April 21, 2016
by Julia DiNardo
Clothing and psychology will forever be intertwined, so it only makes sense that at the start of a new season to further investigate these connections, placing them under a magnifying glass and bringing out our sartorial desires and what they say about our personalities and needs.
With the help of Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner, renowned psychologist and clothes-ologist, and author of You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You, I’ve asked a variety of questions based on current trends happening this spring to find out more about the designer influence and customer impact on shopping and consumer behavior. Please read on below for this insightful, fascinating interview, which is made possible by the partnership of T.J.Maxx and Marshalls with Dr. Baumgartner.
FPD: Menswear and womenswear trends have been converging the past few seasons; what do you think that says about shopping personalities and the state of fashion and its effects on the individual?
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April 18, 2016
by Julia DiNardo
As long as the temperature hovers at 50 degrees or warmer, I’m okay with spring coming a little later this year. With a glass half full approach, I can look to those pieces in my wardrobe that I don’t feel I’ve fully taken advantage of wearing in the colder months, and give them one extra opportunity to feel amazing in them before they get tucked away for the season. As I’ve gotten older and acquired a taste for particular brands, I’ve noticed that they always look better together. It’s unified my look, and let the eye beholding them rest on consistency of shape and design.
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April 12, 2016
by Rachael Comeau
The beloved retro (and value)-inspired U.K. beauty brand, Soap & Glory, has made a run for the money with the launch of its cosmetics line here stateside. The most recent line of products are super affordable and cover all the bases, including items for your eyes, lips, and all-over face. Noteworthy items include the Sexy Mother Pucker Pillow Plump XXL Lip Plumping Gloss, which comes in four versatile colors, and even tastes delectable. The gloss leaves your lips with noticeably more volume while also locking in moisture, and is priced at a mere $14.
Also worth trying is the Thick & Fast High Definition Collagen Coat Mascara. With collagen as a key ingredient, this product adds considerable volume to your lashes, while lengthening and curling them all at once. Start by applying one coat with the V-groove side of the 7-Sided Fan Flare-180º Brush, and finish by rolling the brush from roots to tips for maximum effect. You’ll be all set for all-day wear, again for a nominal price of $14. Other items include the Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder, the One Heck of a Blot Instant Perfecting Power Primer, and the Kick Ass Instant Retouch Pressed Powder (pictured in the slide show above).
The entire line of cosmetics is under $20 per item, and is available now exclusively at Ulta stores nationwide and online at Ulta.com.
April 11, 2016
by Julia DiNardo
It’s certainly odd to present a stereotype referring to a nation as having a singular style or look, but during my travels throughout Japan over the past few weeks, some all-encompassing trends were so evident that they were impossible to miss. Naturally, I had pre-conceived notions about what to expect when it came to fashion and beauty there, that for the most part, I reconsidered practically all of them throughout my trip.
I also never realized how “American” I dress, until this trip, and how I am distinctly categorized as such, despite feeling that I tend to not “follow the herd” when it comes to trends. The most dramatic of observances of my “American-ness” in dress was that my silhouette was completely off. Skinny jeans/pants have altogether disappeared for women there, although quite a bevy of American brands and products that harp back to nostalgia, are still relevant, seeing a reincarnation as an “it” brand or product, once again (more on that on the blog later this week).
Naturally, I did a bit of shopping for both fashion and beauty items, and enthusiastically folded these goods into my routine and aesthetic upon my return to the USA. A favorite discovery was certainly Sou Sou Kyoto, a brand that radiates a Marimekko-like vibe in its high quality and iconic prints, coupled with modern interpretations of traditional Japanese kimono, which unbeknownst prior to me, the word actually has many meanings, but more generically means “garment”.
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