Artist quickie: Carl Bailey.

You are a true artist, you write music, you sing, you graduated with degree in fashion marketing and you worked in the fashion industry...what is your #1 love? Where do you see yourself in the future and what’s your dream job?

My #1 love! Is and will always be music. Music has played a major role in my life. I grew up around it and was one of the first form of arts that I was naturally exposed to.  At one point my dad was a music producer and he also had a wild eclectic record collection, so I guess it rubbed off on me from the very beginning.  As early as I can remember it's the only thing that felt like second nature to me. As far as where I see myself in the near future... Definitely continuing  to  pursue what I love and want to do and making an impact on peoples lives around the world by giving them music that they can truly relate to. That to me would be the greatest success! My dream job has always been to be an artist! I’m currently in the process of putting out new music this fall as well as videos!

The first song you released is titled "Fighting", I think this song resonates with all who tried to live and survive in NYC, what does it mean for you?

"Fighting" means everything to me! It's pretty much like my auto -biography. I wrote in retrospect of everything I've been thorough, everything I've faced, not just throughout this journey over the past few years, but my entire life is in that one song. It touches on so many different subjects that I know everyone can relate to in some way shape or form. I'm glad I wrote it! I needed to!         

 What are your future plans when it comes to music and fashion?

Well for me I think with both avenues (Music and Fashion) I just want to keep growing and evolving as much as possible. I express a great deal of who I am through my music and as well as in the way I dress. I'm always changing. I get board easily... So who knows ?… I don’t!    

We worked together in Rugby RL for more than a year, what are your most memorable moments from the time you worked in Rugby? - share only decent ones ;) 

....HmmmM...probably throwing my temper tantrums! Lol! No, but really I'd have to say Rugby is where I realized it was time for me to chase my calling, my dream! I was exposed to so many different genres of music, cultures and styles. It was a great growing/learning experience. I loved being able to take the time out to work on creative projects, displays, and interacting with different people. I was able to walk away from that situation with so much positive things added to me. So I can’t really pin-point specific moments, but overall, it was a memorable experience.

What are the top 5 MUST HAVE items which you think that every fashionable guy needs to have for the FW season?

IF your Fashionable... For the Fall/Winter season… A bad ass leather jacket is a must! I’m really into poncho’s, I think they can be a sick layering piece there’s so many different ways you can rock them, Sweatshirts with cool detail, Skinny chino’s, and a pair of Chelsea boots!

 Styled By: Heather Sands Photographed By: Daniel Barbosa

 You modeled for one of the shows in the NYFW this week, how did you like this experience and how was the atmosphere in the backstage?

 I still can’t believe I had the chance to be apart of something like that! Especially for Ozwald Boateng! It was completely out of my comfort zone, which was cool because it gave me a chance to tap into something else. 

Carl Bailey for Ozwald Boateng at NYFW SS 2013.

Backstage it was really crazy and chaotic. Lots of press running around snapping pictures, we had to practice our walks, and there was a hair stylist running around spraying hair spray in my hair every 5 minutes! hehe. This was all at the same time for about 3 hours, which made me nervous as shit! By the time it was my turn to hit the runway it felt just natural for me as performing, it gave me the same rush.

Carl Bailey for Ozwald Boateng at NYFW SS 2013.

My top 10 fashion brands: Rugby RL.

All photos are property of Rugby RL, source: here.

In my last post writing about Rugby Ralph Lauren finally opening their first European store here in Europe (London) I immediately wrote a disclaimer about not being able to be totally objective when commenting on this brand since it grew quite close to my heart when I worked there couple of years back. I loved it all, magical window displays, company’s social responsibility and projects, super cool & tremendously creative team of people I worked with and brands edgy-preppy clothes of course.J

At the time I worked at University Place store in NYC, Rugby was a bit more edgy featuring all of those fabulous fashion forward dresses, basic Ralph Lauren pieces spiced up with edgy sculls, collegiate patches creating classic but also rebellious and rockerish young look.

My favorite pieces many of which I still wear are many, most of my closet is filled with Ralph Lauren pieces with favorite being: Rugby skinny jeans, distressed leather valets and belts, cashmere sweaters and cardigans, cable knit sweaters for work in pastel colors, classic gold button navy blazer, rugby dresses and scull tote and of course lovely bow ties and suspenders.

Even one of the world’s most popular fashion bloggers Susie Bubble likes to wear Rugby’s scull chinos. 

Photo source here.

Rugby’s spring collection will hit it stores on January 31^stin all of its locations in US and London in Europe but it is already available for purchase online.

„It's the kind of clothes that mothers and daughters can wear, in terms of concept...

It's not about age. It's about taste, and it's about lifestyle.

I believe women of all ages can wear anything.“

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren private sale invitation!

I have been sent this exclusive customised La Passion pour la Fashion private sale invitation for my readers and I for next weekend’s (Friday and Saturday 28th & 29th October) RL sales event in London. 

I really believe that everyone needs to have a Ralph Lauren piece in their closet, take it coming from me lovelies, I have worked for Rugby Ralph Lauren and most of my closet is Ralph labeled, I can guarantee that his pieces are eternal!

Jessica Hart for Vogue Australia

Oh how I love my black cashmere open back cardigan, my classic RL navy tailored blazer with gold buttons and lined color, not to mention Rugby Ralph Lauren scull branded Rugby dress and everlasting skinny jeans.

Ralph Lauren brands indeed stand for luxury, quality and timeless fashion.

I hope to see many of you at this private sale event, I bet you'll find an amazing piece for yourself! 

Please be sure to print out your customised La Passion pour la Fashion invitation bellow!

What is your favorite RL look lovelies?

“I've always been about style for people, not 'You're going to wear this outfit,' ... It was the way you put yourself together and the imagination, not buying this number off the rack, but the way you wear it.”

Ralph Lauren

Welcome to Europe Rugby RL!

    Few weeks ago I was making yet another order of Rugby Ralph Lauren clothing from NYC store, trying to find an ex coworker who can despite for not shipping to Croatia rang my credit card and mail my  favorites no matter the shipping costs to Croatia( Thank you Carl & love you for doing it!) .

 While clicking around the page, I saw the announcement – Rugby Ralph Lauren store finally opening in Europe, more precisely in Covent Garden London on August 27^th!

      Rugby Ralph Lauren was launched back in 2004. and it managed to translate Ralph Lauren’s legacy of authentic prep clothing into eclectic, edgy, stylish and hip collection appealing to young people. What I like the most about Rugby is ability for customization of its basic pieces, timeliness and great quality of making,  absolute personalization in style and branding as well as its unique vintage appeal which is flirting with Ralph’s rich historic heritage giving young gals and gents looks effortless and sexy downtown vibe.

 God damn I thought, I wish they did this expansion while I still worked there! Then I checked my schedule and realized this store opening is falling couple of weeks before I am traveling to London Fashion Week – looks like I will be leaving my September’s paycheck in Rugby store in London!  I am sure that the store will be marvelously merchandised knowing the creative capacities of the creative team working on it! ;)

Soon I will be posting my recommendations to style fall collection Rugby looks as well as the report from London store visit in September! I am so excited about this! Stay tuned lovelies!

Bellow are some photos of the looks from upcoming Fall collection all taken from Rugby RL site. Please follow Rugby team via Facebook & Twitter for the latest updates and fabulus style advice.

“My goal in design is to achieve the best reality imaginable. I believe in design that has integrity, design that lasts, and whatever it is, it must be part of the lifestyle and become more personal with time.”

~Ralph Lauren~

Designer clothes care tips!

   You might remember numerous horror posts I dedicated to my past away black cashmere Ralph Lauren open back sweater which shrank to Barbie size, my high waste leather Topshop Kate Moss collection mini skirt which got ripped in gazillion pieces as if it was swallowed by a paper shredder or my floral silk RL collection dress which now looks like all of it flowers perished, all of these were victims of my evil washing machine! 

I dedicate this post to all of my future designer pieces which will live long and prosperous life due to my new found garment cleaning habits.

Bellow I have listed useful advice I collected during my research – I hope you’ll find it useful lovelies! J

DRY CLEANING

Limit the amount of wearings & dry clean regularly. 

Remove the plastic dry cleaning bags after laundering to prevent damage to the expensive fabric used to create most designer clothes. Send your fine furs and leathers to a furrier for cleaning.

CLOSET & STORAGE

Keep your closet well-ventilated and moth free. Don’t pack your closet to its full capacity. Create 1 inch of space between each hanger in your closet. Dry clean your designer clothes before placing the items into long periods of storage. Store your cashmere sweaters and fine woolens in cotton bags.

HOME WASHING & DRYING

Flip graphic tees inside out when washing and always use cool/cold water wash cycle. Always iron while damp.

The gentlest approach for drying is to hang dry. Most of the wear and tear to your clothes is done in the dryer. If you are going to use the household dryer, use the low heat setting and dry them to about 80% dry. Use the hang dry method to finish the last 20% of the job.

COLOR

Wash color cotton clothes gently in hot water and others in cold water. Some of the rare colors like black, turquoise blue and shocking pink always bleed and require special precautions when washed. Always use liquid detergents specialized for the type of clothes you are caring for.

COTTON

Cotton clothes require extra care. They can be washed depending on how often they are worn. Get your cottons dry-cleaned after a period of usage. Most cotton clothes need to get starched and the starch makes the cloth fluffy and stiff.

JEANS

Air-dry your jeans and vintage clothes, and use low drying settings. When it comes to jeans you don't want to wash them after every wear, try every three wears or till they feel dirty.

To maintain the color of your jeans, wash them inside out. If your jeans have faded and you want to add color, wash them together with a pair of new ones that have never been washed. The excess color from the new pair of jeans will transfer to the old pair in the process of washing.

Photos:Lily Donaldson, Gemma Ward & Caroline Trentini 

by Steven Meisel for Vogue US December 2005.

ALWAYS! Read the label and follow instructions.

Romance by crochet.

Although crochet pieces have always reminded me on those horrific little decorative table clothes that grandmas used to place on top of the TV or a book shelf and pin it down with completely useless dust loving figure of a porcelain angel or a Virgin Marry, I have purchased my first crochet dress at a Rugby RL store about 3-4 years ago and I wore it with vintage brown leather western boots and a thick Rugby belt.

This season (SS 2011.) most designers had at least one black, white and/or ivory crochet piece in their collection from Dolce Gabbana duo to Gucci, Pucci and Ralph, we could have seen maxi crochet dresses, mono-kinies, shorts and blouses which look excellent with jean shorts and chunky heels.

 All photos via google

Here are some inspirational pieces from runway to editorial, beach and street which I am sure you will beautifully individualize to fit your personal lifestyle.

Do you have a crochet piece in your closet already lovelies? What do you wear it with?

Xoxo,