Links à la Mode ****for week of July 29, 2010****

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup 7/29

0 Comments 29 July 2010
Looking back, moving forward?

Edited by: Florrie Clarke of Intrinsically Florrie.
This week’s links bound across time as we go from the first incarnations of the handbag, to both the glamour and reality of the mid-20th Century and the modern phenomenon of online shopping. And when, in all this, will women be happy with their bodies? Debenhams may now be using unretouched images alongside the photoshopped, but the Daily Mail and the UK’s new equalities minister have decreed a new, and for a lot of us unattainable, body shape for us to aim for.
Links à la Mode: July 29th

* Amanda Lee: How to Do More With the Clothes You Have [Instead of Buying More]
* An Early-Life Crisis from Academia to Art: My 26th design project on my quest to teach myself to sew and reach 52 in a year! Also includes my own sleeve sewing tutorial and this week’s project stats :
* Beyond Fabric: A thought on online shopping – is it worth building your wardrobe online?
* Blah Blah Becky: LOVING iconic British brand Whistles’ AW10/FW10 lookbook
* Brooklyn Posh: starting to love thyself : the health/weight debate
* Beautifully Invisible: 10 curvy women – past and present – who are the epitome of sexy.
* Dramatis Personae: Ch-Cha-Chain- Coveting & Craving Chain Jewelry
* Fashion Limbo: 90s nostalgia after a party on a boat. I go through some memorable teenage-hood highlights
* Independent Fashion Bloggers: Fair Compensation Manifesto
* Intrinsically Florrie: Looking to the French pâtisserie Ladurée for design inspiration.
* Make the World a Prettier Place: Are women tired of distressed jeans and messy buns? It is time to leave this trend behind and dress up – even for everyday life!
* Malvestida: The Headress day… a day that’s all about sharing creativity!
* Mariel’s Castle: Experimenting with the newest nail trend
* Oranges and Apple: On glamorising vintage life
* Retro Chick: Friday Frock Love: Poppy Valentine
* Scene On the Street: NYC: Mod Scientist – Scene On the Street
* The Coveted: American Living $250 Gift Card Giveaway
* The Demoiselles: UK department store shuns retouching…why can’t we live in the UK?
* The Embellished Life: Do you have a hankering for handbags? Enlighten yourself with the heroic History of Handbags on The Embellished Life!
* The Fashion Police: Why size should never be a fashion statement
* What 2 Wear Where: Mad Men Mania: effortlessly polished Betty Draper

Novica and National Geographic Bring you Artison Items from Around the World

I was recently contacted by the lovely people of Novica asking me if I would like to write about their incentive which is in conjunction with National Geographic. They have so many items from artisans all over the world, handcrafted to bring you the best the world has to offer.


Upon checking out their site (I am very picky about who I write about and not all PR's are of the same ilk) I was pleasantly surprised to find a wide variety of gifts, jewelry, art, clothing, and more. If you have preference for a certain country's artisans, you can choose the area you're most interested in. Say you're a huge fan of Mexican jewelry, just click under "jewelry" then "Mexico" and all the jewelry crafted by artisans in Mexico will show up for you to peruse.

The other incentive Novica has is called "Novica Artisan Loans" also called "Microfinance" (http://microfinance.novica.com/ as well as an FAQ: http://microfinance.novica.com/faq/) an incentive they came up with to help artisans who wouldn't be able to obtain loans through banks, etc. If you'd like you can make a loan to specific artisans,and each one tells what they need to grow their business. It's a wonderful way to know you're helping mall businesses grow worldwide, and hopefully get themselves out of poverty.

Novica was so kind as to offer me a gift certificate to try out the service.And what a difficult time I had choosing from the many beautiful hand-crafted items. You'll have to wait until my items arrive to see what I choose. But here are just a few categories you can choose from.

Handmade Jewelry: http://jewelry.novica.com/ The list of what's available is exhaustive, and not only beautiful, but affordable. Great for gift-giving.

Unique Gifts: http://unique-gifts.novica.com/ Again you'll find many unique gift items to suit all tastes!

There are many other categories to choose from, these are but a few. Do check it out, I'm sure you'll find something beautiful, and help an artisan grow their business!

Cheers!
Suzanne

Links à la Mode ****for week of July 22, 2010****

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup 7/22

8 Comments 22 July 2010

More than a Fashion Blogger

Edited by: Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista

Whatever your thoughts are about fashion bloggers, this week’s links a’la mode reads were quite evocative. Hardly does an article leave me questioning my own thoughts or ideals, especially when talking fashion. I may be moved to buy, but deeper? (sans any type of societal injustice) These bloggers brought more to the table, as Vogue Gone Rogue did with her declaration of the coexistence of feminism and fashion. Yet, I was proud to be an entrepreneur after glimpsing into the world of a bridal consultants leap into fashion design.In a world where a new fashion blog is born everyday and everyone is a critic. Confessions of a Fashion Editor interviews an outspoken blogger critic while Guacamole & Toast ponders if we should even care what others say. Whether you read because of the pretty pictures, fun reads, or fashion tips, know your authors are more than fashion bloggers.

Links à la Mode: July 22nd

• 365 Fashion Rehab- The Cost/Quality Conundrum. Three tops in three different price ranges: How do you really know if the quality of a garment matches its price tag?
• A La Modest- Thrifting Down the Mainstream: “With this new wave rave for vintage, even Goodwill is raising their prices because the more affluent kids are ransacking their racks for one-of-a-kind retro rompers and sixties sandals.”
• Bachmans Sparrow- Transform your basic tanks into beautiful, statement pieces with just a little lace. Check it out in my easy DIY tutorial!
• Bobbins And Bombshells: Who’s That Behind Those Foster Grants? Part fashion history part give away!
• Confessions of a Fashion Editor- Nati Hell, of ‘Fashion Bloggers Why?!’ Answers Back
• Cuffington- The Tale of the Tape- A chance encounter with an old handmade mix tape cover (crafted nine years ago from a page torn from an issue of W) takes me back to the very moment when I truly became interested in fashion, and what fashion was capable of.
• Denim Debutante: Paula’s Denim Dear John Letter
• Eva Lu- Tame those Bangs! 3 ways to keep your hair looking pretty while cycling through the city.
• Fashionizehaus- Style vs. Fashion: Tips on Developing the Fomer
• French Leaving- Lovely Clusters of Beige: A collage of selected Etsy/Lovely Clusters picks of beige items.
• Hello Beauty Blog- Bobbi gets a little rock ‘n roll with her latest collection, Denim & Rose.
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: When Words Attack Bloggers
• Living Embellished- Unmask Italia: Learn of the wonders that lay in the Venetian Masks
• Miss Jones and Me- Binary Opposition: Applying the device to my life and my wardrobe
• Parker and Muse- Balancing my day job as a bridal consultant/photo editor with starting a fashion line: The economics of pursuing my passion.
• Style it You- Condé Nast recently rejected Mario Epaya’s proposal for Vogue Africa. Will fashion ever embrace diversity in beauty?
• The Curvy Fashionista- Christian Siriano for Payless for Fall 2010: From Runway to Realway?
• The Haute Hoosier- Supermodels are Dead: Introducing the Catwalk Queens You’ve Never Heard Of- A round up of some of today’s hottest catwalk queens.
• The Vintages Contemplations on caring about public opinion and considering the potential success of the typical blog – one with a blogger who is not particularly glamorous, rich, or thrifty, only average, as most of us are.
• Guacamole & Toast When the day is going bad just hop on your bike and ride out into the sunset. Your worry’s will melt away as the sun sets! Let the wind blow all the cares away! And do it in style of course!
• Vogue gone Rogue- A closer take on feminism and fashion.

Links à la Mode ****for week of July 15, 2010****

Couture Today: An Exploration

Edited by: Ann Colville Somma of Holier than Now

Couture: clothes painstakingly custom-made from the finest materials; alternatively, something Juicy - or even Filthy. It's hard not to chafe at the degradation of the term, which is technically reserved for members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture (houses that create made-to-order pieces for private clients, amongst other criteria). Looking at creations recently sent down the runways, it's sad to think artisanal techniques like hand beading may not survive in a world of rhinestoned terry sweatsuits.

But in fact, the handmade movement is ever gaining steam with the support of many bloggers. "Couture" may be associated with impossibly high prices, but in your own hands it's an affordable way to obtain one-of-a-kind style. This week, review Couture Week round ups from The Well-Appointed Catwalk, La Chanelfile and more - then become your own private client, with tips from Fashion Butter, The Fashion Planner, and Twitch Vintage.

Links à la Mode: July 15th

• Blackdog Finds: A complete thrifted outfit for under $10


• Consumerism Killed My Soul: Color (and lack thereof) on the Valentino runway


• Dedicated Follower of Fashion: The future of fashion is here


• Dramatis Personae: TsuruBride's amazing handmade animal clutches


• Eco-Fashionista: Re-fabbing a vintage Mugler find


• Fashion Butter: The cheater's way to sew a new dress


• grechen blogs: fashion blogger bashing is everyone's favorite sport lately...why do fashion bloggers make such easy targets?


• Handmade and Fabulous: A handmade label's take on summer trends


• Holier than Now: Fans of Couture Week (wink)


• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Why Fashion Bloggers Should Invest in Problogger


• La Chanelfile: Astrology and Haute Couture


• MoMo Mod: Modest Beauty: Meet Miriam


• Stylish Distractions: 6 great reads for aspiring fashionistas


• Stylish Thought: Great tips for channeling your masculine side


• Sugar and Spice: Building a capsule wardrobe


• Sweet Fancy Treat: Wardrobe inspiration from Florence + The Machine


• The Fashion Planner: Rhinestone bracelet D.I.Y.


• The Very Subjective: The Couture Thing: fashion critics vs. couture


• The Well-Appointed Catwalk: Highlights from Couture Week


• Twitch Vintage: Can you turn a bridesmaid dress into something chic?