Pantone has crowned Emerald the Color of the Year. And thanks to those lovely people at Pantone, I can finally attach a name to my favorite bluish-greenish color. My 6 year-old self can now stop misspelling turquoise and move on to emerald. Turquoise was always a little too blue for me and teal was a stupid internet default color.
Let’s explore my favorite color through the years!
I was lucky enough to work with St. John this season—by far loveliest people in this industry I’ve met so far. Maturity come with age, and for me St. John has hit the Golden Age of a design house. There’s a certain confidence in the calm demeanor of an established house—no longer competing, but wholly dedicated to creating magnificent clothes for real people. George Sharp even provided faux fur alternatives for the environmentally conscious fashionistas. Trust me, they won’t even be able to tell the difference. The faux chinchilla coat was the softest and most divine.
I never imagined myself in St. John garments before. After a day in the showroom, feeling the handpicked fabrics and scanning racks of meticulously tailored jackets and pants, I envisioned myself strolling the city streets in wide legged trousers and slouchy cashmere sweaters. There’s something timeless and luxurious about St. John, and in this season specifically, an effortless French attitude inspired by Loulou de la Falaise. Mixed with some Old Hollywood glamour, sunglasses, long leather gloves, and fur, this collection is the classic definition of chic.
In the words of every model that came in to be fitted, “I feel so rich and expensive!”
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The show was stunning in every way. The location was the key. If you somehow swindle your way into the Ukrainian Institute, be prepared to be transported to another time in Europe. Dark wooden staircases carved with flowers; twisted bronze chandeliers glowing warmly; and lush silk curtains cascading from every window. The ladies sauntered down runway, the polished wood floor of the rez-de-chaussez, pant legs swinging, and coats draped around the shoulder. Ultra romantic.
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Loulou would be the first in line for these pieces, no?
Still obsessed.
While browsing lookbook.nu, I came across some really cool skeleton leggings which led me to Black Milk. And lo and behold…GALAXY LEGGINGS!
Score!
I’ve never spent so much money on leggings before (I cap it at $10), but they’re so cooool. Ugh. My birthday and christmas is around the corner…maybe it will just be a present to myself.
Black Milk does swimsuits and leggings. I love a brand that sticks to its strengths and not try to compete with everyone else. Just printed swimsuits and leggings. Although some of prints are a little tacky, and probably even more so in person as its polyester/elastane material gives off that legging sheen, who can turn down galaxy legs?
I have to reiterate that leggings aren’t pants, even if they are pretty. Be careful to cover up your naughty bits with actual clothes. Leggings are just leg wear after all. NOT PANTS. So pair them with a tunic, dress, long sweater…unless you’re super bold and have super invisible underwear.
If you’re looking for something less punk and more dreamy…I suggest We Are Handsome. They carry a variety of swimsuit cuts, not just the bodysuit.
Oh, if only I could afford cashmere everything. It would be the king of all sweater material in my closet.
Thanks to google, I can fantasize about cashmere panties for real.
And etsy. Don’t forget etsy; where everything you dream up comes true. From steam punk pill boxes to pretty book chargers, seriously everything.
Even cashmere underwear.
Sartoria from Canada is genius and creates beautiful underpinnings to keep your bum warm through the winter nights. You’d be surprised how much warmer you are with toasty buns. And there’s something sensuous about having the softest wool envelop your naughty bits. I’m ready to cuddle by the fire now, where’s my lumberjack? They have men’s underwear too!
photo from GaranceDoré.fr
Just wow. The future is so close, I can almost taste it. Lemony. Can’t wait till this trend hits the street.
Biggest regret not buying this skirt? Don’t know. I think about you from time to time…
During fashion week, I discovered Charlotte Free backstage at Marchesa. She rolls in with 3 inch creepers, psychedelic printed pink leggings, and a ripped black tee. Just awesome. All the other girls may be wearing skinny jeans and the latest leather behemoth/”it-bag” weighing down their arm, but Charlotte toting her clear plastic backpack says, modeling is just a job, like any other job. Don’t take it too seriously.
Oh and I forgot to mention, hot pink hair. HOT PINK HAIR.
Tangent. I have some contradictory things to say here, but it’ll make sense when you think about it. If we take fashion as an art form, it suffers like everything else considered to be art. I like to think of it as graffiti art. When it sells out, when the audience can’t afford to appreciate it first hand, when you don’t even physically make your own work…something is missing.
Anyways, I’m being terribly unclear.
I believe that the best fashion is street fashion. The organic stylings of real people on the streets. Functionality. This is the reason why I still love the Sartorialist so much. The creativity that sparks everyone to make fashion their own, not follow the trends, and wear summer clothes during the winter. Sure editorials can be fun, powerful, and mind-blowing. But it’s dress up. Let’s try to dress for real life. And if your real life includes 7 inch platforms and leather dominatrix harnesses…that’s cool, too.
So Marchesa thinks that a pink-haired punk would add that missing “realness” to the collection. In my opinion, it was obviously a ploy to seem hip casting one of the more unique models out there right now. Make your own judgements. She obviously didn’t fit the look they were going for…the dress doesn’t even flatter her figure. Gotta go all out for the first runway show right?
Don’t take fashion too seriously. There are enough serious people out there.
So, Charlotte and I exchanged compliments on each other’s pink hair. She leaves her flouncy gown and Louboutin’s by a rack and saunters off with massive headphones. Another days work.
You da best. Sent me a white all-over sequined David Meister cocktail dress. Perks to having a mom in fashion. Now all I need is a party to go to…
SUMMER OF SPACE CONTINUES…
Irene didn’t cause as much destruction as I hoped. I know it’s wrong to hope for destruction…But apocalypse is adventure, and I love adventure. Fridge stocked with food, cases of beer and bottles of liquor, 3 pretty boys, and the most cuddly dog on Earth, what else could be more perfect than watching the classic Bruce-Willis-saves-the-world-again movie, The Fifth Element, for our End of the World party? Top 5 movies ever. Challenge me, I dare you.
Drinking game rules drawn up, with lightning and thunder thrown in to keep it on topic, we started the epic movie during the not-so-epic-anymore Irene. Suddenly Jean-Paul Gaultier pops on the screen in white letter in front of a swirling blue planet in space. DUH. That’s why the costumes are legit. The future of fashion never looked cooler. I’ll save the commentary, and just assign you homework. Watch The Fifth Element, then take in genius that is Gaultier. Oh and Gary Oldman, Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and CHRIS TUCKER.
I know.
cassandra hsieh 
