Valentine's Day GIVEAWAY - ZELEB Dress!!

Natalia Vodianova wearing ZELEB

Hello My Loves,

I have such exciting news to finally share with you all!! Travel Write Draw has teamed up with UK fashion company ZELEB London for a totally lust worthy Valentine's Day GIVEAWAY!!

The prize you ask?! One of these five INCREDIBLY beautiful ready to wear party dresses.

Dress Codes from L-R: 0787, 0793, 0784, 0790, 0786

I had heard from ZELEB's lovely PR person back in the Fall and finally we found the right concept to make this all possible. After all, whether you are single, happily committed, detest the holiday or love it, who wouldn't want to win a gorgeous dress on Valentine's Day?!

For those of you who don't know, ZELEB designs and produces all their dresses in house with the finest couture sewers and pattern makers. Their celebrity client list ranges from the breathtaking Anne Hathaway, Natalia Vodianova (illustrated above), Jenny McCarthy, Amanda Bynes, to the smoldering Keira Knightley just to name a few ;). They have all been linked to their respective dress of choice on the company's website and now you can have the chance to win your very own!! Simply follow the rules below on how to enter.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow Travel Write Draw with Google Friend Connect and Bloglovin'

2. Like Travel Write Draw on Facebook

3. Follow ZELEB on Twitter

4. Like ZELEB on Facebook

5. Lastly, leave a comment here on this post describing how you plan to spend Valentine's Day this year; include your email and Facebook name in the comment.

This contest will be open from January 30th - February 13th 2012. The winner will be selected using Random.org and announced right here on Valentine's Day February 14th. I will also send the winner an email and they will have the opportunity to select from one of the five dresses above using the associated code. I will forward your dress request and size to ZELEB and they will send it to you directly.

SOooo good luck all you hot tamales!! Can't wait to see who the winner is!!

Much love,

Meag xx

What corporate buyers want from agents in 2012

I have written a guest comment for today's Travel Mole about what corporate buyers want from agents in 2012. You can read it below and also on the Travel Mole website  http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2000094

"In a survey of business travel buyers commissioned by the Business Travel Show for the New Year, cost, the London 2012 Olympics, the economy and travel alternatives were all among their top concerns for 2012; and as we head into another year of economic uncertainty - last week it was reported the UK’s GDP fell by 0.2% and hotel, fuel and ancillary fees are continuing to rise - buyers tell me that now, more than ever, they need their TMCs to keep them informed and continue to suggest new ways they can save money and add value.

1 Cost savings
Buyers are looking to TMCs to help them introduce initiatives to improve compliance this year and, therefore, manage costs. For example, adherence to preferred supplier agreements, not booking outside of policy or introducing, improving or increasing the use of technology (ie with self booking tools (SBTs)). They also want advice on managing the demand for travel and potential travel alternatives such as video and teleconferencing where relevant.

2 The London 2012 Olympics
Buyers are expecting to feel a ripple effect from London staging the Olympics in the form of hotel availability, commuting disruption and reduced demand. Buyers who normally do a lot in London from May to September need TMC help to plan around this. They want TMCs to not only advise them about the impact the Olympics will have on business travel but also on commuter travel, homeworking and general movement of employees.

3 The Economy
As mentioned earlier, the latest figures show the UK economy fell by 0.2 per cent last quarter and analysts and politicians are worried we about to enter a double dip recession. In times of uncertainty like this, the demand for travel is often driven down. Non-savvy organisations adopt the ‘ostrich’ approach and fail to deal with the effects of the economy strategically or with a long-term approach opting instead for short term cost-cutting.

What buyers need from their TMCs in this instance is help and advice on how they can continue travelling - and continue to do business - but more effectively. They need smarter account management.

4 Emissions Trading Scheme
The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) was the first large emissions trading scheme in the world under which large emitters of carbon dioxide within the EU must monitor their CO2 emissions and annually report them. The scheme was recently extended to the airline industry, with the changes coming into effect this year. This is likely to mean an additional hike in the cost of flights. Buyers will need TMCs to keep them informed and prepared so the increased costs don’t come as a nasty shock.

5 Adding value
Many organisations are integrating business travel and meetings budgets, but business travel buyers don’t necessarily have the resources or the expertise to fulfill the meetings management activity. While they focus on their core competences, they are looking to TMCs to alleviate this additional workload with specialist meetings expertise."

All of the issues above - and more - will be addressed, dissected and debated at the Business Travel Show, which takes place at Earls Court on 7-8 February 2012.

For the full line up of 26 sessions and to register for a free visitor pass to the show, go to www.businesstravelshow.com.

TWD Darling: Liz Cabral

Photos: Tommy Ton for Style.com

Hello My Loves,

Finally I'm able to introduce to you my first ever TWD Darling; The beautiful, fierce, fashion maven, coined "the one to watch" by Mr. Tommy Ton himself, Liz Cabral. She also happens to be the Fashion Director of Canada's FLARE Magazine and, might I add, single handedly proving that Canada is not just following the trends, but setting them too BIG TIME. I'm not sure at what point I caught on to her style, between the impeccable street shots and her feature on The Coveteur, but I've officially found my new style inspiration and illustration muse.

Oh and it doesn't end there, she can actually add accessory designer to her CV as well!! Cabral collaborated with Canadian shoe giants ALDO on an incredible Python Wedge Sandal last Spring and The Shopping Channel for the Flare Lamb Convertible Shoulder Bag. My ultimate goal has always been to take my knowledge of trends, illustration, and design and convert that into wearable products. Naturally I can't help but admire her ability to do the same. With all the major Fashion Weeks just around the corner, I can't wait to catch more glimpses of her all over town.

I hope you all enjoy the first ever TWD Darling post because there are plenty more to come. Loads of inspiration, not nearly enough time :)!!

Much love,

Meag xx

Exciting News: You can check out this illustration on FLARE's Facebook Page here!!

Celine x Mondrian

Celine SS12

Fashion inspired art, art inspired fashion; the argument falls perfectly into the "what came first, the chicken or the egg?" causality-dilemma category. In the case of Celine's SS12 standout, primary colored clutch, there is no doubting its derivative. This wouldn't be the first time designers borrowed from Piet Mondrian's De Stijl works either. We've all seen Yves Saint Laurent's signature color-blocked shift dress, and Christian Louboutin's lust-after Mondrian wedge. So why is it that designers are so frequently drawn to this simplified graphic pattern?

Furthermore, at what point does referencing art in fashion go from flattery to copyright infringement? While I'm not arguing for one side or the other here in this scenario, I think it's a particularly relevant conversation in light of the legal battle between Louboutin and Laurent; instigated over the use of a red soled shoe in their resort 2011 collection. Ideas and their rightful owners are such a hard thing to pinpoint. That said, there is no doubt in my mind that Celine's clutch is sure to be a season sell-out, regardless of it's source of inspiration.

Anyways, gotta run to the airport. Back to NY for me :)

Much love,

Meag xx

SUNFLOWER

Moschino SS12

I know, I know...those of us on the East Coast won't be seeing sunflowers or anything resembling Spring for another long while. I just couldn't stop myself from injecting a little ray of light onto my blog though. While preparing my submission for Company Magazine's High-Street Edit SS12 Fashion Illustration Competition, I definitely picked-up on another major trend for the season: Sunflower Yellow. Moschino ranked my top-five favorite SS12 collections and they happened to use the color throughout from Bolero jacket to knee-length skirt.

Top/L-R: Marc Jacobs, ODLR, Giambattista Valli, ODLR

Bottom/L-R: Moschnio, Altuzarra, Moschino, Giambattista Valli

Other collections pushing the trend included Oscar de la Renta (in the most refreshing combinations I might add), Giambattista Valli, Marc Jacobs, and Altuzarra to name a few. They all have me dreaming of a summer under the Tuscan sun. A girl can dream can't she lol?!

Much love,

Meag xx

Photos: Style.com

Shiny Sparkly Things

Prada SS12

Bonne Annee et Bonne Sante Mes Amis!!

Finally we've made it to 2012. Can you believe it?! I'm so relieved to have left 2011 in the dust. These Prada SS12 earrings I painted felt so appropriate for a New Year's day post. Those shiny and oh so sparkly gems just exude refreshing, rebirth, the promise of warmer weather in the Spring. I would have loved to have worn these last night during the bubbly rituals.

I'm not one for making a terribly big deal out of New Year's resolutions but this year I have made one promise. I'm determined to practice greater patience and forgiveness with myself. Take my time, remember to breathe, and accept oneself. We should treat ourselves with a lot more consideration and love than we normally do. After all, if we don't, who will?

Anyways, I would like to extend a BIG MASSIVE thank-you to my blogger friends, followers, readers, viewers, whoever and wherever you are. I hope you take some time to replenish yourself for the brand new year ahead. You deserve it. Wishing you all the best in 2012.

So much love,

Meag xx