Chic in Academia goes to Paris

IMG954841

Photo Credit/Source: Larissa Eisenstein

Well…not physically.  But I want to.  Very badly!  One day…sigh.

In the meantime, I live vicariously through my BFF (you know, best friend forever), who is currently traveling in Europe and came upon some amazing  baubles in Ol’ Pari!!  One of them, which she has planned to gift to me!!  Isn’t my bestie the BEST?! 😀

Here in the US, anyone who has visited a clothing or accessories store knows that statement necklaces are a huge trend at the moment.  Let us not forget the recent fascination with the JCrew bubble necklace:

bubble necklace

Photo Credit/Source:  Moi

Yes, this is MY bubble necklace.  Yes, I wanted one too!! LOL!

Or the Pegassus Stella and Dot necklace worn by celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian,

Photo Credit/Source: Coolspotters.com

Shay Mitchell (Pretty Little Liars),

Photo Credit/Source: http://www.stelladot.com

as well as by one of my favorite bloggers, Wendy from Wendy’s Lookbook,

Wendy for Wendys Lookbook Blog wearing the Stella & Dot - Pegasus Necklace  If you want to buy or even earn this for *free*, contact me!

Photo Credit/Source:  http://www.wendyslookbook.com

These and other statement necklaces have been at the forefront of accessories-wear and sought after by many a bauble-afficionado, me included.

Cut to, Paris, France – fashion capital of the world.  As we all know, Paris is always at the cutting edge of fashion trends, what with its fashion houses and world-renowned designers in its midst.  So when my BFF sent me pictures of the necklaces she found while shopping in Paris, we both knew I had to share them with you all!!

Taking the bib/statement necklace trend we have seen here in the US to a whole other – let’s say couture – level, are these beauties:

Feathers, and pearls, and lace...oh my!

Feathers, and pearls, and lace…oh my!

Let's just call this feathers and crystals beauty,  'Gorgeous #1'

Let’s just call this feathers and crystals beauty, ‘Gorgeous #1’

...and 'Gorgeous #2' (a slightly darker crystal than in 'Gorgeous #1')

…and ‘Gorgeous #2’ (a slightly darker crystal than in ‘Gorgeous #1’)

Pretty in Pearls

Pretty in Pearls

Photo Credit: Larissa Eisenstein & Jesus Beltran/ Model: The beautiful and best BFF!!

Aren’t these just gorgeous!?  And what’s more, they are unique.  I cannot wait to see them in person!!  Further, I cannot thank my BFF enough for thinking of me all the way from Paris!!

Finally, the more I dabble in this whole ‘fashionista’ world, the more I realize…it’s not about wearing or having what everyone else has; it’s about having and wearing what you want and like.  So, I leave you with these quotes to inspire you to create your own fashion trends and to always…stay ‘Chic’!

“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”
—Yves Saint Laurent

“Fashion is not necessarily about labels. It’s not about brands. It’s about something else that comes from within you.”
—Ralph Lauren

“I don’t do fashion.  I am fashion.”
—Coco Chanel

What NYFW means for your closet

Today marks the launch of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week!!  An event that remains on my bucket list, because I am hopeful that I will one day be able to attend (Hint to anyone out there willing to take me!!). It happens twice a year where Spring fashion is presented in the Fall, and Fall fashion in the Spring.  Fashionistas, designers, and all lovers of fashion alike are currently in attendance at many of the fashion shows currently showing in New York (Jealous much?  I am!!).

If you are like me, you will admire from afar and keep up with the happenings of each show via live feed here, as well as updates on Facebook, and Instagram, to name a few.  It’s probably a better way to keep up anyway since it would be nearly impossible for a little unknown person like me to score tickets to more than one show, much less an invite to any of the amazing after parties.  So…I live vicariously through others. 🙂

I am, however, able to indulge in the innovation presented and generated for these new lines of fashion twice of year by purchasing what trickles down (see, Reagan’s Trickle Down Theory can be applied to fashion as well, lol!) to ready-to-wear retailers like Zara, JCrew, Banana Republic, and big retailers like Macy’s and Nordstrom.  What you see on the runway isn’t always what makes it into our closets, but versions of them, as well as the ready-to-wear collections do!

For example, Zara, a Spanish-based women’s clothing store, built its success on recreating designer styles and putting them at the reach of the masses.  The owner and creator, Rosalia Mera, recently passed.  The New York Times ran a feature on Ms. Mera and the company, describing Zara the following way: “Zara changed the apparel industry, chiefly by speeding up its mass-market response to new designs coming from the leading fashion houses in Paris, Milan, New York and other cities. Zara could come up with its own variations on those designs and have them in stores within two weeks; previously, six months was the industry average.”  Although designers like Tom Ford are angered by such business practices (according to Daily Mail, so take it for what it’s worth), I am happy to have access to fashion that might otherwise be unattainable!

August was a good shopping month for me and I can’t wait to share with you some of the things that made it into the store, and eventually, into my closet. 😉  Stay tuned!!