Links a La Mode: The Independent Fashion Bloggers Roundup

Project Beyond the Runway

Edited by Fashion Pulse Daily

Reading through the links this week, I realized that fashion week or no fashion week, fashion will most certainly go on! A winter snowstorm couldn't even slow down New York Fashion Week, and the links below are testament to the wonderful style that exists beyond the runway, such as Ode to Awe's jewelry discovery, how to look chic while lounging by Cafe Fashionista, and tips for vintage shoe shopping by Wicked Whimsy. Don't get me wrong, I love being 'in the know' on runway looks and trends, but how you interpret them and work them into your personal style is so much more important than remembering which designers showed one-shoulder looks this season!

As expected, there was a fabulous round-up of links in the forum as well, all worthy of your eyeballs!

Links à la Mode : February 25th

39th and Broadway - A Side of the Industry Unknown by Most: Life as a Corporate Fashion Designer
British Style Bloggers - Cherish forever what makes you unique, 'cos you're a yawn once it's gone
Cafe Fashionista - A step-by-step guide to looking luxurious even when lounging
Clutch22 -Up close and personal with Vivienne Tam as she expands her fashion+tech innovations to a new category
CMYKaboom - Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB) 'Tweet Up in the Tents' event
Debutante Clothing - Vintage Jewelry: Q&A with Lucite line Circa Sixty Three
Fabulous Finds Gal - Moonstuck at the opera with photographer Bersa
Fashion Pulse Daily - Sonia Rykiel Pour H&M; the debut and the review
Holier Than Now - New Take on Florals (5 Under $50)
Idiosyncratic Style - A Girl's Guide to Maternity Style
Independent Fashion Bloggers : Evolving Influence Recap : Part One
Individual Chic: - Would you have wanted a Computer Engineer Barbie when you were smaller? Or would you love one now?
Night Watch - 10 Questions with Model Clara Zapffe
Ode to Awe - Denmark based Alidra Alic's Alice-inspired jewelry
Oranges and Apples - Rules for advertising and sponsorship on blogs
Retro Chick - The Ethics of Blogging
Smiles Go with Everything -10 Tips for Shopping on Ebay: How to find great deals on awesome duds.
The Coveted - Visits Nine West HQ for a sneak peak of AW10 shoe collections!
The Style PA - Gives Henry Holland a grilling ahead of his House of Holland show.
The Sunday Best - Do men get better service when they shop?
Wicked Whimsy -What to look for when buying vintage shoes
Workchic - Fall 2010 NY Fashion week collections: recreated runway to the office outfits

Things i LOVE Thursday

Auditions

Reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

by Lisa See

Watching The Brothers Bloom and

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Web Site Story

Black tie bunch headband

Watching my former rinkmates win the Olympics

Days that remind me spring is coming

eUndies.com Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the eUndies.com gift card, chosen by random drawing, is

Carla!

She wrote, "I love the Carte Blanche Boyshort and Eye Candy Lace Boyshort!"

Thank you everyone for entering!

Get the Look of The Brothers Bloom

I just saw The Brothers Bloom for the first time and am smitten with Bang Bang's wardrobe. Gloves, hats, sunglasses, Rinko Kikuchi's character oozes eclectic sophistication.

Get the look:

Bang Bang by Icedivastar featuring Ralph Lauren sunglasses

Awards

Thank you Velvet from vvb32 reads for giving me these awards!

Happy 101 Award

List 10 things that make you happy.

Try and do at least one of them today.

Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.

Link back to the person that tagged you.

My Happy 10:

1. Doing yoga

2. Getting letters and packages in the mail

3. Baking cookies

4. Online shopping sprees

5. Teaching ice skating classes

6. Acting

7. Nice comments on my blog

8. Watching new movies

9. Reading a good book

10. Trying new things

The one I did today:

doing yoga

The tagged 10:

• Gofita's Pages
• Class and Fab
• Cafe Fashionista
• Ode to Awe
• White Rabbit
• Stephanie's Written Word
• Jane Austen Today
• Laura's Reviews
• Super Kawaii Mama
• Chic Steals

Humane Award

This award is to honor certain bloggers that are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments.

Tagged:

Gofita's Pages

Class and Fab

Stay tuned to find out who won the eUndies.com giveaway!

Is Ice Dancing A Sport?

Photo AP

It upsets me when people question if figure skating in general and ice dancing in particular is a real sport. As much as I want to get angry, I think the real problem is miscommunication, i.e. the figure skating community turning up their noses at the assumptions they allow the general public to make. So, here is a short introduction to ice dancing and why it is a sport.

To become a member of the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Ice Dancing Team, you must join U.S. Figure Skating, which allows you to test and compete in this Olympic qualifying system. In order to compete at the Olympics you have to pass a series of tests to make it to Senior Level - Compulsory Dances, Free Dance Tests, and Moves in the Field (Pre-Preliminary - Senior).

Before you make it to the Olympics, you compete is a series of qualifying competitions which give you the right to compete at the U.S. Nationals. For the 2010 Olympics, the U.S. sent the top three teams, but the number can vary between 1-3 teams depending on the U.S. placement at Worlds.

In the ice dancing competition there are three different dances that make up the total score. The Compulsory Dance is worth 10% of the total score. For me this is the most boring part of the ice dancing competition because everybody is skating the same dance so the event feels like a test session. Each year is a different dance, and this year it is "Tango Romantica". Here is an example.

The next dance is the Original Dance which is themed and worth 40% of the overall score. The theme for this year is ethnic and folk music, so each team must skate a program reflecting this theme.

The last dance is the Free Dance which is worth 50% of the total score and allows skaters the freedom to choose their own theme and music.

Look easy? Only if you've never skated before. Ice dancing uses your entire body and requires skaters to be very flexible and have a very strong core - no beer bellies here. Skating is brutal on the body, and injuries (knee, back, ankle, and even head) are common. Most talented skaters never make it to the Olympics.

I admit ice dancing is the most confusing skating discipline to watch because, as long as no one falls down, it is hard for non-ice dancers to understand why one team is better than the other. And the outfits can be extreme and ridiculous... But not all ice dancers are like that. The teams from the U.S. and Canada are definitely worth watching tonight.

Fabulous Find at Forever 21

One of my favorite things to pick up at Forever 21 is the Basic Knit Cami for $2.50. Perfect for layering and so cheap, I feel compelled to stock up. The other day I picked up a new cami with shelf bra for only $3.50 and am totally loving it. However, I can't find that one online, so look for it in stores.

Don't forget to enter the eUndies.com Giveaway!

Links a La Mode: The Independent Fashion Bloggers Roundup

Style vs Fashion

Edited by Retro Chick

With the Fashion Week season in full swing and Fashion Pulse Daily live blogging from the IFB conference it can be easy to forget that there are other things going on in the world, where real women are shopping and dressing for real occasions.

There were actually surprisingly few Fashion Week oriented posts submitted this week. Possibly the Fashion Week attendees are still too busy to partake in Links á la Mode, but what I did find was a lot of posts focused on fashion, style and image in the real world. A Typical Atypical calls for a low fashion revolution and Idiosyncratic Style urges you to bring out your cocktail frocks for every day. Meanwhile, in the body image arena Intrinsically Florrie learns to love her specs, Sugar & Spice discusses tanning and Mariels Castle weighs in (see what I did there?) on the body size debate.

It would be impossible to leave this weeks links without mentioning the untimely and incredibly sad death of Alexander McQueen. There were posts submitted on this issue but I made the decision not to include them, not because they were bad, but because I felt that if I included one persons post I would need to include them all. There has been so much personal reflection on the life and designs of this amazing man in the fashion blogging world that to choose a small selection seemed impossible. If you would like to read these posts then, as ever, the full list of submissions is available in the forums.

Links à la Mode: February 18th

• A Typical Atypical – What girls really want to read about, and why fashion bloggers are changing the face of fashion


• Bonne Vie – Cultural Appropriation vs Cultural Inspiration: What you borrow from another culture when it comes to wardrobe should be thoughtful


• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Dear New Look; it’s over!


• Eternal Masquerade – Covering the Parallels Between Our Current Winter Wonderland and Under the Sea Fashions


• Fashion Pulse Daily – Fashion Pulse Daily blogs live from the Future of Fashion Blogging panel during IFB’s Evolving influence conference this week!


• Hot Beauty Health – Ready for Spring? Here are 9 Big Beauty Trends for Spring 2010!


• Idiosyncratic Style – Fashion Dare – Let your party frocks come out and play!


• Intrinsically Florrie – Making a spectacle of oneself: learning to love glasses and finding the right pair


• Mariels Castle – It’s not about been skinny or fat its about being healthy!


• Retro Chick – Love, Lust & Burlesque with the Bridewell Collective


• SFindiefashion.com – Spring comes early to Golden Gate Park. Showcase of spring 2010 looks from San Francisco designers.


• Stacie Blair – Show your Olympic spirit with fashionable gear from Aritzia!


• Style Eyes – The dilemma of a fashion blogger and why I’m taking Dame Vivienne Westwoods advice to stop shopping


• Style Symmetry – Fashion Blogger Interview Kingdom of Style’s Queen Michelle


• Sugar and spice and all things nice – Discussing the dangers of tanning and why the only safe tan is one from a bottle!!


• The Clothing Menu – interview with independent jewelry and clothing designer, Norwegian Wood


• The Fashion Planner – The Fashion Planner is hosting an eUndies.com Giveaway!


• The Very Subjective – very subjective (and therefore – very true) observations about style do’s and do not’s.


• Thread Style – Heel-wearing fashionistas also can be feminists.


• twentyteneightyfour – My thoughts on style vs fashion and how our appetite for fashion blogs is part of our quest for style


• ventures of jenn – The Great Vintage Debate: the ‘price’ of vintage both within and outside of the western world and what it really means.

Things i LOVE Thursday

Watching the Olympics

Reading Nina Garcia's The Style Strategy

Eating homemade stew and cornbread

adidas Princess Leia shoes

Lost Untangled

Trompe L'Oeil dress

This Old Spice ad

Watching Bright Star

Rodarte Fall 2010

Teacup necklace

Rodarte and Mardi Gras

I know it is Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, but really, it is much too depressing to think about fall clothes when I am desperate for spring to arrive. However, nitro:licious posted a list of designers live streaming their Fall 2010 shows, which is a great resource for those unable to make it to New York and is too tempting for me to pass up even though it's about fall clothes. I just finished watching one of my favorite designers, Rodarte, which had a homey/romantic vibe and lots of beautiful white dresses. I enjoyed watching the show, but the problem with live streaming is that the video frequently freezes and the sound cuts out - very annoying but better than missing the show completely. I think it is wonderful how the fashion industry is embracing technology and bringing high fashion to the masses.

Since it is Mardi Gras, I thought I would put together a little Fat Tuesday look complete with Paczi and King Cake. Enjoy!

Mardi Gras 2010 by Icedivastar featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

Don't forget to enter the eUndies.com Giveaway!

eUndies.com Giveaway!

The giveaway has ended. Thank you for entering!

The Fashion Planner has teamed up with eUndies.com to offer you an exciting giveaway! You have until midnight on Monday, February 22nd, to enter for a chance to win a $20 gift card to eUndies.com. To enter, all you need to do is visit their website then leave a comment on this post about your favorite styles.

Here are some of my favorites:

Seein' Spots PJ Shorts

Lap of Luxury Boyshort

All About Aqua Rhumba

The winner will be selected by random drawing and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you win!

You can find this giveaway on Free!grechen.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Check back tomorrow for an exciting giveaway!

Welcome Vancouver!

It's finally here! The Opening Ceremony starts tonight for the 2010 Olympic Games, so dust off those copies of Cool Runnings and Blades of Glory and get in the spirit. Sign up for Team USA updates here.

Links a La Mode: The Independent Fashion Bloggers Roundup

The Anti-Fashion Week

Edited by Dramatis Personae

That isn’t to say that I’m against Fashion Week… but more that this week’s Links á la Mode just really isn’t focused on it. With amazing interviews from kaKofoniesOfsi(gh)lens, Fashion in My Eyes, and Eternal Masquerade to great features on vintage clothing from Retro Chick and Unfunded, there’s as much fabulousness on off the catwalk as on.

Maybe it’s bitterness that I’ll be missing out on NYFW for the 3rd season in a row or maybe it’s my gentle heart preventing you all from Fashion Week burnout too soon…which it is, I’ll never tell.

Note from Editor : Please be sure to check out the IFB Conference at NYFW : Evolving Influence

Links à la Mode: February 11th

• 39thandbroadway.com: – How Designers Really View Their Customers


• A Typical Atypical: – I chat about how hard it must be to love fashion and be blind, and I question whether there ought to be a charity dedicated to helping people feel good about how they look even if they can’t see it in the mirror.


• Cafe Fashionista: – Style Secrets: Symbol of Style. A how-to on creating your very own trademark/signature look.


• dramatis personae – How to Pack for Mardi Gras!


• Eternal Masquerade: – Interview with young designer, and Teen Vogue/CFDA/Target scholarship winner, Jennifer Huang.


• Fab Blab: – Even after all these years, we continue to differentiate between dark and fair. How does this affect the fashion industry adversely?


• Fashion Cents: – Seven Style Basics that EVERYONE should know! Make sure you are not committing these style “sins.”


• fashion in my eyes: – Fashion is supposed to be fun! Interview with designer Arina Varga


• Haute World: – A Mad Tea Party? An exclusive look at how 9 luxury designers interpret Alice in Wonderland for French department store Printemps.


• Instant Vintage: – Blood, Sweat & T-Shirts: Learning the true cost of that cheap and chic outfit you just scored.


• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS: – Interview with Anna Osterlund of Ravishing Mad


• Model Max: – Are ‘respectable’ fashion writers insecure with ‘upstart amateur’ fashion bloggers?


• Oranges and Apples: – Is fashion oppressive or fun? some belated thoughts on Tanya Gold hating fashion


• Rags to Reverie: – Vivienne Westwood showed that fashion forwardness could be inspired by the past


• Retro Chick: – Top tips to on the spot dating of Vintage Clothes


• THE COVETED: – Devil’s Advocate : blogging and corporate seeding


• The Fashion Planner: – DIY: How to Make Naughty Granny Panties for Valentine’s Day!


• the musings of ondo lady: – Back in 2006 Slave to Fashion, a three part documentary was aired on Channel 4 which took a really good look at the fashion industry.The aim was to make sense of the multi billion industry which everyone from the media to consumers seemed to be obsessed w


• The Recessionista: – an hour ago Rebecca Taylor & Milly: Fashion Week Inspiration


• Unfunded: – Photos and thoughts from the Vintage Fashion Expo in Santa Monica, CA.The

Things i LOVE Thursday

Reading Persuasion by Jane Austen

Sewing projects

Baking cookies

Saddle Shoes

Health Insurance Valentine

Elie Saab Couture

(I love the watery runway!)

Making Shakshuka

The Nautilus House

(It's like living in a seashell!)

Netflix

Radical Self Love

Pink Jeans

Heart Headband

Please Vote for Me

Please vote for me as best fashion blog on The Lovelies!

The Olympics 2010

Growing up I loved watching the Olympics. I would make paper medals and organize competitions with neighborhood kids, vacationing cousins, and my younger siblings. Highlights were the neighborhood bike riding event, and the somersault vaulting onto the basement couch event. Alas, paper medals were not enough for me, and eventually, I became a competitive figure skater. While my dreams of figure skating glory are long over, I am excited to see my former rinkmates compete at this year's Olympics.

For those of us who will be watching the celebration of athleticism while reclining on our couches, there is still the opportunity to nab some cool Olympic gear. Ralph Lauren is sponsoring the U.S. Olympic Team and has designed special polos and jackets for the occasion. My favorite is the Opening Ceremony Knit Hat, which I hope will go on sale soon.

Roots use to design some amazing Olympic gear, but sadly, they're are not even sponsoring the Canadian team this year. However, Roots has created an International Collection, which celebrates the different heritages that make up Canadians. I really like their leather bags, especially the Village Bag International.

I, also, love collecting Olympic pins, and NBC is currently offering a nice selection in their Olympic Store.

As for me, I haven't given up on my Olympic dream. Curling, anyone?

DIY: How to Make Naughty Granny Panties

If you have ever wondered if it is possible to make your own undies instead of forking over $20 at Victoria's Secret, then this project is for you. With just a couple of hours and some basic sewing skills, you can flaunt your own pair of Naughty Granny Panties.

You will need:

Scissors

Pins

Shipping or heavy paper

Cotton fabric

Thin elastic

Sewing machine

Thread

Size large panties

1. Make a Pattern

To create a pattern, cut apart a pair of large panties and trace the pieces on shipping paper. Because we're using a non-stretch fabric, the finished panties will be a size small, so you may want to adjust your pattern for a larger size. You'll want to end up with a front, back, and crotch piece.

2. Cut Out Pieces

Once you've cut out your pattern pieces, use them to cut out pieces from your fabric. You'll want to cut out two crotch pieces and use one of them for the lining.

3. Pin and Sew Right Sides Together

Using a narrow seam allowance, sew the front, back, and crotch pieces together with a straight stitch and zigzag or surge the front seam for a nice finished edge.

4. Zigzag or Surge Front of Crotch Lining

This creates a finished edge for your lining piece.

5. Sew Right Side of Lining to Wrong Side of Back Seam

You want to sew the lining piece to the back seam so that the lining can fold over with the right side covering the crotch area.

6. Pin Lining Down Covering the Front Seam

7. Zigzag or Surge Around the Entire Piece

This attaches the lining to the crotch piece and finishes the edges of the panty.

8. Zigzag the Elastic Onto the Panty

Place the elastic slightly to the inside of the fabric's edge - don't put it on the edge because you want to create a ruffle. As you sew, stretch the elastic so that it will gather the fabric when you let go. Sew one piece of elastic on each leg piece and do the same for the top edges.

Elastic on Leg Piece

Finished Elastic

9. Sew Sides Together

Using a narrow seam allowance, straight stitch and zigzag or surge the side pieces together.
10. Viola! A cute pair of Naughty Granny Panties.

Go Red for Women

For more information, visit Go Red for Women and learn how you can make a difference.

Links a La Mode: The Independent Fashion Bloggers Roundup

The Love/Hate Relationship With Fashion

Edited by Debutante Clothing

I’m always complaining about going out to fashion events by myself – I just don’t have many friends that are into fashion. While some people think fashion is frivolous and contributes nothing to the world, others are curating museum exhibits featuring 20th century clothing. This week’s links made me think about the love/hate camps in fashion. Starting with Grit and Glamour’s post on bloggers getting backlash from fashion insiders, Houndstooth + Tortoiseshell’s refreshingly funny admission of Tavi envy, or Fab Lab’s hate of people who hate. But there is some love in sight – British Style Bloggers reminds us to look in the mirror and love ourselves. Enjoy!

Note from Editor : Please be sure to check out the IFB Conference at NYFW : Evolving Influence

Links à la Mode: February 4th

• A Dress & A Bike – Why breaking the love of one particular brand has been good for my personal style


• British Style Bloggers – Some gems to remember


• Debutante Clothing – Going to a Vintage Show? Insider Tips & Interview


• dirty hems – lacroix by lacroix


• Fab Blab – Why I Hate People Who Ostracize Fashion


• fête à fête – Review of Guerlain’s Spring 2010 Cherry Blossom makeup & the new Rouge G Le Brillant lipstick


• Friend in Fashion – Luxe Vintage


• grit and glamour – Fashion’s Knickers are in a Twist


• hello beauty! – Benefit Stay Don’t Stray: An innovative new primer to lock down shadows AND concealer


• Houndstooth + Tortoiseshell – Young fashion blogger incites curiousity, envy


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Get Out There : How To Cover Events Without Feeling Like an Idiot


• Lillys Roses – How to DIY your own Chanel Jade nail polish


• Mariel's Castle – Haute Couture 101


• Model Max – MAT GORDON: The ModelWatch Interview


• Oranges and Apples – Top websites for ethical shopping


• Retro Chick – Ethical Design Spotlight – Junky Styling


• Styletastic – To fur or not to fur?


• Stylist Diva – : Are Fashion Bloggers taking over the world?


• Tatiana Supports the Arts – Etsy Window Shopping: Queen Elizabeth I Roundup


• the brooklyn posh blog – He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, red hot


• THE COVETED – Pretty Dresses at the VioletvilleVintage.com launch


• White Rabbit – The inspiration behind my Merlixa Designs millinery collection


• [the3st] – Interview with Amy Smilovic of Tibi

Things i LOVE Thursday

Watching Lost

Wearing dresses

This picture from The Photodiarist

Greenwich Village 1969

Cute kitty bento box

Chanel Temporary Tattoos

Baking chewy brownies

Listening to music by She & Him

Watching Amreeka

Drinking hot chocolate

Putting together a Stylist’s Kit

Photo from Art Comments

Don’t let a last minute tear or stain keep you home. By putting together a fashion emergency kit, you can repair your outfit and get on with your day. Here are some suggested items to keep handy:

Shoes

• Shoe horn
• Rubber heel grips
• Foot cushions
• Adhesive bandages
• Non-skid sole grips

Undergarments

• Bra clip
• Clear bra straps
• Bust enhancer
• Control Slip
• Strapless bra
• Seamless panties
• Double-sided tape
• Tag covers

Stains and Runs

• Clear nail polish
• Deodorant sponge
• Stain remover
• Baby wipes

Fabric Care

• Travel steamer iron
• Wrinkle free spray
• Static cling spray
• Lint roller
• Fabric shaver

Sewing Kit

• Seam ripper
• Measuring Tape
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Needles
• Thread
• Safety pins
• Hem tape

Taken from The Fashion Planner's Guide (An Interactive Guide to Style).

"Most Coveted" List

A Dream within a Dream.. by lil_miss_whit's

Inspired by In Life & In Fashion's post, I am creating my own "Most Coveted" List. Instead of buying a bunch of cheap clothes and accessories, the idea is to save up enough money to buy the pieces you really want. The Most Coveted List doesn't have to be just designer items but should be quality items that you'll want to use for years. Here's my list:

• Mason Pearson Boar Bristle Hairbrush
• Burberry Double Breasted Cotton Trench Coat
• Christian Louboutin Platform Pump
• Butter by Nadia Signature Jersey Wrap Dress
• Betsey Johnson Evening Tea Party Dress
• Diane von Furstenberg Julian Wrap Dress
• Mulberry Alexa Bag
• Proenza Schouler PS1 Medium Leather Satchel
• Hunter Wellington Original Gloss Tall Boot
• Mike & Chris Isys Hoodie