Authentic Esoteric Performance

I'm so excited that I'll get right to the point: this post is dedicated to New Year's Eve. Whether I was watching the ball drop from my grandparents' townhouse in Queens or more recently, painting the town red with my best friends, I've been spending New Year's in New York as long as I can remember. There's just something wonderful about being in the City on New Year's that seemingly can't be replicated anywhere else.

Following up with this theory, I've always done my very best to personify the need to respect the holiday and all the fabulous dressing it entails. Last year's ensemble showcased my characteristic balance of high and low labels (a black Old Navy shift dress, deep purple Target tights and Tory Burch heels); this year's selections come straight from Topshop, another quintessential Londontown staple.

Velvet Embellished Dress, £45

Knitted Shoulder Pad Dress, £45

Metallic Tulip Dress by Rare, £49

 

Lace 1-Shoulder Dress by Rare, £29

Scanning my selections for less than ten seconds, I can already envision my style philosophy evolving. Undoubtedly, being in London has had a genuine impact on my wardrobe decisions, but the reality of it hasn't quite hit me until just about now. I so enjoy the simple color schemes and subtle sophistication of my above four selections. Put any of these dresses together with a stunning pair of cage shoes, a practical carry-all clutch and a glass of champagne and I'll be set for the very first night of the rest of my life, or in this case, 2010. Close enough.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Style Bubble

Having already spent a few months here in London, it seems almost disrespectful (not to mention ridiculous) that I've gone this long without dedicating a post to the fabulous Susie Bubble. What makes the lady of the Style Bubble so utterly respectable to those belonging to the esoteric world of fashion?

Style Bubble

Half-Baked Challenge

8 November 2009

Perhaps it's her endless innovation that can be readily seen in every single outfit she constructs, or the fearless way in which she approaches...well, pretty much everything. Honestly, who else could successfully put together a cohesive outfit consisting of "no patterns, no prints and at least TEN colours"? Referring to Susie's recent Sunday post, I was constantly wowed by her ability to establish layer upon layer of popping colors (13 to be exact), completing the look with several belts, scallion-green tights and the perfect pair of waffle-knit gloves.

Style Bubble

Caped and Suited for Leaf Crunching

17 October 2009

When looking toward other fashionistas as sources of inspiration, Susie Bubble definitely tops my list. Not only is she a creative genius, but she explains her heritage as "British-born Chinese by way of Hong Kong," which makes me love her even more. Susie Bubble: brilliant and bad ass. In essence, a style icon to us all.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Choo Choo: Jimmy Choo >> H&M

A sailboat, a vacation, a nice car. Now, these are typical things fifth-graders would spend their first paycheck on. I, on the other hand, had a different vision. I imagined myself spending my first paycheck on a fabulous pair of Jimmy Choo heels.

image courtesy of Nitrolicious's Jimmy Choo H&M Women’s Collection Preview

That's why I'm ecstatic to report that one of my favorites, Swedish retail giant H&M, has teamed up with the luxury British label to create a highly-anticipated collection for Fall/Winter 2009. The line, which will be available in 200 selected stores around the world, encompasses both women's and men's pieces that personify the Jimmy Choo brand image while also maintaining the inclusiveness of H&M's high street store philosophy.

I will admit, I was as skeptical as I was intrigued when I first encountered the fashionably-loud Jimmy Choo/H&M ads that took over the Victoria tube station, given other designer/discount store flops such as Alice & Olivia for Payless ShoeSouce (Ew?) or Vera Wang for Kohl's. Whether or not it's about the downright inconsistency of such strategic alliances, something instinctive always tends to tell me that designer looks for cheap prices is just too good to be true. The difference with this particular match up, however, is that H&M historically has personified high-fashion items without compromising quality or value provided to consumers. Looks like we'll just have to see what unfolds after I take a little trip to Oxford Street!

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Making Fashion History

Today's big news comes straight from my new favorite blog, appropriately titled The Business of Fashion. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves. As of today, Vogue has agreed to a partnership with the British Fashion Council to launch an awe-inspiring £200,000 fund directed solely at supporting young British design talent. As with its US counterpart, the Vogue Fashion Fund will encompass all types of necessary financial assistance for qualified designers as well as personal guidance on business practices.

The highly-revered Alexandra Shulman recently divulged, "Vogue's role in supporting young designers is incredibly important because the international fashion industry looks to us to bring young British designers to its attention and to endorse those who we consider talented. This fund means that Vogue can get involved on a practical level."

Georgia Jagger on the November 2009 cover of Vogue

photographed by Mario Testino

Talk about inspiring.

Coming from the girl whose passion for the fashion industry has always been overlooked as an overzealous obsession with her wardrobe, this bit of news gives me hope that our society can start to appreciate fashion for all the tings it truly is- a business, an esoteric art and a vocation.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

An American Brand in London

Question: How much do I love Ralph Lauren Rugby? Whenever I receive a periodic e-mail here or there about styling events and  new outfit concepts, my heart skips a beat. There's a lot about the States that I miss, but one of them is walking into the Rugby store in Georgetown and being completely engrossed in their window displays and mesmerized by the outfits arranged proudly on the forms.

Here is a simple yet statement-making outfit constructed from Rugby's current website offerings. Browsing through their pages upon pages of quality merchandise, I made a vow to step outside my box, mix prints and patterns, wear boyfriend jeans with heels and go crazy with the layers. Risk is what makes it fun, as long as balance is maintained, of course.

Little Boy Polo Jacket, $298

Suede Patch Flannel Workshirt, $89.50

Boyfriend Denim Jean, $150

 

Skull Heritage Crest Belt, $98

This is a breezy, perfect-for-a-Saturday-afternoon outfit, complete with a strong-buckled belt that can hold its own in terms of bringing the entire outfit together. Undoubtedly, my favorite piece is the Little Boy Blazer, while the flannel arguably has the most personality. The playfulness of the shirt and jeans are toned down a great amount by the fitted blazer, which gives it the perfect amount of feminine charm to two otherwise androgynous items. The cuffed denim hem ensures that this outfit is not overly stuffy, as it still gives off an ultimately fun vibe. This outfit is the perfect transition piece to bridge a strong sense of American pride and the guidelines of British Fall fashion.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Style Icon

Since when did TV presenters become fashion It Girls? Jameela Jamil, the co-host of London's Freshly Squeezed morning show and T4 weekend program needs not prove herself further, as her innovative wardrobe has been receiving massive amounts of positive attention. The former model is undoubtedly striking with her coveted full-fringe hairstyle and trademark pouty red lip stain, but her natural beauty alone is only icing on the cake.

Jameela Jamil at the UK premiere of Bruno
The Empire, Leceister Square 
16 June 2009

My favorite of Jameela's looks is structured around a metallic blazer over a black skirt or dress and chunky black heels, a mix of androgynous and feminine when disputing the fabric, construction and fit of the outfit as a whole. Returning to the concept I always find myself harping on, it's all about balance.

Jameela Jamil is a testament to my theory that there really is something extra about the aura British celebrities give off. Maybe it lies in the accent or the confidence harvested from living in a global fashion capital.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Jaded

Growing up, I always wondered if my older Chinese cousins knew just how cool they were for sporting beautiful jade bracelets or gorgeous pendant necklaces. No, these cultural pieces haven't become the latest fashion accessory, but the jade color concept has most definitely caught on in Europe. As somewhat of a brand extension of the mint-green hue, Chanel has introduced a new shade of nail varnish for Fall called Jade. Already out of stock on Chanel's website, the color was unleashed on Chanel's Paris runway only a few weeks ago.

Chanel Le Vernis in Jade (407), $25 / £19

 

Jade at Chanel A/W 2009 Catwalk Collection

Garnering high-profile fans like Rachel Bilson and Alexa Chung, the color is already making its rounds in the big cities and as any successful trend, has been spreading like wildfire. Drew Barrymore, in attendance of the Toronto Film Festival, had her nails painted minty green to celebrate the promotion of Whip It, her first-ever credit as a director. In observing their looks, the stars have been bold enough to try out this new color concept while keeping it classy by playing down the rest of their outfits (typically a variation on the ever-popular LBD) and keeping makeup to a tasteful yet statement-making minimum.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.