Why smoking and fashion goes hand-in-hand

Fashion loves the idea of smoking and it is everywhere in the fashion industry. A classic and perfect example of smoking in fashion is Yves Saint Laurent's Le Smoking tuxedo which is regarded as one of the most powerful and influential creation in fashion.

Smoking kills but we somehow cannot deny the fact that it gives this air of glamour and sophistication. For decades, smoking and fashion have been associated with each other. We see it from backstage photos of models up to numerous fashion editorials and even in the runways. Even if you are a non-smoker you still can't help but be fascinated with those stunning editorials with the cigarette as a fashion accessory. It will always be both exciting and dangerous, which is also what fashion is all about.

images: lesmoking

Parisian Style

One of my lifelong dreams is to go to France and if possible be able to study Fashion there. I have always been fascinated with everything related to it. From the cartoon Madeline which I still love, to their history which is one of those topics that I will never get sick of, and of course with French style and fashion.

French fashion can be traced back to the time of Louis XIV during the 17th century when luxury goods were under the control of the French Royal court. It was then further glorified by one of history's most talked about queens, Marie Antoinette. She was known for her lavish and extravagant lifestyle with the never ending supply of elaborate gowns, shoes, accessories, and headpieces

Kirsten Dunst in the film Marie Antoinette by Sophia Coppola

Parisian style nowadays is simple, clean, and chic. However, even if their style is simple, they still exude this air of glamour to it. Effortless yet chic is the perfect way to described their sense of style. The follow the less-is-more philosophy and stick to classic and timeless pieces that will always looks chic and sophisticated in whatever you pair it with. Black and other neutral is the color for french fashion but they would also incorporate small touches of bold colors like a mustard color scarf or a red handbag.

Less is More: Keep it simple
Classic and Timeless Pieces
Black is French Fashion
Staple accessories: Scarves and the classic beret, Tres chic!
To my friend Mary who is off to France in a few weeks, hopefully you were able to pick up a thing of two from this entry. Appréciez France and n'oubliez pas nous!

images: chicfashionista.net

Alexander Wang

Although he is still considered to be fairly new in the fashion industry, New York-based designer Alexander Wang is definitely one of the designers to watch out for once fashion week arrives. He launched his first full collection of womens wear in 2007 and he now already has a string of followers and praises from the fashion industry. In 2008, he won CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award beating other designers such as Jason Wu and Juan Carlos Abando

Alexander with model and muse Erin Wasson

Spring Summer 2008
Spring Summer 2009
Fall Winter 2009

Wang describes his clothing as, "clean and pure in aesthetic, yet layered in complexities, with an approach towards the imperfect." His looks are actually simple but also interesting at the same time. I like his affinity for the minimalist look which also looks effortless and distinct at the same time. His main inspiration is everyday street style upgraded by refined silhouettes, clean cuts and luxurious fabrics. His looks are also very reminiscent of the early 90's during the "grunge-chic" phase.

images: style.com

Musical Muses

Not only is Lady Gaga known for her top-charting hits, but she is also known for her radical and outrageous outfits. Fashion indeed has helped redefine her kind of music and made us be transfixed into her apart from the others. Just like how fashion have its own muses either through the form of models and celebrities, the music industry also have its respective muses. Fashion and music goes hand-in-hand which is why this entry will feature two musical muses that have not only captured us with their music but also with their sense of style.

1. Alison Mosshart of The Kills
I got acquainted with The Kills through Gossip Girl with their tracks "Sour Cherry" and "U R A Fever". Currently I am addicted to their single "Tape Song" and with Alison Mosshart's style. Her style is very casual but with just the right amount of rock n' roll vibe to it. She sticks to low-key pieces such as jeans and shirts but places a big emphasis on bold prints, colors, and accessories like stripes, plaid, and layers of chain necklaces. She never looks overdone and I really like the way she mixes prints together and not making it look like they are clashing with one another.

2. Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
This front woman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have a very distinct and original style which makes people be drawn to her. Karen O is very creative and adventurous when it comes to fashion. She is not afraid to take risks go out-of-the-usual. Her look is a reminiscent of the 80s glam, Joan Jett, and the Blondies all mixed up.

images: whowhattowear.com, nylon,

Celebrity Style: Nicole Richie and the Olsen Twins

Nicole Richie and the Olsen twins are the reigning celebrity fashion muses of our generation. I constantly look up to these two as my style inspirations. I like the way they mix and match different yet compatible pieces such as vintage with modern items and high-end brands with low-end brands.

When Nicole Richie hired Rachel Zoe as her stylist, all eyes were suddenly on her huge transformation from The Simple to now being regarded as one of the style icons of our generation. I loved Nicole Richie's look circa 2005 with her boho chic style with a high fashion twist to it. She popularized the use of oversized shades, denim cutoffs, headscarf, and chunky necklace which are still now evident in today's style. She made casual style look glamorous by emphasizing on bold prints and colors and accessories. I like how effortless and put together her casual looks are even if she is just clad in pair of denim and shorts and tank tops. Even motherhood didn't stop her in injecting fashion and style into her wardrobe. Although her style now is more subdue and fitting with her role now as a mom, she is still one of the people to look out for.

The Olsen Twins are over-watched by fashionistas all over the globe and have hugely influence the world of fashion over the recent years. They continue to inspire us with their innovative and eccentric looks that sets them apart from the others. They are the leader of the pack and they are not afraid to take risks. They are always experimenting and pushing the boundaries when it comes to fashion which is why many people look up at them as their constant style of inspiration.

Ashley Olsen

Mary Kate Olsen

Style Essentials: The White Shirt and Black Blazer

Another wardrobe staple that every women and men should have in their wardrobe is the classic white shirt and black blazer. As you notice, most of my style essentials are in blacks and whites because those two colors are the most versatile out of the color palette and will never go out of style. These two items are classic pieces that can be both dress up or dress down.

The White Shirt
The quest for the perfect white shirt is as hard as looking for the right pair of jeans. The classic white shirt is always a good and reliable foundation when it comes to building an outfit. If you just need a casual outfit, a good cotton white shirt can be your starter and later be paired with jeans, skirts or even layered over with a dress. If you're gearing towards a more formal or cocktail look, a classic button down white shirt tucked in with a high-waisted black slacks or skirts then paired with eye-catching accessories and heels can be your option. The list is endless when it comes to styling the white shirt. It has also spawned numerous designs and DIYs such as Camille of Childhood Flames famous shredded white shirt.

Vogue May 2007

Rumi of Fashion Toast in the famous shredded shirt by Camille.

Nicole Richie's casual take on the white shirt

The Black Blazer
I have always been fascinated with menswear-inspired fashion. For the past years we have been seeing this trend hitting the runways and celebrities are also starting to become followers of it. A black blazer is one of the key pieces of this trend. Blazers are my favorite form of outerwear. We normally associate it with formal and corporate outfits but blazers are also great for casual outfits for it gives that chic touch even if you are just clad in jeans and t-shirts. They are also great for toning down those cocktail dresses giving a little bit of edge to it. Finding a great fitting black blazer has been a very tough quest for me. So far I have settled with a crop black blazer and this dark grey blazer that my mom bought. Right now I am eying on the Boyfriend Blazer and hopefully I get to grab my hands on it soon.

Kate Moss
Camille of Childhood Flames
Ashley Olsen

images: Childhood Flames, Fashion Toast, google images

Fashion Muses: Irina Lazareanu and Lily Donaldson

The late eighties and early nineties chronicled the prime of the Supermodels or the "Holy Trinity" (Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell) and the "heroin chic" look as popularized by Kate Moss. For the past decade we've been seeing more of celebrities gracing the covers of top fashion magazines and less of the models. To remember the days when models served as the muse, the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art held the Models As Muse: Embodying Fashion exhibit which started last May 9, 2009 and will be in exhibit until August 9, 2009. The exhibit will feature various photographs of models per decade from 1947 to 1997.

The Supermodels: Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford in Giorgio di Sant'Angelo, Vogue British, January 1990

Models are one of the key and essential elements in the fashion industry. They are the serving muses or images for a designer to communicate their respective looks or style and they continue to redefine fashion and also our culture. For this entry, I will be featuring two of my favorite models who I always look out for and they are Irina Lazareanu and Lily Donaldson

Irina Lazareanu is a Canadian model whose claim to fame in the modeling industry is through her acquaintance with Kate Moss. She is known for her quirky, vintage, and rock and roll inspired looks. I've always like this carefree aura she exudes and she always looks like she is having fun in photographs. She has served as a muse for Karl Lagerfeld, Nicolas Ghesquiere, and Sonya Rykiel. She was also handpicked by Kate Moss to model for her first collection for Topshop back in 2007.

British model Lily Donaldson has become one of Britain's most coveted and top models having appear in campaign for top fashion houses such as Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana. She is now considered as a major force in the fashion world appearing in numerous shows and regarded as one of the highest paid models. Lily remains as one of my favorite models and I have always love her versatile look. It can go from romantic and classic then androgynous and edgy the next minute.

Both of these girls are good friends with each other. Offstage, their wardrobe consists of basic and menswear-inspired pieces. They normally stick to black and greys and they both go for the rock-and-roll vibe in their personal looks.

Lily and Irina

images: metmuseum.org, style.com, google images

Style Icon: Kate Moss

There is always something about Kate Moss that makes us be drawn to her. Regardless of all the controversies and scandals being thrown out at her, we still find ourselves being fascinated with her particularly with her sense of style.

Twiggy. Kate Moss

Ever since she hit the modeling scene in the 90's with her waif-ish look and figure, she has become the muse for many top-notch designers and graced numerous covers of top fashion magazines and editorials. She is also regarded by many as a fashion icon and received many awards for her style from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and earned a placed in Vanity Fair's Best Dressed List.

Johnny Depp. Kate Moss

Together with Jamie King and the critically acclaimed Trainspotting by Danny Boyle, she have glamourized the "heroin chic" look which was popular during the mid 90s as characterized by pale skin, jutting bones, dark undereyes, and oversized clothing. Kate Moss wears whatever she wants and likes to break the rules when it comes to fashion. More of a trendsetter than a trend follower, she has developed a style of her own that is ecclectic yet still looks chic, effortless, and put together. She doesn't go for perfection and doesn't limits herself to just a particular style. Her ability to mix unexpected pieces and pull them off as if she didn't even try is seriously inspirational.

Model. Designer. Style Icon.

"Clothes go in and out of fashion, but that's not style. Style has to be classic." Kate Moss

Style Essential: Starbucks and Blackberry

Quite unusual right? But as long you're armed with your cup of starbucks and busily texting or talking to someone in your blackberry while clad in denim cut-offs, loose flowy top, oversized sunnies, and havaianas, then you're right away a target by those pesky paparazzi.

As annoying as they are for these celebrities, paparazzi pictures have become a source when exploring celebrities' sense of style for we get to see how they dress up themselves in their usual selves. These two items always go hand-in-hand and are the apparent choice for these celebrities when strolling around the streets of Hollywood. These two items have also found its way in the runway as seen in Dsquared2's Fall 2009 RTW Collection copying the paparazzi looks of Young Hollywood such as the ones shown above

Lusting for Oxfords

I've been wanting a pair of oxfords since I was 16. Back then I wanted the classic black laced-up oxfords with stiletto heels. I've always envisioned them to be paired with dark skinny jeans and a white men's button down polo. Très Chic

Oxford shoes are traditionally constructed of leather and were historically rather plain. Occasionally they are called as "Balmorals" (reminds me of like another term for Balmain) and is said to originally appeared in Scotland and Ireland. For the past years, the oxfords have come out in various designs such as cut-outs, peep-toe, and two-toned. They have also become a staple when it comes to menswear inspired clothing
Last night after our humiliating and depressing quest in lining up for tickets for Cinemalaya, me and Bunny decided to go to Rockwell to make up for it. While there we went to one of our favorite sections and I saw this pair of oxfords that were reasonably priced in one of the stalls. I've been looking for a pair of flat tan/camel colored oxfords for quite some time rather than the high-heeled ones so that I can wear them to school. However that stall we were in only carried it in silver, chrome, and berry pink. I decided to try the chrome ones and see how they look on me. I actually like how they looked on me even thought it wasn't the color that I was really looking for me. But once I started to walk on them, the material of the shoes were very stiff and the sides of my feet keep on bumping to them. Alas I decided not to buy it since it was not worth it to spend on nice-looking-but-uncomfortable pair of shoes. We left the mall empty handed since we were really broke to begin with due to the sale season (thanks to Topshop and Mango for eating up my wallet) flocking all over the malls. To cap of our disappointing night, we spontaneously decided to have some drinks and enjoyed the rest of the night to make up for it. Hopefully when I go to Hong Kong in a couple of weeks I will finally get to purchase those long awaited oxfords. Wish me luck.

Images: Sartorialist, Le Fashion, style.com

Celebrity Style and Icon: Audrey Hepburn

Most my friends know how much I adore Audrey Hepburn. I still remember the first I saw her picture in one of these stores we passed by while we were vacationing in Sydney when I was around 9. While strolling down the streets on the way back to our hotel, I stopped in my tracks when I saw this poster of her clad in her famous little black dress from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". I immediately asked my mom who she is and told her that she is the most beautiful person I have ever seen and that I aspire to be just like her. From there I've started watching her movies as provided by my grandma who is also a fan of hers.

"I believe in fixing a goal for myself and not being diverted in any way from pursuing that goal. I can’t allow this award or all this public acclaim to turn my head or induce me to ease up.”
- Audrey Hepburn, after winning an Oscar for her role in "Roman Holiday"

Not only do I adore her sense of style but I also truly admire her approach or philosophy in life. One time I watched this documentary of hers and right after watching I just felt inspired by it especially when they were showing her last years. I fondly remember when one of the interviewees asked why her and Dutch actor Robert Wolders are not yet married or thinking about getting married when they've been together for so long. She simply stated that they consider themselves "married" but not formally and that you don't need a piece of paper to justify your love for on another.

She remains as one of the biggest and most influential style icon of our time for the elegance, grace, and wit she carried. In her time, Hepburn epitomized women’s most feminine and dreamy aspirations: to be beautiful, cosmopolitan, slender, charming, gracious, funny, chic Her taste in clothes is impeccable and she sticks to classic pieces and likes to keep things clean and simple. She introduced us to some of what we now consider as wardrobe staples such as the little black dress, black flats that she wear with everything, and men's inspired pieces such as the button down men's shirt

Audrey Hepburn’s incredible style may it be in fashion or living continues to live and inspire women all over the world.

Actress. UNICEF Ambassador. Style Icon
May 04, 1929 – January 20, 1993

Rachel Zoe

I'd die for Rachel Zoe.

She remains as one of the most influential and talked about stylist in the industry. She is best known for working with celebrities which she put into the map of fashion such as Nicole Richie, Cameron Diaz, and Keira Knightley. A self-proclaimed vintage junkie, Zoe is one of the driving force behind today's major trends and have been collaborating with top designers, advertising campaigns, and styling fashion editorials. In her book Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, and Everything Glamour, Zoe urges her readers to inject glamour in every part of their lives.

"But life’s too short not to pay attention, get up an hour earlier and stay up an hour later, or even to be wide open to all of its amazing possibilities. Life’s too short not to take risks. To glam it up! A life of glamour and style makes everything that much more electrifying, that much more engaging."

Her show "The Rachel Zoe Project" is one of my guilty pleasures. This documentary series follows Zoe both in her professional and personal life. On the side it also shows us her ever not-so-getting along personal assistants and her husband-partner Roger Berman. Not only do I find this show to be entertaining but it is actually very informative especially for aspiring stylists or for those who want to see how it is to work in the fashion industry. She gives us a backstage access in what a stylist does from those phone calls every minute, picking up hundreds and hundreds of items from shops, fittings with clients, and so many more.

From one of her famous catchphrases, Rachel Zoe totally shut it down when it comes to fashion.