April 2009

Launch Your Own Clothing Line

April 28, 2009

{ 3 comments }

If you, like me, have dreamt about how to launch your own clothing line (or perfume line, or handbag line), then you probably also got stuck trying to figure out where to start. Go to school and learn the ins and outs of fashion design? Take the entrepreneurial route and try and make it big on your own? Or something in between?

Personally, I am still hashing out my business plan in my head. But if you already know where you want to go with your line, then Launch Your Line might be the website for you.

Launch Your Own Clothing Line

Launch Your Line was unveiled in March and I found it by mistake just a few days ago. It might only be new, but I immediately became excited. Launch Your Line promises to provide you with everything you need to create and launch your own products, from product design and manufacturing to business plans and marketing.

Admittedly, my ideas for my own fashion line are in the very early stages. The very early stages. I have a handful of sketches and nothing else, not even a name. I certainly don’t have the money to launch a line. I began to sign up (it’s free) but it seems as though you have to have more than a few sketches if you want to make the most of the website. After your personal details, you have to pick a product category for your line (e.g. apparel, food, shoes) and then a sub-category (e.g. if you pick apparel, you then narrow it down to dresses).

It seems that once you sign up, you get a dashboard where it walks you through creating a product from start to finish. For example, you need a manufacturer. The idea here is that manufacturers can sign up to provide their services and they can “bid” on your project.

I would love to see if anyone is able to use this website to bring a dream to fruition. If you’re like me and you need lists and order in your life, you probably would be well-advised to use a website that helps you every step of the way. If my plans for my own fashion line ever get off the ground, I would probably be tempted to use this website. In the meantime, I thought it was worth sharing with all you aspiring designers out there.

Coachella Fashion

April 20, 2009

{ 5 comments }

After spending the entire weekend (and today) in rainy Boston, it was somewhat heartbreaking to see all the photos this morning of fashion at the Coachella Music Festival. I wish I could’ve been there.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to a music festival myself and I always love checking out the fashion from music festivals, especially with three of my favorite blondes in attendance.

Coachella Fashion

KATE BOSWORTH:  Kate has jumped on the bandage-skirt bandwagon for this festival outfit, pairing a red lace number with a slinky white tank top.  Kate often flies under my style radar but I love how she has managed to look modern, on trend and comfortable all at once.

CHLOE SEVIGNY:  Wearing a simple floral dress over a t-shirt, this look is reminiscent of 90s grunge, one of Chloe’s favorite fashion eras, it seems.  Add to that some black socks, red lipstick and a pair of Birkenstock sandals and you get one festival outfit that is all Chloe and totally unique.

KIRSTEN DUNST:  Remaining calm in the face of fashion-obsessed onlookers, Kirsten has served up a simple festival outfit, comprised of a vintage-inspired lace dress, flip flops, wayfarer sunglasses and her style staple, messy rocker-chic hair.  Kirsten is not the most fashionable at the event, but probably the most comfortable.

YOU MIGHT LIKE:  Zoe Kravitz Fashion (rocking the Birkenstocks) or Chloe Sevigny Fashion

Fashion Inspiration, April 2009

April 10, 2009

{ 8 comments }

Fashion inspiration for April includes the Miu Miu clutch, headbands, London “cool”, Native American prints, Western style, thigh high boots, Topshop New York, Sex & The City and Ray Ban sunglasses.

Fashion Inspiration, April 2009

MIU MIU CLUTCH: I have been lusting after this amazing tie-dye clutch from Miu Miu for a long time. The last time I saw anything semi-close to this on Ebay, it went for $1,750. The last time I had money of that kind, I can’t even remember. Mostly I love the colors, the deep eggplant-purple with the bright red, and it looks great set against Mary Kate’s white dress.

HEADBANDS: I know this trend has been totally overdone but it’s too easy to throw on a headband when you are having a bad hair day or want to add something to an otherwise plan outfit. Unfortunately, whenever I try to simply “throw on” a headband, my hair ends up with an Amy Winehouse-style beehive. The perils of having thick hair.

LONDON COOL: This group of London socialites/hipsters/whatever is getting larger and more notorious by the second. I admit it, though; I’m hooked on photos of them. When I used to live in London (2005-2007), I would spend most weekends walking around, people watching and window shopping. Wherever you went, there was a certain style that seemed to be pertinent to that area. Camden girls had a look reminiscent of Pixie Geldof/Alice Dellal. Oxford Circus girls had a look that was evocative of Peaches Geldof/Alexa Chung. Notting Hill = Sienna Miller style and so on. I miss London and these pictures bring me back, since I’ll probably never live there again.

NATIVE AMERICAN PRINTS: When I first arrived in America in January, the winter was still in full swing and I really wanted to find myself a huge cape to wear. I found this picture and suddenly, my style hunt had changed from capes to Native American-style prints. Adding this to a cape would be a bonus. I love the red, black and white together.

WESTERN STYLE: Another style that I have found myself drawn to lately – the Western look. I’m talking cowboy style; tooled leather belts, turquoise jewelry (I’m a sucker for turquoise rings. I have 30+.), suede fringe vests, beaten up jeans. Of course, I wouldn’t wear all this together but I like the thought of pairing the different elements with other styles.

THIGH HIGH BOOTS: These gorgeous boots are from the 2008 collection of an Australian designer, Willow, but boots like these have been doing the rounds for the last few years. I’m pretty sure Chloe had an amazing pair circa 2005/2006 and Madonna wore a pair in some ads for Louis Vuitton. I want a pair in black or dark brown and I want to pair them with floral dresses, bandage dresses, jeans, everything. I love how skin-tight they are and how they lace the entire way up. I’m not sure if I would have the patience, though, to sit and tie them up each morning and then unlace them each night as I barely have the patience to untie/tie any shoe – I opt for the slip/tug on option (usually ruining my shoes in the process). I wouldn’t say no to these though.

Géraldine Saglio

April 6, 2009

{ 2 comments }

I think I would be hard pressed to find a fashion blogger who doesn’t find French women as super-stylish as I do. Geraldine Saglio is no exception.

Whenever I look at French women, I have to ask myself a few things. How do they make always wearing black so appealing? Why do they always have really long legs? Why do they always have perfect brunette hair!?

Geraldine looks incredible in every picture. From pairing a sharp blazer with a pair of wide leg jeans and a clutch, to wearing the same ankle boots with four totally different outfits, she really knows what she is doing!

Geraldine Saglio

Want to imitate her style? You will need some key pieces. Black opaque tights to be worn with everything. Crisp tees and soft cashmere sweaters in neutral tones, such as black, grey and white. Mini dresses and skirts to show off your long legs. Smart blazers to be worn in autumn. Leather belts to add a tough side to any outfit. Simple silver jewelry such as a bracelet or thin pendant necklace.

Make sure to keep your face looking natural and fresh with minimal make up. Your hair should be simple with a hint of waviness and a slightly messy look.