Shopping for a Cause

Several years ago, my friend Bree invited me to a Stella & Dot jewelry show that a friend of a friend was hosting. At the time, I had never heard of Stella & Dot but as there were to be mimosas and brunch, so I accepted her invitation gladly. It turned out that Stella & Dot is a jewelry line started by two friends who named the company after their grandmothers; you can only order through a registered Stella & Dot personal stylist which is a nice little personal touch in this day and age of anonymous online shopping. I purchased a necklace at that first show and have been a fan ever since.

I've been to several parties and trunk shows throughout the years since, and more often than not I leave with a gift for someone or something sparkly for myself. The line has branched out from necklaces, bracelets and earrings into accessories like tote bags, wallets and scarves. Lucky for me, my sister is a stylist so I can order whenever I want!

I just found that in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, throughout October 100% of net proceeds from Stella & Dot's Breast Cancer Awareness Boutique will support the Noreen Fraser Foundation. Take a look at the collection on the current trunk show and fight breast cancer in style! http://www.stelladot.com/ts/cujt5

Learn more about the Noreen Fraser Foundation:
www.noreenfraserfoundation.org

Kate Spade Saturday

I adore almost all things Kate Spade, from purses to jewelry to my hot pink day planner, so I was excited to learn about Kate Spade Saturday, a new brand set to launch in Spring 2013. 

"In a perfect world, every day would be Saturday." That's the motto behind the casual lifestyle line that is supposed to mirror Madewell (which I like) and C. Wonder (which I love) in price and aesthetic. This is not a diffusion line but a vertical brand that should capture current Kate Spade lovers and as well as attract new fans.

I received an email this morning about signing up for updates, so I did a little Internet research to see what else I could find out. And I found this from Style Bistro...

And I thought to myself, "Editorial mistake. Must have accidentally linked to American Apparel. Kate would never try to sell Minnie Mouse shoes." However, similar Google searches returned similar results. I'm holding out hope that more sneak-peeks of the collection come out soon. 

For now, Racked.com has six things you should know about Saturday.

About Time

I meant to post this last week when the news broke, but unsurprisingly I didn't get around to it!  Kate Spade has launched a line of watches (finally!) that are pretty darn cute.  My favorites are the Carousel bangle watches, by far.  The candy-colored enamel was designed to invoke the Carousel in Central Park, New York.  

"Inspired by the sweet, whimsical carousel in manhattan's central park, [the Carousel bangle is] crafted of gold-plated metal and enamel and, just like our signature idiom bangles, you'll find a few of our favorite turns of phrase delicately engraved inside."

The majority of the other selections fit Kate Spade's modern but feminine aesthetic.  Since I work in Georgetown now, just a hop, skip, and jump from the Kate Spade store, I bopped in on my lunch break last week to check out the watches in person.  In fact, I liked the turquoise Carousel bangle so much that I bought one as a congratulations-on-losing-your-job-but-landing-the-job-that-you-really-wanted gift to myself; the inscription seemed so appropriate: DIVE IN! 

General Housekeeping

Hello friends, followers, and Mom,

I am still here, but this summer has been an absolute whirlwind and I am just now starting to slow down.  My sister moved to DC and slept on my couch (in my one-bedroom apartment) for three months.  Amazingly, we still actually LIKE each other.  Crazy, I know.  I moved into a new place with two other girls and am so happy that I did.  I loved living by myself and having my own space to decorate and make my own, but I also love having two fabulous roommates, cheaper rent, an adorable back patio, and the convenience of living a bit closer to town.  Onward and upward!

By now you've probably heard about, or even felt firsthand, the 5.8 earthquake that occurred in Virginia on August 23.  Just... wow.  I've never been through an earthquake before, and living in DC, my absolute last thought was the shifting of tectonic plates.  I was certain it was an internal explosion or some sort of terrorist attack; it didn't soothe my nerves knowing that I work within a 1/4 mile from Reagan National Airport and less than a mile from the Pentagon.  Luckily, everyone was safe and unharmed.

That brings us to Hurricane Irene who is threatening to ruin my weekend plans.  While Irene won't directly hit the immediate DC area, we will get lots of heavy wind and rains, and knowing how inefficient our energy company is during regular thunderstorms, I can only hope that we are without power for a very, very short time.  If you're in Irene's path, stay indoors, stock up on non-perishables and water, and keep a flashlight handy!

Other than that, life is good!  I'll have some book reviews forthcoming and just some general pretty things that make me smile.  For now, I'll leave you with these earrings that I just bought from one of my faves, kate spade.

Have a fabulous (and safe) weekend!

Juiced Up

I've been feeling a bit uninspired lately, hence the dearth of blog posts.  I'm not sure if it's because I had the SADs or if it's just because I've been really, really busy (i.e., not much time to play around on my favorite blogs), but with all of the colorful and spring-y deliciousness on the interwebs lately, I'm coming back around.

For example, did you know that Kate Spade launched a redesigned website earlier this month?  This year is Kate's year of living colorfully and the site is currently decked out in bright and happy lemon yellow.  Not only is the site a bit easier to maneuver, but it's more visually appealing.  If you're really looking for some inspiration, check out the Kate Spade Tumblr.

Below is a sampling of the juiciness that's currently available.  Good day!

BHLDN

Y'all, you know (or maybe you don't, but you do now) that I love Anthropologie.  Well, on February 14 (Valentine's Day, aka MY BIRTHDAY!) Anthropologie will be launching its new bridal line, BHLDN.  BHLD.com and BHLDN retail stores will carry wedding dresses, event dresses (such as bridesmaid dresses), and accessories.  We won't be able to see the entire line until Monday when the site goes live, but until then, here's some eye candy.  All of these dresses are beautiful, and some are more traditional while others have more of the whimsical edge for which Anthropologie is known. What do you think?

Photos via Glamour.

The Perils of Fast Fashion

I don't have much to add to this blog post, so I'm copying-and-pasting it here for you.  I'm indifferent toward Forever 21 but reading this information certainly makes me more hesitant to shop there than I already am.

The rise of “fast fashion” is arguably the best thing to happen to the American woman’s wardrobe in the past decade. Chains like H&M and Forever 21 have revitalized the way we dress by making chic, trendy pieces affordable again. For working women in particular — women who have both limited time and budget when it comes to shopping — fast fashion is a godsend. 

Or is it?

This week, Bloomberg Newsweek published an eye-opening behind-the-scenes look at Forever 21, currently the undisputed king (queen?) of fast fashion marketing. While I’m not a big Forever 21 shopper, I will admit that I have a few pieces in my closet, including a fabulous black bubble skirt that I picked up for $16 last summer, and a sequined cardigan that I bought specifically because it was a lower priced copy of a J. Crew sweater I was coveting. I’m a little less in love with those pieces now, though, after reading about the company’s business practices. 

(You can see the full Bloomberg Businessweek story here, or Jezebel’s quick take on it here.) 

Fast fashion chains have completely changed the way we shop, and with good reason. Industry insiders say that Forever 21 is doing a lot of things right — ordering only small batches of each garment, for example, which forces shoppers to buy now, before an item is gone. “They learned that what’s new has to be up front, and it has to change daily,” Ilse Metchek, founder of the California Fashion Association, told Bloomberg. “Most retailers stay with dead inventory too long. Forever 21 is all about movement in the store.” This model lets Forever 21 turn over up to 20 percent of a store’s merchandise each week — twice as much as similar retailers. And of course, there’s the price; nothing at Forever 21 retails for over $60, even the pieces that are direct copies of higher priced designer items. 

For many women, fast fashion copies are as close as we will ever get to owning a designer item. So if the price is right and the skirt fits, what’s wrong with paying $16 for it? 

Lots of things. 

Also in the news this week, Miuccia Prada, head of the eponymous brand, told WWD that she wouldn’t even consider a “fast fashion” Prada line. Prada sums up, in two quick sentences, exactly what is wrong with Forever 21’s business model: “For now, what I see more or less is the bad copy,” Prada says. “Also with clothes that cost little, you need to ask why they cost so little. Because no one ever asks themselves that.” 

Prada raises what are, in my mind, the most salient issues when it comes to fast fashion: cost and copyright. While H&M has partnered with designers to create cheaper versions of luxury lines, Forever 21 has been accused — repeatedly — of copying clothes from other chains and designers (including Diane Von Furstenberg and Anthropologie) — in essence, stealing the designs. At the same time, Forever 21 has been accused of wage and labor violations. That combination of money-saving strategies makes it possible for Forever 21 to offer cheap knockoffs of trendy designer items. 

Like my $16 skirt. 

I will admit that I do not know as much as I should about the design and labor practices of my favorite brands; I will also admit that I have bought pieces at Forever 21 knowing that they were knock offs of other brands, including brands to which I am typically very loyal (hello, faux J. Crew cardi). But I also have to admit that after reading both the Bloomberg piece about Forever 21 and Miuccia Prada’s interview with WWD, I’m a little uncomfortable about having those pieces in my closet. I’m thinking that a better practice — both in terms of the quality of my wardrobe and the ethics of my spending — will be to do my homework before I shop, not only by choosing carefully what I buy but where I buy it. 

How much research do you do into the business practices of the brands you buy? Should we worry about the ethics of fast fashion, or just call a bargain a bargain?

Golden Globes Fashion

Awards shows.  Sigh.  I don't care much for the actual awards, I am much, much, more interested in seeing the gowns and dresses worn by the Hollywood elite.  Or in some cases, the Hollywood-Who-Hell-Is-That?  The Golden Globes aren't quite as hoity-toity as the Oscars, but have more star power than the Emmys, so it's an interesting venue for actresses to step outside the box a bit with their sartorial selections.  Below are three categories ranging from Loved It to Meh... to Oh No She Di'n't!  All photos from JustJared.com.


Tier 1: Loved It

Olivia Wilde - "House."  I wish her hair had more volume, but her dress takes care of the oomph.  She just looks like she's having a great time.

Diana Agron - "Glee."  I don't really watch this show, but I think she's beautiful.  This look grew on me, but it's now one of my favorites from the night.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones - no introduction needed.  I think they both look great for Michael's first red carpet since his throat cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Piper Perabo - "Covert Affairs."  She just looks stunningly classic in this simple black dress with the perfect hair and makeup.  She's come a long way.

Claire Danes - Temple Grandin.  While I think this dress is a little casual for the Golden Globes, I love that she stepped outside of the box a bit with the silhouette and color.

Mila Kunis - Black Swan.  My favorite of the night.  The color, the details--simply stunning.

  

Eva Longoria, making her triumphant return to the red carpet after her divorce from Tony Parker.  I love the simplicity of this dress, and and the fit is impeccable.

Eva Longoria

Lea Michele - "Glee."  I don't care for her personally, but she rocks these ruffles looking young and fresh.

Robert Downey, Jr.  Few can rock a suit on the red carpet and look better than the hordes of the actors in tuxedos.  

Amber Riley - "Glee."  The dress is a bit too disco-ball for me, but I liked that this "curvy" girl didn't shy away from sparkles just because of her size.  Also, the shape is flattering on her figure.

Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit.  She looks age appropriate in the best way; great fitting dress, great hair, and I love her clutch.

Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer."  I love this dress.  The color looks great on her, and I love the accessories.  She knows what works for her and she wears it well.

Sofia Vergara - "Modern Family."  If anyone can pull off a fire-engine red, corseted gown, it's Sofia.  (I was shocked to learn that this dress is Vera Wang.)

Sofia Vergara

Tier 2: Meh...

Carrie Underwood.  She looks lovely but boring and predictable... with the exception of her those damned tendrils.

Carrie Underwood.  Tendrils = NO MA'AM!

  

Julie Bowen - "Modern Family."  The color washes her out, and I hate those appliqués.

Sandra Bullock, you can do better than this.  You can, I've seen it.

And those bangs... eesh.

Tina Fey - "30 Rock."  Tina always talks about how she doesn't use a stylist, and it shows.  She was moved up from Tier 3 only because she chose navy instead of black this time.

Megan Fox.  The bandage look is done, but I've seen worse.  Her hair is pretty.  She should have a doctor look at that perma-bruise on her forearm.

Anne Hathaway - Love and Other Drugs.  I'm sort of torn on this dress, hence the 2nd tier ranking.  Anne rocks it like many other women couldn't, but something is off... maybe a different color would have worked better. 

Look, no Spanx!

Scarlet Johansson, fresh from her divorce from Ryan Reynolds.  It's unfortunate that she grabbed Helen Mirren's dress by accident, and that she rode to the show with the windows down.

Helen Mirren - Red.  Helen looks great even if that bitch Scarlet stole her dress; however, that necklace is too much with the dress.

January Jones - "Mad Men."  She just tries so hard.  January doesn't disappoint in Versace, but it's so predictable for her.  Plus, those black clunkers are too heavy for that dress.

Angelina Jolie - The Tourist.  I cannot stand this woman, yet she looks pretty here.  I hope Studio 54 lets her in for the after party.

Brad Pitt is looking better than he has in a while.  Sunglasses can cover a multitude of sins.

Christina Aguilera - Burlesque.  Again, I've seen worse from her, so this was moved to the "Meh" category, even if her right breast is screaming "get me outta here!"

  

Julianne Hough - "Dancing with the Stars."  This neckline isn't my favorite, but on someone statuesque like Nicole Kidman or Heidi Klum, possibly Cate Blanchette, it could have worked.  It just overwhelms petite Julianne.

Mandy Moore - I have no idea why she's here.  She looks fine for high school prom; I'm not a fan of the netting that extends to the one shoulder, or the boning that's visible on the bodice.  I kinda wish she'd done something with her hair.

Nicole Kidman - I like her hair color, and I'm glad she wore it down instead of severely pulled back.  Her dress is just... that bow on the waist with that tribal thing on the shoulder and the sequins... it's not awful, but it's not good.  

Julianna Marguilies - "The Good Wife."  She looks washed out and tired.  She should be in Tier 3, but I gave her a reprieve because I really like her and the show.

Jane Lynch - "Glee."  She looks nice, and she chose a silhouette that flatters her figure.

Some chick from "Glee," I forgot her name.  She looks pretty.  The color looked more saturated on television and I thought it complemented her skin and the dress perfectly (I'll admit that it looks a little bridesmaid-y here).

Elizabeth Moss - "Mad Men."  The color of the dress is great, but nothing else is working.  The shape isn't flattering and looks droopy, and her hair, while better than Peggy Olson's, looks blah.  

Kelly Osbourne - Host for E! network.  This dress isn't my favorite, but Kelly looks great and healthy these days, and the silhouette of the dress really complements her new shape.

Tier 3: Oh No She Di'n't

Jennifer Lopez - J. Lo: On Ice!

Halle Berry, why?  The top looks like a supportive undergarment and the bottom looks like Frederick's of Hollywood.

Johnny Depp - The Tourist.  Presented without comment.

Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech.  Unsurprising, for her.  Doesn't she ever just wants to be pretty?

Jennifer Love Hewitt.  A) She's orange. B) She looks like she's heading to her debutante ball.  C) Busty women should not wear dresses that call more attention to said bustiness.

  

Heidi Klum - Either she let her kids design her dress or she let a Project Runway contestant design it.  Either way, it's inappropriate for anywhere other than the Bahamas.

Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine.  Worst dressed, hands-down.  Not only does the dress not even fit her, but it's covered in daisies.  DAISIES!  

Gemma Mays - "Glee."  She's channeling Elvira here and her hair is overwhelming.

Katey Sagal - "Sons of Anarchy."  She's channeling Peg Bundy in this cheap and neon dress; the shape is nice on her, but nothing else is working.

Leighton Meester - Country Strong.  One big Victorian muddled mess.  

Natalie Portman - Black Swan.  Be my Valentine?  Plus, I think it looks cheap (and it's not).  

Natalie Portman.

Gaboure Sidibe.  I'm sure that finding a suitable dress can be challenging for someone her size, but she can do better than this.

Tilda Swinton.  Presented without comment.