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Yum,  Georgetown Cupcakes wishspecialevents.com

Model Gaye McDonald i.models.com

Giuseppe Zanotti leopard wedge booties intheircloset.com

Jewelry Designer Monique Pean Gives Back With Style

photo credit: zimbio.com

Here's a lil' somethin' somethin' for all of my jewelry lovers. Black jewelry designer on the rise, Monique Pean, is the business. This Haitian-American, D.C. native jumped into jewelry design after a three-year career as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. After taking fashion design courses while working on Wall Street, she launched her jewelry line, Monique Pean Fine Jewelry, in 2006 (check out her website: www.moniquepean.com). Her enticing designs are inspired from her travels to alluring countries such as Russia, Haiti, Bali, and Egypt among others. The diverse materials used in manufacturing her jewelry consist of recycled metals, mined gems, and other eco-friendly materials. It's likely that you've seen people like Michelle Obama, and  actress Melissa George wearing her heart-stopping pieces. (Blashionista.com says that Monique Pean is one of Michelle Obama's favorite jewelry designers!) She's also been named one of Oprah's Top 10 Women on the Rise on oprah.com. According to essence.com, a percentage of her jewelry sales provide clean drinking water and sanitation to those in need which stems from her working with the non-profit organization, Charity: Water. Her designs led her to be chosen as one of the 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners where she was not only awarded $50,000 towards her business, but received Michael Kowalski (CEO of Tiffany & Co) as a mentor as well. (I see you girl!) As if she wasn't already the bomb, she also founded The Vanessa Pean Foundation (dedicated to her 16 year old sister who died in a car accident, according to oprah.com) to provide scholarships for the underprivileged in Haiti and is collaborating with Management Leadership for Tomorrow and Yale School of Management to provide leadership opportunities in the corporate world for minorities according to www.moniquepean.com. I don't know about you, but I admire a person who can give back with style. Here's a sneak peak of her Spring/Summer 2011 Collection: 

photo credit: ecouterre.com

photo credit: zimbio.com

photo credit: vogue.com

Givhan's Leaving the Post!

Photo Credit: www.zimbio.com

Robin Givhan at the Door.ri Spring 2011 fashion show at Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week

Robin Givhan is leaving her position at The Washington Post. I repeat, Robin Givhan is leaving her position at The Washington Post (...tear). Robin Givhan, 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner for criticism, former Fashion Editor for The Washington Post, famed fashion critic, and my idol for the past few years will be continuing her career at Newsweek and The Daily Beast. Givhan has been appluaded for her ability to turn criticizing  wardrobes into a work of art according to stylelite.com. Ms. Tina Brown, editor-in-chief of Newsweek and leader of the joint venture between Newsweek and The Daily Beast, has a new notion for the magazine. According to an article on wwd.com, Brown feels as though Givhan's fashion savvy alongside her distinguished writing skills will make the perfect addition to Newsweek and The Daily Beast, and to her plan for innovation. Robin Givhan, although poignant to leave The Washington Post, is ready for change and strongly agrees with the direction that Tina Brown is taking the magazine. According to an article in Fashionologie http://www.fashionologie.com/ Givhan will begin her position as style and culture correspondant of Newsweek and The Daily Beast on January 10, 2011.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

How will you cope with the cold weather? No need to freeze while trying to stay fashionable; and no need to look frumpy while trying to stay warm. I've got just the thing for you (don't I always?). For starters, the over-sized vintage sweater is back; and you'll be sorry if you miss out on this no-fuss look. Look for it in prints: bold plaid, polkda dot, animal, stripes, geometric shapes; or maybe a simple-solid colored sweater is just right for you. It looks "ok" with jeans, but try pairing it with a skirt, tights, and booties. If it's long enough, rock it as a sweater dress. The thrift store is the best place to find this trend (I kid you not). If you have been so inclined to purchase this piece for over $10 at a store other than a thrift store, let me be the first to tell you that you made a huge mistake; return it...now. Last Friday, after taking my last final exam of the semester, I thought it was about time to indulge myself and commence in a little thrifting. I was ecstatic to see all of the toasty, mod sweaters that were put on the floor for the season. And for only $5? Jackpot! Let it be known that I knew I had more than a few sweaters in storage from last year, but I couldn't resist! Sweaters of different prints, colors, and patterns for only $5? You've got to be crazy to pass up an offer like that. Agree to never spend $40+ on an over-sized sweater again? Cool.

[Here are some of the sweaters I got from the thrift store...$5 each. Yea I know I told you already, just trying to rub it in]

 We can't forget about the chunky sweater-scarf. Good-bye to scarves with a sole purpose to make a fashion statement. Don’t lie; you know that “oh so fashionable” scarf you bought last year left you with many a cold. It's my favorite grab-n-go accessory thus far. A chunky sweater-scarf paired with your over-sized sweater is a fun and cozy cold-weather look to try out this season. I would opt for this piece in deep hues: midnight black, charcoal, cinammon-brown, and maybe a forest green (although I must say I could not part from the mustard-colored chunky scarf that I found at Zara). It's kind of funny that my scarves cost more than my sweaters. But if a sweater is that cheap the more you have to spend on accessories.  Happy thrifting (and holidays of course)! Keep snug and stylish.

[$35 @ Urban Outfitters]

[$30 @ Zara]

Photo Credit: (Top 3 pictures; from left to right)

1. Model Chanel showing off a sweaterdress from Dolce & Gabbana's Fall/Winter 2010 Collection stylehopblog
2.A chunky scarf shown from Tracy Reese's Fall/Winter 2010 Collection black voices on style
3. Sweater ensemble from Diane Von Sternberg's Fall/Winter 2010 Collection gielle blog