A Fresh Coat

First things first, darlings! The winners of CC’s Yak Pak Giveaway are Mary Jo and Styleezta ~ congrats!
CC is loving the variety of tantalizing toppers on the Spring runways! From pretty pea coats to divine dusters, lovely leather to luxe linen, there’s something for every gal! Photos via style.com except where noted.
3.1 Phillip Lim
Alabama Chanin
Balmain
Burberry Prorsum
Chado Ralph Rucci
Chloé
Chrisian Siriano, via nymag.com
Cynthia Steffe
Derek Lam
Elise Overland

Erdem
G-Star
Iceberg
Issey Miyake
Jean Paul Gaultier
Julien Macdonald
Karen Walker, via nymag.com
Lela Rose
Loewe
Luella
Marc Jacobs
Matthew Ames
Prada
Ruffian
Thuy, via nymag.com
Tuleh

United Bamboo

Anna Sui nylon ruffled trench coat; this and next three at net-a-porter.com.
Burberry cotton pleated skirt trench.
Jil Sander England cotton-blend violet trench.
Jason Wu flecked cotton-tweed coat.
Twenty8Twelve Perez jacket; this and next two at shopbop.com.
Loeffler Randall layered coat.
Juicy Couture Tony military hooded coat.
Robert Rodriguez lace coat.
A Storm is Blue-ing Trench; this and next at ModCloth.com.
Amber Road Coat.
Leifsdottir Cherry Vanilla trench, at anthropologie.com.
Which coat do you covet, darling?
xoxox,
CC

P.S. If you have a moment, check out CC's guest post on Fellow Fashionista Nookie's blog, Fashion in my Eyes!

Guest Blogger Laura of Under the Sheets-shhh!

10 Questions for fabulous West coast Fellow Fashionista Laura of Under the Sheets-shhh!:

1) What are your fashion icons and whom would you interview if you had the chance?
Some of my favorite icons are: Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O, Twiggy, Grace Kelly and
Kate Moss (as a current fashion icon). I would love to sit down and interview Twiggy, as she was an icon from my parents’ era that changed the world of fashion. Twiggy’s fab 60’s style encouraged many women to cut their hair, put on a mini skirt and work some false eyelashes.

2) What piece of clothing could you not live without?
I could not live without my cashmere, gray and long sleeved wrap. I take great care of it and always delicately hand wash it. My theory is if I take really good care of my wrap, then it will wrap me in its warmth and never complain.

3) What is your definition of couture?
My definition of couture is 'the business of designing, making, and selling highly fashionable, clothing'. (Wearing couture can be a totally different challenge.)

4) Your thoughts on east vs. west coast style
East coast style is more structured and West coast style is more laid-back. Each is unique because of the climates that the fabulous people live in. What’s my own east coast vs. west coast faux pas? I remember wearing a purple scarf, while I was traveling in New York City. Everyone else was wearing dark clothes, but I felt I needed a little color. Almost every New Yorker asked me where I was visiting from. Not to worry - I told them Queens, New York.

5) Your advice on how to be comfortable in your own skin.
It can take awhile to become comfortable in ones skin, but when you finally feel comfortable, it can feel like all the pieces of the puzzle have fallen in place. Accept that you were made this way and are totally unique. Accept you for being as wonderful as you are.

6) Specific pieces for San Francisco.
Knee high boots, razor back tanks, clutches, hobo wallets, oversized sunglasses, layered sweaters and cropped jackets. A white trench coat is also a must have. For the ever-changing climate, fashionable scarves can brighten up any foggy day. I own at lease ten of them from high-end scarves to sparkly and fun. And the two most specific pieces to carry while you are in San Francisco? Rainboots (wellies) and umbrellas.

7) Growing up, what did you want to be?
I wanted to be either a prima ballerina or a child psychologist. I always thought of myself as an extrovert who could also be very self-reflective. I feel in love with ballet and hoped that I could make it my career (I did dance successfully for many years, but some knee surgeries showed me that I needed to reevaluate my career goals). At the same time, I enjoyed listening to friend’s problems and giving them helpful advice.

8) Where do you get the inspiration for your posts?
I seem to get my inspiration for my posts through my experiences. I carry a notebook with me and write down everything that inspires me. And now, I am known to say out loud, “What a great idea for a post.” There is so much inspiration around you. I love to write about it and share it with all of you. Why did I start writing? I wanted to talk about hope and inspiration in my posts. No matter what has happened to me, I have found peace and learned from the experiences.

9) Blogging 101 advice. How to become successful in the blog world.
To become successful in the blog world? You have to stay true to yourself and give back to the blogging community. Another tip is to always think of your audience while writing. Try to build relationships with other writers that you admire. That’s what I did with Carrie =)

10) How would you rock out on the catwalk?
If I was going to walk the catwalk, then I would wear a pair of oversized sunglasses, my hair would be slicked back and I would try to wear any dress by Stella McCartney. The music needs to have a wonderful beat, I would drink a half a glass of liquid courage and pause at the end of the runway to soak it all in. I’d carry my confidence in my signature walk and my passion in my smile, with the off-center dimples of course!
Thank you Couture Carrie for the Interview. I had a lot of fun.
~Laura (Under the Sheets-shhh)
Be sure to check out CC’s feature on Laura’s blog today, too ~ click here!
xoxox,
CC

In the Trenches

Literally and figuratively! This post is in two parts: first, an interview with a fashion insider who works in the trenches and second, actual coats!
I. Through Fellow Fashionista Trixy Tran of Tutti Dolce, CC was recently introduced to Fellow Fashionista Nathan Stobezki of MyOwnRunway.com, a fabulous fashion site with runway videos, photos and reviews. CC is pleased to present this exclusive interview with Mr. Stobezki!
Photo credit: First two pictures in this post courtesy MyOwnRunway.com. At right: Christian Dior Couture. Below left: Bottega Veneta.

1. What sort of educational background do you have, Nathan?
Currently, I am majoring in Communication Studies at Rowan University in New Jersey; am also an Independent Retail Analyst and Economic Forecaster and operate MyOwnRunway.com.

2. What are your 5 favorite fashion blogs and your 5 top fashion magazines or publications?
My top 5 fashion Blogs are Couture Carrie, Fashion Toast, Style Bubble, Karla's Closet and Fashion Squad. My top 5 favorite fashion magazines are Vogue, W, GQ, Esquire and Bazaar.

3. Why did you opt for this format instead of a traditional fashion blog?
I want to collaborate complete fashion shows into one successful website. You see, life to me is all about sharing [my] knowledge about fashion, retail, designers, trends I feel everyone should enjoy it by not only reading but by viewing it as if they are at show and that's why I am glad that MyOwnRunway can serve to gurus as a fashion hub to fashionistas around the world.

4. Other than via Facebook, how did/do you get the word out about your site?
Our two forms of marketing, which have worked tremendously, are interviews and word of mouth.

5. How do you intend to compete with style.com, nymag.com and others that offer runway coverage, and how do you distinguish yourself from those sites?
Our competitors are amazing companies, we look up to them; we really do. We are providing a service for fashion designers and we intend to provide a strict confidential respectful relationship in our industry.

6. How many people currently work at MyOwnRunway.com and how did you/will you go about hiring?
I, Nathan Stobezki focus on marketing strategies, David I. Buryn focuses on the business behind the scenes operations, but we have our friends who are helping us out. We are showing good faith from business to business relationships. We have many plans to expand but we are extremely careful in our steps to reaching our goals.

7. Your runway photos are both gorgeous and tightly edited. Do you have your own photographer on staff?
As I mentioned, word of mouth as our marketing tool. We have freelance photographers who hear about our website and would like to join our team and want a chance to get in the fashion industry and show their talents and building their portfolios. As I said before, we like to show good faith in the industry.

8. What is your favorite aspect of your job, and what part do you find the most cumbersome/irksome?
My mentors and peers always said to me "work for something which you love to do". This is exactly what I am doing. I love what I do. Attending fashion shows and joining the ambiance and being able to share it with all the viewers on MyOwnRunway.com and giving the ability for viewers to learn and look forward for the new trends of the designers. Therefore, I don't find any part of my job cumbersome or even irksome; I just do what I am supposed to and enjoy it to its fullest!

9. What advice can you offer Fellow Fashionistas who are interested in emulating your incredible site or entering a career in fashion?
My message to our Fellow Fashionistas: I started MyOwnRunway.com so I can give back to the Fashion Industry and help others learn. If you have a dream, just get out there and do it; shoot for the stars and do what you love to do. Don't let anyone tell you can’t because if you push hard enough you will and can succeed. Do what you love and enjoy life to its fullest.

10. Which shows are you going to be seeing at Fashion Week? Of the lot, which are you most excited about?
I will only be attending like 4 fashion shows. Miss Sixty, Oscar De la Renta, Rodarte, and Abaete. I am most excited to see Rodarte because The Mulleavy sisters are extremely talented and create wonderful clothes and Oscar De la Renta… Well, it's Oscar De la Renta! He knows how to dress a woman and make her look gorgeous and polished.

Thanks, Nathan!
CC looks forward to interviewing Mr. Stobezki again after Fashion Week to pick his brain on the hottest looks for Fall 2009, so stay tuned! And don’t forget to visit myownrunway.com!
II. From traditional shapes and colors to transparent, patterned and abbreviated versions, the trench is omnipresent, and terrifically sexy!
High shine at Vivienne Westwood Red Label, via nymag.com. Other runway photos courtesy style.com except where noted.
Louis Vuitton’s multiply belted, tipped patent coat is inventive and fun!
Salvatore Ferragamo’s deconstructed, cropped look; this and next via nymag.com
Blumarine’s lavender half-sleeve confection – CC is enamored!
Isaac Mizrahi goes green
Paul Costelloe prefers transparency; this photo via nymag.com
MaxAzria’s sheer patterned trench doubles as a dress!
Sonia Rykiel goes to great lengths
Charles Nolan does a drop-waist with a nontraditional belt
Halston is sweet as can be, offering a bow-belted nude
Nicole Farhi’s patterned trench calls “Spring”; courtesy nymag.com
Tracy Reese’s ornately landscaped coat is a work of art!
Derercuny’s monochrome floral smells nice!
Blumarine lives up to its name with a short-sleeved printed version
Moschino’s short ruffled sleeves give the trench a chic makeover
At Cher Michel Klein, the trench is even more abbreviated – CC is captivated by this sleeveless floral trench; photo via vogue.fr.

What to buy, you ask?
Certainly, a traditional take is a wardrobe staple: Gap classic trench with removable wool lining; visit gap.com.
A cropped or colorful version is a welcome addition for Spring 2009:
Marc Jacobs short green trench coat, at net-a-porter.com
Brian Reyes magenta moiré trench, at Saks Fifth Avenue
Dolce & Gabbana’s yellow silk organza trench is sure to brighten the dreariest of days! At Neiman Marcus.
Try a new shape, a pattern or an embellishment!
Diane von Furstenberg lab coat, at net-a-porter.com
Soia & Kyo Lotta funnel collar trench
ASOS dip side full-skirted Mac

Last look: 3.1 Phillip Lim silk trench coat, at net-a-porter.com.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, darlings!

xoxox,

CC