Nude is the new Black.

"All a woman needs to be chic is a raincoat, two suits, a pair of trousers, and a cashmere sweater"- Hubert de Givenchy

Well, it definitely means – a nude cashmere sweater in this season. When life gets hard and messy, when stuff of all colors is already in the closet and everyone is tired of all the porn chic craziness, designers all over the world put the most basic, the most natural and calm color – nude in each collection. And I love it! I never thought of wearing it before – cause of the weird feeling of not wearing anything at all.  Actually, it turned out to be the sexiest thing ever –just having your skin on. It makes your face look brighter, especially when complimented with a proper make-up. Of course, there are several options – a little more pink or beige, caramel and camel – these are the colors of comfort and coziness. Wearing them makes me drink more coffee and feel sexier at the same time. It seems like you are not keeping a secret about your body any more on the one hand and feeling comfortable on the other. Your body is the fortress of your heart and your soul. Wearing nude is keeping the border but making it transparent. As if you tell everybody: “Hey, this is me the way I am – these are my thoughts and wishes but it doesn’t mean you are any closer to me”. Wearing nude is feeling sexy, as if you are alone with the Guy you love, it’s the color of intimacy, the secret between the two of you. Wearing nude is showing more than а decollete and a cut out can that’s why it’s so hot. No matter how much fabric of this color is on you – it will look amazing and seductive anyways. Even a little detail will make the outfit sharper. It’s so natural that makes your look younger and fresher. 

It’s already style, not fashion – like a little Chanel dress or a Burberry trench coat. It’s an absolute must-have of beauty, comfort and seduction.

Когда «Слишком victim и не очень fashion»

(inspired by an awesome book “Fashion victims?” by Guillaume Erner)

“Quality stays way after the price is forgotten” (Gucci)

A new (and awesome) Fashion Bible was written by Guillaume Erner – a little serious, a bit sarcastic and funny and a lot psychological. He is talking about two main issues going on in people’s minds – being different on one hand and being fashionable on the other. Fashion prospers in big cities – where it’s not cool to look like your neighbor, your friend, your boss (especially if it’s a woman). There should be smth about you, smth different – even a detail that you catch attention with. Wonderful teachers of nowadays are influentials – people who are always a couple trends ahead, often celebrities  who move the fashion industry forward. They are also the reason why photographers started taking pictures of guests, watching the runway shows instead of the models and the whole street look movement. High-end fashion is supposed to come from the wonderful homes of fashion, designers, brands, but more often than not the inspiration comes from down below. Being conservative isn’t necessarily good for a brand nowadays. History of the brand – yes, but not to the extend. Brands are definitely “fashion victims”. They are in today and out tomorrow – imagine, how hard it is to catch up with all the trends of the following season! There should always be some space for surprise on a runway. Moreover, modern designers give the second birth, turnaround, to so many homes of fashion – Gucci, for example. It has recently been a dying business, owned by a drama Italian family, pretty much interested in fighting way more than in fashion till the day when Tom Ford became an art director. His style is nothing even close to the actual Gucci but he rocked it – and the brand as well. Guess how much money the company earned since then?

Why are people addicted to fashion? People want to show off. They want to be the best, and even if they are not – look like they are. Globalization makes it harder for all the high-end brands – people want to be closer to stuff like that. There are different options, and btw they help companies make a loot of money. Have you seen Versace for H&M collection? Any item costs way more than a regular H&M shirt or dress – but imagine how excited all the girls are – they can afford Versace (!!!) (no matter if it’s still H&M, not even close to haute couture). Both brands make billions of dollars on this fake acquisition.

Brand clothes, bags and shoes can only be pricey – but what’s more important is them being luxurious, elegant, wonderful. Zara and H&M can only be cheap – but might as well be basic,”street trendy” and fresh. They help us find our styles and shapes and colors. Looks and inspiration. They help us be ourselves and enjoy every morning in front of the Choice.

The Awesome Closet Choice of What to Wear. 

There is always time for some dress-up!

(p.s. even if it’s freaking cold out)

(the picture by a wonderful fashion illustrator Nancy Macnack)

Starbucks. 7 30 am. I am sipping my Vanilla Latte and thinking about weird "trendy traditions" all over the world. It has already snowed in Moscow a couple days ago. High time for taking fur coats out of the closet, right? No matter what is on the cat walks this season, no matter how spread the “save poor animals’ WWF ideas are, or how little of fur detail Gucci and Prada showed in their collections this season, it is always in here. Every time it gets a tiny bit colder, girls put on all the expensive coats, decorated with all those kinds of fur. No one cares if it’s still pretty warm during the day and that we still have plenty of time – the whole winter to ‘enjoy’ putting a shit ton of clothes on. I find it funny how much people want to show what they got – seriously, women, who can’t even afford a car, save money for a fur coat and wear it, using subway and getting the $3000+ item all squashed and damaged, every day, November thru early spring. Almost as crazy as it seems to be wearing Ugg boots on the Cali coast – they look way more natural when it’s below zero out and keep my toe fingers warm! (I still have my toenails colored neon and bright colors most of the cold season just to have a little splash of summer, no matter if no one sees!)

Anyways, do I put warm winter clothes and coats on yet? No, thank you, I’ll pass.

(shoes Steve Madden, jeans True Religion, clutch Banana Republic, scarf Armani Exchange)

West coast - Cali street fashion.

                                                                              

Designers in Paris, London and New York often get inspiration in the west states. Designers from California have ocean, surfers and tanned party girls to stay inspired on a regular every day basis. Bikini tops are absolute must-haves, they go under tank tops and shirts instead of regular bras. Flip-flops are vital during the day – when sand is around most of the time, even if you are not on the beach, there is no way you can wear a closed toe. Being dressed up in the coast cities often means having a beach dress with some wedges/heels on.

 Toms is another big thing there. I often hear how people who have never been to the West Coast say how ugly Toms are. I love then and everyone in California does. Toms are super comfy flats, the brand’s mission is to give a pair to a kid for every pair you purchase. One of my closest friends, Erin (merchandiser/buyer, San Diego, CA) met the owner of the company at the airport a couple years ago when he just started his business and now there is a line of stores that have to apply way in advance to start carrying them – and it’s still hard for them to get Toms in – they are out of stock all the time. Well, when Ugg boots appeared in the fashion world many fashion bloggers were sure there is no way they would be popular. Toms are the same way.

Toms.com

Bikinis are awesome in Cali. There is no other part of the world where people are so obsessed with them. I have at least a dozen – and once you get this addiction there is no way you can stop. Having a luxurious bikini feels the same as having a Hermes. Vix, Beach Bunny, L-space, B-swim – you-tube the runaways (season ’12) – glorious, stunning runaways. Beach Bunny kinis are so dressy – you don’t need to compliment them with any cover-ups or accessories, they are definitely party ones, full of detail and glitter. Vix and L-space are my favorite brands. Simple, but sophisticated. Wonderful materials, patterns, solids. Throwing a bikini top even on a work day is vital – there is always some beach/Jacuzzi time after!

Lspace.com

vix.com

(top, bottoms – Vix)

(top – L-space, bottoms – scrunched B-swim)

And of course, surfbrands! Surfbrands is a religion on the West Coast. Billabong, O-neil, Lucy Love, Roxy. Beachy and sporty, easy and so Cal. Most of my summer closet is Billabong and Lucy Love. This summer lace was on – there is lace detail everywhere – tops, tank-tops, blazers. Wetsuits for surfing and dresses that you can easily dress up or down – putting the right shoes and accessories on. Heels and clutches at night, beach purses and flip flops during the day.

(bikini top – Vix, dress – Roxy)

(dress, purse – Billabong)

Fedoras. Little straw hats are on every other head. Usually girls prefer natural colors but there are also black, brown, navy options.

(fedora, Lucy Love)

P.S. Btw, throwing on Ugg boots when it gets chilly in the evening – with shorts and tank tops is normal – they are always in the car ready to keep your legs warm and to be switched with flip flops asap.

Fashion lives on its own.

No matter if you love it or not, care for it or don’t, play dress up or put on old jeans and shirts every day, it exists. It for sure doesn’t care about you, no matter if you love it or not. Like a King, Fashion is doing its own business,  and has his servants – fashion designers, who create laws, icons, known, worn, wanted. They create history, day by day. There is no woman, who knows about Michael Kors, Galliano, Cavalli, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Carl Lagerfeld and doesn’t want at least one item in her closet from their fairy-tale, wonderful stores. The joy of buying a new pair of shoes or just planning of so is magnificent for every ‘big city’ woman. The feeling of putting a small, black, luxurious dress from Chanel on and then wearing it – even more magnificent. Adding some red lipstick, mascara, choosing shoes from the closet – is there anything more awesome that that? Getting compliments not fishing for them – glorious.

Fashion is definitely a drug, once you get addicted there is no way back. It’s an irreversible trend, which has been in the air for a while. If you are a candy, alcohol, anything addict, there is always a way for you to be cured. If you are a fashion addict, it is getting worse all the time. Al over the world, addicted read Vogue, the bible of Fashion, from cover to cover, and put new names, items, brands to their wishlists. This epidemic is not known to everyone but  whoever cares for Fashion is its slave forever.

I am.