the girl on the trapeze

photos by my sister

yes, that's me! for some strange reason I have been wanting to fly a trapeze for some years, now! every year for my birthday, I try to do something a bit daring...last year, I took a hot air balloon ride with my fellow sister in black and this year I thought why not fly a trapeze. I must be honest, the idea came to me after watching an episode of sex and the city entitled "the catch." in this episode, carrie is sent by vogue magazine to try out the latest trendy exercise...which happened to be the trapeze, at the time. I saw how difficult it was for carrie...especially conquering "the catch" and I can't blame her it was a bit of a challenge, for me too, but I thought to myself this is something I can totally do...its way more of a mental challenge than a physical one! I think what I liked about carrie in this episode is that she used the trapeze as a metaphor for her life, particularly with her dating situation, friends and all the obstacles in-between! in the last scene of this episode, carrie didn't master "the catch" but she realized with her friends cheering her on from the sidelines they will always be her safety net! love the way carrie could make such brilliant analyzations! personally, I was glad to have my sister and mom there for me, by my side and for moral support...in the end, I am glad to say I actually accomplished "the catch," and I am happy I did it in black, of course!

flying high

photo by mario testino

I must admit while doing the trapeze I had a million thoughts running through my head...mostly anxiety, but there was still a side of me that kept thinking about inspiring fashion editorials. for some odd reason, I kept thinking about this image of kate bosworth from the february 2008 issue of US vogue, while flying on the trapeze. perhaps, it has something to do with her body position and just how free she looks?! whatever it may be, I just love the way her body flows in this photograph and I especially love those ghost-like images of her running....you really get the aspect of that body in motion type of feeling. I certainly felt a bit like that while I was hanging in the air. secretly, I wish I wore this doo.ri outfit while on the trapeze...love that form-fitting top and the flow of that oyster pink colored skirt. I know it would be a bit impractical to actually wear this, but my mind is always on another planet thinking of fabulous things to wear as if it were a fashion editorial! perhaps, I should look into a doo.ri inspired ensemble for my next trapeze class!

kohl crazy

i mentioned in previous posts how i am lured to products based on their packaging. guerlain's loose kohl powder is one of those products that looks just as beautiful on your vanity, as it does on your eyes. it comes in a mysterious vile, and is one of the most complicated beauty items i own. this product is not for a basic girl. the concept of putting on this eyeliner comes from the middle east, where eyeliner is worn on the waterlines of the eyes, to protect the eye from the sun. you close your eye, and slide the eyeliner in between your lids. the outcome looks really great. so much better than a regular pencil.

inspiration comes in many forms...

photo by olivier zahm

last week, I was watching an old episode of will & grace and was completely fashion inspired by an outfit debra messing was wearing....she was in a beautiful black blazer dress. I have always liked this idea, but I have had so much difficulty in actually finding this look. its interesting how good it looks on television and editorials...automatically, after seeing debra messing in her black blazer dress I thought of this image of raquel zimmerman from the purple diary....I believe she was going to a premiere at the met in new york city. I just love the way her blazer dress blends in so perfectly with that black background....very camouflage-chic! I must admit that whenever I go shopping I am always looking for a black blazer dress. personally, I think it is a bit sophisticated and elegant for most people, but I would love too see more designers attempt this kind of style. perhaps, it is not for everyone, but I believe there are some women, like myself, who would love to sport this type of dress! hopefully, in the near future I can add a black blazer dress to my closet....thank you will & grace for the fashion inspiration...love it when this happens!

black blazer dress

ashley olsen

speaking of black blazer dresses...who could forget ashley olsen in this sleek and chic black blazer dress that she wore back in 2007 at the CFDA awards? I just think this look is so simple, yet so innovative at the same time. I love the idea of a man's blazer turned into a long dress....plus, I love the added element of her metallic cuff and white clutch...it is so demurely sexy and I feel like this look completely embodies what the sisters in black frocks are all about! personally, I think this is one of ashley olsen's most memorable outfits on the red carpet. I believe it was after this look that I started to take more notice of her style. the only thing I can't seem to figure out is who actually designed this dress...perhaps, it is calvin klein or maybe even her own line the row? whoever the designer may be I just think it screams total black glam...brava ashley on an unforgettable dress!

sander simplicity

jil sander fall/winter 2001

I know a lot of fashion critics hated the jil sander fall/winter 2001 collection, due to the fact that sander, herself was absent from her own label....but I have to admit I think this is one of those secretly underrated chic collections....it really is simplicity at its finest. I admire a lot of the looks especially the all-purpose coats and blazer dresses blended in a sea of black from that season. this look in particular, I will never forget. I love how clean and minimal this blazer dress appears....its tough, streamlined, minimal and I like the added element of those black-short boots. I definitely feel like a blazer dress is something I need in my wardrobe and I often think of this look as my photo inspiration for achieving that blazer-dress glam look. I hope in the future fashion critics will learn to appreciate the minimal beauty of this collection...I know I certainly do!

me and my norma kamali

a sister in black

every time, I go to new york city I always make sure to go to the norma kamali store and indeed my sister and I did just that last week! personally, I love her design aesthetic...very sporty, practical, elegant and can easily go from day to night. I own a couple of her kangaroo jackets and a very beautiful black lycra asymmetrical dress that I found at a vintage store in perfect condition a couple of years ago....love that her clothes never go out of style! initially, I had my heart set out on buying a sleeping bag coat for my birthday, but they sold out. randomly, I stumbled upon this spliced midriff top with a matching high-low hem skirt from her black resort 2012 collection. I tried it on and from that moment on I was in complete black chic heaven...I don't know what it is about her clothes that makes me so happy, but it really was the complete outfit I was looking for. everything just worked about it and I am so happy to bring it back home with me....I definitely now feel like a certified sister in black frock! thank you norma kamali!

give me all your luvin'

madonna in norma kamali

when I was trying on my norma kamali black midriff top in her nyc store I kept saying to myself "why does this top look so familiar?" and then suddenly I realized that madonna wore the same top in her give me all your luvin' video! personally, I think her best fashion era was her ray of light look back in 1998, but I really do approve of her in this norma kamali black ensemble! its sexy, not too revealing, and it covers all the right areas.... no matter if I hate or love what she is wearing, madonna will always be a fashion trailblazer....she just knows how to wear clothes in such a cool and nonchalant manner! I must admit I love this clip from her video she really embodies the idea of sporty, dance-chic and I am sure norma kamali would approve, as well!

hakaan inspired

hakaan spring/summer 2011

with my new norma kamali midriff black top and skirt I couldn't help but think of the hakaan spring/summer 2011 collection...there is something about my kamali ensemble that reminds me so much of this designer. personally, I thought this was a very underrated collection, but I admire a lot of the silhouettes and I am feeling a bit inspired by that season especially this look seen on supermodel mariacarla boscono. love that midriff exposing black-leather top paired with that narrow skirt with trailing hem....its so striking and such a statement making outfit. yes, my kamali skirt is not as sleek as this one, but I am thinking of maybe mixing the midriff top with yet another more dramatic skirt....I love having options and this is definitely a very inspirational collection to get me thinking of chic, yet, innovative ideas...love it when that happens!

birthday girl

a bouquet of pink peonies to the beautiful birthday girl. i love you.....

the big apple

this past weekend us sisters in black frocks went on a journey to new york. we visited with friends, walked many neighborhoods, explored new and old stores, and even had a chat with gerard butler about how important a great hat is! here are some of our favorite pictures.

princess stéphanie of monaco

photo by mario testino

to all our readers, please check out my latest vogue paris review which is featured on http://www.iwanttobearoitfeld.com/. this month, I take an in-depth look at the january 2009 issue when princess stéphanie of monaco was the guest editor. to be completely honest, I did not know much about her before writing this, except for the fact that her mother was actress grace kelly, but I so enjoyed learning about her life as a singer, model, and swimsuit designer. stéphanie is the epitome of sporty-chic...my all time favorite look! carine roitfeld had such a gift for picking such interesting guest editors and this is definitely one of those iconic issues. stéphanie is not only a beautiful and stylish woman but also a humanitarian. certainly, take a look!

the other side of the picture

photo by julien claessens

I must admit, I love collecting coffee table books, my collection is pretty massive and whenever I have free time available, I love to reminisce through my books....I find it very therapeutic! last week, I caught myself skimming through the pages of oliver theyskens 2010 book the other side of the picture. the photographs in this book are so ethereal, but yet kind of dark and lonely! there is a kind of caravaggio type of feeling going on that I so appreciate and when I start to think about it you certainly don't get too see that type of unique photographic style in many designer books! I particularly love this image. I believe this was from his rochas fall/winter 2004 collection. I am just in complete amazement of this black silhouette and for some reason whenever I picture olivier theyskens in my head this is the photograph that comes to my head. I wonder if I am alone on this one...I just feel that this is his signature shape and nobody can execute this type of look quite like the way theyskens can! if you somehow missed this book, you should go look for it...totally incredible, eerie, but above all inspiring!

valli view

giambattista valli fall/winter 2010

looking at that amazing olivier theyskens silhouette, I couldn't help but be reminded of this black silhouette from the giambattista valli fall/winter 2010 collection. one of my all-time favorite valli collections, such a perfect blend of sixties style, but yet still very modern! for some reason, I loved this black ensemble from that season....this skirt in particular! I don't know if it would be heavy and awkward to wear, but I just love that shape and that added ruffled texture....I love too see something unique and beautiful in black, that I have not seen before and this is definitely one of those ensembles. It has a very cristóbal balenciaga type of elegance blended with a 1970's yves saint laurent edge. perhaps, its that blazer that reminds me of ysl. at any rate, it is still totally giambattista valli! I don't know about you, but I would so love to try this on and see how it feels!

taking noten

photo by daniel jackson

last weekend, I found myself waiting in the supermarket line and decided to look through the current april issue of harper's bazaar magazine...I surprisingly opened up the page to this stunning image of a model in a dries van noten ensemble. for some reason, I remember taking note of this skirt back in september of 2011, but somehow forgot about it! where have I been? immediately, after studying this image, I hit up style.com to look at this collection in closer detail and I must say it is one of my favorites for this spring. the clothes are more like art than actual fashion..I always respond well to designers who design that way. I particularly love this skirt...it reminds me so much of cristóbal balenciaga with a touch of olivier theyskens...I don't know why, but I love a black skirt with a structured flare...it has a very spanish, flamenco, but yet gothic type of edge..certainly the way I like to dress! I am without a doubt very excited to have re-discovered dries van noten...this spring 2012 collection is definitely a classic...doesn't get any more perfect than this look!