Designer Profile: Bibhu Mohapatra

One of my favorite Fall 2010 RTW collections was Bibhu Mohapatra.  I found it absolutely breathtaking and completely inspiring.  I plan on doing a post later about my wardrobe inspiration for fall, and several of his looks will be appearing in that.  His past two collections were OK, but this season he really hit the nail on the head.  The looks are retro with a modern twist, classic and not too costumey.  They have a wonderful masculine/feminine vibe, and the textiles and colors are perfect for fall.

Here are some of my favorite looks:

XO, Coco Birdie

Designer Profile: Leifsdottir

Leifsdottir is a sister company of Anthropologie and, unlike most of Anthropologie's brands, has their own website: http://www.leifsdottir.com/

They have a wonderful whimsical look with both soft draped pieces and more structured items.  Their prints make the line particularly amazing.

I put together one outfit from the many pieces I love.  They are currently having a summer sale, and the same items are on sale at Anthropologie.

XO, Coco Birdie

New Sale Updates

Just an FYI:

Anthropologie typically updates their sale merchandise on Tuesdays.  

J. Crew typically updates their sale merchandise on Wednesday.

Know of any other sale updates?  Post it in the comments and I'll be sure the word gets out!

XO, Coco Birdie

Designer Profile: Butter by Nadia

Yesterday I discovered Butter by Nadia while boutique shopping.  The line consists of multi-wear basics in jersey and satin.  I love the Signature Jersey dress (pictured above)  and can't decide what color to get (black? ruby? charcoal? slate? navy? sapphire? or evergreen?).  The $250 price tag might seem a bit high, but when divided by the number of different looks you get (12+) it is a steal at $21.  The "One-Size-Fits-All" is a bit off-putting, but I'm willing to give it a try.

I also love:

The Signature Wrap Gown

 The Signature Dara Wrap Gown

 The Signature Dara Wrap Dress

 The Miss Saturn Dress

















There's a sample sale going on for the next few days, so be sure to check out the online shop: http://www.shopbutterbynadia.com/

XO, Coco Birdie

Anthropologie

One of my all time favorite stores is Anthropologie.  I've put together several outfits based on their current collection.  (Click on the image to see a larger format).

Outfit 1:

The first outfit is both a print with color abstraction and a print mix.  Centered around the top, the cardigan brings out the blues and adds interest with the ruffles.  The yellow shorts accentuate the hints of yellow in the top, and also have a fun bubble embroidery.  The shoes, I LOVE, are in basic neutral colors but add a great print mix with the top.  The shoes and the top work together because the scale is very different.  Roaming Frills Cardigan, Poured Paint Tank, Limon Fizz Shorts, Grevy's Wedges.  

Outfit 2:

Outfit two is a more classic example of print mix.  The striped shirt picks up a neutral in the ikat woven shorts.  To finish off the outfit, a bauble bracelet in matching colors is added and trendy tan booties for the feet.  Curated Tee, Blurred Ikat Shorts, Cut Paper Portraits Booties, Configured Corolla Bracelet. 

Outfit 3: 

The third outfit is a basic black and white, with interest added in texture and metallic accents.  The top is made of ivory and black discs (like sequins, just not shiny).  The cardigan and pant carry through the black and white theme.  The earrings and shoes add metallic touches that help dress up the outfit a bit.  Annika Cardigan, Fluttering Petals Tank, World Over Cargos, Precious Metal Mini-Wedges, Fancified Drops. 

Outfit 4:

This outfit is all about the accessories.  The outfit itself is comfortable and the top has a great braided wrap detail.  The shoes pick up the coral color and have gunmetal stones along the top.  My favorite part of this outfit is the gunmetal colored stone octopus earrings.  They reinforce the stones on the shoes and the sweeping shapes of the cardigan and top.  Watercourse Cardigan, Lariat Laced Tank, Pilco Slim Straight Jeans, Swanky Octopus Earrings, Chest of Jewels Sandals. 

Outfit 5:

Outfit five is a great summer outfit that is right on trend with the nautical themes seen by high-end designers.  The striped jacket is a great topper for chilly air conditioned rooms and looks great of the red and blue print dress.  Wear the yellow flower on the jacket lapel or in your hair for another pop of color.  Shoes are kept neutral so the look isn't too much.  Hello Sunday Blazer, High Seas Dress, Extra Zest Clip, Tamara Heels.

Outfit 6:

This is a really great look for a wedding or outdoor party.  I love the purple and the short sleeve jacket will keep you covered without the extra heat.  The polka-dotted dress is fun and flirty.  The earrings add a pop of interesting color and the cut out booties are a great way to do the summer trend.  At First Site Jacket, Lafayette Strapless Dress, Bitty Beatles Earrings, Fine-Cut Oxfords. 

Outfit 7:

I love this cut of dress and this is a great way to do basics but keep it interesting.  Be sure to read the reviews on the dress before ordering- it seems like it is running big. The pearl and spectator shoes are a great modern take on classic pieces.  This would be a great outfit to wear into fall or to the office.  Obscured Flora Dress, Stowaway Necklace, Back Rock Spectators. 

While you are on Anthro's website, be sure to check out their amazing handbags and home goods.

XO, Coco Birdie

The Outnet

Another site for great deals on designer garb is TheOutnet.  They offer designer apparel, shoes, bags, and more at great discounts.  The images are great- you can easily zoom in, see it on a mannequin, or see the piece as part of an outfit.  Right now they are having a special sale on designer denim (up to 70% off).

Here's what I'm currently craving from their dress section:

Celine Silk Wrap Dress, 65% off.  I love the bright yellow color and the flattering wrap silhouette.  This would be a great dress to wear to work or dress up for an evening out.

Halston Asymmetric Silk-Chiffon Dress, 80% off.  Again, the color is to die for and I love the easy but elegant draped tent shape.  The one shoulder look is completely on trend, as are the booties shown with it (which adds a bit of edge and unexpectedness).

Vanessa Bruno Crepe-knit Twisted Dress, 60% off.  The neckline is great- unique and flattering.  It frames the face in an alluring, yet architectural way.  The dress doesn't come belted, but I think the belt help define the waist a bit more and is a nice touch as opposed to a necklace.  The fabric is mostly viscose, which means it is going to be soft and drape beautifully against the figure.

Halston Full-Length Scarf Dress, 65% off.  This is such a beautiful silhouette, with a sexy back view.  I love the deep orange color- a great alternative to the sea of black in most evening dresses.  I'd pair this with chunky bracelets and bright lips, keeping everything else simple.

XO, Coco Birdie

Great Deals

There are many member's only websites that offer great daily deals on designer products.  Here's a run-down of some of the best out there:

SWIRL by Daily Candy: If you aren't subscribed to Daily Candy's emails, do so immediately.  They offer tons of great fashion and design related information, deals, and events.  Recently, they launched SWIRL by Daily Candy.  Still in its beta form, SWIRL offers new lines each day at a discount.  The offer stays up for a few days and discounts up to 80%.  There's a variety of clothing, shoes, bags, and other accessories.  Past lines offered at a discount include: DAV, Ban.do, Cocobelle, Leigh & Luca, Olsenhaus, and American Apparel.  They only offer women's products.

HauteLook: HauteLook is one of the best sale sites around.  They offer a range of products, from clothing and accessories to housewares and books.  The savings are great and the prices usually aren't bad.  As far as the fashion side goes, the style ranges a lot of 7 for All Mankind, to MICHAEL Michael Kors, to American Vintage.  The two best reasons to sign up for HauteLook are the decadetwo sales (amazing vintage designer finds at great prices) and the Tachen book sales (amazing, well designed books for mere dollars).  Sales last for 48 hours and discounts range from 50-75% off.  They offer women's and children's products, rarely men's.

Billion Dollar Babes: Billion Dollar Babes isn't my favorite, but still noteworthy.  The only have 2-3 new sales every day (most sites have 5-7) and they tend to be on the more expensive side.  Today they have vintage Chanel jewelry and Dior & Fendi sunglasses.  If you are looking for a really, high-end designer discount, this is the place to shop.  They offer women's products only.

Gilt Group: Gilt Group offers amazing discounts on high-end designer goods.  While dresses may still be $500-1,000+ dollars, its a real steal from the $5,000 original price.  I love this site because the photographs are consistent and great.  It is a great way to view the details of designer pieces without having to get the stink-eye from snotty high-end boutique sales associates.  Gilt used to have Gilt Fuse, which was more trendy, edge low-priced items but I think they've merged with Gilt.  They also have travel deals with discounts on hotels around the world.  Sales last for 48 hours and they offer several new sales daily.  The best reason to be apart of Gilt is the semi-annual final sale blowout.  The deals are amazing (you can actually afford real designer stuff!) but the pieces go quickly and sizes are limited.  Gilt also offers a wait-list, which most sites don't.  While I've never been contacted about any of my wait-list items coming back in stock, it is a nice feature.  They offer women's, men's, children's, and home products.

Rue La La: Rue La La is one of the best sale sites.  The brands are great, as are the prices.  They do tend to have slightly higher end stuff (think Theory, Botiker and Kenneth Jay Lane), but the prices are still good.  Sales last 2 days and they put the sold out stuff near the bottom of the page (less digging around for what's left if you check in near the end).  Besides clothing and accessories, Rue La La also offers home goods and the rare travel deal.  They offer women's, and men's products.

Ideeli: Ideeli is also a great site for deals.  They feature a lot of new sales daily and the prices are very good.  Most brands are at a mid-point range (BCBG, Michael Stars, Betsy Johnson), but occassionally they have designer brands (today they have Prabal Gurung).  They carry a pretty good selection of sizes and enough stock and they also offer a wait list option when a product is sold out.  Shipping takes away, typically up to 2 weeks, so don't shop here if you need something immediately.  They just redesigned their site, and the old one was much cleaner and easier to shop.  They mostly offer women's fashion products and some children's or home goods.


XO, Coco Birdie

Madewell

Madewell, a sister brand of J. Crew, now offers online shopping.  They have a great vintage casual look with a bit of a rock-n-roll edge, which I love.  I've created three outfits from pieces I love.

Happy shopping!



The first outfit features the Summer-weight Cashmere Cardigan over the Hardware Tank with the Rail Straight Jeans and Colordrop Jewels & Chains Necklace to top.

The second outfit shows the Brenton Tee underneath the Gingham Getaway Blazer and Ropey Soles Simple Espadrilles for an interesting play on stripes and patterns.  Their Rail Straight Jeans finish off the look to keep the bottom basic.

 

The third outfit consists of Lace Illusion Tee and Mariposa Skirt with the Twisted Metal & Crystals Bracelet to add a bit of edge.

They are currently offering free shipping and free returns on all their denim- a great way to try out different styles to find what you like.

XO, Coco Birdie