Dries Van Noten

Harry: Dries Van Noten is one of my fashion heroes ever since he sent Indonesian ethnic prints down his Spring 2010 runway show. This season, his inspirations were David Bowie and the Ballets Russes. While I did not get the Ballets Russes inspiration, it was still a great show. Dries is the man when it comes to clashing prints. The black and white prints were giving me an optical illusion. That, paired with the prints, added an element of quirkiness to the collection that’s very Bowie. The socks with heels were pretty spectacular — and yes, there was also snakeskin. It’s crystal clear that snakeskin is going to be in for fall 2011.

Danielle: I can’t stop looking at the shoes from this collection — which means there might be a “department store situation” when I view them in real life for the first time. Overall, I love how balanced these looks are: some overpower with complex textiles, while others dominate in undeniable color blocking (and small details of pattern). The color scheme that flows through the textile mixing is aspirational, and held my attention and interest throughout the entire show. The finale looks made me want to cut up a variety of my own dresses and sew them up (in a blocking style).

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Prada

Danielle: After viewing the detail images of this collection once again, I’ve decided that it was a semi-home run. The ’60s mod, motorcycle look is pretty irresistible –- who doesn’t love a short glove and goggle-esque sunglasses? (Not to mention how much I’m craving the addition of more shag pieces in my closet.) Also, I’m daydreaming about the looks I would get if I aggressively clutched my handbag, sideways, as I walked around downtown.

Harry: It is safe to say that Miuccia Prada is a favorite of editors. Every magazine all over the world always has an editorial with key pieces from every season of every Prada show. Last season, it was the fur stole, banana dresses and the creeper-style platform sneakers. This season, Miuccia challenged herself. The collection consisted snakeskin, colored fur, shiny materials (I still have no idea what those are), a mix of feminine colors, and colored sunglasses. Some of those are fashion don’ts but she made them work harmoniously. In the graphic design world, that’s like trying to make Comic Sans avant garde. That’s Miuccia for you.

Just Cavalli

Danielle: Four words: Finale maxi fur coat. I think that coat is the reason why this collection stuck with me. Otherwise, it’s hodge-podgey and the inclusion of light washed denim is always a huge no-no in my book. (PS: Hello snakeskin, biggest trend of Fall 2011.)

Harry: I imagine the Just Cavalli girl as the little sister of a Roberto Cavalli girl. A Just Cavalli girl is still looking for her identity. Last season, she was a young outdoorsy girl who was not afraid of taking risks. This season, she turned into a suburban housewife with a much more demure silhouette. From wild denim and ripped clothing to a floral print blazer and peasant blouses, it wasn’t bad — but it’s quite a departure.

Marni

Danielle: YAY! Geometrics, leather gloves, and more boring, simple makeup! In addition, the scrunch long gloves worry me — they have such a particular look. I’m concerned with how some consumers might try to pull them off — but points for the large-cut necklaces, and intriguing combinations of fabrics (leather with fur, cut in geometric-strict lines, of course).

Harry: It’s pretty clear one of my favorite fashion houses is Marni — but this time was different. Every look from Marni Fall 2011 was my favorite. Usually designers open and close with stellar pieces, and put some fillers in between. There was no single filler at Marni — or maybe Consuelo Castiglioni’s sense of style just seem to match my personal taste.

Missoni

Danielle: This collection kind of reminded me of myself…if I decided to start streetwalking in solely pastels. I’m feeling excited about the dip dyed pastel knits for fall and Missoni’s signature whimsical textiles. Oh and hey — is that more snake skin? And FYI: Those feathered pants are so mine.

Harry: There’s no doubt Missoni’s forte is their knitwear and they always sends down knitwear that seem new. It’s as if they invent new styles of knitwear every season. This time, they pair the knits with a long silhouette, powdery colors and snakeskin to create a fairytale Missoni utopia. Snakeskin is definitely one of the trends for Fall 2011 — especially colored snakeskin. I’m on the fence with the colors at Missoni. The blue, pink and purple work, but I’m not sure about the green.

Burberry Prorsum

Danielle: Burberry shows usually a) bore me or b) confuse me. This season, I am proud to say that there is a piece (or two) that captured my attention. Unfortunately, I had to hunt and dig to find what I loved (I had to scan through the “details” page of Style.com). I nearly screamed when I saw the chunky, enormous loafer wedge! Although this shape has already peaked at the top of its trend cycle, I can’t help but salivate a bit.

Harry: Christopher Bailey named Burberry’s Fall collection after Jean Shrimpton. The ’60s happen to be my personal favorite time for fashion. For many, the name Jean Shrimpton might not ring a bell. However, she’s a very well known model in the ‘60s. Shrimpton and Twiggy were the face of the sixties. The collection was refreshing. There were lots of unexpected bright colors for fall. One of my favorite silhouettes was on Lisanne De Jong. This has to be my most favorite from Bailey for Burberry Prorsum collection to date — and the shoes were amazing: a mix of punk creepers and Mary Janes.

Louise Gray

Danielle:It’s like Danielle meets the circus, don’t you think? You KNOW I’ve had thoughts of purchasing a balloon animal how-to kit just so that I could make my own balloon headpieces.

Harry: “I was trying to think more of a wardrobe of what a woman wants,” said the ice pink haired Louise Gray in an interview backstage at her show. The woman she mentioned must be quite a character. Some might argue that the collection was clowny and costume-like. In reality, not many women are willing to style the clothes the way Gray had them on the runway. However, there were interesting standalone pieces such as the jackets, T shirts, skirts and dresses. One piece that really caught my eyes was the skirt on Tilda Lindstam. Take the structured skirt and pair them with a black T shirt and you’d get a practical look without being clowny.

Mark Fast

Danielle: Last season, Mark Fast showed us unforgettable sexy, crochet mini dresses. For fall, he kept the super-mini hemlines and switched out the fabrications. The tiny sheer dresses matched with lace up, knee high boots, and paired with burgundy leather jackets are starting to drive me crazy — in a good way. Although I’m not sure about some of the first looks in this collection, I am quite certain that once Mark Fast hits the color black, he can’t go wrong.

Harry: I was very pleased to see that Dewi Driegen opened and closed the show — she’s a quarter Indonesian, you know? Anyway, today Mark Fast is known for his body-conscious collection — or whatever you wish to call it. From streetwalkers to rich ladies, he designs (quite literally) for every type of woman. There was definitely thought put into the collection. It had commercial appeal that can reach various markets. I just wish there were more luxury and personality in it.

Christopher Kane

Danielle: Before viewing Christopher Kane’s full collection online, I saw a detail image of one of the plastic/liquid clutches on Tumblr. Immediately in love, I went on a frantic quest to find out if this detail photo was from a new collection or if it was a fantastic archival piece. Turns out that Kane is giving me a blast from the past this season — way back to the fourth grade where notebooks were made of plastic filled with multi-colored liquid. A couple of Kane’s Fall dresses borderline on questionable and bad, but I can’t help but love a plunging V-neck made of liquid and plastic. PS: Loving the heel, too.

Harry: We all love clothes that move, don’t we? Some of the materials from Christopher Kane’s Fall collection were very interesting. They were plastic filled with liquid. The liquid was a mix of vegetable oil and glycerin. The liquid actually bubbled up on the runway — cool and crafty. The collection reminded me of underwater creatures. The highlight of the show for me were the clutches. They remind me of iridescent oysters.

Julien Macdonald

Danielle: Like Christopher Kane’s plastic clutch, I had an emotional reaction when I viewed Macdonald’s gothic inspired Fall collection. I love the full spectrum of this collection — it’s not all black. The finale gowns are in beautiful muted pastels, giving more selection to a wide range of customers. The beauty and styling of this show are truly inspiring. Pin straight hair, ghostly white skin, lace-up Victorian booties, black lace, and cloaks are a combination I feel eager to try — if I haven’t already.

Harry: Julien Macdonald showed a collection inspired by gothic art mixed with rock and roll. For me, gothic art always has a sentimental and romantic side. Julien did not forget that romantic element. His collection contained lace, leather and his powerful knits.  The collection might look very moody, but if you take the dresses and paired them with rosy makeup and a chignon, they could be extravagant gowns. I like the fact that Valerija Kelava opened the show. There is something about her that’s very gothic.

Proenza Schouler

Danielle: Color pops, ethnic textiles – these are a few of my favorite things. I love when Proenza Schouler translates their geometric style into an ethnic look. I’m going crazy over this collection – the mid-century flourishing necklaces, attention-commanding prints, and knitted skirts are pushing it over the top! (In a good way, of course.) Proenza is (and always will be) one of the most exciting and promising shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

Harry: Proenza Schouler boys are the new cool. They define American preppy dressing for young ladies in their 20s and 30s. They’re not as mainstream as Marc by Marc Jacobs­ – which adds up to their coolness. For Fall 2011, Jack and Lazaro add an ethnic element to their collection. One of my favorite pieces from the show was look #15 worn by Suvi Koponen. It’s an asymmetric tribal-print cardigan. It was pleasing to see the play of colors and prints on the Proenza Schouler silhouettes. However, someone pointed this out to me before: why did they put sandals on a fall/winter collection? Fall and Winter in Indonesia, maybe.

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Now that they have had time to marinate on the subject, Harry Go has decided to come out of blogging retirement to join FSD blogger Danielle Wallis to give a he said/she said take on the Academy of Art University Fall 2011 collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

Holly Smith

Danielle: Holly Smith started the show with beautifully dramatic makeup, a spacey soundtrack, and a few nip slips. The collection looks like it was designed for a sexy female gang of city-dwelling villains. (Love!) Smiths’ skirt suits were impeccably tailored, and I would definitely love rocking one of their high-waisted, wine-colored pencil skirts any day.

Harry: My heart skipped two or three beats when Melodie Monrose strutted down the runway to open the show in Holly’s collection. Holly Smith took American sportswear to a new level of glamorous and femininity.

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First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama visited Indonesia this week. As a good Indonesian, I feel the need to blog about their visit.

Michelle Obama has been such an inspiration. She is pushing boundaries of what to expect from a First Lady. Since the day she wore Jason Wu’s dress for the inauguration, Michelle has been a fashion risk-taker. She does not just circulate the expected Chanel suits — she would appear in Dries Van Noten skirt on one occasion and a J. Crew sweater on another.

Michelle loves wearing bold colors and prints. Some of her favorite designers are Peter Som, Diane von Furstenberg, Thakoon and Moschino. She proves that a stylish woman is someone who knows what works best for her figure and someone who dresses appropriate for the occasion.

For instance, when Michelle and Barack toured Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia she was wearing a Prova headscarf and a lime-green pantsuit by Harlem designer Stephen Burrows. She wore a headscarf that way to replicate how Muslim women dress. It was such a great way of her to be respectful to a new place and still keep her own style.

Michelle and Barack at Istiqlal Mosque, Indonesia

Meeting with Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the First Lady Ani Yudhoyono

Notice on the picture above how Michelle was wearing a tunic and trousers. Tunic is a big thing in Muslim dressing. Michelle (or her stylist, if that matters) chose a print tunic that works well with her complexion and style. This is what I meant when I said Michelle Obama dresses appropriately for each occasion but still stays true to her personal style. Follow the jump to seem some of my  favorite looks from the most fashionable First Lady in the world right now.

Going to church with the family in Thakoon dress

Visiting the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in India in Dries Van Noten skirt.

Meeting at the Prime Minister of India’s residence in Dries Van Noten jacket.

Even when dressing casually, Michelle Obama still keeps her fondness of colors and prints style.

It is always said that “behind a successful man there is a woman.” Now, Barack is no doubt a good-looking man, but Michelle is taking over the focal point of the images. Perhaps behind every successfully dressed woman there is a man (or a good stylist?)

Written by: Harry Go

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Anna Wintour, the Editor in Chief of American Vogue, turned 61 on November 3, 2010.

“I think my father really decided for me that I should work in fashion,” said Wintour in The September Issue. The popular fashion documentary has almost everything you need to know about Wintour. Her father arranged her first job for her. What a lucky little girl. She worked for Biba boutique — one of the most influential fashion houses in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Philip Washington wrote about how Wintour worked for Viva Magazine — a ’70s softcore porn publication for women — in the Fall 2010 issue of 180 Magazine. Wintour went from Biba to softcore porn to being fired from Harper’s Bazaar to firing many women (and arguably some gay men) at American Vogue. She transformed from a semi-emo teen girl to a sunglasses-wearing editrix. There is no doubt this Scorpio lady has made herself one of the most powerful women today. Wintour had made some remarkable quotes in past. Let’s have a look.

Anna Wintour in her semi-emo days

She once said at the Teen Vogue annual Fashion University: “I worked for American Harper’s Bazaar — they fired me. I recommend that you all get fired, it’s a great learning experience.” I honestly cannot tell if Anna Wintour was being funny, sarcastic or if she was telling the truth? Or was it a “ha-ha, I got the last laugh” to Harper’s Bazaar?

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Social media plays a huge role in today’s public relations. It is hard not to know social network lingo such as “follow,” “like,” “unfriend,” or “check-in.” Fashion people are aware of the importance of social media and I have compiled some of the must-follow Twitter list of those people. Some of them aren’t as friendly as the rest, but they definitely send out great tweets.

@evechen212: me & @therealzooeyD @rimmellondonUS today! in case ur wondering, her blazer is Boy/BandOfOutsiders... I asked

1. Eva Chen — Beauty Editor at Teen Vogue.
twitter.com/evachen212

Eva Chen is a sweetheart. I once told her she’s like the Beauty & Skin Care Fairy Godmother — but younger and prettier. Eva always has the greatest skin care tips and she knows everything about the beauty industry. Try her! I once asked her if she knows any coconut lip balm (I like coconut, okay?) and she replied to me immediately with a link to the product and a little review blurb. I like how she always talks to her fans/followers.

@Karl_Lagerfeld: I can have remorse, but no regrets.

2. “Karl Lagerfeld” — You should already know who he is.
twitter.com/karl_lagerfeld

It’s hard to imagine that Karl Lagerfeld tweets. It’s just beyond my imagination. Real or fake, this “Karl” definitely has some valid points to say, such as “Designers must be both conscious and unconscious at the same time. Clear thinking at the wrong moment can stifle inspiration and talent.” Whoever this user is, he definitely is channeling Karl Lagerfeld pretty precisely.

@lndsywixson: this is me as a little kid.

3. Lindsey Wixson — Model

twitter.com/lndsywixson

People have mixed feelings about Lindsey Wixson, a 16-year-old model from Wichita, Kansas. Some people love her look. Some people think it’s too “outside the box.” Nevertheless, I followed the supposed “real Lindsey Wixson” on Twitter and she was very charming. Her modeling makes her look like a porcelain doll from the Bride of Chucky. In Twitter life, she is a very nice young girl. She is always cheery and smiley. She tweets stuffs like “Just bought my first Mac! ” which is just so cute and innocent—very un- Bride of Chucky. She occasionally replies to her fans’ tweets. I actually liked her more after following her on Twitter.

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On Wednesday, people wore purple in commemoration of the lives of gay suicide victims. We asked you to send your pictures of your purple garb and we got an overwhelming amount of pics! Here are the photos that we got — thanks for donning purple for a good cause.

Fashion School Daily bloggers Harry Go and Danielle Wallis

Diana Burman works purple with an American Apparel vibe

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It is the time of the year again — all fashion websites are trying to calculate the amount of shows that models walked so that they can make their “Big Girls of the Season” list. Figuratively big, of course — unless we count Beth Ditto’s appearance in the Jean Paul Gaultier show. Style.com declares the following gals memorable faces for the Spring season: Arizona Muse, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Britt Maren, Daphne Groeneveld, Hailey Clauson, Julia Saner, Kirsi Pyrhonen (fun fact: her shoe size is 11 just like Paris Hilton), Maddie Kulicka, Melodie Monrose, and Theres Alexandersson.

I am not the model-snob that I used to be in 2008. There are just way too many newcomers! I only know Arizona, Bambi, Daphne and Melodie — so I’m going to spill some interesting facts about them.

Daphne Groeneveld and Arizona Muse probably have to credit Miuccia Prada for introducing them them to the world. Daphne was casted in an all-blonde Miu Miu Fall 2010 ad campaign ad  Siri Tollerød, Lindsey Wixson and Ginta Lapina. Muse also opened and closed the Spring 2011 Miu Miu show in Paris. Daphne is walking proof that, despite body image debates, skinny is still in. I am enjoying Daphne’s look. However, she undoubtedly could come of a little drag-ish with her pronounced lips. Good thing she does not have big bones.

Daphne Groeneveld (right) and Lindsey Wixson for Miu Miu Fall 2010 campaign ad.

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