Matthew Williamson (also design head for Pucci) first landed on my fashion radar when I started living vicariously through Sienna Miller while living in my first apartment in the punky, St. Marks mixed with Indian row East Village tenement that could be mistaken for a camper or hippie commune. I even chopped 12 inches of my blonde hair off before her, the SAME week she did for Factory Girl, and I was convinced it was fate (ha!). Anyway - my fashion love affair with Sienna’s style was circa Fall 05-Sp 06, before & during all of the Jude Law nanny affair media blitz - and after that is when she started to get dull, unfortunately. Before that, however, she was one of Matthew Williamson’s biggest muse’s and celebrity endorsers. He was even supposed to design her wedding dress, ironically. So - thank god for Sienna’s youth because without her who knows who would have helped to curate Williamson’s talent. The boho chic look she absolutely coined and which made her an “it” girl, was due in large part to his designs.
That being said, there’s great news in that H&M is doing a designer capsule collection for Williamson - similar to H&M diffusions past of Victor & Rolf, Stella McCartney, & Comme Des Garcons - H&M designer collections are like Target on crack. Picture the fashionista equivalent of Star Wars fans camping out, or even those crazy Filene’s basement bridal sale chicks and that’s what happens on regular city blocks in New York when a collection hits. So, keep these dates in mind and don’t think that just checking in on your lunch break is going to be sufficient - you’re going to have to claw through many a twenty-something flower child to get your hands on the goods!
First shipment hits April 23 - second May 14th. I’m living vicariously through all of you with H&M’s, parting with New York is such sweet sorrow.
Florals are nothing new for Spring, so that’s why you’ve got to approach them in a new way. Rather than thinking inside the southern belle box of floral sundresses - try eclectic, embellished jewelry, and hints of floral prints in accessories as a chic way to feel the spring in your step without looking like you’re going to a tea party.
Prohibition bangle @ Anthropologie $68
Scarf @ Forver 21 $8.80
Necklace @ Urban Outfitters $58
Headband @ Jcrew $16.50
Feature image by Mika Ninagawa
Courtesy of photographer (slash street style maverick) Wayne Tippetts
www.StreetStyleAesthetic.com
Contact: Wayne@waynetippetts.com
Feed the need and check out the portion of the site dedicated to the shoes he shoots - The Shoe Zoo. That Wayne, he just gets me (and every other shoe addict).
Waahh - I could die. Yes, that’s a cry! There was a spread in W mag way back when - I’m thinking Fall 05 - that was a pictorial in a forest with the model wearing a lot of Moschino Cheap & Chic, along with teddy bear necklaces and crowns. These were full on mini bears, stuffed and cuddly, strung together with satin that looked so whimsical. Since this isn’t the most practical thing in the world, I plan on taking inspiration from the above.
Vivienne Westwood teddy bear necklace $385 @ Net-A-Porter
Colorful jeans are one of the easiest ways to integrate color into your everyday routine. I can honestly say I was never much for color in New York - one of my favorite things was pairing black and navy and feeling like I was somehow being totally fashion rebellious and breaking the status quo of never mixing the two. Now when I check into the NY Times Style section or Style.com for New Yorker street style - I see why I was so dark-driven, it’s just the culture - edgy, interesting, chic.
In the south, things are a bit different. Not one day goes by where I don’t feel totally overdressed, but I’m starting to get the hang of it a little more by pairing offbeat hues together that let me re-invent myself a bit, and step outside of my way too chic for Austin little box. It’s like living resort everyday - and you’ll be surprised with how many colors compliment each other in your wardrobe, without even pulling out the color wheel.
With yellow - think of pairing bold bottoms with royal blues & violets - and with tangerine, think yellows & fuchsias. The best way to experiment without coming out of it looking like Rainbow Brite, however, is to pair the jean with a chic white top, and layer on the color with seed bead necklaces or earrings that give just a hint of colorful contrast. Not so surprisingly, playing with color really makes you feel bright.
Delia’s $49.50 (BOGO 50%)
Element @ Lulu’s $62
Express $23.99
Akademiks $29.95
So Atari, can I say Atari and chic in the same sentence? Miss Pac man would die for this, and then rip that bow out of her hair quicker than Blair Waldorf can ruin someone’s day. Inspiration comes in all forms.
Above - Dries Van Noten Spring 2009 daring digital looks. Below - Woodland restaurant in Austin, TX.
Just got back from a long weekend in Port Aransas, Texas - part of a little island off of Corpus Christi that is known for its fishing and spring break scene. It was no Hampton’s, and I can’t say I’m impressed with the town - think Jersey shore - but because there was so little to do that interested me and my beau, we actually got to relax. So, as there was little to appreciate in any type of creative scene, we spent about an hour hunting for the gallery scene Google lied to us about, and instead gave up and decided to have Dos Equis instead. After that much needed lapse of time, I was able to stumble upon the one diamond in the rough boutique in the city - Ragdoll. The merchandise mix was impressive for Port Aransas - the owner was knowledgeable about her pieces - I tried on a pair of graphic shorts from a Kenyan designer - and ended up discovering the eclectic, adorable and forward swimwear line Maaji.
At first Maaji seems something very Brazilian, but with definite Bollywood notes. The attention to detail was what first got me - the polka dot ruffled bandeau top has a sweet metallic lasercut eyelet detailing on the sides, in royal blue with a magenta back tie. The other piece I actually got to touch and drool over in person was the one piece cross between leopard and rose print with endless ruffle detailing (Dezert one piece). The price point is high - but not too high - especially for those of us in a climate where you actually utilize a suit more than a few times a year. I just loved that there was so much going on, so much novelty, like swim couture. It was like an entire outfit in one or two pieces of Lycra. My big question is how Victoria’s Secret hasn’t bought any? This line is so impressive, I’m not sure why I had to go to an island off of Texas to find it.
Mosaique bandeau $142
Dezert one piece $138
Dezert Plaid $120
Case in point - compulsive online shopping. I have been on the hunt for a bevy of bottoms this Spring - from trouser to harem to pencil crop, and happened to be on a silk harem pant googling binge when I came upon Express and the insane online sales they’ve been having. A girlfriend of mine actually showed up to a party I threw a couple weeks ago in these, along with Chanel mary jane’s - and looked effortlessly chic. So, when I saw these silk tapered trousers online I had to ask - and yes they were Express. Not only do they read Wang - at $11.99, yes $11.99 - you can afford to buy 4 pairs to hold you over when you just don’t feel like pulling that iron out. I actually just received mine today - however when I ordered them they were $15.99, so my condolences go out to Express - gradually marking an $80 pant down to $11.99 has got to hurt. Regardless, I am ecstatic UPS delivery status was wrong and I got these a day early so I can wear them to the Austinist party tomorrow. Heaven sent.
Shop the silk tapered crop pant @ Express.com $11.99
Courtesy of photographer (slash street style maverick) Wayne Tippetts
www.StreetStyleAesthetic.com
Contact: Wayne@waynetippetts.com
Forgive me, but I’ve been crazy busy. I’ve finally begun to feel the wrath of parties and meet-ups that are SXSW here in Austin, and have been pleasantly surprised with the transplants in the city. I’m into music - enough - but I’m definitely more into the interactive side of things, hence the blog. So, with the endless amounts of creative types in the city this past week, it’s been hard to concentrate - but what has been so nice is the influx of the intelligent coming out of the woodwork for the event. My one concern is - where is everyone when it’s not SXSW? Can the city really rely on outside firms to fund the majority of parties? Where is the Austin entrepreneurial community outside of this festival? I know it’s not non-existent by ANY means, but…the city felt like New York this week, and it felt so good. Don’t hate me, but I wish Austinites would live this way all year round.
The upcoming docket includes the Austinist & Hype Machine - hopefully well lit enough for some hot shots.
Necklace - Cowgirlz Candy $45
