3.31.2009

the super

Remember when supermodels were muses for the great designers? Jean Shrimpton, Jerry Hall, Lauren Hutton, Iman, Twiggy, Veruschka, Suzy Parker. Supermodels were veritable cultural icons. Glorious, ethereal beings who represented culture, beauty and fashion in every possible sense. It's starting to come back a little bit, but models today don't come even close to touching the god-like status of the supers of the past. I love celebrities, as I've said before. But let's go back to the time when models dripped with glamour and class, producing photos representing an unwavering artistic sensibility. Instead of now, when companies throw a famous face onto their advertising campaigns to garner a little attention.

Although Bazaar has been driving me crazy recently, they did present a wonderful homage to the supermodel in their March issue. These women were just too, too good.

Kate Moss



Nadja Auermann



Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell



Linda Evangelista



Cindy Crawford, Tatjana Patitz, Stephanie Seymour



Iman



Jerry Hall



Lauren Hutton



Marisa Berenson



Veruschka



Twiggy



Jean Shrimpton


Suzy Parker


Lisa Fonssagrives



Dovima.



*all images taken from harpersbazaar.com

the magic of the fashion blogosphere

I adore sifting through my Google Reader rotation of fashion blogs every day, especially when this little lady cannot figure out what to wear. And while I probably won't be resorting to a "outfit-a-day" type thing, I do seriously covet the updates of those who do.

Behold, loves...these girls have some ridiculously fabulous style. Here of some of my favorite looks as of late:



There's the ever and uber stylish Susie Bubble, who is able to style pieces in ways most could only dream of. These shots were done for a piece for The Observer:


Karla, from Karla's Closet. I LOVE this pink, linen blazer. Undoubtedly the perfect summer blazer:


altamira is a street style blog, not a personal style blog, but the looks are insane, so I had to share:



This is Judy, Jane's mom from seaofshoes.com. She and Jane originally started seaofshoes together, but then that became Jane's baby and Judy started Atlantis Home. She has amazing fashion and interior design style. I could live in this dress all summer and have not a care in the world.



I think that my life would be complete if these were my friends and this is what we all happened to show up wearing as we walked down the street to grab brunch on a Saturday morning. I also wouldn't mind going through life looking like I could kick anyone's ass at any given moment. LOVE Jak and Jil.


Rumi, of fashiontoast. Phenom style, and beautiful photos.




I WANT THIS SWACKET. And that beautiful treasure Camille is standing in front of.


Brook & Lyn. I love the slight militaristic feel of this outfit, balanced with flowy, textured pants and a killer boot. They put pieces together so well.



And then the lovely Miss Jane Aldrige. 16 year old girl wonder from Texas, who's currently wearing the pants I plan on purchasing. Seaofshoes is one of my faves.


3.30.2009

swicket swacket

I was reading one of my favorite fash blogs, Childhood Flames (amazing, amazing style) and the other day she was wearing this piece called "the swacket" -- a sweater/jacket, if you will. Here's the link to her post...you have got to check out how ridiculous this piece is, and how many ways she wears it...it's the epitome of everything I could ever want in a garment.

So, of course, I immediately went to the line's site, Harput's Own, the first independent line of San Francisco boutique Harput's Market, and I fell in love. Their clothes have amazing versatility and the line is filled with pieces you could have forever and ever.


I would die for these yellow boots. The wedge heel is ah-mazing, and the height and structural slouchiness are quite similar to Rodarte's FW09 boots, no?





The swacket...it's truly one of the most perfect pieces I've seen in a very long time. I just adore it.







3.29.2009

as the world recesses, i fantasize

My best friend, Barb, is a Harry Potter addict. She started reading them when they first came out, and has been ardently loyal to the series ever since. That includes attending every midnight premiere of each of the films (Even when she was in college. And even when no one would go with her. Bless Barb.) As someone who never jumped on that bandwagon when it was barreling through our cultural world full steam, I would often make fun of her and her "childish" obsession. But she was always very firm in her defense and I said that at some point, I'd watch the films just to see what all of the fuss was about. Well, that moment came last night, after so much good sushi and a couple of bottles of wine...and I loved. I DID, okay?! And I'm not ashamed people. Now don't get me wrong, I believe it's very important to be well read and well watched and I've committed myself to being a life long learner. But no matter how intelligent you are, no matter how much you fancy yourself an intellectual whose taste reaches the very apex of the culturally savvy, that doesn't mean that you're above a good story, or a little bit of fantasy. I come from a theatre background, and so the crux of my life's studies and personal work has always been to tell stories, and to tell them as vividly, as effectively, and as creatively as possible. I am open to experiencing anything that tells a good story. It might be a little cheesy (one of my favorite movies is Con Air, and as you know, I am in the middle of a little Dawson's Creek rewatching), or it can be something whose story hits home so deeply that it never leaves you, like The Squid and the Whale, The Picture of Dorian Gray...and, well, okay, anything involving Meredith and Derek on Grey's Anatomy.

During the Great Depression, the musical, as a film genre, thrived, connecting with audiences who needed something fantastical, feel good and outside the bounds of exacted reality. I've been craving that kind of fantasy for myself recently...and it's definitely manifested itself in staying in a lot to read, watch movies, sift through magazines and the internet. AND (I'm quite proud of this), I've not turned on the television all week long (except for film watching, of course). And I've felt the most creative and the most inspired that I've felt in quite a long time. It's also what I love about fashion...is it entirely practical to buy or even produce an $11,000 Balmain jacket in a time where people are struggling to buy groceries? Who cares? Harper's Bazaar has jumped on this recession bandwagon as if must be, literally, the only way that people can even conceive of fashion right now, and I'm so sick of reading their stupid recession articles I could just throw up. I know I can't afford the new YSL cage booties, or the thigh-high Rodarte boots, thanks...but that doesn't mean that I don't want to look at them as styled up and fashiony as possible. Bazaar and Vogue needn't think that the only way they can present items like this is to try and trick me into believing that a $1300 pair of booties is an "essential splurge" for this summer. I'm still within my first year out of college. They're not. I find W to be the musical of the fashion world. When everyone else is afraid to admit their love of something impractical during a time where impracticality isn't exactly relished, W says fuck that and gives us a shoot like their Stardust one this month, chock full of glamour, glitz, and a whole lotta "price available on request."

There's nothing wrong with looking to a little magic to make you feel better. I'll alternate Twilight and Hemingway if I want to (and I currently am), and I'm already shopping at H&M...I don't need to see it in any high fashion editorial, thanks. Tell the story, show me the good stuff.














3.27.2009

love love love and valentino red

Tonight I saw "Valentino: The Last Emperor," followed by a special Q&A with the director, Matt Tyrnauer, and it was tres tres magnifico. The fashion was beautiful to look at as Valentino is, of course, a genius, but, as the director said, the film is a love story about Valentino and his partner of 45+ years, Giancarlo Giametti. And what a story it is! The two are brilliant together...both possess fanatical exuberance and an unwavering flair for the dramatic. The film is a veritable delight for any fashion lover, and when you have special cameos by the likes of Andrew Leon Talley flipping out about caftans Valentino has made him for his 45th anniversary couture show, and Karl Lagerfeld commenting to Valentino that "compared to us, everyone else makes rags," you're in for a pretty special treat. The man also has six pugs and a head seamstress who matches his sass beat for beat, without batting an eye. Magic.

Take a look at the trailer, if you've not yet seen the film:


There's also a great article on The Cut, an interview with Valentino and Giametti. The way that these two exchange banter is one of the best parts of the film. It's candid comedy over and over and over again, supported by a staunch foundation of love. They reminded me a little of Yves and Pierre...but far less dysfunctional.

In any event, check this film out. It was the director's first foray into film, and it's a definite success.

alexis bittar

I loves me some good accessories. Especially bangles. I'm all about a fabulous necklace, but I always feel naked if I don't have something (or many somethings) jangling about my wrists.

I discovered New York jewelry designer Alexis Bittar when he did an interview in this month's W, and I adore his work. He works primarily with lucite and has a super private studio in Brooklyn where he keeps all of the secrets regarding the creation of his amazing accessories to himself.

He says he was drawn to jewelry because he found it "super enchanting." Well, I find both him AND his gems incredibly enchanting. Gaze on friends...love as I do.







Those pieces are a part of his "Miss Havisham" collection, which is my favorite. Not only because I love how structural the pieces are (and all the gold), but also because I have a deep love for Miss Havisham proper...probably more than most people.