At home with Homme

Kris Van Assche's mens collection for Christian Dior, Spring/Summer '09 was quite interesting. I didn't know what to make of the 3D-looking glasses, but the rest of the clothes were actually pretty good. I like how some of the jackets and shirts had a shredded look to them as if the model was attacked by a blunt object. I liked the subtle leather pieces. I wasn't a fan of the fluorescent pinks and blues, I thought it was a bit of an overkill. The gold outfits I surprisingly liked. I thought it was very youthful and modern rock n roll. But most importantly, I loved the fact that Van Assche focused more on the detail and tailoring of the clothes. Watch the runway show below and see for yourself.

Bored with Boss

The new Hugo Boss collection for Spring/Summer 2009 left a lot to be desired. The clothes for the men and women were as basic as sportswear can get. I know Hugo Boss is a huge label in the male fashion community but these clothes didn't present any excitement for me. Most of the clothes were either black or white with a few blues thrown in. There was, however, an oriental feel to it. I don't know if it was the fact that there were tight turtlenecks resembling Chinese dresses. Basically if you want to look sleek then the Boss label is for you, but I prefer outfits that have more creativity. Watch the runway show below and judge for yourself.

Confused Cavalli

I don't know what Roberto Cavalli was thinking for his Spring/Summer Mens collection, but it was definitely a lot of thoughts. Like the Gucci collection, the clothes didn't seem to have a coherent flow to them. Some of them were baggy, and urban while others were preppy; the rest were Rock n Roll on acid. These clothes were weird, at best. Some of them were actually wearable and you could tell target a youth audience, but I must say I enjoyed his female clothes much more than the mens. Roberto needs to stop trying to be cool, instead making clothes that are sexy and tropical. Watch the runway show below and tell me if you're as confused as I am.

Back to the future with McQueen

Alexander's Spring/Summer Men's collection was very interesting. He's the type of designer that young, edgy, men would want to wear. The clothes were very sleek, and I liked the androgynous look. You couldn't really tell between the male and female models. The clothes were a mixture of futuristic/80's type clothes. All of the shoulder pads and square cuts were 80's, yet the patterns were very futuristic. Some of the outfits looked like an illusion and hurt the eyes. I love his mixing of colours together and some of the outfits looked like they had a hint of nudity, but it was a nude colour in between a black design outfit. I don't know what to make of this collection. One thing I liked about it was that it had a clear direction and was artistic; the other part of me thought it was similar to Rodarte's clothes. Watch the show and judge for yourself.

Unimpressed with Emporio

Georgio Armani's spring/summer 2009 collection left a lot to be desired. The whole show had the feel of the set of the 1980's show Miami Vice. At any point I thought Don Johnson was going to pop out of the runway with all his mullet glory. With all the jackets with t-shirts look, it was youthful but at times looked cliche. There were no vibrant colours, there was a lot of greys and blacks, but I must say fabulous tailoring. I liked the way he interpreted the leather jackets with criss-crossed zippering. I absolutely loved the vests that he created but that's where my favorites end. I absolutely despised the plastic looking shorts that he produced as well as the overly baggy evening pants that looked like they came straight from the Aladdin set. I understand that Armani wants to be young and cool with his designs, but the whole thing just screamed tacky. Armani should go back to what he's good at, sophisticated, corporate type of clothes that have become his staple. Watch the video below and tell me what you think.

Gucci Pyschodelic Trip

Freida Giannini collection for Gucci's men's spring/summer 2009 was pretty much her worst yet. Freida's collection for women's wear spring/summer 2008 was crucified by many critics for her lack of direction when it came to the theme of the clothes. It seems that she hasn't learned from her mistakes because this collection was un-cohesive. First we start off with 1960's Italy with all the patterns and straight lines, then we move into the 1970's very rock and roll, almost Jim Morrison type feel. Then we somehow we go Native American with lots of fringe and dream catcher type of accessories. Then we finally end off in the 1980's Michael Jackson, Thriller inspired, leather jacket. This woman is trying so hard to be rock and cool that it is looking desperate. All the skulls and tattoo inspired clothes looked like a knock off of Ed Hardy. I said it once, and I'll say it again, it is time for Freida to leave and Tom Ford to come back. No man would wear these clothes, especially the girly looking floral pants. Watch the run way show and tell me if any of you think anything different.

Bowling Burberry

I absolutely loved Christopher Bailey's spring/summer men's wear for Burberry. As usual there was the trench coat that is a staple of the fashion house but he brought a twist to it. I loved the fact that he used very dark greens and greys to accentuate the English countryside. I loved his oversized sweaters and deep V-necked tops which can be worn by other men or women.But most importantly I loved his interpretation of the bowler hat by making it bigger and bringing it down.

Dying with Klein

I must say that I was very disappointed with Calvin Klein's spring/summer men's collection. The clothes were too tight, especially the pants. I mean those pants were so small you could see the models man hoods. I'm sure those pants were some of the reason's that the models were walking funny. The knee length shorts that they had almost resembled a football pant or a jockey. There were these two jackets that were neon pink and yellow. They were so bright, it nearly hurt my eyes. The white suits were so white that you could almost see it from space. It was just one nightmare after another. What the runway show for yourself and come to your own conclusions.

Swinging with Sanders

I loved Jill Sanders spring/summer 09 collection because it was unique and different. I loved all the mix matching of colours and fabrics. I loved the unique placement of zippers. I love how the different shades of colours made the men's jackets look like they were corseted even though they weren't. The only thing that I didn't like about the clothes was the fact that some suits were completely one colour on the front and another colour on the back. This made it look like the models had sat on a painted bench. These clothes are definitely made for the young and adventurous male customer. Watch the runway show and judge for yourself.

Viva Versace

Leave it to Donatella to create a very sexy men's collection for Spring/Summer '09. I love the fact that she opened and closed the show with Halle Berry's boy toy Gabriel Aubrey. He is so beautiful, and made the show just that much better. But back on the clothes, the look was very tropical and very Milan. The whites and the light colours and even some pastels were very beautiful. I love the fact that her shirts are so thin that they just cling to the men's bodies without looking cheesy. I even love her use of the fringe-tipped scarves as decoration for the suits. This wasn't a collection that was ground breaking or different for men by any means, but that's the beauty of it. Most men (especially the straight ones) are not very daring with their fashion, so therefore, producing a men's collection can get very repetitive. But Donatella is commendable because she creates timeless pieces that could stay in a guy's wardrobe for many years. Another good thing about the Versace clothes was the fact that it appeals to any age group. Even though all the models were very young, you could still see the same suits on an old, balding guy. My only negative critique has to be those dreadful male purses that have been coming down every catwalk. Hopefully with the economic crisis, designers will stop producing this hideous accessory. To watch the runway show, click here

Sleeping with Dolce and Gabbana

Since the beginning of this blog, we have been focusing most of our attention on women's fashion. I decided that since Spring is basically here, it is time to look at men's fashion, so the guys know what to where for the upcoming season. We start our look with one of my favourite duos- Dolce and Gabbana. For their Spring/Summer 2009 Collection, there is definitely a more comfortable look to their men's fashion. You can tell that they were inspired by more a pajama/bedroom look for their outfits. This look is perfect for the home or for more of a casual setting; however, when you are going to a board meeting, this is not the type of look an executive would go for. Although there were some slim cut, traditional pant suits, the theme was definitely comfort. I loved all the skinny ties that they used for their suits as well as the scarves. Another thing that I had a problem with was that some of the shirts were a bit too tight. A fitted shirt on a man looks great, but a skin-tight shirt looks a little sleazy. My biggest pet peeve of the show was those stupid man-purses they kept bringing down the runway. What straight guy in his right mind would use a man purse? A briefcase or messenger bag is one thing, but a purse is pushing it. All in all, I must say that it was a delightful show. To view the runway show, click here

mayday, mayday

Everywhere you go, there are stories that the print industry is dying a slow and painful death. For someone like me, this is completely disheartening because I hope to become a fashion journalist in an upscale print publication, such as Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. A CBC video that I watched portrayed the increasing fear that many print publications had about the growing threat of the internet. It is obvious that many people are attracted to the free and user friendly nature of the internet as opposed to actually going out and purchasing a publication. Especially since the blogging phenomenon started, many publications have felt the pinch of this particular internet medium because people can get up-to-date and most of the time, reliable, information at the click of a button. This has prompted many newspapers and magazines to have their own websites in order to compete with bloggers. The question therein lies; how much free information does one put on a website in order to attract a fan base that will then purchase the publication. Generally people will not purchase something if they can get a free alternative and this has deterred a lot of advertising for these publications which is their main bread and butter. In fact, the pages of advertising in the magazine, American Vogue, has decreased by 100 pages within the last few months. With the decrease of print journalism there has been an increase in online publications such as, Style.com but the problem is that you do not need as many staff to run an online publication as you do for print. This will mean that journalism jobs will become a lot more competitive in the coming years than before, which is why I am hoping that my blog takes off. A part of me, though, will always love the tactile experience of flipping through the pages of a magazine. This simply cannot be duplicated digitally.

Viewer's Choice

Who did you think was the worst dressed?

• Heidi Klum
• Whoopi Goldberg
• Miley Cyrus
• Jessica Biel
• Sophia Loren
• Beyonce

Created on Mar 16, 2009

View Results

poll by twiigs.com

Viewer's Choice

Who did you think was the best dressed?

• Penelope Cruz
• Kate Winslet
• Marisa Tomei
• Sarah Jessica Parker
• Anne Hathaway
• Natalie Portman

Created on Mar 16, 2009

View Results

poll by twiigs.com

And the Oscar goes to...

Penelope Cruz never ceases to amaze me. She truly proves that she is the Sophia Lauren of our generation. This is a woman that can wear an outfit that makes her look as sexy as Marilyn Monroe, but as regal as Princess Grace. Nowadays I watch the Oscars to see what she will wear next. I must admit, at last year's Oscars Penelope's outfit was a bit of a letdown from the year prior. But this year, she has come back with a vengeance. Not only has she finally won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, but she also takes the title as the best dressed woman of the night.

At Number 2 ...

Marisa Tomei usually ends up on the worst dressed list when it comes to award shows or any Red Carpet events. This year, however, she was a total knock-out. Her one shouldered, mermaid inspired dress hugged her figure and made her look 10 feet tall. This is how glamorous clothes are meant to be worn in order to make one look better, instead of overshadowing them. She may not have won the Oscar, but this dress will certainly get Marisa noticed on the A-list and finally on the best dressed list.

At Number 3 ...

Kate Winslet was totted to be the best-dressed actress at the Oscars by many publications. Although I do think she was the best actress of the year, I don't think she was the best dressed at the ceremony. This is not to say I didn't love her outfit; to the contrary, I quite adored it. I love the mixing of silk with lace and the one shoulder look. Most importantly, I loved the fact that Kate wore another figure-hugging dress to a major awards show. Most women in the industry go on crash diets before the award season starts to look stick-thin in their dresses. However, Kate proves that curves are what makes a woman truly sexy and elegant. She's one of the best role models that Hollywood will ever have.

At Number 4 ...

I know that many people slated Sarah Jessica Parker for her Oscar dress, but I think they're all nonsense. This dress is the quintessential definition of what true style is all about. Sometimes I don't know where Carrie Bradshaw stops and Sarah Jessica Parker begins. This dress is both edgy, but elegant, which is a standard look for Carrie Bradshaw. Most importantly, I love the fact that SJP is using a belt with her ball gown which is something that many other women have the guts to attempt. This is why I now think that Carrie and Sarah have become the same person.

At Number 5

I love the fact that Anne Hathaway keeps it simple because she knows what happens when she goes overboard. This dress compliments her figure as well as her colour. She's one of the few young starlets that is proud to be pale and is not lathering on fake-tans, resembling an Oompa-Loompa. She also doesn't wear huge, goddy jewelry that looks tacky. She has an understanding of elegance that is really refreshing. She's not one of those people that wants to be overly sexual or edgy; she is just simply Anne. Even though she is really young and has a long way to go when it comes to fashion, I can see her being the next Nicole Kidman when it comes to style.

At Number 6...

I love Natalie's dress because it's elegant, but not matronly. Unlike her contemporary, Natalie knows how to dress for her build, age, and personality. The colour really brings out her complexion and I love the fact that she did not decide to use any jewelry to put anymore emphasis on the outfit. Natalie really proves that she is the Audrey Hepburn of our generation.

And the Oscar goes to...

Miley Cyrus was one of those people at the Oscars only as a way to draw in younger viewers to the show. But this year she wasn't the only tween tighten to be invited to the show, hence getting a dress to stand out above all of the other Disney people. Well she certainly accomplished the fact that she stands out - but for all the wrong reasons. This dress would look absolutely stunning on someone like Penelope Cruz or Sarah Jessica Parker. Instead, Miley does not have the age or personality to pull this outfit off. On her, it looks like a costume from the Hannah Montana set instead of a ball gown. The problem is when any young celebrity goes to the Oscars they feel the need to wear a big, princess dress in order to look, what they think, is elegant and sophisticated. When someone is that young they should stick to a slim, youthful silouhette, showing more skin because they're at the stage where you can. Next time Miley, stick to a young, fresher dress for a major event like this.

At Number 2 ...

Jessica Biel is one of those people who I wonder why they even attend the Oscars. But then I realized the reason she was invited to the show, or to anything for that matter, is because she's the girlfriend of Justin Timberlake, which is an association she is milking for all its worth. This was an outfit that was rumored to have been chosen by the Vogue style committee in aide to help Jessica. I think it's safe to say that Jessica Biel and Jennifer Hudson have proven that you should never take Oscar fashion advice from ANY Vogue staff. This dress looks as though it is vomiting fabric from the top and downwards. It just makes her look frumpy and it completely overshadows her existence. Next time Jessica, stick to the skin-tight hoochie outfits that Justin loves on you.

At Number 3 ...

Beyonce decided to wear this outfit to the Oscars in order to promote her family's "Fashion Line". This is why celebrities shouldn't try their hand in fashion, because you get outfits like these. It looks like Beyonce went to an S&M inspired place in China and stole the curtains! This outfit makes her look 10 times heavier and completely stupid. When will Beyonce learn to never listen to her mother when she gives fashion advice? Stick to someone who actually went to fashion school and you won't be the ridicule of the next day's gossip mags.

Putting the You back in YouTube

I absolutely love YouTube for all the videos that it provides. For instance, on the site, I use it a lot to watch fashion shows that I normally wouldn’t be able to because I don’t have the opportunity to see them live. While watching the video “An anthropological introduction to YouTube,” it was amazing to see much impact this website had on people’s lives. I can understand why people would want to do video blogs in order to express their opinion and views just like a regular blog. However, I think most people that do video blogs have almost the type of exhibitionist and/or aspiring-starlet personality. A lot of videos on YouTube have a sexual overtone; it’s almost like having sex in a park except it’s not illegal to do this type of activity on the web. In the video, most of the explicit content were supposed to be funny, but I can only imagine how much of it is not. I appreciate the fact that YouTube has the Sign Up page where they try to distinguish the adults from the minors in terms of materials to be viewed. Unfortunately, it is easy to lie on the Sign Up page and say you are an adult in order to view the explicit content, which makes the whole purpose of this program seem pointless. On the other side of the coin is the fact that YouTube provides a type of voyeurism where people can view the inner minds of others without being identified. Some would say it is the best form of reality television. What I find the most interesting is the fact that for many vloggers, YouTube is a type of therapy where they can vent their frustration or act out their neuroses. For these types of people, my only question would be, if nobody is watching their videos, does it still help them emotionally? For other vloggers, such as LonelyGirl, YouTube is just an avenue to become famous and possibly get recognition in the mainstream media. No matter what YouTube is used for, I think people should become a little less protective of it and just enjoy it as an entertainment forum.

At Number 4 ...

I don't know what Whoopi was thinking when she wore this atrocity to the Oscars. I happened to watch the View the day before the Oscars and heard Whoopi gushing about how beautiful her dress was and how lovely she would like. I was excited to see her. But as soon as she came on screen my jaw hit the floor. Why would she ever put on this tent dress that did nothing for her figure? I know Whoopi is not stick-thin, but so what? She's probably the same size as Queen Latifah, yet Latifah wears complimentary clothes. Whoopi would have been better off wearing a T-shirt and slacks like she does everyday on her show.

At Number 5

I know Sophia Lauren is one of those people who are cinematic legends, but what has happened to her lately? First of all, her face looks like it has been pumped full of botox that if you pinched her some of it would ooze out. And the outfit is just too terrible for words. All of the ruffles and lace was terrible. I don't know who designed it, but if it were my clothes I would pretend that I never made it and hide in a cave full of shame.

Counting down 6 Best and Worst dressed women at the Oscars

The Oscars happened last week and since I had 3 exams during the week of the 23rd I was unable to critique the clothes for all of you guys. But don't fear; because I've finally decided to put together my list. When watching and reading all of the different fashion commentary it was interesting to see the wide range of opinion about the best and worst dressed at the Oscars. I've decided to choose women who stuck out to me in the best and worst ways.



Kicking off our worst dressed list, at #6 is Heidi Klum. Heidi wore a fantastic red Dior dress last year that was theatrical, yet elegant. However, at this year's ceremony she wore a weird, red, tinted dress that looked like it was attacked by a weed-wacker. I understand that Heidi wants to be edgy and elegant at the same time, but this dress is not the way to go about it. The next big question I have for Heidi is why she is even at the Oscars to begin with? Even though the Oscars have a million categories for every person who works on a movie, I don't think they've made a reality series category as of yet. Next time, either wear a good outfit or stay home because noone cares if you show up to the Oscars. Continue reading further.

Elie-gant

I was really impressed with Elie Saab's latest couture collection for Spring/Summer 2009. Even though he kept all of the romance and glamour that is his signature look, he toned it back a little bit. It was still couture because it was artistic, but there was a certain refinement and elegance that was not there before. In the beginning of his career, Saab would put every design on a dress that he could think of making some of his creations look like a costume. If his latest collection is anything to go by, Saab is catering to a more Princess Grace type clientele, rather than Beyonce. He kept with the tradition of light pastel colours, yet used a lot of lace and ruffles that brought a romantic feel to the clothes. I especially loved all of his ball gowns in the end that were beyond Oscar worthy. I also loved the wedding dress that he showed in the end because it wasn't the typical white dress other designers use, instead it was a champagne colour. I love the fact that the fashion industry has people like Elie Saab who can continue the craft of couture for many years to come as the older craftsman are starting to retire. To watch the full runway show click here and here