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By: Burgundy Woods

A big new hello to all the Birds out there cruising our virtual wave. My name is Burgundy Woods, the newest Bird and luckiest Intern/Fashion Blogger here at the True Birds company. I'll be comin' "atcha" weekly, in between the INSANITY that is fashion design school and attempting to have a personal life, to blog about everything from the hottest accessories to the most exciting trends for 2010.  Anything and everything dealing with fashion is up for discussion here on the True Birds Blogsite so check back weekly for your
fun fashion fix.

 

Published May 10, 2010

1st issue of discussion-
The wonderful, The glorious... yes people, it's... The Vest.

To be or not to be... an accessory that is. For a while now, the fashion community has debated weather a vest was considered an accessory or an article of clothing. For many, the belief leans toward the garment category, but to many die hard accessories experts (eh-hem, the gang here at True Birds); the vest is considered not only an accessory, but also the most versatile accessory in existence and is one of the easiest ways to take an ordinary outfit and turn it into a fashion forward showstopper.

Not quite sure how to go about strutting your personal style with this item? Well here are a few ways to sport this hot inspired trend:

1st, Of course,
THE CLASSIC:

Once considered a gentleman's piece of clothing, is now one of the most popular choices when it comes sportin' the vest trend. Usually scene in black, this vest is functional and stylish for any occasion.
Popular Pairings: A crisp white tailored shirt & a pair of comfy chic jeans

Next we have
THE FUR VEST:


Inspired by the free loving times of the 60's, this vest is for the fashion forward thinker with the hippie/bohemian spirit to boot.
Popular Pairings: a "swingin" bohemian style dress and knee high boots
*Side Note, try to wear your hair up or out of your face when wearing this vest. Too much hair + too much fur = too much business going on around your neck, and "No Neck" = not flattering. 
(supermodels excluded)
;)

Moving forward to one
of my personal favorites
THE LEATHER MOTO VEST


It's easy to tell where this particular style is inspired from, but to avoid looking like'
a 200 pound, hog ridin', beer drinkin', bandana wearin', bucket sweatin', Hells Angel, try pairing this rockin' item with something feminine and flowy and by "something" I mean anything...
even pretty hair can soften this piece.

Popular Pairings: A feminine dress or harem pants and of course fabulously high heeled booties or heels
*Side Note, try to avoid buying a real leather moto vest from Harley Davidson or similar moto sports shops. These vests are usually cut to fit men and the forward arm positioning of a rider on his Harley. P.S. Women can ride too but even the women's vests tend to be cut from the same pattern and only sized smaller.

...And of course we get to
THE JEAN VEST



Ahhh the 80's... they gave us John Hughes movies, Alf (a couple of my personal favs) and yes the rise of the Jean Vest. Back with a vengeance, this piece has been seen with everything from dresses to fingerless gloves and T's.
Popular Pairings: Rompers & Tanks or try to find one in Military Green for that "oh so popular" camo look.

A fringy favorite
THE FRINGE VEST


Sister to the Fur Vest, we have the 60's to thank for this wonderful piece. Shaggy hair, cutoff shorts and layers of necklaces are winners with this vest, but modern times calls for modern styling.
Popular Pairings: Your favorite white T, lace leggings and of course a True Birds Bohemian Band.

Finally we have
THE WATERFALL VEST


The newest kid on the block, this vest can easily be recognized by it's longer side seam silhouette.  Always a bit oversized, you'll want to pair this vest with a more fitted bottom piece to avoid looking bigger than you are. 

Well Birds, there you have it. A quick look into a trend so hot this season, even the guys are flaunting it.

(quick cute guy alert)  ;)

With so many choices you're sure to find one that suits your personal style.
Check back next week for yet another Fun Fashion Fix.

 

 

 

Composed May 2010

Hello to all the birds out there. It's time for our weekly Fun Fashion Fix!
Today's topic: The book bag.

What was once known only as a functional piece used to carry school supplies and lunch has now become one of 2010's hottest bags to flaunt. These bags can easily be recognized by their square shape, hand handle and front flaps with buckle closures.
These are not your old school JanSports people! The hottest designers in the biz are revisiting the book bags original silhouette and adding a modern and sexy twist with each gorgeous stitch.

If you love your basic leather, look for black and brown numbers like this Michael Kors number to satisfy your craving.

If you love leather but want a fashion forward color, Taupe is taking the "top color to wear" list by storm this Fall. Here CNC Costume National shows us how its done.

This season a book bag with color will keep you looking fresh, stylish and "oh so smart". Look for a book bag that will be functional as well as colorful and remember, even a small dose of color can go a long way. Oh Proenza, how I love thee.

Finally, if you looooove drama, seek something glamorous and say "Daaa-ling" a lot like me, snag a book bag with a little bit of everything: leather, hardware, fur and more. Nothing beats the "I have nothing to wear blues" like a fantastic accessory that steals the show.

 

 

 

 

Published May 20, 2010

Ahh Spring Time.
You got the flowers blooming, the perfect weather and yes...
Festival Fashion.

Festival Fashion is one of the fastest growing "fashion categories" in the industry and is the hippest inspiration for Spring wear 2010.  This year, Coachella was indeed the great fashion frenzy that it always is and definitely left no disappointment in the inspiration category. Here are some interesting fashion finds from Coachella and awesome must haves for Spring when sporting the Festival Fashion trend.

First of all people, as us Cali gals know, you can not live without
some really cool shades. This year there were all kinds of silhouettes but the ones that caught my eye were the "cat's meow". This Spring geometric shapes will be big especially those inspired by our loving little felines.

A sure fire sign Spring is here?...
gals and their pals dashing out to get a great pedi! "Exposed toes" is a definite must during those sunnier days and sandals are the official shoe of the season. Be wary of gladiators, they’re a bit tired, but the Cuffed Ankle is a great way to update your fun fashion feet.

Ah yes, Cut-Offs. Festival Fashion just wouldn"t be where it is today without the Cut Off short. Destroyed and shredded, this ubiquitous piece has sustained the test of times and is one of the easier and money friendly pieces you can create yourself to update your very own Festival Fashion style.  Worn with vests, bandos, tanks and T"s, this is an undeniable Festival Fashion staple.

Nothing beats a great hat when the weather starts getting warmer and Festival Fashion's super star has to be The Floppy. Worn in all colors, The Floppy is usually scene in straw and is flattering on just about anyone. Contrasting colors are a great way to update this look even more and the extra large brims are a fabulous way to protect your skin on those extra sunny days.

Festival Fashion has got some great jewelry trends this year, but I've been noticing the "fantabulous" chunky pieces myself. Extra large pendants, all types of metals, modern looking or nostalgic, these necklaces are leading 2010's "it" status when it comes to Festival Fashion jewelry.  To wear these pieces with an extra "I know the trends" attitude, pair them with a Crop T. Sexy and stylish this popular pairing is evidence that, "Girl! You know how to dress!"



 

 

 

Published May 26, 2010

Hello Birds!
Time for our weekly Fun Fashion Fix.

This week I spotted a hot jewelry trend for Spring and I just had to share '
Ladies, clean out your jewelry boxes and make room for Spring's Multi-Chain Accessories!

The multi-chain accessory is perfect for not only transforming any tired "ecouter" but also displaying your more rebellious side in a subtle, yet "oh so sexy" kind of way. Although we've seen this trend back in Fall '09, a couple of new rules update this hot trend for 2010.

  1. Go excessive. Even if it's in a dainty way, you want to see lots of layers.
  2. Mix your metals. All silver and all gold is fine, but Spring's hottest designs are displaying everything from silver to rose gold all in one piece.
  3. Chaos rules. Back in the Fall there was understated way of displaying these rockin' accessories; but this Spring tangles, twists and even braided metals are the vital to updating the look.
  4. Finally MOVEMENT! This season movement is the key to making these edgy pieces super sexy and true to the trend.

1st up
THE NACKLACE:

Erikson Beamon

For that "I'm wearing it all" feeling (one of my personal favs) this multi-chain necklace is flawless. Featuring chains, mixed metals, rhinestones, and lots of movement, this necklace runs the perfect balance of outlandish and ultra-chic. Perfect for a "ressionized" outfit, you can rest easy knowing the rest of your ensemble is pretty basic.

If something like this necklace is too much for your personality, no worries, Spring's multi-chain accessories come in lighter versions as well.

Forever 21 & Topshop

Moving right along, we have
THE BRACLET:

As Cher once said,
"A watch doesn't really go with this outfit Daddy"
(ahh Clueless - love that movie)
In these cases we turn to... the bracelet! Remember the rules: excess, mixed metals, chaos and movement.

AOS and Wear & Tear

"Good Things Come in Small Packages"???...
They sure do.
Which brings us to the final category of the day,
EARRINGS & RINGS:

Although small and subtle, these multi-chain accessories pack a mean fashion punch and create the perfect reason to casually flip your hair in beautiful Spring sun. If you're not ready to take the plunge with more overt forms of multi-chain accessories, these small fashion statements are the perfect way to stay on top of the trend and still feel comfortable and confident. Afterall, a martini just isn't a martini without a little something dangling from your fingers.

www.Shopbop.com

Lee Angel Earrings & Arielle De Pinto Ring

 

 

 

 

Published June 1, 2010

Whether it's a "Good Hair Day" or a "Bad Hair Day", one thing's for sure... hair is one of our most powerful accessories and can make or break an entire look, so here are some fun and flirty Spring trends for your tantalizing tresses.

  1. The Bouffant:  A general word for any voluminous hairstyle that is backcombed into a full shape. This hairstyle dates all the way back to the late 18th century and was thought to give Marie Antoinette that "little extra boost" her already gigantic ego needed (gotta love Marie). Later, the 60's brought this sassy style back with a whole lotta attitude and a whole lotta hairspray. Today we modernized this look by associating it with Rock N Roll and edge. To achieve this look, tease under the crown area of your head, then sweep the smooth crown hair over the volume. If the Chanel look above is a bit too much for you, try it with a pony tail or up-do like Gwen Stephani. You're sure to give Marie and Gwen a run for their money.

  2. The Perfect Platinum: Marilyn, Blondie, Courtney and many modern day pop stars have sported this head turning look. Now it is the hottest hair color found on the runways the world. Ranging in shades from Warm/Golden to Cool/Violet this courageous color is sure to bring fashion forward merit to anything you wear.
    Take it from Thakoon.

  3. The Bed Head Bun: ATTENTION ALL students, moms and any other fabulously busy women who barley have time to eat let alone fix their hair-  THIS ONE'S FOR YOU. The Bed Head Bun is any variation of a bun that is not exactly made to look picture perfect. For an easy fix on this trend, tie your hair as you would a ponytail but do not completely pull out your hair on the last tug. Allow some loose tendrils to sweep the side of your face and off you go. For a more dramatic look, part your bangs down the center as seen in the Vera Wang example.

  4. Colossal Curls: This one's all about VOLUME people and we are Lovin' it LARGE. If you don’t have naturally curly hair, use a curling iron with a 3/4th rod and tease tease tease. Beware over doing the outfit when showcasing this look. When done properly, your hair will take center stage and we don’t want overkill.

  5. Layers & Waves: By far the simplest and most popular "pretty hair" look today. This trend is so simple you don't even need to be awake to achieve it. Simply tie your hair in loose Braids after a good evening conditioning. Secure the braids inside of a silk scarf and wa'la, by morning you’ll have perfect wandering waves once the braids are taken out. GOOD LUCK! :D