I wonder whose bright idea it may have been to seat Vogue‘s Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, right next to Nicki Minaj‘s loud ass.  For those that aren’t familiar, the main bitchy, awful boss lady character from the film, A Devil Wears Prada, was based on Wintour.  I find this image overly hilarious and wonder what the fuck both women were thinking during the entire show.

(via Fashionista)

Diesel's Women's Joggs. Photo: Courtesy of Diesel.

No one understands more than me the discomfort and shame that accompanies the struggle to slide your butt into a pair of jeans that may have fit better at a time that predates your recent Oreo binge. Women’s bodies are constantly playing tricks on us.

We’ve all been there: A hectic morning where you are already running late and all you want to do is throw on a pair of jeans but all of them only seem to accentuate your muffin top. Imagining the comfort & ease of slipping into a pair of sweatpants makes you run even more behind and before you know it, the day is totally shot.

So wouldn’t the perfect solution be a hybrid of jeans and sweatpants? NO!

Why is that you may ask? The reason women (or men for that matter, as Diesel offers men’s Joggs as well) do not need these hideous and overpriced sweatband-waisted jeans is simple. There is no better feeling in the world then gliding into that pair of jeans that you haven’t fit into since high school and realizing that yes, you can still fit into a size 8. And damn, a size 8 really makes my ass look better than J.Lo’s!

Also, let us not forget the symbolism of jeans in American pop culture. Levi Strauss began producing jeans to be sold as a rugged work pant for men on the western frontiers of the good ol’ USA. Evolving from the frontiersmen’s garment of choice to an icon of cool, James Dean, this country’s favorite rebel, symbolized a changing, revolutionary youth culture in his time and he did it all with a cigarette dangling from his lips and a pair of jeans sitting on his hips. The art of jeans has American roots and personifies the term “cool.”

James Dean: The ultimate cool in his jeans

Today, people will spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of designer jeans. The cuts, style, colors, embellishments, and details for jeans are endless. And sure, the Joggs are just as distressed, riveted, and fancied up as any other pair of jeans available.

But whether we like it or not, the jeans you wear are a bold, personal statement. To me, a person wearing Joggs is saying to the world, “I bought into Diesel’s far-too-expensive concept that jeans should be no different than the sweatpants I wear on lazy Sunday afternoons.”

Don your favorite jeans to take a stand against these Italian imposters.

Denver-based fashion designer, Fallene Wells

Applause and cheers rang through Beauty Bar on Thursday evening as Denver fashion lovers gathered to support local designer, Fallene Wells, one of the twenty contestants chosen for season 9 of Project Runway. Addressing the crowd prior to the show’s season premiere, Wells discussed her annual Forever Darling fashion show, Denver Designer Incubator, and commented on, “…the strong heart of fashion in Denver.”

The season premiere tested the twenty designers with two different challenges. The first challenge asked designers to go in front of Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia, and Michael Kors to make a case for why they should be chosen to continue on Project Runway. After four designers were bid “Auf Wiedersehen,” by Heidi and the remaining sixteen were taken to their NYC apartments for a good night’s sleep.

Tim woke the designers early the next morning to present them with their next challenge: Make an outfit of their choice using only their pajamas and one bed sheet. Fallene used her yoga pants to create asymmetrical piping on her white halter dress. With her yellow t-shirt, Fallene added a yellow belt to the dress and added the t-shirt’s logo, a clown vomiting rainbows into a toilet, to the lower corner. Successfully completing the challenge, Fallene was one of the fifteen designers to advance to the next round.

Prior to Thursday night’s premiere, I had the incredible opportunity to chat with Fallene about her career, the fashion world, and fashion in Denver.

Are you a Denver native? If no, where are you originally from and what brought you to Denver?
I was born and raised in Las Vegas Nevada, when I was 17 I spontaneously followed a guy I was dating to Denver.

What initially interested you about fashion design?
When I was 11 I toured a design college in California with my sister Christy. I clearly remember seeing all of the fashion illustrations on the wall and beautiful designs draped over dress forms, at that moment I really wanted to get more involved with fashion.

Did you go to school for fashion design? Where?
I never actually made it to fashion college, I enrolled at Brooks College in Long Beach when I was 15 but I felt intimidated and nervous to move out to CA by myself that young. My mother taught me basic sewing skills and I took it from there by deconstructing clothing and teaching myself how to make patterns. I would love to further my education in fashion.

What designers do you admire and why?
I have always been blown away by Alexander McQueen, who isn’t? He was so innovative, always put on an amazing show that embodied so much emotion. Right now I’m a fan of Anna Sui. She has a very distinct and ever changing style that is both playful and original.

Wells is one of this season's designers competing on 'Project Runway'

In five words how would you describe your design aesthetic?
Vintage-inspired, playful, flirty, feminine, sophisticated.

What thoughts/opinions do you have about the burgeoning fashion scene in Denver?
Denver is going through an exciting time in fashion and I’m happy to be a part of it. I think now that there has been 3 people on Project Runway from Colorado it really puts us on the map for fashion along with having Denver Design Incubator here to really move the fashion in Denver to a new level.

What have your experiences been like in the Denver fashion scene?
I think fashion in Denver has come a long way. Local designers are really trying to approach fashion with more intention to sell. Fashion Denver has grown a ton since Brandi first opened her doors, there are little boutiques popping up everywhere like I Heart Denver Store that help support local fashion. I really love that about Denver’s scene no matter what type of art medium you use fashion/art/ music people really have open arms out here to help you succeed. It’s a unique city in that way that people genuinely care to see you go far and there isn’t that cut throat competition.

Are there any fashion designers, makeup artists, hair stylists, models, etc. in Denver whose work you admire? Anyone whose name we should keep an eye out for in the future?
Since I produce my annual fashion show, Forever Darling, I have the opportunity to work with all of the above. I really want to mention my very talented photographer that I work with on every photoshoot, she has amazing talent and I think she is going to go very far in her profession, Valerie Williams.

Mary Wolfgang and Lily Marsh are both fantastic makeup artist.

Hairstylist is a hard one since I’m a hairstylist at Voila I’m going to say come to me! I do work with talented hairstylist Meredith Jaramus, Jen Brown, Bethany Johnson just to name a few.

The models I typically go to are Blair Griffith, Erin Kelley, Alyssa Vercler, Katie McConnell, Rose Silkey and Dana Egleston. I really enjoy working with Brook at Wilhelmina Model Agency she always helps me find the perfect model.

Designers to be on the look out for, now that’s a tough question
there are so many that are really coming out of the wood work here. I would recommend coming to my annual fashion show Forever Darling IV on Sept 30th to get a view of 10 fashion designers they will be showing a collection of 10 outfits. Visit www.foreverdarling.org to purchase tickets.

Who have been your favorite designers from past seasons of Project Runway?
I’m going to try and go in the order of seasons, I’m a little rusty on all of the seasons but these are all of the designers that stand out to me. Jay McCarroll, Seth Aaron, Leanne Marshall, Mondo Guerra.

So far how would you describe your experiences with Project Runway so far?
Project Runway for me was one of the most unforgettable challenging experiences I have ever had in my life. I feel that I went to Project Runway to discover myself as a person and I’m very proud that I was put to the test in so many ways and I kept my integrity my morals and remained genuine and real. I think it was an experience of a lifetime..

When you found out that you had been chosen to compete on Project Runway, how did you react?
I might have cussed I can’t remember. I was very happy it was a huge confidence boost to know that I got chosen out of a ton of designers that are technically trained and have been doing it for years, but I was the one that got the call I felt very privileged and terrified all at the same time!

What 5 pieces do you believe are essential for any woman’s wardrobe?
Light Trench, cute straight cut Jean, sweater to layer, go to dress (doesn’t have to be a LBD), boots.

What are your favorite trends for the upcoming fall/winter season?
I’ve been out of the loop for a couple of months on fashion trends. I thought Vivienne Westwood’s collection was pretty sweet for menswear, but change the look for women. I love the look of layered clothing with mixed prints and textures; I think that is a big hit for fall and winter. I’m really gravitating towards tailored pieces mixed with a slouchy trouser with a heel.

What fashion faux pas make you cringe?
I’m not a big logo person, real fur, or 80s tacky looks.

What advice do you have for aspiring fashion designers?
I think you always need to follow your heart and do what’s right for you. If that is opening a small store, or selling online or becoming a huge famous designer, do what makes you happy and keep designing fun. Once your passion feels like work then you need to change something. As Rafael from Project Runway would say, “Keep it cute!”

Twitter users should show your support for Fallene by following Project Runway and using the hashtag #PR9fallene.

Also, if you are in the Denver area and want to watch tomorrow’s night episode of Project Runway alongside Fallene, stop by the Runway Rendezvous at Beauty Bar. Additionally, starting next Thursday, August 11th, everyone’s favorite, Mondo Guerra, will be attending the Runway Rendezvous at Beauty Bar to watch the newest season of Project Runway.

Happy 1st birthday, Lita!

The Lita boot has a had a very busy first year in the world of fashion.

Last October, Sara M. of Waitin Round 2 Be A Millionaire shared that she was eyeing a pair of the Lita boots in the black distressed leather.

A little more than three months following that, Eva Domijan of Dressful posted her “20 sarcastic tips to become a popular fashion blogger.” The delightful, insightful, and charmingly-witty piece’s first tip to aspiring fashion bloggers is, “Wear Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots (this is a MUST).”

Other bloggers such as Tieka of Selective Potential and Kaelah Bee of Little Chief Honeybee have wholly incorporated the military-inspired platform ankle boot with a 5 inch wooden heel into their respective wardrobes as is plainly clear in each writer’s personal lookbook posts.

Oh, and of course celebrities such as Jessica Alba have been seen sporting the Lita.

Oddly enough and without me having any knowledge that the Lita would be turning a year old in the near future, I was  recently pondering this very shoe. Between all the fashion blogs I read and websites I puruse on a daily basis, I couldn’t escape coming across this Jeffrey Campbell creation.Fashion e-tailers such as Nasty Gal, Solestruck, and Singer22 plastered the web with ads displaying the Lita in all the various colors and patterns that were available.

Some examples of the colors and materials available in the Lita from Jeffrey Campbell

Truthfully, I spent a long time not understanding the Lita. I thought that it’s awkward, heavy shape closely resembled the defective offspring of a one-night-stand between the shoe collections of Lady Gaga and Pee Wee Herman.

Plus, how insensible is a shoe with a 5 inch wooden heel and 2 inch platform? Furthermore, for something that cost at least $160, shouldn’t the style have more classic appeal?

After giving these two questons some serious thought, I realized the answer was clear: No.

The Jeffrey Campbell Twitter account states, “SHOES THAT WILL MAKE YOU WORK…no, I mean…WOOOOOOORK.” The Lita boot requires a lot of work in a lot of ways. Their cost makes them something the average 20-something would have to budget and save for simply to own a pair. And don’t forget the refined skill and mastery involved with not falling flat on one’s face while wearing these boots.

They’re expensive, insensible, and bold but that’s the appeal. When a woman puts on a pair of Litas in the morning she has two options: Own the shoes or let the shoes own you. Donning a pair of these Jeffrey Campbell boots can either turn you into a trailblazing style warrior or a serious fashion disaster. You have to be confident and daring to pull off the Lita.

Fortunately for those of us who have remained hesistant or fearful of the Lita, the fall/winter lookbook from Jeffrey Campbell doesn’t give any indication that the boot will be going into retirement anytime soon so you have plenty of time to try something wild and ridiculous.

Happy birthday, Lita!

Amy Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011)

It’s been a tumultuous week. A bombing and mass shooting took place in Norway, claiming nearly 100 innocent lives. The Grammy-winning songstress and heroin enthusiast, Amy Winehouse, joined Hendrix and Cobain in the 27 Club. And our national government can’t seem to remove its head from its own ass long enough to actually effect any sort of positive change in this country. Did I mention that every part of this country is experiencing that time of the summer where the heat is oppressive, exhausting, and sometimes even deadly?

It’s rough out there but nonetheless, there are good things to appreciate and enjoy. For example, Dan Harmon told TV Guide that Michael K. Williams (The Wire‘s Newport-smoking moral enigma, Omar Little) will be in at least three episodes of the upcoming season of Community as a biology professor. Williams’ character earned his biology degree while in prison and his first assignment as a teacher is at Greendale. Community returns to NBC on Thursday, September 22.

Portugal. The Man 'In The Mountain In The Cloud' (Atlantic)

Psychedelically-influenced indie rockers, Portugal. The Man, released their sixth studio album earlier this week, In The Mountain In The Cloud. While this is the band’s first with record label heavyweight Atlantic, they maintain true to themselves and their roots. It’s always nice when that happens.

The world of fashion was in a tizzy over crown of thorns headbands retailing for $125 a pop. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it was sacrilegious but seriously, $125 for a headband? Sweetie, I might have been born at night but certainly not last night.

While the future remains unseen, this week brings the season premiere of Project Runway. Denver fans can join the fabulous Mondo Guerra at Beauty Bar for Project Runway viewing parties starting this Thursday, July 28. Additionally, the sci-fi Western blockbuster, Cowboys and Aliens, hits theaters Friday, July 29.

'Cowboys and Aliens' in theaters Friday, July 29

Shutter shades & all: Kanye West. Photo courtesy of SOCIALisBETTER's Flickr page.

So far, it is just a rumor as reported by Grazia Fashion, but supposedly hip-hop mastermind and world famous doucher, Kanye West, will be presenting a line of women’s wear at New York Fashion Week. It’s not news that Kanye West has a strong interest in fashion and after all, the guy is a trendsetter (re: the shutter shades). It would seem like his interest, knowledge (he’s a regular attendee of designer fashion shows), and trail-blazing abilities could combine to create something new & exciting for the fashion world.

However, and maybe I should have prefaced this post with the warning that I think Kanye West is one of the biggest blowhards in the entertainment industry (even though I do have a soft spot for 808s & Heartbreak), I am unsettled by this rumor. Maybe it’s due to the fact that someone as self-important as Kanye West doesn’t need yet another claim to fame or reason to toot his own horn. Possibly it’s because I haven’t been a fan of any of the fashions he’s inspired in the past. Most likely it’s because I am always skeptical of celebrities (whether they are actors, musicians, or otherwise) who try to ventures into different fields and assume their acclaim will make them successful and/or iconic.

Kanye West\’s Absolut Vodka commercial

Am I alone? Does anyone else feel slightly irked/uncomfortable/annoyed that Kanye West might be showing at NYFW? The more I think about it, the more I am outraged that Kanye West could just wake up one morning and say to himself, “Man, I’m going to show a line of clothing at the biggest fashion event of the year,” when there are literally thousands of incredibly talented fashion designers who have spent their entire lives working towards maybe, one day, possibly showing at NYFW.

So what do you think? Is Kanye West’s hypothetical venture into the world of women’s fashion total malarkey or am I just an angry white chick?

Like I told you before — the summer of 2011 is the era of the Air Max 90.

Enter Sneakerpedia, which aims to add an open-source reference for all things sneaker to the internet world.  While the site can be compared to Wikipedia because it allows all users to edit and create content, Sneakerpedia offers a bit more social interaction than most wikis by allowing users to claim ownership over specific styles and share stories and comments about their favorite kicks.

Overall, Sneakerpedia is a pretty fantastic resource that allows sneaker loves from around the world to share their bragging rights and chat it up about their geeky shoe obsessions.  One final disclaimer, that’s no surprise:  he site is sponsored by Foot Locker.  Perhaps the retail shoe giant is using information about the most popular sneakers worldwide to finalize seasonal buying for their locations?