LOVE LIST | Denim Dresses & How To Wear

 CHALAYAN BLACK dress / SMYTHSON clutch / TIBI boots / KAREN WALKER sunglasses / A.V. MAX rings

PROENZA SCHOULER dress / ZARA clutch / ACNE cardholder / ALEXANDER WANG heels / HIPP X RGB polish / GATHERING EYE collar

WOOD WOOD dress / THEORY vest / 3.1 PHILLIP LIM bag / MODERN VICE boots / EDDIE BORGO ring / SAINT LAURENT PARIS sunglasses Today, I had some fun playing polyvore dress up with one of my favorite summer pieces, the denim dress. Though it is a piece that I have yet to own, denim dresses are appealing because they can be lightweight, comfortable and airy, and come in as many washes are your pairs of jeans.  Above are what I would probably pair the short sleeve, long sleeve, and sleeveless dresses with--from the most love worthy boots by Tibi and Modern Vice to cool clutches and minimalistic hardware. What's your summer uniform? xx INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN' | FACEBOOK

MENSWEAR SS14 | Paris Round-up

I think it's safe to say that Paris is blessed with the best menswear lineup. So as I dragged looks upon looks onto my desktop in hope of blogging them and having two separate posts of a total of 10 PFW favorites, it occurred to me that my timing would be a little off. I try to be punctual with my runway posts because they are such time-based things and I don't want you guys to be getting old (/stale/irrelevant) news. Therefore, I took it upon myself to exercise my judgment and editing skills--although, try as I might, refining my top favorites was extremely difficult. But here they are, a total of 6 of my favorite collections from Paris menswear.

 HAIDER ACKERMANN

The response to Ackermann's womenswear (literally, check the most recent seasons, to die for) speaks volumes about the odd universality of his aesthetic and his catering to style spectators who lust for his pieces. The same goes for his menswear--we continue to get that impeccable tailoring, signature loose fits, and rich palette in his ss14 pieces. I'm really digging the juxtaposition of the different textures as well as the dark and light hues. Give me the entire look on Cole Mohr and Paul Boche's pants, please.

 KRIS VAN ASSCHE

If you've been reading my mini reviews for the last month or so, you'll probably see the common denominator of my love for clean cuts. Especially when paired with boxy sleeves and done in solid hues of darks, brights, and whites, sharply tailored pieces make me ache for a no-fuss man's wardrobe stocked full of KvA. I love the highlight of the zipper details throughout, as well as the color choice--really loving the forest green and cerise (I just looked up this color, it's stunning). 

3.1 PHILLIP LIM If you want to talk about wearability, let's discuss 3.1 Phillip Lim. From the glimmering patched moto vest to the floral pullover, this collection screamed everything I wanted for spring. The plastic buckle detailing and otherwise minimal hardware kept me focused on the amazing garments. The iridescent beetle sheen of that bomber jacket and those serape-esque pants are killing me. 

DIOR HOMME Wow, Kris van Assche can do no wrong. The minimal palette of plum/aubergine, blue hues, and black was perfect for me. Although I was a bit bored at times, different details caught my eye as I clicked through the collection. I clearly saw Mondrian references (I'm sure Cathy Horyn probably saw something else) and they definitely solidified my love for this collection. Also, can we talk about the insane venue and runway/set? (pictures)

LANVIN Man shorts are such a thing. Although this was a man-shorts-a-plenty collection, I zoned in on the amazing outerwear pieces. Oversized overcoats and loosely cut trousers were paired with ultracool details like sleek fanny packs (yeah, I know) and sleek skinny ties. The murse in the fourth look is also kind of amazing. Overall, a very sophisticated and modern collection for the contemporary menswear man. Claps for Alber!!!

JUUN J
When I reblogged the "jersey" pullover in the second look on tumblr, it didn't occur to me that it was from the most recent collection by one of my favorite Korean designers. The marbled look and the 3-D surface print are everyone's favorite LPD tees to the next level. Voluminous shirts of exaggerated oxfords and trumpet sleeves were a comical yet fitting contrast to the short shorts on the models.  That navy coat with the collar and hood will probably haunt me in my dreams--along with that beautifully ghostly baby Kristin McMenamy with twig antlers.  images via style.com & thefashionisto.com THIS CONCLUDES my menswear coverage for the Spring Summer 2014 season, hope you enjoyed!  Click "RUNWAY" on the sidebar to see the rest of my reviews. xx INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN' | FACEBOOK

RESORT 14' II

 ROCHAS

To be honest, I was uninterested in the first half of this collection but the dresses later on caught my attention. A dress that could otherwise be very "grandma" was slit up the thigh with a tiny belt, adding an instant chic factor. I'm also obsessed with the fantastic paper-like texture on that green skirt and the volume of the pink dress. Lastly--I will never get over my obsession of orange and purple/blue, it's one of my favorite color pairings.

 BALENCIAGA

Mr. Wang did another cool black and white job this season. Drawing from what appears like Balenciaga heritage, he successfully executed pieces with round silhouettes, strong drapery, and controlled volume like the stunning dresses and separates throughout. The fringey sandals and hats are growing on me too...

3.1 PHILLIP LIM

I literally had to sort down my favorite looks to 6 in this collection; everything was just so incredibly wearable and appealing. I loved the overall athletic look in the pieces, from the boxy look of the short sleeves on the shift dresses to the track pants and bermudas (sheer...so perfect). I was also astounded by the color palette, which spanned from amalgamation of brights to all neutrals in a flawless manner. Also, the accessories are so on point--give me those blue sandals ASAP. 

CALVIN KLEIN

I always look forward to what Costa does every season as a minimalist. I am always intrigued by the way he seamlessly incorporates hardware into his designs; last seasons large, pilgrim-esque belts were replaced by thin, refined buckles for this collection. The collection just makes me want to wear crop tops ad loose maxi skirts everywhere I possibly can for the summer. Bravo. 

images via style.com

xx

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NYFW | FW13 part III

 RODARTE

An abundance of sumptuous layers and unconventional silhouettes were the stars of this collection. I loved the play on volume and texture with the waterfall of fabric and the contrast of those angular white panels. I was confused by the tattoo socks though (you reading this, JD? haha) but it was generally intriguing and interesting to look at this collection and just wonder.

 3.1 PHILLIP LIM

This season, Phillip Lim once again doled out a selection of finely tailored pieces, each extremely wearable to say the least. I could see most of the 18-25 in NYC wearing these simple yet sophisticated pieces, from the pink paneled coat to the patch trousers in the last look. The piping gave an almost cartoon-like quality to the pieces, which were styled together so well. I can't really say much other than the fact that it's very cool, very chic, and that I get really great vibes from this collection. 

VERA WANG I loved the presence of volume and structure throughout this collection. The jewel tones and numerous  embellishments splashed throughout the bodices and skirts were beautiful against a dark and muted tones. Also, can we talk about those necklines? Perfect balance of high, low, and in-between.

THEYSKEN'S THEORY Most of the pieces that I took away from Theysken's collection were the ones with interesting surfaces. Quilted and embossed textures breathed life into otherwise basic shifts. The final dress really stood out to me--the round exaggerated hips and that incredible pearly corrugated texture really spoke to Theysken's idea of looking to the "future." 

THOM BROWNE Inconceivably cool and mind-boggling is the best way to summarize Thom Browne's fairy-tale, out-of-this-world aesthetic. We can always count on Browne to take traditional silhouettes and blow them to exaggerated proportions, yet successfully execute a hauntingly beautiful array of romantic pieces. The look of tattered lace and the abundance of fire-engine red florals on white and gray were absolutely stunning. 
images via style.com
xx
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PRE-FALL '13 Love

Last season (ss13), I barely had time within my school schedule to keep track of all the fabulous collections, let alone blog about them. Fortunately, this break, you will see me blogging some of my favorite pre-fall looks this season! 

MICHAEL KORS The thing I loved the most about this collection was the paradoxical subtle yet obvious reference to the mid 20th century. Of course, being the All-American dresser, Kors succesfully injected a sense of high fashion into his very wearable pieces. The bold, voluminous silhouettes and the luxurious pairings of textures made this collection one of my favorites. 

3.1 PHILLIP LIM You can always count on Phillip Lim to carry out beautifully simple pieces that speak with voices of their own. There is a perfect balance between soft and hard with the casual drapery and the structured shoulders and sleeves. I also loved how he was able to bring so many different elements into cohesion in this collection-from the western motifs and minimalistic silhouettes to utilitarian outerwear pieces and stunning digital prints.

BCBG MAX AZRIA Personally, there was an understated femininity in Azria's collection; it may have been a little difficult to sense it at first but after viewing the whole collection, one can fluidly see how it runs throughout. From the undulating ruffles to the delicate bell sleeves and sheer panels, the collection translated girly elements into mature elegance. 

ERDEM I was truly intrigued by this collection's juxtaposition of strict geometric elements with organic representations of nature. The bright colorblocking was amazing when paired with delicate lace and the later pieces splattered in bright floral prints and covered in large paillettes were phenomenal as well.

DKNY Donna Karan's pieces spoke loudly of stylistic sensibility and no-fuss dressing this season. Columnar tunics and coats and structured outerwear have me wanting to dress as simply as possible!

PRABAL GURUNG Once again, Prabal executed an unbelievably gorgeous collection of streamlined elegance. The tailored structure of all his pieces are further beautified by the splash of digital floral prints on skirts and trousers with soft sheen. 

OPENING CEREMONY The pure wearability of these pieces were what initially drew me in. Each of the pieces, from the abstract graphic on the blue dress to the flounce of the skirts' hems, conveyed a strong statement to bold dressers. 
images via style.com
More soon! xx
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