The crew

2008 Charlie Rose interview with Mickey Drexler, CEO of J.Crew.

Martin Margiela 20th Anniversary show

These particular photos of this show were more exciting than my usual sources ... you can see the whole show on style.com but these are from Jak and Jil.

Consuela Castiglioni

Where she is...



and where i am. ;)

I can only hope that I remember to have fun and have a sense of humor about it all like she does.

No formal training

Rodarte



If this is what no formal training can get someone... you gotta wonder.

Zippers

3.1 Phillip Lim


So if I haven't lost you forever then you've been wondering where I've been perhaps?
I have gone back to school for fashion design and it's been keeping pretty darn busy. I love being in school and it's been very exciting. Whether this means I will one day be able to design or it takes me to a totally different place who knows, but for now i enjoy it very much.

I hope to blog regularly still because one of the reasons I started it was to keep a log of designers and hopefully inspirations if they come along via the computer. I hope you still visit sometimes...

Fashion week

I've been viewing and I'd like to let it marinate before i go posting crazy. Until then I hope you're all enjoying the shows!

ps the only real thing that came to mind that made me chuckle, was that erin fetherston's line looks like what logan's run would be via the fembots 2009.

On my mind

I saw Beautiful Losers this weekend. I was looking forward to it but I didn't know what to expect. The movie really focused on the purity of the artists' intentions. The film their work simply as doing makes them happy and implied that somehow because most of them were not classically trained they were free of the "rules" of fine art. That they were free to do what made them happy, often how children draw with no insecurity, it allowed them to not have to question themselves ever.



Because the film had to cover so many people on top of keeping focus on the actual art show Beautiful Losers, it didn't get into most of their personal struggles or how and why they were the ones to become more popular than others. The film did however touch a little bit on the dilemma of working with ad agencies while keeping their fans and peers still interested.

Also on my mind - I'm excited for fashion week. It's a good birthday gift to me. :P

Mostly on my mind - today is my first day of non-work. I quit my job and will be starting school on Sept. 2. I'm excited and scared and excited and stressed and nervous and worried and excited.

Recently on my mind, this past weekend I met up with Jessica of Shiny Squirrel, Lee of 2 or 3 things, Kate of Forme-ForYou, Porter of Porter Polaroid Project, Sarah of Coutorture, and Charu of Butterfly Diary, . What a wonderful group of women - hope to do it again soon.

Just for fun

I was recently at the Met and popped by the Superhero exhibit.
Snuck in a picture with Mystique's bum (or a mannequin painted to look like her..)



And these are for you...


Hussein Chalayan dress made of fiberglass and nylon.
The dress had visible seams where the panels met. it was pretty damn cool.




and the original Superman costume worn by Christopher Reeve. It's dark because it 'hologrammed,' switching back and forth from the Clark Kent costume to this one.

Beautiful Girl

Le Vestiaire de Clé, is the blog of a children's fashion designer. I am not sure who the gorgeous girl who models for her is but frankly she woke me up out of my blog slumber. I find her refreshing, adorable, tasteful and very stylish. I'm sick of seeing the same thing over and over - but I don't expect busy women to start shopping for new stuff like it's their job. Rethinking basics gives you a new silhouette...


Sigh musey.
PS I CANNOT get that junya watanabe stripey shirt out of my head...

via 2 or 3 things

Men!

I couldn't leave my male readers in the lurch.

All in all folks, the coming spring season was made for Johnny Depp. And really, who can blame designers?




Ah,you want the details you say?? Ok, let's review shall we?

The first thing I couldn't ignore was men's waists. Not really an asset that most men accentuate but if you're trim and you want to show that off this is the season to do so. The largest change is in the suit jacket. There really is a nip right there in the true waist - I love the retro feeling this gives. But it doesn't stop there, shorter sweaters, higher waisted pleated pants, tucked in t-shirts - they all draw attention to the waist.



Next, the spring jacket. Go short or go long but not in between. I want to see your belt with those short jackets. If that's too bold then the jacket should go closer to the knee than to the hips - and stay easy breezy with the fabrics on long jackets. It should shield you from shore breezes not from winter chills.



Color you say? A big trend that I love, lavender!! it's not a pure purple but a bit dusty. Gives me the feeling of being faded in the sun.



And I briefly mentioned pants but to go with your new waistline you'll want a higher pant. Flat front is still fine so don't feel obligated to toss those out. But pleated does look more comfortable for the warmer weather, it gives ease to move around I would imagine. (and more room for all your crap in your pockets.) And the ankle should be narrower than the thigh, much narrower. That goes for flat front or pleated. Side bar - please wear slim shoes. Square or chunky toes need not apply...



And don't mistake this post to say you must go designer to look this good. I know a guy that has little money to spend on clothing but always looks great because he knows his shape and size and everything always fits perfectly but never looks like it was stolen from a mannequin- that's good style. ;)

all images from men.style.com
clothing from Lanvin / Paul Smith / YSL / Bottega Venetta / John Galliano / JP Gaultier / Dries Van Noten / Burberry

Eternal Child

i'm really enjoying this sweater. I learned about Eternal Child on Refinery 29. The Istanbul based designer, Gul Gurdamar, describes her thoughts, "I like imperfection, twisted things, playfulness, recklessness, contradictions." I like refinery29's description, "Never immature or ironic, her knitwear rescues the complexity of femininity with the celebrated moxie spirit of youth—a narrative that continues to evolve with each season."

I'm sharing all this nonsense with you because I like that idea. I like that your clothing can be beautiful, fun, individual and mature but does not convey a person who takes themselves or their clothing too seriously. When a woman dresses you should see the woman not her clothing.

Flower girl

Junko Shimada is someone who speaks to the girl in me who loves to prance about in costumes. As a child I loved putting on my sister's ballet recital costumes and run around the house. If I owned a pair of these wicked wicker platforms I would be running around my apartment in them for sho.

Remix

best remix of a chanel suit i've seen so far...

chris benz

Summer rainbow

I've noticed that this particular sky blue is really popular among the resort collections. It does remind one of clear blue oceans and bright blue skies doesn't it??

I love the LV anorak.

left to right
Louis Vuitton / 3.1 Phillip Lim / Diane von Furstenberg

Also I find it pretty remarkable that three different designers used this color combo. Not just two colors but three! The inspiration must be flamingos at the ocean ... :D


left to right
Chris Benz / DVF / Celine

Black Beauty

It's 2008 and we're having this conversation now?



Why are we making this statement at this moment - putting black models on the cover of Italian Vogue? Usually change comes from the outside and inspires fashions, it take a lot for the fashion community to band together and create change from inside. Perhaps it's because fashion has become so much more omnipresent, affecting people who don't usually pay attention. Maybe it's a good time to make a statement... it's just too bad the industry took this long to make a statement.

Maybe in ten years we'll have an Asian model cover...

Also, doesn't Tyra look beautiful? I feel like the stylist on America's Next Top Model trannify her so much that it's become really refreshing to see her like this.



all pictures by Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue

Lanvin Love

According to the man who could do no wrong his resort collection was based on the 'perfect American [look] of the fifties—but made in the wrong way.'
Personally I think Alber Elbaz's resort show kinda reminded me of the rebellious 1920s... either way. I love! once again.

Model Rehabilitation

Daulmonster as Amy Winehouse! I love it.



Styled by Hyo Jin Jun, see more images at Daul's blog here.

Resort much?

I think that being interested in fashion is just as specific as being interested in interior design. Just because you have a home doesn't mean you know who designed your chair or who Didn't design it for that matter. So no one should ever expect a random person to know any designers or know that the shoes they're wearing are "so last season." The moment I start to think that way please put me out of my misery.

However,I think people like to look good and know that there is clothing out there they wish they could afford or know more about. Certain things like price and couture shows make fashion very exclusive and a seemingly unapproachable club. This is a large discussion I'm breaching here and I don't wish to get TOO into it. That said, I think this elite club is doing a good job opening the world up; young designers are bringing their talents to places like Target and Uniqlo because all their friends are the same as our friends - poor and cute as hell. The key that allows people to express their interest in fashion is cost and wearability. A fashion newbie isn't going to dive right into Comme de Garçons or Christopher Kane. More likely Narcisco Rodriquez or Michael Kors. The reason I get into this is because I was going through the resort shows and I think resort is the most approchable often of seasons. It's meant to be easy, breezy and comfy. And you're meant to look hot in it! One of my very favorite very wearable (and very young) designers this year so far was Jenni Kayne. I'm such a fan of clean, feminine shapes and color blocks.

These three outfits would make me die a happy woman.



And while I'm at it, my other favorites by a landslide.

Top row Celine
Second row Yigal Azrouël
Bottom row Isaac Mizrahi (!) / Jonathan Saunders

The Young Guns

These ladies are probably all too young to know the movie I reference in the post title but you have to check out their great sense of style. All different budgets from different corners of the world but not one of them dresses like your average school girl.

It's really difficult to dress differently from your peers when you're in school, young people target the different don't they? So I commend them for being creative and individual.


from left to right
sea of shoes / childhood flames / cheapskate chic

Stop. New post time.

Where did I put those damn z. cavariccis....
oh right. i never owned a pair.


while i enjoy this silhouette because it's new to the eye. it's too exhausting trying to keep up with every pant trend.
i will sit back on this one.


All resort 2008
clockwise from top left
Thakoon / Proenza Schouler / Stella McCartney / Marc Jacobs