Favortie Things: (Faux) Fur

Image via Posh24.com

I'm not gonna lie, only three years ago I thought this look was extremely tacky and over-the-top, but faux fur has recently been on the top of my lookbook, especially going into the winter.  Rachel Zoe is the queen of fur, and, I'll admit, is probably a large reason I have taken to it like I have.  I just love the elegant, sophisticated vibe fur gives off and I wish I could wear it in Eugene without sticking out like a sore thumb.

Why Didn't I Think of That?

Image via Kembrel.com

Introducing...Kembrel!!

Although the way I stumbled upon this private shopping community  was a bit ironic (thanks, Dad), I sincerely think it's a brilliant concept.  Brand-name fashions at deep (40-80% deep) discounts exclusively for college students, what could be better?  You may be asking yourself what the catch is, and, to be honest, I did the same thing.  But this stuff is actually for real!  Brand collections are updated every five days so it never gets old, and shipping is even free over $50!  Previous brands have included American Apparel, Lovely People Shoes and C&C California--and yes, it's good stuff!  Click here to create an account; all you need is an .edu e-mail address.

image via Kembrel.com

Top 5: Northwest Weather Must-Haves

 I'm always under-prepared for the rainy, chilly, windy, miserable (at times) weather in Eugene. I hear it all the time from my mother, "Lauren, why don't you have a waterproof jacket?  Why don't you have anything to wear?  Where's that ski jacket we bought you four years ago?"  Truth is, Mom, it's painful for me to cover up my carefully selected ensemble with an article of clothing people should only see on the bunny slopes.  Believe it or not, there are ways to stay warm and dry while maintaining a fashionable presence.  Here are my top 5 essentials for Eugene winter weather:

Classic Trench-American Eagle

Statement Rain Boots-Hunter

Cozy Scarf-Banana Republic

Fingerless Gloves-Diane Von Furstenberg

Knit Hat- Eugenia

1. Trench
-A classic trench is a great investment for the Northwest.  As an item that literally never goes out of style, this jacket will become a go-to for years to come.  Paired with a warm sweater, it's perfect for those drizzly, dreary days that make you want to crawl right back into bed. And for the days that straight-up rain?  Grab a stylish umbrella (as seen here) to complement it.


2. Rainboots
-When rain starts flooding the streets, there really is no other option.  Luckily, there are thousands of adorable styles to fit any personality, mood, and budget.  A favorite, of course, are Hunter rain boots, but Target also offers many varieties online for a more affordable option.

3. Scarves
-One of my favorite accessories.  I love the versatility of scarves, especially in the winter; they're warm and cozy and can make or break an outfit.  Infinity or circle scarves are popular this year for the layering effect, so take advantage and stock up!  You can find my favs at Banana Republic and B.P. at Nordstrom.


4.Gloves
-I never remember these before leaving the house, and it's obvious when I get to class and my hands are white in color and completely numb.  One of the most annoying things about gloves is the inability to actually use your hands when wearing them (what a concept).  This year, however, fingerless gloves are in demand...thank gawd.


5. Hats
-Weather can have all kinds of effects on hair--and we all know that a bad hair day can do wonders for one's mood.  Some days just call for a hat and there's no shame in that; there are many fashionable options to hide a bad hair day, or an anticipated bad hair day.  Try Asos.com , it's by far my favorite place to shop for winter accessories.

-L.

image of puddles via google

H&M Hits PDX

Thursday, November 11 (11/11--fun!) was an exciting day in Downtown Portland for Oregon fashionistas.  H&M, Europe's leading fashion retailer, opened its doors to a line around the block filled with anxious shoppers ready to take advantage of the many reasonably-prices trends.  My out-of-state friends (ya know, the cool ones who live in California where H&M stores are as abundant as palm trees) laugh at how genuinely excited I was to hear H&M was coming to "little ole' Portland".  My response back?  H&M is like...one small step for Portland, one giant leap for Portland fashion.  I was born and raised here, PDX is my home, and I'm happy that we're making a little progress here.  So, I may not probably won't stay here after I graduate--other places remain undiscovered--but I will forever support the Northwest.

Based on H&M's goal "to ensure that the business is operated with the minimum use of resources and with as little impact on the environment as possible.", I'm actually surprised it took 'em so long to get here.  Oregon prides itself on a highly sustainable reputation--seems like the perfect fit if you ask me.  I mean, Lanvin is even teaming up with H&M, who wouldn't want to check it out?  The campaign video tells it all, view it below!

Strategy: Gap Social Media Strategy Flops

Although the number of social media users is growing drastically, a recent event proved that location sharing is still widely misunderstood.  Gap recently attempted to generate buzz through Facebook's "Places", a tool similar to Foursquare that allows you to "check-in" at your location, by giving away jeans to those who "checked-in" at Gap using the Facebook feature.  Reviews on this strategy were split between a Fast Company magazine review, and users who participated in the giveaway; participants voiced a number of problems despite the magazines deeming it a "huge success".  Some stores gave jeans away to anyone who simply mentioned the promotion, and others ran out of jeans within minutes of opening its doors.

Needless to say, we still have a long way to go before location-sharing becomes mainstream. 

images via google

Favorite Things: Stripes

I admit, I'm a lover of stripes (hence the blog name); at least 1/4 of my closet is made up of them.  Of course, I've always known this myself, but two days ago my friend greets me with "you really love stripes don't you?". I guess people are starting to notice.  Here are some of my fav striped looks:

via lookbook.nu

Target Meets Steve Madden

                                                               VS.

Every year Target comes out with at least one boot modeled after a Steve Madden favorite.  Last year it was the INTYCE (a) and this year it's the ROADY (b).  As much as I appreciate and admire the brains behind the shoe designs, let's face it--I'm a poor college student on a tight budget.  I just bought the Roady replicas yesterday and broke them in today at work.  Yes, its synthetic material and yes, there is absolutely no traction whatsoever (I found out the hard way), but for $34.99 they look and feel pretty damn good.


 (a)

(b)

via google images



Definitely recommended.  And to Steve Madden:  Someday, when I'm out in the working world with a salary, I'll be all yours!

Favorite Things: Over-the-Knee Socks

I've always really loved this look, but only recently noticed how popular it has become.  It's a cheap way to really make a statement; I'm just going to have to figure out a way to pull this off in rainy, Oregon weather.

images via lookbook.nu

STRATEGY: Marie Claire's Twitter Approach

Twitter has been a recent concentration in my Strategic Communications class, so when I came across an article about Marie Claire's Twitter Strategy, I thought it was completely appropriate to discuss.

As a magazine that actually posts regular updates and engages with its followers, Marie Claire has created and maintained a strong presence through social media, which many magazines have yet to do.  Web Associate, Diana Vilbert, who manages the account on a daily basis, emphasizes the importance in tweeting interesting stories, tips or information that will appeal to the largest range of readers possible.  She says Twitter is not a place to talk at your readers, but rather somewhere to start conversation.

Since Marie Claire began tweeting in January, referrals have increased from 5.7K to 21.8K.  In addition to referrals, they actively search for mentions of Marie Claire (as opposed to replies to @marieclaire) and reach out to those tweeters to let them know they're there.

Check here for "5 TwitTips for a Successful Twitpitch".

images here

Fall Favorites

Fall Favorites. Click here for details on all the items.

PRCouture.com

A career in the fashion industry has literally fueled my way through college and remains a daily inspiration in my life.   It took me awhile to figure out where I could actually fit into the industry and how my skills as a PR major would be applicable, but I've started to create a vision for my future.

I was so excited to stumble across PRCouture.com awhile ago because it provides a hub for my two loves: PR and Fashion.  Through interviews with CEO's of Fashion PR firms, strategies on how to break into the industry, and postings for internships, part-time and full-time jobs, PR Couture has become my online career bible.

One interview I wanted to share with you is with Malorie Kaye, CEO from New York City's Cameo PR.  As I was reading through her responses, I immediately connected with how she envisioned her future when she was younger. This quote describes exactly why  I am so passionate about Fashion PR:

"With PR you have the ability to be a part of every detail, from forecasting trends and working on designer collections to introducing the world to exciting new projects and watching your clients flourish into household names."

-L.
Image 1- PR Couture Logo, PRCouture.com
Image 2- Malorie Kaye, PRCouture.com

Fashion Meets PR

Yes, I admit, I have neglected my blog for the past three months.  Typically, during the summer, it's even easier to find some extra free time, but these past couple months were unexpectedly busy.  First of all, moving mass quantities of personal belongings three times in one summer (with no air conditioning) is both exhausting and time consuming.  The last move was a happy transition into my first actual house with four great roommates, but, of course, this included a demand for furnishings...for the entire house.  Kitchenware, furniture, electronics, along with the set-up of utilities and services (including a long, and painful situation with Comcast) were among many on the list.  All this combined with an internship, job at Banana Republic and craving to live every second to its fullest during my last year as a college student = no blogging.  

My point within all of these excuses and ramblings is that I'M BACK! Ok, so it took a class within the public relations sequence in the Journalism school to actually realistically promise you that I will start posting two times per week (at least), but who cares, right? Now that I'm a senior with the "real world" inching closer every day, I am beginning to explore career options within the industry that I'm most passionate about.  These posts will still focus on fashionable opinions and random inspirations, but will now also include a PR perspective somewhere in the mix.   

Can't wait to see where the next ten weeks go!

-L.

Paper or Plastic?

I love to people watch. Besides the entertainment factor in catching someone slightly trip over his/her own feet right in front of you (and actually believing that nobody saw), there's an entire lookbook of streetstyle at your fingertips. I've tried to build a habit of grabbing my camera every time I leave the house, and although I tell myself I will document each ingenious fashion creation I come accross, somehow I always fail to live up to my expectations. However, today I vowed that I would remember every minute detail of this woman's outfit, and for the past hour have tried to reconstruct it through the use of my personal Holy Grail: The Internet.



I've recently grown to adore skirts (especially now that the weather actually allows me to wear them). My favorite? Tight, cotton, pencil skirts. They're versatile, cheap, and sexy, but today actually changed my life. The Paperbag waistline has moved on up to #1 on my list, and let me just tell you why.

A. Sinching at the waistline allows anyone to wear a tight fitting tee or tank because it successfully hides any problem areas around the belly.

B. Detailing in the waistline adds character to the outfit, minimizing the need for too many accessories and making it easy to look "simply chic".

C. It's an extremely flattering fit, giving an hour glass appearance.

Thank you, random woman at the mall, for allowing me to fall in love.

Sincerely,

-L.

#1-Satin/Taffeta Paperbag Skirt-Baboosskaboutique.com
#2-AFRICA Printed Paperbag Skirt- Asos.com
#3-Rag & Bone Leather Paperbag Skirt- Barneys.com

Constantina

Finals week. The epitome of stress and procrastination. I have a mere two paragraphs left until freedom and instead I'm obsessing over the iPhone app "Sneezies' (don't play it, it will consume your life) and refreshing my Twitterfeed every five seconds as an excuse.

One discovery I do want to share, however, is Australian fashion designer, Constantina. Her pieces emulate a combination of my absolute favorite style elements in a refreshing and modern collection. The prices are extremely reasonable and you'll be wearing garments all the way from Aussie-land.

-L.

The Good, the Bad and the Blue: 2010 MTV Movie Awards

As expected, the 2010 MTV Movie Awards brought laughter, tears, surprising lip-locks (eh em Johansson and Bullock) and the widest array of personal style reflections imaginable. While some appearances left me itching to duplicate what I saw, others screamed desperation and should never be repeated.

My favorite look of the night (and quite possibly all year) was rocked by Christina Aguilera. Feathers, chains, a tasteful amount of exposed skin and a bold, red pout make this look irresistible. Since her drastic hairstyle change, however, I find an uncanny resemblance between Christina and Gwen Stefani. Thoughts?



Transitioning from a colorful lip to colorful hair can either be brilliant or simply a disaster. I respect those ballsy enough to experiment, don't get me wrong, but when your style prompts the humming of the Oompa Loompa song, you may want to reconsider your motives.

Others that missed the mark? Besides the shoes on Nikki Reed, there is absolutely nothing cutting edge, or interesting about these looks. Better luck next time.

Images via mtv.com and JustJared.com

-L.

Under my Umbrella, 'Ella

The good news is June has finally arrived. The bad news? So has the rain. While Eugene's winter was surprisingly dry, the wet weather has returned with a vengeance and without any sympathy for my new bikinis, sundresses and sandals that have yet to make their debut.

So, what do we do with summer in the air and drops of rain in the sky? Invest in a statement umbrella.

I came across pare*umbrella the other day and fell in love with the wide variety of flirty, feminine prints available. With its 36" diameter, you're sure to keep dry and even turn some heads in the process.

-L.

Spotted: Sarah Jessica Parker

I've always loved Sex and the City. Although I never quite understood many of Carrie Bradshaw's unique, eccentric style combinations, I admired the many different personalities she could portray through her outfits.

After coming across this photo, however, I couldn't be any more in l.o.v.e.

Her dress just exudes simplistic elegance while her shoes add an extra touch of personality and edge. Her perfect sunkissed locks, her glowing skin...ah I could go on forever. I guess you could say I've taken a liking to Sarah Jessica Parker's style and Carrie Bradshaws, well....everything else.


link- http://imagesheep.com/?v=sjphzh.jpg