Fabulous Fall Forties!!!

Bonjour Fashionistas!

Whoever said you had to spend more to look chic?  Well.. I say you don't! One of the main trends for this fall is recreating 1940s glamour. The forties were all about shoulder pads, waistlines, and complete looks that showcased a woman's femininity. Whether you have a high, medium, or low budget everyone can shop and recreate this look. When designers decide to bring back a style from a specific era, it is up to them to make it unforgettable and unique. Many designers such as Dolce & Gabanna, Elie Saab, and Proenza Schouler took a new take on forties fashion and updated it for 2009. Now it is up to you, my readers ( if I even have readers) to dive into your local Goodwill, consignment shops, grandparents closets ( obviously ask and don't just take... although I have done that plenty of times. Its wrong ALWAYS ask.. then they will be more inclined to give you their old amazing goodies that they hide for a reason), and finally go into your own closet. 

Why purchase something new if you already have it? In a recession (I hate that word by the way) you have to always be smart with your money even if you don't have a budget.  Why waste money?  Fashion is forever changing and you might very well have key pieces hiding in your room that you may have hated 6 years ago but love now. For instance I have one of my Aunt's old mungo shoulder padded blazers and although i cringed a few years ago on how hideous it was... now I love it!! Paired with a flattering high waisted pencil skirt, fun colored blouse, and tight vintage belt with beading at my waste is a perfect trendy look for my Fall internship.

It is that easy... gather inspiration from the fashion shows you have seen and the designer must haves you are dying over and just go bargain and thrift store hunting and I assure you, you will create unique, trendy, and affordable looks that make you stand out! Why would you want to one-stop-shop at H&M when you could have gone to your local Church where they have a vintage shop to find timeless and dazzling accessories to spice up your look. Take in mind places like that give their money to charity so not only are you saving money and looking fabulous but you are also helping a cause which is very important! 

SO... stop being boring and getting all your outfits from Zara, Urban, and Bloomingdales.  Go out and buy your must have trend pieces from all over and mix and match! You don't want to look like a store mannequin dressed head-to-toe in their look.  Where is the creativity in that?

Courses heureuses ! ( Happy shopping!)

Red Lipstick Oh la la!

It has been around for ages... Grace Kelly has worn it, our mothers and grandmothers, Starlets' on the red carpet, and now the person who has to wear it is you! I personally wouldn't dare to be without my red lipstick... only because when I put it on I feel complete. After "Pearl Harbor" came out my father obsessed about the women in the movie and how glamourous they looked... pushing my mother to wear it and emulate that essence (my mother just plain and simple hates red).

After battles with my mother to try it, she did and she choose the wrong shade and has since forgone my father's dream and disregarded red lipstick forever, opting for pink. Since red lipstick didn't suite my mother he said, why don't you try it! So I did and since then I have become an obsessive red lipstick fanatic. I have tried all shades and some had looked terrible and some have been oh so irresistible, but finally I have found my winter and summer shades. In summer I wear YSL # 17 rouge, which is a red-orange very fun and flirty and for winter Chanel "lover" a richer and deeper red. 

You maybe asking yourself whether or not you think you can pull red lipstick off but believe me you can.... AS LONG as you have the right shade.  There is nothing worse than walking down the street whether in Manhattan or in Idaho with the wrong shade of lipstick making you look like a hooker. When you do find the right shade and I am sure you will be sure to always double check your teeth. I remember onetime at Gucci when I had just finished getting in my uniform and putting on my red lipstick... confident I walked into the elevator to talk to my favorite people and a girl I didn't care for much looked at me and said : "I love your lipstick!!... but you know it is all over your teeth" she smiled and exited the elevator  with a smirk on her face as i viciously licked my teeth. AH!

SO, remember the cardinal rules... find the right shade for your skin tone, always double check your teeth, but lastly don't forget red lipstick can be worn day or night and always looks classy with black ensembles and even printed pieces. 

Etre éblouissant ! ( be glamourous!)

Hues of Fall 2009

La salutation beaux gens ! ( Greetings beautiful people!)

Fall is almost here, and already fashion week spring 2010 is right around the corner! Geesh where did summer go? I don't know about you... but fall is my absolute favorite season.  I think there is always great inspiration for new fall colors and I love that you can layer different type of textiles together and form amazing silhouettes. For Fall 2009 the colors consist of saturated hues of olive, honey, light rust, and punches of fuchsia. All of these fashion colors can be paired with shades of gray, black, taupe, and yes even an occasional chocolate brown. mmm... a brownie would be amazing right now... ANYWAYS! I believe the economy is slowly getting better so why not bring color back into our clothes and our faces. Lets stop looking so drab and depressing and punch some life back into our lives with some color!

I enjoy seeing more color than just black and gray because what is fashion without color? Clothes look far better in color or with accents of color and silhouette can be defined more clearly with colors and fibers. Although many designers did opt for the "safe" route and used a substantial amount of black in their collections such as: Alberta Ferretti, Tory Burch, and Diane Von Furstenberg ( who usually does mesmerizing things with color and prints. I did however love her layer techniques, that was the highlight of her show) just to name a few. 

Other designers decided "What the hell! Let's brighten shit up!" and added stunning autumn colors into their collection. I am excited to see the colors for Spring 2010 and I have a feeling olive green is going to be a main contender once again along with brighter mustard hues paired with red and a electric purple.  The way fashion is moving is in the direction of space and evolution. I love Rodarte's fall 2009 because its edgy, wearable, and new... something that is hard to find. Come Spring 2010 I am sure we will be seeing shapes to a new extreme with colors and textiles used in harmony. Futuristic looks will be in... so get ready to jump on board and make people stop and stare you fashionistas! Don't forget to pick up your signature colors for Fall ox.

 

Welcome to the world of fashion!!!... Are you ready? Here we go!

    

          

If you have passion, drive, thick skin, a killer smile, and tissues ( for those moments when you ALMOST loose it) then you can make it in the fashion industry. The glamour, cameras, front seats to the best fashion shows are Bryant Park, colors, textiles, models, parties, and designer labels are all things individuals trying to make it in New York City want. We all want to be dressed head-to-toe in our favorite designers like Rodarte, McQeen, Pozen, Chanel, and Victor & Rolf, carrying the latest fashion accessory that was just issued in Vogue's must have section. The industry may look glamourous and oh so chic, but the people who are walking Fifth Avenue in designer studs and not duds have earned their place. 

                                       

I on the other hand am still trying to secure my place in the fashion industry. I must admit I have tried making my own designer look-a-like outfits out of piles of old hand me downs and various mix and match pieces from vintage stores and even Urban Outfitters. I know that clothing and accessories are only materialistic elements to looking the part of being in the fashion industry, but I feel looking professional, not necessarily in designer clothes, is extremely important.  Case and point this is exactly why I wear red lipstick.  Although I do own some designer clothing ( most of which was purchased at vintage stores or with my old discount at Gucci where I used to work), red lipstick makes me feel alive.  When I put on that Chanel "Lover" red I know that I have my game face on and I am ready to. 

                                               

If there is one thing I can tell all you  is always be professional and ALWAYS be comfortable in your skin. I know I have not made it in this industry yet but I have learned over the past few years that Designers, Human Resources, and future employers do not want just another "Average Joe or Jane" that want someone that is fresh and new... and that can be you! Do not get all caught up in discounts, stalking celebrities, and wanting to look the part of a socialite. 

                                

Remember that being YOU is the utmost important thing in order to succeed and make in the fashion industry. Being fake or someone you are not will come out in the end so you might as well put YOUR game face on now because before you know it you are already in the arena of fashion and you better be ready!

 

FASHION WEEK starts September 10th!!!!!

Vivre vos rêves maintenant ! ( Live your dreams now)

Find a penny pick it up...

Bonjour! 

Welcome to my blog... something I never thought I would have. Let me explain something to you all... whoever you may be. I do not know how to speak french and if I type something in this blog that is in French it is because Google translations has helped me.  Also, I do not have a passport, but do have a red leather passport holder for it to go in one day. Finally, I am a fashion student in my last year and I am interning at a renowned luxury fashion house in New York City... yes, Chanel, my dream. Throughout life I have been dreaming of Paris and quite frankly sometimes I think that I am obsessed. Whether I am at the grocery market, vintage shop, stationary store, or even in someone else's bathroom there are little bits of Paris everywhere.  Throughout my Brooklyn apartment there are images, napkins, boxes, matches, and cards all with the Eiffel Tower on it. It is not that I have been lazy and haven't traveled it is because I have been focusing more on school, my career, and the worst of all not saving any of my hard earned money... that by the way is almost down to nothing.

You may be wondering what does this blog have to deal with and is this girl crazy? To clear your thoughts about me... no I am not crazy just very creative and outgoing in the best possible way. I love color and all that color embodies. I feel color is who we are as individuals and through this blog I will pick apart specific colors and trends that maybe formed all around that one beautiful hue. Also, I will occasionally be discussing vintage, specific designers whether iconic or new-age, interior design, great finds with amazing price points, and above all insight on life in the fashion industry and discovering exactly where I may fit within this industry.

You may or may not have noticed by now but I am not a very good speller and I hate spell check for one reason and one reason only.  Spell check only gives you options, options on words that appear to be spelled the way you "think" the word you are trying to type or write should look like, but in the end all fails when you choose the wrong spelling correction and you are stuck with the wrong word with the wrong meaning. For instance I just handed in a paper for Licensing and when discussing "estate licensing" I wrote "diseased person" instead  of "deceased person"... not only was I mortified by the huge red ink on my corrected homework paper but the fact that my professor announced my error to the class. JOY! So my apologizes to you all in advance! 

I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy writing this. Maybe this blog will keep me from going insane from poverty, desiring fashion label I cannot afford, and above all allowing me to explore every aspect of the fashion industry, as for I am the little red fish swimming round and round in my fish bowl of a world. 

Apprécier ! (Enjoy)