Denim 101

I am a self-professed denim girl: I'd rather be in jeans & a cute top any day over a dress. However, knowing my friends as well as my customers I realize that I'm actually the exception to the rule. Most girls love dresses & I could never figure out why I didn't feel the same. Jeans are challenging-- maybe I like the challenge?-- the right length, cut, fit & of course, the best boost for your caboose! I spend hours helping women of all shapes, ages, & sizes find the perfect jean & I can say that overall: women loathe the process. I personally hate bathing suit shopping (who does though?) but some women out there hate, with a capital H, looking for jeans.

So, I have decided to gather a few tips & tricks from magazines & personal experience that will hopefully facilitate the process for those of you out there that cringe at the thought of denim shopping.

Glossary

-boot cut- style that skims the thigh & has a slight flare at the leg opening; balances proportions & creates the illusion of longer legs

-skinny- style with a close fit through the leg; great for tucking into boots

-flare leg- fitted through the seat, thigh & knee & then flared at the leg opening

-straight leg- traditional cut with a straight, narrow leg that does not flare at the leg opening

-jegging- the 2010 jean; fits like a skinny jean & feels like leggings

Stretching

We have a rule at fab'rik- buy the size the smallest size you can button. I know, sounds crazy & not very comfortable (if you could only see the look on some of my customers faces when I tell them this) but the truth is that denim is a variation of cotton & well cotton/denim stretches. You will look like a hot mess in your baggy jeans if you give in & buy the bigger size. Trust me, I've been foolish enough to not take my own advice & I regret it each & every single time I have that certain pair of ill-fitting jeans on.

Different Body Shape, Different Jean

-To overall slim: jeans where the side seam curves to the front will narrow any silhouette

-To camouflage the tummy: high-waisted jeans are always great for belly conscious gals

-The dreaded love handles: mid-rise jeans like Joes, Citizens, etc. that right about 8 to 8.5 inches from top to bottom

-Wide hips: Jeans that are more of a high rise--without being a mom jean--that hit an inch below the belly button will eliminate the waist gap, which is often the problem for the pear-shaped ladies. Also, steer clear of tight ankles, which can make your legs look like drumsticks!

-Petite & Curvy: The best fit for the cute & compact is hands down the Joe's Provocateurs. This style really compliments an hourglass petite silhouette, as they are designed with more room in the thighs & butt. They also have a shorter inseam & boot cut leg that won't chop off at the ankle or shorten thicker thighs.

-Tall & Curvy: Denim with monochromatic stitching doesn't draw attention to thick thighs or bottoms. Also, we suggest long flared jeans (like Rock & Republic) that are snug through the thigh to accentuate the long gams.

-Boy Figure: Women with angular hips need jeans that rest on the pelvic bone, to reduce the extra fabric. Make sure to avoid casual, slouchy jeans: these will only make you appear more box shaped.

-Full Figure: If the back pockets on the jeans are too far apart, they tend to only draw more attention to the backside and can make hips look wider. Paige Laurel Canyon jeans have a slightly wider flare (20 inches) which balances out the hips.

-Boosting a Flat Romp: Rounded pocket edges create the illusion of a nice shaped apple bottom versus a pancake! We love the Hudson standard boot cut.

-Defying Gravity: In order to draw the viewer's eye up, wear jeans with flap pockets that are high on the rear. Also, jeans that are more fitted through the knee make the tush look perkier!

Extra Tips

-Too much distressing in the wrong place can draw attention to a trouble spot, but a little hint of it in a favorable area that you wish to accentuate will allow your jeans to have that perfect worn in look

-To create the illusion of thinner thighs, a darker wash tends to be the most flattering

Of course, as you already know, you can always stop by any fab'rik & have your very own denim guru help you find the best jean for your denim desires!

FNO Winners!

Happy Tuesday bloggeristas!
After 4 successful Fashion's Night Out events this past Friday night & a relaxing weekend we are finally ready to announce the 4 winners of the contests we had going on at each store!

Buckhead: The winner of a $50 gift certificate to Republic Social House is EVIN EARNHART
Midtown: The winner of our outfit contest & $100 gift certificate to fab'rik is MEGAN MABREY
Forum: The winner of a haute mom makeover: outfit from fab'rik, makeup from Van Michael Salon, & dinner for 2 at Grace 1720 is LIZ BICKNESE
CW: The winner of the denim contest & $100 gift certificate to fab'rik is KELLI SULLIVAN

Congratulations to all of our winners! & thank you all so much again for joining us on FNO! We look forward to next year!
Also, be sure to check our facebook page through out the week for pics & details from all 4 events!
*Winners: Be sure to go to each store this week to redeem your prize! Email angelique@fabrikatlanta.com if you have any questions!

Let the Countdown Begin!

Hello all you fashionistas out there! Only 5 more days until Fashion's Night Out! And boy do we have some fun things planned for you! Each one of our Atlanta stores is hosting its own event! Whether you want to stop by one, a couple, or all 4-- we'll guarantee you a great night of fashion, music, food, and fun!

Here's a sneak peek at all things going on at each store for Fashion's Night Out, Friday September 10th:

Midtown: If you're overwhelmed by all of the fall trends-- military, lady like, lace, camel, grey, leather, menswear-- and the list goes on! We've got you covered! Stop by between 6pm-9pm, we will have stylists on hand to help you sift through the best trends for you and how to rock them! Enjoy desserts, and beverages while experiencing the full personal styling experience!

City Walk (Sandy Springs): We all know that most women struggle finding the perfect jean. That's why if you stop by our City Walk location on FNO you will have a team of denim experts determined to help you look and feel your best in jeans by: Citizens of Humanity, William Rast, Joes, MissMe, Rock&Republic, Hudson, etc. Cocktails and treats will be served from 10am-6pm

Forum (Norcross): Our Norcross location is introducing their new Kids Korner and Haute Mom program on FNO. Stop by the Forum shopping center for wine and appetizers from 6pm-9pm to get styling advice from one of our favorite haute moms, Lisa Wu Hartwell from the Real Housewives of Atlanta. The Kids Korner will allow all moms to enjoy the fun of shopping again, while their kids are having fun! Enter to win a full Haute Mom makeover including an outfit from fab'rik, full makeup done by Van Michael Salon, and dinner for two at Grace 1720.

Buckhead: Dressing up for a date night can always be a challenge-- you never want to look like you're trying too hard but you always want to look your best! Come learn the art of creating the perfect date night look with guest Chili from TLC and the Buckhead ladies! Stop in between 7pm-9pm and enjoy wine, mingling, and of course, shopping!

We are very excited to be participating in such a world wide event! A night that is created to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence, boost the industry's economy and put the fun back in shopping!

It's Flippin' Friday y'all!

Confession: We love Fridays. We love everything about them. We love that our customers love them. We love that our friends love them. & we love that they infuse people with happy weekend thoughts! In lieu of our Friday giddiness here is a Friday (or any day for that matter) perfect outfit. An outfit that can take you from day to night, work to play, relaxed to sophisticated, all in the blink of an eye, adding of a heel, & sparkle of a jewel.

Cheers! to easy dressing & the temperatures dropping ever so slightly: allowing us to possibly flirt with some of our new beloved fall fashions.

*Don't forget: this weekend only enjoy 20% off your entire fab'rik purchase at all Atlanta locations with proof of following us on either facebook or twitter* Another reason to love the weekend!

Girls Rule... Boys Drool

We've all heard the expression, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus". And I'm pretty sure all of us ladies could write a book of all the different times you've realized how incredibly true this statement is.

We've also all experienced this: you spend time getting all dolled up for your man & strut out into the living room in your knockout outfit-- or so you thought. He looks you up & down, and says "Where you wanna eat?" Of course, after you haven't gotten the reaction you were dreaming of-- "Babe, you look smokin hot! Love your outfit!"-- you are of course, a tad bit disappointed- practically rethinking your outfit.

A scenario along the same lines happened to me this morning. I was getting ready to head out to breakfast with 2 of my girlfriends & as I'm about to walk out the door my fiancé stops me & says, "You're going to wear those 2 things together? & what is that thing? (pointing at my pseudo-jacket)" There I was feeling super on trend (how do I even explain that to him?) mixing the military/edgy fall trend with the vintage/floral feel & was really thinking I had his this one out of the park. I almost went back to rummage through my closet, but I said to myself-- "Ange, you're not going to see him all day, you like what you're wearing, so just go with it."

So, off I went. When I got to J.Christopher's & met up with my friends, I was so immersed in our conversation of weddings & shopping I had long forgotten about my outfit dilemma. Until, Meredith looked at me and asked, "Whatcha wearing?" I took a deep breath and said, "Ummm.. this new floral Tulle jacket & our Blank cargo pants". She scooched her way around the booth to get a better look & exclaimed "OH my God! I LOVE IT! When did we get that in!??!?!" What a relief! The girls were freaking over my clever combination & loved the jacket!

Now I knew that I had hit a fashion home run.

I've come to the conclusion that guys will never truly understand the oxymorons of the fashion world & that two opposites can really attract. Or that loose billowy blouses ARE cute if you were them the right way & that we don't always have to wear skin tight mini skirts to look "HOT". What if I wanna look "cool"? Then I suppose you have to decide: are you dressing for the boys? or for the girls?

A Bit More Personal...

If you aren't aware that Eat, Pray, Love-- based on Elizabeth Gilbert's best selling novel-- comes out today in theatres-- then you've been living under a rock! One woman's inspiring journey across Italy, India, & Indonesia has rocked souls all over the world.

The book has shifted women's perspectives on marriage, independence, religion, life, etc. In recent magazine articles we've read that some women have taken their very own Eat, Pray, Love journeys and rediscovered themselves.

In lieu of the movie's release today we asked some of our staff & franchisees what their very own Eat, Pray, Love symbols are in their lives. It's so interesting to see everyone's answers! We hope you enjoy getting to know some of us a little bit better!

Cheers! To hoping the movie is as good as the book! Although, Julia Roberts can do no wrong ;)

Dana (Fab'rik Founder):
Eat: Peanut butter ice cream w/peanut butter sauce.
Pray: Praying with the Haitian widows in the tent cities.
Love: Laughing so hard it hurts w/my sons.

Angélique (Midtown Manager):
Eat: Mom's homemade french fries.
Pray: La Savoie, France. & dancing.
Love: My fiancé & our families.

Meredith (City Walk Manager):
Eat: Sweet tea & almond joy.
Pray: My husband & family.
Love: My closet :).

Ally (Forum Manager):
Eat: One Midtown Kitchen.
Pray: Alone time.
Love: My fab'rik family.

Carla (City Walk Personal Stylist):
Eat: Picnic in the Park
Pray: Guardian angel.
Love: A dog's love.

Leslie (Fab'rik Austin owner):
Eat: Mexican food. I'm from TX so that means queso 2x a week!
Pray: Reading, running, & church.
Love: When my daughter comes up & hugs my legs & says "Hi mama", true love in that moment. Oh, & my husband too ;)

Brandon (Midtown personal stylist):
Eat: Italian cuisine paired w/a great glass of wine
Pray: To be the best me I can be
Love: Creation/discovery

Bree (Fab'rik Savannah-- coming soon!-- owner):
Eat: NYC's pasta & pizza; mama's homegrown veggies! YUM!
Pray: The beach! I always find my zen there watching God's masterpiece in front of me.
Love: Family & the special love for my son. No words can describe that feeling you get when thinking of the love for a child. It makes me at peace & utterly content.

Rebecca (City Walk personal stylist):
Eat: Tagalong girl scout cookies & milk
Pray: Being outdoors
Love: Laughing til I cry with friends

Melissa (Fab'rik Richmond & Carytown owner):
Eat: Food & Travel-- no matter where your travels take you, you always want to indulge in the best restaurants, that the little town, big city, or foreign country, that you are exploring has to offer.
Pray: Meditation & prayer-- God is ALWAYS available, even when you can't get anyone else on the phone.
Love: Self worth-- Loving yourself & the skin you're in paves a way in life for you to love others unconditionally.


Love,
fab'rik.

Fall's Big O.

They are topping all of the magazines' top fall trend lists & all of the celebs are prancing around LA and NYC in them. But if you're like me-- a girl who was an avid jazz dancer for 15 years-- you have a hard time swallowing the concept of a jazz-like-shoe for anywhere besides the dance studio (don't even get me started on the velvet leotard trend I saw at market... hmmm).

Alas, I have succombed to the latest haute footwear find. Once I realized how practical they were-- just as versatile and as comfortable as flats-- I just had to give them a try. I have to confess, for only $26 a pop I could really get used to this! It's only August 9th & not even fall yet & I've already worn them multiple ways! You can style them with or without socks, with a cute flirty dress or don them with your favorite cropped pants, shorts, jeggings or skinny jeans to complete your very own very fashion savvy look.

Be the first of your friends to get 'em... because sooner than later everyone will be flaunting this new shoe craze!