Fashion Forum

Technicolor

2007-09-07T15:05:00.000-04:00

According to the reviews coming out from day one of New York City's fashion week, gray may be here today but it'll be gone tomorrow. Spring lines are bursting with color - and not just any color but technicolor. Expect to see much more of the bright blues, pinks, yellows, and purples that we are starting to get a glimpse of already as stores roll out their fall and winter lines.
And in case you were wondering, colors for the falls aren't going to be modeled after Joseph's technicolor coat - next season color blocking is going to be everywhere. Intricate patterns won't be as big as chunks of colors to create a number of varying focal points.

If you've missed the reviews, here's what the critics and papers are saying:
Goodbye, Gray: Color's Back for Spring
Colors Pop on the Cynthis Steffe Catwalk
Mom/fashionista Stafani Enjoys This Stage of Life

Check back for more info on fashion week as it unfolds.

CFDA Awards

2007-06-05T17:24:00.000-04:00

The Council of Fashion Designers of America held its yearly gala event yesterday evening. the star-studded event awards fashion designers in a variety of categories. The 25th annual event was held at the New York Public Library. According to reports, the most shocking moment that evening was when both Oscar de la Renta and Proenza Schouler designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez won the Womenswear designer of the year award. According to industry commentators the tie signifies a blend of the old and new designers.

Here is the full list of winners:

Womenswear designer of the year: Oscar de la Renta, and Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler (tie)

Menswear designer of the year: Ralph Lauren

Accessory designer of the year: Derek Lam

Swarovski award for womenswear: Philip Lim

Swarovski award for menswear: David Neville and Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone

Swarovski award for accessory design: Jessie Randal for Loeffler Randall

And since it's a fashion night here are some pics of those who attended:

Summertime and the livin’s easy

2007-06-01T10:05:00.000-04:00

The Met opened a special exhibit on the first floor, entitled Poiret: King of Fashion, at the beginning of May.

Paul Poiret, who dubbed himself the ‘King of Fashion’ is best known for ridding women’s fashion of the restrictions of corsets and platoons. But he also managed to create intricate styles, and cuts, despite the fact that he could not sew – an interesting problem for a fashion personality.

According to the Met’s write-up, the exhibit focuses “on his technical ingenuity and originality, the exhibition explores Poiret’s modernity in relation to and as an expression of the dominant discourses of the early 20th century, including Cubism, Classicism, Orientalism, Symbolism and Primitivism.”

For more information and to see the NYT’s review of the exhibit click here.

The display will be up until August 5th.

Sidenote:
At the beginning of May the Met had a gala event to kick-off the exhibit and a number of fashion personalities and celebrities showed up. Here are a couple…

Dressin' It Up

2007-05-30T12:46:00.000-04:00

Unless you’re super-spacey you know that the dress is in this season. And it’s not the dress your mother wore in the 80s, these are sleek, sophisticated, ultra feminine and usually very simple. Here’s our picks for the summer.

This simple cut black sleeveless dress from Ann Taylor retails at $128. The fit through the waist and hips that then flows into an A-line shirt keep the feminine figure proportional. The length hits just below the knee, as is the style now, and the fabric is light so that you’re not likely to be too hot in it despite the black color.
Plus it can easily be paired with a sweater or jacket for a chillier morning.

This Old Navy drop waist dress, which comes in both washed green and red, is the perfect dress when you are looking for easy-to-throw-on style. The drop waist gives structure to the material that would otherwise leave us looking boxy. And it’s only $24.50.
Plus you can pair this dress with a simple fitted t-shirt underneath for days that are not so hot.

White is really really in this season. But we all know it can be difficult to wear white all day without an accident or two ruining the look. Just sitting on a park bench can be a risk. This dress from JC Penney can help you breath easy in white. The green poppies on the bottom part of the skirt has the potential to hide any little dirt that decides to cling to you when you’re trying to look your best. Plus the thick straps offer you the support to feel confident in the dress and not worry about pulling it up as the day progresses and material stretches. Oh and it’s on sale for $39.99!
Pair the dress with a green accented short necklace that ends before the dress begins or a thick green headband.

While this dress from Banana Republic is a little pricier at $148 the unique style could be worth the pennies. It comes in off white, camel and black. The unique, almost boat-neck style, neck line allows this dress to stand apart from the many other simple, single-color dresses of the season. The slighter higher than usual waist line allows the dress to cinch together before the skirt begins its free flow to the knee.
Brighter up the dress with punchy jewelry or stand-out shoes and a purse.

Warning: For the Brave Only! This Urban Outfitters dress is one-of-a-kind! The front looks like two separate pieces, with different lengths and patterns; but there’s something about this dress that we love. It is selling for $98.
Go simple on the accessories so as not to overload the visual. And flat comfy shoes are ideal – we suggest blue ones.

Forever 21 excels at cheap, uber-fashionable pieces that are likely to only last you one season – if that. This dress, which retails at $27.80, combines the black and white trend of the moment with the polka dots that are gaining in popularity. Plus the big black buttons near the collar are a great touch that draw a little attention away from the polka-pattern and back to your face.

The length of this one could be a problem – if so pair it with simple black leggings or skinny-pant inspired capris. And go bold with the shoes! Red could be great.

Wrap dresses can be tricky to wear as they often tend to cling in all the wrong places. But this dress might just be busy enough to hide the clinginess and funky enough to get away with such a bold pattern. The gold purple and brown colors in oval-ish shapes are just too good to pass up. It’s selling at JC Penney for $60.

Dresses with a puff sleeve are big now. If you go for this look, make sure the dress is fitted elsewhere so it doesn’t look like you are a football linebacker. This slight floral pattern, for sale at Macy’s for $118, is not too busy and the simple accent at the waist will give you the structure you need. Be aware that bold pattern make us look bigger – if that’s a concern go for a dress like this that has a solid color or more simple pattern.

Here’s one option if patterns are too much for you. Plus this one has slightly less puffy sleeves This one can also be found at Macy’s for $69.

Don’t write-off Target clothes just because it is Target. This dress, which comes in several bright colors, can work double time as both a dress and skirt. While the full dress is a great look, you could also put a simple shirt over it in order to accent the great tie and flounce of the skirt. It sells for $34.99.
Long draping jewelry would work best with the dress – think something in a bold standout color like black or fuchsia.

Ok true this is a jumper not a dress – and we are not encouraging you try to wear it as a dress – but this one was too cute to not post. Kohls is selling this jumper in three different color combinations for only $14.99. We love the polka dots on the top and on the pockets, it coordinates perfectly with the stripes.

SIDENOTE:

The Jackie-O look is coming back. Now that women are wearing dresses some retailers are reverting back to the simple elegance that defined Jackie-O. And, as with all great styles that return to the shelves, this time around the look is getting tweaked. Bold patterns and colors accompany the basic collared, fitted bodice and full skirt.

And here’s a cute black version of the Jackie-O look from target for $39.99.

Dress wearing tips

2007-05-30T12:00:00.000-04:00

A slip is a must-have, even in the summer. A lot of dresses are made of sheer summer fabrics; which while leaving us feeling cooler in the summer heat can also leave us over-exposed. A simple light-weigh cotton or silk slip can go a long way and will also stop the dress from clinging.

Skirt length is ultra-important. If you are going to need to hold the skirt down as you walk down the street in a light breeze – the skirts too short. Do yourself a favor and try for longer lengths that will leave you less focused on the possibility of a flashing and more focused on those you’re spending time with.

A lot of dresses have scoop necklines. Don’t be afraid to pair those with a tank top underneath to offer more comfort and ease as you go about the day-to-day activities.

Hot Time Summer in the City

2007-05-25T15:14:00.000-04:00

This is a new feature Fashion Forum is going to post throughout the summer months. Even though we aren't in session with monthly meetings that doesn't mean the love for Fashion and Beauty needs to be put on hold too.

So, here's what you can do in NYC this weekend...
In Grand Central (42nd and Lexington - if you didn't know that) this weekend an exhibit on New York City films is being displayed. The New York Times ran an article about it this morning. The exhibit, entitled: Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies, is an ambitious exhibition of films, photographs and sets that begins today in Vanderbilt Hall, adjacent to the main concourse. The project was put together by James Sanders, based on his 2001 book of the same title, which shrewdly observes that two New Yorks — the real city and the screen fantasy — feed each other in a never-ending circle, according to the NYT.

The article mentions a handful of classics that will have screen shots on display, including Hitchock's North by Northwest, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Seven Year Itch and King Kong. Pictures from more modern movies, including Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and The Fisher King, will also be on display.

Celluloid Skyline, the mind behind the display, has an entire website dedicated to the exhibition. You can get the details about the pictures on display and the history behind the show here.

And It's a Wrap

2007-05-21T08:57:00.000-04:00

Fashion Forum hosted its final event of the 2006/07 school year on May 19th. Our speaker, Rachel Doyle, inspired those who attended with the story of how she founded GlamourGals seven years ago and her hopes and aspirations for the nonprofit going forward. She fielded questions from the audience on a variety of topics including how to find funding for an organization, where she wants to be in five years, and makeup trends she is seeing today.

Those who attended agreed that Rachel's most inspiring point was that GlamourGals differs from other organizations that focus on young women in that it does not stress 'me, me, me and me' but rather GlamourGals is about 'you'. Through the focus on another person Rachel says the high school girls involved in the group learn about compassion, become courageous, and in the end have a higher level of self esteem.

Stay tuned for our fall calendar - which we are currently finalizing with a number of stellar speakers!

Here are some pics from the last event...

May Flowers

2007-05-04T16:53:00.000-04:00

For our last official Fashion Forum event of the 2006-07 school year we decided to depart slightly from the normal path of speakers and invite someone who combines make-up, beauty and service.

On May 19th Rachel Doyle will talk to our group about a nonprofit group she founded that empowers high school and college girls and teaches an important lesson about where real beauty lies.

Rachel Doyle is the President and Founder of GlamourGals, a nonprofit organization that gives teenage girls the outlet to provide complimentary facials and makeovers to women in nursing homes, assisted living, and senior centers across the country.

Rachel has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and CBS's The Early Show. Rachel's work has been profiled in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Glamour, and CosmoGirl. She was named one of the first "CosmoGirls of the Year."

Rachel attended Cornell University where she received a BS in Policy Analysis and Management. She now works fulltime for GlamourGals and lectures across the country.

We hope to see you at the event. As always, it will be from 3pm - 5pm at Alderton House.

Alderton House is located at 117 E. 70th St. between Park and Lexington. Take the 6 line to 68th Street and walk up two blocks to get to there.

The admission fee is $10 and after the presentation there will be refreshments and a raffle. And as usual please feel free to bring friends. You can RSVP by leaving a post on the blog, leaving a message on our facebook group, or e-mailing us at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com.

April Style

2007-04-30T16:00:00.000-04:00

Fashion Forum had a great event on April 28th at Alderton. If you missed it here's the recap of the event (followed by some great pics).

Jessica Oberly and Marisa Savulich shared with attendees at the April event every step in the creation of a seasonal set of clothes. They both work for individual lines at Elie Tahari in Manhattan. Through stories from their day to day routine, pictures, a powerpoint presentation and video clips, they illustrated every move along the way.

After the presentation they fielded a number of questions from the audience. One attendee asked if it was difficult to make clothes that fit the line but didn't fit their own personal tastes. Marisa shared with us that while it can be a struggle in the beginning to make something you would not be interested in wearing, it becomes easier with time as you begin to think and see through the eyes of your clients while still holding on to your personal likes and dislikes.

At the end they shared the trends they see as continuing through the next year. According to Jessica and Marisa we should be on the look out for: florals, shorts of all kinds, metallics, patterned material and dresses in every shape and style.

Glamour in the City

2007-04-13T18:17:00.000-04:00

Our final speaker of the year (in May) is Rachel Doyle, the founder of GlamourGals, a non-profit focused on creating compassionate teen leaders through complimentary facials and makeovers given to our nation’s most vulnerable population: elderly women living in nursing homes.

Days before our event - there will be more info on that in the days to come - GlamourGals is hosting its third-annual Glamour in the City. It is sponsored by Maybelline New York and mini-makeovers will be given by Maybelline make-up artists. We've attended the event in the past and plan on attending again this year. We hope you will too!

Here are the details:
Thursday, May 17, 2007
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Ave. at 61st St)

There will be cocktails, live music, mini make-overs and The Glammy! awards will be presented.
Tracy Smith, co-anchor of the Saturday Early Show on CBS and national correspondent to the Early Show on CBS will be hosting the event.

You can RSVP here.

April Event Revised...

2007-04-12T17:37:00.000-04:00

Due to transporation difficulties we needed to change our April 28 speaker - but we kept with the designer theme and have pulled in two designers from Elie Tahari to share their passion for the industry with us. Here's the line-up...

Jessica Oberly is originally from Macomb, Michigan, a suburb north of Detroit. She attended private Lutheran grade school and high school, and worked at a department store as a sales associate before moving to Savannah, Georgia to pursue a B.F.A. in Fashion Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. While in school Jessica also worked as a beauty consultant for Victoria’s Secret, as well as for SCAD as an admissions representative. After finishing school, she moved to New York to start working in Design. Jessica currently lives in Astoria, Queens and works at Elie Tahari in Manhattan and has been for the past 4 1/2 years.

Marisa Savulich was born in Van Nuys, California but grew up in Murray Hill, New Jersey, a small part of Berkeley, Heights, New Jersey. Marisa attended public grade school andhigh school, and worked as a waitress at a cafe, before moving to Savannah, Georgia to pursue a B.F.A. in Fashion Design from Savannah College of Art and Design.
While in school she worked full time as a hostess, waitress, and bartender for an upscale seafood restaurant. After finishing school, Marisa moved to New York City to start working in Design. She currently lives in Hoboken, NJ and has worked for Elie Tahari for the past 3 1/2 years, designing Gianni Bini, a contemporary sportwear line sold exclusively for Dillard’s.

As usual... The event will take place at Alderton House (117 E. 70th St. between Lexington and Park) and begins promptly at 3:00 pm and usually concludes about 5:00 pm. Refreshments will be served. There is a $10 admission fee.

Please feel free to invite friends.

You can RSVP by shooting us a note at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com, leaving a note on our blog www.nyfashionforum.blogspot.com or on our facebook group's wall. We hope to see you there!

Tom Ford Shop Opens

2007-04-11T17:43:00.000-04:00

One of our group was strolling down Madison Avenue the other night and literally almost ran Tom Form over as he got out of his super-sweet car to attend the 'grand opening' celebration of his store. They had rolled out the red carpet, were popping the champagne, photographers were flashing pictures inside and outside and one of our Forumers was just trying to get home from the office. The body guards gave her a look when she cut across the red carpet in a hurry in front of a photographer - oh well.

The NYT ran a story on the store's opening. You can read it here. For a more down-to-earth fun look at the opening and the inside of the store check out Racked, a real estate blog that focuses on retail.

The store at 845 Madison Ave. is said to be the former Gucci designer's first ever store and certianly the first store along Manhattan's famous designer-avenue. Ford joins a number of designers on the Avenue, including his next-door neighbor Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Rents, Prada and Juicy Couture.

March Pics...

2007-04-08T13:41:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of the pics from our March event. We're looking forward to seeing many of you at the April 28th event!!!

April's Speaker

2007-04-05T15:01:00.000-04:00

Fashionistas... get ready for our April 28th event!

Just back in New York City after showing her collection at Paris Fashion Week, Mary Ping is going to tell us about the industry, taking us 'behind the scenes' with her.

Mary Ping presented her debut collection in New York in 2001, after receiving a Bachelor of Art degree from Vassar College in fine art. Her work has since been acquired by the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology as part of their permanent collection and will also be included in this year’s Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition on contemporary New York style.

In 2005, Mary Ping was the recipient of the Ecco Domani Award for New Designers and the 7th on Sixth/UPS Presents Fashion’s Future Award, which sponsored and featured her Spring/Summer 2006 collection in Bryant Park. She is also the designer behind the line Slow and Steady Wins the Race, a project that has attracted praise and notoriety for its sartorial wit and experimentation. In 2006 Slow and Steady Wins the Race was featured in the second edition of Fashion Gallery curated by Nathalie Ours with Olivier Saillard and M/MParis. Ping is known for her sensitivity to the construction, meaning, and conceptual understanding of designs, and tends toward a sensibility that is grounded in three-dimensionality, both architectural and sculptural. Her work has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, WWD, V,Paper and Nylon.

As usual... The event will take place at Alderton House (117 E. 70th St. between Lexington and Park) and begins promptly at 3:00 pm and usually concludes about 5:00pm. Refreshments will be served after Ping speaks. There is a $10 admission fee.

Please feel free to invite friends.

You can RSVP by shooting us a note at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com, leaving a note on our blog www.nyfashionforum.blogspot.com or on our facebook group's wall. We hope to see you there!

And if you made it to our Feb. event, you'll be familar with Opening Ceremony, the store at 35 Howard St. here, which is now hosting several of Ping's designs.

Wish you were there...

2007-03-30T17:53:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it here’s what we did on March 24th…

Patria Lincoln, a FIT sophomore and designer, impressed us with her latest project: a 60’s themed coat. Patria, who originally hails from the Chicago area, walked attendees through the whole design and creation process; beginning with researching 60’s wear and ending with a killer yellow coat complete with a hood that resembles a ducks beak.

During her high school years Patria realized she had a talent for designing outfits. She would put together dresses for all the big school dances and play around with different designs on her father’s old t-shirts and thrift store sweatshirts. While working at her mother’s salon one of the customers offered to sell Patria’s products in a specialty clothing store she owned. From then on she was always designing.

Now in the midst of her second year here in New York City, she is astounded at the amount of things she knew nothing about when starting her design major. Every day she learns something new. This semester she is focusing on the creation of intimate apparel and says there is nothing better than creating something you can be proud of.

Next year Patria will take her design skills abroad through an FIT program in Milan. There she will hone her knitwear skills as well as take in the sights and sounds of the Italian city.

Stay tuned for pictures from the event and information about our April event.

It's So You

2007-03-28T14:04:00.000-04:00

We’re always looking for good fashion books that offer helpful tips and solid advice for all fashion personalities and body types. If you’re interested in the same king of literature check out “It’s So You: Fitting Fashion to Your Life” by Mary Sheehan Warren. You can read more about the book here.

The book, which came out in January, is basically a how-to guide for creating your own style. According to the publisher, “It’s So You! offers a radical new approach to fashion that helps you discover and develop your personal style. You can put fashion in its place, making it a tool for your personal and professional growth—and save heaps of money at the same time.

With a light-hearted and easy tone, Mary Sheehan Warren guides you through key “Fashion Moments of Truth” and explains the elements of style—body type, palette, wardrobe planning, accessories—with well-organized explanations, helpful checklists, friendly anecdotes, witty quotations, answers to frequently-asked questions—and over 400 detailed illustrations.

Warren is available for personal consultations if you live in the Midwest region and she is currently working on her second fashion book that will have an even greater focus on the young adult audience. If you want to fill out a survey for her latest project there are more details on her site.

It’s So You! is so cool!

Mark Your Calendar: March 24

2007-03-14T09:33:00.000-04:00

Fashion Forum friends... Get ready because we have a great line-up of speakers for the rest of the Spring!!!

Our next speaker will be Patria Lincoln. Patria is a sophomore at FIT and a designer. She specializes in creating coats and intimate apparel and has sold her designs at the Chicago boutique "All About Me". Her designs have been showcased at the Baruch College Fashion Show and for several years Patria has worked as a volunteer and assistant coordinator with Gregory Moore for such labels as John Bartlett, Sass, and Bide at Olympus Fashion Week
Before beginning to design her own lines, Patria was a design intern at SML Sport, a private label knitwear company.

She will walk us through the design process: illustrating how she takes an idea and turns it into reality.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 24!!! As usual the event will take place at Alderton House from 3-5 pm. Refreshments will be served.

Alderton House is located at 117 E. 70th St (b/t Park and Lexington avenues). Via subway it can be reached by taking the 6 train to 68th St, walking up two blocks and turning left onto 70th St.

What you missed this Feb...

2007-03-01T09:07:00.000-05:00

If you didn’t make it to our February event you missed a great time. Our fashion panel of young women shared with our group the ins and outs of their professional work, the backgrounds that got them there and their aspirations for the future.

Isa told us about working for the New York City ballet repairing tutus and corsettes for the performers and how that led her to designing hats for Rod Kennan, a high-end hat designer. The hats Isa and the rest of Kennan’s team design are sold at Barney’s in New York and have been exclusively made for Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg, to name a few. Kennan was kind enough to lend Isa several hats from their latest collection for us to look at and try on.

Madeleine talked about getting a job at Opening Ceremony, a SoHo boutique, and how she has worked her way up since starting there to designing several of the pieces that are sold there. She said the most rewarding part of her job is when she is ringing up a customer who is happily purchasing one of the garments she has made.

Trish works at one of New York’s Anthropologie locations designing the window and inner store displays. She walked us through the process of getting the position from sending her portfolio, conducting phone interviews and making a box with only $10 worth of supplies. Now she has the task of creating interesting and eye catching displays on a tight budget and recycling as much as possible.

The passion and enthusiasm Isa, Madeleine and Trish have for their professions inspired many of the events attendees. Many walked away determined to work harder in school, stretch their creative comfort zones and shoot for internships in the companies our speakers work at.

Model Size Discussion Continues

2007-01-25T12:22:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting article from Reuters today on the major fashion countries joining to discuss the unhealthy size of models on the runway. It was published on Yahoo news.

PARIS - The powerful fashion federations of France, Italy, the United States and Britain have decided to address the controversy over ultra-thin models, the French body said Thursday.

The fashion industry has been widely attacked for promoting the kind of stick-thin images which critics say contribute to eating disorders in young women and some countries have taken cautious measures to bring more weight onto the catwalks.

Spain barred models below a certain body mass from Madrid fashion shows in September and organizers of New York's fashion shows this month issued guidelines to tackle the problem, although stopping short of banning them.

"All actors concerned must get involved in the matter of information," France's fashion federation said Thursday, adding delegates from Italy's, Britain's and America's fashion bodies had discussed the issue jointly at talks Wednesday.

"La Federation de la Couture, la Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the British Fashion Council ... decided to participate in this reflection, in liaison with respective public authorities."

The federation did not give any details on the form of cooperation.

The French industry group had agreed to hold talks with the French health ministry on the issue, it added.

The head of the French fashion federation, Didier Grumbach, said earlier this week Paris would not take extra measures to ban ultra-skinny models from catwalks because its rules on their health were already strict.

"We must be attentive and inform young women but not regulate even more," Grumbach said on the sidelines of an haute couture show in Paris Monday.

France's health minister has said he wants a working group to assess the impact that images of skinny models have on young women.

The fashion world has been debating the issue of ultra-thin models, with many designers and models shrugging off concern that they encourage eating disorders in girls and young women.

Italy's government and its fashion chiefs have signed a pact aimed at keeping models who appear sickly thin off the catwalk by requiring them to prove they are in good health.

Brazil has also launched a campaign to ban underage, underweight models from its catwalks in response to the death of a Brazilian model from complications due to anorexia.

Facebook

2007-01-23T12:42:00.000-05:00

Fashion Forum is now a Facebook Group! To join in the conversation, check out upcoming events, and see pictures from our past meetings you can now join our group. (You don't even have to be a FF member or attendee to join.) So Facebook us!!

February Event

2007-01-23T09:31:00.000-05:00

It was great to see a lot of you at the January event! Here's what we are cooking up for February.... Hope to see you there!

Mark your calendars for FEBRUARY 24TH at 3:00 pm!
We're having a board of three young professionals in the fashion industry share what it's like to be a young fashion insider in these exciting fields.
Trish- works at Anthropologie on their window displays.
Isa- works for high-end hat designer, Rod Kennan.
Madeleine- works at Opening Ceremony, a SoHo boutique.

Alderton House is located at 117 East 70th Street, between Lexington and Park avenues.
Take the 6 train to 68th St., walk up two blocks, and then make a left on 70th.

Questions? Shoot us an e-mail at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com or drop a comment here!

The Weight of Fashion

2007-01-09T14:10:00.000-05:00

The how-skinny-is-too-skinny debate has taken another interesting turn, as reported in Women’s Wear Daily today. Last summer Madrid put restrictions on the size a model prowling the cat-walk could be. Requiring a certain body mass that roughly translates to a model weighing more than 120 lbs. At first there was outrage at the idea, but soon after other cities (and ones that are more renown for their fashion shows) began debating the issue and considering similar guidelines.

When authorities in Milan announced they would create a set of guidelines for all models to comply by or else risk being fined, the debate took on a whole new dimension and fashionistas in the US began to take notice. Vogue’s own Anna Wintour even said it was time to do something about the shrinking model size. Cosmo’s editor Kate White has begun enforcing a new policy barring ultra-skinny models from gracing the pages of the magazine, even in the ads.

Now New York’s Council of Fashion Designers of America will issue suggestions this week on promoting a healthier lifestyle for models. And while the recommendations will be ready by the time Fashion Week kicks off in early February, they won’t be enforced (as in Madrid and Milan). The meeting to discuss the issue contained some industry heavy-weights, including nutritionist Joy Bauer, psychiatrist Susan Ice, trainer David Kirsch and Nian Fish, creative director at KCD, as well as Diane von Furstenberg, who represented the CFDA membership at the meeting, Anna Wintour and Louis Chaban, a modeling agent at DNA.

Spring Calendar

2007-01-09T14:07:00.000-05:00

Here's a little heads-up for all you Fashioin Forum fans out there... We are finalizing our entire Spring semester calendar right now. We've got some great speakers lined up including an up-and-coming fashioin designer! Check back here in a couple days for the complete calendar of events.

Milan's Changing Catwalk

2006-12-06T09:20:00.000-05:00

According to a Wall Street Journal article in today's paper, authorities in Milan are thinking of putting regulations on the size of models who walk the fashion show catwalks. The controversy over this issue has been fueled lately by the growing size of the average person as well as the recent death of a model due to annerexia complications. Earlier this year, Madrid passed guidelines that said models should be at least 125 lbs.

The initiative is being headed by Giovanna Melandra,Italy's youth minister and Mario Boselli, head of the National Chamber for Italian Fashion. They plan to issue a 'national manifesto' before the fall faashion shows which take place in February there. There is no word yet on what the Milan manifesto would require. The article points out that while companies would not be obligated to follow the guidelines laid out, they could recieve penalties including being kicked off Milan's fashion show list.

Cosmopolitan magazine, here in the US, will begin enforcing a policy of not running advertisements with super-thin models this February. Kate White, editor in chief, was quoted in the article as saying, "We were looking at some of the illustrations for the magazine and I thought, 'We just have to put more meat on their bones.'" Models in the magazine must look like a size 6 or 8. (Which is still below the national average size - which is a size 12)

December event

2006-12-05T09:50:00.001-05:00

Our next meeting is quickly approaching. This Saturday we will gather at 117 East 70th St. at 3:00 pm. Our speaker is Nia Shepherd, a fashion freelance writer. She has written and interned for a number of fashion publications, including most recently British Vogue. Nia will talk to us about tricks of the trade, how to get into the industry, ace an interview, pitch a killer story idea. After her presentation we will have a brief Q & A session followed by refreshments. The program will conclude at 5:00 pm.

We look forward to seeing you there. 117 E. 70th St. is located between Park and Lexington avenues. It can be accessed most easily via the 6 subway line by getting off at 86th St.

If you have any questions about the event don't hesitate to shoot us an e-mail or post a comment on our blog... www.nyfashionforum.blogspot.com

The 'little' Black Dress Alternative

2006-11-20T17:27:00.000-05:00

Every fashion magazine and guru totes the necessity of every woman owning the perfect little black dress. But finding one that speaks to our dignity and still flatters is no easy task. With the holidays upon us that means there are dances to attend, parties to go to, work socials, etc... and that is when the black dress comes in handy.
Well... there might just be a solution to owning the perfect black dress and dressing with pose. Shade Clothing has a specail line of 10 black dresses that the company is selling this holiday season. Each dress has a slightly different style, flare or accent that make them perfect for almost any body type. You can see all the selections at here.
Do you have the perfect holiday dress or a tip on how to find one? Post a response here.

November's Event

2006-11-20T17:21:00.000-05:00

We had a great time this past weekend at the Museum of the City of New York. While there we saw the two fashion exhibits and were treated to a compilation of songs from various broadway musicals. The show lasted over an hour.
The exhibits, It's in the Bag and Black Style Now were both great.
Take a look at some of the pictures from our recent event and stay tuned for an announcement on the December event. We hope to see you there!

November Event

2006-11-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

Here's what we are up to in November...
Fashion Forum invites you to an afternoon of Fashion and Music at the Museum of the City of New York on Nov. 18, 2006.
We'll meet outside the museum at 1:45pm and expect the trip to end by 5pm. While at the museum we will be viewing two exhibits as well as attending a broadway musical medley. Black Fashion Now and It's in the Bag are the exhibits we will go through.
The cost of the event is $10. That fee will cover the entire cost of the event, including admission to the museum and musical performance.
We hope you can join us for the afternoon.
Please RSVP by either posting a comment here or e-mailing us at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com. Any questions regarding the event can also be directed to our e-mail.

The Museum of the City of New York is located 1220 Fifth Ave at 103rd St. If you plan to come by subway, the 6 train is your best bet. Get off at 96th St., walk west to the park and then walk north along the park till 103rd.

Calendar Events

2006-11-07T17:29:00.000-05:00

Fashion Forum is now in the process of finalizing our speaker/event series. If you have any speaker suggestions or topics you'd love to learn more about let us know. We've got so many ideas for events - but want to tailor everything to our audience.

Winter tights

2006-11-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

In today's New York Times fashion section there was a very interesting article about the latest in New York fashion, which is changing the silhouette of the average woman - tights as pants. Check it out.
The most interesting part is the fact that these women know they are getting looks for their lack of clothing and it doesn't seem to bother them. Are we losing the concept of modesty and what is appropriate street wear? Sound off here!

London Ends It All

2006-09-30T17:30:00.000-04:00

With the conclusion of Fashion Week in London, the month worth of fashion shows comes to a close. I'm sure you're dying to see what the major designers cooked up for each city - we are. And even if you have been following the shows throughout September, a recap is always helpful. The Fashion Week Daily has posted their summary of all the cities with pictures of the major designer's outfits. Interested? Check it out here.
Or if you are just interested in a specific city. Here's London and Milan.

More Homecoming

2006-09-27T10:04:00.000-04:00

Here's a few more dresses we love for this year's homecoming events! They are each unique and fabulous.

Jump Right In

2006-09-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

Jumpers are the fall must have!!!
Remember back to the grade school days when you were walking around in a green or red plaid jumper? They were easy to wear, easy to clean, and hid stains pretty well. Guess what? That same jumper is back in full force now - but not for 6 year olds. Now it is a fall fashion must for the older student and young professional.
The New York Times' Bill Cunningham, who captures the weekly 'On the Street' section, photographed the numerous renditions the jumper resurgance has taken.
No ready to go back to your roots? At least they are easy to slip on! They come in a variety of styles, colors, and designs. You can get the traditional plaid you grew up with or a soft gray. You can wear them with jeans, leggins, or just as is.
<-- This one you can get at Urban Outfitters for $68.00. It comes in both red and green plaid.

Skinny Models Strike Again

2006-09-27T09:36:00.000-04:00

As Fashion Weeks continue across the globe during the month of September, the debate continues as to what is too thin. Earlier this month, Madrid ban models that are under the World Health organization's healthy standard from walking the runway.
Now it's Milan's turn, but they aren't taking the same steps Madrid did. The Reuters' article today has the head of Italian fashion chamber of commerce saying there is no need to ban ultra-thin models. He said of the hundreds of models there are only a couple that look sickly.
What do you think? Are models on the catwalk too thin? Will model size ever change to better represent the world's population?

Fashion Week's Top Trends

2006-09-26T10:23:00.000-04:00

New York Magazine has published what it considers the top top trends at Fashion Week. Amoung the items to watch for this Spring, the magazine includes:
1. Little White Dresses
2. Cobalt Blue
3. Yellow
4. Prints in Black and White combinations
5. Floral Patters
6. Polka-dots
7. Droopy Pants
8. Volume in clothes, especially skirts
9. Shining materials that are still discreet
10. Huge, Chunky-heeled shoes

Skinny Jeans; Hepburn style

2006-09-25T14:14:00.000-04:00

For months now skinny pants have been breaking into the fashion sceen. Gap's skinny black pants are all the rage, with ads for the item all over New York City. Where did the inspiration come from?
Audrey Hepburn is the model and muse for the Gap's new fall line, according to an article in Sunday's USA Today Hepburn was made famous from movies like Roman Holiday, Funny Face, My Fair Lady, and Sabrina. She was always known for her own style and graceful air, even as she aged.
This fall skinny pants aren't the only Hepburn style we are seeing on the streets. Pencil skirts, a staple of her time, and even those large sunglasses were a Hepburn must. For years Audrey Hepburn has helped define and create style for women by simply looking, acting and portraying the woman she was.

Homecoming

2006-09-25T10:39:00.000-04:00

Homecoming is quickly approaching and finding the perfect dress is on the list of top priorities. This year's style includes short skirt lengths, low necklines, and designs that border on the side of ridiculous. But just because that is the norm, doesn't mean you have to follow what everyone else is sure to be wearing! Go for unique. Be orignial. The good thing about today's fashion is that there are so many options that you do not need to be just like everyone else. Pick a dress that flatters, in it's cut and color and that does not send the message your an object.
Sure it will take a little research and a lot of shopping time to locate the perfect dress, but in the end it'll be worth it. Be a fashion leader - go for the styles that prove the dignity you know you have.
Below are some of our picks for this year's dresses that make a statement.

Check back - we're likely to update with more favorites in the days to come.

Fashion Week Reality: Now This is Entertainment

2006-09-23T17:55:00.000-04:00

It was 10 a.m. I was running in my four-inch stilettos and a classic vintage ensemble, seemingly way too overdressed for a Saturday morning and was already late to catch the first of many shows of the day. After flashing my red press pass, and racing passed the security guards and the crowd of people outside the tent—hoping to catch a glimpse of some celeb—I made it. As usual, the show started late and I had to yet again, wait in the never-ending lines at fashion week. Once I finally got inside, my feet were swelled, the VIP (celebs, Dandy’s and their entourage) scooted past, and the first show was over in less than 15 minutes. What a perfect beginning to yet another “glamorous” day. A couple tips to stay alive for the remainder of the week: try not to steal a seat in the front row—or you might find yourself in a knuckle sandwich with 50 cent. And beware of imposters you might meet on the fashion bus; they will steal your spot at any high profile event you may have an invite to. - By Natalie Dolce

Natalie Dolce is a friend of Fashion Forum and after hitting up the tent events in New York's Bryant Park, she agreed to share her experiences and pictures.

Madrid takes a stand against ultra-thin models

2006-09-22T10:09:00.000-04:00

Today's Thursday Style section of the New York Times has an article on the ultra thin models that stalked the runway in New York just a few days ago and who are now making the rounds of the fashion shows in cities like London and Milan. The interesting part comes half-way through the article when they mention Madrid ban models who do not meet the World Health Organization's weight standard for a healthy woman. For Spain, no model under 125 lbs would be found on the runway.
What do you think about the size of models now? Have we gone back to the early 90s when models were often given the look of one drugged? Let us know where you stand on the issue.

Thicker eyebrows?

2006-08-18T13:52:00.000-04:00

There was an interesting article today in the NYTimes about the new trend in thicker eyebrows...
It started at Prada's fall fashion show in Milan this February. The models eyebrows were supposed to look like they fanned out, so Pat McGrath, a makeup artist, used clear mascara on the brows to make them keep the flare shape. Months later... and thicker brows are in.
This isn't the huge uni-brow look. No, these brows are still shapped, they still come to an actual point at the end and have a natural rounded look on top, but they are a far-cry from the pencil thin brows of years past.
So go easy on the plucking, waxing, tweasing, etc... this fall and let your brows take on a slightly thicker look.
And if you are interested Here is the link to the NYTimes article on eyebrows. Apparently, it is a trend that is sweeping the nation.

We're back!

2006-08-18T13:47:00.000-04:00

Hi all...
Just wanted to give you the heads-up that after a couple months hiatus from the blogging scene, Fashion Forum is back and will be updaating the blog again frequently. Stay tuned for our upcoming fall schedule of events.
If you have speaker ideas or questions you want addressed here feel free to let us know. As always you can leave a comment here or shoot us an e-mail at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com

The Great White...

2006-05-17T14:47:00.000-04:00

As the weather heats up, light colors are back in full swing. And while we did have winter-whites make an appearance this year, white is bigger than ever this summer. We scoured some of the typical stores and have pulled our favorite summer-whites.
A word of caution - obviously whites can be tricky to wear. Go shopping with a friend to decide if the white is thick enough not to see through and remember the garment will probably need to be laundered often. (Unless you have a huge bank account it might be wise to stay away from the dry-clean only things.)

These Ann Taylor products are cute. If you are a classic fashion personality these might be the summer-whites for you. These capris are cute with the little detailing at the waist. But the pants are dry-clean only and sell at $78. They are totally work casual though, so if you are in the market for some clothes for that job or internship these will work.
The Ann taylor skirt is also dry clean only, but it is 100% linen and feel great on. The flare is super cute too. Cost: $68.

Here's our picks from Urban Outfitters. The Surplice Top is really cute and soft looking once on. Also it's on sale! Down from $78 to $29.99. The cotton will be breezy in the summer plus you can match it with fun shirts/tanks underneath for a little added flare. This Soundgirl Strawberry Ruffle Top is ultra cute too. The little strawberry appliqué at the bottom adds a little fun to the all white top. Plus the cut is unique. Price: $28.
Ok yeah so the Elvis shirt probably shouldn't fall in this summer-whites category, but one of the Fashion Forum girls loves Elvis! So this shirt for $9.99 is a must have!

American Eagle has a huge section of whites this season. We really liked the lightweight white cargo pants now on sale for $38 from $49. (Sidenote: these come in Olive Haze and Light Wet Sand too.) These are perfect for combing the beach. The draw-string tie and flap-back pockets just emanate comfort. The Beach House Tunic - is 100% Cotton Gauze and oh so comfortable! And since the tunics are really in this year, we especially like this shirt. Wear it with a funky belt over it at the waist for some more funk.

And let's not forget the shoes…. Nine West sells several pairs of white shoes that we adore. Here are just a few…
The jeweled, semi-Roman look is big this summer and we like these white shoes. They aren't to over the top or gaudy - like your grandmother might wear. But they are still a little splashy for stepping out. Price: $79. The simple white paten shoe with an open toe is perfect for that summer job that has you on your feet all day but still has you wanting to look good while you do it. They are comfortable and sleek too. Plus the shoe is on sale for $59.99

Lord and Taylor's website homepage is dedicated to the summer-whites. Here's some of the things you can get there….
This all white Calvin Klein suit is sleek and only $149.99. That's cheap as far as suits go plus then you get a white jacket and white pants out of the deal even if you never wear the two together. The Buffalo Jeans Woven Tank Top is just plain cute even for $68.

Spring Fling

2006-05-16T15:23:00.000-04:00

So now with summer just days away, and the weather beginning to say warm weather is here to stay (at least for a few months), here's some of the new fashion to hit the stores and the streets.

Bare those legs...
Bermuda shorts are big again this summer. After making their debut in 2005, with only moderate success, they are back again this year and seem to be taking off more quickly then before. Word of warning: this shorts don't work with every body type. Try a few pairs on to see how they fit. Often pants that are short (like capris and bermudas make us look shorter and stouter. So if these don't fly - no worries. There are plenty of summer style to choose from.
We like these Bermuda shorts from Target. They are cheap at $24.99, but also stylish with the green color that is all the rage and round pockets. The rope tie is fun too.

If capris have proven anything over the years it's that they are are here to stay. Can you even remember the days before capris? What did we wear? These American Eagle Dessert Capris are comfortable and totally chill. They come in three colors: whitewash, lightwashed khaki and dark olive haze. Price: $39.50. We dig the ties at the bottom of the legs and the snap front pockets.

This Bahama-print skirt from J.Crew is totally cute. Yeah sure it is a little pricey at $118 but if you are looking for a skirt that is a little out of the ordinary, a little funky and super cute - look no further. The white bottom-border with the acquatic symbols is waht really does it. Add a simple top and a cute pair of strappy sandals of a fun color - maybe orange to match the tie and you have got your never-fail summer outfit.

In case you are living in a hole, white is all the rage now. White White White. New York & Company has this great pair of white crop pants. It's called the East Broadway Crop and sells for only $29.50. The zipper pockets add a bit if punk style but the white, light material makes thesethe perfect summer pants for chillin' around the house or going out on the town. Wear it with flipflops for a dressed-down look, or heels for a night out. These pants can work for almost any occasion.

Anthropologie - a favorite store for one of the Fashion Forum girls - has a bunch of super cute skirts. Instead of writing about each of them, here are the pics of our favs. The best part is there is something for everyone!

Has anyone noticed camo has made a comeback lately? Well one of our Fashion Forum girls really likes it and so she loves these capris from Forever 21. These Vintage Cargo Capris are $29.80 (what's up with the 80 cents?) and really can be worn for a lot of occassions. Dress them up with a better top some great summer sandals with heels and you can be hitting the town. Dress them down with a simple Old Navy t-shirt and you are walking the beach.

Stay tuned for more of our summer favorites...

The Posh Sale

2006-04-20T14:10:00.000-04:00

For those of you in the New York City area, here's an opportunity for you to get your hands on clothes by some world renown designers and donate your time to a good cause! Several Fashion Forum members will be volunteering. We'd love to see you there!

POSH 2006 Designer Fundraiser Sale to Benefit the Lighthouse

Join other volunteers in this exciting sale of new and gently used designer clothing for men, women and children, accessories and home furnishings to be held Thursday, May 11 - Sunday, May 14. All proceeds benefit the Lighthouse mission of helping people overcome the challenges of vision loss.

The sale operates like a store, and volunteers will be assigned to do a variety of assignments, including hanging, carrying, organizing and packing clothing during this retail operation. It's a great opportunity for high-energy people who can stand for three hours. There are morning, afternoon and evening sessions.

Volunteer individually or be a part of a team effort for your school, corporation or organization. Call (212) 821-9406 for more information and a POSH application form.

April's Event

2006-04-17T16:20:00.000-04:00

Join us April 23rd for our final Fashion Forum event of the school year!
Kymberlee Harris, a freelance PR/Marketing consultant, will be speaking to us about her career. For various companies and now as a consultant, she has worked on special events of all kinds, fundraised, advertised products, dressed celebrities, and organized exclusive trunk shows. She specializes in fashion and beauty products. Kym, who has an advanced degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising from FIT, will tell us how she has put that degree to creative use in the field.
The event begins promptly at 3:30 at Alderton House. For more information please leave a message here or shoot us an e-mail at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com. We hope to see you all there!

Justina McCaffrey

2006-04-13T09:53:00.000-04:00

Our March event brought wedding gown designer Justina McCaffrey and her husband Dave, all the way from Canada to talk with us.
Justina walked us step-by-step through the events in her life that brought her to being a well known and respected wedding gown designer today. As a beginning designer in Canada, Justina didn't feel like she was getting anywhere in her field and she barely had enough money to live on. When Justina got married, she designed her own dress - and her career took off from there. Before long she was making dresses for her friends and their friends in the attic of her apartment, with classical music blaring in the background.
Now she is an established designer, finding her inspiration in ballet and classical music, and trying to make a difference in the fashion world. Instead of using models for her runway shows, Justina hires balerinas. She finds their posture, poise and grace truly inspiring, plus the money she pays helps them survive in a career that often pays minimally.
Her dresses are often described as romantic due to the layers of lace, the mounds of beads, and intricate work put into each dress. Justina doesn't know if the dresses are romantic. "Romance is giving everything you've got, till you can't give anymore," she told those gathered, likening romance to the ballerina with her leg in the air who holds it steady and gracefully desipte the pain.
After her presentation, the group watched one of Justina's promotional videos for her Coronation collection (inspired by the Coronation Mass by Mozart) as well as her latest runway show.

~January Event ~

2006-01-16T11:55:00.000-05:00

Hey Girls - Ever wonder what your fashion personality is? Do you know what your best colors are? Can you dress according to your body type?

Join us on Jan 22. for our first meeting of the new semester to answer these questions and more. We will have a fashion consultant speak about the different fashion personalities. She will help each of us learn our personal style and tell us what that means for the fashion world we live in.
Interested in attending? The event runs from about 3:30 to 5:30 at Alderton House (117 E. 70th between Park and Lexington). Price is $5. There will be a presentation by the fashion consultant, followed by discussion, snacks, and socializing with others. Feel free to bring friends.

If you have any further questions you can post a comment on the blog or shoot us an e-mail at: nyfashionforum@yahoo.com

Fashion Forum Christmas

2005-12-21T15:09:00.000-05:00

The Lovely Ladies of Fashion Forum celebrated the end of finals, the Christmas season, and the end of a great Fashion Forum semester with dinner at John's in the Village! It was fun! Here's the pics to prove it!

We might be taking a small hiatus over the holiday break... but don't worry Fashion Forum will be back in full force with the start of the next semester. Look for details on upcoming events and our latest trend picks, advice columns, and as always feel free to drop us an e-mail or leave us a comment. We love hearing from you guys!

Ten Lords a Leeping... gifts from Target

2005-12-16T13:06:00.000-05:00

OK. So face it the holidays can get pretty pricey when you start considering all the presents that need to be bought, the holiday parties you need to have an outifit for, and the grab bags you need to participate in. Target offers some awesome holiday gift ideas at great for your pocket book prices. Here are our top suggestions for everyone in your life:

For your sister!
Sterling Silver Sister Rings. Price: $19.99
Ok so it is never really cool to match with your sister. Admit it, your mom used to dress you two in matching dresses for the holidays. The pictures are adorable and morifying. But these matching silver bands are cute and touching. The phrase, "Always Sisters, Forever Friends." puts it in simple words that you couldn't have done better. PLus hey, you can't go wrong with jewelry.

For your brother.
Poker Set (in decorative Tin). Price: $16.99
Cards, poker chips, beer... it's a guy thing. Your brother will love the gift. Just make sure if he's in college he's good at being descreet. A lot of universities have rules oulawing betting which includes all types of poker games!

For your little brother or sister.
Cranium Hullabaloo DVD Game. Price: $24.99
This is claimed to be the up and coming game of the year. Think the Cranium Game you and your friends love only more laughs, more giggles and more little kid craziness! What more could you ask for in a game for kids? For 1 - 6 players and good for ages 4 and up!

For your guy friend.
Dart Board Set. Price: $39.99
Every guy wants a dart board to perfect his aim. If he doesn't have one in his dorm room, apartment, this could be the year to fix that problem. Not to mention a lot of bars have dart competitions. if he gets really good you could split the profits! Have at it!

For the party host.
Snowflake Ornament. Price: $9.99
It's silver and cute, perfect to take as a 'thanks for inviting me to your house' gift. Plus this is one of those unique gifts that will be remembered because it wasn't just a bottle of wine or tin of cookies. The host will pull it out next year when all the decorations come out.

For your mom.
10K White Gold Mystic Fire Topaz Earrings. Price: $84.99
Yeah it's a little on the pricier side - but of all the people to spend a little more on... we think mom deserves it after all she's done for you throughout the years. These earrings are just stunning. If you don't like the coloring target offers similar designs in many different colors. Check it out. After all... kitchen supplies become old hat to give to your mom and who says your dad is the only one who can give jewelry?!

For your dad.
Cooking Book. "Bobby Flay's Boy Meets Grill." Price: $20.48
Hilarious title. Written by a guy. And heck it's all about grilling. What better gift for dad!

For your best friend... We were going to offer a suggestion, but if you don't know what to get our suggestions will help that problem.

11 days till Christmas

2005-12-15T12:04:00.000-05:00

Let's talk bags. Let's talk purses. A simple black purse is no longer an easy fall-back accessory! Now we need to mix-it-up. Bags don't need to match so long as they coordinate. That means a green purse is cool. A silver one, a mettalic cooper one, or a hot pink are all game! Here are our holiday purse suggestions. Let us know which you like or where you bought a killer purse this December!

Purse #1: The Silver Bohemian Metallic Sequin Purse.
Yeah these were huge this summer it's true. But they are still around and popular. It the perfect bag for the girl who need to take half her world with her no matter where she is headed. It can be a great holiday party bag, offering a little splash of funk to any outifit. Or it can go with your favorite, no-fail outfit. Purses of this style differ greatly. We suggest you try it on over your coated arm to make sure it easy to carry as a shoulder bag. And a zipper is always a nice feature to stop things from falling out.

Purse #2: Black Street Chic Satchel Purse.
This is totally the purse for your friend who carries everything but the kitchen sink in her purse. On the streets we have seen this purse in classic colors like black and brown but also in muted flourescent colors of green, blue, pink, purple, white. The straps are too small to fit over your shoulder so be ready to carry this bag in your hand or let it ride on your arm. If the shoulder carrying is a must, just look for the ones that sell with a strap enclosed.

Purse #3: The Ultra-soft Pink Scallop Purse.
This cute little clutch will fit the necessities for a holiday party, phone, little wallet, and tiny digital camera. It's scallops add a unique flare to the purse that makes it more party appropriate. We especially like the silver mettalic inside! A shoulder strap can come with, but if you are prone to losing or forgetting your purse, this probably isn't the one for you.

Purse #4: The Large Camel Brown Tote Purse.
We love this tote bag that's all there is to say about it! The saddle-type style is really popular now and the silver hoops are a great accent. It comes in other colors but the camel is the most flattering. Yeah, we just love it!

Purse #5: East-West Snake Purse in Burgundy.
This purse has a funky shape, not usually seen out on the streets. The owner of this purse needs to like purses a lot. She needs to like making a statement with the bag on her arm. This one makes a statement. Like the style but not the color or snake-skin pattern? We've seen round purses all over! This weekend one of our Fashion Forum girls was in a NY boutique where round purses made out of old lisence plates were being sold! Talk about making a statement!

Purse #6: Moderna Women's Breifcase.
Who said a bag for work needs to be boring and old ladyish? NO ONE!!! There are a lot of bags out there. This is our pick for fuctional, practical, and still on the fun side of life. Yeah the bag sells in black, but everyone's briefcase is black. Red is unique, but not abrasive so that it would jar a jotential employer. The handle with the silver base adds a little more funk to the tote. We suggest the use of the shoulder stap only if absolutely necessary. This bag swinging from your hand will look much better than slung over a shoulder.

Purse #7: Studded Suede Black Hobo Purse.
In case you didn't know the country look is big this year, aka you need a purse to go with those killer western boots you bought a month ago. This one is subtle-country! The studs and hanging fringe give the purse the western feel although the suede makes it suitable for almost any winter outfit. (Ok you really can't use this purse if you are going to a black-tie affair, but hey with almost anything else this purse is fair game!)

Purse #8: Celebrity Purses.
Ok the trick to buying and working a celebrity purse of your own, or buying the perfect one for your friend, is originality! Practically everyone has the purse of the WWII soldier kissing that nurse (admit it, your's is probably buried in the back of your closet now!) Ok so origniality... this takes some real searching. Online there are a lot of places that sell purse, if you live in a major city you can check the random tourist stores or street vendors (although those are more likely to sell the typical, unoriginal purses) This one of Elvis is an original. We haven't seen another like it out there on the streets.

Purse #9: Cream Zoe Hobo Purse.
Ok this purse wins big points for that originality we talked about above. We LOVE it and that's all there is to it!

12 days before Christmas...

2005-12-14T15:29:00.000-05:00

So with Christmas quickly approaching and people still in need of shopping... Fashion Forum is going to provide a daily shopping themed tip/idea/suggestion. For those of you at a loss for what to get... pay attention!
The grab bag gift or Secret Santa gift is sometimes the hardest. Afterall, at times you hardly know the person you are shopping for but don't want to resort to the old and frankly boring gift card.

Idea #1:
For her!
From Sephora: A Charm Bracelet Lip Gloss Set. It sells for $16. The shades you can choose from are either: pink bracelet withsheer grape and shimmering peach gloss or baby blue bracelet with warm nude and glittering watermelon for the lips. The pink bracelet comes with a heart and cat charm. The blue with a dog and heart charm.

Idea #2:
For her!
From Sephora: Divinora Fairy Mascara by Guerlain Paris. Price tag = $30. But Mascara you may be ask. Oh this isn't just any mascara. This is holiday mascara that coats your lashes with a multi-colored, glittering, frosty sparkle. It can be used alone when gone for a more subtle look or it can be applied on top of your usual mascara for a more eye-popping experience!

Idea #3
For him!
From American Eagle: Eagle Beanie. Price is $19.50. A hat is an essential winter accessory, even for a guy! So why not get him one that's a little cooler than the one his mom bought for him at Target? This one is reversible offering Charcoal or Blue. Plus the American Eagle eagle is screened on the front.

Idea #4 :
For him or her!
From Kohls Department Store: Scrapbook box. Putting a $14.99 dent in your wallet. This is perfect for the hard to buy for person on your list. Everyone needs a place to store their pics. Add a personal touch by personally adding a couple pictures of you and the person you are giving the gift to. Or decorate a few of the photo insert area so there will be ready made backgrounds for their pictures.

Idea #5:
For her!
From Kohls: Relic Grommet Hobo. Dig around for $22.80 worth of pocket change. This bag with it's metallic silver finish, large O rings, and silver tassel adds a bit of spice to a normal hobo-bag. This one says take me out to a party or pair me with jeans for a day out with friends. It's the perfect piece for someone with a little wild side, that comes out in random accents.

Idea #6:
For the nerd you know!
From Barnes and Noble: The Word a Day Calendar. Priced at $10.95. Ok so you might be thinking for really now! A word a day calendar = lame! But if you know someone who loves word. If you know someone who is obsessed with the ancient origin of words, read the OED like it was the Bible, then this is the gift for him or her! Each day there is a new word, including a definition and often the historical context.
PS - For those of you that dig this calendar idea but think a word a day is weird, Barnes and Noble has a huge variety of box calendars. You can So Doku and a joke a day, etc...

Idea #7:
For her! (maybe him)
From Target online: Iudaea Hand-stitched Book of Kells Journal. Cost is only $12.89 and so worth it! Now a journal could make for a pretty lame gift. But this one is not just a boring journal. It has a great front cover design, giving the feel of an ancient scroll. Just the look of the outside would inspire its receipent to write daily. The uniqueness of the design, makes it a great find this holiday season. Could be perfect for a budding writer or aspiring journalist. Personalize this gift by turning it into a quote book. Start a couple pages by adding your own personal favorites to jump start the book!

Idea #8:
For the 80's fan him or her!
From Target: The 80's Game. Price = $24.99. Ok, we all know one out there, an 80's fiend. They can sing every Ace of Base and Michael Jackson lyric on the planet. They were into hair bands, wore bright leg warms, curled their bangs up three inches from their forehead... This is the game for them! The game include 3,000 trivia questions from the 80's.
PS - Not the biggest 80's fan. No fear there is The 70's Game and The 90's Game too! Oh and there is an 80's and 90's combo game too!

Idea #9:
For the classical music lover!
From Amazon: Il Divo! CD price is $10.98. If you haevn't heard of this group. You don't know what you are missing! They are fairly new, up and coming and totally ground breaking. Ok yeah, so they are kinda opera, kinda classical - but oh so amazing! They sing in Spanish, French, Italian and English. They sing mostly classic hits that they have remade. Not so sure if you'll like them? Download a couple tunes off LimeWire then go out and buy their CD! At least buy it for your classical music loving friend! If they haven't heard of the group before they will thank you for the introduction!

Return tomorrow for more gift ideas!

The sites to know:

2005-12-02T13:13:00.000-05:00

For all you fashion lovers out there we thought we would compile a list of fashion-related websites for you to keep up on all the recent trends. Here's what we have to offer, feel free to leave a comment with your own personal favorites!
Women's Wear Daily: http://www.wwd.com/
Lucky: http://www.luckymag.com/
InStyle: http://www.instyle.com/instyle/flash/0,24293,1133904,00.html
Vogue and W: http://www.style.com/vogue/
Fashion Trends and Fashion History: http://www.fashion-era.com/Trends/fashion_trends_05_colour_autumn_2004_winter_2005.htm
Fashion Designers bios: http://www.fashionwindows.com/fashion_designers/showall_fashion_designers.asp
Beauty Addict: http://www.beautyaddictmag.com
About.com's Fashion: http://fashion.about.com/

And let's not leave out the blogs:
http://conversationsaboutfashion.blogspot.com/
http://slavetotarget.blogspot.com/
http://highsnobiety.blogspot.com/
http://www.ladykickz.com/
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/mt/
http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/
http://www.fashiontrendsetter.com/

Do you love shoes?

2005-11-21T12:32:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love shoes? This weekend I went shopping with a friend for winter shoes. She was looking for gym shoes, work shoes, boots. I was just looking for new shoes! We went to the shops on 34th, there is a block that has about a dozen shoe stores in a row, and they all happened to be having sales. Bingo!!
Let me let you in on a little secret... there is this store called something like Shoe Bargain or Shoe Mania - whatever the name is it's sounds a little sketch. My friend and I went in looked around and were highly unimpressed with the selection and prices. Who wants to pay almost $200 for boots that will be out of style next season? So as we were on our way out the door, I spotted the staircase and a little sign that said "Bargains upstairs". We headed up and what do we find... Cheap, cheap, cheap shoes! Most of them were summer shoes, sandals and whatnot. But they had a huge variety of gym shoes for half off or more. My friend walked out with a pair of purple roos for $17 and I got a pair of white and pink Pumas for $30!!! If you're looking for good deals - go there and look no further!

What are fashionistas blogging about?

2005-11-18T17:30:00.000-05:00

Black Friday!
But what is Black Friday you ask? It's the day after Thanksgiving, the biggest shopping day of the year, the day millions of people hit-up their favorite retail locations to find the best deals for the holidays. Its the official start of the Christmas shopping season and it continues to get bigger and bigger every year.
This year on the Internet there have been leaks of sale suppliments you usually find in your newspaper Thanksgiving morning. People are getting the deals out ahead of time.
Other bloggers are offering personal feelings of their own about Black Friday and the week leading up to it. Some are suggesting ways to spend less but using what you have got. Others are all about charting the best places to spend spend spend. If you try a google blog search, you'll see hundreds of blogs talking about this day.
In terms of the fashion world, what do you think of Black Friday? Do you shop the deals or avoid the crowds? Do you wake up at 4 for the early bird specials or stay out till midnight for the late owl deals?

Week of Nov. 14 Trends

2005-11-14T13:31:00.000-05:00

Fashion Trend: Jackets of every shape, size and color are all over this fall. Materials vary as well, but the most popular seems to be velvet.
You can pick up a velvet jacket at Old Navy for just $34, or $59 at Anne Taylor Loft or at Express for $118.
It's all about the style you want. Do you want a jacket that is short, coming to the middle of your back? Or do you want one a little longer, meant to hit at the top of your pants? What about a jacket even longer?
There are jackets in black, pink, teal, plum, gold, burgundy, brown.
Then there are the different types of ways to close the jacket. Some have ties, others buttons, still others a zipper.
Oh, the possibilities are endless.

Makeup Trend: While lip plumpers have been around a couple months now, we haven't written about them yet! The style now is full lips, so for all you small lipped women, a simple plumper can do wonders.
Sephora has a number of different brands on sale such as: Lip Fusion, Lip Venom, Fat Kiss, Plump, CITY Lips. Prices vary with the cheapest at $15 and the most decadent at $40.
Unsure about buying a whole tube of the stuff? Sephora let's you test their products so go in and give it a whirl. Caution: it's meant to enhance the size of your lips so you will feel a little tingling/burning sensation with certain products.

Suggested Abercrombie letter

2005-11-13T14:31:00.000-05:00

The Fashion Forum talked about this Girlcott and here is what we've come up with: instead of boycotting Abercrombie and Fitch, we suggest a more influential means - writing a letter. Not good at composing a letter? Feel free to copy and paste the letter below and send it along, or use it as a springboard to write your own!

November 15, 2005

To Whom It May Concern:

I’m writing in regards to the ‘Girl-cott’ that is being launched against your company, and the t-shirts that inspired the movement. I agree with the messages this girl-cott is sending but disagree with the method. Threatening to stop all purchases from your company, I don’t believe will relay the true and necessary message.

Many fashions these days degrade women, turning us from human beings to objects. T-shirts with sayings such as “Who needs brains when you have these,” only aid the degradation of women in society. Today, with the increase in abuses against women and in the number of women who have a negative body image, it is so important to build up the dignity and natural beauty of everyone. Fashion is one area that can do that with a couple easy choices in the clothing line and marketing schemes.

When choosing new products to sell in your stores, I hope you will consider the positive impact you can have, and pick products that will aid the image of women.

Sincerely,

Girlcott

2005-11-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

Maybe you've heard about this already but... a group of girls in PA are calling for a girl-cott against Abercrombie and Fitch for their t-shirts that degrade and objectify women. They were on the Today Show, Fox's Hannity and Combes, and featured in an article in the Chicago Tribune already. Now people are blogging about them and joining the fight.
We as women, who have long sought to be placed on a more equal footing with guys don't need shirts that have 'who needs brains when you have these?' emblazoned across the chest. We need to stand up and tell Abercrombie and Fitch we will not buy your clothes when they are made only to objectify us!
Check back here for more details on the girl-cott.

November meeting

2005-11-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

This months's speaker will be Elizabeth Heil, a graduate student at Columbia University, where she is studying Arts Administration. She will be talking about the image of beauty portrayed through art over the centuries. Elizabeth worked for 7 years as a curator in the Vatican Museum and has an undergrad degree in art history.
For more information please contact us at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com or leave a comment on this post.

Pearls anyone?

2005-10-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

Our October speaker praised pearls to the rafters. She enjoys wearing and working with pearls of all shapes, sizes and colors.
Do you wear pearls? What kind are your favorite? Do you wear them with a particular outfit or when you are in a certain mood? Tell us your pearl experience!

2005-10-24T10:57:00.000-04:00

Fashion Forum crew in Time Square asking Elvis to fill out our surveys.

October meeting

2005-10-19T16:00:00.000-04:00

We will be having our October meeting this coming Sunday, Oct 23. A jewlery designer, who works almost exclusively with pearls, will speak with us about the business. She is enthusiastic to share her knowledge and passion for the fashion world. For more information please e-mail us at nyfashionforum@yahoo.com.

Welcome!

2005-10-07T19:14:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome to Fashion Forum. This is a blog to discuss everything and anything about fashion. Have an idea, an opinion, a complaint - let us know.