Thursday, 3 February 2011

The Color War

I'm so smitten with this Vogue Australia shoot.
Instead of being surrounded by Boston's snow.
I want to go on a Mediterranean vacation.
If prints and bright colors aren't in this spring (when are they not?), I will go crazy.


I'm obsessed with this Marni. Give me colored leather any day and I'll be intrigued. The tan stripe on the side really makes this dress for me. 
I wish I had an occasion to wear this yellow Hilfiger. The pleated bottom is such a fabulous match to the short sleeved top. And it's so well styled with the black and yellow hat.
Matching patterns and fabrics, in my personal opinion, is the way to make an uber chic outfit.I would personally eliminate the striped belt and replace it with a plain cobalt blue, but that's just me. I believe the striped dress (?) is vintage? Awesome.
Without a doubt, there is only one way to solve this winter-overload in the North-east.
POPS OF COLOR.
It may be too early to dive right into a yellow Hilfiger, but we must think of bright colors to accent into our daily looks in preparation for spring.
Photo Cred


Photo Cred

Photo Cred
Because of the slush, I've been sporting my red Hunters, supporting this color pop-age, but hey it's still color!

xx



Wednesday, 2 February 2011

When it's Time for Change

So today, I got really bored with the layout and title of this blog. As much as "Purses, Shoes, Couture...Oh My!" was fun, it was too wordy. 
When people asked about my blog's name, I would HATE saying the title because it was so long; who'd remember it.
So here it is:

The Trendologist.
Clean, simple, and fun. 
This semester, I'm taking sociology, which I seem to be enjoying.
In this lovely class, we learn about the behavior and influences of society.
That got me thinking...wouldn't it be great if there was a class studying the behavior and influences of fashions and trends?

Like Trendology?
What if one day, people could become Trendologists?
Different name, different look, same blogging fun!


Anyways, I was actually hoping to write a blog post instead of giving it a make-over so here we go!

I'm extremely over the winter. I remember back in November, I was so excited for snow. Now I'm over it.
I want bright colors and florals again!

And I especially want these:
Photo Cred
BEHOLD: Anne Demeulemeester's  Crisscross Leather Wedges.
Is there a better way to put spring in shoe-form?

What I love about these:  The shoe only comes in fashion's newest black: white. Wedges are not only chic, but they're easy on the feet and the heel is not that extreme anyways. The thick straps is so right on and right now.

As much as I hate minimalism, I know that it is unavoidable. I tried to be minimalist a few days ago, then I threw on a houndstooth skirt and it was back to my usual sense of style.

But I think that non-minimalist can embrace the trend (a la these) without losing who we are.

Here's my game plan: these shoes, a light printed dress, or a maxi loaded with fun bangles, or a shorts and tee combo with a fabulous cardigan.

...okay, maybe all of these look suggest I'm having a retro moment...but maybe that's true...





Monday, 31 January 2011

Sagging Style

I'll be perfectly honest, I am not a fan of the SAG Awards. Of course, the whole "acting community" is a nice thought, but it's boring. And the fashion is never like the big time award shows.
Buuuuut...
modern family won.
and the social network did not.
and natalie portman won too.
and my predictions were...slacking.
As I stated before, the fashion was so- so. At the Globes' red carpet show, I squealed and my jaw dropped a plethora of times. The SAGs? Not the same. But anyways, let's talk about the looks!

THE WORST
  • Winona Ryder (Alberta Ferretti): Trainwreck. Ooooof I hate everything about this. Seriously, it's like she went to a senior prom in the 1980s. the bag is awkward, her hair is awkward, and the dress looks awkward on her. I just hate this.
  • Jenna Fischer (Fendi): Yes, her hair and makeup looked amazing, but this was a terrible choice. The silhouette isn't the least bit flattering; she looks matronly and boring. She's such a beautiful woman and I wish she could've picked something better for this award ceremony.
  • Jennifer Lawrence (Oscar de le Renta): Before this dress, I didn't think Oscar could do any wrong. But not all fashion geniuses are perfect. Don't get me wrong, the fuschia looks incredible on her, but I hate the black belt; it makes her look like she has a gut!  The hair is also way too serious for the SAG awards. I'm also debating the shoulders but I can't even focus when that belt is there. I also feel like  there is no communication between above the belt and below the belt; if the shoulders are going to be dramatic, lose the slit!
  • Naya Rivera (Aurelio Costarello): THIS IS SO DULL. The beige doesn't suite her all  that well and partially beaded bodice makes the dress look awkward and incomplete. But what I hate most about this red carpet look is the hair. It looks like there was no effort at all! Just a quick wash and dry?! YOU'RE ON THE RED CARPET. She's so beautiful and I think she could've definitely done better.
  • Eva Longoria (Georges Hobelka):Blegh. I loved the ivory on Eva, but this dress was a diaster;  the draping just looks odd and not maintained and the drop waist wasn't doing anything for her figure. Her outfits are always hits or misses in my mind, no in between. What would Gabrielle Solis think?! 
  • Christina Hendricks (L'Wren Scott): I love long sleeved dresses, but she did it completely wrong. The fabric did not help her curves at all! This dress showed an awkward amount of skin and it just didn't look good. I'm sure dresses someone of her curves is hard, but this is horrendous.
  • Nicole Kidman (Nina Ricci): First of all, what's up with the necklace she's wearing? It totally de-sophisticates her whole look. Anyways, the amount of lace on this dress made me feel like the lace was really a spider' web. I would've really liked this dress if the back was de-laced and it was just open and sexy. The lace on the neckline is great though. 
  • Kim Kardashian (Marchesa): My least favorite look of the night! It looks like Princess Jasmine on crack!  She usually has such a dramatic eye and nude lip, the entire nude makeup makes her look sickly... and really scares me. It's so messed up, I don't even know what exactly is wrong with it...does that make sense? The color's nice and Marchesa is always fabulous, but this is no good!
  • Kate Mara (Herve Leger): This is just weird. She's such a beautiful girl, but what's with the headband? It looks like she's trying to match...but failed. Down and loose curls would've made the world's difference. And she didn't even accessorize besides that! The dress is really interesting and maybe it would've looked better on someone else, but the execution was so bad!
  • Melissa Leo (Randi Rahm): What is this...I don't even know how to go about critiquing this. SO UGLY! The hair is really awkward and there is such a thing as metallic not working...case and point: this!
  • Matthew Morrison (Prada): I wasn't aware that Matthew Morrison was ALSO Ricky Martin. Sometimes, I question his sexuality whilst watching Glee (there is nothing wrong with any sexuality, just to throw that out there).  This is too casual, too Ricky Martin...too bad.

THE BEST
  • Jane Krakowski (Badgely Mischka): Absolutely stunning! She showed off her bump and looked completely chic while doing it. The silver was beautiful with her complexion and hair. Also, the asymmetrical sleeve made a mama-to-be look hot and current, which I love! It was really smart of her to wear nude platforms, emphasizing the dress and the bump. Her hair and makeup was also exquisite.
  • Mila Kunis (Alexander McQueen): Best of the night, seriously! I'm obsessed with this dress; she looked hip but relaxed, which is perfect for the SAGs. I'm glad she didn't over-accessorize, a classic print wearing rule. Her hair was flawless and she embraced many of the best trends on the carpet last night.
  • Sofia Vergara (Roberto Cavalli): As we all know, Sofia Vergara is a woman with many...assets.  This Cavalli dress offered her two things: class and flattery. The color looked amazing with her skin tone and hair; nobody else really wore cobalt so she surely made a splash on the red carpet. The draping around the waist seriously made her look like a minute! Also, this dress showed of the right amount of her Vergaras. It was youthful but not immature. Perfecto!
  • Heather Morris (Romona Keveza): LOVE! She looked like a Pretty Pretty Princess last night! The complexity of the bodice was a perfect match to the simple skirt. The color looked so beautiful on her and the simple accessories worked well with the feathery-fabulous bodice.
  • Hailee Steinfeld (Prada): I think this dress was one of the most talked about all night. At first, I thought this was terrifying, but I liked it the more I saw it. I think the SAG  Awards is the only place this dress would get a good interpretation during awards season.  The SAG Awards are less serious than the Globes or the Oscars, so it's expected to wear something a little more relaxed.  The bright colors are good for this carpet and, since she's so young, it was a really fun dress. But for any other occasion, this wouldn't be good.
  • Natalie Portman (Azzaro): So sophisticated! I love the black and white combination...didn't someone just blog about this recently? Hmmm.... anyways! I love how she also showed her bump; it's the first time she's done it since her pregnancy was announced! Yes, her hair could be better, but she looks fabulous regardless.
  • January Jones (Carolina Herrera): First of all, thank you for covering up! Although I wish the hair wasn't weird, I love this dress. It's so beautiful and is really flattering on Ms. Jones. She worked the lace trend perfectly into her dress without looking like a web (a la Nicole Kidman). While some of the minor details could be improved, I like this soo much better than her Globes look.
  • Justin Timberlake (Simon Spurr): Why is JT so cool?  Fashionable men have it rough: how can they make a statement on the red carpet without looking cheesy. By adding the double striped tie...he looked so chic. In addition, his suit fit him perfectly.
  • Claire Danes (Louis Vuitton): Absolutely fabulous!  I love the aqua and black combination fo this Vuitton, so smitten!  In this scenario, I really like the black belt: adds spice to the dress and also makes it less formal. The pink lips are also genius! This has  to be my second favorite look of the night for sure.
  • Tina Fey (Oscar de la Renta): I assume that seeing Tina Fey in this dress is like watching a baby's first steps. INCREDIBLE! I'm so happy she's ditched the frumpy black and showed herself off. The red is amazing; she looked sophisticated and super classy. I'm just so proud!
  • Helena Bonham Carter  (Marc Jacobs): THANK YOU FOR WEARING MATCHING SHOES! She looks so cute in this black and white Marc Jacobs outfit...almost like a 1950's housewife. Her hair is of course quirky, but I'm glad she has the ability to tame her outrageousness for one night. Kudos, Helena.
  • Dianna Agron (Vintage Chanel): When I first saw her, I thought it was Emma Roberts. Anyways, I'm so glad she wore something dark and sultry. The navy looks awesome with her blonde hair and light skin. The hem-line is really interesting, but still extremely classy. I'm also happy she paired a sleek hair-do together with dark and mysterious eye  makeup. Amazing, amazing,amazing. 
xx

Sunday, 30 January 2011

The Weekly: Burn Up in Your Atmoshpere

I have a LOT of Weeklies so let's make this short and sweet, shall we?

This really hardcore bracelet is my latest conquest. I'm so obsessed with it.
It's really unlike anything I have, so I knew I wanted it.
I also enjoy this picture because it's so ironic (floral bedspread and stuffed pal, Babar with spiked bracelet...ja'dore).

SAG PREDICTIONS:
White,white, and some more white: white is so big right now and A-List celebrities should wear this look.
I'm also throwing for the asymmetrical bodices; I want some pizazz! 
Mullet dresses? Selena Gomez has been rocking them lately, I want some more.
SLIM FITTING DRESSES: A lot of people did poofy evening gowns for the Golden Globes, so I'm expecting some sleek dresses (a la Anne Hathaway and Angelina Jolie)
Onto the Weekly: So many fabulous looks so I want to get started immediately!
  • Olivia Wilde at a Parisian Gucci Party (Gucci): Olivia Wilde has been doing some incredible fashion things lately. Color-blocking is a huge thing lately and she does it oh so well. The variety of color makes the jumpsuit mesmerizing, but they are all in the same color family which makes it work. And let's talk about this incredible gold necklace, shall we? To die for!  This outfit looks like a sexy Arabian nights and oh...didn't I just write something about Arabian nights?
  • Amy Adams at a Producer's Guild of America Gala (Andrew Gn): Usually, Amy Adams goes for a very conservative sweet-heart bodice look. I was so so so happy to see her break out of her fashion cocoon! The navy/eggplant color looks incredible with her hair and overall complexion and the  shorter hemline is something we don't see too much on her. The draping is also really slimming and I love how the brooch gives it some "wow" factor. She looks enchanting (that was my attempt to make a pun).
  • Jessica Alba also at the Gucci bash (Gucci): She looks flawless. Ooof...why can't we all be like Jessica Alba? She pulled off the metallic look so well! And this semi-cape thing in the back? I loooove it; it's done in a classy way that doesn't make her look like Super-Glamour-Woman. Love it!!
  • Kate Hudson Strolling in London (Burberry): Even when she's preggers, Kate Hudson can do no wrong...at all. I am obsessed with this Burberry trench. The color and texture of this jacket is so supreme paired with a sexy and liquidy black skirt..or is it a dress? Why is she the best?!
  • Leighton Meester at The Roommate premiere (Michael Kors): THE CUTOUT IS AWESOME! Leighton Meester has had a plethora of fashion mishaps, but this is sooo good. Long dresses are so in lately and the cut outs makes it sexy and not frumpy. The mix of fabrics makes it not an essential to have jewels. I just wish her hair wasn't multi-colored...
  • Whitney Port at a People bash (Vintage Thierry Mugler): I have a mild obsession with Whitney Port: she always looks so ethereal and youthful. In this case, she may not look ethereal, but I love the sequin; all of the different sizes?! So great!  The white looks incredible with her blonde hair and complexion. As always, she's stunning! 
  • Diane Kruger at the SAME Gucci Bash (Gucci): Okay, so some people may not like this dress, but I love Diane Kruger. And out of anyone, Diane Kruger WOULD be able to pull off this dress. She worked that black and gold so well. It's so abstract, but so beautiful. Her simple hair and lack of accessories were amazing. Only the most fabulous can wear avant garde!  
xx

Friday, 28 January 2011

This is Your Moment

Finally.
I have enough time to finally talk about Black Swan.  My fabulous friend and I seriously waited all winter break so we could see it together, and the wait was worth it.
Obsessed.
It was seriously one of the best movies I've seen in a while. The plot was so addicting, I love psychological thrillers. But more importantly, it was so aesthetically pleasing. 


The ballerina clothes were so remarkable; Kate and Laura Mulleavy seriously did an amazing job, regardless of award status.
Not only were the costumes absolutely beautiful, but I think they're provoking some trend in the fashion world. Throughout the whole movie, there was a juxtaposition of the white naivety and the self-destructive black.
The white versus black comparison is very striking.


Yes, I know this skirt isn't white but mix of it and a leather vest (which is behind) is  so Black Swan.

I think my favorite outfit of the whole movie, which I'm sure many can agree with, is the white dress Natalie Portman wears to the ballet benefit. I love love LOVE the glitz paired with the white dress, absolutely insane.
Us non-Natalie Portmans can easily follow this trend with a crisp white shirt and some jewels!

And if you're not believing a word I say about black and white ruling the world, let's  take a look at some couture, shall we?

Photo Cred
The simplicity of this Valentino and the embellishments around the neckline is a minimalist take on that Black Swan dress I am obsessed with! 

Photo Cred
I love the black versus white situation here. The sleek look is so devious here! 
Alexis Mabille was filled with white:
the following pictures have Photo Cred.





The last two looks for this collection are  sooo Black Swan: similar silhouette but different color. I'm telling you, black and white are ruling the world! 

Photo Cred
The white is so innocent and then...
Photo Cred
The black is its alter ego; sleeker, more sophisticated, more experienced, more devious.

If you haven't seen Black Swan yet, I tell you to stop reading this blog right now (which is perfect because this post is over) and go to your nearest movie theater. ASAP.

xx





Thursday, 27 January 2011

Holy Lagerfeld

Ladies and gents, it's couture time! I just love the idea of haute couture sweeping down the runway. And let's be real, this is where award dresses come from. And the top contenders for some of the most fabulous red carpet dresses thus far? Valentino and Elie Saab for sure; they are fashion forward, yet stick to the general couture guidelines.

But this blog post isn't about Red Carpet predictions, I'll save that for Sunday afternoon.

Instead of the tweed jackets and beautiful collection Lagerfeld usually shines us aspiring fashionistas with, we were left with this:
Photo Cred
I just don't know what to think about this.
Why is Chanel going street style?!
I'm so confused.

If this whole look was for any other collection, I'd be down with Lagerfeld's expansion of the Chanel look, but couture? Seriously?! I will say that there are some looks I really like further into the collection, but is this really the time to lessen the sophistication of such an iconic brand?

But then I thought about it some more. In my personal opinion, couture is all about being unique and abstract. And we must realize that having such a casual look for Chanel is reeeallly abstract? So was that Lagerfeld's whole idea? This collection wasn't just a half executed thing; apparently 10 million beads were used throughout the collection. That's a whole lot of beads! 


I usually love blogging about Chanel shows, because they always are so similar  but different at the same time. But this one, is just plain thought provoking. 

While I do admire Lagerfeld's attempt to make Chanel his brand, is couture really the right time to do something so casual? Or, is he trying to show us that fashion should be for everyone?

Not now, not at couture.
That's all I have to say.

Sunday, 23 January 2011

The Weekly: The World Looks Good to You, As it Should to You

On Friday, we celebrated my fabulous friends' birthday classily (I don't think classily is a word, but we'll go with it). Ever since then, I've been thinking about the obsession with classy. Of course we all want to be like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, who doesn't? But there was a time, not too long ago, where America was more infatuated with ripped jeans and Juicy Couture tracksuits.
AKA THIS:
Photo Cred
Nowadays, there are so many books that act as a "how-to". Derek Blasberg's Classy is just one example; he tells readers that classy is not the way we dressed, but the way we act, naturally (but I think style is the most obvious quality).  It's a shame that we actually need these books to tell us how to be classy, even though they're so much fun to read which is why some of the classiest even have them.  Anyways, all of this made me want to compile a list of the 10 classiest women (celebrity wise, I'm sure that there are plenty of classy women all over the world)  of the 21st century. 
So here we go:
10.  Rachel Bilson: In addition to never hearing about her in the tabloids, she has a sophisticated taste for being so young. What I love about her is that she is so fit, but doesn't find a need to wear Miley Cyrus apparel.  She attends the hottest fashion parties and also dresses the fierce.
09. Beyonce: Speaking of fierce, how could you not love Sasha Fierce. She reeks, yes reeks, glam! Even though her outfits are definitely sexier than my other classy ladies, she has maintained such a good image in the public eye. Let's refer back to the Kanye West fiasco?
08. Katie Holmes: Maybe she's too quiet to be scandalous, but Katie Holmes reminds me of a Hollywood version of Jackie Kennedy and, no, her  acting gig as Jackie O has nothing to do with it. Though I hate minimalism, her clothes are simple enough to be so chic. But, at the same time, she's always taking fashion risks without pushing the envelope.
07. Posh Spice: Do I really need to say anything else?
06. Blake Lively: Even though I mildly hate her for being a fashion icon, she is a class act. Does she reveal her boobs a little too frequently? Yes, but one must give her credit for styling herself without abusing her assets. She's come a long way, you must give her that! And when a person is  BFFs with Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld,  you can't help but think that they are classy.
05. Kate Hudson: I've admitted so many times it almost gets old, but I love Kate Hudson.  In my mind, she single handedly proves that you can be both bohemian and classy. She's always so chic, but her "loving life in all situations" personality truly sparkles and provokes class.
04. Anne Hathaway: In the eye of fashion, she is truly a vision always. I love how she is so cultured and wise, she studied at Vassar! And remember when her boyfriend stole all of that money? She was witty and handled it perfectly! 
03. Reese Witherspoon: The definition of an "All-American Girl". She went from goofy Elle Woods to an Academy Award winning actress. With many highly publicized breakups, she's handled them all with so much class. And all of her charity work is so admirable too!
02. Emma Watson: Even without being a fashion superstar, Emma would have had it made as Hermione. But what I love most about her is her seemingly un-superficial ways. She goes to Brown! Seeking a higher education once you're famous is so rare;however, when it occurs, you can't help but give someone so much respect. And do we ever hear about her ending up trashed at a random frat? Surprisingly, no! 
01. Natalie Portman: I'm definitely blogging about Black Swan sometime soon because I'm so obsessed. Natalie Portman is such a great actress! Even though she doesn't always have the best outfits, she is such a professional. Also, she's frequently thought of as the next Audrey Hepburn, she has to be number one! 

So that was fun...now onto the weekly! 

xx