Phashion Phile

Prada Fall 2010

2010-03-05T07:03:00.001-08:00

Horn-rimmed glasses with eyebrow-shaped plastic fused on, beehives and full gathered dresses were a throwback to the 50s and 60s. Though the dresses were simple, they were very elegant and flattering. There were lots of lace and ruffles and even leather thrown in. The choice of fabric was what I thought gave the collection a luxurious feel. I also enjoyed the richness of color compared to Marc Jacobs' throwback this season to the 1950s. Both designers made the styles look very modern and clean. Though, I don't advocate the use of fur, the electric blue detail under the collar was a great surprise.

New Blog

2010-03-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

Hi All!

Sorry about the delay. I have been in New York and working on applications for fashion school.

Here is my new men's blog . Although, I am very excited about it, I want to continue with Phashion Phile as my blog geared to women. So, please stay tuned and I will have a new post up very soon.

-A.B.

NYC Fashion Week

2010-01-19T18:11:00.000-08:00

Hello...

Well, with a lot of cities having their fashion shows already, New York is having theirs from February 11-18. My girlfriend and I will be in New York City at the same time checking out the city and visiting F.I.T. to where I am applying. We hope to get an invitation or attend a lesser-known show while there. If any anyone has any ideas for us let us know.

Black & Gold

2010-01-16T18:56:00.000-08:00

Black & Gold (from top left and spiral to middle)

1. Black rain boots with gold buttons by Vivienne Westwood, $127.48.

2. Black studded boots by Jeffery Campbell, $222.00

3. Dolce Vita boots with buckles, $149.95.

4. Modcloth Studded sneakers, $32.99.

5. ASOS Gold jewled pumps, $101.98.

6. ASOS Gold eyelet shoe boots, $67.99.

7. Forever 21 studded booties, $26.80.

Party Dress

2010-01-15T23:46:00.001-08:00

So, here is the dress that I made Melissa, my girlfriend, for Christmas (that's me on the right).

I used a black taffeta underlay with a hand-dyed lace on top. Both are darted on the sides and bottom for a fitted look. For the skirt, I knife pleated it and added a black band in the middle. I think it turned out great. Melissa was initially going to premier the dress on New Year's eve but she fell ill and we had to stay in. I hope to have this dress in my store along with some new things such as more scarfs, skirts, and dresses.

L'Archange

2010-01-12T20:16:00.000-08:00

l'Archange is the title of this black & white editorial by fashion editor-in-chief Serge Girardi featuring handsome Viggo Jonason shot by Miguel Reveriego for the new issue of French fashion magazine Numéro Homme. I saw this magazine at Barnes & Noble while doing some research for my menswear portfolio and instantly fell in love with it. Each time I open it up I am drawn into it for at least ten minutes or so. I think it has to do with the fluidity, choice of clothing, and the perfectness of the shots. The half-clothed model and the skirts he is wearing also give it a bit of edginess that you rarely find in most magazines (i.e., GQ). Enjoy!

Dutch House and History of Démodé Fashion

2010-01-10T19:04:00.000-08:00

Here is one of my skirts (that my lovely girlfriend is modeling) from my label Démodé Fashion. You can find it at here on Etsy.

The label has been around for a little over a year and has been available on etsy.com and at Parts & Labour in Austin, TX. Last summer I took a few months off to focus on finishing my French degree and applying to schools, however, it's back! I just reopened the shop and put in a couple of dresses and skirts. I'll be adding more items soon.

A brief history:

Démodé is the wicked step child of Radioactive Threads, the online vintage shop which I started with my girlfriend two years ago. While helping my girlfriend sew a pair of curtains, I started messing around with her sewing machine and made a few things with it. From there I ventured on to creating bags and selling them on Etsy. After practicing and practicing I made my first dress pattern. Since then I have made a little of everything, including shirts, bags, skirts, pants and shorts.

I try to spend a lot of time on sewing but the past month I have been perfecting my sketching skills since I am applying to fashion school. I will try to post some of my sketches on here soon. I'm almost finished with my sketches and will be mailing my applications in soon, so keep your fingers crossed!

On a side note...if you are not familiar with Dutch House music, you need to get in your time machine and travel back to 1993 and get FAMILIARIZED. No not really, I mean if you have ever watched or been to a fashion show, they were probably playing Dutch house. Below is a 2000 and one (who is Dutch) remix of Christian Smith ft. Reset Robot. You must listen.

Outfit Blurb: Party or Night on the Town

2010-01-09T20:34:00.000-08:00

You might wear this outfit out to dinner

or to grab a cocktail with friends. It's not overly dressy but just enough to impress the people around you. The shoes actually inspired this outfit and are a steal for a just a little over a hundred dollars. The could be worn well into Summer and are very unique for the price. The clutch matches well with the shoes the bow really styles it up. Last but not least the dress, which is such a great deal. The ruched sleeves are fantastic and I love the zip detail in the front.

Clutch: Marc by Marc Jacobs, $248.00

Get it here

Shoes: Asos.com $118

Dress: Asos.com $23 (On sale)

2010-01-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

What I'm Wearing

Hat: Urban Outfitters $10

Prescription Tortoise Shell Horn-rimmed glasses bought in Austin: $240

Coat: Vintage London Fog coat thrifted in Lubbock, TX $11.00

Levi's: $40

Black Fred Perry Plimsolls: $40

How to Dress like: Madonna circa 1984

2010-01-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

Madonna has always pushed herself to the limit. Her fashion sense is often equally provocative. I recently saw a picture of Madonna in a black bustier dress that made me think of her infamous mock white wedding dress with signature "BOY TOY" belt that she wore to the MTV Video Music Awards in 1984.

Here are some great finds that can help you get that classic Madonna

look.

Handmade

This colorful bustier dress is handmade by Nattyboho on Etsy.com! I love the use of patterns and the flower appliqués.

Price:$82.00

Who: Nattyboho

Where can I buy this?: On Etsy.com. Visit her site here.

Designer

This dress is very chic. I am in love with the ruffle skirt overlay and the mauve fabric.

Who: Jill Stuart

Price: $186.00 on sale was $248.00

Where can I buy this?: bloomingdales.com. Go here.

2010-01-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

Winter in TX.

Dior Homme

2010-01-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

People say that Dior Homme's collections have gone down in quality due to the decreasing influence of Hedi Slimane, the creator of the sought-after, slim suits he created ( rumor has it that Karl Lagerfeld lost ninety pounds so that he could fit in one.) However, the Spring 2010 runway show, I thought was amazing and upbeat. It featured straight, cropped collars that were buttoned and tucked into flowy trousers paired with excelently-styled shoes. The thing I loved most about this collection was the sheerness of the fabric used in the shirts and jackets. I also enjoyed the monotony of his color choices. I think men look better in toned-down colors as opposed to really vibrant colors. Click here to see the complete collection.

Images thanks to GQ.com