Top Five: Celebrity Style Inspiration

I'm a big fan of Tumblr and blogs mainly because I adore perusing street style pictures. I get so inspired seeing how people put outfits together. I obviously love me some Bill Cunningham and The Sartorialist, but I also shamelessly love celebrity street style. There is something so interesting about seeing a celebrity's personal daily style as opposed to how a stylist dresses them on the red carpet. There are a few celebs that I feel have amazing personal style and I routinely stalk pictures of their street style. Here are my fall/winter picks:

1. Olivia Palermo. If you know me at all, you know that I am seriously obsessed with Olivia. If you watched The City, you know she may not be the nicest person alive, but regardless, she can put an outfit together like nobody else. She has a unique eye for fashion and I'm all for it. Seriously, I am a dedicated member of her fashion cult.

2. Rachel Zoe

3. Miranda Kerr

4. Lauren Conrad

5. Cat Deeley

In addition to these fabulous ladies, I also love the street style of Jessica Alba, Rihanna, Rachel Bilson, Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, Sienna Miller, Karlie Kloss, Reese Witherspoon, Camilla Belle, and Kate Middleton.

Which celebrities do you think have great style?

Top Five: Fall Wardrobe Essentials

Today is October 1st and one of the first days that it actually feels like fall! Thank goodness, because I cannot stand any more humidity. As much as I love the beach and a good summer dress; I always get excited for fall clothes. I'm obsessed with good layering, riding boots, scarves, and sweaters! There are some very fun trends this season that are a necessity, as well as the classic autumn essentials. In my opinion, these are the top five must-haves for Fall 2011:

1. Black Wedge Ankle Boots - I bought a pair similar to these from Nine West and have barely taken them off since. They are so versatile and can be worn out with dresses and skirts (with or without tights!) or just with jeans. Plus, because of the wedge, they are super comfortable - just like a pair of summer wedges! [Steve Madden]

2. Skinny Cords & Colored Jeans - OK, so I know these are technically two different items, but they are both SO perfect for fall. Cords just scream "fall" to me and the skinny version is a cute, trendy, updated version of the classic. I will wear mine with a sweater and loafers to run errands in and then with riding boots, a sheer button down, and a blazer for a more equestrian look! Next, colored jeans are very on-trend at the moment. They were a popular look over the summer as well, but I'm craving deeper hues for this season. [Gap and J Brand]

3. Cape - Seriously, the cape was everywhere on the Fall runways and just about every major designer has made one. I'm still looking for the perfect one that is in my price range, so if you have any suggestions, let me know! The cape will instantly make you look put together and is more unexpected than a regular jacket or sweater. [TopShop]

4. Knit Sweaters - These aren't exactly a trend because they are always a cool weather staple. But, this season I'm loving sweaters with larger holes in them in addition to the classics. A style like this is perfect with jeans and boots but I'm also dying to wear one over my black maxi dress to make it wearable for fall! [Express]

5. Riding Boots - Again, boots are always a necessity for fall and this season is no different. I have a brown and a black pair from Ralph Lauren (not the ones above, but similar) and they probably get more use than any other item in my closet. My ultimate fall outfit would be my brown riding boots, a striped t-shirt, a sweater, a circle scarf, and piles of bracelets. Oh, and a pumpkin spice latte in hand, of course. [Ralph Lauren]

What are some items that you are dying to wear this season?

Top 5: Fall Beauty Trends

I can't believe that we are already more than halfway through August. As much as I am disappointed to see summer, the beach, and warm weather go, I am starting to get excited for fall! I've been flipping through my HUGE September issues and I've seen a bunch of fall beauty trends that I can't wait to try out! So, without further ado, my top five favorite fall beauty trends:

 

 

 

1. Metallics! I love this sparkly trend and can't wait to start wearing gold, silver, copper, and bronze on my  eyes, cheeks, and nails!

1. Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Peridot ($25) [This is THE Chanel color of the season, BTW!]
2. LORAC Starry-Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trio in Superstar ($26)
3. NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Madison Avenue ($23)
4. Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow in #16 Silver/Black Grey ($32)
5. MAC Mineralize SkinFinish in Gold Deposit ($28)
6. Sephora by OPI Nail Glitter in Silver ($5)

 

 

2. Essie's Fall 2011 "Brand New Bag" Collection. I absolutely love this line of nail polish! Is there anything more perfect than a nail polish line inspired by handbags? Nope! There are six colors in this collection and they all have cute names (typical of Essie) relating to bags. They are Carry On, Glamour Purse, Lady Like, Case Study, Very Structured, and Power Clutch. The magazine ad for this collection is amazing also. I love the look of the rich polish being poured over the clean, white bag. They are perfect for the fall season and I literally want all six colors!

 

 

 

 

3. New Feminine Fragrances! Ok, so this isn't necessarily a trend, but I can't wait to get my hands on two new designer perfumes coming out this fall. The first is Prada's Candy Eau de Parfum. This is a sweet scent with hints of caramel and musk. It sounds like the perfect fall fragrance scent to me! The second is Vera Wang's Lovestruck Eau de Parfum. This one is more of a floral scent, but is still very fun and girly. I love how it looks like lipstick is scribbled on the bottle to create the logo.

 

4. Jewel Tones! This is a super fun trend that can definitely make you stand out. I can't wait to try out these regal, yet playful colors (but definitely not all at once)!

• Bare Escentuals Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow in Saint Bernard ($17)
• Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in Blue Tie ($22)
• Burberry Lip Cover Soft Stain Lipstick in Deep Burgundy ($30)
• Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion Shadow in Forest Fury and Amethyst Ablazed ($8.99)
• Sephora by OPI Nail Colour in What's Your Poison ($9.50)
• NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Abbey Road ($23)



Bold Lips on the Gucci Fall 2011 Runway


5. Bold Lips! I'm excited to try out some of the bold lip colors for fall, especially coming off of summer where basically all I wore on my lips was cherry chapstick! Red is a big trend for the fall for clothes as well as lips. Personally, I'm craving some deeper hued reds such as Maybelline Sensational Lipstick in Red Haute, Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Plum, and Burberry Beauty Lip Cover in Brick Red.

What are some of the fall beauty trends that you can't wait to try?

Top Five: Tips for Internship Interviews

First, let me preface this post by stating that by no means do I consider myself to be an expert on the interview process. I am clearly still an intern and I do not know it all. I make just as many mistakes as the next person. However, I have been on many internship interviews over the past few years and I have picked up quite a few tips. Also, I was lucky enough to have the chance at my current internship to sit in on some internship interviews which provided me with a unique take on the process.

Summer internships are ending and interviews for Fall are happening right now! So, here are my top five tips for internship interviews:



Picture: CollegeFashion.net



1. Always be on time. This may seem obvious, but even being a few minutes late can ruin your chances. The person that you are interviewing with is most likely super busy and won't wait around for you to show up. I find arriving about 15 minutes early is perfect. Early enough to show you're reliable, but not TOO early.

2. Always have extra copies of your resume handy. During one interview I sat in on, a girl only had one copy of her resume available. I like to print out about five because sometimes there are multiple people in an interview at once. Having extras also allows me to keep one copy on my lap to reference. Additionally, make sure the copies are NEAT! This girl pulled the single resume from her bag and it was completely crumpled. Carrying your resumes in a folder not only keeps them neat, but also makes you look more professional.

3. Always do research and have knowledge of the company. This is extremely important! It is essential to have background knowledge of the company before you go into the interview. At the very least, know what the company does, have a basic idea of the firm's history, and know the names of key people at the company. For a PR firm it is very important to also know who their clients are and for a designer, it is imperative that you can talk about their recent collections. Great ways to find information are to look at their website, find them on social media sites, and to do a basic Google search. There is nothing worse than going into an interview unprepared!

4. Always have a question or two ready. There should be no awkward silence at the end of the interview when they ask, "Do you have any questions?" Be ready to fill that space! Even if all of your main questions were answered during the interview, it is still important to ask one to show that you are truely interested. Some great examples are, "What has been your favorite part about working here" and "What is the daily office environment like?" These show that you are interested in the person's background as well as trying to picture yourself working at the company.

5. Always give a firm handshake. At the very end make sure you stand up straight with confidence, look the person in the eye, give them a firm handshake, and sincerely thank them for taking the time out of their day to meet with you. I've seen girls walk out of interviews without a giving a handshake and they looked seriously rude!

The time after your interview is just as important! I feel that a follow up "thank you" e-mail should be sent immediately for an internship, although some people think a hand written note should be sent as well. Either way, a letter addressed to your interviewer should be sent thanking them and reminding them just how interested you are. Remember, no follow up and you probably won't get the job!

PS: If you are still looking for a Fall internship, I suggest you check out InternQueen (@InternQueen), Ed2010 (@Ed2010News), Free Fashion Internships (@FashionIntern), Internships.com ( @internships), and the website/Twitter of the companies you would like to intern with! Good luck!

What are some other internship interview tips that I didn't mention?

Top Five: "Must Have" iPhone Apps For a NYC Intern

After interning in NYC the past few months, I have come across some must-have iPhone apps. Whether you're lost, hungry or just plain bored, one of these apps will be sure to help you out!

1. HopStop is a necessity for anyone who need a little extra help getting around the city. I know a few subway lines very well, but if you asked me to take the F-line, I would be completely lost. Here is where HopStop comes in. You simply type in where you're coming from and going to and it tells you what train to take, what stops to pass, when to get off, and how to continue on to get to your destination. HopStop is especially useful if you are in a hurry or if you have multiple transfers. (Two other apps that go along with HopStop nicely are NYSubView to view a complete subway map or individual lines and Google Maps to get walking or driving directions anywhere.)

2. Yelp is great for finding just about anything you may need in the city. They have listings of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, banks, gas stations, drugstores, and more. This can be very helpful if you are in an unfamiliar area and need to find something quickly. There are also tons of reviews listed about each business to help you make the best decisions about where to go. Another great factor about this app is the "Yelp Deals." You can search for nearby deals at places such as restaurants and spas on your phone that are instantly redeemable.

3. Pulsd is one of my absolute favorite apps. Right now, this app is only available in NYC or San Francisco but it is totally necessary if you live in either of those cities! Pulsd keeps you updated on tons of awesome events that happen every day. The best part is that most of these events are free (which is a favorite vocabulary word for an unpaid intern!) They list just about everything there is to do such as free concerts, store sales, restaurant and drink deals, museum discounts, salon discounts, and even sports ticket deals.

4. FourSquare...and Twitter and Facebook. OK, so I know I cheated and listed three, but all of these social media apps are great when you're bored and have some time to kill. FourSquare is great, especially in New York City because it allows you to "check in" to a venue. Once you do that, you are able to see who else is there and read reviews from past visitors. Some places will even offer you special deals when you check in! You can link your FourSquare account to your Twitter and Facebook as well.

5. Instagram is great because New York City is so beautiful. I know I'm always taking pictures of things I see in the city on a daily basis and Instagram makes my pictures look infinitely cooler. The app offers a variety of filters that you can apply to a picture to change the look such as "Inkwell" for black and white, "1977" for a 70s look, and more. One of my favorite parts of Instagram is how it reformats the pictures into a square shape which reminds me of the old fashioned Polaroids. After you choose a filter, you can share it with friends through sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

I love so many iPhone apps that it's hard to choose just five! Some runners up are Urbanspoon, Lustr, LIRR onTime, and TimeOut New York.

Do you love any of these apps as well? Are there any other NYC-related apps that I should try?