NYFW | Romantic Parade - Zac Posen SS14 Review

Okay, the last designer post I will do for New York Fashion Week. Of course I save the best for last. Zac Posen creates stunning gowns for A-List celebrities and this season, the fashion was very frenchy, soft and romantic. Flowy dresses, sheer fabric, soft colours, flower embroidery and at times bright, rich pieces really make the collection luxurious.

The show was naive and innocent - models with flowers in their messy hair, big, beautiful pleats, and sheer garments. The show was also very simple - the dresses did all the talking. Have a look at the runway looks here.

NYFW | The Forest In Those Stories - Honor SS14 Review

Honor's show at New York Fashion Week was very enjoyable. The collection was cute, girly and fairytale-like. The atmosphere of the show in the woods with little LED lights like fireflies was mysterious and beautiful. Every piece was 'pretty' with flowers, lace and contrasting collars. Short skirts, long skirts, summer dresses, flared out layered cocktail dresses were all very girly and pretty. I loved the length of the dresses where the models' hands hanged lower than the hem. Some of the most fashionable pieces were the flower/lace cut-out sheer blouse, cut-out floral dress, lace cut-out short shorts and floral cropped pants. The floral winged sunglasses matched the looks very well. Everyone was probably on the lookout for the Big Bad Wolf. Check out the collection here!

Although I did want to stick strictly to menswear for NYFW (except some of my favourite designers), when I saw this show I was pleasantly surprised because all the pieces were very likeable but more importantly, marketable and sellable.

NYFW | The Latest Martian Fashion - Jeremy Scott SS14 Review

Jeremy Scott always holds the most memorable shows because he creates the most memorable and signature fashion. This collection in collaboration with Kenny Scharf at New York Fashion Week drew on influences from the 50s and Space Age culture. The youthful rebellion tied in with retro motifs created super hip dolls. It was awesome how there were corresponding designs between the guys and girls to make the collection very cohesive. Loud vintage is so much better and refreshing.

Print clash, retro TV test cards, lava lamps and even squeeze bottle ketchup showed off the vintage American culture. The cutting and structure of the pieces were also very retro, sticking closely to the theme. Hey, I want to go to Mars too. I love the way Jeremy Scott creates signature pieces season after season. His themes are always fresh, loud and memorable, but above all recognisable and marketable. This is branding like a pro.

Check out the runway photos here.

NYFW | The Park Or The Beach? - J.Crew SS14 Review

J.Crew always has very on trend clothing. This season at New York Fashion Week, the label created very outdoorsy pieces. The palette and prints used were about adventure. The menswear were more toned down compared to womens which were more lively and vibrant. Check out the collection here.

Guys:
Darker and earthier tones dominated the colours for the menswear. The collection was adventurous and explored the themes of nature. These pieces were well crafted for everyday wear but also had a few interesting key items. Outerwear is always strong from J.Crew and the suede bomber jacket is definitely one to look out for. Dustier and muted colours work well to complement the theme and materials used. The deeper, dustier blues were really good and I also liked the light parka. Everything was very trees and national park. See, three buttoned suit jackets don't always have to be so serious.

Girls:
Aloha! The large hibiscus print was definitely the stand out. It turns up the 'floral pants' thing into something much more stylish and Spring Summer. The heels were notable. Big floral print skirts were also good with denim, something J.Crew does well. The beachy theme was goof with thick stripes and lighter colours. The pieces screamed summer which is great to see and there were options for dressy or casual.

Photos from Fashionising

Carrera Eyewear Teams Up With The Highly Anticipated Film RUSH

I'm sure you all know about the upcoming movie RUSH directed by two-time Academy Award® winner Ron Howard. I know I'm excited for it - mixing up fashion and style with racing - what's not to like? Based on the true story of racing rivals James Hunt (played by Australia's own Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl), the film takes on a stylish spin with Carrera Eyewear. Arguably, sunglasses are always the most instantly stylish of all accessories, it's exciting to see the Carrera brand still working closely with what got it started. Keep reading to see some OFFICIAL movie stills before it hits the screens here in October!

Carrera teams up with RUSH, on two-time Academy Award® winner Ron Howard's spectacular big-screen re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda

Daniel Brühl wears the re-edition of the Carrera 80 sunglasses stays true to its racing roots - metal frames, sculpted design and interchangeable polarised lenses are all about the racing attitude. The “Victory C® Logo” is signature to Carrera's timeless style.
This was the original campaign for Carrera from 1986 featuring Niki Lauda himeself!

Check out some more official movie images below.

NYFW | Earth and Wind - Nicholas K SS14 Review

Loose and unstructured. Nicholas K's collection at New York Fashion Week drew inspiration from the original Americans. The runway looks were very interesting as they all centred only on one colour at a time. The palette used was simple and natural which adds to the loosely fitting garments in the breeze. The looks were very urban and casual. Some of Nicholas K's best selling pieces are in outerwear and in this season, there were some great parkas and jackets - but that's not all for this season.

Check out all the photos here!

NYFW | Boardwalk to Runway - Tommy Hilfiger SS14 Review

Tommy Hilfiger's collection was all about surf culture and SoCal at New York Fashion Week. The cool air of models walking down a boardwalk runway from "Melrose to Malibu" (said the designer) showcased love for optimism - definitely a strong theme for Spring Summer. The collection was interesting and quite innovative, where the shorts and skirts looked like peeled down wetsuits. The use of neoprene was also quite interesting, taking the whole idea of surfing quite literally. Even the designs running along the body of the pieces represented those on wetsuits and waves. It's a fun and sexy idea and the show also had florals.

There were so many good runway looks so check them out here.

NYFW | Blue and Plum Coast - Todd Snyder SS14 Review

Probably one of the most structured and traditional approaches to menswear. Todd Snyder's SS14 also brings about a Mediterranean breeze to American fashion. Nautical stripes, deep sea blues, ankles, and shorts with leather shoes are the style trend for menswear at New York Fashion Week. Light outerwear is great for Spring Summer. They look good in the wind and are practical too :D
Have a look at the collection here.

Plaid pants, skinny belts, short sleeve button downs are cool and classy. Unbuttoned blazers are also good looks for SS and it's even better when they are textured. The collection was less 'fun' than some of the others but more structured and traditional. One of the most eye catching pieces is the patterned plum suit jacket.

Photos from Fashionising

NYFW | This Time Like A Storm - Marc Jacobs SS14 Review

Closing off New York Fashion Week, Marc Jacobs was the most highly anticipated show. During the 5 days, I was waiting to see Cara Delavigne at the shows as one of the most popular models in recent years. She appeared only in one show. For the one and only Marc Jacobs. The theme for this show was dark to say the least. Most of the pieces were serious gowns and jackets full of detail, tassels and texture. Except one... the sweatshirt that resembled the Coca-Cola Logo. What?

You can check out the photos of the show here.

NYFW | The Crocodile With No Scales - Lacoste SS14 Review

For me, Lacoste dropped off the radar for a couple of years, actually except I think SS12 where I saw a nice pair of shoes. I like that they are sticking true to their brand colours. The emerald green is really good with white and Lacoste is always a strong player in sports luxe. The green also works well with the soft pink this season as the rose gold colour is popular with younger fashion consumers. The collection at New York Fashion Week is crispy clean. Minimalism works great when a brand has an iconic colour. Sheer is very strong this season and white on white is a great way for Baptista to create an upscale chic and clean look.

Check out the runway photos here.

New Page.

So today was my last day at work. I know I'll miss that place, the people, the work culture and all the shenanigans - and all the laidbackness. It's weird to quit tutoring and wanting to go into retail and quite a few people are surprised that I want to move into a new job that has nothing to do with my uni degree. I don't know though, it's just something I want to do right now, at least for a year or so. I wouldn't say that this was a dumb decision but in life, sometimes we are so wayward we want to make a 'dumb decision' just because it makes us happy. It will be more challenging for me. It will be tougher, longer hours, less time for study and less free time in general. Everyday will be more hectic but the idea of being busy is so rewarding to me. I just want to never stop right now. I don't know if it is more right to make myself happy right now or if it is more right to work towards a future that I don't even know if I will enjoy. I'll have to hold off internship related stuff for a while. Maybe this doesn't seem like a big decision to other people, but right now it's changing a lot of what I think I will apprehend. I'll do my best. Grow upper.

NYFW | Carchitecture - General Idea SS14 Review

Bomber jackets are excellent for a more casual look. General Idea this season at New York Fashion Week presented colour-blocking in darker tones. The pieces were inspired by cars, clearly in the backdrop of the show. The colour-blocking made the pieces resemble the paint of cars along with the lines - creating headlights and other details of a car. It's an interesting idea, being a robot in disguise. Check out the photos here.

The bombers and other jackets created a top-heavy look which I like a lot. Bombers have become quite strong in more recent seasons and I hope it continues - it's dressed up but still modest. The lines used to section off the colours were smart and fresh. I think the blue jacket was particularly strong. The simple black shoes were good in the looks. Of course I have a keen eye for accessories and the blue/white/black backpack was great!

Photos from Fashionising

LFW | 5 Trends at London Fashion Week - Wrap Up for SS14

Clearly it was too onerous to post about every designer I was really interested in at all the Fashion Weeks (I'm lagging way behind in NYFW and Tumblr won't let me post 999 million photos a day). Instead, let's have a wrap up of London Fashion Week and see what trends were presented. Which ones would you try for the upcoming season?

Firstly, some notable mentions. I was pleasantly surprised by Mulberry which was nice to look at this season, I don't usually love their stuff but this season was good, with the use of fine florals mix minimalist approach which is ALWAYS chic. Claps for Paul Smith using houndstooth because it's such a timeless and sophisticated print. The most memorable was probably Tom Ford, known for sexy and provocative designs, the mirror suits and dresses were a little S&M but still feminine. Zoe Jordan and House of Holland had great casual pieces and were good for the younger market. Burberry Prorsum had very wearable but also fresh pieces. Finally, I liked David Koma for the edgey silhouette but they were less prêt-à-porter. My favourite was probably Paul Smith followed by Burberry Prorsum.

I will upload some LFW SS14 photos here. Check back later :) Wow, this post actually took hours.
Can't wait to have a look at Milan Fashion Week!

NYFW | Still Mod Chic - Ralph Lauren SS14 Review

I have to be very very honest, I was most surprised by Ralph Lauren's collection at New York Fashion Week. 1. It was a detour from what you'd normally expect from Ralph Lauren. 2. Mod was already a strong theme in SS13.  But you know what? If Ralph Lauren says it's still in then it is still in. The collection was very strong and chic, highlighting his interpretation and a better interpretation of what the mod 60's fashion meant. The updated pieces with masculine elements in monochrome were great to kick off the show, later which entered the brightly coloured gowns, ending on a storm of white garments.

I did however, want the mod pieces to be a little bit more feminine with the bags or accessories, but I don't care, I love Ralph Lauren SS14. The runway photos are all here.

NYFW | Another Spring - Robert Geller SS14 Review

It seems that many menswear designers have been taking inspiration from Europe for their SS14 collection at New York Fashion Week. Robert Geller has presented a new style inspired by Eastern European menswear. The pieces are conservative to preserve the masculine qualities of menswear and in this, mixed with punk influences. Darker pallets make Robert Geller's collection a stand out in the Spring/Summer season. See all the runway photos here (actually there might be a delay because of the Tumblr limit haha).

NYFW | Boho of Tomorrow - Anna Sui SS14 Review

Anna Sui's SS14 collection at New York Fashion Week looked back beyond 'hipster' and went straight to hippie. The bohemian style of the collection was coloured by the elementals inspired by earth, water and fire. The show was mysterious with the backdrop and the pieces were so interesting with the fine tessellating prints. The intricate details, earthy tones and material worked cohesively for a great show. You can see all the runway photos here.

For SS I enjoy the more flowy and unstructured looks.

NYFW | The Venetian American - Ernest Alexander SS14 Review

The Ernest Alexander SS14 collection unveiled at New York Fashion Week could easily be my favourite. The pieces are well created and trendy that they are stylish additions to anyone's wardrobe. It's also easy to match these with what you might already have. It's good to see that the looks are selling every  single piece so well from head to toe including the bags. There are strong elements of Italian and American suit tailoring, mixing up slim fit blazers with straight lines. Their non-padded shoulders give off effortless coolness. Check out all the looks here.

NYFW | Loud Secrets - Alexander Wang SS14 Review

Branding has always been the forefront of Alexander Wang inspirations and this season at New York Fashion Week, it was louder than ever. The discrete cut-outs of ALEXANDER WANG all across his garments was boastful yet modest. It was interesting to see this sort of approach to his pieces which were all very summery. I liked the cut-outs a lot, it's something new and fresh and bold. You can check out the photos here!

A little narcissistic perhaps - but he IS the creative of  the multi-million dollar Balenciaga. Alexander Wang besides having his name across the collection has signature motifs running throughout, themes like youth culture and just being bold about it.

NYFW | A Gentleman's Game - Michael Bastian SS14 Review

Inspired by French fashion, Michael Bastian has moulded his collection on arguably the most stylish man in the world. The pieces are quirky and fresh while still retaining the gentleman quality of menswear. This is charisma in fabric. You can see the collection here.

It's great to see fun but still classy prints - one of my favourite is the backgammon sweater although I have no idea how to play it properly, I just click it randomly on the old Windows game. The collection is not just prints, the textures make the garments much more refined.

NYFW | Snakes and Flowers - BCBGMAXAZRIA SS14 Review

I have to push these out like crazy cos London Fashion Week started last Friday and I really want to post on those too. Some of my favourite labels are there :D

BCBGMAXAZRIA at New York Fashion Week started the show off with a more light and natural palette and turned it up with deeper colours towards the end. I love the reconstructed pieces which were loose-fitting and the more sheer garments were strong with the lighter colours.

You can check out all the looks here. My friends and I love BCBG ;D

NYFW | Young Heart - Marc by Marc Jacobs SS14 Review

Probably the hottest line right now for younger fashion consumers. Marc by Marc Jacobs at New York Fashion Week showed off what being young is about. The stylish twists of varsity and cheerleading inspired outfits along with some statement novelty pieces were interesting. The use of pastels and satin was innocently youthful. Clearly, this line knows its demographic. Most garments were loose fitting and youthful. The energy was very high in the red pieces and the show ended with large star prints. You can see all the photos here.

The collection boasted some interesting pieces and their form was stylish but I felt underwhelmed by Marc by Marc Jacobs this season.

NYFW | Summertime Freshness - beyondcloset by Tae Yong SS14 Review

I was super excited to see beyondcloset to be at New York Fashion Week as one of the strongest emerging menswear brands from Asia. The label works with bright and bold colours, something I love about Spring/Summer seasons. Awesome awesome awesome. Check out the photos here.

The pieces also have a strong emphasis on shape and prints, making it one of the most interesting labels visually. The really playful colours and the runway looks were very well put together. I like this a lot. It's great to see menswear with much more creativity and bright colours. Menswear doesn't always have to be serious, and this brand shows the fun and more naive side.

NYFW | Look Good, Feel Good - Kenneth Cole SS14 Review

One of my personal favourite shoemakers, Kenneth Cole presented his SS14 collection at New York Fashion Week. The collection boasts casual streetwear and a flashblack to Harlem in the 80s. I think Kenneth Cole is trying something new this season but I'm not too sure about some of the clothing and colours. Some of the studded items were a bit outdated. However, I was very excited about the accessories. The necklaces, 'Feel Good' and 'Look Good' were great and some of the bracelets were the most interesting that I've seen from Kenneth Cole. The photos are here :)

NYFW | M is for Sexy - Michael Kors SS14 Review

Michael Kors is a favourite for many and I really enjoyed his SS13 so I was looking forward to seeing this collection at New York Fashion Week. Of course, the runway looks are all selling the bags and shoes. It's great to see that he matched the shoes to every outfit, something many designers overlook at the runway. It makes the whole look complete.

Michael Kors' pieces were well structured and feminine with smart cuttings for tops, and pleats for skirts. The leathery look is great but I'm not too big on the fur. He had a lot of fun with the collars of the look which often created an 'M' and I couldn't unsee it in the rest of the looks after I noticed it. All the runway photos are here. The show had everything you could ever want, leather, fur, florals, sheer, knits - you name it, and all very sexy and sophisticated.

NYFW | The True New Yorker - DKNY SS14 Review

DKNY at New York Fashion Week was a reminder of 90s New York flavour and urban sportswear. The brand showcased its strongest points in creative streetwear. The items were also updated with more pastel colours and the bold DKNY logo. Just in case it wasn't New York enough, the iconic yellow taxi cabs served as a backdrop for the show. It was well put together with large DKNY letters covered in graffiti. The photos are posted here. Street culture of the 90s was definitely a big inspiration, celebrating 25 years of the brand. Of course, headlines were of singer Rita Ora closing the show.

NYFW | Rustic Genius - Billy Reid SS14 Review

I first came across Billy Reid through K-Swiss because I love their sneakers. They have very interesting styles and they feel very 'me'. I'm sure you have all come across brands which reflect you the best. Billy Reid's SS14 is very texture and print oriented. You can find all the photos here. The show New York Fashion Week (NYFW) was really nicely produced to reflect the ideas of the collection. Especially loved the plants and railway of course.

There are really nice casual shirts that I would definitely wear. I love the materials that he used to create the looks. The pieces are more rustic but at the same time structured. Besides texture, prints seem to be the focus of the pieces. Gone is minimalist and the pieces feel much more retro and homey. The jumpers have really cool prints and texture which work excellently with shorts. The collection also goes a bit experimental with an extremely loose camouflage outerwear and an updated light camo jacket. The blazers all have really interesting prints or textures for the single colour ones. Contrasting panels in terms of materials used are very clever to create different textures too. Menswear has never been so interesting!

NYFW | Breezy Oasis - Diane Von Furstenberg SS14 Review

My first post for New York Fashion Week (NYFW)! NYFW is so different from all others because you get a really strong sense of American glamour. It's great to see modern luxurious styles and you're always bound to recognise a few very famous faces on the catwalk. New York Fashion Week to me is spending central - the trends and styles you see are always very marketable.

One of the most interesting womenswear designers is Diane Von Furstenberg. I focus more on menswear but I would always take note of what goes on at DVF. The good thing about womenswear is that the runway looks are very nicely styled because they can use more accessories. Sometimes the look is really well put together and you don't know where to look! It was also surprising to see Naomi Campbell close the show for DVF ss14. The superstar walked down in a beautifully detailed gold and black dress. Just shows how much work designers put into an outfit. All the photos are here!

Fast-Fashion World - Swedish Retailer H&M to Launch in Australia!

Earlier this year, H&M expressed interest in launching a concept flagship store in Australia. It will be the first in the continent adding to the wave of fast-fashion retailers (ZARA, Topman, Topshop) flocking here. Speculations of where that might be between Sydney or Melbourne are finally (and unfortunately) settled. The new flagship store will be in Melbourne's GPO next year. So jealous right now. I think fast-fashion has really revolutionised the way a lot of people shop. It's great that everyone can have good access to current trends and ideas for affordable prices (especially for menswear). I love their collaborations with some noted labels too like Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Maison Martin Margiela and Viktor & Rolf.

H&M The Icons (Hi, I love Liu Wen)

H&M Mens SS 2013

The new store will be one of the largest stores globally as H&M anchors its position in Australia as a top retailer. The store will be around 5,000 square meters over 3 floors. I want to get lost in it.

I love how H&M is marketed, working with noted designers to lift its own brand as well as provide the general public with access to clothing by those high-end designers (which are great at generating revenue at this more economic level). I hope there will be pieces which are Australian exclusive.

hm.com

Melbourne is getting everything :( with Japanese UNIQLO also wanting to set up its flagship store there. I want Kuroki Meisa all over Sydney instead please.

Being a Watch Guy - Obsession with watches

I always think accessories are the most important things in an outfit. They give hints about so many stories, so many stories of you. The thing is, because it isn't like a piece of clothing and it is chosen specifically and individually, accessories tell a lot about what is conscious as well as sub-conscious about a person. Currently I am really obsessed with watches. I love their look and I also like how they are practical things. I know a lot of people think why would you wear a watch when you have a phone to check the time, but watches are more than just practical things. Using something as what it actually is has long become a thing of the past. Everything these days can be a fashion statement or serve another purpose. I wish I could afford to collect watches (although not in the sense like some people who collect vintage Rolexes and Chopards for investment purposes but) to wear and to look at and keep at home - I want to collect these 'fashion' watches which aren't really expensive but still, it's time to work hard $$$. I really like the boxes that come with the watches too. I don't know, I want to be a watch guy haha.

Sean O'Pry is too cool. Patrick Demarchelier is crazy good. Maybe I'll get one from Calvin Klein just cos they're cool.

Instadigest | 2013 Winter

It's Spring time, although Winter wasn't relenting this year at all. I actually had quite a lot going on and I couldn't pick out only 6 photos from my instagram which represented this time completely, but I guess I had to make a decision and here are some of the most characterising moments for me this Winter. Plus, I kinda blogged about other lifey things in the Op-shop and Cologne diaries.

(30+ days x 3 months)/ 6 photos = 15+ days
So I guess mathematically, each photo should represent more than 15 days.

Left: Birthday month takes priority of course ;) Thanks to everyone (especially my mum and sis for flying to visit me), and especially for the love from all your shrivelled up black hearts :D

Right: Hanging out with Chrissy around The Rocks and The Observatory! The day was pretty tiring actually but it was super fun and one of the many good days I had during the break from uni. More photos here.

Left: Splurge day. Hi Pierre Balmain. I am very poor now but this jacket is an investment and leather jackets last forever anyway.

Right: The launch of SUCK IS FREE at +ESTATEofMIND. A great party and launch of a Sydney label. Check out my post here and the outfit post here. I had such an awesome time!

Left: Shooting with ensofoto! It was really thrilling and embarrassing doing this in public LOL. It was much more challenging then I thought. The finished photos are here and the outfit post is here.

Right: At the NOKIA Lumia 925 Launch Night. The dress was also showcased at Vivid Sydney 2013. Awesome night and super great planning. Check out more about the night here.