’s sure going to miss you!).

And the best part? They’re competitively priced and shipped read-to-wear.

Scanning racks upon racks of elegant gowns is, of course, a highlight of my experience at the Grammy Style Studio. But so is the opportunity to meet the next big names in fashion. Among them, Australian designer Toni Maticevski.

Toni comes to us from the Land Down Under, and this is his first trip to the GSS. And, because I have an eye for such things, I can assure you it won’t be his last.

Soft spoken and enormously gifted, Toni has a perfect eye for the female form, and his designs show it. But they’re definitely not traditional. If I were to describe his work, I’d use the words dark, ornate, unusual, elegant, and edgy. (He agreed.)

Thing is, there’s nothing quite like his designs out there. He’s not competing with an existing brand or trying to adjust a previous line. His avant garde approach is “something that may be out of your comfort zone,” to use his words. He continued, “But that’s the point.” A perfect example: a chiffon and kangaroo patchwork fur coat.  I’m convinced.

Toni tends toward shades of black and white — his gowns at the GSS reflect this preference, though he did have a handful of colorful designs with classic, formal lines. His range is unexpected and — totally refreshing.

While perusing his line, Toni was generous to point out which gowns he considered to be characteristic of his style, the features he especially loved, and why that particular creation made it to the GSS. From dark flowing chiffon and an ornately embroidered cocktail dress, to amazing dresses featuring found objects and chic gowns with all the elegance you expect from the red carpet, Toni’s gowns are an ideal selection for any Grammy diva.

I loved his work, and I told him so. I was thrilled to see a fresh look for the red carpet. I look forward to seeing his work evolve, and I hope to cross his path again.

Though she’s a newcomer the Grammy Style Studio, Jasmine Di Milo is a new favorite designer, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of her in the U.S. She’s so very chic — I was thrilled to see her gowns up-close.

Kate Moss, Madonna, Kristin Dunst, and Christina Ricci are among her many admirers.

Jasmine’s third and fourth seasons were featured at GSS, and they did not disappoint. Contemporary style with hints of traditional and offbeat tailoring, her line has a sophisticated feel with a dramatic flair. Fresh, feminine and urban, and plentiful in both short and long designs.

Did I mention colorful? I perused a full rack with dresses in lighter shades of beige, peaches and pinks; additionally, I saw a felt, bubble-like dress in canary yellow as well as a black-and-white sleeveless dress, which was also in a bubble-skirt design.

I found a few amazing dresses in particular — one made with felt, the other with wool. Each was detailed with a great amount of layering, bringing depth to the design. Every detail was impeccably stitched and red carpet elegant.

My favorite were the cocktail length dresses. All were extremely beautiful and I loved the draped fabric. The long-sleeved, pink cashmere-and-sequin dress was amazing. It was cut to mid-thigh and featured a draped, open back.

Jasmine Di Milo can be found at Maxfields in L.A., Saks in N.Y., and boutiques in Chicago and Miami. Like me, the U.S. has been very receptive to her designs, so I suspect we’ll soon see more of her line in our favorite boutiques. And, ladies, her ready-to-wear gowns are affordable with a $1,200 price tag. She’s also sold on YOOX.COM.

Sizing starts at 2, though it runs small, catering to a thinner figure. That said, her designs are not exclusive to size 0s. Jasmine celebrates a woman’s form, and the designs are sized for everyone.

With so many wearable dresses, and such a pleasurable team showcasing her line, I sincerely hope to see many of her designs on the red carpet.

Think shiny and old Hollywood glam.

In other words, think glamour. Because that’s exactly what Elie Saab brought to the Grammy Style Studio.

With three racks of his 2008 Spring ready-to-wear collection, Elie’s designs are ultra feminine and classy, fitted and very different from the Matecevski or Di Milo hip and urban lines. With Elie, elegance, shine, and color rule.

Some common themes include sequins, golds, purples, teals, and blacks. I did have a favorite: a floor length, sleeveless purple chiffon sequined beauty (notice it on the mannequin).

Elie’s rep was my size (probably a 0P) and mentioned that Elie’s designs run small — so small, in fact, that she occasionally has difficultly zipping them up. Now, that’s not something you won’t hear every day.

The rep also explained that because of the few award ceremonies this year, those attending the Grammy’s are looking at both long and short dresses — whatever it takes to be the most glamorous.

And, although she’s not petite, Beyonce’s stylist stopped by for the long emerald-green gown.

For those unfamiliar, the Grammy Style Studio is the official styling suite for the Grammy’s and other Grammy events. Here, nominees, performers, and presenters are invited to select one-of-a-kind pieces from designers who lead either the international red carpet or the lifestyle brands us fashionistas love. Hair and make-up stylists are also present to further beautify the Hollywood it-crowd.

Coach Nobelius is hosting this year’s fifth annual event. Celebrities, along with their stylists, the media, and additional invitees, pile in for a bit of über-networking and, perhaps most importantly, an opportunity to view designer apparel for the Grammy Award Show.

Although fashion for both men and women is present, I’m focused entirely on the women’s lines, including Toni Maticevski, Jasmine Di Milo, Karl Lagerfeld, Thrive, Elie Saab, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Rodo, and Hugo Boss.

Held over four days, talent and stylists flit through the racks to eventually select the perfect red carpet gown. Of course, there’s a great deal of mingling and socializing going on as well.

In addition to clothing designers, the Grammy Style Studio also showcases a handful of product lines, including Korea’s Blue Notch Jeans, Hush Puppies new funky shoe designs, and TechnoMarine watches, which are engraved specifically for the Grammy’s in commemoration of those nominated for awards.

I spent my first day talking with designers and their reps about this year’s fashion. I’m over-the-top excited about two discoveries in particular: Toni Matecevski and Jasmine Di Milo. I’m in love. The gown designs for Elie Saab were also truly outstanding.Continue checking serafina throughout the week and weekend for Grammy Style Suite updates!

Also, a special shout out to Coach Nobelius –especially Holly – you’re golden! Thank you!