Ageless Fashion Styles: Little Black Dress

Friday, May 15, 2009

As you would notice, the fashion trends nowadays are just reincarnation of the fashion styles before we were born. They are the improved versions designed by those who have gone before us. The fashion styles that I will present in a series are ageless fashion styles because they still exist through the test of time.

1930: Little Black Dress (LBD)
black dress,fashion trend

The little black dress was first seen in May 1926 issue of Vogue magazine when Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel drew the design of the dress for the said issue. First, it was called “Chanel’s Ford” because it is compared to the affordable black Ford automobile.

“Chanel’s Ford” rocked the fashion world in both positive and negative ways. Chanel made a bold effort in her design by choosing black as the color of the dress. Some people had a bad impression about it because black clothing was linked to clergy, servants, or death. However, most of the women were allured by its simplicity and its cost. Accessorized with pearl necklace or worn with high-heels, everyone can pull it off with flying colors.

The popularity of little black dresses became uncontrollable. After its first appearance in Vogue magazine, celebrities also succumbed to LBD phenomenal trend. A little black dress made by Givenchy was worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tifffany’s. It was also used by Max Fleischer as the outfit of the infamous Betty Boop cartoon character. Since then, little black dresses are worn by middle-class to elite women in every dinner, cocktail party and night out.

black dress,fashion trendblack dress,fashion trend

To cope up with this fashion demand, almost every well-known designer included a little black dress in their collection by the end of the 20th century.

Inspiration

Fashion Styles at the 2009 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Last Saturday (May 9), the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) held the long-established dinner for US President Barack Obama and the first lady of the country, Michelle Obama.

This tradition originated way back in 1920s and it has been recorded that the very first WHCA dinner was graced by Calvin Coolidge (1024). As a rule, this occasion requires the attendance of US President and Vice President. Since then, the dinner is customarily held every last Saturday of April at the Washington Hilton.

Before World War II, the annual dinner highlights include singing between meals, a home-produced movie and an hour-long, post-dinner show with famous performers. However, these past few year years the attendees were entertained by a comedian roasting the President.

This 2009, stars came down from their pedestal and gathered to toast for the First Family. Let’s have a sneak preview of the red carpet fashion during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

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Michelle Obama in pink sheath dress by Michael Kors


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Natalie Portman in black Balenciaga gown

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Eva Longoria Parker in pink-ruffled Ports 1961 gown

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Alicia Keys in white dress with ninja stars

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Tyra Banks in her black number

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Natasha Bedingfield in a sparkling silver dress

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Rachel Leigh Cook in a metallic gown

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Padma Lakshmi in see-through scarlet gown

Photo Source

Peta's Fashionable Sea Kittens

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

What are Sea Kittens? For one of their campaign against animal violence last year, PETA launched their Sea Kitten campaign. Instead of using the term "fish", they use Sea Kittens. The grouped claimed that fish are smart and they have feelings too, just like dogs and cats.

So to shoo away my sleepiness feeling, I created my own sea kittens. In PETA's website, you can choose the fish type of your sea kitten and you can also adorn them with headgears and other accessories. They’re so fashionably cute. You too can have your own sea kitten!


Create Your Own Sea Kitten at peta.org!



Create Your Own Sea Kitten at peta.org!

Lady Gaga's Controversial Bubble Dress

Sunday, May 10, 2009

The very first thing that I noticed about Lady Gaga, was her out-of-this-world fashion statement. Of all those bold outfits, her bubble dress made a loud noise in the fashion gossip columns. The bubble dress she wore on her Fame Ball tour was said to be a replica from Hussein Chalayan's Spring 2007 Runway collection.

lady gaga

What can you say about this bubble dress issue?

By the way, here's some photos during the concert tour:
lady gaga
lady gaga
lady gaga

Photo Sources: Nymag and OMG

Amazing and Amusing Looks of Costume Institute Gala 2009

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Last Monday, one of the most awaited fashion events of the year took place at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Costume Institute Gala 2009, named as “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion”, was hosted by Kate Moss and Marc Jacobs.

Celebrities, models and fashion designers graced the red carpet of the event wearing their best model-looking dresses. I am not surprised to see fashion perfect gowns as well as weird-looking outfits. In every occasion, one can be either fashionable or out-fashioned. Personally every time I stumbled upon blog posts regarding fashion events, I would go directly to the Best-Dressed and the Worst-Dressed links of the site. For this blog, I would classify them as Amazing and Amusing looks.

Check out the gallery I have prepared for you. I would like to thank the fashion sites who uploaded these photos. Even though we did not attend the party in person, at least we can be amazed and amused with the wild creations and daring outfits of the party’s attendees.

Amazing Looks
Kate HudsonKate Beckinsale
Kate Hudson in Stella McCartney gown and Kate Beckinsale in Marchesa Fall 2009 gown.


Claire DanesRenee Zellweger
Claire Danes in Armani Privé and

Milla JovovichMarion Cotillard
Milla Jovovich in Marni Fall 2009 dress and Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior.

Bar RefaeliMiranda Kerr
Bar Refaeli Marchesa dress and Miranda Kerr in Jil Sander Spring 2009.

Photobucketgisele bundchen
Anne Hathaway violet Marc Jacobs Fall 2009 and Gisele Bundchen in Versace Spring 2009.


Amusing Looks
Rachel WeiszMary Kate Olsen
Rachel Weisz in strapless pink with yellow hem Vera Wang gown and Mary Kate Olsen in Christian Lacroix Fall 2007 Couture

Claudia Schifferashley olsen
Claudia Schiffer in Atelier Versace Spring 2009 and Ashely Olsen ice white The Row gown.

kate mossmadonna
Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs and Madonna in Louis Vuitton Fall 2009.

rihannaleighton meester
Rihanna in Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2009 and Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton Fall 2009.

shalom harlowVictoria Beckham
Shalom Harlow Bob Mackie black puffy coat dress and Victoria Beckham in polka dotted custom Marc Jacobs dress.

Sources: 1, 2

Fashion Must-Haves of This Season. Fashion Spring-Summer 2009.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Here come nine most fashionable things of the Summer 2009. Fashionable clothes, shoes and accessories that you MUST have in your wardrobe this summer.


1. Heel-strap sandal booties.
This Fall and Winter we get used to booties. And now in summer neither fashion-conscious people nor designers want to part with them. As a result we have very open booties or very closed sandals. You can wear them on bare feet or with pantyhose. Sandal booties look very sexy and beautiful. Anyway this must-have is a real hit of the catwalks. Look for them in Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Maison Martin Margiela, Paul Smith, Chanel and Alexander McQueen's collections.

Models Chanel and Bottega Veneta

2. Overalls.
This summer overalls will compete with our favorite dresses, all the more so fashion designers prepared for us many variants of the overalls. You can put on black classical overall going to your office, light coloured overall is good for party, short cotton overall is for beach. Interesting models of overalls you can find in Moschino Cheap & Chic, D&G, Missoni and Fendi's collections.


Matthew Williamson, Fendi and D&G's models

3. Stylish separate swimsuit.
Such swimsuits make silhouettes visually more graceful and this makes them very popular! But there is one disadvantage about them - sunburn will be quite fanciful. But designers of such trends as Agent Provocateur, La Perla, Topshop and Marc by Marc Jacobs are absolutely comfortable with that!

Models Melissa Odabash and Topshop

4. Sunglasses Ray-Ban Wayfarer.
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Wayfarer are "HELLO" from 80's. In 80's they were extremely popular in Hollywood. Let's remember "The Blues Brothers" with Daniel Aykroyd and John Belushi or "Rain Man" with Tom Cruise. Today the Ray-Ban sunglasses are favourite accessory of Hollywood celebrities such as Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Mischa Barton and others.


5. Military style of jackets.
This thing became must-have in spring Fashion Week in Paris. According to streetstyle photos it is the most popular attire there. Duh! This thing underlines a figure very nicely!
3.1 Phillip Lim, Balmain, Topshop

6. Antique style dresses.
In new season ancient Greek goddess is a beauty standard for many designers and modelers. Asymmetric light dresses with complicated drapery are very popular. Versace, Valentino, Elie Saab and Lanvin offer us such chic attires.

Lanvin, Elie Saab, Versace

7. Torn jeans.
This season the condition of the jeans is much more important than its shape. This summer jeans style of 90's is very popular. Small and big holes, long and short. Many holes or just few of them - as you wish. Besides you can make this fashionable thing by yourself! Or you can find it in Balmain, Acne or House of Holland collections.


8. Bright shawls.
Here comes hippie and ethnic style! It keeps make us glad. This accessory will make any boring classical suit positive and summery. It can be tied up as a turban on your head.

Dior, Paul Smith, Missoni.

9. Wide bangles.
Wide bangles are extremely fashionable three summers running. However this season we can see wooden bangles not only plastic ones. Besides, this summer you can wear two or even three wide bangles on one wrist. It is very fashionable!

Plastic bangles Fendi, wooden bangles Bottega Veneta

Halston Boots is the Summer Boots

Monday, April 27, 2009

As I was having may daily dose of blog/website reading, I came across the new Halston Boots. Usually, I am not a boot-fan but after I've seen theses knee-high and calf-skimming boots in black, fuchsia suede and metallic bronze colors, suddenly I fell in love with them. I should also mention their gorgeous stiletto heels!




As you can see, these boots are like gladiator sandals. It aims to give you a chic and sleek look while enjoying the summer air with its cute cut outs.

Photo via net-a-porter magazine