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Showing posts from October, 2011

Pick of the Week: Perfect Tweed Dress

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Sometimes, the pick of the week picks itself. MNG by Mango's red tweed dress makes me weak in the knees. Slightly retro, but deeply classic. Buttons. Tweed. Red. See, it reduces me to lists! This is is the sort of dress you grab when you're running late in the morning and can't think about an outfit. Black tights, black shoes, and the dress speaks for itself. On sale for $64, it's a great secret weapon to keep on hand.

This Week On Fashion Me Fabulous

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Bright Fall by fashionmefabulous Endings & Beginnings: We wrapped up Spring Summer 2012 fashion week with a look at t he Japanese designers . Project Runway season 9 came to an end, but that means we got a chance to meet the Project Accessory designers . Raves & Rants: Jael Paris rants against the idea that pant hems must be shoe specific. We would love sexy Halloween costumes that used burlesque accessories from our Etsy Shop of the Week (instead of cheap shiny fabric). Shopping & Saving: We've rounded up 9 fall cardigans . Do you love or loathe these Victorian boots ? Also, a chic bird dress look for under $150 .

Project Runway Season 9 Finale: Winners & Losers

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Well, Runway fans, another season has come to an end. The judges have chosen a winner, and we are left to watch Project Accessory and get really excited about Tim Gunn's Behind the Seams special next week. I just wish I could get really excited or really angry or really anything about the finale. Instead, I'm left feeling that no one really won. In fact, not much seemed to have happened last night. Rather than being forced to create a new look (like a wedding dress or something), the designers were give $500 to go to Mood and buy anything they needed to spruce up their collections. I've always hated the last minute assignment because it ruins great collections or helps collections that don't deserve help. I liked this because it allowed them to actually respond to the judges critiques from last week. Conspiracy theorists will say this was the producers' way of making it possible for Anya to win. I believe the producers had no idea how to fill the 90 minute block

Project Runways Season 9 Finale Live blog

We'll be live blogging the Project Runway Season 9 finale right here at 9p.m. EST. Don't miss the chance to share your reactions, favorites and top moments from the season with all the other Fashion Me Fabulous Runway Fans. <a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=f7ebb7ff18" >Project Runway Season 8 Finale</a>

Paris Fashion Week Ss12: The Japanese Designers

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Comme des Garçons showcased a delicate bride who was stolen from her true love, trapped in an asylum and fighting to escape from the advances of a mad scientist only to die from the effects of his terrible experiments before reaching her love. Issey Miyake resembled spring on fire with buds bursting forth in blooming hats, billowing clothes, patterned tights and near-neon pastels. Yohji Yamamoto played out like a silent film featuring a sport-couture Charlie Chaplin and Helena Bonham Carter. Junya Watanabe blended the usual exaggerated shapes and ideas with surprisingly wearable and commercials pieces, the whole thing crammed with more references than even a human encyclopedia could name. Tsumori Chisato took us on a retro cruise from Hawaii to Japan as though both places were located in the South Pacific. Image source: style.com

$150 Challenge: Bird Dress

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The bird print trend we saw at Spring 2012 fashion week has becca and I all a-twitter. We love birds. Make no mistake, we don't want a pet cockatiel, and please don't bequeath us with one of those clocks that has a different birdsong marking the hour. Rather, it's the art of birds that we love. The complex creature with such a distinct, smooth silhouette. From bright mating displays to muddled camouflage, we can't stop looking at birds. $150 Challenge: Bird Dress by fashionmefabulous Click the little pictures above for more info on the products.

Etsy Shop of the Week: French Market Stitch

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Shop: French Market Stitch Why We Love It: Burlesque costumes can be difficult to work into everyday attire, but they're pretty enough to give it a try. French Market Stitch offers plenty of fascinators and mini top hats to bring that burlesque flair to any look. Plus, the shop has an lovely selection of stunning corsets. Price Range: Accessories: $13.95 - $35; Corsets: $135 - $290 Favorite Items: Elizabeth Burlesque Corset Costume $150 (pictured); Gothic Burlesque Corset Costume $150 ; Black Circus Corset Burlesque Costume $165 ; Gold Circus Corset Burlesque Costume $195 ; Baby Pink feather hair clip $24 ; Gunmetal grey and black sequins floral headband $24.95

Rant: Pant Hems

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While flipping through a magazine, I noticed a mandate about the hems of your pants. They claimed your hem is supposed to be a half inch off the floor so you have to hem all your pants for flats or heels. I call bull. Following this idea means I need to buy multiple pairs of pants so I can wear them with each height of shoes. After all, two inch heels would need a different hem from three inchers. It also means that any heels I bought with cute details will be almost entirely covered. Stilettos will catch on the hem as will platforms. I've seen this idea expressed several places, and the argument is that hemming them shorter will make you look short . Other people say that the hem should fall mid-arch or with the hem just skimming the vamp of your shoe. For flats, this comes to, yes, about half an inch off the floor, and for heels this at least means you won't have to hem for each heel height. Plus cute toe details of shoes would always be visible. That's more doable. Howev

9 Fall Cardigans

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This month we had a weird heat wave, a week of fall, a week of monsoons and now people here are talking about snow. Shh! If you don't say its name, it won't come! I'm not done with fall yet, so let's shop cardigans. Bonus, most of these are already on sale. Top: Fair Isle draped open cardigan, Kensie at Macy's $59.99 (sale) faux fur zip sweater, MICHAEL Michael Kors at Macy's $99 (sale) marine blue open cable-knit cardigan, Victoria's Secret $39.50 (sale) Middle: black and white scroll sweater jacket, Macy's $29.99 (sale) preppy plaid cardigan, ASOS $80.86 sequin trimmed cardigan, Calvin Klein at Zappos $48 Bottom: faux fur cable knit cardigan, ASOS $80.86 ribbon trimmed cardigan, Mod Cloth $53.99 leather buckle cardigan, Victoria's Secret $45.50 (sale)

Love or Loathe: Victorian Boot

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No doubt, among our readers we have quite a few costume enthusiasts. Well, those readers may want to settle in on their fainting couches because the "Lady Victoria" boot from Poetic Licence is seriously costumey. Some people are very against the idea of looking too period lest you be costumey, but we think it's just fine. And accessories like shoes and jewelry are a fun way to tinge an outfit with your personality when the occasion is otherwise more sartorially conservative. However, I think the black and cream versions of these boots are fugly as all get out. (Getting out is quite fugly.) I just can't see them going with anything. The brown, maybe. Even so, the height of the boot is awkward and I can't help but think about how dirty they'd get after of few days in sidewalk-free Indiana. Do you like them? If so, what would you wear them with?

This Week On Fashion Me Fabulous

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Neon Fall by fashionmefabulous Project Runway: Catch our r ecap of last week's episode before the finale. Also, join us next week for the finale live blog at 9 p.m. EST Fall Shopping: Get fall blazers under $100 , classic crossbody bags , and unique sci-fi-inspired jewelry from Etsy. Must Haves: A silk blouse is essential for any office-ready wardrobe. John Freida's Dream Curls product will keep any curly mane in check. Paris Fashion Week So Far: Alexander McQueen Balenciaga, Rue due Mail, YSL Chanel, Valentino Dior, John Galliano Manish Arora, Paco Rabanne Akris, Dries Van Noten, Haider Ackermann Jean Paul Gaultier, A. F. Vandevorst, Viktor & Rolf Gareth Pugh, Balmain, Pedro Lourenço

Project Runway S9 E13: The Fantastic? Four

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Time finally came to see the designers in their natural habitats, and that time seemed very abbriviated. The Tim Gunn visits were super short (considering he had to had to travel to Trinidad for one of them) and a little disappointing, since I so look forward to seeing families welcome Tim into their rituals and traditions. (You better believe my Armenian family would try to feed him to death while asking him far to0 many personal questions.) In fact, the often standoff-ish Viktor had the most natural and endearing home visit. Soon the designers were back in New York City living in a fabulous suite with a garden. Tim went over their collections with them and announced that each designer would have to show three pieces on the runway to determine which three would make it to fashion week. I was really surprised they didn't have to make a new look. Actually, I think making a new look would have been good for some of them. What I liked most about this episode was how much feed back the

Parsi Fashion Week SS12: Chanel, Valentino

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Who: Chanel What it made us think of: Little Mermaid if she'd taken to being a socialite mer-princess instead of wanting to be human. What we liked: Aquatic feel, scales, suits, lines, pockets What we didn't: The pieces that look like they have an oil slick down the front, the really plain bathing suits Who: Valentino What it made us think of: High Fashion Anne of Green Gables meets Victoria's Secret What we liked: Puffy sleeves!, lace, florals, delicate dresses, well placed sheer What we didn't: Poorly placed sheer, block of plain dresses, overly nightgown-ish looks Image source: style.com

Etsy Shop of the Week: Dominic Elvin

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Shop: Dominic Elvin Why We Love It: Whether you want to be a full-blown cyborg for Halloween or just want to bring a little sci-fi to everyday life, Dominic Elvin has created a line of unique and eye-catching jewelry that looks like it came from the future. Price Range: $14.60 - $154.15 More Info: Visit Dominic Elvin's website to see more of his designs. Also, follow @DroidBoi on Twitter for updates. Favorite Items: Fluidity neck piece $24.34 & arm band $14.60 (pictured); Baroque arm band $16.23 ; Cartouche Nanotec Choker $56.79 ; Bionic Star neck piece $35.70 ; Cartouche Choker $56.79

Crossbody Fall Bags

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I love a cross body bag, especially in the fall and winter when I'm juggling more accessories like scarves, gloves and my travel mug filled with hot coffee. Having my hands free is, well, handy. Top: Teal Pebbled Bag, Amazon, $72.87 Hobo Flap Bag, Endless, $1 19 Medical Style Bag, Modcloth, $69.99 Bottom: Cargo Organizer Bag, Endless, $1 28 Twist-lock Suede Bag, ASOS, $69.84 Brass Hardware Bag, 6pm, $66.99 Top: Clean Classic Crossbody, ASOS, $31.43 Twist Lock Flap Bag, Endless, $95 Buckle Front Bag, Endless, $98 Bottom: Studded Leather Bag, Amazon, $101.92 Crossbody/Satchel Bag, Endless, $98 Double Buckle Bag, Kohl's, $29.40

Pick of the Week: Silk Blouse

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If you are or want to be an a professional work environment, you need a silk button-up blouse. Yes, it will need to be dry cleaned; so it's not a wear every week sort of item. However, a silk blouse is luxurious, professional and classic. They slide under jackets perfectly and won't overheat you. We're big advocates of color, but for this stick with classic white or black and work color in with your accessories. With a silk blouse in your closet, you always have the perfect thing to wear to an interview, business dinner, or presentation. The classic blouse pictured is $98 from J. Crew , but if you're willing to put in some search time you can usually find one at Goodwill or TJ Maxx.

Product Review: John Frieda Dream Curls

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I love my curly hair, but it doesn't always love me back. Sometimes it gets frizzy. Other times, when I'm stressed, tired or very overdue for a haircut, my curls seem to give up their shape. No matter what the problem, John Frieda Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Curl Perfecting Spray seems to straighten things out--er--curl things up. I've been using it for so long, I can't imagine my hair routine without it. I spray a little on my damp hair right after I wash it. I comb it through with my fingers or a wide tooth comb. Then, I had my sculpting foam , scrunch and diffuse. Dream Curls makes my spiral curls bounce, even when my hair is super long. It also keeps the frizz to a minimum and amps up my shine. It's like magic. It may sound odd, I use a little on my bangs before I blow them straight because it makes them shiny, frizz-free, static-free and a little bouncier since my hair usually falls flat when it's straight. Unlike a lot of curl and shine products, Dream curls n

Paris Fashion Week SS12: Balenciaga, Rue du Mail, YSL

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Who: Balenciaga What it made us think of: A fashion history roller coaster turned upside down and, perhaps, given hallucinogenic drugs. What we liked: V-neck pocket sweater/dress things, non-shiny jackets, interesting puffy jeans, asymmetrical white tees, hats, shoes What we didn't: Shiny bits that looked like a warrior from and 80s music video, diaper shorts, Easter basket grass skirts Who: Rue du Mail What it made us think of: Around the World in 80(-ish) Dresses What we liked: Fish & Fowl prints, knit dresses, shoulder details What we didn't: dull drapery dresses Who: Yves Saint Laurent What it made us think of: An international jewel thief under disguise as a flamboyant business woman. What we liked: Jackets, coats, sleeves, shoes, belts, wrap/scarf tops, saturated colors What we didn't: repetition, several boring pieces Image source: style.com