3 Ways to Wear: A Leather Jacket

Edited by Missa Stumpf, TrendSpotter/ Designer

From runway shows to various celebrities, the classic leather jacket has been popping up everywhere. There are many ways to wear this look tough—you can sweeten it up with a frilly skirt or add a funkier twist by incorporating patterns and colors.

Here are three different ways you can sport this look, using the Plastic Island’s Black Moto Jacket from www.chickdowntown.com ($180.00):

Outfit 1: Skirt- $17.80, www.forever21.com
Top- $97.00, www.boutiquetoyou.com
Socks- $12.00, www.urbanoutfitters.com
Boots- $795.00, www.kirnazabete.com

Outfit 2: Jeans- $80.00, www.topshop.com
Top- $19.90, www.forever21.com
Shades- $275.00, www.bloomingdales.com
Shoes- $79.95, www.stevemadden.com
Bag- $50.99, www.macys.com

Outfit 3: Dress- $52.99, www.modcloth.com
Tights- $14.99, www.urbanoutfitters.com
Flats- $375.00, www.bluefly.com
Ring- $123.00, www.maxandchloe.com
Clutch- $235.40, www.endless.com

Military Style for Less

Edited by Missa Stumpf, TrendSpotter/ Designer

Model Agyness Deyn recently paid tribute to the late Michael Jackson in Harper’s Bazaar by sporting a military jacket in the same infamous style that he himself once wore. Other celebrities like Blake Lively and Taylor Swift have been spotted wearing this military-look as well, making it a must-have item. There’s no better way to relive that same style yourself than to rock the look this season.

We’ve seen so many different takes on the military jacket this fall, from embellished to more classic, that you’re sure to find one that fits your unique taste.

1. Alice + Olivia, $550, www.ShopBop.com
2. Paul & Joe Sister, $429, www.My-Wardrobe.com
3. Nanette Lepore, $398, www.Bloomingdales.com
4. BB Dakota, $79, www.ChickDowntown.com

Sayonara Spring Sales

Edited by Kirby Marzec

We all love a good sale. Helmut Lang blazers marked down from $600 to $135 couldn’t make college student happier, but believe it or not, sales complicate the fashion world to nauseam. When large department stores, like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales, have sales, it causes designers and boutiques who carry the same products to consequently lower their prices. Consumers who are given 20% off a Saks expect the same 20% off price at small shops and boutiques. Sales might have helped your pocket book in the fall, but this spring, don’t expect much of a discount. Last season, small shops backlashed against department store sales, for the sake of saving their business, causing some big retailers to fear their wrath if a sale sign goes up. While some department stores are trying to get around this (Saks’ recent friends and family sale), small businesses have recognized and voiced their discontent. 

All in all, don’t get your hopes high for too many sales this spring. Now that you’ve had your economics lesson for the day, go home and count your money for this weekend’s shopping spree. Start saying goodbye now. 

Thanks NY Mag!

DKNY and Levi’s Team Up For Some Jeans

Edited by Marissa Moshell, Student

Gearing up for their 20th anniversary, DKNY has teamed up with Levi’s for a collection of jeans. The three styles are the wide-leg jean, the skinny jean, and the boyfriend jean. All coming in a variety of washes, the jeans are sold at a number of retailers including Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.

Bloomingdales Is Ready To Mingle!

Edited by Kirby Marzec

One of our favorite department stores might not be single, but it certainly is looking! Who needs to get exposure on Project Runway when Bloomingdales is scoping out new talent at their very own “open-see” for women’s ready-to-wear and accessories! From noon-4pm on February 6th, Bloomingdales’ New York flagship store will give emerging designers the opportunity to impress buyers and eventually sell at their store! Forget putting together a portfolio for reality television, Bloomingdales is lending a hand! 

For more, check out WWD! 

10 Little Black Heels

Edited by Kirby Marzec

Yesterday I posed my 10 favorite Little Black Dresses, essential for any woman around holiday time. But don’t think I left you hanging with just a dress! Here are my top favorite little black heels, the perfect compliment to your little black dress. Here are some heels to fit every price range and keep you look fabulous, no matter how long the holiday season may last: 

Bakers Cutie: $50 (Availabe at Bakers.com)

BCBGirls Koala: $100 (Avaliable at Bakers.com)

Boutique 9 Jolie Suede Oxford Shoe: $100 (Available at Bloomingdales.com)

Aldo Pawelk: $110 (Available at Aldo.com)

Diesel Abyzip Black Shoes: $209 (Available at Ssense.com)

Coach Claudine Pumps: $318 (Available at Coach.com)

L.A.M.B Hip Lace-Up Peeptoe Pumps: $400 (Available at Bloomingdales.com)

Paul & Joe Faken Peep-toe Black Suede Heels: $488 (Available at Ssense.com)

Bally Guniga Platform Shoes: $595 (Available at Net-a-Porter.com)

Oscar de la Renta Leather Mary Janes: $725 (Available at Net-a-Porter.com)

ShopIndie: Burberry Bridle Ashcombe Clutch

Edited by Kirby Marzec

I’m never one to be drawn to the typical black, white, red and beige “House” plaid of Burberry, but this adorable clutch caught my eye the minute I saw it! I was bumming around the Soho Bloomingdales when the Burberry Bridle Ashcombe Clutch jumped out at me from a corner case. I’m loving the cotton canvas base with leather detailing straps and polished hardware. Heck, I don’t even mind the equestrian Burberry logo on the front of the bag! I initially thought this would be a great Christmas gift for my stylish mother…well, I thought wrong. The 3×11 clutch will set you back $795, a price I simply cannot imagine paying for a bag that can probably only hold a a cell phone, some lip gloss, a tampon and a few dollars. If you’re willing to splurge, this may be the item to do it on! 

Check out Burberry’s website to purchase this clutch or browse for other great items here!

Missing The Marc

Edited by Kirby Marzec

Never in a million years did I think the day where I would bash Marc Jacobs would come. Well, today much be revelation day because the time has come to speak my mind about some of Jacobs’ more recent pieces. I spent last weekend browsing the racks of uptown department stores, and let me tell you, the spring/fall collections from Marc by Marc are anything but fashionable. Above are just some of the pieces I gagged at when I saw them in stores. Honestly, what Marc Jacobs fan would wear a gawdy sweater covered in hearts, a sundress with his name plastered over it, a frock with metallic clubs or a puffy shouldered houndstooth dress? Really, I’m shocked, and not in a good way. What happened to the awesome blazers and denim pieces from the fall 2006 collection or the gorgeous fur and wool pieces from 2007? 

Whatever the case may be, I won’t be wasting my time in the Marc by Marc section of Bloomies unless this garbage is out of there. 

Thanks for the photos Bloomingdales!

Told You So: Lauren Conrad’s Fashion Line Fails

Edited by Kirby Marzec

Unless Lauren Conrad took her happy pills this morning, there is no reason for this fashion designer to be smiling. If you read The Bashed article on Conrad’s awful “reject homecoming date” dress line on Kitson, you’ll know exactly why this line is hitting rock bottom. The New York Post recently reported that the line hasn’t budged from the racks of the 59th Street Bloomingdales in New York. And if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, the Kitson Boutique in LA is literally donating items from Conrad’s line to charity! Ouch. Maybe Lauren Conrad should just stick to making a fool of herself on reality TV instead of in the brutal fashion industry! 

Thanks Celebuzz!

Internet vs. Print: Bloomingdale’s Ditches The Catalog

Edited by Saynt

Here’s a fun story you can tell your kids.

There was once some strange magazine type thing that stores use to send people in the mail called a catalog which featured certain looks and must have items from the store. But then, people realized they were killing a shit load of trees and spending a crap load on reaching customers that would just head online to buy the stuff they saw.

Of course some companies like Bloomingdales weren’t smart enough to make things in the catalog available online, so they lost customers and finally gave up on the catalog altogether.

And so brought upon the death of catalogs, which was quickly followed by the death of magazines and books. So you see kiddies, print is dead, long live the Internet!!!

Oh, what a joy to be in online publishing at the dawn of the death of glossies!!!