Sunday, January 2, 2011

Spring Theme: Loungerie for S/S 2011


Loungerie - Lingerie as outer wear.  Remember Jennifer Garner's "13 going on 30" movie?  Recall the scene where she jumped out of the bed disoriented in her nighties and found herself on the street and her BFF found her in her Silk Lingerie and commented that it is so whatever year?  Yep, that one.  Look for that one or dresses similar to it.  2011 is all about silk and laces, and lingerie apparently is the mother queen of anything smooth, silky and lacey-- not to mention "see through"...and designers are bringing it on the street.

I'm wondering if a corset would be a trend, so far, I haven't seen one.  Most of the stuff I've noticed are flowy and sheer dresses...but with the biker/punk chic theme, a corset might just pull the trick for ladies like me who needs to be "bound" for our curves to show.  Unlike the super slim supermodels, I'd be better off with a simple and plain---and maybe a sheer tee and a corset on top of it.  does it fit the 70's theme? A corset with lace and ruffles?  I remember seeing a guess? ad with the model wearing a corset...it is definitely gaining momentum...just have to wait the first brave souls to try it, then we, stupid people, can follow hehehe.  

But Loungerie theme is all about being soft (ehem, corset might be in a different spring category), with a hint of nostalgia.  It communicates intimacy and eternal seduction without being overtly sexual.  There are women who are just ravishing in the morning...

In terms of color, Spring 2011 is definitely all about freshness -- brights and whites.


Worn Out Fashion Style Terms




LEAVE it to fashionistas to try on new buzzwords like they’re going out of style. Whether it was our bromance with heritage brands, or the shellacking that some collaborations took, 2010 saw no shortage of P.R.-driven catchphrases and trendy terms. As with all fads, it’s time to put some to rest.
Couture: Calling something “couture” doesn’t make it hand-sewn or high class. Yet the word popped up everywhere last year, from discount Web sites to Canal Street pushcarts. It’s even uttered repeatedly on HSNand QVC to describe handbags, dresses and almost anything else. You can trust that the rayon and polyester cape selling for $49.95 was not hand-stitched by petite seamstresses in a Parisian atelier.
Bespoke: A close runner-up to “couture.” Used by retailers to make their merchandise seem classier, although the items in question are not literally made to order.
Statement outfits: Does your clothing speak louder than words? That seemed to be the mantra chanted by fashion lemmings, who kept referring to attention-grabbing pieces as “statements.”
Smoldering: O.K., your makeup is hot. Your outfit is hotter. You are about to combust. We get it.
Pop-up: It was the year of the pop-up store — Shiseido and AllSaints had them, as did Zimmermann swimwear in SoHo and Liberty of London for Target. Blame it on empty storefronts and skittish retailers, but the hit-and-run retail concept swept the world’s fashion capitals, to the point of losing its novelty.
Fashionista: The word has gone from describing a class of urban style-conscientious sophisticates to becoming a lazy and cheap byword for anyone with a modicum of taste. (See “hipster.”)
Collaborations: H&M and Alber ElbazGap and Stella McCartneyJason Wu and Tse; Opening Ceremony and [insert name here]. Collaborations went gaga in 2010, making it seem as if solo designing were a thing of the past.
Concept store: Used to describe any store that deviated in the slightest from the norm, whether it was Ann Taylor’s “concept store” in the Flatiron district that featured 10 design finalists, or the OC Concept Store on Madison Avenue that sells watches and yachts. But aren’t all stores supposed to have a concept? Just checking.
Geek-chic: If geeks rule the world, it was only a matter of time before they conquered fashion. In 2010, anyone who sported thick-framed glasses, cardigans and T-shirts with nerdy references was instantly labeled “geek-chic.” The hip-to-be-square term has also become a popular Twitter hashtag. #done.
Eco-fashion: Stella McCartney made vegan platform shoes out of faux leather and cork;Michael Kors used organic cashmeres and cottons in his resort collection. Responsible design never gets old, but this term has.
D.I.Y. fashion: It’s not always necessary to knit your own mittens. And not everyone becomes a best seller on Etsy.com. Save your sanity by going to Urban Outfitters and spending the $8.
Heritage: Waxed Barbour jackets. Red Wing boots. Woolrich sweaters. Classic Americana ruled men’s runways in 2010 — and the cash registers at retail behemoths like J. Crew. But perhaps the only thing more played out than another lumberjack-chic man with a candy-colored ax was this word, trotted out to label the retro-trend.
Well-edited: This replaced “curated” to describe any collection chosen with a sharp eye. Stay tuned for this year’s word: culled.
Mash-up: Used to describe looks that blend multiple influences, as in, “The designer’s spring collection is a mash-up of Upper East Side girl and Harajuku girl on Valium,” or “Her aesthetic is a mash-up of East meets West.” Designers have always drawn upon their imagination and varied cultural references, so the term is superfluous.
A version of this list appeared in print on January 2, 2011, on page ST7 of the New York edition.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Punk/Rock Street Chic


Black top design by Samskara by 

Bright Red Lipstick by YSL
torn washout mini by G Cube
*it's supposed to be longer but cut it short to fit my height.

Accessories: Cameo Necklace, in antique gold chain
and Antique Gold Bangles

Photography by Ben Balmonte