Cute City!!

Most models lately simply aren't glamourous or pretty.  They look like aliens.  I don't know why fashion is after that right now, but it is.  Fortunately, not all models look like anorexic space visitors.

Agyness Deyn is one of the most amazing models walking right now, and surprise!  She's ADORABLE!!  Agyness is from the UK and in her early 20s.  She is also in a band and occasionally sings.  And, most of all, she is a spectacular model!

She has done Burberry and a number of other campaigns and has walked the runway for some of the world's biggest designers.  In the picture to the left, she is in the FW09 Anna Sui show.  She has also been profiled in US VOGUE a number of times as one of the world's top models.  Here's to hoping that her career continues for many more years in the future!

Picture from style.com

Ugh Fug

Ugh, sometimes celebrities make awful decisions.  Somehow, even though they have legions of underlings that handle such things, they just can't seem to get it right.  Considering that the Oscars is like the grandest fashion event of the Hollywood calender, you'd think that they would pay extra special attention to making sure that they look the absolute best possible

Poor Reese.  Normally, she looks like a goddess.  And, normally Rodarte makes the most divine gowns imaginable.  But, somehow this ensemble looks like it has gone terribly wrong.  Like it is the bad version of Kate Winslet's beautiful gown.  

What makes it so wrong is its bizarre busyness.  It has ombre chiffon panels all over the place, like huge godets stuck in randomly all over the gown.  Then, it has strange straps that don't seem to match the rest of the gown.  To add insult to injury, it then has random patches of embellishment all over the bust.  Lordy McHeavens.  It is a lot of look and not even in an interesting way.  

Lets hope that next year Reese comes up with a gown to match her beautiful self!

Picture from entertainmentweekly.com

A Sad Show

Lets be honest, New York Fashion Week this season was a disappointment.  Sure, Fall/Winter wear is always a drag, but this year it was even more so.

The really depressing part wasn't even the clothes.  It was the shows themselves.  While many designers DID put on shows, a good many simply threw parties and had their models walk around to showcase the clothes.  *SAD*  Sure, the economy is in the tank, but that means that the world needs a fantasy, a show, something to make them forget what is going on.  Instead, the designers decided to hide in their studios and only invite their friends.  

For instance, Vera Wang Lavender Label didn't bother with a show this year.  The clothes were great, wearable and flattering.  But, instead of the world getting to see them stomp down the runway, victorious over economic dread, they hid away at an exclusive party.  The dress pictured is very nice--flattering, flirty and young.  But, I'll always wonder what it would have looked like on the runway, crowd staring, model stomping, music pulsing.  There is something magical about that runway moment, and a tragedy that this year was without it.

Picture from style.com

Art Deco Lovelies!

There are some designers that are predictable.  Not that it is a bad thing.  Many designers bank on the predictability of their style, provided that the style is classic.  One of these designers is Temperley London.

Temperley London is known for their art-deco inspired knit designs.  Sure, they make all sorts of other pieces in all sorts of fabric and prints.  Those pieces are great.  But, they aren't what Temperley is known for.  Every season, it isn't a Temperley collection without a few pieces of knit with some sort of art-deco twist.  Love it!

This season's art-deco inspired knit piece is pictured.  It is kinda different than previous ones, but that is what makes it special.  It is classic, feminine and wearable.  And so Temperley!

Picture from style.com, FW09

Hand-Sculpted by Magic!

There are some designers that are just...different.  And, in a good way.  One of those is Koi Suwannagate.  She is arguably the top designer in Thailand.  She specializes in origami-folded knit-wear that frequently is of vintage and reworked fabric.  What really makes her work special is that she also makes one-of-a-kind pieces that you don't have to be a celebrity to own!

Koi not only makes one-of-a-kind pieces, but she also puts out ready to wear collections and frequently collaborates with other, particularly Asian designers.  

How one can tell her one-of-a-kind pieces from her ready to wear is that the one-of-a-kind pieces have the tag "Hand Sculpted by Koi".  Also, she plans on launching a menswear line soon!

What really makes her special is that her pieces are unusual, fun and wearable!  The grey sweater pictured is so fun and unusual....but something that someone could actually wear!

Picture from style.com

The Day of Love

Alas, the international day of love has arrived.  Many relationships over the years fizzle and die.  But, there are some that continue to live and bloom, with many happy years ahead.  

For me, that is my relationship with Marni.  Sure, men come and go but the constant is the shrine to my love of Marni living in my closet.  The fun prints, the bright colors, the fun cuts!  Oh, there are some loves that are worth having!

This spring, Marni definitely worth loving.  The sleeveless vest is the pink coat from fw2008 reinterpreted, the belt is a new version of a perennial Marni classic.  The necklace is the new version of the Marni statement-necklace.  The t-shirt is fun Marni t-shirt that anyone could wear.  And, of course, the skirt is a revisioning of a Marni print from a few seasons ago.  Needless to say, the shoes, bag and glasses are fun, wearable and instantly feminine.  Ah, love in textile form!

Picture from style.com

Feeling Lucky?

There are some days like today where you just need a bit of extra luck!  One popular way to ward off bad luck and other associated maladies is to wear lucky charms as jewelry.  Finding fashion-forward jewelry that doesn't break the bank isn't exactly the easiest thing to do.

Dogeared is a jewelry company that makes cute, fun jewelry that any person could wear!  The necklace pictured is about $65 and gold--so not only is it lucky, but it won't break the bank.  It is beautiful, understated and would go with almost anything.  And, perfect to wear on Friday the 13th!

Picture from www.ylang23.com

Black Is Still Classic

Every season someone always say "red/pink/hippos/whatever is the new black!"  Well, is it?

Not so much!  Black is one of those colors that really is classic and is the ultimate neutral.  It really does look good on most people and really does go with basically anything.  

One of the things that every woman must have is a pair of beautiful black heels.  The pair pictured by Jil Sander is the ultimate luxe version.  They are black python peeptoes!  Sexy yet demure and appropriate for almost any occasion.  The shape of the heels are as classic as it gets and python is always in style.  They are one of those pairs of shoes that any woman will wear until the local cobbler can repair them no more!

Picture from monamoore.com, currently on sale.

Africa, Revisited

There are some perennial themes in fashion that are virtually always incorporated in a season in one fashion or an other.  One of these themes is Africa and African art/fashion.  Some years it is animal prints, sometimes it is tropical prints, and sometimes it is reinterpretations of traditional dress.

This season, Spring/Summer 2009, not only are some animal prints being used, but some designers are using wax fabric/wax fabric inspired prints.  Dutch Wax Fabric is a specific type of fabric in West Africa, such as the Cote de Ivoire and Nigeria.  It features bright colors, bold prints with

almost any theme but primarily geometric or nature-inspired.  There are several different styles of prints and garments made from the fabric are worn by both men and women, but primarily women.  Much of the fabric is by Vlisco and is considered a fashion essential.

A current example of the use of these prints is in the SS09 Junya Watanabe show.  He showed beautifully complex dresses in bold wax-fabric style prints!  They look so summery and fresh, and not necessarily because of the cut, but because of the print.  Bold prints are always in style and the kind of attention given to that in Africa is something to aspire to and admire.  My favorite print that Junya Watanabe used was the evil eye print--blue, yellow and red in a new interpretation of a traditional good luck symbol.  It will be exciting to see where else these prints show up in fashion this season!

Picture from style.com

Contrasting Beautifully

There are some color combinations that just work.  One of those combinations is green and beige.  Yes, beige is the most boring of colors, but it works wonderfully as a background to contrast more interesting colors and prints.  

A blouse that captures this beautifully is the "Sophia" blouse by Karen Zambos.  It has just the right shades of green and beige in the perfect proportions.  On the front, the bulk of the shirt is green and on the back, the bottom strip is green and the bulk of the shirt is beige.  This combination is interesting, unusual and beautiful!

This shirt would be great to wear with jeans, as pictured.  But, it is basic enough to look great with a printed skirt or with a suit.  It is pretty and interesting while being completely wearable and fun!

Picture from saks.com, currently on sale

The Flowers That Don't Fade

There are some things that are so classic and timeless that they are outside of trends.  Lanvin pearl necklaces have become one of these things.  

Lanvin pearl necklaces aren't real pearls.  They are in fact purely costume jewelry.  But, that doesn't make them any less beautiful or classic.  What makes them so timeless is that they have that fabulous je ne sais quoi, that perfect touch that only Lanvin creates.

The necklace pictured is from this current season and will be wearable for years and years to come.  The juxtaposition of the pearls against the delicate chain and sequin shiny flowers is unexpected but perfect.  The colors are soft enough to go with almost anything in any season.  It is just...perfect!

Picture from barneys.com

Puffs of Doom

Of course, what goes around comes back around.  This is not always the best of things.  Sure, stuff like art-deco inspired applique, wrap dresses and the sweater suit are great even at the second time around.  But, there are some horrid things that have come back around.  

Puffed-sleeves seemed to have reared their obnoxious heads again.  Ugh.  In virtually all of the recent shows in France there have been puff sleeves.  I have no idea why.  They flatter nothing and look horrid on everyone who is above a size zero.  They add unnecessary volume to an outfit.  And, too much volume makes you look huge, and not in a good way.  Also, they aren't "classic" in the way that a pencil skirt is, so stuff with puff-sleeves tend to look horribly dated 2 weeks after they were made.  

Hopefully the unnecessarily large shoulders stay purely in the realm of couture shows this time around.  Other wise this fall may turn out to be even more depressing than normal!

Picture from style.com

Loewe Lives!!

Some of the long-storied European fashion houses have more or less gone kaput.  Ones like Vionette, Paquin and Schiaparelli have basically disappeared, despite producing some ground-breaking and wonderful designs.  

Ones of these houses that is trying to rebuild itself up from the forgotten ashes of history is Loewe.  It was started in 1846 in Madrid, Spain and specialized in leather goods.  In the 1960's it started producing ready-to-wear apparel with the help of designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Armani.  Eventually, the brand grew and was bought by LVMH where it is truly expanding into the international luxury market, where it makes leather goods, ready-to-wear and an impact on fashion.

The Loewe dress pictured is absolutely delicious!  The color is heavenly, the cut is flattering and is the perfect party dress.  It is a wonderful sign that Loewe is still on its rise to being one of the top international luxury brands!

Picture from style.com

The Ancients Were Right!

There are some textiles that have been around for thousands of years that are still useful today!  One of these is ramie.  It has been in use for at least 6,000 years and is native to parts of Asia.  It is linen like in texture and considered antibacterial/antifungal.  Some mummies in Ancient Egypt have even been found to be wrapped in ramie!

Ramie is made from a bush-like plant and is harvested several times a year, up to six.  It is made of the layers of the plant that are just inside the bark that are then processed and spun into fabric.  

Even though ramie has been used for 6,000 years, it is still used today.  Most of the time it is used in China, Japan and Brazil, although some designers have started incorporating the fiber into their fabrics and designs.  One

 of these designers is Marni--in 2008 a number of garments were produced with ramie in the fabric.  Pictured is one such dress--the ramie is blended with synthetics to stabilize it and increase its durability.  Not only is the dress extremely stylish, but the textiles used have truly stood the test of time!

Pictures courtesy of ebay seller "rra2531" and listing number 230322949516

Where's The Tweed?

It is the spring Couture time of year!  Yes, the time when models dressed like cracked out Cleopatras galavant down the runways.  It is fun, though!

The Chanel Spring 2009 Couture show seems to be widely loved by the critics.  Sure, it is wearable and looks chic and well-tailored.  And, it has the crazy paper head-dresses.  But, it is missing something.

Tweed.  The Chanel show seemed to be completely void of their most signature look of them all--the tweed blazer.  Sure, the nice white tailored blazer pictured is lovely.  But, it isn't the signature Chanel look that will never, ever go out of style.  It is so....weird.  Hopefully, at the ready to wear show, the tweed will make a reappearance.  Because, what is Chanel without tweed?

Picture from style.com