1980 vs. 2020

Topshop Unique London Fashion Week destroys it again! This time the focus is on Fall 2009. I labeled the title, "1980 vs. 2020" because it reminds me of the 1980's and what ' i love the 80's' fashion would resemble if we were in the year 2020. As we know it, everything moves in a circle. I am most interested in forward thinking, and futurism when it comes to design interpretation. And this set of looks I feel is aligned perfectly with the concept of 1980's and the future. Cheers!


♥ xx styliiista xx

My Beautiful Supporters...

Dear my dedicated followers, please accept my apologies for not blogging as frequently as I would like to. We have entered the Spring season, and I've come to terms with the idea that my blog needs a makeover. In this discovery, I have been looking for ways to differentiate my blog identity from all the other fashion-related blogs in the blogosphere... and want to make very clear that the 'Styliiista' journey is about highlighting these findings and predictions. I fully support the theory in practicing "quality versus quantity" thus work hard to ensure my blog reflects a more tailored experience. All of the global trend forecasting updates, and discoveries I record are to share inspiration. I've decided to blend style elements into professional layouts, to express my vision and talent. I have become extremely passionate about re-creation and originality. These artistic layouts I document from various designers collections are put into collage form and are a new priority in every Styliiista archive. All written and visual content is representative of the (6) years experience I have as a stylist, creative director, designer, and writer, which I post to translate for the people. I feel it's important to make my blog a bit more personal. And through this medium, I hope you are influenced in your own unique capacity and budget. Thank you for the support and love people! xoxoxox!!! ♥

♥ xx styliiista xx

Discover: © Hemyca

"Hemyca" Britain's junior design label is really pushing the envelope of unique tailoring for Fall 2009. I find myself captivated by the new luxury brand and appreciate the specialty detailing in the embellishment of the typical female form. I am mainly moved by independent and “avant garde“ designers who have something unique to showcase, and whom bend the rules of classic shapes... Hemyca has accomplished that very brilliantly.



♥ x styliiista

The Future Silhouette

A new one to watch, Hungarian designer Dora Mojzes. Her graphic and bold illustrations are geometrically mesmerizing. The 3-D effects and the silhouette once the piece is actually constructed makes me admire her beautiful ability to translate. Mojezes ultramodern design techniques are quite futuristic. I want to be the villian wearing these pieces in film... There is substance in her collection even if she sticks with a theory of using only black as her color of choice. I sense the vibe that the era of the 40's plays a super role in the influence of each piece. Although her label is quite new and refreshing it still carries a slight vintage feeling. These pieces are definitely the future... and geometry is the ruling factor. X







♥ xXx styliiista

For The Not So Privileged

Is space-age fashion the new future of fashion inspiration? Or is it is just my imagination? My new favorite futuristic fashion-forward design duo happens to be Berlin based label " Scherer Gonzalez." The luxury materials range from silk, leather, and satin with extraordinary detailing in pleats, lacing and boning. The highlighting factor in this collection is definitely the posterior enhancement. Gonzalez's superb tailoring is very sculptural and designed specifically to enhance the female form which I love. But if you are Beyonce, please do not over-enhance the already enhanced curves. These pieces are strictly for those without. And furthermore I am absolutely delighted that these pieces are android futuristic yet still quite functional.

*Photographers: Constanze G. González & Paul Scherer

♥ xx styliiista

The Hunger Collection?

Paris Fashion Week is serving up wild inspirations from nature for Fall 2009 and Lie Sang Bong presents her "Hunger Collection." Bong's collection is a cross between tribal fashion and the future of super heroes. Her pieces are courageously unique. Heavily marked with prints and intricate detailing such as: laser-cut leather, dip-dyed over-sized tassels, tiger print cat suits, and gladiator strapped thigh-high platform boots... you can't get more down to the wild than impersonating a look that epitomizes "Cat Woman meets Grace Jones in 2020"... and well, take it for what it is. Wild and Costume-y. I feel these pieces would be great for film, or fashion editorial...



♥ x styliiista

Triumph of The Sign: Exhibition

Early April 2009, the first solo exhibition of fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac opened @ Paradise Row in London. " Paradise Row" presents the 1st solo show of Jean Charles de Castelbajac & is located is in the heart of East London arts district, Brick Lane. The exhibition is open until May 2nd 2009. I am making plans 2 go next Wednesday! This news excites me! Moving on to discuss the enormity of Castelbajac's career as a designer, his collections have been linked to collaborations with (some 'late') artists including: Jean-Michel Basquait, Andy Warhol, Loulou Picasso, Bettina Rheims & Stephen Sprouse. In following his ♥ for design, Castelbajac's career began when he learned to adopt the concept of " Cultural Hijacking" learning that the synthesis of images, signs, symbols and styles CAN be hijacked for use of cultural photo-copying. Castelbajac recycles various art forms into modern visions thereby taken from previous artistes... simply by borrowing inspiration. Using this formula, Castelbajac has now become a contributor of contemporary visual culture in the world of art.



In the exhibition called, "Triumph of The Sign" Castelbajac presents a series of paintings that articulate his fascination with, broadly, the tensions and synergies between high art and consumer culture, and most specifically that defining element of contemporary visual culture – the brand logo. In a process that mirrors the production of mass-consumer goods, Castelbajac commissioned painters in China to perfectly reproduce a series of Western masterpieces, from Bronzino to Manet, and another group to paint logos on the surfaces of the copied masterpieces. The resulting works ironically embrace a flattening of hierarchies, a breakdown of distinctions and an evacuation of content.”

*Ending content (above) taken from Paradise Row.

♥ xo styliiista

JC Castelbajac

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac is one of my favorite designers. Always! His collection is once again, BOLD and charismatic. His fall 2009 runway inspires fellow designers around the globe to be daring, and try something more imaginative. After all as a designer, you set the pace for the rest of the world. Use your talents well. :) And you see that with Castelbajac, season after season he consistently nails this 'idea' to an extreme... which is why I ♥ his bravery... With this fall showcase, I get a sense that Jean-Charles is playing tribute to the late Stephen Sprouse with the graffiti-inspired print on the over-sized tee's (below). I adore the morphing of a pop-inspired tee collection of silk-screened faces. For Spring 2009, Castelbajac gave ♥ to President Barak Obama.



This season, he followed a similar montage yet opted to silkscreen the faces of: Clint Eastwood, Michael Jackson, and Andy Warhol. He went wild with the animal print and introduced his fascination for them using bunches of stuffed animals on blouse tops in cheetah fabric to out-due the cheetah print. Another stint Castelbajac used was many cartoon-ish features to his collection such as: Kermit the Frog, Elmo and even Giraffe Faces. He went on to further embellish his runway with a superimposed face of President Barak Obama on the front of a dollar bill print on the dress itself. If you can't stretch your imagination to such great lengths then what is it about 'you' that makes you a great designer? Castelbajac is one of the greatest in my opinion... x

♥ xx styliiista

p.s. yes these are my layout skills *click image to enlarge :)

The Dolls

The latest editorial "Living Doll" in the new May 2009 issue of UK Elle is all about models becoming positioned in poses that reflect a doll coming to life. The spectacular series and the (2) toned hosiery are to die for! I am ♥ the vintage sunnies, and the dress in the last black/white frame below is just perfect. You see it didn't need any accessories, or shoes or anything else next to it. Simply amazing!

Photographer: Lee Broomfield
Model: Valeria Dmitrienko

♥ xo styliiista

On Display

Well my apologies for the very few posts lately. Things have been super on the go here in London and I haven't had as much personal time to blog as I had hoped for... here is one of my TOP installations of the week... and this boutique happens to be Zara. I just ♥ how much imagination was put into the visual displays. Zara is always excellent for this... Enjoy! x



♥ x styliiista x

Just in Time for Easter

So looks like I am just in time for Easter (well on American soil, that is.) Happy Easter my darlings! For some reason this pair of geometric print leggings remind me of Easter a bit. Perhaps it's the pastel colors and the geometric shapes in the print of the leggings... but I absolutely adore them. And the top is so flouncy and sexy, I need both of these pieces in my closet. The leggings and top are by: Complex Geometries... x

♥ xxx styliiista

Futurism Fascination

Animation is a new phenomena popping all over high fashion series now-a-days. ‘Parallel Universe’ is a creative fashion editorial for Future Claw Magazine and this issue is all about mixing animated art with real models. It's kind of like turning "live" models into animated cartoons... that pop out of the pages of a magazine in a very 3-D kind of way... and it is quite fresh and graphic... I like this artistic fashion edge. Someone smart should do a fashion exhibition exploring the take on this new phenomena. Is mixing animation and high fashion our new future?




Photographer: Philip Valende
Model: Kara

♥ x styliiista

Wings Will Make You Fly

Kate Moss models her own line for Topshop Spring 2009 wearing her own pieces for her official advertisement campaign. She looks gorgeous as usual! My top pick is the wing jacket... If I could have a super-power it would be to fly.






Photographer's (Duo): Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot.

♥ xo styliiista

Musings: Lady Gaga

Gracing the front cover of ASOS Magazine for issue April 2009 featuring 'Lady Gaga' in her interpretation of wearable art. I ♥ her for her futuristic fashion sense and unique take on style... I watched an interview on Kiss TV (U.K) where she mentioned that her 'look' is art. And it's meant to be powerful. She is inspired by Grace Jones and her essence of exuding geometric style... also David Bowie and Christina Aguilera. All of which Gaga considers her favorite style inspirations. She intends on designing an Avant Garde collection one day. Don't you notice a trend in musicians that become designers?





Photographer: David Venni
Styled By Top UK Stylist: Cynthia Lawrence-John

♥ x styliiista x

Paint Me With Stripes

My initial reaction to the Fall 2009 Christopher Kane collection (piece 1-6) had me feeling a bit puzzled... until I discovered these pieces further down the runway. In this, I've gathered the gist of the key trend focus for Fall 2009... interpreted beautifully by Christopher Kane. It is all about Stripes & Panels. Sheer & Block Asymmetrical Panels and Stripes. I ♥ his translation as it draws your eyes to the center of the dresses. Perfect symmetrical RTW Collection. The color suggestion is soft and feminine meshed together in angelic and striking shapes. Sheer silks overlay dark blocks, and exhibit separation with the black piping detailing. Kane's Fall collection is both bold and daring. He manages to always create outside the lines... & his impulsiveness is to simply adore.





♥ x styliiista x