All Clocks Have Stopped

Oh how I wish I could just pause and make the day longer, so I can not only finish the 100 projects I must complete, but so I can just drape. I am in the need to drape a long gown, for the occasion of prom aka the epitome of high school in America. I confess that I already have a dress, that I wore to a past wedding, but I much prefer to create my own. I have my design, but now all I need is the time to actually make it. It would be wonderful to just skip a day of school and be able to complete it within a sitting. The bad thing is that I only have around 16 more days of school left until my spring break, and ultimately I cannot afford to miss a day of school. Well enough with my rambling and enjoy the pictures that I found today on Fashion Gone Rogue. Follow me on twitter @modarojo

Kate Moss in Vogue Japan

Nicola Haffmans by Justin Ridler

xox,

RoJo

UPDATES!

So I have been on a hiatus as I have not posted since March 10th. But the good news is that I have conformed to social media and I now have a Tumblr and twitter! Follow me @modarojo or modarojo.tumblr.com. 

Also to share some amazing news, I got accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC which is my dream school! 

Coachella is less than a month away and I am ecstatic! In honor of this amazing festival that is coming up, I will be blogging about different bands that will play there for the rest of March! It's going to be a great weekend filled with music and fashion, and I will be on the look out for men and women with style, and be sure to look for a post ALL about my adventures at Coachella! 

I also styled some other boys, and was a bit more successful this time! (Pictures below). I mention styling these boys because styling people has always been something I enjoy and since I love music, it would be amazing to style some indie bands! 

I also went to this new sushi restaurant, Convey and I literally freaked out when I read about it in the HOUSTON Magazine. I knew this restaurant would be opening at some point, but I did not know when! Located in the updated Market Square Park, Convey allows you to experience eating sushi at another level! This hip resto has a conveyor belt which you grab your sushi from. The sushi was really good,  I had spicy Tuna and avocado. I also had this really good veggie appetizer which was called a Veggie Gyoza! Aside from amazing food, and its super modern layout, the music was really good (think Santigold and Crystal Castles). Now that's what I call a good sushi restaurant. 

The Strokes album, Angles, came out on March 22nd, and it's amazing! I am so glad they came out with a new album, and I can't wait to see them at Coachella!

And last but not least I am still selling scares and now headbands! Please contact me if you are interested in either or both.

xox,

RoJo

Mmmmm. Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton

I have been making collages all day, which has extended my inspiration for new looks in my next collection. I have started draping and creating, so we might have some behind the scenes photos soon, courtesy of my sister. 

Enough about my plans in design (but do look out for future posts, and remember I'm still selling scarves!), and let's focus our attention on the Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton shows. There has been a repeated use of 70's looks throughout New York, Milan, and Paris Fashion Weeks as I have stated repeatedly throughout my fashion week reviews, but Marc Jacobs and Miuccia Prada strayed away from the common decade, and took us back 30 years before to the world war driven era of the 40's. In my fashion history term paper, where I explained the influence of the economy on fashion through the 20's-40's, I noted the shoulder padded suits that imitated army attire. These designers did just that. That is, use shoulder pads, suits, and high collared dresses. (All photos from style.com)

During World War II, fabric was highly rationed, and many designers were limited in their fabric choices. Here is where the 40's inspired collections drift away from the actual decade. There are so many fabrics available today that are not rationed and designers have access to more and more types of fabrics and colors. The neo-forty Vuitton collection had large squared sequins and brown leather army caps with the Louis Vuitton logo. The collection also featured high round collared dresses Jacobs used a red-burgundy, navy, white, black, gray, and royal blue for the majority of pieces. The iron gates with men in uniforms and hats extended the forties war imagery. 

Similarly, Miu Miu also ignored the 70's memo. In lieu of designing with dropped hemlines, Miuccia created knee length and even shorter silhouettes with emphasis on the shoulders. The shoulder pads were not too crazy in this collection and the auburn and black pieces captured the essence of the forties. Collars were also another emphasized aspect of the collection. 

Perhaps Marc Jacobs and Miuccia Prada were in communication, or perhaps they both wanted to drift away from the 70's. Nonetheless, both the 70's and the 40's were filled with fighting overseas, although the war had a greater impact on the world as a whole in the 40's where as the Vietnam war in the 70's affected much fewer countries. It was nice to see a bit of a decade change after seeing so many 70's inspired outfits. It was a good break, and a great way to wrap up Fashion Week.

I recently redesigned a dress that I found at Glassell that was probably from the 40's or 50's because it had a worker's union label on it. I shortened the hemline and added sleeves, and the Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu show reminded me of it! I wore it with black textured tights and wedges. Also my friend's tie dye maxi dress is a spring must have.

xox,

RoJo

McQueen, Chanel, & Valentino. What else could you ask for in a day?

McQueen, Chanel, & Valentino. There could not be three more different design houses today at Paris Fashion Week when it came to their Fall 2011 collections. To be honest, I thought Valentino was the least exciting, McQueen the most intriguing, and Chanel the most changed. 

Oh Karl Lagerfeld--an ingenious man, that's for sure! Chanel's notorious tailoring has been around since Gabrielle Chanel began designing. The beyond well-established design house has set a standard of high class elegance and luxury and Karl Lagerfeld has continued this tradition. Season after season, Lagerfeld has continued to use twill, and the signature black and white Chanel fabric. This time around, the design house seemed to have changed their look drastically, while still keeping an elegant edge to it. This show surprised me when I saw lace-up boots folded down, revealing a typical black and white Chanel checkered fabric. The collection was street-elegant, in that Karl Lagerfeld combined the stylish messiness of everyday street fashion with the high class line that Chanel has always represented. Chanel has definitely not lost its hauteness, and indeed has gained a new form of design while still staying true to itself.

 

The Valentino collection was plain and safe. Nude, black, navy and fur--that was about it. There were some silhouettes which I did like very much, but I wasn't surprised with anything. I guess that's what their couture line is for. Similar to Gucci, Valentino focused on furs and added simplicity to the designs such as mild zig-zags.

The Alexander McQueen show was quite a show. I was looking out for the killer heels, and of course now I want them all. I liked the overall collection, but I was confused and thought of two different concepts while viewing the collection. The first a warrior woman, and the second a bride. This collection was very reminiscent of certain design techniques of the great Alexander McQueen, but there were some new things that were not usual for a McQueen show (i. e. the strapped woman look). The makeup was as usual, light and formed a look of purity. My favorite pieces were the last few gowns because the top bodice of each garment really did remind me of something McQueen would have made.  Many of the looks were made with fur, while many seemed like inter-weaved pieces of a leather like material. The added black straps to many of the pieces evoked fighting imagery, which contradicted the elegant gowns towards the end of the show. Ultimately the show was a combination of two different concepts, but the off white and black color scheme held the collection together. 

 

xox,

RoJo

Go International: Target Brings Back the Best of the Best

Target, or Targé as Ms. Foreman would say, has had a "GO International" line for five years, where some of the best designers have created affordable clothing for the common man. Each time a new designer announces their partnership with Target, I get so excited. Unfortunately I have missed many of the clothes that designers such as Luella Bartley (a personal favorite), Rodarte, Thakoon, Richard Chai, and Temperley London have made and was not able to purchase any of the unique and affordable designs (in particular a cheetah patterned dress with a bow in the back from Rodarte...) However I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Target is bringing back all of their GO International Designers back starting March 13th. Now let's just hope they have that cheetah patterned dress.... 

Picture from mamasrollingstone.com

To keep the joyous tone of this blogpost, tomorrow is finally the day that I will begin on my new collection. I am super excited to get it started, and hopefully I will have a few pieces started on by the end of the week in time for a photo shoot. 

Be on the look out :)

xox,

RoJo

Beyound Overdue

If blogging was a bill, I would be in covered in debt and in retribution for my delayed reviews, I will be posting something new every night. Tonight is special because not only did I blog about Proenza (see previous post), but I will be catching all you fashion lovers on all the best shows (NY, MILAN, PARIS) that you missed! 

In addition to the fashion week frenzy, Wednesday I will go fabric shopping, and begin a new collection for the Tickle Me Pink Fashion Show which will be on May 26 (pencil it in!). I won't give anything away, but there is going to be a floor-length piece included in the collection! I am also going to have a fashion shoot within the next two weeks, courtesy of B.W.I.M.P.N previously known as "photographieunique." Also I will be working on a mood board for a project, so that might debut on here. 

On with the shows... 

Although this is a random assemblage of shows, there is an underlying theme that ties each of them together: the 70's. Whether Italian born, or French, designers decided to go with this Vietnam-war driven decade and have each adapted it to their own unique aesthetic. Notice the wide legged pants, lowered hemlines, flat hair, and lack of excessive draping. Garments just seem to flow effortlessly down the runway especially at the Dolce & Gabbana show. Most things are simple, yet designers managed to create exciting collections, without boring the audience. For example Nicola Formichetti, Lady Gaga's stylist (thanks Mister Lee for teaching me this at LIM College) designed his first ready-to-wear collection for Thierry Mugler, and Lady Gaga was not absent from the show either! Despite Gaga's disaster hair-do, Formichetti's collection had a structured edge to it and he also incorporated the 70's into it through his use of color! 

Every magazine's headlines for the their spring issues are something along the lines of "THE 70's ARE BACK!" Vogue and Elle are not wrong--collared shirts, long skirts, and hats are back in and once again fashion has repeated itself (shocking). The decade has made a successful return in the year 2011! 

All pictures from style.com

YSL

Chloe

Dsquared^2

Givenchy

Kenzo

Kenzo

Sass & Bide

Sass & Bide

Mugler

Mugler

Nicola Formichetti, Lady Gaga, and Sebastien Peigne

Dolce & Gabbana

Hermes

Balmain

Balenciaga

Burberry Porsum

xoxo, RoJo

Proenza Schouler Fall RTW 2011

Although a bit overdue, the Proenza Schouler show deserved justice, hence this delayed post:
(all pictures from Style.com, as usual!)

Proenza Schouler fall ready-to-wear featured a Cosby-Native element to the collection; a combination of multi-colored Bill Cosby sweaters with Native American inspired patterns. The fall collection referenced zig-zags from the top of tee pees and bold tribal colors, but was executed without being overly reminiscent of Native American typical fashions. Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCullough’s color varied fall collection contained a balance between mustard yellows, corals, royal and dark blues, grays, tans, browns, and blacks. Each piece contributed new digitally designed geometric patterns and they illuminated because of the simplicity of the designs. Mid-length skirts and 20’s jodphur pants were refined into sleek garments with a staggered edge.

I was immediately reminded of Cliff Huxtable from the Cosby Show as models in long-sleeved colorful woven sweaters strutted down the concrete runway. In particular the 164h look highlighted a high neckline woven sweater, with triangular patterns in grays, Yale blue, black, and burgundy. The sweater was paired with pants that hit above the ankle--their pattern a patriotic rendering of a Native American traditional blanket. Although the two pieces had overlapping colors, their patterns were completely different yet the look was an updated version of Cliff Huxtable. Several other pieces had an evident Cosby-Native feel to them, including the 14th look--a tan blended burgundy and gray vest styled with a mid-length skirt with another pattern. Again two completely different patterns were put side by side, without looking tacky. There have been times when people combine two separate patterns and create chaos, but Proenza Schouler was successfully able to combine different patterns to create one unified look for the fall. Hernandez and McCullough’s uniquely patterned Cliff Huxtable sweaters are a fall must-have and stores like Urban Outfitters will probably feature knock-offs in the fall season to come.

                       
Two models in crocheted skirts darted down the runway, further evoking tribal imagery. The interesting weaving fashioned into turquoise and bright yellow mid length skirts with button down collared shirts and large necklaces created an elegant reference to a modern tribal woman. The fringed bottom swayed from side to side as the models weaved through the U-shaped runway. The last pieces, which generally feature long evening gowns, were simple velvet turquoise and mustard boxy dresses. They were unusually color blocked, with zig-zags as a barrier between two different colors. These two pieces in particular looked like part of a tee pee but instead of using leather, the design duo at Proenza Schouler made them in velvet. Dresses and pants had zig-zags on them, and shoes were no exception. The shoes in the show were crossed along the back of the ankle. Models also wore beaded heels as they strutted down the runway. 
 
All pieces in the collection either had distinctive patterns or pattern combinations. There were few pieces that were color blocked with two interlocking colors meeting at a jagged edge. However two pieces in the whole collection were bland and made without a unique pattern. It seems strange to add only a select few pattern less pieces. Perhaps the designers were rushed and needed a few more pieces in their collection and ran out of patterned fabric. The collection would have been complete without these two plain pants and collarless coat combination since as a whole it focuses on Native American inspired patterns.

This was by far one of my favorite runway shows from New York fashion week, not only because of the elaborate patterns and Cosby-Native element to the whole collection, but because of the production that went into the show. The show was in a warehouse-esque venue and a runway was not built, rather chairs were arranged around a U-shaped path, creating a natural runway. In addition to the venue, light fixtures that resembled the jagged patterns from the fabric were placed in between chairs. As models first began to walk down the runway, the warehouse was filled with darkness, but the zig-zagged lights turned on as soon the first model began to walk towards the front rows of people. The light was a luminescent almost light blue and was not a true toned light. The music was a slow trance, and fit the collection well. Anything with voices would have contradicted the Native American and Bill Cosby feel to the collection.

Hair was not braided, which was a good choice on behalf of the designers. Braids would have taken the imagery too far. Instead every model had a messy low pony and many had extensions, creating a sleek yet purposely frizzy edge. The makeup was not too crazy, as many runway shows tend to go wild with the make up ie the latest Mugler show. Eyebrows were darkened and it was not mascara heavy.

Overall the collection was an abstraction of Native American prints, but Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough added odd color combinations and digital techniques to the patterns, ultimately forming a fall Cosby-Native collection to die for!


**For the most amazing behind-the-scenes pictures of the Proenza Schouler show, check out the Jak & Jill Blog. Just viewing the photos made me feel like I was there. Their clarity illuminates the collection's colors. (the following pictures from Jak & Jill blog)
xox,

RoJo