Pink Rock Candy-Blog

For some reason, everywhere I look, someone or something is talking about the exigence of a blazer. Unfortunately, when I think of blazers I think of those terrible women’s power suits from the 90s with the type of shoulder pads we would now qualify as couture. Fortunately, I can keep my fashion credibility in tack thanks to the Spring/Summer 2009 Balmain collection. Now, I can swoon over a weird shouldered blazer with the rest of you— well, sort of.

I promise you, this will not be the first time you hear about this Balmain collection from me or any other blog— actually, it’s doubtful this is even the first time you’ve heard about it this week! The fact of the matter is, the collection is sort of perfect in this off, 90s-meets-rock-star way.

Have you seen the entire Balmain collection yet? The stand out pieces seem to be the many studded blazers and jackets with skinny sleeves and accentuated shoulders. The style ranges from the perfect plain blazer to these unbelievable marching band jackets— FATAL!

I realize a marching band jacket (MBJ?) really isn’t a blazer, but it’s probably the closest I’ll willingly get to wearing one. I know all blazers aren’t heinous, and they actually look amazing on most people, but am I the only person who isn’t that fond of them?

The MBJ trend is one the fashion industry just can’t seem to shake. Sure, it may disappear every now and then, but inevitably someone will latch on to it, and the appeal being so strong, it stays for seasons. Some may say the trend is going out, because models have marched down the runway in them for what seems like eternity, but the mass retailers haven’t quite run with it yet. Perhaps, that’s a blessing in disguise for those who believe seeing a trend in Forever 21, Target or, gasp, JCPenney is the nail in the coffin.

I wish the jackets worn by my university marching band were this cool, because I totally would have learned to play a woodwind or, better yet, the snare drum!

Photo Credit: Style.com

It always makes me cringe when models fall, or even wobble a bit, so you can imagine the sheer horror that came over me when I heard not just one, but multiple models either wobbled a tad or took a tumble at the Spring/Summer ‘09 Prada show in Milan yesterday, due mostly to their extra-high Miuccia designed footwear.

First of all, I have to mention that these shoes are amazing— I mean beyond fatal, no pun intended. I’m swooning more and more over any shoes with straps and these platform mary-janes are just dandy in my opinion, but there are some people, as in most of the world, who just do not have the ankle strength to wear über-tall and presumably heavy platform shoes— not to mention the odd ruffled-footies all the models are wearing under the shoes.

Perhaps, along with perfecting their runway walks, models should also work on strengthening their ankles. Is their actually an exercise for that? If there isn’t, I vote Naomi Campbell to head the committee that will figure out an good ankle exercise— considering the fall she took at the Vivienne Westwood show during her early years was one of the worst I have ever seen.

I guess the other logical thing for designers to do is send practical heels down the runway, but when are practical shoes ever fun? Personally, I like my flats comfortable and my heels as high a I can stand them. If that means I have to take a taxi instead of walking then so be it!

See a video of one wobble video and a couple of eye-witness, slip n’ slide pictures from NY Times’ The Moment Blog photostream after the jump. (more…)

When it comes to catching our eyes, and hearts for that matter, Diane von Furstenberg always seems to come out on top. Her Fall 2008 season was the perfect mix of old Hollywood glamour from the forties and chic international influences. It was smart, mature, and stylish as ever. Last week however, she decided to throw us a curve ball. For Spring 2009, her vision had an extreme child-like playfulness and was full of flirty florals, but the best part of the collection had to be the pretty flower princess headbands the models wore.

If I were to imagine the perfect headband, this is exactly what I would invision— an abundance of flowers, ribbons and feathers all intertwining with my hair. Its has a slight ethereal quality, but at the same time the flowers, leather strings and feathers make the headdress earthy.

Even with the very earth goddess-y headbands, the collection itself is reminiscent of something, famous 60s groupies and girl band, the GTOs might have worn. The dresses are extremely feminine and primarily diaphanous with a definite splash of badass.

Just looking at the picture at left makes me want to start singing Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”, and frolick around my house in a flowy dress, swaying my arms and throwing peace signs.

This collection was my favorite from NY Fashion Week hands down, with the Marc by Marc Jacobs and Marc Jacobs collections coming in as a close second and third. What was your favorite collection from NY Fashion Week, and do any of you have any idea how to attach feathers and other non-bead bobbles to straps of suede like this?

Photo Credit: Style.com

NY Mag wrote this funny article about how they saw Anna Wintour run down the runway after the Dennis Basso show. They said they were really surprised because they new she was always one of the first people out of the show but they “seldom pay close attention to her exit strategy.” When I read the article I had to chuckle a bit because last season when I went to NY Fashion Week, the M.A.C. booth had a TV showing the current runway shows, and I actually witness the infamous Wintour run.

It was really strange to see, because I always think of her as this very posh person who never rushes because the world, or at least the fashion world, revolves their schedule around her.

After one of the shows, I think it actually might have been the Dennis Basso show, but don’t quote me, all you could see was La Wintour’s perfect bob blowing in the wind as she raced her way down the runway to the exit. I was a bit confused at the time, but I guess even fashion’s most infamous must hurry from time to time. Maybe, she really likes to be early so she can’t sit nonchalantly while getting snapped by the paps before anyone else gets the chance to, like she is here before the Alexander Wang show.

Next time, I need her to bowl over some old socialite and cause a real scandal!

p.s. IS SHE SMILING!!!

Photo Credit: The Cobrasnake

It was My Fair Lady meets Nirvana. The FLDS meets crack. There was tartan and dark florals. There were layers and simplicity. There was bustling, corsets, harem pants, and bangles. And, then there were these. These odd raffia-wedge, slightly deconstructed, mid-heeled shoes almost ruined my entire Marc Jacobs S/S ‘09 collection for me, almost.

Marc, what kind of fuckery is this? You can’t get me high with your mishmosh of a spring collection, and then, as I scan down some of the outfits, I see these wack job sandals. Actually, that’s an insult to wack jobs. These shoes are just monstrosities and should never see the light of day.

Unfortunately for me, I happen to know Marc does whatever he wants and could give two shits what I or anyone else thinks about his designs— that tends to be the common stance taken with most geniuses. Meaning, this spring, these atrocities will show up on at least a handful of famous feet, and I’ll gently weep to myself in a corner.

Good job on the rest of the collection though Marc. I’m utterly smitten!

Speaking of the rest of the Spring/Summer 2009 Marc Jacobs collection, I couldn’t bring myself to rant about the imaginary love of my life without actually showing you something awe-inspiring.

That awe-inspiring something is the exact opposite of those hideous sandals.  They have a fanciful, architecturally gorgeous heel, lots and lots of sparkles, and the perfectly chic gold buckle— I want, I want!

The heels on each pair of shoes are similar in shape, and considering the collection is quite the jubilee of ideas and inspirations, I can see why it may seem okay to have such vastly contrasting shoes, but the feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I see each of these two shoes makes me sad.

On that note, I’ll leave it to you. What do you think of the two shoes, the S/S ‘09 Marc Jacobs collection, or any other S/S ‘09 collection, for that matter?

Photo Credit: Style.com