SIGHT SEEING: MTV MOVIE AWARDS 2009

Such events are not in the calibre of Madam Alexandra E, but fashion must not be overlooked by the event, after all fashion screams from all corners of the globe.

My fashion tongue is for all to hear or endure.

Miss Lauren Conrad from The Hills - picture moulin rouge type can can show, bodice top with rouging mini bottom. Colour - typical black and red patterned

Hair - long mane, bed head, tossed and tousseled.

This Hills chick and former hills chick needs to stop making herself look like the 'I can look hot and sexy look'. This is my pet hate : failing to dress to impress. It just looks so obvious darling that you've tried and failed.

Some fashion lovers need to learn that they are given a certain look from the big man above, and therefore need to just work with it. Although some can pull off the 'think outside the square' and give me a 'wow' look, some just don't have that fashion flexibility.

Work with what you're given darling. You look so much more fashion worthy in 2008 at the infamous awards do.

The look this year did you no justice dear, unless it was a 'publicity stunt', a last ditch attempt to create a wow factor in case you won't be attending next year, due to your winding up from The Hills.

My lips are sealed.

Style rating:

Lauren Conrad at Mtv Movie Awards 2009 - "Smile"

Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.

fashion critic. fashion expert. fashion queen

Cheng and Choo

How fashion creative is this fashion house?. Vivien Cheng infamously revives arm candy accessories.

Vintage is what I call it, never refer to it as second hand, it makes you sound and look cheap. Vintage glamour in its own right.

Exciting and new concept, something almost too good to be discovered and shared.

To have possession of a Vivien Cheng creations, you would be stamped with a tick of approval for an eye for rare and unique fashion standouts, but not exactly glamourous or stunning. Wouldn't take months to acquire, like that of the 'power fashion houses', instead a click and skip to the http://www.viviencheng.com/ station and you should be swinging one home.

Although not exactly high end in the market of brands, Vivien Cheng and her vintage little things sit somewhere amongst my trove of things

I personally prefer the Choo's and the Chloe's, but am entitled to be flexible in my fashion taste.

Style rating:

Vivien Cheng - 'Bravo'

Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.

fashion critic. fashion expert. fashion queen

Chk Chk Cheap

Too many five minutes of fame 'lass's' wandering the streets. Pleeeeeeeaaaaase, 'chk chk boom?', who would have thought 't'shirts' are replicated with this?.

In the famous slang of Madam Alexandra E. I declare - "Chk Chk Cheap!"

Although she looks rather tv worthy, not leaning towards the ugly department of things. She at least gives some form of fashion credit to the other aspiring bogans. I think if anything, she is the cream of the crop if you pick her from the Bogan Bunch.

Maybe there is fashion hope for the Bogan community after all. If so called Chk Chk Boom chick is a bogan eye candy, then she might give some fashion lift to her fellow 'boganites'.

Smart girl for weaving the camera in her direction, I guess everyone has a dream... the big man up in the sky thought she's done her stint and now deserves her well granted wish.

Upon five minutes of fame, Miss Chk Chk Boom might say "Ching Ching K'ching $$"

Style rating:
Chk Chk Boom chick - 'smile'

P.S. My lacquer tells me, she's harmless, and might just stick around for more than five minutes.


Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.
fashion critic. fashion expert. fashion queen

SPOTTED

Sight Seeing : Well dressed man.

A breath of fresh air swept in my direction, as a known 'he specie', entered the gates of social soiree on the weekend, all stylised by a mystery unknown.

Generally clad in ill fitting, loose hanging garments, 'he specie' was whipped up into a clean, modern average beast.

No longer was he draped in gear resembling blankets, but instead, a vision of tight fitting, tailored to match fashion staples.

'He specie' is rather small in stature, small in width and well, just small.

Pity his personality didn't receive a tailored makeover.

Style rating:

Little 'he specie' makeover - 'smile'

PS. On very rare occasions do I, Madam Alexandra E. gives any tick of approval, but when fashion wanna be apprentices attempt to transform themselves to become a fashion lover, then I can at least acknowledge their efforts, "kiss, kiss darling".

Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.

fashion critic. fashion critic. fashion queen

THE VINE OF BEAUTY

Excuse my crappy photoshop fantasy of  Ribena-advert related fashion fantasy

Ga Ga Goo

Ga Ga Goo!, Goochi Goochi Ga Ga. If I'm not mistaken the infamous Lady Ga Ga, may have just created her own baby Ga Ga language. Oops, I should stop giving her ideas to start her own baby fashion line of 'bub' leotards.

Smart cookie the Ga Ga, she has reinvented, rearthed and re - dug the "weird, skimpy and space cadet look'!.

Ga Ga says her fashion is 'art', Madam Alexandra E. calls it " antics", not too fashionable for my liking.

Heeled high on my fashion throne, I shall pronounce the Ga Ga as a smart little cookie, who has diverted a majority of her famous ability from vocal to fashion " if we must call it that".

I personally call it 'smart marketing' if all else should fail she at least has something of a fashion 'thing' to fall back on. We might all be so lucky to stick around and watch her reinvent the 'g-strong', 'thong', 'dental floss', 'wedge'.

Thumbs up though, to Ga Ga, who has managed to pull of a fashion image which only other 'stardom' individuals could possibly pull off. It looks like Hollywood has gone Ga Ga.


Style rating:
leotard Ga Ga - 'curling my lips'

love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.
fashion critic.fashion expert. fashion queen

YUM COMMENT

 FROZEN GRAPES ARE THE BEST TASTING POCKETS OF HEAVEN EVER!

If you have not tried chucking the grapes in the freezer and then eating them- o.m.g you have been denied the actual fruits of EDEN.

Nothing compares

nothing

to a frozen grape

( I have forgotten the importance of anything fashion -related and all my passion has been condensed like the dream I had about the universe exploding in rewind to a specific point in black space... actually if we imagine this to be the sorbet particles of a grape centre reforming  in the same way to create the perfect fruit object... well I think we have a suitable visual presentation!)

ALI- THIS IS FOR YOU

Mathis Rekowski

Mathis Rekowski - Berlin based illustrator: site / flickr / blog

PUMP AWAY

The cold will be setting, and the winds gustling, this winter our little toes must be adourned with a pair of staple round toed sky high pumps.

Never settle for less I say!, Dress up your feet fashion lovers and reach the heavens with a pair of Christian Laboutin's. If money is not in your pocket, then I'm sure those chain departments have a stylised version of something like a round toed black pump, not the same, but you'll just have to fake it to make it.

The pointy's are out and the round's are in. If you can't stomp around in one of these, due to a fear of fashion heights, then sorry darling, you'll just have to look 'un - fashionable' for this season.

SIGHT SEEING: Girl wearing matching purple bow headband and purple shoes.

Ok, so it doesn't sound that bad, but you'll have to see it to know what I'm smirking about. The latest head gear for this season is the reborn head band, except not in your plain Jane styles, but instead, the be-jewelled, be-gemmed, lace encrusted, satin stained facets kind. You name it, and its clustered on your head.

Hollywood is a buzz with it, it looks stunning on some fashion lovers, but ill placed on others. You really have to have the 'fashion eye' to pull off such a look. Careful, some fashion lovers look like they're ready for school, as opposed to looking like a stylish fashionista.

This spotted fashion no no, obviously thought she had the fashion eye, but sadly forgot to wear her glasses. Clad in a oddly large purple satin material head band, white top, elastic waist belt, black pant, and purple satin wrap around heels. Need I say more, all fashion conscious, would be shaking their heads and agasp.

The combination was odd, but not ugly. She would have pulled the look off by wearing all black, if she really had that desperate urge to wear matching shoes and head wear. A classic example of one of my pet loathes, 'fail to dress to impress', I could so see she was trying something , but what was it exactly, surely she didn't think she was 'fashionable?'.

A desperate attempt to look almost like one of those girls on those stylish shows 'The hills', 'The city', 'Lipstick Jungle' & 'Gossip Girls'. Sadly, the look just looked cheap, odd and wrong.

Better luck next time dear, we can't all look like Blair from Gossip Girls. Look for another fashion muse honey.

Style rating:

Purple bow and Purple shoes - "curling my lips"

Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.

fashion critic.fashion expert.fashion queen

TALENT IN JEWELS

Everybody please rise for a standing ovation for Australia's very own 'Jewellery Queen'!

Today I am filled with nothing but praise for this styled talent, rare I know, my words generally fall from the sky, but on this particular talent, I will rant and rave with all my might.

I recall when I first cast my eyes on her work, instantly I felt with complete glee... 'take out the glosses, slap on the heels' and clap ourselves silly with excitement, for I think Australia has just created one of it's most fashionable talents.

Fabrics may not be her first material of choice, but start laying the gems, the crystals the chains the pendants the all things creative and individual on the table, and Samantha wills can create 'style'.

Always waiting in anticipation for her next work of art, moi Madam Alexandra E. has yet to utter a word of nought towards this exquisite talent.


Although I would like to see her work featured more amongst the lights camera and action!, I don't think there is enough chitter chatter about this girl, so to all fashion lovers world wide, stand high on thy heels and chink the cuffs for the aussie talent of Samantha Wills. Or maybe her PR ( public relations ) team just needs to grind the mill a bit harder.......


Style rating:
Samantha Wills - "Standing ovation"

SIGHT SEEING: A pair of feet draped in socks fitted in pint size heels!

I don't think there is enough fashion police to cover our streets!. Mortification set in, when I came upon a pair of pear shaped legs, covered with white vertical indented cotton socks and then teamed with what appeared to be two patent black pumps.

This odd combination may have had it's rare stint of existence on our streets last year, but please, no more! the look is unflattering, and only gives men the feeling that they're with someone younger until they see the upper half, don't kid yourselves fashion lover ladies.

No knee high, low, middle or just ankled socks with heeled footwear will flatter any pair of feet. Leave this combination to those playing in the school yard.

P.S. I never caught the eye's of the owner of this weird knee high sock thingy shoe thingy combination, her feet were just screaming look at me! almost in comparison to how low hung cleavage screams out to men..... ( please give me a nice porcelain bowl, I'm feeling rather sick).

Style rating:
Knee high socks with heels - "curling my lips"

Love me or hate me,


Madam Alexandra E.
fashion critic.fashion expert.fahsion queen

WE ALL DESERVE A STYLISH SECOND CHANCE

Clink the champer flutes dears, Brisbane's so called 'biggest fashion event' is about to hit the town, the town of 'Brisbane City Hall' that is.

Whilst I applaud Brisbane's attempts to create and promote their flurry of designers, correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't they at least attempt to put on a romp and stomp fashion extravaganza like their sister states of Sydney and Melbourne?

Sipping on my daily dose of tea, I perused the pages of their program for this year. I could only see but a few shows that would have been worth my while to attend.

Personally I, Madam Alexandra E. loves events that showcase fashion flair and uniqueness, I want to see the young designers weeded out from all the nook and crannies, I want to see fashion individual designers, based on talent not on how much they can afford to pay to showcase. I certainly don't want to see what I can see in my down town boutique, nor do I want to see my suburban boutique ear marked as one of the 'highlight' fashion shows of the evening!.

Sorry dear, but I much prefer viewing the works of designers who will actually be physically present at the show, so I can cast my roving eyes upon. I want to see the show's that allow the elusive designer to duck out for a quick second to take their grand stand 5 minutes of applause and appreciation.

I turn a blind eye to the events that try to pass off showcasing garments from a fashion boutique as a 'fashion festival', if I really wanted to see these then I would much prefer to go to the store and peruse in my own time.

Organisers have passed the reasoning, that it is a festival about showcasing 'ready to wear' garments. Allowing fahsion lovers to view the garments in a stylised format and then skip down to the actual local boutique to try and buy. A useful tip to the organisers: Leave this kind of showcasing to the boutique companies, 'mbff is big', so then put on something different! Impress me please.

However having aired my graces vocally, I guess I should applaud Brisbane for at least trying to get her foot into the fashion arena. I did see some local designers featured which should make some of us fashion lovers skip and dance for a second.

I guess I'll give 'mbff' a chance, as the saying goes 'we all get better with experience'. So maybe just maybe, 'mbff' will give us a few more wow's as the years trudge on. Or else maybe I should just attend the shows that please my eyes?

Style rating:
mbff - "Applaud"

SIGHT SEEING: Girl wearing sheer black tights with short purple woollen hangover dress.

Excuse me ladies, but I know that black tights are the fashion staple for this Winter, as it has been for the past two Winters. But please don't pull out your sheer black 'stockings' and pass them off as those leg hugging tights! .

I almost tripped and fell when I spotted fashion no no, scurrying down the halls of eatery X, in horrible sheer as clear stockings and a woollen so called dress, I swear on my lipgloss it was a shrunken shirt.

Looking absolutely awful, her skin was completely visible through the sheerness, if i was any closer I swear I would have seen the 'hair growth'. As I said in sight seeing number 1. sheer should be left only for lingerie.

P.S. I love tights 'non see through ones' that is, the ones you can wear in good stylish taste, not the ones that you wear under office skirts.

Style rating:

sheer stockings - 'curling my lips'

Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.

fashion critic. fashion expert. fashion queen

Wu Who?

George wu, is stuck on you. I had mixed feelings about this lad, when he first burst on the scene of the fashion world, there was nothing that special, yet, the hype of someone saying that he was, made us all stand up and listen ( the power of persuasive words). I too, could say someone was a good designer when really they're not, and all would believe, but sadly I would never bow to such fashion low, as I, Madam Alexandra E. speaks only the fashion language of truth.

Fast forward........ and Mr Wu is lad no more, but fashion man. My eyes feasted on his 2009 Autumn collection, silks moulded into some figure hugging and loose fitting fashion staples. Wonderful pink pallettes infused with smokey grey. I could say, "seen that done to death", but Mr Wu has weaved his own element, I guess.

If it wasn't for this latest collection, Mr Wu may have landed on my 'potential, check back later' radar.

See why Mr Wu is worth my fashion while - www.georgewu.com.au

Style rating:

George Wu 2009 Autumn collection - "Applaud"

Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.

fashion critic. fashion expert. fashion queen

SIGHT SEEING

Help is needed, where in the world is the fashion police?. The majority of us fashion lovers look in the mirror before we leave our house, but sadly there is a minority who still leaves without getting a nod of approval by the mirror man, or just suffering from partial fashion blindness.

Sipping on tea with a dear friend, my eyes spotted a fashion horror today - a middle aged woman wearing cheap and nasty white near sheer fabric, tubular dress. Length - an unearthly few centimentres from the b.t..m. Teamed with skye high black spaghetti thin stilettos.

What was she thinking?, " I've just woke up and thought it was the forgotten era of fashion?". Please dear, tubular is so out, sheer should only be permitted in lingerie, and any shorter you'll look like you've slapped on a cheap baggy t'shirt!

Style rating:
Tubular white sheer dress - "no comment"

Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.
fashion critic. fashion expert. fashion queen

BLACK IS FLAT

The must have winter essential in every shoe conossieurs treasure trove is the so called 'Black Ballet Flats'.

Comfy as they may be, the ballet flats have to my absolute disdain, become the fashion staple for winter. Almost like a snake shedding it's skin, the 'black flat' is the new 'thong/sandal'.

I personally favour heeled pumps, but if you must slap on a flat, then at least make it eye candy.

Black Flats tipped with gem embellishments are the key to my fashionable heart.

To sinners of black flats, banish them only to your 'not feeling so great day's' but never reveal them on your 'I feel stunning days'.

Style Rating
Black Ballet Flats: 'Smile'


Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.
fashion critic. fashion expert. fashion queen

LOVE ME OR HATE ME

Greetings to all fashion lovers, no introductions necessary. As you all may know, I am Madam Alexandra E., a self proclaimed fashion critic, fashion expert and fashion queen.

Seated front row on my fashion throne, I will bring you into a world of fanciful fashion commentarys on what I think is fashion forward and fashion nought.

Fashion houses either love me or hate me, but generally, all care dearly for my 'fashion tongue'. After all, the opinions of I, Madam Alexandra E., matters dearly.

Fashion lovers will follow me, for I am the fashion quick fix that satisfies your fashion hunger.

Speaking the Madam Alexandra E. fashion language of truth, it is I, who will consider what & who is worthy of a:

Standing ovation

Bravo

Applaud

Smile

Smirk

Curl of the lips

No comment

So, to all my dear lover's of fashion and fashion houses all over, take your seat as Madam Alexandra E. takes you into her world of fashion.

Love me or hate me,

Madam Alexandra E.

fashion critic. fashion expert. fashion queen

EM

So couldnt find any pots and pans related vids- but somehow the mashed up images of puppets/space and fashion models has guided me to this completely wierd love story between puppet and woman-planet

BECKMAN GOLDEN GRADUATE EGGS

I am really loving the wondrous collection of these two graduates from Swedish fashion University Beckmans. Frida Ringstrom could potentially be inspired by lego structures or a scene from a very dark movie that Kate Winslet was a lesbian in once- where she has this psycotic hallucination about clay people (?)
Link to horrific scene of creepy movie Heavenly Creatures; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkIMVs3vQKo
but probably not, and well I am just a sucker for origami style cutting (Annelie Arn) I am sure major success with follow for the both. I am inspired to whip out my crispy 80's batwing box jacket that has never really had a place in society as a celebrated SHAPE. I just read this mini- write up about how great the old 6267 boys are doing at Gianfranco Ferre, where they to are making happy stand-alone shapes...

PLUGHOLE OF IDEAS#3;

How about a button moon-inspired photoshoot-
Think man in black bodysuit with blacked-out face fanning some cotton wool clouds with a piece of card and then we have girls clapping furiously with prosthetic spoon hands as one parades around a metallic toilet brush skirt with collinder heapiece and mesh speaker covers all woven together to create transparent body suit... Has anyone made a really good music video with pots an pans before (dubbed out)...?

BUTTON MOON COLOUR PALLETTE= 100% AW09

IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS (eco fashion)

Apart from the amazing ex-VHS tape dress (which I think has genius potential) I am sensing that there must have been a comical element intended at this fashion show in hungary, presented to promoted eco-fashion! I amazed at the football hulligan man holding up the football-clad lady like a big monochrome prize. Everyone remebers the derelict collection in Zoolander dont they? Almost nothing can compete in quality of amusement this has provided me with.

MASHLEY AND KATE DO ELIZABETH AND JAMES AGAIN

I wasnt mocking her face before- I am a big fan of Jim Henson Puppets- super much! Ever the fan am I of the twin wonders Mary-Kate and Ashley, and their imput in the Elizabeth and James fashion label, and this season they have some unexpected jewellery pieces (like the neck-web vibe above). I say unexpected becasue its sort of an ironic-teen-goth look which is so 90's (slash right now) but an acquired taste- however I like that they went for that... I mean generally the fun is pretty clean with these ranges, but the styling is on point!

Anders Lindén

WELCOME TO ADD AND BLAH TANGENT...

WELCOME TO ADD

Again with Berlin-related talent enlightenment... Maak, our occasional German tenant of the dog-bed ( aka guest mattress- dog doesn't exist) in our attic, has brought this label to light.

I am loving the SS09 colour palette of this colleciton by ADD its really-

"My parents have this incredible remote italian island style, and it wore off me me, kind of like how the colour slightly bleached out my vibrant clashing threads.."

Love the word threads

I SAY, LET IT HANG LOOSE AS A CHICKENS THROAT! ( natural fibers I mean) and then lightly charcoal some circles around your eyes for that philosophical wandering minds eye. Im loving the model, I think he really looks like he's got a lot going on.. like there is a hugely important question he's grappling with, but the breezy arrival of springtime distractions has warmed his chest and presented him with a tea break.

THE ANALYTICAL TREND

- STYLE & STANCE

Why don't people ever talk about the fashions of physical expression? I mean I waste alot of time blanketing-on ideal of what people are like from their facial expressions for fun, and assume I must be really accurate (just because i put the effort? yeah, cocky! ), but maybe they have subconsciously mastered the art of physical style- the movement of style- honing the body to communicate a suggestion of valuable emotional/mental content via the refinement of suggestive movement (suggestive of a particular characterful substance). over the years the great style icons have defined themselves by how they hold themselves in their dress- all these facehunter-esque online picture-books are providing everyone with the perfect opportunity to ponder exactly this about people... we are all acting all the time right- but are we going to be more conscious of it as a result of this analytical trend?

PLUGHOLE IDEA 2:

CALVIN KLEIN BASIC WHITE STUFF

It would be amazing for Calvin Klein to relaunch their white t-shirt ( a la the boom of Calvin Klein diffusion of the 90's) using people of incredible individual objects ual personal stance and just leaving them in a completely all-white house full of all white objects (just normal) and make a campaign out of the documentation of their movement. A Simple and a almost grotesquely contrived way of re-marketing the Calvin klein basic as something which your wear but never wears you... which I think is RELEVANT TO OUR TIMES

I dont think it would be just another 90's fad revival because now is the time where people are thinking they dont want any more stuff, they can appreciate it- but what they need cant be sold to them as easily- not physically sold... I meant they will celebrate it.. mmm thats nice an all, but they know what they are going to wear- the authorship of this decision is stronger than it ever has been before... well in a way i hope I am write about this (not because i have a death wish of a business plan for TOUR DE FORCE , but because labels may be able to move towards a less season-driven production line- where the commercial expectations are less dissimilar to present art works via exhibition- isn't the pop-up shop an equivalent?).

Better do some work yeah..?

SEVERAL ZINE

So I went to this Zine fair...lots of writings about the revolution is coming... I am guessing it may be anti-computer dependant generation speak (?)
I guess I know that by posting some pages from one I am definately not doing the paper appreciation much justice (tap tap) but I really loved SEVERAL ZINE by Fracis Qureshi which I picked up on the day... super talented young bright thing (and still just in sixth form college-wahhh!).

Bartholot | Carefully crafted imagery

încotro | Romanian Visual Survey

încotro is an independent project which aims to bring together the best visual projects made in 2007 and 2008 by Romanian authors, irrespective of the country they live in. încotro wants to be a benchmark, a launching ramp, a source of dialogue and an interface between the Romanian and international visual art worlds.

BERNADETTE DEDDENS

Originally from a product design background, Bernadette Deddens has a conceptual approach to creating accessories, using her work to investigate the interactive relationship people have to objects, which is really interesting to me at the moment. I love these necklaces with adjustable pulling chains, which I seriously want to fiddle with... I think accessories like these should be marketed to people like me who have OCD tendencies that need to be substituted with wearable objects... at the moment I am carrying around a fur cat keyring called Fluffy, that I bought from a Spanish pound shop in Spain , and it enriches my daily experience of life.