Are you fur real?

As you all know, fur is the new obsession for this fall season. From fur detailing to oversized fur vests. Every where you go you see fur! Here are some fur pieces that I absolutely adore!

This Fendi Red Fox Trim Coat ($1,863.41) combines the camel coat trend with fur trimming. It's simple yet very chic. Pair it with a pair of light jeans creates a day look or layer it over a black dress for a uptown look.

On the right are Michael Kors fur clutches. I love the smooth metallic leather and the metal lock embellishments pairing with the soft fur. These clutches are perfect to dress up a simple outfit when going out at night. I can see myself having all 3 because they all are so beautiful. The top brown is perfect with a black shirt and dark wash jeans. The left brown is perfect with a day look of a white oxford button down shirt with a pair of relaxed jeans and brown riding boots. The grey clutch is for the fashionistas who love to wear the all black look.

This mink and velvet necklace from Louis Vuitton is something you see in Vogue photos or on Anna Wintour's neck. This is the to die for accessory. The detailing is strategically done- rather it looking like furry handcuffs on your neck it looks very luxurious and delicate. You can wear this with a very plain outfit and still look chic and fashionable. You can wear this necklace with a white tshirt and jeans with your hair up in a pony tail and look casual chic like Reese Witherspoon. Or Pair it up with a blazer and black pants with your hair down like a Kardashian. I can also see this necklace on Rachel Zoe.

This Burberry Fur Collar Trench Coat will definitely keep you warm while looking fabulous! The fox collar is removable so you can tone down the wow factor. This double breasted coat is very sliming.

I am obsessed with these Tory Burch Rabbit Fur Buckle Boots. The brown leather detailing and Gold Tory Burch embellishments makes these boots the fall winter boot. I can see so many girls with leggings and capes wearing these boots this fall.

This Nina Ricci Fur Collar Cardigan puts the cardigan/cape and fur trend together. This light weight cotton cardigan allows movement from the garment while having a relaxed fit. The cropped sleeves also adds comfort so it doesn't feel heavy or bulky when wearing this cardigan.

How uptown are these fur earmuffs? These ear muffs from Lanvin (found at Bergdorfs) are a fancifully adorned piece made by fox fur. It is made with folded navy satin ribbon with red dyed fox muffs. The jeweled brooch on side makes this earmuff very Blair Waldorf. So this is a perfect piece for you headband lovers!

What do you think of the fur trend? Of course I prefer faux fur!

Fashionably yours,

Karen xoxo

look of the day

There's something about the pairing of shear fabrics of black and beige that I absolutely adore. Here's Reese Witherspoon wearing Jason Wu.

Reese Witherspoon attends the 10th annual Avon Foundation For Women Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on October 26, 2010 in New York City. (Getty Images North America)

Fact of the Day

Hermes Birkin Bag Background:

The hand-built Birkin Bag is named after the actress/singer Jane Birkin. The price of the bags range from $9,000 to $150,000 according to the quality of the material/ rarity of the leather. As a result of limited quantities the bags are very exclusive. The bag was created in 1984. In 1981 CEO of Hermes, Jean Louis Dumas got on a flight from Paris to London and sat next to Jane Birkin. Birkin placed her straw bag in the overhead compartment and then her items from her bag fell. Birkin explained to him that it's difficult to find a leather weekend bag. In 1984 he created a black leather bag for her.

The Birkin bag comes in 25, 30, 35, and 40 cm sizes. The 50 and 55 cm bags are meant for traveling. (colors:pink, red, brown, orange, baby blue, navy blue, orange, white, black, gold tan) The metallic hardware are plated with gold or palladium (both don't tarnish) Diamonds are another custom addition. The bag comes with a lock and keys. Keys are enclosed in a leather lanyard known as a 'clochette' carried by looping through a handle. The lock and keys are number -coded.

The bag has a variety of skins to choose from: calf leather, ostrich, crocodile, and lizard. The most expensive is saltwater crocodile skin. Bags with smaller scales cost more than those with larger scales. The bag is lined with goat-skin. The color matches the exterior.

Once known for having a wait list time of 6 years, it was announced in April 2010 that the wait list no longer exists. (Maybe because of the recession)

So what kind of Birkin do I want?

Black/ brown calfskin with gold metallic hardware. Just like Posh Spice :)

Fashionably Yours,

Karen xoxo

more affordable chic

First Jimmy Choo, now Lanvin has also paired up with affordable chic commercial mogul H&M.

Yesterday they previewed a range of black satin dresses and tuxedo jackets. All pieces which I absolutely love. Most affordable designer clothes are usually made with cheap material or simple designs for the sake of mass production (cough cough Simply Vera line). However, this line looks luxurious and expensive.

Today they showed us bright floral print. The marketing behind this is truly creating a lot of hype. There's a certain mystery behind the collection. It keeps us on our toes wanting to know more. Don't you love how dramatic the advertisements are?

Will you shop for Lanvin at H&M? Oh and I hope you all guessed right with my last post. The designer is....

KENNETH COLE! Known for his social conscious and controversial advertising. Of course my favorite one is addressing Imelda Marcos's shoe fetish in 1986 with the line "Imelda Marco bought 2,700 pairs of shoes. She could've at least had the courtesy to buy a pair of ours"

Sole Mate

Can You guess which designer said this? Here's a hint, he's the king of advertising in fashion...

Fashionably yours,

Karen xoxo

How to spot a fake LV

Whenever I mention to people that I went to college at UConn, most of their reaction is that I went to school with wealthy people. "Oh Connecticut, the richest state, full of rich people". First, lower CT is very wealthy (Greenwhich, Fairfield County, and Stamford). They think I went to school where everyone dressed in Ralph Lauren Oxford shirts and khaki pants. That's what us New Yorkers assumed. To tell you the truth, 99% of campus walked around in sweatpants, yoga pants, and jeans. Girls weren't walking around looking like mini Stepford wives. But the thing that amazed me the most is CT girl's fascination with three brands

1. Coach

2. Juicy

3. Vera Bradley

Along with those brands, most of my friends who would come to NYC would BEG me to take them to Canal and buy fakes. They LOVED going to China town and going to the 'hidden back rooms', which to tell you the truth absolutely scared me. I've heard horror stories of people getting hurt during raids, the sellers not letting you go until you buy a bag, kidnapping. Let's not forget that buying these counterfeit bags are criminal. (You're basically supporting drug dealing, human trafficking, organized crime, and child labor)

As New Yorkers, we all know the shame in wearing fakes. Yet you can always spot the tourists

in China Town with their oversized maps hovering over the fake bags on the sidewalk- not even bargaining might I add. With designers coming out with more affordable lines, because of the economy people still want to buy fake bags. Fake bags unfortunately are getting better, and sometimes people can't even tell the difference. In the past it was so easy to spot a fake, A G in stead of a C for coach, E instead of F for Fendi...

But here's how to spot fake LV:

first, if they are made with cheap and bad materials- they are def fake. So look carefully check for serial coes, if the logos are close together and if logos are lined up carefully and perfectly at the stitching.

But here are other ways:

1- Check the quality- feel the leather and canvas- it should feel smooth and look shiny.

2- The pattern matters- the pattern will always be the same on all pieces of the same line. (All

monogram canvases will be the same on all leather goods. On the Damier canvas, the boxes that say "Louis Vuitton Paris" on them will be spaced 9 square apart both horiz and vertical (4 dark and 5 light)

3- the hardware- on most bags the zippers and buckles will be brass or gold- some can be silver. Pay attention to the LVs carved into the zippers. They should be clean cut and smooth.

4- The leather- handles, straps, and/or trim will usually be a white-colored cowhide that will oxidize over time. If you bought vintage it should be a darker color. When it is new it will be white on the surface but the inner part will be a red color, that will also change color, if the white doesn't darken then it's fake.

5- accessories- speedy's DON'T EVER come with pegs on the bottom.

6- The inside: should always have a small piece of leather (that will also oxidize) with "Louis Vuitton Made in France" hot-stamped into it. It can also say

*made in italy, made in paris, made in spain, made in germany, or made in usa

=everything else is fake

7- there are only two places you can buy LV bags online: louisvuitton.com and eluxury.com

8- date code and serial number- all LV products have serial numbers. Usually be hidden behind some flap of leather or canvas and can be painted or hot stamped. (only people that can read the date codes are ppl that work for LV or have experience with LV products)

9- the colors- on the multicolor speedy's and purses there are never any red or turquoise LVs. (may be babyblue or dark or light shade of blue but never turquoise- also maybe pink but never

red) Also Multicolor bags never have bows on them.

10- the hot stamps: the font have very round O's and pointy As, Vs, and Ns. The font should not be narrow or squared off.

Anyways here are my favorite LVs:

And why do I like these bags? Because they are so unique and different! Everyone already walks around with the LV logos, checkered labels, why not be different? That and because of their opulent detailing.

Remember- Fakes are never in fashion and wearing expensive clothes doesn't make you fashionable, it's all about styling and confidence!

spotted...

I fell head over heels in love with this necklace from last night's episode of Gossip Girl. So here's my spotlight accessory:

Serena wore this Dannijo Raya Necklace to Chuck's black tie event. It's $612.00 and can be found on shopbop.com It's an oxidized silver-plated curb chain necklace featuring facted metallic beads, wrapped gold-tone chains, clear crystal beads, and amethyst crystal pendants. With a lobster claw clasp. Absolutely to die for!

As for Breast Cancer Awareness month, designer spotlight goes to Lacoste.

Who doesn't love the iconic alligator AND pink??

Last spotlight goes to website of the day:

I recently just joined Ruelala (am a member of Gilt, Billion Dollar Babes, Haute Look, Beyond the Racks, and Ideeli). But nothing beats this website:

Renttherunway.com

where else can you rent a Herve Leger dress for $100????? A REAL ONE TOO!!!! What's the catch? I don't really see any loopholes. With their motto "love. wear. return" it's affordable and easy. They reserve back up sizes, and send pre-paid return packages.

THIS IS A PERFECT WEBSITE FOR FORMAL/SEMI FORMAL DRESSES! My fellow sorority sisters!

That concludes my spotlights of the day!

PS- did you all see the McQueen collection?? To die for...

Fashionably yours,

Karen xoxo

fashion's words of wisdom

quote of the day:

"Size shouldn't matter in fashion. What counts is personality, there is not just the one form of stereotyped beauty." - Jean Paul Gaultier (Spring 2011 collection in Paris)

Beth Ditto opened and closed for Jean Paul Gaultier's show in Paris

Fashionably yours,

Karen xoxo

Picture of the Day

LOVE LOVE LOVEEE this dress!!! Her Louboutins are not pictured but how breathtaking is this dress? I love how the tulle looks smooth and compliments the lace. I love the pairing of the two colors. I simply love everything about this dress! Blake's hair looks well with the dress and the styling is just immaculate. Blake attended the Tiffany's Spring 2011 Eyewear collection in NYC with this Elie Saab dress. This dress is as comparable to the Valentino dress I was obsessed with that Jennifer Garner wore to one of the Premiers of Valentines Day:

What do you guys think about tulle and lace?

Fashionably yours,

Karen xoxo