OMGOMGDIEHYPERVENTILATE

Here. Look, listen and hate yourself that you aren't a genius like ol' Miuccia here.

The shoes. The shoes, the shoes the shoes the shoes THE SHOES. They are bright and have a great print and they are sky high. And so how could I not absolutely adore them. Foot candy, man. I tell you, there is no way a human couldn't love them, unless you are one of those annoying sophisticated people who give everyone who sees them an inferiority complex and wear nothing but black Manolos and dark Topshop biker clothes and shun Vogue magazine because its too "mainstream".
God. Please get over yourselves. Yes, you, Taylor Momsen.Anyhoo, wherein doth the true genius of the fashion lie? The eye-popping print and nude combo, if you ask me. And the bangles: do I even have to explain? Yes? Ok, fine, I just want to ramble on about them now. Although there isn't really much to say apart from..... MY PREEECIOUSSS........

The thing I love about Miu Miu (which is this here brand I'm talking about, in case you're a bit slow on the uptake) is that it is unashamedly girly. She don't listen to the tuts of the likes of people who think that black stuff is better than sparkly stuff. Cause they're just plain crazy. What is the point of going to fashion week or whatever if all you do is criticize the good stuff and go back to burrow in the Topshop Moto racks? I don't have anyone particular in mind, by the way. My irritation at Balmainettes is merely coming to a climax.

Another pair of stunning shoes. And bangles. And EVERYTHING. God, those bangles. We WANTS it. Again, the creamy neutral colour of the skirt suit is played up by the supreme over-the-topness of the other colours. And I am now going to use a word which I hate using. Because it is infuriatingly stereotypical and portrays that teen mall-girl attitude towards fashion that we so hate. Dare I say it, the clothes are CUTE. But, hey, wait, before you close this browser window with the rapidity of a speeding bullet, its a good kind of cute. Like, these kiddos don't care about what people think of them, from their clothes to their behaviour. They're not worried about jumping around in fruit-printed rompers and having people think, "These girls need to grow up" (nod to the teachers at school there) or "Why are they so disturbingly happy? God, my life sucks" or "I think they're just fashion-conscious lesbians, honey." It isn't just the clothes that are so undeniably fabulous, its the attitude. See, people used to think that attitude was wearing 'edgy' (goth) and 'sexy' (skanky) clothes and looking moody and nonchalant and lounging on the streets of Paris. But I can not stress how much I mightily disagree just now. This is the new summer attitude: bouncy, warm, giddy and ferociously girly.

By the way, a note on hair and beauty. This is almost EXACTLY what I want to look like when I head to the beaches of Europe this summer. Enormous swooshy poofy hair. Kinda like big golden clouds. And really girly sparkly makeup in bright colours, but maybe a little toned down. Because people like me just can't wear too much makeup without looking like pantomime drag queens (Mom says its because I'm naturally beautiful, but that's crap. I just have awkwardly shaped features. Well. Sorta. I kinda hope I don't actually and that its just me)

And by the way, lookin' goooood, Lindsey Wixson. (She's the one on the right with the slightly gappy teeth. Sorry.) Seriously, though, this girl I do adore. She is just such a well-deserved break from Agyness Deyn and stuff. Just look at her. Who could resist that face? She looks like a li'l cherry. A really, really tall cherry. And I'm sorry, and I do love you Georgia-May Jagger, but she's prettier than you.

This would conclude this post. Be assured that I am still in raptures about this collection but if I say anymore I shall go on all night. And can I just say that I loved that spring/summer collection of Miu's too. Its the spring equivalent of this collection and I was all over it. Style.com it if you don't know what I'm talkin' bout. And also I'm loving wetsuit-inspired bikinis like this one by Lisa Marie Fernandez.


More on that later.
X
EVC

Suited and Booted

Hello readers,

Here are my very favourite resort pieces so far. And seriously, I'm not just doing them because Tavi did.

SONIA RYKIEL

This isn't my very favourite collection but it is pretty swell, kids. Mostly I loved the pillbox hats -- I have a thing for hats, especially pillbox hats. But I hate it when they lose their shape. For example, I went to Paris a few weeks ago and I packed a vintage pink quilted pillbox beret with a matching hatpin (!!!!!!). And then I ended up not being able to wear it because it was all squished and I hadn't brought my non-existent portable steamer.
So, always bring a mini-steamer. And to go back to the subject at hand... it is a very wearable, very chic, very French, very Sonia collection. And that's pretty much all one can say on the subject.

PROENZA SCHOULER

When I first heard about Proenza Schouler, I was reading a copy of German Glamour. I was eight and to my inferior mind the clothes were boring. Sorry 'bout that, Jack and Lazaro. You'll be happy to know that I have completely reevaluated my hypothesis over the last few years. I mean, this is like, slightly-dorky-in-a-cool-way 80s schoolgirl goes on safari and marries an Arabian prince. I love the cuts of the shorts and how very un-Topshop they are. (I'm kinda starting to despise Topshop because they are so darn repetitive with their clothes and also their jeans always have the same cut. Still semi-stylish, but.. well... yawn.) And the blazers are. A. M. A. Z. I. N. G. You could just kinda through them over pajamas and look instantly cool, especially the whitey-silver and black one.

BALENCIAGA

Again. This is why today's post is entitled 'Suited and Booted'. I love suits 'cause you can through them out and look instantly put-together. Nicholas Ghesquiere even manages to make them playful with eyeshadow and dizzyingly printed blouses. See, this is the kind of thing that makes me jealous. Why the hell didn't I think of that?? ARGHHHHHHHHH.

Whatever. And to finish off, lets have some good ol'fashioned sleek, chich Burberry Prorsum magic. Because I need a trench coat, and I can totally afford this stuff. Totally.

Stuff I love right now (in pictures)

(!!!!!!!!!!)

OK, so this was gonna be just in pictures. But I lied because most of the stuff in here is just too awesome not to talk about. Plus, because of an upcoming piano exam i have been way too stressed out to blog and I had forgotten how fun it is once you, y'know, get into it.

I really hope I never have to use that phrase again.

So lets start with the Bottega Veneta. Because it embodies everything I look for in fashion. It is unmistakeably high fashion, and yet you could totally wear any of the pieces out (well, maybe with a little layering in the bathing suit pieces? Unless you're Lady Gaga, in which case fine, do your thing). Another thing that's really cool is that the collection has a hint of the 50s in it.I mean, come on. The yellow ruffled dress? How could you not notice? God, what is wrong with you?

(Insert smiley face here)

Anyhoo, when you look at the detailing around the neckline and the collar (well, really just the shape of it) there is definitely something futuristic about the pieces. Its also revealed in the all-white uniform of a lot of the models and some of the pieces feature asymmetrical wrap-like cuts (the belted hotpants/tankini-thing combo. Which I love, don't get me wrong just because I don't really... know..... what to call it)
And, man, will you look at the corseting? How do they do it?? HOW?!?!? How do they incorporate so many individual themes into a single collection? See, this is the thing I'm struggling with. I try to keep my sketches more or less based on the same themes so they form a kind of "collection", but then they always end up being all over the place and one is a Victorian ballgown and the other is an all-white bodysuit. But anyway. Here are my themes:

-Sporty/Scuba (neoprene and stuff.. I LOVE NEOPRENE)
-Menswear ('cause you can dress it up or down and wear it anywhere)
-50s/early 60s

And this is why I love these collections so much. And I am not copying them, so don't give me that look. That evil cyber-look you're giving me. Yeah, that one. Right THERE.

Moving right along, yeah, I picked those three collections because they were my absolute favourites among spring/summer collections this year. What I wouldn't give to be able to afford one of those stunning tankini things. NOTHING, I tell you. NOTHING IS THE ANSWER. And the Proenza Schouler is cool... the stretchy tops are a little like last season's Versace minidresses. Needless to say, I adored them.

Rodarte, Lady G and Joy Division are on my magic list because they simply rock.
And thanks, Style.com, for the photos.
And in a couple days (or weeks -- who knows?) I will post the sketches that I mentioned earlier... the ones that don't really go together, but I think they're still kinda good, if I do say so myself. I'll work on that. And I need to get some nice red lipstick that doesn't look too gaudy.
(ChellBellz, if you're listening, this is your time to shine.)

Until next time.
EVC

PS. WAIT!! WAAITT!!!! I forgot something!




Ok, BYE.

A HISTORY OF FASHION: 1800s

Hola,
I am going through an 19th century fashion phase and though you might like to know. Just scroll down....
1810s
So this is the stuff from the 1810s and in case you are already bored, might I add that the more interesting stuff comes in the later decades. For those of you who have read or seed 'Emma' by Jane Austen, you will probably remember seeing these kind of dresses. In my opinion they are not nearly over-the-top enough. They are just empire-waisted bags. But I guess that all the drama lies in those wicked cool hats. Damn, I was born in the wrong century.

1820sNow skirts started to grow more voluminous (finally), with added ruffles, poufs and draping. The feminine shape was exaggerated with sneakily cantilevered corsets and bodices became more fitted to show off curves. Also, although the classic bonnet shape was still popular, newer, more elaborate hats began to take their place. With more people traveling, hats took on a turban shape borrowed from the Middle-East and were often adorned with feathers and shimmering brooches. And now, I'm not copy-and-pasting from Wikipedia. I just read actual books. Wide-brimmed, floppy hats were also popular.

1830sAh, so this is where it gets more interesting. We are getting huge skirts and sleeves held up with vast wire contraptions hidden under the yards of petticoats and silk, and also ginormous hats. There's nothing much else to say.

Well, I have to go now... so I will continue this post at a later date. Also I have a dinner party to host.

EVC

It's Gonna Be a Dark Summer

Let's let the clothes speak for themselves.

ALEXANDER WANG

These were just the first droplets of the wave of chic-grungy 90s girl fashions that washed over runways this season. I was pretty surprised to see that the designers had gone dark for summer (yes, I know it is technically a/w, but who can wait three months to wear these beauties?), and I was kinda looking forward to all the typical brights and prints the season usually has to offer, but it seems the sartorial world has nimbly avoided carrying on the stereotypes that summer should be bright and poppy. I'm sure there are other designers that have done the bright summer thing, but I'm having a dark moment here.By the way, doesn't Karlie look adorable in the first shot? I love that girl.
Lets do some Proenza Schouler -- but I couldn't help adding in last season's collection, 'cause its one of my favorites ever.

If I could pick any collection in the fashion world that I could own, it would have to be the Spring 10 Proenza Schouler.... guess what, my favorite color is aquamarine, and I love the fitted long sleeved tops -- they remind me of happier days spent kayaking, back when I could walk and run properly, and Stinson Beach back in California. We used to torture crabs there. Ah, blissful youth.But back to the more up-to-date Schouler collection -- I love the way it retains the same essence that Jack and Lazaro always have in their collection, but I would definitely say the PS girl has gone north for the winter -- to New York, in fact. I would know -- I was just there a few weeks ago, where I bought (and lost, and promptly re-commissioned Mom's friend Jan to buy -- thanks Jan!) this fantastic ring.

See how it sparkles and gleams. Anyway, I am loving the tiny pleats - I have always loved pleats. They just add an instant dose of put-togetherness to an outfit, or you can make them Vivienne Westwood punk if you have plaid stuff. Coincidentally, I recently finished a peplum jacket in the exact shade of green the models are wearing. Wow, I'm psychic.

And now to pay a visit to Richard Chai, fashion's current tomboy.
Well, tomboy isn't really the right word. He is a guy, but his womens' collections are very gamine and very, very cool. See for yourself, if you haven't already.

See, this is why I am so obsessed with fashion. There are some garments that, if combined perfectly, form an awesome look. And then there are garments which form a look no matter how you throw them together. These are some rare specimens of the latter, and are also very New York. Usually I like to see at least some form of high heel in a collection, but I am loving the boots, and even if he had included heels, the styling would have been perfection. Really, how can you go wrong with pieces that are superbly made, classy and cool? The answer is you can't. You simply CAN'T.
Did I mention how much I loved the hair in Alexander Wang? Its just so....... shiny!! And beautiful!! And perfect!! There really is no other way to describe it. Gee, I'm so eloquent... not.
And on to my next topic: Cynthia Rowley for Roxy. Finally, something that I can wear on land and in my kayak. Just LOOK.

I just... love it. To quote Cynthia, "We wanted this collection to have everything you need for a weekend -- both on and off the beach -- while still making it fit into your canvas duffel bag, so you can just toss everything in and go." Truer words have never been spoken. The collection also includes round sunglasses, neoprene ballet flats and surf-inspired board shorts that can be paired with anything from heels to Kelly bags.

So that's my inspiration for summer vacation -- New York, tomboy, surfing, tight/brights, also a dark palette for the city, and late 90s...

Must go and study -- it's end-of-year exam season.
EC