One Year Anniversary

I can hardly believe that it was only one year ago today that I started this Fashion blog. My New Years Resolution for 2009 was to start a blog and write a post every single day (among a list of lots of others that I didn’t finish-or start!). I was going strong for about a month or so but, eventually, I’m ashamed to say that I was too busy to write- or even research- about fashion! To celebrate, I’ve searched for a few of my favorite accessories that you can find in department stores, such as Macy’s, Dillards, Nordstom, and Neiman Marcus. Be thinking of your New Years Resolution for 2010!

Gaga Fashion

Lady Gaga has changed the way the world has looked at fashion. When Lady Gaga hits a red carpet, style watchers aren’t just asking whether she looks good or bad, they’re likely to ask, “Wow, is that a live bird on her head?” Each Gaga costume is a true work of art which is why I wanted to show you a few of her wildest ensembles. The proof is in the pictures. (Click them to enlarge!)

Viktor & Rolf

I was flipping through a Vogue Paris 2010 Collections magazine when I came across a few extravagant, not to mention fabulous, designs! I have never seen anything like these outfits. Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoernen are the Dutch duo who met while studying fashion at the Arnhem art academy.

They became friends and created Viktor & Rolf in 1993. Their collections are characterized by layering, distortion, exaggeration, and repetition of classical design elements in fashion. In their latest collection, they created edgy gowns working mostly with tulle in interesting ways to please the viewers eyes. Take some time to look up some of their past runway shows. You will not be disappointed. (Click to take a closer look at the gowns.)

Fall 2009 Elie Saab Couture

Lebanese designer Elie Saab has long been a leading name in haute couture in the Middle East, where his romantic, crystal-encrusted gowns attracted princesses to his Beirut atelier, opened in 1982 when he was just 18 years old. His ready-to-wear line, which launched in 1998 in Milan, heralds the same feminine aesthetic as his couture dresses, with brightly colored silks, chiffons, pearl beading, and embroidered lace. With their Middle Eastern detailing and European sensibility, Saab gowns are also at home on the Hollywood red carpet; Halle Berry famously wore one to pick up her Academy Award in 2002.

For this Fall 2009 runway show, he took the designs by the reins and came up with brilliant crisp white gowns. Every model in the show walked down the way looking like an edgy ice princess.

 

Björk: Fashion Icon

Björk (pronounced bee-york) is most commonly known for her quirky songs and crazy music videos, but did anyone know that she was also a fashion model (and icon)? Well, since I am loving Katy Perry and her songs right now, I have been listening to her Celebrity Playlist Podcast on itunes. She lists all of the songs that she is obsessed right now and one of the songs just happened to be “Oh So Quiet” by Björk! Katy explained how Björk has a fabulously crazy style and how her music videos were just out of this world. So, of course, I had to go look Björk up to see what this was all about. I found out so many interesting and really weird things about her, one of them being her fashion sense. I seem to have a strong interest for people who aren’t afraid to wear what they want (even if it does make it on the worst dressed list). For example Betsy Johnson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cher, Heidi Klum, Katy Perry and now Björk!

Fashion in Kenya

Near the end of April, the nonprofit group Festival for African Fashion and Arts held the Fashion for Peace show inside the Nairobi National Park in Kenya. The show featured designers from Kenya, as well as from other African nations, including South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. Though widespread food shortages and ethic tensions persist, Kenya enjoys a relative peace. In response to the country’s changing political climate, this year’s event focused more on promoting Kenyan fashion beyond the country’s borders than on a clarion call for peace.

 

Of course, the high-end outfits stayed well above the purchasing power of the average Kenyan. The runway show was actually for international consumption and to mainly catch people’s attention. Lara Mastropasqua, one of the organizers, said that establishing a fashion industry in Kenya could create local jobs that would service the global fashion market. “From the textile workers, to the women who bead, to the small cottage industry people who have amazing craftsmanship, if Africans were to reinvest in their culture, there could actually be an entire industry that could develop,” she stated. “You will rarely have an African designer have the opportunity to show his or her talent internationally,” she said. For now, high-end fashion remains a luxury in the developing nation. Diana Libiso, a television producer who attended the show, said that price will always keep Kenyans away from designer clothes. “Your typical, average Kenyan would not spend above 25 dollars on an outfit,” she said.

 

 

 

 

Christian Siriano

Who could forget about the fierce winner of the fourth season of Project Runway, Christian Siriano? Well, he has been hard at work and designing away for the latest fashion weeks. Here are a few of his most recent designs.

A Little Bit About…Betsey Johnson

Some may know her for her crazy fashion ideas and designs. At age 66, Betsey Johnson is also known as being one of the strongest women designers as a person. She is a survivor of breast cancer, has raised her daughter by herself, and still is known for her happy, outgoing attitude. At the end of her fashion shows, it has always been her tradition to do a cartwheel down the runway. (It doesn’t even matter if she is wearing a dress!) She took many dance classes while she was growing up, which inspired her love of costumes. After high school, Johnson studied in New York City at the Pratt Institute and then later graduated from Syracuse University where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Her daughter, Lulu now works with her in the fashion industry.

“Making clothes involves what I like…color, pattern, shape and movement…I like the everyday process…the people, the pressure, the surprise of seeing the work come alive walking and dancing around on strangers. Like red lipstick on the mouth, my products wake up and brighten and bring the wearer to life…drawing attention to her beauty and specialness…her moods and movements…her dreams and fantasies.” -Betsey Johnson

A Favorite…

Right now, I’m all over the “Katy Perry pin-up girl” look. The new look for this spring/summer is all about the onesies and sweetheart necklines. Along with the influx of breezy dresses and jumpers in stores, I’ve been spotting the arrival of a warm-weather essential both anticipated and dreaded: the bathing suit. But despite what’s strutting down the runway in New York, the trend this spring isn’t about the ”squint-and-you’ll-miss-it” bikinis, for once. Designers like Michael Kors, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Dolce & Gabbana all flaunted retro, pinup-girl-inspired swimwear: high-waisted bikinis, demure one-pieces, and skirted silhouettes.

No, not Vera Wang…

Vera Neumann! Mention vintage scarves and the name “Vera” immediately pops up into my head. My grandmother gave me countless Vera scarfs, each one of them a little different. The designer behind the name was Vera Neumann, an artist turned textile designer. Vera began designing textiles in the 40s after she and her husband founded Printex. She is known for her optimistic patters and bold color in her scarves. She chose the ladybug as her trademark to bring good luck, long life, and happiness to everyone! Now, anthropologie is introducing an exclusive line of apperal and home decor featuring prints by Vera Neumann.