This trend seems to be continuing, the exposed mid-waist look is manifesting on the red carpet. I’d advise you not to rock this look if you are a bit of a fatty, but it’s super sexy on the curvy ladies.

Boat Shoes:

A trend that has shifted from the men onto the ladies. If my blog had a nasty category, these shoes would be in it, but hey it’s a trend, so if you can rock it, go for it! Praying that these don’t replace a good old fashioned pair of pumps.

Square Clutches:

These square bags are in every store I walk into lately, can’t decide if i like it.

Handlets:

If you love your accessories, get your hands on a handlet! They are too gorgeous! Can’t wait to buy myself some more!!

 Tribal Prints:

Playing a major role in this winters knitwear, it looks super cute on guys in my opinion, especially the scarves!! For a super nerdy look, pair a tribal print sweater with some nerdy frames!

 Leather Jackets:

A trend that is just too damn sexy to fade. Love it when it cuts at the waist on girls, and love the brown on guys.

I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to rock every trend, there are just some fashion items that don’t suit all figures, skin tones, personalities, faces…and quite frankly sometimes trends are nasty, but I always try exhibit some of the season’s trends, hope you do to!!!

Not only does Coachella attract some of the most premiere, cutting edge and coolest artists from rock, indie, house, hip-hop and other genres, but also tons of celebs, socialites, models, and daring fashionistas gather amongst music lovers from all walks of life. Celebs like Kate Bosworth, Drew Barrymore, Nicole Richie, Vanessa Hudgens and many other regulars on the festival circuit have set the festival style standard for 2012.

Here are some popular fashion trends you might want to try if you plan on traveling to a few of the many festivals scheduled this 2012 summer!

Cut-Off Denim Shorts: A proper pair of cut-off shorts are intended to look tattered and slightly dirty. This makes them a perfect option for an outdoor festival. A great cut-off denim short is the Trinity short from Silver Jeans Co.

Crop Tops: If you’re attending a festival this summer you’re bound to get hot. A perfect solution fashionably beat the heat is by wearing a cropped top. A helpful hint when wearing a crop top is to match it with a high waisted bottom so that it balances your figure.

Boots: A great pair of boots will go a long way when you’re spending the weekend outdoors. Not only is a cute pair of boots fashionable, but they will also protect your feet. I like the Denver boot from Volatile.

Actress, Vanessa Hudgens is a perfect example of true festival fashion. (Photo from kyxy.radio.com)

Gladiator Sandals: A chic pair of gladiator sandals will keep you cool while still looking stylish.

Feathers: Opt for accessories like feather jewelry, headdresses and accented items.

Accessorize: Great accessories are key for festivals. Opt for earrings, necklaces, bangles, rings and headbands that can be versatile.

Leann 18 Flat Sandal w/ Feathers

This might just be amazing! Found this neat photo amongst many others that I (highly) suggest checking out at lifeblasters.com.

Fringe: Fringe looks great on clothing, bags & purses. A favorite of mine is the Belize top from Jack by B.B. Dakota.

Dresses: No true festival fashionista can go wrong with a great dress! Whether it’s a maxi, above the knee, is body conscious, or loose and flowy dress, rocking a trendy pattern like floral, tribal, a bold color or stripe is always fun!

Crochet: Crocheted dresses, clothing and accessories are tried & true festival classics that have lasted through the ages. We love these crocheted pieces from the Billabong/Oracle Fox collection.

Oracle Fox/ Billabong Loving You Cardigan

Oracle Fox/ Billabong Sibill Lace Bell Sleeve Dress

As a huge fan of fashion and self proclaimed “Music Lover”, I could go on and on and on for days about the unique relationship that the two have. But we still have one more weekend of Coachella to enjoy, more fashion trends to be found and a summer filled with festivals to embark on. Be sure to follow Coachella 2012 throughout this weekend and be on the watch for the most daring fashions inspired from the music that we all come together to love.

Remember: Be sure to let us know what you think! What was your favorite festival outfit or celeb style? You can find any of the items featured in this blog online at gliks.com or stop by your local Glik’s store location for all of your summer style needs!

1. Pastels

As you can see from the pictures of the Ralph Lauren and Jill Stuart runway shows’ Pastels are going to be BIG for Spring 2012. Pastels are a no-brainer for this season. Brights can brighten your mood like a sunny afternoon. Think pinks, mint green, baby blue, and yellow when your shopping for this trend.

2. Cropped Tops

These are for the daring girls out there! If you got it, flaunt it girls!

3. Peplum

This look is cute on a skirt or top, but please do not try both at the same time. If you have a boyish shape, this trend can work to your advantage,it can give you a nice shapely look.

4. Drop Waist Dresses

Drop waist dresses are relaxed and comfortable. They can be worn during busy days of work, interning and school.

5. Bird Print

Marc by Marc Jacobs runway show

I love a cute print! The bird print is a great alternative to the floral print trend that everyone’s been rocking.

Which Spring 2012 fashion trend are you excited to try? Which trend is your favorite? Share your thoughts!

]]> http://adfaint.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/acne-studios-aw-12-london-fashion-week/ Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:48:38 +0000 adfaint http://adfaint.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/acne-studios-aw-12-london-fashion-week/

Here is a video with some runway looks from the ACNE A/W collection at the London Fashion Week 2012. Noteworthy: Waist definition is back. Big, fat waist belts, cropped jackets. It’s nice to see that this ACNE collection has a bit of a feminine touch to its usual adrogyny.

(My boyfriend and his colleagues have worked on this video during the show last Sunday. Feel free to contact me on forevertwenteen@gmail.com for more details/if you would like to work with them.)

Dear whoever is sending emails asking if I’m stressed,

     Why yes, I am. My stress is mostly a result of the ten million emails you send me trying to get me to go to stress management workshops. I have more important things to do with my life. I need to write this blog. Also, Pretty Little Liars is on tonight. So please stop reminding me how stressed I am.

Dear person on a Bluetooth headset,

     Stop looking at me like I’m insane when I think you’re talking to me. I’m not the crazy one hearing voices in my head. You are. Also, you look dumb. I’m guessing that was obvious but in case no one ever told you, I’ll be that kind soul. You look slightly demented chatting to the air. If you’re really important and on some call that saves the world or something, I’m sorry for calling you dumb. Though if you’re busy saving the world you probably shouldn’t be reading my blog…

Dear professor who can’t use Power Points properly,

     Fun fact: I can read. Quite well actually. I’m even aware that the statement prior to this sentence is a fragment. I don’t care, but I am aware. With my wonderful reading powers I can understand all of those words on your Power Point. This makes you reading the words to me again both redundant and incredibly boring. Please don’t put me to sleep. Don’t write a whole lecture on Power Point slides. Just say no to mind numbing Power Points. Take that speech class all of the students are required to pass.

Dear admissions office at Hogwarts,

     I’m still peeved I never got a letter. What’s that about? Did my owl get lost? Maybe you should start using email or get a website. I wouldn’t even use my magical powers to blow up relatives or free zoo animals. Well, unless they were in really tiny cages. That’s just too sad. So, I might free zoo animals. No pudding floating though, and I probably wouldn’t fly a car. If I did, I’d use ninja-like sneakiness. Do you accept transfer students?

Dear cropped tops,

     Why are you so popular? I’m not sure where whoever decided this trend lives, but I can’t walk around in half a t-shirt on a normal day. It’s not that I don’t like my stomach. I do. I have abs of semi regularly worked out muscle. They could probably stop a paintball. However, not everyone wants to see my abs. I’m not sure why, but it’s true. So, please make shirts normal lengths again. I’d greatly appreciate it. Also, leggings still aren’t pants. Just FYI world.

Dear scientists,

     I would politely like to inquire when we (the general population) can expect flying cars. Soon? Soonish? I know this will completely ruin any chance I’ve got at a good hair day, but I’m willing to sacrifice style for a flying car. Can we get someone working on those? Think how fun it’d be to take pet birds out for a fly or to avoid awful traffic. Fly in movie theatres would be amazing. I understand we’re having a fuel crisis. I suppose you can work on green fuel first, but personally I’d be more motivated to live green if I had a flying car. I’d look down on all of the beautiful nature and never forget to recycle ever again. Think about it.

Dear mean people,

     You suck. Being mean isn’t cool. It was never cool. It will never be cool. So yeah, stop that. 

      Okay this out pouring of angst made me feel much better. I’ll write a post of nice letters sometime to counter all of the annoyances in this one. Today was a day of pet peeves. I think it’s a Monday trait. I’m going to go do fun, happy things now. 

Best Wishes,

Caitlin

The image is from here.

Get Natasha’s look:

SALSA Top in Grape

LORI Shorts in Citron

PLAIT Choker in Black

NOHA Wedges in Citron

x x x

She’s subtly accessorised with the bone coloured organic cotton PLAIT choker,
and what outfit would be complete with out her  favourite TOMMY wedges in Mango!!

Come and visit our GPO or Brunswick store, we’re open 7 days a week!

Visit our website www.thedressingroom.com.au for trading hours

x x x

Loooooove the star print dress! It’s the perfect cut, except that the arm holes are a tad too big. Nothing that cannot be easily altered at the tailor’s. It’s just so demure and classy and pretty. Besides, star prints are so hot right now. Such a steal at 129dhs.

Another favorite is the razor print tank top. Loose fitted, comfy, with just a tinge of edginess. Great for casual days. 69dhs.

Please ignore my computer glasses. I’ve been working for hours and hours on the computer. Love the Mac, but hate the migration process and the syncing. Someone should have figured out a REALLY easy way by now?

Total damage:
Star print shirt dress in Navy, 129dhs/45sgd
Razor print tank top in Brown, 69dhs/25sgd
Multicolored printed tank top, 49dhs/17sgd
Ribbon cropped top in Pink, 49dhs/17sgd ]]> http://fashionunder10.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/knit-cropped-top/ Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:19:39 +0000 fashionunder10 http://fashionunder10.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/knit-cropped-top/

5.99

S/M/L

Forever 21

Your height is a product of genetics, nutrition, and — according to our mothers — whether or not you hefted all twenty pounds of textbook in your backpack throughout high school.

But, you can still stick it to Mother Nature if you’re still dying to look just a little bit taller. Check out the tips below to cheat with your height without having to take any hormones:)

Colorblocking — Large blocks of color elongate, so really take advantage of the colorblocking trend by finding solid-hued tops and bottoms.

High Waists — Anything with a higher rise will elongate your legs. Find skirts and trousers that hits at your natural waist (or, if you’ve got more of a narrow, straight build, right at your belly button)

Nude Pumps — Any heel that shows off the tops of your feet without straps to interrupt the line (i.e. pumps) is going to make your legs look longer. Really take it to another level by picking one in a nude color, that basically extends the line of your leg to the ground.

Cropped Tops — Now, I’m not talking about Clueless proportions. Tops that stop right at your waist make your legs seem longer. We love wearing our shorter sweaters with swing dresses and full skirts.

Choker Necklaces — Just go with us on this one… it works, we promise! Choker necklaces draw the eye up and make your neck look longer. Chokers that sit right at the base of your neck tend to look the most natural.

Madeleine at The Dressing Room, Brunswick

We LOVE Madeleine’s look today combining the FERN skirt in the desert with the gorgeous

JOAQUIN shirt in cotton! It’s just the right amount of cheeky and fun

x x x

Photo by: Joanna Santillan

Model: Kalie Rodriguez

Modesty really doesn’t exist anymore when it comes to female fashion, the slogan ‘Less is More’ is beginning to become the motto for many fashion houses. I understand that women want to flaunt their figures but there are always other alternatives to being practically naked. lets take the ‘bra top’ as a case in point: Ladies, if it only covers that specific area of your body then its a bra. Not a top. Not a cropped top and definitely not a bra top. I mean, we might as well stroll around in our underwear and call them miniature suits! It really is ridiculous. Another very intriguing clothing has to be the ‘daisy dukes’. I don’t think I need to explain any further for those of you who have witnessed the sheer atrocity of  this item of clothing. Why oh why were they invented? are they  shorts or undies? I hate clothes that confuse me- Its either you’re one thing or the other, you cant be both! Bra top schma top.

Bra or Top?

Um...ok?

Harem trousers also baffle me- Why would any girl want to walk around looking like she did a number 2 in her trousers (Sorry for the graphic description). I remember buying a pair last year. In cream (yeah, I know) and I rocked those trousers like they were running out of style until one day I inspected myself in a full length mirror and up till now I have never looked at another pair of harems.

Does this make my bum look long?

To be honest, there are very few female trends that I despise, I think my main problem is dressing for your body type.  I am no fashion expert (LMAO) neither am I a follower of trends and I also think I’ve had more ‘fashion donts’ than ‘do’s’ nonetheless, one thing I always remember is that my body is just that- mine. It’s not Naomi Campbell’s body, therefore whatever looks good on her may not look good on me and I’m perfectly ok with that. Also, there are some trends that I find completely ridiculous and I will never be caught dead in them. I think one thing females should understand is that our bodies are different and we need to wear clothes that flatter our form. They don’t always have to be the latest or most expensive trend- I think anybody can look great if they dress for their body type- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-488236/Trinny-Susannah-reveal-12-womens-body-types–you.html

I remember when the cropped tops exploded unto the fashion scene and everywhere I’d look I’d see a very self-conscious girl clad in one of those tops and shaking like a leaf. My opinion on cropped tops is that they look really cute on the right kind of body. Girls with long torsos are luckiest with these tops because there’s actually some belly to be shown but shorter girls look a bit compressed (and I’m being really nice here) in cropped tops, but I guess it depends on the kind of cropped top too…

Basically like I mentioned before, we (including me) all need to wear what’s right for our bodies and maybe exposing them all the time is not the best way to go. Anyway, I guess I don’t have as much venom for female fashion as that of the males but at the end of the day, its one’s personal choice to dress a certain way and nobody has the right to change that.

About the look

   Pleated skirts are “in” nowadays. It’s a look from the 80’s so don’t freak out if you see your mom or grandma wearing the same style of skirt you are addicted right now in some of your old photograph albums. Pleated skirts are so feminine and classy especially if the material is silk or sheer. Plain are better than printed ones because the latter make the pleats invisible, it’s like all the attention will be on the print instead on the pleats. You can choose from a variety of lengths but I like it long, because elongated pleated skirts are the one who looks classy and vintage.

For my top, it’s an over sized cropped stripe top. I love cropped tops so much and the idea that you can always tuck it in on your skirt, pants or shorts. I paired the outfit with my braided belt and my vintage gold accessories.

My accessories are mostly vintage looking because I only buy vintage gold and silver. In choosing accessory color, it’s a safe way to pick vintage gold, it doesn’t look so fancy so you can wear it on any outfit, especially casual clothes, without worrying if “bagay ba? muka bang cheap?” hahaha. Mind you, I just bought those in some inexpensive accessory shop near my school. They’re mostly rings, because I love rings these days, especially connector rings. My favorite are these vampire fang and cross rings. That headdress is a DIY turban I made a week ago. I was looking for a turban at the mall but I can’t find one, so I just decided to buy a cloth and make it myself. And voila!

I love my whole outfit and my color palette- beige with a touch of royal blue. This is so 80’s….. vintage!

Hype it  on lookbook.nu!

Vote it  on chictopia!

Follow me on  tumblr.

Good day Dollies.

Swimshow 2012 was held in Miami Beach this past weekend. After viewing all the runway videos, this was one of my favorite looks by Mara Hoffman Swim.

Ever wonder what to do with all of the cropped tops in stores everywhere? Available in brilliant colors and designs, pop one over a bikini as a partial cover-up or wear as a modern tankini.

Check out the rest of Mara Hoffman Swim 2012 here.

]]> http://kucoondesigns.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/sneak-peak-at-new-pieces-for-kucoon-online-store/ Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:49:06 +0000 Kucoondesigns.com http://kucoondesigns.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/sneak-peak-at-new-pieces-for-kucoon-online-store/ …. we have new pieces available at kucoondesigns.com online store coming up in august as well as jewelry by sheila b.

model Alex, photography team Daniel and Sequoia, make up kirin, hair hayley farrington

wearing kucoon and sheila b. jewelry designs

kucoon alexandra skirt

This is what is going to accompany me through summer.

Besides an occasional (who am I kidding? frequent) glass of red wine and

my monthly issue of Glamour to read on the beach.

Hallelujah, summer has come.

So, here they are,  my top 10 summer trends, ready or not.

1. Low cut day dress & belted dresses

LBD (little black dress) meet the new LSDD (little sexy day dress)

2. Rompers

The secret to light packing on those summer vacations? The romper.

Mix things up! I love this look thrown in with a belt.

3. Black and white…

Sleek, sophisticated… need I say more?

4. The high bun

5. Braids, braids, braids!

6. The fedora

7. Bright Lipstick

Carry in your purse for an easy day to night look.

8. Turquoise nails

I’m picturing the ocean, feeling the sea breeze against my face.  Ahhhhh.

9. Crop tops

Easy to wear, but beware… showing your belly button has the potential to look trashy.

hello high top shorts/skirts/skinny’s

10. Ray Bans (or in my case, the knock-offs)

They match errrthing.

South Pasadena and Los Angeles, designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock met at 17 in their native California before shipping off to Parsons the New School of Design, where they were rejected from their school’s senior show in 2003, so they decided to give it a go on their own. Just Three weeks after graduation they began making the first Vena Cava collection. (The duo sewed twelve looks on their living room floor). In September 2003, they debuted the line. Their signature aesthetic takes a fresh spin on vintage mixed with an artsy palette and hand-drawn prints, with past collections inspired by japonismo and Egyptian history. Based in Brooklyn, the design duo was awarded an Ecco Domani in 2006, back-to-back Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund Award nominations followed in 2007 and 2008, and have established themselves within the industry of young designers with a steady retail following.

Reminiscing about their formative fashion years, remixed grunge on the soundtrack, and a ‘zine on every seat, Vena Cava designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock were saying “Viva the 1990s” with their fall 2011 collection. The ‘zine waxed nostalgic for Contempo Casuals, Judy’s, Andre Agassi’s mullet, pagers, Filofaxes and Kriss Kross.

And you could see the references to Contempo, Betsey Johnson, Donna Karan and others on the runway, in the black-and-white polka dot palazzo pants; square-neck jersey tube dress; off-the-shoulder tops; and leather jackets with supersized sleeves, which had the look of a flea market find.

For Fall ’11, Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai did what they do best — quirky ethnic touches, edgy cutouts, badass leather, silky fabrics, and dark, brooding hues. The Vena Cava aesthetic — off-kilter clothes for equally standout girls — remains the same, but new hemlines arose via mid-length skirts and fitted maxi dresses. And clearly designers are also into the decolletage for the upcoming season; off-shoulder tops revealed svelte arms and long necks, while bottom halves remained fairly covered with trousers and long skirts. A couple polka-dot pieces popped up, revealing Vena Cava’s softer side.

Vena Cava’s collection for Uniqlo, is a highlight of the latest Uniqlo Designers Invitation Project (DIP), which is returning for its fifth year. And Vena Cava for Uniqlo will allow shoppers to get their hands on top designers’ creations for just a fraction of the cost of their mainline collections.
Trends: Mid-length hemlines, silky skirts, cool cutouts, cropped tops, edgy clothes with a refined twist.
Colors: Black, rust, navy, beige.
Key Look: Rust-colored fitted maxi dress paired with flatforms and layered gold necklaces.
Accessories: Berets, lace-up flatforms, gold chokers.
Who Would Wear It: Downtown girls who like a polished and graphic touch with their edgy look.

Vena Cava Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York Fall 2011

Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock, the designers behind Vena Cava, were reliving the ’90s in designing their Fall 2011 collection.

Source: Backstage at Fashion Week: Vena Cava | NBC San Diego

Buhai and Mayock are no strangers to the collaboration game.
Last fall, Vena Cava created a line for the Bloomingdale’s in-house brand Aqua, and their new (and most unconventional) collaboration launched at Vena Cava’s Fall/Winter 2011 New York Fashion Week. Vena Cava for condom line Proper Attire. Synonymous with downtown chic, Vena Cava infuses its cool-girl aesthetic into a collection of condoms for the PROPER ATTIRE® brand, boasting playful packaging designs. A must-have for any empowered fashion maven, proceeds from the sale of PROPER ATTIRE® condoms benefit Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

In February 2009 they unveiled a shoe line for Via Spiga, and in May of the same year they put their spin on khakis for Gap as part of the brand’s CFDA initiative.

“We just want to make sure whatever we do has our stamp on it,” said Buhai. For example, when it came to the Gap khaki project, she said, “Vena Cava is not a khaki brand. We had to think of defacing khaki … [it’s about] making sure things are in line with our brand.”

Added Mayock, “It’s an opportunity for us to articulate our brand in a way that’s more mass.”



Mayock and Buhai said trying new things is key to keeping their business moving forward.

“Lisa and I were at a point where we felt like we were getting stagnant,” Buhai said, noting that they’re interested in all aspects of the fashion industry, like “how to design shoes, how to make a zine, how to blog.”

“Fashion is cyclical,” she continued, “but when you add in different projects, you feel like you’re learning again.”

The designers showed pieces that stayed true to their vintage, boho-inspired aesthetic with a collection that was rife with breezy silhouettes, long skirts, and plenty of prints. The metal-worked long and short choker-style necklace, the statement metal earrings, and the dainty black berets worn by many of the models were perfect for adding structure to many of the looks, which were often free-flowing and casual.
Sexier pieces with a 90s touch were also in the mix and included wedges, cropped and off-the-shoulder tops, cut-out dresses, high waist pants and skirts, feminine mini dresses, and fitted cropped jackets.

Vena Cava Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York Spring 2011






Here’s their interview from Opening Ceremony:
What is it like designing with a friend? Is it a finish-each-other’s-sentences sort of relationship or more of a yin-and-yang thing?
LISA: It’s both! We balance each other by having an extra set of eyes and two opinions on every sketch. And we definitely each have our own taste. But we also finish each other’s thoughts in a free-associative way that baffles most casual observers. It tends to come out more when we’re extra sleep-deprived. Here is a fake sample conversation:

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

LISA: Though there was a brief period where I was fascinated by the idea of designing prosthetic limbs, I have always wanted to make clothes.
SOPHIE: I wanted to be an artist, a Shakespearean actor (thespian phase), a fashion designer, and a bowling alley proprietor (family business).

How do you think Vena Cava would change if you had begun your collection in SoCal, rather than in NYC?

SOPHIE: More Cruise, Brews, Jacuzz… just kidding, kind of. There would definitely be less black and “edge.” From a design standpoint, I think the clothes would have a lighter, more spontaneous spirit–there is something about dressing in New York that feels more formal and studied. In LA, there is a freedom to dressing because people don’t follow “fashion” as much. And you can be in a car all day, so you don’t have to worry about dressing for practical purposes. We designed our last Spring 11 collection in LA, and you can really see the ease and color in the collection.



Describe a typical day in the VC studio.

SOPHIE: It’s usually a mix of a bunch of stuff. It’s a lot of computer time and meetings. We design maybe 10% of the time; the rest of it’s managing the company, figuring out ways to expand the business, developing special projects, and brainstorming new ideas. Some days we can be at the library all day, other days may be filled with power business meetings, and then there are the less glamorous days of all: e-mails. It’s always a mixed bag.

What secrets can you reveal about SS12?
LISA: One of our prints prominently features a certain illegal substance.
SOPHIE: We designed the whole collection while traveling in Vietnam! We did most of the sketches in a bungalow on the beach. It was sort of our fashion honeymoon!

What was the first show you ever went to?

LISA: My dad took me to see NKOTB (that’s New Kids On The Block), who I definitely wasn’t into. But it was pretty awesome of Mike Mayock for being such a great dad and taking 6 kids under the age of 10 to Dodger Stadium to see them.
SOPHIE: Bob Dylan at The El Rey when I was 14. My Dad’s friend took me and my brother. There were only 150 people in the room…it was very memorable.

What about the first tape/LP/CD you ever owned?

LISA: My first CD was the Portishead album Dummy when I was 13.
SOPHIE: Motown Hits, a tape I got at the car wash. ‘Til this day, I think it’s the perfect tape.
“You won’t see us building an all-white cement-and-glass showroom in the Meatpacking District,” says Sophie Buhai, in fact, the pioneering pair were among the first to set up a studio in Brooklyn’s industrial Gowanus neighborhood, now a hotbed for indie brands. Great taste and great thrift bonded Sophie and Lisa. “It helps to have a friend to create with,” Buhai says. “Melding our aesthetics makes the collection unique.” Hand-drawn prints and long draped dresses earned them the two CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nominations, but the designers swear the highlight has been Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour’s visit to their Brooklyn studio: “We never thought Gowanus would see the day!”
Vena Cava Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York Spring 2011









Currently, Vena Cava is sold in over 150 retailers internationally. The brand has also been featured in magazines including Vogue, Paper, Glamour, InStyle, Elle, and The New York Times, among other publications.
They showed their collection for Spring 2005 through the patronage of emerging artist supporter Gen Art. With a presence in New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Chicago, Gen Art seeks new talent in fashion,
film, music, and visual arts.
When Buhai and Mayock were approached by Gen Art to present a line for Spring 2005, they had two fashion shows and positive press behind them. The experience, however, would differ greatly from their previous shows, in that they were provided with significant production and technical support, which helped ensure a fluidity and smoothness to the program. For their previous shows, the pair worked on very low budgets and with the help of many of their friends. Gen Art gave them the opportunity and the challenge to create a line that would appeal to the audience—a mix of high-end fashion buyers, commercial and corporate fashion buyers, and investors—and display their brand identity. They were able to give special attention to minor details because of the funding provided by Gen Art.

Buhai explains that Vena Cava produces clothing that women of different ages can wear: “Even though we are young, our mothers wear our designs; women of different body types wear our designs. Our clothes are quieter. We are really into the reality more than the fantasy of fashion.”

Buhai and Mayock agreed on “Vena Cava” because they wanted to avoid the obvious device of combining last names. It is by avoiding the obvious that they have marched steadily forward with their brand. Vena Cava has a strong, focused, young team pulsing with life and carrying it forward creatively, one small collection at a time. They start with small collections and improve upon them without upstaging them. Consistency is the most important thing.

Photos from http://karlascloset.blogspot.com/2011/06/show-some-skin.html

When creating a look with a cropped top, I think you are better off with high-waisted pants, skirts, and shorts. If you want to pair it with a low-waist short, you can layer a tank top underneath. These are also great if you want to layer it under a fitted dress or a basic maxi dress. There are numerous styles and prints when it comes to cropped tops: there are the basic loose cropped tee and basic cropped tank top, and the ones that you tie by the waist to cinched it up. If you’re dealing with a cropped top with lots of fabric, you could always tuck the front.

Summer Staple Series – Cropped Top by mscelinep featuring glitter tops

I think cropped tops are pretty straight forward. You either like them or you don’t. So what do you think? Are you going to try this trend? How would you create a look with a cropped top? Let me know on the comments below!