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Top 7 Strappy Shoes for Summer

In Fashion, Trends on May 28, 2012 at 3:46 pm

Soon we can finally celebrate summer in all it’s hot glory! When it comes to summer style, there is nothing I like more than bright colors, cute sandals and striped patterns.

Lately I’ve been searching for my newest summer obsession — strappy shoes. More so… shoes that have a strap over your ankle. You’ll see them almost everywhere, but here are seven of my favorite strappy shoes for summer. All of which are super affordable!

Let’s start with my favorite one, which actually inspired me to write this post in the first place. I love these yellow heels from Ann Taylor! They are so perfect for summer work wear and summer outings.

Ann Taylor Riley Patent Strappy Sandals $158

LOFT Frances Color Pop Wedges $79.50

LOFT Lara Platform Espadrilles $79.50

Aldo Wedges $80

Aldo Blyze $120

Aldo Hartzeld $80

H&M Wedge Heels $34.95

Which “strappy shoe” is your fave? Tell us by writing a comment below!

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Join us for some after dark fun at the 600 Block of St. Pete!

In Events, Fashion on October 12, 2011 at 4:45 am

I’ve been around the block… once… twice… a dozen times! And I’m all for taking another stroll down the coolest and most stylish block in St. Pete! I’m obviously talking about the 600 block in downtown St. Petersburg!

My girls and I always enjoy an afternoon in downtown St. Petersburg, where we shop the 600 block boutiques, check out the art museums and grab a bite in one of the  restaurants. I’ve found some super cute vintage and custom made pieces from the 600 block, like this vintage postcard romper from Misred Outfitters that I’m in love with!

About five months ago they had their first ever block party, and I’m happy to share that there will be a block party happening again this year! The 600 After Dark Block Party is Friday, October 21st from 6-11pm on the 600 Block of Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg (in between 6th and 7th street off of Central Avenue). It will be a night filled with live music, boutique shopping, art gallery events, food and wine tastings and a collective fashion show of the boutiques on the block will be at 9pm in the Crislip Arcade!

Special events happening at the 600 Block After Dark event:

PRP Wine Tastings out on the sidewalks

The Peaceful Warrior Massage Stations throughout the block.
(from 900 Central Ave)

Olio Gallery:
“Commemoration, Retrieval, Girls, Electric, Memory, Blood”
New small scale work by YanuarY, GregorY, and SookY.
Opening reception begins at 7pm

The Trunk:
Hair Feathering
Candy, Beauty Products, and Makeup Application by Sweet Cheeks
Cupcakes by Baked

The Local 662:
CARNEVIL: The Gravest Show On Earth!
Live Performances by Everymen & DJ Curse Mackey
8pm – 1am

The State Theatre:
Reverend Horton Heat, Supersuckers & Dan Sartain
7pm / $22 Advance

All Sewn Up Boutique:
Catering from Three Birds Tavern’s legendary chef Domenica Macchia
7-10pm
Live models in Window Displays

Join us as we have another fun night in the Bay area!  We hope to see you there!

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TBFW 2011 Runway Recap

In Designers, Events, Fashion on October 5, 2011 at 1:52 pm

This year’s Fashion Week Tampa Bay was fantastic, especially the main event at the Innisbrook Resort and Spa. Of course, I’m talking about the runway shows! Eight designers, sixty models and lots of show production assistance… all helped to create a priceless night! These talented fashion designers brought the glamour, dazzle and drama to our 2011 runway! From sexy swimwear to gorgeous gowns, the runway had it all!

Let’s recap on what we saw at this year’s Fashion Week Tampa Bay runway shows!

Triniece Cagua

Triniece Cagua started the night with some swimwear. I love how they turn a one piece into a fab swimsuit. All of their swimsuits are super stylish, but I really love the print they used in this year’s collection! Gold chains on a red and purple background – I call it… nautical chic!

Audrey “Pat” McGhee

Audrey “Pat” McGhee’s collection had a lot of cool prints, bright colors and tailored pieces. Perfect for a powerful, fashionable woman who likes to have some fun with her clothes!

Two Coconuts

Glamour, vibrant and sparkly… are three words to describe Two Coconuts Spring/Summer 2012 collection! Their stylish swimsuits were mostly metallic, colorful fabrics like pinks, yellows and blues. All of which are perfect for a summer pool party!

Dolly Donshey

From a beautiful ballerina to guards controlling the entry to the runway, Dolly Donshey’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection had it all. Dolly featured her custom couture headpieces with a black-on-black collection, excluding a white lace dress which was escorted off the runway by the guards. I love how unique and artsy her hats are – perfect for any special occasion!

Terri Funaro

Who knew you could create so many gorgeous dresses? Oh, and did I mention… all of which are white? Terri Funaro’s collection featured tailored dresses, stylish day attire and gorgeous wedding gowns. I really love how she creates beautiful necklines on her tailored dresses! Very classy!

Rhonda Shear

The word “sexy” can mean different things to different people… to different cultures… in different times… yeah! That kind of sums it up! Rhonda Shear’s Spring and Summer 2012 collection embodied the different types of sexy women. Her lingerie collection featured sexy icons like an Egyptian goddess, Playboy bunny and Japanese woman.

Kimberly Hendrix

 Kimberly Hendrix flawlessly mixes rocker coolness, earth friendliness and shine-and-sparkle glamour in her Spring/Summer 2012 collection. Love her handmade clothes, especially her shredded tops and beaded dresses!

Dali Hernandez

Dali Hernandez’s Spring and Summer 2012 collection featured fabulous looks that work for all women! I loved her final piece, which was a gold gown with a beautiful jeweled top and neckline.

Essence Flowers

Egyptian royalty came back to life for Essence Flower’s Spring and Summer 2012 collection! Essence, once again, brought the gorgeous couture gowns back to our runway!

All photos are courtesy of Anne Phillips Photography 

Can’t believe Fashion Week Tampa Bay is over! We can’t wait to start planning for next year’s fashion week! Until then, we’ll be blogging about the latest and greatest fashion trends, style tips, industry news and fashionable things around town and beyond!

What were some of your favorite looks from Fashion Week Tampa Bay?

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Runway Day Fun

In Designers, Events, Fashion on October 4, 2011 at 3:35 pm

Fashion week is filled with fun fashion events like cocktail receptions, red carpet premieres and soirees… but what makes fashion week so fab is runway day! It’s the heart of the event! The runway show is a celebration of Tampa Bay and surrounding area’s fashion, art and creativity. We started the night by shopping our boutique vendors, mingling with friends and posing for pictures in the boutique area. Then it’s off to the showroom! Before we discuss the runway dazzle and drama, let’s look back at the pre-show festivities.

But first… a big thank you to our boutique vendors for the pre-show fun!

Art Institute of Tampa

Audi

Hats R Back

Lord’s Jester

Making Strides

International Academy of Design and Technology

Ivanka Ska Shoes

Shoes for the Cure

Stella & Dot

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

tbt*

VERTICAL Tampa Bay

Yelp

All photos are courtesy of Anne Phillips Photography.

Check out all the pictures here!

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Looking Back at the Past Perfect Event

In Events, Fashion on September 28, 2011 at 1:23 am

Everything has a history. Whether it’s good or bad… understanding the past will help us deal with the present and plan for the future. This can even be said about fashion. With past trends always being revamped and historic creativity being used for inspiration, how could you not look back at the history of fashion in aw? For this year’s Fashion Week Tampa Bay, we kicked off the week by taking two steps back, or two centuries back, with our Past Perfect: A Celebration of Vintage Designs red carpet event at the Art Institute of Tampa.

Last Tuesday (Sept. 20, 2011), we celebrated the history of fashion by admiring vintage designs that dated back all the way to 1890. Thanks to the efforts of Steven Anderson and Andrew Ashton of La Posh Salon, the collectors of these rare garments have allowed us to display them for the first time ever. There were fabulous fashions from Fortune to Halston, and from Chapman to Chanel!

Let’s look back at the night where everyone looked back at 120 years of fashion! If you missed our Past Perfect event or just want to revisit the vintage fashion display, be sure to stop by the Art Institute of Tampa to check it out! The display will be up and running for three more weeks.

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The Treasures of Kimberly Hendrix

In Designers on September 23, 2011 at 5:30 am

We’re glad to have Kimberly Hendrix back on the Fashion Week Tampa Bay runway! Last year’s collection left a lasting impression on all of us, and we sure can’t wait to feel-it, see-it and shop-it all over again! But before that, let’s get to know Kimberly a little more.

Meet Kimberly

She started her creative career as an interior designer. Then in 2007 she decided to expand her design talents, vintage passion and seamstress skills into fashion design. Since she’s made the decision to move forward with her passions for design, she has done some of the following:

Co-design a full runway collection for Fall 2008 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Appear as herself on the TLC reality series Bikini or Bust

Season 8 Project Runway casting finalist

Celebrities like Zooey Deschanel, Courtney Love and Juliet Lewis have worn her work

Featured in fashion spreads for Ocean, Glitterati, LA Direct, Icon, 944, Fantastic, Bambi, S Magazine, Vertical, and Blackbook – to name just a few

Signature Style

K. Hendrix creations are handmade pieces with intricate beading, embroidery, raw edges and meticulous detailing. Every item in her collections are created from high end, 100% reclaimed or recycled vintage materials. She’s known for re-using vintage materials and creating one-of-a-kind treasures.

Favorite Piece

Love both of these looks – especially the gold sequin pants with the black blazer!

Three words to describe her designs…

Vintage-inspired, glamorous and trendy

Looking Back

Let’s look back at her work and showcases in previous years of Fashion Week Tampa Bay!

Be sure to check out Kimberly Hendrix in Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2011, where she will be showcasing her latest treasures tonight!! See you there!

Click here to learn more about Kimberly Hendrix.

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Get Ready for Some Runway Fun!

In Events, Fashion on September 22, 2011 at 8:19 am

We’ve saved the best for last… the Runway Shows and FWTB Boutiques! After fun events like Past Perfect, Model Behavior Cocktail Reception and Swanky Soiree, what else is there to do than to end fashion week with some shopping and runway fun! And when I say “some runway fun,” I mean nine shows! Can’t be too modest – that’s a lot of fabulosity in one night! Oh my gosh… what am I going to wear!?

The Fashion Week Tampa Bay Runway Shows and Boutiques are Friday, Sept. 23rd at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, FL.

BOUTIQUE SHOPPING AND MINGLING at 6pm
Doors open at 6pm for the FWTB boutiques. Our unique shopping experience allows guests to mingle and shop the boutique vendors before the designer runway show. It’s a great way to get exclusive items at great prices while meeting and mingling with fashion friends! The boutique vendors are the following:

Art Institute of Tampa

Audi

Brookwood Florida

Hats R Back

High Hopes in High Heels

International Academy of Design & Technology

Ivanka Ska

Lord’s Jester

Shoes For Cure

Stella & Dot

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

tbt*

VERTICAL Tampa Bay

Yelp

DESIGNER RUNWAY SHOWS at 7pm
The fashion designers will be showcasing their Spring/Summer 2012 collections in Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2011. The runway shows will begin after the boutique shopping experience at 7pm. Below is the designer line-up:

Audrey “Pat” McGhee

Dali Hernandez

Dolly Donshey

Essence Flowers

Kimberly Hendrix

Rhonda Shear

Terri Funaro

Triniece Cagua

Two Coconuts Swimwear

TICKETS:
The VIP Friday Fashion Passes are sold out!

Friday General Admission
Includes general admission seat to runway show on Friday, Sept. 23rd.
Price Tag: $40/person ($65/person day of show, pending availability)

Get your tickets here while they still last!

Will you be attending the FWTB 2011 Runway Shows and Boutiques? Any idea as to what you’ll be wearing? Tell us by writing a comment below!

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Essence Flowers Brings Couture to TBFW 2011

In Designers, Fashion on September 22, 2011 at 4:35 am

Essence Flowers will be joining us again this year and we can’t wait to see her designs tonight! She’s no stranger to the runway or to Fashion Week Tampa Bay as we welcome her for the fourth year in a row, but just in case she’s a stranger to you (where have you been?)…Before we enjoy another wonderful Essence Flowers runway show, let’s get to know her a little more! Read below to learn some fun facts about fashion designer, Essence Flowers.

Meet Essence

Since Essence graduated from Tampa’s International Academy of Design and Technology, she has had a successful career in fashion. Her work ethic and design talent have led her to creating magnificent pieces of art. Essence wears many hats including:

Consultant in Tampa

Buyer in St. Petersburg

Pre-Fashion Week participant in New York City

Force behind an up-and-coming label in Atlanta

Swimwear and uniform designer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders for their 2010 and 2011 seasons

Signature Style

Her designs are elicit art and visual controversy with a hint of sex appeal. Best known for her gorgeous couture dresses and glamorous swimwear. Essence Flowers designs are nothing short of remarkable!

Favorite Piece

I love all of the couture dresses below, but my favorite is the royal purple dress in the middle!

Three words to describe her designs…

Remarkable, elegant and artistic

What can we expect this year from Essence?

For Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2011, Essence will take attendees on a journey back to her couture roots for her set, IMPERFECTIONS. You can totally expect high fashion couture that is breathtaking and artistic!

Looking Back

Let’s look back at her previous collections showcased at Fashion Week Tampa Bay!

We invite you to experience the couture movement that is Essence Flowers on Friday, Sept 23 at Innisbrook Resort and Spa. Be sure to get your tickets while they last! Get tickets here.

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Audi Presents Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2011

In Events, Fashion, Trends, Updates on September 19, 2011 at 9:16 am

Accessorizes are key to putting together an outfit! It can be anything from jewelry to even automobiles. Yeah… automobiles! For instance, Audi is a super stylish, and sexy accessory that will complete a fashion lover’s look! Not only does Audi make luxury vehicles like the Audi R8 and Audi A4, they support our efforts of celebrating and supporting Tampa Bay fashion. I’m happy to announce that Audi will join Fashion Week Tampa Bay again as the presenting sponsor!

From the beginning, advanced technology has been at the heart of the Audi DNA. Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. Check out some of my favorite Audi vehicles below!

Audi R8

Audi TT 2

Audi S Series

Audi A4

Audi TT

Audi representatives and vehicles will be in the Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2011 boutique area – Be sure to check them out next Friday, Sept. 23 and grab your new accessory here!

Tell us: Which Audi car is your fave?

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Sponsor Shout-Out

In Events, Fashion on September 19, 2011 at 4:23 am

Shout-out to some of our Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2011 sponsors:

Fashion Team LA

Two fab gals are better than one! And Fashion Team LA proves it! Fashion Team LA is a collaboration of wardrobe stylist/image consultant, Laura Hunt and professional photographer, Anne Phillips. Together they have created a fashion styling and photography dynamic duo experience where “L” brings the style and “A” brings the camera to the photo sessions. They’re a match made in fashion heaven! Learn more about the fashion dynamic duo here.

VERTICAL Tampa Bay

We love ourselves a magazine all about life and style! Yeah, there are fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire… but they don’t have what VERTICAL Tampa Bay magazine has – the unique Tampa Bay area. VERTICAL Tampa Bay Magazine is a virtual magazine that celebrates Tampa Bay fashion, flavor, travel, culture and beauty in every issue. Since Leslie Joy Ickowitz started the magazine in 2009, they’ve had high readership and involvement in the community. We love their stories and beautiful photography. They’ve even featured some of the TBFW designers, like Kimberly Hendrix (the picture above is Kimberly’s work on a previous cover)! Enjoy their latest (and 2nd anniversary) issue here.

Yelp

 

Yelp was founded in 2004 to help people find great local businesses like dentists, hair stylists and mechanics. How it works is businesses setup a free account to post photos, promotions and message customers. Then customers write reviews about the business on their Yelp page. In addition to reviews, you can use Yelp to find events (like Fashion Week Tampa Bay), lists and to talk with other Yelpers. They automatically filter reviews submitted to avoid displaying any suspicious ones. Users can count on Yelp! Download their mobile app and go to their website to start yelping!

We’re so glad to have Fashion Team LA, VERTICAL Tampa Bay and Yelp onboard. They are helping us greatly with making this year’s Fashion Week Tampa Bay the best one yet! We appreciate all of their support. They truly care about providing all lovers of creativity a week of positive, high-fashion and artistic energy. Not only is this a “Sponsor Shout-Out” – it’s a big thank you!

Join in on all the fashion fun on Sept. 20! Fashion Week Tampa Bay will be Sept. 20 – 24, 2011 and tickets are still available – Get them while they last on our website!

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