Sunday, January 31, 2010

oh stella...




Some of our favs from the new Stella McCartney pre-fall 2010 collection
Two words
Sexy and Sophisticated!

Friday, January 29, 2010

just dreaming...

Girls do you ever just dream about the perfect closet??
We mean the type of closet where you can walk into and be inspired, where everything has its own place and your clothes are color coordinated....
Your heels are displayed like art work and all your accessories are only one arm length away for you to find...
One day we will have a room dedicated to our wardrobe...
a place where we can just breath and be creative! We can't wait!
xo C&J

Thursday, January 28, 2010

New jean in town...

jeans

Now don't get us wrong..... we absolutely LOVE our skinnies and believe they have become a classic style...
Your are always safe in skinny jeans top/sweater and fabulous shoes/boots!
But all those fashionista's out there that feel like everyday is exactly the same in their skinnies and are wanting to spice up their wardrobe a bit.... We encourage you to bring the flair back!
The 70's kinda flair with big chunky shoes and tight sweaters is what is exciting us right now.
So we are on the hunt for the perfect flair jean, let us know if any of you have found one!

xo J&C

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

color me blue...

I have been wanting to mix things up lately... play with some fun colors
I gotta say... It was pretty fun
This is what happend!
xo C

headband & tights : AA / everything else : vintage

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Scottsdale Fashion

Things to Do in Scottsdale
By Billings Farnsworth

If you're wondering what people in Scottsdale do besides lounge at exquisite resorts and eat at fine restaurants, then this is the guide for you. On your next vacation to Scottsdale,
be sure not to miss out on these attractions.



Shop at Scottsdale Fashion Square

Among the many things Scottsdale is known for, shopping is one of them. This shopping destination satisfies even the smallest urge for haute couture. When the rich and famous, locals, and visitors need an upscale mall, this is where they shop.



Spend the Day Golfing

Scottsdale is a golfer's paradise. With about fifty golf courses just in Scottsdale, you can golf your entire vacation at a difference course each. You will find all types of championship courses, including the Scottsdale TPC where the FBR Open is played each January as one of the first PGS tournament events of the year.



Stroll through the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

This museum is relatively new in the community and focuses on modern and contemporary art, architecture, and design. Five galleries showcase changing exhibitions and works from the museum's growing permanent collection. The museum presents a variety of educational programs and special events for adults and families, including lectures, docent-led tours, workshops, and classes.



Visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

This living memorial to the great American architect is located a few miles northeast of Scottsdale. Taliesin West is a sprawling 600-acre complex designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Taliesin West today houses The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, The Frank Lloyd Wright Memorial Foundation, and The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Take the tour to get the full impact of his vision and work.



Taste the Best of the Scottsdale Culinary Festival

Each April, Scottsdale hosts a four-day festival of food, music, and entertainment. Did I mention food? This very popular event is a fundraiser for arts and art education programs for students in the Valley of the Sun.

Watch the Pros at Spring Training Baseball

Every year during the entire month of March, baseball fans flock to the valley for Spring Training Baseball. The Cactus League allows the fans to see many teams up close and personal for a reasonably priced ticket. The San Francisco Giants call Scottsdale Stadium home during spring training.

Fashion Design Schools

Guide to Choosing A Fashion Design School
By John Morris

A successful future in the fashion design industry depends on right choice of school to attend. Although fashion design is not one of the more popular careers to pursue, if your talents lie in this field, there is ample opportunity awaiting you. However, the first thing to hurdle is your choice of school.

When choosing a fashion design school, consider the following factors.



Area of Focus

Look into the nature of the school. Is it solely a fashion design school or does it offer other courses. Is this school well-known for its emphasis on fashion design?

Fashion design schools are few and far between. This makes it harder to choose one that fits your bill. Your first task will be to find a reputable school that will aid you in your training.

Also, look into whether the school participates in any fashion design competition or has accomplished anything of reknown in the industry. This is a sure sign of their commitment to the fashion arts its education among students.

Different schools have different strengths, find a school that plays to your strengths and has specialization in the field of your choice.



For example, you might choose a very well-know fashion design school only to find out that they specialize in childrens’ clothing, while the field of your choice is adult formal wear. This could diffuse your interests, and dull your specialization.

Make sure you know what field the school you are scouting focuses on. This will help you specialize in that area too.

Alumni and Job Placements

Does the college offer job placement assistance? And has the alumni from this school gone on to be successful professionals? Always learn from other’s previous experience. If you see that those that had gone through this school before you received proper training and are successful in their field, that is an indication of a good school.



Most of these reputable schools have numerous connections in the graphic arts industry. They usually offer job placement services. You may want to consider this when choosing a school.

It would do no harm to start looking at the educational background of your admired fashion designer. Checking out the schools they came from will give an idea of the sort of training these artists went through. From here, you may make decisions as to whether you would like to choose the same school as they did.

Curriculum

You must assess whether the curriculum is relevant to you field of study. You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education.



It would also be wise to check the quality of the teaching staff at that school. Having established artists who teach at a fashion design school is also an indication of a good training program.

Student to Teacher Ratio

Ask yourself: how big are the classes and how many teachers and classes are available at this school before you choose it. The more the students the lesser the efficacy of the teacher. However, if there are too few students per teacher, that could tell of a different problem – that of quality. If this is the case, it may be that the school is not popular or is suffering from anemic academic performance.

Accreditation

Accreditation means the school has passed a certain standards of educational quality. Accreditation is performed by the U.S. Department of Education. Fashion design schools must be accredited to prove their level of competence.

Check with the State Postsecondary School Licensing Bureau to see if the college you are investigating is accredited. Also, check National Approval and Accreditation for this concern.



Cost

Some people may proclaim that to obtain their education, they would spare no coin. Unfortunately, it also pays to be practical in your choice of fashion design school. If the school you choose has a tuition rate that is beyond your financial capability, you might find yourself working unable to pursue your studies consistently due to the financial stress which may lead you to look for part-time work.

Scholarships

You might want to consider whether the design school you are looking at offers any scholarships. You also might want to know the terms to them too. Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on fashion design competitions they hold regularly.

Your choice of school is an investment that will last you a lifetime. Proper care and investigation in choosing such is truly important. When you are comfortable with your choice of fashion design schools, you can now chart your path towards a successful career.

Fashion Merchandising Internships

An Exciting Career With Fashion Merchandising Programs
By Amy Wells

If you love fashion and design, and are considering a career or further education in the field, you may want to take a closer look at fashion merchandising. Fashion merchandising combines various aspects of design, marketing, sales, and even accounting skills. If you like moving at a fast pace with a variety of duties, there are many opportunities in the field of fashion merchandising that a college or education program can prepare you for.



A fashion merchandising education involves marketing fashion lines to retail stores, or even working with the stores themselves to market products directly to consumers. Fashion merchandising is a broad field, and can encompass positions such as fashion buying, where you will select merchandise for a retail store, and event coordination, such as fashion shows. Another growing field is visual merchandising, which involves designing the way the actual clothes and products are displayed, such as window displays and floor layouts.



While the fashion industry as a whole is very competitive, there is a lot of growth and opportunity in the merchandising field, because of the wide variety of assignments available. Although clothes may be manufactured all over the world, many of the sales related aspects take place right at home. This is also the type of career that may involved a variety of different job descriptions over the years, so if you crave change and excitement, it could be a good fit.



The best way to get started in fashion merchandising involves related education. A quality fashion merchandising program will be comprehensive and involve a large variety of courses. In addition to design, you will learn other key concepts, such as marketing and advertising. You will also learn how the fashion business works, and how clothing is manufactured and delivered to retail outlets.



There are a number of choices available when choosing a fashion merchandising education. Many colleges offer fashion merchandising as an associate degree, and some that even offer it as a bachelor's program. There are also many schools that embed fashion merchandising within a more traditional marketing degree, which will give you a broader course of study in basic business.



Other options include attending a strictly fashion design school, which will offer merchandising as one of their programs. In addition, you can also study online, as many of these schools will also offer an online or distance education program, as well.

Choosing which type of school to attend will depend partially on your educational goals. Are you looking to make a quick transition into the field, and want a career-oriented education, or do to have a strong basic business and marketing foundation? Most schools will offer internships in fashion, so you can have an opportunity to get your feet wet in the industry. Whatever type of school you choose, you can be assured that you will be learning a great deal about fashion and the fashion industry, and will be preparing for a fast-paced, quickly evolving career in fashion merchandising.

I heart AA





I had a great time shooting for American Apparel... they rule!
I'm lovin' their corduroy high waisted shorts especially in coral for summer
The dress on the top makes for the perfect beach dress.. super thin a flowy.
summer is just around the corner!
xo

Fashion Buyer

Buyer Beware - Knockoff Handbags Hurt More Than the Designer
By Anne Clarke
Many consumers justify the purchase of their knock off handbags by the high price of the originals. Unfortunately what they don't realize is that not only do they get what they pay for, but purchasing counterfeit products only drives the authentic pieces' prices higher and contributes to immoral labor practices and a sagging economy.



Eighteen percent of counterfeit products seized by US customs in 2002 were fashion related items. This is a problem because this robs the country of an estimated $200 billion a year in taxes. The American public has to make up for taxes that could be gained from our imports. This hinders our economy, while the countries these products came from continue to grow and thrive (China for example).

Additionally the funds made from selling these knockoffs often go to organized crime rings. There is evidence that the World Trade Center bombing was funded by the sale of counterfeit apparel. These organizations also commonly employ child labor forces and often use their products to transport drugs and other dangerous materials.



The lack of quality in the replicas can also be a safety issue. Replica sunglasses break more easily and don't offer the UV protection they claim. Sometimes however it's not easy to spot the difference between the imitations and the genuine articles.

There are some telltale signs however that can help a consumer identify counterfeit handbags. Counterfeits can be called copies, knockoffs, replicas, or imitations. Retailers are not always so quick to list their merchandise under these terms. The first major indicator of a fake is the price. A genuine Prada bag will not be found for fifty or one hundred dollars.



The location the bag is purchased is another dead giveaway. Top name designers don't sell their bags on the street, out of cars, at home parties, or in online auctions. Some designers such as Louis Vuitton don't sale wholesale at all- the bags must be purchased directly from the company itself.

If a website has fifty bags in one style, sixty in another and so on then they probably aren't the real thing. It's more likely to be genuine if the retailer has only a few bags in each style. Online sellers should not be listed as private dealers nor should the product be listed in a one day only auction. Knockoff retailers will overuse adjectives describing how genuine the bags are- "authentic, genuine real Fendi."



When looking for handbags online it's hard to determine if a product is real because the bag cannot be handled and inspected. If looking for discounts a consumer will encounter a number of knockoffs. There are some online stores that sell genuine products at deep discounts, this is usually because the bag is out of season or was an overstock from a department store.

Look carefully at the bag's description. "Inspired by" is another dead giveaway. The bag should come with a certificate of authenticity, genuine packaging, and also a dust bag all with the designer's name on them. The store should also stand behind the product, so that once the consumer receives the bag they can have its authenticity verified and it can be returned if it's discovered to be a knockoff.

Handling the bag will be the best way to determine whether the article is genuine or not. The point of origin tag is a good indicator. If it says "made in Taiwan" then it's not real. Examine the materials, real leather is supple and not at all like plastic. Check to see if the bag is misshapen. Examine the stitching, look for poor craftsmanship such as missing stitches and frayed ends. One of the reasons designer handbags are so expensive is because of the intense detail that goes into creating them.



The designer will have a high quality tag sewn in the purse. They will not be cheap fabric tags that are barely stitched on. Many designers will use leather tags in the purses or will have the name plaque riveted in. Examining the article closely is the best way to spot a fake.

Counterfeit products should be reported. Reporting counterfeits will help keep designer prices from sky rocketing even higher and stops the illegal trade that could be occurring also. Fakes can be reported at 1-800-report-a-fake. Not all discount handbag retailers are up to no good some really are offering genuine bags at great prices, but the buyer should always be skeptical.

Clothes Shopping

The Best Clothes Shopping Tips
By Marcelo Martin




In reality these days, people are getting better and better when it comes to clothes shopping. Why pay the full amount, when you can use a few little strategies and get the same clothes for 10, 20, and 50 percent or more off the retail price? So what should we do? I am going to give you my secrets to help you become a better shopper and save your money.



Clothes shopping tip one: Go clothes shopping toward the end of the season. I would buy my spring and summer attire, in July or August rather than in March, when the prices are highest. You are going to get most of the wear out of these new clothes the following season, it is ok when you look at the payoff.



Many of us are programmed to walk in to a store, look at a nice pair of pants on the rack priced at $80, and say, "That is the price I have to pay for those pants." When the truth is, clothing stores are desperate, they have to move all that merchandise, and they will give you discounts, if you know how to take advantage of clothing store policies.



Clothes shopping tip two: Take a full price outfit to the checkout counter and ask if they can hold it for you until it goes on sale, in most cases they do not sell out of your size. Or buy the outfit and wait a few weeks until the clothes goes on sale, then you go to the register and ask for credit. Make sure to keep your receipt. You also have to make sure that the sale is within the stores return/exchange grace period. Make friends with a sales person at your favorite clothing store. This sales person would keep you updated on the current sales. Because it is harder to make a sale these days, most likely she or he would make the effort.



Clothes shopping tip three: Buy your clothes online and you will get a much better discount, the clothing market is overflowing with merchandise that need to be unloaded. This is very good news for you because you can buy almost any designer clothing at a big discount. When you go to a store and purchase something you pay premium pricing because you are also paying for all the stores overhead costs such as rent, employees etc. So go to your favorite store, find the designer clothing you like, take notes on designer name, description and size of the clothing. Then go home and search online for the designer. If the outfit is in the stores for one or two months, you will be able to buy it online for up to 70 percent off. Do not wait to find the best discounts on clothes shopping here.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Stylin' Street Garb


Who: Stylin Gal
Where: Somewhere fabulous
What: Floral dress, black tights & amazing jacket

We feel she is very Penny Lane..... Maybe an updated more edgier one.
With stick straight flowy but a bit un done long hair she looks pituresque!
The black tights help make the floral dress not so girly which we are a fan of!
We encourage you to try this look sometime this week!

xo J & C

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Don't forget your....



dress : aa / blazer & belt : vintage / hat : dollar store / shoes : fendi
The sun is shinning but there is still a major chill in the air... so don't forget your...

This is my favorite place in Palm Springs... my backyard and it's finally newly fruit bearing lemon tree! Yes.. I'm gonna make me some fresh lemonade :)
xo C


Fashion Programs

Fashion Design Programs
By Jennifer Bailey




The fashion industry is a fierce business. The cliche "One day you're in, and the next day you're out" really holds true to this trade. Numerous fashion designers have already come and gone but if you will notice, those who are still out there have reliable, solid collections. For example, designers such as Tom Ford have gone from one fashion house to another, making Gucci an in-demand brand in the 90s. Betsy Johnson has created hip, funky, and crazy designs that are still making waves in the fashion industry, regardless of the fact that they are not really wearable.



Fashion design schools play a major role in shaping and honing the next Betsy Johnson and Tom Ford of the fashion industry. Programs set by the school board every school year usually determine if the students can cope with the real world. Internships to famous fashion houses are also included in these programs so student can apply what they have learned in fashion to school to the real fashion scenario.



The International Academy of Fashion program was described by critics as a comprehensive, technical and very demanding. The fashion curriculum provides a solid learning program with a specific goal of developing in their students creative individual thinking and a sense of uniqueness as well as preparing them for a professional career. An associate in science degree in fashion design and marketing or a bachelor of fine arts degree in fashion design and marketing are usually the choices offered to students.



The American Intercontinental University, on the other hand, has an Association of Arts degree in fashion design that fashion experts say is designed to inspire the individuals to construct innovative and edgy designs. Computer skills in designing are also taught so students can combine traditional techniques with computer-assisted designs. An association of arts degree in fashion marketing is another program offered to talented and fashionable students. The programs in this curriculum offer teach the inner operations of retail and wholesale fashion, market analysis, and evaluation of the production needs of the fashion industry.

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