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"

Rick Owens Fall 2011, Cole Mohr Makes Out With a Duck

Owens' aesthetic rings true and clear in this collection: the Gothic inspiration, experimentation with unusual shapes and silhouettes, and the abundance of muted colors. The collection is beautifully tailored no doubt, and touts an understated elegance compared to his previous work. But I wish Owens had experimented a little bit more, pushed the boundaries further, and presented something new and inspiring for Fall 2011.

On a completely different note, I took a look at Nautical Schmautical's Spring/Summer 2011 ad campaign featuring Cole Mohr, Yuri Pleskun and Ash Stymest. Best model friends forever! Yay!

Click here for more of the photos.

And here's a shot from Azul by Moussy's S/S '11 campaign featuring Cole and Freja:

More photos here.

Photos: Rick Owens

Rodarte for Opening Ceremony, Emilio Pucci Fall 2011

I took a look at Rodarte's collection for OC, and I am kind of disappointed. I guess I shouldn't have expected the bargain prices of Rodarte's collaboration with Target. The cheapest Rodarte x OC piece costs $110, and it's a pair of "tattoo tights." Basically, they are sheer tights with designs on them that are supposed to look like tattoos once you put them on. (A few Etsy sellers have been touting tackier versions of Rodarte's for months.) Opening Ceremony also stocks non-collaboration pieces by Rodarte and there are actually a few things cheaper than $110 � pencil cases, notebooks and tee-shirts with "RADARTE" (no typo) printed on them. Yay let's go buy a Rodarte pencil case guyz! It comes stocked with Rodarte pencils and a Kurt Cobain eraser!

Tattoo tights, purchase here.

I also took a look at Emilio Pucci's Fall 2011 collection which was an uplifting experience. Classic Pucci prints (some hand painted), exquisite detailing, velvet, and lace accents. The collection is rich, and I know I used the word rich to describe Oscar de la Renta's fur lined excess, but each are completely different � while I want to pull de la Renta's plush pieces closer, each dress from Pucci's latest collection is more suited as a piece of art not to be toyed with.

Photos: Pucci

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011, James Franco is now a Singer

I want to marry Oscar de la Renta's latest collection. It is completely opulent and excessive. I want to curl up in the fur trimmed coats, the silk gowns and mesmerizing patterned fabrics. Recession? What recession? Seriously. It's great. Though the silhouettes are classic, de la Renta adds a touch of grandeur to each piece, whether it be a richly colored, textured fabric or a fluffy fur trim. Even the models' leg-crossing, hip swaying walks exude swank.

On another note, James Franco seems to have reached his 10,000,000th talent: he is now a singer. It's true. He and Kalup Linzy recently recorded a song titled, "I Love You" (Thanks bro luv ya 2!) meant to be used as the soundtrack for Cynthia Rowley's New York runway show. You can listen to the song HERE. 

gawd this is great

As much as it pains me to say this, James Franco does not have the greatest singing voice.

A Manic Panic Celebration

I really appreciate the hair styling of Jeremy's latest collection� each model sported super-high pigtails streaked with fluorescent shades of orange, green, blue and pink. Basically, it's a Manic Panic party. The collection also touts an abundance of super-short skirts and wonderfully tacky day-glo colors. A few models walked the runway carrying lumps of fur that, once examined, seem to resemble foxes. (Are they purses, or the modern child's stuffed animal? Who knowz!!!) And some donned furry, bright pink Mary Jane pumps. Though the collection as a whole is not quite cohesive, it is undeniably "Jeremy" and undeniably fun. 

Hayley William's Grammy dress

Click HERE to check out the rest of the collection.

Fall 2011: Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs is truly a trendsetter. His latest collection touts textured skirts and dresses constructed out of liquid-looking, metallic latex that hearkens back to sequined fabrics popular during the 70's. Nicole Phelps' review of the collection made the point that "With all that plastic�not to mention the taut chin straps attached to Stephen Jones' vinyl berets, and Marilyn Manson screaming about 'The Beautiful People' on the soundtrack�it was tempting to think Jacobs was making a comment about our contemporary fixation on self-betterment."


Besides the novelty of plastic, polka dots were rampant as well. Polka dot tights, jackets, tops and bags. A number of skirts were adorned with circular plastic cabochons. Jacobs also featured fitted, severe silhouettes � don't expect the easy, loose shapes of many designers' Spring 2011 collections.


I love the colors in this collection. They are rich, but not overly perky: crimson, teal, navy, and a lighter Balenciaga blue � think Gisele's vest in Ghesquiere's Spring 2011 campaign. 

Take a look at the rest of the collection HERE.

All photos from style.com

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