Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The New Jeans

I have an obsession for jeans. They’re suitable for many different occasions like casual on the weekends, basic for school or work and then more glam, for example detailed pockets, for evening. Like everyone knows the skinnies have been the top jeans trend (almost the only) for the past seasons, and every single fashionista has probably a few pairs. The skinny jeans aren’t the most comfortable and figure-flattering jeans (to most women), so I think it’s time to put them to rest and celebrate other jeans trends, such as wide leg, high waist and coloured.

Wide leg

The celebs have been wearing wide leg jeans a lot and I’m really liking this trend. They’re so much more classy as they go with everything from a T-shirt to a dressy blouse. And they come in such a variety like slim fit, high waisted, sailor style, loose boyfriend fit – I could keep on going. The wide legs are perfect to tuck shirts and tanks in – it defines the waist and gives nice proportions. If you don’t want to tuck-in, a fitted tank top or a shirt is perfect. Whether you’re petite, tall, curvy or slim this look suits almost every size and shape. The best shoes to wear with this jeans trend? A open or round toe pump to add heigth, or flats if you’re tall.

Penelope Cruz, Jessica Alba and Rachel Bilson are all wearing 7 For All Mankind.

Here we have three different styles. To left are J & Company Jeans Hollywood Trouser $163, they have a slightly more form fitting leg that will not overwhelm a slender figure but will still create an elongated leg line. In center are Lux Lightweight Denim Sailor Pant $68. Right are J Brand Malik Premium Denim Wide Leg in Azul $217.

High Waist

Well there are mixed opinions about this trend, but they aren’t as bad as they look. Like the wide leg, they come in different styles and shapes – from 8 inch rise to 14 inches, and from skinny fit to wide leg. It is also great to tuck-in tank or a button shirt wih high waist jeans as with the wide leg. Try to wear this jeans trend the way it flatters your body. If your long and lean you can wear them with flats and a tank top, but if you have curves, high heels and a sexy top is more flattering. The great thing about high waist jeans? They hold in that extra something we tend to carry in our tummy area. But don’t be a fashion victim, if it doesn’t flatter your body or your not confident, dig it. This trend just doesn’t work on every body – even Jessica Simpson with her perfect curves wasn’t rockin the high waist!

Mischa Barton wears her Sass & Bide Hulsey Strutter Jeans with a tucked in shirt and a skinny belt. Gwen Stefani is looking hot in her Stella McCartney’s with a wide belt. Jennifer Lopez rocks her Pepe Jeans with pumps and a sexy white vest.

On left we have basic dark washed Nobody Cult Highwaisted Jeans $200. In center we have Silence & Noise Buttoned-Up Jean $98, also a dark wash but with buttons and more details. On right is Cheap Monday Stretch Skinny Jean $65, gray shade and not sky-high, a great alternative for those who don’t want to take things too far.

Colored

It’s a trend I’m afraid to open up to, but when I think about it, it is a welcome change. These jeans are a blast from the past, they originally were worn in the 80’s. They come in all the colors and shades of the rainbow – from spicy red to cotton candy purple. The jeans have to be skinny and styled simple because they are the statement. Beware over-accessorizing as the look gets too complicated, and be careful of what colors you mix – some just doesn’t look right together.


Ashlee Simpson is wearing Ksubi Skinny Zipper Jeans in Royal Blue (Victoria Beckham has also been seen wearing the same jeans), Fergie is in red Judi Rosen jeans and Victoria Beckham is wearing Rich & Skinny Sleek in Emerald.

From left to right: Rich & Skinny Sleek in Marine Blue $189, Rich & Skinny Sleek in Sari Pink $189, Blank Skinny Jean in Red $68.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Victoria Beckham: A Style Icon?

I often go to celebrity gossip blogs, not to get the latest gossip, but to see the clothes the celebs are wearing. Victoria Beckham is one of few who is always seen stylish, whether she's out shopping, playing with her kids, on the airport or just anywhere. Victoria is a successful business woman who has, to name a few, written a fashion book; designed a jeans, handbags and sunglasses collection; and launched her own fragrance.
Victoria has said that "whether you've got £20 to spend in Top Shop or £2,000 to spend at Gucci, looking good isn't about money, it's about style - and style never goes out of fashion." But the 33 year old doesn't think of herself as a style icon, "I like to wear things that suit me, that flatter my shape, but I would never say I was fashionable,” and she rates Kate Moss as her fashion idol "I just love Kate Moss. She’s my fashion idol without a shadow of a doubt. I’m a big fan of hers- I’ve always thought she looks fantastic.”
A style icon is someone who will be remembered for her style for decades, someone who is a trendsetter and isn't afraid to experiment with her style. The question is, will Victoria's style still be rembered in 50 years on? I think only time will tell, but for now she is more of a follower of fashion and trends as opposed to a creator of them.


I've been keeping an eye on her style for a few months now and it looks like the Spring/Summer collection from Giambattista Valli is one of Victoria's favourites as she has been wearing at least four outfits from the collection.





Other designers she has been wearing lately

Proenza Schouler S/S 07 skirt and top.
RM by Roland Mouret F/W 07 skirt and top.
RM by Roland Mouret F/W 07 'The Moon' dress.

Givenchy S/S 07 dress.

Lanvin S/S 07 dress.
Giles F/W 07 dress.

Roberto Cavalli S/S 07 corset and Chanel S/S 07 hotpants.

Cristopher Kane S/S 07 dress.

Photo source: Style.com, Victoria Style

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Fall Winter 07 Part Two

I was out of town for the weekend so I couldn't post but here's the rest...

Karen Walker

Thirties comic book superheroine was Karen Walker's inspiration. You could see how the inspiration reflected the outfits but she didn't take it too far. She wasn't afraid to use colours, prints and graphics.

The prints were fun, both on the shirt (left) and tights (right). The blue circle shaped sunglasses were unusual. I loved the wide leg jeans which we've been seeing on celebrities lately.
How cool is that bright blue and red anorak? The graphic brings life to otherwise not so interesting dress on right.

Lacoste

Christopher Lemaire, Lacoste's creative director, says his aim is to make clothes that are precise, refined and luxurious. With these words said I think he has accomplished that pretty well.
I personally like darker jeans (left) more than white washed - they're more basic but still trendy. It was unuasal to pair them with rain boots. I'm dying to get a cosy knit sweater similiar to this in center, and it's a great change to pair it with a shirt. I'll also try to find a a coat in lighter colours like this one on right since it's just so much black going on.

Lela Rose

It was sporty in a stylish way. She used just the right amount of prints and strong colours - mixed them with gray, black and white.
These cropped gray pants are great to pair with loose tops, because they're rather thight so it's the right proportion. I love how the yellow belt (right) makes so much different to the dress.
The jacket is a little bit sporty (center) but the glam pants bring some glamourusness to it. The skirt and top (right) is really feminine and the colours are really neutral and light.

Luella

Luella Bartley is definitly one of my favourite designers. And as always the inspiration was very British.

I don't know how I feel about the riding boots (left), the designer described them as "very London street vibe". The velvet fabric hasn't been very popular on the runways the past years but the red cropped pants and the blazer (center) were really cool. The bow shirt under the tuxedo (right) made it more feminine and womanly. The fur hats were very russian - I'm sure they give a lot of warm in the winter.
The pink on the dress and on the jeans is really beautiful, not that neon bright pink and not the baby pink, just the perfect shade. I can't dare myself to wear those coloured jeans - especially the ones in daring colours like pink (center), bright blue and bright red. The russian military inspiration shows well on the bag (right) and in a more bright colour on the pink bag (center).

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs is the king of layers and this season was no exception. He used a lot of earth colours like gray and brown, with plaids and knits.

Cosy sweaters were tucked into the cropped, wide pants - and the belt used to define the waist.

I really liked the thick rib tights which were in white and gray, they were then paired with wool socks. There were a lot of plaids - big plaids, as seen on the dress to right.

Peter Som

The outfits seemed to be more day looks than evening looks as there were oversized knits, slim pants and short dresses. Gray was the main colour with black and white and a hint of purple and prints.
He mixed different fabrics together, like knits with silk (left) and knits with leather (center). The criss-cross shoes unusal and they were both paired with pants and dresses.

It seems he's not a fan of thights as all the dresses were shown on bare legs. But the dresses were very beautiful in light and flowy fabrics.

Versace
"It's about a bell shape. Controlled volume. Black and white—and color to put the life in." Donatella Versace said about the collection. The clothes emphasized the waist and hips - the womanly figure.
A glamourus minimalism is probably the perfect word to describe the outfits.

Red, blue and green - the basic colours shown in a perfect shade.
Zac Posen
Black was the main colour, but to make it interesting it was in different textures.
The purple shirt underneath the blazer is in a really beautiful colour - it's perfect to layer the black blazer over such a strong colour and just get a peek at the shirt on the sleeves and the chest.

Puffy dresses managed to look feminine as they were short and baring at the chest.
Source: Style.com

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Fall Winter 07 Part One

Well I know I'm kind of late doing this, but since fall is just around the corner I thought it would be fun to give you my opinion of the hottest designers this fall.

3.1 Phillip Lim
One of my favorites designers. I really loved the layers and how the clothes were loose. The hats were very cool.

The plaids gave the outfits a preppy look. It reminded me of school uniforms, especially the skirt (left) and the jacket (right).

Tights will be big for winter. I really liked the blue ones (right), they gave the outfit a more interesting look, since gray is a bit neutral colour. Layering can sometimes get overwhelming, but in this case it's just right.

Alice Roi
Her inspiration for the collection was the children's book heroine Madeline, but I couldn't actually see how her inspiration reflected the clothes. Despite that the collection was okay. The main colours were black, white and beige with a hint of gray and plaids.
It's fun how she mixed styles. The pants are kind of sporty (left and center), the top+cardigan (left) was romantic and I found the shirt and blouse (center) geeky. The shoes were really unusal but I liked them.
I liked how the attention is on the skirt (left) and the top is pretty basic. In center the attention is more on the printed top and the skirt is more basic. The socks were popular on fall runways and they have this kind of a geeky vibe.

Badgley Mischka

The collection was a bit more casual then previous seasons with jeans and tweed, but the furs and gloves added some glamourus hint.
The blue skinnies are pretty basic - we've seen them before, but the gray ones (center) had a hint of metallic which gave them a rocker chic look. Then there's the high-waisted jeans (right), they will be big in fall - people just have to get them right. Let's be honest, they don't flatter every bodyshape.
The dress is layered over a turtleneck - perfect for winter. Then there's the boots, which reminded me of riding boots plus the pants/leggings (right) are kind of like riding pants. The jackets in gray tweed and in black are really cute.

The gowns were beautiful and really figure-flattering. They all had some glitter or metallics. I'm sure were going to see some of them on the red carpet.
BCBG Max Azria

"The BCBG Max Azria girl is Sienna Miller or Kate Moss" said Lubov Azria before the show. The collection was all about laid-back frocks, dresses, knitted-fur vests, coats and jackets.

Here we see the tights again, they make the dresses look more relaxed. I'm really looking forward to wearing tights, the leggings trend is all-over, just a bit tired I think. Look at the black and gold lace-ups, they're so stylish with the pointy toe and no heel.

The knit hat is so grunge, and i just love the dresses. Especially the one on the right with the pearls. I'll also be looking after similiar coat for the fall, it's a good change from the black ones.

Betsey Johnson

Oh I just loved the fun and uplifting colours and prints. Betsey said that "fall is more elegant, refined - more grown-up". Surely this collection was more mature than previous seasons, but there's still the same playfullness there.

The white tights are surprisingly stylish, they're neutral and don't take the attention of the dress. The prints on the dresses (left, center) are so fun and the shape is casual, yet figure-flattering. The dress on the right is so cute, the vest and the gold - perfect together. Plus I have to say I just love this sock trend.

Let's start with the fur, there were so many furs on the runways so be sure to get one for fall - fake or real - your choice. The vintage stores are a really great to find one-of-a-kind styles. Then there's, well I don't know what to call it, a tie or just a scarve (center, right) but it gives this cool tomboy look. The sunglasses in the show were amazing, and the shoes with the pom pom's - really grandma like. Oh and the high-waisted short-short-shorts (right) are so cool.

Diane von Furstenberg

It was mostly dresses that walked Diane von Furstenberg's runway this season. Black, red and blue were the main colours with some prints, gray and dark pink.

The red half-circle gives a big statement on the t-shirt shaped dress to the left. Also, the red in the dress in center brings some life to it - the cropped jacket is the perfect cover up. The red dress to the right is really feminine and brings out some curves.

Pairing a thin belt with a simple cardigan really brings out the waist as seen left. It can be fun to wear the belts in strong colours, especially if the cardigan is black or gray. I'm really loving the oversized knits know (right) it makes the dress a little bit more casual.

DKNY

This collection was all about the city - tweed, gray, scarves, glitter and some strong colours. The beret's gave some Paris spirit to the show.

I normally don't like yellow, but in this case it's actually cool (left). I'm definitly going to get oversized, loose pants in gray like those in center for fall. This is great for winter - pair a cocktail mini dress over a t-shirt (right) or over black long-sleeved shirts as also seen in the show.

I really liked the purple/pink colour. It was not overwhelming, just gave the outfits something extra - like the printed scarve (center) and the print on the dress (right). The dress (left) has a simple shape but the glitz and the colour makes it interesting. I just love the trapeze shaped frocks like this one on right.

Doo.Ri

I loved the thight pants and cropped jackets with gloves. The fabrics were light and it was all wearable clothes with nice detailing.
I thought the navy and bordeaux were really great colours to mix with the dark gray. The fur west looked surprisingly good with the knee-length dress.
Jill Stuart
It was all black and bright blue this season at Jill Stuart's. I wasn't in love with the collection, she could have gotten better result with fewer looks as I found many of the the outfits too alike.
But there were also some positive notes, like the patent leather gloves and the blue colour. I really liked the dress with the bow (center) and the frock (left) - the buttons on both of these frocks gave it some tuxedo vibe.
.
Source: Style.com