Every year I look forward to latkes for Chanukah. In my family, we always ate them for the holiday. I remember one year when my mother was working at a local newspaper and she made an entire array using all types of potatoes for a review. It’s a fond memory of mine, and now that I’ve moved out of my parents’ house I still need them so much that I’ve taken on the task myself. Read More
Such a clean look with the Velvet Extreme Wideleg Pants!
A tough Americana look styled with the Tattered Flag Scarf.
The cute, dainty, and edgy Vegan Leather Pleated Skirt!
holiday TWINSIES! (hope you all watched last week’s Sunday Funday to get that one)
Publications are always telling us which colors to wear. Are we calling it nude or blush this season? Open up a magazine, and you’ll see how neons are all the rage. We’re color obsessed! One of the most fun things to do is experiment with color. We’ve been doing exactly that here at Free People which has led us to settle on color POPS as our must have look this season. We love pairing these bright hues back to neutrals – dusty pinks, elephant grey, black and white –letting them make their statement, and grabbing the eye. My question for all of you is – which piece will you be popping?
The Cropped Lace Tube
Star Straw Fedora
Grand Master Long Sleeve Boy Top
Brighter Days Scarf
FP 5 Pocket Ankle Crop Skinny
Neon Terry Space Dye Sock
Daphne Platform
Lace-Up Cord Shorts
[polldaddy poll=5783458]
The final series in our blogger picks for grunge comes from Claire Geist of DeLune Blog. She’s a little pixie redhead who you wouldn’t normally think of as a grunge girl. Because of this, she brought an interpretation to the trend that was fun to see. It felt fresh and very downtown. The ditzy print of the Floral Shirt Tail Pucker Dress came alive when she paired it with the Vegan 3 Eye Gibson Shoe and ankle socks. The result was grunge but she brought an elegant and feminine twist to the table.
From all of the grunge items she saw that day, Claire told us which her top five must haves are for the trend: the Ramsey Oxfords, Vegan Leather Double Breasted Jacket, Tattered Flag Scarf, Caldra Layer Pullover in Sherbert, and the Cutoff Denim Vest.
I couldn’t agree more with her choices. And now, her favorite sweet treat, what’s on her holiday wish list and other insights into Claire’s personality….
One lucky winner will win a $200 FP gift card!
For the design of our newest store we’re looking to do something really special, and we’d love for you all to help us out! What we’re asking is to send us your love letters. It can be a photo, drawing, letter – whatever – just be sure to mark down where you’re writing from and share what you love with us. You can send it via snail mail, or scan and email it to blog@freepeople.com. In the end of it all, the love letters will become a part of our upcoming Center City Philadelphia location, and one lucky winner will be chosen to receive a $200 FP gift card! So get on it – you have until January 13th to send us your love letters and enter. xoxo Free People
Second up on our blogger interpretation of FP grunge: Natalie Suarez
(First Photo: the O-Town Muscle Tank, M2F Cutoff Denim Vest, and Rocker Vegan Leather Pants; Second Photo: the O-Town Muscle Tank and Velvet Biker Shorts)
I think Natalie’s favorite part of grunge was the leather (and vegan leather). She went right to our vegan leather pants, and was quick to toss on the vegan vest. She paired the tough girl material with softer slouchier layers. Her take was very earthy. She stuck to the origins of Free People style, and paired it with these updated grunge pieces. In the following look she’s wearing our vegan vest along with the Crinkled Sheer Printed Jumpsuit and Double Shanghai Necklace in silver.
After the day of styling and photographing (see her other looks here and here), Natalie decided on some top picks for grunge. Her five must haves are: the Sheer Buttondown Tunic, Caldra Pullover in licorice, Academy Bodysuit, Denim Cuttoffs in Indigo, and the Rocker Vegan Leather Pant.
We also had Natalie fill out a questionnaire. So in case you were wondering about the blogger’s eyesight, favorite fashion icon, and everything in-between – here you go:
This member of the Candy design team has pretty rad style. She’s not afraid to wear something far out. Piled high each day in vintage, she often dresses in motifs and themes. It’s so nontraditional that it works. With little gothic touches, and that wear-whatever-you-want motto, she reminds me a bit of Abbey Lee. Although her style is loud as can be, once you walk up and say hi she’s a quiet nonchalant personality. I love the guts that she approaches fashion with everyday.
The highlight of my work week? See here.
Taking pictures and styling clothes, my thirst for creativity and inspiration was well satiated that day. The euphoria of childlike happiness tightened my cheeks and pulled the corners of my mouth up into a googely grin that never left my face. Shooting and collaborating with these beautiful & talented bloggers was something of an out of body experience – one where you pinch yourself… hard. Myself six months ago, the girl who liked to dink around with the camera gifted by her parents (one of the best gifts I’ve ever received btw), would never have thought I’d be doing this. I’ve always enjoyed photography as a side thing – especially the portrait and fashion genres, but I sort of stumbled into getting to do it on the regular for work. Free People has opened doors to explore my hobby in ways I’d never imagined.
I love being at work & I love what I do, but outside of the office I’ve been pretty busy too. I’m always sure to fill my weekends with adventures: brunching, city jaunts, record sorting, flea markets, nights out with friends, and of course, shopping. It keeps me moving and it keeps me inspired. Life has been a whirlwind of fun and love.
I’ve snapped some photos along the way to document…
Last 4 photos: The Ramsey Oxfords in Maroon, Galileo Gilded Necklace, Denim Cutoff Shorts (<3 these so much), and the FP Cropped Biker Jacket
My roommate and I finally got out the power tools and hung up some art!
We wore ourselves out!
Oh, and here’s my week’s playlist. Enjoy!
Grunge has been on our minds. It’s the cool revival of the 90’s with an “I don’t give an F” attitude. Washed and distressed pieces – leather and studs. We’re channeling Alice Dellal and Kurt Cobain as we layer it on.
Last week we invited some blogger friends down to help us interpret the look. We piled all of our latest cutoff shorts, leather jackets, grunge tees, boots, and washed pieces into a display – letting them go at it: styling and telling us which items they liked best.
First up: Christina Caradona of Trop Rouge
Christina (pictured above in our Long Sleeved Mixed Graphic Baseball Tee, Gilded Santorini Collar, and her own jeans) took on the grunge trend effortlessly. She looks like one tough chick you wouldn’t want to mess with. Perhaps, because she already has a lot of that come as you are, carelessly sexy look you need to pull it off. The clothes wore so naturally on her, making the trend surprisingly organic and hard feeling at the same time. Below she models in our We the Free Reverse it Kachow Thermal, Denim Cutoff Shorts, and Painted Distress Boot.
After trying on and experimenting with many items, Christina tells us what her top five picks are for grunge:
Reverse It Kachow Thermal in Lime, Marakesh Floppy Hat, Destroyed Slouchy Tee in White, Cropped Biker Jacket, and Vegan Leather Pants
Before she left we asked Christina to fill out a questionnaire for you all. Time to let her speak for herself!
This week’s recipe is an adaptation from one of Julie Morris’s Superfood Cuisine recipes. Read More
At the Free People home offices we have so many amazing things available to us. One that I’m sure many employees will tell you that they’re grateful for, is the amazing food. You can either head over to our dining hall called 543 or stop at the café Jharoka – both of which offer menus that are stocked with gourmet ingredients and creative pairings. The offering includes some of the freshest ideas in the culinary world today: smoked tofu and pear chicken salad with blackberry jam and arugula on a brioche, or, for the non-vegetarians, how about a grilled flank with balsamic mushrooms, horseradish mayonnaise and spring mix on semolina hero? The people behind these masterpieces are talented chefs, baristas, sauciers – they each have a reputable background and an artistry to share.
Meet Corbin – our 543 drink specialist who’s prepping up his magical Hangover Smoothie. FP Jemma will tell you that he steams the best cappuccino, and he’ll humbly profess that it’s what he loves to do. We talked to him while he got to work at the blender, learning all about his love of drinks and how he uses vitamin B12 to cure our post party pains.
Where did you work before this? Before this I worked at various coffee shops, always making drinks.
And how long have you been with the company? About a year now
How did you develop this hangover recipe – was it out of necessity? Ha – not so much…I mainly just researched ingredients. It’s about trial and error – getting to know ingredients and what they’re good for. I then combine things with similar benefits to make a power house recipe with a specific benefit, like weight loss or energy.
How does this smoothie help to cure a hangover? Bananas, spinach, and B12 have a lot of potassium which will give you a big kick and make you feel good. The B12 also has great added energy benefits. The Kale is just good for everything – it’s so nutrient-rich.
Where do you get inspiration? Are there any sources you often use for research? I mainly just talk to people, I visit other juice bars, and the internet – I look a lot of things up on the internet…
What’s next? I’m going to be adding supplements to the cleanses more. So far I’ve just been making combinations with the juicer like carrot, ginger, and lemon – no water or anything added. I’m going to start putting in supplements like Spirulina and Echinacea. For the New Year there will be a whole cleansing regiment offered. Employees can pick up a package of 6 juices each day to either use as a liquid diet or to add on top of a healthy eating regimen.
Here’s how to make the hangover smoothie:
Ingredients (Serves 2)
One handful (approx 1 cup) of Washed Spinach
4 Leaves of Washed Dinosaur Kale
2 Bananas
1 Cup of Soy Milk
4-5 Drops of Liquid B12
¾ Cup of Chopped Ice
Directions
Put it all in the blender & drink!
He left us with a bottle of the first batch. It was full of banana-y flavor, and although not hungover, it definitely put some pep in our step.
