Swedish Hasbeens for H&M Review

I know I'm a little late on the Swedish Hasbeens for H&M review, but that's partly due to the fact that they were not distributed very widely. In fact, they were only available in 3 California stores: Powell St. in San Francisco, Beverly Center, and South Coast Plaza. After recruiting (bribing, really) a kind and willing family member to pick up two pairs for me per my instructions from the well-stocked Orange County store, and finally getting them on my feet a week later, I found the sizing to run big. Both of my sandals are US size 7, and they might as well be size 8. At this point, the store is sold out in these two styles, but they still have the tan and white three-buckle wedges. Unfortunately, it looks like I won't be exchanging for size 6. Now on to the details of the review.

The lace-up wedges, which retail for $69.95, are my favorite pair. I warmed up to them after putting them on and noting their versatility. The laces make them adjustable, while the vamp is made of neutral-hued stamped leather, which adds both interest and depth. There is adequate arch support, and the wooden soles feel both light and sturdy. My only issue is with the sizing; there is almost an inch of extra length in the soles.

The red sandals, which retail for $59.95, also run big. (This style looks similar to this "Pearl" style by Swedish Hasbeens.) The heel is just under 3" with a .75" platform at the toe, and like the other pair, there is great arch support, a leather upper, and a light, yet solid wooden heel. Upon close inspection, I noticed that the leather edges of the straps are slightly shredding, but it's nothing that a few snips of the scissors can't fix. Both pairs have rubber soles. I found the wedges to be a bit heavier than the red sandals. The wedges have a higher heel at 3.5" with a 1" platform. In conclusion, for anyone planning to buy the Swedish Hasbeens for H&M, I recommend buying a size smaller because they run large. Overall, though, I'm happy with my picks and think they'll be fun to style with some of my maxi dresses, rompers, and flowy floral shorts this summer.

The red pair is similar to this cross strap style by Swedish Hasbeens ($159).

June 21, 2017 update - Shop Swedish Hasbeens:

Material Girl Review - Part 2

Armed with a gift card courtesy of the generous folks at Macy's, I shopped the Material Girl Collection last night in the hopes of finding a versatile yet casual outfit. Having reviewed the Material Girl collection when it debuted in August, I knew what to expect: vibrant prints, flirty dresses, trendy silhouettes, and sizing that runs slightly inconsistent. I was met with racks of body con mini skirts, floral dresses, animal prints, knit blazers, boxy sweaters, drapey tanks, and studded belts. Since my last review, they've added footwear to the mix in the form of patent pumps and canvas Mary Janes. After inspecting the displays for outfit inspiration and browsing the racks for a few minutes, I brought several pieces into the fitting room to create some warm weather looks.

My favorite piece (both on the racks and on myself) was this blue watercolor print dress. The print gave it an artsy vibe, while the front zip and bustier styling made it flirty. I tried on a small, and found it to run very small. I'm wearing it layered under the Rodarte-esque ladder knit sweater, which runs big but felt incredibly comfortable. Bonus points for having adjustable straps, a flattering A-line skirt shape, and lightweight rayon fabric that's perfect for summer. I'd wear this with black platforms, my new H&M Conscious white crochet vest, layered necklaces, and wavy hair for a casual spring day.

The next piece I tried was the paradise pink dress. I appreciated the lightly padded cups and bustier style bodice, however, I found the back zip to be sorely lacking in the quality department. I'm wearing a size small, and it runs true to size. Bonus points for having a great fit and a fun, summery print. I'd wear this with a lightweight cardigan, black belt, tan wedges, and straw boater hat for a day at the farmers' market or while having a leisurely brunch.

The next look consists of a polka dot tank (with a black lace back) and a floral zip skirt. I adore mixing prints, especially florals with polka dots. The top runs big, and the skirt runs small; I'm wearing an XS in the top and a small in the skirt. Bonus points for the skirt having a lining, two hip pockets, and a sturdy zipper. I'd wear this outfit out for a summer night on the town with sparkly bangles, a side fishtail, bright lips, and platform block heels.

Truth be told, I've been searching for the perfect black jumpsuit (for day and night) for a few months now, and I decided to give this tank style one a try. Jumpsuits often have tricky fits, which is why I have yet to find the right one. This one is a small, and runs true to size. Unfortunately, it had very narrow leg openings, and was more narrow at the ankle than I desired. Overall, I found it comfortable, and appreciated the hip pockets. I had to veto the fit due to the harem silhouette which I found to be less than desirable.

While I've found that the selection of Material Girl pieces varies widely depending upon the Macy's I visit, it pays to visit often, because the merchandise (in my area) seems to go quickly, especially the smaller sizes. As a general guideline, I've found the drapey tanks and boxy knits to run big, while the mini skirts, bodysuits, and body con dresses run small. The blue watercolor print dress was my pick of the night (although I had to size up).

Shop the collection:

A Review of the H&M Conscious Collection

Today I spent some time browsing and shopping the H&M Conscious Collection at two H&M stores. Without further ado, here is my H&M Conscious Collection review of the Women's selections. The first store carried a strong selection of tops, shorts, and dresses for Women. I went in knowing that the long-sleeved lace mini dress (priced at $49.95), the tiered tank dress (priced at $19.95), and the crochet vest (priced at $9.95) were my tops three picks from the collection. Naturally, the lace-sleeve dress (the same one worn on the red carpet by Natalie Portman) was only in select stores, so I picked up a few other things and continued to browse. I immediately noticed a positive and a negative: most price points hovered under $49.95, and many of the polyester and cotton pieces were wrinkled beyond belief. (Since I have a brand new steamer at home, and I am still in the stage where I think it's fun to use, I wasn't intimidated.) I skipped some of the sheer tees and tanks and picked up the halter dress, the tiered tank dress, the one shoulder dress, and the crochet vest. Before you look at the fitting room photos, below are some of the window and in-store displays at both stores. As you can see, there is an abundance of textural detail to add depth and dimension to the mostly ivory hues.

Now for the fitting room photos. First up was the incredibly affordable crochet vest with a festival-appropriate fringed hemline. At under $10, you can bet that I won't be putting this in the washer or dryer. I think it's a great piece for layering over maxi dresses and I love that it can be worn either hooked shut or left open. The fit runs true to H&M Divided sizing. (I'm wearing a 4.)

Next I tried on the recycled polyester tiered tank dress ($19.95.) It fell below the knee, had a loose, carefree shape, and was slightly sheer despite having a lining. For petite ladies like myself, I recommend belting this and wearing it with heels in a nude/skin tone to elongate the legs as much as possible. I also recommend spending some time ironing or steaming it, as it's prone to wrinkles like many other pieces in this collection. The fit runs big for those who are planning to buy. (I'm wearing a 4.) I can't wait to twirl around in this dress while wearing it with a straw boater hat, stacked bracelets, and belted floral cardigan.

The halter dress was also slightly sheer and in need of some wrinkle prevention, but it felt comfortable. Again, not the most flattering length, but it had a low cut back. I found it to run big. (I'm wearing a small.)

Of all the dresses I tried on, the structured one shoulder dress had the most form fitting shape. It runs true to H&M sizing, and if I remember correctly, I'm wearing a 6. I spotted a few threads on this one and decided that although it had nice details and a sturdy back zipper, it seemed pricey (at $49.95) for the quality. Now that I think about it, I don't recall seeing this dress in the H&M Conscious look book.

Although many pieces in the collection are lightweight, wrinkled, and sheer, they're ideal for summer days and parties. The lace, crochet, pleats, and eyelet details are ultra feminine and a decent value. I'd avoid putting most of the pieces in the washer or dryer and opt for hand washing and drying flat instead. The sheer fabrics lend themselves well to layering, and wearing something that's both stylish and made out of eco-friendly materials always feels good.

RetailCamp Wisdom for Bloggers - Part 2

As promised, I want to recap advice from the Fashion Law panel from Sunday's RetailCamp blogger conference. The panel, which was moderated by Macala Wright, included Staci Riordan and Uduak Oduok, who are both brilliant, specialize in fashion law, and are avid bloggers. Here are some of the tips that I found most helpful:

• You gain copyright protection the minute you write something, but you have to register your work in order to enforce it.


• If you are like me, and you find that someone has infringed upon your copyright, contact their ISP immediately and give them 24 hours to shut the site down. (This takes some time and investigative skills to research the web host, IP address, etc. of the offenders, but it's worth it.)


• The fair use doctrine states that if I'm going to use an article or photo, I don't need consent so long as I use it for journalistic or informational purposes.


• When uploading photos, videos, or other content to sites such as Chictopia or Lookbook, read the Terms and Conditions carefully. Many sites require you to give away your copyright rights when uploading material.


• Include a Privacy Policy and Terms of Use notice on your blog.


• Thanks to the FTC, bloggers have to disclose when we receive samples for review in order to avoid misleading the reader.


• Register your brand name as soon as you intend to use it. That gives you more rights and ways to enforce it. File an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.


• There are 3 contracts that bloggers should use: for advertisers/sponsors, work for hire (for writers/contributers), and for business partners.

RetailCamp Wisdom for Bloggers - Part 1

On Sunday I attended the RetailCamp blogger conference with my blogging pal Sarah at Woodbury University in Burbank. It's hard to believe that in the four years since I started Fashion Trend Guide, this is the first blogging conference that I've attended. (Note to self - attend more seminars and conferences!) Overall, it was a motivational and helpful event with plenty of words of wisdom, especially from the first two panels: the Business of Blogging and the Legal Side of Blogging. Luckily, I took copious notes, and I'm going to share some helpful tips from the speakers, who are experienced in the world of blogging, marketing, and social media.

The Business of Blogging panel was moderated by Macala Wright of Fashionably Marketing and included: Erin Weinger from StyleSectionLA, Jennine Jacob of The Coveted and IFB, Valerie Elizabeth of Society Stylist, Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista, Mary Hall of The Recessionista, and Tina Craig and Kelly Cook of Bag Snob. They spoke about their inspirations to start blogging, how they leverage their blogs as a business, how they define quality of content, which digital media tools they use to drive traffic and connect with readers, and how to work with brands graciously. Here are some key points I took away from this panel:

• There is still room for good content in the blogosphere


• Unique voices will continue to be heard


• Develop a business plan, create quality content, and everything else will follow


• Don't compromise on the quality of your content, hold yourself to a certain standard


• Find your passion and speak to that


• Find your voice and stay true to it


• It's up to you to keep the conversation with your readers going


• Go out and get original content. Photograph things that inspire you


• As you're building your blog, you're also building relationships


• Be discerning about your content


• Think of each Tweet as a press release


• Add a Tumblr blog to your web address and the Tumblr page views will count as your blog's page views


• Be careful about the personal information you share via your blog, Twitter, etc.


• When working with brands, be authentic, objective, and honest in order to maintain your editorial integrity


• Stay aware of what your value is to brands and retailers


• Although some bloggers have agents, no one can sell you like you can


• Wordpress is way better than Blogger. Considering that I just spent 2 hours typing this post and a Blogger glitch deleted 95% of it and I've had to retype it, I'm thinking of making the switch to Wordpress.

My original post included the legal advice from the second panel, but since I'm still fuming over the deletion thanks to Blogger, I'm going to save that information in my head and retype the legal tips for another post. Time to hit the treadmill...I hope you find these tips helpful!