June 2008 Archives

Sophie Dahl, the beautiful model and granddaughter of Ronald Dahl is now a writer herself. According to her Bloomsbury author's biography, Sophie was immortalized in the Ronald Dahl novel, The BFG. Word!

Her new book is called Playing with the Grown-Ups, and the Independent UK gave it this review: "Call it unreasonable, but a 'somewhat autobiographical' first novel by a supermodel whose grandfather happened to be a good writer doesn't always fill the heart with joy. Envy, perhaps. Schadenfreude. But not joy. Particularly when the cover glitters with fairies. And the blurb describes a character as a 'silver-eyed beauty'. This is a shame, because this novel is really not bad. Which obviously doesn't help the envy or the schadenfreude."

Of course Dahl pales in comparison to her famous grandfather, but her first novel wasn't exactly bad in my book. Trite, yes - sentimental, yes - but not unreadable. I did experience schadenfreude while I read it, but not enough for me to hate it (although, seriously, who describes themselves in an autobiographical novel as a 'silver-eyed beauty'). I could have done without Sophie calling herself beautiful in every other page, but her novel is a good summer read for those Dolores Park afternoons or while sunning on Baker Beach.

Thierry Mugler closed up shop for the last five years, but he's back with a new capsule collection. Thierry left fashion to focus on perfume, which makes up 80% of his company's revenue, but he is back to clothes. Naomi Watts donned one of Mugler's designs to the last MET gala, and a new interest in Mugler has surged through the fashion industry. The capsule collection is designed by Rosemary Rodriguez, who worked closely with the company between 1994-1999 as artistic director.

That is all okay and well, but does anyone remember when Thierry Mugler gave himself a makeover back in June 2007 and transformed himself into a horrifying, completely NSFW monster?

Maybe with the help of beautiful and classy Naomi Watts, as she steps in as the new face of Angel perfume, Mugler can bring himself back to A-status in the fashion industry.

I was in the Mission for the Dyke March, and I saw her strolling in this ensemble like it was any other Saturday afternoon. She looks like a Victorian magician robot. I love her Geordi La Forge inspired sunglasses, the coattails, the cane, and the skintight spandex hot pants. My favorite thing about this look? The top hat. One of my favorite trends in womenswear.  

Ruslana Korshunova, the beautiful Vogue and Elle cover model from Russia, died yesterday in a fall from her Water Street apartment in New York City in an apparent suicide.

Born in the Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, Ruslana became a successful model who has worked for Marc Jacobs, Donna Karen, Vera Wang and Nina Ricci.

She has been described as having a face out of a fairy tale. She was only 20 years old.

 

It's Pride this weekend in San Francisco, and you know what that means. Besides drama, parties, sequins, glitter, and memories, it means wearing over the top makeup! Or, at least for me it does. The pictures above are from Christian Dior's couture shows, and I've been dying for an opportunity to try some of those looks myself. The models are just gorgeous and the makeup, despite being decidedly trannilicious, is really intricate and - in my opinion - quite beautiful.

Pride weekend reminds me of why I love living in a city like San Francisco. It's going to be a crazy weekend and much of the fun is just dressing up in celebratory duds with your friends. I will be fore sure rocking some ridiculous eye glitter tonight at Sweet Beast at the Transfer, a once a year party where everyone dons animal costumes. My animal? A French poodle.

Photos courtesy of Style.com

Candy Kitchen Lingerie sells the kind of lingerie that's almost too pretty to wear. It's my new favorite lingerie boutique in SF. Located at 2807 24th Street, between Bryant & York, they sell all my favorite lines of lingerie, like Cosabella, Mary Green, and Betsy Johnson, and everything they offer is tasteful, girly, and so absolutely sweet they're like edible underwear, minus the edible part and the vulgar part.

Stepping into Candy Kitchen reminds me of that scene in Gone with the Wind when Scarlett just gets married to Rhett, and is preparing for her honeymoon, and a montage of all her adorable new lingerie flashes before the screen, reminding us of how amazing her life is.

Get 15% off your first purchase if you print out the coupon to the right and bring it in before June 30!

Does anyone read The Economist? My father got me a subscription for my birthday (um, thanks Dad) and I have been known to peruse it from time to time. In the latest issue of the mag, something interesting caught my eye. A new bill is going to allocate more visas be given to fashion models looking to work in the US. A lot of foreign models are denied entry to the USA because of the limited number of H-1B (temporary work) visas the government issues. Anthony Weiner, the NY congressman, promised a bill that allows models to get their own special classification and would free up more visas. Should the bill pass, 1,000 models will be allowed to walk US runways each year as opposed to just 349 in 2007. Critics are accusing Weiner - a bachelor himself - of proposing the bill just so he can land a hot date. Steve King, the Iowa congressman, nicknamed the bill "The Ugly American Act," because it sends the message that America doesn't have enough attractive people. I don't know if the bill will pass - The Economist predicts it will be a long shot. According to the magazine, "Luckily though, supermodels like Gisele Bundchen are in the clear. They are eligible for O-1 visas, given to those with 'extraordinary ability,' like Nobel laureates."

Richard Chai's new diffusion collection for Target is my favorite of all the GO International collections yet. NYLON has the first look, and you can 8 Chai outfits previewed on their site. The outfits cost about $90 for the ENTIRE head to toe look, and the clothes are so so so cute.

I especially like this look to the right. Rich yet muted colors are a theme in Chai's Target line, and I love the way the purple on the vest pairs with the dusty lavender of the skirt. The geometric tank is also adorable. I can see it dressed up with a skirt, like in this picture, but also casually thrown over a pair of skinny jeans and some ankle boots for a more rock'n'roll vibe. The collection drops at Target in August. In the meantime, get the new NYLON for the in depth article about Chai's collaboration.

Dear Richard Chai and Target. I love you.

Jacob the Jeweler, the famed New York based jewelry maker and self-proclaimed 'King of Bling', was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison yesterday for his involvement in a drug ring run by the violent Black Mafia family of Detroit. Jacob was also dealing with Newark drug trafficker Hakeem Curry, who was last year sentenced last year to life in prison. Beginning in 2000, about 1,100 pounds of the Peruvian marching dust had been confiscated from the Black Mafia family, in addition to $19 million in cash.

Jacob Arobov is a popular jeweler amongst the rap and hip hop community, having clients like 50 Cent, Diddy, Jay-Z, Beyonce, L L Cool J, Mya, and Lil Kim. But his watches weren't just worn by people in that industry. Leo, Bono, Shaq, J Lo, Paris Hilton, and Elton John all wore his watches.

His tale reads like a sad rags to riches story. Arobov moved to the United States from Uzbekistan when he was just 14 years old, and opened his first jewelry stall in the Diamond District's Kaplan Jewelry Exchange, in Manhattan, when he was just 21.

Michael Jackson is coming out with his own clothing line. I predict they will be as, um, 'eccentric' as the singer himself. I cannot help wondering if we'll see the usual MJ fare of epaulets, white socks with loafers, single gloves, and SARS masks. 

His friend Christian Audigier, a designer at Ed Hardy, will be his collaborator. Their line will be sold exclusively at Kitson this fall.

I admittedly love Michael Jackson, despite his bizarre lifestyle and shady past, because I focus on his music and avert all of my attention away from the way he looks/dresses/behaves. This fashion line, in my opinion, is a terrible idea because it channels all of the world's attention back toward the most disturbing thing about the singer himself: the way he looks. Unless he designs clothes that give no hint of that special MJ touch (ew) on them, like plain white t-shirts (which I highly doubt given the singer's complete devotion over the years to his idiosyncratic style of dress) the public probably doesn't want to be reminded of the more unsavory and unsettling aspects of the famous chanteur/chanteuse.

I predict, however, that some of the clothes may take off if for no other reason than irony value. They may get a cult following from the hipster community. His die-hard fans (which, yes, are still out there) will probably support the line as well. But between a few niches of consumers, do you think it will be enough to sell a collection? Would you wear Michael Jackson's clothing?

Oh my GOD! Yes! Vivienne Westwood sent us a bear on her runway show in Milan. I love it!!!! Not that I don't love the parade of svelte, petal-faced Eastern European boys who sashay down the catwalks in skintight pants, but the hirsute Sergio Lo Re (a model and bodyguard, no less) shows us fashion from a different, meatier perspective - and it's fantastic. He's even wearing mandals, a favorite look in my heart for summer. It just goes to show, you can still be a macho man and still wear buttery brown, ankle-strap sandals in the summer. Now - men - please do us all a favor and throw away those gnarly Reefs and Rainbows. Invest in something that will make you look like less of a San Diego frat boy and more like a Greek sailor.

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.

Frida Kahlo is a serious style icon. The Frida Kahlo exhibit at the SF MoMA plays as a stunning tribute to Frida's artistic genius, and everyone in SF ought to make time to go. The exhibit will be at the museum until September 28.

Frida has always inspired me with her dark, brooding beauty. Whereas some women give the impression of being generically ethereal, Frida's beauty stems from being the exactly opposite of that; she is handsome, somber, swarthy, and categorically earthy. Her beauty always struck me as being so metaphorically heavy. From the heavy headdresses she favored, to her enormous, pendulous jewelry (particularly earrings), to the reams of fabric she liked to heap upon her body - those cumbersome floor length skirts and thick shawls despite the balmy Mexican weather - and even to the thick body hair she refused to remove, Frida was absolutely weighed down physically, perhaps as a symbol of the ways in which she was weighed down spiritually, with her husband's multiple affairs catalyzing the depression she long suffered from, to her recurring miscarriages, near fatal accidents, and congenital illnesses that plagued her throughout her life. Yet, despite all the tumult and sadness, her beauty still managed to make itself apparent, not just in her art, but in her person. That same heaviness, those same burdens, inspired the way Frida dressed and presented herself, and in doing so, have made her physically iconic in addition to being artistically genius.

New York Ranger Sean Avery is guest editing Men's Vogue this week. While on break from hockey, Avery fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams of working in fashion by interning at Vogue magazine. Despite already making millions of dollars every year playing professional sports, Avery spent his summer making minimum wage at Vogue,  doing tasks like printing copies for his bosses and assisting photographers and stylists at fashion shoots.

Says Avery, "I like clothes. Always have. What started innocently enough with my first tie-dyed Chip & Pepper shirt at age 12 has evolved over a decade and a half into a closet full of Dries Van Noten, YSL, Dior, and Costume National, to name just a few."

"I don't watch sports. I don't read about sports. Generally, other than spending a lot of time in dressing rooms both at home and on the road, I don't hang out with other athletes. Over breakfast in hotels when the Rangers are on the road, I read the Style section in The New York Times."

Avery cautions people about teasing him for his unconventional interests. "If you feel like teasing this hockey player about an obsession of his that you might think is a little unusual, go right ahead. Just know that you may get your ass kicked by a very expensive pair of shoes -- and that they'll probably match both my belt and my shirt."

Sean Avery makes $2 million dollars a year playing for the Rangers. Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief at Vogue, makes the same amount each year, heading the Fashion Bible of the World.

Lulu Frost, the high end jewelry line, is collaborating with Urban Outfitters to create a five-piece collection, entitled "Secret Garden," that will retail from $18 - $48. Lisa Salzer, creator of Lulu Frost, says, "We're doing a lot of charms that allude to the theme, like a crystal ball, a bug, a leaf and a lock and key,"

Salzer founded the line in 2005, while she was a senior at Dartmouth (your StyleGirl's alma mater). Lisa and I were both at Dartmouth in 2005 but I never had the pleasure of meeting her. I am excited that her line has expanded so much!

Lulu Frost jewelry has leaped from behind the counters at Bergdorf Goodman into the mass market, and in addition to collaborating with Urban Outfitters, Salzer is working with the Plaza Hotel's new boutique to create a line of pendants, each with a number that represents the Plaza Hotel's room numbers. The charms are seen to the right.

People generally think that high fashion always trickles down to street fashion, and never vice versa. In many peoples' minds, YSL or Dior or Chanel walks something on a catwalk in Paris, and two years later, replicas are sold in suburban malls all across the world. But fashion is also very much inspired by street culture and the idea of 'youth culture.' Designers are constantly ripping off trends they see on the streets (and now, in street fashion blogs) and marketing them to the masses. These clothes from the Gucci Spring 2009 collection, which debuted yesterday in Milan, show this phenomenon. Models strolled down the catwalk to the tunes of MGMT, and the press notes called this show an exploration of "the new way in which youth and luxury can seamlessly coexist." Gucci is obviously jumping on the hipster fashion bandwagon.



In true Gucci fashion, everything was completely over-the-top and accessorized beyond an inch of its life. Also, I don't know what their market is going to think about this. When I think about guys who wear Gucci, the idea of urban hipster doesn't exactly come into mind. If you want to dress like a hipster that badly, just keep your wallet safe and shop at thrift stores.

Gargyle is having a sale! Their fabulous clothes are marked 30% to 50% off!!!



Was: $354. Now: $141.



Was: $485. Now: $242.
 

Was: $330. Now: $132.

BRB -- I'm going shopping.

"Above all, remember that the most important thing you can take anywhere is not a Gucci bag or French-cut jeans; it's an open mind."

I've been looking for the perfect black strapless jumpsuit for the past two months and it looks like she's found it first. Since I don't want to be a copycat, I guess I'll just have to get this equally cute one instead. Note, ladies: it's finally getting warm enough to bare your shoulders in San Francisco! I'm digging her stunna shades and blue fixie, but my only question is, there are still people out there who listen to cassettes?

Here are the gorgeous Sienna Miller and the stunning Keira Knightley at the Edge of Love premiere. They starred in the film together, and it appears that working on the film has made them friends. I love it when beautiful Hollywood actresses are friends with one another (Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman) rather than foes (Lindsay Lohan and Scarlett Johansson).

Of course, just because you're friends doesn't mean you want the other person to outshine you at the premiere. Sienna Miller is not a tall girl, but she gives herself the illusion of height in this photo with Keira Knightley. The long black dress elongates her figure, and to even up the space above her head where Keira towers over her, she wears a hat. When I first looked at this photo, it didn't immediately occur to the that Sienna is a lot shorter than Keira. The hat really does the trick! Also, by wearing a long maxi dress, you can't tell exactly where Sienna's legs begin. It's no secret she's not as leggy as her brunette counterpart, and it's genius the way she works with what she has.

My pick for best dressed? Definitely Sienna.

For those sick of the Wayfayers, vintage lenses, aviators, or shutter shades (ew) there are plenty of sunglasses out there that provide a quirky, fashionable alternative to some overplayed trends.

I adore these Slow and Steady Wins the Race glasses, below. They are just comic book enough to be strange, without overdoing it, and I like the interesting square shape and large size. The size gives them a geometric "Jackie O" feel. Weirdly classic, for such a futuristic design.

HauteLook is my an amazing place to online shop if you like designer sales - all they sell are things on sale! Register online and shop sales at up to 75% off. They announce their sales one week ahead of time, and you can hear about them on the website. Right now, there's a Foley + Corinna sale I'm absolutely digging.

This dress above retails for $495 and sells on HauteLook for $173.

Quick - go register on HauteLook now!!

Kate Moss wore this see through dress on a night out in Istanbul earlier this week. She is attending an exhibit of the works of late fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. She is accompanied by her daughter, Lila Grace. When you were Lila Grace's age, did you see your mother wearing anything quite this revealing? Kate is wearing a tiny thong and decided to leave the bra at home. Lila is only five years old. At least Lila is wearing an age appropriate frock. Kate is 34.


Whatever. We all love to party!

Guys, would you rock a pair of loud shorts this summer? We're entering an unexpected heat wave in San Francisco, so take advantage of the weather while you can. These are definitely shorts that will turn some heads, and they look great styled with a pair of high-top sneaks. If you go for the bright shorts, remember to pair it with something simple on top. It's 91 degrees today in SF, so bare those legs! These Jeremy Scott men's collection shorts are both on sale for $192 at Seven New York.

I'm not usually one to spew statistics about the state of our economy, but when I read this in Reuters today, I perked my ears up: "Women's clothing, usually the backbone of the $200 billion U.S. apparel industry, is faring worse, due not only to the economy, but also to a lack of innovative and fun styles. 'The biggest problem facing women's isn't the economy, it's the lack of newness, the lack of compelling fashion,' said Paul Rosengard, group president of premium brands for Perry Ellis International. 'There's more newness in men's right now.' U.S. consumers, both male and female, have fewer discretionary dollars in this weak economy and are spending their money on increasingly expensive gasoline and food, rather than fashion."

It makes sense that women are spending less money on clothing, given the rise in the price of more important necessities. But what struck my attention was the fact that men are spending more on clothing than ever before, despite the depressed economy. It could be because men make more money than women, but then why would they chose to spend more of their discretionary income on clothing rather than, say, video games or electronics?

According to the research, it's because menswear is changing and innovating at a faster pace than womenswear right now. In the past year or so, womenswear has been recycling the same trends. Consequently, women don't feel as much pressure to change their clothing in relation to trends, as they're staying the same.

In Italian Vogue's July issue, photographer Stephen Meisel was given 100 pages of photos to fill, and chose fill them using only photographs of black models. This is a reversal of most fashion magazines, who routinely feature only white models in their spreads. The new issue of Vogue Italia hits American and European newsstands later this month. The four beautiful models that grace the fold out cover are, from left to right: Liya Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn, and Naomi Campbell.

Cathy Horyn, fashion editor of the New York Times, states: "The irony in fashion is that it loves change but it can't actually change anything. It can only reflect a change in the air. But what changes fashion? What would finally move American designers to include more black models on their runways? That 30 percent of the country is nonwhite? That black women spend $20 billion a year on clothes? That an African-American is the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party?"

Hopefully, this new Stephen Meisel spread will help change some of fashion's ingrained prejudices and allow us all to recognize that beauty is an international concept and comes in every color, shape, and size.

"It's yellow, it's ugly, it doesn't go with anything, but it could save your life." Karl Lagerfeld appears in a campaign by the French government to promote road safety. Road safety authorities hope that Karl Lagerfeld can convince drivers to wear reflective yellow vests while on the road.

Does the French government also want people to wear dark sunglasses while driving at night? Because Karl is wearing those too.

As iconic as Karl is, I don't know how many people will be persuaded to don a construction vest while driving...

Devi Kroell started out by making handbags - deliciously beautiful ones like this crystal wooden clutch, available at Net-a-Porter. Devi states, "I think it's a really natural continuation of what I have been doing so far. I started with bags, and then my clients asked for shoes, so I started making shoes." Now, those same clients are hankering for clothes, so Devi is going to dust her magic on ready-to-wear. Her separates, dresses, and suits will go for $790 to $2,000, and the collection drops in January and will be available at high-end department stores like Barneys, Neimans, and Saks. A small preview will show at New York Fashion Week this September. Kroell started selling handbags in 2004, and in the past four years her company has really taken off. Her vision is embraced by the fashion community, and I'm excited to see what she'll bring to the world of ready-to-wear.

 

 

Hadley Freeman (pictured at right), the fashion critic for the Guardian UK, has been banned by yet another fashion house for giving it a poor review. This time, it's by Paul Smith, who was angry that she used terms like "strange and furry", "quite ugly" and "Desperate Dan" to describe his last collection.

She also has an enemy in Jean-Paul Gaultier, who banned her for life from his shows, because she penned "rarely can an animal have died in vain as sadly as did the fox, whose top half, head to tail, was splayed across an evening gown" about one of his dresses.

As she writes in her thought-provoking article, "...it seems pretty ridiculous to invite critics to a show, but only on the understanding that they will write gushing hyperbole."

"Fashion magazines and some newspapers are financially dependent on fashion advertisers, which muffles the writers who work for them. They are unable to say anything remotely negative about the clothes, out of fear of losing that precious £100,000-a-year advertising account, which is why so much fashion coverage often reads as little more than advertorial puff and fluff. Designers then get used to such obsequiousness so that any words of dissent are treated as a shocking display of heresy."

Designers - stop banning the press from your shows just because they give you a bad review! It's not a personal attack against you if they don't like your clothes. And even if they don't go to your shows, they can still see the photos all over the web. Blatant censorship of the press just sends a bad message to everyone.

Now that everyone has the right to get married in San Francisco, we're going to see a lot of June weddings. I love the pomp and circumstance of a beautiful wedding ceremony, and I especially love wedding fashion.

To prepare for your own wedding, first figure out what you want out of it. Whether you are a romantic, bohemian, classic, modern, beachy, or glamorous bride or groom, you should find a wedding style that works for you! Take this quiz to find out your wedding style. Next, do your research. StyleMePretty is an amazing wedding blog that will help you plan your special day. They are definitely a go-to resource for anyone looking to get hitched. 

Andre Leon Talley, editor-at-large at Vogue, wants to take Michelle Obama under his figurative fashion wing. He has been steadily watching her style and recounted to the Times earlier this month, "A black Camelot moment is the right moment for the Obamas, and so the faux pearls, the A-line dresses, the Jackie flip are obviously all part of how her image strategy has evolved."

The last time Andre styled someone, it was Jennifer Hudson for the Oscars. He persuaded her to wear an enormous gold Bolero jacket, and it was universally hated by every fashion critic on the planet. Page Six has this to say: "Some Dems fear that in the months ahead, Talley, a huge fan of Oscar de la Renta, will steer Michelle into a Bolero jacket or an outfit even more ill-advised."

I think Michelle Obama is a fabulous dresser as it is and doesn't need Andre's help. But do you really think if she were to wear a gold Bolero, it'd be the end of the Obama campaign? I sort of liked the gold Bolero...

Saville Row tailors fought the Advertising Standards Authority on preserving the term 'bespoke' but lost the struggle to prevent menswear retailers from selling 'bespoke' suits not entirely made by hand.

Historically, a bespoke suit is one made from a single bolt of cloth, entirely constructed by hand, and custom-fitted without using any sort of pattern. In the past, clients would be fitted many times for a single suit, which would then be personally handcrafted for the client.

Nowadays, bespoke is often applied to suits which are not custom-made.  The Italian retailer Sartoriani, for example, refers to suits as 'bespoke' that are not entirely made by hand (their motto is "made with only one wearer in mind"). For many retailers, the client is merely measured, and a pre-existing pattern is tweaked in accordance with those measurements. The suit is also cut and sewn mainly by machine. The ASA ruled that Sartoriani and other retailers have the right to call suits 'bespoke' even following the historical definition of the term. According to the ASA,  the historic term no longer applies in the present day. The ASA is so wrong. A bespoke suit, in anyone's mind, can only mean one thing. For everyone out their who wants a bespoke suit - do your research. Make sure it's the real deal before you hand over your credit card.

Style did a feature today on staycations, which are vacations where you don't go anywhere.  Gas prices and airline fees are going up, and more and more people will be taking staycations this year instead of tropical getaways. This doesn't have to be a bad thing, as Style showed in their article. Victoria Traina (daughter of Danielle Steel and a San Francisco native herself) gave her perspective on how to have a great staycation in SF.

According to Victoria, go here on your staycation:

• Susan of Burlingame - luxury clothing boutique
• Auberge du Soleil - luxury spa and hotel
  
• International Orange - luxury yoga studio and spa
  

My only question is, if a $500 plane ticket is out of your reach, why would you spend $1,000 on a spa day at Auberge du Soleil? Doesn't this seem a little contradictory?

Do people who shop at Susan of Burlingame need to take staycations? Style, you know fashion well. But don't ever go into the tour guide business.

Would you wear this bag? It's Takashi Murakami's latest collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Murakami, a famous and prolific Japanese artist, is a darling amongst the fashion set for his Warhol-like contributions to art (with his postmodern approach of repackaging lowbrow art as high art). Murakami has hundreds of people working for him and has become something of a corporation, in addition to an artist. With Marc Jacobs, he's created camouflage bags printed with the traditional LV logo, which they now call "Monogramouflage." I don't know what I feel about this bad, honestly. I never liked the camo trend, and I don't feel there's anything particularly artistic about using a camo print and layering an LV print over it. Did MJ really need an internationally famous artist to come up with that? Or does putting the "Murakami" name with the "Louis Vuitton" name make it an even bigger brand, which people will be more willing to shell out the big bucks for? An interesting thought. I liked Murakami's cherries a lot better, the last time he worked on bags for LV, though I've never been a big fan of his work.

POP CUTIE! is a new game made exclusively for Nintendo DS in which the objective is to manage your own fashion boutique. In the game, you stalk the streets of Tokyo for great street style so you stay abreast of the latest fads and keep your store relevant and popular with its clientèle. You can also create your own clothes, hairstyles, and trends to keep your head above water in the cut throat world of Tokyo fashion. It's not always glamorous either. As a boutique owner, you have lots of day-to-day responsibilities: you must hire assistants, design the store, pick the soundtrack, place ads, pick models, and you even have to balance the bookkeeping! It's a simulated fantasy world where anyone can work in fashion, and it's yours for just the price of one video game. This game drops in September in the USA.

The above is Victoria Beckham dressed like a hobo, lying on her side, and sucking her thumb for a Marc Jacobs ad. Your StyleGirl posted last month about how she believes Marc Jacobs is purposely making fun of Victoria Beckham in his new ads, and it seems she's not the only one with this theory.

Today, The Daily Mail came out with an article about how Posh Spice's MJ campaign is a classic "case of playground bullying." Liz Jones writes that Victoria is the "not-so-pretty, awkward, desperate-to-be-included nerd who so wants to play with the cool kids she will do anything to ingratiate herself  -  even against her better judgment."

"And there she is striking a pose  -  arms out-stretched, one emaciated thigh peeping through a split in her skirt, a stupefied look on her pale face  -  that is a parody of all she stands for, seemingly worshipping at the altar of designer fashion."

True true. Nothing she says is wrong, except one thing: they call this a "new theory." It's not new!! You heard it HERE first! :)

Congrats Anna. She has been granted an Officer of the British Empire award "for services to British journalism and British fashion in the U.S." Am I the only one scratching my head at this? She is the Editor of American Vogue. What does this have to do with the British Empire?

Who cares? Anna is fabulous. I hope she wears something to the award the blows her arch-nemesis Tina Brown out of the water. Tina is being presented a Commander of the British Empire award, which is one step higher than Anna's. They apparently hate one another. I wonder what would happen if they were forced to sit near each other during the award ceremony?

Tina's resume is more diverse than Anna's (she was Editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, AND The New Yorker) but her career has stagnated recently and now, instead of journalism, she writes biographies on Princess Diana and Hillary Clinton.

Rather than jumping around like Tina, Anna has worked at Vogue for 20 years, and in that time has made herself, unquestionably, the most powerful person in the entire fashion industry.

Now how's that for a success story?

COS is the more expensive, high-end retail arm of inexpensive design favorite, H&M.  The prices at COS (which stands for Collection of Style) are lower than most ready-to-wear lines, a men's shirt going for about € 50. This puts COS at around the price of Armani Exchange, except it's about a million times cuter. There are COS stores in major cities in Europe, like London, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Munich, but none outside of the EU. Ahem. We need some COS in America!

Europeans get great design for comparably inexpensive prices, and while major US companies like Target are creating great diffusion lines to bridge the gap between high fashion and middle class retail, Europe has been bringing awesome design to the masses for much longer and at a greater variety. TopShop is JUST NOW coming to the US, but we still don't have New Look, COS, TopMan, or Miss Selfridge. I can't be paying trans-Atlantic shipping for the rest of my life, people!! Bring those stores to the USA! We'll make money for you, we swear.

The Earrings of Madame de... is playing at the Red Vic (1727 Haight Street) Theater on Sunday, June 22, and Monday, June 23. If you haven't seen the film, this glorious period classic is definitely not to be missed.


Never has so much drama sprouted from a simple pair of earrings. The film, about a woman who sells a pair of diamond earrings her husband gives her, centers around the chain of events that follow when her husband learns of her deceit. Set in 19th century Vienna, this period piece glimmers with beautiful style. Expect to see a ton of glamorous balls, fancy evening gowns, priceless jewels, and effortless elegance, in this film that examines the lives of the elite, forever ensconced in that bygone era.

"No thoroughbred was ever just a clotheshorse."

Hint: He writes for the New Yorker.

The Mission Statement, on 3458 18th Street between Mission and Valencia, is an adorable little boutique that's just been open for two months. Everything in the boutique is locally designed and hand-crafted. Even better, it's a designer co-op, so all of the designers have a stake in the business. The store is full of beautiful womenswear clothes and accessories. There is no one 'look' of the store, because it's owned by a collaboration of designers, all showcasing their unique pieces. They sell whimsical sundresses, sexy going-out blouses, and graphic tees all on the same rack. Everything in this store was designed and made in SF. How can you not love a place like that?

Saks is having a shoe sale. Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Marc Jacobs, and Gucci are all seriously marked down, so go take a drooling look over here.

WONDERFUL news. The British clothing company TopShop is opening in Manhattan this coming October... the VERY FIRST Topshop in the good old USA!!! You know that this means. San Francisco won't be far behind. Woo hoooo!! Drinks on me.

Remember when H&M landed on our side of the Atlantic, after first starting in Sweden? The first H&M opened in New York City in 2000, and 8 years later, it's in every major city in the United States.

Dear Sir Philip Green,

Please open a TopShop in San Francisco soon!!!

We love the clothes! Even though the exchange rate sucks!

Love,

StyleGirl

For guys, Common Projects makes a pair:



For girls, Creative Recreation has got you covered:



Do we spot a trend?

Block party! The vendors of Hayes Valley are having a Moroccan-themed block party on June 14-15 on Hayes Street, in the major shopping area. There will be a Moroccan band, a DJ, and live flamenco, not to mention food, belly dancers, and henna artists. Sounds cheesy, yes - but I need an excuse to go back to Azalea, my favorite Hayes Valley boutique. There's an adorable Acne dress on sale I'm tempted to check out!

A kebab while you shop? Why not?

Goldenbleu's online shop is amazing. The best part about it? The online outlet store! This Caldwell amethyst patent leather bag is marked down from $579 to $269 and you can get it here.

Rene Huber, the creater of Goldenbleu, started the line here in San Francisco, and now her handbags are sold all over the world and have been featured in magazines like Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. Her bags are also seen on the arms of celebrities like Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz, and Rachel Bilson - just to name a few.

I love the quirky design perspective she brings to her handbags, and her craftsmanship is absolutely beautiful. Purple patent leather is definitely something I need more of, in my closet.

For every pair of TOMS shoes sold, the company gives a pair to an impoverished child in a developing country. I love this look for both women and men. It's a great summer shoe, because they are meant to be worn without socks. I tried a pair on and was surprised at how solid and well-built it was, despite looking so sleek and trim. They come in a variety of different versatile colors, and while looking like a combination of a pair of Keds and a pair of espadrilles, they provide an alternative to both. You can get them online at the TOMS site and donate to a good cause, while looking fashionable at the same time.

This Saturday, from 6PM-10PM, Gen Art will be hosting Shop SF, a six hour shopping extravaganza with over 40 womenswear and menswear designers, a bar, a spa, and DJs. According to Gen Art's website, "With smooth beats, Benefit Cosmetics treatments, free-flowing libations and much more come down to meet with the designers and retailers to purchase the latest and greatest wares during this six-hour shopping spree. You will not want to miss this unparalleled shopping experience!" Check out their site for a list of the participating designers, as well as pictures from last year's event.

The website says tickets are $10, but if you RSVP here, you can get in for free. The event will be held at Terra, on 511 Harrison Street.

"They said, 'You need to lose more weight -- the look this year is anorexia, and although we don't want you to be anorexic, we want you to look it,'" she recalled. "My question is, how do you look anorexic unless you actually are?"

Coco Rocha, one of the most highly sought after models in the fashion industry, spoke to an audience at a CFDA discussion on "The Beauty of Health: How the Fashion Industry Can Make a Difference."

The fashion industry has long been lambasted for promoting unhealthy levels of thinness and marketing them as the standard of beauty for women. The appeal of extreme thinness is the difficulty by which it is attained. Unless you're given a metabolism of unhealthy efficiency, the only way to be rail-thin is to massively restrict the amount of food you consume. But because it's so rare and so hard to come by, thinness is for many people a highly valued commodity. The fashion industry thrives on this (mis)perception. StyleBayArea thinks that people ought to be healthy and value individual beauty. That said, it's not the fashion industry's fault that we have an obsession with thinness. Our obsessions are a symptom of a graver issue. What that issue is, I don't know, but it's definitely bigger than fashion, bigger than models, and bigger than just a few glossy magazines.

Image courtesy of Style.com

Cardigans are such a chic summer look for men. Long categorized as a 'preppy' staple, the cardigan is anything but, if paired with the right pants and accessories. I'm pretty much obsessed with Opening Ceremony, and this cardigan available at Tobi is so adorable that I wish I were dating the guy who owns it so that I could steal it and throw it over my last-night's dress for those morning-after coffee trips.

To me, cardigans seem like the scholarly alternative to the hoodie. First of all, they are unapologetically collegiate. Second of all, nothing gives off the vibe "I read important books" than wearing a cardigan. In college, the NCAA jocks wore hoodies everyday (and more often than not they had Greek letters on them) while the cute boy from Lit Theory who reads Baudrillard over double espressos wore the cardigan.

Another reason I love cardigans is that they're so damn pretentious. They're like the monocle or the pocket handkerchief of sweaters. Pompous, but supremely adorable.

The perfect accessory to a cardigan? A hot pair of subtle, monotone kicks, like these Common Projects sneakers.

From October 12, 2008 through December 26, 2008, Target will be offering a line of handbags by Anya Hindmarch and shoes by Sigerson Morrison. Diffusion lines are the only things that keep me alive, and I have a feeling these will be amazing collections. Target is so on top of their shit.

Sigerson Morrison is the brainchild of Kari Sigerson and Miranda Morrison, and they make beautiful shoes, particularly their flats. Their flats are girly, elegant, and have the effect of making everyone's feet look daintier and smaller than they actually are. I am really really praying that a nice red ballet flat makes its way into their Target collection, just in time for Christmas.

These flats are $469 at Zappos Couture. They're lovely, but tres tres expensive. I can't wait until Sigerson Morrison's trademark craftsmanship goes for $30 at Target.


Anya Hindmarch makes gorgeous bags - and everyone remembers the "I'm not a Plastic Bag" phenomenon that took off last year. Her beautiful calfskin leather mirror bag is $1,195.

 

Don't you hate it when your cell phone dies while you're out of the house, and you're expecting some major calls but your charger is all the way back at your apartment? These Noon bags are just the thing you need. They are absolutely fantastic. Not only are they pretty, they also have a solar panel attached to them, which can charge your iPod or cell phone with solar energy gathered as you carry the bag! How brilliant is that? At around $500, they are less expensive than a standard designer bag, and a million times more useful. You can even order them online. Green and renewable, and totally chic!

Selvege denim takes longer to make than other forms of denim, and the result is usually of a higher quality. It's more expensive than other forms of denim because of the higher amount of fabric and time involved. Up until the 1950s, all jeans were made on a shuttle loom. To mass produce denim, projectile looms were used after the '50s until now. It's still possible to find selvege denim if you're willing to pay a steeper price for your jeans. At Self Edge, most of their jeans run over $300! But if you read its reviews on Yelp, you'll see that they have lots of happy customers.

I'll never throw away my bikini, but I'm one of the few who actually thinks a one-piece bathing suit is sexier than its two-piece counterpart. I love one-pieces because of their classy and retro feel, and I love the variations in which they come. I also love how a simple one-piece can be styled up by wearing tons of jewelry or a pair of killer heels. Let's be serious, who goes to the pool to swim anyway?



Left, Insight fantasy kingdom one-piece, at VillainsSF. Right, Badgley Mischka jeweled monokini, at Saks Fifth Avenue.

So, Father's Day is fast approaching. What are you going to get the Dad who cares nothing about fashion?

Well, some might tell you to go ahead and get him that book on US foreign policy in Iran, tickets to a Giants game, a new set of tongs for the grill, or a subscription to Popular Science. StyleGirl says BORINGGGGGGG.

You know what you should really get your dad? A Chanel fly fishing rod. At £9,170, it's kinda pricy, but it comes with a bunch of cool stuff, like "a set of meticulously tied, monochrome Chanel flies, complete with the famous "double C" logo on the gossamer wings, presented in a rather fetching, quilted black leather box," according to the Guardian. Coco Chanel herself was a pretty good fly fisher, and when she dated the Duke of Westminster in the 1920s, she sometimes caught more salmon than him when they fished together. The couple that fishes together... ahem.

Photo courtesy of New York Magazine.

Fashion has always had a fascination with the ugly, from the ugly sweater, the ugly hat, to the ugly shoes. It's so dull being perfectly beautiful all the time, and a true fashionista knows that it's okay to flirt with the ugly side of things. And why not? We don't live in a perfect world, and art imitates life.
 


Another appeal of ugly clothing is the challenge it presents. It's hard to throw on something purposely ugly and make it look good. Some people think that ugly clothes are only appealing for the irony value (think ironic mustaches), but irony gets old after about two seconds. Sincerity and a true respect for what you're wearing makes clothing (as well as YOU) so much more meaningful. Plus, who would pay a couple thousand dollars for a pair of Balenciaga ankle boots because they loved the irony of it? People wear ugly clothes because they like the way it makes them feel - in those clothes, they feel beautiful.

  

So what's the appeal, you might wonder? For me, it's because ugly is also inherently more interesting than beautiful. Beauty generally follows a paradigm - it has a definition. We've all heard the ridiculousness about the golden ratio of beauty, how it follows the Fibonacci sequence, and all that rubbish. Boring. With paradigms, you limit outside possibilities. Ugliness is freeing - there are so many more possibilities to work with! True fashion is not afraid to breach the beauty barrier, and by exploring the ugly side to what's beautiful, you destroy an ideal to create new freedoms. Now how's that for your philosophy of the day?

Photos courtesy of Style.com

Topman is Topshop's stand alone clothing line that caters exclusively to men, and it's pretty awesome. They've got great basics, like hoodies and sweaters, but they also definitely have an edgy twist, like an entire collection of skinny jeans, waistcoats, and jewelry. Their online store is great, and they even ship to the US! Just make sure you do the currency conversions correctly. It may say only 20 pounds, but that's 40 dollars. No wonder the Brits love to shop in the US so much!

Most guys, however, can't be bothered to shop, must less put together an outfit. Want some help? Here are some cute combinations, handpicked by yours truly.

Combination #1



Red twill skinny jeans with a multicolored short sleeve shirt.


Combination #2





Navy smart shorts with mix and match jersey cardigan.


Combination #3




Black skinny jeans with a red hooded jacket.

Kate Moss designed a line of clothes for Topshop. When is Pete Doherty going to design clothes for Topman?? We know they broke up, but we here at StyleBayArea want Kate and Pete forever...

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.

Gladiator sandals are everywhere. They are absolutely hideous and fabulous at the same time. This trend has been around for a while - Chanel came out with a pair of knee high gladiator (below) sandals two years ago - but the look hasn't really taken off with until now.

Some people will never wear a sundress (I am one of these people), and that's okay. I love sundresses on other people, but I just don't like to think of myself wearing one. But it's summer, and I want to dress for the season (no matter how cold it gets in San Francisco), so I'm going to need some sundress alternatives.



Just be careful you wear it tastefully. Rompers are adorable, but they easily cross the line between fashion forward, and being a plain old fashion faux pas.

The right way to wear a romper? Like Mary Kate. Feminine, demure, not figure hugging, and the shorts end at just the right place, at just a little before the knee.

There's a style popular in Japan called "Lolita" fashion, which basically means adult women are dressing up like Little Bo Peep. The style is influenced by children's clothing (stemming, obviously, from Japan's obsession with "kawaii," or cuteness).

To present themselves as particularly childlike, Lolita women often carry stuffed animal or  dolls (Super Dollfies are a popular brand) around with them on the street. Think bonbons, ribbons, bows, The Little Princess, Candyland, and Hello Kitty all mixed into a style of dress, heartily adopted by adults.

Your StyleGirl's is unapologetically baffled by this trend. It takes an extravagant effort on the part of the perceiver to take any woman who dresses like a baby in her everyday life with even a modicum of seriousness.

Furthermore, there is so much to be said for how far women have come this century, and while I'm not saying we should be wearing serviceable tweed trousers and sensible shoes everywhere we go, I think sending the message that a grown woman is a cute, helpless, completely innocent child is not only antiquated, but rather off-color. I mean, we live in a (mostly) free world, and everyone should wear what makes them feel good about themselves, but I just wonder at why anyone would feel good about being seen as fragile, vulnerable, and powerless. I think anyone who wants to dress Lolita should first read Nabokov's Lolita, then Ibsen's A Doll's House.


One strain of this Lolita fashion that doesn't annoy me quite as much is "Gothic Lolita" (pictured at right). This is still child fashion, but it is also influenced by funereal, goth, and punk fashion. Where Lolita is completely infatuated with its infantile precociousness, Goth Lolita plays with the concept in an ironic way. Yes, these women are still dressing like babies, but at least they also look like witches, murderesses, and punk musicians, which is infinitely better than just looking like a toddler.

Then again, given the choice between looking Lolita and looking like this, I'd pick Lolita anyday.

Beach weather is finally on its way, and that means bathing suits will be on your fashion horizon. I am not so into speedos for men, but I am definitely over the long, baggy boardshort. It is all about the short swim trunks, like these from American Apparel.

They are dork chic at its best. Forget about the obnoxious bros on surf boards. They are so ancient history, they are still listen to Sublime.

The sexiest guy on the beach is the dude in the short swim trunks circa 1982, who looks like a marine biology student on a mission to collect seaweed samples. Think Michael Cera in Juno, mixed with a little Richard Dreyfuss in Jaws.

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.

When it's hot outside and the back of your neck is sweaty, the last thing you want to do is throw on a necklace. But don't give up on jewelry entirely. Pearls are the perfect jewelry for summer. Not only are pearls cool to the touch, but many people speculate that they have a soothing effect on the mind as well! They also come out of the sea - how much beachy and summery does it does? In a dream world, we'd wear a Tiffany signature pearl necklace for something classic, and then rope ourselves in Chanel for something a little more updated. In the real world, Majorica is a great alternative to expensive designer pearls, at only a little over $200 for this necklace available at Saks. Don't want to shell out the cash for an extravagant string of pearls? Then try just one - a single gorgeous, perfect pearl on a chain makes a beautiful and tres chic piece of bling.

I read a very interesting interview with Mary-Kate Olson today in the July 2008 Elle magazine. I am a big fan of MK's style - she looks like a model in everything she wears, and she has the bravery to carry off some very, very offbeat looks.

I was particularly drawn to this quote: "I don't know--you're either on the worst-dressed list or you've started a fashion trend. I think there's a real disconnect between the media's perception of fashion and the fashion world's idea of fashion. I don't know why I wear some of the things I wear. I like wearing crazy things sometimes. I like being playful. Sometimes I feel like I'm playing dress-up and becoming a character. It's sort of like an art. It can change your mood or the way that people are attracted to you."

She's hitting on some pretty major questions here like, for instance, what is fashion? Is fashion dictated by the creators (designers) or the critics (the media)? When People magazine tells you that JLo (below) is fashionable, what does it say about high fashion?



JLo

versus

MK



I think most of the fashion industry, as well as all the high-end fashion magazines, would agree that Mary Kate is one of the most stylish actresses in Hollywood.

But MK always ends up on People Magazine or US Weekly's 'Worst Dressed' lists, while JLo, Reese Witherspoon (snore), and Katie Holmes (double snore) always end up on the 'Best Dressed.'

This just highlights how truthful Mary-Kate's quote is, about how the fashion industry and the mainstream media have two very different perceptions of fashion. Fashion  does change how people are attracted to you. We brand ourselves by what we wear, and we might get criticized (by some) if we stray too far from the middleline. But then again, just as it repels some people, the way we dress can attract others. And by being so unique and avant-garde, Mary-Kate Olson has garnered lots of fans in the fashion industry. Who cares what a trashy tabloid thinks, when she has supporters like Karl Lagerfeld?

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

So you got your $600 from the Federal Government, and it's sitting cozily in your bank account. Um, why it it still sitting in your bank account?? Earth to YOU, the economy is in troubs and the patriotic thing for you to do is to make it raaaain. So here are 5 easy lil purchases you might make to save America - plus get you something pretty in the process. 



Marc Jacobs Haley messenger bag, $595 at Net-a-Porter



Yves Saint Laurent Lauren Mary Janes, $595 at Saks Fifth Avenue



Won Hundred Dallas jacket, $562 at Oak NYC




McQ by Alexander McQueen draped tank dress, $585 at Net-a-Porter



La Prairie, skin caviar intensive ampoule treatment, $550 at ShopLaPrairie

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.

They say if you buy a really well-made piece of clothing, you can wear it forever. In other words, it sustains. They also say that trends fade but style is eternal. The concept of lastingness, foreverness, is something that reoccurs in fashion as an ideological point of reference, and on that note - nothing lasts forever quite like the earth. Many designers are starting to realize the importance of environmentally sound production, like Stella McCartney, one of the first to start making clothes that are organic, sustainable, and ethical. She teamed up with LeSportSac to produce a line of environmentally-friendly bags and luggage (made of 100% recycled polyester), and you can look at them here.

I read, however, an article in the Wall Street Journal lately that really got me thinking. How do we know how ecologically friendly our clothes are? Just because something marks itself as eco-friendly, is it? For instance, many green-leaning designers use bamboo fabric because bamboo, unlike cotton, uses no pesticides and little water to grow. However, it also takes a ton of chemicals to turn stiff bamboo into fibers soft enough to be worn, and the chemical runoff is bad for the environment to say the least.


Image of the SANS fashion show in NYC, courtesy of Inhabitat

One thing is for sure, the eco-friendly fashion craze is really taking off, and it's definitely possible to leave a much smaller ecological footprint by making informed decisions. But it's also equally important to keep educating ourselves about the alternatives out there. I used to think bamboo fabric was great, but now I'm not so sure.

Subtle is a band from Oakland that started in 2001 and is currently generating a lot of buzz on the blogosphere. They've got a sound I can't describe - it's hip hop meets electronica meets indie rock meets prog rock - and the effect is really pretty rad. Adam Drucker, bandmember, is a founding member of anticon - a hip hop record label/collective founded in SF in 1997. This isn't your standard Limp Bizkit hip hop rock. This is dreamy, airy music that's still intensely melodic, with all of hip hop's rhythm and electronica's progressive innovation. Their latest album, ExitingARM, has been playing on repeat on my iPod.

Your StyleGirl isn't just interested in fashion. Music and fashion are not mutually exclusive words. When music and fashion come together, that is a beautiful coupling indeed. Another reason I like Subtle is because they have great style!

They've also been known to do some pretty innovative things with facepaint!

Maison Martin Margiela is - of all designers - the crazy genius who sees the future of fashion first, before anyone else does or can even conceive of it. His absolute disregard for current trends puts him in that island of designers who is inspired by their own imaginations, that strange realm removed from the world, and this is also what makes him unquestionably one of the most brilliant designers on the planet. Rather than following fashion, or conceding to it, Maison rebelliously transforms it. He forces fashion, with his incendiary designs, to question itself. And his cerebral, theoretical clothes force us to question our concept of not just the fabric or the body, but also of the signification of clothing and what meanings we project or take away when we are in the presence of his clothes.



His silhouette is all about volume on top - of the power of the shoulders. Amongst this maelstrom of volume, the face emerges like the center of a flower as the fabric blooms, at once revealing and concealing the woman under the clothes. Yet, for all its oddness, even the most skeptical mainstreamist should begrudgingly admit it's beautiful, or at the very least, exceptionally well-crafted. I for one think his work is exceedingly lovely, as if these very folds of fabric have become through their transformation into clothing something much, much more. Art, even. Beautiful, wearable art.

I don't know what Maison Martin Margiela looks like, because he does not come out after shows nor has he ever been photographed by the press. He does not deal with the press in person, and all correspondence is done via fax machine. He is intensely private yet his clothes make such a splash that everywhere, people are taking notice. Who says you need good PR when you have a talent like his?

The Bay Area is more of a fashion town than people give it credit for. Just look at Dcepcion, a design sibling duo (twins in fact!) who just opened a studio this April in the Mission, at 3150 18th Street. They are young (only 25) and gifted (just look at their collection of prettily-cut urban basics). Some of their designs are really well-conceived, like this plaid racerback blouse:



The styling is key - it looks great with the slouchy shorts and crisp, architectural jacket. Other looks, however, miss the mark:




The corset is awkward, ill-fitting, and looks cheap. I like the seersucker shirtdress but I loathe the strange slit in the front and it's impossible to tell how it fits on its own without the atrocious corset over it.

It is obvious the brothers have the execution to turn Dcepcion into a successful Bay Area fashion label, but right now, they need to organize the direction of their overall design philosophy. They have some growing up to do (they're only 25 after all) but with a few more seasons under their belt, I can see Dcepcion coalesce into something truly special.

Check out Dcepcion's SS08 lookbook for more of their collection.

The CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Awards, often referred to as the 'Oscars of fashion,' were dolled out tonight at the New York Public Library in New York City. Francisco Costa was awarded the night's top honor of womenswear designer of the year.

Costa, the designer of Calvin Klein and a regular on Project Runway, also won in 2006. Costa is an extremely talented designer whose clothes are elegant, graceful, and effortlessly chic.

(Side note: Nominee Marc Jacobs lost out this year, AGAIN. He was embarrassingly the ONLY designer who lost last year, since the CFDA awarded the Womenswear Designer of the Year award to both Oscar de la Renta and Proenza Schouler as a tie... leaving MJ the odd man out. Awkward. I was really hoping he would win this year, considering Costa just won this award in 2006, and Marc Jacbos hasn't won Womenswear since 1997. Oh well, there's always next year.)

Winners of the CFDA Awards 2008:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein Collection

Menswear Designer of the Year: Tom Ford

Accessories Designer of the Year: Tory Burch

Swarovski Womenswear: Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte

Swarovski Menswear: Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders

Swarovski Accessories: Philip Crangi

BTW, I am so thrilled that Kate and Laura Mulleavy won the Swarovski Womenswear award for their brilliant work at Rodarte. This particular award is given to emerging new talent, and the Mulleavy sisters are beyond genius at what they do. When I look at a Rodarte dress, I see so much more than just the fabric. These dresses are so exquisite, they're like dream images. When you look at their clothes, you get the sense of looking at an impressionist painting - it's just so much more than it seems. These ephemeral dresses tremble around the body like a mist, as if at any moment they'd flutter away, and the type of girl who would wear Rodarte is one strong enough reveal such delicate vulnerability. The Mulleavy sisters my favorite new designers of the last five years, and they continue to impress, season after season.

Below, courtesy of Style.com, my favorite Rodarte dresses of Fall 2008.

Conventions are fun because many of them encourage you to play dress up. Just look at comic book conventions, Star Trek conventions, and Renaissance fairs. Conventions are a great way to meet people with similar interests who like to dress up just as much as you do! While conventions are not exactly your StyleGirl's thing (unless there was a Jean Paul Gaultier convention with free tickets and clothes -- then she'd gladly go), one of her favorite conventions of the moment is the 2008 International Confederation of Midwives convention, which is taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, from June 1 to June 5.

Check out this great pic from the convention, courtesy of the BBC, below.

J'ADORE the hat on second-from-left.

While Midwives is my favorite convention du jour, a close second is the World Horror Convetion which just took place last month in Winnepeg, Canada.

While these guys at the World Horror Convention aren't quite as formal as the Midwives at ICM, the dude on the far right is rockign the best snow-white-handlebar-mustache-shoulder-length-hair combination I've seen in my life.

One of my favorite new models is Liu Wen, a Chinese model with one of the most exquisite faces I've seen on the runway this year. She just made her debut in the Fall 2008 lineup of fashion shows and already the buzz machine has started humming about this exotic beauty. Along with Du Juan, Daul Kim, Anne Watanabe, and Sunny Zhou, Liu Wen one of the brigade of beautiful Asian models who've seen success on the high fashion runways.

Chanel Resort - 2009

 

Maison Martin Margiela - Fall 2008 Ready-to-Wear

 

Burberry Porsum - Fall 2008 Ready-to-Wear

She's only been been on the runways for a year, but she's already walked for Chanel, Hermes, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kenzo, Maison Martin Margiela, Burberry, and Pollini just to name a few. And did I mention she's only 17? Expect to see a lot of Liu Wen in the future.

(Photos courtesy of Style.com)

Dema Grim is a local fashion success story. Her store on Valencia Street (1038 Valencia St between 22nd and 21st) is full of her original designs, which are well-tailored, whimsical, and retro-inspired. Dema has an eye for color and a knack for pairing prints, and when I look at her soft, girly clothes, I see summer picnics, terrace cafes, and the excitement of a first date.

According to Dema's website, she designs "twisted classics for independently minded women." I find this description more or less accurate. If I had to compare Dema to anything, I'd say she's a little bit Anthropologie and a little bit Anna Sui. While I don't know if I'd say "twisted classics" (the term 'twisted' gets me thinking of the creativity of Christopher Bailey or Alber Elbaz, not conventional retail), I'd definite call Dema 'classic with a twist'. Nothing I've seen in Dema is particularly cutting edge, but nothing is particularly conventional either. These are pretty clothes with a kitschy streak, which gives their own interpretation of the current trends of fashion, but without breaking any of the rules.

Yves St Laurent, a seminal designer of the 20th century, died last night after struggling with brain cancer for the last year. St Laurent was a visionary, who used menswear techniques in his designs for the female body - instantly showing how pants and tuxedos and safari jackets could be as chic and feminine as a cocktail dress.

This Forever 21 dress is a perfect example of what a relevant impact YSL still has on mainstream fashion (Forever 21 is ripping off his designs... 45 years later!!!!). He was a creative genius, and will be sorely missed. RIP Yves!

Movie critics have torn apart the new Sex and the City movie, and I've heard a lot of adjectives like "shrill", "shallow", "self-involved", "ditzy" and "materialistic" floating around IMDB in reference to Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. The New York Times goes as far as to report, "It's that awash in materialism and narcissism, a cloth flower pinned to her dress where cool chicks wear their Obama buttons, this It Girl has become totally Ick." I don't know many cool chicks who'd wear a politician's button anywhere on their Chanel blazers, but that's just me.

Despite the film's obvious fluff, fashion writers are almost unilaterally positive about the film, particularly in the important areas of shoes, handbags, and general wardrobe. With such a wealth of categories to work with, who cares about plot, characterization, and dialogue?

What I loved most about the movie were, of course, the to-die-for sky high Christian Dior shoes (pictured below) that Carrie Bradshaw, by some miracle, affords on a paltry writer's salary. Who cares though, as long as we get to see the shoes!

Get the Extreme Dior Gladiator Platform at eLuxury, yours for just $770. But for those, like me, who don't have magical jobs that allow them to own a closet more comprehensive than a Saks Fifth Avenue, Steve Madden's knock offs aren't so shabby.

Seriously, I adored the movie. Vivienne Westwood's wedding dress brought tears to my eyes.