Fashion designer Courtney Smith is promoting a more inclusive definition of "model."

Smith, who helms the new women's wear line Rum + Coke, has chosen to only use "larger" women of color as models for her brand. For the record: The New York-based designer's collection features sizes from 2 to 22 for women. Her campaign puts forth a more diverse, realistic and accepting image of women, who are normally surrounded by the slim-means-pretty body ideals portrayed in high fashion editorials and in Hollywood.

The designer opened up to Refinery 29 about Rum + Coke's photo shoots: "No one questions why there are only small women in other brands' shoots. I put women of color and 'larger' women in my photo shoots for many reasons," Smith said. "One, because I believe in the multiplicity of beauty, and two, there are so many women who seldom see women who look like them in advertisements."

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NEWS: Plus-size blogger asks Photoshop experts around the world to make her more "beautiful," gets surprising results

Even more reason to dig Smith's debut collection: With prices ranging from $48 to $200, her pieces are affordable, too. The line includes a chic array of skirts, dresses and jumpsuits in bold hues and whimsical fabrics.

Rum + Coke's party-ready moniker, meanwhile, is derived from Smith's nickname: Coco. (The addition of "rum," according to the designer, was to add a bit of "fun" to the brand.)

"I want women to be their most beautiful selves," Smith said of her inspiration behind the collection. "There are so many negative messages: You're not thin enough, you're not young enough, you're not light enough...I was inspired to create Rum + Coke to send a different message: You, woman, are enough."

(Source: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images North America)Kathy Griffin isn't the only one making her debut on E!'s Fashion Police. The comedienne, who is replacing the late Joan Rivers, will be joined by Brad Goreski when the series returns on January 12, following the Golden Globes:

(Source: YouTube/E!)

Some of their targets might be sporting Vivienne Westwood dresses. While the designer is already a favorite among countless stars, her new collection, entitled Gold Label, is dedicated entirely to red carpet gowns. [WWD]

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The designer had a big year thanks to Pharrell (and his now-legendary fedora), judging by eBay's top sellers of 2014. [SHEfinds]

If you had your doubts that bloggers are changing the fashion industry, Lucky's latest issue may change your mind. For February, the magazine turned to Chiara Ferragni ofThe Blonde Salad as well as Gary Pepper Girl's Zanita Whittington and Nicole Warne to grace the cover. [Fashionista]

Bohemian brand Free People tapped model Anja Rubik to front its latest campaign. Catch a sneak peek of the label's upcoming resortwear, which hits stores this month, below:

(Source: Free People)

The A.P.C. Surplus sale ends in two days, so we stopped by a few hours before closing time yesterday to assess what's left. The remaining stock is a bit underwhelming, but there are some gems if you're patient enough to really scour the racks. Some good news: there will most likely be a final round of restocking today, although employees are unsure what will be replenished. Hopefully some more styles in smaller sizes will make their way to the sales floor, because as of yesterday the shop was pretty much cleaned out of anything below a medium.

Those hoping for more A.P.C. X Kanye collab pieces will probably have better luck shopping on the brand's website, where a wider range of styles and sizes are available at a discount.

In the women's section, we found a long fur coat at 50% off for $1065. Also spotted: a few pieces from the Vanessa Seward x A.P.C. collection, including a one-shoulder metallic dress for $325, a beige pullover for $215, and a black sweater cape for $257.50. By the front of the store, there are more pullovers, zebra-pattern tees and trousers.

Show-wise, there isn't a lot of variety and sizing is very limited. The women's multicolor zebra wedge sandals ($124.50) caught our eye, and had a larger size range than most styles (36, 37 and 38 were all accounted for). We also liked a pair of leather taupe booties for $169.50 but only two pairs remain in sizes 35 and 41.

For accessories, there's a tray full of belts, most of which are 70% off. Here, a woven leather belt is $51 and multicolor zebra belts are $45. All the bags are 70% off as well, including a large A.P.C. x Eastpak camouflage backpack for $111. There's also a multicolor tote for $135 and a nice backpack with brown leather trim for $165.

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On the floor in front of the cashier are two small boxes with women's wool tights ($21) and another with men's briefs, which are probably the lowest ticketed items in the sale at $10.50. However, only size XXL remain.

Beside the cashier, there's a glass case housing canvas wallets ($40.50), luggage tags ($28.50), pins, art deco brooches ($58.50) and iPhone 4 and 5 python-print cases ($30).

If you're looking for quality stylish backpacks or small leather accessories, you should make a trip. Otherwise, it might not be worth your while for the clothes selection unless you show up right when they finish restocking.

The sale runs until this Wednesday and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. See the dealfeed below for more info.—Hsini

With Fashion Week showing off clothes six months before they actually land in stores, predicting the future is less about performing feats of divination than just paying attention. Still, some patterns arise during the shows that don't quite make it into everyday style. For every culotte, ugly shoe, and peplum that became widely worn, there was a floral pantsuit, cropped high-water pant, and furry clog — editorial trends that were rarer on the streets than they had been on the catwalks months before. 

Looking ahead to 2015, we’ve narrowed down the 10 items we're expecting to have a banner year. Some of these are educated, 99%-sure guesses, and some are plainly wishful thinking. (Self-fulfilling prophecies do happen!) Ahead, our professional predictions for what everyone’s going to be wearing, talking about, and shopping for in the next 12 months. 

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As dead week hit us all pretty hard, I pondered all week what my final column would address. Shopping guide, what to wear for holiday parties, winter’s most talked about designers?

While these are all viable options, I would like to end the way I started. I began the semester with a column about confidence being the real success to one’s 
wardrobe.

This week, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was all over the media, and even if you didn’t see it, I’m sure you were aware of it. Constant jokes were made via social media about never attaining the look of a Victoria’s Secret model or the agony people experience watching the models strut perfectly down the runway in their lacy lingerie while admiring them from afar through the television screen.

During a chat with my roommates one evening a few days after the show was aired, one of them articulated what I had been thinking all along.

Girls shouldn’t feel bad that they don’t look like a Victoria’s Secret model. Who does? But they can enjoy it and take into account that that’s the models’ job and they probably work hard at staying in shape. She explained that people need to meet in the middle on this. We shouldn’t shame the models for being thin, and we shouldn’t shame ourselves.

While I was home for Thanksgiving, I saw someone complain online about how the fashion industry doesn’t want plus-size women to wear sparkly dresses. At which point I wanted to link her to several clothing companies that offer beautifully made, plus-size sequined dresses.

The fashion industry tends to cater to tall and thin — I will agree with that. But a comment like that is similar to me saying that the fashion industry doesn’t want me wearing jeans. Jeans are typically too long on me, and I often have to have them hemmed. With fast fashion more popular than ever, items are mass-produced and, unfortunately, large clothing manufacturers focus even less on a wide range of body types. So it’s about how you approach the situation and learning how to dress your body type. And every body type is beautiful.

So what’s the point of rambling about Victoria’s Secret models and plus-size dresses?

I am well aware that many people are happy and confident in their own skin, but my goal was to connect with everybody at some level. Whether it was embracing natural beauty, finding alternative, flattering ways to approach the fashions of the season or asking you to reflect on why it is we wear what we do, I hope I brought a new light to the way you think and approach fashion and self-image.

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First and foremost, fashion should reflect you and make you feel like the individual you are. It’s not always about the latest runway designs but more so finding what it is that makes you feel good on the outside and, in turn, the inside.

And because I’m a sucker for a good quote, I’ll leave you with this mantra for the new year from Gianni Versace.

“That is the key of this collection, being yourself. Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live.”