Street Fashion 26/5/09

Location: Dickson College

Lauren

This kid had no idea what was going on. But what a sweet jumper.

Bear Bag

Ancel

Prada Wears The Devil

Dear Amateur Fashion Fans:

I have been waiting for the perfect moment to rant about an atrocity so Ultra Naff, so indescribably stupid, without reason and incredibly self serving that it makes me type like Mike Tyson (I don't know exactly how he types but I can imagine it). 

Many of you, if not all, will be familiar with the super-brand, high end, mostly couture, Italian fashion label Prada. What you probably wont be familiar with (unless you have no life like me)is Prada's signature styles, colours, cuts etc that are 'Pradesque' (my word, not theirs) and therefore immediately trendy. You may also remember this quote from the movie-The Devil Wears Prada.

Andy, the inexperienced assistant annoys Miranda Priestly, the editor of Runway, by calling some haute couture accessories "stuff". Miranda then flawlessly delivers a reply. 

"This... 'stuff'? Oh... ok. I see, you think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select out, oh I don't know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis, it's actually cerulean. You're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar De La Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves St Laurent, wasn't it, who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of 8 different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of stuff."

You just feel like saying ZING! after reading that.

If you haven't seen the movie I highly recommend it even to people who couldn't care less about fashion journalism simply because Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep are amazing, the script is witty and sharp and it even has cool music and a smokin' Adam Grenier from Entourage. 

Anyway, this quote from TDWP sprung to my mind immediately after my eyes were violated by the picture below in the fashion section of the Good Weekend Magazine a few weeks back. 

This is from Prada's 2009 Spring collection Im pretty sure.

I know, right? I just sat there thinking: "Wow, Prada, you can come up with the 2008 Prada Resort collection and then create this monstrosity?

I think I know how it happened:

Some low level shoe designer had a big weekend, then came into work on Monday and got sprung with the memo of a Design Meeting in 5 minutes. So he/she hastily scribbles down the first thing that comes into his/her Sangria-addled brain: Thigh.High.Gumboots.

The designer goes into the meeting and after the boss designer retracts his jaw from the floor he screams at the designer for getting all Sangria-ed the night before the design meeting. Because he/she's scared of loosing their sweet job, the designer meekly lies to the boss that 'its all the rage in Paris'. The Boss freezes for a second and then tells the designer that of course he knew that, he was just testing him/her before snatching away the drawing and making sure that Prada have that thigh high gumboot out ASAP to beat France to the punch (which they rarely do in terms of trends). And the boss adds suspenders, cause France aint gonna think of THAT!

There you have it, the conception of the world's most hideous designer shoe. In reference to the quote from TDWP, I think that Prada is setting an irresponsible example for the fashion industry. It's more than likely that this Ultra Naff design will filter down through the layers of cool and someday descend into our realm of fashion and then who will we have to blame when the 14 years old that shop those kind of trends are walking around in rubber hooker boots? 

What's that you tell me? They already are? No silly, thats just the Supre sales staff.

ZING!

-Beatrice

2009 Australian Beauty Awards

Dear Amatuer Fashion Fans,

You may have glimpsed a post I wrote last night called "2009 T.U.T.A.N.K.H.A.M.U.N Beauty Awards" but on reviewing said post, I realised it was a little self serving and decided to re-edit.

I was flipping through the lastest Cosmopolitan last night when I stumbled upon the glossy spread heralding the start of the 2009 Australian Beauty Awards. This is an annual occurance where experts on beauty from prominent magazines plus industry experts get together and test, evaluate and judge the best beauty products in every possible category from Nail Polish to Anti-Aging cream. It takes two months to do this and if you visit the website (link's in the name) you can have your say about what your favourite beauty products are and you could win a host of cool (beauty) prizes.
Heres a sample of my answers to the 'vote' questionnaire:

Favourite make up colour blush/eye: Blush- Dior Desert Rose, Eye: Any MAC eyeshadow

Favourite Fragrance: Happy Heart by Clinique or Songes by Annick Goutal

Favourite hair styling product/treatment: Tigi Split End Leave-In Conditioner

I reckon you should all check out the website as its fun and easy to vote and the site itself is good for a procrastinating browse

What's your favourite, couldn't-live-without-it beauty product? Comment and let me know!

-Beatrice

Wedding Belles

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a sometimes unhealthy obsession with weddings. 

But let's stop there and clear up what my obsession concerns before I die of judgement from you all. 

Im am in no rush to get married. Entering into the act of marriage for me seems an eternity away (if it even happens) and I'm not going to be one of those women who buys the dress before I meet the man. 

The preparation, the ceremony, reception, clothes, accessories, food, invitations, drinks, party favours, and location are what interests me. I really believe that there are very few more complete ways to piece together the identity of a woman than to look at her wedding. (Having said that I do know that many vibrant couples choose to have low key weddings that do not necessarily reflect their personality as a couple or as a bride).

No two weddings are alike and the whole concept of personal identity shown through every single detail of a person's wedding is what fascinates me, not the idea of marriage itself. 

I have truck-loads of ideas concerning my favourite locations, menus, bridal party attire etc that I could waffle on about for a hundred posts but instead I'm going to focus on one of the key pieces in a wedding, The Bride's Dress (or attire). 

The categories are GOOD, BAD & PLAIN WIERD. Most of them are celebrities in all categories.  I've selected 4 or so dresses in each category. This post is devoted to the 'GOOD' dresses and I hope to address them in a way that even the most cynical, wedding hating person will enjoy (with a bit of pop culture, history and salacious gossip thrown in). 

#1. Perfect for the Occasion

1956   Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier of Monaco 

Prince Rainier of Monaco (a tiny country in Southern France) met Hitchcock  film star Grace Kelly in 1955 he was reportedly hunting for a wife in America as Monaco would revert ownership to France if an heir was not produced during the Prince's reign. Kelly and Rainier married the next year in a lavish, religious ceremony in Monaco, Monaco. In the case of Kelly's marriage into royalty the dress is modest, virginal and innocent while managing to be sickeningly elegant, which is really nothing less than you'd expect from the glamorous film star that Kelly was at the time. The dress was designed and made by the head costume designer for MGM and close friend of Kelly's Helen Rose. 

#2. Perfect for the couple

1971   Mick and Bianca Jagger

 

Even though Bianca Jagger has been quoted as saying "My marriage [to Mick] ended on my wedding day" you can't deny how happy she looks in this photo. I've always loved this photo cause it looks so damn rock'n'roll. Everything from Mick's slightly disheveled suit to Bianca's massive hat and sexy low cut suit kneeling at the altar in their traditional Roman Catholic ceremony scream 'untouchable' and thats what they were at the time. 

Mick met Bianca (maiden name De Macais) a year before this wedding at a Rolling Stones after party and Bianca was 4 months pregnant at the time of the wedding which is probably the reason they got married in the first place). The ceremony took place in St.Tropez in the South of France.

#3. Perfect for the Ceremony

2007  Erica Baxter & James Packer

This photo was taken after the first of the couple's civil ceremonies. This one took place in the Hotel De Ville (or Town Hall) in Antibes (South of France...again). As much as I perceive this marriage to be a bit shifty *cough gold digger cough* I can't deny that Erica's plain white suit is perfect for the occasion of just-slipping-into-the-Town-Hall-to-get-married-with-one-or-two-witnesses (lets not go into the Vera Wang copycat monstrosity she wore for their second celebrity studded civic ceremony). 

I think the sunglasses with the wedding attire might just be a little self indulgent but I do love her choice of flowers, (I just wish I could see her shoes).

So there you have it, next installment: BAD, when wedding attire goes really wrong. 

Which of these weddings has got the best frock? Comment and let me know!

-Beatrice

Thunder Perfect Mind

Im not a massive fan of TV clothes advertisements. Either they come across as too artsy, full of wangst and anorexic models or try to be the opposite and inadvertently have a repellant effect on their viewers, i.e Rivers Ads. 

The same goes for perfume ads (especially print ones). 

Whether they are single page Dolce & Gabbana sex scenes in magazines or Coke addled Burberry waifs on billboards, practically no perfume ads tend to make you actually want to run out and buy the perfume. 

This Prada advertisement, however, is different. 

I still can't remember how I stumbled across 'Thunder Perfect Mind' a 2005 TV ad for Prada's first perfume (probably mindless Youtube surfing) but I can't help loving every single thing about it. Firstly, it stars one of my favourite supermodels, Daria Werbowy and the film/ad has a great, romantic, dreamy 'feel' about it that makes you want to move to France and wear only high heels and lovely, feminine Prada clothes for the rest of your life (highly responsive to advertising, moi?).

'Thunder Perfect Mind' follows Werbowy as she "portray(s) the many intricacies of women" (Boards Magazine, 2005) through various female archetypes-The Virgin, The Mother, The Wife, The Mistress and The Daughter - their paths crossing throughout the film and as Werbowy acts out these roles she reads an ancient Gnostic poem as narration. Sound pretentious already? Wait for this: The ad is actually an excerpt of a short film made by Ridley Scott's daughter and each costume in the film (in addition to the perfect pieces that Werbowy wears) were designed by Muiccia Prada herself (people who don't know who she is need to go out and buy themselves a Vogue). 

I suppose the idea is actually fairly pretentious (archetypes, Ridley Scott etc) and I really should hate it for that, seeing as the whole thing is supposed to be an ad for perfume after all, but one has to be honest; everything from the cinematography to Werbowy's acting skills is Top Class and really makes for a dreamy, romantic 6:01 minutes of escapism into the glamorous world of haute couture. It doesn't make me want to buy the fragrance right now, but it does make me want to watch it again and again and again. Some of my favourite outfits are the yellow chiffon dress, red-lipstick kisses dress and every single one of the trench-coats. Check it out below and let me know what you think in the comments:

Street Fashion 8/5/09

Frazer

Michael

Deb

Location: Dickson College

-Beatrice

Ode to the Silk Scarf

In a world of ugly cult brand handbags, hideous jewellry trends and ugly technology,I truly believe that the perfect accessory and travel companion is the humble silk scarf.

I was first introduced to the usefulness of a silk scarf as a traveller overseas when I was 16. I bought my first silk scarf on Brick Lane which is kind of like Oxford street for antique clothes in London. 

When travelling, a silk scarf becomes invaluable as it doubles as a headband, neck warmer, headscarf, blindfold, necktie, cravat and ties around almost anywhere (be inventive my children). Its a blanket on the train, an eyemask on the plane, hides bad hair days and unsightly love bites and all the while looks chic with almost any type of outfit at any event. Cruising a museum? Cravat. Going out for dinner? Around your bun or pony tail. Driving a convertible? Prevents fly-aways. Shopping? Layered around your wrist. Floaty dress? Cinch and belt it with a twisted scarf. Partying in Ibiza? Its a top! 

Probably one of the best things about silk scarves is their ability to look great no matter what brand (but bonus points if you shelled out for a classic Chanel one). They come in all colours and sizes (mines a quite small royal blue one with a pattern). Silk scarves are pretty much unique in the accessories industry in that the scarves that are the nicest ones (vintage, medium size) usually cost less than the Hermes tragedies with horses all over them. 

You can find silk scarves anywhere. Vinnes usually have a stash but if you're going overseas I really do recommend a visit to Brick Lane or Portobello Road in London to stock up on some really nice, unique vintage scarves (why didn't I buy more than one? WHY).

Here's a picture of my beloved scarf. Sorry for the bad photo quality, I took it on Mac Photobooth.

-Beatrice

Lake Shoot

Went down to the lake with fellow blogger Adrienne this afternoon to get some photos. I kind of had a Gypsyish/Alice In Wonderland theme in mind with focus on dresses with splashes of colour. 

The photos were taken with an SLR so you might have/want to click to see the details.

White Dress: Habitat

Skirt/Petticoat: Target

Shawl worn as belt: Gift

Black Belt: Vintage

Dress: Myer

Silk Scarf: Vintage (used to be Grandmother's)

Dress worn as top: Habitat (same as above)

Skirt: 50s Vintage-From Fete clothing stall

Tea Set: T2

Blanket: Ikea

Suitcase: Vintage

Parasol: Ad's

Pillow: David Jones

Pashmina: NY

Cloak: ?

White Dress: Habitat 

White Dress: Myer

Hat: Dad's

Scarf worn as belt: Vintage

Heels: Ad's

Suitcase: Vintage

(Same as above)

Dress: Miss Shop @ Myer

Silk Scarf: Brick Road, London

(yes, the water was freezing)

(Same as above)

This shot was purely accidental as I was hauling the camera bag over to the waters edge.

Location: Black Mountain Peninsula

Photographer: A. Carey :D

The Ugly Truth: Slogan T-Shirts

When I was in Year 7, I bought at Supre, (yes, thats right, Supre) a red t-shirt with a picture of a factory on it saying "The Stupid Factory: Where Boys Are Made". I thought it was hilarious but you have to understand that I also thought crimping my hair and Simple Plan were the coolest things ever, so there was obviously someone drugging me at the time. Thats one solution to my obvious lack of taste in clothes, hair and music. There is also another explanation- I was 12 when I bought this t-shirt.

Its around this time (Year 7) that kids start to open up their eyes to the world around them and gain opinions and when I did, it just seemed like the greatest idea to publish all my opinions on my chest. I think this was about the time that Supre started to mass produce girly slogan t-shirts (they haven't stopped 5 years later, I checked today). These t-shirts read every inane message from: 'If you think I'm a bitch, you should meet my mother/sister/best friend' etc to 'Princess Drama Queen' and every eloquent witticism in-between.


My best friend had one saying "BLONDE" across the chest (well of course it was written in glitter, its Supre, do you really have to ask?) and together with me and my Stupid Factory t-shirt we thought we were smokin'.


The thing is guys, its 5 years later, and I see these t-shirts still around. And the worst isn't on girls. Its on guys. Come on boys, its pretty easy to dress tastefully if you're male. Granted, Im not, but at least your choice of fashion mistakes is devoid of ultra mini-skirts, Harts dresses and ruched leggings. In all seriousness though (is this blog ever that serious?) its pretty easy to pick out a wardrobe thats not heinous* if you're a guy**.


(*heinous= tasteless slogan t-shirts.)


(**Im talking over the age of 16 here)


Jays Jays is pretty much the main culprit. It's where discarded Threadless designs go to die (not really, I'm sure they have some Judd Apatow-movie loving w**ker in the back room giggling at his creations). These days, Jays Jays seems to specialize in cheap, crass slogan t-shirts that either make you look ignorant, sleazy, alcoholic or a combination of the three.
Here are some prime examples:

(I think this comparison thing that I found is for the purposes of proving how Jays Jays has ripped off the brand/website T-Shirt Hell but its good for my purposes too)

If you can't read it, the top one says:

SAVE THE WALES-but first have sex with a sensitive guy in a 'Save The Wales' t-shirt.

I can see an immature slogan's potential as an ice-breaker/convosation starter in a club or at a party but come on guys, we all know that NONE of these slogans are EVER going to have the desired effect (getting a girl to sleep with you, someone buying you a drink etc) .

At the end of the night, the guy with the Save the Wales t-shirt is going home alone.

Even worse are these Jay Jays t-shirts which are awkward, stupid and useless icebreakers:

Labels like 'Miss Floozy', 'Little Miss Wasted' and 'Miss Bitch' are hardly attractive on a girl. Last time I checked, girls spend alot of time doing damage control to avoid being called these names, so why would you want to wear them on your chest?

I don't think anyone I know would want to be seen with a guy that calls/labels himself 'Mr. Pimp' or 'Mr. Agro'. Girls spend half their time trying to get away from the drunkest guy at the party without the added awkwardness of a labelled shirt and Im pretty sure that the 'Mr. Asshole' tee puts a whole new dimension to 'unapproachable'.

As for 'Mr. Well-Hung', girls have been taught from a young age that if a guy's boasting, there's probably not much downstairs so I don't know how on earth this shirt's going to help you pull.

On girls, the situation used to be alot worse though. My least favourite t-shirt of all time is the classic "MY FACE IS UP HERE" slogan, with an arrow pointing up. Just as bad is the "Yes. They're Real" tee.

Seeing girls wear these t-shirts makes me squirm with embarrassment. Why on earth do girls wear that shirt? Do they seriously think that people are staring at their chest so much that they have to blatantly advertise that-supposedly unwanted-attention on their chests? Thank god practically no one has that shirt anymore.

Before all you slogan wearing people get iffy and storm my house screaming 'burn the witch', let me say that not all slogan t-shirts are bad. For every cringe-worthy, crass Supre or Jays Jays t-shirt created there are hundreds of hilarious, actually clever slogan t-shirts born. Most of these, of course, are submitted or created to/by Threadless (yes, Im pretty much a slogan t-shirt snob). Im sure you'll all agree with me that reading a hilarious slogan will sometimes make your day.

Here are some of my favourite lines on a t-shirt:

-On a pink t-shirt on a guy: Keep Laughing, This Is Your Girlfriend's Shirt

-Under a picture of a mouse: A Wee Moose (say it was a Scottish accent)

-"I NFBSK on the first date" (dont know what NFBSK means? Neither did I heres the UrbanDictionary definition which makes the slogan hilarious)

Cheers for reading (I think Ive done enough b*****ing in this post to make up for no Ultra Naff)

-Beatrice