Fashion has Brains

Edited by Ashe

Every week I am always surprised by the selection of posts we receive here at IFB.  I think back to before I started my blog, the discrimination I felt working in retail and adoring fashion, because it was shallow and it wasn’t academic.  Now I look at the community I am a part of and think– how could anyone accuse fashion enthusiasts of being shallow? Or fashion designers, lovers of style?  Indeed, like any frowned upon medium or niche, fashion has brains; it has ingenuity, it has controversy, it has creativity, and it has depth.

This week I want to celebrate those putting fashion and intellect together, to show that there’s more than meets that glittering eye…

Oh, and if you’re looking for something to do this summer… IFB is looking for interns!

Links à la Mode : April 22

• Agent Lover: – On The Search For The Perfect Retro Bathing Suit!
• Alice in Stilettos: – Interview with Edgy, Up-and-Coming Designer Chelsea Sutrisno
• Bay Area Style File: – Interview with Model turned Eco Friendly Beauty Brand owner Josie Maran.
• Bobbins and Bombshells: – Fashionable History: Lilly Dache – A True Fashion Success Story.
• Denim Debutante: – Meet US-Made NAEM Denim and Win Your Own Pair
• dramatis personae: – Back to the Future
• Fashion Pulse Daily: – Cynthia Rowley for Roxy Spring 2010
• For Those About to Shop: – Crystal Renn’s inspiring story of transformation may make you think twice about modelling industry:
• krameymartin: – Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your fashion sense. Check out this post to learn how to jazz up simple maternity pieces.
• La Chanelphile: – “The Allure of Chanel” by Paul Morand with Illustrations by Karl Lagerfeld
• M.I.S.S.: – The Rag Trade: The Sale Mentality. This week’s article looks at how we will get consumers to break the sale mentality and pay full price again.
• Night Watch: – DIY Tutorial: Burberry Prorsum F/W 2010-11 Inspired Blazer
• Oh, the Places You’ll Go!: – ASOS Curve Models – Plus, or not plus enough?
• Oranges and Apples: – Some thoughts on weight, fat activism and health
• Poetic & Chic: – Hamish Bowles, European Editor at Large for Vogue, visits the de Young in San Francisco to announce a new Balenciaga retrospective slated for spring 2011.
• Retro Chick: – Made To Measure – Dresses for those who aren’t a standard size
• shrimp salad circus: – DIY Spring Flowers Headband/Belt for Under
• The Coveted – Craving Miu Miu Clogs?
• the fashionate traveller: – Discovers the emerging Japanese fashion trend Dolly Kei, as seen through a visit to Grimoire, Shibuya’s premier vintage store.
• The Fashionista Lab: – I gave up shopping and gained a new perspective on using and building my wardrobe (hint: shoes are important)
• True Queen: – Warning: Men In Skirts – Examining a taboo trend that attempts to go mainstream

Fashion Flashback

Edited by Debutante
As fashion weeks starting winding down, some are looking forward to the next trend in fashion. This week, I was thrilled to see so many bloggers focusing on the past -the history of fashion. An obvious passion of mine, vintage fashion has never been so influential. fête à fête reviews a gorgeous collection of vintage inspired jewelry. Fabulous Finds narrates a 1950s styled romp through Palm Springs. Oranges and Apples shares inspiring vintage Life magazine images. In politics, if you don’t learn from history, you’re destined to repeat it. In fashion, if you don’t learn from history, you won’t know you are repeating it!

Links à la Mode : March 4th

• Bobbins and Bombshells – Fashionable History: Mary Quant
• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Couture Cakes
• Dedicated Follower of Fashion – Spring/Summer Trends 2010 – The Tourist
• Dozen Dresses – DIY Skirt – The tutorial!
• dramatis personae – B&Lu 0 Gift Certificate Giveaway!
• Fabulous Finds Gal – Come With Me On A Sunny And Dreamy Retro Holiday In Palm Springs With The Photographer Bersa
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Marchesa Fall/Winter 2010
• Fasshonaburu – Who’s Who of Fashion Week
• fête à fête – Larkspur & Hawk’s vintage inspired jewelry
• Glossary – Please meet Paula and her pretty Pink Bow!
• hello beauty! – Bobbi Brown Spring 2010: Cabana Corals and Makeup Face Lift Collections (with video)
• JewelryWhore – Interview With Corvus Noir!
• Oranges and Apples – : Vintage fashion photo inspiration from the Life magazine archives
• Out Of Order – Bonnie & Clyde
• Prom Mafia – Betsey Johnson does DC
• Retro Chick – Estethica – Ethical Design Spotlight – Tara Starlet
• Stop Getting Low-balled As A Blogger | Independent Fashion Bloggers
• Superstylin – Total Fashion Dork Status
• The Fashion Planner – YouTube Beauty Gurus
• True Queen – One Dress That Will Take You From Work To Play in 3 Different Ways
• Tweed & tea – My name is Jacqui, and I am a perfume addict..
• ventures of jenn. – ode to the maxi
• White Rabbit – The Man Behind the Lens

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

[Donna & Violet of MyItThings.com, Joi Wheatley of Ideeli.com and me!]

Last night was the Independent Fashion Bloggers Dress Up Soiree, organized by the lovely Jennine Tamm of theCoveted and moderated by Jordana Bruner of Clutch22. There was a great turnout with tons of bloggers, a great panel discussion with members including Susie Bubble from Style Bubble, Crosby Noricks from PR Couture, Wendy Brandes, and Helen Zhu from Chictopia. The vibe was great and the opportunity to meet online media mavens was priceless!

• A Few Goody GumDrop – A Few Goody Gumdrops asks…if you are coming apart at the seems then enter to win torn leggings from LnA!
• Breakfast at Saks – Still sifting through Paris Fashion Week shows? Be sure to make time for Ann Demeulemeester F/W 09.10
• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog – Check, Please!
• Consume or Consumed – Consume or Consumed Sees Double and Triple: On Buying Multiples
• Couture Cult – CoutureCult.com: Alison Lewis (formerly of Mooka Kinney), Spring/Summer 09
• Debutante Clothing – Missoni is Inspired By Vintage Modernist Necklaces
• Dogmom’s Dish – Desperately Seeking Orla
• Fashion Daydream – What your didn’t see at Fashion Week: A behind the scenes look into fashion week, fashionistas en route to the shows and models being made up.
• Fashion Pulse Daily – reports on the latest colors for fall 2009 — the season isn’t comprised of various hues of black or even bright colors for that matter either.
• Felicia Sullivan – beauty & styling products that work for curly, coarse hair, really work. part 1: frederic fekkai
• fete a fete – Larkspur & Hawk’s GORGEOUS antique and vintage inspired
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Burnout Aversion Tips From Bloggers
• reLYME – An analysis of the Persian-inspired trend that’s hitting the runway
• Retro Chick – Top 5 Ways to have fun with no money
• Shopping and Info – Shopping and Info found Gossip Girl scarves bags and jewelry oh my!
• Solo Lisa – Sunny fashion picks inspired by Freida Pinto’s character in Slumdog Millionaire
• Studio Purpura Fashion Blog – Shopping Hops in the Far & South East Asia! Photos to Come!
• Style Symmetry – Check out my interview with Jennine of The Coveted!
• Style With Anna – Fashion for Guys: How to Dress Like David Beckham
• THE COVETED – Exclusive Video Preview & Tutorial: Benefit Smokin’ Eyes
• the musings of ondo lady – Get ready for a retro prequel of Gossip Girl which is about the trials and tribulations of a teenage Lily van der Woodsen
• what the pros do… – Spring Clean Your Makeup Kit!

Ever more wonderful weekly posts from the IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers):

• 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”!
• A Few Goody GumDrops – A Few Goody Gumdrops gets Bright for the Holidays with her new Orange Louis Vuitton Tote!
• All Chic – Christmas Jewels
• AlysiaMarie – This Month’s Celebrity Hair Trend; Ponytails!
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy – How to wear scarves without looking like an emo kid
• Caged Lilies – Pretty and CHEAP gifts for friends. everything under .
• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog – Chasing the winter blues away by shopping handmade…
• Clutch 22 – Stylish gift giving on a budget – there’s still time to do your holiday shopping!
• Couture Allure Vintage Fashion – Couture Allure shows how to dress up your shoes for a touch of evening glamour.
• Debutante Clothing – A Tribute to Bettie Page: 5 Reasons We Loved Bettie Page
• Decline Designs – Petticoat tutorial – so your vintage skirts can have the look they deserve!
• Dirty Laundry – How-To: Boyfriend Jeans
• dramatis personae – Alternative Uses For Fur
• Dress Me Up Dollie – A little DIY chases the winter doldrums away.
• Fashion Birdcage – Of Cabbages & Kings Spring/Summer 09 Collection
• fashion fille – Fashion Fille spreads the cheer around through boosting fashionistas to enter the weardrobe contest.
• fashion in my eyes – Beauty&The Beast with Drew Barrymore
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Fashion Pulse Daily gives tips on how to get the biker chic look without having to jump on a Harley.
• Fashion Therapist – Where to find the perfect ugly sweaters for all your holiday themed parties:
• Fasshonaburu – A shopping gift guide for the self-proclaimed “hipster” on your list this holiday season!
• Going to Hell in a Handbag – Consumed by Coats
• greystrawberrys – whats in your make up box?
• Hot Beauty Health – The Smurfs enters beauty world with a Smurfette Collection
• In Life and In Fashion – Easy Holiday Dressing Tips
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – We Really Like Your Style
• Iole in fashion – Red (dress) fashion tree
• Iwanttowearit – Manicurist Yuna Park puts fashion in the fingers of the hottest models for the freshest magazines.
• Logical Harmony – How To Find Deals at Thrift Stores : Beyond The Basics
• Mademoiselle Robot – Interview with fashion photographer and club promoter Pavla Kopecna.
• Nico Assatly – Hot Holiday/Silver bells! cute look for the holidays !
• noiretro // style deficit disorder – Limi Yamamoto Spring 2009 collection & DIY Martin Margiela Sandal Booties
• Or False Glitter – Going grunge with Sonic Youth
• PONY RYDER – exclusive interview with TOPMODEL Iris Strubegger!
• Retro Chick – Comfy Christmas Glamour
• Shopping and Info – Shopping and Info loves what Jennifer Aniston wore to the Marley & Me Premiere.
• Style Amor – Alice In Wonderland Fashion + Movie Frenzy for 2010, Johnny Depp and Mad Hatter Fashion. Yes be ready.
• Style Discovery – Confession of a jewellery addict and brining an order and clarity to a pile of necklaces.
• Style Symmetry – Eyeliah finds inspiration in the Wardrobe Remix Pool!
• Summershoes – 11 steps to a perfect homemade manicure
• Summershoes – 11 Steps to a perfect homemade manicure
• Sweety P Style Files – The Wardrobe Recession Diaries: Stalkin Clerks in the Mall and a Houndstooth Dress
• The Bare Skinny – The Bare Skinny gives you the scoop on the unmentionables: Undergarments
• THE COVETED – Last-Minute Gifts that Pamper and Relax