Whimsical Wishing in Winter

Dear Santa,
Here is my Christmas wish list in no particular order. Thanks for all your hard work up there and, as always, you're the best guy I know!



Paris Hilton Senorita in Blue



Ruffle Gloves



Ribbon Message Bikini



Abstract Scroll Bracelet



Ruched Sheath Dress



American Fashion Cookbook



Tinker Bow Large Satchel



Nightengale



Leopard Print Umbrella



Guilia



Sweater Jacket



Vanessa Pod Ring



Sizzling Red Bow Satin Clutch Purse


With love, Jenna

Chestnuts Roasting by an Open Fire

It's finals week here (my last ever!) and everyone seems to be breaking out their most comfortable and fuzzy belongings. I have been putting my white fluffy scarf and beanie with pom poms to good use as well. I came across an ad in Elle for Velvet by Graham and Spencer this morning and remembered why I love them so. The fabrics are like heaven. They are so warm and soft, yet flexible and not restrictive. Here are a few I adore from their fall and holiday collections. I can just imagine snuggling up by the fire and sipping hot coco in the sweaters!











Photos from here.

New Blog!

Hi everyone! I have started a new blog. I would love for you all to check it out and give me feedback. It's about fashion advertising and branding. That is my professional field, after all. I have only made two posts so far (that's how new it is), but there's a lot more to come. It can be accessed through my blogger profile or feel free to click the link below.


http://consumersincouture.blogspot.com/


And I call it....



Thanks again!

Sea Glass Dreaming

The weather keeps getting colder and the more layers I put on, the more I wish it were July and I was strolling on the beach. Sitting in this coffee shop with the heat turned up too high, I can almost imagine the rays of sun on my back and the sand beneath my toes. But sadly, it is still winter (is it winter yet?). To try to stay in my summer fantasy a little longer, here are some sea glass inspirations. Maybe they will help you pretend with me.



Photo from here.



Cuffed Satin Dress.



Annie Hammer Earrings.



Gucci Drew Patent Leather Sandals.
Christian Louboutin Lady Claude Peep-Toe Pumps.



G-Bag Easy Sacca Grande.

Let's play!

In the spirit of college football season and pre-Thanksgiving sales, let's play a game. See if you can point out the cheap bag! All of these bags are hundreds of dollars except for one... which one? Take a guess!





I'll post the answer in a few days!

'Tis the Season to be Plaid

The weather's getting cooler, the boots are getting fluffier, and the plaid is coming out in truck loads. Gap, my official go-to place for plaid that's rad, has ads everywhere for their new collection. Whether you're going through magazines or watching TV, you are bound to see their logo - which, by the way, is currently plaid too! I've always been skeptical of wearing plaid, mostly because I don't want to look like a lumberjack or a Catholic school girl. But worn correctly, I like it. It's cozy, not just in texture but in look. The key is just to wear it sparingly and don't try to pair other patterns with it.



Visit Gap here.

Vote Winner: Let Them Be Cheap!!!

The poll has closed and the votes are in. To refresh your memory, the poll was about if you approve of expensive designers making less expensive lines to roll with the times. The debate is centered around if it takes away from the specialness and exclusivity of the brand or not. The winner for this vote was that it was great for designers to do this. I guess people aren't too worried about the expensive image after all. In second place, interestingly enough, came that it was totally wrong and took away from what the designer stood for - high quality clothes and a status that goes with it. So I have done some research and found that one of my favorite designers, Vera Wang, did just this. She has a line at Kohls called Simply Vera by Vera Wang.





I have to say I don't love all of it. It's definitely a line you have to sift through and it looks like it may be directed towards slightly older women than myself. Nonetheless, it's Vera!



Gathered Top, $29.99



Cocoon Vest, $39.99



Surplice Top, $29.99



Ibis Heels, $55.99


To see more of this line, click here.

Rad Ad- Juicy Couture

Making a fashion ad that's original and fresh isn't an easy task with the multitude of ads you find in fashion magazines. Here is one that especially stood out to me. Some of my biggest inspirations for fashion come from print ads found in magazines like Elle and Vogue. This one was in InStyle. I love Juicy Couture, but even if I had never heard of this brand, this ad would have drawn me in. I love how creative and different it is. It's fun and funky and I can honestly say I have never seen disco balls in a pool or a man on stilts working to sell clothes. I like it as an ad and a work of art.








The copy reads, "Do the Dont's. Make a Mess." That's what fashion is about lately, after all. The breaking of rules can create new fashion norms. I thoroughly approve of this statement.

I Heart Lulu Frost!

Oh my gosh! I don't think I have ever come across a designer and been so overwhelmed. I saw one of Lulu Frost's necklaces in InStyle, which I adored, and decided to look her up. And what did I find? She's amazing! Not only is she 26 and already a fashion genius, but her work is so extremely beautiful, made of antiques that she finds. Because of this, each piece is one of a kind. Here is an excerpt from the biography on her website that describes all the fascinating items she uses:


"26-year old Dartmouth College graduate Lisa Salzer, a.k.a Lulu, creates each one-of-a-kind piece from found period antiques, including long-lost room numbers from the legendary Plaza Hotel, cut steel shoe buckles from the 1860's, forgotten keys, beautifully crafted locks and eschutcheons, chandelier crystal, watch fobs, rare Victorian charms and other resurrected finds."














Talk about a piece of jewelry that tells a story! I really recommend going to her site and seeing all of the other great pieces she features. These are just a sampling.

VOTE!

Big fashion designers like Vera Wang are realizing their current status needs a tweak to accommodate our current economy. They are making cheaper lines and selling them in places like Target and Wal Mart. In our new world of limited economic surplus, do you think this switch many designers are making is good? Or do you think it compromises the integrity and specialness of the brand? Would you be interested in buying Betsey Johnson things full price when some of her stuff is in a cheaper line? Vote on this issue in the box on the right and comment.



Image from here.

Etsy Find: Critter Jitters

Sometimes in the morning you just don't want to whip out that tight sundress or those stiff, complicated blouses. I had one of those days today. It didn't matter what I pulled out, I just didn't want to wear it. I'm not talking about things that weren't cute. I just didn't feel like putting them on my body. That sounds weird, but some days are made for tee shirts. Sometimes, there is nothing better than a comfy, reliable, worn in tee. When you're happy, you feel confident. When you're confident, you look great! So don't be afraid, ladies.








With this feeling, I decided for today's Etsy Find to be about those reliable back-ups that always make me happy. Critter Jitters' adorable screen printed tees are cute, colorful, and often funky. They have tee shirts for men and women and they all feature different prints, from pretty flowers to an elk wearing roller skates! Not convinced yet? They run for $20!

New Sexy Arrivals from GUESS by Marciano

Marciano's work with Guess has been stunning. Here are a few new arrivals with some of his classic work. His pieces are glam to perfection and sexy as can be. Let me know what you think and definitely check out the other items here.

Website Find: Giglio

I LOVE this retail website. I love the way it looks, the way it is organized, and, of course, the stuff! You must check out Giglio. Their repertoire is extensive: Alberta Ferretti, Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci, Giorgio Armani, Iceberg, Valentino, and Versace (just to name a few). And what's better? Their selection for men is equally enticing! Here are a few women's items that stuck out, but there is a huge selection.



Valentino



Moschino



Roberto Cavalli



Gucci

Bruno Frisoni Shoes

The ultimate in feminine high fashion, Bruno Frisoni's shoes are every girl's dream. Known for his shoes and bags, Frisoni takes the basics of femininity literally with smooth, flowing lines, ruffles, and pretty colors. Here are a few of my faves, but this is really just a small sample of the type of work he does. Of course, his pieces are way out of my pricerange, but they are still enjoyable to gaze at.












Photos from here.