It's Here!

Clear your calendars for this Sunday, March 01, because it's that time of year again, the time every young lady waits patiently for... SNEAKER CON!

Brainchild of the founders of sneakernews.com, nitrolicious.com, and freshnessmag.com, the one-day event is a Buy/Sell/Trade convention that will feature the dopest in Nike, Adidas, Puma (and any other damn sneaker brand you can think of!) footwear and apparel. Over thirty vendors will be on the scene to provide some of the most devoted heads with access to rare Jordans, Vintage Air Forces, and extremely limited collabo collections.

Although admission on this is $10.00, you'll have access to some of the rarest items in the market and music by DJs Complex and IXL will be provided.

Peep the flyer below, chock full of all the details you need. See you all on Sunday!

Jinkies!

These Jeffrey Campbell combat-esque boots are nothing short of the perfect stomping beauties I've been looking for this entire winter season. Featuring the traditional frontal layer of fringe, this classic combat style gets a high-fashion spin from a thinner sole, which also makes is very practical and wearable.

I would love to go Velma with these! A plaid skirt, bright sweater, and these babies would certainly get a "Jinkies" from me!

Buy these here!

Shortie Fell Off HARD Son!

Remember back in the day when Kim was a real bitch?



What the hell happened?! Peep her photoshopped mess for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars on ABC.




(Image thanks to ThatGrapeJuice)

Finally

After putting out a slew of nutty-colored, unrealistic garbage for the ladies this past winter, Nike is stepping up to the plate with a new Spring releases. From the youthful-minded Nike 6.0 line, the Dunk High features a bright green/hunter green/purple/orange colorway and is a seductive mix of nubuck, suede, and leathers.

Finally! A fun, bright sneaker for women that isn't just a collection of various shades of pink. I'm happy to see that Nike can offer consumers a sophisticated colorway that steps outside the box of what is traditionally "girly". While these Dunks definitely still have a feminine tinge to them, the addition of the hunter green lends a masculine edge to the sneaker, taking it from fantasy to reality.  Set to hit the stores in limited release, these will probably sell out fast so make sure to cop yours early.

(Images via Sneakernews) 

Ain't No Love Like Hellz Bellz In the City...

Streetwear heavyweights HellzBellz have leaked images from their Spring 2009 collection, entitled "Culture Clash". The first installment in the upcoming season's releases, the warm-weather collection was inspired by HellzBellz's home base, New York mothaf*ckin City!

According to Lanie, founder, designer, and all-around creative guru for the line, the cultural diversity of the 5 boroughs was ultimately the inspiration behind the direction of the line:

"Taking it back to where it all began… NYC of course, the collection was inspired by the cultural melting pot itself, bringing to you a line full of vibrant colors and patterns, uniting and bridging cultural boundaries."

From Asian prints to animal skins, the collection is one of Bellz' best in my opinion. Intricately crafted T-shirts and boyishly fun jackets provide the rough-and-tumble aesthetic that the modern woman looks for, while alluring sweaters and playful leggings offer an innocent

suggestion of sex appeal to temper it all out. I am adoring the variety of prints and treatments available, such as the acid-wash denim jacket, because it easily takes simple pieces from boring to fly.

Peep some of my favorite items from the preview below, and view the rest of the collection here.

The Oscars: The Wrap Up

The Oscars were last night, and they were all song and dance! Definitely a fun time, and still politically responsible (go Milk!).

Anyways, check out the wrap-up of the good, the bad, and the ugly below...

Nicole Kidman in L'Wren Scott--
Beautiful dress.
Too bad it's on a bobble head!

Tilda Swinton in Lanvin--
Paper bag upper on this one...

Freida Pinto in John Galliano--
Age appropriate and vibrant, loves it!

Halle Berry in Marchesa--
Black and Gold done right...

Beyonce in House of Dereon--
Black and Gold done wrong.
Horribly wrong.

Natalie Portman in Rodarte--
Totally ill-fitting and bad color choice.

Penelope Cruz in vintage Balmain--
Elegant fantasy

Mickey Rourke in Jean Paul Gautier--
F*ing bad ass and you know it!

Brangelina in Tom Ford and Elie Saab--
Pretty. Boring.
Basically, Brangelina in a nutshell.

Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent--
Love the gradient!
Adventurous and sophisticated.

Jessica Biel in Prada--
Ouch.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman in...
a beanie.
Really? A beanie?

Viola Davis in Reem Acra--
Simply divine. Great color choice.

Marisa Tomei in Atelier Versace--
Daring yet incredibly refined.
And look at that body, holy crap!

Taraji P. Henson in Roberto Cavalli--
Stunning.
You betta work, girl!

Sarah Jessica Parker in Christian Dior--
Who's a good little Pretty Princess?

Zack Efron and Vanessa Hudgens in
Dolce & Gabbana and Marchesa--
The kids are alright!

Miley Cyrus in Zuhair Murad--
I like this dress.
I just wish someone else was wearing it!

Does Anyone Have $550 I Can Borrow?

I love these Marc by Marc Jacobs Woven Boxer Booties. Can't you just picture yourself rockin' these with black cuffed shorts, a peach colored drapey top, and a crazy-yet-charmingly-cute fedora on a Saturday morning at brunch?

Too bad I can't afford brunch, or these booties because they are $550.

If you have $550, buy them here and check out more pics below!





(Thanks to MissCrew for the heads-up!)

Boy by Band of Outsiders

Boy by Band of Outsiders unveiled their Fall 09 Ready-to-Wear collection this week, and a serious bump up in quality was evident from the first look. Producing the new collection in conjunction with an Italian mill renowned for working with some of the top Parisian design houses, the sharp tailoring that is a staple of Band of Outsiders' men's line was finally made a part of their women's collection. Designer Scott Sternberg revealed that the partnership "affords us to approach things properly", a statement definitely echoed by the clean and expertly cut pieces the brand debuted at NY Fashion week.

Inspired by the May 1968 student revolution and its influence on popular French culture, the collection featured schoolboy and schoolgirl looks with a high-fashion flair. Simple schoolgirl stripes and minis were dressed up with basics such as smartly cut wide-leg trousers in tweeds and corduroys, elegantly tailored trenches and peacoats in various textures, and slouchy harem pants.

Sternberg hinted that his primary influence was the revolutionary 1967 Jean Luc Godard masterpiece La Chinoise. The French New Wave film that follows the story of a group of bored bourgeois students who begin to indoctrinate themselves into the radical revolutionary teachings of Maoism proved to be a major visual influence on the direction of Boy by Band of Outsiders line. One of the major themes of the film revolves around the way in which fashion attaches itself to various political and social ideologies in an effort to make a statement. However, the film goes on to suggest that any political statements become obsolete as the counter-culture statements are popularized for mass consumption in a consumerist society that has little to no interest in familiarizing themselves with the ideology behind the visual (think Obama t-shirts galore-- Go Obama! But how many can confidently discuss his stance on Darfur?).




As evidenced by the trailer above, Boy by Band of Outsiders definitely did their research. The film's costuming choices such as newsboy hats, fitted mohair sweaters, and primary colored basics are reflected in the line. The lack of visual arrogance (all of the designs are clean-cut and minimalist) ascribes to the philosophies of the students in La Chinoise--fashion free of political presence can look just as hot!

Peep some of out favorite looks below, and you can check out the rest of the line here.

Eegads! It's Ikat!

(Derek Lam Resort 08)

Shining sun and flowers in bloom are on their way, I swear! With spring just a couple of weeks away, it's time to start thinking of wardrobe changes. One of the biggest trends every spring is the print. From flowers to polka dots and plaids, spring prints have varied over the last few season but have remained very accessible. However, this spring that is about to change with the emergence of a new print, one that has its roots in the ancient cultural history of Southeast Asia and will most certainly give your wardrobe a fresh boost for the season, Ikat.

Ikat is actually not a print but a traditional style of weaving in which threads of fabric are resist-dyed and woven in a process very similar to tie-dye. First, tiny knots are tied into the fabric. When dipped into the dye, the knots resist the color, resulting in a lively pattern. The fabric is then (traditionally, at least) handwoven to create a unique design each time. The practice of Ikat weaving spread from Southeast Asia to Mexico and South America during the Age of Discovery, and was often viewed as a symbol of wealth and status.

Ikat continues to be an inspiration to modern designers whose names reflect wealth and status--the ethnic-inspired print showed up on the Spring and Fall 08 runways of name designers such as Balenciaga and Oscar de la Renta. Opting to mix the bold, global-tinged pattern with ultra-feminine, traditional pieces such as blazers, minis, and elegant heels. The result is an eye-catching clash of east-and-ethnic-meets-womanly-and-west.

Pair your ikat print pieces with a simplistic, traditional base to keep the look from being too over-the-top. Elegant accessories and heels will take you far with the look as well, so with sandals and subtle breezes in mind, peep our favorite ikat pieces for spring below and go out and cop you some!

(Roberto Cavalli at eluxury)

(Shoshanna at Shopbop)

(Vintage Top at NastyGal Vintage)

(Kimchi Blue Briefcase at Urban)

Babushka

Holy Shinkies!! How hot is this Russian Doll Clutch that Lilly Allen was spotted with? Part of Chanel's Pre-Fall 09 Collection, the starlet was toting the clutch around town late last week, paired with a simple black-and-white ensemble.

This shit is so dope! I am speechless except for... Gimme one! Another sucess from Karl. However, a success I can't afford, as the tote is priced at over $3700.

(Thanks to MissCrew for images and info)

Marc by Marc Jacobs Flats

How cute are these Marc by Marc Jacobs flats! Clearly, he was on to our Lolita trend as well, because the wonderfully adorable graphic on the toe features a smiling girl donning a bright red pair of heart-shaped sunglasses.  

Don't worry, he thought it all out and made a pair for your not-so-happy days as well... 

Both pairs are now available on Shopbop.

Grammy Wrap Up...

So, the Grammies are going on at the moment. They are not as boring as they have been in the past, but still pretty boring overall. Is mainstream really that dull? The only good thing that popped off was the "Swagger Like Us" performance. I can't even front, it was hot. MIA is as fun preggers as she was 9 months ago, and Lil Wayne had his scarf swag in full effect. 

At least fashion livened things up at bit, or some of the fashion anyways. Peep some of the best, and the worst, below!

Jennifer Hudson--

consummate,

 and the pumps add a subtle pop of color

MIA-- rockin' a Manish Arora dress and kicks

Crazy, but you gotta love her being 9 months 

pregnant and colorful as hell! 

Janelle Monae--

A true stylista, 

this look is a chance that paid off

Keyisha Cole--

After last week's hit,

she was due for a miss... 

Jay Z-- Classic and on point

Estelle-- um. A for effort? 

Kim K-

why was she there, 

other than for blatant booty promotion? 

Nas-- Obama swag gone wrong

Robin Thick and Paula Patton-- 

sexy, and loving Robin's black-on-black look

T-Pain-- Still shuckin' and jivin' for that money

Leona Lewis-- pretty, but boring

(Thanks to StuffFlyPeopleLike and Bossip for images!)