Knitwear detail

Spring Awakening- soft, flowy fabrics.

Native American influence, florals, rich textures.

Re:birth of extraterrestrial species.

Zixi Zhang

Textile details

Detailed menswear

Sunyoung Lee

Construction, deconstruction, textures and printwork. Wearable art.

Janice Hijin Lee

Chief creative officer Christopher Bailey and co. fired off a series of “Thank-yous” after hitting the milestone, which served as yet another technical triumph for the iconic label. In October, Burberry was ranked as the most digitally-competent brand with the highest digital IQ in an index created by NYU’s think tank, L2 Luxury Lab. And while there are other fashion brands with more Facebook friends — Victoria’s Secret has over 16 million and Converse over 21 million — they’re not trying to sell you a $1400 bag anytime soon. [Vogue UK]

FashionIndie: What are your best tips for holiday dressing?
Lisa George: Keep your outfit simple, and invest in a few key accessories you can work in throughout the season. We designed our scarves to be worn with everything from parkas to dresses – they are grab-and-go pieces. Fur framing the face can look soft and feminine or edgy depending on how it’s styled.

FI: Which cold weather staple accessories are your favorites?
Charlotte Beecham: Scarves and ponchos. It is very difficult to look stylish and warm simultaneously, so anything chunky you can layer or throw over multiple outfits is a godsend come winter. The extra layer keeps you warm when walking through the street but is great thrown over a dress or a bare shoulder indoors.

FI: What are the best materials to pair fur with?
LG: I love layering fur with outerwear. I often wear a black fur vest over a leather jacket, a beige one over a trench coat and my new favorite combo is a white silk blazer with our C&L grey fur hood scarf. The hood is unexpected, especially when worn indoors.
CB: Fur is such a versatile material and looks great with denim and chunky knits. It’s very easy to dress up or down, and pairing it with jeans or an oversized sweater gives it a youthful look.

FI: What’s on your holiday wish list?
CB & LG: An iPad and a boyfriend…

FI: What’s your favorite jet set holiday getaway?
CB: Marrakech
LG: Beirut

FI: What is your favorite fashion moment of 2011?
LG: Waking up at 4 AM and making a cup of PG tips to watch the Royal Wedding
CB: Lanvin’s campaign video to Pitbull’s I Know You Want Me

How can you WIN one of the fabulous Hooded Fur Scarves pictured above? Tell us in the comments how you would work this staple into your holiday wardrobe. The best and most creative commenter will win!

For more information on Charlotte & Lisa, visit the brand website. All FashionIndie contests are open to residents of the United States only. 

Doug and Ben Burkman, the Burkman Bros

According to Bibu Mohapatra, who was part of the first Fashion Incubator class: “The program has helped me grow my business. The industry mentors are helping me tackle the affairs of a rapidly growing business, whether on production issues, collaborations, licensing or legal matters.”

The second season begins in May when the class of 2012-2014 moves into their Fashion Incubator studios at 209 West 38th Street. Designers will receive mentoring from industry professionals in addition to real estate space at below market value and for the first time the CFDA is partnering with New York University‘s Stern School of Business.

Through Stern Consulting Corps, designers will be matched up with MBA students who will help them “develop full financial statements, cash flow projections and investor-ready business plans.”

The lucky group of Incubatees are:

Antonio Azzuolo
Arielle Shapiro of Ari Dein
Benjamin and Doug Burkman of Burkman Brothers
Christian Coda
Emanuela Duca
Ricky Hendry and Marc Daniels of Isaora
Luis M. Fernandez of Number:Lab
Reece Solomon of Reece Hudson
Maayan Zilberman and Nikki Dekker of The Lake & Stars
Timo Weiland and Alan Eckstein of Timo Weiland [WWD]

The collection will include sweaters, dress shirts, polo shirts and ties for men — because as we all know, women don’t follow the foot..skip…ball or whatever it is) and will be available August 15th for the following schools:

- Harvard
- Princeton
- NYU
- Cornell
- Stanford
- Notre Dame
- Boston College
- Georgetown
- Alabama
- U.S. Naval Academy
- Ohio State
- Auburn
- Vanderbilt
- Georgia
- Virginia

Having gone to NYU I can say confidently that the only sports the student body cares about are binge-drinking, bong-ripping and boy-kissing.

As for Yale and Columbia, apparently the preppy brand doesn’t find them quite up to snuff. What good is that fancy Ivy League education if it can’t even get you a Brooks Brothers polo, trash? [Bloomberg]

1. How did the idea strike you to start Collegefashionista?

It started as a personal blog that I was using to enhance my resume and establish my voice in the industry then turned into an actual company and full-time job.

2. What does your day as the creative director/ founder of Collegefashionista.com consist of?

A great part of my job is that there is no typical day as an entrepreneur! One day I will be working with our social media team on a new Facebook app and the next day I will be around town shooting a video series with influential leaders in the industry. It truly changes day-to-day and that’s what leaves my job extremely thrilling. One thing that is consistent on a regular basis is connecting with my Style Guru team and making sure all 200 plus members are on the right page. I have a very intimate relationship with my writers and they are always my top priority each day. And, of course, there is also loads of editing, writing features, photographing subjects for my column, connecting with our readers through Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr and meetings with brands and other partners thrown in there as well. CollegeFashionista is a 24/7 job and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

3. What is your most favorite part about being the Editor of such a well known street style site?

The impact I have on my Style Gurus is the most rewarding and my favorite part of my job as editor. I love interacting with my team and seeing the effect my Web site has on them. They’re enthusiasm and dedication to the site is invigorating.

4. Did you always want to work in fashion?

While I always knew I wanted to work in fashion, I was never quite sure what aspect of the industry I necessarily gravitated to. CollegeFashionista has been that niche I had been looking for.  It combines so many aspects of the fashion industry, which, for me, makes it the perfect, perfect job. You can’t plan what you think you will do because chances are that isn’t where you will end up!

5. What was your first job in the fashion industry?

My first internship was for a PR firm in London during my Junior year in college. I have never worked full-time for anyone other then myself since I started CollegeFashionista right after I graduated in 2009. Pretty luck girl

6. What makes a good intern?

Someone who is driven, self-motivated and can figure things out for themselves. I know as an intern how stressed out my supervisors were. They needed me as the intern to create my own projects and didn’t have time to hold my hand. A successful intern is one who can navigate the office and figure out what needs to be done without being asked.

7. What is the best advice you can give to an aspiring fashion editor?

Be nice. I can’t begin to tell you how often that is overlooked and how far that will get you.  There is very real stereotype that people in the fashion industry have a hard edge. But I firmly believe it’s those who are kind that rise to the top. We all need other to succeed. Don’t forget that!

Equally important is networking. Develop relationships with people in the fashion industry, people in other industries and everyone you meet in general. You never know who that person may know that could help you get your big break.

8. What is your favorite fashion statement piece?

A white silk blouse. I think I own 10 plus white silk blouses and never get sick of them. They are my go-to piece. My sister calls the look my uniform.

9. Who do you consider your fashion Muse to be?

Iris Apfel- she’s such a cool, elegant lady. And the Olsens. I mean, you can’t get much better than that.

10. What are some of the brands that you have worked with

Juicy Couture, Bop, Ray-Ban are a few.

11. Who are your top 3 favorite designers?

Alexander Wang, Jenni Kayne, The Row.
12. What is your perfect summer outfit?

A sheer maxi skirt, loose white T-shirt, strappy sandals, my go-to Dries Van Noten sunnies, and a Chanel bag.
13. What blogs do you read the most?

Ah there are so many!! I always read TheCoveteur, WhoWhatWear, JakandJil, The Selby and, of course, CollegeFashionista. I usually read loads more but those on a regular basis.

14. Who are your favorite “tweeps” to follow on twitter?

@DKNY and @OscarPRGirl both crack me up and I love following our Style Guru team and seeing what they are up to!

15. Where do you see Collegefashionista 5 years from now?

CollegeFashionista has gone from a personal blog to a website and now a brand. Out of all the aspects of CollegeFashionista my favorite part is empowering young women and helping them shape their careers, which a lot have through writing for the website. I want to continue to hone in on this mentorship type relationship and really develop that aspect out.  I hope CollegeFashionista can continue to be that outlet for more and more young adults with a passion for writing and fashion.

Let’s just say the Fashion inspirations are everywhere, and what better place to star on the runway than the surroundings in your very own campus, and by following Amy Levin and the Style Gurus on twitter @Cfashionista.

Yale University

Boston University

St. John’s University

New York University

Penn State

*Don’t forget to follow me on twitter: @nicolevardo

- Adorable teen/Oscar nominee/burgeoning style star Hailee Steinfeld is the new face of Miu Miu. [Just Jared]

- A rash of human hair robberies — not as in people snatching other people bald but rather thieves stealing extensions made of human hair — has resulted in thousands of dollars in losses and at least one death. [NYT]

- In response to Pippa Middleton‘s ass and its inability to quit, British plastic surgeons have seen a 60% spike in butt-lifting procedures. [StyleList]

- Aside from not being a particularly catchy title, Why Are Black Women Rated Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women, But Black Men Are Rated Better Looking Than Other Men? is a little on the controversial side. And a lot on the racist side. [Styleite]

- Remember when James Franco went to college and we all giggled to ourselves? Well, Franco’s got the last laugh now and it’s not just even because he was probably high. [Buzzfeed]

Perhaps I’m missing the point.

Creators Nien Lam and Sue Ngo have been testing out the project by stepping outside for someone else’s cigarette break. And they just stand there. Thus the smoker twists guiltily on the spot, not able to avoid the fact that his habit has a direct effect on those around him, and himself. It’s something we’ve learned and we know, but seeing it portrayed so blatantly may be making a deeper impact.

At least that’s the goal: What is air pollution doing to the body? I can get down with this initiative, but their next project is getting me a little concerned: they’re attempting to use alcohol sensors to display the effect on the liver. Oh, this can’t be good.

warning signs from Susan Ngo on Vimeo.

with Margarita Levieva (the actress she understudies)

The third and youngest Olsen (age 20), Elizabeth (Elizabeth and James was named after her and their older brother) is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut. She was recently an understudy for the Off-Broadway play Dust. Currently she is pursuing a BFA at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts at the Atlantic Theater Co.

I love Lizzie, she’s so cute, down to earth, and looks exactly like the twins, only has brown hair. She’s just as fashionable and very lucky to be able to borrow clothes from her two older siblings.

LINKAGE: ohnotheydidnt

NEW YORK - MARCH 24: Elizabeth Olsen attends the after party for the Broadway opening night of "Impressionism" at the Schoenfeld Theatre March 24, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - MARCH 24: Elizabeth Olsen attends the after party for the Broadway opening night of "Impressionism" at the Schoenfeld Theatre March 24, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - MARCH 24: Elizabeth Olsen attends the after party for the Broadway opening night of "Impressionism" at the Schoenfeld Theatre March 24, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Avoiding the dirty downtown mess, I decided to take a peak at NY Magazine’s video tour, just to see if there was anything I truly missed out on. After minimal analysis and a few more laughs, these were my findings: TopShop isn’t new, it isn’t different, it isn’t high-end for less and it most certainly isn’t British. Topshop is an overpriced, poorly constructed, run-of-the-mill mix between H&M and Urban Outfitters. Everyone got their hopes high for nothing. Trust me, if I wanted a horrendous $250 “leather” jacket, I’d throw on a garbage bag and convince everyone I bought it at TopShop. Nobody would know the difference. 

What saddens me is how naive some of these shoppers truly are. TopShop must have hired some decent psycho-analysts to assist in marketing, because people really believed they were getting unique, high quality items for less. Come Monday, I don’t think people are going to be too happy when half of the Chemistry lecture is wearing the same dress or when the zipper breaks on their Kate Moss jacket. 

People need to realize that stores like this come to America for a reason…they’ve been AMERICANIZED and many American shoppers are oblivious to what they buy. Now, I’m not saying that I’ll never own anything from TopShop. What i’m saying is there’s nothing at this store worth wasting a whole day for, getting overly excited about or dropping mad cash on. 

While all of New York looks like a clone of TopShop conformity, I’ll be rocking the $39 Diesel jumpsuit I snagged this weekend. Yeah, that’s right. 

Thanks for the photo Pipeline!