A Signature Life

09.06.10

I recently finished reading Diane von Furstenberg's autobiography, A Signature Life. I highly recommend it!

The book chronicles von Furstenberg's life from her childhood in Belgium to 1998, when her retail empire was finally back on top after years of faltering.

The book was incredibly engrossing. Not only does DvF let the reader in on the ups and downs of the construction of her retail empire, but she also delves into her personal life, describing
the life of her family as well as her many relationships.

I literally devoured the book in just a few trips to the beach and finished with a renewed love both for the brand and for von Furstenberg. Even though she was born abroad, she is truly the iconic American woman, living the iconic American dream. She always followed her heart and gut - even when they led her astray - and she always forged ahead, relentlessly following her dreams.

Her designs have always made me feel powerful, fearless and womanly and now - having read about her journey - those feelings are infinitely amplified.

What are you waiting for, Fashionistas? Go out and get it!
Happy reading! ;)
--Marisa

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Hot shoes for a hot season

08.22.10

Most women I know can never have enough shoes.And as a shoe-lover myself, I have to tell you about a talented young shoe designer that I recently discovered: Zack Lo.

I had the opportunity to attend a shoe party at the Lobby Bar & Lounge to be one of the first to view Zack Lo’s collection and meet the designer in person. This young designer is a man of few words, but, his collection spoke volumes about his wonderful talent and his inspirations.

Zack Lo is a London-based designer with Taiwanese blood. His shoes reflect the cultures of both the Western and Eastern worlds, mixing classics with a modern twist. The use of quality material and stunning designs grabbed the attention of all the guests that day. On top of that, each design is a limited edition of only 150 pairs!

I didn’t get to try any shoes on since I was focusing on getting the details for you ladies. But, a lot of the guests at the party had them on and couldn’t take them off! So, if you’re looking for a pair (or 2!) of shoes that will make you stand out in a crowd, check out the Zack Lo collection at www.zacklo.com!

--Luna, Stilista Intern

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An Eco-Friendly Education

08.19.10

There are a lot of different ways that we can make an impact on preserving our environment. We can ride bikes instead of driving cars. We can recycle. We can support local farmers by buying local produce. And, we can even make an impact through the clothing we choose to wear.

Before I researched the topic, I rarely thought about buying clothing that was eco-friendly.  I had not thought about it for a few reasons: First, I didn't know how to determine whether clothing was "eco-friendly” or not. Second, I was under the impression that most eco-friendly clothing was either hideous or uber-bohemian, which is not my style. Finally, I thought that eco-friendly clothing was sold at higher price points than my wallet could afford. Given that this was my knowledge of eco-friendly clothing, I am sure that it comes as no surprise that it did not interest me.

After a recent trip to visit a friend in Boulder, Colorado - which is by far one of the “greenest” places that I have ever visited - I started rethinking what types of goods I consumed, how I was consuming them and how I was disposing of them. Through this process I learned that buying clothing that is eco-friendly can really make a difference.

In general, eco-friendly clothing is made from environmentally sensitive fabrics and is typically created using responsible production techniques. The qualifictions for being classified as eco-friendly run the gamete from incorporating just a few organic materials to using exclusively organic materials.

Some other qualifications include:
• The use of natural dyes.
• Exclusion of all animal products.
• The use of fair trade items.
• The use of products that are naturally sourced.
• The use of recycled fabrics.
• The use of products made from renewable resources.
• The use of other eco-materials such as bamboo, tencel, organic wool, organic cotton, soy or modal. 

Here at Stilista we offer a “go green!” personal shopping service and would be happy to help anyone looking to create a more “green” closet.

--Katie, Stilista Intern

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2nd Annual Stilista Awards

08.17.10

Ladies and Gentlemen!
It's that time of year again!
Time to nominate your favorites in Boston style, retail and beauty for the 2nd Annual Stilista Awards. Nominations are due by September 15th. Click HERE to make sure your favorites have a chance to win!
Then, get your tickets HERE to join us during Boston Fashion Week on Wednesday, September 29th at 6PM at the Charlesmark Hotel for an evening of sustainable style and to see all of the 2010 Award Winners!

Act soon! The tickets will go fast!

And stay tuned for more details about the events on Facebook, Twitter and the blog!

Looking forward to recieving your nominations and to seeing you at the event!
--the Stilista Team

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Mix and Match Minis

08.17.10

Being a minimalist and the queen of coordinating, I surprised myself in recently admitting that I am a fan of the print-mixing that seems to be all the rage this summer. Ladies everywhere are mixing stripes and florals, graphic prints and dots and everything in between. My favorite look so far is the combination of a printed mini and a patterned top, separated by a thick waist belt.

Best part of all, these skirts can work overtime outside of the print-mixing trend. You can easily pair them with solid tees and tanks in numerous coordinating colors to create additional outfits while the weather is still warm. Then, when fall arrives and the air has a bit of chill in it, you can layer cardigans and blazers on top of your look and use scarves and knee-high boots to accessorize.  

Here are some of my favorites:

Urban Outfitters

Forever 21

Asos

Happy Shopping!

--Jacqueline, Stilista Intern

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