Lana Del Rey: H&M Autumn Collaboration

Lana Del Rey:
H&M Collaboration

In July Lana Del Rey was confirmed as the new face for H&M's Autumn collection, but up until now we had no idea what said collaboration would look like. Well, today H&M have revealed their Autumn campaign  and I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised. I'm loving the mix of floral print and simple - yet classic - tweed shifts and knits. Oh, and those peplum tops? Stunning! Guess who's going to be purchasing a few pieces here and there from this collection in September?

It's not just Lana's fashion sense and face that H&M are getting this Autumn. Oh no, it's her voice too. The singer has also done a full length music video, covering Blue Velvet. We'll just have to wait and see what that sounds like!

What do you think of Lana Del Rey & H&M's collaboration? Do you think she's the right fit for the brand?

Photo Credit: www.instyle.co.uk

If you could click this link and vote for Vita di Moda in the Cosmopolitan UK Blogger Awards 2012 in the best New Fashion Blogger category, I will love and appreciate you forever - more so than I already do obviously. Voting closes on Friday, the 31st of August so make sure you get your vote in now! Thank you xo

A Guide To The Perfect Engagement Ring

Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring:
A Guest Post By Claire Windon/Sorella Jewelry

When Claire emailed me saying that she would like to write a Sorella jewelry inspired post for Vita di Moda, the first thought I had was a guide on the perfect engagement ring. Being engaged myself - and totally in love with my own engagement ring(s) - I felt it would be a suitable and nice touch for the blog. I also know just how nerve wracking my fiance found the whole engagement ring shopping experience, so here you go lads: a little guide to choosing the right ring for your better other half!

Choosing the perfect engagement ring for the woman you love is a big decision – and so it should be! Getting married is one of the most life-changing events you will ever experience. You want the ring you give your bride to reflect your feelings for her, which is why it needs to be unique. Choosing a custom-made ring shows that you have put real thought into the choice and taken your bride’s tastes into consideration. Here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect engagement ring to symbolize your commitment.

Engagement rings are an enduring symbol of love and fidelity. Here is your big chance to show your partner how much you care about her. Sneak a peak at her existing jewelry collection to see what her preferences are. Does she like eye-catching gemstone-studded pieces that sparkle in the light, or does she prefer subtle designs? Take photos of some of her favorite pieces to use as inspiration for a custom-made ring that will truly melt her heart.

If you’re unsure about your bride-to-be’s taste in jewelry, for example if she doesn’t own many rings or other pieces, it’s best to keep it simple. Opting for an understated design doesn’t mean giving your girl a plain ring: a lot of emotion can be expressed through subtle engravings and gracefully plaited strands of silver or gold. You don’t need a huge diamond to create a beautiful ring, unless that’s the style your girl prefers.

Choosing the perfect engagement ring is a tough task for any groom, and many men shy away from custom rings because they don’t have faith in their creative abilities. If you feel daunted by the task of choosing a ring, you can get help from a professional custom ring designer. You will bring to the process your knowledge of your wife’s tastes and character, as well as a sense of the message that you want to convey, which a skilled designer will use to bring your ideas to life. It’s a good idea to make sketches of your ideas and be open to suggestions that the designer might make. By working together, you can create a ring that will amaze and delight your bride-to-be.

If you’re buying a custom ring, consider making it especially personal by adding an engraving on the inside of the ring. Your wife will wear this secret message next to her skin as a daily reminder of your love for her. Spend some time thinking about what you want to say and how best to express it.

Custom rings are often more expensive than off-the-shelf rings, with the price tag reflecting the time and care that the designer spends making each ring unique. However, it is possible to stick within a budget by opting for less expensive metals such as silver or titanium. Colored gemstones are usually cheaper than diamonds and can be very effectively used as part of a unique design. Is there a color that
symbolizes your relationship? Why not use a gemstone in that color as the starting point for your design?

The most important thing to remember when choosing an engagement ring is not to rush into any hasty decisions. Give yourself time to explore all the options and settle on a design that perfectly expresses your emotions. Your future wife will be wearing this ring every day for the rest of her life, so take as much time as you need to make the right choice.


Guest post contributed by Claire Windon on behalf of SorellaJewelry.com - Claire is a freelance writer and wedding planner. Visit Sorella Jewelry for more details.

Image Credit: Sorella & Rubyran and Koshyk from flickr

If you could click this link and vote for Vita di Moda in the Cosmopolitan UK Blogger Awards 2012 in the best New Fashion Blogger category, I will love and appreciate you forever - more so than I already do obviously. Voting closes on Friday, the 31st of August so make sure you get your vote in now! Thank you xo

Miranda Kerr Shows Off Bikini Body

Miranda Kerr:
David Jones Season Launch Show
&
Naked Spread for Bazaar Sept 2012!

I'm surely not the only person who looks at Miranda Kerr's body and thinks, "she's had a child and looks that good? what. the. hell?!", so to see the Victoria's Secret model showing off her amazing bikini body yesterday on the runway for the David Jones season launch show, just makes me envy her even more. She looked absolutely stunning in each of the Romance Was Born garments she wore on the runway, but there were two such pieces that stood out in particular for me. The first being a red A-symmetric, floor length gown with sequins. She looked like something out of a fairy tale. Absolutely perfect. The second: a white, one-piece cut out swimsuit with sheer cover up. If Miranda walked by me on the beach with that one piece on, I think I would cover up and hide. She puts women everywhere to shame.

So we've seen Miranda Kerr's body looking absolutely fabulous in high fashion and lingerie, but what about Miranda Kerr absolutely naked? Well, the Angel that she is showed off her toned physique in nothing by a pair of knee high designer boots for an editorial in Harper Bazaar US. I'm pretty sure a lot of people - particularly husbands, boyfriend's, fiance's and generally every woman with an appreciation for amazing bodies - will completely miss the boots though. The photographs were taken by the one and only Terry Richardson - who, by the way, just celebrated a birthday - and I think he did an amazing job. Considering he has a particular specialty for nude photographs, I think he did the Victoria's Secret model justice.

As well as showing off those designer boots to a T, the model also spoke to the magazine about her body and how she keeps it in tip top condition. 

"I live by the philosophy that beauty starts from within and I make a conscious effort to fill my body with nutrients through the food I eat," she tells the magazine. "Becoming a mother has made me even more aware and more passionate about nutrition and wellness. So much so that I am now a certified health coach practitioner." 

She explains that her idea of a special treat every now and then is dark chocolate covered gogi berries and her love of fashion. 

"For me it's all about keeping things simple and feeling comfortable in what I am wearing. I prefer investing in classic well tailored pieces,"

I think Miranda is one of those rare models that teenagers should actually look up to and aspire to be like. She takes care of her body with nutrition and exercise, which is something that seems lost on the majority of models walking down the runway these days. She shows that you can be thin, sexy and successful without having to compromise on the state of your health in the process. Everyone - take note.

Photo Credit: fashion.telegraph.co.uk & justjared.com

Michael Phelps Bares All!

Michael Phelps Bares All:
NEW Louis Vuitton Ad!

It's probably no surprise to the millions of screaming fans of a certain Michael Phelps that his very toned and very exposed physique is allegedly the focal point of the new Louis Vuitton Core Values campaign. I say allegedly because the fashion brand reported "It is not an official Louis Vuitton image." even though the image looks like a twin to the original campaign ad - I can almost hear the strangled sobs from women around the world as this is announced. 

The image of Phelps in the tub was taken by the very skilled photographer that is Annie Leibovitz: if you haven't heard of her, she's widely known for her bath tub shots - from Angelina Jolie naked in the tub, to Whoopi Goldberg in a bathtub of milk. Google the latter, it's rather comical actually.

Whilst the image of Phelps in the tub isn't the official campaign image, I think fans will be more than pleased with the official image. Although his aesthetically pleasing bod is covered in a rather dashing suit, I think it's safe to say that he's not going to lose any fans: I mean come on, every woman wants a man in a suit. Featured having tea with 77 year old, former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina - who was just as impressive in her day with 18 medals - looks every bit the gentleman, with the famous LV-monogrammed bag at his feet. The caption at the bottom of the ad is written in Italian and reads: 

'Due percorsi straordinari. Uno stesso destino'  which translates to: Two extraordinary paths. The same fate.' 

Quite a suiting caption if you ask me.

What do you think of the new Louis Vuitton ad? Do you think they chose the right face?

Project Runway: Women On The Go

Project Runway:
Episode 4 -Women On The Go

Last nights episode of Project Runway had the theme of busy women on the go: this look had to be versatile, comfortable and practical enough so that it could go from day to night with just the change of a few accessories and footwear. But before I get into the details and looks from the runway, I have to get my little violin out and play a tune for Andrea and Kooan, who both left the competition this week. Sorry to sound sarcastic, but who in their right minds would pass up such an amazing opportunity like that?! Each contestant on the show beat god knows how many other budding designers out there, just to get their place on the show. So for them to throw that away just completely baffles me. Kooan said his reason for leaving was down to him not being happy in that environment: he felt that he couldn't design to his own aesthetic and that doing it on his own meant that he could develop and grow a little better. This reason - ok, fair enough. I can handle it. But Andrea. Oh, Andrea. She didn't even respond to the producers calls after she left in the middle of the night, without saying a word to anybody! It wasn't until later the next day that Andrea decided to send an email to the producers, explaining that she was forfeiting her place in the competition. For a teacher - who is supposed to be showing an example to those around her - this is questionable to say the least. But anyway, before I end up going off on a tangent with that fiasco, let's get down to the whole point of the show: the clothing designs!

As I mentioned earlier, the brief was given to the designers by Project Runway judge and designer, Michael Kors in his NYC flagship store - what a beauty that store is too. Each designer was required to produce a look which could transfer from day to night, whilst remaining stylish, comfortable and fashion-forward. Guest judges this week included actress Hayden Panettiere and fashion designer Rachel Roy, so let's have a look at the designs shall we?

Starting from the top left we have: Alicia, Buffi, Christopher, Dmitry, Elena, Fabio, Gunnar, Melissa, Nathan, Raul, Sonjia & Ven.

First off - my favourite looks. It was really a toss up between Sonjia's twisted grey jersey dress and Christopher's turtle neck dress with crop leather jacket. Sonjia's dress is sexy, sophisticated and insanely versatile: work, running errands, shopping, lunch date, cocktail hour, it can go from day to night like that *dramatic finger snap*. Christopher's look had me as soon as it stepped out on the runway: That jacket - uh, hello! I need that jacket pronto! Especially when he managed to produce his look for their budget of $150. Amazing. I take my hat off to you Christopher. In the end though, the judges decided on one winner and that was Sonjia. Hayden Panettiere even asked if she could wear the dress to an upcoming red carpet event she was attending. Brava Sonjia!

Next - my worst look: Not only is this look my least favourite, but this designer was also this weeks loser, and therefore eliminated from the show: Buffi. Her look is really the only look that I feel did absolutely nothing for me. Other designs from the likes of  Raul and Fabio weren't exactly brilliant, but they weren't terrible either. Buffi's look however, I hated. I get that she likes print and colour and being a little out there and that's just her aesthetic, but come on. She said it herself in one of her video logs: her look can be tacky, and this look definitely fell into that category. I love her as a fun, creative person, but as a designer I just can't seem to like her very much. I wasn't surprised with her elimination, and to be honest, quite pleased with the result.

I would have been interested to see what Kooan would have came up with in this challenge, but to be honest, he really only has one kind of look and that was never going to win Project Runway this year.

What did you guys think of the designs this week? Who was your best and worst?

Follow @Maria_Litizia

Fit, Fabulous & Fashion Forward

Fit, Fabulous & Fashion Forward

Over the last few days I have been a little strict with my eating and exercise habits. Why, I hear you ask? Well, aside from the fact that I'm feeling extremely unfit watching Team GB bring in all those gold medals at The Olympics in London, whilst I sit on my bum and do nothing it's all because I'm moving to Newcastle in a few short weeks to start my degree in Fashion Communications at Northumbria University, and I wan't to make sure that I'm nice and fit again before going down there and meeting new people. It's not exactly news to those of you living in the UK, but for the international fashionista's out there, Geordie's (that's the name for those from Newcastle) are known for their fake tans, eyelashes, acrylic nails, skimpy outfits and last but not least, muscles. The men, anyway. In the hit MTV show Geordie Shore, all you tend to see the lads do is hit the gym, kiss their muscles and jump into bed with a lovely lass or two. Oh, and drink like little fishes. Not exactly a charming portrayal of Newcastle, but that's what happens on TV. Anyway, due to this fitness freak stereotype, naturally I've been trying to improve on myself if you life, so I've been getting back into my fitness regime. I plan to start hitting the gym 4 - 5 times a week at uni (I like using the gym to release stress and tension from my studies), so starting on my fitness now means that it won't be such a shock to my system in a few weeks time. That's the plan anyway!

So where does this all fit in with fashion? Well, obviously you like to wear something stylish when you're running your little ass off down the road in front of the whole world. No? My favourite sportswear brand at the moment when working out is Nike, and it's not just because they have the sexiest luminous running shoes. It's because their motto is Just Do It. This is the mantra that plays over and over in my head when I'm having my behind kicked by the one and only Jillian Michaels in her 30 Day Shred workout dvd. When I'm half way through those pesky lunge's with bicep curls and all I want to do is sit on the sofa and develop into a couch potato, that motto of Just Do It plays on a loop in my mind, helping me to just push past the pain and get to the end of the workout.

Their workout gear is equally as helpful and I love it that much I've decided that it deserves a little appreciation post here at Vita di Moda. Let's start with footwear. I'm a runner. I love the treadmill, the roads, anywhere that I can run, so footwear is a biggie for me. Nike Free is the range currently hitting the spot for me: especially seeing as you can customize every detail, right down to putting your own iD on the tongue of the trainer. I made a little pair just to show you what I mean:

This particular pair comes to £95, but your own could differ in price due to your own preferences - i.e: there is the option to have reflective material rather than matte etc. This design was just done quickly to show you the design of the shoe in general, but with more time I would probably have mines all pink with a black tongue and sole, just because I like to wear head to toe black, and then pop the outfit with bright trainers. Whenever Nike say they offer a 'barefoot' range, trust me, they mean what they say. I absolutely love my Nike's whenever working out/running. They're comfortable, flexible and above all, worth every single penny. I really do recommend investing in a pair for yourself if fitness is something you enjoy or take part in quite regularly. You won't regret it.

Next up is the clothing itself. Like I said before, I like to wear black when I work out and it has to be tight fitting, but flattering at the same time. For me, there's nothing worse than working out with bottoms that have flares at the ankle, or baggy tops. 1. I get too hot and sweaty for anything baggy. 2. I don't wear flared trousers or jeans when I'm doing general day-to-day things, so I'm not going to wear flared bottoms when I work out. My preference are tights. They're basically just leggings with reflective panels or logo's. Some may have little zip pockets to keep keys etc. If you're going to workout, you need a good bra: I don't know about the boys, but us girls need something that's going to keep us secure and comfortable. There's nothing worse than doing a set of jumping jacks and your chest feels as though it's about to be ripped from your body. Oh! and then the bra straps fall down half way through a downward dog pose during yoga. Ugh, just not fun. Nike sports bra's are perfect for the job and are that comfortable, my fiance complains that I wear them too much in place of my normal pretty, lacy bra's. T-shirts. That's something we need if you're not exactly comfortable with just wearing the sports bra. Not until you have those wash-board abs at least. Now, I know I said that I like tight fitting workout gear, but whilst browsing images from the Fall LookBook at Nike, I came across the long sleeve training top (number 4) and just fell in love with it. I would wear that even when I wasn't working out. The t-shirt next to it (number 2) with slogan "Smoke Em XXX" is just so fun and motivating that I think I'll just have to buy it sometime soon. It actually makes me think of something that the Victoria's Secret Angels would endorse whilst working out, don't you think? 

If you're wondering where to buy any of the items shown in the image above, here are the links you'll need:

1. Nike Limitless Leggings - £28

2. "Smoke Em XXX" T-shirt - £28

3. Nike Pro Hypercool Sports Bra - £28

4. Nike Uptown Epic Training Top - £50

5. Nike Free Run +3 - £80

Overall, I just love the products available from Nike. They live up to the hype, give a great performance and help us to look stylish and comfortable at the same time. What else could you wish for from your workout clothes? 

What do you think of the workout/sportswear at Nike? What do you wear when you workout?

Follow @Maria_Litizia

Project Runway Season 10

Project Runway Season 10:

Episodes 1 - 3

Designers: Alicia, Andrea, Beatrice, Buffi, Christopher, Dmitry, Elena, Fabio, Gunnar, Kooan, Lantie, Melissa, Nathan, Raul, Sonjia & Ven.

Judges: Nina Garcia, Michael Kors & Heidi Klum + weekly guest judges.

For the past three weeks, the highlight of my week has been a Friday afternoon/evening when I get to catch up on Season 10 of Project Runway: When I say catch up, it's because I have to wait until the next day to stream it online due to the show being aired in America and not the UK where I am! Trust me, if I could watch it on a Thursday night, I would.

So like I was saying, the show has become my weekly pleasure. I haven't religiously kept up with previous seasons of the show, however with this years season being some what of a milestone, I thought I would make a little more effort and watch it every week. Oh, and to make sure that I do, I'm making it a weekly occurrence to blog about each episode and tell you which designers are taking the lead in my favourites list!

If you have been watching the show so far, you will know that last night's show was number three, so I'm going to bring you up to speed on episode's 1 - 3 in terms of photos, a brief synopsis and then my favourite. 

So, without further adieu, here is episode 1:

Designer starting top left: Alicia, Andrea, Beatrice, Buffi, Christopher, Dmitry, Elena, Fabio, Gunnar, Kooan, Lantie, Melissa, Nathan, Raul, Sonjia & Ven.

In the pilot episode of Project Runway Season 10, designers were asked to create an outfit which would accompany their original pre-show designs. Both looks must be created to show a pair and then shown on a catwalk in the center of the universe: Times Square, NYC. Guest judges who accompanied Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum on the show included Lauren Graham and Patricia Field. After much deliberation, the judges decided that it was Christopher's designs that stole the show and named him the winner of this challenge, gaining immunity from next week's eliminations. As ever, there was a loser, and that happened to be Beatrice. Her knitwear designs just didn't make the cut and as a result, she was the first to leave the competition. Ouch.

In my opinion, although Christopher's designs were undoubtedly amazing, I would have chosen Melissa as the winner, purely because I see myself wearing her designs over the rest. That leather collared body and floor length dress is definitely something I need for my own wardrobe. It's just the right amount of comfort, casual and edge. Perfect. In terms of the loser however, I did agree with the judges. I just didn't think Beatrice's designs were good enough. Not for Project Runway anyway.

On to Episode 2 now and it has to be said that this episode is definitely my favourite so far: The unconventional materials challenge - AKA Candy Couture! You just know that when fashion and candy come together, you're going to get something eye-catching and colourful (for the most part anyway).

Designs from the top left along: Alicia, Andrea, Buffi, Dmitry, Elena, Fabio, Kooan, Lantie, Melissa, Raul, Sonjia, Ven, Christopher, Gunnar & Nathan.

Guest judge on this show was Dylan Lauren: Owner of the sweets store Dylan's Candy Bar and daughter to the one and only Ralph Lauren. As you may sussed out already, the designers were given a budget for Dylan's Candy Bar and asked to create a wearable look entirely from candy. The winner of the challenge was Ven, who created his rose motif dress using crushed hard candy to create a stained glass window effect. By this point in the show, it is clear that Ven is very much a designer who likes to create very pretty and feminine looks. His designs are gorgeous, but it would be nice to see him do something a little bit different and out of his comfort zone. I want to see that he's not just a one-trick pony.

The loser this week? Lantie. The judges just didn't approve of her re-work of the Candy Bar umbrella. I have to agree with them, she definitely is more of a stylists than a designer. Lantie mentioned on a few occasions that these designs weren't her, and she just wanted to prove herself to them. Well, Lantie, in this industry you only get one chance.

If I were to choose a winner for the Candy Couture challenge, it would have definitely been Sonjia. Her use of the blue candies (especially the dolphin neckline) was just amazing. Who knew candy could make such an appealing fashion garment? I loved it!

Finally, we're on to last night's episode 3. 

Last night's episode was inspired by Lexus and The Emmy's. The designers were paired up with one another and assigned a particular Lexus. They were then driven to meet their clients (previous Project Runway designers), who they would be dressing for the upcoming Emmy Awards. The Prize? The winner will have the chance to accompany the client to the Awards ceremony. The teams were: Alicia & Raul, Christopher & Andrea, Buffi & Elena, Gunnar & Kooan, Dmitry & Melissa, Fabio & Ven and finally, Sonjia & Nathan.

Designers from the top left: Alicia & Raul, Buffi & Elena, Christopher & Andrea, Sonjia & Nathan, Dmitry & Melissa, Fabio & Ven and Gunnar & Kooan.

Guest judge for this weeks show: Actress Krysten Ritter. This particular challenge was interesting to watch and see how each designer would mesh and combine their talents to create one look. Obviously each designer has a slightly different aesthetic (hello, Kooan & Gunnar?!), so it was fun to see them all put their heads together and work as a team on this one. The winner of the challenge this week was Ven (only one of the design due was chosen as ultimate winner) which meant that Ven has now won two consecutive challenges in a row. I did like the dress that they produced, however my favourite was Gunnar & Kooan's gorgeous white halterneck gown, with cascading chiffon back. Although this was a team challenge, you can really see how Gunnar basically took over the design and made it his own. Poor Kooan. 

The loser this week? Raul. Raul & Alicia's look was deemed to worst look this week - not that I can blame the judges. The dress they created was hideous. I can't believe Mila - the client and model - even put it on!

So there you have a brief update on Project Runway Season 10 as it stands so far. I will definitely be doing weekly critiques and updates on the show, so make sure you check back every Friday - or just come and tell us your own opinions on the show. Every opinion is welcome here!

What is your favourite look from the season so far? Any challenges that you would like to see?

Follow @Maria_Litizia

The September Issue 2012

The September Issue
From Vogue - Elle

If you have any interest in the fashion industry, then you'll know that the annual September issue of any fashion magazine is the biggest and most exciting of them all. Even if you don't want to work in the industry, you may still have seen The September Issue documentary/movie featuring Anna Wintour and Vogue US: you'll know the amount of effort, stress, sweat, blood and tears that go into this particular issue, so as you can imagine, those of us interested in the industry anticipate the September issue cover star like it's nobody's business.

I have my annual subscription for Vogue UK, so when my issue slipped through the letterbox this morning, I immediately ran to it with more excitement than I have on Christmas morning. I already knew who the cover star was thanks to the wonderful platform that is Twitter. Whilst flicking through the pages, I had the idea to put together a little post to feature each cover star from various other fashion magazines to see who your particular favourite is.

Starting top left and moving right: ELLE US - Katy Perry. If you read my earlier post with her September issue cover, you will know how just excited I was when I was told she would be covering the issue. She looks amazing, although it would have been nicer to see her in some sort of punky ensemble for the cover.

Next to Katy is ELLE UK. Covering our version of Elle you have Rosie Huntington Whitely. I just can't stop staring at her legs. They don't call her an Angel for nothing!

Next to Rosie we have Marion Cotillard covering Vogue US. I have to say, it's a little lack lustre compared to Vogue UK, whom I shall mention in a little bit. Marion looks lovely in blue velvet, but it doesn't exactly entice me to read the editorial. 

Up next to Marion is the one and only Victoria B covering Glamour US. Even in the bath she wears her crown. Well, I would too if I were her. In the editorial she tells us why she never smiles in her photos. It's actually one editorial that I'm looking forward to getting my hands on. I quite like how she's sitting in a bath tub covered in bubbles: it's interesting and totally different to how we normally see Queen B in the media!

Ok, onto the bottom row now. First up is Vogue UK with the wonderful Karlie Kloss. I can't get over how successful, beautiful and just darn amazing this lady is and she's only just turned 20. I'm older than her at 21, so I feel a little ashamed of myself when I look at her photos. I love her outfit and just think the cover as a whole is aesthetically pleasing.

Next to Karlie is Lindsey Wixson covering Flare. I'm sorry, but models with gaps in their teeth, big enough to sail a boat through, just don't appeal to me. Whilst looking fab in Prabal Gurung, the tooth gap is a point deduction in my view.

Next we have Jessica Chastain for Vanity Fair: Now, this lady is one to watch this month in Vanity Fair - she strips down topless for the cover shoot and shows her true fiery nature. I like the cover and all, but I just think if I had the option between Vanity Fair and Elle, I'd go with Elle.

Last but not least - Whitney Port for Company. Oh my. Ever since I started watching her in The Hills and The City, I just fell in love with her charm, accent and fashion sense, so seeing her on the cover makes me smile. Her cover shoot shows off her boho style perfectly with long, wavy hair and flower headpiece. She just looks fab in my opinion.

Which is your favourite September 2012 cover?

An Interview With Tracy Clifford

An Interview With:

Tracy Clifford

If you're relatively clued in with your A - Z of stylist's in and around the US, then you may already know the lovely lady in which I am going to introduce to you. Tracy Clifford is the highly stylish and chic style consultant with an equally chic resume to match. From assisting the one and only Oscar de la Renta in his showroom, to working as the assistant buyer at Marissa Harrington, Tracy Clifford has built up her career whilst embracing the fashion industry from all angles. 

In the last few weeks, I had the chance to catch up with Tracy and ask her a few questions on her career, education and most importantly, what it was like to work for Oscar de la Renta. What I loved about her answers was that she didn't sugar coat the industry: Yes, it can be glamorous and fun and probably some of the best years of your career, but at the same time, it can be cruel, unforgiving and a serious hit to your self-esteem. To work in the fashion industry you need a tough second skin and a mask that stays in place until you step foot in your home at night...

Hi Tracy, it's so great to be able to have this interview with you! I'm sure you may have been asked these questions a few times already in your career, so I apologize if you end up with a case of deja vu!

1. Let's start off with your mantra - Style Matters. You say that the way in which we dress ultimately portrays how we are viewed by those around us, so my question is: what sort of things do you take into consideration when you choose your daily outfits? How do you want the public to see you?

The term "Style Matters" refers to the fact that the first thing people tend to do is look at each other. Their opinion is all too frequently formed based on visual appearance alone. I take this into consideration when I get dressed for an event or meet a client. I base my clothing selection on facts such as whom I am meeting and where I am going. I find it important to stay true to myself and embrace my personal style at all times. The trick is doing that while keeping who or where I am meeting in mind.

The most important way I want people to see me is as a regular person who has a talent and an eye for high fashion and style. I want to be viewed as a woman who is well dressed every day and appropriately dressed for every occasion.

I like my clients to feel that I can help them look amazing by selecting things that not only compliment their bodies but also enhance how they
look in what we have chosen.

2. You've styled a wide variety of people, from dancers to magazine publishers, what would you say is the best part about your job?

The best part of my job is exactly that! I have the opportunity to work with a wide array of people who lead very different lives. I do the best work as a stylist by truly embracing each client and their lifestyle. My goal is to help them figure out how to combine their personal style with every aspect of their life and career. I also try to expand wardrobes by teaching people how to make the most of what they have and purchase only what they need. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing I helped someone simplify his or her life and gain confidence.

3. Fashion buyer, consultant, stylist, assistant to the one and only Oscar de la Renta..you've built up a pretty impressive CV already, but is there any other aspect of the fashion industry that you would like to break in to?

I am very happy with all of the experience that I have gained throughout my career. There is not another area I am looking to break into per se, but I never want to stop learning - especially since fashion is constantly changing! I strongly believe that in any business, the greatest strength is to understand every aspect of the business from top to bottom. I have been making an effort lately to learn more about the production side of the fashion industry.

Lately, I have been making an effort to learn more about the production side of the fashion industry. I have taken some freelance positions for Lanvin and Sonia Rykiel to get a better understanding of how garments are produced, sold and move from Point A to Point B. I am always fascinated by the trends that consistently weave throughout each collection and into every season. Because I am starting to recognize the extreme impact that fabric availability has on trend forecasting, I have had an increased interest in learning more about fabric production and the fabrication process.

4. As I mentioned previously, you've worked alongside Oscar de la Renta: tell me, what was that like? I'm sure the majority of people who will see this interview will no doubt be green with envy - myself included!

My time with Oscar de la Renta was one of the most important experiences in my career for many reasons. I found Oscar de la Renta to be a very inspiring man. He was often present in the showroom and seemed to be involved in every decision right down to the last stitch. The benefit of starting out there was that I had the opportunity to assist every one that worked in the showroom from the sales staff, design team, PR team, finance group, shipping staff - you name it! I got a taste of what every single person did and how their role helped allow the showroom to function.

The ODLR showroom also taught me one of the most important lessons you can learn in the industry - the fashion world is not always a nice place or a glamorous place. It is also not a very lucrative place and most people seem to be replaceable. This is a lesson that I have learned over and over throughout the years. The reason I manage to remain unaffected is because it is not about the glamour to me. It is about the clothes.

5. I see you studied for your Arts degree at Boston College and then studied fashion at the Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence, Italy. Do you feel your studies gave you that extra edge in getting you to where you are now?

I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to major in Communication at Boston College and study abroad in Florence, Italy. I encountered a lot of wonderful people along the way and learned incredible things through school and travel. This shaped who I am and taught me who I want to be as a professional and as a person. In that sense, I would say education helped me get to where I am today. But I do not see a direct correlation between my formal education and career. Most of the things that gave me an edge career wise happened post college.

6. Do you feel that studying in Italy had it's advantages?

Italy definitely had its advantages! I enrolled in fashion courses, which were great, but I definitely learned the most outside of the classroom. It is unbelievable how much I discovered through travel,
shopping and just sitting in the piazza people watching. I became familiar with many different cultures, mannerisms and ways of dressing. That is what studying abroad is all about to me.

7. What advice would you give to anyone wishing to follow in your footsteps down the stylist route?

Move to New York, Milan or Paris!

Seriously, I think that every area of the fashion business is very difficult and not particularly lucrative. If you do not have a true love and passion for it, I recommend doing something else. However, if you have anything close to my love of fashion you will find you don't have a choice. No matter what I do, I keep coming back to it. Chicago is a very hard place to be in fashion. I think someone starting out in the field would benefit from spending time in one of the more classically established fashion cities to hone their talent and augment their skills.

If you want to tweet, facebook or email Tracy, then here are her contact details:

 

 

E-Mail: tracy@tracycliffordstyle.com

Katy Perry Covers ELLE US September Issue

ELLE US September Issue:
Katy Perry

Could you make a girl any happier right now? Everybody knows that the September issue is the biggest issue of the year for any fashion magazine, so the cover star has to be pretty special to fit the bill. ELLE US have made the extremely fantastic choice of choosing Katy Perry to fill that role for their issue - much to my ecstatic delight! 

On relationships and marriage: "I obviously have a lot to say right now...I'm a woman who likes to be courted–strongly. Never say never, I guess you'd say. I’ll let love take the lead on that."

Obviously I'm in the UK, so said issue will not be the obvious one on the shelves here, but this cover is definitely going to inspire me to go out my way and get that issue. I love Katy Perry: she's inspirational, funny, quirky, sexy as hell (she could make any straight girl turn - myself included) and absolutely a woman to look up to. I can't wait to read the editorial on August 14th!

What do you think about this September cover? Are you as excited as I am?




Photo Credit: www.elle.com

LBH: Little Black Handbags.

LUISAVIAROMA:
Little Black Handbag

Handbags: if you're a woman and you don't have a closet overridden with them, then what are you doing with your life? They say money can't buy happiness, but money can buy handbags (and other fashionable items) and that's kind of the same thing, no?

Yesterday you saw my AW'12 picks from Luisa Via Roma, but I realised that I didn't actually include any handbags in that post, and just focused mainly on the clothes. Well, let me correct that now and bring you my fave selection of LBH - Little Black Handbags.

When it comes to the perfect handbag for me, it has to be black. Black (not just in bags, but clothing as well) is versatile, sleek, sexy and just a little bit arrogant. It says "I won't bother you, if you don't bother me." - I read that quote once before and felt it was quite fitting: for me anyway. So when I had a little look at bags on LUISAVIAROMA.com for Fall 2012, I was immediately drawn to searching for the perfect LBH. 

As you can see, I've put together a selection of 9 bags: ranging from shoulder bags to evening clutches and shoppers. I hope you enjoy them just as much as I do!

1. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: Small heroine brushed leather top handle

2. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: Small knuckle box fur clutch

3. YSL: Medium cabas chyc bicoloured leather bag

4. YSL: Medium cabas chyc top handle bag

5. D&G: Miss dea embroidered suede clutch

6. ALEXANDER WANG: Rocco ponyskin bag

7. GIVENCHY: Medium antigona chic leather top handle

8. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: Studded leather knucklebox clutch

9. GIVENCHY: Large antigona double face leather tote

Which bag is your favourite? What do you look for when searching for the perfect handbag?