Edited by Dramatis Personae

Fashion’s getting heavier– and I’m not just talking about the rise of supermodels like Crystal Renn. This week we’ve got meaty posts covering ethical topics like the sustainability of bamboo at Awakened Aesthetic while Bonne-Vie covers the the implications of buying items made in China. We’ve got not 1–not 2, but 3 AMAZING Interviews this week at Alice in Stilettos, kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS, and White Rabbit. Even Gala Darling’s post on her 2010 Style Direction could serve as a paperweight, it’s so chock full of inspiring images, details, and notations.

As usual, there’s a fabulous collection of links in the forums for your continued reading pleasure!

• Alice in Stilettos: – Interviewed brilliant 18 year old designer, Nathan Gerard!
• Awakened Aesthetic: – How Green is Your Bamboo?
• Bonne Vie: – At Bonne Vie, we talked about the impact of conscious spending on your wardrobe (and one girl’s journey to not buy “Made In China”)
• Cafe Fashionista: – Style Secrets: Stormy Sophistication. A comprehensive guide for the girl who wants to remain fashionable even in the midst of a monsoon!
• DailyDivaDish: – Vintage Broaches: 8 Unique ways to wear these treasures & more — includes many pics of different broaches & a DIY idea for reusing those with broken clasps.
• dramatis personae: – Following Your Instincts…When Meeting New People, When Shopping, When at Work, and When in Love
• Fashion Pulse Daily: – Ponders the significance of the C. Finley Wallpapered Dumpster Project
• For Those About to Shop: – nternational runway sensation Stacey McKenzie inspires aspiring models to be themselves.
• Gala Darling: – 2010 Style Direction: Psychadelic Ladies Who Lunch
• girl friday : – DIY Ribbon Necklace & Bracelet. tutoirial on how to make your own ribbon necklace.
• hello beauty! – In my post on Hello Beauty, I wrote about the new Bobbi Brown campaign. She’s using friends – not models.
• Idee Fixe: – Fashion and the arts charities supporting Haitian Relief on Idee Fixe
• In Life & In Fashion: – Make a “Most Coveted List” to avoid silly impulse spending! Includes tip on how to create your own list and what is currently on mine!
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: – How to Create Your Media Kit
• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS: – My exclusive interview with Inbar Spector, an Israeli London-based designer whose renowned avant garde Bjork-inspired designs have been worn by celebrities such as Rihanna.
• Model Max: – A special report on the history of male modeling – from the 1980s to the present time, with short profiles of selected male models who remain successful even after modeling.
• Oranges and Apples: – Top tips for organising your wardrobe
• Retro Chick – The 4 things I’ve always wanted but never owned
• THE COVETED – Marion Cotillard and Franz Ferdinand team up for Dior
• the fashionate traveller: – the rock/burlesque/voodoo vibe that is alternative Sydney label Baroque & Roll.
• White Rabbit: – Introducing Sorcha Gillet, the Irish born textile designer and blogger.

kissies,

Edited by Fashion Pulse Daily

This week, some of us looked back at icons of the past, such as // Fade to #c5c5c5’s Marchesa Luisa Casati, Fabulous Finds Gal ’s Horst photography post, and Cafe Fashionista’s take on Diana Vreeland’s famous quotes, while others looked at how far we’ve come, such as The Curvy Fashionista’s plus size fashion observations and A Dress & A Bike ’s thoughts on what it means to be sexy. Each post brought a unique angle to the subject at hand, and raised important topics of self-expression, style, adaptation, trends, individuality, and acceptance. It’s fascinating to examine our own fashion-related introspection, and think about how our inner selves, thoughts and feelings, are reflected through the clothing choices we make, the pairing of certain looks, and of course our writing and blogs.

• // Fade to #c5c5c5 – Marchesa Luisa Casati inspire artists, designers and authors till this day, more than 50 years after her death
• A Dress & A Bike – Discussion of the trends of ’sexy’
• Alice in Stilettos – Runway Review: The Colors for Spring!
• Bonnie Vie – Discussing retail hell and how both customers and sales associates can contribute to better shopping experiences for everyone.
• Cafe Fashionista – Why Don’t You…? In the spirit of Diana Vreeland; a post featuring luxurious things one can do to make themselves feel fabulous!
• ’cause I’d rather waste my life pretending – Bites sized interview with Stephanie J, Editor In Chief of N.E.E.T Magazine
• Cool Mama Style - Is there an ideal pair of panties?
• Dedicated- Gets downright nosey with Nadia Izruna of the gorgeous & girly indie label Nadinoo
• Denim Debutante – teaches you about discrepancies in denim sizing
• Dramatis Personae – How to Custom Order Goods from Your Indie Friends
• Fabulous Finds Gal - Horst photography is a study in elegance, style and rarefied glamour that spanned 60 years
• Fashion Pulse Daily - Finds the Habillees series on the Sundance Channel to be the perfect elixir for another hectic fashion week soon approaching!
• Fasshionaburu – Reviews an indie label from Australia she discovered called Evil Twin
• Independent Fashion Bloggers- How to cover fashion week….when you’re not there.
• Le Quaintrelle - A collection of Hermes-inspired outfits from my own closet.
• M.I.S.S. – She’s Crafty – Safety Pin Epaulets & Fringe Lapel Pin
• odetoawe - Love for the movie Cry-Baby, and how to get Traci Lords’ rockabilly look
• Rags to Reverie - Fantastic plastic to slip on your fingers
• Skinny Buddha - Sending out some love to the artists creating handmade items
• Style Symmetry - Interview with Audi of Fashion For Nerds
• The Coveted – Snow boots? Winter comfort or style?
• The Curvy Fashionista - Plus size fashion has picked up major steam, inspiring both yeas and nays for the latest in V magazine- stating it just a trend- or is it?

kissies,

Edited by Dream Sequins

My job as editor this week was difficult as many bloggers decided to follow the fierce directive of that cult cheerleading movie, Bring It On. It’s a new decade, and the IFB community decided to “bring it” and then some. (Just to clarify, I’m talking about the original movie starring Kirsten Dunst, and not the subsequent, watered down sequels; because as fashion bloggers, we all have original stories to tell!) This week’s links explore topics such as winter trends, vintage fur care, biker chic style revelations and profiles of 70s and 80s style icons and are so good that they make me want to lead the group in a cheer.

• 39th and Broadway – NYC Brings Opportunity to Emerging Designers
• A Typical Atypical – My style revolution takes me into the realm of the biker chick, and doesn’t look back!
• amanda lee dot org – Essential sewing skills for wardrobe maintenance
• Bobbins and Bombshells – Fashionable History – Airline Travel
• DailyDivaDish – Indie jewelry designer Debra Mitchell’s newest piece: Tibet. Part of the new SALVAGE line, this necklace is convertible and each contains a piece salvaged from Tibet.
• Darian Darling – The blonde fashion icon of every 80’s Hair Metal skank and rock star’s girlfriend!!
• denimaniac – Woolrich Woolen Mills S/S 2010 Lookbook
• Dream Sequins – A studio visit with designer Katie Gallagher
• Fashion Pulse Daily – We Love Colors will fulfill your legwear fantasy, as Fashion Pulse Daily quickly discovers!
• ferOHHHsh – Bryce d’Anice Aime S/S 2010 RTW … chic LBD’s, pops of red, and those spiked shoulders Rihanna made famous
• Gotham Hipster – Once you’ve indulged in Babycakes there’s no going back
• HiFashion – How to roller set your hair
• Idiosyncratic Style – The Personal Style of Costume Designer, Melissa Stewart
• Oranges and Apples – On the importance of critique in fashion blogging
• Retro Chick – 5 New Years Resolutions you can’t fail to keep
• sighsandwhispers – A history and analysis of the style of a notorious teenage groupie in the 70s, Lori Maddox
• Style on a String – An interview with Judy Kou, owner of the fabulous online dress shop – Sunday Brunch Dress
• Styletastic – We’re finding it hard to adjust to a new year at Styletastic, but here are some things we can all look forward to!
• The Bargain Hunter Extraordinaire – I already knew I was going to wear a black sequins belt and beret for NYE, but I wanted some fun shoes to add to the mix; I couldn’t find anything I liked though, so I decided “when in doubt, make your own”
• The door in my wardrobe – How to choose a vintage fur and take care of it – plus DIY repairing & maintenance for the brave of the heart
• wit & whimsy – The winter trends you should be wearing

kissies,

Edited by Dramatis Personae

The countdown has begun–not only until the end of the year–but until the end of the first decade in the 21st century. That’s kind of amazing to think about. Styletastic and Sway, Sway, Away! both look at fashion from the Oughts with two distinctly different visions. [the3st] interviews the founder of ModCloth, while Wicked & Whimsy reviews Closet Confidential (by the hilarious Winona of DaddyLikey fame!).

• 39thandbroadway.com: – How Brands Get Burned By Celebs
• A Typical Atypical: – Suffering from Buyers Remorse: The Real Deal
• Brunette and Pink: – Makeup Tutorial: Leighton Meester Inspired Winged-out Smoky Eye Look
• DailyDivaDish – Create a sparkling New Year’s look with the Tarte Treasure Chest Giveaway. Enter to this limited edition kit.
• Friend in Fashion – Sugar and spice and all things nice – Unearthing the unique designs of the fabulous, Arizona based designer Monique Martinez, through the captive lense of Galaxie Andrews.
• Grit and Glamour: – The Trend Conundrum–rends are a tricky thing; what makes some women look so pulled together is not a wardrobe full of the latest styles and trends, but the ability to know which ones to avoid.
• i’m the it girl: – My Love Affair With Hermes and the Great Debate: Kelly or Birkin?
• Idiosyncratic Style: – 12 Great Holiday DIY Projects – give something special this year (even if you are short on time and money)
• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS: – My most amazing (and green!) find this year: Denim Therapy, a company who will restore your tattered favorite jeans to like-new condition. Seriously.
• La Société de Mode | The Fashion Society: – Combats are stomping their way back into style
• Pursed Lips: – Thoughts/quotes on Lady Gaga as a powerful tool, if a difficult one to reach, for designers.
• Style on a String – Getting down to the wire: Gifts for the Stylish Geek who is kind of Girly too
• Styletastic: – As the 00’s are coming to en end, we look back at the fashion memories that will define the decade. Ah the memories!
• Sway Sway Away!: – Sway Sway Away! presents Caitie’s bitching and moaning on the worst trends of the Aughts.
• THE COVETED – Love it or Leave it : Rodarte for Target
• The Fashion Planner: – The Fashion Planner shows you how to make a jaunty beret.
• The Working Wardrobe: – Beware of “business casual” being too casual for the workplace.
• tick tick heart: – A focus on the varying fashions of some of our quirkier leading ladies in film.
• White Rabbit: – Pros and Contras of Artificial Nails
• Wicked Whimsy: – Closet Confidential: A Review
• [the3st]: – Success & Getting There: Interview with Susan of ModCloth.com

kissies,

Choices, Choices!
Edited by Dream Sequins

• A Typical Atypical – Get into vintage 50’s housewife mode for the Christmas season!
• Bobbins and Bombshells – Fashionable History: L’Officiel de la Mode Archives
• Brunette and Pink – Holiday Makeup Inspired by the Sephora 2009 Holiday Sephora Catalog using Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. II
• dramatis personae – High Fashion & High Art… Two Worlds Apart? Thoughts, Arguments, & Solutions for the Knock-off Debate
• Dream Sequins – A bling-tastic evening at jewelers, Doyle and Doyle.
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Fashion Pulse Daily finally finds a handbag that meets her very particular requirements.
• Fashion X K8 – Spotlighting the stylishly subtantial Desirée Rogers and challenging the press’s idea that those who fill jobs seeped in tradition should not only maintain the “tradition” but refrain from being eye-catching.
• Fasshonaburu – Shopping for the Geek Chic Girl: Holiday shopping advice for the girl who loves fashion as much as video games, gadgets and Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
• M.I.S.S. – She’s Crafty: DIY Ruffled Suspenders
• Oranges and Apples – The Sapeurs: vibrant and elegant street style from the Congo.
• Rags to Reverie – A Fab Four Fanatic’s review of the Comme des Garçons x The Beatles collaboration.
• Retro Chick – Fashion Economics – Are low cost retailers forcing us to be wasteful?
• Sophisticated Insanity – Take a look at the lady behind Rare bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel
• Style on a String – Leggings vs. Tights: The difference, how to buy them and what to wear (and not wear) with them.
• Style Symmetry – Christmas Gift Ideas for Him, For Her and Secret Santa…
• The Bargain Hunter Extraordinaire – Two days ago, it was 36 degrees out…today, I didn’t even have to a jacket- that’s New England!
• THE COVETED – Love bold red lips? Check out the Ultimate Red holiday collection.
• TheWorkingWardrobe – Here are some tips on how men can work jewelry at the office without any raised eyebrows.
• Thrift Eye – Dreaming of Shearling: Save up for the nice stuff and be warm or go with the cheap and be cold?
• ventures of jenn. – A spotlight on Berlin label Reality Studio.
• Wicked Whimsy – Practical Quality: Looking into what the difference, if any, is between a mid-range item & a designer item.

kissies,