TRENDING: TREND DIABETES

Marie Claire China, February 2012

Pastels are in! Wait weren't they also 'in' last season... and the season before that and the one before that? Clearly I'm the only one who thinks this infatuation with powder/baby/candy floss-everything is getting really icky because just about every designer is STILL doing it. And no, the bugis street stalls pedaling their little pastel crop tops aren't helping. Oh god, those are the worse. I also blame them for single-handedly bringing that gross feeling you get after overdoing it at the dessert counter (I would know) into the fashion industry. If you must, this colour trend looks the best when applied to clean structural shapes that veer furthest from the fairy princess ideal. Think Phillip Lim and Acne, those I love.

Don't even touch that sheer baby blue chiffon maxi, not on my watch.

PRINTS IN PRINT

CATALOG MAGAZINE, ISSUE #88
click for a better view

It's that time of the year again isn't it? When we all resolve to lose weight, try that new haircut, finally speak to that person and all the other cliches that make up the worst followed set of instructions - A New Year's resolution, so here's one that won't be a bitch to keep.

Look your best. Always.

How simple, right! And it won't cost a lot of money either! In the January issue of CATALOG, I flex my styling muscle (the only muscle I have actually trained) and have put together a simple how-to page for wearing that one standout piece in several ways without looking like a one trick whore pony. I've got other pages in there too that I'll blog about soon but do go pick up a copy in the meantime, it's free!

Oh and if you were wondering, the print bustier is from Blackmarket No.2 at Orchard Central and the men's shirt is from The Society Of Black Sheep at MBS.

DUDE-ITUDE

Top row, from left to right: Dries Van Noten, Michael Bastian, Marc By Marc Jacobs
Bottom row, from left to right: Alexander McQueen, ACNE, Prada, Maison Martin Margiela
All Photos from style.com

SWAG kinda seems like the word of 2011 doesn't it? Instead of sneaking through the back and stealing, get some of your own with Spring 2012's best frames. Go crazy with clear acrylic or not at all in a sublime wire frame. I know I'll sunglass it up, the question is, will you? You should. No really, just get a pair. And a cool looking one too; no more Oakleys please, you're not running a marathon and even if you were I'm sure the ACNE ones would look cooler, nothing more important than staying cool in a marathon, right?

SHE SHADES

Top row, from left to right: ACNE, Lanvin and Proenza Schouler
Bottom row, from left to right: Erdem, Stella McCartney, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Derek Lam
All photos from style.com

From lace goggles to superhero lenses to cat-eyes on crack, variety really is the spice of life or at least the Spring 2012 season. When it comes to eyewear, the collective message this spring? STAND OUT. That generic wayfarer or aviator won't cut in anymore. Look for frames in odd shapes and even odder colours and textures for a sun-shielding statement. You won't ever have to say 'Hey my eyes are up here!' anymore for I assure you, they'll be the focus.

Sorry guys, ladies first. Do check back tomorrow; trust me, you'll want to see this.

THE EVENING STANDARD

From left to right: Ungaro, Giles, Katrantzou, Givenchy and Altuzarra.

LISTEN UP LADIES! With the party season (Christmas+New Year's) just around the corner, I hope you've already realized that the short tight dress is so passé when it comes to groove-able gear. Instead, I urge you to paint the town a happy, not slutty, red in this party-ready alternative... THE EVENING PANT!

(Cue dramatic music and lighting. You know, music is not always enough anymore)

ACNE REMEDY

Backstage from the ACNE Spring 2012 show... well, hello there.

 I'm BACK! I do apologize for the extended break I've taken the liberty to have, anyways I'm back and I'm here to stay. ACNE is the brand/skin disease of the day but I'd rather not go into the whole dermatology of it. A swedish brand founded in 1996 ACNE actually stands for "Ambission to Create Novel Expression" bet you didn't know that... but then again why would you need to. Well if you must know, I just know ACNE as house-of-everything-I-ever-want-to-wear. You'll see why.

BITCH, YOU BETTER RUN!

Lacoste SS2012

OK so moving on from the melodramatic title, this post is about NYFW or New York Fashion Week for all of you have abbreviation allergies. To say I'm excited is more than an understatement, IT'S FASHION WEEK, come on! Or to quote Candy Pratts Price, "SAHPTAHMBUHRR is the JAH-NEW-ERY of FAH-SSHEN" you heard her! For me, it's a time of  awe and wonderment at what are to be the trends for the next season and with the help of nowfashion.com I've been looking at the photos in real time. 


There seemed to be quite a collective idea floating around some of the shows, a creative consensus if you may, this idea of athleticism and sportswear. Depending on the designers however, they either chose to luxe it up with gorgeous fabrics like at Victoria Beckham, or they merged it back to streetwear like at Rag & Bone and Alexander Wang. Whichever way the designers chose it always came out looking urban and fresh. Perhaps it's the relaxed attitude one implies when throwing on a piece of workout attire and the implied "fuck it" confidence the wearer automatically possesses. 

   

Alexander Wang SS2012

Altuzarra SS2012

Victoria Beckham SS2012

Rag & Bone SS2012

Jason Wu SS2012

DO: Start wearing the trend now! Look for sporty details like cutouts, panels and neon colours in your clothes, to really lift a look. If you're daring enough, why not wear your gym gear out? As long as it's done tastefully, anything goes.