Cake

Finding A New Balance

2012-02-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

Are New Balance sneakers the new "it" shoe...especially for men? I was surprised when I started seeing the colorful sneaks on street style blogs. Keep an eye out for these in the coming show season. The look below is a Tommy Ton photograph from Pitti Uomo.

Also, my new favorite time waster is designing custom retro New Balance sneakers on their website. One can even embroider the back of each shoe. My colorful custom design is below.

Fall 2012 Jason Wu

2012-02-11T09:34:00.001-08:00

Gorgeous Jason Wu dress. The collection is said to have been inspired by his trip to China with his father.

Here Comes the Spring

2012-01-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

Valentino's Spring 2012 Couture Collection was about as airy and "springy" as it gets. I especially loved the fresh hair and makeup, because they are looks one can easily gather inspiration from and attempt at home.

Some Pre-Fall McQueen

2012-01-22T06:06:00.001-08:00

Below are three wonderful looks from the Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2012 collection, courtesy of WWD. I really love Sarah Burton's work at the fashion house, she consistently produces great work.

It's a New Year

2012-01-02T07:34:00.002-08:00

Lists are an inevitable part of every new year. Top 10 lists, "in/out" lists, best and worst, etc. I thought in the spirit of lists I would compile my own "in/out" list about fashion, pop culture, and more.

Out:
Stripes (they've at least moved to the sidelines)

The Prada Spring 2011 looks were stripe heavy, but it looks like a new pattern is taking over the runways.

In:
Polka-dots

This basic but classic pattern seems to be showing up everywhere, from the runway (like the Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 look above), to the street, to the editorials.

Out:
Suffering in heels

These Miu Miu shoes may have been the choice for many a trend-setter but it seems comfort might become a trend of its own (to a certain degree) with some fashionistas opting for sneakers.

In:
Fashionable sneaker statements

These patterned SUNO sneakers are a hit.

Out:
John Galliano at Dior

After his incriminating anti-semitic statements, John Galliano was ousted at Dior. Now the question is who will replace him.

In:
TBD

There are rumours that Raf Simons might be in at Dior, but it is ultimately undecided.

Out (in the purely political sense):
Kim Jong Il

North Korea mourned the death of their leader, while the "tumblr-sphere" continued to re-blog images of the leader looking at things. It seems like his son has already assumed that role well.

In:
His successor Kim Jong Un

Here is Kim Jong Un looking at something with other North Korean men.

Out:
Hating dubstep

Remember when it was kind of "fetch" to rag on dubstep?

In:
Dubstep

Now the musical genre seems to be infiltrating the music scene. Nero had an album which was favored by critics and the wobble bass of dubstep is finding its way into mainstream pop.

Out:
Gluten-free

Whole Foods may not empty its shelves of all of those gluten-free cookies just yet, but they may consider catering to a primarily vegan customer.

In:
"Semi-veganism"?

The recent New York Times article by Mark Bittman encourages readers to consider a semi-vegan lifestyle for a healthier 2012. Photo by Yunhee Kim.

A Touch of Whimsy

2011-12-15T18:28:00.001-08:00

So I must admit I really like the look of men in suits or nice slacks with colorful and patterned socks peeking through. I just think there is something very charming about it. Below is a picture by Tommy Ton (check out the socks) and then some of my favorites for the guys from J.Crew (always love J.Crew).

A Life Creative

2011-12-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

Todd Selby's apartment/creative space. I love Selby's site and all of the spaces of the people featured on it. Enjoy this video by style.com (yes, my go-to site for style videos)!

Comme T'es Belle!

2011-12-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

I have to say that I really enjoyed this recent Chanel collection titled Paris-Bombay 2011/2012 métiers d'art. The show was held at the Grand Palais in Paris. The embellishments were ornate and beautiful and the setting was so lush and over the top and packed with sweets that I felt a sugar high coming on just watching the video of the models walk down the runway. Below are a few of my favorite looks and the video is here

All images from style.com

Ornaments of My Affection

2011-11-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

The Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012 RTW accessories were absolutely amazing.The large earrings framed the models' faces beautifully. Some looks below.

All images from style.com

Yes Please

2011-11-10T15:08:00.001-08:00

Get ready to see these shoes everywhere come spring. Gotta love Prada.

Tommy Ton Behind the Scenes Video

2011-11-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

Because I love both Tommy Ton and Style.com I thought I would post a behind the scenes video of him the site recently featured.

Champion Sound

2011-10-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

And here is a catchy tune for the evening...

Miroslava Duma!

2011-10-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Love this adorable Russian girl's style. She can go from a chic all black ensemble to an almost comical sweatshirt and fur vest. So...basically want to be her.

Another Favorite: Valentino

2011-10-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

The designers at Valentino put out a great collection this season. Some highlights below.

All images from style.com

Chanel

2011-10-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

For the first time in a long time, I really liked the Chanel collection. I'm just usually on the fence about it, maybe because it's not my personal style. I really enjoyed this season.

All images from style.com

Dries Van Noten

2011-09-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a relatively extensive post about who I would say is my favorite designer, at least in terms of aesthetic quality, Dries Van Noten. His consistent intellectually minded collections are really inspiring. I will include some of my favorite pieces, a few beauty and detail photographs, and a video from the backstage coverage.

Details

Beauty Look

Style.com backstage video (it's where I always watch my fashion coverage - Tim Blanks, the interviwer, is great)

All images and video from style.com

Another Well Dressed (Very) Young Man

2011-09-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist posting a photo snapped by the Beyond Boston Chic photographer Martini. It seems she spotted this adorable little boy while in Paris, and the combination of his concentration and outfit make me smile. Her blog is great and you can find it here.

Great Backstage Coverage

2011-09-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

I like to not only look at the photos of the collections as they come down the runway but also the backstage photos because they seem to give an idea to the mood/theme/beauty elements of the show. Models.com always has great coverage. Below is an image by Julian Schratter and here is a link to some backstage Perry Ellis S/S '12 coverage.

Prada

2011-09-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

I have to do a post with my favorite look from Prada

...and some backstage beauty from the show

Images sourced from style.com

Burberry Time

2011-09-24T05:47:00.001-07:00

I know London Fashion Week is over but I need to post some Burberry looks before I move on to anything else. I thought it was a lovely collection.

The pieces were bright and eclectic, but still versatile

Some great evening wear

Great coat

Another great coat

Absolutely loved the men's looks as well

Milan

2011-09-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

Quick post of some Gucci!

Not a lot of color in this Spring/Summer collection but some good pieces

Images sourced from style.com

It's That Time Again

2011-09-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

Fashion Week!

Proenza Schouler

Alexander Wang

Altuzarra

J.Crew

Loved the J.Crew collection, Jenna Lyons can do no wrong

Pale September

2011-09-11T18:50:00.001-07:00

On a day for reflection, this song by Camille is a beautiful song for remembering the tragedy of that September morning ten years ago.

Grunge

2011-09-05T16:02:00.001-07:00

After a recent trip to the Northwest I've been thinking a lot more about the grunge style that was so popular in the 90s. A good friend of mine stole a rustic red flannel shirt from her older brother and I realized that the (albeit watered down)grunge look has become more accepted in large retailers. I will post probably the most famous image from the grunge era and some varied modern takes.

We Own the Sky

2011-08-16T12:25:00.001-07:00

I recently discovered this song on my iPod, and I didn't think I would like it as much as I do.
I'm also loving the striped blue and white shirt of one of the video kids (a wardrobe staple of mine).

Spring

2011-03-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

So, I know in many parts of the country the weather is suggesting winter but I thought I would just post some inspiring warm weather looks.

Photograph by Tommy Ton

Marc by Marc Spring 2011

Stella McCartney Spring 2011

Pitti Uomo Time!

2011-01-13T12:57:00.000-08:00

Finally, the time of Pitti Uomo has arrived. This is one of my favorite fashion times of the year. I love all of the unique ways men find to add color, flair and a general touch of individuality to their ensembles.

Enjoy these photos by Tommy Ton

Elisa Sednaoui

2011-01-05T15:46:00.000-08:00

I kept stumbling across pictures of this girl (or woman rather) named Elisa Sednaoui. It turns out she is a model/actress who is currently the face of DVF. But she is also the muse for Karl Lagerfeld and makes the party circuit with impressive style and elegance. Here are some pictures and a profile or her favorite things in Elle Paris.

DVF

Front Row

The Struggle for Equality

2010-12-29T05:54:00.000-08:00

I recently read an article in the The New York Times on Pakistani women. It turns out that the number of women in the work force in Pakistan is growing tremendously but the women taking the jobs face increased harassment (especially sexual, it seems).
Often times, they are told by their fiances or husbands that they cannot work-and are even offered money to stay home. Nontheless, many women are beginning to work in retail and food service.
What shocked me is the harassment they face just for trying to work to provide for their families and themselves. Their uniforms are stolen, they are verbally assaulted, and male customers assume that these women are sexually available because they offer them customer service.
The conditions of women around the world are so polarically different. While we talk about women being able to do it all in the United States and Europe women are just beginning to gain rights in less developed areas.
The article here

Je Suis Revenue

2010-12-27T08:34:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since the last entry but after hearing the news of Carine Roitfeld leaving French Vogue I thought I would do another post, with some of her memorable looks-and my own thoughts on where she might be going.

A young Carine

On The Sartorialist

With Emmanuelle Alt

With all the speculation-I myself think she will either go to Tom Ford or head another magazine, possibly a lesser known one. And we will also see who will replace her-with some saying it will be Emmanuelle Alt.

Kristen McMenamy in Kors

2010-08-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

One of the shots of Kristen in the August 2010 Vogue. Here she is wearing a Michael Kors wool coat with slit sleeves.

Loving the gray hair

A Dark Beauty

2010-07-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here are the images of the Givenchy Couture Fall 2010 collection by Riccardo Tisci.
I can't really express how beautiful I think these are-and all of the craftsmanship that went into them...amazing.

Photos courtesy of Givenchy

Some images from Day of the Dead celebrations that I thought were reminiscent of the collection

Photo by Mary J. Andrade

This collection was seemingly inspired by the human body (the skeleton in particular), as well as religion. In the NY Times and International Herald Tribune feature with Suzy Menkes Mr. Tisci describes why religion was such a crucial influence for the collectiona and shows the adorable Menkes some of the meticulous detailing on the dresses.

Heat Wave

2010-07-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

For the predicted record temperatures across the US (especially the East Coast) I thought I would post some fresh, heat and humidity-friendly looks from the Spring/Summer 2010 runways, street style images, party pics and more.

1. Easy, breezy...Doo.Ri

2. Always fresh and beautiful Stella McCartney

3. Keep cool in this airy and edgy look from Twenty8Twelve

4. Eniko Mihalik and Ana Gequelin at a CFDA party look effortless and cool (in every sense of the word)- photo by Joe Schildhorn / Patrick McMullan

5. Hanneli in lovely denim - photo by Tommy Ton

6. A lovely Sparkle and Fade Urban Outfitters Dress-only $48

Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 Campaign = Beautiful and Then Some

2010-06-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

Here are the images from the new Louis Vuitton campaign. The models are Natalia Vodianova, Karen Elson and Christy Turlington. The photographer is Steven Meisel and as is characteristic of him the women are glowing and not a hair or arm or leg or bag or...anything really... is out of place.

I like this departure from the Madonna campaigns-less high color and definitely not as stiff (and I feel Madonna should just stick to Dolce and Gabbana). The use of Karen, Christy, and Natalia is brilliant as this collection focused more on a beautiful, soft and mature woman (with at least some curves).

Anyway-I love it to say the least. I share fellow blogger Tavi Gevinson's admiration

Looks from Men's Milan and More

2010-06-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

I thought since women often get most of the attention for the women's RTW and couture I would do a post regarding men's fashion week.

Gucci-Flashy

Dolce and Gabbana-Wonderful White

Bottega Veneta-Modern Wanderer

Prada-Airy shorts, denim on denim, and scrub tops

Photographer Tommy Ton captures some boys outside of one of the shows

And finally an image from my favorite men's blog "StreetEtiquette"
http://streetetiquette.com/

Top Five Looks from the Met Gala

2010-05-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

1. Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein Collection- she looked unbelievable. It seems that lately she can do no wrong.

2. Natasha Poly in Michael Kors- looked stunning. Noah Mills didn't look too bad either.

3. Emma Watson in Burberry- pictured here with Christopher Bailey of Burberry, she looked grown up yet still youthful and sexy.

4. Iman in Prada- this woman never ages.

5. Allesandra Ambrosio in Versace- She just looks amazing, her dress and jewelry are just stunning against her skin tone.

Makes me Float

2010-04-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is my composer of the moment.

Satie's music has a magical quality about it that I can't pinpoint.

Lola

2010-04-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

A painting of Karlie Kloss in the Marc Jacobs "Lola" ad shot by Juergen Teller.

I was inspired by the Igor+Andre blog, although I can't compete with the talents of the blogger Danny Roberts.

My Top Ten From Fall 2010

2010-03-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

1. Dries Van Noten-elegant, easy, beautiful

2. Celine- the best comeback of a designer and house in years

3. Bottega Veneta- the designer has been consistent in putting out some amazing collections

4. Altuzarra- the newcomer is creating a lot of buzz with his very well received Fall collection

5. Yigael Azrouel- has become one of the designers to see at NY fashion week, and for a good reason

6. Victoria Beckham- the spice girl has proved she lives up to her former stage name with beautifully crafted, quality dresses

7. Lanvin- Elbaz proves yet again that he knows what women want to wear

8. Prada- despite some mixed reviews, the fetish driven Miuccia provided another thought provoking and beautiful collection

9. Marc Jacobs- back to basics proved a breath of fresh air for Marc Jacobs

10. Dolce and Gabbana- another back to basics collection that made audience members shed more than a few tears

So International...

2009-10-24T10:40:00.001-07:00

International Relations study music...

I Feel Sorry For the Models...

2009-10-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Who have to wear these Alexander McQueen Shoes-Outrageous!

Comparisons of this other worldly creation have ranged from intricately patterned monster eating your foot to a stapler-esque shoe contraption. You decide.

Personally, I would prefer not to break my ankel running for the subway in the morning. I don't think I'm quite willing take the risk, flats will do.

But if you put these in a nice glass box with some soft lighting and a nice shiny wall plaque I wouldn't mind gazing at them in wonder and puzzlement. Almost like an exhibition from a future with no gravity induced injuries.

*Despite the outrageous shoes, Alexander McQueen was a true original and will be missed in the fashion community

An Introduction

2009-09-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Cake, the blog for fashion news, music news, art news, and anything else inspiring or interesting.

Cakes
Wayne Thiebaud
1963
Oil on canvas