Some Scrubs

 Men's Band of Outsiders shirt, Thakoon skirt, Chloe heels

No, not the TLC song, but scrubs, actual medical scrubs!  Prada S/S 2011 introduced us to the possibility that scrubs could be worn as fashion (or was it the hood?)--either way, it's a silhouette that I hope is here to stay; I absolutely love the subtle androgyny of it.  I think the idea brilliantly turns the idea of uniform dressing on its head while still being able to maintain those utilitarian roots. Lucky for me, if the opening look of Acne F/W 2011 is any indication, we could continue to see a lot of scrubs in our futures, ladies.  What I think is easiest to borrow from this look is the boxiness and longer/wider sleeves--basically the men's proportions. And so to the men's department I went...and snagged this Band of Outsiders top from a recent sample sale.  What I imagine is a '50s throwback for the boys ends up pretty fashion forward on the gentler sex.  The slim cuts of a men's contemporary line ensure that those curves aren't totally hidden--just obscured enough to make sure those real scrubs that chili, t-boz, and left eye (RIP) were talking about don't come hollering.

A Banana A Day

 Prada skirt and glasses, T by Alexander Wang shirt, Anna Sui bralet, Rochas espadrilles, Proenza Schouler bag

Ok, ok, I even admit that a couple banana posts in a row is kind of....well, bananas.  But in the spirit of the most excessive fashion season of them all (yes that would be Resort), bananas it is.  In general, I'm not the biggest fan of off-season collections, but if I had to choose one, I guess Resort makes a little more sense, if making sense means I can see how this was and is probably necessary for people much more affluent than I.  Excess in the most literal sense of the world  Pre-fall on the other hand just feels so...flat.  And the poor designers that have to work under the pressure and weight of all that forced creative production.  Just awful.  BUT,  unlike seasons before, Resort 2012 caught my attention (during a very busy work week at that) for the very first time.  Seems to capture the resort part of Resort so well!  Good to see color is sticking around!  Some of my favorite looks that make me wish I could be on Spring Break now:

Balenciaga

Celine-want an entire wardrobe in this print

Jason Wu-I'm totally not over scuba and this is like Proenza meets Prada

Narciso Rodriguez - SO. COOL.

Givenchy -Looks like visors are back!

Richard Chai Love- Need this skirt/pant combo in my life

It's One Banana, How Much Could It Cost?

 Prada shirt and shoes, Tahari skirt (excuse seeming creases, morning light is not kind to anyone!)

I started a position at a fashion mag this week--so the transition from corporate drone to....corporate drone is now officially complete!  Albeit with a lot more banana shirts (counted 4 this week).  Will I ever go back to law?  Can't say quite yet--probably not to practice but I don't discount using it in some capacity in the future (it would be a waste not to!).  For now, it seems right to explore my interest in fashion to its fullest and see out the path this little blog started.  However, starting during resort week and at the beginnings of the "September Issue" may not have been the best planning, but what's a girl to do?  I hope the steep learning curve will only make the rest of it seem a lot calmer.  At least this damn cold I seem to have caught (seriously, when it rains, it pours) can't last forever...!

Speaking of bananas and such--favorite resort looks to come!

Keeping It Short

 Marc Jacobs shirt and shoes, Marc by Marc Jacobs shorts

Marc Jacobs just recently won the Lifetime Achiement award at the CFDAs, which prompted the New York Times to do this daring article that, for the most part, questioned Marc Jacobs' relevance in today's fashion world.  Personally, I have to admit that as of late I've lost a bit of interest, and my favorite MJ pieces are from more than a few seasons past.  I'm not quite sure yet if it's coincidence or purposeful, although I have to say I've noted a decided shift in quality since I last found pieces I love.  I can say, however, that the shoes are still as comfy and practical as ever, so I won't give up hope just yet.  What do you think?  Has MJ lost it, did he never have it, or is he still going strong?

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty - Back to Basics

Theyskens Theory dress, Rochas wedges

As the title suggests, I did indeed finally make it to the MET to take in the glorious McQueen exhibit.  As to be expected, I was inspired beyond my wildest dreams---just not exactly in the way I would have expected.  When one thinks of McQueen, one understandably and rightfully thinks of drama, romance, and fantasy--a netherworld ruled by strangely beautiful creatures.  Yet, what I found myself taking away from the comprehensive exhibit (seriously, it is almost overwhelming in its scope) is a renewed emphasis on the basics.  Of course the prints and ingenious materials (medical slides??  Beyond words...) had me going like no other, but what moved me the most was a rather somber and dull-by-comparison line-up of wool coats at the beginning of the exhibit that just encapsulated so much history but that also forged a completely new path for the modern woman.  McQueen is famous for cutting his teeth in the tailor shops of Savile Row and has often given credit to that foundation for allowing him to fully express his creative vision.  The exhibit itself had a quote from him that summed up not only that method of working, but also his more abstract approach to design: "to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition."  For me, that translated into a newfound desire to reconnect with the tradition, with the basics and foundation of clothing.  Not to shirk color or pattern or finesse, but to pay a bit more attention to the little details that make something fit just-so and that can covey decades of history in just one dart; and then, to progress both within and beyond those parameters.  Maybe this very contemplative inspiration is just a result of the sad realization that the kind of dedicated talent coupled with unwavering vision that McQueen possessed is a once in a lifetime occurrence.  Such an apex of human achievement, while life-affirming, simultaneously makes the abyss that much harder to bear.  But even if the lasting effect is a pensive one, it is no less invigorating and I'm excited to start a McQueen-inspired journey through the history of fashion.

If you have the chance, do take in the exhibit.  Although nothing beats the thrill of seeing a McQueen on a living breathing woman (the powers he had to empower and titillate!), the thoroughness and respect with which the exhibit has been presented more than compensates for any shortcomings.   If you can't make it, you can see most of the exhibition online here.

Business Shorts

 Derek Lam sample shorts and vest, J. Crew t-shirt, Chloe sandals, Balenciaga belt 

Big shorts are popping up all over the runway (see: Proenza, A. Wang, 3.1 Philip Lim), which both intrigued me and made me extremely skeptical as to howto incorporate them into the week (i.e not on the weekend and not able to take advantage of the surfer/skater intonations).  BUT, at the past Derek Lam sale I found a few pretties that I think might actually be able to make the transition (also didn't hurt that they were only $25!).  They key here I think is dissimulation through the proper fabrication and a trusty cover-up (we can't have anyone realizing they're actually SHORTS).  These ones are a crepe with a nice weight, so they fall with some gravitas and the long vest covers them up enough so that your typical spectator might just mistake them for a weird skirt and move on.  Stick with a solid color and you've got yourself an entirely unexpected win-win situation. 

Flower Power

 American Apparel shirt, Escada skirt, Rochas wedges, Vintage necklace

Another day, yet another abortive trip to the Met to see the McQueen exhibit.  I had even arranged some moral support (and what was hopefully some intervening good luck) from Feigned Perfection's Brandon, but alas, I literally had to get off my uptown bus on the way there and haul ass back to the apartment (long story you don't want to hear quite yet). Nonethless, despite the spate of bad luck and because I'm still feeling decidedly holiday-ish (read:  hot humid sticky mess), I thought I would go a bit summery with today's post.  And by summery I mean one thing: flowers.  What's spring/summer without florals?  Ammmiriiiiight?  I thought so to.  So besides obsessing over that Erdem outfit and this Marni , I thought I would take my first trip to the Versace store to check out what was left of this spring's Christopher Kane Versus collection.  The clash of colors/prints is kind of perfect and right up my alley.  Unfortunately, I forgot that the new incarnation of Versus--ever true to tradition--insists on only the most scratchy, sweat-inducing polyesters as if the '80s (and Versus) never left us at all.  After taking about 30 min (no joke) to figure out this dress and get it on in an unventilated dressing room with (oh my god) fur curtains (this is Versace people, don't look so surprised), I was done right sous vide.  Oh and there wasn't even going to be a sale!  Phooey.  They did, however, have one gorgeously disconsonant plaid/floral shoulder bag that I drooled (or was it sweat?) over until the need for hydration finally prevailed over the desire for pretty colors (thankfully that was before the credit card came out).   Moral of the story:  don't go outside when it's hot.  Epilogue:  Air conditioning is your friend.

(via style.com)

The culprits...