Madonna for Harper's Bazaar March '06

I'm currently in the process of applying to gain a summer internship with Harper's Bazaar. Hopefully, things go very (well, extremely, rather) well with the application. I would have the opportunity to be a part of one of my favorite fashion publications. But, in all seriousness, let's face it: I only REALLY enjoy fashion periodicals, with the exception of Billboard/Rolling Stone. Looking at how I appreciate/admire Harper's Bazaar as a magazine, I decided to take a look back at the most memorable issue for me.



The issue at hand is March 2006 with Madonna on the cover. The spread of Madonna's movements cut/pasted on top of each other was incredible to me. The standout colors of the garments or even the black satin in front of black. And it all really reflected from the great lighting. At the time, I really didn't know about fashion, really. I barely knew Madonna. But something stuck with me from that issue, that spread. How could something not?

Face: Aymeline Valade

I love shots of models where the face is it. The face takes up the entire frame. With photos taken in such a way, you are able to really see how a model is a model. Or should I say "why?" I admit, I don't pay attention to models as much as the next guy... But every once in a while I'll be enticed by one. Aymeline is the model of now for me. Her face is rather lovely. That's all I can say. The close up photos of her face are so spectacular, I had to compile them in a little card.



Before I realized she was Aymeline, I remember reading February's 2011 issue (because of Tom Ford, of course) and viewing Aymeline's bewitching spread of her all up in and around S/S '11 Balenciaga (who doesn't love that collection? I still want the spiked-sole shoes, for real). It's almost like a "No way!" now, for me, to put a name on that girl. She's great.

My favorite? Backstage of Chloe (1st photo). Yours?

Keep Going, Keep Going

Let's keep this going. A lot has happened since I've last updated with my newest influences. Long story short, I had a relative pass during my birthday weekend. So, I flew home from Los Angeles to Virginia. I ended up leaving the Winter quarter of my school two week early. No sleep and too much stress... I had to take on the task(s) of completing my final projects/exams-due in two weeks-in only one. The only thoughts I had were: "Well, fuck me sideways," "Jesus Christ," and "Come on." However, things seemed to work out. For the best? I have no idea. So we'll see. Grades (so far) seem to be pretty... alright. Got a grade of "A" in Business. I like to think that's a positive because I learned a nice amount. Plus, I did a fantastical project on Alex Wang (also, I should mention I was lucky enough to visit his new SoHo store this past weekend).

I decided I would love to continue writing. I also need to begin reading again. Lord knows I need to catch up to my bookworm days of yesteryear. I hope you stick around because I have hopes for this blog. I want to merge fashion and writing like my favorite sites do. My goal-in writing-is to write for Style.com. If not, Vogue, Harper's, or Elle will suffice, of course.

Above, one of my favorites: Rag & Bone Fall/Winter 2011 RTW

Today's Influences

Scott Walker, Anjelica Huston, Paul Newman, Cher, Natalie Wood/Steve McQueen.

Alexander Wang's SoHo Store Opens Thursday!

The coolest kid in fashion? Alexander Wang. He won't stop making headlines on everything fashion and he just WON'T stop getting great reviews on his collections! Most recently, his Autumn/Winter 2011 show that just showed this past weekend. Last night, he had a party featuring guests of Kanye and Zoe Kravitz. The epitome of cool, no? I'm currently doing a project on the Alexander Wang brand as a whole (minus T by AW). Speaking of T, I finally received a white long-sleeved T as a gift this past Christmas! Lawves it! So, Mr. Wang... Good luck on your store opening! I will definitely be visiting (and more than likely buying) next time I'm in New York.















BTW, I really love Vogue.com's article on Wang. Particularly the title... "New Kid On the Block." Nice. Nice.

A/W 11: Proenza Schouler

Oh my, my first postings of a Fashion Week show! How exciting.

In a weekend full of excitement (Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" coming out, of course), NY Fashion Week kind of took the backseat of my mind. So, when I found out Style.com would be broadcasting my favorite, Proenza Schouler, I made sure the 5pm time stayed in my front seat! By the way, being 3 hours late from my home on the East Coast sucks big time. But, yes, I sat in my studio apartment in LA on my futon with my MacBook hooked up to my 22" television and enjoyed every minute of the too-quick PS show.




The show featured an abundance of (I found this out the first time from @KirnaZabete) jacquards! They were woven to make such nice diamond shapes. To me, a reference to the 90's... Hilary Banks, anyone? I was also reminded of the 70's with the wallpaper patterns and all. But the colored jackets, folded-over skirts, tucked in button ups... My favorite look was a chunky-knit sweater of grey, blue-violets, and red paired with a pant in the same colors but different pattern. It's probably my favorite because I want to take it and wear it tomorrow. Plus the influences of Native American/Western culture was lovely. Orange, orange, orange! The yellow and black woven skirt of Native American influence is my second favorite of the collection.










The show was fantastic in colors and fabrics and prints. Lazzaro and Jack seem to be giving us a more sophisticated woman and leaving behind their back-to-school style. The duo did this in a very successful way.

A Letter

I will resume blogging but in a different direction than the traditional fashion blog. My hopeis to entertain with short and smartly-written posts on fashion but from a different standpoint. If you read on, you will understand in more thorough detail why. I definitely suggest you do!

There always seems to be a point in my life where I change how I act, speak, interact, think. In October 2010, I moved from my home in Virginia to Los Angeles, CA. Honestly, it felt like hell over here my first month or so. About four months later and it still does. Right now, I just feel no connection with me and this city; for reasons I can elaborate on from time to time. So in this move, I've changed. In me returning back home for Christmas/New Year's break and then returning back to my own studio apartment in L.A., I've changed again.

I came here with the intent on being that hip, trendy boy. Little did I know, FIDM (my current school, but hopefully not for long) was crawling with people just like that. You see, I feel uncomfortable around all of the wannabe Lookbook darlings/dralos (male version, no?). Nor did I enjoy the atmosphere of my fellow students' aspirations to be famous without doing any work. Laid back? Definitely. That two-worded phrase is all I hear when I tell people I dislike this city, or, well, where I reside and study. Laid back with the hipster girl puffing on her ciggie, blackberry in hand. Annoying? Definitely.

So I figured, whatever. I want to design and eventually move to New York in a transfer. To return to my East Coast roots/beloved time zone and my personally-coveted city of residence. Since coming here and ignoring California, and since coming back from my break, my own style and tastes have changed with fashion. For the better. But now I find myself aspiring for another field than design.

I want to be a writer. Preferably in fashion, of course. And, since watching Destiny's Child's Destiny Fulfilled & Lovin' It! Tour, I've wanted to be a Creative Director. For this, I want to produce stage productions for concert tours (Beyoncé, Lady Gaga), be a part of a musician's creative team, and/or the Creative Director of a fashion publication. I've always had a way of writing and want to do it but I never had the desire to pursue it... To put my writing and love of fashion together. So my initial title for this post? "A Letter From the Editor."

If you've read this entire post, thank you. I hope I've entertained you and convinced you to come back for more (disclaimer: future posts will NOT be this long). I had to write this much to display the different direction this blog will begin to head in. Something a little different than the normal fashion blogs of the online. I'll practice writing in an editorial view, Vogue.com, Style.com-esque. But maybe with a little more entertainment/excitement/humor?