Trending Next Spring: Snow White

This has nothing to do with dressing up as the Disney character. This has everything to do with the second part of the title, the "white" part. The "snow" part relates to the fact that it actually snowed today in the Northeast, for the first time this winter. (Yes, it may have snowed/rained frozen hail in October, but it is not officially winter until December 22nd. I really am that annoying.)

There are a few trends for certain seasons that never really change; neutrals and dark colors for winter, florals and white for spring and summer. That's why I was debating whether or not I should cover them on this blog, seeing as they're givens. I finally decided that some people may not have noticed that these perpetual trends exist. Fashion is constantly evolving, so I wouldn't be surprised if one year white wasn't all over the runways--terribly devastated, but not entirely shocked.

We've all heard the saying before: "Don't wear white after Labor Day." I'm going to say it outright, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Who invented this? I also don't understand the phrases, "The proof is in the pudding," "It's as easy as shooting fish in a barrel," and the name "Daddy Long Legs," but those are all irrelevant at the moment. Even though the spring and summer seasons fall (season pun!) before Labor Day, there's no reason why we can't break that stupid "rule" that some idiot made up anyway. Wear a head-to-toe white if you so please; a lot of designers really dig that look for this year, especially Alberta Ferretti, Kanye West (I'm just as confused as you are. It's not that much of a shocker though, seeing as this is the same man who wore a women's Céline blouse to one of his concerts), Stella McCartney, and Vera Wang.

One thing to remember when outfitting yourself entirely in white is to keep your hair, makeup and accessories minimal. People think that wearing all ivory clothing is kind of scary, but if you follow the styling examples of designers such as Derek Lam, Stella McCartney, Alberta Ferretti and Givenchy you'll be able to rock it confidently. White compliments all skin tones in different ways, so don't worry about it being unflattering. If you've got milky skin yourself, the chalky tones of your clothing will make for some awesome monochrome dressing living. White garments are a beautiful compliment to olive- or coffee-colored skin, and the contrast between them and dark skin is incredibly gorgeous. Note: guys can wear this trend, too. I applaud any man that tries it. If you do, please send a picture to youreatulle@gmail.com and I will feature you on this blog. That's how much it excites me.

Enough blabbing from me, it's time to check out the photographs I've been referencing so much.

All photos courtesy of style.com.



Dress yourself as a glass of milk: 

                              Alberta Ferretti                                                             Alexander McQueen        
          

                                      Araks                                                                     Band of Outsiders
          

                                     Chanel                                                                     Christian Siriano
          

                                 Derek Lam                                                                        Doo.Ri
          

                                Emilio Pucci                                                                   Givenchy
          

                                 Jason Wu                                                                     Jonathan Saunders
          

                                Kanye West                                                                    Rebecca Minkoff
          

                                Louis Vuitton    (Kate King standing next to herself!)               Nina Ricci                                      
          

                                 Vera Wang                                                                     Prabal Gurung
          

                                    Rochas                                                                         Kanye West
           

                                 Sass & Bide                                                                    Valentino
          

                                  Vera Wang                                                                    Nina Ricci
            

                                 Vera Wang                                                                     Chanel
          

White suits you: 


                                   ADAM                                                                      Stella McCartney
          

                                    DKNY                                                                      Stella McCartney
          

                                Kanye West                                                                    Sonia Rykiel

          

                            Yves Saint Laurent                                                         Stella McCartney
          

                                   Versace                                                                         The Row
          

White-hot pants: 

                             Alberta Ferretti                                                             Maison Martin Margiela          

          

                             Charlotte Ronson                                                                   Chloé            

          

                             Alberta Ferretti                                                                      Lanvin

             

Philosophy

 The Fall 2012 shows are coming out in a few weeks, so we'll be wrapping up this whole "Trending Next Spring" segment on my blog. Except for the makeup, hair and accessory spring trends. That I'll come back to as the season approaches. Next one up? "Trending For Pre-Fall." Get hyped, guys!

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Solutions For Laziness

We've all been there. It's 10 p.m. You've been studying for finals reading blogs and obsessively checking Facebook all evening, and now you're dead tired. You have no desire to get up early in the morning to wash your hair because honestly, it's not dirty, but wearing it in clips all day made it look a bit extremely wonky. How do we fix this problem? Turband it. I bought an incredible vintage square scarf from my faves place, Hamlet's Vintage, back in May, and have turbanded twice since then; once in June and once in July. At the end of the latter month, however, I chopped off all my hair, and wearing such headscarves suddenly looked silly. Until yesterday.

I was faced with the dilemma described above, and needed a little bit of spunk in my outfit (80-minute exams all week make me thoroughly depressed, as well as the fact that Darren Criss was in my school today and I did not see him or know of this until several hours later, while at home. We shall not discuss this any further or I will burst into tears.). Solution: put your hair in a ponytail/braid/pigtails and then thread your scarf underneath your tied-up hair style of choice, knot it twice on the top of your head/hairline and tuck the resulting bunny ear flaps under the scarf. For a better tutorial, check it out from the source, Miss Man Repeller herself.

Anyway, below are pictures of what I wore with said critically acclaimed turband.
I had a blast taking these photos, I must say. I got a rush of adrenaline when I was lying on my back in my hallway with my feet on the wall, thinking about what would happen if the little old lady who lives across the hall came out and witnessed my actions.

Sweater: my dad's? White button-up: Diapositive Paris (given to me by my French aunt! In France!) Flare jeans: Abercrombie and Fitch via Housing Works Turband (it's a scarf but shhhh): Hamlet's Vintage Boots: Urban Outfitters

Things in this picture that shouldn't be happening: 

1. Me awkwardly pinching the sides of my sweater

2. Me looking abnormally pale (it's better than usual; often times I turn out an unnatural shade of green)

3. My jeans being unruly and thinking they're being worn by a teenage boy, and therefore looking baggy

4. One of my feet is just eating the other one 

Being pensive and contemplative, you know how it is. 

I have a secret: my shoe wasn't actually untied.

This is only effective because I was wearing flare jeans. Otherwise it would just be silly.

I decided to smile for once! I usually don't, which makes you think I'm an unhappy child. I laugh more than the average person, and generally at the most inopportune times, such as during tests, lectures, movies or funerals. 

Happy end-of-finals-week to all my schoolmates. Only three more times and we're done!

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Jason Wu For Target

Designer collaborations have been known to be kind of a rip-off. Not in the way that the actual products are illegitimate, but in the way that no one can actually buy any of the incredible discount designer merchandise except for the insaniacs (insane-maniac hybrid word) who go to Target at 2 a.m. and kill people by running them over in their frenzied state. That's why I was only able to get one blouse from the overly hyped Missoni For Target line (and a few headbands and hats, but that's not what I was after. My heart was set on a pair of knit shorts, which I never got). But I'm getting a good vibe from the Jason Wu For Target collection, because there hasn't been as much advertising for it as the Missoni one. Remember the larger-than-life-size doll at IFB Con wearing Missoni For Target clothing? That hasn't happend for our buddy Jason Wu...yet. 


I've had a special bond with Jason Wu ever since I met him at Fashion's Night Out--I'm obsessed with his work. If he ever somehow reads this, I would like him to know how much I admire his aesthetic and his tailoring. It's all so beautiful and fresh and clean and new and I'm freaking out. I'm gonna shut up and just get to the pictures. That is, the photos I selected from the lookbook. There will be an accompanying analysis of each piece, no der. Y'all know me.

Quick note: Before you view the lookbook, you may want to familiarize yourself with his style. Click any of the links below to see the corresponding runway show.

Pre-Fall 2011
Fall/Winter 2011
Resort 2012
Spring/Summer 2012
Pre-Fall 2012
Or, just see all of his shows from forever.

(Disclaimer: I tried to link in some legit photos but the formatting was just not being my friend. Sorry about that.)

All photos courtesy of huffingtonpost.com.

This dress reminds me of a girl playing tennis at a country club in the 1950's. Which means she never actually played tennis, she just walked around looking chic as hell. The black stripes make the dress modern, not retro.

I've said it time and time again (really, I have) that pale pinks are in for this spring. As silk chiffon blouse never goes out of style, especially when paired with a pencil skirt. But when that skirt has a lace overlay, it's just that much better. 

That print is so adorable that it makes me angry. Not really; that wouldn't make any sense. Don't even get me started on the penny-loafers-and-socks combo, or that little lunchbox. Only the classiest girls carry lunchboxes. 

This one says, "I'm an intellectual. I wear cardigans and cute dresses and carry books and wear loafers." And who doesn't want to be scholarly? Or at least look scholarly. That's easier.

I can't quite place the time period here, but all I know is that I love nothing more than a ribbon tied in a bow around a collared shirt (I've been known to rock that once or twice). The color of the skirt is very spring-ish (Easter Bunny colors, anyone?)

This is where our cute little 1950's girl goes fancy. It's a tight dress, but not stretch jersey sort of tight--that's not classy. This is.

Jason Wu likes to work in black, white and grey most of the time, so this crisp red blouse is a nice pop of color. Especially when paired with a printed skirt. He understands that when you've got such bright colors and patterns (mixed together, nonetheless), you have to keep the silhouettes basic. If you don't, you risk looking like you've walked out of an '80's music video. Which is totally fine, I've done it before, but it's not very Jason Wu.

Red, white and blue stripes: you can't get any more classic. 

The boatneck is an innovative addition to a basic navy dress. 10 points for Jason! 

I actually want that shirt/sweater/whatever it is I don't even care so much. I don't know why, because I'm not really a stripe-y girl, or much of a black-and-white girl either, but there's something about that collar peaking out, and the penny loafers, and the bag...I just can't even....

This is a scarf with cats printed on it, wearing scarves. 'Nuff said. 

You can see the entire lookbook here, but I hope this tiny glimpse into the world of Wu-dom was enough to whet your palate. Your color palette, that is. PUNS.

P.S. Check out my new Chictopia article!

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