Taste the Elle Collections

I have not posted in a very long time. It doesn't really matter because no one reads this essentially. I have a good reason to write though. I am currently enthralled with ELLE Collections Autumn/Winter 2009. Thats right, the $20+ magazine that comes out in October. How do you know I am not a real fashionista? I didn't buy it. A friend works at bookstore gets magazines with the cover ripped off. So here I am, reading a coverless magazine. How embarassing. Moving on.

Inside this magazine is every little tiny detail that came off the runways at fall fashion weeks. If you have the issue, break it out baby. If not, try to imagine its splendor, I will try and explain it as much as I can without being too boring.

BLACK!??!?! Its a well known fact black garments on the runway don't look great. They don't translate in photos like designers want them too. However, this year seems all about black. Lanvin's entire collection minus a few are black. Personally, this move in fashion suits me well. Black is classic and any one can do it. The black displayed in 2009 fashion weeks were almost always partnered with great textures and fabrics, which makes them way more photo friendly. Burbuerry Prorsum was able to pull it off with over exagerated layers. While on the topic of burberry; I look at this collection and think new york new york new york. I am willing to bet some inspiration came from that city.


Slouchy. I think thats the best way to put the next trend that is apparent in most of the 2009 collections. Knitwear that sort of just hangs off the body. Its one of those things that will transform into something more ready to wear on the racks of stores. On the runway, it looks impossible and awkward.

Favourite show for me? What a surprise, its a toss up between two of the biggest names in the industry. Marc Jacobs and Gucci but for totally different reasons.

Lets start with Gucci. Flawless. There is not one thing in this collection that I would not wear. Again, a very black collection but with great accents of colour. The edgy and metallic look of this collection screams hard ass bitch. The ability to create subtle new silhouettes makes this collection top of the class.


Marc Jacobs on the other hand had no problem using colour. The strong shoulders and hip urban looks presented is the thing that my dreams are made of. His eclectic selection on models and styling made this show truly the most interesting one to watch. For once we are not stuck watching a set of clones walk down a runway. The choice to pair bright outerwear with bright formal wear is a daring yet extremely successful choice. My favourite piece in the collection is hands down the pink coat. I want this coat in 20 colours please.


After writing this, my favourite collection is definitely marc jacobs. So amazing. So new. Marc Jacobs designs both for his own line and for louis vuitton, more on that next time!

New Taste

My blog is boring.

I realize that commenting on successful fashion designers is passe and I can do better. I will continue to comment on designers who deserve the time of day but not just the one that catches my eye that day.
I hope my new blog will enlighten, enrich and educate the fictional people I pretend read my blog.

To begin, sites like lookbook.nu (which I have already commented on) and chictopia.com (new find) are really a great resource to pull hip and happy trends out of. It allows the user to post sweet images of thier hot selves. I get it though. "I have better fashion sense than you...I can prove it." I like it too. I feel when clothes don't fit you like they fit a model it takes a keen sense of personal style and confidence to a)pull it off b) make it look awesome. People on these sites really do make these looks look amazing. They are from all corners of the earth ans still similar styles prevail. They got to be doing something right.

okay okay. When I actually get some material I will come back and write something spectacular. In the mean time, can anyone find me size ten black studded ankle boots with 3 buckels?

oh thanks

tastes tres bone

I have recently been entranced by the designers Rag&Bone. These two men who apparently only started designing because they could never find anything they liked that fit them properly have mastered both mens and womenswear in a cutting edge yet wearable way. Although they don't have much colour, their designs are so intricate and interesting that colour wouldn't allow for the fine tuned details of their pieces to be appreciated.



They were able to take the men's dress shirt and turn it into a refined women's wear piece. A style which is so in right now but finding a fit and design that is suitable is always a challenge.



The blend of fabrics and textures allow the layering look to seem effortless. The finely tuned masculine women's wear appeals to all the ladies out there whether they are in the office, in the cafe or in the club. The strong look allows women to feel the strength that only good clothes can give you.


Jump on that feminists but don't knock it til you try it.

tastey

Travis Taddeo is everywhere. This Canadian designer has been tearing up runways and blowing minds with his total new twist on street wear design. If you are a girl who wants to go out, who wants to get noticed, who wants to feel glam slammed: Travis' designs are the answer.

After spending a good part of an hour looking at his F/W 09/10 collection I am awe struck. I wish I were those girls wearing his clothes. They are feminine yet edgy with a splash of athleticism that is so hard to incorporate into woman's wear in an sexy way.

He managed to throw in fur which is a daring move in these times but gosh darn I love the way it looks. Maybe they are faux?

The menswear is casual and wonderful. Its hard to find menswear that I am more than just partial too. This is such a cool effortless mens line its almost impossible not to like.

Travis, my name is Katie and I plan to be your new best friend.

Lookbook.nu tastes weird

I have been spending a lot of time checking out Lookbook.nu these days. Its an interesting concept. Take photos of yourself in clothing you think it fashionable. Post it. See if others think it is fashionable too. A lot of people on this website are making great fashion decisions however none of them are surprising me. Maybe once a week someone will have something really fashion forward.

Lookbook.nu has allowed me to to realize that right now you don't need money to be fashionable. Get a pair of old jeans, cut em off and put on your ex boyfriends shirt and your in business. I have done just that actually on many occasions. Why does lookbook.nu give off the impression that these people have some sort of unique perspective and point of view so their styling choices are just oh so inspired.

If you were keeping your ear to the ground at current fashion shows and ready to wear designers fall lines. These looks are anything but fashion forward. Its lazy urban hipster wear that has somehow turned sexy. In short, it won't last. Fashionista's and hipsters alike will be looking for something a little more complicated and a little less 80s throwback. However, until that happens find me a nice fitted baby doll dress and a pair of aviators.

great after taste

I decided to write about a designer I have never heard of until skimming the fashion week articles and blogs. Ula Zukowska made a real impression at Fashion week. Her monochromatic collection was a hit. I have to first start off with giving kudos to her sewing team. The sheer amount of pieces in this collection is astounding; from leg coverings, arm cuffs, and hats all in a collection full of layers, this collection clearly was labour intensive. Aside from the opening piece I loved the collection. The first piece was reminiscent of a potato sack. Ula should left the spuds at home.

The rest of her collection thankfully is a potato famine. Her use of texture and tailoring made for such a wonderful show. Her black formal dress stole the show with its deliberate ease and mix of fabrics.

Although monochromatic Ula kept the show interesting with her flecks of metallics and furs. Ula incorporated an equestrian look to many of her pieces in this collection. These subtleties however are lost on me and I feel give her pieces less wearability.

At least Ula is keeping it Canadian with Canada's Next Top Model Cycle 2 winner rebecca starring in her show. Ula was really able to create an interesting collection at fashion week. Looking at her past work however I know she was presenting a dulled down more traditional look at fashion week to offset her edgy pieces of the past.


2.5 tastes of out 5

Acquired Taste

Wow, long time no see.

Lucien Matis was one of the better known designers at LG Toronto Fashion Week due to his stint on Project runway. This clearly outdoors inspired collection is probably one of the most eclectically cohesive collections I have ever seen. If I ever get a job where I am put in an office I will be wearing lucien matis designs every day (and probably getting sent home to change every day). Luciens collection offers outer wear, formal wear and casual attire. I was particularly attracted to his more structured designs that offer a sophisticated casualness.


If I ever had to go to an event that allowed me to get all fancied up his black antler frock would be the answer.

Lucien has created designs that just take a step over the norm forcing the timid yet fashion savvy woman to take the step with him. I usually shudder at the idea of gimmicky accessorizing but Lucien has managed to make it part of the design.



Hey Mr. Matis! Good on you.
4 tastes out of 5

this tastes great

Bustle clothing is a very popular menswear line. My biggest challenge with mens clothing is the models. It is funny. Male models are funny and that is the bottom line. I guess female models are just as unnatural in thier own way but male models take the cake.


I digress. Bustle has always been awesome and they have totally brought us a beautiful collection once again. It is hard to create menswear and make it look unique. Bustle does an amazing job.

On a personal note, the running shoes really add to my love for this collection. Mens dresshoes are awful these days.


Bustle put some of there menswear on female models. It was classy and well done (aside from the sock choices). Not shocking but refreshing. The young urban looks created by bustle are so well edited that the result is so perfectly interesting with a hint of practicality. These people deserve to be as rich as they are.


I know that I have said before I am not a fan of gimicks however I find the props endearing.


4.5 out of 5 tastes

taste this

Gaudet fashion house. Basically the collection is an assortment of jackets. The jackets are wonderfully and thoughtfully constructed. A true idea of how a woman should look in a jacket.



I have trouble however with what the designers decided to put on at least half the jackets.



What is this "The Heart of Country Craft Show"? Painted on Flowers. I work with children when you ask them to create a picture they will almost always do flowers. Maybe thats why when i saw this collection it looked oddly familiar to me.
That being said these coats are beautiful and without the gimicky additions of painted on flowers you are given beautiful garments that are heavy yet flattering.



I think their website was the result of a grade 10 media project.
http://www.gaudetfashionhouse.com

2 tastes out of 5

B- for LC

I was looking at Lauren Conrad's new Spring Collection today. I understand that Lauren Conrad is not a designer and just a robot created by MTV to make ugly girls feel worse about themselves but shit Lauren you're actually going to sell this stuff.

Its not super intricate or complicated but they are wearable pieces that anyone with half a sense of style would wear. Other than that purple shirt dress number. I don't believe in the current style that more fabric=better outfit. I like clothes that fit.

As an aside, i am glad she got a model that didn't look EXACTLY like her as she did in her Fall 2008 online shopping section.

you got no taste

Blogs about fashion or any kind of art for that matter have been done. They have been done time and time again and pretty much everything has been covered. I decided however to put my taste on fashion blogging. I hold no experience in fashion, I know nothing about art. So you can stop reading if you are looking for some insightful shit with all the lingo. You will not find that here.

I am going to over the next few weeks look at the collections that were presented at the recent LG Toronto Fashion Week. And no, I wasn't there. I got to look at all the pretty pictures that this colour window shows me.

I am going to start with David Dixon. Not his lame barbie collection. I hate that shit. Hounds tooth hour glass silhouettes and throw back to some 50s style that was never really that great anyway. It's not even worth going to look at.

David Dixon's collection was clearly ready to wear. These are the sort of pieces you can find on any rack at any store along Bloor Street. Aside from the bird inspired looks he opened with and some flashes of blue, I found the rest of the collection boring and uninspired. You know, the stuff that sells. It is clearly no secret that I am more prone to enjoying streetwear and avant garde but I do respect a nice tailored jacket or women's power suit but I think David Dixon really lost any kind of wow factor with what he presented. My mom would love it.

A high necked flowing dress was really the only garment that intrigued me while studying the collection. The sturdy bodice paired with the flowing skirt is a mix that is not too over the top but offers an interesting piece for the eye.

All in all I give david dixons collection 2 and half tastes out of 5.

I was really confused when learning about Dixon that he was a young dude. I thought for sure he was some crotchety old guy who had his prime so he was able to create easy crap but no hes a young fucker!

Time to rethink your "vision" David.