Say Hi to Daul...

I love the supermodel/artist/blogger Daul Kim. She has walked for Anna Sui, Christopher Kane, Chanel, and Rodarte. Her style off the runway is effortless, chic, and the epitome of cool. I especially love the way she combines and layers her clothes to create unique silhouettes. She is bold. You might have heard of her giving the finger to a Barney's sales associate after an unpleasant customer service experience or her controversial polaroids. Not only is Daul a talented young model, but she is gaining renown as an artist. Check out her blog I Like to Fork Myself. Plus, she reads Tolstoy...

And in other news, NY Fashion Week starts on the 13th!

Curated Fashion?

Change- the buzzword of 2009. Fashion is an institution that reflects change. With the folding of magazines, the increasing popularity of the blog medium, and general economic meltdown, the fashion climate has dramatically altered from last year. However, an interesting new enterprise has been established by Urban Outfitters. 

Although slightly suspicious of the chain store that has brought trendy, "hip" clothing to the masses, I am intrigued with UO's "new retail experiment." Called Space 15 Twenty, this new LA concept mall amalgamates the feel of a store with that of an art gallery. Space 15 Twenty hosts a variety of designers and artists that rotate every few months. Currently, one could find street styles from Alife, vintage clothing from What Comes Around Goes Around, architecture books from Hennessy + Ingalls, bohemian clothes from We The Free, Steven Alan designs, and publications from TV Books. In addition to these installations, Space 15 Twenty works with local musicians to hold outdoor performances.

Rotating designers is by no means unprecedented. NYC's Opening Ceremony is one boutique that chooses to focus on a new country each year and showcases a few impeccable designers. Paris's Colette immediately comes to mind as the original innovator when it comes to fusing clothing, design, culture, food and art. However, I maintain that Space 15 Twenty creates a revolutionary shopping experience and would look forward to a Chicago location. 

A Slavish Addiction to Shoes

My new year's resolution for 2009? Take a hint from the demigods of fashion and don seemingly unorthodox footwear. Although it is questionable how easily it would be to saunter down Sheridan Road in five-inch stiletto heels with spikes protruding from the toe, the wearers of these alluring shoes would encourage risk-taking. Moral of the story: embrace the abstract, the not-easily-understood, and the avant-garde.

(From top: Ann Demeulemeester, YSL,  Nicholas Kirkwood for Belstaff, Stella McCartney, Christian Louboutin for Rodarte via Jak & Jil)

Jubilee

Happy Holidays! 

xx, the hipster cookie

Garçons, s’il vous plaît…

Finally, the time has come: Comme des Garçons Limited Edition collection for H&M debuts this Thursday. Comme founder Rei Kawakubo promises that the line is "very much Comme des Garçons to its roots." Thus, we can expect a black, white and navy palette, sleek silhouettes, and avant-guarde elegance. "Comme des Garçons" translates to "like the boys," which explains the brand's embrace of the androgynous. The Japanese couture staple usually retails in the thousands, but the Comme pieces for H&M will range from $14.99-350.00. 

If the success of H&M's collaborations with Lagerfeld, Cavalli, and Victor & Rolf are any indication of the demand, you better be reading this post from your tent in front of H&M.

I like my couture well-done

The Chicago History Museum’s newest exhibition portrays the glamour of decades of Chicago fashion. Haute couture from Chanel, YSL, and Comme des Garçons are juxtaposed with the backdrop of a gritty, meatpacking Chicago. Escaping the Chicago of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, elite Chicago women frequently indulged in overseas shopping sprees. Visitors learn that these women, to counter the reputation of Chicago as hog butcher capital of the world, only wore the most upscale, high-end fashion. In the words of exhibit curator Tim Long, “If you were a Chicago matron who traveled internationally and wanted to prove to the rest of the world that you were sophisticated, you would buy not just Balenciaga, but the best Balenciaga.”

Chic Chicago: Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum runs until July 26, 2009.

Autumnal Absence

Call me crazy. But amid the sunny 80 degree weather today and the sea of shorts and flip-flops, I yearned to feel the chill of autumn. Shades of black and grey epitomize fall chic. The following comprise basic transition pieces that would serve one well while experiencing bipolar Chicago weather.

a. Men’s leather sports coat; jcrew.com

b. Men’s Acne jeans; tobi.com

c. Women’s Acne jeans; revolve.com

d. Women’s Miu Miu motorcycle boot; bergdorfgoodman.com

e. Men’s Common Project low-top sneaker; shopjake.com

f. Women’s Alexander Wang silk top; lagarconne.com