Teen Vogue does prom

I would love to think that I were this fabulous and chic at 15. Oh wait, that's right, I was gawky and awkward just like every other teen.

That 70s (fashion) show

The March 2011 issue of W is my September Issue. Every page, every look, I just love it. Who needs fall and winter fashion when you can have big bold look at me fashion. I have expressed it before, but I don’t do 70s well. I love the 40s-60s, because for a girl with a 24” waist there is nothing like a big full skirt to accentuate my curves. The 70s do nothing for my body; I look like a blob, a colorful blob.

Despite this recognition I am extremely excited for the approaching fashion season. Slap on some coral-pink, a loose sheer blouse and perhaps even a wider (note I didn’t say wide leg) pair of pants. It will be hard to get me out of my skinny jeans, but for fashions sake I may venture into the world of the wide leg trouser. It’s a shame I don’t wear 25’s in Hudson jeans as I am selling a pair on eBay right now.

Mila was on the cover, but when she is the least exciting part of the magazine you know W did it right.

I would love to shoot something like this. I was thinking this would be a stunning representation of the Michigan Shores. Hey Cancelino, what do you think?

Let the big hair live on. Please.

Paint it Black

Zac Posen : Coco Rocha & Tao.

 That is all

not just tumble and fall

While most bloggers seem to be focusing on the tumble and fall a model took during the Christian Siriano show last night, I really have to say that I was impressed with the quality of his work.

Oh and can I say, I normally hate designer collaborations with cheap stores, but a couple seasons in the shoes Christian does for Payless just keep getting better! Yes please, keep 'em coming!

It's funny, I used to love Project Runway. I would watch it religiously and my online friends and I would host weekly challenges to see what we could come up with. We would have a judging and our make shift Heidi was pretty believable. Since the season Christian won I really haven't watched the show. There were a couple talented designers, but nothing was original. I think it is pretty evident that Soriano was never a one hit wonder. Underneath the flocked hair and nut hugger pants is a pretty damn talented designer.

Tribal Prints

Chicago is freezing. Icey cold, tons of snow and of course without a car I am left to walk around the city in the frigid cold.

I have been in an all black rut as of lately, her is my non-black alternative to all black.

What I am wearing:

Vintage Talbots heavy knit sweater

Omega tribal Belt that you can buy here

50s tribal dress cut into a tunic

Korel Snowboots

6126 latex leggings

Bronze Leaf necklace

Leopard heart earrings by Betsey Johnson

Smokey Quartz ring

And of course it was a whopping 8 degrees today! Wheeeww is it toasty!

This was one of my favorite full skirted dresses that I wore till it was thread bare. I didn't have any choice other than to convert it into a shorter dress.

thin fat HUGE waif skinny

I love Crystal Renn. She is smart, vivacious and drop dead sexy. She has probably lost and gained two of me since I started following her years ago, but whatever her size I think she is fabulous.

If you don't know who she is, you may recognize her as the curvy model in Chanel ad's or froim my favorite V Magazine shoot of all time.Her book HUNGRY is a great ccount into her weight flucuations and in the above video she talks candidly about her size.




Do you have a favorite plus size model?

Colors of F11

Fall 2011 colors

I love the purples and the blush pinks. The mid colors are just Blegh.
I cant wait to see what happens during the collections!

40s as the present

One of my biggest influences on how I dress are women of the past. If I can maintain half the wit and charm that they do, I am doing pretty well. I love the elegance of yesteryear accompanied by a fresh twist of Japanese street fashion.

 Winter makes dressing a little more complicated especially when coupling the 20+ inches of snow of the ground with Gale force winds on the streets of Chicago. I own a dozen pairs of boots, but even they can’t help my sometimes gray winter wardrobe.  Sometimes it is hard to believe that underneath the layers of Calvin Klein down coats, Tse Cashmere cardigans and thermals I actually have a body. This week I am giving winter the middle finger and am going to venture out in a few less layers.

Luckily this is what my hair tends to do naturally... if only to be as naturally pretty as her! swooon!

I am planning on tights, slouchy boots and summer dresses layered upon thin long sleeves. Unfortunately my granny coat will still be worn, but at least I can feel somewhat feminine with a few less layers.

My weeks inspiration… daring prints, light hemlines and the double digit temperatures. Hey a girl can only ask for so much!

I may have to break out the trench coat

photo's courtesy of Glamourdaze blog

One Fine Day

I love the Chiffons and created a treasury in honor of their song, One Fine Day. Although there are many songs with this title, that is the one my treasury is modeled after.
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Which version is your favorite? Do you prefer Offspring, Natalie Merchants, Jakatta,etc?

Rada Grocic of Ford Models Chicago

Styled by Xza Louise

Photography by Jon Cancelino

...circa September Issue 2009

Bumble wasp fly sting

The wearable art of Renathe Schneider is pretty darn cute. I have a wasp and a bumble bee from her and my friend has one of her little mosquitos. Her rings are cute, dainty and whimsical. Encapsulated within that cuteness however is a little creature all of your own. You can pet your little bumble bee without getting stung and be fashionable with a bold one of a kind accessory. Plus her rings, pendants and other oddities are priced at around $25... how can you go wrong?

You can shop at her Esty store

Black & Bold Sneak Peak

This was just one of our looks from our Black & Bold editorial

And the shoe week continues

That is all. 

The S11 treasury

This is a hint about what's inside my S11 treasury on Etsy

Black & Bold V.2

Black & Bold and seriously washed out

This is what I did last Friday. Yes, my job is pretty awesome. It was all about crazy make up, big bold colors and gorgeous chocolate beauties. These are candids from my camera. As you can tell from the shots, I should stick to styling. 

Annick

Photographer Jon Cancelino

Models: Annick, Samantha Brown and Shaya Ali

Designers Used: Marc Jacobs, Anastasia Chatzka, Prada, Armani, House of Harlow, 6126, Akira Black Label, Jeffrey Campbell, Irregular Choice, YSL, Sam Edelman, Qupid, Levi.

Future Shoes

Shoes by Marloes ten Bhömer. 

It's like a stiletto got stuck on a space rock.

These I would actually wear... maybe.

I almost feel like these have been done before, perhaps a little too similar to McQueen's lobster claw? 

Black & Bold

Today I will be shooting a fashion and beauty editorial entitled Black & Bold with my amazing friend Jon Cancelino. The shoot takes on the artful side to makeup, hair and of course styling. All of our models will be African American or bi-racial and will be wearing Springs hottest shades. 
I love what designers are doing this season; airy silhouettes, bright shades and 70s references. This seasons looks channel the heyday of Halston and the free loving days of the late 60s. I kind of love it.  

I love the use of flowers in the hair, dark eyes and ethereal colors. 

Melissa always makes some fun kitschy shoes, this platform wedge is great for comfort and encompasses the seasons hottest color.

 Versace's look book is STUNNING. I love the color, the shapes and of course the shoes. This collection is beautiful. I can't wait to use the separates in our shoot and I think I will be buying the lime tennis dress for myself. 

Awww, Jeffrey Campbell. There are no words to describe his genius. Love the shoes, love this look book. the end.

Nanette Lepore has some great basics, as you can tell by everything so far, this peachy rose shade is in. It looks pretty awful on me so I will be sticking to using it in accessories and trim.

Finally, Marc Jacobs, you can do no wrong. Your show is always one of my favorites and in September you did it again. One of my favorite things to do is write down my favorite collections of the shows and then when we start the actual season, going back and taking a look back at said favorite collections. When I watched the MJ show I fell in love, I literally felt like I could wear every piece. 

Designers...
Nanette Lepore Spring 2011
Versace Spring 2011
Marc Jacobs Spring 2011
Jeffrey Campbell Spring 2011
Melissa Spring 2011