Fresh as 4 Years Ago

Taxidermy Gallery

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I don't like Litas, I'm over high-low hems. I really don't approve of killing animals for taxidermy.

But...

I love this picture.

It's like an accidental adventure to the woods, following an afternoon picnic.

Opulent Modernity

(Cynthia Rowley, Rodarte, and Suno)

One of the spring trends to emerge from the runways in New York, that I'm most excited about is Modern Brocade.

This season designers are taking brocade, which is a material most commonly used in occasion dressing during the fall and holiday seasons, and putting it into daywear for summer.

Because the material is being used in a new way, the silhouettes are staying simple and easy to wear. 

The other thing about this brocade trend that's really fun, is that it really is seasonless. Take the Suno skirt in the last picture. You can wear it styled as pictured in the warmer months, or throw on a sweater and boots to keep wearing through winter.

It's a lovely trend, that doesn't feel like a trend.

Is there anything more perfect?

How To Get The Most Out of Fashion Week: Part 3

Comprehension (but not the kind on standardized tests)

you can follow all my fashion week boards at pinterest.com/madelinejean

Once you’ve pulled the images from shows that you’ve liked, now is the fun part: digging into what you’re seeing. This is where you’ve seen everything and now you can really look and see what the trends will be for spring.

1. Color- are there stand out colors? New color combinations that seem new and interesting? Take note of the model’s coloring juxtaposed with the clothing she’s in. This should be a good indicator of what colors will work for you in spring.
2. Silhouette- what shapes are you seeing over and over? this should be just as obvious as color. Is it  a shorts season? Is it a maxi-dress season? I’m not giving any clues, just some general ideas of how to determine the silhouettes of the season.
3. Prints and Materials- Is it a print season? Is everything made of shirting? Are designers arguing suede for spring?
4. Design References- Is everyone referencing the 60s? The future? This makes for really open ended and fun forecasting. Most fashion reporters will write what the designer said their inspiration was. It’s always interesting so see how designers incorporate their inspiration into more abstracted concepts.

Repeat City by City. Fashion in New York is totally different from Paris, from Milan, from Rio. It’s important to first look at trends separated, before compiling and comparing across all the major fashion weeks. Each city has it’s own speciality in the fashion world, and each deserves equal attention. Once you dig into each city, it makes it really rewarding to compare all the trends from each city to each other to create a great big trend recap that you can reference all through Spring and Summer.

*also, don’t forget to look at street style surrounding the shows. this is often a good way to see how wearable (and unwearable) trends are.

Shirts With Words

Graphic T-Shirts are definitely making a comeback.

I've really been loving these super simple t-shirts with just words. In fact "shirts with words" is one of my favorite trends of the moment. They're perfect to pair back to a floral pair of jeans or bold graphic skirt.

Plus, they'll be super easy to layer once the cold fall weather sets in.

Check out these Ts and more shirts with words on my Svvply.

Feathery Pink

1, 2

Isn't it interesting how both a photograph of a model in an evening dress and a western landscape can both contain the same fluffy pink texture?

In one it's the focal point, and in the second, it's the color that ties the photograph together.

Amazing how well it works in both.

Periwinkle Pops

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Considering I call myself a "woodsy minimalist," it probably comes as a bit of a surprise that one of my favorite designers is Matthew Williamson.

He designs dresses in the easiest silhouettes, but makes them fresh with embellishment, texture, and the most amazing color combinations.

Both of these dresses are the epitome of fresh and fun femininity. 

Each has a neutral backdrop, but the pops of color and unique detailing makes them true works of art.

They both also feature the most remarkable periwinkle color, that I have my eye on to be a key trend for SS13. 

NYFW is a little over a month away. I can't wait to see what's to come.

Fabric From The Mountains

(1,2)

I'm positively addicted to jackets. Unlike cardigans, they offer a bit of structure and come in a much wider variety of silhouettes and fabrics.

When I saw the street-style snap by Tommy Ton, I was immediately captivated by this jacket. The vibrant colors and perfect biker-jacket silhouette had me swooning.

Lo and Behold, I then happened to stumble upon the designer of this stunning Jacket.

Thu Thu is a Vietnamese designer who grew up and lives in Europe. She sources all of her fabrics from the highlands of Vietnam and then juxtaposes these traditional fabrics with silhouettes and contemporary trends of Europe.

And the mix is pitch-perfect!

The Europeans in December

MSGM on Moda Operandi

I'm still not sure how I feel about Resort collections.

On the one hand, I feel like designer's truly get to design from their heart for their muse and customer. They don't have to reinvent the wheel or show off their mastery of craft, rather they just get to design wonderful clothes meant for life.

On the other hand, Resort comes out in December and January...As much as I would love to wear floral prints and shorts in December, it is the middle of winter.

No matter the weather, I'm totally smitten with MSGM's Resort 13 collection (available for pre-order at Moda Operandi).

As a self-proclaimed jacket addict, I love how they pair the boxy jackets in prints with short shorts and mixed prints. 

It feels at once ladylike and bohemian.

Fashion at it's finest.

Things That Are Awesome Thursday: Sale Season

I think it's only fair to state the obvious and throw out how wonderful sale season truly is.

It comes only twice a year, just as the seasons change, and offers just the right prices for the pieces you've been dreaming of all season.

Another thing-that-would-be-awesome, would be to be able to afford the entirety of my sale wish list.

But I think it's safe to say, that simply won't be happening.... but it doesn't hurt to dream.

Boots- Stella McCartney

The perfect day to night shoe.

Necklace- Kelly Wearstler

Architectural and feminine.

Shorts- Current Elliott

Do I ever not need another pair of jean shorts?

Dress- Mary Katrantzou

Photo-print-floral-shift-dress-perfection.

Bag- 3.1 Phillip Lim

Mini bag in the perfect Tomato red.

Sweater- Altuzarra

Sunshine Yellow? The ultimate summer knit.

All available via Net-a-Porter by clicking on the designer.

Hidden In The Courtyard

Hidden in a courtyard just past the Royal Palace in Copenhagen, is one of the most beautiful boutiques I've ever been to.

A secret fashion gem of Copenhagen, B56 carries the most interesting and unique European brands, such as Basso & Brooke, Inwear, Milleneufcent-quatrevingtquatre, and Stine Goya. The owner and her blogger daughter have an incredible sense of taste and editing. While most of the lines are rather expensive, and more artistic than daily street wear, the shop is not elitist. A rare but welcome retail experience.

I would argue it is my favorite boutique in Scandinavia.

If you find yourself in Copenhagen, it's an absolute destination for the best of European fashion.

B56

Bredgade 56

DK--1260 Copenhagen

Denmark

+45 3311 3396

Squares Squared

Now that it's officially summer time, sunglasses are back in season. I couldn't be happier.

I tried these babies, from Oliver Peoples, on today and they are absolute stunners. The acetate is amazing, in the perfect tortoise shell color. The pips are the perfect circular shape so they add the right amount of detail, but don't consume the frame.

....and the shape....

The shape is out of this world. It's almost a combination square and wayfarer, but perfect for a female face, that they feel just as soft as a vintage oversize shape.

I'm totally smitten. Now all I have to do is save a whole lot of pennies....

Downtown Day Dreams

all products can be found at Suno

While most girls dream of a closet full of Chanel, or their first pair of Louboutins, my closet daydreams are filled with Suno.

The New York based label offers the most wearable pieces with a fresh approach to patterns season after season. Nothing from them ever looks the least bit contrite, or dated. They somehow mastered designs with whimsical femininity and a serious city chic.

It's the perfect label for any downtown bohemian. It's just an added bonus that all their apparel is produced in Kenya.

Needless to say, I can't wait to see what's in store for SS13.

Old Postcards From Myself

(1,2,3,4)

It's an amazing sunny Saturday and I'm headed off to spend the day with a new book in the park. 

Just thought I'd leave some of my favorite black and white photographs, in the meantime.

There's something about season changes that makes me nostalgic. Black and White Photos always fit the bill.

Marching Band of One

This editorial from Jalouse was featured in the February 2008 issue, but it still feels more relevant than ever. Skye Parrott captured such a magical melancholy with her hazy use of light, juxtaposed with bold color. 

It does everything a great editorial should; it transports, it inspires, and it relates to something below the surface, as well as above.

It also, just so happens, to capture all of my gypsy day dreams in a few photographs.

Garden of Heavenly Dresses

I've always been more interested in contemporary art. But there is something about "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Bosch that is, and always will be, unparalleled. It was my favorite painting in art history books, and after stumbling upon it at the Prado in Madrid, it will always be my favorite painting.

Enter: Carven

The Parisian powerhouse can do no wrong in my book. I've always been smitten with their perfectly tailored silhouettes, slightly feminine details, and the most incredible materials. But this dress goes above and beyond anything they have done before. 

They made my favorite painting into a dress. In a phrase, "I Die!" (and not even ironically, I'm serious about this.) I love how the colors are altered to fit the fall season and the print is warped and twisted to fit the silhouette of the dress. This dress is everything a printed dress should be.

 It's clearly out of my price range.

I can compare pieces from Carven to MONTHS of rent.

But... this dress will have me splurging.

They say you should wear what makes you happy.

Nothing makes me happier than incredible art and beautiful dresses. 

Win Win.

Midnight Amphibians

1, 2

Magical Frogs.

Kind of a strange thing to be thinking about at 2am on a rainy Wednesday night.
AM-Phib-IaNs.