Mallory In New York

Former Intern Sues Harper's Bazaar; Why some people shouldn't work in Fashion

2012-02-03T14:07:00.000-05:00

Harper's Bazaar: The magazine when millions of girls would kill to work.

I'm not sure if anyone's heard, but news broke yesterday that 28-year-old Xuedan Wang plans to sue Hearst publication Harper's Bazaar. She allegedly interned in the fashion closet from August to December last year to gain some experience in the industry, but is extremely upset because she was -- wait for it -- not paid. She also had to work 'long hours' doing 'boring things' like sample trafficking.

I don't even know where to start on this. Let's just talk about the fact that this girl is twenty eight years old. Now, not to discriminate on anyone based on their age, but at 28 years old, and with a college degree, you should be further along in your career than this. I've interned with others as old as 25, but at least they had a good attitude.

Also, if she has already graduated from college, how did she even get an internship at any Hearst publication to begin with? I'm currently interning at Elle (owned by Hearst), and school credit is absolutely required for all interns. Its how they are compensated for their work, and if that's not okay with you or you're 'above it', don't get an unpaid internship. Period.

Even if she wasn't comfortable with an unpaid internship, why did she stay at Harper's for five months? I'm pretty sure they told her in her interview that the position was unpaid. And, if she did decide to stick with the unpaid gig, why not consider getting a job for when she's not in the office?

As far as the 'long hours', she claimed that she worked 40-50 hours a week. Um, that's only 8-10 hours a day, AKA an average work day. There are some days when I've been at Elle for thirteen hours, but as an intern, you stay for as long as you are needed. End of story.

She also complained that she was forced to do 'boring' and 'unimportant' tasks such as sample trafficking. As a closet intern, the largest part of your day should be sample trafficking, and it is extremely important, as this is how the stylists have options, the showrooms get their samples back, and the closet does not get overflowed. And, if you see being surrounded by the couture that graces the pages of Harper's Bazaar as 'boring', I'm curious as to why you want to work in fashion at all. I'm also pretty confused as to what this girl actually thought she'd be doing as a closet intern.

Just for comparison, here's what my daily life is like: I'm a full-time student, taking 21 credits Mondays, Fridays, and online. I intern at Elle Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for approximately ten hours a day. And, I work at a Clinique counter on Monday and Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays. Altogether, that's approximately eighty hours a week that I'm working. But, have you ever seen me complaining? I may have to cut back on the blogging at times, but I am beyond grateful for all of my experience.

Overall, if the only thing Xuedan Wang can think of doing after five months of interning at one of the world's most successful publications is suing them, maybe she isn't cut out to work in this industry after all. I mean, if she actually lands a job in the industry after all of this bad press, does she honestly think it'll be any easier?

Prabal Gurung for... Sephora?

2012-01-30T11:48:00.001-05:00

Classic Prabal Gurung style -- Red and black. Inspiration for Sephora uniforms.

For fragrance junkies and makeup addicts alike, Sephora is the one-stop fantasy-land for any beauty need. There are higher end brands like YSL and NARS, classic department store staples like Clinique, and smaller, lower-priced brands like Smashbox and Too Faced. And, the fragrance wall[s] seem to be endless.

Needless to say, Sephora is single-handedly reinventing the beauty industry. And, as the high-low collaboration trend is slowly becoming over-saturated, it was only a matter of time until a new format of designer collaborations evolved. And, Prabal Gurung seems to be the forerunner.

Last month, it was announced that Prabal Gurung was to design new uniforms for the Sephora beauty advisors. Even though the uniforms won't be seen in stores until April, an image of the models has surfaced:

A candid shot taken during the first promotional shoot for Prabal Gurung x Sephora.

Chic, right? There are three different designs: Black and red-accented separates for men, a women's pant suit with a bow-tie collar shirt, and a women's trapeze dress. And, of course, the beauty advisers will be 'encouraged' to wear red lipstick to match.

Of the designs, Prabal has stated, "If my design, for that one particular moment when he or she is wearing it, looks at themselves in the mirror and feels, 'you know what, I feel better. I look good. I want to do my job better'...that's what fashion is about."

“My intention was to reflect the style and playfulness of shopping in a Sephora store, but to also make sure [the uniforms] would be functional in such a fast-paced environment."

“The dress incorporates one of my favorite design elements, offering a flash of vibrant red, while the women’s pant suit and the separates for men give a sleeker, more tailored look.”

So, will this become the new collaboration - High end designers creating pieces for employees, instead of low-priced retailers? Only time will tell.

Clinique Almost Lipstick Launches

2012-01-07T04:43:00.002-05:00

Ever since I began working at Clinique, I've pretty much become obsessed with all of the products and the brand itself. After all, I'm living and breathing Clinique for about 25 hours every week!

So, imagine my surprise (and complete and utter joy!) when I came across a post about Clinique's newest product launch on my favorite beauty site, Temptalia. Of course, I already knew all about Almost Lipstick, but it was still awesome seeing it.

One of Clinique's classic products is a lipstick called Black Honey, which is a dark, sheer shade that is flattering on literally everyone. They relaunched the line last year to include a limited edition blush and Almost Lipstick.

As it turns out, the shade was so successful that the Clinique execs decided to bring back Almost Lipstick in not only Black Honey, but seven other shades as well:

Black Honey
Shy Honey
Tender Honey
Spice Honey
Luscious Honey
Chic Honey
Lovely Honey
Flirty Honey

Almost Lipstick is another highly successful, temporarily discontinued Clinique product. Its a lipstick with a more moisturizing consistency. It is extremely sheer, allowing each person's natural lip color to show through, but with a subtle hint of the shade itself. They create an extremely natural look that is completely perfect for spring!

Another interesting thing I've learned: Clinique's Almost Lipstick has received more credits in Elle magazine's history than any other lipstick! [In case you're not aware, I also intern at Elle, which makes this little fact extremely ironic.]

The new line of Almost Lipstick is now available at Clinique counters nationwide. Will you be buying it?

January Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-07T03:07:00.001-05:00

It's about 3 AM on January 7th, and my very first contest has officially closed!!

I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that the winner is longtime follower Lindsay LeBoyer! Lindsay is the ever-fashionable blogger behind The Style Child, one of the first blogs I discovered upon entering the blogosphere earlier this year. At age 16, she has already taken classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology, toured the Teen Vogue offices, and is consistently featured on Teen Vogue Fashion Click. Her blog is one of my favorites, and I definitely suggest you check it out!

Lindsay of The Style Child won a 1-year subscription to Elle!

As far as the contest, thank you to everyone who entered. Overall, I didn't get as great of a response as I had hoped for (only ten entries), but its probably my own fault for my lack of updates and posts.

With the new year, I hope to update more often and continue to grow my blog. I'm well aware that this will be a major time commitment, so I have arranged my school, work, and internship schedules to allow for the time needed.

As I have already promised, I will hold a contest beginning the first day of each month, so make sure to check back on February 1st! In the meantime, if you have any suggestions as to how to get a greater response, please comment below. And, if there's anything particular you would like to see in a giveaway, please feel free to let me know. I would honestly appreciate any suggestions you have!

New Years Resolutions + MY FIRST CONTEST

2011-12-30T09:00:00.002-05:00

After beginning Mallory In New York in January, I never once thought that it would become anywhere near as successful as it is today. This belief was partly due to the fact that I ~~know~~ knew very little about technology, blogging, and the internet in general. It was also due to the fact that I tend to commit to a million things at once, and then not follow through on them. Or, at least that was true a year ago.

Me, this time last year!

Maybe I'm not giving myself enough credit. In the past year, I went from an ordinary college student who had never interned, lived on her own, or had a job she could be proud of, to becoming an 'over-acheiver', as many have called me throughout the past few months. Since January, I have completed three incredible internships, and I have just began my fourth at a major publication [ELLE!]. Up until April, I was working in a horrible environment [Starbucks], but I finally found the strength to remove myself from the situation and pursue something something I love [Clinique]. And in May, I took the major leap from dorm life to my very own apartment.

Maybe I have grown a little in the past year, but there's always room for improvement. On with the resolutions!:

INTERNSHIP:

Me, a few weeks ago. A few more things have changed than just my hair color!

1. Show your personality. One thing I wish I had done more during my first few internships was show more of my personality. Sure, I was great at churning out snappy blog posts at JoonBug and pitching interesting ideas at Life & Style, but I don't think any of my coworkers or supervisors actually knew me. I've done a bit better this past semester at Nicole Miller. My supervisors know which styles I like from the line, and that I would eventually like to end up at a magazine. Everyone in the office congratulated me when I announced I would be interning at Elle this Spring. It's great to feel included, but like I mentioned above, there's always room for improvement!
2. Make connections. This requires being outgoing enough to remain memorable in a busy industry. I'm an extremely shy person, but I'm gradually becoming much more open.
3. Keep in touch. This is another one of my weaker spots. When I do happen to get along well with someone, I tend to lose touch with them after the internship ends and I'm no longer seeing them on a constant basis. The same thing happens at the end of the semester and with past coworkers. Now, when I meet someone new in the industry, I try to add them on LinkedIn before I have time to lose touch.

SCHOOL:

I'm lucky enough to be at my dream school, but I want to be a better student!

1. Go to class. It may be an obvious one, but I definitely regret the fact that I don't always go to class. I know school should be the number one thing for me right now, but when I spend more time working and interning than I spend at school, its very easy to lose sight of this. My coursework is also extremely simple, so its not like I really need to go to class to learn it. But, attendance is important, so its definitely something I hope to improve on.
2. Buy a planner. With everything I have going on, its very easy to forget about assignments and tests. Like I said, the work isn't too difficult, so I'm usually fine. But, who really needs the extra stress of cramming, especially when it can easily be avoided? Next semester, I'm buying a planner, and I'm actually going to use it!
3. Get more involved.I've been saying since the first semester of college that I was going to get more involved, and, so far, nothing has changed. I want to be a journalist, so next semester, I'm going to make sure to get involved on W27 [FIT newspaper] and ED2010 [the FIT chapter].

WORK:

I've learned a lot at Clinique, but there's still so much more to learn!

1. Don't be late. Again, this should be obvious, but its something I always have trouble with. And, its not like I'm still at Starbucks where I had to be there at 5 AM. There's just no reason for it! This year, I'm making a conscious effort to always be on time, if not early!
2. Practice applying makeup. I have officially mastered the art of matching foundation, but there's still so much more to learn! I must get a million compliments each day on my own makeup, but I'm still not totally comfortable applying it on other people.

BLOG:

1. Blog more often. Remember how often I used to blog? Sometimes I would post up to eight times a day! Of course, life gets busy, and commitments get in the way, but I truly love blogging and I don't want to lose my following!
2. Increase followers by the end of next year. This goal may seem a little high, but by the end of next year, I want to have at least 1000 followers! If I can continually grow my fan base through consistent blogging, outfit posts, and contests, I definitely believe its possible!

I want to write more about my own style!

3. Create a schedule. This is probably the best way to make sure I still have time to blog. I'd love to outline certain days where I'll post about fashion, beauty, and personal posts.
4. Outfit blog. I've probably been saying this for seemingly forever, but I really do ant to start outfit blogging! But first, I need more shoes. And tops. And jackets. And leggings, tights, and stockings. And, I also ant to get back don to a Size 0 or a Size 2, depending on when I feel comfortable.
5. Get more active on Tumblr. I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but I created Tumblr! I'm still learning more about the community and the platform in general, so any tips would be great. Pretty much, it'll be more up to the moment posts, which my blog will remain more journalistic. Check it out here!
6. Hold more contests. It seems like everyone is holding contests on their blogs, and it seems like a really great way to attract [and hopefully retain] readers! So, I will begin holding contests once a month. I'll announce them on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook, and right here on my blog. They will end the first Friday of each month. And, of course, once I reach 300, 500, 750, and 1000 followers, the contests ill be bigger and much more often! Scroll down for instructions on how to enter to win a free subscription to Elle.

MYSELF:

1. Develop a signature style. Nicole Richie's signature style is boho-chic. Blair Waldorf's is preppy. Bebe Zeva's is eclectic goth. And Elle Ribera's is pastel. But, what's mine? That's what i want to figure out next year.

Even as little as a weekly trip to Central Park would help me relax!

2. Set aside more time for friends. It really should come as no surprise that I'm extremely focused on my career. But, I would also love to have a social life. Unfortunately, that will always come second to me, but I want to dedicate more time to be with my friends, and hopefully make some new ones.
3. Exercise more. I eat pretty healthy, but I'm not as thin as I should be. With my eating habits and body type, I should look like Elle Ribera, but I don't. And why not? Because I don't exercise nearly enough!
4. Cook more and eat out less. Since college began, my boyfriend and I became notoriously known for going out for sushi five (!) times a week. By anyone's standards, that's A LOT. And, even though we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed our paychecks, we were left with nothing until the next paycheck came. We've cut down on the eating out considerably within the past few months, but there's still room for improvement. Besides, cooking is not only healthier and less expensive, but it can be a lot of fun!
5. Be more outgoing. As I mentioned above, I'm naturally an extremely shy person. Becoming more outgoing is one of my biggest goals for 2012!
6. Learn to relax. I'm 100% a Type A personality, so I tend to have a lot of trouble hitting the OFF button [as far as work, school, and internships] when I finally have free time, which I don't have a lot of to begin with! Do you know I've only been to Central Park three times since moving to New York last August?! No that I'll be uptown at Elle three days a week, I definitely ant to take more time to explore the area, even if that only means lunch in Bryant Park once a week.

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

MY FIRST CONTEST

Win a free subscription to Elle!

Now, onto the fun part! In honor of my new internship at Elle, I am giving away a FREE one-year subscription of the magazine! Here's how to enter:

Required [Same comment, counts as one entry]:

1. Tell me why you LOVE Elle.

2. Follow me publicly via Google Friend Connect. [Leave a link to your blog]

Extra Entries [Separate comments]:

3. Follow me on Tumblr. [+1]

4. Follow me on Twitter. [+1]

5. Like my Facebook page. [+1]

Simple enough, right? Just remember, all entries get separate comments, except for the first two which must be in the same comment! Please do not forget to leave me a link to your Tumblr and Twitter pages -- It's only fair I follow back! And, let me know where you live. I want to make sure I send you the right edition of Elle!

The contest closes at 12 AM EST on January 6th. Winner will be notified via Twitter and Email (so don't forget to leave me one!) GOOD LUCK!

My Internship at Nicole Miller: What I Learned, Loved, and What's Next

2011-12-28T21:16:00.046-05:00

Back in August, I announced that I had landed my third internship, and my first internship in Public Relations, at Nicole Miller. [Read: New Job, New Internship, New Goals]. I talked about how excited I was to explore a whole new aspect of the fashion industry, and how I was the youngest intern [again].

Nicole Miller is one of my favorite designers!

This was back in August, after I had only been interning for a few weeks. Now, in mid-December, its been over four months, and I've picked up a few things along the way. Of course, it's only fair of me to share my experiences, so here we go!

Throughout this past semester, I've learned that:

People in fashion are tall. And by this, I'm not referring solely to the models. In the PR department, two of my direct supervisors, as well as Nicole Miller herself, are easily six feet tall in heels. At 5'1" and in an intern position, its extremely easy to feel small [literally and metaphorically] in the office, let alone in the industry. So, instead wearing my Tory Burch flats, I opted for my new Nicole Miller platforms [more about those later!] one day a few weeks ago. And, although I was only 5'5" [at the most], I felt a lot more confident with the extra height. If you are experiencing the same problem, but have trouble walking in heels, try out a pair of wedges or platforms instead!
It's always important to carry around an extra pair of shoes. Although a few extra inches may make you feel more confident, keep in mind that fashion interns do a lot of running in and out of the office, up and down subway steps, and around the city in general. [Or at least I did.] So, if you do choose 'grow' a few inches before arriving at the office tomorrow, make sure to bring an extra pair of comfortable [and portable] flats in your bag! I honestly cannot remember the last time I left my apartment without a pair of ballet flats in my purse.
There is a reason why everyone in the industry is so thin. After an entire semester of working in a busy PR firm, I've learned the hard way why everyone in fashion is so skinny. And, it's not because we're all bulimic [as I previously believed], but because we literally do not have time to eat! Luckily, we have an in-house chef at Nicole Miller, so that definitely helps. But, on the few unfortunate days when the prepared meals contain meat [I'm a vegetarian], I have a lot of trouble finding time to go out and find lunch elsewhere. And, that's not a reflection on Nicole Miller at all-- it's just the industry as whole.
Discount lines are cool. Earlier this year, I very reluctantly identified myself as a brand-whore. Now, six months later, I've grown to love designer brands and take pride in flaunting them [once again], without the constant fear of being perceived as shallow [which, by this point, I'm sure we're all very aware that I am!]. So, imagine my surprise when I found that not only does Nicole Miller have a discount line at JCPenny, but that everyone in the office is obsessed with it! And, even more shocking, the collection is actually extremely adorable. So adorable, in fact, that I ventured into JCPenny for the first time (!) in my life last month in search of the Nicole by Nicole Miller 'Alexandria' pumps after I saw my boss, her boss, and Nicole Miller herself rocking the booties. The crazy thing is that I get more complements on shoes from a discount line than I ever got on my Tory Burch or Michael Kors pairs. I guess the lesson here is that style if far more important than prices or brand names.
The industry is completely connected. I've heard it a thousand times by now, but I never understood just how true it was until I began interning at Nicole Miller. As you may or may not know, Public Relations offices are responsible for promoting the brand and 'getting the name out there', which means constant communication with stylists, editors, and photographers ho request specific pieces from the line. I finished my summer internship at Life & Style Weekly at the end of August, and I was asked to begin my fall internship at Nicole Miller early, at the beginning of August. So, for that one month, I was at Life & Style on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Nicole Miller on Tuesdays and Fridays. There were days when I would pack up Nicole Miller samples to send to Life & Style, then unpack them at the magazine the next day, send them back to Nicole Miller the following day [after the photoshoot], and check them back into the system at Nicole Miller at the end of the week. Whew.
It's never too late to go back. As I mentioned above, I am the youngest intern at Nicole Miller, as I was at Life & Style, and as I was at JoonBug. And, even though I am indescribably proud of this fact, I'd like to point out that it's really never too late to go back. I've been lucky enough to realize my goals early on in my academic career, albeit much earlier than most students. Throughout my last three internships, I've noticed something a bit strange: Many of my fellow interns have already graduated from college! And, even more, many of them hadn't studied fashion, but instead a completely unrelated subject. After graduation, a few of them realized that they didn't ant to pursue a career in their field of study, so they went on to get experience in an industry that interested them: Fashion! Pretty inspirational, right?

My experience as a whole has been great, but there are a few things I especially loved:

My holiday gift: Vibrant Cloud Dress!

The awesome alternative to sample sales. Rather than sell the discounted [but still extremely stylish!] pieces from last season's line to just anyone, they are for sale in a massive closet exclusive to employees, including interns. In my opinion, its an excellent way to encourage employees to wear the company's designs.
The Starbucks on the first floor. It shouldn't come as any surprise, but I am completely addicted to caffeine. That's what 8 months of Starbucks will do to you! So, I was beyond thrilled when I realized that there is a Starbucks in the building. Now, every time I leave the office on an errand, I make sure to pick up a Grande Vanilla Pike on my out. It's an extremely convenient ay to stay energized throughout the day!
How everything is in-house. As opposed to interning at a company that as strictly PR, I chose to intern at one that was in-house. This way, rather than focusing on 8+ different brands, I could instead become a semi-expert on just one specific label. At Nicole Miller, PR isn't the only aspect of the business that is in-house. So is the sales team, the bridal team, and the design team. I can't count the number of times I've seen Nicole Miller herself around the office!
The wonderful PR team. Before you say anything, let me assure you that I'm not including this point to get on anyone's good side. I've heard horror stories about crazy bosses, tasks, and internships in general, but one thing I've particularly loved about my experience here is that they treat all of the interns so nicely! Last week, I was invited to the holiday party, and my boss gave me a dress [that I was completely obsessed with since AUGUST] as a holiday gift. How Sweet!

It's been about four and a half months since I began my internship at Nicole Miller, and even though my semester has already ended, I've decided to stick around until the end of my winter break in late-January. My internship here has been an amazing experience, but I don't think I want to pursue Public Relations as a career path. It's an extremely interesting field, but at the same time, I'm much more interested in the end result of our efforts, which brings me to my next point...

So far, I'm LOVING Elle!

After weeks of sprinting to Conde Nast, Hearst, and the Time and Life Building between class, Nicole Miller, and Clinique multiple times a week for interviews, I'm beyond trilled to announce that I've finally found the perfect internship for next semester! This spring, I will be interning at none other than ELLE MAGAZINE!

Actually, I've decided to begin my internship early. Last week was actually my first week, and, no surprise, I'm the youngest intern. But, I'm starting to believe that age really is just a number. After all, I got this internship based on what's on my resume, not my birth certificate!

Lady Gaga at Barney's New York

2011-11-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

A very Gaga entrance at Barney's New York.

Yesterday, as I was sitting in Starbucks for about the third time that afternoon, I found myself only half-consciously scrolling through my Twitter feed. Amidst the meaningless tweets of my classmates as they begin to land their 'amazing' spring internships was a two-line tweet from Elle. [You would not yet understand the irony, but I will explain as soon as applicable.] :

@ElleMagazine: Catch Lady Gaga @BarneysNY for the opening of Gaga’s Workshop tonight!

To which I replied:

@MalloryinNYC: Guess I know what I'm doing tonight! RT @ELLEmagazine: Catch Lady Gaga @BarneysNY for the opening of Gaga's Workshop tonight! t.co/TA1Ry9kl

Custom designed dress by Karl Lagerfeld.

And so I did. My all-to-willing boyfriend and I arrived at Barney's New York at approximately 6:15 PM, for a two-minute event that would not begin until 9:45, conclude at 9:47, and leave us waiting outside until the display would open at midnight.

Sound intolerable? Well, then I guess you're not a true fan, as were the musical theatre students, the boy from Alabama with nothing but a camera and backpack, the Australian girls who had been waiting since 3 PM outside Barney's only to rush to Central Park for Mother Monster's Good Morning America appearance the next morning, the 11-year-old Long Island boy with rhinestone-adorned eyes, the Asian teenager with a blonde bob and five (!) Gaga-inspired tattoos, the homeless-chic teenagers who had camped out overnight in hopes that Lady Gaga would sign their bibles, and, of course, the fashion student with long chocolate brown hair and a knee-length fur coat, AKA, me.

There were photographers from Women's Wear Daily, which is a bible in and of itself, or at least it is to people like me. There were also a few news cameras from various stations, who sent their achors out to the crowds of fans to interview people who looked 'interesting.' Being 5'1", I was easily able to squeeze my way underneath the crowd's line of vision, arriving at the front of the gate each time were were relocated by security, and, coincidentally, each time a reporter found themselves in need of someone camera-ready.

As mentioned above, I was neither a rhinestone-adorned child or a homeless-[chic?] adolescent, but instead, a fashion student with meticulously ironed, long chestnut hair, 4-inch Nicole Miller heels, and a knee-length Alice + Olivia coat that made Anna Wintour herself cast a smile upon me as I left 4 Times Square late last week. I, in fact, was camera ready.

You have to admit... these scissors are awesome.

The first reporter eyed the crowd looking for someone 'interesting', meaning semi-attractive. His gaze focused in on me, as I looked like an absolute diva amongst the crowds of fans who had planned their entire week around this event. He brought the camera over to me, and held a microphone in front of me. This is how the conversation went:

Reporter: Hi. What brought you out her tonight?

Me: Hi! I'm here to see Lady Gaga, of course.

Reporter: What do you like about her?

Me: What don't I like about her?! She's amazing, she's so inspirational, she's an icon. She completely revolutionized the fashion world. Vogue Editrix Anna Wintour gave her the CFDA Award [Fashion Icon of the Year]... She's just incredible!

Of course, I just had to throw some fashion in there. If this makes it on to TV, I hope it makes Anna Wintour smile at me -- again!

After rejecting the musical theater student next to me because he looked 'boring', the second reporter shifted his focus to me. Our conversation went like this:

Lady Gaga in spider form.

Reporter: What brought you here tonight?

Me: I'm here to see Lady Gaga cut the ribbon to her workshop!

Reporter: What do you think of the displays?

Me: I haven't seen them yet, but I'm insanely excited! From what I hear, it's all amazing. In fact, why keep it just for holidays? Gaga is incredible -- We should honor her all year round!

The reporter then went on to talk to a 'sassy black guy', as the musical theatre student described him.

They continued to shift us around a bit, moving us forward and back, forward and back. We didn't mind, because we all knew the night would be incredible. Or, so we thought.

My new 'friends' and I talked among ourselves, contemplating what we would say to Lady Gaga, and what we would have her sign for us. I ultimately decided that I would ask her to sign my Michael Kors purse.

I don't think I mentioned this yet, but it was extremely cold last night. Or, at least it was to me -- I have Floridian blood. Luckily, the insanely attractive cater waiters acknowledged this, and they sent out Belgian hot chocolate along with endless amounts of Baked By Melissa cupcakes.

It seemed like a lifetime, but finally, Lady Gaga arrived! She spent about thirty minutes inside conducting an interview for Good Morning America, which aired today, and shopping with her talentless sister, Natali.

When she finally walked out of the entrance, the crowd went wild. She whipped out a giant pair of the most Gaga-esque scissors imaginable, cut a surprisingly bland ribbon, and went back inside.

And that was all. No performance. No meet-and-greet. Not even a teeny, tiny word to the fans who spent their entire day waiting in the freezing cold weather. Nothing. It was a very under-whelming experience, but hey -- at least I got a blog post out of it.

One of the many displays within the workshop.

Christian Louboutin Window Displays at Barney's

2011-11-14T23:21:00.003-05:00

Christian Louboutin: "Wearing high heels is like having an orgasm."

To celebrate 20 years of Christian Louboutin's red-soled wonders, Barney's New York has created a series of window displays to honor the famed designer. The windows are extremely elaborate in production and appearance, only to represent the amount of work, passion, and detail that goes into the design of each individual pair.

Blake Lively in a Chanel suit and Louboutin heels.

After experimentally painting the bottom of a shoe with red nail polish back in 1991, Christian Louboutin's sky-high heels have become almost as iconic as their red sole. And, although it may seem like an untouchable match made in stiletto heaven, equally luxe designer Yves Saint Laurent tried to rival Christian Louboutin's signature design with his own version of a red-soled heel. And, although the court ultimately ruled in favor of YSL, as a color cannot be copyrighted, Christian Louboutin will always be the king of the famous red sole.

Christian Louboutin's designs have been seen on everyone from Victoria Beckham, to Blake Lively, to even the infamous Kardashians. Author Danielle Steele is said to own over 6,000 pairs! The designer himself gives some insight as to why his designs are so popular: "Wearing high heels is like having an orgasm."

Here are a few photos of the windows:

New Look

2011-11-09T13:49:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

So lately I've been getting bored of how Mallory In New York looks, and I decided yesterday to give it a new look! I sat here like an idiot for hours, playing around with all the design and template options, only to find that the original look was in fact the best!

However, I am a strong believer that as life changes, the things around us change as well. And if they won't change on their own, then we should change them! So that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'll be playing around with the look and feel of Mallory in New York over the next few weeks, and I guess we'll see where it ends up!

There are already a few changes you may notice:
1. The Link Bar. I decided that it would be a lot easier to navigate if around the blog if everything was separated into categories: Beauty, Fashion, My Life, Interviews, and My Looks [coming soon!]. I'm working on organizing everything into categories as we speak!
2. The Width. One thing I ALWAYS hated about the blog was how narrow it was. It would take seemingly forever to scroll down past every not-so-long post. I played around with the width, and I now feel a lot better about the look!
3. The 'About Me' and FAQ. As I'm sure you've all noticed a long time ago, I LOVE incorporating my somewhat interesting daily life into the blog! I've actually heard from a lot of readers that they enjoy my posts about my personal / professional life the most, and that they want to know more. So, I'm working on an all-inclusive mini-biography to include under the About Me tab. As for the FAQ tab, I'll start answering some of the questions that I'm - you guessed it! - most frequently asked. Feel free to comment on the FAQ page with new questions you're curious about, or you can just email me at MalloryinNewYork [at] gmail.com OR reach out to me on Twitter (@MalloryInNYC).

So there we go. I guess overall I'm looking for a more professional look, while still staying true to my personality and the main components of the blog -- Girly, NYC, and PINK!!! If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

Versace for H & M

2011-11-07T23:57:00.013-05:00

As we all know by now, Donatella Versace has continued the high-low collaboration trend by creating a ~~low-quality~~ low-priced line to be sold exclusively at 300 H&M stores. At first glance, I have to admit that I wasn't a major fan. I mean, palm trees?! I'm from South Florida -- our signature tree is hardly cutting edge.

But, after a few weeks of over-analyzing the lookbook, I found that there actually are a few cute, non-touristy pieces included. Check out my top six below, and sound off in the comments!

Solestruck + Jeffrey Campbell = La Isla Bonita

2011-11-05T11:00:00.002-04:00

It's been a few months since I first discovered the sheer magic of Jeffrey Campbell [My New Obsession: Jeffrey Campbell 99 Tie Mint Suede Wedges]. I remember the day perfectly. It was back when I was still obsessed with all things mint green, including Doe Deere's Limecrime shade. I was wandering aimlessly through SoHo, and by some miracle, I ended up at LF. Of course, I just had to go in. And that's when I saw them -- the 99 Tie. I tried them on, and I was awestruck. I went home that afternoon and blogged about them, but somehow I never ended up buying them. I guess they're "the pair that got away."

Fast forward about five months, and I'm now completely obsessed with everything Jeffrey Campbell. [Except the Lita. I never really liked it as much as everyone else...] I now check Solestruck literally everyday, praying that they will somehow, someday receive more of the 99 Tie in Lavender (its much more standout that the mint, and much more practical for city life!) From Nightwalk, to Skate, to Tardy, I love them all!

So, as the MAJOR Jeffrey Campbell and Solestruck fan that I am, I was insanely excited to see the new La Isla Bonita photoshoot in my inbox, which consists of NEW JC styles for winter! [You can pre-order the looks on Solestruck here.] Each piece is honestly incredible. I've displayed my favorite looks below. Enjoy!

Giambattista Valli.... for Macy's?

2011-11-04T00:06:00.005-04:00

My new obsession -- Giambattista Valli clutch ($69)

Okay, I know I'm a little late to the party here, but I honestly had no idea that Giambattista Valli created a collection for Impulse at Macy's! That was, at least, until I wandered out of 'Clinique World' a few days ago and stumbled across the most incredible bag I've ever seen.... excluding Chanel, of course. ;)

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli.

If you're wondering who Giambattista Valli, you're definitely not alone. My 100% heterosexual boyfriend doesn't know who he is either... Just kidding.

In all seriousness, Giambattista Valli is an Italian fashion designer. He has worked with Yves Saint Laurent, which automatically makes him blog-worthy. He recently designed his first (!) couture collection, which you can feel free to obsess over right here. His biggest client is Posh Spice herself, miss Victoria Beckham, as well as Easy A starlet Emma Stone. He even designed the gorgeous red and pink dress to the right! [read: Color Blocking Reaches New Heights: Pink And Red]

Anyways, back to my 'little too late' discovery. So, on a mini-break from ~~putting makeup on ugly people~~ work, I decided to wander upstairs and browse through things I shouldn't buy rather than giving in to my caffeine addiction (yay!).

And, as I was browsing, I just happened to stumble across THE BAG. You know -- the one I mentioned in the second sentence? Better description -- the one I'm now in love with! [above]

The bag itself is ridiculously incredible. It has some gorgeous Chanel-esque detailing (the ribboned chains), but between the tan biker leather, the modern shape, and the bold stone clasp, it has a very modern, punk-chic vibe as well.

If you love the bag as much as I do, you can buy it here for only $69!!!

Or, if you think this is the absolute ugliest bag you have ever seen, then please, check out a few more of the soon-to-be sold out pieces below:

Five Trunk Shows I'd Die To Attend

2011-10-31T14:00:00.000-04:00

Vera Wang Bridal 2012 Gowns.

[#7]

This weekend I will be attending the Vera Wang Bridal trunk show at Saks Fifth Avenue. I am extremely excited for the event, as trunk shows are like a mini fashion show. All of the gowns are displayed, and there are usually a few models to show you how to wear them. Of course, a trunk show is on a much smaller scale than the stage at Bridal Week, but this can sometimes be an advantage. A major plus is that there are hardly any crowds, so you really have the chance to get up close to the designs and make a better decision about which one to purchase. And, sometimes the designer even makes an appearance!

Here is a video from Vera Wang's Spring 2012 Bridal Show. I will be seeing the same designs this weekend!

I've been to only one trunk show before, and I have to say it was an incredible experience. I went to a Jovani trunk show during my senior year of high school. I was in search of the absolute perfect prom dress, so needless to say, I was in heaven amongst all of the couturesque designs. Here are a few more shows I'd love to attend:

1. Alice and Olivia. Not that the designs are incredibly high end, but they're just so unique and free-spirited! I'd love the chance to see them up close as an entire collection.

2. Chanel. What girl doesn't love Chanel?! Karl Lagerfeld is an absolute genius... His designs are so classic and timeless.

3. Vera Wang RTW. Not only does Vera Wang design beautiful bridal gowns, but she also has a history of creating excellent Ready to Wear collections. Everything 'Vera' seems to have a gorgeous romantic twist.

4. Miu Miu. When Miu Miu first came on the scene, a lot of fashion critics thought of it as nothing more than a spinoff of Prada. Now, years later, Miu Miu has involved into a line all on its own. I love the whimsical inspirations!

5. Alexander McQueen. The true designer himself may have passed on, but Sarah Burton has certainly made it understood that she will carry on the legacy of McQueen. Each season, I look forward to seeing what kind of shocking designs will make their way down the runway, and I'm never disappointed.

DIY Candy Corn Nails

2011-10-27T14:05:00.004-04:00

Who doesn't LOVE Candy Corn?!

After checking out Marie Claire's new website, I noticed an interesting link under the Beauty section. The link, Simple Halloween DIY Nail Art Designs, brought me to a slideshow with step-by-step instructions of how to create three simple Halloween nail designs, including blood splattered, spider web, and candy corn designs.

While I was quickly obsessed with the grotesque blood splattered and intricate spider web designs, my favorite by far is the candy corn design. It should be noted that candy corn is the best non-chocolate candy in the world -- and that's not just my opinion. It's a fact.

Below are five steps (and a few pictures!) to help you recreate the design, all courtesy of Marie Claire!

And, if you enjoy this tutorial, check out my other nail how-to: Jil Sander Inspired Nails.

Step One: Apply a base coat and two very thin layers of white nail polish. You want the white polish to be completely opaque. Try A-ha Moment! from Sephora by OPI ($9.50)

Step Two: When the white nail polish is completely dry, apply two coats of a bright orange shade to the top 2/3 of each nail. For best results, apply thick enough to assure that the shade is totally opaque. Wait approximately five minutes for the polish to be completely dry. I suggest using Hi Def from Sephora by OPI ($9.50).

Step Three: Wait five minutes for the orange polish to dry. Then, paint the top 1/3 of each nail with a layer of yellow polish. The shade you choose should be a bright, opaque color, like Cab Fare from Sephora by OPI ($9.50).

Step Four: This step is totally optional. If you'd like to add more shine to the bold design -- or conceal any errors! -- try adding a coat of glitter. I suggest Don't be Eggnogious (copper sparkle) or Spark-tacular! (rainbow glitter, which also acts as a topcoat), both by Sephora by OPI.

Step Five: Don't forget to add a topcoat after your design is complete -- you want to protect it as much as possible. If your glitter polish acts as a topcoat, this step can be omitted. If not, try out Topcoat from Sephora by OPI.

Nicole Miller Spring 2012

2011-10-24T00:00:00.001-04:00

Spring 2011. Classic Nicole Miller.

Before you say it, let me admit that this post is a little biased [not to mention late]. I mean, I've been working in Nicole Miller's PR department since August, filling my schedule with busy days of trying on (ahem, I mean picking up) samples from magazines, photographers, and stylists. So, needless to say, I've been exposed to the Nicole Miller aesthetic pretty much nonstop throughout the last three months. But -- intern or not -- when the Spring 2012 line arrived, I was 100% in love with it!

Now, this isn't just typical me, becoming obsessed with one designer at a time, and choosing a new one at the start of each season. No, this is me admiring the proposed change in direction from an extremely established designer.

Spring 2012. A new, retro-styled runway look.

Let me explain. Nicole Miller is known for her classic, sophisticated [but still trendy] styles. She's a favorite among multiple celebrities -- including Alexis Bledel and Ashley Tisdale, both of whom sat front row at the show -- and editors alike. Although not typically the most daring designer [think the anti-McQueen], her designs still manage to remain relevant multiple seasons after their original debut.

So, imagine just how shocking it was to find that for the Spring 2012 collection, Miss Nicole Miller was inspired by none other than 'glam' rocker David Bowie (presumably during his 'Ziggy Stardust' days).

The entire collection is a polar opposite of her classic runway style. And, although, I've always been a MAJOR Nicole Miller fan [why do you think I work here?!], I can't help but say that I'm extremely excited to see not only how this collection sells, but whether Nicole sticks with the new 80s vibe, or transcends back to her classic aesthetic come next fall. Only time can tell, but for now, enjoy the video!

[This is Blog Post #6 for my Creative Fashion Presentations class at FIT. If you're not from FIT, feel free to comment anyways!]

Chanel Spring 2012

2011-10-10T23:49:00.005-04:00

Florence Welch performing in a giant clam at the Spring 2012 show.

[This post was done as an assignment for my Creative Fashion Presentations class at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It is blog post #4. If you are not a student at FIT, feel free to read, comment, and obsess over the photos anyways, because HELLO -- It's CHANEL, and I'm pretty sure you'll LOVE it!]

For this assignment, I focused on an article in the New York Times blog by Cathy Horyn. If you have no idea who Cathy Horyn is, then we have a lot in common. Or, at least we did as of earlier this week.

A few days ago, I was at a coffee house outside campus while on a break between classes. Thanks to my new phone [finally!] I can now waste even more time by Googling random fashion shows not only from my awesome apartment, but from virtually any place I please.

Cathy Horyn attends about as many shows as Anna Wintour.

As I browsed through the New York Times' Runways blog [which apparently exists - who knew?!], I came across this article written by Ms. Horyn, who discusses the Paris shows of those whom she is dining with. She gives an insite to Kanye West's odd attempts, and describes the Celine Spring 2012 collection as a 'club sandwhich'. Honestly, the article was a little wordy, but by the end, I was hooked!

So, when it came time for this assignment, I already knew which blogger I would focus on -- None other than Ms. Cathy Horyn! But as for the collection I would zero in on, well, that wasn't too hard either. After all, when in doubt, choose Chanel! [Yes, you can quote that.]

The main factor that draws me to Horyn's writing is her dictation. She's so detailed, which allows the reader to picture the garments as well as the atmosphere as if they were actually there. Here are a few examples of Cathy Horyn's descriptive language:

1. SILHOUETTE & DESIGN

"...Mr. Lagerfeld’s new pared-down suit silhouette: a lean skirt or dress in ivory or black wool worn with an opened, cropped jacket."
"The shapes were soft, mostly short and slightly rounded, with a sense of mobility."

2. DETAILS

"No Chanel braiding or chains."
"...embroidered along the edges with slivers of mother-of-pearl."

3. COLOR

"...silver leather or white with black lines."

4. FABRIC

"...ties formed from the linings, often printed chiffon."
"Many fabrics had a glistening effect..."

5. CREATIVE “JARGON”

"...other materials that reflect Mr. Lagerfeld’s obsessive interest in techniques that give lightness to clothes."

Below are my Top 10 favorite looks from the Chanel Spring 2012 show! :)

Chanel Holiday 2011 Collection: Les Scintillances de Chanel

2011-10-06T17:00:00.004-04:00

Chanel's Holiday 2011 Collection, Les Scintillances de Chanel, focus in on the four iconic colors of the Chanel brand: Gold, red, beige, and black. The collection is filled with golden, shimmering highlights and festive shades for the eyes and lips. Les Scantillances de Chanel will be available later this month.

The Lumiere Sculptee de Chanel Highlighting Powder retails for $72.00.The powder not only brings natural coverage, but it is filled with gold shimmers to highlight the skin perfectly for the holiday season. The palette also includes hints of pink, ivory, and pearlescence.

The Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour retails for $32.00. It is available in two shades: Enivree, a shimmering pink, and Famous, a shimmering red.

Le Vernis Nail Colour retails for $25.00. It is available in Chanel's brightest iconic hue: Rouge Carat, a luminous red.

Poudre Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder retails for $52.00. t is available in Feerie Soft, a shimmering pink.

Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect retails for $45.00. It is available in Brun Rose, French for 'brown rose.'

Ligne Extreme Liquid Eye Liner retails for $32.00. it is available in Or, which is French for 'gold.'

Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow retails for $28.50. It is available in Blazing Gold, a shimmering gold, and Beige Lame, a bright shimmering beige.

Ombres Contraste Duo Eyeshadow Duo retails for $42.00. it is available in Noire-Ivoire, an black with hints of ivory.

Rouge Allure Laque Luminous Satin Lip Colour retails for $32.00. It is available Empire, a pink rose.

Levres Scintillantes Glossimer retails for $28.50. It is available in Sparkle d’Or, a gold shimmer, and Sweet Beige, a beige shimmer.

Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss Pure Shine Intense Colour Long Wear Lip Gloss retails for $32.00. It is available in Discretion, a luminous beige, and Triomphal, a shimmering red.

Laura Mercier Holiday 2011 Collection

2011-10-06T11:00:00.001-04:00

Laura Mercier has recently released her Holiday 2011 collection. Rather than focusing on individual products, the collection instead includes six gift sets.

The Baked Eye Color Palette (above) retails for $48.00. It includes five shades: Sienna, a rich chocolate brown; Terracotta, a warm bronze; Ballet Pink, a soft peachy pink; Pink Petal, a pale baby pink; and Lilac, a smoky lavender violet.

The Eye Portfolio (below) retails for $98.00. It includes12 eye colors (Rich Sienna, Morning Dew, Black Coffee, Pink Crystal, Sable, Royal Gold, African Violet, Mica, Golden Cream, Fig, and Sparkling Night) and three travel brushes (Ponytail, Crease, and Smudge).

The Color Portfolio (below) retails for $98.00. It Includes six eye colors (Primrose, African Violet, Merlot, Truffle, Topaz, and Stellar), three Tightline Cake Eye Liners (Ground Espresso, Black Ebony, and Burgundy Wine), two Second Skin Cheek Colors (Rose Petal and City Pink), and three travel brushes (Ponytail, Crease, and Flat Eyeliner)

The Travel Brush Set (below) retails for $85.00. It includes five brushes : Double-Ended Secret Camouflage Powder Brush, Double-Ended Allover Eye Color Ponytail Brush, Double-Ended Flat Eyeliner/Smudge Brush, Double-Ended Brow Definer/Brow Grooming Brush, and Finishing Brush.

The Mini Kohl Eye Pencil Set retails for $32.00, and it is available exclusively at Sephora. It includes five mini eye pencils: Kohl Eye Pencil in Brown Copper, a coppery brown; Antique Jade, a metallic deep green; Black Turquoise, a black with turquoise pearl; Black Violet, a black purple charcoal; and Purple Sapphire, a bright eggplant.

The Nudes Mini Lip Glace Set retails for $38.00, and it is available exclusively at Sephora. It includes four Lip Glacés: Bare Blush, a deep champagne taupe; Bare Naked, a beige champagne; Bare Pink, a light pink; and Bare Beige, a light neutral brown.

MAC Giftable for Holiday 2011

2011-10-05T17:00:00.003-04:00

I probably shouldn't be blogging about this, but I couldn't help it! There's a whole slew of information on MAC's Holiday 2011 Collections online all of a sudden, but unfortunately, there's not much of it. The positive side? I have the photographs!

The first MAC Holiday Collection I will be blogging about is the Giftable Collection. Its not necessarily a cosmetics-centric collection, but it is a MAC product. And -- that simple fact makes it undeniably awesome.

So, what exactly is in the MAC Giftable Collection? Well, its two silver bags in different sizes. Yes, that's all. And no, I'm not kidding.

Take a look at the bags. They're constructed with silver foil, with a white spiral design throughout. And, there is a large decorative, semi-functional ribbon on each, which is adorned with festive silver sparkles.

The bags are perfect for wrapping a gift in, obviously. But, if done correctly, they can also be made into semi-permanent clutches! I'm picturing an amazing DIY project:

1. Trace the shapes of the four sides and bottom onto a thin piece of cardboard.
2. Carefully cut out the five pieces of cardboard.
2. Secure the pieces in place inside the bag with a gluestick.

And voila! Now you've got an adorable new clutch to bring to any holiday parties this season! And the best part? No one else will have it, because its a Mallory in New York exclusive. ;)

Color Club Backstage Pass collection for Holiday 2011

2011-10-05T11:00:00.001-04:00

During my morning coffee [Starbucks Caramel Mocha], I was browsing through Temptalia. Amid the newly listed cosmetic launches for the Holiday 2011 season, I spotted a nail polish line that I couldn't go another moment without blogging.

The line, called Backstage Pass, is the newest collection from Color Club, a brand that we all know and love. The small-but-sweet collection includes six sparkly colors with musically themed names, listed below. The sparkles are much larger than you'd find in the average glitter nail polish, and far richer in color as well!

As much as I love the awesome shades and the rockstar/VIP theme, the chemical makeup of the polish itself is definitely something that drew me to the line. As a proud vegetarian, I naturally admire any product that does not include any animal byproducts [even if I do not plan to eat it]. Backstage Pass is 100% vegan, which is sure to attract environmentally-friendly beauty addicts and PETA supporters alike. And, as we all know, many brands [ahem, OPI] include harsh chemicals that can lead to breast cancer and other diseases, Backstage Pass is completely free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP and paraben.

The shades and descriptions are listed below:

Take the Stage Gold - glitter with silver flakes
Wish Upon a Rock-Star - Multi-colored glitter with purple
Backstage Pass -Silver and purple hex glitter
Platinum Record - Silver glitter
It’s a Hit - Purple big glitter
Fame & Fortune - Red base with silver flakes

Illamasqua Freak Eau de Parfum

2011-10-04T22:51:00.001-04:00

British brand Illamasqua, commonly noted for imaginative themes and eccentric colour palettes, is launching its first ever perfume! The scent, very fittingly name "Freak", has hints of Black Davana, Opium Flower, Belladonna, Poison Hemlock, Datura, and Queen of the Night blossom. The base scent contains intense aromas of Frankincense, Oud, and Myrrh.

In addition to the otherworldly theme and photography, the perfume bottle is also of note. The bottle [pictured below] is a square-shaped glass. A drastic change from conventional perfume bottles, Freak is missing a corner, so it stands at a sharp ankle, perfectly balanced. The bottle is of dark purple colour, with black swirls throughout. There is also a silver snail crawling up the upward most side of the bottle. According to the press release, the design symbolizes "an addictive passionate path of desire that is both distinctive and unusually provocative."

In addition to Freak, Illamasqua is also launching three limited addition products: Nail Varnish in Hemlock (pale opal green iridescent), Pure Pigment in Queen of the Night (blackened plum), and a Sheer Lipgloss in Datura (neutral mauve). Each build on the similar theme of an alternate reality.

The collection is now available to pre-order on Illamasqua.com. Freak will officially launch on October 20th, 2011, and will be priced at $59 for a 75 ml bottle. It will become available at Sephora and Space NK in November 2011.

Maximal Trends for Fall 2012

2011-09-19T13:28:00.001-04:00

I might be getting a bit ahed of myself, as its only the beginning to Fall 2011, but I'm already getting excited for the trends of Fall 2012! [This could be because this Fall's trends are immensely tiring. Preppy? Been there, rocked that.] On Donegar Groups Fall / Winter 2012 / 2013 Presentation, four general trends are explored: Backwoods, Artisan, Film Noir, and Maximal.

Film Noir Editorial in Vogue July 2011.

Backwoods seems a bit too woodsy / tribal-esque for my taste, and its hard to get excited about Artisan when we just finished a neverending Spring / Summer season of boho-chic hell. Film noir definitely seems interesting, but I couldn't imagine going out in public like that on a daily basis. The luxe look [right] involves wayyy too many pieces to be considered attainable for the average NYC gal.

Now Maximal -- That's what I'm interested in. With my obsessive, all-or-nothing personality, the maximal trend illustrates the extremes of all fashion trends: Neo-expressionism, new Retro, Play, Chroma Scope, and Girlish Charm. Rather than a wide range of on-trend accessories needed [Film Noir], Maximalism depends on a few standout pieces. And of course, the more, the better.

Now, love her or hate her, Katy Perry is probably the best representation of the Maximal trend. She loves to go all out with her outfits and accessories, which is really the only way to essentially capture the trend.

Here are a few of Katy's Looks that accurately represent each variation of maximalism:

NEO-EXPRESSIONISM: Katy Perry performs with Nicki Minaj and Keri Hilson.

"Neo-expressionism emerged in the late 70s and 80s as a reaction to minimal precedents. Bored with the work or their predecessors, artists filled their work with color, patterns, and symbols that reflected the mayhem and vibrancy of the downtown New York they called home."

NEW RETRO: Katy Perry wears a 50s-inspired silhouette.

"Campaigns, ads, and packaging are swinging toward a retro innocence and adding modern digital technology into recreated analog designs."

PLAY: Katy Perry adds playfulness to her performance with a Manish Arora merry-go-round dress.

"Photographer Yusuke Suzuki has created a bed to look like an oversized book. At night it is opened for sleepy heads and during the day it is closed to create space. This incorporates play into a necessary task, like sleep."

GIRLISH CHARM: Katy Perry's girlish charm shines through with her pastels, classic silhouettes, and youthful umbrella.

CHROMA-SCOPE: Everything from Katy's outfit is larger than life -- her hair, the bold cut of the dress, and the glitter.

[This is blog post number 2 from my Creative Fashion Presentations class at FIT. If you're not from FIT, feel free to comment anyways! All quotes from Donneger.]

Are Lita's on their way out?

2011-09-12T23:05:00.003-04:00

Lita in 'Stars and Stripes' ($159)

[Blog post #1]

Throughout the past year, we've seen the Jeffrey Campbell Lita on every "real" fashion blog. And, even if it has become a bit predictable, the design is still considered cool. Plus, its undoubtedly an easy way get noticed in the blogosphere.

Popular LookBooker Rachel-Marie Jones in Lita's.

So, how has the Lita maintained its popularity for so long? There are two main reasons -- the first is because of the fans, most notably those with blogs. No matter how much promotion a company does, it will never compare to peer-to-peer communication.

So, if a notable fashion blogger [or even a stylish / attractive one] posts photographs of her/himself wearing Lita's, it will indirectly inspire readers to consider trying the trend, and ultimately buying a pair themselves. With the rise of websites like Lookbook, shoppers and aspiring bloggers can view hundreds of popular fashion bloggers all in one place, being exposed to countless trends at once.

Lita Stud ($264.95)

The second cause for the Lita's continued popularity is the wide range of designs. There are over fifty deviations of the original Lita, as well as the Lita Fur, Lita Shag, Lita Fab, Lita Spike, Lita Harness, and Studded Lita. With so many options, its hard to tire of a winning trend.

But, in an industry where trends change quickly, how long can the Lita really stay on top? A year is a long time, and while the popularity of the JC creation hasn't faltered, there's only a limited amount of time left for the Lita to stay on top, especially with all the other amazing Jeffrey Campbell designs on the market!

Here's a look at a few JC designs that can easily become the 'new'
Lita:


Jeffrey Campbell Pixie in Black Gold Zebra (194.95)

Jeffrey Campbell Vreeland in Red ($169.95)

Jeffrey Campbell Nightwalk in Black ($169.95)

Jeffrey Campbell Tick in Black ($169.95)

Jeffrey Campbell Skate in White ($189.95)

Jeffrey Campbell Tardy in Blue ($199.95)

[Disclaimer: All photos and prices from Solestruck.com. This post is an assignment for my Creative Fashion Presentations class at FIT. If you're not an FIT student, please feel free to comment anyways!]

I'm baaaaaaaack!

2011-09-11T21:27:00.002-04:00

Tavi's been busy, but so have I.

If you've been following my infrequent, career-obsessed posting this summer, I'd like to thank you. Seriously. I know I can get boring when I go into internship mode, but in an attempt to keep this blog relative to my life, I felt my internship and job search were the best topics to blog about. After all, its called Mallory in New York, and as Mallory, living / working / interning in New York, this has been my main focus all summer -- even more than makeup (gasp!).

After finding a job and internship, I assumed I'd be back to normal (i.e. blogging 3-5 times a day about beauty, fashion, and Bebe Zeva!). Well, I was wrong.

During the summer, I was literally doing nothing but job hunting 5 days a week, and interning at Life & Style the other two days. Now, let's just say I'm a little busier.

Monday: Clinique [6PM-9:45PM]
Tuesday: FIT [9AM-9:30PM, with breaks]
Wednesday: Nicole Miller [9AM-5PM] and Clinique [6PM-9:45PM]
Thursday: FIT [9AM-6PM, with break]
Friday: Nicole Miller [9AM-5PM] and Clinique [6PM-9:45PM]
Saturday: Clinique [9AM-6PM]
Sunday: Clinique [9AM-6PM]

That's pretty much my weekly schedule. Now, throw in 3 online classes, homework, and time with friends, I don't have much time to blog. And, that doesn't mean I don't miss blogging and MINY, because I do. A LOT.

Now, it may be hard to believe, but last semester [when I was interning at JoonBug and working at Starbucks] my schedule was far worse. And, I still managed to find time to blog up to 8 times a day!

So, as I settle into my new schedule, please be patient with me. It's going to take some time, but I'd like to be back to blogging [at least] once a day by the end of September. Until then, enjoy watching my crazed, MAC-obsessed posts become more and more frequent as October grows closer. And, if you really miss my sarcastic ramblings, follow me on Twitter [@MalloryinNYC]!

---Mallory in NEW YORK

New Job, New Internship, New Goals

2011-08-25T17:22:00.003-04:00

The JOB: I realized a while ago that the beauty industry is a major interest of mine -- maybe even as much as fashion! Which is why Mallory in New York revolved solely around MAC's new collections for an extended period of time. [Come on, Don't pretend you didn't LOVE it!]

Absolutely loving my new job at CLINIQUE!

Back in April, I submitted a general resume to Estee Lauder. If you're not already aware of it, Estee Lauder is the Conde Nast of cosmetics. The company owns Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, and, of course, Estee Lauder, as well as countless others.

I received a call a few days later, requesting a phone interview. The interview [called Talent Plus, as I later found out] was 45 minutes long with a rep from corporate Estee Lauder. They asked questions, I answered, and somehow, I PASSED!

A few days later, I got an email saying that there were no openings at Estee Lauder, and would I be interested in Clinique? Um, YEAH!

Days passed, emails were exchanged, and yet, no word from Clinique. By now, we've all learned that I am a very persistent person. So what did I do? I borderline stalked the HR department, and landed an interview with Aveda in SoHo!

The interview went well, but I didn't get the job. By this time I had pretty much forgotten about Estee Lauder, and I began the interviewing process for Juicy Couture. I also landed a job at Uniqlo as a temporary thing, which I soon quit.

Come on, how can you NOT love makeup that's GOOD for you?!

Then, out of the blue, I got an email from Estee Lauder saying that there was an opening at Clinique in Macy's, and it was mine if I wanted it. Two days later, I went in for an interview with the Clinique Counter Manager, the Macy's Cosmetics Manager, and the Macy's Regional Manager. And, somehow, I GOT THE JOB!!

I've been working for a few weeks now, and I absolutely LOVE IT! It's slightly weird though, because I'm the youngest Beauty Advisor in the ENTIRE Cosmetics and Fragrance Department. But -- I've met my sales goals every day I've worked, which is pretty impressive, especially considering the fact that I don't even know how to put makeup on! But hey, its a work in progress. ;) [Update: I have now mastered the are of applying makeup, sans eyeshadow.]

The INTERNSHIP: I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Interning is THE MOST important thing you can possibly do when pursuing a career in a creative field. Unfortunately, the majority of my peers haven't quite realized this yet. I, on the other hand, have caught on pretty early.

Nicole Miller Fall 2011 Collection. Gorgeous!

It's pretty hard getting your foot in the door with internships. I saw this firsthand earlier this year when I was applying for my first internship [JoonBug.com], and again in May when I was applying for a second internship with a well-known publication [Life & Style Weekly]. But now, 8 months later, I have two great internships on my resume, and an entirely NEW dilemma: Getting internships has become TOO easy.

Now, I know this sounds very ungrateful and extremely un-problematic, but honestly, when you're choosing between internships with great companies like Oscar de la Renta, Stella McCartney, Nicole Miller, and Harper's Bazaar [along with many others], choosing just one isn't easy. They're all such amazing opportunities -- I don't want to turn any down OR burn any bridges!

I saw the designer herself the other day!

But, ultimately, I did choose one: Nicole Miller. [I let the others know that I'd already accepted something, but would LOVE to be considered for a Spring internship!] I picked up a great vibe from the office when I interviewed, and I was offered a Public Relations internship within the week!

I started interning at Nicole Miller two weeks ago, and its absolutely incredible. Again, I'm the youngest [I'm a freshman while everyone else is either a senior or out of school!], but I don't mind. After all -- I'm learning so much about Fashion PR! And -- the best part -- there's a STARBUCKS in the building!!

The [New] GOALS: Originally, I came to New York to go to FIT, major in Fashion Merchandising, and become a buyer at Macy's. But upon arriving, I soon realized that there is FAR more to fashion than designing and merchandising.

I'm aiming to intern at Vogue next Spring!

I started to pursue my longtime love of writing, possibly considering a career in journalism. Then, I began interning at Nicole Miller, and became extremely interested in pursuing PR. But -- I'd still love to be a buyer.

So, I guess I don't have quite as clear a goal as before, but I have something better -- A LOT of great options! My first choice would be to pursue a career in journalism [ideally, I'd love to be at Marie Claire, Nylon, or Elle!] but unfortunately, its pretty hard to find a job in magazines these days. And, if you are so lucky to actually find a job, you'll get paid less than 40K a year, which is definitely NOT good enough for the lifestyle I want, or even the one I have right now!

I'd love to be a Cosmetics or Accessories buyer at Saks!

My second choice would be to become a buyer. My boyfriend is interning at Saks, and is meeting all of the head people, as well as the buying team. Everyone LOVES working at Saks, and I definitely want to intern in the buying department the summer before my junior year [next summer]. I'd love to be either an Accessories or Cosmetics Buyer!

My third choice would be to go into Fashion or Beauty Public Relations. As previously mentioned, I'm loving my experience at Nicole Miller so far! And by December [when my internship ends] I'm sure I'll love it even more!

So, now that my personal / professional life is a little less hectic, I'd like to thank all of you for bearing with me on my endless ramblings revolving solely upon my never-ending stress [i.e. the desire to find the PERFECT internship!]. I am well aware I can get boring and/or repetitive, but thankfully that's all over with. Now, I can finally get back to doing what I love: Blogging about pretty things! [cue fireworks]