Junya's Got Swagger

I first fell in love with Junya Watanabe when I saw his collaboration with Comme de Garcons at Fred Segal, when i first moved to LA in October.  I pined over the beautiful military and hunting jackets- imagine nylon camoflauge tailored impeccably as a blazer  For his Fall 2010 collection for his own line, I did a double-take again.  Not that it was necessarily out of this world, but this student of Comme de Garcons's, Rei Kawakubu, struck on note on his tailoring of some subtle yet seriously fabulous suiting.  Junya also puts in his Japanese hipster influences in his collections, which gives some of the suiting a bit of a New Yorker living in Tokyo feel.  As someone that has to wear suiting almost everyday, this is definitely a collection I see my self stepping out in.

Bailey Serves Up A Hot Fall 2010

One look at Christopher Bailey's Burberry Prorsum collection, and I was screaming "Yes...yes...YES!"  As I have said before, outerwear makes me salivate, and Mr. Bailey is a top chef cooking up some delicious trench coats to fill that appetite.  There is something so inherently sexy in a well dressed man in an incredible trench coat, especially when it's belted and navy blue.  But it's not just trenches, Bailey sent crisp blazers, leather bombers, luxe parkas, and Russian military boots that are highly desirable.  Fall 2010 is certainly shaping up to be a striking season in menswear.

Find more delicious outerwear at www.burberry.com

Prada's Classic Edge

I have always admired Miuccia Prada and what this former pantomime has done with her grandfather's leather goods brand, especially her fabulous shoes for her women's pret-a-porter.  Her menswear line, though, in season's past, has been very utilitarian and minimal, and sometimes androgynous - not what I personally desire in a menswear.  For Fall 2010, however, Miuccia has gone back to the basics with a bit of the Prada edge.  The camouflage trench coat is one of my favorite pieces in this collection.  There is a slight 1970s feel (a decade of fashion I love), with clean, tailored items that can be mixed and matched and stay relevent in your closet for many seasons to come.

See the video of the runway show at www.prada.com

Swanky Salvatore!

It is finally the start of men's fashion week in Milan for Fall 2010 (I know, we are still in winter, and fashion is already showing the next fall's new looks) but that's what we love about runway, always looking into the future, so to speak.

And thank you, Ferragamo designer, Massimiliano Giornetti, for bringing the dandiest, most flamboyant, and most bad-ass men's collection I have seen at the fabled fashion house yet.  The people at Ferragamo have been putting a lot of energy making this iconic brand youthful again, and I can tell you that I am a huge fan of the work they have done.  

Get swanky at http://www.salvatoreferragamo.it/en/

Finally, something good on TV!

Not that I don't adore the Dsquared2 boys and the Zoe Camp, and I don't want to take away how happy I am Project Runway is back in the Big Apple (and I live in and love LA), but "Kell on Earth" is definitely one of the most anticipated shows (for me) to premier on Bravo.

Kelly Cutrone has been my favorite personality on "The Hills" and the "The City" with her fighting-for-blood work ethic that I adore, and her no-nonsense, biting management of her company, People's Revolution. My favorite line ever from the "The Hills" is when Kelly is mentoring LC on her coaching of friend, Steph Pratt. 

“You might want to kiss her on the cheek but I’d put a gun to her back and make sure she stands up straight”.

Finally, my idol, Cutrone is bringing us in her world, as she juggles one of the most reputable fashion PR and fashion show production companies in the world, all while being a single mom. "Kell on Earth" will definitely show us the softer side of the fashion queen, but I am sure there will be plenty of blood as she and her company conquers fashion week.

"Kell on Earth" premiers February 1st on Bravo.

Check out more videos and Kelly's bio at http://www.bravotv.com/kell-on-earth

Brown(e) is your new black

Alright boys, time for a bit of menswear.  If you love tailored menswear, (and you DO love tailored menswear because you have burned your sparkly tattoo t-shirts), then you must get to know Thom Browne.  Born in Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Notre Dame, Browne worked as a designer for Club Monaco, then founded his own line in 2001.  Browne also collaborates with Brooks Brothers' Black Fleece Collection, and has recently teamed up with French ski brand, Moncler, for their Gamme Bleu line.

Browne designs for the business man that seriously cares about how well his suits fit.  His suits are body conscious, as if each piece has been meticulous tailored for his wearer.  By the way, if you don't have a tailor in your phone contacts, find one and now!

Not to say that Browne is a bit quirky.  Seen above at his Spring 2010 show, Browne is wearing his signature shrunken suit with the shortened legs, which Ms. Zoe's assistant, Brad was wearing to fashion week in Paris last year.  The khaki blazer trench with the sweat outfit, I pine for, and not that I am a big fan of men in miniskirts, the cut of the model's shirt and beautiful jacket, is most definitely something to love.

So boys, visit your local Barney's or men's designer Nordstrom, so you can get a closer look at what you should be wearing, now that you are all grown up.

Add some Brown(e) to your wardrobe palette  www.thombrowne.com, http://www.brooksbrothers.com/blackfleece.process,    http://www.moncler.it/eng

A Single Man

Dazzling and brilliant is what I have to say about Tom Ford's directorial debut. Jason and I recently saw the movie at a local theater in LA, and I was compelled to write an entry about this film. "A Single Man", based on the Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel by the same name, takes place in Los Angeles in 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis. Colin Firth plays a British professor at a local college, stuggling with the death of his longtime partner (Matthew Goode). Colin's character is now trudging through life, while his best friend (Julianne Moore), tries, in her drunken, pseudo-glamorous way, to console him.

Colin Firth does a fantastic job portraying the loneliness of being a closeted gay in 1960s America, as he isn't even allowed to attend the funeral of his partner of 16 years. The movie has a very melancholic tone, but there are plenty of brilliant moments, such as the acting by Firth and Moore, and the absolutely incredible attention to detail of Tom Ford and his take of fashion and design in the 1960s. The clothes, the cars, the architecture, all just stunning. Beautiful while sad, this movie needs to be on your radar.

Happy New Year!

Cheers to a new year and a new decade my cyberland fashionistas.  It will definitely be interesting to look back at the aughts and be dissecting what fashion trends and tribulations we were wearing during the decade.  But let's look to the future, and no better to do that with than Nicholas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga.

Jason and I were spending some time in the OC yesterday, and we stopped by the Balenciaga store at the famed South Coast Plaza.  It wasn't until we were leaving the store when Jason insisted that I go back to see the video screens previewing Spring 2010.  The shoes made me gasp out of sheer joy (plus I was so proud of Jason identifying the importance of these shoes in my life).

The whole collection brings to mind devochkas going to the moloko bar, mischievous and sleek.  These girls are ready to forget the aughts (and the bad economy), and party like its twenty-one hundred.

Right on target!

Happy Hanukkah!  So it is still a few days out but to all those money savvy fashionistas out there, it is time to be stoked about Rodarte for Target.  The big box retail giant is no stranger to designer collections, with Proenza Schouler and Alexander McQueen being bulls-eye alums.  This time around, the sisters Mulleavy, Kate and Laura, are rolling out their cutting edge designs for our favorite discount chain.  Of course all fabulous items need to be picked up quickly, as they are only being sold for just over a month, from December 20 through January 24 at select Target stores.  Perhaps you can pick up a hot dress for those New Year's Eve soirees!

(mc)Queen of Hearts

And my heart, Alexander McQueen has right now.  Many of you may wonder whom or what I decide to write about in my blog.  Usually it's an event that triggers excitement for a style or designer or brand that makes me swoon, and in that swoon moment, I realize that I need to share it with my online friends.

Just a couple of days ago, I saw the brand spankin' new video for "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga, and nearly passed out by it's brillance and even more so by the fabulous pairs of Alexander McQueen platforms and the head-to-toe straight off the Spring 2010 runway undersea outfit that Gaga wears during the bridge of her song.

And let's look back (or currently) at the Fall 2009 clutch in red leather with a detachable fingerless glove.  MJ would be proud.

But it's the baby pink platforms for this spring that really have me going gaga! 

Run away to wonderland at www.alexandermcqueen.com

New Digs

Hello to all my friends out there in Cyberland.  I have been on sort of hiatus for the last month as Jason and I recently made the big move to Hollywoodland and we are loving it.  We live in a great place in Studio City, and everyday we are discovering new delights that our new city has to offer.

I am stoked for the California weather, especailly that it actually gets cool enough in the winter to wear fabulous outerwear.  I am obsessed with outerwear, with fun hats, stellar gloves (and armwarmers that I am totally onboard for...check out Donna Karan's Fall 09 collection).  

I am thrilled to be living near the ocean.  Ever since I was a kid, I dreamt of the ocean, and now I finally have one within a half hour drive, and does that ever feel fantastic.

And the most important reason why I love LA, which is the reason why I moved here, is the FASHION!  LA definitely has it's own personality when it comes to what they are wearing, and I truly enjoy seeing all ages here embracing fashion trends and making it their own.

Go Lakers!

Camp Caten

Dsquared.  My absolute favorite brand.  Period.  Clearly I have many favorites in the designer world, but nothing gets my heart racing like walking into a major retailer in San Francisco or Los Angeles and stumbling upon the men's collection of Dsquared beautifully displayed on the rack.  Jason witnessed this on our recent apartment hunting trip to LA.  I might have even squealed when I saw the brilliant textiles.

Dsquared ready-to-wear can be difficult to find in the States, as the price point is extremely exclusive, even more so than Dolce & Gabbana or Gucci, thus the brand is mostly seen on celebrities, supermodels, and the super rich. (Britney commissioned the Caten twins for the costumes in her "Circus" tour.)  Their ad campaigns and runway shows are cocky, overtly sexual, and have a bit of campiness thrown in for good fun.  These elements have created a cult following for the brand.

For the Spring 2010 shows, the boys and girls of Dsquaredland are going to camp, and it looks as if they are having a darn good time.  The Caten twins were playing with plastic for their women's line, as some of the dresses and bags were waterproof, perfect for looking elegant in the elements.  One look was a pair of plastic overalls that were converted to a dress.  For the men's line leggings were introduced with shorts.  I have a love/hate relationship with leggings on women, but I have to admit that I enjoyed the look with the men's collection.  What I love most about Dsquared shows is the amount of layers that are thrown together.  Worn all at once, it creates "a lot of look" as Tim Gunn may say, but each layer is very wearable, an aspect retailers are definitely looking for in our current state of affairs. The cheekiness of Dsquared was seen throughout the shows, with band-aid laiden models and swim trunks complete with ants.  It is all the fun of camp, and I'm stoked for this  luxe wilderness adventure.

 

Grab your canoe and head to www.dsquared2.com