WINK: The City Made You Look

Upon a stroll in a trendy part of the Upper West Side, amongst Intermix, Theory and excited Eclipse fans lining up at LOEWS theatre, stands WINK. A cute, girly boutique filled with hot pink and silver damask wallpaper and crystal chandeliers. It is not just any WINK store either, but the very same WINK store featured on a recent episode of MTV's The City. If you are like me, you will probably check out the store hoping to try some Whitney Eve pieces but unfortunately you will have to wait until the fall.Until then you can enjoy the lovely, flouncy blouses, rompers and dresses by Yumi Kim and Amanda Uprichard.

       Lining the walls of WINK were lightweight pieces such as an oversized floral t-shirt, a soft brocade style hot pink party dress. My favourite piece had to be a navy blue romper with white stripes with pink and white flowers throughout. Made of silk and designed by Yumi Kim, it is my official go-to piece when I want to look like I have spent the weekend in St. Tropez or the Hamptons.

For you purse lovers out there, WINK has got your covered with their decorated purse wall. That's right! An entire wall decorated with purses hanging from a nail. It takes the concept of fashion meets art to a whole new level. My absolute favourite was a red leather cross body chain bag by Andrea Brueckner. Perfect for your summer nights and autumns days. Hell, it's perfect for everything! 

WINK is my kind of store with the perfect mix of girly fun and chic style. If you ever find yourself on the Upper West Side and need a place to find your perfect summer outfit, this is the place!

Amanda

A Day in the Life: I Had A Dream Part Eleven "A Canadian Girl in the New York City"

It has now been about two weeks since I have been in New York City and boy has it been a whirl wind! I have started my dream internship and it is fabulous. It is fast paced and fast fashion with a whole lotta fun in between.

Having an internship at a magazine and dealing with fashion one would think that in terms of style expression anything goes. However, it is important to remember that even though you may be working in a fun environment, an air of professionalism should be visible in your attire.

Ever wonder what is appropriate to wear at a fashion internship? Well read on my friend for some key advice:

Rule #1-Keep it undercover

Never wear anything that shows too much skin including short shorts, crop tops and low cut tops. The above may be in style and you are working in a fashion department but it does not make it ok to show the whole office your goodies. If you do want to have fun with your wardrobe at work, try it with colours or prints.

Rule #2-

A blazer solves everything, well almost everything

Keeping in mind the above rule, if you are going to have fun with trends in the office a blazer is a great way to keep your look professional. Blazers look great with pretty much everything from a romper, to a dress to skinny jeans with a button-up and are the perfect way to elevate a casual look to a professional one. For example, if you plan on wearing a floral summer dress to your internship pair it with a blazer, it will help take your look from fun in the sun to office appropriate. 

Rule #3-Ditch the heels honey!

Despite the fact there are tons amazing stilettos, wedges and pumps that are in this summer, believe me when I say this, leave them at home! At your internships especially a fashion internship, you will most likely be running around the city, the fashion closet and more. Make sure to wear flat comfortable shoes. You will thank me later!

Well that's fashionable folks! The basics to what you need to know about how to dress appropriately at a fashion internship.

Enjoy!

Amanda

Photo of the Day!: LV and Ponytails

It's hard to believe that fall ad campaigns are already being photographed with the sweltering heat here in NYC but that's just how the fashion industry works! Just when you are settled into one season out comes  the next. These photos are from Louis Vuitton's fall ad campaign and boy are they lovely! Photographed by Steven Meisel and featuring my new favourite model, Karen Elson, the ladylike 1950's styling with swishy ponytails are my absolute favourite! These looks are the right amount of retro style without looking costume-like. 

What photographs are inspiring you? Have you already started daydreaming about your fall wardrobe? Let me know in the comments section or email me at amandasfashionspot@gmail.com.

Enjoy!

Amanda

American Woman, Baby Let Me Be: The MET's Costume Institute Exhibition Part One

On a cloudy afternoon there is nothing better than taking a stroll through the museum. Lucky for me, the MET is currently hosting its exhibit, American Fashion: Fashioning a National Identity. Not only does the exhibit feature gorgeous fashions by designers from the grandfather of haute couture, Charles Worth to Coco Chanel but it is also narrated by the quintessential New York City gal, Sarah Jessica Parker. The beautiful exhibit takes a historical look at American history through the eyes of fashion gowns through the heiress of the 1890s to the Old Hollywood glamour of the 1940's.

At first you enter a room that is straight from the 1890's celebrating the heiress. With walls covered with damask wall paper and music reminiscent of an elegant ball, the scene was set with several bustle-style gowns glimmering with satin and embroidery. During this time period, women of an older age wore dark gowns and younger women wore lighter colours. The most stunning gown was a black sequin floor length gown with a corseted bodice and full sleeves. Elegant and glamorouous. Another favourite was a soft pink silk gown with an embellised feather detail accented with beautiful fans and delicate lace. As always, the MET recreated this time periodd perfectly and I felt as if I were in this time period myself.

Next up we had the Gibson Girl of the 1900's, an animated character created by illustrator Charles Dana Gisbon that represented the ideal American girl who was athletic, active and fun, always wearing a chignon. This part of the exhibit featured outfits that women wore when playing sports and it was quite different than what we see today. No spandex shorts and sports bras for these Gibson Girls! A typical outfit for swimming was not a cutout metallic bathing suit but a navy sailor-inspired dress! With white trim and nautical motif, this outfit must have made swimming difficult for these ladies.

The Gibson Girl was not the only woman that dominated the early 1900's, there was also the Bohemia. A woman who celebrated her intellect and engaged herself in the arts. Instead of celebrating her body she wore clothes that distracted from it with gold chiffon wraps and loose harem-style pants. My favourite piece was a blood-red silk jumper that was inspired by dhopis worn by men in India. Accented by a lace vest, this look is reminiscent of the bohemian woman of today.

Following this. were the woman warriors who took part in the war effort and when they were at home they fought for a woman's right to vote. Always accompanied by their gold and yellow sashes these women wore elongated coats and full skirts. The most fashionable outfit would have to be a beige suit with a button detail reminiscent of a frog detail that is normally found on a mandarin coat.

       On to the roaring twenties! These women were liberated, independent and free spirited. They drank, smoke and did the Charleston all while wearing casual and comfortable clothes. During the day, they wore modest clothing with my favourite being a red cloche hat, beige sweater with red vertical stripes and matching bow on top with a pleated beige skirt coming just past the knee for the bottom. At night it was all glitz and glamour! Exquisite sequin details and shapeless dresses was the style du jour. A standout was a blush dress with chiffon bodice and embellished skirt with cutouts reminiscent of a mermaid's fin.

      The exhibit ended with a picture into Old Hollywood, the most glamorous decade of all. Floor length gowns filled the dimly lit room with scenes featuring old films starring screen goddess, Jean Harlow wearing a fabulous fur trimmed chiffon robe playing in the background. The most coveted designs had to be a halter dress by Charles Worth with cascading silk layers printed with a brown and beige abstract print. A very sexy number was a black long sleeved gown with cutout detail in the back with a long skirt and embellished hem. Subtle and sexy all in one!

      Finally the event concluded with a montage dedicated to all the strong, influential women throughout American history from famous dancer, Josephine Baker to Diane Von Furstenberg to Tina Fey. At the end of the event, not only was I inspired by the beautiful fashions but I also felt empowered for being a woman. The exhibit beautifully celebrated influential fashion and the women that wore it in a way that made you feel like saying, "I am woman hear me roar!" (in a fashionable ensemble of course.)

Enjoy!

*All images of the gowns have been taken from http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/listview.aspx?dd1=63

Amanda

Family Guy Tattoos

Family Guy has completely taken the world by storm, and with nearly of decade of episodes under their belt, the fun loving and often crude characters that make up this program are poised for another 10 years of highly original reference style comedy.

Family Guy has garnered a cult like following of obsessed fans, some of which have ventured into the world of tattoo artwork and now don their favorite characters wherever the go. See some cool Family Guy tattoos below.

Excellent cartoon artwork on lower leg.

Glenn Quagmire pirate and skull cross bones.

Stewie Griffin and Evil Monkey ideas.

Stewie Griffin pointing artwork.

Tweety Bird Tattoos

When i think of classic adorable cartoon characters, the first thing that comes to mind is that feisty little yellow canary, known as Tweety Bird.

Tweety is another one of those lovable animated Looney Tunes characters, which stole the hearts of millions, often paired with Sylvester the cat, the duo became comic and entertainment gold.

Feast your precious eyes on these adorable Tweety Bird tattoos below.

Cute tattoo idea with butterflies on lower back.

Black and grey ink with innocent angel halo.

Small artwork on back right shoulder.

Tiny design on arm with initials.

Cupid inspired tattoo idea with bow and arrows.

Cartoon Turtle Tattoos

Here we have nice picture gallery of some extra beautiful turtle tattoos with a cartoon inspired twist to the artwork.

Turtles are often associated with being very sluggish and slothful, however these creatures and the subsequent tattoos represent longevity and wisdom, which is certainly something we can all strive for.

Cartoon idea with sleepy eye and flower hat.

Tremendous artwork on right foot.

Cute art on lower leg.

Bubble boy idea.

Family with flowers and sunbeams.

Chillin' on the West Side: A Fashion Comparison

In the West Village you have your hipsters, the West 11st Street Cafe, Magnolia Bakery, and one of my favourites, Marc Jacobs!

On Bleeker Street is the famous Marc Jacobs that carries Marc by Marc Jacobs and his even lower-priced line in which he sells fun items like $11 (woo-hoo!) flip flops and $14 cashmere ankle socks. Actually all the lower-priced, high-quality items remind me of Canada's favourite, Joe Fresh!

Oh the similarities! First, both are loved by the fashion crowd, New York for MJ and Toronto for Joe, second, both are contemporary, fun and colourful when they want to be, third, each dabble in the trends while still staying true to their brand and fourth, each show that being fashionable and high quality can be affordable!

In Canada, Joe Fresh is known for selling a slew of very au courrant yet classic pieces using high quality fabrics while still managing not to break the bank. Marc Jacobs lower-priced line as mentioned above $14 cashmere ankle socks, show that anyone can have a part of the MJ world without maxing out the credits cards.

Each time I have come to New York, I always love checking out the Marc Jacob's store because it is full of colourful, fun little pieces that are full of wardrobe inspiration. One of my first pieces from there was a purple quilted bag and today they have an enviable animal print plastic slouchy shoulder bag. They also have a metallic silver MJ monogrammed sleek gym bag that I would love to tote around, along with adorable heart shaped (and broken heart) compact mirrors.

On the clothes front, what is there not to love? My favourites are a squared shaped '60's-style striped double-breasted cardigan that was red, gold and navy, perfect for when fall rolls around. They also had the same jacket in hot pink, orange, white and gold with a matching A-line skirt. Super cute for your summer internship or strolling around on a nice day. I also loved a group of dresses that came in fuchsia and teal with large yellow flowers. They had a pleated neckline and pleated details at the pocket hem. They were made of some sort of silk or sateen and had a lovely shiny finish. Ideal for a summer night first date or a cool concert.

Next time you find yourself in NYC, make sure to make the Marc Jacobs store in the West Village one of you first shopping stops. You will not be disappointed, I promise.

Enjoy!

Amanda

Cartoon Owl Tattoos

Cartoon owl tattoos are often portrayed with exaggerated features, such as their already proportionate eyes, plus they are also often seen with extra colorful coats.

Enjoy these beautiful and dare i say cute, owl cartoon tattoo ideas for guys and girls alike.

Googly eyes on small branch.

Very round and pudgy idea on back.

Bright with stars in eyes.

Dark themed idea with skull.

Sensationally nice artwork with large key in grasp.

Chest Tattoos

Chest tattoos are becoming increasingly popular among both men and women alike, and some of the most common tattoo designs we've seen are flowers, hearts, birds and stars among other cosmic artwork.

This photo gallery displays some exceptionally nice chest tattoos which might help you decide on a style for your own personal design. Enjoy the pics.

roses.

Birds and snake.

Cross and birds.

Dragon flower and flames design.

Queen of pain artwork.

Love and hate with eagle.

Butt Tattoos

With so many areas of the human body to get a tattoo, there isn't exactly a shortage of good locations, however many people are choosing their butt as a prime piece of real estate for a tattoo design.

Naturally we think girls would be the gender interested in getting a butt tattoo, perhaps for the sex appeal it draws, however we've seen a startling amount of men who are also venturing into the realm of rear end artwork.

Face on cheek tattoo.

Mathcing swallow birds.

Cartoon seven dwarfs hard at work.

Girl with spank me daddy.

Pacman arcade fun.

Baby cupid.

Dog paw print on left cheek.

Chest Tattoo For Women - Hot Designs and Ideas For the Best and Sexiest in Female Designs

If you have been considering getting a chest tattoo then now is the time. These are one of the hottest tattoos ever and they have honestly stood the test of time. Not only they but they are growing quickly in popularity now. With the advancements in color ink, feminine tattoo designs and the popularity of these great tattoo it has never been a better time to get a chest tattoo for women then now.

Locating The Design

Often one of the main reasons a person does not go and get a tattoo is lack of a design or idea. Often people have already made up their mind that they want a tattoo of some sort. They might have even chosen the location but finding the right design can be downright frustrating. The best way to go about locating a design is to take a bunch of ideas of things you have seen and like and even some possible designs and then consult with a professional tattoo artist. They will be able to easily listen to you and what you are after and then shape a design that is just right for you using the resources and ideas you bring to the table.

Design Shapes For Good Fit

A chest tattoo typically covers right under the collar bone area and across the upper part of the chest. This is a rather large tattoo and a good time commitment from the person seeking the tattoo. Therefore you want to consider the design carefully and match it to fit well in the area. Typically large rectangular shapes with a slight concave of v shape to them work best. Also since chest tattoos are such classics it can often be a good to look at the classic designs out there. You can always add to the design to make it unique and your own. However, anchors, swallows, a banner and other such classic themes can easily be restyled with new ink colors and a good conversation with your tattoo artist will help easily come up with something you are going to love.

Considerations

This is not meant to discourage anyone wanting to get a chest tattoo for women design however; you should know all the facts and plan for them ahead of time. One of the main considerations with chest tattoo is the professional setting you work in. Do you need to cover up tattoos and will you be able to cover it up easily? If not then you might want to look at a smaller design done a bit lower down the chest. Another consideration is the cost. Since chest tattoos are typically pretty large and often intricate pieces it can take some money to invest in such a design.

Overall chest tattoos are definitely growing in popularity. These days anything to do with women and tattoo designs is growing rapidly. Due to this rebirth of women and tattoos there have been tons of new bold design styles and ideas out there. Remember it is best not to rush the process. Instead find designs and ideas you like first. Then take you time to locate an artist that you can work easily with.

Celtic Tattoos - How to Best Choose Tattoos

Celtic Tattoos are designed by embedded inks inside the skin surface.

The first tattoos probably were found by mistake. Celtic Tattoos are leaving a lasting impression on the public. People have become "tattoo crazy" and these insignia on the body have also turned into a stylish remark. Tattoos are beyond art, and it is a great opportunity to Awaken the Mind.

Celtic Tattoos are a method to express who you want to be, um, permanently. Talk about bang for your buck. Tattoos are created by using needles to position ink underneath your skin, but not really into your muscle mass. So, the question of "does this hurt" is really more the question of how high your pain threshold is. Tattoos are meant to make permanent marks into human skin.

Tattoos are very hot among plenty of Leos because of the flair for the dramatic. If you are one of those people looking for a Leo tattoo for yourself or maybe you want to find a great tattoo for the Leo in your life then this article is for you. Celtic Tattoos are everywhere, or so it seems.

Rock stars, sports figures, fashion models, and movie stars flaunt them.

Traditional tattoos can take up to double the amount of time. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word tautau.

Wear something old so you don't have to fret about possibly getting it destroyed. Put on clothing that you wouldnt mind getting a bit of colouring on. The ink will wash out of most clothing, but it might require bleach.

Celtic tattoo knots represent a crossing of physical and spiritual interlace (e.g. This is much of why Celtic tattoos are so popular. Celtic tattoos are one of the most popular design choices . With their intricate weave, and such a wide variety of art to choose from, it is any wonder that such a different selection of people have chosen it as their tattoo. Celtic tattoo designs are very popular, probably because Celtic tattoos have been around for thousands of years when all of Europe was Celtic. Celtic knots and interwoven braid designs signify a mixture of Christian and Druid beliefs and are crucial in beautiful Celtic Mystique Cross temporary tattoos.

Celtic Tattooing that we know came around the period of Celtic stone carvings and metalwork . To the ancient Celts, tattooing wasn't just an art form. Celtic tattoos are typically tattooed on armbands, lower back, on ankles, shoulders, and the upper back area and so on. Are hunting for some great Celtic patterns or armbands? Celtic tattoos are mainly popular amongst the people of Celtic origin. Being flexible in stature, the Celtic patterns have always been a famous choice to be considered by the tattoo artists.