Note: As always, please credit me if you decide to use these photos elsewhere. And if you see your photo and would like it taken down, please let me know!
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| Images via NYMAG |
Ralph Lauren is sophisticated, clean, and European. So I suppose it’s know no wonder why he decided to use the theme to Downtown Abbey for his runway music (which I’m now desperately trying to find the video of).
Even without the video I can imagine the collection fitting with the music nicely what with the tweed and wool and lots of use of hats.
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| Anachronistic motorcyle outfits make a periodic outfit modern. |
And I do love his use of menswear as womenswear.
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| A night at the opera or smoking lounge? |
Periodic fashion is one of the core inspirations for Lolita. Plus I love vintage, so this coordinate is inspired by a growing collection of vintage items.
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| Cloche from Strawberry – $25 Vintage jacket – $20 Vintage scarf – $10 Victorian Maiden blouse – $209 Metamorphose Tweed skirt – $100 |
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| Images via NYMAG |
Asian inspirations seems to be an ongoing theme. Zac Posen focused on Japan with dresses with stiff styled obis, folds and incorporated it into the more fitted looks he’s known for.
I’m a big sucker for Asian styled prints, and Posen uses peonies a bit.
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| Peonies symbolizes riches. |
With the model’s hair styled in a slick bun with stiff swallowtail-like feather accents, Zac Posen made you feel like it was pre-war Japan.
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| Peekaboo shoulder sleeves suit her. |
Unlike Jason Wu, I’m not going straight to a Wa-Lolita outfit. Instead I took kimono-like tops and layered them with a Chained Bouquet skirt. The emerald green jacket plays off the jewel-tone colors I’m seeing in a lot of the collections.
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| Emerald Green Jacket – $10 Kimono shirt – $10 Kimono black sheer blouse – $60 Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Chained Bouquet Skirt (red) – $80 |
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| Images via NY Mag |
Lolitas should look towards Ruffian. There design concept is very Victoriana and very vintage (not retro) chic. And lots of tweed and wool.
I like this collection because it harkens to Sam Spade movies and the mysterious woman looking for a detective to solve her mystery.
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| Leather and tweed really sells the outfit. But the blue fedora takes the cake. |
I’ll be honest Ruffian’s fall collection is an excuse for me to post outfits with fedoras. However the outfits are stunning and I’m attracted to ready-to-wear that fits my personal style (not neccessarily Lolita, but works both way the same).
This coordinate was inspired by Ruffian’s ability to use one item to make the whole outfit pop – whether it is a gold belt on a all blue outfit or bright blue fedora on an all black outfit.
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| Bodyline heart jacket – $50 Mastina Blouse (from Hong Kong) – $10 Metamorphose Tweed skirt – $100 |
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| Fu (Wu)Manchu – Images via New York Magazine. |
If you are unfamiliar with Jason Wu, he is one of the designers that Michelle Obama often wears. Also his collaboration collection with Target just came out and sold out (to the extent that a Florida couple bought the entire stock).
His designs are often very simple, but statement-worthy. Originally I had planned to do a piece on Rag and Bone with their gradient hues, but I was blown away by Wu’s designs and the strong influence of Chinese royal regalia and Forbidden City (the entrance doors were inspired by palace doors!).
While most people may not understand the history symbolism behind it all, people can harken back to the pop culture archetypes of Fu Manchu (played by Christopher Lee no less!) and the infamous “dragon lady” (a sexy but fiesty Asian woman).
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| Wu’s power suit for the typical dragon lady. |
As an Asian-American, it’s hard to embrace your culture without being a typical stereotype. It’s often like going uphill on a down escalator. Eventually you just have to accept your culture and incorporate it into your life. Wu’s designs are solely him as a fashion designer and him showing his Chinese pride.
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| Maroon is definitely a color to use for fall. |
Lolita fashion is all about breaking stereotypes, as well as embracing them. Qi-Lolita is a style that is influenced by the Chinese cheongsaam. A cheongsaam is a fitted silk dress with slits at the side with a mandarin-styled collar. It was developed in the 1920s and has become iconic with Chinese culture.
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| Cheongsaam/Qi Pao whatever you call it, it’s still fashion |
Incoporating cultural elements and Lolita is very difficult. Done right, Qi-Lolita (based on the qipao; not to be confused with Wa-Lolita, which is based on the kimono) can be very cute. Kidsyoyo’s design one of the tasteful versions I’ve seen that’s wearable as fashion, and not totally seen as a costume. This style comes in red and black (a popular color combo in general for the original style) or pink and brown.
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| Always Lolita. |
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| via NY Magazine |
New York Fashion week started today. And like a fashionable New Yorker I’m ecstatic to know the trends for fall be. Unfortunately since I’m not one of the elite, I’ll be watching via Youtube, NYTimes Style section, and New York Magazine.
Taking it one step further, expect to see recreated looks from collections that could easily be translated into Lolita fashion.
First up Richard Chai. Sleek, Sophisticated with a corporate, but playful touch.
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| Outfit could be easily incorporated in Lolita |
Chai’s collection featured alot of stripes and toned down colors (gray, blue, blacks, and maroon, lots of maroon) – both of I’m a big fan of and what stood out for me. Most of all, all of it looks like you could walk off the runway with a good portion of the collection.
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| Favorite out of the fall collection |
“I didn’t want to create looks that were just for the show. I wanted it to be approachable and believable, but also be really aspirational. At the end of the day, it’s pieces that I want people to wear.”
And here’s my own take on the first picture.
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| Rundown: Angelic Pretty Classic Regimental (black) pants $180 Gray shirt from TJ Maxx $15 Eggplant corduroy jacket from JCPenney $30 |
If you’re big into Fashion Week and love creating coordinates feel free to email me at lolitaandthecity (at) gmail (dot) com. Include a picture of the collection you’re trying to model along with a picture and description of your coordinate (at least one item should be Lolita-related). Also why you chose the designer.
Who knows, it could be featured here!
