Venexiana Spring 2015 Runway Show Review

The Pavilion at Lincoln Center right before the show. The lights and music were unreal and expertly done.

The Venexiana Spring 2015 collection would've knocked my socks off had I been wearing any. It explored different silhouettes, materials, colors and amounts of sequins, yet still remained extremely cohesive. Lately, I have been noticing that a lot of the time when sequins are used, a dress can get very tacky very quickly. Even with a ton of sequins, the Venexiana gowns remained timeless yet modern. For me personally, this collection was all about the back. Low cut backs, sheer paneling, interesting shapes, the back area of the gowns truly was the hidden treasure of the whole thing. Take a look below at some of my favorite backs, full looks and then the video of the finale!

Backpack, Backpack

It's hard to find backpacks these days that fit all my needs. Style, lightweight, big enough (but not too big) and of course, not insanely expensive. As a high school student, my backpacks take a lot of wear and tear throughout the year, with the heavy books they carry and being dropped on the ground before every class. I scoured the web for bags that I think are both stylish and could actually fit real books, and here are the results.

Forever 21 Striped Canvas Backpack

$19.80

H: 16"

W: 15"

D: 5"

Forever 21 Faux Leather Backpack

$32.80

H: 15.25"

W: 13.25"

D: 6.25"

H&M Shopper Bag

$34.95

H: 11.75"

W: 15.75"

Jansport SuperBreak

$35

H: 16.7"

W: 13"

D: 8.5"

Topshop Krazy Kaleidoscope Backpack

$68.00

H: 42cm

W: 33cm

Topshop Cuzco Backpack 

$72.00

H- 44cm

W- 33cm

Topshop Grainy Faux-Leather Pocket Backpack

$68.00

H: 31cm

W: 26cm

Erickson Beamon x LeSportsac

$128/$148

H: 11"

W: 10"

D: 5"

This Erickson Beamon x LeSportsac collaboration hasn't dropped in stores yet and won't until sometime in October. This might be helpful if you're trying to hold on to that old backpack but you know it's not going to make it the whole year. Maybe put it on your Christmas list?

All these backpacks are fantastic in my opinion, and I tried to represent a lot of different styles to match up good backpack ideas for everyone. Hopefully, each of you found one you love (even if you have to wait a few months to get it!).

Check It Out: Lee Lee's Forest

Just this past week, I was walking around South Street Seaport before my internship when I came across Lee Lee’s Forest, a cute little boutique. They have an incredibly stylish selection of comfy tees, casual and fancy dresses, shoes and jewelry. I was impressed by their ability to combine preppier pieces with more relaxed pieces, while still maintaining a cohesive aesthetic.

       

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Parental Advisory Graphics: Why Are They Popular?

We've all seen the warning sign before, on either music or videos. But a new craze started just as Alexander Wang sent look 15 and look 16 down the runway. Why all of a sudden have shirts and other articles of clothing emblazoned with this logo become so popular?

 Images via style.com

Cheaper versions of the shirt have been popping up everywhere from Urban Outfitters to Asos to Etsy.

Images via Asos (left) and Urban Outfitters (right)

Personally, I feel that the popularity of this graphic is a result of three things. Primarily, it is the result of the common person wanting to wearing the same styles and graphics that celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Kat Graham have worn. Secondly, it could be as a result of the fad occurring, and the person buying the shirt could purely want to be "on trend". Finally, this graphic would be popular to those who enjoy music and disapprove of the inane amount of censorship that certain genres of music are put through at this point in time.

Would you wear this top? Do you fit into one of those three reasons for getting or wanting clothes with this graphic design on it?

All About Festival Fashion

Festival Fashion by emmathedesigner on polyvore.com

From Coachella, to Governor's Ball to SXSM to Ultra, music festivals from coast to coast bring out hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic aficionados from around the world. Naturally, such a varied set of people brings interesting styles and trends.

After the popularization of these festivals over the past few years, more and more street style photographers and fashion icons have been going to these events. Even stores have been noticing, including Forever 21, Nasty Gal, and Asos.  To gain from this bandwagon trend, they have started launching festival collections/shops with some specific trends from the festivals.

In my four outfits, I've displayed some of my favorite trends from festivals this past year. These trends have influenced the increasing popularity of many styles this spring. 

So what should you look for in stores?

1) combat boots, graphic tees, slouch backpacks, interesting materials for shorts

2) crop tops, midi rings, flower headbands, chunky jewelry, docs, heart sunglasses

3) patterned shorts, floral prints, circle sunglasses, cute flats, wide brim hats

4) overalls, converse, and comic inspired prints 

I Wish I Could've Gone #NYFW

Erin Fetherston

Designer Background
Erin Fetherston has shown her collection at New York Fashion since she moved to New York in 2007. She was a finalist for the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2007 as well. In 2009, Erin Fetherston was officially inducted as a member of the CFDA.

Inspiration
Erin Fetherston was inspired this season by the Barbizon Hotel. The Barbizon was part hotel and part charm school, and many aspiring actresses lived there for some time, including Grace Kelly and Edith Beale. Fetherston used her collection to evoke the same feeling that the Barbizon did in young women, saying "A charmed life awaits, we only need to dress the part." The silhouettes and fabrics of the collection were inspired by Camelot-era styles, including jacquards, velvets and laces.

Fall/Winter 2014 Photos

While this isn't the whole collection, but it is the majority of it. It was practically impossible to choose the ones I did to not show. From the makeup to the hair to the fabrics to the silhouettes to the shoes, this collection was perfect. In each and every look, the representation of the elegance and femininity of the late 1940s and 1950s is clear. The looks are appealing for the typical girl today, and they are perfectly sophisticated and modern at the same time- a hard task to accomplish to this degree.
Images via Erin Fetherston

@erinfetherston
#erinFW14

Charlotte Ronson

Designer Background
Charlotte Ronson started her collection in 2004 as C. Ronson. It has since switched names to Charlotte Ronson, and she has had many interesting collaborations, such as ones with Uniqlo and Urban Outfitters. She has dresses celebrities such as Blake Lively, Kate Moss, and Nicole Richie.

Inspiration
The collection this season was inspired by Little Lord Fauntleroy. After looking the book up, I discovered that it was a children's novel about a young New York City boy, Cedric, finding out he is to inherit a lot after his father dies, and become an Earl. His grandfather, the current Earl, plans to teach Cedric about how to be an Earl, but instead Cedric teaches the Earl to be kind and compassionate towards his people. The clothing in the book set a new precedent for the middle class, as they described little Cedric as wearing a black velvet suit with a lace collar. These clothing descriptions must be what influenced the Charlotte Ronson collection, not the story line itself.

Fall/Winter 2014 Photos

To be entirely honest, I didn't really like this collection. After reading through a few pages worth of summaries about Little Lord Fauntleroy, I was finally able to understand the inspiration for these looks. However, I thought that the patterns- the large rose and the paisley- were outdated, and simply not very appealing when they were made into clothing. There were a few looks I did like, like the long black lace dress and the black crop top with the midi skirt. Those were both on-point for the trend forecasts this fall. The other looks were a bit lacking. I think a big problem for me personally was the fit and length of many of the dresses, skirts and the jumpsuit. Most dresses, specifically the two floral dresses, looked like they did not fit the model well, being baggy in the shoulders and the waist. It is very hard to make a model look bad, and unfortunately this happened at Charlotte Ronson this season. I was disappointed in the collection, it is very abnormal for Charlotte Ronson to be so off. Hopefully next season will be better.
Images via Charlotte Ronson by Dan Lecca

@charlotteronson
#charlotteronsonFW14

Alon Livne

Designer Background
Alon Livne interned at Alexander McQueen in London, then started out working as an Evening and Couture designer for Roberto Cavalli (at the age of 22). When Livne left to start his namesake brand, he competed on the Israeli "Project Runway", winning first prize. He does many celebrity designs, and has worked with Beyonce and Lady Gaga in the past.

Inspiration
The Alon Livne FW14 collection was inspired by imperialism in Morocco, which occurred in the early 1900's. Morocco was imperialized by France, and the collection has clear influences of both native Moroccan culture and French culture.

His muse was a daughter of international royalty traveling to Morocco and slowly discovering her identity throughout her development into adulthood.

Fall/Winter 2014 Photos

After seeing this whole collection, I imagined a world in which I would have place to wear these gowns. I respect the color choices for the collection, which are very regal, but also show the richness that is common in African cultures. The beading, jewelry and headwear was a bit of a throwback to the early 1900's, in the nicest way possible. The designer stayed true to his Moroccan inspiration in these details, proving that the collection was executed to the fullest extent.
Images via Alon Livne by Dan Lecca

@ALONLIVNE
#ALONLIVNEFW14

Saunder

Designer Background
Saunder, designed by Emily Saunders, is a reflection of her experiences, travels and inspirations, all combined with influences of her hometown, New York City. Saunder is a contemporary ready-to-wear collection, that is produced entirely in the Garment District of Manhattan.

Inspiration
The inspiration for this collection came from a combination of the film noir era and the aesthetics of the 1980's. The silhouettes are influences by film fatale and the patterns reference the 1980's.

Fall/Winter 2014 Photos

Emily Saunders has achieved the impossible. Smoking jackets are full outfits. A fur jacket is proportional in an outfit. Sequins are casual. The men's shirt silhouette is finally a successful dress. Basically, she is the answer to all my prayers. I really appreciate the shoes in the collection, and the fact that she wasn't afraid to add a pop of color with the occasional pink shoe. These looks allow a transition from the mild September weather to the freezing months of January and February, something that isn't normally seen in ready-to-wear collections. The fact that all of this is designed, produced, and manufactured in New York City only increases my respect for the brand.

@THESAUNDER

#SaunderFW14

Hernan Lander

Designer Background
Hernan Lander first studied design at Altos de Chavon in the Dominican Republic, where he won the Gold and Silver Thimble Awards. Included in those awards, he received a full scholarship to Parsons. At Parsons, he won the Silver Thimble for menswear before his junior year. Throughout his final years at Parsons he worked for many different high-profile designers, won First Place in the Nordstrom Competition and was a finalist in the Gap design competition. In his senior year, Lander was nominated for Designer of the Year and won the Gold Thimble for menswear. After graduation Lander worked for Donna Karan until he decided to start his own brand, which two years later gave Lander the title of "Breakout Designer of the Year" by TimeOut.

Inspiration
Hernan Lander drew his inspiration for this collection from architecture, as well as simple materials. He also showed his affinity for menswear- where he started- in the designs of coats and jackets throughout the collection.

Fall/Winter 2014 Photos

Architecture isn't an easy thing to be inspired by, just off the basis that it's not very easy to translate the lines and slopes of buildings into clothing without them seeming unwearable. Hernan Lander showed the inspiration in the details: cutouts, asymmetrical hems, patterns, fabric/color blocking, silhouettes and strong shoulders. These points of emphasis showed the curved and the straight, the symmetrical and the asymmetrical, all which exist in both architecture and the collection.
Images via Hernan Lander by Dan Lecca

@hernanlander
#HernanLanderFW14