Fashion Hobo

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but in the world of fashion it consitutes a multi-billion-dollar sore spot.  Burberry, Gucci, Coach, and the ubiquitous Louis Vuitton (ever seen an old lady in LV-print pants?) have witnessed their logos splashed illegally across all sorts of gaudy merch.

For my fellow fashionistas who wish they could get their hands on something a bit cheaper than that $900 Tod’s tote at Holt Renfrew, here are the options:

1. Discount Designer Handbags

2. Designer Inspired Handbags

(yes, there are really only two options.)

Discount Designer Handbags: These stores are purveyors of last season’s merch, over-produced, overly-trendy, or just ugly handbags that not enough rich folk want to shell out for.  Let’s face it, they’re last season (and sometimes fairly… interesting looking…), but they still have a gool old bona fide logo slapped on them.  And they’re the genuine real deal.  Here are some places to pick up one of these discounted duffles:

http://www.pophandbags-shop.com/view.php?id=34

http://www.bagstyleonline.com

http://www.principalfashion.com

**NOTE:  ‘discount fashion’ is definitely grey-market.  While some products are almost certainly legit, others will not be.  Hint:  you can buy fake rolexes for $1,000 … so how could you buy a real one for under $10?***

Designer Inspired, Designer Replica:

These are the significantly less glamorous (and much more shoddily made) look-somewhat-alikes of the real things.  You can buy one of these but once you’ve left your teenage years behind (or you happen to be a sweet little old lady), these things aren’t worth your time or money.  Just buy a plain, higher-quality bag for the same price, minus the tacky pretend logos all over.

http://www.aaareplicas.com/ (to be fair, these are really good replicas by my standards)

haha, and this is just for kicks.  keepin it real.  over and out!

In all fairness, it’s a Sunday night as I write this.  Cheap Mondays are my favourite day of the week.  Chances are, my booze money is spent – everyone else’s booze money’s spent – so everyone can have a nice quiet night without worrying about missing out on any fun.

But enough about my life /erm nothing.  What I really want to talk about are Cheap Mondays, as in the denim. Cheap Monday jeans are fresh from everybody’s favourite mass-marketin’ socialist nation, Sweden.  Those Swedes don’t settle for following trends – they MAKE them.  If you’ve seen pictures of Stockholm on The Sartorialist (http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com), you’ll know what I mean.  The Swedes just get it – and Cheap Mondays just get it too.

Cheap Mondays are the last word on skinny jean.  Most people buy them 1 or 2 sizes bigger than their usual size, but in fact, they are meant to be worn in the jean size you normally wear.  It’s just a very – very – brave thing for most of us North Americans to endeavour.  Though looking around Vancouver these past 3 years, pants have never been cut slimmer.

But I digress.  Cheap Mondays are great denim.  They’re edgy, they’re hip – and most of all – they’re cheap.  CHEAP!  In a world that seems to think that slapping a heart-stopping price tag on ‘vintage-inspired couture’ makes something cool, Cheap Mondays are a breath of fresh air.  Not only that, but Cheap Monday denim stays true to its original concept.  Not all of their ideas take off, and that’s okay by the designers.  What makes Cheap Mondays truly special is that you get a quality, reasonably-priced item that still rocks a funky vibe.

Ladies, get yourselves a pair of Miss Sixty’s if you want to ooze retro style and glam.

Miss Sixty Jeans, like all things Miss Sixty, have a very distinct look about them.  Part of the appeal is the obvious flirtiness of the style, and a big part of it is the retro look.  In the quest for mid-century style, Miss Sixty definitely is a choice leader.  You can spot em a mile away, too, just by looking at the distinctive back pockets.

To get a good look idea of some of the really funky retro flares, skinnies and bellbottoms (and all else retro) check out Denimology’s Miss Sixty Jeans section.  Side note:  I happen to love Denimology.  Their store makes it really easy to find price points and a large variety of styles of just about any denim brand you could name.

Ah, David Bitton.  Designer for popular Buffalo Jeans, his stylish yet mid-priced denim has proven popular on an international scale.  In 1985, he opened his first ever jeans store in Montreal and never, apparently, looked back.  Today, Buffalo by David Bitton is ubiquitous in Canada and the US, and has stores as far away as London or the Philippines.

David Bitton’s jeans, targeting stylish 15 to 35 year olds, fit tightly (there aren’t GAP jeans, folks) and generally fit best (and look best) on slimmer frames.  They’re Montreal-designed … what did you expect?

To get an idea of just how small these jeans run, Victoria Beckham kept a 23″-waisted pair of David Bitton denim… isn’t that a size 000 or 0000 ladies’ ?!?!? Read the full story here… I am pretty amazed.

Personally, I used to wear these jeans in high school all the time.  I go in and out of liking the ultra-trendy, stylish looks of David Bitton denim, but when in search of something kinda different – or distressed – Buffalo by David Bitton is the place to go.

over and out!

-FH

Michael Jackson left the world in a state of shock last week, passing away from a heart attack.  The legacy he leaves us is massive:  a controversial character, his music, fashion and lifestyle will never be forgotten.  I won’t pretend to have been his biggest fan ever – but I was a big fan of Thriller (who wasn’t?) and his wild looks, which is why I am compiling this post to showcase Michael Jackson’s crazy outfits (and cosmetic surgeries) throughout the years.  First of all, let’s start with my fave look of his…

One of my fave screenshots of Thriller.  The red getup is iconic – to say nothing of the blue patterned outfit combined with the flashy heels.  Even in an era of outrageous, over-the-top outfits, Jacko managed to stand out in a crowd.

MJ wasn’t always this wild.  Once upon a time, he rocked the skinny jeans and leather bomber better than most.  If only, back then, people could have seen the Michael Jackson that was to be…

And here, the King of Pop in Master of the Universe getup.  In all honesty, this is a pretty cool outfit.  I’m pretty sure the elves of Rivendell would approve.

However, Michael Jackson did more than rock the bizarre and bold.  Here, he looks classic and well-put-together in suit and fedora.  While it could be argued that he copied this classic look from countless others who have worn it, who would really say that the King of Pop didn’t rock it better than anyone else?

Tummy tuck jeans are all the rage right now – and for good reason, too.  They’re flattering.  However, they can go from very hot to very very not… so I am venturing where no Fashion Hobo (but many fashion hobos) have gone before:  the land of figure-shaping denim.

Having worked in a denim store for quite some time, I am very familiar with the variety of customers shopping for Just The Right Pair of jeans.  An increasingly large segment is the mature but fashion-conscious lady who wants something that isn’t too avant-garde (no skinnies, please) that will complement her body as best as possible.  Enter… the Tummy Tuck Jean.  Admittedly, I had the shock of my life when seeing an advertisement for these the first time around…

…yikes.  However, these jeans can really give you a boost in confidence and style – especially with the return of high-waisted denim to the front end of the fashion scene.  Before purchasing, though, buyer beware:  they will flatten your butt.  Take that as you will – for better or worse.

These jeans are admittedly a little far-out for a lot of people, but being advertised under slogans such as “not your daughter’s jeans”, tummy tuck jeans are meant to be flattering.  Gone are the days of trying to squish into low-waisted, one-inch-zipper, skinny jeans which allow an incredible amount of ass to fall out the back (or a lot of tummy to fall out the front).  Tummy tuck jeans will let you feel comfortable and just as importantly, feel comfortable with your figure and look slimmer – a dilemma of many time-pressed women I have met on their quest for nicely flattering  denim.

Over and out!

-FH

In and around tuition times, I can be pretty cheap.  OK, anytime I can be, I am pretty cheap.  That doesn’t, however, stop me from indulging in a plethora of clothes.  The reason I bring up my frugality is because it led me straight to a pair of mint-condition Earnest Sewn jeans in my size.  I was taking a stroll through Gastown, waiting for a friend to get off work and I happened into a vintage store.  Vintage stores, it should be noted, are my favourite place to look for coats.  They don’t sit diectly on your skin, for starters (so if wearing someone else’s clothes gives you the creeps, they don’t touch you directly!) and the retro styling makes for an interesting browse.  But I digress.  I was finished with the coats and pretty much ready to leave, when a pair of jeans caught my eye.  Yes, they were Earnest Sewns!  There was also a Paper Denim pair, but I was feeling cheap so I just bought the Earnest Sewns.  $51.00.  I was pretty stoked.

For the record, they’re very comfortable.  They are a slim-fitting style, which isn’t my preferred cut.  However, they are the comfiest slim-straight-legged denim I have ever tried on.  This alone earns them considerable respect as a true high-end denim.  Every detail is given ample attention.  From the stitching to the buttons, everything is executed with utmost care and quality.  I highly commend the makers of Earnest Sewn.

-FH.

My laptop is, well, a Fashion Hobo.  When I bought it, its sleek black-and-silver form coupled with a brand-new sound system was the pride of my desk!  4 years, 23,491 essays and one unfortunate encounter with a Russian textbook later, it definitely falls under the euphemism “grunge chic”.  To be blunt, it has all the style of a Birkenstock-style combat boot.

If I were a girl, the logical next step would be to buy the newest HP laptop, by … Vivienne Tam??  While some doubtlessly wonder at the audacity of a technology company in their commissioning a laptop designed by a fashion designer (or, for that matter, vice-versa), more enlightened folk saw this one coming a mile away.  In its bid to reposition itself as a stylish, sleek and formidable Sony Vaio-defying entity, HP is taking the design of its laptops to a whole new level.  While more tech-oriented individuals may argue the subtle benefits of a Sony over an HP, there is no denying that the latter no comes with a much sleeker, more stylish look.  This is no small feat, given that the Vaio (along with the iBook) is one of the nicer-looking laptops out there.

A few years back, custom jeans were a pipe dream. Accessible only to the rich, the uber-fashionable or the sewingly-inclined, custom denim was an uneccesary luxury. After all, between Levis and the GAP, people had all the denim they needed. However, in today’s world, custom denim is the only thing that will let you stand out in the blue jeans crowd. In a nworld filled to the brim with Rock n’ Republics, True Religions, Citizens, and Earnest Sewns, you really need to spend a fortune on jeans to look different. Jennifer Lopez’s J.Lo collection, for example, purveys jeans with a 2kt. diamond front button – for a mere $2 million.

There is, however, another option. That option is custom denim. And, if you get your custom jeans at Indi Denim, you can even do it without breaking the bank. You get to choose everything from the stitching on the back pockets to the type of denim to the detailing (you can even get your jeans monogrammed – wow).  Men’s jeans, women’s jeans, they’ve got em both.  As for the fit, well… With inseam and waistline increments to the half-inch, it’s guaranteed that you’ll be able to find your fit. For the first time ever, I’ll be able to proudly stand up and claim “YES, my jeans are THIRTY TWO AND A HALF waist, by THIRTY THREE AND A HALF inseam!”… and I won’t even be lying.

You can tell that Indi Denim isn’t just out to be the Next Big Thing. Rather, they are people who truly understand the world’s frustration with a lack of clothing that fits just right. Based on my experience in retail I can objectively say that people are becoming more selective about how a garment fits. With more stores offering a wider variety of sizes, the clothing retail industry is doing its best to appease customers… But it’s not enough. Really, how could a store ever hold the veritable matrix of denim sizes, shapes, contours and colours? The answer: it couldn’t. Enter IndiDenim.com

Another great thing is that the jeans are not overpriced. The basic jeans start at $135 USD, with some finishes and features costing extra. Now, would you rather pay over $200 for high-end designer jeans that claim to be ‘back-to-basics, traditional denim’… Or would you shell out substantially less for a pair of perfectly fitted, back-to-basics denim? I can’t believe you even had to think that one through.

Now. That being said, it’s not like you get entirely free reign over how your blue jeans turn out. There are about 8 different denims to choose from, and (for mens jeans, anyway) there is only one ’style’… Though you can choose the width of the leg at the top, the bottom, boot cut, straight leg, even how the seat fits! I think the point is more “get yourself a pair of jeans that fit PERFECTLY!” rather than “get yourself a pair of jeans with not just *any* buddhe stitched on the back pocket, but YOUR OWN custom Buddha!” (for the record, they do not come with Buddhas on the back pockets. True Religion fans, you will know what I’m referring to). I’m just happy that someone finally gets it: selection and style be damned; if it doesn’t fit us properly, it doesn’t fit us properly! And now we have somewhere to turn when we can’t find the right pair of jeans in a store.

And, that’s my cool discovery of the week. Over and out!

-FH.

In my eyes, Tom Ford can rarely do wrong. Time and again he has brought his game to the runways at Gucci, working magic on collection after collection and re-vamping Gucci as one of the world’s leading fashion houses. Not only that, he is constantly flanked by some of the world’s most beautiful people, all dressed in some of the world’s most beautiful clothes. Be that as it may, that does not mean that everything he produces is necessarily gold.

Take this year’s AW08 collection, for instance (one of the few I’d dare criticize – the man is a virtuoso). Ford sends models down the runway in a mishmash of autumn palette: prussian blues, regal reds, dark browns and rich blacks. We see some new trends emerging, as well as the follow-through of some old ones: the increasing use of enormous man-bags and the proliferation of the Shantung shirt (a button-down blouse with a wide open pointy collar). However, there were some drawbacks.

I found the clashing dissonance of patterns, though certainly a distinct look, not to be a very appealing one. Many looks that went down the runway were just too cluttered or laden down with a cacophony of distracting details. I guess you could call it ‘rustic’ or ‘nostalgic’. You could even postulate that it looks like the sort of clothing you’d wear, huddled around the fire, drinking hot cocoa. I’ll grant it that much, but it’s a little too tacky and laden with texture to be completely appealing. Furthermore, I’m getting sick of designers constantly looking backwards for inspiration. While the collection did thrive with a horde of new ideas I found that some old cliches were brought into play – like the rustic patterns that played out across the women’s collection.

Now that I’m done griping and looking like a very poor sport, let’s get on with what I liked about the collection. The evening gowns, for one thing, were incredible. This is as it should be: Gucci gowns have long slunk through swanky lounges across the globe. Another thing I really liked were the tassle boots, as sported in the ladies collection. The mens outerwear is definitely worth investing in (if you plan to remortgage your house anytime soon). Here are a few of the good (and bad) looks that capture the essence of Gucci’s AW08.