black & white & chic all over

i've moved!

2009-08-30T23:47:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder, I no longer post on here... I've moved to wordpress. (I still have becca d. as well).

thanks!

~ the management (aka me)

NOTICE

2009-03-06T17:59:00.000-05:00

Hey, I haven't updated BWchic here...
to read, go to BWchic at wordpress.com

BWchic

so yup. enjoy! :)
~ r

2.05 // Louboutin & Lesage shoes

2009-02-04T23:24:00.000-05:00

Just the title of this post alone makes me drool. You know it’s got to be good. Take a gander at these amazing works of Louboutin glory.

Photos via Glamour.com

So bright & primary!

Blue… love the colours on this one!

Such a gorgeous colour, reminiscent of all things ballet. (I so wouldn’t wear these to do any leaps!) These shoes are more like works of art than footwear… and at a cool $6,295, their price reflects that. But hey, if I had that much to spare, I would snap up a pink pair of these babies when they make their debut on February 23rd.

~ r

2.04 // Designer: Matthew Williamson [Pre-Fall 2009]

2009-02-04T18:01:00.000-05:00

Matthew Williamson’s Pre-Fall 2009 collection is glorious. Filled with just the right mix of saturated hues and toned-down neutrals, classic pieces and newer cuts, this line takes the cake. Yum, cake…

Already, with the first outfit you get a good feel for his work: refined, classic, but with modern accessories, cuts, and colours. Love this so much.

A seemingly seamless trench over a bright pop. Love!

Skinny pant with a fitted jacket over a yellow&orange watercolour top… *drool*. Someone please lend me lots of money!

Fun, floaty watercolour dress with a bejeweled collar. Mmm.

Bright orange trench = best statement piece ever.

Fur jacket + wide leg pants… aaagh. It pains me to see such beautiful pieces and for me probably never to set eye on even one in person…

Colours!!! I totally adore the pant colour.

Simple, bright dress and WOW! bootie!

Mmm, grey fur.

Slightly bohemian with a ruffle collar. Very Springish. Very chic.

Slightly metallic shift dress. I want this dress. (Please?) Ha ha, keep dreaming.

Black oversize bubble dress. Love.

OK, since I can’t possibly put all 62 images on here, here’s his Pre-Fall line on NYmag.com/fashion. While you’re at it, check out some of his past collections too. They’re equally gorgeous!

A few past looks (as our look du jour):

Spring 2009

Fall 2008

Spring 2008

He is officially on my list of favourite designers, hands down.

~ r

2.04 // Trend: Capes

2009-02-04T17:43:00.000-05:00

When you think of capes, you probably tend to think of witches, old people, or Victorian England.

Think again!

Capes are back, big time, and completely reinvented. They’re being used in totally new and innovative ways, as well as… well, capes. Black and grey seem to be the big colours, and the bigger and more drapey/sculptural they are, the better!

First let’s see the runway capes.

This Missoni // Pre-Fall 2009 cape has a nice neutral pattern on it.

Chanel // Pre-Fall 2009. Black with lots of gold ornateness going on…

Louis Vuitton // Pre-Fall 2009. Nice knitwear…

For guys too, at Hugo Hugo Bass // Fall 2009.

Valentino // Spring 2009.

Even if most of these capes are Pre-Fall, what’s to stop us fashionistas from breaking them out now?

More a coat, but love the huge sculpted hood…

via Altamira NYC

via Altamira

Stockholm, the city of my heart.

Somewhere in Europe. Love her hair, too…

In Toronto, OH, surprisingly. Not a big fan of those boots, but it’s Ohio in the winter, so it’s excusable. A bit.

OK. Now, I’m assuming you’ve become enthralled by this trend and are dying to purchase one, but lack the budget to spend several thousand dollars on a Givenchy or Chanel piece. Here are a few more realistic options (and don’t forget to check out your local thrift/vintage stores!)

b.chyll cape, Shopbop.com $78

Urban Outfitters, $58

Macy’s, $45

Etsy.com, $15. A demure grey caplet is great too.

Bluefly.com, $103

And there you have it! Plus, they’re fairly simple to make (depending how much detail you put on/how you do the collar…) But yeah. Capes, come and get ‘em!

Look du jour:

Lanvin // Pre-Fall 2009. Sort of sheer grunge goth? Gorgeous.

~ r

2.03 // Trend: Shredded to bits

2009-02-03T16:59:00.000-05:00

Feeling grungy? 80s? Rockerish? Or need something to do? Grab an old tee and shred it. Or, if you prefer, take the razor to an old pair of leggings. They make great accents, especially on black & white outfits… all over style sites.

Shreds on Chictopia:

And from elsewhere:

Rodarte // Fall 2008. Caroline on Lookbook.nu [For more on shredded knits, see Refinery29]

A Helsinkian’s take on Rodarte.

I’m pretty sure I want to be reborn there.

If you don’t know Camille of childhood flames, you should. Here’s her article on how to shred: here!

Look du jour deux:

Topshop // Spring 2009

2.03 // Watercolour prints, Round Sunglasses, and Huge Rings

2009-02-03T16:56:00.000-05:00

Yep, I’m here with a plethora of trends. Why? Because I’m home sick and don’t feel like doing homework. (I’d rather do this and play dress-up!)

First things first, a bright trend for spring: watercolour skirts and dresses and… well, whatever else you want, really. A fun way to add a little kick to any outfit.

Urban Outfitters, $58.

BCBG Max Anria

Express

Revolveclothing.com, $176

Bergdorf Goodman, $345

Forever21, $27.80

Moving right along to round sunglasses. Not necessarily oversized - leave that to Hollywood - these retro sunglasses are sweet. Sported on the runway and street, these are a must-have.

Ralph Lauren, $245

Nasty Gal Vintage, $40

Forever21, $5.80

And lastly: the perfect way to polish off an outfit - or add some punch, ha ha - is a fistful of funky rings. Go ahead, go overboard.

Six - 26434
Seven - 26435
Eight - 26436" border="0">

Francesca’s Collections, $18

Forever21, $4.80

Forever21, $6.80

Cutesygirl.com, $12

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find any street style pictures of a bunch of rings… which is silly, because I’ve seen hundreds by now. Whatever… I need another nap.

Sorry, this has turned out to be yet another fall-flat post (in my opinion, anyway…)

Look du jour:

A Valentine’s-ish look from Alexandre Herchovitch // Spring 2009.

Oooh, a Valentine’s style post… mmm…

~ r

2.03 // Kanye West for LV

2009-02-03T16:45:00.000-05:00

Ok, forgive me if you feel so inclined, but I’m dreading the Kanye West for LV. Seriously. I’m sure you’ve all seen the neon reddish-orange hideous sneaker that’s been around.

Image via The Moment blog

Really, Louis Vuitton?

Your name used to be synonymous with the luxe, with class. Now it’s neon sneaks.

Anyone else feel my pain?

~ r

2.01 // Steelers & Draping

2009-02-02T02:56:00.000-05:00

Wow, sorry for going on a posting vacation… I fail.

On the bright side, the Steelers pulled an amazing victory in the Superbowl, 27-23 (AZ Cardinals)… with the 100-yd run and epic touchdown in the last quarter… wow. The only football game I’ve actually ever really gotten into, I think.

Now to buy a Terrible Towel… (Yes, I’m a Pittsburgh native.)

Anyway, this is going to be a super short post, sorry… school tomorrow.

A pre-post for draping, which is a huge trend on runways and on the streets (as is everything I report on, it seems…) Plus, it’s super-comfy and cute

The trick with draping is to layer it… if you’re doing one really drapey, loose piece, try to pair it with more fitted underlayers and bottoms. You could go for the all-out-drape look, but you have to work to pull that one off.

A very dramatic draped look at Vivienne Westwood // Spring 2009.

Neutral, layered draping at Haider Ackermann // Spring 2009. If you’re going to do a lot of layered drapes, do it in neutrals!

Drape-neck top at Martin Grant // Spring 2009. (See my other post on him here)

A little more subtle draping at BCBG Max Azria // Spring 2009. Love the shoes, too…

A few drape styles from Chictopia:

Note: lots of layers & drapes, but all in black…

Hmm, this is actually more layers than drapes. But it’s still cute

Drapey dress. (Love her gloves, too…)

Wow, sorry to do such a short post but I really need to get sleep. For once.

Look du jour:

Both, Badgley Mischka // Pre-Fall 2009

~ r

Fashion Flashback: Flappers [1920s]

2009-01-29T23:27:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows about the (then) infamous Flapper Girls. Preceeded by the reserved Gibson girls, Flappers were viewed as wild, boisterous, rebellious, and scandalous (to the older generation). Spurred by their freedoms during World War I, women began to change their place in society. Flappers took it to the extreme, changing their fashions, hair, makeup, speech, and whole lifestyle. They swore, they drank, they smoked, and they had casual sex rather than waiting around for a suitable suitor to show up at her doorstep and propose. While this type of thing might seem normal to us, back in the 20s it was revolutionary. (For a quick read, check out this).

Hemlines rose - calves and (gasp!) knees were visible; much more skin was shown. With all the men who died in the war, there was a shortage of them. This compelled women to “advertise”, in a way: they wore rouge, lipstick, and eyeliner (which, up to this point, had been saved for the loose women.)

So all I can say is… thank you for paving the way for us crazy chicas

A Flapper removes a bottle of liquor from her boot… !

Notice the makeup and short (bobbed) hair, with a curl on either side, just sticking out from her hat… and the mischevious grin!

A few recent Flapper-esque runway looks:

Alberta Ferretti // Spring 2009 [Chanel Iman]

Erin Fetherson // Fall 2008. A key element in the 20s dresses was the dropped waist; during the war, it had a more empire waist.

DvF // Fall 2008. Love the gloves with this one…

So there you have it. Flappers, we thank you!

Look du jour:

Dior // Spring 2009 Couture (more on this later - I LOVE it to pieces!)

~ r

1.28 // Spring Staples

2009-01-28T20:49:00.000-05:00

Hi all - sorry I haven’t posted in days.

This spring, all you need are a few basics to spruce up your dusty old pieces… that crazy printed skirt you haven’t had a clue how to wear it? Tights, a baggy tank, killer heels and a blazer. That oversize grandpa sweater? Perfection with leggings and vintage sunglasses. And the classic blazer has many hats to wear this season - be it fitted, masculine, baggy, slim, or oversize…

via Karla’s Closet

Ok, let’s get to it. We’ll work from the bottom up, starting with - yay! - shoes.

Simply stated, go crazy with your shoes. Anything is fair game - anything meaning anything chic, meaning anything non-ugly. For heels, go sky-high and wildly coloured, metallic, snakeskin - anything goes! (You’ll need a basic pair of black heels, of course.) Wedges are great too - again, go wild. You can do (almost) no wrong.

Photo via Chictopia. Marni-esque patent wedges? Oui, s’il-vous plait!

Photo via Chictopia. More Marni-ish wedges. (Love them to death!)

Photo via Chictopia. Lace-up red booties… of some sort… but cute!

Photo via Chictopia. Givenchy-esque Gojane.com heels… love! (I’m actually planning to order these soon…)

Photo via Chictopia. More basic black boots… Hmm, how about something a tad more exciting now??

Fendi // Spring 2009

Christian Dior // Couture Spring 2009

Nicholas Kirkwood. Electric blue sharp cutout wedge. OWWWW. (In an amazingly fantastic glorious sort of way.)

For flats, oxfords are huge this season among those in-the-know; the older and more worn in, the better! Nothing is cuter than a great pair of scuffed up, soft leather oxies. (Oxies? Haha. Not sure where that came from.)

Photo via Chictopia. Not only are her oxfords perfect, look at the rest of her outfit!

Photo via Chictopia. Heeled oxfords are great too!

Stay away from: …well, ugly shoes.

Moving up: tights, socks, etc… Subtle patterns, lace, florals, zebra, leopard, and neutrals are all great for tights. Socks, opt for a great thigh-high or knee-high neutral/darker sock… of course, this is subject to interpretation

Photo via Chictopia. Target socks.

Photo via Chictopia. Tights, AA. Love denim cutoffs and tights; that’s a good way to, um, de-slut an outfit: if you’re wearing shorts/a mini and feel too exposed, just slip some cute tights on. I also like layering tall socks & tights for a nice layered effect.

Then there are the leggings, reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. Love? Hate? Go with whatever you feel most comfortable in. If you go for it, go all out - heels, oversize on top. You just have to be careful with these, particularly the sequined, sparkly, or patent-y leggings: you don’t want to be slutty. (I hope.) Also watch out for an over-80s-esque air.

Photo via Chictopia. Here, she paired shiny black leggings with a voluminous top to balance it out. (Note the non-sluttiness of this look).

Shorts: getting longer and higher. For a more refined look, pair a neutral or richly-coloured satin short with tall socks and oxfords, and some top (your choice!) If you don’t feel comfortable with high-waisted, a short with a wide waistband also works.

Photo via Chictopia. High-waisted black shorts = perfection with kneehighs and black booties!

Basic shorts.

Simple black shorts with (ripped) tights and oxfords… a nice classic look (with a bit of a twist in the tights - ripping/shredding is occuring in fashionistas’ rooms everywhere, thanks greatly to Monsieur A. Wang).

Skirts: short (but not too mini) or knee-length seems to be the overbearing trend; pouffy and girly, or leather and rocker-chic… your call. Pair a girly skirt with heels, tights, and a blazer - you could go wild (haha) and throw on a leather jacket, that’s a really easy way to toughen your look without scaring people off.

Photo via Chictopia. Nice basic grey skirt, with a bit of volume - the sort of essential for every wardrobe!

Photo via Chictopia. Skirt, Target. A little different skirt, a little pizzazz…

A short little disco skirt. (A bit too short for my liking, but each to her own…)

Pants: we’re seeing a lot of neutral bottoms, simple trousers, drop-crotch harem pants, and wide legs… aka, simply chic and - wonderfully! - comfortable!

Photo via Chictopia. Wide-legged trousers, Express.

Photo via Chictopia. Pants, Cubus. A basic black dropcrotch/harem pant is a great staple for winter & spring.

Photo via Chictopia. Pants, Forever21. Again, basic baggy trousers.

Dresses: either basic belted shifts (vintage ones are nice) or wildly patterned, out-there dresses.

Photo via Chictopia. Nice basic black dress (and you’ve got to love her hair, too!)

Photo via Chictopia. Vintage dress. Love the girliness of a nice vintage lace dress.

Photo via Chictopia. Not exactly crazy, but a nice floral number will do nicely with a green jacket. Very Secret Garden-esque.

Coats: trenches and capes are big.

Photo via Chictopia. Coat, H&M.

Ah, we’ve reached my favorite element: blazers. I simply can’t get enough! Any weird cut I’ll take. Strange patterns? Please! Wrong size? So?

Anyway. Blazers are, (sort of) arguably, the most versatile item you can own. You can dress it up or down and wear it with practically anything. So, without further ado…

Very oversized wool blazer - so chic, especially in that peachy nude colour! Paired with leggings and a tee.

Fitted and striped, nice… Worn with jeans, a nice simple look.

Shrunken-yet-oversized navy blazer with leggings and heel oxies, and a shredded (easy DIY, just a tad time-consuming) tee.

Shrunken grey twill blazer with a simple black dress.

Piped blazer with a skirt and heels… see? All these looks are so chic, yet so simple - just throw a blazer on and it instantly adds chic to your outfit.

Alrighty. Since it’s been a while since the top of this, here’s a quick review:

Shoes: go crazy with sky-high heels, platforms, and wedges; flat and heeled oxfords sont tres chic.

Tights, etc: Floral, animal print, ribbed, patterned, and lace tights are great. Knee- or thigh-high socks in neutral colours work with shorts, dresses, and skirts and heels. Stock up!

Leggings: …just don’t go SLUT on me.

Skirts: short (but not too mini) or knee-length (really a personal preference.) Patterns and colours of your choice.

Pants: wide-legged neutral trousers, often high-waisted. Drop-crotch and harem pants (usually black or grey). Baggy, and sometimes pegged, trousers.

Shorts: high-waisted neutrals in rich materials.

Dresses: go one way or the other: crazy patterns or nice, more subdued neutral/vintage lace. (Of course, there are infinitely more dress possibilities than that, but I’m running out of time… hence the rather sad ending to this post).

Coats: trenches, trenches, trenches!! Capes and caplets, too. They add a nice Victorian touch to your outfit, particularly vintage dresses.

Blazers: …get some.

As I said, sorry this is sort of a rushed ending - it’s getting late (relatively) and I still have stuff to do… blech. If only I didn’t have school… it’s become such a chore. Mais c’est necessaire, donc qu’est-que je peux fais? *sigh*

Ici est notre look du jour:

A swan-like headpiece from Chanel’s Spring 2009 Couture collection.

Chanel // Spring 2009 Couture.

~ r

1.23 // Trend: Belt It Out

2009-01-23T15:00:00.001-05:00

Haha I don’t know why I’ve been using cheesy titles… but whatever.

To the point: big belts around your waist - that’s high waisted, mind you - are a Thing now. Marc Jacobs & Fendi are the two most noted designers to sport the huge cinched waist look, but a myriad of others have sprung up along the way.

I really love belts just under your chest - it accentuates your waist so much and gives you such a clean, streamlined silhouette, no matter what your size! Wear it over a dress, cinch in an oversize blazer or top, pair it with a great tank and high-waisted skirt and killer heels… it’s a win-win look: cute and figure-flattering.

Fendi // Spring 2009. Note the unique belt - get one (or more!) that really stand out. Of course, a basic neutral leather belt is great too.

Marc by Marc // Spring 2009

Both, Marc Jacobs // Spring 2009. Sorry, not a big fan of the straight/taper-leg floral capri… thing… but I love the kimono top (2nd) and the shoes in the first photo. His obi belts are sensational and have appeared in Vogue, Bazaar, etc… already… hit a good note with those, he did. Good news? They’re so easy to replicate!

Temperley // Spring 2009. Speaking of unique…. studs are a good way to roughen up an otherwise very girly frock. (Love the bright blue colour too - it seems to be popping up everywhere this season!)

Aquascutum // Spring 2009. Again, not a big fan of the romper/jumpsuit - although the lace overlay on the pant does set it apart from the others - but the belt helps. And is it just me, or does this model look over-tanned/just-got-out-of-a-fistfight? (Her face seems very discoloured…)

Marios Schwab // Spring 2009. Again, a little unique - the rope/chain approach. Also easily duplicated.

On the street, it’s catching on like wildfire to a petrol-soaked jumpsuit:

Love the studs + floral minidress.

Not a big fan of the maxi dress, but you see the Marc-esque obi? All you really need to do is get a swatch of cool fabric and some nicknacks/ornaments, and as long as you can tie a knot you’re all set!

Over a jacket over a dress; you can work it over a cardi too, that’s cute.

And this trend isn’t just for us girls, guys can rock it too - but you have to be seriously stylish to pull it off. Perfect example:

All street style photos via Chictopia.

If you’re in the mood to buy a fantastic belt now, check these out:

Forever21, $8.80

Lulus.com, $10

Etsy.com, $60. Dramatic red, I love this one - if I had $60 to drop, I’d spend it on this! PS: Etsy is a great place to find cool vintage & handmade stuff, I frequently check it out if I’m looking for something a bit out there. Great for vintage lovers such as myself.

Etsy.com, $50. A more basic leather belt, but a bit unique. This reminds me of a saddle for some reason.

Topshop.com, £25.00

Topshop.com, £22.00

So there you have it.

And random Burberry shoe that I love the heel of:

Burberry // Spring 2009

Look du jour:

Fendi // Spring 2009. So springlike and Valentine’s-y.

Ciao,

~ r

1.22 // Trend: Standout Trenches

2009-01-22T06:04:00.000-05:00

Not just for World War I anymore! Actually, trenchcoats have been a staple of both men’s and women’s wardrobes since WWI; their classic style combined with the newest trends and patterns makes them last through every decade.

Multiple designers have been featuring trenches in their Fall ‘08, Spring ‘09, and Pre-Fall ‘09 collections… Burberry, of course - trenches are sort of synonymous with Burberry at this point. YSL had their black mesh trench (a steal at $25,000!).

YSL // Spring 2009

Boy by Band of Outsiders // Spring 2009. A basic trench.

Christian Lacroix // Pre-Fall 2009. Gorgeous, especially with that COLLAR underneath… Love this one!

Burberry // Spring 2009. [Model, 2nd photo: Ali Michael] Love the rumpled ombre trench. Love Burberry in general.

Moschino // Spring 2009. Love the white trench with a giant black bow.

Paul Smith Women // Spring 2009. I don’t know if it’s actually a trench, but it’s great, especially with that hat/hood?

Vivienne Westwood // Spring 2009. A little more goth-grunge, but I like it.

Nicole Miller // Spring 2009. Love this light grey trench… and the dress under it!

Givenchy // Spring 2009. Again, a more grunge-rock feel… but insanely gorgeous. Ah, Givenchy, je t’aime!

Lacoste // Spring 2009. Not sure how I feel about this one - it’s sort of bathrobe-ish, especially with that turban/towel…

Thakoon // Spring 2009. Good basic trench.

Great for spring… I’m looking forward to finding my perfect trench(es?!?) and wearing them until June.

Look du jour:

Thakoon // Spring 2009.

~ r

1.20 // Michelle Obama's Inaugural Ball dress

2009-01-20T21:25:00.000-05:00

I’m watching the Balls while studying for health… much more interested in the Obamas, of course. There hasn’t been this much interest in the First Lady since the Jackie O. days… and you can see why!

The PRESIDENT (AHHHHH!!! WOOOO!!! haha sorry.) and the First Lady at the Home States Inaugural Ball. Michelle wears a Jason Wu dress.

AHHHHHHHHHHH

Haha sorry, but I am just so ecstatic you can’t believe it.

During their dance, they laughed, joked, smiled, and… well, acted like a normal couple.

A normal couple who had to dance to a non-dancing-conducive song in front of a several-thousand-strong crowd on a well-lit stage, surrounded by guards & flags.

Yeah, normal. But !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha ok, I’m going to stop now. Really.

For now.

~ r

1.19 // Trend: Fringe Benefits

2009-01-19T16:39:00.000-05:00

Ah, such a cliche title. But hey, it works.

Fringe is usually directly associated with the druggies and hippies of the 60s and 70s, but this season it’s been revamped. Well, partially. Many of the looks featuring fringe also hail back to the Roaring 20s and 30s - when the Flappers ran rampant through the streets. More designers looked to that style of fringe than the 60s and 70s, I think it’s safe to say.

There are fringes on dresses, tops, bags, and shoes… mostly in a good way. I think fringe is good, but only used sparingly - if applied too heavily, fringe can kill a look. Go with one fringe item per outfit - a bag or shoe usually; if you’re feeling adventurous, try one of the fringe looks from the runway.

Two looks from Jil Sander // Spring 2009

Jasper Conran // Spring 2009

Nathan Jenden // Spring 2009. When you wear this, you bring your own disco ball! Although why you’d need a disco ball, I’d like to know…

Both, Alberta Ferretti // Spring 2009. A much more glam approach to fringe than usual… I like it, though. The first is a bit more 60s/Native American; the second, more flapper-esque. I prefer the second look; since it’s a bit shinier, it has a bit of modernization to it as well. Plus I think it’s just more wearable.

Alessandro Dell’Acqua // Spring 2009. This look has a more Native American feel to it too, especially paired with the boots and with that beaded belt. Not sure how I feel about it. I mean, it’s good, but wearability?

Gareth Pugh // Spring 2009. As always with his mix of futuristic sculptural jackets but added with a Victorian twist, GP has produced something completely unwearable (not with that collar, anyway) but totally amazing to gaze at in wonder. Love the shoes, too.

So if you don’t want to wear a half-revealing fringe dress, Indian tunic, or futuristic fringe shift dress, here are a few simpler choices.

Suede fringe bag, Forever21, $32

Silence & Noise flapper skirt, Urban Outfitters, $58

Purple fringe sandal, Gojane.com, $20

I have yet to invest in any fringe pieces, but I’ve been eyeing this purple fringe bag at F21, just because it’s so… you know. 60s.

Forever21, $22.

So unlike anything else I own.

Look du jour:

Doo.ri // Pre-Fall 2009

Haha, can you tell I’m procrastinating from studying?

I’m terrible.

~ r

1.18 // Runway Report: Hoop Skirts (!?!)

2009-01-18T15:38:00.000-05:00

While I doubt these will actually be worn - that would be regressing 200 years, people! - these hoop skirts *are* pretty, well, pretty.

Fendi // Spring 2009

Versace // Spring 2009

D&G // Spring 2009. This is definitely more a work of art than clothing.

Limi Feu // Spring 2009

Luella // Spring 2009

Giambattista Valli // Spring 2009. I totally adore GV’s gowns!

Charles Anastase // Spring 2009. This is such an… interesting take on the hoop skirt, I love it.

Balmain // Spring 2009. This, along with Valli’s, is my favorite hoop skirt of the season.

…et notre look du jour:

Giambattista Valli // Pre-Fall 2009

αντίο!

PS: αντίο is greek for goodbye.

1.18 // Versace Spring & Pre-Fall 2009

2009-01-18T15:36:00.000-05:00

I love this line so much. If it’s not my favorite of the season, it’s very close… top 3, I’d say.

I love how the dresses are simple, but not quite - the zippers, the layers, the hearts made from zippers (which is ingenious and refreshing - you don’t see many hearts on the runway nowadays. It’s a good change of pace.) The colour palette was just right, and fabrics were perfect…

Haha ok, I’m going to stop gushing. Here are some of my favorite looks:

Karlie Kloss. This dress is my favorite by far… I’m not sure why. It just is.

Coco Rocha

Lily Donaldson

All, Versace // Spring 2009

Anne Hathaway - one of my favorite actresses, and one of the few celebs I admire - wore the white strapless zipper dress in January 09’s Vogue…

Hmm, I wonder how hard it would be to make one of these…

Versace’s Pre-Fall ‘09 looks: (a few)

*Sigh*. I’m in a happy place right now, full of dresses and zippers and pretty shoes…

Look du jour:

Fendi // Spring 2009

1.18 // Kimonos

2009-01-18T15:35:00.000-05:00

Kimonos have intrigued me lately; while they’re not super popular on the runways this season, I still think they’re cool. And historic. And pretty.

Ruffian // Spring 2009 [model: Iekeliene Stange]

Tuleh // Fall 2008

Pucci // Fall 2008

D&G // Fall 2007

A different approach to the traditional kimono… Jonathan Saunders // Spring 2009

Traditional kimonos:

Hmm, I’d love a Japanese parasol too…

Where to buy:

Both, Forever21

Lulus.com, $63

Ombre! Gojane.com, $40

…and yet another look du jour:

Oscar de la Renta // Pre-Fall 2009

~ r

1.17 // Get the look: Daughters Spring 2009

2009-01-17T23:55:00.000-05:00

Daughters // Spring 2009

I love this look so much, here’s how to get it:

Wide leg linen pant, Forever21, $27.50

American Apparel unisex tee, $17

Leatherette shield sandal, Gojane.com, $18

Floppy wool hat, Forever21, $6.99

Not a white hat, but I almost like this better. Adds a bit of colour to the outfit…

Ok, that’s all. Ciao!

~ r

1.17 // Trend: Tigh-highs, Patterned Tights, & Garters

2009-01-17T12:15:00.000-05:00

The reign of the thigh-highs is in full force, accompanied by floral lace tights. I love this trend *so* much (except for the fact that I’m a runner, and have runner legs, so thigh-highs don’t look quite so amazing on me as they do… you know, models.) But anyway. I like the thigh-highs layered, bright or neutral, and worn with cute skirts or dresses, or shorts; patterned tights (I’m beginning to hate brightly-coloured tights) with… well, anything you can wear tights with. Garters are a sexy addition to any outfit - even if no one but you knows you’re wearing them, trust me - its makes you feel insanely sexy.

All of these photos are from the lovely Chictopia - you should check it out! It’s a style-sharing site, geared more towards girls who love cardigans, tights, heels, blazers, and pouffy skirts. (Lookbook.nu has more eclectic styles).

Karla’s Closet

See?

~ r

1.17 // Trend: Python

2009-01-17T12:04:00.000-05:00

Shoes, bags, the lot - python’s making a comeback, although in my mind it’s always been a Good Thing. I recently bought a pair of snakeskin (patterned) booties… alas, they were a smidgen too tight, and I had to return them

Featured on a plethora of Spring ‘09 runways:

Giorgio Armani // Spring 2009 [bag]

Louis Vuitton // Spring 2009 [bag]

Both, Prada // Spring 2009

Sophia Kokosalaki // Spring 2009

D&G // Spring 2009 [clutch]

Ah, I love this trend. <3

You don’t need to go designer to do python, though…

Ninewest, $79

Gojane.com, $29.50

Forever21, $17.80

Forever21, $8.80

Look du jour:

Daughters // Spring 2009. Something about the sheer simplicity of a wide-leg trouser and a white tee… I love a chic, basic look.

Ciao!

~ r

1.16 // In the nude (not what you think)

2009-01-16T22:07:00.000-05:00

Prancing around in the nude all day - and night - has become socially acceptable.

Not, of course, in your birthday suit - I’m talking about nude dresses, heels, etc… all over the runway.

Jean Paul Gaultier // Spring 2009 [model: Lily Donaldson]

Lanvin // Spring 2009

Giambattista Valli // Spring 2009

Valentino // Spring 2009

Derek Lam // Spring 2009

Alberta Ferratti // Spring 2009

You’ll notice that there are different hues of nude - yellow, peachy, cream… I prefer the peachy nude, personally - my skin has yellow undertones (most people have pink), so I tend to avoid yellow clothes unless they’re (a) neon yellow (haha… only occasionally!) or (b) I’m tan.

And let’s have another look du jour, just because this is gorgeous:

Vera Wang // Spring 2009

Ciao!

1.16 // Trend: girly touches

2009-01-16T12:43:00.000-05:00

Mmhmm, not so much the pants + blazer + oxfords + hat anymore… we’ve gone girl! (Although masculine touches are still - and probably always will be - sort of a classic style. I hope… for me it will be!)

Floaty frocks, ruffled tops, voluminous skirts and bright colours were abundant on the runways; in the streets, vintage lace dresses (worn with a belted cardi or loose blazer) are all the rage.

If you want to only be semi-girly, just add something… un-feminine. Example: wearing a floral dress, but adding a tough jacket (leather usually works) and fierce heels.

Via Chictopia

Chictopia

Anna Sui // Spring 2009

Carolina Herrera // Spring 2009

Jonathan Saunders // Spring 2009

I love this - it combines femininity (the skirt) with a sort of Chinese-ish (the silk does that) military jacket. I just find it so interesting to look at.

All, Jonathan Saunders // Spring 2009

Gucci // Spring 2009

…and our look du jour:

3.1 Phillip Lim // Spring 2009

Sorry there aren’t many images on here, my computer’s being weird and not letting me enlarge anything.

Ciao!

1.14 // Street Scene: Dublin

2009-01-13T20:33:00.001-05:00

The concept only just occurred to me. Pretty much everywhere in the world - most cities, anyway - must have a specific look… therefore, a style site. Dublin came to mind for some reason: a mixture of listening to U2 (love!) and finding that last photo. So that’s what I looked into…

So, Dublin street style is sort of hard to pin down. It’s not as… outrageous as Japanese street style, but not as classic as Parisian, nor as trendy as Stocklholm… it’s an hodgepodge of every style, I think. It does tend to lean more towards eclectic-grunge-girly-vintage for girls, and… well, European for guys.

…I take that back, that’s a totally generalized and vague and totally inadequate description. See for yourself and decide.

Love her sequined dress, even though I’m normally not a fan of them…

Love that. The blue dress + the jacket + the hair + the tights…

Ah, who hasn’t done this?

Love her dress…

And a few cool photos I found whilst finding the style shots:

Credit: http://flickr.com/photos/jaqian/

Credit: http://knowfuture.wordpress.com/2007/08/17/dublin-street-art-involuntary-witness/

Credit: http://johnkanephotos.com/Uploads/Famine-Ships-to-Partnership.jpg

Credit: Julien Burbach

Look du jour:

Both, Helen James // Fall/Winter 2008

~ r

1.13 // Dublin streety style photo

2009-01-13T18:17:00.000-05:00

Stumbled across this gem. I’ll do a longer post on Dublin street style soon, it’s amazing!

Via Dublin Streets

~ r

1.13 // Berlin street style

2009-01-13T17:45:00.000-05:00

Milan, Paris, Moscow, Stockholm... those are the cities you hear about all the time, street-style-wise. Not so much Berlin. Berlin street style is interesting; it's sort of a mix of classic European, Stockholm trend & beauty, and - of course - the cold weather. You see a lot of black & layers in winter (comforting to know that it is, in fact, cold somewhere - these days, it seems that all I see on the street style sites are in places like Manila and other year-round Good Weather places. You know the ones I'm talking about), but they take black to a whole new level, pairing a black trench, hat, shoes and pants with outrageous bags and other accessories.

Love her pants!

Electric blue... love, love, LOVE this colour. Actually, one of my favorite Kristian Aadnevik dresses is electric blue, I was going to attempt to replicate it...

: Kristian Aadnevik // Fall 2008

(OK, I'm totally doing a post on gorgeous gowns sometime soon... I just found a bunch more of his, and misc. others, que je'ladore!)

Mais je digress...

Ahhh, c'est tres, tres romantique, non? Il me fait contente :)

Ah, the bit of outrageousness in Berlin...

...and for an extra bit of style to your day, two more KA gowns:

Both Kristian Aadnevik // Fall 2007

~ r

1.12 // Designer: Kristian Aadnevik

2009-01-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

First things first: if you love bright colours mixed with, say, black leather, gorgeous gowns, and amazingly chic dresses, KA is for you. If not, you must be blind or dead, because his work is breathtaking. He combines slightly gothic, definitely edgy, pieces with floaty, girly gowns and colours… the result is this.

His signature flowy “mullet” dress, named so for their “short-in-front, long-in-back” cut. Gorgeous, I think you’ll find. Unless you’re opposed to a socially acceptable version of the Dark Ages of the Mullet.

Another “mullet” dress

Amazing fringe top.

I’m thinking about making my Winterfest dress based on some of his designs…

Sorry I didn’t find which seasons they all are… I have to write a story for French and make a layout for a fake VOGUE magazine for history (SO tedious, I know…), and CRAP get my laundry out of the washer. That’ll be it for now.

Oh, look du jour:

Douglas Hannant // Fall 2008

Until we meet again,

~ r

PS: sorry for the 1/2 photos, I'm not sure why I can't get them to work... I think they're just too big. :(

1.11 // Fashion During Wartime (WWI to now)

2009-01-11T20:53:00.000-05:00

World War I really was the turning point for women’s fashion. Coco Chanel & Paul Poiret pioneered and took fashion to the next level; Poiret with his exotic designs, Chanel with her fresh outlook for women’s fashion and relating it to their progress socially. The Edwardian era (named for King Edward VII of England), preceded by the Victorian era, symbolized change for women - more freedom, more rights, being recognized as people more. The corset was on its last legs as WWI took off in 1914; by the end of the war, it was all but gone. A much looser, narrower, simpler look was in. Women needed practical clothes, not hats as wide as doorways and huge, bustling skirts with metal hoops inside. Black, grey, and other neutrals were apparent (there were lots of widows in mourning); Poiret did tend to use very bright colours, however. Women wanted change.

First let’s look at how women dressed in the Victorian era.

Designed by Charles Frederick Worth for Elisabeth of Austria

Victorian wedding gown (right)

Corsets? Who, us? Never!

How often have you (assuming you’re female…) wished you could wear a corset, even just to see how it feels & looks? I have, many times. *sigh* If only they weren’t hazardous to your health…

Hat, corset, fur bag, parasol - all very fine and Victorian. (I’ve actually been hunting around for a parasol…)

Ok, enough on the Victorian era. Moving on to the Edwardian era, and WWI…

- skirts became much smaller, narrower, and simpler
- hats shrank (aka, had less feather/flowering/foliage, etc)
- the corset was less and less commonly used, greatly due to Poiret’s influence (For a quick corset overview, here)
- pants were first introduced, and went (sort of) mainstream due to Chanel’s activewear apparel

A Poiret sketch

A Poiret evening gown, 1913

Poiret coat, 1911

A Poiret sketch

Two Poiret gowns; see the turbans?

A Poiret gown. I think it’s sort of foreshadowing the flapper dresses of the 30s, don’t you?

The iconic Poiret turban. Poiret drew inspiration from the Russian ballets and Mid-eastern culture (hence, the feathers, turbans, fur, trim, and beading…)

Coco Chanel. Her name was - and still is - synonymous with glamour, classic style, and beauty. She entered the fashion world starting with hats, but quickly moved on to bigger things (clothes, shoes, bags, and everything else under the stylish sun). She is primarily responsible for the introduction of womens’ pants, even if they were still worn under skirts.

Chanel, circa 1926. So a little late, but no less amazing.

Another vintage early 20s Chanel gown. (Also notice that the model isn’t stick-thin.)

Early Chanel.

Something I’ve often thought about is, what would these people think if they saw women today? Especially in the summer… sheer, low thanks tops and denim cutoffs about 2 inches long; bikinis instead of this…

…or this…

Really? Shoes and taffeta for swimming? I’m surprised they could stay afloat.

So yeah. The WWI era was particularly important for advancements in womens’ roles in society. The changing styles helped them to quickly adapt to the Modern Society.

Look(s) du jour:

Catherine Malandrino // Fall 2008

Sportmax // Fall 2008 (Did I have this photo in here already? Karlie Kloss? Hmm, maybe…)

Christian Lacroix // Fall 2008

Alexander McQueen // Fall 2007

Valentino // Spring 2008

до свидания!

~ r

ps - that’s russian for “goodbye”

1.11 // Mrrrow! Leopard print is back

2009-01-11T11:55:00.001-05:00

When you think of leopard print, you probably think back to the 80’s - maybe a tube leopard-print dress with red heels and huge hair? A leopard-print, knee-high boot?

What you may not think of are tasteful (well, not in grandma’s way) leopard-print cardigans, tame (sort of) leopard trench coats, and leopard-print leggings (worn with black boots, of course).

While not shown on the runway much, leopard print is a huge movement among fashionistas everywhere. I personally have yet to invest in a leopard piece… but only because I haven’t gotten the chance to go down to Ann Arbor in ages. And A2 has all the shops. I’ve had my eye on:

All, Forever21.

Not worn all ot once, of course - just one leopard piece per outfit, I’d say - anything else might be overwhelmingly leopardy.

How it’s worn:

Chictopia’s foreverstressed

Chictopia’s TheStylishWanderer

Sorry that one’s tiny. Chictopia’s giabiatch

Chictopia’s bianx

L.A.M.B

Personally, I’m glad leopard is back - as long as people know how to wear it right.

Zebra is good too.

Animal print has me thinking about the African/Tribal trend from fall… maybe I’ll do a post on that next. In the meantime, our look du jour:

Ossie Clark // Spring 2009

~ r

1.08 // mod revival (again)

2009-01-08T18:49:00.000-05:00

Mod - style from London in the 50’s and 60’s, US 60’s - was great while it lasted. Then we moved on, never looking back.

Or not.

In the late 70’s there was a “mod revival” : you saw people once again whizzing around on Vespas, their short hair not really blowing in the wind (though their fake eyelashes might be), their bright colours stopping traffic.

Let’s take a look at THEN, LATER THEN, and NOW, shall we?

THEN: 1950’s & 1960’s

Love this minidress - next time I’m thrifting, that’s one of my goals.

Streets like this in the 60’s - particularly the iconic Carnaby Street - were where the mod revolution truly began. Little boutiques with new designers popped up left and right, with nightclubs like The Scene, The Flamingo, and the Marquee squished between them. Amp was The Drug; however, it wasn’t made illegal in the UK until 1964. It was viewed as a positive stimulant rather than a dibilating drug like pot or heroin; young mods used it was a way to go clubbing all hours of the night. One newspaper reported “mobs of mods emerging from the club at 5 a.m. with dilated pupils.” Just to give you an idea of the lifestyle.

Celebrities and icons of the time, easy: Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, and (drumroll please!) Twiggy.

Edie, Warhol’s muse, became famous for her style as well as being incorporated into W’s work.

Love the leotard + pearl necklaces, add that to my “Looks to Try” list…

Twiggy: everybody’s favourite supermodel in the 60s. Make that the only supermodel in the 60s. But that doesn’t make her any less amazing. She is the one who singlehandedly brought about a new kind of model: lean, long, and lithe. And sticklike. And, of course, breathtakingly gorgeous.

Then, in 1979, it was back in full swing (ha ha… Swingin’ 60’s? Eh? Eh? *sigh*. Anyway…)

60’s od & punk rock bands were The Big Thing. There were tons of random little UK or UK-esque bands that would pop up, have their 15 minutes of fame, then sink back down into oblivion. Or, in the case of The Jam or Purple Heats (the code for amp, back in the day), they’d stick around for a while yet.

The Who’s Quadrophenia album-turned-film was very popular.

The Jam.

Standard mod punk-rock band of the 60s revival.

Smart suits, and in step.

MOD NOW: revival, version 2.0

On the runway:

Alessandro Dell’Acqua, Christian Dior, Chanel, McQueen.

Balenciaga, Chanel, Stella McCarteny. Eley Kishimoto.

Dior hat, Ana Sui Boot. Musn’t forget accessories!

Armand Basi // Fall 2008

Classic 60’s black&white. Trend Les Copains // Fall 2008

Christian Dior // Fall 2008

Emilio Pucci // Fall 2008

Another staple of the 60’s - the mod minidress. Aquascutum // Fall 2008.

Wow, this is a ridiculously long post. Hope you enjoyed it

Oh, our LDJ:

YSL // Spring 2006

ciao!

~ r

1.07 // Japanese street style: a world unto its own

2009-01-07T22:31:00.001-05:00

While most of us look into our closets and see jeans, boots, sweaters, dresses, all that... it seems that the youth of Japan have got Hip & Cool nailed down, to a T. Where we have browns, greens, and greys, they have hot pink, turquoise, zebra stripes and Day-Glo orange.
And somehow, they pull it off with the same style & grace that Kate Moss pulls off... well, anything. How do they do it?

Any normal - well, non_japanese - person would look like an absolute clown trying to pull this off. But these two? Nah, no biggie - just another normal day. (Heck, you should see them when they dress up!)

Well there you have it. Dressed up. (For what? Anything in particular? We'll never know...)

I particularly like that photo - goth, yet chic & elegant. I love the middle outfit, especially the hat (of course!), but all 3 are spectacular.

A big thing over there is cosplay: dressing up and even acting like characters from manga, anime, comic books, and other East-Asian media. Gotta love how it turns out ~

(Notice the girl in the background too!)

Love the shoes on the right.

There are whole cosplay conventions, often associated with video games. Sort of like science fiction conventions here... but it'd be frowned upon to come dressed up as someone like Hitler. There, that's considered a great cosplay costume. (Cosplay = costume + play).

and our look du jour:

Twiggy. Of course.

Don't worry, I'll get to her pretty soon...

~ r

1.06 // Equestrian? Oui, s'il-vous plait!

2009-01-06T22:51:00.000-05:00

Equestrian doesn’t necessarily have to mean horse poop and smelly clothes - it can mean smart jackets, white gloves, quirky hats and - of course - riding boots. That much has been made obvious the past few seasons, and has been well showcased in collections from Rag&Bone, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Moschino Cheap & Chic, and many more. The good news is, you don’t need to go out and spend hundreds to get the look - maybe drop a few $$ for the boots (if you don’t already have some - they’re a great staple for fall & spring), and if you want to go all-out and get a bona fide riding hat. Be my guest!

(Essentials for this look: white ruffles, black or brown leather, appropriate trousers [gray or black, usually], riding boots, subdued color palette - an all-around elegant and refined look).

Rag&Bone // Fall 2008

Carolina Herrera // Fall 2008

Moschino Cheap & Chic // Fall 2008

Oscar de la Renta // Resort 2009

Ralph Lauren // Spring 2008

Ralph Lauren // Spring 2009

…and it must be good, since it’s caught on so quickly! We’ve been seeing cropped pants paired with smart ankle and knee-high boots, and a veritible plethora of fitted blazers & jackets with very English-style cuts on the lapels and waist. Here, see for yourself:

see the pants + leather + blouse?

And a few inspirational photos:

…et maitenent, notre equipement du jour:

Bottega Veneta // Spring 2009 (doesn’t really fit in with the theme, but I love this look - and this is just the right shade of brurnt orange that I love!)

Asta la vista!

~ r

1.05 // black & white & chic!

2009-01-05T22:59:00.000-05:00

Whether it was a girly frock, structured tux or studded leather, black & white was a prominent trend on the Spring '09 catwalk. They came in all shapes, sizes, and textures; there were shoes, dresses, hats, bags, you name it - it was on there in plain black & white. Classic with a twist? Definitely.

Paul Costelloe // Spring 2009

Givenchy // Spring 2009

Valentino // Spring 2009

YSL // Spring 2009 (note the caged shoes!)

Thakoon // Spring 2009

Chanel // Spring 2009

Christian Lacroix // Spring 2009

Roberto Cavalli // Spring 2009

Ah, there are so many more, if you want to check them out (I suggest you do!)...

Michael Kors, Vera Wang, Dior, Celine, Iceberg, Rodarte, Sonia Rykiel, Narcisco Rodriguez, Oscar de la Renta, DVF, Marni, Badgley Mischka...

And it's not just on the runway; fashionistas everywhere have taken to black & white like fish to water, each with their own interpretation.

All photos below from Chictopia.

Chictopian h8nd5

Chictopian Ninistyle

Chictopian barepeppermint

Chictopian vanessadatorre

Chictopian ninjaintherun

h8nd5

~ r

1.05 // Skye, Karlie, & Coco

2009-01-05T20:31:00.000-05:00

Haha wow, sorry I haven’t posted in days… I’ve been busy. Thought I’d do a quick post on 3 of my models-of-the-moment (in between studying for bio, *groan*. I do wish it was still break, I could focus on fashion all I wanted… now it’s back to the daily grind. Not that I hate school, it’s just not… sitting at home with hot chocolate in nice soft flannel, browsing idly through blogs upon blogs upon blogs and tons of fashion sites, searching for just the right new look… But I digress).

First off, we have Skye Stracke. A newcomer to the modeling industry, the Australian has got her foot stuck in the fashion door after walking the spring Diane von Furstenberg, Emporio Armani, Missoni, Chanel, Christian Lacroix, and Nina Ricci shows in New York, Milan, and Paris. She has also appeared in Japanese and Australian Vogue , along with multiple other fashion publications (Numero, WWD).

Russian Vogue

Next, we have Karlie Kloss, our home-grown (aka American) rising star. This season alone, she walked over - I’ve lost the site, but I’m quite sure it was around 70 shows this season, including opening & closing headline shows such as Marc by Marc, Chloe, and Obedient Sons and Daughters in New York and Paris. She’s been in numerous prestigious publications - the likes of Vogues worldwide, Numero, W, Muse, and RUSSH - since the beginning of her career. And at only 16, she’s a stunner.

Valentino // Spring 2009 RTW

K on the runway, using her famous “death stare” walk

And of course, there’s Coco - who, according to herself, “you’d have to be pretty fashion-savvy if you know who I am” (American Vogue, January). With her stunning eyes and strong facial features, there’s no denying that Coco Rocha is one of today’s supermodels.

Getting a makeup touchup for an Elle YSL ad

She’s gone redhead now, have you heard? It was in January’s US Vogue…

look du jour

Model Elsa Sylvan backstage at Anna Sui

Ciao!

1.02 // Carolina Herrera & Burberry Prorsum

2009-01-02T22:18:00.000-05:00

An interesting coincidence: Burberry Prorsum and Carolina Herrera both sported peasantlike looks in their Fall 2008 RTW shows. About that time, the US was beginning to look really grim economy-wise; mutterings of “recession” and even “depression” could be heard (still are, actually. But that’s another day… don’t get me started.)

They both managed to make serf look chic. Herrera’s crowning (haha) piece were the fedoras adorned with yard-long pheasant feathers, giving the outfits an air of a Robin Hood-esque hunter out to shoot a deer with her bow.

[all] Carolina Herrera // Fall 2008

…and could this possibly be her inspiration? (Note the hat).

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Also note the use of tweeds, fur, and woodsy colours (brown, grey, greens) and how many of the fabrics aren’t super-shiny.

Burberry’s Fall ‘08 line had a much more rustic approach; the low, slouchy garden hats were just as worn and tattered-looking as many of the pieces in the line. (Disregard, of course, the multi-thousand-dollar jewels hanging off some of the models’ necks).

[all] Burberry Prorsum // Fall 2008

Both of these collections hail back to times past. Added, of course, are just the right twists to make it modern enough to wear in the streets - the huge necklaces Burberry added, or Herrera’s modernized materials and cuts for English hunting garb.

~ r

1.02 // Galliano & 18th-century England

2009-01-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

John Galliano’s Spring 2009 line showcased bright colours, bonnet-like hats, and wigs hailing back to the 19th and 20th centuries, accompanied by heavy blush and lipstick. He also included bright red militaristic tunics and matching hats a la Royal Guard of England.

Guard at Winsdor Castle

Opening look at John Galliano // Spring 2009

Obviously where he drew his inspiration from. His other looks - the more vibrant portion of the show - seemed to be based strongly off of Victorian England, with the wigs and hats. (The clothes themselves, not so much - more like a garden, or something).

Digressing, the next few photos show 18th-century portraits - look at the hair & makeup.

…and the collection:

All, Galliano // Spring 2009

He also threw a few Victorian-esque hats in there as well:

Galliano // Spring 2009

It wasn’t just at Galliano, though; other designers have showcased the ages of England and Britain past, this season and previously.

Gareth Pugh // Spring 2009 : Victorian collar

Puffy Victorian sleeves at Catherine Malandrino // Fall 2008

Sportmax // Fall 2008 [model: Karlie Kloss. more on her later]

Jenny Packham // Fall 2008

So as you can see, it’s a growing trend - not too noticible, I’ll admit, but it’s there. I’m just itching to make myself a Victorian collar…

Martin Margiela had that huge collar going, somewhat reminiscent of the V. collar:

Martin Margiela // Fall 2008

Eh, not so much. But still.

Ok, wrapping it up avec notre equipement du jour:

Giles Deacon // Spring 2009

Auf wiedersehen,

~ r

1.02 // relocation notice

2009-01-02T11:58:00.000-05:00

So I'm a bit tired of the wordpress blog setup, so I'm moving BWchic to blogger. Just a note.