LibraStar's Journal: Second week of school

It's been a while since I last posted, it has finally became a reality that I am now living, breathing, sharing, learning everyday the thing that I have always loved - Fashion Design. I feel that overwhelming passion and excitement which seems so childish and naive but so right at the same time. I never thought that my homework could be something I actually want to do even without anyone asking me to - do a trend report on NYFW, go shopping in my favorite area in nyc and write up a market report, make sketches of figures and tear off inspirational pictures from fashion magazines. 

Also, I have been really enjoying the fashion sighting around me - my classmates, people I pass by everyday around the school area, they all have a distinct look of style that really shows individuality. Like today in class I saw this girl who was wearing a long black double-breasted vest and black leather laced-up ankle boots, she was wearing a thin white tee which was only showing slightly at the armhole. The look was so striking and chic I couldn't help but peeked a few times in class. She told me that she got it from Urban Outfitters - from the picture on the site it really didn't look that impressive, I swear it looked much better on that girl as a one piece with the laced up ankle boots!!

Anyway, I will try harder to post more frequently and share my thoughts and inspirations from time to time. 

Antwerp Fashion Show 2007

A follow up on the Fashion Show, a video by Diane Pernet, just a glimpse of what's going on in the prestigious student show.

There are also more detailed videos about the show here (too many videos so I am not going to post here)

Maxi Dress

I am quite surprised as I actually started to take a closer look at this Maxi Dress (very long dress) style that I see Nicole Rickie wearing a lot of times. It struck me that how a petite frame can actually carry this long flowy style - and all the sudden I remember one day when I was in the hair salon a petite girl with some gorgeous tan walks in with this beige maxi dress which look absolutely breathtaking. I wish I had a camera on and was brave enough to take pictures of her at that time. So since then I am slowly convinced that it is a style that I would try in the near future.

I went on looking for one but its not an easy task. Ones from T-bags (which they are almost specilized in making these printed maxi dress) are like $200+ a flock. Then I went to ASOS and saw some really cheap print design version of the maxi dress and I couldn't made myself to buy it just to try the style. But there is this leopard print maxi dress that looks really sensual on the model, I was so tempted to buy it but I am not sure if I could carry it well, or have any place that I could wear it and not get harassed. What do you think of the style?

LibraStar's Journal: Back to School!

When was the last time I got excited saying this? Excited about getting a step ahead to my dream, I got this new styling idea -

Top - H&M black and metallic stripy t-shirt dress
Trouser - Giorgio Armani (got it from a mad sale in Hong Kong about 10 years ago, never worn it once) light gray see through pants.
Heels - Nine West white patent heels
Belt - (No brand) Thick black leather belt
Bag - (No brand) Orange soft leather bag from Hong Kong

Holy smokes...what a dress, what a woman

Can't put this in word, this is just a stunning look! (from Diane's blog)

Love the color, love the fabric, love stam!

Spotted some great Dior ads, really love this new stuff from Dior, look so much like Gucci from the Tom Ford era but i can still see the doll like style that Galliano specialized in. Love that clingy second skin like fabric that just glides on the body, the green tube dress with the back skirt detail is so amazing...

Show me your style : Fashion IV

Still with small audiences and participators and under development but I found a few looks at Fashion IV that are quite daring and captivating. Such beauties and style like lilyofthevalley (first one) and Frankincense (second two) are definitely great inspirations.

Antwerp Royal Acadamy of Fine Arts

Stay Tuned!

Fab Denim

Where do they make awesome denim like the one shown here?? I would love to have a pair that is in a darker inkier wash, lighter wash is hard for petite girls to pull off especially if the thigh and calves proportion is just slightly off the perfect slender scale. This jeans would be really cute too if it is tapered.

Another Great Video from Hyères

This video is even better than the other ones I have found previously. This has more commenting from the judges and people involved in the Festival, as well as my two favorite designers Sandra and Peter talking a little bit about their design and inspiration - I absolutely adore Sandra! Her sheepish smile with incredibly high cheekbone and cute Swedish accent when she speaks english - probably contribute a lot to the reason why everybody in the Fashion and Photography Festival had a crush on her ;) (as the commenter said). Enjoy the Vid!

Les pieds dans la mode - Hyères 2007
Uploaded by lespiedsdanslamode

Parsons AAS Student Fashion Show

As a future attendee, I checked out the May Student Fashion Show (papierdoll). I guess it's hard to judge by looking at a few snapshots in the photo gallery, but I have to say the images did very little for me. Maybe I was hoping for a little more originality and sophistication in tailoring that could rival Antwerp Royal Academy, but not much gives me a hint of scholarly attitude in forming a concept, theme, or establishing a signature style. I do recognize some good craftsmanship that is looks very commercial (in a good way, as McQueen said), practical and luxurious, which is a signature strength for New York designers.

All in all I am still really excited and looking forward to my new venture. I believe that the school will provide sufficient knowledge and the outcome really depends on inspirations and hard work.

Color + Fabric

There seems to be a leading force which favors design with color blocks in geometrical shapes over Victorian style print, or any other pattern type prints. Like Emilio Pucci's Fall 07 design (bottom 1st), and Marni's classic style (bottom 2nd, Miss Castiglioni looking absolutely adorable) neutral color blocks (left). From the "Oracle" of the fashion industry, Lady Miucia said that "The only thing I could think of was to work on color and materials", giving the idea that fabric and color are the two main elements that defines what's "current". Her Fall 07 line (bottom 3rd and 4th) mixed in the synthetic material, bright with neutral color and some gradient effects. Jonathan Saunder, a london designer who also did quite a similar interpretation with colors and gradient (last two), but I prefer the more subtle and retrained version from Prada.

The Norma Effect

I have been meaning to post this but was holding back by my workload recently. Anyways on my kind of recent trip to Vancouver I discovered my new interests in Everlast by Norma Kamali. She is a FIT alum who created a sensational sleeping bag coat in the 70s (wore by Chrissy Turlington here) which does make quite a statement that she is not just creating everyday casual wear, but casual wear made out of real silk parachutes material and gym jersey clothing that can be worn in 30+ ways. Kamali is experimental with her fabric while keeping her design functional and sleek.

She has made a subtle but captivating come back with her new line with Everlast. My first encounter with her design was in this nice boutique store in Vancouver downtown, Jonathan & Olivia, a sleek black turtle neck 3/4 sleeves dress, which looks really demure and reminds me of those sexy wetsuits for surfing, then i found the stunner point - it has a full open back! I quickly tried it on and it looks even more amazing on the body. The polyester material gives the right amount of stretch and weight, which hugs the body perfectly. There was no way I could resist the dress even though I had to go broke and sell my older clothes on ebay. ;)

There are some other design which I found intriguing, such as the green one shoulder dress and the kimono sleeves one shoulder dress below. There are certainly not everyday dresses but they are so unique and stylish.

The Timeless Silhouette

I have this image in my blog folder for quite sometime. The classic Roland Mouret dress from Fall 2005, has a very 1950s European style to it. It is such surgically body enhancing piece that really sculpt your body the right way. Looking at the voluminous blouses and dresses and all these emperor waisted style that are all concealing the curviness of the body figure, I find myself always going back to the body enhancing pieces, maybe adding the edgier, funkier element with a pair of unique heels, bold accessories, and captivating makeup.

The End of Hyères 07!

I am happy to say that Two of my favorite designer (that I mentioned from my previous post) Sandra Backlund and Peter Bertsch won the First Price and 123 Price respectively!

check out the video:

Festival International de Mode et de Photographie in Hyères

The International competition for the new fashion and photography talents is happening in the South of France! From the look of a few shots on Diane's blog I see some really exciting new designs that is absolutely innovative and refreshing - so far I am liking Peter Bertsch "Bionic" collection from Belgium (first 2 images on the bottom) and of course that "McQueen of kitwear" Sandra Backlund "Ink Blot Test" Sweden (last 3 images on the bottom - I have already blogged her twice, Knit gone wild and When art is fashion).

I am looking forward to see more new shots, and if I can find my way to a good source for the event I will definitely post it here!

The New York Bubble - Katy Rodriguez

Last week I saw a whole rack of super super bubbly dresses in Resurrection in Soho. My first thought was - its a bit costumy... however, the calculated twist of the fabric made this bubble dress look very artsy and extraordinary. At that time I didn't quite know the socialites/celebs new fav designer Katy Rodriguez.

Last night I reread my W mag and quickly spotted that "Bubbly" dress on socialite/model Lydia Hearst. I must say that dress look quite stunning against her porcelain skin tone. Another one is on Stylish Rachel Zoe. I can't say I like her style but that dress she is wearing looks very cute too, that would be a great color for tanned skin tone.

Edit: I just found out (after further research on Katy) that she is the owner of vintage cult fav store Resurrection - this gem to me is like a vintage museum because they only sell really good quality suits and gowns like YSL, Jean Paul Gautier, Pucci, Alaia...etc.

Innovative Pattern Cutting - Romina Karamanea

Showcasing beautiful designs by London fashion designer Romina Karamanea (originates in Athens). She did Fashion Design and Product Development at Nottingham Trent University, then she went to Central Saint Martin for Innovative Pattern Cutting.

I can clearly see the Innovative Pattern Cutting directly applied in her recent collection (which is my favorite by far). And I have to say first thing that captured my eyes is really the stunning Fashion Photography! The blood red jewel toned satin cut in an architectural shapes, with just the right amount of stiffness which complements with the fluidity and luster of the fabric, on the skin that seem like an immortal (or corpse like). I could really stare at this photo forever...and the longer I stare the image reminds me of the movie "sin city". There is definitely a common feel to the color and mood manipulation between the two.

The Impeccable Tailoring

I have really been quite disappointed (and uninspired) with the recent stuff that came down on the major runway, by major I mean the stuff that you can look through style.com, or any major fashion mags like Vogue or Harper Bazaar (at least the US ones). Therefore it is absolutely essential to look at some of the most influential blogs like "Diane, A Shaded View on Fashion"(which I have already "advertised" many times), or fashion forums like "The Fashion Spot". These places you will find a lot of insider's information and materials that will only come out in the major mags few months later, or they wouldn't come out at all because some people in the biz think the advertisements pages are more important.

Anyways, one of the thing i would like to achieve in this blog is to archive some of the designers that really inspire me. I feel like my vision and my taste in this fabric manipulation art has been growing along with my blog. If you back track my entries you see stuff that I pick at first are like easy breezy La Rok, Forty's, and Tracy Reese. But what really inspire me now is the more sober, fluid yet feminine design, and more importantly, is the impeccable tailoring that make a piece deserve a timeless status. I found the Fall/Winter 2007 collection by this Argentinian-French designer Gaspard Yurkievich absolutely captivating. The soft flow cling comfortably on the body, the slim dress pants, mini skirt and blazer with big stripes (fabulous detail on the back of the blazer), beautiful sheer contrast with the satin bow on the chest, and its great that he threw in the more whimsical piece like the crochet + feather tube over the sheer grey blue turtle neck, ends with a bubble mini.