22 December 2006

a year of change



Who doesn't like Home Alone?! So off topic. Anyway...

This year, like any year, has been a year of change.

I started this blog with the intention of chronicling my daily life and the people and events surrounding me. That changed. My focus shifted on the models of today. Recently, I also decided to include Filipino and Filipino-American artists. That decision came with the realization that my roots are an integral part of my being.


This year, as always, the world of fashion folded and unfolded. Here are some of the highlights:

As early as January, the industry's (hung-over) jaw dropped as Phoebe Philo stepped down from Chloé. After a series of ad interims, Swede Paulo Melim Andersson (formerly of Marni) became the new creativer director in late September.

In February, Karl Lagerfeld's eponymous line (remember that seemingly endless trail of black, charcoal, gray, chocolate, slick leather, fur cuffs, and men's suits?) failed to take off. A few days ago, it was made known that Kaiser Karl is about to launch K Karl Lagerfeld, a denim lifestyle collection.

In March of last year, Helmut Lang exited Helmut Lang. In May of this year, Habitual's (those jeans, those jeans!) designer couple Michael and Nicole Colovos took over the brand.

In mid-July, Procter & Gamble halted the helm at Rochas. Despite the flowing love from fans and critics, the house just wasn't cashing in.

Lars Nilsson decided to leave Nina Ricci in late August, opening a huge door for former Rochas designer Olivier Theyskens as he became Nina Ricci's artistic director in September.

In November of 2005, Roland Mouret resigned after a falling out with his backers. In September of this year, Mr Mouret teamed up with Simon Fuller to create the label RM19. In late October, it was announced that he created a capsule collection for Gap stores in New York and Europe.

Alexandre Plokhov closes Cloak (boo! no more jackets?!) after only five seasons.

Veruschka appears in the latest Bond installment, Casino Royale.

Derek Lam continues to flourish. With seven stellar collections for his namesake brand under his belt, Tod's named him as creative director last month.

Designer-commercial partnerships advanced, exemplified by the marrying of Viktor & Rolf with H&M, Thakoon Panichgul and Sophia Kokosalaki with Nine West, and Behnaz Sarafpour and Proenza Schouler with Target. Of course, the knots will be untied after a couple of months.

Speaking of Sophia, she was appointed as creative director for the House of Vionnet just this fall.
And speaking of Thakoon, he was a runner up for the 2006 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, along with Rodarte's sister team Kate and Laura Mulleavy. Of course, Doo-Ri Chung won the big prize.

For me, the biggest shocker was a transformation. Allegra Versace Beck started sporting a healthier look this fall. Compare that with her skeletal frame a few years ago. She looks absolutely stunning now.


On a more personal note, I think most of my friends will agree with me when I say that Fall 2006 has been the craziest semester to date. I've gained weight from the RN program, developed GERD, and gotten sick four times. People have dropped courses, paring down a starting number of 60 students to who knows how many by now.

A good number of my friends are graduating from college next year and a couple are dreading the day they turn 21. Some have jobs waiting for them.

This has been a year of breakups and love matches, none of them my own, of course. My friends are happy. You unlucky attached birches! I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I love to love them... and they love me long time.

This is also the year of the most heartbreaking haircut. I had to give up my Johnny Ramone hair in exchange for passing medications and giving flu shots. At least, that's how I see it.

Sadly, this might also be the year of last chances. People are leaving and moving on to bigger and better things.

So the holidays are here. I will be posting flashbacks from December of last year soon.

To everyone, my meager (but hopefully growing) number of readers, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Holidays!

Now here's my crazy Christmas list. Take your pick!




Verification of some information consulted from Blacks Retail Analysis.
Screencap credit Fox

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 10:08 PM