Confessions of a Shopaholic: Zara Spring 2010 Lookbook

I peeped Zara's May 2010 Lookbook over at Refinery 29. I'm in love with these effortless chic designs. They have some great neutral pieces and of course, everything is reasonably priced yet well made.

Who knew extra long skirts would come back in style? Well, they are...boho chic at it's best.

Lots of work-friendly pieces to incorporate into your wardrobes. The pants on the left are a bit risky. I fear curvy girls need not apply for that one. Hips for days...yikes! 

 I'll be living in pieces like this, this season. Fringe, cutoffs and florals - story of my closet this spring...

And don't forget the denim on denim trend that raged across runways for Spring 2010. Denim - so hearty. so American...

What pieces are you guys gathering up for your spring wardrobes?

Bootie Calls: Urban's Bohemian Flat

Last night I had another bootie call. As you all know, they come few and far between but when they do come - they're dangerous. We all feel naughty shopping for shoes at 3AM, but hey when the urge comes over you, it's hard to fight...

The Industry Aztec Sandal from Urban Outfitters was last night's guilty pleasure. I'm in love with the print and absolutely obsessed with sandals I can wear everyday that have that extra POW- factor. 

Wear these with all black everything and you'll still undoubtedly stand out from the crowd. 

You guys have any recent "bootie calls"? Share below in the comments section. Helps to know other people are as obsessed with shoes as I am...

Fierce or Foolish: Cassie

I haven't blogged about good ole Cassie in a while. Yes, she's still half bald. Wonder if she's still on the DL with P. Didster? Hmmm. Anyway, what do you guys think about her outfit?

On the one hand, y'all know I'm a fan of all black everything. I'm with her...right until you get to the hips. I feel like these pants disappoint. Is it just me?

Soundoff! Fierce or Foolish?

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Get Like Me: Designer Marc Clark

All hail the bowtie king! If you don't already know about Marc Clark and his amazing fashion line, get into him with LoveBrownSugar's "Get Like Me" series. For all you LoveBrownSugar readers aspiring to break into the fashion industry or simply intrigued by it, our “Get Like Me” series highlights exclusive interviews with industry insiders from celebrity stylists to new fashion designers, fashion PR heads & more! This week: Young designer and LoveBrownSugar-dubbed bowtie king, Marc Clark...

The Fab 5

Name: Marc Clark
Location: Brooklyn. NYC (originally from Prince Georges County, MD)
Personal Style in 3 Words: Innovative, Daring, and Creative
Favorite Designer(s): Raf Simmons, Jeremy Scott, and Marc Jacobs.
Must-Have Accessory: A watch, and a sick pair of shoes!!

All About Marc C.

How did you get started in the industry?
I’ve worked, lived and breathed fashion for over ten years. I started out in the industry coordinating fashion events, fashion shows, and managed retail stores while I lived in Maryland. I moved to New York over 4 years ago and started interning. I’ve worked with BET, MTV, Vibe Magazine, and Russell Simmons.

Did you always know you wanted to work in fashion?
I’ve always known I wanted to work in fashion since I was younger. I have always had an attraction to beautiful things. Fashion is an outlet for me to express my feelings, thoughts, and creative energy!

Describe a day in your life:
A typical day for me is keeping track of my empire I am in the stages of building. Everything from speaking with magazines/blog sites for interviews, to coordinating stylist pulls for editorial shoots, shipping/packing orders, fabric shopping in the city, and running to photo shoots. This seems like a lot talking about it, but it’s become my reality and I am blessed to be living it!

Rihanna, seen as one of the fashion-forward movers and shakers, has worn one of your bow ties. How did you react?
I was beyond excited. Rihanna is a dynamic individual and a wonderful artist. Having her support my movement, motivated me to continue doing what I’m doing.

Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas has also worn your Uder line. Who's your favorite client?
Yes, Will.I.Am is currently wearing the UDER FOR MARC C “Caged” Glasses on the Black Eyed Peas “The End” World Tour. I wouldn’t say I have a favorite client. Anyone who supports my vision and buys my products are all equally favored by me.

Most rewarding experience of your career thus far?
The most rewarding experience of my career so far is being a 24-year-old designer, living in New York City and working for myself.

3 Pieces of advice for aspiring designers?
If you are looking to break into the fashion industry, I would advise that you:
1) Look for internships, 2) Study/research your craft and 3) Stay focused. Nothing comes easy.

What's in your bag (or wallet)?
I will break it down for you… My choice of wallet is LV (wonderful quality of leather products) and you can find bankcards, my ID and business cards. I do carry a bag to photo shoots and events, where you can find my UDER FOR MARC C Glasses, Bow tie brooches, and Fox tails. You never leave home unprepared.

Keep up with this young talent. Follow Marc Clark on Twitter @TheRealMarcC and check out his amazing designs at his website: www.MarcClark.com 

On The Market: Pour La Victoire Handbags

Last month, I posted about Pour La Victoire's amazing lineup of shoes for Spring and Fall 2010. What I didn't tell you about, because it was on the hush-hush until their press release, was Pour La Victoire's plans to launch a new and exciting line of handbags! As I first walked into their amazing showroom, the bags were on display and I fell in love with every last one...

 The handbags are beautifully crafted with studding embellishment and rich distressed leather giving them a sturdy, grungy feel with a hint of sophistication...

The one on the left up above was one of my faves. It's such a great classic studded bag, perfect for every day...

What do you think of the collection? It launches in July 2010 and I actually can't wait for it to hit stores. I've found that fgreat shoe designers do just as amazing work with handbags, so I'm definitely looking forward to it.

For more information on Pour La Victoire, check their website - PourLaVictoire.com

LoveBrownSugar Top 10 Spring Essentials

While I'm loving the fact that it's not freezing cold out anymore, it frustrates me when the weather spans from "too cold to go out sans a jacket" but "too warm for a scarf and hat". Hate the in-between, awkward stages of spring? Buy some new transition pieces to cheer yourself up! Here are LoveBrownSugar's Top 10 Spring Essentials.Work these babies into your wardrobe before the weather gets "all the way turnt up"...

Spring Essentials by CeCeSoChic featuring Marc by Marc Jacobs bags

1) Harem Pant: The harem pant is major for this season. While the chic and fashion-forward europeans have been sporting this look for years now (I saw them all over Paris and Spain back in '08), fashionistas in the states are just catching onto this leisurely stylish silhouette. Grab them in basic colors like black, beige and neutral green.

 (Harem Pant, Victoria Secret, $39.50)

2) Printed Dress: There are so many cool prints in style this season! From polka dots to geo-print to tribal. Big for this season - mixing & matching. Go wild with this one, but not too much...

(Geo-Print Dress, Eight Sixty, $118.00)

3) Peep Toe Wedge Bootie: Let's face it - wedges are the way to go. They're on trend, they're comfortable and cute. What more could you possibly want? Get them in a go-with-everything color or be bold and daring with a bright pair. Whatever you do, make sure they're included in your footwear lineup this season.

  (Laser Cutout Wedges, Pour La Victoire, $315.00)

4) Neutral Jumpsuit: Romper, Romper, ROMPER! I think I just like saying that word. Anyway, get yourself one. I'm wearing a floral number up top in my blog header. They are a little more casual than dresses but so easy to play with. If I can brave the jumpsuit, so can YOU! Scared? Try one in a neutral color first, then work your way up to prints...

(Safari Romper, Forever 21, $29.50)

5) Clogs: I thought I'd never say it, and I know there are some of you who will never warm up to this trend, but I must state facts. Clogs are in. There...I said it. The best way to get away with this trend without looking like a Dutch farmgirl? Wear them with a long lean silhouette - no big or frumpy silhouettes. Also, try a stiletto heel instead of a clunky one! The studding give the clog appeal but the stiletto makes it more sophisticated.

(Daynty Clogs, Steve Madden, $109.95)

6) Pastel Nails: What better way to usher in spring colors than with your fingertips? I don't know about you guys but pretty nail colors make me happy. When I see them, I smile :)

(Nail Color in Boy Toy, Ginger + Liz, $12)

7) Floral Leggings: Getting tired of your old black leggings? You know, the ones you've been sporting consistently for the past few seasons. Well, take it a step further in a floral pair! Florals are in for spring (when are they not) and fashionistas all over are sporting this brave new silhouette. Don't be left behind!

(Floral Leggings, Topshop, $40) 

8) Utilitarian Jacket: This season, you'll be seeing a whole lot of army green, beige and brown. Utilitarianism is huge and so is military. Inevitably, you'll need a military-inspired jacket in a neutral color. This is about the only minimalist piece I'll opt for this season. I'm just not very...minimal. And neither are my clothes!

(Military Anarak, Gap, $85.35)

9) Edgy Shades: While everyone else is reaching for the same old Ray-Bans or Marc Jacobs goggles, do something novel and try an edgy pair like the ones pictured above. Way back in LoveBrownSugar's beginnings, I blogged about chain link shades being the "next big thing" a la Amber Rose. Well, now they are! *takes a bow*

(Spikey Stud Shades, Coco & Breezy, $195.00)

10) Studded Bag: Take the studding trend from fall into spring with a nice bright pouch like this one. Opt for color instead of black and it's instantly fresh for the new season. I'm in love with the one pictured above.

(Studded Suede Pouch, ASOS, $40.58)

What are your spring must-haves? Sound off below!

LoveBrownSugar Chic: Platforms & Playgrounds

So all my other style posts thus far have been kind of light, airy and romantic. I decided to get a little edgy this week. We went to the playground for this one and to say the least, I had a blast! 

This is more of an accessories moment for me. This pic pretty much inspired the title "Platforms and Playgrounds". I was in love with fingerless gloves this winter (a la Rihanna) and these lace-up booties were my winter staple. Sidenote: I wish I could show you pics of the little kids staring at me during this shoot haha... 

 These lovely shades were given to me by my faves Coco & Breezy. If you haven't heard about these two - get in the know and read my post about them. They make amazing eyewear and I was gifted this pair during their Fall/Winter 2010 show.

It was love at first sight with this bubble skirt. Spotted it at H&M a while back and I wore it for my bday in January. I'm also in love with this top. Exaggerated shoulders baby - why did they ever go out of style? 

According to my photography class, these sun spots are actually errors and/or flaws. I quite like them. I think they give the photo character. Makes me look shady. Even though I'm not...it's fun to look like I am.

Don't ask me why I grabbed this "Speed Limit" sign. I couldn't give you an answer. There's no symbolism in the number 25. I'm in fact not 25 years old nor did I take this picture on the 25th day of the month. Random, I know...

Till next time! The next shoot won't be so edgy. But it's nice to get out of your element every once in a while, right? 

Top & Skirt: H&M, Boxing Gloves: Everlast, Sunglasses: Coco & Breezy, Shoes: Steve Madden

Behind The Scenes Video: Janelle Monae for Honey Magazine

For those of you who missed my post about Honey's cover shoot with Janelle Monae, make sure you check out my full-time gig Honey Magazine for the full article. Here's a behind the scenes peek at the making of the cover:

For more on Behind The Scenes with Janelle Monae, check Honeymag.com.

Fierce or Foolish: Queen Bey & Princess Sol

I've got a good one for you guys today! The Knowles sisters were spotted all over this weekend at the Coachella Music Festival in Cali. I caught a glance at these pics over at Fashion Bomb. This actually has me stumped. I can't decide if I love or hate! So this one's a double whammy:

 Beyonce has been switching it up lately. Instead of her over-the top extra glam ensembles, she's been very low key and dare I say "downtown hipster". I was shocked but I think I'm falling in love with this outfit. Cropped tops are in this season, so if you've got it right and tight, by all means flaunt it! I'm even digging the soft curls and the Native-American style headgear...

This just goes to show how drastically different the two sisters are. I'm not mad at it though. Solange's ensemble is very original and eclectic, just like she is. Soundoff! 

Fierce or Foolish?

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Feature Story: Clutch Magazine "Monday's Muse"

Super duper huge thanks to Clutch Magazine for featuring me last week as Monday's Muse! I was so deeply honored to see my face on the homepage of Clutch last Monday. 

Here's my interview with Clutch. I loved their questions:

Name: Christina Brown
Age: 23
Location: New York
Occupation: Editorial Assistant

Clutch: Describe your style in 5 words.
Christina: Sophisticated, Vintage, Downtown, Romantic, Chic.

Clutch: You’re running late for class/work, what do you throw on?
Christina: Black skinny jeans, fitted camisole, linen blazer, gold bracelets, my leopard Tory Burch flats, vintage chainlink purse, Marc Jacobs shades

Clutch: Which designers do you covet the most?
Christina: Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim, Rachel Roy, Oscar de la Renta, Tracy Reese, and (of late) LaQuan Smith – love his shapes and fabrics.

Clutch: What are your staple items?
Christina: Statement flats, well-fitting day to night blazers, embellished platforms – they’re super comfy, gold jewelry and of course the Little Black Dress (my fave’s from DVF).

Clutch: If we were to take a look inside your clutch what would we find?
Christina: My pink encased Blackberry (never leave home w/o it), Urban Decay eyeshadow, Cover Girl Outlast mascara, hand sanitizer (NYC can be really dirty), my Canon Powershot (for those celeb-studded nights) and Carol’s Daughter mini fragrance in Almond Cookie.

For more information on Christina please visit www.LoveBrownSugar.com and follow her @CeceBrown and @LoveBrownSugar.

For all you lovely readers that have come over from either Clutch or Fashion Bomb Daily, welcome! Thanks so much for taking this ride called life with me. And I hope you guys stay tuned!

LoveBrownSugar Vintage: 40% OFF Clearance SALE

Hey lovelies! If you haven't checked out my LoveBrownSugar Vintage store on Etsy yet, now's the time! It's officially the spring season and all my current items are on clearance sale 40% OFF with Code: "LBSFall" in the 'Message to Buyer' section.

 

 Unfortunately I've got to get rid of these last few pieces before I usher in the new goodies. And TRUST ME, the stuff I have for this spring season is amazing so you'll want to stay tuned. Sequins tops, floral dresses, bright colored blazers, you guys will love it! So get to shopping LBS Vintage with 40% OFF until May 1st. And tell a friend!

Updates: Chrisette Michele's Buzz Cut

So you guys remember last week's "buzz" right? Literally. Chrissette Michele chopped off her hair in exchange for a buzz cut! Well (a la Solange), the good news is she's gone super short and stylishly natural. She did a shoot with celebrity photographer and "alter ego" pioneer Derek Blanks. Here are the pics:

Loving the color and the highlights...

Makeup & styling are on point! Chrissette looks absolutely GORGE in these pictures.

What do you guys think? Fierce or Foolish??