waaaaat

I got called today to be one of 12 Finalists! are you kidding me!?

Die already! Trends that neeed to go away

I remember strolling through my favorite shopping center in Santiago, Chile while I was studying abroad in 2007 (Dos Caracoles Nueva de Lyon, 45, Providencia- you ever been there, CG?) and while of course I thought most of the stores were great- I got one of my favorite shirts there- there were some stores, and some pieces that they carried that I laughed to myself about. I remember joking with friends as we were perusing the racks, pulling out these goofy MC Hammer pants, neon plastic bangles, and all sorts of leggings. It's funny that then it was amusing how 'behind' a lot of the fashion was in South America.

Turns out they were so far 'behind', they were just ahead of the fashion times. In or out, I still think these styles are awful and I can't wait for these ridiculous trends to die off. This is what I'm most sick of:

• Hammer- oops, I mean Harem Pants. It looks like these babies have been back on Spring runways since 07 (3.1 Philip Lim, Haider Ackermann). I was flipping through the May issue of Bazaar and there was an article written by a man denouncing all things unflattering. And then, to my dismay, on the very next page was an article touting the utter chicness of the harem pant. They do nothing more for the female figure than a pair of sweatpants. I'm all for middle and far eastern fashion influences, but anything that  resembles this is a big NO for me.
• Animal Print. I'm not a red paint-thrower, I really don't mind furs, or real leather, or animal print inspired shapes, but there's something about animal prints. There's no middle ground; it either screams white trash or an over done ultraluxe old millionaire. You can only pull it off if you're a kid...like when I had those zebra print swimsuit AND leggings in '89...

• Neon. I know I'm a pretty low-key dresser, but I'm not completely against bright colors- In fact I just got this which I'm excited to wear with a nice tan, but real neon is just offensive. On silk, as a bangle, as earrings, or if you're trying to charge a hundred bucks for it under a hot label. I don't care. It crosses my color threshold into the blinding category.

• Leggings with...everything.  I'm not denying the comfort and function of the legging, but I'm so sick of seeing them everywhere. Going to do some yoga? Leggings. Fine. But- Big sweater? leggings. Dress too short? leggings. Late for class? leggings. Want to keep wearing that micro mini skirt deep into fall? Leggings. Something to wear with those stupid Uggs? leggings... The legging has become the pant equivalent of the flip-flop. Not good.
 

photo posted by jaqueline1485 @ skirt.com, who says everything in moderation!

I WANT MY MTV

GLEE is back! I cannot describe how happy it makes me to see Rachel Barry back on television every week. But that's not what this post is about.

Ok, well it sort of is. Today's season premiere left much to be desired both in the way of plot and musical performance. But the last 4:54 minutes of the program when Sue Sylvester reenacted Madonna's iconic "Vogue" music video more than made up for it. Wikipedia tells me that MTV ranked the original video as #5 on its "Top 100 Videos That Broke the Rules" list and that Rolling Stone magazine named it the #28 best music video of all time. And although I was 4 when it came out, I still felt the groundbreaking video's impact and would remain awed by the incredible grace and style of the black and white footage for years to come. I mean, my God, will you look at these photos?! No one was more stylish or innovative or daring than Madonna in the '80s and '90s.

And while we're on the subject of heartbreakingly stylish music videos, I will never stop worshiping the masterpiece that is George Michael's "Freedom! '90" video. Released in the very same year (1990) as "Vogue" and featuring five of the most beautiful women to ever walk the planet, it is simply stunning. Naomi with the headphones! Cindy in the tub! Linda in the sweater!

Ugh. It's just so beautiful. I want that to be the last thing I see before I die. And I want it played at my funeral. Plus, the song was secretly about the frustration of being a closeted gay man in the AIDS era. And the flaming leather jacket was meant to symbolize the destruction of George's ridiculous Wham! career. "Heaven knows I was just a young boy, didn't know what I wanted to be. I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy, and I guess that was enough for me." What more could you possibly want in a music video?!

Pantene's Reality Hair Star

**self promotion alert...VOTE FOR ME :)

So I just submitted a video entering the contest to be Pantene's first reality hair star. I spent waaay too much time doing re-takes, voiceovers, and editing to not announce that anyone who sees this should vote for me. Click the link or search with my name or my hair type, which I put as color-treated. I know it's dorky, so don't make fun, just vote...or enter your own!

If only we had more followers, this might be a little more effective...

Most Fashionable Movies: Mostly Modern
...to add to CG's post

Ok, I’m wincing as I type this, but when brainstorming movies to add to the fashion list, the first one that came to mind was Twilight *winces harder*. Yea, it’s a teeny-bopper movie, but if you can get past all its shortcomings (and Kristen Stewart’s awful acting), it’s really nice to rest the ole brain and just enjoy the visuals. Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) looks like he’s walked right off the pages of GQ. Day-umm. I love all of his jackets- especially the military pea coat. InStyle says he was dressed with “a mix of American Apparel T-shirts, jackets from G-Star, H&M shirts, Chimala jeans, and A-life sneakers or vintage boots”. Budget stuff. Looked great. I also loved the looks of the villain vampires in the movie, especially the female. She actually looks like a naughtier replica of Kate Hudson’s character in Almost Famous with the blonde curls and furry coat.

Admit it, these could easily be editorials for a Levis ad campaign

The Cell: I absolutely love this movie; it has all of my favorite elements, one of which is to be visually stunning—scenery and costumes alike. The costumes were designed by Oscar winner Eiko Ishioka, who also designed costumes for a runner-up on my list, The Fall. I love J-Lo’s white, feathered dress in the desert, her gothic-harem outfit, her bouncy curly hair, and so on.

The villain (Vincent D’Onofrio) in the movie is also great. He has capes, twisted horns, harem pants, and a medieval suit complete with crown. I would not be surprised to see something like in a couture show.

Star Wars: Everything that princess Leia wears is fashionable, from the iconic white dress, to her slave bikini, and I love all of the ornate dresses and head pieces that Queen Amidala wears.

The khakis, leather belts, hooded knit capes, and knee-high boots of the fellas remind me of Michael Kors’ Fall2010 ready to wear. Go a little bit more literal and you have Acne’s Fall2010 show, with admitted inspiration coming directly from The Clone Wars.

New York magazine also references Star Wars’ influence on Rotarte’s Spring2009 collection.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968): Some of it is very 60s, but most of it is timeless. I love the suits and the beach-chic outfits. You could walk into a GAP or Banana Republic and see the same thing (Banana Republic boyfriend chinos in white + GAP ultrafine turtleneck sweater), and for me that’s a good thing. Steve McQueen looks very handsome and dapper, pulls off short-shorts remarkably well, and Faye Dunaway is so stunning, just like in Bonnie and Clyde. They both look so effortlessly put together. The sunglasses she wears are very much like what I’d like to get a hold of!

...honorable mention coming as soon as soon as I can format this without wanting to punch things...