Smoke Signals

"Don't be blinded by love, or shiny bright bling!"

This was my Valentines Day outfit. I decided to go dark and layered as a satirical play on all the red and pink around me. I usually keep a natural makeup look with just mascara and lip balm, but I decided to offset the dark colors with a pop lip of bright red matte. It's always a good idea to play it safe with makeup and colors when going a bit heavy or highlighting accessories - like I have done here with my rings. It may be hard to choose one or the other but remember you can never be too dressed up, but you certainly can be too made up. Simple hair, bold lip, dark layers with a print (I chose stripes and an ombre knee high) and highlighted accessories. If you keep at least one element of your style simple you can't go wrong.

(Ombre wool knee highs draw the eye up and cut up an otherwise monochrome outfit)

Outfit Breakdown:

Rings: my own collections and finds

Striped 3/4 sleeve: H&M

Sheer tunic: H&M

Pleather Skater skirt: Forever21

ombre socks: H&M

Booties: H&M

Scenes from the Free People Blogger Retreat

Here are some pictures from the Free People Blogger retreat I attended with Kaitlin on Friday! It was hard to act calm and collected since I had been anticipating this event since November. Needless to say it was more than I imagined it would be and above all such a great learning experience. This was my second time at URBN headquarters. I had visited before for a networking event and I also work for Urban Outfitters. I absolutely love coming to the Naval Yard in Philly. 

The retreat taught me so much! As a public relations and communications graduate I came in knowing what I was already taught for 4 years and left with even more new knowledge. It is always great to hear from those in the field and even better from a company you admire. The presenters brought an informative and reali life view on topics and answered all our questions. 

Needless to say I went back to work the next morning and was bombarded with questions about the event. I don't think my words were enough to explain my experience from the Free People folks. I simply had a fantastic time and left feeling more sure of myself and my future dreams and passion for writing. If I were to leave with only one thing in mind from the retreat it would be simply this from the editor Shani Silver:

"Blog for yourself don't lose yourself in blogging. If it's something you wouldn't say yourself don't write it and most of all if blogging ever seems like it's becoming a dread, take a break form it and reevaluate why you were blogging in the first place."

Some doodles and notes taken.

Beautiful seasonal display when you enter Free People offices.

Good grub is good.

For some reason the overcast of the day seemed perfect with the ships.

Kaitlin and I - prints on prints on prints on textures on textures

Wall of vases

Lounge time although it was too pretty to be wrinkled by my tired bum!

Problem Child Problem Kitty

Twin Tuesday was in full effect yesterday as my glorious Bengal Bentley and I had to pose for the irony of my Workshop "Problem Child" t-shirt.

Ditch the Magazines and Hikes to the Mall and Just Get a Blog Already!

The PR fashion industry is always changing with the latest trends and yes, social media, of course. With the rise of instablogging sites such as Tumblr and Instagram, the publics' demand for instant user-friendly fashion is growing every day. Before, fashionistas and aspiring designers would turn to hard copy magazines to get their daily fix on the industry but now the content is free and shareable on blogging platforms, which have become a favorite of fashion PR agencies to see the ongoing atmosphere of their audiences. Top designers and industry gurus such as Rachel Roy, DKNY, Vogue, and Urban Outfitters have official Tumblr blogs where they not only share products and company news, but also draw out inspiration from other fashion bloggers and followers globally.

This has turned the fashion industry from an "insider only" view, when in order to be in on the latest trends, you had to either work in the industry and be connected to someone, to a more friendly and personal one where literally anyone with a unique style and love for fashion can share and be updated on content. According to PRcouture.com, fashion is no longer exclusive to only a privileged few but has "established a new way of experiencing and connecting to like-minded readers through style, outfit photos and DIY, carving out places online that made fashion personal and discoverable through weekly posts."

This surge of fashion blogs does not necessarily mean that print editorial, photography and the runway show aspect of the industry are dying, that will always be there, but it does mean that fashion is becoming more disseminated to the masses and that diversity and accessibility is a key measurement of business and success. The industry has simply figured out where a new untapped public of fashion inspiration lies and is not wasting time looking over its market and creative potential. More importantly, social media sites have started a new wave of jobs for fashion companies that are highly in need of bloggers and trendsetters to manage their social media accounts and update them on the latest street culture and style of everyone else - and what better way to hire these people than from your own pool of followers? The industry has overall become less exclusive and all together more inclusive of everyone.

So if you're in need of your daily fashion fix or just want to share your diverse style then get a blog, follow your favorite designers and get inspired! Remember, you never know what designer could be using your style as an inspiration for their new Fall/Winter 2012 line someday!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Jessica Lopez.

Original post can be read here.

Time after Time

Evening dress, 1938
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (French, 1883–1971)
Black silk net with polychrome sequins 

I think it's pretty amazing that during this time where every other girl is scrambling to find the perfect New Year's Eve dress, that the staples of dresses for this occasion haven't changed in time.

Sequins, form, and flow were even resonating in the 30s. I don't know about some of you girls but I'd rock this dress still now.

Forget Me Not - Is He Boyfriend Material? Literally?

Men will never appreciate the feeling of a woman's forgotten piece of left over clothing, either in a relationship or sometimes ironically after one ends. Boyfriend jeans, boyfriend shirts, blazers, etc., drape our bodies beautifully as we grace our style with metaphorically and literally a "piece of our man". Our femininity although physically covered in the clothes of our guys makes an even bolder statement to the sometimes baring body con and form fitting trends that sometimes leave no room for free style creativity and outfit manipulation. This gives fellow fashion and style watchdogs a cloak of mysteriousness of our frames and sometimes even a new mindset to look at women's design and function.

 Unfortunately, in our fashion forgetfullness and mishaps there is not so much we can offer our male counterparts in terms of style. If anything we can make them appreciate how we transform their mind slip or maybe even messiness into a style take on the traditional.  After all, we couldn't have escaped the reigns, constrictions and stereotype of form fitting clothing to solely remain feminine if it weren't for a great slip of the mind from our wonderful male companions in our life.

Fashion editors, bloggers and labels have made a whole new look in the baggy, distressed, slightly worn and perfectly tucked men's pieces into a shoppable, easy and coveted look for the ultimate carefree chic. Style names like Adriano Goldshmied's "ex-boyfriend jean" and Urban Outfitter's "ex-boyfriend and boyfriend blazer" are now a common conceptualization when creating a story and look with a product. Before the Fall/Winter lookbooks saw the same fur trim, leather and gems as closet staples - now they accompany chambrays, flannel, distressed denim and baggy band t-shirts to the mix.

So do us stylish girlfriends and even ex-girlfriends a favor and give the gift of not bitter remembrance or sweet missing, but noteworthy sartorial inspiration. Give us your button-up if we're chilly in the morning, leave a pair of weekend jeans over our place because doing so is really the gift of giving. You give us fashion inspiration for the Friday mornings when we don't know what to wear and in return you get a beautiful fashion forward lady reflecting a part of you.

Remember, we know there may not be much to do with our forgetful clothing leftovers in terms of bringing something different and unique to menswear but on a style worthy and notable reversal of George Zimmer:

"You're gonna like the way we look in your clothes, we guarantee it."

image source (above) : viewfrom5ft2.com

image source: fromhatstoheels.com

A look that is totally my style.

source: insideout.topshop.com

Breaking Rules in Style

Being a rebel in Central Park Sheeps Meadow in style. A detour to a beautiful park on a perfect NYC Sunday??? "Ain't nobody got time for that!" Ryan takes the best candid photos of me and our NYC shenanigans.

A badass bitch in leather.

Radioactive Bones

I've had this shirt since I was 18. Five years later I'm still in love with it. I love wearing it all day and then going to a theater or dark lounge and surprising everyone. After all my motto is "you gotta show some bones to prove you can't be broken." ;) The shoes I got for a steal at Marshall's and the   heathered gray cardigan I added to bring some different texture and more importantly warmth to the outfit. It's my little brothers and probably mine until he asks for it and I get a sudden lapse of memory.

The kick ass dragon claw duster ring was a gift from my best friend Lena for my 23rd birthday last week. I'm absolutely floored at how she knows my affinity for gold, unique rings and a little edginess. She put it in a Zale's box for me and I have to say as a proposal for marriage when we tire of all the jerk men in the world, it's pretty awesome. 

OTFT BRKDWN:

Blazer -  H&M

Glow in the dark tee - H&M

Cardigan - Urban Outfitters 

Leather leggings - Forever 21

Violet zippered heels - Madden Girl from Marshall's

Ring - my own

Mellow Yellow

Believe it or not I am recovering from a pretty nasty hangover from my birthday celebration hours ago. I couldn't waste this beautiful Sunday though. A high of 70 degrees in October?!?! You really can't beat that.

OTFT BRKDWN:

1. Cut out basic black dress (underneath) - Forever 21

2. Hi-low pleated skirt - Target

3. Jeffrey Campbell moto boots - my own deal from Daffy's

4. Head dress - my own

5. Leather moto jacket - H&M

Eye of the Tiger, it's the thrill of the bike

absolutely fell in love with Free People's New Romantics Year of the Tiger moto jacket. A twist on the leather moto look we've been seeing lately. This is $548 and although pricey, think to yourself..."where the hell are you gonna find something like this ever again?". I say worth the splurge.

This is a bag I got as a gift for my 21st birthday. It's made from recycled e-waste of old keyboards. Every time I wear it it even sounds klickity klackity like I'm typing.

Belt is Betsey Johnson.

I took my splint off because it doesn't fit through my sleeves! :( It's ok I only have 2 knuckles on the right instead of four. 

I got to sleep in today. I haven't had more than 4 hours of sleep since Thursday. 

I'm also torn between to bang or not to bang. My hair...not Ryan Gosling. That's always an easy decision. 

Skirt: Target

cut out blouse: Forever21

Belt: Forever21

Rings: vintage and street finds

boots: Cooperative by urban outfitters

Eye C U

source: insideout.topshop.com

This sweater is quite frankly "da shit". J.W. Anderson Sweater for Topshop.

Details

Source: blog.freepeople.com

Leather biker jacket, eyelet bustier, draped neckline top and a fishtail braid! LOVELY.

btw skeptics...you can do brown and black. Hah!