Dope Ambition

Powder blue is a color usually left for the eye shadows used by prepubescent midwesterners, minty gum or a new baby boy’s room. I have never considered this pale shade of blue attractive or alluring, but when I see it on nails, especially contrasted by silver an gunmetal rings, I actually want to scoop a similar shade and try it out. This hue is a refreshing alternative to the ever-present and now-tired navy and midnight blues that have been gracing the nails of women everywhere consistently for the past few seasons.

It was time for a change of shade, no?

Anyone recommend a specific brand/hue of this color polish?

images vua 5inchandup

Karl Lagerfeld (soon to be ousted by Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz?) cranks out a bohemian resort collection for 2011. I particularly appreciate resort collections, better known as “in-between” collections, because they often go under the radar, which makes the garments all the more covetable and all the less noticeable when worn (ahem, Miu Miu’s S/S 2010).

The show was rather picturesque (or so I hear), taking place in Saint Tropez and featuring a bevy of our favorite tanned, toned (or boned)  models traipsing down the makeshift runway in an array of laid back, gauzy caftans and pellucid pieces that do, in fact, stir in me the desire to hop on a ship and sail, sail away. The mixing of rebel flower-child with delicate resort pieces made this collection anything but prissy, despite the presence of floral layers and silks, chiffons and embellishments. And with the only presence of shoes being either a pair carried carelessly in the models’ hands or metallic gladiator sandals on feet, Lagerfeld balanced the casualty of a day-dress with the demur feel of evening.

For the full collection, click here.

Miu Miu’s Spring/Summer collection has received more editorial-love than any other collection…except for, perhaps, Burberry Prorsum’s draped skirts and trenches, which have made their way into almost every magazine’s fashion closet as well. Dare I say Miu Miu’s sweet prints have gone (gasp!) trendy? Or are they timeless, and the knockoff pieces (like Zara’s and Forever 21′s) are the trendy garments? Ahhhh speculation.

Here’s another one.

image via fashiongonerogue

Whoa…I just realized I haven’t done a Rihanna-inspired post in a long, long time. Perhaps it’s because I have stopped giving two butt cheeks about what she wears since her stylist is the dope one? However, I do like this look on Rihanna and in general. The tribal leggings, the baggy, gray shirt and those unique earrings (who are they?) make for a dope ensemble that this time I can’t deny.

So thank you, Rihanna’s stylist, for bringing us an outfit that will go straight to the inspiration board.

images via justjared

Timeless editorials don’t age. (I could insert a wine reference, but how predictable would that be?)

It’s hard to believe this was featured almost two decades ago.

The much-looked-over Australian Fashion Week dishes out a stellar S/S collection by Nookie, and no I don’t mean the word that Limp Bizkit made a terrible song about.

This collection is filled with romantic pieces paired with understated basics and classic silhouettes, though flirty pieces like the tiered dress and fun inserts like patterned sheer and doses of sparkles make this an undeniably feminine collection, though one all of us can stomach. At once both flirty and laidback-sophisticated, I would love one of the longer pieces to transform from day to night.

images via knightcat

Considering the economic climate, it almost seems sacrilegious to have such a decadent, diamond-dripping editorial. But then again, there are still billionaires/esses out there who scoop handfuls of jewels from the likes of Cartier and Bulgari like it’s nothing…just another Tuesday on the jet to go fetch my 26 carats. (Sidenote: I recently read an article in W that claims that the richest are still spending bookoo dollars…in bulk).

Since my jewels are either vintage, gifts from my parents, or from my favorite French store Targét, I will only browse the photos and daydream of being so decadent. Although, for me, if I wore this many pieces, I’d feel sinful.

As a former dancer, I love everything ballet-shoe pink and/or/in conjunction with jazzy, sparkly flats that inspire some faux-taps and a few twirls. Which is why I am absolutely obsessed with Miu Miu’s capsule collection, inspired by their S/S 2010 menswear collection.

The collection is complete with patent leather platform mary janes, loafers, moccasins and jazz shoes. I usually remark as to which pair tickles my fancy to the utmost, but in this occasion, they are all doing plenty of tickling. I hear the Miu Miu on 57th has them, and since I can’t purchase due to (utter and complete) lack of funds, I’ll live vicariously through you.

images via nitrolicious

Gemma Ward for Vogue Italia November 2006 by Glen Lutchford

image via tfs

Because I am a mag-hag, I will read anything put in front of me, though I especially like artsy, fashiony, musicy types, I am ecstatic about my latest find, though I am apparently extremely late on this discovery (ahem, in this case, I am Colombus). A Magazine is a bi-annual magazine that “explores the creative sphere of a selected designer in each issue,” (via cyanatrendland), and their blog, A Blog Curated By…, is perfect for those of us who can’t get enough of the two-timing (a year) magazine, with posts/pieces featuring  everyone from Bruce Weber to to Viktor & Rolf.

With original content and high quality photos, it can almost serve as a collector’s item/coffee table book, but without the stuffy attitude. In fact, I went to a mag/book shop located far from my (parents’) suburban bubble, and I sat on the floor and read thr past issue front to back, enamored by the images and the art. “A” has officially been added to my list of dope-magazines that can be described in one letter… the others being W and V. (Doess Elle count? Although it has gotten quite boring. I digress).

Check out parts of their past issue, and (im)patiently await the release of their next issue, expected asap.