There's Always Something There to Remind Me

When I saw these Ann Demeulemeester boots, I wanted them.  I needed them.  But again, I hesitated & found myself bootless.

I thought I was over them until I saw them again here. 

Are You Blue or Are You Blind?

I think I need to do this to my hair.  I love the navy hue. 

I have to say her whole look is flawless. 

Black & Blue

I saw this nail look from Jen Kao's runway show & I had to try it.  It didn't work out so well the first time around.  I think practice will make perfect though.  If you want to try it, the instructions on here. 

Back on my Soapbox

 

So, never finished the post that this post was about.  So, here it is as my 100th blog entry...

I hate this commercial.  Not just because I hate the hideous bag that is the centerpiece of the storyline, but because it makes fun of fashion.  That ridiculous bag would NEVER become popular merely due to hype.  There is always a reason why items/trends that look weird to outsiders might be popular within the fashion set.  There is a certain language, history & progression that exists--or even a swing of the pendulum if you will.  Even if you aren’t able to verbalize the significance of or why you are “over babydoll tops,” you might just feel it instinctively.  It never merely a result of hype.  This bag would never reach some sort of cult status. 

In “The September Issue,” Anna Wintour says, "people are frightened of fashion--because it scares them they put it down.  They mock it because they are not part of it."  I tend to agree with that opinion.  While it all may seem silly, frivolous & sometimes, silly, I have never worked harder anywhere else.  Fashion & dress is a part of culture--not just pop culture or modern culture, but every culture.  Every country has their own traditional dress.  Formal affairs follow a dress code.  Dress is part of a code of conduct & social mores.  It is not just a superficial game or an industry scheming to get people to buy things they don't need, as some may call "fashion". 

One of my favorite defenses of fashion is from "The Devil Wears Prada".  Miranda Priestley (played by Meryl Streep) gives this monologue:  “You go to your closet & you select...  I don't know...  that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back.  But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise.  It's not lapis.  It's actually cerulean.  & you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns.  & then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent...  wasn't it, who showed cerulean military jackets?  & then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers.  & then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores & then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin.  However, that blue represents millions of dollars & countless jobs, and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.”  

I feel people in, perhaps, more "intellectual" circles try to distance themselves from fashion, but there is also a uniform wherever you go.  For example, academic often attire themselves in suits or conservative "take me seriously" ensembles.  What makes a man wearing a suit more credible than a woman wearing this indisputably intellectually designed dress:   

What makes a documentary on fast food more credible as research or a source of information than this beautifully crafted presentation by Alexander McQueen?

Conversely, there is Anna della Russo who does not take herself too seriously, but loves fashion.  You can tell she loves it from her embracing of it.  Who else would reverentially wear these fruit hat?  

I just find that people make fun of what they don’t understand & they also don’t understand that fashion is art.  Just because it’s a consumer commodity doesn’t mean it is just a craft or just a commodity.  Function does not make it exclusive to the commodity realm.  

Now, back to the fun stuff!

Arm Candy

I love wrists full of gorgeous accessories like this.  It's the final touch, but it's so subtle.  You have to do it with just the right eye for balance & color.

I'm Missing You...

When these Ann Demeulemeester’s open-toe lace-up heels (the shoes on the far right) came out in Spring 2009, I hesitated.  I loved them, but I worried they were a passing fad.  I worried I wouldn't love them after a season, but I still yearn for them.  It brought me some relief that someone else shared the same feelings in this article, but well, it's still not that comforting since I'm still without the shoes... 

Jealous Much?

I love Taylor Tomasi-Hill in this picture.  Her whole look is amazing from the red hair down to the Alaïa shoes--both of which I need!

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* I don't want to hate on her because I adore her & think her style is impeccable.  But when I saw her last week at New York Fashion Week, I was kind of bummed that she looked rather ordinary.  Seeing this, I feel kind of gypped. 

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

This is so exciting that I have to record this.  My feet--or my shoes rather--were featured in a blog!  I wish I had rolled up my jeans though.  It looks a little sloppy.  Oh well...  Next time!  A girl can dream, can't she?

Side Stitch

I've been eying these Isabel Marant embroidered jeans since I saw them on the runway early this spring.  This simple ensemble is so unbelievably chic!  It's taking all my willpower not to just order them on net-a-porter.comhttp://www.net-a-porter.com/ & foregoing buying clothes for the rest of the year! 

well duh...I see now that you HAVE to get them!

This is what my friend wrote when she sent me this picture.  So, yes.  I have to get them now... 

Boy, Oh Boy!

I love the new Chanel Boy handbag collection.  I just need to learn to streamline the contents of my bag so I can carry this chic mini size as well! 

Animal Nitrate in Mind

I'm digging these leopard print jeans by Current/Elliot.  I'm not sure I can pull them off, but they just might be subtle enough that I can.  With the arrival of fall, I have a good excuse to buy some new denim!

Metallica

I love the Chanel Peridot color.  I know they released their new limited edition Les Jeans colors, but I'm coveting this metallic green instead.  I recently found a bottle of OPI At Your Quebec & Call in my stash, which is a good alternative as well.  

Under Lock & Key

I love how Angelina Jolie added that little something to her usual simple style with the Louis Vuitton Lockit PM Devotion clutch.  The handcuff wrist attachment on the clutch is just genius & in gold, the whole thing is so luxe! 

Color Me Mine

I'm toying with the idea of dying my hair like this, but kind of more pink at the ends... 

I wish I could do something along these lines, but I would be hearing unwanted comments left & right.  However, I'm not getting any younger so it might be now or never! 

By the way, doesn't Kate Bosworth look amazing?

Worlds Collide

The creativity multiplies exponentially when art meets fashion.  This is definitely the case in the Keith Haring x Nicholas Kirkwood collection.  While they are all wildly creative, I think the teal suede pump is my favorite. 

Spotted...

Every winter, I dream of coming across the perfect leopard print fur coat.  I never can find the right silhouette combined with the right pattern, but I'm determined to find the right one.  One day...

Deeper Shade of Sole

Whenever they ask what kind of shoe I am, I don't even have to think about it.  I am most definitely a platform!  And I love these Prada platforms.  It's all the in details & aside from the obviously cool gold ankle cuff, what I love about Prada shoes is the color of the soles.  They are the perfect, luxurious shade of rosy pink.  While there is an obvious appeal to Louboutin's red soles, Prada (& Alaia for that matter) have the most luxurious color on their soles that you can tell were carefully picked as their signature. 

Green with Envy

I have such a weakness for Balenciaga anything, but especially their shoes.  However, these shoes are something else--the color, the skins, the straps...  They are screaming my name! 

"I Know You Want Me"

Alber Elbaz at the end is the best part!  And of course, I love anything involving Karen Elson! 

Suit Up

Every summer, I fail to find the right swimsuit that is both functional & suits my personality.  I regret not pursuing this Dolce & Gabbana suit last year.  I think it would have been perfect.  It's just that I hardly go anywhere that requires a suit--let alone such an extravagant one!  But when I need one, I don't have a suitable one... 

French Manicure Redefined

After some investigation, I bought the matte nail polish in this picture.  If you look closely, it will show that it's Lincoln Park After Dark matte nail polish by OPI.  I was rather proud of my investigatory skills.  I just hope I can steady my hand enough to achieve this look! 

The Glitterati

I've been seduced by all the glittery shoes in blogs lately.  These B Brian Atwood shoes are perfect for me.  I already have the blue toe nail polish on, too!