Mis-matched jackets and swapped sleeves have become increasingly more trend-friendly of late. Thankfully, this is a trend one can easily DIY; all you’ve got to do is take a jacket you’re tired of (or a vest), and sew on jersey sleeves from an old hoodie.
As you can see from Topshop’s selection, the pieces don’t have to be perfect, and you can mix different materials or even skins to create a unique look. Try this combination with colored leather and dark grey jersey – that does sound awesomely redic!
Pour la Victoire is a brand synonymous with some of the shoes that friends of mine have squealed over the loudest. This is no coincidence; PLV footwear is treasure-able for different reasons – they feature a distinct throwback style that offers rugged femininity.
The four shoes below are part of the SS10 collection; heels feature on-trend cut outs, summer brights and a basic black for evening. My most favorite is the PLV interpretation of the classic spectator; they are near flat which means ideal for day to day use, and white leather that will only look more kickass with age.
Pour la Victoire is carried at multiple locations in Vancouver, and online – check out the list.
Friday March 12th 2010, 7:56 pm
Filed under: 2010, adverts
The only thing more blatant in the Telephone music video than the designer clothing was the product placement. I’m not talking oh, there’s a glance of a Coke can; this is one of the most blatant product branding I’ve seen since Snapple bought off Seinfeld in the 90s.
While one can expect that Gaga’s own products will be featured, the video surprisingly took us to products we never would have associated her with; take Wonderbread for example. It’s rather clever; by expressing her Fame Monster vision she is gaining cred by selling out.
Within the Gaga Video Epics, we are ramped up to soak in the products. While Paparazzi, has only “Dior” letter rings at 2:04, Bad Romance is where the true brand assault begins;
0:13 – Parrot Bluetooth 0:17 – Nemiroff vodka 0:43 – Heartbeats earphones 1:13 – Heartbeats earphones 1:24 – Heartbeats earphones 2:27 – Nemiroff vodka 2:45 – HP Envy ‘Beats Limited Editon’ laptop from Monster 3:46 – Carrera sunglasses 3:58 – Carrera sunglasses
Bad Romance is a training session; we have fewer products for digestion and they are repeated, often from one scene to the very next. The audience is being trained to look for the headphones, vodka and even the sunglasses; and though this video is the shortest of the group at 5:08 and has a high concentration of product, we aren’t bothered because the products fit within the scenes of the video.
In Telephone Gaga’s own products don’t even run the show. Only 3 out of 11 products (roughly 27%) in the near 10 minute video are products she is affiliated with; those being Heartbeats by Dr. Dre, a Heartbeats HP laptop and Polaroid (Gaga is the current creative director).
Take a look at the time placement of each products; they are spaced no more than 2 minutes [or less] between each other. This allows the consumer to identify only with the product shown, and gives time to process that product before introducing the next one.
1:34 – Heartbeats earphones 2:06 – Virgin Mobile
2:17 – Diet Coke
4:15 – Virgin Mobile 4:24 – HP Envy ‘Beats Limited Editon’ laptop from Monster 4:28 – Plenty Of Fish dating site
4:44 – Chevrolet 5:37 – Polaroid 6:24 – Wonderbread
6:36 – Miracle Whip 8:31 – Polaroid
Notice how we have been conditioned to see the placement, and eventually accept that Miracle Whip works in a Lady Gaga pop music video. The beauty of Gaga’s Redic Factor is we’re expecting the visuals to make no sense, and therefore do make sense to the viewing public.
This could quite possibly be the most entertaining brain drain humans have ever been exposed to.
Plain crop gloves are so last decade – out with the boring, and in with the blangin’!
Scope these Nina Peter snake gloves; they’re studded, embossed and feature both gold and silver. These gloves are a direct way of saying you’re five different kinds of awesome without saying a word.
You will have to pay close to $160 CA for the pleasure of having your hands partially covered, though methinks if you’re in the market for bedazzled half gloves in the first place you aren’t going to be financially prudish.
If gold dosen’t turn your crank, these gloves also come in blue dyed python and suede; also studded identically to the gold siblings. They are the same price, though in my opinion significantly less hyper rad.
Rie Rasmussen has had it with Terry Richardson’s blatant objectification of women, and the latest release of Richardson’s book Terryworld has pushed her off the edge.
Rasmussen’s comments:
He takes girls who are young, manipulates them to take their clothes off and takes pictures of them they will be ashamed of. They are too afraid to say no because their agency booked them on the job and are too young to stand up for themselves.
His ‘look’ is girls who appear underage, abused, look like heroin addicts . . . I don’t understand how anyone works with him.
One can see where Rie takes her argument from, one simply cannot draw the line between art to objectification. While Terry’s Facebook image style is perhaps over hyped, people hate anyone who appears to get a lot of T&A; though whether the T&A is of legal age at the time or is comfortable with exposing their fleshy bits is debatable.
Terry’s most recent work can be seen in Aldo’s adverts, though if you examine Terry’s editorial work you can see why the man continues to get gigs.
Take a look at a few Terryworld-style photos below and decide for yourself, though they probably are considered NSFW.
Lady Gaga called, and a hell of a bunch of talented designers answered.
If you haven’t yet seen the Telephone video, first view it here. If you’re already wise as to the lunacy that was Gaga and B’s wardrobe on set, you’re probably hungry to know who designed the pieces. Well, wonder no more, as it has been revealed. Outfits are listed in order of appearance.
Even if one would throw their last dollars away to look as on trend as possible, there has to be a degree of self-deprecation to keep oneself from winding up too tightly.
Friday March 12th 2010, 9:42 am
Filed under: 2010, Sales, denim
Denim is the everyday essential; it can be worn so many different ways through variations in cuts and washes. Since denim is such a wardrobe basic, it’s imperative that one has a proper stock of classic denim to fit your dressing needs, and with The Outnet’s weekend sale of an extra 40% off all denim, the time to shop is now.
Thursday March 11th 2010, 3:36 pm
Filed under: 2010, Designers
Days before the opening of Yves Saint Laurent’s complete collection of works in Paris’ Petit Palais, gossip of drug use and tempers are ‘tainting’ celebrations.
If one of us is aware of an incredible creative talent that does not suffer from fits of frustration and self medicates with liquor and/or drugs (legal or otherwise), then let them cast the first stone.
These creatives are energy caught in the nets of their own skin; they feel things differently, and deal with stress in different ways. This is in no way fresh knowledge.
As long as humans have a mouth on their face, they will talk about other humans, and as long as creative genius is under pressure they will have substance and anger issues.
Let’s leave the circulation of the obvious to low brow commenters, and instead remember the talent of YSL.
Studs, boots and buckles – it’s the footwear recipe of champions, and Bluefly has some prime footwear on sale right now.
These are boots and shoes that follow fall trends, but will be able to be worn easily within transitional seasons right into hot weather months. A cropped boot or nude pump is a safe investment piece, and these pieces are made by your favorite designers.
Oh, lordy.. I was not prepared for the beauty of the BSWEET before I’d had my lunch.
This deliciously ombré leather doctor’s satchel is everything one could want in a bag; the hardware, the contrasting yet complimenting leathers and the size. The BSWEET is actually 12′ (H) x 7′ (W) x 8′(D); in layman’s terms, a large bag indeed.
The price tag is another thing to get sweet on; it’s $168 for all this goodness. If you’re not so into brown, it does come in red and black, though the brown ombré is the sure pick of the group.
For the ladies more keen on a wearable flat than a ludacris heel, these painted oxfords are going to be worth a second look.
Nicholas Kirkwood, the very same footwear magician that works with Rodarte does make more than a heinous heel to pain your arches. They happen to be oxfords, both with a playful splattering of paint.
These casual flats are not for the faint of spending; each will set you back a cool $795.
I do hope that Kirkwood continues the development of his flats so they can become as spirited as his heels; can you imagine a flat (or near flat) version of his iconic stack screw heels, or contrasting neon leathers?
Please Nicholas, deliver us into flat fantasy land!
There is no reason to case aside boots during the balmier months, and in the case of Doc Martens you can be both ready for all weather and trend observing.
As you’ve been hearing till your ears go blue, neutrals are the key to jumping on trending in the boot world. Docs are affordable, wear extremely well and come in loads of different designs and heights – you can’t go wrong with a boot that looks better with wear!
It’s nearly time for silk scarf weather, which means we’re all going to be clamoring to acquire something new, fresh and perhaps a little macabre. Charlotte Sparr’s silk prints give us a bit of everything, especially if you layer one upon the other. Each silk scarf is $126 CA, though heartily worth it if you consider the wearing potential.
Oh, Amy – your stumble through this world has gotten curiouser and curiouser.
Instead of working on a new album (it’s been four years since the release of Back to Black), it’s off to the design drawing board to dream up converted designs, while using her collaboration with Fred Perry to the full extent. These sketches echo of some gas station attendant-cum-rockabilly chav look, and it’s not a pretty picture.
This is one firmly proven case of ’stick to what you know’.
Cheap Monday is notorious for affordable, cutting edge casual pieces and the collaboration with Ann-Sofie Back is only adding honey to our tea. While Oak already had a handful of CM pieces, there are a good lot of new items to get hyped over.
Rad kid’s shoes are hard to come by, especially affordable ones. Even if you’re rabidly anti-baby such as I, there is a need for kid’s shoes, and it’s largely being met with crappy footwear. Gravity Pope has a wicked selection of affordable ankle biter foot covers, so let’s explore the options beyond utter child kick catastrophe.
If your kid is into day-glo, the Converse neon canvas trainers are pretty awesome, if you like boiling your retinas (and what kid dosen’t?) – those will set you back $34. For the girlies, there’s no reason to have lame, un-sparkly flats. To remedy boring shoe-dom, try Puma’s Espera glitters, who ring in at $30 per pair.
Plain crop gloves are so last decade – out with the boring, and in with the blangin’!
Even if one would throw their last dollars away to look as on trend as possible, there has to be a degree of self-deprecation to keep oneself from winding up too tightly.
Days before the opening of 
For the ladies more keen on a wearable flat than a ludacris heel, these painted oxfords are going to be worth a second look.
Rad kid’s shoes are hard to come by, especially affordable ones. Even if you’re rabidly anti-baby such as I, there is a need for kid’s shoes, and it’s largely being met with crappy footwear. 