Underwear and Bra-blem Solving

Is there a garment category more hated and loved than intimate apparel? We love bras for how they look but hate how they feel. Shapewear might smooth us out but strangles us in the process. I toured the latest offerings in underwear and bras for you.   Iconic intimate apparel brand Warner's knows this. They took a poll of women's biggest beefs with the bra and addressed them with a range of new products. They called it a "Bra-blem" to be solved. Do you ever suffer that extra roll of fat under the arm that spills over the sides of your bra? If you're like me, you hide from sleeveless...

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Blogger Love: Reading Summer Style

From the collections of emerging and well known designers, to the showing and caring for personal collections.  This week, IFB bloggers have shared personal collections, inspiring collections, and of course how to grow your wardrobe… the fashion purveyor’s ultimate collection. And as the summer heat continues across the country, you’re showing us great ways to stay fashionable from day to night, and from air-conditioned offices to afternoon lunch-breaks (and one tip if you live south of the equator for winter weather!). We’ve also got vacation on the brain with summer reading, eating...

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Deniss Basso's Glam, Fur & Jewels Fall 2015

Have you been missing the runway reports? I was editing my closet this week and wishing I had a proper occasion (and weather) to wear my furs and jewels. Why? Dennis Basso displayed a gorgeous parade of 1970's inspired glam upgraded with luxurious furs, metallic fabrics and opulent jeweled embroideries. A collection of big furs and glitzy gowns would normally feel stuffy or skew older. However, the swagger of the big collars and attitude of the models read more like luxe disco queen than dowager countess. The jewel embroidery was a mix of smokey colors and pewter. It had a vintage...

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Ms. Fabulous' Green Garden Brunch

Leaving spring, starting summer. I wanted to host another Ms. Fabulous boozy brunch and invite my favorite people to it.While Meryl Streep's line "Florals for spring, groundbreaking " echoed in my head from The Devil Wears Prada, for a June brunch,  I couldn't think of anything more appropriate. I also wanted to be as green and eco-friendly as I could. First, brunch decor consisted of upcycled tissue flowers made from papers retrieved from fashion events from the last month. Tissue flower DIY here.  I bought a few bunches of flowers and remixed them into vases I had in the cupboard....

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2015 Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Do your fishies swim? Saturday marked the 2015 Mermaid Parade in Brooklyn. It is a tradition of Coney Island in its 32nd year. It takes inspiration from the burlesque dancers, side shows, circus and artists living the community (there is a Mermaid Avenue next to the Parade route). With the rich entertainment history of the parade, the perfect King Neptune and Queen Mermaid for the event were unsurprisingly Mat Fraser (musician and actor on American Horror Story Freakshow) and reigning star of burlesque in NYC, Julie Atlas Muz. I loved their work separately even before I found out they...

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Father's Day Gift Guide

Happy Father's Day Weekend! Instead of pulling aspirational shopping guides from the web like everyone else, I wanted to show you what the men in my life will actually have in their hands.  Father's Day Gifts Should Be Stylish and Practical From the bottom left, is the The Describer's Dictionary. My Dad is trying to write more to accompany the beautiful photographs he takes. What he is struggling with (and me as well) is an expanded descriptive vocabulary worthy of the experiences he has. This is a great book with lists of descriptive terms for every occasion. It also has a section...

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Independent Handbag Designer Awards 2015

 The best of independent handbag designers were awarded this week at the Independent Handbag Designer Awards 2015. Makers from all over the world participated with their passion projects. It is one of my favorite industry awards as it truly celebrates and elevates indie designers without the distracting factors of celebs, paparazzi, and red carpets. The event is the dream of designer Emily Blumenthal. It was a way to bring recognition to the legions of independent labels who made handbags. Now in its ninth year, winners of the awards now land spreads in InStyle magazine, receive mentorships...

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Byron Lars and Tasha Smith at ABFF

Fashion, film, and style go hand in hand. How you dress an actor can contribute as much to the character as the performance itself. Actress Tasha Smith made that point and insisted to her wardrobe staff that her favorite designer Byron Lars be included in her costumes when she worked on the show For Better Or Worse. This was all a part of the panel discussion hosted by Brandice Daniel of Harlem's Fashion Row at the American Black Film Festival over the weekend. Harlem's Fashion Row has been an advocate for emerging talent in fashion for people of color. The organization...

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Blogger Love: Everything is Everything

I usually try to come up with a theme for each edition of Links a la Mode, but this week’s topics were so varied that all I can think of is that Lauren Hill song. You guys covered everything from abandoned housing projects in Greece, to Gucci in New York, to graffiti in San Francisco (I guess G’s were actually a theme!). In any case, we’ve got lots of great writing, and images to go with it. You know what else is everything? The midi-length denim skirt Ms. Hill is wearing in that video. I’d be stoked to score that at a vintage store. But I digress—on to the links!   -Kristen...

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A Short history of shoe style:

How far have we come and how far have we gone? Here is a great little shoe style infographic on how our favorite shoe trends aligned with history: infographic courtesy of farfetch.c...

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Party Girl Turns 20!

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the release of one of my favorite fashion movies of the 1990s. Party Girl was an indie film that my fashion school friends and I felt was made just for us. Based on the initial box office receipts, it might as well have been. I lived in the East Village, roamed around St. Mark's Place and Alphabet City those days, just like Parker Posey's character, Mary. My friends and I always knew of an underground rave going on, like the one Mary throws at the beginning of the movie (it was art school and I did live in-between clubs like Webster Hall, Limelight,...

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High Fashion Hits the Tony Awards Red Carpet 2015

Did anyone else think last night's TONY Awards red carpet looked like an extension of the CFDA Awards? That was not a coincidence. In the past, the awards ceremony celebrating live theater was barely watched by television fans. Unlike the Academy Awards, it was not the destination for celebrity fashion inspiration. Legendary costume designer for Broadway, William Ivey Long (hell, even my Hubby knows his work) reached out to Anna Wintour for help with all of the above. Together with Vogue staff and the team at PR company KCD Worldwide, they made sure to give the stars lots of styling and...

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Clarion Alley Street Art - Graffiti in Fashion

This is my last day in San Francisco. I made a trip to the city's famed Clarion Alley, known for its amazing street art. In the 1990s, the mural project was first conceptualized by several residents of the street. Now it is a constantly rotating outdoor gallery depicting the struggles of gentrification and displacement in the community (more timely than ever). Graffiti and street art has always been an inspiration to other creatives. Once a menace to property owners, street art is now a widely recognized medium being sought after by brands and collaborators alike. The Metropolitan Museum...

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SlowCoast Pop-Up Boutiques

I am currently enjoying a gorgeous road trip along the California Coast. I wasn't looking for a great shopping find, but I came across SLOWCOAST's Airstream boutique. I saw a few of their pop-up shops on my trip but this one was my favorite. Like the farm to table, slow food movement, SLOWCOAST has a relaxed, artisanal approach to their collection. They offer their own collection of surf style-inspired clothing, handmade bath products, vintage farm shirts and edibles.  The created a comfy seating area with hay bales and old blankets. The Airstream trailer smelled  beautiful...

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Viniq Hosts a Ruby Spa Day

Day Two of Ms. Fabulous Cocktail Week. I was treated to an indulgent afternoon at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa in Midtown Manhattan. The host was Viniq Ruby, a gorgeous blend of vodka, berry, Moscato and citrus. The theme of course, was ruby red. Ruby is my birthstone. Macarons looked like they were encrusted with crushed rubies. Sparkly jello shots made with Viniq looked like little jewels. We were treated to a multi-course cocktail tasting to feature the flavors of Viniq. I personally love the original in purple and the now the new Ruby version in red in the bottle itself. Its'...

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