The Complex

Hot Mess of the Day

2009-10-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

Today's glorious hot mess of the day is, none other the the queen of hot messiness, Lindsay Lohan. Now I know it's just far too easy to pick on her nowadays, but I can't help remember a few short years ago when Miss Lohan was on top of her (fashion) game! I know she knows better, or at least has hired people who know better! Who cares if Rachel Zoe was selling horse crack or not, at least that bitch (in only the most loving way) could distract us from the fact that La Lohan is completely off her rocker! Now with no Zoe to overt our eyes toward couture loveliness, we are all forced to become cognizant of Lindsay's compete and utter lack of personal style. Lindsay we have several problems here. Problem 1. Why are you dressed beautifully on top and like a pirate waist down? Couldn't you have just worn a simple dress, or gotten rid of the belt and untucked the shirt? Either way: GET IT TOGETHER! Problem 2. You simply do not look good as a blond, so just stop it already. It only makes your red, splotchy skin look like you've come off a 10 week bender (whether you have, or not.) And Problem 3. Brush your damn weave! I'm sure you paid a pretty penny for those extensions, any maybe that's why you feel like you can't afford a hair brush. I can start a fund drive if you'd like? It can't take that long for someone to want to give you $5, can it?

Come and knock on Louis Vuitton's door...

2009-10-15T12:40:00.001-07:00

Let me preface this by saying, I LOVE MARC JACOBS. I think the man is a genius and makes beautiful lovely clothes, however I was uber disappointed by the recent Louis Vuitton show. Don't get me wrong I think the clothes and the styling were great, if this was a Marc by Marc Jacobs show. The clothes were fun and light and wearable. But let's get something straight, this is Paris, and Louis Vuitton is a powerhouse in the French luxury market, instead of sophisticated and polished the collection was just too relaxed. The presentation felt very L.A. "Three's Company." I'm not sure if Marc has bee spending too much time watching reruns, and suddenly felt possessed by the spirit of Mr. Roper, but I'm a bit confused. Now I know Louis Vuitton shows are not the same as a John Galliano show, but I expect more fantasy with my whimsy when it comes to Vuitton. Normally we would see near couture fashion from Vuitton, but this was not the case. I understand that in this economy, designers are trying to be more accessible and practical because retail is a business, but let's be honest when has anyone ever used practical and Louis Vuitton in the same sentence?! As a luxury brand people expect LUXURY! This felt very repetitive, go on Mr. Jacobs, no more "Three's Company,"
take a step that is new.
Here are my faves:

My bad!

2009-10-15T12:24:00.001-07:00

Ok so I've been a bit absent from my new found world of blogging, but the reason for my absence is well justified. I was shopping! I spent entirely too much time in my native land of Los Angeles, and it was glorious! Fear not I will surely update you of all the bounty that I aquired in the upcoming week. For now you will have to spend your days and nights wondering, what could have possibly kept me from looking at the rest of the Paris shows until now, a week later! But now we are back to business, on with the rest of the shows...

Lanvin, je t'aime

2009-10-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

I am known, in certain circles, to use a rather vulgar phrase to describe my undying love for something so beautiful, so mesmerizing, so captivating that no other phrase could possibly describe my sick and twisted passion for said "thing". So I will say this, not for the faint of heart, but...I WANT TO HUMP LANVIN. Yes, don't be confused, you read that right, and not just Mr. Alber Elbaz himself, per se, but the whole entire entity that is LANVIN.
I am one of the few "fashion people" that truly hates fall. Don't get me wrong I love a good structured handbag and a sophisticated coat every now and again, but I just love the floaty, drapey romanticism that is springtime! I mean what is more romantic than springtime in Paris?! The master of draping, Alber Elbaz, has brought me yet another lust-worthy collection, to make me feel just like I'm relaxing in the Jardin du Luxembourg, and eating a croissant, in May. These clothes are the things fashion dreams are made of! Every piece that glided down that runway was just so breathtakingly beautiful, and ethereal it was almost like they were all made from cotton candy that Jesus himself spun. This was truly a collection of simple loveliness, no political statements, no crazy inspiration, just clothes that were beautiful, so beautiful I could cry. After so much stress and strife in the world Mr. Elbaz made me feel like I can finally exhale.

Oh Balmain...let me count the ways

2009-10-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

Christophe Decarnin is a man after my own heart! You see I live in a mythical world where I think it is completely acceptable to wear sequins in the day time, and 4 1/2 inch Louboutins to a baseball game. The newest show for Balmain, the monarchs of said sequin world, did not fail to impress. The show was very classic military meets roman warrior princess, after battle. The tees were tattered and strewn with sparkle, the jeans...ripped to shreds. The strong shoulder Balmain has become known for was still there, front and center, and felt right at home placed within the military jackets that marched down the runway. I will say this show felt a bit staid, in comparison to Balmain shows of the past, and I was hoping for something fresher from Mr. Decarnin but all in all there were certainly some lust-worthy pieces that I would fight for. And yes I did stick in a picture of my girl crush, front row at the Balmain show...I couldn't help myself!

Some good good Rick lovin' straight from Paris

2009-10-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

All I can say is 'wow.' Yesterday was day two of glorious fashion week in Paris, and man did designers come out with guns blazing! The first day was a sad dismal showing that did not make me feel the least bit hopeful, but then came my knight in shining armor Mr. Rick Owens himself! This season Rick decided to show his many cult followers that you can be edgy and interesting and still be pretty. Sign me up! The silhouettes were very architectural and origami inspired, and felt a little more couture than the usual rocker/biker chick aesthetic that Rick Owens is known for. I'm totally curious how his pieces are going to translate to actual ready-to-wear. Here are my personal favorite looks from the show.

Birthday Wishes

2009-09-28T17:08:00.001-07:00

Today is a day to celebrate for it is the glorious and glamorous Miss Dita Von Teese's birthday!! Hooray!

Hot Mess of the Day

2009-09-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Here is today's hot mess of the day. It's the ever so unexciting Jessica Alba. She is modeling some cut off shorts, a too big beyond unflattering tank top complete with major boob action, and some extra boring beige flip flops. If she wants to walk around her house like that that's fine, but she makes too much money, and has too good of a body to look like that in public! All she had to do was throw on a cute blazer like this Elizabeth and James and some funky sandals like this BCBGirls pair that are incredibly reasonable, and it would have made a world of a difference! Get it together mama, you're setting a terrible fashion example for your little one!

My newest girl crush

2009-09-27T14:23:00.001-07:00

I have very few fashion related full on girl crushes, Rihanna and Lady Gaga come to mind, but my latest obsession is the fabulous Anna Dello Russo and she is Vogue Nippon's (Japan's) version of Andre Leon Talley, except, dare I say it...far more fabulous (gasp!) Ok so maybe my obsession had grown a little bit stalkerish but I just don't care. I love almost everything this woman wears, and that never happens for me. She gets a bit of flack for wearing things that aren't "age appropriate" but I don't believe in that sort of nonsense! If you are of age to afford a $13,000 Balmain dress than damnit you wear that thing! Besides if you are some hot young 20 year old you have no business in clothes that expensive. It's like how I feel I'm not worthy of owning a Birkin bag; it's not that I can't save up enough money to afford it, it's simply that I haven't lived long enough to earn it, but I digress. Here are some of my favorite ensembles of the lovely Ms. Dello Russo. Just don't think for a minute you can steal my woman! Enjoy!

The beginings...

2009-09-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

Hello there, and welcome to my fabulous world... The Complex.
This is yet another fashion website...snore I know. But, this one is different because it's mine! I promise you I will never ever bore you with pictures of Lauren Conrad in a Urban Outfitters dress (not that I don't love Urban Outfitters,) or Jessica Alba wearing the same jeans, sweater, scarf combo ten thousand times and try to pass it off as interesting...I don't think you're dumb! This is a site devoted to FASHION, real fashion, like the time when there were supermodels, and they played music videos on MTV, and when you would gather around the tv to watch the latest seasons collections from Paris. That's what fashion should be, and I'm going to bring that back in my own special way.
Just to prove how very worthy I am of owning this humble site I'll give you my fashion credentials. I have been OBSESSED with fashion since the ripe old age of 8, and not like how most people say they loved fashion at 8 and just walked around in their mom's heels. When most children woke up early on the weekends to watch cartoons, I awoke to watch FashionTelevision, House of Style and Behind the Velvet Rope. I begged my mom for a Betsy Johnson dress to wear for my 5th grade graduation and remember watching that infamous Perry Ellis show on tv when I was 10, and no one else had any idea who Marc Jacobs was. If you asked me in 6th grade who my favorite designer was I probably would have responded, Loewe, Todd Oldham or Givenchy. Phillip Bloch was my idol, instead of the New Kids on the Block. Mind you these were not times where being 10 and having an inappropriate love affair with fashion would have been considered cute or charming, but rather disturbing and strange. I knew more about fashion than most fashion editors at the time. As a young adult I obviously decided to make career choices that revolved around fashion. My first real fashion job was as a lowly sales girl at Nordstrom, and I loved it. I have since worked for Juicy Couture (not my proudest moment,) Ron Herman, Marc Jacobs and Barneys. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. I am currently working on opening my own online and freestanding boutiques, because I have yet to find a store where I want everything in it, and that's a problem.
I feel like especially in these trying times people need to dream and hope for the better. For me, fashion is my hope. If there isn't anything to desire or lust after then what do I have to look forward to? If the future is jeans and a slouchy t-shirt, you can shoot me now. I want to know that in fashion and in politics that something fantastic is around the corner, whether it's free health care and equal rights for everyone or it's a drool-worthy McQueen gown and a ridiculous (in a good way) Philip Treacy hat. So I hope this site can provide you with equal parts inspiration and obsession. Thanks!!! XOXO, Me