VainGlorious

Urban Outfitted

2009-06-09T00:57:00.004-04:00

A shoes poem:
I saw these in Urban.
They are so boss.
I tried to make my friend - whom we'll call My Girl C -
buy them,
but she refused.
Lame.
If only My Girl C was a secret codename for Chloe Sevigny,
my friend totes would have bought them
and dominated the pavement.

End.

Vanity Fair Play

2009-03-30T22:21:00.002-04:00

Today I got an e-mail from Vogue offering a free Anya Hindmarch tote with a one-year subscription to Vanity Fair. Imagine my surprise since I think we all know that the general "gift" with a paid subscription is more often a Chinese-orphan designed plastic coin purse than anything a Vogue or Vanity Fair reader would be caught dead with. Is enlisting designers like Hindmarch (the tote bears her characteristic wit on one side that says, "Vanity Fair Trade") a hot new trend in the industry? Have Condé Nast and co. realized a way to make cute free designer things a feasible accompaniment with every glossy? And if so, might I suggest thumb drives? YSL did it, and really, who could resist a Jil Sander flash drive keychain with their subscription to Wired?

Another Blog Post on Another Magazine

2009-03-29T17:13:00.004-04:00

YESTERDAY I bought my first issue of ANOTHER MAGAZINE. I couldn't resist despite the $18 price tag because Tilda Swinton is on this issue's cover and I LOVE Tilda. Jefferson Hack is editor, which I didn't realize. I knew Mr. Ex-Kate Moss was in publishing, but didn't realize he was behind a fash mag. The edits weren't half bad, but the writing bored the crap out of me...

I also picked up V and was let down by most of it. Not enough Sessilee in LADY LUST and too much Enike all around. She took the spotlight away from LARA STONE in W's Harvest and all I can think when I see her face is "why not Daria?"

BLENDER died, which isn't surprising considering the last time I picked it up it was little more than a leaflet. Check out I Listen To Everything and Et Musique Pour Tous (blogs) if you want to know music.

Anyone out there want to defend Another Magazine? Am I missing "it"?

Blah blah blah et por moi!

2009-03-26T23:02:00.004-04:00

So now this is simply going to be a repository for all of my fashion/media related musings.

First up: The NEW NEW Interview. Fabien Baron's out and M/M Paris is in! I think the redesign suits the magazine very well and is less severe than Baron's vision. It's very similar to Vogue Hommes International, which I think could use a dose of Baron's austere aestheticism rather than the newspaper-esque design touches M/M Paris seem to have brought both magazines. The Zac Efron profile caused a stir in the blogosphere once the pics leaked to Perez Hilton...did it help newstand sales? We'll see. MY FAVORITE PART: Three pages in you'll find Madonna's crotch shilling Louis Vuitton. This is the first time I've seen that particular Meisel photo...it seems to be too hot to run in anyone else's pages...

And now: Vogue keeps up the "design flourishes" it began last year with the new "Flash" section. Just a few tweaks here and there to keep in line with the magazine's plastic surgery philosophy. INTERESTING ENOUGH: Bazaar started it's own "What's Hot" section a few months back and mistakenly decided yellow was the best color for it...quelle tragedy. Where's Alexey Brodovitch when you need him? Oh, right...dead.

After the death of domino (best magazine ever? Yes) a few months back I've been trying to find a new home design magazine with which I can plan how I'll decorate the Connecticut mansion in which Zac Efron and I will raise our five children. ELLE DECOR doesn't stack up and DWELL is too minimalistic. It's a small crisis, but I'm trying to deal. AND ALSO I have managed to dissuade myself from purchasing Martha Stewart Weddings. It took a lot of willpower, but I guess I don't really need it. Yet. But it's never too early to work out the details, right?

Carine Roitfeld was on CNN's Revealed. Hooray!!!! Of course now I HAVE TO BUY ScarJo's issue because it's the "CNN Revealed Issue" and it's a part of history...erm, right? Johnathan Newhouse wishes everyone thought the way I do.

Re-Boot

2009-01-24T00:02:00.003-05:00

I've obviously just deleted most of the content on my blog, because let's be real: you don't need another fashion/celebrity news aggregator, especially one that can't keep up with the competition. Hopefully, I will get around to updating the site with more original content once more, but I'm strapped for time and unfortunately can't promise anything! In the meantime feel free to peruse the assorted fashions that I chronicled over last year and keep your fingers crossed that I find the time to come back with a vengeance.

Sweet & BoHo

2008-09-17T22:10:00.007-04:00

You guys! I haven't posted a street style pic since April! I'm sorry for losing sight of what everyone really wants, because as much as I'm sure the adoring public can't get enough of my witticisms, y'all are really just here for the pictures.

This is Natalie, and here are the top three things I love about her look:
1) I'm completely partial to style that capitalizes on simplicity to the greatest extent. This outfit caught my eye because Natalie isn't some fashion circus freak wearing a scarf when it's 80 degrees out - btw hipsters, Nicole Richie started that like, two years ago - or a vest and t-shirt (so done). Instead, she mixes navy, black and a great tan bag (no Vera Bradley here) and throws in a dash of gold. It all works together and nothing is matchy-matchy (or hidsy-hidsy)*.
2) The hair and the headband are so right now. Fashion is totally having a hippie moment (see Coco Rocha's editorial in this month's Vogue), and the bangs and gold headband are adorable and individualistic without seeming trite.
3) She doesn't ruin her outfit with flip-flops!

So what do we think? Loves it? Or is this chic too simple?

* = "hideous"

The Look of Spring

2008-04-23T15:40:00.009-04:00

Great outfit:

1) The dress combines floral trends with stringy detailing (elements of previous seasons at Chloé, see accompanying photos)

2) Those red patent leather peeptoe-bowed-ballerina flats match the flower buds in the dress; a subtle accent that makes a world of difference.
3) I love the strong shoulder the cap sleeve creates. So hot right now.
4) I can't deny the resemblance between this petite blonde in her bug-eye shades and Nicole Richie, as offensive as that may be to some, but might I just say that Ms. Richie only wishes she could pay her stylist to look this good.

TWO PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARCIO MADEIRA/STYLE.COM

Best Foot Forward

2008-04-17T23:17:00.003-04:00

There've been quite a few young women around campus whose pretty dresses and playful tops have caught my eye, but when I look down at their feet, it's just all wrong. They're usually rocking a gnarly pair of Reefs or Rainbows they've had since the 11th grade. That's where this young lady comes in. I spotted those metallic bad boys from across the quad and was immediately pulled into their orbit. I love the way the sunglasses, Tory Burch-esque dress (so hot right now) and space-age sandals work together. It's an unusual but trendy combination that feels completely put together.

A Passion For Sustainable Fashion

2008-04-14T21:37:00.012-04:00

Kathleen Temple and Kaitie Atchison are two fashionistas with their sartorial hearts in the right place. They have created a 25 piece collection using fair-trade fabrics that will be available at Artisan's Hope starting this Saturday, April 19th, with a fundraiser open house from 2:30-5pm. All of the proceeds from the collection will benefit Artisan's Hope and encourage the dynamic duo to produce more fair-trade and sustainable clothing.

The idea for this fundraiser originated with Kaitie, a senior at Broadway High School who volunteers for Artisan's Hope and works downtown at Ragtime Fabrics with Kathleen. "I'd learn about different artisans and how the process works and then I'd come to work and want to share it with someone," says Kaitie, who found a kindred spirit in Kathleen, a former pastor and religious studies professor at Eastern Mennonite University.

Aside from this capsule collection for Artisans Hope, Kaitie and Kathleen hope to continue working with sustainable fabrics and to possibly broaden their market. "There's bound to be more of a market for fair trade," notes Kaitie, who laments that Wal-Mart and other big box retailers are jumping on the organic bandwagon as it undermines the local growth that is key to the green movement. "We wouldn't have had this idea much less been able to do it if we weren't [working] at a totally independent store," comments Kathleen.

The collection includes dresses and skirts, as well as inexpensive "treasure bags." Prices for the clothing range from $50-$100 and the bags will sell for under $20. Artisans Hope is located off Mt. Clinton Pike, next to Gift-'n-Thrift. Dear readers, if your bank account enables you to support this wonderful cause I cannot encourage you enough to scoop up as many pieces as possible! If you can't make it to the open house on Saturday, the collection will be for sale until October (if it doesn't sell out much sooner). All of the clothing modeled in these photographs is from the collection (aside from Kaitie's t-shirt and cardigan). Ragtime Fabrics is located downtown at 60 W. Market Street, just around the corner from The Artful Dodger. Visit their website for more information!

http://www.ragtimefabrics.com/

The Chosen One

2008-04-12T00:43:00.007-04:00

This young lady came to our fine campus for CHOICES and found herself on the tail end of my camera en route to Festival. Hopefully she'll find us worthy of her unique style and passion for writing, which she mentioned while we conversed about for what purpose I was putting her picture on the internet. Definitely take a second to enlarge the image and admire the contrast between the romantic top and the almost futuristic seaming detail on her black jeans. And those sandals? Killer.

P.S. I just looked at this image on another computer screen and realized that the "seaming detail" I make reference to is not visible on all monitors. Find one with good resolution and make sure you check it out, because it's a revelation in style.

Design On A Dime

2008-04-12T00:26:00.007-04:00

My friend Chrissy evidences her keen eye for fashion finds with this frock from Forever 21. Kudos, Chrissy, for working it out (and keeping it classy) on a budget!

Miss Me Much?

2008-04-10T19:53:00.004-04:00

It's been a tragically long time since I last updated for all you Mode devotees, but I've finally resurfaced. Last week was unusually busy for me and this week I felt unusually lazy - a deadly combination that has lead to the subsequent dearth of entries. But now I'm back, as is the old logo (I heard that a few of you missed it). I'd like to take this opportunity to encourage you to leave your comments about any of the outfits you see on the site, but also to voice any opinions you might have regarding the content of the site. Would you like me to write more? About what? Or should I just get on that picture thing...(as always). Without your objective insights I will selfishly pursue my own agenda, so I look forward to hearing from you - whoever you are!

PS: Tell your friends about Mode! Like, now!

Simply Refined

2008-04-10T19:39:00.008-04:00

I'm a big fan of sweet, simple looks. This shirt tucked into wide leg linen pants created a refreshingly polished silhouette that stood out in the crowd of tanorexic trannies (tranorexics?) and guitar-strumming hippies lounging about the quad this afternoon, not to mention that this was the perfect transitional outfit for the first day of the year it really felt like spring. I'm also feeling the cap-sleeve shirt - it enhances that "summertime in Cape Cod" vibe without trying as hard as, say, a polo pony emblazoned madras miniskirt. Three cheers for subtle style!

Lady In Red

2008-03-30T20:28:00.003-04:00

Here's mi amiga and Latino Student Alliance Vice President Griselda looking like a million bucks in dark wash jeans and a knee-length houndstooth coat, kicked up a notch with the addition of a satiny red scarf. "En fuego," no?

Retrofitted

2008-03-28T17:51:00.006-04:00

Tubular turquoise shades and color-coordinated Talespin t-shirt? Check. Cleverly undone suiting elements and eclectic accessories? Check. Eye-popping individuality? Check.

Gray Is The New Black

2008-03-21T17:30:00.004-04:00

I was riding my bike on the commons when out of the corner of my eye I saw this ensemble and immediately turned around to accost its wearer. The gray shawl is an elegant alternative to lightweight outdoorsy jackets (i.e. anything North Face) and although I've seen plenty of svelte coats in recent months I'm always intrigued by what's new and good. Also, the gold jewelry is bangin' (but tasteful) and the bag is great, while the offbeat sneaks keep it real.

Culture Yourself

2008-03-17T19:49:00.004-04:00

For anyone interested in fashion, photography, or fashion photography, The Sartorialist exhibit is one hot ticket. On display at the Adamson Gallery in D.C. from March 15th-April 26th are Scott Schuman's wonderful, colorful, flavorful photos of NYC's most stylish denizens. If you're going to be in the area, check it out!

P.S. A link to Schuman's blog, The Sartorialist, is located in the list of links to your right.

Spunky Brewster

2008-03-12T22:37:00.005-04:00

I get the feeling this outfit might be divisive so here's my motivation for putting it up: check those kicks. That's whats up. How often do you see fluorescent shoes? Not often enough. I noticed those shoes right away while passing out flyers on the commons and knew the wearer had some spunk to her. I also dig the retro-graphic print on the sweatshirt. Kudos, anonymous yet kind-hearted passerby, for exercising your right to personal style.

Lighten Up

2008-03-11T17:21:00.007-04:00

The days of long coats are coming to an end (I hope), but before we've bid adieu to the last of winter's worst I've got another fine exemplar of the toasty-but-not-lazy movement:

I really like the long grey scarf (its there but its undone, how transitional!) and of course the coat is nice, but its the use of that yellow/orange color throughout the accessories that really catches the eye. The shirt (not that a shirt is an accesory), headscarf and shoes are all the same color, but it's subtle, not matchy-matchy. The gold jewelry complements the aforementioned color and the neutral, classic bag looks elegant (and like Gucci from a distance).

Spring Forecast: Style in Shades

2008-03-07T11:21:00.015-05:00

After another temperamental Virginia winter, spring is finally on its way. Hopefully the truly spiteful temperatures have passed us by so we can focus on the easy breezy pieces of the fairer season. The sartorial savant will pay her style dues in neon hues and eye-popping floral patterns, trek about campus in Grecian-inspired sandals and skirts patterned out of Africa and balance out flouncy bohemian numbers with smart blazers.

Your Body is a (Designer) Wonderland
The line between fashion and art was blurred this season as designer-artist collaborations brought new conviction to the idea of the body as a blank canvas. Richard Prince decorated the bags at Louis Vuitton and Miuccia Prada featured the whimsical illustrations of James Jean on dresses, pants and accessories. Dolce & Gabbana took a surprisingly romantic turn and unveiled a line of dresses decorated in a painted floral motif (worn by Jessica Alba on the cover of this month’s Marie Claire), a technique also seen at Chloé, although in a more modern-graphic vain.

Bohemian Rhapsodizing
Vogue encourages readers to mix colors and patterns to achieve the boho-luxe look seen at Dries Van Noten and Stella McCartney. If sixties’ hippie-chic influenced designer dresses, then the disco-diva stylings of the seventies informed the cut of pants. Wide leg trousers were popping up all over the place, but ultra skinny legs remain omnipresent. Jodhpurs have gained more trend ground since fall and can look very “now” as long as they’re not the kind that’s actually made for riding horses. The overarching influence of cult documentary favorite turned Broadway hit Grey Gardens was evidenced in John Galliano’s off-kilter looks featuring skirts that appeared to be cardigans tied about the waist. It was also apparent, though less blatantly so, in Marc Jacobs’ "Girl, Interrupted" mix of frontless then backless ensembles.

War Is Not The Answer (It's The Inspiration)
Gladiator sandals are still in, as extravagantly evidenced by Givenchy and Balenciaga’s extreme reincarnations of last summer’s footwear favorite. Fittingly, another still popular theme was military/safari, as seen in the khaki concoctions at Proenza Schouler and Donna Karan and Jean Paul Gaultier’s British Raj influenced collection for Hermès. When on safari one might spy some of the bold ethnic prints on display in Oscar de la Renta and Diane Von Furstenberg’s collections.

And here's a bit about menswear...

On the men’s runways we saw bright colors and shiny techno fabrics contrasted by flowery, earthy prints that signify a designer urge to impart eco-consciousness in their prospective customers. Colored jeans from Ksubi or Cheap Monday paired with an organic tee from American Apparel will complete the hipster’s spring look, while more traditional minded men can relish Ralph Lauren’s fortieth anniversary by sporting preppy duds. GQ recommends a khaki suit for early summer interviewing while men.style.com suggests trying more formfitting basics. Think slim cut polos, suit jackets and lightweight knits; the clean lines of Cary Grant, as opposed to the disheveled plumber-jock of Kevin Federline.

Simply Vera, by Vera Wang for Kohl’s, features many of the season’s trends, such as Ikat prints and muted florals. Jovovich-Hawk has a similarly bohemian-romantic sensibility and their collection for Target’s GO International line, spotlighted in this month’s InStyle magazine, captures the spirit of spring without breaking the bank. Also check out mngbymango.com for wide-leg trousers and floral-print blouses from the Cruz sisters’ capsule collection for the lesser-known budget-minded retailer.

Many of these trends were precipitated by more forward-thinking designers last fall. Work in versatile items from previous seasons such as brightly colored tops and bottoms to color block and throw in an art deco inspired floral bag to make the outfit relevant. If any questions arise, check in with the current issue of Harper’s Bazaar for a list of items to buy, keep and store until fall rolls around.

It's Sew Over

2008-03-06T10:17:00.008-05:00

Last night was the first hour-long Project Runway finale in the series' short history. We like? I know I did. I don't need an extra hour of catfights and nail-biting suspense (anyone remember Kara Saun's shoe incident? It took practically thirty minutes just to find out she could use the shoes, but they wouldn't count. Oh no.) However, if you felt jipped by the producers I hope you noticed that they will be running behind-the-scenes footage during tonight's episode of Make Me A Supermodel.

First things first: major 'tude overhaul for elfin prodigy Christian, eh? Within the first ten minutes of the show you could tell he'd been dipping his lil' miss fierce fingers into some humble pie. He even conceded that he cared, cared, what Rami and Jillian thought about his collection. I didn't know it was possible. He also exhibited signs of emotion towards the end, but we'll get to that later.

They started the runway, much to my surprise, within the first twenty-five minutes of the episode. Jillian went first and I couldn't even see the clothes because of the awkward, gaping disparity between the models' heights. It was worse than those wedding photos of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, if Katie Holmes hadn't been kneeling. Oh wait, that's just what Jillian thought would happen. I didn't notice any height inconsistencies. Whether that was because of the camerawork or not I'll never know, but it wasn't an issue raised amongst the judges in deliberation.

Lady Frets-Too-Much presented twelve pieces that I really hated at first because they were so not my style. Now that I've looked over her collection again three more times on Bravo's website, I think I was just thrown off by a few looks that I really hated. Overall, I do see that she was pretty ingenuous in the execution and styling of some of her garments. The collection seems more cohesive on revisiting it and what she's saying does seem relevant to fashion now.

Rami's collection, which I really liked during the show, seems underwhelming in retrospect. I think it was very pretty and wearable, but not very forward-thinking. It reminded me of Chloe Dao's collection, not only in the use of color (which, unlike Mr. Kors, I did not have a problem with), but also in the sense I got that the impeccable tailoring was standing in for innovation. His pieces, especially the show-stoppers at the end, were undeniably beautiful, but inescapably conventional.

Christian (look at me not even calling him Lawnmowerhead anymore!) turned out an expensive-looking but deeply flawed collection. I felt that it was not diverse enough. He should have, in my opinion, taken this opportunity to show us different ways to achieve the fierce diva look that didn't involve skintight pants and dramatic, voluminous tops. For instance, his first look, the leather shirt and swirly black skirt, was awesome. It was dramatic and sexy without being too obvious. Let's just hope he didn't use any of Chris March's leftover human hair to make those fuzzy booties. Also, on a very opinionated note: his last look was hideous. Hideous. His model looked like she was molting. Barf. Please, leave a comment expressing your urge to wear that mess if you feel contrary.

That said, I do think he showed us that his technical skills and imagination earn him the title of Project Runway winner #4. Victoria Beckham, hot off her successful turn as an indie actress in Lars and the Real Girl, (get it? In that movie Ryan Gosling falls in love with a blow up doll! See what I did there?) was so enamored of Christian's work that she graciously offered to be given his clothes. With tears on the brink of being shed Christian accepted his honor by exclaiming "we all knew I was going to win." Maybe he can use some of his hundred grand to get his hair cut by a professional and not a one-eyed pirate wielding hedge shears.

Until next season, I'm auf.

That's What I'm Talkin' 'Bout

2008-02-28T23:09:00.004-05:00

Here's an article from the blog "Life Before Noon " on dressing for success in the corporate world. Although I feel the need to point out that it was never ok for you to wear sweatpants outside the gym (unless you want to end up like Britney Spears), there's some handy advice in there that graduating seniors should be interested in.

It's The Little Things That Count

2008-02-28T22:42:00.006-05:00

To get the full effect of this outfit you really need to enlarge it and focus on the details.

1) You can't tell because the picture quality isn't good enough, but there are ruffles on the shirt. Ruffles rock.
2) The yellow argyle sweater and navy coat complement each other very well.
3) The shoes: the pointy toe works really well in this instance.
4) Can you see that belt? That belt is wicked awesome.
To me, this is the right way to do "preppy." No popped collar, no Vera Bradley, just a smart look with personal touches.

The Hair You Wear

2008-02-28T00:45:00.002-05:00

So I lied in the last Project Runway poll. There wasn't only the reunion show left before the final collections. There was this week's teaser episode, which very obviously only came into existence to prolong the season and milk every last drop of our viewership to maximize ad revenue.

That said, I think the show served its purpose. I've already seen all of the collections online, but it was still nice to get a taste of what's to come. Chris March's use of human hair in his collection definitely changed my perspective on the use of fur in fashion. Let's keep it faux please, especially if we're dealing with humans. Hasn't Chris heard of Locks for Love?

It was surprisingly difficult to decide between the two contestants, at least for me. I felt that Chris's collection still felt too "costumey," but he exampled a lot of ingenuity in the construction and execution of his looks. Michael Kors hit the trend nail on its head when he noted that the ambiguity of the materials was very refreshing. Russian Vogue's Aliona Doletskaya made a similar comment on Balenciaga's most recent collection. It seems that less obvious = more relevant in regards to the future of fashion.

Rami's collection, while not perfect (although how impressive was that black & white cocktail number?), exhibited a more directional sense than his previous reiterations of the Grecian-Goddess-Gowns-'R-Us theme suggested he could provide. Next week we finally get to the finale. Are we excited? Or does a little voice in your head say "Christian is going to win, duh"? May the best man/woman/lawnmowerhead win.

Hate That I Love You

2008-02-25T23:44:00.005-05:00

Some of you might be interested in this New York magazine interview with Carine Roitfeld, editor of French Vogue. Here are some choice snippets from the article:

Carine on Anna Wintour: “PETA, they like to pay attention to her, not to me,” she says, “so this is good for me.”

Carine on her job: “I never wanted to be what I am today, and I will not die in the position.”

Carine on being a role model: “I love pills. I cannot sleep, so I love pills.”

And of course this makes me happy: She has outlawed sneakers and what she calls “Hugg boots” in her office because “they are hugly.”