With holiday parties coming up, we wanted to give our readers the opportunity to paint the town (err, rather your fingernails) the colors of the season. Three lucky readers have the opportunity to win two holiday collections from Blaze, the Night on The Town set (above) and their sparkling glitter filled Holiday Collection (below) are up for grabs.  Both sets come with cuticle oil with flowers inside it which will keep your nail beds super soft.  These sweet hues will trick everyone into thinking your swapped your polished look.

G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y

To Enter: LEAVE A COMMENT TELLING US YOUR PREFERRED POLISH ROUTINE.

Official Rules: This contest is open to US residents only and a valid email address must be submitted to be eligible. Three winners will be chosen based on their response and notified via email. This giveaway closes December 12th at 1:00pm (PST) time. For more information on Blaze Nail Lacquer please visit their official website and follow them on Twitter @blazelacquer.

What happens when you combine classic elegance with a modern edge? You end up with designer Lisa Michelle Felsenthal and her eponymous collection. This Los Angeles-based talent is an Otis graduate who’s resume is equally impressive as her work. She previously interned with Jeremy Scott and Michelle Mason and then designed for Monique Lhuillier. In 2008 she launched her own line, which encompasses luxurious fabrics and flattering silhouettes. We recently chatted with the designer to learn more about her work and design process.

You originally set out to study art history, has this interest translated into your fashion designs?
My background in art history definitely finds its way into my designs. I have always been interested in the connections between art and fashion, particularly in terms of sculpture. Ancient Grecian sculpture and drapery is a huge influence in my clothing design in the most recent collection.

Other times, the art historical influences on my designs, take place on more of a subconscious level. From my studies, I have this visual library in my memory of inspirational images and works of art that I am always drawing from.

Designer, Lisa Michelle

Where did the inspiration for your latest collection stem from?
This last collection had a number of different inspirations. A mix of sculptural and Grecian drapery, in combination with flapper styles from the 1920’s, inspired the collection. Aspects of art deco architecture were a great source of inspiration for the accessories collection. I wanted the beading in the headbands, cuffs, and belts to mimic the geometric patterns in art deco architecture, while also capturing that glamorous aspect of the 1920’s.

How do you approach accessory design vs. clothing design?
I do approach clothing and accessory design in different manners. The accessory collection is fairly new, as this is my first full season. It’s a whimsical process of collage and layering different trims to create rich and unique textures, within the accessories. I’m always experimenting with different sewing techniques and appliqué. I focus on the details of each piece right away.

When designing clothing, I either start sketching and draping directly on the mannequin to come up different styles. The draping process can be very experimental too and just seems to evolve organically. Sometimes, I begin with a sketch of a particular idea and the process of draping leads to many other versions and silhouettes. Although they are different, I try to approach both the accessories and clothing in an artistic manner, as I strive to make each piece special and unique.

As a Los Angeles designer, what are your thoughts on LA’s design scene and it’s influence on global trends?
By showing my line in different events, I have met a number of emerging LA designers that are creating their own unique products. So, I think that LA has a thriving design scene because there are a lot of opportunities to create and showcase your product here. LA has an environment where designers and artists can really express different personal styles in a creative and open manner. All these different styles and new products, which are put out in LA have an impact on global trends.

Who are some of the fashion designers (past and present) that you find yourself looking up to?
As for present day designers, I am always intrigued and inspired by Alber Elbaz’s collections for Lanvin. I love the shapes, styles, and embellishment techniques in the line. Marc Jacobs is another favorite designer of mine. As for past designers, Madame Vionnet is someone that I find myself looking up to. Her unique drapery and pattern work has been influential to me, as I always trying to experiment with bias drapery. She created so many unique, elegant, beautiful and modern styles through her use of drapery. She is a designer that I truly admire.

Do you have any pieces of jewelry that you can’t leave the house without?
I always like to accessorize and add a statement necklace or jeweled cuff, from the collection, to my outfit. It gives my look a little sparkle and adds a certain touch.

Lastly, what advise do you have for aspiring fashion industry hopefuls?
I would advise aspiring fashion designers to do what they love, create new collections and just face challenges as they arise. Overall, creating my own line has been one of the most challenging and satisfying experiences of my life.

We commend Lisa on her success and a big thank you goes out to her for taking the time to talk with the MyFDBlog.

G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y

Since accessories are always all the rage in the office, we wanted to share the love and give our readers the chance to
win one of Lisa Michelle’s popular cuffs. Up for grabs is a sparkly black and gold Metallic Floral Cuff (retail $85), which will match any outfit.

TO ENTER:

Sorry, this contest is now closed. Our latest contest is on the sidebar to the right, thank you!

Official Rules: This contest is open to international entrants and a valid email address must be submitted to be eligible. Entrants will be entered into MyFDB’s email list. A winner will be chosed at random and notified via email. This giveaway closes November 30th at 1:00pm (PST) time. For more information on Lisa Michelle please visit her official website.

Hailing from a creative background most people wear New York pride on their sleeve, but designer Sabina Les wears it around her neck. Her luxe collection of scarves carry a deep-rooted architectural influence inspired by the city that never

sleeps. Rapidly growing in notoriety her pieces are a must-have for stylists and her creations are frequently spotted in Elle magazine. A simple scarf can completely transform an ensemble, so we had to twisted up with Sabina to learn more about her eponymous line.

You’ve been into fashion your entire life, but what made you want to venture into the accessories market with scarf design?
I was thinking about starting my brand with something that I haven’t designed for anyone else. And at that time I was looking for a new silk scarf and I couldn’t find a design that was distinctive, contemporary and classic. Then it hit me that it was the Universe’s way to show me that I should start with designing scarves as my brand’s first category!

Bright colors and an architectural influence are just a few of the many ways we can describe your bold prints. Are there any specific international landmarks or destinations that inspired your designs?
Yes, current collection is very much inspired by architecture in Downtown New York City and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The colors inspiration came from NYC’s skyline and nighttime in Amsterdam and Paris. I’m developing new designs that are homage to NYC’s most famous landmarks.

How often do new Sabina Les scarves rollout?
Planning on four times a year and special editions in between.

Wearing scarves other than around your neck can be tricky. Do you have any creative styling tips?
I have many styling tips. My best advice is to experiment and refer to scarf styling tips on my website. For instance, besides tying a scarf around your neck any of my square scarves can be styled to look like you’re wearing a long scarf, a headscarf, a few versions of tops or even as a bag.

Very cool! Lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring designers?
Fashion is a tough business and takes a lot of perserverance and a realistic understanding of the fashion industry. You’re only as good as your team of people and try to avoid “me me me and my ego” attitude if you want to be successful in a long run.

CONTEST

Amazing architectural influence and a huge thank you to Sabina Les for taking the time to speak with the MyFDBlog. Since scarves are the pretty way to add some fashion to your winter wardrobe, so we’ve partnered with Sabina Les for a giveaway. One MyFDBlog reader and Twitter fan has the opportunity to win Les’ signature print “Profiles Icon” scarf (retail $125).

To Enter: Make sure you’re following both @MyFDB and @SabinaLes on Twitter and then using the style guide above fill in the blank below.

I’d style a @SabinaLes scarf as a ______. @MyFDB #contest

Official Rules: This contest is open to US residents only and closes on November 14th at 1:00pm (PST). Multiple entry tweets are permitted and one winner will be chosen randomly and notified via direct message on Twitter after the close of the contest. Thank you to Sabina Les for partnering with MyFDB and providing the prize, for more information about her work please visit her official website.

Looking to spice up your fall wardrobe? If you like eye-catching handbags complimented by bold colors then we have just the brand for you. Meet Angel Jackson! Hailing from the UK, this handbag line is paving a new road made of purses filled with color, metallics, and sequins– all things we adore! They design a wide array of bags, but we liked their vintage collection so much that we’ve joined forces with the brand for a luxe giveaway. One lucky MyFDBlog reader will be toting their treasures in this limited edition Disco Rainbow Jai satchel accented with gold trim (retail £237.00).

Created by two sisters all of Angel Jackson’s products are made of ethically sourced materials, while the brand continues to be known for their design and fashion forward aesthetic. Their pieces are not for the faint of heart, and tend to be carried with beaming pride.

How to snag a satchel…

USING MyFDB’s EDITORIAL IMAGES, FIND A FALL TREND & TELL US WHY IT’S YOUR FAVORITE! 

Official Rules: This contest is open to all international entrants. You must leave a comment with your email address (kept private) to be entered. A winner will be chosen based upon their response and notified after the close of the contest. One entry per person and entries will be accepted up until October 31st at 1:00 PM (PST). All emails will be entered into the Angel Jackson and MyFDB mailing lists. Thank you to Angel Jackson for the prize and for more product information visit their official website.

Even though it’s technically past back-to-school season at the moment…it is officially time to put away our summer gear and pull out some structured and well-tailored trouser looks for fall. And where are we turning to? None other than LA-based denim brand Bishop of Seventh. Created by couple Chachi Prasad and Karam Kim, the line offers comfortably chic wardrobe staples. After recently sliding into a pair of their pants, we had to learn more about the design duo.

How did Bishop of Seventh come about and is there a story behind the name?
The company was born when we saw a need in the marketplace for women to have structured, tailored garments that didn’t make them look masculine. The story behind the name signifies a presence with strength in design and tailoring from Seventh Avenue. Both Karam and I cut our teeth on Seventh Avenue learning from some of the most prestigous of companies including Calvin Klein, John Varvatos and Yigal Azrouel.

With your pants being so well tailored, how would you describe the overall Bishop of Seventh aesthetic? Has it changed since you launched the company back in 2006?
Aesthetically we mix masculine with feminine and re-work classics to bring a definable edge to them. Since 2006 in addition to our tailored pieces, we have infused essential casual pieces, which addresses lifestyle changes from work to weekend.

You’ve both worked in various facets of the industry, how have you witnessed the denim market evolve throughout the years?
This is a pendulum swing, which is evolving each season. The premium craze opened the doors for many labels. Some lasted and some didn’t due to saturation and overall economic circumstances. I think you need to always evolve but stay true to your vision. There is not much support for the $200+ jean anymore. What now is dictating the market is perceived value and look in the product at a very competitive price. The market up’d the ante here, so it forces designers and their team to be more creative.

Considering New York is a fashion hub, what prompted the brand’s move to Los Angeles?
We wanted to oversee all aspects of development and production of our denim line. New York doesn’t offer complex washes or details for Jean production. Los Angeles is the capital of the denim market. If Adriano Goldschmidt moves to LA from Italy to base his operation, then it only makes sense to play in the same arena.

Working together as a couple sounds like it may have its ups and downs, how do you delineate between business and your personal lives?
All couple have ups and downs. We seem to have a formula that is second in nature to our creative side. We do believe and have been told that we were two souls who were together in a past life who have found each other in this lifetime, which is very rare. It’s a nice thought to know you are with your soul mate, even nicer that they have the same passion. We treat Bishop of Seventh as an extension of us and as something we need to nurture every step of the way. We both challenge each other in a positive way. In all honesty there are times when we have big disagreements, but there is the big picture we think about and that is the overall well-being of Bishop of Seventh. We try and to not talk shop when we leave the office, but it’s difficult to do this when your mind is racing with ideas and inspiration. There is a lot of comedy between us, which relieves a lot of stress.

Lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring fashion industry hopefuls?
Every person on this planet has a creative side, In all honesty we (all fashion designers) are a special breed. We are fanatics yet we are very independent, we change our minds so many times, yet we know exactly what we want. If you are an aspiring designer, it’s in your DNA. You should travel and experience other cultures and art on top of your studies. This will open your eyes in a different way. If you are lacking experience you should at the very least, find work or internships where you can build your experiences. It’s important to pick good companies and to make sure you are absorbing as much as you can from your bosses or employers. We were very fortunate in this aspect. Always take baby steps and build on it.

Contest

Now for the fun part, we’ve partnered up with Bishop of Seventh to give one of our readers the change to win a pair of their stylish Jimmy pants in “Smoke” shown above.

To Enter

Leave a comment telling MyFDB how you’d style the Bishop of Seventh Jimmy pants in “smoke”.

Official Rules: A big thank you to Bishop of Seventh for partnering with MyFDB. A winner will be chosen based upon his or her response and notified via email upon the close of the contest. This contest is open to US residents only and ends October 3rd at 1:00 pm (PST). For more information about the super chic brand please visit their official website and follow Bishop of Seventh on Twitter @bishopofseventh.

MyFDB has gotten a major face-lift slash makeover and in celebration we excitedly teamed up with Arielle Vavasseur and Marisa Spinella of the fabulous Los Angeles-based shoe line, Penelope and Coco for a giveaway. After learning all about Arielle and Marisa don’t forget to enter our contest for some very cool “pumped up kicks” and boy do we mean pumped!

How did you come together to form Penelope and Coco?
We were both working in different areas of fashion– Arielle on a wholesale/marketing/and PR level and Marisa was styling and doing freelance design work. What we individually didn’t have, the other one did, so it was a no brainer for us to come together. When we started developing the concept behind penelope and coco, we knew we were both on the same page and 100% ready to begin the process together. What were once Marisa’s “alter egos” penelope and coco, soon became our individual personas.

Why shoe design?
Marisa: I’ve always had a passion for footwear and accessories. There is something about it that just completely defines one’s personal style. I originally wanted to create shoes that changed the way a woman felt the minute she stepped into them and most importantly I wanted to accomplish that with a shoe that didn’t have a 6” heel–which then resulted in the birth of our classic boot collection.

Where does the inspiration for your campaigns and lookbook videos come from season after season?
We almost always have a vision for the campaign before the collection is even finished. It usually plays off the designs and how ‘penelope’ and/or ‘coco’ would feel wearing the shoe…playful, sexy, sophisticated etc. Our F/W 2011 campaign was a little more sexy than usual, which correlates nicely with the introduction of heels to our brand. We really played up the characters of penelope and coco which was fun!

What pair of Penelope and Coco shoes are your favorite?
Marisa: That’s a tough one… My favorite pair to wear daily would have to be the Willow boot but I also wear the Edie bootie and Kinsley wedge a lot!
Arielle: I live in my Capone boots and Jo oxfords! I always wear black and they go with everything! The Kinsley is definitely my all purpose wedge!

Sum up your personal style in 5 words or less.
Casual chic, mostly black & white, sophisticated grunge.

Name a few of your favorite LA places.
Toi Thai on Sunset, Cha Cha Chicken in Santa Monica, Opening Ceremony on La Cienega, High at Hotel Erwin in Venice (amazing view), Winston’s on Santa Monica Blvd, Altitude (the pool at SLS hotel) – equally amazing view!

And lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring fashion industry hopefuls?
Set goals, stay true to your vision, don’t take no for an answer, and don’t let the set backs take over you, you have to keep pushing! You will be the most successful when you do what is innately you, so its so important to stay true to yourself!

Special thanks once again to the fabulous ladies of Penelope and Coco, Arielle Vavasseur and Marisa Spinella. And now on to the giveaway…

Contest

Here’s what one very lucky winner will receive, the “Edie” bootie, a suede dalmation print ankle bootie with a 2-inch covered platform with black stitch detailing and black 6′ heel. The “Edie” is from their F/W 2011 collection “The Collectibles” and retails for $482.

So how exactly do you win these puppies? (Get it?)

To Enter:

Head on over to the new MyFDB.com and browse our covers section, then leave a comment on the MyFDBlog telling us which is your favorite!

Official Rules: A big thank you to Penelope & Coco for partnering with MyFDB. This contest is open to US residents only and closes Monday September 19th at 1:00 pm (PST). A winner will be randomly chosen and notified via email. For more information and awesome shoes check out Penelope & Coco’s official site and be sure to follow their exciting adventures on Twitter (@penelopeandcoco).

It takes a confident person to wear shoulder chains and a single long earring chain come alive. Who’s making this edgy, yet beautiful pieces? That would be Kate Power [pictured below], the creative design force behind Fleet Jewelry. The collection definitely appeals to a woman who is very fashion forward with a rock’n’roll flare. Recent fans of Fleet include Keri Hilson (she donned a “Creep” hair clip in her music video “Lose Control” ft. Nelly), Sarah Neufeld of Arcade Fire, Kate Lamphear (Style Director for Elle magazine), Maja Ivarsson (lead singer, The Sounds), and up-and-coming Hollywood starlet Jamie Chung (actress, The Hangover 2). Seeing as how Fleet is gaining quite the following, MyFDB jumped at the chance to dive into Power’s stylish mind.

Having been designing jewelry for over eight years now, how did the brand “Fleet” originate and what prompted the name?
I think as any kind of artist – there comes a stage in your life where you choose to let it go out into the world fearlessly. Just over a year ago with the inspiration and support of a few talented, relentless and beautiful warriors, Fleet was born. So much of what goes on when you start anything is like a rabbithole – uncertain of the path before you. Having one or two principles that rest in the very pulse of your soul has been everything. A Fleet is a pack, moving with velocity in the same direction – the direction for this Fleet is about ferociously following your dreams. The line is about the way it moves with you on this adventure that is life, and how you move with it. There is a movement amongst us and that momentum is really responsible for Fleets inception.

You’re quoted as saying you “like designing jewelry in a closet.” With that being said can you tell us about your design process?
Life, friends, music, adventure, films, design, is what gives this whole thing fuel.

I watch people around me a lot. I’m fascinated by body language and the way people show up in the world. I’m particularly drawn to those who aren’t afraid to be themselves. People at bus stops, The dancer with headphones on the metro, Buskers on street corners, Goodb”eyes” at airports. Musicians I find to be the a great example of this – My best designs come to me when I’m at live shows and smashing around. I know how the design will move with me in my imagination.

Collecting all these moments of inspiration is a very outward experience, but to bring them together into cohesion is such a solitary process. Hence the tiny nooks otherwise known as the closets I retreat to in order to create.

A portion of Fleet’s sales go to HEARme, how did you become involved in this organization?
Fleet is a brand with an unwavering intent to influence and propel those it touches through the connection of life and music. Music is everything over here. I consider it the most honest language for communicating – a note, a tone, or a frequency is way more powerful than any given word and proppels movement in it’s listeners.

HEARme is an organization that has created an international network that provides orphans and marginalized children with retrofitted recording studios with which they can create, record and speak the language of sound without barriers.
When I first got to LA – down some fateful rabbithole I was introduced to the founder of HEARme, Shae D’lyn. A beautiful relationship was born and being aligned in one another’s principles gave us both velocity in the same direction. This is THE most exciting project to us and is directly related to music, movement, and interconnectivity.

Which pieces of jewelry do you find yourself unable to leave the house without?
Hairchains and bootbelts. I love the feeling of metal links in my hair – I clip a few of them in for night time adventures. Bootbelts add a certain swagger to your step I can’t live without. The SS Mosshart Hairchain is a staple and goes with everything and The Last Dance Bootbelt – of course.

How would you sum up the brand’s style in 5 words or less.
Fleet. Looks Good. Feels Better.

Contest

We like Fleet’s style so much that MyFDB has partnered with the line to giveaway Kate’s staples, the SS Mosshart Hairchain ($73) and The Last Dance Bootbelt ($92).

To Enter:

Follow both @MyFDB and @FLEETjewelry and tweet the phrase below:

Time for some rock’n’roll flare in my life. I’m entering the @FLEETjewelry #contest from @MyFDB! http://myfdb.it/5WkvC  

Official Rules: This contest is open to US residents only. You must be following both @MyFDB and @Fleetjewelry for your tweet to be eligible. A winner will be notified via direct message after the contest closes on August 15, 2011 at 1:00pm (PST). For more information on Kate and Fleet visit their official website.

What was the “ah-hah” moment for you when deciding to create a USA made clothing brand?

For me this wasn’t about my ah-hah moment, this was about me creating an ah-hah moment for everyone else. I wanted to show ah-hah, you can make amazing clothes in American and by doing this, ah-hah, you can bring jobs back to this country.

Your logo really stands out, what sparked its creation?

Thank you! The logo was conceived to capture the essence of America in Alex Maine. The Alex Maine logo consists of two parts: the flag and the name. The flag is facing west, backwards from normal, to reflect how the American troops wear it on their sleeve in battle. The word Alex Maine is written in Georgia font. This font was selected because it was developed for the New York Times as an American answer to Times and Times New Roman, which are used by England’s The Times.

By making your store a male friendly environment, how would you describe the Alex Maine customer?

We want everyone to be excited by Alex Maine. We’re not looking at one particular person and singling them out. We want people that love America and want some really comfortable pants. We’ve had the age range from 18-70, male and female, come into the store and we’re just as excited to see them all. And, my friends are really important. They speak up real fast about the products. Its been great to watch them enjoy it.

Lastly, where can we find you… 

When looking to hit the beach? 

Manhattan Beach! I’ll be surfing El Porto, playing volleyball at 31st street, or reliving the days with the USC alumni. Love it there.

When in need of drink?

I have to support my promoting friends’ nights. Helps that they are really good…  And by really good, I mean great. With one of them or Voyeur is always good. And I have to have my partner in crime Jillian Davis.

CONTEST

We love a good night out and to make that night even more stylish for you (or the man in your life), we’ve partnered with Alex Maine to giveaway the below outfit to one lucky reader. By below you’ll be in the running to win a Premium Bamboo Shadow Black V Neck ($44.00) and a Brushed Twill Slender Cut Black Pant ($142).

To Enter:

Since Bron loves the beach (he’s a surfer after all), tell MyFDB about your favorite sandy summer getaway spot.

Rules: This contest is open to US residents only. One winner will be selected based upon his or her response. This contest closes on August 5, 2011 at 1:00 pm (PST). The winner will be notified after the close of the contest via email. For more information about Bron and Alex Maine, visit his official site.

Hair spray, curling irons, and hair straighteners might sound like awesome ways to style your locks. However, models can attest that these fun tools are actually damaging to your mane. To combat the craziness of summer hairstyling MyFDB has partnered with Redken, a brand commonly used behind-the-scenes at major runway shows looks like Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, and Balenciaga for an hair raising contest. C’mon, how amazingly awesome were their looks at Paris Fashion Week?

Contest

Now on to the fun part, to combat your hair abuse simply answer the question below by leaving a comment on the blog to be entered to win Redken’s Extreme conditioning collection (approx. retail value $80). Your hair will thank you!

To Enter:

Tell us about the worst hair day you ever had.

Official Rules: This contest is open to US residents only. One winner will be selected based upon his or her response. This contest closes on July 29, 2011 at 1:00 pm (PST). The winner will be notified after the close of the contest via email. For more information about Redken, visit their official site.

Thanks to Katy Perry, we’ve all had the lyrics “Baby, you’re a firework” stuck in our heads this summer. Her music is catchy and playful just like her awesome style. Whether she’s dressing in theme or being herself, Katy has a knack for taking on new characters. Her current role has been transforming into a catwoman for her fragrance, Purr by Katy Perry.

The notes in the fragrance totally reflect Katy’s vivaciousness. Expect to experience essences of peach nectar and forbidden apple with green bamboo. There are also hints of jasmine blossom, pink freesia, and Bulgarian rose.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to finally introduce me in a bottle. There is a wonderful world of fragrances out there, but like with my music, I believe there is room for me and my own unique twist on it. Purr is a natural extension of who I am as a woman – it’s a gorgeous blend of all my favorite scents that embodies my style, my tastes and my love for all things incredibly cute. It is an absolutely purrfect perfume that I hope leaves you meowing with delight!” explains Perry.

How fun! And now for the even cooler part…the scent can be yours!

Enter to win Katy Perry’s Purr fragrance.

3 Winners & 3 Ways to Enter:

1 – Leave a comment below telling MyFDB what makes you Purr.

2 – Send @MyFDB and @KatyPerry a tweet telling us what makes you Purr.

3 – Like MyFDB on Facebook

Official Rules: This contest is open to US residents only. Three winners will be selected based upon their Purr response and a winner will be selected at random from Facebook. If you already Like MyFDB on Facebook, you are automatically entered to win. This contest closes on July 22, 2011 at 1:00 pm (PST). Winners will be notified after the close of the contest. For more information about the Purr fragrance, visit its official website.