Pink Rock Candy – Top fashion trends, news and shopping of 2010

1. ‘Abby’ Jacket by Mackage, $682 • 2. Blister Leather Jacket by Rick Owens, $2,695 • 3. Studded Jacket by Yigal Azrouël, $2,265 • 4. Shoulder Pads Jacket by Bebe, $198

I love the look of leather jackets, but have only owned one in my life. It’s a cropped oxblood jacket my sister got when I was little. She never wore it, so she gave it to me, and I’ve worn it only a handful of times. However, I think if I had the pleasure of owning one of these leather jackets, I’d wear it every single day.

All four leather hides are unique and amazing making me love them for different reasons. The Mackage jacket exposes my hippie side with a partial gypsy sleeve. The texture and simplicity of the Rick Owens jacket makes it practical and easy to pair with anything. Yigal Azrouël’s jacket caught my eye because of the studs— obviously— and, not only is the Bebe moto jacket fairly inexpensive, it follows this season’s oh-so-popular big shoulder trend.

If money was no object, which one would I buy?

Beats me!

Which is your favorite?

Yesterday, I hung out with my parents and my grandparents. Though it was fairly overcast, it had been the first day were there was limited rain, since my grandparents came into town. With that in mind, we headed to this little island owned by the town in which I live.

I’d never been there, but it was quite pleasant, not much bigger than a football field with beach on one side and rocks on the other. The elders shared a bottle of wine and chatted while I snapped away, hoping to luck into a good picture. I also dipped my feet in the ice cold Long Island Sound, but didn’t mind the frigidity because being in a little salt water will bring a smile to my face faster than you can say ‘sea’.

Also, a couple days ago, I bought the khaki motorcycle jacket Alexander Wang designed for GAP’s CFDA collection, and I love it. I wore it on the ferry ride to the island because it was a bit chilly.

See more pictures (more…)

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!

Truth. Sometimes I feel a bit like a tool. I play nice, go to work, do my homework/get good grades, eat my vegetables (most times), listen to popular music, use proper grammar, and yes, even follow some stupid clothing trends. I’m part of the machine, and sometimes I feel helplessly stuck— is there a way out? I suppose that’s why I idolize people like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrisson, and Kurt Cobain, they tried to get away from the machine, but unfortunately this also lead to their demise. Rock and Roll is all fun and games until some dies, but that’s not going to keep from pretending from time to time I’m a rebel without a cause.

Why is it that putting on a leather jacket makes you feel beyond cool. Think about where leather comes from, not so cool right? Still, as soon as you’re wrapped in it, you feel so badass, like, “where’s my chopper” badass! I’ve had this leather jacket for at least 10 years, making me 9 or younger when I received it as a present from my grandma. I think it was one of her amazing TJMaxx finds, but until now, I’ve hated it.

The jacket was only a little big when it was given to me, showing that I haven’t really grown much since I was in 4th grade. Its a cropped, oxblood, 80s style jacket, that I never really appreciated. The arms were a lot longer on me, but they’re still a bit long. The shape was always too boxy for me, but something about the puffiness of the skirt makes the large boxy fit of the jacket work. It also makes me not care so much that the dress is a bit big and would make even the most svelte model look pregnant.

I know the floral theme takes away from the rockin’ leather jacket feel, but I like that masculine/feminine juxtaposition. I also just love flowers. I got the giant flower that’s in my hair from H&M for something like $3, and I just tied a belt I never use, that came from one of my skirts, around my head. It’s sort of Jimi, sort of Anna Sui F/W08.

Maybe that’s me, a tad rebel a tad good girl. Excuse me while I make a playlist with only *N’SYNC and The Doors on it!

Who are your music idols/fashion inspirations?

It started with a myspace picture. As shallow as it may seem, having a pretty or professional looking myspace picture is a great way to draw people in— beauty is a magnet. That’s how I found Laura Dawson, and once I clicked on the little picture I was transported to a profile chock full of pretty and visually interesting garments from coats to shorts.

NY based designer, Laura Dawson, would describe her clothes as “avant garde” which is usually the term I like to save for my kooky, yet amazing, high school art teacher who wore two completely different cowboy boots on a regular basis (she also had Jim Morrison sleep on her floor for a month, but thats a different story). Dawson’s clothes are cutting edge yet timeless. No matter how trends change, it would be completely acceptable to wear her asymmetrical Una Wool Coat’ any time it started to get a bit nippy.

Ms. Dawson’s ‘Una Coat’ is brilliant and maybe even a bit avant garde, but I wouldn’t quite put the ‘Flame Hoodie and ‘Bubble Shorts’ in the avant garde pile. Though, its fair to say, everyone does need a pair of fun shorts (which also come in black for more basic purposes) and a warm hoodie or ten— proving not only can Laura Dawson do fun and unconventional but she can also satisfy your basic needs. Its almost mind-boggling to imagine something being avant garde and classic at the same time, but Dawson does an amazing job creating garments that seem to fit the bill.

For more information on Laura Dawson visit lauradawson.com or myspace.com/lauradawsondesign and visit the Laura Dawson online boutique to see what other fab clothes are available for purchase.