The Kingston Project

nice trench.

2010-04-17T10:42:00.001-07:00

Saw this on Net A Porter. What a great trenchcoat. Totally classic and clean, but the pleating adds a nice romantic, feminine touch.

don't call my name / don't call my name

2010-04-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

Lady Gaga is on track to start shooting the music video for Alejandro pretty soon. I've been listening to the record a lot lately, wondering what kind of fashion and images are going to be incorporated into the video. I forsee a lot of rich textures. For some reason I keep having a vision of her wearing this cloud-like puff of black organza? I can't see what kind of garment it is but it definitely is like an Edwardian ruff collar, lots of volume, and totally see-through. My vision was inspired by the artwork for the record:

I know there's no organza here, but something about the record's sound- the throbbing beat with the screechy violin and ace-of-base-esque electronic tones- feels like a more muted color palette, the total opposite of the technicolor Telephone video.

Just a few thoughts. More to come later. I'm really excited to see what Gaga does with the Alejandro video. Aside from "Eh, Eh" it's really her first slow-ER record that is a lot more serious and sentimental then the beat-banging club smashes like Bad Romance or Poker Face. The record has a really different sound, it's definitely going to be a great video.

it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes

2010-04-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

I know it's been talked about, but I just want to revisit my love for Proenza Schouler's SpringSummer2010 TieDye. It's fresh, it's updated, I love the electric feel, the effortless bad-ass chic.

frrrrosted TiPz

2010-04-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

So I was in Subway, just waiting for a sandwich, minding my own business, and in walks one of the biggest trainwrecks I have ever seen. Tight, neon yellow Ed Hardy Shirt. Baggy baggy jeans slung so low that this gentleman's belt was cinching his buttocks. Visible, neon pink underwear. Shield sunglasses. And to top it all off, FROSTED TIPS. Oh, I didn't know people were still doing that....? I really resented his ensemble, and the most tragic part of all of this was that he probably thought he looked so damn good.

Don't strut into Subway during the lunch hour thinking you look amazing. Because you don't. Ok, so you dress like The Situation's gay little brother. Doesn't mean crap to me.

THAT'S ALL.

gone overboard.

2010-04-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

Because the nautical trend is so hot right now. And so much fun.

So obviously you need an oversized Prada printed Saffiano leather tote to carry around snacks and things for the family when you're out on your America's Cup sailboat. And you also need these Derek Lam pumps because they are just like boating loafers but cooler. Chloe lambskin shorts. Cut-off, dropped shoulder, flowy silk top from Oasis. Tory Burch braided bracelet. Anchor pendant from Monsoon Accessories. Rounded RayBan wayfarers. Because Wayfarers are over. And round sunglasses can be obnoxious. So what better than to get a blend of the two???

easy breezy

2010-04-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

Now if only the band on this hat were black instead of navy. Imagine yourself going to a summer luncheon. or something involving sitting outside in the sun.

Dress by Tory Burch. Hat by Anthony Peto Accessories. Forzieri pearl and diamond earrings. Kenneth Jay Lane stone bracelet. Chanel sunglasses. Michael Kors shoes.

brace yourselves, they're coming: MALE LEGGINGS and MALE SKIRTS

2010-04-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

I am all about exploring the possibilities of fashion. This means crossing lines that have yet to be crossed. Now that we have women wearing menswear, why not have men wearing womenswear? Yes, there are certain garments that simply will never work on men- namely, the New Look style evening gown- just because of the simply truth that men and women are anatomically different.

For me, a handful of designers come to mind when thinking about exploring new modes of male dress, modes that had previously been considered 'female': Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, Rick Owens, and Gareth Pugh.

Let's take a look at Givenchy. For the upcoming FallWinter2010 collection, Monsieur Tisci sent out an array of masculine skirts. All were to the knee, some were in heavier wools, others in velvet. All were flattering and refreshing. Givenchy has also been into leggings lately. Male leggings were all of the Spring 2010 collection and have carried into the Fall 2010 collection. I think what makes his entire male-shirt-and-leggings discourse so interesting was the use of Christian iconography and costume. The models were styled with Crown of Thorn necklace, one even sporting a TShirt which read "JESUS IS LORD." What does it mean to invoke Christian ideals of the Christ figure when experimenting with male skirts, male leggings? Are we supposed to remember that the Lord himself, by far the most influential person in history, wore glorified dresses?

ANYWAYS I digress. My point is here, ladies and gents, that male leggings and male skirts are coming in and there is nothing you can do about it! With the likes of fashion icons (?)(figureheads?) such as Andrew Mukamal being brought to forefront of pop culture- for those of you living under a rock, I am referring to Bravo's 'Kell on Earth'- and couture-tier houses producing ready-to-wear gender benders, it's only a matter of time until male skirts and leggings go mainstream. Here's a great street style pic of leggings done RIGHT. Although I am still not sure about 3/4 length versus full-length leggings. I think it depends on the shape of your leg. But whatever.

And this kind man had the decency to wear the leggings under shorts, so you prudes have no reason to pull out your "but we are so afraid of the visible bulge!" crap.

I think you get the idea. Here's some more men in skirts and leggings for your consideration.

But as of now, it seems that the trend is going to remain that leggings will be worn under a constructed bottom instead of hiding under a long drapey top. Even the fashion forward are too afraid to completely let loose the penis.

mcqueen's final collection

2010-04-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

I was revisiting the final McQueen collection today. I hate talking all cliche and such, but this is really everything a final collection should be: a view at both the past and at the future, crafted according to the designer's vision. The drapey dresses are reminiscent of his previous collection (Plato's Atlantis) and the styling of the hair with mowhawk thingies looks feels very McQueen/punkish. The collection is filled with rich brocades and jacquards, harking back to the middle ages and the beginnings of couture techniques. But the use of iconography as digitally printed on some of the fabrics makes it incredibly freshfeeling and new. Once again, rest in peace Mr McQueen.

postmodernism. on your feet.

2010-04-04T10:47:00.001-07:00

Balenciaga Fall 2010.

NEW HEADER

2010-03-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

My new blog header comes from the Prada SS09 ad campaign, probably my favorite Prada collection in recent memory. The placement of the blog title was kind of happenstance, I never intended to put it there but after seeing how the letters kind of framed the models' faces, how it looks like it is indiscrimnately plastered across them... I kind of fell in love and decided to leave it that way.

DIEmonds

2010-03-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

The first thing I found from this set was the Topshop jersey dress. Something like 68$, pretty darn good. Anytime you have a simple dress with this (but not too simple, of course, note the arm details) it screams, "I am a fresh canvas, encrust me with gems!"

So I went accessory browsing and lost my breath at the sight of this incredible Hermes Haute Joaillerie diamond, twisted silver cuff. It just might be the most incredible bracelet I have ever seen. And with such a loud presence on the wrist, I figured to complement it but not compete with it, just a simple pair of diamond studs in the ear would suffice. None of the necklaces felt right with the cuff, and a pair of diamond studs in the ear make the sort of diamond-connection with the cuff but don't compete with it. Oh, and obviously some Chanel pumps. Duh. I wanted them to have a little character but not too much.

Gothic Nautical

2010-03-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

I decided to see what would happen if you were to combine two things that aren't usually combined: gothic Addams Family meets refined nautical? I don't know, but I think it really works. The shoes are these amazing Louboutins that look like you skinned some pretty little fish and put it on your feet. I love this cuff, looks like barnacles crusted over some old piece of jewelry out of the Titanic. And of course, it wouldn't be a Kingston ensemble without a (Rick) leather jacket. Et, voila:

Jean Paul Gaultier top. Rick Owens peak-shouldered leather jacket. Burberry Prorsum knotted chiffon skirt. Christian Louboutin peep toe pumps. Olghina earrings (@Barney's). Darcy Miro for Unholy Matrimony cuff.

CFDA Noms

2010-03-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

CFDA 2010 Nominations just came out. Interestingly enough, AWang is nominated alongside Marc Jacobs (yay) and Donna Karan (shmee). Heres the list of nominees, I've bolded the ones I want to win.

Womenswear Designer of the Year

Marc Jacobs
Donna Karan
Alexander Wang

Menswear Designer of the Year
Michael Bastian
Tom Ford
David Neville & Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone

Accessory Designer of the Year
Alexis Bittar
Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler
Marc Jacobs

Swarovski Award for Womenswear
Joseph Altuzarra
Prabal Gurung
Jason Wu

Swarovski Award for Menswear
Richard Chai
Patrik Ervell
Simon Spurr

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design
Eddie Borgo
Dana Lorenz
Alexander Wang

Read more: Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs Lead This Year’s CFDA Award Nominations -- The Cut http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/03/alexander_wang_and_marc_jacobs.html#ixzz0iXxWGUaq

Rodarte (FW2010 detail shots)

2010-03-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

I was just revisiting some of the detail shots from the Rodarte show on style.com and realized that every detail from every ensemble of the collection was given the utmost excruciating care. I had a hard time picking a few of my favorites, every shot from the collection was equally breathtaking.

This collection has been really well-received, but a lot of people have criticized it because it strayed a lot from the Gothic, hardcore vein that Rodarte has been exploring, particularly in last season. I think anyone familiar with what the word Gothic actually means would understand that although Gothic is frequently dark and black, it doesnt have to be. Gothic is anything to do with the sublime, that which scares us, and how people take that fear and fetishize it into something attractive. This collection, inspired by sleepwalking according to the Laura and Kate Mulleavy, is equally pretty and ghostly.

Delicate embroidery on the sheer pants, chunky put-your-coat-on-my-dear-or-youll-catch-a-death-of-a-cold knits, and pretty pretty prints radiate an aesthetic of an Ophelia like character, pretty on the outside but on the inside tormented by something much darker. So the color palette and use of draping might be a little less obviously Gothic from last season, but the heart of the collection is still black and ice cold.

shazam

2010-03-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

Just came across this dress on the Bergdorf's website.

Nina Ricci draped tulle dress. Absolutely stunning. Just imagine how the dress moves when the wearer is walking. Incredible. Oh and I wish the picture was a higher quality so you guys could see it better. YOU LISTENING BERGDORF WEB DESIGNER?!

stop callin / stop callin

2010-03-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

Gaga's new video for her record "Telephone" ft. Beyonce premiered last night. Still trying to catch my breath.

A true pop moment. A true fashion moment.

Gaga is changing pop culture. THE END.

here are some stills I really liked:

merci merci

2010-03-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

Et merci à Lanvin pour ma nouvelle image. Il vient du campaign printemps 2010, grâce à Vinoodh Martin.

my end-all MONTREAL FASHION WEEK blog post

2010-03-08T13:59:00.000-08:00

For me, Montreal Fashion Week is an interesting specimen. MFW feels like it could be so much greater. There is such a compelling energy that flows through everybody when it comes to fashion in Montreal. The media lounge is filled with people sporting their best dresses and shiniest shoes. It's quite the scene, lots of hustle and bustle and drama about who gets into what show and where everybody sits, blah blah blah, but the thing that kills MFW and that is holding it back, for me, is the actual quality of the clothes. After all, you can have all the scene and glitz, but if the quality of the clothes isn't there, what is actually driving the fashion week: the party scene or the fashion? A complicated, complex question for sure.

The clothes tend to be wayyyyyyyyy too commercial. Designers SELDOM push the envelope. And when they THINK they are pushing the envelope they aren't. (case in point, the Helmer show. keep reading).

So here it is kids: THE PROBLEM WITH MONTREAL FASHION WEEK IS THAT THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE EXCITEMENT OVER THE FASHION AND THE ACTUAL QUALITY OF THE FASHION BEING PRODUCED. When you are in Montreal, you can actually feel that people on the street are enthusiastic about clothes and how they dress. The potential for Montreal to become a fashion capital is limitless. The problem is, if someone is a good enough of a designer, they tend to get sucked away to Paris or New York.

So by some act of God I received accreditation to attend the shows at Montreal Fashion Week. I guess I was pretty honored to have at least a little recognition that what I do here is somewhat relevant? Anyways MFW usually isn't my thing, I think it's a little too commercial and I actually question whether there are important people coming to the shows. Every person I met had received accreditation for their blog or for some campy website I had never heard of.

ANYWAYS I supposed it was cool just to get a vague sliver of a sense of what attending a fashion week is like. Lots of see-and-be-seen types, people dressed obnoxiously and reeking of failed attempts at being ironic. blah blah blah, everyone acting so casual and disenchanted and cool, but if you were too cool for school then why the heck are you at MFW?

OK enough of the snarky ranting, let's talk turkey.

The shows were for the most part crap. Someone needs to teach Montreal designers about proportions and how to make clothes that don't look cheap. I wanted at first to criticize msot of the shows for being too safe and commercial, but a lot of them were sending clothes downt he runway that at the end of the day just left me baffled.

Helmer, for instance. First of all, his show sold tickets for charity, so i have to commend him for that. But the charity was for handicapped people, and the clothes were inspired by Haiti. The clothes also had a lot of bizarre harlequin and even 1990s/Brooklyn references that left me wondering whether I was in a medieval court, cruising through Carroll Gardens, or stuck in some blighted third-world country. Here's one of my 'favorite' (barf) moments, very reminiscent of something one would find at an Osh Kosh BGosh sample sale: (this also feels vaguely like a failed attempt at a ripoff of Balenciaga Spring 2010):

ENVERS PAR YVES JEAN LACASSE: The only thing I liked from this show was the drop crotch pants that every male model seemed to be wearing. Unfortunately, the man in charge of taking the photographs for which I was given access seemed to forget that this was a major element of the show. WHATEVER.

EVE GRAVEL: So cute, so wearable. Great show.

BARILA: For once, it feels like a Montreal designer is riding the same wave as the rest of the world. Barila had this great schoolboy look that felt fresh and exciting. Also lots of partygirl looks for when school isn't in session. This model's walk was killer, btw.

DIMITRI CHRIS: FAVORITE MENSWEAR OF THE WEEK. So great. Didn't really feel like the collection was following any sort of trend (which I still haven't decided is a good or a bad thing). Classic yet fresh menswear. Something I could see myself wearing. LOVED IT. Hellloooo velvet ties and sportcoat with hemlines like waistcoats!

And of course, both I and Montreal Fashion Week saved the best for last: DENIS GAGNON. This was probably the only collection I saw all week that I could envision being on the runway in New York. The collection showed signs of masterful craftsmanship and unique vision. He totally rocked these great draped zipper/metal/thingy effects I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO PUT IT INTO WORDS! Made me feel like I was in a Star Wars fantasy (the Princess Leia hair styling wasn't helping) but smoething about how different and futuristic the collection looked just felt so right....

told you so!

2010-02-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago I talked about how many feathers were all over prefall. (Celine's feathers my personal favorite. The house was able to create chic, wearable designs that took advantage of what it means to use feathers in clothing, but they also didn't lose sight of Celine's design aesthetic and soul)

And now, feathers are showing up all over the fall runways at Milan. I think of all the Milan shows, Pucci and Gucci used feathers the best, here are a few pics, respectively:

tommy ton much love

2010-02-28T11:04:00.000-08:00

(You caught me. Guilty as charged. Yet again I am making a post about some other blogger's work and how much I love it. Some of you might call me unoriginal, some of you might call me lazy, but I think at the end of the day The Kingston Project is all about bringing together a variety of things from the fashion world that I find inspiring and relevant.)

Tommy Ton just posted his latest street style pictures taken from. Every picture in this album is so good, each ensemble is an inspriration to me in its own way.

CHECK IT:

http://www.style.com/trendsshopping/stylenotes/021110_Tommy_Ton_NYC/

(oh heres a picture of Tommy Ton btw)

tragedy of the commons

2010-02-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

So for the past week, in lieu of school being out of session,. I decided to take a trip south of the Canadian border and head back to my hometown for some downtime. And then I got back there, my small suburb 40 minutes north of Boston, and realized that I am absolutely appalled by the lack of fashion sense. I mean, obviously I can't expect avant garde dressing and fashion forward styling in a little town, but I was still grossed out at the complete lack of regard for what people wear.

And this is by no means supposed to be an attack on my hometown. I actually, deep down, somewhere in my little black heart, care about my town. There is an epidemic of style in our culture these days that goes beyond my town.

Why don't people care how they look anymore? When did bargain-bin, polyblend, poorly fitting, sweatshop made clothes become ok? What you wear says a lot about who you are. And I am not saying that you have to wear Balenciaga to the grocery store and Chanel to the library (although I am a huge supporter of doing so, for about 7635237 reasons we won't get in to). I'm just saying that whether you realize it or not, your slouchy sweatshirt and relaxed fit jeans say to me that you don't really take yourself that seriously. And don't give me that crap about you have to have a certain bodytype to dress fashionably. Or that dressing fashionably isn't comfortable.

I am also really over the entire argument that it is even too expensive to dress fashionably. Just think. A nice Prada sweater is going to be significantly more expensive than any polyblend disaster you find at your local chainstore, but it is
A. not made in a sweatshop, so you aren't supporting the oppression of working class women and children the world over
B. designed by artisans out of finer materials; you are supporting a cultural industry instead of non-environmentally-friendly-big-business-corporate-bullcrap
C. going to last you a lot, lot, lot longer than cheap clothing. well made designer clothing made out of high quality materials will ultimately be more long lasting than throwaway fashions. ladies: how many h&m tops have you picked up in, say, the last three years or so? add up the math and you would probably be shocked. cheap, throwaway, fast fashions simply don't last as long as higher end clothing. sweaters pill up, seams rip, etc. just think: no one ever says "wow! i found this great vintage H&M dress from the 1940's... it's in such great shape!" (I KNOW h&m wasn't around back then, but just roll with it). you only ever hear "i found this great vintage CHANEL sweater from the 1940s... it's so well made and so durable and in such good shape!"

WELL it seems like this post started out as one thing and ended up as more of an economic rant. Virginia Woolf would have loved my free indirect discourse. And you better love it too.

apologies

2010-02-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

Loyal blog readers, my sincerest apologies for my lack of posts lately. I have had a hard time feeling inspired about fashion since Lee McQueen's passing. I also have been extremely busy with school and travelling to New York trying to set up some fantastic summer plans.

Just imagine how busy and what a wierd mood that I, a fashion blogger, must be in to have completely let New York Fashion Week go by without saying a word.

Again, my deepest apologies and more to come, I promise.

Lee Alexander McQueen, 1969-2010

2010-02-15T08:25:00.000-08:00

There are no words to express how deeply saddened I am at the passing of my idol, Lee Alexander McQueen.

The Kingston Project had been on my mind many months before I began writing last fall, and it was with a lot of thought that I decided to make my first post about "Why McQueen Matters"

There is no one like him, there will never be anyone like him.

His work was some of the most fashion-forward and inspiring to ever be created.

His runway shows were incredible. I challenge anyone to watch one and claim that he was not an artist.

My heart is broken. Rest in peace.

EVERYBODY READ THIS NOW

2010-02-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

So umm I do not really know as a blogger I feel about throwing out links to my readers and not saying too much about them. Could just be me being lazy. But I came across this article on style.com and it is, well... perfect.

Cathy Horyn has so many important things to say about the industry and where it is headed. This article is required reading for ANYONE interested in fashion. I also really reccomend it to the nay-sayers who think fashion is on its way out the door.

Here it is:
http://www.style.com/stylefile/2010/02/the-future-of-fashion-part-two-cathy-horyn/

Rodarte eats my heart out, once again

2010-02-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

So. I was just perusing style.com's feature on upcoming exciting things in the next couple of weeks. And I saw the words "Rodarte" and "exhibition" in the same sentence. I died.

Anywhoo, I poked around a little bit more and saw that they are having a "Quicktake" exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum on the Upper East Side of New York City. All the website had to say was this, and I was sold: "The installation offers a glimpse into the Mulleavys' unique process and inspiration at an important point in their career."

This sounds sooo exciting. Anyone in the New York area should totally stop by. My spring break is coming up in a few weeks and I'm going to try really hard to skip down to NY for a day or two and catch a glimpse of the exhibition.

What: Quicktake: Rodarte
Where: Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York City, 2 E 91st St,
When: On show from February 11 to March 14
Why: Because Rodarte owns your soul, you just don't know it yet.

shoesies

2010-02-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

Montrel winter is horrible on your shoes. I have been reduced to wearing the same old tattered and salt stained Nikes because I have simply given up on keeping shoes stylish throughout the frigid season. When Spring comes around, I plan on investing in some new pairs of shoes...

Here's what I am thinking of getting...maybe.....

I totally love the oldschool hand-tooled Blucher vibe. Really feeling the throwback aspect of tossing on some of these babies, maybe going Urkel-style and adding a bowtie and suspenders into the mix?? (Mark McNairy New Amsterdam)

And of course, what is the use in going Urkel unless you are going to bring the transformation full-circle and do the sexy-Urkel look (remember when one season Urkel all of the sudden becomes... hot?) I also realized that I need a pair of dressier sneakers (if there is such a thing) These Creative Recs are pretty good, and on sale for 67$ at Barneys right now.... INSANITY.

These blue ones are a lot of fun, these would look great with my light mint green Vineyard Vines shorts and a crisp oxford with rolled up sleeves and nautical belts/bracelets/yougettheidea. A wishywashy pastel dream with a shock of color.... (Florsheim by Duckie Brown) Also, this blue seems rather McQueeny SS2010 to me. I guess this means that this color blue is in this season??? I dunno, ask Pantone.

I also think it's abourt time I hop on the boot-wagon. Frye's are the best, apparently. I've heard so many people rave and rave and rave about how comfy and versatil they are. It's true, just like a leather jacket, it's a great way to dress up or dress down a look, adding a little hardcore chic into the mix. I like these ones with the harness detail.

over the moon

2010-02-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

The Armani Prive Haute Couture Spring 2010 was the most beautiful couture collection I have seen in a while, by far my favorite of the season. The collection was inspired by the moon. While I didn't necessarily agree with some of the moon motifs, this dress totally made up for it. I saw this on video and lost my breath, the way it moves on the runway is so elegant and graceful. Looking at this dress move felt like staring up at the moon. And whatever naysayers say fashion can't evoke an emotional response, I challenge you to look at this dress and feel otherwise:

Lady Gaga wore a dress from the collection to the Grammys the other day. So perfect, so Armani, so Gaga, so great. I especially love the starburst she's holding in her hand. It clearly has no function other than an aesthetic one, but it perfectly balances out the dress and completes the look. Oh, and I just want to know how she got in and out of her limo wearing this dress.

Note: her shoes appear to be deyfing gravity...

men's gladiators.... it's gonna happen

2010-01-31T11:05:00.000-08:00

I knew this day would come. Ladies and gentlemen, the high-end fashion houses are beginning to produce stylish gladiator sandals for men. SO SO SO pumped for this, can't even tell you. Maybe I haven't been doing enough research, but I feel the sandal market for men is either catered towrads the old and drab (chunky leather rubber bottomed blah blah) or the guido (bizarre patent leather single-strap/ toe ring what what what?!). Hopefully some more affordable but still equally stylish options will make there way into stores.

Here are some gladiators from Alexander McQueen.

BREAKING NEWS- PARIS JE T'AIME

2010-01-30T12:30:00.000-08:00

The rumors are true, people. Kingston Project will be heading to Paris in April.

So, to prepare myself, I will be doing a series of posts of fashionable places in Paris I intend to visit. Shopping (of course), museums, restaurants, anything and everything where I can soak in the Parisian sun and flex my style muscles.

Up first, the APC Surplus store.

APC, known for it's sharp tailoring, clean aesthetic and Parisian-streetstyle-je-ne-sais-quoi, maintains a surplus outlet in Montmartre in Paris. Everything leftover from last season is for sale at half the retail price, meaning big big discounts for the savvy shopper. So pumped, can't wait to check it out.

It's just a block or two away from the famed church-cum-Paris-kodak-moment-tourist-destination SacreCoeur. Which means after maxing out my visa at APC, at least I'll be able to go beg for forgiveness from the Lord. Sacre bleu!

Feathery Dreams

2010-01-30T11:42:00.000-08:00

Feathers in couture.... when used the right way, I don't think you can get any chic-er. The designer has to be really cautious about the shape, the color, the concentration, and movement of the feathers. That being said, all of those things done well add so much glamour to a garment. Feathers are soft, the color combinations are usually interesting, and they look great in motion.

Prefall2010 Celine had more feathers than an ostrich farm. And I loved it. So chic and glamourous, but still distinctively Celine and not 'too' over the top. Enjoy.

Golden Globes 2010 Red Carpet-- Who Rocked It, Who... didn't

2010-01-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

So it's awards season once again and although it rained cats dogs and small children on the day of the Globes, the fashion was pretty intense. Some people looked great, some weren't too good. I understand it was raining so maybe everyone wasn't on their A game, but that just means that you've gotta work it that much more, and if some people still managed to stop the show then you're just lazy.

Anyways here are some of the looks which stood out most to me.

Come on Sandra, this isn't prom. And that bag is... a mess.

Here's.... that chick from Glee. A perfect example of a breathtaking dress

ruined by the wearer. Her pose is awkward, a little too

Wonder-Woman-y.

Marion Cotillard who I typically love (remember that fish-scale couture she wore

when she won for Best Actress?? bananas...)

Fell a little flat here. I really like the idea of this dress and the lace slip poking out from the slit

but the fabric is a little heavy-looking and makes her look a little large, to be frank.

First place for almost shutting it down.

And here, the lovely Kate Winslet

in all her glory

Completely shutting it down.

Sometimes less is more, kids. The line of crystals emphasizes her beautiful figure.

I really like the lack of necklace.... would've been too much.

Well done.

Diane Kruger, always one to take risks and rock the couture

Love her, love the dress, but not together.

The hot pink looks gross against the red carpet

and makes Frauline Kruger look a little washed-out.

The dress itself is insane, such good Euro-taste and construction and craftsmanship

I just feel it's a bit complex for an American Red Carpet event.

And, you guessed it. Anna Paquin gets my number 1 pick. Maybe it's the sparkle, maybe it's her,

maybe it's True Blood, maybe its the pose, maybe its the plunging-v.

Everything just meshes nicely.
And she manages to pull off this dress without seeming too sexy, she still has that

girl-next-door-but-classy-as-hell

vibe.

from DSQUARED SS10

2010-01-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

Something about this look really spoke to me.

I really want to recreate it....camp socks with birkinstocks, shorts (i'll have to experiment

and see if i can rock the long johns under the shorts) and a button-up paired with a pullover to play on the fancy/casual combination.

options galore thx to polyvore

2010-01-15T22:35:00.000-08:00

So here's a set I just did because I wanted to see what would happen if I tried to style one of those new Proenza Schouler tie-dye pieces. Unfortunately, polyvore's only choices were between a frumpy tie-dye tank (I would just hit up Lands End and save some money if I were you) and this incredible dress- the choice was made for me.

The tie-dye effect of this dress gives it such a rocker-chic-cool-girl feeling that I knew immediately that I wanted to pair it up with a distressed, cropped leather jacket. Going for a cropped jacket will help add some shape, because the torso of the dress appears to be rather simple.

But then, there's the problem of shoes.... how do you match something to lime green tie-dye??
I thought it would have been hard to find some good shoes but I had the opposite problem... I couldn't narrow down the selection. So I decided just to give my top three. All three stick with the rocker-chic punk aesthetic, but take it in a slightly different directions.

What do you think??

KP6 by toddkingston featuring All Saints

Dress by Proenza Schouler. Cropped Worley leather jacket. Elisanero open toe belt booties. Jimmy Choo cage elaphe bootie sandals. Balmain studded suede sandal.

footballers

2010-01-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

Out of left field, or... out from downfield? I don't know. I don't follow sports. Nor know anything about them. ANYWAYS what I'm trying to say is that suddenly on the Spring runways I've noticed a different sort of trend.....

FOOTBALL INSPIRED FASHION

The two most prominent *players* in this *arena* were definately Alexander Wang and Alexandre Herchcovich.

Alexander Wang did a play on oldschool mid 20th century football. Padded leather, laced-up detailing, heather sweathshirts. Of course, this is Mr. Wang we are talking about so things were kept classy. Leather was tastefully used for these giant headband things that were reminiscent of old helmets. Some of the clutches even looked like footballs.

I love the use of the corset in one of the earlier looks.... very thought provoking-- what is the link between how women had to wear corsets and how men compete on the playing field?? Chew on this... how is the way women in our world dress similar to how men on the football field have to dress--- practicality, protection... Interesting....

And, like any good fashion show, it starts out as one thing, goes on a journey and ends up as another. Wang started out with said 'classic' looks, then went to a denim-and-red-and-white Americana tomboy look, took the feminine shapes and glammed them up with sequins, mohair-looking fluffiness, and the like.

Alexandre Herchcovitch's take on football relied less on the architecture of the look and more on the fabrics themselves, all sorts of reflectives and striping like referee shirts. To me, at least, it seemed like pretty girls on the sidelines instead of Wang's getting down and dirty in the mud. Anywhoo....

Patrik Ervell

2010-01-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

Patrik Ervell was a CFDA Fund Thingy award nominee last year. I was browsing his collections and something about his aesthetic really spoke to me. I can't find a good image online, but he does these schoolboy oxford shirts (white with the rounded collar, meant to be worn buttoned all the way up) with these incredible rust stain details. Picture a white shirt splattered with dots orange-red paint. But they are actually rust stains. And absolutely brilliant. Check out his SS2010 show here:

Patrik Ervell S/S 2010 from Patrik Ervell on Vimeo.

V Magazine, forthcoming "Size Issue"

2010-01-07T13:51:00.000-08:00

I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand, I think that it is fantastic that such an important fashion publication is devoting an issue to the beauty of models of all shapes and sizes. Totally awesome. On the other hand, after this single "Size Issue" does this mean that they are going to go back to rail-thin models?? And the way they present the plus-size models is of course going to be just as important as the fact that they are in the magazine at all.... to really get the message of "all creatures great and small" across, the plus sized models must be presented in the same ways that the thin models are presented all the time: sexy, fashionable, fierce. I think whoever shoots the overweight models is going to walk a fine line between this ideal and presenting a carnivalesque version of the models.

But now i'm just blabbering on.

I just found a preview of a feature shot by the one and only Herr Lagerfeld, and it actually looks quite good. Here's a little taste....

OH MY GOD

2010-01-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

My wildest dreams have come true..... RODARTE IS PRODUCING A SMALL COLLECTION OF MENS SWEATERS FOR SALE AT OPENING CEREMONY IN NEW YORK. I don't even think I need to explain why I love these so much.....
I wish I could afford.... a THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR SWEATER

Silver Linings

2010-01-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not the only one who has been feeling a silvery/metallic pallette lately. I feel like if Mr. Cunningham saw me walking around midtown in my silver Swear sneakers he would have put me into his little segment. (PS still looking for the camera which took the picture of my New Years outfit... some things are worth waiting for, blog readers)

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/01/01/fashion/1247466356619/on-the-street-quicksilver.html?ref=fashion

"Fashion's not about looking back, it's always about looking forward." --A. Wintour

2010-01-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

Ms. Wintour put this axiom to test in the January2010 issue of Vogue. I have to say, transitioning from one decade into the next provides a huge opportunity for a fashion publication like Vogue to sort of tie everything together, to summarize with an eye of what's coming next.

And Vogue did not disappoint.

The January2010 issue is one of my favorites to date, and not only because the feature on the "new generation of talent" included four of my favorite designers. It wasn't my favorite because they did a feature on hip-hop star MIA. It wasn't the exciting, thorough retrospect of the decade's best dressed. It wasn't the Demarchelier piece on "going west", paying homage to the eternal American spirit. It wasn't the Rachel McAdams piece. It wasn't even the "last look" which made a nod to the intersection of fashion and tech-developments by featuring a Tod's leather Nook e-book reader case.

Every image, every word in this issue of Vogue was cohesively addressing the question we all face on the upswing of a recession, on the edge of unprecedented climate change (both global and political), on the cusp of a decade: Who are we and where are we going?

Fashion isn't about this trend or that trend, it is a barometer of our culture. Fashion, through the voices of individual artists, tells the story of our people. And according to the Jan2010 issue of Vogue, we are are going into a new decade with our fists up.
Well, now that I've got THAT off my chest, here are some images from the "date with destiny" feature, Anna Wintour's selection of the freshest talent in fashion who are going to carry us into 2010. First up, my girls at Rodarte:

This is a great shot, I think it really captures what Rodarte is all about. I understand that Vogue is all about what's CURRENTLY going on in fashion, I think it would have been a better "looking back/ looking forward" kind of piece if they brought in multiple models with sort of the "greatest hits". But that's just me.

Phillip Lim. Love love love.

Proenza Schouler.

Alexander Wang.

it's the most fashionable time of the year, part deux

2009-12-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

As promised, an update on the updates to the Kingston wardrobe.

My love/hate relationship with GAP was pretty fruitful this past winter break. Picked up these two basic, supersoft VNecks for I think five bucks each. There are few things more versatile than a good-quality vneck teeshirt. I was really feeling these two colors. Shmee. Not much to say.

These are some Marc Jacobs socks that I am actually really proud of because I have been loking for some time now for some comfy socks halfway between dress-socks and the ratty old Pumas I wear to the gym. Happy medium, everybody wins. Actually, only I win so I guess that doesn't apply?

HALLELUJAH! We meet at last, Mr. Phillip Lim, I've heard so many lovely things about you! I am so glad I was able to get this shirt from the Barneys holiday sale. The picture doesn't really do it justice. Here is just looks like the fabric is standard Catholic-schoolboy-blue-shirt, but it has the slightest slightest slightest iridescent sheen. The oversized tuxedo detailing is great.

YAY! I have never never NEVER been one to buy the same garment multiple times, but these I really had no choice. Naked and Famous (as I blogged about a couple months ago) makes what I think is the best denim available. The last time I bought this jean I got it in the deep indigo color, and now I got this grey color which I really like. The grey color and lack of tacky wash or embroidery will make these a great pair of jeans; the color makes them really versatile for formal.informal work/play kind of settings.

And of course, I hadn't really examined them too too closely in the store, but you can imagine my surprise when I discovered that the edge of the seam on the interior of the cuff has the slightest sparkly detail! You know how much I love sparkly things!

It's little details like this sparkle that really transform a garment and make it special. It's just enough for me to know it's there (and I think it'll play nicely off of my new Swear shiny sneakers!) It will also catch other peoples' eye and make them ask "Where'd you get those great jeans?!" which will provide an excellent segue for me to rave about my undying love for Naked and Famous.

McQueen does Magritte, but with more sass

2009-12-28T10:46:00.000-08:00

Alexander McQueen's Menswear SS2010 collection (although it was NO Plato's Atlantis, for sure) felt surprisngly refreshing. I appreciated the fall2009 collection, but the new show felt like a breath of fresh air.

First out were these really fresh spring looks, double-breasted windowpane suits, really cool flat-brimmed hats, suitpants with sweatpant-like bands around the ankles. Everythring felt refreshing and clean, it really began to remind me of Belgian painter Rene Magritte. Very clean lines, almost satiric in their simplicity. In true McQueen fashion, however, as soon as you feel the show pulling you in one direction it pulls you in another. Out came these paint-splattered navy khakis, rolled up cuffs, of course (I told you that was a big trend!).

Things really started to get tongue-in-cheek when McQueen sent out models covered with handprints; someone covered their hands in bright blue paint and left a mark on suits and white shirts. I love love LOVED the pants with the single white handprint over the groin. Very very funny, monsieur McQueen. What a great show. And of course, the last two looks featured those crazy futuristic-digitized-whatever prints that were all over the womenswear show. So sly, so McQueen.

Here are some of my favorite looks from the show:

trends of the moment

2009-12-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

So I am not really one for trends, but I do think there is something to be said about seeing a trend on the runway and making it your own. People often feel so overwhelmed when they want to dress more fashionably that they don't even know where to begin. Taking a mainstream trend and adapting it to your own wardrobe, budget, style, etc. can be a great way to get some fashion inspiration. Here are some of the current/upcoming trends I think work on a lot of people and can be easily adapted for every budget.

LEATHER
Leather was all over the spring runways. Leather is a great material to layer with, and when you invest in a good leather piece, you can usually adapt it to a multitude of looks and styles. A perfectly-fitting leather jacket looks great with jeans and a teeshirt, or, for the ladies, toss it on over a floral print (another big trend) dress. You don't even need to go that big and invest in a jacket. Leather leggings are great, they add a different layer of texture to your ensemble. A leather pencil skirt would be really versatile and transitions well from day into night.

NAUTICAL
Nautical-themed fashion is one of those trends that comes back every couple of years that I really enjoy. I mean, besides the blue/white pallette which is fresh looking and flattering on lots of people, who doesn't enjoy dressing up like a sailor?? Nautical means you can totally rock the blue and white striped sweaters; the GAP has a good selection of affordable options. Or, if you are willing to go way-upmarket, Balmain has a really great nautical pullover, too. Rope and enamel accessories work well here, and are available in every price range in things like belts or even cuffs.

TRIBAL
I am totally feeling the tribal trend going on right now. American Apparel is doing a great series of garments based on this African-inspired print. Any sort of wild print is in, actually, and don't be afraid to mix and match prints. One of my biggest style mantras is "It's all about the mix." As long as the GENERAL color pallette and aesthetic of the prints complement each other, you're all set. And only when you start mixing and matching old/new, thisprint/thatprint, high-end/budget is when you can let your true style shine through. Only a person with true style will be able to mix and match as they see fit, to bring together a variety of different options under the same vision in order to produce a cohesive look.

TIE-DIE
Proenza Schoulder SpringSummer2010 was ALL about the tie-dye print. A word of caution, just make sure that your tie-dye garments aren't too psychadellic. You shouldn't be able to describe the colors in your shirtwith the word 'rainbow.'
THOUGHT: Lands End always carries really cheap tie-dye shirts. Maybe I'll pick up a couple and cut them up, maybe make some racerback tanks or even do some across-the-torso splicing.... hmmm.....

it's the most fasionable time of the year

2009-12-25T18:15:00.000-08:00

So this Christmas I received a great assortment of gifts (but don't get me wrong, it isn't about the gifts... got loads of quality time in with the fam!)

I received some cool things, also bought myself a few presents (comme d'habitude)

Here just a few edits from the KingstonChristmas09Collection

The beloved Jack Spade Chocolate messenger. Together at last.

warmasheck "natural"-colored JCrew cableknit sweater with shawl collar. Will look great with slacks, torn-up jeans, under a blazer, whatever.

Shiny SWEARlondon sneakers. These are going to look SO good on New Years... blackjeans, vintageYSL white dress shirt, matte sillver tie, vest, ensemble picture forthcoming.

I love New England. Plain and Simple! This shirt is supersoft, can't wait to wear it around... Probably going to wear it with jeans and my Sorel Caribou winter boots, maybe even tie a plaid shirt around my waist for the 90s/KurtCobain/grunge-meets-NewEngland/lumberjack chic.

The essential Jack Purcell / Converse. It's fresh. It's classic. It's now.

Saw this jacket at Banana Republic and totally fell in love. It's a strange combination of being lined yet also being lightweight, so it's going to be a great versatile piece for layering. I've been toying with the idea of investing in a quality leather jacket, and I would probably want one in this silhouette so let's consider this one a dry run.

Here's a second picture with crazy flash going on so you can get a better sense of the construction. The torso is in this microfibre-y windproof-y is this neoprene-y kind of synthetic. The sleeves are like a track jacket. Check it out.

And, of course, the best part about being a fashion lover during the holiday season is after-Christmas sales! Expect a part 2 in a few days....

barneys new york holiday sale loving

2009-12-22T10:23:00.000-08:00

Anybody who is as addicted to Barneys as I am should be aware that this morning officially started the holiday sale.... up to 60% off so much fashion plus free ground shipping! And if you place your orders today, free shipping will get to you in time for New Years parties!

Here's a shirt I am thinking of getting.... 3.1 Phillip Lim (love) in light blue. It's got this really cool Lim-ified tuxedo motif going on. I actually tried it on a couple weeks ago and fell in love, but decided not to get it for.... I can't remember why? But now that it's less than half the retail price, I can't resist. Merry Christmas to me!

FAVORITE THINGS: a good navy blazer

2009-12-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

Everybody, listen up. I am not usually a preachy kind of person. Well actually, I am. But anyways. I think that one of the most essential things you need for your wardrobe is a solid, well-fiting navy blazer. It literally goes with anything. Pair it with a graphic tee and jeans for a casual look to wear out to the bar, or pair it with a sweater for a collegiate, cool weather look. You can roll up the sleeves if you want to edge it up a bit (but always be sure to steam afterwards to avoid permanent creasing!) A good blazer will go with jeans, slacks, and a big trend that's been on the runways, shorts.

Here's my latest blazer. I picked it up for next to nothing at a secondhand store. Word of caution... typically I would not advocate buying such an important wardrobe staple secondhand. I ONLY picked this one because it's Brooks Brothers (so you know it's solid construction and made from high quality materials) and it was in nearly perfect condition. The lining is this beautiful shiny navy blue which goes nicely (I think) with the deeper navy blue of the outside of the jacket. It didn't smell, it was HARDLY worn and was such a steal I couldn't resist. It didn't fit quite the way I wanted so I took it to my tailor and had it shortened and brought in around the torso, not too much, of course, because a roomier fit is in right now. I still think I am going to have the shoulder pads reduced/taken out (less architectural, looser jackets were all over the Spring2010 runways like white on rice). ANYWAYS here I am. And please don't think I am coked out or trying to look edgy... my friend took it before I was ready.

[Brooks Brothers vintage blazer. Seven For All Mankind denim. TShirt made by myself]

This is what I wore to my friend's going away party (note all of her crap behind me ready to be moved out) Black and blue paired together is one of my favorite looks to wear for casual nights out. I rolled up the sleeves and wore my bluest jeans to add some more layers of color to contrast with the black. I love love love blazers paired with a pair of washedout jeans. The TShirt is of my own design/craftsmanship. I originally made it to go see the Monster Ball a couple weeks ago.

The moral of the story, kiddies, is that there is nothing a well-fitting navy blazer can't do. They are available in literally every price point, but I would reccomend going a bit up-market because once you slip into it, you won't want to take it off.

Rodarte for Target SELLS OUT

2009-12-20T19:41:00.000-08:00

The Rodarte for Target collection went on sale this morning and, as I predicted, has already sold out. Even the online Target store is completely out. Well done, girls.

Lanvin Men Spring 2010 Ad Campaign = BEAUTY

2009-12-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

I just came across the Lanvin Men Spring 2010 Ad Campaign and had a moment. So speechless. Here are the shots, photographed by and starring husband/wife duo Vinoodh Matadin and Inez van Lamsweerde:

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THESE PICTURES. The first one is bananas; at first, the eye is drawn to the outlandish body paint on Inez. The positioning of his mouth on hers is perfect, it focuses attention on him and the clothes seem to be pushing him, motivating him to kiss her more and more passionately. This picture is pure LOVE.

The second one is insane also, I love the movement of her hair over his shoulders and the way the clothes sort of validate the way she is pouring over him. The sweeping darkness of the hair is such a great contrast to the vivid whiteness of the shirt.

Way to go Monsieur Elbaz. The campaign breathes some life into this label, which I personally think has been in need of some recussitation. This totally makes me want to go out and buy Lanvin if I get to have steamy kisses with airbrushed nymphs!

soft up top, hard down below

2009-12-16T18:20:00.000-08:00

The play of black and white and silver is so chic to me. Throw in some AWang and a little Rodarte and I'm yours.

Alexander Wang top. Bandage skirt by Vince. Quilted flap handbag by Chanel. Clip earrings by Palmacae. Rodarte shoes.

RETAIL THERAPY 12/16/09

2009-12-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

So since I've been a good little boy and have hardly spent money in MONTHS and I have a week off until my next exam, I decided to hit the streets and search for sales. I came to U&I (one of my favorites stores in Montreal) and saw a "60% off" sign in the window. I lost my breath. So after being in there for almost two hours trying on every type of garment under the sun (sooo many great deals on Philip Lim, Engineered Garments, Fred Perry, Comme des Garcons) I edited down my selection to two shirts. And of course, my camera USB cable is MIA so I can't upload pictures.... yet.

The first shirt was an Acne oxford in this really subtle lilac color. Covered buttons, perfectly tiny collar. A great staple I'll have forever. Love. Here's a picture, although it's kind of dark and the focus isn't really on the shirt, but you get the idea of the aesthetic it lends itself to.

The second shirt I decided to take a bit more of a risk on. Opening Ceremony. White and caramel gingham. Really loose, peasant-y kind of fit on top with dropped shoulders and almost like a batwing kind of sleeve. The bottom of the shirt, though, is regularly sized around my lower torso so the top gives lots of volume and movement but the bottom kind of anchors the shirt and keeps things flattering. The sleeves are just short of 3/4 length. I die. Oh, and it was 60% off. A steal. The perfect option for just wearing out for errands, meeting someone for coffee, or doing the exam-chic look. Comfy yet flattering and fashionable.

I also made a pitstop of Duo on Clark/PrinceArthur. I am always really impressed by the breadth of what they have there but just personally haven't had much luck as far as finding wearable clothes that fit me just right. I did notice, however, that there was a Duckie Brown shirt for almost 80% less than it would retail anywhere else, but I had already spent enough money today. Next time!

FAVORITE THINGS: Jack Spade Messengers

2009-12-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Jack Spade Messenger bags. Love em. Simple, chic, come in a great variety of colors and styles. Part of the proud "Spade" tradition of really solid, fashionable craftsmanship. Need I say more?

I want this one for Christmas! Love the maroon color with the contrasting label. Also comes in a great chocolate color.

RODARTE ATE MY HEART

2009-12-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

The upcoming Rodarte for Target collection has really sparked my interest in finding out what Rodarte is all about, their story, their inspiration, their work. The label was started by two sisters (Laura and Kate Mulleavy). Heres their picture:

I think what I find so interesting about these two women is that they aren't just the typical fashion/scene people... they've actually got brains! Both are graduates of UCBerkeley. It is SO refreshing to see academic people transitioning into the world of fashion (particularly because I am an English major, and so was Laura). Their intellectualism defiinately translates into the clothes... I have never really encountered anything like Rodarte. The clothes are so thought provoking, and there is definately something to be said about a fashion label whose show literally makes me stop breathing.

These sisters work with their hands, and have become masters of their sort of signature drapey-interwoven-asymmetrical-rouched motif. Even the Spring 2010 collection, which was intentionally made using "ugly" fabrics like burnt cheeseclotch and sandpapered leather, was put together in such a way that the craftsmanship of the looks, the combination of the seemingly ugly components was intensely beautiful and powerful. Heres some of my favorites from the Spring 2010 show:

I could post a billion picture on here of all my favorite Rodarte moments (it's so hard to pick just one!) but I think by far, the most mesmerizing dress I have ever seen come down the Rodarte Runway is this one, so full of movement, so full of color.... I love the way that this dress makes your eye move from color to color and then following the trail of the black swooshey thingy... PERFECTION: (I couldn't find a picture to steal so just follow this link, thanks NYTimes!)

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/style/fashionweek/runway.html#/spring_2009_rodarte/slide_show/28

Rodarte consistently gets better and better at producing finely crafted pieces of art. The clothes are daring, fresh, intellectual, often shocking, always beautiful.

(oh and as far as pronunciation, I haven't heard either of the sisters pronounce it themselves, but I have heard "ro-DART-ay" a lot. maybe this is just me being a picky English major, but I definately prefer "row-DART." the soft vowel sound cut off with the sudden intonation of the second syllable, curving the "R" sound with the front of your mouth is more intriguing to my ear. and saying "ro-DART-ay" just sounds hokey. but call it what you will.)

Sad News.... for Now

2009-12-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hello loyal blog readers. I regret to inform you that I am going to be taking some time off from KINGSTON PROJECT. I, after all, am a student and it is the peak of exam season up here in Montreal. Rest assured, I will be coming back full force the minute I stop writing that last exam.

Let the Record Show that.....

2009-12-02T08:56:00.000-08:00

I would just like to state for the record that I am passionately against colored jeans. If you are going to be brave enough to wear them, just make sure that they are in a modern, slim, straight cut. Please, no bootcuts, bellbottoms, flares, whathaveyou-- the seventies have been over for quite some time now. Bootcut color jeans are DEAD.

That's all.

Flash of Red, Flash of Champagne

2009-11-30T21:25:00.000-08:00

DVF Jacket. VPL Tshirt. Champagne paillette hotpants by Rare for Topshop. Christian Louboutin Champagne Chiffon pumps. Valentino Garavani clutch. Yves Saint Laurent glass bead neklace.

THE MONSTER BALL: a fashionable perspective

2009-11-30T12:15:00.000-08:00

Last night me and a close friend trekked out to Ottawa to see Lady Gaga in her latest "electro-pop opera" musical performance shindig, The Monster Ball. The performance was incredible... the art direction! the choreography! the live singing! the art films! the stage! the message! My mind was completely blown, and walking away from the stadium, my resolve had never been stronger... Gaga is truly an artist capable at once of entertaining and sending a powerful message.

But, loyal blog readers, this is at the end of the day a style blog. So let's stay on point.

The theme of the show, according to Gaga interviews from the past several weeks, is evolution. "How we start off as one thing.... and become another." The show could be taken as a sort of post-apocalyptic view of humanity. Gaga begins the show in a nude spandex suit with built in sparkling lights, very basic and simple, almost elemental in the way she stands out against the dark background. Her dancers are in similar plain catsuits with bone-like headgear and arm-piece-covering-things.

I think my favorite moment as far as costuming was during her performance of "Monster" and was going for a sort of Red-Riding Hood theme (without the red riding hood, actually?) Gaga appears in a sort of dark forest wearing what appears to be a large fur capelet which covers her entire torso. Dancers slowly accumulate on the stage in equally as frightening black fur ensembles, resembling monsters. They pose this way and that way and terrorize poor Lady Gaga, until the end when Gaga drops off her fur and is in a teeny leather bustier and panties. Oh, how we evolve from natural, furry little monsters into fetishized oversexed monsters. The ensemble changes, bu tthe monster is always within....

Another important moment which I really enjoyed was during her rendition of "Paparazzi" while wearing the leather coat featured on the album cover:

Gaga is crouching on some scaffolding like the big things that lights in a theater are mounted on, and the scaffolding is lifted about 10 feet in the air to simulate this image of Gaga sneaking around in the rafters, and a projection of a silhouette dancing against a wall of lights is played in the background, like Gaga is a stalker, a monster, the phantom of the opera? She sings the song which addresses the themes of obsession with celebrity, blah blah blah, all the while with the leather coat covering her face as in the picture. I loved how Gaga used the fashion to literally obscure her face and become an anonymous little fame-whoring-celebrity-chasing monster. Delicious.

In keeping with the theme of evolution, the last ensemble of the evening was a pantsuit. I thought it was ironic, actually, starting out with this raw, elemental, primordial look evoking skin and bones, and ending up in a bright white pantsuit with massive Quasimodo-style shoulders constructed into the jacket. We start out as one thing and become another....

SO I can't really due justice to the entire art/fashion direction and styling of the show, but just walk away form this blog post knowing that missing out on the Monster Ball is missing out on a powerful, emotional, moving, compelling, fashion and music show/performance.

dolla dolla bills yo

2009-11-28T12:36:00.000-08:00

JCrew just reported that last year's profits more than doubled. Yay! The recession might be screwing over more culturally relevant couture houses like Christian Lacroix or Luella, but who cares?! JCrew is here to stay!

Now if only they would expand to Canada so I can support them year-round....

Alexis Mabille, Menswear Spring 2010

2009-11-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

I was just flipping through WWD Men's Collections Spring 2010 and came across a little blurp on the Alexis Mabille show. My interest piqued, I headed online to check out more of the collection. I would probably describe the show as playful-preppy-bourgeois-boudoir. Mabille sent out these incredible brocade pants, one in a chinoiserie-style pattern and the other in an argyle-a-la-harlequin. Here are my favorite looks from the show:

Totally loving the backwards suspenders. The pants are totally out of control. Again, I fall prey to my addiction to shiny things.

The only thing I really liked about this was the peacoat. I love a grey peacoat, and the slim cut of the torso and sleeves paired with the detailing on the collar makes this for me. Classic looks done in a fresh way never, never go out of style.

I really liked the slim and trim cut of this jacket, and contrasting textures on collars always gets me. Tossing the jacket on over the shoulder has this great effortless-chic-luxury feeling to it. Playful yet sophisticated.

I would like to state for the record that I am a total advocate of wider-leg shorts, especially (though not in that case) when they are cut above the knee.

So this guy is actually the designer Alexis Mabille, and I don't know if he is wearing his own creation (he probably is) but I really like this cardigan. Light pink and grey are a great color combination. Also, it's refreshing to see a designer who seems so happy and proud after a fashion show. When everyone is clapping for you, after you've had a massive team of people put in lots of hours of work to put the show together, nothing is ruder than a stern designer who takes one step on stage, raises an arm in the audience's general direction, and disappears.

Great collection, Monsieur, Mabille, glad to see you're enjoying it as much as we did.

Totally Rad

2009-11-26T19:59:00.000-08:00

While in the throws of my style research for inspiration for the blog, inspiration for my own style, and potential pieces to invest in, I've come across what might be the coolest men's label of the moment. Yeah, it's called "Warriors of Radness", no big deal. The vibe of the line is complete and total eighties.nineties revival. Windbreakers, pullovers, neon and pastel colors, SoCal surfer chic insanity. Check out this picture from their Spring 2010 lookbook:

The stuff looks super fresh, with an 80s revival look that isn't stuffy or cliche. And when I saw the prices, my jaw dropped... SUPER reasonable. I can't wait to order one of their fun windbreakers, it's going to be such a great look for Spring! (I really want the turquoise and pink one in the picture at the very bottom) Here's some more images so you can get a feel for WARRIORS OF RADNESS.

(check out their website + online shop: http://www.warriorsofradness.com/ )

FAVORITE THINGS: Ludlow Suiting at (you guessed it) JCrew

2009-11-24T23:10:00.000-08:00

And alas, faithful gentlemen blog readers, we arrive upon yet another reason for you to love JCrew. Ludlow suiting. Classic JCrew cuts and styling meets a trimmer, more contemporary fit. And in true JCrew fashion, stalk the website for long enough and you'll certainly find a good steal. Go out and get yours today.

on Autumn Colours

2009-11-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

I have a few quick words on autumn colors...

Autumn is probably my favorite time of year for fashion, because it allows you to layer interesting looks without sweating to death, and since there isn't any snow yet, you don't have to start worrying about things like bulky coats and long underwear. It is also my favorite season for colors. I think that deep espresso browns with flashes of reds and oranges look great during this season. Myfavorite sophisticated color palette would be a simple combination of fresh greys and crisp whites with little brightly colored accents like bright greens.

Autumn is definately the best time of year to mix it up a little bit, so don't be afraid to mix some colors that you wouldn't mix at other times of the year.

Leather and Lace

2009-11-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

This look I think can work nicely for both day and night. I love the color of this boyfriend blazer, looks really sexy with the lace camisole peeping out from underneath. I tried to balance the tougher elements like the lizardskin pumps and distressed jeans with softer feminined touches like the flower ring, necklace, and tassled bag.

Boyfriend blazer from Topshop. Kill City lace camisole. Current/Elliot skinny distressed denim. Chanel ring and handbag. Milene Berger pearl and crystal necklace. Lizard skin platform pumps at Browns. Prada butterfly sunglasses.

This look is pure sex. Requires a lot of confidence to pull of a leather bustier and sparkly coat. Not to mention the studded pumps.

Sequin jacket from Topshop. Chanel handbag. Yves Saint Laurent leather bustier. Citizens of Humanity Slick Avedon Skinny Jeans. Azzedine Alaia studded platform pumps.

polyvore wanna cracker??

2009-11-20T18:33:00.000-08:00

I just made a killer discovery. (I'm probably the last one to do so, as I usually am. Case in point, me only just recently falling in love with Kings of Leon, approximately 12 months after the rest of the world) It's called polyvore.com. And they probably have all sorts of cool features but the thing that absolutely drives me nuts is how it allows you to browse oodles of clothing/accessories and mix and match to construct your own ensembles!

(This is actually a bad discovery because henceforth when I am running low on inspiration I'll prob just end up going to polyvore and messing around and posting the Sets on here instead of writing legitimate entries. but that's ok.)

It would be really nice if they had menswear, but oh well!

So here is my first set.... I felt really inspired when I saw this dress to make a fierce glammed-out ensemble with feinine touches like the tulle headband and bow clutch.

3.1 Phillip Lim Sequin TShirt Dress. Valentino bow clutch. Christian Louboutin cage booties. Forever 21 headband. 5 Wrap Crystal Mix leather braclet.

Old School Kicks

2009-11-19T12:33:00.000-08:00

This big trend I've been seeing lately- and a really fun one that I hope sticks around, at that- is the ressurgence of old school style shoes, for both men and women. Saddle shoes, Brogues, wingtips, oxfords, basically anything that we would once have ruled out as 'old-looking.' But think, what makes them old? Yeah, they were often worn by business men MadMen style back in the 50s, but in all honesty, they are really versatile shoes that require solid construction and often posess a high degree of artisanship.

What I really like about this trend is that this retro style of shoe can be found at pretty much any price point. If you want to splurge, Prada has definately been brining back the perforated leather wingtip, but you can also run out to any Salvation Army and probably end up finding a similar looking shoe for a fraction of the cost.

Old School shoes are really versatile, too. Get a nice pair of caramel colored wingtips or saddleshoes in a brown color palette and you can pair them with a grey suit for the workplace, or some cuffed jeans for a new-meets-old-meets-casual-meets-formal look.

This style of shoe is also totally acceptable for the ladies as well. I've seen some great adaptations with heels if you want the feminine/masculine/blend look, like these from Pedro Garcia:

With the right attitude you could totally rock these out sexy-librarian style!! Just make sure if you are going to be wearing this masculine-inspired shoe that the rest of your outfit does incorporate some feminine details. I would pair this shoe with a ruffled blouse. Or drape-y sweater.

So, kids, the moral of the story is don't worry if something looks old or not, because chances are it will come back into style eventually. And, according to the cardinal rule, it's not what you wear but how you wear it.

Independent Retail Week, or Why the Hell Am I Not in New York Right Now????

2009-11-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

So, in my industry perousing I just came across this little event going on this week called "Indepdendent Retail Week." My interest was piqued. All sorts of independent stores across NY are doing all sorts of fun promotions, sales, events, whatever this week. Kind of like Fashion's Night Out, but a week long and wayy more grassroots. In a way, I think this is more important than FNO because these independent stores are what makes fashion personal, what allows these retailers to have their own voice.

Anyways, when I saw the list of participating retailers, I lost it. Why the F am I not in New York right now?? In fact, as I write this post, there is a Steven Alan sample sale going on at the label's flagship in Tribeca! NOOOO!!!!!!!! Anyways, IRW has got all sorts of great stores participating, including The Dressing Room on the LES (the one I posted about a few weeks ago!), Lois Eastlund also on the LES, Jean Shop, Buckler, and cute boutiques galore!

New Yorkers, you are one lucky bunch of shoppers.

Go here for more info: http://www.independentretailweek.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=71

"Am I reaching for the stars? I don't think so."

2009-11-18T20:50:00.000-08:00

Kids these days don't know how to shop for clothes that properly fit them! Then again, when you wear your jeans halfway down your ass you're entering a whole new world of sizing which I am not familiar with! Should we start buying jeans whose waist measurement equals the diameter of our derrieres? I also think the most common offender of the 'fit' rule is the person who can not understand the difference between something that fits well and something that is just plain old tight.
If I can see your midriff, the shirt is too short. You aren't a cokewhore and this isn't the nineties. Same thing in the back... if I can see your entire lower back, it's too short. There's no problem with flashing a little bit of skin, but if I can count your vertebrae, there's a problem.

If a shirt clings to fat rolls on your torso, shit's too tight, son. Ladies- jersey is a fickle friend. Wear it right, you'll knock em dead. Wear it wrong, it will draw attention to all the wrong places.

Skin-tight jeans on men are a statement piece, not a staple piece for everyday use. And if I can see the boys downstairs, your pants are too tight.

Ladies, ladies, ladies.... I am by no means a Victorian but please, leave some things to the imagination. When you're wearing shorts in the dog days of summer, they shouldn't be similar to spandex in fit and they shouldn't come all the way up to your ass. Same thing for dresses. Find the perfect length for your legs which is both flattering and sexy but doesn't show off your kooch when you walk.

So please, people, don't rush into buying something that doesn't fit well. Make sure you spend that extra thirty seconds looking at yourself in the mirror. And always check how your body can move while wearing a garment before deciding to buy it. There is no sense in buying nice clothes and carefully constructing a look if it doesn't fit the right way!

FAVORITE THINGS: T by Alexander Wang

2009-11-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

Alexander Wang's "T' line is super cool. Moderately priced, revamped basics which are totally wearable, comfortable and scream "WANG!" Every basic shape you can think of, from the perfect racer-back/deep-vneck tshirt to great LBDs and even a really comfy looking onesie! The collection is perfectly drape-y enough without appearing slouchy or slumpy. And Wang is going to be expanding the line to include menswear any day now! Here are some of my favorite edits from the T line:

Meet Tavi, L'Enfant Terrible of the Fashion Blog World

2009-11-17T13:57:00.000-08:00

SO usually I don't like to talk about other blogger's work on my own blog, I think it kind of subverts what I am trying to do here, but I am also committed to writing about things that interest and inspire me. That being said...
Meet Tavi. She is in the eighth grade and is the most badass bitch you've ever seen.
Her blog is her own sort of little scrapbook where she comments on fashion shows and trends and pretty little things that catch her eye. She also puts up pictures like the ones I've *borrowed* and put up here where she shows off her own unique, inventive style. Tavi writes with all the sass you would expect from a pre-tween.
I haven't even met adults who are as confident about their style as she is; Tavi is not afraid to mix and match patterns, textures and proportions, and almost always gets it right!
OH and did I mention that she is basically a fashion celebrity?! She just wrote a post on her experience at the PRADA BOOK LAUNCH SHE WAS INVITED TO LIKE IT AIN'T NO THANG.
She's gotta be doing something right, because even the hothouse of Proenza Schouler is sending her free merch! Check out this lime green top they sent her:

Tavi is clearly giving me a run for my money!! I totally respect her, though... she writes about fashion however the flip she wants to and totally rocks her girlish, yet surprisingly sophisticated, sense of style.

gaga, oh la la!

2009-11-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

The upcoming December issue of Vogue is gearing up to be a winner. I wish I could express my undying love for both Grace Coddington and Annie Liebovitz, especially for picking a Hansel & Gretel theme! But wait, there's more... Lady Gaga was cast as the witch!

The pictures look incredible, and both of the models have a really editorial/young look to them which makes them perfect for this kind of shoot. Here are some of my favorite images:

I love how as the story progresses, Gretel's style, starting out as purely fun and girly, gets a little more sophisticated and less nieve. By the end, she is wearing a slightly more complex garment which is form fitting and shows off her body. By the end, Gretel has the confidence and power to fight back against the witch and her clothes reflect this.

Hmmm I understand that Vogue is ultimately a women's fashion magazine, but I really would have liked to see some more variety on Hansel!

Gaga is absolutely rocking in her two Marc Jacobs ensembles. Totally Gaga and totally Vogue, great shoot.

The Canadian Tuxedo. or, A Fashion Disaster Waiting to Happen

2009-11-12T13:09:00.001-08:00

You've all seen it before. It is probably one of the most terrifying ensembles you will ever encounter. And it can happen to anyone. At any time. I'm talking about the Canadian Tuxedo. Yup, that atrocious denim on denim look. And perpetrators always do the same look: lightblue distressed denim jacket/button-down with lightblue distressed jeans. Horrible. Disgusting. It must be avoided at all costs.

But I sincerely believe you can rock this look IF styled carefully and correctly.

Rule #1: Thou shalt not wear the same wash above and below. This is probably the easiest part to deal with. My personal choice would to sport a really dark wash, raw denim, selvedge-y kind of jean on the bottom. The darker the better. Black jeans could work here. And as always, avoid colored jeans like the plague. On top, rock it out with a really distressed lightblue jacket, the more broken and contrasting to both wash and color of the pant in the better.

Rule #2: Thou shalt be cautious of fit. Denim on denim is already a risky enough look. If done incorrectly it SCREAMS old fashioned and out of date. So what we need to do as a sort of insurance plan is to make sure that the fit of the look is completely modern and up-to-date. That means straight leg jeans, the skinnier the better. And as for the jacket, I think that you would be better off with one that is slightly cropped and doesn't go down too low. Make sure it fits close to the body without being to tight. A floating denim shell over your torso is the last thing you want.

Rule #3: Thine top is thine salvation. No matter which way you do it, denim on denim is going to be a bit of a blank canvas look. For a top, I would pick a graphic tee shirt. Or something with paillette detailing. Any sort of print which is going to be peaking out from beneath the jacket without overpowering the look will work here. But make sure the color palette of the shirt blends well with both the washes of your jeans and your jacket.

Rule #4: Thou shalt not forget the details. As always, the details are going to make the look. I would definately roll up the jacket sleeves. Maybe even do that thing where you pop the back of the collar just a bit. And make sure you accessorize correctly to complete the look. I think a cool leather cuff or bracelet would complement this denim ensemble. A cool natural-looking necklace in turquoise or some other stone would go nicley with the rustic element of a denim ensemble. And ladies, wear your hair down, sexy and au naturale.

Here are some looks that I would style. And yes, I stole the picutures so.. ignore some of the prestyled looks!
First up, for the ladies....

Jeans by Naked&Famous. Jacket by 7forAllMankind. Racerback sequin top by Parker.

And for the gents:

Jeans by Naked&Famous. Jacket by Levi's. TShirt by Local Celebrity. Cuff from Abercrombie&Fitch (I know, I know, the dreaded, tacky, overdone A&F. But you CAN'T deny that they consistently produce really affordable, go-to leather accessories.)

Well, now that you've asked...

2009-11-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

My blog post the other day about my friend and his question about the chain has been on my mind a lot lately. So I just have a couple things to say to the gentlemen about jewelry.

- Keep it simple. Unless you've got some professional advice, avoid wearing more than one necklace at a time.

- If you're going to do bracelets, pick one arm... two arms with bracelets is entering dangerous territory...

- As far as coloration goes, never EVER wear a silver necklace with a gold bracelet and vice-versa or any combination thereof. If one is leather or other natural-fiber based, you'll have a bit more mixing freedom.

- Approach ALL gold with caution. Silver always looks fresher, younger, and it goes with more.

- In my professional opinion, unless you are married, rings are SELDOM a good idea.

- Keep it sleek yet substantial. Be very careful with the width of the chain. Too thick will look like tranny costume jewelry. Too thin will look too cheap.

- As far as length of necklaces, chokers are never EVER ok. Personally, I prefer longer chains, ones that hang down to your sternum. They make your upper torso look longer and draw out the line from your chest from your head. If done corrrectly it can make you look taller and thinner.

Totes for you and totes for me!

2009-11-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

A good tote bag is something that everyone needs at one point or another. Be it for holding food on your way to a picnic or potluck, or tossing in a change of clothes to slip into after your couture party, here are some of my favorites, all stylish, all from different price ranges.

Iconic in its own right, I think everyone should own their own monogrammed LL Bean tote bag. They are super affordable and come in a constellation of sizes and colors, and they are so easy to wash in case yours gets dirty.

Jack Spade makes some great masculine options. The first is a pretty basic one that is hand dipped in liquid rubber to add extra durability. You will literally have this bag forever. The second is my personal favorite. Neutral colors go with everything, and this one is currently on sale on the Jack Spade website for about $70.

Kate Spade also makes a really fun and girlier option. I love the splash of pink on top of the handle here!

Burberry, accessories legend, has a simple nylon tote with the Prorsum logo on th e top. Very simple, very UK-chic, under $200. Also comes in a red, a lilac and a really fierce black.

Longchamp, French accessories authority, has become extremely widespread. Particularly, every spoiled girl has the basic "Pliage" tote. An easy way to one-up all those dumb girls while still being able to partake in the luxury of Longchamp's style and craftsmanship would be to go upscale just a little bit and get a slightly more embellished, but still easily recognizable and disctinctively Longchamp, bag. Here are my picks:

This first one has a really cool handle, making this a great option for the men, too! And the second Longchamp:

Totally easy and breezy, very elegant and completely utilitarian.

And, of course, if you are willing to splurge a bit for a great tote you will use forever, Hermes has a great product called the "SilkyPop." This line of bags is made out of silk inside of a kind of Continental style leather wallet. You unzip, and out "pops" the bag, and the leather folds open and becomes the base of the bag. Really easy to travel with, and just like Hermes scarves, they come in about thirty thousand different patterns. Et voila!

Thom Browne Spring 2010

2009-11-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

Loved this look from Thom Browne's Spring 2010 runway show. The cuffs on the pants are really playful in a London-chic sophisticated kind of way. The rest of the pant is a bit too highwaisted for my taste. But whatever.

The Fahrenheit 451 mask and tennis skort were not quite my style, but I completely died when I saw this jacket. Love love love this is going to the TOP of my wishlist.:

STAMPEDE

2009-11-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been really hung up on just how frigging hot Jessica Stam is. She's got such a great Cindarella story, too.... apparently she was discovered in a Tim Horton's on her way back home to small-town-Ontario and was discovered by an off-duty modelling agent. Next thing you know, she is walking down every runway and is in every ad campaign from Milan to LA! I mean, granted, she's been professionally modelling for almost seven years now, but still it's a pretty impressive story.

She is so mysteriously beautiful, and there is something so fierce about her eyes that strikes you immediately, but you can't really pinpoint why.....

Here's some Stam-Candy for all y'all to enjoy:

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

2009-11-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

Alright. So lately, I've been going down a road I never thought I would venture down... my shoe fetish has been burgeoning and blossming. Particularly, shiny shoes. And sneakers. Shiny sneakers, of course, being my ultimate weak spot.

I've come across this shoe label called "Swear" out of London and I am obsessed with everything they've been putting out, but these two caught my eye in particular.

They're understated with just enough sheen poking out in the heel. Totally great to toss on to run out for some errands.

These shoes are out of control. I love love love them because they aren't too much, but you definately need the confidence to pull them off. I would style these with some dark unwashed selvedge denim that would show them off. And a simple tee shirt in a neutral color, or even in black or a gauzy offwhite. And perhaps a slimcut black blazer with rolled up sleeves. Great choice for wearing out at night without having to get too dressed up, maybe on a dinner date or to a cocktail bar.

If you've got it, flaunt it

2009-11-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

Someone at a party last night approached me with a burning question he had been thinking about sometime. He asked, "Where do I wear the chain [with dogtags that I am currently sporting]-- on the inside of the shirt or on the outside?"
My answer-- totally rock the chains on the outside for all to see. I would like to state for the record that any sort of jewelry on men must be approached with extreme caution lest one enter the realm of "guido" or "tacky." (And B, if you are reading this, your chains were spot-on, rest assured.)
So you heard me, boys, if you're going to be brave enough to sport jewelry, wear it on the outside of the shirt for all to see.

Prada: The Book

2009-11-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

“I hate fashion ... I also love it, of course. Everyone, no matter who they are or what they have, has to get dressed in the morning. Fashion is about the way we think of ourselves, the way we compose ourselves, every day. For me this is very profound.”-- Miuccia Prada

The monolothic house of Prada just released a massive, more than 700 page book detailing its history since the brands conception back in 1918. The book will address a lot of Prada's production secrets and will focus on the major breakthroughs the brand has become known for, particularly its work with cutting edge artists and excellence in the field of accessories. It also purports to divulge some secrets about the future of the Fondazione Prada, known for sponsoring and nourishing breakthrough artists. The book is available at Prada stores.

The ultimate stocking stuffer, I'm definately going to pick one up!

pretty little thing

2009-11-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

This is my friend Tina. And she is one of my style icons. She is really the master of mix and match, and I am totally inspired by her "fuckall" approach to fashion... she is completely unapologetic and brave. She is not afraid to push the envelope, and she is the only person I know that can pull off cowboy boots, retro sweaters and sequins... all in the same look without looking like a hot tranny mess. She embodies the principle of "it's not what you wear, but how you wear it." And I know I'm not the only one who thinks she's the shit... every time we go out to a bar, she consistently draws the most attention and gets hit on the most. And why I love her is because she deosn't shy away from the attention her style draws- she thrives on it. Tina is the perfect example of a sexy and confident woman whose style is a true representation of her inner character.

(oh and these are the first pictures I have put on the Project that I've actually taken myself!)

Luscious Geometries: 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2010

2009-11-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

Phillip Lim's Spring 2010 was pretty genius. He has a really great way of taking simple silhouettes and changing them in some way to add a little spice. This time around, he had a lot of fun playing with proportion and texture. The runway show was spectacular. It started out with some 'boyfriend' proportion jackets and trousers which went to a kind of modern-day-after-school-prep-chic place. Then out came these incredible leather garments. They looked super supple and I loved the way they moved on the models' bodies. Right now, leather jackets are really in, so it's interesting to see leather as becoming more integrated into our lives by making leather tanks, dresses, and blouses. One of my favorites was this one:

I love how the geometry of the coat sort of floats over the texture of the leather mini dress. A classic example of how Lim is really conceptual but incredibly wearable. And just when you begin to think that Lim is fully committed to this really architectural, geometric look, out comes this dress:

Very girly and fresh, and it's genius the way he uses the texture of the fabric and the drape to just "woosh" up the side of the dress. The eye is immediately drawn to the complexity of that.... whatever you call it...! And of course, I started freaking out when I saw this dress:

Lim is genius... just when the eye gets used to the neutral color pallette of the show, out comes this electrifying paillette dress. So unexpected, but it-- with the relaxed proportions and button-up style-- totally fits in with the collection. This is the perfect little party dress. The plunging V might be a bit much for some people, but, hey, if you're going to be wearing a paillette mini, you might as well pull out all the stops!

Well done, Mr. Lim!

Plain Jane Shirt

2009-11-05T18:41:00.000-08:00

Heard some chitter chatter about Plain Jane Couture today, so I decided to poke around and see what they're all about. Their logo is the silhouette of a naked woman with her panties about her ankles. I found this TShirt:

I think this is hilarious.... putting panties on these monolithic brand logos is a really tongue and cheek way of saying "yeah Chanel, you're great, but sometimes you just gotta loosen up!" (Wow did I really just say that?)

We could all use a little panty-dropping in our lives, n'est-ce pas?!

I never feel guilty about buying shoes. In fact, I feel proud to buy these!

2009-11-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

I was just reading up about the Accessories Council ACE awards, and their Humanitarian Award went to TOMS Shoes. My interest was piqued, I went to their website to check out what they are all about.

TOMS creates these really great, stylish but utilitarian and totally wearable shoes. Prices range from about $40 to $80 dollars, but here's the catch-- according to their "One for One" policy, for every pair of shoes they sell they will donate a pair to "child in need." I strongly reccomend you check out their website, this sounds like a really great cause: http://www.tomsshoes.com/

TOMS shoes would make a great Christmas gift; they aren't too pricy and they are backed by a worthwhile cause! Spread some holiday cheer and order some today! Or check out the website and find a retailer near you.

Personally, the following were my favorites. This first pair is really chill and totally wearable, and I love the no laces look:

And if you are in more of a statement-making mood, go for the "Make art not war" shoe:

And, of course, it wouldn't be a Kingston Project blogpost if there wasn't some sort of sparkly paillette reference! I really like these, and they are unisex!:

So come on people, it's a new era of ethical clothing, of supporting charitable pursuits. So go out and get yoru TOMS today!

Interesting GaGa Outfit allusions....

2009-11-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

Just came across this on OhNoTheyDidn't.com

Someone made the connection between the outfits Gaga wore to the VMAs and Alice in Wonderland. Everything makes sense now!!

What do you guys think??

When she arrived, she was the mad hatter because that's how a lot of people view her... kind of wild and out of control.

When she was performing, she was the rabbit because she wanted us to come down and see how deep the rabbit hole really goes. She wanted her performance to take us on a kind of eyeopening journey, and that it did-- she finished in a totally unexpected way, dangling from the ceiling dripping in blood.

When she accepted her award, she was the queen of hearts because she is the queen of all of our hearts! We love Gaga!

When she was doing paparazzi photos after the ceremony, she was the White Queen, regal and accomplished.

Genius....

STORES I LOVE: The Dressing Room, NYC

2009-11-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

Last time I was in New York I kept hearing a lot of buzz about the Lower East Side and the constellation of great stores that have popped up over the past couple of years. I headed on down to Orchard Street, grabbed an iced-cap from a grassroots cafe and began to sleuth. I came across this little gem of a store by complete accident, and was immediately struck by how unique of a place it was.

The Dressing Room is a a part co-op/ part bar/ part vintage boutique that made me feel at home from the second I walked in. They showcase a lot of local NY designers, most from the LES area. There is also a bar on the main floor which apparently has a pretty bumpin happy hour scene. The clothes were unique and wearable without being too "I'm a fledgling New York designer trying to be too edgy and too many things at once but before you go let me run up to my sixth story alphabet city walk up studio and get some coke." Lots of great colors, and some really beautiful cocktail dresses for the ladies.

My personal favorite part of the store was the "clothing exchange" in the basement. You have to fight for your life to get down a narrow, steep set of back stairs which dumps you into a basement which, decorated with overstuffed couches and candy dishes for your enjoyment, feels more like someone's parlor or -lol- dressing room. I instantly ran to the men's rack and began pawing through. And then, like an epiphany, I saw the light: a vintage Yves Saint Laurent whtie dress shirt, the fabric in a sort of very slight herringbone pattern. Fit me perfectly. Heaven. And then I saw the pricetag-- $38. I died.

I kept looking through the vintage section and, although the YSL dress shirt was the best menswear piece I found, there were lots of great womenswear pieces-- vintage Prada and Weitzman pumps for under $70. Beaded purses and pretty little things, all for extremely reasonable prices.

I went upstairs to purchase my shirt, and before I knew it, was striking up conversation with the store owner. She told me to go home, give the shirt a quick steam, toss it on and come back for their free peach sangria party later that night. Unfortunately I had a train to catch. But I rest assured, there is at least one great niche in the LES where I can come back to and know I'll find a friendly face and fashionable treasures.

The Dressing Room is located on the Lower East Side, at 75a Orchard Street between Broome and Grand.

Swine Flu Chic

2009-11-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

Three of my roommates are currently stricken with swine flu. It's only a matter of time until the virus gets me. Either way, I don't plan on letting h1n1 virus make me any less stylish. Here are some great tips on how to get sick without losing your cool.

It is a truth univesally acknowledged that being bed ridden for several days makes you.... icky. Ted Gibson makes a great product called the "Hair Sheet." Just wip one out of its convenient packaging and run it through your hair. They make your hair fresher and give it some much needed boosting after being smushed up against a pillow.

If you for any reason need to leave the house, be it to run down the block for some chicken soup or to your local pharmacy for some Pepto, don't you dare leave without the largest pair of sunglasses you own. Tossing on a pair of big sunnies will hide your less-than-perfect complexion and not make small children run away in fear.

But before you leave the house, however, I strongly reccomend putting on some "natural glow" lotion. Jergens makes a good one, so does Aveeno. It is a quick and healthy way to add a slight bit of glow to your skin, and unlike makeup, you don't have to worry about applying it correctly or removing it.

A big symptom of Swine Flu is intense coughing. You're going to need some serious therapy to combat this symptom. I reccommend using Strepsils. They are the Chanel Haute Couture of coughdrops. My friend from Westchester Country says that they are very exclusive in her hometown, that people- even sick people who need them- have to go on a waiting list and pay upawards of $20 per box. Up here in Montreal-- where I am currently living, by the way-- you can be them for under $8 a box at any store at any time. So as soon as you have even the slightest itchy throat, run out to the store and pick up some Cherry flavored Strepsils. And call your friend from Westchester and tell them that you just bought an armful of Strepsils, they'll think you're some sort of celebrity.

As far as apparel goes, curl up in your favorite chunky knit sweater.I have a nice and thick one from Dale of Norway. Getting over the flu is all about staying warm, so layer, layer, layer!

And please, people, if you are going to be in any contact with anybody, brush your teeth! Even if you found the energy to put together a cute Swine Chic ensemble, the look will be ruined if your breath smells like a dead animal!

(Found this on the internet thinking that googling 'swine flu chic' would yield some results. Part of me wishes this mask was real:

)

I like to give credit where credit is due. (Except when I steal every picture for this blog off of google images.) This post would not have been possible without the inspiration of my beautiful friend Stephanie.

You're a Fugly Hot Mess, or Easy on the Leggings!

2009-11-01T14:08:00.000-08:00

Leggings are great. Wear them, I don't care. Just don't count on them as a staple of your wardrobe. They have been so overdone! Would you rather be known as the girl that wears leggings every now and again because she is fashionable and likes to switch it up? Or would you rather be known as that lazy girl that wears leggings every day because she is too lazy to spice it up?

And please note that the legging is NOT a substitute for pants. The legging is a completely different garment whose main function is to provide warmth and coverup when too much leg is showing. The pant is designed to be a completely independent garment on its own. Leggings are meant to complement a longer top which completely covers the genitals and glutes but does not sufficiently cover the leg.

And please, no shiny leggings. They are so cheap-looking, and unless you have great and slender legs, they do nothing but draw attention to how wide you thighs are. Approach colored leggings with caution.

Just please remember, the legging is an option, a weapon in your fashion arsenal, it should never be the main artillery.

FAVORITE THINGS: JCrew Sweaters for Fall

2009-11-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

As the weather starts to get colder, we need to start worrying about layering. My favorite way to transform any look into autumn-appropriate attire is to just toss on a sweater from JCrew. They really make a great product; their sweaters are really high quality, and when you slip into one it feels like an old friend you've been wearing for years. They come in all sorts of colors, cables, patterns, designs, and fabric blends. Here is one of my favorites for fall-weather layering:

This cotton-cashmere blend sweater is so versatile. It goes with everything and is such an easy way to add some warmth to your look. It's pretty reasonably priced at about $59.50, and some colors are on sale right now for just $39.99!

Over the Knee Boots

2009-10-31T13:28:00.000-07:00

Over the knee boots are totally in at the moment. They are a great option for both day and evening wear. Pair this pair of suede Louboutins with a chunky-knit cream-colored oversize sweater for a casual yet sexy daytime look:

These Gucci OTKs are totally OOC. I am in love with the architecturual, structured pattern of the fabrics. The patent leather deatiling is uber-sexy. These would be a totally killer, shut-it-down option for a night out on the town. (Wow I really need to slow down with the RachelZoe-isms!). I would style this with some fantastic dripping-in-sequins top. Check out how futuristic and fashion-forward they are:

And Prada, of course, has their own version of "yeah, I'm wearing OTK boots because that's how far I'll shove my foot up your ass unless you do what I tell you" boots. So fierce:

And, for those of us who would rather pay the rent this month than shell out hundreds- even thousands- for OTK boots, here is an equally fabulous and totally affordable version from DSW, currently priced at just $69.95!

Go check out the DSW website, they've got TONS of OTK options, many in real leather and suede, most for less than a hundred bucks!

STORES I LOVE: North River Outfitters, Boston

2009-10-31T01:14:00.000-07:00

This is probably one of my favorite places to go shopping in my home city, Boston. First of all, it is nestled in the cutest, most historic part of the city, Beacon Hill. It is near lots of great places to go for lunch after you shop 'till you drop- pizzeria Figs being my absolute favorite- and is steps from Boston Common where you can go and sun yourself after picking up the latest in preppy apparel.

North River Outfitters is everything a boutique should be. The retail space itself is neither too big nor too small, but is extremely well stocked with everything from Lilly Pulitzer dresses to a host men's accessories, my personal favorite being the Belted Cow belt which reads "5 O'Clock Somewhere" spelt out in nautical flags. NRO calls itself a "Classic Clothier to Ladies and Gentleman," and it is just that. I walked in off the street and felt like a classic gentleman! The salespeople were impeccably dressed and were some of the warmest and most helpful I have ever encountered.

Any sort of preppy haberdashery can be found here, at a very attractive range of price points (and if you go in late summer, you're sure to find some great sale items!) They literally have everything a prepster could ever want here... iconic Barbour jackets, socks and ties in every color/pattern you would ever need to match your bowtie collection, Vineyard Vines blazers and dress shirts , Dale of Norway sweaters to stave off the cold when you're sailing your America's Cup boat around Nantucket, and even more hardcore outwear from brands like Patagonia, Atlantis Weathergear, Mammut and Cloudveil.

I totally love this store; it represents everything that classic Boston was, is, and is going to be. Don't forget to stop by North River Outfitters next time you're in Boston!

North River Outfitters is located in Boston at 126 Charles Street, corner of Revere. (617)742-0089. And, of course, they are also located in Martha's Vineyard on Dock and Mayhew in Edgardtown. (508)627-7789.

Gimme Gimme!

2009-10-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

Phillip Dubuc is probably one of the most significant Montreal designers of the moment. He was the first Canadian invited to present a show during Paris fashion week. His stuff is very architectural, very modern, and very.... dark. I usually like his stuff, but it would be nice to see some color every once and again!

I was browsing through Phillip Dubuc's flagship in Montreal, and came across this jacket which I am totally in love with:

I love the tuxedo style collar layered on top of the notched lapes. And, just in case you were wondering....

Yes, the layered collar is actually an integrated piece of fabric which can be folded up and used as a scarf! So clever, I've never seen anything like this before.

(The one thing that concerns me is that when I checked out the tag to see what fabric was used, it was 100% of non-natural fibers I had never heard of and couldn't even pronounce! Dubuc's designs are very contemporary, maybe natural fibers are too passe'?)

STORES I LOVE: uniqlo.

2009-10-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

NEW FAVORITE STORE. Uniqlo is out of Japan and, to me, is the next big thing. (I can't wait for them to open more North America locations. As of right now they just have one in New York.) I couldn't have created this store in my wildest dreams: American Apparel meets H&M with just a dash of JCrew thrown in. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Every pricetag in this store made me do a double take..... Vneck lambswool sweaters for under twenty bucks, cashmere sweaters for 99. Every basic garment you could ever need. In every single frigging color you can imagine. And even some more complex garments if you are so inclined. They've got everything from the broadest selection of sweaters I have ever seen, a great range of warm winter peacoats and other outerwear, fun graphic Tshirts, great basic dress shirts in really high quality fabric, to selvedge denim! I walked into their New York flagship and, to use the RachelZoe-ism, I died. It was bananas. Completely OOC.*

(*"Out of Control")

Boys and girls, next time you're in The City, be sure to make a stop of Uniqlo. on Broadway between Prince and Spring.

Rachel Zoe. Bananas.

2009-10-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

Love her or hate her, Rachel Zoe is here to stay. With a hit TV show on Bravo, a forthcoming line of clothing and a list of clients that would make any celebrity stylist drool, Zoe is swiftly approaching canonical status.

Rachel Zoe, although I totally love her and appreciate and idolize her work, is very easy to poke fun at. Here are some funny parodies of her on YouTube:

By far the most true to life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIL2ZwCOxOs

My personal favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIL2ZwCOxOs

and a slightly more bizarre depiction of Zoe, but hilarious nonetheless: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzpDRPD7uCg

HAUS OF GAGA PRESENTS-- THE MONSTER BALL

2009-10-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

Just bought my ticket to Lady Gaga's Monster Ball next month and couldn't be happier... This show is going to be a SMASH if it is anything like when I saw her Fame Ball last March. Expect lots of fashion commentary after I see the show.

(I'm totally loving her new single, Bad Romance... Has all the parts of a huge pop blockbuster, but also has a new sort of grotesque element.... Halloween came early for Gaga!)

Stunning

2009-10-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

This model is stunningly beautiful.
And this dress is insane. I love the overall-detailing up top and the glamorous fabric. And the beautiful hair flowing freely makes this complete. One of my most favorite and memorable Ralph Lauren moment's of all time...

Tilda Swinton.... being weird

2009-10-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

So I just think that Tilda Swinton is weird. Her fashion choices are usually quite bizarre, like this head-to-toe black ensemble from Lanvin that she wore (and won in) to the Oscars a couple years ago:

Hahahaha and here are some more pictures for your viewing pleasure:

She is CLEARLY not from this planet....

Hey, if Chanel's doing it....

2009-10-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

Androgyny all the way, baby! This is from Chanel Spring 2010 show. It brings a tear to my eye... just think how far fashion has come, culturally, since the eighties, even the nineties... Dressing men and women in the same outfits would have been outrageous! But now, it's fierce and fashion forward.... Love it! (Also, I feel like every Burberry ad in recent history features some poorly fed boy who looks like Agyness Deyn if you look too quickly!)

And here is Marc Jacobs after his Spring 2010 show, sporting a lovely below the knee skirt and crisp white shirt a la Carolina Herrera:

Oh, and here is a rare sight, Karl Lagerfeld wearing jeans after the Chanel show : (wait, so he is actually a real person???)

Jimmy Choo for H&M (???)

2009-10-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Choo, known best for their buy-groceries-this-month-OR-buy-a-pair-of-shoes? pricetags will be launching an affordable line through H&M starting November 14.

The collection will feature mostly accessories, but also some womenswear and even a few menswear pieces. Here is a link to the a pdf catalogue of what will be included in the line: http://www.jcforhm.com/wp-content/pdf/JCFORH&M_Overview.pdf

Some of the accessories look promising, but for the most part, I thought everything looked really really cheap! I don't know, I guess I'll have to wait and see the stuff in person.

I do, however, completely support this trend we've been seeing of diffusion lines, where high end designers do more affordable lines through highly commercial entities. Target has gotten some real heavyhitters, including Anna Sui, the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte, and will be premiering Jean Paul Gaultier's diffusion line next spring. Even le roi himself, Karl Lagerfeld did a line with H&M back in 2004.

Doing diffusion lines presents an interesting conundrum. It promotes a label known for luxury by producing highly commerical, not particularly top of the notch apparel. As a PR move, I think it's brilliant. Although the same luxurious materials and artisinal craftsmanship which defines those luxury labels aren't there, their aesthetic and vision is still conveyed to the masses. It gets the brand's name out there. But the problem is that this Jimmy Choo stuff doesn't even look that good. It kind of looks like a trashglammed a la Zara-ed up version of Forever 21.

It is going to be interesting to see how the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection works out. If the stuff isn't as cheap looking in person as I thnk it looks online, this could be great for House of Choo. If it's a flop, well, let's just say people will be that less inclined to buy a pair of shoes instead of paying their monthly rent.

actually, THESE are next on my shopping list:

2009-10-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

While looking for pictures for my last post, I came across these babies and fell in love. I always thought that shoegasms only existed in women. I was mistaken.

Here they are....

They're from Salvatore Ferragamo and are called the "Andrea Lace-Up." I think they would look really great with a slim black suit. or with some really dark jeans for going out.

Blog readers, Christmas is right around the corner......!

next on my shopping list...

2009-10-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking for a long time now about investing a really good pair of (Italian?) driving mocs. I'm not really sure which color I would pick, but I am really into a colored pair. Like a nice blueberry-blue or red. I feel like they would be such an easy way to touch up an outfit. Here are some I've been considering...

This one is from Gucci:

These are Ferragamo:

And these two are Tod's:

FAVORITE THINGS: exploded check burberry scarf

2009-10-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ok ok ok I totally understand all of you who think that the Burberry scarf is cliche and JAPpy and over, but I am totally a die-hard fan of the giant check scarf. The regular sized check one is pretty vanilla now that so many people have it. And you could totally make the argument that people wear Burberry scarves because they want to promote a certain aesthetic or project a certain look/image etc. But at the end of the day, you can NOT dispute the fact that Burberry is historically one of the most important fashion houses in the world. They made the trench an ICON. The Burberry scarf, probably used at first to stave off the freezing UK weather, is a great product. Their cashmere is so soft and well produced.

I am a huge proponent of the "when you look good you feel good" ideology, and I sincerely believe that a camel cashmere scarf with the signature Burberry plaid looks damn good. I could wear just a plain black Tshirt and jeans, toss on my Burberry scarf and feel like a million bucks. They are soft, they are warm, and they are part of a proud tradition of English craftsmanship. On that note, I do believe that the traditional Burberry check scarf is slightly overdone. That is why I'm posting the exploded check scarf as one of my "favorite things" because it is still a way of supporting and believing in Burberry in a slightly different way that says "hey, I like Burberry because of what it is and not because all the JAPs are wearing them!"

(and for future reference, JAP refers to jewish american princess and NOT a slur against Japanese persons. just sayin. not that i have anything against the jews. i love the jews. but, you know what i mean)

So please, the weather outside is frightful, so go get yourself a Burberry exploded check scarf and cozy up with a cuppa tea.

demarchelier, demarchelNAY

2009-10-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

I would like to say that I was officially bored by Demarchelier's work in the November 2009 issue of Vogue. The segment, called "the daily news" fell completely flat. It purported to be a piece with "a bit of funk" and "unmistakable jazz" that "moves with the rhythm of the streets." It was none of these things. The clothes were NOT exciting; there was no beauty, and the aesthetics and palette of the looks just looked too retro-revival. And on top of that, the background of the pictures was a drab stone color-- it didn't even make the clothes look particularly good. But I did like how the models were posed. They consistently looked like they were confident, like they were interacting with some exciting things going on outside the gaze of the camera. I liked how they were posed.... the first five times. After a while, even the fierce looks they have on their faces began to fall flat. They had the same expression and mid-air stride pose in nearly every picture.
In closing, the clothes were boring. The models were good but ultimately not able to work with the art direction of the shoot.

Not your best work, Monsieur Demarchelier.

underwear, under where?

2009-10-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentleman, it's back. Underwear as outerwear. Probably made most famous by Jean Paul Gaultier's infamous underwear-as-outerwear cone bra for Madonna's Blonde Ambition Tour, pictured here.\

The trend is back on the runways, folks.

This corset top from Dior's most recent show is a great example. Unapologetic sporting of the undies as a normal garment. Love it. And here is my favorite example by far:

This look is from Gaultier's Spring 2010 show. I love the underwear-like structuring of the bust on this ensemble. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's just a couture bra, can we even call that a top? My favorite aspect of this is the deconstructed shoulders. A lot of designers are pushing shoulder pads right now, and this is Gaultier's take on it. In his signature style, he is revealing what lies beneath. Why can't the unadorned shoulder pad be just as fashionable as one sewn into a Balmain or Margiela jacket? I love Gaultier's aesthetic, the deconstructed nature of this look. And on top of all that, the flash of purple coming out from the jacket; the model might be wearing her bra for all to see, but just because she's showing her underwear doesn't mean she still doesn't have some tricks up her sleeve! Just when you think you've got Gaultier figured out, you find another layer to peel back....wonderful!