Real Clothes and Real Women

Something has been puzzling fashion reviewers about Fashion Week for F/W 2010: Fashion designers are using real women to model real clothing.

Size has been a major issue lately in the fashion community, from firings at Ralph Lauren to V Magazine's Size Issue. This past week in Milan, Elena Miro brought the issue full circle, so to speak, with some lovely derrieres (pictured above). Designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Betsey Johnson (guess who) also featured models of contour (pictured below).

Not only are designers starting to use actual women in their fashion shows, they are also designing sensible clothing to go along with them. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal named the most recent Fashion Week as being filled with "plenty of wearable clothes." Not that wearable always has a good name: "It's loaded. Sometimes it means you're not editorial enough" says Vera Wang of her recent collection (pictured below). (Wall Street Journal)

Even the avant garde Marc Jacobs (below) was said to have a simple, elegant show with tons of separates that could be "worn by real people" (Wall Street Journal).

"The wearability theme is all good news for the retailers. Buyers have been watching for clothes they can actually sell... Sales in the industry have been down for 18 months, and splashy looks aren't working like they used to. Designers want to sell clothes." (Wall Street Journal)

Let us know what you think:

Were the looks during this past fashion week banal or simply sensible?

Love you, mean it

Emily

RedHead

"While the rest of the species descended from apes,

redheads are descended from cats"

-Mark Twain

Love you, mean it

Emily

Postscript. Photos borrowed on occasion from flickr, moki, franz marc, chinese fashion, audrey hepburn complex, faded filmstrip, sabino and new york magazine - in no particular order...

C is for Cookie

So my life pretty much consists of school, work and cookies right now. Cookies, you ask? Yes, cookies. My boyfriend got me a cookie cookbook for my birthday this year. I've been slowly going through each of the recipes and making them, tasting them, and rating them on a 1 to 5 scale. Recent favorites include Kitchen Sink Cookies (adapted) and Chocolate Pretzel Cookies.

Being obsessed with cookies (as of late) I was pleasantly surprised to find one of my favorite brands, Band of Outsiders, loves them too.

Loves them so much, they write a blog about them. I have one word for that: Genius.

The blog doesn't really consist of where to buy fab cookies or pictures of cookies they ate - though they are both included - It's pretty much just an all around appreciation of cookies.

And really, if you don't love cookies, you might not have a soul.

Visit their cookie blog here, or their regular blog here.

Love you, mean it

Emily

life

via the audrey hepburn complex

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing. ~gbs

love you, mean it.

barton

DIY Necklace (via P.S. I Made This)

Project of the day!

Member when Madonna wore those cute dayglow fringy necklace things? Yeah, of course you don't - you're like 2.

Anywhoozles, the site P.S. I Made This remade this special material gal favorite - just for you and I to make with our own two paws!

This is pretty much the best thing I've heard all day. It's my next project.. Right after I make those velvet leggings... hrmmmmm...

Find this and many other FABULOUS things to DIY here.

Love you, mean it

Emily

this is how i think it would feel...

I get this rush of excitement when watching this video that Garance Dore posted about the Alexander Wang show the other day. The video captures the excitement of backstage and the music gives me that feeling deep down in my stomach- the one where you know you know it isnt the time or place to dance, but you just might have to. 

JUMP for the video:

(sorry I cant repost it here...I couldn't find an embed link.)

love you, mean it.

barton

London Fashion Week

Today marks the beginning of fashion week in London (19th - 23rd in case you forgot what day it was in your drunken stupor). And just because you missed out on all the awesomeness (ssokay, we did too) doesn't mean you have to cry into your cocoa puffs tonight (ssokay, we eat them for dinner too). London is nice enough to film all the shows happening at Somerset House live online. Go here to see it live, uncut and raw (like sushi!).

Love you, mean it

Emily

p.s. photo donated from the Cut.

"Again with the Dream Pooping"

This is seriously like the funniest thing I've seen in a while:

Very Mary-Kate, Episode 1 from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

I suggest watching them all. In like, a row. Heh. Heh. Hehehe...

Love you, mean it

Emily

Kitchen Sink Cookies

These cookies include everything but... dairy. What did you think I was going to say?

This recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies - so bring to your next family meeting or recreational activity - they are sure to be a hit!

2 c quick-oats

2 c all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 c melted vegan margarine (I used Earth Balance :)

2/3 c sugar

3/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c soy milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)

1 1/2 tsp dry egg replacer (not mixed with water) OR 1 tbsp ground flax seeds

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 c chocolate chips

1/2 c dried currants

1/2 c dried cherries

1/2 c slivered almonds

1/2 c walnut pieces

2 tbsp maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350˚F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a separate baking sheet (not lined) evenly distribute the almonds and walnuts. Place in heating oven for about 8-10 minutes (checking to make sure they don't get too brown). Take out of oven & put in a small bowl. Drizzle maple syrup and a pinch of salt onto the nuts. Cool in freezer until you use them later in the recipe.

In another bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and set aside. In another bowl, combine margarine, sugars, soy milk, egg replacer and vanilla - mix well. Fold dry ingredients into wet in two batches. Just before mixture is completely combined, fold in the chocolate chips, dried fruit and nuts.

Scoop 1/4 c of mix out for each cookie. Each should be roughly the size of a golf ball. Evenly space the cookies on the sheet (about 12 each sheet). Bake in oven for about 15 minutes (give or take a minute) until edges start to brown. Let cookies chill on the cookie sheet for about 5-7 minutes before transferring them to a drying rack. Enjoy!

Love you, mean it

Emily

P.S. This recipe was loosely based on a recipe from the formidable "Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero - the two best vegan bakers I can think of.

I heart BJs

Summing up what everyone wanted to say:

i heart you betsey johnson.

l.y.l.a.s.

for-realsies.

love you, mean it

Emily

National Velvet

Man, do I want me some velvet leggings. The fabric has been in full effect thus far on the runways. See for yourself:

Erin Fetherston

Alexander Wang

Altuzarra

More to follow...

Love you, mean it

Emily

FW for F/W

Worried you are missing out this week?

Well, that's just silly. Here are a list of designers who are streaming their shows LIVE from NY Fashion Week (tho some will be really late for us):

Michael Angel - Feb. 12th at 12pm EST

Lacoste - Feb. 13th at 10:30 EST

Alexander Wang - Feb. 13th at 5pm EST

Calvin Klein - Feb. 14th at 2pm EST (men's collection)

Perry Ellis - Feb. 15th at 7pm EST

Marc Jacobs - Feb. 15th at 8pm EST

Rodarte - Feb. 16th at 12pm EST

G-Star - Feb. 16th at 7pm EST

Michael Kors - Feb. 17th at 10am EST

William Rast - Feb. 17th at 7pm EST

Marc Bouwer - Feb. 18th at 9am EST

Isaac Mizrahi - Feb. 18th at 12pm EST (plus his super cute video blog here!)

Calvin Klein - Feb. 18th at 3pm EST (women's collection)

Love you, mean it

Emily

p.s. info from Nitrolicious

pretty writing and school things

Just to keep myself entertained this semester: 

All pretty things we can afford once we are OUT of school... funny how that works. 


Kikkerland

i love some people brains

There are people out there who are so gosh darn creative...



a real life Lichtensein? Yes, Please.

“Crying Girl” (1964) by Roy Lichtenstein. © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

I cant stop staring at this...

via Illusion360

love you, mean it.

barton

Oh, honey.

I'm so very sad to hear of Alexander McQueens untimely death.



All of my love is sent to his family, friends and fans.

love you, mean it.

full story NYT fashion&style

it starts

Tomorrow marks the beginning of New York Fashion Week representing collections for Fall/Winter 2010. My question to you is this: is Fashion Week tired?

With fast fashion all around us - H&M, F21, Zara, etc. - we can absorb next season's patterns, cuts, colors and prints a whole season before they come "out." By the time many designer labels can actually process their orders and ship to stores - many of the fast fashion locations are already on to the next season. Does fashion week need to change to keep up?

Don't get me wrong - I love anticipating the new collections, dreaming up my next seasons wardrobe one Style.com page at a time. But I've already forgotten what designers did for this spring? Which is the season right around the corner!

So fellow fashion-lovers I ask this of you:

Test yourself this Fashion Week - remember the clothing. Do you see it a month from now in H&M? And will you be tired of it by the time it's actually "in season?"

Find a calendar of Fashion Week here.

love you, mean it

Emily

love in the form of shoes...

yes. please.

Camper - February 14th Ad from Camper on Vimeo.

love you, mean it.

barton

things

love you, mean it.

barton

Attention Significant Others:

Do you realize you only have 7 days to get your partner something for Valentines Day? Well, be ye bestfriend, boyfriend, girlfriend or foe, I did all the work for you. Now just click on one of these links below and buy us something! No really.

For Her:

What Valentines Day would be complete without a visit from the Weiner. What? Erika Weiner's jewelry rules. She makes everything that I wish I could. This necklace is Slavic for "Remembrance." Buy it for $65 from her site.

This is one of my newest favorite etsy shops. Thevamoose features super cute jewelry at inexpensive prices. Buy this pyrite necklace here for only $14!

This lace bib would be perfect for that total party princess you know. Umm, who doesn't want to be guzzling down her second bottle of wine while simultaneously bragging about not spilling a drop on her lovely white neck adornment? Yeah, me too. Buy this for me.. I mean.. your lady friend here for only $7.50. She's got like 18 zillion other lacey bits on her site if this one doesn't quite tickle your fancy.

One of my darling friends at school made this lovely piece. She was also hand-choosen to be in a Pixar Holiday Craft Show this year so you know she's awesome. Let this little birdie fly into your heart here for $38.

What? A little shameless self-promotion never hurt anyone. These earrings are darling and only $16. Find them here.

This is also one of my favorite etsy stops on the web-o-meter. This gal custom-makes pretty much every saying your heart could wish for like: "who dat ninja," "mom off-it," "" or any romantic saying you could think of. Find her wares here. You may find this one to be priced at $58.

Sometimes we are just looking for someone to tell us how they feel. For once! This dainty note will only run you $6. Find you here. No one will think you're lame if you tell us we're rad. Promise.

For Him:

Okay, so it's a gift for you too? This hand-knit cashmere twosie is giving me a toothache (RIP). It was also featured in Bust's top Valentines gifts. Find it here for $35.

This is so cool I've already bought it - in mug form. I got it for my sweetie for our anniversary.. Last year? The years run together ;) Find it from FoldedPigs here for $28.

These are super cute and can be custom made to fit whatever it one-word you want to tell your dood. Find it here for $20.

Yeah, sorry! But this one rules! I sorta wanted it for myself but oh well. This lovely little guy will run you almost $12 here.

For Your Homey:

If I had $220 bones - gurl you know I'd be gettin this for you! Alas, I don't. But if you do, you are sure to have a friend for life. Find this necklace courtesy of In God We Trust.

Hope you got some good ideas! Now hurry up and have a Happy Valentines Day!

Love you, mean it

Emily