3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2011 RTW

You know it must be getting warm outside when the Fall lines start coming out! Just as we get to indulge in the sun and shed our jackets, the designers tease us with the newest designs. Almost makes you want fall to get here a little faster––almost.

What I really enjoy about Phillip Lim's Fall RTW collection is the use of color and tones. Many of the pieces have a two toned style, I especially love this look in the trousers. Lim also incorporates contrast with the fabric textures, pairing glossy material with matte linen and cotton. The color pops and textures really sold me!

Isabelle de Borchgrave's Pulp Fashion

On the recommendation of my Art History teacher, my best friend Clare and I ventured our way to San Francisco's Legion of Honor to see their newest exhibit, Pulp Fashion.

Here is what the Legion of Honor has to say about the exhibit,
"Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave is a painter by training, but textile and costume are her muses. Working in collaboration with leading costume historians and young fashion designers, de Borchgrave crafts a world of splendor from the simplest rag paper. Painting and manipulating the paper, she forms trompe l’oeil masterpieces of elaborate dresses inspired by rich depictions in early European painting or by iconic costumes in museum collections around the world.
Pulp Fashion draws on several themes and presents quintessential examples in the history of costume—from Renaissance finery of the Medici family and gowns worn by Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette to the creations of the grand couturiers Frederick Worth, Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, and Coco Chanel. Special attention is given to the creations and studio of Mariano Fortuny, the eccentric early-20th-century artist who is both a major source of inspiration to de Borchgrave and a kindred spirit."

It is truely amazing to think that these pieces she has created are all made of paper. Isabelle works on bringing these amazing art costumes to life! It is hard to get the full effect through photographs, but when I saw the work in person I was in awe. What was really spectacular was the minute detail made on each article. Particularly in the Medici women reproductions, the pattern work on the gown portions, are incredible.

The Exhibit is open until June 5th! If you are able, make a trip to San Francisco, it is worth it. It may be paper fashion, but fashion nonetheless and well worth seeing in person.

Here are a few of the pieces at the Legion of Honor

This video is so great! An interview with the artist about her work and process.





credit and more information here

Spotlight

I am going to start a few individual columns! I hope to introduce a few of these to the blog, and "Spotlight" is the first one. Spotlight will a look into an individuals style, most commonly celebrities and models. The purpose is to look into, highlight and admire an individuals style and how to channel that in your own style!

For the first Spotlight, I decided to go with a celebrity who never seems to have a bad style day. Her look is always so simple and chic, something I admire.

Kirsten Dunst
I love Kirsten Dunst for her simplistic prep style.

In her daily attire she always combines a few pieces together, usually with sunglasses and an amazing bag to bring it all together. Each tee and blazer is complimented perfectly with her accessory choices. Her evening choices are usually darker, keeping her dress color palette simple and experimenting more with the cut. You will most often see her in black, dark purples and reds. You will also see her rocking the blazer and dress pant look a lot. Her style is quite sophisticated when she goes out for events.

If anything, Kirsten Dunst has the simplistic chic look mastered. If trying to channel Kirsten's look, I suggest investing in a few basic but necessary accessories like a classic, versicle bag. Focus on a few well designed pieces and showcase the bag or blazer. Just keep the idea of simple in your mind!

Coachella The Good and Bad

This past weekend was the Twelfth Annual Coachella Music and Arts Festival. Hundreds of thousands of people came together for three days of music with Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, Duran Duran, Kanye West and The Strokes headlining. A few of my personal favorites were playing as well including Jenny and Johnny, The Kills and Jack's Mannequin.

Now, what person wouldn't want to quick start their summer with a festival like this? I know I would love to, but with tickets selling for around $300 for the three days, myself and many others will be passing.

So, who can afford these tickets? Celebrities.
Every year a large number of celebrities take the weekend off to drive (or fly) to the desert for the event. If you're like me you can't hardly wait to see what celebrities hung out with who and more importantly, what they wore.

Now, outdoor festivals seem to bring out the Woodstock in everyone, and celebrities at Coachella are no exception to this.
Here are a few of my favorite celebrity looks for this year, and a few that leaned a little more to a costume than fashion(I'm talking to you Vanessa Hudgens).

The Good

Katy Perry in Dolce and Gabbana

Has the 'hippie' vibe to it with out being over the top. Very simply done, the use of accessories with the belt, scarf and sunglasses add a more modern feel to the look.

Jessica Szohr in a black jumper

Now I can't imagine that his all black ensemble was particularly comfortable in the heat, (judging by her tan she saw plenty of sun) but does it ever look good. The hat and sandals work at giving a summer touch to the black, although it still doesn't really fit the Coachella vibe. I'm not complaining though, she looks great.

Teresa Palmer in AllSaints

By itself, I am not sure how I feel about this dress. However, paired with the heavy black sandals, belt and sun hat it all comes together nicely.

Diane Kruger in a pale maxi skirt 

I love this whole outfit, in fact it makes me want to run to American Apparel and pick up my very own maxi. The look is not only stylish but practical for the festival, we have a winner. (Diane's other look, a red and white stripped mini dress, was also wonderful.)

The Bad

Vanessa Hudgens

Two different days, and Vanessa just could not get it right. The first outfit just simply isn't well put together. That shirt and the pants do not work together and her bag and many assorted necklaces just draw attention to nothing good. The second outfit––well I like the shorts.

Malin Akerman

This is almost okay for a pool party, if she wasn't wearing boots. Maybe I would have liked this with a bandeau rather than the triangle top. Maybe i would have liked it with a bandage skirt or jeans. Either way, I don't like it.

 Can there be an honorable mention for bad? Badly mentioned? 

I am making Ashley Greene and Whitney Port my Honorably Bad. They just didn't quite get it right, but they didn't get it all wrong either. Ashley's outfit is so close, if she would just got rid of all her accessories. (In fact she should burn the frayed shoulder bag.) The hat just doesn't tie in with the faded shorts, and the blue bandeau around it goes against the black shirt. 

Whitney's outfit, although not terrible, does look like she found it in the back of an American Eagle. Both pieces are great, but not together. The tied shirt is cute, the skirt is cute. But something about the two together looks more high school preppy than anything.

I feel like there is no need to name Ke$ha and Lindsey Lohan, don't we all expect them to come dressing in trailer trash chic?

For me, the accessories really made, or broke, the outfits. Pulling together the right pieces to create a subtle hint of a summer festival look was key. Some, went overboard while others got it simply right.