NBC's Fashion Star x Finale!

Who doesn’t want to be the next Fashion Star? For one talented designer, this dream has now become a reality! Kicking off the New Year was NBC’s new reality television series Fashion Star, which premise was to search for the next big brand in fashion.  Featuring host and executive producer Elle Macpherson along with celebrity mentors Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos, the series gave 14 unknown designers the chance to win a multi-million dollar prize to launch their collections in three of America's largest retailers (Macy’s, Saks and H&M). 

From stay-at-home moms to recent design school graduates to a self-taught engineer, this reality TV series will showcase designers of all sorts.  Caprice Willard of Macy’s, Terron E. Schaefer of Saks Fifth Avenue and Nicole Christie of H&M will serve as the judges who make on-the-spot decisions as they vie for the right to purchase and exclusively carry the work of the up-and-coming designers each week.

Each week, the show began with a breathtaking fashion show unlike anything seen before including crazy performances, dancers, models and anything else you can think of all in front of a live studio audience. Every fashion show was  built around a weekly challenge that is designed to further develop and expand the designers' brands. At the end of each episode, America was given the chance to immediately purchase the winning designs showcased-and we know how are fellow Americans love to shop!  

All the designers presented extraordinarily innovative and fresh creations, which sparked a bidding-war among the judges who were vying for certain designs to put in their retail stores.  The three finalists were Kara Laricks, Ronnie Escalante and Nzimiro Oputa; and Kara took home the $6 Million dollar contract!

Did you think she should win?...Leave a comment now....

it's Fashion Star....

The judges....

Designers stand with their models...

The mentors....

The host's fashion show, featuring her lingerie line....(I think? :-))

 

Festival Style-How to be fashionable at lawn concerts!

April flowers may have brought May showers but with warm weather in full swing soon and everyone coming out of their long, winter hibernation, festival season is in full bloom. Time for some Spring shopping! So, before you hit any festivals like Coachella, Bonaroo, or Lollapalooza, make sure you are equipped with the hottest concert on the lawn attire. Along with your camping gear and fresh pack of glow sticks, make sure to pack your favorite hobo-chic clothing really rock out in style.

First on your list, the perfect sandals to really kick start the festivities and put a little extra pep in your step. Upgrade your ratty flip-flops to a shoe that's comfy and cute! Ikat print is one of spring's hottest trends and adding a wearable wedge on a sandal gives you a boost in height so you get a better view of the stage (talk about a fashionable strategy...wink!).

Keeping comfort in mind, make sure to bring clothes for the warm weather, such as tank tops- a warm weather must-have. To mix it up-try out a cool bandeau (neon or sequin embellished are super cool options) to add a little spice to your undergarments.

Lastly, you can’t forget to accessorize, accessorize, ACCESSORIZE!! One thing that you cannot go without is the right bag. A coral cross-body bag adds color to a denim vest, and gives shape to a flowy sundress. Plus, there's room enough for all your essentials: money, ticket stubs, and emergency breath mints for those just-in-case moments. Also, in are handbags that bring an equestrian-twist to classic looks. In addition to bold patterns and colors, pairing outfits with unique jewelry is a quick and easy way to add pizzazz. Some key accessories are tribal bangles or a bold neckpiece.

You are now festival ready!  Rock on!  

Super sexy bandeau top options...lace, neon colors and sequins SCREAM style!

Shoulder strap bags are perfect because they are small and stay off to the side-meaning out of the way!

 

Tribal print is so NOW!

Remember...ACCESSORIES!!

A bold necklace like this will make any long solid maxi dress stand out!

So dreamy!

Pops of color!

 

TOPSHOP x TOPMAN debuts in Vegas!

VIVA LAS VEGAS! As if Las Vegas didn’t have enough going on already with the Eiffel Tower, Egyptian pyramids, and pirate ships galore! The cool British style of TOPSHOP and TOPMAN opens their newest flagship store today. Sole owner of Arcadia Group, Sir Philip Green (pictured below) figured he’d take his chances with Lady Luck by opening up a flagship store in Las Vegas, known as one of the biggest shopping capitals in the country, in hopes to winning big and raking in the cash with its US consumers. With it, will debut an exclusive collection inspired by Sin City, called “Dress Up,” –which is appropriately named. Sir Philip states, “Dress Up, is just that: very elaborate, embellished pieces in fine silks and satin with beading and sequins. It will probably do quite well in Las Vegas, where we’ll have a bigger assortment of ‘going out’ apparel. Dresses are one of our strongest areas and evening shoes is also one of our strongest sellers. We’ll buy deeper into those categories.”

Staying true to its classic style, in combination with the glitz and glamour of Sin City, the TOPMAN Las Vegas collection features smart dressing accessories such as knit ties, leather belts and canvas bags. Classic TOPMAN suiting will also reflect the Las Vegas style. As for the fine females, the Las Vegas collection will be rolling out sequin-encrusted dresses, and various styles of shorts, skirts, denim, evening clutches and colorful sandals, embellished with rhinestones, crystals and diamante sparkle. Fashionistas in the city will now be able to dress as flashy as those show girls, while keeping it cool and trendy. So next time you are in Las Vegas, be sure not to spend all of your money at the slot machines and let the fashion show mall be one of your stops in the destination city.

 

Have you ever shopped at TOPSHOP/TOPMAN in store or online?  Tell us about your experience!  Leave a comment

 

xoxox,

ML

 

 

TOPSHOP x TOPMAN debuts in Vegas!

VIVA LAS VEGAS! As if Las Vegas didn’t have enough going on already with the Eiffel Tower, Egyptian pyramids, and pirate ships galore! The cool British style of TOPSHOP and TOPMAN opens their newest flagship store today. Sole owner of Arcadia Group, Sir Philip Green (pictured below) figured he’d take his chances with Lady Luck by opening up a flagship store in Las Vegas, known as one of the biggest shopping capitals in the country, in hopes to winning big and raking in the cash with its US consumers. With it, will debut an exclusive collection inspired by Sin City, called “Dress Up,” –which is appropriately named. Sir Philip states, “Dress Up, is just that: very elaborate, embellished pieces in fine silks and satin with beading and sequins. It will probably do quite well in Las Vegas, where we’ll have a bigger assortment of ‘going out’ apparel. Dresses are one of our strongest areas and evening shoes is also one of our strongest sellers. We’ll buy deeper into those categories.”

Staying true to its classic style, in combination with the glitz and glamour of Sin City, the TOPMAN Las Vegas collection features smart dressing accessories such as knit ties, leather belts and canvas bags. Classic TOPMAN suiting will also reflect the Las Vegas style. As for the fine females, the Las Vegas collection will be rolling out sequin-encrusted dresses, and various styles of shorts, skirts, denim, evening clutches and colorful sandals, embellished with rhinestones, crystals and diamante sparkle. Fashionistas in the city will now be able to dress as flashy as those show girls, while keeping it cool and trendy. So next time you are in Las Vegas, be sure not to spend all of your money at the slot machines and let the fashion show mall be one of your stops in the destination city.

 

 

VH1's New TV Hit- "Styled by June"

From the palm trees in Beverly Hills to the concrete jungle of NYC, VH1 will allow us to peek into a day in the life of fashion stylist, June Ambrose. With her signature turbans, red lips, over-sized sunglasses, killer show collection and captivating personality; June has secured herself a spot on VH1’s network with her very own docu-series, which is scheduled to premier next month- called “Styled by June.” This reigning queen of celebrity styling, including a repertoire consisting of A-listers such as Dave Matthews Band, Sean Combs, Alicia Keys, Kelly Ripa, Kim Cattrall, Jay Z, and Mary J Blige, just to scratch the surface, will be working with a mix of both up-and- coming and established celebrities in the world of music to re-invent their image and brand. In each episode, June Ambrose will take us through the journey of an image makeover and overall rebranding of each of her clients.

June Ambrose’s numerous accomplishments and creative drive has put her on the road to becoming a household name. Not only will she appear in each of our homes, but her new TV series will allow us to take a look into her own home life, as well. For this mother of two, fashion wasn’t always as easily accessible as it is today. “Studying fashion was a privilege I did not have. My family emigrated from Antigua thirty years ago. There was no FIT, only books on costume-design— and I read them all!” says Ambrose. This style-broker will give us a glimpse of how her extraordinary styling skills are juggled with her life as a mother, balancing her family. If all that wasn’t enough for this already super woman, she does all that along side her various other projects, including the launch of her own fashion collection. The world may not be ready for this fashion force, but she most definitely is pushing her way to the top and is making a name for herself and, of course, doing it with the utmost style.

I <3 June so I am definitely stoked for her!

Be cool-leave a comment ;-)

xoxox,

ML

 

 

Oscar's Best Dressed?

What happened to the glam?  Ok-it is still there but a lot of it has diminished.  As a kid I would scurry to the television set to watch these premiere award shows such as the Oscars; and be in awe the entire time at how stunning each actress looked wearing the must-have, limited gowns designed by renowned fashion houses from around the world. 

Now…I flick on the flat screen, slat my head and curl my  lip at the lack of visual fashion stimulation.  This year I personally didn’t see a gown in which I thought to myself “oh my, that is absolutely gorgeous!” and this seems to be the new trend!

None the less, www.rcfa.com nominated the following actresses as the Best Dressed picks for the 2012 Oscars. As for me, I say ‘meh!’ with a shrug in the shoulders.

I suppose the 'jaw dropping' gowns that I once would see will not return until one of these actresses are snugged in an original Mikasa La'Charles-that is the goal!

What do you think?

 Clockwise from top:

 Penelope Cruz in Armani Privé

 Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli

 Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab Couture

 Ellie Kemper in Armani Privé

 Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood

 Cameron Diaz in Gucci Première

 Stacy Keibler in Marchesa

 Natalie Portman in vintage Christian Dior

 Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

 Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

 Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

 Rooney Mara in Givenchy Couture

 

ML Marketing/PR Intern: Stephanie Cuison

For those of you who have supported me from the onset of my fashion adventure to become the fashion mogul that I am destined to be- I am sure that you are well aware that the Mikasa La'Charles brand is continuing to grow daily (just Google me baby, LOL)!  With that said I now offer internship in Virginia to college students and ambitious high school students in the following areas:

• Marketing/Social Media Intern
• Fashion Show Coordinator Intern (some traveling may be involved)
• Assistant Stylist Intern (must have flexible availability for photo/video shoots)
• Trend Research Intern

Please meet my newest Marketing/PR intern, Stephanie Cusison.  Stephanie is currently a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA where she studies Fashion Merchandising.  While in college, she studied abroad one semester to London at the University of Westminster.  While living and studying in the U.K., Stephanie seized the opportunity to intern with Recognise Magazine.  There she took on the responsibilities of researching trends, styling photo shoots, completing store returns, pulling looks for photo shoots and other office tasks. 

Interested in an internship for this Summer?  Learn more about various opportunities at www.mikasalacharles.com

 Meet Stephanie :-)

 

Get 51% off at Fabric Hut

Attention all of my seamstresses and designers!  The Pilot-Online Daily Deal yesterday was for $35 worth of items from Fabric Hut for ONLY $17.  That is 51% off and if you know anything about Fabric Hut they don't discount easily-so, this is a definite 'must take advantage of this' kind of deal.

For years, I have adored the fabrics sold at Fabric Hut but with their steep price tags and barely existant sales I don't frequent them as much as I do Hancock or Jo-Ann's where there is ALWAYS a 40% off coupon near by.  None the less, 'carpe diem' this deal because it ends in less than one day and four-teen hours.

 

for the love of fashion,

ML

Solange Knowles-crowned for her style by WHOWHATWEAR.COM

While writing this post, I totally have the song 'TONY' playing in the back of my mind...geez, that was an awesome song!  Back on topic, so www.whowhatwear.com has titled Solange Knowles as being the 'Girl of the Month' in recognition of her liberating, feel-free style.  I would most certainly have to agree that the chica has style and because of it I wouldn't dare put her in the shadow of her sister which I am certain she fights with daily.  Rock on Solage, you look fab!

 

for the love of fashion, ML

MBFW Re-Cap: Alice + Olivia

In addition to preppin' for Charleston Fashion Week, this weekend I am recovering from over 7 days of bliss!  Last week began Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC, this past weekend was the Mountain Dew Tour (I hear extreme sports....half pikes, snow boards...oh my!) and then it was Valentine's Day (my son took the cutest cupid inspired pics....the best V-Day I have ever had).
 
Despite the fact that I could not shimmer in the streets of Manhattan during the shows, I managed to stay abreast with the presentations courtesy of www.style.com.  There were a number of designers that took my breath away.  Alice + Olivia's Fall 2012 collection was breathtaking.  While previewing these impeccable threads, I literally had to cover my mouth to prevent myself from screaming in pure 'awe'-but I must confess that a few gasps of 'oh my' did escape my jaw dropped mouth. 
 
This collection by Alice + Olivia celebrates jewel tones and reunite the black and white hues.  Architectural gowns, colored fox fur shawls and full skirt dresses definitely commanded my attention.  See for yourself!

     

     

     

 

I <3 it alllllllll.....

 

for the love of fashion,

 

ML