I’m totally the girl in the airport security line whose bag just happens to break as it’s riding on the conveyor belt or going through a routine security check (I tend to leave my hairspray, perfume, water, you name it in my bag). True story, when flying from Chicago to Paris the zipper of my carry-on completely broke leaving everything wide open and busting at the seams. As if I wasn’t already a wreck about flying over the ocean, now all of my belongings were going to be flying out of my bag too! I have been desperately needing a quality carry-on without costing me an arm and a leg. I’ve finally narrowed it down to the below five.

What one is your fav?!

1. City Bag- Zara
2. Cameron Flap – Frye
3. Vintage Weekender – Fossil 
4. Leather tote – Madewell
5. Jet Set Travel – Michael Kors

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

Yesterday was a scorcher outside. At one point, the temperature read 106 degrees! So I thought, what’s more perfect than a light, cotton cinched dress to bear the heat? It’s so comfortable and versatile. Wear it when your out in the afternoon or even to a casual dinner date, which is exactly what I did. I also love putting an edge on my outfit choices, hence the studded belt. And what’s even better, it’s one of those Forever 21 finds that I use all the time.

{Dress: F21, Wedges: Nine West, Belt: F21, Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana, Bracelets: Banana Republic}

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

I had to put a post together of some of my favorite shows and looks from New York Fashion Week. There was exceptional talent this year on the runway and looks I just wanted to get my little fingers on.

One of my favorites, hands down, is Alexander Wang. I love that his looks are bold statement pieces that the confident fashionista can be fabulous in. I wish I could have been in NYC for the opening of his flagship store in Soho the weekend after fashion week!

Another one of my favorites was from Halston. I know Marios Schwab received some scrutiny for the line. I heard some pieces were wrinkled and seemed to be made out of cheap material. From the pics, I really enjoyed it. Some great pieces.

I forgot how much I loved The Row. Mary Kate and Ashley Olson do an impeccable job. You can just tell that tailoring was a major focal point when designing their line, along with high-quality materials and craftsmanship.

Michael Kors celebrated his 30 years in business this fashion week and got rave reviews! I truly had a hard time choosing my favorite pieces! Not only did I love the color palette, but the sleekness of the suits, jumpsuits, and cocktail dresses.

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What were your favorites?? Comment or e-mail me at girlintheyellowcab@gmail.com!

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

I came across this article in SUCCESS Magazine the other day and something about it made me think, “this would be a great article for GIYC.” The article is about Tommy Hilfiger and his struggle, challenge, and success as a fashion icon.  I feel like a lot of people, myself included, have a misconception about those who have made it ‘big.’ I tend to assume, their Dad was probably the Godfather, they are related to the President of LVMH, or were just born into the everyday lifestyle of Louboutin and Louis Vuitton. This misconception probably comes from the countless celebrities that are famous because of their parents, and have endless opportunities to design their own clothing or perfume lines with no larger responsibility than having to approve the final product. Needless to say, this wasn’t Hilfiger’s case.

He has struggled just as thousands of other designers who lack money and celebrity connections, but has something greater: a dream backed by one heck of a passion. He started selling jeans out of the trunk of his car, which then led to him and two of his friends scraping $150 together for 20 pairs of jeans to open a boutique called People’ Place. The business went on successfully for some time, until Hilfiger was in his mid-20’s.  He filed for bankruptcy after failing to keep up with the store’s rapid expansion.

After something like this happened, many would probably just give up. Consider yourself a failure, and crawl on. Hilfiger however, did not. His ‘never give up’ philosophy kicked in. To say it is one thing, but to actually follow through is another. At the age of 34, Hilfiger found the perfect investor after his struggle of having to “work hand to mouth until (he) acquired enough to roll the business along..” He says that he never doubted his personal vision. He just went for it.

“If I want to do something, I find a way to do it.”
Hilfiger

All in all, this article wasn’t only about Hilfiger’s dream and his struggles, but it is an inspiration to others who are in similar, if not the same shoes. Whether you are in the fashion business or not, in anything you do, it’s important to not give up on yourself, your vision, and your dream.

Maybe your new venture isn’t going exactly how you planned or maybe you haven’t heard back from your dream employer. Whatever the case may be,  it’s important to find someone who inspires you, to look up to, and to learn from them. And also to remember, good things come to those who wait. Advice I really need to take. When I want things to happen, I want them to happen-well, now. So believe me, I must learn this too. If there is something else that I will take away from this article besides believing in yourself, your dream, and your never-ending perseverance -it’s that success is oh so much sweeter when you work for it.

Become a Facebook fan of Girl In The Yellow Cab  HERE

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

There is no doubt that we are in a recession right now. You can see it everywhere, from nation low unemployment rates, to company bailouts, increasing national debt,  and massive cut-backs on consumer discretionary spending. Sometimes I’m sure it’s easy to think that it’s only happening to you. But, the recession has even affected the lives of the fabulous.

Betsey Johnson recently defaulted on her $48.8 million loan in early September. Luckily, Steve Madden, who already owned licenses for accessories under both Betsey Johnson and Betseyville brands, came in and saved the brand.  Madden took over the loan, resulting in complete bailout for Betsey Johnson. Additionally, Madden bought out her trademarks and officially owns the company.

For those that are huge Betsey Johnson fans, no need to worry. Betsey will continue to be in charge of all design aspects of the company. Maddens new plan for the company is to increase marketing and strengthen the daytime dress and shoe business. Thus, hiring coordinators and stylists will be the first of new hires. Steve Madden also plans to make footwear 30% of the total sales within the year, how ironic. Honestly though, I do believe that increasing the footwear sales is a smart decision on Madden’s part. Not just because of his experience, but because I truly believe that’s if any fashionista is willing to splurge on something, it’s on a pair of shoes.

Madden told WWD in his interview, “Betsey is my partner. She has nothing to worry about and I will protect her.…She is not on the hook for anything. I am honored to be partners with her. That’s the truth.”

But, this is one tight 25 year old relationship that Madden and Johnson have. When things were rough for Madden in 2004, he was sent to prison for 41 months for stock manipulation, money laundering, and fraud, Betsey was there by his side.

This article is proof that the recession takes no prisoners. It effects everyone from the bottom of the food chain to the top. I’m looking forward to seeing what Madden has in store for the Betsey Brand. More shoes please!

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

How awesome is this! I was just reading an article from WWD about Dolce and Gabbana’s new accessory store that just opened in Milan. Not only are they carrying their Dolce and Gabbana line, but also the lines of young, emerging designers. Wow, I can’t even imagine getting that phone call. Gabbana had stated in the interview that many of the designers “thought that it was a joke.” Lets be honest, how couldn’t you! The brands on offer include Sophie Theallet, Yigal Azrouël, Elisa Palomino, Fausto Puglisi, Behnaz Sarafpour and Heather Williams, with Dolce and Gabbana doing the buying.

The store also offers the young designers a high-profile seal of approval as they build their brands. Gabbana states  how “we turned quite nostalgic, remembering our own early days in the business,” when they were invited to show during Milano Collezioni by Beppe Modenese.  “We were given a chance,” Gabbana said. “We are no longer young but not really old yet, and we feel now it’s our turn to help.

“The boutique offers these young designers more visibility, but this is also a business,” Gabbana said. “We don’t think we are the only designers in the world and not necessarily the best ones — there are plenty of valid designers out there,” continued Gabbana.

The upper level  of the Dolce and Gabbana accessory store is dedicated to the young designers’ collections, each of which has its own section. The lines are also displayed  on the lower level, collaborating with Dolce and Gabbana’s designs as well.

Although, there are no plans to open more stores like this one and therefore will most likely stay in Milan. “We don’t plan to replicate it, we like for it to be something you can find only here,” said Gabbana.

What an awesome experience for the emerging designers. Talk about getting your foot in the door. People will now think, if Dolce and Gabbana can take them seriously, then we will too! I would love to make a pit-stop at the Milan store on my next excursion!

SINCERELY,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

A memorial service was held today in London for Alexander McQueen, during London Fashion Week, who took his life last February at the age of 40.

In the picture above, SJP was decked out in McQueen. “It was perfect,”  Parker said of the service. “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything in the world. It was just a wonderful way to remember him. It was just beautiful.”

The 70-minute ceremony was one filled with joy and laughter, but also the uncanny reality of McQueen’s life. Suzy Menkes, fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune, spoke at the ceremony.  She told the guests that McQueen’s fashions and theatrical shows were largely autobiographical. It seems those who were close to him can remember his unhappiness and anger in his personal life, which was then portrayed through his work.

Alex Chapman is a friend of mine who is currently in New York working for Halston. She agreed to do a little interview with me for my blog, so I hope you enjoy it!

1. What is your position at Halston?

Officially I am an intern in the sales department, however, our showroom and our offices are all in one space so I kind of help out in all areas including PR (which is fun) and Finance (which is definitely NOT fun).

2. What is the image of Halston and what are you seeing a lot of in their collections?

Halston is definitely known to everyone as an American designer who created beautiful pieces that were minimalistic, chic, and really were made to fit a women’s body. He experimented with draping in a way that no one had before him and basically created the bias cut and became the look of the 70s and Studio 54. In this upcoming collection, designed by Marios Schwab, really draws inspiration from Halston’s previous collections with lots of skin showing through cut-outs, cut-away backs, and large slits. The inspiration behind the collection also draws upon one of Halston’s biggest inspirations which is orchids and that can be seen in the beautiful prints in the collection. Color blocking was a huge thing as well in the presentation.

3. What do your job responsibilities consist of?

My job responsibilities are a little bit of everything and can get very hectic! I am basically responsible for all samples and maintaining the showroom and most importantly, the available-to-sell samples as these are the ones we show potential buyers that come into the showroom. I also do a lot of tasks for the sales team including researching target stores and contacted them to schedule an appointment with us in the showroom. This doesn’t sound too hard but I literally have over 200 stores on my list that I have to try to call on a daily basis, not so easy!

4. What’s a normal day like at the office?

A normal day at the office is never normal. We get there around 9, earlier during market, and usually don’t leave before 8 at night! There are always a million different tasks going on at once and you really have to know how to prioritize and get it all done.

5. So, I know you have had the chance to officially meet SJP. Tell us everything!

She is sooooo nice, I can’t even say how nice she is! And tiny! She is soooo tiny! She comes into our offices quite frequently and is very involved in the collection for Halston Heritage. Unfortunately, we (the interns) are not usually around when she is in as she is usually in the CEO’s office or the Product Development Director’s office.

6. Do you get any fabulous discounts?

I don’t really get a discount but I can order things that are available to sell (meaning in stock) at wholesale costs. Since we are a wholesaler that’s the price buyers and everyone else pays so it’s not really a discount. But it usually does equal to about 50-60% off retail, which would be fabulous if I could afford it! Luckily, I was interning during the time of our sample sale so I was able to pick up a few things then.

7. What’s the biggest thing you have learned in the industry thus far?

I came to New York knowing the fashion industry is not glamour but I really did not understand all of the work that goes into everything in a fashion house. There are people that work there that look like they never leave the office, you can still be at work at 8pm and it will look like high noon in our office! I also learned that no matter what you want to do in this industry you will always have to do math, sorry girls! Every department from PR to design to merchandising and obviously sales and finance use math it’s just a fact. Also, a little piece of advice…brush up on excel because I use that every day at lease once an hour and I’ve learned things about Excel I never knew in all my years in high school or using the program at school

8. Did you participate in New York Fashion Week?

I participated in Halston’s presentation, which is when models are not walking on a runway, they are just standing. It was on Monday the 13th and was AMAZING!! The looks were all color-blocked (even the skin color of the models were color blocked!) to add to the importance of colors and the inspiration behind the collection. I got to see a lot of people including Emma Roberts, Alexis Bedel, Andrew Mulkamal (from Kell on Earth), Joe Zee, Linda Fargo, Anna Della Russo (who wore a crazy watermelon on her head with an attitude to go with it!), and of course SJP herself!

Thanks again Alex for doing this! Keep up the good work at Halston, I know great things are going to happen for you!

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

Many of you know, by now at least, how obsessed I am with Gilt Groupe. WWD announced yesterday that Gilt will be linking itself with Target for their Friday, August 20th Sale. The sale will be featuring Tucker, Mulberry and John Derian.

But, get this! The collections of Tucker, Mulberry and John Derian aren’t going to appear in Target strores until the middle of September through October. So, this is a sneak peak of what is to come to Target, at a discount price!

It is also reported that Target is pushing the buttons on their consumer price points. Just Timberlake’s new William Rast line will be coming to Target in December of this year and will feature several men and women’s leather jackets around the $200 range. The line is only available until January 22nd, which may be a good way to test the water with Target customers and higher price points. I personally think the line will be a success. Lets be honest, there are so many different income levels that shop at Target. One parking spot holds a rust bucket, while the lane next to it has a BMW. I love it!

Don’t miss out on the sale and if your not a member, JOIN! www.gilt.com

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

I hope you haven’t become tired of reading about Christian Louboutin in just about every  one of my posts. I really can’t cure my obsession, which is why I had to write a post specifically on the famous CL when I came across this article in Women’s Wear Daily.

Most famously known for his red sole, Christian Louboutin has become an icon in women’s shoe trends. And the significance behind the red sole? CL was quoted, in a different article, “ I did not really choose the red sole. Its more like the red sole came to me and had to stay with me. It started as a happy accident, which I kept. I was very inspired by pop art so all my drawings were really full of colors. So the first prototype arrives. Its very similar to my designs so I was very happy. But something was missing. Thank God I had this girl with me who was painting her nails. Grabbed her nail polish – thank you to Chanel for that!  I grabbed the nail polish and I painted the sole.”

CL has made it so big that the girls from Sex and the City have worn his shoes in both of their hit films. If that’s not an accomplishment in itself, CL also had the opportunity to showcase his line in the late Yves Saint Laurent’s final show.  He says in the interview, “Having been the biggest designer (YSL), and because he’s this French, iconic person from fashion, I was very proud of that. In the history of fashion, there has never been another name next to Yves Saint Laurent on the brand. As he came to love the shoe, in his last season, they asked me to do a brand called Christian Louboutin for Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture 1962-2002. And it’s the only time Yves Saint Laurent has been associated with another name. I’m very proud of that. It was a fascinating moment.”

Little Side Note: When I was in Paris I had the chance to view Yves Saint Laurent’s archives. It was absolutely phenomenal. We had to enter with white gloves on our hands and were able to look through hundreds and hundreds of beautiful garments more than 40 years old. The room was full of white, air-tight, sliding doors that possessed some of the most beautiful couture garments in history. The woman showing us around was wearing a white trench coat and gloves and informed us the room is also set at a certain temperature as to not effect the slightest thread of clothing. I was extremly honored to be able to see YSL’s collection in Paris.

When asked how the red shoe had become so iconic and identifiable, his response was because it’s like a game.  He says, “In every woman there is also the little girl or the child. When I say everyone is a child, I mean they like to recognize something, and it’s like a game. I see men loving to recognize the shoes, too. Also, it’s very pretty. It’s a flirtation.” It’s so true, whether you identify yourself as fashionable or not, it’s still fun to know what someones wearing. My boyfriend loves that he can pick out a fake Louis from a real one. Although I can tell a fake vs. a real one in nearly an instant, I let him get a little satisfaction that he can figure it out too; being a guy and all.

One of my favorite parts of the interview was when Louboutin was asked if he would ever consider designing a diffusion line? His response was, “My problem is that I never think the quality is good enough. Even in my shoes, I always see the defects. If you do a cheaper line, [things happen] to the detailing and quality. There is a certain [quality] loss, which is obvious. For me, it’s painful. For that reason, I wouldn’t take any pleasure in [a diffusion line]. AMEN! I couldn’t agree more. When Zac Posen did a collaboration with Target and Vera Wang with Kohl’s, the brand just doesn’t hold the same power anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I love both designer’s work. But offering it at a lower price to make it affordable to the mass just depletes the value of actually having a Zac Posen or Vera Wang piece. And the same would go for Christian Louboutin. We want the real thing. After all, that is the best part about wearing a designer labels.

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB