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Murder has never been so easy to abbreviate via text message.
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Makeup artist James Kaliardos created a bronzed, yet colorful look for Nanette Lepore. Photographed by Jane Shin Park.
Sammy Brodsky is a sophomore in college mastering the art of juggling between studying for class, writing her blog A La Mode and working for Two.One.Five Magazine. Wondering how she manages to do all this and “time travel through clothing?” Read on!
GO TRY IT ON: Where are you from?
SAMMY: The suburbs of Philadelphia.
GO TRY IT ON: When and why did you start your blog, A La Mode?
SAMMY: I started my blog in January 2008 (around my 16th birthday). Growing up in a town where everyone looked and dressed the same it was hard to connect with people who shared my love and appreciation for fashion, so I started my blog or as I call it, my fashion diary. And now, four years later, I can connect with people who share my interests, while finding ways opportunities to further my career as a fashion writer. And I appreciate every moment of it.
GO TRY IT ON: You’re currently writing for Two.One.Five Magazine. Can you elaborate on your job with them?
SAMMY: I was recently hired to write for Two.One.Five Magazine’s style section to cover my an event on 1/26. Philly is a city with an amazing creative legacy, filled with talented people across industries and Two.One.Five is an online lifestyle magazine reflective of the true creative culture of Philadelphia, specifically music, style & events.
GO TRY IT ON: Being a student, how do you juggle your blog, work for Two.One.Five and class work?
SAMMY: I am a sophomore at Drexel University, and school comes first. Did I quote you there correctly mom? I try to complete my work/studying before blogging. Being a fashion blogger is definitely not easy, but juggling has become second nature.
GO TRY IT ON: Do your peers on campus take an interest in fashion, too? What inspires you?
SAMMY: Very few of my classmates share the same interest in fashion as I do. As far as what inspires me, a hat from the 1940’s does as much as an artist is inspired by a rocking chair. The hat and the rocking chair are the centerpiece that helps illustrate the larger and cohesive look, idea, and concept. Fashion is a form of art because it is an external, and aesthetically pleasing manifestation of self-expression. So I to get back to your question, my outfits tend to be vintage-inspired with a modern twist. I like to mix and match decades to create various and fun ensembles. When you think about it… how cool is that? You can time travel through clothing!
GO TRY IT ON: Where online do you find inspiration?
SAMMY: Refinery29 and StumbleUpon.
GO TRY IT ON: What are your favorite places to shop online?
SAMMY: Etsy, ModCloth, ShopRushe, Pixie Market, Bona Drag and Thread Sense.
GO TRY IT ON: What are your favorite places to shop offline?
SAMMY: There are a few cute thrift stores here in Philly like Bella Boutique, Retrospect, and Aids Thrift. I also really like Urban Outfitters and H&M because you either leave with nothing or something super cute hidden on the sales rack worth digging around for.
GO TRY IT ON: What is the biggest challenge, according to you, for people your age? How do you overcome it?
SAMMY: I’m at an age when people expect you to be an adult but treat you like a kid. On 1/31, I’ll turn 20 and while I am young, it’s scary because I am not a teenager anymore. The biggest challenge my age group seems to face is the overwhelming pressure to decide what to major in so you can graduate, get a good job, have a steady income. So, everyday I wake up and say to myself “never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about”.
In the spirit of award season (check out the Oscar Nominations here), we are excited about profound novels challenged by Hollywood and adapted to the big screen. To some these may be familiar stories, but even so, don’t knock a reread! Pick a book and catch the movie before the Oscars on Feb. 26—because who likes going to a concert without knowing the lyrics?
The Help
This page turner is just as riveting as the two hour film which received 4 Oscar nominations yesterday. Set in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s, Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer (who steals the show!) takes us back to the days of inequality using love, sadness and a whole lot of sass to do so.
Moneyball
Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill took on Michael Lewis’ baseball hit in a film that got both of the stars an Oscar nomination. Pick up the book and get your a** to this movie!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Have you ever dreamed about being a fearless, leather wearing, motorcycle riding twenty something genius? Meet Lisbeth Salander, the novel’s protagonist who was played by Rooney Mara in a film that captured every image imagined while reading the mystery.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Here is a story about a boy who embarks on a journey to find a lock that fits to a key which belonged to his father—who died in 9/11. Tom Hanks and Sanrda Bullock star in this story up for best picture.
and for next year…
The Great Gatsby
A 3D adaptation of The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Long Island-set novel), stars Leonardo Dicaprio (as Gatsby), Toby McGuire, and Carey Mulligan. The film hits the big screen next Christmas which gives you time to familiarize yourself with this classic.
Early this Monday morning when our coffee cup was still heavy, we stumbled upon Who What Wear’s trend alert: Sheer Sleeves. Our minds immediately filled with images of ’90s legendary “it” girl, Cher Horowitz of Clueless. The blonde powerhouse introduced then-teenagers (now 20-somethings) to designers like Alaia, wheels like Wranglers and trends like plaid skirts—way before Brittney Spears. But one of Cher’s sexier more rebellious ensembles was the sheer blouse, which she donned in both white and black (portraying two very opposing attitudes). Today, we warmly welcome back this sexy but coy trend with pieces from Asos and Free People.
Happy Friday! To celebrate the weekend (as always) meet Susannah Edelbaum, the voice of fashion and tech behind The High Low. Upon each weeks close, we are entertained and taught through the wit and wisdom of our guests. Today is a particularly exciting conversation as GO TRY IT ON explores the fashion and tech marriage on a daily basis. To connect with Susannah, read and follow The High Low
GO TRY IT ON: Tell us about your background as a writer?
SUSANNAH: It’s all over the place. While I like writing on fashion’s tech-focused side, which is what I do now at The High Low, I’ve also written about galleries, old Italian restaurants in Brooklyn, and crime.
GO TRY IT ON: How did you become interested in both fashion and tech?
SUSANNAH: I’d written on fashion before, but found the way the industry is growing to embrace emerging technology to be one of its more interesting sides. And that was something I got expand on a lot after joining The High Low.
GO TRY IT ON: The fashion and tech industries have really overlapped in NYC this year. Why do you think that is?
SUSANNAH: It sounds nerdy, but fashion needs to explore its techie side — because yup, it has one — just to keep up with the times. People want interesting apps. They want to find cool things online in a unique way. And all that needs to translate to mobile, and to tablet-friendly form, and so on.
GO TRY IT ON: What are your favorite types of stories to cover and why?
SUSANNAH: Writing about sites that address a need and then fulfill it — like you guys! It’s interesting to see how technology enables such a broad spectrum of really useful web-based, fashion-focused start-ups to thrive.
GO TRY IT ON: Who is the most fascinating person you have interviewed and why?
SUSANNAH: I loved getting to interview Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo, the co-founders of Of a Kind. They’re really cool and their site is so original. They offer exclusive, limited edition pieces with a lot of back story. It’s a really thorough, appealing concept.
GO TRY IT ON: What surprises you about today’s fashion and/or tech industry?
SUSANNAH: Just how much the one has embraced the other! I mean, just a few years ago, it seemed like the entire fashion industry was like, internet….what?
GO TRY IT ON: What excites you about it the fashion and/or tech industry?
SUSANNAH: Have you played around on any of the sites that let you design your own clothes in 3D? They’re pretty awesome. Check out UnitedStyles…I think what they’re doing is so fun. I feel like these really sleek yet DIY design sites will be way more mainstream in a few years.
GO TRY IT ON: Name your top 5 go-to apps right now:
SUSANNAH: Instagram, Foursquare, Pearescope (my friends made this, it’s still in beta but it’s going to be great), and iChakra. Oh, that’s only four. Sorry! I think I write and learn about apps more than I use them!
GO TRY IT ON: Favorite places to shop in NYC
SUSANNAH: Dear Fieldbinder, in Brooklyn, and the Century 21 down in Bay Ridge. It’s a little less crowded and way less picked over.
GO TRY IT ON: Favorite places to shop online (and how often do you shop them)?
SUSANNAH: Yoox and the Outnet — and I try to stay away (sort of) (maybe not really successfully).
GO TRY IT ON: When you’re not writing, you’re…(i know the answer but tell them!)
SUSANNAH: At my studio, tearing apart old electronics, mostly laptops and cell phones, and making the pieces into other shapes on canvas.
We recently came across the blog The Londoner which then led us to The Slutty Brownie: oh so easy, and more than a little bit filthy. If you’re feeling anything like we did yesterday at 4pm, then it’s impossible not to crave this decadent treat. The Londoner has provided The Slutty Brownie recipe, which you can whip up in no time to satisfy that sweet tooth. (And she reminds us, don’t forget to lick the bowl!)
Last night’s 69th annual Golden Globe’s gathered Hollywood’s A-list under one roof to toast actors’ talent over the past year. We’re here to toast their bods—or what covered them! Ladies like Michelle Williams, Angelina Jolie and Claire Danes covered up their assets with a high neckline and swept their tresses out of the way in a glamorous up do (not to mention, two of the three took home a trophy, but we’ll spare you the spoiler.) We’re wondering if this high neck, high hair combo will repeat itself on the Oscar red carpet in March…stay tuned.
We’d like to welcome Annie Chang to our Friday Focus! Through her blog Monkey Shines, Annie proves through her wardrobe that living in Durham looks no different than Paris as far as the dress code is concerned! Her ability to put an outfit together that is both on trend and functional is why you must add her as your personal stylist, follow her on twitter and of course, read and take not on her blog!
GO TRY IT ON: What is Durham, NC like? Have you lived there always? What is the fashion like there?
ANNIE: I just moved here half a year ago for grad school and I absolutely love it. Although it’s not a fashion focused city, the artists and musicians provide an artsy culture, which along with the weather and scenery, has been my inspiration.
GO TRY IT ON: What are your five favorite places to shop?
ANNIE:
- Durham: Vert and Vogue Boutique, Magpie
- Online: Nastygal, Shopbop, Romwe, Need Supply Co, Zara, ASOS
GO TRY IT ON: Where does the name MonkeyShines come from and how did your blog come to be?
ANNIE: Monkeyshines means to have fun and prank which hints at what I intend to deliver!
GO TRY IT ON: How do you manage to wear so many individual pieces together at once, without looking overdone?
ANNIE: I am a big fan of layering and found a significant part of my closet are simple, plain pieces. To avoid looking overdone with layering, I try to compose my outfits with simple pieces and play with the lengths.
GO TRY IT ON: What’s your secret to accessorizing?
ANNIE: I love bunching up bracelets but often wear one statement piece and add some fun too the look with thinner bangles/bracelets. I definitely pick most of my accessories depending on my mood of the day!
GO TRY IT ON: What’s your favorite aspect about fashion today?
ANNIE: I love the strong comeback of retro and vintage trends.
GO TRY IT ON: Who are your 5 favorite people to follow on twitter?
ANNIE: Other than all my friends, I love voguemagazine, CFDA and refinery29.
GO TRY IT ON: How long have you been a member of GO TRY IT ON?
ANNIE: About half a year. I enjoy the user friendliness, and I also like the nearly-instant responses from other users.
GO TRY IT ON: Who takes your photos (we love how artistic they are!)
ANNIE: My sister is my photographer in Taiwan, and my friend from grad school is my current photographer in Durham.
Everyone has their own unique relationship with museums. They might remind you of a time where you were hungry and bored (think a family vacation) or a few hours that provided inspiration and thrill (Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty). Whichever you identify with, the 2012 lineup of fashion exhibits (thanks to Fashionista.com) scheduled to display at major museums around the world promise as much education as they do taste and talent. While New York is promised Prada, London gets Louboutin, Marc Jacobs in Paris and YSL in Denver. Wherever you live or intend on traveling to, mark your calendars accordingly…fashion just got a whole lot wiser!
What: “Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada: On Fashion”
Where: The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
When: May 10 – August 19
What: “Christian Louboutin,” a retrospective of the designer
Where: Design Museum, London
When: March 28 – July1
What: “IMPACT: 50 Years of the CFDA”
Where: The Museum at FIT, New York
When: February 10 – April 17, 2012
What: “Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950″
Where: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
When: May 19, 2012 – January 26, 2013
What: “Yves Saint Laurent — The Retrospective”
Where: Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado
When: Opens March 25
What: “Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs,” a retrospective of Jacobs’ work at LV
Where: Les Arts Décoratifs, Paris
When: March 9 to September 16
What: Diana Vreeland
Where: Fortuny Museum, Venice, Italy
When: March 2012
What: “Fifty Years of James Bond Style” with pieces from Giorgio Armani, Prada, Oscar de la Renta and other designers
Where: The Barbican, London
When: April 2012
This winter is all about accessorizing the noggin! The sanctuary for everything that’s mustered up in your imagination should also look good and, we guess, keep you warm too! Whether you opt for a headband like these ladies or go a more functional fashion like a fur hat (ahem, Sienna!), go head first! If you’re into it, we pulled a few finds that you may fancy:
This weeks Friday Focus is Amy Creyer, a windy city “style hunter” who populates her blog, Chicago Street Style, with tips and trends from the curb! In addition to capturing Chicago’s bundled up babes (or at least today they are!), she also snaps looks for Refinery 29 and the New York Times. For more Amy, follow Chicago Street Style and on Twitter!
“There’s nothing more romantic than wandering around a giant urban conglomeration, underneath the shadows of skyscrapers, looking for amazing people to photograph.” -Amy Creyer, Chicago Street Style
GO TRY IT ON: Top 5 places to shop in Chicago, GO!
AMY: Ikram, Kokorokoko Vintage, Sarca, Cynthia Rowley, and Barneys.
GO TRY IT ON: Top 5 places to shop in New York, GO!
AMY: Alexander Wang, Opening Ceremony, Acne, Bergdorf Goodman, Trash and Vaudeville
GO TRY IT ON: You have 1 ticket to any NYFW show, where are you going?
AMY: Alexander Wang! His shows are phenomenal and his after parties are the best!
GO TRY IT ON: What is your most exciting fashion moment to date?
AMY: Having backstage VIP passes to all the runway shows at Milk Studios during the Spring 2012 shows in September.
GO TRY IT ON: How did you turn your love for fashion and photographer into a job?
AMY: I learned about photography when I launched my blog. I’m entirely self taught, although a couple street-style photographers who I met at New York fashion week were very supportive coaches who allowed me to work alongside them. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor than Mr. Newton!
GO TRY IT ON: What is your favorite aspect about connecting with your readers?
AMY: My readers are overwhelmingly supportive, however, it’s the constructive criticism that I value most, like a comment about lighting or subject selection because it allows me to grow. My readers want me to share more of myself in the blog which is funny because as a street-style photographer, I am most comfortable behind the lens. Blogger friends like Andrea of Blonde Bedhead have made helped me feel more comfortable sharing my personal style and thoughts.
GO TRY IT ON: When shopping, what do you need to spend money on and what isn’t worth the splurge?
AMY: I spend more on items that are more flamboyant and less on basics. I learned this from an interview Sally Singer did with a magazine. She said the craziest pieces are timeless but the lines and proportions of everyday clothing shift slightly every season. I’m investing in pieces that have enough personality, without being bound to trends, to exist in my closet for several seasons.
GO TRY IT ON: What has shocked you most working in the fashion industry?
AMY: How nice most people are! When I first went to New York fashion week in February of 2011, I expected everyone to be ice cold fashionistas but very few people were.
GO TRY IT ON: You seem to have some incredible freelance experience! Do you change your voice and style to meet the publication you’re working with?
AMY: I don’t change my voice or my style when working with corporate partners. Companies and publications approach me to collaborate because they like my strong point-of-view and my photographs. Staying true to myself is the core reason for why I’ve built such a large following in such a short amount of time and why I have so many corporate clients. People respond to strength of character. Even though it’s tempting, never compromise your authenticity.
The pressure to produce good work is intense and some bloggers succumb to dishonest tactics, jeopardizing the good faith they’ve built with their readers for short-term gain. Corporate partners are especially concerned with authenticity since that’s the whole reason they work with bloggers. The absolute worst thing a blogger can do is lie about anything because not only does it tarnish their image, it tarnishes the image of the companies they work with. So always stay true to yourself, stay true to your voice, and be honest!
