Seeing as this is a blog, it’s only appropriate to address one of my personal favorite subjects: fashion blogs … and the bloggers behind them! After the workday when many others I know are comfortably nestled in front of their televisions, I entrench myself in the fashion blogosphere. I find it fascinating to see how young men and women around the world interpret the latest trends—and how some defy them completely. And I know I’m not the only one; the fashion world has begun to notice these everyday people with a stellar sense of style.

What used to be a digital niche has spilled over into the mainstream world. Fashion bloggers have risen from obscurity to find themselves front row at Fashion Week, gallivanting around the world at the request of designers, and lending their creative hands to major brands. Simply by taking pictures of their outfits and posting them online! Who knew such a simple task could have such a profound effect?

The examples are numerous, but I’ll call out a few here. First, take Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes: the teen fashion prodigy was featured on larger-than-life superstar Kanye West’s blog. Why? He liked her style. Karla Deras of Karla’s Closet, along with three other bloggers, was recently tapped by Coach to co-design a limited edition handbag collection dubbed ‘Coach Collectibles.’ SoCal blogger Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast was invited to New York City for the opening of Forever 21’s massive Times Square store. Not only that, Neely starred in a photo shoot for the brand, shots of which were emblazoned on a massive billboard in the tourist haven. (Neely has also dabbled in collaborations; she starred in and released a line with Southern California clothier RVCA.)

The evolution of the Internet, and thus the blogosphere, has created a phenomenon that five years ago would seem unfathomable. While major fashion cities (New York, Milan, Paris) still attract the uber-stylish and powerhouse brands, the blogosphere has created invaluable opportunities for individuals like Aldridge (based in Texas) and Neely (San Diego) that are outside these cities. Bloggers such as Neely and Deras have been catapulted to a certain level of stardom—while the mainstream American public may not know them (yet), their inherent sense of style indicates their presence in the fashion world is has only just begun.

It’s barely the beginning of May, but in the editorial world it’s already autumn! Eddie Bauer’s Fall 2010 collection made its debut last week; the brand held its showroom on April 21st and April 22nd at New York City’s Astor Center. The theme of this season’s showroom was ‘Alaska,’ paying homage to Eddie’s strong roots in the state. While the connection between Eddie and Alaska may not be obvious at first, you might be surprised to learn that many of Eddie’s customers back in the 1920s were residents or frequent visitors of Alaska. Another fun fact: Eddie’s first published catalog in 1945 was dubbed, “Eddie Bauer Alaska Outfitter.” Eddie then went on to outfit Alaskan oilfield crews and miners.

Ninety years after the first store opened in downtown Seattle, the brand is still going strong! The Fall collection was no different: with the array of looks and pieces on display, there was something to pique every attendee’s interests. An easy favorite: Eddie Bauer’s revamped denim collection! The preview displayed the updated washes and new fits (more body-conscious, modern fits for the ladies) that will hit shelves this fall.

As always, Eddie Bauer’s sweaters were wildly popular! Tribal-inspired patterns and warm autumn hues were just what editors were seeking to feature in their upcoming Fall issues. Paired with Eddie Bauer’s own vintage-inspired boot styles, the rugged feminine looks were noted by many editors, who loved the military influence—a hot trend from the Fall 2010 runways!

Another hot trend on display: denim on denim! We’re not talking about the ‘90s version of this fashion faux-pas. It’s been updated, and Eddie Bauer’s looks were right on point to illustrate how to pull the look off. (Here’s a tip: don’t pair a jean shirt and pants of the same wash at once! Try the light/dark combo.) And, of course, you can’t have an Eddie Bauer showroom without some Heritage to show! Known for its authentic American roots, the aviation-rooted looks for men drew the eyes and compliments of many.

Overall, the showroom was a huge success, with editors attending from Esquire, Antenna, Fitness, Family Circle, MTV, National Geographic Online, and more! If you’re eager to check out the rest of the Fall preview, be sure to check out the write-up on the WWD Web site!

Here in New York, we have a pretty skewed notion of “nature” – an afternoon on one’s rooftop would suffice as a truly outdoor experience. Nevertheless, whatever time we do spend in the sun, we want to keep it cool as much as any other town. In the NYC office, our top sunglasses picks for the spring range from classic (with a twist) to Gaga-inspired to high-tech.

Ann-Sofie Back’s Dripping Sunglasses are a surreal take on the timeless aviators, while Suncloud Optics artfully merges form and function, combining flattering frames with high-performance lenses. Oliver Peoples has a great collection for Balmain, infusing a bit of old-world glamour. And Alexander Wang, of course, has taken a cue from some of the hot young chanteuses on the scene, creating a line of sunglasses that would be appropriate in a Beyonce or a Lady Gaga music video: attention-grabbing and designed for a woman with major cojones.

Ann-Sofie Back’s Dripping Sunglasses, available at Opening Ceremony. Image via Racked.com.

Oliver Peoples for Balmain. Image via Elle.com

Alexander Wang. Image via WWD.

Alexander Wang. Image via Nitrolicious.com.

Suncloud Optics. Image via Suncloudoptics.com

This past weekend, music artists, die-hard fans and industry veterans alike flocked to Austin, TX for the music portion of the annual SXSW Festival. Not to miss out on the fun, the Airwalk and TPR crew headed down for the festivities, particularly to take part in the Carrera Escape Lounge. Local eatery The Cedar Door was completely transformed into a hotspot for performers to chill out, away from the nonstop action on 6th street. Located a few blocks away from downtown 6th Street where many live shows took place, with unrelenting fans packed into bars wall-to-wall – the Escape Lounge served as a laid-back locale where attendees could grab a meal, sip a cold beverage, get a tattoo (seriously!) and most importantly grab a pair of Airwalks!

Alongside Carrera eyewear and Alternative Apparel, Airwalk brought an array of men’s, women’s and kids footwear sure to appeal to any taste or style. Also on hand: old-school, original reissues! The Prototype, Vic and The One were available for gifting; you can imagine the pleasantly surprised faces of ‘90s skaters who rocked the originals when they were only in middle school. Many lounge-goers were also impressed with the selection of children’s sneakers, jumping at the opportunity to bring back a treat for their sons and daughters.

Airwalk kicks were enjoyed by many, including (but certainly not limited to): chart-topper Macy Gray, super producer/DJ Diplo, up-and-coming crooner Theophilus London, DJ Steve Aoki, hip-hop group U-N-I, red carpet regular Taryn Manning and many others. Also on hand: winners of Airwalk’s viral Unsigned Hero competition, Audible Mainframe. The California-based band played the SPIN and MusicGorilla.com showcases, performing at legendary venue Stubb’s amongst others.

All in all, it was a super successful event for everyone involved! Be sure to keep your eyes on the feet of those crowd favorites  who swung by the Lounge the next time you see a shot of them in public – they’re likely to be rocking their Airwalks! Until next year…

What do you get when you combine the glamour of high fashion with the beauty of the Rocky Mountains? ASPEN FASHION WEEK! Kicking off this past Sunday, Aspen is home this week to various runway shows, in-store events and parties from the industry’s top ski apparel designers.

I was lucky enough to experience the excitement and cheer for Obermeyer on Sunday as the brand new collection for 2010-11 strutted itself down the runway right at the base of Aspen Mountain. The next evening, Obermeyer hosted a fabulous cocktail party at its concept shop in town. On Wednesday, Klaus Obermeyer himself greeted editors in town over a delicious, Austrian meal at his favorite local spot, the Wienerstube – all intertwined with some beautiful Spring skiing. Hoorah for Aspen Fashion Week!

If someone were to stop you on the street and ask you whose style you’d love to emulate, whose name would you drop?

Perhaps you’d say Carrie Bradshaw – Sarah Jessica Parker’s loveable character on HBO’s cultural gem “Sex & the City” – or maybe you’d go for the small screen and opt for Blair Waldorf of “Gossip Girl.” Whatever your answer may be, there’s an undeniable connection in today’s culture that fashion and film – big or small screen – go hand-in-hand.

In recent years, movies and television have been a vehicle for bringing fashion to the masses. Even though Carrie’s “Sex & the City” outfits (both movie and TV show) were hardly adaptable to the life of the everyday American woman, her love for designer stilettos and a burgeoning closet became a phenomenon that enchanted much of America’s female population and catapulted the show’s stylist Patricia Field into the public eye. (Field was also a stylist for the recent flick “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” starring Isla Fisher.)

Even movies like “Where the Wild Things Are,” a film based on the famous children’s book, have served as inspiration for designers – as evidenced by Opening Ceremony’s capsule collection of furry jumpers and horned sweatshirts.

Turner PR client Eddie Bauer recently had a women’s bomber jacket featured in a segment on USAToday.com entitled, “Amelia Earhart, Pioneer of Style” in which Earhart’s style is described as “aviator chic.” (The movie “Amelia,” based on the famous aviator’s life, is in theaters now.) W Magazine’s fashion market director Teena Lombardo remarked that the bomber is now “ubiquitous” and “a staple.” Which goes to show that even period flicks like “Amelia” are still influencing us stylistically.

A small screen example of this: the smash TV series “Mad Men,” which chronicles the daily happenings of ad exec Don Draper and his ‘60s-era advertising agency. Costume designer Janie Bryant is slated to design the line, which will feature men’s suits (based on those worn by Don and now available at Brooks Brothers) and feminine silhouettes displayed by Don’s housewife Betty (January Jones).

Veteran designers have also taken their inspiration from on-screen characters that have become ingrained in American culture. A prime example: Anna Sui’s Target collection, which featured looks based on each of the main female characters of “Gossip Girl” (Vanessa, Serena, Blair, and Jenny). Sui partnered with the mass retailer for its wildly popular Designer Collaboration series, allowing customers to scoop up a boho dress that would be easily seen on hippie-chic Vanessa at an affordable price.

What does this mean for the future of movie and TV style? We’d bet on more clothing lines fashioned after TV and movie characters, so if your favorite character doesn’t have his or her own capsule collection just yet, don’t get impatient – it may be coming to a retailer near you!