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