Kate in Isabel Marant

I've really been enjoying seeing Kate Bosworth's fashion love affair with french designer Isabel Marant in bloom. From what I gather, it seems like her acting career has taken a back seat to her status as a fashion starlette. Kate's look is an other-worldly mixture of California sunshine with a European runway model physique. She looks good in everything, especially Isabel Marant, who's clothes are gaining more and more exposure and popularity thanks to celebrities like Bosworth who patronize indie, up and comming designers.

Marant is known as the Parisienne cool girl's designer and has a cult following to boot. And it's true! There is something very, very cool about Marant's clothes. On a piece by piece basis, they can appear like over-priced Free People designs but Marant's stuff costs hundred and hold their value very well. Check out eBay and one will find that people are still willing to pay up the wahzoo for a simple peasant top. The boots that Kate has been wearing over and over again are still selling for nearly retail. Although, i'm not sure how they would look on someone less leggy than Kate, which is most people, like me

An American Beauty!

When Jessica Biel was named Sexiest Women Alive a few years ago, by Esquire Magazine, I wasn't so sure, but when she was named one of Vogue's Top 10 Best Dressed, I was in complete agreement. For me, she embodies the essence of American style - athletic, healthy, sun-kissed and practical

She's not a skinny-minnie but her body is perfect! She's muscular and athletic but still completely feminine. I love the way she does casual, which in my opinion, can sometimes be a lot more challenging than formal wear. Because, really, anyone can look like a million bucks wearing a dress that costs a million bucks. But with casual sportswear, you're suppose to look like you're not trying so hard to look fabulous. Biel always looks put together but totally comfortable.

I appreciate that she embraces her homeland's fashion sensibilities and I like that she doesn't try to look "more European." It's quite refreshing actually and I'm proud to call her one of my fashion idols! Not that the girl can't also rock couture. She looked devastatingly fabulous is the red Versace number she wore to the Met Gala.

So, in conclusion, I won't let my own weak arms stop me from loving the look of strong American women. In fact, putting together this post is inspiring me to get back into shape... after finals, of course!

Best Dressed of the Decade... Kate Moss ( per Vogue)

What is it about Kate Moss? I'm not sure, but she is quite literally the only person I can imagine in a burlap sac and still look more chic and glam  than anyone else at the party. She's not exactly the prettiest, the tallest, or the most beautiful but God damn, the girl can work it! She's does casual better and more interestingly than the average person in couture and when it comes to red carpet events, she steals the show and it appear as if she's just barely trying.

So, when Vogue came out with their 10 Best Dress list name Kate Moss as the Best Dress of the decade, I thought it was a well-deserved honor.

It was only a few years ago that it seemed like her lucrative career was over when tabloids published photos of her and her illicit drug use. Most if not all of her contract were dropped, including Burberry and it looked like it was the end. But, as we can all see, she bounced back bigger, better and more in demand than ever. And at nearly 40, which is like practically 100 in model-years, her influence on fashion is incalculable.

Long live the mystique of Kate Moss!

Paige Denim is Magic in a Pair of Pants

OK, maybe not literal magic but zipping into a pair makes me feel like I have the butt and the legs I was always meant to have. It's like the miracle-workers at Paige have figured out how to fuse Spanx into the fabric, rendering them the "Tony Robbins" of jeans for my self-esteem!

I recently scored a pair at Nordstrom's Rack with the of-the-moment flared leg I keep see in the Sartorialist. It's been a running theme in his blog, and a welcomed one, if I may add, as a fit and flare leg is slimming and lengthening like a pair of skinny's but so much more comfortable.

They're a bit longer than normal, to accomodate sky-high heels and the ratio of fit to flare is spot on. Based on Mr. Schuman's photos, I like them with a strong, pointed toe peeking from out of a hem that  grazes the floor just a tad... just a tad.

My NEW Hero... Funny Girl

I knew of Barbra Streisand. I knew that she was considered a legend and immensely respected by Hollywood. But until I saw Funny Girl a few weeks ago, I really had no idea how fabulous and incredible she was. I see it now! In fact, I see so much of her Funny Girl character in our beloved Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City. From their coy and wide-eyed brand of flirtation and their irresistible wit,  Carrie Bradshaw is our modern-day Funny Girl. Streisand was able capitalized on her unconventional brand of beauty and won over her audience with wit, charm and pure talent. I love a girl whose self-aware and Funny Girl was completely aware that she was not "the most beautiful girl," a song she refused to sing in one of the earlier scenes of Funny Girl. Instead, she stuffed a pillow under her dress, and sang it with irony. "The audience was not laughing at me, they were laughing with me," she proudly proclaimed when her character was being reprimanded by her boss. Streisand's character was a master of taking a lemon of a situation and turning it into platinum selling lemonade.
Streisand, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston have relatively "non-Hollywood" faces - if you want to call it that. God knows that things that have been said about their appearance have been profoundly atrocious and insensitive.  None-the-less, they come out beautiful, smart and savvy and I love them for it!

A Karen Wedding

The MC - He had A LOT to say! Though, I had no idea what he was saying... 

It was a double wedding.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Karen double-wedding.  The Karen are a Burmese minority and this particular family was granted asylum a couple years ago and relocated from their refugee camp to San Diego. They've done an amazing job making a home for themselves in a largely strange and unfamiliar place.

The wedding was an interesting experience and I tried to take in as much as I could given this was a rare glimpse into a very small and discreet culture. I was attending on behalf of the bride, Tadah, whose donned in the traditional white dress. Mostly everyone was under 5 feet tall, so my date and I felt like giants! The other bride and groom chose to wear traditional Karen garments woven from thick cotton yarns of brights colors. The ceremony seemed to drone on and on but we were happy to be there for the bride and her family. As soon as the processions were over, the hall seemed to almost immediately convert to a dining hall with everyone pitching in to set-up, serve, and clean up. They're a tight knit community and it was an honor to be included in their celebration.

When You Let the Boyfriend Pick Your Clothes...

The Boyfriend - a tree-hugging, a save-the-world type with grungy, threadbare outfits to match

The Mission - Find his perfect summer dress for me at Forever 21

The Outcome - Short and Bright

What I think? Well... there was definitely a running theme in his choices and overall, I did agree that the length and silhouette were flattering for my body type. Every time I came out of the dressing room in one of his selections, his face lit up in a way that made it impossible for me to say what I really thought, which was... "really?" Because the problem was, while he liked pretty and sexy, I like pretty and interesting and as you may agree, these dresses are in no way, interesting. In fact, I can't count how many time I rolled my eyes as I was showing-off the yellow, banded hem number. It just reminded me so much of women of the Housewives series and the fashion de rigeur of Vegas female party-goers. Though, I have to admit, the banded silhouette was easy to wear and made me feel taller and slimmer, I couldn't do it! Not even for him could I wear this out!

After some debating and more eye rolling, I settled for the red one. The color was nice and it was simple enough that I could layer it with lots of different things. But, as we left the dressing room towards the register, I swiftly hung it back up because I KNEW that I would NEVER wear it.

Notes on The 2011 California Fashion Symposium Runway Show

Ixchel Amor's

Ixchel's 1st Place look

Nancy Diep's

Nancy K's 2nd place look

Nancy K's

Nancy K's

Larry Wu's winning look

Larry Wu

It was a great show! Seeing my garments on a leggy model with 'tude strutting down a runway was pretty nerve-racking but oh-so exciting! The production value exceeded my expectations and overall, the Long Beach CC student production team did a very impressive job selecting models, conducting fittings and styling them. The music was upbeat and everyone who had a stake in this thing was on the edge of their seat. There were quite a few hiccups and not everyone left happy... but that's fashion right? It's personal. It's nerve-racking. There's an ugly side to glamour.

1st place - It looked well made and fit like a glove - a black, latex glove. Very Pam Anderson!

2nd place - I came in 2nd. YAY! I was not crazy about the Snookiesque hair bump but my biggest gripe was that the model didn't take off the detachable cape during the runway show. I had specifically rigged it with snaps so that it could be torn away and had given them instruction to do so, but despite all of these efforts, it didn't happen.

3rd - I felt genuinely threatened when this look appear on the runway. It isn't something I would necessarily wear but I thought the fit, proportion and the styling was very impactful. Of all the sportswear garments on the runway, this one I predicted to be a serious contender.

Honorable Mention - YAY! Larry Wu! He's like a little brother to me. I'm very proud!

Things I've learned:

Styling is key! Students were given the opportunity to provide accessories or make suggestions. Larry provided the model with a motorcycle helmet and goggles. The 3rd place look had also come down the runway with a motorcycle helmet. Hair and accessories help tell the "story" of your girl and where she's going. We gravitate towards stories and they make things more memorable and emotional. Ixchel's winning look was accessorized with a giant floppy, sun hat and a matching handbag. The girl looked ready to go from the runway to a swanky beach resort! Larry's model and the 3rd place winner looked ready to mount their hogs and take off! Nancy D. had provide the production team with a photo of exactly how she wanted the model to be styled and I think she pretty much got exactly what she wanted. I provided a genuine panama hat to be paired with my white linen garment hoping that it would give it a cool, Cuban flair but without a photo of exactly how I wanted it to be worn, the model instead, looked like she was on her way to a hoe-down. Her hair was big and it didn't fit. She had to hold down the hat with her hand to keep it from falling of. My mistake...

Think like a Showman! You might believe that the garment will speak for itself but on the runway, it's about showmanship. You may have done a ton of intricate and couture handy work, but if the viewer can't see it from where she/he is sitting, it doesn't exist. Think theatrics! The garment needs to perform! Think Color! Movement! Convertibility! Innovation! Out of a 100 looks, why is your's memorable?

Make it idiot-proof! As I had mentioned, I rigged the cape with snaps and gave them very specific instructions to take it off but it still didn't happen. I made buttonholes non-functional where-ever I could substitute with snaps or ties because watching a model attempting to undo  a million buttons is agony. There was one model who struggled with a single button jacket for what seemed like minutes. Not only was it awkward and distracting, it made the garment seem fussy and annoying to put on and take off. Make the dressing process as simple as possible and it will be more likely that you'll get the model to do what you want. Also, if something is to be taken off in the middle of the runway, the transitional will look much smoother and more natural.

Next year PCC will rule the show!

My 2 Front Teeth... How the new "It" girls, Georgia May Jagger and Lara Stone are helping me with my buck teeth complex

Madonna; Georgia Jagger; Lara Stone
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/13/ny-fashion-week-gappy-teeth

What better to demonstrate the mercurial nature of fashion than the recent onslaught of gap-tooth fashion figures? For as long as I can remember, it was considered a major flaw, and at best, an endearing and even cute one, but none-the-less, an imperfection requiring many years of painful and expensive cosmetic dentistry.

But, in all it's ironic glory, the fashion media have been reporting of people paying cometic dentists to make gaps between their 2 front teeth.  I suppose, it's no doubt, with Georgia May Jagger and Lara Stone starring in ad campaigns for Chanel and Calvin Klein, respectively. They're gorgeous, svelte and ooze sex appeal and glamour to no end, but their buck teeth add a dimension that makes them look interesting and slightly strange. It throws people off a bit which isn't such a bad thing. Though buck-toothed pillars of style such as Kate Moss and Madonna have survived and stayed relevant through-out many decades despite their "imperfection," it's been reported that modeling agencies and designers are now looking specifically for new, buck-toothed, "character" faces.

Now I don't feel so bad for not wearing my retainer...

A Few Chapters into... Tim Gunn's Golden Rules

I'm currently reading Tim Gunn's "Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work," and I have to say, I'm having a hard time putting it down. I'm only a few chapters in and already dreading that it will end in no time at all. He talks about people in industry behaving badly and uses real fashion personalities as examples... quite a bit of toe-stepping! Yikes! But his overall theme, is "be nice." "Take the higher road!" He seems both wise and humble and I can't get enough of the sweet but stern uncle tone. I've also read "Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, taste and Style," a book full of nuggets of advice I've been meaning to reread. He's one of my favorite Project Runway constants and although his critiques don't always align with the judges, he's really only trying to help. It seems that he identifies with being a teacher above all else and you can't fault a guy for that. Lots of love for Mister Gunn!

A Review of the Rodarte Exhibit at the MOCA PDC

I always liked Rodarte. Given the Mulleavy sisters meteoric acendancy to international, fashion stardom, it was a pleasant surprise to read that they're from Pasadena. While the exhibition was small, it was set up in a way that you could get pretty close to the pieces and inspect them from all angles. The tutus were quite impressive and admittedly, I'm inspired to make one of my own and than prance around on tip toe as if I were a primadonna!

I tried to examine the pieces through the lens filter of an art critic rather than one of a fashion designer and upon reading the press release, the pieces began to make more sense within the context of the venue. This particular installation was intended to comment on the temporality and idea of fashion as art. Instead of being shown on plastic dress forms, the pieces were shown on what they call "a series of interrelated vignettes, both static and in motion, displayed off-figure and portrayed as charged sculptural objects. The installation will present inanimate objects in a state of flux, or animation, signifying the temporary states that material can assume."


It even began to remind of some of Robert Rauschenberg's works, a 20th century modern artist who's been featured by MOCA on numerous occasions. 

Robert Rauschenberg, Canyon 1959
http://www.westcler.org/GH/curlessmatt/arthistory/20/RauschenbergCanyon1959.jpg

What I'm buying for Spring - PART II: My Ode to Chambray

What began as the fabric of choice for French farm workers and where we get the term "blue-collar" is currently my must have Spring textile.

Oh Chambray... how do I love thee?   Let me list the ways...

I love you as a dress
I love you as a shirt

I love that with you, I can roll around in the dirt.

I love you as a pair shorts.
... as a shirt-dress.

I love you in all your manifestations and                
even more when you withstand duress.

Oh Chambray... how do I love thee?
Let me list that ways...

Cannibalizing IKEA... Loving It!

XL Cutting Table
http://www.ikeahackers.net/2008/10/xl-cutting-table.html

Bedroom dress boys

http://www.ikeahackers.net/2010/11/bedroom-dress-boys.html

While looking for a cheap alternative to an industrial cutting table, I discovered Ikea Hackers, a website dedicated to redesigning and repurposing everyday Ikea funiture and knick knacks and making them personal, special and most importantly, FUNCTIONAL. To me, this is an impressive example of how creative and clever everyday people can be. Ikea Hackers has 100s of idea, all submitted by design conscious people who had a need, a budget, and a little bit of time and elbow grease.

http://www.ikeahackers.net/

Hamster Home
http://www.ikeahackers.net/2009/12/expedit-hamster-home.html

What I'm Buying for Spring... PART I

As a fashion design student, I have to navigate the tricky waters of frugalism and yet still look like I have my finger on the pulse of the fashion zeitgeist. Thusly, prior to every season, I start obsessively shopping for those few key pieces that will make it seem like I have an endless wardrobe even though I’m really just shopping my closet. For me, this spring is all about light, airy, pretty and comfortable.

PART I is about the wedge. I use to think they looked like big blocks strapped on to feet,  but I’ve really come to appreciate how they can be both very pretty without trying too hard because I’m really not a fan of girl’s wearing sky-high stilettos on campus. It’s just too much effort!

BUT!... a casual wedge will elevate (no pun intended) an outfit’s degree of dressiness without looking out of place on a sprawling California college campus. The shape of the wedge is very important. I’m in favor of something simple and sturdy with a reasonable arch. While I love an architecturally sculpted and severe arch, it’s just too sexy and inappropriate for walking great distances and schlepping books and supplies. Check out Jennifer Aniston. I really love the way she does casual! Stay tune for PART II and III

Can't make it through the day without...

Penis Envy? H&M Menswear for Women

Still riding on the "borrowed from my boyfriend"trend, I decided to literally borrow from the boys and gave the men's department of H&M a try. Like the women's section, the men's garments are cut slimmer than their American counterparts which makes H&M men's perfect if their women's cuts already work for your body. I tried on a basic henley and a pair of linen trousers in the smallest size available. It turned out better than any menswear inspired pieces I've found for women. I'm in love with the proportions - oversized but not overwhelming. Some things to consider when shopping in men's:

• instead of hemming sleeves and pants legs that are too long, just roll them up 
• paper-bagging the waist is great, just make sure the fit doesn't give you camel toe or diaper-butt syndrome
• where the shoulder falls is extremely important in making the outfit look casual but not sloppy
• open-up the neck and collar region to keep from looking out of proportion and mannish

You can still look very feminine in menswear!

H&M Cotton Henley                                  $9.95
H&M Linen Trousers                                 $24.95
Ralph Lauren Collection Penny Loafers*   $50
                                                                _________
Outfit Total                                                $84.90

*Purchased on eBay