Not To Be Out Done

Those Japanese kids have some pretty crazy fashions of their own. And as far as I know, there was nothing illegal in me taking this picture off the internet, unlike someone else's method...

Those Crazy Finnish Kids

The other day I stumbled on a web site that I thought might be of interest to The Fashion Blog readers (i.e. Megs and myself). It's called Hel Looks, and it's centered on the street fashions in Helsinki, Finland. Started in July 2005 by Liisa Jokinen and Sampo Karjalainen, the project is aimed at documenting Finnish fashion and encouraging people to dress more invidually and create their own styles.

I thought this was a really cool idea, and it's always fun to see how people dress in other countries. (By the way, we don't really have permission to use this picture - actually the site expressly says not to use the pictures - so don't tell those Finnish girls. They could probably take us.)

Spring 2007 Ready-to-Wear Favorites

I was browsing through the Spring 2007 Ready-to-Wear shows on style.com, and I just wanted to share some of my favorite looks and trends for the upcoming season. Even though some might think it's a little early to start planning their wardrobe for next spring, I say if the fashion pros can do it, then so can we here at "The Fashion Blog"...

My absolute favorite collection was Christopher Bailey's for Burberry Prorsum. I loved everything from his neutral color palate to the high, cinched waists and little ankle boots. I didn't love the large headbands, but I'm excited to translate that into smaller, more flattering headbands paired with a collared coat complete with little belled sleeves.



My other favorite came from Bottega Veneta, which was a little surprising. I was taken with their flattering silhouettes and soft, neutral colors (again). The collection was sophisticated and simple - perfect for spring.



As always I loved Missoni's prints and billowy dresses. In this particular collection I liked the details - large pockets and sky-high platforms.



Two items of special note: Alice Roi's white coat and Blumarine's navy, ruffeled dress. I could picture throwing that white coat over all kinds of outfits - dresses, trousers and blouses, even jeans and t-shirts. It looks like the perfect light topper for any spring day. Blumarine's navy dress looks like it would be the favorite party dress of the season - hem above-the-knee (big spring trend) but nothing indecent, slight nostalgic retro feel but still contemporary.



Last but not least, my favorite new designer is Phillip Lim (for 3.1 Phillip Lim). His designs are young and fresh, and I will definitely be interested in seeing what he has to offer in future collections.