How to Wear It: Denim Trends on Live Love Lolz

Daunted by denim? 

In this episode of Live Love Lolz, Tita K and I break the denim trends down and show you how to wear flares, culottes, overalls, ripped jeans and crop tops. Even how to wear denim to work! 

Would You Wear Maxi Pants?

So my spider sense tells me maxi pants (or extreme flares, ballgown pants even) are going to be a thing.

This was the look that got me thinking. If Jenna Lyons lets it out for J. Crew's presentation for Fall 2015, it must mean something right?

via style.com

Then Leandra Medine actually wears a pair by Delpozo from Spring 2015 out on the streets. Which to all followers of fashion, pretty much means these pants are as good as gold.

via nymag.com

Then I remembered this look I absolutely loved from Sacai Spring 2013. And when Chitose Abe dreams it up in her head and makes an article of clothing real, it pretty much sets the tone and gets the ball rolling.

Or in this case, pant hems sweeping.

That said, would you wear voluminous pants such as these?

Sk8er Boi

If there's a pair of shoes I am wanting, it has got to be skater shoes. Of the perverted, luxe incarnation levels. You know, Céline, Givenchy, that sort. Sick, I know. But hey, they ain't called by The Times, The Trainers of Spring 2013 for nothin'.

The good news is, I am logical about this. Do I need a pair? No, not really. Not even.

They've been sitting on my wishlist for about a year now and as logic dictates, I haven't done anything about it. I think I will sit out this trend, although I am pretty sure these have the makings of a closet classic. 

Plus. They look sooo cooool.

via Garance Dore

In the hierarchy of skater shoes, these snakeskin ones from Céline are the ultimate. The Holy Grail.

But these lace ones from Givenchy ain't too shabby either.

via net-a-porter

Of course, the originals from Vans beats these busters by a mile and at least $500 when it comes to value for money.

Then, there's the middle road. You want these skater sneakers in leather but you don't want to pay top dollar? Here's Woman by Common Projects to the rescue. More reasonably priced at about $300. Not cheap, but not prohibitively expensive either.

via La Garconne

 I kind of can already see myself wearing a pair. O.M.G.

via La Garconne

 
Wouldn't you want to be in her shoes too?

The Flight/Boiler/Jump Suit

 

Amanda Brooks in a jumpsuit by Isabel Marant, 2010

A page from the book Tomboy Style, 2012

Floral jumpsuit from 3.1 Phillip Lim, Harbour City Hong Kong, March 2013

Maje jumpsuit, Lee Gardens Causeway Bay March 2013

Boiler Suit by MiH via Tomboy Style, April 2013

Amanda Brooks prompted me to buy a jumpsuit in 2011. But I have yet to wear mine. It's still in the closet, waiting for the right time to be worn. 

Tomboy Style has been a long time proponent.

While we were in Hong Kong last month, I chanced upon jumpsuits behind shop windows. A floral one at 3.1 Phillip Lim and a utilitarian piece in army green at Maje.

Will you be jumping into the trend?

OUT with trends, IN with Personal Style

From Parisian Chic, Weekly Planner 2013

Ahhh, the first post of the year! It took me several days before I could gather the energy to write, grabe. Who else here is still on vacation mode? I know I am!

To make up for dragging my feet, or rather my fingers before finally blogging, here's a great tip to start the year with - DISCOVER YOUR PERSONAL STYLE. Make this your resolution, maybe? 

After all, this AP article which I read on The Philippine Star poses the question:

"Does 2013's style trend spell end of trendy?"

The gist of the article of course is, yes. The focus on fashion is on personal style, and instead of skirt lengths and such, the trend is on value - where "quality, heritage and integrity are factors". I suggest you go and click on the link above and read!

Here's to a Happy and Stylish 2013, dear readers!

Pointy Pumps Please

Emmanuelle Alt is my style peg talaga! She wears basics so well, no extra embellishments necessary. Plus, I want her pointy pumps. It can't be just any pointy pair. It has to be the exact same pair as hers.  So I did a bit of sleuthing on the net, trying to get a closer look at her shoes...

Front

Side

GOTCHA! The perfect pointy pair of pumps is...

...Jimmy Choo's Agnes pump in black suede. It's part of Jimmy Choo's 24:7 Collection. According to Net-a-Porter, we need to size up on these babies. The 37.5 is still available. 

OMG. Should I? Could I? Would I? The suspense is killing me. The way a great pair of shoes should, actually.

Outfit Inspiration: Printed Pants

Brush Dot City Block trousers from Madewell

Ami Floral pant from Girl by Band of Outsiders via La Garconne

The Perfect Peter Pan Collar

My friend Naomi has been looking for a top with a Peter Pan collar for the longest time. She has been scouring the shops but still has turned up with nada. I want one too, but I haven't searched the way Naomi has, with.a.passion.

I used to have a cute one, when I was in my 20s. It was a cream polka dot top with delicate puff sleeves and a black Peter Pan collar that I would wear with a pleated black skirt that I bought at a uniform store in MBK in Bangkok for the equivalent of Php300. I wore it with Yulo Manila round toe pumps, which I bought from my grad school roommate Jaraiza. Her sister, the designer Kristel Yulo, used to make shoes then. That outfit was one of my favorite "office casual" looks at the time. But oh yes, that top, Peter Pan collar and polka dots, so right on trend for now!

But no use looking for that, it would just look to young and I would feel a bit silly wearing the same outfit now.

A few days ago, over hot chocolate and macarons at Antoinette in Mandarin Gallery with my SIL Leslie and I, Naomi spotted a group of middle-aged ladies beside our table. Of the five, two were wearing similar short sleeved knit tops, one in black, the other in red, both with crisp white Peter Pan collars.

"Tin, that's the perfect Peter Pan collar!" Naomi said. And she couldn't resist pointing the ladies out to me. As they all stood up to leave, I didn't see any collars, only a parade of crocodile Birkins that grazed our gaze. "Tin, look!" Naomi said again. 

And then, I saw. There they were, perfectly rounded, just the right size and width, and it came across as totally classic. Totally age appropriate. The knit top was the perfect backdrop for it.

We wondered where they bought those, and made a mental note, filing each detail in memory - sleeve length, length of top, colors, that perfect Peter Pan collar.

A few days later, I serendipitously found them. A black knit top with the perfect Peter Pan collar hanging in front of me, in all its glory. It almost felt like there was a spotlight shining on it, saying, "Here I am! Buy me!"

Too bad it was inside Louis Vuitton Island Maison in Marina Bay Sands. The crocodile Birkins should have been a clue aka "You won't find that in Topshop".

I called Naomi, to share the news. Good news = "I found it!". Bad news = "It's not within our budget capabilities!" I felt her excitement rise up and then crash.

The search is still on.

Parisian Chic

WWD EyeScoop today trains its eye on the effortless chicness of Parisiennes. So inspiring, I couldn't resist a commentary. I picked out my favorite photos to show you:

I think these girls embody that natural, laid back, haphazardly thrown together (but not really) look that inspires the way I dress to this day:

 Ballerina flats

 Navy blazers, that scarf! Rolled-up denim. Pretty flats!

L - Love the sequin anchor detail on the girl's top.

R- Neutral color palette. The ruffle top is adorable.

 Love how these girls look slightly disheveled w/ a bit of shirt tucked in or the neck of a tee askew

A neutral palette, and that huge scarf!

This is the sort of "real Parisian girl" style that I love:

- barely there make-up
- tousled hair
- denims
- flats
- slouchy tees
- navy blazers
- scarves!
- neutral colors with bursts of blue

Study how uncontrived they look. There's nothing forced and pretentious about the way they dress. No crazy heels. Minimal accessories (I notice that Filipinas tend to equate style with over-accessorizing). You see the girl and not the "fashion". And once you look closely, you get how special her look is. It's how she mixes colors. It's in the way her scarf is worn. Or the way she tucks her shirt. Or how she cuffs her jeans. She doesn't look trendy, yes. But she just looks so at ease with herself. 

Even the French Voguettes have these in them. They're just like the souped up, high octane version of these "real girls". Natural tousled hair, check! Denims, check! Blazers, check! They do wear crazy heels though, but I think they were the first editors snapped by Tommy Ton to wear flats to Fashion Week. Ha!

J' adore! Vive le chic!

PS - I have been studying French style since I was 13, so if you want a crash course, you might want to get Ines de la Fressange's book Parisian Chic: A Style Guide. I bought mine from Amazon. Much cheaper there (then again, we have Amazon Prime - so we get free shipping).

(Photos from WWD.com and Amazon.com)

Of Trends and Daguerreotypes

If unretouched photographs sound extreme, nothing can top daguerreotypes which highlight every imperfection and flaw.

Of course, the first celebrity that I know of who didn't mind being captured in all her un-airbrushed glory was Kate Moss (well, Kate starts all the trends!). Moss was the subject of Chuck Close's daguerreotype studies. She famously agreed to it, saying, "I've had enough pretty pictures made of me".

The prints of this series of daguerreotypes taken by Close were sold at Christie's for a whopping $166,000 in 2007. That's a lot for a bunch of unflattering photos!

Sorry guys, men aren't spared from this trend! Remember, Brad Pitt graced the cover of the February 2009 issue of W Magazine, wrinkles, big pores and all...

Unretouched Is The New Black

Supernatural! Supermodels without make-up as seen on Harper's Bazaar's online:

Granted that black&white photos are more forgiving, this is a pretty bold move still!

Meanwhile, NY Mag reports, "According to the Mirror, Britney Spears didn't want her Candie's ads to be retouched, which is quite the trendy thing to do these days. She apparently agreed to have the unretouched images released alongside the retouched images, which will presumably serve as the new campaign."

Now this is a daring move by Britney! And in full color too!

Hey, if this new "raw" trend gains steam, will you be BRAVE or AFRAID?