Monday, September 30, 2013

Part 1 of 2: Paris Fashion Week is Full of Excitement


PART 1: A Review of Kenzo, Chloé, Céline, and Givenchy Spring 2014 Collections.

From Left: A wine embroidered draped dress from Givenchy SS14; an olive pleated dress from Chloe; and the back of Celine blue pleated top

Paris Fashion Week is about to end, but that hasn’t stop Paris from showcasing some of the top labels from the fashion industry. Some made a very surprising presentation like at Celine with its giant strokes of art tailoring and Givenchy in its number of intense draped jersey dresses, while others kept their lines luxe commercial like at Chloe’s modern fabrics , Stella McCartney’s intriguing sporty silhouettes, and Elie Saab’s injection of lace that would look great from daywear to evening. Saint Laurent also infused its bias grunge aesthetics into metallics, deep v-cut colored dresses, and of course black leather looks. And all this happened in only two days that explains why Paris is still the center of Fashion. 

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Christian Dior's Extreme Innovative Transformation


dior women's spring 2014 by raf simons

Innovation exploded at the Christian Dior show on Thursday with an extraordinary setting that will have plenty to talk about all season long. With just less than two years since Raf Simons has been at Dior – which seems more than that – he has already caught everyone’s attention whether it be in a bad or esoteric manner. From international actresses, supermodels, to important political figures and the Princess of Thailand, all made their presence at this fashion forward trendsetting show. 

Monday, September 23, 2013

Links a la Mode #7: Fashion Week

lalam0919

Falling for Fall

Fashion Week, September Issues, Back to School (or just back to work) Shopping... Nothing is hotter than September for fashion. Even though fashion week's clothes don't hit the stores until next year, seeing the trends on both the runways and on the fashion elite gives us inspiration for what to wear now. Luckily we have amazing links to the fall finds we'll be falling for.

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

  SPONSOR: Eastdane United Nude, Prism Bags, M Nii, Levi's Vintage, Evleo, JW Hulme, Gareth Pugh, Diemme, IIIbeca, Stone Island, & Men's Brands

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Fendi and Prada Spring 2014 Collections: A Beauty of Art and Technology

A review of Fendi and Prada Spring 2014 Collections. 

prada and fendi shoes and details
From Left: Graphic Prada coat and yellow bejeweled shoes; Fendi spring 2014 laser-cut fur top and plastic organza heels.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Highlights of Men's New York Spring 2014 Fashion Week


New York Fashion Week may be one of the most stressful and crowded weeks for everyone. Not because of the 300 or more shows that are presented in one week, but because men’s and women’s collections interact between each other in that same week. Especially when your goal is to talk about them both. It’s really not a cheerful journey, but either way I managed to summarize together some of the menswear spring 2014 shows presented at New York that are worth a look for next season.



dkny mens spring 2014

Monday, September 16, 2013

A Moderate Finale for New York Fashion Week Spring 2014

A review from the Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein Collection, and Marc Jacobs Spring 2014 shows. 

details of designer collections spring 2014
From Left: Details of a Marc Jacobs Spring 2014 coat; Calvin Klein cotton tweed deconstructed seams; Ralph Lauren spring 2014 floral pattern trench coat.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Links a la Mode #7: Transitioning Into Fall Mode

lalam0912


Transitions

September is always weird. The leaves start changing colors, the sweaters and coats are in the stores, we're back to school, summer's over... but it's still stupidly hot! I've always been so excited about fall, I'd be sweating in my boots, and wearing sweaters anyway. What a girl does for fashion, right? Well, this week, we have all kinds of transitional posts. Transitioning from teenager to adult, summer to fall, day to night, and the call for fashion week to transition to the next level. We also have a hilarious post about 20th century fashion as predicted in the 19th century, it's so spot on--not. Either way, pull up a tall iced-tea (remember, it's hot out!) and take a look through these links.

Links à la Mode: September 12th

  1. Attire Club: Discussions On India’s Obsession With Fair Skin
  2. Beauty & Sass: take your summer dresses into fall with these essentials
  3. Chicisms: How to Dress Business Casual & Go from Work to a Night Out
  4. Corals and Cognacs: A Love Letter to New York City (in the wake of 9/11)
  5. Fashion Moriarty: Recurring Images: Combat
  6. Fleur d'Elise: 6 Un-Boring Coats forFall
  7. Foxie Oxie Supernova: Paris Photo Diary: An Open Letter to My 18-Year-Old Self
  8. Girl in Betsey: Diane Von Furstenburg NYFW Review
  9. Happy Pretty Sweet: A Brief History of the Dirndl
  10. Lara Lizard: 1893 and predictions of 20th century fashion
  11. Runway to Style Freaks: The Top Men's Fall 2013 Must Have Trends
  12. See Lark!: Easy DIY: Graffiti Dress
  13. Skye Charlie Show: Consignment Vs. Thrift Store
  14. Stilettos and Tequila: Behind The Scene: How To Be A Better Writer And More
  15. Style Bizarre: Say no to Style Labels
  16. The Girl With The Bun: 3 ways to dress for fall (when it still feels like summer)
  17. Tickle Me Chic: Does Fashion Week Need To Be Revamped?
  18. Undercover Dress-Up Lover: How to wear high-waisted shorts
  19. We Are Ready Made: A Pair of Shoes Everybody Should Own
  20. Wild Beauty: Beauty Archetypes: Whores

SPONSOR: Eastdane Stutterheim, CKU, M Nii, Generic Man, Tretorn, JW Hulme, McNairy, Diemme, Canada Goose,

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Spring 2014 RTW Shows: Cushnie et Ochs, and Rag & Bone

Cushnie et Ochs Spring 2014

Jason Wu's Spring 2014 Feminine Approach to Easy Glamour

jason wu spring 2014 dresses

Jason Wu is no longer a 23 year-old fashion designer who designed for young girls back in his days. His grown, and so has his label - matured in a very beautiful and empowering feminine manner. It all started with cute designs, then luxury aesthetics, edgy tailored pieces, provocation (who can't remember his Spring 2013 one), and last season he tried to give us his "most mature and Extreme Femininity" collection. He's always looking for ways to intertwine real femininity - sensuality, authority, delicacy, sophistication - with his luxurious silhouettes; it'd make sense why First Lady, Michelle Obama, had chosen Mr. Wu twice to wear his designs for such special occasions. And for his new Spring 2014 collection, the designer embarked on another triumphant journey of the female silhouette.......making relaxed daywear tailoring feel as glamorous and easy as life should be.


He wanted to create "a dialogue between construction and ease," and it most certainly was present here. The collection emphasized much more on daywear - strong jumpsuits, safari vests in chiffon that only covered certain body parts with its pockets, trench coats paired with lace corsets on back for structure, an intricate biker jacket, knitwear tops, and sleeveless suit jackets - without loosing Wu's signature. He even included one swimsuit and kaftans paired with see-through lingerie laced details. Lacing was his sensuality etched in other jackets and dresses, like one white strapless piece. His constructed shorts and pants were noteworthy of an order, making every look seem effortlessly well put together.

What took away the show here though were his sumptuous metallic embroidered numbers of chiffon dresses - halter neck and spaghetti straps - that came in various colors (gold, light green, light gray, white, blue, and black). They may have been the most relaxed yet tailored dresses Mr.Wu had ever presented for a collection, but their delicate cowl-like drapery on the back transmitted luxury. These dresses were not meant to wear at night, because Wu envisioned them for daywear as did his other looks, and he may be on track of setting a trend of metallic embroidered dresses as the new must have "it" dress for casualness. I mean, who said glamour begins at night, when daytime is when you shine the most? Mr. Wu understood all that very clearly.

Jason Wu Spring 2014 Details


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Links a La Mode #6: It's Even

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Superficial on the Surface

Sometimes I get mad when people assume if you like fashion, you're automatically dumb or superficial. Then at the same time, I love looking at pretty pictures and dressing up... it's an escape and a passion all at the same time. Obsessing over fashion doesn't mean however, there's nothing going on in our brains! This week, we have a great mix of the tougher questions in fashion right along with the tips and tricks that enable our superficial exterior (that's not so superficial.... or is it?)

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

  SPONSOR: Eastdane Miansai, Grenson, Wolverine 1000, Bailey44, Billy Reid, Hepburn Monroe, Mens R&B, Jack Spade, Pantherella, AQ/AQ, & Herschel Supply