January Beauty Wish List

1. Dior Diorshow Mascara 

2. Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream

3. Dior Creme de Rose 

4. Bumble and bumble Thickening Hairspray

5. FRESH Rose Floral Toner

6. YSL Touche Eclat Foundation 

7. Tom Ford Beauty Eye Defining Pen

8. Hourglass Ambient Lights Pallet 

Love, 

A. xx

Golden Globes 2016 Red Carpet Favorites

(in order)

Lily James wearing Marchesa

Jenna Dewan-Tatum wearing Zuhair Murad

Olivia Wilde wearing Michael Kors

Saoirse Ronan wearing Yves Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane 

Zendaya wearing Marchesa

Love, 

A. xx

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2016 Campaign: Series 4

It’s the start of the new year, and in the fashion world this is the cue to start the release of Spring Summer 2016 Ad Campaigns. Needless to say, it’s exciting. The world is getting their first look at what top designers are going to be bringing to the table and the designers are more than happy to share it. Some of the Campaigns that have started to release are beautiful, examples being Saint Laurent (shot by Hedi Slimane), Burberry (shot by Mario Testino) and Prada (shot by Steven Meisel). (Pictured below in mentioned order)

But the campaign that has been acquiring the most attention is the Louis Vuitton Campaign, called Series 4, starring Jaden Smith and shot by Bruce Webber. LV’s creative director Nicolas Ghesquière released Webber’s photos Sunday on his Instagram and since then the media has been in a frenzy.

The reasons the pictures have been gaining so much traction is because of Jaden being presented in women’s clothing. Media choosing headlines like ‘cross dressing’ and ‘Jaden Smith is the face of WOMEN’S WEAR’, (legit there was a headline with women’s wear in all capital letters) creating a controversial atmosphere that catches eyes and attention. To be fair, the ad does show Smith in women’s clothing, the most talked about piece being his skirt, but when I first saw the pictures the fact Smith was in a skirt was the last thing on my mind.

Anyone who follows Jaden Smith knows that his street style is one that takes risks and is geared towards making people turn heads. Also it should be noted that this isn’t the first time an A-List celeb has been spotted wearing women’s clothing. Other men such as Harry Styles, Jared Leto and even Yeezy have been seen wearing female clothing in their every day street style. Ghesquière isn’t ignorant to this and in an interview with WWD he comments on the new trend, describing Smith as coming from a generation “that has assimilated the codes of true freedom, one that is free of manifestos and questions about gender. Wearing a skirt comes as naturally to him as it would to a woman who, long ago, granted herself permission to wear a man's trench or a tuxedo." 

So what it comes down to is this idea: If women are allowed to wear men's or even inspired by men's clothing, why can't men do the same with women's clothing?   

Following in the unfortunate pattern LV established when naming Ghesquière as the creative director in 2013 after Marc Jacobs, Series 4 in general has a huge incoherency. On one side you have the street urban feel that the photos that include Jaden Smith give off; edgy, street-chic and dark. And on the other you have sets and looks which are inspired by the Final Fantasy video game, these pictures give off a futuristic, almost alien-like look. Like I said, huge inconsistency. 

Despite the fact that all the pictures and looks are beautiful in their own right, this is a huge let down for me. I feel like a brand should have a general look about it. For example, when one thinks of the Burberry brand they get a general picture in their mind of what to expect. With Louis Vuitton there isn't that luxury. You don't know what to expect from them at all which is an interesting disadvantage considering their brand is such a high fashion staple. 

These are just my opinions on it though. In summary, Jaden Smith is rocking that skirt and Doona Bae looks gorgeous in her spread as well, I just wish there was more consistency in the brand. 

Love, 

A. xx