Olivier Theyskens named new Artistic Director of Theory
News just broke today that Olivier Theyskens formerly the head designer of Nina Ricci has been named the new Artistic Director of Theory. This was just announced today not long after his capsule collection for Spring 2011 for Theory was previewed during New York Fashion Week to incredible reviews.
Here are some of the looks from the spring capsule collection:
Photo Courtesy of Theory
Photo Courtesy of Theory
Photo Courtesy of Theory
Photo Courtesy of Theory
Photo Courtesy of Theory
Needless to say you can see the Theyskens influence in this collection, but it is fairly different from what he did with Nina Ricci. I can’t wait to see what he does for a whole collection for Fall 2011.
These new teaser shot that I found on the LouLou website this morning were just released today, look below at the website, and click here to see the whole post on LouLou blog.
Lanvin for H&M
H&M Lanvin
I know many of us are all eagerly awaiting November 2nd to preview the collection on the H&M website and then November 23rd for the collection to arrive. Stay tuned, as I will keep posting updates when I find them.
I felt I needed to give the boys a little fashion love, so I decided to do a little post of my favourite menswear pieces for fall, these are definitely what I like to see a guy in. I feel it is pretty easy for any man to put a suit on and look pretty good, though please please please remember to get it tailored to your body! But I definitely find the casual look a much harder one for many to achieve well. I am not talking about the great stylish men around in the city, these are idiot proof basics and accessories that any man can pull off and look great.
Leather Jacket:
A leather jacket is absolutely key for anyone. My favourites are more of the bomber style for a casual look like this one from Danier which is very affordable:
Leather Bomber
Hoodie:
The hoodie is definitely a bit of a younger look, but I think it looks great. I prefer the zip hoodie as I love seeing layers done right on any guy. It is an amazing casual piece. I love this cashmere one by White + Warren:
Cashmere Hoodie
T-Shirt:
“I’ve always thought of the t-shirt as the alpha and omega of the fashion alphabet.” – Giorgio Armani. The t-shirt is an iconic classic, be it plain or a cool graphic tee, it is truly a must in anyones wardrobe. There are many different necklines to choose from as well as styles. But really no one can guy can go wrong with a classic white crew neck you can find them at all price points, my favourite is probably this one by American Apparel:
Organic Fine Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
Jeans:
“I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity – all I hope for in my clothes.” – Yves Saint Laurent. Jeans are any wardrobe staple and again another iconic classic. Again like the tee there are many styles and brands out there, but I will always say you can’t go wrong with a great pair of dark wash straight leg Levi’s:
Relaxed Straight 559 Jean
Everyday Trainers:
My absolute favourites would be the Chuck Taylors by Converse. They have been around since the 1900?s. The Chuck Taylor is truly a style I love on everyone, be it little kids and adults. I love the classic look and yet it also still remains chic, I also love how you can make them more sophisticated like these ones that have been done in leather:
Chuck Taylor Leather Ox
Classic Aviator Sunglasses:
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I truly feel the majority of the population just looks that much sexier when they wear aviator sunglasses. I don’t know what it is, but this classic style really seems to work for just about everyone. My favourites are the classic gold frame Ray-Bans:
Large Frame Aviator
These classic styles are definite must haves in any guys wardrobe and can be tweaked and adjusted to fit their personal style, but they always look stylish. Just make sure you buy the right size…baggy but jeans are just not sexy!
As of today you can now go to the H&M website and view the countdown to the Lanvin collection for H&M and even a video with Alber about the collection and why he chose to do it. The collection images themselves will be released November 2 so Save the Date! AND definitely Save the Date for November 20th when it will be released in selected stores!
Click here for a link to the site with the countdown and video.
Everyone gets to see the final image from a photo shoot, and they don’t really know what really happens behind the scenes to get to that image, so I thought I would give some insight.
To give you a bit of a background on the line, LOVAS by Wesley Badanjak is a great line by a talented designer, Wesley Badanjak who also works for Canadian womenswear designer David Dixon as his production manager, it is a woman’s wear line for woman aged 25 and up. It is impeccably tailored and fun to wear. This is a little glimpse of what happens behind the scene to put this look book together for LOVAS spring 2011, and for those who don’t know what a look book is, it is a sales tool that shows all the looks in the designers collection for buyers and other industry members to view the whole collection.
Accessories:
Besides having the clothes to show off, you also need great accessories to help create the whole feel of the designers vision. Wesley worked closely with amazing jewelry designer Rita Tesolin and had her create custom pieces that complimented his collection.
Cuffs by Rita Tesolin for LOVASEarrings & Rings by Rita Tesolin for LOVASNecklaces by Rita Tesolin for LOVAS
These were definitely fun to play with!!!
Stylist Tools:
Every good stylist has an arsenal of tools in their kit to make the clothing and everything else look absolutely perfect for the camera. My kit contains: electrical tape to tape the bottoms of shoes to keep them clean, pins, clips, clamps, toupee tape (for taping clothes down where they need to stay), tights, shoe horn, lint brush, silicon bran inserts, nipple covers etc. To give you an idea of what sometimes needs to be done, here is a back shot of a dress, that I had to tailor to fit the model better, with clamps and rubber bands.
Alterations Using Clamps
See, many times the clothes don’t fit the models perfectly either, I pretty much always have to take it in in one way or another to make them look absolutely perfect.
Having Fun:
You have to try and have fun on set as well, especially as in this day we were in the studio with no air conditioning and it was 35C outside! So when you have a good team, and everyone has a great attitude you can have a ton of fun.
So this experiment was definitely an eye-opener, it was much more difficult than I expected it to be. I always knew I have tons of clothes, as I will never deny my shopping addiction! But I would still struggle with looking in my closet and feeling like I had nothing to wear, or I would just keep wearing the same thing over and over again since I really liked it or got great compliments wearing it. This experiment pushed me out of my comfort zone and also forced me to rediscover many of the pieces of clothing that I had purchased that I then just never wore, or I did wear and then forgot about it. I would recommend anyone giving it a try, as it forces you to shop within your own wardrobe, and who knows, maybe you will be like me and discover some old favourites again.
The newest designer collaboration has been reavealed today, and for me it is a very exciting one! Lanvin the fabulous line currently designed by the wonderfully talented Alber Elbaz is doing the latest designer collaboration with H&M. These collaborations have been incredibly successful, I will never forget the past collaborations: Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Viktor & Rolf, Roberto Cavalli, Commes Des Garcons, Matthew Williamson, Jimmy Choo, and Sonia Rykel. Some I will admit are better than others, but I am very excited to see what Alber has come up with.
I know there have been some mixed reviews on these collaborations, but I have to say I think they are a great opportunity for many fashion lovers to own a piece of history at an affordable price since many of us unfortunately can’t afford to buy the real Lanvin.
Stay tuned as the full collection images will be revealed November 2, and as of right now be prepared to see me lined up November 20th to get my hands on some great pieces of Lanvin and much more attainable prices.
So today is the final day of the experiment, it is weird to be done, and after worrying about running out of my favourite clothes to wear, I ended up having pieces I never even got a chance to put on. Who would have thought that it would become easier near the end. I also rediscovered some of my old favourites!
Day 30
white t-shirt – Gap, black and white pinstripe bandage mini-skirt – Pleasure doing Business, Indian coin necklace – Club Monaco, Virgo pendant necklace – Gorjana, silver wire hoops – Bop Bijoux, leather and chain wrap bracelet – Jenny Bird, feather rings – Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth and James, leather flip-flops – Tkees
leopard tank – Jacob, black silk shorts – Wilfred, Virgo pendant necklace – Gorjana, gold wire hoop earrings – Bop Bijoux, leather wrap bracelet – Jenny Bird, gold id bracelet – gift from Saudi Arabia, feather rings – Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth and James, leather flip flops – TKees
