Chanel-lian

I aspire to work for Chanel one day. It's not where I want to retire, but I want to be a Chanel-lian some time in my life. I always thought it would be about connection, which I'm sure plays a big role. But there are positions where Chanel and co look for prospective workers where people who does not necessarily have a direct connection can apply. I found this on WWD. And even though I don't qualify, it's nice to know the opportunity is there.
[Photo credit: wwd.com]

Shopping: Marc Jacobs

So I haven't put on a bookbag since...senior year of high school? But if I decide to start again, I would go with these Marc by Marc Jacobs bookbags. I just love the colors. You can find them only at Marc by Marc Jacobs store or by calling the nearest one and have them ship it to you.

More Fun Things at Marc Jacobs:


[Photo credit: marcjacobs.com/]

SHANGHAI (TANG), HIGH FIVE!

I was browing and looking, clicking and eye-widening and I found Shanghai Tan. They have stuff for women, men, accessories, children, and home. And I was looking at the men stuff and these are by far my favorites:
MEN

Left:Washed Goat Leather "Adventurer" Jacket($1250)
Right:Mongolian Knot" Cashmere and Silk Zip-up Sweater($610)

WOMEN

Left: Alpaca Hand-knit Batwing Sweater($685)
Right: Boiled Wool Coat with Floral Embroidery($1090)

ACCESSORIES


Left: Ladies' Two Tone Slippers with Leather Lining($155)
Right: "Coin" bangle($110)


Website: Shanghai Tan

Modern, Chic Athena

[photo credit: ish magazine]

Geometry Nouveau? SS'08

So I noticed a subtle, quite theme that's starting to show: structure. And To push it further, fine, geomtric shapes. It's interesting how different designer takes on angles and curves (of a circle) to accentuate parts of the body. Honestly, I draw and design from time to time and some of these ideas are familiar to me, which I love because it shows my design are up to par with current geniuses. The yellow dress from Akris at the bottom? I drew that back in August (before the Spring/Summer 2008 came out). I have people that can account for it. I wonder how many designers will follow for Fall/Winter 2008. But let's look, shall we? [photo credits: Style.com]

[Akris Spring/Summer 2008] I love the yellow and white etheral dress, and not because I designed one similar to it. It's dangerous with the flaps though because you can see how the model looses her height. but I think it would look great if your skin is a little darker because it will not only make your skin pop, but the dress itself (since it's white). I love the middle jacket. The huge square pockets accentuates the arm (makes it look really skinny) since your hands basically get lost in them. One of the main way to play with weight is to place it next to something big. However, the proportion can's be too big because clearly this jacket was made for a certain girl. How can you tell? The collar. If you want to look skinny, pair up with something big but make sure it looks like it was made for you, not found in a clearance bi (you know what i'm talking about. the XXXL sizes).


[Chanel Spring/Summer 2008] The wrapping of the oval on the first dress is interesting. It plays on the hip on the front view since it clearly closes in on the hip. If you stand against a black backdrop, the oval would fade out and you see this skinny silhouette of white and bottom strip. Once again, a play on size. The shoulder flaps on the side of that jacket! I can't pin point it but there's something aesthetically pleasing about it. It's like that lapel that normally goes on your shoulder but only transplaced to the the side. The black dress gives it this modern formality with it. The structured line of progressive architecture and the traditional bowties gives it this contrast that makes the dress interesting.


[Fendi Spring/Summer 2008] Karl plays with circles and lines! The belt is geometric. The belt started in Fall 2007 and now he carried it over. I think Karl is trying to appeal to the modern progressive women that buys stuff from stores like design within reach with that monochromatic white everything. Her teapots are triangular and her lamps is a saturated red decagon structure that sites by itself in the living room. Either way, Karl makes it work. The colors are fun, the pieces are symmetrical and it looks like a rich woman, because we all know that type of style doesn't come cheap. Rightfully so, especially since Fendi publicly said they're trying to boost their revenue over 40% within the next year. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these three pieces. I love that you could see her arms over that folded circle with black lines. It's so futuristic but so doable.


[Giambattista Valli Spring/Summer 2008] Giamba has been gathering steam over the past seasons, becoming many favorites of celebrities. You can see why through the placement of lines and shapes. He plays with the simple shape with the complexity of designs. I end up raising the question which one helps define the other, the shapes define the pattern, or the design pattern brings out the shape? The colors also plays a big part. This collection was put together with a lot of thought.


[Valentino Spring/Summer 2008] There's a reason Valentino lasted as long as he did. Simple lines, simple shapes. Product? Pure chic and elegance. The muted gray brown with the black lines outline gives it such a clean look. I love the pink and purple combo! So fresh, and once again, clean! The lines that separate them are also proportionately pleasing. I also think it's a modest dress in that it's not too hugging. It's for the conservative women that's shy but wants attention. Valentino's take on circles? The layers of circles for the top and the bottom makes that dress look so light. It reminds me of sea anemone and how it arouses this sexual, fluid movement to it.

My Ideal Love Child

What happens when Vmagazine stars Raquel Zimmerman wearing Prada, Balenciaga, etc? Hot, very hot, damp, high pressure, heat inducing, coal-making love.


[top image: Prada Fall '07 | bottom photo: Balenciaga Fall '07]
[Photo credit: Vmagazine]

Thoughts
Wind tossed. So Nicholas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga clearly is the season's constant favorite and everyone basically follows him (ever since Hedi Slimane left Dior Homme). The basic concept I found for his pieces for Fall 2007 was fluid symmetry to the max. It wasn't basic dresses but contortions of beauty and color.

It's fun to see that other designers have become more fluid in their Spring/Summer 2008 collections. Dolce and Gabanna went hippie and their collections are so wind-blown with so much unstructured volume. Roberto Cavalli moved away from his prints and went for the more fluid pieces, more resort like - made for yachting or picnic in the garden. Chloe is sheer drapping, so airy and soft. Though Balenciaga could be contributed to this new fondness for lightness, I think Olivier Theyskens for Nina Riccii and the positive reviews also helped. Especially the dresses from Fall 2007.

Whomever it may be, I think it's safe to say Spring 2008 will be windy and amazing. I want to see women is flowing dress walking down the street and the wind carrying their dresses, flapping the walkers behind in the face (softly).

But to close with Balenciaga, Fall 2007 started this nostalgia for the more relaxed days but the colors and patterns in the pieces showed that it was still a transitioning piece from the present hard events. It's nice to see that these other collections are pushing it further and encouraging the public to have a more fun outlook, less serious.

Looking at Balenciaga Spring 2008, I could see that after transitioning to this less serious period, a new era is ready to begin. Bright colors, flower patterns, structured architecture. Fashion is ready for something new and fresh, and Balenciaga provides has started setting the standards.

Adore Vintage (the online store)

[photo credit: adorevintage.com]
Click to buy: Miss Golightly Dress($41.04)

I love adore vintage. The findings are always never dissappointing. I check it weekly because the site is pretty on top of regulating their inventory. The prices are also very affordable. The top pictures is of a 60s dress with that Audrey Hepburn feel(the cut of the neckline). I also love how the facade is mude up of lace. I love subtle, pieces that seem simple from afar, but when up close there is so much more to it.

Aside from dresses, Adore Vintage also have things like accessories, home furnishings, shoes, etc. Here are some more pieces that I found on the site that was pleasing to the eye:


Click to buy: Buttercup Kiss Dress($21.95)
The above dress may seem too wide on the side but I love that the sections starts below the breasts (this elongates the body). How you can counter the wideness is by wearing a fitted cardigan or a fitted jacket. A good color for the outwear would be something dark to make the yellow and the dark color of the jacket pop. The ideal colors for me would be dark blue or black. If I want a light color then shades of gray would work too.


Click to buy (left): Wisteria Vine Dress($42)
Click to buy (right): La Danse Du Soleil Dress($58)
The dress from the left looks like Blair's dress from Gossip girl in the latest episode. The dress from the right looks like a Prada dress for Resort '08.

Oh and by the way, many of the pieces are limited - as in once someone buys a dress, there's is a high chance it'll be sold out. The idea of exclusivity is also what makes the site interesting because you'll end up having regrets not buying it a week after because once you decide to make the purchase, someone else already bought it. Also, sometimes you can find a Chanel piece, a Oscar De la Renta piece, etc.

roberto cavalli for h&m available today!

roberto cavalli for h&m finally arrives! Women, girls that want to be women, waited on hour+ lines at h&m stores to get their paws and claws on cavalli's prints. The dresses and coats had zebra, cheeta, lion, and leopard prints. The accessories had animal references and some evoked a tribal feel. It's an amazing collection. Instead of his original pieces for $1000+, the prices have been dimmed down from $10+ accessories to dresses no more than $300.

Below are some of my favorites:


[photo credit: h&m]
I love the ruffles for these shirts because there's such a class to them. They also scream cavalli. All that was missing were the prints on these shirts. But those prints were more and plenty in the rest of the collection. For men, I love that the buttons went more lower than the regular henleys. It'll definately elongate the body.


[photo credit: h&m]
I love this ring and bracelet! You can't beat the price! How the purple contrast with the gold color gives it this vintage, rich feel. The colors also made me think of a Lanvin necklace for Spring/Summer 2008:


[photo credit: Style.com]

Collection: Roberto Cavalli for H&M

SPOTLIGHT ON: BRIAN LICHTENBERG

M.I.A.'s been spotted performing in it. L.A. kids and hip bros and cats across the country have been lusting over it. The draping, the geometric shapes, the colors! Below are some pictures from his SS '08 collection. The lines are carefully constructed and placed. The fluidity of the dress, the modern mixes of shape and colors are well balanced. The men's bathing suit with the green is nostalgic of renaissance ideals; it almost reference ancient ideals, especially when placed on that model! The women bathing suit is also amazing with the connective asymmetric line.










[photo credit: myspace.com/brianciaga ]

Though his Spring/Summer 2008 won't be available for some time, unless you're within his social circle. But while you're waiting, he also has some current stuff out. You can check here: Brian Lichtenberg '07.

Shady Shades SS '08

[photo credit: Style.com]





Top Left: Alessandro Dell'Acqua
Top Right:Burberry Prorsum
Middle Center: Carolina Herrera
Bottom Left: Calvin Klein
Bottom Right: Stella McCartney

Not Wasted!

[photo credit: Origins.com]
This limited edition 100% organic cotton canvas reusable shopping bag is currently available at Origins.com . In pursuit of the organic trend, Origins has made a beauty line along with this bag. I have not used Origins product but this bag raise awareness to the brand. If you order the bag, you get a free sample of one of their products (you get to choose one out of several options of samples). A cute bag for a good cause along with a sample of Origin beauty product for $10 goes a long way.

Are you young, drink a lot, and want to be a walking irony?
Looking for a new, affordable, and cute bag?
Are you a lover of organics?
Recycling supporter?
If you answered yes to one or all three, you can purchase your bag online: I Don't Get Wasted Bag ($10)

Jacket racket!

[photo credit: Style.com]



Left Photo: Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2007
Middle Photo: Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2008
Right Photo: Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2008
Notes:
The Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2007 jacket [left photo], I believe started the Spring 2008 trend for the return of jackets in women's wear. Pilati (designer of YSL) constructed this modern jacket that was voluminous, but very feminine. This can be see by Freja Beja wearing the jacket. This jacket was/is popular for fall 2007, appearing in more than a handful of editorials like Vogue, W, Vmagazine, Paris Vogue, Elle, etc. In this post, I want to show the stone that started the jacket ripples for Spring 2008.



Left, Middle, and Right Photos: Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2008



Left & Middle Photo: Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2008
Right Photo: Bottega Veneta Spring 2008



Left Photo: Bottega Veneta Spring 2008
Middle & Right Photos: Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2008



Left, Middle, and Right Photos: 3.1 Phillip Lim



Left, Middle, and Spring 2008: Calvin Klein Spring 2008



Left, Middle, and Right Photos: Etro Spring 2008



Left, Middle, and Right Photos: Alexander McQueen Spring 2008



Collections: Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2007 | Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2008 | Bottega Veneta Spring 2008 | Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2008 | 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2008 | Calvin Klein Spring 2008 | Etro Spring 2008 | Alexander McQueen Spring 2008