Anthropologie Spring 2011 Fashion Show

When I got invited to a Spring Fashion show at my local Anthropologie, I was beyond ecstatic!

So of course I took pictures of the awesome event - which benefitted a local charity and even included a fun raffle for, of course, coveted Anthro gift cards!

The runway brilliantly built from display tables

I decided to shoot some of the outfits on display before the show began. Not sure if I could pull off a maxi but would really want to!

Love the Pulling it Together Cardigan by Moth as well as those gorgeous gorgeous mirrors!

Posters were integrated into the displays with information on the local educational charity.

A cute, floral Perennial Blooms Shift dress by Anna Sui for Spring.

The store had tons of these massive daisy-like flowers! Bright pops of colour were seen throughout the clothes.

On to pictures from the show itself! Girls who work at the store actually did the modeling and several came out for more than one look. I actually really appreciated the fact that they didn't use 6 ft tall models, as you got to see the clothes on girls of all shapes and sizes. This is a pic of one of my fave SAs who is petite like me - loved this pairing of a jacket over the silk Dawning Day Dress!

Are her fabulous legs for sale?

I realized that without a lens that captures motion well, I was only going to get lots of blur. There had to be at least 3 people at the event with professional lenses in tow. So, for the encore walk I turned on the trusty video record function which worked out much better. Enjoy!

Links a la Mode: The View from Here

The View from Here

Edited by Holier than Now

So the time has come for me to pass the baton to the next Links a La Mode curator, but in reflecting on the last few months I'm amazed at the diversity of aesthetics, lifestyles and opinions I've discovered gathering these links each month. It's a great view from here in the blogosphere: whether it's up close at Fashion Week from the comfort of your chair) a new take on what you see in the mirror, or a peephole into the world of stylish women from Scotland to Spain (and everywhere in between).
But Links a la Mode is also about putting yourself on view! If you're reading this and you publish a blog, why not bookmark the link to submit your Links a La Mode posts here and make a repeating event on your calendar to drop by each Tuesday of the week with your latest and greatest post? I'll see you there...

Links à la Mode: February 24th

• 365 Fashion Rehab: Makeup Makeover: Condensing Your Beauty Must-Haves
• A Scottish Lassie Loves: Bright Pick Me Ups for a Rainy Day
• Boheme Noir: The Best Vogue Covers of the 80's and 90's
• By Anika: Why Nude Swimming is Next for this Curvy Fashionista
• Chi Chi Bella: The 60's: Fashion at its Classiest
• Fashables: Is it possible to get turned on by a pair of shoes?
• Fashion Limbo: Real Vintage vs. Fake Vintage
• Fashionista Next Door: A Free Alternative to Photoshop
• From London With Style: From London Fashion Week - Why Brits are Best
• Grit & Glamour: Tips for Surviving the IFB Conference
• Holier than Now: 8 (Actually Stylish) Backpacks Under $50
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Proenza Schouler Video: Fashion Bloggers Create an "Extraordinary Impact"
• It Hunter: Gary Winogrand: Women Are Beautiful
• Notes From A Stylist: On Surviving the Marc Jacobs Press Pit
• Songs and Fairy Tales: 60 Day No Shopping Challenge!
• Statements in Fashion: My Weight Loss Success Story
• The Fashion Pawn: Optimizing Your Blog Layout
• The New Wave: The top five most creative presentations from NY Fashion Week
• The Citizen Rosebud: Must-Watch Fashion Bloggers over 40
• The Button Owl: The Hottest Hair from NYFW
• Vanja Stance: An Awesome 80's Nails Tutorial

Anthro Free Shipping is Back

Hello sweet readers, check out Roxy's post on the return of Anthro free shipping for the month of March or see the original email to subscribers here. No code is needed, basically you need to link your Anthro account to your .com account. Of course, of course, this has to occur AFTER I just placed an order. Oh Anthro, you always know how to keep me coming back for more.

The fine print, made bigger:

Offer is valid for domestic shipments only and does not apply to previous purchases. To take advantage of Free Standard Shipping, you must link your anthro number to a new or existing anthropologie.com account. Offer expires on 03/31/11. Additional fees apply for overweight, express or overnight shipping. International shipping is excluded from this offer.

Cheers everybody! Let me know what you buy in the comments!

What I Love Now! - February Loves

For Adorning. After purchasing one of Delphine Quirin's hats from Anthropologie, I've fallen in love with this Belgium-based handmade brand. The hats are truly unique and stylish, as well as very well made.

Mademoiselle Et Garcon Beret

This is a great combination of the classic beret (mademoiselle) meets the classic newsboy (garcon). It's photographed a bit misleadingly as the flower actually goes on the side and not the front. Otherwise the front lip of the hat would end up covering your ear instead of your face.

Examples from Delphine's Winter 2007/2008 Collection:

This one reminds me of the headwrap on Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring

Nothing like a pout to go with an oversized bow

Gorgeous berry colours, I love the scarf.

For Reading. Okay so my French is not that great, but I waited in line to snap up my first Vogue Paris (thanks to the Borders liquidation sales, high fashion can be finally had at 40% off!) Love the photography as well as the emphasis on models and the clothes, unlike American Vogue which loves a small group of celebrities over and over.

Photo credit: Vogue Paris

For Inspiration. Love this collection of the Harper's Bazaar covers - everything from the ubercool Art Deco period covers to the more recent ones, this little collector's edition has it all and is really great fashion and art inspiration.

Harper's Bazaar Special Collector's Edition Best Covers 1867-2011

 

Photo credit: Books a Million

A Peek Inside America's Next Top Model Auditions

Guess who came into town? America's Next Top Model! Auditions were held near my local Anthropologie so I decided to scope out the scene. Girls had to be 5 ft 7 or above for this round so I was only around for spying.

Some of the camera crew in their CW gear.

After the registration tent, girls took turns catwalking to impress the photographer. Later there were judging tables and a waiting area for girls who made the cut.

Part of the huge line of leggy, pretty girls who broke out their black stilettos for the occasion

Yep that's the massive green CW being carried around

Links a la Mode: Fashion Week's Inspirations

Fashion Week's Inspirations

Edited by Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista
During the midst of New York Fashion Week, fashion took another direction. Beyond the beauty of an artist’s creation, fashion bloggers take their inspirations to raise questions, reflect, challenge the status quo, create and fashion pieces of their own, and analyze the trends in digital and social media- nevertheless, fashion inspired. With this inspiration comes an eclectic look into this week’s Links a la mode.

Links à la Mode: February 17th, 2011

• Alterations Needed: Getting a dress altered - before, after, and the thought process in between.
• Beyond Fabric: Embracing a more stylish ride
• Brunette Blogging: Blog Seasons - How different seasons have an impact on your blog
• College Girl: Liberty London Girl spares her time to answer some in depth questions about her blogging experiences and gives amateur bloggers some exceptional advice in the process...
• Dressing With Courage: Valentine's Day lingerie: Take back the sexy
• Fashion Writes: Let's Get Digital. Digital. Women are small in numbers in the always-enhancing and ever-evolving tech side of the fashion industry, but we as fashion bloggers are going to begin skewing the curves.
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: A blogger's moment with Anna Wintour at Milk Studios
• Katrya-Kyla: "Print vs Video: The Industry's New Plan of Attack"
• Khola's Kloset: Looking Back: The models and images that made fashion special
• Lariza da Blog: my struggle with the vanity of fashion blogging:
• Metallic Kiwi: Top black models emerging within the industry.
• Most Serene Rabbit: Is there really such thing as ethical leather? Why is there a double standard when it comes to ethics In the fur and leather industries?
• Previously Owned: BEHIND THE GLITZ- Q&A with designer Carolina Rodriguez about her food/fashion/music inspiration
• Same Sensibility: Rihanna just ruined your Valentine's
• Scrap and Run: Why I remix
• Seamstress Stories: High heels yay, headscarf nay? Double standards in the symbolic value assigned to female clothing.
• Style by Santina: My "Happy" Weight: When the Body and Brain Disagree
• The Button Owl: Why your creative space identifies the real you just as much as your outer image.
• The Coveted:Running into Anna Dello Russo at NYFW
• The Curvy Fashionista: “DIY Diva” inspiration with Be Vain or DIY Trying
• The Demoiselles: Crystal Renn on body image and pressure from the media.

Item of the Week: Star of the East Ring

I recently bought this gorgeous Shell and Pearl Rose ring from Star of the East's Sea Treasure collection. Star of the East is a Turkey-based etsy store by Esther and Estella. You can check out their equally gorgeous blog. 

The one thing I love about etsy is that the sellers not only have really unique jewelry, they also are often willing to custom size them for girls with little fingers like mine! I wear a ring size 5, which, just like size 5 shoes can be hard to find in stores. 

This is definitely a statement ring and not for the shy of heart. Love love love! Am now contemplating the matching earrings and necklace.

$37 at Star of the East

Leifsdottir Shoe Line Debuts

Leifsdottir just announced the debut of it's shoe line. I was extremely pleased to see that size 5/35 shoes are being included. The shoes are definitely gorgeous, sculptural works of art that appear to be all Brazilian-made and use real leather. As can be expected with Leifsdottir, the prices are not cheap, with the least expensive pair at around $250.

My personal picks, if I were able to afford them, are:

Lotta Flats in Caramel, $248

Ilona Heels in Quarry/Camel, $328 

More photos from the collection:

 

Kate Spade Sample Sale Begins

Kate Spade just sent out an email that it's sample sale has begun! If cuffs had a habit of fitting petite wrists, I'd be getting this gorgeous, Botticelli inspired item:

Monterey Bay Seahorse Cuff, $75

Item of the Week: Free People Amadas Heel

This gorgeous bootie caught my eye for its elaborate cutouts and unique design. The fact that it's Italian kid leather just makes it even more appealing. As with many shoes I curse the fact that the smallest available size is a 6.

$238 at Free People

Tales of Things You Love - Guest Post on EA

Hello sweet reader! Guess what I've been up to? Head on over to Effortless Anthropologie to see what the fuss is about and read more Things You Love Week.

I was invited by Roxy to post something that I love, which I hope you will enjoy!

BHLDN Anthro sneak peek

Anthro just released an email with a sneak peek of the gorgeous gowns from BHLDN, it's wedding line. To be honest, the sneak peeks of the Greenbow Lace Gown and Fondant Tea Dress (love that lace glove!) look so appealing as just gowns, you almost wonder if they really needed to brand BHLDN as a wedding brand and not just an offshoot formal-wear brand.

Links a la Mode: So Long, Farewell

So long, farewell

Edited by Thom of The Sunday Best
Here we are, face to face, a couple of silver spoons. My run as an editor for this venerable list is coming to a close, and as it does I'd like to take a moment to reflect on what makes the internet such an awesome place. Ahem. It's you. Yes, you! I don't get to read as much online as I once did, and this list kept me in touch with the, dare I say it, zeitgeist of style writing. I was often amazed at the diversity of topics you writers were willing to tackle. Keep those keyboards clacking, stay strong, and be good to the incoming editors. We are only human.

Thomas...out.

Links à la Mode: February 3rd

• Aesthetics and Audio: "God, you're skinny"
• Arash Mazinani: The Adonis Complex - men and body image
• Beyond Fabric: Faithful companions
• Brunette Blogging: Blog bashing
• Chic Steals: Fashionista's dilemma to sourcing your clothing
• Digital Traveler: Kids and high fashion
• Dress With Courage: Suit yourself
• Fashezine: On blogging and other drugs
• For Those About to Shop: The great used clothing challenge
• Grit and Glamour: Trademarks - What you need to know
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Fashion Week Tech Survival Kit
• Lust, Love, Lose: 100 words on life
• Ruby Slipper Journeys: Why I'm going on my first ever shopping ban
• Starting From Scratch: Loving every body
• The Coveted: Layering up with Wool and the Gang
• The Demoiselles: Nine West's wacky email campaign
• The House in the Clouds: Favorite body parts
• The Loudmouth: Nudity - Naughty or Natural?
• The Sunday Best: The law is meant to protect, not bully
• The Styling Dutchman: Blogger bitching
• Those Graces: On being a feminist beauty blogger

Item of the Week: Foxy Lady Bag

Is this not the cutest bag you've ever seen? This is the Foxy Lady Bag from La Lisette, an Amsterdam designer. I love how the nose of the fox is also the button snap that closes the bag. The fact that it's made of real leather and is handmade just adds to the charm.

$114.99 at Modcloth or EUR 69 at La Lisette