The Circus of Fashion...

Many of the fashion industry's elite and more seasoned patrons have chimed in about the phenomenon that is Street Style fashion.  This once natural and organic sub-evolution of the fashion industry has made a 360 degree turn over the years and now we have it's new transformation: Cyber Reality TV stars or as notable fashion journalist, Tim Blanks refers to them as 'fashion monsters'.


The following STYLE.COM mini documentary called "Take My Picture" by Garage Magazine which features interviews with Tim Blanks (and other fashion industry elites and blogosphere) give an interesting and more importantly insightful perspective on the circus of fashion and where it's headed.

[MFW] Streetstyle Trend at MFW: Stylish Headgear!

*Photo Credt: Phil Oh

Aside from catching up on the different fashion presentations that have been presented at Milan Fashion Week my indulgence is reviewing all of the streetstyle photos of the amazing gear the fashion show attendees wore.  Starting with NYFW and on to LFW and now MFW the key fashion accessory that all of the photos that made me stop and oogle were attendees rockin' some stellar headgear.  Amazing headgear serves the immediate need of warmth but more importantly fulfill that amazing need of mine for fashion to serve a purpose and live up to my style motto of 'Edgy, Comfy, Chic'.

Check out my suggestions of great pieces that will help you step up your headgear while at the same time keep you warm (definitely a plus especially since Chicago has been blanketed with inches of snow):

[NYFW Recap] A Fashion Girls' Dream Come True: Bill Cunningham took my PICTURE!!

Any true fashion admirer knows of the iconic and legendary, Bill Cunningham.  Many in the fashion industry have deemed him the creator of what has now become widely known as 'Street Style Photography'.  This past spring I had the priviledge of watching the documentory, 'Bill Cunningham New York', which was a 10-yr labor of love for Richard Press & Philip Gefter. 

I was educated on 80+ yr. old New York Times photographer, Bill Cunningham.  For decades, this Schwinn-riding cultural anthropologist has been obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high society charity soirées for the Times Style section in his columns "On the Street" and "Evening Hours". Documenting uptown fixtures (Wintour, Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor, David Rockefeller), downtown eccentrics and everyone in between, Cunningham’s enormous body of work is more reliable than any catwalk as an expression of time, place and individual flair.

So needless to say, seeing a snapping camera approaching me and immediately recognizing Bill's unmistakable blue smock and head of pure white hair behind that camera I did what any other fashion admirer is suppose to do: POSE! I could not have dreamed for a better ending to my NYFW SP/SU '12 fashion extravaganza. The following are photos of the outfit that were deemed "Bill Cunningham Approved":

Photo Credit: Daisy Medina of Velvet Dreams

What I'm wearing: Vintage Sequin Blazer, Anne Fontaine White Collared Blouse, Grey Straight Leg Paige Denim, Sam Edelman Booties and ASOS Envelope Turquoise Snake Skin Embossed Clutch. 

[Style Review] A Spring Trend Done Right and Oh So Uber Chic!!

I could not help but document this awesome Street Style Spring Ensemble!  In my past blog post, Lace Isn't Just Meant for Grandma's Dollies, ( http://chi-stylemaven.blogspot.com/2011/05/lace-isnt-just-meant-for-grandmas.html) I featured the revival of Lace.  This retro fabric was all over the Spring/Summer 2011 Runways from Erdem to Chanel.  Ari's vintage lace peach colored bolero with pearl accents is reminiscent of Ederm's SP/SU '11 collection, paying homage to the classic lace styles of the 1900's with a modern twist in shape and pairing. Ari not only hit a home run with the warm pastel color palette for Spring, but she makes it a grand slam in dressing down this traditional fabric with a pair of dark boot cut denim, a white t-shirt and accessorized with pearl accessories (earrings and bracelet).