3.1 Philip Lim

Philip Lim, who in 2007 was granted The Council of Fashion Designers of America award for Emerging Talent in Womenswear, has made a very geometric shift this season. He has reinvented the idea of spring and has separated from the beige and flowery drab of most of this season's collections.  Instead of going garden for the springtime he has used shiny fabric and space age shapes to present the return of light and warmth. 

The feminine high waist has remained but now has an edgier feel with layers of sharp edges and line. Tailored tops are put with swinging metallic skirts and oversized jackets can now be put to use as dresses. There is a slight retro sixties feel to the collection but Lim did not make the mistake of going overboard. He puts with these pieces metallic jewlery and necklines which remind one of the Louis Vuitton necklaces from Fall 2009. Yet Lim is incredibly original and this collection has come at a perfect time where the tinsel looking outfits can be used for inspiration during the Holiday season. 

photo credit : style.com

Daul Kim

Daul Kim was found dead in her Paris apartment yesterday.

She was unlike any other model around. She had the ethereal beauty and careless style it takes to be a success in the fashion blog scene, but she was much more than just that. Daul was smart, but not in the "I know everyone" sense. She was unique and original, writing about her feelings on her blog - such a faux-pas. My fascination with her personality began only recently so when I heard about this, i was shocked in a really unusual way. I felt like I had known her forever. RIP, miss you.

Model Spotlight - Dree Hemingway

Dree, the great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, has taken the fashion world by storm in the past year. The 22-year-old, formally a ballet dancer before turning to modeling and acting, has been featured in campaigns for Calvin Klein, DKNY,  and has recently appeared in V magazine. Born and raised in California, she is now signed with Elite Model Management in New York, Independent Models, and Ford Models Europe in Paris.

The infamous Tommy Ton has raved about this new starlet which he calls the Next Big Thing. With blonde hair, fine ballerina features, and a family legend, she has become the new American star. Hopefully we shall be seeing more of Dree in the future.

photo credit: Jak and Jil

Chantal of Cocorosa

Chantal, a Finnish trend caster living in NYC, has loads of style. Previously a designer she states that "the job as a Trend Forecaster kind of just happened. I still love to design and I think I will always keep designing but I'm not sure if it will be a full time job anytime soon." Yet a do-it-yourself she posted of embellished tights made its way to VOGUE. When asked about her response to this form of media attention she states "I come from a very small town in the Netherlands so all these wild designer dreams I had while being in art school studying Fashion rose up again and to dream like that is great, it really is." From the designs we have seen so far, hopefully her dreams come true.

But back to business. When asked to explain the role of her vocation in the fashion industry she replied that "trend forecasters analyze and report on upcoming trends seasons ahead, sometimes up to 18 month ahead of time, most of the reports are done by analyzing and reporting on the runway shows but some, like me give a 18 months ahead forecasting by analyzing tendencies toward art, photography, lifestyle and by intuition, giving direction in global trends, colors and fabric."  Her career certainly influences her up-to-date style choices and she predicts that in the future we will see more "fantasy/ dreamy, decadency, dark/underworld inspired trends".

Yet she is still ambivalent about fashion. "Honestly, to me fashion is not that important (when we talk about clothing), actually fashion to me is not all about clothing, Fashion to me is the tendency people have towards certain styles in clothing, photography, art, lifestyle, behavior, beauty ideals, maybe towards certain trends? and why? Fashion reflects society and in that way Fashion is important to me." Ultimately fashion is important for the ways in which it influences, and is influenced by, life. A fresh face on the fashion scene, click here to view more.

Shi of Buffalo Parade

Shi, a first year design student from down under, makes fanciful art and does so with some funky style. When asked to describe the character of her works overall she states "Honestly, I'm quite oblivious to my work having a 'style' because I view it everyday. But from what I've heard, it reminds people of childhood, inside jokes, mockery, drug induced experiences and the wild." Shi uses a variety of mediums for her creations " from conventional to unconventional" including pencils, inks, crayons, digital, foods, coffee, crushed petals, and dirt. She's certainly resourceful.

When asked about her favourite paintings she picked the two above. The first one (left) "reflects the harshness of modern living and how it is capable of draining your soul energy." This painting has an edgier tone compared to her second favourite (right) which is inspired by the famous Wizard of Oz . This one was her favourite because of the use of expression, which is something she creates throughout her life. Her website is not only known for her art but also for her sense of style. Though she claims to have a "Does she have a home?" look, Shi is creative and fearless in her fashion sense. Her website shows pictures of her in almost anything from tie dye pantyhose to glitter galore. In her future she sees herself as a grand illustrator with "a beautiful garden, a pet pig and love." Overall her website is full of inspiring photos and art pieces. To find out more simply click here.

Aurel Schmidt

"In a direct manner a piece of art cannot save a life, or change a political policy; but through it's subtleties it does have the power to effect individuals. It has the ability to inspire thought, and therefore has the potential to promote awareness and ultimately influence change."
check out more by clicking here.

Book Review - The TeenVOGUE Handbook : An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion

Since I was 13 I have wanted to work for teenVOGUE. After the first issue with Ashanti on the cover I've been drawn in, and they haven't let me down since. This books is one of the most informative books I've found on the market about the fashion industry and gives tips which are unexpected yet useful. For a sneak peak I've collected some of the best quotes:

"Start a scrapbook. Collect anything that interests your eye, like images from magazines, color swatches, and even fonts. You can refer to it like you would an encyclopedia and bring it to interviews" - Aoife Wasser

"Sometimes in your career, you just have to jump it. You'll learn to swim!" - Natalie Massenet

"Make a magazine with your friends. And learn both sides of the business - financial and creative. The create side was easy for me, the business side was trial and error." - Claudia Wu

"Be as free as possible, experiment as much as you can, and surprise yourself. Don't conform. You need to have integrity to be yourself" - Frederike Helwig

Full of interviews, tips, and inspiration, this book is one guide I felt had both style and substance. It steered clear of the usual trap of vagueness  and showed people in all areas, from the interns at the bottom to the editors, designers, and photographers at the top. Not only was the book amazing but it also included a year subscription to teenVOGUE. One of the best fashion books of this year so far, you can purchase it by clicking here.

***** five stars