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Since the sixth grade I've known that I've wanted to work in fashion, but judging from how I dressed back then you might not have guessed it. It isn't that I wasn't fashionable back in the day; in fact, I unfortunately was quite stylish and on-par with my middle school peers. I wore polo shirts and denim mini skirts and Juicy Couture religiously. I wore designer jeans with obvious branding on my behind, and I wore ballet flats almost everyday, despite the fact that I hadn't gone to a ballet class in several years. Among my peers I would say that I was rather fashionable, but when I look back on those awkward years I cringe with embarrassment. Why in the world did I ever think three layered camisoles paired with bootcut jeans looked good?
Then I remember that there was a time when that was what was fashionable. Ten years from now I might look back on our fascination with normcore and cringe. Fashion changes and transforms, and what is fashionable one day might be hideous the next.
What is interesting, however, is the way that distance changes how we look at clothes of the past. Take, for example, the continuing reign of the seventies at Fashion Week: we are nostalgic for a time and a culture that has long passed, one that many of us never even had the chance to experience, but I wonder what people of the eighties thought of the previous decade. They likely scoffed at flare jeans and shearling coats, rolling their blue-eyeshadowed eyes at the trends of the decade past, just as I looked upon my middle school years with disdain and embarrassment.
But a strange thing is happening once again, now with the the early 2000s: as we move further and further away from the start of the millenium, our nostalgia for the early aughts has slowly increased. The immediate removal from those years (2004 vs. 2008, for example) might cast a bad shadow on the recent past, but as the time between now and then increases our fondness for that time grows too.
The epitome of 2004 fashion—a decade later, is fetch finally a thing? |
2004 is a prime year for bad early-2000s fashion and increasing nostalgia. Ten years have passed since the release of Mean Girls and yet I feel it becomes more and more popular each year. I remember it being a phenomenon when it came out all those years ago, but I hear at least one reference to it per day (though perhaps living in a sorority house has increased my likelihood of hearing Regina George-isms).
Buzzfeed and other such websites constantly dig up the nostalgia of the past. A while ago it was the 90s, and everyone dreamt of being a true 90s kid, but now the obsession is with the 2000s. They even have a whole section dedicated to nostalgia; right now, most posts are about Friends and Mean Girls.
So what do nostalgia and the early 2000s have to do with fashion week, you may be asking?
It started with J. Crew. While I was browsing the fall collection I came across something that truly shocked me. In fact, I went back to look at this one look in particular because I wasn't quite sure what to believe. After several looks, my suspicions were confirmed: a polo shirt had been featured. Jenna Lyons, goddess of all things effortlessly chic and modern preppy, had chosen to resurrect the polo shirt from the depths of my middle school wardrobe. They're already selling Lacoste polos in J. Crew-curated colors online.
This was not an isolated incident, however. At several shows I saw the ubiquitous look of the knit polo appear, sometimes tucked under sweaters and coats but still so clearly there. And other trends that I had so dearly loved a decade ago have slowly been making their way back into the fashion mainstream. Dresses over pants, for one, and camisoles (usually over long-sleeve shirts, like when I wanted to show off my new Hollister cami but it was too cold to properly do so). Everywhere I turn it seems like the trends of what I consider my most unfortunate years, style-wise, are reemerging. So what does this mean? Will I slowly start to look back on my daring middle school ensembles with fondness and nostalgia? Should I start trying to emulate Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen again? And not The Row Olsen twins, but rather the twins of New York Minute? I don't know if I can ever look at a time when Ugg boots and Von Dutch hats were considered the epitome of chic with fond nostalgia, but there's no doubt that the looks of today are starting to emulate the looks that were popular a decade ago. I suppose the best thing to do is to stop looking at the past with a cringe and start embracing the looks of today.
Alexa Chung for AG Campaign |
You'd have to be living under a rock to not know that the seventies are alive and well—at least, when it comes to fashion trends. From shearling and clogs to turtlenecks and flare jeans, it's impossible to get away from the influence of the turbulent and trendy decade.
Recently, it's the button-down A-line skirt that's got me hooked on the trends of the seventies. With eternal It Girl Alexa Chung's recent collaboration with AG, I've been searching more and more for the perfect skirt. The denim button-down skirt from the collection is great (though quickly selling out!) and the shape is a perfect way to show some leg and be on-trend for spring.
Be warned: this isn't your middle school Abercrombie & Fitch denim mini. No, the A-line style has some class (and added length) so you can show off your long legs in a style that is both harkening back to the past while remaining current.
SHOP A-LINE BUTTON-DOWN SKIRTS:
Will you be trying the button-down A-line skirt soon?
Meh.
That's how I felt about the Oscars ceremony of last night. The ceremony, the red carpet, the films...nothing was horrendously horrible, but it wasn't the most memorable of nights either. I suppose it reflects the films that were nominated—yes, they were good films, but none of them were flat-out stunning cinematic experiences like Oscar-nominated films have been in years past. The ceremony felt a little flat, too, to be honest. I love me some NPH but the jokes felt forced. I don't know, it was just...meh.
But never mind the drabness of the ceremony; let's talk about the dresses!
The Trends
Margot Robbie in Van Cleef & Arpels Jewels | Cate Blanchett in Tiffany & Co. Jewels |
Statement necklaces and earrings were everywhere on the red carpet. With most actresses opting for simple but gorgeous gowns, they let the bling do the work of creating a memorable red carpet look. Two of the most talked about jewels? Margot Robbie's zipper Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, and Cate Blanchett's gorgeous turquoise Tiffany necklace.
For the men, navy suits and tuxedos seemed more abundant than the usual black and white tux. Winner Eddie Redmayne was my pick for best-dressed male, but I also loved David Oyelowo's maroon suit.
Cream and pale pink dresses were also a huge trend amongst the women, which I was pleasantly surprised with, seeing as how it was downright pouring all afternoon here in Los Angeles. Usually actresses will opt for darker hues when rain is a possibility, but I guess when you've had your dress chosen for weeks nothing is going to keep you from wearing it.
The Stunning Looks
These were some of my favorite looks from the evening. Sienna Miller rocked an extremely fresh Oscar de la Renta gown from Peter Copping's first collection, unveiled just this week (see the runway version here), and the lace and bow detailings kept this darker dress from losing interest. Marion Cotillard wore Christian Dior Haute Couture as expected, looking glamorous in a simple dress with a fascinating back. For me, the hair, makeup, and lovely earrings make this look what it is.
Jennifer Hudson dazzled in a beautiful yellow column dress with sculptural details. I love the green earrings she added to give the look an interesting touch, but that color is all you need to make a breathtaking statement on the red carpet.
In a shocking turn of events Reese Witherspoon was the one to don Tom Ford for the evening, rather than the usual Julianne Moore (who wore custom Chanel instead). Reese was easily one of my favorite looks of the evening, looking absolutely regal in her off-the-shoulder dress.
Rosamund Pike channeled American Beauty with her rose petal Givenchy gown (I guessed the red correctly! Meanwhile, Nina Dobrev wore my pick for Rosamund to the Vanity Fair After-Party). I think this is her best look from awards season, as it is a beautiful and interesting dress that really captures her personality. Some people had issues with her matching red shoes, but they didn't really bother me.
Elsewhere on the red carpet, starlets dazzled in glittering details. From sequins and embellishments to six thousand individual pearls, these ladies know how to pack a red carpet punch.
Behati Prinsloo looked absolutely marvelous in a red and black Armani Privé gown, proving you don't have to tone your look down if you're only the plus-one. Emma Stone kept up her trend of wearing unexpected but gorgeous dresses on the red carpet with a yellow-green Elie Saab dress. She was another one of my favorite looks of the night. (BTW, Anna Faris stole the dress I had picked for Emma Stone for the red carpet)
Jamie Chung must have been inspired by Katy Perry's recent Super Bowl performance with her firework princess gown. She looks lovely and the dress is a lot of fun. While some people thought Naomi Watts' dress looked like a brick wall, I happened to love it. The halter neckline, the glittery bandeau, and the hair and makeup—it all works so wonderfully well.
And of course, the pearl princess, Lupita Nyong'o: my favorite starlet of the last year, Lupita hasn't been impressing me as much on the red carpet this awards season, but I'm happy to say that she's back on top of her game with a glorious Calvin Klein dress that featured over six thousand pearls. The dress was so ornate that she let it do all the talking, and I absolutely loved this look.
The Questionable Choices
These looks weren't awful, per say, they just weren't my favorite picks of the evening.
I actually think Gwyneth Paltrow looked pretty good, but the weird ruffle on the shoulder was silly and unnecessary for this dress. Either cut the long sleeve or cut the ruffle, and you have a perfect look. Lady Gaga's dress was also near perfect, and I'm so glad to see how far she's come from the days of wearing meat dresses and 12-inch heels, but I just wish the gloves would have stayed in the car. The beautiful Alaïa dress was gorgeous as it was without the distraction that the gloves provided. Like my roommate said, if Amal can't pull it off, no one can.
Scarlett Johansson is another case of just-missed-the-mark with a lovely Versace dress in emerald green and the most horrible hairdo ever. She looks like Miley Cyrus, and Scarlett is so much more beautiful than this look.
I know not a lot of people have been fans of Keira Knightley's pregnancy styles, and her Valentino dress is no exception. It's a lovely dress but it washes her out, and I really wish she had worn her hair up. As is, the look feels too casual, more suited for a woodland jaunt than the Academy Awards.
Nicole Kidman wore my least favorite dress of the evening. Nothing about it works, from the color to the shape to the stupid contrasting red belt. It doesn't flatter her skintone or do anything, really, and it's just unfortunate because Nicole Kidman is gorgeous. This dress just isn't helping.
Lindsey's Favorites
In a year where I felt no zealous passion for a particular Oscar-nominated film to take the cake, I suffered the same general indifference when it came to selecting my favorite looks of the evening. No one really stood out to me and made me gasp or go, "THAT is a red carpet dress!" No one looked horrible, either. But there were some that dazzled just a little above and beyond, and those would be my favorite looks!
Who were your picks for best-dressed at the 87th Academy Awards?
Miles Teller in Prada| Common in Prada | Eddie Redmayne in Alexander McQueen | Ansel Elgort in Prada |
Cream and pale pink dresses were also a huge trend amongst the women, which I was pleasantly surprised with, seeing as how it was downright pouring all afternoon here in Los Angeles. Usually actresses will opt for darker hues when rain is a possibility, but I guess when you've had your dress chosen for weeks nothing is going to keep you from wearing it.
The Stunning Looks
Sienna Miller in Oscar de la Renta | Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior Haute Couture | Jennifer Hudson in Romona Keveza | Reese Witherspoon in Tom Ford | Rosamund Pike in Givenchy Haute Couture |
Jennifer Hudson dazzled in a beautiful yellow column dress with sculptural details. I love the green earrings she added to give the look an interesting touch, but that color is all you need to make a breathtaking statement on the red carpet.
In a shocking turn of events Reese Witherspoon was the one to don Tom Ford for the evening, rather than the usual Julianne Moore (who wore custom Chanel instead). Reese was easily one of my favorite looks of the evening, looking absolutely regal in her off-the-shoulder dress.
Rosamund Pike channeled American Beauty with her rose petal Givenchy gown (I guessed the red correctly! Meanwhile, Nina Dobrev wore my pick for Rosamund to the Vanity Fair After-Party). I think this is her best look from awards season, as it is a beautiful and interesting dress that really captures her personality. Some people had issues with her matching red shoes, but they didn't really bother me.
Behati Prinsloo in Armani Privé | Emma Stone in Elie Saab | Jamie Chung in Yanina Couture | Naomi Watts in Armani Privé | Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein Collection |
Behati Prinsloo looked absolutely marvelous in a red and black Armani Privé gown, proving you don't have to tone your look down if you're only the plus-one. Emma Stone kept up her trend of wearing unexpected but gorgeous dresses on the red carpet with a yellow-green Elie Saab dress. She was another one of my favorite looks of the night. (BTW, Anna Faris stole the dress I had picked for Emma Stone for the red carpet)
Jamie Chung must have been inspired by Katy Perry's recent Super Bowl performance with her firework princess gown. She looks lovely and the dress is a lot of fun. While some people thought Naomi Watts' dress looked like a brick wall, I happened to love it. The halter neckline, the glittery bandeau, and the hair and makeup—it all works so wonderfully well.
And of course, the pearl princess, Lupita Nyong'o: my favorite starlet of the last year, Lupita hasn't been impressing me as much on the red carpet this awards season, but I'm happy to say that she's back on top of her game with a glorious Calvin Klein dress that featured over six thousand pearls. The dress was so ornate that she let it do all the talking, and I absolutely loved this look.
The Questionable Choices
Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph & Russo | Lady Gaga in Alaïa | Scarlett Johansson in Versace Atelier | Keira Knightley in Valentino Haute Couture | Nicole Kidman in Louis Vuitton |
I actually think Gwyneth Paltrow looked pretty good, but the weird ruffle on the shoulder was silly and unnecessary for this dress. Either cut the long sleeve or cut the ruffle, and you have a perfect look. Lady Gaga's dress was also near perfect, and I'm so glad to see how far she's come from the days of wearing meat dresses and 12-inch heels, but I just wish the gloves would have stayed in the car. The beautiful Alaïa dress was gorgeous as it was without the distraction that the gloves provided. Like my roommate said, if Amal can't pull it off, no one can.
Scarlett Johansson is another case of just-missed-the-mark with a lovely Versace dress in emerald green and the most horrible hairdo ever. She looks like Miley Cyrus, and Scarlett is so much more beautiful than this look.
I know not a lot of people have been fans of Keira Knightley's pregnancy styles, and her Valentino dress is no exception. It's a lovely dress but it washes her out, and I really wish she had worn her hair up. As is, the look feels too casual, more suited for a woodland jaunt than the Academy Awards.
Nicole Kidman wore my least favorite dress of the evening. Nothing about it works, from the color to the shape to the stupid contrasting red belt. It doesn't flatter her skintone or do anything, really, and it's just unfortunate because Nicole Kidman is gorgeous. This dress just isn't helping.
Lindsey's Favorites
In a year where I felt no zealous passion for a particular Oscar-nominated film to take the cake, I suffered the same general indifference when it came to selecting my favorite looks of the evening. No one really stood out to me and made me gasp or go, "THAT is a red carpet dress!" No one looked horrible, either. But there were some that dazzled just a little above and beyond, and those would be my favorite looks!
Reese Witherspoon in Tom Ford | Emma Stone in Elie Saab | Margot Robbie in Saint Laurent |
Who's excited for the Oscars this weekend!? You know I am! While the nominated films were not the most exciting bunch—overall a bit depressing, even for serious Oscar film standards—you know there will be some major red carpet moments this weekend.
Forget predicting who will win Best Film; I'm predicting what the starlets will be wearing on the red carpet. See my picks below, and don't forget to check back on Monday for my review of all the actual looks. Let's see how close I can get to what the stars end up wearing:
Emma Stone
Zuhair Murad Spring 2015 Couture | Armani Privé Spring 2015 Couture |
Emma Stone has been killing it on the red carpet as of late, and I expect the Oscars to be no exception. Her unique looks at the SAG Awards and Golden Globes make me think that we're going to see another unexpected gown this weekend, and I was almost tempted to pick this Oscar de la Renta look (I decided it might be a little too casual for the Academy Awards), but both the dresses I picked would look absolutely lovely on Stone while keeping that one-of-a-kind edge of hers we've grown to love.
The glittering silver of the Zuhair Murad dress would look fabulous against her creamy skin and fiery red hair, and the slinky look of the Armani Privé dress would fit her tall frame like a glove.
Felicity Jones
Chanel Spring 2015 Couture | Alexis Mabille Spring 2015 Couture |
British darling Felicity Jones has shown she can rock a vintage silhouette like no other. She feels a bit like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn, with her rich auburn hair and big doe eyes, and she can dress the part of the Hollywood icon, too.
A sweet Chanel dress would play up her prim and proper side if she wants to go the safer route, but the stunning red Alexis Mabille gown with cascading cape would look great on Jones, too. It would certainly be a dramatic red carpet look, and I would love to see Jones make a daring statement on Oscars night.
Elie Saab Fall 2014 Couture | Zac Posen Fall 2015 |
Oscars mainstay Julianne Moore is likely to take home the little golden statue this year for her performance in Still Alice, so she should be dressing the part of the winner. Though she will probably wear a custom creation from either Lanvin or Tom Ford, I would love to see her in something along the lines of the two above dresses.
She's known for wearing black gowns on the red carpet, so this bejeweled Elie Saab gown would add some intrigue. If Moore wants to go for color, the oceanic blue of the Zac Posen dress would look great against her red hair, and the velvet bodice and shape would be gorgeous on her.
Keira Knightley
Chanel Pre-Fall 2015 | Chanel Spring 2015 Couture |
Keira Knightley will most likely wear Chanel. That's a given. And since she is pregnant, I selected two dresses with looser silhouettes. I could see the pre-fall dress working with some adjustments, but I really think the couture look would look great on Knightley while also showing off her baby bump.
Carolina Herrera Fall 2015 | Roksanda Ilincic Pre-Fall 2015 |
Reese Witherspoon is one actress who can pull off a simple monochromatic gown with ease. She's so naturally gorgeous and doesn't need all the sparkle and poof in order to make a red carpet look pop. I picked two dresses with gorgeous color and in cool shapes.
For a Cinderella moment, the Carolina Herrera would be fabulous, but I know she can also rock the peachy hue of the modern Roksanda Ilincic dress.
Marion Cotillard
Both, Christian Dior Spring 2015 Couture |
Like Keira Knightley with Chanel, it is a near given that Marion Cotillard will wear Christian Dior to the Oscars. With both of the dresses I picked, I would expect alterations and edits to be made in order to make either one Academy Awards appropriate, but both dresses would look great on Cotillard. More than likely, she will be wearing a custom creation. Here's hoping it's fabulous!
Rosamund Pike
Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2015 | Donna Karan Fall 2015 |
Rosamund Pike stunned audiences as the deviously wicked Amy Dunne in this year's Gone Girl, by far one of the most fun movies to get any recognition at the Oscars this year. She's been playing up her character's femme fatale sexiness on the red carpet, and I think she's just the one to make a daring statement on Sunday by showing some skin in a provocative but still classy way.
A crimson Reem Acra dress with side panels would look absolutely breathtaking on her, but the equally seductive Donna Karan look is more her usual style. I'd be fine with either one.
What are you hoping your favorite celebrities will be wearing on Sunday? Who do you think will take home the big awards?
Still from Annie Hall | Kate Spade Fall 2015 |
It's nearing the end of New York Fashion Week and the trends are starting to emerge. Among them, there seems to be an affinity for androgynous dressing and oversized proportions à la Annie Hall, the classic Woody Allen film starring Diane Keaton as the titular character.
To tell you the truth, I haven't actually seen Annie Hall (it's on my Netflix queue, though!) but I think that's a testament to how iconic Keaton's character is that I can recognize the style of the character in the runway shows of Thakoon and DKNY.
What's trending at NYFW? Loose-fitted suits of tweed and pinstripe, larger-than-life proportions, wide-leg culottes, and round hats, to name a few of the trends that would have delighted Annie. While I haven't seen a straight-up tie and sweater vest outfit combination that blatantly references the film's fashionable lead, there's no doubt that the style of Annie Hall echoes throughout fashion week.
And what does that mean, really, for fall trends? The fall 2015 girl is loose and casual, less feminine and prim than her spring version, but by no means is she going to not dress sharply. She's more muted, embracing neutrals and earthy tones, and she's more interested in unique tailoring than she is in showing off her skin or her curves. She means business, but she's not afraid to have fun.
Stills from the iconic Woody Allen film |
Derek Lam | Thakoon | Red Valentino | Edun | DKNY |
J. Crew Fall 2015 Presentation |
As if you needed another reason to love Jenna Lyons and the preppy-chic brand, the fall 2015 presentation delivered plenty of knockout looks that will have you wishing for fall to just get here already! While the clothes from the collection won't hit the shelves for another few months, you can always get inspired by the genius stylings of Lyons & Co.
Here are some of my favorite looks from the collection, and some tips you can pull from it so you can start looking like a J. Crew model instantly!
My favorite looks from the J. Crew Fall 2015 Presentation |
See the rest of the looks here, and let me know what you thought of J. Crew's latest collection in the comments!
Adam Lippes Fall 2015 |
Last fall it was all about the single earring à la Céline or Louis Vuitton. That was cool, but maybe a bit lopsided. Somewhere, a chic Charlotte Gainsbourg-type fashionista is walking around Paris with a totally off center of gravity thanks to her dedication to the Church of Phoebe Philo. The single earring trend was fun while it lasted, but one ear is always feeling left out. It's time to bring the earring pair back.
But if two of a kind is too pedestrian for you next-level ladies, consider mixing and matching different earrings for an original, totally unique look that doesn't make you tilt your head. Mix metals like the models of the Adam Lippes fall 2015 presentation, or combine a baroque teardrop with a modern sculptural design. Just because you're wearing two earrings doesn't mean you have to be totally balanced, so why not mix and match? It will save you the Sophie's Choice of deciding between your two favorite pairs—just wear one of each!
What do you think about mixing and matching earrings? Is it a fashion do or a total don't?
image via WeWoreWhat |
One of my favorite fashion bloggers of the moment is Danielle Bernstein of WeWoreWhat. The NYC girl has fabulous personal style that combines downtown urban cool with vintage 70s flare, and she's an expert at mixing designer duds and high street favorites. She's fabulously cool, but her style is attainable and easy to recreate!
Get inspired by the blogger's 70s-inspired winter outfit for your next cold-weather outing. Pair a high-neck tee and leather skirt with camel coat, boots, and tight, or leave the outerwear pieces at home once the temperature rises!
The best part? Every item is under $150!
Topshop Top | Zara Skirt | Dorothy Perkins Coat | Marc by Marc Jacobs Sunglasses | Nine West Boots |
Valentino Pre-Fall 2015 |
Stumped on what to wear on Valentine's Day? Well, Saint Valentino has got you covered with not one but a few heart motif looks from the pre-fall collection.
If you're planning on a romantic candlelight dinner with your significant other, this red and pink heart print 70s-style frock will woo your date all while being incredibly festive for the Hallmark holiday.
However, if you're loving the single life and the most of your plans are storming the theatre for some Fifty Shades of Grey with all your gal friends, Valentino has the perfect look for you, too! A cute heart sweatshirt will say "I love conversation hearts" better than a chalky candy, but a pair of fashion-forward, man-repelling denim wide-leg culottes will signal all prospective suitors that you are single and have no interest in mingling.
So whether you're a Valentine's Day romantic or a Galentine's Day celebrator, get inspired by Valentino. The one bummer, these looks aren't out until summer.
Happy Valentine's Day and happy hunting!
So honored to be featured in this week's Links à la Mode weekly round-up over at Independent Fashion Bloggers! Check out the rest of the featured blog posts below and be sure to read my featured post, "What is Fashion Doing Wrong?" if you have yet to.
Beyond the Hype:
In Fashion, it's hard to tell what's really real. There is so much hype around everything. So many euphemisms, so many sales gimmicks, and so much "positioning" that to get to what really is going on... that takes some hard looks. This week we have quite a few thought-provoking posts that have us question the very surface of the fashion industry. About diversity, about diversions and about those tricks they use to make us buy.
Links à la Mode: February 5th
- Anti-Muse Fashion Riot: Thomas Hanisch: Berlin Fashion Week Debut
- Attire Club: Thoughts on Beauty and Race
- Cat Eyes & Skinny Jeans: Essie Wrapped Color in Cashmere Trio
- Ginger Side of Life: Why I Fashion Blog
- Late Night Minutes: Review, Swatch + Dupes: Rouge Louboutin
- Life in the Fash Lane: Blogger Commenting Etiquette
- Modavracha's Spot: Beauty Review: Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence
- Ms. Fabulous: Katy Perry's Super Bowl Style
- My Legendary Style: 8 Beauty Tips You Need to Know
- Omnivouge: NYFW Packing Essentials
- Sammy Says: Are Designer Handbags Worth The Hype?
- Storybook Apothecary: Seductive Fragrances for Valentines Day
- Style Curated: Van Gogh: Viktor + Rolf Haute Couture 2015
- That Paki Blog: London vs Milan vs Paris Menswear
- The Fab Diaries: 5 Tips for Taking Care of Your Cat!
- The Fashion Barbie: What is Fashion Doing Wrong?
- The Rivaux: Over Hyped Products: Why My Lips Are Always Chapped
- TLV Birdie: California Style: How to Dress Up in 60 Seconds
- We Are Ready Made: Gender Duality
- Wild Beauty: The Last Tattooed Women of Kobane
SPONSOR: Shopbop Promo Kenzo Shoes, Ringly, Sunettes, Raga, English Factory, Narciso Rodriguez, Manebi, Araks, Felicite, Love Leather & Zara Terez
Want to be featured in Links à la Mode?
1. Read the clarified rules and submit your links on this page: Links à la Mode.
2. If your link was selected and you need this week’s code, visit this page: Links à la Mode Code.
image via collage vintage |
It seems that the fashion Powers that Be are really into destroying their clothes. Distressed jeans, patchwork details, paint splatters, you name it. Frayed edges are just the latest in a long list of distressed trends, but know that there is an art to this look. One cannot simply throw on a western-style fringe jacket and call it a day. No, this season's fringe is more of an artful undoing than flapper girl. Undone edges, I'd call it.
Like this Proenza Schouler dress below, where it looks like the dress is simply unravelling into perfect fringes as if it were taken off the loom midway through. Or the tweed looks at Chanel Haute Couture, where what would once be your grandmother's tweed jackets dissolved into 90s-style crop tops (Grams definitely would not approve, but it does look pretty cool).
Celine | Tory Burch | Proenza Schouler | Salvatore Ferragamo | Isabel Marant |
If undone edges aren't your thing, just add a bit of fringe here and there for the Spring 2015 take on the texture. Like the neckline of your dress or the hem of your tissue skirt, like Sportmax and Valentino have opted to do.
Images via WWD and Kate Spade Saturday |
The other night, my little sister in the sorority posted this article on my Facebook timeline, and when I read it I was upset but not at all shocked. Kate Spade Saturday, the younger, mod sister of Kate Spade New York, just announced that they are closing all stores and reworking their online retail business. This comes only weeks after clothing brands/retailers C. Wonder and Piperlime announced they were shutting down operations, and other companies like Gap and J. Crew are going through major business changes. With a new midpoint clothing retailer shutting down what feels like every other week, the question begs to be asked: what is the fashion business doing wrong?
I'll give you a moment to think about that question, because it's a difficult one to answer. After all, the economy is doing well once again and luxury retailers are finally seeing profits after a few years of a recession. If Prada can make money, why couldn't Juicy Couture?
To be fair, it's easy to figure out where Saturday and C. Wonder could have gone wrong. Saturday only launched a mere two years ago and in that time span opened 32 brick and mortar stores. That's a lot of expenses to burn on a budding brand where you don't know if it will be successful or not. And Saturday wasn't really meant to be a permanent brand; originally it was going to be a Kate Spade x Target collaboration, then a pop-up store, but editorial praise for the brand encouraged Kate Spade to expand the Saturday brand into a full-fledged sister line (perhaps a little too rapidly, though, in retrospect). C. Wonder, on the other hand, was always pegged as a revenge brand and compared to Tory Burch (Tory's ex-husband J. Christopher Burch was C. Wonder's founder, btw).
With both brands, overexpansion seems to be the culprit, paired with mediocre quality and a lack of strong advertising (when I texted my mom last night to tell her the news about Saturday, she responded, "It never got much play. Not well advertised..." Agreed, Mom. Agreed.) Still, given that these stores didn't even exist five years ago, it feels like these brands never really had much of a chance to prove themselves or rework their brand if they were failing.
Piperlime is a different story, however. With only one flagship store in New York, you cannot blame the high cost of maintaining physical stores for the online retailer's demise. One would think that the cost of maintaining an online clothing store would be minimal, but when a company fails to produce a sizeable profit (of all the Gap-owned brands, Piperlime made the least money) it doesn't matter how minimal the costs of maintaining a website is when it's unsuccessful.
Regardless of how and why these different brands shut down, there's a lot of uncertainty moving forward if you are a midpoint clothing brand. Is it the end of the preppy clothing store? The offshoot brand? Where does fashion go from here? The concept of Saturday or C. Wonder—cute, fun clothes for affordable prices—seems smart, especially with the case of Saturday, since many people find Kate Spade New York clothes cute but too expensive for what they are, but these brands are created to make money, not be all that critically successful. When you create a brand as a diffusion line or a way to piss off your ex-wife, your foundations may not be as solid as a brand with years of planning and gradual growth. If your diffusion line isn't successful after a few years, it's easier to just cut your loses and focus on the main brand. The same goes for Piperlime; Gap isn't going to keep holding on to a product that isn't financially successful. Even though Piperlime is it's own entity, it is essentially a diffusion line of Gap.
From Juicy Couture and Abercrombie & Fitch to Kate Spade Saturday and C. Wonder, midpoint fashion retailers need to sell, and if they aren't churning out a sizeable profit, there's no point of maintaining a failing business. Brands that are still in business are reevaluating their business strategies (J. Crew hopes to lower prices and Gap just got rid of their creative director role) in the wake of all these closures.
High fashion and couture can get away with lower numbers because they are luxury goods for a select market; that's the point. Clothes that are created for the masses, however, aren't here to innovate the fashion industry, they exist only to clothes the masses and make money. I guess, the bottom line is the bottom line. If you're made to be sold to everybody and not everyone is buying, what's the point?
If you're still a bit confused about the latest fashion retailer news, this article does a good job of trying to explain the craziness of the retail fashion industry.
What do you think about the recent wave of brand closures? What is the future of the midpoint fashion retailer?
With both brands, overexpansion seems to be the culprit, paired with mediocre quality and a lack of strong advertising (when I texted my mom last night to tell her the news about Saturday, she responded, "It never got much play. Not well advertised..." Agreed, Mom. Agreed.) Still, given that these stores didn't even exist five years ago, it feels like these brands never really had much of a chance to prove themselves or rework their brand if they were failing.
Piperlime is a different story, however. With only one flagship store in New York, you cannot blame the high cost of maintaining physical stores for the online retailer's demise. One would think that the cost of maintaining an online clothing store would be minimal, but when a company fails to produce a sizeable profit (of all the Gap-owned brands, Piperlime made the least money) it doesn't matter how minimal the costs of maintaining a website is when it's unsuccessful.
image via WWD |
From Juicy Couture and Abercrombie & Fitch to Kate Spade Saturday and C. Wonder, midpoint fashion retailers need to sell, and if they aren't churning out a sizeable profit, there's no point of maintaining a failing business. Brands that are still in business are reevaluating their business strategies (J. Crew hopes to lower prices and Gap just got rid of their creative director role) in the wake of all these closures.
High fashion and couture can get away with lower numbers because they are luxury goods for a select market; that's the point. Clothes that are created for the masses, however, aren't here to innovate the fashion industry, they exist only to clothes the masses and make money. I guess, the bottom line is the bottom line. If you're made to be sold to everybody and not everyone is buying, what's the point?
If you're still a bit confused about the latest fashion retailer news, this article does a good job of trying to explain the craziness of the retail fashion industry.
What do you think about the recent wave of brand closures? What is the future of the midpoint fashion retailer?
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Ah, February, what a delightfully strange month. It's shorter than all the rest and certainly feels that way, with a three-day weekend in the middle, a romantic holiday, and so on. It's also too early to bust out the spring looks, but close enough to March (the acceptable start of spring) that everyone is itching to wear their new threads anyways.
My February wishlist is a combination of spring trends and tried and true classics. A denim dress fits the 70s vibe of the spring runways perfectly, and is incredibly versatile. And with Alexa Chung making denim more popular than ever with her AG collaboration, this is a worthy investment piece.
Camel has also been trending as of late, and since it's a neutral it's safe to say that investing in a camel coat or scarf is a safe bet. Splurge on a luxe cashmere scarf, or save with this H&M version that looks like a million bucks! Another popular style: the mule. Why not mix it up and try a minimalist flat mule? (Bonus: WhoWhatWear suggests these for driving shoes. Cute and functional!)
Through in some glasses since I probably need to update my prescription lenses anyways, and an adorable passport holder from J. Crew (I'm a sucker for anything cat print, let's be real), and some pastel bangles because it's almost spring and why not?
What's on your wishlists for the month?
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