Time to gush over Fall 2012!

Fall 2012 Collections


I'm finally getting around to my favourite stuff from fashion week. Now that
fashion week is wrapped up pretty much everywhere...great timing! Normally I would have had this up weeks ago, but alas, I've been busy, which I'm rather thankful for. So the other day I mustered up some time and finally took a gander at these gems-

Meadham Kirchhoff

 

 

 

Holy hell Meadham Kirchhoff never fails to make me ooze with happiness each time I click through their collection slideshow. I love clashing patterns that somehow look like they are supposed to go together. I absolutely love stirring up that look on my own, but sometimes they definitely don't look like they are supposed to go together...oops. The monster face dyed within the jacket?! The rainbow glitter suit?! Ugh, just delicious. I love the fact that Ben Kirchhoff explained this collection as inspiration of wanting to go to a club...one that doesn't exist because of his whimsical and far out mind can conceptualize what a club would look like via clothing. The shoes, the tights...way rad. I love that ragin' strawberry in the first picture and the girl rocking the rainbow suit reminds me of David Bowie. I feel like that suit would make some sort of  *clanking* noise when you wore it. So there's that. Cherries, monsters, rainbows, plaid,  and FURRY PAW GLOVES? Chyeah, I'll take it.

Oscar de la Renta

 

 

 

 

 

I've been captivated by Oscar since early high school and he never ceases to make me go "OSSSCCCCARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!" as I'm clicking MIND-BLOWN through the pictures. I have always loved the contrast of these huge designers in one collection; how there can be something casual, and extremely over the top formal. Precious, sexy, foxy, formal, crisp, dashing, sharp, and standout would be a few of the words I would use to describe just this collection alone. Look at the [entire thing]. Please. And the shoes?! I can't even choose a favourite out of all of these. I love the necklace and the dress in picture 8. One hell of a statement piece and I can tell you that I always love a good statement piece. I also dig the coat on picture 9. This collection was full of goodies. Big time hard to narrow it down to 10...

Rodarte

 

 

 

Delicious. The coats/jackets, PATTERNS, and shapes to these are just fantastic. I'm a big fan of the shoes in this one. I just like the pattern shifts that pull it together instead of making it clash. I love the sequins sewn on in the second picture, it makes it look so cool from a distance. Like she got in a knife fight and her wounds glow...right?

DETAILS!

 
 

Creatures of the Wind

 

 

 

 

Creatures of the Wind is my favourite designer right now. I love these two Chicago dudes and I was so happy when they were runners-up for the CFDA/Vogue fund. Well deserved.Whimsical, Laid-back style sexy, and masculine are the vibes I get from this collection and I really like it. I love the wider-legged pants, shirts buttoned all the way up, jackets, and sweaters that have a nice ease to them. Each one evokes a different sexiness..picture two? YES. A woman in a bowler hat is something that is rather fantastic. I was on the hunt for a top hat, well I suppose I'm always on the hunt for a top hat, I REALLY want a purple velvet top hat, but that's about to get really off topic. The absolute fabulous pattern clashing has got it goin' on in 1 & 5, I want them. That dress in 4? YES PLEASE. Now that would be one hell of a party dress. If the girl in picture 6 didn't have a flask of gin tucked beautifully into a garder I will be sad. Another well done collection. Check it out in it's entirety.

ahhh.

There are only so many more collections to look at and fall in love with.

[2012] Oscar gown reviews!

Ah. YES. OSCAR GOWN REVIEW TIME.

Let's just dive right in. We don't need to get fancy with words here.
(oh & by the way, these are in no particular order. I snagged all these from style.com)

Angelina Jolie in Versace Atelier

First off, I like Angelina Jolie. A lot of people have a lot of beef with this chick, and for all sorts of reasons too. I am just going to go ahead and put it out there-I think this woman always looks like sex. She just always has this confidence about her that is very captivating in nearly every situation I've seen her in. She my have done some crazy shit in the past, but haven't we all? So back to it! I love the shape on this dress and how the shape balances itself out in two of the most vital places, or well, focuses within a dress. Of course, black is always a red carpet favourite, as long as there is some sort of shift or funk to it. Plus, I can always, always, always dig a huge slit in a dress. It automatically makes a long gown become more fun and dangerous. This does exactly that. Oh, how Angelina of her.

Meryl Streep in Lanvin

Aw. Yeah. I like it. I think she is the only one this would have looked good on, especially when she walked away a golden lady with a little golden Oscar man to match. I like a bold gold; this was good for her and it works well with her colouring. The clutch is Lanvin along with the chain belt. Lanvin! Lanvin! Lanvin!

Natalie Portman in Christian Dior Haute Couture (Vintage 1954)

CHYEUP!

I love this. This is bringing back the old Portman that I loved and could rely on her to wear soimethin' funky. Remember her old pal, Zac Posen who put her in all sorts of rad ensembles?? This is sort of like that but so much better because it's vintage Christian Dior. I just absolutely love it. The cut, the colour, the pattern, how she looks in it, the train, blaaahh blahh. But awesome-sauce right??

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford (<---!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

YEAH YA DID, GIRL!

Any woman in Tom Ford categorizes under the category of 'Sex + Class'. Congratulations, G! You knocked yourself right into that category! This gown and cape are perfection and she looks really good in it. Really classic look. Gwyneth Paltrow makes a few fashion faux paus here and there, but for the most part, this broad has pulled out some phenomenal red carpet stunners in the past and generally always looks pretty damn good. This dress! Gah!

Jennifer Lopez in [WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING] I mean Zuhair Murad.

I hate this dress on her. Not necessarily the dress. I don't know.

Can we get a picture of someone else in this to compare?

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli

I love this. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so it's reminiscent of Nicole Kidman's 2007 Oscar dress. First of all, who the hell cares? THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO. I think it's kind of rad to see this kind of look work well on someone else, in a different style, some time later. I really like this dress and I like this on her as well. The bow is something elegant that makes it funky at the same time. Plus, I think this girl is pretty rad. So I'm going to give the whole situation an A. Easy A.

(OH!!!)

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

I am so in-between on this gown. I like it, but then...I'm not sure I like it on her. I don't know. Maybe more hair is required? Perhaps I would be more into it if she had a big necklace on that made something stand out on top. For real girl, you have no hair. You need big jewelry SOMEWHERE to contrast that out with this kind of dress on. But the dress...yeah.

Jessica Chastain in custom Alexander McQueen

I can tell you right now, I have no idea who this woman is, but I LOVE it. I love any ornate kind of work like this on a gown and of course you can leave it to Sarah Burton to deliver.The cut is just perfect for this dress and I really like how it accentuates her figure through the intricate design. Way to go.

Milla Jojovich is Elie Saab

LOVE IT. On par with how much I loved Cate Blanchett's Givenchy Couture dress last year, but now that I look at pictures of that, I think it may have been an overstatement...but, this gown is...absolutely superb.

Shailene Woodley in Valentino

Here's the thing, this dress is totally rad. I love it. I know why she picked it. But as the broads on E! said (but can I please say how much I love Kelly Osbourne as a commentator? The best one) she's 22, she needs to wear something that shows off her figure. Like, save this one for next year after you've already stepped onto the scene in something a little more vamped up. So like...cool, you have good taste, now let's learn how to work it next time, girl. Oh, and I have no idea who this girl is either...

Ellie Kemper in Armani Prive

I really like this dress. It works nicely with her hair colour and normally I'm not a fan of this girl, but I can dig her choice in this dress. The earrings are great, but no necklace?

Maria Menounos in Maria Lucia Hohan

I am a big fan of this dress; the colour, the cut, and the little ruffled touch on the ends of the train. Ettheerrealll! I also think the earrings where a good pairing, but something with a shade of green in them may have been a rad touch. Perhaps if I saw them more close up.

These were just a few that really stood out to me during the course of the night and when they were dissecting them to pieces on the red carpet show. What did you guys think? What were some of your favourites?

who needs a title!

So...it's been awhile.

I'm sorry, that was the most I could come up with for my intro. A lot has gone on, while at the same time it feels as if nothing has gone on. I'm back at my parents house which is an adjustment. Which is odd, because I was only away from living within this establishment for almost two years time, which is not that significant. It's also weird to think of yourself as needing to adjust into a house in which you grew up in, but the things you grow accustomed to doing outside of your parents roof is hard to adjust out of once you get back living there. Nothing bad, per say, but just small habits you found yourself doing that may not have gone over so hot while rooming with your rents.

Although, I have to say that 2012 is going rather well. I seem to have melted into a stable environment and I can't say anything bad about that. I find myself riding along rather complacently down the old streets and it almost feels like I never left. So this whole jumble of "re-adjustment" and "feeling right at home" are merging, but the end result isn't so bad.

I've created my room to my hearts content and find myself happily in one of the largest bedrooms of the household. My counterpart has come over and "hooked" up my room with all the proper electronics I require (I know, I hate myself for it too) and now I feel pretty good in my own little space. I now find my time spent much differently. I've been a crocheting fool as well as spending time delving into my old tunes on my iPod I found while packing up the other house. My little nook is rather eclectic and I wouldn't have it any other way.

My friend mentioned that this whole 'Parents for roommates' situation is kind of like a re-set button on me figuring out my life. Mostly because I sort of feel like I'm in high school again without all the silly rules. My parents are doing what they can to make the adjustment easy...or something. It's the biggest drag in the world trying to conjure up a plan for yourself. Okay, I guess it's not "the biggest drag" but sometimes it seems pretty damn awful. There are a billion things I want to do. Settling on a few routes seems horrid. I want to perform or promote the hell out of something I believe it. Most importantly, I need to C R E A T E. It is vital to my existence. I need to keep getting inspired to the bone. Needless to say, I am enjoying being 10 minutes away from friends and a glorious 15 minute drive away from work. That gives me adequate time to sing about four Florence songs, or maybe just the same one four times over?

Here are some pictures to sum up my life that has occurred over the past few weeks:

Yep. I look like a Brooks Brothers wife.

I have dyed my hair red. It was time for a change.

If I'm making adjustments, it's likely my hair is going to have to do the same thing.

I actually really like it, yet was terrified because red is the only colour I have not done myself.

I am no stranger to box dye and typically have fabulous luck with it, but I wasn't sure how this would go.

Needless to say, I hope I will stay red for awhile, the best part is that I still feel like myself.

When I've had black/brunette hair in the past... I just feel odd.

I also feel like this hair colour requires a whole different look. Everything needs a collar.

I got a custom order to do a voodoo doll on a cookie.

I was so amped because I love doing weird shit like this on cookies!

Recent cookies I did, cupcake cookies. Gets me every time.

I took a sushi class at Sur La Table with one of my best friends, Meredith.

Her mom had gotten her the class for Christmas and had paid for a friend to take the class.

We ended up eating a making a ton more than I anticipated.

The rolls we made were: California, Spicy Tuna, Rainbow (shown above), and a handroll using Eel which is featured below. Everything was absolutely delicious.

 

I just made this hat the other day.

Crocheting has been a big part of my life lately, especially because I found a goldmine of my old yarn within my parents house. It's rather exhilarating.

In the past few weeks I've gone ahead and decided to open up a little Etsy shoppe

www.etsy.com/shop/tessacrocheted

Seriously. A crocheting fool is who I be!!

 

Let's just say I was way into this outfit in recent days.

I literally think everything in this outfit is thirfted minus the boots and socks.

I love the sweater, but the skirt is the real gem. I thrifted it brand new for $12 and it was $150.00 initially.

I scored this Pendleton coat in the Portland Goodwill.

When I tried it on, about 5 people came up to me and told me I must purchase it.

So I paid $50 for the originally marked $300 brand new coat and walked out revved.

This was when I initially got it and couldn't even wait to be pictured downtown wearing it...

I know. whataloser.

Sometimes I feel like my pictures sum it up best versus me trying to come up with words to describe the past month. Hopefully I can keep up with this sucker. I hope you guys have been keeping it as real!

twenty twelve. ah, it feels nice.

Oh, 2011, you were full of it, just full of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I can honestly say that I was one exuberant being when that clock hit midnight and 2011 was no more. Of course this was displayed by me crying my face off while 'Shake It Out' played perfectly along in the background. Some good things happened, but so few that I could count them on one hand. I feel like when I think back on this past year, it's like I'm trying to recall being washed away in a large wave that washed me away, cut me open, and poured its salty waters into my wounds. Yeah...like I said, it wasn't the best. I cannot exactly pinpoint it to one thing, except the fact that I anticipated the age of twenty three to be a complete drag. After such an uplifting year in 2010, I was so apprehensive to step into something new that hadn't had anything to prove. In 2010 I was golden, I was 22 and on top of the world. This past year was full of extreme highs and lows, being shuffled around with my job, contemplating what my body would look like hanging from the low ceilings at work, and just constant contemplation of what the real purpose of being here was, what was POSSIBLY going to make me WANT to live another year? This is where I think that maybe getting too into the political regime and being an informed person of society may have been to blame for this edge I had gained. DO PEOPLE EVEN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON?! I know it seems rather morbid, but just reeelaaxxxx. Ahh, alas. Some refuge...Unfortunately I had to wait until December to realize that everything was going to be just fine, fortunately, IT. WAS. TOTALLY. WORTH IT.

This past year had some gems, so I feel like I should point those out before you come over here and tattoo "Sad Sack" across my forehead; I sported some groovy outfits, I was 22 for three months of it [and then it all went to hell], I met some wonderful people, attended some rad weddings, got real "news-y", NY Fall Fashion week floored me this year, I saw Florence + The Machine TWO TIMES [1,2] as well as The Black Keys, Florence Welch said my name AND TOUCHED MY FLESH! Ceremonials dropped and became one of the best albums of my life, I actually went to a Halloween party and had a good costume, I put together a little bucket list, I consumed a lot of Portillo's, I SAW THE JELLIES!, and I became sort of a social networking whore. Yeah. There were other things scattered about, but if it weren't for past blog posts scattered in between moments of sanity, then I'm not sure how much recollection I would really have of the good.

Oh, you made the last leg of 2011 so, so, so good and worth it.

Me dressed as Rachel Maddow with an awesome older lady I met.

The nun/Maddow pairing picture was necessary!

and then some dancing happened...

 

a few outfits...

The food that got me through! Portillo's

The Jellies came to the Shedd Aquarium.

I mean, good things happened, no doubt, but it was come and go, lackadaisical happiness. I was just consumed with this unbearable sadness and contemplation that seemed to drive me in circles and get me absolutely nowhere. If there is one thing that drives me mad its that thing that everyone expects from you; you charting out your life's greatest plan, unveiling how you plan to make millions to support yourself. I know you are supposed to be doing this, having some grand idea of how you can fulfill your life as well as those around you. At the end of the day, I know that with age comes more "searching" for that security. I disdain this process although I know it's exceedingly important. I anticipate moving soon and getting out of this area that I've been living in for the past twenty two months. You'd think that number amount would make me happy, but it doesn't in the slightest. I am anticipating a 10 minute drive to work, being closer to friends and family, and just being in a better environment.

This New Years, my counterpart and I forewent our usual plans. We typically head up to Milwaukee to the Hotel Metro or drive 20 minutes in to Chicago and stay at the Hotel Monaco. We get tickets to the main show in the city that year, [last year, The Black Keys, the year before, Spoon] and then return back to our favourite rooms that we always book when we stay at those locations. This year it would have been fun, but it wasn't necessary or really feasible with us moving in week's time. So we found ourselves seated on the floor, sipping champagne, and watching some of our favourite episodes. It was the way to go.

AH HA! IT IS SNOWING! YAY. Little Flurries.

So all in all, I anticipate 2012 being more flashy and fun and I only say this because 2011 was like being dragged by a horse for 345 days (assuming that twenty days were tolerable). I don't necessarily have any resolutions that consist of being shared via blog or really to anyone. Resolutions are kind of like those little self goals/secrets you have that once you let someone behind it all, it doesn't really stay yours anymore. The idea and goal becomes much more impersonal and now becomes something you must fulfill because now it's expected of you. Therefore, let's just hope to keep it rockin'. Hopefully this year takes you on a journey and slaps you across the face hard. Even though I feel like my year was something that I could put on the 'things I disdain' list, I learned something. I became a stronger god damn person because of it. You better bet that I would have liked to take a horse tranq of a sleeping pill and slept through most of it, but I'm glad I didn't, because now I know there can only be better.

Cheers to you and yours in the New Year!

-Tessa