Alternative Apparel Spring 2012

 It's been quite cold these days in LA. Wish Spring/Summer was here? I can't make time go by faster (although it sure feels like it's going by quite fast) but I can show you pictures from the Alternative Apparel Spring 2012 fashion show. It will bring a sense of Spring to your wardrobe.

The fashion show was produced by Style Fashion Week LA which they had a series of events for Fashion Week at Vibiana. Outside of Vibiana, people were found mingling with a drink in their hand prior to the show. Indoors, people sat in rows of chairs or stood behind to get a view of the runway. The fashion show featured both women and men Spring 2012 collection. To me, the collection seemed like a combination of American Eagle and Urban Outfitters. It was mostly beachwear, so to me, it seemed more like a summer collection. Nonetheless, it was still a good collection for Alternative.

To see more pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liberatefashion/sets/72157628044613047/

  

(Please excuse the quality, first time trying blogger video upload)

What to wear to a fashion show

Before heading out to Alternative Apparel Fashion Show (review coming soon!), I decide to research on what to wear to a fashion show. Given that it was my first ever large capacity venue fashion show, I wanted to be prepared and dressed appropriately.


Here are some tips for your to put together the perfect outfit for your first fashion show:

1. Dress to impress. Why? Because you're going to a fashion show (duh! :p). People in the fashion industry knows and loves about fashion, you don't want to dress sloppy.  Another good reason to dress impress, if you're working to build a career in fashion, by dressing to impress it will help you create new network and get yourself out there. How? When you dress to impress, you are more likely to get noticed by photographers, stylists, and others. It is a good way to build networks in the fashion industry.

2. Dress appropriately. Is it an outdoor venue or indoor venue? You want to look fashionable and stylish but not freeze your butt off or melt your face off from the heat. Also, take into consideration of the type of fashion show you are attending. Is the collection/brand known as casual or formal wear? Wear an outfit that will most likely go with the brand. (Same as how some celebrities would wear Dior dresses to a Dior fashion show.) If it's hard to determine if it's casual/formal or cold/hot, mix it up. Wear something that can be pulled off as both.

Casual

(Chictopia)


(Chictopia)


Formal and Casual

 

(Chictopia)

(Chictopia)


Chic

(Chictopia)


(Chictopia)

 
(Chictopia)

3. Trends. If you can't determine what pieces of clothes to wear, wear something trendy. It doesn't mean you pile on all of the current trends of the season. It means pick out one or two trends that you love and make it work, make it you.

Fringe/feather trend

 

(Chictopia)

Animal Print

(Chictopia)

4. Overdress rather than underdress. This way, you'll be overqualified not underqualified.  A little black/red/white dress (with blazer if it's cold out) can never go wrong. Even more, you can always accessorize to glam up the dress or tone the outfit down.

Little Red Dress

 

(Chictopia)

Little White Dress

(Chictopia)

5. Research. If you still have trouble deciding on what to wear, do what I did, research. Research pictures of outfits you like and wear something similar or use the clothes you already have and put together something similar. Here's my go to link http://www.chictopia.com/what-to-wear-fashion-show/clothing They got tons of pictures that ought to inspire you to come up with your own outfit.

6. Confidence. This might sound quirky/chessy/cliche but the best accessory to make your outfit work is your confidence. Be confident in what you wear and you'll be able to pull off any outfit. Remember, you wear clothes, clothes don't wear you. Put on a smile, and you'll be ready to go.

Fashion evolution: the beginning to the 1800s

Since the beginning of human life, clothes, whether it be a piece of animal fur to cover our bodies to the most modern stylish clothing we wear now, has always been a way for us to express our individuality. It not only expresses our individuality, it also defines the time period. It tells the story of men and women in that time period. It is a way for us to document our history for the future generations.

From

cave woman (minus the perfect hair and makeup :p )

1300s to 1400s


1500s


1500s-1600s (Elizabethan era)



1700s Marie Antoinette dress (not the Barbie :p)



1800s

To be cont'd....


*I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURES, THEY ARE FOUND ONLINE*

Sample Sale Haul

*MOST SAMPLE SALES WILL LAST THROUGH ALL WEEKEND! CHECK OUT THE INFO IN MY PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY*

It was a hit and miss for my first sample sale. I planned out the whole day on Thurs night, since most sales started on Friday. So my plan was, visit the Black Halo sample sale, head over onto 9th street and attend the Nation Ltd sale, then head over to the Bendix building and shop at the Chic Little Devil style house sample sale, and if there was time left over, head over to the Linea Pelle sample sale.

Unfortunately, nothing went as planned. With almost all the sale closing at 5 and not being able to leave the house until 2ish plus the hideous LA traffic, everything was becoming rushed. So, we got to the Black Halo Sample Sale site sometime around 3:30 and we didn't even park to get down. The place looked like it was at empty site with doors closed and a yellow paper stuck onto the door. With no one seemingly walking around the site, we decided not to even bother to go down and check it out. So we sailed off to our next stop, Nation Ltd.

We managed to find a parking spot right in front of the building only to find out there is no parking after 4pm. With money in the meter and about 6 minutes left before 4, we rushed into the building and managed to find the room with sample sales. There were $5~$20 items, mostly just t-shirts or jersey material pieces. With nothing we wanted, we managed to leave the parking spot about 4:01.

A short trip later, we arrived at the Chic Little Devil Sample Sale. The clothes were separated into two rooms, with racks of clothes arranged by the names of different designers. We spend a good amount of time there looking through the clothes, jewelry, bags, and shoes. The girls said to ignore the prices on the tags and ask them for the discounted price ranging from $5 to more, depending on the designer. I picked out about 10 pieces of clothing, tried them on, and asked the girls there for the price. With no income available, I wasn't planning on spending too much on each piece. So in the end, I ended up with three items without the one plaid button up shirt I actually wanted. :( (it was $50). All three of items I got ranged from $5~$10 .

So, all in all, I would say it was a hit and miss. With the first two miss and the last one a success :)

My tip for new sample sale shoppers:
1. Plan out your day with different sample sales so you'll have back up!
2. Map out the order of where you're going with Google Maps
3. Unless you love and is familiar with the brand, otherwise, shop at show rooms with different variety of brands of clothing so you'll have more choices.

(100% Cashmere $10)

(Augustine $5)
(Front)

(back)

(Karen Zambos $5)


After we came out of Chic Little Devils, we saw these rings for $1! O.O I did not hesitate on getting more than one, now we just have to wait and see how long they'll last! :D

Bundle Up With A Scarf

As the weather gets colder, we put on more layers. For me, it's also time to bust out the thicker scarves. I love wearing scarves, whether it be light material scarves (for the summer) or thicker scarves (for the winter). You can instantly change up an outfit just by wearing scarves. Wear an old coat but with a new and colorful scarf and voila! you've got a new outfit. Not to mention they can be great gifts too, since there's no size limitations for them!

I've been wanting to get crow neck scarves (the kind that's a circle) for a while. Unfortunately, I'm still not able to buy anything :'( So instead of buying them, I'll just post the pictures of scarves that I want to pretend like I'm buying them (sigh).
(All scarves are from Urban Outfitters b/c that's where I'd like to buy my scarves. I've provided the links for them underneath each picture)

Furs are classic, faux fur that is :)Buy it


Ruffles Ruffles!

Buy it

Feathers scarves the next new scarf!
(You can wear it the other way too!)

Buy it


Never be cold
Buy it

Comfort of a Cashmere
Buy it

What's Vintage? What's Old?

This topic has been brewing in my mind for a while. I kept thinking about what my definition of vintage is. If I see a piece old clothing, does that count as vintage? or is it an old piece of clothing? There's a line from an episode of "The Rachel Zoe Project" (when Rachel took Brad to his first Paris fashion week and they went to this vintage clothes and Rachel said "Now, this is vintage" (or something like that) :p) and it really stuck with me. What is vintage? Is anything and everything old automatically considered vintage? So after weeks of deep thinking and some research, I've finally come up with my own definition of what vintage is to me.

According to Wikipedia, vintage clothing is "is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era. The phrase is also used in connection with a retail outlet, e.g. "vintage clothing store." It can also be used as an adjective: "This dress is vintage." The word vintage is copied from its use in wine terminology, as a more elegant-seeming euphemism for "old" clothes."

What does that mean? It means, not everything old is considered vintage.Let's take an example of an old beat up t-shirt, it does not count as vintage. Now, an old oh, let's say, dress from the 70s with minor fix ups needed, now that counts as vintage. Also, vintage means clothing from another era, so that old beat up t-shirt from the 90s do not count as vintage. But that dress from the 70s would definitely be considered vintage in my book. It is also harder to find vintage clothing because unless you know the brand, it's hard to tell when exactly was the clothes made, thus you can't determine whether it's vintage or not. The only places that sell vintage clothing will be vintage clothing stores or thrift stores! Because they are hard to find and they are most likely no longer produced, vintage clothing are usually pricier than in trend clothes.

Here's a couple of "vintage" examples:

Vintage Chanel

Vintage Azalea

Vintage Dior

Now, to define vintage clothing even more, what does vintage inspired clothing mean? It means, the style they're trying to portray is from another era in the past. So that 70s, 60s inspired top or dress would actually be like the clothes people from the 70s or 60s would wear.

Here's a couple of "vintage inspired clothing" example:







Stores that sell vintage inspired clothing:
http://www.lulus.com/
http://www.melrosevintage.com/
http://www.modcloth.com/

Blogger with vintage style:
http://houseofharps.blogspot.com/


**Please keep in mind, these are just my personal opinions and i do NOT own these photos!**

"Marie Antoinette"

After putting it off for so long, here it is...

There are two films you must watch if you're into fashion, "The September Issue" and "Marie Antoinette". You must watch "Marie Antoinette", sadly, not for its story plot (it IS based on a REAL person's life, i mean how exciting can a person in the 1900s life be?), but for its scenery and the costume design. When i first saw the costumes designed by Milena Canonero, which she won the academy awards for, i was in awe. I was so struck by the details, the patterns, and the design of the costumes. And then add in the beautiful scenery, you're suddenly back in the 1900s. I guess this has become a huge reason why i'm considering a career in costume design. I was so blown away, and still am, of the costumes Canonero has designed. It amazes me the creation of such design and the hours they must have put into making these costumes come alive.

A stylist once told me, "Some dresses aren't just dresses, they are one of a kind."


So in short, yes, you must watch "Marie Antoinette" for the inspiring costume designs and the awe-strucking scenery.

A picture of the real Marie Antoinette

Her attempt of rebellion through her clothing

80% of us don't play with clothes

I heard about this saying recently,

"80% of us don't play with clothes"

it wasn't a shocker, but it definitely made me realize... i'm one of the 20%! Not that it's a bad thing to dress safe, i'd just like to play with my clothes more. Maybe...i shouldn't buy new clothes for a while just so i'm forced to play with clothes more haha :D

a few designer that DEFINITELY plays with clothes...

(photo from style.com)
Betsey Johnson Spring 2011 collection

(photo from style.com)
Alexander McQueen Spring 2011 collection
(read my "Alexander McQueen: Not so ordinary" on Luuux)



(photo from style.com)
Vivienne Westwood Spring 2011 Collection

fashion rule: no rule

To me the only fashion rule is there is no rule. In fashion, things never stay the same. What may be viewed as wrong now can be the next in thing. Thus, there is no rule in fashion. Take the example, "browns don't go with blacks" but now you see people wearing browns and black together all the time. To me, there is no limit in fashion. Love the think outside of the box fashion. Fashion is free-spirited and there is no right or wrong as long as the clothes you're wearing reflects you, complements you, and most important of all, it gives you confidence. Because it doesn't matter what you're wearing, when you have confidence, any clothing you put on will shine.

Lady Gaga (may be too extreme sometimes but she sure does think outside of the box ;p )

Who says you can't wear leopard top to bottom? Rihanna rocks the lepoard

Bet you never thought of putting together an outfit of leather and knits. but it sure does work!