Bag Trends Spring / Summer 2005: Straw Bags

Yes, it always seems like so many styles are 'in style' at the same time. Well, that's the great (and bad) thing about the fashion industry now, you get more choice! With this season's earthy theme, straw bags are obviously 'in'. Fashion editors have approved it, and think it's perfect for a summer chic look.

Personally I suggest that straw bags will look better with shorts, capris or skirts, instead of long pants. I also think they will look best with wedges rather than flats. But it's really up to your personal style and body shape.

Here is some of the best offers this season:

Look elegant and posh with this Kate Spade Monoco Wicker Roll Bag.

Super kawaii (cute) pick: Coach Lady Bug Applique Boxy Tote.

I LOVE this Kate Spade clutch (Rivera Straw Nikki Clutch). It's perfect for shopping around in your neighbourhood, esp if you live in rich places like Knightsbridge and Beverly Hills.

Another one of my favourite and a cheaper alternative. This Straw Doctor Bag from Urban Outfitters is very spring pretty and looks like its actually practical.

Yes, I know it's made of crochet and not straw, but its so rare to see one that is so bright and colorful. It looks like a straw bag anyways. Large Crochet Stripe Shopper by Accessorize.

Irregular Choice

I am sure you have all walked into the shoe department and encountered these odd looking shoes that are very funky but somehow not quite right, going by the very befitting brand of Irregular Choice. I am sure you have all wondered about where they came from and who would think up such irregular shoes. .

The where is no other then good ol' London, the land of funky clothes. And the who is 32-year-old Danny Sullivan, who having witnessed too much normality in this world, was moved to launch the Irregular choice shoe label. He wanted to ". . do something mad and adventurous, something based on an irregular concept," and Irregular choice is surely all that. And we love it. Since 1999, it has grown from a small little known brand in Europe, to a highly respected international brand, always pushing fashion to new limits.

Here are some of this season's hottest. .

The floral wedges with a slimmed down heel
I am loving these mary-janes with its unusual color, pattern and if you see it in real life, pointy tips.

The typical floral pointy flat with a twist. I tried these on as well, and they are real cute!

Christian Roth Sunglasses

While flipping though Tattler, (which is an excellent magazine on the British high society btw,) I noticed that the Fashion editorial featured this gorgeous pair of sunglasses, and even though they were 300 pounds for a pair, I simply cannot resist checking them out online. Most of the sunglasses were designed with the hip, trendy and rich girl or guy in mind. They are highly fashionable and have a large variety for you to choose from. Here are a few favourites:

For those who are stylish, trendy and celeb-like.

Perfect for the funky look.

For those who are too cool and sleek for anything else.

Check out more Christian Roth sunglasses here.

Speaking of sunglasses, I can't resist showing you another one of my favourite pair of sunglasses this season. This pair is the one worn in the new Dior ads.

by Dior

Dries Van Noten

A few years ago, while randomly cruising the shops at Landmark (a very good shopping mall in hk) with my mom we came across Dries Van Noten, and I was instantly intrigued. Inside the gloomy and minimal exterior of the shop was an array of distinctively unique and feminine pieces. The voluminous skirts, the subtle floral embroideries and patterns, as vogue.co.uk puts it, it was as if "you were rummaging through your grandmother's trunk in the attic."

Dries Van Noten is a Belgium fashion designer who comes from three generations of tailors. Fashion was clearly in the blood. Although his designs appear to be very "of the moment" right now, with all his floral patterns and poofy skirts, he has in fact been doing this for the longest time. Having carved himself a niche in the fashion world, Dries Van Noten is not one to bend to the rigid rules and is instead commited to creating individual and intimate unique pieces. Here are some more photos from his Spring/Summer 2005 runway:

Don't you just LOVE those voluminous skirts and that very romantic long floral skirt? Also note how the guests are sitting and the runway. The runway is actually the table where the guests had sat for dinner at a cavernous factory on the outskirts of Paris. To celebrate his 50th collection, the guests also recieved a signed scrapbook of his last 50 collections with a polaroid image of the chandelier the guest was sitting under. Talk about being unique and intimate!

Sigh. . what I wouldn't give to have been there. . .

Vanity Fair's Tribeca Film Festival Party 2005 Fashion

That's right, we don't really care about the actual Tribeca Film Festival because celebrities don't bother too much about it anyways. Apart from the premire of The Interpreter, (which looks like an excellent movie btw -I esp like Nicole's hair,) it wasn't a greatly publicized event. However, the Vanity Fair party for the Tribeca Film Festival got plenty of attention -and how could it not?

Vanity Fair (the magazine) is famous for holding beautiful parties for the beautiful people. This year's party was held at the Centre Street Courthouse, it tempted in stars and supermodels. So we will be looking at these beautiful people wearing their glitz and glamour. I picked the ones that deserved my fashion ooos and ahhs.

First off, I have of course picked the star of the night, Nicole Kidman. Her black dress by Azzaro is oh so simple and classical, yet still makes Nicole look glamorous with that diamond-studded straps around her collar bones. The fabric looks like velvet, which is a major fabric in the coming fall/winter season.

The back of the dress is even more glitzy and sleek than the front. What does Nicole think of her dress? 'It's so tight I can hardly breathe,' she whispered to one journalist.

One cannot help but admire how Nicole manages to still look beautiful in such a simple dress. And seriously, even the pony tail looks shiny, sleek and glamourous on her. How unfair is that?

Right, moving on from Nicole. Vanity Fair editor, and the evening's host, Graydon Carter with his wife-to-be Anna Scott. Her dress is very pretty and this season. It follows the whole ethnic trend, (African/Moroccan/random ethnic inspired prints.)

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer looking very glitzy. It's always the supermodels who look so effortlessly gorgeous.

Another model, Lauren Bush looking pretty in a simple black dress, complimented with one of the favourite accessories this season -a sequined cardigan. Sequined cardigans are great for mix and match for nights out and the LA style. I advice all readers to go get one themselves!

Beware of Acid Washed Jeans

This weekend, we went to Nordstroms to return my friend's AG Legend Jeans. She returned it not because she'd changed her mind or anything (she's had it for a few months now), but because it RIPPED! Yes, you read correctly, her $130+ jeans RIPPED when she was sitting down, and trust me, it's NOT because she didn't fit into it.

And the most amazing thing was, she was not the only one to have her $100+ pair of gorgeous jeans rip. The lady in front of us at the counter had the same problem with her newly bought and hadn't even washed Rock and Republic Jeans!

Clearly the ripping of the expensive jeans is not an uncommon phenomena. You'd think a pair of $100+ would not to rip at any time-imagine the potential embarassing moments! As it turns out, the lady at the counter explained to us that it ripped because of the huge amount of acid they'd used to create the acid washed effects on the jeans, which had weakened the material. My faith in $100+ jeans just dropped. Incidently, Nordstrom has excellent service, as they returned the money of my friend's jeans even though she'd already lost the receipt and the tags.

Hairstyle Trends Spring/Summer 2005 II: Braids

Another major hairstyle trend this season is the braid. If you read fashion magazines often enough, then you will probably thinking, aren't braids claimed to be 'in' all the time? Well, like many other trends, braids can be styled differently and look very different with different complimentary fashion.

This season, the braids come in two main styles: one that is Swiss influenced and another that is for the hobo Amazon look. Main fashion houses campaigning this look are Moschino and Galliano.

Moschino. All the models were wearing this hairstyle in the Moschino catwalk, (sometimes topped with a cute hat.)

Moschino. One of the key to this look is DON'T be too neat!
Tips from hair genius David Cruz:
"Draw a messy center part and make a braid behind each ear. Cross both plaits over your head and secure them with bobby pins. Set with hairspray."

Ashley Olsen attending the recent Zac Posen fashion show in NY. You will notice that her hair, while messy enough to be chic, still remains her normal elegant style.

Galliano. The Galliano take on braids is the boho Amazon look. Make a few random thin braids and tie them in a seemingly messy direction.

Galliano. The Galliano look is more wild, fun and youthful -just the typical crazy Galliano fashion you can always count on.

Betsy Johnson Samsung e315

Flicking through Teen Vogue the other night I came across this. . .


. . the newest designer mobile: the Betsy Johnson e315 by Samsung. Covered with Betsy's signature rose pattern with screensavers drawn by Betsy, this new design practically emanates the coming of the spring/summer. The bright floral design is definitely very cute and this season.
But unfortunately for Betsy, the Anna Sui design is hard to beat. Despite the darker more wintery colors, this Anna Sui mobile is ultimately more sophisticated, ladylike, girly, chic and timeless. And the matching phone chain is very cute indeed. For a staggering $249US I would prefer something I can use for more then one season. . . .

Short Trends Spring/Summer 2005

By shorts, I mean pants that run above the knee-just to be clear you know. Terms nowadays are SO confusing. Back on the topic of shorts, the era of super tight short shorts are over(thank god), being replaced by well tailored, ladylike, loose bermuda shorts! And just in case you were wondering, the official definition of bermuda shorts according to dictionary.com is: Short pants that end slightly above the knee. Also known as Jamaica shorts.
As you can see, well tailored and loosely fitted bermuda shorts are very prominent on the catwalk this season, featuring in the Zac Posen and Carolina Herrera show. Note how both are matched in a very ladylike manner with a tucked in blouse. And yes, white is very hot this season. So hot that simply looking at certain catwalk photos are blinding (check out Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 05).

For those of yor who want to go short, go short the Dries Van Noten/Prada way. Never super short and stylishly cut to loosely fit. And add a ladylike touch to them with stylishly cut blazers!

And take shorts to the next season with these dark and unique creations from Diane von Furstenberg and Chloe. I love these from DvF, I love the color, the cutting and the way they matched it- with a distinctly safari flair. And no wonder really, Bermuda is a group of islands off in the Atlantic! And these Chloe ones, with rolled up hem and the row of three button lends it a sophistication that makes it perfect for the fashionable office look. And their dark colors makes them much more resistant to the change of season, unlike the very light colored and distinctly summery shorts shown above.

And off the catwalk these tailored, loosely fitted and very detailed shorts go on Ashley Olsen. Love how she mixes it with such casual hoodie and flip flops (well. . maybe not those flip flops. . not that color anyway).


For the classical bermuda shorts, I am loving this ones from Armani Exchange.
For more of a twist, try these blue striped ones from American Eagle. Blue stripes are all the thing this season after all.

I used to have this idea that shorts looked really trashy and all (back in the short shorts days) so I only wore them for gym class. But I love the short trends this season, its just soo ladylike and stylish! Match them up with sandals, heels, flats and flip flops and your ready to go! And maybe sneakers if you are going for the shorter ones and have real long legs. Must go shopping!

Time 2005 list of the Most Influential People of the 20th Century: Miuccia Prada

Every year (starting from 1999), Time magazine produces a speical edition called "The Most Influential People of the 20th Century." Within this list of 100 people, 20 of them are categorised as "Artists & Entertainers." I was very excited to read that in the 2005 issue, one of my favourite designers, Miuccia Prada, has made it on the list!!

The magazine says Miuccia:

• "...provoked and influenced colleagues for years with her eccentric and highly personal sensibility."
• "Three seasons ago she launched the frumpy Fifties housewife look, which would rule other designers' runways for several seasons..."
• "In February she stunned the colour-happy fashion industry with an all black collection. Which means that, for now at least, black is the new black."

I'm so glad that Miuccia is finally getting the global regonistion she deserves. Many times, esp to people who are not familiar to the fashion world, people love to throw around big names such as "Oooh, you know, like Gucci and Prada." Admit it, that phrase must have occured in a conversation at some point of your life. Even the authors of this blog admit we have shamelessly said it, (before actually learning about the fashion world that is.) What people generally don't realise is that, a brand such as Prada is important not just because it is expensive, but also because the designers behind the brand like Miuccia & team, have the ability to continuously bring the fashion world foward. To put out new artistic standards for thousands of other fashion companies to follow.

Creative Director of Prada and founder of Miu Miu, Miuccia Prada had a very unfashion-related youth. She rebelled from family tradition to study Political Sciences, and was a member of the Communist Party, and campaigned for women's rights in the Seventies Milan. In 1985, she designed the classical black nylon Prada bags, which we all now know Prada by. Together with her husband, Patrizio Bertelli, who is responsible for the business aspect, have lead Prada to become an international conglomerate.

Read more about Miuccia's life here.

More iPod Cases

We weren't going to talk about iPod cases for awhile, but I saw this very unique collection and wasn't sure how long they will be available for sale, so I thought I must bring it up. This collection is like no other iPod cases I have seen before. It is highly artistic and definately worth having a look.

The original i-Pod case by GAS x YOSHIDA, with graphical prints are designed by 10 selected artists. Price : US = 110USD + delivery fee; EUR = 100EUR + delivery fee.

Some of the best:

By Adorn.

By Genevieve Gauckler.

By The Boo's.

By MoOog Yamamoto.

You can order them at the official website.

C Label Shoes

This friday after class my girlfriends and I went on a 10 hour trip downtown to shop, eat and shop some more. I had an aim, and was completely going to buy these very cool pair of Diesel wedges at Bloomies- but when I was waiting for them to get me my size, I randomly tried on these pair of gold ballet flats for fun and BAM- lightning strikes and I was in love.

And who wouldn't fall in love with these GORGEOUS C Label gold sequinned ballet flats called Lady Licorice?? I swear it was meant to be! The display one was my size and fitted perfectly. It looks very cool with the gold sequinces peeking out of my jeans AND it looks gorgeous and elegant on its own with a skirt! So in the end, I gave up all- the diesel wedges- for my true love.

C Label is a california based label launched by designer Chai Vasquez, with the aim being of romance and elegance (no wonder I am so in love with it). It is a very small and relatively new brand (i.e. not a lot of information was found on it) but can be found at various department stores like Bloomies, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus and online too at shopbop. Here are some of C label's other designs.

Peppermint DollTernuraModelo 3

As you can see, their shoes are very unique without looking weird, ladylike and elegant with a distinctly LA flair. Definitely a brand to watch out for!