Trend Report: Art Inspired Fashion

Art has always and will always imitate life - as well as other art.  Fashion and art are one in the same; fashion will forever be a medium for expression, interpretation and serve as an extension of ourselves.

My fashion insider concurs, “As more segments of society begin to understand the power of clothing as a mechanism of expression, the natural merger between avant-garde art and fashion will continue to grow. With a great multitude of artists continuing to communicate the need for changes in the way we view ourselves, our relationships with each other and the environment we live in, it seems only natural that the canvas of the human body is next in line as the foremost bearer of this message.”

Just ask Marc Jacobs. The forward-thinking designer recently paired back up with Takashi Murakami to to mark six years of collaboration.  After the release of the Jacob’s Multicolor Spring Palette, Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami launched a colorful anime short film as a sequel to Murakami’s “Superflat Monogram” anime short from 2003.

Entitled “Superflat First Love” the film showcases a school girl experiencing all the fascinations of Murakami’s characters which are part of his latest project with Louis Vuitton with this mystical journey starting outside the store.

The plush character ho atars in the new film can now be sen in Jacob’s stores, uniting fashion and art.

Previous work from Murakami led to the creation of the iconic Monogram Multicolore which has become a popular fixture replicating itself on various fronts.

Similarly NY Magazine’s  The Cut feature, ”Sergio Rossi’s Resort Collection Inspired by Art, Architecture” highlights another cutting edge designer motivated by his artistic surroundings.

“There’s nothing we like to look at more than shoes. Seriously, we could do it all day, people. So imagine our bliss at being able to preview the Sergio Rossi Resort collection, which will be available on the designer’s website and at Saks Fifth Avenue come fall. Creative director Francesco Russo was inspired by art and architecture, citing Zaha Hadid as a reference. The super-skinny stiletto heels (the reps swore they were very stable and easy to walk in) are ultra-feminine and sophisticated for night, while the thick wedges with soft napa leather straps are more graphic and practical for day. Of the vibrant collection, we especially love the hot-pink suede slingbacks (a big color this season) and the towering sky-blue leather platforms with sexy double ankle straps. The prices are steep ($450 to $925), but there’s no harm in looking (and lusting!).”

A new Oligoville artsy find is also the proud company who was selected as the number one choice at the Bazaar Bizarre for the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s Best of the Bay, Nouveau Motley.

The boutique designs beautiful handmade Steampunk jewelry of the highest quality for the discriminating Neo-Victorian enthusiast. And they are gorgeous. Find their award winning collection here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=18695&order=&section_id=&page=2

Their name alone may very well describe their philosophy better than even I can articulate:
Nouveau- [NOO-voh] adj. Recently created, developed, or come to prominence. New and different, often fashionably so.

Motley- [MOT-lee] noun.  diverse and varied. Assorted: consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds (even to the point of incongruity). A woolen fabric of mixed colors made in England between the 14th and 17th centuries: the traditional costume of the Court jester or the Harlequin character in Commedia dell’arte

Got it? Maybe this visual will help (that also happens to be in my shopping cart):

“The Queen’s Jewels,” well if the shoe fits.

And I know all of you lovelys read my cocktail ring trend report, but I must revisit the fabulous accessory to bring you “The Museum Collection” by Lisa Paik. This divine collection is comprised of 8 fun and unique cocktail rings that are each inspired by a work of art or an artist’s collective works. All rings feature Swarovski crystals and are priced under $90. Check these jems out here:  www.lisapaik.com.

My favorite of the bunch can be seen above and just happens to be inspired by one of my favorite paintings.

Paik describes the piece as a ring that aims to “capture the swirly brilliance of Van Gogh’s genius Starry Night, featuring a large topaz…a great update to the classic round cocktail ring.”

I must agree and note that the Starry Night Ring also happens to be my favorite collegiate color. Coincidence? I think not.

XOXO

President “Barry” on Image and Style

{Images Courtesy of the New York Times.}

Not only has our new President brought youth, hope, and organically farmed produce to the White House, he’s also brought a sense of style that few—if any—other politicians possess. President Obama (along with the buff and beautiful Michelle) has a casual elegance in everything he wears. From sleek, power-tie accessorized suits at the office to shades and board shorts at the beach, Mr. Obama knows how to present himself. Before his days of political power, President Barack Obama—or Barry as he was called—was a self-aware, image conscious freshman at Southern California’s Occidental College.

Lisa Jack, a classmate of Barry’s and a student of photography, was tipped off that handsome freshman Barry would be an ideal subject to shoot. Barry showed up with a bomber jacket, flared jeans, a pack of ciggs, and a Panama hat. He clearly had put careful, purposeful thought into what he chose to wear and how he wanted to be portrayed. At the tender age of eighteen, Barry knew that “clothes function like identity flashcards.” These photos, first featured in Time magazine are currently on display at the M+B Gallery in Los Angeles.

While I am all for rolling out of bed, throwing on what’s comfortable and not stressing over what to wear, this (apparently) won’t make me the next Commander in Chief.  Image is everything and first impressions do last. Though most professionals won’t acknowledge putting much importance on fashion, looking good matters. Putting deliberate thought into how you present yourself goes a long way. While I’m not advocating transforming into a label-slavin’ Gucci Prada Mama, I am advocating putting careful consideration into how you present yourself to the world by starting with your style. Being naturally good looking, charming, and stylish (like young Barry) doesn’t hurt much either.

Next time you consider heading out in shabby sweats and a faded tee, take a moment and think about the journey of young, self-aware Barry and ask yourself, “is this really how I want to present myself to the world?” I know I will.

Celebrity Style: Penelope Cruz Resort Wear

Resort wear has evolved over the past few seasons from being known as cruise wear to now being known as easy, comfortable, wrinkle-free, yet fashionable. Many high-end designers such as Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Vera Wang started creating special collections for the year-round resort vacationer since there are no “real” seasonal limitations.

The vacation style has gained enormous popularity because we look for the comfort and casual-ness of summer clothes but don’t have to “resort” to the normal printed tees, ratty jeans, and flip flops. Instead of the stereotypical resort wear patterns of bright Hawaiian prints, florals, and bright wasabi green, Penelope Cruz adds a new meaning to resort wear combining comfort with a fashion sense and personality – all while jet setting.

Penelope’s look is perfect for traveling and lounging around your vacation destination. The burnout tee requires no ironing and no need to fuss about wrinkles while on a plane. Her Citizens of Humanity Jeans add the designer edge to the outfit, making her look clean and streamlined. The signature resort accessorizes – hat, glasses, and wedges reinvent the resort wear style. Instead of a team logo or endorsement, Penelope’s simple denim cap protects her from the suns rays (and paparazzi) while giving off a relaxed vibe.

No resort wear outfit is complete without over-sized sunglasses, which is why we love her Ray-Bans, yet included some other options in our fashion widget to meet different sized budgets. The final touch to Penelope’s vacation fashion style is her unbeatable white wedges. Adding a bit of height and leg, we love how she is exudes comfort but includes such a fashionable edge.

Penelope’s look is simple to get. Burnout tees are a hot trend for summer and light scarves are a great add-on for a trip to the beach. Check out our style widget to browse and mix and match tees and jeans to meet your body shape and wallet.

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