J.W. Anderson’s
gold plated chocker is equal parts chic and cheeky. In a clever nod to the
‘90s, the British designer reminisces about growing up in the early noughties. The accessory is sure to make a statement
whether paired with Anderson’s wide-brimmed leather hats (as they were on his
Spring’15 runway and below on Miranda Kerr for Harper's Bazaar) or with a simple shift. The piece is currently on sale at
Moda Operandi.
Looking
through the Paris collections, one trend I picked up on was the prevalence of massive
outerwear on the runway. While I am hardly looking forward to another season of
sub-zero temperatures, I can’t deny that I am eager to have these beautiful
coats in my life.
One design duo’s take on the trend
was particularly arresting. Carol Lim and Humberto Leon of Kenzo (also of
Opening Ceremony) produced a number of oversized outerwear that came in both
solid shades and smatterings of their signature prints. Not wanting to think
too hard about next winter (I’m still not over the last one tbh), I instead was
reminded of a fun summer weekend I spent shooting a Kenzo lookbook a few
seasons ago.
Much like the collaborative effort
between team Kenzo and the renowned film director David Lynch, the aim of our
shoot was to produce a sort of ‘other worldly fashion character.’ Kenzo
collections often range from the extremely wearable to the outlandish, and
imagining a story where the contrasting pieces could co-exist in the life of
one ‘ultimate’ fashion girl was an exciting challenge.
To offer a sense of our mythical
girl’s inner workings we decide to create an eccentric loft-style apartment
that she could inhabit. Her walls must be gold to match her favorite jacket!
Her furniture will all be draped with season-appropriate printed fabrics.
These themes were not meant to be
subtle. Considering the minimalistic style that was prevalent at the time of
shooting, the Kenzo girl was a welcome antidote. Our girl is all about maximum
effect in both her lifestyle and her looks.
Cara Delevingne
may claim to have ditched modeling in favor of becoming a serious actor, but
the starlet can’t help turning the red carpet into her own runway. In tandem
with the release of her first staring role in "Paper Towns", Cara & Co have
been traipsing around the globe on a press tour almost as long as her legs. With
each event she continues to remind us of her supermodel roots as she churns out
polished looks mixed with a dose of her signature attitude.
1. Showing off some serious beatboxing skills in Balmain with her new BFF Jimmy Fallon.
"These pants weigh more than me right now."
2. That time in Berlin we were all really, really jealous of her legs in this Mary Katrantzou mini.
"These old things?"
3. Turning up the heat in a Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture dress that had us wondering what was up with St. Vincent... and more importantly is Cara available?
"I can see into your soul right now."
4. Because sometimes we all just want to throw on some Saint Laurent and tap dance around London.
"I am so happy to be here."
5. Making an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Cara and Saint Laurent reintroduce the concept of summer leathers. What's it matter if you're melting when you look this hot?
"Can you validate parking for my bike?"
"Paper Towns" is released in theaters everywhere today. For a peek at Cara's acting chops check out the trailer below.
As the
plane touched down in Brussels it suddenly struck me that I had no idea what to
expect from the city. Having spent a few days in Bruges this past year I
fancied myself somewhat knowledgeable about Belgian customs. But that’s the
thing about travel… the second you start to believe you understand an
unfamiliar place you set yourself up for a good kick in the pants (to put it so
eloquently).
Having
vaguely remembered an old episode of Samantha
Brown I’d seen on the travel channel, I recalled that the city was commonly
more recognized for its industry than for its charm. And while I wouldn’t go so
far as to recommend it for your next romantic getaway, I have to argue against
this connotation. Further exploration proved the city to be a melting pot of
various vibrant communities (from arty hip kids in Ixelles to the extended
families of Little Africa).
If you’ve
been reading this blog for a while, you might have noticed the slight obsession
that I have with public parks. As a city child I have a natural affinity for
them since it was the most exposure to nature I had as a kid. It reminds me of growing up in New York and also acts as an instant escape
from the stress of the city (or simply a pretty setting for
a sangria picnic). Brussles must share this mindset because they seem to have
parks on every other block. The most picturesque one, aptly named Brussels
Park, sits in the center of town. Around lunchtime it was filled with equal numbers
of businessmen in suits and mommy-and-me play groups.
Another thing Belgians are really good at: food. At least half of the places we dined at didn't offer english translations of their menus so I did a lot of 'blind' ordering. There were a couple of times this method screwed me over, but for the most past it was a fantastic way to be more adventuring with my order. Rather than guilting myself into a salad, I was free to eat without limitations. And if all else failed, at least I knew my way around the wine list!
Caroline Mason: 21. Native New Yorker (and one time North Carolinian). Assistant to Derek Blasberg.
Just a girl who is OCD about all things fashion, drinks way too much coffee, and has an affinity for late night talk shows and travel books. FIT class of 2016. Previously with Karla Otto PR, Lori Goldstein and Lester Garcia.
