Review: Valentino, Renewed, Refreshed & Modern

Photo: Valentino Haute Couture.

Since Valentino has left his brand, new designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli have completely revamped the brand. It pretty obvious that they're trying to generate a younger audience with this Haute Couture collection. since Spring 2009 we've really seen the shift from classic Valentino into this new age of the label. i love where Maria & Pier are taking the brand, with the state of alot fashion houses i think that its smart to switch up things a bit. now where celebrity & media focus is at an all time high you want to create clothes that you know young stars will wear.

Style.com Called the collection "Garden Of Eden in Cyberworld" and i dont think i could have put it anymore perfectly. The clothes themseleves were very romantic with the ruffled chiffon and pastel colors. But then you get this space age feel with the blue sprayed shoulders & eyes, the fantasy tribal styling and the overall warrior feel you kind of got. but with all of that it was still feminine and ver very modern. Usually when you think of Couture, you think of heavy beading and embroidery, and gowns. but this collection showed you a different side. and i have to say one of my favorite collections from Valentino to date.

+Favorite Runway looks+

My Handsome Spring/Summer Lover.

Photo: The "Hollywood" Swimsuit
Designer: We Are Handsome

Spring , Summer call me the fun lover. I've always wanted to design a line of swim wear. I love clothes but but i oddly love women out them. more and more swimsuits are becoming more aesthetically appealing. Swimwear designers are looking for more creative ways to design it and i think i found the Ring leader. "We Are Handsome" swimwear is probaly the best swim line i've ever seen. the take a different approach with they're line. the swimsuit have become more of a art piece than just a swimsuit. oh, and only one pieces. no bikini's over here.

"The Arabia"


"The Africa"

Photo Opp: Kamber + Karl

Everyday i do my regular blog surfing when i come home from school. and of course Amber Rose & Kanye West are always on the front of the blog. im little sick of seein the two also, but in the same breathe i love them! Kanye & Amber have been making they're way around Fashion week as usual and i've noticed a couple things about Ms. Rose :

1. Lately she has had an serious fascination with "Nude" clothing
2. Her Face (Makeup) is always perfect. Nude lip.
3. She loves digging in the Archives of fashion.

The Archive pieces im talking about are the Margiela shades, from fall 2007 which Amber loves. she wear them everywear. and that Louisn Vuitton mink multicolored bum bag from fall 2006. and needless to say. Uncle Karl, is well . . . Uncle Karl.

Couture. And No, Not Juicy.

My grandmother always said, "if you dont know what your talking about, then close your mouth" i wish alot of people would have listened to my grandmother. Many things bother me, but this has to be one of the highest on my list. when people have fashion lines and add "couture" to them as if they really slaved away in an Atelier to make those horrendous things they call fashion. Biggest and saddest example, Juicy Couture. The most wretched brand in the land. whoever knew that bubble gum colored velour sweatsuits could be couture? did you fall for the joke? i didnt.

To design couture, to become a couturier, one must be certified by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and follow these rules:

1. Design made to order for private clients, with one of more fittings
2. Have an atelier in paris that employs at least 15 people full time.
3. Each season present a collection with atleast 35 looks for day and night.

The only certified couturiers in paris are, Adeline André, Anne Valérie Hash, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Dominique Sirop, Franck Sorbier, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Maurizio Galante and Stéphane Rolland. There are four correspondent members: Elie Saab, Giorgio Armani, Maison Martin Margiela and Valentino.

Ramblings (Two): The Coffee Guy.

So For The Past three months me and The Guy at The coffee bar in my school have been flirting. When You first see him you Would Automatically think he's straight. But That's Definitely not the case. Every morning I come in for my Sugarfree red bull and White chocolate mocha. (I know a bit much right?) But every morning I come in he wants to know how my week is going and what my plans are for the rest of the day. At first I just thought "Ok, He's being nice and sweet" But after a while the Friendly everyday conversation turned into Suggestive hints and compliments. Things like "You Looke Great today" Or "You Have a Nice Smile" Things that can make anyones day. Honestly I've never really though about the "Coffee Guy" In that sense. I mean He's gorgeous. Deep Blue Eyes, Sandy Brown Hair, tanned skin, Tall, And a Little Chubby (Hateeee skinny guys). But I've looked at The Coffee guy like I Look at and Hermes Birkin. Gorgeous, Desired, Perfect match. But Yet Unobtainable to The Average person.

But today, I Was Going To Be brave. I was going to Be a Little "forward" With him and See how things went. Needless to say I made a complete fool of my self. I'm not flirty. I honestly don't know how to. So when he asked me how was my day, In This Low, self Proclaimed "Sexy Voice" I said "amazingly So far". He obviously Found humor in my attempted Sexy/flirty voice. He chuckled, Smiled, and Winked. Asked me was everything alright. I assured I'm again that my day was going fine. While he was Ringing me up he just kept looking at me. And not just looking at me but almost through me. Like he could he see that my Faux sexiness was an Obvious front to get his attention. When he gave me my reciept (No change, I charge) He gently touched my hand and told me to have a good day. Winked again, licked his bottom lip and smiled. Of course feeling defeated and a little embrassed I shuffled away quickly with my red bull & Twizzlers, stumbling over my own feet. Now Completly embarassed. I don't think I can ever face "The Coffee guy" again . . . . Well Atleast not without a Mask, I can't live without my sugar Free Red Bull.

Fringe, Feathers, & Denim.

Photo: Trussardi 1911 Campaign

Photographer: Milan Vukmirovic

This was one of my favorite collections from Trussardi 1911. The collection kinda gave me this James + Cowboy + Native american Feel but a very refined and sophisticated. the model in the campaign is absolutely gorgeous. The pieces i loved the most were the Studded Jean jacket, the bags, and the multi colored loafers. The styling was very commercial to me. they made it very easy for consumers to kind of pick the looks apart and see the separate pieces as their own.

- i also loved this Bag -

My friend Janard over at "Favored Fashion Fix" Actually did a DIY of the feather tanks from this a collection a while back. which he did a great job on!

+ More Campaign images +

Couture Pusha: June Ambrose

Photo: Stylist, June ambrose

Fashion Dossier: Versace Camouflage mink coat,Marc Jacobs pant & boot,lily tam,Hermes accessories.

June ambrose is probably the most, If not the only Noted black celebrity stylist that has a status almost as big as her clients. From day to day, followers of Ms. Ambrose's twitter account get an inside look into the haute pepper madness that June sprinkles upon us ona daily. June has styled the likes of Jay-z, Chrisette Michele, Jazmine Sullivan, Alica Keys, Rihanna ( pre bad girl), and Estelle, to name a few. I remember when Miss. june was rocking a gold fro every morning on the tvONE program "Makeover Manor". I fell in love with her colorful yet seamlessly charming vocabulary. and on top that, The self proclaimed "Rockmom" is also an author. With her book "Effortless Style" June gives you tips and tricks to owning & conquering your inner Fashionable, chai tea, pepper approved moment. Follower her on Twitter and her YouTube account And get your daily chai Tea from the Couture Pusha herself.

+ More Of June's Looks +

Ramblings (one): Relationships, Why are they so important?

Me And my close friend Alexia were talking about relationships, love and attraction, the other night. And throughout the conversation i kept asking myself "Why am i so determined to be in a relationship" I havent had a mate in prbablly 2 years or so and they all ended horribly. none of relationships were ever really healthly. always very emotionally draining. or i was asking for something that they couldnt give me. like love. In all of my past realtionships i have been cheated one. I dont know if it was the lack of maturity from both of us. or if we were just together for convenience. and when i say convenience i mean Sexual interaction.

But this conversation led me to this question, "Are we living just to find our true love?" I watch countless daytime shows and programs where theres always that one woman who isnt that bad looking, maybe a little crazy but yet still dateable. But for some reason she cant find a man, and is on a desperate hunt for one. Why is it that we feel so incomplete when were not in a relationship? why do we make finding a mate so damn important?

Me personally, I've always found love as a co - dependent emotion. i think that people search so hard for a relationship because they feel like they're missing something in life. They think that having a partner will somehow change everything and that life will be better than ever. but honestly, relationships are hard. esp. when your young. and i think they usually bring more problems on top of what you were already dealing with. Or am i just a bitter bitch that is scorned from my past lovers and now i despise real love? ha. maybe so. but either way i feel like being in a relationship shouldnt be such a major thing in your life. If you find love, then great. cherish it and keep it sacred. but if not focus on yourself and your personal goals. find what your really want for yourself and base decisions off that. not just because you feel like you need a partner to make you happy.

Fashion Dossier: Catherine Baba

Catherine Baba is an international known stylist. She has worked for Chanel, Givenchy, Balmain and Ungaro and is a freelance stylist and consultant for a number of fashion houses and designers. She has also worked for Dazed and international editions of Vogue. Catherine loves to make bold statements and has developed an unmistakable style which has its own place in the contemporary fashion world.

She dresses with a sort of 20s and 30s Hollywood glamour and feminine allure, displaying a love of rich fabrics and fantasy clothes. The picture above is Catherine walking the streets of paris in this amazing lapiz shirt dress & turban. Catherine always has the right accessories to go with every outfit she wears. You usually can spot her riding arund paris on her bicycle.