Year in Review: 2011

Last time I checked, it was still January 2011 and I was hungover from candy canes and macaroons. Procrastination be damned! I would finally be doing useful shit this year! Alas, no. Duh. Like Marcia would be doing anything productive! Before you know it, it's already December 30th and you ponder on all the things you did this year: nothing. How divine! In the fashion world, however, we were tangled in Versace for H&M, depression over John Galliano's dismissal from Dior, weddings that may or may not involve supermodels and Emmanuelle Alt for Vogue Paris.

Designer Collaborations Once upon a time, only some of us could afford the latest designs of Karl Lagerfeld. Or Giambattista Valli. Not any more. Although collaborations between designers and lower end brands started a while ago, this year it's better than ever. Maybe you love prints and studs together. Fear not, Donetella Versace's collection for H&M hit the stores last November. And who could forget about Missoni for Target craze that sold out in one day, which is full of zigzags and oh-so-soft cardigans? Maybe you're not a prints-person — Giambattista Valli's sophisticated designs for Macy's Impulse, or J Brand's collaboration with Christopher Kane might be a better match for you. Next year, we have Jason Wu and Doo. Ri designing for Target and Impulse, respectively, and I can't wait to stuff my closet with girly, minimalistic dresses.

Au Revoir, Galliano for Dior... Back in February, John Galliano was arrested for making anti-Semetic comments and got kicked out of Dior. And we are left with messes like the recent fall 2011 couture collection and the blah spring 2012 one full of signs from the New Look. We heard that the people from Dior had considered everyone from Marc Jacobs and Haider Ackermann to Alexander Wang and Jason Wu. All signs are currently pointing to Raf Simons, the mastermind behind Jil Sander. You might think that his simple designs are too simple for a house like Dior, but his feminine fall 2011 collection might change your mind.

Everyone is saying "I do" and "is it a girl?" Oh look, both of the Kates in Britain got married this year! One got married in a stunner created by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, while the supermodel one tied the knot in John Galliano and stole an editorial at American Vogue. Moving outside of Britain, we have the Victoria's Secret Angels. Lily Aldridge married Caleb of Kings of Leon and announced yesterday that they are expecting their first child. And so is Alessandra Ambrosio!

"It" girls are actually girls After starring in the 2010 film Somewhere directed by Sophia Coppola, Elle Fanning is literally everywhere. Besides making movies and snatching the covers of LOVE and W Magazine, she could be seen in the fall 2011 campaigns for Marc by Marc Jacobs or wearing statement pieces from Chanel and Marchesa. Fellow actresses Chloe Moretz and Hailee Steinfeld didn't do so bad, either. Hailee was the Miu Miu spokesperson for fall 2011, and Chloe was seen in everything from minimalistic Calvin Klein to Proenza Schouler. It's safe to say that we're gonna see a lot of this trio in 2012. 

These are the only things that stood out of me right now. What are some of your favourite fashion moments in 2011? I will add some of your favourite ones and more tomorrow.

What You Should Wear for New Year's Eve

I never understand why people have a proclivity of wearing glitter in the holidays. Sure, you have excuses to look like a more well-dressed Nicki Minaj minus the plastic smile. And for those of us who sparkle everyday... we just sparkle even more. But wearing glitter for New Year's Eve is as groundbreaking as florals for spring - not. Now there, how about something else more eccentric?

However, since it's already, I don't know, December 29th I probably don't have much time convincing you to wear this enthusiastic dress that looks like a tablecloth.  Just the other day Leandra aka. the Man Repeller   talking about sequins and harem pants and me, being the usual hypocrite, was convinced to wear some sequins. Not just for New Year's Eve, but for the rest of 2012. Just kidding. For some reason the background of this collage was a photograph of random tree branches that I took last year, so I guess I am trying to convince you to stick tree branches into your outfit, too.

photo source: themanrepeller

Trends: Forget Colour-Blocking, Here's Print-Blocking

One of the most shocking trends of 2011 is colour-blocking. In both the Spring and Fall season, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons sent a myriad of hot pink, burning orange and shocking blue down the runway in forms of creepers, minimal dresses and fox furs -  you know, the cool stuff. For Spring 2012, however, designers decided to tone it down and declared colour-blocking in pastels and prints as the latest trend. Ladies and Nyan Cats, print-blocking, if you may.

Now I should get my shit together: what is print-blocking? Some unknown genius made up the term "colour-blocking" when people started wearing more than two colours together. Print-blocking is like putting prints together... except way more hardcore than colour-blocking because wearing prints from head-to-toe was orginally tacky and still is. As I am typing this right now, I got a mental image of Kim Kardashian decked out in leopard and zebra every time I think of prints, and the effect is not exactly pleasing if you know what I mean. Not that I have anything against the Kardashians.

Fortunately, print-blocking is not trying to convince us to go what I called the Kardashian-way. The tribal prints at Thakoon are vibrant and effortless, and looks just like something a sophisticated scene kid would wear. With grandma socks from the 99¢ store of course. As usual, Rodarte's collection have signs of being inspired by the fantasy world. For Fall 2011, it was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Spring 2012, however, it seems to be contemporary paintings from the early 20th Century and sunflower fields. Although the collection seems distant from reality, there is one thing that is Rodarte contributed a lot to the shoe porn of Spring 2012. Speaking of shoe porn — Prada, Prada, Prada. Where do we begin? The mix of delicate embroidery, 50's poppy prints and retro car prints are nothing short of exquisite. At last we have Mary Katrantzou, the queen of digital prints. Majority of the collection, or rather, every assemble have some sort of prints, from colourful graphic ones to pastel florals.

Holy Moly, how can I express my love for these Thakoon prints without sounding like a moron? Actually, love would be an understatement. The paisley patterns and unconventional floral prints, bursting in intense shades of turquoise, orange and gold looks explosive over the collared shirts, line dresses and full skirts. This collection is practically a combination of colour-blocking, floral prints and sporty materials rolled into one. Thakoon Panichgul is a genius. And it matches your voltage-coloured hair, too.

The happy, optimistic sunflowers and cherry blossoms inspired the Mulleavy sisters for the latest Spring collection. Along with Impressionist paintings from artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Anna Boch, of course. Off the shoulder necklines, flowy skirts and delicate ruffles dominate the runway along with some bejewled, sparkling heels. You say unwearable; I say it looks ethereal. Honestly though, what kind of designer label gets support from Taylor Swift, Rooney Mara AND Beyoncé?

Although you might think wearing prints from head-to-toe is outrageous, let Mary Katrantzou change your mind. The Central Saint Martins graduate started experimenting with digital prints while she was still a student, and was recently awarded the Swiss Textiles award in 2010. From abstract, graphic prints to pastel florals, you named it, Mary Katrantzou got it. The floaty chiffon dresses, tailored suits and sheath dresses would look perfect on anyone from Anna Dello Russo to Alexa Chung.

It's Prada, bitches. Your argument is invalid.  Remember the Spring 2010 collection from Miu Miu? Nude ladies, white cats and little doves... the blogosphere died of excitement over this youthful collection designed by Miuccia Prada. And that was all three seasons ago! You might not be able to find any cat prints in this Prada Spring 2012 collection, but there is a lot of retro cars, poppy flowers and burning fire. Although it might be hard to imagine people like Kate Moss or Emmanuelle Alt to be wearing these cheeky dresses, never underestimate the power of 50's car prints... pin-up girl attitude not required.

Would you be seen on the streets looking like you crashed into the fabric stores covered in Krazy Glue?

photo source: vogue.com

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Wow, I can't believe it's Christmas already, and the next thing you know it would be 2011. Unfortunately for us New Yorkers, we do not have a white Christmas. For those of you who celebrate it, Merry Christmas, and for those who don't, Happy Holidays. I wrote you people an intriguing poem as a gift and I hope you'll enjoy it.

Stuck on Fuckin' You - Lady Gaga

Just wanted to sleep for a thousand years

Once in a while, you read a book that changes your life forever. I never find that book, but I did finished reading The Perks of Being A Wallflower a while ago. And by a while ago, I mean weeks ago. Charlie feels like the long-lost childhood best friend I never had. He spoke in that awkward voice, like the one I use when talking to people in general. It was very nostalgic really, and full of Rocky Horror Picture Show, getting stoned and writing letters to a stranger. Writing letters! On actually paper!?! I miss those old days, when people used to write something and send it to each other. I guess it's just a fade I'm going through, like a mid-life crisis of some sort except that I'm barely a teenager and already feeling very old.

This post actually doesn't have anything with sleeping for a thousand years, though it might be a nice treat after my French midterm. And this is coming from someone who wrote "I love crêpe!" when asked "When do you eat your birthday cake?" I've just decided to include random thoughtful inspirations of people with a bed-head and the dawn's first light on their eyelids. I never understand my generation's obsession with messy hair though. But then again, we can just add that to the list of things Marcia doesn't understand: Jersey Shore, why Nutella tastes so good, etc.

"I don't know if you've ever felt like that. That you wanted to sleep for a thousand years. Or just not exist. Or just not be aware that you do exist." - Charlie, The Perks of Being A Wallflower

When I first started this blog, I have no clue what I was going to do and could barely come up with enough material for post. However, now my blog is so diluted with superficial things that I don't even care about. The more I tried to figure out who I am, the less individualistic I become. I don't care about comments or stats anymore. I don't care about how you wore that Theysken's Theory sweater either, because you just wore the same thing yesterday. There, we have it. No more bullshit that may or may not involved a pair of Alexander Wang Chloe heels. 

Photo source: tumblr, ffffound

Marry The Night: It's Not that I've been Dishonest, It's Just that I Loathe Reality.

Three Albums, 13 VMAS and 5 Grammys later, Lady Gaga reminds us again that she's the top pop star in the world with her new video for "Marry The Night." In the 14 minute autobiographical mini-film, she managed to fit complex, mind-twisting, inspirational and disturbing all into one; the result is nothing but beautiful. Perfect comes in the form of BeDazzlers, exploding cars, foot-tall pointe shoes and nurses with great asses in Calvin Klein. Enough said.

The video starts with Gaga being rolled into a psychiatric ward, which we've seen in the Prelude Pathétique a few weeks ago. She's brown-hair and looks miserable, despite wearing next season's Calvin Klein and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes. There, she spoke of the infamous line: "It's not that I've been dishonest, it's just that I loathe reality." Gaga constantly refer to her struggle between reality and fantasy in an artistic way, so the whole "Marry The Night" mini-film is basically dedicated to her struggles and the decision to dedicate her life to her career. Although many people say the nurse who snatches the cigarette out of her hand is the now-Gaga, the last time I checked Gaga doesn't look like a 50 year-old. 

And then we came to the ballerina scene where she's... um... dancing like a ballerina. It's exactly like Nina Sawyers in Black Swan minus the psychology struggle, more of the "I want to be perfect" thing. In reality, this was when Gaga was signed onto Def Jam, her first recording label and she didn't want to mess up her musical career. The camera then fades away, and Gaga was brought back to her apartment. So she was, you know, just chilling on her bed naked and got the call that she's dropped. French subtitles appear on the screen as Gaga, her eyes full of tears, tried to convince them that she's an artist. Then she did all these thing people do when they are depressed, like covering her tits with a tampon and spilling honey cereals all over herself. I don't think the scene happened after the clinic scene, since it makes more sense if she's admit into the clinic after she was dropped from the label.

With her newly-dyed blonde hair and looking a lot like Madonna, Gaga went inside a school that looks like Convent of Sacred Hearts as her back-up dancers look down at her with disgust. The overall effect is that you can really feel how people don't give her a chance and label her as an outsider. It's actually one of my favourite parts cause, you know, it never hurts to have some BeDazzlers. Somehow, she managed to be in a field full of burning cars(is there such thing as a car dumpster?), hanging upside down with her Louboutins sticking out. Gaga put in the cassette tape, and Marry The Night start playing. Just when you thought Alejandro and Telephone took long enough start, but I think the slow beginning builds up the suspense around the video.

Then shit finally got real when she starts dancing. This dance scene is like the one in Born This Way, except she's in a super-tight denim bustier and dancing in a studio of some sort. I would say this is literally the best scene in the video, but then again, very scene in the video is my favourite scene so I should just shut up right now. When the ballet dancer Dina fall down and Gaga helps her back up, it's the message of Marry The Night - "I won't give up on my life." Alternating between this dancing scene and the car-burning scene, it is Gaga's struggle to stay on top of her game. The Michael Jackson-esque scene(hello? Thriller?) was filmed at the 42nd Street subway station with Gaga in a leather bodysuit and blue lipstick. The scene is out of place and at an odd position nevertheless, but you can tell how important it means to Gaga because she was taken on by Interscopes and, here she is today. In between this street dancing scene and the ending, there's snaps of Gaga moving to Broadway with her piano, throwing up her chicken salad in the toilet and all the other details.  At the end, Gaga is floating in midair and surrounded by flames wearing Paco Rabanne, which was the same designer she wore to the EMAs.

What do you think of the "Marry The Night" video? Yay or nay? What's your favourite scene?

SPOTTED: Colour Separates

Although the term "colour-blocking" is no longer foreign in our fashion dictionary, many of us(such as yours truly, ahem) are not exactly sure how to wear colours. After wearing black for most of our lives, it's difficult to suddenly wear something bright and colourful again(Wait, you mean colours exist?!?) However, I did notice a lot of style setters are currently adopting a new trend: colour seperates. Instead of full-force colours, they chose to have one colour to be the main focus in their outfits. We might be wearing Easter pastel colours next spring, but in the mean time, let's enjoy living life in techno colours.

photo source: thesartorialist, ttlg, vanessajackman  

Interview: Ivania of Love Aesthetics

Recently, I had interviewed Ivania Carpio, the blogger behind one of my favourite blogs Love Aesthetics. With her minimalistic style and grey-lavender hair, Ivania's blog is always an inspiration, from her accessible DIY-projects to her unique views on fashion.

What motivated you to start your blog?

My ambition was to become a fashion journalist. I started reading blogs in 2005 or 2006 and was intruiged by this new independant medium. Fashion blogs give everyone a voice, no matter how small it is. I wanted to join the 'conversation'of fashion.

Who are your favourite designers and why?

Alexander Wang, I admire how consistent his collections are, he always sticks to the same aesthetic. You can comine pieces from different collections and they will still ft together prefectly.

Acne, is always right on spot very now, always ahead of the pack. Also love their magazine, the fact that it is a sponsored magazine only works in favor of it, it isn't packed with ads and is somewhat independant.

How would you describe your style?

Minimal, basic, scandinavian a bit odd.

Favourite trend(s) of Spring/Summer 2012?

Androgynous looks.

When you’re not blogging, what else do you do?

I'm in my third year of studying journalism, work on a freelance basis and am a mom of a 5 year old girl.

5 essential pieces in your wardrobe are       .

1. A white t-shirt that I got at the little boys section. It's nice, square a bit shapeless.

2. Long slim tube skirt I sewed myself that can be worn in all different kinds of lengths, from floorlegth to mini skirt.

3. Uniqlo grey sweatshirt

4. Alexander Wang Natasha heels

5. American Apparel micromesh dress. doesn't look like a basic. But I've been wearing it weekly ever since I bought it 3 years ago.

How do you incorporate trends into your style without looking too 
“trendy”?

By not following them blindly but carefully picking what you like. If  you stay true to yourself and your personal taste it will automatically all work together.

When you wake up in the morning, what affects the way you dress?

The Dutch weather pretty much dictates what I wear.

I love your grey hair and you’ve mentioned in your post that “I just turned 23 but am jealous of Kristen McMenamy's looks.” Are you planning on dying your hair another colour?

I started washing my hair with deluted lavender hair dye to  get the yellow glow out of the grey, but I liked the lavender outcome so I'm sticking to that for now.

Where do you do most of your shopping at?

Secondhand markets and shops and designer pieces I get online. The outnet and net a porter are my favorites.

Check out Ivania's blog Love Aesthetics here.