Hat City Bitch

As we all prepare our popcorn and hors d'oeuvres for our Oscar parties, sitting at the edge of our seats, waiting to see what Lupita will be caught wearing next, I'd like us to take a moment to reflect upon an impending fashion trend sweeping the nation: The Hat. It comes in all shapes and sizes, starting with the Pharrell Vivienne Westwood mountain hat from the Grammys that's currently being auctioned off on eBay. Apparently, everyone was in a hat mood this season as models strutted down the Fall 2014 runways in the most outrageous hats from wide brimmed to the non-descript. Current status: LOVING IT. As an avid fan of le chapeau in every possible form, I'm very eager to experiment. Let's count down the top 10 hats at Fashion Month so far, shall we?

NUMBER 10

Emporio Armani Fall 2014

via coolchicstylefashion.blogspot.com

Her head might be swallowed whole by that hat, but it is so incredibly demure and chic that she gets away with it. Traditionally known for loving his feminine hats, Armani's woman is the woman we all aspire to be and makes us feel like a lesser woman for not wearing a hat this fabulous.

NUMBER 9

Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2014

via fashiongonerogue.com

Everyone loves a good beanie. Especially if you live in Canada. It has that cozy look like hot chocolate by the fireplace in the mountains after an exhaustive ski session.

LOOK 8

Polo Ralph Lauren Fall 2014

via Style.com

This collection may be very New York, but the hats were all about Paris. These berets make me want to fetch my baguette with some wine and cheese alongside my gang of sophisticated friends. Suiting almost every head, you can never go wrong with a beret.

LOOK 7

DKNY Fall 2014

via Style.com

There's nothing more "I Love NY" than the classic New York baseball cap and that's exactly the message Donna Karan was sending across this season. Selecting average New Yorkers to walk in her show, Karan expressed her love for her city through wearable clothing that your fashionable neighbour is sporting. Apparently, this year, she'll be wearing hats.

LOOK 6

Yang Li Fall 2014

via Style.com

This seems to be the hat of the moment this year and obviously, that means we have to try it. It's mysterious and classy (everything I stand for), concealing our batting lashes and only revealing a hint of lip. Is there anything sexier?

LOOK 5

Kenneth Cole Collection Fall 2014

via Style.com

If you thought it was just Yang Li, you were wrong. Kenneth Cole is also embracing the black hat. Are you?

LOOK 4
Cushnie et Ochs Fall 2014
The Cowboy Hat

via Style.com

It's officially time to let our inner cowgirl out. Cushnie and Ochs takes their cue from Pharrell (or the other way around). Either way, like it or not, it's a trend on the rise.

LOOK 3
Christian Siriano Fall 2014
The Wide Brimmed Hat

Let's go back in time to a moment where women were at their ultimate peak of femininity. Though society has evolved, we all love to go back to those ultra feminine looks every once in a while. After all, sophistication never goes out of style.

LOOK 2
DSquared2 Fall 2014

Rule of the hat game: there are no rules. This season, any hat is a showstopper. Whether a bowler, a beret, or this horseback riding hat. Go wild. Nothing is stopping you.

LOOK 1
Gareth Pugh Fall 2014

And Gareth Pugh officially wins the hat game with this white top hat. Yes, this is an alternate version of the male top hat and it couldn't look more classy. The common theme is that element of mystery we all aspire to achieve. Who doesn't love that?

What's my final message? Take a risk. If Gareth Pugh's hat is not quite your cup of tea, perhaps you can opt for the wide-brimmed hat at Christian Siriano. What do you have to lose? Maybe next year you'll be ready for something more dramatic. In the age of Downton Abbey, anything goes.

Happy Oscar Sunday!

Bella

Fashion Month's Weirdest Sunglasses

One thing that just grinds my gears is when people blindly follow a trend (no pun intended) because all the cool kids are doing it. Seriously, STAWP. When it comes to sunglasses, you have two options: aviators and Ray Bans. EXCEPT YOU DON'T. There is a whole world of sunglasses that hasn't been explored because people are afraid to try something different. What happened to originality? What happened to our sense of humour? Have people forgotten that it isn't just what come out of your mouth, but what comes out of your closet! Or it can be if you stop taking trends so seriously and open your eyes to the magical world of creativity. It's time to place those trendy shades in a box and opt for a new pair of wild eyes. If fashion month was any indication, you'll be way ahead of the trend with these shades on.

Here are some of the top contenders:

CAROLINA HERRERA Fall 2014

If you're not much of a risk taker, this is a great transitional pair that's been in the works since last Spring. Very John Lennon and the perfect dab of weird. 

via Elle.com

FENDI Fall 2014

Don't shy away from colour. Embrace it. Whether in your furs or your eyewear, colour blocking is always a creative thrill.

via Style.com

KAREN WALKER Fall 2014

The rule is: the bigger the better. This model has a small face and she's pulling it off, so why can't you?

via www.stylebistro.com

KATE SPADE Fall 2014

Pink is the colour of season. In the land of Kate Spade, it is also a perfectly acceptable colour for Fall.

via Elle.com

HOUSE OF HOLLAND Fall 2014

Did I say pink was on trend? I meant: it's a must. You need it. Audrey Hepburn believed in pink, so you should too.

via Elle.com

So stop being such a trend follower, start experimenting, and get yourself a new pair of sunglasses that will stop people in their tracks. All the cool designers are doing it.

XOXO,

Bella

Who's Ready for Fashion Month?

The day we've all been anticipating since Pre-Fall has finally arrived. Tomorrow, Fashion Month commences in New York City and all the cool kids are invited, while us regular folk watch it in the comfort of our homes through Live Streaming. As fashion journalists, bloggers, magazine editors, designers, and celebrities alike gather in the city that never sleeps, models invade the streets (making average people feel even smaller), and street photographers get camera ready, everyone is scrambling to prepare for this long awaited extravaganza that's seasonally 7 months in advance. Go fashion for not being a procrastinator! As someone who hasn't yet entered the realm of fashion, I have my own methods of preparation for this beautiful month of style. If you're looking for some tips on how to prepare as someone not attending any events, today is your lucky day.

via www.thegloss.com

Step 1: Plug Style.com into your favourites/bookmarks (if it isn't there already). Style.com is my fashion month bible and I check it a total of 954859834958034 times a day to ensure I don't miss a thing. As each show runs its course, I eagerly flip through all the looks prior to viewing the shows. It's essential.

Step 2: Follow FashionTv on YouTube. This is a crucial step to the process of staying up-to-date on shows after you've already picked your favourite looks on Style.com. Uploading all the best designers runway shows along with some backstage sneak peaks, FashionTv is crucial to this month of madness.

Step 3: Make a schedule. The fashion month schedule is incredibly intense and unfortunately, we may only have time to watch our favourite shows first. Write down when the shows air in your agenda or smartphone because you'll want to know when the live streaming is happening so you can watch it in class while your professor rambles about lesser things.

Step 4: Stay up to date on Twitter. There is nothing more aggravating than getting your news second-hand on Twitter. However, we can't all watch the shows in the moment that they air, and so, Twitter is our saviour and our outlet for the opinions nobody important will ever hear.

Step 5: Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the shows. Nothing is more serene than a runway show and as spectators, it is our job to simply soak it all in and be inspired. After all, it is an artwork display and deserves our undivided attention as we marvel at the beauty before us.

And yes, that is ALL you need to do if you're not cool enough to be at any of the shows (like myself).

*Optional: Get dressed up. A wise man/woman once said, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have".

Have a lovely evening,

Bella




1 Days Until NYFW (Countdown Terminated. Let the games begin)