Style Icons: Female,Style Icons: Male »Best of New York Fashion Week

I thought I was disappointed in NY Fashion Week, maybe just because so much threw me for a loop, but I ended up with tons of favorite looks to sort through, so I guess it was pretty rad after all.

One of the raddest collections was 10 Crosby Derek Lam. This mix of bold Hawaiian print (a trend I am usually weary of) paired with the black and white pencil skirt is odd which everyone was all about – but unlike man – it looks sleek, stylish and wearable. How can we pull this off I wonder? I doubt a tight skirt pulled over a longer dress is the easiest combo, but I plan on trying it.

In the topsy turvydom of the week, it was J Crew that turned up some of the freshest and most wearable outfits. I had lots of great looks to pick from but am totally in love with the denim shirt paired with a shimmery midi skirt. Addition of bright red summer pumps a plus – their stylist deserves an awesome vacation.

I love the proportions and pattern mix of this Edun look a ton. The origami folds in the billowy top look great with a cropped jacket and that little peek of plaid. Have the cropped jacket, but no blouse as awesome as this.. wonder where I can find something similar for an easy Spring weekend getup.

Suno delivered with excellent silhouettes like this Amish-chic set that looks as unique as it does classic. Proof that their more than their bold prints (which I still kind of missed in this collection).

First, apologies for the misspelling – we’re working on almost no sleep here and I am too lazy to go back in and fix it, (so let’s forgive any other misspellings I haven’t caught while we’re at it). Anyways, another great look from Derek Lam and one that we can all pull of ourselves probably with item already in the closet. I am not a pants kind of girl but this combo makes me what to break out the couple pairs I own and get layering.

Nerd chic was everywhere. Awkward was the vibe of the hour but almost no one got it right like Jil Sander Navy. The over all collection left a great impression but I picked this subdued ensemble for it’s tonal layering and the great edge the leather skirt gives to the look. Leather skirts usually look so Gucci, but here it’s total Miranda July. Plus I need those shoes.

Never thought I’d love a Tory Birch collection so much. The whole essence of the collection transported me to some fictional 1920’s rich person holiday yet it never felt like costume.

Also with a vacationing flapper vibe, but far more bizarre was Thom Browne, which managed to push the envelope while remaining interesting and stylish. Should he be tapped for Dior?

Some of the best prints came from unexpected places like this kitty design at Victoria by Victoria Beckham (also misspelled, oops). Love the laid back cut of this dress too. Yes, I would love to wear this please!

If I had to pick one swimsuit for next summer this Peter Som zebra head two piece would definitely be it.

Doro Oluwu is always great with the patterns and this collection didn’t disappoint. this fitted cardigan look is perfect. Must seek out lots of easy floral dresses this spring, I think.

Anna Sui is always doing her same song and dance but that doesn’t mean their aren’t fantastic looks to be had. This sketchy stripe is super fun with the 1940’s inspiration and even better in a turban. If I could make this my early spring hat, I would be glowing with happiness.

As a young vintage obsessive, I remember being really excited when Imitation of Christ first started, then it kind of fizzled and went away, right? Well this collection was a major comeback and I loved many of the pieces. In particular, the over-sized corsage lace number on the right? I would have happily gotten married in that.

Lace was used in interesting ways this season. I love Preen’s pairing with neon and bit map prints, turning very “girlie” elements into something slightly and strangely futuristic.

Never been a huge Ports 1961 fan that I can recall, but really liked this collection. I could probably never pull off something so tight, but that doesn’t stop me from absolutely loving this wrapped up mini.

Pastels were huge but pastels are tough. Philip Lim got it right with this easy, slouchy look which somehow makes lilac trousers look like they should be a wardrobe staple.

Spring was not all about pretty pale colors though, some stuff stayed gothy, like this XO print cape from Libertine that just floored me with its awesomeness.

Also found myself very drawn to Threeasfour’s culty, witchy, fishnetty prints and punk layering dresses. This is a look impossible to replicate but I feel like I could find something that plays on the same Alistair Crowley meets 1992 vibe.

While I am no minimalist at heart, I have always loved me some Helmut Lang.. but what about the label without the man himself? Turns out I like that too. This complicated bodice dress is as wearable as it is a work of art.

Really digging the Francesc by Frank Tell vibe too – lots of leather and lace – a little something for Stevie and Don Henley.

For the first time in years, found the Marc line a little boring, but can’t resist this flapper dress/office girl look from the main line. Shimmering, pretty, but very unique. A huge love.

Not the biggest fan on jumpers, but this silvery, lace sleeved number from Rebecca Taylor is quite pretty and could even be flattering.

Prabal Gurung’s bold strokes of vibrant purple were memorable and lovely next to the clean crisp whites.

The season was all about the white dress. There were so many lovely ones, but my favorite was this draped light as air dress from Doo. Ri

See more great looks after the jump!

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Posted on September 24, 2011

Style Icons: Female »Julie Newmar

Catwoman!

As long as my household is in Batman mode, enjoying the zany, still ahead of it’s time sitcom during dinner, I might as well carry on with the theme and give praise to the gorgeous Julie Newmar who leads purring sexuality and glamour to the role of Catwoman.

Her wild eyebrows, her purrfect undefinable accent, her henchmen in furry tiger striped suit jackets, her insistence on being a lady even as she plans dastardly crimes, her jumpsuit (which Newmar made herself!), those cute dimples, there’s just so much to adore about her!

She’s still a knockout today and has been a muse to Theirry Mugler as well as credited with beautifying parts of LA with her investment properties (and her beautiful smile).

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Posted on September 1, 2011

Style Icons: Female »Kenojuak Ashevak

Inuit Artist

I randomly came across the work of Kenojuak Ashevak and am completely taken with the color, whimsy, and history.
She is one of the first recognized Inuit artists in Canada.

According to a very trim entry on Wikipedia the joy and vitality of her work hide a life filled with tragedy – she lost her father, husband and many of her children to disease.
Now 84 she is still creating art with her vibrant colored pencils and her work is quite sought after.
I myself would love one of her stylized birds on my wall. I think it would make me happy each morning to look at it.

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Posted on August 27, 2011

Albums,Style Icons: Female »Comme à la Radio and Brigitte Fontaine

by Brigitte Fontaine (1969)

The strange and beautiful album Comme à la Radio by Brigitte Fontaine is like a marvelous magical mash up of some of my favorite things:

Take the sultry french vocals of Francois Hardy, add the discord of Morricone‘s jazzier scores, throw in the baritone tones of Nico at her most avant-garde and toss in the bizarre moodiness of Amon Duul II and you’ve got one album I simply cant resist getting excited about.

That such an interesting talent is not more well known is both a surprise and a fact that makes me happy with the world. If someone as cool and amazing as Fontaine was unknown to me, just imagine how many more gems are out there for my discovering.

This is another find I have my Pandora app to thank for. Le Goudron, one of the albums most universally listenable and fantastic tracks came on during a Quick Mix and I was beside myself.
Fontaine herself is fascinating. Not only was she a major figure in the French underground art scene of the 70’s, she’s relevant and active today incorporating electronic sounds into her music and collaborating with such artists as Sonic Youth, Jarvis Cocker and Grace Jones.

I might just be in love.

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Posted on August 19, 2011

Style Icons: Female »Vera Neumann

Artist of Scarves

Anyone that’s bought a from a vintage shop will likely find a Vera Neumann scarf in their drawers. But lest you think she and her work are just old fashioned though – you’ll find that she’s having a bit of a resurgence.

Anthropologie has a We Love Vera collection based on her work and her website is very modern with a “bright, happy, inspirational” blog that was surprisingly excellent (I wish blogs as loving existed for more of my favorite people).

A creative woman who followed her passion for painting into success, Vera soon found her scarves gracing the necks of women like Grace Kelly, and in an iconic shot, the naked torso of Marilyn Monroe.

She was nothing if not prolific and her happy painted flowers, geometrics, and suns have made the world a more beautiful place.

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Posted on August 18, 2011

Style Icons: Female »Soledad Miranda

Blood Queen

Gorgeous, mysterious, as delicate as a flower, yet dangerous and brooding, I have no doubt that Spanish actress Soledad Miranda would have been an international star.

Everything was aligned for her to achieve world wide fame when a car accident tragically took her away at the age 27.

She has since become a cult super star with many Westerns and horror flicks on her resume, most famously the lesbian vampire flick, Vampyros Lesbos, which definitely has it’s charms and style galore but is still a difficult movie to get through.

Miranda, however, is a joy to watch on screen no matter how tedious the film.

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Posted on August 3, 2011

Style Icons: Female »Ann and Nancy Wilson

aka Heart

You have to give credit to any woman that breaks into the rock and rolls scene even if you may not like their music (thinking Sheryl Crow, etc).

But Heart, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, whose music I adore (the first chords of Magic Man and Barracuda always give me chills) are particularly marvelous. Sure, they are beautiful, but they made their way as chicks who could really play and sing.

Style wise, they always stayed true to the deacde’s trends, yet remained always themselves: tough and scrappy while remaining feminine and just slightly vunerable. Satin jumpsuits, leather fitted jackets, blue eyeshadow, feather chokers, big hair and corsets – these girls could rock anything they wanted to.

Oh and those feathered bangs! Seriously, going through all these old photos of them, makes one want to book an appointment for that dated cut stat. (Honestly, I need you all to either tell me this is a great idea or talk me out of it before it’s too late.)

Plus, they win bonus awesome points for telling Sarah Palin to shove it when she tried to use Barracuda during her campaign :

“Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song ‘Barracuda’ no longer be used to promote her image. The song ‘Barracuda’ was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The ‘barracuda’ represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.”

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Posted on July 30, 2011

Style Icons: Female,Style Icons: Male »Best of Couture

Oh Givenchy, you make me so very happy. Poodle ladies by the river… it doesn’t sound glamorous, but the photo speaks for itself.

Chanel hasn’t been my favorite lately, but this collection had so many awesome looks I had a hard time picking. I went with this all black number that made me think of Isabelle Adjani in the mid 1980’s.

Because I’ve never forgiven the Halle Berry monstrosity that everyone was shitting themselves over, Elie Saab has never been a favorite. But there’s no denying there were some exquisite gowns this collection such as this one seems to float on the model even as it’s elaborately embellished.

Frankly, I liked Giambattista Valli’s resort collection more, this over the top finale is pretty grand.

Not totally sure how I feel about Dior, it calls to mind Lacroix of the late 80’s but with different silhouettes and less shiny stuff. This look is pretty great though.

Now, usually when I see an Armani show, I prepare myself for 800 looks all in slate grey, mostly pant suits, but I was surprised with the Japanese inspired collection and found a lot of the quirky looks very nice.

Azzedine Alaïa gave us some great shapes with his collection like this narrow waist feathered jacket.

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Posted on July 20, 2011

Style Icons: Female,Style Icons: Male »Best of Resort Part IV

So resort seems  to be an amorphous season, with new shows arriving all the time. So if you thought it was over, like I did, think again! Here are my favorites from the later comers.

Starting with Marni who does great things with proportion and pattern with this modern belted dress which is so, so adorable I can barely stand it.

Balmain was also exciting with print and was pretty much stunning over all. This tribal, futuristic mini is mind blowing.

Carven is officially one of the shows I will wait for with baited breath. This vintage inspired lemon suit is darling and one of many outstanding looks I had to select from.

DSquared, not usually my thing, but I really adore these Pepto-Bismol wide legs. Paring with a denim shirt is clean and cute. Of course, in real life, on me, these would look a bit different (ie awful) but it’s genius on her.

Not my favorite Viktor and Rolf show, though I love the illusion created by the giant wainscoting that the models were mere inches tall, but this bra top maxi combo is amazing. What I would want to wear to a beach soiree with millionaires.

There was lots of good stuff at Cynthia Rowley (but not the consistent dum-dum scowl on all the models) like this pretty dress in a unique royal and mud color combo. Love that bright orange heels are paired with it.

Antonio Marras definitely has a sense of humor and this all pattern ensemble expresses it while still being weirdly wearable. Makes me want to go extreme matchy matchy this summer.

Well, I hate to say it, because I agreed with Dior’s decision to can Galliano, but didn’t some of this resort collection feel, well… moderate? Not so when it comes to this embellished gown though, which is stunning and elegant which retaining a loose casual edginess with it’s unstructured silhouette.

Francesco Scognamiglio is a new name to me but one I’ll be watching. Some looks felt awkward, but the over all vision of his neon, 1980’s by way of the future collection was stellar. And, good gods, those shoes!!

Mugler is a pale shadow of the former glory, but I do dig this creepy hands mini dress. Someone tell Alek to smile because she looks rad.

Marios Schwab offered a most beautiful and strange under sea print. Grounded in black, it makes you feel like you’re floating in the deepest ocean and it looks best in this draped mini skirt.

Everyone has their quirks. For me, I’m almost universally unkind to shiny fabrics, it just looks cheap to me but, there are always exceptions and this Giles black number is one of them. I love the strong origami shape.

 

What’s there to say? While some of the latest from Christopher Kane looked a little bit like he was having a laugh, this hombre rainbow sweater is great.

I love when classics get turned upside down and Antonio Berardi does well goofing around with the old lady Chanel jacket.

While it saddens me that the true inventive genius of Alexander McQueen is forever gone, the house has carried on his legacy beautifully. This lace skirt and edgy overcoat was one of my favorites.

Temperley was just lovely. There were more casual frocks I pine for, but as most shows end on a wedding dress, so will I. This one strikes a perfect balance of classic prettiness and modern, offbeat style. One of their best collections to date.

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Posted on July 12, 2011

Style Icons: Female,Style Icons: Male »Best of Resort, The Rest