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July 9, 2015
Summer Love Adventure

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At this point in the summer,

you probably have plans to get away – and if you don’t – then you want to! We haven’t had that many great summer days in NY and this gloomy 75 degree weather in July is just not cutting it for me!

Dreaming of Paris
Fortunately enough it’s my favorite time of year – the Paris Couture Shows.
If you have been following my blog you know that I drool over these runway shows. It’s when fashions’ best and brightest show their most elite of collections. From intricate details taking hundreds of hours to the most eccentric pieces of art that are best suited for a museum floor; Paris Haute Couture is the shiznit.

If for some reason you are not fortunate enough to BE in Paris right now (ahem, that’s me!) I have been following vicariously through those fortunate few fashion insiders this week on their snapchat, of which I am now completely obsessed. (follow me @ EmilyBrickel on snapchat) and of course devouring the runways shows via Style.com.

Here I did some quick freehand fashion sketches of a few of my favorite pieces from Chanel and Alexandre Vauthier. Trust me I wanted to draw all night.

However, if you are not dreaming of Paris Couture like I am, maybe somewhere a bit more beachy is your style?

Beachy Keen
Swim week is up ahead, starting next week in Miami and ending in LA.
We are SOOOOO thrilled to announce that we (Chic Sketch) will be there live for LA Swim. I will be sketching all day so be sure to follow us @ ChicSketch on snapchat on July 23rd and my EmilyBrickel account for our week in LA starting the 19th as your behind the scenes view into our trip!

We have some exciting things on the horizon to make sure to also follow our instagram @ChicSketch and @EmilyBrickel.

Staycation Adventure 
Lastly, if you are not going anywhere anytime soon, I highly recommend you follow my new Summer Love Adventure. What this is, is a highly personal, extremely fun way to create your own adventure wherever you are. I admit I was feeling a bit down due to this less than ideal weather. Some days its 85 degrees and I’m swamped in the office, other days its 72 degrees on a Saturday and all I want to do is feel the summer heat. What gives?

I have made a personal commitment (and I am twisting my husband’s arm to comply with this fun plan) to create my own fate this summer.
It’s almost the middle of JULY people…. I hate to break it to you but that means we have about a month and a half left of summer before the craziness of September begins. Here’s my plan:

  1. Daily walks outside – (especially when it’s warm out). For me, I am committing to taking a walk outside before the sun goes down if it’s a nice day out. I don’t care how busy my day is, I’m committing to taking a lunch break or just an anytime break to enjoy the sunshine.

 

  1. Meditate – I want to get back to meditating, it really helps me relax, connect and de-stress. Summer should be relaxing and since I don’t have a relaxing few months ahead (we are prepping for big things!) I will bring the relaxation to me!

 

  1. Baths – Baths are the ultimate luxury for me. If I have the opportunity to take a nice long bath, I literally emerge with a new perspective on life. Adding lavender bath salts, lotions and potions (or bubbles) is the ultimate way to take good care of yourself and to look and feel beautiful inside and out.  Your skin will glow and you will be so much happier – which makes you look more beautiful too! Baths give me the time to focus on the sound of the water filling up, or the silence that I rarely get (especially since we are all so digitally connected 24/7) and that disconnection is another form of meditation for me.  I can get in tune with my intuition so well this way and arrive at solutions to questions I have been pondering, even come up with brand new ideas for just about anything!

 

  1. Working out – I am a makeup and heels type of girl, don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t be caught dead at a gym without a shower and makeup first (don’t remind me of how counter-intuitive that is please). It takes me too long to get ready for the gym, go there, work out, come home, and get ready again for the day. Total time suck for me. If that was the case I would rarely work out! ALAS, I reintroduce you to the workout DVD. No shower, no makeup required to work out in your living room with no one judging you – maybe besides my husband making fun of me!  This allows me to work out between 3-7 days a week depending on my circumstances like travel and how I’m feeling.  Here are a few of the DVD’s I have been sweating to for the last few years in order: Brazilian Butt Lift (this works and I used to train with Leandro in Equinox when I had my fancy corporate membership ages ago), Turbo Jam (fun but kinda old school), and 21 Day Fix (this has gotten me in the best shape ever. I have been doing its since last summer and have repeated the 21 day program multiple times for the last year, but some weeks not every day.) As all workouts create a plateau effect if you do it long enough, so its imperative to switch it up. I just ordered Tone It Up Beach Babe 2 (1 seemed not as fun and I plan on getting 3 once I get sick of 2).  I will let you know how that goes! Life is short – have a fun workout, a workout you get up and get excited to do!

 

  1. Create your own add ons! Make this as fun and adventurous as possible. Decide on at least one other thing you can do to make an adventure out of your every day life this summer. Take a bike trip, have picnic, get crafty with some summer DIY projects or lay on the grass and watch the clouds go by. Do something totally fun and inspiring that lets you to enjoy the summer, no matter what your 9-5 – or 9-9 looks like!  Every one is allowed to take a 30 minute break at the least, no excuses you! Work will still be there when you get back. Summer time is limited!

Try one of these or anything that floats your boat. Just remember do something that you look forward to.

On that note, I think I blabbed enough.
I’ve got a ton of work to do, so until next week!

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel @ChicSketch

January 30, 2015
Paris Haute Couture week

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Paris Haute Couture Fashion: Giambattista Valli, Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier

Alas, again my favorite time of year…. Other than my birthday TODAY –
It’s Paris Haute Couture week and these are the things I drool over!
The stuff my dreams are made of. Do I not go on this spiel every time the Haute Couture shows come around??? Yes, I do. Ready to Wear is amazing and fabulous but there is something so magical about the countless hours and countless couturiers that it takes to put together the intricate details, embellishments and appliques on these exquisite works of art.

Right in time for a little pre-Valentine’s day warm up, Valentino closes his show with an “Ode to Love” as Style.com puts it.  Valentino designers Chiuri and Piccioli were inspired by Shakespeare, Dante’s inferno and Chagall paintings. With rich blood reds, creams, whites and muted jewel tones Valentino showed gowns with quotes, stars, and of course heaps of intricate floral motifs which were carried through out on multiple designers’ shows this week.

Sheer was a huge trend again, capes made a glamorous re-appearance, and floral embellishments overflowing with 3D sequins, jewels and architecture reined through out.

This showed true at Giambattista Valli, adding floor length capes of fluffy fur and ruffles fit for a queen. The frothy concoctions in black, white and pastels were shown with major texture and appliques, carrying forth the 3D flowers of last season made front-page news by the New Mrs. Clooney on her wedding weekend. Loud pink and grey floral prints engulfed some looks, sprinkled in with girly and delicate frocks that made for a really scrumptious collection over all.

Likewise at Elie Saab – the designer who is the epitome of red carpet glam – paid tribute to his mother and his 60’s childhood.  Intertwining his signature sheer gowns dripping in sequins and crystals with a new shorter and flirtier silhouette, Saab’s creations were fit for the likes from Pricilla Presley to Ariana Grande.  Decadently trimmed in ostrich feathers, a retro Hollywood glam vibe was also carried throughout.

Half pants and skirts showed at Jean Paul Gaultier, in the true essence of the JPG’s signature masculine vs. feminine double entendres, with a play this season on Bride vs. Groom.  The strong impact of black with white, flowing vs. stiff silhouettes, veils draped as scarves and a powerful black and white trimmed smoking jacket set the tone for his new collection.

On the Chanel runway, 300 3D paper flora graced the set’s backdrop, each of them blooming in an instantaneous mechanical burst setting spring into full force in Paris for the show.  With the standard homage to Coco’s signature silhouettes, Karl Lagerfeld went into vibrant detail embellishing shoulders, skirts and more with over the top stare-worthy fabric and sequin petals, flowers and sparkles.

Zuhair Murad was another stunner and had some looks that quite possibly are my favourite of the collections. Intertwining the structured glam of a powerful woman with capes and pleats and the sweet delicateness of an angelic encounter glittering in crystals, these dresses are awards season gold.

I could go on and on, but check them out for yourself…
www.Style.com for more.

Hope this inspired you as much as it inspires me!
xo
Emily

 

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel

July 10, 2014
Think Outside the Lines

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PARIS COUTURE WEEK EDITION
ILLUSTRATION OF GIAMBATTISTA VALLI COUTURE FALL 2014

Think about what you’ve been told, and what you’ve learned along the way. Think about all the rules you live by…. Now forget all of that.

Think about the time you were really young and you had not a care in the world, when you were free of self-judgment and free of feeling judged by anyone else. How did you act and what did you think?

What would you do if you were not afraid? If you could be 100% yourself all the time without being judged, being made fun of or feeling less than.

What would you wear? What would you say? What would you do?
Would it be the same as you act now or would it be completely different?

In order to bring our best to this life, we need to be uniquely ourselves – and not a carbon copy of anyone else.  It’s time to break out of your shell and dance on the shadow of your former self.

Go back to that time when you were young and you could do no wrong.

Life is short and we only have THIS MOMENT to be the change you want to see. We only have this moment to be living our dreams.  Start now.

Color outside the lines. Get messy, experiment, take chances, be free, consult your inner guru, judge with your gut, move with your heart, speak with your soul.

Live like theirs no tomorrow. Operate from a place of yes.

What if there were no boundaries…. What are you waiting for?

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel and my new account for all things fashion illustration @EmilyBrickelillustration

January 23, 2014
Runway Couture

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Illustration of Elie Saab Couture

So this week is one of my favorite weeks of the year! Not only is it my fiancés birthday week and not only is MY birthday week next week but it is PARIS HAUTE COUTURE WEEK!

Seriously people this is what I look forward to all year in terms of fashion when couture week hits.

No fashion show can ever top Couture fashion because of the ornate details, intricate work and over the top theatrics that meshes satisfying our fantasy wardrobe mixed with denoting the trends for the following season.

This is big. Not sure if you guys know this but I have been “classically” trained in Trend forecasting at a company called Trend Union, based in Paris.  When I visited their Paris showroom I knew I had to work for them. And so I did, right when I got back to New York!  I trained with the best, Lee Edelkoort herself.

As a fashion designer, I always look to the runway collections to see what’s hot and what can be translated into the next season, among other things to spot and predict the trends.

So here you have it – my trend predictions and favorite musings from Paris Haute Couture week.  Normally I write about inspiration – but this is to me more inspiring than anything.  I hope you can see how runway translates in to a version of what we will all be wearing come next season (especially with fast fashion – even faster).

Croptops – but more boxy as opposed to skin tight.

Screenshot 2014-01-23 11.23.04 Sheer leg peekaboos

Screenshot 2014-01-23 11.20.31 White is still huge and look for pops of bright yellow.

Peplum in a different way

Screenshot 2014-01-23 11.35.12 Techy fabrics and cutouts

Screenshot 2014-01-23 11.51.43 Tribal and floral sequin appliques on sheer mesh.

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All photos by Giovanni Giannoni for WWD.com

Hope that inspires you!

xoxo

Emily

 

March 14, 2013
Keep dreaming…

Screen Shot 2013-03-07 at 1.38.51 AMNo, really.

Keep on dreaming. It’s never too late to live your dreams.

Even if it seems like the farthest thing possible from how you are living your life right now – it’s never too late to do what you really want to do.

You create your reality.  “You have invented the world you see.” – ACIM.

Your perception is your reality. You may have heard this before but it is definitely worth repeating: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you most certainly are right.” – Henry Ford.

It is really powerful to realize that what you think, you create.

If you think you are capable, you are capable. If you think you are not worthy, you won’t be.

When you dream and envision, you open up your mind to your inner most desires – the wishes that you truly want to have fulfilled.  We sometimes limit our dreams or stop ourselves from dreaming too big for fear of being let down, being afraid it is too outrageous to actually happen.  However, that limits our potential and causes us to not only stop our dream in our minds, but literally stop our dreams from coming to life in our reality.

Studies show that after watching pro-athletes’ brain scans in an MRI, when asked to envision their game plan in their minds, the same parts of their brain lit up as if they were actually practicing on the court or the field. This is how many of our U.S. Armed forces are trained, by virtual stimulation simulating real life combat experiences – using video games.  They are learning the process, feeling it out and playing it out in their minds.  The skills acquired during this training period are instrumental in Military real life combat when they get on to the battlefield.

So, how is this related you ask?

When you dream about the specifics of what you want to accomplish, you are literally “practicing” in your mind for what will then seem more natural to you the first time you are interacting in the experience.  Cool huh?

So, if you dream it – you will be able to do it more naturally, you can combat the fear that is creating your Upper Limit Problem head on and start to examine it.   You can, in the safety of your mind play in the “what if this really happens”. The fear you feel about doing something for the first time will not be as strong because it will be as though you have done it already.

When you dream, your mind then becomes naturally fixated on what you are dreaming about which in turn will make you more inclined to do some research, figure out the steps you need to get there, take that class, be at that networking event and know the industry better. It’s these small steps that get you ready for the real deal. Your mind will get you ready for the actions you need to take to actually LIVE your dreams and you can break through your so called “upper limits”.

Dream it and dream of your travels, of your successes, your milestones, how you will feel, and dream bigger.  Imagine what you want to accomplish and keep dreaming it until your mind creates a curiosity that cannot be quenched until you actually are living it.

The only one stopping you, is you.

Dream on!

Hope that inspires you!

Xoxo

Emily

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