11.12.2010

check it out



Sometimes I wish I had majored in English, so I could become a librarian and hang out with books all day. I think my alter ego is a librarian. That’s why I plan on rejuvenating my wardrobe with a nerdy but cool librarian vibe. This means I need to buy more plaids, funky sweaters, granny dresses, knee socks, eyeglasses, and decorative brooches.





















8.19.2010

Don't Tell Mom the 90's are Back


If you’ve never seen the movie Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, then you’re missing out on a true 90s classic. Christina Applegate plays Sue Ellen Crandall, a fashion-addicted teen who has to take care of her four younger siblings when the babysitter dies of a heart attack after their mom leaves on a three month trip.

Not only is it a great movie, but it’s also filled with fashion goodness. That’s why Sue Ellen is my fashion muse of the week. She’s inspired some early 90s throwback pieces that will look great for fall.


Loose, blousy tops, blazers, big accessories, high-waisted pants, granny boots…what’s not to love about the 90’s. Here are some updated versions of Sue Ellen’s outfits.

Prickig oversize blus
549 SEK - modekungen.se
More blouses »


Other photos courtesy of:
trendology.org and chicago.metromix.com

8.15.2010

Trend Forecast: Too Tight to Handle

We've seen it happen hundreds of times through out history. Fashion silhouettes change until they reach an extreme, and then they go back to the opposite end of the spectrum. For instance, hemlines rose from the 1920's to the 1960's until they couldn't get any shorter than the micro mini-skirt. From the 1700's to the 1800's, waistlines rose until they reached the bust and formed the empire waist. Through the 1700's, women's hip padding became wider and wider with the use of panniers and farthingales, until it became difficult to walk through doors. Once the hips got too wide, the waistline too high, or the skirt too short, women went to the opposite extreme and used virtually no hip padding, lowered the waistline to the hips, or wore longer skirts.

"Chelsea Look" mini-skirt designed by Mary Quant, 1960's

This silhouette trend is happening again with skinny jeans. They have been extremely popular the past several years and have gotten so tight they have literally become tights (or leggings), just like the "jeggings" seen in stores.

jeggings from Urban Outfitters

Well, since they couldn't get much tighter unless you paint them on, the new silhouette trend must inevitably be loose-fitting trousers and wide-leg pants reminiscent of the 1970's. Signs of this can already be seen in these Fall 2010 collections:

Chloe Fall 2010

Marc Jacobs Fall 2010

Yves Saint Laurent Pre-Fall 2010

What do you think?

Do you think skinny jeans are here for years to come? Or do you think people will be wearing looser, wide-leg pants within the next year?

Runway photos courtesy of www.style.com

8.14.2010

Pedal Power

Swerving cars, biting asphalt, and purple bruises should not be associated with riding a bike. However, being the klutz that I am, I should have known better than to take a bike ride through downtown Chicago. Even if I can't ride a bike, I can still look like I know what I'm doing. My inspiration for this post is the bike style of women of the 1950's, especially since the 50's silhouette seems to be coming back full force right now.

Key items include cardigans, high waisted shorts, bobby socks, and oxfords. Pair with some floral sunglasses and a cute raffia Fendi bag, and you'll be ready to pedal through anything. Though, I might recommend wearing a helmet if you're as clumsy as me. (They do have some pretty cute helmets out there...like this one from Yakkay at the right)

Shorts med rosett
499 SEK - modekungen.se
More shorts »

UO Eyelet Knee Socks
$8 - urbanoutfitters.com
More UO socks »

Picture Sources:

http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/53288851.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=38FCB2103A208D777BA7C8F557B038E901C922470D6B26EE2C4E80DF322DFFC9

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/86062194.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=2AC75F6FAA20674C438EC1F31F1CDDB874E402325B505C9FA9E21504BF29E321

http://www.life.com/image/tlp974736

8.13.2010

Isn't It Odd?

I recently found out about this cool new magazine from Samir Husni's blog, Mr. Magazine (http://mrmagazine.wordpress.com/). (Side note: As the director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi, Husni aka "Mr. Magazine" has got some credentials, and some great insight into new magazines and the industry overall.)

Odd Magazine, which just launched it's first issue in July, is published by 30 students at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute. I hope to find a copy of it soon, but you can check out some of their stuff at their website http://thisisodd.com/.

They're revolving their magazine around the theory of the Six Degrees of Separation by showing six connections between seven people in the fashion industry. As the website states, "The magazine is inspired by the lives and styles of these seven key persons and the stories about their creative lives, which just happen to be a little bit odd." Well, the editors can explain it a little better than I can:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mztyOvHw12o]

The website includes some of their inspirations, stories, and their "Odd" line of accessories and clothes. I really dig this necklace made out of negative film.

Or this "odd" bracelet/ring:

I think this would be a cool magazine to check out because it's put together by students who have a refreshing, independent take on fashion. I only wish my school could have done something this awesome.