Sizzling Trends!

We’re a month into the New Year and now is the perfect time to review the top styles of the year past, and the predictions for what will be the top trends this year. We are going to take a look at the styles we didn’t stop seeing in 2008 and the ones that look like they’ll be popping up everywhere in 2009.

2008 was the time to be confident. Daring prints and styles were seen everywhere this year and confidence was certainly needed to pull off some of the greatest styles of the year.

Animal print was everywhere in 2008, including zebra, giraffe and especially leopard. This is a great pattern because its fun but it can also be dressed up very sophisticated. This look was available in every colour on every garment. Animal print shows confidence, and confidence sure seemed to be everywhere.

Metallics, yet again another confidence piece. Gold, bronze and silver were catching eyes everywhere this year. These colours can make an outfit. They were usually seen on accessories like shoes and bags but not limited to them; some statement pieces like metallic leggings were also certainly in during 08.

Statement Tees. Messages about voting, peace and environmentalism were seen plastered across tons of T-shirts this year. Not only were people making a statement through Tees but the messages were often seen on buttons and bags. The great thing about fashion is that it is an excellent way to display what you believe in.

Scarves. Light, airy scarves were gracing the necks of many in 2008. These accessories came in any colour, any print, any pattern, which makes it easy to understand why so many people were seen sporting them. They made a great trend for the spring time because many of the scarves came in pastel colours perfect for the season.

Sequins were seen on everything this year. For the most part sequins were another trend that displayed confidence. Wearing an outfit that had some sequins on it made sure that the wearer stood out. Sequins were available in all colours and looked great on small accessories or even larger pieces like dresses as long as the rest of the outfit was simple!

Other Great Styles of 08: coloured jeans, tights and leggings, high waisted skirts and jeans, pencil skirts, oxford shoes.

The styles of 2009 seem to be less daring and more feminine. The styles we are seeing will still make the wearer feel confident, but they give off a more flirty and romantic look as opposed to the wild and risky we saw in 08.

Printed Hosiery. Tights and leggings were the look in 2008 and will continue to be in the New Year however they are going to have a different look to them. A trend of 08 will be revamped this year with subtle prints, like florals, which brings us to our next upcoming look.

Florals. These are the essence of girly and romantic. However floral prints will not be as bold this year, but they will be delicate, even watermarked. If you want a bold look with floral try an accessory such as a hairclip or a necklace.

Peacock Feathers are going to be seen on a lot of accessories this year. They looks great on hair accessories and can quickly spark up an outfit creating quite the conversation piece. Not only will peacock be seen on accessories but the beautiful colours will be seen on plenty of garments.

Checks. Plaid and gingham, it’s the one not so girly trend on this list but that certainly doesn’t make it any less trendy this year. It’s the alternative to the flirty look; pairing it with different accessories can create many different looks. Pair a check dress with rocker boots and you have a rocker style. Choose to match a plaid button down shirt (leaving a few top buttons undone) and a waist belt can create a more feminine look in this hard print.

Ruffles are another feminine trend. They are going to be everywhere this year, from a slight peek on hems to full out on collar lines. This is a look that plays up the area it is located. Make sure that when wearing ruffles the rest of the look is simple and elegant.

Other Fine Trends of 09: butterfly, lace, jewel encrusted, single-shoulder pieces, neon

Michelle B.

Imitation by Imitation of Christ SS08

I've been watching this non stop since seeing it on a friend's blog. It's a beautiful video and the song is perfect. I had to share it.

Contexture Designs

I read about Contexture Designs in the Toronto Star. They're based in Vacouver and are made up of Nathan Lee and Trevor Coghill, both who have backgrounds in landscape architecture. Most of their design concepts are made from found objects. From cassette tapes and old 45s that are cut and shaped into cases for your ipod, to old skates that are taken and made into functioning street shoes and boots, the design duo's work emphasizes simple, elegant and sustainable design, and is often inspired by reclaimed materials with historical, cultural or environmental significance.
You can check out some of their designs at http://www.contexture.ca/
(All the 45 ipod cases are sold out.. darn!)

Keith Richards for Louis Vuitton Travel

Louis Vuitton Travel has recently announced that Keith Richards will be appearing in its print advertisements starting in April. This marks the first time that Keith Richards has endorsed a brand name product (other than that familiar red "tongue sticking out" logo, if I can call it that). It's definitely a step up from the Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi ads we've seen before but I wonder what cheesy slogan they'll come up with this time?

spoiler alert!

Okay, so I'm not sure how many of you guys watch Project Runway.
I never got into it...
UNTIL a friend of mine showed me this video:


After that, I was smitten. I obsessively downloaded and watched every single episode, right till the finale, when this fierce bitch won the whole thing.
Ferosh.

Designer Strike?

We know the writers were on strike, but what happened to the designers and stylists? Did they also go on strike? This year’s Oscar dresses were quite disappointing. Even, the most stylish and glamorous stars did not "wow" anyone. Personally, I thought Heidi Klum looked like a character from Star Trek, Marion Cotillard, ummm was she trying to win an Oscar for the Little Mermaid?

So maybe I am being a bit harsh because there were some, (note: I use some very loosely) that did deserve recognition. Kelly Preston for one, looked fabulous in a canary yellow Roberto Cavalli. The colour was perfect for the spring season as was the flowing material. And Jennifer Garner, congratulations to her, this is what a gown is suppose to look like- glamorous, elegant and sexy.

P.S. We do realize that the oscars happened awhile ago but we still felt like talking about it.

parfums COMME des GARCONS

I'm not the biggest fan of the Comme des Garçons collections. I usually feel that they experiment with clothing for the sake of experimentation without creating anything worth remembering. However, some of their experiments do appeal to me. I have yet to smell any of their fragrances (so for all I know this experimentation is also a failure) but I do love the packaging and design of their perfumes. I've always liked big bold colourful numbers and letters that are sometimes in a hand written font. I am also intrigued by the ingredients used to create some of their smells. Odeur 53, which they call the anti-perfume, is a mixture that includes (how they do this is beyond me) the freshness of oxygen, pure air of the high mountains, sand dunes and burnt rubber. They have also concocted the 8.88 fragrance to capture the imaginary smell of gold. Now, how can a perfume be any cooler than that?