Fashionation: Part 1

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about fashion; my particular participation in the industry, my love/hate relationship with it and why after all these conflicting feelings, I still feel compelled to follow clothing design as if it were a competitive sport.

I'm writing this 3 Part Series partially for myself, and partially to open up a discussion with you all on just what exactly defines fashion, who gets to play and why it matters at all. If you're familiar with this blog, it's pretty clear that fashion design is a distant 2nd in my heart to interiors and through this series, you'll see how my love of fashion is burdened with a self-deprecation that can only come from feeling like perhaps I'll never truly belong. After all, the closest I've ever gotten to the Fashion Week tents was the season finale of Project Runway on TV and I don't even own a single statement bag or red-soled shoe. The fact that I'm OK with that only further proves my point.

So this is where my mental landscape was when I came across this article from New York Times Magazine on Zara's success as a "fast fashion" retailer. I highly recommend reading it- if for nothing else than the quintessentially snooty reader comments that could only come from fashion-critical NYT readers. But also so you'll know what the hell I'm talking about.

Florence Welch

Sound Check Chic

Florence and the Machine performed on the show last night.  I'm a big fan of their music and have a huge girl crush on lead singer Florence Welch.  She's the coolest ginger I know.  And that's saying a lot considering Amy Adams was ALSO on the show last night.

I adore Florence's style; it perfectly reflects her music to the point where I swear I wasn't surprised to see what she looked like because I felt like I already knew.  Her look is "Boho Glam" and I think she must have sold her soul to the vintage devil because everything she wears looks one-of-a-kind and nothing short of precious.  Here's a few shots of Flo (once you've looked through ALL of her Facebook photos, you get to call her Flo) and her iconic style:

Tuesday Shoesday- Fall Update

My shoe wardrobe needs some updates for Fall.  I need some studly slippers, funky booties, a wild spotted print, a little neon suede, berry-hued brogues, silver skimmers and something gold and fabulous.  Remarkably, I don't have $5,000 to spend on shoes this fall, so I needed to find cheaper versions.  Here are my Lusts, and my Musts:

Lusts: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
Musts: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

 So those Stella McCartneys are amazing and really one-of-a-kind.  However, I thought you could add some Half Pretties (i.e. black foot lingerie) to your basic gold pump and get a similar affect.  What do you think?  Creative?  Desperate?  I don't mind looking either way, so I'd totally give it a try.

Do you have any excellent shoe resources?  I'd love to hear about them!

Oh, and if you can afford all the shoes in the "Lust" list, might I suggest these slippers?

via

Riot On!

Project Runway Season 10 Recap- Episode 8

Conventions of Democracy

Last week NO ONE went home and Christopher, AKA Ted Bundy, is furious.  You can bet your ass he'll make sure that won't happen again this week.  Just ask Andrea and Kooan (too soon?).

All photos courtesy of Lifetime

This week the producers of Project Runway have officially run out of money.  Their budget was supposed to last for the entirety of the season, but between Ven's insatiable ego and Nina's insistence that everything look "expensive," including the toilet paper and chicken caesar salad, the producers found themselves flat broke by episode 8.  Fear not!  Nothing can stop the show!  Tim Gunn holds up the Michael's on 100th St. at "Gunnpoint" and makes it back to Parsons with a shitload of puffy paint and t-shirts.

Project Runway Season 10 Recap- Episode 5

The Tale of Nitpicking Nina and the One Way Monkey

All photos courtesy of Lifetime

Last week Andrea and Kooan disappeared into the murky abyss, Raul was brought back from the dead and we said Auf Wiedersehen to Buffi. 

Nevertheless, the show must go on!  This week is another team challenge!

Oh how I love this meatloaf of a challenge.  It is to design a capsule collection of professional women's wear that is both editorial but also works in the real world.  There will be 2 teams, and both will have to direct their own photo shoot in addition to designing the collection with no designated team leaders.  The winning team's photos will appear in Marie Claire Magazine!!!  Oh, no, wait- that's not right.  They will appear in Marie Claire.... @Work..... Magazine!@#$!?@?#!!!  Our #1 source for all women's work fashion journalism, duh.

Project Runway Season 10 Recap- Episode 4

Episode 4: Saved by the Belt

All photos courtesy of Lifetime

Last week's episode left us with more questions than answers; Andrea disappeared into the night while Chris, with wide eyes but a tell-tale heart, at once feigned innocence while admitting that he "pushed her in front of a bus."  

Project Runway Season 10 Recap- Episode 2

Episode 2: A Glue the Sh*t Out Of It Moment

All photos courtesy of Lifetime

Here we are for another week of Project Runway!  Last week we got to meet our 16 contestants and this week we're on to one of my most favorite PR episodes: the Unconventional Materials Challenge!

Christmas in July

Sunglasses  / Bikini / Camera Strap / Camera / Brass Urchins / Purse / Notebook / Nailpolish / MacBook Pro

Season's Greetings!  Christmas is 5 months away, it's dog's breath hot outside and there's not an It-toy in sight, so what better time to break out the peppermint schnapps, crank up the Nat King Cole and make a Christmas list?

Here's what I'm asking Santa for- hopefully he'll be checking email:

• A hot new bathing suit and not-so-matching sunglasses


• An upgraded DSLR camera with an equally badass sequin camera strap so I can continue to improve my photography skillz while looking awesome


• Decorative brass urchins, duh


• A portable purse in a poppy color


• A travel notebook, because one of these days I'm totally going to keep a travel journal


• A little finger candy a la Essie in color Mojito Madness


• Last and most importantly: the new MacBook Pro.  I NEED THIS. Come on Santa baby. My blog readers need me to get a new computer so I can continue to provide nostalgic amusement through increasingly complex Adobe programs that are too large for my 5 year-old, plain, boring, just regular blah MacBook!

Tell me, what are YOU asking Santa, or the Hanukkah Armadillo, for on this (second) Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Project Runway Season 10 Recap- Episode 1

Season 10 Project Runway is Here!!!

Oh how I've missed you, regular Project Runway!  Cause let's face it, Project Runway All-Stars wasn't the same.  It reminded us why none of those people won Project Runway to begin with.  And the femme-bot with gams they had hosting it didn't even say "auf wiedersehen."  And Isaac Mizrahi ain't no Michael Kors.  No one can tell someone they look like Joan Crawford at a St. Patrick's Day party like MK.

Today I want to be wearing...

1/2/3/4/5

The weekend came & went too fast!  I need another day of lounging, preferably with a revolver-embossed leather bag and a creepy bunny ring.  What can I say?  Sometimes a girl just needs a creepy bunny ring.

Ode to the Wu-Wang Clan

Jason Wu and Vera Wang via

Ode to Jimmy Choo

 

(sung to the tune of Aerosmith's Janie's Got A Gun- you know you know)

Jimmy's got a cold

Jimmy's got a cold

He said a'Choo, now that's the one

Cause saying shoe's just not as fun

What does her husband do?

And can I get an I.O.U?

If I steal them I'll get arrested

But without 'em I'm just a plain Jane (yeah yeah yeah)

Now that Janie's got them pumps

I'm so jealous I could go insane

Run away, run away from the pain yeah, yeah yeah yeah

Run away from the pain yeah yeah