1.22 // Trend: Standout Trenches

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

1.08 // mod revival (again)

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

1.05 // black & white & chic!

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