Here Comes The Bride...

So Saturday I'm going to my cousin's wedding shower. He's marrying the most glamorous girl ever and so one of my presents is the Philosophy Here Comes The Bride gift set. It's impossible to find on the Cape (where I am right now) because the Cape is being hit super hard by the recession. We were at the mall and store after store was just completely empty. It was really creepy. And the stores that were open almost all had signs that said, "Cash Only." 

Anyway, I called around and even my trusty Sephora in Burlington which I thought I could always count on doesn't have it. I finally found three at a Nordstrom so they're holding one for me which is nice.

It made me pretty sad that my usually vibrant and bustling Cape Cod is getting kicked at the knees. The hotels/motels all have vacancy signs, there aren't many cars on the road, the beaches are nearly empty (actually thats pretty nice...) and it's breaking my heart.

If you have time and want to go for a nice break you should come to Cape Cod! It's beautiful and nice and fun and there is lots to do! 

Has the recession changed your shopping habits? Or are you just pretending that everything is fine and that you have plenty of cash and credit to buy that bag/dress/shoes? I was pretty much in denial at home in my cushy, west of Boston suburb. I mean, the mall there is always packed and is opening a free standing Burberry store! There seems to be an endless amount of cash to be spent by everyone. But now that I'm at our beach house the reality of the situation is hitting me hard. And don't talk to me about President Bush saying that this isn't a recession-it is. And it's scary.

Even I'm not shelling out the $10 I would for my British magazines, I just sit down at the Barnes & Noble Starbucks and read them there! 

Vogue finally decides to put a model on the cover but...

I'm sure by now you all know that Kate Moss was shot by Mario Testino for the August cover of American Vogue. How disappointing is this cover? Granted, it's American Vogue and their covers are always so boring and commercial but with the hype surrounding the shoot a few months ago and the rumors that circulated you'd think they'd at least choose an interesting cover shot! I mean it's beautiful but so predictable! If there was a way to make American Vogue more relevant and back on the top of the fashion mag game shooting an edgy Kate Moss editorial would have been it. I suppose the average consumer doesn't know the difference and wants pretty pictures of people they know when they shell out money for Vogue. Sales on their print advertising space seems to be as good as ever despite the turn towards the internet and at the end of the day I have to accept that it's a business and it's there to make money and commercial looks is what sells issues and subscriptions. But for me fashion and fashion photography will always be art and it's so disappointing to see opportunities for brilliance so completely wasted.

I hope this didn't kill my dream of someday working at Vogue...

A Heatherette Tribute

It's becoming more and more obvious that Heatherette is headed for an official "divorce" announcement - although it might be hard for them to actually make the announcement since they no longer have a publicity team! Rumors of a breakup between designers Richie Rich and Trevor Rains have been running rampant for easily six months despite a high profile makeup collaboration with MAC.

While Richie Rich is getting ready for his compilation album and, um, unfortunately, a Hot Topic line to hit stores I thought I'd reminisce about some of my favorite Heatherette looks since I'm pretty disappointed that I'll never get a chance to attend one of their famously flamboyant shows. 

Jenna Jameson on the Heatherette runway

Amanda Lepore walking the Fall 2007 runway.

Lydia Hearst channeling the Statue of Liberty at their Fall 2006 show.

A look from Spring 2008 in New York City.

And finally...

Naomi Campbell was a drag queen Pochantas for Fall 2006.

He Smiled At Me Once; I Swooned

"I mean, the Croc--it looks like a plastic hoof. How can you take that seriously? I know it's comfortable; I understand that. But if you want to dress to feel as though you never got out of bed, don't get out of bed." -Tim Gunn, Time Magazine

He's such a dapper gentleman.

July Style Star: Kate Lanphear

My July 08 Style Star is Kate Lanphear senior style editor at Elle magazine.

She's amazing. Check her out!

A Word From Bostonista...

Still on break but I wanted everyone to know that the first (and in my opinion best) season of Project Runway is airing on Bravo all day today! Remember Wendy Pepper? Morgan the model? And the angry way Heidi used to say, "You are out!" 

Watch it. Love it.

It's Bostonista's Birthday Month!

Valentino Fall 2008 Couture

Alessandra Facchinetti's couture debut stumbled a few times while she attempted to bridge who she is as a designer with the style and imagery of the iconic house but for the most part she seems to have established herself with this collection as the next best thing to the recently retired Valentino himself. While Style.Com may have felt that some pieces were too weighed down with embroidery and beading I loved most of the detailing. But I especially loved her use of chiffon...I think she should consider it her speciality! Oh, to have a piece of Valentino Couture of my very own...! Someday, someday!

 Here are some of my favorite looks from the collection:

I'm not actually a fan of that last look; I just was fascinated by how it really made her appear to be completely 2d...she literally looks like a paper doll! There is also just something really creepy about the design. It reminds me of Lurch from the Addams Family!

Christian Lacroix Fall 2008 Couture

Extravagance was the name of the game at Christian Lacroix. While some might argue that in this economy it's time for muted, somber designs Lacroix was all about excess and escape. 

Acres of lovingly embellished lace, bead work, layers of hand painted fabrics and fantastical hats and headbands walked the runway as if the models didn't exist; These creations are alive all on their own. Pleats, structure and fabrics folded into petals were so obviously lovingly constructed with every detail made painstakingly perfect. Every detail had dozens of details of its own! I adored the satin hoods, long lace veils and jeweled hair pieces.

It was a display of magnificent abundance that was nothing less than purely delightful. Let everyone else be serious and practical I want to live in  Lacroix's beautiful world.

Bostonista Needs Your Help!

I need a steady, full time job starting August 1st. 

I have my bachelor's degree, a peppy little car, and (obviously) a love of fashion.

I also have a staggering student loan bill that I can't get consolidated until I have a steady income.

So, if you know of a Fashion/PR/Writing job in the New England area please

email me at:

Kara.Weymouth@gmail.com

Also, if you/your store/your company is interested in having an ad or two on Bostonista I'm now selling space at a very low monthly rate. 

XoXo

Bostonista

Dior Couture Fall 2008

John Galliano pulled out all the glamorous stops at Dior Couture. The collection was a study in regal contrasts with nods to French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the New Look, lady-like charm and Galliano's own love of the perverse. 

The fifties dance dresses in pastels and muted grays were familiar silhouettes with interesting, modern details like the very sheer skirts and matching fetish heels.

At first I thought this was the perfect collection. I thought it had been designed just for me in my dreams. But the more I looked at it the less inspired I felt by it. It's beautiful but I lost interest very quickly.  It's an unexpected look from Galliano this classic, safe, pretty idea and maybe that's why I was so charmed at first? But getting past the Galliano idea it's pretty much your average, expected couture show. What do you think?

All You Need Is...Chanel

Couture week always makes me a bit giddy. 

Right now I'm pouring over pictures from this morning's Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 08-09 collection. 

From the Gotham City homage set to the almost architectural structure of the dresses Karl seemed to have been inspired by an industrial muse. It's a beautiful collection where even the most futuristic and innovated piece felt feminine and still a classic Chanel collection.

This collection is certainly more focused on the art of design and innovations in proportions, shapes, and use of fabrics than it is about being wearable. The last few Chanel Couture shows have been beautiful and amazing but they often seemed like Ready-To-Wear collections with a few Couture pieces. This felt more like an actual couture show. But it's the attention to detail; the absolute perfection of the construction that made this collection fascinating. The head pieces framing some of the models faces as portraits and works of art was a truly genius step. It was the perfect encapsulation of fashion as art. 

So what didn't I like? The Anna Wintour bob wigs! Karl's used them for what? Three Chanel collections? Not to mention at least a season at Karl Largerfeld Collection! Is he aiming for a Vogue cover or something?

Sorry for the lack of updates the past few days! Now that it's Couture Week I'll try to be updating a few times a day but I can't promise anything!

A Model Moment: Ruslana Korshunova

A very sad post today. 

20-year-old model Ruslana Korshunova apparently committed suicide yesterday afternoon. The IMG model leaped from the window of her 9th floor one bedroom apartment in New York's Financial District around 2:30 PM.  She was just three days short of her 21st birthday.

 According to police there were no signs of a struggle leading to the suicide conclusion despite the fact that she always appeared cheerful to those around her. According to the NY Post friends say that there were no signs of her depression and that she was very happy modeling and living in New York. But other media sources, including The Fashion Spot, are claiming that she posted suspicious and seemingly depressed messages on her myspace. 

Korshunova appeared on the covers of French Elle and Russian Vogue as well as ads for Christian Dior, DKNY, Nina Ricci and Vera Wang. She had successful runs at both NY and London fashion weeks walking in shows for Libertine, Jill Stuart, Rosa Cha, Betsy Johnson and Lela Rose.  But she was most famous for her Rapunzel long hair and her Nina Ricci contract.

She began modeling professionally at age 15 when her photograph was spotted in All Asia magazine by Debbie Jones at Models 1 and has lived abroad and been a working model, sending money home to her family, ever since. Ruslana was born in Kazakh (it was then part of the Soviet Union) on July 2nd, 1988 in  and eventually spoke Russian, German and English fluently.

I think this is a haunting and unfortunate reminder that models, no matter how beautiful or successful or seemingly glamorous, can have a difficult time just like anyone else. This was, after all, a woman who had essentially left her family and home as a child to live in a foreign country, constantly be on the road between multiple countries, working in a high pressure, demanding industry entirely by herself. It's one of the most isolating and lonely careers in the world and, for the most part, it's a career chosen by teenage girls. They travel alone, eat alone, sleep alone, etc. It's sad. And it makes sense that a maybe heartbroken and/or exhausted girl could lose sight of things in that. I'm just devastated that she chose to take her own life.

My most sincere prayers are with her, her family, and her friends. 

RIP

Ruslana Korshunova, July 2nd 1987-June 28th 2008

A Model Moment: I Love Kate Moss Too!

The adorable Leila, in an I Love Kate Moss t-shirt, walking around London with her fabulous mom, Kate Moss.

Jumping on the Polyvore Bandwagon...

Every fashion blogger seems to be obsessed with Polyvore. And it makes sense...who doesn't want to create their own dream outfit? I've actually been a member for a few months now but haven't been making many sets. I get bored easily. But I watched The Devil Wears Prada for about the billionth time the other night and I don't think I'll ever stop being obsessed with Anne's all Chanel post-makeover outfit. Then this morning I was reading about the fashion collage making site on Fashionista so I thought I'd share it and my re-creation of it with you via the magic of Polyvore. 

Remember to add Bostonista on Polyvore! Plus, click the image for details on each of the items.

A Celebrity Moment: Chloe Sevigny

I've been feeling super uninspired and unimpressed lately about everything, including fashion. I guess I'm in a mood. But one of the best people to pull you out of a sartorial rut?

Chloe Sevigny! 

Enjoy some beautiful photos of her in Liberation Next France!

(Aren't those shoes beautiful?!)

 

I also love these shots from Le Vif L'Express Weekend:

I would like to be able to wear lace booty shorts and look that amazing.

Or at least be able to blow the perfect bubble gum bubble.

Alas, neither are possible for me. 

Right now at least.

I'm off to lay on my floor, surrounded by fashion magazines, listening to Duffy in the dark.

It will be very fabulous. 

Smell Good for Cheap!

One of my lovely best friends sent me an email to let me know that Bath & Body Works is having their semi-annual "Big" sale with nearly everything from their classic collections on sale for only $5! So B&BW always reminds me of awkward junior high dances and having braces but even I have to admit cheap body wash/lotion/body splash/pump soap/C.O Bigelow is always awesome. 

Might I suggest...

Signature Collection Classics White Tea & Ginger Shower Gel for $4

Signature Collection Blushing Cherry Blossom Body Lotion for $5

Signature Collection Cucumber Melon Body Splash for $5

C.O Bigelow's Rose Salve for $5

A Celebrity Moment: MK at The Wackness NYC Screening

MK looked so stunning at the NYC screening of her new movie, The Wackness, last night!

She's been wearing a lot Kimono inspired pieces lately which I love. But kimono sleeves always seem to look wrong or awkward on me somehow. Maybe you have to be tiny to pull it off? Anyway, I wish we could get a detail shot of her amazing orange shoes...look at the top of them! I'm not sure how I feel about them with this dress but they're definitely interesting. 

I also loved that she paired that intense, leather (Balenciaga?) belt with this soft, feminine dress. The belt doesn't exactly cinch her waist so much as make her appear fuller, sturdier, somehow. The deeply cut dress would be too easy on it's own; the belt maybe you can have it but you have to work for it.