pretty

Jenny Packham S/S 11 Lookbook

Image from here.

TGIF

Vogue Italy
February 2008

See more photos from the editorial here.

Thanks, Hemp

Denim Halter Maxi Dress by FIL DE FER. The cinch waist seems to make this potentially-frumpy dress much more flattering. Made from 60% cotton 40% hemp. Images from here.

amazing styling #3

Source: CindyWhitehead

Marie Claire December 2010
Accessory Story

amazing styling #2

Source: FashionGoneRouge

Vogue Italia November 2010
Models: Julia Hafstrom and Gwen Loos
Photographer: Ellen von Unwerth
Stylist: Cathy Kasterine

And this is an editorial featuring lingerie. It's not the easiest task to make bras and panties appear classy and editorial-esque, but the work of Ellen von Unwerth often proves it's more than possible.

amazing styling #1

Photographer: Sara Orme
Stylist: Imogen Wilson

Source: StuddedHearts

loose fits

Light cargo, slippery blouses, and sweaters all in exaggerated loose-fit. Runway to street style (or more like a sidewalk near a venue), boyfriend-plus sizes are dominating. I hate to compromise comfort for style, I rarely do it, so favoring loose fits has always been my choice solution.

TOMMY TON (from JAK & JIL) for STYLE. Check out all of his work for STYLE from Paris Fashion Week here.

Vintage YSL

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent bag (Spring 2003) called the Nadja Rose. Super soft leather with delicate folds creating the rose concept. I randomly came across this photo in an archived post (2008) from a site that doesn't seem to exist anymore. I tried to find more photos featuring the bag, to no avail. The scarcity of information makes me like it that much more.

Leopard Print

I have been willingly swayed by popular opinion. I now think animal print (faux animal print) is the best thing ever. The perfect way to add excitement to a potentially dreary fall. I like this one from Urban Outfitters. Check out more photos from this editorial here - every look features this beautiful leopard print, from heels to flats to leggings to a belt to a mask to a jacket and more.

Elle Spain, October 2010
Model: Carmen Kass
Photography by Mario Sierra
Source: FS

Stella McCartney: Fall/Winter 10/11 (+ramble on 1's and 0's)

Stella McCartney's Fall/Winter 2010/2011 campaign
Modeled by Natalia Vodianova
Photography by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
Source: FS

It's not new, but I never got around to storing it on here. It's remarkable to think of the internet as storage space. I acknowledge the tangent, but the list of things that we no longer own physically grows longer everyday. So many things have turned into 1's and 0's, literally. Is that okay? Are we compromising something, or is this just the part of some progression towards something else, a something else that ignores writing by hand and admires JPEGs rather than photographs born of a negative image? I suppose it is not really a progression, because that implies something inherently better. Regardless, the course we are taking now is fully committed to obliterate not just newspapers, but virtually anything that could be stored on a hard drive. It doesn't seem okay, but I don't yet have a grasp on why it's not okay. I mean, what ill would it really do to us? But a culture of no newspapers, printed books, and Polaroid shots seems so deprived. But maybe that's old fashioned thinking.

Okay, tangent over. The illustrations in this Stella McCartney campaign were done by Barry Reigate. Check out his drawings here. I especially like his paintings. I included a couple below, but check out more here. His stuff is kind of strange, but what art isn't? I'm one of those annoying people who goes to an art museum and says, "I can totally do that," so I will be the first to say I don't always get art. But these are pretty intriguing.

Happy Saturday! It's rainy and gloomy here, and I'm loving it.

Sweatpants

Elle Italia April 2010
Model: Caroline Winberg
Photographer: David Burton

Here is the beautiful Caroline Winberg sporting the effortlessly cool look - in her sweatpants. The editorial is titled "Urban Outfitter," and proves that running errands in your sweats can look fabulous with a few add-ons. I think it's the trench that makes every look so chic. I swear, once you have a good trench you can throw it on over the rattiest t-shirt and jeans and look like you're trying. It's handy. Check out even more shots from the editorial via Fashion-Spreads.

That one thing

Photos: VOGUE

Do your eyes go immediately to one item in every shot? Check out more of Vogue's street fashion shots from Paris Fashion Week here. Photography by Phil Oh. That first jacket, worn by Miss Abbey Lee Kershaw, is killer. Look at that detailing.

ERDEM S/S '11 RTW

Delicate, detailed, feminine. Those are the three words that fashion editors have unanimously agreed describes Erdem, the namesake collection of designer Erdem Moralioğlu. In his early twenties he secured an internship with Vivienne Westwood, later worked with Diane Von Furstenberg, and then in 2000 moved to London to forge his own label. His reputation for creating beautiful, feminine, and wearable pieces spread like fire, and he soon developed a devoted following that includes the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Nicole Richie, Claudia Schiffer, and the much adored Chloë Sevigny.

In his Spring 2011 RTW collection, Erdem gave a reassuring nod to his fan base - he stuck with what he does best. I encourage you to check out the entire collection here. The pieces are so carefully crafted, it makes me smile to think a team of designers diligently created these lace-heavy pieces. During fashion week many designers made their voices heard on the feminine vs. masculine debate, opting for the further exaggerated boyfriend look and practical, floor-sweeping skirts. In a season of the practical it was refreshing to see Erdem indulge in lace, flowers, and classic pretty.
Photos Credit:  VOGUE

I have to admit, some of the pieces are way too loud for me, I can only adorn so much lace before feeling Lolita-esque. But I have to admire the craftsmanship, and so many of the pieces are just so darn cute.

Color blocking

photos: fashiongonerouge

...Color blocking done subtly. One of my favorites, the beautiful Ming Xi (who would be just as beautiful, if not more, without that heinously heavy retouching - a bit much, yes?) Regardless, the above photos are from her feature in the September issue of Elle China. Styled by Miaomiao Zheng. She looks bad-ass in Givenchy, Chanel, Valentino, and much more. Check out the entire editorial here.

I love that the looks in their entirety are feminine and delicate, yet the individual pieces are pretty sharp. There is nice blocking to the ensembles, mostly due to color. There is no indulgence in mixing and matching, which is my weakness. I'm leaning towards the classic, color blocked look this fall.

Corset

photo: lesmoking

Pink corset with black lace detailing. The article mentions that it is from the BBC costume department.

____

I'm usually not the biggest fan of edibles - I don't find them very effective and they usually just don't taste that good. Anyone who says weed brownies taste better than real brownies are lying, I vouch for that. But I recently purchased caramel candy made with hemp oil, and I'm pretty happy with it. :) Review coming soon!

In other news, I'm being forced to watch the Dancing with the Stars' results show tonight. I saw a little bit last night, and though it makes my stomach turn to admit it, I find The Situation endearing. To put this in perspective, to find him remotely appealing is against every rational and moral fiber in my being. But there is something about him...ew, let me go slap sense into myself.