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A magazine for all things fresh, fierce and incredibly fabulous

BLOOM

Letter From The Editor

!I like to create, not follow the rules of others. With a passion for art, couture and

anything avant-garde, I have always been drawn to the world of high fashion. From glamorous catwalks to original street style, I breathe off the empowerment that comes from such a notable and glamorous industry. I have always seen fashion as a challenge

as it forces us to ask questions about who we are and who we want to become- as most of you know, I can never turn down a challenge.

!Fashion lets us explore the world in some of the most unconventional ways. I believe that we all have an ability to reveal something about ourselves with the clothes we

choose to wear. !

Bloom is meant to take what we think we know and redesign it. Reshape it until it reflects our inner spirit- helping us move from ordinary to extraordinary. With a well-

established distinctive style, we can become walking, talking pieces of art. !

When you dress for others, you’re merely dressing for approval. But when you dress for yourself, there’s no telling what beauty may come of it.

Enjoy-

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“Be daring, be different, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary” - Cecil Beaton

CONTENT 3- Letter from the Editor

6- Daisy & Confused

8- Confessions of a Fashionista

10- A Whole New Platform

11- Flat Stanley Fashion

12- The Art of Being Famous

18- All Things Studded

21- Lost in the Ivy

26- Dangers in the Details

32- A Simple Shift

34- Yogi Here, Yogi There

CONTRIBUTIONS!!style.com, polyvore.com

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The Row Leather-trimmed round-frame acetate and

metal sunglasses

CALYPSO St. Barth Jumana Silk Tunic Dress

TOPSHOP Floppy Wool Fedora Hat

Monica Sordo Empire

18K-Gold Plated Ring

Loeffler Randall Maisy Cut Out Sandal

NARS Niagara Satin Lipstick

Cambridge Satchel 11" leather backpack

Pre-owned Hermès Wide Enamel Bracelet

Daisy & Confused: Fresh Festival Finds

Forget your basic denim cutoffs and tiny cropped tee’s- this (festival) season we’re featuring trends that are original, obscure, and totally out of the ordinary.

polyvore.com

STEVEN ALAN Single Needle Shirt

TOPSHOP Textured Leather Look

Leggings

Kiki de Montparnasse Nudite Chantilly lace camisole

Maria Black Gold

Plated De

Con Ring

ACNE STUDIOS Jensen Ankle Boots

Alexander Wang Prisma Envelope Wallet In Oyster With Rhodium

Ray-Ban The Wayfarer leather-covered acetate sunglasses

Essie Professional Spaghetti Strap Nail Polish

Deepa Gurnani Luxe Headband

Ardency Inn Americana Natural Lip Color Pencil

MARC by Marc Jacobs Baker Analog

polyvore.com

Confessions of a Fashionista FEATURING AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARGIE KORSHAK’S

PR AND SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

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!Bloom: Describe your style in three words. Lauren: Boho, edgy and chic. !

!!!Bloom: What is your process for getting ready in the mornings? Lauren: I dress based on how I feel. If I’m happy and upbeat, I will dress more feminine. If I’m feeling more chill, I’ll wear boyfriend jeans and an oversized sweater. I’m big on comfort without compromising style. !

Bloom: What are your top sources of inspiration? Lauren: Blogs are huge. I get my daily dose from sincerelyjules.com, themanrepeller.com, songofstyle.com, and theblondesalad.com.!

Bloom: How do you incorporate the latest trends in your wardrobe? Lauren: I seek out coverage from NYFW and find trends that I think that I can pull of. I pick two or three trends and use those pieces to help define my style for that season.!

Bloom: How do you find pieces that emulate your personality / inner fashionista? Lauren: I don’t ever have a plan of action and I don’t seek pieces out. When I go shopping, certain pieces speak to me. I wouldn't force a certain trend into my style just because it’s popular that season. !

Bloom: Where do you shop? Lauren: Cusp, Aritzia, Free People, Nordstrom, ASOS, and NASTY GAL.!

Bloom: What’s one piece of advice you have for someone looking to redefine their style? Lauren: Don’t ever try to force a look if it doesn’t feel right for you. I always say, “If it doesn’t feel right, don’t wear it.” !

Bloom: What are your three favorite pieces? Lauren: Jeffrey Campbell Vintage Booties, Stuart Weitzman 50/50’s, and of course my Nike’s. I also couldn’t live without my Citizen of Humanities Rocket Jeans or my Louis Vuitton brown monogrammed bag.!

Bloom: What are you wearing? Lauren: Zara suede booties, Rocket Jeans, Free People blouse, CUSP necklace and Nordstrom bracelets.!

Bloom: What’s one go-to piece every woman should own? Lauren: A great leather jacket, a really good pair of jeans and an LBD.!

Fashion is all about taking the latest trends and making them work for you and this Fashionista shares her story

on how she developed her own personalized look.

A Whole New Platform !!

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!!Spotted:(Vionnet(spring(2014(platform(high(heels(

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!Growing up in the ’90s, it’s safe to say that I’ve seen my fair share of fashion faux pas. From butterfly clips to Baby G’s and light up sneakers to transparent Jellies, the trends

that were popular twenty years ago seemed to have faded away—for the most part. While most fads don’t find their place in 2014, there are many trends that thrive off the

nostalgia, clinging to the quirkiness that made them popular in the first place.

A perfect example of an “outdated” trend that has made a surprising comeback is undoubtedly the platform wedge. Hitting the runway on models in the ’70s and

eventually gaining fame from the infamous Spice Girls in the '90s, platform shoes have been in and out of the fashion limelight for over 4 decades.

There are many different ways to rock this trend without looking too clunky or weighted. Marc by Marc Jacobs offers a simple version of this confident shoe while NASTY GAL is notorious for their platform booties, having everything from spiked and heavy to lacy

and light. A platform shoe can be worn with a simple dress (think Ashley Olson) or paired with a more daring piece similar to Nicole Richie’s look.

A bold platform bootie is a personal fave as it balances intensity, femininity and a bit of

eccentricity. It may seem intimidating when shopping for a pair of these statement shoes, but if you start small and find a shoe that fits your look, you’ll be rocking a pair of

Jeffrey Campbell’s spiked shoes in no time at all.

Flat Stanley Fashion

Bringing haute couture to the midwest…

one designer at a time

Rachel Zoe Spring 2014 RTW

Christian Dior Spring 2014 Couture

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! Christian Dior Spring 2014 Couture

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Rachel Zoe Spring 2014 RTW

Christian Dior Spring 2014 Couture

!The Art of Being Famous !My favorite part about today is that it is no longer Monday. I often don’t mind this day of the week- everything feels calm, motionless, almost. Realizing I have 30 minutes until my first alarm, I crack the knuckles on my left hand as I fumble for my cigarette pack with my right. The quiet hum of my espresso maker calms my racing thoughts- I often use it as a distraction from the business of the outside world. I open my MacBook and I begin to scroll through my gmail- looking to see if any email seems worth my time. As soon as I discover there isn’t (which there almost never is), I close the computer and start my shower. The thought of my double espresso waiting for me as soon as I dry off often gives me enough incentive to take my shower in under three minutes. I turn the dial from H to C and push open the colorful glass door. Wrapping myself in an oversized towel, I begin to take notice of my facial hair. Too thick? Too sparse? Just right. I open the morning paper and slowly begin to sip my blackened espresso, using this time to catch up on daily news and worldly events. After I learn that nothing has changed and things (for the most part) have remained the same, I dress myself in a black kilt, black button up and black boots before I grab my bag and lock the front door. !

The fitting scheduled for this morning should be enjoyable. It’s with an old friend and former model from my line, and I have already begun mentally picking out the music for today’s shoot. Nicki Minaj’s bass bumps from my car speakers as I wait for the street light to change from red to green. I sit through the entirety of the song in the studio parking lot- taking notice of my name in my reserved spot. !

Reserved for Marc Jacobs. !I wait until the chorus ends before I turn off the car and make my way to the studio.

Cara has already arrived and is waiting for me in the dressing room. We are very good friends so there is never any awkwardness with her blatantly naked body. We laugh and catch up before my assistant and stylists are allowed to enter, aiming to remind her that we are the only two people who matter here. I’m impressed with her energy along with her appearance- as we often need two make up artists to work on her puffiness as another three continue work to cover up her obvious bags. She asks my assistant for another espresso, which is likely the reason for her undeniable pep- either that or the cocaine.

style.com

! We dress her in a variety of pieces, observing that the simple ones flatter her boyish body more so than the heavier ones. She lets me do whatever I want to her- making my life (and my Tuesday) a lot easier. After the fitting, Cara and I ditch the warehouse and escape to a lesser-known obsession of mine; a small hipster coffee house on the corner of Melrose and Ocean. We gossip about Dolce & Gabbana’s latest scandal and argue about whether they will be behind bars for the entirety of their 18 month sentence. As we finished drinking our fourth double espresso, we exchange two kisses, say our farewells and escape to our separate homes on either side of the city. When I return to the office, I am told by my assistant that there are no calls and no messages left for me. To my surprise, my Tuesday has already begun to wind down and I am allotted ample time to plan my dinner- a medium rare flank steak with a side of Brussels sprouts and two poached eggs. Before I receive an expected and unpleasant call from Michael (Kors that is), I quickly pack up my bag, reach for my keys, and slip out the back before anyone else takes notice.

!!!!!“a little prep, a little grungy, and a little couture”

- Marc Jacobs

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All Things

Studded style.com

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Moving away from the warm days of fall into a windier winter, my floral and lace

tops begin to make their way to the back of my closet and my inner Rihanna

wants nothing more than a flashy studded jacket to encompass my plain jane

tanks. Being the accessory of the decade, studs are a bold addition to any look

as they give Fashionista/o's a unique opportunity to “spike things up” with their

wardrobe. Whether splattered across a black leather jacket or carefully placed

along a chic Chloé clutch, this biker chic trend has returned once again.

 

Originally seen on rockers of the 80’s and biker chicks in the '90s, this flashy fad

has been made mainstream by stars like Alexa Chung and Demi Lovato and can

be found on anything from leather leggings to barely-there coresettes. Though

this trend was once made popular by rebellions, it now has the ability to an elicit

a sense of femininity depending on how you chose to show off your studs.

 

Chloé and Alexander Wang have some amazing studded bags while designers

like Jeffrey Campbell and Givenchy are constantly thinking up new and

innovative ways to keep this trend in the fashion spotlight.

 

While they can be found on almost anything this season, I adore the studs

splattered across Isabel Marant's Fall 2013 Ready-To-Wear leather jacket.

Andreea appears both edgy and chic as she gracefully carries the jacket,

keeping her accessories and make up to a minimum. If you’re hesitant to give

this flashy fad a shot, start small by wearing a bag scattered with this shiny metal

and slowly work your way up to a full studded outfit.

SHOW OFF YOUR STUDS

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“Always keep your eyes open. Keep watching. Because whatever you see can inspire you” -

Grace Coddington

Hat: BCBG!Top: Urban Outfitters!

Jewelry: Aruba

LOST IN THE IVY

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Necklace: BCBG!Necklace: BCBG !

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Shoes: Lucky Brand!

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Pants: Aritzia !

I often do things that others wouldn’t expect. Whether that's wearing wooden wedges in the winter or snakeskin in the summer, I find that a simple shock factor has the potential to add another dimension to an otherwise boring outfit. Although there are obvious ways to

push the boundaries of your personal style, it is far more compelling to subtly break the rules by wearing key pieces that artfully craft a sense of style and mystique.

Summer is seen as a season full of florals, flats and fedoras since the most influential

designers focus much of their attention on creating their fall line. Fashionista’s everywhere tend to wear bright colors and light fabrics to create a carefree and

versatile sense of style; and it is only those daring enough to break the rules that help to determine next season’s popular trends.

This Fashionista broke every assumption about this time of year as she

wore numerous pieces that emulate an anything-but-summer feeling. Her maroon tapered trouser’s and black floppy hat immediately caught my attention, by giving off a flair unlike any other piece I’ve

seen this season. Being both edgy and chic, a felt floppy hat is the perfect accessory as it adds both a dash of elegance and a

hint of rebellion to any classic look. I absolutely love Luisa Via Roma’s wool blend hat that features both a floppy brim and

grosgrain hatband. P.A.R.O.S.H. carries a pair of casual tapered pants in both maroon and black, while Brian

Dales has a pair of virgin wool cropped pants appropriate for even the most scorching days of

the season.

This Fashionista accessorized with a sparkling statement necklace, a simple gold cuff and

traditional diamond studs. Her sweater tank and dark red lips can be worn

through the next two seasons and her subtle cat eye remains consistent with her soft features. I admire by

her ability to appear equally edgy and chic while working

against the season’s norms by pulling pieces from

conflicting and seemingly

inconsistent styles.

LOST IN THE IVY

!Dangers in the Details:

An Accesso-Revolution

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Here at Bloom, we believe in the freedom of art meeting fearless expression and love to discover new ways to observe the world around

us. These next five snapshots will give you a sneak peak into our favorite pieces this season by combing art, fashion and design.

polyvore.com

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“Real style is never right or wrong. It’s a matter of being yourself on purpose” - G. Bruce Boyer

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A Simple Shift

style.com

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! !Making its first debut on flappers in the '20s and reviving on Lillies in the '60s, the shift dress has been a staple in womens' closets since Pulitzer popularized it's rare and rebellious design in 1962. While style

icons like Twiggy and Jackie O pulled this piece off flawlessly, many women still tend to shy away from the shift; fearing the boxy structure and seemingly shapeless fit. The addition of a belt, cropped jacket or

statement necklace can help to change the way the dress forms to your body.  

Duma's look is flawless- the electric green along with the bold pattern makes this dress both feminine and fashion forward. Her chunky black wedges lift the dress impeccably and my obsession with her outfit grew rapidly once I noticed her striking statement necklace. The swirling pattern, bright colors and bold detail

really makes this piece a one-of-a-kind.   

There are many readily available patterned shift dresses available on Polyvore and ASOS; while Nordstrom and DSW offer countless affordable wedges in many different styles. NASTY GAL has a great

selection of unique statement necklaces and J. Crew carries some of my absolute favorite sparkling accessories.

  Whether covered in sequins or drenched in fringe, the shift dress will always remain a trendy and

sophisticated statement piece that has proven to stand the test of time. 

style.com

Yogi Here, Yogi There

!Ahhh, the world of yoga. From hip-opening inversions to rejuvenating back bends, the ancient art of yoga has taken over the modern fast-paced world as we know today. Replacing trendy group exercise (Zumba, spinning and any other wanna-be aerobics) with reprised elegance and flow, yogi’s everywhere are celebrating the unity of this beloved sport. !Before I began my practice, I was nothing more than a treadmill running health freak- constantly looking for new ways to purify and detoxify my body. Beginning with my first Bikram class, I immediately fell in love with the grace and persistence

that yoga required, forcing the concept of mindfulness as my newest challenge. I discovered a new found respect for my body as I began to understand all that it could do and how good it could truly feel. I surprised myself everyday when learning new and seemingly bizarre postures; and it is then that I began to appreciate the stillness that kept me rooted in the chaos of my everyday drama. Sacrificing my Heirloom sandwich for a Hot House vinyasa class, I held high hopes for the potential the practice had to redefine my future. I was building a stronger connection with my body and was becoming mindful of the many ways in which it could make me feel empowered. The art of yoga has opened up my mind to new possibilities and gave me the confidence I now have to accomplish anything I set my mind to.

“Dressing well is a form of good manners” - Tom Ford