Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

Winter is fast approaching and as the September issues begin to pour in, we cannot help but absolutely fall head-over- heels in love with the latest resurgence of cape coats. The retro-inspired silhouette is fast becoming this season’s must-have layer and you can thank the amazing influence of 60’s style and praiseworthy television shows with voluptuous style-icon characters like Joan Holloway. You don’t have to furiously scan second-hand stores or vintage expos to find yourself your own period-driven piece. The designers have hopped on the boat to recreate the retro fashion in order to make the cape coat a modern staple of yours to enjoy now and for decades to come. Available in every price range to satisfy your inner mod-queen, easy access brands like Nautica and Anne Taylor, have been hitting the advertisements of your favorite magazine to let you know that this blast-from-the-past style is yours for the taking. So whether you want to spend $100 or $400, a universally flattering, and timeless new addition is ready to give your fall and winter a quick and easy retro-makeover : Rachel Roy Cape Coat, Ellen Tracy Belted Wool Cape, BB Dakota Calhoun Cape, and the Via Spiga Cape.

Featuring limited-edition women’s apparel pieces reminiscent of the designer’s signature style, “Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse Only at Macy’s” will be sold in approximately 235 Macy’s stores nationwide and on macys.com beginning August 31. “To me Macy’s is the perfect department store in the US where everybody can find what they’re looking for without ruining their budget,” said Karl Lagerfeld. “That’s why I am happy to make this limited collection just for Macy’s.” Known as the Master of Reinvention, fashion designer, publisher, artist and photographer, Karl Lagerfeld helms his namesake fashion house and the Italian house Fendi and Chanel. From $50 to $170, the Karl Lagerfeld capsule has a sophisticated aesthetic that weaves rich fabrics and chic silhouettes together to create a collection with a modern and versatile twist. The color palette ranges from soft to shocking pink and grey to noir. Attainable luxury for every customer, the line will have collectible tee-shirts, comfortable jackets, tweed separates, and draped dresses and tops mixed with crocodile print and chic leggings to give the collection a refreshing rock ’n’ roll edge and modern sophistication. Be the first to shop the limited-time collection on August 31 at 235 Macy’s stores and macys.com.

Never have I met a designer that is as sweet as she stunning. So meeting Rachel Roy at her RACHEL by Rachel Roy Macy’s Fall Preview and Meet and Greet was not just an unbelievable opportunity but also an amazingly enlightening one. Her story is that of fashion fairytales, Rachel Roy started out as an intern (for Rocawear Clothing) where she ascended to a position as a creative director and soon after launched her nationally known and highly praised fashion collection. After a successful induction with her Rachel Roy brand, in 2009, she launched “RACHEL by Rachel Roy” her affordable gathering of contemporary wear and accessories with Macy’s. At the end of the interview, I asked her what her best advice for all the women out there. She told me that it was to “Believe in Something.” And she couldn’t have been more inspirational than with these said words. After all, if you have faith and relentlessly stay passionate about something that you love, believing in it is already disarming half the battle it takes to turn any of your own thoughts and ideas into a reality.

The designer also gave me her down low on her most important style essentials for every season. They are practical and pretty picks that require a low maintenance direction with instant, high maintenance results. Here are her tips on her most important style essentials of all time:

A Classic Trenchcoat: “You can wear it as a dress or as a layer. You can always dress it up or down and no how, it always looks sophisticated and polished,” explained the designer. Try a classic with Burberry’s beige trench.

A Great Handbag: A girl can be ready for work or play without having to switch bags with the right handbag choice. Rachel’s go-to pick for the office and after hours was her Celine bag.

A Gorgeous Lipcolor: Rachel’s color of choice is NARS lip pencil in Redsquare. It’s bright, beautiful complimentary color can help make even the barest faces look effortlessly done up.

A Fabulous Pair of Statement Earrings: Of course, the designer’s final style essential must-have is a great a pair of statement earrings. With her beautiful collection of new designs, you can guarantee always looking classy and ready for any event with a sparkly set of eye-catching jewels to frame your face. My favorite picks of her collection, which Rachel was wearing when I met her, are the Multi-wing Doorknockers. A steal at $38.00!

You can see more of her affordable RACHEL by Rachel Roy designs at your nearest Macy’s or at www.rachelroy.com.

The beach is calling, can you hear it? The sun is shining, the breeze is cool, I can hear the waves crashing on the shore and washboard abs slamming on the surfboards. Yes! We’re in Northern California and despite what you may have heard about San Francisco, we have sexy, supermodel-like surfers in this area, too! And I found the cutest tank dress to wear in front of those studs that will catch their eye without you even having to try: Sass & Bide’s “Take it to the Streets” oatmeal cotton and linen-blend tank dress. Playfully printed with the words “Defend the People” in multicolored letters, you won’t be short of color or questions from intrigued onlookers. A great cover up to your own bikini, it’s a no-brainer, beach-ready chic ensemble that only needs to be worn with a pair of gladiator sandals and sunglasses. Switch it up for casual wear with a pair of tights and a cropped denim jacket. Now, the only thing you’ll have to think of is a witty conversation-starting answer to snag surfer boys number.

- See more of my fashion articles at blog.thefind.com

Get mom summer ready with accessories market leader, Echo Design. They offer a wide range of swim, beachwear, bags, home products but the best gift for mom this Mother’s Day is the product they are best known for, silk scarves. Whether small neckerchief squares or larger oversized wraps, these brightly colored pieces will effortlessly enhance mom’s outfit, taking it unmistakably chic heights. Loving the floral frenzy scarves best! All scarves are available at on at Echo Designs website and at Nordsrom San Francisco Shopping Center.

If you are headed to Refinery29 San Francisco’s Shop Crawl Launch, here is the perfect cheat sheet to make sure you get in on all and every goody available today ( 4/28, from 6-9pm) at all of the 10 participating boutiques:

And if you haven’t RSVP’d yet, you must do that by clicking here.

Happy Shop Crawling! Be sure to get your photo snapped by the Refinery29 photographers and munch on a few delicious snacks available at a few of your favorite shops above.

See you there!

For a quickie summation of my closet issue and the super awesome pro-stylist answers I received, keep reading!

To revert back to find out what Closet Audit is and why I did this video, click on this link to direct you to Part One of this post.

My question: How do I breathe life into an old blouse?

Dillema: I have a lot of vintage and retro blouses. How can I wear more statement tops and dresses again, without looking like I am flaunting a repeater, or have a limited wardrobe?

Summary: Mixing and matching staples and accessories. When it comes to revamping a piece of my wardrobe, creativity is my best friend.

Victoria Gloster from Philadelphia suggested to “work basics in with special pieces and mix it up with accessories“ to “avoid looking like you stepped right out of an another era.” To create multiple looks which can feature an individual piece, reach for the staples: A structured blazer, well fitted trousers, jeans, skirts, and an A-line dress. Break up two and three piece vintage suits and ensembles into individual pieces for maximum style and avoid looking like it’s Halloween by NEVER wearing an entire outfit of vintage clothes from the same period at the same time.

Carly Montoya from Texas recommended that the “key to fabulous outfits that are also going to be personal” is “a solid foundation of basics in the closet.” Here is the list of staple things which I am going to be shopping for as soon as possible: Denim jeans, simple white button down shirt, cardigans, simple ballet flat, classic pump, basic pencil skirt.

Susan Ford from Oregon proposed to “mix in classics and timeless pieces to avoid going over the top” but to further supplement her statement she recommended shopping for vintage pieces with a staple appeal, like timeless jacket, classic bag, or ageless vest. She also recommended going to estate sales (and online) for vintage jewelry.

…and that is how Closet Audit by Urban Darling does it. I love how each stylist brought something unique to their submission. All the advice was solid, enlightening, and helpful. I highly recommend sending your wardrobe worries to the professionals of Urban Darling’s Closet Audit stat. Right now, they are taking submission until June 1, and each will get a goody. Click here to get virtually styled.

Closet Audit by Urban Darling is a virtually styling team that asks for you to send video submissions of your wardrobe woes, dress dilemmas. Your clothing conundrums are then abolished by three professional stylists with quick and painless 2 minute videos explaining and suggesting excellent advice and creative ideas documented at the ready, online, all the time.

A few weeks ago, I entered the Closet Audit by Urban Darling Challenge at the suggestion of a friend and fellow blogger, Kara Ashe of GoVee blog. The bait was a kick ass swag bag and all it required me to make was a 2 minute max video telling viewers what I love about my closet and asking Urban Darling’s stylists for advice on a personal, specific clothing rut. So, I digged through the shoe closet for my tripod, took out a pen and paper, and started brain storming. First, about what is my specific clothing rut– EASY! –Second, what to wear/how to make the video. – Easy? Not so much.

Okay, here’s the dealy-o: I’ll admit this, I’m pretty internet /social media savvy, (after all, I do it for a living) but when it comes to video and digital cameras, I can be a bit of a Dodo bird. I’ve had my Canon Powershot for the last billion years and, no lie, just discovered a few features I never knew it had 2 weeks ago. (What? A “To Do” option? Really?) So when it came to editing and shooting my video, it was simply, one tripod, a few bad angles, and an added mediocre slideshow text via Picasa Video Editor. Sorry that I didn’t impress anyone with my mad MTV VJ-inspired coolness, but I did get fabulous Virtual Styling advice. I swear, one day I will master the camera. Just not right now.

Click here to view my video submission to the Closet Audit Challenge and the three videos of professional virtual styling advice from Urban Darling staff members: Victoria, Carly, and Susan.
Here is the fabulous goodie bag:

Lots of jewelry, beauty goods, and fun. Love it. By far one of the best swag bags I have ever received! Thank you Kara and Urban Darling! I enjoyed partaking in the Closet Audit Challenge and hope that everyone loves it as much as I did… and that is a whole lot!

Just wrote up an article about socks and heels. Can’t get into that trend for the life of me. I feel like it compromises my potential legginess. One day, when I’m feeling adventurous, I’m sure I’ll give it a try.