Favorite NYFW Collection #1: Marc Jacobs

No surprise here. Anyone who knows me, knows I fawn over Marc.

Electric Avenue?

Although I wasn't crazy over the Marc by Marc Jacobs for F/W 2009, the Marc Jacobs collection totally won me over. The 80s are back! (Did they ever leave?)

We shunned anything 80s for a while during the latter-part of the 90s when flat-front pants, neat silhouettes and somber (complacent?) colouring dominated the runway and sale rack.

Now, strong shoulders, pleats, narrow legs and coloured metallics have made their way back into our lives. Don't believe me? Motorcycle jackets, acid-wash denim and big hair don't seem dated anymore. In fact, Alexander Wang's acid-wash blue leather motorcycle vest has been seen on Hollywood's fashion elite during New York Fashion Week.

Will these also be sold at Target?

Isaac Mizrahi, trying to cash in on the Aretha hat phenomenon, paraded these monstrosities down some runway. I thought putting bags over your head was a suffocating hazard? I hope these things don't make their way into the SATC sequel. They're definitely not easy on the eyes.

Welcome to Heartbreak

Kanye's video for Welcome to Heartbreak off of 808s and Heartbreak, is visually inspiring. When I first watched it, I thought the compression was off- but it's not. The pixelation is a great effect and somehow...post-modern.

KANYE WEST "Welcome To Heartbreak" Directed by Nabil from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Pet Shop Boys!

I was a weird kid who loved Pet Shop Boys, Roxette and Madonna. I was also raised on Queen and Abba and WHAM! Seeing this medley of their greatest hits brings back pangs of nostalgia. Do they have a Greatest Hits collection? I had a few of their tapes and remember watching them on Top of the Pops.

Anyway, here they are, decades later and sounding remarkably great. Brandon Flowers of The Killers and Lady Gaga help out for a bit- blink and you'll miss them.

I just spent the past hour YouTubing their videos- memories of my childhood flood back and I wish they were as big in North America as they are...everywhere else.
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Some people carry a Birkin, others....

He’s like my Chloe shoes, Betsey bag- Oh he’s cute.

He’s like my Marc Jacobs chain, Prada shades.

What’s his name?

He’s my he’s my latest accessory.

- Accessory from the Shopaholic OST

Although it's still winter outside, Spring is in the air and love is in bloom. Here is Marc Jacobs out in Paris with his latest piece, Brazillian boyfriend/husband Lorenzo Martone. Total upgrade from Marc's previous rent boy. Also, note the beautiful black Hermes Birkin Marc is carrying.

And in New York, Kanye with his latest accessory, the physical manifestation of shutter shades. Kanye is rocking the afro-mullet and yet despite this, I cannot hate.

Favorite NYFW Collection #2: Jason Wu

Fit for a First Lady.

Jason Wu shot to stardom after Michelle Obama donned his gown for the seemingly endless night of inaugural balls. The ivory, single strap gown, now infamous and widely mimicked, was right on trend without seeming overtly fussy.

I think it's great that Michelle O is going to young, upcoming designers for her wardrobe. After eight horrible years of seeing Laura Bush wear an endless parade of stiff and stuffy Oscar De La Renta pieces, having Michelle O as First Lady is great change. I really have faith that Michelle O will carve out what it means to be First Lady the same way Hillary Clinton did during the Clinton administration.

Politics aside, here is Wu's F/W 2009 collection. The designs are edgy or complicated or even groundbreaking, but they are accessible and wearable for a large cross-section of women- the new Michael Kors?

Live-blogging ProRunCan2 - Episode 4

• Challenge: Couture designs based on famed fashion houses
  
  Team 1- YSL
  Brandon
  Baylor
  Kim
  
  Team 2- Valentino
  Jessica
  Jeff
  Jason
  
  Team 3- Versace
  Sunny
  Adejoke
  Genvieve
  
  
• How does Brandon not know YSL? I knew YSL as a tween
• Brian Bailey's mustache needs it's own postal code
• My mom just asked for the dictionary definition of dominatrix. Hm.
• Brandon cannot even pronounce Yves St. Laurent - ARE YOU JOKING?
• Special fabric? Unless this is Mood, (or Diane Von Furstenberg's textile room) I am not impressed
• I've been to Preloved- it's right here in Toronto
• Two minutes to gather vintage materials on clothes lines
• Valetino Team picked all the red- smart move- if they keep this up, they will ace this challenge
• Special guest? GASP!
• Can I just say how lovely it is to not have Christie on the show anymore? "It's lovely."
• I like Sunny's entire demeanor
• Sunny found a stain on the pants - that's gross
• Brandon's face is, as Tim Gunn would say, "a whole lotta look."
• Brandon looks like someone who thinks Ed Hardy is high fashion...
• Jason vs. Jessica - I feel a tantrum/breakdown about to happen - any minute now..."Fly or flip-out" Yup.
• Who is the special guest? Iman? Fashion magic? I just love the way she says "couture!"
• I don't see Valentino being Jeff's favourite designer
• YSL used Iman as his muse? Iman loves talking about herself more than Tyra
• Team Versace's colours work well
• Team YSL does look like Commes Des Garcon - tailoring isn't there. I don't understand how Kim can make something hers when she isn't anything to begin with...
• Genvieve just said "if our collection eats ass..." and I feel gross.
• Jessica's breakdown arrived, a litter later than expected, but it's here. I hear sobbing. "I want this so bad," needs to be banned from reality T.V. She also just squealed
• Couture Streetwear? Fail. Sorry Kim, you can sit down. That wasn't the challenge.
• Kim's sweater looks more like Old Navy than YSL
• Jessica will either win or go home- there is nothing else for her.
• Adejoke and Sunny talking shit...but they're right.
• Jason in a white shirt and bright red tie is the epitome of Hamilton chic
• Jason is padding up his model- I think Laura II is hiring a merchandiser
• EVEN THE L'OREAL TEAM KNOWS WHO YSL IS.
• The makeup for Valentino screams Valentino- fresh-faced with a light, bright red lip.
• Kim is bothering me- a lot.
• No one here is going to be successful - I can tell. No one is a Biddel, Lucien or Andy. They all lack that certain "oomph."
• I hate Wayne Clark- he's such a hack. Is he the best we have?
• Team Versace:
• Sunny's is Verscae- circa 1997
• Genvieve- Not Versace...if the styling changed- this would not be Versace at all
• Adjeoke- I hate the slit...the whole thing actually...sloppy
• Team Valentino:
• Jessica- It's not as bad she she's making it out to be
• I like Jeff's quite a bit.
• Jason- WHAT
• Team YSL:
• Kim- This is not YSL at all...so Brandon and her both don't know who YSL is
• Baylor- I like it
• Brandon's outfit's crotch gives me nightmares
• I'm glad they called out Brandon and Kim
• Kim's outfit looks like something out of Pink Tartan's first collection
• Winner: Sunny!
• You just don't measure up: Brandon! His face drips of stupidity...Go back to Barrie.

At the end of the episode, a picture of Dario pops up on and TV and it's noted that he passed away after several years of battling cancer. That's really sad- I'm sure that had he stuck around, he would be a leading contender. Rest in Peace Dario.