Wednesday, October 29, 2008

On the 2nd day of fashion week, Smashbox gave to me....

Only now have I found the time to actually GO THROUGH the huge goodie bag that Smashbox handed out to members of the press at this past spring/summer '09 fashion week in Los Angeles. Dear God, there was a lot of weird crap in that bag:

A useless mug from Panera Bread, another frat-boy-friendly pint glass from Peroni (repeat from last season's giveaways) and some other strange items that I couldn't figure out how to use.

However, I was very pleased upon opening up a shiny silver package marked "eye and cheek palette: Endless" by smashbox. A very good basics pallette for all skin types, the pigment was rich, and a bit shimmery which, because today it's freaking 85 degrees, will help me keep my summer glow for a bit longer. I really adore the pink tones in the cheek palette (second photo).


Also in the press goodie bag were these smartly packaged ruffians: The "Glowelle 7 day Fit" for healthier, glowing skin.

Now, let me just say that the website and packaging are very nice and very convincing. In fact, I am sure it really does help detox your skin and gives you a glow. However... it TASTES LIKE ROTTEN GRAPES. The "natrual pomegranate lychee flavor" promised by the packaging turned out to be a sooty, strange drink experience. You're supposed to pour one of these little packets into a glass of water and drink one a day. I couldn't even finish one glass because I kept gagging. It tasted like.. drinking crushed up Flinstone's vitamins. The grape kind. Along with a tablespoon of vinegar.

So kudos to you, Glowelle, for helping make women's skin more glowy. I will stick to the smashbox shimmering powder bronzer THANKYOUVERYMUCH.

Big Belt Lovers Unite




I know, I know, this has already been a trend for a while.. but I was in Japan for 3 years, so sue me! Recently got a hold of two stretchy glorious belts from our cheap yet sketchy pals at Forever 21.

I'm loving me some jewel toned blue this season in case you couldn't tell.

Also, thigh high boots. Did everyone get the memo?

No longer simply the footwear of pole dancers and hookers, the thigh high boots is in like Flynt this fall, as long as it's coordinated tastefully. Vinyl bras need not apply.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It's also the last time that LA Fashion week will be held in Smashbox Studios. The Factor boys decided that they want to evolve LA fashion week from the C-rate celebrity dredged party scene that it currently is.

The few shows I've gandered upon have ranged from wistful and colorful, to drab and horrifying.

Let's start with Monday, shall we?

The "Beach Bunny Swimwear" show was interesting. Hugh Hefner's blonde felon twin girlfriends showed up, setting the scene for white-trash fun. The swimwear itself was uninspired, using runching around the rear for that extra bit of "booty-licious" fun. Lingerie-looking swimwear was par for the course, with male audience members who were clearly there for he T&A and not the fashion were whooping in the crowd to the tune of frat-boy jams from 2003. Oh, the good old days. The line itself wasn't "BAD" per se, but the atmosphere of frat-boy fun really made me want to leave and shower myself ASAP.


Next up was Elmer Ave.'s menswear. The music started off slow, with good 'ol boy music from the 40s playing while models dressed in dapper coordinates walked (is there really any other way but "dapper" to describe this look? While I am a lover of all things throwback, the clothes themselves weren't original. What I did love, was the coordination of the clothing, and the fun prints on the blazers, Elmer's trademark.



On Tuesday, October 14, The Lana Fuchs Couture collection was a fun mix of summery flowers, butterflies and lovely evening gowns. Many of her items employed he use of fabric braiding, creating accents that lined her bodices or hung freely from the garments. The idea of a big braided rope swinging from someone body sets off all sorts of alarms for me, but for Lana, I suppose that's fashion. Here are some of the fun and frilly items that I really enjoyed:
Pillow Ballgown


Blue Mermaid dress


Wedding dress-- excuse my terribly blurry photos


Round up of darkness, as I call it


And finally, we were able to get great seats for Joseph Domingo, a U.S. based designer who really really likes fish scales. No, like.. really. And we love them, too now!
First up, there were a lot of swimwear pieces that featured high cut bottoms and mod-esque tops. What really stood out to me from the onset is... THE CURLY MOHAWK!

YESSSS thank you, God, I am SO GLAD this is a trend now. Get your banana clips out, everyone, it's time to party in the front and party in the back.

In a very superhero way, I LOVE this little mod dresses. The lines and color are fantastic, but not too "out there" for your normies.


The fish scales that Domingo employed ranged from round to pointy.. and I loved the way the pointy ones came out. Very sheik and bird like.


It was a great show!

Okay, onto a little rant section. Thank you very much, PR team for Lauren Conrad, for OVERBOOKING the show, leaving journalists and scene-sters alike waiting in line, tickets in hand for about an hour and a half before being told they couldn't enter. Thankfully, I opted not to wait in the ridiculous line. I had received an email about a week ago, confirming myself and another one of my publication staff for admittance to the show, only to reciece an email late in the evening the night before Conrad's show stating that, "Oh oops, just kidding only on of you can get in." Thank you Red LightPR for being Indian givers.

That's right, I just went there.

One more show is on my docket for Thursday evening, being the Humanitarian Green Show at 8PM. More on that later, kiddos.