trends in 2011

2010 was a strong year in fashion. The return of colour, form and ladylike dressing were well received globally and certainly got my creative juices flowing. Looking forward, It seems as though anything is possible in 2011. Want to wear a turban with your evening dress? Sure. Flowing skirts with army boots? This can work well too. Well, of course being the key word here. The challenge is to wear it well.


That challenge looks like it's still on for 2011 as we are thrust into a kaleidoscope of contrasting trends. Prints and blocking are both strong, the 70's and minimalism clash in the lineup and flowing pajama wear emerges along with tailored classic styling. Consider this a brief to create your very own play palette. Enjoy the show!


the 70's return

Above, from left: The '70s trend on the spring 2011 runways at Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu, Thakoon, and Rodarte.


minimalism

Above, from left: The minimalist trend on the spring 2011 runways at Alexander Wang, VPL, Rag & Bone, and Calvin Klein Collection.

to the floor

Above, from left: The long skirt trend on the spring 2011 runways at Diane von Furstenberg, Jil Sander; Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein Collection.


Above, from left: The long skirt trend on the spring 2011 runways at DKNY, Givenchy, Dries van Noten, Proenza Schouler.


prints

Above, from left: Givenchy, Diane von Furstenberg, Suno, Z Spoke.

block party
Above, from left: The bright color trend at Peter Som, Karen Walker, Christopher Kane, Rachel Roy


pajamarama

Above, from left: The loungewear-inspired trend on the spring 2011 runways at Karen Walker, Vena Cava, Thakoon, and Ralph Lauren. 

what's a Jambox?

I want one - now

A few years ago, when the San Francisco company Aliph released the Jawbone — a pretty little nugget of a Bluetooth headset that offers superior “noise assassin” technology — I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. It was certainly an attractive piece of design. But I could never get past the fact that I didn’t really mind talking on a phone, no matter how many bells and whistles the Jawbone could offer.

Next week, Aliph will release its next product: a wireless speaker called the Jambox, which connects to any Bluetooth-enabled device (like a laptop, smartphone or iPad, which is being packaged as its ultimate match in Apple stores worldwide). Like the Jawbone, it offers quality and craftsmanship in the smallest possible package — think of it like a Victor JVC boombox that has been reduced to the size of a butter dish. But unlike its predecessor, the Jambox ought to have broader appeal — it certainly does for me. Like most people these days, I’d been listening to music through iTunes. But I’d been listening to iTunes through a complex system of démodé devices: in the living room, a pair of wired Logitech speakers; in the bedroom, a five-CD stereo system’s auxiliary input; and in the kitchen, a retro-looking Tivoli radio. Woe was me if I ever wanted to listen to music in the shower.

The Jambox replaces all of those half-baked solutions, and then some. There are no docks and no wires — though a stereo cord is included for those who wish to remain tethered — and the company claims its range is at least 33 feet. That, along with its compact size and rugged, high-grade rubber exterior, means it can travel with you not only to every room of the house but also to the Hamptons for the weekend or Stockholm for a business trip. (The company has included a soft-sided carrying case to make packing it a breeze.) Inside, you’ll find high-precision manufacturing more than a decade in the making: tightly machined rare earth magnets and a 30 percent glass-infused plastic that creates rigidity to increase the airtightness of the device, which in turn keeps it from losing quality on the bass and treble ends.

Even better, because the Jambox uses Bluetooth, it can connect to Aliph’s proprietary, constantly updated MyTalk system to download apps — which, at least for now, means you can use Jambox as a speakerphone or talk to text or tweet. It can even read you your e-mail — in English or in Cantonese, no less. How much longer before it’ll be able to read you the words on this page?

The Jambox, available for $199.99 at jawbone.com.

wanted possessions

things i like right now

 neon thoughts at night

the energy of the ocean

 only the best

courage

coconut drinks

brought to you by the colour peach

book box

Reading has always been my number one pastime. Through all stages of my life books have taken me to places i've still never been or introduced me to places I was yet to meet, providing me with a story before I ever arrived.

I've read books about love, books about hope, books about life and now I'm reading books to improve my life. My beloved roomate left his stash of self-help books to me when he set off overseas recently. As I flicked through them, one bold cover stared me down, that book was Time Power by Brian Tracy -  'a proven system for getting more done in less time than you ever thought possible' is what really got me.

You see, I've always been a little bit of a dreamer, I love to take my time, do things slowly, play, observe, analyse, indulge in a little bit of trial and error and whilst I remain a firm believer that this is how great ideas are born, there is a time and a place for creating and a time for working, progressing and being productive. And, I won't deny that there is space in my head cupboard - call it a brain if you will, to dramatically improve in this area.

As I begin to read Chapter One - The Psychology of Time Management - I find that Brian believes time management behaviours are very much a choice. I like this, as I too believe everything in life is a choice, if someone gave you a million dollars to be good at time management for a year, could you do it? he asks. Boom.

The chapter goes on to cover topics such as the practice of mental rehearsal, visualisation, and acting the part (ie. fake it till you make it)  - all systems I already subscribe to. It gets interesting when he begins to discuss self-esteem and how "our self worth is measured by the amount of output we create on a daily basis" and "a direct increase in output is a direct increase in self esteem" - after battling eating issues for the last fifteen years, and not seeing a psychologist due to my belief that the outcome of this process is usually an epic drama about my life, my problems and a poor me attitude, I decide this book is for me.

So now I am up to page 35 and though i am struggling to find time to read it, I do feel like I've 'increased my output' so to speak. I've also been to see an energy healer, but that is a whole other story for a whole other post.

peace out
A