You know when you see someone pass you by in the street? You see their outfit, and its actually pretty simple. A leather jacket and jeans; a sweater and leggings. But you notice that what makes their outfit is their hair. A bright cherry red, or a lion's mane head of curls. The ordinary becomes extraordinary. It is a creativity that is truly original because the one place that people seem least willing to take chances is their hair. Or their make up. An acid green eye shadow, black lipstick, colored false eye lashes. People are afraid of going near their face. And that makes sense, you are after all only given one face, however, perhaps that means that from time to time, its good to try out a new face.

Body Trends

Today I will be talking about body trends. They come and go as much as style trends and they are just as different from culture to culture, from town to town, from city to city. Back where I came from, in the small town of nowheresville, having an athletic, curvy body was "in". The role model would probably have been Giselle or possibly CIndy Crawford. In New York, the trend is anorexia. As a famou designer once told Natalia Vodianova, "the look is anroexic...you dont have to be anorexic, just look it." My question is, why in one town is health the ideal, whereas in another city, one must appear as if they are starving? What is the connection to the fashion trends. In Nowheresville, the look was simole, casual. Tight jeans and t shirts were in fashion and I suppose, in order to pull off such girl next foor fare, one must have a body to fill it out with. In the city, people are wearing off the runway couture, so they must look like the models who wore it originally. However, I have seen many anorexic women in New York. In one instance at the Monique L'Huillier show, I saw a small doll like little girl, very malnourished, speaking to a tall, fully grown woman, the kind of woman who commands the respect of an entire room. The doll like girl turned out to be a fully grown woman as well... or as fully grown as such a wasted away body could let her be. The malnourished woman repelled where the healthy one compelled. The malnourished brought sorrow and discomfort where the healthy one brought a respectful awe. Both were wearing Couture, your question my readers is... which would you rather be?

The three places in the world that consistently fall into the category of uncategorizable are New York, L.A. and Las Vegas. Well, everyone knows that Las Vegas is where you go if you want to walk around dressed as a flamingo without commanding so much as a second glance, however, New York and L.A. are the two fashion epicenters of America.
Two such dissimilar style sensibilites could not be found in any other state. Los Angeles: easy, breezy, youthful and funloving (unless you are a real housewife), and New York: Tough, serious, rough and sophisticatedly sexy. So the question remains, are you New York or L.A., and what can you do to emulate either style? Well first you have to know the style icons of each city.Then you have to know the designers. What are "the places to see and be seen?" The places to wile the night away? Allow me to fill you in

L.A.

Icons:Amber Valetta, Rachel Bilson, Kate Bosworth,Blake Lively
Designers: Rodarte, Missoni, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfigger
Restaurants: The Ivy, The Palm, Yamashiro, Cafe Savilla
Clubs: Avalon Hollywood, 740 Club, Club Mayan, Conga Room

NYC

Icons: Marykate and Ashley Olsen, Olivia Palermo, Peaches Geldoff, Edie Sedgewick
Designers: Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone, Etro, Balmain
Restaurants: Per Se, Daniel, LeCirque, La Gouloue
Clubs: Kiss and Fly, Tenjune, Greenhouse, Bar Basque

Samples from NYA

Everyone knows that the West Village is the place to go to find stylish, original finds. The independent boutiques and cobblestone streets set the area apart from the rest of Manhattan’s bustling Starbucks scenesters. One such of the Village’s best kept secret boutiques is NY Artificial.
Started in the late 90’s by current owner, Aaron Bond, and designer Alex Guzman, the boutique is a miasma of handmade purses, clothing and makeup, all created in the back of the store, on the premises. “We do not carry any of that China made, sweat factory clothing that is so common these days”, says Bond of the store, “Everything is high quality, made by independent designers, or hand loomed in the back of the store by Alex [Guzman]”. One can see the intricacy of the pieces, and the painstaking attention to quality is the weaving of the dresses. NYA caters to a certain type of woman, the woman who demands respect upon first glance, who cares for her look and the perceptions that others have of her, but not so much as to lose her own hard won originality. “We used to carry a lot more unusual, fantastical pieces, but with the recession they just weren’t selling.” says Bond “People are buying more basic right now. Desperation leads to conservatism.”
Unfortunately, politics does tend to dictate the evolution (or devolution) of fashion. What used to be a several location store has waned down to a single location in the Village. However, NYA is hardly dying; its customer basis still includes A-listers such as Brooke Shields, Maggie Gyllenhall and Camilla Belle. However, NYA does not discriminate against its less famous clientele, “You walk into Catherine Mallandrino and if you’re not a size 0, they’ll turn their backs” says Bond. Not so at NYA. NYA caters to a variety of different sizes and style preferences, offering a unique array of entirely vegan, cruelty free garments in a wide variety of materials. Some of its best finds include a hand loomed, hunter green frock dress, with detailed hand stitched patterns and an abbreviated hemline; a floral printed silk, sheet dress, and several radiant colors of handmade angora sweaters. My personal favorite? A silver studded satchel that will officially be topping the list for my upcoming birthday… and probably yours now too!

Sarah Jessica Parker as Cinderella at the Golden Globes
Stella McCartney channels The Princess and the Pea

Alice in Wonderland inspired designer fare

With Halloween coming up, everybody seems to be thinking about costumes. What costumes should they wear on the big night? What costume should they wear to all of the parties leading up to All Hallow's Eve? I personally am more interested on what I can absorb from all of the outrageous get ups that I can use for further ensembles for the rest of the year.
No I am not considering walking the streets of New York dressed as catwoman in mid-March, however I might consider buying a pair of black leather pants and black leather boots in the tradition of the famous superhero sex symbol. Much inspiration can be derived from Fright Night if you keep your eyes peeled and your creativity high.
I personally find myself becoming most inspired by all of the three year old Disney Princesses I see stalking around on Halloween. That Alice in Wonderland smock dress? Chloe!Check! That Snow White collar? Marc Jacobs here I come! Cinderella's turquoise taffetta gown? Didnt I see Sarah Jessica strutting her stuff in a similar Lacroix number at teh Golden Globe awards?
Dressing up as a princess isnt just for three year old girls. Just make sure that you lose the tiara.... oh fuck it, keep the tiara, no one is going to look twice in this city!

Bright Black

The Real New York Look
Brightened up with a canary scarf
BCBG Brights

Derek Lam Brights

New York Streets black and grey

One thing that can always be said about New Yorkers? They never follow the runway. Oh sure, you can travel to the Upper East Side, feast your eyes on the tourists, proudly toting their Barneys bags, the nouveau riche daughters of the current internet billionaires, and yes, you will see a direct snapshot of this seasons runways trends hanging off their pilates toned backs. However, if you want to travel down to Soho, or the West Village to capture a glimpse of the real New York, the 2011 Fall runways show will not be represented there. That is not to say that you will not be witnessing some of the most stylish youth ever to walk the city streets. In fact, what you will witness, is true style. uncopied, uncensored my Vogue.

Proof that the rewal New York doesnt do "trendy"? The supposed return of brights. This seasons runways were covered in brights. Vogue, Elle and W magazine all boasted that Brights were the new Black. However, on the streets, New York seems to stay true to its signature black and grey. That isnt to say that a canary yellow scarf wont be thrown into the mix to add some eye candy to the ensemble. Other ways that young New York likes to liven up their basic black uniform? Funky patterns such as polka dots or houndstooth. Sure Derek Lam, BCBG and Louis Vuitton have been posting burnt oranges and violet blues in their shop windows, and by all means, do not discount them! After all, true city style is about following your own curb, which means, make it your own, keep it fresh, keep it young!