Lupita Nyong’o

“We’re Watching”

Vanity Fair

Fashion is not only about inventive clothing and rock star designers, sometimes sheer personality eclipses fashion. Lupita Nyong’o is that current personality. If you don’t know her yet, your living under a rock, especially if you follow fashion. In the film world, Nyong’o has already won their top award. And now she is receiving fashion’s most coveted award–Vogue Cover Girl.

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Vogue In Review: Kim and Kanye

Lost: A Moment in Fashion History

All About Kim
All About Kim

It’s May, and spring is in the air. The flowers are blooming, fashionistas are waiting for fall collections to be released, and April’s Vogue Cover of Kim and Kanye is being used for mulch. Now that April showers have subsided and we’re all in a better mood, lets discuss what was lost in fashion’s most recent controversial moment.

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Closet Confession: Dear Anna

Ms. Wintour

Dear Anna,

After years of trying to write you a letter, I thought I would put one on my blog. After watching you on the Colbert Report (Wednesday, May 9, 2012), I love you. Not only did you match wits with Stephen, you slammed his style, while supporting gay marriage. A proven professional, you never miss a beat.

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“Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations” Costume Institute Gala

What I love about Ms. Wintour is that her style is always consistent. Her signature bob haircut has become timeless, while her mid-calf length skirts, dresses, and… I don’t think I’ve seen her in pants?  Her style has become synonymous with elegance, I confess: calf-length is my favourite skirt length.

Anna Wintour and Sarah Mower
anna-main

Anna is one of the few magazine editors that has become, not only famous for her style and attitude, but like Simon Cowell, she has made mean cool–well, only when you know what you’re talking about. You have to love a women who knows how to state her opinion looking fabulous!

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To be on top for over 20 years, takes not only guts, or a lust for power, but true love and passion. Anna has taken the fashion world and combined it with American spending power, which has turned American Vogue into the Bible of style. Not always the most ground breaking in editorial photography, Vogue is relatable to everyone. For me, a magazine can only dominate when it is based on replication, therefore a look can be achieved by the viewer. A great example is what I call mall pop-stars. Any major artist who breaks into the pop scene must have a look that can be bought at any local mall–Britney and Madonna’s debut albums. This is what creates relatable fashion and followers.

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Vogue may give the most high-end look, but it is one that is achieved on many levels, from major fashion designers to Zara, looks can be repeated by way of emulation. This accessibility, I believe, is what has kept Wintour on top. You may not like her method or attitude, but you have to respect her dedication to fashion.

anna-wintour3

MC.

Raw Edges: Street Fashion Interviews

Discovery Channel

Fashion is all about discovering new talent, people, and style. NYFW is the best place and time to meet everyone. Between all the wonderful shows, I always like meeting new people, therefore understanding fashion and style a little further.

I first meet street style photographers, Wataru Shimosato and Young Jun Koo, whose style attracted my attention. The two photographers were shy to speak, but check out their blogs (I’M Koo and  An Unknown Quantity) to see what wonderful people they snap around New York, even designers and the Queen of Mean, Anna Wintour, whom I love, line up to be immortalized by the photog friends.

Young Jun Koo: Wall Street Journal
Young Jun Koo: Wall Street Journal
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IMKOO_ANNAWINTOUR2
Wataru Shimosato: An Unknown Quantity
Wataru Shimosato: An Unknown Quantity
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Richard-Chai-Spring-St-An-Unknown-Quantity-New-York-Fashion-Street-Style-Blog1
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Richard-Chai-Spring-St-An-Unknown-Quantity-New-York-Fashion-Street-Style-Blog1

Next up was a very well dressed woman, whose name I didn’t get, I think I was too in love with her cashmere coat to ask. This emerging fashion talent told me a little about her line and described her elegant style, of course all made by her, except, her fur collar, which was handed down by her grandma. Incorporating family history, and sentimental pieces is a great way to give your look originality and style (sorry, no photo, check out video).

Well, here she is as promised, Faustina Rose, a blog favourite. I meet this Lady Gaga look-a-like, although complete original herself (I am sure she is sick of the comparison). I wrote about her gob-smacking style a few posts back, but it took me a moment to discovery I was not speaking with a mere mortal, just check out her website. If you enjoy her style, she reveals some of her beauty secrets in our video. Ms. Rose has also been captured by our photographer friends.

Faustina Rose: IMKOO_NYFW6
Faustina Rose: IMKOO_NYFW6
Faustina Rose: IMKOO_NYFW6_2
Faustina Rose: IMKOO_NYFW6_2
Faustina Rose: IMKOO_NYFW6_3
Faustina Rose: IMKOO_NYFW6_3

After all my fashionistas, I bumped into some musical artist, Lily Halpern, whose rumoured to be dating, Harry Styles, from One Direction, England’s break-out boy band. This songstress seemed very busy during fashion week. I was a little shocked when I spotted her on E! News.

harry-lily and Harry Styles
harry-lily and Harry Styles
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harry-styles-one-direction-romantically-lily-halpern

The last part of my video came with a blanket of mystery, no names, just info. I meet an RCA executive, whose wife designs hang bags, while interviewing her, she let it slip that her husband had signed a new artist. When I spoke with the mystery executive, he said I was getting a big scoop. I spoke with the new artist about her style and fashion week connection (check out video for her name).

MC.