freelance fun: a fashion app.

I love a good design project. Within an instant I become wrapped up in all the possibilities and end up absolutely engrossed in the work--if my name's on it, it's going to be fabulous! My roommate came to me for a project with school that she needed my help with for visuals. The presentation she gave included a fashion app for the iPhone that she and her group came up with called "Silhouette." The app has photos of all the items in your closet and will keep track of what pieces are where for all those times you forget you dropped it off at the dry cleaners or just can't quite remember who exactly you lent what to--it'll do it all for you! It also maintains weekly outfits for different themes, all keeping in mind what you have worn lately so it doesn't 'repeat' pieces! I fell in love with the idea and was more than excited to design the app interface. Here is what I came up with...

The home screen on the iPhone with a custom Silhouette logo. 

Once you tap the logo, it brings you to the home page of the app. This home page is under "closet" at the bottom navigation bar and lets you digitally view all the different styles of clothing in your wardrobe. The speech bubble at the bottom is a pop-up notification that lets you know where any missing items may be!

If you want to shop by occasion, you simply tap "categories" on the bottom navigation bar and it will bring you to this page. The events are customizable and range from casual to fancy. When you upload clothing, you can tag them into categories making it simple and efficient when putting together an outfit for a certain event.

Another great feature is the calendar, also found on the bottom navigation bar. This interactive schedule displays outfit options for the week based on your previous selections (items of clothing or events).  

Finally, you can zoom in on the individual pieces that are presented in the calendar form. For a marketing touch, the app will automatically recommend pieces that would go well with your outfits. This one shows how a dark chocolate matte watch from MIchael Kors would complement the bronze Toms. Last but least, the "share me" option toward the bottom right of the screen gives you the opportunity to share these looks with your friends. It's the perfect way to show off your style, new pieces in your wardrobe, or even plan ahead to not match your friends for an event!

It was so wonderful to be able to start from scratch and just go off of their description of the app. This gave me the opportunity to dream up the most interactive and simplistic way to visually make it happen. I was generously compensated with smoothies and Starbucks, too! She knows the way to my heart!

Found any addictive apps lately in the fashion world? 

Maybe someday you'll see Silhouette up in action!

Ciau,

K.René

with hard work comes success.

 After four long months of designing and collaborating put into power mode plus one sleepless stress-filled deadline-hitting week, we finally did it! I composed the color palette, designed the cover and 70+ of the 96 pages. I could not be more proud of the outcome--it looks incredible for a completely student-run organization. Though a break is much appreciated, I am already anticipating next semester and all the designs to come with. The theme is phenomenal--I'll tell you that much right now. The rest will have to be a surprise! 
For now, here's the great success of the spring 2013 magazine release party! 

Some behind the scene on the designs - I took every photo of the flower that is on the cover! They are real live plants from different occasions that I cropped out and made into a mirror image design to touch on the floral and reflection trends that are so prevalent this season! 

On the buckle of the cover, it says 'est. 2006,' signifying the first year CLUTCH was founded on FSU campus! 

Want more? Check our spring 2013 issue out online!

Ciau,

K.René

a one way flight.

Just about a month ago I received a life-changing email and was actually jumping up and down with joy... and excitement... and anticipation... and nervousness. 

I really just felt one whole melting pot of emotions all at once; I started tearing up and was immediately overcome with every happy feeling possible. 

This is what I read:

I am officially West Coast bound for the summer to be and could not be more thrilled. I will be the Visual R&D Intern with BCBG Corporate and will bounce around to a few different departments to contribute with both graphic design work and visual displays to this fabulous company! With only 9 (!!!!!!!) days til my departure, I am madly packing up and planning each and every thing I want to do this summer. Starting with my outfits--priorities, right? I will be in LA until the end of August and want to do make the very most of my time there. This internship is a dream come true and I am so looking forward to continually updating you via K.René Everyday and Instagram (kellyreneg) with any adventure I embark on from work to weekends! Stay tuned for a summer seen through my eyes with a 'golden state' of mind!

Any adventures planned for the summer months? Any must-see suggestions for Cali? Do tell!

Ciau,

K.René

*The one way flight, while tempting to keep it that way, is tentative as it allows me to travel for a few days after the end of the internship before setting an exact date to return to reality. If all goes as planned I'll be booking a true one way flight within a year to be officially Cali bound-- crossing my fingers!

versatility: make it happen.

I'm often torn between taking the fancy glamorous route and going comfy chic for daily errands. It's that whole back-and-forth dilemma: "I want to wear something worthy vs. I don't want to waste an outfit simply on errands." My solution? A mid-day wardrobe change. This theory brings me harmony in my fashion world and helps ease the pain of choosing just one way to wear the outfit per day. I threw together two ensembles featuring the very same key pieces, just using different accessories, to illustrate how to make the most of your outfit each day.

Key Pieces:

Hervé Léger cap

Urban Outfitters leopard blazer

J.Crew white pocket tee

Sophie & Trey distressed white denim

Cole Couture studded earrings

First Look: Afternoon Errands Ensemble

RayBan Clubmaster Sunglasses

Urban Outfitters 'Kelly' nameplate necklace

Anthropologie mint watch

Oscar de la Renta for Target ivory floral canvas tote

TOMS bronze flats

Double Take: Evening Errands Ensemble

Michael Kors bronze & gold watch

David Yurman cable bracelet

Valentino citron rosette bag

Prabal Gurung for Target black patent lace up heels

How will you shake up your mid-day display?

Ciau,

K.René

a getaway for the day: fernandina beach.

Nothing beats an all-day getaway. Especially one filled with shopping, eating and photography! My fabulous mother and I ventured off to Fernandina Beach over the break to see what it had to offer for us. The cobblestone roads had endless photo ops, countless quaint cafés and superb simple shopping options. We poked our heads into little boutiques filled with trinkets and stationary, strolled down the sidewalks and stopped for picturesque moments and got to pet the two most precious goldens I've ever seen! For lunch, we headed over to a little outdoor café where we had delicious sandwiches--spicy tofu with fresh greens and tomatoes--and a crispy bag of chips. It was the perfect refreshing pause to our relaxing day. We hit up some local shopping as well as chain stores on the way home, not to mention delicious ice cream cones that made one big mess in the car. They were worth it. This petite retreat was the ideal escape from responsibility and stress; what a success!

Taken any day trips lately? 

Pick a local spot and take it on as a tourist for one sweet 'staycation.'

Ciau,

K.René

tribal + neon.

My very last spring break of college was last month and boy was it the perfect way to celebrate. I headed home to Jax and my mom and I were able to find the best ways to relax and spend time together all break. I had come off of one of the most chaotic weeks in my life--from having two tests, to getting horribly sick, to meeting the deadline for CLUTCH Mag and all the obstacles that came with it. I was much overdue for some pampering, rest and inspiration. We planned a little getaway to a historic shopping area nearby, took endless trips to the lovely St. Johns Town Center mall and found some quality pieces to work into my work wardrobe for this summer. We sipped our morning and afternoon coffee on decorative napkins, I gave myself a manicure and we caught up on our favorite style shows. Later that week, my Dad came home from his business trip and joined us for the fun! The following day, Becca came to town (Mojo, too!) and we were finally reunited as a family again; it was just wonderful! I was able to scrounge up a few outfits, as sick as I was, right before I headed home for break... and thank goodness I did. It would have been quite a long week wearing only sweats and pajamas; I can always count on feeling better after doing my hair and dressing up to go somewhere. If you look good, you feel good! 

Here's a look I wore to head over to the Town center to peek into West Elm, Anthro, Urban, J.Crew and BCBG!

{Wearing:}

Anthro tribal top in black & ivory

J.Crew olive cargo cropped bottoms

Gold & Black rope necklace from a boutique on a family vacay years ago

Sophie & Trey neon sandals

Oscar de la Renta for Target canvas floral tote

Michael Kors bronze & gold watch

Ver Sei gold studded bracelet

How do you mix tribal into your style?

Ciau,

K.René

gather your mason jars: terrarium DIY.

You will need:

A mason jar -- customize it with a design, ribbon or paint.

A handful of fresh soil

Just a few pretty pebbles

A vivid succulent to top it all off

A pinch of bright green moss for extra decoration

Throw it all in:

Start with a thin layer of pebbles to make sure the soil can drain properly,

Add enough soil to take up about three quarters of the jar,

Plant your succulent; let it stick out right on top to properly show it off,

Place the moss all around the succulent for decoration,

Find the perfect place for your brand new DIY terrarium and enjoy!

To keep it happy, keep it by a window--don't forget to water periodically!

Ciau,

K.René

k.rené in wonderland

Life can be hectic. I wholeheartedly believe if you are not doing what you love, you're doing it all wrong! Mackenzie and I will plan a "creative day" at least once a week; that is the key to keeping myself inspired in an otherwise stressful environment filled with keeping my room (and life) organized, taking exams and the worst of all: answering 'what am I going to wear today?' Our days will be filled with happy thoughts, an abundance of compliments, endless crafts and sometimes an excursion to explore a new creative environment. Enter, Paisley Café. Tucked behind the cupcakery "Lucy & Leo's" and the sweet bookstore "The Bookshelf," this adorable café is filled with colorful umbrellas, delicious treats and a white picket fence. We nibbled on tasty tomato/mozzarella paninis and quenched our thirst with ice cold raspberry lemonade. 

{Wearing:} 

Prabal for Target floral mirror print blouse,

Sophie & Trey black shorts,

Sophie & Trey faux leather jacket,

Sophie & Trey black spiked flats,

Hervé Léger cap,

Anthropologie mint watch,

Ver Sei gold studded bracelet,

Valentino citron rosette side bag &

Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses.

We made plans to go visit the Tallahassee plant nursery that was only about 20 miles further and when Kenz said it was truly amazing, it was the understatement of the century. Follow along through my adventures in wonderland.

How do you stay inspired?

Ciau,

K.René

(my wallet is) in trouble with prabal: a collab that's right on target.

Our last morning in NYC was bittersweet--I was in denial that my unbelievable trip was coming to a close, yet overly anxious to head home to our local Target to see what Prabal had in store for me! I had researched each and every piece since the initial first look at the collection, marked which ones I'd be specifically on the lookout for and even signed myself up for text-alerts from Target; nothing could stop me now. We hopped off the plane and darted into Target the first free second we had! I was completely in awe of the still-existant selection; I had made it just in time. Since NYC was as busy as ever, leaving little time to shop with my leftover bday cash, I was in fashion heaven when I was able to bring an armful (or two) into the fitting room and narrow it down to my top 4 adored pieces. These made the cut:

See how I wore my prized Prabal pieces in posts to come!

Ciau,

K.René

"big dreams, good music and expensive taste."

As if this trip wasn't already enough of a dream-come-true, our hard work interning paid off in more ways than one. The incredibly kind people we met, both from the NYC and LA offices, the experience we gained and the souvenirs we got to take home with us all played a major role in making this trip the trip of a lifetime. Katie, Nadia and I stayed behind after the rest of the interns headed toward the tents on the day of the Hervé Léger show. We ended up being able to handle and package 100 giftbags for bloggers and a selected lucky group complete with an HL signature cap (a fresh-off-the-runway look!) and a note signed from Max & Lubov. The whole process was incredible; each and every step we took--from folding tissue the proper way to hand writing 100 notes with an inspiring quote on them--made the show one bit closer to the perfection that it was; it was such an honor to have an impact on the production. At the end of the day, the three of us were rewarded with a HL hat giftbag. I have already worn mine multiple times and am beyond obsessed with the incredible fit and infamous "HL" label. The glamorous baseball cap is absolutely my favorite trend right now! 

About 45 minutes before the show was set to start, we finished our project with the hats and quickly packed 50 bags into boxes and toted them down to the van that was parked outside waiting to take us to the Lincoln Center. What a thrill it was to be in a BCBG van--just us three interns--in NYC on the way to Fashion Week... we were all ecstatic. 

Once we arrived to the show, word got to us that the model survival kits (tote bags full of goodies to give to the models in compensation for strutting down the runway) were still back at the office. They selected me to go back and retrieve them, so there I went, flagging down the van outside the tents and bee-lining it for the showroom. Then the doors to the office were locked; my heart sunk. I immediately started madly dialing Lindsey, the events coordinator, meanwhile pounding on the glass doors just praying for someone to come find me! My prayers were answered when a confused seamstress came to my rescue and let me right in. I swung 25 bags onto one arm and 25 onto the other and hustled back to the van. We made it back to the Lincoln Center just in time and I heroically paraded in with the totes. (It was not a graceful act...) The best part was that I was able to receive an "all access" wrist band that will forever be a treasure and memory of this experience--score! We watched the show in awe.

The models were all lined up and ready to go; all cameras on them. This was the big moment we had all been waiting for; it was about to begin.

We could all watch a live feed of the runway from backstage to be able to tell the models exactly when to walk. Everyone stood there in awe as they seamlessly strutted down the runway in style.

During the grand finale walk, everyone burst into applause backstage. I got the chills and actually shed a few tears. It was an unforgettable sight to see everyone hugging and celebrating such a flawless debut of the latest line.

Immediately after the show ends, everybody snaps back into reality and starts taking apart the set, moving clothes out and special guests begin to file backstage. I was starstruck and overly excited to see Kelly of The Glamourai, Chiara of The Blonde Salad and Lindsey of Saucy Glossie. I have a list of over 30 blogs that I religiously read day after day--so to see these fashion icons in person was such a treat.

Chiara sweetly greeted me with a kiss on each cheek at the BCBG After Party and we ironically hopped into the same cab she was hopping out of at the end of the night. Oh, to be in NYC!

Lindsey toting her HL giftbag (packaged by us!!). So surreal!

Our impromptu photoshoot in front of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week wall!

Our dedication to helping the Hérve show be as successful as possible paid off. In addition to our HL hat giftbags, we received a model survival kit complete with all the goodies below. I have never been so thrilled--these two gifts mean the world to me. Some of my favorites from below were the delicious Kusmi Tea, Sephora mascara, Parker Pen, Kiehl's lip balm, and argan oil; it has been just wonderful to pamper myself with these memorable samples! I am newly addicted to the BCBG perfume as well--I keep the larger bottle on my perfume tray in my room and the smaller bottle in my car for any last-minute spritzes! The tote itself is my favorite part--I have it hanging on my rolling rack on display as a constant reminder of how awesome this trip truly was.

Since we were fortunate enough to hear Lubov's commentary and were introduced to some incredible BCBG employees through the lovely Lauri, we arrived back to the hotel much later than planned. (So worth it!) We immediately put our samples into used and freshened up in record time--only 45 minutes--all while chugging our lattes. Thank goodness for adrenaline. And caffeine. Then we hopped in a cab toward The Standard Hotel and headed up to The Boom Boom Room once we arrived. The 

Katie and me with a few of the other fab interns!

Jocelyn, another wonderful intern! Something tells me we'll be working again together someday!

My favorite photo of us to date. We are so genuinely thrilled and excited; boy does it show!

The one and only Cuit! I absolutely loved working with him behind the scenes at the HL show and again while I was at check-in for the after party!

"Big dreams, good music and expensive taste." It pretty much just sums it all up! 

Bravo to this entire trip; it was simply spectacular. 

Ciau,

K.René