It’s getting chilly and truth be told, sun dresses and sandals won’t cut it in fall weather. But please don’t opt for the sweat pant outfit and run out the door. Yes, other people will see you and sneer.

This season, the powers of fashion are leaving us some wiggle room for creativity. It’s not all about one look this year. Feel free to mix it up and juxtapose hard and soft. Go ahead, wear a silk dress and leather belt, hardware and painted details, delicates and roughs; we’re not doing laundry here, it doesn’t matter. Emphasize your shoulders, accent your legs with high boots, and crown your head with interesting hats. Do it all. Whether you’re the bows and lace type, leather and whips or some where in between, rock your look with passion and conviction.

The fundamentals of style for the fall and winter season are about keeping it cutting edge. The time to play it safe with your wardrobe is long gone. Take risks, experiment with silhouettes, and do something unexpected. You might even run with the crowd and add a dash of neon pink to your wardrobe. …Maybe I’ll get the sweat suit.

Thanks ELLE for the pics.

Nothing to do? Why not meet someone at the MET. Catch The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, closing August 9th. It examines the changing ideal of beauty from 1947 to 1997 and the people that helped project them. This riveting exibit features photography, video and articles of clothing from Yves Saint Laurent to Versace. Go on a sunny day to see Roxy Paine on the Roof:Maelstrom, a 130 foot by 45 foot stainless steel sculpture that looks like a tree on steroids. Ok maybe not exactly. There’s plenty else to see including Michelangelo’s First Painting. If none of this tickles your fancy, feel free to pout in the room full of Monets’. I mean, really, how many brillant works can you have in one building? … I guess that’s why they put one of the roof.

Here are a few photos of The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, courtesy of the special exhibitions page.

Cristobal Balenciaga (French, b. Spain 1895-1972)
Day dress, 1955-56

Gianni Versace (Italian, b. 1946-1997)
Evening dress, spring/summer 1991

Bert Stern (American, b. 1929)
Twiggy in Yves Saint Laurent, Vogue, March 15, 1967

If a diva is the female version of a hustla then Marquita Loving, owner of Beauty MarQ, is one bad chick.  Housed in Baltimore, Beauty MarQ encompasses all aspects of fashion from make up to styling, and recently designing clothing. This self made fashion mogul is “making you pretty from head to toe” as her motto says. 

We met Marquita doing a recent blog for Cut & Sewn called “A Shopper’s Diary” and fell in love. So we caught up with her to find out a little more, here’s what she had to say.

Crystal: How and when did you first get started in the industry?
Marquita: I got started in the beauty/fashion industry by just loving Fashion. I love making people look pretty. I started doing hair professionally in 2005, makeup in 2007 and making clothes for others this year. Nevertheless, before going to school for it all, I always had the passion for it and the drive to become a fashion mogul.

With so many titles, how do you do it all?
It is not hard at all. I kind of juggle them all around. For one event, a client might need me to make them a dress and do their make up and so on. I think that you have to enjoy doing it all to make it work and I absolutely love to do it all, right down to the little details.

What were some obstacles you faced starting your own company?
One of the major obstacles I am facing even now is that I do not drive. It’s really crazy because most people my age drive everywhere I just chose not to. Other than that, everything else kind of flows together because I don’t need help from a financial provider for my business.

How would you personify a Beauty MarQ client?
A Beauty MarQ client is everyone. If you need my service, I am here to help. All ages.

How do you see your career progressing in the future?
In the future, I see my career expanding. Beauty MarQ is not just a business, it’s my brand. This company is everything that I am plus more. I see my clientele growing all over the world.

And finally in keeping with tradition, if you could write anything on a t-shirt, what would it be?
LOVE LIFE (heart) LIVE FASHION

Marquita doing what she does best.

Products of Beauty MarQ.

The streets of New York City don’t tell a tale of economic crisis. Walking through mid town you’d think there’s a fat fed check sitting in your mail box (oooh and maybe the neighbors’ too). Big apple fashion addicts were out shopping for, well, everything. Some laugh in the face of recession while others are clinging to their blue suede shoes in hopes of buying the bag to match. Either way they were out and about finding something to quench their apparel thirst.

This group of Baltimore natives hits the stores at least once or twice a week in search of stand out accessories. They say the item flying off the shelves is sunglasses. I mean, look at theirs, it’s obvious they know where the good ones are.

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Forget about carrying an MP3 player, losing it, or dropping it; well at least for men. Now you can listen to your favorite tunes on a tie clip. … Yeah, I said that too. Designer Jin Woo Han knows that life should be simple, convenient and, most importantly, have constant background music. A tie clip with an LCD screen, play/stop buttons, flash memory and earphone jack pretty much encompasses the idea. Just don’t forget to take out your earphones at the office.

Thanks SwipeLife for the in.

Through all the spitting up, pooping, and crying kids somehow remain the beacon of all things adorable. Striving to preserve the “Aww!” and “How precious” responses of a puppy eyed public, moms dress their little ones in equally cute threads. So what message would proud moms plaster on their bundles of joy? Some admit they’ve thought about it before. If nothing else a t-shirt can inspire the sense of humor some mommy’s lose amongst the diapers and baby wipes.

Ashley, mom of Teddy prefers “Poop Happens” a spoof off of a popular adult phrase. Or “I Might Barf” a warning for the rest of the world at her sons’ habit.

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If this isn’t the cleverest way to introduce a new piece of clothing I don’t know what is. Maybe I’m just biased because they’re dancing. As for the pants in mainstream fashion, you be the judge. Europe has been voting Hammer pants into every realm of fierceness for months, but what’s the verdict in the good ole U.S.A.? After all, who better to judge than you stylish of Cut & Sewn?..

 If you’re not ready for all that, try out the Harem pant. It has a similar cut but with less volume, and less bust-a-move incentive.

Silence & Noise Harem Pant

This is to everyone graduating from college this spring. After four years and a final week of stress and hell, here’s to you. With a future filled with button-downs and ties, let’s hope the frat look is over for you.

Here is a 30 second clip of our nearest and dearest Paul Rudd being his incredible self on Sesame Street. Making a large Earth costume seem so fashionable and comfortable, who wouldn’t want to go green?

Cut & Sewn featured in PINK Magazine! On stands now!

Hold or Fold?

“Often what separates entrepreneurs who make it from those who don’t is a sense of personal passion and purpose. We tend to see characteristics like drive, tenacity, passion and creativity. They tie together into the ability and willingness to do whatever it takes to make the venture successful.”

Pink Magazine got up close and personal with the Cut Crew and wanted to know, so we told ‘em.

Click here for the full article.

Pink Magazine, Spring 2009 on stands now!

Or click here!

Our West Coast Cut Crew Reps Emma Allison and Makenzie Lynd came all the way from Santa Barbara to donate some sun to the cold coast. Their first adventure in Brooklyn brought them to Williamsburg’s Nita Nita and the exclusive filming of British music maker Neil Halstead’s (of Slowdive and Mojave 3) music video “Elevenses.” A big thanks to Chris Piazza of Jigsaw Soul for hooking it up.

Cut Crew East: How’s New York treating you?

Emma Allison: There’s no beach around and that’s weird. But I love it. I like the city and change of pace. It’s refreshing. – culture shock is refreshing, anything new is refreshing. It’s a bit nipply but I like it here.

CCE: Rub it in. Brooklyn can be a scary place for new comers. How has it been treating you?

Makenzie Lynd: I feel like it’s more like we’re living here than visiting. We are doing every day sort of stuff. We’re living the Brooklyn life.

CCE: How do you feel about tattoos?

EA: I like them. They are hot.

CCE: So how was the video shoot today with Neil Halstead?

ML: Everyone was really welcoming and really nice. They wanted to get to know us.

EA: It was set in a cute garden, pretty windy. I like how it was supposed to be set in the summer and it was freezing out.

CCE: How was the music?

EA: I loved it. I know every word now.

ML: It was my first time hearing it and now I’m sick of it. But the music was relaxing.

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