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Fashion Fix: The Top 10 Searched Brands Of 2011

Sarah Conley — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:43:53 EST

Well folks, it's come to this. Another year has come & (almost) gone, and it's time for all of those Top 10 lists that initially seem fascinating and eventually become wildly ridiculous. Fortunately, the team at Bing was smart enough to put together a slew of 2011's Top 10s, including the top 10 most searched for brands of 2011:

Top Searched Fashion Brands On Bing in 2011

1. Gucci (top of the list for the second year in a row)

2. Ralph Lauren

3. Y-3

4. Louis Vuitton

5. Chanel

6. Guess

7. J. Crew

8. Coco Chanel

9. John Galliano

10. Burberry

While most of this list is generally expected, I love that Y-3 comes in at #3. One of my favorite brands - Yohji Yamamoto doesn't get nearly enough lips service. Also it's quite amusing that Coco Chanel comes in at #8, yet Karl's no where to be found. Why so sad, Kaiser?

Did you favorite brand make the list? For more top 10 lists from 2011, visit BingTrends.com.

On The Plus Side: Dressing Up (In Bed)

Sarah Conley — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:14:16 EDT

Some nights you just have to throw on your craziest fur & hop into bed with the hottest brunette that you find...or something like that. Last night was a bit of a whirlwind, with a slew of events & parties all over the city. I opted to pop by the Racked Awards (where my day job was nominated for Shopping Site of the Year), over to the CB2 Eastside opening, and then down to favorite Delicatessen for some maple bacon beignets (which, sadly, have been taken off the menu). Naturally my partner in crime for the evening was the gorgeous - and similarly dressed - Dina from Eye4Style.

My latest obsession, aside from my beloved handbag, is my new faux fur vest from QVC (of all places). I saw it on a model during the QVC fashion show during NYFW and finally brought myself around to purchasing one of my own. After reading through the customer reviews, I knew instantly that I would love the vest for all the reasons the previous purchasers did not. It's such a giant faux animal that it causes men to stare at me strangely in the subway (which I clearly enjoy). It's best worn with Beyonce or Pitbull pumping through your headphones.

Outfit details:

Faux fur vest: M by Marc Bouwer

Black dress: Evans

Red belt: Repurposed from a Lane Bryant dress

Leggings: Teggings by Re/Dress

Handbag: Chanel

Shoes: Fitzwell (no longer available)

On The Plus Side: By The Skin Of My Teeth

Sarah Conley — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:09:02 EDT

One of the things I love most about fashion is that you don't always have to make the pretty choice, or the most flattering one for that matter. You can express yourself without even saying a word. Today was one such day. I wasn't wearing a particularly flattering look, but something about it felt right, like the perfect mix of casual and polished.

I'll be the first to admit that this top wasn't the easiest to wear and I pretty much felt naked all day. The color of the houndstooth is so unexpected, especially for me, that I really love how much of a departure this look is for me. It's not good to get too comfortable, after all.

Outfit details:

Hair bow: H&M

Rose gold earrings: Made Her Think (no longer available)

Houndstooth blouse: Avenue

Trouser jeans: Old Navy

Rose gold watch: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Heeled loafers: Avenue (no longer available)

Handbag: Chanel

I Spent $5,000 On My Handbag. Also, Please Don't Mug Me.

Sarah Conley — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 21:34:30 EDT

Ever since I became fashion obsessed, I've always wanted a Chanel bag. As I grew older, I went through various emotional stages including (but not limited to): "You want me to pay what for that?!", "Everyone has one...", and of course "I want one so badly that I've started dreaming about them.". When I made the decision to go back to work full time, I bargained with myself that if all my terms were met, I would finally buy one for myself as a present. So, I did.

Previously, the most expensive items I've ever purchased include my iPad 2 and an Alexander McQueen scarf on the day of his death. Dropping a couple hundred on a handbag, while intense, had become less shocking - made evident by the number of DKNY and Rebecca Minkoff handbgs in my collection. But nothing could have prepared me for the actual buying experience.

One night after work, I raced over to the Chanel SoHo boutique with the lovely Dina from Eye4Style. Please note that no one should make large purchasing decisions alone. I'd gone into the store with a clear vision. I wanted the classic 2.55 bag in the maxi size (the largest, obviously) in black lambskin with gold hardware. Sadly there wasn't any gold hardware available and frankly, the silver doesn't look the same against the black leather. Then, I saw it. The gorgeous deepened teal that mimics so many of my favorite nail polish shades and goes so nicely with navy, red and purple. I was in love.

As the sales associate began to carefully (and lovingly, I might add) package up the bag, I began to break a sweat. I was so nervous. Even though I had the funds available, the more moments that passed by the more nervous I became. I wished that she would just swipe my credit card so the worry would be over with. Can you possibly imagine how humiliating that conversation would be - in Chanel, of all places?!

Of course my anxiety was baseless and everything was perfectly fine. I walked out of the store feeling like a million, trillion bucks until reality set in which sounded something like the words "please don't mug me" echoing through my head. The bag isn't allowed on the floor, near liquid and makes me incredibly nervous on crowded subway cars. It was worth every penny.

Do I feel different? A little. I feel like I worked hard for something that meant a lot to me and I achieved a life goal. Pretty great for a random Thursday in October, if you ask me.

What was the last thing you did for yourself?

Hit or Miss: Leighton Meester On The Set Of Gossip Girl

Sarah Conley — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST

Snapped today while filming Gossip Girl on the Upper East Side, Leighton Meester's character Blair Waldorf looks like a modern Carmen Sandiego. Perhaps she's doing a bit of sleuthing?

It's interesting to note the use of plaids, both small and oversized. It can be difficult to mix patterns, however show stylist Eric Daman mixed this look with perfection. Did you catch that she's carrying Chanel's Mademoiselle bag, which co-star Blake Lively just happens to be the face for (shockingly)? Nice synergy.

Aside from her Bailey Button UGGs (cut her a break - it's SUPER cold in the city today) - how do you feel about the look. Hit? Miss?

Photo credit: Zimbio

On The Plus Side: Examining Saks Foray Into Extended Designer Pieces

Sarah Conley — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EDT

T-Bags, Salon Z Studded Split-Sleeve Dress

$230.00 by T-Bags at Saks Fifth Avenue

To preface this post, I would like to begin by saying that I have strong feelings about this news. On the one hand, I dream of wearing McQueen and Chanel, and on the other hand, I've been left feeling like I am the latest charity case in a company's quest for publicity.

A week ago, Racked NY ran the news that Saks Fifth Avenue will be stocking plus size pieces from Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Fendi and Roberto Cavalli. On the surface, this news sounds wonderful and seems to be a giant step forward for fashionable women everywhere.

Kudos to Saks, whose extended sizes collection, called Salon Z, encompasses sizes 14 to 24 and offers a few fashion forward pieces. The entire collection isn't perfect (when is an entire collection perfect), but it is likely that you'll find something worthy of taking home.

Digging deeper into the news reveals that while these brands have previously been carried through a size 10, they will now be stocked fully to a size 14 and even to a size 20 on a brand-by-brand basis. Unfortunately (though not uncommon), only one of each size will be stocked and only in the New York City location. If the test venture is successful, other Saks locations could be carrying the expanded line.

How successful will this venture be? A designer size 14 is hardly plus size. A designer size 20 is an admirable step, but how well will these pieces actually sell? If you're putting the cash towards an investment piece, it's wise to buy a piece that fits well - but have the brands put in the appropriate effort towards the new extended range?

The secret to a successful plus size line (outside of the conceptual designs) are the fit models. Remember when Old Navy first launched their plus size line in stores? It was ok, but it didn't fit that well. The line was pulled from stores and disappeared for a while, but when it resurfaced as online only merchandise, the product was new and improved, due to the brand's realization that patterns for a size 24 could be adapted from a size 2 - the two bodies simply aren't built the same.

The skeptical industry side of my brain questions why houses such as Dolce & Gabanna and Chanel want to move forward in this way. True, both houses have made admirable strides to embrace the plus size community, both via model Crystal Renn (these days, who isn't in love with her?). Is Chanel, including former heavyweight Karl Lagerfeld, really committed to servicing the plus size consumer, or is this similar to when a brand "donates" money to charity and reaps the benefits of all the surrounding press from their "good deed", all the while there is a $5,000 cap on donations?

I guess the real question is, will you invest in these new pieces? How does this issue make you feel?

Watch This Now: Coco Before Chanel

Sarah Conley — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:30:22 EDT

Chanel Eyewear Featuring Christy Turlington

Sarah Conley — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:34:05 EST

Supermodel Christy Turlington comes back into the spotlight as the face of Chanel Eyewear.

Chanel Cruise Featuring Claudia Schiffer

Sarah Conley — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:45:50 EST

Karl Lagerfeld shot Chanel's Cruise 07-08 campaign, featuring supermodel Claudia Schiffer. TFS seems to think they're boring. How do you feel?

Source: TFS

Freja Beha For Chanel -- Rinko Kikuchi New Chanel Face -- An Inside Look At Chanel

Luxury & Accessibility: Do They Coexist?

Sarah Conley — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:19:58 EST

If you sat back and dreamed up the most luxurious confection possible, where would you sell it? Target & H&M believe they're making luxury goods available to the masses, but are they really? One could argue they are simply dangling the notion of luxury, without providing actual luxury products.

We haven't fully formed our thoughts, and it seems the blogosphere hasn't either. In order to help you construct a better opinion on the subject, Coutorture has organized a Salon On Luxury & Accessibility. Ever since, the blogsophere has been abuzz with debate. Hope Robertson believes in affordable luxury, while Poetic & Chic thinks we're being duped. Further exploring the topic, The Budget Babe delves into the psychology behind the matter, as The Runway Scoop attempts to define "luxury". Style Eyes believes such products will become more accessible and Platinum Blonde Life believes in rapid consumption. Temptalia takes the subject a step further, looking analytically at the beauty industry.

Regardless of your feelings on the topic, be sure to check out Coutorture's intervie w with Milton Pedraza, the CEO of the Luxury Institute.

Top 12 Luxury Handbag Brands -- E! Countsdown Forbes Top 15 Supermodels -- Kai Kuhne For Ecco Domani