FashionClub.com Daily

Etsy Thursday: Celebrating Obama

While opinions obviously differ, the whole country seems to be united in the excitement surrounding the Barack Obama inauguration.

Today on Etsy Thursday we're going to check out a few items that individuals have made to show their support for America's new president.

The first item, above, is an red and white striped Obama tank.

Instead of a standard t-shirt, you can wear this, show your support, and still stay girlie.

The most interesting thing about this tank is that it was created by penninah in Gottingen, Germany to wear to an Obama speech in Berlin, Germany last July. (She never wore it, so it's new.)

The whole world seems to be celebrating with us!

penninah only wants $12 for the shirt. A steal! Or steal her idea and make one for yourself!

Here's a necklace that makes a statement.

It's called the Barack Obama Memory Frame and it's 1.5" x 1.5", with one side containing an inauguration photo and the other side containing the number 44, for 44th president.

It's suspended from a 24 inch silver-tone chain. blinkphoto is selling it for $18.

 

Signed and numbered, this Obama Bag is one-of-a-kind and made out of leather, with a collage of the headlines from the day after the election.

It's pricey at $200, but it's a true collector's item.

12"x5", with removable strap and magnetic closure, it's the creation of ArmandoJavierDesign and his post says it will appear in the March issue of Ebony magazine.

 

Let your dog carry the message!

Nothing would be cuter than this Labs For Obama 2 1/4" badge/pin affixed to man's best friend's harness.

Even better, seller thedogcoatlady has individualized Obama buttons for Westies, Afgans, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Corgis, Pugs -- and I'll bet she'd make one for your breed or mutt if you say the word.

Best of all? They're only $1!

 

Above is a pretty-in-pink political statement that will keep you fashionable as well as socially aware.

It's the 3/4" Obama Girl Scrabble Tile Pendant Necklace that comes with a free 24" silver-plated ball chain which can be cut down to your desired length.

Bumblebeadzzz2007 is selling them for $6.75. That's a deal!

 

Matching Obama tees for you and your honey or BFF!

What we like about this tee is that it comes in both unisex and girls' styles from blackbirdtees.

This limited edition shirt is hand-illustrated in layers of vintage black and white ink, and printed on American Apparel 50/50 heather black tees. It's $23.

Goes with everything!

That's it for Etsy Thursday. While you're enjoying the re-runs of the We Are One Obama concert, don't forget to surf Etsy -- and make plans to open your own Etsy store.

Why not, you crafty princess? --Belissa

Etsy Thursday: Fashion Jewelry

It's Thursday, the day we wander Etsy.com looking for the interesting and unusual among the handmade goods for sale there.

If you didn't already know, Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. There are over 2,000,000 items for sale by 200,000 sellers from around the world.

The variety and creativity of the merchandise is astounding! And generally very reasonably priced, as well.

Anyone can have an Etsy store, and sell handmade creations or found objects.

The Golden Leaves Earrings, above, a cluster of gold-plated leaves, are just $10 from TheSilverDog.

Above is a Sparkling Czech Pendant With Filigree Necklace in green, but you can choose from green, red, pink, blue, aqua, lime, black, or smokey amethyst and it will be made just for you.

Liliswan makes them for $32.

PoorRobin calls the piece above the Elves Took My Lunch Money Bracelet. I think it looks amazing the way she's combined leather and button stacks. Quirky and lovely, and $20.

I'm not sure what this Golden Yellow Glamorous Baroque Style Pendant Necklace is made of, but it's lovely as well. Applepieorder has hung it on a 20" silver-colored chain and is selling it for $24.50.

 

A locket opens so that you can put a tiny picture (your honey, your mom, your pet) inside, and this Candy Jade Locket from JuicieJulz is 1"x1" and hangs on an 18" chain.

The pink bead attached is a a deep bubblegum pink candy jade briolette. JuicieJulz has other styles, but this one is $22.

That's a wrap on Etsy Thursday. See you back here same time next week for more Etsy creations.

Meanwhile, get crafting! --Belissa

Style Scoop Interview: Alicia McMinn

 

Name: Alicia McMinn (with boyfriend Ryan)

Major/Grad Year: Merchandise Product Development 2006

International Manufacturing & Product Development 2007

Campus: LA

Hometown: Yucaipa, CA

Current Employer: I work for Billabong-USA

Job title and short description: SMU (Special Make Ups) Designer. I am a Graphic Artist for Juniors and Men's Clothing.

What are the things you like most about your job? Being able to create, that is my true passion, and it's even better when I go to stores & see my designs in window displays as well as on the customers!

How did you find out about FIDM and what made you feel FIDM was right for you? Research when I was in High School & FIDM also made a couple of visits to my school too.

How did you choose your major? My advisor actually helped me as I was unsure of the direction I wanted to go in. I was interested in many different fields but after discussing we decided that Merchandise Product Development would be the best choice for me at the time.

What are some of your top sources of inspiration? My inspiration comes from people who follow their dreams.

What are some of your greatest accomplishments? Some of my greatest accomplishments are graduating with two degrees from FIDM, getting a job at one of my ideal companies to work for, and being able to travel.

What is your favorite thing about attending FIDM? Although FIDM was tough at times, I absolutely loved it!

I loved going to class and being inspired by my teachers whom work or have worked in the industry & just hearing real life stories.

What are some of your goals for the future? My future goals include to grow with Billabong, travel the world, & just be happy.

Anything else you'd like to tell aspiring FIDM Students? I would definitely recommend FIDM, if you have the drive for it!

Do not go if you just think oh, its fashion school, it will be easy, because FIDM is one of the hardest schools. Now don't let me scare you!

By hard I mean they work in the real world, they have deadlines, tons of homework, and the knowledge you will gain is unbelievable!

I believe that because of this I was truly prepared for what I was about to venture into. You have to live it, breathe it, and stay focused on your dreams. It will happen for the ones that have the drive for it.

What are some of the hottest trends at Billabong right now? Some hot trends you can see coming this Spring are from the ''70s, edgy bohemian glamour we would say. Lots of metallic hardware, cool color combos, and high-waist skirts with graphic tees.

What are some future trends you see coming? Lots of lace, continuing with animal prints, hand-drawn details. 

 

Splashing more into the eighties vibe with art & color.

(Don't wait too long -- the deadline for Fashion Club Daily's Totally Eighties Flashback Photo Contest is January 31st, 2009. Click here for more info and how to enter.) --Belissa

Meet Successful Beauty Industry Merchandising & Marketing Grad, Stephanie Marovich

Stephanie Marovich has the kind of exciting career the rest of us just dream about. Her life is filled with travel, travel, travel, and she gets to work with beauty professionals all over the world. Read on to hear what she has to say about her career, FIDM, and the past, present, and future of beauty.

Name: Stephanie Marovich

Major/Grad Year: Beauty Industry Merchandising & Marketing 2000

Campus: Los Angeles!

Hometown: San Pedro, CA

Are you currently employed?
Yes, I work for Shiseido Travel Retail. Travel Retail is our Duty-Free account division.

Job title and short description of your job:
I am the West Coast Account Coordinator. I travel from Vancouver to Mexico taking care of our accounts in airports and on borders.

I meet with the retailers and our Beauty Advisors making sure sales are up, planning promotions, presenting new products and launches, training, recruiting, making sure we have the right assortments per each store's demographic/flight schedules etc., etc., etc.

What are the things you like most about your job?
The traveling is great!

In addition to my regular monthly store visits in my region I also travel to our office in Miami.

I have been to seminars in Cancun and in Dubai as well!

I also love that I work from my home office when I am not traveling, it's great!!

How did you find out about FIDM and what made you feel FIDM was right for you?
I heard about it from a friend whose sister was a beauty junkie (like me!)

I had already been to Beauty School, got my Cosmetology license and worked at a salon and realized it was not for me. I love everything about the Beauty industry and was such a product junkie from a young age. When I worked in the salon I was more into what products we were getting in and how to promote and merchandise them and how each product worked.

I basically realized I loved the "Business of Beauty"....what other school would have helped me with that?

How did you choose your major?
There was no question about it....see above!

What are some of your top sources of inspiration?
Successful women.

When I meet someone or attend an event where there is a speaker I love hearing their stories.

I get motivated when I meet a successful woman who started where I started and now they own their own companies, are CEOs, are celebrity make-up artists...it just pushes me to work harder and dare to dream!

What are some of your greatest accomplishments?
I am currently working on creating a Make-Up Artists network for So Cal., and once that is up and running I will feel like I have accomplished something great.

I think going from retail to the job I have now was also a great accomplishment.

What was your favorite thing about attending FIDM?
Learning from people who are actively in the industry. They don't just teach from a book; they are teaching you their own life lessons and that is priceless.

What are some of your goals for the future?
To keep learning and finding new facets of the Beauty Industry.

Anything else you'd like to tell aspiring FIDM Students? 
It might sound corny and cliche, but follow your dreams!

If there is something you want, go for it. It won't all come easy, though, so be prepared to work hard.

Oh yeah and NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!!!

What's the hottest look or product in beauty right now?
Glam with a sophisticated edge. A lot of deep violets and deep reds for the lips. 

I love that we are still seeing the smokey eye with a nude lip as well....that has always been one of my favorite looks. 

Smokey eyes are not being used with just black anymore, we are seeing a lot of smoked out eyes using bronzes, purples, and greens too.

What do you see as the next beauty trend?
I think in Spring 09' we will see a lot of romantic and feminine looks, but more fun than usual.

Flushed pinky cheeks will be in, pastel eyes of blues and greens and pale lips....almost fairy like!!

What's a beauty trend that never should have gone away? 

BIG HAIR!!! I love it and we should be able to wear it everyday (OK, not EVERYday, but whenever we want)!

I love seeing it on the runways and in photo shoots, it just looks so sexy and glamorous. --Belissa

Etsy Thursday: Funky Vintage Finds

It's Etsy Thursday, the day we highlight creative and unusual finds from the indie stores on Etsy.com.

Anyone can have a store on Etsy, and the majority of the goods are either hand-made by individuals or found at garage and estate sales and thrift shops.

We thought that after spending the last few weeks in the mall shopping for X-Mas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa, we'd get some retail relief by checking out what Etsy has to offer in the vintage department.

What we found was quite a peculiar mix of the curious and crazy!

Above is a vintage piece of jewelry described as a Floral Egg Vintage Pendant. It's smaller than it looks -- just 1 1/4" high -- but it's delightful and kitschy and something you'd only find in the past.

It's $12 from WhitebirdDesign and it comes on a 24" goldtone chain.

We know one thing -- this floral egg would make an outfit! What a conversation piece!

Above is a green and white 1940s Vintage Tablecloth in fairly good shape, size 52" x 64" oval. Fishlegs is selling it for $16 and it's definitely a one-of-a-kind find. Perfect for a summer tea or picnic.

 
These vintage Blue Glam Earrings are not something you're gonna find at Forever 21.

They're the traditional clip-on style that predates pierced ears.

Can't you see them with a simple white spring dress and espadrilles? OneBlessedMess is selling them for only $5.

 

O.K., we -- I -- am officially in love with this wacky Vintage Leaf Headpiece.

It's in such perfect condition for a vintage piece, and would make any girl look like a woodsy nymph.

The only question: where does one go looking like a woodsy nymph?

elizabethwrenvintage is selling this perfect specimen for $26 -- a total bargain when you think about trying to find something like it in this condition on your own. A true vintage treasure!

 

Just LOOK at these Yellow Frill Dishes! Are they not the sweetest things you've ever seen?

There are four and they measure 6" in diameter, perfect for a tiny spot of dessert or a tea cake. ricracandbuttons is selling the set for $36.50.

Not only that, but if yellow's not your thing, ricracandbuttons has a set of four Green Frilly Dishes for sale as well, for the same price.

Below are a mixed set of Pretty in Pink Vintage Buttons. Though they don't all match, they'd look great mixed-and-matched on a sweater or blouse, using all different hues and sizes of pink buttons.

Hey, and elizabethwrenvintage is selling them for only $5 -- far below the cost of modern buttons at the fabric store.

With today's wacky collection of items, it just goes to show, anything goes on Etsy! --Belissa

Hot New Line Of Airwalk Kicks ... At Payless!

It's hard to believe that these Airwalk Sensation super-fashionable kicks are the latest thing from Payless Shoes, but they are.

They feature a houndstooth plaid canvas upper with real flocked roses, and a Converse-like bump-toe.

Here's another, even wackier, style:

Best of all, they're under $25! --Belissa

Annual Winter Sale Begins At Polkadots & Moonbeams: Both New and Vintage Merchandise In Two Stores

Polkadots & Moonbeams, a double-your-fun hip 3rd Street set of boutiques comprised of one all-new store and one vintage shop, is launching their in-store Annual Winter Sale beginning on January 8th at 11 a.m.

Up to 75% off items in the Modern Store, and 25% everything in the Vintage Store.

You're sure to find some bargains, between the latest fashions and the fashions of an earlier era!

Address: 8367 & 8381 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (between Orlando & Kings Road, 1 ½ blocks East of the Beverly Center.)

Phone: 323-655-3880 or 323-651-1746 --Belissa

Two Pay-To-Play Makeover Sites To Know About

Two sites now let you upload your pic and experiment with new hair and makeup trends.

DailyMakeover.com lets users, for a fee, try out celebrity hairstyles and different makeup looks, then upload the results for comments by members. You get one free makeover and limited access to the site on your first visit, so head over.

Unless you just want to comment, which is free.

Just looking at the befores-and-afters is a lot of fun.

TheHairStyler allows you to virtually try on literally thousands of hairstyles after uploading a face photo of yourself to the site, but again, there's a fee involved.

Both would make a great gift, especially for something like a Sweet 16, Quincenera, bridal shower, or just a spring pick-me-up! --Belissa

Buy FIDM Grad & Project Runway Winner Leanne Marshall's Clothes In L.A!

According to blog LAist, it's now possible to buy items from the collections of former Project Runway contestants, including those of winner and FIDM Grad Leanne Marshall, at a boutique near Hollywood!

For all the deets, click here. --Belissa

Exclusive 15% Discount for Fashion Club Daily Readers At Lulu's Fashion Lounge

Lulu's Fashion Lounge, a site you should know about because of their stylish wearables and great deals, is offering Fashion Club Daily readers only an exclusive 15% off each and every purchase, good site-wide until January 22, 2009!

All you have to do is enter the phrase kimsaid at checkout, and voila!

The versatile shrunken blazer below is only $31. Picture it with jeans and a t-shirt, and then a skirt for more formal occasions.

I love this criss-cross pencil skirt, and it comes in both black and purple, including the belt, for only $25:

So check out Lulu's and shop with a discount because you read it here! --Belissa