it girl status

It’s not every day that you receive a giant package in the mail from Teen Vogue filled with goodies like free nail polish, an iTunes gift card, and party decorations. But when you do, it is certainly an occasion to celebrate. I was one of ten Teen Vogue It Girls who was chosen to host a Revlon White Hot Summer Party. The purpose: to create unique nail art using Revlon’s 2-in-1 collection. The setting: my backyard on a summer night. The guests: my amazing friends. The result: amazing. If you don’t already follow me on Twitter and Instagram, you can follow me @jane_aus10 to see more pictures and videos from the party. But here’s a few to show you the event, along with what I wore to it, of course.

Outfit Details: Dress: Gypsy Warrior, Necklace: Free People, Shoes: Jeffery Campbell

3, 2, 1, yours,
Keep Calm and Chiffon

intern diary

As many of my friends parted ways for four months of unparalleled freedom from the containment and workload of college, we all traveled down separate paths. Some sought adventure overseas, some worked in quaint coffee shops, and some threw themselves full force into the NYC intern world. This summer I interned with Hunter Dixon. Hunter Bell is a fashion designer who won Season 2 of NBC's TV show Fashion Star. The line is modern, feminine and is produced entirely in NYC. I'll be the first to tell you that 90% of what you hear about internships is true. There will be coffee runs. There will be a lot of work. And there is a very slim chance you'll get paid. 

However, what most articles and sites don't tell you about internships is those shining moments that happen along the way. When a stranger holds and elevator door open for you, or when your boss treats you to Starbucks, or when you discover an amazing fabric store you've never heard of before (Libra Leathers anyone?). They also don't tell you about the incredible, inspiring and passionate people that you get to work with on a daily basis. I love the HD office crew and they'll always have a special place in my heart. Speaking of them, check out these photos of fellow interns Grace and Jackie wearing HD!

Some of my tasks at Hunter Dixon have included arranging mood boards, sourcing fabrics and hardware for upcoming collections, helping with model castings, creating an office playlist, researching fashion bloggers for possible collaborations (check out Liz from Late Afternoon in Hunter Dixon) assisting with the Fashion Star Final Three Sample Sale, as well as suggesting some new social media strategies (see me on her Instagram!) See? It's a lot more than coffee runs. 

I asked my boss, Hunter, for her best piece of advice for someone who wants to break into fashion and she said, "The main thing is perseverance and confidence! Be willing to roll up your sleeves and work hard." Also, among the many articles I've read about internships, if you're interested in an internship in fashion make sure to read this NY Times article for the best tips on how to approach it.

As I'm coming into the last week of my internship I wanted to share my experiences and look back on everything that I've done these last few months. And last but not least THANK YOU to everyone contributed to me having this internship for the summer. Thank you Richard, Jeanne, Mom, Dad and everyone in the HD office for letting me have the time of my life in the city that I love. 

gratefully yours,

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

city safari

The middle of a heat wave does not seem like the best time to experiment with fall clothing, but these two pieces were begging to explore the city. The perfect outfit for sitting in a cafe no one's ever heard of, ordering an overpriced iced something and rereading a book whose words you know all too well. More Hunter Dixon pieces I've fallen in love with at work are the Safari top and Bettty skirt from the Fall 2013 collection. I know we're all very shocked that I love this galaxy print but can you blame me? And the panels on the shirt are sheer genius. Any one get it? Any one? Any one? Bueller? 

Outfit Details: Top and Skirt: Hunter Dixon, Necklace: Topshop, Shoes: Necessary Clothing

infinitely yours,

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

wind-blown

The Garment District is really incredible. Nestled just south of Times Square and just north of Chelsea these few square blocks have really started to feel like home even though I've only been interning there for a few months. I promise a full-fledged intern diary post in the coming weeks, but here's a preview of some of Hunter's fall collection. The fabrics and silhouettes are absolutely to die for so it was hard to choose what to shoot, but I narrowed it down to this Minnie Dress and the pieces that will appear in the second post.

Outfit Details: Dress: Hunter Dixon, Bracelet: Forever 21, Wedges: Dolce Vita

yours on seventh avenue,

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

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parallel universe

I dreamt of taking out my keyboard letters and replacing them with hieroglyphs, just for a change of pace and switching France and Spain on a map to see if anyone noticed. How often do you ignore what's around you? 

Outfit Details: Top, Shorts and Bra: Free People, Shoes: TOMS, Necklace: Topshop

yours until you lose me,

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

hailing gypsy cabs

The heat of the city is suffocating, but what better place to suffocate?  Circular frames, raw-edged mesh, and pure pure white are all I need right now. Just another day in the concrete jungle. 

Outfit Details: Top: Gypsy Warrior, Dress: Gypsy Warrior, Bag: Big Buddha 

abbreviated and yours,

Keep Calm and Chiffon 

american dream

Gatsby stands by the edge of the water, gazing out across the reflective body and reaching towards the infamous green light. Baz Lurhmann depicts this moment repetitively without an ounce of subtlety in the recent remake. And why? Because we are obsessed with the idea of the American Dream. And it's an awesome one to be obsessed with. But don't make the same mistake that Gatsby did. Don't believe in stereotypes and cliches. Go find your own dream and make it happen. Mine just happens to involve leather shorts and stomping around in Jeffery Campbells. 

Outfit Details: Tank: Vintage, Shorts: Bardot, Shoes: Jeffery Campbell

'murica, I'm yours,

Keep Calm and Chiffon