Designer Spotlight & Exclusive Interview: Meera Sharma

London-based designer Meera Sharma's debut collection, titled Femme Fatale, is inspired by the female superhero: sexy, strong and powerful.  To Meera she is the "ultimate" woman and much like the women she designs for.  I recently came across Meera and instantly loved her strong point-of-view and creative use of materials.  

I had the chance to interview the emerging designer:

How did you decide to become a fashion designer?

I have always been fascinated by fashion from a young age, be it observing what people are wearing or designing clothes for my Barbie dolls so it was a natural progression. It's great to be able to show my viewpoint on fashion to other people via my designs. 

What business advice would you give other designers or entrepreneurs wanting to start their own lines?

Make sure you understand business, read up on it or ask someone for advice as you need to understand about costings. At the end of the day you want to be able to know how to keep costs down to increase profit margins. Starting your own line is not an easy thing and you do need to have funding of some sort so make sure you are ready for setbacks as it is a difficult industry to get into!

What are your three "must-have" pieces this Winter?

Oo three must have pieces I want, that is a difficult one as I go through phases. I really want some trendy, colourful knitwear. I also saw these leggings with faux diamonds on them (they look much nicer than they sound!) that I want. Also maybe a leather skirt? 

As a budding talent, Meera is up for the MUUSEX VOGUE TALENTS YOUNG VISION AWARD 2012.  Vote for Meera here!  For more on Meera Sharma see her official site here.  

Good luck Meera and can't wait to see more from you! 

What's next for Tamara Mellon?

The woman behind the Jimmy Choo label and now multinational company recently told The New York Times “As soon as my resignation came out from Jimmy Choo, I had lots of people e-mail me saying, ‘I would love to invest in your new project.’ ”  One year ago Tamara Mellon left Jimmy Choo.  So what exactly is she up to now?  Apart from moving to NYC from London, Ms. Mellon is writing a book.  “It’s not strictly a business book and it’s not strictly a memoir,” she said. “It’s a hybrid.”  Even more interesting, there is talk in creating her own lifestyle brand.  “I’d rather take the risk and have a new challenge,” she said.  Well, we are all excited to see what's next from this ultra-successful businesswoman and personal favorite I look up to.   

See full New York Times article here. 

Designer Spotlight: Soyer

I discovered a new brand while in NYC - Soyer.  Designer Soyun Shin has created an awesome knitwear company.  With sweater dressing in mind, Soyer is perfect for the modern woman on the go. The key to the clothing is sophistication meets versatility as the pieces are simple yet tailored with an unexpected twist.  I picked up this sweater in black from the boutique Curve in Soho and have been living in it since returning to London.  Literally I wore it Saturday on the plane, to brunch Sunday at Tom's Kitchen and today for lunch at the Dorchester.  Chances are I'll be wearing it tonight as well.  I really need to find a new obsession and fast!

Guest Blogger: DARK WINGS CITY: M2MALLETIER Spring - Summer 2013

Guest blogger DARK WINGS CITY posts on my favorite upcoming handbag line M2MALLETIER, co-founded by one of my friends.  Check back soon as I feature my own M2MALLETIER handbag seen here in an upcoming photo shoot.

Full article: DARK WINGS CITY: M2MALLETIER Spring - Summer 2013

Contouring Demystified...Finally

This is the best image I have ever seen regarding how to contour your face.  If you are like me I really had no idea how to do this.  I just kept hearing about it.  But since I have tried it with this image as a guide, it actually makes a huge difference to your makeup routine in a matter of minutes.

In order of application: The brown lines represent your bronzer, pink lines are blush and white lines and circles are highlighter.  I personally use Guerlain Terracotta bronzer in 02, Clinique blush in Breathless Berry and Tom Ford highlighter in Peach Blush (featured in my previous post Tom Ford Beauty).

Read full article here!

Content is Key - Part 1 of 2

Digital marketing. Consumer engagement. Content marketing strategy.  These terms are fast becoming viewed as Marketing as a whole and not just a subset.  Almost all major brands nowadays have a social media presence in order to attract, acquire and engage consumers.  But the key for brands is not only how many people "like" them on Facebook or "follow" them on Twitter, it is producing good content continuously.

Content marketing strategies can range from social media, to online (and offline) magazines to blogs, etc.  Editorial departments once reserved for magazines and newspapers are increasingly becoming in-house divisions.  Take Net-A-Porter for example.  One major component of its business is editorial which takes current product offerings and creates continuous content in the form of an online magazine identifying trends, most wanted pieces and interviews with trendsetters where people can then click and buy directly from the site.  This is an example of content marketing at its best (to remember attract, acquire and engage) and ultimately drives sales.

Photo credit: Net-A-Porter

NYC Bound

(Burberry coat, Maje sweater, AG jeans)

I'm off to NYC!

Essential packing list (including items above):

Club Monaco Sandra V-Neck tees (in every color)
Etoile Isabel Marant Lecia blouse
Haute Hippie tuxedo sleeveless blouse
Maje Olsen black sweater 
Rag & Bone Boleyn blazer
Theyskens Theory Cashu Fiola dress (now on sale!)
Rag & Bone leather skinny jeans
Christian Louboutin Pigalle flats 
Alexander Wang shoes
Lady Grey Symtra Choker necklace

Rodarte collection for Starbucks

"Medieval and fantasy role-playing games": the inspiration for Rodarte's Spring/Summer 2013 collection

The collaboration between fashion forward Rodarte (known for creating the striking ballerina costumes for Natalie Portman in Black Swan) and the coffee chain is definitely a surprise.  This is Starbucks first foray into the fashion industry. I personally love the idea as I am the target customer for this partnership.  But I wonder if the majority of Starbucks customers will respond to products by a designer brand.  Thoughts???


Photo credit: style.com

It is Fall

Casual sweater on top of sequins 

Layers to perfection and love the color combination of olive green, grey and off-white

Thick yummy leather jacket in a refreshing color

Easy, oversized, cozy cable neck sweater to pair with jeans and knee high boots and you are done

Camel coat paired with an exotic skin clutch (embossed or real, you get the effect)

With all the goodness of Spring/Summer 2013 Fashion Weeks still on the brain, I find it hard to remember these days that I need to be thinking about dressing for Fall!  I will be showcasing my favorite SS13 designer looks in the near future, but for now here are some of my favorite looks and style inspirations to get dressed now.


Photo credit: All can be found on MFS Pinterest page

Tom Ford Beauty

I have discovered my new favorite makeup line - Tom Ford Beauty.
Above image from left to right:

• Cafe Rose Eau de Parfum
• Exotic Teal Eye Defining Pencil
• Midnight Eye Defining Pencil
• Emerald Lust Eye Color Quad
• Narcissist Cheek Color
• Peach Blush Illuminating Highlighter Pen
• Bordeaux Lust Nail Lacquer
• Minx Nail Lacquer
• Naivete Ultra Shine Lip Gloss

My personal trick: I line the outer corner to the middle of the upper eyelid with Exotic Teal Eye Defining Pencil and fully line the bottom eyelid with Midnight Eye Defining Pencil.  With a coat of mascara, this look will give you just enough of a pop of color but still remain subtle.

On another note, did you know Tom Ford Beauty is part of the Estee Lauder brands?  Very stylish indeed.

Brad and Chanel

The most important branding takeaway I learned from working in the luxury goods industry is the importance of showcasing one's heritage but innovating to stay current with the times.

Recently naming Brad Pitt as the first ever male face to the iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume is innovative.  The ad campaign not only appeals to women by having the stamp of approval from Brad, but also appeals to men as a gift for their significant others. See full ad campaign on Chanel's website. 

Chanel No. 5 is the iconic perfume of the fashion house and embodies it's rich history being the first perfume released in 1921.   And let's be honest here, if Brad likes it I like it! 

Photo credit: guardian.co.uk

Trend: The Printed Blouse

I'm loving this dark printed blouse needed for any wardrobe to give that extra edge to the many basic blouses we already own!  Style with your favorite black leather pants or dark denim and you are ready for any occasion day or night.  I'm not one to over-accessorize and with a show-stopping top like this, I say less is more!  Find this gorgeous Stella McCartney blouse here.  

Diet Coke & Jean Paul Gaultier Collaboration

Last night while reading fashion magazines on my iPad, I came across Diet Coke's newest print ad: "Styles evolve, but good taste never changes."  What a great statement I thought.  I had to incorporate it into my blog.

The collaboration between Jean Paul Gaultier and Diet Coke is a great example of two different industries collaborating in order to gain new audiences, increase brand awareness and/or enhance brand image.  Good taste is the key takeaway to Diet Coke's ad campaign.  What a great way to bridge the beverage products and fashion industries by merging good taste with style, a well-known match.

It is no wonder Coca-Cola retained its #1 spot on Interbrand's 100 Best Brands report which came out last week, winning over Apple and IBM.  See article here. 

Mouthful of Style Introduction

I decided to create Mouthful of Style to share my love for fashion.  From trends of the moment to pieces that last a lifetime, fashion is constantly shaping and challenging me to find and evolve my own fashion identity. 

Growing up in California and currently living in London, I spent the majority of my 20s in New York City where my love for all things fashion grew exponentially.  Every post of this blog will be a mouthful worth of all things stylish I hold value to.  I hope you enjoy reading as much as I will enjoy sharing my fashion insights, inspirations and learnings with you!

xo,

Mouthful of Style