Reviews

Book Giveaway – CityStyle: A Field Guide to Global Fashion Capitals

by Kirsten on November 8, 2010

I recently provided a review for a great book that I know all of you will love. Today, I am excited to offer five of you the chance to win your very own copy for free!

CityStyle – A Field Guide to Global Fashion Capitals provides an insiders look to eight of the world’s most fashionable and chic cities. For women who live and breathe fashion and travel, this guide is a must-have for your library. Get the low-down on the great cities of New York, Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, Stockholm, Sydney, and LA, all in one handy little book.

Check out my full review here, and enter to win one of the five copies!

Here is how to win:

Mandatory Entry (You MUST do this first to qualify):

Leave a comment telling us why YOU want to win! What intrigues you about this book?!

Extra Entries (please leave SEPARATE comments for each entry, otherwise they’ll be counted as one):

1. Follow @travfashionista and @museyon on Twitter and tweet “I want a free copy of CityStyle: A Field Guide to Global Fashion Capitals! @museyon @travfashionista http://bit.ly/9IPhFu PLEASE RT!!”
2. Subscribe to Traveling Fashionista Emails (must confirm subscription for this entry to count).
3. Follow the site via RSS, Bloglovin’ or Google Friend Connect (look on the right side of this page).
4. Become a fan (or “like”) Traveling Fashionista on Facebook.
5. Tweet AGAIN about the giveaway (up to 5x/day):

“I want a free copy of CityStyle: A Field Guide to Global Fashion Capitals! @museyon @travfashionista http://bit.ly/9IPhFu PLEASE RT!!”

6. Use any social bookmarking site (Facebook, StumbleUpon, Digg, Delicious, etc) to share this giveaway (one entry per site).
7. Write a blog post (with a link back to this post or TravelingFashionista.com) about this giveaway.

This giveaway will be up until Wednesday, November 17, 2010! Good luck!

Love, K.

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The 10 Pieces You Need in Your Wardrobe – Vogel10

by Kirsten on November 4, 2010

One of the most innovative fashion lines I have seen, Vogel10 was created with the idea that you only need ten versatile pieces to create a wardrobe. Seem crazy? I bet.

Created by former celebrity costume designer, Vanessa Vogel, Vogel10 features high quality, off-beat basics, and essential accessories at a very affordable price. Solely sold online, they are able to give customers the best possible prices while still providing an amazing collection of high-quality, multifunctional items.

Vanessa believes that there are ten key pieces that every person must have in their wardrobe, whether they are worn on a daily basis, or the only pieces you throw into a suitcase when heading out of town. She collaborates with local and international artists, providing not just a great online shopping destination, but also a place to get new ideas and inspiration.

Here are Vanessa’s personal 10 must-have pieces:
3-tees
2-sweaters
1-Dress
1-Pant
1-Necklace
1-Bag
1-Shoe

What do you think of this idea?

The amazing part about her collection is that everything works together, and when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Easily able to be layered and combined, it is simple to pull together different outfits with the same ten pieces.

I was fortunate enough to try out three of their items, their zippered legging, a cashmere cardigan, and a light-weight cashmere v-neck sweater. With such amazing quality, these pieces have quickly become heavily rotated into my wardrobe.

I’ll admit now that I am a total sucker for soft clothing items. If I could create a full wardrobe out of cashmere, soft tissue-weight tees, and body-hugging knits, I would do so in a heartbeat. Vogel10 goes above and beyond with their collection, and every single piece I tried is heaven on my skin.

I have completely fallen in love with this collection, and I actually saw it appear on one of the sample sale sites, Hautelook, just a few days ago. Unfortunately I had made a promise to myself to not spend any more money on clothes this month, so I was a good girl and refrained. (And of course, now I regret it!)

Thankfully the prices on the Vogel10 line are really reasonable, and they often have sales! Also worth checking out is the Vogel10 blog, showcasing the collection worn by various women around the world. The photos are beautiful, and it’s great to see others incorporate Vogel10 into their own travel fashion style.

Here are a couple other pieces from their line that I absolutely love! I definitely recommend giving Vogel10 a try, I know you’ll love them!

Love, K.

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Beauty Products for Travel – I Can’t Live Without Schick

by Kirsten on November 2, 2010

Readers often ask what are my must-have beauty products while traveling, and which I choose to leave behind. It’s a constant battle as I don’t check my bags unless I absolutely have to – which means space is scarce, and multifunctional items are key.

Many beauty products I choose to leave at home, and if I have to, will pick up what I need upon arrival. But there are a few products that I have learned I cannot live without while traveling. My Schick Intuition razor is one of them.

I started using this razor a few years ago and never turned back. It may be bigger than other razors, but the quality is beyond comparison. I no longer buy shaving cream and I cut down on the time it takes to shave! Total win-win.

Now available is the Schick Intuition Plus Razor, which is the first and only razor that lathers, shaves and moisturizes in one easy step. I can vouch for the fact that it leaves your skin noticeably softer. It’s 4 blades are surrounded by a newly redesigned moisturizing solid enriched with shea butter, aloe, and Vitamin E, which helps to replenish your skin’s natural moisture.

Sure, it may be bulkier, but it does not need to go in your bag of liquids, and you can easily find a spot for it in your luggage. I made the mistake of leaving it behind on one vacation, hoping to save more space. I bought a disposable razor when I arrived, and hated every minute of it. Never will I go down that road again.

Recently I learned of the Schick Quattro Trimstyle Razor for women, which offers convenient bikini trimming and shaving in one shower-safe product. It also has an adjustable comb that gently guides the hair toward the trimmer blade to achieve desired hair length (choice of 3 length settings). The comb can also be removed completely for an even closer trim. No surprise it won the Shape Magazine Beauty Award in 2009!

This particular razor is pretty small, and a great product to carry with you on any beach vacation. It works amazingly well, and I highly recommend giving it a try.

Let me know if you have any questions about either product! I love them both, and would be happy to provide additional info!

Pick up your Schick Intuition Plus Razor here!

Pick up your Schick Quattro Trimstyle Razor here!

Love, K.

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LUXE City Travel Guides – A Must-Have Read for Your Next Destination

by Kirsten on November 2, 2010

Never one to shy away from researching my next travel destination, I look forward to learning all about the hottest places to visit, where to shop, where to stay, what to eat, etc. LUXE City Guides provides a very unique, witty, and fun read in every single one of their travel destination guides. Completely entertaining, I found myself laughing out loud numerous times.

Small and compact, these babies pack a punch.

Take a quick read from LUXE City Guides’ website, you’ll see why I adore them:

Hello, gorgeous…

For seven years LUXE City Guides has quietly changed the face of travel guides, starting from scratch we re-thought the whole concept of why and how we all travel, of what we need when we get there and most importantly, what we don’t. LUXE is now famous for its super-svelte format, and its take no prisoners attitude, avoiding all the padding, photos, graphics and blah of other guides and getting straight to the meat. The result – ultra-smart travel companions stacked with priceless information for the discerning, value-conscious and busy traveller.

In the notoriously fickle worlds of fashion, food and entertainment other guides are hopelessly out of date even by the time they reach the bookstore shelf. LUXE City Guides are not only updated each year, but come with monthly online updates. So by the time you get to your destination, all you need do is relax, because if it’s not in LUXE, you’re not missing anything. Hyper-opinionated, irreverent, bright and fun to read, whether you have a few hours or a few days, LUXE really is all you need. Oh, and you’ll never hear us refer to our readers as tourists. With LUXE you’re a visitor. It’s a big difference.

LUXE City Guides. Fasten your seatbelt.

With 31 cities in their range covering Asia, America and Europe, each guide is updated yearly with new editions, so you know you are getting the latest and greatest juicy tidbits of info!

To add a cherry on top, they now also offer mobile guides. Yes – they really are a force to be reckoned with.

Want to avoid the touristy celeb-spotting sites and dine where the city’s stylish residents really hang out in Los Angeles? Want perfect cocktails in funky speakeasies in New York? Or perhaps you want to be personally guided through Barcelona’s famous Gaudi architecture by an expert? LUXE City Guides Mobile has got it covered.

With 20 destinations to choose from, they are available for a multitude of handsets including the iPhone, BlackBerry, Sony Ericsson, Nokia and HTC. Additionally, each comes with a year of free updates sent directly to your mobile. A self-updating guide? I know – how easy and simple can they make it?

One of my other favorite offerings are their travel box sets. Totally customizable, you can choose the color of the box, and which of the 31 titles you want to include in it! I have to admit that I love the look of the box set so much, I would love to just put it on my shelf to admire.

With four different colors and sizes to choose from, these boxes are a perfect gift for the jet-setter in your life. Or, you can treat yourself – like I want to do!

Check out www.luxecityguides.com for more information, as well as get a closer look at all their amazing offerings!

Love, K.

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Gorgeous Eco Jewelry by muichic – Natural, Sustainable and Organic

by Kirsten on October 29, 2010

Always wanting to leave a more positive footprint on the world, I find it important to support causes and businesses that go out of their way to be environmentally friendly.

muichic, does just that.

muichic, prounounced (moo·ee·sheek), is deliciously natural, sustainable & organic jewelry designed & handmade in Colombia. Each piece is beautiful, and the quality is truly amazing.

To learn a bit more about muichic, here is some information from their site:

Tagua is our raw material. All of our pieces are made by hand from “tagua nut”. The tagua nut, a botanical alternative to ivory (a.k.a. vegetable ivory), is a seed that comes from the ivory-nut palm or tagua palm which grows in the humid tropical forest of South America. Its use stimulates the local economies in the region providing an alternative to cutting down rainforests for farming.

Unique accessories that are environmentally friendly & gracefully chic make up our natural bijoux collection…bold, playful & colorful goodness for your body. All of our pieces come in different colors and like snowflakes they all differ from one another. Each tagua nut has its own distinctive grain and shape which gives a remarkably uncommon quality to each piece of jewelry

I find it fascinating how the tagua nut can created such amazing pieces of jewelry. Check out this amazing picture of the life of the tagua nut from start to beautiful finish!

I was lucky enough to try out one of their trapezio rings in their natural color. It is bold, chunky, and absolutely gorgeous! I get complimented on it all the time. It comes in a variety of other colors, from turquoise to red!

Here are some of my other favorites from their site, all equally beautiful and unique.

I definitely suggest checking out their website, and doing a bit of shopping. You know it will support an amazing business, and you’ll end up with some gorgeous pieces of jewelry!

Pick up a piece of jewelry from muichic here!

Love, K.

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Book Review – City Style: A Field Guide to Global Fashion Capitals

by Kirsten on October 27, 2010

It’s the perfect time of year to curl up with a good book, so it’s my pleasure to introduce you to a great read that is not only fun, but vastly informative for my fellow fashionistas!

CityStyle – A Field Guide to Global Fashion Capitals provides an insiders look to eight of the world’s most fashionable and chic cities. For women who live and breathe fashion and travel, this guide is a must-have for your library. Get the low-down on the great cities of New York, Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, Stockholm, Sydney, and LA, all in one handy little book.

Never again will you feel lost in finding the hottest locations to shop; whether it be amazing boutiques, vintage finds, or high-end department stores. This book provides the best of the best in fashion research. In addition, there are great interviews with top designers, bloggers, photographers, and other industry experts that all answer the burning question: what makes each city uniquely stylish?

Immediately I was drawn in by the street style photos, giving an insider’s glimpse to each city’s own unique, contemporary styles. In the eight chapters curated by local fashion experts, you can immerse yourself in the most amazing fashion meccas of the world. The layout of the book is awesome – complete with color photos of shops, hip neighborhoods, hot hangouts, and required reading for each city.

Don’t miss the bonus behind-the-scenes info on Copenhagen, Antwerp, Brooklyn and Melbourne!

I do wish that the book covered a few more cities, perhaps those that are not always obvious – but definitely carry their own in the fashion world. San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago, and more. The list could go and on! Let’s keep our fingers crossed for another version highlighting the lesser known, but equally fabulous, fashion-centric cities!

Pick up a copy of City Style: A Field Guide to Global Fashion Capitals here!

If you pick up a copy in the next four days, you can take 20% off at Borders.com with coupon code “BKP5677C”!!

Love, K.

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Palladium Boots – Stylish Combat Boots

by Kirsten on October 26, 2010

It’s no secret that the celeb world is loving the combat look right now. We have seen them on the likes of Jessica Alba, Nicki Hilton, Kate Moss, Rachel Bilson, Rihanna, Sienna Miller, Alessandra Ambrosio and many more! Take a quick look at the photos below.

Combat boots can be worn in every season – paired with skinny jeans, leggings, a skirt and tights during the cooler months, or worn with skirts and shorts during the warmer months! Whether your look is more vintage, classic, rocker, or a combination, combat boots have their place in any of these styles. The key is finding a pair that fits you well, is comfortable, and stylish!

When Palladium Boots sent me a pair of their Pallabrouse Baggy in khaki/putty, I was really excited. They are an ideal combat boot – not only are ridiculously cute and comforable, but they also can be worn two different ways!

Palladium Boots have been around quite a long time, check out this great history:

Palladium was founded in 1920 to make tires for the fledgling aviation industry. Tires were made by layering canvas bands underneath vulcanized rubber. Palladium’s expertise was so advanced that soon the majority of Europe’s aircraft were using Palladium tires.

After World War II, with aircraft manufacturing screeching to a halt, the demand for tires decreased dramatically. Palladium decided to open a plant in Pont De Cheruy, France, to start producing footwear that was as hard wearing as their tires. In 1947 the legendary Pampa boot was born, and the functionality, comfort and durability were so outstanding that the French Foreign Legion adopted it for their use. The Foreign Legion put the boot to the test in the harsh desert conditions of North Africa, and throughout the rugged terrain of the Atlas Mountains.

Today, the original design, classic lines and time tested utility are as relevant as they have ever been. Combining over 60 years of authenticity with modern manufacturing, premium materials and cutting edge styling, Palladium boots are ready to help you explore your street, your city, or the world.

Over the years, combat boots have always held their ground, and at this point in time, are back with a vengeance! As women, we tend to select highly uncomfortable shoes over sacrificing style – and yet with Palladium Boots, you can have both – style and comfort!

The Pallabrouse Baggy, which happened to be worn by Ellen Degeneres on the runway of NY Fashion Week 2010, comes in an array of colors and materials. Here is an example of the two different ways you can wear them.

Check out a quick video of me showing the two ways you can wear the boots! Forgive me as I have a bit of the sniffles as I am battling a bit of a cold… yuck!

I definitely suggest picking up a pair of your own Palladium Combat Boots! You will love them! You can also pick them up here!

In addition, here are some great shots from their lookbook highlighting the Baggy boot!

Love, K.

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Socks for Traveling – FUTURO Aims to Please

by Kirsten on October 25, 2010

Now many of you may be wondering what in the world I am doing writing about socks and traveling. Most of you may think that socks are just socks – all created equal. Not necessarily the case.

A while back I was on a long flight and chose to wear a new pair of socks that were cozy and cute. I figured they would be great to have when my feet got chilly. (I tend to travel in flats or sandals at times, which equates to cold feet on the flight!) Unfortunately, the socks ended up being ridiculously uncomfortable. Who would have thought?

My biggest complaint was that they were too tight around the calf. I ended up pushing them all the way down, so they still kept my feet warm, but I had really hoped that for that extra bit of coziness in having the socks warm up my calves too! My next flight I chose to go with a pair of ankle socks, figuring this would be a better alternative to avoid the previous issue. Wrong again! On this occasion, I was wearing the socks with boots. Of course the socks got a little too loose, and started bunching up and sliding past my heel. So very annoying and uncomfortable.

So, when asked to try FUTURO’s line of socks – deemed especially appropriate for the traveling community – I thought, what the heck? Let’s see what they have to offer!

FUTURO really did a nice job in developing these socks. The particular pair I tried was their Revitalizing Trouser Sock. I admit – right off the bat, I wasn’t sure about the name of the sock, as it didn’t scream “fashionable and chic”, but sometimes it’s all about quality, and not the packaging or the name. This is definitely one of those times.

Take a look at what this particular line of socks is designed for:

Ideal for sitting in one place all day, while traveling or at the office
Graduated compression improves circulation, with maximum compression at the ankle that gradually decreases up the let to provide an energizing feeling
Massage-in-motion’ action massages tired, achy legs as you move
Vein therapy helps to relieve symptoms of mild varicose or spider veins and swelling
Soft, comfortable material features an attractive wide band that holds socks in place
Durable, reinforced toe and heel keep you looking professional all day long

Now, who would have guessed that there could be this much thought put into a pair of socks? Not me!!

As soon as I got them out of the packaging, I was really surprised by how silky and soft the material was. With a light pattern, and in a black color, they were perfect to use under boots, beneath your jeans, or perhaps if you do as I do – pack extra socks in your carry-on! I wore them around for a while – giving them a true test of how they would fare for long periods of time, and I was really happy. Totally comfortable and they aren’t bad looking at all! They are ideal for those that experience swelling on flights, or who tend to have achy muscles.

If there is one thing that I learned in this situation, is that we shouldn’t always choose our products based on price or designer brand. I may have totally passed these socks up based on the fact that, well – they are socks – and I never have had to delve too deep into thought about socks and traveling before. But, I am so glad that they were introduced to me. They really are superior for this instance, and I think you’d do well to have a pair in your travel bag!

Buy a pair of FUTURO Revitalizing Trouser Socks here!

Love, K.

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Travel Fashion – The Clara S Collection

by Kirsten on October 21, 2010

It is always a pleasure being introduced to new brands, especially those lesser known. I recently had the opportunity to try out a product from the Clara S Collection, and it’s something I wanted to share with you!

Created by a mother/daughter team (I love that part), Clara S combines fashion and innovation, with a strong focus on versatility. All of you know my thoughts on versatility – it is a must when it comes to fashion, travel fashion in particular. Clara S really bases itself on the ability to mix and match their pieces, which is so important to have with a true, multi-functional item.

In addition, the designs are shaped to work for all body types – yay! As a woman that has some curves and a more athletic build, I can so appreciate this. Many clothing lines aim for a particular body type (think stick-figure), and curvier woman have a hard time fitting their cuts. In addition, much of their clothing is designed to be completely wrinkle-free which is a a huge benefit when traveling, or packing.

I tried out their harem pant, which is becoming increasingly popular across the celeb scene. In fact, I posted a TF celeb style post of Jessica Alba sporting the look on a recent trip to Paris. I had been a bit leery of the style, but thought this would be a perfect time to try it out!

Ok, they are uber-c0mfortable. I feel like I am wearing pajamas, yet when I look at myself in the mirror – I look cute, very cute! First the extra material around the thighs and butt made me feel a bit odd, but when my boyfriend D. complimented me on the pants – I knew I had found a winner.

They also have a bunch of other fun stuff to choose from. I was a bit thrown through a loop at first – and you may be as well – when I took a look at the collection. They carry a lot of flashy prints, which tend to not be my style, but if you take the time to look at the full collection, you will see they have something for everyone.

Here are a few of my favorites. Their faux-leather pant, a fun dolman top, and their legging. All of these items are huge right now, and they are perfect to bring on any trip. They easily can go from day to night, be dressed up or down, and the quality and comfort are amazing.

I am so excited to have found a new brand that carries great items – perfect for traveling. They have a pretty fair price point, and for the quality it’s well worth it. I suggest giving them a try, you won’t be disappointed!

Shop the Clara S Collection here!

Love, K.

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Travel Friendly Laptop Bags by Bobarra

by Kirsten on October 21, 2010

I am always on the lookout for new travel-friendly bags to share with all of you. You may be thinking to yourself – wait, aren’t all bags travel-friendly? – not so, my friends. I am sure all of you can remember a time that your bag was ergonomically uncomfortable, made of shoddy material, too bulky, not big enough, the annoyances are endless.

Thankfully Bobarra Laptop Bags do not fall into any of those categories. In fact, it is an amazing bag, and I know you are going to love it.

This laptop bag is specifically designed to never have to remove your laptop while going through security at the airport. Both functional and chic, it has an array of practical features. It comes in two sizes, a large and small, depending on the size of your laptop.

So what makes this bag so functional? Check this out – the bag has three compartments. The first being a large zippered portion to place your laptop in. The middle compartment can be completely unzipped so that the bag falls open and can be laid flat. (See the pic below). The third compartment can hold anything else. Notepads, powercords, pens, whatever you may need.

Notice the clear quart-sized pouch? Yes – you guessed it. A perfect spot to put your liquids!

Just follow Bobarra’s instructions to quickly and efficiently get through security – without having to remove anything from you bag.

Unzip the center section, allowing the bag to be fully open, giving an unobstructed view for security to scan your bag.
Flip the quart-sized pouch to the outside of the bag, and breeze on through!

Simple, right?! Did I mention how gorgeous the bag is in person? It is made of super high-quality materials, and I get complimented on mine all the time. It has a micro-fiber interior, is completely water and stain resistant, and even has four metal feet on the bottom to keep it upright. They come in an array of great patterns, or they have a solid black as well. I highly suggest picking you one for yourself – or a loved one!

Pick up your own Bobarra Laptop Bag here!

Love, K.