Givenchy Spring/Summer 2015 Ready-to-Wear Review

     I think its about time I address this Givenchy collection. Deep and rustic color palliate, lace up high heeled sandals with second-skin leather pants, and symbols of gypsies are some of the major themes. What made this collection for me was the edginess, a word I fear I use too much. But honestly, without edginess, would anything be really new? Regardless, Ricardo Tisci's inventions for next spring were sexy, strong, and full of spice. The clothes were menacing and beautiful, tough, and flowing, lacy and leathery. This collection has much more character, different from the usual "street-style" looks Tisci has made Givenchy known for. The lacey fabric and the lace up motifs on chests combined classic frivolity and of-the-now sexiness.

     

Virgin Blak Haul

     I am delighted to announce that a package for me from one of my favorite fashion websites, VirginBlak.com, has been received! I reviewed their brand here, and in fact, the company loved it so much, they gave me a $100 gift certificate for promoting their brand! So, I chose just a few things from my wish list and clicked SUBMIT. I must say it was pretty sensational. Now, the actual package I have received:

For starters, I picked out three things:

The Faux Leather Sleeve Zip Cowl Tee (Black)

The Skull Cable Knit Sweater (White)

And Studded Black Leather Gloves

The leather gloves came in first, as a separate package. Nothing was damaged and it was easy to open. The gloves were nice and excited me for the rest of my order. A few days later, the shirt and sweater came. To be honest, I was a little nervous about the quality of the clothes, but once I opened up the package, all of that was erased. The cable knit sweater was of high quality, fit perfectly, and kept me warm. The zip cowl tee was amazingly edgy looking, with an asymmetrical hemline, zipped opening, faux patient leather sleeves, and thumbholes at the end. This shirt was also in excellent quality, and fit perfectly. Will definitely be buying from VirginBlak.com again and look for these things in my "What I Wore" posts.

Birthday HAUL

     November 2nd, 2014 was probably my best birthday yet. A trip to downtown Chicago in a souped-up BMW for a massive shopping spree and lunch at the Grand Lux Café with my dad and his roommate made the day incomparable. We shopped at two H&Ms: the first on 840 N Michigan Ave and the second on 150 W. Roosevelt St., and Zara on 700 North Michigan Ave. It was a fantastic time, shopping and finding things in the city. I want to post all, or at least most, of the things I received or bought myself this year for my birthday.
    I'll start with my purchases from the day in Chicago:

Zara Long Sleeve T-Shirt

I like this shirt because I have never seen anything exactly like it. Its a standard black knitted t-shirt, except the collar folds over into this massive fringed scarf that you can drape over yourself in many different ways. This shirt is from Zara's Dark Collection.

Zara Washed Skinny Jeans with Rips

After I picked up the black scarfed shirt, I saw these jeans. I have quite a lot a pairs already, but they were all the same style. I decided to try these: shredded, and washed. I think they will look good tucked into a pair of Dr. Martens.

Also, while in Chicago, I found a few things at two different H&Ms. And they are:

H&M Collarless Shirt
Chic, simple, yet edgy because of it's collarless and button hiding construction and black fabric. When I saw this on the rack, I knew it would be a piece that should've already been in my collection.

H&M Melange Cardigan

A zippered, asymmetrical  cardigan in black. The one shown is slightly different from the one I bought because its made of a  melange yarn fabric rather than a simple soft black cotton fabric like mine is. Also, mine has a hood, rather than a finished collar.

H&M Washed Sweatshirt

I found this interesting sweatshirt/long sleeved t-shirt. I like the faded black and grey motif. The ends of the sleeves match the bottom. Sadly, I don't have a link for this one because it is no longer available online.

H&M Paint-Splatter T-Shirt

This shirt has a cool graphic of black paint splatters all over the white t-shirt. Also includes a contrasting black pocket. I couldn't find a professional picture of this shirt online and you can't buy it from H&M's website either. 

  I also received a fantastic package of clothes from Forever 21 from my aunt on November 7th. 

Forever 21 MEN Plaid Two-Button Blazer (Green/Black)

Forever 21 MEN Plaid Dress Pants

Forever 21 MEN Cut-Off Pullover (Both Black and White)

And I payed for a new H&M coat with the cash family members gave to me.

H&M Wool-Blend Coat

In addition to clothes, I additionally received two new pairs of shoes. My first pair were (finally!) Dr Martens 1914 from my mom. My second pair were Steve Madden Cap-Toe boots from my dad.

Dr Martens 1914

Steve Madden Tryon Cap-Toe Boots

What I Wore

Overshirt: Zara

Tie: The Tie Bar

Jeans: Zara

Boots: Dr. Martens 1914

What I Wore

Shirt: Zara
Pants: Custom Levi's 511(Seen Here)
Boots: Dr Martens 1460
Collar: Found at a Punk Store

Virgin Blak Review

     I said in my most recent "Fashion Needs" post that I will be reviewing an entire brand, VirginBlak.com, on their clothes. I think the brand has some seriously amazing pieces that can't be found anywhere else. They use quality materials to make great pieces that combine punk, goth, and high fashion together in perfect harmony. Pieces shock and stimulate. I especially love their unique and avant-garde shirts in beautiful black or white, their studded black leather fingerless gloves, and many other accessories like shredded knit or leather scarves. In fact, I just checked out the new arrivals, and I am obsessing over their zipped up sweaters and the zippered shirt. I urge you to take a look at their beautifully crafted studded leather moto jackets like this one. 

 Here are a few selections from my wishlist.

Exposed Zip Front Shirt
$35.69

Stud Gloves

$18.99

Custom Spike Sunglasses (B-Type)

$55.99

(Take a look at Lady Gaga wearing these sunglasses back in April 2011.)

Strappy Sleeved Long Sleeve

$37.99

Cutout Hem Long Sleeved Tunic

$33.99

Double Strapped Two Zip Skinny Jeans

$64.99

Wrinkled Liquid Faux Leather Long Sleeved Tee

$33.99 

Faux Leather Slanted Apron Hem Tee

$31.99

 I will be purchasing some of these items in the near future and look for Virgin Blak in future "What I Wore" posts!

Photo Credits: VirginBlak.com

Fashion Needs

     I must say that my personal style is flowing and transforming into a more gothic and dark look. However, I don't mean that I will be wearing heavy makeup any time soon or listening to gothic music. I do have an obsession with the color black and love leather gloves and unconventional looks. I also love quality, fitted looks that don't need to be cheap but also don't need to break the bank. For this, I always look at Forever 21 and Zara for good clothes and accessories that fit my style mold. I've recently discovered a new place, called VirginBlak.com that sells fantastic goth and punk looks that make me swoon. In fact, I might do a separate blog post in the future exclusively about the brand, as the stuff I love from there is too extensive to include with this post.

Zara Dark Coat

$119.00

Zara Goth Leather Gloves

$39.90

Zara Black Leather Studded Gloves

$59.90

Zara Oversized Trench Coat 

$229.00

Forever 21 Cut-Off Pullover

$17.90

What I Wore

Shirt: Zara

Blazer: Vintage

Jeans: Forever 21

Brooch: Hurst Jewelry

Shoes: Converse

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2015 Ready-to-Wear Review

      Alexander McQueen's Spring/Summer 2015 collection was shown in a black oak room that displayed two massive white sculptures of orchids. The brilliant white sculptures were designed by Marc Quinn, an artist who focuses on nature as well as the human condition. It brought an artistic beauty the show worked around in. When the first model emerged, her knee high lace up boots clacking to the beat of the music. Her face was incased in a black plastic mask that brought about an avant-garde feel. With McQueen, avant-garde is always expected. There was a harmony of Eastern influences. Samurai armor-like harnesses and face masks layered over soft florals of kimonos. This wasn't all together new territory for McQueen, considering Lee McQueen's Spring/Summer 2001 "VOSS" collection, which dealt with Eastern Exoticism, for example. However of course, that collection was much more uncomfortable and extreme. This time around, Sarah Burton has relaxed the aggression and given a much more soft and elegant look for the McQueen buyer. This doesn't mean that Lee McQueen is lost, it isn't an abandonment and reinvention of the brand. There still is avant-garde dark beauty that made people pay attention to Alexander McQueen. Upon further investigation into these beautiful clothes, I noticed that harnesses and different panels aren't neatly sewn together or layered over each other. Rather, they were pieced together loosely, exposing thin amounts of skin. So, the not all the clothes aren't as simple as they may seem. Sarah Burton must love her details. But of course, the devil is in the details, as they say. Even though the clothes were heavily structured with sharp tailoring and rich fabrics, there was a sexuality to it all that's quite riveting. Perhaps it's the shiny black leather straps up against sheer sleeves. Perhaps its hard black leather painted with vibrant reds and whites. There's a force in this collection, it makes me smile that it hasn't been lost in the brand since the loss of it's creator more than four years ago.

Gareth Pugh Spring/Summer 2015 Ready-to-Wear Review

     Finally! Insanity during fashion month. I don't mean the usual fashionistas running around every major city to see fashion shows but a show itself. I feel as though that this fashion month has been very corporate, very commercial. They were standard clothes practically expected from specific designers. Though Gareth Pugh is know for avant-garde and creative, this collection stood out. Instead of the typical bright colors, light fabric, and florals ("Florals, for spring? Groundbreaking."), Pugh devised a collection of thick, natural-colored looks that have restored my faith! Blacks contrasted whites in beautiful overall geometric prints. The presentation also displayed burlap like fabrics after soft white fabrics that were often shredded for added effect. Hoods, high leather boots, and absurd headgear that seem to belong in "American Horror Story". The entire presentation is spectacular. In fact, this collection is a first to Pugh; his first presentation not on a runway. That didn't matter, the concept of shock was still there. The clothes stood for themselves and were absolutely perfect. With avant-garde styles you have the negative possibility of the clothes looking too "costumey". This was not the case at all. Luxurious chiffon was shredded and silk to look like the burlap. "Frayed luxury" was what Gareth Pugh stated about this collection. The entire collection is extremely smart in the sense that its unexpected, but forward thinking and plausible.

Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 Favorite Looks

    As the third big Fashion Week this month, Milan seriously impressed. Big names like Prada, Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, and Fendi brought new ideas for their fantastic and well-known clothes. Costume National presented great looks in lush fabrics like suede and lace, in mostly dark colors with a shock of deep purples and blues towards the end.  Overall, Milan was exciting! Next, perhaps the biggest Fashion Week of the month: Paris!

Prada Spring/Summer 2015

London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 Favorite Looks

    London Fashion Week showcased some great designers last week, and I would like to post my favorite looks and highlights from London. This collection of looks relates my previous post on New York Fashion Week because of the selections of looks in dark as well as stark shades.

Tom Ford Spring/Summer 2015

Christopher Kane Spring Summer 2015

J.W. Anderson Spring/Summer 2015

Photo Credit: Style.com