Tank Tops in December

If I hear one more thing about global warming I am going to jump out a window. I couldn’t care less about greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, rising glaciers, and deforestation, I’m just happy that I haven’t had to break out the winter coat yet. All I know is that this global warming thing gives me an extra few weeks to run around the pool in my Malia Mills bikini…what could be so bad about that?

Well if the increased and unseasonably warm temperatures affect my day-to-day outfit choices, maybe global warming actually does pertain to me in some way. I am not about to go Al Gore on you and give you flow charts and statistics about the reality of global warming or tell you to go out and plant a tree and switch to energy efficient light bulbs. But I AM going to tell you that just as I realized when getting dressed this morning, global warming may actually affect your life more than you think.

Whether you’re a Chanel, Ralph Lauren or H&M type of girl has little to do with the fact that we all wear clothes and our choices depend on the weather. And if you work in the fashion industry, lord knows you’ve felt the heat (pun intended) of global warming during the most recent fashion week. The concept of “Fall” and “Spring” are changing and with them are the clothes that designers are showing. The division between seasons are blurring and people are no longer looking for a great fur coat to wear with their (ugh) Uggs.

Some companies have even gone as far as hiring a climatologist to predict the weather throughout the year prior to designing their collection. This is a) expensive and b) rather pointless as our weather has been…unpredictable…duh.

On a recent trip to Saks I found a desolate fur vault, which under normal conditions during the holiday season is chock full of ladies-who-lunch looking for a toasty mink. Fur designers could say goodbye to their income…the proverbial post-Christmas sales just got bigger.
Perhaps an appropriate response would be an increased use of sub-seasons. Yes Fall/Winter exists in the fashion industry but how many designers actually do go all out for Fall/Winter collections? Cruise and resort collections may not only be appropriate for that week in Aruba but hey, I’ll take that Missoni cover up right now please.

In typical Diesel fashion, a recent advertising campaign entitled “Global Warming Ready” portrays models posing in a world affected by rising temperatures. Diesel offers an online supplement to their advertisements which teaches customers about keeping their glam lifestyle but helping to cut down on their impact on global warming by: walking to their favorite stores, giving old fashion magazines to friends, eating steak in a restaurant rather than using a refrigerator or insulating their homes with recycled denim (that would be True Religion for me).
So you may be quick to rejoice in global warming every November day that you were able to walk outside in nothing but a Kain tanktop but nevertheless, it’s important to be aware of what’s really going on.

So you’ve seen how I’m effected, how about you? What are YOUR thoughts on 60 degree days in December?

Here are some things to keep in consider:
1) If you currently intern/work for a designer, PR firm , etc. have you noticed any changes being made in order to account for global warming?

2) Do you feel that global warming contributes to the current economic hardships facing the fashion industry? (ie. Heavier clothing not selling, stores closing, more sales, etc)

3) What is eco-friendly clothing and do you buy it?

Please take our survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2LHH8CJ

Thank you,
Alix & Kyra

P.S In exchange for your opinion we’d like to extend to you an exclusive $50 off of your next Malia Mills bikini. Thanks to the lovely ladies over at Malia Mills for offering us this exclusive deal. Just go to any Malia Mills location and let them know you're a Creature of Fashion reader! So until we can find a solution, let’s enjoy $50 off the swankiest of bikinis!

Week in review...oh wait, it hasn't been a week yet?

Amidst the mass chaos that is New York Fashion Week, I decided to start blogging more #manic #ballsy #stupid.

Highlights of New York Fashion Week thus far:

Fashion's Night Out...because you didn't know I was going to say that. When the most anticipated night of the season finally came, the SC offices were aflutter of emotions, nerves and excitement. Half the team headed to Cutler for free blowouts, all of the team was downing sugar free redbull and Starbucks, while I whipped out my astronaut dress for the occasion and made my way over to Foley + Corinna to be styled by the best of the best. Tom Soluri, stylist to the cast of Gossip Girl was throwing outfits at me left and right. Check out my style transformation here: www.stylecaster.com/news/4991/fashions-night-out-at-foley-corinna

From there it was off to Missoni for imported macaroons (die), champagne, knit bikinis and Kelly Bensimon. Next stop for us was Vivienne Tam with the uber-fab DJ Mick Boogie. As the night wore on and everyone remembered how cool StyleCaster is, the store was packed with fans.

I then took a cue from my wallet and decided it might be time to Mick Boogie over to American Apparel. Before that though, we made a pitstop at Eryn Brinie for the most amazing pink sparkling champagne and goodie bags full of Frizz Ease (they must have known about my ritual straightening). The true brilliance of the night came out though when I arrived at American Apparel where I filled my dressing room full of clothes and then proceeded to buy a dressing room full of clothes. Champagne + Shopping= Not so recession friendly but definitely closet friendly. Oh, that would be if I didn't share a closet with my roommate #college #gramercy #clothes horse #pack rat.

The night ended with a short stint at the Bryant Park Hotel and a divine, way over due dinner of hummus and special k.

Friday was full of hot yoga, press previews, fur vests, Bloomingdale's, equinox and of course, no class. The Echo presentation was fab (as was Carrie Goldberg) and Bernard Maisner who humbly penned Philip Lim's wedding invitations in calligraphy. Loved his new scarf collaboration, so fitting with the September 11th premiere date.

The Vivienne Tam show was nothing short of amazing and StyleCaster was equally ground-breaking, as per the usual fabulousity, being the first to live stream a fashion show. Go team!

Tomorrow is Sunday which means I still won't sleep, but I work better whe I'm manic anyway.

Peplum Power

All hail the almighty peplum dress.

They've been popping up everywhere latey. You've seen them for sure, but chances are, you had no idea what to call them. I personally danced around with a few terms, sometimes referring to them as tierred or layered. But it wasn't until I realized that my sister's Sweet 16 was dangerously close and I had yet to find a dress that I actually got on the internet and did my research.

According to Webster's, a peplum is a "short section attached to the waistline of a blouse, jacket, or dress". The term came about in the 1800's and has since evolved. The modern peplum became popular in the 1940's when we began to see fabric extending beyond the waist on skirts and dresses. A peplum typically flares out at the hips, some more so than others, creating a variety of silhouettes.

After a brief hiatus, the peplum trend came back in full force in the 80's. And what seems to be the standard now, anything with a cool factor in the 80's is once again cool now. The popularity of the peplum was partially a reaction to the constricting menswear styles that were the norm during that time period. The new peplum was a quasi-feminist statement towards freedom of dress for women and the embrace of a woman's figure.

And they've got it absolutely down pat in the UK. Topshop, ASOS and NewLook have mastered the peplum style. A quick walk through Topshop and you'll see dainty floral peplum skirts and dresses lining the floor. Asos.com offers up their version of the peplum in a variety of colors. And I can indulge my love for fake leather (American Apparel style) with New Looks "Wet Look" peplum dress which comes in black and pink.

I don't know about you but my Forever 21 floral version is in my closet ready to be worn one last time. And as soon as this unsightly rain ceases, you'll find me in my peplum dress on the Great Lawn.

-Alix

Better than Saks during Christmas...

Look Mommy, I'm a pseudo celebrity!!

In today's day and age, it isn't rare to see some our favorite fashion icons rise to fame via the internet. First there was Cory Kennedy courtesy of Mark Hunter, the brilliant photographer behind the Cobrasnake, our go-to source for party photos and uber-cool-hardly-trying fashion inspiration. Scott Schuman a.k.a. the Sartorialist is a household name when it comes to street style. I could spot a Sartorialist photo from a mile away and don't even get me started on the impeccably clad 17 year old Jane Aldridge of Sea of Shoes.

Holt Renfrew, "Canada's leading fashion specialty department store for men and women." which houses a slew of designers including 3.1 Phillip Lim, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, YSL is acknowledging our favorite bloggers turned fashion idols by fashioning "a series of blogger-inspired window displays for nine stores" {WWD}. Holt Renfrew's creative director John Gerhardt is the mastermind behind the display but he's not the only one paying homage to the blogosphere. According to WWD, a Munich art gallery featured an exhibition of 121 pieces created by 11 different bloggers last. Bryanboy, The Cobrasnake, Facehunter and Les Mads were among the headlined bloggers.

Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist), Bryanboy, Tommy Ton of Jak & Jil and Jane Aldridge of Sea of Shoes will all find a cozy spot in the Holt Renfrew windows. Today, fashion bloggers are highly esteemed, given front row seats at Bryant Park, landing awesome internships with Nylon Magazine and apparently collaborating with fashion giants like Urban Outfitters. The proverbial next step is to land a spot in Canada's biggest department store's windows.

You know you've hit it big when they start designing mannequins after you. -Alix

Bendel's Strips Down

In this recession, strategy is key.

When the news arrived that Henri Bendel's would no longer be carrying clothing in an effort to focus on accessories, beauty products and gifts, the entire fashion industry let out a big sigh. WWD reports that Bendel's plans to downsize it's preeminent flagship store located on Fifth Avenue in New York by renting out the third floor which previously housed apparel in an effort to concentrate on the more profitable sectors of the business which would include accessories and beauty items.

Perhaps the most notable part of the report though, was that Bendel's plans to extend this concept into shopping malls where little units will offer Bendel's merchandise. Manhattanites and fashionistas everywhere are mourning the loss of the Fifth Avenue institution to corporate America. While shoppers did not necessarily frequent Bendel's for clothing (sources say that apparel sales make up only 25% of Bendel's income), the aura of exclusivity and authenticity surrounding the fashion empire is not something that could be reproduced in a chain of mall stores. I mean really, looking out the brown and white striped facade to see a Claire's staring back at you is just not the same as Berdorf Goodman luring you in with promises of Hermes scarves and Manolo Blahniks.

The third floor of Bendel's was once home to Balmain, Alice & Olivia, Jason Wu and Matthew Williamson among other esteemed designers. Known for bold pieces and taking chances with unknown designers, Bendel's has helped some of today's most talented and revered designers who they are, just by giving them a chance. But with less of a demand for gutsy fashion with the faltering economy, it is a relief to hear that Bendel's will not be giving up with their "Open See" days which they held in order to give up and coming designers an avenue for discovery.
The hope for the new business plan is to take Bendel's global, reaching more people than the devotees who currently flock to New York to laud the brown and white. Bendel's will also focus more on handbags which they previously relied on "third-party" designers for but are now aiming to come up with designs of their own, furthering the idea of Bendel's as a brand rather than a store.

And if you hurry, Gabay's Outlet in the East Village is where Bendel's is putting to rest the remainder of it's clothing. There will be regular shipments of brands like GoldSign, Sass & Bide, Rock & Republic, J Brand, AG, Ya Ya Aflalo, Jil Sander, Ralph Lauren and the eponymous Henri Bendel knits {Racked}. If you get there soon, you just may be able to snag some merchandise for up to 50-80% off the retail price!

-Alix

Right In The Family Jewels

"Right In The Family Jewels" has been around on myspace since the days before facebook (when was that?!) took over the social networking world. The famous ribcage necklace (which can be found on her myspace) is something that has stuck in my mind since the first visit to the site and upon trying to make one of my own, my creativity failed me and I realized that I could never be as good at jewelry making as Amanda Davis.

Amanda Davis is the creative genius behind "Right In The Family Jewels", a Chicago based jewelry company that operates through myspace with a website currently in the works. In the past, Amanda has collaborated with companies such as Rockett Clothing, Johnny Cupcakes and Clandestine Industries.

Her creative parents were among her early influences for making jewelry along with the other creative individuals she surrounds herself with. It wasn't until she started cutting out different shapes by hand for therapeutic reasons, that she learned that she could take her ideas to the next level. Her hobby quickly snowballed into a full-blown online business. Through word of mouth and links posted on other myspaces, Amanda quickly garnered a community of fans that have stuck by her since the beginning. Although she does not plan to open her own boutique, she would love if stores would showcase her line as part of their inventory {Odd Notes}. When the website launches, she plans to keep the myspace up and running so fans could continue to post their pictures and comments in support of her art.

Amanda has taken jewelry making to another level. Each piece is completely hand-made and hand-shipped which requires alot of effort and time on her part. She takes orders through her myspace and offers free shipping to customers in the United States! At times, she even gives customers the chance to place custom orders. But by far, the most popular designs are the iconic rib-cage and skeleton hand necklaces, both of which Amanda thought up with while sitting in bed one night {Odd Notes} Replications of these designs have been found all over.

Upon a road trip to Chicago at age 17, Amanda immediately fell in love with the city. The notoriety that the windy city has received as of late for their emerging music and fashion industry is something that Amanda saw during her first visit, prompting her move from Georgia.
Amanda is no stranger to internet celebrities. Her necklaces which run the gamut from hearts, kitties, sunglasses, skulls, shark teeth, crosses, diamonds, lightning bolts, to name a few...have been spotted on the likes of Audrey Kitching, Jac Vanek and Hanna Beth Merjos {Odd Notes}. The attention that her jewelry received as a result of the promoting work of these "scenesters" catapulted her art even further into the public eye.

So don't wear your heart on your sleeve...wear it around your neck.

-Alix

She Loves Me Not

I LOVE designer collaborations, I LOVE reasonably priced lines and I LOVE Forever 21. But...I DON'T LOVE Forever 21's new line, "Love 21".

After the upset that was Matthew Williamson's line for H&M and McQueen's line for Target, I was a little skeptical at the news of the launch of Faith 21, Forever's plus sized line and the ensuing announcement of Love 21 "Contemporary" which landed in select stores on May 19th. With their classic line, the heritage line and the twelve by twelve line, Forever 21 is trying to run the gamut when it comes to individual style. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Forever 21 is reaching out to people of different sizes and age groups but I'm just not convinced that they hit on this one.

When Forever released Twelve by Twelve, I sprinted out of Screaming Mimi's faster than you can say "overpriced vintage". I can't even tell you how many pay checks have gone into ritual trips to the Forever 21 in Union Square (which by the way is now even bigger and more awesome).

With the goal of Love 21 being to cater to consumers aged from 25-45, I feel like a few hem lines were dropped and a name was slapped on. While the prices still stay reasonable ($17.80-$29.80), the designs are just so BORING. At 25, I'd like to think that my fashion sense will not magically fly out the window. Come on Forever, we know you could do better than that!

Sorry, Love 21, I'm Just Not That Into YOU.

Fashion Faux Pas

Okay so I'm back. Sorry about the extremely long hiatus but I've been in internship limbo and caffeine overload as of late.

Anway...When it comes to trends, my mantra is generally "to each his own". I love to see people work really crazy trends and pull them off. After all, that's what fashion is. But to me, if there's one article of clothing that should stay buried very, very deep in the back of your closet, only to be unearthed when Vanilla Ice comes back (ie: never), it's a denim jacket.

After browsing my ritual editorial rags (a.k.a Star Magazine, US Weekly, etc), I was horrified at the "Trend Watch: Denim Jackets" section. Um no, I REFUSE to watch this trend. While it doesn't look HORRIBLE on fashion icon Chloe Sevigny (nothing could look bad on this girl), her outfit would've been much better had she worn a leather jacket rather than that god forsaken 90's horror trend.

One reader on thefashionspot voiced the same concerns that I have:

"NO MORE, PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU! I cannot see anymore denim and denim combos - its terrible! Unless we are totally reworking the garment in a whole new way (unlikely) - I just dont want to know!"

And I don't want to know either, because Abercrombie's signature jacket has not changed since 1892 (yes, the year it was established), and I'm sure it won't change any time soon

If you feel that you MUST wear one, please oh please I beg of you, no denim on denim. Wardrobe 911 tells it as it is: "Wearing a jean jacket with jeans is only okay if you are Will Farrell doing a Gap ad".

So keep your skinny jeans, denim shorts, faux denim leggings, denim skirts, just
please don't let me see you wearing mom's boxy jean jacket from 1982. Because we
all know you can do better than that.

Back!

Sorry about my brief hiatus, I've been super busy with finals/moving out and writing for ASOP!! I'm always posting there so check it out if you get a chance! I'm going to a press conference at Borough Hall in Brooklyn tomorrow to chat about the upcoming Wunderbloc shop night which will be July 8th and 9th. It'll be sort of like a girls night out with shopping, refreshments and great deals so I'll update you on that after tomorrow! I'm also starting my internship with Stylecaster on Thursday and I CAN'T WAIT for that. I went to their first ever styling competition earlier this year and had an incredible time..Here are the videos, the first is before the competition and the second is the outfit we came up with. If I've learned anything, I have to work on my television skills...I'm a nervous wreck.

Anyway, a more legitimate post to come later this week!

Fighting for the Copyright

American Apparel versus Urban Outfitters

When I heard that Maria Cornejo tried her luck in Washington, DC along with Thakoon Panichgul, Narciso Rodriguez, and Jason Wu, lobbying for a copyright law on clothing designs, I couldn't help but think of Urban Outfitters brazen rip-off of American Apparel's designs this season.

But what's really at stake here? Well, I'll admit, I'm the first person to head to Forever 21 to look for a dress similar to that to-die-for Betsey Johnson dress I saw on the Spring runway. But let's be honest, I'll be paying $20 for a low quality dress that I could probably wear no more than twice. I am sacrificing quality, and that's okay with me as long as the price tag is SUBSTANTIALLY different.

But when another designer completely rips off your design and then charges MORE for it, that's when I get really confused. How could Urban Outfitters blatantly copy the interlock skirt, figure skater dress, pocket skirt, afrika print leggings, to name a FEW and then charge MORE?!

The United States and China are the only two countries which do not have copyright infringement laws when it comes to fashion design. In the UK, a designer has the right to sue anyone who copies his/her garment.

Stores such as Target, H&M, and Uniqlo gives us the chance to purchase low priced designer duds that are created by the actual designer thanks to a myriad of designer collaborations. A designer catering to celebrities and the upper crust such as Alexander Wang, Balenciaga, Balmain (...you get the point) is less threatened by a copy at Forever 21 because their customers would not dare step foot there. But as American Apparel are competitors, this is where I see the need for a copyright law in the world of fashion design.

Your thoughts?

Reason to Stop Mourning the Loss of Our Monday Night Addiction

For East Coast fans of MTV's "The Hills", Whitney Port's spin-off show "The City" was a huge hit. With talks of the Hill's final season in the works, we are expecting a return of the DVF crew on a second season of "The City". Even more exciting (or not?), Audrina Patridge, LC's faithful sidekick, will be filming a show with Mark Burnett featuring her life after the Hills.

Mark Burnett is credited with shows such as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice" and has certainly proven that we can only expect great things from him. The new show which is currently untitied will allegedly be edgier than The Hills. The new show will cover more of her life and the California lifestyle. Will this mean that we'll actually get to see the Paparazzi encounters and life outside of the Lauren Conrad bubble?

And what will happen to Justin Bobby? While Audrina can't dispel the ultimate outcome, she promises that the tumultuous relationship will ultimately be transcended and she promises new love and new romances. Audrina's relationship with Justin Bobby is similar to our relationship with The Hills: so utterly wrong but so completely addicting we can't help but come back.

Audrina is also pursuing a film career with a role in the straight-to-DVD sequel, "Into The Blue 2" and the gory remake of "Sorority Row" which will hit theaters later this year. Hey, you have to start somewhere.

And what about Spencer and Heidi? Actually...do we really care?

"Look It's A PBR Fountain!

So if you know me, you know that I'm obsessed with Hipster Runoff, the blog that sarcastically and brilliantly pokes fun at all of those pseudo hipsters and bizarre, "ironic" tendencies and stereotypes that we all know and love.


So when I came upon "Look at this f-ing hipster" recently, I was SO happy to add another blog to my reading list. The blog kind of reminds me of the Sartorialist only Scott Schuman doesn't add scathing comments to the bottom of his pictures.


We've all seen them. On the L train to Beacon's Closet in Williamsburg, outside Lit Lounge in the East Village, actually EVERYWHERE in the East Village. Those poor unfortunate souls that would do anything to make it onto the Cobrasnake. But when trying to seduce Mark into making them his new Cory Kennedy-esque muse doesn't work, they turn to other antics.


And Look At This Fucking Hipster is the perfect venue for making fun of those PBR sipping people in the ripped tights that make your head turn and make you utter obscenities under your breath. Amongst my favorite snarky remarks are “This is what a retarded chicken looks like.”:


I also appreciate the wit behind:


“If I didn’t already know I was listening to Animal Collective on these headphones, I would bet myself $100 that I was listening to Animal Collective on these headphones.”

They got my attention. I'll be checking back daily and possibly even sending in a picture of my own.

Tres Rip-Off

For some reason, the "Chanel essential tote" doesn't seem so "essential" to me. Priced at $2265, the medium sized tote resembles Bloomingdale's "Brown Bags" which go for a reasonable $35.

I'm all for the reusable totes. I have my Whole Foods and Trader Joe Bags that I purchased for $1, my free topshop tote, an NYU green tote. I even save all my cute shopping bags (admit it, we all do it). In this recession, $1 for a tote bag is in my opinion, reasonable. $2265 is not.

I am always impressed with Karl Lagerfeld's designs and this time is no different. The adorable pink, black and white leater totes are fashion forward and functional. But unfortunately, the price tags are not.

The bag is modelled after the instantly recognizable shopping bags at the 31, Rue Cambon flagship store in Paris. And I'm sure that these bags will pop at 31, Canal Street as they are so simple and probably ridiculously easy to replicate.

While the bag itself is tres chic, for $2265 we can do better, no?

Sam Edelman Has Us Nostalgic for Balenciaga Knock-Offs

Do these Sam Edelman boots look familiar? When MK Olsen first stepped out in the real, Balenciaga version of these killer boots, everyone who voted for George Bush and over 25 were stunned at how anyone could possibly walk out in these. I for one couldn't get enough. I'd scour the internet looking for papparazi pics of her gallavanting around town in these babies. So admittedly, when killing time before an interview, I stopped into the Payless near Penn Station and was met with sheer bliss when I found a pair of Patricia Field for Payless boots which my friends call my "dominatrix boots", for $14 on sale, a steal:




Call them what you may, but these precious little things have never let me down. Without fail, everytime I step out in these I am asked where I found these gems and I respond with a smug "Payless". We all love a deal, which is why I was so thrilled to hear that these Sam Edelman boots that are hauntingly similar to the orginal Balenciaga's may come back with a bang in a limited quantity.

According to cigarettes & bribes, Sam Edelman is considering resurrecting these boots for a limited time. And no matter what your mother may say, grunge is here to stay, and we couldn't be more happy. You know I'll be on the lookout!

"The Hills" Is Back!

I couldn't let another day go by without talking about the season premiere of "The Hills". Can we just talk about Lauren Conrad's lipstick? I know Twilight is big now but really LC? I'm not sure that blood red lipstick was the best choice for the first episode of the last (tear) season. According to Lauren Conrad, she's throwing in the towel at the end of season 5 and moving on to bigger and better things.


This may include her clothing line which is on hiatus as of late, which according to her is due to a sluggish economy. But according to Page Six, her line hasn't been selling in Kitson or Bloomingdale's which doesn't seem surprising to the exorbitant price tags and mediocre designs. But according to Conrad's PR people, she is planning to revamp the line, utilizing more high end fabrics which will further increase her prices.

But she's not stopping here. Rumor has it, Conrad will be releasing her first book in June of this year entitled "L.A. Candy". The book is allegedly about a 19 year old girl named Jane Roberts and seems awfully autobiographical. Does "The Truth About Diamonds" by Nicole Richie ring a bell? Who knew this girl could write? Well...that remains to be seen.

Anyway, the premiere was filled with melodrama at it's finest with an uninvited Heidi showing up at LC's surprise birthday bash. The night falls apart as Lauren figures out that Stephanie must have invited Heidi because little angel Lo would never do such a thing. Sorry, but that girl is trouble. When Heidi finds out that Spencer is hitting on a sleazy bartender, the night completely descends even further into the abyss as Heidi and Lauren cry about their ruined relationship and Spencer beats up Stephanie's ex-boyfriend.

After Heidi gets confirmation from Stacie, the bartender, that Spencer was unfaithful, she runs home to her mother in Colorado. It's probably not the best idea to bad mouth Spencer to her mother who already despises him. At dinner, Heidi's mom invites Heidi's "first love", how romantic, to join them and continues to shower him with compliments which was totally awkward. It reminded me of my own mother and how she like to pull the old "hey, have you met the new neighbor? Heard he goes to Yale! And oh...he's a nice Jewish boy!". Well isn't that ironic? As Spencer is back in California seducing Stacie, we are left to reflect on this season's sartorial choices.

Heidi's dress was cute, if it were 2 seasons ago. We love sequins but I'm pretty sure I almost wore a similar dress to my high school prom. You already know how I feel about LC's lipstick. I understand that she was trying go for the old school Hollywood glamour with the pearls, but it just didn't suit her. I definitely think Audrina could pull of the messy side ponytail but Heidi just looks so much better with her usual overdone hair. I actually really liked Stephanie's shirt that she wore with LC when they went to the fabric store. I'm really into colorful, geometric 80's prints even though I'm usually not a huge fan of Stephanie's fashion choices. I'm still definitely a fan of LC's classic braid. I almost hate to admit it...but I kind of miss Whitney. After season 1 of "The City" and seeing her stick out like a sore thumb in New York, I'm just waiting for her to get back to LA where she belongs. And even with all the drama and horrible acting, you know I'll be back next week.

Haute or Homeless?

First, I want to just say that I just got back from Tina Parol's set for her upcoming video "Who's Got Your Money" in Long Island City and she's just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. Check out her myspace: www.myspace.com/tinaparol. She's so awesome, and she went to NYU for a year :) The set was so fun, the dancers were great and the makeup artist was off the hook. I'll be posting the interview to http://www.andspeakingofpink.com/ later on today. The interview was to go along with the Ultimate Prom (http://www.mypromstyle.com/ -a CosmoGirl affiliate under Hearst) The designers are great and I'm going to be blogging about it on andspeakingofpink as well so check
it out!

Anyway, after my girl Lizzie asked me my thoughts on the whole ripped tights trend(?) I decided it was worth
'blog-worthy':

"So maybe you can tell me what the deal is with people wearing ripped tights? Is this the new trend or are people just too lazy to buy new ones?"

I guess if we trace the idea of ripped stockings back through fashion history, we'd probably be left circa 1990 with grunge, flannel shirts...Nirvana. I'd say laddered tights fit right about there. With the 80's being the decade of choice right now, chronologically, the 90's are next.
In 2008, Alexander McQueen showed ripped tights on the runway and the trend really took off from there. As the father of neo-grunge, McQueen's novel look found it's way into the mainstream through street fashion websites of NYC's finest hipsters parading around in granny boots and leather jackets.

As an NYU student, I see many a pair of ripped tights everyday and while purposely trying to look homeless is not necessarily akin to making a fashion statement, there's something slightly intriguing about the trend. The badass vibe is kind of cool if you could pull it off. Just please... don't pair laddered tights with uggs and a denim skirt. And don't make it look accidental. If someone has to tell you that you have a run in your stocking, you're probably not edgy enough to be wearing these. In which case, go back to Abercrombie and buy a pair of ripped jeans...I'm sure you can pull those off.

So what do you think guys...yay or nay?

K-Fed...Really?

Now that's a role model if I've ever saw one...

I'm not sure what made Kevin Federline think he was qualified to design a children's clothing line. Honestly, would you let your little 8 year old wear a tshirt designed by the man causing Britney to go commando, shaver her head and go on a purple drank diet? I think I'd let my child spend the night in bed with Michael Jackson before I went out to purchase a t-shirt from Federline's "affordable" line.

I can deal with every has-been celebrity creating a "signature scent" in an effort to revamp their image. But really...what credibility could Kevin Federline possibly have as a designer? Maybe Brit-Brit finally cut the gold-digging ex-rapper off and he's looking for a way to earn a few extra bucks.

Well, I guess it's nice that he's offering an economic option for parents who can't afford to dress their children in True Religion...on second thought...when was there anything wrong with Old Navy? Or even American Apparel for god's sake at least they're verticalaly integrated and don't have poor little kid's in Vietnam working in sweatshops...I'm thinking that's a little more child friendly.

You know what they say...if you don't make it in the music industry, you might as well try your luck in the fashion industry.

Poor guy...he's going to be eaten alive.

I wouldn't mind being locked into this cage!

Is there anyone NOT drooling over YSL's $1590 lattice shoes? With all the hub these shoes made at New York and Paris fashion week, all we could do is wait for the knock-offs. Of course Topshop didn't let us down on that note, but we all knew they wouldn't dare let us down again.

Even if I had an extra $1590 (which I don't, thank you NYU), these babies have been sold at Saks as soon as we crawled out of our Fashion Week induced daze. Apparently, net-a-porter has inked a deal with YSL and will soon be carrying the shoes exclusively.

But for me, the copies just aren't making the cut. The replications by Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, and the like are more reminiscent of a Volvo with a caged back then the YSL originals which seem to me to capture a more dream-like garden feeling.

Anyone up for a little stalking?

So...is anyone up for stalking topshop around the city with me sometime this weekend?

With the impending April 2nd opening, Topshop is having it's Heartschallenger vans drive around New York passing out goody bags. They started out on 14th and University Place earlier this week (NYU central!) and will be staking out at all the city's hotspots.

I've seen the totebags and they're adorable, almost reminiscent of our beloved strand totes that boost our intellectual aura. I snagged a lookbook yesterday and I'm seriously in love. The awesome prints, BLEACHED JEANS!, and just wait...10% student discount!

I can't wait for the opening and I'll be doing a live feed on April 2nd for www.andspeakingofpink.com! I'll keep you posted!

Dear god why can't I be a 6 1/2

So I am COMPLETELY obsessed with these colored oxfords from etsy. They're an embodiment of my two favorite things in fashion right now, yes you guessed it, color and oxfords. But sadly, they're a size 6.5 and would never fit me in a million years. Soooo, I'm stuck admiring them from afar :(

Or, I may do a little DIY version of these beauties when I get some free time (and a cheap pair of oxfords). Until then, I'm still working on my Hanes version of the Raquel Allegra shredded shirt using the childhood flames tutorial (http://childhoodflames.blogspot.com/2008/10/do-it-yourself-shredded-tee.html) so I'll post a picture of that when it's done!

"Chew On This"

http://www.hungrygirl.com

I've been getting my "hungrygirl" e-mails for about 3 years now and not a day goes by where I don't scour my daily e-mail in hopes of finding ground breaking "tips and tricks for hungry chicks". (P.S. If you don't get her e-mail, YOU SHOULD) After the"Skinny Bitch" revolution became old as all the dairy starved Stepford Wives cornered the markets on sweet and sour tofu stir fries and Silk's light vanilla Soy Milk became an inferior substitute for milk (yes, the real thing, not Hood Calorie Countdown or other imposters), we turned our faith to Lisa aka "Hungrygirl" who had been there all along.

With the recent release of Mary-Kate and Ashley's coffee table book, "Influence" and our favorite street style photographer, Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist) landing a book deal and yes, a pop-up shop at Barney's, we were only waiting for what would come next.

For me, good things have always come in threes and this time it's no different. Lisa Lillien will be releasing her book "200 under 200" with a book tour kicking off on April 14th in none other than the Big Apple (pun intended). From the lady who gave us something edible to make out of those god awful Tofu Shirataki noodles comes a book filled with "fabulous foods and hidden horrors".

In this industry, who isn't looking for crafty snacks under 200 calories? You know I'll be there.

Acid Wash: Yay or Nay?

It’s 2009 but it couldn’t feel more like 1982. Is the acid wash jean trend getting you down? Not me. As I walk around the sales floor at American Apparel, I can’t help but dream about my next purchase. Will it be the black nylon leggings with the zippers on the side? A gray and blue zip-up leotard?...After an 8 hour shift, I have settled on the blue mineral wash jeans.

I’m totally and completely obsessed with the acid wash jean trend that was decidedly over practically before it even began. I vaguely remember Mavi trying to create a less extreme version of the jeans circa 2001 but leave it to hipster-retailer, American Apparel to achieve the perfect balance by taking a completely and utterly ruined fashion trend and make it hip. Even Balmain’s Spring 2009 collection featured a fresh take on the dated trend.

A quick google search led to me a myriad of angry fashionistas, begging for the trend to be locked up and for the key to be thrown far, far away. One commenter even warned that the comeback of acid wash jeans could mean the apocalypse:
“no no no no no
oh god, no
please god no.
no no no no no.
i promise you, if and when these things come back in style, the earth will shrivel up and die.
please god, no!”

Now, I wouldn’t want to outright avenge the haters, but I can’t help but embrace the comeback. As long as teased hair and denim jackets remain in the archives, I’m off to buy my acid wash jeans with my next pay check.

Olivia Palermo: Back From The Brink of Socialite Hell.

If you’re anything like me you’re probably at least intrigued by the snarky, over-privileged Olivia Palermo of ‘The City’. As a downtown enthusiast and a lover of all things South of Houston Street, I was mildly insulted with Olivia’s outright jab at East Village hipsters and flaunting all things Upper East Side (Ironically, Olivia’s apartment on the City is actually located in Tribeca. Downtown much?) Although she did grow up on the Upper East side with her mother, an interior designer and her father, a real-estate developer.

Not surprisingly, ‘The City’ is probably the first time most people have even heard of the self-proclaimed socialite who entered the New York party scene only a few years ago as a student at the New School. Often compared with Blair Waldorf, we can see a parallel to the catty gossip girl site with the http://www.socialiterank.com/ scandal, a mysterious website that aimed to rank New York’s top socialites. With one bad press release, Socialite Rank was able to oust Palermo from the socialite scene, claiming that she had written a desperate ‘letter’ begging other socialites for acceptance. Daddy to the rescue! Palermo had her father hire a lawyer to get her and her boarding school educated behind back on the scene. While she never truly gained the acceptance of the “inner circle”, people started to feel bad for her that she seemed to be the target of every publicist who mattered.

When Olivia made her debut with her fake job on ‘The City’, Whitney’s former boss Kelly Cutrone alluded to her jaded upbringing. While Lauren Conrad’s overt willingness to gossip on ‘The Hills’ seemed overly scripted, Palermo’s immediate refute of Whitney’s desire to talk about her friend problems really rubbed me the wrong way. I would rather hear Lauren Conrad’s unconvincing empathy than Palermo’s catty remarks.

All this aside, I cannot deny that Palermo is fascinating. We love Olivia Palermo for the same reason we all love the oh-so-devious Blair Waldorf. Her ability to get away with her biting comments stems from her wardrobe.

How could you hate a girl who looks that good all the time?

The wait is over!

So we've come a long way since 2007 when Topshop first announced that they would be opening a 40,000 square foot store in New York. Now, as a New Yorker, and Topshop enthusiast, I didn't take this news lightly. I told everyone I knew, only to be met with confused faces that seemed to say "What the hell is Topshop?!" Was I the only American willing to pay $50 in shipping to have my Marni inspired pumps delivered to my doorstep?

2 years later and I am still waiting patiently. When the opening date was set for October 2008 I was already planning to take off class to brave the crowds if need be. But it didn't seem necessary as the date was pushed back to a nebulous "Spring 2009". I began to grow wary of an opening at all, already planning to channel all my topshop ardor into asos, until recently as I was strolling down Broadway and was met to my delight with a concrete date. April 2, 2009. In it went into my blackberry with a reminder to scour the internet for any info I could find about the impending opening.

What I found has made me all the more impatient for the opening. The NYC flagship store boasts essentially your own personal stylist, I’m thinking Rachel Zoe meets the UK, people. With an appointment you can receive the help of an expert who will encourage you try new looks with no pressure to make a purchase. But wait…it’s free! Now we can all get the celeb treatment without the celeb wallet. Maybe they felt bad for keeping us waiting so long, but during opening week, Topshop will be giving out complimentary hair styles by Woodley & Bunny, makeovers by MAKE UP FOR EVER, and manicures by Valley. As I drift away into my own little heaven (Hey, it looks like London up here!), I’ll probably forget all about by $9 an hour job and focus on the iconic Kate Moss and her line that sold out within minutes in London. You know I’ll be there and I hope you will too!

Let’s just say, I can’t bloody wait!

Intro!

Hi everyone! My name is Alix and I've been meaning to start a blog for awhile now as I read fashion blogs obsessively. I'm a 'Media, Culture and Communications' major at NYU, I work at American Apparel (yay 30% earnings increase!), intern at www.wunderbloc.com (check it out!), freelance for the 'Manhasset Press' and basically do anything I could get involved in related to fashion.

I'm obsessed with celebrity gossip, tabloids, and trash in general. I read WWD religously and try to memorize the stock information in attempts of holding intellectual conversations. I ride horses, run, paint and sing. I love music (Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, Radiohead, Animal Collective, Phish, Bob Marley, Matisyahu, Vampire Weekend, to name a few). I hope you like my blog and I'm looking forward to getting started!!

Alix