Anthropologie takes us on a safari adventure

Recently, Anthropologie created a line of safari printed pillows along with a herringbone weave "Shadowy Chair" that popped out from their usualy nostalgic, antique and natural inspired products. Safari animals - - an elephant, tiger and hippo - -were screen printed on the canvas pillows while tribal inspired print covered the reverse. Brightly colored yarns of green, blue and red, were used as trim edging - a perfect addition to the bold African look! The "Shadowy Chair's" large herringbone weave and bright green and blue hues stuck out immediately, along with the modern design of the sun chair. Although pricey (pillows being about $140, and chair about $2,000), these items are quite a fun match for the summer months ahead!

The coordinating Pillows:

Paper Bag Pant

In otherwords - dropcrotch, baggy, oversized, boyfriend-esque.. hey, even athletic pants-ish. You can call it what you want, but Anne Valerie Hash ruled the style this season in her SS'10 collection. All of the runway looks incorporated the flowing, careless silhouette, ranging from layered skirts, full body suits, dropped crotch pants with seams reaching the ankle, and loose, low-cut cowel neck tops. The collection as a whole screamed young, sporty and sexy. With converse hightops and all, the collection was definitely a positive stray away from past lines done by Anne Valerie Hash.



PS. My opinion - the lavender paper bag trouser above is a must-have this spring.


Looks from: Style.com

The look I want for spring.

Araks Spring/Summer collection consisted of conservative yet flirty pieces. The styling done for their lookbook honestly reminded me the JCrew catalogues I have been getting non-stop in the mail for the past few months - - or maybe I should be saying the opposite in regards to the designers at Araks. Boyfriend blazers, baggy shorts, cardigans and pleated skirts were just a few garments that made the look. Stripes and floral were used minimally to add some feminity to the "boyfriend" look of the collection. The overall collection was about staying stylish-ly plain - in the best way possible! However, the rainbow striped overhead-sweater paired with blue-green silk shorts popped out from the rest of the collection - --I would say it is as fun as being a kid in a candy story. This effortless look is what I want to pull off for Spring.

Oooh Paris.

Today my sister and I talked about how we are going to have a Paris adventure - - one day - - together.
This 1920s, effortlessly fashionable and fabulous photograph of two Parisian women made me long for that day to come... as soon as possible.

Back to Couture Week - - Spring 2010

I had researched SS'10 Couture Week back in February and had yet to report
on some of the new and continuing trends that I found within the collections:

Highwaisted is a continuing style that has been ongoing for about two years now. Seen in both skirts and pants, the high-waisted trend is still prevelant in both Spring & Fall 2010 collections.

Metallic: an accent within garments that we have seen in the past 2 seasons is getting ever more popular. Metal influences are shown ranging from bronze, gold, silver with a weathered appearance or high-shine look.

How about that Couture Chanel gown? - to die for.

Lastly, my all-time favorite - Bodysuits: we saw a 1970s retro influence on the runways with full body suits. Some were done in a flowy and care-free style, while a straight and tailored look was also seen. Spring/Summer 2009, the romper trend was quite successful, so it only makes sense that the bodysuit will be a strong style this year.

Designer Looks from: style.com

What's black, white and red all over?

Badgley Mischka's Spring 2010 collection consisted of a whole'lotta black and white done in stripes, sheers and ruffles. Red and silver chunky jewelry definitely added to the luxury of the collection. The use of stripes, gold detailing and contrasting black/white/red colors added a bit of a nautical story alongside.

Looks from: style.com

Acne SS'10

Metallic knee plated jeans.
Acne - Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

Photo Credit: style.com

Snow Days!

Wishing you all a fun-tastic snow day weekend! I am so excited for the storm predicted here in NYC for the sole purpose that I will be able to see Central Park covered in snow! I have missed the opportunity during every (very rare) snow storm that has occured in the past two years. So other than my must-do park visit... Yoga for the People and blogging are my top priorities! Yes.. more blog posts (I know, I know, I have gotten a bit off track since classes have started up again. But trust me, a lot has been going on here in New York, [translation] I have lots of good posts coming up!) Stayed tuned.
In the mean time....

Hope your snowed-in weekend is as cute & playful as this!

... and as fabulous as this!

Couture shoes please?

After looking at the Spring '10 Couture collections, it is a flashing red reminder that I will 95% positively never own a Couture garment (I keep a 5% chance open... optimistically of course.) However, maybe one day I will be able to own Couture shoes? Well, just a thought... Here are some heels from from the runway that I adored:

I usually tend to think metallic silver on heels is tacky, but look at that heel and studded platform!

Are bow-tied ankles the next new shoe trend?

Haute Couture.. what about fashion for today?

John Paul Gaultier for Christian Dior, Spring Couture 2010

Hello all!
I just caught up on all the Spring Couture shows from Paris and will be updating you on my favorite looks and major trends I saw within the shows - Alexis Mabille, Anne Valérie Hash, Armani Privé, Chanel, Christian Dior, Elie Saab, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Thimister, Valentino - from this past week. In the mean time, today the New York Times published an article titled, "Tempted by History," in their Fashion Review section, which gave Couturiers a bad reputation for taking inspiration for their collections from designs that have already been done in the past. This is a topic that is frequently discussed in many of my classes at F.I.T. Designers are constantly going "back in time," and taking their inspiration from different periods throughout history, art work, culture, etc. but what ever happened to fashion for today? Karl Lagerfeld himself stated,

"I don't believe in avant garde clothes for a future that will never happen. Fashion is always now."

I completely agree with the NYT and Lagerfeld. Fashion is supposed to be for the people of today. This past Fall/Winter season, there was a trend of 40's fashion stressed on the runways and promoted in major magazine editorials (such as, US Vogue & Harper's Bazaar). According to Stylesight.com, this Spring was supposed to be all about Dior's New Look, influenced by 50's style. But why should designers reflect back into vintage fashion when they should be creating designs for the people of 2010? Come to think of it, the last "clothing invention" was Diane Von Furstenburg's wrap dress and that was how many decades ago?

Just thought I'd get your minds off the glitz and glamour of couture because as much as I love looking and dreaming about fashion, in the end, haven't we seen those garments before?

Mademoiselle Coco

I watched Coco Chanel last night with my boyfriend (what a wonderful boyfriend right?) Besides the fact that it was about 2.5 hours, it was great! I have already told you about my obsession with Mary Kate and Ashley, but I don't believe I have filled you in about my obsession with Chanel. Here it goes...

Since day one of stepping into the Fashion Institute of Technology, my professors have been constantly stressing the importance of two questions that will "definitely" be asked at all fashion industry related job interviews - whether it be an internship or career based. 1. Who is your favorite photographer? .. and .. 2. Who is your favorite designer(s) and why? To be honest, I haven't decided on question #1 yet, but every season (fashion season that is) I have come closer and closer to declaring good ol' Chanel as my top choice to question #2.

Why you may ask? I love the stability of Chanel.. the classic roots that each collection reflects back to. However, every season, Karl Lagerfeld seems to surprise me, whether it is the elements of the garments, the detailing of the stitching, the silhouette's divine movement down the runway or whether it is the most updated approach to the classic Chanel suit. When looking at Chanel from season to season, there is always a smooth relation between each collection, yet a unique difference that makes each line so interesting.

But my fascination does not stop there! I took a class last year called Product Knowledge for Merchandising. It was a great class and we studied everything from jewelry design to handbag construction. Our final project was to write 10-15 page paper on a fashion-related company focusing on a product that the company specializes in. If you can't guess, I picked Chanel handbags and ended up writing 20 pages! I learned so much about the history of the company and how Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel started her career from nothing. It was all so intriguing and truely sparked my interest and love for Chanel.

For those who of you who do not know the full history of Chanel, there are countless numbers of books dedicated to the designer that I would highly recommend reading. I loved the movie too, however I think if I did not previously know about Coco's life, I would not have fully understood the storyline.

xoxo.

The Row

Pre-Fall 2010

Fancy these Ray Ban inspired sunglasses? I do.

Just yesterday, MK & A's The Row finally launched a website! You can view both menswear and womenswear collections and even take a look at the pre-fall designs. The eyewear line is also included, categorized under accessories. Having heard that MK & A are showcasing the FW'10 collection at NY Fashion Week, I was interested in seeing what their Pre-Fall line showcased. The selected garments from the collection were mainly a neutral - ivory, white, black - with a accent pop of scarlet red. Silhouettes were very simplistic, with an overall slimming look (very Ashley-esque) - think structured blazers, highwaisted skirts, skinny ankle pants, and Audrey's Funny Face inspired tops. However there were a few exceptions (that were definitely MK influenced), such as ankle-length pleated skirts and oversized jackets. The line includes silk tops and a lot of leather (embossed and natural). Overall, the Pre-Fall line has fun basics mixed with a few edgy accents creating an interesting styling combination.

Take a peek yourself:   The Row

Bubble Pop Fun

Introducing the Bubble Wrap Calendar! I found this calendar in a small and quirky boutique in the West Village called MyzPlyx a few weeks ago and wanted to share it with you! How many of us get a face of glee when that FedEx box comes and spills over with bubble wrap when opened, just waiting to be popped? Sounds strange and silly, but I think most of us do find some excitement in the single pop of a bubble. Welp, the point of the matter is that there is now a bubble wrap calendar designed so you can pop away, everyday!
I thought it was a funny...kind of one of those gifts you could give as either a gag or just the perfect present for that unique person.

Alexander Wang Love

I love Alexander Wang.. but honestly, who doesn't?

Even more.. I love his Brenda Zip Chain Bag, which I first saw about a year ago worn by the stylist I used to work with. The almost $800 price tag haunted me again this weekend when walking past the Bergdorf window display, a picturesque manequin wearing the cross-shoulder chain strap Wang. It is such a carefree and effortless bag. Ideal to add spunk to a casual outfit or to wear going out at night (small enough to be hassle-free yet big enough for the essentials: credit card, cell, lipstick, camera.) It's been around for a while now... a year plus? ... yet I browsed a few websites and it is completely sold out! I suppose I will continue to dream on.. dream on... sigh...

Teen Vogue Handbook

I fell across this interview with Teen Vogue's editor-in-chief, Amy Astley who gives an insight into the the Teen Vogue Handbook. This book was published by Teen Vogue and gives basic knowledge of stepping into the fashion industry.. what to expect, what to wear to an interview, how to get the career ball rolling, and most importantly how to realize if it is the right choice for you.



I also read this quote by Anna Wintour about the TV Handbook:

"Because of reality television and all these celebrities thinking they can be designers, everyone imagines that they can just become a designer, photographer, or model, but that's not the way things work," she says. "People have to go to school, learn their craft, and build a brand-that's the right, healthy way to do things. If you're an overnight sensation, you can be yesterday's news in no time, whereas building something slowly and carefully that has value and quality, that's what's going to have legs. You'd be amazed at how many people come in here, and they make perfectly nice clothes, but they don't understand how to differentiate their brand from another, or they don't have a business plan, or they don't know where to produce things. Don't run before you can crawl."