Results tagged “trends” from Styleblog

Navy blue is coming back in a major way for fall. We love the collegiate look - crisp white shirts, navy blue blazers and cardigans, a great satchel that purportedly has books in it. I'm already getting schoolgirl nostalgia for my days back East where the trees changed their colors in autumn and every September meant a trip to the stationary store to buy notebooks, paper, and glittery gel pens to prepare for the upcoming school year. Just because I'm no longer in school anymore doesn't mean I still can't pretend....

Images: Glamcanyon, Facehunter

Would you wear a cropped top? Here at Style Bay Area, we respond with a resounding YES!

The 90s are coming back in a major way, and everything is getting cropped: shorts, jeans, tees. For a long time there was a backlash against midriff baring shirts, after the whole Britney Spears overexposure/overexposed thing, but recently the look has been making a comeback. The new cropped tees are baggy, short-sleeved, and totally retro: think Clarissa Explains It All rather than Janet Jackson. I love the look of a cropped top - preferably with high-waisted jeans that don't show too much abdomen. American Apparel has been an early adopter of the ironically trashy cropped t-shirt look, but even high-end designers like Philip Lim and Mayle are designing with this trend in mind.

Trashy is the new classy, from cropped t-shirts to white trash hair to living on a diet of Red Bull and cheese crackers.

From left to right, Pencey feather tee, Elizabeth and James feather tank, and Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent feather sleeve blouse.

It's gotten so cold in San Francisco so soon. Just as I was busting out my summer sandals, the weather becomes arctic! Luckily, all I need to do is pull on my socks and I can still wear those sandals. The whole "never wear socks with sandals" thing is so twenty-five years ago. Socks and sandals is one of my go-to looks, and to be honest, with many sandals, the ONLY way to wear them and still look fashion forward is to do so with socks. Like if you're sandals are too strappy, too pretty, too metallic, or too "sandal-y" you should consider wearing them with socks before you leave the house. For those who are skeptical of the socks and sandals thing, a good way to ease yourself into the trend is to try knee socks. Once you're comfortable with the knee socks + sandals look, you can wear your open toed shoes with low socks, slouchy socks, lacy socks, pantyhose, and even athletic socks. See? Fashionable, AND practical. This way you can wear your favorite sandals all year round.

So, I have put off the plaid trend for several reasons:

1. Too hipster

2. Too popular

3. Looks better on boys

4. Too butch, no?

But this Cheap Monday blue plaid shirt is so adorable that it makes me rethink all of the above.

Red plaid just screams 'Christmas' to me. I could never get into it. I especially can't stand the ubiquitous red and black plaid lumberjack shirts that have been popular for the last two years.

BUT blue is a whole story altogether. Blue plaid is so cute! Check out this Dolce and Gabbana blue plaid blouse, or this Doucette Duvall blue plaid dress. Totally cute, totally girly, and totally in right now.

Did you read the hipster hookers article in Radar today? It caught me off guard. Hipster hookers??? What is that?!?!?!? So juicy!! Also, the article came with photographs by Jessica-Craig Martin, whom I gushed about last week.

 

Are there hipster hookers in San Francisco?

Boho, a new fashion magazine devoted solely to green fashion, has arrived. This magazine highlights news and trends in the ecofashion industry, and it's also uses biodegradable soy-based inks, printed on 100% recycled paper.

"Boho is a green fashion-lifestyle magazine founded on the freedom to express your own personal style and live the life you want. Each issue offers the latest in fashion, beauty, and more, while inspiring you to help make a difference in the world by giving back and going green. Inside you¹ll find its content focuses on both the inner and outer you, infused with new ideas that will fill your spirit and empower you to put your own stamp on things while making the world a prettier place.

Boho is an eco-friendly publication. We are the first fashion magazine to be 100% recycled in our paper, packaging and inks."

Sounds good to me! The girls at Boho share my love of thrift store shopping, eco-friendly shoes, and green high fashion. I think this will be a match made in eco-heaven.

Chado Ralph Rucci

Gareth Pugh

Alexander McQueen

Giles

Yohji Yamamoto

Images courtesy of Style.com 

 

 

A friend sent me this article from Lesbiatopia today, and I was struck by some of the coincidences between lesbian fashion and that of modern day Mission hipsters. I mean, mullets, fauxhawks, wifebeaters, and flannel (staples of lesbian fashion) are all wardrobe staples among the unwashed and emaciated youth of San Francisco. The mullet and flannel combination is the most popular of all - near fatally hipster and most of the time, completely unbearable.

According to Lesbiatopia: "Flannel. Finally, the paradigm of lesbian fashion stereotypes. Thank god this specific trend has mostly died out."

Well, what's old news to lesbians has become the look du jour amongst shaggy haired boys in tight pants, as well as Mary Kate Olson. One of the first people to really showcase the flannel trend was Mary Kate Olson, who wore flannel before anyone else even knew it was cool.

 

Taking cues from the ladies, boys have jumped on the flannel bandwagon.



Angela Chase wasn't a lesbian, but I always thought she looked like one. Lately, I've been seeing guys dressed like Angela Chase and even donning Angela Chase haircuts, like Jackson Pollis.



Let's face it. Lesbians have a way bigger influence on fashion than people realize. I hope the next lesbian trend to come back in style is Stephane Audran's late 60s-era powersuits in the film Les Biches. They are totally ferocious.



Stephane Audran, in fur and fedora (obivously).

Would you dine in the dark? Darkdining is the newest trend to hit the San Francisco dining scene, and it consists of a meal eaten entirely in pitch black. According to their website, "Opaque - Dining in the Dark - will seat you in a literally pitch-black dining room where you will be guided and served by blind or visually impaired individuals that have been specially trained to serve meals in the dark, casually and comfortably offering guidance and reassurance for sighted guests."

While the gimmick is definitely interesting, I'm wondering about the practicality of eating in the dark. How do you know where your food is? How do you guarantee that your food ends up in your mouth and not all over your lap? Is food really better when you are visually impaired?  And at $95/meal, are they jacking up the price in exchange for a gag, a curio? I don't know the answers to these questions. If you ever feel like going to 689 McAllister Street for Dining in the Dark at Crimson Lounge, contact me and let me know about your experience.

Above is a suede leather jacket that is entirely bulletproof. Bogota bulletproof fashion is taking off in England, and Miguel Caballero, the designer of Bogota, is opening up an outlet at high-end department store Harrods this week. According to the Telegraph UK, "His collection, which includes suede jackets, blazers and raincoats, arrives amid a big increase in sales of personal security products aimed at Russian oligarchs, Arab sheikhs and city financiers."

"Buyers choose from three levels of protection - the lowest guarantees cover against handguns and the highest against automatic weapons. The composition of the lining is a closely guarded secret, but it is not the traditional Kevlar body armour. Mr Caballero is not likely to be short of customers. London's super-wealthy feel they need protection."

His clients include Hugo Chavez, King Abdullah of Jordan, and Stephen Seagal. Hugo Chavez and King Abdullah, I understand, but why Stephen Seagal needs bulletproof clothing, I have no idea. Get over it Stephen. You aren't that important.

So I just found out what Ikat (or Ikkat) print means. Ikat - which means 'to tie' or 'to bind' in the Mayan language, is a print traditionally seen on wall-hangings, which is created by dying portions of thread and then weaving them into a cloth. Ikat print actually exists in many different cultures, and from South American to Southeast Asian to European (Spanish) textile making, Ikat lays a part in each culture independent of the others.

So of course it was only a matter of time before Ikat became the next big thing in contemporary fashion. Ikat is huge for summer, and ShopBop even has an entire section designated for Ikat print clothing.

Ikat usually brings to mind couches in an Aspen ski lodge, or a horse blanket, but it's actually transformed into something super chic. I've been digging Gucci's Native American inspired sneaker, and I think an Ikat minidress would look so cute paired with them.

Would you wear Ikat?

Yes, it's true. I am slowly getting over my love affair with skinny jeans.

I started wearing slim, barely boot-cut denims in 2005, which slowly progressed into a cigarette cut in 2006, and finally into to the "so slim everywhere that I can't even breathe" jean in 2007. I love skinny jeans in all of their forms - from the basic, to the ankle-zippered, to the stirruped, to the high-waisted, to the brightly colored.

And while I still love them, I'm becoming more and more intrigued with wide-legged trousers. Specifically, I am obsessed with wide-legged jumpsuits that gather at the ankles, like this amazing Zoe's Tees jumpsuit.

I get a strong "It's the early 70s and I party in YSL at Studio 54 but it's July and I'm going to be in Majorca this month" message from a black harem jumpsuit.

Mixed with some lace-up gladiator sandals, it's definitely a look for summer vacation.

Anne Valerie Hash



Christian Dior

 
Givenchy

 
Armani Prive

 
Christian Lacroix

We definitely spot a couture trend. Expect to see lots of black Victorian lace on the red carpets this fall.

I could only wear this if I had done several rounds of tequila shots and lost all my public inhibitions am decidedly not the type of person who could wear this bodysuit without feeling desperately self-conscious, but part of me (the masochistic instinct) likes this look somewhat. I can sort of see where Alexander McQueen is going with this - it combines the idea of protective body armor (scuba gear or spacesuit) with the naked, obvious vulnerability of exposing the body itself. The model appears as strong as a new age space cadet, and as defenseless as an acrobat suspended in the air, without a net. The play on significations and contradictory suggestions is, admittedly, interesting.

However, as appealing as the theoretical explorations of this ensemble happen to be, it's an entirely unwearable piece of art. I mean, you'd practically have to get naked just to use the loo, and it presents an abominably unrealistic expectation of what a woman's body ought to look like - flat of stomach, trim of thigh, protruding of hipbone, and all around reed thin. I can see this being layered under, say, a diaphanous high waisted skirt, but by itself, it makes the model look like a very big orange salamander.

Not to mention, if you wore such an outfit, you'd run the risk of alienating everyone around you. No matter how many protestations of "but it's McQueen" you sputtered, you'd still be wearing a bodysuit in public, and that may - the some people - be labeled as arrogant and overly self-certain inappropriate.

For guys, Common Projects makes a pair:



For girls, Creative Recreation has got you covered:



Do we spot a trend?

It started with Daft Punk. They wore robot helmets.

Valentine's day is long over, but our love is here to stay. Hearts have replaced stars (which replaced skulls) as the new design motif of the season. Expect to see a lot of love in San Francisco this summer.

What is 'bourgeois bohemian'? Bourgeois bohemian - also known as bobo - is being thrown all over the fashion world, and it was first coined by David Brooks in his book Bobos in Paradise.

Bobo (different than boho, which is strictly bohemian) is grounded in the preppy bourgeoisie. Instead of being bohemian in the strict sense, the bobo girl studied communications at Berkeley, has a job in marketing, but still wears vintage YSL and listens to M83. She's not truly a boho spirit but she has the same lighthearted playfulness and easy chic in the way she dresses. She'll spend $401 on a secondhand Alexander McQueen jacket, but she most definitely still has a 401K.

Basically, what bobo means is that bohemia is not just for artists, writers, actors, and musicians. You can salt and pepper your life with a little bit of bohemia, even if your job is such that you occasionally have to attend team-building exercises and company picnics.

I saw this on the Facehunter today, and couldn't help noticing those shoes. Everything about her outfit is chic, from the cute black beret, those white beatnik sunglasses, to the minimalist black blazer + white oversized shirt + gray skinny jeans combination. But what is going on below the ankle? Green Docs? Are Doc Martins coming back in style?

I've been wondering about Docs for a while, since the 90s are coming back in an epic way. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for those days of My So-Called Life, and something about these green shoes scream "Rayanne" to me.

Would you wear Doc Martins?What about plastic berets and a perm? Would you wear a scrunchie?

Personally, I think Docs will be back in two years. Right now it's still in early adopter phase, but trust me, they'll be back.

Just look at these Ann Demeulemeester boots, which look just like Doc Martins.

They're selling for $945 at Saks Fifth Avenue. Docs, on the other hand, retail for about $100.

Your StyleGirl blogged last month about how majorly Hammer pants are coming back in style. When she saw the new photos for Prozena Schouler's 2009 Resort collection, she was so giddy she almost choked on her wheatgrass shot. Images courtesy of Style.com

     

Glorious!! I loooooove these pants. I have always loved the easy chic of harem pants, and I'm so delighted that they are back in style, officially. Harem pants are so resort to me - much more so than a floral printed dress. Putting a pair on is like saying ta-ta to dreary SF, and hello to sunny Marrakesh.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, a vision in Proenza Schouler at the CFDA Awards, below.


Fashion people always know how to be outrageous and fabulous at the same time. However, most people who do not have the benjamins to be buying a wardrobe of Proenza Schouler harem pants, so here are some feasible alternatives.


Grey Ant's Plantation Overalls, $392 at OakNYC



Washed silk harem trouser, $100 at Topshop



Cheap Monday demin overall in steel gray, $85 at Tobi

Your StyleGirl was at a thriftstore the other week and bought a zebra top she really really liked. She thought she was being pretty cutting edge and original, until she noticed that zebra prints - and not just the print but the zebra itself - is one of the biggest trends out there.

Lauren Moshi white zebra tank (as seen on Sienna Miller)



Torn by Ronny Kobo Lily Zebra Dress, at ShopBop.




Tibi zebra shift dress, at ThisNext



ADAM black zebra print bandeau dress, at Bluefly



Tibi Safari Band Shift Dress, at RevolveClothing



Uniqlo zebra stuffed animal


Your StyleGirl's zebra top she got for $15 at Buffalo Exchange.

What is steampunk? According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, steampunk "denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used--usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England--but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy." Meaning, basically, steampunk is a brand of aesthetics that glamorizes modern technology in a setting that is distinctly Victorian. I adore the Victorians. They were so repressed, so dark, so frightened of dying of things like consumption and pneumonia and chills. Perhaps because life was so dark, ghastly, and gas-lit, especially in rainy cobblestoned England, they had the subversions necessary to create such interesting and transgressive art. Check out these awesome steampunk gadgets. I crave this amazing LCD.


The steampunk aesthetic is all over the electronics and gadget world, but in a way, it's slowly becoming part of fashion as well.

Etsy has amazingly steampunk fashions and accessories, of which I am in love. Wearing them is like transporting yourself back to the crimson age of harlots and flowergirls, pockets and pence, glitter and grime. Here in the Bay Area, we live in the age of silicon, but it's nice to pretend that we still live in the time of steam.

Finally, is this not the most amazing thing you've ever seen?

Please don't tell me strappy sandals with flowers on them are coming back in style. According to Style.com, suede rosette strappy sandals are the perfect gift for mom. I don't know if I want my mom looking like she buys her shoes from the new Paris Hilton shoe line, so I got her a gift certificate to Border's instead.

I love strappy sandals -- don't get me wrong. But the strappy sandals I love are distinctively flower-free, and platform and stacked-heel like Ann Demeulemeester's Lace Up Platform Sandal (pictured at right - from the Saks website) or Yves Saint Lauren'ts Tribute Platform Sandals. Is it really stylish or elegant to wear a huge fake flower on your foot? That just screams bridesmaid nightmare to me. But if flowers are your thing, then you don't need to spend $575 on the Ralph Lauren's. Instead, get these for $20 at Target and glue one of these IKEA fake flowers on it, then - voila - you're all set.

I am going through a serious 90s kick, and I'm happy to say I'm not alone. The 90s hold a special place in my heart (and the hearts of 20something everywhere) because it's a nostalgia we can legitimately recall. Who doesn't want to relive their childhoods? But enough with the philosophy; let's get down to business. And that business is... MC HAMMER PANTS!
Everyone rags on them, but the haute designers are already starting to come around. All the way back in 2006, Marc Jacobs was already debuting parachute pants on the runway at fashion week. It won't be long before everyone will be in paracute pants, from the hippest club kid in San Francisco to someone's mom in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They're all the rage in Paris, and Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior have already gotten down to designing them. Seriously, can't touch this.