REMEMBERING MJ//

Yesterday was the 1st anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.  I'm not one of those people who gets all emotional over the death of celebrities (we don't really know them after all) but I have to say MJ's death is still really sad.  The fact that I will never forget the day I got the "Thriller" album and then had a "Thriller" themed birthday party (I had the red jacket and a glove) and wanted to marry him when I was about 7 is testament to his power as one of the most charming and talented artists of my lifetime.  Michael always looked cool too.  He was always sparkling and making bold statements.  There is no doubt that the fashion world and MJ had a symbiotic relationship - since about Spring 2009, fashion has had an 80's revival period (which I secretly love) which has made strong silhouettes (think big shoulders and skinny legs) stick.  Starting last spring, designers like Balmain looked to MJ's sparkle, bold shoulders, leather, and military inspired jackets to create their collections. Fall 2010 saw some of these trends as well. Although these looks have just about run their course, they have been influential and are just as cool as they were when Michael introduced us to them...miss you MJ!  xoxo

 Looks from Balmain and Chanel

INTERSECTIONS - FASHION & ART//

I have always been fascinated by the intersection of fashion and art.  No matter what field you practice, what passions you have, or what your interests are, it cannot be denied that at some point, all things converge and influence each other (economics and architecture, religion and literature, technology and medicine, fashion and EVERYTHING!). This is the first of what will be many posts on the specific relationship between art (photography, painting, sculpture, architecture, etc.) and fashion.  Thinking about these things isn't only great fun, but informs trends and the overarching definition of STYLE.  

The first artist I thought of while pondering this idea was Cindy Sherman.  Her images speak directly to fashion, in my opinion, as they distort traditional images of women through the use of "costumes".  One could think of fashion as a costume - a constructed image projected to the world whose function is twofold - to mask and reveal certain parts of the self.  We then simultaneously become self and other, a predicament which is nothing if not unreliable.  Cindy Sherman certainly comments very loudly about the instability of "image".  Fashion allows us to play with this unreliability and construct various personalities.
While researching the Fall 2010 runway, one trend in particular made me think of Sherman's images - the retro, ladylike, peplum cuts that harken to the hysterical housewife of the 1950s.  Looking at fall 2010 fashion as Sherman's photography side by side, the irony there is clear.  Women of 2010 are no longer forced to wear the "perfect lady" costume, complete with coiffed hair and subservient demeanor.  Because this is no longer a reality, fashion can appropriate it as fantasy, just as Sherman reveals the hysteria behind the costume, liberating women and bringing together reality and fantasy.

Looks from Celine, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Prabal Gurung, Dries Van Noten
images from style.com
 

 Cindy Sherman has made a point of defying categorization as a mere photographer. Since the 1970s, she has pushed the boundaries of the medium by inserting herself as her own model in order to explore the complexities of female subjectivity in a postmodern age.  Her Film Stills seem to reference the work of cinema’s elite (e.g. Hitchcock and Godard), and yet they also retain a certain ambiguity that insists the viewer consider aesthetics over narrative. The (non)magic of these images lies in an arrested experience that is at once distinct and anonymous – we are left with a picture, a seemingly interrupted instant, that reminds us of the vicissitudes of advertizing and entertainment as the artist re-presents herself 'honestly' through repetition and disguise; these methodically constructed scenes not only ask us to question everyday masquerades through their apparent snap shot approach, but also criticize what has been a patriarchal and canonical culture industry. Her later works in color often accomplish this more directly by making clear reference to Old 'Master' paintings as well as to the fashion industry. These almost grotesque assemblages highlight what have been the underlying ramifications of women’s portraiture throughout history; her poses and props, disquieting in their mimicry, are experimented with and explored in order to blur the lines between theatre, painting, and photography. Fundamentally, by turning the lens on herself, Sherman captures the question of what it means to be looking – the gaze of the viewer becomes politically charged.

Essay by my dear friend and art expert Dr. Wood Roberdeau

images from: emmanichells.files.wordpress.com

blog.danpontingstudio.com

www.cvm.qc.ca 

www.famozz.com

HELLO, LOVERS...//

photos by E. O'Mahony
 
Shoes are understandably the most fun thing to shop for.  Shoes will always fit, always make an outfit memorable, and can really transform your attitude.  These are some of the shoes that I rotate regularly - having a hot boot like these Isabel Marant camo beauties, a bootie like Alexander Wang's "Beatle" version, a sexy wedge like the leopard ones by Alexander Wang, a sandal bootie in a neutral like this dove gray LD Tuttle, and a classic menswear inspired oxford from the great Dries Van Noten is a must.  In these, I can be simultaneously comfortable, chic, and sexy...love it!

PORCELAIN JEWELRY & CELINE//

Since I am currently obsessed with jewelry, I have been looking around and have found something truly exquisite - porcelain jewelry by Uncommon Matters out of Paris.  Just look at these pieces - they are delicate and represent purity, femininity, and strength.  Soo beautiful...enjoy!

www.uncommonmatters.com

On another note, let's look at Celine's resort 2010 collection...drool...clean lines, muted colors, tailored, feminine - yummy!  I really can't get enough of Phoebe Philo. She knows how to make women look strong and feminine and chic.  

photos from www.style.com
www.celine.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY//

Well, today is my 33rd birthday and I have lots of eating plans (I also happen to be 4 months pregnant)!  This is what I wore to my birthday lunch - I think it is a good representation of a "now" look that is also very classic and good for everyone, especially for summer - Breton striped top by Future Classics, crossover chino by Vince, Ann Demeulemeester shoes, and Giles and Brother necklace.  The great thing about this outfit is not only how comfortable it is but how it is casual and chic at the same time.  If you don't already have one, you need a Breton striped top.  Another essential in any wardrobe is a slouchy chino pant (especially for spring and summer).  I love theses pants rolled up with a sandal or oxford shoe. 

Ok.  Let's talk JEWELRY...lately, I am very into thinking about jewelry as armor...in other words, more is more.  However, you have to be careful how you put your rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings together.  A story is told with accessories and jewelry completes an outfit.  For my birthday, I scored two new pieces that I am totally in love with.  

Natalia Brilli is a french jewelry/accessory designer and is one of my absolute favorites...she is innovative, modern, and her pieces are just simply beautiful.  This bracelet is a dove grey leather cuff with a pinkish/lavendar/greenish stone as the centerpiece.  Elegant, chic, and unique.  

I cannot remember the designer of this ring right now...I got it at the exquisite Grange Hall here in Dallas...but isn't it just fantastic?  Knuckle rings are in right now and some of them have turned into another 15 minute trend (cage rings) but some, like this one, are timeless and just beautiful.  This is the kind of jewelry that makes a statement and adds texture and dimension to any outfit.  What is more organic and beautiful than faceted crystals wrapped in hammered gold?? I will be wearing this all the time...

DESIGNERS I LOVE//

There are a lot of designers out there; so many in fact it is hard to fathom.  Of course, the designers people love and think are the best are partly defined by taste and personal preference.  ( I personally think Comme des Garcons is outdated and frankly, ugly) but I know a lot of fashion folks who love the label).  While there are elements of any designers creations that can be great (Vera Wang's ability to drape and transform any material into drop dead gorgeous gowns for example), there are some designers whose visions transcend fashion for fashion's sake; they transform our idea of fashion from "just clothes" to attitudes and lifestyles, ultimately (whether we know it or not) redefining our place in the world.  Just looking at their work makes the world more beautiful and if you are lucky enough to wear these designs, you automatically feel different.  Not because they are expensive or because celebrities have been spotted in their clothes, but because you are making a statement about culture and society by participating in its aesthetic relevance.   Everyone can take inspiration from these artists and their creations - look at the textures, the exquisite attention to detail, the innovative use of material, and often times, the paradoxical simplicity of it all.  What makes these designers the best of the best is their relevance - they are reflecting and predicting cultural attitudes through fashion.  I think we better all pay close attention....

CELINE by Phoebe Philo

Clean lines, muted color, classics updated to be modern and chic, and above all, totally wearable.  I am obsessed with Phoebe Philo. When she left Chloe, I think I cried.  Thank god she's back.  She's been missed.

I

Is there anything here you wouldn't wear??  This is how the modern, chic, strong, sexy woman dresses.  Period.

ISABEL MARANT

 Ok, I think Isabel Marant is the thing I am most obsessed with...it's sick really.  I literally would wear every single piece she makes.  The thing I love the most about her line is the attitude and lifestyle it conveys - chic, bohemian, feminine with an edge, cool Parisian style.  Her fabrics and shapes are always fresh and unexpected.  And they work.  Women of any age, shape, or sensibility can wear her pieces.  Her versatility and dynamic approach to fashion is enviable.  I love her. A lot.

Perfection - right??  Oh yeah, I have the camo boots!

BALENCIAGA by Nicolas Ghesquiere

The House of Balenciaga is steeped in fashion tradition, and for a good reason.  This line is all about experimentation with fabric and architectural silhouettes - at times venturing on the side of science-fiction.  There is something paradoxical about this line - it is classic but avant-guard; minimalist yet dramatic.  Every aspect of this line - from ready to wear to handbags to shoes - is equally perfect and aesthetically advanced.  While it may not be for every woman, Balenciaga is undeniably influencing every designer out there.  Nicolas Ghesquiere defines the future of fashion.

ALEXANDER WANG

 Even though this young man has only been around since 2007, he has transformed the world of fashion with his chic street wear.  I remember when his debut line came out - I spent every cent I could find on his clothes...and I still do.  He combines everything I ( and millions of other women love) - an 80's sensibility mixed with a grungy rock and modern chic attitude.  He is totally urban and totally nonchalant.  Nothing is perfect - on purpose.  The best thing about his designs is that they don't feel fussy and restrictive like a lot of fashion does.  He wants you to look and feel as cool as he is.  And when you wear his clothes, tees, shoes, accessories you really do feel cool.