TFTV: WHAT'S IN MY BAG?

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What's in my Bag?!



Check out the random items found in my bag on TALKFASHION TV youtube!

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xo,

Maya

Review: My 2015 Winter Style

This Winter I challenged myself by documenting 15 days of  what I wore. The purpose of the challenge was to approach 2015 with a new attitude and to push my limits of creativity.

Today, I have decided to review this Fashion Challenge and share with you what I learned and currently love from my Winter style. 

Currently Loving:

My Wintery color palette finds me loving black, white and grey. I enjoyed the textured patterns of knit fabrics, stripes, embroidery, and pops of color. I normally, am never known to wear black, but this year it seemed to be appropriate to my current mood. Nearly 90% of my Winter style contained partial black elements. During darker days, I found myself craving bursts of color.  Pops of electric blue, turquoise, magenta, and golden oranges can be found in my style. 

What I Learned: 

How you stand or pose for a picture, greatly effects the proportions of the body. It was a huge wake up call to see how angles can lengthen you or chop you in half.  Knowing where the camera is and how to take a good shot is truly a learning experience. 

Currently, what are you guys loving this Winter? 

xo,

❤

Maya

Fashion Challenge Day 12: OOTD "My Heart is French"

Day 12 is still finding myself missing France. For me, French style, is artistic, feminine, elegant, and natural. I can remember walking down whimsical little streets in Paris, and stumbling across the most wonderful boutiques filled with the most beautiful accessories. The women in France, are stylish in their ability to add their own accessories and thus making a look their own. Whether it be a belt, a hat, a hair accessory, style seems to always celebrate their own beauty. 

 The hair band/hat that I am wearing is from France, and it is adorned with ostrich and peacock feathers. The belt was found in Belgium at Zara. The dress is Tadashi and boots by Valentino.

xo,

Maya

Fashion Challenge Day 6: OOTD "Layering Stripes"

Day 6 OOTD is all about stripes. The look is as usual, very comfortable, and effortless. Based around a simple white tee by James Perse, and black jeggings by 7 of mankind, the look is very practical and easy. From there, I added a cashmere striped cardigan by BCBG and a smaller striped/leopard print scarf by Calvin Klein, for added interest in textures. I opted for no jewelry on my hands but a statement silver drop earring created by me. 

Currently, I am loving the layering effect of stripes because it confuses the eye, and grabs your attention. Take care.

xo,

Maya

FH 7: How I Style Vintage

FASHION-HEART: Day 7

To read about Fashion-Heart click here: FASHION-HEART

This entire week has been filled with posts based on sustainable fashion, and finding style in fashion that thinks: past, present, future. 

Today's outfit features a top from my mom's closet. It is from India, and was worn when my mom was my age. Read abut the article here: Shopping in My Mom's Closet

 The sleeves were shortened into a  puff sleeve by me. Traditionally, it is a straight long sleeve. 

The royal  blue-purple, velvet top, is one of my favorites during the Fall season. The colors of the flowers are vibrant and bright, but offest by the deep darkness of crushed velvet, exists a level of somberness and darkness perfect for this season. I pinched the waist in by adding one of my favorite vintage belts purchased in Belgium. I then accented the entire look with a pink hat from NAF NAF and a vintage purse from SANDWICH. 

These bracelets are worn almost everyday, and I have featured them in my outfits before. The charm bracelet is from Harrods, London, and the Marie Antoinette cuff is handmade in London as well.

FH 6: My Sustainable Style

FASHION-HEART: Day 6 

To read about Fashion-Heart click here: FASHION-HEART

What is Sustainable fashion?  

Sustainable fashion is a philosophy of fashion that creates a system that can be sustained indefinitely to work with the environment and not against it. It is a new type of fashion philosophy that creates and produces products with absolute consideration to the environment and the its social impact. 

Fashion designers and brands supporting sustainable fashion create with eco-conscious methods, environmentally friendly materials, and ethical treatment during the production process. 

"At least 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into textiles and 25% of the world's pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton. This causes irreversible damage to people and the environment, and still two thirds of a garment's carbon footprint will occur after it is purchased." 

-EARTH PLEDGE (NPO)

This outfit is a bit of a "throw back Thursday". These pictures were taken a couple of years ago in France,in my favorite place in the world.

My outfit is sustainable, largely because most of it is Vintage. The materials are all natural fibers, and the cardigan is almost all hand made and hand embroidered. The dress is completely hand made, and quite a delight for me to exam what a vintage custom design looks like. 

Eco Age, is a consultant company specializing in creating ways for  businesses to achieve growth and add value to their brand through sustainability. It is a leading organization that promotes sustainable fashion and promotes the production of ethically made outfits.

Ecoluxe London, supports a biannual exhibition during London Fashion Week and specifically showcases eco-sustainable and ethical designers.

H&M, Levis, Lucy Tamman, Stella McCartney, Amour Vert, Shalom Harlow and  Summer Tayne Oakes, are just some of the brands and designers who have adopted sustainable practices.

 How about you?

x,

Maya 

ITALY: Top 5 Designers

-DOLCE & GABANNA

-VALENTINO

-PRADA

-ARMANI

-VERSACE

                                      DOLCE & GABBANA

Dolce & Gabbana is made up of two designers, Dominico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

The root of their aesthetic is largely inspired by eclectic, thrift shop Bohemia. Dolce & Gabbana's deeply colored, animal prints have been described as "haute hippy dom", taking inspiration from Italy's prestigious film history. 

"When we design it's like a movie," says Domenico Dolce. "We think of a story and we design the clothes to go with it (Domenico)." 

They claim to be more concerned about creating the best, most flattering clothes than sparking trends. D&G once even admitted that they wouldn't mind if their only contribution to fashion history was a black bra.

Once dubbed the "Gilbert and George of Italian fashion", D & G trademarks include underwear-as-outerwear (such as corsets and bra fastenings). Gangster boss pinstripe suits, and extravagantly printed coats.

                                         VALENTINO

"I know what women want. They want to be beautiful." 

-Valentino Garavani

Valentino Garavani's style inspiration comes mainly from Art. Whether it be borrowed implications from  nature, traditional folk themes,  or zoological inspiration, his collections are always with depth and an underlying base tone of emblematic beauty. His love for such colors as white, symbolize the mystery and purity of dreams and his signature vibrant Red symbolizes life.  The Valentino women is regal, feminine, seductive, and always with a hint of mystery. 

                                             PRADA

"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world- especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language."

"It's horrible when people are only interested in labels, because it doesn't bring them the  happiness they think it will."

-MIUCCIA PRADA

Miuccia Prada is perhaps most famous for her black nylon utility backpack, which instantly became an anti-luxury accessory and a must-have bag. She has displayed a knowing sense of irony that has helped establish her as the thinking person’s go-to designer.

 Prada has also become a power player in the worlds of contemporary architecture and art. Through the Fondazione Prada, established in 1993, Prada and her husband, Patrizio Bertelli have acquired an ever-expanding collection of more than 700 works by artists varying from Walter De Maria to Michael Heizer and have acted as early champions for next generation stars such as Francesco Vezzoli and Carsten Höller. Her love for the Arts can easily be spotted in her fashion aesthetic. As a lover of contemporary architecture and art, her style is always followed with clean lines, and a high level of taste. 

                                          VERSACE

"Don't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live."

 -Gianni Versace

Versace, Gianni worked for several Italian designers before opening his own Milan studio in partnership with his brother Santo and sister Donatella. He is known for his flashy, sexy, beautifully cut outfits in strikingly extreme colors, patterns, fabrics, and leathers. Versace merged the worlds of fashion and entertainment, creating lavish shows for pop-culture events.  He drew inspiration from contemporary street life, art, and films as well as art and design history. Emminently theatrical, he also designed for the stage, opera, and ballet.

 He was murdered on the steps of his Miami Beach, Fla., mansion by a fugitive serial killer, and his sister has succeeded him as his company's chief designer. 

                                            ARMANI

"Remain true to yourself and your philosophy."

"I love things that age well-things that don't date, that stand the test of time and that become living examples of the absolute best."

-Giorgio Armani

The Armani lifestyle is all about looking relaxed—an effortless glamour tossed on with a shrug. But beneath that unruffled, easy breezy style, Armani is reportedly a workaholic and perfectionist. Every detail from craftsmanship to aesthetic is of highest quality and luxury. 

He grew up in the postwar Italian small town of Piacenza, and he has described his family as "very poor." He later worked his way up in fashion from an entry-level job as a window dresser for a Milanese department store. 

3 Ways I Style My White T-Shirt

                                            CASUAL DAY LOOK

       

1.) Casual Day

 Normally on my off days I like to wear a fun outfit, and remain very comfortable. The first thing I reach for is of course, my James Perse Cotton T-shirt, then my "boy friend style" jean by Abercrombie. From there, I start making my outfit fun. I grab my funkiest pair of sunnies, gather my hair into a messy bunny, and finish off with a statement jacket.

                                               WORK DAY LOOK

2.) Work Day

On work Days, I love to wear  my white tee with a black pencil skirt, and some form of wrap jacket. It keeps a business look very relaxed while remaining professional. Finish off with a sleek statement necklace, classic pump, and simple bag and you are work ready!

                                             NIGHT OUT LOOK

3.) Night Out

There is nothing I enjoy more, than styling my white tee into a fun, flirty outfit for an evening out. This especially works in hot summer months. You can stay cool and relaxed while remaining stylish and fresh. 

MET GALA 2014: Fashion Hits and Misses!

Met Gala 2014 was filled with fashion hits and misses, but in general, there was a feeling of "restriction" and boredom.  Very few actually took any risks, and those who did, rarely got it right. The dress code of, "White tie plus accessories" was a far cry from last years theme, "Punk Chaos", and most celebrities seemed lost in what to do with such an orthodox theme. 

Karolina Kurkova, in Marchesa was the "Belle" of the Ball. A perfect example of how you should dress to the Oscar's of Fashion.

Like a statuesque work of Art,  Karolina was a blossoming bouquet of beauty, perfectly accessorized in diamonds, and a fresh chignon. 

                                   BLUSH PINK BEAUTIES

Blush Pink was a perfect choice for an evening celebrating a time of "innocence and feminity". There is something about this pink hue that is sensual in a classic way. It is provocative but controlled, making it a perfect choice for a "white tie" theme. 

 A woman needs to be neither weak nor submissive to look classic and elegant. 

                                       ZAC POSEN GIRLS 

Zac Posen Girls, were all stunning! Perfectly accessorized for a night of class, and glamour.

The actual aesthetic of Posen is rather similar to Charles James, making his ladies perfectly on theme. 

                                      ARTSY RISK TAKERS

There are always dozens of risk takers at an event celebrating fashion, but very few actually can balance the fine line between "interesting" and crazy. These ladies took a risk, but managed to create beauty out of something quite different. 

                             BLACK and WHITE DOMINATE

The abundance of black and white may make some jump to the conclusion that this is a TREND, but it is actually just a reaction on the "white tie" dress code. 

Most people now a days have no idea about social "etiquette" or an era of time, when customs and traditions were in "fashion".

 The idea of having to dress elegant, and classy, is obviously a challenge for young Hollywood, who have forgotten where true glamour originates. Elegance is not simply wearing classic black or white, it is an attitude, and grace from within. 

                                            POOR FIT

All three of these gowns are beautiful in their own right, however, the fit is all wrong. The cut of a dress must be perfectly customized to accentuate the female form. Katie Holmes Marchesa is gorgeous, but this is a classic case of the DRESS wearing the girl, rather than the GIRL is wearing the dress.  

                                        WORST DRESSED

Im not sure what happened here, but you have to appreciate these fashion flops that have you scratching  your head in utter bewilderment.