Crazy Runway Shows

I think runway shows are interesting more for their aesthetic value than for fashion inspiration. But I have to admit that I most enjoy seeing the crazy ideas that designers come up with. Some are crazy in a "that looks really cool in the photo but it would make me look insane if I wore it to the office" but some are just WTF moments. This year has not disappointed! Last season it was bunny ears (so appropriate to this blog):



And also fetish clown lips:



Then the spring 2010 shows featured Bram Stoker's Dracula-inspired hairdos:



So I can't wait to see what the themes will be next year. Maybe cat tails will be the accessory of 2010. Or maybe Marge Simpson hairstyles. What do you think?

Spring Forecast: Tis the Season of Neutrals

Winter hasn't even officially begun yet (December 21st), but I already can't wait for it to be over. I miss wearing a tank top and flip flops, walking around in the sun at 9 on a summer night. As I was wondering when the warmer days will come back, I got to thinking about what fashion trends they will bring with them. Upon reviewing the spring 2010 runway shows, here are my predictions for next year's trendy colors.

Beige/Neutrals

The number one color on the runway seemed to be beige and its variations.



I love some of these nude colored dresses in the pictures, but ladies be careful if you wear a dress too close to your skin tone. In particular, blonde hair with pale skin and a pale dress is usually just the right formula to look washed out. Finding the right shade can make a different from looking flattering to looking sickly. If you are thinking about buying anything in this color, definitely try it on and check it out under good lighting.



Head to toe white can be very pretty (but it can also be very Miami Vice), but follow the same warning as with beige colors. I personally wouldn't even attempt this except for a wedding dress.



Army green is one of my favorite neutrals because it can go with a lot of other colors without looking too boring itself. I also have a soft spot for camo prints (2nd favorite print after pinstripes) so I hope to see more of that next spring as well.

Bright Orange

Orange is another tricky color to wear. Ever time I see it, I remember hearing my sister describe it as the "most comical color." I don't know if I'd have it as an all over color, but maybe as an accessory or accent in a pattern.

Royal Blue

Royal blue is one of my favorite colors to look at, but for some reason wearing it makes me feel uncomfortable. I guess it is just not a color for me but I know I'll enjoy seeing it around in the spring.



So I can't say I'm too excited about any of these colors as they aren't terribly flattering for my complexion other than green. Oh well, maybe next season. Which ones are your favorites?

Virtual Stylist

Fashion shows and magazines talk about having a mix and match wardrobe, but it can be hard to put a really great outfit together. Even when you think you have mastered the art of mixing and matching or come up with a great formula, over time that once-fabulous outfit has become boring and overworn. So where does a girl find new ideas these days?

Looklet is my favorite new web site for fashion inspiration. It's a lot like Closet Couture, but instead of mixing items from your own wardrobe you can use real clothing items available for purchase. Use it to "try on" clothes online before you buy them, or use it to play e-dressup.

The site features styling contests and voting for the best looks of the day. The selection of items seems to grow every time I visit the site. You can also choose between a variety of models to style and change the backdrop to anything from red carpet, runway, nature scenes, subways/street scenes, etc. Your "photo" shoot gives you a front, back, and close-up shot (all necessary - how many times has an outfit looked great only from the front and not the side view, or vice versa!).

Here was one outfit I created while contemplating a look for the upcoming holiday parties in December:



And another one typical of my work-wear "formulas" and how I like to mix patterns:



From a technical point of view, the dressing room is intuitive to use and has some very helpful features. You can dress you model by either dragging and dropping clothing items or just clicking on them from the menu. The clothes seem to know how to layer so you can put a jacket over a shirt over a tank top (other web sites where you dress an avatar only let you pick one "top" and one "bottom). You click on the items and tell it where to layer clothes (move one piece under another, or tuck a longer shirt into pants, for example). If you add a belt to a dress, it will know how to cinch in the dress around the belt. The model's height will even rise depending on the style of shoe that you use. I think all of these things contribute to the most realistic experience that I've seen online.

An Argument Against Fur

I've always been very offended by fur, and not for the obvious reasons. Fur is tacky. Much like double denim, bike shorts, and harem pants, it's just ugly. Ladies, it ages you by at least 30 years. And men, it makes you look like a 70s pimp.

"But I need it to stay warm"

There are SO many other flattering coats and materials you can wear. Or just learn to layer more.

"It's a family heirloom"

That doesn't mean you should wear it. Also, if it's that old it smells even worse.

"It's a status symbol"

If you want to look like a rich old lady, sure. But where did this wearing a dead animal hair thing come to be a status symbol? Why don't we make rings out of animal eyes, and sell them in expensive stores so people will want them? Don't fall for the psychology here: the more expensive something is, the more you are likely to want it. I bet if fur coats cost the same as other types of coats, not as many people would want them.

Winter Winners - Best Boots this Season

It's about time I posted one of those "my boot pick for winter" blog entries. I will admit that boots are probably the hardest thing to find without leather that are also stylish. The best brands I have found are Madden Girl and Chinese Laundry. Even though I live somewhere warm enough to probably still wear sandals in the winter, I am still craving these finds.

I love these cute boots by Chinese Laundry. They come in a few colors but the brown color caught my attention. It seems like I only find black boots that I like and all the brown ones look too "cowgirl" except for these:



Here is a great slouchy boot from Madden Girl. Like jeans, it probably goes with just about anything and can be dressed up or down. I am also a fan of converting summer dresses into winter attire but adding knee-high boots and a cardigan.



Slightly edgier version of the basic black boot, these would be such a great contrast with a former spring skirt:

Designer Shoes vs Vegan

Sometimes I am grateful that my veganism is the only thing standing between my credit card and a closet full of designer shoes. But I do feel the itch to have designer brands once in a while. I finally found a way to do this without having to compromise about wear leather: flip flops! I am already a huge flip flop wearer (even moreso since I moved to California), so it was an extra plus. These are some of the ways I found to "cheat" with shoes this summer:

Dolce & Gabbana:



Juicy Couture:



Kate Spade:



Emilio Pucci:

WWSD: Winkers Jeans

Ever since I started watching What Not To Wear, I find myself often thinking "What Would Stacey (or Clinton) Do?" I had such a thought when I encountered Winkers Jeans. The bottom of the pants pockets have an "eye" that looks like it winks as you walk. I have to admit that it is a funny concept, but I don't dress to make people laugh at me.

I hope that some years from now I see Stacey or Clinton throwing these jeans away on a future episode of What Not To Wear. I can't wait to hear what they would say about them. It's hard enough to find jeans that flatter the figure, and these are unfortunately doing nothing for that cause. Would you wear these??

Guilty Indulgence: Motorcycle-inspired Jacket

I was out shopping this weekend in my new residence of San Diego and I stopped in one of my favorite stores with a gift card to spend. I saw a very cool jacket and I thought no way it's going to be leather... but then to my surprise it is vegan!



This jacket is so cute and although it isn't my usual style, I was in the mood to try something new. What I really love is that it doesn't look too masculine because the cut is pretty slim - it hits just at the top of the hip. Just put it with a great print (I found a red & black print tank at the same store) and some dark jeans for a very cool going-out look. If you are really brave you could pair it with some black pinstripe pants and a blouse for a wear-to-work look. (Minus the) Leather Belted Jacket from Express

Trends Not to Follow

It's always fun to see what fashion trends will come up each season. Some are not for everyone and you have to use your judgement about which clothes work best for your shape. However, there is at least one trend each season that is not meant to be worn off the runway. Last year it was harem pants. This year I am reading more and more about wearing over-the-knee boots. Please, unless you work in the adult entertainment industry, don't wear these outside of the bedroom. I am a fan of knee-high boots and I do like all boots in general, but I just can't see wearing boots that high being appropriate in social situations.

It's Like e-Barbie...

Recently I wrote about Closet Couture, a virtual closet web site where you can create outfits from [photos of] your clothes. Now one of my favorite stores to shop at, The Limited, has a virtual dressing room on their site. I do a lot of online shopping and I think this is a great feature for e-tailers to use. If you have ever done this, you know how hard it is to try to guess which colors and patterns will really go together, or if putting two pieces together will make a flattering silhouette. And sometimes you order clothes only to find they aren't quite the shade or cut that they looked like in the picture.

In our increasingly Internet-dependent society, with video games looking more and more like real life, I am awaiting the day when shopping for clothes online is as efficient as shopping in person (just without any heavy bags or crowds). We still have some ways to go, but the trend of virtual dressing rooms is becoming more and more common on web sites. So check out the dressing room at The Limited, and see what kind of outfits you can come up with. Or just appease your inner child that wants to play e-Barbie.