Chanel Couture Spring 2010

Collections like these are the reason that Karl Lagerfeld has endured as a fixture in the fashion world for so long. Not only is he the master of reinvention, nixing the gold buttons and dark colors that Chanel is known for, but every look was breathtaking. The whole collection was ethereal and practically glowing. A few select favorites:

Anyone who says fashion is not art after seeing this runway has to be crazy.

Photo Credit: WWD

Resolutions

I spent New Year's Day walking the Brooklyn Bridge with hundreds of other tourists from around the globe. I lost count of how many different languages I heard being spoken. It was a beautiful day, crisp but not frigid, and by the end of the day we must have walked 10 miles exploring Brooklyn, NYU, Soho, Chinatown...Thank God for my new boots. They were warm and didn't kill my feet and slid nicely under my jeans.

I didn't come up with any resolutions by New Year's Eve. And only now, when I have spent the past couple days sick on the couch, have I given it much thought. So far, I have come up with the following:

1. Be More Healthy

General, I know, but I have been more sick in the past year than any other I can remember. I am not sure if it is the air in Philadelphia versus Portland, or if the stress of law school is just getting to me, but my immune system seems to be shot. In my quest for better health I will try to be less of a night owl, especially given the fact that I have to be in class at 8:30 every morning. I will try to tone down my caffeine addiction, switching from coffee to green tea. I need to eat more fruits and vegetables, not processed foods. Lastly, I need to start running again. Maybe more regular exercise will help as well. Hopefully those changes will keep me more healthy and energized in 2010.

2. Fine-Tune my Wardrobe

It has taken me years to figure out what works for my shape (short, tending towards muscular). I think I have been in denial about my height :) Now that I have finally accepted what actually looks good, I need to go through what I own and clear out lots of items that do me no favors. Once that is accomplished, I have to make another list of pieces that I need to add to my wardrobe. I have been filling my closet with work pieces, but I also need to focus on weekend wear. My shoe selection also needs some help. This will all be more easily accomplished once I have a job and a paycheck. Which leads me too...

3. Be Diligent About Job-Searching

I do not graduate until late May, but given the legal market I need to get a head-start. My goal is a mid-sized to large firm that has departments that specialize in either entertainment, intellectual property or employment law. That being said, I will take whatever job I can get! However, to obtain any kind of job I need to put myself out in the market and take advantage of any connections I have and to continue networking.

4. Finish Writing a Book

I have bits and pieces of books that I have been writing saved on my laptop and in notebooks strewn about our place. I want to finish writing at least one of them. Starting is easy, but the middle is hard, even if I already have an ending in mind. I think the key at this point is just to write daily and hopefully the writer's block will fade.

5. Blog More Often

When life gets hectic, this blog is the first thing to go, but it's an outlet I appreciate. I would put a specific goal number on it, like 7 times a week, but that is not realistic and, honestly, if I make at least one entry a month that will be better than my previous record!

Any resolutions on your minds?

Oh Sister!

Natalie Portman arrived at the premiere of her latest film, Brothers, in this lively ensemble. I happen to think that she can really pull off bright color combinations, but I have seen some people commenting that on the whole it was a little too much. What do you think - too many colors or does she get it just right?

Fashion Week

It's on its way! Check out the Mercedes-Benz Fashion week site here for schedules and more. I desperately wish I lived in NYC at times like these so I could have easy access to all the fashion goings-on. If you are lucky enough to get to check out the shows, enjoy them for me! During the week, check out all the headlines coming out of the shows on fashionweekdaily. I cannot wait to see what is inspiring designers for Spring 2010 and to report back here with my favorite designers, looks and models.

Style Crush: Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger always seems to kill it on the red carpet. She knows how to work neutrals in a way that is far from boring and has the confidence to pull off high-fashions flourishes without letting the garment wear her. I have no red carpets in my life, but if I did, I certainly would follow her lead!

Photo Credit: Just Jared, Popsugar

Ashley Olsen: Neutral and Nice

Ashley Olsen is featured on Marie Claire's September issue for her involvement in the fashion world. First of all, what beautiful shots. She looks sexy, but not trashy, even with the exposed bra. Second, I love the makeup and clothing color palettes - smoky neutrals that completely flatter her skin tone. Third, I want her hair. Mine needs to grow about 3 more inches, but I am slowly getting there.

Photo Credit: Marie Claire

Oh, Really?

Would you trust this man's fashion advice? Well, apparently he thinks he has something to teach young women with regards to fashion. Perez Hilton of the gossip site fame is launching Coco Perez, a style website targeted at 20 something females. I have to say that I am not a fan, which is why I am not linking to it. I don't know what he possibly thinks he can contribute to the fashion world. According to this interview with Shine.com, he already seems to think he is going to be bigger than Vogue and that Anna Wintour should fear him...and that he is entitled to front row seats at fashion week. Not effing likely. This clown pretty much hates women, as evidenced from many of his blog posts (Jezebel does a good job of dissecting this phenomenon), so why he would try to cater to this demographic is beyond me.

I'm not saying that everyone who writes about fashion has to have an academic background in fashion, or even be the most stylish person out there - I wouldn't qualify if that was the criteria. But, Perez Hilton dresses like an ass most of the time and is disrespectful to women and in my book that doesn't mean that he has any rights to any respect in the fashion world. So, for him to try to waltz on in and tower over the industry's greats and have such a sense of entitlement is ludicrous.

Obviously I am a little (or a lot) disturbed by this newest development. Will you be following his new site?

CFDA Newbies

The internet is abuzz with the announcement of the new inductees to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Among the prestigious 31 invitees were: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Alexander Wang and Jason Wu. I would say that Wang and Wu were not surprising, but I am a bit taken aback by the inclusion of the Olsen sisters. However, unlike many other 'celebrity brands,' they seem to have been welcomed into the fashion world with open arms and really do appear to have a lot of hands-on involvement in the process instead of merely lending their names to an established brand.

What are your thoughts on the new members? Do they deserve to be included amongst the special few?

Photo Credits: Olsens Anonymous, Teen Vogue, Glamour.com

Mmmmm...Cotillard

I am loving this photoshoot of Marion Cotillard in BlackBook magazine.  The looks are sleek and I like the somewhat monochromatic nature of the outfits.  In particular, I am drooling over the Versace dress in the second photo.  The makeup is also flawless and she somehow makes red lips look very natural.  It might even be enough to send me, once again, on the hunt for the perfect red shade.  Her hair only strengthens my commitment to growing out my hair so that I might also achieve that slightly tousled, but not overly 'done' look.  

Photo Credit: BlackBook

Because they are lovely

First of all, they both have great smiles and just look happy, which made me happy.  Also, the woman's outfit has amazing proportions and is just so perfectly balanced and coordinated without being too matchy.  The man plays it cool with a simple t-shirt and jeans combo, but keeps it interesting with the wide-neck of the shirt, the 'not your average baseball cap' hat and those substantial boots.  They both look hip and it is apparent they put thought into their sartorial choices, but are obviously not fashion victims.

Photo Credit: The Sartorialist

Backstage: Oscar de la Renta Resort 2010

Elle has provided its online readers with a glimpse of the backstage and runway of Oscar de la Renta's Resort 2010 show.  I always love seeing the inner workings of a fashion show.  Even after all the looks and models have been selected, the hair and makeup is another monumental task, even when the themes are relatively subdued, as in this show. 

My favorite look is the suit.  I struggle to find a balance between professional and stylish and often feel confined by choosing a profession in which I will have to wear a suit.  Oscar de la Renta's version is gorgeous, playing with the texture, color and undergarments to achieve a look that has classic lines, but feels modern.  

Photo Credit: Kelly Stuart for Elle

Grim Times

I am thankful that I am still in school and will not have to look for a 'real' job until next year.  I am job searching for a summer position, but times are tough.  Big firms that hired numerous summer associates either cut the number of positions, or cut their programs altogether.  Now, top-tier students are competing for lower paying summer jobs at mid to small firms, which were typically the domain of the non top 10% students.  Needless to say, people are stressed.  

The fashion industry is probably even more competitive; it's hard to get the experience needed to even begin to qualify for a job, and many people want to somehow get their foot in the door to the glamour that the industry represents.  So, at this year's WWD Career Expo, 2000 people were competing for only 20 jobs.  But that doesn't even mean that the employers represented at the Expo will be hiring from that pool of people.  Many of those jobs will probably be offered to a friend of a friend, or someone who has some other kind of connection to the people doing the hiring.  

This leads me to the point that networking, whether you work in the legal field or fashion, is so important.  The few people I know who have secured jobs for summer got an interview because they knew someone in the firm, or had a former boss who knew of a person who needed a clerk.  Being new to Philadelphia definitely puts me at a disadvantage in this respect.  I'm not discouraged just yet, but I am feeling that I need to continue to meet people, so that when they hear of something coming available, they just might think of me.  

[NYP]

J'adore

I am currently in love with the idea of moving to Paris upon graduation. I have this daydream that I become an attorney either directly for, or with a firm that represents, any number of brilliant French designers, whether the 'big' names or young start-ups. I could work with people whose work I admire and have a reason to wear fancy clothes (to show my respect for their style, bien sur) instead of boring, conservative suits.

Things to know about this fantasy:
1. I do not speak French (well, unless you count the words 'croissant' and 'pain au chocolat').
2. I have no connections to any legal people in France...actually I have no connections to anyone in France. Period.
3. My day dreams do not involve me having to do any work; I merely prance around the streets of Paris in pretty dresses, eating croissants and attending fashion shows.

I obviously have an active imagination. But, I do love having a goal, no matter how inconceivable it seems in the moment I dream it up. My lovely husband is even on board with this plan. I believe that part of our tax refund will be spend on Rosetta Stone so we can at least cross off number 1 above. 2 and 3 still need to be worked out, so if anyone has a brilliant idea that will help me never to have to actually work, or will put me in touch with legal/fashion bigwigs in Paris, I would adore you forever. Merci!