VT (for all of my design-obsessed peeps)

photocourtesysbeulahonsugarcom Peeps, ' THE DECEMBER ISSUE,' the series of essays regarding fashion which ran during the past two weeks, is dedicated to the memory of Alexander McQueen.  Earlier this year, the MET/Costume Institute's exhibition entitled ' ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: SAVAGE BEAUTY,' broke attendance records with an estimated 661,509 visitors, and 100,000 copies of the exhibition catalogue sold.  In May through August, fans/followers/devotees/bloggers/fashion-istas/ curators/editors/walkers/wanna-bees/wankers/wierdos, assorted persons, as well as personalities from all genres (and sub-genres as well) of society congregated at the temple of his highness to pay respect to his memory, and to view the collection(s).  McQueen created garments of incomparable and haunting beauty.  His runway shows transformed existing notions of beauty, performance, art, identity, politics and couture to a singular aesthetic vision unparalleled in recent history.  He was ...

photocourtesythesartorialist Peeps, It seems that the fashion world has forgotten the 'mature' woman, you know any of the female sex who has reached (or passed) the age of 40.  Most ads feature impossibly beautiful girls of 18 thru 26 with dewy young skin, taut muscles and body fat of less than 10%, and skin unmarked by age, experience, or the concerns of family, career, and the travails of everyday life.  I believe that most folks would agree that the scantily clad vixens prancing down the Victoria's Secret runway, or the willowy patrician beauties of Ralph Lauren or Michael Kors' fantasies are a lifetime removed from the average American woman who finds it increasingly difficult to drop four or five thousand dollars on a wool skirt cut for the glamazon whose height is 5'11 (without heels).  My sister complains that, with the exception of the sexless shapes promoted by Eileen Fisher, the conservative offerings of Ann Taylor, and the questionable selection a...

photocourtesyfocusonstyleblog Peeps, In an industry allegedly dominated by ego-maniacs, divas, copy-cats, trend-followers, weak talent and the directionless, true talent can be increasingly rare to spot, as well as show.  Indeed, it is on the runway -- that daunting, demanding spectacle of craft/art/performance, where a designer's individual viewpoint is crystallized into magical moments which must be quickly presented within a short time-span allotted between other talents, and before the audience's attention wanders elsewhere.  At the cost of millions per minute, the supporting cast of fitters/makeup artists/hair-dressers/lighting and stage technicians/prop-managers and florists/the DJ, and the bevy of beautiful models all contribute to 'that' moment or moments when the designer's vision is wholly realized. Then after thunderous applause (as well as  favorable reviews and large orders from store buyers and enthusiastic clientele, or lucrative contracts for p...

imagesourceunknown Readers, First Lady Michelle Obama is the the epitome of style and cool!  Being able to pull off both style and cool as a forty-something woman, and as the First Lady of the most powerful country in the world (I'm being somewhat dramatic and facetious here) is quite a feat.  To be sure, her style has inflamed the wrath of some who think that the First Lady should be more demure in her wardrobe choices.  Read that as:  dowdy, boring, status quo, white bread, if you will.  And those uppity arms.  How dare she put the arms of the average American woman to shame!  But then I'm sure that Michelle Obama has never done anything status quo, and growing up in a working-class black family in Chicago, I'm also pretty sure she learned how to create great style with less. When she's buying off-the-rack clothes, which she still does, she has to confront the reality of the body types that most clothes are made for.  First of all,...

photoannieleibovitz Peeps, The lines of traffic continue to snake around the entrances leading to the parking roofs at the local malls. I know this from listening to the woes of friends whose kids drag them there, tiredly clutching wads of discount coupons, and searching for bargains.  In stark contrast are super-savvy shoppers who now compare prices at the sites of on-line merchants, hit the button, and have gifts delivered right to the doorstep.  Both groups approach the spirit of the holiday season somewhat differently; I sympathize with those e-shoppers who strive to keep stress to a minimum by avoiding the crowds swarming up and down tight aisles; the inevitable arguments over parking space rights, as well as the shortage of knowledgeable staff at the counters.  On occasion, I experience some nostalgia for the old times, as I have completely abandoned gift-giving at Christmas; my preference is a little splurge at birthdays or high-school graduations of my many...

imagecourtesytopmodelsoftheworld Peeps, Frequently fashion photography has been taken to task for perpetuating stereotypes, which when unsettling to the general public's perception of themselves, has generated plenty of backlash from talking-heads, the press, government-appointed advisory groups, and so forth.  Historically, the two areas of contention where much criticism has been directed are: sex and the manner in which magazines, editors, art-directors and photographers have choose to present accepted/forbidden/questionable states of sensuality, human interaction, love and affection; also on the watch-list is the issue of religion, where anything other than devout reverence is largely avoided for fear of censure, the loss of revenue by advertisers' sponsorship, or on occasion, the cancellation of subscriptions.  Violence rarely bodes well with the fashion crowd, and is best left for speciality publications which cater to the 'tastes' of another audien...

imagecourtesyliveitathomeblog Peeps, Ordinarily I would not associate Georgetown, the small area of Washington, DC that is home to the privileged, the powerful, and savvy politicos, with anything other than what it represents:  the fantasy of small town-living within sight of the nation's capital that is occasionally marred only by the sight of boyish Secret Service agents observed discretely loitering outside popular cafes and book-stores.  And the reality that nothing with a covered garage and three bedrooms is available for less than 1.5; (at least on the nicer streets far removed from the ruckus near the Waterfront!) Yet, if one knows where to look, another sensibility runs parallel to the cheerful commercialism which the casual observer can assume is the heart of this destination area.  Sort of like later realizing that the essence of Georgetown lies hidden behind ivy-covered garden walls and down narrow cobble-stoned streets where gracious historic homes prese...

photographybystevemiesel courtesytrendnista I opened my store, called Eclectic Threads, in February of 2001.  I thought that consignment shopping just made sense because it was the ultimate way to recycle unwanted items, and allowed stylish and budget conscious customers to buy 'new-to-you' items at a fraction of retail prices.  I find that the quality of vintage clothing and accessories surpasses much of what is manufactured today -- even designer items. I recently had a customer in the shop who loves fashion, but hates paying retail prices, and she asked, " Why would anyone go anywhere else besides vintage consignment shops for clothing and accessories?  Most vintage pieces look like couture items."  And she is so correct.  Many vintage pieces are made with the same details, fabrics, and sewing techniques that define couture.  Also, some items are made from fabulous fabrics that are no longer manufactured, and are too costly to replicate. Fash...

photocourtesyfrauleinviafashionisto ' THE DECEMBER ISSUE ' premieres 5 dec 2011 . . . are you ready?

photocourtesyamericanvogueviachungkitblog ' THE DECEMBER ISSUE ' premieres 5 Dec 2011 Are you ready??

imagecourtesyjjjjound ' THE DECEMBER ISSUE ' premieres 5 dec 2011 . . . are you ready?

imagecourtesychungkitblog ' THE DECEMBER ISSUE ' premieres at forallofmydesign-obsessedpeeps.blog on 5 Dec 2011

imagecourtesychungkitblog ' THE DECEMBER ISSUE ' premieres 5 DEC 2011

photocourtesyquackedcom ' THE DECEMBER ISSUE ' 5 DEC 2011

photocourtesykristianschuller THE DECEMBER ISSUE:  5 DEC 11