7.31.2009

alice in wonderland

I'm sure you have all heard by now that Tim Burton is making his version of the Alice in Wonderland story. Well, all this talk about it made me remember this spread that I had seen in a certain issue of Vogue so many times.

When I was young, my mom and I used to salvage magazines from the library all the time because they would only be a few cents and provide us tons of entertainment. We have five or six issues of Vogue, including one September issue that is massive and the December 2003 issue. Inside December 2003, there is an Alice in Wonderland spread, photographed by Annie Leibovitz and featuring an all-star cast of many of the world's top fashion designers as characters in the story [Oliver Theyskens, John Galliano, Jean Peaul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Donatella Versace, Tom Ford, Viktor and Rolf, Stephen Jones, Christian Lacroix, Helmut Lang, Karl Lagerfeld, Nicolas Ghesquiere]. These designers designed the very dresses that "Alice" [Natalia Vodianova] is wearing and are in the pictures with her. Sososososo stunning -- even when I knew nothing of fashion, this spread still attracted me. I will just stop talking and leave you with the pictures. Enjoy.

Image credit: ecstasy_lover@LJ
[Reading the comments on this post: "Everyone's talking about how 'contrived' the Alice theme is, but isn't this the spread that started the trend 6 years ago???" "yes ma'am, you took the words right out of my mouth. this is what everyone else is emulating." -- amazing amazing amazing.]

a tragic love story

... I found them. The fateful TeenVogue spreads that would start my undying love affair for military jackets and zippers.

Once upon a time, there was a fair maiden. Her love story all began in the April 2009 issue. One lovely March day, shereceived the April issue in the mail. She didn't know what was in store for me, but it was love at first sight.

First, she met her "Enchanted Soldier" [AKA the name of the spread]. He charmed her right away, with the jacket detailing that reminded her soo fondly of old-school marching uniforms. She couldn't resist falling into the traps of his awesome button detailing and the symmetrical design. And it was the first time that she saw the 3.1 Phillip Lim vest that would later make so many appearances in her life...


Oh, but then they attended the "Twilight Prom" [also, name of spread]. At first, she was not very amused while shopping for dresses [AKA looking at the rest of the spread], but OH MY, THAT DRESS. That 3.1 Phillip Lim ruffle zipper dress. Love at first sight! The dress and her were meant to be, and she attended the prom with her Enchanted Soldier, wearing her lovely zipper dress.

And they lived happily ever after.

Annnnnd, I am officially weird. Can you relate to this? Falling in love with clothes/a trend? Falling in love with something else that will never love you back? Ice cream, for example? Don't get me started on ice cream......

PS: A lot of guys have been telling me that we need to start posting stuff about guys. We will. Trust me. I just need to research some before I can post anything substantial. And okay, you can't say I've been entirely neglecting men's fashion. Look at all those pictures of Korean male celebrities!!! They are very fashionable too. Hmph.
PPS: The CW is going to have a new series about high-fashion modeling. Starring Sara Paxton, Mischa Barton, Ben Hollingsworth, Nico Tortorella, and Corbin Bleu. Going to be the next Gossip Girl? We'll see. However, I am excited.
PPPS: There's going to be a movie about Coco Chanel's early life, starring AUDREY TAUTOU<3.

7.30.2009

this girl just wanted to have fun

Okay. By now, I'm sure you guys have noticed that I looove to rummage through my mom's closet for clothes to borrow [AKA "steal"] and wear in my own way. However... today, I hit a different closet. I was bored [isn't this how all of my fashion adventures start out as? b/c of boredom?] and had the idea of making an old poncho into a skirt. So I went to the guest bedroom closet [AKA where all of my old baby clothes are stored]. I found the poncho.... and then some. I guess I live in a family of packrats, because my mom never threw away or gave away any of my old clothes [well, she did give away some, but I never had the heart to let her give away my favorite dresses when I was like 6. After that, I don't think she really gave away much of my other clothes]. She always told me, "Keep these for when you have children." [Although, honestly, I don't want children.] I found of some my old beloved dresses and some things I don't even remember having and some great hand-me-downs from my cousin. And, knowing me... I put them on. Yes. I put on clothes that I once wore when I was in 4th grade and younger. Oh dear god. [Actually, I still wear a lot of my childhood clothing.] [Are you guys tired of my commentary yet?] [How about now?]

Aren't you guys proud you know me? Ha ha ha... it's okay, sometimes I am even embarassed to know myself.

I paper-bagged this poncho [my favorite way to wear a skirt/pants! even though I've never done it before] that Alicia and her mom made for me for my birthday in... middle school? Yeah. I like how it has the same indigo tint as some of the flowers on my top. However, I think it makes me legs look a little stumpy and my hips a little chunky. So I'll probably never wear it in real life. But look at that fringe! Yeees, so trendy (: Also, it is soo soft. Maybe I will wear it like a normal poncho one day. Yeah, that's right, I'm bringing the poncho back. You know you missed it.

Wheeee, twirl!

Okay, this is the first real "childhoold" piece of clothing I put on. I was attracted by the plaid. I love this combination of colors for plaid. And it has cute pleating and an empire waist and cute wooden buttons and the perfect pockets! How could I decline? Although I'm sure this is WAY shorter on me now than it once was......

LOLOL CHECK OUT MY HAIR. That is the tallest bun I have probably ever made.

I'm pretty sure this was my cousin's dress and is a hand-me-down. I love it now though. Doesn't it remind you of a figure ice skater's dress or something?! Also, lovelovelove the sleeves. Poofy shoulders ftw. And yes, I am wearing shorts and a tanktop underneath -- I have some decency, you know. AND, contrary to popular belief, my legs are NOT this tan. Trust me. They aren't. Even though you will all say they are. They aren't. They will be though, after band camp.

Okay, this next dress is a tragic pairing. It was once my favorite favorite favorite dress. Trust me. Favorite. So much so that as I am typing at this, I am also looking at my school picture from 4th grade and I am wearing this dress in it. However, today, when I tried to "slip" it on over my head, It wouldn't fit. My shoulders are too wide!!! I was so sad. So instead... I concocted [not really; I just really couldn't fit my other arm through the arm hole] this one-shouldered ensemble. Not too shabby, eh? Eh? ... Yeah, I will also never wear this out. But I love this dress! Sigh. [Btw, can you see my thought process through this series of pictures? 1) Hm..... 2) Testing out the bat-wing sleeve. 3) I like!]

Okay, here's the picture I was talking about. Yes, go ahead and laugh. I know you want to. It's okay, because I did too. But this is the proper way to wear the dress. Cute button and collar details! Also, did you guys love Sanrio as much as me and my friends did in elementary school? I found this picture in my old Pochacco planner. He was my fav, because he was a dog, and I wanted a dog so badly.
Alright, last oufit. This is a matching jean vest and skirt ensemble. Jeans make you think of a cowgirl, right? NOT SO. There is a little collar on the vest that makes this look so sailor-themed! Yes, that's right. Jane, the sailor-cowgirl, at your service.

Land, ho! Howdy y'all.

This is THE ultimate way to be a recessionista -- to save clothes from when you are a kid and wear them when you're almost an adult. Save it for my future children? Pshhhh, I'll wear it now!

7.29.2009

cirque 21

firstly, check out this ring i made out of electrical tape and fim strips...
mary said it looked like a sculpture for mgm studios or something. :|



today, forever 21 launched its new collection "cirque 21."
we love it.
the clothes have more cute details than regular f21 stuff, and-dare i say it - look like they might be better quality too. here are a few favorite looks:



admirable performance, forever 21, even though you're a little late on the military-styling trend... we'll still be buying those jackets.
click here to see the cirque 21 lookbook.

7.28.2009

show those pearly whites

Today, I GOT MY BRACES OFF!

Yes. I was very excited. I posted my picture everywhere over the Internet. Sorry ='(

Anyways, to celebrate, my mom treated my dad and I to dinner at Japon. We had a hibachi-style dinner, which was SO cool. It's when the chef cooks in front of you and he did all these cool tricks. Man, it cost so much and wasn't the best meal I ate but the show was worth it.

My mom did not like either of the outfits I donned today. =( She also went around telling everyone about how much I couldn't stop smiling at myself in the mirror. So embarassed! x__x Heh....

NOW I CAN SMILE IN PICTURES! Not that I didn't smile in pictures while I had braces [for 3 1/2 years, mind you], but now you won't see a whole bunch of metal.

Outfit for going to the orthodontist:
Black top with asymmetrical star collar = Urban Outfitters $10
Coral tank top with metallic sequin detail = Old Navy $8
Purple shorts = H&M $12...?
Leather belt worn backwards = Dad's
Red flats = Charlotte Russe $10...? [Not pictured]
[Sorry you can't really see the shorts; you'll see them in the next pic.]


Outfit for dinner [basically, I just changed the top]:
Pinstripe short-sleeved blazer = Kohl's $??
White lace tanktop = JCPenny $15?
Purple shorts = H&M $12...?
Leather belt = Dad's
Red flats = Charlotte Russe $10...? [Not pictured]

7.26.2009

oh doctor, doctor

Doc Martens [AKA "combat boots"?] were waaay big in the '70s and '80s, and I used to see them around on the "punk rock princess" photographs, but recently, I've seen them resurfacing everywhere. First, on Lookbook.nu, and then in TeenVogue, and now on my fav Korean stars [I think my self-imposed kpop ban has gone on long enough... LOL, I dunno, I'll try to talk about them at a minimum and branch out my post topics]. They're definitely making their comeback.

Image credit: Zorglubs

I'm on Wikipedia right now, reading about Docs, and their history is kind of interesting.

Klaus Märtens was a doctor in the German army during World War II. While on leave in 1945, he injured his ankle while skiing in the Bavarian Alps. He found that his standard-issue army boots were too uncomfortable on his injured foot. While recuperating, he designed improvements to the boots, with soft leather, and air-padded soles. When the war ended and some Germans looted valuables from their own cities, Maertens took leather from a cobbler's shop. With that leather he made himself a pair of boots with air-cushioned soles.

Märtens didn't have much luck selling his shoes until he met up with an old university friend, Dr. Herbert Funck, in Munich in 1947. Funck was intrigued by the new shoe design, and the two went into business that year in Seeshaupt, Germany, using discarded rubber from Luftwaffe airfields. The comfortable and durable soles were a big hit with housewives, with 80% of sales in the first decade going to women over the age of 40. [I find this interesting.]

Sales had grown so much by 1952 that they opened a factory in Munich. In 1959, the company had grown large enough that Märtens and Funck looked at marketing the footwear internationally. Almost immediately, British shoe manufacturer R. Griggs Group Ltd. bought patent rights to manufacture the shoes in the United Kingdom. Griggs anglicized the name, slightly re-shaped the heel to make them fit better, added the trademark yellow stitching, and trademarked the soles as AirWair.

The first Dr. Martens boots in the United Kingdom came out on April 1, 1960 (hence known as style 1460 and still in production today) with an eight-eyelet, cherry-red, Nappa leather design. Originally Dr. Martens were made by a number of shoe manufacturers in the Northamptonshire area, as long as they passed quality standards. They were popular among workers such as postmen, police officers and factory workers. By the late 1960s, skinheads started wearing Dr. Martens boots. By the late 1970s, Dr. Martens boots were popular among some British punk rock and New Wave musicians, and soon many punk fans were wearing them. The boots and shoes then became popular among other youth subcultures.

Doctor Klaus Marten + Herbert (Funck=funk=funky?) = Santa Claus wears Doc Martens to get funky? Yes. [It's 4AM. That should explain my weird thought process, right? x___x]

Okay, it's really almost 4:30 AM now and i am feeling lazy and only a little sleepy but i think it would be in my best interests to go to sleep now. I just searched on lookbook and there are soooo many pictures with Docs so i will pick some i like and put them in this entry, along with my kpop boys. but, tomorrow. or. in 6 hours. .. yeah. i'll edit this later.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, I'm back. It's 3:30PM. Only took me about 12 hours to get back in the mood to blog about the Docs. I got distracted by some fashion blogs. Sigh. Anyways, here we go!

The Lookbook.nu beauties rocking the Docs. SOO many choices; hard decision to choose just a few. I think I really like Docs when they are worn as a splash of color.

In order [Top to bottom, L-R]: Solène Millon; Loreley Omekiahuitl | Cookies Absinthe; Adeline Rapon | Tokyobanhbao

In the Augst 2009 issue of TeenVogue [AKA the Emma Watson issue], there's a spread called Reality Check on "cool button-downs, grunge-chic kicks, and oversized bookbags." Okay, but the only thing I really noticed were the "grunge-chic kicks" -- the Docs! [Btw, after looking through some of my old TeenVogue mags, I found some spreads I really want to share -- especially one on military style jackets! Have I talked that subject to death yet? Yeah, I think so...]

Also, in the same issue of TeenVogue, their "Index Checklist" features Docs, as well as other chunky boots, as seen on models.

Agyness Dyen | Freja Beha

Image credit: TeenVogue.com

Oh, but that's not all! I even spotted them on my favorite Korean boys.

SHINeeFT Island

So, what do you guys think of Doc Martens? Love them, hate 'em, don't really care? I don't know what I think of them. Sometimes they look really good and really fitting, and sometimes they just weren't meant to be. But I would really like to try a pair on to see if they really are as comfortable as the Wikipedia article says they are. Also, if you would like to buy a pair, they are $100+ [too pricey for me =\] and I'm sure you could find tons of different colors and prints and styles to match your personality (: Official Store Website

BTW, I have decided what to do about my constant posting about Kpop. At the end of every month, I will have a post where all I do is talk about Kpop fashion. If I talk about other topics [such as this post aboutDoc Martens] and Kpop is applicable, then I will use it too. But I really don't want to talk about it TOO much so I'm trying to limit myself. I'm trying to find other topics to talk about. I think my next post is going to feature some stores that are good for guys? Devin is inspiring me because of his difficulty of finding good men's stores, sooo yup.