Style Notes: Fairyland

Valentino Spring 2014

For all those unapologetic scifi-fantasy nerds like myself, prepare for this season's epic trend. It's practically Game of Thrones gone haute-couture. Faeries and sprites glide down the runways. Dark witches and snow queens reign in all their glory. There are lush furs reminiscent of House Stark, and gossamer gowns that bring to mind Tolkien elves. Earthy, rich colors at Valentino come straight from the mosses of a forest kingdom, while the silky blues and creams at Alexander McQueen suggest a wintry palace of ice. It's all such a decadent treat and the perfect remedy for bland winter minimalism. And before you go ahead and indulge in the feudal-fantasy bliss below, have this fun tune set the scene for you :)

all images via Style.com

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Style Notes: Christian Dior Pre-Fall 2014

Ah yes, we've now begun our inevitable trek through January until April, that infinite, tundra-like expanse of the year between Christmas and warm weather. A magical winter wonderland is a fleeting and elusive dream compared to reality's enduring bleak and leafless panorama. To those lucky people living in more favorable climes, I grit my teeth in an envious smile. Let me tell you guys, (as in times past, brace yourself for an awful pun) the only type of frozen I like is the Academy-nominated Disney animation. I watched it for the third time tonight. Anyway, as a result of all the dreariness, I've been drawn to anything even mildly vibrant when it comes to fashion. Rich hues and novel prints, features I once eschewed for that chic fall minimalist vibe, are now an added plus. Today, I'm featuring Christian Dior's fresh and chipper Pre-Fall '14 collection. My favorite piece might be the re-imagined trench cut in the second-to-last look. Just imagine it in a fiction novel: Imogen, wrapped in an overcoat shimmering as a tree's reflection on pond ripples, left town with a whisper and a sigh.

Takeaway Points + Things to Try:

- soothing color harmony offers some much-needed refreshment: dark green, strong blue, and deep red balanced out by pale white and blush (still good for winter, but perfect for a premature spring transition)

- beading detail 

- a clean canvas of pure lines with pops of texture

- statement prints of delicate florals

- turtleneck effect

- longer skirts paired with knee-high boots

- dramatic spin on the LBD

photos via Style.com

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Style Notes: Backtrack to Stella McCartney Pre-Fall '13

Power Cape by sarahmadeline featuring a black cape

Mango sweater / STELLA McCARTNEY black cape / Mason by Michelle Mason black leather skirt / Armani Jeans high heel ankle boots

Drum roll please... I present to you the first edit of Style Notes, the newest installment to le blog! It's self-explanatory enough, just my humble musings on the fashion moments that catch my eye. Drawing inspiration from runway collections and magazine editorials, I'm simply trying to figure out what all the ruffles, feathers, and enigmatic "basket-weave detailing" mean to me personally.  So without further ado..

While perusing through Stella McCartney's Spring '14 RTW (upcoming post about that on deck), I ended up stalking her other collections and stumbled across her Pre-Fall 2013. Is it a tad late to be discussing it now? Probably yes..I apologize for this faux-pas, but as for my plebeian reasonings? I just really liked the clothes in this collection. Anyway, what stood out to me were the beautiful textures and detailing of the pieces and their rich, moody colors. Up above in the set I made, I love the mix of prints in the original look along with the whole chic cloak avec une jupe get-up. In the looks below, plumes and petals seem to morph together in deep, peacock-esque hues.

Takeaway Points + Things to Try:

- furry sweater with lustrous pants

- statement overcoat with a vintage design

- puffy jacket (is it suede-ish?)

- monochromatic prints and patterns mashup

- loafers

 photos via Style.com

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Cuyana

From the Cuyana website, Philosophy page:

"We believe in both beauty and intentional buying. We love the joy of finding treasures and the pride of spending wisely. We know that with less we are more and that the essence of insight is simplicity."

"We want to love every item in our closets. We want to revel in the tactile beauty of the world’s finest materials and marvel at consummate craftsmanship. We believe in style, not fashion; in quality, not quantity. We celebrate fewer, better things and strive to live a life of inspired simplicity."

Founder's vision:

"We started Cuyana because we believe fashion can be different. We think it can be more fulfilling and more soulful. Our different backgrounds intersect at the point where we hope to bring a greater quality of experience to people trying to buy better, and buy well."

This is exactly the concept of quality retail and fashion that today's world needs! Read up and explore about the company on their website, but here's a quick summary:

Karla Gallardo started Cuyana to "empower artists around the globe." It started with craftsmen in her native Ecuador who struggled economically but had no platform to make use of their artisan skills. Hoping to address these issues, Gallardo teamed up with Shilpah Shah and Cuyana was born. Now, people everywhere can enjoy elegant, classic pieces crafted from around the world, like the alpaca infinity scarf from the Peru Fall 2013 collection or the city walk panama hat from the Turkey Summer collection. The clothes themselves, chic and timeless, are enough reason to adore this brand, but Cuyana's global emphasis and socially-minded outlook make it even better.

It's really time we stop focusing on quantity when we shop, and instead make the experience about quality. At its core, Cuyana's mission is a challenge to the world's consumer craze, a craze where no real thought goes into what and why we buy. Their mission is instead a call to value and appreciate even the seemingly little things in life, because when made right, even they have a story to tell.

The Cuyana Story from Cuyana on Vimeo images via cuyana.com .

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Merci

Hey folks! It's been an awfully long time since I've posted, I know. College apps have just been so crazy lately and I've barely had any time to just breathe let alone blog. Anyway, I recently came across this great, chic concept store called Merci. You can find it at 111 boulevard Beaumarchis in Paris, no less. I first discovered it through the French Fling Pop-In Shop at Nordstrom, which is equally fantastic (cotton graphic tees, candy-colored bracelets, macaroon clutches, scented candles, books on perfume making, wool berets, floral valises...I could go on). Read their interview with Merci's creative director, Jean-Luc Colonna, here.

The Merci shop has all the qualities the retail editors of Monocle magazine are looking for:
1) aesthetically pleasing design (its appearance changes every three weeks!)
2) idea of new luxury based on quality, design, and attitude
3) two cafés (one of which is a used bookstore corridor with over 15,000 books)
4) an outdoor herb garden
5) a novel concept of mixing things together (old and new, casual and extravagant)

I would love to visit someday.. But until then, here's what it looks like:

via ihunter.org

via raedunn.com

via redmodelista.com

via trendland.com

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Shiny Things

From Cleopatra, to the ancient Romans, to Her Royal Highness the Queen, jewelry has been around as a symbol of status, success, and pride since the long past B.C's.  It's only human nature to want to be dripping in precious ornaments and sparkling gems. Am I going out on a limb when I say that vanity is our everlasting cliché? Regardless, I hereby blame my craving for a crystal-encrusted statement piece on the narcissistic, materialistic flaws of mankind which, of course, I am only subjected to, being human. All I want is a little number to whip out on special occasions, or on normal ones, to feel a wee more glamorous. If only my empty wallet felt the same way.

1. ZARA

2. J. CREW

3. J. CREW

4. J. CREW

5. NET-A-PORTER, OSCAR DE LA RENTA

6. NET-A-PORTER, VALENTINO

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Poolside Chilling

 

There’s something about a casual summer dress that can just put you in the right mood. This little piece was so easy to slip on and go, and it was so breezy and comfortable while I was out doing errands today. I love how girls and women living in my hometown suburb are starting to wear dresses on the daily now. Maybe not the majority, but at least some of us are putting more effort into what we wear instead of the usual jean shorts, basic tank top, and flip flops!

Just a quick post today, but I have a whole lineup of good ones ready to go so check back soon :)

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Leopard Spots

1 2 3 4

What is it about leopard print that so enraptures me? Maybe it's the versatility. It's preppy, chic, sophisticated, sweet, and confident all at once, encompassing all the traits I'd ever want to be associated with. One could use it to both spice up or sweeten any outfit. I'm especially blown away by the print's appearance in DKNY's Fall 2013 collection. All the backstage shots are just so cool and collected. Sigh. It's aspirational stuff like this, which tumblr keeps flooding into my dash, that makes me question my average life.





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Street Style: Ming Xi

Ooh, I love this spread by Grey Magazine. And I'm mildly obsessed with Ming Xi, who I believe is the freshest of fresh-faced models. Is it because I like to think we look alike? Peut-être. It's a claim based solely on the popular belief that all Asians tend to look like each other, but hey, in this case, that's good enough for me. Anyway, the outfits here are super cool and subtly fierce. And an added bonus, in the last picture, she faked a chic bob by tucking her hair into her shirt! Anyone who's ever tried that before, and who with long hair hasn't, can appreciate that trick.

Check out the full shoot here. All photos courtesy of Grey Magazine.

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Ballet, Jewels, and Studs

Meet my new babies! I got them a few days ago at DSW, aka shoe heaven. I'm currently obsessed with the nude ballet flat, which I swear is really a ballet slipper in disguise. Just look at it. My second favorite out of the three is the blue-crystal-accented sandal. I have a  thing for thong sandals this summer, and the light turquoise + gold combo just makes it ten times better. Lastly, those black flats are a classic with an edgier twist, taking it from a noob-looking ballet flat (as I find most black ballet flats look), to one with a chic spice.

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New Tops for June

I'm still so equivocal in my opinion toward blogging about clothes. It's not like I'm the best at it, and it's not the most substantial topic out there, but it's a heck of a fun one, at least for me. Call it my guilty pleasure, but has it ever hurt anyone to relish the joy of lovely outfits and the allure of a stylish life? I may come across as materialistic at times, but really, what I'm obsessed with is not necessarily the clothes themselves, but everything they can represent. With that, let me show off some shiny new things I bought recently :) I tried to mix things up by buying brighter colors and different textures, because reviewing my closet, too many of my shirts (the essential tee times 10) looked exactly the same but in various pastels.

Favorite buy of them all? This lipstick from J. Crew in French Martini. It's not as coral bright as the box, but instead goes on a bit lighter, softer, pinker, and somewhat more translucent. You could layer on more for that bright coral, which would make a great accent for any summer outfit, or swipe on a sheer layer for everyday wear.

Thoughts?

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Prep For Summer

A care-free getup I plan to live in during the summer months. I used to not like these Sperries, but now, they complete me. And so many of my outfits.

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A.L.C. Spring 2013

 

 

source of photos

Very much in love with these clothes. The design and colors are like a breath of fresh air and so soothing to the eye. Props to Andrea Lieberman, t it's like she's taken the purest of shapes and textures and given them a subtle spice.

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