I’ll admit, I was curious and considered a whopping $30 worth of bids a post-worthy investment.  Call it investigative journalism – and I’m totally Fletch.  I was incredulous that anybody would win Tiffany jewelry, Louis Vuitton bags or anything else for pennies.   After reading through the site though, the immediate business plan became clear.  As Michelle Madhok from the Huffington Post so aptly put it:

OohILove gets products from the boutiques. (And they can afford to.) The site never claimed to source the products at the bargain prices they sell for; on OohILove, shoppers have to pay for bids, which means the site gets paid even if you don’t win. A rep from OohILove confirms the company buys all of their items from designer boutiques, department stores, or stores that are authorized resellers.

If 200 women each buy one 50 bid package for $50, the company makes $10,000 (that’s nine Louis Vuitton Alma bags).

What about the consumers who felt scammed?  They say they felt tricked – and they were - in the way that you’re not automatically going to win if you toss a ten-spot on the Craps table.  OohILove is not a scam, and their Better Business Bureau score reflects that.  The fraud claims filed against OohILove seem to all conclude in the same way – in signing up for the site and buying bids you are agreeing to the site’s clearly stated terms.  The auctions are a gamble, but they’re fair as far as the site terms go.  It seems that the story of many disgruntled customers is the same:

I am glad to hear that I am not alone in being “scammed.” I saw this on the news, and it was a great way to buy designer items at very low prices. After 2 times buying $99 bid packs, (eeeeeeeeek) I feel scammed by the site. Having a few people look over my shoulder, they determined that the auction end is arbitrary. So it looks like there is a price selected and when it hits, you win. I feel scammed and will be contacting the attorney general of CA about it, although they have bigger issues to worry about…..and I just should have known better!

The end auction is not necessarily arbitrary – whomever has the highest bid and is using the bid assistant will ultimately win.  I tried it, fully understanding how the site terms worked.  You buy bids – you will NEVER get that money back.  You bid on an item – and it helps to use the bid assistant, to use odd numbers like 15.03 and to be patient.  I realized that if I didn’t win an item all the bids I used, that $30 I just spent, would go towards another bidder’s purchase and I’d never see it again.   Yet, I won.  I actually won a beginner’s auction using those tactics, and paid approximately $2.00 for a Tiffany pendant… if you don’t factor in the $12 in shipping that they charge for every order and the bids wasted not winning this item.  It’s worth noting that the beginners auctions seem easier to win – you’re not up against a gaggle of other gamblers who are practiced at winning auctions and ruthless in how much they’re willing to spend for a piece.   For example:

I just watched an auction on this website for the Louis Vuitton Galliera bag. The winner spent $1,362.08. This bag costs $ 1,280 for the 16.5″ x 11.4″ x 6.7″,  purchased directly from Louis Vuitton. If you are taking part in these auctions with the purpose of buying the item, regardless of whether you win or not you might want to cheek out the real retail value of the item.

This piece retails for $115.  I paid:  $30 in bids + $2 for the auction (-$4 in bids spent on the auction) + $12 in shipping.   The pendant cost me approximately $40, if I don’t win anything else with the bids I had left over.  If the bids I still had in my bank had won something else, the price for the pendant would decrease, of course.  But is it worth it?

My only beef with the entire transaction – and trust me, I understand the gamble and risk behind it – was the customer service.

When you want to contact OohILove for something – for example, to find out their shipping methods – you have to email them.  There’s no contact number to be found on their site.  After a lot of digging on the net, I found a suitable phone number for them, that was promptly answered by voicemail.  I don’t trust companies that I can’t call to talk to a customer service rep.  You lose accountability in a company when you’re emailing a general email address, because your issue could be handled by 1 or 10 people.  There’s not any one responsible agent who is willing to help you right there (and it could be that I have great luck with call-center service reps).

My customer service complaint was actually address based.  Like a smart cookie, I opted to use Paypal for the transaction – and OohILove only ships to confirmed Paypal addresses.  However, they emailed to say I had an unconfirmed email address and they’d be unable to ship the item unless I could verify who I am (as part of their terms).  They asked for a piece of mail or other document with any sensitive info blacked out (their email suggested a bank statement!?  Are you kidding?) or a scan of my driver’s license (also, are you kidding?).  That seemed like a prime way to have my identity stolen.  I opted to call Paypal, who contacted OohILove to confirm that I am who I say I am.  The Paypal rep noted that it’s probably for their protection since they have limited seller protection on Paypal – but she also noted that OohILove’s site generated the “unconfirmed” address that they had on file.

After spending a few hours back and forth between Paypal and OohILove, OohILove gave up and emailed to let me know they were shipping my item UPS ground (oh. yay.).   The item came with the authenticity card, in a small blue box, wrapped in ribbon and Tiffany watermarked paper.   Though I was delighted at owning my first Tiffany piece, I felt that the entire transaction left something to be desired.

I went back to the site later to see if I could score a second time with the rest of the bids I had.  I did the deed about the same time I’d bid on my Tiffany pendant.  I used the same technique to bid on a pair of Chanel sunglasses and promptly burned through the remaining bids.  I felt a little cheated like you do when you lose a hand at blackjack and remembered why gambling is okay when done in moderation.  I’m still technically “up” $75 on this Tiffany pendant, right?

For further reading on online gambles and your shopping habits, check out this post by Yuli Ziv on Private Sales, Gambling and the Dangers of Innovation…

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Aside from finals, I had a pretty debilitating sickness for a while. I caught an adenovirus that STILL hasn’t left (after 2 weeks, my throat is still on fire, and I feel like I swallowed a marble).  My upper body is infected, apparently, so when I get home from work, all I’ve wanted to do for the past couple weeks is sleep… sleep… sleep!

My schedule has become extra grueling, as well. I’ve transitioned shifts – getting up at the crack of dawn to be at work by six. The reason? I’ve become a Joan.

Image via Deeplyproblematic

That’s me – redheaded office dominatrice (minus all that tyrant nonsense – I’m a benevolent goddess!) with style and talent to spare.  The challenge?  The environment is … I would say … less than endearing.   On more than one occasion I’ve asked myself what Joan would do – regarding male posturing, the new girl’s hysterics, how to work like you mean business, and even how to primp in the morning so that you don’t look like you’ve just rolled out of the sack.

I have a feeling that I’ll be in and out for a bit as I adjust, but never fear!  I’m taking notes just for you darlings.  In the meantime I have some outfits to share and a few other tidbits.  Sit tight, cookies!

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Or have you ever been afraid to tell people exactly what you’re worth – much for the same reasons?

Carta - Letter, by Makia 777 on Flickr

Too many women undervalue their skills, their charms, and their business worth – and it’s been highly cited that women don’t ask for what they deserve.  Studies cite gender programming (giving boys nerf guns, and giving girls dolls as toys) and the gender gap as a major source of womens gender-role problems, undervalued status, and the implied struggle for equality.  Women have historically been told that being sweet, pretty, smart, charming, alluring = success, and so many girls want to be so much more.

“Considering that women make up half the world’s population, “over time,” the authors write, “a nation’s competitiveness depends significantly on whether and how it educates and utilizes its female talent.” That’s just part of the reason why even incremental strides toward eradicating gender inequity should be hailed. But while more than two-thirds of the 115 countries covered in the report since its inception in 2006 have posted gains—particularly in educational attainment and quality of health—females worldwide still lag far behind in economic participation and political empowerment. The report underscores yet again that while women have won critical battles in the struggle for equality, the war is far from over.”

(Source: Time.  Read more here!)

It’s not hard to find blogs, directed at women, discussing how important it is to love and support yourself – first and foremost.  The “Self-empowered woman” has been such a buzzword for so long that it makes me wonder why we’re still struggling with it.  In many of the blogs I read, young women face self-doubt and often, a quiet insecurity on where they’re headed in life, and how to get there.  We (as young women) are worried about how to define our success and measure it.  We struggle to define – for ourselves – our worth.

Take a moment to sit and write down your positive traits – categorize them.  For example, write down your strengths in business, your academic merits, or why you’re an amazing person.  If you find it difficult to write this list, stop and imagine you’re someone you know who loves you.  Or alternately, as Barbara Sher suggests, pick a family of influential people and write the list as they would see you (Ch 3 – Creating your own Cheering Section).  Write down those reasons you took that leap – why you sent out your resume, or why you’re an excellent candidate for anything.

Stratejoy has some fantastic prompts on the more personal (less business) side – and being able to practice this for your personal traits will improve your skill in defining your business traits:

Questions To Ask to Connect with Yourself:

• What do you have to offer?
• What makes you extraordinary?
• What repels you?  What attracts you?
• What makes you feel alive?

The next time you’re immediately doubtful of your skill, your experience, or your worth, pull out this list and ask yourself what you can add to it.

Sometimes we’re bogged down by the voices of those around us – even their actions and how they live their lives seem to outdo even our strongest efforts.  With this little mental list of what makes you great, of what makes you tick and what thrills you, you can look right through the feedback that doesn’t fit you.  If you’re unsure where to start, it might be helpful to write out your life job description.  Write out the great things you do – this often helps you realize just what you’re worth, and often you’ll see that you do things of extraordinary value that you didn’t even know about.  Surpass and rise above the doubts and fears – this year … this decade, it’s all about transcending that.

To those people who make monikers for years, I say we call this one Two-Thousand and Transcend. �  Cheesy?  Probably.  Fun?  Of course.  Now take it and run with it!

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There are so many sites out there with great advice for resumé writing – most notably, not using personal pronouns, spell checking and proofreading.  Fewer sites talk about typeface, and how the aesthetic layout of your resume creates a visual impact.

Lifeclever has a few tips for rethinking the graphic design of your resume:

By using a few simple typographic tips, they’ve created a visually striking and easy-to-skim document.

Many sites stress the idea of not having too much or too little information.  I’ve found that mine often has too much information and so I’ve sorted mine out into 2 different documents.  If I want a writing gig, I have a technical/writing resumé.  If I want a sales/media gig, I have a resumé tailored to that.  Prioritize the most important points for your document’s specified objective.  Know the buzzwords related to that objective and use them wisely (don’t over-do it).

Keep updating it – constantly.  Say you’ve taken a class related to your objective; add that into the education section.  Or maybe you’ve taken on a new project that shows your leadership skills;  that’s more important than telling your future employer you were a barista in college.  Highlight those achievements and discard all “duties”.  Your future employer wants to know what you can achieve, not what you had to do.  New relevant achievements need to be listed – your personal growth often spells growth for your career and your future company.

Stay positive.  So maybe you have the schooling but not quite enough experience, or maybe you have all the experience, but no formal document to show for it.  It’s still worth submitting a resumé – the worst that can happen is no response and the best is that you get a call for an interview.  If you feel you lack the skills, take classes and put yourself where you need to be to get the job of your dreams.  Keep that document updated with all your new (relevant) learning experiences and achievements.

The new year and new decade is the prefect time to aim for where you want to be (or what you want to be when you grow up).   You should have a bad-ass document to show for it!

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I like to look at opportunities like this as a learning experience; this weekend I learned a little bit about professionalism and what it takes to make a successful photo shoot.   It’s difficult work, trying to coordinate props and equipment, designers, models, hair and makeup – especially when you don’t have a set studio of your own, or models you know and regularly work with.

Of our three girls, we had two no-call/no-shows (*insert angry fist shake here*).  One model promised me on Thursday that she would be there, but then dropped off the face of the earth.   The second model called an hour after our call time to let me know she’d love to come, even though she wasn’t feeling 100%.  An hour later she said she was on her way, and an hour after that when I called to make sure she was okay (did she get lost? was she in an accident?), she’d turned her phone off.  We had a long delay while hair and makeup waited for these two girls that never turned up.  We didn’t have the time and capacity to shoot the full line.

This really emphasizes the importance of professionalism as a model; it’s like any other work, and it takes a lot of coordination to make editorial magic.    Portfolio looks aren’t an excuse to act unprofessionally – the poor work ethic a model exhibits has a resounding effect on their success.  There are designers and photographers, assistants, hair and makeup artists, editors and graphic artists whose jobs all depend on whether or not that girl is on set and prepared.  Those people know other people in the industry and the impact of that word of mouth is huge.  Like any other job, if you consider yourself a professional, you act like one.  Unfortunately, on large sites like Model Mayhem, it’s hard to tell who is professional and who is not – for both models and photographers.

(Kimberlee, prepping our model Pepper)

I needed a quick way to distinguish the professionals from the amateurs (who are usually the type to no-show) – however, you can’t really do that based on their photos alone.  A portfolio can only tell you so much, and it generally doesn’t reflect their work ethic.  In that light, it’s a good idea to ask models to come in for a fitting and test-shoot before the actual photo shoot, to get a feel for whether or not you need to have a backup on-call.  Most amateur models can be weeded out at this step.  There are a number of cues to study in test shoots – including range of emotion and pose, ability to take cues, what their “resting face” looks like, and how prepared they are.

The models we did have were fantastic!  Our original model, Pepper, arrived early with stockings, her own makeup kit and an array of shoes.  She looked amazing in pincurls, finger waves, and vintage-style dresses.  She was cute and coy one minute, glamourous and vampy the next.

(Kimberlee making a few more adjustments)

Our second model actually came down to hang out and assist as needed.  And you’ll never guess who it was…..  The lovely Laura from Birdie Royale!

I actually met Laura at Nadine’s Jersey Shore party a couple weeks ago.  She came out to my Birthday Bash and we’ve been trying to connect since then.  She mentioned she’d love to hang out behind-the-scenes and when our models didn’t show, we realized Laura would look PERFECT in Deco Modiste.  Note to self: Always bring a back-up plan!

Since we plan on doing many more of these little shoots, I need to make a list of things to bring (tripod, extra flash batteries, reflector) and a prep-sheet for the shoot.  Do we have a hair stylist?  Do we have extra bobby pins?  Is my makeup brush set clean?  Do we need some Sally Hansen spray on color for tattoos or bruises?  Do I have all the models phone numbers, measurements and shoe sizes?  Do we have a planned series of outfits?  At what point does the hair and makeup need to be retouched? Do I have a lighting plan?  Is our seamless clean?  There are a lot of variables to consider!

Doing this shoot gave me a lot to think about in how to prepare for the next shoot.  For example,  it would help to start picking models sooner than later.  Having an inspiration prompt for models really helped them prepare; to evoke a certain feeling in their poses and range of emotion.  I think the key is to build a rapport with models before the shoot – and though you may end up using the same girl twice, you have someone who’s versatile and knows what you’re looking for in your own shoot.

On that note, I know we’ve got hair and makeup nailed for the next shoot and I can’t wait to start putting that event together.  In the meantime, I’m going to be a busy bird, editing all these photos!

Edit: The gallery for finished photos is here.  Enjoy!

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Everything is as it should be. Who you once were, who you are now – these things are fitting and right. You are precisely where you should be as a product of your choices and your actions, and you will go amazing places because your soul demands it.

It is in this realization that you will find yourself where your very being wants to be.  You and the universe are one, and have always been.  In this you will find all the strength you need, the weakness you have, and the will to succeed.  The universe moves, pushes and pulls, according to the way you bend your will. Such unending flexibility is a gift given to us all, and in that, we have the power to transform the course of the future of our world.

Easier said than done.  How do you rearrange a mode of thinking, a method of seeing? Maybe it’s not necessary to rearrange our perceptions, but rather to become aware of having those perceptions. Maybe we only need to realize we are on a path and to know that the force of our unconscious directs our actions and, like the rippled result of stones in a pond, the entire fabric of the universe shivers in exultant response. The world aligns to produce the right circumstances because they are part of your path. It sounds like fiction that the universe should know where you’re going and puts the right pieces in the right places, but it’s more a function of the universe’s grand synchronicity that, according to your will – whether you know it or not – everything is in its right place.

The universe is a chaotic beast.  It moves in fractals around those who move it.  It seems, sometimes like it works against us.  Yet at other times, it seems like the universe makes things almost too perfect.  It has the power, and sometimes the motives to hand us the greatest sadness, but only so that you have the ability to appreciate your existence.  The universe has the power to show you the most exultant situations, so that you may know that true happiness that the universe wants you to remember.  Without dark, there would be no light, and vice versa, so it is only natural that the universe should throw a curve-ball or two.  The universe throws only those curve-balls it knows you can catch and return.  Through immense hardship and strife, through bright laughter and great blanketing joy, you are, at this moment, the very pinnacle of what you must be in life.  You are exactly where you need to be.

Synchronicity in our lives happens much the way music insinuates itself into your life;. it’s hard to discern whether the tune plays to your step or whether your step matches the beat. It comes out of virtually nowhere and often goes unnoticed. That cosmic alignment makes you smile. The person passing you on the sidewalk sees your smile and spreads it to the next person – and so synchronicity happens. It’s like the universe is playing a little game, spinning these gifts out of the very fabric of reality just to make your life happen as it should.

Don’t spend so much time worrying about whether you’re where you’re supposed to be; just know where you want to go, and the universe will set you down in approximately the right place. Your experiences along the way will all you need to know to succeed. You’ve always been on the right path and by the force of your will, you’ve never been pointed in the wrong direction, even if life seemed a little confusing at times.

As long as you can envision the ends, life will fill in the details, and, like a ripple in a pond, it’ll send you crashing up on the perfect bank.  The stars that have always guided you, even without your knowing, will continue guiding you forth.  The universe’s grand scheme may go unnoticed by many, but not you – you are a product of everything the universe stands for.  You came out of synchronicity to live, synchronously, just like every other star in the universe.  The universe is in the business of watching over you, so that you can grow to become your biggest and brightest.

Dream big, little star.

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Many of you, dear readers, have already finished your scholarly course.  Still, many of you have just started the journey.

Image via withlovegabrielle on Photobucket

Going back to school is an activity that ANYONE can benefit from.  It never hurts to conquer a subject, and to master more knowledge.  The best authors or bloggers could benefit from a higher English course, to brush up and hone skills they use every day.  The best artist could take a course in a medium they don’t use, to glean inspiration from a different perspective on art.  The best accountant may want to learn more about other uses for numbers and the best public speaker may want to take a course in drama to exercise their skills in a different arena.

The back to school season is an amazing way to meet new people, explore new ideas and discover hidden parts of who you really are.  Even if you’re not enrolled in an institution, you have the chance to experience these possibilities by signing up for art classes, taking a yoga class at your local YMCA, checking out a classroom activity advertised on Craigslist, or even joining a book club.  The possibilities are endless and you’ll grow from the experience, no matter the outcome.

Use this period of time to discover yourself, to grow, evolve, adapt, and achieve.  Follow your dreams, here – you want to learn French and move to Europe to become a French Heiress??  Now is the best time to start.  You want to finish that math class that you could never get past in school?  Now’s a perfect time to hire a tutor or take a class.  You are NEVER too old, or too young… Now is always a good time to start the adventure.
You may say, “Well I don’t have the MONEY to go to school.”  What’s keeping you from picking up a book – especially secondhand – on a subject you deeply want to learn about?  The learning experience comes to us in a multitude of ways.  Do the reading, obtain the knowledge and start becoming.

Fall is a great time to learn, grow and become.  It’s that time to pick up your books and enrich your mind and your personality.  It’s a perfect time to define you, who you want to be, what you want to accomplish, and then to start the journey.

G’wan!  You can do it!

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3. Doing versus saying.

As you read this statement you’re probably thinking about your day job and what you do, and the implications of why you’re not doing what you love. I ask you: What do you do out of love, and what do you do out of necessity? It’s important to realize that examining and setting your “necessary” actions – working to pay off debt, working to gain experience – are all part of the process of getting where you need to be to do what you’d love to do.

Slowly, you are gravitating towards doing what you love.

What is your passion? Now why aren’t you doing THAT for a living? Once you’ve examined what you love doing, and realized what you’re doing now to get to that point, it becomes much easier to process those necessary actions – that desk job, or the long hours – as means to an end. It’s also important to realize that sometimes, giving up a certain comfort (like cable TV) is a necessary action towards your goal (if, for instance, the job you’re going to take doesn’t make as much at first). It becomes asinine to complain about things and becomes important to realize those things are building your resources to get where you need to be.

Say you aren’t exactly sure what you’d love to do – what do you spend your time doing? What activities fill you with glee? Maybe you love making tiny hats to sell. Maybe you’re really into hanging out with kids or maybe you have a drive to help other people succeed. Maybe you really love the accomplishment and problem solving behind building a website, or reassembling an old typewriter. Maybe you love vintage things, or maybe you love dogs. What’s stopping you from working towards that goal? What is REALLY holding you back form getting there? As long as you believe in your power to get where you want to be, taking that leap of faith in yourself becomes easy. You may struggle a little, getting to your destiny, but the benefits when you’re there far outweigh the struggles you’ll face.

You are slowly gravitating towards the things that you are passionate about. Have you noticed it yet?

You may not consciously know what you love doing or where you want to be, but there are activities that you take on that speak volumes about your goal. Often, we work towards that goal, not exactly knowing what it is – and that’s completely okay. It may take a while to discover that you always sign up for networking events, or that you offer your photography experience in a multitude of situations with little thought towards what you might get paid. But once you examine what you’re doing that you love to do it becomes easier to recognize the hum-drum, every-day activities as steps towards your destination.

What are you putting off, that you love, but don’t have time for? Make time, because that thing that’s calling you is THE love of your life and the thing you will be most happy doing.

I realize a lot of us work to support ourselves – that is a means to an end. You probably have bills to pay, but once you conquer them, there is a golden opportunity for you to take a step towards your dreams.

Once you know where you’re going, you need to put faith in yourself to get there, because slowly, you are gravitating towards doing what you love. The process is inevitable. You just have to stop resisting. Like the pull of gravity, you are going where you need to, and resistance only creates problems along the way.

Consider this – you’ve worked at your job for 3 years now, but you wonder if it’s a dead end because you haven’t been promoted since you started. Still, you keep working there because you like the people and you need to pay off your debt and it’s less of a burden than trying to find a new job. Instead of complaining, accept the fact that you’re happy working there right now. If you weren’t happy being there, you would find something else, or you’d have a plan of escape. Maybe working with those people who are like your dysfunctional office family is what you really love at this point. When you stop resisting, you will find ways to work harder and more efficiently, and that hard work will show – and get you where you need to be. You are working there out of necessity, because you want to work there out of passion.

Slowly, you are gravitating towards the living that will bring you joy. Recognize the actions that are a means to an end, believe in your power to get what you want, and let yourself be pulled towards your destination.

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He told me that his philosophy in this regard is simple:  It’s not about taking on the world, doing everything and solving every problem known to man, because your legacy will largely go unnoticed while you’re still hard at work – and how fun is that?  He said “I don’t care about prestige or glory – its not about eating the whole pie, it’s about carving out a slice and leaving room for ice cream.  It’s life à la mode!”

(I hope life à la mode involves this brownie! Yum!)

When you think about it, what he’s saying makes sense.  In our present we’re making lists of things to do today, things to do next week, and things to do before we die – but that could happen tomorrow, so we’re supposed to live each day to it’s fullest.

Yet, we’re so embroiled in achieving this and that before we expire that we hardly recognize the beauty in what exists now.  We’re trying to get to this magic thing or situation that will forever make our lives worth living, while forgetting that it’s the journey that really counts towards our character.  We live life to it’s fullest, filling our time with so-called “fulfilling” activities, without a moment to just be, to enjoy our slice of the pie.  Not to say achieving is bad, but it’s like we’re constantly overfilling our schedules to try and get somewhere before the inevitable happens, and we’re missing out on days, weeks or months worth of memories.  We seem to forget about our personal slice, and we forget how amazing life is with a little dollop of ice cream, or time to ourselves to live our dreams and to enjoy life.

For example, our vacation times are packed with seeing people, doing things, and going places with little regard to what a vacation is really supposed to be – time off to relax.  When we try to relax, we do so with our laptops or our cell phones, missing the entire point of why we left in the first place (to get away from it all).  We spend our weekends working for this person or that cause or doing homework – to get ahead – only to look back on the weekend come Monday morning, and think, “Where does the time go?”  Think about it – when was the last time you laid around all day in your cozy bed… to catch up on a good book or the much needed sleep you’ve been missing out on?  What do you spend your weekends or vacations doing?

Personally, I’ve not spent a day lazing around in bed since… the day after my last birthday and that’s only because the day after my birthday is a holiday and the world is hungover anyhow.  And though I’ve been on a few trips this year, they’re mostly tools for me to see friends and distant relatives, or for me to do some thing while I’m away.  I start to envy the “stay-cation” folks, who spend vacation time lounging around the house.

SO to you, (and actually to myself, while I’m writing this) I ask – what constitutes your little dollop of ice cream?  Are you out and achieving all the time?  Are you following your dreams and living life to the fullest? And at what cost – is it a lack of free time?  How can you live life to the fullest, if you don’t have a moment to enjoy any of it?  I think it’s important to remember that it’s less about what you achieve than what you learn while you’re on your way.  And it’s important to bask in that experience of learning, growth and journey, or you’ll look back on a life that passed you by while you weren’t watching.

I’m not, by any means, telling you to become a slacker.  I’m just saying that sometimes, it’s not about getting the whole pie – it’s about having your slice, to yourself, à la mode.

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3. Perseverance

Edited by Jordana

I’m in the process of moving to New York City, just in time for Fashion Week, which kicks off in two weeks. In browsing through all the link submissions this week, I couldn’t help but tie it all back to one very important question lingering on my mind – what the heck am I going to wear? This week’s round-up speaks to the art of ”getting dressed.” We have inspiration posts from Cake not Coke and Style on the Street, style how-to’s from Denim Debutante (she was also quoted in the WSJ this week, here!) and The Coveted, and a variety of interviews. One of my favorites was Prom Mafia’s DIY for converting your boyfriend’s tee into a tunic – love it!

For those planning to attend fashion week, make sure you RSVP for the IFB Dress Up Soiree and panel discussion on evolving influence! Special thanks to Moxsie and Microsoft Windows phones for their support!

Links à la Mode : August 27th

• 39th and Broadway: Are You a Fashion Sellout?
• Brick My Lane: Interview with Fee Doran, aka Mrs Jones – the woman behind Oxfam DIY and that famous white catsuit.
• Cake not Coke: Vanity Fair Setpember ‘09 Toujours Couture - A Stitch in Time.
• Chicago Style: Interview with Monica Dimperio, of the Chicago street style blog The MidWasteland
• Clutch 22: Exclusive scoop on Seattle indie greentrepreneurs – Sara Seumae of SPUN Clothing collaborates with Tara Smith of Revival Ink (plus a contest)
• Denim Debutante: The reasons you should love Rich & Skinny denim, along with tips for the three best cuts and how to wear them
• Dramatis Personae: Unveiling the feminine fashion stylings of independent designer Claire la Faye…
• Dream Sequins: Shoptalk with Cherie of online vintage marketplace Shrimpton Couture, which collaborates with emerging designers
• Fashion Pulse: Check out the new trend in leggings, by way of geometric prints and loads of grey!
• Independent Fashion Bloggers : Dress UP for NYFW
• Prom Mafia: Raid your boyfriend’s closet: How to turn his t-shirts into cute girly tunics
• Retro Chick: What happens at a Burlesque Lesson?
• Saved for Best: Girls on Film – A celebration and run down of the best-dressed films
• Shop Fair: Top 5 obstacles fair trade and “green” fashion labels have to overcome to be more successful
• Style on the Street: Three photoshoots inspiring trends for the next season
• Style Symmetry: The Symmetry Seven with Rhiannon of Liebemarlene Vintage
• Sweet Fuzz: Rustic Elegance - independent fashion designer Dace’s beautiful Fall line
• The Coveted: Charlotte Russe Review – Mixing in Fast Fashion
• The Demoiselles: Shopping for your body type is hard enough without a recession; shopping on the cheap is even harder

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2. Style Vs. Fashion: Links à la Mode
3. Links à la Mode: Ice Cold Lemonade