# 13 Something like a Cinderella Story

So, it was that time of the semester when we had to present our Final projects in one of our Fashion Merchandising Management classes (the class is called Creative Fashion Presentations). Since our group was dominated by girls, we were all into the girly scene and thought we should make a fun movie on something every girl who comes to New York for the first time and wants to go have a nice time in the city at night would like to know! This is a short, fun movie we came up with about the girl named Ashley and her experience of meeting a new guy in NYC!

The story focusses on her confusion on what to wear (and she doesn't really want to spend much!!). Thus we chose Buffalo Exchange as our brand and all our styles were inspired from the same.

Hope you enjoy it because we had a great time making it!

Until then,
Stay Stylish!

#10 The Magic of Black Friday at Macy's

As we all know that Thanksgiving officially kick starts the holiday season! So retailers are not going to be left far behind. They know that they have to strike when the iron is hot! This time of the year calls for celebration, vacation, parties, gifting and most of all Shopping! Those crazy sales, launches, discounts and new arrivals that lure the customers into these well decorated stores, are all ways that retailers use to boost their business and be in the competition.

Black Friday is one such big sale day followed by Thanksgiving when everybody wants to shop all day. But it's not about just shopping in daylight anymore. Stores started opening as early as 3 am to compete with other fellow retailers and giving their customer more time to shop and make use of the sale.

Retail Giant Macy's, however, has announced a midnight opening this year after having a successful turnover last year at some of their midnight open stores. Retailers are leaving no stone unturned and fueling the madness even more.

The opening is four hours earlier than last year. The Macy's stores, which number more than 800, will stay open for 23 hours straight and close at 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25.

"People want to shop through the night," said Martine Reardon, Macy's executive vice president of marketing. She noted the expanded hours were in response to customers' requests.

Last year, Macy's opened eight stores at midnight. The rest of the stores opened at 4 a.m. Reardon said that the midnight openings were successful.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2011-10-31/macys-thanksgiving-midnight/51011494/1

 

                                    http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Kmart%20Corporation

I Always question myself- do the customers want the store to open that early or do the retailers want to provide this opportunity to the customer. Well, this is how it works in the retail industry! I hope we figure it out some day.

Until then,

Stay Stylish!

#9 New Fashion Show Formats

I cannot help but talk about my favorite designer yet again on this blog- Alexander McQueen. What a man! What a Genius! His creativity didn't just reflect on his garments and highly popular accessories but also in the way he presented them in front of the much loving audience and fan following.

I found this really cool video of a compilation of few of his shows and my opinion on fashion shows has changed! They don't always have to be traditional boring ways where the models walk on the ramp one after the other and that's it. What makes designers different from each other is their presentation! Not just Alexander McQueen, but a lot more designers have been coming up with various innovative ways for Fashion Shows like Chanel's A/W 2010 Iceberg Show is also a great example of the same.

 

Source: www.youtube.com

 

 

Source: Google Images

The video not only has the robots spray painting on a white dress during one of his shows but also other great clips from other shows. The chess board pieces was breath-takingly beautiful too!

I wonder when we will be able to witness a show of this stature and insane creativity,

Until then,

Stay Stylish!

 

#8 Look Books

I personally love going over the look books that companies/brands come out with every year. It gives you a general feel of what  they're line looks like for the coming season, their inspirations, styling, colors, cuts and fabrics! It's more visually appealing and professionally done. Of course when celebrities become a part of it, the glamor quotient of these rises notches higher!

I'm a fan of Burberry and the last look book with Emma Watson was a winner! However, their Spring Prosum 2012 look book is clean, classic and very Burberry!

Creative director Christopher Bailey  has done a great job in re-creating and renewing the timeless and classic elements of a Brit-chic inspired look. This time using prints, trims and a whole lot of color play!

 

I love these colors! It reminds me of honey bees and dark chocolate. Warm, comfortable and subtle. Burberry is innovating with their classic trench vcoats! the hand held clutch with the brown detail completes the look.

 

I wouldn't expect burberry to come up with something so spectacular in BLUE! The patch work shirt is flirty with the wide leg pants definitely in vogue next season!! A lot of attention to trimmings this time!

 

These colors excite me- the warm tones inspired by the earth are signature styles of Burberry!

 

 

Using 2 models in every photo wearing a feminine dress and a jacket was a smart way to show Burberry's classic Brit Line up for next season!

Below is the video for the look book which has all the pictures so do check it out!

 Look books are a great way to create a buzz! More coming up next week.

Until then,

Stay 'Brit" Stylish!

#7 Trunk Shows

When I think of Trunk Shows, nothing better than one for an exhibit of Bridal garments- the wine, the cheese, the pretty ladies, the handsome men, the flowers; all displayed to make you want to be married and feel beautiful.

So I came across The Aisle and Isaac Mizrahi Trunk Show event that happened earlier this year in June. Several bloggers have posted about it too and the pictures look gorgeous!

Martha Stewart Weddings (and other top vendors) partnered with The Aisle (it's a wonderful website where you can find chic dresses and accessories from top designers at great prices!) for an Isaac Mizrahi trunk show.

 

From beautiful flowers, wine and gourmet to an extravagant presentation of other bridal and wedding assortments- this trunk show was a complete experience for any bride to be!

Picture Sources from: http://aliceinqueens.blogspot.com/2011/07/aisle-and-isaac-mizrahi-trunk-show.html

       http://www.isaacmizrahiny.com/meet_isaac/isaacs_blog/1164/the_aisle_trunk_show

I couldn't find a video on this show but there are plenty of other bridal trunk show videos that you can check out. I'm posting one here for you to see what it looks like in there!

Trunk shows are a pretty awesome way to create an experience for your potential buyers and customers and a lot of designers are taking it seriously!

 So till I decide to have my own show someday in partnership with a designer, I'm going to continue blogging about all the other ones!

Until then,

Stay Stylish!

#6 Fashion Video from the Web!

So I came across this really cool video on how to wear Hats! I particularly love this accessory because it adds so much glamor and drama to an ensemble! Prince Harry and Kate Middleton's Royal wedding was full of well dressed people in their extraordinary hats! However, my blog is really not for those people who attend Royal Weddings! It's for us college kids, wanting to look dapper and fashionable in whatever we can find!

Keeping that trend in mind I posted this video (and also because i think the speaker/owner is so cute!)

She talks about how different styles of hats can be teamed with a look or an outfit. In her own fun way she tries on the hats and modifies them to look different. What hat can be worn when and where are usually questions that bother us and possibly just let the hats be in our closet! It's time to bring them out of there as soon as Spring sets in again and wear them with confidence!

Just after I viewed this video, I saw another recent one of celebrities wearing Hats! Definitely an inspiration for fashionistas!

                                
                              So go buy your Hat and give your personality a little makeover!

                                                                      Until then,
                                                                     Stay Stylish!!

#5 What's your Color for Fall 2012??

Somehow I get this feeling of all things beautiful when I think about Fall 2012. The styles, silhouettes, the colors and the whole mood is so feminine. It makes the woman look so angelic, sexy and yet, the innocence of her feminine character is what stands out the most. Whether it's straight fitted knee length dresses, ruffles, whites, blues, and all those pastel hues with the minimal accessorizing makes this Fall 2012 woman so desirable.

I dedicate this post to one of my favorite designer Late Alexander McQueen. Usually known for his eclectic, mesmerizing fashion - prints, colors, larger than life drama!

 His latest collection was rather subtle yet dynamic with the accentuated necklines, and shoulders. But what I liked the most were the colors. One can see a whole lot of pastels- baby pink, blues and the bold Black.
The one color I see becoming a huge trend next season is the "Gold". Pretty shades of golden, bran, yellow, mustard and all those shades from the Golden family highlighting the trims or the otherwise cream, off-white, light gold attire.

This fully gold detailed silhouette is a pleasure to the eyes. The metallic armor looking suit adds so much glamor to a woman's body! Source: Style.com

Doesn't always have to be an entire garment. For those who don't think they can carry off the golden dress can always opt for it as a trimming or garment detailing. Source: Style.com

McQueen's label retains it's dynamism and drama with the fine details on the silhouette and play of colors. 

As we see "Bling" is the thing for next season. It's all about glamor and feminity. What makes a woman's glam quotient different from a man? 

Source: Stylesight.com

Gold it is- the color for Fall 2012. Sequins, detailed embroidery, trims, accessories- anything under the Golden sun will be our pick for the coming season. 

Until then,

                                                                         Stay Stylish!

#4 Street Style in the Big Apple

The streets of New York are buzzing with Fashionistas! The melting pot of so many cultures and people from all over the world, New York reflects not just high fashion but also street fashion.

Summer is over now- no time for just those funky tank tops and shorts anymore! Fall is here and I can assure you, from the chills I've been getting down my spine, it's an alarm for a cold winter!!! So if you thought you'd have to pack your summer clothes into the closet- think again! I'v been noticing great styling with these summer clothes for the Fall too. Printed Skirts, Neon tank tops, Sneakers all clubbed with stocking, tights, leather jackets and pretty, colorful stoles as the major accessory for fall!

This adorable couple looked perfect for Fall. The girl dresses in a pretty printed skirt, bright tank top, a leather jacket and an off-white scarf to tone it down looked charming with her well-dressed guy holding the umbrella and sporting the fall Hat in his boot-cut hip-hugging jeans. Don't miss their over-sized glasses!

She seemed simple yet bright in the dull weather with her smile. It's not just about what you wear, it's about comfort. She looked absolutely cute in that overlap denim skirt and ballerina shoes! The coffee cup adds to her outfit.

So from the trends that we're predicting for Fall 2011, we see that the oversized sweater, trench coats and the sporty look is already visible amongst the New Yorkers.

She was my favorite! Those sneakers. golden brown hair streaks, the loose beret and the casual fall jacket reminded me of the sporty themes in a lot of fashion shows this year! Smoking in style, cool attitude and great confidence!

I wanted to steal his sweater. It was the perfect over-sized sweater. That big, orange tote bag made his outfit glamorous and funky. Love the messy hair and again- coffee cups say its getting cool!

   

Warm colors, fur, cardigans, and boots are back this season! So whether you're off to work or attending school, get that collection of your outerwear out of the closet and team them up with jumpsuits, leggings, some great jewelery or over-sized glasses!

Pretty perfect for a corporate attire, she being an assistant buyer for a brand, looked fabulos in this little black jumpsuit,t eamed with the tan leather belt with gold buckle, gold watch and some gold earrings to complete the look!

Fur is back and how! Again, big tote bags, warm colors, funky glasses and knee length boots for Fall!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So it's time to go shopping if you already haven't or get your thinking cap on and mix and match the clothes in your wardrobe for Fall! :D Dresses, tights, hats, boots and that cup of coffee will keep you warm and trendy!

Until then,

Stay Stylish!

#3 What are the Experts talking about at NY times!

From New York to Milan!

That is what has been doing the rounds on one of the best Fashion news broadcasters in America- The New York times. One of my favorite blogger on NY times Cathy Horyn has been constantly on the move with the shows happening in Milan- one of the major fashion capital in the world. And when I think of Milan, I think of on of my favorite designer brands- VERSACE!

Donatella Versace took to the catwalk after the presentation of her Versace collection at Milan Fashion Week spring 2012.

 Cathy Horn reported that this collection seemed to be inspired from the sea world of mermaids, shells, sea horses. She's kind of a no nonsense reporter but I feel she has her fovorites. She's can be really critical about her comments at times but I like how she states the facts of what she observes. Her report seems first hand and detailed. For Versace's show she further states that "This was a Versace command performance, very far from the humdrum of Milan’s flapper girls and hot-rod prints. Donatella Versace seemed to have four ideas: the snappy suit with shorts, the mini gladiator dress with a constellation of gold studs, the mini goddess dress or suit with pleated panels and the many-hued goddess dress for big grown-up girls."

We can gauge that designers in Milan have said bye-bye to neon and electric colors, We're looking at the more mature, subtle colors, pastels, a whole lot of embroidery and embellishment to add that glamor to your garment. "The makeup and hair were impeccable, the platform sandals in clear plastic. Ms. Versace made the studs and the delicate sea creatures seem more like tattoos than decoration, with everything light and sophisticated."

But this is not all from the house of Versace for all you fashionistas! There's more! She just alaunched her new line of her DV One Cruise Watches which were completely different from her couture collection. These watches are sporty (again, a trend we're hoping to see next season) and colorful with prints!

                                                           

NY times blogger Eric Wilson reported that DV One Cruise, is a sporty, colorful watch that comes in several versions, one with a red face and blue and violet rubber straps, another with a blue face and yellow leather straps with an alligator pattern.

“This is Versace,” she said. “Of course, we wanted to use prints, but this is a watch so I used color instead.”

Donatella Versace sporting her new collection of Watches- DV One Cruise. Source: Vogue.it.

(Don't miss the fitted knee length dress she wore. A reference to the previous post about these dresses being the next big thing for the whole season!)

Keep reading for more news and views.

Until then,

Stay Stylish!

#2 Key Item for Fall 2012

It's hard to pick and choose one item that's going to be the market leader for Fall 2012. There are just so many different things working together to create that sassy look for the woman. Talk about colors and we see a wide range of pastels taking over the current theme of neon and bright shades. Powder blue, baby pink, white were seen in Donna Karan, Christian Dior, and other such designers collection.

Fall 2012 can see a lot of inspiration from various countries and their art. Focus on trims, collars, and details on fabrics other than the flowy chiffon and Georgette to create that ultra glam look for the otherwise dull season. The bold colors orange and red add spice to the otherwise subtle color palette this season.

Embroidery and embellishments are going to be the market winners next season. If you ever thought Bling wasn't your thing, well you got to think again! Fall 2012 is all about pretty embroidery inspired from countries like India!

And the Winner is:

The Knee Length Dress

Designers are also working on new lengths. They are back to the knee length skirts and dresses in prints, structured fabrics, tailored styles or just the feminine chiffon. Details on the waist line with a dash of color adds spice to the otherwise pastel collections. Carolina Herrera shows us how!

This beautiful earthy over sized knee length dress is flirty and formal. Perfect for an evening with that sassy scarf and strappy shoes.

This black and white fitted silhouette is perfect for either a corporate affair or even a dinner party. Accessorized with over sized jewelery on the hands, and the rest is minimum, Carolina surely gave us a easy to dress up or dress down number.

Sources: NY Times (Carolina Hererra)

#1 Blogs from the Web

Hello All you Wonderful People,

An honest confession: Bloggers are inspired by other superior bloggers. So am I. Well this blog has actually started off as an assignment for one of my classes at Fashion Institute of Technology. It's a good thing I have to do this because now I can actually post about all these confidently and alternatively dressed people at School. They're all making statements- rock chic, girl next door, all messed up, or just plain Jane.

From the God knows how many Fashion Blogs on the web- I'm inspired by a few. (also I can guarantee that these blogs kind of do well. Why? They have great, high end ads! )

Blog #1 http://www.fashionising.com/blogs

This Blog has everything related to looking and feeling great. I'm particularly not a fan of blogs that run like magazines and keep talking about colors, styles and all that in vogue. Fashion is beyond that. It's like a human with shades of black, white and everything in between. The blog looks at Fashion in every possible way.

Blog #2 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/fashion

Pictures! I love pictures! This blog is full of carefully chosen designer, vintage or trendy pieces. Mostly from Europe so it kind of gives me a sense of what's happening in another part of the world- one of the Fashion Forward. (I love how Men's Fashion is given so much importance! Well dressed men are such a turn on!)



Blog #3 http://www.whowhatwear.com/blog/

Fashion is Inspiration. Fashion is Global. Fashion is Forever. Not the most creative blog but a good compilation of fashion posts from all over the world. Great when you can't access any other edition of Vogue from different countries! :)

And while you enjoy browsing through these blogs, I shall dream of the beautiful Christian Louboutin Red Soles Pumps (or wait- YSL?! )


Stay Stylish!