Year in Review: 2011

Last time I checked, it was still January 2011 and I was hungover from candy canes and macaroons. Procrastination be damned! I would finally be doing useful shit this year! Alas, no. Duh. Like Marcia would be doing anything productive! Before you know it, it's already December 30th and you ponder on all the things you did this year: nothing. How divine! In the fashion world, however, we were tangled in Versace for H&M, depression over John Galliano's dismissal from Dior, weddings that may or may not involve supermodels and Emmanuelle Alt for Vogue Paris.

Designer Collaborations Once upon a time, only some of us could afford the latest designs of Karl Lagerfeld. Or Giambattista Valli. Not any more. Although collaborations between designers and lower end brands started a while ago, this year it's better than ever. Maybe you love prints and studs together. Fear not, Donetella Versace's collection for H&M hit the stores last November. And who could forget about Missoni for Target craze that sold out in one day, which is full of zigzags and oh-so-soft cardigans? Maybe you're not a prints-person — Giambattista Valli's sophisticated designs for Macy's Impulse, or J Brand's collaboration with Christopher Kane might be a better match for you. Next year, we have Jason Wu and Doo. Ri designing for Target and Impulse, respectively, and I can't wait to stuff my closet with girly, minimalistic dresses.

Au Revoir, Galliano for Dior... Back in February, John Galliano was arrested for making anti-Semetic comments and got kicked out of Dior. And we are left with messes like the recent fall 2011 couture collection and the blah spring 2012 one full of signs from the New Look. We heard that the people from Dior had considered everyone from Marc Jacobs and Haider Ackermann to Alexander Wang and Jason Wu. All signs are currently pointing to Raf Simons, the mastermind behind Jil Sander. You might think that his simple designs are too simple for a house like Dior, but his feminine fall 2011 collection might change your mind.

Everyone is saying "I do" and "is it a girl?" Oh look, both of the Kates in Britain got married this year! One got married in a stunner created by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, while the supermodel one tied the knot in John Galliano and stole an editorial at American Vogue. Moving outside of Britain, we have the Victoria's Secret Angels. Lily Aldridge married Caleb of Kings of Leon and announced yesterday that they are expecting their first child. And so is Alessandra Ambrosio!

"It" girls are actually girls After starring in the 2010 film Somewhere directed by Sophia Coppola, Elle Fanning is literally everywhere. Besides making movies and snatching the covers of LOVE and W Magazine, she could be seen in the fall 2011 campaigns for Marc by Marc Jacobs or wearing statement pieces from Chanel and Marchesa. Fellow actresses Chloe Moretz and Hailee Steinfeld didn't do so bad, either. Hailee was the Miu Miu spokesperson for fall 2011, and Chloe was seen in everything from minimalistic Calvin Klein to Proenza Schouler. It's safe to say that we're gonna see a lot of this trio in 2012. 

These are the only things that stood out of me right now. What are some of your favourite fashion moments in 2011? I will add some of your favourite ones and more tomorrow.

What You Should Wear for New Year's Eve

I never understand why people have a proclivity of wearing glitter in the holidays. Sure, you have excuses to look like a more well-dressed Nicki Minaj minus the plastic smile. And for those of us who sparkle everyday... we just sparkle even more. But wearing glitter for New Year's Eve is as groundbreaking as florals for spring - not. Now there, how about something else more eccentric?

However, since it's already, I don't know, December 29th I probably don't have much time convincing you to wear this enthusiastic dress that looks like a tablecloth.  Just the other day Leandra aka. the Man Repeller   talking about sequins and harem pants and me, being the usual hypocrite, was convinced to wear some sequins. Not just for New Year's Eve, but for the rest of 2012. Just kidding. For some reason the background of this collage was a photograph of random tree branches that I took last year, so I guess I am trying to convince you to stick tree branches into your outfit, too.

photo source: themanrepeller

Trends: Forget Colour-Blocking, Here's Print-Blocking

One of the most shocking trends of 2011 is colour-blocking. In both the Spring and Fall season, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons sent a myriad of hot pink, burning orange and shocking blue down the runway in forms of creepers, minimal dresses and fox furs -  you know, the cool stuff. For Spring 2012, however, designers decided to tone it down and declared colour-blocking in pastels and prints as the latest trend. Ladies and Nyan Cats, print-blocking, if you may.

Now I should get my shit together: what is print-blocking? Some unknown genius made up the term "colour-blocking" when people started wearing more than two colours together. Print-blocking is like putting prints together... except way more hardcore than colour-blocking because wearing prints from head-to-toe was orginally tacky and still is. As I am typing this right now, I got a mental image of Kim Kardashian decked out in leopard and zebra every time I think of prints, and the effect is not exactly pleasing if you know what I mean. Not that I have anything against the Kardashians.

Fortunately, print-blocking is not trying to convince us to go what I called the Kardashian-way. The tribal prints at Thakoon are vibrant and effortless, and looks just like something a sophisticated scene kid would wear. With grandma socks from the 99¢ store of course. As usual, Rodarte's collection have signs of being inspired by the fantasy world. For Fall 2011, it was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Spring 2012, however, it seems to be contemporary paintings from the early 20th Century and sunflower fields. Although the collection seems distant from reality, there is one thing that is Rodarte contributed a lot to the shoe porn of Spring 2012. Speaking of shoe porn — Prada, Prada, Prada. Where do we begin? The mix of delicate embroidery, 50's poppy prints and retro car prints are nothing short of exquisite. At last we have Mary Katrantzou, the queen of digital prints. Majority of the collection, or rather, every assemble have some sort of prints, from colourful graphic ones to pastel florals.

Holy Moly, how can I express my love for these Thakoon prints without sounding like a moron? Actually, love would be an understatement. The paisley patterns and unconventional floral prints, bursting in intense shades of turquoise, orange and gold looks explosive over the collared shirts, line dresses and full skirts. This collection is practically a combination of colour-blocking, floral prints and sporty materials rolled into one. Thakoon Panichgul is a genius. And it matches your voltage-coloured hair, too.

The happy, optimistic sunflowers and cherry blossoms inspired the Mulleavy sisters for the latest Spring collection. Along with Impressionist paintings from artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Anna Boch, of course. Off the shoulder necklines, flowy skirts and delicate ruffles dominate the runway along with some bejewled, sparkling heels. You say unwearable; I say it looks ethereal. Honestly though, what kind of designer label gets support from Taylor Swift, Rooney Mara AND Beyoncé?

Although you might think wearing prints from head-to-toe is outrageous, let Mary Katrantzou change your mind. The Central Saint Martins graduate started experimenting with digital prints while she was still a student, and was recently awarded the Swiss Textiles award in 2010. From abstract, graphic prints to pastel florals, you named it, Mary Katrantzou got it. The floaty chiffon dresses, tailored suits and sheath dresses would look perfect on anyone from Anna Dello Russo to Alexa Chung.

It's Prada, bitches. Your argument is invalid.  Remember the Spring 2010 collection from Miu Miu? Nude ladies, white cats and little doves... the blogosphere died of excitement over this youthful collection designed by Miuccia Prada. And that was all three seasons ago! You might not be able to find any cat prints in this Prada Spring 2012 collection, but there is a lot of retro cars, poppy flowers and burning fire. Although it might be hard to imagine people like Kate Moss or Emmanuelle Alt to be wearing these cheeky dresses, never underestimate the power of 50's car prints... pin-up girl attitude not required.

Would you be seen on the streets looking like you crashed into the fabric stores covered in Krazy Glue?

photo source: vogue.com

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Wow, I can't believe it's Christmas already, and the next thing you know it would be 2011. Unfortunately for us New Yorkers, we do not have a white Christmas. For those of you who celebrate it, Merry Christmas, and for those who don't, Happy Holidays. I wrote you people an intriguing poem as a gift and I hope you'll enjoy it.

Stuck on Fuckin' You - Lady Gaga

Just wanted to sleep for a thousand years

Once in a while, you read a book that changes your life forever. I never find that book, but I did finished reading The Perks of Being A Wallflower a while ago. And by a while ago, I mean weeks ago. Charlie feels like the long-lost childhood best friend I never had. He spoke in that awkward voice, like the one I use when talking to people in general. It was very nostalgic really, and full of Rocky Horror Picture Show, getting stoned and writing letters to a stranger. Writing letters! On actually paper!?! I miss those old days, when people used to write something and send it to each other. I guess it's just a fade I'm going through, like a mid-life crisis of some sort except that I'm barely a teenager and already feeling very old.

This post actually doesn't have anything with sleeping for a thousand years, though it might be a nice treat after my French midterm. And this is coming from someone who wrote "I love crêpe!" when asked "When do you eat your birthday cake?" I've just decided to include random thoughtful inspirations of people with a bed-head and the dawn's first light on their eyelids. I never understand my generation's obsession with messy hair though. But then again, we can just add that to the list of things Marcia doesn't understand: Jersey Shore, why Nutella tastes so good, etc.

"I don't know if you've ever felt like that. That you wanted to sleep for a thousand years. Or just not exist. Or just not be aware that you do exist." - Charlie, The Perks of Being A Wallflower

When I first started this blog, I have no clue what I was going to do and could barely come up with enough material for post. However, now my blog is so diluted with superficial things that I don't even care about. The more I tried to figure out who I am, the less individualistic I become. I don't care about comments or stats anymore. I don't care about how you wore that Theysken's Theory sweater either, because you just wore the same thing yesterday. There, we have it. No more bullshit that may or may not involved a pair of Alexander Wang Chloe heels. 

Photo source: tumblr, ffffound