About to start my new trend

Skinny cords...yes please.  

Adding to my sweater addiction...

Browsing the websites of my favorite brands is really inspiring me to start my own trend of wearing winter clothes in the summer. Think about it....we can all lose weight by sweating while being profusely layered in all of fall's essential pieces. Wrestlers do it before big matches- they run in sweats to make weigh ins... Ok maybe not such a great idea, but check out these amazing pieces from Free People's fall 2010 collection.

Eyelet Boots

/\ and for those of you still in summer mode (like most normal people)....these look super cute under tank

tops as opposed to bra straps showing. I plan on investing in one ASAP. Or maybe two or three... 

Is anyone else ready for winter??

I NEVER thought I would say this...but I am getting antsy for fall/winter. Enough of booty shorts and mini skirts (which should really never be acceptable, considering they are unflattering on a good 70% of the population). I'm ready for LAYERS. Cardigans, peacoats, sweaters, jeans, and a cup of hot cocoa. Ahhh. Coming from the most cold natured person of all time, this really is a rarity. I will probably regret this wish once it truly is winter, but I'm tired of sweating while walking to my car.

Speaking of sweating, I'm not a huge Calvin Klein fan, but his newest idea is that women must sweat for fashion. He made this claim while stating that he is shunning shorts. NO SHORTS says Klein. Read for yourself. I actually support him in this. Although they are comfortable for lounging and casual day wear, they really are not appropriate for any dressy occasion.

SO, in preparation for fall/winter. I have picked a few of Topshop's "Into the Wild" fashion collection pieces that I really want to order. Topshop has forecasted this fall as a collection containing "tattered knits and ragged faux fur with flowing silks and sparkling chiffons for a look that's tough on the outside and delicately pretty underneath."

Back in the Game

Hello fellow fashion fanatics....

It's time to resume iKnow fashion.

I just returned from studying abroad in London and Paris. What an incredible experience. I love seeing how different fashion is abroad, compared to the very limited knowledge that I can grasp from living in Nashville. We visited amazing boutiques such as JC de Castelbajac, Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney, Liberty of London, etc. We also met with Prudence from Prudence Millinery, who designs hats for Vivienne Westwood and has had many of her hats appear in Sex and the City and Vogue!

This is a Zandra Rhodes runway dress!!

We got to have a photoshoot outside of the Fashion and Textile Museum that Zandra founded. 

In between our time meeting with fashion opinion leaders in London and Paris, we did our fair share of shopping and sight seeing- can't blame us right?? Topshop (my new obsession), Mango, H&M, Zara-stores that provide the look for less. We visited the Louvre (as seen in picture below), Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Kensington Palace, the Eiffel Tower, etc. I feel much more cultured and I hope to return again one day SOON!

So what's next??

So, what is up and coming with these two fashion brands???

This is a bit of a summary because this whole blog has covered recent news! but let's recap

~7 for All Mankind launched their new accessories, shoes, and sunglasses lines- their sportswear line includes items such as leggings, tank tops, etc.
~They also began an organic denim line
~They opened new stores in Manhattan and Orange County this year
~They are being sold at Costco now!
~Seven jeans have their name because most people own about 7 pairs of jeans at a time
You learn something new every day!

Anthropologie:

1. Is collaborating with awesome designers to add credibility and variety to their lines

2. Urban Outfitters, Inc. is planning a 4th store to support going green- what could it be?

3. Anthropologie is keeping Urban Outfitters Inc at the top of their game and only keeps improving! They are constantly traveling, looking for inspiration, and designers to collaborate with.

princess and the pea themed room

Apparently, Anthro can do no wrong.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. has a great handle on their companies and marketing so that they can maximize profits. Again, no reports can be found online of any issues in the media of poor working conditions, scandals, etc. Anything I googled about Anthropologie made it sound like the brand is taking over the world!


Rumor has it that Urban Outfitters, Inc. is going green and launching a 4th store which has yet to be named, which will be a non-apparel store! Exciting to see what that will be....


According to "The Cut"  from New York Magazine...
Anthropologie Continues to Rock Our World

Anthropologie cannot put a foot wrong these days. We’ve already all bought the oversize flannel shirts, the tunics, the plaid coats, the charming housewares. Now, Urban Outfitters’ sister store is stepping up its already-not-too-shabby beauty game with some serious collaborations. The first, with ritzy Paris fragrance-maker Givaudan, is a collection of six scents made by five perfumers (Stephen Nilsen, Adriana Medina, Marypierre Julien, Caroline Sabas, and Claude Dir — trust us, in the beauty world they’re Stella McCartney) called A Rather Novel Collection. The perfumers took their inspiration from teas from around the world, and while all the scents smell heavenly, we couldn’t tear ourselves away from “Cape of Good Hope” by Claude Dir. The backstory is a little complicated (workers loading wooden chests filled with Rooibos tea in South Africa during 1498, etc.), but the juice — a delicious mix of red tea leaves, gardenia, and Madagascar vanilla — is just ... mmm. This is exactly what fragrance should be: thought-provoking, complex, and made with the utmost care.

If there were ANY problems reported on the internet, I would explain how the company has solved them. But I cannot find any, hence why I just blogged on another AWESOME thing in the woodworks with this company.


http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/12/anthropologie_continues_to_roc.html

Sevens going green!

Seven Jeans is a very stable brand that has not been greatly affected by the economy or many social issues. Celebrity endorsements have helped the brand skyrocket and continue to stay on top of the denim industry. 7 for All Mankind launched its first eco-friendly, organic denim collection in their Spring 2009 Collection.

Again, because this company is privately operated, not much information can be found on working conditions etc, nothing negative can be found.

Here is an interview posted about their going green and answering questions of any cynics.

Explain why your brand is going “green” and what eco-friendly steps it has taken to achieve that.


We are living in a time where social awareness as a whole is becoming increasingly important, especially to the younger generation. As the leader in premium denim, we feel that it’s important to explore alternative options for denim which include organic cottons. The denim used for the select pieces in our Spring 2009 organic line is made with 100% organic cotton, grown from pesticide-free plants.



A cynic might say that the “green” movement, like many things in fashion, is just a passing trend or a trendy buzzword that will soon fade away. What is your response to the cynics, and do you think that the movement will have legs in the future?

There has been so much education on the benefits from our health to our communities in being “green” and supporting “green” measures and consumers will continue to look for different ways to pitch in and designers are creating fashion with this in mind. As responsible individuals, it is our responsibility to take care of our environment and continue to search for new ways that we can contribute to this. This is not a trend, but instead it is becoming more of the norm.



As we’ve seen with the recent decrease in gas prices (and subsequent increase in fuel consumption), when it comes to “green,” it’s usually the money that talks, not eco-mindedness. In fashion, organic products tend to be pricier. Why is that? And how do you think it will be possible to make eco-friendly product that is also affordable and accessible to everyday people?

7 For All Mankind uses the finest fabrics, fits and washes each season in order to provide consumers with the best possible product. The Spring 2009 denim ranges in retail price from $169-$225, with $198 being the average price. Clothing made with organic cotton tends to cost more than clothing made with conventional cotton because it is more expensive to harvest and manufacture. While the same manufacturing facilities are used for both types of cotton, extra cleaning and sanitizing precautions need to be taken in order to avoid transferring any chemicals to the organic cotton. This alone increases the processing costs. With that in mind, 7 For All Mankind’s organic denim for Spring 2009 ranges in retail price from $198 – $215, which is within the price range of the entire collection, keeping it affordable and accessible for eco-conscious shoppers.



What organic/eco-friendly pieces in your 7 for All Mankind collection are the most popular?

7 For All Mankind is offering Polynesia and Vintage Polynesia for Spring 2009. Polynesia is a 12 oz. rigid denim made from 100% organic cotton. It is stonewashed and made to look like a pair of favorite worn-in jeans. This wash features bright blue hues with all over hand sand blasting, which is complimented by subtle tacking and grinding at the pockets and hems. Polynesia is offered in the Austyn Relaxed Straight Leg, Bootcut and Standard with “A” Pocket. Vintage Polynesia is a washed down, vintage version of Polynesia. Offered on a 12 oz. rigid denim, Vintage Polynesia also uses 100% organic cotton. Extra grinding, holes, sandblasting and antiqued brass hardware complete this vintage look. This wash is offered in the Relaxed with Bordered Squiggle Pocket, which is a very popular style due to the distressed denim trend that has been going on this season.



Any “green” collaborations in the future between your company and other eco-minded companies? How do you plan on staying “green” moving forward?

Going forward we plan to continue offering organic denim throughout our collections, especially since the eco-friendly movement has gone beyond food and fabric to even beauty products. We constantly have our ear to the ground looking for new and innovative techniques. However, we want to do so while also preventing further damage to our natural surroundings. Consumers have a lot of power over manufacturers and they have chosen to make a commitment to buying eco-friendly products. Doing something good for the environment is as easy as buying clothing, giving everyone an opportunity to contribute.
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2009/04/06/brand-profile-7-for-all-mankind/

Anthro is holding Urban Outfitters Afloat

I already blogged about this before, so this will be brief:

Urban Outfitter's(URBN Quote) Anthropolgie chain is keeping the company afloat, as its namesake chain and Free People concept weighed on third-quarter results.


 the quarter, the company earned $62.4 million, or 36 cents a share, compared with $59.3 million, or 35 cents, in the year-ago period. Analysts expected the company to earn 35 cents a share.

Revenue rose 6% to $505.9 million from $478 million last year. Total same-store sales, however, slipped 2%, weighed down by its Free People concept.

By division, comparable sales grew 3% at Anthropologie, fell 5% at its namesake brand and plunged 13% at Free People.

Interesting how the most expensive line in this company brings in the most revenue! Go anthro!