Links à la Mode

Links à la Mode

****for week of August 20, 2009****

Beauty, Style, & the Blogosphere

Edited by Ashe Mischief

Beauty and Style come in many forms, and this weeks Links á la Mode choices showcase the many discussions entering the world of fashion blogging at the moment: excessive judgments, the value of personalities, and cultivating your inner beauty as well as your outer beauty. Bonne-Vie challenges the values of the show “More to Love” and Fivve Blog shares model sensation Lara Stone. Newcomer Jaka’s Tea Party calls to action with the Wholestyle Manifesto and Betsey J asks “Are we too judgmental as fashion bloggers?”
Not to overshadow this weeks Links á la Mode with too heavy of discussions, we’ve also go a great roundup of make-up tutorials & inspiration, along with great DIY projects & giveaways in the forums!

Links à la Mode : August 20th

• Ask ThinkThru: – What Can You Wear From the Office To an Event?


• Betsey J: – Have we become too judgemental when it comes to fashion & style?


• Bonne Vie: – Fox is doin’ it wrong with new reality show “More to Love”


• BRICK MY LANE: – 3-in-1 DIYs: Ripping, slashing andd patching everything, rock’n'roll style


• Broke & Beautiful – International Indie Designers can be found with Novica, plus an opportunity to REALLY make a difference by shopping.


• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Fed up of emails from big fashion brands demanding interviews, I decided to speak to a young, bright and new designer instead.


• Denim Debutante: – How to Clean & Care for Your Premium Denim


• fivve blog: – If you have a fashion mag addiction, then you probably have seen who W Magazine is calling the “fashion it-girl” Lara Stone.


• Independent Fashion Bloggers: What's so great about Gravatars?


• Jaka's Tea Party – A mission statement for a new movement that believes style isn’t about the clothes you wear, it’s about being a whole person.


• Little Miss Makeup: – Pretty makeup is an evergreen fashion trend. Get the low-down on how to get the look!


• Meilily: – Highlights the debut collection of Project Runway phenom Christian Siriano for VS Makeup.


• pie wacket: – yesterday I worked with Kiehl’s to create a wonderful late summer giveaway and shot an original beauty story to demo the products.


• Rags to Reverie: – 2 days ago Space 15 Twenty’s Pangaea Pop-Up makes deka ray’s architectural jewelry available for the masses


• Retro Chick: – Why we buy – One woman’s journey in fashion and the decisions we make every day.


• sweet archivia: – Anthropologie’s Secret Code – In-House Brand Guide


• THE COVETED – The Coveted: Make that a double: Take Off Your Clothes Double T-Shirt Dress


• The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight.


• The Fashion Planner: – The Fashion Planner’s Guide to Chicago offers great places to eat, shop, and more.


• The Midnight Feast: – Did I really just put on black lipstick? How to tackle this trend: a guide for those who would prefer to leave the gothic look in the 90s.


• Unfunded – Unfunded: White Rabbit Inspired Baubles


• Wit & Whimsy: – First Look: Michael Kors Goes Hollywood Glam with the launch of VeryHollywood.com

Links à la Mode

Links à la Mode

****for week of August 13, 2009****

A Stylish New World

Edited by Jennine

Here we go with this week’s round of stylish links. Editing this week was quite difficult as there were so many great links to choose from and everyone had some fantastic news on the fashion front. One of the great things about the internet is that we can all find out what the smaller labels are doing and thinking. This week we have great interviews from 39th and Broadway, Fabulous Finds Gal, Style Gourmand and A Typical Atypical. We also have a brilliant DIY project on what to do with your fabric scraps on Brick My Lane.

Links à la Mode : August 13th

• 39th and Broadway – Designer Interview; Delirius


• A Typical Atypical – The wonderful Every Little Counts! With 15% off for readers!


• Bobbins and Bombshells – Vintage Finds of the Week: Mad Men Secretary Accessories


• breathe design – Enter to win accessories from the eryn brinié Fall 2009 collection!


• BRICK MY LANE – DIY: putting scraps of fabric to good use by turning it into a ruffled neckpiece


• ClandestineChic – Interview: Patricia Valery of Evil Needles


• Denimaniac – Wood Wood’s S/S 2010 collection – a bit of street, a dash of fash and a whole lotta style!


• dramatis personae – Quality vs. Vegan/Environmentally Sustainable


• Fabulous Finds Gal – “Gardens in Grey” By Fashion Photographer Julia Pogodina And An Inspiring Interview


• Fashion Pulse Daily – What was Your Favorite Summer 2009 Trend?


• Fasshonaburu – A review on the now purchase-able Under.Ligne, the diffusion line by Doo.Ri.


• Fete a Fete – Dancing all night and your 5-inch stilettos killing you? Bring some Rollasole emergency ballet flats with you!


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – NYFW SS10 Schedule + tips on getting in


• Market Publique – Art Class: Vintage Abstract Prints


• midnight feast – The Jean Genie


• Retro Chick – Win – Reese Witherspoons first fragrance for Avon


• Sterling Style – New York’s Rachel Antonoff Holiday 2010 Collection


• Style Gourmand – Ag Kij of Net-a-Porter discusses Net-a-Porter’s new iPhone app and how technology and fashion co-mingle.


• Style Mom – STYLEMOM holds it down for fashion bloggers as one of the only IFB members at Blogher 2009 in Chicago


• Stylish Thought – Cats with Style: Boxing Kitten


• THE COVETED – Mummy Dearest: Iris Van Herpen taking inspiration from the macabre


• Unfunded – Vintage sequins, sparkles and sprinkles

Holiday Time! And Surprise Discount Balenciaga!

We will be taking a well-deserved and needed holiday, and I honestly think the last thing I will be thinking about is this blog. Sorry! Too many dear friends to visit with, new places to explore. And stories to write. But I will leave you with this interesting tidbit....

The other day my daughter and I took a trip up to Woodbury Common Premium Outlet Center. We were looking for school shoes for her as we had found some fabulous deals in the past and were hoping to find the same this trip. She was very pleased with her selections!

The news was all over blogs, newspapers, and magazines so most of us had heard that a Balenciaga outlet had opened back in April, but the very few mentions online didn't make it sound like a bargain shopper's paradise. But the lure of quality goods at discount prices was too much to bear and I just had to have a peek inside. And what I found was almost too good to be true! 40% off, but that was off the already marked down prices for shoes! Handbags were 20% off the markdown price! Jesse, the sales assistant that so graciously helped me make my selections was as sweet as they come, and honestly all the sales assistants were also very helpful, polite, and dare I say it -- without pretense. Some of the outlets up there are quite snobby (um for shop worn two seasons old stock? Get over yourself!) But this was clearly a case of the opposite, not only a bargain hunter's dream, but a shopper's delight, making my visit quite pleasant.. I wound up purchasing two pairs for myself, and another pair for a friend who asked me to pick them up for her. Since we weren't sure of her size I wound up getting two different sizes, and some lucky friend will be the benefit of my thrifty purchase. Check out my gorgeous selections...

6 Inch platform Stilettos with a triple ankle strap. Believe it or not they are quite comfy. (No idea why the camera angle makes my calves look huge!)


5 inch heel with platform. Gorgeous, buttery soft suede. I love that the heel is partially a wedge, and it satisfies my urge for wedges. Ignore the weird angle that makes my foot look like its too small for the shoe. I can assure you they fit like a glove! (I guess having a 9.5 year old photographer may have something to do with the weird angles! But she's learning!)

I wound up getting two pairs of beautifully crafted Italian leather shoes for the price of one crappy pair at some chain store like Aldo. I will not scrimp on quality when it comes to shoes as I am quite hard on them and prefer having something that will last season after season. (I tend to go for classic styles that live on -- one day I will photograph my vintage collection to prove my point. Imelda has nothing on me, as I've been a collector and seller of vintage for over 30 years and have the shoe collection to prove it!)

Woodbury Commons is easily accessible via car (under an hour from the city) and they run bus specials as well. Make sure to sign up on their website for a voucher book that has additional coupon savings, as well as unadvertised specials. Chelsea Premium Outlets then click under "Woodbury Common Premium Outlet Center." You'll have to sign up for the VIP club to get the voucher, but they don't spam you with email so its worth it.

If you do visit Balenciaga, Jesse will be glad to help you! Its located at 885 Grapevine Court, and the phone number is 845.929.2006, he said the sale was ongoing, and that they would continue to recieve more merchandise through the end of the month.

One word of warning when shopping any designer outlet center -- know your prices! Many outlets discount from regular retail, some don't discount at all on the off chance that you'll think its a bargain and scoop it up. Such was definitely not the case at Balenciaga.

Links à la Mode

Links à la Mode

****for week of August 6, 2009****

Feminine Mystique

Edited by Debutante Clothing
The caliber of blog posts amongst the IFB members never ceases to amaze me. We run the gamut of style and fashion here. This week’s picks definitely appeal to the dueling femmes in me – the old fashioned gal and the powerful feminist. The debutante in me loved all the lovely posts about pearls including modern choices from Fashion Hippo, as well as the history of Mikimoto pearls by Fabulous Finds Gal. But nothing makes me clutch my pearls more than affordable Chanel looks by HiFashion. The feminist in me was thrilled to see smart posts about smart girls and smart fashion. Threadbared talks about academia and fashion, while 39th and Broadway explores the continuing inequality even within such a female driven industry like fashion. Enjoy!

Links à la Mode : August 6th

• 39th and Broadway: – Women are the backbone of the fashion industry, yet inequality reins supreme


• A Few Goody Gumdrops: – lets out her inner rockstar with Alexander McQueen’s Skull Knuckle Duster Whipsnake Clutch in Red! To-Die-For!


• A typical Atypical: – The Phenomena of “The Sale”


• Debutante Clothing: – contributes back to school style for “Hot for Teacher” at Style Sample Magazine


• Dramatis Personae: – reviews the B&Lu Femme Dress.


• Fabulous Finds and Co. – Mikimoto Pearls – The Story Behind The Cadillac Of Pearls.


• Fashion Hippo: – Modern Pearl Necklaces that aren’t your grandma’s pearls


• Fashion Talk by Lovely Lovisa: – I am the Resurrection


• fête à fête: – Get plumper lips with Givenchy Le Makeup’s new Gloss Interdit collection. Also, lip gloss giveaway to three lucky readers!


• Hi Fashion – Coco avant Chanel – how to get the Chanel look for less


• Individual Chic: – What makes a good ballet flat


• Retro Chick: – Iconic British Union Jack style.


• The Capitol Fashionista – Arise Magazine – the magazine that keeps you informed about what’s happening in Africa and around the globe.


• The Coveted: – Review of the New Bobbi Brown Nude Collection with Video Tutorial


• The Demoiselles: – Elle gets bombarded with subversive, negative advertising by Estee Lauder, and decides to take action.


• The Fashion Planner: – shows you how to build your back to school wardrobe


• The Recessionista: – Happy 80th to Jackie and Mad Men’s Casting Call for that 60’s look


• Threadbared: – Pondering the mutual near-exclusivity of academic fashion studies and style blogs


• Unfunded: – unveils Creative Recreation’s new women’s line.


• Work Chic: – get 10% off Fit in Clouds foldable flats

Links à la Mode****for week of July 30, 2009****

Links à la Mode

****for week of July 30, 2009****

The Elements of Style

Edited by Retro Chick

Whether it’s Winter or Summer, relentless rain or an unceasing heatwave where you are, this weeks Links a la Mode is packed with entertainment to keep you out of the sun/rain/wind.

If you plan to travel to escape your current weather conditions then Hi Fashion has some great travel tips and Idiosyncratic Style has some ideas for easy fashion DIY projects you can take with you.
Other highlights this week include a hilarious mans view on some Celebrity Fashion choices from Unfunded, Our Ocean’s coverage of Vivienne Westwood’s appearance on Jonathan Ross and Style Amor’s refusal to buy a wedding dress, as well as some insightful interviews and gorgeous give-aways.

Choosing just 20 links from the number of fantastic submissions is a challenging task and this week I found it particularly hard to whittle down the numbers so be sure to go and check out the rest of the links in the full Links a la Mode thread.

Links à la Mode : July 30th

• Breakfast at Saks – Aschobi: Sierra Leone Couture


• Brick My Lane – Interview with Christian Joy, the genius behind the costumes worn by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs


• by Hillary – Deciding if you really need to dry clean that dress that says “dry clean”


• Culturistas – The Culturistas find a ‘Lust vs Must’ profile of the Romper Trend!


• Fashion Cents – Can you wear the romper trend? Fashion Cents helps you decide if and how to romp around


• Fashion Hippo – Fashion Hippo is having a fantastic giveaway: Mary Frances “Mercury Rising” wristlet bag.


• Fashion in my eyes – Interview: Fashion editor at 17


• HiFashion – Tips for fashionable travellers


• Idiosyncratic Style – A round up of 5 cool projects that are perfect for summer vacation, because they are light on supplies and low maintenance.


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Rhythm is Gonna Getcha: Maintaining Consistency in Your Blog


• iStyle – The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Looking Fab: A real-life 5 minute make-up guide with unedited photos


• Mademoiselle Robot – An interview with headwear designer Jennifer Loiselle about films, motherhood and independent designers.


• Only Style Remains the Same – Offer an outfit idea to win a pair of Current/Elliott jeans from only style remains the same and chickdowntown.


• Our Ocean – An insanely inspiring interview with Vivienne Westwood on Jonathan Ross


• Pursed Lips – Lara Stone, size 4, heralded as bringing “curvy” back. But isn’t the bigger difference her C cup bra, and not her weight?


• Rags to Reverie – A look at the Stella McCartney Fall 2009 ad campaign + a couple of deals from the eponymous label


• reLYME – It’s Beka’s birthday, and in the spirit of birthday giving, reLYME is giving away SIX China Glaze nail lacquers from the Kicks collection!


• Retro Chick – Can I wear it? Yes, I can! Retro Chick gives Harem Pants a try with surprising results.


• Style Amor – Check out why I have given up buying a wedding gown from a traditional bridal boutique.


• Sweet Fuzz – Score one of a kind fashion treasures at your local thrift store and check out the insanely cheap items I snapped up at mine.


• The Coveted – Amsterdam Fashion Week bridges the gap between fashion students and industry at Lichting 2009


• Unfunded – Unfunded collaborates with J. Money from Budgets are Sexy to learn what guys really think of the things we wear.