Feeling all fashionable with no place to go?

Feeling all fashionable with no place to go? Then please allow the Birmingham Fashion Blog to help!

Belles Inc. is having a fabulous fundraising fashion show at Saks at the Summit, Friday June 22 from 6-9. The cost is only $40 which is tax-deductable and you'll receive a $25 Saks gift card.

More info here: https://www.eventbrite.com/event/3592753021
For a preview, check out Arielle Clay's blog: http://untitled1986.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/playing-dress-up/

I'm thinking I might like Raf Simmons new line for Dior

I'm thinking I might like Raf Simmons new line for Dior, but how can I know for sure when I can't even figure out the photos!

It's a hat, no it's a chin, no, it's Raf Simmons new line!

And for a few updates on the Southern blogging scene: Same Chic Different day attended the festivities at the H & M grand opening in Huntsville. Read all about it here: http://samechicdifferentday.com/2012/06/15/i-heart-hm/

A beauty item I'll never review - but can't wait to read a review of!

Cle de peau Beaute - $13,213 for just 50g. 

When fashion gives you the warm fuzzies...

Belk Donates $10,000 to Greater Birmingham Humane Society

Community support an essential part of Belk mission

BIRMINGHAM, AL. – June 18, 2012 – Belk, Inc. recently presented a $10,000 donation to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, continuing the tradition of philanthropy started by its founders 124 years ago.

“Belk is honored to support the important work of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, its staff, programs, and the many volunteers with this donation,” said Jan Clevenger, chair of the Belk Western Division. “Belk is committed to supporting the work of non-profit organizations who are meaningful to our customers and associates. The GBHS is a vital part of this these efforts.”

“Belk continues to be a community leader in giving back to local non-profits and this generous gift is another example of their dedication toward helping to strengthen our communities." said Jacqueline Meyer, Executive Director for the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. "The $10,000 gift we received will assist with providing quality care for the more than 9,000 owner-surrendered animals we receive yearly and will allow us to continue to offer programs such as Education Outreach, Cruelty Investigation, Low Cost Shot Clinic and Pet Pantry.”

Fashion in Huntsville: H&M set to open first Alabama location in Bridge Street Town Center!

You already knew that Huntsville was tres-fashionable. Amy Mayfield is the local fashion writer at the Huntsville Times and Carol Marks is a well known fashion blogger in the area. And starting June 14, the fashion quotient is jumping through the roof in the Rocket City!

BridgeStreet Celebrates H&M Opening

Bridge Street Town Centre proudly welcomes H&M to Huntsville with the opening of the retailer’s first Alabama location

Bridge Street Town Center is excited to host the opening of H&M’s first location in the state of Alabama. H&M will make its long awaited debut in Huntsville at the popular shopping and lifestyle destination, Bridge Street Town Centre. 


Opening June 14th at noon, H&M at Bridge Street Town Centre will give Alabama shoppers access to the latest trends at the best prices.

The H&M at Bridge Street Town Centre will offer collections for ladies and men, young ladies and young men, with separate “store within store” sections for accessories, lingerie, and sports apparel. 


This location will also carry H&M’s new plus-sized line, H&M+, as well as the retailer’s fantastic children’s collection, featuring quality clothing for kids aged newborn to fourteen.

On opening day, H&M at Bridge Street Town Centre will offer the first 250 shoppers in line an H&M t-shirt and “Access to Fashion Pass”, valued from $10 to $300, in addition to fantastic opening offers and giveaways for the whole family!

In celebration of the June 14^th opening, many other Bridge Street merchants will be offering incentives and promotions throughout the weekend.  Special pavement performances will also compliment the shopping and dining experience. 

Listed below are a few of the special offers:

Altar’d State - Birthday celebration June 14-16. Up to 20% off every purchase or FREE gift. Register to win $200 shopping spree.

Blue Medspa - Mention your recent purchase at H&M and schedule a 50 minute massage for $50.00.  This is a savings of $40.00.  Expiration July 31,2012.  Not valid with any other offer.

Cantina Laredo - Free cup of Queso Laredo with the purchase of an entree when guests shows their same day H&M receipt

Chocolate Crocodile - Show a same day H&M receipt at checkout and receive 15% off your purchase, Valid June 14 – June 17.

Great American Cookie Company – Show your same day receipt from Huntsville’s H&M and receive 10% off your purchase.

Grogan’s Jewelers - 35% off all Tissot watches and register to win a Tissot watch at the store.  Valid June 14 – June 17.

Lime Fresh – Enter to win a $25 Lime Fresh Gift Card to be given away each day June 14 – June 17.

Maggie Moos – Present your same day H&M receipt and receive a $1.00 discount on your purchase, June 14 – June 17

Monaco Pictures – Register for a daily $25 Monaco Pictures Gift card giveaway, June 14 – June 17.  Stop by Monaco’s Guest Services to register.

Papaya – Buy one get one ½ off on all regular priced items, excluding accessories.  Valid June 14 – June 17.

Pinz – Enter to win our Fashion Plate Party for 15 (2 hours in our private suite with light appetizers for 15). Simply present your H&M receipt (dated June 14^th -17^th) to a member of the PiNZ staff for your chance to win; drawing to be held Monday, June 18^th - winners to be announced on Facebook. 

Pinz - Present your H&M receipt dated June 14th – 21st for a FREE pizza and game of bowling for two - shoe rental not included.

Reeds Jewelers - $25 off your $250 purchase for customers who show their H&M receipt

June 14 – June 17

Sage Grill (The Westin - Huntsville) Bring your H&M receipt in Thursday - Sunday, June 14 - 17 for a 20% discount in The Westin Huntsville's Sage Grille. Offer valid for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, dine-in only.  (does not include a discount on alcohol, tax or tip and may not be combined with any other offer)

Sephora – Register in store to win our daily Glam Bag Giveaway, June 14 – June 17

Tavern at Bridge Street – Register to win dinner for two to be given away each day June 14 – June 17.

The Westin - Huntsville  - Bring your H&M receipt to the hotel's check in desk from Thursday-Sunday (opening week), join our FREE SPG Program and you'll automatically be entered to win a 1 night's stay at The Westin Huntsville. (based on availability, may not be redeemed for cash value, Must be 18 to participate)

The Westin - Huntsville – Make it a weekend with a Shop & Stay Package including:

•Rates from $269 per night

•$100 Bridge Street gift card

•Two tickets to Monaco Pictures for Prive or General Admission

•Breakfast for two in Sage Grille ($30 maximum) 

•One Shopping Tote

•Bridge Street Savings Guide

•4 p.m. check-out based on availability

.

For additional offers and a performance schedule visit: www.bridgestreethuntsville.com

Everyone is talking: WWD's article, "To Pay or Not to Pay: A Closer Look at the Business of Blogging"

Everyone is talking about what seems to be a broadside volley by WWD against Fashion Bloggers.

"To Pay or Not to Pay: A Closer Look at the Business of Blogging"

We get it, WWD isn't the biggest fan of Fashion Bloggers. Of course they aren't.

But this remark in the article stuck with me:

"Besides, some brands contend, if bloggers are journalists, journalists aren't paid for writing about a company."


And that my friends is a little misleading. While most journalist don't get paid anything up front to write about various fashion products, they do get many benefits. From free swag bags with valuable products from stores that hope they'll write about said products, to the companies then buying ads in the outlet which is used to pay the journalists salary, there is a payment of sorts.


Here's my philosophy: Everyone needs content to write about. Companies provide a lot of content for bloggers and journalists alike. If a blogger can make a buck, great. If the journalists outlet isn't one that's currently going under and they are receiving a salary, great. Win-win.


So what's the problem with bloggers being paid? As far as my blog goes, I don't get paid. I'm more active during the Spring and Fall fashion pushes so my blog can lie fallow for days. And you can't charge for that!


But brands know that bloggers can create a buzz and keep a conversation going to about a product or event. Journalist don't really specializes in that, nor should they.


In my opinion, bloggers and journalists are BOTH important to brands. And that's a good thing.

A little bird tweeted to me about Michael Kors coming to the Summit!

"A @michaelkors store will open @ #Bham's Summit in 

Aug, next to Flip Burger. #excited"

For now, the writer if that tweet shall remain nameless, but suffice to say, she's the woman who had a vision for fashion coverage in this fine city, and she's worked tirelessly to bring that vision to the rest of us And if you ask me, she should get the credit for kicking Birmingham into high gear where fashion is concerned these past few years.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again,  _ _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _  put fashion writing and fashion event coverage on the map in this town.

(Some out of state readers may not know that The Summit is home to the worlds most fabulous Belk Department Store, Saks and Gus Meyer, just to name a few.

Put this in the "Ask & ye shall receive" category: Renowned Designer Joseph Abboud to visit Birmingham & Host Launch Party at Belk

We have long LOVED the crisp, clean lines of designer Joseph Abboud's menswear and were entranced by his book, "Threads: My Life Behind the Seams in the High-Stakes World of Fashion."

And we were just wishing and hoping that more menswear style events would happen in Birmingham.

And what happens? Belk announces that Joseph Abboud himself is coming to Birmingham to host a launch event for his Black Brown 1826 line! Details below:

Award-winning designer & noted author Joseph Abboud will be in Birmingham May 24 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 p.m. at Belk Riverchase Galleria to host a launch party for his Lord & Taylor line "Black Brown 1826."

In conjunction with Lord & Taylor, 61 Belk stores and Belk.com will carry the exclusive line that includes an array of shirts, shorts, blazers and denim that has been especially merchandised with the Southern gentleman in mind.

Did we mention it's a party?

• Craft Beer tasting provided by Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
• Appetizers and wine from B & A Warehouse
• Authentic Cigar Rolling demonstration provided by My Cigar Roller
• Complimentary cigar for the first 50 attendees
• Register to win a $500 Black/Brown 1826 Wardrobe
• Register to win a weekend trip to Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bridge Resort
• Informal modeling
• DJ spinning your favorite tunes

Belk will also have a special photo area and a photographer on hand, so bring your friends and show them how it's done "Southern Style!"

Belk

2100 RIVERCHASE GALLERIA

BIRMINGHAM, AL 35244

(205)987-4200

You know what this city needs? More men's style events!

You know what this city needs? More men's style events!

Cute moms in Birmingham

Wish I had thought of this before now, but wouldn't a Pinterest board of cute, fashionable moms in Birmingham  have been great?

I would have definitely have added Arielle's mom to my board! Check her out here:  http://untitled1986.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/on-my-mama/

My eyes are ready for classic, clean looks!

We were swimming at the Gretystone YMCA and I noticed a pair of classic nautical styled swim trunks. And my eyes took a big sigh of relief and said "Thank you."

And I realized that while I do love spring fashion and love all the explosions  of color that happens, my eyes were missing the clean and crisp lines of classic nautical inspired looks.

I looked and looked online to try and find some swim trunks like the ones I saw so I could buy them for my son somewhere in Birmingham, but the closest I could find were these at Alexa and Alexa.

The pair I saw at the Y had a smaller line and a blue that was closer to navy blue, but these will do just fine!

You know what I love about shopping at Saks at the Summit?

You know what I love about shopping at Saks at the Summit? Laura Mercier.

Jessica Simpson finally had her baby! Congrats to her, now what about you?

Babies are the next big thing in fashion and it is sooo much fun to buy those sweet little baby clothes. Can you imagine the wardrobe little Maxwell Drew Johnson is going to have? And I miss those days of oooohhing and aaaahing over smocked onsies from Feltman Brothers. My wee one is now 7 and he's all boy. He only ever wants to wear blue jeans. Not shorts, not kahkis, just blue jeans.

So far we have the best luck in finding blue jeans for him (at of all places) Target! He doesn't like the ones with all those crazy washes, just the regular denim. Whew! But I digress...

I wanted to talk about Alexis Barton at SameChicDifferentDay.com and her pregnancy fashion tips! She really hit it out of the park yesterday and today and I think you'll really enjoy her column if you're expecting. Even if your're not, it's still a great read. Alexis posts as AL.com as a fashion blogger and at her own site: http://samechicdifferentday.com/ Check her out!

Guess who is getting a present today? You are!

Guess who is getting a present today? You are! Well, you could be. All you have to do is join the celebration at the ArtBelles blog. Sisters Shermika and Tamika Dunner are celebrating the one year anniversary of their beautiful blog by giving one lucky reader a gift from Fashionable Notes.

What are you waiting for! Click here and head there!

Put this one in the "She's so cute! category

Just received a nice email from Ali Whitt at another great Birmingham fashion blog and we all just LOVED her style. Do me a favor and check out her cute outfit for today. She's rocking some vintage Ralph Lauren pants and an adorable thrift store shirt. And from her mom's closet! Way to go mom! http://felinesandfabric.blogspot.com/ She's on Facebook also if you want to keep up with her cute looks. http://www.facebook.com/felinesandfabric

Guess who's headed to NYC & the Chanel corporate office?

Guess who's headed to NYC & the Chanel corporate office? Ok, not me. I only wish it was me. But one fashionable lady from our fair city will soon be winging her way to the Big Apple and we're delighted to announce who & why.

"Hala Valekis, Chanel Counter Manager at Belk Summit in Birmingham, was recently recognized as the 2011 Chanel Department Store Counter Manager of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic region!  She is one of only 16 Chanel Counter Managers from both Department and Specialty store divisions to receive this recognition.  What is even more exciting is that from among the 16 recipients of this coveted award, Hala has been selected from 735 of her peers to join the prestigious Elite Eight Counter Managers of the Year!

Valekis was elected to the Elite Eight due to her passion for the Chanel brand, excellence in her goal attainment, clienteling and communication skills.  “Hala possesses superior service and sales skills,” said Becky Blair, DMC, “She exemplifies what a Belk Cosmetic associate should be.”  Valekis also stood out for her leadership, team development and overall drive for success.  Valekis has executed all Chanel events “with precision and with results through an extensive clientele list,” said Susan Held, Belk Summit Store Manager, “She has developed a team which has the same drive.”

Hala will be recognized for her accomplishment with a trip to New York City May 15-17 to visit the Chanel corporate offices, a beautiful pair of Chanel earrings, membership into a Chanel Field Advisory Committee and the acclaim of being one of Chanel’s Elite Counter Managers."

Congratulations to Hala from everyone here at the Birmingham Fashion Blog.

Also wanted to mention that Jennifer Puckett, the Bobbie Brown counter manager at Belk Riverchase Galleria has been named one of the top 100 make-up artist in the US by the esteemed Elle Magazine.

Congratulations to Jennifer also!

It's a party at the beach and you're invited! New Pandora opening in Destin

Since so many friends visit the sugar white beaches at Destin every year, I thought I'd mention this great fashion event happening in Destin at one of the BEST fashion shopping places EVER, Destin Commons.

Destin’s Sands Sparkle Even Brighter with PANDORA Store at Destin Commons

New store to bring commerce, heightened fashion upon May 3^rd grand opening

DESTIN, Fla. –April 24, 2012—Destin area jewelry lovers will line up as a new PANDORA store arrives in Destin Commons (Center Plaza) hold its grand opening event on May 3, from 4 to 9 p.m. The 1,115 square-foot lifestyle store has already opening its doors just in time for the summer-season, showcasing the newest designs and collections from PANDORA.

This grand opening has significant meaning for the Destin area, as it will bring new commerce and a heightened sense of style and fashion to the community. The new, sleek environment of the Scandinavian-influenced store creates the ultimate shopping experience for PANDORA enthusiasts as well as those who are new to the brand. Patrons will be able to view the latest PANDORA designs and collections in a store layout that is both welcoming and enjoyable to explore.

 “PANDORA continues to grow in popularity within our community and globally,” said Tonya Flores, store manager of PANDORA at Destin Commons. “We are thrilled to showcase PANDORA’s hand-finished jewelry with all of its latest collections in one beautifully designed store.”

The May 3 grand opening event is open to the public and will introduce shoppers to the PANDORA experience, as guests enjoy hors d’ouvres and refreshments and entertainment. Event attendees will have a chance to win a specially designed PANDORA bracelet.

Give them a call! 650-2090

So much fun reading the ArtBelles today

If you've been reading here for very long you know that not only do we write about fashion, but we also write about people who write about fashion. And that's the fun part of the job! (Not that we get paid for this, but still...)

Today we greatly enjoyed the adventures of two darling ArtBelles, Shermika and Tamika Dunner as they accepted a challenge from Simply Fashion: What spring fashion shopping can you do with $50?

You'll want to read their blog post to find out what they achieved. (Click here.) And as for me, I'm looking for the nearest Simply Fashion!

Check out Katie Frost at Hems for Her & Erica Bunker at DIY style

Loving fashion as we do, it's EASY to love these two fashion bloggers: Katie Frost and Erica Bunker. Katie's a teacher in a nearby high school and Erika's a fashion forward seamstress who actually makes the fierce fashion looks you'll see at her blog.

And in both bloggers recent posts, they really hit it out of the park!

Hem's for Her: Santa Baby

Erica Bunker DIY: Review: New Look 6003 | Red Peplum Skirt!

Fashion Secrets of the South A Southern Designer Spring Fashion, Accessories & Home Décor Trunk Show

You MUST read this article by Birmingham's TOP fashion writer the Birmingham News' own,  CHANDA TEMPLE. 


"On Tuesday, Birmingham-area shoppers can meet Leigh and 19 other Southern-based designers at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover during the “Fashion Secrets of the South,” a traveling trunk show of accessories, clothing and home decor." Complete list here, but designers include: Maison de Papier, Hot to Trot, Mark Edge, Lilly Beck Originals, and Sally B's Skin Yummies


Between Belk bringing famous designers like Sam Edelman & Donald J. Pliner and this event at Aldridge Gardens, Birmingham has certainly upped it's fashionable factor this year!