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side by side.
don't turn the channel.
question: what is better than chanel? answer: chanel amped with edge while still holding true to its classic feminine posture. take a gander and thank karl for defining spring 2011 in such a way as this.
nordic frenzy.
with winter comes fur, which is all the reason to jump onto the nordic train this season. animal lover? faux fur is not the only alternative. check out harricana's recycled fur collection. for winter: pair a fluff lined hoodie with relaxed hair, some army green apparatus, and a hint of innocence.
or...couple a foxy vest with a pretty printed blouse only to heighten your femininity. helpful hint: add smoke to the eyes and dark contrasts to the pants to guarantee a mysterious edge.
posing in paris.
my absolute favorite snap shots from paris fashion week. inspiration is inevitable.
bright and fierce is abbey lee.
take it to the stairs for a fashionable break, and tell mr. matchy-matchy he's not welcome.
montreal fashion week: day two.
early to rise and shine, i made my way down to breakfast to eat with andreas, emanuela, and mari. after pleasant conversation, we set in route to the third floor for a press meeting with the commisioner of montreal, the economic director of quebec, the director of development for quebec, as well as the president of fashion week. it was a fascinating time of discussion on how to cultivate the uniqueness of this city and improve the upcoming fashion weeks. it was captivating to see how closely involved the government is with the industry, how this melting pot of a city is so tighly knit. after our french goodbyes and exchange of diverse opinions, we hopped into a tour van to take a trek around the historical city. we explored the quaint (and lovable) old city of montreal, the breath-taking notre-dame basilica, the lively downtown, commercial shopping streets, parisian inspired roads, and the mountain. our car ride was full of hysterical laughing, photo snapping, and new knowledge. our path ended at the l'institut, a renowned restaurant run by the esteemed cooking school students. we dined with the manager (an enchanting and engaging woman to say the least), and enjoyed every course: red wine, potato soup, fresh baguette, salmon, cinnamon creme, creme brulee, and hot black tea to conclude. i began to realize that meals here are much more than eating; it calls for pure enjoyment, new experience, satisfying conversation with depth in every topic, even career. we arrived back at the marche bonsecours to visit the underground showroom, where talent was exploding. denim collections, jewelry, handbags, and racks of gorgeous clothing made for an overstimulating afternoon. speaking with designers was so interesting and inspiring to hear about their visions and excitement for their creations. the rain disappeared and the sun shone brightly, so we took an afternoon stroll around the waterfront and the adorable brick roads to absorb the rich culture of this place. shopping was next on our agenda. yipee!! simons and debo were our retailers of choice for purpose to view the montreal designer collaborations with phillip dubuc and denis gagnon. i felt like we were in a movie-side by side in dressing rooms, laughing, trying on clothes, and analyzing whether it was worth a purchase. our next stop was the historical jewelry store, birks (the equivalent to tiffany's in the states). we were greeted warmly by the store's expert and were wooed with the stunning diamonds and the deluxe past of this store. for dinner, we walked over to a vegetarian buffet and tried so many delicious plates. we then taxied back to the venue to watch two runway shows--valerie dumaine and second clothing denim. both were pumped with energy and talent. the night finished with a beautiful view of city from the conference room at city hall (diane's office), recycled mode de montreal street banners designed by phillip dubuc, and a casual walk back to the hotel. emanuela and i discussed how proud the residents of this city are to call this place home (and a arena to flourish in their talent), and i am completely aware as to why. this place is a conglomeration of everything wonderful. it is homey and safe, cultured and edgy, professional yet absent of all pretense. i am utterly charmed.
montreal fashion week: un jour.
only to live in a dream is to be woken up by the reality of new indescribable experiences that add to the quality of life. after flying into montreal late last night, i became aware of the vast diversities that exist in our world. to breathe in the fresh cool air from the taxi, observe new scenes, and learn a little french on the way was beyond my unprecedented expectations. this trip has found itself in a new category considering i had no prior knowledge of montreal fashion week, the mode of this region, or really anything about this city. i arrived at the beautiful hotel in the heart of downtown, only to be warmly welcomed into a heavenly bed and a big window peering over the buildings. i slept off and on, dreaming in my head of the next day. bright and early, i met emanuela (the fashion bureau attendant to the commissioner of montreal) for a hearty scrumptious breakfast. she is a charming blend of italian and french influence, whose spunky zest for life is only contagious. andreas, a reporter from colon, germany, also joined us for the adventurous day that awaited. our first meeting was at the ecole superieure de mode de i'uqam (a fashion school), with designer ying gao. she showed us her interactive line of dresses that was inspired by the french movie "playtime." i have never before seen intagible objects integrated with fashion. she brought a whole new depth to style, as she disclosed her highly-focused vision of innovative mathematical freedom in her designs. from discovering the lightest fabric in the world to connoting the use of shape, whit, and conceptual wisdom was mind boggling and impressive to the core. in retrospect, i now see that this introduction was merely foreshadowing for the contents of montreal. it contains new creators with notions that have yet to be discovered, where artists design for the love of art, for the challenge of advanced perspectives. money and growth does not drive their work, but rather, they create with their hearts and humble capability. proof: they do not believe they are geniuses when, as an outsider, this is clearly the case. we were lucky enough to meet ying gao's assistant, isabel, who displayed her final design project to us. for a superfluous amount of delight, go here to view her final project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDW1lR1n8KE. on to the mccord museum we went next, where the history of canadian fashion came alive with dresses from the early 1900s, preserved vintage christian diors gowns, and ancient wedding dresses. not to mention, we stopped by the cirqe de solei exhibition, which was outstanding to the 100th power. time for lunch! diane, the commisioner of montreal, met us for a bite at a quaint little eatery outside of montreal's fashion week venue, marche bonsecours. i was delighted by the culture over quality conversation, butternut squash soup, homemade baquette, red snapper, and chocolate mousse. delectable. next on the agenda: the press conference with a speech from the mayor and the president of fashion week to officially launch the talent into full force! the marie saint pierre presentation was our next stop. a tour of her manufacturing studio (which ensured impeccable quality in every step) was so exhilarating, as were the stunning designs. i am still in awe not only of her collection but of her well-rounded spirit which spoke of the importance of quality of life over career. dinner awaited in the media room, with four runway shows to begin our live interaction. the contemporary david dixon and the muse by christian chenail were lovely, but not quite my taste. helmer equaled to one of the most exquisite, ornate lines i have ever seen (no wonder he is a worthy heir of haute couture), and dimitri chris offered a high energy naturalistic menswear collection. a walk home on the cobble stone streets, our make shift umbrellas, and the drizzling rain somehow was unbelievably charming amidst delirium from much needed zzz's. bonne nuit!
en route to montreal.
my upcoming agenda: reporting for montreal fashion week. follow my blog for daily updates and inside scoop on the innovative lineup of designers!
my NYFW diary: september 15.
today was just full of prettiness. nanette lepore opened up my morning and left a very high standard for the remaining shows. it was exploding with energy and color, making me wish spring wasn't so far away. on this too-perfect weather of a day, i took a venture down central park west and took a touristy trip to madison avenue to gander at the shops and breathe in the fresh air. after some perusing, back to lincoln center i went, to catch the harper's bazaar accessory presentation, which was an absolute delight. it opened my knowledge to so many outstanding jewelry makers that are those above-and- beyond innovative types. i enjoyed getting to learn of their stories and the inspiration behind their exquisite creations. some names to check out: lizzie fortunado, prova, anndra neen, and, of course, alexis bittar. milly by michelle smith was up next on my to-do, which i was quite ecstatic about. it was packed out. the collection was rupturing with tomato, green, and navy hues, head wraps, and audacious prints. odd molly arrived shortly after, which was not quite my taste, but fun none-the-less. best surprise of the day: i was lucky enough to get in to anna sui (with the help of mari). what a treat. watching abbey lee walk made my day, not to mention the boho-extravagance of the fabulous conglomeration. safari anyone? final show of the day: mackage. the designer is known for his leather creations, and this year he changed pace with an entire collection of clothes. i am thankful. a big batch of veggies and writing ends my day. the finale is tomorrow!
up close and personal.
to narrow down my favorite collections for spring/summer 2011 was nearly impossible, but rebecca taylor, diane von furstenberg, rag and bone, and jason wu topped the charts. caution: these may take your breath away.
rebecca taylor.
trends: animal prints, pretty blouses, trenches, khaki, mushroom pleats, maxi skirts, sheer double pockets, high sleek buns.
diane von furstenberg.
trends: matte pink lips, circle shades, pulled back hair, rich prints, color, and camel hues.
rag and bone.
dive into bold exciting prints for spring!
jason wu.
trends: turbans, wide leg pants, ruffles, boyfriend blazer, sheer tops, stripes.
-all photos from style.com