Laying the foundation

ladies, lets talk about starting with a foundation for your outfit.  BRAS.....  If your like me bra shopping is the one form of shopping I'd avoid at all costs.  But its a fundamental foundation for wearing clothes, the right bra will make you look perky and 10 lbs slimmer.  Trust me, I've seen it on myself. So recently I realized that I needed some new bras, the ones I have about a year old and really non-supportive.  So I went to barenecessities.com and took a look see, then I though, when was the last time I got a fitting?  Longer than I will admit here, so after yelp'ing I came across intimacy NYC and was like well lets give it a whirl.

I went to the location on Third Ave and met with Eloisa, who promptly assessed my needs and proceeded to find stlyes that were cute and supportive.  Now if you know this, good for if not here is a lesson,  a good bra will life your breasts up, support them lovingly and make you look 10  lbs lighter.  Eloisa pointed  out that I was wearing the wrong size, I was closer to a 40F.  Instead of measuring me she took a look and knew exactly the style and sizes I needed.  Eloisa says that the motto at Intimacy is to fit your body, so that means understanding different bras fit differently. After trying on about 5 styles it was time to narrow them down, but not to worry she made me a wish list.  So when I go back they can pull up the styles that I like and make my life easier.

While the store doesn't look like there is much, they do have drawers of bras.  Not to mention swimwear, which if you are larger than a C you know its challenging to find one that has support.  So ladies take a moment go get fitted and see the difference in how you stand and even how your clothes drape.  I for one will definitely be back to shop. 

check them out here http://myintimacy.com/

Tailored Tuesday - Get fitted!

Bespoke:  made to fit a particular person; also : producing clothes that are made to fit a particular person

Men, are you looking for that je'nais qui when it comes to dressing?  Maybe a clothing company that has ninjas to help you out?  Tired of listening to people complain about your style (or lack thereof)? Or you want to take your style to the next level?  Maybe you are wondering what bespoke clothing is?  Allow me to introduce you to Bonobos.  A singular destination for all things considered stylish and innovative with some fun thrown in. 

Founded in 2007 for men that want awesome clothing without the hassle of shopping for mass produced styles, you can either shop online or go to your local Nordstrom's to check them out.  But here is where it gets good fellas, they offer guideshops you can PHYSICALLY go to help you find the right fit and style and be done.   (Guess who is taking her boyfriend in to one...) And lets face it, women love a man that has on great fitting clothes (its our version of lingerie).  Think I'm wrong?  Ask any woman you know about how attractive a well dressed (and groomed) man is....drool........

But lets talk about the Bonobos spring line. Spring seems to be struggling to make itself know here on the east coast.....but Bonobos can fix that right up for you.  I mean polar vortexes and below 65 for over 3 months?  So just in time for spring, they have launched a new collection of men's seersucker and cotton suits, which is a great-fitting and a lightweight BREATHABLE fabric just right for summer weddings, garden parties and mint juleps!  They even offer shirts in chambray, floral, stripes and classic white button downs in lightweight summer fabrics. (And I'm crushing on the Newport Poplin shirt myself.....) Pair the shirt with a seersucker suit or with some chinos for that classic American look.  Why not even scoop up some travel jeans for when you are jet setting around the globe? They even have non iron pants!!! Like how much easier can it get?

Got a wedding?  Bonobos will custom fit you for that big day, and think of it as an investment piece.  You can always use well fitted slacks and a blazer right? Right.  Plus buying off the rack is just so....last season guys.  Time to step up the game and given by my IG feed men are really looking to break out of the basics mold.

If your still unsure about fit, styling, or like the site says a good chili recipe, hit up the ninjas for some deets. But here are some pointers to think about when it comes to fit from VP of Design, Dwight Fenton

“Fit is the most important detail for a suit. Marry that with classic color options and quality fabric, and you have a great looking, versatile suit for every occasion"

Fenton’s simple suit tips to find the right fit:

• Fit starts with the shoulders: The jacket should grab your shoulders snugly but not be overly tight. If the shoulders fit, pretty much anything else can be adjusted.

• Length matters: To determine the appropriate length, you should be able to cup the bottom of the suit with your arms by your side.

• Show some shirt: A flexible but general rule of thumb is to have a quarter-inch of your shirt cuff showing. If you’re wearing a heavier cuff, like a French cuff, you may want to show a little more.

I know so often I see men in terrible fitting clothes and all I can think about is Stacy and Clintons advice from What Not to Wear, invest in tailoring.  So guys take a moment and really invest in some basic wardrobe staples that FIT THE RIGHT WAY guys, and trust when I say it will pay off.  Like I say, style is saying who you are without speaking, so what do you want to say to the world?

Check out the site here and make that appointment! bonobos.com

Check out some photos of the new spring items (and the details IN the clothing)....you cant go wrong with anything from them honestly! 

Fall 50 for under $50

Thanks to yahoo! news and Pop Sugar they put together a list of falls top 50 items for $50 or under.  Which is great for me who is currently unemployed but looking to revamp my wardrobe.  Of course number 1 is the LBD which Zara has done for this fall.   It also seems like kitten heels are making their comeback this fall.  These are great wardrobe items and serve a great purpose for interviews.  And lets not forget statement necklaces (which of course I sell at my boutique) which can wake up any outfit no matter how mundane.  So click the link to see the slide show that popsugar put together.  Also dont forget to check out my e-boutique and I was featured again on dearandi.com again! Man i <3 her="" lol="">
http://shopping.yahoo.com/photos/shop-for-fall-fashion-with-50-or-less-1377895357-slideshow/under-50-photo-1377899538833.html

www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/fashionfeednyc

Working Staples

Wondering what you need for office supplies in the clothes department?  Well Rachel Zoe partnered with Shira Suveyke, VP of Global Buying at The Outnet for the top five pieces to get you through the work week.  Her staples also include some techie pieces.  Here are some add-ons I think every girl should also own.

1. Nude and Black basic pumps
2. Classic White Button down
3. Statement piece of jewelry
4. Basic black leather bag (not fake leather)
5. The LBD
6. Sexy undergarments

Office Staples

Chloe+Isabel

And guess what! I have some of these items on my poshmark closet so check them out

poshmark

Fashionable profits

So I feel that it’s my responsibility as a fashion blogger to also speak to various issues that impact fashion, be it positive or negative.  Maybe I don’t follow enough people but I have yet to see one person write about the fire in Bangladesh that killed over 1,100 people.  Now anyone who has taken fashion merchandising management classes or worked in retail knows that most goods are produced overseas in factories at a fraction of the cost of producing it stateside.  Many of these workers are paid the bare minimum and work in atrocious conditions that many Americans would be appalled at.  In an article by fashionmag.com they speak about how will brands and governments react to this and will there be any reform? And what does that mean for you as a consumer?  Many brands “outsource” to local companies who hire factories to produce the goods and enter into agreements about conditions in the factory as most companies want to be ethical.  However its almost impossible for sourcing and production teams located outside the country to manage and maintain acceptable working conditions, although many companies do visits once a year. Exports out of Bangladesh account for almost $29 billion dollars, which for many companies means greater profit margins.  If the factories “upgrade” the working conditions and wages that means a higher cost for companies to produce the goods which means a higher ticket price for you the consumer.  There are some any aspects to this but take a moment read the article and leave your thoughts and maybe even share this to bring awareness to overseas production.

 

http://us.fashionmag.com/news/Will-brands-and-governments-take-action-on-Bangladesh-,329691.html

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bangladesh-rubble-prices-profit-120936742.html