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Fashion January 11, 2020

The Timeless Style Essentials You Need: 2020 Edition

Here’s the deal: Fashion is fun and liberating because there are practically no rules involved. You can wear whatever you like and you don’t have to follow any expectations set forth by an outdated establishment. You can and should wear whatever makes you feel like the most you you.

That being said, if you’re looking to cultivate a classic, polished wardrobe that will withstand the test of time and surpass all of the trends fated to die within a season, there are a few tried and true pieces that will never let you down. Plus, they’re all so versatile, you can wear them again and again and they never feel old which extends their lifespan even more. Read on to discover the essential pieces you need in your closet throughout 2020 and beyond:

Updated White Button-Down

You probably already have one (or two or three) white button-down blouses in your wardrobe already and there’s a reason for that. Good for casual occasions when dressed down, and for impressing the boss when layered under a blazer, you can truly wear these babies anywhere. Plus, there are so many varieties in different shapes with different embellishments that you can find one to match your unique sense of style.

Partow Pre-Fall 2020

Co Pre-Fall 2020

Nili Lotan Pre-Fall 2020

The Classic Little Black Dress

Yep, that thing Coco Chanel suggested is still true: every woman should have at least one little black dress in their style arsenal. They’re universally flattering and eternally on-trend, all while being the perfect choice of outfit for when you’re at a loss for what to wear. Never too formal, but elegant nonetheless, the LBD is your wardrobe superhero. Just accessorize and go.

Preen Pre-Fall 2020

Chanel Pre-Fall 2020

Valentino Pre-Fall 2020

Crisp Blazer

Looking put together is as easy as topping your outfit off with a blazer. Crisp, sharp, classic- a good blazer can take you anywhere, all while exuding an air of confidence and class. Plus, they come in practically every color and pattern under the sun, so you can impart your own flavor of cool onto this polished wardrobe necessity.

Max Mara Pre-Fall 2020

Tanya Taylor Pre-Fall 2020

Vince Pre-Fall 2020

The Perfect Pullover Sweater

Colder weather definitely makes it more of a challenge to put together fashionable outfits when you just end up having to layer a coat on top anyways. You can still give it your best effort though, and you can never go wrong with a sweater that’s as comfortable as it is eye-catching. They look great with jeans and booties for an Instagram-worthy off-duty look, or layered over a blouse and slacks for chilly days at the office.

Ralph Lauren Pre-Fall 2020

Camilla and Marc Pre-Fall 2020

Ulla Johnson Pre-Fall 2020

Chic Statement Sleeves

Statement sleeves have been an ongoing trend for what feels like forever, and I don’t anticipate them going anywhere anytime soon, which means that putting together a look with visual impact couldn’t be more effortless- just throw on a blouse with an interesting sleeve and you’re ready to go! Literally one piece is all you need. It’s beautiful.

Adeam Pre-Fall 2020

Camilla and Marc Pre-Fall 2020

Sportmax Pre-Fall 2020

Mind the Midi

I can’t think of a single situation where a midi skirt wouldn’t be a good decision. It’s one of those pieces that just looks chic and elevated on its own, making it a breeze to style. Pair them with pretty much any tucked in blouse, a pair of boots and a cardigan and you have yourself a timeless look that will make you feel like a style icon. Plus, the longer skirt length will elongate and slim your silhouette, so it’s a win win win situation.

Tory Burch Pre-Fall 2020

Fendi Pre-Fall 2020

Co Pre-Fall 2020

A Lengthy Coat

Like the midi skirt, a long coat just looks luxe and will easily layer over literally anything and still be fashionable. I have so many, I don’t even know what to do with them all! But I’ve come to love them because they make the perfect finishing touch for any cold weather outfit, pulling the look together with sophistication and style.

Chanel Pre-Fall 2020

Missoni Pre-Fall 2020

Givenchy Pre-Fall 2020

Deluxe Dark Wash Denim

This one is obvious- denim is key in any modern wardrobe, so you probably already have this one covered, but let’s discuss it anyways! Dark washes are the most versatile and classic, so you can redress and reinvent your favorite pair of jeans every season without them feeling stale. Plus, the darker wash visually slims your figure, making them a flattering choice on everyone.

nili lotal pre fall 2020 boho tops with dark wash jeans women wardrobe essentials

Nili Lotan Pre-Fall 2020

Re/Done Pre-Fall 2020

L’Agence Pre-Fall 2020

A Quality Tote (the Bigger the Better)

We have so much to carry around these days, it’s hard to keep it all together, but it doesn’t have to be. I’m a firm believer that a good enough tote can change your life (and keep you way more organized). The key is finding one that’s high quality enough to survive the trenches of everyday life, while looking sleek and being big enough to hold all of your necessities (think keys, wallet, phone, laptop, planner, makeup, etc.).

Co Pre-Fall 2020

Fendi Pre-Fall 2020

givency pre fall 2020 giant purple bag modern women style essentials

Givenchy Pre-Fall 2020

As I said before, these things are by no means required to build a wardrobe that looks good and makes you feel you’re best, they’re merely a few items I think are a worthy investment because you’ll get maximum use out of them for the longest amount of time. What do you think of my list? Is there anything you would add or remove? I’d love to hear your take!

Culture June 30, 2019

Is Men’s Fashion Finally Getting Interesting?

It’s a provacotive question, right? By asking it, I am insinuating that men’s fashion isn’t interesting, or wasn’t, at least- and in my opinion, it hasn’t been. Men’s fashion, in my opinion, has always been a parade of sameness with the same suits and collared shirts and jeans and T-shirts and beetle-ish dress shoes season after season. I’ve always thought that it’s a pity how men have so fewer choices for what society deems is acceptable for them to wear- shirts, shorts, pants, jackets- that’s pretty much it. Because of this unfortunate lack of diversity in the menswear industry, I’ve never really paid it much mind, preferring to leap headlong into the richness of women’s fashion instead.

louis vuitton Menswear Spring 2020 floral sweater with white pants fashion runway — *This Menswear Spring 2020 season saw men’s fashion take a cue from womenswear with frilly details and pastel colors ruling the runway. Photo: Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2020*

However, the Spring 2020 menswear shows carried forth a different message, with tons of gender-bending outfits rendered in precious pastels that made me consider the possibility that men’s fashion might finally be transforming, moving us one step closer to a world where people of all genders have the choice to wear exactly what they want without feeling pressured to adhere to a certain image.

For starters, pastels, the light, delicate tones that are often found with the most feminine fashions, were a prevailing theme in the Spring 2020 menswear shows. Suits, coats, pants, shoes, shorts, sweaters and more were all seen rendered in these playful colors, which created a more feminine vibe that you wouldn’t usually find in men’s fashion. There were also plenty of interesting pieces that I wouldn’t imagine normally seeing in the men’s section like sheer, flowing tops; ruffled blouses; preppy short shorts; tie-front jackets; beaded and embellished tops; flowery sweaters and accessories; a few skirts and even a dress or two.

Within these collections, it’s like the world of modern men’s fashion has finally opened up and has the freedom and space to allow men to think outside of the black suit, classic jeans, polos, khakis and the dreaded basketball shorts. I’m waiting and have been waiting for a fashion future where I can expect to see just as many fashionable, well-dressed men on the streets or the red carpet or on my Instagram feed as women.

But it’s one thing for the fashion elite to send these sort of looks down the runway and it’s quite another for the men of the world to actually absorb and accept these new possibilities. Unfortunately, we are a society run by gender norms and rigid expectations that put people into boxes and dictate what a normal man or woman should wear and how they should act. These types of issues don’t disappear overnight, and actually take decades, or even generations to break down and dissolve. Because of this, my only hope can be that pop culture will continue to push the envelope of gender stereotypes little by little, until it’s no longer seen as unusual or unacceptable for men to wear frilly, pastel clothing. So here’s to the future and hoping that change is coming!

Check out some of my favorite pastel looks from the Spring 2020 Menswear shows:

Amiri Menswear Spring 2020

Ann Demeulemeester Menswear Spring 2020

Amiri Menswear Spring 2020

Thom Browne Menswear Spring 2020

Ludovic de Saint Sernin Menswear Spring 2020

Thom Browne Menswear Spring 2020

Sies Marjan Menswear Spring 2020

Amiri Menswear Spring 2020

Alexander McQueen Menswear Spring 2020

Amiri Menswear Spring 2020

Loewe Menswear Spring 2020

Kenzo Menswear Spring 2020

Bode Menswear Spring 2020

Kenzo Menswear Spring 2020

Sies Marjan Menswear Spring 2020

Craig Green Menswear Spring 2020

Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2020

Fashion East Menswear Spring 2020

Loewe Menswear Spring 2020

Fashion East Menswear Spring 2020

Amiri Menswear Spring 2020

Lanvin Menswear Spring 2020

Bode Menswear Spring 2020

Kenzo Menswear Spring 2020

Ann Demeulemeester Menswear Spring 2020

Berluti Menswear Spring 2020

JW Anderson Menswear Spring 2020

Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2020

Sies Marjan Menswear Spring 2020

Ann Demeulemeester Menswear Spring 2020

Fashion East Menswear Spring 2020

Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2020

Thom Browne Menswear Spring 2020

All images from Vogue.com.

Read My Thoughts April 17, 2019

Business Classes Should Stop Telling Women They Need to Wear Makeup

Benjamin Franklin may have been right when he said that there were only two certainties in life- death and taxes- but Benjamin Franklin wasn’t a woman. If you identify as female, then chances are you’ve worn makeup at some point in your life, whether it be a simple smattering of lipstick, or the full face. However, if you’re a man, it’s more likely that you haven’t spent a dime on a makeup product, let alone even touched one. I think you can see where I’m going with this.

Makeup is a reality of life for women in many countries across the world, so much so that it’s weirder when a woman chooses not to wear makeup than it is for a woman to choose to spend an hour or more putting it on every morning. A recenty survey done by TODAY and AOL revealed that women spend an average of 55 minutes getting ready every day, which adds up to a whopping two weeks (!) of time every year! While there are plenty of other things that go into getting ready, it seems logical to assume a good chunk of that time is spent crafting that perfectly made up face that society has come to expect from us.

And it’s not just time that makeup demands- it’s money, too. A lot of it. A survey conducted by online makeup retailer SkinStore revealed that the average woman will spend $300,000 on makeup in her lifetime. That’s a hefty chunk of change, an amount that my entry-level-salaried mind can’t really comprehend. It keeps getting more expensive with time, too, as the makeup industry explodes and every celebrity and influencer with even an ounce of relevance throws their hat in the ring with their own makeup lines. It’s instant money, because makeup is seen as something women need.

While most women don’t bat their mascara-ed eyelashes at these staggering figures, I find it insane. These are commitments of time and money that are just not expected of men, and there isn’t really anything equivalent to it that men are asked to do that women aren’t. And it seems like we’re just okay with it, because that’s the way that society has conditioned us to be.

The default woman in the media is one wearing makeup. Some celebrity gossip magazines find it newsworthy when a celebrity is photographed without makeup. While there are no legal consequences for choosing to not wear makeup, the choice to go bare-faced can carry social consequences that can have lasting effects in a woman’s life, including with her career. All because there is the preconceived notion that a woman that has her life together is one that wakes up and puts makeup on every morning- a notion that can cause people to react negatively, consciously or subconsciously, to the site of a woman without makeup.

While our culture has made great strides in the fight for gender equality, I still find myself shocked by just how regressive some aspects of our society can be. It was in one of my business classes that I first realized the extent of how deep some sexist ideas are really rooted, when the professor was going into proper interview attire for men and women. While the men’s list included all of the things you might expect- button-up shirt, slacks, tie, dress shoes, well-kept hair, etc.- the women’s list had an additional requirement: Lipstick. It irked me, and I had to keep myself from scoffing out loud, but I chalked it up to the professor being an old man that might have been behind on the times. That was, until I took another business class that listed the same thing, but went even further, explaining it was needed to give the impression that you really cared about your appearance. I can’t make this stuff up, folks. And to make matters worse, this class was taught by a woman. I was mad.

While my anger only went as far as complaining to my friends about it, it stuck with me, which is why I’m writing this now. I don’t want to be judged by the artificial color of my lips, or whether or not my eyelashes stand out. I don’t want people to ask me if I’m tired or sick if I’m not wearing a fake face. I don’t want to be seen as sloppy just because I didn’t spend painstaking amounts of time making myself pretty in ways that men don’t have to, to achieve the same respect. I want to be judged for my knowledge, my work, my personality, my skills, the content of my character.

It just seems unfair to have to fight against those frivolous expectations. And even though I no longer feel pressured by society at large to wear makeup regularly (something that took years to be truly comfortable with), it still bugs me to know that to some, I am classified as “That Girl That Doesn’t Wear Makeup.” Some women may find joy and “empowerment” in wearing makeup, but a great many just feel an obligation. Until there is no longer that insane amount of pressure that caused me to beg my mom to buy me makeup in middle school so I could fit in, and that causes universities to feel the need to teach professional women that they must wear makeup to gain respect, then I can’t see it as anything but a sexist standard to be fought against.

Runway April 16, 2019

I Miss Meadham Kirchhoff & Their Fashion Theater

Sometimes it takes losing something to realize just how much we loved it in the first place, which is what happened to me recently when I realized that Meadham Kirchhoff, a fashion brand known for their playful, whimsical, theatrical looks, no longer exists. I know what you’re thinking- If I was a true fan, then the fact that Meadham Kirchhoff is defunct would be old news (very old news) because they went out of business in 2015, but the fashion industry is so fast-paced and full of so many things happening and bombarding your attention every second of every day, that one or two brands may slip through your fingers and be lost in the swirling miasma of your memory (sorry Meadham Kirchhoff!).

All of this to say that I was very sad when I navigated to the Meadham Kirchhoff page on Vogue Runway, only to be met with the fact that their last show uploaded was from 2015. Ouch, oof, owie, my fashion bones.

meadham kirchhoff cute kawaii dramatic colorful fashion runway style girly the young eclectic spring summer 2012 — One of my absolute favorite looks from Meadham Kirchoff from their Spring/Summer 2012 show- so soft in every way! (Photo: Vogue.com)

Way back in the heyday of my fashion Tumblr (remember when everyone had one of those?) Meadham Kirchhoff’s girly, fantastical, wonderfully-vibrant designs were something I never failed to reblog, wanting to immortalize their lovely clothes forever in my internet scrapbook. And it’s pretty obvious why- this brand is everything I love about fashion.

For one, Meadham Kirchhoff makes pieces that are extremely fun, including fur jackets with cherry motifs patchworked together from different colors of fur; black, Victorian-inspired coats fit for a funeral; dainty, frilly dresses that emulate the look of a cake that might have been seen in Sophia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette;” and plenty of pastels to satisfy the whims of my girly-girl heart. Meadham Kirchhoff didn’t care about what sold, or what the fashion industry called for, they went against the grain and created looks that appealed to their own artistic sensibilities- and each of their collections came with a message, too.

Of course, one of my biggest passions is expounding on the idea that fashion is an art, and that more people should appreciate it as such, so, perhaps the thing I’ll miss most about this iconic brand is the way that Meadham Kirchhoff presented their collections. There was almost always some sort of show to drive home the central theme of the collections. One of their most iconic showings saw a clique of Courtney Love lookalikes applying lipstick and dancing across the runway, while models stepped off of a giant cake, as though they were smiling, plastic cake toppers come to life. In another, the lights were brought down low, and models tromped down the runway in their vibrant, jubilant clothes to the sound of disco music accented with swirling, colored spotlights that made you want to party. In another show that riffed off the trope of uniforms and uniformity, an army of models quickly traversed the runway that was decorated with displays that you might see at those haunting spots along roads and highways where somebody suffered a fatal car crash.

What does it all mean? Sometimes, it’s a jubilant show of youth and rebellion, of shirking the expected in the name of theatricality and art- while sometimes, it means nothing at all. That’s the fun of Meadham Kirchhoff – things that seem layered in meaning are intentionally meaningless, where the small, intricate, and unforgettable details create characters and tell stories that you’ll never forget. I only wish their brand could have survived to show us more of their joyous world.

Check out some of my favorite looks from all of their collections below:

Fashion March 27, 2019

What Is Camp? An Educational Editorial

If you’re a follower of fashion, then you’ve probably already heard that the theme of this year’s Met Gala (fashion’s biggest event) and subsequent Met costume exhibit is “Camp: Notes On Fashion,” which will explore the concept of “camp” sensibility in fashion and culture through the lens of Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes On ‘Camp'”. If you’re like me, then you might be scratching your head and wondering “what is camp anyways?” Because, while I have heard the term before, I’ve never had a firm grasp on what it actually means. So, let’s break it down.

The origin of camp sensibility can be traced all the way back to the time of King Louis XVI, who lived in the overly-extravagant Versailles and was constantly surrounded by Parisian nobility dressed in highly-decorated, over-the-top garb that was almost funny in how insanely indulgent it was. Here, in the insanely extravagant, is where the impetus of camp sensibility lies. It’s all about pose and performance, creating a character and accentuating artifice. In the words of Susan Sontag:

The essence of Camp is its love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration.
Susan Sontag, “Notes On ‘Camp'” (1964)

Balenciaga Crocs, which took the fashion world by storm with equal parts fascination and revulsion, are the perfect example of “camp” style. (Photo: Harper’s Bazaar UK)

In other words, fashion that exemplifies camp is outlandish, exaggerated, fantastic, passionate and naive. It is “art that proposes itself seriously, but cannot be taken altogether seriously because it is ‘too much.'” Imagine a pair of Balenciaga platform Crocs, or Lady Gaga in a meat dress. These are both delightful examples of campy fashion that are presented with seriousness, but fail to be taken seriously. In the words of Sontag, camp style is good because it is awful (in a fun way).

Camp taste turns its back on the good-bad axis of ordinary aesthetic judgment. Camp doesn’t reverse things. It doesn’t argue that the good is bad, or the bad is good. What it does is to offer for art (and life) a different — a supplementary — set of standards.
Susan Sontag, “Notes On ‘Camp'” (1964)

To live a life dedicated to camp, is to live a life of theater- which is why Lady Gaga, a fabricated pop persona, being one of the co-chairs of the Met Gala seems entirely appropriate and expected. Other co-chairs include Alessandro Michele, the creative director of a delightfully-campy Gucci, Serena Williams, who often wears over-the-top outfits for her tennis matches, and Harry Styles. If you’re curious to see how all of your favorite stars will interpret this theme, the Met Gala will take place on May 6.

In a delightfully camp Gucci collection by Alessandro Michele, a model cradles a realistic dragon as an accessory to their fantastic, medieval-inspired outfit. (Photo by Pietro D’aprano/Getty Images)

I absolutely adore camp sensibility, because I’m all about creating fantasy with fashion, which goes hand-in-hand with the idea of artifice and exaggeration that is the hallmark of camp. I’ve put together a few fun, over-the-top outfits that I thought were good examples of camp. Check them out below:

Happy Death Day

While wearing this outfit, I imagined myself a spurned widow at the funeral of her stupidly-rich husband that has left her everything- she’s happy, yet must pretend to be sad. The fake, purple roses only serve to add an artificially vivid touch to this mournful ensemble.

“Happy” Shirt: Forever21. Dress: H&M. Belt: Urban Outfitters. Shoes: DSW.

Loving Something Sweet

The goal of this outfit was to create something that was both sweet and also edgy, which is why I layered a sheer, tulle dress over a pair of overalls and finished it all off with a pair of neon green “ugly” sneakers and a gaudy, pink cowboy hat adorned with flowers. My stuffed alpaca, Sherbet, was the perfect, overly-sweet accessory to bring the whole look together.

Tulle Dress and Grey Shirt: Forever21. Overalls: Thrifted from a friend. Sneakers: New Balance. Hat: LadyGaga.com. Flower Crown (embellishing hat): Made by me.

50 Shades of Denim

I am a connoisseur of denim and own just about any garment you can get in this magical material. For this outfit, I decided to create a look entirely of denim (except shoes) that featured a denim shirt layered under an oversized denim dress, denim culottes and a denim jacket. The platform clogs and headscarf were just details to add a bit more fun to this entirely impractical, but equally enjoyable look.

Shirt: Thrifted from Goodwill. Dress: Urban Outfitters. Culottes: Oak + Fort. Jacket: Levis. Platforms: Thrifted from Buffalo Exchange. Scarf: Thrifted from an antique shop.

I hope you learned a bit about camp and also had some fun along the way! I honestly can’t wait to see what crazy outfits everyone puts together at the Met Gala this year. Stay tuned for my article!

What should my next shoot be? Leave a comment if you have any ideas!

Runway March 26, 2019

Atelier Mimii and the Art of the Outfit

Marta Rios loves color, so much that she doesn’t even own any (!) black clothes, or anything that could be considered neutral because she insists that wearing color will not only make you happier, but will also improve the moods of everyone around you. In other words, Marta Rios wants us to live our lives boldly and she asserts this point with her ridiculously colorful and playfully-proportioned clothing line Atelier Mimii.

Featuring oversized, quilted dresses that come in all kinds of vibrant colors paired with all manner of ruffles and unique, art-inspired embellishments, Atelier Mimii is not for the faint of heart. In fact, these dresses are so fantastically over-the-top, that I would go as far as to classify them not as clothing, but as wearable art pieces that will transform you into a modern masterpiece to be admired. But the point of Atelier Mimii is that it is clothing and it’s meant to make our day-to-day lives much more fun and whimsical.

In fact, Marta Rios is so dedicated to making clothes that make her happy, that she never makes anything to show or accentuate the shape of the body, preferring to show off the colors and lush details, including Victorian-inspired full sleeves and collars, quilted & pearl-covered corsets that hearken back to what Spanish courtiers wore in the 16th century, and plenty of tulle. And when all is said and done, the dresses cut and sewn, Rios saves the scraps to make one-of-a-kind, handmade quilted bags to match.

I’ve been obsessed with oversized, maximalist clothing, so the Atelier Mimii aesthetic really appeals to my current style truth. My favorite look might be the yellow set with the long-sleeved shirt and shorts- so cute!

Check out some of my favorite looks from Atelier Mimii below:

Photos from NowFashion.com and Vogue.com

Runway March 6, 2019

Alexander McQueen Fall 2019 Is a Darkly-Romantic Love Poem

Love is in the air for Fall 2019, so much so that Valentino even created a book of love poems to give to the guests of their show, which aligned with the light, airy, dramatic, lovey-dovey atmosphere of their latest collection. Sarah Burton’s Fall 2019 collection for Alexander McQueen still brought us love, but in a much different way, by incorporating more intense elements, like hard metals, stark blacks and whites, and even a furious, passionate red that pulsed through the collection, creating a darkly-romantic vibe.

alexander mcqueen fall 2019 runway fashion style love romantic the young eclectic — The iconic dress embellished with heddles, or pieces from looms, which mimic the sound of a fabric factory floor when they move and clink together. (Image: Vogue.com)

And while the fluffy silhouettes of some of the more flouncy dresses, as well as the repetition of rose imagery throughout prints and couture-esque, sculpted gowns where volumes of fabric gather to create the visage of a rose in bloom (one of my favorite pieces being the impeccably-tailored suit with silk sleeves that culminate in a gorgeous floral whirl at the shoulders) create the notion of a romantic love, this whole collection was really Sarah Burton’s love letter to the textile industry of the northern UK. While the audience sat atop bolts of fabric, they watched extremely English, exquisitely-tailored suits traipse down the runway, as well as other dresses inspired by everything from suffragettes and their prim, white attire, to the Victorian frills of the Bronte sisters. Everything in the collection served to lift up the culture of her home.

In true McQueen fashion, there was one dress that really served as an art piece more than a garment- a dazzling silver dress embellished with heddles, which are pieces from looms used to weave fabrics. As the dress moves and the heddles glimmer and clink together, the sound is meant to mimic the sound of the factory floor where the fabrics of England are manufactured. And if that isn’t the coolest fashion-related thing you’ve heard all day, then I don’t know how to help you.

To say the very least and most, Lee Alexander McQueen would be proud.

Check out my favorite looks from the collection below:

All photos from Vogue.com

Runway February 21, 2019

Fantastic & Fatal Accessories at Gucci Fall 2019

Gucci came to the Fall 2019 party guns a-blazing with a presentation that included a wall of flashing lights and mysterious, brightly- colored and almost-creepy, spiked masks (which Alessandro Michele admitted were only a fun detail for the show and would not be for sale). While the masks did their job of pulling us in and preparing us for the utter strangeness of the presentation, the rest of the collection firmly held me in place and kept me wanting to see the next look, and the next look, and the next look.

While the clothes themselves seemed to be more tame than Michele’s other recent offerings (he has abandoned his penchant for baseball trademarks and other logos almost entirely for a more subtle look), the outfits still seemed to impart an otherworldly quality that got my heart pumping as I flipped between the looks.

The silhouettes were oversized, hearkening back to menswear from the 1940s that touted extremely broad shoulders and wide pants (Michele’s were tied at the ankle, almost like a scarecrow), but he still added whimsy with plenty of pleats, ruffled colors, unexpected layering and ridiculous use of even more ridiculous accessories, which, in my opinion, became the star of the show.

From plated, color neck pieces to spiked headbands, these looks were embellished with accessories that were both whimsical and brutal, a delight for the eye to parse and the mind to imagine a character that would wear these accessories. Perhaps the most interesting of all of them were gilded ear coverings that made each model look like some kind of elf or alien- something I had never seen before, which left me equal parts confused and obsessed. Some other, perhaps more practical accessories included oversized fur stoles, logoed knee pads, and studded suspenders that will add some edge to any basic business looks in the season to come.

Alessandro Michele’s Gucci never fails to intrigue and delight me with its prolific and obnoxious creativity. I only hope I can learn to accessorize this boldly!

Check out some of my favorite full looks from the show below:

All photos from Vogue.com

Runway February 18, 2019

Ryan Lo Makes Us Fall In Love -Again- at His Fall 2019 Show

I can’t believe we’re already blazing through the Fall 2019 fashion season… time is definitely moving much too fast, and I don’t know how to deal with it! But it also means I have the pleasure of once again blessing my eyes with Ryan Lo’s gorgeous, fantastical designs that make me fall in love with fashion and everything it stands for all over again (thank you!).

For this Fall 2019 ready-to-wear collection, Lo once again gifts us a collection rife with romance, femininity, Victorian frills, and plenty of adorable details, including pink, floral, jacquard prints, wispy knits peppered with floaty mohair, and plenty of feathers and bows to make everything appropriately dreamy. Lo apparently cited Rune Naito, a Japanese illustrator credited as the “root of kawaii” as a big inspiration for the collection, which definitely has that rose-colored, innocent, anime charm to it.

ryan lo fall 2019 fashion runway ready to wear love romantic style london fashion week rune naito artist japan kawaii cute — Rune Naito, a Japanese illustrator credited as being the “root of kawaii,” was a major inspiration for Ryan Lo’s Fall 2019 collection, which recently showed at London Fashion Week.

What Ryan Lo’s collections always seem to do best is create an alternate reality for us where everyone is the star of their own romantic comedy that ends in them finding their perfect match and living out the rest of eternity in love, or falling in love. And there’s nothing wrong with that. As with any art form, fashion should offer that element of fantasy and escape that allows our minds to create another world and existence and fall into it, even if only for a few minutes. That being said, none of the pieces shown would be unwearable in any capacity, making the entire show even more admirable, because Lo was able to create luscious clothing to induce widespread swooning, that would also be great additions to anyone’s wardrobe.

A few of my favorite details from this collection include the over-the-top, fuzzy earmuffs that created such an angelic, vintage look, and his loose, fur-adorned knits that he’s created for his last few collections (a signature?). But really, anything pink and lacy and vintage-inspired will win me over, which is why brands like Ryan Lo, Rodarte, and Vivetta always manage to grab my attention, no matter what they send down the runway.

Check out my favorite looks from the show below:

All runway images are from Vogue.com

Book Reviews February 9, 2019

I Hate “You,” I Love “You,” I Just Can’t Forget “You”

Book Review – Anna

I picked up the book “You,” by Caroline Kepnes from my library last year after reading some glowing reviews, and I fully expected to read something completely cheesy and cliche- the totally predictable narrative of the depraved mind of a stalker/killer obsessed with his victims, something I had read before and probably will read again. However, instead of being met with an insane and disgusting, or insanely disgusting, creep of a character that I would instantly hate, I was met with Joe Goldberg, who did not instantly put me off with his murder-y behavior, but charmed me with his humor and wit. And thus it began this way, my love-hate relationship with Joe Golderberg, serial killer and obsessive stalker. Who knew one book would make me question my very fundamental ethical standards??

The plot of the book basically goes like this: Joe meets Beck at the used book shop he pretty much runs and instantly becomes obsessed with her, immediately beginning his stalker behaviors by looking her up online and following her around New York City. They “by chance” (I say this because to her, it seemed that way, but it was definitely not) meet again and hit it off officially when she drunkenly falls onto the subway tracks and he is magically there to save her from her impending death. What unfolds is his attempting to eradicate everything in her life that would take her away from him, leading him to kill multiple people in the process. It’s a wild ride, y’all. I mean, I devoured this book in the span of only a few sittings, wanting to find out what Joe had in store for us all next.

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And while the plot itself was pretty full of twists and surprises to keep you interested, it was the way the book was written that really made it unique. It was written as almost a stream of consciousness inside of the mind of Joe, where we see all of his cleverness, witty humor, and charming asides to make you want him to succeed just to see what else he will say about the world around him. For all of his insanity in wanting to stalk and kill for a girl that is not very interesting (just saying- I did not like Beck’s character), Joe had a lot of actually valid critiques of the world and the people that Beck surrounded herself with, making me believe Kepnes wrote this fully intending it to be a cultural satire of sorts. That becomes even more apparent in the second book, where Joe finds his way to LA to tell us just what he thinks of that culture and lifestyle (that book is great too- seriously, y’all, read it!).

As I mentioned breifly before, and as Jaden will mention again in his review of the TV show, the only thing I hated about this book was Beck, Joe’s obsession. She was the very epitome of a shallow, wannabe-bestselling-author trying to “make it” in New York that lived the most inane lifestyle that would never lead to her writing anything good. While this may have been the point, I thought it made the whole thing a little unbelievable. I mean, Joe was smart enough to critique these very kinds of people, so why would he fall in love with one? Beck was not a good person- she lied and cheated, and ultimately had very little interesting qualities to redeem her in my eyes. I actually think that they did a much better job of creating her character in the show. She was kind and caring, and I did actually feel bad for her when things didn’t go her way. In the book, I didn’t care at all, and maybe that’s what made it so easy to root for Joe, instead.

I give the book an 8/10 and would highly recommend it, and its sequel, to anyone interested in novels with dark, yet simultaneously funny, plots.

TV Review – Jaden

After my girlfriend recommended that I sit down with her to start watching “You,” I was skeptical. She had previously read the book, and didn’t seem to care much for it (not true!!! see my review above 🙂). Much to our surprise, however, the show actually turned out to be pretty good.

“You” does a great job of putting the viewer into the mind of a serial stalker/murderer. Joe Goldberg, the protagonist, is such an ordinary guy that I often found myself laughing at his antics and even rooting for him at times. I had to constantly remind myself what an awful person this protagonist was, and every time I did I found myself liking the show more and more. In this regard, the show nailed it.

I did have some problems with the show, however. I found the protagonist to be a little too stupid to be believable. This isn’t to say that he was stupid objectively, he was actually of much higher than average intelligence. Rather, he was too stupid not to get caught kidnapping, stalking, and murdering people immediately. Also, I really hated the character of Beck, Joe’s love interest. She has no depth to her, and most of the things she said and did were pretty annoying.

“You” is by no means the best show I’ve ever seen, but it is pretty good. The first season was made for cable, so it isn’t some super intelligent look into the mind of an evil genius. It’s a weird, kind of awkward mix of a stalker/murderer psychological thriller and romantic comedy, and I’m not sure that it quite landed. But I was thoroughly entertained by season 1, and it left enough loose ends that I plan on watching season 2 as well.

Overall, “You” is entertaining, and tries to get the viewers to sympathize with the evil protagonist, and few shows succeed at this as much as “You” did.

6.8/10 would recommend