The day before my birthday, Karl Lagerfeld gave me a gift. It’s called Cruise 2010/2011.

View the magic here.

How thoughtful of him! To open with an adorable band playing a sweet melody, who created a breeze that traveled from St. Tropez to Atlanta so I could taste the sunny delight of the French town. To capture the lazy smiling-sun atmosphere, KL shipped the models in on speedboats by the handful and had them saunter in their flowing florals in a runway set-up by the seaside. There’s no better way to ring in this stifling summer other than the dresses and ruffles that Lagerfeld offered up.

This collection’s vibrant color palette ranged from desert-sand gold to rosy pink, with dashes of chocolatey brown. The stark whites stood out brilliantly in contrast to the nudes and neutrals used in other looks. A group of black-on-white dresses stayed true to the classic Chanel minimalism. A few looks offset their lumberjack-esque check pattern with a feminine silhouette, and I can easily envision the caftan pieces breezing down a walkway in Marrakech. More so, the white blazer on Freja Beha Erichsen is another re-creation of the favorite statement piece.

For day, a couple of shirtdresses are the perfect look for a picnic date, or to stroll through exotic outdoor markets. For a night on the town, the collection offers a few sparkly black numbers, and even a man’s oversized robe for the morning after.

As for accessories, who doesn’t love the solid black Chanel cuff? Or chunky, layered necklaces? The simple sandals are also a welcome break from the daily power-heels-to-match-power-outfit cycle that the Chanel woman endures. How nice to trade in thick tweeds for swaying silks!

I also loved Karolina Kurkova in her Pat Cleveland-esque twirl down the runway. If it wasn’t for it’s strong sense of eighties glam [which off-puts the ‘easy, breezy, beautiful’ atmosphere of the collection] the song “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” could have been a theme of the message Lagerfeld channeled: The Chanel woman on vacation doesn’t take a break from style. The finale of Georgia May Jagger hopping on a motorbike reminds us that Karl’s girl is not afraid to get down and have risky fun. (Also made clear by the sheer, peek-a-boo romper shown earlier.)

The show was perfect as a look into a complete, vacation wardrobe, with looks for every occasion. Why the only thing that was missing was me. But it’s forgiven, I’m sure my invite just got lost in the mail. Or maybe KL realized that I’d be taking AP exams that week and so thoughtfully channeled my loves into the collection. Either way, this resort show just added another reason to my long list of “Why I Love Chanel.” Merci, Lagerfeld, merci.

-xoxo Mo

It's Black and White and Chic All Over

It's you (and me) in the new year.
_________________

i have (a knockoff of) this necklace
________________


While dreaming (as usual)
of all the things I want
in the new year, specifically
after I watched, for the 20th
time,
Confessions
Of A
Shopaholic,
I got a sudden burst of style
inspiration. People constantly
say, "Fashion is dying."
and "Journalism is dying"
but I decided, if that's so,
then I'll just have to resurrect it,
Won't I?

So this is me giving a huge,
accessorized
finger to all those who criticize
our industry:
{say it with me}

If I want to, I will.

I don't think it matters how hard
it is to get into the fashion world.
It matters how hard a fashionista is
willing to work.
___________________

Anyway, I've realized I'm more and more in love with
CHANEL.
It's chic, it's feminine, yet edgy. It's
excessively minimal.
Plus its main colors, the main colors in my wardrobe,
and my favorite colors at that,
are black and white.
While watching a show on it's site,
[how productive]
I decided I'd be wearing this dress to my graduation in 2011.
Or maybe,realistically, I'll get a seamstress to sew me a version of it,
couture is not in my budget ;)
__________
Some style collages for inspiration.

Lace Doll by Mo512 featuring Miss Selfridge

It's Chic o'clock- Naptime! by Mo512 featuring Chanel earrings

Parisian Chic by Mo512 featuring Balenciaga shoes

Joyeuses fetes!
xoxo Mo


ps- what do you want this new year?

Inspiration...

It's raining,
It's pouring
School is pretty boring
I go to bed
and in my head
are fantasies worth adoring...

It's storming pretty hard in my town, so hard there's much flooding, and people are dead/dying, luckily no one I know is hurt. Earlier today, as I watched twigs drift down the lane from my driveway my mind drifted to fashion week. If I could be THE editor, getting to sit front row at each exclusive presentation of collections, what would I wear? Who would I sit next to? How would I live? So in this dull state that only comes at this time of the school year, I needed something to remind me of what I'm working hard for...

Miroslava Duma (Ryder, this is for you :)

My favorite thing about this Russian fashion editor is her stylish mix of downtown hipster and uptown high fashion-ista, and she's not afraid to take risks and play with proportions. She also seems pretty sweet in this blog from Altamira. I've noticed she wears the latest trends without looking like an obsessed style slave, and she wears them really well for her petite frame. I wouldn't mind sitting next to her at a YSL show.










For more of her style, check out dresslikemira.blogspot.com

Olivia Palermo
I know, so typical, but you gotta admit, this girl knows how to put a look together. I've heard her character was seriously misrepresented on "The City", but I don't doubt she might be a bit catty, but I guess I'll discern that if/when I meet her.
Also, look at her apartment in New York's Gramercy neighborhood, pretty aspirational. La Couturier, still up for raiding her closet? ;)








Randomness (via The Sartorialist)

I have no idea who this young man is, but he looks like he'd make a good partner in couture-crime.

A real glamorous eccentric, Hamish Bowles, may be my future colleague when I one day work for Conde Nast. Don't you just love the "Hehehe, these are dad jeans" expression on his face? Go Hamish go!

Lauren Santo Domingo, another future co-Voguette

My other two partners-in-crime, who would just've come for having Starbucks/ Caribou Coffee (yum!) with me over what shows we've loved so far.
____

A caramel Macchiato from Starbucks, which always smells like happiness

A white chocolate mocha from Caribou Coffee, my favorite!

Rachel Zoe, the fairy godmother. Her style and personality, plus expertise, are pretty admirable.

But, take a look in the mirror, my fellow fabulous bloggers, because I'm pretty sure I'll see you at the tents, also.

The park (Madison Square, which looks quite circular to me-oh wait, now I see it) I'll strut through on my way home from a busy, beautiful day. A lot of fantasizing, but I think one needs a little whimsy while working as a nice escape, no? It's all aspirational...
-xoxo Mo

Take Me Away...

Though this editorial is a bit old, every time I look at it, I'm inspired to become more of a globetrotter than a jet setter. I'm talking about "Spirited Away", an editorial in Marie Claire's November 2007 featuring Kate Walsh. Though I've always thought of the magazine as a "softer" type of high-fashion magazine, I was really blown away by the inspiring styles, yet thoughtful-almost intellectual locations. I guess you could call it "smart fashion."

"Today’s young traveler takes the high road," it reads. "Forgoing waves in Malibu for enlightenment in Bhutan. Her style? A global mix of luxe fabrics and timeless patterns."





I think this one is my favorite.
















How about you? Loving it or hating it? Bored or inspired?

xoxo Mo

For details and image sourcing, go to MarieClaire.com