Girl Talk @ Wesleyan

I might actually develop a deep hatred for any WES kids that don't go to this show. On the other hand, I might strike up a long term love affair with anyone who gets me a ticket.... I mean... forreal though.

I'll give you a dollar if you can spot the WES kids in this photo of the Girl Talk show at Terminal 5 on Sunday.

Source - Wesleying & NYT.

if only...

fall is my favorite because it signals the crispness of brisk october air, fire-fueled red, orange and yellow leaves, hot apple cider and of course, boot season.

i've been on the hunt for the perfect pair of boots for a while now, but have yet to come across any that really seemed worth the $$, until now.

behold:


These are vintage 80s knee high boots in black suede with a beautiful studded and sequined design in the front... for a steal! They are perfectly subdued with just the right amount of pizzaz- a hint of subtle, monotone sparkle. I could sit for hours just imagining all the amazing outfits I could create around these beauts: winter floral dresses, light silky blouses with pencil skirts, tights and a cute mini... But alas, it was never meant to be. Damn my size 8 1/2 feet!

If you're in the market for boots and wear a 6/6.5, I highly suggest investing in this wonderful pair. But hurry- you've only got a day left to snag them!

yum

the fashionation newsletter in my inbox just got me salivating.

Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel

John Galiano

Mark Jacobs for Louis Vuitton

Stella McCartney

be sure to go over to their site to check out all the goodies- they are deeeefffffffinitely worth it.

into the future

if i had a bunch of little munchkins running around (and an extra deep pocket) i would probably be dressing them in these spiffy outfits.

i can't decide if the clothes or the children modeling them are cuter- but the overall adorable factor is a little bit too much to handle..

on to a more realistic note, what's good with j.crew?

aside from their fantastically fun crewcuts line, it seems this traditionally preppy brand has had a serious make-over recently, transforming it from a run-of-the-mill khakis and polos paradise into a place that is actually vying for my limited dollar$$. i've been shocked by how many cute things i've seen in the constant flow of catalogues that arrive in the mail at my house (how can they afford to send so many, btw?). the company's new philosophy is one of "necessary luxury," bringing stylish, "european" inspired looks to a broader american audience. the result is definitely one you can drool over; the rich, dreamy textures (generally italian cashmeres, tweeds and fine knits) and the bold, vibrant colors (with names such as electric mustard and persimmon) bring a fresher, edgier look to the previously humdrum line. These upgrades come at a price, however. With their new step towards bolder, trendier clothing (which, as a result, moves them out of the Gap league of chain retail stores), J.Crew has embarked on a new era of pricing- one that is not always easy on the eyes. For those of you concerned/smart shoppers out there, I recommend saving up to buy key pieces from the new line- they have great coats and blazers which are definitely worth the extra cash- you'll be getting high quality clothes that are sure to last. Another area where you can easily condone a little extra spending is for their new accessories line, which boasts great jewelry and shoes. The pieces are fun, youthful and unique and will easily dress up any outfit without being too stuffy.

oh snap!

BEHOLD!
Jeremy Scott for Adidas:

source: NYLON

fly back home

I'm absolutely obsessed with this song. I won't even begin to tell ya'll all the reasons why. It's not the most riveting video (it's just him playing) but this song could play on repeat for hours and I'd be so content. So content.

Ramez - All The Other Angels

Be sure to visit Ramez's myspace and listen to some of his other jams. His lyrics are absolutely beautiful and his sound is incredibly comforting.

Have a good weekend, kids!

name to know: Junya Watanabe

Three cheers for Junya Watanabe! Once again, the Japanese designer delivers a killer collection inspired by African draping techniques. Some of you might recall that of his previous spring collection, Watanabe said “it all went back to Africa”. Vague? Yes. But did he take this inspiration and infuse it into something representative of his own unique design aesthetic? Absolutely.

With experience as a Comme des Garçons’ knitwear designer under his belt, one can expect nothing but the highest quality of work and innovation from Watanabe. This year his focus on West African textiles showed that he not only understands how to tailor and drape a variety of fabrics (the denim!) but that he also proved that he has an eye for color and pattern mixing.

I’m not going to lie, I have an affinity for West African prints (Tala can certainly attest to this) and so had the drapery been subpar, which it wasn’t, I might still have been won over but this collection was perfection from start to finish. The deliberate styling, particularly the intricate and no doubt time consuming head pieces, helped to bring the collection to life. It spoke of both restraint and excess. The natural and the synthetic. The old and the new- the tried and the true.

I found it comforting. The only thing that would have made this collection more enjoyable would have been to see it worn by more models of color. I believe that out of the 47 looks only 3 were worn by women of color. Otherwise, a brilliant effort.

(Click image to enlarge)

Photos courtesy of Style.com

pining delusion

i WANT it so bad that i'm starting to convince myself i need it...

it's delectable

Balenciaga

Arena Giant Pom Pon Tote - Black

fringe benefits

after drooling over the beautiful fringe delicacies that walked down the runway at Jil Sander's spring 2009 RTW collection, I couldn't help but feel inspired. Obviously, my first instinct was to polyvore it up- I looked for key pieces (mostly fall items) that incorporated this breezy embellishment without looking too costume-y (I would hate to look like I walked out of a bad cowboy movie...). Fall (like any other season) is all about accessories; bold bags, jammin' jewels and everyone's favorite: boots! These key pieces can dress up any outfit, adding that extra oomph factor that looks and feels great. Unleash that inner sophista-funk and style, style, style! We all know you've got it in you.

Here are some of my picks:

name to know: Michelle Jank

 

Portrait of Jank, courtesy of news.com.au

If you haven't heard of her yet, Aussie darling, Michelle Jank is a name you're sure to be hearing a lot of in the near future. This former clothing designer started her career in Australia back in 2000 with a highly anticipated collection of lace dresses. However, after mediocre success in the fashion world, Jank traded in her dress forms and patterns in exchange for a career in jewelry design. She moved halfway around the world and set up atelier in Paris, the marais, no less, and began working on her unique collection.  

Another fabric necklace, photo courtesy of  Who Stole the High Street

Jank's jewelry is not your average glitz and glitter; textiles reign supreme throughout her collection of whimsical collars/bib necklaces.  And that, precisely, is what makes Jank's jewelry collections so interesting and sought after- her background in fashion is entirely evidenced in textured folds and flaps. Her garment perspective provides an interesting angle from which to design and wear jewelry: these pieces are the product of a perfect fusion of these two stylistic spheres. Using fabrics enables Jank to really play with volume and silhouettes with a freedom that conventional jewelry mediums do not allow. The neck pieces can be large, statement pieces that are interesting to the eye without fear of weighing the wearer down. 

 

 

Photos courtesy of The Fashion Spot

More recently, Jank has ventured into more structured jewelry pieces, experimenting with rigidity in mediums such as acrylic and Perspex. However, although these pieces are equally interesting aesthetically, I find her softer, more fluid jewelry a more stunning and creative example of her work. You can find Michelle Jank jewelry in a number of places- including Colette (Paris), Dover Street Market (London), Harrods, and Kima Zabete (New York), to name a few. Or check out her IQONS profile, here.

happy fall

The impending cold weather has definitely got me lusting for some warm and cozy winter treats, that's why I'm head over heels for the fantastic knit creations of Brit, Simone Shailes. Shailes is this year's L'Oréal Professional Fashion Design Award winner, and the girl definitely knows how to do it right. With a masters in Knitwear from Central Saint Martins, Shailes creates bold looks, making beautiful loops and folds with her handwoven textile. The contrast between the soft, yet structured knits and the metal fasteners is wonderfully balanced and absolutely delicious. As I mentioned a little while ago, knits are definitely making their way back into our hearts (and closets!), but the days of the plain jane sweaters of yesteryear are long gone. This season is all about standout pieces with interesting silhouettes and impeccable details. I definitely recommend investing in an unusual, statement knit piece. Not only is it a work of art, but it can be worn often and stylized in a million different ways, and in this economy- versatility is key.

Shailes with two of her models.

gimme gimme. forrealz

For more information, visit Shailes' website here.
Photos Courtesy of vogue.co.uk

some treats from paris

I'm officially back from vacation and as promised, I've brought back some treats to share with you all! While in the city of lights, I made my way over the the Musée des arts décoratifs (Museum of decorative arts) to catch the extraordinary exhibit on Valentino. To be more specific, the exhibit was a retrospective of the designer's 30 influential years as a world renown taste-maker. It was nothing short of an ode to his genius, showcasing 200 of his couture delicacies for me, and all the others around me, to swoon over.

As an avid lover of fashion, it is truly a rare treat to come so close to a couture gown. As Jillian mentioned in a post over at Trendology a little while back, couture is the ultimate in fashion. It harnesses masterful artisanship and unimaginable creativity and talent into breathtaking and show-stopping works of wearable art. Couture is the most exciting facet of fashion because it gives you insight into the personality and character of a designer; like a painting, each gown tells a story, each collection a mood, or state of mind. You can sense a designer's love of whimsy or taste their flair for drama. And what makes couture the most interesting, for me, is the risk factor. In true couture, there is always an element of danger; in their own way, the designer is daring us- introducing a fantastical idea that eventually coaxes us to accept the avant garde into our daily repetoire. Couture functions as a designer's challenge to the status quo of fashion, and when successful, it is an absolute marvel of creativity and workmanship.

So, now that I've gushed about the many wonders of couture, its only fair that I share the pictures that I snapped along the way! I must warn you though- the pictures are not the best... technically, photography was forbidden in the exhibit, so I had to sneak photos (without flash), which resulted in some shaky/blurry images. The exhibit was also very dark, which unfortunately means that some of the smaller details are lost in my photographs but I still think you can grasp the beauty of each gown. I'm actually surprised at the number of photographs I managed to take, especially after having been yelled at by multiple security guards and feigning that I couldn't understand french or english...

The exhibit was arranged somewhat chronologically, but mostly organized by styles and themes throughout his collections. It spanned from the days of his influential Black and White (Jackie Kennedy) collection all the way to his last collection in Spring 2008. I hope you enjoy the photos!








































p.s. after taking a look at my photos, it appears as though most of the gowns in the exhibit were black and white- but don't let my b/w heavy images fool you, Valentino has some exquisite and colorful gowns- I just wasn't able to sneak any pictures!