L-SQUARED PREMIERE ISSUE
May 2013
Ted Baker
designer spotlight
Spring/Summer 2013 Collection
Editor’s
from the
desk
The Premiere Issue
I
am so excited to present to you, the very first issue of L-Squared, an online woman’s lifestyle magazine for those who love fashion, beauty and shopping on the web. Maybe you’re an online shopping pro or maybe you get lost the second you arrive on a website. Either way, L-Squared will be right up your alley.
When I first met Allan, the founder of LustreLife.com, we instantly clicked and decided to delve deeper into what we could do with the site. And thus, L-Squared was born. Our staff is full of established and incredibly talented editors who are here to present you with everything from new designer collections, to styled out ensembles that make navigating the web incredibly easy. We definitely want to get up close and personal with you as well and will show you some of our own favorite items and trends out there right now. As a matter of fact, right on the next page, I give you a sneak peek into my can’t-live-without beauty products. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter so you can be one of the first to receive our latest shopping deals and stories. Joyce Huang EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
2
Beauty INSIDER
Take a peek at products I can’t live without!
Tigi Salt Spray $14 Sea salt sprays never seem to work on my stick straight Asian hair… that is, till I found this one. While my hair is slightly damp, I spray liberally, braid it and let it air dry. From there I just undo it and give it a few more spritzes.
Yves Saint Laurent $34 I am obsessed with YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks. Yes, they are a bit on the expensive side, but they go on so silky and smooth, it’s hard not to become addicted. Plus the packaging is exquisite and makes me feel so glamorous when I’m reapplying.
MAKE UP FOR EVER
Invisible Cover Concealer $29 The older I get, the less sleep I get, which is a major no-no. I’ve had to incorporate eye concealer into my regimen so I don’t scare children when I leave the house now. The tiniest bit of this always does the job. I’m shade #315.
Origins A Perfect World $38 This is an oldie, but goodie. I went off of using this product for a year and you could definitely see that my skin made a turn for the worse. Never again will I make that mistake. Now I make sure to keep extras in my cabinet. 3
PremiereIssue May 2013
6
Designer Spotlight
T
ed Baker
Contents 2
From the Editor’s Desk
3
Beauty Insider
5
Editor Picks
12 Get the Look: Jessa Johansson 14 The Trend: Stripes 16 The Trend: Romantic Lace 18 Feeling Blue: Swath yourself in blue hues & give yourself an instant pick-me-up.
20 Perfectly Printed: Dress around a gorgeous printed dress with sleek & modern accessories.
22 Peach Parfait: Peach is a shade that look gorgeous on all skin tones.
24 Great Transitional Piece: The Bomber Jacket 25
Shop the Issue
Editor Picks
Items that our staff is OBSESSING over
2 5
Carolina Herrera $1890 “An embellished top will instantly dress you up. We are loving the combination of beading and feathers on this hot number.”
3 1 4 6 Milly Rope Print Acapulco Maillot in Navy $176 “This maillot swimsuit is so sexy. Not only do we love the deep-V front, but the navy and white rope print is perfect for the warm weather.”
Steve Madden Amplifyd Snake-Print Pump $88 “So HOT! Everything from the rich teal color to the rounded platform makes this such a fierce design. You are going to feel like a supermodel whenever you step out in them.”
Alice + Olivia Print Bustier Dress $395 “It’s the perfect combination of sexy and sweet. No one will be able to keep their eyes off of you when you step into a room wearing it.”
Marc Jacobs Too Hot To Party Clutch $230 “While this is a simple design, the snake embossed leather and gold plaque up the ante of this incredibly versatile clutch.”
Free People Rocco Lace Dress $128 “The rosy pink hue of this vintage-inspired lace dress is too sweet and pretty to pass up!”
5
Designer Spotlight
T
ed Baker The Ted Baker Spring/ Summer 2013 collection won our entire staff over. With its romance and sweet whimsy, it was love at first sight.
6
Get party ready with this alluring, MadMen inspired cocktail dress. The light blue hue has so much charm to it and looks great on all women. Finish off your look with a bold lip and you are good to go.
7
This entire ensemble will make you look like quite the refined lady. The tailoring is exquisite and will fit your body as if it were custom made for you. And there is the intricate floral wallpaper print that is incredibly luxurious.
8
The Letaa dress is covered in fun flowers and a sheer overlay. We are loving the vintagestyle buttons that run down the front. With its banded waist, you will look itty-bitty.
9
Not for the faint of heart, go ultra-mod with this brilliant, window-themed dress. It is unlike anything we have seen before.
10
The statement pant is a must for this season, which is why we highly recommend adding the Eleano bottoms to your wardrobe. The multicolor floral print is to die for and will liven up your entire appearance.
11
Jessa Johansson images via HBO
Get the Look: Jessa Johansson from HBO’s Girls
27
written by Stephanie Groves
-year-old Jemima Kirke plays the world traveling Jessa Johansson in the HBO hit series Girls, and along with the character’s free-spirited attitude and wild child sensibility comes an enviable global nomad sense of style. Jessa is originally British but has spent much of her life flitting from place to place, and her fashion sense reflects this by incorporating a variety of different cultural influences. So far in the series (now in its second season) Jessa has favored floaty printed chiffon kimonos, substantial piec12
es of tribal-inspired jewelry and fashionable tokens that likely have sentimental meaning or have been acquired during her galavanting. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the show or have never even heard of it, this season it’s easy to add a cultured, bohemian vibe to your wardrobe. The key to pulling off a hippie chick esthetic without looking overly retro or costume-y is to keep each element in your outfit in a similar color palette, and to accent your looks with pieces that have a lived-in, weathered feel.
House of Harlow Nomadic Necklace, $110. Designed by fellow boho style goddess Nicole Richie, this spike necklace from House of Harlow will add a stand-out accent to everything from white tank tops to cocktail frocks—but it’s especially perfect with a printed maxidress. Haute Hippie Embellished Silk-Crepe Maxi Dress, $518. Long, flowing dresses are the epitome of bohemian chic, and this style— from the Jessa-appropriate “Haute Hippie” line—is also extremely figure-flattering. The center vertical line accent helps to visually elongate the body, while the horizontal stripe under the bustline highlights the smallest part of the waist. Miss Selfridge Red Lace Zip Bra Top, $35. In the first season of Girls Jessa was never afraid to let her underpinnings show, whether with a sheer dress that exposed her neon pink panties or with the flash of a lacy bra. This red corset top from Miss Selfridge is perfect for layering under dresses—or wearing on it’s own if you have the moxie— and will add just the right bit of raciness to any outfit. LOFT Sydney Booties, $220. Who knew that LOFT was making such cool shoes? These western-style booties have a lived-in, vintage feel and look like something that Jessa could have collected in her travels.
Yves Saint Laurent Arty Ovale Cuff Bracelet, $395. Iconic YSL (now rebranded as Saint Laurent) crafted this goldtone cuff bracelet with an off-center oversize glass stone accent. Although this piece is no doubt a top-of-the-line designer piece, it could easily have also been found in a jewelry stall in Istanbul. 13
THE TREND:
Michael Kors $120
S tr
Fendi $480
So simple, we can’t get eno
French Connection $52
Vince Camuto $89
14
ripes
, but incredibly chic, ough of stripes this season. Vince Camuto $169 Burberry $250
Saint Laurent $1120
VINCE $155
Michael Kors $148
15
THE TREND:
Roman
Swath yourself in pr you lookin
Valentino $895
Adrianna Papell $138
Alice + Olvia $385 16
Reiss $285
ntic Lace
retty lace pieces that will have ng like quite the lady.
Alberta Ferretti $1695
Milly $295
Tadashi Shoji $308
Dolce & Gabbana $1995 17
B
Feeling
lue
“Whoever coined the term “having the blues” had it all wrong: Studies have shown that wearing shades of cobalt, navy and sky actually calm nerves, making you feel happier and more relaxed! So go ahead and add a blue hue to your wardrobe for an instant pick-me-up.” - Stephanie
18
Topshop $32
Dorothy Perkins $14
Ann Taylor $98
Chinese Laundry $80
Michael Kors $65
Marc Jacobs $1678 19
Banana Republic $30
Karen Kane $158
Marc Jacobs $48
Adrienne Vittadini $295
Dolce Vita $40
20
P
Perfectly rinted
21
Peach arfait
P
“Add juicy peach to your look with this stunning Diane Von Furstenberg Jacket. This color looks amazing on virtually all skin tones and has a wonderful ladylike feel to it.” – Hellie
M
22
House of Harlow $105
Diane von Furstenberg $375
Vince Camuto $140
Mango $30
Marc Jacobs $88
23
BomberJacket Great Transitional Piece:
The bomber jacket has come a long way since its military debut
O
by Holly B.
ver the years, the fashion world has seen the once loved aviator style resurface, but typically in the more traditional sense – boxy, cropped and not that flattering for the ladies. But lately it seems though that every designer took on the challenge of eschewing the ubiquitously tough, masculine look by featuring tactile fabrics mixed with florals, metallics, embroidered prints and sheer details. The variety of jackets sent down the runways for the Spring / Sumer ’13 shows ranged from athletic silhouettes to graphic prints to peek-a-boo cutouts to softened leathers. Here’s a look at our some of our favorite styles. Progressive Sportswear – Modern day sportswear is moving toward a more luxe look. Case in point, the sporty bomber jacket featured at Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane and Zoe Jordan. Thrown over bralette tops, mesh sweatshirts and boxy tees, this is one trend that’s going to stick around for a while. 3.1 Phillip Lim, $87
24
Mad for Metallics – It wasn’t just pencil skirts, peplum dresses and textural tops that shined brightly in metallic sheens. Bomber jackets also stole the shimmer show, popping up at Jonathan Saunders and DKNY. There’s two schools of thought when styling your metallic bomber jacket – either pair the iridescent coat with toned down neutral colors or with vibrant hues of marine blue, emerald green and tangerine orange, some of spring hottest color trends. Burberry Brit, $1,995
The Look of Leather – If there was one category that dominated the bomber jacket trend, it was certainly the spring leathers. Loewe sent out sheer sleeved bombers decorated with rose petals, while Reem Acra showcased cut-out details. Perforated, embellished, adorned, quilted, dipped in pastels or bright and bold tones – the leather bomber jacket is an incredibly versatile wardrobe staple for spring. L’Agence, $1,195
Printastic Patterns– Dripping in sweet and soft florals and silk embroidered prints, the printed bomber seen on the Spring /Summer ’13 catwalks was transformed from the conventional neutral-toned look from the past to an ultra-feminine statement. Cynthia Rowley’s smattered prints were unexpectedly fresh, Erdem’s floral lined jacket was draped over delicate sheer lace pencil dresses, and Emilio Pucci packed a punch with bolder colors accented with swirls of embroidery. Fendi, $800 25