Zara March 2010 Lookbook

A while ago I posted some tidbits from the Zara Young SS2010 collection. Let's allow ourselves to take a look at this (already) past lookbook and say that collection was much more cuter than this new one. Not judging until we get to the photos.... but the Young collection was just some kind of a game where the lego pieces where jeans funky tees and mad accessorizing.

What the March lookbook is bringing forward has a romantic vibe to it, while being quite fashion conscious.

As always, Zara knows what young people love nowadays. I would have loved to see something new though. Frilly skirts, socks and platforms? Everybody is doing them. Should we take it a sign these are not going anywhere? Ok, then. Yet wearing a flower crown on the head is a timeless manifesto:

Hats are one of the greatest part of this lookbook:

Or any other head gear for that matter...

The boys are also offered a fair share of summer-y looks, with inspiration clearly drawn from the navy (trend). They seem more fit to hop on board of any yacht than the girls.

This fit-for-the-city, black costume is perfect without being too stiff. The hat? A key element as we all know by now:

ph. taken from the Zara FB page and site.

I can't wait to see what Zara will come out with pull off next! This fast paced lookbook presentations are quite engaging!

The Real Bunny (also includes the Mad Hatter and Alice)

This is what I wore on Easter day. Judging by the wind outside, I would qualify it as a lie if someone told me we are in April. April, chilly and windy! What?!

Still...

The fabric in this particular dress is so stiff it bends in every inappropriate way. Sometimes even for no reason at all, depending on the direction of the wind for example. Hey, but I am playing along.

Somehow I have managed to channel all of them characters: The Mad Hatter, Alice and the rabbit! Record breaking, huh? If you feel like reading more on Alice in Wonderland NOW, check out this article (naughty wink!).

P.S. Never mind about the wind I was complaining about, today is even colder and it rains on top of everything! Oh well, as long as we are happy...

Stylin' girl: Catherine Baba

Did you check last week's installment of Stylin'...? It featured Leith Clark, editor in chief of LULA magazine. No? Then what are you even waiting for here? Go take a look. 

Now, today's focus is on none other that Catherine Baba! Never heard of her? Maybe you didn't know her name, but you surely saw her on one of the many street-style sites out there which featured her. She makes an appearance hard to ignore, especially when she is photographed in Paris riding her bike while wearing sky-high heels and a long fur coat!

So, WHO is she?

While I was tracking down these photos on tfs, I discovered a few pages from the April issue of Vogue Paris (you can find them here). Apparently, Catherine wears only vintage fur and listens to Grace Jones, Vivaldi, Schubert, DuranDuran and of course, Maria Callas.

all photos: tfs

Darling, j'adore! are her favorite words. Judging by this I couldn't have guessed in a million years she's from Australia. 

Ok now, these videos are for your viewing pleasure. And to hear her speaking, oh-la-la!

The first vid is killing me! Major xx.

If you are celebrating Easter, have a great time and loads of fun or... rest as much as you can (this is what I do)!

Other Stylin' Girls:
♥ Stylin' Girl: Leith Clark. And Lula!

♥ Stylin' Girl: Agathe

♥ Stylin' Girl: Vika Gazinskaya

♥ Stylin' girl: Anna Karina

♥ Stylin' Girl: Margherita Missoni

♥ Stylin' girl: Florence Welch and Today's fashion news: Florence + The Machine. Yes, again!

Differentiate: Trends vs Themes

This double T duo must be one of the most terrible, never-ending experiment out there. While trends are recurrent, themes are there all along, giving us different interpretations as time goes by. But the line between the two is on its way to be blurred for ever. I am so curious to see what magazines come out with at the beginning of each new season. Generally they put up dozens of pages focusing on the new trends. These two words together are enough to make my head spin. I am almost allergic to the word trend, and for a good reason: everybody will do it.

Themes on the other hand go beyond trends. No matter what the latest it item is, something focusing on a well-known, established theme will always make it first row. You know, just like at fashion shows. Themes do not exclude innovations, au contraire, their essence is based on them. Some examples of themes are romanticism (pastels, flowers), goth style (black, metal, dark sets), rock and youth (Nirvana, anyone?).

The verdict? Always pick a theme over a trend because it accepts more interpretations. Plus, it is really timeless. Trends are worn out after one season, but will have a glorious comeback over years. Themes on the other side are always here, like a faithful companion.

Falling into the theme category, here's what triggered the above paragraphs:

"Teen Spirit", Interview March 2010, by Craig McDean

ph. from Fashion Flash

I love this set so much, I've even made one of the shots my wallpaper. Perfect, depending on current mood of course!

PLM Mag #2

These were some crazy days, hence the short hiatus on the blog, but things are getting back to normal again. Wait, did I say normal? How about full speed ahead?

PLM magazine #2 is on the loose! I have the pleasure and honor to be a contributor. The second issue is clearly a more grown up version of the first one. It develops at a very fast pace and it is such a joy to be part of this unique project:

Isn't the cover genius? I sure say so! Attitude is what many magazines lack, unfortunately. It's time for us to enjoy a new, a let's-take-things-to-the-next-level type of magazine. Less mainstream, less commercial, more indifference to what is hot and more interest in developing something new, out of the box. This is why I would like to congratulate George once again, for this is his project and say thank you for offering me a chance to collaborate.

For this issue, I wrote a piece on Alexander McQueen. I heard voices saying there's too much of him in every mag and that this sad issue should be put behind already. Well, I think this is such a wrong attitude! How could one stop praising a genius, a person thinking beyond his times? How? The problem of overusing his latest creations, that is another issue. As I've said, some stuff should be put on a pedestal and admired. I think words can suffice to express what we couldn't understand while he was still alive...

Remember TO CLICK TO ENLARGE each photo. Enjoy!

The conclusion? Why yes! Read PLM Magazine HERE.

Links à la Mode

Thinking Fashion

Edited by Retro Chick

It never ceases to amaze me the quality and variety of links that get submitted to IFB each week and how hard it is to pick just 20. Fashion & Style Bloggers are intelligent, thoughtful and insightful people who really understand their subject. Whether it’s Second Hand Shopper questioning the distinction between fashion and style, Shrimp Salad Circus discussing how much of ourselves we should put into our blogs or a whole plethora of posts on the subject of body image.

Of course, we also love a bargain and this week we have a DIY Pillbox Hat, tips on thrift shopping the Spring trends and a gorgeous giveaway.

I really would urge you to take the time to check out the links that didn’t make it in the forums. I don’t think there’s a bad post among them….

Links à la Mode : April 1

• Alyson Is Neat – Revealing secrets on how to go into a store and not purchase clothing.
• Awakened Aesthetic – How to live green, without giving up the “unethical” stuff you already have.
• blackdog finds – How to Thrift Shop for Spring 2010 Fashion Trends:
• British Style Bloggers – A preview of the finalé of British Style Bloggers’ Body Image Season, including a random and rambling tour of BSB’s head office (aka my house).
• DailyDivaDish – Spanx for Men: Is shapewear for men really going mainstream? Why I think it’s a bad idea.
• Despising Life is So Passe – Pillbox Hat DIY
• Eternal Masquerade – Monroe Monday: A Look At What the Wardrobe Should Mean to Every Woman
• Grit and Glamour – A signature fragrance is your invisible identity—it becomes part of your brand
• High Fashion Girl – I write about Lady Gaga like you’ve NEVER read about her before.
• Idiosyncratic Style – A Peek at the life and style of illustrator Rachelle Scarfo
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – How to make your blog mobile friendly
• Oh, the Places You'll Go! – Fatsionable Art and Inspiration from Eva Hannah.
• Retro Chick – How every girl can be a Princess
• Second Hand Shopper – Second hand shopper pits the escapism of fashion against the expressionism of style
• Shoulderache & The Closet – The most expensive wool in the world!
• Shrimp Salad Circus – How much of yourself should you put ‘out there?’
• The Demoiselles – Graceful Empowerment Comes in All Forms (including that of eating the other guy’s tacos).
• The Greyest Ghost – Behind the scenes of the Chanel f/w 2010 ad campaign in NYC with Abbey Lee Kershaw, Freja Beha Erichsen, and Karl Lagerfeld.
• The New Wave – Going once, going twice, SOLD! A visit to the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection auction.
• The Well-Appointed Catwalk – Highlights and my impressions of “Health Matters: Weight and Wellness in the World of Fashion,” a panel discussion I attended featuring Anna Wintour, Michael Kors and Natalia Vodianova.
• True Queen – Examining the use of fur by designers on the runways of the Fall 2010 fashion shows.
• Unfunded – Unfunded teams up with the U.K. retailer NEXT for an awesome giveaway!