Alexander McQueen Fall 2011

Sarah Burton is carrying on McQueen's legacy with flair. Her latest collection meshes feminine fabrics and edgy details. My favorite piece is a dress constructed out of lavender, tulle-like fabric, cut into fine strips and layered to create a soft, velvety looking texture. The flounce skirt and soft edges of the dress remind me of fabric floating underwater�this juxtaposes nicely with the hardwear-heavy, futuristic ankle boots that complete the look. Gawd I am sewww pretentious. 

More of the collection:

Photos from Style.com's "Photo Wall"

Fashioning February: McQueen and I

His designs were beautiful, brutal and bold. Dubbed 'enfant terrible' by the snooty fash pack, Alexander McQueen was never too feet away from controversy. However, love him or hate him no-one could deny that Alexander McQueen was indeed a true fashion genius. After all this is the man who brought bumsters into our lives and set his fashion shows in lunatic asylums, displayed car robots and put Kate Moss in a hologram. Alexander McQueen tragically took his life this time last year and it is only fitting that a documentary paying tribute to him and his legacy should be aired in the midst of Fashion Week. You cannot talk about McQueen without mentioning the late Isabella Blow, the eccentric stylist who committed suicide herself  in 2007. McQueen and I is a retrospective look at McQueen and his relationship with Blow who made a massive impact on his life from the day he showed his graduate collection from Central Saint Martins, which Blow immediately snapped up. Since then she became his personal champion by guiding and nurturing his talents as well as  her muse. The two passionate characters had a very tempestuous friendship which often went hot and cold.

The programme features key people in Alexander's life such as his ex-partner, family, close friends, models and journalists. We see his brother and close friend take us to his former stomping grounds in the gritty East End of London. Models such as Jodie Kidd talk about what he was like to work with and former tutors from Central Saint Martins recount his huge talent. The programme also delves into McQueen's career at Givenchy and after a faltering start he helped to shape the brand and give it the kudos it deserved. This led to his image evolving and with him getting out of his scruffy shirts and jeans and starting to wear designer suits. Isabella's husband also shares his thoughts on his late wife with us and gives us an insight into her personality. We also learn more about her childhood and her motivations for the need for glamour. McQueen and I contains some very interesting footage of Alexander and Isabella together and we get an insight into the deterioration of their relationship.

McQueen and I is aired on Friday 25th February at 9pm on More4.

Seed Bead Bracelets, Feather Earrings, IT ARRIVED + On a More Serious Note

I have a newfound love for summer craft camp seed bead bracelets. I found a bunch in my jewelry box and I made another one this morning. Yesterday, I bought this Cherokee-inspired leather cord necklace with wooden beads and feathers hanging off it from Forever 21 (the first thing I've ever bought there!). I didn't like it as a necklace and it only cost $4.80, so I decided to take it apart and create a bracelet as well as a pair of feather earrings from it.

Forever 21 necklace below:

Purchase HERE

This morning MY OPENING CEREMONY JACKET ARRIVED. Yes. The fur/lambskin/wool boucle one. It's quite amazing.

On a more serious note:

Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of Alexander Lee McQueen's death. His extraordinary artistry and penchant for the theatrical has made the fashion industry even more wonderful. He will be missed. 

Photos: McQueen

Fall 2011: Christian Siriano + Born This Way is Released!

NYC Fashion Week has started and the city is buzzing with an air of excitement. It's palpable! (Actually not really but I'd like to think so. "Palpable" is a good SAT word but that's beside the point.) This morning I took a look at Christian Siriano's collection and basically, I've come to this conclusion: black is the new black. Siriano is the only winner of Project Runway who has made it big and I respect him for that � he markets himself well with the hair, "ferosh," and hot tranny mess all stuffed into a sleek blazer and tight jeans. I truly liked his designs on Project Runway, but I'm not super excited about his latest collection. Almost everything is black. We know that black is a color that flatters everyone, and yes it's great but it weighed down his collection. Though it's a Fall collection, and Fall usually connotes darker colors, I was waiting for a pop of rich color. I want a red worthy of Little Riding Hood herself, or a pumpkin-pie orange! Not a draped, tulle-accented gown in "dusty rose" that screams "suburban high school prom queen." And definitely not a hunter green see-through button down paired with matching silk (?) pants.

Here are the few pieces I found somewhat endearing:

 The texture of this dress reminds me of the butterflies used in Sarah Burton's Alexander McQueen Spring 2011 collection. See below:

Christian, where art thou fierceness?

When I got home from school I rushed to iTunes and purchased Lady Gaga's new single, Born This Way. It's completely Madonna. It's interesting, if you listen to Just Dance off her first album and then listen to Alejandro from her second, the music is completely different. And from the sound of Born This Way, her up and coming album is going to differ even more from both The Fame and The Fame Monster.

Photos: Christian Siriano Fall 2011, Alexander McQueen Spring 2011

Salvaaaation

So I guess I don't have to exterminate myself because the Opening Ceremony motorcycle jacket did not sell out in my size; therefore, I purchased it (see previous post for picture of the wool boucle/fur/lambskin mash of amazing). The depressing thing is that once I indulge in one of my rabid clothing desires, a new one plants itself in my mind. Like this one:

Basically, Erdem prints. They are super dope for Spring.

I found some ugly shoes and I am sad to say that they are by Alexander McQueen. Maybe it's just me. But I really do not find them appealing. It's the super-flat sole and fold-over top � they resemble those awful slouchy "pirate" boots that everyone's been wearing this Fall.

If you happen to like them, they're on sale. Click HERE to purchase.

Photos: Yellow/Green Erdem Spring 2011, Blue/Black/Red Erdem Spring 2011, Spring 2010 Heels, Spring 2010 close-up print

Menswear is Nice Too

I have such a need for new clothing right now. I want to blow all my money on jackets and shoes and tops for Spring. There are so many new "trends" to look forward to when the weather gets warmer�bright colors, prints that make your eyes have seizures, and lace. Platform sandals and minimalist bags. I'm usually a winter kind of person (layering is great), but I want to justify my purchasing of new things with the changing weather.

Usually, I'm not a huge fan of semi-pretentious labels, but I am really into this A.P.C. coat.

I think this is going to be my next investment, as long as my size doesn't get sold out. I'm crossing my fingers. Please rain babysitting jobs down on me, God of Babysitting.

I've been looking at a lot of the Menswear S/S 2011 collections. So far, my favorites have been Alexander McQueen and Lanvin. Comme des Garcons was also endearing, but I felt like the skulls were a little too rampant�it was very reminiscent of McQueen's skull-adorned scarves, shoes and other accessories. Also, Punk was completely overwrought in many of the women's S/S 2011 RTW collections (namely Balmain), so safety pins/skulls and such are not the first thing I want to set my eyes upon as the frost thaws and daffodils start blooming. But Rei Kawakubo always makes a statement, so the skulls represented more of a purposely exaggerated experimentation with the motif rather than just "punk."

Heiii Cole there are skullz on yur shoez! 

 I also enjoy this quasi-deconstructed jacket from the collection:

Here are a few of my favorites from the Alexander McQueen show:

It's the deceptively simple lines of the coat that get me. 

And from Lanvin, the armour-like jewelry won me over. 

Photos: Menswear Runway

R.I.P Alexander McQueen

The amazingly unconventional British Designer, Alexander McQueen was found dead at his home yesterday. At the age of 40, his premature death is being pointed at an apparent hanging suicide. Speculation suggests that pressure to perform as well as last season and his mothers recent death are to blame for his slum into depression.

This is really tragic news, as demand for his designs have been at boiling point in recent times with praise coming from all corners from the fashion industry, fashion icons and celebrities. His designs became icons including the Alexander McQueen Skull Scarf and Armadillos shoes.

His Spring 2010 collection will be his final and best show with dramatic silhouettes, intricate detailing, sci-fi hair and inspired heels clutch purses.

Here are photos from Style.com of his Final Collection.

Another life taken too early...R.I.P McQueen

Kate Moss: Style

Over the last few years style trends such as knee length boots, skinny jeans, flat ballet pumps, the cape and Mary Jane shoes have been seen on all and sundry and they have one person to thank - Kate Moss. The sight of the famous supermodel wearing these items has played a big part in their popularity. Part bio and part style book � Kate Moss: Style delves into the wardrobe of one of the most iconic woman in the world. We are given the stories behind Kate�s wonderful outfits, where she really shops for her clothes, who her inspirations are and what exactly her input is to her line at Topshop. As you can imagine a whole range of fashionistas have contributed quotes to this books; stylistas such as Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Matthew Williamson, Alexander McQueen, Britt Ekland, Katie Grand and many more all add in their two pence worth.

Fashion journo, Angela Buttolph has been buzzing around on the scene for a long while � her stints have included the Evening Standard, i-D, Vogue and Grazia. She is one of those faces that pops up on TV now and again offering her opinion on fashion culture but she has never really made an impression on me unlike other fashion peeps such as The Telegraph�s Hilary Alexander or The Guardian�s Hadley Freeman. Well that is all in the past now because I am truly smitten with Angela and her delicious book. As far as I am concerned she has taken a really tricky task of creating a riveting book on Kate Moss based on quotes from past interviews in various publications with gusto. Ms Moss is so famous that there are very few people out there who do not know the ins and outs of her personal and public life but Angela manages to present the Moss story in a way that is refreshing and compelling. Weighing in at a massive 198 pages, Kate Moss: Style did look like a very daunting read but I was hooked from the very first line. The writing, which is sharp and crunchy, is a product of fantastic research into Kate�s early years in South London, onto her life as a supermodel and then her evolution as a designer. The book also has wonderful typography, great captions and captivating images that are to die for. Kate Moss: Style maybe a celebration of the model�s life in fashion but it is also a wonderful celebration of fashion journalism.

Kate Moss: Style is available in all good book stores.

You can check out Angela Buttolph�s chic website here.

Graduate Fashion Week

On Monday I woke up with a migraine and had the sudden urge to stay in bed all day. I had planned to go down to Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) to see the collections but my head was saying different things. However, temptation got the better of me, I figured that the fresh air as long as the innovative ideas that I would see at the event would do me the world of good. I was not wrong, a few hours and two paracetomols later I was at Battersea Park Arena along with my press pass and goodie bag feeling revived and very inspired. I did have to pinch myself that I was at the right event because the last time I went to GFW it was a low key affair with a few portfolios on display. Today GFW is a huge event that attracts high profile sponsors such as River Island, Revlon, L'Oreal, Pringle and magazines like Cosmopolitan, Company and Glamour. In fact the event is highly acclaimed as one where you find the latest talents in fashion; Stella McCartney got her break here a few years ago along with Alexander McQueen, Julien MacDonald and John Galliano.

At the exhibition what I saw before me were magazines, business cards, posters, brochures, bags and other promotional merchandise that were produced to an amazingly high standard. Battersea Park Arena was filled with a buzz of excitement, expectation and amazing energy and I am so glad that I made it down. The first show I saw was the University of the Creative Arts which featured everything from hoodies, monochrome designs and tailoring. After that I grabbed Nwannie who was working hard backstage dressing the models for that show and we headed to the press office for some lunch. I must admit I was very impressed with the press office at this function, they served non stop food and plenty of drinks. It was also decked out with cosy sofas, fancy tables and wifi where the grande dame of fashion journalism, Hilary Alexander was seen looking rather stressed. In fact the treatment of the press at GFW was commendable; we were ushered into each show without having to queue and were allocated front row seats. This is a far cry to London Fashion Week where we have to queue for ages in the cold and even when we get in we have to stand. It will certainly be a shock to go back to that. As well as seeing vibrant and wonderful collections we met some characters along the way such as a young man from a glossy magazine who was taking pictures with his camera phone. In the press room we got chatting to a journalist from menstyle and we also met some great guys from Disorder magazine who were lots of fun. It was a truly gratifying day and I am still blown away by the amount of talent that is produced in this country and I just hope all of them find jobs in the area that they wish. Picture taken from Graduate Fashion Week website