Breakfast at Barneys

beauty is pain

2011-08-11T23:05:00.003-05:00

...or so they say.

For any of you who have been with me from the very beginning...you may recall me reporting to you from a hospital bed. Oh no darling, nothing horrid at all, I was merely doing one of my routine annual sleep studies.

Well it's time again. Two weeks. In a nutshell its about light levels and their effects on circadian rhythms etc. Which necessitates the absence of time. No phone. No computer. No windows.

Don't worry its not the loony bin. I have many a sewing project/collage/jacket modification to do.

...as well as Blasberg's Classy, The Allure of Chanel and French New WAVE.

At least no hospital gowns are required which means i still get my morning dress-up ritual.

Naturally I do this for the advancement of science...

Quelle coincidence that the Barney's Warehouse Sale just so happens to begin the day after I am released. A consolation prize from above.

Have a lovely rest of the summer.

kisses

a moving picture

2011-08-07T08:40:00.009-05:00

Coco Chanel once said that “Fashion is not simply a matter of clothes; fashion is in the air, born upon the wind; one intuits it… it comes from ideas, manners, events…”

I am finding more and more these days it also comes (in)directly from film.

Little did you know, this happens to be the subject of interest of my senior thesis and so I am spending the duration of this summer delving into pages and pages of non-glossy gorgeousness. This may come as a surprise to you, but there has not been a whole world of research done on this topic. Yes we all know who Edith Head was (most influential Hollywood costume designer EVER) and yes we all have our favorite fashion films but in the scholastic sense...not so much.

Now, fashion and glamour have always gone hand in hand. A sub clause in being "rich and famous" is that one must saturate oneself in sumptuousness and fur or (play the Alicia Silverstone card) and be simply naked against it. The film producers want to lure the public into the seats so obviously we need something pretty to look at.

In my opinion, the beauty of dress is its power to send a message to the world without the said wearer saying anything at all. It can be a disguise, true, but we as digest with our eyes, we internalize the beings around us and interpret them as such. Whether on the street or on the silver screen...fashion is the most discernible form of communication without a single syllable needing to be uttered. Street style (when there is a vision behind) acts as a moving picture as it encapsulates the mood, the essence, and the spirit of an era on a body. (one of the foremost reasons why Dior's New Look of the 50s was so à la mode was because women were so damn starved of fabulosity during the war.)

Now, in recent times, I imagine namely since the 90s with Versace having put the supermodel on the public pedestal and Anna Wintour's mega-commercialization of Vogue...we-not voguettes like us but the masses in general-just cant get enough of the fashion world. It's mysteriously magical, alluringly aloof, and gravitationally gorgeous. To most it seems so unattainable and yet one portion of our life is inadvertently dictated by it.

So all of the sudden, much to our delight, fashion films are seemingly a new genre in cinema. As is the advent of the fashion film festival, no not the trashy red carpet types US Weekly goes mad over that can make-or-break a celebrity stylist's career, no bona fide celebrations i.e Diane Pernet's A Shaded View on Fashion Film in Paris and the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival in California. Now some of you might be wondering...wtf is a fashion film...all movies have costume designers but i wouldn't exactly channel my fall look after Final Destination IV!

Good for you! Well, for me, a fashion film is not merely a treat for the eyes but it is one that breaches the barrier between the pretty and the public, bringing it three clicks closer to the divine world of mode. Voilà some ABC's of Fashion Films.

(darling i suggest you mute the music at the bottom of the page for your viewing pleasure)

A Fashion Film can:

Advertise. (Just about EVERY designer these days has its own youtube feed: backstage videos, campaign supplements, filmed lookbooks, etc. this way we associate a certain lifestyle and image with the company rather than just x model)

The Miu Miu Woman's Tales: MUTA F/W 2011

If only we could all communicate by a fluttering our lashes behind glittering glasses.

The Row F/W 2007

The Olsen's debut line as styled by Vanessa Traina.

I would do just about anything to have that white funnel neck rabbit piece.

The Wang Gang by Interview Magazine, 2010.

As if his unitary braided nymphet-cum-footballer collection didnt have us salivating enough... this proves that life as a wangster is a perennial party.

Bewilder. Where the clothing does all the talking and ultimately enhances the mystique.

Critique. Aside from the frivolity and the fabulosity...there are plenty of aspects worthy of criticism. Therefore it come as no surprise that there are films that satirize the rag trade. Many of these come from people who take part in the fashion industry which makes it more authentic and horrifying.

Qui Etes-Vous Polly Maggoo, 1966.

William Klein's a cult film satirizing the industry through a surrealistic portrayal of a Brooklynite who moves to Paris and her televised life story. He was a fashion photographer himself, and the actress Dorothy McGowan was an actual fashion model from Brooklyn.

Makes the irony even better.

Blow-Up, 1966

For those of you who adore foreign films as I do...Michelangelo Antonioni's italian series: L'Aveventura, La Notte and L'Eclisse are cinematic masterpieces. With Blow-Up however, he mocks David Hemmings (David Bailey) a fashion photographer during London's Swinging Sixties who gets himself wrapped up in a murder mystery.

A very young Jane Birkin, and a very drugged Veruschka also appear in this film.

Designer Directed. Occasionally fashion designers feel the need to outdo there already over-glammed selves and sprinkle their midas touch on a new medium. (I find that these films tend to be the most stylized, juxtaposing the fluidity of fabrics with the motion of film)

A Single Man, 2009.

Tom Ford stepped down from heading Gucci to follow his dream of directing.

His adaptation of A Single Man is a beautiful story both aesthetically and conceptually.

Here we have model Aline Weber in all her smoldering 60s finest.

The Tale of a Fairy Tale

Chanel Cruise 2012

Lagerfeld loves to get his fingerless gloves in everything, and cinema is no exception. These vignettes of his are hauntingly gorgeous, which compensates for the wretched acting. Perhaps it is all part of his humor, he is Karl after all. Or perhaps some models are just better with their mouths pouty yet hushed.

Educate. Many more people go to the cinema than read Women's Wear Daily.

Bill Cunningham New York, 2010

A documentary about a man who needs no introduction.

Before Tommy, before Garance before Phil there was Bill. Still in theaters. Go.

The September Issue, 2009.

The post Devil Wears Prada look into the real Vogue.

The elusive and exclusive glossy in its most influential issue of the year.

Flaunt. Beauty. Provocation. Fur. Sex. Repeat.

Et Dieu Crea La Femme, 1956.

Brigitte Bardot as the ultimate sex pot in the French Riviera.

The inspiration of at least 12 editorials annually.

See Magdelena Frackowiack's own homage to Bardot in Lagerfeld's Remember Now (another beauty).

La Dolce Vita, 1960.

Fellini was clearly way ahead of his times.

(see cat-as-a-headpiece trend for Fall 2011)

Glorify. the lackluster of the world by glamming it up.

Act da Fool, 2010.

Proenza Schouler F/W 2010 collection

How You Look at It, 2010.

Poppy Delevigne for nowness.com

Honor. Paying homage to the countless souls who have left a footprint on mode through their occupation in the industry or role as a style icon.

Nick Knight's ethereal tribute to THE visionary Alexander McQueen

L'Amour Fou, 2010.

Beautiful love story between Yves Saint Laurent and his beloved partner Pierre Bergé as well as their noteworthy art collection.

This would also be the documentary sector.

The multitude of Coco Chanel biopics, Lagerfeld Confidential, Marc Jacobs Louis Vuitton, YSL: His Life and Times, the upcoming Vidal Sassoon film etc.

Inspire. The most important of them all so i'll stop here. Now this list goes on forever.

They started the trends, serve as habitual muses to contemporary designers today and will forever be inscribed in fashion history. Do you really think Nicolas Ghesquière came up with the lariat bag and the perfectly worn in motorcycle jacket-white tee-denim combo on his own visionary doing. Non. We can thank James Dean and Marlon Brando for that one. The current model off duty uniform brings out the Rebel Without a Cause in all of us.

My list also goes on forever. But there is one paramount film that stands out above the rest. Can you guess what it is?

Surprise surprise:

Breakfast at Tiffany's. 1961.

If you've never seen this film stop reading. call in sick. halt whatever it is you are doing and sign up for netflix. now. Not only is Audrey Hepburn one of the most gracious, giving, compassionate individuals I will unfortunately never have the opportunity of meeting, but her character, Holly Golightly has had a significant influence on who I am and how i consciously present myself today. Her love of life, nonchalance, elegance, eloquence, and all that jazz. My attraction towards the french language, handwritten notes, typewriter nostalgia, necessity to move to new york, acceptance of spontaneity and interest in decorum all came from this girl.

In a nutshell ( i truly hope none of this is new) Hepburn stars as Holly Golightly, this gorgeous little waif from Tulip, Texas who moves to manhattan and plays up a jazzy life with a cat named cat; she is a young broke and très fabulous call girl. She hasn't a cent on her and yet her fervor for life is as luminous as the dazzling earrings from her countless johns. She is fragile yet charming; she falls in love with the boy next door and yet is so terrified with letting herself belong to someone else that she is ultimately beside herself.

Not to mention she is dressed entirely by Hubert de Givenchy (as his personal muse, on could conclude that some of Tisci's current archival inspiration thus comes from her). AND in a broader sense, Breakfast presented a "new woman" at the start of the Sexual Revolution with a non-vulgar female protagonist who had her sterling silver lined cake and ate it too. Givenchy wisely liberated the woman from the constraints of Dior's New Look by slipping her into the only slightly fitted little black dress (that would later be auctioned for ~$923,000) . AND in terms of the silhouette of choice think about how the 50s girl was all curves: all the Betty's and the Marilyn's of the pin-up party. Then all of the sudden here is gorgeous gamine named Holly Golightly and suddenly bones are better than busts...paving the way for the (mod)ernized 60s clothes hanger of a Miss Edie Sedgwick and Twiggy etc.

my rant ends here. sorry for the length loves.

be your own fashion in film critic.

xx,

mlle. mode

color me beautiful

2011-06-16T16:44:00.014-05:00

Salut toi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (hey you fabulous)

I am sorry, so deeply sorry. I'm back for good; to the states as well as to cyberspace. There are no excuses whatsoever that condone my negligence. I had the best year of life in Paris and after having lost 2 blackberries at various european flea markets as well as my computer conveniently crashing for three months I must admit it was next to impossible to consecrate my life to updating (let alone soaking up all the gorgeousness of the city).

But in a nutshell I spent my days walking, travelling, skipping my way into a few shows during mens fashion week, running into lagerfeld outside of colette, getting myself bilingualized at 5 hour long cafe/dance sessions with my parisian friends. I also had the pleasure of interning at WWD, casually interviewing claude montana at his book launch, scouring the city for budding fashion neighborhoods and a whole host of other privileged experiences. (my last day being when little miss carine announced her sudden departure just a hop, skip and a jump away from my cubical). technically i was over there to expand my scholastic horizons...but that is much less stimulating. all in all i was busy.

In the midst of all that paris prettiness I found myself in copenhagen, london, amsterdam, madrid, prague, hamburg, barcelona, and marrakech. this intercontinental frolicking catalyzed my realization the sublimity of this world we live in and just how much of a wonder it is.

From the rosy parisian sun setting above the white sanded jardin de tuileries

to the polka dotted silk skirts dangling from window upon window in barcelona...

to the saffron and amber walls of marrakech...

to yves saint laurent's majestic jardin majorelle....

all of the vibrancy and sultriness I was surrounded by inspired me go through a major life change and embrace something I swore off years ago.....

COLOR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know what you are thinking right now.

"ooh my how coincidental it is that you suddenly had this revelation while that same five-letter word was being whispered/uttered/shouted at nearly every runway S/S 2011 collection. how original."

I KNOW. it just makes my life all the lovelier now that everybody else around me is saturating themselves in brights. let's start a rainbowlution everyone!

hey jil heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

being in all of those marvelous locales also inspired me to take (several) souvenirs back home.

for nostalgic purposes only of course.

Did you know that 85 kilos of french luggage is roughly 187 american pounds?

who get's a gold star for shopping...moi!

So after having revolutionized my life and having the tinted section of my color-organized closet almost equivalent in size to the charcoal/light black/ black/ dark black/leather portion...

Here you can see the prada approved fruit of my labor:

outside balmain fall 2010 inside the art institute summer 2011

okay...so i admit the change is not drastic. but its progress.

speaking of progress I will also be progressively shaking up breakfast at barneys. it will still be as verbose and adjective-laden as always! but I am delighted to announce the arrival of a more multi-faceted approach. more reviews, event coverage, fleeting ruminations and BOATLOADS OF DIYS! as glorious as my year across the atlantic was...it was a royal vacuum for the old bank account.

SO WE'RE GONNA GET CRAFTY!

it is so lovely to be back.

i've missed you so.

gros bisous,

mlle. mode

the day that all of your dreams came true

2010-11-03T12:51:00.011-05:00

...was when H & M decided that they would bring the brilliance of Alber Elbaz to the masses.

By now you have all heard about the Lanvin Loves H & M collection, ogled it countless times online, eatched the campaign video as a daily inspiration and started a new work out routine to prepare yourself for the debut. For the eagerest of my readers currently stateside, presumably you spent hours in line yesterday, got a little aggressive, and left a happy shopper.

It is safe to say with all the press this collection has garnered, even throwing at haute couture show at the Pierre Hotel, chaos will ensue at the European release Tuesday. I plan on being the first customer in Paris, and am bring all of my american consumerist craziness along too. And with ADR's blessing, I wouldn't expect anything else.

I happen to consider myself quite skilled at stampede shopping, generally basing my vacation schedule around barney's warehouse sales etc, so I have encapsulated my personal advice/game plan in the form of a haiku:

L.eopard heels, and frilly dresses set for a parisian jaunt;

A.lber is giving us EXACTLY what we want.

N.o time for dilly dallying, this collection is fab;

V.amp it up big and hop in a cab.

I.n order to stay on task while waiting outside;

N.icen up to your neighbor and make them think your allied.

~~~

H.over in on the windows and never look back;

E.ffectiveness is key when massacring a rack.

A.s soon as the door opens, you run, no time to standby;

R.ealize that sometimes it IS okay to give another a black eye.

T.ake no time to chitchat, one doesn't shop to make friends;

S.he who has the most bags, wins in the end.

~~~

H.elping myself to EVERYTHING like a greedy swine.

M.ove over b****...that dress is mine!

And if my little poetic compostion wasn't good enough for you...some visual proof:

designed for all ages...

but only for the sassiest of the classy.

Relatively identical to the entire Spring 2009 runway.

all the way down blingy heels and the candy-colored baubles.

When wearing lanvin for h&m...

its quite possible that another young fabulous and broke girl will sport the same dress.

don't be offended...share the love.

The packaging alone is worth the fight.

Garment bags for every article, canvas bags, boxes etc,

all covered in Elbaz's widely adored sketches.

I personally am obsessed with his drawings, so I will make an extra effort to get everything.

My first stop will be the lipstick aisle.

I can have a bit of Lanvin for every season and every day.

Now channel your inner ADR and be uber fabulous.

Make Alber proud.

~~~

if you happen to see a makeshift leopard tent outside of the Champs-Elysees H&M,

be sure to say bonjour... but steer clear once the doors open.

xxx,

mlle. mode

~~~~

p.s. I really do apologize for how infrequently i post these days. I am currently interning at Women's Wear Daily office in Paris. While it is the most rewarding experience I've yet to have in my life...it is also very time consuming. but hopefully it'll bring me closer to my dream.

fashion's favorite holiday

2010-10-31T04:20:00.007-05:00

Halloween is a blessed occasion where we can all channel our inner ADR's, as the more outrageously provacative you look the better. Wanna wear a massive cherry on your head, or a couture version of a gargantuan white bird? Go for it...oh wait, she already did. Ever wonder how on earth she could possibly outdo her general over-the-topness? Read this.

I was planning on incarnating Karl Lagerfeld this halloween, seeing as he is a national icon in France...but alas Paris is too classy to sell cheap white wigs. le sigh. I shall simply save it until I'm invited to the next Paris Vogue Masked Ball. And so I am going to be a "walking web" taking advantage of this publically accepted excuse to swath myself in sheer black fabric.

Happy Halloween lovelies!!!!

Make sure your costume doesn't outweigh your fun.

xx,

mlle. mode

fashion's night out...chez toi

2010-10-30T04:45:00.012-05:00

In an industry being replicated severely frowned upon...it brings me so much joy that Vogue editors don't mind "borrowing" ideas from one another.

By now we are all very familiar with Fashion's Night Out, Wintour's personal economic stimulus plan. The premise is to get fashion obsessed people worldwide inebriated off of free champagne and macaroons, surrounding said lushes with models and designers thus sending them into a state of star-struck delirium. This euphoria mixed with loss of good sense inspires them to buy everything in sight in an effort to harmonize the leggy fabulosity clouding up their judgement. Which leaves them the morning after feeling-not only hung over-but also a marvelous mixture of elation, buyers remorse, and empty wallet syndrome. Clearly Wintour knows a thing or two about being a shyster as the second FNO was even more successful than the first.

And so it comes as no surprise that Alexandra Schulman wanted a British Vogue wanted to tap into all the consumerist rage, and is thus giving us Fashion's Night In.

Essentially FNI is an evening were hundreds of online luxury retailers are getting together and offering various promotions for the fashionably aware masses. This Monday, November 1, from 5pm to midnight (london time presumably) we are all invited to a chicer version of Black Friday, sans criminally slashed prices and sans turkey paraphernalia.

The participating retailers include all british fashion staples: Browns, Harrods, Topshop; the coveted looks of Pucci, Williamson and Stella; as well as the general houses of worship i.e net-a-porter and the outnet. Instead of complimentary drinks there will be free shipping, and instead of belting your heart out to the Proenza Schouler boys at Barneys, you can twitter a stylist from Harvey Nicks.

Naturally it will not have the same glam appeal as the FNO, but it will allure all the shoppers out there unwilling to wait in line and scuff up their tribs or who have no interest in mobbing Lagerfeld & Co. But then there is the issue with not being able to try on your potential wardrobe additions. Moreover, one tends to be less inspired to buy leather skinny pants,etc when lounging in their pjs with a pint of ben & jerry's at their side.

With months of my finger bling straining weighing down my finger facility, I am not

very agile on the keyboarding front, so I doubt ill be carpe dieming. So for all of you Fashion's Night INsiders, don't you dare slack off on account of you not needing to punch your way throught the shoe aisle...your competition just just a mere click away.

start your engines.

xx,

mlle. mode

A Field Guide to Fashion Week

2010-10-10T03:37:00.020-05:00

Fashion month S/S 2011 is over. We will have to wait until early December to get our knickers all up in a twist salivating over the pre-fall collections.

All in all...I have to say I wasn't overwhelmingly impressed with the grand picture for Spring. But as I am enraptured by capes, leather, and anything black, no spring collection will ever be as I am undeniably a fall girl.

One aspect of fashion week however that is engaging, to anyone even remotely allured by gorgeousness, would be the ensembles showcased outside of the runway.

In my opinion...it is the editors, the bloggers, the style stalkers, and most importantly the MODELS OFF DUTY who really make me purr.

However, because I am not the only person who thinks like this, and in fact everybody is cuckoo for street chic...capturing it on camera becomes somewhat of an obstacle course. Whereas I stalk fashion week for the sheer bliss I feel being seen amongst these unquestionably chic creatures, most people outside the shows vigarously clicking away are there professionally and are contracted to get the best/exclusive/sublime-er shot than everyone else. i.e. the tommy ton, garance dore, scott schuman, phil oh, craig arend, phil oh etc.

So as a preface...you have probably seen better shots on jak & jil, streetpeeper etc. I know, ive seen and loved them as well. But know that they were much more aggressive in capturing the fabulosity through their canon rebel lens. Note...its really hard to hold a camera steady/hit the shutter in a timely fashion when you are shivering all over by the fur/leather/leggy divinity a few yards away from you.

In any case, as I am unfortunately still a student and not yet a voguette-in-training I only went to three shows: Balmain, Dior, Isabel Marant, Rick Owens. But all four evoke very different vibes thus eliciting a grand variation in attendee apparel. Besides, in my opinion all three were far more exciting outside then the punk rock/sailor on leave in hawaii business strutting down the catwalk.

So without further ado:

10 Steps to Create ENSEMBLE ENVY during fashion week:

10. Sport an unmarked leather sac-designed to be unrecognizably chic, but inherently "it"

Garance and her Givenchy Nightingale

I cannot decide which is best...
the bag, the boots, or the fur-sleeved sweatshirt???

Proenza Schouler PS1...my personal favorite.

Big enough to fit all of your invitations...small enough to tuck under your first row seat...or big enough to fit your next oufit (though less fashionable men are often hired for that one). Most frequently, the Chanel 2.55, Proenza Schouler PS1, or Balenciaga Lariat.

9. Ride a bike, while wearing platforms and a maxi skirt. Use said "it" bag your less functional, yet incredibly cooler wicker basket.

8. Bring a male friend with complimentary fashion taste. Ensure that you still look better/taller.

Emmanuelle Alt & Co both effortlessly cool and synchronized.

Julia Sarr-Jamois and friend looking very pretty in pink.

Scott & Garance: The reigning couple of fashion photography.

Question: what happens when they both have to postion themselves for a shot?

Technically her legs are longer...so I assume she would get it first.

7. Be Kate Moss

And have a ring big-boned men hovering around you, walking at a pace so slowly (its hard to be one woman and 6 bodyguards against about 100 paparazzo + me) surely you'd delay the show. Regardless of the fact that your razor sharp YSL Tributes can easily become a defense weapon, your bodyguards will inevitably start fights for you to ward off the overeager cameraman. (p.s. this happened)

6. Be nonchalantly fabulous:

Do: Drink in between shows/work.

Do: Talk on one blackberry have a backup dangling in your other hand.

Do: Be Olivier Zahm and be the constantly on the run, evoking that just rolled out of bed after a long night of partying and forgot i was a fashion editor look you do so well.
Do: Wear a leather motorcycle jacket.

5. Be this girl:

Rocking your multilayered sheer black dress with rugged shearling booties and an ultra coveted chanel backpack. Be ready to incite a flurry of jealousy, mysticism and girlfights.

4. Be a model.

With this factor you can get away with ANYTHING...and still be ultimately cooler than everybody else. Your extended leggage is the equivalent to being closer to the sun/higher beings...so you are automatically superior. You will be instantly forgiven for flooding hemlines, mussed hair and anyt other general human flaw because...you can't possibly be that toweringly chic and still human.

3. Add a rather taboo/childish item to your repertoire and make it work.

Definitely helps if its leather. or black. or the result of one of Lagerfeld's "hobby themed" inventions.

Also works seamlessly if you work for Rick Owens. And wear a riding helmet.

Easiest if you are a model...even the most infantile object becomes chic.

2. Embrace legal public nudity, and swath that body of yours in some black and sheer.

p.s. I am OBSESSED with this trend/law/life mantra.

1. Be Anna Dello Russo

Nobody does it like her. And being as fabulous as she is, it makes perfect sense that she would brush her shoulders off in emerald plumage.

~~~

And if all else fails (and #4 doesn't apply to you) try mixing several of these steps at once, throw on some rouge and unintentionally get yourself in close proximity to one of those divine creatures...

obviously I didn't intentionally wriggle my way into Caroline's shot...hopefully she didn't mind too much. also she takes the best street snaps ever (not just because i am biased). If you have never been to her site before...get ready for some major swedish swooning.

~~~

So sorry, this post was long overdue. La vie parisienne is sublime naturally...but packed tighter than a herve leger bandage dress. I will try to be better about frequency, really I will.

bisous from paris,

mlle. mode

i see london...i see france...

2010-09-29T13:39:00.013-05:00

I want Proenza's lace underpants.

For the spring 2011 collection, the Proenza Schouler runway showcased something rather unprecented...prim and proper-ish.

Jack and Lazaro are generally the go to boys for anything that is subtly provocative, androgynous yet girly, and sleekly tailored. Their designs are quintessential for the pretty young things they surround themselves with: the Traina's, the Olsen's, the editors the models etc...who just so happen to be the same darlings whose personal styles we all obsess over. And so explains why Proenza is a perennial favorite.

Usually the pieces radiate an aura synonymous with new york downtown cool. They are a little rough around the edges and gritty but still beyond beautiful and unmistakably alluring.

But, contrary to the fall collection's school girl chic: pleated skirts, boyfriend sweaters and lunchboxes etc...I can't help but feel that this season is a bit more grown up. In contrast to the cobalt and lime tiger stripes of last spring...this season's palette wavered from persimmon to chartreuse, cream to greige, and my personal favorite, black.

As opposed to blocky detailing and gawky mules, the boys chose pretty pleats and a more classic pump. Frilly dresses flowed past the knee rather than just barely grazing the thighs. Most notably, the ubiquitous proenza knit was swapped out with LACE...this is where I begin my swoonfest.

And without further ado...A Fashion Fairy Tale:

Once upon a time there were two little grown up boys, Jack and Lazaro,
who lived in a magical land called Manhattan. One day the two boys asked their
mother if they could pay a visit to their grandmother's house. As the boys spend an
awful lot of time creating beautiful garments and making all the other children
in their village jealous of their fabulosity, it had been a while since they had
last seen her. She thought it was a splendid idea. They packed their little
toolbox with all the essentials: scissors, leather scraps, metal wiring and sex
appeal. When the toolbox was nice and ready, they put on their black waxed denim cloaks and were on their merry way.

Now before they left, their mother told them not to talk to strangers
and to go directly to their grandmothers house...as the Central Park forest can
be dangerous at times. They assured her that they would be careful. But when the
boys started noticing all the young beautiful girls in the forest around them
they got a wee bit distracted and forgot their promise to their mother. They
observed these urbanymphs in their natural habitat, analyzing their nonexistent
eating habits, delicate physiques and overall radiance. They became so
creatively inspired that they didnt even notice the dark ominous figure creeping
up behind them.

Suddenly they noticed the tapping Blahnik behind them and turned around
to see a wolf wearing a bob and dark sunglasses emerge out of a taxi carriage.
"What are you doing here little big boys," the wolf asked. "We are off to our
grandmothers house through the forest in a cottage in greenwich village," they relpied. The boys excused themselves, noticing how late is was, and rushed off.

The wolf got back in her taxi carriage and flew down to granny's house.
She knocked on the door, which was already open. Because granny is old and
cannot see or hear very well, she didnt notice that the wolf was neither Jack
nor Lazaro. Before she knew it, the wolf had gobbled her up!

The wolf then went to the closet to pick out one of granny's outifts. But she was
astonished to see that it wasn't full of boring nighties but rather hand crafted
and staggeringly gorgeous garments. In fact the wolf was so amazed, her jaw
dropped so low granny walked right out of her stomach. Granny took the glasses
off the wolf and bopped her on the nose with her PS1. The wolf fell instantly.
Jack and Lazaro ran through the door and called Sheriff Andre Leon Talley to
pick the wolf up.

The boys were so happy to see that their granny was safe and sound. She
made them tea, and in an effort to think of happier thoughts, the boys told her
about all the urbanymphs they saw earlier in the day. She told them they should
go through her secret trunk of less than fab granny nighties and recreate them
for these mystical cosmopolitan creatures...

And voila what the little boys did using only the contents of their toolbox and their inventive imaginations:

Regardless if she is dressed for high tea or an underground techno fete, the Proenza girl always has a pair of impenetrable alien shades.

The outfit fit for a lady but the sass is all rebellious youth.

A fresh take on the tweed skirt suits:

invigorated with leather trim, surgically stitched cuffs and a peek-a-boo underpinning.

SHEER MESH CORSET.
Want it. Need it. Have to have it.

Sheer Brilliance.
literally. it leaves nothing to the imagination and its lemon.
but i love it all the same.

Even better in the back.
A divine mumu of sorts draped ever so nonchalantly over a nightgown
and a barely there bra.

J'ADORE.

Having a sheer in black makes it slightly less provacative.
But the closer you get...the more stimulating it will be.

DETAILS:

Granny's baubles turned into BLING.
ANd just to keep your impending arthritis in check...
a leather wrist strap with additional middle finger support.

Presumably to aid Proenza's darlings with their favorite paparazzi greeting.

ORTHOPEDIC CHIC!

Might seem a bit off at first...but come next spring, I'm sure too many a model off duty will be sporting these. The perfect way to compensate their feet for all the debilitatingly devilish footwear designers make them wear in during fashion month.

~~~~

And so, to all the stylish grandmothers in the world,

would like to personally thank you for inspiring my favorite duo in creating this collection.

It is because of them that the term "granny panties" might be slightly cool again.

xx,

mlle. mode

tales of an americaine in paris, pt. 1

2010-09-27T13:38:00.010-05:00

Note: in an effort to make up for lost time...this post is long-longer than my usual verbosity that is.

I have officially been in Europe for a little over 3 weeks and I can say without a doubt that je l'aime. I feel quite at home here, and thus have adjusted well to the language change, the relatively obligatoire pistachio macaron noshing, and most importantly the monochromatic dressing environment.

To celebrate my new life I went on a mini holiday. Naturally instead of going to some exotic locale replete with kaftans, missoni bikinis, and sunshine like most people...I romped around Paris for a massive Vogue event and London for the same, thus revolving my entire vacation/life around- per usual-fashion.

Presumably all of you know exactly what FNO is. It was Queen Wintour's brilliant concotion last year, and due to its paramount success continued this year promising to be better than ever. Obviously the soirees planned in New York where extraordinary: A parisian style flea market selling exclusive items from none other than A. Wang, the Proenza boys, Rodarte sisters etc etc. by way of Opening Ceremony; And also a karaoke contest at the never dissapointing Barneys judged by Doonan, the proenza boys-everybody wants a piece of 'em-and the olsen twins...the prizes being a PS1 and some Row leather leggings. SWOON. I would have belted out whatever song popped onto that tv screen dancing a la Grace Jones and wearing some sort of ( I heart PS1s) custom made tee;not to mention staging the largest fashion show in history enabling mere mode-loving mortals to be front rowers for a change.

Voila a massive difference between America-in all its consumerist efficiency oriented splendor-and Europe. FNO in New York had detailed schedule and description for each of the 900+ stores about a month in advance, even had a personalized google map option so you could pinpoint your itinerary for the entire evening. The London FNO released its descriptions about a week in advance...Burberry and Stella both having "details tba" up until the actual night. And most participating retailers not providing any alluring info at all. period.

Paris FNO...no descriptions. no schedule. no details on where Carine...or Emmanuelle would be that night...nothing.

To most people these details might seem trivial and a frivolous fixation...but for a girl whose quotidian existence is based on networking and moving her way up from the bottom to the top of the shiny and glorious fashion ladder...they are necessary.

And so I am oh so grateful to Womens Wear Daily for being an American publication who is on top of everything and giving me enough details thus confirming my decision to give FNO transatlantic style a try (although nothing could top me haggling with Alexander Wang over studded leather)

So...I start off in Paris. Presumably the events started 6/7ish...obviously the starting time wasnt released either. So I based my itinerary off of my experiences from last year. I rolled up fashionably late to Barneys and caught Wang, Magdelena, Natasha, and Hanne on their way out. However...its different in Paris. As is the same with many other aspects of french life...they arent nearly as free and liberated as in America. You have to wait in line...have a pass torn out for Vogue Paris-unless on "the list"...and then proceed to wait while others stare you up and down and "catalogue" your worthiness. Elite...yes. Exclusive...absolutely. But all the same extremely elegant. Each way I would look would be an immaculately dressed person. To the left there would be the backless Gucci dress worn by Freja in the September issue, to the right someone else head to toe in Chloe. Fashion most certainly runs through the veins of parisians.

So there I am standing in line at Celine...where Carine is supposed to be...and ooh there goes Gaia Repossi (her latest ring collab with Wang is beyond divine...imagine wrapping your index finger in a golden cage) leaving...and nobody even bats an eyelash. In Manhattan people would have been all over her. And naturally she'd have been accompagnied by Altazurra or Wang or Traina or any of her other marvelous amies...here nothing out of the ordinary.

Finally I get into Celine and ask the first person I see if Mme Roitfeld is still there...my first response was "who?". Asked a second...same cluelessness...the third told me that she'd already left. Naturally. So basically the conversation I had practiced endlessly on the 8 hour plane ride became futile and my vision of charming her into showing me her ways in short died.

So after stroking a few sumptuous furrylicious leather coats I left...disheartened...and wandered around hoping that someting fabulous would happen to make me feel less downtrodden. Im romping around...no direction at all...and I spot those loverly isabel marant tassel boots with the triangle heels in charcoal. I then proceed to follow them up to see perfectly matching and worn in grey denim on the slimmest legs ive ever seen. Up to the sublime white blazer-probably balmain-with weather white cotton tee tucked in...then there is a muss (what's a comb?) french hair and who else would it be...Emmanuelle Alt. My heart stopped. She is smiling and laughing and making faces with her unrecognizable crew. Standing outside of Dior. Flash flash flash, finally the "celeb crazed" fashion snappers I had been waiting for. The pretty posse then proceeded to traverse la rue and waltz into Nina Ricci. Obviously I follow her.

Thankfully there was no entrance issue at Nina. Clearly Emmanuelle wouldn't have had a problem...but I just flashed my pass and zipped right in. And so there she is...more photographers snapping away. She is DANCING to michael jackson (love her) with the beats spun by fellow stylist and fashion extraordinaire Claire Dhelens...as if the Paris Voguettes weren't cool enough as they are.

If I had been Olivier Zahm, or Lara Stone I'd have been wiggling right alongside of her...but instead I schemed and like a leopard (pre being turned into Balmain jacket) and its prey...waiting to make my move. After several songs she slithered towards the exit and I caught her literally in front of the door as her friends were lagging behind in a whirlwind of gorgeousness on the dance floor. I then blurted out my life story in short, trying to stay calm and collected though internally bursting with excitement. And concentrating incredibly hard to articulate my fashion prowess in my non-native language while ignoring the fact that a vogue.com cameraman was filming this and the light was reflecting right off of her white satin lapel and directly into my eye. And I had to squeeze about an hours worth of witticisms and praise into about 45 seconds. Challenging my darlings.

All in all she told me that they didn't really accept interns. As the Paris Vogue circulation is much smaller than its american counterpart, they don't particularily need the help. I find this understandable considering nobody could have her midas touch anyways...though I would love to try. But she asked for my card. And to compensate for the fact that I have no profession nor do i have legitimate business cards...I took the liberty of handmaking a few just before I left (hence my tardiness). Written on a torn note from my moleskine planner, I had my name, email, and blog on the left side with a sketch or myself wearing the exact outfit I had on that evening leaning against a magnified Paris Vogue issue on the right. She told me repeatedly how "cute" it was and so even if I wasnt offered an internship on the spot like I had planned...I can at least say that I impressed the fashion director-whose work I have immeasurable admiration for and whose footsteps I aspire to fill- with my craftiness.

And so I trotted along...in much higher spirits...caught Lagerfeld on his way out of

Chanel being followed by his muse/bff Baptiste Giabiconi. The mob outside of chanel was worse the the opening day of the barneys warehouse sale. The gendarme...aka police had to clear the streets just so they could leave.

No need to bore you with the rest of the details. The point being...it wasnt like Manhattan...but none the less I met one of my biggest stydols and became even more enamored by her infectious-ness.

mmmmmm chloe.

you needed a special ribbon to get in :( but still love her anyways.

Ooh..one more thing...the outfit. The dress I wore was one that I had reconstructed from a maternity jacket I purchased at a goodwill last year. I had been saving it for this night exactly. I absolutely love it...and am very proud of it. However it seemed to get mixed views. Not that I ever concern myself with the opinions of others...but when you are perpetually being pointed, snickered, and commented at...it gets a little disheartening. Perhaps my yarn ball fortified shoulders got in the way of their people watching.

but alas I was snapped up and voila mon ensemble:

i hope you like it at least.

AND then comes london (please don't hate me for writing so much). Ill recount in a nutshell.

point one: no sign/scent/trace/ sensing of the Kate Moss aura anywhere.
point two: more lines...no pass needed...and they actually dont frown upon combining fashion with eating...so there were yummy treats galore.
point three: with the general penchant for mixing high street offerings with designer luxe...i feel that Londoners have a bit more style. Rather than dripping in the divine/classy/elegant combinations found directly in the pages of Vogue...the "london look" tends to be a bit more thrown together, individual, and fresh.

And so:

Burberry was boring. For a company who's shearling coats are heating up the pages of of fashion rags like Balmain microminis did a few years ago...one would imagine they would have endless ways to entertain their guests. Nothing besides the general stimulation gained by stroking one of said consecrated coats.

Matthew Williamson was transformed into a Moroccan souk. Rose petals were scattered about with incense ablaze, with too many a pretty young thing sipping tea. And all this gypset glam perfectly complementing the ethereal silk kaftans draped along the walls. While salivating over one of these concoctions...I noticed Vogue UK editor Alexandra Schulman walking over (undeniably less provocative and magnetizing as her parisian equivalent) to Mr. Williamson- the only designer seemingly generous enough to be present throughout the entirety of his event-quelle concept. I entered to win a pair of tickets to the show...clearly I did not win.

Stella was relatively the same. The every was catered and more PYTs were about fingering lovely organic creations while nibbling on vegan treats. She had free gifts for ALL of the guests. There were cookies decorated with either Vogue, or I heart Stella...of which I took two. And matching pins...of which I helped myself to...several times. :D

That was the highlight of the evening.

Regardless, the rest of my discovery of London was well worth the trip. I am absolutely smitten with that city, a european version of Manhattan with more charming architecture. London is a true urban metropolis: complete with smiling faces, gorgeous public spaces, and an accent I cannot get enough of. Not to mention the Portobello Road Market which on its own made the vacation worthwhile. I found the very black floppy felt hat a la 70s that ive been dreaming of for too long, as well as these lovely black miu miu leather riding boots with a velour shaft that Miuccia decided to paint a bronzy gold on the inside. And so when I cuff them my ankle bootage contrasts marvelously with my somber pant du jour. both of those puchased together for just 65 pounds which I considered to be quite the steal.

~~~

Fast forward to the present. New York, London, and Milan Fashion Weeks are all come and gone. Fashion Week starts here tomorrow. For the first time in my life I will be able to see Tommy take the very photographs I will later gush about right here on this blog. I can even feign being my own street photographer of sorts. I can see Freja in all her nonchalant glory in between shows. I can soak up the m.o.d look time and time again. And I can tell Abbey Lee how much she's killing me...with her style. will post on her later.

I already copied down the schedule into my planner. Naturally I have class during Chanel, but I plan to stalk outside all the others (that were kind enough to list their times and addresses rather than see invitation) like it is my job.

I will do this, and appreciate being outside rather that front row. I hope someday to be one of those lucky few perennially on the list...constantly being admired by their sense of mode...and most importantly one who is fortunate enough to communicate their personal grasp of fashion to the rest of us style-nourished beings. Unless if you already are one of those people...then feel free to add me now and i will repay you in undying love, baked goods, or indentured servitude.

I have been planning my daily ensembles as well. Unfortunately I will not have the variety nor the staggering choices of say ADR...but I hope to make an impression -or at least blend in-all the same. I also intend to reconstruct a camel coat i bought into a cape. Thanks to five hours of heavy googling I delightfully discovered that there is ONE parisian equivalent of a real goodwill-esque store (i.e. not a consignment shop that sells chanel sac for 1000 euros and calls it a steal) and will make frequent visits to feed my life sustaining habit of thrifting.

the point is I hope something wonderful happens over these next few days and naturally if anything beyond incredible occurs, you will be the first to know.

I am utterly excited for the inspirations, self-discovery and all other surprises to be had throughout this yearlong escapade in paris...and I am even happier to share them all with you my lovely and devout readers.

Balmain, Rick, Dior, Isabel, Lanvin, Loewe, Chloe...here I come.

love them, and you.

xx,
mlle. mode

p.s. the octobre paris vogue came out today. celebrating its 90th anniversary. havent even gotten through the first quarter and im an overrun by emotion and exasperation. dont know if its hit worldwide stands yet but damn is it worth the $20 you would have to pay in america. Look for the cover taken up mostly by Lara's goodies (carine's favorites) clenched in lace gloved hands. it is quite the accomplishment, and as she very nicely said in her letter from the editor (loosely translated)

"if only one word could encapsulate elegance, luxury, boldness, desire, and spirit, without a doubt it would be Vogue"

my sentiments exactly.

voila my mission for this year...to get that much closer to my dream...my dream of experiencing the very magnificence that is Vogue on my own.

when in paris...wear what vogue paris tells you to

2010-09-03T20:50:00.009-05:00

Darlings,

I am so so so sorry for my seemingly dissapearance from the editorial front. I have been literally packing my life away for Paris. I find it incredible how quickly this summer went by. As much as I love the summer sun, with its kaftans and missoni bikinis included, NOTHING is better than gearing up for fall. All the layers, the leathers, the knits, the slim pants tucked seamlessly into tall suede boots. Naturally this is why the September issues are always the largest...becuase EVERYBODY loves the autumn styles.

Now imagine just how giddy you would be if you take all of those items you've been saving for fall and then on top of that be moving to Paris...for an entire school year. That is exactly where I am right now. I have been dreaming of this moment for the entirety of my existence..et voila here it is.

For any normal person, the thought of moving to Paris is beyond lovely. One thinks of the amazing gastronomy, the art, the sightseeing, the self-exploration, the traveling, the culture that they are about to experience.

I think of all of that and...roughly 300 chances to 1. be street snapped, 2. run into Carine, Alber, Karl, 3. stalk EVERYBODY i obsess over during fashion months in le Jardin des Tuileries, 4. happen upon a Paris Vogue shoot, 5. nab an internship at say Chloe? etc

There is a whole section of my closet reserved to items that I've been saving up for les rues de Paris.

Any guidebook will tell the average American to "dress up" when they visit Paris: as in dont wear sweatpants, flag apparel, visors, or run-down gym shoes. For me it is more like how can possibly shine so much that Anna Dello Russo has no choice but to notice me?

...and to pack for that impossible feat, and clothes chic yet practical enough for class, on top of being there for Fall, WIner, Spring AND Summer...you can see why I have been so MIA.

And although I have actually been drafting my packing list for about 3 months now...whittling down my wardrobe to these categories : I need this; I NEED this; I actually cannot live without this, and most importantly; I have seen this IN Paris Vogue or ON a Paris Voguette.

Unfortunately, I wanted to bring all of the above. But due to impending back issues as well as silly airline restrictions I have to "pack light". I also didn't want any TSA person to think I was transporting live animals (see Nina Ricci fur vest below) across international borders.

So I enlisted the help of my two most stylish friends (one from Chicago, the other flown in from Boston) to help me with this stressful dilemma. We had a "fab" or "forget" packing party-with signs. I made a guidebook with the mission "to be street snapped" and essential chapters : Nude, Black, White, Gray, Fur, Leather. My friends later mentioned that the guidebook was essentially already "Me" and thus uneccesary...but I wanted to be absolutely sure that they would not be led astray. "Think new york downtown cool meets parisian street chic."

The preface of the guidebook read (as copied from Bazaar):

"We've all been there: arriving at some haute soiree positively preening over our pitch-perfect ensemble only to see her. That girl. The one with the Balenciaga leather jacket, the perfectly worn in jeans, the balmain crystal-encrusted sandals, and the smoky eyes. Suddenly, you want to burn a cigarette hole into your coat, smudge your eyeliner, muss your hair, and lose 10 pounds in 10 mminutes. What was once a stella outfit instantly seems so...bourgeois."

I want to be THAT GIRL.

~~~

And so because I happen to always be so inspired by "travel chic" I will list for you the entire contents of my 2.5 suitcases. This is also as a way to officially document for myself what I started with...in comparison to what I'll bring back ;) .These items are what the 3 of us agreed were "Fab" and as I had to sign a contract promising the two of them not to bring a single extra item (without written and visual approval) they would be proud that I only added 2 more absolutely necessary pieces.

Here is the final list:

CLOTHES:

Dresses:

1. White indonesian lace frock set

2. Red l/s wool crepe pocket dress

3. Orange knit Tent Dress a la 60s

4. Olive studded "heavy on the shoulders" dress

5. Navy wool pocket "everyday" dress

6. Navy silk DVF maxi pocket dress

7. Blue/black lame studio 54 worthy dress

8. Isabel Marant denim pocket dress

9. Boho tribal dress

10. DVF crepe LBD

Tops

1. Creme l/s silk pocket blouse

2. Nude l/s silk pocket blouse

3. Nude pleated blouse

4. Leopard s/s blouse

5. Light pink silk tank/tunic

5. Blue Denim l/s shirt

6. Black lace cropped top

Casual tops:

1. White T by A. Wang pocket tank

2. White oversized tissue tee

3. Nude T by A. Wang pocket tank

4. Grey oversized tissue tee

5. Charcoal T by A. Wang tank

6. Black Helmut Lang tank (dress)

7. Black oversized tee

8. Black oversized tee

Sweaters:

1. White0 Navy cotton striped l/s sweater

2. Camel cotton cardigan

3. Camel oversized pocket sweater

4. Navy deep V Prada tissue sweater

5.Grey Vince cowl neck elongated n/s sweater

6.Grey Row cashmere shawl-igan

7. Black cotton cardigan

8. Black cashmere cardigan

Bottoms:

1. Slim legged khaki trousers

2. Leopard print flouncy pants (match s/s leopard top compliments of my grandmother's closet)

3. Earnest Sewn blue highwaisted denim

4. Acne blue wide-legged denim

5. l. blue denim "hot-pants"

6. Dark Grey Levi's shorts

7. Black high waisted jeggings

8. Black slim cropped Agnes B. trousers

9. Earnest Sewn black denim

10. Black leather skirt

11. Black leather leggings

12. Black cotton leggings

13. Black cotton leggings

Jackets/Coats:

1. Cardinal red wool blazer

2. Light Pink cropped leather jacket

3. Vintage Leopard omg-that-collar coat

4. Olive Rick Owens knit Shadow coat

5. Dark grey Nina Ricci fox fur vest (a STEAL at $17.50)

6. Prada nylon rain trench (doesn't really keep me dry...but damn does is look good)

7. Black leather jacket (boughtliterally an hour before I left Paris last summer)

8. Black slim blazer

9. Dolce & Gabbana black wool miltary coat with fur trim (another STEAL at $50)

ACCESSORIES

(here is where the fun...and overweight status happens)

Bags:

1. Tan leather vintage Gucci document holder (ideal to bring to an internship interview at (hopefully) Paris Vogue)

2. Espresso Givenchy Nightingale Satchel (not pictured)

swapped the bally black with gold chain trim handbag for the bigger (undeniably better nightingale)

3. Greige Bottega Veneta woven cross body bag (not pictured)

3. Cognac Balenciaga Giant clutch

4. Red Chanel uber-mini cross-body bag

5. Black Balenciaga Lariat

6. Proenza Schouler PS1 in khaki

(yes i finally got one...don't know how i did it. found it at a consignment shop-barneys tag still attached- for $288. I died...call it a gift/midas touch whatever. I am so thankful the women owning that shop (same one i got the balenciaga lariat at) don't keep up with the looks of Dree, Vanessa, Olsens etc...or else they'd have know how coveted it really is. It actually is the most perfect bag on earth.)

And considering that the PS boys are the masters of the "urban schoolgirl" look...and the bag itself was named after the Public School system in nyc...there really is NO OTHER BAG that would have sufficed as my school bag in Paris. not a single one. ;)

Belts:

1. Apricot vintage YSL leather/python waist belt

2. Cognac thin leather waist belt

3. Cognac thinner leather waist belt

4. Black croc leather Prada waist belt

5. Black plain leather Prada waist belt

Shoes:

1. Tan wrap up suede boots (not pictured)

2. Cognac Lanvin ballet flats

3. Gold Repetto ballet flats

4. Cognac leather lace-up flat sandals

5. Black with gold buckles Miu Miu ballet flats

6. Black Mimi & Coco ballet flats

7. Grey platform "comfortable" platforms

8. Black YSL Tribute booties (less comfortable but ABSOLUTELY necessary...see"seen in Paris Vogue AND seen on a Paris Voguette..and ADR"

9. Black Frye engineer boots

10. Black Leather/suede over-the-knee boots

...and the nike high-tops to be "practical"

Misc. accessories

1. Black/White/Grey Missoni simply massive viscose scarf

2. Cardinal red pashmina

3. Hot pink silk pocket square

4. Black & White silk gucci scarf

5. Black leather elbow gloves

6. Black fur trapper hat

7. Black prada turban

8. Missoni bikini (for st.tropez with Lagerfeld and Co. of course)

9. Tortoise plastic Ray-Ban eyeglasses

10. Black half shell plastic Ray-Ban eyeglasses

11. Brown Ray-Ban "Havana" sunglasses

JEWELRY:

Not much...but also much easier to buy.

Bracelets:

1. gold woven wrap-around bracelet

2. gold link bracelet

3. diamond clasp bracelet

4. silver knotted bracelet

Earrings:

1. crystal "everyday" studs

2. Apricot crystal studs

3. silver "tribal" chandelier

Necklaces:

1. huge and heavy Gold Chanel tassel chain

2. Givenchy shorter chain

3. Gold thin looooong chain

4. R namesake necklace

5. clear crystal pendant

6. Silver tassel chain

Pins:

1. Crystal cluster pin

2. Gold crest pin

3. Gold link chain pin

4. Gold crystal "x" pin

Rings:

1. Everday big crystal bling

2. Everday brown crystal bling

3. Everyday tri-opal bling

Watches:

1. Practical black rubber watch

2. Slightly less practical silver rolex (see...see on jak & jil/ Paris voguette)

~~~~~

AND THATS ALL FOR 10 MONTHS.

It will be a great challenge...but I am channeling my inner parisienne

Perhaps I will keep an online style diary of sorts..most likely it will not be necessary becuase I will be snapped repeatedly every single day by the likes of Garance, Vanessa, Hanneli, Tommy etc ;)

Before I start the scholastic segment of my life however...I am inducing myself (heavily) into the European fashion scene. As a personal "vacation" I will be going to Fashion's Night Out in both Paris (sept 7) and London (sept 8). I will look forward to analyzing the difference between how things are done here (in New York) vs. there. And will be sure to give you written and visual depictions.

I hope that you have all enjoyed Breakfast at Barneys over these past few years...but from here on out...i will be serving it to you with croissants...in Paris.

Looking forward to every single typed word.

Gros bisous,

mlle. mode

if Margherita had her way...

2010-08-08T22:25:00.009-05:00

The other day Vogue UK posted this online blip about a "Missoni takeover". Essentially Angela Missoni (current director) was saying how she's milling over retiring in the next two years and that her lovely daughter Margherita would be the most likely replacement....as if that is really "news" to anyone.

Now with my whole "gypset" obsession and this intermittent plan to have a "fashion caravan" where i romp around morocco with a steamer trunk full of nothing but kaftans and missoni bikinis living in treehouses...i've got margherita on the brain; she is my personal muse.

Basically the second this girl entered the world, presumably she had customized zig-zag knit diapers and crawled around in a life of luxury and fabulosity and realized she was the chosen one. Then one blessed day she uttered her first word, "impero" (empire), and Angela realized that margherita could take over the Impero that her parents founded in 1955.

She will NEVER ever be seen not wearing Missoni. She is one of the few beings who can sit the front row of any show during fashion week...yet never wears the showcasing designer's creations. I imagine that she is coded with some unique DNA where she actually cannot function without the missoni label against her perpetually bronzed skin.

NOW we all know that (in addition to studying in Manhattan to become an actress) she will always have an occupation as Missoni's unofficial "brand ambassador". BUT if she ever got bored with that (and I needed to take over), I am rather confident that she could become official ambassador of something....or better yet the President of the United States.

Let's dream a bit shall we:

Well for starters, before a presidential candidate is even elected they must have an engaging campaign trail.

Obviously Margherita's campaign would be the most glamorous chain of events since......ever.

Her schedule would be tighter than an Hervé Léger bandage dress chock full of dinners, parties, press conferences, etc...just as any other "politico's" would be.

HOWEVER, a Missoni campaign party would be something like this. More empahsis on the dancing...less of the discussing.

back to the serious part...

THE 5 KEY COMPONENTS TO A SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

1. Slogan:

"VOTE MISSONI FOR PRESIDENT....MY FAMILY MIGHT HAVE NO HISTORY IN POLITICS...BUT WE ALSO HAVE NO HISTORY IN CORRUPTION."

"VOTE MISSONI FOR PRESIDENT...SHE MAY NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT DEFENSE BUDGETING BUT DAMN CAN THAT GIRL WORK A HEADSCARF."

2. Campaign Manager:

He designs three lines...at least 20 shows a year...his face is already on french money and a coke bottle...and is often compared to God. As a reknowned designer/photographer/ stylist/ director who speaks 5 languages...this jack of ALL trades could easily add campaign manager to the repertoire.

3. Media endorsements:

"With Missoni being endorsed by reputable global glossies such as Life and Vogue...she's got quite a backing on her trail to the american throne."

4. Posse

"We don't wear suits in the Oval Office...we wear patterned viscose and bling."

Considering that Miss Missoni has relationships and residence in pretty much every country...she would do unimaginable things for our global image (which until recently was pretty grim).

And more importantly...her posse consists of countless young royalty, heirs and heiresses. SO in the prospect of yet another recession...she could easily amass an economic stimulus (without congressional approval).

5. Philanthropy

As a significant advocate for organizations such as "OrphanAid Africa", Miss Missoni could put this epidemic, that will never get enough support, back on the political forefront.

~~~~~

Well she fits all the credentials (minus that silly natural born citizen thing). She would certainly inject some fresh ideas into the ways things have been done over the past centuries. And so lets take this reverie one step further and listen to her the day she wins.

Inaugural address January 20, 2013:

I, Margherita Maccapani Missoni, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States of America, and I will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. I also affirm that I will forever make peace and not war. I assure you your national image will be as, if not more, well received than that of the Kennedys and the Obamas. I realize that at the age of 29, I am the youngest person ever to take office, but I assure you what I do not have in years I make up for in charm. But more importantly, over these next four years, I swear on the entire House of Missoni that every American will be entitled to a bountiful life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...as well as a life full of style."

~~~~

Yes this will never happen ever...but imagine a country led by someone whose role didn't revolve around money, power, and politics but rather one about goodness, good times, and social fulfillment.

Not that I have any complaints with the current establishment...but the white house could use a little aesthetic shake-up

à la missoni

off to the ballot...just tell me when.

xx,

mlle. mode

p.s. please do not take this post offensively. i meant it simply for frivolity's sake. merci xx

clueless

2010-07-16T23:41:00.013-05:00

Apparently I have been living under a rock for the past 3 weeks.

I literally have no idea how I missed Resort 2011 happening. with the exception of chanel.

Resort as a collection is kind of cruel. It consists of gorgeous kaftans, baubles worthy of a maharajah and phenomenal ensembles that make you want to jump on a plane and romp around the most exotic and inaccessible lands. It happens basically to give the industry a reason to celebrate summer styles in march and make us all wish we were going yacht-hopping in the greek isles....of which the vast majority of us are not. It is because of socialites like Jackie O and the Donatella/Valentino type that resort collections, capri pants and Pucci even exist.

In the same habit of pre-fall, resort is often a rehashed or modified version of the prior F/W collections. Considering that designers always have far too much to do, or are caught up making fragrances, discovering themselves and a new muse, expanding their empires or trying to not go into bankruptcy. Sometimes they are juggling all four. And so we can't really fault them for recycling materials, having the same-ish inspiration or just blatantly reusing an item.

Christopher Bailey is especially skilled at doing the latter:

fall 2010 resort 2011

same boots (different exotic skin)
same silhouette-with patches sewn on blazer to give nonchalant yacht ready flair
belted blazer so it will not fly off of twig-like arms when on said yacht.
same bag. (a category which has never been burberry's strong suit. ever.)
pants...because it is colder in resort season than in the winter??? theory: perhaps he presumes that come resort 2011 the gagaization of society and global inclination towards pantlessness will have subsided.

fall 2010 resort 2011

identical equestrian tube pants (slightly springier shade)
same booties minus the shearling (no better way to ruin your romantic getaway than the smell of wet sheep) and minus the top buckle for added ventilation. (presumably the heel is slightly slimmer as well. this is to subconsciously get you into "beach bod mode" and also because by now you will no longer need the extra solidity to support your post-holiday feasted self)
same ruched olive top. slit for added ventilation and cleavage enhancement.
sleeves shortened for ventilation and couture farmer's tan.
belted to show off your girlish curves...or give the illusion that you are "womanly".

However, considering how much I, every single editor on the globe, and the entire CDFA panel loved his fall collection (he did win the International award)...why not sell it again.

In other news....

As today was my "me day" where I gave myself a break from the 2 internships, french tutoring, and thrifting that is currently effacing my summer, i got nice and caught up in resort 2011.

and i must say....i am awfully glad that it exists.

My favorite contenders for the season are surprise surprise Chloé and Stella McCartney. and Acne. and Lanvin.

Per usual Balenciaga was mixed print galore, proenza and alex were m.o.d and grown-up school girl esque, and everybody else did their own thing. and i won't even comment on what miuccia did.

okay i will: obviously ADR will find some amazing way to pull off this entire look (as all editors love the cheekiness of miu miu) including the RIDICULOUS mink ball necklace. I had a fluorescent blue furball attached to an elastic that I got at an arcade for like 10 cents back in the day...guess i should have kept it.

AND now to the good stuff....

fell back deep in love with lanvin.

wanting the cognac wedges.

needing the entire outfit actually.

again reconsidering bleaching the hair and blunting the crop.

i actually wouldn't mind having this image framed. perfection for the riviera. of which will be happening very frequently next year. hopefully.

he is such a peach. a sneaky sneaky little peach.

if i were ever in the market for a bathing cap...or wanting to pay homage to my grandmother or Antonioni's L'avventura...i'd buy this one faster than you can say where's alber.

ACNEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

Clearly channeling all important heros/adventurers...this collection makes me want to explore a cave or go spelunking or do something crazy (like not buy anything for a month)

but because those will never happen...i'll admire instead.

shaft gets in touch with his funky fresh feminine side!

Me camping.

Stella McCartney.

Stella was an ultra winner. Very london prim and proper this collection. One can alway count on stella for a natural ladylike look that makes you want to take up a lover and picnic while frolicking through a rose garden.

if only I owned a leg stretching machine.

this is positively lovely.

i adore the tent dress and all its cone-like splendor.

i just need this. period.

fast forward 10 years and i might get married in this outfit.

or just throw a party and marry it.

tea party.

i love tea parties.

almost as much as picnics.

Chloé

don't. get. me. started.

again with the feminine. again with the neutrals. again with the lazer cut shapes and perfectly stiffened materials. again with the nod to the 70s.

this outfit actually made me speechless (i first saw it while on my mobile with my mother was apparently calling my name a good 24 times/yelling at me for aprx. 3 minutes)

i mean really.

sandy suede cropped princess sleeve blouse.

with high-waisted slim black matte leather cropped trousers. AND walnut leather gladiator heels. <3>

ALSO

these are the exact wedges ive been looking for for about 20 years now.

truth: i exited the womb in search of the perfect summer sandals...9 months alone gives one a lot of wardrobe dreaming time.

Céline

and lastly....i would do just about anything

to befriend phoebe philo.

~~~

Well I will most certainly never make the mistake of missing this fantabulous style season again. although it might be a while before i can enjoy these masterpieces in the tangible/proprietary sense...they serve as a great inspiration.

really wanting to be a fashion editor. like right now.

xx,

mlle.mode

dear dree

2010-07-01T13:30:00.010-05:00

Dear Miss Hemingway,

I am not sure if you are aware of this...but it is very easy to hate you. I still kick myself for not recognizing that your beaming beauty and innate cool was not that of a usual young fabulous thing, but that it belonged to you (soon to become one of my favorite stydols) when I had my chance to charm you in person. Obviously Tommy Ton wouldn't have ended his and my thrilling conversation for just anybody, and I should have intuited your beyond-ness, when he jetted over to you that blissful night outside of Alex's show on Valentine's Day 2009. I was all caught up on Vanessa Traina and the Vogue Paris team when just a mere 500 cm away from me there you were...swathed in some all black cloaked amazingness with skinnies and those monstrous Alexander Wang fringed platforms.

Just a few days later...his snaps of you were all over jak&jil and then I realized what a ravishing idiote i was. I instantly googled you, and well my dear, you have an incredibly impressive history. Your great-grandfather was Ernest Hemingway. As in the author and proclaimed best friend of F. Scott, and that dynamic duo basically recorded the best and beautiful lifestyle of the Roaring 20s. Therefore, fabulosity and a penchant for style runs through your genes, heart, and soul.

And while we are on the subject of your amazingness...did you also notice that your legs kind of never end. It is a good thing they fit so perfectly in those sublime leather skinnies you sport all the time, otherwise they might slither right away from under you. Then you really couldn't be a model, and I would make an altar for your strayed limbs.

Oh and also, I want to thank you for being proud of your natural elegance and charm. The whole nude face and bold lip is really working for you. I admit that I "borrowed" that regimen from you. I don't think I'll be giving it back anytime soon.

Heyyyyyyyy. We have the same Balenciaga. Same color, size, and nonchalantness. It is my baby. I cashed the entirety of my first paycheck for mine...but you probably don't have to worry about that. Oh and Dree, the head to toe grey...stunning.

Did I mention that we have the same YSL poster. I remember I scoured the entire city on Valentines Day for that Manifesto. You probably had one sent to you directly. It's funny because that was the same day that I saw you outside the Wang show...if only I had known then what I know now. We have so much in common, my dear. We could be long lasting sole mates for sure. I like getting dressed up in my room too...but my clothes would probably drown you.

Ooh and before I forget, congratulations on being an "official" muse. In my opinion these are the best shoes Wang has designed yet and naturally...they are named after you. If I wasn't going to Paris all of next year...I would have them on my feet right now as I type this open letter to you. But perhaps we will cross paths during fashion week and you will call me in a favor.

One more thing, you've mentioned that generally your family hangs out in Idaho during the holidays. Do you think if I ate more potatoes I would be svelte and leggy like you? Anyways, well, your great-grandfather was born and raised in Oak Park, IL...which is rather close to Chicago. Maybe sometime if you are in the area we can hang. I would love to show you around...I know all the shops where you can really stretch your modeling money. I know, let's have breakfast at Barneys...and we can take it from there.

With style,

mlle. mode

p.s. I also considered bleaching my hair. I'm not as alabaster as you are...I am more of a vanilla latte...but I think it could look rather exotic. You can help me with that too. Your call.

p.p.s. I have a denim shirt in practically the same shade. Wanna have a ysl/balenciaga/denim/leather themed tea party? Or picnic...I like those too.

p.p.p.s. That Paris Vogue editorial you did in Morocco with Daria and Freja, is my absolute favorite. The shot of the three of you dressed in bottega veneta with that slightly washed out quality...is permanently engrained in my mind for what I want my travels to evoke.

p.p.p.p.s. You look really beautiful in this picture. Almost makes me want to smoke. Almost.

the challenging world of color

2010-06-15T19:27:00.010-05:00

So for the majority of my life...whenever people asked me "what is your favorite color?"...i always respond "black".

And they would retort "black isn't a color...check the rainbow girl".

Well excusez-moi but who needs rainbows when you can look chic. Coco Chanel never believed in color and her achromatic palette is still the epitome of anything even remotely fashionable.

Dressing head to toe in black (as long as you dont have an excess of visible tattooage and/or facial piercings nor would you be channeling a vampiress) guarantees that you will look stunning and mysterious and alluring. You will just ooze that je ne sais quoi that will make all others want to know you...or better yet be you.

Which is why Emmanuele Alt NEVER WEARS COLOR (except the occasional olive cargo pant )...and everybody wants to be her. Except that i want to be her THE MOST!!!! Especially when she wears a leopard coat with her all black (which is a color-ish but the fact that is was once a living animal that is now sashaying on her back re-fiercifies it and compensates for the less black hue).

Actually...now that I think about it, every single fashion editor+assistant's wardrobe is entirely devoid of color. So that must be the ticket to working for Paris Vogue...have a closet entirely full of neutrals: Black, Charcoal, Grey, Dove, Mouse, Ink, Navy, Blush, Khaki, Nude, Ivory, Écru, White. There are dozens more choices (black, dark black, light black, lighter black) there than the strict selections of the rainbow.

Here are some prime examples of how this Oath to Vogue:

Thou shalt not feign vitality in the coloration of their external costume. Public displays of animation will be strictly prohibited. And if thou must smile thou must overcompensate in their dress by utilization of sheer materials, leather leggage or balmain

...has perpetuated throughout all of eternity.

5 various points in the world's development...following the life cycle of the Vogue Paris girls and thus supporting with archaeological fact and photographical artifacts (thanks tommy!) to support my thesis.

1. Late Upper Paleolithic Period, Stone Age, c. 19,000 BP

Europe witnesses the heelprints of a new culture, The Magdelenians. Their leader was said to be called Magdelena Frackowiak. Evidence of a special scripture commonly referred to as Vogueus Modeus has been found buried deep under the Jardin de Tuileries. Presumably there was some colossal event that took place in the region as thousands of stone carved footwear has been recently recovered.

2. 2000 BCE: The invention of the spoked wheel and ultra shiny chariot

This enabled the people to further elevate themselves towards their sacred gods as they no longer had to walk. Mass chiseling of footwear ensued and Hephaestus explored the daunting domain of patent leather.

3. 1890: Battle of Booted Knee... the last armed conflict of Colonel Routniwanna from the USA vs. Chief Black Blazer of the Haute Nation in the longstanding Kaftan Wars between native peoples.

But thankfully Chief Black Blazer aka Yves Saint Laurent suited his tribe up in the most protective armor available and warded off evil spirits. So they continued to be fabulous. :)

4. 1973. The mobile phone was invented.

Offering this beautiful culture hours and hours of entertainment during intermittent fashion month breaks. Also catalyzes the worldwide pandemic of online mobile shopping.

5. 1978, The common tanning bed aka melanoma machine was brought to America

Enabling the classiest and trashiest photograph to ever surface the globe to exist.

And lastly 2009...where the next clan of Paris Voguettes will be born onto this glittery globe.

Thus starting the cycle all over again. But this time with more options..as the artisians and craftsman of the earth are creating increasingly more shades of black.

(Note. these dates-via wikipedia- and these quotes-via me- are highly fictionalized and should never be quoted in any veritable or serious subject matter)

~~~~

And despite this protocol set by these lovely ladies before me...one day I ventured out of the darkness and took a stroll into the challening world of color.

And let me tell you...it is a trippy place. People are happier. They wear lightweight fabrics and tend to perspire less. The majority of society happens to veer towards this land and deem those in all black as bizarre.

A few months ago, March 24, 2010 to be exact, a little birdie told me that Simon Doonan was hosting a little afternoon soirée in the shoe salon at the new 7-story Barneys in Chicago. As the creative director for the most fabulous place on earth (not breakfast at barneys but THE Barneys) and the KING of Window Dressing, as well as the cheekiest author I have ever read...I had to pay my respects.

I know that he is a flamboyant color loving fellow...so I sacrificed everything I was used to (neutrals) and wore the boldest color of them all-orange.

history: It was a dress I had bought on a thrift excursion 5+ years ago...I was in a 60s phase and the trapeze shape was all I could think about. It felt amazing and for like $4 who was I to say no. It has these great tennis skirt-esque pockets and the label said "Colette" who is my favorite author...and so it was mine.

I wore it once in high school with black tights, my fendi peep toe oxfords and was called "a pumpkin". I said something rather vulgar in return (oops). And I wore it to my first fashion show with my best (equally fashion-obsessed) friend becuase "I wanted to be noticed".

After those two instances this dress has been pushed further and further back in the abyss of my closet. Until Doonan.

Everything else was still black-ish obviously....but the effect was unexpected. I walked in and suddenly was greeted by millions of flashes and journalists hovering over me...and shoppers whispering with a twinkle of green in their eyes who is she?

Okay so it wasn't that dramatic ;) but kinda true. a little.

I was photographed by two glossies...partly because i finally debuted my ysl tribooties. After days of practicing on the staircase in my house (i find those shoes are debilitating and i normally skip, frolic and even do jumping jacks in heels) I felt ready to use them on...the street. And chicago's version of the sartorialist "the midwasteland" noticed that I perfectly complemented the newcoming Hermes boutique across the street (who took over the old barneys store) and suggested she snapped me there.

Et voilà:

link it.

oooh i just noticed my lost ring right there in that picture :(

~~~~

So the moral of this story is...wearing colors an get you far in the fashion community...but only if everything else is in the black family...or if it is a kaftan or resort/summer season. Color is best used subtlety in accessories or on the sole of the shoe (red louboutins, blue/yellow ysl tribs).

For those of you in the black camp like me usually I suggest you journey into the vibrancy offered by modern man. And for the others who already experience this polychromatic actuality on a regular basis...I invite you to the dark side.

xxx,

mlle. mode

problem.

2010-06-07T23:47:00.006-05:00

Something relatively traumatic happened to me today.

I was sitting at my desk, updating a style events calender for my internship when I noticed that I was typing a little lighter than usual. I was in the processing of admiring my increasingly nimble fingers when it hit me...my second finger was naked.

Now my thumb and pinky fingers have been nude for all of about 4 months now (I switch pairings of metal so as to keep the bone density/muscle balanced in my hand). BUT I have become very accustomed to seeing shiny appendages rattling symmetrically in my right hand. The three musketeers of bling i suppose...however, at that moment there were only two.

I started panicking. I was hperventilating at the sad envisioning of how "lackluster" the rest of my day/week/life would be without the complete trio. I ransacked through my Balenciaga...my vanity...my jewelry boxes...my room...the garage...the car. I even biked back to where I convinced myself I heard it drop a few hours prior. It wasn't there. And naturally I started my day by going thrift store shopping and I would have had better luck getting another $2 chanel there than finding my ring.

I teared on the ride back-no joke. It was pathetic.

My life mantra is that everything happens for a reason. In most circumstances, I can find logical reasonings for the world's cruelty...but I couldn't feign any justice served here.

Almost everybody has a certain fashion "signature". Something that they consciously choose as an aesthetic extension of themselves. Rick Owens has darkness, Lady Gaga has Philip Treacy hats, I have-correction had-my rings.

It was a part of me. A tracking device for my friends to describe me if I ever got lost. A form of protection. A safety net. A pretty piece of my soul.

And now it is gone forever.

R.I.P Mister Ring XVII

2010-2010

Shiny, heavy, faceted,

and gorgeous.

Everything a girl

could ask for in a ring.

Your weight will be missed forever on my right index finger.

You completed my innate glow.

And I refuse to settle on a replacement. I shall wait until I am in Greece, or Paris, or Marrakech or wherever, when said ring will have meaning and experience attached to it(in addition to a massively sumptious rock)

So from this day on...until I meet my next digital love...I am off finger ornaments.

Unless I come across the YSL Arty Ovale Ring for free :)

That would be a most suitable replacement. And between the turquoise and the gold and the yves...it'd be hefty enough to compensate for all three.

But until then...

I shall find some other way to glitterize myself.

Lagerfeld says body bling.

And whatever Karl says goes.

xx,

mlle. mode

7 days of chloé

2010-05-31T21:20:00.009-05:00

Firstly, I would like to sincerely thank of all of your thoughtful responses to my last post.

I most certainly want to maintain the ambience and integrity that Breakfast at Barneys has had over the years...and most importantly keep you all-my dear readers- as stylishly satisfied as always.

But I also hear that I should no longer be such a stranger. So...I'm going to introduce myself a little bit further.

I've always perceived fashion to be a form of communication that every person engages in (well those fortunate enough to have clothing options anyways). And so however we clothe our relativly similar bodies is how we differentiate-or affiliate- ourselves from one another. And so with that in mind...we are what we wear.

Therefore, in an attempt to give you a snapshot of me...I shall let you into my wardrobe a bit.

Note: what you see here is a minute fraction of my closet. My most recent life crisis is how i will ever pack to live in paris for a year.

1. I have an entirely separate wardrobe i've accumulated of items i consider "only worthy of parisian streets i.e. impressing the leather pants off of emmanuelle alt". so in order for them to have not been a complete waste..it is obligatory that I bring those.

2. 60% of what I own is fur, leather, embellished with coins and/or sequins and/or beads and/or zipperage. OR all of the above.

This is especially an issue because these items (many which fall under the "#1" category) will doubtlessly weigh my luggage down and so to counteract overweight fees i would have to pack less VOILÀ THE SEVERITY OF MY PREDICAMENT!!!!

this problem has sub issues

if my plan is to waltz around the rues until garance or tommy of whoever discovers me...how am i suppose to get noticed wearing the same lightweight and flimsy garments. ADR certainly doesn't wear anything more than twice tops. HMMMMMM!
the heavier my clothes are the less likely ill blow away in a torrential london rainstorm like mary poppins.
i'm going to spend hours each day saying "ooh my outfit wouldv'e been so much better if id had that white ysl elastic bandage wrap dress that i couldn't fold into my suitcase."
which will then force me to go out and buy things so i can focus on more important things like model stalking and school. But then ill realize i have no money...so ill start lamenting over that.
the jingle jangling of my heavy metal laden clothes could act as a tracking device if i ever get strayed-a chicer plan than hansel and gretel.
everyone looks good in paris...so i have to outshine them, literally, and be a walking disco ball. (hence me buying an all silver sequin long-sleeved space-age dress circa 1979.)

SO, in order to find some kind of middle ground...i've embraced chloé to the fullest. As I have mentioned before the chloé girl is the epitome of the mystically darling french girl with je ne sais quoi radiating off of her feminine self.

Regardless of designer- Gaby Aghion ( created in 1952 her first show was outside of the Café de Flore), Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Phoebe Philo (all hail the Chloé to Céline transition), or Hannah MacGibbon... chloé is always girly and gorgeous.

And surprisingly lightweight - which solves problems one and two so i wont have to see the headline"chic collapse: death by packing aneurism" when im hookahing with yves saint laurent at his marrakesh estate in my afterlife.

My friend and I remarked how a great deal of my new "happy wardrobe"-as I'm exploring the challenging world of color- is reminiscent of Chloé. Which is simply marvelous considering im alllllll about 70s bohemia right now.

And so without further ado...my 7 days of Chloé:

vintage linen top, vintage shorts. vintage coach bag, globetrotting gladiators (gift from a friend i am forever indebted to)

it was delightfully hot on this sunny Monday morning, so I left my s/s 2010 linen cape at home and I thought I'd leave saving the world for later in the week. I am also feeling more cheeky than usual on this day...so i'm starting my week with a smile.

faconnable vintage denim shirt, acne jeans, balenciaga clutch

Tuesdays are always rather dull....so I thought I'd have myself a little jarty.

old navy silk-ish tank, chloé skirt, givenchy necklace, vintage louis speedy, repetto ballets

Wednesday...well I really like alliterations...so I wore white.

vintage Dior cream blouse, Mirage blush leather jacket, Stella McCartney "70s Pant" pants, vintage chanel

Thursday means its almost the weekend...so I put my grown-up pants on and started pondering the fabulosity at hand.

vintage blouse, vintage paperbag waist pants (via the goodwill best find ever), vintage belt, repetto flats, givenchy nightingale

ITS FRIDAY YAY!!!!!

I am as swingily happy as the region under marc jacob's kilt...and this is one of my personal favorite ensembles ever. oooh how life is beautiful.

vintage liz claiborne smock top, old levis cutoffs, kelsi dagger suede thigh highs, antique balmain perfume bottle necklace, godmother's crocodile bag. 50 cent thrifted shades.

Saturday. Oo ooh. I love how polyester obsessed 80s designers were. This top is not very "summer friendly" so the skin exposure of my bottom half will have to ventilate my synthetically suffocating upper body. Also normal sensible people wouldn't wear 21 inches of suede when its 90 degrees out...but those of us who are fashionably driven have different priorities.

Ray bans, vintage chloé blouse, vintage microshorts (shockingly mens), vintage chanel, tribooties

Sunday = funday.

No clue where i'm going or what i'll be doing.

preferably somewhere with a moving walkway.

~~~~~

Here is the moral of the story:

one can look equally if not more "fashionably with it" for literally pennies.

(Everything I just showed you-with the exception of 2 bags, stella, acne and the tributes- was bought pre-owned-I bought the chanel for $2, the louis for $32, the chloé's for $30 )

The other day I was reading the latest Elle editorial and for the umpteenth time this season there was a military inspired shoot. The model was wearing an olive Balmain cotton t-shirt with holes all over it.

Okay so 1. its a t-shirt. 2. Its made of cotton -like the same material that $3 hanes underpinnings are made from. 3. It has holes EVERYWHERE, so since there is less fabric we should pay less for this stupid garment.

And yet Christophe Décarnin (much like the economically oblivious Lagerfeld) thought this war torn salvation army replica necessitated a $1625 price tag.

QUOI???????????????

~~~~

don't do it. buy vintage. or consignment.

garments were made with care before technology and the skilled third world factory came along. Haute Couture and Prêt-a-porter are supposed to be about fine quality and exquisite design. That craftsmanship and excellence are rarities these days my darlings.

More and more articles and books are coming out preaching to us that the F in Fashion stands for falsification. and fabulous obviously.

There are no midas touched cows romping around...so why should a nice handcrafted peruvian leather bag be $200 and a woven bottega veneta bag be $7000. really?

And everything else (except hermes and a few others) are fabricated in China/Korea/(not where the fashion house is based) and the tag is "made in italy" or "made in france".

Read "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost its Luster"

it'll change our life. i read it cover to cover in two sittings.

~~~~

naturally we all love fashion, and will continue to awe and want and salivate over everything we see on the runway...but try thrifting instead. You end up remembering every piece, how much you paid for it and when...a memory and a history develops with it. it becomes a part of your personal growing collection-rather than yours and hundreds of others.

its been lovely spending this week with you.

xxx,

mlle. mode

state of the union

2010-05-24T16:40:00.003-05:00

Dearest readers,

For all that it's worth...it is an absolute pleasure writing these fashion bits for all of you. When I started Breakfast at Barneys....I had no idea what to expect. I have always had specific perceptions and interpretations about fashion. And so I thought I would share those publicly and see what kind of response my ruminations and criticism would get.

And I am so happy that my writing has been well received by you. It amazes me that whoever you are (blogger/reader) and wherever you are (all over the world) we are all connected by this one little site.

I wanted my blog to be very special...and very me. So instead of posting pictures of my daily outfits or daily purchases or whatever....I wanted to have Breakfast at Barneys predominantly pertain to my words and musings. I am naturally a very sarcastic girl, superfluous in my use of adjectives, and have an awful lot to say when I am magnetized to (or repulsed by) a certain something.

I take a lot of pride in each and every one of my posts and have noticed a discernible progression in my writing from when I started and to where I am now. I feel like I have crystallized my writing style...which will help me immeasurably in the daunting challenges this industry will present me with in any career future...and I thank you for that.

Believe it or not...I spend a significant amount of time on each post. I am very thoughtful in my prose and want every word to evoke a certain emotion just as one's ensemble evokes a specific image. I want every picture to be just right...each word to melodiously flow off the tongue or in your brain...each post to leave you empowered and invigorated.

This is about celebrating all aspects of this beautiful world of mode...and I really pour my heart into this blog.

And so...I can't help but notice that my latest posts have had very very very little commentary from all of you lovely people. It used to be the greatest point in my day when I would respond to the vibration of my blackberry to see that someone had commented on a post. Naturally, I write this blog for myself as well, but it gives me some sort of affirmation that what I am doing is meaningful to someone and ignited some emotional response inside them (just as it did for me). That utter bliss has been a rarity of late.

And so my dears, am I no longer inspiring? Personally, I feel like my latest posts have been my best, and truest to the image I want reverberating with breakfast at barneys.

As many of you know...there are certain bloggers whose popularity has really amplified of late. Several have circulations bigger than most national newspapers...and have just as much influence in the industry as editors themselves. that is absolutely not what I am asking for. i want to really "climb the ladder" and work my way to the top rather than have everything handed to me at an age when i have such an immature understanding of the history and dynamics of the industry.

Regardless...at present my most important role within the industry is sharing my thoughts and inspiring all of you. So what should I change...if anything? Should I become more personal...include pictures of my "ensemble du jour"? Or even more of a diy approach with clothing I've made or the criminal steals I have found (that could be another blog entirely on its own)...what would you like to see in your experience with Breakfast at Barneys?

I realize that there are thousands of fashion blogs out there (perhaps you have one yourself) and I really appreciate you taking time out of your lives to participate in mine.

I am here for you.

xxxx,

mlle. mode

how our beloved models holiday

2010-05-11T23:08:00.012-05:00

So it is finals week. And instead of studying today like I should have been...I spent about 5 hours twitter stalking and massively google searching "Chanel Saint Tropez Cruise 2011".

Yes. King Karl dropped yet another collection (I have come to the conclusion that he is a natural born insomniac) and I could not think of anything else all. day. long.

Essentially all of this hype arose when I saw a trailer for his latest film-which coincidentally dropped just before the show started. The typical chanel coterie-Leigh, Heidi, Freja, Baptiste & Co- were all included. Its wonderful how he never becomes "un-inspired" by his muses...he simply accumulates them. Like houses.

Anyways...this film, entitled Remember now, is basically Chanel coated hedonism encapsulated into a fabulous 17 minute film.

I also found it quite enlightening...it made me realize that:

1. While these godly beings are completely immortal in my eyes...acting is often not their strong suit.

2. Karl Lagerfeld is an absolute visionary BUT directing/screenwriting is also not his strong suit.

3. Magdalena Frackowiack has some serious dance skills/does a wonder Bardot impression. This makes perfect sense to me considering that she was one of the "chosen ones" Alexander Wang had accompany him for Fashion Night Out to groove down the runway" at Barneys.

4. Abbey Lee Kershaw looks best when not wearing pants and dressed in lacy/furry/fluffy leotards (also primary sourced via Wang S/S 2010)

5. I cannot go to Paris next year nor St. Tropez this summer without a black mini sequined lace dress. It is also imperative that I recreate the sublime shredded tweed jacket Freja is wearing in the opening.

So...this is what happens when Karl Lagerfeld abandons all Chanelegance and lets his favorite models run wild on the Riviera: (In two parts) see full video via chanel-news.

Remember Now: A Short FIlm by Karl Lagerfeld

Yes it might not be the best film we have ever seen. It might not even be considered decent

by some.

BUT it is glamorous gorgeous and making me green with envy all the same...and its Chanel.

In some ways it reminds me of Andy Warhol's films. He was not a particularily talented director,

but his artistic talent shined through every frame regardless. When pop culture, fashion, and film

are thrown together...there is always some value in the production.

It certainly brings some sparkle to our lives.

And so after watching this treasure 5 times and ogling Magdalena's VIP dress seemingly for days...

I wanted to see Lagerfeld meets Décarnin and see a Balmainiac-ed version of Chanel.

That is not what happened.

There was however a motorcycle involved in the show.

It happened on the boardwalk...all the editors sat under striped umbrellas

and chatted about the pétanque (french version of bocce) pre-party the night before.

The models arrived in boats and sashayed around with SMILES...and one "plus size" model Miss Crystal Renn to boot.

I sense a bit of the farm girl these from Spring 2010 "rolling-over" into the Cruise collection.

But nonetheless it is absolutely 70s inspired (which makes me terribly happy)

And it has Jane Birkin written all over it.

This I like...definitely fits the "chanel" signature.

and if I were Natasha Poly I would wear this no question.

Unfortunately I am not...and therefore I won't.

I don't know what this bag is but:

it's black.

it's fringe-y.

it's Chanel.

=I need it.

Mmmmm Anja.

Loving loving loving the suede sash and that color combination

Crystal Renn

Proving that models can be gorgeously confident per usual

(without being abnormally slender)

BEAUTIFUL.

Abbey is still my favorite.

And this dress is beyond stunning.

This is as close to Balmain as the show would get. Not that Karl isn't beyond fabulous on his own. I would never want him to suddenly adopt Décarnin's ways.

But at the same time, his film is perpetuating false pretenses.

And off they go to get into more trouble.

Naturally Georgia Jagger is the campaign girl for this collection

...the Jagger clan was the symbol of hedonism in the past.

I read once that Mick never packs when he travels. He just buys upon arrival.

and that my friends is the definition of a G.

So there you have it.

Chanel in Saint. Tropez.

Ooh and one musn't forget their matching pétanque set.

Yours for the humble price of $2800.

~~~~

Oh Karl,

....if only I knew the german translation of recession.

I'd message you in a heartbeat.

Every season you add various Chanel sporting goods to your collection.

When really you are just taking pre-existing objects and painting , engraving, or fastening them with an interlocking C.

If Apple etches metal for free....why can't you?

~~~~

I'll gladly accept that limited-edition quilted leather bicycle as an apology.

yours forever,

mlle. mode

p.s...sorry about that nothing post that got sent out before. I had no conception of how responsive blogger was to my enter key. life's little lessons.

my heart will always belong to...

2010-05-08T08:32:00.010-05:00

new york city.

And while I realize that this sentiment might very well change when I disembark and move to Paris for a year...New York is where all of the magical moments in my life have taken place (like the time I met Mlle. Carine). It is a place where the ambitious ones in the world go to make their dreams come true.

It is in this gorgeous city that I too one day will make all of my fashiony fantasies come true.

Only in New York can you hear the Rodarte sisters reflect on knitting sweaters for pet lizards, watch André Leon Talley disclose a personal secret, visit the WWD and W Magazine offices, and procure a vintage red Prada bikini (for the astronomically low price of $20) in the course of 4 days.

As this particular escapade was my final romp in the city for at least a year, I wanted to soak up as much of the effervescence and excitement that is NYC as I could. Mother Nature was shining down on me as I had 4 straight days of sunshine and thus my wardrobe choices were limitless :)

All the fun started on Tuesday. As if by fate the bus from boston dropped me off right in front of the Fashion Institute of Technology...which is coincidentally where I would here the incredibly talented Rodarte sisters speak 2 hours later. FIT has a host of discussions with the best talents in the industry. I was lucky enough to hear FIT director Valerie Steele interview both the sisters and ALT in the same week.

Now these two girls, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, are the most cohesive duo imaginable. Every single snip, stitch and strut is a collaborative decision.

Unlike many designers, these two girls did not go to fashion school...in fact they still have no formal training in the craft they clearly master. They went to Berkley, graduated with little idea about the future and spent a year watching films on their couch in Pasadena. From there they took a costume design class and all the sketches/fantasies/dreams they'd been scheming since they were little girls came together. A friend convinced them to show their capsule collection to the WWD editor in LA...who happened to be meeting with Wintour that same week and BAM!!!

They showed in NYFW just a few months later.

Their inspiration arises from everything; from anime to cadavers to roadside insulation to candlewax. But it is their symbiosis as a pair is what truly enhances their masterpieces.

my preferred piece from S/S 2010

In my opinion, their lack of conventional schooling is what exalts the extraordinary freshness of their designs. Essentially the duo is just playing a professional game of dress-up. Shredding this, burning that, dyeing here and razoring there. Every piece is handcrafted...and necessitates an immense amount of diligence and visionary expertise.

Their creations are hauntingly beautiful. And that base in film allows for their attention to detail and emphasis on the aesthetic. Always contrasting between romance and terror, living or dead, black or white...they are consistently dreamy and awe-inspiring.

Great girls and even greater designs.

I am loyally in love with Rodarte and everything it stands for.

AND even better...as I walked out of FIT I turned the corner and their was this odd little man (still living in the 70s) whereing a nude nylon leotard, leather pants and disco sunglasses. He had a table full of fashion mags and I was instantly drawn to the POP cover with little Tavi Gevinson on the cover...and Dasha Zhukova's inaugural issue as editor-in-chief.

I figure it will be one of those collector's items...and although her appointment as editor caused much controversy within the industry. Based on this issue I think she's doing a marvelous job.

And much to my surprise...I found this inside:

"A Proud History"

from the new POP Magazine (with Dasha Zhukova at the helm with their choice Tavi on the cover)

Paying homage to the Obama approval for stem cell research, POP had the sisters dress and interview 3 scientists in the field celebrating intellect and beauty.

...so all of that was Tuesday.

Wednesday was my walk around Brooklyn & Manhattan and soak it all up day.

Thursday was Andre:

For the Rodarte discussion I just waltzed right in and got a seat rather close to the stage.

For ALT...it was a whole different story.

1. There was a line around the university

2. There was a significant police presence and metal detectors.

3. There was PETA:

And then there was Andre

...in all his Lagerfeld couture caped glory.

It came as no surprise that he commanded the room. His stature, vocal projection, and boisterous nature are dynamic enough but there is this regal quality about him and well much like the "elephant in the room" one cannot not sense his presence.

I have read a bit of his biography...but he is so much more inspiring than I ever imagined. A complete antithesis to his diminutive bob-haired counterpart.

He spent the majority of his discussion talking about how much influence his grandmother had on his life. He paid much sincere credit to several upcoming designers in the audience, as well as introduced and discussed his assistant, the creator of his bedazzled obama t-shirt and answered 20+ public questions.

I want to follow exactly in the very large footprints of this man.

He went to Brown and majored in French (comme moi) with the intention of becoming an elementary school french teacher.

But when he was 12 years old in response to his uncle's question "Re, what do you want to be when you grow up", little Andre declared "I'm going to be a fashion editor."

So under the insistence of several friends and his own innate talent...he dropped out of a doctorate program moved to Manhattan.

He lived in the YMCA with no money and hustled until he met Diana Vreeland who then introduced him to Warhol at a Halston party. After being a Factory brat for sometime...he moved on to WWD in Paris and spent his time working with THE Yves Saint Laurent and THE Karl Lagerfeld.

You can not get more fabulous than that.

All that glamour and fabulosity accumulated and well...here he is.

An absolute wealth of knowledge. He can tell you anything about anyone in all of industry from Worth in the 1890's to Derek Lam in the now. And it is that dedication, passion, and ambition that I insist on harboring as I pave my own path in this challenging world of prettiness.

which brings me to

Friday.

some final shopping in soho.

I co-crafted this ring with a marvelously talented jewelry designer on Broadway.

He had all these stunning stone and wire pieces but none of them were exactly what I wanted. SO i asked him to curl a pierced pewter leaf earring and swaddle it in silver et voilà:

I am quite pleased.

AND then I had breakfast with the loveliest photo editor from Women's Wear Daily. We went to Café Gitane-a darling french/moroccan eatery downtown that gave me a little fast-forward to what life will be like à Paris. Guess what..i like it :)

And then she took me to work.

The W and WWD offices are on the same floor...despite being owned by separate publication houses. I saw all the closets-fashion, accessories, and beauty-, the photo editing rooms, and met several writers who have side design/freelance projects of their own. Its such a wonder to see so many creative minds all under one roof. I want to be one of those tinseled think tanks soon enough.

and then to celebrate these introductions...more shopping.

first time in the prada concept store.

the store is set up like a maze. All lit white walls with shininess and technological suppliments everywhere. Their archives are on display too (yes those bejeweled Resort 2009 dresses can still be yours). And each mini-room is separated by color.

And so to culminate my New York to Paris experience...

i got the Paris/Biarritz postcard sunglasses that ive been pining for/written about...in manhattan.

which match effortlessly with the retro prada bikini

(which i will not disclose for personal discretionary purposes

Needless to say I love them. And they will be perfect for the riviera.

So per usual manhattan was very very good to me. It will be difficult for Paris to top the reverie i've felt in this beloved city.

I am looking truly forward to comparing the two.

new york, je t'aime.

xx,

mlle. mode

p.s. Andre's secret:

"Although I have slept in many a designer's bed...I have never slept with a designer."

l'héroïne

2010-04-19T12:31:00.004-05:00

there is only one woman who can make me feel so inspired and adequate at the same time...

from fashionista

I actually just got back from a yoga class...I suppose if I had done it in my tributes rather than barefoot I would have certainly deepened my lunges and extended the lengthening of my down dog.

i'll be sure to try that next time.

xx,

mlle. mode

l'expatriette

2010-04-17T21:42:00.008-05:00

I want a time machine.

I would absolutely love in the opportunity to turn the clock back about 40 years and live in the naughty and haughty 70s. There isn't a single era that I find more glamourous and I would do just about anything to experience that style and energy.

However, every second that I am not spending ruminating about the superiority of the past, I am reflecting delightfully towards the future. I will officially be spending an entire year studying in Paris...and now that has become my justification for all the unecessary-yet-a-necessity purchases I've been making of late.

And for a girl like me who loves a thrift steal, recreating and redesigning...what on earth could have caused all of my sudden plastic swipage?

four little words. six brilliant photographs:

Daria. Werbowy. in. Paris.

Not only is she staggeringly gorgeous, and the epitome of chic à la parisienne,

but the new coif is beyond perfection.

The final image of this series in my opinion one of the most beautiful sights I've ever laid eyes on. The suppleness of the Chanel, the washed out divinity of Paris, the reflection of the lighting on the crease of her pants, the effortless of dress and of grace.

It is almost as if she descended from the heavens above, and Coco styled her on the way down.

If I am ever reincarnated or given a second life with a slightly narrower face...I would be all over the '70s fringe look. But alas, I unfortunately will never in my dreams embody Daria...thus I decided to buy and inject my wardrobe with such prettiness instead.

Its an encapsulation of everything I want to be, to breathe, to live

when I am traversing those same rues de Paris.

~~~~

I recently acquired some loverly high-waisted & wide-legged Acne denim. I have been aware of/admiring this particular pant for quite sometime now, which makes my owning them even more fulfilling. My gorgeously model-esque german friend has the same pair and wore them all over our travels last summer in europe. Although I don't come close to the leggy litheness she possesses...for me they elicit memories of bike rides along the elbe river, sashaying in stockholm, and evening soirées along the french riviera. To continue my rebellion against skinnies, I've also procured the most lovely pair of blue Stella McCartney pants. They evoke YSL's marjorelle garden in marrakech as well as the splendor of the era, and so they fit perfectly into this fringy fabulous summer persona I've envisioned for myself.

I am a very very happy girl as I develop this newfound relationship with my feminine elongated self.

my current muse:

Jane Birkin...the quintessence of the parisian 70s style.

the next item to complete my mode du jour would be an all crocheted dress.

and here I rest...

dreaming of yesteryear.

xx,

mlle. mode

wish you were here...

2010-04-06T11:25:00.006-05:00

So I just celebrated my 20th birthday on Saturday...the weather was divine and all that I have been musing about is exotic vacationing and my spring/summer wardrobe.

Naturally my wishlist is very very lengthy, but I know that the item of lust on the tippy top are the "Paris" sunglasses from the Prada Spring 2010 Postcards Collection. As if the notion of being saturated in chandelier dresses and other translucent things wasn't great enough

...Miuccia designed 6 pairs of transparent cat-eye glasses named after the preferred holiday spots of the world's shiniest cities:

"Outside of every great metropolis is its great escape. This alter-ego is not antithesis, it's the same self in a different guise, a transformation that reveals something essential about both. Biarritz completes Paris(clear/gray). Milan unwinds into Forte de Marmi (green). Montauk is a soft reflection of Manhattan concrete(clear/pink). London to Cornwall (gray/orange), Lisbon to Setùbal (black) and Los Angeles to the endless Pacific with Santa Monica (pale pink). One is the brighter, lighter twin, a coquette displaying herself in the sun with girlish delight."

To continue the fanciful dreaminess...Steven Meisel went and directed a little audio tale.

The perfect amalgam of lighthearted 70s chic and urban modernity...

I am happily awaiting my great lucite enhanced escape.

xx,

mlle. mode

advice from ADR

2010-03-31T14:05:00.008-05:00

For any of you who magnetize towards the jaw-droppingly glamorous figures who consistently reappear in our favorite blogs...you are no stranger to Miss Anna Dello Russo.

As the Fashion Editor of Vogue Nippon it comes as no surprise that she is always dressed much much more colorfully than her more somber Parisian or Milanese counterparts (harajuku girls have never been recognized for neutrality).

But this glamazon in particular has a strict "no fear" policy when it comes to mode. She has tried every fabric, every color, every animal imaginable...and manages to pull it off perfectly.

I greatly admire her idiosyncrasy when it comes to her ensembles. Considering that my wardrobe pretty much consists of dark black, black, leather black, light black, grey, white and the occasional khaki/camel....she certainly inspires me to spice up my life.

I would imagine that if I ever came within sex feet of her again...I would be instantly overwhelmed by the blur of exotic skins, bunched up silk taffeta frocks topped off with massive blinged out hardware and immeasurably high heels. ADR is an anomaly.

Voilà: A Rainbow of Russo

This Dries is my personal favorite.

and yeah...she stops traffic.

Her assistants Aurora Sansone and Viviana Volpicellare wearing the same outfit for two consecutive shows...Anna of course is not.

Realize that there are copious shows in one day...and each fashion week is well a week. Thats at least one hundred ensembles for ADR.

How might she fit all the feathers, furs and frocks into a suitcase you ask...

She has so graciously imparted some of her fashionable wisdom onto us:

you know you can't get enough...here are a few of her favorite things

She has also inspired me to re-reflect on my stydols.

More postage on those gorgeous creatures will be coming soon.

xx,

mlle. mode

yes. yes. yes.

2010-03-22T08:29:00.007-05:00

those three little words were the only title I could arrive at. There is no other way I could encapsulate my reaction to the sublimity of this editorial.

I mean in theory, the collaboration of Emmanuelle Alt superior styling talent and Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin's photographic brilliance can do no wrong (considering that they join forces for almost every Paris Vogue spread proves that theory further).

Then add in

Natasha Poly (that stare, the open mouth and Lolita-esque posing)
some crime inspiring Pucci and Isabel Marant garb
and a camel

and you get utter perfection.

For those of you with mathmatically oriented minds...I will give you an equation:

Emmanuelle Alt + Inez & Vinoodh + really really hot model (let's face it, by simple genetics and darwinian theory they are all an aesthetically fitter bunch...so i am referring to the ones that make you steam up just with one deviant glance) + sexually evocative splaying poses + random animal (with the prospect of a little friendly beastiality) = beyond perfect Vogue Paris editorial that will inspire rage, jealousy and lust simultaneously.

This flawless formula works month after month and will keep us voguettes crazy for more as long as all said variables are available.

Here is proof of its certitude.

My next field trip will be to a home improvement showroom...I shall venture to their curtain section and run off with the first oversized corded wooden tassel I see.

My life without this cobalt suede Pucci bag is nonsensical.

I also don't see much purpose to living without this scarf.

I do not know what blinged-out fabulousness Emmanuelle draped her in...but I NEED IT!!

In all seriousness, this one editorial necessitates about 10 other blog posts paying homage to the model, stylist, photographic duo, and designers that made this divinity possible.

I have become infatuated with anything and everything nomadic/tribal/bohemian...and so you can see (if for some unfathomable reason you yourself aren't convinced) why I am especially attracted.

I shall also post a want ad:

ATTN ALL FASHIONABLY ADEPT INDIVIDUALS
CURRENTLY SEEKING:

ANYTHING Etro.

or Isabel Marant.

or Peter Dundas for Emilio Pucci.

Natasha Poly-well her wardrobe would be equally useful.

A Camel.

If you can provide me with some/all of the above I will reward you with my servitude.

Please contact me by way of this blog.

xx,
mlle. mode

do me daily...

2010-03-12T12:14:00.002-06:00

christopher bailey.

So Fashion Month is officially over. All in all I'd say the working woman prevailed (suits and more conservative shapes were everywhere) hence my lack of enthusiasm for the as I am still a jobless fashion obsessed kid.

The industry is rather backwards in the way that just as we are getting excited about the upcoming Spring/Summer creations to revel in, we are inundated by gorgeousness for the even further away fall/winter.

It's so silly. And then we are overcome with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) but not in the sense that we are distressed by the current nastiness of the weather. No, the Fashion-induced SAD materializes from the torment we experience when we can't have all the seasons at the same time.

Just imagine, wearing a flowy Etro maxi dress one day, Rodarte thigh high boots and a Fendi fur the next...wouldn't that be lovely.

In any case, I am currently SAD because I have realized a huge void in my life that can only be filled by the latest Burberry Prorsum collection.

Christopher Bailey-the darling 39 year old british fashion award's "Designer of the Year" - stays true to the history and reliability of the company while infusing freshness and youthful effervescence. The results are always widely celebrated...in fact several editors have pegged this show as one of the best of the season.

I mean after his creation of these beauties last fall:

....who would have thought he could do this much better.

And so, in order to really step up his game, Bailey decided to out-digitize all of his fellow designers. While it is true that copious createurs gave millions of voguettes globally the opportunity to be front-rowers through live streams, Bailey took it to the next level by making his in 3-D. This made each pleat and every gold button more impressive, which resulted in propelling viewers into a bad-ass world where stylish soldiers envelope themselves in divine triple collared shearlings and multi-buckled booties to better equip themselves for combat.

See for yourself: the color palette was perfect, each look was increasingly covetable, and the overall effect was well...olive with envy.

his and hers belted bombers:

as if these ultra-slim jodphurs weren't fabulous enough...

he went and added gold zippage up to the knee.

no underclothes necessary.

is it a snood...or a sweater...or a jacket?

all i know is that Ill be fashioning a snooderket very soon.

And my personal favorite:

Choice girl of the year.

Miss Abby Lee Kershaw looking really fucking cool as usual.

This will be my daily inspiration for my parisian student existence next year.

I mean who needs pants when you have a python encasing your thighs?

~~~~

Dearest Mr. Bailey,

Thank you so much for giving me a reason to wake up in the morning, somedays

the world can seem really horrid. But,

as soon as I slip into one of your sumptuous creations,

everything becomes beautiful again.

And for that I thank you.

xx,

mlle. mode

au naturel

2010-03-09T18:27:00.008-06:00

In my opinion, there is nothing more beautiful than effortless style. And when one's ensemble becomes so simplistic that the wearer him/herself becomes the true focal point...that is just gorgeous.

Chloé always encapsulates this nonchalance perfectly. I can't help but notice the natural beauty when poring over the company's designs.

The brand has a special place in my heart because I feel like the Chloé girl is the epitome of parisian chic. Forever feminine with the slightest tinge of androgyny, unassuming yet elegant, modest but undeniably cool.

Hannah MacGibbon's latest season is no exception to the rule...in fact I think it only proves it further. She has certainly got her signature down, paper-bag waisted trousers, cape-y outerwear, muted hues, a 70s bohemian undertone, and overall prettiness.

For Fall 2010/2011, if she had her way, every girl would be dressed in nude.

reincarnation of 70s glamour

Chloé loves her jumpsuits dearly.

subtle and sultry.

a better take on the leather pant.

a pop of denim to spice up the neutral bliss.

is this by far my favorite.

Who would've thought that sweats could be so divine?

I will be replicating it's fabulosity soon enough.

xx,

mlle. mode

extravagance

2010-03-04T17:36:00.010-06:00

This afternoon I found myself surprisingly not in love with the latest Balmain collection.

Over the past few seasons, as we all know very well, Christophe Décarnin has taken this company from its forlorn deathbed to global ubiquity. Everyone seemed to have been hit hard with Balmainia and his looks would have epic influence over the shape of the industry.

He has undeniably perfected the Balmain signature to a t. If one analyzed his past seasons, it is impossible to ignore the homogeniety in his designs. The dresses come in the same shapes, the shoulders are equally embellished and the pants are literally identical. Essentially the only difference is in the increasingly luxurious materials chosen to exaggerate the opulence of the Balmain girl.

For Fall/Winter 2010, Christophe took the Balmain uniform back in time and injected a bit of baroque antiquity into the mix.

It isn't exactly my taste. Largely because I don't really fancy reverting to yesteryear (with the exception of the 20s or the 60s-80s). But, I am absolutely certain that editors (and fabulously dressed working women) will be all over it.

He did suits this season...which is much more grown up from the ambush of 20 something salopettes that usually sport his clothes...but he still threw out several micro mini metal dresses for that crowd.

Historic redux of the S/S 2010 military jacket

negative.

A wispier version of my favorite F/W 2009 dress

Front Row worthy.

ADR (Anna Dello Russo) probably took it of Sasha the second she exited the runway.

Love Natasha...and that's it.

Certainly an attention grabbing ensemble.

Balmain √ leopard fur √ studded√ obtrusive shoulders √

Emmanuelle will be enamored without a doubt.

The burnt orange and gold blouse is stunning...

the pants are a little much.

This dress and this girl are both my favorites.

A gorgeous twist on the motorcycle pants....

plum suede has never looked better.

if his S/S 2010 torn t-shirt sells for $6,000...

i can't even fathom what this liquid gold gown will amount to.

As much as I adore Décarnin and all the shininess he was reinvigorated the lackluster world with...I think it be nice if he was a bit more innovative. But obviously...if anything from this collection was presented to me....I would most certainly accept it.

what do you think...

Will the reign of balmainia slowly vanish?

xx,

mlle. mode

the cool kids

2010-02-25T15:11:00.009-06:00

So I'm sitting in my Western Political Thought class anxiously awaiting the Proenza Schouler live stream to start on my computer. (i love how designers are in a sharing mood these days) Most likely all of the leggy ultra hip wonder-creatures about to start sashaying on my screen would severely distract whoever was sitting behind me (attempting to learn about Rousseau) but frankly I didn't care. I mean all these philosophers were projecting the behaviors of man in the future...analyzing the fresh new looks of Fall/ Winter 2010 seemed rather fitting for the lesson.

~~~Now Jack and Lazaro (much like Alexander Wang) are two very young boys who have an undeniably keen sense of what hot young girls want to wear. Their claim to fame at one point were all of their boldly hued bustier dresses...and now they are unanimously resourceful for whatever MK&A, Vanessa and all other hip voguettes will be wearing. They aren't afraid of color, or banded minidresses, and they are huge fans of the ultra-tight leggings as pants conception. Their clothes make you want to stalk around the lower east side, party all night, travel around the world and be as careless as can be. Proenza girls are posterkids for urban-bohemians.

And then they gave us the PS1 last fall and they had the fashion world in the palm of their hands.

I have decided that the midnight suede PS1 will be my official school bag next year

when I'm studying abroad in Paris.

~~~So back to the present, this amazing beat starts roaring out of my speakers... "Hey yo girl, I was born to be fly-till the day I die...". This sound perfectly encapsulates everything a proenza girl should represent. The selected djs of the night are two very very fresh girls from Brooklyn, at the ripe ages of 12 and 13. They call themselves "The Fly Girlz" and their literal downtown and fresh history resonates with the mood of the brand. Here is a link for a free download Born 2 B Fly .

I am starting to feel like a Proenza girl just by listening to this track, seeing the olsens get escorted to their seats, than LSD, and copious other general front rowers I'd change lives with all day and any day.

Suddeny, the lights fade, the music cuts and out walks this alluringly awkward and unkown model wearing these stark white& black skinny pants, doc marten-esque platforms and that signature dazed & confused look on her face. Then comes the leather, peacoats, fair isle sweaters, fur skirts, plaid jackets, graffiti belted dresses, thigh high nylon socks, and some divine sort of Proenza Schouler lunch bag.

If Blair Waldorf was taken off of Park and thrown onto Broadway...

endearing in a clumsy & geeky fashion.

Just enough nostalgia to make editors swoon just as much as an 8th grade crush.

If I could have had cobalt fox trimmed blazers...I'd go back to middle school too.

"I was always so fabulous,

always so glamourous

I'm tellin you why

'cuz I was born 2 b fly."

thanks boys...

we can always count on you for a healthy dose of downtown cool.

xx,

mlle. mode

he's takin' over

2010-02-14T19:41:00.010-06:00

With the exception of the deeply shocking and saddening passing of Lee Alexander McQueen, in my opinion Alexander Wang's show is THE most important event of New York Fashion Week (if not the whole month).

It's no secret that I am absolutely in love with this boy (frankly each and every voguette is). His effortless mix of nonchalance, urban luxe, and downtown street has made his M.O.D. (model off duty) signature the de rigueur of the fashionable set.

Alex the boy who dropped out of Parsons his sophomore year and has his first line of knitwear was picked up instantly from Barneys. And I thank the mode men upstairs every day for that...if not the whole world might have never been so fortunately graced by "The Wang Gang".

You know, the Wang Gang:

-The gorgeous leggy girls who he surrounds himself with interminably.

-The chic coterie who band themselves in leathery second skin dresses, fringy platforms, zippery bags and combaphobic tresses.

-The too cool kids who dance all night in abandoned warehouses, trick out rental vans and host after parties at gas stations.

I wanna be one of them. Badly.

So due to my vehement penchant for all things Alex (I have become a bit of a pseudo-stalker) and I follow him essentially everywhere that doesn't disrupt my educational schedule too much (obviously he is higher in my priority list.

I asked him to be my valentine outside his show last February, then I accosted him again at Fashions Night Out (and got snapped with him, Natasha, Hanne & Magdelena wearing my self-made Wang sketch tee). And just last night...I had an intimate experience with him yet again.

I had read copious times online that the always-innovative Mr. Wang would not only be live streaming his F/W 2010 runway via showstudio.com but that he would also be projecting the show on the American Eagle Billboard in Times Square.

Naturally I assumed that the thousands of other Wang devotees who weren't privileged enough to be formally invited to the show would be there. So I got there a bit earlier than the 6pm screen time promised by various twitter/blog posts. The only people there were thousands of typical tourists blithely unaware of the gorgeousness about to ensue; the employees inside were equally oblivious "excuse me...the Alexander Wang projection is set to be outside at 6 yes?" "Who?" I resorted back to the frigidity that is Manhattan winter nights.

So there I was underdressed per usual, absolutely freezing in my teal silk wang tank, black furrific coat, thin skinnies and frye boots. It was quite possibly 15 degrees out at most, with the wing blowing stronger than a victoria's secret photoshoot.

I hate times square with a passion, and I was getting undeniably tired of watching this girl romp around in her aerie cotton underpinnings on this massive screen. It was 6:15 at this point when I caught out of the right corner of my eye a glimpse of fabulousness. It was this alluring girl in all black donning divine harem pants and heels + camera (no fanny pack, map, or lostnessness in sight) I figured she was there with the same purpose as mine.

Well just my luck...she was there representing WWD. We were seemingly the only two informed people on the block. So there we were chatting it up... discussing the ins and outs of the industry, the amazingness of Wonderboy Wang and side-braids. For some time we dashed into the TGI Friday's (with perfect viewing of the billboard) to warm up. With the aroma of wings and beer in the background...I'm certain Alex would have approved. It was a cherry on top of an already exciting event. It passed the time...we were determined (her for occupational purposes, me for vitality) to see the materialization of Wang taking over Manhattan. Our fingers were numb...like literally couldnt click the camera once the show finally began (at 7) I shrieked.

I was crying of happiness and emerging hypothermia. It was one of the most charming moments of my life. And I had just spent an hour with a stylish soul (from THE official glossy of weekly fashion coverage) who reiterated my intrinsic necessity to work in fashion. I got a taste of my dream...sitting front row and being informed of the absolute latest trends while being surrounded by equally fashionably inclined things...and I liked it.

Once I got over my momentary ecstasy, I noticed a troop of very well dressed folk behind me. They were all huddled and cheering fervently. I was delighted to see others reveling in the amazingness of Wang. But then I realized that this flock was especially beautiful because they were decked out head-to-toe in none other than Alexander Wang. The oilskin hoodie from 3 seasons ago, the editorial #1 lace-up booties from spring. Working for him must be the world's best 9-5 party...i'd love to find out.

in sum:

I love you Alexander Wang.

You are the brightest kid I know since einstein.

Thank you for taking over Manhattan.

xx,

mlle. mode

it's that time of year

2010-02-07T12:20:00.007-06:00

Where Mr. Wang and I can officially wish you a Happy Superbowl Sunday!

As his Spring/Summer Collection was inspired by the NFL uniforms of ancient times...lets admire his latest ad campaign:

And as much as I would like New Orleans to win

(they are in dire need of some pride & happiness)

...I would love these even more:

Ooh how I love football

(well wang's version at least)

xx,

mlle. mode

Little Miss Wixson

2010-02-04T11:44:00.008-06:00

I am sensing a growing trend...2010 is going to be heavily influenced by the States. As I am not an editor yet...I have no idea what we will be wearing coming Fall 2010...but in terms of Spring Alexander Wang, Chloé and several others (but really who else matters with the exception of Balenciaga/Givenchy/Balmain) had a Collegiate Americana theme rolling down the runway. And even more I'm finding more and more that the freshest -and youngest- faces strutting it are coming from closer to home (think Chanel Iman and Karlie Kloss). And as much as I simply adore Natasha, and Maryna, and Anja, and Sasha, and whichever other beauties Eastern Europe/Scandinavia and Brazil throw our way...it's invigorating to have some national pride mixed in. In the past...all the biggest names were primarily American -Linda, Tyra, Cindy. And today the two gems of 2010 are country girls: Dree Hemingway (Idaho's second best production-after my beyond gorgeous alabaster skin/red-headed friend Shaun) and the latest model on everyone's lips...

I would like to present to you Miss Lindsey Wixson. At the ripe age of 15 years old, this blessed child has officially commenced her journey in the big bad world of fashion.

If Lara Stone and Karlie Kloss had a demonic Lolita-like love child...
I'm certain she would perfectly resemble Lindsey.

She was hand picked by Steven Meisel for a Vogue Italia shoot not too long ago. And then she took over Milan. No really.
She opened and closed Prada Spring 2010...and is the new face of the Miu Miu campaign. If that isn't a fairy tale for a high school sophomore...I don't know what is.

Also, her legs don't stop. Like the sea they continue on forever, thus as a vertically challenged being I really should loathe her. However clearly she has a great sense of style and her boots are incredible!!!

Did I mention that she is from Wichita, Kansas. I don't know what they eat there...but it should become the new diet craze. Do to her provincial roots, she looks perfectly at home in bewitchingly isolated nature shots.

I don't think I've ever seen a tighter pout. It certainly differentiates her from almost any other model I can think of. But it is also what will make her instantly recognizable.

She is also featured in the latest Prada Fantasy Lookbook. These images are so surreal and gorgeous at the same time (per usual with Miuccia Prada) and simply stunning to look through.

here..

and here too..

I look forward to watching this blighted gem spright into a familiar runway face. Perhaps all of Prada's chandelier dresses will emanate light into the future of Miss Wixson.

we shall see,

xx,

mlle. mode

le secret

2010-02-03T22:45:00.007-06:00

So I was randomly meandering through the Luisaviaroma website (which is the online home of gorgeousness) and came upon this far too short video roaming around the Balmain showroom.

I would like to preface this video by saying that the videographer was clearly overwhelmed by the beauty and on the verge of a cardiac arrest (the video is terrible and if you are currently under the influence it will surely trip you out).

But in any case it is a doorway to heaven and simply marvelous to see how basic and commonplace the setting is for a designer who markets $6,000 shredded tees.

Take note of the jacket 26 seconds in. I won't describe it it speaks for itself.

(ooh and obviously turn off the music at the bottom of the page you you can hear 3+ different languages spoken...and the language of the shoulderpad)

I am also fascinated that the people working there are largely (excusez-moi) lacklusterly dressed. Personally if I was employed in such close proximity to godly goods I would try them on for size every single day...or wrap myself in jesus himself.

And even more interesting is that the store itself is rather museum-like. My equally enraptured friend/my Official Balmain Afficianado (previously mentioned here) visited la boutique in Paris and there is only one of each item. The counter is large enough that the shopgirl can see every inch of the store like a guard and they don't really expect you to purchase anything (just touch and moan).

So in summation, this video in my eyes somewhat knocks Balmain off of its very very very high pedestal. And reduces the pieces down to the overpriced commodities that they are...but they sure are pretty.

i wouldn't mind one, or two, or twelve of them.

...and neither would you.

xx,

mlle. mode

pastoral

2010-01-28T18:33:00.006-06:00

Football fields and farms as predominant settings for last season's shows. Is it just me or is the fashion world becoming a little too silly?

Seemingly if Karl had his way for Spring 2010 -and he always does- voguetees globally would be wearing gorgeous tiers white frocks romping about on a farm like the ravaging animals that we are. If it means rolling around with Freja, Baptiste and Lara...SIGN.ME.UP.

Now I am all for frivolity and pairing beautiful things with bizarre austerity...but I'm not a huge fan of l'eau du porc...and so I'd rather not.

However, per usual Anja Rubik's (my personal god) March 2010 editorial for Vogue Nippon has made me reconsider the Amish/country lifestyle.

Anja Rubik for Vogue Nippon

photographed by Camilla Akrans

Styled by Sissy Van

my personal favorite

Now that I reflect on it more...it would be quite practical for those of us who are fashionably inclined. All the fur, leather and wool you could ever want. That is ridiculous I know...but truthful at the same time.

Hittin' the hay.

xx,

mlle. mode

tristesse

2010-01-27T23:19:00.010-06:00

You know that horrible feeling when you have been longing for something seemingly forever. You spend so much time dreaming about how more complete you will feel once it is in your life...and you have all these preconceived notions of how brilliant that entity will be and how there could be no possible way that you would be mistaken in its loftiness.

I have been greatly deceived.

Here is the course of my life a few days ago.

Monday January 25, 2010

2:00pm--I should have been working- I was procrastinating per usual and flipping through the february edition of Vogue.

2: 09--I was enraptured deep in thought asking myself why on earth Jessica Biel was the month's feature (i LOATHE how american magazines put second-rate unstylish"celebrities" on covers -post Miley Cyrus debacle Elle has been forever ruined for me).

2:15-- I gradually get over my growing disappointment with the state of covergirls, a small upper right-hand corner with the word Balmain caught my eye and I did a triple take after reading that Decarnin was collaborating with Oliver Peoples to make 2 pairs of sunglasses for spring.

2:20--I have finally snapped out of my fashion induced seizure and bbmed my Official Balmain Aficionado to share with her the news.

Considering that Oliver Peoples is a well established shades company, I figured they wouldn't be entirely ridiculous like Decarnin and charge thousands of dollars for some plastic...therefore we both envisioned us actually obtaining and sporting the two pairs while traversing Morocco or whichever other exotic locale our future took us.

(just the beginning of our massive balmain collection naturally)

2:30--I am running through the past balmainiacs in my head and what decarnin showcased in his eponymous collections. I imagine thick clear lucite glasses covered in crystals with black suede stems (homage to the heels that initially intoxicated everyone). There is also the possibility of leather wrapped glasses with zipper trim or studding throughout (to match the blazers since shoulderpads are clearly out of the question).

January 26, 2010

12: 20 pm I'm still dreaming...and out of overwhelming anticipation I google the glasses at the mere prospect that some lucky PR girl in paris or something as broken the code of chic and leaked photos online.

She did:

12:21--I'm pissed. For several reasons.

1. My envisions were much better.

2. A collaboration like this should produce something much more unique. You can easily find glasses like these at Urban Outfitters...or even forever 21.

3. Regardless of my disapproval...obviously everybody is going to buy them anyways. But when the wearers are snapped up at parties and such by the likes of Tommy Ton or whoever the picture is going to be terrible considering that the lenses appear to be highly reflective. They will come in great handy for one to check themselves at all all times while appearing to be having a serious conversation and looking intensely into the eyes of their fellow voguettes.

1:35--My O.B.F (official balmain aficionado) and I are in agreement. (she lives in another country hence the delay in joint dissatisfaction). We indulge in a conversation and remind ourselves of Decarnin's brilliance and scheme how to procure large quantities of Balmain dresses soon.

2:00--I stew around my room for a bit wondering why I suddenly feel astray. Nothing seems to make sense anymore.

2:05--I briefly consider ripping down my "fashion wall" and forgoing my addiction to gorgeousness altogether.

2:07--I gain enough strength to pull myself out of the fetal position on the floor and slither over to my closet.

2:09--I see the light. I throw on some chloé, various a wang pocket tanks etc...slowly I recall the loveliness of the industry.

2:23--I go on with my life.

January 27, 2010

--still going on pretending like it never happened.

4:20pm--I take my daily sabbatical to style.com a little early and what do I see:

4:22--They look marginally better...but I am still upset. mad even.

style.com's opinion

January 28, 2010

2:04am--Over it.

Will people overcome their balmainia

and see these shades for what they truly are?

largely not worth it.

probably not.

xx,

mlle. mode

a temporary adieu

2010-01-07T11:06:00.005-06:00

Hello dears...

For those of you who have been graciously following my thoughts, I'm sure you've noticed a certain attraction of mine towards the more shiny and furrific things in life. Unfortunately, as givenchy sacs and balenciaga shoes don't grow on trees, it takes a certain weight of the wallet to accumulate these gems.

And so...in an effort to ease my shopping guilt and have a much much more fabulous year in paris next school year...today I start a 2 week long sleep study (clearly for which I will be paid a considerable amount). One of the requirements is that I cease all electronic satisfaction...so mlle. mode is taking a mini-staycation.

Unfortunately I will not be accompanied by the beautiful likes of Daria, Kate & Lara...but I have brought enough poster and magazine snips to make my stark hospital room look like a decades worth of paris vogues.

But I look terribly forward to sharing gorgeousness with you soon enough.

xx,

mlle. mode

reflections

2009-12-31T10:11:00.001-06:00

Here we are again. Not only is tomorrow the start of a new year,

but moreover it is the end of a decade.

Each decade is renowned for having certain trends and recognizable fashions that will be recorded and analyzed for years to come. I think it is essential that we pay homage to this past era. Keep in find that this guide is highly subjective and will be based more on the later half of the decade (I was just beginning to correctly pronounce YSL at the ripe age of 10 years old).

Breakfast at Barneys' Guide to the '00s

Top 10 Female Models

1. Lara Stone* Vogue's 2009 Girl of the Year, Carine's Model Muse-she was the Paris Vogue cover twice this year: with "the body of a '70s playboy model and the face of a child".

2. Sasha Pivovrova

3. Natasha Poly

4. Daria Werbowy

5. Lily Donaldson

6. Freja Beha Erichsen

7. Chanel Iman

8. Raquel Zimmermann

9. Karlie Kloss

10. Gemma Ward (in the early '00s this australian gem seemed to be the only model in existence)

My new faves (who will dominate the next decade)

1. Hanne Gabe Odele

2. Abbey Lee Kershaw

3. Dree Hemingway*-Ernest's great-grandaughter

Top 10 most Brilliant (young) Designers

1. Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga (1997)

2. Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy (2005)

3. Christopher Decarnin for Balmain* (2006) Oscar de la Renta was Balmain's designer before-that change is about as revolutionizing as Ché Guevara

4. Alber Elbaz for Lanvin (2001) who undeniably saved the house from bankruptcy and was named in 2007 by Time as one of the 100 most influential people.

5. Alexander Wang for Alexander Wang (2007)

6. Christopher Bailey for Burberry (2001)

7. Karl Lagerfeld (young in spirit) for Chanel (1983) and Fendi (1972)

8. Marc Jacobs (his body got about 30 years younger)

9. Lazaro Hernadez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler (2002)

10. Hannah MacGibbon for Chloé (2008)

10 Inevitably Ubiquitous Fashion Products

1. iPod

2. Balenciaga "Lariat" Motorcycle Bag (2004)

3. Stephen Sprouse for LV leopard scarf

4. YSL Tributes*

5. Balmain anything

6. Rick Owens jacket - obviously any style would exude fabulousness

7. Ultra-skinny denim*

8. Leggings

9. Christian Louboutins

10. Chanel 2.55 - a classic with a massive resurgence

10 Subconcious Trends of the Decade:

1. Model Off Duty

2. Giving PETA the finger: fur, feathers, leopard, leather anything.

3. Socialites/Celebrities as fashion icons/designers.

4. Rehab

5. Fashion Films-from Karl's minifilms to Coco biopics to the September Issue.

6. Debilitating Footwear 4 inch heels were sooooo last decade.

7. General Shininess and being weighed down by bling.*

8. Pantslessness.

9. Over-exaggeration*: shoulders, leg showing, colorlessness, etc.

10. Understated glamour- dressing up a t-shirt and jeans.

10 Most Stylish People:

1. Kate Moss

2. Models.

3. Vogue Paris team.

4. Miroslava Duma

5. Vanessa Traina

6. Ashley Olsen*

7. Lauren Santo Domingo

8. Mary-Kate Olsen.*

9. Anyone photographed

by Tommy Ton.

10. You. We all inspire one another.

Those who were lost and will be eternally missed

by the industry:

1. Yves Saint Laurent*

2. Michael Jackson

3. Irving Penn

5 Things I would prefer not to be in the 2010's:

1. Uggs

2. Crocs (any other highly plasticized and colorful footwear)

3. Kanye West's ego

4. Celebrity perfume

5. Censorship in American Fashion Mags*

(models always look better semi nude)

~~~

I hereby dedicate this decade to:

Alexander Wang.

He went from high school student to teen vogue intern to global fashion god all in this era. Largely he incarnated the model-off-duty style and glammed it up a bit. Pocket tees, leather leggings, studded bags, glorified denim, zippers galore...these are only a handful of the modes he was bestowed upon us. He undoubtedly made the fashion world one dominated by hot young things...which coincidentally makes all of us so essential to the stylishness of the decade.

Now go out and celebrate!

happy new year,

mlle. mode

if you've been good...

2009-12-25T08:31:00.007-06:00

I hope Santa brought you

lots of shiny and pretty things...

Have a happy and healthy holiday.

xx,

mlle. mode

personal alterations

2009-12-16T14:55:00.010-06:00

Remember when Alexander Wang decided it'd be fun to throw his footballin' models down the runway looking fabulous as ever with nonchalantly messed together side braids...

as usual, he started a new trend:

Jackets of All Trades

Vogue US January 2010

Kasia Struss (in her vogue editorial debut)

photographed by David Sims

i fell too hard in love with burberry's spring 2010 masterpieces.

i'll be diy-ing this skirt very soon.

and i NEED these shoes.

Clearly Rapunzel has has been way ahead of us on the fashion forecast.

considering asking santa for extensions...

xx,

mlle. mode

Rags to Riches

2009-12-09T14:17:00.011-06:00

Some people have all the luck...

The New York Times did a recent profile on Erin Kleinberg, an "up and coming" designer whose pieces are simply divine.

Basically she makes ultra covetable basics, made entirely of organic materials but blinged out to perfection...think semi-couture.

She is a self-taught designer, who got discovered by mere chance. She saw Mischa Barton at an H&M five years, gave her one of her handmade tops...Barton was snapped up wearing it the next week and a fashion star was born...she was 19 at the time. I am the same age..what am I doing with my life?

She was in college at the time (selling her goods on the side), and post-graduation she interned for a stylist at W, made all the connections necessary and voila...her styledom was set.

She is currently 24 and 80 stores globally sell her line. Really what am I doing here?

Her lookbooks are actually amazing: Nothing but sequins, velvet, and sumptuous neutrals covering lovely lithe socialites in their nonchalant chicness.

I want to lay around the house all day like that.

Fall 2009-Theodora Richards

my personal fave

And her Spring 2010 with Vanessa Traina (my official stamp of style)

...obviously Kleinberg has a future.

She certainly makes me wanna drop out ; )

xx,

mlle. mode

ice queen

2009-12-03T18:47:00.010-06:00

...So a few months ago I fell deeply in love with a W Mag editorial shot by Craig McDean featuring Sasha Pivovrova as the best dressed bag lady in history.

Apparently they felt like overwhelming me with gorgeousness yet again in the November Issue of Vogue Italia. Same photographer...same model...same austere beauty.

I sincerely hope this pattern continues.

I keep trying to choose a favorite...I can't.

The glitzed out fabulousness mixed with the stark desolation is brilliant.

I want to get all dressed up and have nowhere to go too.

xx,

mlle. mode