Is there really truth in advertising? Members of the Coutorture Community tell it like it is in posts from:

Phillip Lim's partnership with Birkenstock made the label more fashion forward, thinks Fasshonaburu.

Is some makeup too pretty to use? Vie Couture found a Chantecaille compact that just might be.

Style Bubble is in love with tulle.

Is the Biore self heating mask all it's cracked up to be? Find out at The Beauty Bunny.

StyleGoodies noticed a softening in Benetton's ad campaigns.

From some vantage points, our generation cannot separate itself from that visceral relationship we had with Abercrombie and Fitch when we were young. A perfect example, Earnest Sewn, Trovata, Corpus, Steven Alan, and Gilded Age. Need we say more? All in operation for ten years at most, all with that familiar flavor of WASPy Americana that deviates just slightly from other 'classic' labels, like Ralph Lauren. A good majority of us, upper middle class (well, at least more of us than in any generation in America, ever), a good majority of us going through puberty in shopping malls where the dark lights, loud music, and sexy employees, made Hot Topic look like kiddie land. It's no wonder we spawn likeminded brands (even if much better versions) by the season.


Our network partner, Fashion Indie, is no stranger to these phenomenon. Indeed, his knowledge of fashion is more cerebral than what's 'cute' and so brought us a video wherein a Gen-Y Abercrombie protest errupts. The Abercrombie wars are starting and we predict the whistle will blow on the day the company takes over the 16 year old DKNY billboard in Soho. It seems you're either with them or against, even when everyone's topless.

Most people think they own too much blue. We're not sure if this is some scientific fashion fact but we know we've heard it somewhere, said it ourselves, noticed it reported by others. Blue is a color people can get down with. Whether it's navy or cobalt, most people fancy themselves in some shade of blue and even if they don't, well, they probably own a pair of jeans after all. But yellow, well, yellow is the runt of that dysfunctional family we call The Primary Colors. Yellow, that is, is sitting in his bedroom writing chain letters while Blue is downstairs getting fifty dollar checks from grandma and grandpa. To that end, our network partner, Shoe Blog, has decided to befriend the little color that could, in spirit of a season where the fashion folk have opened their cold, thin arms to its spectrum. To which we say, why the hell not. We own too much blue as it is.


Check out another shoutout.

The Coutorture Community is celebrating all things Spring. Ribbons, bows, fragrance and more can be found in today's Must Reads from:

See Pretty Things proves ribbons aren't just for bows.

MaleStyle Review takes a shopping tour of the Meatpacking District.

Perfume Posse reviews Guerlain Apres L'ondee.

A Mom In Red High Heels finds an eye brightening cream designed for moms.

Cult of Couture discovers her love for Phillip Lim.

On a grey, cold day like this one, it's appropriate to focus on our other senses for a dose of optimism. The new Ralph Lauren fragrance, Ralph Wild, was created by perfumer Linda Kramer. Although the ad campaign and the market work required to put out the new fragrance piques our interest, we thought it appropriate to speak with the perfumer behind this soon-to-be popular commodity. When working with an ever-reaching brand like Ralph Lauren, every aspect of that identity has to be considered. Translating these notions into fragrance, into notes, is a feat in and of itself. Our interview with Linda Kramer follows, and for more from the perfumer, and on perfume in general, look to our network partner The Scented Salamander, whose education on fragrance consistently makes for an interesting read.




Can you tell us a little bit about how you came to be a Perfumer?
I have been interested in fragrance since I was young. I went to private school where I wore a uniform and wasn’t allowed to wear make- up, so fragrance was the only true way I could express myself. Not only was I was obsessed with trying new fragrances, I loved reading the fashion magazines to see the fragrance ads – the beautiful, seductive women, the elegant, elaborate packaging, the exotic imagery. It amazed me how a blend of certain ingredients could not only smell great, but could completely transport you to another place. Once I finished high school, I attended a college with a fashion/beauty focus.


What aspects of the field are people unaware of?
I think people are unaware of the limitless amount of inspiration that surrounds each project. For example, with Ralph Wild (and all of our fragrances), what inspired me most is the fact that I work for such an iconic designer as Ralph Lauren. His vision guides the project from conception to completion. Another source of inspiration was our new model, Amanda. At the beginning of the project I watched a video of her taken at a photo shoot. The video captured Amanda playing Frisbee and having fun with the photographer and crew. She exudes this great energy and I found her fearless, feminine confidence very inspiring.


How long does it take to develop a perfume?
There are several steps in the process of developing a perfume. With Ralph Wild, The first step was to identify the key elements of the brand – This fragrance was designed to represent a girl who is spontaneous, fearless and confident. We also looked at the imagery and the color of the packaging. Based on all of these elements of Ralph Wild, it was clear to us that we needed to create a fragrance that would make a bold statement but would also tie in the Ralph Wild Girl’s personality and the color of the packaging.


How great a role do cultural changes play in the popularity or prevalence of particular scents? How does this dynamic inform your creations?
Right now there is a trend towards floral fragrances with juicy, fruity, edible nuances. Ralph Wild is so popular because the juicy, fruity notes and the warmth of the fragrance not only provide a feeling of playfulness and comfort, but has a nostalgic effect on us as well. These types of notes have the amazing ability to olfactively transport us back to the happy memories of our youth.

Our network partner, Kingdom Of Style, reported on a burning desire for a waistcoat from Warehouse. Being that we are in New York, and Kingdom Of Style writes from London, we thought it appropriate to present some stateside options. The waistcoat epitomizes a dressed up gentlemen's look for women and in towns such as these, where the obvious option is the 'little black' whatever, adding a tailored garment can make all the difference. Waistcoat, in case you haven't noticed, is 'vest' in the King's English. Generally speaking, waistcoats are tailored where a vest can encompass everything from oversized knits to suede tassled versions. As a general rule, if it makes you stand a little bit taller and it's sleeveless, you're wearing a waistcoat. If it's embroidered with a Christmas tree and worn by your favorite 5th grade math teacher, it's a vest. Below we've found waistcoats from the likes of Rag & Bone, Todd Lynn Jackson, and McQ.