The be all and end all of fashion excess

The Bejeweled Hermes Birkin

For those who have seen it, no explanation is necessary. For those who have not, no explanation is possible.

*Image via Tommy Ton for Style.com

Happily Ever After

I hate to be repetitive, but I had this image up on my Facebook wall and everyone seemed to love it so I figured it deserved a spot here as well. (It really is funny and true enough to be displayed twice.) I did a little hunting today and found out that the image is actually a t-shirt print from a clothing company in Australia. 


AK commented perfectly by adding that "Disney also gave me unrealistic expectations about body type, prince charming, finding true love, and best friend animals that can talk...and a major one... Happily ever after." 


xx jb


*Image via clemformation clothing

Welcome to Wonderland

"There is a place, like no place on earth. A land full of wonder, mystery and danger. Some say to survive it you need to be as mad as a hatter...Which luckily, I am!"

I have officially never been so excited for a film as I am for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. I cannot think of anyone better that Tim Burton to bring Lewis Carroll’s story to the 3D screen. I have heard that this film adaptation is actually a sequel/extension to the original story and takes place when Alice is a teenager rather than a child and is returning to the Wonderland she knew from her childhood fantasies. Between Helena Bonham Carter as the terrorizing red queen, Anne Hathaway as the angelic white queen and the love of my life Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter I expect it to be nothing less than spectacular.

Colleen Atwood designed the film's costumes. She is of the most imaginative costume designers in Hollywood today having won 2 Oscars and standing by Tim Burton’s side for the many of his dreamy films including Sweeny Todd and Sleepy Hollow. (Other notable projects of hers include Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, and That Thing You do).

10 DAYS PEOPLE!!!

"I love beauty. It's not my fault"

Yesterday = Lazy Sunday afternoon spent watching ‘Valentino:The Last Emperor’ documentary for the 3^rd time. Even if you aren’t into fashion it’s a really funny film and I totally recommend it. Valentino Garavani comes across as almost cartoon-like due to his unbelievable stubbornness and grandeur. Other things I love about this film:

1)    Dresses: They are beautifully breathtaking, feminine, detailed, elegant, and show fragility and a level of craftsmanship that you just don’t see in dressmaking today.

2)    The Dogs, and when Valentino says “I don’t care about the collection. My dogs are much more important.”

3)    Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti’s relationship. Giammetti’s Patience. Giammetti says “If two people ride a horse, one person must sit in back”. An unsaid fashion truth. Every fashion powerhouse has its silent brain.

Some historical shots of Valentino and his collections:

 A young Valentino at his 54 Via Gregoria Studio shot by Agenzia Grazia Neri

2 Dresses from his Fall/Winter 1968 Collection, Shot by Henry Clark

Spring/Summer 1968 shot by Ruven Afandor

His 5 beloved pugs  in a screen shot from the film

Fly Away from Here

Front Row at Michael Angel in Bryant Park

(Kelly Osborne, ?, Charlotte Kemp Muhl, Sean Lennon)

Michael Angel’s digital prints were fun but predictable...all I can say is at least he didn't go all out with the shoulders again. Don't get me wrong, I totally appreciate and love a bold shoulder these days but Mr.Angel reached his shoulder quota last season. Instead he accentuated the waist with super short mini’s (in digital prints) and cinched jackets. Overall a great show with an exciting front row. 

Sean Lennon and WWD Editor Mayte Allende between Michael Angel's Digital Print Dresses

No Weeping for this Willow

Had the best time at Australian designer Kit Willow’s show last week at Exit Art. I bumped into a photographer friend who pulled me into the pit and let me take pictures of the Willow show with his spare camera. It was such an interesting change of perspective watching the show from that end of the runway. Big name models strutted in upbeat/ updated versions of what we love Willow for-gentle and dreamy draping, intelligent tailoring, and a bright palette.  

Here are some from my afternoon in the the life of a fashion week photographer:

Terry Richardson, you can cut my hair anytime

*image via Terrysdiary

Parson’s graduates Sophie Buhai and Lisa Maycock of Vena Cava are one of my favorite New York fashion duos. (I also die a little for the irony of my other favorite duo, the lumberjacks who design Costello Tagliapietra). Their show at Milk was a true to their usual style: subtle, ladylike, and cool without being overly trendy.

Some of my favorite elements:

• The Like performing at the top of the runway providing a live soundtrack
• The pink, green and purple streaks in the girls ponytails (I can totally see Topshop selling rainbow hairpieces for fall). With all the crazy birdsnest hairdo’s on the runways this is totally rockable, runway to street hair .
• Vintage inspired accessories, sunglasses and hats
• Amazing prints [looks 3,5,13] and interesting cuts [looks 10,14, 21] (2 things we can we can always count on Vena Cava for)
• Lots of Fur

Deadly Sin

I lost my camera this morning. It was the fashion gods punishing me for stealing Olivier Zahm and Terry Richardson's cab after the Wang show.

I thought it a little harsh. Thankfully the gods agreed. Camera found.

Post Wang Post

I showed up early in order to avoid the groupies outside. This ended up being the best idea I’ve had all week. Not only did I beat the crowds outside, but I got to watch the entire run-through with Alex himself sitting front row as his girls strutted by. Really amazing to get tosee it all close up and observe Alex for a few minutes before such an important event.

The show took place at pier 94 which is a massive old airplane hanger. The runway was concrete and y-shaped which was wet all through the center, ringing true to Wang’s edgy aesthetic.

The collection was brilliant. He combined 90's vampire-esque pinstripes, studs, thigh high socks, bootcuts, backpacks (with flowing chiffon scarves), and chunky boots that reminded me of something I had in elementary school. Very updated ‘The Craft’ with finer tailoring.

Such a treat to see Freja, Agy, and Abbey walk as well as Jessica Miller’s quiet return to the catwalk. Lots of love to m.k. for making it all possible.

A Wang Day

I am so indescribably excited for the Alexander Wang show this afternoon. I promise to post lots of pictures and update on some of the other amazing shows I've been at in the past 2 days. Fashion week has been, as expected, a complete race where I'm constantly both coming and going, but I am so grateful to be able to be involved.

For those of you in nyc who don't have the hottest ticket in town today, you can see the Wang show projected on the American Eagle Screen in Times Square at 6pm. For the rest of you, check it out streaming LIVE on www.showstudio.com at 5pm.

xx

image via life.com

The Great McQueen

Shocked and saddened today with the news of Lee Alexander McQueen’s passing. I have always loved the London born designer and his ability to create edgy and shocking garments that were wearable-if your dared. I was never lucky enough to attend one of his shows but hoped to this year I would. For NYFW, life must go on. It will surely be a celebration of his life, art and contribution to the industry.

RIP mr mcqueen

image via guardian uk

The Beginning

Blogging…sharing all my ideas and thoughts in cyberspace… can I do this? Well, I’m going to try. I guess there really is no better place to start then at the very beginning:

College was coming to an end and I found myself with 3 choices: Get a job, backpack the world with my friends, or go back to school…

You might think it a no-brainer. Paris, London, maybe Bangkok but when I got into Parsons School of Design in New York I couldn’t pack fast enough to get there. Packing of course was no backpack. It was drawers, and drawers, and drawers of clothes. Old, worn, vintage, and of course as many new pieces as my already seriously stretched budget would allow.

You see - I don’t just love fashion. It’s in my blood. My great-grandmother was one of the best seamstresses Cleveland, Ohio ever saw as one of the most loved alterationists at Rae Phillips, the elegant nameplate of fashion in the 1970’s. She could create or deconstruct a garment in her sleep. Next came my grandmothers who are each a walking fashion show. Neither has ever shown her face to the world with so much as a hair out of place. They live their busy lives in the coordinated splendor of immaculate outfits impossibly put together on a daily basis.

Like I said, I had no choice, It’s in my blood! So I set out for the trek from Toronto to the mecca, New York City and never looked back.

I’ve come to realize that fashion is many things. It is business, beauty, creation, color, finance, marketing, shock value, architecture, geometry and soul.

But most of all, It’s not black and white.

I hope to discover many new shades with you.

Enjoy xx