Neon, due in large part to the huge wave of 80’s influence in fashion recently (Sprouse, Marc Jacobs, LV) – is in high demand. These shades are not for the light of heart – and are especially hard colors to pull off depending on skin tone. For darker skin tones, hot pink looks gorgeous from torso up – think hot pink hoops, scarves, and flowing tops. I like to stay away from a lot of structure with these colors, it makes it a little too futuristic, too dated – and fabrications like chiffon and lawn help to ease the color penetration and appear more ethereal than in your face. For lighter skin tones – you can go with the neon yellow, and lighter shades of neon green that will compliment rather than contrast. For everyone – a burst of color jean is also a great alternative if you don’t want to fully commit – paired with a clean top neon bottoms are very resort. If you’re going to pair anything with neon, go with white – you’ll look modern chic rather than early 90’s. Now that spring/summer is right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start picking up pieces here and there to ease yourself into this fresh, and seemingly nostalgic trend. Kind of makes you want to put on a slap bracelet!
Asos $25
Forever 21 Tank $11.80
Go Jane $19.40
Girl Props $1.99
Urban Outfitters $29.99
$1,265 Louboutin’s vs. $12 @ GoJane.com
These pups are from the Philip Lim Spring 09 show, the flat version from post “Ruffled & Rosey Louboutins for Philip Lim’s Runway”
Apparently Balmain is back. I’m not much for disregarding design houses - especially those French in origin and with Edith Head-esque credentials (Balmain did a lot of Hollywood costume design), so the vicious fashion cycle strikes again. But - Balmain comes out on top with new design head Christophe Decarnin (formerly of Paco Rabanne), who is leading the the label in staging a movement towards an edgy, sultry and complicated boho genre - very far off from the original Pierre Balmain’s uncluttered and pure styling.
Although I’d love to see a bit more of Pierre in these shoes - I won’t lie, I’m definitely more cluttered than uncluttered, and I love a heavy metal shoe that I can wear with everything. I kind of think Balmain is the alternative answer to the somewhat retro and polished showings on the runways recently, more specifically the Balenciaga Fall 08 that we never had this year! Although Christophe is going against the grain with the house’s aesthetic, he’s doing what’s best for the label in the end - a fresh, young, and Bergdorf Goodman worthy collection to bring the name out of couture and into closets.
$125 @ Aldo.com
$22 @ GoJane.com
Buy the real thing, $1,950 @ LuisaViaRoma.com
Spotted the Jessica Simpson heels in Missbehave mag last month (see post: If Looks Could Kill - So Can Your Heels), and couldn’t get enough of that heel - so bad ass, so not Jessica Simpson. I loved it though - it reminded me of the shoe Nine West has been pimping out to all editorial this past fall, so it was refreshing to see another utilitarian ankle bootie on the landscape. It had been a while since I last scoped out Go Jane - when I spotted another twinsie - it’s so easy sometimes it baffles me. Although I’m not really a fan of the PVC on the Go Jane shoe - it’s important to be aware that not all shoes need cost $80 and up - markup is a sneaky thing in retail and it’s all about business. In the end - I really hope this heel is translated into other shoes across the market from here on out - to me it is very Galliano, and where has he been?!
Shop bootie @ GoJane.com $42.99
If I was going to live in any decade – it would be the 20’s. I can’t get enough of that flapper mentality – cutting your hair off, throwing away panty hose, and boozing and dancing all night long. It would have been a great time to be young – rather than during the Bush administration and this lovely economic downturn we have going on. We have to play the hand we’re dealt – but that doesn’t mean we can’t live vicariously through Chanel & Paul Poiret and all that they stand for! Luckily – this decade has been resonating in the contemporary market recently, and I’m not exactly sure where it came from – I can’t think of any notable designers who showed anything that would spark this revival, but that almost makes it so much better.
Some key components of the 20’s were the dropped waist, cloche hats – and an overall androgynous silhouette that freed women from corsets and their inhibitions. If you are in the market to see cloche hats in film – Angelina Jolie’s film Changeling is a perfect example. They were actually created because the forehead was considered unfashionable, strange but true. The dropped waist and shift silhouettes came from an extreme turn around in the fashion cycle, going from very tight Victorian corsets to a liberated, I can do anything as well as a man, fashion standpoint. Women actually used to bandage their breasts to make them appear less womanly. I also recently learned from my love’s grandmother that the saying “the bees knees” came from that period – when girls would put blush on their knees because it was considered an errogenous zone – the most anyone had shown at that point were their ankles. Can you imagine? Ok, we are pretty lucky to be young right now.
Forever 21 $34.80
Urban Outfitters $18
Asos $50
Top Shop $36
Go Jane $32.99
Boho was predicted to be fall’s biggest take-away from the shows, but I haven’t really seen it as much as say, Ralph Lauren’s tartans. Gucci was the only real design house to completely embody it - maybe a little D&G - but on the whole I think bohemian is something that has been happening for the past couple of years, and is more of a lifestyle trend rather than a seasonal fad. I like to wear different fashion hats, and it usually changes depending on what company I work for, but I feel like I’ve always held onto a bohemian vibe through it all. The one design element that has been translated to the masses has been fringe - and it’s not just your typical Minnetonka bootie - it’s dresses, scarves (think Balenciaga), jewelry, and shoes (think Prada).
Bootie $22.99 GoJane.com
Messenger bag $29.99 Urban Outfitters
Chain scarf $29 Newport News
Heel $27.99 Target
I dream of the day when my shoes will have their own home and won’t be hanging on some rickety fixture on the back of my door. My man has to adjust it about every month to make sure it doesn’t collapse – like it did many a time in our tiny New York apt. Anyway, the point here is that I don’t have a walk in closet and it is NOT full of Louboutins.
I have only splurged once on shoes: During a visit home (Philly has great outlet venues) at the Neiman Marcus Last Call – I bought a pair of Chanel ballet flats – totally necessary and justifiable, but a little different with clear plastic sides and patent black toes. To this day they are absolutely unbearable to walk in, but worth it to pass down to future gens – only $150 (regularly $600)!
So, you can imagine the thrill of the hunt when I discovered these two very affordable and “interpretation”- friendly sites for shoes. AmiClubwear.com & GoJane.com, which offer zillions of styles - most for $30 or less. Balenciaga, Prada, & Dior “interpretations” – are very close replicas aesthetically, just obviously made of less pricey materials. Now that I’m in the thick of car culture, I’m more willing to opt for these more economical shoes - as I don’t have to hike up subway stairs or dodge cabs anymore!
All shown are under $25, and all from Amiclubwear.com - excluding killer Sex and the City Dior-esque gladiators, from GoJane.com (Free Shipping over $50 for both, fabulous).
If I were a rich girl…I’d own this 3.1 Philip Lim dress too.
Some UES sleeve interest - or lack thereof. What’s so gorgeous about this dress is the draping & ruching. What’s so great about the contemporary market is that jersey is cheap, and jersey drapes beautifully. What you pick up at American Apparel has very little material difference against Philip Lim - and what difference in treatment it does have, probably costs 5 cents. It is ALL about margin, girls. Gabrielle Chanel was actually a jersey maverick - and began using it in 1916 for women’s suits. Chanel was also living at poverty level for most of her youth - so she definitely would have been scoping out the below. Are you picking up what I’m putting out?
Go Jane $21.99
Urban Outfitters $129.99
Go Jane $54.99
