(Black) Velvet!!!!

Seeing as it is only 3 days away from Christmas, I thought I'd start exploring recent fashion and trends by looking at what I've noticed leading up to this holiday season: Velvet skirts and dresses are everywhere!

I first saw velvet worn as early as mid-late November and since, I have seen a few spreads in fashion magazines suggesting velvet for the fall/winter, as well as Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, sporting a black velvet dress by Alexander McQueen! Clearly, velvet is no longer a fabric that your mum dressed you in when you were 5 years old, nor is it reserved for 60+ year olds! Velvet is a magical and luxurious fabric to wear during the holidays. It's warm, shiny, and can be subtley sexy.

                                                       Kate Middleton in Alexander McQueen


I suggest that if wearing a velvet dress, keep it simple, short, and fitted in order to look young. At American Apparel, we have the perfect velvet dress for 18-30 year olds, in a variety of rich, luxurious colours. Kate Middleton clearly wears a longer dress but she maintains looking her age and subtley sexy due to the strapless top portion of the dress. The dress is also fitted at the torso which provides a fresh and elegant look.

Velvet skirts were recently featured in "Who What Wear." The article provides a nice guide as to how to wear velvet as a skirt. I agree with "Who What Wear" when they suggest a simple, toned-down top paired with a velvet skirt. A silky or chiffon tank or top that flows looks very elegant and balances out the textured and sometimes bold velvet. Here is the link to the "Who What Wear" article: http://www.whowhatwear.com/website/full-article/get-the-look-velvet-skirt/

In fact, today at American Apparel, we had velvet day! All of the sales associates (mostly the girls) wore either American Apparel velvet skirts and crop tops or our velvet dresses. I think that velvet is a fabric that many customers have previously ignored, laughed at, or have been wary of but today they were able to see how great and festive it can look! Many velvet dresses and skirts were sold and we had a lot of fun...as you can see...!

                              Me and my coworker, Joseph, in our navy blue velvet dresses!!!!

So quick!! There's still time to grab your velvet for that office holiday gathering or a friend's Christmas Eve party! Feel festive, feel fabulous in (any colour) velvet!

For more, here's a write-up about velvet in InStyle Magazine:
http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20518826_20516812_20997893,00.html


Nicola

New name!

I decided to change the name of this blog to reflect my love of my favourite artist, Salvador Dali. Art clearly affects fashion and cultural trends, along with music and other media. In addition to including styles that I find interesting, I hope to also research and comment on the relationship between art and fashion trends.

                                                   Meditative Rose by Salvador Dali, 1958

                                             Woman with a Head of Roses by Salvador Dali, 1935

                                            Harper's Bazaar Surreal Appeal exhibit, Giles gown

Nicola

"Not all who wander are lost" -- J.R.R. Tolkein

Hi.

I'm not exactly sure who I am saying hi to, or who I feel the need to introduce myself to (probably no one, so I'll just go with my new friend, Blog), but seeing as this is my first attempt at blogging EVER, it seems only fitting to introduce myself!

This of course, is my first blog post in what will hopefully be many that will explore my newly surfaced realization that perhaps I should explore working in the fashion industry. While I have absolutely no credentials relating to fashion aside from working at Abercrombie & Fitch for 2 years (part-time, on and off) and currently American Apparel, I would like to share my observations of new trends and what I believe to be stylish. Having worked in retail, I feel as though I have been exposed to various aspects of the retail and fashion industries. I have always absolutely LOVED clothes shopping to the point that I will consider sacrificing a few days' meals if it means I can buy a pair of shoes that I've been longing for (it's a serious problem...) I am not looking to work as a fashion designer, rather I would like to combine my love for writing with my interest in fashion (i.e. fashion journalism, PR/communications for a fashion company), or I would consider working my way up the retail path, getting into buying or merchandising. That said, I am by no means an expert. I am simply here to learn and share...and keep up with my writing.

I think my interest in fashion has emerged from a few places; obviously, working in retail for 3 years on and off, studying abroad in both Paris and Barcelona, and then the fact that many of my friends or people I know often compliment my style or tell me that I have a "good eye." However, I am still doubtful of this because I feel as though I lack credibilty...

I'll do some quick facts so that you can put my ramblings into some what of a coherent context...here we go:

Name: Nicola (or Nikki)
Age: 23
Current location: Pittsburgh, PA (but moving back to DC end of January 2012 to live with my parents...yippee..)

I...was born in England, moved to Washington DC in 1998 (age 10), am NOT a U.S. citizen (still have my British citizenship hollerrr!!), have a younger sister (2 years younger), HATE my freckles, rode horses for 8 years, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh & majored in English Writing (minored in French, related area in Spanish), was a member of (and president of) Alpha Delta Pi sorority, studied abroad in Paris, France summer 2008 and then Barcelona, Spain spring 2009, speak Spanish better than French, tried for a MBA but hated it so dropped out, love cats, am a concert/live show/rave dance party junkie, am obsessed with the works of Spanish Surrealist painter Salvador Dali, am terrified of spiders & clowns, have a guilty love for Motley Crue & Poison (aka 80's hair metal glam bands), love dubstep and HOUSE MUSIC, and I am moving back to England (planning on London) summer 2012!

Next post will actually relate to my goal of this blog (exploring fashion trends, sharing my observations of what I like, how to wear certain pieces, looking at influences in fashion...and ultimately, practicing writing about fashion)!!

Nicola