Fashion Dare: The Power of Orange and Black

March 10th, 2010
Twenty8Twelve F10

Twenty8Twelve F10

The daring combination of orange and black is synonymous with Halloween which makes it a little scary for most style civilians and normally overlooked as a possible option in everyday ensembles. There are probably untapped outfit resources sitting in your closet right now, making this a great fashion dare for those who embrace a little wardrobe risk with big returns.

Philosophy F09

Philosophy F09

The bold pairing has popped up on recent runways, so it’s a great time to dabble in its striking powers. Esoterically, orange is used to attract helpful people and ignite a career, whereas black is used to welcome wealth and knowledge, so it’s the perfect color combination for job interviews, corporate events and networking parties. It is also a wonderful sartorial choice for hosting dinner parties with intelligent conversation because the orange evokes warmth and appetite coupled with blacks ability to attract intellectual depth and intuitive insight.

Paul Smith F10 | Central Saint Martins F10

Paul Smith F10 | Central Saint Martins F10

So layer some orange and black pieces together to tap into the powerful force of these two spiritually charged colors of attraction, I dare you…

Design Board: Piet Mondrian and YSL

March 8th, 2010
Mondrian Inspired Dress by Yves Saint-Laurent

Mondrian Inspired Dress by Yves Saint-Laurent

Piet Mondrian | Yves Saint-Laurent

Piet Mondrian | Yves Saint-Laurent

YSL Collection | Mondrian Inspired Vase - PO

YSL Collection | Mondrian Inspired Vase - PO

Piet Mondrian | Yves Saint-Laurent

Piet Mondrian | Yves Saint-Laurent

Mondrian Inspired by Vans, Christian Louboutin, Iriewellery & Chelsea Boi

Mondrian Inspired by Vans, Christian Louboutin, Iriewellery & Chelsea Boi

mondrian-legos

You Say… The Oscar for Costume Design

March 5th, 2010

Before the envelope is opened and the Academy Award is announced for Best Costume Design, which film do you think deserves the high honors?

Bright Star | Costume Designer - Janet Patterson

Bright Star | Costume Designer - Janet Patterson

Coco Avant Chanel | Costume Designer - Catherine Leterrier

Coco Avant Chanel | Costume Designer - Catherine Leterrier

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | Costume Designer - Monique Prudhomme

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | Costume Designer - Monique Prudhomme

Nine | Costume Designer - Colleen Atwood

Nine | Costume Designer - Colleen Atwood

The Young Victoria | Costume Designer - Sandy Powell

The Young Victoria | Costume Designer - Sandy Powell

And the Oscar goes to… You Say?

Pearls of Wisdom: Best Costumes Ever…

March 3rd, 2010

Idiosyncratic Style asks a variety of costume professionals and style enthusiasts, “what’s your all-time favorite costume design in in a feature film?”

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Costume Designer: Lala Huete
The creatures are so fantastical!
Michelle Nickolaisen - Style Therapist & Blogger

The Cell (2000)
Costume Designer: Eiko Ishioka

Eiko brought all of her stage, theatre, fantasy work onto the screen. Her costumes are an integral and key part of the storytelling… and they’re stunning to boot!
Adam Smith - Artisan

The Cell

The Cell

Moulin Rouge (2001)
Costume Designer: Catherine Martin

The costumes are vibrant, add to the energy of the film and compliment the story. I think people under-estimate the power of costuming. I actually had tears in my eyes watching Moulin Rouge because it all looked so beautiful, it was the first time color and movement really struck me first. The film just sparkles.
Emma McCleave - Assistant Film Editor & Style Blogger

Brazil (1985)
Costume Designer: James Acheson

The Schiaparelli shoe hat on Sam’s mother was genius!
Melissa Stewart - Costume Designer

Brazil

Brazil

Funny Face (1957)
Costume Designer: Edith Head

It’s classic Hollywood with beautiful dresses that compliment the storyline.
Kimberly Lyn - Fashion Blogger

The Greay Gatsby (1974)
Costume Designer: Theoni V. Aldredge

Vintage is as vintage does…
Anne Szustek - Fashion Reporter

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

The Devil Wear Prada (2006)
Costume Designer: Patricia Field

The film has contemporary fashion based costuming, but I love the transition from average girl to fashionista to somewhere “in-between”. I think we can all relate to it.
Hillary - Fashion Blogger

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989)
Costume Designer: Jean-Paul Gaultier

The relationship between the sets and costumes establish a fascinating visual display in which the colors of the characters’ costumes change as they move to different sets. You can see Gaultier’s strong design sense in how Helen Mirren’s costume pieces resonate with how he dressed Madonna on her world tours.
Joanna Syrokomla - Costume Designer

The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover

The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover

Belle de Jour (1967)
Costume Designer: Helene Nourry

The costumes featured Yves Saint Laurent and they were just really gorgeous…
Jai Marshall - Fashion Blogger

Titanic (1997)
Costume Designer: Deborah Lynn Scott

The Hats! It is one of my favorite periods and Deborah Scott did it great justice. The division of class is clearly delineated and the sheer volume of bodies to be dressed and accessorized is mind boggling.
Loreen Lightfoot - Costume Cutter and Milliner

Titanic

Titanic

Nine (2009)
Costume Designer: Colleen Atwood

Atwood accentuates subtle features, like elongating a collar, shortening a tie, loosening or tightening the fit to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. She accentuates color or the lack thereof, further exacting the use of clothing and accessories to tell a story.
Rose Lagace - Production Designer & Blogger

Romeo and Juliet (1996)
Costume Designer: Kym Barrett

At age 16 the costumes blew me away and they still do.
Eyeliah - Personal Style Blogger

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

Vanity Fair (2004)
Costume Designer: Beatrix Aruna Pasztor

I love the exotic costumes created with reds, pinks,  glamour, pomposity and how the aristocratic wealth in London contrasted with India.
Norakaren - Etsy Fashion Designer

About A Boy (2002)
Costume Designer: Joanna Johnston

It has some of the best contemporary costuming I’ve seen in a long time. The movies I love for costumes are not “costumey” productions at all. The Oscars seem to favor period costume, but contemporary needs to be acknowledged.
Anna Dal Farra - Assistant Costume Designer

About A Boy

About A Boy

Out of Africa (1985)
Costume Designer: Milena Canonero

It’s just my favorite. I still get all warm and fuzzy every time I watch it.
Melonie Rainey - Fashion Blogger

Gone with the Wind (1939)
Costume Designer: Walter Plunkett

I love an epic period piece, the massive construction with all the beautiful designs.
Noelle Raffy - Costume Designer & Stylist

Gone With The Wind

Gone With The Wind

What movie features your favorite costumes ever?

Links A La Mode: Beyond The Runway

March 1st, 2010

linksalamode

This week’s IFB list edited by Fashion Pulse Daily

Holier Than Now - New Take on Florals (5 Under $50)
British Style Bloggers - Cherish forever what makes you unique
Cafe Fashionista - A guide to looking luxurious even when lounging
Idiosyncratic Style - A Girl’s Guide to Non-Matronly Maternity Style
Ode to Awe - Denmark based Alidra Alic’s Alice-inspired jewelry
39th and Broadway - Life as a Corporate Fashion Designer
Clutch22 -Up close  with Vivienne Tam as she expands fashion+tech
CMYKaboom - Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB) ‘Tweet Up in the Tents’ event
Debutante Clothing - Vintage Jewelry: Q&A with Lucite line Circa Sixty Three
Fabulous Finds Gal - Moonstuck at the opera with photographer Bersa
Fashion Pulse Daily - Sonia Rykiel Pour H&M; the debut and the review
Independent Fashion Bloggers - Evolving Influence Recap : Part One
Individual Chic - Would you have wanted a Computer Engineer Barbie?
Night Watch - 10 Questions with Model Clara Zapffe
Oranges and Apples - Rules for advertising and sponsorship on blogs
Retro Chick - The Ethics of Blogging
Smiles Go with Everything -10 Tips for Shopping on Ebay
The Coveted - Visits Nine West HQ for a sneak peak
The Style PA - Henry Holland before his House of Holland show
The Sunday Best - Do men get better service when they shop?
Wicked Whimsy -What to look for when buying vintage shoes
Workchic - F10 NY Fashion week collections recreated for the office

Look Book: Strikes and Gutter Balls

February 26th, 2010

kristen-oreilly-bowling

Where
A Friend’s 5 Pin Bowling Party

Wearing
White XL Boys undershirt with collar cut-off | Fruit of the Loom
Navy Blue Pinstrip Men’s Suit Vest | Thrifted
Motocross Blue Jeans | H&M
Brown Leather Knee High Riding Boots | Aldo
Brown Leather Belt | Thrifted
Layered Chain Necklace | Idiosyncratic Style Recycled Style Project
Silver Wrist Cluster | Tiffany’s Bracelets, Roots Watch, Gifted ID Chain & more

kristen-oreilly-casual

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