Trend Alert: The Parka Jacket

The Parka Jacket Is A Hot Trend In Winter Outerwear. The Cargo Jacket Is Best Done With The Androgynous Look.

Look Of The Day!!

Zara Blazer, Club Monaco Shirt, Vanessa Mooney and Madewell Necklaces, Gap Pants, Vintage and Hermes Bracelets, Kelly Wearstler Clutch, Louboutin Heels

6 Fashion Rules For Professional Women

Portuguese-born Felipe Oliveira Baptista worked at labels including Max Mara and Cerruti, founded his namesake label in 2003 and in 2010 was named Creative Director of Lacoste. The designer, who presented his first runway collection for Lacoste in September, said, “For the first show we really wanted to emphasize the re-launching of Lacoste womenswear. Also, in the same logic, and for the first time, we will have separate ad campaigns for men and women.” Lacoste’s Spring 2012 runway collection was almost 80 percent women’s, a marked shift for the brand. Baptista played with the label’s French heritage, sportswear roots and tailoring, churning out wearable must-haves including perfectly cut sleeveless shifts, parkas and full length jersey gowns. With a keen understanding of the way that urban power women want to dress, both at work and on the weekend, Baptista shared some style rules women should live by.

Invest In Timeless Classics:

A wardrobe of great basics can go a long way. Baptista suggests that every woman should own “a good coat, a parka, a timeless trench, jeans that flatter, a black dress and, of course, a Lacoste polo.” Those few things can be a great base on which to add jewelry, fashion-forward shoes and a colorful handbag.

Look to the Runway for Inspiration:

Designer runway collections can often seem out of touch with the needs of real women, but they can also be a great place to source fresh fashion inspiration. Color-blocking was a key trend on Lacoste’s Spring 2012 runway, and Baptista suggests looking for “wearable neutral versions of the trend.” Instead of pairing red, green and blue pieces together, which might be too loud for the office, opt for grey, nude and white separates to get the look.

Don’t Try and Dress Like Your Daughter:

The women’s fashion mistake that makes Baptista shudder? Women “dressing a few decades less than their age,” says the designer. Getting older doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your personal style, but it does mean you should probably trade in the leather miniskirt for a razor sharp pencil skirt.

Shoes Instantly Transform A Look:

The easiest way to take your look from day to night Baptista says is “popping on a pair of heels.” Store a classic pair of black pumps in your desk drawer, so you are always cocktail party ready.

Effortless Chic Is Always In Style:

When designing, Baptista thinks of a woman “who wants fuss-free, desirable and comfortable clothes.” Not surprising sentiments from the Paris-based designer—French women are renowned for having perfected easygoing elegance, or as Baptista often says, “joie de vivre.” The way to achieve this, he says, is through the “mixing of formalwear and sportswear.”

“ No power is strong enough to be lasting if it labors under the weight of fear. ” — Cicero

Trend Watch: Florals

FROM printed perennials and beaded blossoms to appliqué blooms, spring's florals are a delightfully mixed bunch. 

At Christopher Kane, an explosion of flowery stickers beneath a bed of sheer organza signalled a very modern take on the trend, while you couldn't help but fall in love with Erdem's signature florals and their grown-up allure.

SEE THE TREND ON THE CATWALK

Mismatched flower prints were juxtaposed atMary Katrantzou, Sportmax, Clements Ribeiroand Erdem, again, mixing a bouquet of prints and a riot of colour.

The Secret to Answering "Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?"

“Why did you leave your last job?” The question can strike fear in even the most confident candidate. Whether your answer is simple or complex, being asked to talk about it puts you on the spot, and it can be tricky to balance the truth while still painting yourself in the best possible light to your hopefully-soon-to-be employer.

Here’s how to craft an expert answer.

Be Honest
You absolutely have to be up front about your reason for leaving, particularly if you were terminated—a prospective employer can (and in many cases, will) call your references or your last supervisor. And if you’ve been let go, don’t panic: It doesn’t mean you’re out of the running. 
Stay Positive
Even if you suffered under the wrath of a Devil Wears Prada-type of supervisor, do not rant about a previous boss or company during an interview. And if you think were laid off unfairly, you still don’t want to paint yourself as a victim.


Keep it Short 
Once you’ve answered the question, there’s no need to keep elaborating. The longer you continue talking, the more likely you are to start opening up about things that aren’t necessary. 


Focus on the New Job
The best way to conclude your response is to spin it back to what’s most important—why you are interested in the job you’re interviewing for. 
Highlight job duties for the new position that spark your interest (“in my last role, I didn’t have much opportunity to collaborate with other departments, so I’m excited about working on cross-functional teams here”). 


Remember, every question you’re asked is a chance to showcase your qualities, personality, and interest in the position. You’ve already passed the initial screen, and the interview is your time to shine. So when asked about your previous job, just keep your answer short, honest, and positive, and you’ll be on to the next question in no time (and hopefully, the job!).

Christian Louboutin: Saving The Red Bottom

Last year, shoemaker Christian Louboutin was denied a request for a preliminary injunction for his footwear line. The injunction was to stop other high-profile designers (and smaller brands) from producing shoes with red soles which are considered both a penchant for the designer as well as part of his trademark protection granted in 2008. Why the sudden request for an injunction for the right to protect the red sole? Designer Yves Saint Laurent was featuring four pairs of shoes in the Fall 2011 resort collection with red soles. Which according to the trademark protection filing shouldn’t have been happening.
Before things could get ugly on the runway, Judge Victor Marrero ruled in favor of YSL, citing that Louboutin’s trademark was overly broad and allowing the designer to keep a color solely for his own purpose, particularly in an industry ruled by trends, would cramp the work of other designers.
Louboutin is still digging his heels in for the red though, all the way into the new year.
According to "The Cut", YSL recently just hired 11 law professors that specialize in researching, teaching, and writing about trademark law to join their side in the fight to deny Louboutin the exclusive rights to the color red These 11 professors, as stated by Telegraph UK, filed a brief with the Federal Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejecting Louboutin’s arguments in order to “preserve freedom of innovation and competition” that is represented in the color red. Red goes beyond just being aesthetically pleasing to the eye as the professors brought up, it is a color of meaning and representation that wouldn’t be the same in say, a bright yellow pair of stilettos. “… courts should not lightly allow one particular competitor to monopolize particular fashion submarkets,” the professors stated.
And even though jewelers Tiffany & Co. have lent a supportive hand to Louboutin in a brief statement citing that color should be trademarked (they of the infamous robin’s egg blue packaging), the fight for keeping both the color and the look that made the designer so iconic may result in some serious fashion roadkill in the new year.