Express Yourself

So I was looking back on videos I used to see on TV in the 90s when I was a wee young lass, and I came across this little gem: Madonna's Express Yourself. I love the simplistic elegance that was obviously way ahead of its time when the video was first made. Madonna has got this lovely Marilyn Monroe hairdo in parts of the vid and reminds me much of Marlene Dietrich when she's seen in the pantsuit (I'm not sure if that's the name I was looking for, it seemed to be on the tip of my tongue. It was someone from the 30's/Talkies age.)

Anyway, here are some stills I found of Madonna in the video. Enjoy!

Winklepickers to the Extreme!

Haha!

I found this picture on Google randomly because I have become so lazy when it comes to posting. Reading, however, that's a different story. I guess the photo was taken somewhere in Milan. Anyways, hooray for super pointy and super flimsy winklepickers!

Victor & Rolf SS10

My initial interest only grew when I saw Lady Gaga in this month's issue of Elle wearing a piece by my favorite bespectacled duo, shown below, in one of my favorite pieces from the collection.



I think she definitely wears it better than in this picture straight off the runway. That's one thing I love about her. She takes totally unwearable outfits and takes them to the street with no shame. Anywho, I digress.





The whole collection is like a wonderful motley circus of pastels! And I am impressed! I've always loved how Victor & Rolf have such a literal take on design. I love their whole aesthetic! The dress shown in center (or should I say the one on the right, since about a third of the picture was cut off) has such a funny sense of humor. Folks, they've done it again!

Cleopatra

I know the whole Cleopatra-Mc Queen thing is far in the past, but I can't help but find immense inspiration in these images of Elizabeth Taylor from way back when. I'm thinking I want to get a blunter cut like that. I'm either going to grow my hair to her length or cut it one length and to my jaw to get somewhat of the same effect. An equal amount of drama is VERY much needed!



I might go for a shorter fringe as well, but probably not. It's fabulous, no?

I'm working towards...

A new hairstyle! So far my hair has grown about 2 1/2 inches since I first decided to hack it all off. So ladies and gents, I'm almost there! It's fairly long enough to accomplish one of the hairstyles I'm on the fence about, but I'm still caught choosing between that one and another hairstyle I liked. Here are a couple of pictures of what kind of looks I'm thinking of sporting in the near future, give it about 2-3 months before I get there. I'd say I have plenty of time to decide.

I really like the fullness and layers of this haircut, except I'm not fond of and definitely wouldn't get the face framing layers in front. It would be really easy to plan outfits around since the styling looks near effortless.



Then there's this one, shown best on Katy Perry. It could be easily attained in maybe 2 1/2 months, seeing that I've been taking hair vitamins that would help grow out the back of my pseudo a-line cut that wasn't what I initially asked for. I'm thinking maybe it's a little too polished for me.



There are other options, but those would include going shorter than I already have, and while I'm this close to getting longer hair, why not try for it since it's definitely not that far away.

Cheeseheads?!?

Haha, cheesehead hats inspire me to do something really avant garde... I'll get back to you when I decide what exactly.

It doesn't look so good on this guy, but I can see this kind of hat being sensational in a different non-athletic context.

I like big...HATS and I cannot lie!

Well, not BIG hats, but just hats in general! Recently I've drawn a bit of 80's inspiration when it comes to styling my own outfits. And for me, the main component and defining accessory is what's on my head. It first started when I was talking to my best friend about how he thought his trusty fedora looked weird with his current hairstyle. Ever since then, I'll admit, I decided to be a little copycat for one day and wore my black bowler, which doesn't share much of a likeness, out on the town. I decided to channel a Watts type look with my hair tucked up under my hat for a more masculine/feminine flair. Considering the area I live in (or should I say 'lived in' since I was only visiting my old city), it came to no surprise that I got a few stares and jeers from the usual Hollister-clad teenagers found within the normal radius of the local mall. It was very uplifting and worth it, however! Sometimes I just like the attention... and all because of some little hat! It was obviously nothing crazy or obscene, which makes me wonder what kind of attention I would have gotten if I were to walk out wearing a crushed velvet suit a la Austin Powers. I digress. The point is, I've never felt so mysterious and elegant as when I wore that hat today! I used to hate the cheap bowler, but I felt a little Boy George... a bit Alex DeLarge!!!!! Here are a couple of pictures of famous people in hats that never fail to inspire, excluding the lovely Isabella Blow.


Oh, fuck it! I give you Isabella Blow!

Update

Dang! Blogspot changed the way they post pictures and completely omitted the option to edit previous posts, so I can't add labels that I forgot on my last post! Oh well.

The true method behind the madness of this post, however, is me bragging about the fabulous pair of vintage heeled oxfords I got in the mail the other day! They're.............BROWN!!!!!!! I've got a picture right here!



Still in awe? Haha, just kidding. I'll go be vain elsewhere.

Plaids

I was reading this magazine the other day and there was this funny section that tells you whether you should wear a certain style, keep it, or store it away for next season, and just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw plaid on the list that should be stored away. Apparently it is "IN" no more! Can someone please tell me is there anything wrong with looking a bit like Little House on the Prairie?! Well, I can almost dig that look. Plaid is so timeless though. And versatile to say the least, coming from a true tartan addict. I'd eat gingham every day for breakfast if it wasn't so lacking in nutrition! Anyways, I must own over 10 articles of plaid. 10 articles and still shopping. Dresses and shirts, mostly. Seeing plaid on the runway was one of my biggest inspirations. I know this is a lame post after forgetting to do so for the past what, two days? Anyhow, this is a tribute to plaid. Here are some of my favorite pictures incorporating plaid into the mix.

I'm not the biggest fan of this type of plaid, but there's something about Enid that makes it work. I lovvvvvve Enid!


Mary-Kate Olsen makes grunge look really simple. She barely pulls off this tied around the waist look.



Of course, you gotta love Dolce and Gabbana's plaid ads that came out a while ago.


Sadly, I couldn't dig up any good plaid from Alexander McQueen or more importantly Vivienne Westwood, but you get my point! I love plaid! And it will always live on!

Ha Ha Ha

So cheeky, this House of Holland look. I would totally wear that skirt straight off the runway. Not sure about the top though... reminds me of the boob cut outs from the movie Mean Girls.

Rodarte: Target vs. Spring 2010

Rodarte's latest two collections that were released almost simultaneously were nothing short of polar opposites. The sisters' cheap and affordable series of clothes produced for sale at Target bordered prim at times, but quirky from all angles. Everything just screamed vintage! From the new take on frou frou as seen in the tulle slip dresses to the moderate pizazz of the leopard printed, bow-backed three-quarter sleeved dress, this proved to be in my opinion, one of the coolest Target collections since the one Proenza Schouler put out years ago. Here are a few pictures from the collection I found off the Target website. Funny thing is, these clothes are practically sold out online, but there's a total abundance of sizes left in-store.

However, in the first picture, the model looks too much like a tranny to do the collection justice. Oh well, haha. As you can probably tell from my other posts, I'm really into nude colored things at the moment, which is why I'm totally into the second dress in the second photo. It's a real charmer. I actually almost bought it at the store the other day. Good thing I was able to reach out of my purse with an empty hand! And as for the sequined ribcage dress, shown in both pictures, the price has almost tripled for it on Ebay since it sold out on the Target website merely on the second day of it being available. Not much of a surprise though. I've heard that many people have been left feeling upset by the fact that this dress has a sheer panel on its posterior.

On another note, the Spring 2010 Rodarte collection left me in disbelief in comparison to the Target clothes and other past collections. Just when I thought they couldn't outdo themselves, they did! They sort of came out with this fresh new desert wasteland theme. The clothing looked as if the girls just decided to totally deconstruct all of their materials (fabric, etc.) and put it all back together again. Overall, the whole look was there, complete with tribal tattoos that only heightened the impression. I liked the abundance of neutral colors mixed with what looked like found materials. The models' faces were very clean and there was a general lack of makeup which helped to really showcase the designs. There was only a bit of lipstick and the cheeks left completely barren of rouge. Here are a few pictures of the collection. It's very raggedy at times yet chic.

Topshop Unique

I'm not usually a big fan of stores like Topshop, H&M, or Zara, but the latest Unique collection for Topshop is definitely worth blogging about. Well, sort of. It's supposed to be inspired by 70's surf wear, but I'm not really getting that vibe. I'm detecting more of a neo grunge Cory Kennedy look, which I like very much. Somewhere in between the old Miss Kennedy's style and her new look that reads a little more tomboyish in nature. I think there should be more of a controversy as to whether this collection is the best Topshop could have done, especially after the kind of recent Christopher Kane collection that just went on sale. What has me in knots is the fact that Unique came out with something completely astray from what they claim for it to look like. I see nothing that rings seventies beach babe, only some modern looking designs that are far from fresh. Despite the lacking of freshness, for the most part, that doesn't keep me from admiring different strong points of the few pieces I've seen on the website. I enjoy the idea of having an abstract shark print, but when I imagine it in my mind, it doesn't look like Unique's rendition. I think of a more literal, obvious image of a shark. I also like the idea of a wetsuit dress, but not something that looks like it could be picked up at a local Charlotte Russe. Despite my many complaints about the collection, it's still some of the best lesser priced clothing I've seen on the internet lately. Perhaps I just don't know where to look. Seems as if the popularity of stores like Topshop and such should have spurred a bevy of copycats to pop up and start reaping their own share of the profit that these stores are making annually. As far as I know, this isn't the case, and I can only dream that another cheaper high street store like Urban Outfitters will set up shop locally. I'd like to post an image of the best piece I've seen from the collection (although I haven't yet seen the runway show), but the pictures I found won't allow me to save them. FYI, my favorite is the army green half blazer/half parka with black shark head line drawings scattered all over it and silver pointy studs at the zipper pockets on each side. Delectable! But since I can't show you piece by piece, photos of what the collection looks like, below is the YouTube video that shows what it all looks like set to music. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, fashionably late, the Spring Summer 2010 Topshop Unique collection! I'm sorry if you're left underwhelmed and with a bad taste in your mouth. Compared to the clothes you see in fashion shows by the more expensive designers, there's nothing to by hyped about here. Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itr7uFyVKx4

My Latest Obsession...

Heeled oxfords! Now, I know I'm kind of late to jump on this bandwagon, but browsing through the online shops, I've recently struck gold! Blame it on the single perfect pair I found perhaps a few weeks ago that spurred the whole search. Before this pair, I used to think of heeled oxfords as these really horrid, chunky, overperforated creatures, but I was obviously proven wrong! They were pretty much the kind you would find at Kohl's or what used to be Mervyns, a far cry from those with the perfect 2" heel and made with richly dyed leather. I'd always see them in the store, those 90's renditions, yick! I'm talking about the ugly pieces of shit made to look like lethal weapons with either the overly chunky heel or the too-spindly-it-hurts-to-walk stiletto one. Anyhow, I'm really digging the vintage look when it comes to heeled oxfords, they will truly knock you out in a good sort of way.

This first pair is the beautiful vintage inspired ones I found at a decent price on the web. You can buy them brand new on the Seychelles website for a lot cheaper than you can on the Urban Outfitters site. I love the structured heel. These shoes are like the epitome of what it means to be an oxford. I want to be an oxford too!

Now here are a few pairs I found off of some vintage websites. Practically everywhere you look you can find a pair for a reasonable price, which is great!

Overall, I'm really into the nude colored oxfords and the really dark, saturated tones. Get 'em while they're hot!

...

The initial and foremost thing I must address on this blog is the possibly copywritten image I've chosen to use in its heading: a quirky little line drawing by Nosideup (apparently you can find this on Etsy. What can't be found on Etsy? Don't answer that.) Secondly, I've gotta say "Hi, I'm new to this blogging thing!". It all started when I first sat on this couch about 2 hours ago and entertained the idea of a medium where I can run my thoughts without having to simultaneously reap the consequences of feeling stupid. Hence, I am typing this thing completely anonymously. For now, anyways. I thought, well maybe I can follow in the hard to fill footprints of Ms. Bubble and even little Ms. Gevinson, both of whom I am terribly envious of. I'll admit that maybe I have nothing to say, but in my mind, it's not about what you say, it's how you say it. And I'll try to say it loud as long as all of you choose to stay loyal and listen. Yes, stay loyal, all -5,678,094 of you!

"So why is your blog called Style Carnage?" Funny no one should ask! Little should you know, I call it this because figuratively, my opinion of style has left a body count. Either because it's too common or too bizarre. There is no middle ground for me! This is mostly a blog about what fashion means to me, but I will also occasionally post rants about life, you know, the general annoying stuff. With that being said, let the blogging commence! I truly underestimated the amount of fun I would have doing this, and it's only my first post! So please give me a warm welcome to the world of blogging! Or feel free to treat me as if this is the real world... eh, whichever! *yawn*

I leave you with a photo of this Marc by Marc Jacobs Croq of Q Linda clutch I bought sometime before Christmas Eve. Even with its minor wear, it was truly a steal at $30.