featured designer: stella mccartney

spring 2011 collection

for my applied trend forecasting class

we had to research various companies that offer customized products

as I was completing this assignment, I came across a website to design your own shoes!

http://www.milkandhoneyshoes.com/

in designing shoes with this website, you choose literally every single detail

- pumps? flats? sandals?

- how do you want the toes?

- how do you want the straps? the back?

what piping or trim would you like?

- embellishment?

- heel?

- platforms?

- heel height?

- size? width?

- buckle? texture?

the shoes start at about $245 and take about six to eight weeks to be created and shipped

the price point is fairly high to me for a "no name" shoe

but it is a creation of your own and I think that it would be awesome to own a pair of heels that you designed yourself.

xoxo.

as I said in my last post, I just recently spent a few days in NYC

I have not been to the city in quite some time and was excited to experience it again.

during my last stay, I stayed right on the edge of Central Park in the Upper East Side

on this most recent trip I stayed in the Lower East Side and Soho area.

I loved exploring all of NYC, but here are a few things in Soho and the Lower East Side (other than incredible Spring St. shopping) that made me really enjoy my trip.

Thompson L.E.S. 
our hotel; super modern look yet still very cozy

The Meatball Shop
this restaurant is very small but was filled beyond capacity when we stopped by for take out. they offer amazing meatball sandwiches, meatballs, salads, and other various sides. I absolutely loved the macaroni and cheese!

Baked by Melissa

these bite size cupcakes can be found at literally a hole in the wall. Baked by Melissa is a small "bakery" that sells these fantastic petite treats. the flavors offered are extremely different from your typical cupcake and are all 100% delicious. we tried a variety of flavors including: S'mores, Tie-Dye, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and more traditional cupcakes such as Red Velvet.

Hundred Acres Restaurant
this restaurant features a menu full of comfort food. we started off the evening with a delicious shrimp dish that was absolutely incredible followed by a chicken dish full of flavor.

DGBG Kitchen and Bar

this restaurant is owned by Daniel Boulud and is where "the French brasserie meets the American tavern". the menu featured homemade sausages as entrees or appetizers, we got a spicy sausage to start as well as the iceberg wedge salad, wonderful entrees with the most delicious fries and finished with the souffle chaud pictured above. 

gotta love great food in such a fascinating city.

xox.

irregular choice

I was recently in New York City and Washington D.C./Georgetown

that is the explanation for my lack of blogging.

while I was in New York I was walking back to my hotel in Soho when I walked right past an entire store of those crazy shoes.

the brand is called Irregular Choice

leaving the nest

I am once again finally moving out of my parent's house

not until the end of the summer, but I have already started the apartment search and found the perfect one!

I have some furniture from when I was living on my own before, but not enough to fill this spacious one bedroom

I am so excited that I can't help but already be looking for decor and furniture for the apartment.

I already have a lot of shabby chic items in black, ivory and other neutral colors as well as a dusty plum color- not exactly the best describing word but I mean, its not a color you see every day. to make this apartment home, I am really liking the idea of continuing the neutral color scheme and the interesting purple but adding a light sage green touch.

here are a few neutral colored staple pieces that caught my eye:

available at: Urban Outfitters $659.00

I love this sofa; but it is not practical for a cozy, comfortable living room.

available at: Urban Outfitters $10

super cute and only $10 each!

available at: Urban Outfitters 2 for $25

this is a great and inexpensive way to hang multiple pictures; frames can be so expensive!

available at: Urban Outfitters $42

this pillow is still feminine but not too feminine

available at: Urban Outfitters $42

this pillow is a mix of screen printed buttons as well as actual buttons. love it

available at: Urban Outfitters set of 2 for $39 

these bird cage book ends would add a nice touch to any bookshelf.

so many places offer such cute home decor for even cheaper than what I have found

if you are looking into moving into a new place; I recommend looking at places like:

- Ikea

- Z Gallerie

- Crate & Barrel

- Target

- TJ Maxx Home Goods

- Urban Outfitters & Anthropologie

as well as any boutique furniture stores you may come across.

one of my personal favorites is Tuvalu in Laguna Beach, CA

happy shopping! xox.

debut 2011

the annual FiDM Debut Show was last night at the Barkar Hanger in Santa Monica

I went, for the third year in a row, and loved it like I always do.

we were running a little late and missed the beginning of the show where they have a small runway show showcasing work done by the costume design major and also what they call "Chairing Styles" where interior design, textile design, and fashion design collaborate to create a fabric pattern that is used in a chair as well as a dress.

we made it just in time for the actual show where the Advanced Study Fashion Design students showcase their work.

this year there were 10 designers that produced wonderful garments.

men's, women's as well as children's wear was created and each line had a very specific inspiration.
I did not get great pics due to where my seat was; but here are a few pictures of a number of the collections:

this collection was inspired by the 50's

this was inspired by a video game

 this collection was inspired by the 30's

this was a complete knitwear collection; inspired by Russia

this was a collection done by Paul Hernandez; it was the last collection of the show and my absolute favorite. he used black, ivory, cheetah, and coral and had a lot of girly, ruffled pieces.


for those of you who live in CA; I recommend trying to go to the show next year.
xoxo.

avant garde

I was recently out shopping with my mom at a mall near my apartment

we went into a number of stores that I frequent, one of them being a small shoe store called Eilatan, which is Natalie backwards.

I originally went in there to see the Jeffrey Campbell's they had in stock as well as some of the  gladiator sandals and wedges, which are my favorite shoes to wear during the summer.

I did not find a pair that I was crazy about which sucked

but I did find some shoes that were pretty crazy for anybody to wear on a daily basis

that humongous flower is attached to those simple black pumps

crazy wooden heel!

side and back view of the same pair.

these are my favorite and definitely the most wearable.

I love finding crazy stuff like this that is so creative.

I wish I remember who had made them. 

I promise if I find out to let you all know! :)

xoxo.