new years yves

photo by helmut newton, 1975

new years eve makes me think of the 'le smoking' suit created by yves saint laurent, back in 1966. this was the first male-inspired couture evening suit with pants for women. how I would love to find a vintage 'ysl pantsuit' for my collection...until then have happy new years yves!

if the suit fits....wear it

a suit is a total must have whether slouchy, skinny, power, or short....I like to think of a sleek suit as armor. whenever you have to do something important or just want to feel good about yourself, put on a suit.

hello haider

photos by johan sandberg for bon magazine

some interesting facts I just discovered about fashion designer haider ackermann-the master draper: -inspired by african burquas -cleaned nightclub toilets for prostitutes to finance his first two collections -recently turned down the offer to replace martin margiela I don't know whom I like better haider ackermann or rick owens?...there is such a similar design aesthetic between the two

mermaid-like

tilda swinton, caused a stir in a ruby red haider ackermann dress on the cannes red carpet back in may, looking like a silk mermaid. it's no wonder that he considers her his muse. If you look closely you can see the the soft draping, layering and deconstruction that is in this outfit. one of my favorite red carpet moments in 2009.

vintage versace

photos by irving penn

gianni versace's style was very theatrical and loud. his tailoring and his dressmaking were characterized by body-contouring cuts and tough-edged leather as seen in this famous 1992 'bondage' collection. the look was very 'gladiatrix,' part biker chick and part rock goddess....I have to admit, that back in the day, I wasn't a fan of this collection, but as I started to look back on vintage versace looks, I appreciate it more, now.

black & gold

penélope cruz in broken embraces (2009)

style dominates pedro almodóvar's latest film broken embraces in every shape and form, including the costumes. after some careful researching, I found out that the film's costume designer sonia grande, was supplied with exquisite treasures from the chanel museum of paris-including this black evening dress with gold chains...I don't know why, but I thought maybe this dress was taken from the gianni versace archives from his famous black and gold 'bondage collection' from 1992...if you take a closer look, some of the details are quite similar.

pretty priscilla

such a classic girl

gucci 2001: a style odyssey

photos by inez van lamsweerde and vinoodh matadin

in 2001, tom ford created one of the most controversial collections for gucci-one that featured hard cuts and tough, chic corsetry with aggressive conical bras. the clothes were mostly done in black and white and had a total dominatrix look. critics panned this collection, but I thought it was quite ahead of its time....very reminiscent of the cutting edge style of carine roitfeld.

paying homage

photo by roxanne lowit



a particular favorite from tom ford's groundbreaking spring/summer 2001 was the long black sleeved t-shirt with boy shorts, my ideal bathing suit. the look was so perfect that I had to re-interpret it a couple years back, while on vacation in switzerland. for the record, I don't smoke I just thought it added to the look of this gucci collection.

a hairy situation

here is a frontal carine roitfeld in yet another great coat. a few years ago i thought i found a gem in a tiny vintage store in ojai. it was a black mini jacket in black feathers. i had my eye out for this exact jacket for years. it was 15 bucks, and i thought it was the ultimate score. after a night out, and the whole room full with feathers, i realized it wasn't such a great find. i bet carine's feathers stay put.

cape connoisseur

i consider myself an aficionado when it comes to the cape. i have quite a collection, most vintage, some new. they are my staple winter coats. it doesn't matter what you are wearing underneath, because the cape will always keep you chic. apparently carine roitfeld feels the same way. photo by jak and jil

jacket required

photo by steven meisel

some fashion tips: I always say when wearing a belted jacket complement this look with something clean and narrow to elongate your shape like leggings....also, heels whether classic or edgy should be the necessary end points.

part II: pleats please!

photos by irving penn

strong and geometric... the signature style of issey miyake.

get it twisted

whenever my hair misbehaves i always go for the french twist, and i immediately feel a bit more sophisticated.

photo by darling dexter

behind the scenes

coming out?, maggie cheung,1999


the space of a kiss, tony leung,1999
photos by christopher doyle

candid moments from wong kar-wai's highly stylized in the mood for love. there is so much visual uniqueness that goes into a wong kar wai-film from the costumes, make-up to the cinematography....a total auteur in film making.

in the mood for style

photos by steven meisel

style with substance....an italian vogue editorial back in october 2001 inspired by wong kar-wai's visually stunning 2000 film in the mood for love.

tops off

80 degrees and lovely. what a change from last weekend.

fun with fuyus

polaroids by slava pirsky

its that time of year when fuyu persimmons are finally organic....my favorite fruit for fall/winter 2009

wining and dining

sunday night at the pad. trying out a mini cupcake recipe for the first time.

a special note

delphine seyrig in last year at marienbad (1961)

to cristhian, for understanding films like last year at marienbad when I needed guidance, and for sharing a similar passion for art, fashion, and film....happy birthday! xoxo, sisters in black frocks

miuccia mystique

photo by guido harari

there is so much mystery surrounding miuccia prada... a onetime communist and mime student who still lives in the apartment she grew up in...she seems to be a designer who loves to toil in her own thoughts. it is often interesting to watch her after a runway show and see her peak out of the runway. miuccia herself, has a great sense of style. her signature look is a full pleated skirt, a constellation of diamond brooches on a cardigan, a simple headband, or a unique collection of bracelets. she represents the idea of italian style, which is wearing clothes with great ease and mixing it up with the right amount of accessories.

mary jane

photo by steven meisel

I don't know if they are currently in fashion, but I still love an exaggerated mary jane with tights, especially this prada one with embroidered applique flowers back in fall/winter 1996....sometimes its the little things like a shoe or a pair of tights that miuccia prada incorporates into her collections that make it so unique.

cats n dogs

still pouring outside. i'm thinking that i will miss the holiday party at my dance studio due to the storm (so LA, yes i know). in the meantime how special is this bed?

jewcy

barbra streisand photographed by richard avedon, 1965

embrace that lovely nose, babs....happy hanukkah!

a rainy friday night

even though i am loving the rain right now, this picture does brighten my night somehow.

hot fuzz

photo by franco rubartelli, 1968

I'm not really a fan of fur, but supermodel veruschka looks so snug and cozy in this fur hood....I just want to sleep in this all winter. hopefully, stella mccartney will make a fake version...

feeling frida

oil painting by frida kahlo, 'diego en mi mente' (1943)


photo by peter lindbergh

when art meets fashion....a classic and modern take on the traditional tehuana dress with lace veil, made famous by frida kahlo.