Summer Sales. So sexy the way those two words roll off my tongue. Totokaelo is giving up some merch at reduced, though still ridiculous, prices. I can almost entertain owning a Yohji Yamamoto jacket, or a Rick Owens dress. There are tons of sale accessories, which I find soothing to purchase online. Go forth and shop. Then let me borrow it.
I like the simple, clean lines and monochromatic coloring of this outfit, so I'm going to try and recreate this look by Vanessa Bruno, as seen on the Spring, 2011 runway:
shirt: 400.
pants: 415.
shoes: 500.
total: approximately (I say approximately because the prices above are guesstimates based on what I could find online) 1315.
One of the things about the outfit above that really "sings" for me is the luxurious fabric. Instead of looking for luxe pieces, I tried to capture the spirit of the look and make it more accessible for every day wear.
madewell chambray blouse: 39.99
madwell chambray trousers: 89.50
j. crew liberty print oxfords: 250. (splurge)
total: 379.49
There's one collection I can't shake from the Fall, 2011 presentations. Haider Ackermann has been a quiet but strong presence on the scene for a few years, but his last two collections have really gotten under my skin and just won't leave me alone. I catch myself visiting the online photos again and again and again - it reminds me of my teenage obsessions with songs, listening to a single tune until I grew weary of it. I don't think I'll ever tire of looking at the way Haider slings fabric around a woman's body; sensual but mysterious, his clothes are for women, not girls. Here are a few of my runway favorites, and a video of his Fall, 2011 collection and behind the scenes interview.
all images style.com
I believe there's no beter time to celebrate Japanese fashion designers. Japan has always brought a refreshing approach to fashion - unique tailoring, avant garde designs, and innovative textile techniques - minimalism gone maxi and beyond. Japanese fashion transcends clothing and moves into the realm of wearable art.
tsumori chisato
issey miyake
limi feu by limi yamamoto
comme des garcons by rei kawakubo
yohji yamamoto
junya watanabe
From my humble spectator's perspective, I am in awe of the wildly imaginative designs that come from Japanese designers. Maybe some readers feel it's insensitive or insulting to speak about the importance of the aforementioned designers in a time like this. What is fashion but a bunch of clothes, anyway? I actually believe that their vision will be of utmost importance during this time.
all images style.com
The four fashion weeks comprising fashion month are well over, and I had every intention of reporting on my favorite shows in "real time" (see here for my initial attempt), but I didn't even make it all the way through New York Fashion Week. I've felt a certain apathy toward the Fall, 2011 collections. Not that I haven't enjoyed some collections (see Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Isabel Marant, Prada, Miu Miu, Lanvin, etc.) - I can't quite put my finger on it. This sensation was apparent even before John Galliano opened his big mouth and shoved his career down his throat.
At the start of each new Fashion Week, London, Milan, Paris, I could feel the personal guilt multiply - why wasn't I posting? Where was the passion to obsess over each look that walked down the runway? Why didn't I care to track trends as I saw them? Even now, I feel like I just need time to marinate in the Fall, 2011 collections; with some pause I'm sure the energy and passion will strike me. Hrm. Or not. In the meantime, as I marinate, please enjoy the following moment at Paris Fashion Week, and in Fashion World's history - the final bow at Christian Dior. I would have clapped so hard my hands would have itched for a week.
With London Fashion Week well under way, I'm feeling ACK about not posting reviews from New York Fashion Week. I'm behind - ack! At the very least I would like to share some of my favorite looks from shows I didn't have time to review (my day job keeps me from posting five times a day, damnit). So here it is, the superfastquickreview of looks I love but ranoutoftime:
Marc Jacobs - Dotty delight. I love how LADY everything looks. Super feminine, wearable (Even the latex pants - lady? Why yes. ), and chic in a downtown way. What could be more downtown chic than rubber sequins?! I would totally rock the rubber pants on a cool evening, and although head to toe dots is a bit much, I do love the silhouettes and occassional kiss of sweetness to juxtapose the edges.Lace is a personal favorite textile of mine, but I felt like this section of the show smacked of Dolce & Gabbana, Fall, 2010, or Prada, Fall 2008 and they really did it better.
3.1 Phillip Lim - I love him. Not only he is adorably pretty, but the manboy can really put together some solid looks. Nothing revolutionary here, but Phillip Lim's clothes are always translatable for the real woman. I look to his runway styling for my daily dress inspiration. I mean, please - look at how he designs pants. Pants are never boring at a 3.1 PL show. Cashmere and leather baseball shirts? Are you kidding me?! Smart. And the long, grey jacket? GIVE IT TO ME. I want it so bad I can taste blood in my mouth.
Altuzarra - Joseph Altuzarra is another bunny putting looks out there that are styled for real life. Not that I don't love me the whimsy of Marchesa or Galliano, but...these parkas do kinda rock my world. For me, the second look is perfection. I would wear this outfit to a fancy shmancy dinner party...then never take it off. Ever. I would wait for the fabric to disintegrate and fall off my body. I would.
Stay tuned for more quickandeasy NYFW opinions by yours truly.
My favorite part of a fashion show (based solely on pictures from the internet)? The designer's bow. They're all tired and glowy, proud and squishy; they look so relieved. I just want to hug them. Awwww. See for yourself:
Isaac Mizrahi :: Alexander Wang :: Anna Sui :: Oscar de la Renta :: Thakoon Panichgul :: L'Wren Scott :: Marc Jacobs :: Jason Wu :: (Jeffrey) Costello (Robert) Tagliapietra
Laura and Kate Mulleavy are fantastic storytellers. I watched an interview with them on style.com, and they said the collection was inspired by the "golden hour", or the time of day on the Great Plains when the light seemingly glows. They were particularly drawn to writer / director Terrence Malick's work; a man who claimed he could only shoot during said "golden hour".
The looks were classic Rodarte dreamy, and somewhat unwearable in the "real world". Regardless, this is a strong collection of ethereal, smart dresses. They pick a silhouette and / or detail, and run it until it's done. You'll see long, full skirts; mid-calf skirts (the impossible length); recycled prints, and funky sci-fi collars redone for the prairie girl. And it makes me giggle that their final pieces in red were an homage to The Wizard of Oz. There it is - CHEEK. I must meet these sisters.
Oh, and ladies who like their Accessories - please note the EGAD-awesome, folksy-detailed black, suede boots.
Hard to believe that little baby Michelle Tanner(s) from Full House would grow up to head a successful design house. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's Fall 2011 collection for The Row is breathtaking. It's old glamour for the NOW lady. Their pieces in fur were like sculpture; romantic and whimsical, and I wanted every piece.
The Row has remarkable silhouettes. Strong, feminine lines that smack of the 30s and 40s when women were really pushing the boundaries of what a lady wore. Underneath the menswear tailoring is a woman's curves, and the juxtaposition is thrilling. I also love the styling of matte, dark purple lips, clean skin, simple hair, and a void of jewelry; not to mention the simple loafers and thick socks. To see the complete collection, go to style.com. In the meantime, here are some of my favorites.
