Alexandra Groover, A/W 13

New Groover. Yes. 

I need to see that last piece in person. By the looks of it on the male model, it looks like it can be cinched up somehow so it's not a full-length dress. I'm intrigued. And I need more Groover.

(Photos by Paul Phung, via here)

Alexandra Groover, S/S 12

I'm sure some of you have already seen the latest video from kOs favorite Alexandra Groover showcasing her S/S 12 'LIFE' collection, no thanks to my preoccupied self. But today Alexandra finally posted some still photos that are a bit more lookbook-ish. These two are my favorite pieces, being the Pinnate Cardigan (above) and the Arcuate Dress (below). 

This photo, however, featuring the Alate Dress/Skirt, is what demanded my full attention. Reminds me of an Italian Renaissance portrait, though I couldn't say which one exactly I'm thinking of. Or am I thinking of Angelica Houston in Ever After? Same difference, right?

An Alexandra Groover online shop is coming soon! You've been warned. By the way, can you believe it's nearly been two whole years since I interviewed Alexandra? Time flies...

Alexandra Groover, A/W 11

And I'm back! Just like Alexandra Groover, who has just posted this video that was shown to a lucky few last week in London. 'BIRTH' is the first of a trilogy of shorts that feature Alexandra's fifth collection and her continued use of convertible noir garments, which this time are constructed out of squares of fabric. This film kinda sorta freaks me out, but I am still recovering from a week of having the worst cold ever, followed by a week of being unable to walk, followed by 15 hours of horrendous travel homeward, six of which were on one flight that was dominated by 120 symphony members who seemed to have erroneous information on the standing policies of an aircraft flying tens of thousands of feet above the ground through turbulent air. In fact, any sounds of distress within 'BIRTH' pretty much matches the sounds I was making inside my head whilst I was trapped in the very back corner of the packed plane, aka airborne crazy train. I dearly love New York, but goodness it's good to be home.

Alexandra Groover, S/S 11

After fixing the broken video for Alexandra Groover's S/S 11 'Sea Smoke' collection, I am most happy to post lookbook photos from said collection. I still love the top I had singled out from the video (the Tide Pool Minidress, bottom of post), but my eye is now set on two of the dresses. First up is the Crosscurrent Halter Dress, which would be the perfect summer traveling wardrobe staple, as it can be worn long and loose (as above), or short and ruched (as below). I love how the ruched version has the look of an old school pin-up swimsuit.

My other choice would be the Flow Dress (below), which quite brilliantly features the jersey drawstrings prevalent in this collection along the hem of the dress. I would wear this all the time. Lauren of mydearthing has gotten me absolutely hooked on low armholes for tanks/dresses. That's really the way to go in both warmer weather and whilst layering with sleeved tops underneath on colder days.

All pieces are made of black jersey (of which Alexandra uses only the absolute best), and some pieces are unisex. Though if I ever bought my man any of those pieces, I know he would never actually see them. So I'll just pretend the entire collection is just for me when it comes to ordering from this collection, rather than giving him an incredibly selfish birthday present...Good luck at Paris Fashion Week, Alexandra! 

Now, I'm off to enjoy the most delicious bowl of soup ever. Well, I'm sure even a peanut butter and jam sandwich would be the most amazing meal ever by this point of not eating for three days...

Sea Smoke

Here it is: Alexandra Groover's short film (by Fritz Stolberg) for her S/S 11 collection, entitled "Sea Smoke". It makes me want to watch Bride of the Monster. And I really really want that long sleeved/bat sleeved piece (seen at about 3:42-3:46). Alexandra sure knows her way around a tube of jersey. You should see the A/W 10 dress of hers that I have...

In This Corner...San Moritzz

My musical adventures lately.... just saw my friend Dom perform solo as San Moritzz - the MySpace doesn't do it justice - I really loved him live. Cleverly playing with so many influences throughout genres and time.

Here is a photo I took of Dom (San Moritzz) performing live at Cafe Oto (one of my favorite places in London) on 18th June 2010.

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This Corner is brought to you by my fashion soulmate herself, Alexandra Groover. Do you remember that interview I did way back with her? Yeah, you do. You could reacquaint yourself with her gorgeous noir creations though. Couldn't hurt.

The Girl Without a Dragon Tattoo

Alexandra Groover 5-hooded hoody + Jessica Darwin mesh top + 

Mandula shorts + complexgeometries megahose 

I was really just wanting to look like Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo today. However, due to laundry constraints, long hair, only one piercing, and, well, no dragon tattoo, this was not possible. I did still manage to throw together a pretty good outfit though, if I do say so myself. This was all about texture and blackness, which in a way is Lisbeth-like. Right?

Now, onto reading those books...and sleeping. The 4am shift this week is going to defeat me.

...make sure to wear some tulips in your shoes...

To my delight, the newest 'issue' of NJAL features some of my absolute favorite designers who have been featured here on kOs: Alexandra Groover, Dori Tomcsanyi, bARBARA Í gONGINI, Awareness & Consciousness, and Anneloes Van Osselaer. I can only conclude that I have excellent taste. Anyway, mark your calendars for May 5th, as Dori's full S/S 10 collection will be posted on that date. Until then, here are some wonderfully springy photos to tide you over. I wish I had some tulips to stick in my shoes for my walk to get a quad-shot iced venti soy caramel macchiato.

Photos: Peter Hencz
Styling: Angie Palmai
Model: Anita/ Visage
Hair: Kaszon Hortobagyi

Top 19 Finds of the Winter

Usually the first day of Spring would be a day of relief, as our winters are generally two months too long, and rather taxing on the human brain. This past winter, however, has been unbelievably kind to us, especially as it's already been on it's way out for a few weeks. Nonetheless, I will not complain that Spring is officially here today. And though most of you have been with me the past season, here are my Top 19ish Finds of Winter 09/10 (I had a lot of ties for most of the categories). I would recommend getting outside and watching buds appear (as I will be once I've typed this), but once you have to go back inside, you can click happily away on the links below.

1) Designer: Inbar Spector, Jessica Darwin
2) Fashion grad student: Bartosz Suligowski
3) Label: Txell Miras, Hexa by Kuho
4) New collection: Mandula, 2010
5) Basic piece: mydearthing Carly Dress, ArtLab Artisanal Wool Coat No. 1, CareWear knit goods
6) Future purchase: Alexandra Groover A/W 10 dress
7) Custom made piece: Maria Severyna black silk wrap, ArtLab black Star Trek Princess dress
8) Package in the mail: Mandula shorts, Jessica Darwin neck corset and drip tank
9) Want: Ravishing Mad jeans, Kat Stratford pants
10) New Album: Eluveitie's "Everything Remains As It Never Was"
11) Website: DesignerDreamCloset.com (more on this later!)
12) Furniture: Skin & Bone woven pieces from Ditte Lerche and associates
13) Magazine: POP
14) Post: Interview with Bonzie
15) Most Tasteful Post: "Crepes...and Katharina Hermes"
16) Future project: Alexander McQueen kimono-inspired jacket
17) Most worn pieces: ArtLab Oversized Revolutionary jacket, Maria Severyna grey wrap, Attila Design Sybil dress, mydearthing Fingerful Warmers
18) Most beautiful dress ever: Attila Design Poem dress
19) Most heartbreaking collection(s): Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 10, A/W 10/11

Alexandra Groover, A/W 10

Well, it seems I dropped the ball on this one. I've been sitting on Alexandra Groover's A/W 10 lookbook for the past couple days after she so thoughtfully emailed it to me along with some info I'd been waiting for in regards to a future purchase. I did not want to assume that it was free for the posting, as she hadn't even uploaded it onto her website. But my daily reading of Queen Michelle's post today has informed me otherwise. So, Miss Fashion Soulmate, I do sincerely apologize for being so late on a well-deserved post, especially as this collection is simply wonderful. Black jersey with strings to make the pieces ultra-convertible?!! Sigh. Also, I must say that this dress (above) is perhaps the most perfect long black dress in existence. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw the inky photos of it. Again, sigh. I am forever captured by this lady's noir designs. She is indeed a genius when it comes to hooded things. I'd love to get tied up in the pieces below as well.

Alexandra, we know what you did last night

I signed up for Facebook the last semester of my last year of my undergrad studies. Possibly the worst time to have signed up for it. I quickly became addicted to it, and it morphed into my main mode of communication with my friends and certain family members (I loathe the phone). Three years later though, I've grown tired of Facebook as a source of entertainment and distraction. But since becoming a member of the blogosphere, Facebook has really become a great resource. I think a lot of designers, especially the young ones, have noticed the immediate connection they can make with fans/buyers/colleagues, and have taken advantage of making their own 'fan page', linking it to their main website and updating it with any bit of news concerning their label. And I, for one, am quite a fan of being a fan.

That was my long-winded way of saying: if you want fashion news fast, add every designer you admire on Facebook! And designers, sign up for Facebook! It is via this wondrous site that I have seen photos of Alexandra Groover's fantastic show last night in London, presented by WeKnowWhatYouDidLastNight. While I'm still looking forward to seeing the lookbook photos for some more detail and depth to these wondrous noir numbers, I'm simply happy that Alexandra is back, and in black. I'm also looking forward to the day when splattering your face with black paint is accepted as daytime make-up. It would be so very easy, and would make decorating the bathroom walls rather stress- free. In case you were wondering, the collection is entitled 'Encre Noir', inspired by octopi (and their inky goodness).

(Photos by Christopher James, via WKWYDN)

Get into the groove

Although she was never that far away, Alexandra Groover popped up on my radar again last night, as she updated her blog and Facebook with a couple of items. As a result, I've been intermittently listening to some drone metal all day, and I've been pining after some more delicious noir pieces. Particularly, I'm wondering if Alexandra's arca coat should be a part of my wardrobe, rather than the shell hooded jacket that has been in My Top 3 Want List for ages. Who wins in a battle of bustle vs. hood? Draped vs. architectural?. Make sure to watch Alexandra's lovely interview with The Clothes Whisperer, and help me decide (The Clothes Whisperer is wearing the arca coat in the first video). I'm also in love with the cubozoa convertible piece (worn as a dress below left, as a top below right) because it's, well, convertible, and it's made of jersey. Sigh.

In This Corner...Christmas Enchiladas

I'm staying in London for Xmas, along with some other expats mostly from US, Canada, and Australia (basically anyone who lives more than 10 hours away from home!), and we're going to have a big feast in which everyone brings their favorite dish from their home country - so of course it will be Mexican food for me, since I am from Southern California and it is so hard to get good legit Mexican food over here!

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Yum! Today's Holiday Corner is brought to you by Alexandra Groover. If you get some spending cash for Christmas, perhaps you should check out her online boutique. That's what I would do anyway...Ooo, and check out my interview with Alexandra here.

Top 18 Finds of the Fall

In case you weren't convinced by the snow, cold weather, and holiday festivities already, today is the official start of Winter 09/10. Well, at least in the northern hemisphere. And so, with autumn now long gone, I bring to you the top 18ish finds/posts during the past season of my blog. Click, read, and stay warm.

1) Designer: Camilla Wellton

2) Fashion grad student: Wolfgang Jarnach

3) Label: Tara St. James’ Study NY

4) New collection: Liza Rietz F/W 09/10, Alexandra Groover S/S 10 and mydearthing Hindset Collection

5) Basic piece: mydearthing Fingerful Warmers

6) Future purchase: Patricia Ayres Artisanal coat

7) Custom made piece: Attila Design dress

8) Package in the mail: 4 pieces of ArtLab perfection

9) Want: ‘Carrot’ style pants

10) Musician: Kelli Scarr

11) Artwork: The Berlin Project

12) Website: Denim Therapy

13) Blog: The door in my wardrobe

14) Post: Interview with Susi Quillinan

15) Personal information: In case you want to know.

16) Future project: Making my own John Galliano, Yohji Yamamoto, or Maison Martin Margiela piece.

17) Most worn pieces: ArtLab Space Odyssey dress, mydearthing Fingerful warmers, and this outfit.

18) Most beautiful coat ever: Any by Kristofer Kongshaug

In This Corner...Hydra Dress

My favorite piece of clothing at the moment is my AW-09 Hydra Dress. It's so comfortable I can wear it all day, yet it's dressy enough to go out for a fancy dinner, etc.

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Today's Corner is brought to you by the lovely and ever so talented Alexandra Groover. Besides the plethora of posts about her and The Hoody on my blog, you should read my exclusive interview with Alexandra here, and visit the Alexandra Groover website and online shop here (or click on her ad in the sidebar). You can also buy a few of her pieces on farfetch.com!

(P.S. In case you missed the memo, "In This Corner..." is a new segment on my blog, where a guest designer will write the post and let us all know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. Much more coming up!)

Rad Rad

Thanks to Gareth and Sumie, and my reacquaintance with the wonder that is Alexandra Groover, my quest for the perfect jacket has now re-surfaced. And so this Rad Hourani jacket is looking pretty good to me right now...Do any of the above mentioned designers want my mailing address? Anyone?

(Photos via Reborn)

Top somethings

Top favorite clothing-related thing of the day: Discovering the perfect match of a summer dress (my Attila Design Sybil Dress) and a winter accessory (my mydearthing Fingerful Warmers).

Top odd video to start the day with: Watching Gareth Pugh place piece after piece after piece of tape onto a square of plastic and fabric, which eventually became an amazing spliced square of fabric to be used in his LiveStudio created dress.

Top non-favorite sound of the day: Scraping ice from the sidewalk and car windows. It's that time of year again...

Top album of the day that got me to work on my MacBook Pro's very first outing to Starbucks: Salt & Samovar's Old Joy New Joy, courtesy of the lovely Lauren Jones. It helped me get three whole interviews written up in the time it took me to drink a Triple Venti Non-Fat Extra Hot Caramel Brulée Latte!

Top exciting library book for the next two weeks: Skin+Bones: Parellel Practices in Fashion and Architecture, recommended by Emily Howse, and courtesy of my man's hard work and library card.

Top new Vivienne Westwood piece: This dress, available here.

Top new blog project: Starting tomorrow, I will be featuring a new segment on my blog, entitled "In This Corner...". For each Corner, a guest designer will be writing the post and giving us a little inkling of what really goes on in their heads. Stay tuned!

Top interview of the day: My interview with Alexandra Groover, posted below. Read it!