Seattle: HollyHood w/DJ Ayres, FourColorZack & TigerBeat – Fri Sept 10

What can I say...you know where you can find me every Friday. Join me for a very special HollyHood, next Friday at The Chapel. TigerBeat will be there with special guests DJ Ayres (NYC) and FourColorZack. Get your dancing shoes ready!

Where the hell have I been?

Don’t call it a comeback!

I’ve been on hiatus – obviously, and involuntarily. It’s been a ridiculously busy few months. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so much stress, so many challenges and taken as many risks as I’ve had in the past few weeks. For the first time in my life, I finally reached a point where enough was enough. I left no time for myself and I’d completely lost track of the things that made me happy. So what did I do? I turned my world upside down and made a few changes.

For those of you who are wondering, I made the decision to put CRAVE Seattle in the more than

capable hands of the lovely Sydney Chavez (Seattle Boutique Blogspot, Beauty by Sydney & Sydney Loves Fashion.) I did this so I could focus solely on my work for Banyan Branch. CRAVE Seattle has incredible potential, but with anything else in life, you have to put some into it to get something out of it. It was such a pleasure working with the CRAVE ladies and helping women business owners in the city. I’m excited to see what Sydney has in store!

Over at Banyan Branch, I’ve recently moved over from client management to director of marketing and training for the firm. We are growing so fast and expanding beyond Seattle! We’ve gotten where we are purely on word-of-mouth – I’m looking forward to actively putting the firm’s brand out there as “the face of Banyan Branch” and in creating a strong resource base for our employees.

A couple of weeks ago, I almost lost my shh when I found out that BizTechDay included me in their list of "25 Influential Business Women in Seattle You Should Follow on Twitter." My tweets are mostly personal now (I also tweet for Banyan Branch) - but then again, the lines between my personal and professional lives are blurred/borderline invisible. I'm honored to be in the company of many women I know and admire!

Made a few changes in my personal (read: private) life too. Without going into too much detail, I needed a shock to my system to remember I need to always think about what I want out of life!

A fun side hustle I’ve taken on is helping out with HollyHood, Fridays at Chapel with two wonderful friends and amazingly talented DJs – TigerBeat & Marty Mar. Seattle, if you haven’t been to HollyHood, your Friday nights and dance party experience is sorely lacking! Get ready for the most diverse set of music you’ve ever had the pleasure of dancing to. I know you want something different ☺

It feels really good to be blogging again. FreshJess has always been about sharing some of my favorite things, what I’m interested, and the incredible people in my life – and will continue to be so. It’s good to be back!

Coveting consignment's finest: The Covet Shop

Another lovely soul I met during NYFW this February was Nancy Chuang of Covet Shop, the exclusive online consignment boutique. Was thinking about her and decided to peruse the shop (I admit, I haven't lately.) Oh my freakin God...!

"i'm a, a diva"
trina turk foil dress
$184 (orig $368)

ancient egypt on the town
Tory Burch Meagan clutch
$185 (orig $369)

Pocahontas
Jill Stuart Claudia Boots
$189 (orig $685)

sex kitten
Alexandra Neel satin lace pumps
$165 (orig $580)

and the deal du jour...
Alexandra Neel gold trim boots
$142 (orig $1000!!!)

Art in the City: Ethan Nguyen's Mural Art Installation - Fri 5/7

I had the pleasure of meeting the charming Ethan Nguyen of Titans & Co. during the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference at New York Fashion Week in February. Though we share a love of style, this Philly native has quite the artistic eye as well. During NYFW he was awarded a grant from the Arts & the City Grants Program to produce an art installation at UPenn, featuring the many beautiful murals from around Philadelphia. Take a look:

How beautiful!

Read more about his personal connection to the murals on Titans & Co.

If you're in the area, make sure you head to the University of Pennsylvania this Friday, May 7th to check out Ethan's installation. If you're not - you can bid for a mini rendition of the installation (twenty encased images), to be auctioned off with proceeds going to Team Boravuth.

Congrats Ethan!

Black is Not Your Color (And It's Not Your Brand)

My dear friend, mentor and hero Darcey Howard is coming home for a Seattle visit, and bringing her popular workshop to the city while she's here!

Darcey Howard presents
Black is Not Your Color (And It's Not Your Brand)
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
12:30 - 2:00 p.m. OR 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Aspira (1823 Terry Ave., Seattle 98101)
$40 / Register by emailing darcey@darceyhoward.com

Being your brand takes guts.

Owning your value takes guts.

How do you create a brand that reflects your value and uniqueness in a sea of competition?

You have be ready to own it.

Are you ready to own your brand and stand out from the crowd?

As an expert in building brand integrity for businesses and individuals, Darcey Howard, Personal Branding & Style Consultant, will provide the tools, tips and guidelines you can put into place immediately to make sure you stand out in a crowd versus just fitting in.

Come away with...

* Clarity of how your personal brand is conveyed and perceived both visually and professionally.

* Tools for bridging the gap between how you feel, how you look and how you sell.

* Knowledge on how to leverage your USP (Unique "Style" Proposition) to attract ideal customers

* Guidelines to identify, build and maintain your personal brand and leverage it in your business.


Don't miss this opportunity to get what your personal brand needs to not be ignored.

Ciara - Ride. I have to

tell me this is not the hottest video you've ever seen

Get Trashed this weekend w/Lst Bys & TigerBeat

Seriously - why do you need to look anywhere else

p.s. This might be one of my favorite flyers ever.

And in case you forgot - my favorite dance party in all the city (get your mixtape here):

Have a great weekend! xo

Fresh Faves for Earth Day: SPUN Fanciful & Frilly Collection

I'm a big fan of Seattle-based & eco-friendly SPUN organic clothing, designed by my dear friend Sara Seumae. Sara is absolutely amazing. I'm always inspired by her strong will and determination to make things happen for SPUN while balancing family and life. Since meeting her last year via Twitter (I'm not a stalker), SPUN has enjoyed lots of great mentions in magazines, top fashion and eco-centric blogs and even a TV spot - not to mention every Twitter lady in town now has at least two SPUN pieces in her wardrobe.

I happen to be nuts about SPUN, not just because of Sara, but because of how freaking comfortable and flattering each of her pieces are. Seriously, SPUN somehow manages to flatter every body type. It's like magic, I promise you! Who knew a t-shirt could be so sexy? I didn't - til I put that deep v-neck on. Don't even get me started on the beater tank. It's kind of life-changing, trust me on that one. Her most popular piece, the 3/4 sleeve top, is a hit with just about every city girl I know. Her Diane wrap dress is the creme de la creme of the whole collection, oozing serious comfort and sophisticated style all at once.

Sara's got a new collection named "Fanciful & Frilly", in which she gives some of her most popular styles a makeover with pretty ruffles, dainty rosettes, precious poppies and more. One of my personal faves is the cardi vest, which you can wear with almost everything in your closet. I also love the ruffled v-neck, whose ruffle you can wear in lots of different ways. Take a look at the entire Fanciful & Frilly collection here.

Who said eco-friendly couldn't be stylish & savvy?

**Look out for SPUN on Twitter tomorrow for Earth Day giveaways!

Janelle Monae's "The ArchAndroid" - album trailer

I'm excited for Janelle Monae's new album. What do you think?

SXSW Video Vixens

LOL, not quite...but here are a couple of vids from SXSW, one from my girl Jill of Zaxy.com and the other an interview we did for CLEAR with Boy Eats Drum Machine's Jon Ragel. I am praying his turntables don't end up in my lap. Ha! Enjoy!

Krochet Kids keeps spreadin the love - spring 2010 collection

Those of you who read FreshJess on the regular know that I am a big fan of style with a conscience. One of those nearest and dearest to my heart is Krochet Kids, which was started here in Eastern Washington and relocated last year to sunny California.

Krochet Kids works with women in Uganda to produce knit hats that inspire entrepreneurial spirit in the women while keeping the heads of stylish kids everywhere nice & toasty. KKi has grown over the past couple of years to include limited-run tees, tanks, hoodies and accessories.

The Kids are premiering something extra special alongside their spring 2010 line. Soon, on Thank (You)ganda, you can personally thank the lady who created your KKi hat with a note of appreciation - through video, song, etc. All submissions will be sent to Krochet Kids' compound in Gulu, Uganda. So awesome!






Here's a peek into their spring line:

styleXSW: black, white & freezing

austin has a secret i was never expecting yet got hit in the face with on my last day there. it does, in fact, drop to temperatures i would have never guessed. how naive of me to think it never gets cold in Texas! my luggage was puking out summer attire: tank tops, sandals, tees, and one jacket. needless to say, we were absolutely miserable in 30 degree weather.

what you see in this outfit is my meager attempt to get some style points. eventually i gave up completely on style, went back to the hotel and put on about 7 thin layers to stay warm while braving the elements in the name of Diplo and Mad Decent's Carniville. but before that, this was my getup for a leisurely stroll down 6th Ave for one last day of SXSW fun.

despite the disgustingly cold and windy weather, this day was really fun. Jill and I checked out the Market Publique party, Carniville, the American Apparel rummage sale (a chaotic mess in itself) and tasted some true Austin fare at Iron Works BBQ. i had a great time in Austin but the face-numbing cold reminded me i love nothing better than being at home in my sweats :)

vintage leather jacket
plaid shirt: Hurley
SPUN tank
leggings: f21
gold sparkly goodness: TOMS shoes

styleXSW: structured comfort

i really liked Austin. for some reason, it reminded me a lot of Seattle & Portland. it might've been because Waterloo Records, where much of my time was spent, is at the same intersection as Whole Foods HQ & next to Lululemon Athletica. i especially loved this wall along the side of lululemon - it's like an inspiration board all in itself. there are quotes of positivity and encourage all over it. an unexpected gem in the middle of rockstar SXSW chaos.

as for my outfit, i guess you could call it something different from what i'd call the official SXSW outfit; sundresses, cowboy boots and as much leather as possible. my style is so random and all over the place, so i never quite fit in anywhere i'm at. oh well, who cares right? i'm in love with every piece in this outfit. structured zipped & striped skirt, SPUN tank, vintage accessories...<3

SPUN tank
owl necklace: Bombshell Vintage (portland)
structured skirt: Moksha (seattle)
sandals & sunnies: see previous post

styleXSW: fierce florals

i never pack right when i travel. this is proving even more of a problem on work trips - not only do i not have what i need, i also have no time to go shopping for it. yikes! i did okay for the first couple of days down in Austin for SXSW, but more on my/our epic packing fail in a later post :)

before my NYFW trip and again for SXSW, i made it a point to visit my favorite indie boutique in Seattle and quite possibly in the whole universe: Moksha Clothing & Art Repository in the University District. aside from my online & vintage finds, i shop almost exclusively at Moksha - mostly because i love Aleph, Elvia, Rose & every great soul who works there, but also because i am pretty sure that i will never be caught in the "same outfit, same party" situation. a stylish nightmare!

working at SXSW all day (and staying at a hotel a good 30 minute cab ride away) meant all of my outfits had to last from day into night. this is my first sunny weather outfit of the year and i absolutely love it. the lace floral tank top is beautiful and though i bust a hole into it, i'm still planning on wearing it all year. it's a versatile piece that works with everything, yet the detail helps bring some pop to the outfit. the flower print bubble miniskirt was the total clincher for me. it poufs out in a perfect bubble and has a stretch waistband. i'm usually really lazy with accessorizing but i threw on the vintage mustard yellow stretch belt over the skirt to bring it together and it worked! top it off with my black gladiator sandals and Cole Haan purse and i was set.

this last pic is of me and my girl Jill of Zaxy.com fame. she's probably the most gorgeous gamer girl on the planet!

sunnies: Redux (portland)
sling purse: Cole Haan
lace floral tank, gold spike bracelet & bubble skirt: Moksha (seattle)
belt: Katie Kay Accessories
sandals: Bliss (seattle)

Fresh Reads: Kelly Cutrone & Mireille Guiliano

being in an industry that requires a good amount of time in front of the computer really makes you appreciate the times when you're not staring at a laptop or desktop screen. for my flight down to and back from SXSW, i totally relished the hours uninterrupted by phone or internet. i took the time to write, sleep, and also managed to blaze through two books by two absolutely compelling women - Mireille Guiliano and Kelly Cutrone.

i don't feel like there are enough examples of power women who like to help other women out there in the world of business. a lot of the successful ladies we see depicted in movies and on TV are the kinds of women nobody wants to be around: mean, disrespectful, lonely, hostile and with a warped sense of entitlement. Ms. Cutrone herself is privy to this on her own show plus the ones she's previously been a part of. anywho, i always gravitate towards the books by power women in all kinds of industries. they have so many life lessons and tips to share with young ladies like myself :)


i really enjoyed reading both Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire and If You Have to Cry, Go Outside. These two women could not be any different and yet offer up such similar pieces of advice. Guiliano oversaw the Veuve Cliquot enterprise in the U.S., expanding from 1% of market share to a good quarter of it. Intermixed with great lessons on how to wine & dine, interview, network, make presentations and hold your own in the office & on the field, this amazing French powerhouse also shared her personal thoughts on fashion, work/life balance and taking care of yourself (which we as women tend to put to the side in our quest to be all things motherly for everyone else.) i was really entertained and inspired by her many stories of holding her own against the stereotypes of the male-dominated industry that the wine world was - and how she always stood true to bringing new ideas to the table to bring her brands to the top of consumers' minds.

Kelly Cutrone is an incredible force of nature. While dispelling almost everything that's been depicted of her on TV, she shares an incredibly intimate peek into her life - from a bored teenager trapped in upstate New York, a hipster in the wild days of 70s NY nightlife, a young divorcee piecing her life back together on the west coast to legendary pillar in the fashion PR industry. what i loved most about Kelly was learning how huge her heart is. in regards to her employees - as long as you give her your all and show that your heart is truly in the right place at People's Revolution, she will bend over backwards to take care of you and give you the tools to succeed in the industry (or wherever you want to end up.) her book is a quick read but chock full of great advice for anyone who wants to be (or work for) an entrepreneur. i love that she constantly stresses the hard work, the stress and the hours it takes to succeed; i feel like so many people i meet who want to "be in fashion" don't actually have the heart, the drive or the passion to do it. she makes it crystal clear that those people are a dime a dozen and quickly find they have no place in the fashion industry at all.

so what are some of the things both Mireille and Kelly taught me? here are a couple of my favorite lessons from both fabulous ladies:

• What's the worst that could happen? Life is all about taking risks, right? For women in business, taking risks is the key to finding success - and encountering failures (lessons learned.) Both ladies often asked this question throughout their books, to demonstrate why they made the decisions they did. I love posing risks in that perspective. You'll find that things don't seem so scary or daunting if you stop and ask, "What's the worst that could happen?"
  
• You will get somewhere if you put your heart into it. Mireille & Kelly are full of experiences where they went above and beyond what was required of them to get what they want and ultimately elevate their present business situation. This is one of those lessons I feel are easiest to listen to but hardest to put in place. You have to keep at whatever it is you're doing, especially when you reach the point where you feel like you can't do it anymore. As my friend Darcey Howard likes to say, you're not an entrepreneur if you don't want to vomit at least three times a week :)
  
• Take care of yourself! Ugh. The first thing women do is forget about themselves when trying to have it all. I am a repeat offender of this. I have to remind myself that I am in dire need of "me" time, all the time. Mireille goes into some depth in pointing out the differences between how the French and Americans view vacation time. We have a lot to learn from the well-vacationed Europeans, I can tell you that! Kelly even points out that while she has created a life where her home and work are in the same building, she is adamant about unplugging when she leaves the office, to cook, bake, focus on her daughter and basically have time to herself.
  
• Learn to say no - and how to hear it. It was so comforting to me to read different takes on this from both women. Mireille stresses that you have to know when to say no - to promotions, new jobs, new responsibilities, whatever - in order to maintain your inner peace and some sort of balance in your life. Alternately, I LOVED reading Kelly's stories about getting yelled at (and yelling at) impossibly difficult clients. It comes with the territory - and it's how you build that tough-as-nails blood Kelly's got streaming through her veins.
  
• Dress for success! For Mireille, it's injecting your personal style so that you make an impact in the boardroom without making a spectacle of yourself. For Kelly, it's cutting-edge style, and a uniform of all-black (only at fashion shows & events) - timelessly chic, always stylish and a way for her team to find each other in the midst of chaos. Regardless of where you are in your career and what you happen to represent at the moment, I think both women would agree that the most important thing you can wear is a relentless confidence of self. Nothing looks better than a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it.

I read a ton of books but I'm glad these two made it on the plane with me. I highly suggest these to any power girl who needs a little more mentorship from other power girls in the world.

for the girl who has everything (on her): the Ramsay Rock Tote

debuting the Ramsay Rock Tote at SXSW in Austin. rockin

i have always been the kinda girl who carries every possible thing she can in her purse, and then some. who knows when i'll get home after leaving the house, where i'll go and what i'll need when i'm there? i am a "need to be prepared" kinda girl, you know? and the dawning of the digital era has made it so that every bag lady now has an extra few lbs to haul around via laptop, smartphone, Kindle, iPad, what have you.

needless to say, i have always gravitated towards the biggest totes i could find. i mean, the most gigantic, olsen twin-style bags i could find. i am a power girl on the go and i need my bag to house everything i need to succeed. luckily, Handbag Heaven has fulfilled my needs by blessing me with the Ramsay Rock Tote.

the Ramsay Rock Tote is amazing. i'm really picky when finding a bag that fits both my needs & my style & this tote hits the mark on both points. it's incredibly roomy, has great pockets to fit the small stuff, handles and a longer strap in case i want to throw it over my shoulder or across my frame. the gold, grey & silver stud detail are icing on the cake for me, in a "don't mess with me" icing way :)

thanks to Handbag Heaven for giving a bag lady what she wants & needs!

a peek into my life, clockwise from top left:
Ramsay Rock Tote, $77.99 (+ 15% off w/code SPRING2010)
Paper calendar...because I can't put my whole life online :)
Various cordage
Cole Haan purse (the little bag that holds the littler stuff)
Notebook
Keys
My escape from reality (iPod)
Laptop w/inCase sleeve

Nike "Pacman" Pacquiao collection now at Goods

Still smiling from Pacquiao's latest win last night? Now you can show off your love for the Pacman, thanks to Goods & Nike...

BANG!

The Selby Is In Your Place - and on coffee tables everywhere

I love books. The dream home I'm designing in my head will center around a beautiful library. I can't fathom the thought of trading books for a Kindle or Nook. I love to read and love to soak up knowledge from Malcolm Gladwell or escape with J.K. Rowling whenever I have a chance.

You can imagine I was pretty excited to hear that one of my favorite visual bloggers - photographer Todd Selby of The Selby - was releasing a book featuring some of his famous portrait interviews in The Selby Is in Your Place.

In his first book, each profile is accompanied by Selby’s watercolor portraits of the subjects and objects from their homes, and illustrated questionnaires, which Selby asks each sitter to fill out. The Selby is in Your Place consists of over thirty profiles, most of which are never before seen, selected exclusively for the book. The result is a collection of unique spaces bursting with energy and personality that together create a colorful hodgepodge of inspirational interiors.

Todd Selby's photographs can be seen regularly in Vogue Paris, British Vogue, Architectural Digest France, GQ, The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, Dazed & Confused, Another Magazine, and the London Sunday Times.

The Selby Is in Your Place comes out April 1st - get yours!

Pepsi We Inspire: Empowering Women

As part of its full-on foray into social media, Pepsi's recently launched "Pepsi We Inspire" to share uplifting stories by and for women - celebrity and everyday women alike. They recently partnered with two of my favorites - actress Thandie Newton and Dress for Success - to give back to the community in a fun and meaningful format.

Thandie, among other Hollywood ladies, kindly donated pieces of clothing from her "RocknRolla" wardrobe to Dress for Success along with a personal note of encouragement for the clothing's recipient. In return, the lucky DFS client also wrote a note of gratitude. Take a look:



Check out Pepsi We Inspire for more great stories and to meet other fab women!

Where da Gold at?

i won't be in town for St. Patty's Day but if i was, i would DEFINITELY be here.

Spring Forward with Style at The Bravern - March 19 & 20

Next weekend, The Shops at The Bravern presents Spring Forward With Style.

Celebrate the arrival of Spring with champagne and handcrafted cheeses from Artisanal Brasserie as you preview the season's hottest new styles - many brought in exclusively for this event.

Two days of featured store events include:

* Style consulting at Piazza Sempione
* Shopping the Jimmy Choo shoes worn to the Oscars
* Sampling the new Salvatore Ferragamo fragrance released this month
* Pouring over the latest delivery at Tory Burch
* Receive a gift with purchase when you shop the Contemporary, Dress and Men’s collections at Neiman Marcus
* Receive a gift with purchase or view the new Catherine Malandrino and the YSL Spring Shoe Collections, also at Neiman Marcus

Don’t forget to check out the latest addition to The Bravern’s fashion line up: David Lawrence.

Happy spring shopping!

DELI Seattle + Beta Unit present The Butcher Shop

I LOVE it when indie stores go outside of the box and do something a little different. Staying within the delicatessen idea, DELI Seattle is collaborating with California-based BETA Unit to produce "The Butcher Shop!"

The Butcher Shop is a contemporary take on a back kitchen/food prep area. The pop-up shop - located at Harbor Steps - will only carry exclusive styles from the two brands.

Beta Unit is an independent clothing label focused on wearability, unconventional functionality, and engineering the perfect fit. Garments are carefully constructed from high quality fabrics, often with unexpected details and experimental function.

The Butcher Shop is scheduled to close doors May 30th, 2010.

Opening party is this Friday, March 12th, 2010 from 7-11 p.m.

Foodportunity's coming again! Mon Mar 22

Keren Brown of Frantic Foodie fame brings together two of my favorite things: eating delicious food + connecting with great people!

Foodportunity
March 22nd, 2010
6pm-9pm
Palace Ballroom (2100 5^th Ave, Seattle 98101)
$22 / $28 after 3/14
Purchase tickets here

Connect with local food writers, bloggers, restaurateurs, food producers, PR professionalss and several of Seattle’s most talented chefs and restaurant owners. These chefs and owners will be available for questions and conversation in the lounge of the Palace Ballroom between 6:30pm-7:15pm.

• Tom Douglas, owner of the Palace Ballroom, Palace Kitchen, Lola, Etta’s, Serious Pie, Dahlia Lounge and Dahlia Bakery.
• Ron Zimmerman and Carrie Van Dyck, owners of The Herbfarm in Woodinville
• Brian Canlis, co-owner of Canlis Restaurant
• Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, owners and chefs at Joule in Wallingford
• Greg Atkinson, contributing editor to Food Arts magazine and to The Seattle Times, chef-instructor at Seattle Culinary Academy.

For the first 40 people who send an email to info@foodportunity.com, there will also be a “speed networking” event, beginning at 8:30pm, chaired by KOMO restaurant reporter and Seattle Weekly “Voracious” blogger Julien Perry. "Speed networking gives you a taste of 20 new people. You can decide who you want to follow up with,” Brown says.

Foodportunity participants will enjoy appetizers from several of Seattle's most talked about restaurants, and the opportunity to engage with a wide range of food companies.

Tom Douglas, awarded National Restaurant of the Year by Bon Appetit magazine and a national James Beard nominee for Restaurateur of the Year, will provide his Palace Ballroom facilities to host the event and serve a selection of appetizers. Additional participating restaurants include: Mistral Kitchen, Spring Hill, Cascina Spinasse, Cicchetti, Dinette, Olivar and Urbane.

Beer and wine will be available from a cash bar, and a wide range of food products from local companies will be on display.

Links a la Mode Feb 18th: Style vs. Fashion

Style vs Fashion

Edited by Retro Chick

With the Fashion Week season in full swing and Fashion Pulse Daily live blogging from the IFB conference it can be easy to forget that there are other things going on in the world, where real women are shopping and dressing for real occasions.

There were actually surprisingly few Fashion Week oriented posts submitted this week. Possibly the Fashion Week attendees are still too busy to partake in Links á la Mode, but what I did find was a lot of posts focused on fashion, style and image in the real world. A Typical Atypical calls for a low fashion revolution and Idiosyncratic Style urges you to bring out your cocktail frocks for every day. Meanwhile, in the body image arena Intrinsically Florrie learns to love her specs, Sugar & Spice discusses tanning and Mariels Castle weighs in (see what I did there?) on the body size debate.

It would be impossible to leave this weeks links without mentioning the untimely and incredibly sad death of Alexander McQueen. There were posts submitted on this issue but I made the decision not to include them, not because they were bad, but because I felt that if I included one persons post I would need to include them all. There has been so much personal reflection on the life and designs of this amazing man in the fashion blogging world that to choose a small selection seemed impossible. If you would like to read these posts then, as ever, the full list of submissions is available in the forums.

Links à la Mode: February 18th

• A Typical Atypical – What girls really want to read about, and why fashion bloggers are changing the face of fashion
  
• Bonne Vie – Cultural Appropriation vs Cultural Inspiration: What you borrow from another culture when it comes to wardrobe should be thoughtful<
• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Dear New Look; it’s over!
  
• Eternal Masquerade – Covering the Parallels Between Our Current Winter Wonderland and Under the Sea Fashions
  
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Fashion Pulse Daily blogs live from the Future of Fashion Blogging panel during IFB’s Evolving influence conference this week!
  
• Hot Beauty Health – Ready for Spring? Here are 9 Big Beauty Trends for Spring 2010!
  
• Idiosyncratic Style – Fashion Dare – Let your party frocks come out and play!
  
• Intrinsically Florrie – Making a spectacle of oneself: learning to love glasses and finding the right pair
  
• Mariels Castle – It’s not about been skinny or fat its about being healthy!
  
• Retro Chick – Love, Lust & Burlesque with the Bridewell Collective
  
• SFindiefashion.com – Spring comes early to Golden Gate Park. Showcase of spring 2010 looks from San Francisco designers.
  
• Stacie Blair – Show your Olympic spirit with fashionable gear from Aritzia!
  
• Style Eyes – The dilemma of a fashion blogger and why I’m taking Dame Vivienne Westwoods advice to stop shopping
  
• Style Symmetry – Fashion Blogger Interview Kingdom of Style’s Queen Michelle
  
• Sugar and spice and all things nice – Discussing the dangers of tanning and why the only safe tan is one from a bottle!!
  
• The Clothing Menu – interview with independent jewelry and clothing designer, Norwegian Wood
  
• The Fashion Planner – The Fashion Planner is hosting an eUndies.com Giveaway!
  
• The Very Subjective – very subjective (and therefore – very true) observations about style do’s and do not’s.
  
• Thread Style – Heel-wearing fashionistas also can be feminists.
  
• twentyteneightyfour – My thoughts on style vs fashion and how our appetite for fashion blogs is part of our quest for style
  
• ventures of jenn – The Great Vintage Debate: the ‘price’ of vintage both within and outside of the western world and what it really means.
  

Gene Juarez March Happy Hours

These happy hours sell out fast every month - & why wouldn't they? Such a great deal!

Get yours now!