Spring Forward, Fall Back
Edited by: Collette Osuna of Statements in Fashion
I’m not sure about you, but just as men look forward to Fall for sporting events that keep them on the couch, I look forward to Fall for my own selfish reasons……adding to my closet collection!
If you enjoy sipping a cup of coffee while you browse your favorite online shopping sites, or if you prefer to rise with the sun to open the doors of your favorite Mall, Fall shopping is the time for you.
Thanks to Fashion Week, we have all had a chance to peek at the newest clothing, boots and accessories that will be filling up retail stores everywhere this season.
This weeks links focus on hot Fall runway trends, Collection debuts, DIY’s, makeup & hair tips, and even how to manage deadlines. Fall is back bloggers, and with a vengeance!
THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: SEPTEMBER 29TH
PLEASE READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE
If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~Jennine
SPONSOR:
Women’s Sweaters at Shopbop: Vince, Chinti & Parker, Theory Sweater, Milly, Preen, Joie, James Perse, Sonia Rykiel, Cardigans, Splendid, Elie Tahari, Pencey, & Sweater Dresses.
I’ve seen this topic floating about lately. I wasn’t planning on going there. But a recent pitch I received where the term “real” was quoted over and over again kind of drove me to the brink.
To be as clear and upfront as I can right away, let me just say that I have nothing against plus-size fashion. I also have nothing against “smaller” or “mainstream” fashion. I just like fashion. Everyone has different bodies. Can’t that just be it?
Instead, the press, the media, the publicists, and even some bloggers adore referring to plus-size women as “real” women’s bodies. Or curvy. Or insert whatever adjective you prefer here. And then proceed to put down thinner models with what I like to call wood adjectives: “stick-skinny”, “pencil-thin”, “twig.” I know because these “wood adjectives” were hurled at me often when I was in Jr. High. And it sure wasn’t meant as a compliment. Nor did it feel very nice.
Of course there’s always the kicker, most-oft used as of late toward skinny women: “She doesn’t have a ‘real’ woman’s body.”
Why not? Some women are just SMALL. Some women WISH they had curves. Calling someone “unreal” or less of a woman because she is NATURALLY a size two or smaller is just not very nice. And offensive. And it isn’t any different than alienating plus-size women.
This is a totally a two-way street by the way. Just as many “smaller” women are telling others to lose weight. But seriously, what’s up with the girl-on-girl hate? Men sure don’t seem to have this problem.
Sure, there are women out there who have eating disorders. In both directions. But attacking each other isn’t going to help the situation. Nor is waging a war on which is better. People’s bodies are just different. Let it just be that.
I fear I’m going to have to edit this post about 100 million times before hitting publish. But the excessive use of a “real” women’s body throughout this pitch just put me over the edge.
You’re beautiful. Go ahead, say it.
That’s all.
One of the reasons I started this blog and my quest to find glamour in the desert, wherever it may be, is because with months and months of 100+ degree temps, it’s so easy to fall into a fashion funk.
Today it’s supposed to reach 110. And even though this year we’ve been lucky that it’s taken so long to get there, I already want to hide out some place air conditioned and just give up, forget about fashion and step right into my jeans-and-a-tank-top funk.
When you don’t live in a big city like LA or NY, there isn’t street style all around to inspire you. So if you’re already feeling like nothing will go except a summer dress and shorts for the next few months, here’s 5 ways to find some style inspiration and help beat that wardrobe funk.
1. Read style blogs
Sassy summer style from Jessica of What I Wore
There’s nothing like cruising your favorite style blogs to get an instant fashion-inspiration fix. Unlike fashion magazines, you’ll see real people and how they style outfits, which is kind of refreshing! Not to mention, you’ll find just about every kind of outfit blogger niche to relate to from budget outfit bloggers and plus-size outfit bloggers to bloggers that live across the world and everything in between!
Jessica totally rocks the red
Perhaps what I like most about outfit bloggers is so often, the clothes are actually wearable. As much as magazine spreads are often inspiring, they’re also styled in a way I just can’t wear in real life.
Jessica from What I Wore (above) looks darling in her summer outfits and they’re totally approachable too.
2. Make a mood board
Try a mood board with looks that inspire you
In my office, I have a cork board that I use as a “mood board.” I tear out fashion spreads and ads that I totally covet and anything else that may be inspiring. Even if I don’t have the budget to be dressed in the head-to-toe Gucci fashion spread, it doesn’t mean I can’t put together my own, similar look.
Ads, fashion spreads, colors and anything else you find pretty is perfect!
As a bonus, my mood board so happens to be in front of my second closet so I can just reach in and start digging!
3. Travel
Chic and pretty in a spring skirt
One of my favorite places to people watch (and totally judge people’s outfits) is the airport. Everyone is coming and going from different places so you never know what you’re going to get. That and everyone’s idea of “airport style” can be hilarious (but that’s a later post entirely.)
Loose and comfy pants are still oh-so-stylish
But traveling always leaves me fashion inspired. Every city has its own vibe, its own “style” and getting to see something that I don’t every day makes me want to run home, rummage through my closet and see what I can invent.
Shorts that are cute and not at all like the girls in AZ wear
When I can’t travel, I’ll live vicariously through street style shots like these from The Sartorialist.
Effortless style
4. Play dress up with a friend
Find new options right under your nose!
I love to play dress up (who doesn’t?!) but inviting a friend into the mix is oh-so-fun. An outside source getting into your closet will pair things in ways you just didn’t think of before. And just like that, you have tons of outfit options you didn’t see before, and they were all hiding right under your nose!
5. Hit the bookstore
Quality time with your fave fashion mags is a total must!
Sure, there’s fashion magazines everywhere, even at the gas station, but do you ever pick up their other-country counterparts? Whether it’s British Vogue, Milan or Glamour en Espanol, I love going to the bookstore and sifting through fashion magazines from all over the world. It’s an awesome source of inspiration and fun to see how style around the world is just a little bit different.
What are your favorite tips for beating a fashion funk?
For constant style and beauty chatter, follow me on Twitter.
Me? In a style competition? Looks like it!
I was asked to be in a fashion blogger competition, facing off against 8 other amazing style bloggers for the best dressed looks. The Fashion Frontline will feature each of us in five different outfits throughout the month of May and it’ll be up to you to vote for the winner! The lovely Bren @somuchpretty is organizing the semi-annual competition. This round will be the big kick-off for the contest so be sure to stay tuned for voting when new outfits post!
You can check out The Fashion Frontline site here. The five outfits we’ll be showing include:
Work Look
Date Night
Beach Look
Fashion Event
Blogger’s Choice
I’m still pulling my looks together (yes, that’s a preview for you of one of my looks above!) so if you’ve got any ideas for my “wild card” look, feel free to send them my way!
We’ve got some amazing sponsors on board whose looks we will be showing; if you’re a designer or PR rep interested in participating please contact me.
Here are the talented fashionistas involved (my challengers!)
♥ Kelsi; Dedicated Follower of Fashion
http://dedicated.typepad.com
@stylesmith
♥ DWJ; The Art of Accessories
http://www.theartofaccessories.com
@theAofA
♥ Katy Rose; Modly Chic
http://modlychic.blogspot.com/
@katy_rose1
♥ Lindsey;Saucy Glossie
http://www.saucyglossie.com
@saucyglossie
♥ Katy Rose; Modly Chic
http://modlychic.blogspot.com/
@katy_rose1
♥ Laurie; Laurie B Style
http://thelauriebstylefiles.blogspot.com/
@laurieBStyle
♥ Bren;So Much Pretty
http://www.somuchpretty.com
@somuchpretty
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