Stylish with Substance

Is Jessica S.! She has been contacted and her mailing address has been given to the business.

She won this giveaway. Have fun seeing the sights in N.Y.C.!

An interesting tidbit is that her +1 of additionally answering an optional question is the entry that won.

I will fine tune some rules and things for the next contest, please stay tuned, as it's coming soon!

By the way, I knew when I started this up again (posting these, I get so busy I feel I don't blog enough to clog up the timeline) that I'd forget to submit my link. No really, I did. :-) (And I had a lot to choose from.)

Well, on to the goodness.

When Fashion Gets Ethical

Edited by Retrochick

The ethics of Fashion can be a blurry area. With so much to think about when we buy, from construction to provenance, how can we pick our way through such a minefield of issues and emerge with our ethics intact?

We all have a duty as consumers to be as informed as possible about the purchases we make, and this weeks Links à la Mode can help. Amongst this weeks picks Fashion in My Eyes talks about locally made fashion, Style Eyes discusses Organic Cotton, Hello Beauty buys some recycled sneakers, Oranges and Apples sorts the wheat from the chaff in second hand clothing and Shrimp Salad Circus brings you natural make up.

Once your done being educated we also have a good smattering of fashion frivolity to be getting on with too, and there’s even more on the original forum thread!

Links à la Mode : April 29

• Avant Garb – Dedicated Follower Fashion grills Sandra Mendoza-Daly of Debutante Clothing
• Betsey J – Why do we feel it’s necessary to financially compete with our fellow bloggers? Is it really worth it?
• Dramatis Personae – Interview with Indie Designer Ureshii– fabulous made-to-fit clothes for the modern gal!
• fashion in my eyes – Made in… Buying for the label
• Glossary – Fashion 101: Back to Basics
• hello beauty! – my new eco-sneakers, which are basically a jumble of hemp, recycled plastic bottles and car tires…
• House in Tillford – Fur isn’t fashion! My rantings about fur
• Idiosyncratic Style – Swoon-worthy Spring runway trends
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – How to Contribute Articles to a Blog or Magazine
• La Moda Dubai – Photoshop isn’t the only to manipulate a photo
• Le Quaintrelle – Outfits inspired by Michael Kors Resort 2010 collection with pieces out of my own closet.
• Mystery Creature – Look great for a sleek and sophisticated summer wedding with these 1930’s inspired wedding dresses
• Oranges and Apples – Taste and secondhand clothing: sorting the wheat from the chaff
• Out Of Order – Interview with Marisa of New Dress a Day
• Retro Chick – The Lost Art of Dressing Up
• Return to Sender – Little black dresses for the FATshionista.
• Ship-shape and Bristol Fashion – These days knock-off trends are common place but is cheap fashion still a taboo?
• Shoe A Day – How does fashion fit into Earth Day?
• Shrimp Salad Circus – Get high-fashion makeup looks for less with all-natural, afforadable handmade mineral versions!
• Style Eyes Fashion Blog – Organic clothing – should I bother?
• Style Symmetry – 5 Days of Symmetry Challenge ~ Wear a 100% Vintage Outfit
• The Coveted – Why Say Never? Chambray Jumpsuit & Clogs

Fashion has Brains

Edited by Ashe

Every week I am always surprised by the selection of posts we receive here at IFB.  I think back to before I started my blog, the discrimination I felt working in retail and adoring fashion, because it was shallow and it wasn’t academic.  Now I look at the community I am a part of and think– how could anyone accuse fashion enthusiasts of being shallow? Or fashion designers, lovers of style?  Indeed, like any frowned upon medium or niche, fashion has brains; it has ingenuity, it has controversy, it has creativity, and it has depth.

This week I want to celebrate those putting fashion and intellect together, to show that there’s more than meets that glittering eye…

Oh, and if you’re looking for something to do this summer… IFB is looking for interns!

Links à la Mode : April 22

• Agent Lover: – On The Search For The Perfect Retro Bathing Suit!
• Alice in Stilettos: – Interview with Edgy, Up-and-Coming Designer Chelsea Sutrisno
• Bay Area Style File: – Interview with Model turned Eco Friendly Beauty Brand owner Josie Maran.
• Bobbins and Bombshells: – Fashionable History: Lilly Dache – A True Fashion Success Story.
• Denim Debutante: – Meet US-Made NAEM Denim and Win Your Own Pair
• dramatis personae: – Back to the Future
• Fashion Pulse Daily: – Cynthia Rowley for Roxy Spring 2010
• For Those About to Shop: – Crystal Renn’s inspiring story of transformation may make you think twice about modelling industry:
• krameymartin: – Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your fashion sense. Check out this post to learn how to jazz up simple maternity pieces.
• La Chanelphile: – “The Allure of Chanel” by Paul Morand with Illustrations by Karl Lagerfeld
• M.I.S.S.: – The Rag Trade: The Sale Mentality. This week’s article looks at how we will get consumers to break the sale mentality and pay full price again.
• Night Watch: – DIY Tutorial: Burberry Prorsum F/W 2010-11 Inspired Blazer
• Oh, the Places You'll Go!: – ASOS Curve Models – Plus, or not plus enough?
• Oranges and Apples: – Some thoughts on weight, fat activism and health
• Poetic & Chic: – Hamish Bowles, European Editor at Large for Vogue, visits the de Young in San Francisco to announce a new Balenciaga retrospective slated for spring 2011.
• Retro Chick: – Made To Measure – Dresses for those who aren’t a standard size
• shrimp salad circus: – DIY Spring Flowers Headband/Belt for Under
• The Coveted – Craving Miu Miu Clogs?
• the fashionate traveller: – Discovers the emerging Japanese fashion trend Dolly Kei, as seen through a visit to Grimoire, Shibuya’s premier vintage store.
• The Fashionista Lab: – I gave up shopping and gained a new perspective on using and building my wardrobe (hint: shoes are important)
• True Queen: – Warning: Men In Skirts – Examining a taboo trend that attempts to go mainstream

Giveaway: Win two passes* to the "Sex and the City" walking tour via On Location Tours, valued at $84 in total.

*What you'll win is a gift certificate good for two tickets to this tour. Visit the New York City hotspots from the series, and some from the first film. Highlights include

• Shop at the store where Charlotte bought her "Rabbit"
• Stop at "Scout," the bar owned by Aidan
• Enjoy cupcakes like Carrie and Miranda
• Go on location to the art gallery in SoHo where Charlotte worked
• Shop at the hottest boutiques & stores in Greenwich Village
• Visit Buddakan, site of Carrie and Big’s wedding rehearsal dinner
• Get special discounts while on tour

See more details on the tour. The gift certificate never expires! So even though this prize does not include travel or lodging, you can save it for a future trip to New York City.

To enter, write at least 1 comment to this post.

For extra entries:

• 1 extra: Tweet this: " Entering @EllasPursedLips @onlocationtours Sex and the City Contest! http://pursedlips.net/16oq1 " Click here to tweet
• 1 extra: Fan us on Facebook
• 1 extra: In your original or extra comment, tell us where you'd most like to visit in NYC related to Sex and the City.
• To count Twitter and Facebook entries, please comment here your Twitter and/or Facebook names. For Twitter, there's a separate field in the comment form. If you want to keep your Facebook private, just send your name to me in the contact form!

Rules

• You must comment on this blog, and not just retweet or the like (see To Enter above).
• You give permission to share your address with us (we will not sell it) and the On Location Tours company. (Read our privacy policy.) You will not be asked for your address unless you've won.
• Does not include airfare or lodging, tour is only for use in New York City.
• Note that comments are moderated.
• Contest ends: Friday, April 30th. Winner will be announced/notified by Monday, May 3rd.

Newly available, the extended version of the Sex and the City 2 trailer...

Warning: not approved for all audiences.

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iViewing: Click to view on Apple device.

(Why does that tagline, "Carrie on", make me nervous? I'm a wimp.)

I'm pumped for the release, but nervous about what drama will enfold.

Via Nitrolicious

More Sex and the City fun later!

We've posted a S&tC-related giveaway!

Update, there is a much better, newer, movie poster after the jump!

[caption id="attachment_2797" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Surrender my shoes? I'd rather surrender Dorothy to the witch. Sorry babe, you're gone."][/caption]

In attempts to promote good deeds, TOMS Shoes is sponsoring a ... (blegh) ... go barefoot day, tomorrow, April 8th is (booming voice:) a Day Without Shoes.

Dun dun dunnnnnn...

TOMS donates one pair to underprivileged children for every pair someone else purchases from them. Which is GREAT! Fantastic!

But imagine the chaos that could unfold in the US metropolitan-type areas. Imagine the disgustitude. Imagine, men, how you'll turn off women. (And how their not only heel-less feet but nude feet, not cool, will turn you off!) (OK, not for every man.)

Also - ow. We'll beg for our stilettos back after the pain of accidentally stepping on a tiny sharp pebble about 50 times.

I guess that's the point.

Like I said, I'm all for charity and shodding people, I'm just kind of glad I work at home and don't have to see.

By the way when I go barefoot at home, it'll be something. Lately I can't stand to look at my preety pumps but not put them on.

So perhaps I'll go a whoooooole work-at-home day without having one of my own private shoe shows.

That's sad enough.

I'm still the girl who can't stand feet! Ahhh.... So ... don't think I'm a .. chienne, n'est pas?

P.S. The Jonas Brothers are in on it. As is Rachel Zoe.

P.P.S. Rachel Zoe put her name on the link, so I put my nick in. No idea why, just thought I'd be cool. *shrug*

Hey I'm Ella! I'm a blogger and 5-year lover of bags, but I also love shoes when they don't hurt. The more recent invention of great shoe lining products released makes it so I can wear heels with no trouble, so I'm all re-hooked!

Plus I have little budget for great bags, but I can get great shoes much cheaper.

Problem is I got rid of a lot of my shoes, most of the ones that were too uncomfortable to wear. Even Manolo Blahnik flats - D'OH! Sigh...

But it's time to rebuild ... hopefully in one year I'll have a really cute collection. (And money enough for a designer shoe or more???)

So about the blog topics. As many bloggers know, it is hard to say for certain what a blog will "grow up to be" and they sometimes change, but here are some ideas and plans for this blog!

• Shoe Porn pics/shopping
• Deals/Sales
• My footwear photography
• Tips to make shoes and heels much more comfortable

Sound good? I hope to see you around!

I've now put up a page with, yes, ways to subscribe! The link led to "coming soon" before, but now it works, and is here: /subscribe. (These include RSS, Bloglovin' and...)

We're starting a newsletter for Pursed Lips

I've been contemplating starting one but wanted to be completely happy with how it was set up, and planning on how I could deliver it on time, surely.

So it will start going out from between 2 weeks and a month, and will feature the best content from the week before its last. It's just too hard for me to set up content from the same week I send the newsletter, which would mean either working the weekend or making sure I can finish in 1 day = ugh!

The good news is it will never be sent more often than once a week (even if sometimes it's sent less often than weekly, which will happen from time to time).

*Update* 7am - & now the code + blog platform issues are fixed!

Subscribe below ... or on the subscribe page any time.

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Ever since a script upgrade our handy 404 stopped properly suggesting links to read based on URL given (a lot of our old erroneous URLs were wordy) - I wasn't sure how to fix it but I just put the time in and it's working as well as ever!

P.S. A while back we also needed to fix our search function, and that's been working for some time too - in case you needed to know.

I'm now working on making sure some wrong addresses are right to even better the site.

Two moms have invented "Sniffle Buddies": *extra* mini sleeves upon which for kids to wipe their noses. Because that's way better than wiping on a shirt sleeve. Oh yeah.

It's a fashion disaster too scary to recommend imagining, but the worst part is these two new business partners also sell adult sized versions.

Ugggghhh. I don't feel too well.

Read more about these mothers' story or browse the Sniffle Buddy Shop.