Saturday, May 16, 2009

I've been "hopelessly devoted" to Maison Martin Margiela for the longest time.

Martin Margiela is such a fashion forward designer without the 21st Century kitsch. His ideas about future style resonates with what we know now, which is a good direction to head towards. He's also quite avant-garde with his designs, but they're pretty street-friendly at the same time. Now if only I could afford his stuff...

White Distressed Leather Wallet $375.00 $225.00
I lost my wallet the other day, but found it later. Had I really lost it, this would've been my replacement. The color and size are perfect (mine is way too long). I love that it has a coin snap, full closure snap, and 8 card slots. I might just get it because.

Nail Ring $145.00 $87.00
I'm not much of a jewelry person, but when something awesome, it's hard to deny it. Here we have a ring made from a nail. How genius is that? This could be a D.I.Y. project, but it'll require too much labor, so I'd rather just buy it.

Parachute Waistcoat $529.36
I personally would not wear that vest, but it's still pretty cool. I like how he mixed in all the different materials like denim, cotton, polyester, etc. It also has an adjustable strap on the vest.

Canvas and Leather Messenger $845.00 $507.00
I love the juxtaposition of the white canvas and leather. It gives a nice touch to what would've been an ordinary white canvas bag. I wonder if it's detachable and be used as a dopp kit as well.

Sci Fi Sunglasses $410.06
This pair of sunglasses has been made in collaboration with Italian eyewear brand Marcolin. L’incognito.It's made from a solid piece of Polycarbonate, so there's not a whole lot of cutting and pasting involved. It's very futuristic looking and I'm pretty sure you'll look crazy walking down the streets, but will definitely be original.

Tennis Confetti Trainer $290.77
These shoes are so cute! The shoelaces that come with it are off color, but you can buy a pair of white shoelaces and you're good to go. It's inspiration for a D.I.Y. project (white paint dripping on black shoes), but I'm afraid the result won't be as well executed. Maybe I'll just use stencils. Thank you Martin Margiela for giving such a great idea.

Courtesy of eLuxury, Oki-ni

Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Costume Institute Gala at the Met this year was interesting as always.

There was definitely more fashion risk-taking than last year. I like this event in particular because it's pretty much the only time celebrities can experiment with fashion and not have to worry about being on the "worst dressed" list. It's not about being glamorous; it's about having fun. Here are some people I thought did it right according to the dress code.

Rihanna in Dolce & Gabbana
She totally made a comeback with this tuxedo to show that she is stronger than ever. The shimmer of the fabric of the suit feminizes the whole look. I love those puffed sleeves and length of the pants. (I personally would dow ithout the bowtie). She managed to look sexy in a suit, so I'll give her props for that.

Mary Kate Olsen in Christian Lacroix
For someone who's style I don't particularly like, Mary-Kate sure made an appearance in this beautiful gray Lacroix. The metallics on this dress add to the modern effect that she is trying to portray. Oh, and the hair is just perfect.

Jessica Biel in Versace Atelier
Jessica is dazzling in this beautiful Versace Atelier gown. I love the tiered effect and corseted top. I also think she did a good job with the makeup and accessories.

Blake Lively in Versace
It's refreshing to see her in something different. She's the type of gal who embodies the whole "laid-back California" look, which can be quite boring. She really edged everything out with the slicked back ponytail and the slits and cuts of the dress.

Victoria Beckham in Marc Jacobs
Mrs. Beckham always seems to march to the beat of her own drum. I absolutely love this dress; the polka dots add the much needed quirk to such a beautiful silhouette. She completed the look with a pair of interestingly heeled shoes. Then again, we're talking about someone who cares more about fashion over function.

Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs
My Hollywood muse is on a roll! She mixed up her whole look with different decades of the 20th Century: 1960s bouffant, 1980s zipper dress, and 1990s Versace-esque shoes. Damn, she's good.

Here are some people who could've done better with certain changes here and there:

Kate Beckinsale
in Marchesa
For a "costume gala," this was quite disappointing. The look is way too tame for me. Maybe a different color or length would've done the trick. Go for it if you're attempting the cabaret showgirl look.

Ashley Olsen in The Row
This whole look is flat from head to toe. It's so polished, she looks like a mental institution worker. She's also way too young to be wearing something for people who are 60+ years of age. The dress could've looked so much better if it was a mini instead. By the way, her line "The Row," sucks.

Katy Perry in Tommy Hilfiger
I usually love Katy's creative style, but this just did not cut it. Why would you wear such a generic design(er) to a costume gala? The cuff, neckpiece, and hideous shade of blue does no justice to her beauty.

Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton
I appreciate the fact that she took a risk and actually don't hate the design. What's really wrong is the print. I usually like bold prints, but this is way beyond bold; it's just ugly. The look could've been fantastic in a solid color.

Courtesy of USWeekly

Saturday, May 2, 2009

If you like Etsy, but question some people's craftsmanship, K Studio has it.

"Great design, green materials, and social responsibility need not be at odds with one another." That line grabbed my attention because one of the things I want to be as a designer is to be as ecologically friendly as I possibly can. I love that they use sustainable materials like hemp, recycled wool, and organic cotton. They create pieces with a childish style and adult sensibility. Unlike Sanrio, the characters are not conventionally "cute," but if you understand the whole "beautifully ugly" concept, they are much cuter.

Thoughts Wall Art $134.00
I used to be a comic/manga geek, so this piece really speaks to me. Their thought bubbles are very random and that dressed up dog is hilarious. She's looking for love apparently.

Family Series Tote $45.00

Here's an idea for a D.I.Y. project. I'm sure you can just get a plain canvas tote and draw with a fabric pen. I'll probably end being around $10. As much as I like this tote, I would not fork out $45 for it.


Animal Figures $180.00
These look very handmade and not manufactured, like the ones your grandparents had when they were young. I have no idea what these animals are supposed to be. A dog and bear? I actually like that they are somewhat ambiguous.

Round Face Pillow $124.00

How would you like to snuggle up to these cute things? If you're single (like me), it could be a "boyfriend/girlfriend" substitute.

Woodland Creatures Ornaments
$20.00

I would love me some cloth ornaments because glass and plastic ones are so easy to break. They are versatile and can be used as keychains after the holidays. Oh, and they're 20 bucks.

Courtesy of K Studio

Saturday, April 25, 2009

To do the floral trend, do it like Erdem.

I would say that florals are definitely the trickiest patterns in fashion because you can end up looking like your Grandma's old couch. Florals usually have the problem of looking too overbearing and will emphasize things when you want to hide them. That is why I think Erdem did it right with his S/S 2009 collection. Instead of shying away from florals, he used it as a base for his designs.

Here, he chose to use a subdued floral, so it would accentuate the silhouette. It reminds me of a less avant-garde version of Balenciaga S/S 2008, which I like. And that chain hanging on the side is very cute.

The florals are subdued on this dress as well, but he chose to make them 3-dimensional on the bottom. I like that he chose a neutral/nude color so that it wouldn't distract the design element.

Okay, so maybe without the mini cape, this would just be a boring pink dress. However, I do love the sheerness of the cape because it's as if the flowers are floating.

This is my personal favorite! Yes, the design may be simple, but the little details and gorgeous print make it beautiful. He knew just how to manipulate the print to make it work because if it weren't for the green on the bodice, this could've been a bad 80s prom dress.

Here's a dress I thought that could've used a fabric switch. I don't like this muted weird graffitied floral print. However, I love the shape and drape of the dress.

This dress is just enchanting. I love the cascading effect of the dress and the yellow flowers. Hopefully, we'll see this dress on the Red Carpet sometime soon.

Courtesy of Style

Saturday, April 18, 2009

My latest art obsession is Cosas Mínimas by Blanca Gómez.

Cosas Mínimas means tiny things in Spanish, and you can see the simplicity in Gómez's artwork. In my opinion, it's a lot easier to do elaborate art than simple art because keeping something minimal without being boring is hard. I like that she has a definite color palette and line scheme. It's reminiscent of the storybooks I read when I was a kid.

Fete Print $30.00
Ah, I miss the occasional fiesta I used to go. The lights and people made such a fun ambiance that's hard to find nowadays because of the recession. This print reminds me of the fun times I used to have growing up.

Monsieur IV Print $30.00
I love the whimsicality of life. Plus, can you ever really go wrong with bubbles? And colored bubbles at that.

Rainy Day Small Print $22.00
This is definitely the cutest piece from the collection. The little girl's face reminds me of a large newt I saw at the aquarium. I love the different values of the clouds; it's somewhat realistic.

Lui Print $28.00
I love the simplicity of this piece. The guy is dressed up kind of like Jack the Ripper, but music is coming out of his mouth.

Sunny small city print $30.00
This is one of her more elaborate pieces, yet you can still see the minimalism in it. I think it's the sepia tone that ties the whole thing together.

The Cyclist Print $30.00
FAVORITE! It's quirky, versatile, and seems like a cool D.I.Y. idea.

Courtesy of Cosas Mínimas