Trend Alert: Rompers

Victoria's Secret model, Miranda Kerr, proves you can still be stylish and comfortable in the summer heat. While breezing through the streets of NYC in a button-up navy romper, the newly engaged model showed all of us why Orlando Bloom put a ring on her finger! She completed the look with tan kitten heels and a retro-looking Chloé Messenger Bag

Macy's Designers - Fashion Focus

Not even the pouring rain kept Chicago's fashionistas from attending the Fashion Focus Designers of Chicago Fashion Show on Tuesday, October 7. The grand finale for Chicago's week of fashion did not disappoint and included designers such as Horacio Nieto, Lara Miller, Tennille White, Yana, Kate Boggiano, Agga B., Evil Kitty, and many more.

The local Chicago designers debuted their Spring 2009 collections to a full house. Many of the designs displayed on the runway were very wearable and showed what we can look forward to seeing added to Macy's inventory.

Some of the highlights you can purchase at Macy's were rose twill jackets with a funky edge, bright silk dresses, ruffled tops, ethnic embroidery,'50s-inspired bikinis, embellished long-sleeved blouses, leather and cotton dresses, fun club attire, and mustard mini dresses and ball gown skirts.

Designers were not shying away from accessorizing their outfits. There was everything from draping necklaces and glittering brooches to bracelets, chandelier earrings, and even bedazzled sandals.

It was a perfect (and wet!) end to Chicago's Fashion Focus Week, leaving the crowd wanting more and looking forward to next year's shows.

Original article written for Factio Magazine

iPhone Gets Fashionable

We live in a world where information is right at our fingertips and the new iPhone application from style.com is a prime example.

The new application is designed to enable the fashion obsessed to have full access to the runway, no matter where they live.

The application (which is available only for iPhone) will initially offer videos and photos from couture collections in July. It will then be updated regularly beginning September 5 with the New York ready-to-wear collections.

Jamie Pallot, the editorial director of Conde Nast Web sites, told the New York Times that the morning runway shows will be available by the afternoon and the evening shows should be available by the next morning. Talk about quick turn-around time!

Pallot has tested an early version and you can expect features such as; a welcome screen listing new shows on one menu and blog items on another, ability to open a window that shows the looks in a grid, you will be able to enlarge images and even be able to reveal the model’s name and a concise review of the show by tapping on any of the photos from the shows.

The hope is to eventually be able to include photos and videos from hundreds of shows in New York, Paris, London and Milan.

Image courtesy of the nytimes.com

Nina Garcia's Style Guide

Nina Garcia, former Elle fashion director, author of Little Black Book of Style and Project Runway judge has just released another style guide.

The One Hundred, features the chic pieces that no woman should be without.

Garcia told The Daily at Saks Fifth Avenue, "It was just one of those inspirations that happened at a moment where I was moving, I was pregnant, I was packing."

She went on to say that she was inspired while trying to pack for a move as her house was being renovated and she wondered how she was going to do it all.

"What am I going to do? I'm changing seasons, I'm changing sizes, I'm changing apartments. What am I going to pack? And all of a sudden, it hit me. There are some things that I always wear, will always wear, that are never going to change, no matter what size I am or what season it is. So that's where the idea of The One Hundred came about."

On top of publishing her new book, Garcia has recently taken a new position as the fashion director of Marie Claire. She is excited to begin her new gig because she believes the magazine is passionate about women's issues.

Image courtesy of StylePhile.com

Man Behind the Models Dies

The man who started one of the most recognizable modeling agencies in the world, Jerry Ford, died at the age of 83 on Sunday in Morristown, N.J.

In the 1940s modeling was seen as more of a hobby than a profession. But when Jerry Ford implemented some of his ideas he changed the face of modeling forever. He introduced a payment system for models where they would be paid for their work in advance and then later would recoup his fees from various clients.

He is also credited with creating the first contracts for models to represent specific brands exclusively. He negotiated the first such contract for Lauren Hutton to represent Revlon in 1974.

"Before Jerry came along, there were only robber barons who were out there running modeling schools," Carmen Dell'Orefice, who has modeled with the Ford agency for 60 years told the New York Times.

Ford also managed the early modeling careers of Jane Fonda, Candice Bergan, Brooke Shields, and Ali MacGraw. The legend who died of endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, will be sorely missed.

Rachel Zoe Comes to Bravo

One of the most well-known and ingenious stylists, (and my personal favorite) Rachel Zoe, is finally giving us non-celebrities a glimpse into her chaotic fashion world.

On September 9, The Rachel Zoe Project will debut on Bravo and the docu-drama will no doubt leave our tongues wagging for more!

The show will follow Zoe and her fashion team as they style only the biggest name celebrities, models, and other high profile clients. Every week we will get to watch Zoe run from shops to meetings with designers to editorial shoots and runway shows.

So get that Tivo ready because between The Rachel Zoe Project, Gossip Girl, America’s Next Top Model, and Project Runway it will be the best fall fashion season yet!

Image courtesy of UK's Daily Mail

Go Green For Autumn

With autumn's cool breeze on the way you not only have to start pulling out your long-sleeves and jeans but you should also up-date your make-up drawer to ensure you get the right amount of coverage for the cooler weather.

While out purchasing your favorite make-up, why not try going green for the upcoming season. Purchasing eco-friendly products not only will help our environment but it will also be good for your skin.

There are a lot of eco-friendly products on the market to choose from at the moment. However, do your homework before purchasing them because a lot of the products are actually not 100% organic.

There is one skin line, Suki Pure Skin Care, that not only has a large variety of eco-friendly products but it is 100% organic. Founded by Suki Kramer, who suffered from sensitive skin and chronic eczema, expect this line to be extremely soothing on your skin.

Kramer's collection recently launched an extension, Suki Color. So now you can purchase organic products from her Tinted Active Moisturizer and Cream Eye Definer to Pure Cream Satin for your face and lips.

For more information: visit www.sukicolor.com

Orginal article written for Factio Magazine

Image courtesy of www.sukicolor.com