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!