Taming the Animal Print Trends

The truth is animal print can be a fashion disaster, or pleasantly pleasing, depending on how you wear it. Even though it seems as if animal print comes in and out of style every couple of years, it’s always in, whether it be tiger, cheetah, zebra or even giraffe spots.

The trick is because animal print is such a bold trend you have to be even more discrete about how you choose to wear it. In other words, don’t let the trend wear you, you wear the trend.

The most important thing about animal print is that which ever way you choose to incorporate the animal print into your look it should be seamless. The reaction shouldn’t be “Oh you’re wearing animal print today.” It should be about you and feeling great. You should be the focus, not the print. Here are some general guidelines on how to wear it successfully:

Be an animal print minimalist:

Animal print looks best when present only in one pattern, in no more than one element of an outfit. You don’t want to look like a coach. However, don’t let this discourage you from wearing an animal print dress. Keep the length above your knees, the skirt slightly A-line instead of clingy and throw on a blazer and leggings to tone it down.

Think about the shape:

Because the print is so bold make sure to keep the silhouette of whatever you choose simple. Also to keep from looking like a cougar on the prowl, try wearing animal print tight only as a skirt and wearing it with a solid color flowy top or vice versa. I recommend a loose top in animal print, with skinny jeans and a blazer thrown over it.

Avoid anything fuzzy or weird colors:

Just because somebody decided to make a pink zebra top, doesn’t mean you should wear it. Also refrain from fuzzy animal print in any form unless you’re under the age of 10 and your mother still picks out your clothes. Felt and color is too Lisa Frank for you.

Pair fun colors with animal print:

Bright colors like green or turquoise add a little freshness to this classic print, making it more youthful. Try pairing bright colored shorts.

Accessories are usually a safe bet:

Animal Print was made to be a great accessory, especially for those you who are shyer about wearing it. However, whether it is an armful of bangles, a scarf, or cute ballet flats, remember to keep the rest of the outfit simple.

All in all when it comes to animal print, you must exercise good fashion judgment. Just because something is available in animal print doesn’t mean it should actually be worn. There is no shortage of clothing manufacturers out there committing fashion crimes with animal print.

Unless you’re a six-foot fashion model or a tour guide at the zoo, it’s probably not a good idea to wear pants, jackets, coats or skirts in animal print patterns– unless, that is, you’re going for the Cruella DeVille look.

Paris Fashion Week Was Burning

Fashion Month seemed almost endless this season. Thankfully, it ended in Paris where there were highs and lows, ruffles and bows, lots to chew on and even more to spit out. My favorite collections were Chanel, Lanvin, and Hermès. Three distinct looks...all impeccable and "chic, chic, chic" (at the risk of sounding like Elsa Klensch). Jean Paul Gaultier, Albert Elbaz, and Karl Lagerfeld ran neck and neck, so we have a trifecta; they all win.

Yes, I know, all the editors loved Louis Vuitton, but I say fotz. That shizz screams Emperor's New Clothes plenty. Since Marc Jacobs is so big in Japan, there is a touch of Harajuku sprinkled into each look. If you remember correctly, all the LV ensembles worn by the likes of Madonna, Lake Bell (zzz), and Leighton Meester last season ended up on my "Not Best Dressed List."

John Galliano was wonderful as was Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga. Alexander McQueen was fierce, too, though no one can wear those shoes in the real world. I really liked Miu Miu, but I take issue with designers showing in more than one city. It annoyed me about Alberta Ferretti showing in NYC, and Vivienne Westwood should stay in London, where she is the toast of the town...and a Lady no less.

With everything stripped away, one bad outfit tarnishes the collection...as in the case of YSL or Sonia Rykiel. Another case in point: the Emanuel Ungaro show, a.k.a Lindsay Lohan's foray into fashion. It was like the editors were primed to hate this; it wasn't THAT horrible. OK...it wasn't brilliant...perhaps slim pickins, but the venom that spewed about this show was unprecedented. Where were these horrified editors at the A.F. Vandevorst collection or Bless (as in bless this mess), a presentation that was Cirque du Soleil meets schamtehs. And when I read good reviews for Bernhard Willhelm's messy nonsense or kind words for Vivienne Westwood's hodgepodge lodge, Rick Owens' emperors-new-clothes, Vanessa Bruno's lace-knee granny things, and don't get me started on Zucca because "refreshing" and "the right dose of cheer" is the last thing I would say about this collection. See? I'm exhausted. As must be Anna Piaggi...who must be napping as we speak.

Spending Fashion Week in Jail

As part of its Fashion Week coverage, New York magazine published a fascinating account of Kevahn Thorpe, a teenaged shoplifter who is serving one to three years at Sing Sing. It seems that the allure of golden Prada sneakers, skinny Dior jeans and Fendi eyeglasses was too strong for the 17-year-old honors student from the Queensbridge Housing Projects to resist. And even though the calculus-loving thief is doing time alongside murderers, rapists and other violent offenders, he’s said he’ll probably resume his shoplifting ways when he is released in March.

It’s easy to dismiss Thorpe as a hopeless recidivist whose problems run deeper than the law enforcement community seems to realize. But in the midst of Fashion Week, it’s also worth considering the impact of all the hype on poor kids inundated with upscale imagery. Consider the very American maxim, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” What, exactly, is dressing like a rapper, an athlete, a model or video vixen, even if you live in the projects, if not dressing for the job you want?

For many African Americans, this is nothing new. As historian Stephanie M.H. Camp has shown, slaves in the U.S. South went to great lengths—often risking their personal safety—to attend dances and other events that offered them opportunities to wear stylish clothing. For women, wearing full skirts with hoops fashioned out of grapevines or tree branches and dresses with colorful and vibrant patterns helped not only to show off their feminine curves but also to showcase their ingenuity and creativity in procuring and designing festive attire. In dressing up, those men and women claimed their bodies as sites “not only of suffering but also (and therefore) of enjoyment and resistance.” The very epitome of aspirational dressing.

Who’s Next International Fashion Trade Show Dubai

Two weeks ago Eduardo was in Dubai to show his winter 2009-2010 menswear collection at Who’s Next & Premiere Class in Dubai 2009 . It was a chance to show to and learn about the new and rapidly growing Middle East fashion market. Showing the first Eduardo Rivera collection alongside 205 brands from 16 countries with 1200 buyers attending made for a tough few days work, but Eduardo managed to get out and about and see a few sites in Dubai. Here’s a quick video of our hard working designer enjoying some down time.

Dressed in Black

In 5 words or less, describe your style:

Lady-like, retro, bombshell, classy, girly.
Describe two items in your closet that you love:

This is a hard one because I have so many treasures. And, yes, I actually refer to my clothes as “treasures” on a regular basis. I’m vintage-dress-obsessed and I’m constantly rediscovering things in my closet I forgot I had and falling in love all over again. Nothing in there is an accident, I assure you. Although, I do use the word “accident” to absolve myself of any feigned guilt over yet another vintage purchase, as in “Uh, oh. I had another accident at Dressed in Time today.” This way, it’s only the fashion gods who are to blame. I mean, if it wasn’t so cute and it didn’t fit me so well, maybe I would have been able to resist.

I recently popped my etsy-cherry when I bought a black, quintessentially-1950s dress with a fitted bodice and a full circle skirt. The material has a light pink pattern, a pink satin collar, 3/4 length dolman sleeves with peter-pan cuffs and rhinestone buttons all the way down the front. You have to wear a crinoline underneath to get the full effect and I’m just waiting for the right occasion to show it off.

I also recently hit the 1940s jackpot at my all-time favourite vintage store in Halifax, with this gorgeous red satin, mid-calf length gown. In this case, the beauty is in the details. The entire dress is covered in black lace overlay and zips up the front-something that seems rare for the period. It has a v-neckline, the original belt, shoulder pads, peter-pan cuffs and two peplum-style flaps at the hips that make it feel especially regal. It reminds me of something one would wear to a masquerade ball since the combination of deep red and black lace is so sultry. Also, it fits like a glove, which is very important for wearing clothes from this era.

Fashion trend you swore you would not partake in but have fallen victim to and now kind of love (example: skinny jeans):

I would say my style has become pretty hardcore vintage over the last two years or so and since then most trends haven’t really applied. I wear pants about twice a year and when I do, they’re skinny jeans-which definitely weirded me out at first. I do get a little annoyed whenever elements of my dress become super popular-like leopard print is right now-but on the other hand it makes shopping for accessories a lot easier, since it’s the belts and hats and scarves that deteriorate the quickest. Also, it’s not like I have a monopoly on leopard print-it’s cyclical like everything else. Over-sized cardigans and oxford shoes took a little while to catch on with me, but now I love the shoes because I can wear them with a dress and still run to catch the bus. The over-sized cardigans are great because now I can borrow my boyfriend’s clothes when it’s chilly and still look like I know what I’m doing.