Unlikely Style Icon: Will Smith from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air

There are those who are obvious style icon material. Audrey Hepburn. Grace Kelly. Kate Moss.

And then there are those who are less screamingly stylish, but have some definite fashion cred.

For instance, Will Smith.

No, not the actor, well-dressed as he is, but the character of the same name whom he played on one of the 90's best sitcoms - the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Whether you were a fan in its glory days or, like me, watched it in reruns, you have to admit that Will was stylin'. In crazy blazers, tilted caps, and patterned shirts, he was ballin'.

1. American Apparel Unisex Geometry T-shirt in Red/Navy/Yellow, $40, picture from store.americanapparel.ca
Will was all about the wacky patterns and bright primary colors.

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Wavelength Print Jacket, $348, picture from shopbop.com
Wild, printed blazers were a key component of the Fresh Prince’s wardrobe.

3. Emilio Pucci Crystal Puffer Jacket, $869, picture from eluxury.com
Brightly coloured zany prints were Will’s patterns of choice.

4. 59fifty Superman Hat, $31.99, picture from lids.com
Will was rarely seen without a cap perched on his head.

5. Essie-Pi exclusive to American Apparel Gold-Plated Eddie Bracelet, $29, picture from store.americanapparel.ca
You know that Jazz would try to steal this bling. Who could blame him?

6. Adidas Men’s Blow-Up Tee, $34.99, picture from adidas.com
Will would be all about this tee. (As would I, perhaps tucked into a skirt or paired with leggings.)

7. Nike Geo Terminator High Premium Sneakers, $100, picture from urbanoutfitters.com
Any fresh princess worth her salt needs a decent pair of kicks.

8. Band of Outsiders Neon Skinny Tie in Blue, $138, picture from eluxury.com
Will rocked the loud ties for school. And face it, this is way cooler than the ones you stole from your dad during your Avril phase.

So, I encourage you, darlings. Go out and mix some prints, wear a preppy blazer with some gangsta sneakers, and follow in Will's fantastic footsteps.

shoe-bop: purchases

So despite my student budget, yesterday I partook in one of my favorite activities in the world: shoe shopping!

A few months ago my favorite pair of black Wal-Mart flats, which I've had for years, finally reached the point of worn-in-ness that I like to call "destroyed beyond belief". I've been hunting for basic flats for a while now and only finding faux Tory Burch grossness. So I was incredibly happy last night when I spotted these beauties at H&M for $17.

And then, I discovered the boots that I'd been hunting for. Backstory: my mom has these gorgeous equestrian-style boots from the 1980's that I borrowed pretty much every day of the last two winters. However, she didn't allow me to bring them to university, tragically. So here is my replacement pair. They were $180 at Aldo. My friend says that they look like Puss in Boots boots! I love them so much.

Excuse the terrible lighting and background. I live in a dorm...

Gossip Girl Fashion: gowns galore (episode 2.12 "It's a Wonderful Lie)

This week's episode of Gossip Girl was clearly drama-full. However, the best part of it was not the fights over Nate, catty pranks, or boring Bart's car accident.

No, it was the Snow Ball gowns. Vanessa's is cute enough minus the whole see-through under spot lights issue. The matchy-matchy silver accessories are a bit much but I really like the cut and it's nice to see Vanessa in something remotely cute for once.

Penelope's dress is just so prom-y. It's clear that Little J was still harboring some resentful feelings toward her when she designed it! The fabric is yucky and I really don't like the hem.

Hazel's is cute in a debutante-esque way, but I wish that there was more definition of the waist between the bodice and the skirt, because it makes her look a little fat (which she is clearly NOT!)

I actually really, really like Isabel's dress. It's incredibly Disney princess, but still chic and well cut. The fabric looks gorgeous and I love the bodice.

Serena's dress is very Serena! I can't actually decide if I love it or hate it! The fabric and beading are beautiful but the short-in-the-front-long-in-the-back thing turns it into the mullet of dresses...

And last but not least, Queen B. Her dress is lovely but pretty simple. Where is the gigantic bow headband? The daring colour combinations? The bold hosiery?

Blair, dear, it's like we don't even know you anymore.

And yet I like it...

All photos courtesy of gossipgirlfan.org

project acid wash

so...

i tried my un-crafty little hands at DIY the other day

on a thrifted club monaco t

i like it but i don't think it's amazing or anything

i definitely like the back more

i might re-bleach it to make it a little less uniform.

however.

funny moment.

after bleaching it i went to throw it in the wash in my dorm.

but a guy on my floor was already using both machines, so he offered to throw it in with his stuff.

anyway, afterwards he was like "umm...did you see your shirt? did it look like that before?"

the poor guy thought that he had wrecked my shirt!

random thought

i love the blatant allusion to cory kennedy through the character of agnes on gossip girl
and how the guy in the first agnes episode was so mark the cobra snakey

Fall 08 Wish List

Time for some Fendi dreams on my Forever 21 budget!

3.1 Phillip Lim Runway High-Waist Brocade Skirt ($375):

(photo courtesy of eluxury.com)

Insert drool here. Seriously, I am so in love with this skirt. It's playful but still sophisticated. It feels like something that could be worn from a job interview to class (well, if you don't subscribe to the icky sweatpants and school hoodie uniform) to a club.

Jean-Paul Gaultier Metallic Booties with Tooled Applique ($810)

(photo courtesy of eluxury.com)

A shoe-lover's dream! I like how the silver adds an edge to the sweet detailing.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Satin Puff Jacket ($398):

(photo courtesy of shopbop.com)

Confession: I never really went in for that puffer jacket trend a few years ago. It reminded me of the elementary school years of practical, mom-mandated ski jackets, when I yearned to grow up and be able to wear chic capelets and peacoats. (Yes, I was a weird kid...) But this coat oozes Blair-Waldorfiness (the highest of sartorial compliments, in my opinion). Not to mention the fact that it looks decently warm

Moschino Cheap and Chic Open-Toe Kiltie Pump ($425):

(photo courtesy of shopbop.com)

How awesome are these? I LOVE the fringe!

distill is my love

so friends,
time for me to shamelessly gush to the point where you'd think that i'm being paid to endorse the following magazine!
(alas, it is not so)

Distill magazine is the new love of my life.
Its first issue just came out and it is a beauty.

Basically, its staff reads all the most recent issues of fashion mags, from the mainstream to crazy indie Hungarian magazines (how much would I love that job?) and then publishes the best editorials.

oh yeah.
there's also commentary by MATTHEW F-ING WILLIAMSON.
It's fabulous (albeit nudity-containing).
It's website is distilldigital.com
Ch-ch-ch-check it out.

gah

maybe it's time for me to give up my beloved american apparel belt as hippy headband look.

i wear it A LOT.

i think that it's the easiest thing in the world, it allows me to channel my inner hippy, it looks great with a lot of my clothes, and it works well with messy-i-was-too-lazy-to-do-my-hair-hair.

so why give it up, you ask?

no, it's not because everyone and their mom now rocks the hippy headband.

or because it kind of makes a funny-looking dent in your hair when you take it out.

or because it doesn't work as well with my new bob as it did with my straggly summer hair.

no.

it would be because of this:

sorry, eyes.

Photo Credit: Go Fug Yourself

First Seasonal More Fashion Please Awards: Spring 2009 RTW

Best Overall Collection:

Hannah McGibbon's first collection for Chloe was just unbelieveably it-girly. I. LOVE.IT!

I'm also loving the Brenda Walshyness of this (if anyone is, like me, obsessed with Beverly Hills 90210 reruns you'll catch the reference!)

Best New York Collection: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I know that fashion is not defined by wearability, but I like Marc by Marc's more subtle take on the vintagey look that we saw at Jacobs' main show.

Best London Collection:

Now I know we all lusted after Luella and went ape for Christopher Kane (excuse the alliteration/pun, I'm slightly sleep-deprived) but I felt like House of Holland was the real standout. It was youthful and creative and gorgeous. I want those jeans sooo badly!

Best Paris Collection (excluding Chloe): John Galliano

Galliano's collection, based on British history, makes me reconsider Buckingham Palace guards and the Queen Mother as style icons!

Best Milan Collection: Marni

Marni's collection looks like someone playing dress-up in their mother's closet. While the pieces are all fairly simple, they have a bit of an edge, and the stylist for the show was clever in the coordination of the outfits.

All pictures taken from style.com.

Collages made by me (please do not use without permission).

whitney port is a zillion times more stylish than lauren conrad, lisa love confirms

Excuse the news-y headline
I had my 5 hour Culture of News class today and am still in intrepid reporter mode
But, i digress.

Lisa Love, West Coast Editor of Teen Vogue, told one of those horrible-tabloidy-magazines-we-all-pretend-not-to-read-but-totally-secretly-love that she likes Whitney Port's collection for her new clothing line, Eve & A

"Whitney has good taste. The designs are simple and chic. They reflect her sense of style. We'd consider them for Teen Vogue."

Now, when asked about Lauren's line, Lauren Conrad Collection, a while back, the fabulous Ms. Love brushed it off, saying "It's more T-shirt kind of things and jeans, basics."

I have to say, my dears, I agree.

Let's compare, shall we:


Eve & A (dresses below):


I can't say that I'm a huge fan of these dresses (which is weird because I'm a cocktail dress junkie) but I think the one on the left would be cute with really simple accessories. The one on the right's just kind of blah, you know? Like, I've seen this before. It's nice but nothing groundbreaking. That said, if Kate Moss or someone truly fabulous were to wear it, she would so rock it.

Lauren Conrad Collection (Fall 2008, pictures below): Upon seeing Lauren Conrad Collection designs, my heart always sort of sinks. I mean, it just seems like she put absolutely no effort into designing these clothes. I'm all for simple chic, but I don't appreciate simple jersey dresses being marketed as this creative new fashion line. To me it sort of looks like less cute, way more expensive American Apparel stuff (I love me some American Apparel, but I'm not willing to pay the price Lauren charges for her jersey dresses).

Incidentally, don't you just love the not-so-subtle Lauren-look-a-like model? When the pictures are so small, it looks like she IS Lauren. I also enjoy that the shirt in the second picture (yup, that's the piece being sold) is styled with a beret. It's so "remember that time when I went to paris? and I rode on that guy's vespa and messed up my dress and it was soo much fun?" I'm not opposed to designers being influenced by their own lives but this is just so blatant.

I'm with Lisa Love on this one.

Et tu?

PS: Let's not even talk about Heidiwood...

http://www.anchorblue.com/heidiwood/the_collection.php