Who are the next generation of fashion bloggers to make their mark on the ever-expanding Fashion social media scene?

FashionsBlogs.com, a self proclaimed Social Fashion Blogging community has decided its time to let a new breed of fashion bloggers rise to the top and gain their 15 minutes of fame. With a twitter hashtag #iamfamous, fashionsblogs.com has been striving to expose young fashion blogging talent  through its fashion centric blogging platform and networking community for nearly 2 years now.

The Top 20 "Up & Coming" fashion blogger search of 2012 is FashionsBlogs latest attempt to bring media attention to the rising stars of Fashion Blogging. Jerry Mckinish, the founder of FashionsBlogs says, "Its not going to be a popularity contest. We have selected esteemed industry professionals to act as our guest judges to help make a legitimate, fair assessment of who the next big bloggers will be in the fashion blogosphere." The guest judges that Mr. Mckinish is speaking of include Jed Wexler, Co founder of FMG, Lesley Scott founder of http://fashiontribes.com  and Samantha Lim Editor in Chief for FashionIndie.com

This fashion blogging event is set to launch on New Years day 2012. It will be a 20 week event, where entrants can apply throughout the 20 week period or nominate a favorite up and coming blogger that they know of. Each week the judges will confer and decide upon a winner who will be given FashionCash which can be redeemed from online retailer http://r-chameleon.com, as well as a badge of accomplishment to be posted on their blog.At the end of the 20 week period the judges will review all of the winners and choose a grand finale winner. This victor will receive an Ipad2, courtesy of fashionsblogs.com  an $8000 editorial spread in Runway magazine http://runwaymagazine.co , and an interview on Runway Fashion TV, courtesy of James Buccelli, the magazine’s founder. Did we mention that this top blogger will also give $500 in FashionCash that can be redeemed at R-Chameleon?

To apply or nominate a fashion blogger for this event go to http://fashionsblogs.com/up-and-coming

The horses and jockeys are waiting for the starting gun at tomorrow's Melbourne Cup but the celebrities have been getting in early as the fashion field jostle for the best run.

Celebrities have been flocking to Australia for the glamour race and many have already hit the Flemington course as the spring racing carnival reaches its zenith.

Burlesque performer Dita Von Teese has been adding some colour and style with a series of glamorous outfits, while Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Park and reality TV stars Kim and Khloe Kardashian were expected trackside, Qantas flights permitting.

Liz Hurley and her fiance, Australian cricketer Shane Warne, are in town and expected to join the long list of stars tomorrow.

Models Jennifer Hawkins, Anthea Crebbin, Rebecca Judd, and social superstar Brynne Edelsten have already been seen on course, where the marquees for the royalty of popular culture are going to be more extravagant than before.

Mumm champagne brand manager Julien Marteau said: "It's all about people who excel at what they do, not celebrities for the sake of it."

Aerial ballet artist Leanne Kelly, known as "L'Ange de Mumm" or angel, will be suspended from the ceiling.

In "Millionaire's Row", the Emirates marquee is styled on St Petersburg's Catherine Palace with the Zhivago restaurant and powder room for ladies, and a Jo Malone perfume stylist demonstrating how to "accessorise" with 23 fragrances.

Myer's "Butterfly House" features fluttering laser-cut butterflies, to show off the "social butterflies".

At Swisse, stylish J'Aton designers Jacob Luppino and Anthony Pittorino designed a day-spa theme with sculpted horses dangling from the ceiling. Being a vitamin company, there are healthy cocktails with ginseng and spirulina but for those who end up tired and emotional from the bubbly, a gift on departure is Liver Detox tablets.

Lexus ambassador Jamie Durie created a "vertical garden installation" in the three-level marquee and VIPs won't have to endure a squishy train because they'll be chauffeured to and from the track.

Article source: www.stuff.co.nz

Spring-Summer 2012 is nearly upon us and many international designers have already showcased their collections at fashion weeks around the world. We're looking at a season of vast ambition, taking inspiration from the 1950's with classic lines, flowing, wearable lightweight dresses and voluminous skirts.

Nude, nude, nude! Think neutral tones paired with bright colour blocks - a must have for your Summer wardrobe.

We first saw color blocking make it's way into early 2011 collections and next year sees bold hues mixed with more neutral tones for greater wearability. Expect to see off-beat color combinations in high-color computer brights, teamed with core neutrals of black, gray, beige and white for a more highly organized, sophisticated feel.

A dose of ethnic and tribal prints in colour combinations of blues, burnt oranges, mustard yellows, browns and black. You'll see tribal prints in square-cut silhouettes along with sharp minimalism using tribal tailoring.

Contradicting these tailored trends, we have seen the use of sheer chiffon in long flowing goddess skirts and full length dresses which we expect will still be around through Summer 2012. Try pairing these softer fabrics in natural tones with splashes of strong colours.

Carolina Herrera SS12                                              Mulberry SS12

Paul Smith SS12                                                     Paul Smith SS12

Mulberry SS12                                                        Honor SS12

By Tracey Reed; NZFD