In a world of a million beauty subscriptions one stands out above the
rest. I-Ella, the fashion social network site that allows women to
buy, sell, swap and borrow high-end goods has the ultimate gift bag
called "The List".

The monthly bag is filled with designer awesomeness chosen from
i-Ella's team and their network of professional stylists and chic
fashion insiders. Each bag is different because it's personally
created for every member and includes 4-6 items like beauty products,
haircare products, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and even clothes! The bag
contents get hard to find or celeb worthy pieces in the hands of women
who don't live in New York or who would like to have the feel of a
personal stylist without paying a huge price.

There are three types of bags to indulge in:

*The Starter Bag ($59)

*The Soho Bag ($129)

*St. Barth's Bag ($389)

I-Ella.com was created by Ella T. Gorgla and was named one of the "10
NYC Startups to Watch" by Time Inc. The innovative website boasts over
16k members and is invitation-only.

The List is open to anyone and after filling out a quick application
that includes questions like dress size, favorite designers, and if
you prefer heels or flats, your bag is created for you and arrives to
your doorstep. The List is monthly and you have the option of changing
bags or passing a month if you would.

So it you're wanting to try a more exclusive and high-end monthly
subscription, The List is the way to go. www.i-ella.com/thelist

Lepore boldly took us on a voyage no man has gone before with her futuristic vision for the modern woman. Sharp lines, off set angles, geometric cutouts and strong almost severe hair and makeup was very Star Trek (more classic than The Next Generation). Lepore was inspired by the Mars Rover landing and used images from the mission as a jumping off point for this collection.

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Even though the major colors were black and gray, the future will not be void of color. Accessories were presented in a selection of holograms presented in swirling blues and reds, which were anchored by the more understated pieces they were paired with. One couldn't keep your eye off the electric blue ankle strap heels with matching bag and paired with a simple black suit that opened the show. Other pieces included quilted outerwear, chic dresses and separates in a eye catching palette of gold’s, blues, greens and reds.

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 So the future looks bright for Lepore, or at least the shoes do. Uhura would be proud.

 Writer Credit: Cherise Luter

www.jaxonep.com

Photography Credit: Melissa Shea

www.fashionmingle.net

A $1 Billion Plan, Still in the Very Early Stage, Calls for Apartments, School and Office Space

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - A Fashion District property owner is in the very early stage of planning a transformation of 10 acres of mostly unused produce warehouses into a $1 billion hub of housing, office space, hotel rooms and a college campus.

The proposal to reinvent the 1909 produce mart known as City Market is in its infancy, project organizers say. It would require an environmental impact report and, at the earliest, an initial phase of the project could break ground in mid-2014, said Peter Fleming, president and CEO of City Market of Los Angeles.

The project site comprises the blocks bounded by Ninth, San Pedro, San Julian and 12th streets. The plan calls for a campus anchored by a college-level institution that focuses on fashion, architecture, design, culinary arts or another creative industry, Fleming said. It would also include 945 housing units, 210 hotel rooms, 225,000 square feet of retail and 295,000 square feet of creative office space. The plan was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

“We looked at the area and tried to assess some needs and think that we can help the entire city by providing goods and services and amenities to the local community and citywide,” Fleming said.

City Market officials have been meeting with Downtown and Fashion District stakeholders in recent months to share plans. Among the early supporters is the Fashion District Business Improvement District, said Kent Smith, the BID’s executive director.

Currently, City Market is somewhat of a dead zone in the heart of the otherwise busy district. It also is between two of the area’s most important commercial anchors in the San Pedro Wholesale Mart and Santee Alley.

“It sits in the most vibrant part of the district and we’re in desperate need of the infill,” Smith said. “It’s a missing piece of our body. It’s not just a missing tooth.”

Fleming said he plans to initiate the environmental review process in the coming days. While Fleming intends to secure entitlements from the city to develop the entire 10-acre site before any construction begins, the project would likely rise in phases over as much as 20 years.

Still, he said, a first phase could break ground as soon as mid-2014. During the entitlement process, project organizers will also begin engineering and design work for a 150-unit residential phase. That way, once approvals are in hand, construction could begin on that portion, Fleming said.

Dying Fruit

The corporation that owns City Market has controlled the site since it opened in 1909. It functioned as a produce wholesale district until 2009, when business withered under new food safety and distribution standards. Instead of investing in facility upgrades, City Market officials opted to look toward a better use for the land, Fleming said.

According to a study compiled by land-use giant AECOM for the Fashion District BID, the area may be able to support a mixed-use development like City Market. That 2011 report found that the area could immediately hold at least 75 hotel rooms to house travelers who visit the district for the wholesale fashion business. The study also estimated support for up to 1,340 additional housing units over the next 30 years. There are currently 725 market-rate residences in the Fashion District, according to the AECOM study.

The educational component is seen primarily as an asset that would populate the area, helping to support neighborhood retail much like SCI-Arc has spurred growth in the Arts District. Still, Fleming said officials do not have a particular school in mind.

“We’re going to go in search of the right institution,” he said. “We feel that there are many that would like to have a presence here.”

The preliminary stage of the effort means there are many unanswered questions, including how the landowners would finance the project. While officials plan to handle the initial 150-unit residential phase in-house, the remainder of the site could be done in partnership with a veteran developer. The group will also consider divvying up the 10-acre property into smaller parcels, then grant long-term ground leases to developers.

“It’ll be entitled with a 20-year development agreement so we can respond to the market differently,” Fleming said.

City Market’s plan to tackle a massive development in phases is part of what could be a new trend in post-recession mega-projects. Grand Avenue project developer Related recently canned its $2 billion plan approved in 2007 for a major mixed-use complex across from Walt Disney Concert Hall. Instead, it is proposing a scaled-back development with housing, hotel rooms and retail that would be done in phases, according to market demands.

Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB), the world's largest collective mentorship dedicated to helping bloggers develop their personal brand and business goals, announced today the line-up for the 8th IFB Conference, taking place February 6th and February 7th, 2013 at The Altman Building, New York.

Set amidst the whirlwind of New York Fashion Week, the bi-annual conference unites over 400 fashion blogging enthusiasts and peers with awe-inspiring industry leaders for motivational talks, panel discussions and hands-on skill-building workshops, as well as sponsored activities from some of the industry's biggest brands.

An incubator for the most topical and pressing industry issues, IFB brings together a carefully curated selection of industry experts to discuss everything from how to generate revenue from a blog, to what brands want from bloggers, to what the future holds for the blogging industry.

Overview:

Day one of the two-day conference will bring together industry leaders across six panels to discuss marketing, business, blog development and more as well as talks by Lisa Salzer , Founder of Lulu Frost and Keynote Speaker, Katia Beauchamp , Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BirchBox.

Panel Discussions will include 'Catching Their Eye: What do Brands Want from Bloggers?' and 'The Evolution of Our Industry: What Does the Future Hold?'

Speakers will include Susie Lau of Style Bubble, Leandra Medine of Man Repeller, Andrea Lavinthal of People Style Watch, Karen Blanchard of Where Did You Get That, Aimee Song of Song of Style, Liz Cherkasova of Late Afternoon, Andrea Derricks of L2 Think Tank and Tina Craig of Bag Snob.

Day two will feature intensive hands-on training and workshops covering everything from social media to photography to marketing.

The IFB Conference 2013 will take place February 6th –February 7th from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM at The Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street, New York, NY

For more information please visit http://heartifb.com/

About Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB)

An unparalleled leader in the fashion digital space, IFB is the largest fashion blogging network in the world with members located all over the globe.

Jennine Jacob founded the IFB network in 2007 when she noticed the lack of organized support for aspiring professional fashion bloggers. Since its inception, IFB has grown to over 55,000 active members in 60 countries and continues to grow.

From content development to marketing tips, IFB offers a wealth of information for those looking to grow their blog and work with relevant brands. Articles include advice on everything from '5 Ways to Increase Your Traffic During Fashion Week' to 'Tips on How to Run Your Blog Like a Small Business', encompassing the needs of well established and first time bloggers alike. IFB also assists brands in communicating with consumers and building key relationships with influential bloggers.

Award-winning actress Kate Hudson will once again be an ambassador for Ann
Taylor's 2013 spring and summer campaigns. This year, Hudson will develop a
capsule collection for the brand and she has joined the advisory council for
the company's ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative, a program that supports the

empowerment of young women.
 
All featured pieces from the spring campaign will be available in late
February and the summer capsule collection will be available in May.
The ad campaign was shot by famed fashion photographer Norman Jean Roy and
features Hudson in a mix of bold colors, modern florals and graphic prints.
"Working with Ann Taylor has been a great creative experience and there is a
really wonderful connection. Putting these outfits together has been
incredibly fun - they have such youthful energy and flair!" Hudson said. "I
got to dance on a treadmill wearing some amazing dresses and heels while
being photographed in front a giant digital screen when we shot this new
campaign."
 
As a fashion designer, Hudson will collaborate with Creative Director, Lisa
Axelson on the summer capsule. "We are thrilled to expand our partnership
with Kate Hudson," said Lisa Axelson. "Her confident spirit inspires us. She
lives the many roles in her life with such chic, effortless style." The
limited edition capsule is inspired by Hudson's chic red carpet style,
recreated and brought to life for everyday occasions.

Design it Yourself Couture Fashion
Planet Fashion TV Has Found an Innovative Fashion Company. Majella LeBlanc Fashion Design Firm Has Launched an Amazing "Come to You" Couture Concept, Where People Participate in the Design of Their Own, Hand Made, Original Custom Fitted Wardrobe!

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What if someone could manifest the inner fashion designer in another person, and literally make a custom fit Wardrobe based on that person's vision? Well its not a fantasy, now anyone can have just that! The design firm Majella Le Blanc has come up with the idea and it lets people explore their style in the most compelling and personal way.

Deep down everyone is an artist. It may be more apparent in some than others, but it still exists in all of us. When most people think of artists they think of painters, poets, or musicians, but everyone has a bit of an artist inside. Art is about passion, and fashion is art. It is an outward self expression of our individuality.

Marie-Joelle LeBlanc founded her couture fashion company based on this idea. As a young painter LeBlanc found herself drawn to the overall essence of the human form. She had a unique ability to capture ones inner and outer beauty and present it through her canvas paintings. LeBlanc also began to discover her love for fashion and the connection between the two mediums.

In today’s world perception is everything. Presenting an outward appearance of success might have the distinct possibility of good things following. The tradition of wearing a pressed suit or power skirt is not dead. Maybe now more than ever it is important to remember that we dress to impress and yet it's also important to maintain our individuality while doing so. That is where LeBlanc comes in.

LeBlanc offers a full clothing line specifically tailored to each client. She utilizes her unique ability to to truly read the aspiration of an individual. She also draws from her extensive international fashion experience to create a couture line for a person that is literally one of a kind.

The great thing about what LeBlanc offers the client is creative control. People can show her pictures, color combinations, and day-to-day input—call it interactive fashion if you will. LeBlanc sketches client’s ideas too, and she or someone from the team will even come to the client if necessary. The company will create 5 to 8 pieces. The price starts at around $5000, a total bargain!

LeBlanc’s innovative fashion company is about independence, which is why most of her fabrics are sourced from sustainable community projects that employ predominantly disadvantaged women. She believes that everyone deserves a fighting chance to succeed and prove to the world that his or her presence is unique and worthy of a third or even a fourth glance.

and we’re especially excited about the new designer at the helm, Olivier Rousteing. Their Spring 2013 is daring and wearable all at once.

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Balmain 2013 is a vista of glam-chic power women. There are lots of ledge shoulders; harlequin checks; jackets and dresses formed from basketry, crystal sparkles, and white lace; spray-on skinny jeans; high-waisted pants; and flat A-line leather skirts. “It’s the nineties, Latin-style. I’m into sensuality and powerful women, like the way Peter Lindbergh and Steven Meisel shot them,” designer Olivier Rousteing declared. “And I’ve really been inspired by Sade,” he added.

 

The swaggering, structure of the exaggerated shoulders and the layering of coats over jackets was a fresh reading of the “oversize” trend—maybe not for the fainthearted, but it’s fair betting that the fearless will be parading them outside shows next season.

 

But the really interesting thing to isolate in this collection is its underlying sophistication and subtlety.  

-Vogue, Sarah Mower

Todd Barrett Swimwear will celebrate the launch of their new website (toddbarrettswimwer.com) and the launch of their S/S 2013 Collection on December 8, 2012, at Art Basel, at The Catalina Hotel, 8:00 p.m. until 12 midnight, there will be complimentary cocktails and passed food by Kung Fu Kitchen and Sushi from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  The launch event will feature the amazing photography and new Todd Barrett Swimwear ad campaign by famed photographer, Fred Love as well as a live Surf Board Painting by Gretta Kruesi benefiting the Miami Surf Archive Project. The “Art of Murf” will also be on display. And of course the event will be filled will hot models wearing the newest pieces from the new collection.

Todd Barrett Swimwear is quickly becoming one of the most recognized Lifestyle brands in South Florida. Todd Barrett is a Lifestyle Expert, Life Coach, Image Consultant, Personal Trainer, and photographer. Todd’s latest venture is Todd Barrett Swimwear – a lifestyle brand for confident women, from catwalk models to curvier girls - from Giselle to Kim Kardashian. The Todd Barrett signature Princess Scrunch-style Bikini is always the hottest swimsuit on the beach. Todd Barrett Swimwear is USA made and strives to be the standard in beach and swimwear for the fashion forward consumer. Todd’s inspiration for the brand came from a former longtime girlfriend, a wedding and evening gown designer, with a passion for swimwear, and from his daily interactions with the social butterflies and influencers on the beaches of SOBE. A native of North Carolina, Todd later moved to Atlanta and now considers Miami Beach his home. 

How much fun can YOU have in your Todd Barrett Bikini?

Todd Barrett Swimwear Launch, Saturday, December 8, 2012, 8pm- 12mid, The Catalina Hotel, 1720 Collins, Miami Beach, FL 33139

For suits, images, interviews, RSVP’s or any questions, please contact Brian Long at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-294-7370.

The British Fashion Awards were held at The Savoy Hotel and Theatre, London, on Tuesday 27th November, hosted by Gemma Arterton and Nick Grimshaw.
And the winners are...

Stella McCartney: Designer of the Year and Designer Brand award
Alexa Chung: British Style Award
Harold Tillman CBE: Special Recognition award
Manolo Blahnik CBE: Outstanding Achievement in Fashion award
Erdem: New Establishment award
Cara Delevingne: Model of the year award

What happens when you mix a creative photographic talent with an up and coming womenswear brand? A cool advertorial that would normally be out of reach for a start up brand.

Huxton’s first video was created by James Beattie over just two days, in a tiny studio with zero budget. Without the plethora of models, glamorous location and large budget normally at the disposal of larger fashion names, Huxton’s video stands alongside the fashion giants in a credible way. Beattie and Huxton prove that all it takes is a good idea and an element of creativity to make a fashion video that could easily blow the majority of other films out of the water.

Huxton was founded in 2011 by Joanna Lingham and Rebecca Pickard. Inspired by the idea of Clarissa Pinkola Estes that wolves and women are relational by nature, the wolf became the perfect symbol to represent our brand. Wolves are “possessed of great endurance and strength, they are deeply intuitive, fiercely stalwart and very brave”

The stories of Estes which speak of discovering one’s instinctual self were so resonant that they became the catalyst for the beginnings of Huxton and this wolf-like female strength is ever present in the essence of our designs. From bold colours to stunning prints, micro minis to floor-sweeping maxis, we create clothes for women who want to stand out. Check out the full collection at the Huxton website.

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