December 2008

Beautiful Cosmetics

December 10, 2008

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I admit it. I am a sucker for packaging. These are some of the most beautiful cosmetics I have ever seen. It doesn’t take much to entice me – just add a pretty pattern, a ribbon, some sort of embellishment, and I’m done.

In the last few days, I have come across so many things while I’ve been shopping for gifts, I’ve been sent into a mini frenzy. If I owned a Marc Jacobs or Anna Sui perfume, I’d probably be tempted to never even open the package. When I was finalising my skin care regimen, a good portion of it was based on the packaging.

Beautiful Cosmetics

Marc Jacobs, Daisy Perfume: It might be the advertising that reels me in. I love these dreamy pictures of girls in white dresses, holding oversized bottles of Daisy. The actual bottles, though they are small, have these awesome white daisies attached to the bottles. The advertising reminds me of The Virgin Suicides (it is probably no coincidence that Sofia Coppola is Marc Jacobs’ muse). The bottles make me think of Alice In Wonderland.

Beautiful Cosmetics

Anna Sui: These beautiful tins by Anna Sui have been on my wish list for years now. I feel like you could take out the perfume and re-use the tins around the house. I would place one of these tins on my desk and fill it with coloured markers. I would place another in the kitchen and fill it with chocolates. They’re just too beautiful.

The best street style is often found by just sitting, wherever you are, and people-watching. Whenever my boyfriend and I travel together, this is one of our favourite things to do; sit and watch the street style go by!

I couldn’t count how many hours we have spent people-watching. In 2007, we travelled around Europe, and two of the best cities for fashion and style were Barcelona and Berlin. Back in America, New York tops the list, of course. We have spent many afternoons in Washington Square Park or Union Square, bopping along with the buskers and watching the fashionable (and un-fashionable) people go by.

Street style blogs have really taken off in the last few years. It is great to browse the various street style blogs and see just how stylish people really are. So unique, so innovative. I really love how fashion differs all around the world, from Sydney to Stockholm. This is my list of some of the best street style looks from 2008, taken from some of the best street style blogs.

Best Street Style Looks Of 2008

1. Altamira NYC: I have a love/hate relationship with leggings, especially when they are worn as pants. In this case, however, because they are being worn under a tunic, I think they work well. Of course, they are also being worn by a gorgeous model who definitely knows how to work the look. I love her giant bag, her slouchy tunic, her chunky boots and her carefree hair.

2. The Sartorialist: Three pretty girls in the city. The more I look at this picture, the more I realise that I am actually more enamoured by their group-look, than their individual outfits. I do love the vintage fur coat on the left and the army jacket in the middle. They seem to have a hobo, thrift-store look about them. These are the types of girls that can make anything work.

Best Street Style Looks Of 2008

3. Garance Doré: This girl is so rock & roll, from her open shoes, her scuffed knees, her thrift store tee, to her frizzy hair and her wide eyes. She is casual, laid-back and yet there is something totally wild about her. I can definitely see this girl bouncing out on a stage somewhere, being the life of the party, running through the streets laughing.

4. Style & The City: I think my “best street style” list has turned into a “girls who have clothes that I want” list. I WANT that leopard print coat. It looks so perfectly worn-in and ready to go. This is a great look for those pre- or post-winter months. I have always been a big fan of the coats/tights look, where you hope the girl is wearing a dress underneath, but you’re really not sure.

Best Street Style Looks Of 2008

5. Style & The City: Again, I think I prefer the combined look, as opposed to each girl’s individual style. I think the girl on the right has the better outfit, but I would prefer to mix it up with the brown fringe bag instead. They are both very on trend, with the metallic, leather-look leggings, the oversized knit, the gorgeous, Carrie Bradshaw hair.

6. Garance Doré: I didn’t realise until just now, but I think this is the same girl as in #3. What more can I say? She’s just cool. Totally rock & roll, this time with her chunky boots, sequin top and mini skirt. She’s definitely channelling some 90s grunge as well, with that plaid flannel shirt. If it’s not her, then she has a style-twin.

Best Street Style Looks Of 2008

7. Altamira NYC: This girl’s outfit reminds me of something that Nicole Richie would wear, on a simple day. Her studded sandals, the printed scarf, her tee and shorts, they all scream LA-chic. It is outfits like these that remind me that even the most straightforward outfits can be jazzed up easily. They also make me realise that you don’t have to put that much effort in to looking stylish.

8. Street Peeper: This girl was photographed at the Coachella Music Festival and it is a great festival look. I could probably do a whole list on “festival fashion”. I love her unique take on blocking out the sun, with the cute summer dress peeking out from underneath. Taking a printed scarf to a festival is genius. You have something to sit on, something for when it gets cold, something to block out the sun, something to add colour to your outfit. Perfect.

Best Street Style Looks Of 2008

9. Street Peeper: I think this look is just plain gorgeous. With that basket on her wrist, she looks like she is on her way to some awesome, riverside picnic. She is rocking the high waisted shorts, which are, for once, very flattering. The earrings are huge, which I love, and they set off the colours in her shirt. She is very retro, which is a style that people don’t channel enough.

10. Stockholm Street Style: I felt like I should add a boy for good measure and this picture was my first thought. I actually really like cardigans on boys, if they’re done right. I am absolutely positive that my boyfriend will never wear a cardigan. I particularly like the ethnic print of the cardigan against the print of the scarf. I am also fairly sure that my boyfriend will never wear a scarf.

BEST STREET STYLE BLOGS: Altamira NYC / Garance Doré / Stockholm Street Style / Street Peeper / Style & The City / The Sartorialist

It Girl: Kate Young

December 9, 2008

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I first saw a picture of Kate Young about two years ago, ripped from a magazine, wearing a white lace dress, a black cropped blazer with 3/4-length sleeves, black tights and chunky black wedges. Plus, of course, her signature, platinum blonde hair.

Sometime after that, I did a Google search on her and found an interview she did for NY Mag. Since then, she has gone on to style celebrities like Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman and more.

For a perfect example of her styling sensibilities, she dressed Michelle Williams in that Oscars dress – the gorgeous, marigold Vera Wang Dress, paired with the red lipstick and antique necklace. A dress that will go down in Oscars history.

Kate Young

Accompanying the article was the third picture above, of Kate Young in a fantastic leopard fur coat, wedges with socks (!) and jeans. Kate wears a great mix of modern basics and vintage. Her hair keeps her looking fresh and cute. This is a favourite outfit of mine that I go back to time and time again.

Another favourite: the first picture above. I love the long, grey sweater over what appears to be a frilly, white dress. I always admire people who can pair a simple piece with something different, such as a vintage dress, and create a look that is totally modern and hip.

Some of Kate Young’s favourite things, taken from this Vanity Fair article:

Jeans: Tsubi.
Underwear: Andres Sarda.
Sneakers: Converse.
Watch: Cartier Santos.
T-shirt: The Row or Yigal Azrouel.
Day bag: Derek Lam.
Evening bag: Alexandra Knight.

NY MAG ARTICLE: Kate Young, Stylist

The Best Fashion Designer Looks of 2008 is a list I have been mentally compiling for the past few weeks. I always like to keep a folder on my computer where I store the best looks from all the collections. These are just a few of my favourite fashion designer looks for this year.

Best Fashion Designer Looks of 2008

1. Proenza Schouler, Spring 2008 RTW: The simplicity of this outfit, topped with the ridiculous hat, is what drew me to this look. It is actually slightly reminiscent of everything Sass & Bide have done (while I admire them, their styling is slightly static at this point). I love the plain black, high waisted skirt with the ethnic-print top, topped off with the London Bobby vs Ostrich hat.

2. Roberto Cavalli, Spring 2008 RTW: Every time I see this picture I think of the half-man, half-horse creature in The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. These fringed pants are craaazy. I’m not sure if I could ever, ever pull these off, but I love the overall look of fringed pants + lacy, poet dress.

3. Balmain, Spring 2008 RTW: The tie-dye look was big this year. I managed to pick up a couple of similar, hippie, flimsy pieces of clothing along the way. I love how this dress takes the maxi-dress trend of 2007 and brings it into 2008. The bright pink and purple, the huge embellished silver flowers. This would probably look ridiculous off the runway – if I wore it, I’d look like some crazed, washed-out beach hippie who makes all my own clothes.

Best Fashion Designer Looks of 2008

4. Fendi, Fall 2008 RTW: I first paid attention to Fendi this year when Kate Bosworth wore their black and white fur. I also love this chunky knit from their Fall RTW collection, paired with the fur skirt. I couldn’t actually bring myself to wear real fur, ever, but this outfit brings me mighty close.

5. Miu Miu, Spring 2008 RTW: I would probably give my right foot for a bold red cape like this. As for the second picture, I adore this modern-flamenco look with the huge skirt and the bright red lips.

Best Fashion Designer Looks of 2008

6. Etro, Spring 2008 RTW: It was actually pretty hard for me to pick my favourite looks from Etro. I have saved nearly their entire collection. I’m slightly in awe of their crazy, neon bohemian styles. The first look, on Agyness Deyn? I love the bright, printed skirt with the Moroccan coin belt, striped shirt and army jacket. There’s just nothing I don’t love about it. The fringed gladiators in the third picture? Love them. My fashion designer aspirations are MORE THAN inspired by Etro.

Best Fashion Designer Looks of 2008

7. Anna Sui, Spring 2008 RTW: I am also inspired by Anna Sui. I don’t think it gets much better than Anna Sui. I love the prints, the accessories, everything about her. From a distance that third picture looks like the Kate Moss pansy dress.. hmm.

Best Fashion Designer Looks of 2008

8. Balenciaga, Resort 2008: I saw a picture recently of Jennifer Connelly wearing some Balenciaga, though I think it was from a 2007 collection. When I raced to check out their resort collection, I found this little gem! I love the black and white floral with the black and white gladiators. It’s tough and crazy and hard to look at.

9. LAMB, Spring 2008 RTW: I haven’t paid much attention to LAMB for various reasons. It has nothing to do with Gwen being a celebrity designer – I figure you should take every opportunity you can get in life, even if it is handed to you on a plate. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t work hard. I actually think she’s incredibly talented as a designer. This particular outfit.. it wasn’t really the dress that did it for me, it was more the styling – the way she paired it with these rasta-coloured shoes.

10. Alexander Wang, Fall 2008 RTW: Of course! Would my list be complete without a small victory for Alexander Wang, the current designer du jour? I’m not sure I like how much black and grey he uses, but I love the zippered mini (who doesn’t?) so he gets added to the list for that alone. Paired with the chain-handled bag that is reminiscent of Chanel.. and I’d love to get my hands on a Chanel.. so really.. what don’t I want from this outfit?

All images from Style.com

Beth from The Vintage Society is putting on a trunk show next week in Los Angeles. I wish I had the $2,000 it would cost me to get from Australia to LA by next Friday but unfortunately, I have to save all my money for moving to America in January!

For more details visit http://www.thevintagesociety.com and check out the flyer below.

vintage-society-trunk-show