New York Fall / Winter 2006 Wrapup II

Second wrapup and my feeling towards the collections so far still hasn't changed for the better. I mean, a few individual collections are cute, but the collections in general seem a bit direction-less to me. In model news, after missing last season's shows, Daria has been making a special effort to walk as many catwalks as she can. And I must complain, Gemma on the other hand hasn't appeared in enough shows. Last year's new comers, Russian heroin-chick Sasha Pivovarova and Russian sweetheart Vlada Roslyakova are making serious presence at the shows.

Marc by Marc Jacobs
This is one of the small number of shows that I really look foward to each season. For this show, Marc continues the dark, gloomy feel with black, navy and gray. I liked some bits of the collection but didn't like the bits where the clothes were so-ninties. A less dramatic version (as compared to the Jacobs line) of the urchin hats were sported also. But similar to what I said yesterday, its the fun, girly and casual way Marc mixes the garments together that make his clothes all in all so fantastic.

Narciso Rodriguez
An absolutely brilliant black and white collection. It's so mind-stimulating the way Rodriguez used black and white in the collection -he managed to incoporate stiff geometic designs into figure-hugging, tulip style dresses/ skirts. So smart and tasteful looking! Oh, and I especially love the first outfit shown below:

Thakoon
Cute and Parisian chic are I think, good words to describe the collection. The clothes are sophisticated and age-flexible: some outfits are totally school-girlish, and others for the more mature customers. All in all, great collection for Thakoon's second try on the catwalk.

New York Fall / Winter 2006 Wrapup I

OK first of all, thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. I had a fabulous time in Cambridge -my friends and I had dinner at a Spanish restaurant and partied at the student club. The six of us managed to fit into my friend's dorm room, and we ended up talking about religion and environment at 4am! Must have been the intellectual environment at Cambridge!

Anyways, I've been a bit behind with Fashion Week. I've looked through most of the photos, and must say I'm so far disappointed. Many of the collections were unflattering, or of murky colors and unappealing fabrics -totally uninspiring.

Badgley Mischka
This is one collection I can honestly say I like so far. The cuttings and shapes are beautiful. And the dresses are just gorgeous. It seemed like the collection was an extension to last FW's Russian trend, so I'm not sure if this collection was fashion-foward at all, but at least it was pretty to look at.

Diane von Furstenberg
I really liked last season's collection, but this collection was just blah. I mean, I love the theme of Working Girl, but the clothes reminded me more of starting secretaries of the fifties, from the days when it was just ok for women to work. And is it just me or do the models all look sort of weird, like not as pretty as they usually look in other shows?

Marc Jacobs
On first glance, the collection is seriously unflattering and just ugly. But give it another chance, and you'll find yourself starting to get into the atmsphere. The color palette continues to be neautral, but darker, murky neautrals. Lots of the clothes had the fabric gather into a knot or just seemingly tucked together. Another top trend is the checker patterns -can't say I'm very enthusiastic about this pattern but will wait to see Europe's take on it before I make up my mind. Sometimes it's the way Jacobs layers the garments that make the show interesting.

Oscar de la Renta
Beautiful darling! I can totally picture the rich people of New York walking around in this collection. The daywear looks expensive (which it is of course) and practical. The evening gowns are gorgeous as usual.

Luella Bartley for Target

So the latest designer collection at an affordable price, Luella for Target just came out last week. And compared to this trends predecessors, I don't think it is fairing very well. To begin with of course, Target is very different from H&M. One is a high street trendy fashion chain store and one is well. . Target. Secondly, it always helps that something is "limited edition." which this collection isn't. Lastly, looking at the collection, despite being designed by a designer, it is just not very inspiring. So lets take a look.

Please do not wear this dress out in public. It may look cool right now in this picture, because its been plastered all over the place. But absolutely everyone will know where its from. And isn't the purpose of this collection to look like a million bucks at an affordable price? Also because I simply do not like this dress. It seems like it is trying to be punk and girly at the same time.

This outfit is without a doubt Luella Bartley. The fruity skirt and the printed shirt. But again, if someone wore that on the streets, I would recognize it instantly as Luella for Target, because as we know. And the skirt on its own would just look. . very candy girl cheap. Maybe the shirt though. . .

I don't know what this is. It looks like the mannequin is wearing diapers.

This is by far my one favourite piece, which I think actually achieves the purpose of the collection. Its interesting, wearable, perfect for the coming season AND ony $14.99!

Happy Birthday Harrods Girl!

Happy Birthday Darling!!! Well. . it is actually tomorrow-Feb 5, but the weekend of celebration starts today. How you manage to coordinate your birthdays with fabulous weekends away with friends I'll never know. Last year it was Oxford and this year its partying it up at Cambridge! What next? I'm just sorry I'll be missing out on all the fun-I will be there mentally. . along with these presents:

First, to prepare you for the coming season, I present you with these ss06 staples: an awesome white blouse from Marc by Marc Jacobs-your absolutely favourite.

And this white floral summer dress by Rebecca Taylor.

A big white Miu Miu bag- a favourite of Gemma's.

Fabulous gold Miu Miu sandals.

And classic gold Shaesby gold earrings to match-and your all set!

Every girl should own the famous Nars blush/bronzer duo in orgasm. It is THE color to own.

The new Stila rain and shine eye shadow palette in Rain Showers. I just got it and its awesome because the colors are so nuetral and subtle that you can use it for daily use without going over the top.

The first season of your new favourite tv series- Grey's Anatomy.

Physically speaking, the dvd of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is on its way. I feel thats kind of how we are. Maybe we should get a pair of travelling pants too. Oh and it is the widescreen edition too, so it will fit perfectly with the plasma widescreen tv you will have in your future apartment!

Have an amazing birthday!

The Kate Moss SS06 Update

It seems like I blog about Kate Moss almost every month, but it's hard not to. Following her one month drug scandal last year, she's been working harder than anyone remembers and now she's everywhere -and I mean this literally.
On news stands now is Kate on the cover of the March issue of British Vogue. However, this doesn't necessarily mean there are editorials of her inside, (British Vogue has been known to put her on the cover but not in the editorials.) This British Vogue has four new Kate Moss ads in: Longchamp (only Kate can make Longchamps look somewhat fashionable,) Rimmel (the usual,) Roberto Cavalli and Stella McCartney.In terms of photography and airbrushing, this ad is excellent. But in general, I just really don't like it. It's definitely not Moss. Maybe I just don't really feel much for the brand.

I love this Stella McCartney ad. It's artistic and tasteful. You can really feel the Stella vibe from this photos. And it's so cool how the new photos are basically of Kate looking downwards -put into a horizontal way.

On the more paparazzi-ish aspect of Kate news, it's amazing how she can even look stylish going to the police station to get questioned. Picture Kate getting out of her chauffered Mercedes, wearing a silk faille trenchcoat (US$1,595) and crocodile bag (US$6,300), from the Prada resort and spring 2006 collections, respectively. Vogue also guesses that those sunglasses are by Paul Smith. Sigh, if only we can all look like that.

Look out for Kate in the March issue of W:

I am Fashion Featured in About.com

About.com just wrote a lovely little profile about us! Read about the What, Who, Who, Where and more of I am Fashion here: http://fashion.about.com/od/fashionblogs/p/iamfashion.htm

For the curious, there's even a little picture of us! (Like finally, you get to see how we look like!)

Thanks to Casey for interviewing us. Finally one decent writer who didn't twist our words around to suit ones own
purpose.

Have fun reading darlings!

PS. We also want to apologise to anyone who has emailed us recently and not gotten a reply yet. We try our best, but work and life really do pile up, esp during school time!

The State of Fashion Union - Barneys Girl's PoV

What Fashion means to me. . .

Abstractly speaking, fashion is society's constantly changing aesthetics as deemed by fashion mavens and the media. Its interesting how one minute, they look so old fashion that we would never be caught dead in skinny jeans and the next minute, they are so slimming and fabulous that we can't go without it. The power and influence of fashion and the media is truly amazing. And of course, for some, fashion is an art. A medium to express and demonstrate skill and finesse. This is especially true for Mr. Galliano.

But more simply, fashion is something I enjoy observing and being part of.

Why is Fashion important?

The first reason that comes to mind is that it is something that makes me happy that I turn to when life gets too complicated and Plato gets boring (which is about all the time). Plus, looking aesthetically pleasing gives one an incredible boost of confidence. Most of all, fashion is a way of life. As Harrods Girl said, the Prada and Chloe way of life definitely gives one something to work for-especially when you are wondering why you are spending hours and hours of your life doing economics homework that is clearly impossible to do. And of course, there is all the other social and economic reasons as well. But that is a story for class.

The bottom line:

Just enjoy fashion for the sake of fashion.

Ps. Just wanted to thanks the darlings at Fashion Tribe and Julie at Almost Girl for hosting such an awesome carnivale.