H&M Divided Collection F/W 2010

Is it acceptable for major clothing companies to replicate high-end runway clothes to make them highly accessible to 99% of the population? Well, I truly don’t have the answer even though I will always be defending the designer’s creations and the uniqueness of their design. So in this wave of new Fall Winter ad campaigns to prepare the assiduous consumers to know the who-what-where of the next fashion trends. Some mass-market brands such as H&M don’t get ashamed to blatantly reproduce the Givenchy Spring/Summer 2010 collection to spread all-over the press the campaign for the new H&M F/W Divided collection.

Givenchy S/S 2010

A collection that is purely a cheap version of what made Tisci popular last season. I’m not in Riccardo Tisci’s mind to understand what he could think of this watered-down version his Givenchy collection. But this could be a great debate about who is fashion aimed at? And whether or not designers should design for two types of consumers versus being ripped off by retail stores?

Alberta Ferrett, Christopher Kane, Proenza Schouler, Calvin Klein and Isabel Marant

By popular demand, I have decided to make this list of this summer’s dress trends. My selection of dresses from various designers will give inspiration and no mores excuses to stay cool and fashionable under the heat. Frocks that you will appreciate to wear everywhere at the beach house in South California or in the parks of your favorite city. From the colorful boho dresses by Isabel Marant to the vintage “pioneer” look by Ralph Lauren, or the modern and minimalist Calvin Klein, these are some of my favorite trends of the current season.

Melissa Coker rocks at making the nerdy look even cooler than a hipster. Wren Fall’s collection will make you want to revive your prep years with some uniform-inspired jackets, typical librarian cardigan or slouchy pants with sprayed-over paint the artsy girls.

The collection is ecclectic with various structures, patterns and color combinations. Some of the clothes could definitely work for both day and night wear. The cropped leopard jacket and navy cape are already a hit. And if you can pull off these socks like the models, you will be the it-girl in class. This A/W 10 collection is surely a great development from last year’s, more mature and a solid harmony in the styling. I hate to say that, but this line is ready for the mainstream.

Who said all models were a bunch of conniving, anorexic, indifferent, frigid and unintelligent chicks? Well, you will change your mind once you meet the young and fresh face Chloe Melissa Norgaard. Chloe is a contradiction to the industry archetypes. Not only she is a sublime beauty, Chloe is literally fun, down-to-Earth and more humble than any regular woman you’ll meet in New York City. As you will be reading her story, most of us may draw inspiration from her extraordinary personal experiences, and hard to believe, she just turned 20 years old. So it’s been a great chance, I had, to meet her at Café Bergamote, in Chelsea, where we enjoyed a long conversation, drinking coffees and eating the candies she brought in a ziploc bag, the same size of her handbag. A few days later, with the help of my friend and photographer Sonia Salvador, Chloe demonstrated her versatility and ease in front of the camera in this fun and colorful photoshoot. Enjoy!

(Interview was made on June 3rd.)

Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

I was born in LA, moved to Texas at the age of 2, and then have lived on Long Island since I was 7 years old. And now I have been living in the city for about two and a half years. My dad is Danish and my mom is from Polish, Irish decent and a little bit of French too.

Have you ever been to Denmark?

I go to Denmark twice a year because I have a bunch of friends and family all over Denmark. I’ve been there last Christmas and will go back in July.

Where in the city do you live?

East Village.

What do you like about the East Village, and what are your favorite spots and stores?

I like walking around, people watching and then looking at graffitis and street arts. Then I’ll go to any art gallery or store that would catch my attention.

Any favorite gallery?

I just like walking into the ones that I see. But the Morrison Hotel gallery is really cool because it’s all rock-n-roll inspired and it’s always fun to go there. Sometimes there could be live music and the guys that work there are really fun and interesting to talk to. I used to work at Blue & Cream on Bowery which is right next door.

Where do you like to shop?

I buy clothes from everywhere, there is no certain store I like the most. Vintage shops are one of my favorites. These are the best because you can find interesting pieces that make me feel like they carry a story. Of course they are also unique; it’s not like mass-produced clothes and everyone would have the same exact thing. Clothes might have stains or holes, and you can either fix it or just let it stay.

There is one really cool store called BESS in Nolita, they make their own pieces and it’s really rock-n-roll…definitely a cool store to check out. Other than that I don’t have a particular store I like. I usually go by what I see in their window.

Where are your favorite places to eat?

I love tacos, La Esquina is one of my favorite taco places. I love spicy food. For Pizza, two boots is really good. There is a really good Indian place by me. You get a huge bowl of rice and curry and all these good stuff for 3 dollars. It’s called Punjabi, and it’s so good. 16 handles is my ultimate favorite place for ice cream (laugh).
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So what could be possible hotter than the current heatwave striking New York City and many other cities in the world? 102 degrees Fahrenheit will feel just as chills after viewing the upcoming #66 issue by V Magazine. Programmed to be launched on July 8th, V Magazine is releasing two explosive editorials as part of their Sexy Body Issue. “Spanish Bombshells” and “Pinup Girls”, shot respectively by Txema Yeste and Franck de Blase, feature an army of pin-ups including Ana Beatriz, Hilary Rhoda, Bette Frank, Kim Cloutier, Tori Praver, Candice Swanepoel and Hilary Rhoda. Clothes are accidentally used, since “the more skin, the better” prevails.

Click each image to zoom.

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Model: Tiernan Cowling - Photographer: Mark Hunter, the Cobrasnake

Difficult to not fall in love with LA and Australian model, recently engaged to DJ Steve Aoki, Tiernan Cowling. Shot in the streets of LA by the mischievous photographer Mark the Cobrasnake on a sightseeing tour ride from Hollywood boulevard to an In-N-Out’s drive-in. As usual, Wildfox gives us thrills in the back with a playful and light-hearted lookbook for their Holiday/Resort 2010 collection. Ok… probably, only in LA you can wear mini-shorts and cropped sweaters; after all it’s a collection true to its nature and success. With a fresh inspiration from the 80’s and 90’s, Kimberley Gordon does a great job of putting together a line that will keep your winter warm and fabulous.

There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American dream. ~Archibald MacLeish

Happy Birthday USA! It’s 4th July, a day to celebrate the values and the history that made the USA such a wonderful country. A country that inspired and fascinated all of us for so many years in every domain, from music to fashion, from technology to sports, and so on. That country which adopted me 3 years ago, where I enjoyed every single moment, witnessing the patriotism, the abnegation of defeat, and the obsession for freedom and hope even in the worst situations. The spirit you’ll only find here where every dreams come true. Back when I was a in France, I was one of these skeptical persons thinking that the Americans were nuts, with their beliefs and stereotypes. Today, even if the country has its own good and bad sides, I will always be grateful for the chances and opportunities that came to me.

Follow the all-American Karlie Kloss, photographed by the British Alasdair McLellan, in this editorial dedicated to all things USA. Discovering their American pastimes wearing American-inspired outfits from the latest runway collections.