A True Sense Of Style

After looking through the collections between Pre-Fall 14 and Fall 14, I believe there is one person who has really stood out and stole the show. 

Linda Rodin.

She ended up being one of the three models in The Row's Pre-Fall 14 collection and showed great style that is really hard to come by these days. 

With all the street style fashion walkers out there and celebrities, it's becoming easier to pinpoint the people who have a true sense of style and people who are receiving their sense from someone else. 

Having model, stylist, and business owner under her belt, she truly embodies someone who is authentic.

She lives her life in simplicity, which seemed like the perfect match for a brand like The Row. 

I was just hoping I'd see more of her for the Fall collections….

Pictures from www.lifestylemirror.com; www.sunchasers.sunglasscurator.com

Happy Days Are Here Again...

Cloud like fixtures were suspended from the ceiling. 

A woman with a soft, relaxing voice was reciting inspirational words. 

Overall, reminded me of something out of a Dr. Seuss book. 

With total focus on his own brand, Marc brought a serene atmosphere to his usual up beat and dramatic shows. 

Warm, tonal and pastel colors took over every piece. Simplicity would be the best word to sum it up with long dresses, tops and pants. 

A few pieces with sheer ruffling showed up and some with a glitter sheen were the most dramatic out of the whole show.

Fabrications were soft and flowing. Structure was not a trend in the eyes of Jacobs this season. 

Scoop neck and v-neck cuts were on many tops and dresses. 

Entire sweater ensembles from the pants, top and all the way up with a scarf wrapped around their necks.

Models had pink or blonde short, blunt wigs with thick headbands. A little reminder to all us woman and how we look at night when they wash their face.

Shoulder bags were carried on a few models, but did not seem to be a huge focus for this collection.

With Marc being one of the last collections for NYFW, his serene show at the end of a busy week seemed particularly appropriate.

http://www.style.com

Who Would Have Thought A Chunky Knit Could Get Chunkier?

So far I haven't been disappointed by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's label, The Row, and it looks like that streak will continue. 

The twins continue to go the simplicity route with fine fabrics, fine craftsmanship and a little phrase that is hard to come by in the fashion world, less is more. 

The show started off with chunky knits and I'm not talking about the ones you, your mothers or grandmothers have in their closets. Wearing these, you'll be able to forgo a coat most of the fall and early winter season.(Of course only if we have a much milder winter than the one we're having now). In neutral colors, they were also paired with oxfords. Can you feel them getting closer to a shoe collection as much as I do?

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2014RTW-ROW/

A surprising factor was the lack of fur that they usually show. One coat had fur lining the bottom and one had a trim around a hood, however for most of the pieces, MKA opted out for more simplistic fabrications such as wools and cashmeres. 

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2014RTW-ROW/

Lots of draping and no tailored pieces really emulated the style of both designers and what most of us would see them in walking down the street.

Ankle length socks were paired with all the oxfords and the handbags continued in luxurious fabrics in shoulder bag silhouettes.

The continued look of one-colored ensembles from previous collections was still important in this one.

I think with all this said, I do have one tiny suggestion….bring Linda Rodin back for the runway!

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2014RTW-ROW/

Are Winter Storm Names Competing with Celebrity Baby Names?

With snow storm Pax amongst us, I started thinking that the winter storms are starting to compete with celebrity baby names in the originality contest.

Have all the common names such as Rachel or Scott been used up? 

Now I'm by far not a weather expect, nor do I watch the TV for hours to see what is happening in that department. However, with our 15 or so storms so far, names like Orion, Falco and Vulcan have been used to name some of the worst snow we've seen in quite a few years. 

Is it because Hercules is a strong name and that is all we saw this winter season? Or are we trying to go the celebrity route and come up with the most unique names possible to out do the last.

Over the years, celebrities have been a hot topic when it comes to naming their kids. Apple, Moses, the list goes on and I'm sure many people are holding their breath once an actress or singer pops out a kid waiting for what the next fad is going to be.

I mean what's next, Tuna or Sardine?

This was even an issue in a Seinfeld episode when George wanted to name his kid Seven. And with parents trying to keep up with the Jones's, are there women giving birth right now thinking they will name their kid Ion or Ulysses?

http://www.latinopost.com/articles/4003/20140211/winter-snow-storm-2014-maps-update-winter-storm-pax-expected-to-hit-northeast-nyc-dc.htm

With all joking aside, the two, snow storms and celebrities, seem to be merging together and trying to out do one another.

All I know is, when Hurricane season comes around, I'm really looking forward to hearing some unique ones!

Holy Public School

After watching the evolution of Public School on Ovation's "The Fashion Fund", these designers have proven they are the next to watch in the men's clothing designer arena. 

But I certainly wasn't expecting them to conquer women's wear as well. 

A wardrobe full of black clothing walked down the runway with the occasional splatter of navy and burgundy. 

Men in capes, wide brim hats and leather harnesses. Kind of like Hedi Slimane meeting Christian Gray's closet.

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2014RTW-public-school

Women in ski caps, herringbone and oxfords. 
The majority of clothing seemed interchangeable between sexes with exception to some dresses and fitted coats, or at least to me, it was. Makes it easier to see all at once rather than perusing the racks at H&M in the men's section. Can be harder than it seems. 
Anyways I digress.
With all this potential streaming out of them in their first runway show, it makes it hard not to notice Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne.
That $300,000 prize from CFDA was well spent.

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2014RTW-public-school

Boy Brilliance

When Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters founded Creatures of the Wind back in 2007, they brought a unique vision to the industry that goes against any street style figure who wears the A-typical item off the runway. 

They made ugly cool. Almost equivalent to a girl in her awkward stage of growing up. 

Over the past seven years, they've graduated to the big leagues and continue to grow the wardrobe for that same awkward girl, although grown up herself and living in a world of fantasy.

This season they added boy-like features such as straight lines and buttoned shirts. Unique wood-like and floral prints appeared on several pieces. 

Butterflies adorned blazers and dresses as finishing touches. 

Skirt and dress length were knee high to floor length while sweaters were either chunky and long or were mid-length with wraps.

Mink caps, that looked as if they came straight out of Edie Sedgwick's wardrobe, graced the catwalk on a few models.

It's clear it's just the beginning for these two designers. If Target is looking for their next designer collaboration, I suggest they look this way.

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2014RTW-CWIND

Utility Meets Day Glo

First the utility came….
Well actually, first came the boat that shipped everyone across the river to Brooklyn. Fashionistas leaving Manhattan, say it isn't so!
Clothing with pockets. Horizontal, vertical, on the side, on the leg, pencil holder pockets. Wait, did I just say pencil holders?

Next came the fluorescent colors or in other words POC. 
Pop of color. 
It first started on collars and gradually made it onto jackets, coats and sweaters that also paid tribute to Charlie Brown.

Paisley prints on blouses with cape like features and shearling coats with jagged edges were some unique touches.
Bags also screamed utility with inspired fanny packs and shoulder bags that included three separate sections. One section that kept to Alexander's athletic aesthetic, a water bottle holder or perhaps something that could double as a wine bottle holder. A benefit for the majority of the population. Now wouldn't that be something.
The shoes were a continuous thought from the Pre-Fall 14 collection. Calf to knee high patent leather with cut outs down the entire back.

The grand finale proved that Alexander is thinking on an entirely different level, with models spinning on a turn table like stage. He's continuing to take his shows to a greater fantasy land.

With his newbie position at Balenciaga and his veteran position at his namesake label, he's continuing to solidify his position in the fashion industry.

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2014RTW-AWANG/