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

Twelve Days of Trendy: Around the World Shopping

The whole idea of Santa Claus is very thought-provoking. He happens to know everything you want even if you don't send a note. How could he eat all of those cookies without going on the Karl Lagerfeld diet? And how does he travel around the world in a single night? Although we aren't as skilled as Santa, we can shop around the world in a few clicks. What? You read that right.  Ladies and gent, I give you Boticca.

(Photo Cred)

Everyone has those friends who hate shopping mainstream. Instead, they love vintage pieces or obscure finds. Boticca is the perfect place to shop for these friends. The geniuses behind the website pick the best emerging designers from all over and showcase them on Boticca.  This site has fabulous finds at a bunch of different price points.  Personally, I'm obsessed with the Gold Swan Cuff: the detailing is phenomenal. Although I'm not a ring person, the Sun God Ring is beautiful, so drop $5,000 on me, please? I'm literally going insane over Boticca's fantastic statement necklaces. Breath-taking, literally.

Think of Boticca as travelling without a passport! 

Bon Voyage! 

xx

Retro Love

Without a doubt, Diane Von Furstenberg is one of my favorite designers of this generation. 

Tonight, I went to a DVF Shopping event the Fashion Club, FAB, organized.

And then this happened.

Re-Issued DVF Vintage  Prints.

Do we love?

 Yes we do! 

In my mind, this is  quintessential Diane Von Furstenberg. 

I really hope these amazing prints make a striking comeback!

That's really all I have to say, but I just wanted to show these prints off!

xx

Shopping Spree.

Today Yesterday, my mom and I went on a lovely shopping spree to Soho. As a combination of me getting new clothes and my recent birthday, I do have to say that I'm getting a good start. Granted, I need to get shoes and more accessories, but oh well. There's time for that!

I am typically very disappointed with the Topshop in New York (I should definitely blog about that at some point). ONLY TWO DRESSES?! In London, I usually drop major pound-age. But no, just two...dresses. I love them both, and I think with the right accessories they can transfer to fall. They're both so nostalgic, in my mind. Like...where are my little Mary Janes and lunch box?

I love the dual fabrics. My mom asked me "where the hoe-down was" when I showed her this. She was later jealous.

I love Hudson jeans: I have black jeans so obviously I needed dark wash. I was going to get jeggings...but it was too scary.

LOVE. This is kind of like a statement necklace I was talking about a few posts ago. How good would this be with a big comfy sweater?!

Two lovely pictures from Urban Outfitters. I've always wanted a maxi dress and guess who has a new maxi dress?! ME. And the jacket is so utilitarian and now. They'd go wonderfully together!

MY FAVORITE PURCHASES. New Ray Bans and and awesome hat from Urban. They're nothing like I've had before which is EXACTLY what I wanted. They're so street style, personal, and the perfect ingredient for an unique outfit. Obsessed.

Of course I got other things but these pictures came out best ;)

Cool, right?

xx

What's New

So I haven't blogged for legitimately a week but a lot has been going on which I'd like to reflect on, fashion-wise OBVI. Okay okay so last week went by quickly, not too much there to report. But on SATURDAY, I saw the very talented John Mayer in concert . ELEVENTH ROW. Great concert. He had this whole bandana situation (look to yo' left) which I was, surprisingly, loving.  He just looked so cool, so Springsteen. I loved it. I feel if a guy isn't going uber pretty or  trendy, my two personal favorites, this laid back look is rather cool.  But the rest of his outfit I didn't really love: it was too much baggy. I think a fitted top would be muuuch better. And the next day it was my birthday.  


.........I got........

Marc By Marc Jacobs “Totally Turnlock Bell Calfskin Crossbody Bag”

Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag

As well as other odds, ends, and a highly anticipated $HOPPING SPREE. So I'm very VERY excited about my recent gifts. And then I went shopping today, where I also got some FABULOUS PURCHASES: a skirt (but in pink), vest, and earrings (which can't be found at the moment)!

This is getting to be a rather selfish post so ENOUGH ABOUT ME AND ONTO MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.


The Teen Choice Awards were on yesterday, equipped with some looks I loved and some that I hated. So here's a nice version of my own fashion police.

HATED:

• Lea Michele in Naeem Khan:  Everyone raves about this dress but I'm not a fan. The shoes were a little ugly...A LOT ugly. And I just didn't like the dress: the design was odd, it make her look lanky, and it was too simple. She's had a lot of fashion hits but this one wasn't amazing.
• Kristen Bell in Stella McCartney: I was a  fan of the silhouette, but I didn't like the coloring or the shear covering. It looked a little too juvenile for me. It kind of looks like she covered up a wonderful dress.
• Emma Roberts in Brian Reyes: Major disappointment. It was too drastic with her newly black hair. HATED the booties, the color, the stitching, EVERYTHING. I'm upset because she did SO well last year , so glam and gorgeous. You messed up major, Roberts.
• Sarah Hyland in dress whose designer is unnamed: Too boring. She's so beautiful, she should spice it up a little but more. Buuut if it's any consolation, wonderful color on her! 
• Ashley Greene in Valentino: You know, everyone's obsessed with this dress. And usually, I think Ashley Green looks gorgeous. But I wasn't a fan of this one. I love Valentino too, who doesn't. The design on the fabric was gorgeous but I felt the dress was rather shapeless, ill-accessorized, and didn't fit her perfectly. Buut that's just me! 

LOVED:

• Victoria Justice in Mason: LOVED. Who is this girl?! She's GORGEOUS and I love love LOVE the blue! And the leopard accents? GENIUS.  This was flattering, chic, and age appropriate. She is VICTORIOUS.
• Megan Fox in Isabel Marant:  For some reason, I just love this. I am never a Megan Fox fan: I don't understand what the big deal is. But THIS ONE: SOO GOOD! I loved the unusual matching, and the coloring was so summer. Paired with the heels, flawless. LOVED IT. 
• Keke Palmer in I-have-no-idea: One thing to know about me is how much I LOVE sparkle!! I loved the one asymmetrical shoulder, it took sparkle to a whole new edge. It didn't over-do the sparkle and the color looked amazing on her. Age appropriate and flattering, Keke's doing it right!!
• Nina Dobrev in Alex Perry: Once again, the sparkle was AMAZNG.  The corset bodice was so sexy and the sparkled skirt was so right on: I loved how it had a special wave design to it; something NEW in the world of sparkle! It was just so awesome!! 

Well I'm losing steam and NEED to watch episode TWO of The Rachel Zoe Project!

xx

My Mommy :)

As probably everyone knows, today is Mother's Day. I hope that everybody spends a wonderful day honoring one of the most important people in their lives: their mother. While my plans are not set in stone with my own, I hope that we go shopping. That sounds really selfish on my part, but shopping is one of the many reasons my mom and I are so close. Before she had me and my sister (the picture is of me, my mother, and Stephanie back in our glamourous youth), my mom was quite the fashionista! She worked at Macy's in New York City as a personal shopper. My mom also helped style movies; in my youth, I'd always brag about how my mom saw Robert DiNero in his undies...but what's to brag about that? Even though she is a wee bit older, her style and influence on me is timeless. We always go shopping together. And when we do, we form a power team: this mother-daughter duo can find good sales and good clothes. Although my style is on its way to becoming edgier and hers will always remain classic, our taste level still has so much in common. This blog is really doing her no justice: she's honestly the best and I really couldn't ask for a better mother, or shopping partner.

xx

Not Gonna Reach My Telephone!

While me and my friend, Emily aka cutluvandprosper.blogger.com ,were shopping until we literally dropped in London, we saw simply one of the coolest window displays. There, right in front of us, was Lady Gaga and Beyonce-esque mannequins dressed in their "Telephone" in the window of Bershka. I do believe that window displays are completely important: they show us what to expect when we enter their store. I mean, isn't it the window displays in Saks Fifth Avenue that excite us every Christmas? Everyone has flipped through Vogue or Harper's Bazaar, wishing they could emulate the fabulous cover girl or pull off a

certain trend seamlessly. But there's one

problem: you have no idea how to begin! Window displays are the perfect antidote for this problem! They say "home hither, I'll solve your fashion problems". Although Bershka has a Spanish origin, they target clothing at all fashionable teenagers. Emily and I had been to many places to shop: Brick Lane,Selfridges, TOPSHOP (my absolute favorite),and other random stores. We passed this store a plethora of times, completely ignoring its existence. The only reason we went in was because of the window display. Having just seen "Telephone" in it's entirity, I was intrigued to enter Bershka. Could I purchase all of these outfits, somehow transform my hair into Gaga's crazy locks, and poison a whole diner?! Unfortunately, that didn't happen, but I think this window display was genius on Bershka. Love her or hate her, I personally love because she's embracing originality, Lady Gaga is one of the hottest celebrities and fashion icons of our newborn decade. And "Telephone" is so hot right now; it's currently the number one downloaded music video on iTunes. Although I absolutely love all window displays because of their artistic quality and originality, this is my absolute favorite! It added both pop culture and fashion together. All of the other window displays are strictly fashion with a concept, but I think it's important to add a whimsical fashion world into reality. Now if you all excuse me, I'm going to listen to some Lady Gaga now!

xx