Closet Staples: Shoes and Shirts

I was at dinner with a friend last night and she asked me what are the key items she should have in her closet.  My friend, like most people right now, can't spend as freely as she would like to and therefor really thinking about everything she is buying.  So it got me thinking about what I feel are the main basics and things you should always buy when you can get a deal.

-Black and Brown shoes.  So for women I say that you should go out and buy a basic pump with a heal you are comfortable with in both black and brown.  Great staples that will work wonders in your closet and easy go to's when you can't go out and buy a new pair of shoes for a certain outfit.  For men I say the same thing.  Go out and buy a pair of black and brown dress shoes AND buy belts that match your shoes.  Also pay attention to the buckles on your belts.  If you wear a silver watch and have a silver ring, get belts with silver buckles and vice versa for gold.  

-White Dress Shirts.  This one is mainly for men.  Buy them whenever you can.  You can never have to many white dress shirts.  Good white dress shirts can be expensive so if you ever see them on sale it might be a good idea to dip a little into the savings to buy two or three.  To really get the best out of your shirts I suggest hand washing them and hanging them out to dry and then just taking them to be pressed.  Dry cleaning or having them laundered is what will turn them gray and yellow.

Paris Men's Show Round Up

COMING SOON!

-Dries Van Noten

-Jean Paul Gaultier

-Louis Vuitton

-Yves Saint Laurent

Milan Men's Shows Round Up: Part Two

-Neil Barrett:  A beautifully innovative collection. The outerwear from this collection is a true must have for Fall '09.

-Gucci:  Gucci meets Burberry Prosum for Fall 09.  Gucci designer Frida Giannini took the Gucci rock star look that they have done so well with and combined it with the tailored, nipped, and narrow silhouette that has become synonymous with past Prorsum collections.

-Jill Sander: A beautifully tailored collection, Raf Simons delivered a well thought out, cohesive collection.  The highlight of the show were the beautiful textiles he used in some of the outerwear and knitwear.

-John Varvatos: Narrow silhouettes are definitely a trend for the Fall '09 shows.  The Varvatos show had plenty of that to offer with a collection made for a rock star, perhaps the stars he so likes to use for his advertisements.  Beautiful fabrics and great construction make for another nice show.

-Prada:  I have to say, I am never blown away with Prada's men's collections and its not different this season.  Just not very interesting to me.  The most notable pieces of the collection are the studded pieces from shoes, pants, and jackets.  I'm sure they will make for some interesting editorials.

Image via men.style.com

Milan Men's Shows Round Up

The Milan Men's show started out dark and dismal.  I was very uninspired and left wondering what was left to come.  So here is what I thought of Milan.

Alexander McQueen: My FAVORITE show from Milan.  Absolutely stunning.  A beautiful collection full of truly marketable clothing and wonderfully outrageous pieces that will make for great editorial.

-Bottega Veneta: Beautifully well tailored collection.  I loved the knits and the different combinations they did with knit and leather.

-Dolce and Gabbana: A very traditional Dolce show.  Patent leather, bold colors, men in tank tops and shorts in what is supposed to be a Fall/Winter collection.  The most interesting items in the show were the blazers that were weaved like baskets.

-Dsquared2:  Same old same old. A collection that looks like the designers went to their archives, but for a fairly young company its a little too soon to be pulling from their past. Not a bad collection, just nothing new, innovative, or exciting.

Image via men.style.com

Our New First Lady

January 20th was a big day for all Americans. It was an even bigger day to fashionistas waiting to see what our new first lady, Michelle Obama, would wear for her day of inaugural activities.  

Mrs. Obama started out the day in a gorgeous Isabelle Toledo dress and coat combination.  I loved this outfit for many reasons.  First off I thought it was a wonderful choice of color.  Its fresh and really looked beautiful against her skin.  I also just love the fact that she chose Isabelle Toledo, a Cuban American designer.  Fairly unknown to most of America, Isabelle is very well known in the fashion world and has been around for twenty five years.

For the evening events Mrs.Obama chose another fairly unknown designer Jason Wu.  While I thought this dress was pretty, I wasn't amazed by it and expected more.  

It will be interesting to see what the next four years brings in terms of outfits and how her sense of style will grow in the public eye.

Top Stories

- The New York luxury retailer Searle files for Chapter 11

- Saks Fifth Avenue announces major layoffs including Vice President and Women's Fashion Director Michael Fink and his team, Director of Public Relations Leslie Kennedy, and many sales associates and support associates from their stores, including many former colleagues.

-While they are one of the only luxury retailers to have been reporting profits, Burberry announces its first round of layoffs in England and Spain totaling just over 500 people. 

-Yohji Yamamoto is closing its 13 year old New York press office

These are the major stories that have happened over the past week.

Back To Business

Sorry for the brief hiatus but I am back in action and we have a lot to catch up on!  

the-dopeness.blogspot.com

Just wanted to share with everyone this blog that is done by two of my former classmates at Parsons.  Two of the most creative girls I know, their blog covers their adventures in creating their own garments and other projects.  Fun to read and good inspiration!

the-dopeness.blogspot.com

Golden Globes Round Up: Best Dressed Females

The best dressed of the evening in my opinion was hands down Eva Mendez.  She looked so glamorous in her Christian Dior gown with Van Cleef & Arpels necklace.  This is was a Hollywood actress should look like.  Not much more to say except stunning.

Some of my other favorites were Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent, Laura Linney in Elie Saab, Eva Longoria Parker in Reem Acra, Kate Beckinsale in J. Mendel, Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta, and Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive

Images via style.com

Golden Globes Round Up: Worst Dressed

I know in the beginning I said I didn't truly believe there was a worst dressed person of the night and that's true to some extent.  These next unlucky actresses for me had a dress I wasn't wild about and bad hair, a combination that just proved to be wrong.

The first actress I chose as worst dressed is Gossip Girl star Blake Lively.  It pains me to write this because I am a fan of hers and she usually looks great at events, but last night she let me down.  First off her hair was just a mess.  It had the whole "just came from the beach" look, which can work when you aren't in a gown.  Then Blake's Nina Ricci dress just did not look right on her. It could be the fact that she isn't standing up straight and almost looks uncomfortable.  Blake almost looks as if she came straight from the set of Gossip Girl, which might have been okay if she was going to a premiere, but this is the Golden Globes and she could have used a little glamour.

Cameron Diaz is the second offender of the bad dress/bad hair combination.  While I liked the color of her Chanel Haute Couture dress, I wasn't in love with the way it fit her and the way it moved when she walked.  Interesting dress for editorial work perhaps but not for a red carpet.  On to her hair, it was just looked really greasy and plain, nothing very interesting about it.

Next is someone who is usually always on my best dressed list, Debra Messing.  Last night she ruined her streak.  The Vera Wang gown is pretty, but not amazing, and almost looks like a maid of honor dress from a black tie wedding, it reminds me of the purple dress Julia Roberts wears in My Best Friends Wedding.  The factor that really knocked her into the worst dressed list was, you guessed it, her HAIR!  Again we have the slicked back into a pony tail, but the tail portion of her hair was frizzed out and looked like nappy unmanageable hair.  It ruined the whole look.  

Others that I'm not going to go into depth about are J Lo in her unflattering gold Marchesa dress and Tina Fey who just always seems to look uncomfortable in a gown.

Golden Globes Round Up: Worst Hair

All in all the worst part of the night for me was the hair.  I just don't understand why its so hard to pull off a nice hair style for an event.  

I thought there were three women who had especially bad hair.  Megan Fox, Renee Zellweger, and Sandra Bullock.  Megan's hair was pulled back so tight and greased up that she looked like a transvestite ballet student. Renee's hair is just a hot mess and it kills me so much because I loved her Carolina Herrera gown.  Renee went for a very messy, tousled up do that just did not work out. Finally there was Sandra Bullock who went with another messy side swept kinda thing that didn't work.  She looked very white trash and looking back at some of her old photos she is one that usually has great hair at awards shows.  Hopefully these three will have learned their lesson.

Images via style.com

Golden Globes Round Up: Either Love It or Hate It

I have to say that both of my entries for this section of the round up are two looks that I LOVE...but I can see how some people may not be into them as much.

First off is Drew Barrymore.  It is hard so say anything about her Dior Haute Couture gown except STUNNING.  I think this is one of the most beautiful gowns I have seen in a while.  To me it's a mixture of the color, the fabrics, the way its cut, I just think it is extraordinary!  But more than her dress, I love the whole look.  I love her hair and the way it was teased up.  I really just think she looks so glamorous.  The only negative thing I can say, is that I am not a fan of the Roger Vivier clutch she chose.  I am always a proponent of adding a little color and having fun with your accessories, but there is something about the color that just doesn't sit well with me.

Next hit or miss is Maggie Gyllenhaal in her one shoulder Lanvin dress.  Maggie has long been very daring in terms of fashion and trying new things.  I think this falls into that category.  I love the colors, the print, the draping of the fabric on the shoulder, and the whole look. I think she looks very glamorous.  This to me is a great way to represent young Hollywood with out looking too slutty.

Golden Globes Round Up: Best Dressed Males

Its always a little difficult to choose Best Dressed Males only because most men look handsome in a tuxedo.  But every once in a while some men step it up.  My first Best Dressed Male goes to Tom Cruise.  There is something incredibly chic and handsome about his Giorgio Armani double breasted tuxedo. It gives him a nice slim line and he just looks very old Hollywood.  It also doesn't hurt that somehow Mr.Cruise looks about 10 years younger all of a sudden.  My friend Regan told me about a blind item that hit the Internet a couple weeks ago about a male celebrity who has just had the best plastic surgery ever, no one would be able to tell.  After last night, Regan and I decided it had to be Tom.  Not that I think having plastic surgery is a bad thing at all!

Second Best Dressed Male goes to Colin Farrell.  My friend Regan again shed the spot light on him because I had totally looked him over.  I went back and looked at his picture this morning and noticed that he was wearing a plaid vest under his tuxedo jacket.  I thought he looked great and it was a nice touch that kept him looking elegant and not high school prom.  Colins tuxedo was by Alfred Dunhill.

Photo Credit: Both images via style.com

Golden Globes Round Up: Honorable Mention

The first honorable mention of the evening goes to Emma Thompson.  Mainly because I tend to hate what she wears to award shows.  She tends to always wear something that is ill fitting, makes a bold statement, or is just not age appropriate.  Last night I thought she looked very well put together in her knee length black dress, I loved her hair and make-up, and thought she made a fun choice of using that sky blue clutch.

Second honorable mention of the evening goes to Glen Close.  I like that she chose to wear the long jacket with the pants combo.  It was formal and age appropriate with out look to mother of the bride'ish.  The vintage Giorgio Armani ensemble was the perfect way for her to be comfortable and formal with out wearing a gown.  

Photo Credits: Emma Thompson via zimbio.com and Glen Close via style.com

Golden Globes Round Up

So overall it was a good show last night with some great fashions.  I have to say that in my opinion there wasn't a "Worst" dressed of the evening, everyone's dresses were pretty stunning.  The biggest disappointment was the hair.  There were too many actresses in my opinion who looked great until you got to their head.  There were also a couple of you either loved or you hated it.  So here are the sub categories of my round up: Best Dressed Females, Best Dressed Males, Honorable Mention, Either Love It or Hate It, Worst Hair.  Check em out!

Favorite Ads for Spring '09

The first ad is from the Burberry Spring '09 collection shot by Mario Testino.  The collection of ads are available on the Burberry website.  I think the ads are beautiful and I love the clothes and models in the green house setting.  A collection that was inspired by artist Derek Jarman and what creative director Christopher Bailey calls "crumpled classics".   This ad in particular is a beautiful example of how Burberry is transcending far from is nova check past into a beautifully refined future.
The other ads that have me in love with fashion this Spring '09 are the ads staring Madonna for Louis Vuitton shot by Steven Meisel.  It goes far beyond the fact that its Madonna in the ad as opposed to some model.  The composition of the ads and the attitude they exude are just amazing .  Nothing has made me want to go back and sit in a Parisian cafe with a cafe au lait and a cigarette, even though I don't smoke, than these ads.  To me that is a good advertisement.  It not only makes you want the product but the lifestyle as well.

Will Isaac Do It Again?

So I am playing catch up today and on my things to check out was the preview of the new Liz Claiborne collection under the helm of Isaac Mizrahi.  Those who know me well, know that I have had a love affair with Isaac for a long time now.  He can do no wrong in my eyes.  When I was a fashion design student in LA and felt despair and that I couldn't do it, I would put in Unzipped, the 1995 documentary by Douglas Keeve, and I would feel revitalized.  Isaac is just an amazing upbeat person that has an infectious energy, not to mention an amazing talent.

It's fair to say that most of America knows Isaac Mizrahi because of his 2003 partnership with Target.  For the past six years Isaac has been making chic and stylish clothing at incredibly affordable prices for the masses.  Well now Isaac is onto a new challenge, revitalizing the Liz Claiborne brand.  WWD did a preview of Isaac's first collection for LC.  Overall I think he is on the right track.  Its a wonderful mix of classics, colors, and prints.  Out of the 8 pieces they preview, I only really have reservations of the colorful looking pajama set, except that something tells me this look is not mean to be pajamas.  I'm also not crazy about the platform sandals. But in true Isaac for, he followed his own vision and I am very excited to see what the full collection looks like when it hits stores.  Will Isaac do for Liz Claiborne what he did for Target?  I think so.

Click on Isaac to read the WWD article and click on the dress to see the eight look preview

Photo credit: Mark Petko(Isaac photo) and John Aquino Liz Claiborne 2009(Dress photo)

Can Michelle Obama Save The American Fashion Industry?

"It's how she is.  I think about my sister who lives in New Jersey and is a teacher, and about the women she works with, and how they can look at Michelle Obama and not have to pretend to be that woman, that working mother with kids who knows the big designer names but also shops at J. Crew and the Gap.  She's who they are." Steven Kolb, the executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America,  from today's NY Times article U.S. Fashion's One-Woman Bailout?

A very interesting article on how Michelle Obama is going to, or if, affect the American fashion industry.  It's clear already that Michelle Obama has her own sense of style and is making a huge impact on American women, now its a question if Mrs.Obama can go from style icon to making an even bigger impact. 

Photo:  Michelle Obama with the ladies of The View in the White House Black Market dress that sent many Americans into a craze to buy the $148 dress.

Photo credit: ABC News

Designers To Watch: Rodarte

When discussing my new blog with my friend Howie, our conversation led us to talk about what designers we were really loving at the moment. Howie and I both concluded that a great design duo to feature in my first Designers To Watch should be Rodarte.

Rodarte is the collection from sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy.  With their first collection only 4 years ago in 2005 they have come a long way.  While they have always been recognised as one of the most innovative and creative teams out there, their collections for the most part have been viewed as works of art, which after a while left many asking if these two could create an innovative and WEARABLE ready to wear collection.  Well with their Spring/Summer '09 collection they made huge strides with a truly beautiful collection!

These two looks are from their S/S '09 collection. And while I have to say I was not a fan of the leggings throughout the collection, overall it was fantastic.  The first look is currently featured in Vogue and the second look is my favorite piece from the collection.  The dress has amazing movement and is just stunning.

Images via style.com

Buy One Get Three Free!

In a new article by the NY Times, they discuss the growing trend among retailers offering insane discounts to encourage shoppers to shop and create traffic.  After 9 years in retail now I am still at a loss for words.  Things have changed so much and I feel as though we are all left asking questions, yet no one has answers.  We all look at each other and say "time will tell".  I remember the days when luxury retailers didn't even go on sale until the day after Christmas and black Friday was reserved for stores like Target, Kmart, and Walmart.  For a while it looked like the luxury retailers were okay. Customers were still shopping, but for pieces not outfits.  Investment pieces to be exact.  Burberry trench coats, Louis Vuitton luggage, Loro Piana scarves, all pieces customers could reason buying because they will have them for years to come.  But what happens when everyone has all of their investment pieces? I feel as though I am left with the response I mentioned earlier, time will tell!

Top 10 Spring Looks: Look 1 All American

While most will agree that Michael Kors isn't the most innovative designer, I truly feel like he does a wonderful job at recreating American classics in a fun and updated way.  This dress for example, something that looks like it was straight from the set of the Pleasantville movie with Reese Witherspoon, brings to mind all sorts of wonderful classic American imagery.  In a time of hope and change in our country looking at this dress just makes me smile.  I think this is going to be a look we will see from high end department stores to mass market retailers across the country.  I am already on the hunt for a shirt just like this for my self!

Image via style.com

Are You Man Enough?

As I am browsing through my new Arena HOMME+ magazine I was confronted with an image of a male model in nothing but mirrored leggings. My first reaction is that the editors put women's leggings on the male model to make for a good editorial, but as my eyes scanned down the page to the caption it read "Mirrored Leggings by Maison Martin Margiela S/S 2009".  I immediately put the magazine down and went to my trusty men.style.com and pulled up the S/S '09 collection of Maison Martin Margiela and low and behold, the second to last image was of a male model in the same mirrored leggings!  The model looks incredibly chic and secretly, yes, I wish I could wear this.  But those who know me, know that I would look like a giant disco ball and no one would be dancing under me!  My friend Andy immediately comes to mind as the only person I know who could pull these off. Whether or not he would is another question.  This would be a very major statement for any man to make.  Friends, if anyone sees someone wearing these, please take a picture and e-mail it to me!

Image via men.style.com

Laduree: Heaven in a little green box

"That's really it for me, except for one more box that is so perfect in its coloring, so explicit about the joy to come, that it eclipses all the rest: the soft, sweet green, finished off with a rose pink satin bow, of Laduree macaroons." - A quote from Suzy Menkes in her article titled Wrapsody in Green

Click on the image to take you to the Laduree website

Fashion Goes Green: Chanel

For some time now many designers and influential people in fashion have tried to make an impact by doing something "green".  The biggest trend has been reusable bags.  Lauren Bush created the Feed bag, which not only is a reusable bag but proceeds also go to the World Food Program. Anya Hindmarch came out with the "I'm not a plastic bag" bag and even partnered with Whole Foods to help sell the bags.  Well now the all mighty Chanel has joined the movement with  a line of leather bags and totes meant to resemble their classic shopping bag.  So if you are looking for a chic and expensive, $1,525.00, way to join the movement, get in line at your nearest Chanel store for when the bags arrive this Spring.

Image via style.com

Trend I Love Men's Edition: Vibrant Blue's

This edition of "Trends I Love" is for the men out there.  It is another color trend to go along with the ladies, but instead of Mint Green its Vibrant Blue's.  From Cobalts to Turquoises and various other shades of blue, they all have one thing in common and that is their intensity.  We saw many other bright colors on the runways like Banana Yellow and Cherry Red, but the shades of Blues we saw are the most versatile among men and different skin tones etc...

These examples may be a bit much for most men, but just take note of the colors and add it where you feel comfortable: a t-shirt, shorts, or even a flip flop!

Pictures from left to right:  Michael Kors, Gucci, and Dries Van Noten

Click on each picture to take you to that particular designers entire Spring/Summer '09 collection

Pictures via men.style.com

Online Shopping: asos.com

The creation of online shopping is single handedly one of the best things to have ever entered my life.  I am always looking for new places to shop and explore and I now have a new favorite place to spend hours browsing through page after page of clothes.  

www.asos.com is the UK's largest online fashion and beauty store and they ship almost EVERYWHERE!  A client of mine recommended it to me and I fell in love. The men's store has one of the best and most eclectic selections of  men's apparel and accessories I have ever found online.  From some great new brands like Scotch and Soda and some European brands like Thomas Burberry, a line owned and operated by Burberry but only sold in Europe.  Recently I have felt that the men's market here in the states has lacked originality and a certain je ne sais qoui, so I am very happy to find this website with its huge selection of brands and varying styles.  The women's selection I wasn't so thrilled with, some great pieces, but as a whole not as impressive as what they have to offer for men.

A great place to get your new spring wardrobe started!

Fashion in a Recession

Let's face it, despite our tightened budgets, loss of jobs, and other factors derived from this crazy economy, our love for fashion and our need for fashion has not lessened.  So how does one stay current and stay in budget?  Target!  I have long been a fan of the mega store but have never explored the world of fashion through Target....until now.  This winter I was on the hunt for some great flannel shirts and I couldn't find ones I like anywhere.  Then low and behold, on a shopping trip to Target with my roommate, I found great flannel shirts by Mossimo for $20!  My love affair has started.

So moving into Spring, Target already has great items for you to buy.  I know its hard to really think about Spring/Summer now, but the earlier you shop, the best pieces you get.  For Spring Target has partnered with designer Thakoon to create a line for their GO International line.  Thakoon has designed some great pieces at amazing prices.  There are a lot of interesting prints that you don't normally find in lower end retail.  Check it out!

Click on images to take you to the Target website where you can buy the pieces.

Trends I Love: Mint Green

As you look at many of the Spring '09 collections you will see certain colors that are a dominant presence in every collection.  One such color in the Resort and Spring collections of many designers is mint green.  Everyone from J Crew(Top) and 3.1 Phillip Lim(Bottom) has used it this spring.  It's not that this color is rare or unusual in collections, its really the fact that OPI has a mint green nail polish to match that has me excited.  It wasn't until Chanel made black nail polish that nail polish actually became an accessory.  In today's crazy economy, what a better way to take part in a great color trend that with something as easy as painting your nails?  Each picture has a link to where you can purchase each item.

Ms. Wintour is here to stay...for now

“You’ve got a fashion market that doesn’t know how to do good, inexpensive clothes,” she said. “That is something which should stop whether there is a recession or not.” - Grace Mirabella, quoted in Cathy Horyn's article 12/31/08.