(photo: courtesy of J. Crew)
Thursday, June 9, 2011
FOUND: J. Crew's new blog
Shut it down. J. Crew has launched their very own blog! Yipee! In the same way that Gap has their own, they're using this Tumblr account to organize all things that inspre them in once place. Considering I go their site pretty regularly, this is a great way to get ideas without having to actually get something and let's me get ideas about style that go beyond just what they're selling. I love their Summer playlist because I am always looking for new tunes, and a whole host of other things that get you thinking...and could even inspire your style. Expect a lot of warm-weather inspirations I'm guessing in the coming months, which will all be quite welcome as I'm stuck behind a keyboard yet again...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Street Scene: Tales from Tokyo
One of the absolute easiest ways to get some really inspired ideas on how to dress a bit differently than all of your friends is by looking at street style from other cultures. But how, you ask? I love spending time at the newstand and pouring over foreign issues. But, you can also get some great eye candy online, this a certain recent slideshow on WWD. This is one of my fave pics. For some reason the girls of Tokyo always have a touch of whimsy that we don't have here in the states. They always look to us like they're playing dress-up (almost cartoon character-ish) but to them it's totally normal, which is especially inspiring for a girl who often wears mostly black. The use of color is awesome and everything seems to be exaggerated, from the color to the hemlines to the contrast of patterns and fabrics. it's a great lesson to learn about taking risks and a great inspiration to have when it comes to trying something new.
(photo: courtesy of WWD)
Blogger Inspiration Shot of the Day
OMG, I love this photo. A super easy way to mix up your "look" is to play with proportions (same thing I was trying to do with my new leather jacket). Pair long with short and do it in a way that you wouldn't expect. Wearing a short skirt? Pair it with a longer blazer that hits right at the end of the skirt. Wearing super short shorts (not me, but some prob do), go for a longer cardigan to balance things out. This photo takes the play into consideration, almost tricking your eyes because you expect the hemline to be somewhere else. The longer hem also lets you have a kind of "a-ha" moment when you reveal the shorter skirt or dress or hem underneath. It's fun to try because it also forces you to pair different items from your closet together in ways you wouldn't have otherwise.
(photo: courtesy of The Blondie Salad)
Varsity Blues
If you know me or knew me but at all, you know I wasn't exactly the most stylish high-schooler. The jeans were ill-fitting, the cardigans too short, and the shoes just a holy disaster. BUT, I like the way that this designer (happens to be actress Chloe Sevigny) gives her line a sort of high-school feel. Now I didn't think I could get behind her, let alone get behind a collection that capitalizes on that awkward (with a capital A) time. But I think since it's done in such a fresh way, I can really love it. The letterman jacket, the colors (that look like your school "colors"), and the skirts that scream cheerleader (or my elementary school uniform). It's all of a sudden fresh when presented out of context...which kind of makes me love it.
(photo: courtesy of StyleCaster)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
How To: The Flea Market
This amazing how-to kind of quells my "flea markets are my worst nightmare" fears. It's a how-to approach for what to do with the mayhem and I kind of think it makes sense...
1. Keep your eye on the ball. “We try to talk beforehand and focus ourselves a little bit,” Entis says. Markets are open on various days, but the girls prefer Saturdays (the most vendors turn out) and suggest arriving when the gates open (usually around 9 a.m.). Most important, know what you’re looking for before you get there.
2. Weather makes all the difference. “On a cold or cloudy day, fewer vendors set up,” Bell says. “That means there are fewer shoppers too. So, the vendors there are more likely to make a deal. One of Shira’s most successful excursions happened at the outdoor Chelsea flea on a cold and windy day. Only three vendors made it out and because Shira was their only customer she walked away with a huge box of YSL blouses and antique brocade fabrics. Great finds!”
3. Your outfit might, too. “When marketing outside of the city, we try not to look like New Yorkers,” Entis says. “Especially no jewelry!” When you are in Manhattan, the jig is usually up and vendors know a tourist from a seasoned shopper a mile away. Dress casual and for comfort. You don’t have to prove anything about your vintage know-how.
4. Let them do the talking: “Being coy is the name of the game,” Bell says. “No one is going to give you a deal if they think you’re going to turn around and sell it on eBay. But on the flip side, don’t be naïve.” It’s O.K. to eventually let them know you know Balenciaga from Target and that you’re not going to get pushed around.
5. It’s O.K. to be thrifty: “We rarely spend more than $100 during the entire day,” Entis says. “And, we always have a good bartering session with the vendors,” Bell adds. Entis scored a vintage Chanel jacket for $40, and Bell found a pair of new Oscar de la Renta heels for $15 at the Chelsea flea. “If you are buying multiple items, they’ll usually give you a better deal rather than just buying one item,” says Bell, who along with Entis stocked up on military blankets from vendors for their fall 2011 collection.
6. Go with a friend: “We like to help each other,” Entis says. And what’s more fun than shopping with a friend?
1. Keep your eye on the ball. “We try to talk beforehand and focus ourselves a little bit,” Entis says. Markets are open on various days, but the girls prefer Saturdays (the most vendors turn out) and suggest arriving when the gates open (usually around 9 a.m.). Most important, know what you’re looking for before you get there.
2. Weather makes all the difference. “On a cold or cloudy day, fewer vendors set up,” Bell says. “That means there are fewer shoppers too. So, the vendors there are more likely to make a deal. One of Shira’s most successful excursions happened at the outdoor Chelsea flea on a cold and windy day. Only three vendors made it out and because Shira was their only customer she walked away with a huge box of YSL blouses and antique brocade fabrics. Great finds!”
3. Your outfit might, too. “When marketing outside of the city, we try not to look like New Yorkers,” Entis says. “Especially no jewelry!” When you are in Manhattan, the jig is usually up and vendors know a tourist from a seasoned shopper a mile away. Dress casual and for comfort. You don’t have to prove anything about your vintage know-how.
4. Let them do the talking: “Being coy is the name of the game,” Bell says. “No one is going to give you a deal if they think you’re going to turn around and sell it on eBay. But on the flip side, don’t be naïve.” It’s O.K. to eventually let them know you know Balenciaga from Target and that you’re not going to get pushed around.
5. It’s O.K. to be thrifty: “We rarely spend more than $100 during the entire day,” Entis says. “And, we always have a good bartering session with the vendors,” Bell adds. Entis scored a vintage Chanel jacket for $40, and Bell found a pair of new Oscar de la Renta heels for $15 at the Chelsea flea. “If you are buying multiple items, they’ll usually give you a better deal rather than just buying one item,” says Bell, who along with Entis stocked up on military blankets from vendors for their fall 2011 collection.
6. Go with a friend: “We like to help each other,” Entis says. And what’s more fun than shopping with a friend?
(photo: courtesy of T Magazine)
My Campus Years
I know I may technically work in fashion now, but I've got to say that it's really my college years that were probably the most fashion formative. I learned about polo button-downs and the beauty of a Burberry scarf. But really, I have a certain nolstagia for the way I used to dress. So that is why I got so excited when I saw this little feature on the best campus dressing from TV. I think bloggers, etc are so busy getting exciting about Gossip Girl fashions that they leave out these oldies but goodies. Rory Gilmore on the The Gilmore Girls (and yes, I sometimes watch it on SoapNet) and Felicity!!!! are just two of the featured co-eds who got it right in their own way...and by the way, what a way it was. It's fun to look back and see maybe how what they wore influenced us. Or did it?
The Appearance of a Smaller Waist
I know this is a dreaded conversation but as you get older and things kind of shift around, I notice the one thing that I keep coming back to is that I want a smaller waist. But, let's face it, that isn't happening anytime soon. It's just not in my DNA (remember, I'm a rectangle). So, here's a picture that shows a really flouncy, bouncy skirt and the volume of the skirt alone makes the waist look incredibly smaller by comparison. I think if you've got skirts that have a little extra room, you can even take it to a tailor and have them add layers. The more volume means the smaller your waist will look in comparison. Just be careful to not get too out of control or you'll just end up looking way wide, which would defeat the purpose altogether.
(photo: courtesy of Atlantic Pacific)
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