SMU Style

Fashion Insider: Sporting Trends

Posted in Fashion Insider by smustyle on July 12, 2010

Karlie Kloss brings the runway to the playing field.

Whoever said that girls can’t play football and still love fashion clearly hadn’t seen these sportif new trends. I heart model Karlie Kloss because she represents this truth with juxtaposition, showing that high fashion can be sporty — that the runway walks where the pros play.

How you can wear it: Go for liquid leather for the intimidation factor. Tribal accents on the waist and knee high socks are a must on or off the playing field. Football pads translate to the strong shoulder. Oh, and leopard kitten heels… Well, they speak for themselves.

Where you can find it:
Knee Socks: Free People
Tribal Waist Accents: Cecelia de Bucourt belt at Barneys New York; Vintage Studded Belt at Free People
Leather Dress: Balenciaga silk and leather paneled dress at brownsfashion.com; Robert Rodriguez leather tank dress at Neiman Marcus
Leopard shoes: Alexander Wang wedges at V.O.D. Boutique; Urban Outfitters leopard wedge

Lauren Scruggs

Photos courtesy of Teen Vogue.

Fashion Insider: Whitney Wolfe’s Help Us Get Cleaned Up Totes

Posted in Fashion Insider, Shop Savvy by smustyle on July 12, 2010

SMU senior Whitney Wolfe has created The Help Us Get Cleaned Up project to raise money supporting the wildlife affected by the Gulf Coast oil spill. Her contribution takes shape as an adorable design project — three 100 percent organic bamboo totes. Each eco-friendly bag is stylish, durable, and can be used as a grocery bag, carryall for school, or even a purse. The Help Us Get Cleaned Up bags come in pink, blue and natural, and each bears the symbol of the brown pelican, which is the most vulnerable species to become endangered due to the Gulf oil spill. By purchasing one of these totes, not only will you look chic, but you will also be contributing to the Ocean Futures Society to help in their quest to clean up the damage done in the Gulf.

Whitney Wolfe's Help Us Get Cleaned Up totes

Whitney Wolfe's Help Us Get Cleaned Up totes

Whitney Wolfe's Help Us Get Cleaned Up totes

Whitney Wolfe's Help Us Get Cleaned Up totes

Whitney Wolfe's Help Us Get Cleaned Up totes

Each bag is $24 and 60 percent of sales are donated to the Ocean Future Society.

To learn more about the Help Us Get Cleaned Up Project, visit http://www.whitneywolfe.com or join the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=106318986086769

To learn more about the Ocean Futures Society please visit their website at www.oceanfutures.org

Darby Radcliff

Fashion Insider: Derek Blasberg, Gilt Groupe, & ‘Classy’

Posted in Fashion Insider by smustyle on May 2, 2010

Renowned fashion journalist, celebrity gay gal pal and New York “it” boy Derek Blasberg comes to Dallas to unveil his new literary venture ‘Classy’

Standing in a crowded room Monday evening at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Derek Blasberg, dressed head to toe in Burberry, is cracking jokes and engaging in conversations with Dallas’ most dolled-up ladies and fashion scenesters. The dapper 20 something is the type of person who draws people in and after just a few exchanged words you feel inclined to call him your new best friend. It is no surprise Blasberg is the life of his own party honoring his book release, hosted in honor of his recent book release by former President George W. Bush’s daughter Barbara and Gilt Groupe founder Alexis Maybank.

“I was excited when I first read Derek’s book because it is amazing and then I was even more ecstatic when he decided to do a book tours stop in Dallas,” said Bush of Blasberg’s book Classy. “It’s very funny and it’s very Derek, everyone should read it.”

Blasberg is the Ryan Seacrest of fashion journalism. Not only is he the ‘editor at large’ of Condé Nast’s Style.com, he has a monthly column in Harper’s Bazaar and is the senior fashion news and special projects editor at V Magazine. On the side of those three positions, he edits best-selling books such as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Influence and contributes regularly to countless publications, including Interview and several international editions of Vogue.

His non-stop career demands his attendance at every runway show, exclusive fashion party and societal gala. His fashion connections forged through his career and his party-hopping habits have resulted in close friendships with everyone from supermodels like Agness Deyn and Jessica Stam, to famous troublemakers like Lindsay Lohan and Peaches Geldof, and fashion’s ‘it’ girls like Alexa Chung, Chloe Sevigny, Kate Bosworth and Byrdie Bell.

His vast knowledge and experience with today’s batch of beautiful, rich and famous young women led him to write a manual giving advice to the everyday girl on how exactly to be a respectable modern lady.

“I wrote the book because in today’s times, if I was a 15-year-old girl I would be confused as to who’s a good role model and who’s good entertainment,” Blasberg said, as he addressed the Dallas crowd regarding Classy. “Not to name names, because I’m very classy, but I think you all know who I’m talking about,” he continued.

Barbara Bush & Derek Blasberg

SMU Sophomore M.C. Corey testing the Gilt Groupe App for iPad

SMU Senior Lucy Akin & SMU Alum Christina Geyer

Fashion Insider: Dallas DVF Event Interns

Posted in Fashion Insider by smustyle on April 21, 2010

I can attest that getting your foot into the fashion industry far far away from the bright lights of New York in Dallas, can be challenging. But, every so often opportunities make their way south like this one. Fashion icon and designer Diane von Furstenberg is going to be the honorary guest of the Woman-to-Woman 2010 Luncheon on May 17th. The committe hosting the event is looking for interns to work the event. It’s a one day commitment, but you will potentially get exposure to DVF and the other fashion savvy honorary co-chairs including Neiman Marcus CEO Karen Katz, Dallas art lover and philanthropist Nancy Nasher and Fashionistas Organization Prez Heidi Dillon.

Ticks for the event start at $150, but as a volunteer you get to experience the event for free of course!

If you are still in town May 17th and would like to participate, shoot an email to Amy Walton at awalton@JFSdallas.org.

Fashion Insider: Nicole Richie

Posted in Fashion Insider by smustyle on March 23, 2010

From Hollywood party girl to businesswoman:
Nicole Richie launches her new clothing collection Winter Kate

Sitting in a green room being used as a dressing room at Neiman Marcus NorthPark Center, Nicole Richie comes off as a poised and professional businesswoman.

This is a far cry from the starlette’s persona five years earlier as a Hollywood party girl. In the past, Richie was known for her late night antics, such as hitting the Los Angeles club scene with her now deceased former fiancé, DJ A.M. and the likes of Lindsay Lohan.

After a hit reality show, publicized stints behind bars and in rehab, a drawn-out cat fight with former best friend Paris Hilton, a dramatic weight loss and a “New York Times Best-Seller” tell-all book, 28-year-old Richie is on her feet as the designer behind accessories brand House of Harlow and her new clothing line, Winter Kate.

Named after the two middle names of Richie’s daughter Harlow, Winter Kate supplements the same vintage aesthetic style of her jewelry line House of Harlow that launched in 2008.

“Designing clothes is something that I have always wanted to do,” Richie said.

But with two kids under the age of three and a mid-February engagement to long-time boyfriend Good Charlotte front man Joel Madden, the settled-down Richie admits the days of wild partying are behind her. Read More

Fashion Insider: Pink Memo’s “The Show”

Posted in Fashion Insider by smustyle on March 23, 2010

Shop Savvy (Today!): Dana Davis Trunk Show at Nordstrom, NorthPark Center

Posted in Fashion Insider, Shop Savvy by smustyle on March 11, 2010

Fashion Insider: Tibi’s Amy Smilovic

Posted in Fashion Insider by smustyle on March 4, 2010

Some say wearing black is chic; Amy Smilovic, founder of women’s clothing label Tibi, says it’s playing it safe. Although the designer admits she likes black, her collections from season to season always reflect her passion for color.

“If you are in a place where everyone is like, ‘I’m too cool to wear a color,’ then Tibi just doesn’t fly there,” Smilovic said about her vivid pieces.

Florals and abstract graphic prints contribute to Smilovic’s signature punch of pattern for her Spring 2010 collection. Combined with pops of neon yellows, electric blues and hot pinks, contrasted by starch whites, the look yearns for warm weather and tropical spring break destinations.

“My favorite part about the Spring 2010 collection is that it is very feminine and minimal, but still very cool,” Smilovic said.

A mix of delicate feminine aspects, like floral and pastel purple frocks, and simplistic solids in figure flattering shapes infuse the collection. The inspiration for her spring designs came from “Great Expectations” –but not the Charles Dickens’ classic– the 1998 film starring Gwyneth Paltrow. More

Fashion Insider: Twelfth Street Trunk Show

Posted in Fashion Insider by smustyle on February 26, 2010

Swing by The Shak at Stanley Korshak today for a Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Trunk Show. Sort through 20 different styles from the Spring 2010 collection with full size runs of each.

Fashion Insider: Shirin Askari Runway Show

Posted in Fashion Insider by smustyle on February 25, 2010

“Project Runway” veteran and Dallas native Shirin Askari will be debuting her first collection Friday night. The fashion designer, who moonlighted as a reality television star on the show’s sixth season, will present her Fall 2010 women’s clothing and accessory line, featuring her signature a-line dresses and bold headbands. The models will hit the runway at 8 p.m. in downtown Dallas at the South Side on Lamar. The tickets, which range from a $50 VIP ticket to a $15 student ticket, can be purchased online or at the door. For more information visit TheFashionistas.org

The dress to the left is by Shirin Askari and retails for $325.