Textbook
Sunday October 9th, 2011
Friday September 23rd, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Pippa Middleton
Thursday July 14th, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Amanda Brooks!
If you’re familiar with Barneys New York–one of the city’s, nay, the world’s, best department stores–then you ought to be familiar with Amanda Brooks. Ms. Brooks, the fashion director, is a somewhat new addition to Barneys, having joined in February. Prior to her position uptown, Ms. Brooks worked as brand consultant for everyone from DvF and Roger Vivier to Chanel and Tod’s. She’s most certainly wise in the ways of fashion. But if that’s not clear from her resume, then just take a look at her personal style–she’s got a closet that makes any editor jealous. Brooks has already done quite a few interesting things at Barneys–see Daphne Guinness, Carine Roitfeld for proof–and we’ll continue watching her work at the Madison Avenue landmark closely.
Wednesday June 8th, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Iris Apfel
If you’ve ever read Advanced Style, one of my favorite blogs, then you’re probably familiar with Iris Apfel. Iris is without a doubt one of New York’s most treasured style icons, darting around the city in her trademark spectacles, decked out in accessories while remaining light and effortless. At Monday’s CFDA awards, Ms. Apfel told the story of how she once worked for WWD and earned a salary of $15 per week. True, that was a standard wage back then but we still shudder to think about it. After her time at WWD she began working in the textile industry where she further honed her style and sharp eye for prints, textures and patterns–it’s no wonder she has unmatched style. Before presenting Alexander Wang with his Accessories Designer of the Year award, Ms. Apfel proclaimed that she is indeed a fan of the accessory. All it takes is a Google image search to see that she wasn’t lying.
Monday May 23rd, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Elsa Schiaparelli
Back in the day, there were two women designers causing quite a stir at about the same time. One of them, easily a household name, was Coco Chanel and I think we all know how that turned out. The other is slightly more elusive, but equally as important to the industry. Her name was Elsa Schiaparelli and to say she had a flare for the dramatic is most definitely an understatement. While Ms. Chanel was freeing women from antiquated silhouettes, Elsa was making us look at fashion with a different lens–a surreal lens. She’s most known for teaming up with artists like Salvador Dalí: Consider it like the first version of the H&M collabs. Aside from rubbing elbows with some of the finest surrealists, she had a flair for innovation–to Elsa, a shoe could be a hat, a lobster was a perfect addition to a dress and a bow could be just as pretty if it were simply an illusion. So let’s give it up for master of pattern, print and all things hot pink, Elsa Schiaparelli.
Friday May 13th, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Lady Georgiana Spencer Cavendish
While the interwebs may still be abuzz about Kate Middleton’s dress and Beatrice‘s hat–I thought I’d pay tribute to another British icon.
Thursday April 28th, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Kate Middleton
Thursday April 21st, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Costello Tagliapietra
Friday April 15th, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Abbey Lee Kershaw
Abbey Lee Kershaw is undoubtedly the blogging world’s favorite model. Indeed, her maxi skirts can be seen on dozens of street-style blogs on the web. If you’re not wise to Ms. Kershaw, permit us to enlighten you. She’s as much a supermodel now as any of the other top girls. Her trademark oh-so-coveted grin and gaze have earned her spots on nearly every top runway in New York, Milan, London and Paris. (Of course, it does help if you’re really tall too.) Off the runway, she sports a unique personal style and we give her credit for rolling in maxi skirts, power shoulder jackets and sweet shoes. Abbey Lee, we salute you: Model on Wayne, model on Garth.
Friday April 8th, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Edie Sedgwick
Easily one of New York’s most famous icons, Edie Sedgwick made her name in the Warhol era. One of his favorites, she was often spotted at The Factory and starred in several of his short films. In truth, the early part of Edie’s New York life was pretty fantastic and people all over wanted to emulate her style: leotards, chandelier earrings and a generally excessive attitude. However, as her fame spiraled upward, Edie spiraled downward into drug and alcohol abuse. After a tumultuous relationship and her career on pause, she returned to her family in California for some semblance of health and control. Shortly after being married, her addictions got the better of her and she succumbed to an overdose. Still, she’s one of New York’s most cherished style icons. We recommend emulating her wardrobe, not her lifestyle.
Thursday March 10th, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Emmanuelle Alt!
Who doesn’t know Emmanuelle Alt? Even before her somewhat new role as Editor-in-Chief at Vogue Paris, she was making waves in the blogosphere as their Fashion Director. She’s typically spotted in a Kate Lanphear-esque ensemble–jeans or leather pants, a simple shirt and some kind of awesome blazer or coat. Ms. Alt has certainly nailed her street style pose too, but being shot as many times as she is, who wouldn’t develop a trademark stance?
Thursday March 3rd, 2011
Textbook for Fashionista: Nickelson Wooster of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman!
Nickelson Wooster, men’s fashion director at Neiman Marcus, can be seen at most menswear shows you’d like to be at. As the voice behind the men of Neimans and Bergdorf Goodman, he’s earned his spot. However, if you aren’t a show-goer or skulking outside Simon Spurr, you may have seen him on every single menswear blog ever. Mr. Wooster has impeccable style and makes bold decisions when it comes to print, pattern and color and it’s these choices that make him all the more interesting. You have to admire a man who knows how to aggressively mix plaid. Good for him.
