Dry as toast.
21 Nov
Been trying to see if I can infiltrate the Reddit machine for some feedback on my blog. It’s a hit or miss sometimes, but I find that giving fashion advice to random strangers is quite fun. Dry as Toast compiled the best of the advice from Reddit for petite girls, a chunk of which features me (thank you Dorkys)!
For all the petite girls out there.
Space invaders…fashion blogged.
14 Oct
A cute blogger came up to me after the Mates of State concert and took my picture for her Class of Fashion blog. Yay! Win. Now…someone tell me how to pose better.
Last day of September.
30 Sep
top/shop in Hungary
shorts/thrift Levi’s
belt/thrift
platforms/Cotélac
Muse Magazine.
21 Sep
At the beginning of summer, and at the termination of oh-so-fun internship at Interview, I worked for the stylist Joanne Blades for a couple of weeks. Typical intern stuff, schlepping things…but working outside of a magazine with a freelance stylist gave me a very important new look on this industry. It doesn’t have to be stressful and you don’t need 15 racks of clothes to style a cover worthy shoot. Very inspirational. Joanne is extremely nice and the most easy-going, down-to-earth stylist I’ve met yet.
I worked on 2 shoot with her (half a block away from my beef’s place, holla!), one for Muse Magazine and one for Numéro Tokyo. I haven’t found the spread for Numéro yet, but here are some images from the Muse shoot. I swear, the space theme is very current and will continue to grow. Feast your eyes on these great futuristic inspired clothing and sculptures.
That Givency dress is a space cowboy’s dream. Again, loving the subdued makeup (if any at all) with the dramatic clothes. Such a great contrast.
This is the new breed of minimalism.
PS. Muse Magazine is pretty great. Sleak, no fuss layout. Just great art.
NYFW SS 2012// Marchesa
19 Sep
The last day of my Fashion Week frenzy was dedicated to Marchesa. It was by far the most extravagant and stressful backstage experience. The backstage area took up the entire Terrace Room and the show took place in the ornate Palm Court in the Plaza Hotel. Dresses whisked into the venue a mere hour and a half before the show started. Seamstresses sewed girls into glittering gowns made from hundreds of delicate beaded silver strands. Glamourous for sure, any Disney princess would be jealous of these royalty worthy concoctions.
Rather than retell the boring details of wrangling wandering models and ironing random CEO’s shirt…I’d rather name drop. Courtney Love, Camilla Belle, Michelle Trachtenberg, Selita Ebanks, Kelly Osbourne, and Rachel Zoe to name a few celebs that popped backstage after the show…and Marchesa went all out on casting models as well. Karolina Kurkova, Charlotte Free, Karen Elson…
Marchesa’s first runway show was a big fucking deal.
I want to keep things short so here are some reasons why I think Marchesa was an all around success this season (besides the fairy tale gowns):
- Clean, fresh dewy face. A natural, no makeup look was the perfect choice to balance the delicate, but extravagant dresses and gowns. Karen and Karolina have never looked more ethereal and beautiful.
- Charlotte Free. Pink haired goth model. There will be a post later on about her. Obsessed.
- The slick ponytail with fishtail braiding detail is really modern and cool. Again, a great simple balance to the intricately embroidered gowns.
- Runway maze. Yes, the girls waltzed through a maze of chairs, set up in a way that makes the show more intimate than any other show I’ve seen. Plush carpet and enormous stained-glass lay light, the Palm Court of the Plaza Hotel is a dream. Come on, Great Gatsby referenced this place? Awesome.
Things I weren’t too crazy about? Stick-on thongs and the 50 lb. evening clutches. A little over the top. Unless those clutches were enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, there was no reason for it to be that heavy. Oh and I wasn’t too crazy about the Louboutin wedges chosen for the collection. A bit too clunky for the looks. And drab. I’m a strong advocate of a strong shoe, no matter what the outfit. But that’s just me.
I’m not usually a big fan of their voluminous chiffon origami (there are a few numbers that still cling to that look), but this first runway show really revealed a devastatingly beautiful silhouette and technique. The barely-there chiffon with web-like embroidering in all the right places, creates this intensely sensuous yet regal combination. I know this collection was inspired in part by the sea reflected beautifully in the movement and iridescent richness of the materials, but really, the dresses exude the forbidden sexuality of virgin royalty.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my delayed update on my NYFW. Can’t wait till the next season! Hopefully, I’ll get to actually see watch one next time…
This is what Juliet wore when Romeo was serenading her below her balcony. Definitely a run-through-your-castle look.
NYFW SS 2012// Rachel Roy
16 Sep
Rachel Roy presentation last Sunday. My first experience at a presentation. Can’t help but feel bad for the model, caked in makeup, standing on a podium on a hot balcony. Pretty models all lined up like life-size Barbies posing for photographers creates a strange mood. Anyways, ff you ever get the opportunity to see a show (next year I suppose) at Avery Fisher Hall, you should do it. Super classy. Spacious.
I will be honest my knowledge of Rachel Roy is very limited, but what I’ve gathered from her line this season is simplicity and functionality. I’m obsessed with the color palette. It’s a more subdued take on the spring/summer color explosion. Lots of sorbet orange and muted asian prints. Fresh and light. A very relaxed structural element flows through the collection, a flash of a cutout back—all very French gamine. Shows that dressing like a boy can be sexy, too. Really.
//
And here are some looks that particularly stood out for me.
I‘m not crazy about her “evening wear,” and unfortunately her mandarin collared dresses are a little too reminiscent of qipaos for a Chinese American to wear around on normal day. Maybe that needs to be changed…but I’m still a little hesitant to go down that road. Unfortunately, I don’t live 1960′s Hong Kong or a Wong Kar Wai film.
But I’m definitely looking forward to next summer and wearing one of these slouchy white suits.
NYFW SS 2012// Zac Posen
15 Sep
It’s been a rough week…sleep deprivation, malnutrition/ bingeing, and unbelievably dry hands due to label sticking and photo printing.
I was working collection coordination all last week with the Zac Posen design team before his show on Saturday, September 11th. Basically, I worked in a team of 3 to organize the Zac’s creative process: documenting all the looks, numbering looks and labeling models, making dress cards and look boards…the secretarial work of fashion. Ennuyeux.
The lame stuff aside, I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to work with such a wonderful house. Zac Posen is so far from the stereotypical diva-snob designer. Laid back, sarcastic and witty, and really just plain nice, Zac made the studio feel like a friendly gathering of friends rather than a stuffy design space. His 3 small dogs would rampant in the office and often take naps in front of models during fittings. No finicky requests for catering, Zac had a intern get him an all American Big Mac with fries…his partner Christopher was equally down-to-earth (“coke tastes better from a can”) with a humor that has a little more bite (he’s French). He can talk about anything from Demi Lovato to silk faille to puppy training.
Betty and Candy. Swarovski pearls.
Tina Turner the poodle.
Long story short, I’m smitten with the duo behind Zac Posen.
I saw dresses come to life this week; gowns fitted by being pinned onto the model and suddenly fully formed two days later gliding down the runway. Why yes, I’m now biased to yet another designer having worked for them. An impeccably tailored line, fitted on each model to perfection. Sure, the gowns are a manifestation of fantasies and an era of formal attire than no longer exists outside the world of the elite and awards ceremonies, but isn’t that what fashion is really about? The designer’s purpose is capture his imagination through yards of chiffon draped dreamily on the human form. So fairy tale princesses and sea nymphs float across the creamy marble terrace 30ft up in Avery Fisher Hall. The cloudy dusk backdrop transitions as darkness descends toward the climax of the show. Epic.
I’m picking out a couple of my favorites from the collection. Enjoy.
Classic old Hollywood glamour.
I’m getting married in this mermaid gown. I don’t care that it’s seafoam green.
Or this one, I can’t choose. Also, this needs to be in a sci-fi movie.
Betty Draper if she lived in Hollywood.
Bruna is just way to hot to not include. You’re smokin’ Bruna.
Stay tuned! Backstage photos at Marchesa and Rachel Roy presentation to come…
Will power is not an actual power.
25 Aug
Though I’d like to disagree, RueLaLa, it’s still a rather genius marketing slogan.
I spend about 30 min (all I can allow myself) each morning to quickly scan 4 separate “sample sale” sites which include RueLaLa, Gilt, Swirl, and Hautelook. It’s sick, I know, but it’s become a ritual for me. The only things I’ve ever purchased are Urban Decay makeup ($5 a pop, who can pass on that?) and these shoes I’m about to share with y’all. So take that, I’ve got will power, and it’s for realz.
Camorra wedge by SELECT | Creative Recreation
Stats//
Material: wood, leather, rope
Height: 5 inches / 1 inch platform
Pros: adjustable for narrow feet, super light weight, low pitch, removable “sock” to wear as an open sandal, rubber bottom
Cons: not the most well constructed shoe, can’t actually wear the “sock” as a ballet flat like I imagined
All in all, happy purchase at about half price (thanks online shopping!). I’m super pumped about wearing these, though it looks like summer has been chased away by Irene. But thanks to that flat insert, I can wear it through the fall! I’m not really one to differentiate seasonal fashions anyway. Throw on a pair of chunky socks and I will wear this during the winter. Watch me.
Probably not. Fausse Bon Idée.
Eighties are back…
19 Apr
When I was in high school, off the shoulder t-shirts, leg warmers and side ponytails weren’t just an “80′s Day” spirit week joke. Some girls sported neon leggings as fashion statement and high school for me was in the 2000′s. Orange Country, California, what are you going to do. I have never been a big fan of that decade and I prayed it wouldn’t return.
So while I was archiving photos from Style.com for my unmentionable magazine internship, I discovered this bad boy.
Welcome, the 2011 Fall/Winter RTW from Dolce & Gabbana.
The new line baffled me, Dolce & Gabbana in my mind is the fashion house for sensual if not down right sexual take on the feminine silhouette. You can’t take things like star print and fanny-packs and make them modern. You can sure try though. And Dolce & Gabbana tried so hard.
The infamous piano print. But it gets even more intense from here…
You got your shoes and then your matching clutch…
And ta-da! You have a whole rocking outfit!
Guess they didn’t want to do leopard print for another year season…but they do leopard so well! Musical notes and symbols…not as sexy…
This line was definitely a miss. Most of these looks scream Hot Topic. Which, don’t get me wrong, I’m an avid supporter of all the punk princesses out there, and boy to I love Avril, but this isn’t something a fashion entity such as Dolce & Gabbana should dabble in.
A couple more picture to really solidify my point, then moving on to my favorite designer who is actually stuck in the glorious 80s.
Take away the star embellishments and this is actually a very nicely tailored woman’s three-piece.
Note: tiny fanny-pack + sock + bright pointy low pump…
This is a gorgeous dress, the drama, the fluidity, the shape…but the print?!?
And everything bad about gaudy 80s jewelry in dress form.
//
Dear Betsey Johnson,
I absolutely adored your pretty, colorful frocks; your cool graphic knits were a dream. I went to my senior prom in one of your powdery pink lace and chiffon confection—my cupcake dress as I like to refer to it as. Oh, and when your vintage inspired dresses a couple years ago, lush velvet numbers trimmed with wide antique lace, I couldn’t help but buy them all. But now, I see the same strapless pouffy cocktail dresses each season, the same wild eighties throwback and even wilder prints that even Ms Frizzle would turn away from… I miss your more delicate sense of nostalgia, please come back to the present.
Yours truly,
Cassandra
Ms. Frizzle would just like to say, she would never wear this. Her prints have more class and serves a more educational purpose.
Oh, Betsey, what to do with you?
