Thuy Diep Fall/Winter 2008 Collection

Here’s a designer to keep an eye on.  It’s no surprise that designer Thuy Diep is as talented as she is.  Ms. Diep was born in Vietnam to parents who are both tailors.  Under their tutelage, this designer learned at an early age how to make clothes.

She went on to Brown, later Parsons and landed at a New York-based Parisian atelier; doing work for the likes of Carolina Herrera, Peter Som and Zac Posen.  Not to mention some time at United Bamboo.

In her third collection Thuy Diep under the self-named label “Thuy”, displayed her Fall/Winter 2008 collection at the Exit Art gallery in her home base of New York.  When asked her inspiration for this collection she said: “My collection is about contrasts– harmony within disharmony”. 

I seriously despise the fact that I cannot provide you with any photos, but I highly recommend that you click here for a look at her F/W collection.

I really like her use of color and the modern look of her garments.  She according to her press release:

She materializes the myriad of inspirations of her Manhattan environment, where contrasts of colors and forms are ubiquitous, creating a collection to dress the modern, chic and sophisticated woman. Thuy’s unique designer perspective was conveyed through her outerwear as she showed a command of layering techniques.

Her designs are available at Divine Girls (San Francisco), Nicchia (Chicago) (where I found the below beautiful dress from her Spring 2008 collection) and Drawer (Tokyo and Osaka).

 

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March Madness

March means it’s bracket time for NCAA fans.  Being that my husband is a huge college basketball fan, we went to Ford Field Friday night to see the Sweet 16 Regional Games.  For those of you who are not basketball fans, don’t fear.  I won’t be discussing how terrible the Big 10 is performing.  Instead, I will share what my alter ego, Miss Nosey, was up to.

The first game was Wisconsin vs. Davidson and aside from the sea of red (both teams share this color), Miss Nosey couldn’t help but notice the penchant of students and grown men alike in wearing vertical striped overalls.  With my strong desire to share this experience with you, I approached these two guys for a picture.

Not only does he have these wild striped pants on, he added the cheese head for a bit of flair.  I’m not sure why they were wearing sunglasses; maybe it’s their rock star image.

While Basketball Sensei was enjoying the game, Miss Nosey couldn’t help but to people watch.  In so doing, this group of gentleman were walking up the stairs and after making eye contact, one handed me two tickets.  Hua?  It seems that after just one half, these men were leaving and offered us their seats down by the court.  WooHoo!  Off we went.  Actually I was pretty relieved considering in our original seats,there was a wild female Davidson fan sitting next to me who screamed really loud when her teamed scored.  My ears were really hurting.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of the other colorful characters that I saw.  One was a man wearing a red fedora, suit and red shoes and the other included two young children.  One dressed up in a wig and the other in a cheerleading outfit.  I tried casually to take a picture as they passed us but I only got these shots.

That’s it for my March Madness fashion report.  Basketball Sensei is off again tonight to watch another game; this time with one of his buddies.  Does anyone else have any funny fan pics or March Madness stories?

 

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Dr. Pepper Free Soda Publicity Stunt

I have been waiting since Wednesday to write about this shameless attempt at publicity.  It seems that Dr. Pepper will offer everyone in America a free soda if Axl Rose will release Chinese Democracy in 2008.

For those of you too young to remember, Axl Rose was in a band called Guns N’ Roses and is credited for songs like “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine”.  Here’s a video…

Good Lord, the hair!

I digress, back to Chinese Democracy.  The album has been in the works for some 17 years now and has cost an estimated $13 million dollars thus far.  It seems that he has made numerous announcements that the work is being released and he will be going on tour only to recant.  Maybe he was too busy getting into fights with the likes of Tommy Hilfiger.  Remember that story? 

Dr. Pepper goes on to say that everyone sans GNR members Slash and Buckethead are eligible for the free soda.

“It took a little patience to perfect Dr Pepper’s special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love,” said Jaxie Alt, director of marketing for Dr Pepper. “So we completely understand and empathize with Axl’s quest for perfection — for something more than the average album. We know once it’s released, people will refer to it as “Dr Pepper for the ears” because it will be such a refreshing blend of rich, bold sounds — an instant classic.”

Yes, well I haven’t ever though of anything as “Dr. Pepper for the ears” before.  If that isn’t enough, Dr. Pepper has created its own blog to express your support and adoration of Axl and his endeavor at: www.chinesedemocracywhen.blogspot.com 

I wonder how much Dr. Pepper spent on this ad campaign and who thought it was a good idea. 

 *UPDATE*

11/21/08  It looks like it’s time for Dr. Pepper to pay up!  Chinese Democracy is set to hit stores on Sunday.  According to news reports, Dr. Pepper will be giving out coupons on their website, but for only 24 hours.

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Fashion Lesson #9 Long & Short Necks

A few things happened this week that alerted my “Fashion Police” alarms.  They all encompassed women with short or full faces wearing unflattering accessories or shirts.

This is a picture of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.  As you can see in the picture, she has a full face and the appearance of a very short neck with this necklace.

 

Another local reporter was wearing a round neckline this week that made her look like she was just a head resting on her shoulders.  Therefore, I decided this week’s fashion lesson should center on how to dress is you have a long or short neck.

Short Neck

Do choose tops and blouses that have a V or U neck to draw the eye down to lengthen your neck.

Do wear blouses with pointed collars unbuttoned.

Do choose jewelry that is longer or has a V shape drop.

Do choose longer dangling earrings or hoops.

When wearing a scarf, do tie it lower to elongate your neck.

Greatest Look.com

Don’t wear round necklines.

Don’t wear turtlenecks.

Don’t wear round earrings.

Don’t wear choker style necklaces.

Don’t wear vertical stripes.

 

As you might imagine, a long neck is the anthesis of the short neck so the opposite would apply.

Long Necks

Do enjoy wearing a turtleneck or a collar folded up.

Do wear jewel neck shirts.

Do wear rounded or short earrings

Do wear large choker style necklaces.

When wearing a scarf, Do try the neck wrap or ascot styles.

Greatest Look.com

 

Generally having a longer neck is a desirable attribute, so the list of “Don’ts” will be shorter.  To avoid an exaggerated giraffe neck effect, follow the subsequent suggestions:

Don’t wear deep V or plunging necklines.

Don’t wear vertical striped shirts or shirts.

Don’t wear blouses with extra large pointed collars.

Don’t wear extra large hoops or dangling earrings.

 

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Fashion Sensei Says…

              

These Shoes Are Made For Walkin’…

(click on images for shopping information)

 

Dress For Success…

 

Narccissits Rejoice…

Now you can have your image immortaized in these personalize cufflinks from Eleven Forty Design. 

Not very interested in a bust of yourself you say?  Well the company says that they have an existing portfolio that ranges from Ghandi to Lucifer and Flash Gordon to Einstein.  But do they have Borat?  Nice.

 

 

 

 

Burn Rubber…

“Sneaker Wars” by Barbara Smit is a new book out about the history of the multi billion dollar sneaker business, the corruption, competition and commercialism. 

Included is the origin of the rivalry between the Dassler brothers who went on to create Puma and Adidas.

 

 

 

 

Take A Whiff…

‘Flowerbomb’ by Viktor & Rolf

 

 

Carry On…

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Banana Republic Joins The Green Movement

Last week I reported that Nordstrom is phasing in their eco-friendly shopping bags, now  Banana Republic is weighing in.  In a recent press release, Banana Republic announced that on April 8th,they will roll out a new 50 piece collection of men’s and women’s lines and will also adopt a new label and packaging system to compliment their “eco-conscious” fabrics.

The new fabrics consist of bamboo, organic cotton and linen amongst other renewable or sustainable materials.

Simon Kneen, EVP Design & Creative Director for Banana Republic is quoted as saying:

“Designing this product has been an inspiring process.  Many of us are now looking to our everyday practice for ways to demonstrate our ongoing commitment where we can, not just for this collection, but future seasons as well”

It’s not coincidence that this new line and lines from other retailers such as Guess and Keds are announcing their “Green” ambitions.  April 22nd is Earth Day.  Keen marketing, wouldn’t you say?

Whatever the reason, I applaud their efforts and am looking forward to future collections from this an other companies.

To see pictures from their Green collection click here.

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‘Running of the Brides’

If you are bride, clear your calendar for this Friday.  Filene’s Basement in Paramus, NJ will be holding their famous ‘Running of the Brides’ sale March 28. 

Brides from far and wide stampede the store in hopes of scoring that dream wedding dress for a bargain price. This engagement is not for the faint of heart; it’s more like a team sport to find the best dress.

Women have been known to start lining up the night before just to be first in line.  Once you have cleared the racks, bartering ensues.  Bridal parties call out like auctioneers to other patrons for a chance to trade.

Take a look at this video.

It reminds me of that episode of Friends when the girls go looking for a dress for Monica’s wedding.  All geared up they have their whistles and running shoes ready.  Here’s the video if you forgotten.

Good luck Gals!

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Payless Designer Shoes

For those who haven’t stopped into Payless in a while, it might be time to give them another try.  Payless has teamed with Alice + Olivia, Lela Rose and Abate to design shoes for the discount retailer.

Alice + Olivia designer Stacey Bendet first hit the fashion scene in 2002 with what her friends dubbed her “Stacey pants”.  These pants went on to stardom at Barney’s NY and were coveted by stars such as Mena Suvari, Kate Hudson, and Paris and Nicky Hilton. 

Ms. Bendet whose has chosen to use her middle name instead of her birth moniker “Wiener” (I don’t blame her, it was just too funny a fact not to mention); is quoted in an article back in 2004 called  “Flash Pants” for New York Magazine, as saying what she really wanted to do was design shoes.

Enter Payless.  Alice + Oliva have designed shoes for Spring and Fall 2008.   I love these ‘Louisa’ ballet flats and they are now on sale for $24.99.  How can you beat that?!

Click on image for shopping details.

These lime green ‘Aidan’ wedges are a little wild but very cute and on sale for $32.99. 

(Please note: my fashion prediction is that wedges are on their way out, so don’t invest too much money in a pair.)

Click on image for shopping details.

Lela Rose who is a Parsons School of Design graduate, describes her work in this way:

“My philosophy of design is about creating beautiful, hand finished clothes that exude a casual luxury and refinement.”

She first teamed with Payless in September 2005 for her runway shows at New York Fashion Week.  Here are a few examples of her latest collection, which are all on sale; with prices ranging from $27.99 for the pumps to $14.99 for the sandals:

Click on image for shopping details.

 

Abete designer, Laura Poretzky once worked for Ralph Lauren and then left to start her own line of sexy resort and swim wear under the label James.  James went on to be a runaway hit with the Hollywood and Hampton set.

She now has shown four collections with Abete and is the first to ever create a designer collection specifically for Payless, called Abete for Payless.  Here is a sample of her collection, all of which are on sale:

Click on image for shopping details.

 

 

To see more from these designers and a sneak peek at their Fall 2008 collections, click on Payless On The Runway.

 

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SJP Reacts to ‘Maxim’ Magazine’s "Unsexiest" Woman Title/ Jamie Lee Curtis Goes Topless

In October Maxim Magazine published their choice for the “Unsexiest Woman Alive”, naming Sara Jessica Parker as their number one choice.  Maxim‘s feeling was that she was “the least sexy woman in a group of very unsexy women.”

 

Those of you who have not read the article I’m sure are saying “What?!!”  I agree with you.  SJP beat out #5 Britney Spears; #4 Madonna; #3 Sandra Oh and #2 Amy Winehouse.  I hardly call this picture taken of SJP soon after her son was born unsexy.

Last weekend reports came out that in an interview in Grazia magazine she had this to say:

“Do I have big fake boobs, Botox and big lips? No.”

“Do I fit some ideals and standards of some men writing in a men’s magazine? Maybe not.”

“Am I really the unsexiest women in the world? Wow! It’s kind of shocking… It’s so brutal in a way, so filled with rage and anger.”

“It upset [Matthew], because it has to do with his judgement too. It’s condemnation, it’s insane. What can I do?”

“I guess you can’t please all people.”

Fashion Icons have feelings too Maxim.  What I find appealing about Sara Jessica Parker is that she isn’t always beautiful.  There are times that she just looks average to me; like a real woman.  To call her the unsexiest woman alive above Britney Spears is really perplexing to me.  To place Britney Spears whose life is out of control, and physically unfit as compared to Ms. Parker is just absurd.  Aside from physical beauty, doesn’t the fact that she actually has her life together and her wits about her play any part in the readers decision?  This was a poll you see, of Maxim readers.  What does that say about their readership?

I agree with you SJP, don’t get the plastic boobs; the frozen Botox Face or any of the other strange cosmetic procedures that actresses seem to see as necessary to have a career in Hollywood. 

You may remember my post on Thursday’s Fashion Sensei Says… where I said “Don’t buy into it” when Charla Krup extolled the virtues of Botox and “injecting poly-L-lactic acid-a substance used to fill crows’ feet and other facial lines-into the balls of our feet.” 

I remember watching the Barbara Walters Oscar Special and her interviewing Vanessa Williams and she said “I certainly do Botox”.  She went on to say that most of her Hollywood friends also imbibe. 

Look, I don’t have a problem if someone wants a nip here or a tuck there.  To each her own.  I just don’t want the message that in order to remain employed or to be considered sexy I need to have plastic surgery.

The atheists to cosmetic surgery, Jamie Lee Curtis is posing topless and is speaking out in AARP about her impending 50th birthday this year and how she feels about aging:

“I want to be older. I actually think there’s an incredible amount of self-knowledge that comes with getting older. I feel way better now than I did when I was 20. I’m stronger, I’m smarter in every way, I’m so much less crazy than I was then.”

“Getting older means paring yourself down to an essential version of yourself.”

“My style is a distillation. I’ve etched out who I am through myriad haircut attempts, outfit attempts, beauty attempts, diet attempts. It’s been an evolution. I’ve let my hair go gray. I wear only black and white. Every year I buy three or four black dresses that I just keep in rotation. I own one pair of blue jeans. I’ve given away all my jewelry, because I don’t wear it.”

“I want to be as a human being. New. Different. Challenging the old. Function over frivolity. Clean living. Clean lines. If I can challenge old ideas about aging, I will feel more and more invigorated. I want to represent this new way. I want to be a new version of the 70-year-old woman. Vital, strong, very physical, very agile. I think that the older I get, the more yoga I’m going to do.”

I will say up front, that I am too vain to let myself go gray, and I can’t imagine only wearing three different colors.  But I appreciate the simplicity that Ms. Curtis is adopting.  Mind over materialism and vanity; it’s a goal to strive for.

What’s your view on this?  Is Sara Jessica Sexy?  Are you for cosmetic surgery or Botox?  What about Jamie Lee Curtis’ views? Leave me a comment, let’s discuss.

Sources: PR Newswire; AP

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More Flight of The Conchords

While researching an article in Maxim for today, now tomorrow’s post, my eyes were immediately drawn to this photo.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am a big fan of the breakout HBO series Flight of the Conchords and their “folk-parody”. 

Jermaine Clement (34) the hunk of burnin’ love to the left and his fellow Kiwi band mate Bret McKenzie (31) met at Victoria University where they later dropped out of school.  Prior to their breakout success, Clement who studied theater and film, was the voice of Outback Steakhouse.  McKenzie a former music and engineering student, won followers as an extra in the Lord of the Rings series.

Now, they have become stars and in the most recent issue of Maxim, the magazine explores the unlikely sex symbols success and the pressures that ensue with fame. 

I doubt whether this issue weighs on the guys minds presently, considering they are slated for a second season of their HBO hit series and will be releasing a new CD on May 12 (according to NME.com).  Their first full length album is set to include 14 songs including the two songs I featured in my last post; ‘Business Time’ and ‘Hiphoppotamus vs Rhymenoceros’.

Check out this behind the scenes video from their Maxim photo shoot and their silly “mustachioed guitar faces”.

 

 

Click here to read the entertaining article in its entirety.

 

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