I'm tired of the cloned robot Barbie and Ken's with plastic smiles, empty eyes, and bad fashion spawned by People Magazine, Reality T.V. Shows, and Coach Purses. Where fashion statements are about the number of rhinestones on your outfit, or logos you are wearing. My mission is to put style back into the word "style" to turn off the mindless Barbie switches, and to wake up the world.

"I just give a damn." - M.I.A.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

the day my fashion world stood still...

So working three jobs, as predicted, is kicking my arse, in turn, making my energy level completely zapped, and leaving no time for fashion shows, Project Runway, browsing style.com, street wear watching, or magazine flipping, all which I find time to normally do. So instead, yesterday, after work, I ran between jobs over to Halls on the Kansas City Plaza to check out some fall collections. Now Halls can be extremely intimidating for several reasons, first of all it is a very high end store. I have always been completely terrified of such places, for absolutely no reason other than the fact that I want to have my own designs in those places one day, so I guess I'm just embarrassed that this dream of mine hasn't yet happened. And secondly, when you live in such a small place your whole life, and realize that there is a whole other world out there, beyond your wildest dreams, that actually exists, of beautiful, breath taking clothes, that you could only pray to maybe one day see in person (or buy), it almost feels like someone knocked the wind out of you and you feel about 1 inch tall. So overwhelming I guess, is how I feel. I once went into the magnificent Yves Saint Laurent a few years ago, in Chicago, to do some research on his fall collection. I tried multiple times to get out of going to the actual store, but my professor wasn't buying it, and I had to suck it up and go in. I remember I was so extremely nervous, that I, this nobody little art student, was going into the GREAT YVES SAINT LAURENT, and this mere thought caused me to almost pass out in the doorway, and twice on the stairs. I was so overwhelmed to be looking at these extraordinary clothes in person, that I couldn't possibly relay how elated and awestruck, and inspiring it is to see these works in person. Plus, the personnel working at Yves Saint Laurent were so extremely professional, yet warm and helpful, it 10, 000% changed my life on that day. So naturally, I am so relieved that I went in there, because not only did transform my life in so many ways for the better, Yves Saint Laurent as you might know, died last summer. So I got to actually SEE his stuff in person. *sigh*

Back on track, so I went into Halls to maybe get a whim of this feeling again. I went straight up to the women's department, and straight to the Prada section. Now let me explain, touching an actual Prada jacket, or dress, is absolutely crazzzzzzy. I actually saw this dress in person, which let me say looks completely different. I feel such a rush of adrenaline, actually knowing this dress was in my, unworthy fingers. Truly, each Prada look was timeless, and the harsh, androgynous edge to Prada, is prevalent when you actually see it.





I then stumbled upon a gorgeous Jason Wu dress, that made me do a triple take. As you might know, Mr. Wu is most infamous for his designs for the Obama's. This dress is so unbelievably stunning in person, the colors are impeccably perfect. To be quite honest, Jason Wu's entire collection easily stood out as one of the best out of the entire women's department. Mr. Wu is a man that isn't afraid of color, and to take a few risks, and the tiny intricate details of his pieces, will make you have to look so close and study each garment like it's a beautiful piece of art.  






Lastly, I did a quick drive-by in the shoes department. That's where I lost it. One word "Prada." The first time I ever saw Prada shoes in person, was on my fashion teacher, Stefani Bay. She had on Prada flats, that I embarrassingly, couldn't stop staring at, wondering if those shoes were responsible for giving her that confident, and luxurious aura, she always had.  But now, today was the day that I was going to find out.  I saw these Prada shoes, well they look almost like this, minus the Chinese fan contraption, on the above picture.  Regardless, I decided it's now or never. I took them down, and gently placed them on my foot. It was, hands down, one of the greatest day of my life. I just wanted to scream, "hello, anyone...I have a PRADA on right now. Isn't it amaaaazing?" but instead, I kept my composure and shaking with excitement, placed it back on the shelf.

*sigh*

And that was my trip to Halls. Until next time...

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

galactic meets mythology

So this has absolutely nothing to do with the local KC fashion scene...well not yet anyway. I just have to share these amazing masterpieces that were debuted at the Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 runway show about a month and a half ago. I literally almost fell over when I saw them. Yes, and I know they are insanely unreasonable, but all the more reason to love them. I am dreading Aldo (amongst other design companies) ripping these off and making them into crap, but in the meantime, *sigh* they are so stunning. This is art ladies and gentleman, and if that's isn't brilliant enough to think about, this is art that someone envisioned and made into something tangible...the possibilities of creating are limitless.

The black one's are my favorite.








    






Monday, November 2, 2009

I <3 Graffiti.



How amazing is this???!!!




Graffiti. I love it. I always seek it out, and I would rather travel the world to take pictures of graffiti probably more than anything. Kansas City has some amazing graffiti. I get so many artistic idea's just looking at it, I have to stop my brain from going into creative overload. I just found probably my favorite I've ever seen, nearly causing a car wreck to take these pictures. I know you probably think this doesn't have much to do with fashion, but to me, it has EVERYTHING to do with fashion. Enjoy.




 I took these last year in West Port. 




Monday, October 26, 2009

Urban NIGHTMARE.





Okay a discussion is in order regarding an important matter. So I was strolling in and out of some stores the other day, just seeing the crap that is being sold to the mass population and mentally taking notes on any things I noticed that were shady carbon copy's of recent Haute Couture runway shows, as well as scoping out the men's department in each store (if offered) to gather up some idea's for my own line, when I walked into none other than Urban Outfitters. What the crap has happened to that store?  Seriously, back in the day Urban used to be a kind of cutting edge store selling some stuff that was uber marketable, but they always maintained an ecclectic atmosphere. Why in the world has that store exploded into a hipster nightmare? Everything is in neutral's or faux leather of faux fur, and it ALL looks the same. Flat sandals (so over) flat mock Uggs (puke!) and mixed with boring shirts and gypsy looking jewelry, all maintaing that 'I'm soooo earthy' attitude, but the stuff is soooooo mass produced it's the farthest thing from eco-friendly. I swear that every person in there had like ratty mullets or dread's and they alllllllllll looked the same. I was so pissed just standing in this store I hardly recognized anymore, I couldn't help but think "is this what happens to originiality? Do they sell out their name to become boring but profitable??" So then I made it a personal vendetta to find something with bright colors, ONE thing with color. I searched for twenty minutes, and was swallowed alive by khaki colored skirts, olive shirts, and white, cheaply made dresses. I left feeling disappointed, as I couldn't help but to mentally compare that store to the nightmare known as Forever 21. or I'm sorry, XXI. COME ON. Those store are freaking crap. And as I watched another clove smoking, coffee drinking, hipster enter into that store, I couldn't help but to think how desperate the fashion world needs me. If not me, then who?

Saturday, September 12, 2009

West 18th Street Fashion Show



I worked the W. 18th St. Fashion Show this past summer in the cross roads district of KC. Let me tell you, stuffing schwag bags for the V.I.P guests all day until my fingers bled, and doing all the thankless dirty tasks with no air conditioning, was definitley worth the end result. I have worked several fashion show's in my day, and the chance to work with strictly local designers provided the best show I've ever seen/been a part of. The theme was Summer in Space, so this gave the designers no limit to how zaney and creative they could be. Plus, I got a chance to meet Ari Fish, whom I've been a huge fan of, and later that day, found out was going to  be a contestant on Project Runway!!  (Sidenote: I watched Project Runway and rooted for her crazy ass, despite being cut the first round. Come on, that guy that made the see through creepy nightgown should have been cut, let's be real. Plus, Lindsey Lohan makes my ears bleed, and also inspires me NEVER to smoke a cigarette. Is that an eighty year old lady talking? No, that Lindsey Lohan's voice. Puke.)          
I also met another designer that blew me away...Sovannara Yos. Since the theme was outerspace, she did all of her pieces based on famous galactic movies...i.e. The Fifth Element, Star Wars, Blade Runner, etc. The pieces were edgy and raw, and she was my personal favorite of the bunch.
The crowd made the overall show, and I had the chance to walk around taking pictures of random people's style at the show.You could definatley tell however, who was there because they were trying to be seen (cool you own a loft in the crossroads and you want to show off by sitting on your balcony with your snotty friends), and who was there because they actually loved fashion (the rest of the people not sitting in V.I.P or on a balcony, sweating their asses off, decked out in eccentric get-ups).  I even literally bumped into, Phil Shafer, a local KC designer and the brain of Sikenomincs (sikenomics.com). Shafer's designs bad ass graphic t's sold at places like The Bunker, and his shirts are so fressssssssh. Last but not least, the show kicked off at sun down, and it as a smashing success. If you missed it, sorry to say, there is no recreating it. There were lamps welded into alien gadgets, attached to dresses. There were smoke coming out of glass globes being carried by the runway models. The L.E.D. light curtains, the hand-made jewelry, the eccentric makeup, the rocking after party, the zaney models, everything was absolutley mind blowing, and I got to watch it all from right in front of the curtain. So yes, it all ended up paying off, as I stood there, watching the last outfit exit the stage, my every pore surging with adrenaline, as I realized how much I love fashion.

Peggy Noland/Ari Fish Collobarted Collection





bystander awaiting the show. sweet shoes...
I practically freaked out when I saw this guy. Sikenomics designer, Phil Shafer. (right)


sweet graffiti...right by runway