Happy love day.

It's Valentines Day. Some people think Valentines Day is cheesy and overcommercialized, and all I have to say to that is, sure it is - if you make yours that way! I know mine was spent dressing all saucy, sipping numerous glasses of champagne, and having a great time with my dude at this. Where a red benefit/bidding auction on some outstanding items was held in conjunction with a pretty fantastic theatre performance. I got a dress and a coat that puts other clothes in my closet to shame. Vintage 60's and fits me like a glove. I might just have to throw out the rest of my clothes so this classy ensemble can breathe better.

In addition, this past Friday, Martin and I were extremely lucky to have been part of a portfolio building scheme thanks to the loverly Melanie Maxwell, and got some fantastic engagement photos done spur of the moment. We haven't gotten them back yet, but she posted a preview on her blog and it's looking fantastic! My tights might give away that I had a little valentines day on the brain last week. If it were more for us and less for Melanie, I may have liked more fake blood and less smiling at the camera, but I guess I have to suck it up sometimes. I think they look pretty sweet.

A history of McQueen.

The Telegraph has posted a really great article on the History of McQueen's Catwalk Collections. It gives a fantastic look back at all his prior collections. I remember watching that Spring/Summer 1999 Collection on TV at school, with the robot spray painting the model on the platform, and just getting chills, thinking woah. He does stuff that no one else even comes close to, even thinks about. So many people are talking about Lady Gaga and his recent stuff and everything they know now, but it's really important if you call yourself a fan, to look back at his history and the things he did during all his years as a designer, to really understand just how revolutionary the man was.

Rest in Peace, Lee McQueen.

Lee McQueen, founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand and fashion house, passed away in his home at age 40. It has been noted it was a suicide. This momentous loss effects me so deeply. McQueen was my most respected designer. Unlike pretty much everyone in the fashion world, to me, McQueen never had a bad collection. He never sent anything out with his name that was less than impressive. He taught us all something we'd never seen, never known, with everything he touched. He was a pioneer of the Avant Garde. Every time we had to use another designer as inspiration while I was in fashion school, I used McQueen, without hesitation. To me, everyone else was kind of boring. I am deeply saddened to think I will never again see something new from him, but feel very fortunate that I was able to take so much from his art when I was a student, and will continue to do so looking back on all he has done over the years. Rest in Peace Lee, I hope you're in a better place, for you anyway. And thank you for all you have done. Your art and your vision has taught many of us to never be afraid to push the boundaries, and just do what people tell us not to, all the time.

Fall Fashion is near..i smell you.

It's time for the Fall 2010 fashion shows to start, and it's absolutely surreal that I'm going to be showing my first collection soon. Year after year, it's the Fall collections that inspire and motivate me. Finally, I have something to show for it. My goal is to go beyond everyone's expectations. Yeah, fashion in detroit didn't happen this season, but that's fine. Just because I'm throwing this show myself, doesn't mean it's going to be any less important for me. And I have to say, I'm just really really excited to show off the designs. It's some of the best work I've ever done, if I do say so myself. I have so many people supporting me as well, and there is no way I could have done it without the support and encouragement that I have received so far. I asked 4 of my good friends to join in as models, because they are beautiful and confident and I want to see my friends in my clothes, because ideally, it is them I design for. I also have 6 gorgeous professionals as well, because it's very important to me to promote modeling in Detroit, and give new aspiring models a chance for runway experience. I have amazing people volunteering to further their portfolios by doing hair and make up, and so far 3 photographers (that list is growing daily) who want to come and shoot the event. My fiance' is building us a runway. It's going to be quite the production, and I really can't wait. The work I've done for this is more than anything I have ever undertaken in my life, and I'm a pretty motivated person. And its turning out exactly as I've had it in my head all these years. I am beyond excited to show the fashion world what I have to offer.

Now, onto some pictures. As previously mentioned I have been researching the styling of Katie Shillingford, the editor of Dazed & Confused, because everything she works on seems to turn to gold. That Viktor and Rolf shoot I was all over last month? Katie worked on it.



Another favorite shoot from D&C Oct '09





D&C July 2009





I am so inspired by things that are different, things I haven't seen before. I've been reading fashion magazines since I was a little girl, and to be honest, *most* things have been done before in some shape or form, or remind me of something I've seen. When I see someone doing something truly unique, it just really gets me.

And finally, I was exuberant to see that Garance dore' has created an english version of their blog. I can read french, a little, but some things just get pretty lost in translation at this point, since I have no one to practice it with really.

haute macabre strikes again.

As noted previously, I have a new obsession with haute macabre. I see something completely inspiring every week. This week's true love is the Alone in the Woods photo shoot with design by Knitwear extraordinaire Sandra Backlund, Photographed by Denise Grünstein.

Everything about it pulls at my heartstrings.



I need to do a photoshoot like this. I wish I wasn't having such difficulty finding people to collaborate with. Maybe it's because my tastes are so far out there? I CHANGE FOR NO ONE. ;) bring on the blood and horse heads.

vday is coming. here's things i love.

Haute macabre

Dior Homme Hi-Top Sneakers

Katie Shillingford, the editor of Dazed and Confused. (Don't ask. I don't know why, but I love her. Maybe it's the hair.)

The gray hair trend

Acne's Fall 2010 Collection

Prosecco

what tough chicks wear, apparently.

Shopbop, although how I do love them, has a daily email that highlights their 'look of the moment' in which the editors pick accessories, clothing and shoes and put them together so you can easily shop their site to create a certain look. Today the look is "Accessories with attitude: our tough chic picks." Now, having dabbled in fashion journalism I understand (and often enjoy) the need for these types of constructed labeled stereotypical editorials. But this one in particular makes me think of something I heard at the costume shop this Halloween season.

" I wonder what all the goth and punk kids think about the fact that to some, their lifestyles are a Halloween costume."

;)

That being said, here are my favorites (followed by one not-so-favorite) from the shopbop "Touch Chic Picks."


The Alexander Wang Gunny Sack



Erickson Beamon for Alice + Olivia. Everyone is going nuts over this, and with good reason. If my fiance wanted to get me the best valentines day gift ever, this would be on my list of top five best ever for my want-want-now collection of fantastic things.



And the next thing on that list would be the Hoffs Bracelet by Fallon Jewelry

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I'm not a big ring person, I guess because I already have two rings that are very special to me that I never take off (my engagement ring, and my birthstone/diamond right hand ring that my guy got me in Christmas of 2004.) and adding on another is just too much. But either way, this is a beautiful piece of jewelry by C C Skye.



And finally, Dolce Vita, you make some great shoes. You really do. For example, these unbelievable chain booties would make my feet smile for days.



These, on the other hand are just a sad, sad disaster. They look so beautiful at first glance. Until you get to the toes. Thong toe!? so wrong. The last thing I want to see when I'm looking at a pair of shoes this (potentially) gorgeous, are two thonged toes peeking out the end. So disappointing, dolce vita. I kinda hope to see someone in these somewhere in Birmingham, just so I can point and laugh.




Here is the link to the original post if you want to see more rocker tough chic looks from shop bop!

update on fashion in detroit.

So, late last week I found out some really disappointing news. Due to lack of funding, the March Fashion in Detroit show was canceled. They do however, have solid plans to still hold the October show, and I have been invited to show then as well. The only problem with this, is that I'm getting married October 3rd. The FID show is tentatively the 22nd and 23rd. However, creating an entire collection on my own is a really intense amount of work. I've been working on my Fall 2010 Collection for months, and probably won't finish until maybe a week before my show March 20th. I'm afraid that designing a collection while trying to plan my wedding, design & construct my wedding dress as well as my bridesmaids dresses.... it might be too much. I'm still on the fence about it. Who knows, I might realize I actually am super human and try to be uber crazy and just do it.

Meanwhile, there is the issue of the donations. I received about $1100 in donations towards the FID event. It wasn't my ultimate goal, but it was enough to make the fee manageable. Thanks to all the wonderful friends I have, showing my collection to a wider audience in the fashion world, became a reality. So now that it's canceled, do I auto-refund all the donations? I am still having the show at Oslo March 20th, and admission is free to all. I could use the money to make it a little more spectacular. I have also heard that another large scale event is possibly in the works, with bigger sponsors, and if it happens, it will be on the same date as FID was supposed to be. If said event actually happens, it's been hinted that I might be invited to show. I currently dont have any information about if there will be a designer's fee or not, but I'm trying to find out.

If you're reading this, and you're one of the amazingly awesome people who donated to my fund... what are your thoughts? I would really appreciate hearing them. One fear I have, is that I email everyone and give the the option to leave the donation towards future events, or to ask for it back...well, I'm worried people won't feel comfortable asking for it back - which, by all means, you shouldn't feel obligated to not ask for it back AT ALL. I wouldn't think any less of anyone. I mean, we're in the middle of a recession. I don't have any money either, so I would completely understand.