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

It Girl: Olympia Scarry

November 26, 2008

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Olympia Scarry, the granddaughter of children’s book writer Richard Scarry, is a London socialite and an artist. No word yet as to which of these two ‘careers’ makes her the most money. Olympia Scarry also happens to be quite fashionable.

It’s hardly new. Socialites have always been around and, in recent years, it seems they’ve “been around” even more. Olympia Scarry is a socialite, yes. She also happens to be quite fashionable.

“I don’t go shopping as much as I used to,” she says. “When I was younger, I went shopping every day after school. My bedroom was opposite the seventh floor of Barneys. God knows who paid.”

Olympia Scarry

Known for her long, platinum blonde locks, she is often seen out on the town in London. When at casual events, Olympia tends to keep it simple in plain prints, paired with a black leather jacket or a blazer, an effortless look that she works well. At events, she shifts towards long, flowing dresses, usually wearing them with her hair down.

Though she apparently considers herself an artist, and has friends such as Damien Hirst to guide the way, she did study fashion illustration, so I’m hoping to see a lot more of Olympia Scarry in the future.

Skin Care Regimen

November 24, 2008

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My skin care regimen, until recently, didn’t exist. It was madness – I never followed rules or did anything consistently. I finally did some research into skin care and I have managed to come up with a quick regimen for myself that everyone can follow.

Cleanse: Use a facial cleanser to remove all dirt and make-up. Lather it onto your face and gently massage, then rinse with water. I use Cetaphil as it was highly recommended.

Tone: Hold a cotton pad under water and then wipe it over your face and neck, to remove the last traces of the cleanser. This is the method I use. For another natural method, I have heard that cooled green tea works well as a toner.

Moisturise: Apply moisturising cream to your face and neck, smoothing onto your skin gently. I use Ponds at the moment. You may need to change it up during summer and winter as your skin requires extra nourishment during winter months.

Exfoliate: Smooth on your exfoliation cream, massaging in circles, then rinse. I use St Ives Apricot Scrub and it feels amazing when you’re done!

Sun cream: Always use sun cream when you’re going out in the sun and don’t forget your ears! Even on cloudy days, you can get seriously burnt.

Steps 1-3 should be repeated up to two times daily, once in the morning and once in the evening. Step 4 should be done between one-three times a week, depending on the needs of your skin.

Finally, treat yourself to a facial once a month and drink lots of water to keep your skin fresh and hydrated.

This is a skin care regimen that is easy to follow, no matter how busy you are.

Spring 2008 Fashion

November 21, 2008

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The Spring 2008 fashion shows passed by me quietly, as I was too busy to really pay as much attention as I would like. Over the last few days, I’ve had a bit of spare time to catch up on things and I went over to Style.com to see the best of the Spring 2008 fashion.

Spring 2008 Fashion

Anna Sui is probably one of my all-time favourite designers. She always mixes amazing colours and prints in ways that I never would think of.

1. The high waisted skirt is what initially drew me to this outfit. I really like the idea of adding the floral peasant top to the mix, instead of a simple tank top or tee. The studded gladiators are a great touch also, adding a little toughness to the outfit.

2. These earthy, ethnic colours instantly make me think of Africa. I like the horse print too. This would be incredible as a beach cover-up.

William Rast is fairly new on the scene. I’m always curious to see what happens when celebrities venture into fashion design. I think JT has come out on top here (of course, he has a partner in crime, Trace Ayala).

3. I love this look. It is really fierce in essence but if you take it down piece-by-piece, it’s all pretty basic. I love the fringe on the boot; it adds a nice bohemian touch. Please someone buy me these boots.

4. This has a grunge feel to it. Again, really basic and probably not something I’d wear, but they pull it off.

ADVERTISING: William Rast Denim

It Girl: Zoe Kravitz

November 17, 2008

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Zoe Kravitz is the embodiment of rock & roll fashion. It is hard to imagine that anyone with a heritage like hers (Lenny Kravitz + Lisa Bonet) could grow up without an innate sense of style. Zoe is definitely one to watch when it comes to fashion.

I first saw a picture of Zoe about a year ago, sporting what appeared to be tiger-striped boots. I loved the outfit but didn’t really think we’d be seeing much more of Zoe. Then, I was browsing The Fashion Spot forums, when I found a whole thread dedicated to her.

Zoe Kravitz

1. A fairly simple outfit. I don’t love the see-through top or the way her bra is peeping out, but the hat, shorts and shoes have a bit of a music festival feel about them. Makes sense.

2. A favourite. I love the high waisted skirt with its bold print and colours. Her hair is great in this photo (which isn’t always the case with Zoe) and she looks gorgeous.

3. Really this photo is just an excuse to show her with Steven Tyler. But I do love the red satin headband.

4. Wow. It’s rare to see Birkenstocks looking so stylish. I had a pair of Birkenstocks years ago which I lost on a Greyhound bus, somewhere between Toronto and Seattle, and I never bothered buying another pair. This may be the photo that pushes them back on to my shopping list.

Garance Dore

November 13, 2008

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Garance Dore writes one of my favourite blogs, combining photographs of street style with her incredible illustrations of fashionable people. Whenever I look at Garance’s blog, I am immediately filled with jealous over her drawing ability.

I don’t speak French at all. I can only semi-decipher the French language and only when it is written. This is probably why I failed when I attempted to move to Montreal in 2005 (I lasted four days). However, when I visit Garance’s blog, it is almost like I don’t need to know French. Her pictures, photographs, drawings, they say it all, without words. She is the epitome of French chic.

Garance Dore

Today, while I was browsing Garance’s blog, I came across this photograph. When I first looked at the outfit, it didn’t really stand out to me. It wasn’t until I started looking at the individual pieces that I realised how much I liked it. Her jeans are perfectly ripped in all the right places. Her peace sign shirt doesn’t come across as tacky or cliché. The scarf, the studded bag – I love how everything is quite simple on the surface. It isn’t until you look closer that you realised how this lady has created an awesome rock & roll outfit.