Can't beat the feeling

I'm a big water drinker myself, but there are times when a Coke is the only thing that can hit the spot. I guess that red and white branding is IN now too? By the way, look how many slogans they've gone through!






Tao Okamoto in Vogue China, August 2011; Foam Mag, Aug/Sept 2011; Backstage @ Jeremy Scott Fall 2011

Turning japanese

My boyfriend is in Tokyo and I couldn't be more jealous. I thought about compiling a wish list to give him, but I don't have an endless bank account to back that up. No need to ramble on about how much streetstyle over there inspires me, because I've already crossed that bridge and back on here. A couple things I'm seeing- tons of short asymmetric bobs, zany socks/tights, and interesting layering.




pc: style-arena

Man those kids have some cool footwear at their reach (*sheds tear). This doesn't even hit the tip of the iceberg.






Rope sneakers, Monomania; rubber sole shoes, Double Decker; mesh insert boots, Candy

I love the bright socks with open-toed shoes look (finally seeing this on runways!) and have for awhile. Swedish label Happy Socks makes some great options for experimenting and I will definitely be picking up some now that they are carried in my neighborhood at Alter.

Soldier shoulder

It's kind of funny to think women wore shoulder pads in the 80s to look professional and "powerful." Now Balmainia is upon us, which has seen the return of the trend on teeny weeny "dresses," but I much prefer Margiela's take on the structured shoulder. It's been his signature for many seasons now, and although I love the squared-off capes and jackets he's done over the years, I find the sharp-shouldered tees the most striking.





I'm going to try this with some of my oversized t-shirts and found these foam shoulder pads that stay in place with your bra. Maybe I'm totally out of the loop but that's a pretty great idea. This site sells a range of shapes to play with from more natural forms to more exaggerated boxy shapes like the style below on the right.

photo cred: style.com + coutorture

Rebel Yell

I love the styling in this fashion trend editorial from WWD. The theme is short bottoms and a "heady dose of punk"—the hair screams Kate Lanphear.






via The Glossy

Ripped

via knight cat

Goth Endures

The NY Times Style style section has a photo gallery up now called Goth Endures showing the recent proliferation of Haute Goth on the runways. Some of my favorite designers are featured including Alexander McQueen, Rick Owens, and Gareth Pugh. Those Rodarte spiky heels are some of the most amazing shoes I have ever seen. It just goes to show you that the designers who are really making noise on the runways lately don't necessarily need to rely on color or pattern to make a statement. Black will always be the new black.

Narciso Rodriguez SS09

There's a reason why this guy is a legend, and so highly praised by the fashion elite. Narciso covered the board for spring— I guarantee you'll be seeing some of these looks as trends for next year: sheer sections in tops, high contrast abstract prints, bright colors, zippers, and finally bondage. A smart designer reinvents the wheel each season, without losing sight of what people will wear, and staying true to themselves in the process. Here's my favorites from the show that illustrate the key looks I mentioned.

Another World

Sequins are back again this fall, blah blah, but it's mostly in the form of sequins party dresses and dressy stuff which for most people, isn't something you can wear that often. I like seeing it interpreted into a super casual look like this Sass & Bide loose-fitting tank. And the colors? Fantastic.

Lace Up.

Everyone's been talking about the resurgence of Lace for this Fall. Prada has been getting much of this recognition. A large portion of her Fall '08 collection consisted of conservative garments, far from the overt sex-appeal so many identify lace with (see last photo). It's funny to think this old world look is shocking and extreme. Kind of like when Marc Jacobs came out with his ultra conservative Fall 2007 ready to wear collection.

Some other designers inspired by lace for this upcoming season: (photograph order) Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Giles, Givenchy, and Chanel.

Whether you are going for vintage, goth, sultry, etc. it can be a difficult material to make work. I even felt there were a lot of strike outs on the runway. I'm curious to see how it will be worn on the streets.

Be Square

The music term 2 Tone was coined by Jerry Dammers of The Specials in the late 70s, who was said to have come up with the idea because he liked the black-and-white check pattern on his scooter when he was a young mod. However, others at the time believed the name referred to the unity between black and white people or to the black-and-white outfits worn by rude boys and skinheads. These days the bold motif is making a comeback, and it has nothing to do with subcultures or music. Here are a few checkered pieces I'm feelin this season.



1. Lonely Hearts Club
2. L.A.M.B.
3. Ksubi
4. Lonely Hearts Club
5. Comme des Garcons

Unique leggings

There's no doubt that leggings are a staple in many girl's wardrobes these days. They look great paired with an oversized top or dress, or worn in place of pants. It's always great to have a few plain black pairs on hand, but wearing ones that are colorful or patterned is a great way to shift the focus of your outfit. Here are a few of my favorites that are anything but ordinary.

Purple leggings by Brian Lichtenberg

Graphic print leggings by C.neeon
Bullet leggings by Perks and Mini

Jungle print leggings by Martin Lamothe

Tie-dye leggings by We Love Colors (other color options available)