Prada is the Cream of the Cropped

I confess that I own a cropped leather jacket that immediately popped into my head as soon as I saw this picture from the recent Prada Fall 2013 show. Good thing I'm a hoarder and have held on to it. That's one less piece to pick up.

Playing with proportions is fun but tricky. Here are some basic tips:

YES

Your pants matter even more than before. A cropped jacket makes your legs look longer because they will get even more attention. So don't f*ck it up. I'm going to try the Prada drop crotch dress pants with the tight fit on the calves look as shown on the model.

It's okay to wear a longer shirt to play with the shortness of the jacket. But the shirt needs to fit close to the body otherwise, you'll get bunching. 

NO

Not to be a body Nazi, but let's face it. If you have a gut, this look isn't for you.

No, a crop top shirt isn't the same.

MAYBE

The only crop you like is a field of corn. To that, I say yeehaw!

Trendspotting: Kenzo Fall 2013

Saw this on Style.com and it caught my eye. Opening Ceremony purveyors, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim are the brainchildren behind Kenzo's reinvention as a fashion brand with ready to wear collections for men and women.

There was actually a pair of color blocked pants they did this past fall season that I was remiss to not get. Rarely do I go to the trouble of asking a sales person to call every corner of the country to see if they still had these pants in my size, but it couldn't be traced. Guess I'll have to wait for the Zara knock-offs just like everyone else.

But it's that kind of consumer obsession that has made Opening Ceremony the IT store in the country. They don't need to put a finger on the pulse of what's in or what's out because they are the pulse.

And this look had my heart beating for Kenzo again.

They were inspired by looking out of an airplane window which has created this red-eye cloud print. It's been paired with slim cut pants and shoes to match the blood red sky; note that the shoes zip down the front...which is a trend I've seen this past fall too. It's probably for easy take off to get you through airport security faster.

YES
If you want to soar along with Humberto and Carol aboard flight 2013 Kenzo

NO
If you want to stay grounded because you have a fear of heights/flying or anything with a print

MAYBE
You prefer to use your travel points to fly Delta. You just won't look as cool

Drink This Not That: 2010 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon

Liberte! Fraternite! Egalite!

It's the French national motto. Luckily, there's a vineyard in Paso Robles, California who let freedom ring to create this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. And you don't need a passport to get a taste.

It's rich, fruity, balanced and went perfectly well with the roasted lemon chicken I had for dinner. It's not as well developed as other wines I've tasted, but it pretty good.

At $10 from Trader Joe's, you need to get your hand on this and get your locavore on.

Here are the details:

YES
Liberte Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 from Paso Robles is worth the $10 especially if your meal has a fruit element. I'm thinking a duck with a cherry sauce. Hmmm...cherry sauce.

NO
If you go to weekly meetings where everyone only knows you by your first name and you're barely on step 1. This is not for you.

MAYBE
You're a dedicated white wine person or prefer beer to wine. I feel you brother. I have my moments. But at least you have another bottle you can use to commiserate with a sommelier--those guys at restaurants who try to talk you into the $500 bottles of wine.

Cheers!

My Fantasy Fashion List

We live in an era of cross-promotions. It started with Target asking semi-successful designers (Isaac Mizrahi) and accomplished architect (Michael Graves) to create well designed but affordable clothing and home designs (all made in China). Unlike the time when Halston tried to do a low-end line with JCPenney back in the 80's, the Target promotion has gone gang busters and has spread like a virus. Here are some highlights of what it has spawned:

H&M x Lagerfeld
Target x McQueen
Opening Ceremony x Timberland
Uniqlo + J (Jil Sander)
Varvatos x Converse
Samsung Phone by Prada
H&M Versace
H&M Marni
H&M Lanvin
H&M Commes des Garcons
H&M and everything else

There's no stopping this trend. Target x Neiman Marcus blanketed the country with a fashion mega blitz this past holiday season. It was a who's who of the CFDA putting their name on yoga mats and wrapping paper. It was cray cray huge. So I've put together my own fashion partnership fantasy list.

YES
Tom Ford for Converse (made of Vegan leather and organic conflict free cotton)
Kenzo x Opening Ceremony x  US Open (Golf, Tennis, Whatever)
Nets tickets x Jay-Z Concert x Roca Wear

NO
Please no more designers who's redesigned the t-shirt (the original works just fine)
And no more Gucci Fiats, Missoni Chryslers, Pucci Ferraris...maybe it's because I'm not in a market for a six-figure luxury car, but I really don't get these

MAYBE
You're the designer who's sick and tired of having to do these low-end lines to build your name and to raise some fast cash. With a market in flux, there's no shame in your game. To quote Project Runway's Tim Gunn "Make It Work"

Trendspotting: Orange You Glad?

You Don't Look Like this Skittle

Saw this on NYT.com from the recent Topman Fall/Winter 2013 collection and it made me think a couple of things:

YES
He's pissed he's wearing this outfit. Can you blame the poor guy? He's not allowed to eat sugar as a model, but they dress him like candy.

But we get it. Orange is back again. Did it ever go away?

NO
You won't get diabetic shock from looking at this image. Those strappy sandals/sock combo will not protect you from the snow. You can try. But it won't work.

MAYBE 
He has genuinely tasted the rainbow...discuss among yourselves.

From the Temple of Doom

Following up on a previous post about how I discovered this Indiana Jones inspired  leather bomber on mega-clearance at the FCUK store the other day, I decided to take a break from my Goth phase to showcase my new leather treasure.

So from the Temple of Doom, I emerged today wearing the bomber with cords, shearling boots and a cashmere sweater. A sling bag was thrown in for effect to give the sense that I may have a crystal skull and a lasso hidden in my bag. In reality, I was carrying a Healthy Choice microwavable meal, work folders and granola bars in case I get lost in the midtown jungle.

In the last minute, I ditched the scarf at home and went native. The scarf was trying too hard and Indy doesn't try. And when I zipped up the jacket, the tucked in scarf made it look like I was packing a gut full of skulls.

YES
I'm tad obsessive about something fun and new to wear. At the end of the day it is just a leather jacket.

NO
A fedora isn't necessary to complete the look. It's not Halloween and I'm not really an archaeologist.

MAYBE
You're a real life treasure hunter or your name is Crocodile Dundee or you have a hit show on the History Channel. To all of you, I give you credit for making this look possible.

What's the Point of Fashion?

Okay, I'm two years behind the trend on creepers. But fashion has the memory of a gnat and what was once in, and now out will undoubtedly be in again at some point. Right?  Isn't the 90's the current decade du jour for fashion?

Insert Validation here.

Looking into the history of these "brothel creepers," I learned that:

"They found their beginnings in the years following World War II, as soldiers based in the deserts in North Africa wore suede boots with hard-wearing crepe (rubber) soles because of the climate and environment. Having left the army, many of these ex-soldiers found their way to the nightspots of London wearing the same crepe-soled shoes and these became known as "brothel creepers."

--Wikipedia

So what's the point of fashion if things come and go and eventually come back; like these shoes have done since the 1950's. 

Personally, the point has always been to try new things and make what was once old new again by putting your own spin on it. I believe that's what fashion does. Sure I was around when these creepers made a comeback during the early days of No Doubt and the gaining popularity of Ska music. But I couldn't have worn it back then because I would have come off as a poser in a mosh pit. Is there anything worse?

LOL...I said mosh pit! 

Now, I will wear these shoes to suit my life like a grown up Teddy Boy (Google this yourself for explanation). That's the look that was shown 2 years ago and that's how I'm going to wear it. I'm just behind the trend but always in style.

YES

Try it. Don't be afraid of fashion, it's just a pair of shoes.

NO

If you are the guy who puts the creep in creepers.

MAYBE

You've worn these shoes in a mosh pit and discovered that Vans work best.