Trend Watch: Ruffles

Not just for pirates, Prince or Victorian ladies…

You will find them in nearly every store this spring and summer—ruffles have made a comeback.  The good news is there is such a variety of styles within this trend everyone will be able to participate.

If you have a small bust—rejoice—because this trend will look most flattering on you.  While your big bust gal pals have enough volume of their own, the increased volume of the ruffles will draw the eye away from your cup size and will create a focal point on the ruffles instead. 

The first blouse would also look good on a woman with a straight figure who wants to create some curves.  Pair it with a straight skirt and heels and you will look fantastic.

Now I mentioned at the start of this post that every shape could participate in this trend.  The beautiful blouse in the center by Nanette Lepore is perfect for a large busted woman with its wrap style and single ruffle layer.  This blouse would also flatter an hourglass shape with the belted waist to enhance your enviable waist.

 

             Forever 21 #1                  MINT jodi arnold #3

Forever 21 #2                 Forever 21 #4

 

If this is your first visit to Fashion Sensei, take a look at the Fashion Lesson series to find out more on how to dress your body type.

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Japan Fashion Week A/W 2009

Ok, this is more like it!  There are loads more pictures to review today from JFW, so let’s get right to it.

 

YUMA KOSHINO
Yuma Koshino

I absolutely adore the dress in the center with the lively color, tulle overlay and the little bow shoes.  The black dress to the right, would be particularly flattering on a woman with a straight figure and an angular face.

 

 

YUKI TORII
Yuki Torii

Oh my, how beautiful is the cranberry jacket with the silk blouse?  Notice all the varying textures in that outfit—the felt hat, the silk blouse with the velvet jacket over it and the metallic thread in the pants.  This is a very creative business look.

 

 

everlasting sprout
Keiichi Muramatsu

Remember the first post in this series when I mentioned that there would be some street style influence?  Young Japanese are known for dressing up like superheroes, Strawberry Shortcake and even porcelain dolls—the names of the styles range from Gothic Lolita to Cosplay (costume play).  This collection from Everlasting sprout has that sort of edgy street style feel to me with its lampshade inspired collection.

 

 

JOTARO SAITO
Jotaro Saito

Here, we go from edgy street style, to the other end of the spectrum with the traditional kimono.  The west has been heavily influenced as of late with the obi style belt.  Do you remember the spring Louis Vuitton belts?

 

 

support surface
Norio Surikabe

This silhouette will not be new to you.  The updated version of the harem pants were seen in fashion weeks world wide.  What I really like about this collection, are the metallic boots that the model in the center is wearing.  When grouped with this color pallet, it really works.

 

 

araisara
Sara Arai

Right on trend with the rest of the world, we have a jumpsuit and metallics.

 

HISUI
Hiroko Ito

You hear me talk about proportion so often in my Fashion Lessons, and the skirt in the middle is one shining example of why a short, high waist skirt will lengthen your legs. 

It also illustrates how a woman with long legs needs to take care when choosing the length of her skirt (unless she looks like this model).  Do you see how long her legs look and how short the skirt looks on her?

 

G.V.G.V.
MUG

Hourglass ladies take heed, the dress to the right would look incredible on you!

 

That’s it for this installment.  Be sure to come back again tomorrow for more from JFW!

Photo Source: Japan Fashion Week Organization

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Japan Fashion Week A/W 2009

In today’s installment of JFW, we have mintdesigns, Theater Products, and Kamishima Chinami.

mintdesigns
Hokuto Katsui /
Nao Yagi

Someday I would love to cover JFW first hand to understand the context of each individual show and to interview the designer’s on their inspiration.  For example, why are these models wearing masks?  I know that there is a market for designer hospital masks in Asia due to the bird flu, but is there another reason?

 

 

THEATRE PRODUCTS
Akira Takeuchi /
Tayuka Nakanishi

In a patchwork-like theme, the trench coat to the right is quite lovely.  I am also happy to see a couple of Asian models in this show.  And is it just me, or does the blond model below look a bit like Paris Hilton?

 

 

KAMISHIMA CHINAMI
KAMISHIMA CHINAMI

A very European inspired collection, Chinami featured soft unstructured dresses, sweater jackets in neutral colors and classic oxford shoes.

 

 

What do you of JFW think so far?  Take a look at yesterday’s photos and leave me a comment.

Photo Source: Japan Fashion Week Organization

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Japan Fashion Week A/W 2009

Hurray, it’s finally here!  I just love Japan’s Fashion Week.  Known for their technological prowess, JFW opened with a ”cybernetic human” robot code-named HRP-4C.  A far cry from the Jetson’s style robot Rosie, this robot’s face is eerily humanlike.

 

Photo credit: AP Photo/Shizo Kambayashi

JFW is much smaller in scale than other fashion weeks with only 39 brands participating, but the shows never disappoint.  The Japanese designs blend European, American and of course Japanese influences.  There is also an element of Japanese street style incorporated in some of the collections that you will not see at any other fashion week.

 

motonari ono
Motonari Ono

Influential in their own right, I recall several Japanese designers showing high ruff collars during the spring 2009 shows; particularly our first designer Montari Ono.  Later, during the fall/winter 2009 American and European shows, I couldn’t help but notice a few of the high ruffs included in their collections.

In this collection, Ono has delivered a new interpretation of spring’s a high collar that is ideal for a chilly fall evening.  I particularly appreciate the golden scarf constructed from flowers in the first picture and the ruffled trim on the jacket in the second photo.

 

Né-net

Kazuaki Takashima

I will be keeping a close eye out for more information regarding Né-net’s inspiration in what appears to be a homage to boxing promoter Don King’s hair, the Masked Marauder and the American dollar.

 

 

 

matohu
Hiroyuki Horihata /
Makiko Sekiguchi

In what appeared to me to be a very well tailored, but incredibly dark collection, designers Hiroyuki Horihata and Makiko Sekiguchi may be reflecting a mood shared by the world wide economy. 

   

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the next installment of Japan Fashion Week autumn/winter. 

Photo Source: Japan Fashion Week Organization

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20 Style Finds Under $50

It’s the first day of spring and you have the itch to go shopping, but you are trying to save money.  Here are 2o style finds that won’t break your budget, and will add a little “spring” to your step.

Click on image for shopping information

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Gap Friends & Family Coupon

Click here and print your own 30% off coupon, good March 12-15th.  Plus, 5% of your purchase goes the the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

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Happy Birthday Barbie!

Fashion’s first toy “fashionista” turns 50 today

 

“Born” 50 years ago today, Barbara Millicent Roberts aka Barbie  has reached a major milestone today.  In honor of her birthday, a new Souvenir Doll in a modern version of her Iconic swimsuit is on sale for only $3—the same price it was sold for back in 1959.

Making her first appearance 50 years ago at the New York Toy Fair, Barbie has all sorts of interesting trivia attached to her.  Did you know that Barbie graduated from Manhattan International High School?  Or that Barbie’s long-time boyfriend Ken broke up in 2004 after a 43 year relationship?  Wonder what happened there.  Thankfully they reconciled two years later and are reportedly happy.

Barbie seems to have reinvented herself more times than Madonna.  Among her 90 some jobs, Barbie has been a teen model, NASCAR driver, Doctor, a teacher (but was recalled in 1995 amid a scandal that she wasn’t wearing panties) and not satisfied as a mere flight attendant, Barbie received her commercial pilot’s license with the debut of Pilot Barbie.

And let’s talk about the fashion.  We all know Barbie had her own fashion show at New York Fashion Week last month, but some of fashion’s biggest names have designed dresses specifically for her tiny proportions.  Designers like Bob Mackie, Christian Dior, and Vera Wang, Byron Lars and many more.  To see all the designer Barbie’s, head on over to AngelicDreams.com.

So here’s a toast to fashion icon who never ages—Happy Birthday Barbie!

French pastry chef Jean-Michel Raynaud unveils a 2.1 meter high ‘Barbie doll’ chocolate mud cake. [Source: Google News AFP]

 

*Note From Editor-

Due to an unforeseen delay, this article was set to post yesterday.  Barbie’s birthday was actually yesterday.  My apologies.

SOURCES: WWW.BARBIE.COM, WWW.DOLLS4PLAY.COM, WWW.BARBIECOLLECTOR.COM, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

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Fashion Sensei News Clips

Be The Wonder Woman You Can Be…

Who says that comic books are only for nerds?  Fashion mogul Diane von Furstenberg has teamed with DC Comics to produce a limited edition comic based on the designer’s life.  Proceeds from the $25 comic benefit Vital Voices a nonprofit organization that trains emerging women leaders, who in turn pay it forward to their entrepreneurial sisters here and in 150 other countries.

In a feature in this month’s Marie Claire von Furstenberg also offers a surprising revelation:

“So my mother, she was in her early 20s; she was arrested and went to a concentration camp—she went to Auschwitz and other ones for 14 months.  And went she came back, she weighed 40 pounds". 

 

To read more, check out the March issue of Marie Claire.

 

Whose That Girl?

Did anyone see last night’s premiere of America’s Next Top Model?  I was shocked to see a young woman who was featured in a popular photo taken by The Sartorialist back in Feb. 2008 was the same woman on ANTM last night.  The 25 year old Kentucky native and aspiring Top Model, Celia, worked in the men’s department at Bergdorf Goodman’s in NYC.

Celia in NYC 2/08 Photographed by The Sartorialist

Celia’s latest photo shoot for ANTM

 

Jennifer Aniston Paid 56k/wk For Her Hairdresser…

Photo Source: Moviewallpaper.net

News just surfaced that celebrity stylist Chris McMillan was paid $56,000 per week to do Aniston’s hair while she was filming ‘Marley and Me’.  According to other celebrity stylist’s this fee isn’t out of line.  Fellow celebrity stylist Edward Tricomi defends the rate, "My days [at his salon] are more than $10,000," he admits. "It’s significant to walk out when you’re booking days like that." [NY Daily News]

That is one pricey week’s worth of blow outs!

 

Speaking of Hair…

Photo Source: TheBeautyStop.com

According to the latest issue of Vogue, the newest trend in hair is the collar bone length.  It seems that Gisele Bündchen recently took the scissors to her own long mane (requiring a frantic call to and touch up by her hairdresser) and now some of the catwalks biggest names and Hollywood has followed suit.  Kate Moss, Helena Christensen, Christy Turlington, Gweneth Paltrow, Ann Hathaway and Ellen Pompeo have all been seen recently with a lighter look.

So now you know the story behind the scenes. 

That’s it for this week.  Have a great weekend everyone!! 

 

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Ask Fashion Sensei: Prom Conundrum

Reader Valentina Asks Fashion Sensei To Help Her Find A Prom Dress

Q: I am 6′1″ – but not proportionate. I’m a size four at the bust and eight everywhere else, my legs are very long but my torso is proportionately smaller, my arms are long and gangly (making it hard to find shirts) and to top it off my lack of curves leaves my hips with these unflattering bumps that look like love handles but are really just a result of absolutely no shape in my hip region.

The main problem is that my body line is completely straight (36-34-36). I’m trying to look for a prom dress flattering to my figure but all the information leads me to believe that form fitting dresses look good on tall women. This is not the case for me as I’m very bony and shapeless. Finding clothes that fit are hard enough without trying to find FLATTERING clothes that fit. Help me please?

A:  Thanks for the question Valentina!  High School is a trying period for everyone, but finding the right dress for such a special occasion like prom can be very frustrating if you are not an “average” size.

Rather than focus on figure variations that you aren’t happy about, let’s concentrate on your best features.

Being tall opens up all sorts of possibilities that your petite counterparts envy—namely your size.

When looking for your dress I would recommend some of the following features:

• A sweetheart bodice-  It’s a heart shape top to the dress that will compliment your bust, with out being revealing.
• A bodice with embellishment-  When you have a small bust adding details like bows or ruffles adds proportion to your lower half.
• A full skirt-  The “party” dress is really popular this season and was worn by Taylor Swift in a recent spread she did for InStyle magazine.  What’s great about this kind of skirt is that Here is an example with a sweet heart bodice like the one I mentioned above.  Add a pop of color to this look with one of the seasons hottest colors- fuchsia.

(Click on images for shopping information.)

 

 

• Bridal Shop- If you are looking for a full length gown, consider going to a bridal shop.  These dresses are typically altered, so they are longer than a full length dress that you would buy at a department store.  I had a client two years ago who wanted a full length gown for Homecoming and she was 5’10.  We hit the jackpot when we went to the local David’s Bridal where this dress below is from.

 
• One-Shoulder/Print/Gloves- The dress below is also one that I would recommend to you because it incorporates one of springs’ popular trends—the one shoulder look.  Further, it has a print that will create a focal point on the dress, rather than your body.  The flare at the bottom creates fantastic proportion that will compliment you too.  You mentioned your arms earlier and I think the gloves worn with this dress would be especially appealing on you as well.

 

Prom Dress Don’ts

Here are some general don’ts for young women to consider while shopping for prom.

Don’t go for the revealing, backless or cutout look.  It just looks cheap—not fashionable at all.

Don’t buy really thin satin dresses.  You can see your underwear through them—and you better be wearing them!

Which brings me to the next don’t.  Don’t forget to wear a bra.  Many times young ladies think that they don’t need to wear a bra—you do.  Extra support is always good and when you bend over, I would much rather someone see your bra than your bare bosom.

Don’t get caught up in finding the most expensive, ultra trendy dress.  Instead, find a basic dress that you can add some really incredible accessories to.  Belts are REALLY in right now, so if you find a black dress, pair it with a bright belt and matching shoes.

Don’t over match.  With the example above, I suggested to match only two accessories.  You don’t need a matching bag, shoes, earrings, etc.

 

Valentina I hope this information helps!  Be sure to send me a picture of you at prom.  I would love to see what you decide on.

If you have a question that you would like Fashion Sensei to answer, go to the “Ask Fashion Sensei” tab and leave me a question.  I may even use it for a featured Fashion Lesson!

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