What should Megan wear to Fashion Week in NYC?

One of Birmingham's top stylist, Megan LaRussa has posed the following question to readers, "What should Megan wear to Fashion Week in NYC?"

I won't spoil the surprise by telling you my fav look, but she has three chic looks to chose from. And voting for your favorite makes you eligible to win a fabulous New York Fashion Week swag bag, all compliments of Megan.

Go vote! http://www.southernfemme.com/2012/08/27/wear/

Sometimes we love the fragrance, sometimes we love the packaging it comes it. And sometimes, it's both

Tried a little sample of Vera Wang by Vera Wang at Belk. Ah, what a beautiful fragrance! And the bottle is ever so lovely as well. We're putting this on the Christmas List!

The first "Beauty from the Heart" award: Regine Valcin

I started this post and wrote it several different times. I find that I'm inadequate for the task I've assigned myself as editor of this blog.

That task is bestowing the first "Beauty from the Heart" award. The winner is the beautiful and kind Regine Valcin. And I don't even have the words to tell you just how great I think Regine is.

Loved the Sam Edelman spiked shoes!

Regine won't like this, the part where I talk about how pretty she is and how's she's propelled herself to success by following her dreams. It's just the way she was raised by her Haitian immigrant parents. Get an education, work hard, DO. She wouldn't want anyone bragging on her, I can assure you of that!

But I can't help it.

And here's why.

I met Regine a few months back at an event I was hired to photograph, and then again at another event I shot a few weeks ago. At that first meeting I was instantly struck by her beauty and all together fashionable self. But then I settled in to listen to her speak. I watched from a seat in the back as she gathered a whole room of students into her heart and grabbed their complete attention with the very real story of her life, from unemployed college graduate to owner of one of Huntsville, Alabama's most popular upscale salons, Salon Prive.  In three years. And that includes the time it took her to earn another degree.

Regine is in a word, riveting. And I could spend hours telling you all about her life and the things she's accomplished, but what I'd most like to tell you about Regine is that she cares about people. She's funding an orphanage in Haiti. She finds the time to speaks to young people about the importance of staying the course and avoiding the pitfalls can steal a young person's life before they have even begun to live it. She prays privately about the problems people share with her while having their hair styled. She is deeply devoted to her faith, and it shows in everything she does.

She's human like the rest of us, not perfect, and she'd be the first to tell you that. But Regine is a true beauty, with beauty emanating from the only place it really matters in the long run, beauty from the heart.

 ^"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

Arlene Goldstein: A Fashion Queen Returns to Serve

We recently received a media alert about a fashion event we really hated to miss. (Alas, all of the  Birmingham Fashion Blog team have day jobs.)

The event was a makeover, compliments of retail giant Belk. The makeover was granted to a Miss Lauren Banks in honor of her service to the youth of Birmingham and to celebrate and welcome delegates (of whom Miss Banks is one) to the Charlotte's Democratic National Convention of 2012.

We've been to Belk events before, so it didn't surprise us that Belk was being so welcoming to visitors of the Queen City. Its' the Southern way. But can we just say we were awed by the fact that Arlene Goldstein, Belk's Vice President of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction, came all the way from Charlotte today to personally style Miss Banks?

We've meet this fashion queen several years ago when she was the Fashion It Girl at Parisian and later Vice President of Trend Merchandising for Saks, although we don't know her personally.  And it's our humble opinion, (as a fashion observer for over 30 years in Birmingham,) that Goldstein deserves much of the credit for turning Parisian into the fashion power-house that it was. And Belk's fashion direction since entering the Birmingham market? Nothing less than stellar.

And yet, Parisian always retained that accessibility to "the everyman" shopper. Hmm, something that I've noticed Belk does quite well also, now that I've had a chance to get acquainted with them.

Kudos to Belk for doing something so very nice for someone so deserving. And a bow to the fashion queen, who came all the way to Birmingham just to be of service to someone else.

This is what young, fashionable Birmingham looks like!

Two of Birmingham's top style writers and stylist: Megan LaRussa of Southern Femme and Donnell Cole of Southern Homme
Check them out  http://www.southernfemme.com/ and  http://www.southernfemme.com/category/southern-homme/ 

Wondering about back to school essentials? Jamie Robinson, Marketing Director for The Outlet Shops of Grand River has the 411

Jamie Robinson, Southern fashion diva and marketing director of the Outlet Shops at Grand River and all around sweet person was kind enough to make time in her day to answer a few questions about back to school must-haves.



What are the hottest back to school trends for teens?
- Hi Low skirts and dresses are a must! You can find all the latest styles at The Outlet Shops of Grand River, including Charlotte Russe and maurices. - Colorful denim in an array of styles can be found at Gap Factory Store and Aeropostale. - Boho-Chic styles are great for any occasion. Check out maurices and rue21 for these looks.What are the hottest colors this year? Tangerine has definitely been the hot color this year. Other fruit-inspired colors are following suit, like sorbet yellows, greens and pinks.

What are you seeing as far as bottoms go – short skirts? Cargo pants? Long skirts? 

We’re seeing tons of skirts with the hi-low hem lines. Maxi dresses are still in and Palazzo pants have made a comeback.What are the shoe styles this year?
Platform booties, animal print flats and anything adorned with zippers buckles or fringe. Guess Factory Store and Nine West Outlet are your best bet for these latest trends!


What about accessories? What is the going trend? Are cross-body purses popular? 

Thick chain bracelets and necklaces in gold and silver are very popular. Chevron earrings and necklaces just might be the going trend. Cross-body purses are great when you’re running errands. Choose a style with a chain or fringe for an added touch. You can find all of these styles at Charming Charlie (PHOTO ATTACHED) and fabulous purses at Nine West Outlet and Coach Factory.

With kids’ backpacks, what is popular? What about teens – what will they be using for backpacks? Kids, especially teens like to express their individuality through backpacks and accessories. For younger kids, choose a backpack with their favorite sport or super-hero. The Children’s Place Outlet has a great selection at great prices. For teens, color and fun patterns are the most important characteristics. They can find an array of choices at Famous Footwear and Gap Factory Store.

Any special hints for teens that wear uniforms, how they can personalize without breaking the dress code? ACCESSORIZE! Teens can find great patterned knee socks at GoldToe, fun belts at Aeropostale or rue21 and of course a ton of earrings, bracelets and necklaces at Charming Charlie… in colors to suit every personality.

Tell me a little something about your own fall must haves. My own fall must haves includes a tailored jacket in a fun, fall color from Banana Republic Factory Store, black skinny jeans from Gap Factory Store (PHOTO ATTACHED), a neutral platform pump from Nine West Outlet, chunky gold bracelets from Charming Charlie and an oversized leather tote from Coach Factory.

Anything else you’d like to add? Don’t miss our Back to School Fashion Shows this Saturday and next at 12:00, 1:00 and 2:00 to see all the latest trends I’ve mentioned here from your favorite brands at The Outlet Shops of Grand River!

Can a grocery store be in fashion? Why yes, it can. Especially when it stops to help those most in need

Isn't this the best thing you've ever heard about a company doing? Belle Foods is a small company, they are just getting off the ground. And yet they found a way to supply shopping carts for parents of special needs children.

Where are you, long established grocers? Walmart. Publix. Kroger. Albertsons.  Why are parents still having to push a wheelchair (that their little child doesn't even fit it) and pull a shopping cart with one hand just so they can shop for groceries with their special needs children? I see all those cute little shopping carts that look like cars, parked over to the side going un-used. But special needs kids DO NEED to be safe in a grocery cart, a cart created to meet their needs.

Can we please see some shopping carts (Caroline's Cart) for parents of special needs kids in EVERY STORE? Not just Belle Food. But for the time being, as long as Belle Food's is where I can find Caroline's Cart, that's where you'll find me spending my grocery and pharmacy dollars. My son isn't special needs. But someone's child is. And showing support is always in fashion.

http://media.al.com/businessnews/photo/11416773-large.jpg

Shopping cart for special needs children to debut in Birmingham area Belle Foods grocery stores

A shopping cart designed by an Alabaster mom for children with special needs will soon be available in two Birmingham area grocery stores. 
  
Caroline's Cart was created by Drew Ann Long, who wanted to make grocery shopping easier for moms of children with special needs, like herself. Pushing a wheelchair and shopping cart at the same time is difficult.
  
In the past few years, the cart has grown from a concept she designed at her dining room table, nurtured through several prototypes and launched in an initial manufacturing run of 100 carts. 
  
Along the way, it's gained fans around the world through a grassroots marketing effort on Facebook. 
  
Now, Birmingham-based Belle Foods, the company that recently purchased Southern Family Markets' 57 grocery stores in the Southeast, will be the first retailer to offer Caroline's Cart to shoppers. 
  
This week, Belle Foods is kicking off a rebranding campaign for its stores in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida that operate under banners including Bruno's, Food World and Piggly Wiggly. 
  
On Wednesday, the company held a ribbon-cutting at the Bruno's store at U.S. 31 and Lorna Road in Hoover, which is now known as Belle Foods. Next week, the Food World in Alabaster will be converted to a Belle Foods. 
  
At both of those stores, two to three Caroline's Carts will be available, said Paul McLaughlin, a spokesman for Belle Foods. 
  
Carts also will likely be available at the rest of the company's stores as it continues to roll out the new Belle Foods banner, a process that is expected to take 18 months, he said. 
  
At the stores that have the carts, shoppers can call ahead of time to reserve one. An employee will meet shoppers at their cars with the carts and also walk them out once they finish shopping, McLaughlin said. 

And thank you to Dawn Kent and the Birmingham News for covering this story! 
  

The Outlet Shops of Grand River partner with Teen Vogue for a back-to-school bash!

Exciting news for teen fashionistas!


The Outlet Shops of Grand River is pleased to announce its partnership with Teen
Vogue for the biggest Back to School event in Alabama. Teen Vogue has declared August 11, 2012 the day to do all of your back-to-school shopping.

 Back-to-School Saturdays (BTSS) will be held at the Outlet Shops of Grand River in Leeds, just minutes from Birmingham on August 11th and August 18th
from 11am until 5pm. On August 11th and 18th,  BTSS will offer non-stop excitement including music from a live DJ as you watch some high-energy fashion shows throughout the day.

Then, get a professional makeover to help you find that new look like Hollywood’s finest just in time for the new school year. In addition, there will be fun promotions, free giveaways and super savings at all your favorite stores, including opportunities throughout the day to “text to win” for a chance at some great prizes.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @ShopGrandRiver, as these resources will be in full swingas the best place to stay informed on all the excitement and the best deals in town on the latest fashions.

“We are thrilled to partner with Teen Vogue on August 11th for Teen Vogue Back-To-School Saturday and bring the biggest back to school bash to Alabama for two days of fashion, fun and giveaways,” states Jamie Robinson, Marketing Director at The Outlet Shops of Grand River.

Ah Birmingham, Alabama, the fashion surprises just keep coming! LOFT joins the line-up at the Summit

Birmingham! Come try on the new LOFT  at The Summit.

Located a few doors down from Remon's, LOFT in the Saks area of the Summit.

And guess what else? LOFT already loves Birmingham just as much as we're going to love them. They're throwing a grand opening party August 9, from 5-8 pm. So grab your fashionista friends and stop by for a sneak preview of game day looks. And while you're there, go ahead and register for a chance to win tickets to an Alabama home game and a $250 shopping spree at LOFT.

Someone's going to win, why not you?

Congratulations to Andrea Brown, designer of Hannah Kate's adorable children's line and now a winner in Belk's Southern Designer Contest

The wonderfully talented Andrea Brown, from right here in Birmingham, AL has just been crowned one of the winners of the first Belk Southern Designers Contest. Congrats to Andrea and her staff, we are all so proud of you!

If you have not seen the Hannah Kate line, please stop by the Hannah Kate web site or Facebook page and check them out. And get ready to pick up a delightful item or two at your local Belk in Spring of 2013.

Fashion's Night Out in Birmingham, Alabama & the South - Spetember 6, 2012

I'm starting to collect and list places that will be participating in Fashion's Night Out on Spetember 6. Especially interested in places that are hosting special events and dare we say it, give-aways?

Can't wait for fall!

Baltimore Style! StyleLifeFashion.com, A new blog to check out

http://www.stylelifefashion.com

Kimberly West is hosting one of the first international style & fashion blogs in Maryland, but that's still below the Mason Dixon line, so that's South enough for us to consider her a Southern writer and fashion blogger. Plus, she's an Alabama A&M grad, so she auto-qualifies!

Style + Life + Fashion is a uniquely sophisticated media outlet. A pure pleasure to look at, it glides with an effortless sense of chic across your screen. The aesthetic is pure gold for visuals and the copy is very good also. I think you'll enjoy Style + Life + Fashion  , so give Kimberly a look-see when you get a moment.

Style + Life + Fashion by Kimberly West

Last night I saw the cutest Sam Edelman pumps!

More later, but last night I saw the cutest Sam Edelman pumps, the ones with the spikes. When I saw them on the shelf at Saks I wasn't sure about them, but when I saw them in action, I was sold on the look!

TWO SHOPPER MOMS: Fall's Most Wanted - A Beautiful Blouse

TWO SHOPPER MOMS: Fall's Most Wanted - A Beautiful Blouse

These blouses are so beautiful!

Birmingham students from across the pond go vintage and unleash their creative talents to help UK’s leading veterinary charity

Birmingham students go vintage and unleash their creative talents to help PDSA

Talented students have unleashed their creative skills by organising and designing their very own fashion shoots to promote the great vintage clothing available from PDSA charity stores.

Twelve students from The School of Art, Bourneville, in Birmingham, produced their own campaigns - creating a stunning collection of images which delighted officials at the UK’s leading veterinary charity.

PDSA’s busy Aston Processing Centre welcomed the enthusiastic students, who worked with staff to select collections from a range of donated vintage stock. 

The centre collects and distributes vintage stock, which is donated to a number of the charity’s 180 stores nationwide including well known brands from bygone years. PDSA has a number of stores with thriving vintage sections, but the key area for selling vintage goods is through online sites such as ASOS.

The art and design students volunteered to help PDSA by creating show stopping photographs to sell the garments online. Inspired by the uniqueness of the vintage stock, the students were tasked with recruiting models and styling them, as well as and choosing amazing locations to capture the images.  The students had their pick of the rails of gorgeous garments to photograph in suitably luxurious locations, which included Netherstowe House, a Grade II listed boutique hotel in Staffordshire, and Canon Hill Park in Birmingham.

With graduate unemployment still high, experience with a professional organisation could make the difference as these students enter the job market. In return for their hard work for PDSA, the students have the photographs for their portfolio and the experience of working to a design brief for a large national charity. 

Kit Lendon, Volunteering Development Manager for PDSA, said “The students really embraced the project. They were excited about the fantastic vintage items that are donated to us and they had lots of great ideas on how to showcase the stock to ensure if appealed to customers online. It’s a win-win situation: PDSA gets some incredible images to help us reach a premium price for our vintage stock to support our work of caring for sick and injured pets while the students get valuable work experience and something to show future employers.”

Hannah Najjar, a student at the college, said that the project had been a great experience and had allowed them to demonstrate their creative skills. She said: “I heard that PDSA was looking for students to get involved with a campaign and I was really keen to do so.

“We visited the charity’s processing centre and picked the garments we wanted to use for our fashion shoots and we were given a deadline to produce the images. It was good because it felt like a professional assignment and we don’t get many opportunities to do things like this.”

Fellow student Megan Morrall added; “I joined the project because I loved the thought of playing a part in launching the PDSA's Vintage Clothing range as well as seeing it as a fantastic opportunity to showcase my photography skills. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the project and feel that by being involved, I have not only built up my own confidence in my work but I have a new appreciation for the work which goes into generating public interest for charities such as PDSA.”

The images produced by the students are now being used by PDSA on its ASOS page to sell its vintage stock to help raise vital funds for the charity. To view the collection, please visit:  https://marketplace.asos.com/seller/pdsa/collection#pgsz=200&pgno=1&pmin=10&pmax=45

PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, providing free veterinary care for the sick and injured pets of people in need and promoting responsible pet ownership. For further information about PDSA please visit www.pdsa.org.uk or call 0800 731 2502.

For media enquiries, please contact Russell Roberts in the Press Office on 01952 204 775, email roberts.russell@pdsa.org.uk, or visit www.pdsa.org.uk/mediacentre

Wonderful news! The Shops of Grand River adds two women's fashion stores & leather shop!

THE OUTLET SHOPS OF GRAND RIVER ADDS

TWO WOMEN’S FASHION STORES, LEATHER STORE

Regional Shopping Center Brings Affordable Fashion to Central Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, AL- The Outlet Shops of Grand River is pleased to announce the addition of LOFT Outlet, Motherhood Maternity and Johnston & Murphy to their already extensive line up of stores. The distinctive shopping destination that is located minutes from Birmingham looks to welcome the fashionable style of LOFT Outlet and the affordable fashions of Motherhood Maternity in August 2012. The style, craftsmanship and innovation of Johnston & Murphy will be available to shoppers in September 2012.

“The addition of these great brands, LOFT Outlet, Motherhood Maternity and Johnston & Murphy, provides shoppers with even more diversity at The Outlet Shops of Grand River as they come to shop for themselves and their family members,” states Christine Szalay, General Manager of The Outlet Shops of Grand River.

LOFT Outlet, Motherhood Maternity and Johnston & Murphy will be located in the front northern corridor between Talbot’s Outlet and Coach Factory. LOFT Outlet will offer versatile, accessible and affordable fashion with undeniably feminine appeal, special and unexpected details and a great fit. Motherhood Maternity will offer a complete selection of the latest fashions at amazing low prices. From sexy and sophisticated to bold and beautiful, Motherhood Maternity has everything the mom-to-be could ever want or need at the lowest prices around. As a pillar of classic workmanship and a beacon of American style, Johnston & Murphy will provide the highest quality products and set the standard for successful, professionals throughout Alabama.

For more information on The Outlet Shops of Grand River, please visit www.shopsofgrandriver.com or contact Jamie Robinson at 205-702-8363 or jrobinson@shopsofgrandriver.com.

What would you wear to meet First Lady Michelle Obama? Chanda Temple at the Birmingham News has the answer to that!

What would you wear to meet First Lady Michelle Obama? Chanda Temple at the Birmingham News has the answer to that thanks to some local Southern & Birmingham Fashion Bloggers!

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2012/07/what_would_you_wear_to_meet_mi.html

And thanks to Katie Frost at HemsforHer.com for bringing for the Curvy Girls!

She calls them "Bad Britches" but we call them cute!

Ariel is blogging about her snakeskin patterned pants and lovingly refers to them as "bad britches." We think they are just as cute as can be!

You know you have to really have it going on to carry those off, and Ariel does!  http://untitled1986.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/bad-britches/

Check out our neighbor to the north, and "Join Glam Hunt!"

Join the Glam Hunt!

Check out our neighbor to the north, and join Jenny Gyurova Hite on a "Glam Hunt!" Jenny is originally from Bulgaria but now calls the good old USA home. A graduate of UAH with a Masters in Management of Technology, Jenny is the Vice-President of a large bank in Huntsville.

In her spare time, Jenny founded "Join Glam Hunt," a place, as she says, "designed to promote women's fashion ideas empowered by local business finds." In other words, "Finding and sharing the GLAM in Huntsville."


Find Jenny and bookmark her blog! I think you'll enjoy her take on things.

Feeling a little blog love tonight, because it's too hot to get out in it. So I'm home reading about it!

What is this "it" I speak of? Well, it's fashion, and fun, and frolic, and even dare I say, fellowship! Just checking in with some very good bloggers and writers from across the South and seeing what they are up to in this heat!

First up is Ariel Clay. She's out in it! Out in the heat and out in her fashion, check her out at the Art on the Rocks event. Isn't that dress great? And the Vince Camuto shoes? Delish! Ariel has a rare quality for a Southern Fashion Blogger. She can be out and about in our "warm" weather and not look the slightest bit effected. She also manages to do that during her live news reports at a local news station. I must remember to ask her secret! But check out her blog, because it's very fresh and very Birmingham.

Then how about the girl who puts the GLAM in BIRMINGHAM? Alexis Barton and her Same Chic, Different Day blog never fail to inspire. She writes with wit and clarity, and some of our favorite posts from Alexis are the "No sir, no mam!" posts! Alexis also keeps her finger on the fashion pulse outside of Birmingham also and we LOVE to read her fashion reviews on big Hollywood events. It makes us feel all the more fashionable to see how often we agree with Alexis' take on a look, she just writes it better than we ever could!

The ArtBelles are on a very temporary hiatus during a recovery period, but trust me, their blog is great for reading and meandering through while you sip some lemonade and think cool thoughts. You'll enjoy reading about these floral cuties http://artblt.com/2012/06/11/shoe-attack-floral-cuties/, or perhaps one of their TV spot reports is more your speed? Or better yet, what about one of their famous food post? Whether it's a fab & festive meal they've made themselves, or their review of a DELICIOUS and trendy Over the Mountain eatery called Johnny Brusco’s New York Style Pizza, you'll be pleased that you stayed a while with the ArtBelles. It's like visiting family.

Or maybe you're up around Charlotte and wanted to see what's shaking in the Queen City. Check in with T. Strong. She's a well known columnist with Creative Loafing, but she also runs her own visually interesting and verbally exciting fashion blog, "StyleMayvin." T. Strong has it all at her blog. Hot looks, big names and big fashion news, local events to keep you in the know and her own personal appearances on Fox Charlotte to keep you interested. If you need a Charlotte Fashion Blogger, T. Strong is the one you want!

Maybe you really just need a good enough reason and the inspiration to forget about the heat and embrace summer in all it's sun-filled glory? Look no further than Erica's D.I.Y. Style blog. Her summer yellow dress is just eye-poppingly gorgeous, I kid you not. And all the more so because she MADE IT BY HAND. But fear not fellow fashionista, Erica always tells us where she finds her fabulous shoes and accompanying purses that are always an important part of her total look. And she looks GOOD!

I had a chance to introduce myself to Erica a few months ago. I almost gushed. Ok, I did gush. I couldn't help it. "You look so pretty on the blog, but you are so gorgeous in person!" And she is. But best of all, she's so kind and sweet and showed me the most adorable pictures of her grandbaby. Awwww. It was my favorite part of the day.

To cap things off, you might be in the mood to take it easy and drag your fingers through a cool deep stream of running water to beat the heat. The kind of stream that flows merrily in places, grows quite in others and springs back life when flowing waters cascade down mossy rocks.

Check out Hem's For Her, by Katie Frost. High School English Teacher by day, fashion blogger by afternoon, and mom by night. She's a mom alright, but not a mommy blogger, unless you count the times her adorable son is featured in mom's fashion shoots.Katie is what I call a "girl's girl" blogger. And that's a compliment. Because most of us girls don't have the perfect body. And Katie knows that. Struggling  with a little baby weight? No problem. Katie shows you how to dress fashionably in clothes that flatter no matter what the situation. A little curvy up top? Check out Katie's solutions to that common problem. And more than that, read about Katie embracing her body and dressing it well, and not breaking the bank. And then when all the fashion reading is done, dip your fingers in the cool, slower moving pool of Katie's thoughts and musings on life. She's entertaining and interesting, I always leave Katie's blog with a smile on my face.

Isn't that how it's supposed to be?

So check out a few bloggers see what Birmingham Fashion Blogging is all about! (And one Charlotte Fashion Blogger.)