True Story

This has got to be my favorite head-to-toe look from the Fall 2012 collections thus far. It literally reads like a perfect book to me, one written by the amazing Hussein Chalayan.

Beginning: zero makeup, save for some silver glitter glossed onto the lids and a side swept mane going from smooth to crinkly waves (a look you can see the making of here).

Middle: a neutral pairing of black and tan oversized boxy cuts hanging to a generous length over perfectly slim hologram trousers.

End: shoes that match the pants? yes, especially if it's more hologram. A perfect ending.

image via Vogue

Puffy

Man, halloween can be a stumper. I have a lot of awesome ideas, but am limited due to a combo of laziness and budget. A few of my ideas though rely on the "hair" being the main selling point of the costume, like an ice cream cone or dandelion. In the process of researching, I rediscovered the Spring '08 show from japanese designer mercibeaucoup, where models donned puffy pastel hairpieces in shapes like bows, stars, and bunny ears. I'm definitely inspired.. whether or not that will motivate me to go all Edward Scissorhands on a wig is yet to be seen!










via here and here

BedHead

Recently, one of the coolest haircare lines on planet earth, BedHead, contacted Is Mental to be a part of a really unique project. I geek out about getting my hair cut each and every time- I love the whole salon experience (ahem, shout out to Laicale), and I love experimenting with hair products, especially ones that smell yummy, so this was a no-brainer! The project was the big relaunch of their site (designed by the amazing Taxi Europe) and it's set up like an interactive magazine where fashion, nightlife, music, style, and art come together in a really fresh way. Is Mental was selected as one of the blogs that would be featured in the fashion category. How sweet is that?? Anyway, enough bragging- go check it out for yourself and buy some BedHead dudes!!

Strawberry soup

Are we tired of the kool-aid dipped hair steelo yet? Not me, but someone, somewhere is rolling their eyes.


photo by Maria Tasula

Rings and things

Since Amanda is away on her Costa Rican Surf holiday, I decided now was a good time to come out of my fashion coma. Sometimes life distracts you from the things you really enjoy, and after many months I am finally feeling inspired again! Please be patient as I get back into the swing of things...starting off short and sweet with two little accessories that really caught my attention last weekend.


BOLT rings on my roommate and I (local hardware store)




Adorable hair comb by Friends and Nemesis found at Dalaga

Chunk

I seek things of mass, triple chocolate chunk, the loud and obnoxious, nuggets of "wisdom", your face making me smile. Honestly, I have no idea what I'm saying right now, but summer has me on another level.











1. Massive rope platforms by Danish, Berlin-based designer Julie Eilenberger (check out her rad blog)
2. Amazing oldschool raver 'dos- mine never looked this cool!
3. Issey Miyake bag on ebay... reminds me of egg crates and boobs
4. Coated brass diamond ring by Margiela's MM6 line, at Stand Up Comedy
5. Doin hoodrat stuff with an epic bart backpack

Young Mariacarla

Mariacarla Boscono: I never get tired of her severe Italian face. She is one of the most intriguing, hardest-working models these days, and I recently came across some images from the earlier part of her career (around '99-'02) I just had to share. I LOVED what she was doing with her hair back then- that whole blunt, edgy thing that a lot of girls were doing but it looked so natural on Mariacarla.

You're not allowed to be unhappy

I loved this dreamy tropical print from Margiela's spring '10 collection...it especially looks delightful translated onto a bodysuit tank (yeah it actually snaps at the crotch, pretty cool).


I've been watching video tutorials on how to do a fishtail braid and hope to rock it in a slightly messy bedhead, hippy sort of style this summer.


God's Prey is back with their Fall '10 line, Psychik Cities, and it's a slightly darker direction than their last, but equal parts wearable and rocking. I'm pretty into this poncho jacket... I love the idea of creating this big silhouette to hide under.


I don't know what it is but I have a thing for hand shapes or prints in art or wearables, so naturally I love this painting by Matthew Feyld.


Jeremy Scott's modern stone age collection this season def. isn't for everyone, but you gotta admit his Flinstones' take on the leather motorcycle jacket is pretty rad. Colette has most of the range in store right now.


Erykah Badu has been busy promoting her new album this week (which I NEED to get asap). Here she is rocking the Ann-Sofie Back drip shades at a record release party last week in NY. I always loved her style and the OC blog has some more good snaps up showing how badass she is.


I could really get down with this handmade leather visor by 2 by Lyn & Tony... it'd be perfect for shielding the rays this summer! The Selby visited their home in Sydney last year to get the scoop behind this busy couple's life (they also run Karen mag).

Great lengths

My man Yohji did not disappoint for the autumn season. I can't imagine some of the stress and turmoil he must have endured when designing this collection in the midst of his resurrection from bankruptcy last year. Yamamoto is a designer I can count on for a signature style revolving around conceptual tailoring and extreme volume that noone, save his daughter Limi Feu, can hold a candle to. I fell in love with the looks that were long, generous, and screamed comfort with an attitude.



This pleated dress is KILL-ER. It's like a Catholic schoolgirl uniform turned on its head!



The total look here is dopeshow but I love the main event: this loose overall jumpsuit has so much outfit potential.



Head-to-toe knit is admittingly a little craze but I would rock this in the dead of winter, and then sleep in it....and do it all over again?



Nicole Phelps' style.com review noted the face profile coats were "the only things that fell flat." Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but clearly I disagree! The coat IS flat but definitely not boring- the oversimplified silhouette keeps the focus on the stitched face, which is where it belongs.



You might call the hair at Yohji a blue & red splattered "rats nest" but it's a beautiful one at that, especially flowing out of a rad fedora!

You are my sunshine

With spring around the corner, I've been especially drawn to a color palette of yellows and subdued oranges and shades between. Orange was once my favorite color, but I soon found that looking like a parking cone come to life wasn't the most flattering look. I didn't start getting my hair dyed professionally until I moved to NYC a little over 5 years ago- during college, I was committed to trying out every possible drugstore box dye that made a shade of strawberry blonde. L'Oreal's Féria had a good shade, but as is the case with most box dye, they fade fast and only look the most vibrant the first week. I haven't gone back to that shade of blonde in 6 or 7 years, but I'm feeling the urge again- this time professionally in a salon- and I've already found the reference photos via some of the models used at Ssense & Oak.



In terms of makeup, I've been on a bright color rampage recently, even documenting all the pretty evidence below. The yellow shade of American Apparel nail polish is logically called Manila, and the color is pretty close, if not more pleasant, than a manila envelope.



One of the most beautiful colorful palettes I've seen on the runways this season comes from DC-raised Matthew Ames. His fall collection was brimming with simple silhouettes comprised of interchangeable basics, and among these, I was particularly drawn to the butterscotch and lemon leather pieces that looked so deliciously fresh and modern.


pc: style.com

So now that I own a Bless bracelet, and the most epic Bless shoes, it's essential that I get a piece of their clothing into my wardrobe. Perusing Colette (as I love to do), I spotted this colorblocked cardigan with an open draped back, that is gorgeous particularly because of the unexpected pairing of colors. Time to save that paper!

Moody blues

It's not too often that I post an editorial, except when I feel like I can take something away from it or would put it on my wall to look at every day. It's easy to make a model look "hot" or "cool" but presenting a new concept, a way of dress that evokes a feeling, is more of a challenge these days. Funny I was just harping on the new tailoring going on with white button-down shirts, using Margiela and Cacharel as examples, and those two just happen to be in this Dazed & Confused editorial. Suddenly I want to dress in icy blues and whites and blend in with the winter sky.












via Fashion Gone Rogue

Lady in red

Another snap from the streets of Tokyo that I've been coming back to is this demure girl in red and black. I'm not usually into the "matchy matchy" ensembles, but the individual pieces are interesting by themselves and put together in a crisp, but unexpected way. Fitted tops over dresses is a whole new world I want to explore now. Also, her choppy bangs are pretty rad and actually inspired my haircut the other day.


via Fashion Snap

Keep Watch

Thursday I went to support my friend Ellen and my buddies at Mishka for the 2010 Calender Release party that Ellen shot. I had to pull out my Mishka eyeball sweater that's always a big hit- they need to rerelease it!



Hats are fun and if I can stay committed to growing my hair out, I want to try out this look from Numero Tokyo's Feb. 2009 issue. The beautiful Milou Van Groese looks amazing in long messy braids.


images via tfs + dolparts