Toodles to you Biznatches

Over the last 10 weeks you guys have followed me, whether I actually have an audience or not, through my journey of Creative Fashion Presentations and my personal opinions on various elements of the fashion industry. Despite the fact that I have been blogging for a class, who is to say that it wasn’t all fun and games? Really though, Who would have thought that it would all come to an end? Despite the fact that I have been counting down the days till summer, those days have also constructed my last weeks being a college student. I don’t know if I should be happy or sad, but I think when I enter the real world I will be able to figure out the emotion carrying me through my last days as an undergrad. Andy Bernard, from The Office, said “ I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them”. Well there’s not a way to quite know when you’ve started them, but I certainly know now that these were not only the good old days, but the best. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity and memories I have acquired in my college experience and I advise everyone not to take it for granted.

*plays good old days by Kesha and Macklemore on repeat with tears streaming down face**

Enough of the Sap, it’s time for what you actually came for, SOME GOOD CONTENT. While finishing term project after term project, I had the pleasure of doing one that was actually fun, working with my lovely friends Colleen, Regina, Melissa, and Lindsey on an epic and highly embarrassing final project. The joke is on everyone else though because we will be submitting this to the Cannes Film Festival and we will win. So yes, When I make it big, I will have Latisha Brown, my dope professor, to thank for not only putting up with my never ending jokes and shenanigans, but for also assigning us this project.

I had the pleasure of recreating the original Fashion Police, as I reenacted Joan Rivers, with Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne and Melissa Rivers as my Co-hosts. To say that making this was hilarious would be an understatement. Between Regina using a British accent for Kelly Osbourne to the extraordinary outfits worn by Melissa and Myself, to the perfect Giuliana impersonation by Lindsey, and ICONIC filming by Colleen, I can honestly say that we killed it. Colleen being able to keep the camera still while she was laughing from second hand embarrassment, deserves an award itself. To say that she is the next Steven Spielberg would be discrediting her phenomenal talent.  Yes, maybe we made a fool out of ourselves, but its fools gold baby. We used our platform as the Fashion Police hosts to discuss the prints, patterns and over the top outfits that were seen at Coachella. The amount of laughs we shared made this whole entire semester worth it and I would like to personally thank these girlies for making this such a pleasant experience.

 

Well, I’m sure you are trembling with anticipation. Where is this award winning film? How can I write into the Academy to make sure they are nominated for Oscars? While I am at it, How can I ask the Academy why it took so long for Leo to win an Oscar? Yes, I know. It’s hard not to ask yourself these questions when you are about to be graced with the best acting we have seen in this generation. Well the wait is over, hit the link below for a good laugh, and to be changed forever by outstanding performance. If you see me on campus during finals week, feel free to ask for an autograph and don’t be nervous, us celebrities are totally down to earth. * Insert Wink *

Thank you for keeping up with me!! Who knows what will happen. We all thought we knew who A was on Pretty Little Liars 300 years ago, but we we’re fooled every time. So here’s to my possible return, just like A.

Xoxo Gossip Girl

Ravioli, Ravioli, give me the FORMUOLI!

If you know me, it comes off very clear that I am in a committed, loving relationship. That is a relationship with my love for cooking, the cooking channel,  food and most importantly, food pictures . At any given time I am regularly taking ridiculous pictures of my food and posting it all over snapchat or scrolling through hundreds of recipe videos on instagram. Whether it was a recipe I have just tried, a recipe I have come up with on my own, or simply food I have gotten out pictures are my life’s happiness; I’m obsessed, I really can’t help it. It’s just a love of mine. The creation of Fashion is art and so is the creation of food. Both require precise measurement, colors, presentation and creativity. I love the correlation the two have since they are both things that make my life that much better. So to honor one of my passions, I am going to share a recipe that I created. Spinach and Mushroom stuffed Zucchini Raviolis.

This is the completed dish

I’m Italian and it’s hard to not absolutely love Italian food, whether it be pasta, sauce, cheese or everything in between, Italian food is the key to my heart. Unfortunately, Italian food loves you back so it’s not always conducive to constantly eat when you are trying to be healthy. This rendition of a classic raviolis, but instead we are replacing the Pasta with Zucchini and the Ricotta with Cottage Cheese. Just trust me on this one!

 

For this Recipe you will need:

 

Serves 4- Average 1 zucchini per person.

 

• Extra-virgin olive oil, for baking dish and cooking pan
• 4 medium zucchini
• 1 lb of Fresh Spinach
• 1 lb of Mushrooms
• 2 c. Saltless  Cottage Cheese
• 1/4 c. thinly sliced basil, divided
• 2 tablespoons of Pesto ( whatever kind of Pesto you prefer, homemade is great as well)
• 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
• kosher salt- to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper- to taste
• 1 1/2 c. Marinara

 

The first trick to this recipe starts with the zucchini. Start by cutting the rounded ends off of all of your zucchini. The you are going to use a vegetable peeler to make zucchini ribbons by peeling the zucchini down until you hit the seeds. The center of the zucchini cannot be used to make ribbons because of the seeds and its abundance of water. Work your way around the zucchini until you are just left with the center. If you would like to save the center, you can chop the excess zucchini into pieces and saute it in a frying pan with salt, pepper, fresh garlic, and some red pepper flakes, I like to add a little heat. This will be used on the bottom of the baking dish when you bake the raviolis, so only saute them so that they are still slightly firm. They will continue to bake in the marinara. Layer the Ribbons on pieces of Paper towels and sprinkle with salt in order to help absorb some of the water while we make our filling.

This is the Ravioli before baking.

 

Now for the filling. Chop up your spinach into finer pieces, along with the mushrooms and the basil. Put your cooking pan on medium heat. Add olive oil to the cooking pan and saute the garlic, I really think garlic is a preference so add as little or as much as you feel necessary,  until golden brown. As soon as the garlic is golden brown in color add the mushrooms to the pan, with salt and pepper. I like to be creative in the kitchen so if I see a spice in the cabinet the catches my eye, I will throw a dash here and there for extra flavor. Don’t be afraid to put your own twist on this recipe. Let the mushrooms cook down for about 4 minutes and then add the spinach. As soon as the spinach starts to wilt, transfer the mixture from the cooking pan to a bowl. Wait a few minutes for the spinach and the mushrooms to cool down and mix in the 2 cups of saltless cottage cheese. When the cottage cheese bakes it has a similar consistency to ricotta and will not taste like cottage cheese at all. It’s a great substitution and the dish is equally delicious. After you stir together the spinach, mushrooms and cottage cheese, add the Pesto and the fresh basil. After this is mixed together you are ready to stuff the ravioli.

 

Before stuffing the ravioli prepare your baking dish with half the marinara sauce and the leftover zucchini. You can also layer the bottom of the pan with any sautéed vegetables you feel suitable for the recipe, or even just some extra mushroom and spinach.

Hugsandcookiesxoxo

When stuffing the ravioli you need to lay 2 strips of zucchini side by side vertically. Once you have done that, lay 2 more strips horizontally across the middle of the first 2 strips layed down. You should have a shape that looks like a “+”. Take a tablespoon of the filling and add it to the center of the cross. To close the ravioli  cross one side at a time until the ravioli is closed. I usually go in a circle around the ravioli starting at the top and going clockwise around the ravioli until it is closed. Then place the completed ravioli into the baking dish. Repeat this step until all zucchini ribbons are used. If you end up with extra filling you can place that on top of the ravilios so that it bakes and gets super cheesy, you can also add extra pesto to the tops of the ravilios as well. After I have aligned the baking dish, I like to put the leftover marinara on top of the ravilious to keep them moist while baking. Garnish the tops of the ravilios with the remaining fresh basil and throw this into the oven for 20-25 minutes at 350 Degrees F. After that you may take them out and enjoy!

This is the completed dish with shrimp !

In one of my photos I added shrimp to this recipe. I simply saute the shrimp for about 4 minutes, until pink, on the stove with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper,  toss them in the pesto, and finish the top of the baking dish with the shrimp after they come out of the oven. This is to help avoid the shrimp becoming rubbery in the oven! That’s all for now! I hope you guys enjoyed by rendition of the classic Italian Ravioli!

 

 

LF Look Books got me SHOOK!!!

 

https://lfstores.com/

Hello my Blog Babies! It seems to me that there are areas of fashion that regularly get forgotten because of their lack of commonality. One of those things in this day and age is LookBooks. Look-Books are important because they allow designers to display their new lines in a series of photos. This is important because the photos allow consumers to see how that particular designer and store would style their pieces and it helps consumers get a bigger picture, that in turn makes them want to purchase the item. Consumers literally get consumed by pre-made outfits in lookbooks because they can see how accessible the look is if they just get the necesarry pieces. Essentially look books are made for marketing purposes that help a brand identify their aesthetic. 

https://lfstores.com/

 I’ve chosen to highlight the importance of the use of Look Book’s for a store that I’m sure a lot of people have not heard of until I mention it now, LF. LF is a vintage-inspired clothing and accessories store that sells trendy and unique clothing. LF thrives off of their use of Instagram models and their use of store clerks as stylists, who wear LF from head to toe in the store to inspire consumers to want to get their exact looks. Not only does LF have Look Books, but their employees represent a physical and personal “In store lookbook” in themself because of LF’s intense use of branding through their employees. Since LF requires their employees to dress in the most current LF clothing, customers can come in, they can look at the employees, compliment their clothing, and the employees, that they refer to as stylists, can recreate their exact looks for that customer. LF employees regularly are used for the creation of LF lookbooks and the creation of wanderlust, trendy and artistic instagram posts that promote the brands distinctive and outside of the box vibe.

 

 

https://lfstores.com

https://lfstores.com

 

You probably haven’t heard of LF because of the fact that they only have stores in five cities across the United States, those being L.A., New York, Dallas, South Beach, and Boston. If you have heard of LF, but have never been, it’s most likely because of their marketing technique. LF doesn’t believe in promoting their brand by hiring models, but instead by getting attention for their brand through teens and college students that have high social media followings. LF sees this as an opportunity because they are able to give these girls free clothes without actually having to pay them to model, those girls post pictures of themselves on their pages, wearing LF ensembles, and their followers become instantly intrigued and obsessed by the unique and trendy outfits. LF then re-posts these photos on their instagram and BAM- free advertising and models. This helps create a buzz for LF, even in cities where LF does not exist, that make girls and women instantly want to buy from LF because they have exclusive pieces that cannot be found in other stores. BOOM, suddenly LF becomes like word vomit, all of your friends are talking about it, those girls are talking to other ones and suddenly it’s a game of phone tag, with everyone focused on one thing, getting the message of the LF experience across.

 

 

https://lfstores.com

https://lfstores.com

Now imagine, you have just seen a photo of one of your friends rocking LF, they look amazing and suddenly you want to be equally individual, cool, and chic, you go to LF’s website to create your own look and you click on THE LF LOOKBOOK. This is how they rope you in. Right there and then, even if you aren’t in the store getting special treatment from their “stylists” AKA their employees, you are able to scroll through the look books and get inspiration for your own “off the beaten path”  look. LF makes this experience incredibly easy because the second you get to their website, the option to find their lookbook is in big txt right at the top of the page, and then categorized into different specific looks. An Example of that being their current look books consisting of “ Emma and Sam Festival”,” The White Book”,  “Festival”, “ Get Festival Ready with Carmar”, and “Spring 18’ In Stores Now”. With these separate look books LF is helping their customers identify with different representatives of their brand so that LF can feel more relatable for every girl that comes across their page. Oh, you aren’t sure if you have the same style as Emma and Sam? Well that’s fine because you can get festival ready with Carmar! This strategy allows consumers to feel like they are getting unique styling advice without having to enter the store. The LF lookbook strategy is absolutely genius. 

 

 

https://lfstores.com

https://lfstores.com

LF is also using their lookbooks as a platform to promote some of the most popular trending topics. Coachella just past recently and everyone is fawning over the incredible festival wear seen on our favorite celebrities who performed and other celebrities that were in attendance. LF uses these famous events to target their customers. Summer is coming and festival season is becoming more and more relevant. LF is using their lookbooks to promote that area of styling, at a time when festival wear is booming with popularity.

https://lfstores.com/

LF displays these iconic lookbooks containing badass pictures of girls looking top-notch and right there and then you are hooked. You want the look, its cool, its uncommon, it’s the new you. LF then ropes you into the rest of their brand because after you peep their lookbook you have to go shop the stores website. Shopping the website will then force you to scroll over even more key items, items that are hot in the moment, and you will end up throwing those into your shopping cart as well. The way LF uses look books to target their customers is extremely important to the success of their brand and I think that their marketing approach is genius and creative.

 

 

https://lfstores.com

https://lfstores.com

LF is doing it completely right and just sharing the secrets of LF look books with you has made me jealous with envy of the LF girls and I now also feel like I need to get everything they sell. Its a tale as old as a time, a never ending cycle of wanting the better and the best! Without look books LF, and so many other brands, would not be able to create the hype that certain clothing items have after they are seen styled in a full ensemble. Sometimes we see clothing pieces that are confusing, but when we see them pre styled it gives us a completely different perspective on how we could wear them. it really is so interesting how stores are able to create popularity by simply just showing us how to wear something. You gotta love FASHION! 

https://lfstores.com Here is the link to their stores if you guys want to check it out for yourself! All of the pictures in this post are from the LF lookbooks and their Instagram page!

Thats all for now ladies, join me next week!

 

 

 

Junk in the Trunk Shows

This day and age, people are obsessed with junk in the trunk. CMON,  GET your mind out of the gutter, I’m talking about TRUNK SHOWS. Trunk shows are amazing because they give designers opportunity to test out the market and display merchandise prior to it being available to the public. It is such an awesome experience for designers and customers because customers can feel a level of exclusivity seeing merchandise that has never been revealed to the public and when designers display their clothing and merchandise in a new setting it gives them the opportunity to reach a new customer base. Basically EVERYONE is winning. To a certain extent trunk shows remind me of sample sales, in the fact that they are short-lived and contain items that aren’t always available to everyone else, but I just think its awesome that the fashion world is able to bless us with such opportunities. Not to mention that Trunk shows tend to provide food and drinks so it’s an event filled with absolutely everything us fashionistas could ask for, Food, Fashion, Fun, and Fabulous.

Trunk shows are also incredible because it’s a chance for designers to interact with the people purchasing their clothing. Not always do designers get the chance to be in the same place that their clothing is being sold, at the same time that the customers are buying it. As a designer you want to know what customers think and feel about your latest creations and trunk shows give them that exact option. Up close and personal, designers are able to listen to feedback and absorb the joy that they are bringing to their customers, or even here negative feedback on things that aren’t as popular. This in turn helps develop an intimate and meaningful relationship with you and your customer base. Customers will feel more invested in a line or a piece of clothing if they first hand hear the designers vision, their process behind the creation and the significance it has to that said collection. I know we don’t always think that clothing can be so deep, but fashion is art. Designers are pouring their hearts and souls into the fashion they are creating and most of the time we don’t even appreciate it. Trunk shows can give designers that very special voice. Almost as if you are at an art show.

http://www.tenkeypieces.com/nomia-trunk-show/

Let’s also take  a second to recognize that not only do the designers and customers win, but the stores hosting the events win majorly. Generally, when stores want to test a new product line and order new merchandise, their buyers have to take a chance on that merchandise and hope that it is going to be popular in stores. Trunk shows give stores opportunity to test products with no risk because the stores don’t have to guarantee any kinds of payment up front. Bringing designers into stores is also a great advertising agent for stores because not only will they lead customers in for the trunk show, but customers can be enthused by products that are already in that store. As well as create a great buzz of the store that can get people excited about merchandise.

So really is anyone losing here? I would say absolutely not. Trunk shows are vital because they help everyone involved. Trunk shows are fun, light-hearted, dope experiences that give customers and designers a chance to connect on a personal level, while the stores and designers get exposure and essentially boost everyone who is involveds happiness. Unless you are anti happiness, Trunk shows are wear it is at.  I am all for it. Bring the happiness my way. Also bring me the food and possible champagne because I AM NOT mad about it. I am here for it, and you should be as well. ** Drops Mic**

Runway: The Heart of Fashion

 

 

Hello fellow bloggers, It has been quite some now due to the ever important interruption that Spring Break has put on my schedule. Spring Break essentially changed me as a person and I wish spring break lasted or 6 months, but unfortunately ya girl has to graduate college in May. I’m not crying, you’re crying. I guess we all have to grow up though, but we can be  fangirls forever. So we will let that tie right into why Spring Break was quite amazing. Not only did I get to enjoy the sun and sand with my friends down in Miami, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, I happened to be staying at the same hotel as none other than Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford. ** pause for gasps, excitement, tears, loss of breath**. Despite the fact that the entire Gerber clan was down there, my reactions to seeing two generations of queens in person was quite fulfilling. especially for a fashion guru like myself. Overall, honored to have been breathing their air. Also, Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford must be a miracle worker because the women is hotter than ever.

Since I will be critiquing one of my favorite Fall 2018 Runway shows this week, I decided it would be only appropriate to cover one that Kaia Gerber walked in. That being said, I have decided to bless you all with my opinions, likes, dislikes, and everything in between on the ins and outs of the Versace Fall 2018 Milan Fashion Show. Without runway, the heart of fashion would not beat.

 

 

Let’s start by saying just WOW, Donatella time and time again manages to bring a level of fun and shock to the runway regardless if she brings elements of surprise or new renditions of the classic. Although I am always a huge fan of the classic Versace prints, I was happy to see that this show took a completely different turn then what we usually expect of a Versace show. Generally, I expect a lot of animal prints, gold chains and medusa heads, all recreated into different pieces on a yearly basis to provide updated versions of the classic baroque print that is the face of Versace. This show was not that. Donatella Versace exclaimed that  this show was an ode to women who “know that today nothing is acquired through birth, but rather earned through what they achieve”. This was an insight into the show that I enjoyed due to her representation of women’s empowerment, but also empowerment and hard work in general. Women’s wear daily said that the theme was lovely but confusing to express on a runway, as well as ironic because of the casting of 16-year-old Kaia Gerber, but I have to disagree. Fashion is art and I believe if there is a message an artist wants to express that they are more than capable of doing so. I also disagree with them saying  “But one would be hard-pressed to miss the irony between the show’s stated platform and Kaia’s casting”, because despite the fact that she may be young and the daughter of Cindy Crawford, you have to work just as hard, if not more, than everyone else to prove yourself when standing in the shadow of a supermodel icon like Crawford herself. Nor do I think discrediting a hard-working model on the rise has anything to do with the quality of the theme, but WWD is entitled to their opinion.

 

 

Moving on, the collection was screaming with plaid, vibrancy, schoolgirl meets the office, professional but fun, punk and powerful, all in one. I loved the 80’s vibe that the clothing represented and how Donatella not only incorporated the new school girl trend, but also even a little bit of the new western wear trend, that I anticipate us seeing a lot of this coming Fall and Spring 2019. The use of fringe on jackets combined with the vibrant 80’s colors and plaid all mixed together gave a refreshing take on the new styles that we will be seeing in upcoming seasons.

 

 

Donatella helped to represent her theme of hard-working women with re-invented power suits and rejuvenated little black dresses. Fitted skirts with Chunky belts and Suit jackets, composed of vibrant colors and matched with graphic t-shirts helped to pay homage to Madonna’s infamous 80’s style. I loved her many renditions of the classic trench coat, whether it was vibrant and plaid, Camel, patent leather, or leather in general. The collection had a lot of pieces built for layering, so anticipate that being a huge trend this fall, as well as the use of mix and match patterns.

 

 

An interesting trend that Donatella chose to incorporate into the collection was the use of the hood on many of her pieces. These hoods were not particularly ordinary hoods, but more so hoods that compare to something of a hijab. I thought the trend was interesting and added a cultural look to the pieces. Overall, I loved the collection and the step outside of the box that Donatella took creating it. The collection spoke to me on a level relating to work of Andy Warhol, Clothing on Madonna, Vibrancy in Color and recurring trends. If it’s not broke, RE-Create it!!

Oscars Obsessions

This week we are talking OSCARS. Being that I am a huge fan of awards show fashion, this is quite simply my reason for living this week. If you didn’t watch E! Live From the Red Carpet, then you are doing it wrong. The best of the best celebrities strut their stuff, talk about their lives and let us bask in the glory of their fabulous ensembles. Yes, we can appreciate the awards and the insane amounts of talent and hard work that goes into winning an Oscar, but the most important awards of the night, in my mind, are the best dressed celebrities at the Oscars and the Vanity Fair after party.

 

http://www.justjared.com/2018/03/05/paris-jackson-is-a-green-goddess-at-vanity-fair-oscars-party/

http://www.justjared.com/2018/03/05/paris-jackson-is-a-green-goddess-at-vanity-fair-oscars-party/

For my first Best Dressed I would like to direct all attention to an absolute queen, Paris Jackson. Paris is wearing a custom Versace gown that accents her long legs, petite figure, and her unique tattoos with a knotted net bodice and CRYSTALS everywhere. Everything about this look is absolutely mesmerizing. She is a real life Tinker Bell princess and absolutely nothing could have been better. Versace custom made this gorgeous gown for Paris, making it even more special because her father used to call her Tinker Bell, on top of the fact that she has a tattoo that says “ Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust”. The dress is absolutely beautiful and not only highlights her body and unique body art, but also honors her late father Michael Jackson. I absolutely love the high pony tail with this look. The pony tail helps to avoid her hair taking anything away from the elegant beaded shoulders on the gown and helps bring attention to her piercing smoking eye. The body of the dress is corset shaped and sultry, but the flowing bottom adds a romantic and playful feel. The dress has just the right amount of sexy and girly, I think Versace hit the nail right on the head with this and this gown was my favorite look of the night. I will be talking about this forever and a day, you should as well because this level of fashion is the reason we Fashionista’s thrive. Iconic.

 

http://www.justjared.com/2018/03/05/paris-jackson-is-a-green-goddess-at-vanity-fair-oscars-party/

http://www.justjared.com/2018/03/05/paris-jackson-is-a-green-goddess-at-vanity-fair-oscars-party/

 

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5461831/Nicole-Kidman-steals-Oscars.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5461831/Nicole-Kidman-steals-Oscars.html

 

My next best dressed of the Oscars is none other than Nicole Kidman. Let’s face it, Nicole Kidman has been killing it this award show season. She has graced our TV screens with her memorable performance in the series Big Little Lies, she has supported the strength of women, respected and joined hands with her co-stars, accepted awards, and has done it all looking chic as hell. This Armani Privé gown is the cherry on top of the layers of fabulous that are Nicole Kidman. This dress is a bold shape, with an over-sized bow and mesmerizing blue hue. This shade of cerulean blue was the best one on the carpet by far and certainly did not lack elegance and intensity. This dress was yet another Oscars ensemble that had a corset/ lingerie appeal, but Kidman managed to represent the highest level of class and excellence. The dress takes center stage and isn’t over powered by an excessive amount of jewelry and accessories. Nicole Kidman made sure that the dress stole the show, without understating her beauty. Her sleek and straight hair brought a classic old Hollywood feel to her appearance and helped tie together the entire look. Nicole Kidman is never afraid to take chances on the red carpet and this look is no different. She stole the show effortlessly.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5461831/Nicole-Kidman-steals-Oscars.html

 

Window Shopping: Broken Down

Come one, come all, this week we are taking window shopping to the next level by admiring everything there is to recognize about store windows. We have all been there, we walk past a store window, that is absolutely mesmerizing, and develop a love comparable to the butterflies we got in middle school yearning over Zack Morris. ( If you don’t know who Zack Morris is, you need to do some serious research, tune into your 13- year-old-self, and get back to me). As a result, we find ourselves lured in to the store by the infatuation developed on the other side of that single panel of glass, separating us from being right in the middle of an incredible fashion experience. This right here is exactly why visual merchandising is so important. Visual merchandising allows brands to maximize sales by displaying creative and fashionable store windows, that create an experience for customers, ultimately making them want to enter the store, shop, and purchase. It’s a tale as old as a time, and as a fashionista, my connection with awesome store windows might just be the most successful relationship I have been in. Did I just say what was on all of our minds? Yes, I think so, because fashion never fails us. On a more serious note, let’s discuss some displays.

 

 

For this exciting adventure I decided to go to none other than 5th avenue, the mega of windows, shopping and happiness and yes, I hit the jackpot. For the luxury end of this blog post I decided to focus on the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue. Are we shocked that I approached Saks and nearly passed away because the windows were so delightful? Definitely not. Sak’s continuously gets it right. The first set of windows outside of Saks was a beautiful display of the Alice and Olivia Spring collection. The window started off with a wall covered in every guilty pleasure imaginable, bags on bags of chips, sodas, juices, spreads, you name it. Standing in front of the oh-so-beautiful snack wall was a vibrant display of floral pieces, stripes, and bright colors. The aesthetic of the brightly colored snack bags and the matching, but decorative, clothing helped to tell a color story that defined the bright colors and patterns we will be seeing this spring.

 

 

On top of the ever infamous snack wall, another display in the Saks windows for Alice and Olivia featured equally dominate colors, comparable to the ones in the first window I shared. This window continued highlighting spring floral, not only by the backdrop, but also by the patterns in the clothing.

 

 

If we hop on over to the Zara window, we can definitely see some comparable vibes. Despite the fact that the Zara window can essentially never compete with the Visual Merchandising master pieces at Saks, the windows had similar qualities.
It contained the bright colors being emphasized for spring, floral patterns, use of the popular dusted rose color, as well as use of emerald-green.

 

 

Both Zara and The Alice and Olivia display at Saks choice to highlight women’s pant suits. Saks chose to display just the jacket in one of their visuals and a completed ensemble of a striped pant suit in another, while Zara chose to display the full-blown two piece ensemble for both pant suits they displayed. Women’s pant suits are everywhere right now, so it is no surprise both retailers chose to highlight the craze. Maxi skirts are also a huge commonality between these two windows. Another common style between these windows is the use of the high, almost mock turtleneck, neckline on the blouses. Both retailers display a slew of these blouses, which screams business appropriate and trendy all at once. These mock turtle necks are versatile, tasteful and noteworthy.

 

A final repeating trend between the two window displays is the use of the scarf like necktie attached to the top of the blouses. Women’s neck ties go hand in hand with the newly developed power suit, helping to create buzz worthy, professional, and down right powerful looks. These neckties bring us right back to the feminist movement of the 1960’s, that inspired women to join the workforce. 50 years later and here we are, women are still fighting for feminism and equal opportunity, but we are yet again rocking fierce neck ties while doing it. Can everyone get a grip and realize women deserve the world and will continue to fight for the respect and opportunity we deserve, especially while serving fierce looks in power suits and neckties? HELLO, it’s 2018. Why is this still an issue ? All I have to say is that regardless of how backwards this all may seem, once again FASHION NEVER FAILS US.

So dive into some mock turtlenecks and long skirts. Grab a pantsuit, ball out in some floral, and throw on a necktie. Regardless of whether you are shopping luxury or the mass market, new trends always find their way into both segments of the market and visual merchandising is equally important in both. Be the independent women you not only deserve to be, but already are, and show the world your strength and power simply through your personal fashion. That’s it for this week, Ciao for now !

Falling for Fall 2018 Fashion

Hello my ever lovely blog boo boo’s. This week we are talking trends, patterns, colors, the whole sha-bang, FASHION FORECASTING. That’s right my friends, I am the psychic of the Fashion world and I am getting a vision like Raven Baxter in 2003. Okay, that MIGHT have been a lie, we do have professionals working their tails off to get us this vital information. So, thank you Fashion Snoops because I am about to give you guys the inside scoop on necessary fashions for this upcoming Fall 2018.

PLAID: 

 

 

 

This fall we can already anticipate the infatuation we are all going to have for plaid. Yes, plaid has always kept its surface in the fashion industry, but now more than ever we are seeing a huge spike in the use of this versatile pattern. Plaid is taking over and mismatched plaid is even better. We are seeing plaid used in every aspect of the industry from a pantsuit to a purse. Different variations of plaid are going to be crawling the streets this fall and I suggest everyone gets their hands on it. Plaid is versatile because it can be mixed up with different patterns without giving you the appearance that you may or may not have gotten dressed in the dark. One of my personal favorites is when people throw a striped shirt with a plaid print, stripes compliment plaid and give your look a little extra edge, but so many different patterns and colors can be thrown into a plaid ensemble. So lets rejoice ladies, we don’t even need to match our patterns this fall and we are already a step ahead of the fashion game. 

CHERRY RED: 

 

 

 

Look at that, another two ladies rocking the plaid. I’m telling you, plaid will be as hot as crossed buns themselves, but onto a new topic. Cherry red anything is a must have for Fall 2018. Sunglasses, purses, pants, shoes, even your dog, all need to be red for the fall. I know some people shy away from red because it is so loud and vibrant, but red accents on outfits bring colors together and really make your look pop. Do not be afraid to get down with your bad self, take some inspiration from Jessica Rabbit and pull together. Western wear is going to be a big trend this fall as well, so pulling together a red accent with some warmer toned colors like olive, cream, burnt orange, and navy, will really help keep the red toned down but not understated.

 

 

 

 

 

FLOOD PANTS: 

 

 

 

Lastly, another huge trend for Fall 2018 is The Flood Pant. Coming tapered to the ankle or with an extroadinary wide leg, flood pants are buzzing. Flood pants are great because if they are worn well they work for any occasion, on top of the fact that they cinch our waists while giving the illusion of an elongated leg. They can work for a classy business look, or a more relaxed casual style. This trend works for any shape or sized girl because of the different leg widths and tailoring that different style flood pants offer. I personally would vouche for any high waisted pants, so in my book, this is a perfect way to change up your look this fall.

Trends on Trends: Spring 2018

Whats Gucci fellow bloggers, fashion reference there for appreciation. I am back and i’m better this week ( sung in the tune of Bryson Tiller ). Lets face it, trends change, fashions change, and we change with it. There’s no secret behind the mere fact that we, as fashionistas, like to keep up with the hottest trends of the season and this Spring is absolutely no different. The NYC streets are crawling with trendy style gurus that sometimes even make me want to bow my head in shame when a quick sweatpants and bun look in the morning doesn’t compare to the Fashion shows happening down the streets of the concrete jungle. So in honor of the fine independent women that don’t need no man strutting their stuff, appropriate shout out for Valentines day, here are some of my favorite trends going on this spring.

 

 

Cargo Pants and White Shoes are hotter than sliced bread was in 1928. Cargo pants are making a come back and I am personally loving it. Whether it be a high fashion runway, a night on the town, or a casual day out in the city, people are mixing and matching cargos in the best way possible. Cargo pants are versatile and practical. You can rock the loose pant leg with a stiletto and a bodysuit like Kim K, wear them with booties and a sweater, or simply  pair them with  sneakers and a t-shirt. Essentially, Cargo’s are replacing 2017’s obsession with over the top denim and bringing us Cadet Kelly vibes, while designers are also giving them a modern twist with new colors and fabrics. Cargo pants are more feminine than ever and are a new statement piece that everyone needs to take advantage of.

Did you think I was going to forget about the white shoes comment? Absolutely not. White shoes are everywhere. I don’t care if you are wearing Air Force Ones, leather boots, pointed toe pumps, kitten heels, or every kind of white shoe you can possibly find all at once, that might turn some heads, but it is 2018 baby. White shoes are taking over. Labor Day may be cringing at us right now because the new white shoes trend has completely disregarded the “ no white after labor day” stigma, but Labor day will have to get over it.

 

Another trend that is popping up everywhere this spring is fashion’s new love for puffer jackets. In past years if you would have asked me to try on a puffer jacket, I would have rejected the offer immediately, BUT this year they are HOT. Puffers are getting more unique every single time I see them, bright colors, fun patterns, and even fun cuts. We have moved away from the basic medium length cut and dove straight into short and cute, or long and over sized.  As Kanye West would say, “ It’s getting cold, better bring your ski clothes, peeking through the keyhole”, and everyone better be trying to open that keyhole because this trend is taking the spring by storm. I myself even went out and got a puffer, I’m telling you, it’s just necessary. 

 

Finally, my last favorite trend for this season is over sized shirts and graphic logos.  Everything is about the oversized, the puffier,  the bigger and the better. Whether it be over sized shirts, sweaters, jackets, pants, you name it, they are all trending this season. Say goodbye to regular length hems, we are leaving them in the dust this season, Enough said.

For a short time fashion fell out of touch with its love of logos and graphics on shirts and even pants, but now brands are getting back into their 90’s roots. The up rise for the love of fashion replicating what we knew and loved about the 90’s is back and defeating past years use of modest and incognito branding. So splatter the designers and graphics you love across your clothing again, because modesty is dead and incognito is for James Bond. But please, leave the Ed Hardy in the back of the closet. The world is still not ready for that again.

Three of my Favorite Fashion and Lifestyle Blogs !

Now, more than ever, influencers and bloggers affect our lives on a regular basis. Whether it be to find somewhere to eat, find something to wear, find somewhere to go, or find out how to finesse your makeup, we are constantly searching on Instagram for the advice of our favorite icons. Personally, I absolutely love getting inspiration from bloggers on Instagram. The brutal honesty, educated decisions and trusted opinion of so many of these influencers help build a layer of trust between you and the place or product that they are representing because you know that if they are vouching for it, it must be the real deal.

1. @WeWoreWhat is one of my absolute favorite fashion blogs. Created by Danielle Bernstein, this blog came into the spotlight in 2010 when Bernstein transferred to The Fashion Institute of Technology and was inspired to start photographing her friends and, soon after, her own unique style. I respect  Danielle Bernstein so much because she was able to make herself a name coming exactly from where I am right now, FIT. At only 25 years old, she was recognized as one of Forbes “ 30 under 30”, has 1.7 million followers, and now even has her own overall brand by the name of Second Skin Overalls. Danielle mix and matches designer goods with fast fashion in order to help create looks that have designer quality, while also containing pieces that can be attained by her followers. She has a dope NYC native style that is relatable and real, while she also shares vacations, lifestyle tips, clothing hauls and fun clips of what she is up to, most recently being Hip-Hop dancing.

 

 

 

 

2. @MannyMua733 is a great beauty and makeup blog because it never fails to be honest and absolutely hilarious. Created by Manny Gutierrez, the blog continuously gives the most honest and in-depth advice on beauty brands and quality. He has a huge following, with 4.3 million followers, and  undeniable experience as a beauty blogger, makeup artist, and makeup ambassador. Manny has collaborations with Jeffree Star And is a representative for Maybelline. He combines drugstore and high-end makeup to give his followers the best advice on what products to use and how to use them. Whenever I’m looking to test a new makeup product, I always check his Instagram and YouTube page for advice and his professional opinion. He tells it like it is, is undeniably himself and does not sugar coat products, regardless if they are made by his personal favorite brands. I also love that he represents the male beauty community, because regardless of the fact that make up is seen as a women’s product, there are so many men out there that use it as well. He creates a platform that is accepting and comfortable for all viewers, regardless of gender, while also sharing his personal life stories to help viewers feel more comfortable being them self.

 

 

 

 

 

3. @FoodBabyNy is a lifestyle blog that focuses primarily on incredible restaurants in the heart of NYC. The blog was created by Mike Chau and contains photos of all of his favorite items at NYC restaurants, featuring his absolutely adorable children. The Instagram page is not only mouth-watering, but it is also heart warming and even funny at times when he catches hilarious shots of his children sleeping, making cute faces, and eating delicious meals with their Dad. Strictly from this account alone I have found some of my favorite places to eat in NYC. Being that I am a huge foodie and self-proclaimed food picture extraordinaire, I love following this page to see the amazing pictures he shares with his followers  and  where Mike and his kids will travel to next. Mike keeps his page versatile and posts a wide variety of restaurants and kinds of food. I trust his opinion, and based on his 270,000 followers on Instagram, his fans do too. Mike also has a separate food account, aside from Food Baby NY, that goes by the name of @MikeJChau, where he shares even more diverse foods and unimaginable food photography.