It's Paris and It's Fashion Week

Vivienne Westwood is all about the future. What is her possible image of that? Well i think its the possibility of surviving our ecosystem. Her theme for this show is based on an eco-warrior living in an urban future, i.e. us, as people, battling the effects of a global warming and other environmental downfalls, but living as we were today. she returns to themes of the jungle, and Africa, with more primal painted pieces. what i see, is a light-hearted view on very significant issues today. but why not? we need to sometimes see in often worrying topics in an optimistic view or else wouldn't we all lose hope? p.s. alot of this collection is bonkers. i likey.

notice above, the paint streaked coats, pants, and tops. it looks very similar to patterns used by African tribespeople to paint their faces.

above, i really enjoyed the sharp-angled corners to create the bag clasp and the sleeves of that shrug. it looks like a cuffed shirt was coiled around the model's arms.

i love the multi-fabric, multi-patterned items put together to create this outfit.

image courtesy: style.com

H&M knows Crayola Blue

Crown Royal saved a dress for me at H&M last thursday. contrary to the million and two gray items i've been purchasing lately, this long, slim-fitting dress has a 'punch in the face' colour to it. Lapis lazuli is the colour that best describes it. but it more triggers childhood memories of that blue in the crayon box.

this is the lovely dress below.

and if this is a sign of what is to come for H&M this spring/summer, i'm getting excited. i found some of their trend items online for viewing and boy are they ever beautiful. i have to admit, i've been slightly disappointed in the H&M winter collection of this previous year, and i was hoping that they would impress me again. it looks like they are en pointe with the sunny season's expected trends. african prints and culturally-themed garments as evidenced in their large turbans worn on many of the models. safari-inspired themes also a prominent feature. but most importantly (at least to me) the bold, bright monochrome coloured garments are styled together with the other two trends. yeah, H&M, you go on. p.s. ladies, those loose fitting pants are beautiful but if you are shorter than 5'7 put them back on the rack... unless you want to look like a dwarf who rummaged through MC Hammer's closet.

images courtesy: neomoda

mmm, one thing i can't wait for is...

the new April 77 to come out with there spring/summer collection. i pretty much want every garment that they provide. the blazer they have on their website is worthy of hugs and kisses. i love how consistent they have been over the last few years. their british post-punk and softened rockabilly looks are gorgeous. they are definitely one of my favourite labels. they don't over-saturate their brand by creating a superfluous amount of non-coalescing pieces. you can pretty much only purchase from their collection for one season and you would have a complete wardrobe. i mean, just let your eyes do the wanting.

images courtesy: jargol.com

A New Do and a Movie or Two

this weekend was a little more low-key yet fun. crown royal and i pretty much watched about a 6 movies and went out for a friend's birthday at the Drake. in between all of that i did some much un-needed shopping and got myself a gorgeous new 'do from a Sassoon stylist. i dipped into the new Tiger of Sweden collection at Ukula and picked up this gray oversized ribbed tank made out of 100% Tencel. it feels like water on my skin, possibly the softest fluid-like fabric that's brushed my skin in a while. i also bought myself this oversized Acne dress from Next Door. as is evident, i've probably just about abandoned any thought of saving up to buy all of my clothes from the spring/summer collections when they come out in the next month or two.

We Can All Stand Taller With These Beautifully Towering Collars

Fresh out of the Fall 2008 RTW Milan runways, there was a definite focus on changing themes. Jil Sanders collection exhibited the refreshing creativity of Raf Simons. Alberta Ferretti strayed away from her traditionally whimisically romantic pieces to a more architecturally designed collection. Ferre's collection has reverted back to its oldways, beautifully crafted fall pieces, feminine but not in an Laura Ashley overkill way. i especially love the overall theme with most of the coats with their exaggerated collars that tower high over the models' necks serving to lengthen the overall stature of the person wearing them and providing a utilitarian purpose as a scarf. the collars look like beautiful sculptures sprouting around the models' tiny heads.

Below: Jil Sanders

Below: Alberta Ferretti

Below: Ferre

images courtesy: style.com, nymag

Swedish De-Scent

do you remember when J. Lindeberg first became a hot product in North America. to me it seems like ages ago. it was one of the first swedish labels in this last decade to make its first dent in the American retail industry. In terms of high fashion, the Swedes had already made their marking with one Lars Nilsson (ex-creative director for Nina Ricci, now defunct designer for Ferre). over the recent years, Tiger of Sweden have etched themselves into American retail with their smart very casual streetwear garments. and even more current, the ever-adored, modestly priced Cheap Monday. well, there may be another brand that will hopefully decide to cross the waters and bring their goods here. a fairly new menswear label (2oo6ish), Odeur, have captured many an interested eye in the last few weeks. i can only describe their collection for spring/summer as something that is deliciously androgynous, almost ghost like. the company, launched by Anna Lidstrom and Peter Hallstrom, carries a magnificent collection of denim, over-sized, cape-like sweaters, akin to when apparitions appear to me at night with sheets over their head. so is it enough that they make hot clothing? apparently not. in efforts to create a unique niche for their label amidst the billion and two already successful brands all over the world, the company has (in the tradition of their namesake) created a scent that is embedded into their clothing. Petter Hollstrom has reported that "it brings the consumer closer to the product". i'm not sure if having a scent attached to your clothing when you buy it would attract you more to the article of clothing. i think, good architecture and design are my two pre-determinates. and with this label it looks like they have succeeded in both. lets just say, if i had a boyfriend, he would be wearing this.

All Country for Old Men

I watched No Country For Old Men last night. it was pretty much amazing, thanks to the like of Javier Bardem. the scenery in the movie is shot so realistically that you start to feel the hot southern heat of the Mexican/U.S. border. although spring is not here yet, i'm excited to shed my thick, long-sleeved clothes. soon, i will no longer be in hibernation. here is my ode to summer and spring.... i will see you soon darling.

Putting More Spring in Your Step

I've been checking out the latest nouveau collections available for our eyes by the some less familiar (or maybe not!) designers. Christian Wijnants Spring 'o8 collection is so geometrically delectable some of the keys are moist on this keyboard. this is brought to you by a 28 year old. we can all see his Dadaist influences. i love the hard lines/shapes merged such that they evolve into such delicate pieces.

image courtesy: Totem