Spring Sheer

Koi Suwannagate

Christopher Kane

Charles Anastase

Sheer isn't the most translatable fashion trend but there's something entice about these looks. Koi Suwannagate does it a little bohemian- 'so what if my skirt shows my body suit'. Whereas Charles Anastase mixes innocent schoolgirl with the sultry promise of something more. Christopher Kane, as always, blows me away with his creativity. Tranparency is merely the prefect canvas to his delicately formed half loops.

The Real vs. Fake Dilemma

Every so often when I go out with friends, I'd lean over to my best friend, point to a woman carrying a Louis Vuitton Speedy, and say "God, that is sooo fake- it's definitely not made in one piece." My friend swivels her head to look and then we share a knowing glance. I know, we're brutal, but I honestly don't understand why women buy bags that are obvious knockoffs.



That is until I saw this Balenciaga knockoff from Bauhaus. If you've read my previous posts, you would have noticed my ongoing obsession with the Balenciaga bag. Unfortunately, I just can't justify buying a thousand dollars purse no matter how gorgeous. It just makes my heart stop to see this replica cost only $25. I really want it when it's so reasonably priced. Sure, any fashionista or Balenciaga follower can tell it isn't real, but it's still slouchy, studded perfection. Sure it may not be real leather, but I've been to Neiman Marcus and felt up the bag and the real thing isn't buttery soft either.

In the battle between real vs. fake, my lust for Balenciaga-esque bag is winning. But women carrying faux status symbols still rubs me the wrong way- because it makes no sense to buy something that screams 'I have money,' but when people look closely, it really screams 'I don't have money.' I think I might buy the knockoff anyway but only carry it around friends who don't know what's Balenciaga and therefore not know it's a knockoff.

Colorful Cloth Pads (for That Time of the Month)

Warning: This is a feminine hygiene post so if you're a guy, best look away.

Does anyone use 'cloth pads' during their time of the month? I suppose those from an older generation, before disposable pads and tampons invaded our under-the-sink cabinet, may have used them. But I was really surprised to discover them on Etsy. At first, I thought the colorful cloth pads were plushie pads but then I was like, "who would want plushie pads?"




I clicked around the shop Pleat and discovered these 'plushie pads' were Muffies™. Here's what Pleat says about its cloth pads:

They are super soft and comfortable - no more chafing from disposables. Secure, highly leak resistant, chlorine free, environmentally friendly and frugal, what's not to love about them? Oh, and I bet you would be surprised how easy it is to keep them stain free and fresh: just rinse in cold water after use, fold and snap, and then run through the washing machine at your leisure (before they dry out is best). A bit of white vinegar added to your wash load is an amazingly effective, inexpensive, all natural deodorizer that eradicates odors and mildew and leaves them fresh as new.

From the 400+ positive reviews, it seems Muffies really work. One customers says:

I hate that "time" but these are so pretty and comfortable! Might as well spoil yourself for having to deal with "being a woman" Thinking about buying some?? Go for it, you won't be disappointed! ;)

With such raving endorsement, I can't help but be curious. The Muffies are darn cute but in the end, they will be stained and smelly. Personally, I like being able to throw the entire mess away instead of having to wash them. Plastic disposables are nice because they go straight to the trash, but on the negative side, they occasionally give me a rash. I'm also unsure how well the Muffies stay in place. They seem to be held in place by the buttoning the two wings, but will it shift as I walk? I might have to do the waddle and squeeze my thighs together to hold off a leak. Why is 'mother nature's gift' such a burden?

Fug Madness 2009

Go Fug Yourself is always good for a few laughs. There are plenty of unforgivable photos that attest that money doesn't buy you style (or sanity for that matter). Granted, some outfits deemed fug by the Fug Girls is not truly fug in my book but merely avant garde that should be applauded (i.e. Tilda, Rihanna, & Mary Kate).

As a special treat, the GFY team put together Fug Madness, the one time readers can choose who is fugger, Brittney or Jessica, Paula Abdul or Janet Jackson. A little bit of democracy is nice on a site that doesn't allow comments and occasionally has polls. Fug Madness is done in March Madness fashion, where 64 stars battle it out to see who is the fuggest. I say, way more fun than basketball!



This year's list is impressive. You can follow along and vote for who wore it the worst in '08. My bet is Lindsey, but she faces some tough competitors.

Chanel Assessories F/W 09

Practical yet not practical at the same time... pseudopractical? Regardless, I kind of love it. I like the idea of having a Chanel 2.55 inside a clear briefcase-like Chanel bag. You can carry it to the office and have fellow pedestrians gawk (but enviously) at all that Chanel. Once you get to the office, you can open it up like a briefcase, touch up your makeup, plug your ipod into the computer, and start your workday completely fabulous. And everything's completely organized so you don't have to rumage. On the other hand, it may just be some fancy packaging contrived by Lagerfeld. Whatever it is, it's working because I want it.




Images: NyMag.com, Style.com

Fashion Fuckit List

The article on Fuckit List in the NY Mag had me ROFL. The Fuckit list is basically...

the opposite of a Bucket List: a list of things you don't care about doing before you die instead of things you do want to do.

Readers posted things like:
-learning another language
-running daily
-being less snarky
-cut back on coffee
-not turning into my mother
-reading directions
-being a vegetarian
I can ditto all of those things to be honest.

Since others have covered most things I would put on my fuckit list, I decided to type down my fashion fuckit list. Things that I just don't give a....
-Owning crocs or birkenstocks to be 'comfortable' (those ugly shoes are not touching my feet)
-Not wearing white after Labor Day (who cares anyway?)
-Buying a pair of Louboutins (I know I lust after them daily on this blog, but $700+ red soles are too pricey for me)
-Tailoring my clothes (because it's expensive and I'm lazy)
-Budgeting: Not buying things that I want but don't need (especially when they are deeply discounted)



What would be on your fashion fuckit list?

Busy, busy

Lemonstorynyc Grey-Lemon Tie Blouse: $75.00


Urban Outfitters Cameo Charm Bracelet: $12.99


Opening Ceremony Woven Skorts: $290.00


Lewis Cho Ruffled Flange Dress: $352


Swarovski Helios Desert Glow Ring: $140.00

Melie Bianco Turn Lock Buckle Tote: $79.99

Nine West Gabble: $139.00

So, Spring Break's over and daily posting is going down the drain. I'll be lucky if I have time to post this weekend. All my tests and papers are going to be due in the next week or two. I'm feeling impending doom, especially when I don't understand anything of econometrics. I was lost from the third day of class. So just a quickie online window shopping post and then back to studying for my tests.

Mini Me Bags

Every so often you see a women carrying a gorgeous bag. She's right in front of you, paying for her coffee when she pull out her wallet. The wallet is a miniature version of her gorgeous bag. I could just die and go to fashion heaven. I love when signature bags have it's perfect pair with the same details and in the same color.





Chloe Paddington: Handbag, Wallet
The Chloe Paddington is such a unique bag and now it comes with a unique wallet. The mini lock is just too cute.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Posh Turnlock: Wallet, Handbag Sometimes a happy yellow handbag needs a happy yellow companion.


Balenciaga Arena: Handbag, Wallet
Of course the bag I constantly lust for has a complementary wallet in several styles actually. I kinda wish there are more tassles on the wallet, just to make it totally Balenciaga. And maybe not in burnt orange.

Prada Tessuto Pietre: Wallet, Tote The handbag/wallet combo of choice for classy women with lots money to blow.


Miu Miu Matellasse: Tote, Clutch
I can totally see someone using the tote for work and then taking out the clutch for cocktails. Whether at work or at a bar, the Matellasse will certainly garner some jealous stares.

Actually almost all of these bags are in the $1,000 range, so for us poor people the wallet may be a cheaper way of owning a iconic bag.

More Video Presentations

Looks like other designers are following Halston's video presentation. Gareth Pugh surprised its attendees with an eight minute video presentation instead of a runway show. I found the video more creepy than beautiful but that's to be expected from Gareth. And of course it's in black and white.

Tao Okamoto - Model Crush

I love Tao for being so quintessentially Japanese. I'm so glad she cut her hair last year. Her 'rice bowl' hair cut will be her signature. Phillip Lim thought so too when he made her his muse this season. Every single girl in the 3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2009 show wore a wig cut in her hairstyle. She was so surprised going backstage that all the models looked like her! I remember in my childhood, my mom would give me the exact same haircut. Around 8, I finally got sick of my bangs and haven't gone back to the 'bowl' cut since. The cut still reminds me of little Asian girls.

3.1 Phillip Lim
It's difficult being a muse. (lol)


Yigal Azrouël

I think asian skin tones actually look good against stark white.

ADAM
I just love this dress.

Ralph Lauren FW 2009
I also love the furry vest over sheer turtleneck
The makeup is fantasic- understated but glowing!

Isaac Mizrahi

Tao is certainly making the rounds this season, walking for 18 shows in NY alone. It's refreshing to see Asian girls rock the runway. Fresh faces like Tao, Arlenis Sosa, and Lakshmi Menon prove that girls of color can make in the competitive modeling industry.

Credits: Style.com

Goodwill Find

A lot of blogger style icons like Rumi and Susie Bubble, who like incorporating vintage, find some of their most memorable pieces at Goodwill stores. Because of them, I've always wanted to try my hand at scouring mounds of toss-aways for that one great vintage find. On a Sunday afternoon, I was having lunch with some friends at a Chinese buffet. It was my first time at the restaurant and in that part of town. While driving there, I noticed a Goodwill store. So after lunch, I was happy and satiated and decided to check out the Goodwill store.

The space was not very large but crammed with donated items. The first thing I check out was the dresses. I was looking for cute, fun, and obviously vintage. Instead I found oversized, polyester muumuus that look like they were bought in the bargain bin of some department store. Feeling disappointed with the dress selection even though there was so much stuff, I kind of just wandered around looking at the shoes and home section. Not feeling too enthused, I took a look at the skirts. Amazingly I found a cute JCrew skirt in my size, for $3.50. Not bad, I nodded my head. Off my bargain-finding high, I browsed around some more but didn't really find anything else I wanted to try. Just as I was about to checkout, I found some purses placed at the end of clothing racks that were separate from the purse section. Among them was a Chanel-like Bloomingdale's purse that was just divine. It had lovely gold hardware and quilted detailing, and was in good condition. Cost: Two Dollars. I can honestly say that was the best bargain I've ever found. I don't even care if it turns out to be a knockoff, I take pride that it was a $2 purse.

Photographed with my roommate's Talbot shoes because they matched.

Close up

Ebay's Boot Podium

Ebay is so much fun to browse because people sell some weird stuff. I was just innocently skimming the women's boots section and stumbled upon some very metallic shoes, in podium metal colors.


Gold

Giuseppe Zanotti Gold Boots
They're gold digger shoes!! I admit I do kind of like these but
only paired with something simple and monotone.

Silver
Vintage Pixie Granny Boots
These look like they came from the Super Trooper getup in Mama Mia. A sad remnant of the by gone days of disco.

Bronze
Paprika Bronze with Fur Boots
I really don't know what's worse, the bronze or the fur, but together they top my 'awful' chart.


Lesson: If you need a little WTF?! in your shoe collection, just look on Ebay.

The Sartorialist Book

Scott Schuman aka The Sartorialist is finally publishing a book of his photography. I can't believe I didn't read this earlier considering I'm an avid follower of his blog. Even though he has received lots of acclaim and book offers, he always turned them down because he didn't want his book to be just another coffee table adornment that's too heavy to actually read. He finally agreed this time because they are doing a paperback release at the same time. I think paperback is so much smarter because I'm more willing to flip through and buy a paperback. Just a few days ago, I was at Barnes and Noble skimming "The Women in the Mirror" which is an amazing book. It was filled with photographs of women from cover to cover, including a number of fashion editorials. The book was huge (maybe 15 in. x 18 in.) and felt like 20 pounds- not a invitation to read. So I'm very excited for Sartorialist- the Book. Congrats Scott! I look forward to seeing your book at my local Borders.

A Look At Prada Bags and Shoes

When it comes to bags and shoes, no one sets the trend quite like Miuccia Prada. As soon as the runway is over, underground manufacturers are trying to knock off the bags. Lets be honest, women love their Pradas. Next to the LV monogram, the triangle Prada plaque is the ultimate status symbol a woman can carry around her arm.

This year's collection was ... different. Much more severe- deep v cuts, lux materials, but fewer bells and whistles and strangely utilitarian.

Bags

The bag collection was more conservative. I can see a lot of working ladies carrying around the tote next fall. It didn't really show a new 'it' bag. Instead it focused on more classic shapes but in luxury materials- in this case, croc, velvet and fur. Not bad but not terribly interesting. I wasn't struck with intense window-shopping lust like I was for the SS08 Faerie collection.

Shoes

I can't say I'm a big fan of the shoes. In fact, I think they are rather hideous. The 1st pump is okay but only redeemed by the animal skin print. It looks a cross between 'school marm' and mountain climbing shoes. The ones that were all black looked even more so. At least no models fell or had to take off their heels. On the opposite end of austerity, there were pumps that looked like armored birds of paradise.

What do you think? Any resemblance?


And then there were these... which I dub 'leather wellies.' They are not fitted around the calves and worn with thick wool sock and a strap tied around the leg?? I'm confused Miuccia.


She also had uber tall versions of the 'leather wellie' which was strapped to the belt. Again, more question marks. Maybe Miuccia expects next fall to be very rainy because these boots certainly won't let water in. I'm going to restate my opening opinion that the collection was 'bizarrely utilitarian.'

Fringe Fashion

I'm usually not a fan of fringe (especially the fringe boot trend last fall) because, let's be honest, sometimes it looks ridiculous. To wear it well, I think you just need some attitude. Lily and Irina know how to pull it off. Hair let down and rocking it in boots, they exude 'cool' girl or in Irina's case 'rocker's girlfriend.'


When I thought of fringe, I was reminded of the Fringe Fashion competition from last fall. The winner Eun Jeong Hong had a fantastic collection of Grecian white dresses decked with fringe. She did something elegant and romantic with fringe that I really appreciate.

Fringe can also be found on accessories. Etsy shop BabooshkaBoutique sells a variety of fringe necklaces that look amazing against a white cotton tank. A fringe necklace is a fun and unexpected addition to any wardrobe, and it only costs $30-$40. On the other hand, the completely fringed out Louboutins that border that edge between cool and ridiculous are $1,695. They take fringed shoes to a whole new level.

Lily Donaldson's picture is from a UK Vogue editorial called “Fringe Festival” that's worth checking out. Lily, being the model maverick she is, creates movement with her hair and the fringe resulting in some beautiful pictures.


Pics: Louboutins, Lily, Fashion Fringe, Irina, Fringe necklace

20 Fabulous Flats for under $20

For everyday wear, I love buying cheap flats. They are comfortable, cute, and disposable. Once you've worn them down, you can throw them away without guilt because they only cost you 20 bucks. I'm currently running around campus in a pair of silver bow tie flats from Ann Taylor Loft, that I got before Christmas for less than $10. The sides are getting scratched up and the upper is getting dangerously thin. Fortunately, I'm not too sad to see them go because then I can buy a new pair of cheap shoes. Charlotte Russe, Endless.com, and Target have great wallet-friendly options.



Dolce Vita Triple Buckle, Painterly Floral,
Knotted, Sequins and Bow Tie,
Circle Buckles, Fun Floral, Plaid Buckle,
Jeweled Sandals, Paint Splattered,
Woven Patent Leather




Leather Ballerina，Lace Skimmer,
Geometric Print, Croco Print,
Ruched, Fuchsia Moccasins,
Canvas Loafers, Gold Trim Back Bow,
Sparkly Knot, Jewel and Ribbon Bow