Roster of Fall Trends [+ & what are you doing for fall?]

AH, Gloria here. Apologies for not writing!! I swear, this always happens to me...whenever I get back to school, I'm totally uninspired concerning post ideas! It's because I hardly get off campus, and I focus so much on my o-chem and physics now (it's so killer) that I can't even begin to think about fashion or anything concerning it. I haven't gone shopping since summer. So this post is totally gonna suck ass (seriously), but I just wanted to let you guys knows I'm still here! [I guess that sounds really stupid].

So I'm not even thinking about the spring runway collections...I mean, SPRING. goodness sakes...here in SoCal it's still warm at times...I can't even whip out my fall ideas [2 posts ago]. I mean, you try wearing your fall wardrobe when it's 80-90 degrees out! Or even worse, your winter palette (mine is pink, red, white, cream, gray, black) It's really annoying too because I'm just slumming it --clothing-wise-- I just wear whatever + sweatpants half the time. I wore my phillip lim uniqlo dress like the 2nd day of the semester and...that was it. I feel like I'm in limbo! Anyway, so how in the world can I think about spring when we haven't even gotten through fall and winter...and those 100s of collections? It's way too overwhelming.

About a month ago I decided to catalogue all the trends different writeups were saying would be in (or rather, what those in the know would be more inclined toward) for F/W 2007...and it's a LOT:

Fall/Winter Trends

gray, and brown
head-to-toe black
dark with the occasional punch of a rich, muted color
purple shade accent colors
ruffles
polka dots
large, volumed sleeves
matte metallics/ lame
chunky knits
thick, heavy heels [maryjanes, oxfords]
very fitted, body-conscious clothes
opaque tights
origami folds [interesting, but unfortunately not mainstream]
broad/strong shoulders [ewwww]
tweeds
plaids
Russian, Asian
trapeze shapes
lame, rosettes
bubble hem?
as always, waistline goes higher and higher.
long gloves
sequins [well, they had a lifespan of a week a month ago]
jumpsuits/overalls
car coats
white tights [not so much I think]
cowls to hoods
capes/capelets
hats
minimalism
the 20s
refined elegance/lady-like
brocade, satin, velvet

sooo which of these are you guys doing? what are you gravitating toward? I already spilled the beans on what I'm leaning toward for F/W, so you guys do the same! I want to know. From this list though, all I know is that I'm good with the lady-like and minimalism...and dark opaque leggings [along with decorative, interesting, leggings] are a must...like the one thing that's a for-sure for this season.

F/W 2007 declared "in" things that are an issue:
fur. (cough cough) [that's what they say every year]
feathers (cough cough?) [I don't think it's sticking]
patent leather? [well they say this every year as well]

carolina herrera :(
Of course, I'm sure you read the ethics on leather post I did, so I am going to insert my "mini-PSA" about fur. You know there's something to it when Rebecca Taylor and Nicole Miller very recently announced that they are never using fur again.

I've made so many posts about the problem with fur and the common arguments for wearing fur...they're all under the "category" section under "animal cruelty - skins industry". But today I'm just going to say this... it's important to be an aware consumer. Animals (including the babies, whose skins are also prized) go through so much pain and torture right when they're born and are ill-treated. Their lives go unappreciated. It's not as easy as people want to believe-- that they live in the wild, then are captured, and you take the meat and make it into a coat. Some people tend to have a "it's what's typical of life" mentality, that the fittest survive.

But this is unapplicable, this industry is so beyond cruel. They don't even have a fighting chance to live. This isn't natural selection. And then there's the, "We need to control the population." And that's just...uncomprehensible to me. The demand is big enough that these fur farms are inhumanely killing millions of lives that they make them keep breeding and breeding. Animals were not put on Earth to be exploited. Someone once said that a country can be judged on the way it treats it's animals...which holds much truth. What makes the pain between your dog and a fox different? Why do 20 chinchillas need to be killed to hang on a woman? And speaking of dogs, the fur industry is so huge now that in China, dogs and cats are being skinned alive for their skins, so then that brings a closer question, how is your dog's life any different from another dog's? And then there's the apathetic, "Why should you care?" Well, why wouldn't you?

The good crazy part is you can do something about it. The only way it can happen is if the demand goes down. You can not buy into the industry, you can talk about it, write letters to your favorite retailers, write letters-- sometimes they're already written out for campaigns-- to your favorite labels [Burberry: http://www.bloodyburberry.com/] You're a consumer, and in that, you have power.


I normally always give links to PETA & HSUS...thought you might like to hear about a different site: http://www.animal-protection.net/

As my future lover (I wish) Joaquin says..."It is hard to fathom that anyone is still wearing fur. It is so plain to see that killing animals for their fur is completely barbaric. The only purpose is vanity." Hey, I like to look good...but I just don't want to harm lives while doing it.


ps. you know I <3 you guys! I'm taking time to finish this @ 3.20 AM

AML Season Finale Review (that's all, folks)

Three things before I get on to the final review of the season finale of AML which aired a week ago:

1. College has started for me. That may mean more infrequent posts, we'll see. But I'm definitely going to aim for one a week.

2. The central Jersey UNIQLO closed down!! I was immensely sad...I had wanted to do some back to school shopping there :(

3. Su from The Stiletto Effect gave me a Rockin' Girl Blogger Award! Thank you so much sweetie! It's nice to get some recognition from an already awesome blogger :)

Now I have the honor to pass this honor on to 5 others:

http://fashionfleur.blogspot.com/
http://thecoveted.blogspot.com/
http://mrschocolate.blogspot.com/
http://dianabobar.wordpress.com/
http://thefray.typepad.com/

If you already got tagged, suck it up! :P But if you haven't, do pass this on to 5 other bloggers.


AML Finale Review

I have just got to say...this was the most well-put-together episode out of the whole series. In every aspect. [will be spoilers]

To start with, Joel, the NEXT co-pres called the girls in and proceeded to tell them what (or what not) they would be doing for NEXT. Beatrice is (whew, surprisingly!) told that their branch in Florida is crazy about her photos, while Michelle is told they are sending her to the London branch because they feel she has much potential there. Then you know who's sent home...?

I LOVE this girl
she's a chameleon.



Angelika was told to go home. It figures right? It should have clicked in my head before, during the last post, since I really could not find any recent photos of her at all (other than of the mike & chris shoot). I mean, I kind of feel bad, but I kind of don't...? And the reason they discharged her was precisely because of her attitude. *shrug*

Anyway, for the last three girls, Joel and Petra say they [Abby, Lucia, Valeria] are being sent to the BA-HA-MAS for a beach shoot WOOT woot! Because they want to evaluate them more to decide whether they're right for NEXT. It seemed to me that they picked their favorite, vibrant kids to send off to have a good time [and make for an exciting season finale].

And of course, cue the tears and hugging when they get back to the hotel since all the tickets are booked for that night.




So, the three lucky girls get to the Bahamas, it's totally gorgeous as expected, and they stay in a swank hotel, the Atlantis. They have a brilliant view. They meet the camera crew and Karl (their cheeky makeup artist), it's all very casual (thank god) and they chat and get accustomed to their surroundings. Their English photographer shows them around the aquarium and the three girls get an interactive session with the famous Katrina dolphins and their handlers (so cute!).


Tyra visits the Katrina dolphins


Then they head back to the hotel and hunker down to work. They're doing a shoot for Rampage-- one of the brands Petra fronts for. Personally, I was expecting something a little more...high fashion, but I'm not going to complain. Then there was this completely hilarious part (good editing) where the photographer keeps bugging Karl as the girls are getting made-up for the shoot, "Karl? Karl?" 5 seconds later, "Karl, Karl? Come here" 10 seconds later, "Karl? Karl? Karl?"

When they finally get on the beach, it's a lot harder than it seems-- for example, Abby has to model on some rugged rocks (ouch). Overall: lucia- a tad too pouty, abby-fun/playful/strong [she seems to have gone from an awkward girl to an intense woman]. valeria- squinty (joel and petra said so as well when they flew back to NYC). They also told them that the three of them still couldn't get down the art of making the clothing stand out (as models, looked good, but they needed to learn how sell the clothing).




So then after Joel fumbles about each of the girls and especially about Lucia's striking eyes, he announces that NEXT would love all three of them to work with them, and that they each recieve $100,000 contract. Yeah, beat that ANTM.

However it's still unclear to me whether Michelle and Beatrice got the same package. Then Joanna Coles from Marie Claire comes into the boardroom (surprise surprise!) and she says that all three of them are going to be featured in a spread in Marie Claire. And of course, cue excitement and elatedness (is that a word?) and the three girls and even Petra starts crying happy tears. Joanna adds, "I never cry." And then they all leave in taxis, with Abby at the very end and Lucia saying, "No bye" as she got into the cab because she didn't want to say goodbye and get teary...aw...

Joanna Coles


The final episode was like the end chapter of a really good book, totally satisfying. The cherry on top of a sundae. Though I do wonder if one of the Marie Claires has come out yet with that spread..? Anyone?

I can only feel that if they have another season next summer, that it will be even better.


PS. Abby looks like she could be Ian Somerhalder's cousin.