Drawing inspiration from the world of aviation, Kimberley Newport-Mimran’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection for Pink Tartan showed us how Amelia Earhart would dress if she lived in the present.  She wouldn’t just be flying in any old aviator cap.  No, hers would be covered in silver sequins.  And she wouldn’t rely on a chunky seatbelt harness to keep her strapped in.  Instead she would turn to delicate ribbon straps in vanilla and dove grey and wings of fluffy fur to keep her in place.  It’s details like these that take Pink Tartan from just a classic sportswear label to a classic sportswear label with serious chic appeal and there is little doubt that Kimberley’s Amelia is our kind of woman.

Our favorite pieces in general were those from the second half of the show – the soft greys and creamy ivories really spoke to us, especially the pearl-encrusted skater dress that closed the show (the roses were a very nice touch!).  We love that somebody finally showed a basic black cigarette pant – you can’t imagine how difficult they are to find. Read more…

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Have you ever noticed that some people simply take life by the hand and guided rather than being guided by what life gives them. It almost seems as though they have a secret. Fortunately for all of us, it isn’t a well hidden secret. It’s just a way that they have found to take full advantage of the opportunities that simplify life.

A lot of these people have taken advantage of the Internet and the many things it has to offer. For example, many people are make money blogging. Therefore, they have either changed the way they earn money altogether, or are just supplementing their income. They do so for many reasons. For some, it is the financial freedom. For others, it is simply the freedom that they get working for themselves from just about anywhere in the world.

Just as anyone who is comfortable in their financial situation, their stress levels are reduced. Therefore, their lives change completely. For starters, they also have the capacity to purchase and benefit from different products that really make life easier. Not to mention how improving on your surroundings can have an incredible impact on you.

If you decide to stay in your home, you can use home decor accents to really make a statement. Whether you’re designing yourself or your hiring a professional designer, you’ll see how important these accessories really are in making your house a home.

Certainly you’ll also be able to purchase things that you may have always wanted but could not have because there were simply too expensive. The fact is, the more money you earn, the more of her life will change. Read more…

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First ready-to-wear and now handbags! Despite leaving the world of high fashion behind, Lindsay Lohan’s design career is far from over. In fact, Lindsay’s 6126 fashion line just inked a three year deal with The California Bag Company and European handbag designer Paz Shakked Wolf to create a collection of handbags. Wolf, a former handbag designer for Tarina Tarantino and Dolce & Gabbana, will join Lindsay in creating a line of glamorous bags to accompany 6126’s existing hosiery and fashion collections. The bags will hit high end department stores and boutiques for spring 2011. Read more…

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Brazilian based blogger and freelance illustrator Camilla Gray showcases a love for fashion through her artwork, which incorporates influential figures in the industry.

From sketches of models like Jessica Stam to pictures which pay tribute to the late Alexander McQueen, Camilla Gray’s illustrations evoke a whimsical feel. Her use of pencil and splashes of color give off a boost of instant inspiration. More illustrations from Camilla Gray can be found on her website.

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Most online retailers keep a safe distance from their customers (unless they’re asking for credit card information). ModCloth, an e-retailer of vintage women’s fashion founded in 2002, is deviating from this model by creating a community of fashionistas included in almost every part of the company.

Without the customer-company separation, ModCloth is more like a best friend who gives you fashion advice, shares her favorite recipes, and joins your book club. Wait, we’re still talking about a clothing store, right?

Right. In October 2009, Modcloth launched its “Be the Buyer” program, an initiative that lets visitors vote on clothing samples. If an item gets enough votes, ModCloth will sell it. Sound familiar? Threadless was founded on a similarly democratic principle, but Modcloth is the first to add crowdsourcing as a supplement to a traditional storefront.

This outfit was styled by ModCloth for its look book.

(Credit: ModCloth)

ModCloth takes its customers’ fashion advice to improve its buying decisions, but it’s also about building community. Customers leave comments on clothing samples and vote, but can also share their views with friends via Facebook or Twitter. It results in a group of people who may not know each other, but share in common an interest in fashion and a desire to talk about it.

These fashionistas are a part of a community more complex than garments, though. ModCloth’s blog, ModLife, covers everything from fashion to recipes, and provides “cool links” on the Web. There’s even a link to a Flickr account where customers upload photos of their favorite ModCloth outfits.

On March 8, ModCloth announced its reading contest, in which users who share the title of the book they’re reading on the social-networking site GoodReads enter for a chance to a win a copy of ModCloth’s book of the month. It’s unclear whether ModCloth has officially partnered with GoodRead, but the partnership represents a significant shift in online retailing. Read more…

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On Saturday, the New York-based group TC5 will put on a fashion show unlike any other you’re likely to see during Los Angeles Fashion Week.

That’s because the members of TC5 (which stands for The Cool Five) aren’t fashion designers — they’re graffiti artists who helped revolutionize the urban youth look that came into fashion in the ’80s and spawned a multibillion dollar industry that includes lines such as Ecko and Akademiks, streetwear that embellishes basic silhouettes — T-shirts, jackets and hoodies with graffiti style images and text.

In fact, TC5 lays claim to kicking off the craze.

“We started that whole thing,” said Doc, one of the longest-standing members of TC5 (he’s been part of the group, which began in the late ’70s, since 1983).  “Once upon a time, if you wanted something customized, you had to come to us.”

For this show, TC5 is bringing vintage pieces from New York and has also been decorating some new pieces on-site at the Crewest Gallery. Doc says the new pieces will bridge the fashion gap between then and now, making Saturday’s event part fashion show and part history lesson.

“Kids today take it for granted,” Doc said. “[When we started customizing clothes] there was only one kind of baseball cap, there weren’t a million colors. Sneaker companies made three kinds of sneakers.”
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My shoulders ached, and my neck felt like it needed stretching out a whole 10cm or more. It was a nice combination of stress, sleeping with a toddler in the same bed {which means sleeping in the same position and not moving all night, for fear of hitting said little person} and using a constant heavy handbag. I booked in for a much needed massage and saw the dismay on Ingrid’s face as she saw my oversized handbag.

She explained that we {as in us humans} hold any emotional baggage on our left hand sides, in the shoulder area and any tension from stress in our right hand sides. Having a heavy handbag doesn’t help that right hand side either. She requested I lighten my load, as it’s the one thing I can control.

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There are several reasons why women love to own fashion handbags. One reason is the excellent quality of the leather material. It is also an accessory used to enhance the clothing you wear. It makes you feel prestigious while wearing the bag on your shoulder. It does have a function of holding all of the things you need to take when you run errands.

Some designer bags are the same styles with the exception of the evening bags. They are made with care and use a lot of metal or crystal like beads. Each bead is placed on one at a time. The regular bags do not have expensive beads or sparkling metals on them. Even the very plain bags are made with the best leather.

Most designer handbags are made with real leather. You have your choice of harder leather, softer leather or even suede. Leather is then dyed and cut to make the bags. The reason leather is used is because it is strong and durable. It will last for years if it is taken care of properly. Care instruction will be included when you purchase the handbag.

Let us talk about the cost of a hangbag like this. You may be able to get one from two hundred dollars on up to one thousand dollars. It depends on the name of the designer. People that have the money to buy these exclusive bags usually make a lot of money. All of these bags are perfect in every way.

One very important thing to think about is how to tell the difference in a fake and a real designer handbag. Study the real designer handbag that you want to purchase, look at every inch of it. For obvious reasons do not buy from places like a flea market. Make sure it has the proper logo, and the stitching should be perfect and not sloppy. The leather should be a bit heavy like a leather jacket. That is quality. Read more…

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