Media Monday: Tumblr Timeline

It's Media Monday again, and this time I've pulled images off of my Tumblr timeline, the ones that caught my eye and that I've mooned over. 


 I had to put in a great op-ed with the great Donatella Versace. I'm about halfway through The House of Versace which premiered on Lifetime this past Saturday. Don't worry, you'll get my write-up about that soon! 

  I thought the Rodarte show was beautifully crafted, a bit spooky and appropriately Halloween-ish. I also love seeing goth coming down the runways, mixed in a with a little shock element. 
 Lastly, I am a huge Nick Knight fan, he's an amazing photographer and artist. He's great at conveying emotion and vivid, lasting imagery. 

Media Monday: Instagram Timeline

Every Monday I decided I would share the lovely fashion that is all over my IG timeline. Especially since Paris Fashion Week just wound down, and there were so many beautiful looks that came down the runway! 

Here are the pics I'm drooling over....love the Balmain S/S '14 looks!

 

Simon Porte and his Fashion Pool Party!

While perusing the latest issue of Elle, I came across a blurb about a French designer, Simon Porte. He apparently turned heads showing off his Fall '13 line by not only having a very French collection, but by hosting it at a public pool in Bastille.
 
Isn't that wild? I love it- it's so daring and different! Obviously Porte's show had a very nautical theme, and a very French color palette- white, red, blue. Of course there was also plenty of navy and white pinstripes.

Simon Porte doesn't follow anyone else's rules- he dropped out of the prestigious French design school ESMOD (École Supérieure des Arts et techniques de la Mode) after only 2 months, to persue his own line. His mother had just passed away, so in honor of her, he named his line, Jacquemus

His determination and hard work is paying off, as his line is sold in 25 international stores. 

And I'm sure the models were loving the flipflops! Stilettos are definitely not the footwear to be coupled with pool tile.

Jason Wu (As digitally printed by Imunique Magazine)

Jason Wu, a Taiwanese fashion designer, is making history all around the world. The son of entrepreneurs, he has risen to be one of the most famous designers in the industry, known for his sleek, feminine lines and beautiful tailoring. He is most famous for designing Michelle Obama's Inaugural gowns and many other dresses she has worn on several occasions. Soon after that, Wu became the designer that Hollywood would be sought after for its snazzy red carpet attire. Wu learned how to sew by creating custom doll clothing, the need for tiny detailing helping him down the road for creating beautiful craftsmanship.  Through his years of learning and building confidence he was able to launch his ready-to-wear self-titled clothing line. His first full collection debuted in 2006, which won the Fashion Group International's Rising Star award in 2008.  Being an innovative designer, Wu studied Sculpture in Tokyo, and applied it to his designs, which resulted in near perfect fittings that seemed to glide over the human figure.

“I have always found a woman’s body to be especially beautiful ever since taking my first life drawing class as a teenager. I was drawn to fashion design as it is my passion to create garments that enhance and flatter the female form,” explains Jason.

    With an emphasis on quality manufacturing and a desire to be close to the pieces as they develop, 95% of the collection is made in New York City’s garment district.

    Obviously, Wu is no stranger to style or fashion in this world. Jason Wu custom-designed a one-shoulder, floor-length white chiffon gown, at the inaugural ball on the night of President Barack Obama's first term inauguration for first lady, Michelle Obama At the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Ball, Michelle Obama once again whore a stunning piece by Jason Wu, showing her loyalty to the prestigious designer.  This shimmery ruby red velvet and chiffon gown was handcrafted by the artistic hands of Jason Wu himself. The ravishing color was splendid on Michele Obama and the custom fit really showed off her toned physique.

         In January 2013, Wu premiered his Miss Wu collection, which was launched exclusively for Nordstrom’s.  This collection is all about comfortable feminine wear, with a splash of "Old School" 1960s inspiration including groovy hues, and patterns as well as masculine and feminine prints.

        Jason Wu's 2013 collection is broken up into three parts: Spring, Pre-Fall, and Fall/Winter.  His Spring runways showcased an edgier Wu: elements of black, nude, leather and black netting were sprinkled throughout the collection. There was quite a bit of sheer chiffon also, which is contributed to collaboration with La Perla, the lingerie maker.
         His pre-fall runways continued to notch up the glam; there were a lot of different elements: prints, furs, A-line skirts, sturdy jackets and daring silhouettes. Bright yellows, purples mixed with watercolor flower prints that were Wu’s own making.
   

The fall collection, which Wu has described as “extreme femininity”, was fierce and sexy on the runway in New York. The models strutted in black booties, and there was sharp contrast between the pristine white collared shirts, the soft furs, and the hard leathers. The color palette ranged from white to yellow to bright red to patterned grey.

        Wu has made big waves in the world of fashion awards, being a finalist in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in July 2008. He won the Swarovski Award for Womenswear in June 2010 at the CDFA Fashion Awards and in April 2011 he was nominated for the CFDA/Swarovski Award for Accessory Design.

Fashion Article: 3 Runway Looks You Can Rock this Summer! (As digitally printed by Imunique Magazine)

Three looks that are very hot this season are mixed prints, black and white, and neon!

Different prints, like polka dots, stripes and florals, have dominated the runway this season. Florals can be worn in a variety of ways, but they can also be overdone. If you’re going for a simple floral look, keep the flowers small and the colors light. A floral top paired with complementing mono color pants or skirt is an easy way to rock the floral pattern. If you’re more daring, go loud and large- big, bright flowers, which should also be paired with a mono color complement piece. If you’re wearing a floral dress, especially if it’s a full-length dress or one with a more daring print, keep your jewelry simple so as not to overdue it. If you’re just starting to experiment, floral printed wedges are a cute addition to a simple outfit!

The same rules apply with other prints-there has to be balance to the print. A polka dotted jacket is a cute complement to an outfit, paired with a single color top underneath and pants.  The Kardashian collection jacket, seen here worn by the adorable Kourtney, is the first piece of  polka dot fashion I've ever liked!!

Black & White is also very chic this season, and the look is akin to a power suit. It’s very eye-catching, and can complement any skin tone. It can be a simple white blouse with a black skirt, or busy with a black and white geometric pattern.  You have to be careful not to overdue the black and white geometric patterns, or the look will become too busy. With a geometric print black and white dress, a black or white jacket would help harness the energy. Again, you want to keep your jewelry simple, gold works very well with a black and white ensemble.

    

Neon is hot this season, especially the use of neon-colored accessories, like a bright pink clutch or earrings. It’s a very playful look, and can be used to lighten up a serious outfit (when applicable to the situation!) It can be an amazing pop of color when paired with say, an LBD.  Neon and black go well together, as does neon and white.  Generally, you want to stick with one color neon, not mix a couple of them (too 80s!) One excellent way to complement your neon piece is to have matching neon nail polish!  
   Have fun this season experimenting with prints, black & white, and neon! Don’t be afraid to be a little daring and to make a statement with your outfit.  Just remember, balance is important when wearing strong patterns or prints. For a little added playfulness in your look, a pop of neon color will do the trick!

Friday Fashion Don't!

Have you ever Googled "bad fashion", then hit the 'Images' button?
If not, then let me tell you that it's quite the acid trip! Below are the results.
Have a funky Friday!

Playground makers have contracted
models to showcase their latest slide models

This just freaks me right out! Poor thing was probably 

so scared of falling off! 

There are no words...

 I always wonder what was going through the designer's head when he/she was making some outrageous stuff. But hey, it creates buzz, so light up another one and get to work!!

"Am I in the belly of a starfish??"

Remember the old Christina?

Runway Review: Hugo Boss F/W 2013

I had been perusing the web the other night, looking for fashion inspiration and I somehow caught a clip of the Hugo Boss Fall/Winter 2013 show. Let me tell you- I was so enamored with this show.
  The show took place in Shanghai. It was a dark set, but its lit up by fierce dashes of lightning across the ceiling, followed by growls of thunder. There are lightning bolts under the models feet as well, as they traversed the KISS-lighting bolt shaped runway. 
They walked to a very catchy song that fit perfectly with the lightning theme, but for the life of me I cannot seem to track the title and author of that song down. 
 There were a couple of celebrities present- I spotted Gerard Butler, and I also read that Carey Mulligan from The Great Gatsby was present. 

The female models had their hair pulled back tightly into sleek buns, and wore minimal makeup.

 The male models were extra fierce and sexy, showcasing the beautiful menswear that Hugo Boss is known for.












Disclaimer: 
As my faithful readers know, I don't advertise a company or a designer that I haven't first researched. When I began digging into the history of Hugo Boss, I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be pleasant. And I was right- the founder, Hugo Boss, started his company in 1924 in Metzingen Germany. In 1931 he joined the National Socialist party, and throughout World War II he made uniforms for the Nazis and those of the Nazi Hitler Youth. 
Now, he died in 1948 but not before he was heavily fined, lost his voting rights, and his ability to run a business. Was he apologetic for his actions by the time he died? I don't know, but he was quite chummy with Hitler. 
Furthermore, his company has survived and has issued several apologies for the company's past indiscretions. 
Does this erase the company's sordid history? No, not by any means. But have they made up for it? That's for you to decide.

Lima Fashion Week

Lima, Peru is South America's fashion hub, and their Fashion week is GORGEOUS. I checked out pics and Guurrllll, let me tell you! There were gorgeous outfits & gowns that were walking down the runways!  
Let me start with Andres Sarda: 

 Andres Sarda started out as a women's underwear designer out of Barcelona. With his own company, he branched out and with the help from his daughter, Nuria, (who is creative director) they now make some sexy ass lingerie and almost-gowns. I LOVE this black piece--->






 Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, a Spanish designer, was guest-fashionista at Lima Fashion, and she showcased her own gorgeous designs:

I love the draping (y'all know I'm a fool for draping!) of these pieces, and the subtle accents. 
What was your favorite look/designer at Lima Fashion Week? 

Which Fashion Shows were the Craziest??

Hello there lovers of art & fashion!

I am putting together a piece on the world's craziest runway shows and I want your help! 
Have you been a part of a strange, original runway show? Either modeling, organizing, or watching? I want to hear about your experience! If you've got trash to talk, of course I'll keep your input totally anonymous ;)
I'm also interested in the differences in the shows pre-recession & after; I know most budgets were scaled down tremendously, were there shows that you thought were way too extravagant?
Which were the worst shows?
Please leave feedback, either commenting on here, or email me at:
attitudebydress@gmail.com
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! @dressbyattitude

Eco Designer Focus: Vivienne Westwood

One of my favorite designers, and one of the most Eco-conscious & original designers out there, is Vivienne Westwood.
She was born on 8 April 1941, as Vivienne Isabel Swire, in England. Her first job was at age 17, in a factory. Her first husband was Derek Westwood, with whom she had a son. While married, she became a teacher. Her first marriage eventually went kaput and she met Malcolm McIaren, who opened her eyes to the world of art. 
She first started selling homemade jewelry in 1971 out of her 2nd husband's shop, and over the  decades has continued to take the fashion world by force.
 
Her mission is to help save the Earth, and make consumers more aware of their imprint on the Earth. And she does it with incredible passion & purpose; while not giving a shit about what anyone thinks. She embraced Punk when it was big, and continued to make it her bitch after it had faded.
She is a huge environmentalist, and has given and supported enumerable eco-based organizations:

Reprieve and Liberty
Amnesty International
Environmental Justice Foundation
Friends of the Earth
Green Peace's Arctic Campaign

In 2012, she donated 1.6 million pounds to rainforest charity Cool Earth: "If we don't save the rainforest, we can forget about it, we won't save the Earth."

There is a Eco-friendly range of stationary available on her website and in stores. 

She has also penned a novel, Active Resistance to Propaganda.

And of course, there's a blog: Get a Life 

 

Designer Focus: Alberta Ferretti

Every morning, while my bf & I drink our morning coffee and wake up, I go through my emails and read up on the fashion happenings. As you should know, many of the fashion shows around the world are happening, and I was particularly interested in Milan, which ended today.
One designer from the Milan show that caught my eye in a major way was Alberta Ferretti. Lordy, did she send models down the runway with AMAZING looks! Check out her website here. She is definitely one of my favorite designers. I love the edgy, sexy cuts & lines, with a splash of brocade all over the place.