February 2011
40 posts
Talbot's Revamps Its Image
Talbots has always been a brand that caters to the 50+ female audience. Anyone below that age group has probably never heard of the brand, let alone gone inside their stores. However, with its new ad campaigns, the brand seems to be revamping its image. With Milla Jovovich as their model last season and Julianne Moore this season, it seems to be taking a younger, trendier approach to the line. I...
Bottega Veneta Pre-Fall 2011
I never got around to doing a post about the Bottega Veneta Pre-Fall collection, because before I knew it, it was already the Fall shows. Many collections I post right after I see them because I write about my initial thoughts, and many times those ideas will fade. But, for this collection, I still think it was extremely strong.
Bottega Veneta’s line usually targets an older age group...
Orla Kiely S/S 2011 Campaign
Leith Clark’s name keeps appearing in random places that I look at lately. It originally started when I wondered who the brilliance behind Lula magazine was. When I realized that it was Leith Clark, I fell in love with her. Her sense of style is probably one of the best examples of what I like, not always what I wear, but definetely what I like. Anyways, for the new Orla Kiely line, Leith...
Jeremy Scott is a designer who really fails to adhere to any fashion rules or guidelines. He strictly designs what he wants, regardless of whether it will be sold or not. And although I do not always like what he sends down the runway, I do admire greatly this quality. For his Fall 2011 collection, a parade of models who liked like Barbie’s strutted down the runway in neon sweater-dresses...
Blumarine Lace
A few years ago, Blumarine came out wiht one of my favorite collections. However, since then, I have not really enjoyed much of what came down the runway (except for a few sweaters back in 2008 I think). This collection was not one of my favorite collections at fashion week at all, but I did enjoy the collection of lace dresses that appeared at the end. They reminded me of Christopher...
A Perfect Pair of Jil Sander Boots
These shoes don’t really seem to be a typical Jil Sander product, but I love them nevertheless. The clutch at the ankle and the cut-out (if that’s what it is…) in the heel make the boot a little less typical then something you’d find in Steve Madden. But still, it’s a really great boot that can be worn with so many different outfits. And the flowered one can add a...
Style Spotlight: Taylor Tomasi Hill
If anyone avidly looks at street style blogs, a certain stylish red-headed female appears on almost every blog. That certain red-head is Taylor Tomasi-Hill, style and accessories editor for Marie Claire US. With killer style, a model-like body, and flaming-red hair it’s easy to see what makes her captured by photographers so frequently. In general, her style is an amalgamation of scarves,...
D&G Brought the Fun
It didn’t really seem like a D&G collection. It seemed more like Jeremy Scott, or Vivienne Westwood, or maybe Moschino Cheap & Chic. But definitely not Moschino. But after getting over the initial confusion, the collection began to be something that I felt was very much needed in fashion week – fun. The words that filtered through my mind as I clicked through the collection were...
Proenza Schouler Victorian Necklaces
These Proenza Schouler necklaces were one of my favorite parts of the collection. They reminded me of the Victorian-like picture frames I have above my bed. I particularly liked the way that the designers paired the white necklace over a plain black shirt and vice versa. I’m someone who is really drawn to anything black-and-white. The necklaces can either be really casual or super-fancy,...
Fall 2011 Trend Report
Looking at the fashion shows has been my procrastination technique for the past week. Each season, there are some distinctive trends that appear on handfuls of the runways. Tons of trends appear, but only a few really make it from the runway and onto real people. I didn’t think that this season was too strong, and no designer collection really stood out too much to me. But, there are still...
Style on the Streets
Looking at what people wear to the shows during fashion week is one of my favorite parts of this week. With the thousands of streetstyle blogs, it’s so easy to do so now. This season, I didn’t find as many street style photos that I liked. But there were definitely some stand-out outfits and people. Another post will come later about some stylish faces of fashion week. But I just...
The Art of Digital Printing
As we move into a new generation, the world is rapidly changing due to technology. Certain industries would seem to be less effected by these changes than others. In the production and manufacturing of fabrics, it would make sense to incorporate new machinery and techniques. However, in the actual appearance of fabrics and clothing, I would not immediately think that technology would affect it....
An Overall Success at Christopher Kane
When I glanced through the Christopher Kane collection, nothing stood out. I saw a few pieces that made me go back and look at again, but nothing that I actually dragged onto my desktop. However, I was looking at The Sartorialist later and found the photos (above & below) to catch my attention. Now, it could be just Scott Schuman’s impecable photographic capabilities for capturing...
Return of Target's GO Designer Collaborations
A major way that numerous designers have expanded their lines to a wider audience has been through collaborations. Two of the best lower-end collaborators are Target and H&M. Both select designers that have distinct styles that can translate well into more affordable clothing while still maintaining the essence of both brands. For years, Target has brought designers like Zac Posen, Luella...
Unlike last season, I’m actually trying to refrain from posting about every runway collection I see. So…that means that the posting will be a little slower because I’ll just do a few general posts as the season comes to close. And also, it takes too much time to keep posting. So, bear with me while the Fall 2011 collections dwindle down. And then expect a handful of posts.
Up-And-Coming: Emma Stone
Emma Stone is quickly making a name for herself in the fashion world. Attending red carpet event after red carpet event, she is learning what works best on her body. Stella McCartney has become her designer-of-choice since she has been seen in five of the designer’s creations so far. Although some of her choices were worn by other celebrities (like Karlie Kloss), Stone has managed to...
Rodarte's Future?
When Rodarte’s first few collections came out, everyone in the audience fell in love. But a different kind of love than most other fashion shows. This was like going to a museum and seeing a piece of avant-garde art that is so completely unlike anything you’ve ever seen and doesn’t fit anywhere in your house because of its style and absurdity. That’s what it was like when...
Weave It Together
Thakoon’s Fall 2011 collection featured some beautiful, bright dresses and separates that are more “Spring” than “Fall” in my eyes. However, my eye was drawn to the colorful, tribal hair accessories revealed when each model turned around. Multi-colored yarn from unraveled winter hats was woven into braids and then pinned up into buns. This look can really add an...
Return to Classicism
For quite some time, the fashion world seems to have taken a break from what they do best: glamour. Designers have adapted their collections to wearable pieces that will actually be worth dropping 1K on a piece of fabric. But with the Fall 2011 collections came an on-surge of elegance and sophistication. This elegance and class came in the form of many different pieces. Long, glamorous red-carpet...
O2ND Spring 2011 Campaign
I don’t often browse through the ad campaigns of brands I’ve never heard of. However, something drew me to click on the thumbnails for this ad. Of course, when I skimmed over the page, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the ads. Only when I went back to the page later did I realize why I was so in love – Tim Walker was the photographer. As one of my favorite photographs, he has a...
Karen Walker: A Women's Designer
Like few other designers, Karen Walker seems to know how to consistently make collections of clothing that women would want. For her Fall 2011 collection, the pieces are feminine, yet not frilly. They are colorful, but not blinding. They don’t have intricate silhouettes, yet they are not simple. There’s a bit of preppiness, a bit of girliness, a bit of androgynous, an urban edge....
Prada Spring/Summer 2011 Eyewear Illustrations
Victoria Beckham Evolving
When Victoria Beckham first announced she was designing a clothing line, I was hesitant. Too many celebrities have used their power as celebrities to start fashion lines. And too many of them have been trainwrecks. But after Victoria’s first show, my opinion changed. I began to realize that she doesn’t just have the best style, but she actually knows about style, what women want, and...
The Many Faces of Coco Rocha
If you flip to an editorial in a magazine, you’ll notice that the model has the same dull, lifeless expression for 6 pages long. Sure the clothes are excellent and the setting is gorgeous, but a lifeless model is enough to make you throw away the magazine. A smiling, glowing (not PhotoShopped) model can be wearing a plain, white t-shirt and sitting against a blank backdrop but the model...
Fluidity and Movement at Jeremy Laing
There’s a wonderful sense of fluidity in this collection. The pieces are nothing fancy, just simple cuts that work wonders for the body. The drapery both conceals and reveals the form of the body, which is a really impressive feat. I have never really looked at Jeremy Laing’s collections before, and maybe this collection reflects more of the mood that I’ve been in lately. But...
Shoes: The Musical
This past summer, London debuted Shoes: The Musical that chronicles the obsession that has increased in recent years between people and their shoes. From Uggs and Crocs to Louboutins and Blahniks, the musical intends to celebrate shoes and the complex relationship we have with footwear. I’m not quite sure how exactly a musical works if it’s all about humankind’s relationship...
Rachel Zoe Fall 2011 Collection
Rachel Zoe’s eponymous fashion line debuted this past week. The collection was nothing too brilliant, in my opinion. Very “trendy” and things that I could see appearing at ShopBop and Kitson. All very cute, but no new ideas. This collection looked like Rachel Zoe just pulled her favorite pieces out of her closet and threw them onto the runway. And, because she is a trendsetter...
Band of Outsiders Spring 2011
Using Kirsten Dunst as their model and the Huntington Botanical Gardens in Pasadena as their setting, Band of Outsiders created one of the most wonderfully charming ad campaigns this season for their spring 2011 lookbook. Shot in polaroids, the images are both whimsical and cute at the same time. Dunst frolicked around the gardens in cardigans and sheer dresses as she explores the brand’s...
Being the daughter of Tommy Hilfiger, Aly Hilfiger’s NAHM collection drew a crowd of inquisitive fashion-lovers waiting to see what the descendant of one of fashion’s greatest names could do. However, her collection was not anything like you would see running down her father’s runways, but in a good way. Teaming up with designer, Nary Manivong, the two created a collection...
Rodarte x Opening Ceremony
Rodarte, one of my personal favorite brands, is collaborating with Opening Ceremony, for a men and women’s collection. All Opening Ceremony stores will receive the large collection of clothing as well as Barneys. The line will be less expensive than the Rodarte line, but still not cheap. Based on a quick glance at the Opening Ceremony website (where many of the pieces are already being...
Barney's Debuts "The Window"
This week, Barney’s introduced its new “Window.” Basically, it’s a website filled with photos of the glitz and glamour of backstage runway shows. The new series featured, titled “Backstage”, is a series of black-and-white photographs of the Spring 2011 collections. The photography is beautiful, and clearly the clothing is incredible, but what really interests...
Up-and-Coming: Zelda Williams
As I’ve previously mentioned, it’s the new, young faces in the entertainment industry who are making their way into the spotlight. Through her chic, age-appropriate style, Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin Williams, is making a name for herself. She chooses outfits that are both flattering and simple. While her style is not very experimental or bold, it has a very distinct, chic...
Reusable Tights
While scouring around on several websites, I found a list of ways to make your closet feel new again. The website suggested taking your tights and turning them into shrugs . Obviously, the feet need to be cut off first. It’s a little weird, but at the same time, it’s a really innovative way to make use of some old items in your closet. The reason that I found this trend worthwhile is...
*Lily Donaldson, Jessica Stam, Doutzen Kroes by Sebastian Faena for V 53 Summer 2008
Just Some Other Favorites
It’s hard not to consistenly like certain designers collections. The few pieces above are just random pieces that I loved in different collections. Alexander McQueen’s blue dress was completely stunning and anyone who wears it on the red carpet would look like a princess. Balenciaga’s tights (or leggings?) felt like they could have been a part of their last collection. They had...
Staying Neutral
Designers, like Cacharel, that design in neutrals are very smart. When someone shopping picks up a dress that they know they don’t “need,” but just “want,” they ask themselves a few questions. The first is usually, How many times can I wear it? With neutral pieces, they can go from season to season to season. Even though the collections that usually stay in our...
Flowers On Your Head
Even though Spring is not really on our radar yet, in the fashion world it is since the spring collections already came down the runway. Floral hair accessories are everywhere right now. From ad campaigns to runway shows to editorials, models are featured wearing beautiful wreaths of flowers in their head. Unlike the trend a couple years back where one large flower was tied on a rope or string...
Marni Pre-Fall 2011 Collection
At first glance, there was a lot to deal with – colors, textures, details, patterns, accessories. But when each outfit was dissected apart, a mixture between minimalism and mismatched, crazy layering of textures remained. The layering is probably one of the best elements of this collection. Like any Marni collection, it maintains a fine balance between being eclectic and being complementary. ...
