To see more shows, and also to see video of the Swim wear collections: CLICK HERE

Frankie Sandford of the Saturday’swas seen out in London recently wearing a simple and chic outfit, that any girl can take inspiration from. Skinny’s + tank + vest + oversized bag + platforms = one hot ensemble. Recreate her look with these options.

Frankie Sandford by The Style Aficionado featuring Anya Hindmarch bags

DEBARDEUR LOUAN
135 EUR - zadig-et-voltaire.com
More cardigans »

Winter Kate Hudson Vest in Jet Black
$279 - shopthetrendboutique.com
More Winter Kate vests »

Stella Old Glory Skinny Denim
$229 - metroparkusa.com
More True Religion jeans »

Steve Madden ‘Caryssa’ Pump
$90 - nordstrom.com
More Steve Madden pumps »

ANYA HINDMARCH x BEN EINE Bag
230 EUR - colette.fr
More Anya Hindmarch tote bags »

Frankie Sandford
thestyleaficionado.com

Forever 21 has jumped on the designer collaboration bandwagon, and will debut their designer collaboration with Brian Lichtenberg on August 13. In case you’re wondering Brian is the mastermind behind this:

and stylist for many other celebs like Beyonce and M.I.A. The F21 collection will feature items for both men and women.

Fast fashion retailer Forever 21 is doing big things! They’ve just opened their first store in the Phillipines, opened a HUGE 4 level store in Times Square, and most recently; had a baby! OK, well maybe not an actual baby, but they have given birth to a maternity line. I think this is huge news for fashionable Moms to-be. With Love21 maternity, expecting Mothers can look great without dishing out a lot of money on clothes they will only wear a few months.

In preparation for the launch, F21 enlisted the help of real-world mothers to be, to dish on the new line. Check it out below.


Pictured above, from left to right: Angie, Cynthia, Heidi and Michelle.

NAME: Cynthia
HOMETOWN: San Francisco
HOW FAR ALONG? 23 weeks pregnant
What was your go-to, foolproof outfit before being pregnant?
Skinny jeans, oversized top, lightweight jacket and boots or wedges.
What was your favorite thing you wore at the shoot?
The denim was my favorite because it was comfortable around the waist and still flattering. It was nice not having to use a rubber band to expand the waist of my own skinny denim.
Any advice you’d like to share with others?
Exercise, like walking, stretching and prenatal yoga, is so good for you and your baby, plus it helps you look great in your clothes!

NAME: Angie
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles
HOW FAR ALONG? 33 weeks pregnant
Describe your style in three words, before pregnancy.
Trendy, comfortable and random.
What was your go-to, foolproof outfit then?
Tight skinny jeans, heels or wedges and tons of accessories.
What was your favorite thing you wore at the shoot?
Spandex leggings—they’re very comfortable and easy to dress up or down!
What is your opinion of the Love 21 Maternity line?
The product is very basic and very easy to work with. I would definitely buy from it…especially the jeans! I would certainly recommend it to my friends.

NAME: Heidi
HOMETOWN: Leicestershire, England
HOW FAR ALONG? 24 weeks pregnant
Describe your style in three words, before pregnancy.
Simple, modern, vintage.
How has your style changed? What is your go-to outfit now?
I can’t wear vintage jeans due to the non-stretch quality of the denim, so I now wear either leggings or denim jeggings with a fitted shirt. I wear heels when my feet are not too swollen.
Any advice you’d like to share?
Be comfortable and experiment by trying on lots of outfits to see what looks good on your body shape as it changes from month to month. You need to keep on reinventing yourself!

NAME: Michelle
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles
HOW FAR ALONG? 28 weeks pregnant
Describe your style in three words, before pregnancy.
Vintage, feminine, casual.
What is your opinion of the Love 21 Maternity line?
This line gives me a chance to indulge my true style without a huge investment. It’s so important to have comfortable, flattering clothing during this time.
Do you like showing off your belly? What pieces allow you to do this?
I love all the positive and friendly attention I get from being pregnant. Modest, but fitted tops and skinny jeans allow me to feel good and showcase my pregnancy.

“I’m a big fan of mini-dresses – they’re my favorite silhouette – because they’re flirty and you get to show a little skin without revealing too much, especially if the sleeves are long and cover up a lot of the body. I also like dresses that come to the knee that are a little tight and show off the shape of the body.”

“I like to wear out my clothes because I think I spend so much money on them that I have to wear every cent out of them. I especially love when I have a piece, like a jacket, that I can wear so many different times with so many different things.”

“For everyday, I like jeans that are supposed to be skinny jeans but aren’t tight. I like them tomboy-ish so that they’re almost a size or two bigger than my normal size and slouch a bit. When I go out, I like a more structured jean because, for my body, they’re more flattering on my legs.

“I really like cat-eye sunglasses, but I would say my favorite everyday shape is [the shield] straight across on the top, because they’re really flattering for the shape of my face. “

Spring 2008 RTW (3.1 Phillip Lim and Threeasfour)

Present Spring 2010 (Valentino and Nanette Lepore)

Love,

Cynthia

Spending money on clothes that will last only a few wears is a thing of the past. Since the recession is still looming over fashionista closets everywhere, it is imperative that we get the most out of the garments we decide are worthy of our money. Since price ≠ quality, it is foolish to assume that because you spend top dollar on something that it is going to last (or that you wont have a wardrobe malfunction in them). So, how exactly do you spot quality? Keep reading…..

Inspect. Give potential closet additions a thorough inspection. Pay close attention to the following:

• Buttons.Buttons, hooks, and fasteners should be secure and sturdy. Poorly attached buttons are a sign of poor quality, but if everything else checks out on the garment, don’t let the buttons deter you, you can always reinforce them. Be sure to ask for a discount if you have to replace or reattach any fasteners. Also, look at the button hole. High quality clothing is bound with thread for strength
• Stitching. Garments tend to rip at the seams, more than any other area. Check all the seams and give them a good pull. Look for any gaps and openings, quality clothing will have close tight stitches, that are sewn in a straight line, and do not pull apart.
• Patterns.Pay close attention to how the pattern continues at the seams. Patterns on well made clothing, interlace without distortion or breaks. For example, on a striped shirt do they line up with the corresponding stripe on either side? Do they connect properly at the shoulders? For handbags, is the logo cut off awkward? For some prints, this may not matter in terms of aesthetics or even durability, but aligned patterns are a sign of good workmanship.
• Fabric. Unless the item is meant to be sheer, your skin should not show through. Also, good quality items will have a high thread count, and resist wrinkles (with the exception of linens)

Inspecting  before you buy is a critical step in getting the most out of your clothes, but it doesn’t end there. Once you get them home, proper care is paramount. Following the instruction on the tag, according to the material is always a smart move, but here are some extra steps you can take to keep your clothing pristine:

• Turn your jeans inside out while in the wash, doing so will help prevent fading.
• Since most fading occurs in the dryer, keep your drying time to a minimum. Allow clothes to air dry (out of the sun) to about 75% dry and then place them in the dryer to finish the drying process and smooth out any wrinkles.
• Bra’s should be handwashed, but if you do put them in the wash, put them in a lingerie bag or pillow case, and fasten the buckles.
• NO WIRE HANGERS! There’s a reason Mommy Dearest goes bananas over them. They are too thin to provide any shape support, and rusting and snagging may occur.
• Fold sweaters and knits to avoid stretching them
• Hang like fabric materials and colors together in the closet, you don’t want your rough denim rubbing your silks or color transfers.
• Don’t be afraid of the iron. I personally hate ironing, so I avoid wrinkly materials, but sometime an iron is all a garment needs to look new. (avoid too much starch)
• Don’t wash your clothes. At least for a few wears. Depending on what you’re doing and where you’re going jeans can get 2-3 wears before washes and jackets even longer.

What characteristics do you look for in clothing to help you determine if it is worth buying or not? Tell us in the comments.