Friday, April 30, 2010

Trend Report: Skater Dress

Yes, the Olympics are technically over, but the athletic spirit is still very much alive in the fashion world. From Hermes' timeless tennis classics to Bottega Veneta's take on the karate jacket to Alexander Wang's American football theme.  
Hermes S/S 2010
Alexander Wang S/S 2010
Recently, yet another sport has stepped into the trendsetter arena: my favourite event at the Winter Games: figure skating. (YuNa Kim, woo!)  Let's turn to the runways to score top designer examples.
Christian Dior S/S 2010
Hermes S/S 2010
Stella McCartney S/S 2010
So look out for beautiful silhouettes with flirtatious hemlines in beautiful fabrics. The skater dress suits anyone and everyone (unlike the body-conscious dress of last season) as the skirt flares out perfectly skimming your waist and hiding any lumps or bumps. As a stylist's point of view I would opt for the mid-length sleeves as they finish at the midpoint between your write and elbow - your slimmest point!



       I found these at American Apparel, cute huh?
And Topshop's own version of the trend...

Sunday, April 18, 2010

American Experience: Vogue US May 2010

Peace, war, and what they wore. Historic archetypes of American styling, ringing down through the years, continually inspire modern designers' dreaming. Here's how six quintessential American looks are born (again, and again) today.

The Gibson Girl
Vogue pulls together a modern sporty take on the Gibson Girl with her curved silhouette and hair piled high.


Before the start of World War I, the Gibson Girl was the rage. She was the personification of a feminine ideal as portrayed in the illustrated stories created by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson during the late 19th and early 20th century in the United States. The Gibson Girl was tall, slender yet with ample bosom, hips and bottom in the S-curve torso shape achieved by wearing a swan-bill corset. Her neck was thin and her hair piled high upon her head in the contemporary bouffantchignon fashions. The Gibson Girl was feminine but also broke through several gender barriers for her attire allowed her to participate in sports, including golf, roller skating, and bicycling. The most famous Gibson Girl was probably the Belgian-American stage actress, Camille Clifford.

The Bohemian
Vogue's version of the artistic bohemian.
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits, with few permanent ties. Bohemians can be wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds. The term bohemian, of French origin, was first used in the English language in the 19th century to describe the non-traditional lifestyles of marginalized and impoverished artists, writers,journalists, musicians, and actors in major European cities.

The Flapper
The Flapper girl of one of my favourite fashion era, the roaring-twenties. 

In the 1920s, flappers broke away from the Victorian image of womanhood. They dropped the corset, chopped their hair, dropped layers of clothing to increase ease of movement, wore make-up, created the concept of dating, and became a sexual person. They created what many consider the "new" or "modern" woman. A skinny boy's figure was suddenly de rigueur on grown women... and has remained popular (with a few ups and downs in the bra-cup department) for nearly 90 years.







The Patriot
Dressed in military greens and camouflage prints. 
War-time work drove waves of women into factories and offices. Ornamental frills and frippery gave way to pockets, plain colours and freedom of movement.

The Screen Siren
Lara Stone, resembling a young Kim Basinger.
The formula is simple - hug the figure, reveal the best Lana Turner assets, gesture big, and think Edith Head (the American costume designer who garnered eight Academy Awards—more than any other woman in history. 

The Heiress
The elegant debutante with heiress with her waved hair, diamond jewels, strapless gown and a crimson-lipped pale face. Few looks (save for, perhaps a perfect tuxedo on a clean-shaven man) have had such social longevity.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

2010 Hair Trend : The Red Head








The redhead isn't just a hair colour in 2010, it's an attitude. You need to ooze sexual confidence to pull it off.
Red hair is perfect for the cooler months and if you're considering a changing your look for 2010, consider red hair as the perfect option for Fall/Winter 2010. As for which shades of red hair? Read on.
Dark red - By dark I mean like fire red, cherry red, maroon, burgundy, or a crimson color red. A deep red with burgundy or plum low-lights looks really 2010. You will be seeing a lot of purple tones mixed with reds or chocolates.
Wheels & Dollbaby F/W 2010
Wheels & Dollbaby F/W 2010
Mother Maria F/W 2010 Look Book
St. John S/S 2010
St. John S/S 2010

Light red - If you have or planning on getting a lighter copper, light auburn, strawberry blonde, or Tahitian red base then go with medium shades to compliment the lighter shade like a deep apricot, golden caramel, spicy ginger, or a light chestnut would look tres magnifique.
Vogue China January 2010
Dansk S/S 2010
Dansk S/S 2010
Amica Italy F/W 2010

It’s so easy to become bored with the same hairstyle day after day (hello, Britney!). Since colour is an easy and relatively risk-free road towards a mini make-over, especially since there are so many semi-permanent options to choose from, I was all for trying on a little red. So yesterday I had my tresses dyed "violet-burgandy" e.i. a deep red with subtle purple lowlights to suit my skin tone. I'm having a love/hate relationship with my new hair colour, because it has given me quite a femme fatale look. Hopefully it will grow on me.

Lula Magazine January 2010
Lula Magazine January 2010

I am 23, going on 13

This has almost nothing to do with the Sound of Music. Let me just say that apparently I’m 30 going on 13. I don’t know what happened bu...