Street Style: Meet Vanessa


Meet Vanessa, age 17 from Berlin…


Describe your style: 
Elegant and Chic and I would say very feminine

Last item of clothing you bought and for how much? Zara heels they were on sale for 50€

Dream Job? Honestly I’m not really sure but of course something with fashion!
What do you like to do in your spare time? 
Spend time with my friends and family, go shopping, spending time on my blog and traveling
Something about yourself most people don’t know:
Oh that’s a difficult question.. I think that I am a perfectionist.
What color do you own most of:
I think I have a lot of neutral colors because the go with everything!
Fav stores:
Zara, Forever 21, Victoria’s secret and a lot of online shops.
One outfit you couldn’t live without? 
Skinny Jeans, fluttery top and a cute blazer and of course heels!
Fav designer? 
Louis Vuitton and Chanel
Fav fashion mag?
InStyle
Fashion mantra?
You are what you wear


Pantone’s Fall 2012 Color Report

via pantone.com

I like to think of the new school year as an excuse for reinvention. You haven’t seen most of your classmates for three months now! Don’t you want to show them you’re looking better than they remember? Maybe it’s not … Continue reading 

Street Style: Meet Shweghna


Meet Shweghna Gursahaneym, age 13 from  India, New Delhi…

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Describe your style- Trendy and classy
Last item of clothing you bought and for how much?- Tunic from forever 21 for $100
Dream Job- Fashion Designer
Your fashion inspiration- Dulce Candy
What color do you own most of?- Purple
One outfit you couldn’t live without?- My Purple dress
Fav designer?- Karl Lagerfeld
Fav fashion mag?- Vogue

Fashion In Film


Fashion and film are essentially the same. Creativity and passion fuel the creation of each of them and they are both enjoyed in a way that is emotional and intellectual. Therefore, it makes sense that when the two join forces the outcome is larger than life. Below are some of my favorite combinations of fashion in film. Whether it be a documentary or a fiction tale of the fashion industry, each one of them have a distinct specialness to them that have caused them to not only resonate with me over the years but also increase my knowledge of the craziness that is the fashion industry. So grab some snacks and settle in for a long night because believe me, you have a lot of movies to catch up on.

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The September Issue

The september issue is Vogue’s largest issue every year and quite possibly the most important publication of any magazine, ever. The film, The September Issue, with the help of fashion A-listers Anna Wintour, Grace Codington, Andre Leon Talley, & more, gives you a behind the scenes look on how this monumental issue is created. From conception to creation, Vogue journalists, editors, and designers encounter every obstacle possible and overcome each one of them confidently and gracefully. From friction in the office to making deadlines, the Vogue office is never dull or lacking in drama. Vogue is in a league all its own and anyone who is interested in journalism or fashion in any capacity needs to watch this and try to learn from their example.

Seamless

Seamless is yet another documentary that involves Vogue. Seamless takes viewers on the journey of three CFDA & Vogue Fashion Fund finalists: Alexandre Plokhov of Cloak, Doo Ri Chung of Doo. Ri, and the infamous duo of Proenza Schouler – Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. The three finalists go through interviews, studio visits, and showings that are worthy of Anna Wintour herself. You get to learn a lot about who the designers are and the struggles they’re going through to make a name and a living in the fashion industry.

Bill Cunningham New York

Bill Cunningham is quite possibly the sweetest man on the face of the Earth. Cunningham is an 83-year-old street style and fashion photographer for The New York Times who has completely dedicated his life to fashion. The film Bill Cunningham New York gives a glimpse into the life of Bill, who is a mystery to even his closest friends. Cunningham genuinely cares about fashion as an art and his drive to deliver his best work and capture a moment in fashion is not only beautiful but inspiring as well.

Unzipped

Issac Mizrahi, Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell are all household names now. However, in 1994, when the documentary Unzipped takes places, they were all on the brink of stardom and all involved in Mizrahi’s successful fall collection. Unzipped gives a behind the scenes look on how the idea for the collection was conceived, executed, and brought to life. The documentary is filmed in black and white, and color and captures not only the craziness but the fun and creativity that surrounds fashion shows. With an awesome cast, New York, the 90′s, and Mizrahi’s sharp-witted sense of humor – Unzipped is a film you really need to check out.

L’amour Fou

Yves Saint Laurent is one of the most iconic names in the fashion industry. But what many people don’t know about, is the man who stood behind him, his lover and greatest confidant: Pierre Berge. L’amour Fou is a documentary that tells the story of Saint Laurent’s rise to fame while also following the aftermath of his death and recounting the love story of Saint Laurent and Berge. The film gives a glimpse of not only the joy of success but also the dark side that accompanies it. L’amour Fou is in subtitles but if you can overlook that (which I highly suggest you do) then you should definitely take the time to watch it.

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Valentino Garaveni is over the top, highly stressed, and possibly slightly neurotic. However, he’s also a creative genius. Valentino has been making beautiful women’s clothing for decades and the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor gives a glimpse into his fabulous world. Similar to L’amour Fou in many ways, the film documents the celebration of Valentino’s career while also telling the story of his success and the people who have supported him, which includes his long time lover and business partner, Giancarlo Giammetti.

The Devil Wears Prada

Chances are if you like fashion you’ve already seen this. If you haven’t then I advise you to do so… immediately. The Devil Wears Prada is a fictional (but semi accurate) glimpse into the world of fashion magazines. With A-list stars Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway leading the cast, The Devil Wears Prada is quite frankly an awesome movie that is a necessity for any fashionista. Best of all, the film contains a makeover montage! And honestly, who doesn’t love one of those?

Confessions Of A Shopaholic

A little cheesy, seriously relatable, and a lot of cute. Confessions Of A Shopaholic is a lighthearted romantic comedy that focuses on a problem all fashionistas have most likely encountered at one point- shopping addiction. Isla Fisher portrays Rebecca Bloomwood, an aspiring journalist whose life is being taken over by her persistent need to buy anything and everything. With the help of her best friend & incredibly good-looking boss, Bloomwood works on overcoming her addiction and reaching her goals. In regards to substantial plot as far as film making goes don’t expect a whole lot, but if you’re just looking for an easy-going girl’s night in type of film- this is perfect.

Sex And The City The Movie ( 1 & 2 )

Undoubtedly, the best fashion in any film. With Patricia Field behind the styling of the Sex And The City empire, it makes perfect sense that these movies would be extremely stylish. If you’ve watched the series then you know all about the fabulously fashion forward gal pals Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. These films tell the story of what happened after the series came to it’s end in 2004. The first one is probably my favorite but honestly, you can’t really go wrong with either one of them. Fashion references are made left and right. From a photo shoot with Vogue to an encounter with Rent The Runway, Sex And The City covers the entire spectrum of fashion.

Style Tips From Jordana Brewster, Beyonce and Whitney Port


Jordana Brewster
Image (left) Via Celebstyle.com

Metallic Top: Threadsense.com $30/ Butterfly Dress: Houseoffraser.co.uk $44/ Patent Watch: Asos $31/ Clutch: Warehouse.co.uk $19/ Heels: Modcloth $40/ Gold Hoops: Dorothyperkins.com $11

I love the idea of pairing a butterfly skirt with a sheer metallic top! If you can’t find a butterfly print skirt, try a dress that has the print and layer the shirt over top. You can even tuck in the top part of the dress so just the bottom half is showing, then put on the top, tuck it in and blouse it out like Jordana has done. Keep your accessories to a minimum to let the print stand out on its own.

Beyonce
Image (left) Via Celebritystyleguide.com

Blazer: Tobi.com $21/ Top: Sheinside.com $26/ Shorts: Sheinside.com $28/ Sunglasses: Oaknyc.com $24/ Clutch: Fashion-conscience.com $44 /Heels: GoJane.com $29

Can you pull off a monochromatic look like Beyonce? Of course you can! Just choose a color that’s most flattering on you. The deeper your skin tone the brighter the color you can go! I like the idea of sticking to 3 pieces. Stick to Beyonce’s formula of some sort of jacket, top and bottom in one color!

Whitney Port
Image (left) Via Celebstyle.com

Sequined Top: Mango.com $14/ Boyfriend Jeans: Newlook.com $36/ Shoulder Pad Blazer: Yesstyle.com $30/ Sunglasses: Mango.com $9/ Bag: Zappos.com $47

Is it just me or does Whitney Port look a lot like Rachel Zoe here? The hair? The glasses? Chanel? Lol. Whitney is one of my style icons because she always looks chic and put together effortlessly. If you’re going to try this sequin-glitter look, you have to go bold. Yes. That means matching your glittery top to a glittery bag. It’ll all balance out with the masculine boyfriend jeans and boxy cut blazer.

 

Which look will you be trying?

Ask IC: “Do You Have Any Tips For Aspiring Writers?”


Natalia Zipf asks,

“Awesome blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally confused .. Any tips? Cheers!”

Thanks Natalia for your question! I can definitely understand your confusion. It wasn’t too long ago that I started Inexpensive Chic and I had to figure all of that out and do my research. My advice would be to start with a free blogging platform– WordPress or Blogger. Both have everything pretty much laid out for you, so you won’t have to worry about a lot of coding or anything. There are both pros and cons to this, mainly being you won’t have as much customization as you would on a hosting site where you hav to pay a monthly fee.

For beginners though, either of these sites is perfect! I prefer WordPress because it’s a little more professional in my opinion. I have tried Blogger before, but I just didn’t like it as much and I felt like I didn’t have enough options. A lot of people prefer blogger though, because they find it easier. My suggestion is to try both and see which one you like best and stick with it. Or, take a look at lists like these

via makemoneyasyoutravel.com

(http://www.peppervirtualassistant.com/blog/2012/07/03/blogger-vs-wordpress-which-works-best-for-you/ and http://heartifb.com/2011/11/15/why-new-bloggers-shouldnt-use-blogger/) that lay out for you the pros and cons of using Blogger vs. WordPress.

Other general tips to keep in mind when starting a blog 

  • Pick a niche. Fashion and beauty are two very broad categories. That’s not a niche. Try narrowing it down further. Inexpensive Chic’s niche is “a fashion blog that shows you how to look like a million bucks without spending  a million bucks.” Or in other words, it’s a fashion and beauty blog for people on a budget. Other blog niche’s may be a DIY blog or a street style blog, etc. Be as specific as you can because that will keep your focus in one place, something that’s very attractive to readers.
  • Quality over quantity. We’ve heard it a million times before and it’s true! Don’t rush to put a new post up just because you feel like you haven’t blogged in a while. Only put up your best work. Take your time. Readers would rather read a well organized and thought out post once a week, than a new post everday that’s rushed and is filled with grammatical errors. Trust me!
  • Be engaging, authentic and add personality! Being bland won’t get you very far. Just be yourself!
  • Network, network, network! I cannot stress enough how important this is! Social networking is huge. If you start a blog, make sure you set up a fb page, twitter account, IFB account (if it’s a fashion blog), pinterest , etc. and get the word out. You’ll gain more followers and could possibly start earning money this way.
  • Success won’t happen overnight. When I first started this blog, my average view per day was 14. Mostly from friends and family. It takes time and effort to build up an audience, so you just have to be patient.

I hope this advice helped you Natalia, and any of you who may have had a similar question. If you want me to answer more specific questions about starting a blog just email me at niyahnashidasimone@gmail.com. I’d be happy to answer any fashion or beauty realted question that you come across. Your question and answer could be featured in the next post…

Street Style: Meet Steven


Meet Steven Onoja, age 23 from New York…

Describe your style: If I had to describe my personal style; classic, bold and masculine are the three words I’d choose.

What’s the #1 reaction others have about your style? Weird

Last item of clothing you bought and for how much? I can’t remember because everyday is a shopping hunt for me.

Dream Job? Fashion Marketing

What do you like to do in your spare time? Draw

Your fashion inspiration? Ben E. King

What color do you own most of: Blue

Fav stores:  The local thrift stores usually top my list.  I really can’t remember the last time I stepped foot into the mall and purchased much; but when I do, I usually head to Topman, J,crew, and Urban Outfitters.


One outfit you couldn’t live without?
My hats. I really could not leave my house without them. Literally. 
Fav designer? Customellow
Fav fashion mag?
It’s a tie between GQ and Complex Magazine 
Fashion mantra? 
“We support brands that stand out due to their quality, authenticity, and support an individual style”- Alibi   

Any other info we should know?
 I have my own men’s fashion blog. You can find more of me here:

 

8 Summertime Looks, Which Would You Wear?


What’s your summertime style? Do you like white on white or mixed prints? Wide brim hats or Jackie O. sunnies? Pretty dresses or casual shorts? I want to know! Which look is your favorite?

You Could Win This Head Turning Dress!

windress

How cool is this cityscape dress from LuxuryLane.com? I wore it on a recent weekend getaway in Chicago and got nothing but stares, head turns and compliments! I knew I wanted this dress when I first came across it on … Continue reading