tata naka fall 2013

keeping in tune with the 1950s theme, today i thought i’d share photos from the tata naka fall 2013 presentation. you know i’m a sucker for a creative presentation, so of course, this high-school themed show caught my eye right away. i love the cool 80s does 50s rockabilly vibes with impeccable styling and amazing colors. the color-blocked cheerleader-inspired dresses are the coolest grown up iteration of those uniforms i remember from my pre-teen days, and those retro bouffants are making me wish i had a live-in hairdresser so i could walk around with a perfectly coiffed do like that every day.

photos courtesy of tata naka.

















































good night, day 2013 lookbook

today i am home sick from work, and even though i told myself to stay away from the computer and get some rest, i couldn’t resist because tara-lynn sent me the images from her fall 2013 lookbook for good night, day and i had to share them! i’ve been following this talented lady since at least as long as i’ve been blogging, admiring her beautiful hand knits and inspirational images. just looking at these photos makes me feel all warm and cozy. i can’t even decide on a favorite: a luxurious hand-knit toque, or a beautiful watercolor blue sweater dress, or maybe even a cute little knitting kit to keep my fingers busy on a lazy weekend day.

photos by arden wray for good night, day.












rachel antonoff fall 2013

every season, i always eagerly anticipate the rachel antonoff presentations. so this february, i was a little surprised that she decided not to show! but after the release of her short film for the collection directed by lena dunham, i can now see what she was up to instead. of the collection, antonoff states, “the inspiration for the collection was the concept of best friends, a time honored, strange practice that really fascinates me. i am always inspired by my best friends and it made me think about the concept at large!”  and the motif is clearly seen throughout. from the educational documentary-style film featuring the silly quirks of a set of best friends, to the lookbook modeled by the film’s stars, wearing coordinating prints and cute little heart lockets. i’m particularly loving the styling with those cute wool caps and wire frame glasses. and don’t forget to watch the film here!

photos courtesy of rachel antonoff.
























honor fall 2013

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one show i’m still kicking myself for missing was honor fall 2013. it is easily one of my favorite collections from the shows at new york fashion week. i mean really, how can you resist that opening number? a pepto bismol pink set adorned with heart-shaped jewels? i’m already sold. the heart theme was seen throughout the collection in unexpected cutouts on pant legs and sleeves, in graphic prints and brocades, and even in those exaggerated peter pan collars. the bright acid colors and sickly sweet pinks were balanced out with black and a very intriguing shade of pale pistachio green. and even though there were lots of feminine elements, the clean lines and silhouettes kept things from being overly girlish. i’ll take it all, please!

photos via style.com

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orla kiely fall 2013

if you didn’t guess it from the side swept hair pinned with little hair clips, and a particular faux fur coat,the orla kiely girl for fall 2013 was inspired by none other than margot tenenbaum, one of my favorite characters from the wes anderson film, the royal tenenbaums. it’s hard for me to imagine that the film was released over ten years ago. i still remember watching a bootleg copy of it over and over in my dorm room during my first year of college! needless to say, the costume design certainly had a lasting effect on my own personal style, so this latest collection struck quite a chord. but margot wasn’t the only inspiration, you can also see a strong 1960s influence in the exaggerated daisies and thick tapestry prints finished off with cute collars and sweet silhouettes.

i’ve seen a few photos from the london presentation floating around the web (video below), and i have to say i wish i could have been there! maybe one of these days i’ll figure out a way to make my way to london fashion week. a girl can dream, can’t she?

photos courtesy of orla kiely.

































dusen dusen fall 2013

during new york fashion week, ellen of dusen dusen held her very first presentation for her fall 2013 collection. the scene was set at a cute art gallery in brooklyn with live music and cool patterns projected against the wall with pretty models lined up in a selection of her clothes. her collection first caught my eye last spring with a certain bug print dress, and i’ve been following this new york-based designer ever since. a graduate of tufts university, she credits some of her early fashion education to repurposing vintage clothes and, at an young age, sponge painting clothes with her mom. while she’s certainly matured a bit from then, i’d like to think that we can still see some of those early influences in her latest collection! there’s certainly a nod to the early ’90s with those fun printed silk dresses and washed denim pieces, with everything coming together with a sophisticated and modern twist that all the cool girls are certain to be wearing this fall.

photographer: gabrielle lurie, stylist: lizzie dolan, makeup artist: christina harper.























my nyfw: rachel comey fall 2013 runway

i can’t believe it was only a little over a week ago that i was sitting at the rachel comey fall 2013 runway. the show was set to a live soundtrack, with a performance by blonde redhead as the models stomped down the runway looking tough and confident with a slightly subversive edge. the girls all sported short cropped ‘dos and a series of bondage-inspired t-strap heels, an unexpected counterpart to the menswear-inspired looks.

photos by me.









my nyfw: steven alan fall 2013 presentation

steven alan has become a bit of a staple in my wardrobe, particularly since they opened up a few shops in san francisco, which i frequently visit on the hunt for luxurious basics. the formula might be simple, but it’s always done right. and this season at the fall 2013 presentation, there was a certain cool girl aesthetic that got me yearning to do one of those wardrobe clean-outs and pare things down to only the easiest of pieces. i loved the casual undone vibe in some of the slouchier silhouettes, and really appreciated a particular leather skirt paired with a pinstripe blazer, and was falling all over myself for those cute velvet pieces and fun riding hats. the collection was definitely understated, but certainly one i’ll be waiting for in the stores!

photos by me.













family affairs fall 2013

and since i teased you all with a little preview of the family affairs fall 2013 collection, it only seems right some of my favorite looks! the latest collection is a print explosion! this is rather timely for me, since i’ve been secretly hoarding tons of prints these days in the hopes of eventually incorporating them into my outfits. the inspiration for this collection is as varied at the prints. nina was inspired by romantic and dreamy vignettes, “imagine late evening swimming when the lights come out and birds fly in slow motion. summer is over, we pack our bags with warmer but endlessly entertaining outfits.”  she also pulled heavily from film and music, citing harold and maude and the graduate, and david bowie’s hunky dory as some of her influences. you can certainly see the eclectic mix, pieces for a world traveller on an endless vacation sitting in hotel rooms between adventures soaking up tunes and watching classic films. a fairy tale i certainly wouldn’t mind living in!

photos by jade sarita arnott for family affairs fall 2013.











my nyfw: a visit with family affairs

thought i’d share a few snapshots from a recent visit with nina of family affairs. nina is actually one part of the mother-daughter duo behind family affairs. she designs each collection with her loving mother, and splits her time working between her hometown in zurich and her brooklyn abode. the clothes are all produced in new york, but she usually holds her presentations in switzerland, so it’s nice for me to be able to stop by to peek at the clothes and chat about the latest collection while i’m in town.

photos by me.






bianca trying on the ivy league jacket!