Forever a Missoni Fan

On Thursday I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit the Missoni store on Madison Avenue along with some fellow fashion enthusiasts. We were accompanied by Luca and Judy Missoni, the son of the original founders of the brand - Ottavio and Rosita Missoni - and his wife, respectively. I learned a lot about the company and how Missoni garments are made, and I greatly enjoyed the chance to look at the merchandise of one of my favorite designer brands.

Missoni, as I'm sure you know, is renowned for its traditional knitwear, most famously the zig-zag pattern. The garments use a wonderful variety of colors and the quality of the fabrics is practically unbeatable.
In the beginning, the simplest movement to make on the knitting machine was that of the zig-zag, which later became a Missoni signature, but as time went on the level of creativity increased. Missoni patterns are created by moving the fabric as it is knit and by pressing the fabric in certain points for a lace-like effect. This led to many twists on the classic zig-zag. Missoni often creates basic straight knits that are fully fashioned, meaning that machines create shapes that are then linked together, so no sewing or cutting is required. There is also the most expensive technique of knit and wear, when a garment is made in one piece.
Missoni has always been innovative and unafraid of experimentation. Missoni was one of the first, if not the first, to use nylon in the mid-70s to create reversible clothing lined with weather-resistant materials, a first in the fashion industry. Missoni uses space dying, when the yarn is dipped in color, to achieve its unique palettes and patterns. For the look of glitter, laminated materials are knit into the fabric.
Missoni is timeless, always looking forward but always staying faithful to the original foundation of the brand. When I asked Mr. Missoni how the look of Missoni has evolved over time, his response was that of the approach to design. Experimentation "kept a kind of edge," and the brand adapted to evolving technologies. The ideas that worked are kept and adapted, and experimentation is solely for the curiosity rather than the need. Although the fashion industry is known to be fast-paced, Mr. Missoni explained that there is no need for the brand to expand quickly, but instead they must go slow.

Please enjoy my photographs that I took at the Missoni store of the lovely designs that stood out to me.

Luca and Judy Missoni

Photographs taken by me.

What do you think of Missoni? Let me know in the comment section.

xoxo

Inspired by Graffiti

If graffiti were a currency, New York City would be one of the wealthiest locations in the world. It's difficult to spend a day in the city without encountering some sort of this street art - though the "art" term is debatable in some cases - whether it be on the side of a building or on the windows of a subway car. In many cases, graffiti consists of messily scrawled signatures, written in the stereotypical font style of graffiti artists. However, there are also examples of beautiful designs that are so imaginative that they cause me to stop and stare in amazement at the beautiful scene depicted on the wall in front of me.
Now, I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with fashion, or perhaps you have the slightest idea after reading the title of this post. If you've read this far, you can probably guess that graffiti is a big source of inspiration for me. It is one of the most creative art forms that exists today, because there is so much freedom in its creation, despite the fact that it's technically illegal (ironic, right?). Graffiti has been so integrated into city life that New Yorkers are used to it, but occasionally we stumble upon that one example that takes our breath away.
The following photographs were shot by me in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on the day of the Vintage Crawl. For this post, I've used these images of graffiti/street art as references for fashion ensembles: my preferred art form. After all, it's slightly easier to assemble a fantastic outfit than spray paint someone's building.

Giambattista Valli velvet blazer, Jil Sander sweater, Sandro corduroy pants, Vivienne Westwood fringe booties, Arielle de Pinto necklace (on top), Fiona Paxton necklace (on bottom), H&M ring set.

The first thing one notices when looking at this graffiti is the use of the color of green, which is the most prominent detail in the piece. Thus green is the highlight of my outfit, yet to create a monochrome ensemble one has to pair together different shades. In my case, I have a leafy green sweater with a texture that is somewhat reminiscent of the plant in the photograph, and dark green corduroys. I added the velvet blazer for sophistication, as well as for the purpose of creating a unique palette of textures. The fringe booties only add to this mixture, also giving the outfit an earthy and bohemian feel that stays true to the vibe of the image. Sculptural gold jewelry represents the architectural lines in the graffiti, which are piled together into layers of art, much like my more subtle translation using a combination of two geometric statement necklaces. The rings add femininity and finish off the outfit.

Carven dress, Tsumori Chisato tights, Rough Justice suede heels, Delfina Delettrez circle bangle.

This outfit was centered around the idea of color bursting out of the darkness, like the rainbow flooding out of the gray trees in the street art. To stay true to this inspiration, I chose a neutral dress with elegant draping to represent the trees and their texture. The tights represent the fun and imaginative quality of the wall, and pop out from underneath the neutral dress. The blue heels are a portrayal of the sky and lend elegance to the outfit, contrasting the quirky and cheerful legwear. This bangle is so unusual and creative, just like the graffiti. 

All photographs taken by me.

Matthew Williamson dress, Alexander McQueen leggings, Nicholas Kirkwood booties, Venessa Arizaga bracelets.

This outfit was based on the contrast between feminine colors and the toughness of skulls, representing the jawbone of the graffiti in the photograph. The dress is colorful, and the drapes represent the "dripping" detail in the image, while the structure of the dress symbolizes how the art is contained by the shape of the object it is painted on. Neutral leggings with an abstract skull pattern add a subtle touch of toughness, which is only added on to by the fierce Nicholas Kirkwood booties. More color is added with neon bracelets, to help portray the fun craziness of this piece of street art.

What do you think of graffiti? Do you think that artistic graffiti and street art is still a bad thing, or a form of self-expression? Which outfit and graffiti pairing is your favorite?
Let me know with a comment! I read every single one.

xoxo

Toronto Fashion Week

I thought I would do a brief post covering Toronto Fashion Week's colorful highlights. Since my last post was very centered around text, I thought you would enjoy looking at some beautiful runway images.


Lucian Matis

Greta Constantine

Joe Fresh

Images from fashionmagazine.com

xoxo

Teen Vogue Fashion U

This weekend I attended Teen Vogue's Fashion University program, a weekend of fun classes and shopping events with other fashion-obsessed girls and boys. The program is by application only, and thousands apply. I was lucky enough to be accepted into this program that boasts attendees from all over the world; some countries that were represented this year were Canada, Colombia, Mexico, and Poland.

The weekend started off with an H&M shopping event to kick off the weekend. The event featured a live musical performance by British band Brother, as well as a DJ and a variety of snacks and drinks to sample while we browsed the collection.
The next day I woke up bright and early for a day full of seminars, arriving at the Hudson Theater in New York City's midtown for 8:45. The lobby of the theater was full of stalls set up by some of the event's sponsors. We received a LeSportSac tote full of goodies upon check-in, which included a glossy copy of Teen Vogue's November issue among many other things. I was approached with pamphlets and slips to fill out to enter giveaways as soon as I walked away from the check-in table; it was overwhelming, in addition to the swarms of fashionable teenagers and young adults that made walking around a difficult task. There was a Makeup For Ever lash bar, where we received limited edition false eyelashes designed exclusively for the event by Teen Vogue's beauty and health director Eva Chen. Essie was giving away free bottles of nail polish, with a variety of beautiful shades available. Trollbeads was hosting a giveaway for a ring and Clean & Clear was giving away a basket of products. LeSportSac was selling merchandise. Guess was handing out t-shirts designed to benefit charity by a TVFU attendee. And there was so much more that I can't even remember!
We entered the theater and heard Michael Kors, who was the keynote speaker. It was lovely to hear him, and he bestowed a lot of advice upon his adoring audience. "Once you're bitten by the fashion bug," he declared, "you've got to read it all." I've certainly been bitten.
Next, off to the seminars! I attended classes with Teen Vogue's creative director, Katia Kuethe, who explained how she runs cover shoots, in particular the Alexa Chung shoot for Teen Vogue's November issue, as well as how she does the graphics for the cover. I then went to hear the Proenza Schouler boys, who were interviewed by editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue Amy Astley. They spoke about how they attained such success, starting with stories from their Parsons days and finishing off with answering questions from the audience. I had lunch with new friends and then returned to the Teen Vogue offices, where I heard Lauren Berger, the "Intern Queen," give advice about the right way to go about getting an internship. It was so helpful and was probably my favorite class that I attended because I gained so much knowledge. I then heard Linda Fargo speak, who is the Senior Vice President of New York City luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman. Afterwards, I returned to the Hudson Theater for a panel of the Teen Vogue editors: Amy Astley, Gloria Baume, Jane Keltner de Valle, Shiona Turini, Danielle Nussbaum, and Andrew Bevan. I greatly enjoyed hearing the editors speak about their experiences and was very inspired, especially by Shiona's dazzling Miu Miu heels!

Shiona's gorgeous ensemble.

The day was completed by a soiree at Topshop in Soho, where a section of the second floor was reserved especially for the TVFU students. There were desserts, a candy bar, drinks, and free gifts with purchase. I had fun browsing the merchandise of my favorite store, as well as receiving a dramatic makeover from a Topshop makeup artist.
On Sunday (today), I arrived at the Hudson Theater at 9:00 for a panel led by Simone Oliver, Senior Fashion & Styles Web Producer for the New York Times, on Fashion in the Digital Age, which featured the following speakers: Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power of WhoWhatWear.com; Rich Tong from Tumblr; Aliza Licht, Senior Vice President of Global Communications for Donna Karan International; and Susan Koger, founder of Modcloth. Graduation followed, where we received diplomas and had our photographs taken individually to finish off the eventful weekend.

To add some color to this post, I'd like to show you what I wore to the Sunday events of TVFU:

Sweater and dress (worn underneath) by Topshop, socks from Urban Outfitters, tights unknown, Andre oxfords (bought in Paris).

Overall, I'm so glad I attended this event. I learned a lot and I met some wonderful people, who are just as intrigued by fashion as I am. Because after all, as Michael Kors said, "no one else understands."

xoxo

Knitpicky

I've been talking a lot about transitions: making your summer staples equally wearable in colder weather. It's already halfway through October, meaning that it's time to start thinking more about those normal fall and winter purchases. Sure, it's fun to shop the sales and buy discounted warm-weather merchandise, but sometimes it's better to use your money on something more practical. That's why I've already started pulling out the sweaters, and why you should too! I've had a lot of fun browsing through summer discounts - let's be honest here - but when I go shopping it's sweaters that I focus on. Comfortable, cozy, and warm, these garments are perfect for the temperatures we're all awaiting.
Below is my guide to the season's most colorful knits, along with tips on stylish ways to wear them. I personally selected each of these items after browsing through a variety of websites, trying to find quality items that are also reasonably affordable and in a varied color palette. Please enjoy.

Topshop, $140

Image from us.topshop.com

This cable sweater puts a twist on the classic with a rosy pinkish-red hue. 

Pair it with jeans, riding boots, and a statement necklace for a casual but put-together look.

Topshop, $72

Image from us.topshop.com

This perfectly oversized sweater will quickly become one of your favorite pieces, as it has for me (this is one of my recent Topshop purchases).

Contrast the bagginess of the sweater with printed leggings and short boots. Accessorize with piles of bangles: neutral if your leggings are colorful, colorful if your leggings are neutral.

ASOS, about $79

Image from us.asos.com

This color palette is rich, beautiful, and perfectly feminine. The details are unique and will make this sweater stand out in your knitwear collection.

Wear yours with blue jeans (any shape), heeled booties, and throw a silky kimono on top. (Don't know what I'm talking about? Try searching "kimono" on Topshop's website.)

ASOS, about $61

Image from us.asos.com

The brilliant hue of this sweater becomes all the more exciting with an unusual back.

Try wearing this sweater with black velvet pants or leggings for an interesting combination of textures. Accessorize with neutral statement cuffs and flats. 

Zara, $59.90

Image from zara.com

This sophisticated green knit will go with practically anything.

For a hip, modern look, wear yours over a sheer black maxi skirt with heeled booties. Layer necklaces of different lengths and choose a chunky ring that goes well - but doesn't match perfectly - with the other jewelry.

Let me know what kind of colorful sweaters you'll be wearing this season in the comment section below! What are you wearing them with?

xoxo