It's Matt Neznanski Y'all!

WARNING: The following post has nothing to do with fashion. It is an assignment for my reporting class this term. Bear with me peeps.

The great power and vast accessibility of the internet has changed the communications and journalism field drastically. Without it, idiots like me wouldn’t be able to spew our mental vomit all over the world.

Last Thursday night Matt Neznanski gave a presentation to a reporting class at Oregon State regarding the effect the internet has on global media.

Neznanski is the Director of Communications at Brass Media, a “socially driven media and technology company dedicated to helping young adults understand money.” Neznanski also worked as a reporter for the Corvallis Gazette-Times for about three years.

“Anyone can commit acts of journalism,” said Neznanski. “Wireless technology broke down a lot of territory.”

The widespread use of internet-enabled cell phones have made the average person capable of breaking news stories as they happen. Twitter and Storify are new media advances that Neznanski suggested for up and coming web journalists.

Neznanski discussed how reader input and comments on new media reporting makes writers more accountable for what they write. He also suggested that as reporters the students should look into reader comments and input for leads to other stories.

Included on Neznanski’s guidelines for good reporting:

§ Don’t plagiarize,

§ Always disclose the source of information,

§ Don’t accept gifts for coverage,

§ Go to the action, and

§ Tell the truth.

The take-away message from Neznanski’s presentation was that online journalism is not different than any other form of journalism.

Neznanski’s only warning: “Moderating blog comments is the most depressing job ever.”

This presentation got me thinking about my favorite fashion blog/website, whowhatwear.com. When my blog grows up it totally wants to be like whowhatwear.com. If you made it this far, thanks for reading!

Blinded by the White

Spring is a time of transition not only for nature, but also for my wardrobe. I wish I could say that my dedication to wearing primarily black disappears when the sun finally starts to shine, but that is not the case. Around this time of year I find myself clinging to my beloved black clothing, yet sweating like a whore in church as the sun beats down upon my cardigan-ed shoulders.

This season I plan on easing myself into spring and summer style with whites. I’ll be honest, white is not usually my cup of tea (especially now that I’m in the land of no sun), but I’m definitely warming up to the trend.  

Max Azria



Viktor & Rolf

At harpersbazaar.com they call white “the color of the season” and provide some pretty sweet examples of why. Band of Outsiders, Yigal Azrouël and of course Calvin Klein are my top picks.   

Band of Outsiders

Yigal Azrouël

Over at style.com they have compiled the most white-hot looks from the S/S 2011 runway shows. The majority of the garments shown are unconventional to say the least, and I must applaud Rick Owens, Helmut Lang and Gianfranco Ferré.    

Rick Owens



Gianfranco Ferré

Now for my favorite part, the shopping! Here are some wicked awesome ways to wear white: (yay alliteration!)

BCBGMAXAZRIA Fei Fei Strapless Dress

L.A.M.B. Keagon Open Toe Platform Pumps

Elizabeth and James 'Tokyo' Silk Crepe Eyelet Blouse

American Apparel Interlock Mini Skirt

Oh, and here's some Moby. I thought this song captured the futuristic mood of my favorite looks.

 Best white dresses EVER. If you haven't seen these movies, you should totally get on that. Thanks for reading!
 

Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof



    

Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch

 


Alicia Silverstone in Clueless



Lovely Lace

I’m a big fan of lace. As far as I am concerned, there is no other material that exudes femininity like lace. The fact that it can read both lady-like and pin-up has me completely sold. And that is why I’m fairly stoked that this material was such a big hit on the S/S 2011 runway.  



Alberta Ferretti



Zac Posen

Some fantastic runway examples can be found at style.com, where the dresses from Alberta Ferretti, Oscar de la Renta and Zac Posen are among my favorites. At elle.com they list the top trends of the season, and obviously lace is one of them.  Of the ensembles shown on Elle’s website my top picks are from Erdem, Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana.


Valentino



Dolce & Gabbana

  Lace is EVERYWHERE. Seriously! Some of it good, some of it bad, but definitely something for everyone.  In fact, I recently bought a lace dress. Completely useless, given that I am a college student with literally nowhere to wear it, but I had to buy it. My beautiful lace LBD fits me like a glove and makes me feel like the classiest pin-up ever.

My favorite thing about doing this blog is that my ‘research’ consists of online shopping. Here is a list of just a few pieces from this trend that I adore:
American Apparel Lacey Shoelace             

 Oscar de la Renta Macramé Lace Pump        

American Apparel El Salvador Lace Tee      

Dolce & Gabbana 'Miss Rose' Lace & Leather Satchel    
    
Leyendecker Trip Lace Dress            

Shoshanna Strapless Lace Dress

This trend instantly reminded of another one of my personal heroes, Dita Von Teese. To be honest, I’m a bit obsessed with her. Though she is famous for taking her clothes off, Von Teese is no stranger to the fashion industry. This bombshell is a fashion show fixture and has strut her stuff on Jean-Paul Gaultier’s runway.  

Oh and I have an update for my McQueen and the Princess post. Thanks for reading!

McQueen and the Princess

I’m sure you’re all terribly sick of this royal wedding hoopla, but bear with me. In this post I want to obsess a little bit about the glorious dresses worn during the big event. The dresses worn by both Princess Kate and her maid of honor, Pippa Middleton, were designed by Sarah Burton, the new creative director of Alexander McQueen.


Kate and Pippa in McQueen

Kate’s dress has drawn many comparisons to Grace Kelly’s wedding dress and with good reason. Both gowns have full length lace sleeves over a sweetheart-neckline, strapless bodice with a nipped in waist and a full, classic skirt. The major difference between the two dresses is the deep v-neck on Princess Kate’s lace overlay. Pippa’s dress was absolutely beautiful and fit her like a glove. The design was so simple, and made an appropriate impact for a maid of honor gown.



Princess Grace

Prince William and Princess Kate

Numerous knock-offs of the wedding dress are already available and nordstrom.com even has their own rendition, the JS Collections 'Duchess' Wedding Gown, available for preorder.Good Morning America even did a segment on the production of a high-end duplicate of this already iconic gown.



Sarah Burton and Princess Kate

  Designer Sarah Burton worked as the late Alexander McQueen’s intern while studying at Central St. Martins, and later became McQueen’s protégé. Burton released a statement the day of the wedding that you can find on the Huffington Post website discussing her reactions to being chosen to represent “the best of British craftsmanship."

I think the decision to use the Alexander McQueen design house was admirable. The anniversary of McQueen’s death was in early February, and it marks an enormous loss to the British fashion world and beyond.

 Harper's Bazaar ran a touching article written by McQueen’s former muse and longtime friend, Annabelle Neilson. In the article Neilson praises Burton’s work and reiterates that Burton was the natural replacement following McQueen’s untimely passing. Neilson reflected upon their friendship and her, and the fashion worlds, devastating loss.

On Monday the Metropolitan Museum of Art held a gala unveiling the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" exhibition. I can only dream of the day when I will hold in my hot little hand an invitation to an event like this. I must admit I was briefly depressed when I realized that I could not make the voyage to the motherland (aka NYC) to see the exhibit firsthand. The exhibit will showcase pieces that celebrate the late designer’s contribution to the fashion world.