Last night during the Billboard Music Awards Oliver Rousteing announced Balmain’s collaboration with H&M. H&M has previously collaborated with the number of designers some of which I’ve listed below:
Matthew Williamson
Margiela
Alexander Wang
Lanvin
And Versace
….. Among others like Karl, Stella McCartney, and Jimmy Choo, photographed by infamous Terry Richardson.
Rousteing used his usual squad of the Jenner’s and Jordan Dunn to unveil the collaboration. But Balmain was seen throughout the event, worn by stars Taylor Swift and Chrissy Teigan. A long time fan of Balmain, I only hope that the intricate beading and textiles continue to the H&M platform… not to mention the beautiful pantsuits that have been seen and published in fashion publications during the Spring/Summer 2015 season. I am very glad that Oliver will be sharing the confidence exuding and royal-like textures of Balmain with the rest of fashion consumers. Here’s to hoping that the intricate quality isn’t jeopardized!
Swim season is right around the corner and thanks to modern design, there is (really, actually) a swim suit for every-body. Because of my immense obsession with everything summer, I have since followed up and coming swim designers despite crazy looks from friends on the boat… “Is that a swim suit?” Yes, it is, and mark my words everyone will have one in two years. In this post I’d like to share 5 up and coming swim designers to follow. Many of them are from the hot-body hub (or so it seems these days on IG, am I right?) Australia. My advice is to keep an eye out for sales or free shipping to the U.S… These brands typically do this a couple times a season. If not many California boutiques carry the brands and you can have it shipped via continental… However, expect the prices to be a tad more expensive.
So before you place an order for that Triangl bikini, take a look around!
(note: no disrespect I wore my Triangl bikini all of 2013)
TigerLily
Tigerlily is an Australian brand established in 2000 that takes great pride in the unique textiles, bold prints, and exotic theme the brand suggests, Just a glance at the swimwear line’s exquisite fabric choice coupled with design and you’ll likely find yourself in a dreamy Moroccan villa. Many of their recent collections seem to be inspired from the Eastern world as well as the chic French golden era. Either way, this is hand’s down the swimwear collection that evokes the most inspiration and adventure-some spirit I’ve seen to date.
en-beach.fashion.comAu.Vogue
Kiini Swimwear
Kiini swim states its swimwear production as “a combination of handmade crochet, elastic, and high-tech fabrics…” If that isn’t drawing your attention Who What Wear, the successful fashion editorial, published an article in March regarding ‘The New It-Girl Swimsuit to Wear’ and guess which brand they suggested? You’ve got it- Kiini. Please note that the swimsuits are hand-sewn and the orders are placed months ahead of time for one of these beauties… Prices range around $150- 185.
4th & Bleeker; WhoWhatWear.com
MandaLynn Swim
I finally purchased a top from Mandalynn after conducting an intense search and bidwar on ebay over a sunflower bikini top that was the previous season’s and since out of stock. Their swimwear is very sensual and it is no surprise that it is featured swim in the Sport’s Illustrated swimsuit edition. The pieces are brilliantly constructed with conscientiousness to the woman’s body and are worn to celebrate.
Stone Cold Swim / Stone Cold Fox * Beach Riot
I am, as could probably be imagined, an avid follower of the Stone Cold Fox brand, I make as many purchases as my bank will allow and was consequently elated at the introduction of their swim collection. Stone Cold Fox Swim embodies Wild West meets Pacific Rim, and comes out on top.
Beachriot.com
We are Handsome
We Are Handsome is another Australian brand with the perfect collection of fun one-piece suits and monokinis. Their fabric is selectively chosen, reflecting their active-wear production, with dare-I-say “Miami Vibe” prints. The large parrots, cats, and tropical birds will hand’s down have every eye on the beach. And, if the thought of eating chips and salsa on a boardwalk in a one-piece doesn’t win you over, maybe a pic of thee Queen Bey in We Are Handsome will…
I often envision myself flitting a light and carefree quickstep through Parisian cobblestone streets, feeling the hem of my skirt just barely gracing my mid calf while I am bopping my feet….
Spring is on it’s way, and also are the images of midi skirts and chic flats we lust over. After scouring the internet for the midi bubble skirt extrapolating in my mind (and I mean scouring, I spent five hours last night obsessing in frustration over the ‘perfect’ skirt) I have taken the liberty of linking my finds to this page so that you are able to enjoy without the Friday night legwork….. ‘aimer la vie’ !!
Of course, Nastygal.com has a phenomenal flirty tulle skirt available for purchase. I’m a massive partaker in the leotard trend, and it is commonplace for me to wear a leotard under jeans or skirts as a top, this would be no different as it creates a streamlined and pulled together look at the surface without letting the skirt overpower you.
Jill Sander’s Midi skirt embodies the absolute Parisian Chic. This may be on my wishlist for ever more… Pair it with a streamlined white bodysuit, or off-the-shoulder fitted top. (please remember to tuck in)
However, after many hours of researching I have decided to create my own… I will post progress and finished skirt before my deadline, the dreaded V-Day!
XXX
Julianne Phillips
The Pardon
thepardonblog@gmail.com
If you are interested in a mood board inspiring this trend I’ve attached a gallery below:
Last weekend my sister turned the big twenty-one. Being the classy little lady she is, she asked that we explore the wine country up in Michigan. We stopped along the way and enjoyed homemade extravagant truffles at The Chocolate Garden in Coloma, MI. My recommendation is the Lago Wine Truffle, sinfully delicious and the cool temperature was interesting in your mouth.
We discovered plenty of wineries within only a few miles distance of each other, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how busy each winery was and the impressive amount of people who traveled a longer distance than us to visit the area… After plenty tastings/glasses/bottles, we unanimously agreed our favorites were Gravity and Round Barn Winery. Both offered live music and an amazing assortment of dry reds (being raised by a Sicilian mother will do that to a girl).
The paradox of the French macaron and the uber thin, uber chic, French woman, a book review.
I suppose I could attribute my three short years as a French student in high school to a partial obsession with the culture and timeless beauty. I just finished the book “French Women Don’t Get Fat” by Mireille Guiliano… which elaborates on the American bewilderment with ‘why don’t French women get fat?’
I will highlight three pertinent ideals to the French ‘skinny-girl’ philosophy I’ve gathered from the book:
1) ‘De tout in peu et de peu pas beaucoup’ meaning you can have a little bit of everything. But make sure it’s only a little, enough to relieve your hunger, do not indulge in your momentary lapse making deals to ‘compensate’ for it later.
“No pizza three days in a row, but also no three hours in the gym on Saturday.”
Create a routine, “Il faut des rites,” (meaning we need rituals), and don’t double duty… The American culture reflects the paradox of immediate gratification, and our body chemistry is much more reliable (aka stop volunteering your body to outwork your bad judgement, be routine). You shouldn’t need to buy an insanely expensive gym membership to offset the over-indulgence in beer last weekend. You’re doing too much, a defining characteristic of our Western culture.
2) The book depicts eating as a sensual act, take pleasure, chew slowly, sit down for supper. And for pete’s sake don’t just go shoving food down your throat while watching Netflix. She advises that French women think about whether they are eating for pointless excess or for true pleasure, while they are eating. Meaning, eat slow and without distraction. I guess if you want to look French you should first start thinking French… what an intriguing concept.
3) Stop stocking up on groceries only once a week, instead buy often at fresh food markets. Now I’m assuming this is much easier in rural Paris or other European cities, especially while in walking distance. Try to shop daily or many times a week, you’ll be much more likely to absolve your momentary hunger with a thirty cent banana than with that entire box of processed crackers in your pantry.
Furthermore, I agree with Guiliano’s stance on the scale for progress monitering. Having modeled in the past I am well aware that your measured dimensions are incredulously accurate… She suggests le syndrome de la fermeture eclair, or the zipper syndrome used by French women.
The Paradox
End Note: I highly recommend this book, I did not read it for weight loss but instead for cultural enrichment. The narrator's tone is so non-apologetically honest and blunt, it's a refreshing broadcast of bad habits that have become a socially acceptable routine.
Bisous, bisous, bisous! XX
The Pardon
Tower capture of Paris, big thanks to Allison Koontz IG: akoontz10
There’s something about the rain that lights a spark of inspiration inside of me. Whilst laying in bed, post workout, I saw a clump of metal stashed under my dresser. Ladies, you know the metal I’m talking about… the large, tangled, mess of necklaces/belts that you swear you’ll untangle one day but let’s be honest they weren’t expensive enough to be worth your sweet time. In a sudden act of post-exercise enthusiasm I grabbed the metal ball, pliers, and wire cutter. Feeling inspired by the forever cool Jim Morrison leather garb and belts, I created a belt much like the ones I’ve been eyeing by Luv Aj via Stove Cold Fox. It may have taken three hours and two glasses of wine but it was well worth the effort. I have an amazingly slinky black slip dress (a little too large on my figure) and a pair of BCBG leather pants to wrap my metal chains around. Via Insta The_Pardon
It may have been Queen B ushering Jay-Z and Blue Ivy off the stage during MTV’s VMA’s this fall, leaving us all jaw-dropped and whispering “she definitely wears the pants.”
But it is a safe presumption that suits will be popping up in stylish women’s closets very shortly. Reformation, one of my all-time favorite brands just launched it’s suiting collection and it is absolutely thrilling. Nothing quite announces a women dressed to be taken seriously than a sultry pantsuit. Not only are you able to wear these items to work, but also out to play in the evening. Try combining a silk camisole or a lace onsie with flared suit pants; even a jacket with bare skin would put a spin on the suit. Judging from the looks of the recent NYFW we are going to be seeing a lot of bare skin and midriffs this spring. So if you haven’t shaped up yet or gotten familiar with the barely-there style, this is a good way to ease your way in this winter.
Supermodel and personal muse Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looks absolutely flawless in this Antonio Berardi suit. This is such a remarkable design, the way the trousers arch elongate her legs in such a way that it would be utterly impossible not to do a double-take.Zara had a pair of trousers in their Spring 2013 lookbook much like these.Jessica Hart shows off her figure in an alluring Dion Lee pantsuit
The sheer top adds a sultry edge to the metallic suit.Stunner Angelina Jolie… No further comment.
Please check out the new collection by Reformation, it is deliciously simple and sharp. Right on point for the chilly season approaching.
It took a heartbreak and a tool bag to finally muster the guts to post my first blog entry. I’ve modeled some for the past two years, studied textiles and sketched designs for less than that. However I like to think that style is a genetic predisposition; a blessing from the fashion goddesses and a curse for my bank account. Assimilating the wisdom of Ernest Hemingway I put “write hard and clear about what hurts” to practice. Fortunately, for you, enough friends and strangers witnessed the awful scene the sick f*** made public, so I’ll spare you the tears. To be frank, I am much more productive and creative when I am wronged anyways… Let’s call that resilience, with any hope. Instead, I will share my moody mood boards and inspiration for my style and design via The Pardon.
The Pardon 
