Fashion Addict

I’m going to take a break, (not that I haven’t been already), but I just wanted to thank everyone for stopping by and reading my post. I need a little time figuring out what to do with my layout, posts, and I need to contemplate my thoughts over fashion. =)

I will be back, no doubt about it, but I need to sort things in my life, get ready for school starting in a month, and manage my time a little bit better. Email me at fashionaddictgirl@gmail.com if you just want to talk or if you have suggestions on future posts! Hope to see you later.

The other day while I was walking through a department store I saw a bunch of small stores filled with clothes that typically older women would wear. I’m totally fine with clothes being marketed for older women, since they are, essentially the customers that are intended to buy the product. Yet, it seemed like the stores purposely sell unattractive and unfashionable clothes. I look at ensembles on mannequins and I sometimes wonder, “What was the designer thinking and who would want to buy that?!”

Remember that saying, “Which one came first, the chicken or the egg?” I’ve always been baffled by this question. Really which one came first? In order to have an egg you need to have a chicken, but without the egg you wouldn’t have had a chicken. Right? This riddle has always paused my train of thought when I find myself attempting to form an answer.

So my question is, was it the designers and fashion buyers that decided that this type of clothing is what older women are going to buy and wear or did the older women decide that they wanted to wear these type of styles forcing stores to sell that particular look? If you think about it, one side needs the other in order for anything to work, so who decides on which trends stays and leaves?

Unlike many situations, where the buyer decides what’s going to stay popular, it seems like with older women there fashion is decided for them. Many believe that they can no longer wear short dresses or that v-neck blouses are just unacceptable at their age. Whether I agree with this or not, it seems to me like the sellers are controlling the customers to think that they should dress a certain way. This is true in many other situations with younger generations, but as we all know, some things are in one day but the following day they are extinct.

So if there are those fashion trends that were sought out to be the must-have of the season, but unfortunately fail, causing changes in designs and looks, then why do I feel like each season for older women seems to be the same old same old in Japan? This is like one of those riddles that I can’t seem to grasp a solution to. Maybe it’s because older women want to buy these incredibly boring styles or it could be because older women choose to go with what the stores are selling which end up to be what designers think they want to wear. I really can’t tell who decides, because as I said before without the other it’s hard for one to exist. But whoever came first, I think they were totally wrong.

The worst part about traveling to another country for me is the plane ride. I’ve been so excited about going back to Japan, yet every time I think of it I find myself dreading the long 15 hour flight. But… luckily that is over! After watching all the movies possible and twisting and turning inside my seat for what felt like a million years, I’m finally in Japan.

So as I get used to the time difference, I think of all the things that I can’t wait to see in Japan. From the Harajuku fashion to the crazy hair colors and the the cutest ensembles to the student uniforms.

In a recent conversation with my brother, he exclaimed that Japanese people have the weirdest fashion and that they don’t dress well. Although I can understand where he gets the word weird from, I would certainly beg to differ. I find Japanese people extremely fashionable (the opposite from the people where I come from), but their fashion is much more different from most countries.

I think we need to redefine fashionable. To be fashionable to me now seems more than just looking good. It’s about being fashion forward and creating your own style. And taking risks that most people wouldn’t dare do. Just being a pretty face can’t possibly fit in the fashionable category for me anymore.

Miu Miu has always come out with eye-catching campaigns with celebrities such as Kirsten Dunst and Lindsay Lohan endorsing them. Now it’s Katie Holmes turn. It’s great that she was chosen, but I feel that her modeling skills are a bit weak for the brand. Her facial expression and body language seem a little bit stiff, but nonetheless she does look very mysterious which Miu Miu have always done with their ads.

As much as I love how Katie Holmes is becoming more of a fashion icon, I must say that I miss her old look. You know, when she had that long, wavy hair and had that huge smile on her face? (Not that she doesn’t have that great smile anymore.) I just think she looks so much younger and vibrant with longer hair and the wardrobe she had before. Of course, her style is more fashion forward now, but to me it doesn’t seem like her. What do you think?

But anyway, I can’t wait to see the rest of her campaign with Miu Miu. And there’s one last question that I’ve been intrigued with, is Katie putting her hand through fire?

The delightful Scarlett Johansson graces the cover of Harper’s Bazaar’s February issue and discusses some rather interesting topics from her recent engagement to Ryan Reynolds to the crazy rumors about her being pregnant.

“I got these calls that I was engaged way before it happened. I’ve also been pregnant several times. With, like, sextuplets. That must mean I’ve been eating way too many bagels or something. I’m not pregnant and I’m not going to be anytime soon.”

There’s something about Scarlett Johansson that is very special – maybe it’s her smile or that little twinkle in her eye. She has this unique beauty and it’s hard to forget. Although I wasn’t too impressed with her modeling skills for the Louis Vuitton ads, I still respect her for her talent and beauty.

I love the bright red that is splashed all over the cover and the beautiful red gowns that she wears. The red designs made by Roberto Cavalli, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, and Carolina Herrera, definitely complements her body. The bold color sort of reminds me that the exciting yet usually dreadful holiday is coming up. Valentine’s Day. I am still very single, but who knows maybe there’s a chance to find that special someone soon… (we’ll talk about that later).

Anyway, the February issue of Harper’s Bazaar comes out next week on the 15th, so go pick up a copy!

Photo credit: Alexi Lubomirski

Looks like guys such as my brother
can get obsessed over Gossip Girl
which returns to the screen tonight.

“I would be so embarrassed to be dressed in the clothes Chuck wears!” exclaimed my brother while he was spying me watching an old episode of Gossip Girl. “He wears pink sweaters, bow ties, and bright red pants. And I’m really not digging those colored tights that the girls are wearing… and Jenny’s getting pretty annoying.”

“Since when did you become a Gossip Girl lover?” I asked him with a huge grin on my face. Looks like I’ve even made my older – 22 years old to be exact – brother obsessed over one of the hottest shows on TV.

“And by the way, I didn’t get to see episode 7, 8, or 9, because you didn’t have it in your iTunes library.” he added.

My brother’s the type to defend himself, but this time around there were no “I watch it because the girls are hot.” or “So and so made my watch it.” excuses. He genuinely likes the show. Although I was utterly surprised at first, what amazed me even more was the number of men that love the show. Did you know that there’s a website run by two men called I Am Chuck Bass which is dedicated to Gossip Girl?

Now that I think about it, Gossip Girl isn’t just a show for girls, but it’s a show that guys can watch and relate to at the same time. I’m sure many guys have experienced the difficulties with girls that both Nate and Dan have. And even Chuck, the playboy who discovers that he does have a soft-hearted side to him.

Who knows? Maybe your guy friends or even your boyfriend are secretly watching Gossip Girl too and if so they probably can’t wait for tonight’s much anticipated show! I have been waiting for this episode and nothing’s going to stop me from watching it. Not even the season premiere of The Bachelor or The Secret Life of the American Teenager which are both airing at the same time as Gossip Girl tonight. So what are you tuning into?

Kira Plastinina, the very young
and distinguished designer, filed for
chapter 7 bankruptcy on Jan 2, 2009.

With so many fans, celebrity supporters, and the media backing her up, the bankruptcy that KP Fashion Co. filed yesterday definitely hit like a bombshell. Not such a happy new year for our dear Kira, but after last month’s decision to close most of her stores in the US, I had a feeling that her company was in trouble, but not this deep.

Reports have concluded that her label is $54 million in debt to over 100 creditors. And it’s not just that – the company’s in a court battle over trademark infringement with Pacific Sunwear.

As a deep fan of her label, it’s very saddening to me that a vibrant young designer like her had to be pulled down during this economic crisis. It shows that having an impressive skill in designing and a millionaire father to help out isn’t enough to have a successful company in the industry these days. Just 7 months ago she took America by storm and unfortunately it ended rather too soon for Kira Plastinina. Hopefully this isn’t the last that we will see from her – I’m sure she’ll come back.

It’s that time again when we can start all over and begin a new year! I’m assuming that many people are making their New Year’s Resolutions and well, I kind of, sort of made some resolutions too. Although I really don’t do New Year Resolutions, I also don’t believe in having no resolutions at all. So what’s the harm in having a few?

To start off I will:

♦ Try to write more blog posts this year!
♦ And comment back to all the lovely people that come by
♦ In addition to that, read more of anything I can lay my eyes on
♦ Be an even more supportive friend and family member
♦ Try not to lose my temper over the silliest things and boys
♦ This year I will not accept a B in my classes
♦ And I promise myself to take advantage of the free gym membership at school

Gosh! There’s even more resolutions I could list, but I don’t want to bore you with all that, do I? Most importantly, I would like to live each day of 2009 to its fullest! And did I forget to mention being a way more fashionable person this year?

What are your resolutions and/or plans for the new year? Have anything in common with me?

Kate Moss has been rocking the ads for Longchamp for many seasons, but the advertisements have gotten even more alluring with a “twin” on the set. At a quick first glance, I truly thought it was two figures of Kate Moss in the same photo. But the next instant I knew it was another model, but who?

Ah, the one and only – Sasha Pivovarova. I’ve never seen a huge resemblance between the two models, but with these ads I could easily see them as sisters even! Not only do these top models look great, the clothes that Longchamp have recently launched for the Spring 2009 season are awfully chic. Who’d ever think Longchamp, a luxury leather goods brand, would come up with such a sophisticated, yet remarkably stylish, clothes line? I’m quite the stunned one.

Speaking of Longchamp, I never told you that I wrote a small article for Longchamp about their new line of bags, did I? My commentary was on my view of the St. Germain trend, which was the inspiration behind their new line. Feel free to take a look at the article at their website.

A lot of times I wonder why I buy clothes and bags that are covered with labels. Everyone does it whether they do it on purpose or not. My friends and I went through the whole American Eagle and Abercrombie and Fitch phase. And the number of people wearing North Face has seem to grow even bigger these days. But what’s so great about these labels anyway?

In my opinion a North Face jacket was nothing more than an expensive outdoor coat. And the outdoor type of look never appealed to me, but I wanted it just as much as everyone else and probably for the same reason. The North Face label. The little text on the left shoulder. What an embarrassing reason!

Now, a few years after that whole obsession, I find myself with the same kind of fetish, except with higher-end brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Although I’m not as tense about labels, in the back of my mind I know that I want that certain Gucci logo bag or the pair of Chanel sunglasses not exactly because I want or need them, but so I can feel “in style.” It got me thinking, as we grow older do we act the same with different commodities? Are labels constantly going to give us that certain satisfaction that we’ve always felt after buying them?

It may seem that I’m against brands, which is simply untrue, but everyone wearing the same thing gets really boring, no? As much as I love some of the most popular labels it almost seems like buying the same thing equals getting a nod of approval from friends and the community. I know that’s how I felt used to and sometimes even now.

What’s your take on labels? Do you love it for the label or for the actual product?