Summer lazy chic.

If you're on the east coast this summer you're fully aware it has been blistering hot most of the summer. In most aspects of my life I'm minimalistic, especially when it comes to what I'm going to wear when the daily high temps are pushing 110 degrees.
I for one do not feel compelled to throw together an outfit that might look better, than what I actually wore, but makes me extremely uncomfortable. One of the things I find horrendous is carrying a big leather bag around when it's hot! Who wants to do that?!
So when it comes to how I'm going to take a few extra things I need to carry along with me, I look to an Agenda. Granted they are typically leather. But holding something no larger than my iPhone isn't as bad as carrying around a huge Leather bag that attaches itself to my leg every chance it gets. I now use a Louis Vuitton agenda with three credit card slots and two larger pockets to put cash and things. It's much more easy to carry around than a bag.
It holds all I need. Credit cards, cash, notes, pen and my iPhone stays in place inside of it when you close the clasp. It's definitely a great alternative,  especially for guys, who don't carry a ton of extra stuff.

The summer Fragrance!

It's that time of year again. New Summer new Smells with more cute Short shorts, tank tops, and aviators. I've got a new favorite. The hottest and newest fragrance is 'Spice-bomb' by Victor and Rolf. A sample was in my bag when I checked out at Nordstrom a few weeks ago, I fell in love with it and bought it. It has such a bold, playful scent. It's more "manly" than my personal favorite which is the Gucci pour homme sport. I typically like things more fresh and light like the Gucci. But Spice-bomb is not overbearing or to woody. I can't even describe correctly it is so good. I'll put it like this, the Gucci sport is something I would wear during the day going out to lunch and doing some shopping and the Spice-bomb would be my choice to wear when going out later that night. I normally don't wear more than one scent in a day but the Spice-bomb is a rule breaker. All in all it's perfection.

-Austin

MUGLER Womenswear A/W 2012

Nicola Formichetti did a wonderful job at the Mugler show this past Wednesday. I don't pay to much attention to Womenswear for more than a few designers. Mugler is one of the few for obvious reason. I thought this collection was very good. I liked the use of insect wings on the nails (I'm sure Daphne Guinness loved that), the simple use of fur on the arms was interesting. What I found most interesting was the 3d effect by some of the pieces having fabric off of the dress and also having skin showing. Instead of everything being covered up. I feel this piece best exemplifies that. But I could never expect something so bland and dull from Nicola. Every collection has that one piece that is suppose to be the most outstanding or spectacular. The perfect example of that would be the suit that Polina Kasina wore in Alexander McQueen S/S 2010 show. In my case I found two pieces I though fit the bill. For my taste color blocking or mixing isn't a big deal. There are times I want a mix of colors or I want something to be similar but for the most part I like a look to be all one color. Obviously a black alligator skin suit would be one. This suit is fantastic. I love the cut shoulders and the heels are perfection.

One thing that caught me during the show was the heels had red bottoms. I would like to find out if those where made by Louboutin for Mugler but for now I'm assuming Nicola just decided they would have red bottoms. Now for the orange dress the first thing I thought of was Issey Miyake; I also like the shoulders just because they are rounded. I thought this style of heel from the collection was the best. They very simply came up around the sides of the foot and met back at the ankle exposing the top of the foot. What an awkward tan line that will leave.



Xx -Austin

Kermit Tesoro

It's no surprise heel-less high heels have become all the rage lately. I don't want to take anything away from the designers but in part Lady Gaga has been responsible. I'm seeing a lot of designers starting to do it! One designer I have been keeping track of is Kermit Tesoro. Like McQueen he has a thing with skulls! One shoe that I have seen all over Tumblr lately has a skull at the top of the heel. Skulls use to be exclusive to one crowd but it seems after the McQueen scarves became all the rage, skulls started to appear everywhere. I first saw his work thru Nicola Formichettis' online shop for 'Gilt Groupe'. Then again when  Florian Joyet used his heel-less shoes for Joyets' Spring/Summer 2012 show. Heel-less shoes have something about them that's makes you want to either put them on or stare at them for hours. They are mesmerizing and I love spikes so Tesoros' spiked version of the heel-less shoe, to myself, are perfection. He was also part of the amazing body suit that Lady Gaga wore
in her "Marry the night" video. Which I loved. I've read about his and have seen people call him "The McQueen of the Philippines". Time well tell if that's true but he's definitely a young designer I will be keeping tabs on to see what he has going on. I find it interesting how his shoes are not expensive. The black spiked, heel-less, are one of his most expensive and totally worth it at $1000. I think someone like him would make a great collaboration with a brand such as Prada. All the bright colors and flames. Everything great that Prada brings to the table with his innovation designs would make for a truly fantastic collection.

Nicola Formichetti

Christopher Makos for Interview Russia

Vogue Hommes Japan

This shot of the Nico Panda by Christopher Makos for interview Russia is just fantastic. Nicola Formichetti is by definition a creative genius. I had my first glimpse of Formichetti in 2008 when Ash Stymes was on the cover over Vogue Hommes Japan. But it wasn't until 2009 when I found out he styled Lady gaga for an awards show with dresses by Gaultier and McQueen. At that point I was hooked. His creative style is beyond amazing. I don't watch award shows unless Lady Gaga is there because I want to see what she is wearing. The same goes for talk shows. If she's there I'm going to be watching. The meat dress, the human embryo, the amazing music videos that are "Bad Romance", "Alejandro", "Telephone", "Marry the night" which had a very interesting clay "Muscle dress" by Leeroy New. It's all wonderful. I felt a since of validation after he put her in Paco Rabanne and only days before I raved about that collection. My favorite shoot to date that Formichetti has styled was a shoot for Supreme shot by the one and only Terry Richardson. So simplistic (kind of) it was just great. I don't condone biting a Birkin bag. I do condone going naked with a skate board in one of the most amazing pair of shoes known to man. The "Lady Vase" 17 inch high heelless heels created by none other than Noritaka Tatehana. The picture of Lady gaga is one from the shoot done by Terry Richardson with the the Noritaka Tatehana heels.
Formichetti has indirectly educated me on a few designers I have never heard of until he put their stuff in the online collection he did for Gilt Groupe.

Supreme by Terry Richardson

Thru Formichetti I have found people such as Kermit Tesoro who like Tatehana creates avant-garde shoes with No heel. I love them. I find them to be innovative. Not futuristic like some people to think. Just because something is new, cool and strange does NOT make it futuristic. I hate that word.I feel as if that word used in fashion is people saying our time isn't good enough for something or that it is to strange for today. In truth people need to stop being afraid of fashion. You don't have to go out like Lady gaga everyday but try something new, different, crazy!













-Austin