I have to admit after working in the fashion industry for the past 15 years the thought of renting a handbag boggled my mind. I had access to all types of handbags but I realized I had never really bought a “status” handbag of my very own. You know the one that everyone just has to have-Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior- just to name drop a few. So I decided to join Avelle.com which is the new name for Bag Borrow or Steal. I compare it to test driving a car..you want to test it out before you buy it right?
Well I quickly realized it is the ultimate handbag fantasy come true: luxury handbags delivered to your very own door step! Not only can you rent handbags but they also offer jewelry, sunglasses, and watches. Talk about guilty pleasure! You can also use the interactive match maker tool to search for items by product or even by occasion. Avelle even posted the below their new equity program on their blog -blog.avelle.com this month:
Now you can earn equity in nearly any item you have on loan. The amount of equity you’ll earn is based on the product you select. For most items, equity equals 70% of your rental fees. And for premium “it” products, it’s 50%. (As you’d imagine, Vintage styles, and a few other hard-to-find products are not included.)
You can apply your equity towards 90% of the purchase price of an item at any time while you’re renting it. It’s a nice way to try out a style before you decide to own it. And it’s also great news if you fall in love with something and decide you want to Steal It!
Perhaps best of all: this new benefit is easy to use. Equity amounts are now listed along with product information for easy reference. Plus, your current equity balances can be reviewed any time by simply visiting the “Enjoying Now” section of your account information.
Well how cool is that? Wonder what I found? I had to try out the LV Palermo Tote. I figured the rent price is much easier to swallow than the purchase price right? Plus if you get bored with the bag it is on to the next! I couldn’t be happier with my selection! What was I waiting for?
Here are some of the new handbag and accessories arrivals at Avelle. Now I noticed they are on the wait list already so they are highly coveted by you fashionistas out there! All photos are courtesy of Avelle.com.
Gucci Large Boubouska Tote Hermes White Elephant Bangle Bracelet
Kooba “Rio” Patent Satchel Gabriel and Co “Diamond Starburst Pendant”
Ready to get started? Just click on either of the links below!
Spring is around the corner and you can’t help be tempted by the spring dresses, cute shoes, and colorful accessories. However in these tough times you want to utilize what you have in your wardrobe this season. You have all of the essential basics-white shirt, black skirt, black dress, trenchcoat, jeans,black belt- so how do you budget yourself to buy only one item?
Keep in mind when shopping for that one item that you want to utilize it as much as possible. Think of what you pieces from your wardrobe that you can wear it with all season long.
We found the latest Spring trends that can be worn well into other seasons.
1. Florals:
This Deco Dress from French Connection not only covers the floral trend but also the black and white color combination trend that is hot for Spring. You can wear this dress all year round. The Sele Floral Chiffon Topfor $49 will look great with any business casual or casual outfit. Wear it with jeans as shown below or pair with your black pants or black pencil skirt for a chic business casual outfit. We found the Painterly Floral Flats from Charlotte Russe for $18.99. They will look great with any piece in your wardrobe.
Nude colors are hot right now whether in handbags, shoes, or clothing. They will always remain classic so you can wear all year round. Think of it as wearing white after labor day-totally acceptable!
We found the Nude patent strap flat for $98.00, Jacky Nude platform pump for $140, and
Carbotti Italian Flap Bag in Nude Beige Leather for $252. The shoes were found at bananarepublic.com and handbag at shop.com. Remember you can wear all of the below with your basic neutrals- black, white, grey, brown, or navy!
You see the celebs doing it, you can do it too. Add a scarf that is. Spring is the perfect time to embrace this look. You can add bright colors or springy prints to your outfits with ease. One of our twitter friends asked for specifics on tying scarves. We’ll show you ways to incorporate them into your outfit all day not just during your commute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjo-fhaFu9c
This video is from our friends at ModCloth.com and will show you how to tie a long rectangular scarf. They also have 3 additional videos on scarf tying available on YouTube.com.
Try this look yourself with these scarves perfect for Spring. Layer them over a simple sweater or wear with a blazer to a business casual office.
While that look is more fresh it may be a little overwhelming if you are either very petite or more on the busty side. If that is the case you can still rock a long rectangular scarf to the office. Go simple and just wrap the scarf behind your neck and let it drape, as shown below from Judy Charla. Another option is to do the full wrap around seen most often with one end longer then the other. Going with a thinner scarf will also help keep this look from being too bulky. The Green scarf is only 5-1/2″ wide.
For a more classic look or a conservative office, tie a knot below the bust-line as shown on this Banana Republic model. Shop their styles and achieve the look yourself.
If you love scarves but are not crazy about tying something around your neck, tie one around the handle of your handbag instead.
In a casual office, the bandanna look would work for you with dark wash denim. Fold a square scarf in half and wrap it around your neck with the point centered over your chest.
We hope this helps you embrace scarves in your Spring work wardrobe. Remember, if it doesn’t look right on the first try, you can start again! Plus a little messy is a plus with a scarf. This is not a tailored look.
Our favorite friend Mallory is know entering her fifth month into her new job. She has the itch for Spring even though it may be 30 degrees out. She’s over it! Here is what she had to say:
” Well it’s that time a year again when I have the itch for Spring! I can’t even bear to think of six more weeks of winter!New York City indeed has had a strange winter this year.One day it is freezing cold and then a blast of warm weather (40-50 degrees mind you) comes our way! I don’t know what to wear anymore.The clothing selection in the stores right now are such a tease to us New Yorkers because of all the really cute dresses and open toe shoes that are everywhere!There are some great buys out there right now though for the warmer weather that I can’t help but buy! I feel like a lucky lady everytime I find a bargain! I was searching dresses on workchic.com and so many options came up. I asked myself how much could I actually spend within my budget and I aimed for $50 and under, but allowed myself to look for dresses also around the $100 mark, just in case there was something really great I couldn’t pass up!I found the brands BB Dakota, C & C California, Free People, and Old Navy had great dresses that were both affordable, chic, and work appropriate outfits.Some of the dresses I found would need a cardigan or a little jacket to go over it, but mainly they were very suitable for spring/summer work attire. I also found a real business casual look.Not only is it very comfortable but the shirt dress can be found in almost any store and any brand you are looking for.Spring is around the corner- 25 days but who is counting?”Here are some of Mallory’s Spring bargains she found recently…
We like the business casual outfits Mallory found for Spring. She could pair the outfits with a long cardigan and black opaque tights to get her through the colder temps until Spring rolls around.
At some point we all have to go on interviews, today both of us had the joyful experience. Don’t worry, we are still dedicated to Workchic.com. We just also have “real” jobs for the time being. Melissa and I both work in the fashion industry in NYC. This translates to a lot of black clothing. Check out what we wore to our interviews today.
Melissa’s position was more senior level on the business end of things. She opted for a black suit, with a contemporary four button jacket instead of traditional blazer. It was paired with a full black skirt hitting at the knee, black opaque tights, and for a kicker ballet flats in a black and white pattern. The look was professional without coming across to serious.
I on the other hand work as a freelance designer and was going for a graphic design gig. In our industry this means denim friendly. I wore dark wash jeans and paired them with a black tee and cardigan. This set a basic palette to build on. For graphic impact I went with a red beaded necklace and red stilettos. The intermixing of patent leather and suede, showcased my keen eye before I ever set my portfolio on the table. While these bold pieces are important I completed the look with a black belt, watch, and simple barrette.
A lot of time and conversation is given to traditional suits when interviewing. We wanted to show you ways to look younger and more comfortable in a suit. But also, that a suit is not right for every position. There are even instances where denim is the way to go.
Let’s break down the business, business casual, and casual interview look for marketing yourself to a less conservative employer. These may be positions in marketing, advertising, design, entertainment, or fashion. Make sure you understand your potential employers aesthetic before deciding on your wardrobe.
Remember these outfits are not appropriate for interviews in more conservative offices such as finance or legal aid. We’ll bring you those looks in another post. Today we wanted you to see that you can look pulled together and still have a fresh and trendy image. Depending on the company and interviewer, this image can be as important as your resume and portfolio. Good Luck in all your interviews!
Not only did Thakoon show a Fall collection with ensembles you could wear to the office, he also currently has a line available at Target. Let’s take a look at what styles we can take from Runway to Reality.
His prints had a sophisticated edge we love for more conservative environments. Shown in shades of blue and black they had a geometric quality without going tribal or ethnic as we have seen in many collections this fall. We also prefer the black tights for work opposed to the overwhelming amount of leggings we have seen this season.
Soft neutrals were shown along side pops of color, like this stunning pleated Kelly green blouse.
You know we love printed dresses, but we were also impressed with the luxurious and professional quality of his solid dresses. The tan style is the perfect update to a shirt dress with simple details along the placket. While this black dress may not be the most fashion forward design, it’s the perfect look for any work wardrobe. The LBD goes from office hours to dinner dates with ease.
Capture the style of his unique prints for Spring either in a full skirt or a blouse with pleated details along the neckline. Either item is pure business casual style. Add a cardigan in gray for chilly offices or until Spring temps finally emerge.
Pop your work wardrobe with a little color in this pleated short sleeve blouse. The details are similar to the Kelly Green style shown on the runway. You can score this style from Target for only $8.04 in Sunny Yellow or $11.49 in White! Combine the shirt dress and LBD in this office ready style. Accessorize with your favorite beaded necklace or printed scarf.
Special thanks to Style.com for their excellent runway coverage. Extra special thanks to Thakoon Panichgul for collaborating with Target to create a line affordable for everyone. No one should have a problem updating their work wardrobes for Spring with these pieces.
Our favorite alum from Project Runway, Christian Siriano, still manages to stay in the spotlight with his Fall 2009 collection he debuted at Bryant Park. He unveiled a sophisticated collection of luxurious dresses and coats with a twist of Grace Jones. He even lowered pricepoints so he could make it more accessible to retail buyers and their customers.
The big buzz is that Christian is teaming up with Payless Shoe Stores to create a shoe collection that ranges from $25-$45 . The expected launch date is Fall 2009. Here were some of the shoes he previewed at his runway show. Shoe Photos are courtesy of nymag.com. Runway photo courtesy of zimbio.com.
We think the booties (bottom left and right corner) are just too cute but appear just a tad uncomfortable to walk in. We also love the turq platform heel. The platform heel looks great with the outfit below but ouch those heels are high! We hope Christian decides to put some flats somewhere in his collection!
So what do you think of his collection? We would love to hear from you!
There was no missing the fur trend for Fall ‘09 in Derek Lam’s collection. Whether you are for or against, fur will be seen walking off the runway this fall. While these pieces were memorable, we’re going to discuss the styles we like for your office. There were quite a few and we’re sorry we didn’t get to this collection earlier in the week. The collection hit the runway in Bryant Park this past Tuesday in shades of desert sand and neutral bliss. Jersey dresses clung to the models form without coming away to revealing. Jackets we’re exquisite and skinny black pants were teamed with strappy woven sandals.
Runway photos courtesy of Style.com.
Steel these runway looks for the office with Derek Lam’s spring collection at Shopbop.com. The cut-away leather jacket needs no explanation. Take this metallic tweed peg skirt from business casual with a black sweater to business professional with an ivory blouse and one button jacket. The pointed toe pumps are approved for either look.
If you have a more casual office try pairing an anorak with skinny jeans and spiked heeled oxfords.
Find your favorite designers from the Fall runways at Shopbop.com. And keep your browser tuned to Workchic.com for your office appropriate style updates.
The fall collection from Calvin Klein ranged in colors from Black to Silver with a couple of golden yellow pieces thrown in at the end. This is one place we did not expect an explosion of colors or any theatrics. Francisco Costa glorified the minimalist approach with texture. Lots of bold texture.
The piecing on these dresses is exquisite. Wool and Silk jacquards mingle with an effortless effect that we know was anything but during creation. You can use this inspiration in your work wardrobe by mixing patterns and even textures. Glen plaid or pin stripes can easily be mixed with bold florals or geometric patterns for an outfit that will inspire office creativity and broader thinking.
The first jacket shown mimics the handy work of the above dresses. The second has a look all it’s own with an asymmetrical collar and closure, complete with pebbled textured fabric.
We’ll finish off our look at Calvin Klein’s Fall Runway with these to ultra chic suits. From felted wool and a nipped in waist to over-sized collar and bracelet sleeves. We love them both!
To get Calvin Klein’s minimalist look for Spring, shop with us and pick up a Workchic dress. All of these dresses are ideal for a business casual office. Dress them up with over-sized earrings and layered on bracelets. They come pre-accessorized with the own belts and are all priced under $130.
Thanks to Style.com, the home of Vogue Magazine, for the runway photos.
We we’re in print heaven with Anna Sui’s Fall Runway Collection. While pretty frocks paraded down the runway, fashion splendor was achieved with exaggerated 1890’s inspired hats, a little wild west influence, and sheer fun. As Anna Sui said, “If your going to have a show, have a show!” While we have appreciated many of the paired down looks hitting the runway this year, a nod to work wardrobe style, it was nice to just have some fun. She didn’t just show printed dresses, she emerged the outfits in varying patterns. Tights mimicked the dresses and we even saw boots embroidered up in style. This collection was serious eye candy.
We’re done with the details, see for yourself!
Photos curtousey of Style.com.
Score Anna Sui’s most work appropriate prints from her Spring collection. The first one probably needs a jacket for the office though. We even found a little of that wild west style in a fringed paisley scarf. Runway opulence is also covered in this velvet jacket that can be dressed down with denim for a more casual office look.
Don’t wait for fall, get Workchic in Anna Sui’s Spring collection today.
