Fall 2013 Trend: Subtle Leopard

As every fashion groupie knows, sporting something leopard is the ultimate way to create a show-stopping ensemble. Style icons such as Kate Moss and Mrs. Robinson are notorious for rocking this trend, while modern trendsetters like Alexa Chung and Adele Excharopoulos incorporate dashes of leopard into their everyday outfits. This fall, the sartorial tables have turned. While you can still wear this fierce print to make a statement, wearing leopard as a versatile neutral is so on trend. Whether you pair this print with another pattern or embrace the power of layering, this alternative way to unleash your animalistic instincts is one of the hottest trends.

Thakoon

Emanuel Ungaro

Diane Von Furstenberg 

DKNY

Burberry Prorsum 

Before you embrace this trend with open arms, it's imperative to kick any sartorial jitters to the curb. Though this trend looks at leopard through a subtle lens, you must be completely confident to wear this print as a neutral. Kapeesh? The key to rocking this trend is investing in threads with muted color palettes. Any piece that's too vibrant will overpower the rest of your look. As easy as throwing on a pair of leopard heels or tossing all your necessities into a printed clutch may be, this fad is all about polished, office-appropriate silhouettes. Spice up your average nine-to-five ensemble with a structured pencil skirt, silky blouse, or an understated tee. If you're looking for an after-hours alternative, take a note from DKNY's fall collection and opt for a cozy sweater dress. And now, the million dollar question: how does a budding fashionista (or fashionisto) turn this vibrant pattern into a low-octane ingredient to any stellar outfit? Layer, ladies and gent! Sporting a solid blazer or coat will tone down the overall look. Also, don't be afraid to add some edgy patterns and textures. Whether you incorporate some tough leather, soft knits, or a zany rubber fabric, this crazy pattern will definitely take a backseat. I know what you're thinking: leopard never looked so chic!

L Agence long sleeve shirt / Equipment long sleeve shirt / Uniqlo t shirt, $21 / Marc Jacobs skirt / Giambattista Valli below knee pencil skirt / Dolce Gabbana slit skirt, $875 / Diane Von Furstenberg clothing / Therapy leopard midi skirt, $28 / Burberry slip on shoes / J.Crew j crew shoes / Steve Madden steve-madden shoes / Flat shoes

How much are you loving this trend? Sound off below!

xx

Introducing Zady: A New Way to Get to Know Fashion

"Where did you get that?" 

If you're a true trendsetter, you're probably asked this question about your clothes as much as your favorite celebrity is asked for his or her autograph. But it never gets old. So you'll tell the fanatic where you scored those cool threads--Topshop, Bloomingdales, Madewell, Net a Porter, or maybe you'll reenact my favorite commercial and shout from the proverbial mountain top that your cute dress is from Sears. Perhaps your style groupie will ask if that purse is affordable or whether or not those shoes are comfortable, but that's the extent of the conversation. Thank goodness. Because besides the information that the washing label offers, the "Made in [Insert Country Here]", and the particular stitch if you're really sewing aficionado, what else do you know about your pieces? Next to nothing? Agreed.

Enter Zady, a new shopping platform that allows you to get more acquainted with your clothes and accessories.

Whether you watch CNN every morning or prefer to curl up with a copy of WWD, it's no secret that there has been a lot of controversy over foreign factory regulations. It's completely natural to feel a little guilty every time you receive breaking news about a heart-wrenching factory fire.

"People are suffering, and I'm casually wearing what they slave over like it's no big deal," you think to yourself. "Why can't those mice from Cinderella make my garments?"

Founded Maxine Bédat and Soraya Darab, Zady provides pieces from ethically-minded designers as well as complete honesty about where these goodies came from.

"Zady brings transparency to the way beautiful things are made,"Bédat said in a recent press release. "We are proud to offer consumers an option to purchase stylish clothing that is truly well-crafted and created to last, without the added worry about the conditions in which pieces were produced."

I had the pleasure of meeting the two founders this summer, and their passion is undeniable. They want us to know exactly how a skirt was stitched. They want us to know where everything originated, from the buttons to the fabric. And they definitely want us to share these stories with others.

With each piece handpicked by Bédat and Darab, shoppers will receive some of the most stylish, original, and honest pieces on the market. The two founders evaluate each piece on sustainability, including whether the product is locally-sourced, handmade, uses high- quality raw materials, is environmentally-conscious, or made in the U.S.A. To finish this fool-proof procedure, vendors are required to sign a contract verifying the location of the company, the manufacturing city, and the source of the raw materials. And thanks to Zady's "Origins" map, shopping around the world for well-crafted pieces has never been so easy.

I know what you're thinking, there's no way that shopping around the world can be affordable. With a  bevy of amazing brands, such as Steven Allan, Small Traders, and Scosha, to name a few, Zady has a very wide price range. You can spend $14 on two notebooks or drop $652 on a winter coat. So what's Trendologist- approved? I'm obsessed with Smock's  Gold "Thank You" Notes, Steven Allan's Boyfriend PJ Top, and Marisa Haskell's V Cuff. Regardless of what you purchase, five percent of the proceeds from every sale goes to The Bootstrap Project, which is committed to promoting and retaining centuries-old crafts and customs as well as bringing sustainable economic development to communities around the world.

So what are you waiting for?  The week isn't nearly over, and I think you desperately need some retail therapy.

Thanks to Zady, you'll have a very interesting answer to "Where did you get that?" 

xx

Her Campus's College Survival Kit: A Stylish Student's New Best Friend

The life of a college student, or collegiette, is hard. From scoring that stellar internship to creating a sartorially superior ensemble, these four years are filled with its fair share of both glam and unglamorous moments. Her Campus--the Bible for collegiettes, and a company I've been a part of for over two years (shameless plug: it's awesome)--sent me their very own "Back-to-School Survival Kit." Thankfully, these products will help any student have a chic semester.

Clipboards, notebooks, and pens, oh my! 

Between midterms and meetings, even the most fabulous collegiettes desperately need to refuel. Ditch those high-calorie frappes and say goodbye to those fatty potato chips, because these stylish snacks will leave you feeling fit and energized. Who doesn't love Luna bars? They're basically a healthy candy bar. Mini Luna bars? The perfect snack-- be still, my heart. White Chocolate Macadamia is my absolute favorite flavor, and the bite-size variation makes it perfect for fashionable students who are always on the go. And if you're craving the caffeine but don't want those disastrous coffee stains, Neuro Sonic is a sweet alternative. Whether you're racing from one fashion show to another or pulling an all-nighter, this berry drink will leave wired enough to complete all your chic tasks.

Besides my daily (or hourly) dose of caffeine, I could never get through a hectic day without my to-do list. Available in a cute colors and pragmatic sizes, Poppin's notebooks are a trendsetter's dream come true. But what are you going to write with? The brand's fun gel pens, obviously. These pens won me over when I realized they don't smudge, which is a rare occurrence. 

A big thank you to Her Campus for the array of amazing goodies! 

Which products would be in your survival kit? Sound off below!

xx

Introducing Ziftit: The Future of Wish Lists

This is a sponsored post. All opinions belong to The Trendologist. 

Having a powerful vision is both a blessing and a curse. While executing an ensemble that truly adheres to your personal taste is extremely satisfying, receiving gifts from your nearest and dearest is always a dilemma. A poly-blend sweater that you'll never wear? "Oh, you shouldn't have!" Really. A lipstick that's hue totally clashes with your skin tone. It's the thought that counts, right? 

After years of stealth gift exchanges, something's got to give. With Ziftit, every gift will count. 

The website/app allows users to create Zift Lists of their favorite products on the market. Getting the present of your dreams is as easy as sending your Zift List to your friends and family, where they can purchase your presents and ship them right to your house. 

To bolster your Zift Lists, the company's Trending Feed adds products that match your personal style to your feed. So part website, part app, and part virtual stylist? Perfection. 

Love some fancy features? From creating your own events and sending out invites to your guests, to the mobile app's Barcode Scanner (which shows users where they can find a product and the different prices it's listed at), to being able to split a gift with the upgraded account's "Pitch In" feature, Zifit is here to make the gifting experience a million times easier. 

So this brand can't get any better, right? I mean, it already helps you find affordable items, receive the gifts you actually want, and plan a stellar event-- Ziftit's basically too good to be true. 

Well just wait, style savants. 

If you're looking to splurge on a few gifts for your favorite fashionistas (via Ziftit, of course), be sure to enter the Trendsetter Contest. 

The contest will challenges you to gather unique products from all over the web and place them onto your personal Zift List. Simply use Ziftit's "follow" feature (which is just like Pinterest's pin button) by adding products that will appeal to their followers. Products added to your Zift List will fill the personalized news feeds of your followers, and give all your fashion groupies the ability to re-add these products to their personal Zift Lists. In addition to getting tons of followers, your "influence rating" will increase when followers re-add your picks to their Zift Lists. Imagine that feeling you get when someone re-pins several things on your personal style board; the feeling you get when someone re-adds one of your Zift List picks will be even better. Why? At the end of the contest, on December 15th, the participant with the most followers will win $10,000 and will be named "The Trendsetter of 2013".

The chance to win $10,000 dollars just for getting fellow fashionites to follow you? That sounds like a dream come true! 

So stop procrastinating. Ziftit's waiting for you.

xx

Fall 2013 Trend: Pajama Party

On a chilly day, changing out of your cozy pajamas is a true struggle. Don't deny it, we've all been there. In addition to offering a slew of chic sweatshirts, fashion's top dogs have also released wearable versions of our favorite lounge apparel. From slinky slips to matching tops and bottoms, fall is essentially one big, sartorial pajama party. But unlike the threads you sport after a long day, we're ditching the flannel and poly-cotton blend, and are focusing on a luxe material: silk. The glamorous fabric is mixed with everything from vintage prints, to jewel tone hues, to sequin applique. When style megawatts such as Marc Jacobs and Alber Elbaz tell you that the most comfortable clothes in the world (dramatic, but true) are this season's leading trend, do you really have the right to reject this phenomenon? Exactly.

Louis Vuitton

Lanvin

Marc Jacobs

Rochas

Just because this trend exudes effortlessness doesn't mean it's boring. In fact, sporting a pajama-inspired ensemble is arguably one of the riskiest moves a fashion trailblazer could make this season. So what's the best way to wear this trend? Like any other major fad, the options are endless. Style your pajama top with a pair of boyfriend jeans, pair your slip with a luxe coat, or match your top and bottom for a super fabulous occasion. Though there's no one way to rock this trend, it's very important that your lounge-worthy threads are event appropriate. While wearing a luxe slip dress will leave both style savants and potential beaus in awe, the pajama set is exclusively for a fashion-forward crowd. But, for your own sake, please avoid a lazy topknot or bed head-approved waves-- you shouldn't look like you actually rolled out of bed!

Christopher Kane mint green dress / T By Alexander Wang dress / Topshop dress / Araks short sleeve silk shirt / Rochas silk trousers / Equipment pajamas, $685

xx

Fall 2013 Trend: Forward-Thinking Fur

All the great ones have sported fur: Kate Moss, Elizabeth Taylor, Cruella Deville, and Mrs. Robinson, just to name a few . Though wearing a leopard jacket is hardly a groundbreaking fad, the traditional trend is getting a major makeover this  fall. From your bag, to your booties, to your average tee, fur is everywhere. But the phenomenon does not stop there. With"notice me" color schemes and thought-provoking patterns, this season's take on fur will make everyone stop and stare.

Versace

Prada

Rochas

Fendi

Marc Jacobs

Michael Kors

If you didn't get the memo, this trend is for trailblazing fashionistas only. Easing into the font? Start off small with some fury accessories- a textured evening clutch turns any average ensemble into a thought-provoking look. But if you want to have a major fashion moment and sport a fur jacket or tee even, power to you. So what's a style savant to wear with this fur focal piece? Add some depth by blending delicious wools and knits into the mix. Whether you style with slim trousers or a wintry maxi skirt, this trend is the perfect way to score a warm, cozy, and undeniably chic outfit. Take that, Mrs. Robinson.

River Island t shirt, $40 / B Young jacket, $110 / Fendi slip on booties / 3 1 Phillip Lim clutch / Adrienne Landau wrap scarve / Blanche In the bramble, $110

What do you think of this trend? Sound off below! 

xx

Fall 2013 Trend: Stylish Sweats

Sometimes, you just want to spend your whole day in a cozy sweatshirt. No matter how chic you are, we've all had those days. Luckily, the most innovative designers have recognized this need for lazy attire and filled this gap with an array of lounge-worthy threads. With a mélange of punky graphics and fierce prints, this trend gifts us with a warm and comfortable way to take on this fashion-forward season. A departure from kitschy knits, tastemakers such as Ashley Benson, Ciara, and Lily Collins have all been spotted rocking this fad. Gone are the days when wearing a sweatshirt is associated with being sartorially slacking off. With the right sweatshirt, your ensemble can prove that you're at the vanguard of on-the-pulse fashion.

Chanel

Kenzo

Reed Krakoff

3.1 Phillip Lim

Givenchy

Though sweatshirts are usually coupled with mismatched sweatpants or a pair of jeans, I urge you to avoid these pieces (unless you want to pair this look with boxy, boyfriend jeans) like you'd refrain from insulting Hedi Slimane. Instead, revitalize your style by sporting this coveted piece with a sheer skirt a la Givenchy or even a slouchy pair of trousers. You'll be just as comfortable as you would be if you wore sweatpants; however, your outfit will be both polished and forward-thinking. If you'd rather show some leg, opt for dressy shorts or a leather mini skirt. Since these picks are so inspired, add complementary accessories to this getup. Let's just say you definitely won't be disappointed with the final product.

Kenzo top, $570 / Brian Lichtenberg unisex shirt, $160 / Madewell sweatshirt / 3.1 Phillip Lim long sweat shirt

What do you think of this trend? Sound off below! 

xx