NYFW SS14 | rodarte.

When asked to describe their impeccable Spring Summer 2014 Ready to Wear collection, the sisterly dream team Laura and Kate Mulleavy only had two words: Los Angeles. On first thought, perhaps that loose, vague "definition" strikes one as too brief or lacking precision. After viewing the collection, one realises that there really isn't a more succinct way to put it. Think Nasty Gal amped up thirteen notches, with provocative assymetrical hemlines, Cali-girl bra tops and the absolute best and boldest use of black and white this season has seen. Rodarte's darkly whimsical and unshakeable attention to artistic detail is given a facelift as the duo experiments with some of the most modern silhouettes their career has seen. Geometric clashes between spherical necklaces and grid-lined cropped sweaters add punch to an already bold statement, topped off with animal-print flat booties that nods to an existing albeit successful trend. Thick, metallic embellished belts hang loosely from slim waists, lending a slightly raunchy, "borrowed from the band-boys" look. And yet despite all the tassels and the vibrant prints and the surprisingly original silhouettes, some absolutely perfect classics can be witnessed; a simple white mink miniskirt and an equally pristine ivory blazer subtly interpose the loudness of Los Angeles.

If there was an award for how many different ways black and white could complement each other within the confines of each runway look, Rodarte would surely bag it. Mermaid-y assymmetrical hems flow organically beneath polished stripes, colorblocking, tiered texture, modern plaid, animal print, or a mix of all of the above. Triangular necklines become teardrops, which become pyramid-esque high necks which fall to drapey low v-necks. The combinations, and effortlessness with which they are exuded, are astounding. While I'm not a fan of the awkwardly sea-creature/lettuce resembling hems (I only said mermaid initially to be polite), the sharp precision of the patterns are executed without fault. With architectural design and print being this damn good, who even needs color?

 And now ring in the separates; namely the bustier which is naturally every Californian chica's dream. While the shape of these cropped pieces are inventive and refreshing, they lack wearability as the pointy cups distort the appearance of shoulders and thus make the rest of us who aren't model-thin look a tad wonky. Nevertheless, I am 100000% in favor of these no-nonsense pointy toed shoes. They're a little like Tavi Gevinson: they know they're weird and unconventional and a bit out-there, but they're proud of it and hold their heads high and werk it (I am still talking about shoes fyi). Points awarded for the 1st and 3rd bustiers for edgy sex appeal (from left to right), points deducted for that satiny nightdress worn by Lindsey Wixson that seems to be missing the rest of its sleeves and skirt (might be biased by the fact that Lindsey isn't my fave but oh well).

Noooooow we're talking. The fact that no one's thought of filling a skirt slit with sexy tassels before worries me, because that might just be the best new revolutionary fashion idea this season has graced us with so far. Teamed with a sultry mesh underlay, scorpion motifs and delicate earrings, that 1st look is ah-mazing. The lack of tottering stilettos helps round out this collection as one with athletic, casual potential and flexibility - the models aren't overly made-up in rainbow eyes a la Chanel, and the way they pull off beautiful clothing in simple, rather generic-looking shoes brings Rodarte's previously untouchable kingdom of elegance down to a sexy and accessible level.

As the show progressed, hemlines sneaked higher and higher into a final culmination of a marginally more sophisticated reworking of the traditional booty-exposing daisy duke short. Do they look amazing on the models? Definitely. Are the designs and embellishments with regards to these shorts successful? Sure. Do I like the fact that they're teamed with equally revealing bustiers? No. Are these at all wearable? Probably not. A style statement for sure - but one that is hard to translate into daily wear (unless you're Cara Delevigne, Liu Wen, or possess the legs and the swagger of a "model-off-duty"). Either way, I'm too caught up in those gorgeous blazers, which douse the collection in sexy, carefree masculinity. Few things are more effortlessly chic than soft blazers with pushed-up sleeves, but that sleeveless leopard and leather piece on the far right is a tiny notch above its sleeved counterparts. But blazers are delicious however they are consumed: sleeved, oversized, boxy, embellished, etc.

So there you have it! What do you think of Rodarte's Spring Summer 2014 collection?

NYFW SS14 | raoul.

Striking the most perfect balance between retro-glam and futuristic flavors, Raoul electrified NYFW with another absolutely flawless Spring Summer collection. Comprised of unusual geometry, glorious architecture and a lightness that makes me miss the warmer months even more, modern silhouettes are redone with even cleaner lines and infused with a coherent palette of vermillion orange, black, white, stony gray and pops of blue. Razor-thin ankle straps, pointy stiletto heels and laser cut oval details add precision and sharpness to the boxy androgynous silhouettes which distort the female form. Transparency is manipulated to great acclaim; be it through perforated fabric, angular mesh inserts or transparent detailing on footwear. Organic monochrome swirls help soften the several bold sartorial statements, yet still attribute structure and form to a collection that appears rigid, but upon closer inspection, reveals itself as a wearable revival of some of fashion's oldest concepts. On a beauty note, the cleanliness and sterility of the ensembles are reinforced with matte complexions, a nude lip, chalky eyeshadow, Twiggy-esque lower lashes and a defined sweep of liquid liner placed above the crease for a look that delicately walks the line between daily makeup wear and theatrical stage makeup. Sophistication fused with streetwear, history minus the ornate fuss, simple yet impactful detailing and absolutely no room for nonsense.

a nautical affair.

I often blame my incurable fetish for nautical clothing on my father's unhealthy obsession with sailing. We own a tiny sailing boat which we go out on some weekends, and it's safe to say that I've been exposed to a fair share of sand, sea and surf in my fourteen years of life. Now I'm no outdoorsy fanatic, but there's something about the sound of sloshing waves, the elegance of a sailboat and the burnt crisp of a summer sunset that never fails to enthrall me.
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Forget about generic Aussie surf brands like Quiksilver, Billabong and Roxy; those are strictly for surfers and practicality enthusiasts. Channeling the 'nautical' trend is something very refined and classic, and of course, you don't have to be aboard a luxurious catamaran or amidst the foamy, sparkling waves to rock this look. My advice would be to head for the good old Breton top and red lipstick in times of doubt or wallet-related woes. Both these nautical essentials have a 100% success rate, regardless of what their price tags show. 

So go on, march into Forever 21 with your head held high, and grab one (or five) of these sumptuous shirts for a refreshing dose of chic nautical style (same goes for red lippy; no one does it better than the drugstore); your wardrobe will thank you. Stripy bikinis and kitschy sunglasses are optional!

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fall: denim & nude.

Fall has always struck me as being the most beautiful time of year. So many new colors seem to squeeze their way onto Nature's paint palette, from the subtle reddish glow of the leaves to the intensity of the sky, streaked heavily with luminous, fiery hues. It's also a great time of year because the weather isn't too unforgiving yet, so you can still flaunt your Fall wardrobe pieces without worrying about bulging thermal layers, goosebumps, and those unsightly earmuff/balaclava things.


To me, Fall is also the most polished month of the year in terms of style; it's the time when preppy trenches and chocolate-colored boots make their long awaited debut after hibernating for a year. Although I do love the rawness of the loose tribal cardies and moccasins you see in many Fall collections, I think a more put-together look such as the ones above in "Denim and Nude" tend to work better. I adore the combination of Denim and Nude because of how seamless it looks. The deep, prussian-blue shade of denim against the rich consistency of camel-colored leather. Your favorite acid-wash, faded cut-offs teamed with that beige boyfriend knit. Sound good? Yeah, thought so. And as Stella McCartney said, "there is something so sensual about nude with denim." It's classy, chic, and won't leave you freezing your ass off on a cold day either. 


Oh yeah and guys, like my Facebook page here and I'll love you forever. I'm serious.

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spring 2012 roundup.

The Spring Ready-To-Wear collections are officially out, and I’ve pored eagerly through as many shows as I can stomach. The plethora of fresh spring colors and exciting new trends that each designer exuded with a different twist was truly astounding. The season of Spring is such a wonderful, refreshing change in the fashion world; it’s the long-awaited beginning of flouncy skirts, and the due farewell to thick, heavy winter layers. And you'll be glad to know I’ve graduated from the generic Spring connotations of florals and pastels. Spring in my eyes is now more of an explosion of seething color and graphic, linear dimensions, and this Spring, nobody encompasses that better than Marc Jacobs' widely successful diffusion line: Marc by Marc Jacobs.

I adore the way Marc Jacobs is able to infuse bursts of fun, almost juvenile aspects of fashion into his clothing, while maintaining a polished, put-together look that is signature to his name. He has an amazing eye for color too, and the zingy vermillion hue that's woven through this entire collection couldn't be more... Spring-y. This collection was the perfect combination of loud colors (a la Skittles), interesting necklines and hemlines, androgynous chic and of course, the signature Marc Jacobs preppy flair, that each model is undoubtedly drenched in.

Another brand that never fails to completely blow me way is 3.1 Phillip Lim. I just can't get enough of the preppiness of this brand and how well it complements the season. I'm drooling over all the sportswear-chic looks, the tailored pants, and how almost everything looks like it's been soaked in a bucket of tippex (correction fluid used at school and sniffed by the rebels, in case you ask). The stripes, the mild pastel colors and the light summer fabrics make this collection one to die for.

And here's one last set of my favourite looks from a brand I've never really looked into; J Mendel.
I adore their immaculate use of texture and how soft, wispy day-dresses can add a feminine elegance to a rigid arrangement of electrified color. Some of their prints were really interesting and mosaic-y, and I love the elegance that's just piled on to every look.


And that piece on the far left comprised of a pant-leg and a skirt? Now that's ingenious Spring design for you right there; plain and simple.

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isabel marant: surfing, skateboarding and spring.

I find it significantly more enjoyable and intimate to analyze not a trend as a whole, but an individual designer and their personal interpretations. The world of fashion relies too heavily on trends, as if trends should dictate the creative energy and potential of designers. Looking at a single designer and their creations tell you a story, which is what enthralls me the most in the world of fashion. 

 Instead of enlightening myself with shallow general knowledge about the trends of spring (e.g. Lace is in, Ikat is out) which seems to be common lingo to everyone, I took a deeper dive into Isabel Marant's Spring Collection, where I familiarized myself with her inspirations, stories and her timeless flair, which undoubtedly transcends the boundaries of what we label as 'a season.' 

Mesh/Sheer Tops - What struck me most about Isabel Marant's Spring RTW 2011 designs was her seamless 'compliance' with the standout Spring trend of Lace. As you can see in the pictures above, there was no evidence of lace, but rather a more androgynous, modern take on the 'sheer' look. The models were donned in somewhat futuristic, synthetic white mesh shirts, which were matched with complimentary tailored pastel pants for a preppy look, and with a floral tiered skirt for a striking contrast. I can definitely picture those racy tops layered with neon tank tops and tights on the writhing body of a teenager at a disco. The concept of 'muted androgyny' is weaved both consciously and sub-consciously throughout her collection.

Pink Pants - Another huge trend that was evident throughout Marant's collection was the use of pastel colors; especially on the lower half. From youthful, casual pink cutoff shorts to timeless, conservative pants, Marant enthralled me with a rich variety that displayed the fact that there was something for everyone.

Marant took her inspiration for Spring from the restless cities of California. She "fell in love" with California and it's "chill vibe," and thus this season was an "ode to surfing and the early days of skateboarding" in California. The racy (and dare I say, slightly slutty) vibes that some of her looks feature (that are of course, smothered in classic Marant chic) seem to go hand-in-hand with the stereotypical culture of America as we see it. There were also some "fast and furious...Sports references" in the latter of the collection, where we saw "shrunken fisherman" shirts, varsity style baseball jerseys and rugby stripe shirt-dresses (shown in the second-to-last image on the extreme left).

Scrolling through Trend Reports on Style.com, I've realised, doesn't do me much good as a person who's interested in fashion. We have subconsciously redefined the word 'fashionable' because now, 'fashionable' only lasts a mere few months. 

Indeed, it is the snowflakes of winter and the heat of summer that we so effortlessly recall about seasons. Fur jackets and Daisy Dukes? They're gone before you can say 'next season.'

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fall '10: matchy-matchy.

Athough this Trend Report is a little late (Fall 2010), I absolutely ADORED this, so I felt the need to post something about it. While looking around on Style.com, I came across Oscar De La Renta's classy, stunning ensemble of luscious navy in the form of a mannish coat and dainty, modest tights. The mini skirt adds a touch of simplicity and femininity, as well as balancing out the color scheme of the outfit. The result? Flawless, Exclusive and Timeless: The 'Oscar' Way.


Take a look at some of the ensembles from other designers on the runway this Fall; I can't stop drooling over Bottega Veneta's collection!

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thakoon: pre-fall 2011.

Thakoon Panichgul whipped up an amazing Pre-Fall 2011 Collection, characterized by the clean, slender lines, and the minimal colors of gray, ice blue and black, contrasted with bright red. The V-neck was a recurring trend within the collection which helped create shape and add a feminine touch. The facade of his ensembles remain very much flat and textureless, with decorative additions of a tweed texture or a satin sash to liven things up. All the looks are polished and dignified, but some of the prints he's created brings back the atmosphere of Thakoon's earlier seasons, with his geometric wonders gracing the lengthy, floor sweeping dresses.


A gorgeous collection, Thakoon never fails to impress.

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elie saab.

 Whenever I read that name on a page of a glossy magazine, delightful images of sumptuous fabrics and princessy dresses whirl through my head. Elie Saab's designs are the definition of class, elegance and timeless style, and his silhouettes are strictly feminine and complement the feminine figure effortlessly. His Spring 2011 RTW collection consisted of 56 delicious ensembles - it was so difficult to pick my favorites to post on here!

His collection definitely proved to be a success, no different from every single one of his previous shows. The variety within the collection was truly breathtaking, consisting of clean cut blazers, micro dress shorts, voluptuous chiffon dresses and slinky silk cocktail togas. Elie's work is always full of intricate, microscopic detail, and this collection was no exception.