FabSugar

FABTV: De La Soul "Me, Myself and I"

FabSugar — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:23:22 -0800

For Thanksgiving week my family escaped to Lake Tahoe for some wilderness R&R. Suffice to say, I had some much needed me, myself and I time. And, the air is so crisp up here. You know I love my old school hip hop bands and De La Soul is one of the best. This song jams for itself, but it's always cool seeing the fresh fellows of the group. The '80s classroom setting reminds me a bit of Saved by the Bell - but these fools are way cooler. They were super styley in their own unique way. And their music is always uplifting and creative - I am thankful for the soul, de la that is.

The Pros and Cons of Buying Topshop Online

Fab Community — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:22 -0800

Check out what Emily EMS has to say about her online Topshop experience in our 24/7 Go-To Fashion Guide group.

I always knew they existed - I have seen their chic dresses, sexy heels and cool tops. I am talking about Topshop. I got even more excited when I found out they opened a store in NYC, although I live in Denver, Colorado. I must say, things come around a lot slower around here, and don't get me wrong, there are nice stores here, but it's not to the point where they satisfy my fashion cravings.

This is when the beauty of online shopping comes in handy. My friend Sophie loves to shop online. She says that it's the best because she can buy things anytime, even at two in the morning, not have to worry about driving to the mall, (and not finding anything at the mall!), and in most cases, there's no sales tax, a small shipping fee, and usually, the return and exchanges are easy.

I must say, I was never comfortable with buying clothes online. Shoes and bags, I'm OK with. With clothes, things are different simply because every brand has slightly different sizing and all. Topshop was no exception. It's from the UK, and I know sometimes the equivalent of those sizes can be confusing - look at H&M!

One day, as I was looking through tons of pictures as always - new trends, jackets and coats for Fall and Winter. And there it was. I fell in love with this striped knit jacket from Topshop. I looked at the price, and fell in love with it even more - it's only $80!

I had to go to the store - but wait, there is no Topshop here in Denver! As I envied those folks in NYC, I went online. I quickly navigated myself to look for the jacket and there it was! I want, I want! Pause. What is my size?

Suddenly, I was lost. I usually wear a 2 or 4, depending on the brand. I also have jackets and tops that run rather small or large. While all those thoughts kept going around my head, I looked up on the sizing chart. Hmm . . . I think I am 4, but I don't want it to be too tight since it's a knit jacket . . . oh well, let's just order 6 in case, and if it didn't fit, I'd just exchange it. Before placing an order, it suddenly dawned on me that in case this size didn't work out, I better check on the return policy. Just in case. I'm not sure if that was a sign of something, but I looked. And I discovered many things I did not know. At first, I did not know Topshop's merchandise all ship out from UK. Thus, $15 shipping charge makes sense. Then I realized another thing. What if I wanted to return or exchange something? Sure, you can either return it in person at their stores but that is not my option. According to their website, if you wanted to return or exchange an item, you have to ship it back to their UK warehouse at your own expense. Hmmm . . .

Now I'm determined to make my purchase more "oops wrong size" free. I certainly don't want to go through with shipping the item back and forth till I get it right. It's not only time consuming, but also could end up being costly. I carefully studied the sizing chart, I realized, I needed some real people's opinions. Of course, the chart gives you the idea to narrow down which size you could possibly be, but just in case, to double check it, I did my own research.

I googled the "Topshop sizing review" and voilà! There were a few out there, but one forum was particularly helpful - Facebook. People with the same problems come together and discuss the sizing. Some argue Topshop's sizing runs smaller. Others disagree.

In the end, I ended up getting a 6 - I figured if it's bigger rather than smaller, I could live with it. I haven't gotten the jacket just yet, because I just ordered yesterday, but I'll keep you posted on the sizing. I must say the forum, like the one Facebook, did help me tremendously, sometimes a sizing chart won't do justice. Real people's opinions really do count.

So will I shop online again? Yeah, sure. But do some research beforehand, and read the fine print in case you don't like it, or it's too small or too big, or it's not what I thought it would be, or whatever the reason may be. As for me, for now, I'm waiting and hoping that all the research and reading will pay off.

There are already a bunch of groups you can join and explore, and please - start some new ones! Here's a helpful guide to creating in case you need some clarification.

Fashion That Makes Us Sad: $2,000 Jeans!

Fab Community — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:22 -0800

Check out Shahrzaad's retail rant about expensive designer jeans in our Fashion Stylist group. I feel you, girl.

Just last week we read that the price of designer denim was dropping. Granted, many big name jeans still sell for $200, and some people rationalize that price for a basic wardrobe staple they wear several times a week. I myself have fallen victim to fashion stupidity and shelled out over $200 on Sass & Bide jeans. They're gray stretch denim, and are my favorite pair I've ever owned. Maybe after wearing them for four years non-stop, I might get my money's worth. Though I'm not the type of person who has 40 pairs of jeans, I have about six and wear them to death, so I don't mind spending a little more. That said, the most recent pair I bought cost $70. It is a recession after all! So imagine how annoyed I was to see this new pair of jeans by Acne, adorned with some type of modern body armor, selling for $2,000. Those ridiculous things had better protect you - they cost more than several months rent!

The Bountiful Best from Fall '10 Bridal Fashion Week

FabSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:22 -0700

I don't foresee myself walking down the aisle anytime soon, but that won't stop me from peeping at the latest bridal fashions from Jenny Packham, Vera Wang, Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier, and Temperley London. For Fall '10, the designers supplied us with an abundance of fabulous, frothy layers of tulles, taffeta, lace, and ruffles. However, what really caught my eye were a surprising selection of fancy short frocks and even black dresses – who dares? Check out the bountiful best from Fall '10 Bridal Fashion Week!

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Look Book Love: Madison Marcus, Fall '09

FabSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:50:22 -0700

Madison Marcus's Fall '09 collection has me crushin' like the ninth grade – you know what I mean. For the cold months ahead, the brand is keeping us warm with a supply of tweed skirts, shimmering cardigans, tailored pants, silk tops, and vintage-inspired frocks. I'm smitten with the '20s influence via intricate beading details and floaty shapes, but notice how the line evokes youthfulness through a fun, jewel-toned palette. Sometimes, you don't need to be bold to be noticed and Madison Marcus proves this perfectly. I can already see myself wearing this unique camel cowl-neck top with black skinnies and booties during a chilly Autumn day.

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I Love Your Shopstyle: Laid Back

FabSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:50:22 -0700

Sometimes, the perfect Summer day for me means chillin' around town doing absolutely nothing, nada, zilch. You feel me? bubleguma's ensemble would be ideal for such a laid back day. I can see myself strolling around town wearing her fresh picks. Notice how she upped the style meter by accessorizing her baggy shorts and sweater with a load of funky jewels.

Online Sale Alert! 304050 Sale at Oak

FabSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:22 -0700

I don't know about you, but I find myself wanting, and not being able to afford, many things at Oak. If you have the same dilemma, follow me into the 304050 sale. It's filled with amazing pieces by Alexander Wang, Monrow, Grey Ant, Acne, Rachel Comey, and more. Trust me, it's a goodie. These Jeffrey Campbell Lilac Suede Two-Tone Heels ($99, originally $165) would immediately add flair to any Summer ensemble.

For more great deals, check out SaleHabit.com!

Alessandro Dell'Acqua on the Outs?

FabSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:04:22 -0700

What's going on? First Olivier, then Esteban, and now Alessandro Dell'Acqua is said to be leaving his post at his namesake label due to creative differences with its owner, Cherry Grove. Apparently, Alessandro said the men's Spring '10 and women's pre-Spring '10 collections "will be produced without my approval, as I haven't had the possibility to verify the conformity of the final product to the sketches I submitted to the company." Yikes. Alessandro goes on stating, "Because of this imposed inability to guarantee the quality of the final product and in order to protect the other licensees of the brand, I have to detach myself from these two collections that have not been approved by me and that I don't acknowledge as realization of my creations." Does this mean Alessandro will fly the coup?

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Jennifer Ouellette Buttons Headband: Love It or Hate It?

FabSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:50:22 -0700

I tend to gravitate toward headpieces that are quirky but not too weird. Which is why this Jennifer Ouellette Buttons Headband ($85) made me stop in my clicks. I thought to myself, buttons on a headband are a neat idea! And since they're black, it's not so out there. What do you think of it? Would you wear buttons on your head?

Take all of my Love It or Hate It Polls here!

Karlie Kloss Reveals Her Model BFFs, Spring Must Haves, and Nudity

FabSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:50:22 -0700

When I spy a tall, thin, blonde slowly gliding down the runway, head slightly tilted down, eyes focused, staring, I know exactly who it is: American model Karlie Kloss. The 16-year-old, who has recently taken up blogging on Modelfeed, has an unparalleled presence; she's cute-as-a-button approachable and intensely mysterious at the same time. I chatted with the modeling sensation about how she was discovered, her model posse, and what she's wearing these days.

How were you discovered?

Doing a charity fashion show in a mall in St. Louis for a friend who was battling cancer.

Has your ballet dance experience helped you on the catwalk or with your stamina?

Ballet has helped me express myself on photo shoots, and on the catwalk gives me the confidence to move with the fabrics.

Do you ever get embarrassed or uncomfortable with the nudity that modeling demands?

I am still 16 so my agency won't allow me to do nudity of any sort.

To hear more from Karlie and to see more photos, read more.

What's your most embarrassing modeling experience?

Tripping on the runway after closing the Pucci show in Milan.

How do you pass the time waiting around for the action to begin?

I just talk to my girlfriends, and of course BlackBerry my agent Stephen, and eat cookies in the corner with the girls.

Do you have model friends? If so, who?

Yes, I have lots. Jourdan Dunn is a close friend. I love Karmen Pedaru, and Catherine McNeil is cool to bake stuff with; they both live in my building. Abbey Lee is always cool to hang out with.

Favorite photo shoot destination?

I always wanted to shoot in Disney World. Probably shooting British Vogue with Patrick Demarchelier in an island off Sweden.

What are your Spring must haves?

White t-shirts, jeans, and whatever trade the designers will be throwing my way.

I can't live without my_____.
Family, mom, dad, sisters, and puppy Joe.

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