Savage Style

Sisters with Savage Style

Fashion shows are all about the clothes. Whether its the clothing coming down the runway or the ensembles assembled in the audience, it seems like everyone pays extra close attention to their outfit. And this week's savage styler is no different. Or rather, savage stylers. The two ladies featured this week are not only fashionable, but sisters!

Spotted at last week's fashion show these sisters were not only stylish but dressed head-to-toe in wears available by local retailers. As you can see there is nothing but love in this picture. Love of family and more expressly, a love for fashion!

On the left:

Name: Mary, USC, Art History major

Wearing:

Dress: Tibi

Shoes: Tory Burch

Watch: La Mer

All available locally at VanJean

On the right:

Name: Catherine, USC, double major - Management and Marketing

Wearing:

Top: BB Dakota

Skirt: BB Dakota

Bandeau: Free People

All available locally at Bohemian

Shoes: Loeffler Randall, available locally at VanJean

Think you've got enough style to be considered a shopping savage? E-mail your photos to dwaun@shoppingsavage.com with a breakdown of your outfit and your photo may be our feature of the week!

2011 Summer Fashion Camp

"In an era of belt-tightening, what could be better than making the belt yourself?" That's just one of the questions Louise Hudson will pose to many budding fashionistas this summer at camp. Fashion camp that is.

A clothing designer for over 30 years (in England and Canada), Hudson will run two camps this summer. The first, for rising 7th, 8th and 9th graders is June 6 - 10 and the second, for rising 10th, 11th and 12th graders is June 12-17. The camps aim to teach the campers to make a total outfit - skirt, top, belt, bag, hair accessories and decorated flip-flops.

"My new Fashion Camp is intended to teach sewing skills to middle school and high school students," Hudson said. "At the end of the week, they will have dressed themselves from head to toe all by hand, learning the basics for a lifelong love of design and fashion." Campers will also learn the basics of what to wear for particular occasions; how to recycle, reuse, and renovate older garments; stylish hand sewing and crafts; artful accessorizing; and modeling instruction for the final day fashion show.

Hudson in an original creation

Hudson has already been busy recruiting local fashion entities to come speak to the campers. Becky Blair from Inspiralled Jewelry, the manager of Pink Sorbet, and fashion photographer, Jason Ayer are just some of the visiting professionals who will give presentations during the camp. Retail professors will also participate, giving kids an idea of how to get the right qualifications for various careers in the fashion and retail industry.

"I'm organizing the whole endeavor, right from website design, marketing, employing camp counselors, developing the application forms, sourcing all the sewing supplies, to the fun part: designing the activities during camp week!" said Hudson.

Students from Paul Mitchell and the Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology are coming to do the hair and make-up for all the campers for their final day fashion show when they will model the items they have made for parents and friends.

"This is just a start," said Hudson. "I'm reaching out to as many fashion, beauty and retail professionals in the area as possible to contribute to this fashion-forward venture."

For students registered by April 30, the cost of attendance is $450; registration after April 30 is $495. This year’s Fashion Camp is commuter only with activities each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Carolina Coliseum.

For more information about Fashion Camp, contact Hudson at 803-708-2772 or by e-mail at fashioncamp@hrsm.sc.edu

USC Fashion Week Fashion Show

On Thursday, April 14^th, the USC Fashion Board put on their third annual fashion show, utilizing local retailers from the downtown area.

Just the Thing

Van Jean

Van Jean

Brittons

Aside from the great fashions that were graciously loaned from the local retailers, the fashion show featured a local up-and-coming designer, Laura McCall. McCall, a sophomore attending USC as a Fashion Merchandising major, learned how to sew her junior year in high school from her grandmother. She started sewing with her grandmother’s old draperies and has been designing with those fabrics ever since.

McCall in self-designed shorts

"I'm very inspired by interior design," began McCall. "I'm mostly attracted to upholstery and drapery fabrics. Places like the Biltimore Estate, Versailles and various other European castles and chateaus etc. have the most beautiful fabrics in their extravagantly designed interior rooms on everything from chairs, to beds, to walls. I find these fabrics intriguing and challenging."

Dress designed by McCall

Her designs give off a sophisticated, hobo-inspired chicness, which she hopes consumers can relate to and even draw a sense of pride and confidence from when wearing her pieces. "I know it sounds silly not to be confident and prideful in your sense of style and selection of clothing, but so many people aren't," said McCall. "Having a classic silhouette but with a knockout bold, different, yet tastefully standout fabric print speaks volumes about confidence and pride."

Top designed by McCall

"I want to eventually have my own line," McCall said in regards to her future plans. "I realize that takes a lot of work so I'm focusing on starting small and working my way up. Ultimately I'm all about the garment construction and what fabric goes with what silhouette, with what bag, shoe, etc. I enjoy making clothing so much and want to make a career out of that to the best of my abilities!"

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Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

My senior prom is coming up and I don't have a dress! Not to mention I'm a little financially strapped and so is my family. Can you point me in the direction of a place I can buy a prom dress for less?

Signed,

Prom Dress Neither Lost Nor Found

------------

Dear P.D.N.L.N.F.,

Depending on how much time you've given yourself, you may still be able to find a dress at a local discount designer store. Since prom dress shopping can be quite a daunting task, have an idea of the style, length, fit and even color before you start sifting through all the options. The key here is to divide and conquer. Too many prom goers have made the mistake of incorporating too many elements into their ensemble, turning what should have been a special outfit into an opportunity to display a hodge-podge of ideas that rest somewhere uneasily amongst a wedding gown, an over-the-top Easter dress and unresolved princess issues. Don't be that girl.

If you're the least bit crafty - or handy with a beddazler - you could skip the discount designer stores and go completely discount. Meaning, it wouldn't hurt to sift through a few local thrift stores and consignment shop racks to see if there's anything that could be prom perfect that could cost you pennies. With much luck, you'll find something you love that requires little to no alterations. Grabbing a dress from a place like the Salvation Army, for example, could show individuality and look just as good as anything worn by your friends.

If you can't find something off the rack - any rack - that fits into your budget, the next route to take would be to find a seamstress that can create the dress you envision. Try to cut corners by providing a dress pattern and the materials needed for the dress. You can find fabric by the yard for a fraction of the cost of a dress and if the seamstress is willing to work within your price range then you're sartorial problem is solved.

Besides, once you factor in hair, nails, makeup and jewelry, you'll find yourself feeling more prom-pretty than not. And at the end of the day, your dress plays a major part in the time you'll have at prom but your happiness shouldn't just rest on the dress. Yes, it should be special but so should the evening as a whole. Your prom promise should not only be a pledge of sobriety but also a pledge to have a good time with your good friends.

Be safe. Have fun and for peat's sake avoid any buckets of pig's blood.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Birds of a Feather in the name of Fashion

One of the “cooler” trends to hit the accessory scene this spring is feathers: on earrings, bags and even in your hair.

Vanessa Hudgens flocked to wearing feathered earrings

Here’s a pair of feather earrings that can be found at Forever21 that won't bring you close to breaking the bank!

Another way to interpret the trend is by having feathers on your bag:

Rachel Bilson sporting a feathered clutch to compliment her look.

Here’s an interpretation of feathers on a purse by Leigh and Luca New York

The last feather trend that's slowly gaining a following is the “feather extension”. It’s a great way to add that “boho” feel to your look:

Jennifer Love Hewitt adds a couple of colored feather extensions to add some zest to her all black ensemble.

Pictured below is Joyce McWhorter, a sophomore at USC, sporting the up-and-coming trend. She got her feather extension from Salon Couture. She has what they call the “natural” feather extension:

With three great ways to add feathers to your wardrobe, you can definitely take this trend and run - or fly - with it!

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Savage Style

Coffee Shop Cool

Coffee shops are notorious brewing grounds for the trendy sect and the "starving artist". And more than not, the two tend to go hand-in-hand. Most artists, no matter the creative medium they work in, have a unique sense of style that's so effortless it makes you wonder how it all just seems to fall into place.

This week's savage styler credits her outfit's styling to the current trends being displayed by Swedish women. According to her, Swedish women are currently coveting the look of loose, yet body conscious tops with ripped jeans. The biker jacket adds a rocker element to the ensemble, playing off the ripped denim, while the floral ballet flats add a splash of color and a feminine element, in someways playing off the romantic elements of the top. Top it all off with a custom-designed biker messenger bag and you've got a cool and comfortable outfit that will inspire you creatively in one way or another.

Name: Red, local artist - painting/photography

Spotted: At Starbucks, in the Vista

Wearing:

Shirt: T&C Hawaii

Jacket: Macy's

Jeans: Levi's

Flats: Gifted from sister

Bag: Bagaboo

Think you've got enough style to be considered a shopping savage? E-mail your photos to dwaun@shoppingsavage.com with a breakdown of your outfit and your photo may be our feature of the week!

5 Fabulous Drug Store Beauty Finds

As a girl on the go and on a budget, I don’t always have the time or funds to track down the highest heralded beauty products. Fortunately, with a little bravery and a lot of beauty savvy, I've been able to find some really amazing products at the local drugstore that will blow your mind without blowing your budget. Here are a few of my favorites:

Mascara

Mascara is one of the best beauty finds at your local drugstore. I like to use Covergirl Lash Blast for fuller-looking eyelashes, and then I achieve just the right color, separation and length by combining it with Covergirl Eye Exacts Mascara for brown eyes. With all the formulas, brands and brushes available, play around to find the mascara that is just right for you without having to spend a ton!

Dry Shampoo

When I first heard about dry shampoo I was a little skeptical to say the least. However, after giving it a go I realized that its not intended for everyday use, and definitely not meant to replace washing your hair. Its great for the occasional morning that you wake up late, or if you have a quick turnaround between the gym and dinner. Spraying a little dry shampoo on my roots gives my hair a light, fresh feeling between washes and it works the same way for most, if not all, hair types. I like Suave Dry Shampoo especially because it smells great and can be purchased for around $3!

Lip Gloss/Lipstick

I've found that the best way to try out a new lip color trend is by purchasing less expensive options. This method is good for a number of reasons but namely because there’s no real commitment. If you try a color (or combination of colors) that you like that is also carried by a favorite high-end brand, splurge on it; but not before test-driving a few of the more budget-friendly versions first.

Jergens Natural Glow

Jergens Natural Glow is a great product for those who enjoy tanning but don't want to expose themselves to the negative effects. As long as it is applied evenly over the entire body, there is no streaky or orange-y look to it. Through daily use it gradually gives skin a darker appearance. It is offered in three shades and is even offered in skin firming formulas, as well as a formula specifically for your face. This product really is a 2-for-1; you get a great moisturizer and a tan all in one bottle!

Olay Regenerist Thermal Contour and Lift

Short of getting a spa treatment, there is nothing better than Olay Regenerist Thermal Contour and Lift. Even after my first use I instantly saw and felt the difference. My skin was firmer, yet supple and hydrated. Application is easy and it doesn't take much time, with results sure to amaze you for what it costs. I can’t imagine life without it!

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