Long time, No Blog.

I can't really explain why it's been so long since I've blogged again other than my MacBook crashed at the beginning of September, and being the poor young 20-something trying to live a not so cheap/luxe (haha) lifestyle, I had to wait until October 1st to retrieve a new hard drive. That being said, I can now return to attempting to blog more frequently. Now on to Fashion weeks and music for Fall!

Balenciaga SS 12

The Spring 2012 collection had an element of architecture from head to toe. LITERALLY. Structured jackets and bold color-blocking with a touch of luxurious texture. Boxy menswear jackets over bloomer type shorts add a very commanding silhouette translated into a very powerful and bold spring collection for the Balenciaga woman.

Balmain SS 12

After the departure of Christophe Decarnin after last Fall's 2011 collection, Olivier Rousteing has turned the Balmain girl full of attitude/spunk and a hint of rock n' roll on to Western glam (?). It works. The collection still had the certain attitude that the Balmain brand has exuded in the past. Very detailed and full of shine with the gold beadwork all over the collection. Also, a hint of menswear with button-downs and pants giving the power back to the silhouette of the woman. The shoulders are high and so are the shorts/skirts. One thing is for sure is that these themes of neutrals, powder blue and prints are definitely here for Spring 2012.

Christian Dior SS 12

With rumors flying around one of the most glamourous of all of the fashion houses in the world, the fashion community was of course anxious to see what would come of the Spring 2012 Dior collection. Still without a successor since the firing of the great John Galliano last spring, the house of Dior seems to be coming back together after a disappointing Fall 2011 Couture showing of pastels and primary shapes as hat wear. Sheer loose fitting dresses and knee-length hems in about 1/3 of the collection gives a vintage and modest feel. Pops of bright red and again a powdery blue throughout the neutral shades of black white and nude adds to the flowing silhouette. Very girly and not one pair of pants in the entire collection, and that's not always a bad thing. I'm sure John Galliano will not be making a return, at all, but I sure did love his force of telling a story with a theme and show itself, which this collection seemed to be missing. :(

Fall 2011, Mix One.

Six Degrees of French Vogue - The Fashion World's Game of Musical Chairs

THE SIX DEGREES OF FRENCH VOGUE

Okay yes, we can all admit that the fashion world is more a of a fashion 'community' and a business together and they go hand in hand, AND it works... For the most part. Just recently it seems to be going off track - or possibly I'm just more aware of it because it has been involving some of my favorite geniuses in this ever-changing community.

First this year, news broke that Carine Roitfeld would be stepping down from French Vogue. No real reasoning was given other than her own saying 'she was done' and she had done what she could or wanted to and she wished to move on. -I'll respect that, but this woman brought back fashion blackface and exposed nipples to the land of fashion editorial journalism. She pushed the line for what was accepted and added a power to the magazine. -Anyway, I've already ranted about that in an earlier post :) -Rumors flew that she would go and advise/help Tom Ford with his recent return to Womenswear line in 2011. (which were soon put to an end quick.) Covering French Vogue and co-editing the magazine in December 2010 added to the speculations of what was to come of the powerful twosome. Then just recently this past month it was reported that Roitfeld had been helping style Barney's Fall Campaign, and just yesterday news flew that she had style Chanel's Fall 2011 with Karl Lagerfeld. Whatever Carine does will be amazing so I have no doubt or any left over bitterness for French Vogue's loss of her even though I will miss my fix of the occasional exposed nipple.

Replacing Carine Roitfled as Editor in Chief was Emmanuelle Alt, previously stylist for the house of Balmain under Christophe Decarnin. -She replaced Roitfeld earlier this year and debuting her first cover for French Vogue in April 2011 covering with Gisele. She has said that her take on French Vogue would focus on 'more clothes' and have 'one boob' otherwise no one would be able to tell it was French Vogue. A little saddening to hear thinking of how far it was come, but we shall see if the French appreciate their Fashion journalism more breast-less and possibly more 'Balmain-less'.-

After hearing today's news about Christophe Decarnin's departure from Balmain after his no-show at his Fall 2011 presentation, (of course again rumors began to fly).

It had been reported that Christophe Decarnin was not present at the finale of his FW11 show because he had been 'hospitalized', but was fine. Only until today did official word come out that rumors of Decarnin being in a mental facility were false and that he and the chief had been having disagreements about the brand's direction for a while. Decarnin came to Balmain in 2005 and since then he has added the 'attitude' of the line that makes the Balmain girl look like she rolled out of bed in her studded army coat costing a few thousand and skinny jeans so skinny that the models sometimes looked to be 7 feet tall. The Balmain line under Decarnin gave the female form of sex appeal and power for the girl ready for the front line. No word yet on Decarnin's replacement, but he will definitely go down in history as having his reign for reviving the skinny jean movement.

(Photo credit: NYTimes, AvenueInsider, StylePov)

Obsessions of 2010. PART I.

BYE 2010. HELLO 2011.

Here are some of my Obsessions from this past year,

...or at least the ones I can remember right now anyway.

James Franco's Art Exhibit in NY's AIR exhibit. : The Dangerous Book Four Boys was intriguing, (sometimes scary) from the voices I heard before seeing where they were coming from, but amazing work that I am happy I got to see and experience in person during my first visit to NY in this past Summer of 2010.

& really...who am I kidding? James Franco, in general (Hospital, if you will...ha, ha, ha)...he has become the prince in the acting world that I always knew he could become and even more. Actor, Artist, Director, Soap Star, Author, and Student all accomplished in one year...

while still achieving looking ridiculously good looking at the same time.

(Left to right Photo by: Joshua Barnes, Taken intended for a header for StopTalking in February 2010 I also submitted the photo to Refinery29.com to win a contest including dinner with (right) Andrew Mukamal in July 2010. Andrew chose my photo and made my 2010. Welcomed to Barney's Saturday afternoon shopping and NY high-rise roof watching, meeting Andrew was the highlight of my year.

Proenza Schouler FW 2010: Made me realize I was "born 2 b fly" and that I too rock sheer black button-downs and letterman jackets and still look relevant. And this also began my new found obsession with Tati Cotliar.

Taylor Lautner- That boy is a monster, and I become a 13 year old werewolf lusting girl

whenever I see him with his very own GQ cover.

The September Issue, even just a small 1hour and 20 some-odd minute documentary about the publication of 2007's September issue makes me want to strive to become a part of the fashion journalism world.

The NEW W: under reign of Stefano Tonchi. I love the 360 he has taken on W as a fashion magazine of the 2000's and beyond editorial wise and pushing the line when it comes to the breaking the norm. I can now enjoy my favorite designers scattered through the pages of a very sophisticated fashion magazine where melted Barbie heads and 5 page editorial spreads of the House of Givenchy can be together in harmony for only $4.99!

The revival of excessive use of Leopard print (!!!) : GIVENCHY SS11 and beyond...leopard is here to stay, and hopefully as a neutral before long.

(Gas masks included.)

PUNK REVIVAL --- Balmain SS11 and Balenciaga SS11, ripped, (and held together just enough by safety-pins) studded, burnt, printed, slick back hairstyles so we can be prepared to give 2011 the kick in the face it needs if things get out hand right before the

"2012 Armageddon."

BALMAIN | SPRING 2011 | AMERICAN, PSYCHO

| BALMAIN |

| SPRING 2011 | AMERICAN, PSYCHO |

First of all, this is very unprofessional, but yet again, not,... I love blood. I love holes. I love ink.

Balmain is always surprising, but in the best ways. Sexy, scary demanding women in clothes that could stop traffic. Punk revival is in the air, and I mean FULL-ON punk.

FULL-ON "blood stains", pinned together holes, BURN holes, ripped stockings, and of course bleach and ink stains. It wouldn't be punk without bleach and ink.

NOW, the sophisticated and powerful female who wears Balmain will wear the American flag with cigarette burns and tight leather pants. Patriotic fashion with a kick. It's all about placement when it comes to a Balmain look. Also, the pieces are statement pieces that can stand alone on a mannequin and be stared at in awe.

"Tell me about it, stud," - Olivia Newton John as Sandy Olsson in Grease.

Red, leather, cigarettes hanging off the bottom lip. Sort of has a post-makeover and the final scene of Heathers feel to it. That " I just jumped out of a fire, and I'm still amazing" look!

"So lick it up baby, lick, it, up." -Heathers, 1989

My favorite pieces are the simple blood spurt tank, American flag burn hole tank, red leather flash pants and the white and blank ink jeans.

SPRING 2011 BALMAIN was made for me. If you know me, you were probably looking the collection, and wondering if I had picked my jaw off the floor yet after seeing it.

OBSESSED.

VOGUE.com