Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Sorry for the lack of posts, I have been busy with my end of the year dance recital. Should be back to posting normally Monday, just thought I'd post these Pour la Victoire thorn-front stilettos as I've been cutting thorns off of roses all morning!

The Ultimate

Dazed and Confused June 2009: shot by Mark Pillai, featuring robotic, armour-like designs from the Fall 2009 collections


(Pictures via Trendhunter.com)

Invention, Design, & Function

"Timeless style is the definition of modern fashion"

That quote is from the revolutionary Norma Kamali, who started making her mark in the fashion industry in the 60's & 70's. She created innovative designs like the sleeping bag coat and parachute clothing and today she is continuing to evolve and push the envelope. Norma has so many amazing skills, she knows how to flatter a woman's body and also is an expert at including functionality in her designs, but also she strives to empower women and give them more confidence. I think this is such an amazing design philosophy and looking through her looks I can see how she achieves this. Her clothes are sexy, stylish and classic, and they all seem to have a great sense of strength and power to them.
Her swimsuits are gorgeous- feminine, retro, and sexy. Though I know I wouldn't be able to pull some of them off, many of them look as if they would flatter many body types.
Her skirts and dresses are fun and flirty. I really love her use of studs, fringe, and even safety pins!(Click to enlarge to see the neck and sleeves of the 1st dress below and 1st bathing suit above) She also offers a lot of career looks, like the navy blue suit below which is so stunning and chic!
Another amazing skill that Norma has is her ability to continually evolve with the times. With the economic recession she is involved with 2 different ventures that aim to allow people to continue to shop without having to spend a fortune. First she is offering a 'Try before you buy' option which gives shoppers the smart alternative to try out the clothes for 48 hours before making their final decision. Norma explains that this will help people to avoid emotional buying and spontaneous spending. To add on to this, for the past 2 years she has also been collaborating with Wal-Mart to create an affordable chic line of casual and career pieces. The clothes are very reasonably priced with most ranging from $15 to $20. She offers some great basics for work as well as some really cute casual/athletic wear that I would love to wear to dance class or the gym. I am also planning on getting the amazing, versatile 'All-in-one top' that can be worn 8 different ways!
I just really love when designers see that everyone, of any financial background, should be able to purchase fashionable clothes at reasonable prices. I have always felt this way, and now with the economic downturn more and more designers are finally stepping up to the plate. As Norma so brilliantly says on her site:

"Through the Wal-Mart stores and website I can reach more people and affect more lives than in any other venue...This project allows me to think out of the box, and with new ideas, practicality, and price, it could be the most exciting opportunity of my career"

(Pictures via Normakamalicollection.com and Walmart.com)

Smile Upon Me

Oh yeah you're the best damn friend that I'll ever have
You'll always smile upon me when the seasons bad

You'll always make me feel best even when I'm blue
You'll always smile upon me and I'll smile upon you too

I don't know what are you now
Since everything has changed
If I did know one thing
Its me whose feeling strange

Yes everything is different
And I don't react well

The changes that come when
Your life's becoming hell

There's a place in this world
Where people like me are found by people like you
So find a place as this forever divine

May 24 2009

Dress with slashed sleeves from Siam Square
Studded Gladiators from Soda
Ring from Chatuchuk Weekend Market

Keep Candles Handy

This i-D editorial, shot by Vanina Sorrenti and featuring Alana Zimmer, is insanely stunning and mesmerizing! I love the dusty, soft colors and the subtle sultriness in Alana's eyes. Lastly, the layering of the images creates such a beautiful effect that draws you in and keeps you captivated. I just couldn't stop staring at them!


(Pictures via Coute Que Coute)

Spring 2009 Ads

These are some of my favorite ads from Spring 2009!

(Aquascutum)
(Guiliano Fujiwara)


(Pictures via Theessentialist)

What Goes Around Comes Around

While flipping through a 1995 issue of Vogue Italia it struck me how many things seemed to fit in with the current trends. Fashion really is cyclical and this is one of the reasons I hate cleaning out my closet! Styles almost always come back into fashion and right now I'm wishing I didn't throw out my denim jacket a while back! Anyways here are some pictures from the 90's Vogue Italia next to similar trends and styles from today.

Low-slung backpacks: Fendissime & Alexander Wang
80's frills: YSL Rive Gauche & Louis Vuitton Fall 2009
Revealing shoe shots: Bottega Veneta ad & fashion photography by MI-ZO
Houndstooth coats: Anna Lisa & McQueen Fall 2009

Bangkok Background

In about 3 weeks I'll be leaving Bangkok, my home of 7 years, so not to sound too corny, but I've been reminiscing a lot about my time here lately. Don't get me wrong I am definitely excited and ready to move on to NYC, but that doesn't take away from how much I love this city and the huge effect it has had on my life. So I was so happy to stumble upon this editorial set against beautiful images of Bangkok's architecture and skylines. I love the picture of the city at sunset and the one in front of the 'Elephant Building' (the 3rd pic- obviously named because it resembles an elephant with ears and tusks and everything!)- it's definitely one of my favorite things in the city and I love how the print of the blouse parallels the windows on the building. I hope you enjoy the pictures and I hope one day you get to experience Bangkok for yourself, if you haven't already!


(Pictures via The Magazine)

Model Of The Moment: Liu Wen

I think Liu Wen is flawless! She looks stunning whether she's all made up and glamorous in Chanel or just casually chic in Gap. Love her!


(Pictures via Style.com)

Through The Eyes of Richard Avedon

This past week a retrospective of iconic photographer Richard Avedon was launched at the International Center of Photography. I think I probably first became aware of Avedon when I was younger and watched Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. The movie is loosely based on Avedon's work and unique techniques and he even provided some photos for the movie, including this memorable image below, showing just Audrey's eyes, nose and mouth. Hepburn was definitely one of Avedon's main muses, even perhaps his ultimate muse, as he once said:

"I am, and forever will be, devastated by the gift of Audrey Hepburn before my camera. I cannot lift her to greater heights. She is already there. I can only record. I cannot interpret her. There is no going further than who she is. She has achieved in herself her ultimate portrait."

Avedon started working in fashion in 1944 as a chief photographer for Harper's Bazaar. Here he became known for portraying how women really felt through his photos whether it was insecure or happy. His images of laughing women became his most popular. One thing I just discovered about him that made me love him even more, was that he used to fight with the magazine to show women of different races like China Machado and he threatened to leave in the 60's unless they used his photo of African-American model Donyale Luna.
Avedon ended up leaving Harper's Bazaar in 1966 to work for Vogue until Anna Wintour's arrival in 1988. Apparently she asked him to audition for him and did not like what she saw so Avedon left. However he left Vogue with so many incredible images where he was able to capture the spirit of that time so well, including stunning images of iconic models Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, and Penelope Tree.
In 1992 he became the first staff photographer for The New Yorker. They called it 'Avedon's return to fashion' and his first images shown were a color portfolio of a model with a skeleton, which could be seen as a stand-in for Avedon in some sense. After that he mainly photographed a lot of avante-garde couture fashions from designers like Yamamoto and Gaultier, mostly in black and white.
I just love Avedon's images and I think in a lot of he ways he changed the way people viewed fashion. Instead of portraying prim and proper ladies he showed women in their reality illuminating how they were really feeling. He pushed the envelope encouraging his models to emote and move around, urging them to be more than just motionless clothes hangers. He was able to truly capture the energy and emotions of the world around him and yet was so ahead of his time with his techniques and appreciation of all things beautiful. The New York Times covered this new exhibit very well and made a brief but very informative video on the photographer you can watch HERE. The retrospective will be displayed in New York until September 6(which means I get to see it!).

(Pictures via Cyanatrendland.com)