The Alphabet Trend

ABC3D: The most innovative pop-up I have laid my eyes on

Fashion for me is not only limited to the usual things we associate it with such as clothes, shoes, designers, and models. It is a very wide and broad subject matter for it has become an essential part of our lifestlye for we wear it everyday, we see it everyday, we feel it everyday, and so on. I tend to associate it with things such as architecture, music, and even typography.

Typography is something that we don't normally observe on when it comes to Fashion. However it is actually an important element for it defines and captures a designer's style and look and can makesfashion editorials extraordinary and unforgettable. Typography has also become a fashion trend as seen in House of Holland and Louis Vuitton's graffiti-styled collection by the late fashion designer and artist Stephen Sprouse.

Uppercase scarf from The Little Factory

Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton

Some of my favorite Fashion Typography:
1. Vogue
2. Topshop

3. Yves Saint Laurent

The Inevitable World of Fashion Blogs

Fashion is a multi-billion-dollar industry that has tremendously influenced the way ordinary people clothe themselves. As fashion is trend-driven and fashion blogs provide a new way to follow these trends, it is likely they will have a considerable long-term influence on the industry. For the past two years or so, fashion blogging have been dominating the internet. From the name itself, fashion blogs are solely dedicated to anything and everything about Fashion. It is the new tool for communicating the latest trends that hit the runways, celebrity fashion, and will also give you a glimpse on street style as worn by regular people. It is a place where one can express his/her own sense of style and "philosophy" when it comes to fashion. Some bloggers are now becoming prominent people in the fashion industry because of their fashion blogs.

Social networking sites about fashion such as Lookbook.nu and Chictopia.com are also flocking all over the internet. In these sites, fashion bloggers get to interact with a community of fashion bloggers as well.

But in this sea of fashion blogs and communities, how does one sets itself apart from the others?

"These days, to have one finger on the fashion pulse, you need to have the other one on your computer mouse, reading (or writing) the latest blogs."

Shoe Fetish

"I've spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live?

I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes!"

“It's really hard to walk in a single woman's shoes -- that's why
you sometimes need really special shoes!” Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Apart from clothes, shoes are the next thing that I love the most when it comes to Fashion. I think that I got my love for shoes from my sister who is more obsessed with shoes than I am. She always buy a pair or two every week and lucky me that we share the same size. She is particularly obsessed with high heels since she's shorter than I am. Again, lucky me! She has everything from stilettos to platforms and wedges. She even told me once that one of her dreams is to have a shoe closet as big as Imelda Marcos.

For some odd reason, shoes especially new ones always makes me happy. It gives me that sense of accomplishment and fulfillment especially when I buy the ones that I was really eying on. I remember once when I was in the mall with Bunny, we went to one of our favorite shoe stores to see their latest designs. Once we got there, we saw those 4-letter word that made our jaws drop. Literally. There were shoes everywhere and you get two for the price of one. It was like sweet music ringing to our ears. I grabbed the opportunity right away and bought two pairs! Ahh not only did it made me happy because I have two new pairs but I also get to save which is really rare for me when it comes to shopping

Delish!

The Sartorialist

One of the dreams of anyone in the fashion industry or fashion lovers for that matter is to be stopped while walking down the streets of New York and be asked to be taken a photograph by the one and only Mr Scott Shuman of the The Sartorialist. Here is a funny step-by-step guide that I saw from pipeline.com for your quest to being shot by The Sartorialist.

By: Christene Barberich and Piera Gelardi, Design by Joshua Covarrubias

Asides from New York, he also takes pictures in the streets of other fashion capitals in world such as Paris, Milan, London, Stockholm, and recently in Sydney. I hope that he soon visits Tokyo because that would really be a sight to see or *wishful thinking* Manila. He also seems to be fascinated with bicycles since most of his shots especially the ones in Paris consist of people riding the bicycle and looking effortlessly chic at the same time. His subjects does not only limit to prominent people in the fashion industry. His subjects ranges from designers, models, and most of the time to unidentified regular people that you would usually see walking down the street. Here is how he describes his philosophy when it comes to photographing street style:

"I thought I could shoot people on the street the way designers looked at people, and get and give inspiration to lots of people in the process. My only strategy when I began The Sartorialist was to try and shoot style in a way that I knew most designers hunted for inspiration."
Scott Shuman, The Sartorialist

Style Essential: The Little Black Dress

Without a doubt, you can never go wrong with the Little Black Dress or LBD. Every woman should have the little black dress in her closet. It is definitely a wardrobe staple and the answer to every fashion dilemma especially when it comes to parties, dinners, and cocktails.

Popularized by french designer Coco Chanel in the 1920s, the classic black dress is considered by many women as one of the most important elements in a female wardrobe. Back then, black was reserved for mourning, and considered indescent if worn in any other circumstances. The LBD is further glorified by Audrey Hepburn in her movie Breakfast at Tiffany's and is probably the most famous little black dress of all time. It never goes out of style and can be worn from day to night. It can be worn in all seasons and comes in all shapes and sizes. Dress it up or dress it down, the Little Black Dress can be both casual or elegant depending on where you are going to wear it. It can be styled in various waysand every designer has their own take on this classic piece. Accesorize it with pearls and black pumps for the classic look or pair it with colored heels and chunks of accessories if you're going for an edgier look. Either way you will never go wrong with the Little Black Dress.

Celebrity Style: Clémence Poésy

We've all known her as "Fleur Delacour " from Harry Potter which by the way is premiering this week. But one of the other things that this French actress and model is known for is definitely her sense of style.

Actress. Model. Style Icon

The second picture is my all-time favorite outfit of hers. Simple yet elegant which she perfectly captured. Clémence Poésy is the epitome of the effortless-yet-chic look which is one the hardest things to pull off when it comes to fashion. She has grace the covers of numerous fashion magazine from Vogue to Nylon and is currently one of the spokeperson of Chloe's perfume line alongside actress Chloe Sevigny and model Anja Rubik. Poesy’s approach to style never seems fussy or complicated, but her take on simplicity is always intriguing. She tends to stick to a neutral color palette and favors designers who have a bit of edge, like Isabel Marant. Unlike her stateside peers who gobble up accessories like chickens on corn, Poesy exercises restraint in this department too.

Balmain

If there is one designer that truly outshone the others in this year's Spring/Summer 09 and Fall/Winter 09, Fashion Week it will definitely be Balmain. Praises from here and there were flooding in fashion blogs up to magazine articles. When his now iconic marching band jackets ala Micheal Jackson, ripped jeans, and studded heels hit the runway, everybody was dying to have it.

Spring and Summer 2009 in Paris

Balmain brought back the rock and roll look with a more modern and chic approach but still reminiscent of the 80s when shoulder pads and acid washed jeans were the latest styles in fashion. Balmain's design have been very influential in the fashion industry over the past months. His designs have spawned numerous DIYs with fashion bloggers trying to recreate his ripped jeans and studded/sequined jackets. Famous brands such as Zara and Topshop have also recreated some of his looks as their designs are very much inspired by the studded pieces, shoulder padded jackets, and acid-washed jeans that were prominent in his shows.

Fall and Winter 2009 in Paris

With Spring and Summer 2010 Fashion week just a couple of weeks away, I'm sure everybody is now at the edge of their seats for what Balmain has in store for us.