I have dreams of orca whales and owls

Jacket - Urban Outfitters, collared shirt - H&M, sweater - vintage, cuff - antique, skirt - gift purchased in London, shoes - Marais USA




Here's some more pre-spring-but-feels-like-it outfit shots, courtesy of my friend Toby. This skirt was a Christmas gift purchased in London from my mum, and I realized I had yet to wear it on the blog. It's comfy, yellow, and has a print in aqua and navy.

Today was not nearly as busy as yesterday; I had a critique in art (with several cups of raspberry tea) and then just one more class. I've just been so busy with work out of class!



I'm very excited for tomorrow so I can just relax. There's a few events on campus this weekend which I might attend, but other than that, I haven't really any plans. Perhaps I'll do some drawing and painting, or maybe I shall catch up on blogs and do a few more runway posts.

Do you have any plans? Any shows you've fancied?

xox Catherine

London Fashion Week F/W 2012: Giles

The idea behind Giles Deacon's autumn collection was a narrative of sorts, depicting a scene in which a lavish estate is in flames. "It's burning down, and what are you going to take?" asked Deacon, offering insight into the concept behind his latest.

I like being forced to think; this collection did provoke thought. There's many elements to the formula: elegance, primness, disorder and disarray. But it isn't entirely obvious, even with burnt imagery present throughout.



xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

Early spring

Necklace - thrifted, top - Monki, skirt - Urban Outfitters, shoes - Topshop

I'm honestly surprised that I managed to post 1. an outfit, 2. on a Wednesday, 3. while still wearing it. Wednesdays are my busiest days - 11am until 9:30pm - so please understand if this post is vaguely incoherent. I'm feeling much better, luckily, since the weather was quite nice today. I know it's a tease of actual springtime, but there's hardly a month left until the season commences. I know I wore this outfit only a few posts ago, but it was nearly two months ago! I'm absolutely dumbfounded at how I've been home for more than two months, and it is almost six months since I left the country and embarked on the biggest adventure of my life.




I've been enjoying my experience at university so far, but I would like to mention I had no expectations when arriving since my school is not known for its social life or wealth of activities. So naturally, I'm having more fun than I had anticipated. As I've mentioned several times, though, I'm very conflicted about what I want to do in the future. If I stay here, I think I would like to study abroad again, perhaps somewhere warmer this time... but then again, I don't know how I'd deal with being away from home (and my pets) for so long another time. Decisions, decisions.

xox Catherine

London Fashion Week F/W 2012: Mary Katrantzou

Mary Katrantzou is on fire. With her sold-out capsule collection for Topshop (released February 17) and consistently stellar shows the past few seasons she's been on the scene, Katrantzou shows no signs of slowing down. She's a personal favourite and one of the designers that really gets me excited about fashion, since her artistic vision is so clear. While these garments are indeed "pretty things," they're simply marvelous in terms of construction and perhaps delightfully wild in aesthetic.

The first few looks out on the runway were light in shade - not stark by any means - then canary yellow, red (which seemed neutral in comparison), aqua, and a soft green. Take note: this is the first time she's created garments that are essentially one color from head to toe.



There's a playfulness in this collection, with volume, materials, and even print. Look closely. The yellow look? Pencils. Red? A typewriter. Green? Grass, with lawn ornaments. See also: spoons (above!), forks, clocks, and telephones.

Along with a new approach to color and pattern, Mary Katrantzou experimented with different (voluminous, naturally) silhouettes - godet skirts, soft chiffon, and a corset inspired by Elizabethan England. While these facets could easily make a collection seem chaotic and incohesive, it's actually quite the opposite. Katrantzou did it again.

xox Catherine

Images via Style.com

London Fashion Week F/W 2012: Felder Felder

Daniela and Annette Felder came onto the scene as purveyors of rock and roll style, but in the past few seasons, they've been transitioning into something a bit milder. Though the rock influence is all but gone - perhaps this incarnation is more of the 1970s bohemian type.



The photo-realistic floral prints are trippy and psychedelic in the best ways possible, but I only wish there was a little more of a cohesive feel/common element. It's all certainly aesthetically pleasing and consumer-friendly, but perhaps a little too much in the latter direction. Nonetheless, this collection will be bookmarked in my fall inspiration folder (...come August). The gilded pieces are just too good to pass up.

xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

London Fashion Week F/W 2012: Simone Rocha

I didn't intend to have a non-stop fashion week(s) block, but I've come down with a cold and have been in bed with a cup of tea and my cat by my side.

Anyway... as if I weren't already coming to the conclusion that I miss London, of course LFW begins and sends brilliant new talent our way. Exhibit A: Simone Rocha. A 2010 graduate of Central St. Martins, Rocha is no stranger to the fashion industry with veteran John Rocha (whose show I watched gleefully from outside the tents at Somerset House) as a father. Perhaps his promotion of his daughter's work has aided in her popularity, but it's clear that Simone is talented by her own means - with a different aesthetic.



Another memory from last season: being seated next to Susie Bubble who was wearing enchanting brogues with a perspex heel by Simone Rocha. I've been hearing (metaphoric) murmurs on the internet since then, but it seems this time around Simone is proving herself to be quite a force. There's, without a doubt, an exceptional amount of skill in this young designer. The footwear. The silhouettes. AND THE MATERIALS. Braided, textured mohair collars, veils of tulle, a titch of dainty lace and silver leather...

I'm hooked.

xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

New York Fashion Week F/W 2012: 3.1 Phillip Lim

There's a few things I learned last season in London. One, it's more difficult to cover shows than one might expect - self-imposed deadlines, running from show to show, editing photos nonstop, etc. Two, the experience at a show is immensely different from simply viewing photos and writing a review - it's a production, with music, lighting, brief written summaries of the collection. And seeing the clothing move in person is entirely distinctive. Both of these lessons are probably obvious, but still, worth noting. That said, it is hard to be fully impacted by a collection when reading another person's review and viewing secondhand photos.



Another confession: I don't look at every designer's photos. I don't have the time or patience. I have a few starting points - designers I've watched for a while, images that come up on my Tumblr dashboard, word of mouth, et cetera. Lim falls under the first category. While it is a must-see every season, I wasn't incredibly enthralled at first. And then it haunted me, in a totally benign and even delightful manner.

This collection, to be frank, is badass. Phillip Lim used the abstract idea of superheroes when designing this collection - as is evident through the capes, graphic qualities, gilded booties, translucent belts, and overall silhouettes. The inspiration of superheroes might easily lead to the cliched punchy colors with capes and tights, but Lim avoids that with sumptuous knits and sophisticated cuts. But there's an element of mystery, too, with light and dark taken in both a literal and perhaps metaphoric sense.

xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

What I'm Reading

It's been a long while since I've updated my Thoughts for Tuesday segment, which I have every intention of continuing in the near future. In hopes of clearing out a few tabs from the multiple Firefox windows I have opened, I'll share a compilation of a few thought-provoking pieces from the Internet.

1. The State of Fashion by Arabelle at Fashion Pirate (a video, but decent nonetheless)
2. The Tyranny of Trends by Charty Durrant, posted at Etsy, originally printed in Resurgence Magazine
3. Feminism 101: Feminism as Extremism by Annebeth at The Styling Dutchman
4. M.I.A. Shouldn't Have Apologized by Sasha Frere-Jones at The New Yorker
5. Think women have achieved equality? Think again. by tekanji at Shrub.com
6. Me, On Drugs by Lexie K at Rookie
7. I'm Not Going to Love You Forever (Just FYI) by Ryan O'Connell at Thought Catalog
8. I'm Not Okay with Chris Brown Performing at the Grammys and I'm Not Sure Why You Are by Sasha Pasulka at HelloGiggles

Read anything good lately?

xox Catherine

New York Fashion Week F/W 2012: Michael Angel

Michael Angel, digital print aficionado, strikes a balance between wispy, watercolor-like qualities and sharp, mechanical and digitized. There's certainly a smokey aura present; the mirrored prints resemble faint clouds of cigarette smoke.



While the smokiness is generally limited to prints, the supposed inspiration also breathes in silhouette. The asymmetric-hemmed navy dress is significantly less structured than most other pieces, but it almost mimics the motion of smoke. Conversely, chunky gray knitwear is a particularly dense, stagnant cloud. Also worth noting is the clever attention to details - the rounded, three-dimensional collar of the over sized jumper is repeated in lighter weight shifts.

xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

New York Fashion Week F/W 2012: NAHM

NAHM, a relatively new line by Ally Hilfiger (yes, that Hilfiger) and Nary Manivong, is known for its staple shirt dresses, but this season it moves into new territory. Hilfiger cites the powerful, fearless woman as a source of inspiration, but there's a clear nod to the 1920s in selection of prints. Sometimes we just like pretty things - I'm a sucker for the coral, pale aqua, and brick red. This is another collection that could very easily be translated into looks for off the runway... wink, wink.



And look closely... Loeffler Randall collaborated on the footwear for this collection. Mirrored platforms in black or the same wallpaper print? Sold.

xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

New York Fashion Week F/W 2012: Calla

While I tend to eschew anything intensely twee or saccharine in my own sartorial choices out of fear of looking like a child, the sweet aesthetic sometimes speaks to me. I have a rule, though: it mustn't be all peter pan collars, doll-like silhouettes, and cotton candy hues. Newcomer Calla Haynes' eponymous line does include the latter two, but an exception to my rule arises when there's something a little strange, or sour perhaps, appears.



Any notion of twee disappears after the first few looks; speckled skinny pants and a matching jacket, a figure-conscious dress with marble-like prints, a mod-silhouette geometric tweed coat over a fuchsia turtleneck dress, and a tweed motorcycle-esque jacket with matching shorts are anything but doll-like. The contrast of sweet and "sour" work quite well in this collection; it can often seem contrived or derivative - the floral babydoll dress and combat boots combination is not the only means to create this dichotomy. And let's be serious, for a second... that coat is amazing. Seriously.

xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

New York Fashion Week F/W 2012: Organic by John Patrick

While I do love a healthy dose of quirkiness, each season I'm drawn to a few particular labels for their wearability (Rachel Comey, Steven Alan, Organic by John Patrick, to name a few). Sleek, casual, and practical are terms that come to mind, and I often wouldn't mind donning these designers' looks from head-to-toe.



Patrick uses Julia Margaret Cameron's portrait entitled "A Beautiful Vision" (see here) as a source of inspiration as well as a title for his entire autumn collection. Cameron, a nineteenth-century British photographer who began her work in her late forties, was largely interested in the concept of beauty in her photography career, which is perhaps something Patrick played upon with ideas of femininity and masculinity. On a more basic level, the textured taupe fabric, quilted Barbour-esque outerwear, trench silhouettes and prints are all a nod to classic British heritage.

xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

New York Fashion Week F/W 2012: Creatures of the Wind

There's something undeniably kooky about newcomers Shane Gabier and Chris Peters's fall collection for Creatures of the Wind. There's folksy, circus-meets-couture vibes abound, which isn't much of a surprise when taking into account that the inspiration stemmed from seventeenth-century fantasy tales.



What I love about this collection is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. Designers often derive inspiration from a muse, whether real or imagined, who would wear their clothes - or perhaps just a general "for the woman who..." It's evident that these garments are a well-refined extension of the designers' imagination. But it's not all fantasy and whimsy; these looks would translate beautifully on the slightly-eccentric dresser.

xox Catherine

Photos via Style.com

Monday

Coat - Forever 21, collared shirt - H&M, jumper - Zara, jeans - Madewell, boots - Urban Outfitters

It's been a while since my last outfit post. I've had a bit of trouble finding a place suitable for photo-taking, but I think I found "the spot" today. It's out of view from central campus, and tucked away enough that not many would notice. It isn't exactly scenic, but it's not distracting, either.

The warm weather we had two weeks ago has been replaced with snow and bitter winds. It's not so awful, I tell myself, and spring is a mere month away. Somehow it feels like it's not actually winter, but autumn, since I'm on a new campus and didn't experience fall here. Studying abroad certainly messed with my sense of time.




I hope to post some reviews of the autumn shows at NYFW - from the comfort of my dorm, naturally, since missing a few days of classes wasn't an option. Maybe next season! Though I have to say, I don't know how I'd feel about teetering around in heels through the streets of NYC in this cold - it was difficult enough to do in London with mild weather.

In other news, it's probably time for another haircut, as it has been almost two months since I've been home... which is crazy, might I add. But I can't decide if I want to let it grow a bit because I'm really digging braids and carefree long hair. Then I remind myself it only looks carefree; shorter hair involves much less maintenance.

I hope to post again throughout the week, but since it's Monday: enjoy your week!

xox Catherine

Meet HANAair

My morning routine is quite simple, for the most part. I don't wear foundation or eyeshadow, and I don't own a professional hair straightener or curling iron. My preferred tools are mascara and blow dryers. I generally keep my hair short, which means it takes infinitely less time to shampoo, dry, and maintain. Upon returning to the States, I was horribly underwhelmed with my years-old dryer - even in comparison to the cheapest one Boot's sold. While on the market for a new hair dryer, Misikko contacted me to review a Hana Air. Even upon a first glance, I was impressed with its sleek appearance and lengthy cord, but once I actually used it I decided this is the best blow dryer I have ever used.

Of course, even the bests have their strengths and weaknesses, so I've comprised an unbiased list of pros and cons.

Pros:
1. It dries my hair in half the time of other blow dryers.
2. The long cord means I never accidentally pull the plug out of the wall while using it.
3. It's quiet in comparison to other dryers I have used, but more powerful than most.
4. There are three temperature settings: cool, warm, and hot.
5. There are two power settings: low and high.
6. It's easy to hold and not too heavy, which can be a problem with others.
7. Less time to dry my hair means less frizz and smoother hair.

Cons:
1. The on/low/high switch sometimes changes in its storage space, which is quite startling when I plug in the device.
2. The hot setting can be too hot, but the warm setting isn't warm enough. There's a separate cool button I often accidentally press while using it.
3. It's rather expensive compared to other dryers I've purchased. (However, from my experience so far, the retail price is indicative of quality; I expect this dryer to last a while.)

Now, the real moment of truth: would I recommend this product to a friend? I would, but: I don't know how it works on different hair types. (I asked my sister to try it out, but she has hair similar to mine.) If you're not looking to invest in a blow dryer, this is not for you. Overall, I'm very content, and I would suggest that anyone interested in a new hair dryer at least take a glimpse at what this one has to offer.

xox Catherine