lurve: Fall 2010 RTW

it's still cold here, and i understand that we're in the middle of winter. but seattle's not supposed to be this cold. it's not natural. *sigh. but whatever. when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. i'd never thought i'd make a post about fur boots. there's a negative connotation embedded in my brain every time i think of boots with fur. something to do with the yester-years of korean pop, gogo dancers and apple bottom jeans... it's complicated. so when i saw chanel's knee-high fur boots in their winter collection, i made a face, and it wasn't my o-face. i was very turned off. but just like red rouge grew on me, so did these fur boots. this shows how much power vogue and karl lagerfeld has over me, and i don't mind it at all. it's certainly cold enough to wear them, but i'm not sure how it would stand against the wet concrete. *shrug. something's gotta give.

ADAM

And...... breaaathe. Fall Fashion Week is over. I've been meaning to do a recap of the season but I've been really busy with my other job (hehe). So finally, no more Paris. No more Milan. No more London. And no more New York City. To be honest, I'm kind of relieved it's over. Do you know how hard it is to keep up?! Oh my goodness. I have to work around fashion week just so I don't miss a single beat of everything and everything. And it's not because I have this blog to update, but because every inch of my nerves want to see and love all the details that my beloved designers have to offer. It's a sick, sick disease. But one of the best diseases out there *wink.

So... What did I learn from Fall 2010 Ready-To-Wear? Black is out. Neutral is in. And what does this mean for me? I'm going to go broke because I need an entirely brand new wardrobe; 90% of what I own is black (the other 10% is made up of whites and indigos). And I'm not kidding. I love wearing black. I love wearing black not because I was born and raised in Seattle, and no it's not because I'm emo. Black is plain, yet bold. Black makes a statement like no other color. Black... is a mood, an ambiance, it's the tone to my swagger. So what am I going to do with all these neutrals that I typically steer away from because it reminds me of the GAP (blech!)??? Well we can all calm down because luckily neutral looks a-ma-zing for Autumn and Winter. I don't have a change of heart. I'm not wishy washy with my favorites (black is still the love of my life's color). And most of all, I'm not a follower. If you've learned anything about me I embrace only what I love, and not everything that is in and hot at the moment, because not everything that is in and hot is all that hot, if you get what I mean (ie: Rock & Republic denim circa 2006; rainbow eye shadow circa 2009; half-inch kitten heels circa 2000 whenever because let's face it kitten heels are unflattering for any women of any age even if your legs are a mile long and it has the ugliest looking pair of heels any shoemaker has ever made).

Neutrals and pastels are typically and usually reserved for Spring and Summer, right? To my surprise it took center stage for its opposite seasons, Fall and Winter. If you're keeping up with the economy and recession headlines, you can easily make the connection. Think back just two or three years ago. I always reflect back to Burberry Prorsum RTW of Fall 2007 and 2008, if that helps any. The recession was on the bottom of its rise and lay-offs were just beginning to increase across the nation, hitting every small business to each head honcho company. Fear grew and spread over each family home from Washington to California to Nebraska to New York, creating an unstable environment keeping everyone on edge for tomorrow was never certain. American Designers felt this fear for their country and thought it necessary to protect and grow a thicker skin for what may come to be the Sequel to The Depression. Models were covered in black, head to toe, without even a shade of indigo. Women's wool coats and trenchcoats were cinched at the waist with belts that looked more like armor for the waistline than a classic leather belt. Arms were covered in long leather gloves that resembled that of opera gloves, but more sturdy and reliable for any situation that may come their way. There was not a bare leg in sight, for opaque tights became a necessity for any look. If you're getting the picture already, you know that there was a very dark mood surrounding America's atmosphere. At the time, we all felt the need to shield ourselves, fashionably that is, from what was going on with our country. Michael Kors felt it. Donna Karan felt it. Even Karl Lagerfeld felt it.

But this is 2010, and I'm so relieved to tell you that we survived and made it through the recession... so far. Not to say that it's over and business is steady and comfortable again. But believe it or not, people are continuously receiving the pink slip today. However here's the good news: Unemployment rates are finally starting to decrease, but not indefinitely. Still.. I like to take what I can for the sake of good spirits and a hopeful mind. For next Fall and Winter, designers are sending out a different message. It's a message that speaks louder than words (too cliche? yea.. i know :T). They're telling us: Drop the black! Stop looking so sad! Be light-hearted and hopeful!!

There's been an abundance of chiffon and silk, fabrics all too light for Fall and Winter, but it seems very appropriate. John Galliano was brilliant with what he did for Dior. Leather, chiffon, wool... all in pastels and neutrals, with a few looks in black lace, but still made with chiffon. Even Chanel's classic black and white turned out to have more white than black. I swear to you, if I didn't know this was for Fall I would have mistaken everything for Spring. This kind of light approach to the two heaviest seasons of the year is ingenious because even though it seems that it's playing mind-games with us, making us think it's better than it really is, the sight of beige, white (even after Labor Day), brown, and pastels all remind us that just because we're still in recession doesn't mean it's the end of it all. We can still hope and carry with us a lighter spirit. It's time to be optimistic, and with that comes a change of wardrobe. Too much of a hassle? Think of it as a shedding of old skin for a new and brighter one. The old has gone, and the new has come. I like it.