Fall 09 Trend: Blazers

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Balenciaga. Christian Dior. Christian Lacroix. Rag&Bone. Zac Posen

Take a cue from the runways. Blazers are still hot, but they need something extra. Voluminous sleeves, a mixture of materials or just an interesting shape. Knowledge is power. Don't get left behind.

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CAN I GET A ORDER OF VICTORIA WITH A SIDE OF DAVID AND A TALL GLASS OF EMPORIO ARMANI

The Autumn Winter 09/10 Emporio Armani Underwear Campaign




I'M SPEECHLESS .....THEY MAKE ALOT OF PEOPLE LOOK BAD LOL

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Re-Cap---Top Men’s Runway Looks For Spring/Summer 2009

D&G

Marc Jacobs!

Moschino

Gucci

Dsquared


I really cant decide what collection I like the most..... but if i have to pick one it woud be................... Dsquared

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Elise Øverland

This was one of the shows I enjoyed at NYFW. Elise Øverland was born and raised in Norway. Being surrounded by mountains tends to cause one to be creative. With a BFA from Parsons School of Design, right here in NY, she went to work. Her edgy but functional pieces caught the eye of many musicians, who began commissioning her to design stage pieces. She has had a wide range of clients, from the Dixie Chicks to Alicia Keys.

Øverland claims this collection was inspired by a book on Japanese sushi. Don't know what I think about that one, so I'll let you guys decide.

Her collection had a lot of black pieces, but underneath were random pops of color including teal and purple, so boring it was not. All her pieces were well finished and structured to give a sleek, edgy look. She seemed to favor lamb skin quite a bit, but she worked it well, to the point where you have to take a good look to discern the material. Bravo!

Though there were many highlights, she didn't get it all right. Some outfits just looked awkward. The model with a short, flimsy dress and bulky looking jacket confused me. What kind of weather is that for? The outfit just didn't fit in with the overall sleekness of the show. Good try but better luck next time.


- photos via Style

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Roksanda Ilincic

What does a girl from Belgrade whose parents were a pharmacist and businessman do with her life? Design of course! After attending Belgrade University for her BA, during the Serbian war of the 90s, she went to London to follow her real passion. She received a MA in womenswear from Central Saint Martins and the rest is history.

For Fall '09, she does not disappoint. She continues her pattern of exaggerated shoulders and whimsical outfits. The kind of dresses you would wear once to the perfect event and wrap it up to preserve the memories. A romantic kind of feel that Ilincic puts into all of her designs.

The clothes were extremely structures giving it a Grimm's fairytale kind of twist. I would have preferred a wider color range, because I think color would add more pop to her well designed pieces. The fabrics seemed to have that variety the color lacked. Faux crocodile mixed in with satin and velvet gave drama.

Though some of her separates were amazing, it was the dresses that stole the show. Study now because Roxy, as her friends call her, is only going up.

- photos via Style

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Reccession= Depression

As a New Yorker, there is nothing I love more than Mercedes Benz fashion week. Everyone who is anyone is in town [although I'm up at school... boooooo!], the parties are fabulous, the style on the street is impeccable and my favorite ... everything around 42nd street & Broadway are effn crowded to rass! =[

However this upcoming fashion week may not be as heavy -- or hot[ it's Feb] as we're used to. WWD has reported that DKNY, Vera Wang, Carmen Marc Valvo and Betsey Johnson have decided to do private viewings of their collections instead of putting on a costly runway show. J. Mendel, Monique Lhuillier and Reem Acra are also considering other options for February.

Bummer.

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It's Erdem!

I am totally captivated by this chic nerd. The man who professed that his uniform consists of a T-shirt, jumper, pair of jeans, and trainers. He is so down-to-earth yet his designs are so out there. Of course, he has the ordinary little dresses that any female would wear. Then a new girl turns the corner in a dress that calls for the courage the lion needed to get from the Wizard. Who knows where his ideas come from. He trained at the Royal College of Art and then went on to work for DVF. He did splendid there and decided to go for self. It must have been a good ideas since he won the Fashion Fringe award & a good amount of cash. And so, a genius was found.

His RTW09 show was anything but boring. Not because of silhouettes. And not just color. More like a mesh of both. The silhouettes were sometimes simple sexy and at others, filled with fabric. The colors were blah one minute and light bright the next. It was this constant back and forth that kept you interested and intent on determining his inspiration. What did Erdem Moralioglu have to say? "I just wanted something soft and hyper-romantic, easy but a bit surreal at the same time. I've got all these images of seventies theater productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Eton boys wearing flowers in their boaters." Shakespeare, check. Romanticism, check. Boys, where were they?

Likes: The simple silhouettes. They are so sleek and sexy. I also like his "tie-dye" color motif. It made me remember why I like Kenley's collection so much. Lastly, the bright pops he gave some of the outfits w the orange & green. Sometimes, that's all you need to take an outfit to the next level.

Dislikes: I hate Little Bo Peep & her lost sheep. I don't care lady. But Erdem seems to. Some of his outfits were so reminiscent of her. That's a no. The other problem was unflattering shapes. The girl in orange looks like most of her body mass is in her breasts. Not the kind of body shape females are going for. Then there was the fact that some of the outfits looked frumpy and grandma-ish. The color was bland or it just looked. . .old. Not his best work.

Rating: 7.75 out of 10. It was good but not my favorite from him.

[photo source]

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Queen Elizabeth Returns

I have been in love with Gareth Pugh ever since he sent this piece to the left down the runway for the 2006RTW. My first thought was only if I attend clown school. But I deffn' liked it & couldn't understand why. Then I got it. The aesthetic. His clothes are simply worked pieces that come out divine. Especially with his use of simple color palettes so you're not distracted by shiny colors. Then he made clothes for Kylie Minogue's tour & it just made me even more starstruck. I vowed to follow this man's shows every time he sent something down the runway and I have.

This year, he presented in Paris. It was an amazing addition to the uniqueness and abstract collections that Paris seems to pull into the runways. Even though it was held in Paris, it was clearly influenced by Pugh's native country, England. It was so reminiscent of the Elizabethan era. The structured collars and the military shields in weird places, including over the face, gave testimony to that. The jagged silhouettes were filled with cinched waists and large amounts of fabric that didn't seem to make the models any bigger. And the simple mixes of black and white gave an almost eerie science fiction feel to the collection. It was amazing. Not one bad thing to say about it. The man puts on a show like no other.
[photo source ]

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Paris Is Filled With. . .FASHION!

And it's east to see why it has been the fashion capital FOREVER. Despite what anyone says, I don't believe they lost their flare for a minute. But I'm gushing now. Let's talk about some of the SP2009RTW shows over there.

First up, Sonia Rykiel. In celebration of 40 years designing amazing clothes, she put on quite the show. Her models danced down the runway while people threw flowers at their feet. The whole setup and atmosphere was outrageous and enviable. The clothes were definitely Sonia. The skirts flowed like a river going downstream. The over sized suits had character and the feather dresses, were done as tastefully as feathers can be done. She had a range of pants, elegant dresses, and party dresses, making sure that it was impossible for you to not find one piece you liked. She brought back old time Paris with a style of her own.Then Rykiel gets ready to close the show and her daughter, Nathalie, grabs the mike. They have a surprise for her. And what a surprise it was. A vast array of designers took on the task of creating Rykiel-esque garments. When the likes of Rodarte and Karl Lagerfeld are designing, can you expect anything less than appealing?
In the end, a show filled with over 15 designers, over a 100 designs, and some very happy observers.

P.S. - Did Rodarte not give DRAMA with that Obama knit? OH YES!

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Runway Hits The Runway

Project Runway collections hit the REAL runway the last day of New York Fashion Week. I finally watched the shows of the 6 designers and since I actually watched this season, I have opinions on the collections and designers.

First off, my TOP 3:

1. Kenley, the 25 year old from Florida. Cohesiveness? Who needs that when you have colors & dresses?! Even though her color scheme was skewed, I think her collection was #1 for me. The sharp jagged cuts she gave some of her dresses were impressive. I loved how some pieces were packed with volume and some fit like a glove. It was innovative, had range and very true to her. If you watch the show, she is the bubbly girl with the annoying laugh that makes you want to join in and strangle her at the same time. She's outgoing & no doubt she will make it one day. I just don't think PR is going to give her that money. This was my favorite collection, but I don't think she won based on the fact she only won 1 challenge (so far) and she is EXTREMELY rude to the judges. That's a no-no.

2. Korto, 33 from Liberia. What I love about her collection is the richness of the colors and crossover appeal of the dresses. She designs for any and every body type. Everyone can find at least one piece they enjoy in this collection. When she uses volumes, she reminds me a lot of Christian. And the prints she used were elegant, but still represented her roots. Tribal meets high fashion. Fierce! On the show, she was all about work. She met and often succeeded the judges expectations. She only won 1 challenge, but you can usually find her in the top 3, if the not the runner-up. Maybe everyone should go to fashion school in Canada.

3. Leanne, 27 year old graduate from FIDM [look it up]. On the show, she is so quiet, but always thoughtful. And her outfits have a boldness that speak for themselves. Her collection is full of tans and blues that remind you of staying at a summer beach house. The collection is not only cohesive, but fluid. There are no big interruptions, only beautiful transfers. She plays with volume and fit, but makes it so elegant that it looks like it belongs. A very well put together collection. This is my predicted PR winner. How could she not?
Now to the BOTTOM 3:

1. Joe, the 41 year old from Michigan. Yeah, he went to Parsons & all, but I don't see him winning. I'm sorry but in my opinion, he should stick to producing for OTHER people. I think he is somewhat creative but his execution always needs work, no matter what he does. He needs to learn overall just how to sew better. But that's just my opinion. On to his collection, I don't think it had a cohesiveness or a flow to it. Either is alright, neither is bad. The collection felt disjointed and very. . .country. I thought Stella was the leather fanatic. . .There were some gems like the star dress. The material flowed so beautifully. I need that dress.

2. Jerrell, the 28 year old from Texas. I am in love with his aura. [and he's STILL in my bottom 3. no bias here!] It hurt me to put him here, but compared to the other collections, he didn't match up. He is very innovative & thinks outside of the box. Yet some of his runway outfits were so bad that they were just bad, not good. I mean when you send something like Ursula [Little Mermaid] coming down the runway, I must question. This is RTW sweetie. I don't see that in the streets anytime soon. He is well liked on the show for his personality as much as his designs. He is funny and bright, both of which tend to cross over into his outfits. A good designer in his own right. But clearly, not the winner this season.

3. Suede, the 37 year old Ohio native. He is one of my favorites just because he tries so hard to stick out. It's obvious he's trying to garner the attention Christian received last season. All the Suede is so this and Suede is so that. Who calls himself in third person in the REAL world? I do admit he is a versatile designer. Out of the bottom 3, his collection is my favorite. It has a playfulness that will make you look twice. The cross-hatching theme was ingenious. Yet, I found some of the dresses, one in particular, disgustingly ugly. And Suede, I just think someone with blue hair is not ready to win PR. Sorry. Good luck with your future.

So I predict Leanne as the winner. Based on the collections alone she wins. Let alone all her work on the show. She earned it.

P.S. - Did anyone else notice ANTM all over PR? Check the model faces. . .

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Luella Deville, Oh How You Scare Me!

London fashion week has started. I wasn't too excited until I saw HERS.
So stunned is definitely not the word to describe my feelings on how amazing Luella Bartley's RTW '09 show was. It was so over the top, it was scary but sexy at the same time. A mix of the 80s punk rock with the 40s lady charm. "I wanted it to be a proper, ladylike character—but a bit psychedelic," Bartley stated to the press. And it was very apparent in her collection. She designed exactly what she was going for, making the collection cohesive as well as exciting.

Likes: Her patchwork skirts and cool blazers. The lady is as innovative as she is smart. The colors were also amazing. Who thought you could send orange, pink, purple, and green tweed down a runway and NOT look tacky. Amazing.

Dislikes: I have not one bad thing to say. The accessories were used correctly as well as inspiring. The veils and pillboxes weren't over the top, but perfectly incorporated into the theme. Shoes of all different heights & types walked that runway. The variety was to die for. She took risks and they paid off.

She will: probably have the best fashion show of London week. Who can top this?

Rating: 9.5 out of 10. Just because I refuse to give anyone a 10. Big heads & all.

[P.S.] I really want those glasses #5 is wearing. Luella, send me a pair & you could be bumped up. . .

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Fashion Week - DKNY

Who brings the drama like Donna Karan? She had two PETA protesters jump on stage during her show. Security was all over them & they even got cut out of the runway video. Their fame didn't even last 15 minutes. Too bad. They looked pretty eco-chic.

Anyways, on to the collection. Donna seemed to be trying to capture the essence on New York with this collection. The mix match of colors with the urban edginess is something New Yorkers see on a daily basis. Of course, her separates are as amazing as the full outfits. All & all, she did her 20th anniversary proud. And my favorite models of the moment, Chanel Iman & Jourdan Dunn, were there to help.

Likes: Her parachute dresses and skirts. The silhouettes and fits were amazing. She knows how woman want their body to look & makes it happen. I also enjoyed the sneaker high heels and the S&M looking chains the females wore. Accessories with a hint of street wear make any outfit pop. Donna worked it well.

Dislikes: Sometimes there was so much going on that you felt she didn't reign herself in. Yes, we like ideas. No, we don't want all of them in ONE outfit. I also hated the way the models wore those skinny scarves. It looked like they were all planning to hang themselves before the show & never go to it. Lastly, the shapes of some of her outfits were. . .interesitng. The point of playing with volume & proportions is to make a different outfit that is still SEXY. I think she missed that key point with some of these.

Smart: She played a video about New York before the show. Yes, you can have a cookie for that Donna. Good girl.

Rating: 8 out of 10. Her models rocked it & the heels were amazing. Oh, & the clothes were good.

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Fashion Week - Rock & Republic

This might be my favorite show so far. Mostly because of all the images of Chace Crawford [ Nate Archibald on GG ] looking so intense, happy, and photogenic. Work it Chace.

Now on to the brand. R&R is simple luxury. They cater to anyone who has money to spend on making edgy sexy. With makeup, clothing, handbag, and accessories, they are a one stop shopping company for the many young celebrities of today. Which may explain the appearance of Ashley Olsen and others front row at their show.

Likes: The sleek sexiness of the silhouettes. Tight doesn't BEGIN to describe the bandage dresses & jeans that walked down that runway. Even the likes of Chanel Iman had to be sucking it in. But they did make it look less slutty and more sexy. Kudos! I was also a fan of the black & white. Colors that go into everyone's everyday wear. Smart move.

Dislikes: The black acid washed jeans. It looked like my 5 year old cousin tried to tie-dye white jeans but the colors were so dark, it ended up black. I could have her make those for me if it really catches on. Michael, give her a call on her Blues Clues phone! Also, some of the men's outfits were questionable. A see through mesh looking top for men? No please. And leggings with a shirt [ not tunic ] can't be done in real life. Who's ready to wear that?

Best Part: Did I mention Chace Crawford was there? LOL

Rating: 8.5 out of 10. Chace really put them over the top.

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Fashion Week - Rag & Bone

Marcus Wainwright and David Neville do it again. They just opened up a store on Christopher Street, and what better way to get customers than a show of what they can expect. Started in 2002 because the designers couldn't find jeans worth buying, it has become a blend of high fashion and street wear. At any moment, one of their models could just walk off the runway to the streets, and be at home. I think that's what makes the brand so appealing.

Taking a cue from English rock, punk, and mod they have done a runway show full of leather, spikes, and extremely fitted clothing. The women had stringy hair and walked like they could take on the world. The men had pants that were sometimes tighter than the women's and had tailored suits to die for. My favorite pieces had to be every blazer or vest that came down the runway. I die for them and of course the neutral colors used allow them to fall into any outfit.

Likes: The metallic silvers and blues. Shiny & tight are suppose to look cheap, but Rag & Bone make it fashionable. The menswear for women theme was also very appealing for someone like me who does it everyday. Ooh & Lily Donaldson was to die for.



Dislikes: Lack of color range. One bright outfit could have made it to the runway.

Scary: The models. Some of the girls looked so edgy I thought they would pass out on the runway. Edgy = dark circles, ratty hair, and a "I am REALLY hungry look." I bet they were thinking about the last time that had anything with more than 200 calories. LOL

Rating: 8 out of 10. I love my menswear for women!

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Fashion Week - Abaeté

I'm so sorry I have been busy with work & the city. Fashion week is among us & I'm taking every opportunity I can to go out & look for the most fashionable people. I saw Chanel Iman in midtown. I nearly went crazy. When my phone finally agrees, I'll post photos of her street wear, which FYI looks like it came straight off a MJ runway.

But I'm going off topic. I wanted to give you a rundown of a show that I thought was good, but isn't getting too much coverage. Abaeté is a line created by Laura Poretzky. The name belongs to her family and means "person of virtue." She began in 2004 and began showing her line in NY Fashion Week in 2005. It was well-received and it seems like she is on the way to becoming a permanent fixture.

Likes: Her dress silhouettes. Her full skirts were amazing with figures and detailing that will flatter many shapes. Another pro was her use of pastel and bright colors. They were bright enough to be noticed, but subtle enough to be worn to work. Why wouldn't you want something that goes from day to dark? She nailed it.

Dislikes: Her shoes. EVERY girl wore gladiators. Laura should know that booties and 5inch heels are in. Gladiators are [hopefully] a dying breed. And if they are here for a while, they are not the ONLY shoe. I would have loved some outfits even more if the models had different footwear. I also was not a fan of her underwear-to-outerwear concept. The pieces looked unflattering and amateurish at best. They looked like something that would get you kicked out of Project Runway. She missed the mark with those.

Smarts: She slicked back the hair of all the models. Besides making them uniform, it let the outfits really shine. They became the centerpiece. Smart move.
Overall, I would rate her show a 6 out of 10. Work fashionable and interesting to boot. Not to shabby.

[ Photo Source: Marcio Madeira via Style ]

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Dorothy Gale Was A Fly Chick

Believe what you want, but it is true. Which is why an assortment of designers went to work on redesigning those red slippers the witch wanted so badly. Yes, she recognized fashion & wanted some for herself. In commemoration of 70 years (next year) of the Wizard Of Oz, they have been asked to produce their take on those ruby red shoes.

Nineteen designers including big names like Diane von Furstenberg, Christian Louboutin, and Manolo Blahnik have designed shoes that will be shown everywhere from Byrant Park to Saks in order to raise money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. It is an amazing thing.

Two pairs of the same shoe will be created by each designer so one of them can be auctioned off. Pictures have recently surfaced on the web of some of the final designs. Imagine the money that is going to be thrown around for these. . .

1st - Betsey Johnson
2nd - Botkier
3rd - DVF
4th - Jimmy Choo
5th - L.A.M.B
Last - Tuleh.

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