I’m generally the last person to focus on the race of a model, but while perusing the Halston Spring 2011 photos on Style.com I realized how distracting it was to have five black models walk the runway one-after-another wearing the only black garments in the collection.

Though I know the initial implication is slightly scandalous. I am not attempting to make some statement about Marios Schwab’s morals though black models in all black will insight waves of revolt, I’m writing about this to show why we shouldn’t always jump to conclusions when the question of race is at hand.

In my mind, the distraction had nothing and everything to do with race. If Schwab had sent five black models in completely different looks down the runway one-after-another, I would have been taken by surprise, not being used to seeing such an abundance of black models walking a runway. However, it was the entire look, the shadowy figures wearing pops of gold that caught my attention. It was the odd, yet beautiful contrast of it all.

I’m not sure why, but quickly flipping through the images of lanky, highly-oiled black models— all different shades of cocoa— wearing black outfit after black outfit gives me chills. It’s like staring at a haunting image at an art gallery. It also made me wonder what other patterns were hiding in the runway arrangement.

It seems there was a bit of a pattern going on: brunettes with hair slicked back wore shades of blue, while the blondes, hair long and flowing, wore blush tones. The models with ruddier toned hair wore gold, and the Asian models wore white. The brunettes with long, straight hair finished the show in oranges and reds.

What does all of this mean?

Honestly, I couldn’t tell you, but had I not been distracted by the sudden juxtaposition of a parade of umbral beauties, I wouldn’t have noticed in the least. Though it may be sad that having more than a couple black models in a row is attention grabbing, I think it’s what the collection needed for people to take a second look. It’s a collection I will remember not simply for the magnificently crafted and luxe-looking garments, but also for the thought behind the entire presentation.

When I was little I was playing around in an aisle with my younger brother when accosted by a lady of a certain age who commented on hope cute the two brothers were. From then on I vowed never to resemble a boy and my bangs were born. They’ve covered my forehead for most of my life and are sort of the fame whores of the body— but I think Spring 2011 will be season I truly let my forehead come back out to play.

The bare forehead trend started with Tyra (doesn’t it always?). She went through the entire TK season of America’s Next Top Model while sporting a chic chignon, showing off her self proclaimed “five-head.”

Then, after watching the Cynthia Rowley Spring 2011 runway show and being utterly uplifted by the Garden of Eden-themed Spring 2011 Monique L’Huillier runway show, I realized how inspired I’d become by the sporting slicked back buns showing off all of the models’ beautiful faces.

Later, while looking at Spring 2011 shows ranging from Diane von Furstenberg to Alexander Wang to Wayne, I started to see more of a trend than just personal inspiration. Even Erin Fetherston whose models usually sport the designer’s signature blunt bangs had a slicked back, forehead-exposing look/.

I can’t wait to feel the sun warming my entire face, though I’ll surely be apply my fair share of sunscreen— safety first!

So braid, clip or brush those stray hairs back, and let your forehead shine— er, use a mattyifier, but definitely show it off.

I admit it, I’m jaded. The thrill of attending a fashion show is now lost on me.

First, you’re wrangled into a herd that buzzes like a swarm of coked-up hornets. Once you’re finally allowed to go into the venue, you have to push and shove your way through the crowd to find your seat or get a spot where you can barely see in standing.

At this point, your forced to wait for what feels like eternity— obsessively checking your phone so you feel busy— while photographers flock around some celebrity who may or may not be famous enough to make you stare and the Do-you-know-who-I-think-I-am people try desperately to get the attention of anyone moderately notable.

Once the show finally starts, you realize you’ve spent and hour waiting for a no-more-than 15 minute show and unless you’re sitting front row (maybe even the second row), your view of the actual looks are hindered.

Don’t get me wrong, I have an undying love for fashion and will always attend shows. But coming from the perspective of fast-talking (and walking) PR girl, nothing compares to the rush of being one of the proverbial cattle herders and seeing something you’ve worked so hard on come together.

Maybe it’s a power thing and maybe I’m just wired to appreciate those I’m connected to more than others, but one the one thing I know is true is that I miss the PR rush!

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Yes, I did say magic, and that’s because I loved the collection. I’ll even go as far to say I liked Fall 2010 better than Spring 2010, and I had some hand in the preparation for the Spring show.

The dark fairytale theme of Fall 2010 starkly contrasts this Springs 80s glitz, Blondie meets Ono aesthetic, and the normally trapeze and girlie silhouettes were replaced by a more form fitting and sexy shape, all while maintaining the essence of the fun, flirty, will-keep-you-guessing Twinkle girl.

The Hansel and Gretel print seen in the vanilla sleeveless number to the left, is something I would wear all year, but was smartly contrasted by a white Chunky Knit scarf wrapped to the chin. However, it was this Nostalgia long sleeve dress that was my favorite. The parchment color is so utilitarian, but the shape is sexy and feminine.

Oh, and did I mention the necklace, and the rest of the jewelry, for that matter? It was just my style, chunk, chunk, chunky!

All I have to say is, congrats Wenlan and all the other lovely ladies whom I adore and who worked so hard on this collection. It was a total success.

p.s. To see what I wore,

It was much too cold to wear any of the Twinkle dresses I have, so I went for warmth with a bit of sex appeal instead. I love a backless look, and think you’ll be seeing my back more often!

So what did I learn whilst waiting for and attending the Christian Siriano F/W 2010 show yesterday?

1. Paul Wilmot Communications, the PR firm that handled front-of-house, is super organized. They were doling out seating assignments before they even thought of opening the line. Good work guys!

2. Even if you are an eFamous ex-scenequeen, you aren’t getting into the Siriano show without an invite.

3. I miss my Twinkle by Wenlan girls. I bumped into another lady I interned with, and I miss her so much.

4. The Standing Section absolutely sucks, and taking pictures from Standing is even worse.

5. If you are in Standing and happen to be next to a tall guy with a video camera, you can sneakily watch the show through his view finder instead of not watching the show because of the person’s head in front of you.

6. Christian Siriano’s Project Runway win wasn’t a fluke. The Fall/Winter 2010 collection may have been a bit dark— the shimmery blacks and ink blues bled into hues of wine and a bit of fuchsia— but, it was beautiful, both in conception and execution.

7. If the Siriano collection is any representation of Fall 2010, everyone will be wearing the chic combo of black and navy.

8. I desperately want a short, navy one-shoulder bubble dress and black, half-wedge booties (left), of which a similar design will be available at Payless.

9. Even gorgeous models who open and close shows like Sessilee Lopez trip sometimes (she didn’t fall though).

10. Christian Siriano is as cute and FIERCE from 50 feet away as he is on TV. L-O-V-E!

Photo Credit: Photo by Arun Nevader/Getty Images North America from Zimbio

Celebrities are like evil step-children to the fashion industry. You deal with them for the sake of your spouse— the public, in fashion’s case—but you generally wish they would simply go away. I’ve met and been around my fair share of “listed” people, from A-list to D-list, but seeing and meeting them is very underwhelming to me, and compared to meeting designers or editors, the excitement is negligible. So, when I read “How Much Fashion Brands Pay For Celebrities to Sit in Their Front Rows” on Fashionista.com, the outrage at the rates paid to celebs for sitting front row almost outweighed the bemusement of the post.

Here, on Pink Rock Candy, my celeb name dropping is few and far between. There are a few starlets whom I believe actually love and appreciate fashion the way industry insiders and even us bloggers do, and I respect them for that. The males of the celeb-world are a different story complete, but suffice it to say, they are generally chalked up to eye candy.

Being informed that some celebs are getting paid almost six figures to sit their meticulously toned tushes in a front row seat many people, fashion lovers and socialites alike, would give anything to fill, kills me.

I know public relations enough to know celebrities are a necessary evil, but charging a fashion brand to enjoy it’s latest work in one of the best seats in the house is a bit excessive. To me, that process is almost as ignorant as it would have been to charge Michelangelo to create a sculpture for you, as if it was an honor for him.

This may come as a surprise to many celebrities, but their presence at fashion events though often, and unfortunately, is a necessity to gain public notoriety, is anything but an honor.

As my little brother once said of homework, “It’s a have to do, not a want to do.”

What do you think of celebrities charging fashion brands to grace the front rows with their presence?

Photo Credit: Style.com

One of my favorite parts of the pre-fashion week prep is receiving preview sketches of the upcoming collections. This insight is only trumped by actually receiving a show invite and actually being able to make it to the show. Rebecca Taylor has officially been the first designer of the season to make me doublely excited by providing me with both a sneak peek sketch of the collection and an invite to their Valentine’s Day show.

It’s amazing how palpable the fashion week excitement is on the Internet. Aside from a few friends in my life, and co-workers of course, to most of my friends and family, fashion (read clothes) just happens like eating or breathing. So, when speaking to them of fashion week and any other thing having to do with the industry, I receive blank stares and humoring nods. However, when I open my inbox or read my favorite blogs, the buzz is everywhere this time of year, along with a bit of the romantic spirit sprinkled throughout, of course.

Luckily for those Valentine’s Day naysayers, the hearts and KISS MEs haven’t seemed to blur into the fashion week hysteria, as evindent in the neutral colors and slight hippie aesthetic seen in the sketch— Also, simply seeing the phrases Parisian and New York City girl in the same sentence makes me love this collection already.

p.s. Taylor Swift wore a Rebecca Taylor tunic, which I loved, during her performance at the Grammy’s, and I can’t wait to see, first hand, the new beauties Rebecca will send down the runway for Fall 2010.

Yesterday, an article about the last New York Fashion Week held at Bryant Park was seen in WWD, and since then, all I can think of is how sad I will be to see it leave the location for it’s new Uptown home at Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center.

I’ve only been to NYFW a grand total of three times— though, I guess, to most people, going to NYFW three times is a feat— but, I will be sad to see everything change.

I only have one request of Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Lincoln Center’s new director of all things fashion week. Please have a nice discussion with MTA and get them to fix all the construction issues with the 1 train. It would also be nice if you can make it so the train runs more often during non-rush hour times too— I’ve stood on the platform waiting for the 1 train for almost 30 minutes during a non-peak hour.

Goodbye, Bryant Park. I will never forget the memories I’ve had almost breaking my ankle in 5″ heels on your cobble stone ground. Perhaps, In February, everyone will be able to take a piece of the last Bryant Park tent with them— Fingers crossed!

Photo Credit: Stylist Stuff

The Spring/Summer 2010 Dries Van Noten collection was inspiring, but there is one thing I don’t understand.

The way Dries always seems to turn printed fabrics with headache-inducing potential into beyond chic pieces of clothing without loosing one bit of “wow” factor, makes me adore him. Like a good student of fashion, if I don’t know/understand something I have to ask the tough questions.

Therefore, Dries, though I am practically in love with this collection, what is up with the one-armed blazer look?

From the apparent arm straps, I am assuming there is actually another half to the look. Why send models down the runway looking like I do while struggling to juggle putting on my jacket, carry my over-stuffed bag, and text friends simultaneously?

In no way does this a-symmetry change my feelings for the collection. I’m just confused, and I hate being confused.

Any thoughts on the half-jacket?
Photos: Style.com

I love Sasha P. She’s tiny, and sort of impish, in the way I imagine Pearl from The Scarlet Letter being impish, making her absolutely adorable, but can we please leave the cutesy poses at the end of the runway to college fashion shows and beauty pageants? She already has a very soft, for lack of a better adjective, end-of-runway pose— have you ever noticed that— so, why the strange addition of a cell phone?

I was under the impression, as sweet and grampa-looking Karl Lagerfeld may be, he would never subscribe to such kitsch.

However, if I were in that outfit or even at a Chanel runway show in the standing section— do they have standing at Chanel— I’d be on the phone with my mom pretty much the entire time, absolutely freaking out, but I’m not a model.

Did I mention how magical, in a Cinderella-tending-the-farm kind of way, the entire Chanel Spring 2010 Collection is?

Photo: Style.com ]]> http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/10/07/allo-oui/feed/ 2 http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/10/05/good-label-gone-bad/ http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/10/05/good-label-gone-bad/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:06:59 +0000 Chelsea Rae Simmons http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/?p=1355

Being one of the only people rooting for Estrella Archs and Lindsey Lohan as the Chief Designer and Artistic Adviser, respectively, I can honestly say, the Spring/Summer 2010 Emanuel Ungaro collection wasn’t all that I had hoped.

I wanted it to be amazing, so people would simply shut up about the Lohan aspect, but amazing it was not. However, I can’t say that the collection was sub-par either. It was merely average.

Like most collections, there were things I really like and things I either didn’t understand or simply didn’t like.

Things I like:

• The all-over heart print - It may be a little Valentine’s Day, but something about wearing black on Valentine’s Day and hearts whenever I want truly appeals to my antagonistic side.
• The brush strokes - the dry-brush fabric used for many of the pieces was a bit edgy, but the simple strokes and the designs juxtapose it perfectly. Also, at times the pattern reminds me of feathers, and I can’t get enough of feathers.
• Puffy-sleeved, wrap shirts - I love a good wrap and the puffy sleeve tugs at my Gypsy-loving innards.

Things I dislike:

• Harem pants - I was over the trend before it started. No matter the length, they’re always a no in my book.
• Fur stoles - I don’t understand why they would send fur stoles down the runway for a spring/summer collection.
• Pasties - I think that just speaks for itself. No, no, no!

I guess, design-wise, I don’t particularly have a problem with the collection. The shapes were a bit limited, but the collection was only created in about a month. So, Archs is safe. My biggest problem seems to be with styling (fur stoles, pasties, etc.), and since I still have no idea what Lindsey does other than gain publicity for the brand, I can’t blame her for the styling. Lohan’s still my favorite celebutante.

Photos: Style.com

p.s. I realize that the Lohan decision is the only true turn off most industry people disagree with.

Am I wrong, or is there an Autobot logo on this dress?

I was initially disheartened with Jonathan Saunder’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection, not because the designs were lacking, but because his normally vibrant collection is full of what can be described as Easter colors.

As I clicked through the collection on Style.com, I processed the pastel pieces, the sheer insets, the phantom tie-dyes, and the bra/skirt combinations I’d only sport while running around my house trying to find a top. Suddenly, I’m hit with this dress worn by model, Janeil, that makes me question my sanity.

Am I really seeing what I think I’m seeing?

I love that subconsciously or not, Saunders is a Transformers fanboy and has designed a dress for  a geeky fashion lover to wear to the midnight opening of the next Transformers movie. A movie she will secretly love, but announce that she abhors because it isn’t even close to the original Transformers cartoon plot, and thus, disgraces the name— ahem— not that I have any experience with that matter. I only saw the movies for Shia LaBeouf.

What was I talking about again?

I’m sure you could give a flying rat’s ass about my opinion, but this must be said: Pixie Geldof, though a celebrity and pretty in her own right, is not a runway model. A fact that is quite evident considering the picture to the left. She may be skinnier than most people, but skinny does not equate hanger-esque.

Honestly, it isn’t her weight that makes her look awkward on the runway, it’s her height. The fact that you put her in shorts that resemble a diaper— that’s a nappy to you— and flat shoes only contributed to the accentuation of her non-modelesque stature.

Normally, I’d celebrate the addition of normal girls in high fashion modeling, but as much as I’d like to shun the tall, skinny model stereotype, you at least need to have height or the illusion of height, i.e. high heels, to look good on the runway.

That’s my rant. Take it as you wish.

Photo: Style.com ]]> http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/09/22/pixie-walks-viv/feed/ 3 http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/09/16/bow-down-to-the-bow/ http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/09/16/bow-down-to-the-bow/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:58:35 +0000 Chelsea Rae Simmons http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/?p=1312

After completely lusting over the Marc by Marc S/S ’10 collection, I realized I liked the big floppy bows not because of their innate originality, because let’s face it, bows like that have been around for a while, but because they reminded me of the bows I had seen Raquel Reed and Audrey Kitching wearing a while ago made my Clash City & Co.

The idea is pretty much the same— big bow+headband— but, the Clash City headbands are a bit more discreet because there isn’t the extra fabric wrapped around them. As much as I like the look of a mess of layered fabric on a headband, the Clash City headbands are the right price— which happens to be under $15— and they make custom headbands.

Oh, and Clash City & Co., you could totally make an extra buck by adding the extra fabric around the headband itself. Come spring, girls will be clamoring for anything and everything that is reminiscent of the Marc by Marc collection.

My first infatuation with an entire collection has finally occurred this season. Generally, I love a skirt here or a dress there from most collections, but in my opinion, the Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2010 collection was perfection from Look 1.

I might be completely crazy because the collection was a bit reminiscent of collections past, but I felt like I could identify with everything sent down the runway. That’s what this giant industry of fashion is all about, right, creating something that is not only beautiful but also marketable to consumers so the cycle has a chance of continuing for another season.

Though, like most people, my self-perception may be a little skewed, I saw my own style in the Marc by Marc collection— or maybe it was simply the style I wish I had. Everything about the laid-back tees with belted skirts, mismatch prints, bold colors, and large hair bows feel right for this time of my life.

Sure, I may replace some of the bows with feathers or leaves à la DVF’s S/S ’10 collection, and I might even trade more of the plaid shirts for t-shirts, but even without doing anything to the collection, I would wear head-to-toe Marc by Marc Jacobs S/S ’10 forever if I could.