Music: No Age @ Lobot

(Crowd at No Age show @ Lobot in Oakland)

I've never been able to define who I am or what group I fit best in. I try to think of myself as someone that doesn't ever really fit the mold. Some people complain about what people talk about when they are at any kind of show, but you can't help but do so. The people there have a lot to do with the vibe that is given and what the show might end up being like.


I was trying to look around to find someone with really great fashion taste. Anything that was unique, like a pin or brooch, how they tied their scarf; anything. But instead, I just saw a sea of thrift store clothing that smelled like they just bought it that afternoon. There is a certain way a show smells sometimes. It's a mix of an old stale attic with old dusty clothes and body odor that has been sitting around for 3 days that doesn't get washed. *plugs nose*

I love thrift store shopping. I find the coolest jewelry, belts and old granny sweaters, but I don't wear it like it that's were I bought it from. There is a huge difference between the two. I like going to a thrift store for the hunt. I'm not there to look for an outfit that should have never been produced in the 80s.

There was a few girls that I found in the crowd that dressed really well. One in particular had a fedora hat, white wife beater and jeans. Her makeup was definitely inspired by Amy Winehouse and she looked cool and collected together. It didn't look like she was trying to hard to impress anybody, which is something that everyone should do.


Considering this was my first warehouse show in Oakland. It was great. It reminded me of how I was when I was a teen; going to 3 or more shows a week for no more than $5 each. It was a really fun time in life when you didn't need to worry about anything. *sigh* Good times.

Who's in?

(Kate Lanphear, Senior Fashion and Style Editor at Elle Magazine)

So NY fashion week is only 5 weeks away...

And there are a few ways to get into the tents during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC without being someone like Kate Lanphear or Carine Roitfeld. You could actually be a volunteer by emailing

MBFW_Volunteers@imgworld.com.

JOBS!

Everything for me has been working out a little better since the move. I got offered 2 different positions for two major corporations in the fashion industry. I'm crossing my fingers on getting either of them. I can't do my job for any longer. I know it pay extremely well, but I just need to get over it and take a new beginner position with what I really actually want to do.

I'll give you guys updates on what happens!

NY sweatshops get raided!

Why am I not surprised that these major clothing companies are manufacturing their clothing in sweatshops?

According to WWD, "An investigation conducted by the New York State Department of Labor has uncovered significant labor violations at a factory manufacturing garments for Macy’s, Gap, Banana Republic, Express, Victoria's Secret, Limited and Coldwater Creek."

I'm so glad that I don't endorse any of these companies any more.

Project Runway: Season 5 Episode 2

(Natalie Portman in one of her shoe designs for Te Cesan.)

I loved seeing Natalie Portman as a guest judge on the second episode of this season's PR. I'm glad they choose Suede's outfit... only because it was a lot more thought out and innovative. I still did really love how Kenley's dress had a high neck. It was a close call between the two.

I hate it when I see designers on that show go into the next round because they choose to do something "safe." If you want something safe, go try and design for the GAP. We are looking for the next best designer in America... not someone that makes something that belongs in a suburban mall.

Newspapers becoming magazines?!

Is this all backwards?

First magazines are worried about online based publications, so they build their own... now newspapers (such as The Chronicle and L.A. Times) are afraid of magazines, so they make their own as well? What is going on here?

While I was at work yesterday, I was given insider info by an employee of The Chronicle that they are planning to branch off and add on a glossy magazine based on the newspaper. "A coffee magazine," the resource explained, because more people are able to touch a monthly magazine compared to a daily paper.

Now, I check up on WWD saying that The L.A. Times is doing the same? I have to admit that The NY Times Style Magazine is great (especially when they exclusively posted Daphne Guinness' short film) but it doesn't mean these publications will end up being the same.

Since The Chronicle is making this move... maybe I should try to join in on the fun?

(;

Obession #2: Jackets!

(From Style.com)

There are 2 different items I would break the bank for... first (and always) would be a nice pair of shoes. Second... is jackets. My collection is pretty extensive, yet less cluttered now because of my move. One of my favorite investments on coats (technically all of them are my favorites) is this Marc Jacobs Collection jacket from Spring 2005. I loved the whole collection from that season and still do. The collection represents how I dress always... vibrant colors and knee-length dresses. I am still looking around for the green version of this jacket, but even though its about 3 years old... it's still expensive when I find it. As if it was selling while it's in it's current season. I've been wearing jackets pretty often because SF weather is so cool and I'm not use to summers being so cool all the time.



One of my favorite things about this jacket is the hand sewn detailing. It looks like it was knitted but in fact, the different shades of pink are actually blocks of thin yarn sewn to give the knitted effect.

Castro...

I've been living all over the place in SF. So for the past month.... I've been staying in the Castro. Right in the heart of it and I love it. There's so much going on and I'm going to be really sad when I leave.

To get an internship...

Requires you to already have internship experience. Is that crazy? How long am I suppose to be working for free here? I mean, I'm totally fine about that... but I require the requirements are just insane. It's already hard enough to get into the industry, but how am I suppose to be working for free for like 2 years...

I get really excited around this time of year because there are a ton of internship postings for Fall at all of the notorious magazines in your nation. But when I found out that our fashion bible, WWD had an intern opening for fashion/accessories... I wanted to be able to apply...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Ed2010.com posting:)

W Magazine fall '08 accessories interns

Job/Internship type:

Unpaid Internship

Company/Publication Name:

W Magazine

Location:

New York, NY

Description:

The Accessories Department at W Magazine is seeking motivated, responsible,
hard-working interns for the fall 2008 semester. This is an unpaid position
in which you must receive college credit. Full-time (4-5 days a week)
interns needed.

Interns will participate in a variety of projects, which may include:

• Manifesting accessories and cataloging designer samples
• Liaising with PR and showroom contacts
• Completing daily administrative tasks and projects
• Assisting with photo shoots

Internships are for students in their junior or senior year in college
majoring in fashion, journalism or merchandising management. Previous
internship experience in the fashion industry is a must. Internship
requires long hours and if interested in this opportunity please coordinate
school schedules accordingly.
Posted 7/6/08.

Contact:

Please email your resume and cover letter to sheena_smith@condenast.com. For immediate consideration please apply as soon as possible. No phone calls please!

OK to mention Ed?:

Yes

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Living in the best city in California now, just seems like a joke because everything else really great is on the other side of the country.

Armani Prive goes back... waay back.

Armani went back in history when he reinvented the pantsuit for women in the 80's for his Fall 2008 Armani Prive Collection. I'm a huge fan of Giorgio Armani but I have to be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of his collection this season. Don't get me wrong, there are a ton of pieces that look very classic; something that you can own forever and it will still be in style that any women would love to own but it seems like he was keeping it too safe with his looks for this season. His collection consisted of plenty of elegant and easy pantsuits that were updated for the modern women of today.

It's weird to see this shift in the fashion industry because if you notice the gowns worn at the Costume Met Gala not so long ago, there were a lot of gowns that were "safe and pretty", there were very few people that took risks that night, which was very disappointing to see.

There was one look that Katia Kokoreva had on runway that stood out to me. Simple long black dress with black and white details along the design of the dress. The cut of the dress around her body makes me feel a little nervous for her to accidentally get a "nip-slip" but it shows that Armani is still can be a little more scandalous with his always classic and chic designs.

(All images from www.style.com)

Classic Elegance with a twist at Dior.

Designer John Galliano opened Couture Fashion Week for Fall 2008 in Paris with Christian Dior Haute Couture. The show displayed knee-lengthed 50's inspired circle skirts, tulle dance dresses and architectural cut dresses. Even though this show oozes Galliano's signature, this show seems to keep safe compared to past extravagant shows. All pieces are very wearable; like something you can actually wear everyday (only if you could afford couture, of course).

One of my favorite pieces in the show were the flapper inspired hats. I've always adored the hats that were worn by models at the Dior Couture shows, but a lot of them were not wearable for everyday, but every single one that was worn at this show, I could definitely see myself wearing. If you look very closely to the detailed shots, there are very subtle details to all the hats that make them truly unique.




Also, the shoes for the show were to die for. All of them were sky-high shoes that were caged with diamond studded triangular heels. The camel suede shoes with the bow detail in the back looks fatal because someone looks like they can really get hurt if they fell in a air of those walking anywhere.



My absolute favorite was the last breath-taking look on the runway. I love how the details connect with how the dress is designed and made. On the bottom of the dress looks like a fan pattern made of sequins, but the corset portion of the gown makes it look like a completely different pattern.

(All images from www.style.com)