FASHION PROMOTION WITH LULUS.COM

Check out Lulus.com and pick out a new Spring outfit to celebrate the warmer temperatures! Save 15% off your orders with coupon code HIPCHICK! It is case sensitive, valid for customers in the US and Canada, and is a one use per customer coupon. The coupon is for 15% off the total purchase and is a site wide discount. Valid from March 1st through 4th 2011 (our FB readers heard about it first- be sure to 'like' us!). Check out Lulus.com and get shopping!

SPECIAL FASHION PROMOTION JUST FOR YOU!

We'll be featuring a special promotion with additional savings just for HCZ readers at the awesome LA-based sample sale site http://www.365hangers.com THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH! Designer styles are ALWAYS 70% off, but HCZ readers can take an EXTRA 10% off already reduced prices with THE CODE "365hcz."

Fashion without boundaries: that’s the objective behind sample sale site 365hangers. Since its debut in the summer of 2009, 365Hangers has continued to deliver fashion’s most coveted designers ranging from Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Elie Tahari, and many more, at unprecedented 70% off retail value, every day, 365 days a year.

Unlike other sites, 365Hangers showcases models of all shapes and sizes, ranging from pear to hourglass, helping shoppers discover what outfits compliment their shape the best. After all, designers make clothing for all women, despite what’s seen on the runway.

** No minimum purchase required. Cannot be combined with other promotional codes. Enter the code in the "promotional code" box. Valid from Feb. 7-28th, 2011.

Fashion Feature: THE ART OF COUTURE

By Ela Hawes
Contributing Fashion Writer


This week’s Paris couture shows express a fine elegance and day one opens its gates to the realms of Dior's embroidered red silk and black degrade, white silk, tulle jackets with a meld of wool and " tromp l'oeil " dresses. Feather whites, black and red all resembling the art of Russia and the illustration influences from Rene Gruau, the hispanic designer once more managed to put himself forward with the explosive ideas of culture and linguistics of design. Brush strokes and iridescent embroideries distilling the virtuoso chiaroscuro effect of chalk shading, the contemporary approach of John Galliano causes the impact of the first day. The eclectic hair and make-up, pastel-colored soft eye shadow and bright red lipstick unify with the Stephen Jones hat designs.

The investments in the future of fate, the surpassing realms of a visionary and the dignified futuristic street style, Armani mused with the idea of amalgamating leather, chiffon and silk with a color palette of parliament blue, neon red, neon green, feather white with a liquid mercury mirror effect. An African feel in the abstract cuts, the geometric forms and the innovative touch of architectural designs radiate to a higher state of craft and beauty. The gem stone influences on organza, the metal threaded silk and hard molded sci-fi looks have been styled with cartwheel hats and fencing mask studded with crystals. Perhaps an architect would ponder on the luxurious ideas on the future of power dressing with Armani Prive.

The royal romance of Chanel, and the paradise of the front row celebrities such as Kirsten Dunst, Janelle Monae, Vanessa Paradis, Karen Elson, Gaspard Ulliel and Diane Kruger. The obsolete approach of Lagerfeld can be seen through the commune usage of his rough-edged tweeds, will weaved, layered chiffon dresses, see through unitards and frilled petite coats. The mirror perception of a feminine look is accompanied with influences of the futuristic patterns from Shanghai, the color palette varies from a mix of floral patterns to pink and grays with much influence from the artist Marie Laurencin. The styling sparks through as Stella Tennat and Freja walk down the runway with Lagerfeld's creations.

Givenchy is renowned for dressing the likes of Grace Kelly in the history of fashion. This time Ricardo Tiscy has gone wild with his dreams of hailing her with the Japanese toys and robots and influences from the dancer Kazuo Ohno. The not explicit cuts with bird wings stitched onto the hem of the organza, the layers of chiffon compels the work of art with the giant warrior hats. As the looks were presented on hangers at the place Vendome, the feathered tulles burst with Tisci's craftwork of neon colored bodice and crusted Swarovski crystals.

A promising name for the world of fashion, the 31-year-old designer whose work has been seized by Dior, known for his elaborate work both in women’s wear and menswear, Alexis Mabille originated the theme from its actual location of runway, Musee Bourdelle's Antoine Bourdelle. The clientele list varied from Carla Bruni, Keira Knightley, Dita Von Teese and Rihanna. Mabille has created the elegance of the classic cuts with overskirts, which transforms to capes, duchess satin, lace, floral patterns, hand-painted colors and asymmetric one-shouldered gowns. A detailed styling with dangle earrings and clear make-up adds to its high quality presentation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ela Hawes is a freelance fashion journalist and an artist based in London. She has been working for broadcast TV channels and newspapers since the age of 17 as a journalist and a fixer. After working on the fashion desk of an international economy newspaper for a while, she branched out to the fashion and art industry.

Ela admires the thin line of well-tailored, creative outbursts of design and fabric. What inspires her most is the unity of intelligence and style blending itself to our everyday wardrobe. She especially loves diamonds.

PHOTOS OF PARIS by Joanna Tanger.

HCZ's Calendar: Singles Meetup in Cleveland, Ohio

Wednesday, February 9, 2011
06:00pm - 08:00pm
MOCA-nection
Singles MEETUP
Free for and open to the public

Single Blank Wall Seeks Exceptional Artwork for Discussion and Laughter... Looking for other singles interested in Cleveland’s creative scene? Come to MOCA on February 9 for cocktails, music, great appetizers, and conversation starters with other area singles seeking new connections. Enter for a chance to win discounts to hot area restaurants and keep the conversations going on that evening.

With support from It’s Just Lunch.

For more info, click here.

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HCZ GIVEAWAY: A Book for Valentine's Day!

Getting Naked Again: Dating, Romance, Sex, and Love When You've Been Divorced, Widowed, Dumped or Distracted by Judith Sills, Ph.D.

Are you fresh out of a long-term relationship? Need some help putting your dating shoes on? Ready for romance? Clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author Judith Sills, Ph.D. is your guide through the tumultuous dating waters. Sills offers insightful stories from women who are pursuing new relationships too. It's perfect for middle-aged ladies, but young people can relate to it too. Get your head back into the game... Hip Chick Zine will help!

In honor of Valentine's Day, we are giving away one copy of Getting Naked Again! Send us an e-mail at editor@hipchickzine.net, and tell us why you're ready to get naked again (or why you're ready to start dating again;)! Contest ends on February 20, 2011.

HCZ Wants Your Travel Stories for a Book!

I love traveling and learning about other cultures, and so do many of my friends. While I was living and working in Prague, Czech Republic, I started a journal, sharing some of the unique experiences with family and friends. I sketched the skyline view from the park behind my apartment, slyly drew people in the beer garden, and made a note of my favorite breads from the local bakery.

Like most women, I fell in love with Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Eat, Pray, Love. Oh, how it spoke to me! I found that I could relate to Gilbert and her travails. I too have questioned why I feel so out of place since I don't crave marriage and children, but rather have a true love of the open road. Still, Gilbert's story is only one woman's perspective. Knowing that women of all ages are hitting the road these days and blogging, I figured that this is the perfect time to start this project.

We are looking for writing, recipes, poems, sketches, photos and reflections from women's travels. What made your last trip special? Meeting locals? Teaching children? Discovering how strong you are? We want to hear about your experiences volunteering in Senegal, teaching English in Thailand, or simply about the perfect risotto you sampled in Italy. Every woman has a story to tell, and here is your chance. The final selections will be compiled into a book.

We look forward to hearing from you.


Cheers,

Joanna Tanger
Founder of HipChickZine.net
editor[@]hipchickzine.net


INFO & REQUIREMENTS

Please read this before submitting...

- Women ages 16-110 from any country are welcome to contribute.

- Include your name, full mailing address and e-mail along with your submission. We will need to be able to get in contact with you.

- Not all entries will be accepted into the final project. By sending us your work, you are giving us permission to print it, (whether in the book or online) and it will become property of Hip Chick Zine.

- Photos and artwork should be in .jpeg, .gif or .png format. Please keep them at the best possible resolution. Send a maximum of ten photos/pieces of artwork (but not in the same e-mail).

- Written pieces can be anywhere from 0-2,500 words, and should be in Microsoft Word or .pdf format. If a piece is slightly longer, we will also take it, but it will probably be edited for length. Make sure there aren't a lot of grammatical errors please. Any related topics are welcome. While we accept snailmail, e-mail is preferred.

- We love recipes that are accompanied by photos (or drawings).

- If you have any questions, please e-mail us at write@hipchickzine.net. More info at http://www.hipchickzinebook.com