Must-Have Fashion Apps

I have recently been introduced to the App world since my mom received an iPad for Christmas and I updated my cell for an iPhone, and I cannot help but go straight for fashion. There are so many different Apps out there, for brands, fashion houses, magazines, and styling. Most are only available for the iPhone, but there are still plenty for the iPad, too! Here are my favorites (many of them also chosen by blogs and columns including Refinery29, The Cut, and Huffington Post).

For iPhone and iPad:

Style.com keeps you updated on the best of ready-to-wear womenswear and menswear straight from the runway. View full collections from season to season, including couture runway coverage. It also includes Style.com's video library and fashion party coverage in photos and reports. The basic essential.

Get the best of the Net-a-Porter.com shopping experience with the Net-a-Porter Magazine App. Shop weekly editorials, watch videos, and share favorite items from your wish list with friends! 

The Gilt App is simply Gilt Groupe on the go! What could be better when those designer sales begin and you are on the move? 

For iPhone Only:

Stylebook is one of my absolute favorites! Download photos of your clothing (which is automatically made into a silhouette!) and try out new outfits. You can even layer and resize your clothing to show how accessories would look. Preview your closet when deciding on an outfit, track when your clothes and outfits have been worn, and categorize your closet! This App is amazing and useful for looking chic for any occasion!

Chicfeed streams the most influential blogs in the fashion blogosphere world. Get live updates from The Cut, StyleBubble, Refinery29, the Satorialist, and more!

Glamour Ask a Stylist is your best friend for getting dressed. Take a photo of your outfit and send it to style experts or take them shopping with you for something new. Answers come back within minutes!

Lucky at Your Service is your digital shopping concierge, who will find your favorite products, picked by Lucky's editors, near you. You can also be directed for finds online. They will even confirm availability with the store and hold your items.

Lustr Fashion Finder is essential for constant updates on fashion events, store promotions, and parties. You can even plan your shopping trips and store your favorite places.

(before) London List

My friend and I have come up with a fun list of things to do before I leave for London and before she goes back to school. Feel free to add any fun ideas or try out some of ours!

• Sloshy Sledding (sledding while slightly intoxicated)
• Girls' night out in the city
• Black Swan
• Ice-skating (Sarah, we are going)
• Visit Caryn in Michigan
• Swimming laps
• Tony Hawk and/or drunk Mario Cart

making spirits bright

a very merry vogue christmas to all! 

georges lepape illustrated cover, vogue 1929

WWD on chicago

today the leading influencers in fashion touched on the street styles of chicago. WWD's article they are wearing: chicago, acknowledges the different street chic of uptown (gold coast) and downtown (wicker park and north) chicago. the gold coast, known for big names and multi-story department stores is home to a more refined elegance. it is not surprising to see women and men dressed in designer-wear from head to toe. classic dress coats, towering heels, and large sunglasses are commonly mixed in with the noticeable tourists in jeans and puffy down coats. north michigan avenue and oak street are home to a number of designers including ralph lauren, bottega veneta, chanel, louis vuitton, j. mendel, yves saint laurent, and the brand new barneys building (which is gorgeous and so fun to wander around in).

the northern neighborhoods of the city, like wicker park, definitely have a different vibe. with a variety of boutiques, vintage and antique stores, the streets are full of layers of unique clothing and accessories. the styles are usually more of a bohemian and urban mix. the area is more laid back, but also more edgy and styles can surprise you. my favorite vintage pieces have come from store b, located in wicker park. the north end of the city is great for vintage finds!

florence, the vocal machine

florence welch has captivated the music world with her magical voice. the singer of florence + the machine,  her vocals are all-consuming and the music makes you want to dance and maybe even cry at the same time (in a good way). it evokes multiple emotions and provokes thought that fills up your heart. instruments, such as the harp, which seem to be extinct in this day are some of the main acoustics you hear. the lyrics create imagery of fantasy complimented by her deep vocals. i cannot decide whether i like the recorded tracks or the live versions best.

“I want my music to sound like throwing yourself out of a tree, or off a tall building, or as if you’re being sucked down into the ocean and you can’t breathe,” says Florence Welch. “It’s something overwhelming and all-encompassing that fills you up, and you’re either going to explode with it, or you’re just going to disappear.” (florenceandthemachine.net)


her music is nothing short of this.


the group's music videos evoke the same all-consuming emotions, where florence captures the feelings of the music and her own voice; the unique choreography is nothing short of perfectly imperfect. the atmosphere in each of the group's videos is completed by the wonderful styling of florence and her back-up. it is pure fashion in motion. even her live performances have credited her stylist, christina adami, as the winner of stage design.

(photos courtesy of www.florenceandthemachine.com)

it is hard to believe that the the beauty of miss welch's porcelain skin and fire-red hair can become invisible behind her explosive voice.

go-to look

this fall and winter my go-to look has developed into mid-calf motorcycle boots paired with tights, and a skirt or girlie dress. it is the perfect balance of girlie and edgy. because i often wear button-up shirts to work with my skirts or jeans, the boots prevent my outfit from looking too preppy. the motorcycle boot has become my winter staple, perfect for the snowy weather and adding a harsher element to my looks. the more distressed they get, the more i love them!

*my go-to pair (j.crew 2009 fall)

*one of my favorite dresses to wear with them!

style like u

what would a peek in your closet say about you? most likely it would say a whole lot. personal style is deeply engrained in our everyday lives, even if most of us don't realize it or put much thought into it (that also says something, which would probably be understood by looking in your closet). our personal style is one of the most expressive ways of showing someone who we are.

stylelikeu.com is a special experience that visits the closets of inspiring people from all walks of life and around the world. individuality is an understatement if possible, when looking through the many different styles of their interviewees. the closets and everything in them are truly inspiring and manifest into wonderful editorials, personalized to represent each person's style and view. all editorials are complete with style stories. this site will make you think about the way you are showing yourself to the world through dress and give you inspiring stories and styles from some very interesting men and women. you are also able to write about your own style and express your view on fashion!

stylelikeu.com features videos, photos, and a blog.

check it out! the videos are awesome.

here are some recently visited closets:

1. dotti- make-up artist

2. elfee duquette- actress, stylist, designer

3. tamara lowe: creative director, writer, film director

4. zelda kaplan: scion of nightlife

1. lindsay jones editorial

2. becca diamond editorial

3. "anastasia and snegurochka" editorial (starring ladyfag)

4. rachel tratchenburg editorial

lauren's j.crew world

jcrew.com is featuring a little journal of lauren hutton's tips for style and shopping, especially at j.crew! the slideshow is equipped with favorite outfits and great advice that everyone should keep in mind while getting dressed! hutton's simple elegance has captivated the world for decades and it continues to inspire. she is truly wise and a wonderful style icon.

that's a wrap!

looking to make your holiday gifts stand out? anthropologie is selling handmade gift wrapping paper, fun vintage ribbons, and an assortment of gift tags! with their beautiful complimentary gift boxes, you can customize your holiday presents with these fun little notions! the handmade paper is $10 for a set of 3 large pieces. this may be expensive compared to the rolls and rolls of regular holiday paper, however; the paper is so pretty and you can always save it for your favorite friends... otherwise the velvet ribbons, pompoms, and metallic firework ribbon is an easy way to dress plain boxes up! I am using the ribbons to decorate my tree, which looks really cool. they also have vintage stamps and christmas cards to make your holiday fully anthro.

handmade gift paper

velvet ribbon

metallic ribbon

gift tag assortment

A fun little guy to hang from your gifts!

Vintage stamp set

anthropologie.com

quick post: the best rumor around!

Yes, it is going around...Alexander McQueen for Target??? Oh my lord, I hope so!!! Feel free to post any updates.. I'll be the lookout.

New Gem

As a girl inspired by the lovely Kate Bosworth, I was not hesitant to check out her new jewelry line with stylist and best friend, Cher Coulter! Jewel Mint is a "one-of-a-kind" jewelry brand that specializes in unique designs specifically for your style.

The website is a really fun experience and the jewelry is 70% plus free shipping for members! All you need to do is create a style profile... Simple, fun, and free! The style profile quiz is fun and was right on! 

Each month you receive any piece for only $29.99! I could not believe this, but I have already ordered my Cosmopolitan Drop earrings! I think I will be ordering the In the Rough ring next!

Space 519

When shopping in all the craziness that continues in the days following black friday, one of my favorite stores in Chicago became a breathe of fresh air, free from crowds and full of friendly faces. Space 519, located on the fifth floor in the 900 Shops on Michigan Ave, is a modern general store that became a favorite the first time I stepped inside. It offers a small, but carefully chosen collection of men's and women's clothing, one-of-a-kind jewelry from a variety of artists, accessories, unique home decor, apothecary products, books, music, and magazines.

Store owners Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel (previous owners of Jake on Rush St.) have taken "general store" to an entirely new level. Space 519 rotates collections of must-haves and unique pieces that are difficult to find anywhere else. Their large selection of j park clothing is one of my favorites to shop each time I visit. The brand consists of very simple styles, but always has essential, extremely versatile pieces. Space 519 has helped to put this brand on the map.

Currently the store is featuring a collection of unique vintage jewelry pieces. The artist's pieces are a favorite of America Ferrera and have been seen on her at the Emmys. My favorite is a statement necklace with gorgeous peacock feathers (I cannot get enough feathers). The "wish bracelets" are an excellent gift idea, as well.

I also picked up some travel books for my trip to London next year. They have an excellent selection that always has the best in shopping, eating, and sleeping. I chose the StyleCity guides for Europe, London, and Paris. I think I may go back for the Paris Vintage Couture shopping guide, one I would follow page by page. As always, they have a good selection of international fashion mags, too.

Space 519 is a guaranteed unique experience and a great place to pick up perfect gifts for the holiday season! (They also wrap them for you!)

The New Creative Establishment

Today the Business of Fashion released their list of the top 50 most creative forces in the fashion world. The New Creative Establishment was topped with photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot. Having shot gorgeous editorials for Vogue, W, and Interview magazine and top designer campaigns including Givenchy, Chanel, Stella McCartney, and Gucci, they have become the magic touch for those who have worked with them.
Second on the list was none other than my favorite designer Pheobe Philo, creative director at Celine. She is credited with giving Celine the biggest boost since Tom Ford's innovative take to Gucci.
Nicolas Ghesqiere took the third spot as creative director at Balenciaga. Season after season he continues to set the bar for unexpected innovation that smoothly translates into every-day wear. It is unbelievable how he continues to conquer at another level. I feel like each season he makes a mark that reminds me of everything else that comes out.

For the rest of the list visit Businessoffashion.com. This will also be featured in the second issue of INDUSTRIE magazine out later this month.

Jeffrey Campbell

At a recent visit to Lori's Shoes on Armitage, I noticed the variety of Jeffrey Campbell shoes available. I could not decide which ones were my favorite, his shoes are AMAZING! His clunky, chunky wooden platforms are a short girls dream. His rustic boots are also very cool.

Loriesshoes.com had an even larger selection, and more clunky, chunky soles!! Here are a few of my favorites:

1. McClaren $120--my favorite!(reminds me of the Chloe oxfords from 2004)

2. Ninetynine $106

3. Phone $140 (so cool)

4. Mary Roks $120

5. Front $112

6. All Ruffle $216

7. Foxy Wood $116

8. Swansong $79 (on sale!)

9. Broom ST $130

10. Zipped $286

Valentino for Gap!!!

With Gap's move into Italy, Valentino has decided to collaborate on a special collection for the store's opening on November 26 (this Friday)! For those lucky ones in Europe the collection is one of luxury looks mixed with casual textiles, the perfect balance! Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paola Piccioli, Valentino's creative directors, designed the line for the celebration. So jealous that I won't be there to witness it! The line is available a Gap stores in Europe. Feel free to post pictures of the collection and pieces you love!

Here are the campaign photos:

Love those ruffles!

Thank you Telegraph.co.uk!