Fashiontribes.com Fashion Blog - Style, Beauty, Luxury Lifestyle & Shopping

The Office Anarchist? Look the Part Without Looking the Part

If you're dreaming of pulling a Fight Club at work (and really, who hasn't), make sure they don't see you coming. How? With fabulous threads that stick it to the man. On the surface, they'll never know this jacket is, at heart, NSFW (and therefore Tyler Durden approved) having been designed by one of fashion's gold-standard rebels: Vivienne Westwood.

With Your Floral Skirt, Try a Striped Top

So many beautiful floral skirts this spring, but how to wear them other than with a basic white tee or buttondown? To get more style mileage, Glamour came up with clever solution: pairing them with with skinny-stripe tees either in a color that echoes one of the main colors in the floral pattern, or with a complementary color, such as navy against red for this cotton Carolina Herrera floral skirt.

Here are some more fab striped shirts to pair with your florals:

Say No to Ho! Embrace Eccentric Glamour Instead Says Simon Doonan. Part 1 (of 3): The Gypsy

In his latest book which was exclusively excerpted in the April Elle magazine, Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You, Simon Doonan issues a call to arms against the standard "boobs 'n' bleach 'n' Botox" that have many females of a certain age aging anything but gracefully. "As a result, they now resemble a bunch of aging Bratz dolls," he notes, railing against porno chic in favor of seeking out "eccentrically glamorous alternatives to the ubiquitous cheapness and tackiness that currently pass for personal style."

How? By letting your inner glamorous eccentric flag fly. Here are your choices: Gypsy, Existentialist, or Socialite.

Part 1 - The Gypsy...free spirited types (and wannabes):

Chic Looks from Anne Klein for Spring

Since her death in 1974, the Anne Klein label steadily declined into fashion irrelevance - almost disrespectfully so, given it was started by a fashion innovator who was "credited with utterly revising the working woman's wardrobe," notes V Magazine. Instead of the fusty skirts and hats her peers were continuing to offer women, Klein designed jazzy separates - blazers, pants, and other separates that could be mixed and matched - creating "nothing short of a revolution." Even Oscar de la Renta tipped his hat, remarking that she "influenced everything that was American. She put sportswear on the map and she was a truly American designer."

These chic looks done under the creative direction of Isabel Toledo hearken back to the heyday of Anne Klein:

Spring into the Warm Weather in Cheery Colors and Fab Footwear

"This season the emphasis is on color..bolder the better such as: bright yellow and fuchsia. Using lots of color is the artists brush stroke as a major print style," advises Bobbi Schwartz, founder and CEO of The Bobbi Schwartz Group, a Dallas-based personal styling company. "Form fitting dresses, fuller skirts, white shirts and classic tan safari are all very important elements this season."

To keep the bloom on your wardrobe this spring, here are Schwartz's must-haves:

Weekly Web Snob Roundup: The Best Posts of the Week from Our Fave Online Fashion & Lifestyle Publishers

Sneak peek: Brian Atwood for Bally - FabSugar 
Coquette is mad for plaid this Spring!
Flash or Stash? Bag Snob updates your Spring bag wardrobe
Fashion speaks louder than words, just ask Carla Bruni Sarkozy! - My Fashion Life
Sassy Sex and the City lingerie by Cosabella - Fashiontribes
Behind the scenes at a Sex and the City-inspired Glamour shoot - WE LOVE BEAUTY.com
Cute, fashionable sneakers - The Fashion Bomb
Beauty Snob discovers the Mother of all eye creams 
All About the Pretty has found a new day cream that puts her over the moon Eve Lom Moisturiser!
Get organized with Anya Hindmarch’s Loose Pocket Cases and Key Pouches - Bag Bliss
Stiletto Jungle shows you how to get sexy legs for spring.
The best eco-chic shopping totes - Omiru
Trend Alert: full skirts - The Budget Fashionista
Embrace the fabulous Venus razor of the same name - The Fashionable Housewife
Fashion Indie's spy gets inside the House of Holland.
 Kristopher Dukes is lusting for DvF's power ring.
Papierblog looks at the pain of high style.
Second City Style tested hundreds of products for our Second Annual Beauty Olympics.
Win a $100 Gift Certificate at Shrimpton Couture
The hottest handbags for every budget - StyleBakery.com
Stylehive slideshow: Digital art-inspired home decor!
Learn about Vichy skin care at eBeautyDaily.

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In a Pair of Recycled Brass Coin Earrings, Spring Looks Green

Three hand-pierced brass coins get repurposed into a far more chic pair of Urchin earrings. Available at LauraJamesJewelry.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Fashiontribes in WWD on the Growing Influence of Fashion Bloggers

In Bringing Bloggers Into the Club (WWD, March 28, 2008) , Irin Carmon discusses how the major fashion brands are courting and forging relationships with the better quality fashion blogs.  "Between the seemingly anarchic independent online venues and the ever-striving but sometimes anemic Web offerings of magazine companies, fashion brands and public-relations firms are starting to suss out places where the relationships can progress," she explains, noting that both parties have a hand in developing a non-adversarial relationship; unlike the image of bloggers "setting up shop to reap freebies", many trusted actually bloggers leave the freebies for their giveaways in order to retain objectivity and credibility. Adds Alex Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta: "All these things we’ve been hearing about for years are starting to come through. "In the blogosphere, the wheat is being separated from the chaff. I would say that respected and trusted authorities are emerging.”

- Lesley Scott

Cute Cosabella Sex and the City Knickers & Lingerie

Stockpiling Manolos, swilling Cosmos and keeping all your money right where you can see it: hanging in your closet? Now you can look as cute as Carrie at home, typing away in your new Cosabella-designed sassy SATC intimates. The line launches in April with a sexy spring collection, followed in July by fall - and will be available at the HBO Shop in NYC on 6th Avenue at 42nd St.

Global Chic for the Weekend (or on a Quick Trip)

For a quick trip, Global Chic jetsetters tend to pack lightly & stylishly. Start with the LBD (of course), add a trench, nude heels and a gorge clutch. Toss some just-in-case flats in your tote, et voila...Bon Voyage!

Where to get the goods:

The Fashiontribes Magazines are Alive & Well at TribalRunway.com

The former Fashiontribes e-zines have now found a new home at TribalRunway.com, new look and even a new name in the case of Tight Black Pants (formerly Rock Punk). They are being written and edited by some of your fave bloggers:

Downtown Doll - Sandra Mendoza-Daly of Debutante Clothing
Stella Kae of Trashionista.net - Tight Black Pants
Rachel Rhee of Stylescoop.net - Fancy Flirt
Global Chic - Natalie Jobity of Elan Image Management
...and Afro Love by yours truly...we've also unearthed fab new talent like the striking Fancy Flirt image by Anushka "Nadia" Menon and Downtown Doll cover image by Christine Nguyen. 

A Bird in the Hand is Clutch!

This sweet, handmade clutch by indie designer Brooke Galardi is crafted from Swedish decor-weight fabric with a felt birdie applique. Completely cute with anything striped, black or white.  Available at BeegeeBags.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Singin' in the Rain and Savin' the Earth, One Umbrella at a Time

With winter finally beginning to loosen its icy grip and snowy storms being replaced by spring showers, the forecast calls for umbrellas. Between the ones that are lost, never reclaimed, broken, and bought on the cheap when you're caught in the rain from street vendors and convenience stores, the numbers are mindboggling: 33 million purchased annually within the U.S. alone.  Most are made from some variation of nylon, wood, metal, fiberglass, and steel and take hundreds of years - if ever - to biodegrade.

However, green is the new black (umbrella) and a fab new way to stand out in a sea of drab umbrellas is with the Asian-inspired, eco-chic Brelli.

Feel Jazz Age Romance in a Sexy Satin Slip Dress

Wearing sheer black hose with this sexy satin slip dress runs the risk of looking like you got distracted in the middle of getting changing into (or out of) your power suit, the dress itself by Derek Lam couldn't be more feminine or sensual.

Why not play up the Gatsby feel with a gorgeous black lace-trimmed champagne satin Vivian Slip from Trashy Diva (below), paired with modern accessories that have a retro flapper vibe: a chic cloche & clutch, spectator Mary Janes, and a long gold tassel necklace. (Hose optional...but definitely not recommended.)

Head for the Isle of PINK with Victoria's Secret, a Caribbean Beach Club & Adorable Cabana Boys

Available for a limited time only, Victoria's Secret Isle of Pink, their latest PINK fragrance, is like the best of Spring Break in a bottle...instead of drunken college idiots and Girls Gone Wild, think Iced Tulip and Raspberry Sorbet.

Available as an either Eau de Parfum or a Shimmering Fragrance Mist, the refreshing notes include:

Laid-Back Surf Chic from the Converse One Star Collection

Sold exclusively at Target, this line incorporates Cali caszh with tailored fits and lightweight fabrics. This $15 (!) vintage-inspired boldly striped tee would be as perfect with your white summer slacks as with a pair of skinny black jeans.

Here's a rock-chic ensemble entirely from Target for a grand total of just over $100:

It's in the (Eco) Bag - Some Fab Earth-Friendly Totes and Bags

Have a whale of a good time schlepping with an eyecatching tote made from repurposed rice bags. Fits all your summer essentials, and is only $45. Available at Ecoist.com.

Here are some more green chic bags and catch-alls to catch your eye:

A Hot Pink Heel'less Patent Wedge to Have Fun in All Summer Long

...at least until daddy takes the T-bird away (or a fashion footwear accident occurs).  Love 'em or hate 'em, there's no denying, these Walter Steiger wonders are a party waiting to happen.  Available through MyPrestigium.com.

And if you're brave enough to teeter tall in these, here are some more flirty accessories that are no doubt calling your name:

Calling Handbag Designers: Enter the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards (IDHA) Contest

From now until April 18, 2008, sign up at HandbagDesigner101.com to compete for one of six Awards for Handbag Design Excellence. At stake are a variety of coveted prizes: the opportunity to have your handbag go on a marketing press tour and garner international recognition, placement on Bag Borrow or Steal, a display and trunk show at Henri Bendel, and a booth at the influential WWD/MAGIC Accessories show in Las Vegas.

Finalists will be invited to present their bags at a high profile New York event on June 18, 2008 in NYC at the New York Historical Society attended by over 500 members of the fashion industry, including press and retailers. The legendary Lieber brand will be celebrating its 45th anniversary and will be honored with the IHDA Iconoclast Award for helping revolutionize the landscape of accessories design.

To participate in the  open IDHA call, upload a jpeg of your genius bag creation in one or more of the following categories:

Best Handbag in Overall Style & Design
Best Handmade Handbag
Most Socially Responsible Handbag    
Best Green Handbag
Best Student Made Handbag
Audience-Selected Handbag   

Some of the important deets to know:

Top 10 Trends & Must-Haves for Spring #10: Modern Gladiator

girding up for the style wars at Gareth Pugh, Chanel Couture, Balenciaga (top); Rachel Comey, Dries Van Noten & Karl Lagerfeld (bottom)

Life's a bitch, so dress appropriately. With so much economic and political instability and uncertainty, it's not surprising to see the accoutrements of battlegear appear, be it a Terminator-worthy fringed leather at Gareth Pugh, Matrix glasses at Dries Van Noten, embellished armor-like hand protectors draped in chains from Karl Lagerfeld, or, striding down the Balenciaga runway and straight onto every fashion editor's lust list - the must-have shoe of the season: the Gladiator.

Unless you're a rock star, free spirit, or fixture in NYC's St. Marks, then the catwalk presentation of this tough vibe is probably a tad theatrical. However, why not incorporate touches into your own wardrobe, perhaps with a cropped motorcycle jacket, fringed bag, or some statment gladiator sandals?  Here are some fun options for trying on the trend: