Horizontal and Vertical

I really like the combination of a vertical waistband on a horizontal striped garment. The first dress is from Topshop and the second is from French Connection. Horizontal stripes are typically unflattering, but a vertical stripe around your waist would draw attention to the thinnest part of your torso. Plus I love gray.

No More Clothes at Bendels?

I cannot believe it. The recession has hit high end shopping hard. Legendary 5th Avenue department store, Henri Bendel, will no longer carry clothing items. Instead, the store will focus on accessories and make up. They will also be expanding the Henri Bendel brand (their signature brown and white striped items). Six accessories-only stores are to open this year in shopping centers nationwide. They are even giving up one of their floors! Bendel's has been open since 1895, I bought my prom dress there! This scaling back scares me, first stop clothes, next stop close?

Out of all the NY department stores, Bendel's has always been unique. It is much smaller and carries much less merchandise than its competitors. They have suffered during this recession because their price point per garment is consistently higher. Over the past few years, however, they have departed from being edgier and having different merchandise, to merely having less of the same merchandise. According to NY Times Style, sales have been plummeting since October. Read more about it here. We will try and keep you updated on this, I hope New York does not lose one of it's shopping landmarks.

Model Blogging/Models Blogging

Daul Kim, Coco Rocha, Sophie Ward, Elyse Sewell, Cameron Russell are all blogging. They aren't even embarrassing themselves, these beautiful women actually have something to say! These are some of the best, personal blogs I have seen for a while. For more summaries of these blogs, as if you need an incentive to read what models think, read this article on Jezebel.

[racked]

Jimmy Choo Sample Sale

What: Mules, boots, stilettos, and pumps starting at $75. Bags starting at $150.
When: Thurs., 1-7 p.m.
Where: The Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St., b/t Sixth & Seventh

Will someone please take me? Okay, Thanks.

Ann Demeulemeester Wannabe(s)

I post last week about how I really wanted Ann Demeulemeester shoes, and it looks like the copycats of the shoe industry heard my cry.
These shoes, by Bijux Max, are pretty much an exact replica of her lace up flats. And for only $115, they are a great deal (at 1/10 of the price of the real thing).
Even Dolce Vita has gotten into the game of copying Ann Demeulemeester. These look just like her wedge, lace up heels, even down to the suede fabric. Of course neither are anywhere near the real shoes. Sigh, my craving will continue, unfullfilled.

Fierce for Less

A while ago, we posted images of Christian Siriano's line for Payless. Well, months later, the line has finally come out and the shoes seemed to have been toned down. A lot. I was actually excited to buy some great, fashion forward shoes from Payless. Most of their designer collections, like Alice and Olivia, resemble nothing of their designer's aesthetic. Here are the actual shoes:
Cute.... but, not quite the edgy, Rodarte-esque shoes we saw in his preview. Racked reports that the project runway winner has signed a multi-year contract with Payless. I am excited to see how he reconciles his vision with mass market!

APPLY FOR '09-'10 EXEC BOARD!

Hi everybody!

The year is coming to an end and the next issue of CONTRAST is about to come out-- that means it's time to start thinking about next year! We highly encourage anyway who is interested in taking on a larger role of responsibility and leadership to apply for an exec board position -- any position is open.

Editor-in-Chief: In charge of overseeing and working with all committees, running exec board meetings, dealing with more general aspects of the magazine- such as the vision/direction, main liaison to VSA as well as other ogranizations, oversees printing, timelines, etc.

Editorial Director: Oversees editorial committee; works with writers to brainstorm article ideas; assigns, edits, and reviews articles.

Director of Photography: Oversees photography committee; works closely with the Style Directors; helps create ideas for photo shoots; directs photo shoots; assigns and manages photographers; selects photos, etc.

Style Directors (two positions: Men's, Women's): Work together to oversee Style committee. Help create, direct, and select looks for photo shoots. Work closely with Director of Photography to form a cohesive photo shoot.

Head of Advertising: Creates press packet; researches potential advertising customers and serves as main representative to potential business; brainstorms alternative/creative fundraising options.

Layout Directors: In charge of layout of entire magazine. Also occasionally creates posters for events. Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator essential.

Secretary/Treasurer: Serve as main liaison between Contrast and VSA VP for Finance; handle budget and processing all expenses; take notes at exec board meetings.

Webmaster: In charge of maintaining and managing the website.


If you are interested, please send us -- vassarcontrast(at)gmail.com -- an e-mail by 8pm this coming Sunday (May 3rd) with your name, class year, what position(s) you are applying for (if you are applying for more than one, please list them in order of preference), and a paragraph telling us why you want the position and why you think you would be good at the job. We will then send an e-mail the following week about interviews.

Although it is preferable for candidates to be able to make a full year committment, we are willing to also consider candidates who will be gone for a semester (it helps if you have someone to apply with who would be able to serve the other semester).


We hope everyone will consider applying, you've all been great this semester, and it takes dedicated members to continue making CONTRAST a success.


Many thanks!
Selina, Lucy, and Liza

Abercrombie in a Recession

"what differentiates one’s frayed cargo shorts from another’s?...A clue: It has to do with price."
-"Losing It's Cool at the Mall," Eric Wilson, NY Times

Does anyone else remember when Abercrombie and Fitch was the place to be? I totally wore their tshirts and jeans every day in seventh grade. All of a sudden, around freshman year, their prices began to skyrocket. I remember picking up a shredded denim miniskirt and seeing that it was $120, now what kind of thirteen year old can afford that? I walked right across the mall to American Eagle and bought an identical skirt for $30. My style has since evolved and I have not actually shopped at Abercrombie for years, but it looks like younger audiences are not quite as infatuated as we once were. Were we part of Generation Abercrombie? Now outdated? Maybe now I will be able to walk through a mall without choking on the smell of their cologne coming out of their stores. Now I just sound old and cranky....

If you want to read the article, click here.

Social Media's Impact on Fashion

“Online marketing is the most powerful way we can reach our younger customer,” said Sheena Sauvaire, Topshop’s head of marketing. “To be perfectly honest, we have to be using this medium.”
Topshop well knows the power of bloggers. An unofficial Topshop page on MySpace has been sparking about 20 percent of the visitors to topshop.com, according to Sauvaire. The company provides Topshop’s blogger there with details of company events and news. It’s one of the brand’s newest attempts to stir interest via social networking sites, a tactic the retailer first tried three years ago.

- Samantha Conti, "Fashion's New Circuit: Social Networks", WWD. Read the rest of the article here.

Who Wore it Better?

So I saw this image of Leighton Meister on Go Fug Yourself, while I do think she looks cute that is A LOT of peach on one girl. But her shoes are amazing, I can't decide if this saves her colorless outfit. Then I saw this image of Ciara only moments later on Yahoo.

This is clearly a more casual look but there are issues with this one too. Those Jeans. That sweatshirt. She is lucky she is so pretty.

So here I ask with two pretty girls and two problematic outfits, who deserves to keep their shoes?

Louboutin vs. Forever 21

So I was at the Galleria last weekend and I saw these heels at Forever 21:They were on sale, only 11.99, seemed like fun summer party shoes. But they also seemed a little familiar....
Here are the Christian Louboutin heels from last spring. They have the signature red sole and a great zipper on the platform but WOW forever 21 is not being subtle here at all. In the stores, the zipper on their copy was much more silver than it appears in this photo, making the similarity between the two shoes even more obvious.

Matthew Williamson

for H&M
tomorrow
(4.23)
640 5th Ave
NY

let me know how it looks when you go!

Splurge

"new research by the universities of Columbia and Harvard shows that people who splurge on themselves are happier in the long run than those who squirrel away their pennies for the proverbial rainy day...'people feel guilty about hedonism right afterwards, over time that guilt dissipates'. If you never treat yourself, however, 'what builds up is this wistful feeling of missing out on life’s pleasures'. Which, if you ask me, means it’s time to remind ourselves of the logic behind the feelgood purchase. "

Splurging during a Recession? Read the article here in the London Times.

Photoshop Workshop!

Are you interested in learning how to distort Jessica Alba from the pretty girl on the left to the demon on the right?
Just kidding- after this workshop you won't do such a terrible, obvious job.

Photoshop for Photographers Workshop
Wednesday, April 15th, 3:00-6:00 pm
Media Cloisters

Update:
Digital Photography Workshop
Wednesday, April 22nd, 3:00-6:00 pm
Rocky 104

led by Veteran Photographer and Journalist Dmitri Kasterine
To sign up, please email dmitri@kasterine.com

This is open to ALL students, not just Contrast members or Photographers. No prior experience using photoshop is necessary.

Wallpaper Necklaces

Sofia Barao's new necklaces are made from vintage French wallpaper, then tied with a satin ribbon. Will this necklace make me feel like I, too, am in Paris?

What I want NOW

Ann Demeulemeester lace up boots. If I won the lottery tomorrow right after paying off Vassar loans and giving a little something to my family/charity, the first thing I would buy are these boots... and maybe a Chanel bag. But that is beside the point. If I could buy one uber-expensive trendy item right now it would be these boots. I mean look at them!I could wear them for summer, for winter (with tights), every day! Unfortunately they cost over $1000, which is a bit more than I can afford. Here they are featured in Sea of Shoes. I have never been more jealous of a sixteen year old!

I am obsessed with Jourdan Dunn

The much anticipated May 09 issue of Vogue US is here. Shot by Steven Meisel it features models: Liya Kebede, Natalia Vodianova, Anna Jagodzinska, Isabeli Fontana, Lara Stone, Jourdan Dunn, Raquel Zimmermann, Caroline Trentini and Natasha Poly. Can we talk for a second about how unbelievably stunning Jourdan Dunn is? I mean, she is surrounded by all of these beautiful models and my eye goes directly to her. This is what Tyra is always talking about on ANTM, standing out in a crowd, smiling with your eyes. The english model has walked for Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Jean Paul Gaultier couture shows in Paris as well as appeared alongside Naomi Campbell and Iman in Vogue Italia's all black issue.

Grey Gardens

"It’s time that we put into the media people and events that illuminate our own experience through theirs. When you see “Grey Gardens” there’s something to be learned from that. In spite of managing to live on very little income, they’re survivors and there’s love there between the two of them, and a lot of talent. I’ve spoken to people who know good voices and they say Edith could very well have been a professional singer. And the fashion world has been so excited by Edie’s fashionable dresses."

-Director Albert Maysles (who came to Vassar to speak!) on Grey Gardens in WWD

Creating Constructs

Fashion magazine's undeniably follow a pattern for their cover. Closeup of a pretty actress/model, hair blowing, face photoshopped to eerie perfection, typically blond (especially for teen magazines) and caucasian (although Vogue has actually had three african american women this year on the cover!). To exemplify this point, here is Vogue's January cover:
Anne Hathaway is beautiful, I want to become a redhead, and have a stylish New Year. This sounds great. Unfortunately though, this formula for a magazine cover has become so uninteresting that almost none of them are eyecatching anymore. The beautiful woment that they choose for the cover appear as unhuman clones of this vision for uniform, ideal beauty. The Moment, New York Times Style Blog, recently posted a picture of the cover of Vogue from January, 1950. In looking at this image, it seems like in the past 59 years, has the magazine industry has become less progressive and less artistic.

Erwin Blumenthal’s photograph on Vogue’s cover in January 1950.

This cover includes Jean Patchett’s beauty mark, mouth, eye, brow and nose. This reduction is artistic, alluring, and unique- something many covers today are missing.

It's Here!

"The spring design issue of T Magazine will put you ahead of the curve — in more ways than one. Our cover star is Greg Lynn, champion of “blob” architecture, whose first house was photographed by Raymond Meier. We also take a tour of an artful Manhattan townhouse that looks as contemporary now as it did the day the owner — who also designed it — first moved in back in 1973. William Shaw profile Richard Woods, whose faux wood facades have the art world floored. Ambra Medda, the founder of Design Miami Basel shows why she’s the fairest of them all, Frank Gehry takes us out on his sailboat, Foggy, and Alice Rawsthorn explains how a quirky, seaweed-like room divider became a runaway design hit. And there’s a lot more where that came from. Dive in!"
-By Alix Browne for New York Times Style Magazine

Legs, Doubletake

The Similarities between Garance Dore and The Sartorialist are overwhelming. The other day she posted a photo that seemed a little too familiar. This picture is of the same girl, in the same outfit as one that Scott Schuman posted last week. The location is different, the hair has changed, but these two lovebirds are losing themselves a bit. Which photo do you prefer?

And bonus points if you can guess which photographer took which photo......

Top Ten

WWD has come out with their list of the top ten collections of Fall 2009.

Burberry Prorsum
Chanel
Christian Dior
Comme des Garcons
Lanvin
Louis Vuitton
Marc Jacobs
Marni
Prada
Ralph Lauren

Watch the slideshow here.

Stars Sans Fards

The photos have leaked from the April issue of French Elle which features Model Herzigova, 36, and actresses Marceau, 42, and Bellucci, 44, all without makeup and, perhaps even more revealing, all entirely without Photoshopping or retouching of any kind. The mag's headline "Stars Sans Fards" translates to “without rouge/makeup,” but it's a French saying that also suggests a sense of “openness.” French Elle's pictorial seems to actually to celebrate the organic beauty of these famous faces (even though these women are all exceptionally beautiful to begin with).

Social Media's Impact on Fashion

"This new wave of microblogging — Twitter and Tumblr — really appealed to me because you’re publishing but you’re not asking for comments. I sort of don’t care what you think. The other thing I like about it is it’s bringing many of the elements we preach together....To get an emotional connection, it doesn’t have to be so curated and art directed."

-James Gardner, CEO of Interactive Agency who represent brands such as Balenciaga, Burberry, Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney, discussing the impact of developing social media on fashion advertising and relations in WWD.

Musical Suits

"'I don’t care about the red carpet,' she says. 'At this moment it is much more interesting to have a rock star wear my clothes.' Ms. Giannini admits that she is dedicated to the androgynous ’80s — its fashion and its music 'Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet — when I was 14, listening to music was an obsession — and now I live with music morning to night,' says the designer, 36, who has a collection of 8,000 vinyl records and has brought rock chic to Gucci."

Gucci designer, Frida Giannini, has been inspired to revive the '80's Boyfriend Suit through music. How does music inspire your fashion sense? Read the rest of the article in the NY Times here.

Mindy Kaling's blog

Mindy Kaling, best known for playing Kelly on the office, has a blog where she discusses, "things I bought that I love: a place to discuss things we've bought that are frivolous and fun". I feel like she is trying really hard to maintain her down to earth aura. She writes, "Please no one think I always wear, like Comme des Garcons. I love shopping at Opening Ceremony. First of all, unlike any other boutique, it’s not remotely girly. It’s kind of stark and artsy, in a good way. It’s like, curated. Each room is like another exhibit, and the designers are those infuriating insanely talented FIT kids making asymmetrical sacks look sexy and stuff. Vena Cava, Acne, Proenza Schouler, you get it. Stuff you try on and are like, “wow, a $375 top marked down from $800.” and gingerly put it back on the hanger feeling like someone might run in and bust you for trying to be awesome. So, yeah, I don’t wear Comme de Garcons. Except this fucking insanely cute heart cardigan."
Now I am just so so SO disappointed in this blog. Mindy is one of the writers for The Office and she is absolutely hilarious on it! Her girlie charm is somewhat lost here, unfortunately. Her use of the word 'like' so often is really distracting, and I don't think she buys enough exciting things. (it's not like she is Jane from Sea of Shoes).....

a taste of things to come....

the magazine is coming
the magazine is coming
the magazine is coming...

Natural Style

via Stumbleupon.

TOPSHOP/LONDON

“Five girls out of 30 will all buy the same skirt in London, and we’ll never wear it the same way. We can all wear it on the same day and never know it. Someone will wear it as a top. Someone will wear it as a hat.”
-Eric Wilson, NY Times, discussing Topshop's impact on style

read the rest of the article here.

I have to be honest, having spent time in London I am constantly amazed by how much more innovative and fashion forward people are. I remember about 4 years ago I bought my first skinny jeans there, and was terrified to wear them. Now they are all I wear. The same thing goes for knee high boots with either tights or jeans. Something else that amazed me though was the lack of variety in stores. It seemed like everyone in England bought their underwear at M&S, their trendy clothes at Topshop, their shoes at Office, and then dabbled in Mango, Zara, Karen Millen, etc. The turnover in these stores, however, was unreal. If we think about Forever 21's two week stocking pattern, Topshop and Office put them to shame. Topshop is able to produce high fashion trends fast, allowing the girl next door to look like she stepped off a runway. It is their innovation and creativity that allows all of these girls to look so unique- even when most of them are shopping at the same stores.

BE THERE.

SWISHING

TODAY 4-6PM VILLARD ROOM

bring some clothes, trade some clothes. like thrift store shopping, but FREE.

Fashion show at 5

sustainability is chic

Japanese Prints Inspire Everything

Doesn't this look familiar?

Japanese Waves Coin Necklace by Kaymen B Jewelry

Hey ART105/106......

The Great Wave, by Hokusai

Mild West

German Vogue's March 09 fashion spread was inspired by Southwestern Americana... Bondage? Regardless, these are beautiful photographs.

Mild West Shot
Photographer: Greg Kadel
Model: Toni Garrn
Stylist: Katie Mossman

Icelandic Fasion

Birkiland´s goal is to introduce, sell and support Icelandic design and assist in its future development in Iceland and around the world.

Their manifesto reads:

• We believe that Iceland is unique
• We believe that there is an increased need for understanding our past, our identity and our history
• We love all the colors of the rainbow
• We believe in the intense power of nature
• We believe in quality
• We believe that design will help create competitive advantage of the nation
• We believe in love and respect for all things
• We believe in learning from the past, look to the future and still enjoy today
• We believe that our home should nourish both body and soul

These principles are certainly evident in their products. They feature five icelandic designers whose products are related to these principles. They are innovative in terms of design and they are truly Icelandic products.

The Seapelt, featured below, reflects the belief present in icelandic myths that describe seals as being condemned by humans. The Birkiland website includes the tale that inspired the designer. These cozy body blankets also come in baby sizes.

I Want This Job

Dai Fujiwara is the creative director at Issey Miyake. In this fascinating documentary Color Hunting, Fujiwara and his team traveled to the Amazon with suitcases packed full of cloth color swatches. Once there, the team compared the swatches to thousands of plants, leaves, barks, and mud until they found the colors that matched the forest exactly. Fujiwara had expected to find “bold and brash colors” but instead found quiet, earthier tones. While they were down there, the team traveled to various cities in Brazil, took photographs and spun them to create color streaks with which they created an Urban Brazil palette. Okay, to recap: Mr. Fujiwara gets to spend his days 1) playing with color theory, 2) traveling to distant and exotic locales and 3) setting the tone (pun intended) for the next season. Where do I sign up?

-Ceci Cholst

Need a leg?

Leave it to the Parisians to come up with this ingenious idea. The Extra Leg protects the bottom of your pants from rain or make it easy to ride a bike. It also seems like a great way to turn your flared jeans into skinny ones without actually cutting them. Here's to the end of cuffed jeans!!!!

Where is Spring?

Hey friends, sorry for the lack of posts last week-- let's just say, it was definitely a bit hellish, and we're glad it's a new week. Also, what's up with this weather!? It keeps on teasing us with gorgeous days followed by rain. Not cool.

I'm ready for more of this:





Anyway, the point is, I'm going to be a lot better about posts this week. Promise.



photo via Design Crush

Kohl's is Cute?

Every week, while all other fashion stores are floudering in the economy, Kohl's Store manages to be one of the highest earners. While I understand that it is great and cheap, I cannot reorient my mind to determine that they actually have cute merchandise. My memory is filled with ladybug pajama pants and platform flipflops, but maybe that is because I haven't been there since I was nine. Over break, my mom had all of these really cute new dresses (that I tried to steal). When I found out that they were from the Simply Vera collection at Kohl's I couldn't believe it. They are online (and on sale). Check it out for yourself!

Silk Turbans

So The Sartorialist and Garance Dore must be dating. The two fashion photographer bloggers have both posted a series of images of women wearing silk turbans this week. Also- she has been in New York all week. That's all I am saying. But turbans must be in a pre-trend stage, as I have yet to see any on real people recently. Garance writes, "And then I also like how sometimes, when I wake up with an unidentified hair-like object on my head, 'Oh hello Amy Winehouse,' my mirror says to me, I should say, this happens a lot more often than I’d like, but I like that I can just grab a headscarf, tie it up, and off we go." If only life could be that simple, I don't think I am quite ready to rock a turban, but these women look great. Am I alone here? Would you wear one?

swishing fashion show!

THIS THURSDAY

vassar greens is hosting a clothing swap in the villard room 4-6
as a way to promote sustainable methods for building your wardrobe
(basically thrift store shopping for free - bring at least one unwanted item to get in to have free reign over all the goodies)

and contrast is hosting a fashion show at the event!

if you are interested in modeling at our eco focused fashion shoot, email
alaparicio@vassar.edu // alaparicio@vassar.edu // alaparicio@vassar.edu

model! help style! stop buying things you don't need!