Betsey Johnson

Betsey Johnson is an American fashion designer best known for her feminine and whimsical designs. Many of her designs are considered "over the top" and embellished. She also is known for doing a cartwheel at the end of her fashion shows. Betsey is the second of three children, she has an older sister, Sally, and a younger brother, Robert. She took many dance classes, which inspired her love of costumes. Following her graduation from high school, she studied at the Pratt Institute and then later graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Syracuse University where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta women's sorority. After graduation, she spent a summer as an intern at Mademoiselle magazine.
Her fashion career started after she entered and won the Mademoiselle Guest Editor Contest. Within a year, she was the in-house designer for Manhattan boutique Paraphernalia. In the 1970s, she took control of the fashion label "Alley Cat" which was popular with the rock 'n roll musicians of the day. In her first year, her debut collection for Alley Cat reportedly sold $5 million in volume, and in 1972 she won the Coty Award. In 1978, Johnson started her own fashion line. In contrast, her second collection did not sell well, leaving her with 3,000 pieces of spring clothing and insufficient funds to stage a 1981 fashion show to sell them and Johnson opened a retail store in the SoHo area of New York City. She designed the dress that Lisa Loeb wore in the music video for her 1994 hit Stay (I Missed You). In 2002, Johnson was inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame. Her bronze plaque held one of her original sketches. In 2003, she expanded her line for 2004 to include handbags, accessories, hats, and scarves. In 2008, Betsey was a contributor to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book Cherry Bomb. The National Arts Club awarded her the 2009 Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion. She once described her style as a formula: "Take a leotard and add a skirt." As of 2011, she has more than 65 stores worldwide. On April 26, 2012, Betsey Johnson, LLC filed voluntarily for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. On September 12, 2012, Betsey Johnson celebrated 40 years of her brand with a retrospective fashion show with Cyndi Lauper performing. 

Quote of the Day: June 18th

"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak." -Rachel Zoe

Emilio Pucci Resort 2014

As the self-proclaimed “biggest beach bum in fashion,” Peter Dundas felt right at home adding a sporty, beachwear gloss to Pucci’s bohemian glitz. “Everything should be able to fit into a weekend bag,” he said. “No checked luggage.”  Cropped bonded leather jackets with gold buttons; cropped striped tanks; short shorts in purple suede, scuba dresses in graphic color combos as well as Pucci scarf prints, baby-doll beach cover-up, shorts and minis featuring embroidery and beaded fringe. 

Quote of the Day: June 17th

"The best things in life are free. The second are very expensive." -Coco Chanel

Quote of the Day: June 16th

"You either know fashion or you don't." -Anna Wintour

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there who created all of the great male and female designers, I hope you all enjoy today with your fathers/families, I know I will! 

Pictured above is American fashion designer
Billy Reid (right) and his father (left)!

Quote of the Day: June 15th

"Don't be into trends. Don't let fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live." -Gianni Versace

You've Heard of Acid Wash Jeans... But What About Purses?

Sure, your mom had a pair of acid wash jeans in the 90's, but acid wash is making a come back, and its more in style than ever! When I saw so many people in L.A rocking the new accessory, I knew I had to get one. Acid wash bags, purses, and satchels are amazingly fashionable, and I love mine! I went out and bought myself a Billa-Bong purse from Urban Trade in Cornwall, ON. It was around $70, but it was so worth it! 

My purse from Urban Trade

Nicki Minaj Pairs Up With M.A.C Cosmetics

M.A.C Viva Glam Nicki & Ricky is a campaign to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS through MAC AIDS Fund’s Viva Glam program. This year’s limited life products include a specially designed Lip Conditioner (in a tube) with Ricky Martin’s signature emblazoned across it and lipstick Viva Glam Nicki (bright yellow pink) with Nicki Minaj’s signature on the inner packaging. I support this campaign 100% not only because I love Nicki Minaj, but because it's for a great cause. I also LOVE M.A.C products, they have amazing cosmetics, and the quality is spectacular, they always keep me going back . M.A.C used their glamourous image to support a great cause, and it made me love them even more. So keep up the good work M.A.C, Nicki Minaj, and Ricky Martin. 

M.A.C Viva Glam Nicki & Ricky

M.A.C Viva Glam Nicki

How To: Spot a Fake Coach Handbag!

Am I the only one whose walked down the street in a busy city such as Toronto or NYC and stared at the purses that vendors are selling on the street? Well, did you know that most of those bags are fake? So I'm giving you some tips on how to spot a fake Coach bag! 

Tip #1: The simplest way in determining authenticity would be examining the layout of the signature C’s. The C’s should be lined up perfectly to the center. However, it is not uncommon for the mini-signature C collections to be off by tiny bit only on the sides! 

Tip #2: You can tell by not only the style of the bag, but also the pattern. If the pattern is not the Coach signature C, but a different letter, such as an O or a G then it’s an obvious fake. 

 Tip #3: Coach Dust bags should be dark chocolate brown with a red drawstring. In the bottom right the words in all caps “COACH EST.1941″ written in white. Coach does not use cheap material to make these. There are many replica dust bags floating around on the Internet. So if you see one stay away, chances are that bag is fake. 



Tip #4:  Check the inside of the bag! The interior serial number should start with “No” and have 4 numbers after the dash, not 3. The writing should be neat on the authenticity tag, not crookedly stamped on. Also the paragraph above the serial number should be in all caps, and in English.  

Tip #5:  Coach commonly uses logo tags that are attached by a beaded chain. Usually, the tag should match the trim of the bag. The words “COACH” should be raised, not imprinted. Some styles to have metal tags. Do your research to make sure that the tag goes with the bag you are getting. It is not uncommon for counterfeiters to mass-produce these metal tags; it’s the cheaper more profitable way. Tags are never made out of hard plastic. 


                   
I hope this helped you out for the next time you want to go shop for a new bag! 

Credit for this list goes to: http://www.bagbliss.com/counterfeits/coach/

Quote of the Day: June 14th

"What I do is about living. It's about living the best life you can and enjoying the fullness of the life around you; from what you wear, to the way you live, to the way you love." -Ralph Lauren

Top 10 Fashion Designers from Around the World

1. Calvin Klein

Pictured Above is
designer Manolo Blahnik

2. Donatella Versace

3.Giorgio Armani

4.Valentino Garavani

5. Ralph Lauren

6.Coco Chanel

7.Kate Spade

8.Tom Ford

9.Marc Jacobs

10.Manolo Blahnik

Quote of the Day: June 13th

"The only real elegance is in the mind; if you've got that the rest really comes from it." -Diana Vreeland

Fashion Don'ts!

We all make some crimes against fashion at some point in our life, here's a list of 10 fashion don'ts to help you avoid making these ridiculous mistakes in the future!

Mistake 1: Wearing tights as pants. Leggings and spandex are okay, but tights? Really? Think twice about how ridiculous you look before you try leaving the house wearing these.
Mistake 2: Shorts that are too small. Girls, I know summer's here, I know it's hot, but wearing shorts that are too short, or shorts that are too, um, unfitted, to your body, is a huge don't. So toss em' and get yourself a new pair!
Mistake 3: Too many patterns. If you put too many different patterns in an outfit, it will look tacky, and cluttered!
Mistake 4: The Velour Tracksuit. They weren't "cool" when Diddy wore them, and they still aren't. They especially aren't meant to be worn in public.
Mistake 5: Don't show too much skin, because then you're faced with the fear of being criticized, along with other things. You should respect your body anyways, not want to put it out for everyone to show. 

Quote of the Day: June 12th

"It's not money that makes you well-dressed, it's understanding." -Christian Dior

Yves Saint Laurent: The Man, The Legend

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, or simply Yves Saint Laurent, was born on August 1, 1936 and passed away June 1, 2008. He was a french fashion designer, and is known as one of the greatest names in fashion history. In 1985, Caroline Rennolds Milbank wrote, "The most consistently celebrated and influential designer of the past twenty-five years, Yves Saint Laurent can be credited with both spurring the couture's rise from its sixties ashes and with finally rendering ready-to-wear reputable." He is also credited with having introduced the tuxedo suit for women and was known for his use of non-European cultural references, and non-White models. . He grew up in a villa by the Mediterranean with his two younger sisters, Michèle and Brigitte. He liked to create paper dolls, and by his early teen years he was designing dresses for his mother and sisters. At the age of 18, he moved to Paris and enrolled at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, where his designs got noticed. Michel De Brunhoff, the editor of French Vogue, introduced him to designer Christian Dior. Yves says that Christian Dior inspired him. He won a young designers contest, and his career took off. In 1983, he became the first living fashion designer to be honored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a solo exhibition. In 2001, he was awarded the rank of Commander of the Légion d'Honneur by French president Jacques Chirac. He retired in 2002 and became increasingly reclusive, living at his homes in Normandy and Morocco with his pet French Bulldog Moujik. He also created a foundation with his partner Pierre Bergé in Paris to trace the history of the house of YSL, complete with 15,000 objects and 5,000 pieces of clothing. In 2007, he was awarded the rank of Grand officier de la Légion d'honneur by the French President. He died June 1, 2008 of brain cancer at his residence in Paris. According to The New York Times, a few days before he died, he Pierre Bergé were joined in a same-sex civil union known as a Pacte civil de solidarité (PACS) in France. He was given a Catholic funeral at St. Roch Catholic Church in Paris. His body was cremated and his ashes scattered in Marrakech, Morocco, in the Majorelle Garden, a residence and botanical garden that he owned with Pierre since 1980 and often visited to find inspiration and refuge. Pierre said at the funeral service: “But I also know that I will never forget what I owe you and that one day I will join you under the Moroccan palms."  Forbes rated Saint Laurent the top-earning dead celebrity in 2009. 

Quote of the Day: June 11th

"Fashions fade, style is eternal." -Yves Saint Laurent

Top 5 Music and Fashion Show Venues In L.A

El Rey Theatre

1. El Rey Theatre

2. The Wiltern

3. Cooper Design Space

4. Greek Theatre

5. Largo at the Coronet

Quote of the Day: June 10th

"We don't need fashion to survive, we just desire it so much." -Marc Jacobs

Quote of the Day: June 9th

"You don't need to be a size 2, you just need to be you." -Tyra Banks

Finding Your Beauty: You're Beautiful!

Insecurity is something we all deal with. To me, being insecure means not accepting your beauty. One of the reasons this happens is because society has made us this way. We see things in magazines, and we strive to be like them. Everyone needs to know, male or female, that they are unique, special, and beautiful. Many people don't know this, but males suffer from disorders as well, such as bulimia, binge eating, anorexia, and more. Out of 3,000 people with anorexia and bulimia, 25 percent were males, and 40 percent had binge eating disorder. Now I know that this isn't related to my blog that much, but I felt like it needed to be said. Talking about beauty and fashion is in some sense related to this. So how can you help yourself feel as beautiful as you are? Acknowledge it! We all have flaws, no one is perfect, but there's ways you can get your confidence up! Give yourself a compliment every day, wear clothes you feel confident in, recognize your talents and good qualities, remember you're not alone (everyone struggles with finding their beauty at least once in their life), accept compliments, talk a little louder and stronger than you normally would, make a list of things that are blocking you from seeing your beauty (then write if they're logical), embrace your interests, see noticing your beauty as an achievement, not a single process. Finally, every day look at yourself in the mirror and say "I am confident. I am strong. I am beautiful." I hope this helped to everyone struggling with their appearance and confidence! 

Quote of the Day: June 8th

"Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles." -Frank Lloyd Wright 

Quote of the Day: June 7th

“That's always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they're pretty. It's like picking your breakfast cereals based on color instead of taste.” - John Green

Quote of the Day; June 6th

"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different" -Coco Chanel

Quote of the Day; June 5th

"Give yourself a compliment everyday. I know this sounds silly, but it really is important. As girls, we spend countless hours focusing on our flaws and trying to correct them or cover them up. It’s essential to focus on something you like about yourself. Maybe you’re having a good hair day or your skin is looking especially healthy. Take a moment each day to focus on the good, and then try to carry that with you throughout the day, because while bangs don’t look good on everyone, confidence does" -Lauren Conrad

Expensive VS. Cheap

Most of us can't afford the top fashion all the time, but the good news is, you can get close to the same looking clothes and accessories as designer ones; for cheap! 
Tip # 1: Look for the sales! The next time you walk into your favourite store, make sure to check out the sales rack first before going and browsing the rest of the store!
Tip #2: Check out thrift shops! They can be a huge, mostly untapped resource. Go to ones in college towns where students move often and may get rid of clothing only a year or two old. You'll be surprised what thrifty finds you'll discover!
Tip #3: Look for the outlets/overstocks stores! Outlets and Overstocks stores are great places to find deals. Outlets are where manufacturers sell their products directly to the public, and they're usually cheaper than getting items elsewhere! Overstocks stores are where clothes get sent from a store that didn't sell them, or they have too many. My personal experience with this is in Kingston, Ontario, at the Overstocks store on Princess Street. They have great deals, there's usually nothing over $30.
Tip #4: Do some off-season shopping! Look for end of the season clearance sales. Also, look for before and after Christmas sales but be aware that, even at a deep discount, some clothes may not be worth the price. 
Tip #5: Have a black, a brown, and some summery shade (white is classic, but a pale gray or a subtle metallic are also eye catching) of purse, you don't need one for every day of the week, outfit, and pair of shoes.
Tip #6: Don't buy something just for the sake of buying it. I'm guilty of this, sometimes I'll just buy something that I don't need just for bragging rights, or just because I know I have money with me. It's a bad habit to get into, and if you've already started this habit, try to break it!

Kell On Earth

This being about Kelly Cutrone, naming this post after her show "Kell On Earth" seemed appropriate. First off, you're probably wondering who she is. Well, Kelly Cutrone is a fashion publicist and author. She is the founder of PR (People's Revolution), and the successful author of 2 books "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You" and "Normal Gets You Nowhere". When talking about her People's Revolution career, she says "I named my company this not because I'm a communist - a popular misconception - but because I happen to believe the world will change only when we change ourselves". Kelly is a huge inspiration to be because she is her own person, she's very independent and she doesn't take hate from anyone. She's a great person to own a company because she keeps people in line and doesn't let anyone mess up. If you've ever watched her on The Hills, it's very obvious. 

Fashion Week is Coming Up Soon!

Coming up soon is the highly anticipated LA Fashion Market at the CMC (California Market Centre). Five times a year, buyers from around the globe flock to the CMC to view the season's newest collections presented by thousands of brands at the market. From apparel and accessories to gifts and lifestyle collections, the product array at the CMC is unmatched on the West Coast, catering to every price point and market niche. Collections are presented in hundreds of showrooms and several tradeshows featured throughout the CMC. The market is a great chance to get out and enjoy some of what LA has to offer for fashion. 

Los Angeles: Truly the Fashion Capital?

We all know what Los Angeles is known for; designer hand bags, sunny weather, big celebrities, hot clubs, and even hotter people with the hottest fashion. Without a doubt, LA is the fashion capital of the world, but some would beg to differ. New York, Hong Kong, London, and Paris are also named by some, but LA always to come out on top. A high attracting well known event is the legendary LA Fashion Week. LA Fashion Week was created in 2002 on behalf of an organic group of designers, agents, editors, and other market-makers who were, and still are, committed to creating a vibrant and exciting Los Angeles marketplace. It is the longest running and most comprehensive event.  Los Angeles is without a doubt a great place for up and coming designers, but aside from the great events that go on here, there's also great opportunities to educate yourself in fashion. One of the most highly recommended and eminently creative schools for fashion and marketing is FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising). With over 20 majors to choose from, FIDM is the place to launch a creative career. You can earn an A.A., Bachelor's, Advanced degree, or combine them to create your own path. "Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising has been educating students for careers in the fashion and entertainment industries for over 40 years. Our goal is to give students the best college education possible while preparing them to launch their career immediately. The focused curriculum, talented faculty, and a global network of industry partners like Cotton, Inc. and Disney, give students the necessary skills to work simultaneously while earning their degree." That is a quote taken from the schools website, and they live up to every word of it. 

So weather you're wanting to pursue your career in fashion, educate yourself in it, visit some of the events, or just go to sight see, LA is the place to cover it all.