FIENDTUESDAY: EAST OF FASHION

ROMANCING THE EAST

Monique Lhuillier's Fall 2010 borrows heavily from Eastern inspiration. Strengths of the collection were cocktail dresses, evening gowns, and jackets. Behold: dress highlights from the show.










PHOTO CREDITS: Monique Lhuillier from style.com.

FIENDMONDAY: ACCESSORIES

BACK ON THE CHAINGANG

In the meantime, chains are popping up everywhere on accessories from bags to shoes. Lanvin, Derek Lam, and Roberto Cavalli remind us all that glitters is gold.

PHOTO CREDITS: Lanvin (center), Derek Lam (left), and Roberto Cavalli (right) from style.com.

FIENDFRIDAY: ACCESSORIES

CHAINMAIL

While we're saying hello the 70s, we've yet to completely bid adieu to the silver-studded 80s. This time around we bypass plaid and punk and go back to the ultra basic era: The Middle Ages. Medieval chainmail-inspired pieces update the harder-edged 80s party trend that Marc Jacobs has since eschewed shortly after he embraced it. Meanwhile, Balmain seems content to see the trend through to its final crusade.
PHOTO CREDITS: Mawi (top), Eddie Borgo (left), Erickson Beamon (bottom), and Janis by Janis Savitt (right) from style.com.

FIENDTHURSDAY: COMFORT AND JOY III

RETURN OF THE WEDGE, PART III


Wedges ready for the tea garden. Pinkies up!

PHOTO CREDITS: Roger Vivier (top), Tabitha Simmons (left), and Viktor and Rolf (bottom) from style.com.

FIENDWEDNESDAY: COMFORT AND JOY II

RETURN OF THE WEDGE, PART II


For those who prefer the more demure variety, behold the neutral wedges.

PHOTO CREDITS: Bottega Veneta (top), Salvatore Ferragamo (left), Donna Karan (bottom), and Camilla Skovgaard from style.com.

FIENDTUESDAY: COMFORT AND JOY

RETURN OF THE WEDGE, PT. I


Rejoice, comfort-lovers. Those who scorn the sky-high platforms of the past few seasons will be pleased to know that the new emphasis on utilitarian styles has ushered in the return of the wedge. Behold the tall, bold, foot-loving wedge!

PHOTO CREDITS: Pierre Hardy (top), Christian Dior (left), Givenchy (center), and Ralph Lauren (right) from style.com.

FIENDMONDAY: NEWHOTNOW

NEWHOTNOW:

MARTIN GRANT

Loose silhouettes, asymmetry, one-shoulder details, volume. Sounds like a recitation of the key trends directing fashion forward through the Spring and Fall 2010 season, but it's Martin Grant's Spring collection.









PHOTO CREDITS: Martin Grant from style.com.

FIENDFRIDAY: FASHION FLASHBACK

ABBY CUNNINGHAM

With the 70s making a strong comeback this season, it seems topical to remember the roots of the trend. Perhaps the most overt of the trends is the tailoring of suits and relaxing of the hemlines. Loose, but polished silhouettes are the vogue of the moment, a la Abby Cunningham from Knots Landing (famously played by Donna Mills). Clean, relaxed lines, and a modern sophistication in both attitude and personal style are so 2010 (and Abby Cunningham, though she could be a bit catty at times, to say the least).

Looks from ADAM (by Adam Lippes), Chloe, and Yves Saint Laurent harken back to the late 70s/early 80s lackadaisical ease and update it for the modern woman.

PHOTO CREDITS: ADAM (left), Chloe (center), and Yves Saint Laurent (right) from style.com.

FIENDTHURSDAY: NEWHOTNOW

NEWHOTNOW:
Elise Overland

Elise Overland's debut runway collection serves as a bridge between seasons. Overland, who made her name designing for rockers, juxtaposes the haughty toughness of her leather creations with softer nude hues.

The result is a striking aesthetic of demure coquetry that is right on trend with the utilitarian vibe of the Spring 2010 season, while staying rooted in the 80's party-scene appeal of past seasons. The 80's haven't completely left us. Fall 2010 will see a revisitation of certain 80's staples, but the trick is to know when and how much is just right.

Overland's runway debut is a brilliant segue between the two sensibilities.


PHOTO CREDITS: Elise Overland from style.com.

FIENDWEDNESDAY: DENIM DAYS

RAGS TO RICHES

Denim is back. It's spread from the legs to the full body like a cancer. The textile has been put to utilitarian use in ensembles that capitalize on the casual ease of the fabric. Moschino managed to mine an elegance out of the material in dressy looks from skirt to dress looks.

Head to toe denim looks are tricky and hard to pull off in everyday use. Instead of going full throttle and giving Cool Hand Luke a run for his money, try layering a denim jacket over an evening or cocktail dress. This works well with velvet, in particular.

If you don't have one already, or you threw your old one out, a denim jacket is actually a smart investment. It's a key piece you'll be able to recycle season to season.PHOTO CREDITS: Moschino [top, bottom], D&G [left], and Jean Paul Gaultier from style.com.

FIENDTUESDAY: BACK TO BASICS

KHAKI IS KOOL AGAIN

Are the 90s back? Or is it the 70s? It's a moot point. What is clear is that opulence is dated, consumers are yearning for timeless pieces they can live in, and designers are delivering in turn.

Among the many trends that will be shaping fashion in the next six months are denim, menswear, and neutrals. Forget the signature colour of the season. At the end of the day, it always seems to be the same one, just one or two hues deeper or lighter. It's neutrals and accents that will serve as our palette.

Rich creams, browns, greys, and camels are the new rage, which we'll talk about in future posts.

For now, feast your eyes on the designers' updates to khaki. Khaki gets a face lift via Christoper Bailey, Phoebe Philo, and Elie Saab.




PHOTO CREDITS: Burberry Prorsum [top], Celine [left], and Elie Saab [right] from style.com.

FIENDMONDAY: FASHION EDITORIAL OUTTAKES

TAKE TWO, THREE, FOUR...

In case you couldn't get enough the first time, some outtakes from the session.

Click the thumbnails for full-sized images.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Megan Bayley
MODEL: Shelby Rothwell
STYLIST: Seth Leeper

FIENDFRIDAY: FASHION EDITORIAL, PT. IV

CONFESSIONS OF A FRUGAL FASHIONISTA (CONTINUED)

S)alvation Army: Find your gold in someone else's cast offs. (1500 Valenica Street)
T)arget: As if collaborations with Thakoon and Alexander McQueen are not enough to cement its fashion destination appeal, you can update your handbag and accessories collections from under one hundred dollars.
U)nderwear: Don't tell anyone, but H&M has incredible underwear for guys under twelve dollars that gives great support and lasts forever.
V)intage: Old clothes take on new value when they cycle back into fashion and you can find them for a fraction of today's price.
W)astelands: This is a wonderland of designer goods but prices can vary. Most items are under $100 and their shoe collection is consistent but this might be a one-item-per-visit store for students on a budget.
X) Generation:Trend-driven boutique where everything is under $50. (1606 Haight Street)
Y)ard Sale: If estate sales aren't your thing, find a yard sale in an affluent neighborhood and take their designer threads off their hands.
Z)ara: Spanish-based fast fashion company that sells, mens, womens, and childrens clothing. They sell a mix of original designs mixed with convincing designer knockoffs. There are two locations in SF. (250 Post Street, 845 Market Street)

Red Cap Sleeve Shirt: Vintage, $8.50, fro, Buffalo Exchange 1555 Market Street

Pencil Skirt, Express Design Studio, $4.49, from Goodwill 1700 Haight Street

Necklace, Forever 21, $9.80 from Forever 21 7 Powell Street

Shoes, Model’s Own

Total: $22.79

PHOTOGRAPHER: Megan Bayley

MODEL: Shelby Rothwell

STYLIST: Seth Leeper

FIENDTHURSDAY: FASHION EDITORIAL, PT. III

CONFESSIONS OF A FRUGAL FASHIONISTA (CONTINUED)

M)NG Mango: Penelope Cruz's fashion home delivers dresses and basics for under sixty dollars with a slightly European slant. (117 Post St, 845 Market St # 2)

N)ew York Apparel: Come here to find tights and leggings in every color starting at just three dollars. (1772 Haight Street)

O)ld Navy: Occasionally you will find a cute top or dress for under $20 here, but the only acceptable reason to pass through the doors is to stock up on flip flops or underwear.

P)ink Lilly: You will find a ten dollar or less rack and a treasure trove of pieces for under one hundred dollars. Most dresses and shirts are under fifty dollars. Don't miss the leather jackets starting at $59.99, cuter than anything you will find at H&M or Forever 21.

Q)uit wearing black nail polish and lipstick. Really.

R)otation: Repetition is not a sartorial sin as long as you know how to rotate one key piece through several different outfits. For example, you can wear a crisp white shirt three times in a week: pair it with jeans one day, under a blazer and over a pencil skirt another, and with a cardigan over tweed pants. This can save you time and money.

Jacket with Bondage Straps, Marc Jacobs, $32.50, from CrossRoads 2123 Market Street

Pinstripe Shirt, Max Rave, $9.00, from Buffalo Exchange 1555 Haight Street

Jeans, Forever 21, $9.50 from Forever 21 7 Powell Street

Booties, Forever 21, $32.80 Forever 21 7 Powell Street

Total: $83.80

PHOTOGRAPHER: Megan Bayley

MODEL: Shelby Rothwell

STYLIST: Seth Leeper