Asian Fashion

I just got back from Hong Kong and Taiwan, enjoying a highly anticipated vacation that turned out much better than my daydreams about it in 5th period history...

Aside from the loving relatives, greasy, delicious food, and beautiful, sparking weather, one of the highlights of Taiwan is shopping. Street markets with stalls lined farther than your eyes can see. Huge cloth signs screaming prices that seem to get cheaper as you walk down. The clothes are there are dirt cheap, but magnificently amazing.

After a few years of visiting Asia and shopping giddily, I've realized something. What is trendy in Asia seems outrageous and mindblowing to me at the time but comes into style a few months later.

When I visited Taiwan about 3 years ago, I saw all females between the age of 13-30 prancing around in shirts that were wayyy too long. I wrinkled my brow and concluded that perhaps Taiwanese women just wanted to cover their bottoms. Nevertheless, I bought a few of them just because.

Come home and 6 months later, guess what is the hottest trend that is still going on strong in 2011? Minidresses decorated the Western runaway and quickly covered the bottoms of Americans.

This time, I paid attention to the daring outfits worn by glitzy and glamorous Taiwanese girls.

Something that was very popular was distressed denim, as distressed and ripped as possible. Distressed jeggings with a yellow acid wash are also trendy. Lighter denim shades with sharper washes were worn by many high schoolers paired with bright and colorful tops.

As for tops, Taiwanese fashion still carries the neutral colors and simple silhouettes that have graced the American fashion scene for this past fall and winter.

Minidresses and light knits are popular.

Here are some trends that I love from Asia:

Cant wait till summer gets to America and I can wear all this! :)

The Not-So "New Look Of AE" For Spring 2011

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, I was spammed with emails from American Eagle offering me all sorts of wonderful goodies and "holiday gifts".

One day, it was BOGO 50% off, the next day it was free shipping! Who could resist?!

Succumbing, I eagerly scooped up the "today-only" free shipping deal and bought a comfy warm coral hoodie.

The next day, I checked my email and found that AE was offering free shipping and 20% off "just for that day--one time deal."

Hmm..

Perhaps feeling my annoyance, AE has felt bad for cheating poor teenage girls out of their hard-earned money by persuading them to take "one-time" deals, which in reality were offered the entire holiday season. Thus, they decided to bring around a "new look" for 2011 as compensation.

But unfortunately for both of us, poor little Melody doesn't like the new arrivals.

After Christmas, AE completely revamped their website. Before, festive holiday colors and bright reds dominated the design. However, visitors to AE's changed site are greeted by a cool, nautical look of navy blues, whites and greys.

Some aspects of the collection are positive--especially the menswear collection. It gently carries along the whole "whee-I'm-a-wannabe-sailor-theme," but also includes many surprisingly classy dress shirts. Aside from the long gone flannel shirts, the tops are perfect to fill a guy's closet come spring time. Paired with rolled cargo jeans or skinnies, a slightly disheveled yet devastatingly charming image is rolled out.

And the women's collection is not complete without AE's standard spring outfit. The cardigan over the floral print tank/shirt with/without ruffles/lace/buttons/a collar. You pair it with dark skinny jeans in the correct wash and cute little ballerina flats. I mean, after all it is AE. All their clothing comes back in style eventually... well in this case, every season.

However, the main staple in spring 2011 AE wear is the prevailing nautical theme. This white and navy striped cardigan pretty much describes Ae's "new look."

photo from ae.com

You can now get this cardigan at AE for $50. It is a great "today-only" deal.

But hey, guess what?

You can find this cardigan's pattern in a short sleeve top with cap/bell sleeves. Or maybe a blouse/long v-neck sweater/flowy short sleeved cardigan.

You can also get a cardigan that looks almost identical at Target for $18.99

Or perhaps you are feeling a need to make Miley Cyrus just a little more richer while expressing your inner sailor-girl? Head to your local Walmart. Along with picking up 99 cents bread and $5 DVDs, get some Miley Cyrus with BCBG's Max Azria tops in "nautical style" for under $10.

Maybe Miley will use that money to buy some...

Anyways: bottom line is, the nautical look is terribly overused.

Perhaps fashion geniuses get stonewalled by designer's block and seek solace in their...sailboats. Drifting hopelessly in the ocean , they see endless blue skies and infinite white waves of limitless water...

And not to mention, the nautical look is definitely not new. Unless you think 1917 is current.

Because at that time, a random woman in Paris by the name of Coco came upon the idea of sticking navy blue stripes on a white shirt.

Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel in "Coco Before Chanel."

Along with a black dress and a certain scent, it would make her very very famous and also unfathomably rich.

Hey, maybe you are one of those people who ardently buy each new AE look just because its AE, don't get mad and let this post prevent you from buying a $50 striped flimsy cardigan. I mean, I shop at AE too and fall for the sporadic "huge" deals.

However, just like Rachel M and I agreed during journalism today, you don't go to AE to buy "nice clothes."

AE has nice jeans, comfortable sweaters, some basic pretty tops and basically everything else that everyone else is wearing--just with a little eagle on the pocket.

So that's perhaps what AE really is. It's a dependable, iconic, "all-American," staple in the fashion planet...and also the economy.

Because after all, if Coco Chanel can pull it off and make it chic, internationally famous and most importantly, money-making, perhaps American Eagle can do it too.

CHECK THIS OUT~

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/edible-dresses-2420301/#photoViewer=6

Spirit Week 2010

Usually, my articles are about what looks good in fashion. But of course, I couldn't pass and not give some pictures of the horrifying but fantastic outfits from Spirit Week 2010.

David's crazy layering on clash day!

Too many layers on, olivia?

Katherine's crazy hair!

Mr. T wins the award for best nerdy outfit!

Fall 2010 is an exciting time for menswear. New and innovative looks that males are embracing are hitting up the runway.

I posted this to my facebook a while ago. This outfit from Prada's fall 2010 collection is so amazing. This picture perfectly sums up a new fashion concept for guys.

Sure, guys might not like wearing a lot of print and colors. But just a hint of color in this otherwise simple outfit adds personality and vitality.

Probably the most distinguishing factor between male and female clothing, other than obvious differences like skirts and underwear, is color. Most guys' wardrobes are limited to blue, black, white, and grey. Girls, on the other hand, we wear all possible colors--from teal to magenta. Guys just simply love wearing neutrals for the same reasons some girls love pink.

But here's where the idea comes in. When wearing an otherwise monochromatic outfit, next time, add a sweater or vneck shirt with a splash of color. What color is up to you entirely.

Not All Guys Are Slimy and Gross

A few weeks ago, I was with the journalism class working on my blog in the library. A couple of guys had study halls during that period also and were next to me on the computers. A little fail advertising for my blog followed. The guys had some trouble spelling my blog (melody? melodie? huhhh?) but they finally got onto the page.

The response that followed was a bit pathetic.

First, their eyes lit up because they had finally figured out how to get to my page. Then, they took in the top header and noticed...clothing. Swiveling around to check if I was looking, they cautiously closed the window and nonchalantly resumed whatever they were doing before.

It's okay--I'm really not that offended. To most guys, fashion is super boring and something girls spend wayy too much time on. I can't stop yawning when guys talk about football. So I know what it is like to be in your shoes.

And, of course, I have to admit, girls are a bit prejudiced too. To us, the spectrum of male fashion is limited to dirty tees and holey jeans.

There has to be a happy medium--somewhere.

I know that a lot of guys who care about their looks are often shot down by their fellow men. But I feel like as long as you don't go totally overboard, and start staring into the mirror and screaming "I'm fat!" in dismay, you'll be perfectly fine.

So what I'm presenting is a perfect balance. It's not meticulous and totally girly. These styles are actually easy to pull off. I know you guys like throwing on a pair of jeans and zoop out the door. But just put a teeny more effort into it and you'll still look manly--just good now! The next few posts will be some pictures and new trends in menswear, so keep your eyes open!

"Christian Fashion."

When the phrase "Christian fashion" come into mind, I think of a whole lot of crazy things. The weirdest one would probably be a "Bible dress." Dont laugh, but I think of a ill-fitting dress made out of pages of the Bible.

But that's a little extreme.

There are some people I know who wear t-shirts that say "Jesus is My Lord, "Child of the King, "His Princess" "Abreadcrumb and Fish" and all those other catchy cliche Christian phrases. While I think those can be useful in showing your faith, who would wear them every single day? Is there even a way to honor God through fashion?

What was so phenomenal about innovative designers at the height of the fashion boom? They were able to convey ideas around them and streamline it into clothing. Chanel took elegance and put it into a LBD. Now, every time we see a little black dress, we view the wearer as sophisticated. Fashion was an expression--to show the wearer's mood and mind.

Take a look around today. Fashion is an expression of the wearer. When we see Vans or DCshoes on someone with floppy hair, they're totally a skater. Preppy girls walk around in Abercrombie and Fitch and well tailored cardigans. Gangstas swag around in jeans with waists that seem to like being around knees. Gothics only wear one color--pretty obvious what it is.

Have you ever walked in a room and noticed someone just by their clothing? People don't have to say a lot to "shout." What subtle messages are we giving through the way we dress?

If these people can express themselves in one simple statement, shouldn't Christians be all the more equal to do the same?

You don't have to wear "Christian" clothing. A simple cross necklace is refined and elegant. But I feel like Christian t-shirts and others should be worn among believers. To others in the world, they can be viewed as obnoxious and snobbish. Sometimes, the less we say and the more we do is better.

Instead, what you wear can be beautiful but worship towards God. God created beauty and loves it. Christians should radiate positive messages. Through creativity and awe for God's creation, we can really send out a powerful statement. Your fashion should reflect the wonder of salvation. "I was once worthless, but through Jesus, I am a wonderful creation."

So next time you leave the house, take a look into the mirror. Through God's eyes, "critic" your outfit. What is it saying about me? What is it saying about my values and what I stand for?