Back to Blogging Business!

NYC, SPI, and now an internship with StyleCaster - my, time has flown! I am officially a graduate of NYU's Summer Publishing Institute (and have the pretty little certificate to prove it!) and had an amazing time meeting new friends, pigging out on the delicious food (although I have yet to try the bagels here - I know, shame on me!), and exploring the city. I moved out of the dorms into the East Village temporarily and am loving this neighborhood - it's an absolute joy to stroll by Tompkins Park and zillions of cute cafes and boutiques on my way to Union Square. And at night, things can get a little crazy around here with tons of bars in the village and down in LES. I am going to miss this place when I move out to midtown next week!

I am also well into the second week of my internship with StyleCaster as a fashion intern! Feel free to visit the website here to find out what it's all about - it's a unique, online destination where content meets community meets commerce. The internship is stressful and I'm always busy, but I am surrounded by beautiful clothes - what more could I ask for? And to de-stress afterwards, I just walk home on 5th Ave and stop by my favorite stores - so I am literally surrounded by clothes from 9 in the morning to 9 at night, haha!

So that's my little update, and hopefully I can get back into the swing of things around here!

My Feature Article for Ruby Magazine

This was the feature article for the SPI magazine launch project (which we finally named Ruby Magazine). From the feedback we got from Ariel Foxman (who was an absolute pleasure to meet!), we changed the focus of the mission statement away from weight loss and toward fashion for plus size women. I was assigned the position of executive editor, so I wrote this article (with the help of my team). Enjoy!

Runway Recap: Full Figured Fashion Week 2010
The second annual show proves curvy girls can catwalk
June 23, 2010

Long gone are the days of shapeless muumuus and poly stretch pants. Full Figured Fashion Week shows off what’s hot in plus size fashion.

From June 16 - 19 in New York City, hundreds of fashionistas turned out to celebrate the second-annual Full Figured Fashion Week (FFFWeek). The sold-out and star-studded event began last year as a way to showcase the new collections and trendy plus size designs that are serving a growing market of fashion-forward, full figured women.

The four-day event featured runway showcases, a modeling competition, discussion panels and seminars, and even a guided shopping excursion. Notable guests included plus size supermodel Emme Aronson, America’s Next Top Model winner Whitney Thompson, and Biggest Loser contestant Carla Sheridan. Thirty-five sponsors supported the event, including big names like Revlon and Lane Bryant.

Similar to other fashion shows, the air buzzed with infectious energy both behind the scenes and on the runway. But unlike these shows, the voluptuous models looked relaxed, healthy, and in high spirits as they confidently strutted down the runway in feathers and sequins.

Rather than strained silence, the packed crowd at FFFWeek’s opening runway loudly expressed their approval for their favorite look. The music, drinks, and cheering crowd created a celebratory atmosphere.

There must be something strong in those raspberry lemonade Sonsi-tinis - cocktails aptly named for sponsor Sonsi.com, an online destination for plus size shopping.

Gwen DeVoe, founder and executive producer of FFFWeek, hosted the event’s opening ceremony at the exclusive New York City club Boulevard. DeVoe, donning a fitted white number adorned with rosettes, worked the crowd in preparation for a runway showcase featuring plus-inclusive designers and design collaborations with large-scale retailers.

“Every curvy girl that has a dollar is willing to spend that dollar,” she told the energetic crowd. “And so we as curvy customers [are] loyal customers. I know that at a lovely size 18 and a size 12 shoe, when I see something I like, I buy four, five, and six of them, because I can’t stand the drama of looking for it again.” Judging by the crowd’s cheers, many attendees could also sympathize with the hassles of shopping for plus size clothing.

The plus size community has been underserved and largely ignored by the mainstream fashion industry, and FFFWeek is its long overdue response. On a business level, FFFWeek is a way for retailers and designers to meet with their plus-size customers. From a greater perspective, the event serves as backlash against the exclusive nature of the fashion industry and a push for size acceptance in the fashion community.

A market valued at $18 billion, plus size fashion is a booming business opportunity. However, the fashion industry at large has been slow, and sometimes even resistant, to capitalize on this market. Recent news surrounding American Apparel’s decision to stop producing certain items above a size 6 and fashion designer Julien Macdonald’s disparaging comments about plus size modeling continue to perpetuate size discrimination.

However, retail giants like Walmart and Target are recently stepping in to fill the plus size fashion void. Both retailers debuted their latest plus size clothing collections at FFFWeek’s opening runway showcase. Walmart’s Just My Size previewed their younger, trendier sister line Evolution by Just My Size, which included fun tops in animal prints and bold colors with price points under $20. Angelina Mortarotti, the designer behind the Pure Energy line for Target, created a collection with floral and plaid tops, denim staples, and on-trend jackets.

FFFWeek showcased 25 diverse designers who specifically cater to the full figured woman. Angel L. Myers of The Angel Alternative had only been sewing for the past 10 months, but her retro-inspired pieces looked as though she had years of experience. Jaspher Knowles of edgy, fashion-forward Drapery flew in all the way from the Bahamas to take part.

Fashion designer Susan Moses has styled an impressive clientele of celebrities, including Queen Latifah and Gabourey Sidibe. Her collection hit the right trends: sequin mini dresses, silky jumpsuits, and a metallic, peplum stunner that hugged all the right curves.

Deb Malkin, owner of boutique Re/Dress NYC, had her eye on the Susan Moses collection. “She’s branching out into a lot of party and evening wear, and it blew me away. Her collection is really extraordinary,” she said of the celebrity stylist.

Another designer that impressed Malkin was Project Runway alumnus Qristyl Frazier, whose collection included off-the-shoulder column dresses. Frazier’s dresses played with the draping and wrapping of fabric around the shoulder, across the bust, or tied around the waist.

But Malkin’s standby favorite was IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel, a plus size design brand with 10 years of experience. “Lots of incredible prints, really well proportioned clothes. They just know what women want,” she remarked. IGIGI’s graphic print wrap dresses were easily among the night’s best pieces.

Malkin, a plus-size woman herself, understands how frustrating shopping and fashion can be for the full figured woman. “I was right there in the struggle of finding it really hard to find clothes and really understanding the role of fashion as it relates to the social standing of bigger people,” she revealed.

“I don’t think we have a sense of the collective fun of shopping because so much shopping happens online for plus size women, and that’s not really the same experience that other women have where they get to go shopping together and have a good time,” she shared.

Fortunately, FFFWeek provides another much-needed outlet through which the curvy community can come together to celebrate their shape and have fun with fashion. Malkin nails it on the head with her parting advice: “dress yourself for today and really express yourself through the creativity of fashion.”

Manhattan, Ariel Foxman, and other exciting New York related news

I landed in NYC on a sunny, humid Saturday, dirty, exhausted (not a wink of sleep the night before), hungry (whatever happened to free airline meals), excited at seeing the beautiful Manhattan cityscape from my plane window, and bewildered at how exactly I ended up in the city. Three months ago, I decided to seriously pursue a magazine career. Two months ago, I submitted my application just days before deadline. One month ago, I learned my fate. Now, here I am, blogging away in my NYU dorm right by Union Square Park in Manhattan!

My first week at NYU's Summer Publishing Institute has been a very long week. Full days with back-to-back lectures and panels, and plenty of late night hours mulling over a magazine brand launch project that will be presented in front of THE Ariel Foxman tomorrow! It was just a few months ago that I had been researching about him for an interview with InStyle's West Coast office (which I bombed, please don't ask how... *sigh*), and now I am actually going to meet him in person!

My group has come up with a magazine idea titled Full Fitness (if you can come up with a better name, PLEASE share!), and our magazine "supports overweight or obese women in every stage of their weight goals through the adoption of a healthier, active lifestyle." What do you think?

Is this a sneak peek of J. Crew Fall 2010?

Cause it sure looks like it to me. It's gorgeous, and Siri looks unbelievably beautiful here! Check out more pics at Daymion Mardel's Online Portfolio.

BIG NEWS!

home, originally uploaded by mudpig.

Like my blog header states, it's been a dream of mine to work at a fashion magazine. Well, this year I decided to do something about it and applied to several summer publishing programs. For the past three weeks, I was stuck on the waiting list for NYU's Summer Publishing Institute, everyday checking my email and dreading a rejection letter, but finally - last Thursday - I GOT IN! I am so excited to be making my move to NYC and starting my career in publishing - and extremely nervous about the economic climate's impact on the industry.

Those of you who may have been closely following my blog know that I'm no good at shopping bans or saving money. Now I totally regret buying those Dieppa Restrepo shoes! To prepare for the big move, I've listed tons of my clothes on eBay and am closely pinching my pennies, saving every last cent from my tutoring gig. I have a month to raise funds quick! Any ideas?

The Uniform Project

I'm inspired and amazed by what Sheena Matheiken has done. Since May 1st, 2009, Sheena has been wearing the same seven black dresses and accessorizing them with vintage, handmade, or hand-me-down clothing items "as an exercise in sustainable fashion." Along the way, she's been raising money for the Akanksha Foundation to improve the educational system in Indian slums. Now, she only has eight days left until she's reached her goal of 365 days. Learn how to help out by visiting her website The Uniform Project.

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

Best Dressed Celebs at Coachella

Scores of celebs came out to play under the desert sun during 2010's Coachella music festival. Here are my picks for the best dressed attendees and performer.

Kate Hudson                                  Whitney Port                                  Camilla Belle

I'm loving Kate's casual look, Whitney's print-mixing, and Camilla's granny-chicness.

Anne Hathaway

Anne's statement accessories are perfect - a chic fedora to block out the sun in style and a lightweight scarf for when the day cools down.

Kate Bosworth

Kate looks effortlessly chic. Knit crochet, tie-dye, or lace, Kate always makes the latest trends work. Bonus points for dating True Blood hottie Alexander Skarsgard.

Best Dressed Performer:

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey somehow manages to look put-together (not a hair out of place!) despite the high temps in her prim, ombre blue dress.

All pictures from celebrity-gossip.net

I did not attend this year's festival, but I've been to past ones and it's always a blast to go. Some of my most amazing concert memories happened there - the best memory I had was dancing to my favorite New Order songs ("Bizarre Love Triangle" and "Blue Monday") with thousands of other concert-goers. I am sad to have missed some amazing performances this year (I really wanted to see Passion Pit, La Roux, MGMT, Little Boots, Phoenix, among tons of other bands, and the hyped-up, top secret set for deadmau5). Oh well, maybe next year.

Dieppa Restrepo

Pictures from Dieppa Restrepo

One of the biggest trends in spring footwear is the oxford shoe. This classic style adds a bit of menswear-chic to your outfits, and the flat heel makes them comfortable for everyday. I love how they give that girl-next-door/tomboy look.

While browsing the Theory website, I fell in love with the white and tan oxfords that their stylists used and inquired who made them. The response - the brand is called Dieppa Restrepo, a brand of unisex shoes founded by Columbian designers Andrea Vargas Dieppa and Elisa Restrepo. The Dieppa Restrepo website calls their shoes the "quintessential grown-up sneakers," known for being "fashion-minded, yet comfortable and durable."

Theory will be stocking these shoes come April at their New York Gansevoort store, and I'll be waiting (impatiently) until then!

Theory's New Website

From Theory

Theory just launched an online shopping website, and I love some of the outfits their stylists put together for the website. The "Insider Looks" are classic yet modern, with lots of pattern mixing and layering. It's also a great way to get to know some of the top stylists in the industry, such as Andrea Lieberman and Leslie Fremar. Check out the website for more insider looks and videos of each stylist at work. I'd love to own that small check trench coat, the striped t-shirt dress, an easy menswear shirt, and a pair of white oxfords.

Anyone else excited for Eat, Pray, Love?

I first heard about this book when I was watching the Bonnie Hunt Show (which is AMAZING, I love Bonnie's sense of humor) and she had Elizabeth Gilbert as her guest, along with Jane Kaczmarkek (Malcolm in the Middle) and The Hills' Kristen Cavallari. The point was to have guests at different ages of their lives come together and discuss Gilbert's book, and I was touched at how much the book had connected with Bonnie and Jane (both are going through or have been through divorces). And they showered it with praise and said it was the kind of book to give to your daughter, a book they wished they had when they were younger. So I decided to give it a go.

Let me tell you, I loved reading this book. It was inspiring, thoughtful, and very well-written. Gilbert is incredibly brave for sharing her story. I was surprised at how spiritual the book came off (I guess the word "pray" should have warned me), but in no way does she come across as preachy or presumptuous. She's new to the whole thing herself and exploring all of it with the reader. I also loved reading about her experiences in exotic locales (I wish I could just pack up and go country-hopping for a year) and her sense of humor.

And now Hollywood is making a movie of the book with Julia Roberts! I can't wait!

Two of my favorite looks from J. Crew

I purchased J. Crew's Chambray Blazer, and I love how it easily dresses up an outfit while keeping it all casual. The blazer is low maintenance (it is machine washable) and doesn't seem to wrinkle easily. The color and fabric are perfect for spring, and the best way to wear it is to roll up the sleeves, exposing the lovely pinstripe lining, and pair it with shorts and mini-skirts - perfect for a cool, summer day.

The Andre dress is another stunner from the J. Crew catalog. Purple is an unexpected, fresh color for work attire. The dress is conservative in cut but not in style - it showcases beautiful draping and pleating details, and therefore it can easily transition from the desk to a dinner date. Just throw on a sparkly necklace and some smart specs to make a witty fashion statement.

Summer Shoe Trends: Wedges & Platforms

summer wedges by stylechild featuring Jil Sander shoes>

I'm searching high and low for the perfect pair of summer shoes. There are so many choices in styles and trends this season, from flat sandals to oxfords to wedges, so I'm showcasing some of the best from each trend to help make my decision.

Summer wedges have been on my mind for years. I love how casual and fun they look - they are the perfect bohemian-chic accessories and easy to pair with beach sundresses. Also, the thicker heel makes them easier to walk in and the best choice for instant height. This season, wedges are coming with platform heels to give them an extra boost in inches without the strain on your feet.

You can take your pick from a variety of wedges and platform heels that incorporate this season's biggest trends. Strappy versions in nude, tan, and beige, such as the skin-colored pair above from the original cork wedge brand Kork-Ease, are classic and elongate the legs. Some come in bright colors, perfect for punctuating outfits with pops of spring-worthy hues. Others are incorporating woven textures or tribal accents. Coach has floral and logo prints with fun details, such as Sprouse-style writing on the heel. Jil Sander's nude wedges are on-trend, with its modern, clean lines. Finally, Michael Kors offers a plethora of choices in wedges and platforms, such as the urban-glam example above with a chunky wooden heel and sporty influences.

Limited Edition F-Bomb Scent

Image from Sephora

According to the Beauty Counter blog over at Style.com, designers Viktor & Rolf are releasing a limited edition version of Flowerbomb called La Vie En Rose. The scent will be lighter than the original and will include "tangerine, pink pepper, and lily of the valley" notes. It will be available only at Sephora starting April 1, but you can order it now at Sephora's website.

I would count Flowerbomb as one of my favorite scents, so I am very excited that a new version is coming out. I haven't committed to buying a bottle of the original, but owning a limited edition perfume sounds very tempting.

My Perfume Wishlist

Perfumes by stylechild on Polyvore.com

I've been dying to get my hands on the following perfumes, some of them for their addictive scents and others just for the bottles! Stand-by fragrances include Chanel's classic Coco Mademoiselle, Dior's wildly popular Miss Dior Cherie, and Viktor & Rolf's bestselling Flowerbomb. YSL's Parisienne is slowly growing on me - the scent is definitely unique and stands out from the rest. I've yet to try Balenciaga's Paris, but how lovely would that bottle look on a vanity table!

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

Smells like: "Sexy, fresh Oriental fragrance" that "recalls the irrepressible spirit of the young 'Coco' Chanel"

Coco Chanel, 1907

Top Notes: Orange, bergamot, mandarin, and Tunisian curaçao
Heart Notes: Morning rose, Italian jasmine, ylang-ylang, and mimosa
Base Notes: Indonesian patchouli, Haitian vetiver, Bourbon vanilla, white musk, opoponax, and tonka bean

Faces: Anouck Lepere, Kate Moss, and Keira Knightley (current)


Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne

Smells like: "The essence of a woman who is incredibly free-she is not from Paris, but Paris adopts her. She knows how to love, how to live."
"A grand floral with a woody structure, luminous even in its mystery", "the perfume of ultra femininity, warmed by the touch of the man who embraced her."

Top Notes: "Vinyl accord (evoking metal gloss and varnish)", cranberry, and blackberry
Heart Notes: Peony, damask rose, and violet
Base Notes: Patchouli, vetiver, musk, and sandalwood

Faces: Kate Moss

Balenciaga Paris

Smells like: "mysterious and fragile, yet leaves a lasting trail"

Notes: Violet, pepper, and mossy wood notes

Faces: French songstress and "strange beauty" Charlotte Gainsbourg


Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

Smells like: "floral explosion", "full-bodied and opulent"

Top Notes: Tea and bergamot
Heart Notes: Sambac jasmine, orchid, freesia, and rose
Base Notes: Patchouli

Faces: Isabeli Fontana


Dior Miss Dior Cherie

Smells like: "the elegant woman, a blend of classic chic with a touch of whimsy"

Top Notes: Green tangerine and strawberry leaves
Heart Notes: Violette, pink jasmine, carmelized popcorn, and strawberry sorbet
Base Notes: Fresh patchouli and crystalline musk

Faces: Maryna Linchuk

Images from mauVErt

More Fall Inspiration

Chanel fall 2010
inspiration: global cooling
keywords: (fake) fur, ice jewelry


Valentino fall 2010
inspiration: modern ruffles
keywords: blush tones, high hemlines


Vanessa Bruno fall 2010
inspiration: dance
keywords: drape, layer, wrap


Isabel Marant fall 2010
inspiration: 50's
keywords: cropped pants, high ponytails & those amazing paillette leggings ♥!

All photos from style.com

More Chiffon Dresses but with a Libertine Twist

John Galliano played with the contrast of heavy and light, pairing chiffon dresses with leather pieces, in his fall collection for Christian Dior. The equestrian theme is obvious, but Galliano also drew inspiration from libertines, specifically Johnny Depp's performance in The Libertine (which I have yet to watch). On first glance, the top hats are reminiscent of Depp's latest role in the movie Alice in Wonderland.

I'm especially keen on the make-up and hair. According to hairstylist Orlando Pita, the hair was inspired by "French romanticism and page boys" with the textured curls and fish braids. The make-up called for a "Libertine's raspberry mouth" and "ochre and burgundy eyes." The lips are heavily pigmented in the center and wash out at the sides, which really does give that look of a "raspberry mouth." The final result was a kind of painted beauty like in an 18th century portrait and as decadent as a libertine's lifestyle.

All photos from style.com

Yes, I love me a statement coat

Photos from New York Magazine

I always look forward to what creative geniuses Viktor and Rolf have up their sleeves - which in the case of their fall 2010 presentation, were roomy enough to layer over layers, of capes over fur coats over robe-like dresses over bustiers - like a shoplifter's wildest dreams. I can just imagine a Vogue spread inspired by sticky fingers and featuring these clothes (taking place in a high-end department store, littered with bare mannequins, and maybe Winona will make an appearance?).

Another fall show with the beloved oversized coat trend, but this time blown up to avant-garde proportions.

Watch the runway video here.