Think BRIGHT!

Good things comin' your way....The magazine, Á La Mode is coming along great! Created postings for interns and freelance journalists on multiple websites today. Looks like we will have an amazing turn out with our local models, photography, and writers, making your read a great one! Á La Mode is also going to be involved in many exciting events and A-list parties, which means your invited too! Stay posted for more details regarding it all....
Love,
Your favorite blogger.

Potential cover shoot.....love my photographer, Thomas Tran, and these models, Jordyn Zank/Taylor Frasier!!!

                                         Photographer: Thomas Tran
                                         Model: Jordyn Zank
                                         MUA: Aly Nauta



So proud of the models as well as photographer I am able to represent in my magazine!!

                                                Photographer: Thomas Tran
                                                Model: Rachel Pierce
                                                MUA: Aly Nauta


Just a little preview for whats to come in A La Mode's first Magazine's publication!!!

Local Grand Rapids Fashion Magazine??

Yes, the rumors are true...I am starting a local fashion magazine for the city of Grand Rapids. With the help of Thomas Tran as my photographer, Ty'GR Nguyen as my Media specialist, and many new faces as my models, I have created the perfect "must read" for every kind of local fashionista. The release date is yet to be released. Designer Ty'GR Nguyen, will be putting on a fabulous spring fashion show as the opening event to the magazine's launch party!!! The first 100 guest to RSVP for this event will be receiving a goody bag containing a copy of A La Mode's first edition along with coupons for some of Grand Rapids Local Boutiques. The magazine will also be able to be purchased online via Itunes at a low price. The online version will differ from the published version and contain live feds from the fashion show as well as other never seen extras!  Stay posted for more details by following the magazine on Titter @alamodemag. Look forward to seeing you all there!  

Welcome To My Life.

So for those of you who have never and will never work fast pace retail, we call you the customer. You are the ones who make our job hell. It all starts with a simple greeting followed by a briefing of our top promos. Instead of stopping to listen and acknowledge us, you continue on your way. As for the worst of you, being ignored is the least of our worries. If your not ignoring our hello, returning a garment that's been worn, or rolling your eyes while waiting in line for a fitting room, you are most likely ripping apart our racks that we spent most of our day straightening and re-sizing. Most likely the store your shopping at is short staffed, which means customer service at the speed of dial up. You see this is a problem because as customers you think that every associate has or should have a hand to open a room, an arm to hold your go backs, time to step off the floor and grab 6 different shoes, then ring you up, all in one swift movement. What you don't realize is that this is next to impossible considering the fact that every other person that walks through our doors expects the same thing. Here's the funny thing, if we service you too much we considered annoying and pushy, but if we say our peace then give you your space we aren't helpful in the slightest. There is no give and take in a customer-associate relationship. As a customer there is no explaining why your shoe took 10 minutes to grab or why I can't take the time to show you every shirt we have that would match a black pencil skirt. I would have to say among all the complaints and aggravations I have with working retail, shop lifting would be my number one battle. Theft is one of those things you just can't completely stop no matter how hard you try. In most cases, the space and amount of product in a store is to great to control or monitor. Some shop lifter are professionals when it comes to the art of stealing, but the majority of them are just plain stupid. Unfortunately as hard as I may try, a good amount of them slip away with free merchandise, causing the company a decrease of income, leaving me with less scheduled hours. If you haven't guessed already, I am a manager at a fast pace retail store and the things described above are  only a few of our daily acurrances. As customers you make the retail world go round and as for me working in that world, all I have left to say is "welcome to my life."

Night Out On The Town!!!

Everyone knows Grand Rapids is full of women that love to party. Unfortunatly, quit a few of those women have little insight on modest dressing for a night on the town. I see so many pretty girls wearing the most unfortunate outfits and I can't help but ask myself, "Who told you that was cute"? Here's the deal, when it comes to going out, keep in mind that most people don't want to see your Britney, so save it for after the bar. If you can't breath while your putting it on, it's most likely to tight. And most importantly, wear a bra...no one likes a nip slip. It just shocks me how many people don't know how to dress appropriately according to their height and weight. If your 6 foot 4 dresses aren't going to be as long as they would be on someone 5 foot 2 and if you weigh 170 pounds, mini skirts along with cropped tops just aren't your thing. News flash people, you can be classy and still look sexy. A woman comes off much more confident when she is reveling very little and looking fabulous while doing so. It's hard for a guy to picture you naked when a dress, two sizes too small, is the only thing between you and your undergarments, leaving him with next to nothing left for imagining. Modest is the new form of sexappeal. Wearing a sheer tight with a fun going out dress is very fashion forward, not to mention super convenient for the days you don't feel like shaving. Your night attire doesn't need to consist of mini skirts and tight dresses. Try pairing a blousey shirt with skinny jeans and comfortable wedges. I think most women have this idea in their head that the only way they will get approached by a attractive guy is if they show some skin. When in fact, at least majority of the time, this is not the case. I'm all about "if you got it, flaunt it," but there are so many different ways to accomplish this in a modest manor. I am not shedding light on this issue just to be crul or bitchy, I just simply felt someone needed to say it.

Pinterest, Everyone's Doing It....

Has Pinterest become a big contributier to the fashion industry? I would have to say, yes. Everyone who has Pinterest seems to be overly obsessed with pinning their favorite quotes and fashion ideas, including myself. Not only can you discover some yummy recipes and killer fashion looks on this website, but you can also use it as a great marketing tool. Whatever you post is released into the cyber world for anyone to see. Like Facebook, it has the same "following" features along with the ever so popular search bar, allowing you to build an audience. I like to think of it as a more advanced twitter. Who doesn't like to make everyone aware of how they are feeling and who they hate without putting a face behind it? Pinterest allows you to show people what you like with just a simple picture followed by a short discription. Pinterest creates a personal feel by making it so you must be invited in order to start an account. I can honestly say I have become thoroughly addicted to this pinning process and as will you, if you aren't already. Well searching new pins to post, I came acrossed a fellow pinner that happened to share the same appreciation for the world of couture fashion. She had over 100,000 pins and at least a million followers. Her profile also listed her as a current blogger and clothing store owner. It was then that I couldn't help but think that Pinterest had something to do with her blogging popularity. Every single one of her pictures were repinned by hundreds. Reason being, all of them contained a little something for everyone. She is now my inspiration to keep on pinning. Join Pinterest so you to can become a pinning expert. You know what they say, "A pin tells a thousand words." Happy pinning :)

The List.

This blog gives a special shout out to Vogue Daily's 50+ picks for spring. Some are right on point and others not so great, to say the least. It feels many different pieces in correlation to the fashion world have an "awe" affect after Vogue lists them as amazing, when in reality they are just awe-ful. So I am going to give my own honest opinion of each pick and, if you have read my previous blogs, you know I don't hold anything back.

1. 3-D embellishment, yes...this example of 3-D embellishment, no. If I wanted to look like an elderly woman I would shop at Chico's. Nice attempt Vogue, but I'm going to have to give this one a FAIL.

2. Slinky dangles could be a good contributer to this springs summer wardrobe, but I would have to say this picture does not properly display just how cute slinky dangles really are.

3. Crafty Craftmanship, I am going to have to give you a two thumbs up. This pleated patterned skirt and rust-colored cowel neck crop fit perfectly together. The choice of the mini clutch just tops off the outfit. Well done Vogue.

4. The Gold Standard. Great choice of color scheme as well as the design of the shoe. The whole booty like pump with a chunkier heel is most certianlyin this year. Another win for Vogue Daily.

5. These shirts defiantly have personality all right. Blousey collered shirts will never go out of style, beacuse there are just so many different looks you can accomplish with them. Add a belt and the shirt looks like a whole new garmet. Once again Vogue takes the lead...

6. Well hello there color block bags, your lookin' real nice for the spring with all your pastel colors and such! 2-3 with Vogue in the lead.

7. Digital Prints. Let me just break this down quick. Dress choice is a no-go. Shoe option, to die for. Mini cluth, another great pick. Patterns are huge this spring, but here is your fair warning, never wear pattern on pattern no matter who tells you it looks good.

8. Who wears a watch to tell time anymore!? This year, everyone has been wearing their watches paired with other individual thin braclets. Granted this look is super stylish, why not swich it up and wear a braclet along with a watch all in one easy wrap.

9. I am going to say this once and only once, I would not be caught dead in that dress. If I wanted to look like little house on the praire I would go back to the early 1900's. It's 2012 people, so dress like it. Sorry Vogue, but you are so not winning this battle.

10. Thank you Vogue for having this moment of clarity. At least we can agree on this one. The colors, the design, and the heels of each shoe screams high fashion. Well done Vogue, well done.

11. Cinching a trench coat is just pure genius. Some form of belt should be woren with a trench coat at all times, enough said.

12. You have got to be kidding me!? This could most likely be the worst idea ever created. Tuxedos are not to be worn by women not to mention, tuxedo strips are never to be paired with denim. Good luck with this one Vogue.

13. Since when where bangels ever not appart of fashions top picks? Bangles have been and always will be in style. Thanks Vogue for the not so new news.

14. I am not a surfer or a wave waiting to be surfed, therefore I refuse to wear any sort of pattern that resembles "catching a wave".

15. What is the point of this? You might as well just attach a sign to you that says, "I am just another stupid girl who cares more about letting people know I have an IPhone, then keeping it in a safe and realiable caring case." I dont know about you, but to me, my IPhone is my everything. I prefer a zipper on my over-the-shoulders.

16. Pastel wash was a great invention. It allows you to wear bright pastel colors with out looking like a human traffic cone.

17. Plastic anything can look cheap, but can also potray high fashion if woren correctly. These earrings are a prime example of just how fantastic plastic can be.

18. I am suprised they didn't display thoes cheap plastic framed glasses everyone wears around assuming they are consider fashion. Hate to break it to ya, but there not nor do they benifit your vision. I feel this Geometry lesson could have been taken up a notche.

19. White on white is fine by me, just as long as it involves a pair of skinny jeans and this pick's white wedges!

20. Bedazzeled jeans will never be in style. Overly sparkle garmets will forever remind me of the "do it yourself" bedazel tool featured on As Seen On TV. These elements are far from extraordinary.

21. Over-sized pendents always help an outfit go from lame to la-me borrow that!

22. This takes shorts to a whole other level. I can honestly say I don't think I will ever look at shorts or pastel colored floweral prints the same way again. Do I really need to say anything else?

23. I would let paislies punch me if they looked like this. Job well done Vogue.

24. Running pants and pea coats should never be worn together...moving on.

25. Yes, I will tie that neck tie around my neck, but only to hang myself so I won't ever have to see it again.

26. Well its about time. Finally something gone right. This Urban Armor may not stop a bullet, but it sure will force everyone around you to stop and stare.

   27. These heels are a sculptural monument. You will never find another shoe quit like this.

 28. Seriously? why?...

29. I'm down with double denim. What I'm not down with is denim skirts period. Denim jackets, denim shorts, and denim jackets are great in any color, but the crazy who thought denim skirts would be an awesome idea, should never be allowed to design anything ever again.

30. When your going out for a night on the town there is nothing worse then throwing off an entire cute outfit because you don't have the right bag. If you owned either of these, that wouldn't be an issue.

31. Everyone needs pj pants, right? Well yeah to sleep in. Anyone that thinks its fashionable to wear your pj pants to the mall, I feel oh so sorry for you. Even yoga pants are pushin' it.

32. Chunky rings are amazing! Rocking one on your pinky finger, even better!

33. I wish all women wore matching wedges with their bikinis, but matching cover ups, not so much.

34. Not quit sure what Vogue is trying to say here. Is it a spring must to wheel around a large rolling duffel or is it simply the color that catches the eye?

35. Pleated skirts, pleated skirts, and more pleated skirts. I really dont see the problem with this. Metalic shine reflects so beautifully in the spring sunshine.

36. I would totally break my ankle for you.

37. Love. Love. Love. Right colors, right patters, great shapes. For every couple horrible picks, there is one amazing one.

38. Showing skin is common for spring time. Unfortunatly, mid-drifts aren't the most socially acceptable, even for thoes with the bodies to pull it off.

39. This "best" collaboration could very well take first place among the worst collaborations ever.

40. Tule can be overly used, but in most cases contributes the right amount of couture fashion to a garmet.

41.Out of all the clutch choices Vogue has provided, I would have to say this one is the wildest. Cute pick, if I was still in middel school.

42. Nothing about this all white dress is tough. I am not to sure how I feel about this combination.

43. Fringe is not my favorite, but I must say this would be my only exception.

44. Where would you even begin to find something like this and an even better question is why woud you want to?

45. The best shape to a sunglass is otherwise known as the retro fit. You can never go wrong with this shape no matter what kind of face structure you have.

46. Gross. Lets save this look for the southerners.

47. I don't care what type of shoe it is, high tops are in. At least Vogue did their research on this one.

48. STRIPES! stripes are so hot this summer and I couldn't agree more. As long as you don't wear them on both the top and bottom, you can't go wrong.

49. Ballet flats are both comfortable and fashion forward. This example is killer. Way to go Vogue!

50. Finally, something both chique and sexy. I wouldn't mind bringing back the good ol' flapper days.

51. This want-to-be wind braker will not be on my list for this spring.

52. I use to have shoes like that, only without the heel and I was five. That dress...don't even get me started on that dress.

53. Pearls are classic and only become more beautiful not to mention more valued with time.

54. Lastly, what looks like an orange potatoe sack, a clutch made from my great grandma's rug, and rope-like sandels with little appeal whatsoever. So much for going out with a bang.