ALMOST FAMOUS

Almost Famous (2000) is a comedy-drama film that tells the story of William Miller, a fifteen year old boy determined to become a music journalist. While trying to get into a Black Sabbath concert, he meets Penny Lane, the leader of the Band-Aides, a group of girls that tour with the band to support the music. William is spellbound by Penny, who quickly becomes the heart and soul of the movie.

Almost Famous is a movie about people following rock bands 70s, and everything that happens along the way. Kate Hudson’s character, Penny Lane, plays a groupie that has an awesome taste in fashion. Her wardrobe is full of looks straight out of the 70s, rocker chic meets hippie with a touch of glamour and confidence. Penny Lane’s dark green suede coat, embroidered and edged with Mongolian trim fur is unforgettable, as well as the Levi’s, floral peasant tops and Moroccan jewelry.

The style is very wearable, by incorporating elements of the early 70s rock era with vintage flowers, classic flared jeans, Elton-John like sunglasses, a furry jacket, and many different styles of boots.


Stella McCartney for Chloe has a collection that has a 70s vibe. In her 2000 Fall collection, she drew inspiration from her childhood memories of the 70s and 80s. Since the self-proclaimed “Rock Princess” impressionable years moved to a disco beat, so did the collection. There was the winter cover-up in off-white “Afghan lamb” fake fur over a skimpy dress. Dresses were embellished with Art Deco beading.

-Carla Eugenio

Elizabthen-Shakespearean Homage to the Late Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen





"Shakespeare in Love" is a romantic comedy set in London in the late 16th century: Young playwright William Shakespeare struggles with his latest work "Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter" probably due to writer’s block or “tamaditis”. A great fan of Shakespeare's plays is young, wealthy noble Viola de Lesseps (?) who is about to be married to the cold-hearted Lord Wessex, but constantly dreams of becoming an actress. Women were not allowed to act on stage at that time (female roles were played by men, too), but dressed up as a boy, Viola successfully auditions for the part of Romeo. Soon she and William are caught in a forbidden romance that provides rich inspiration for his play famously called “Romeo and Juliet”. Eventually, Viola was ordered by the queen to accompany Lord Wessex to a colonial settlement in Virginia- leading to her eventual parting with William Shakepeare. Shakespeare immortalizes her by making the main character of his new play, Twelfth Night, a strong young woman named Viola who also disguises herself as a boy.
“Shakespeare In Love” was set during Late Renaissance, specifically during the Elizabethan era. During the Elizabethan era, England enjoyed a literary Renaissance, chiefly in dramatic poetry. English Theater was born thanks to dramatists suchs as William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Ben Johnson. Shakespeare obviously surpassed his contemporaries greatly with the vast range of his plays and filled them with characters that became immortal. Personally, I think Renaissance was the hightlight of costume history sine it wasn’t as restricting as the Victorian period, not as cloying as romantic period and not as plain (or white-literally) as regency period. Sans the lead-mercury makeup methods, fashion was very diverse and each country many foreign fashion influences. These are the following reasons for the blend of fasions influences…
i) Marriages were used to cement alliances between two powers, and the brides were sent from their own homes equipped with not only a substantial dowry, but a trousseau of the latest fashions and accompanied with a “barangay of ladies in waiting. And the royal court normally introduced the new fashions in each locality, and they are often imitated by the populace
ii) European powers interested in stimulating trade with the orient also made treatise and trades with east or middle east; hence, style ideas (fashion books, garments, technology) was brought back by diplomats, merchants and travelers.
iii) Decorative techniques such as embroidery, lacemaking were introduced. Since women that time didn’t have any other form of entertainment, probably just sexual intercourse, they just embroidered a lot.
What caught my eye were the small ruff collar or the ruff collars, the leg-of-mutton sleeves and chopins. I was perusing the net and I saw all three combined in one outfit by Alexander McQueen published in some Japanese magazine. There are some fashions out there inspired by the Renaissance, but it never seemed to take full flight. The late Alexander Mc queen has a lot of seemingly Renaissance inspired fashion, but I never saw them in the mainstream market, but I saw them in high fashion magazines at least once or twice (I see lashings a lot in magazines or mainstream clothes but it wasn’t seen in the movie). It will probably peak in the trend cycle if it were marketed better, probably forced into the consumer minds or bodies, or if they can find a way to make them more comfortable and less ostentatious. Nevertheless, Alexander Mcqueen is the founder of FIERCE and he will forever be remembered.

Let's Dance the Flashdance

"Flashdance". I have yet to see the film, but I know the fashion. Worn-out sweats that hung sexily off the shoulder, holey jeans, black leotards and leg-warmers that were pulled over the heel. It is the perfect depiction of the aerobics-obsessed '80s.


"In the movie Flashdance released in 1983, Jennifer Beals stars as Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel-mill welder by day, and bar dancer by night. Harboring dreams of a career in ballet, she is given financial support in this endeavor by her boss Nick Hurley and moral support by demanding but big-hearted instructor Hanna Long. The film's signature scene is, of course, Alex's water-drenched dance audition, largely performed in long shot by her dance double Marine Jahan. Essentially an old-fashioned backstage yarn, Flashdance was given a contemporary spin by its pulsating, musical score featuring the Oscar-winning Best Song, Flashdance...What a Feeling." -Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide


In the '70s the fashion was characterized by fitted tops and loose bottoms, but this trend reversed in the succeeding decade with the populace wearing looser shirts and tops, and fitted pants. Flashdance showcased this trend, making ripped sweatshirts, leggings and legwarmers popular among the public. This emergence of the Dance wear trend can be said to express a certain rebellion from the previous decade, turning the opposite direction when it came to fashion, but it still has traces of the laid back, relaxed style that the '70s possess. The trend widened the term casual wear to include Dance wear that is no longer restricted to the gyms and dance studios. Even though this '80s trend is a reversal of the '70s, it is still a continuation of the emancipation from restricting and more formal silhouettes of the '50s.


This Dance wear trend was a huge hit in the '80s and continues to make waves in the twenty-first century. In fact the past year, 2009, marked the return of the '80s.

One of the many designers to jump on the Dance wear bandwagon last season was the ever imaginative Marc Jacobs.


For his Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear Collection, the Dance wear trend was apparent.

The gray top was made to resemble the famous sweatshirt off-the-shoulder look, made more elegant by the subtle armhole trims and printed silk scarf.
The printed leggings match the scarf and are embellished with black rhinestones.
The trick was bringing in luxury in terms of subtle details and expensive fabrics (knit and silk) into an otherwise casual, unfussy trend. And with the fusion of subtle sophistication and casual, the result is indeed very appealing.

It's certainly funny that Flash dance, despite not receiving critical acclaim as a movie, has influenced so many aspects, from casual clothing to famous designers in the fashion world. And the next time we slip on our favorite pair of leggings or wear our baggy off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, may it be designed by Marc Jacobs or not, we know for sure which movie to thank for bringing Dance wear into the forefront of mainstream fashion.

-May Daquil

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Struggling writer Paul Varjak moves into a New York apartment building and becomes intrigued by his pretty, quirky neighbor Holly Golightly. Holly's lifestyle confuses and fascinates Paul; in public she flits through parties with a sexy, sophisticated air, but when they're alone she changes into a sweetly vulnerable bundle of neuroses.

This film is a very important film, in terms of the film industry and fashion. The movie sky rocketed Audrey Hepburn into a great icon, for elegance, confidence, humour, intelligence, beauty and class. The whole world who lived or is smart enough to know their history knows or has heard of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She has not only inspired the fashion industry, but has inspired women all over the world. The outfits created by Givenchy, who created most of Hepburn’s films, created the simple black dress matched with pearls and gloves. A simple dress that could be worn to a cocktail party or just hanging out, outside. This woman has risen to be the icon of womenhood today. An inspiration still alive today. Fashion designer Mary Quant, labeled Hepburn as, ‘the most stylish woman that ever lived’.

This inspiration is still in, and probably will be around for a long time. such items like Capri pants, Slim trousers, A black turtleneck, Basic, wrinkle-free, button-down shirt, Ballet flats, The little black dress, Evening gown (breathtaking, but simple),Silk scarf, Pearls, Flashy hat, Trench coat and many more. Most great designers take inspiration from this movie or at least keep it in the base while looking for inspiration.

But the most important designer to be related to this film, was Givenchy. A prominent European designer who used this movie as a film fashion show. his works were recognised by the whole world through this film, and one could only agree that this film made him more famous.

"Custom will reconcile people to any atrocity; and fashion will drive them to acquire any custom." -- William Shakespeare

The movie Shakespeare in Love focuses on the love story of William Shakespeare himself. It follows the story of the way he fell in love with the daughter of a rich aristocrat Viola de Lesseps played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Shakespeare falls in love with Viola who auditions for his play, Romeo and Juliet. Due to the times, women were not allowed to have roles in plays. Viola, wanting to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress, dressed as a man. Shakespeare was impressed by her audition that he immediately cast her as the lead, Romeo.



A common fashion item seen throughout the movie were tights. They have long been existence in the world and find their beginnings with simple hose. They were later sewn together in order to cover the private parts of men. It was a sign of strength when a man showed off big, muscular calves through the tights. In order to fulfill this, even King Henry VIII of England stuffed his.


Today, tights are seen in different colors, prints and textures.








---Stephanie Oca

We're Armed...

The movie that I’ve chosen for this assignment is Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard.

The movie is an accurate depictment of the last few years in the life of the notorious American bank robber John Dillinger.

It was evident at the beginning of the movie that Dillinger enjoyed what he did and could not imagine doing anything else that would make him happier.

Living in Chicago in 1930s, he had the city in the palm of his hand with little fear of reprisals from the authorities. Later in the movie he meets Billie Frechette, a French-Indian waitress with whom he falls deeply in love. At the same time we meet Melvin Purvis an FBI agent who would eventually track Dillinger down. This was all happening during the early days of the still-novice FBI. Early on, Purvis realizes that if he is going to get Dillinger, he will have to use street tactics and enlists appropriate men with police training. At the end of the movie Dillinger is eventually betrayed by an acquaintance, who later tells the authorities exactly where to find him on a given night.

The fashion in this movie is very conservative and gangster-like with the broad shoulders but straight lines. This fashion is also linked to the Great Depression where there was an absence of colour.

The costume designer for this movie is the very talented Colleen Atwood who has won two Oscars for Costume Design. She was likewise responsible for the costumes in the movies, Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, Sweeny Todd, Nine and the much-anticipated Alice and Wonderland. Colleen Atwood has been described as the Edith Head of her generation.

This fashion trend is definitely back. As this trend has a more sophisticated feel to it, then it appeals to the working majority of today. One brand or designer that has consistently brought us classic merchandise, including, coats and suits is Thomas Burberry.

I wasn’t able to find a sketch for Public Enemies, although I found one for the job that she did in Sweeny Todd.

- By Mercedes Cacho

Oh no she didn't! -- The Scandalous Spartan Woman

In 2007, another one of Frank Miller’s graphic novels was translated into a box-office hit. 300 is an artistic interpretation of historical Greek events which easily became a cult-hit. Amidst the stories wide-ranging characters is the resplendent Queen Gorgo, portrayed by Lena Headey.


Historically, Gorgo was the only daughter of King Cleomenes I of Sparta (520-490). She was also his heir. When Cleomenes died, his successor was his half-brother Leonidas, to whom Gorgo had been married in the late 490s. She was in her late teens at the time of marriage. Gorgo was the mother of another Agiad king, Pleistarchus. Brought upon by the movie, Helen of Troy is forced to share her seat as the most popular Spartan woman.




The Spartan woman had a reputation for bravado and licentiousness that was frowned upon the the other Greeks. Nudity was not acceptable to the Homeric Greeks except in athletic games which were part of a religious ritual. The Spartan girl competed in athletics at the same time as the boys and may have done so in the nude before a mixed audience. Her tunic was worn in such a way as to give her a little more freedom of movement and the opportunity to reveal a little leg and thigh if she so desired. This inclination was very well displayed by Queen Gorgo when she sported a everyday basic Greek Chiton:






Inspired by the lasciviousness of the Spartan Woman, today's fashion showcases the traditional Greek Chiton tranformed in sexy, head-turning customs by designers like



Moschino




























& Ossie Clark.









So I guess she did do it then! For she, the Scandalous Spartan Woman was a fashion innovator of her time.





by SHEENA GLORIA

Wickedly Hilarious!!!

The Devil Wears Prada

The Movie aired in 2006 and I think it is one of the Best Fashion Movies of all time. All the women could barely contain their excitement as several designer pieces floated on the screen.

The story is about a young lady starting a career in the fashion industry. Although she only aspires to be a fashion writer, she is quickly drawn into the wonderful, yet treacherous fashion world.

Andy Sachs(Anne Hathaway) receives a make over because she looks uncool with the clothes she wears. Her style evolves from geeky/lousy to stylish/trendy everyday attire that consist of Chanel jackets and boots. Don’t we get too excited while watching the movie and look at all their fabulous clothes?

I never dreamed being involved in any field in fashion. I could still recall the first time I saw this movie and I was mesmerized with all the luxurious brands worn by the characters. I just became more and more curious about the life behind fashion. Now, I am also given the chance to write about one of the coolest fashion movie of all time.

Over all, The Devil Wears Prada production costumes are a blast!

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, the terrible boss of Andy. She delivers a wicked but funny role. She wears a very stylish fur coat in this scene.

Below is another type of coat worn by Anne Hathaway in the film.

There are different types of cloaks for every era. But the Fur Coat could have evolved from the Victorian Era (1850’s) where there’s (1)Caped Redingote (2)Short Cashmere Cape and Fur Trim (1857)

(3)Late 1850’s Cloaks Copy of the Petit Courier des Dames.

Since Fur Coats are worn mainly during winter or autumn, they are always on the PEAK of the Trend Cycle Chart. Fur coats are considered necessity because they serve as protection during the cold weather. Most of the stylish coats are worn by the high society, but even the middle class could wear it so in the Fashion Leadership, I think it is Trickle-Across.

On the picture below, Emily Blunt wears Punk outfit in the film.

Punk Fashion is the clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, jewelry, and body modifications of punk subculture. The punk subculture is a subculture based around punk rock including music, ideologies, fashion, visual art, dance, literature and film. The punk subculture came out in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia in the mid-1970s. Exactly which region started punk has long been a major controversy within the movement.

French punk in 1981, wearing a customized blazer, as was popular in the early punk scene.

Contemporary psychobilly band: the Horrorpops

For punks out there, Punk Fashion is the best way to express themselves. For those who would like a change in image, a punk outfit is just right to look a bit like a punk even for once in a while. For rock stars of our generation, punk is their sense of style. This means that punk could be adopted by any style, by any person who wants a change. This style could always be at the PEAK of the Trend Cycle Chart because punks are everywhere and they are accepted even in the conservative Philippine culture. Mostly, Designers, Artists, and Rock Stars influence this trend to the public so this is in the Trickle Down Theory.

by Kat Cortez

I Like it Ruff.

Elizabeth the movie was released in 1998 and starred Cate Blanchette as Queen Elizabeth I of England. The plot centers on her development as an aggressive and assertive ruler from her beginnings as a romantic, naive and oblivious teenager. It shows her love for Robert Dudley and her decision to commit herself to ruling England, ushering its Golden Age.

The ruff collar appeared in the 16th century and has become on of the icons of Elizabethan and Shakespearean time. According to Wikipedia: The ruff which was worn by men, women and children, evolved from the small fabric ruffle at the drawstring neck of the shirt or chemise. They served as changeable pieces of cloth that could themselves be laundered while keeping the wearer's doublet from becoming soiled at the neckline. From its functional roots, it took on symbolic as well as aesthetic meaning. Wearing a ruff collar enhanced feminine beauty and since wearing it was so difficult, it was also seen as a sign of dignity. You cannot slouch while wearing a ruff collar, after all.

This fashion trend, while not in its pure form but in its derivatives have been making appearances in Alternative Fashions and Haute Couture for the past couple of years. I have also seen it in some ready-to-wear tops and gowns (the most notable one is Lady Gaga's Red Latex Gown by Atsuko Kudo also known as the Red Gown She Wore When Lady Gaga Met The Queen of England) Another designer who took inspiration from this collar is British designer, Gareth Pugh. His version of the ruff collar in his collection for Spring RTW 2009 was pretty straightforward, not changing the form of the ruff collar too much.

Cate Blanchette as Elizabeth I of England

The Designer, Gareth Pugh.

Gareth Pugh, Spring 2009 RTW

-Lyra Kristine Meneses

Fedora Plethora and Creating Your own Punk Maddox

If I were too lazy to write a trend report, I’ll just say that stylish Filipino men are into nice-fitting pants (and the occasional skinny jeans on emo kids), a nice fitting shirt- not too tight (feeling maganda ang katawan) or too loose (people stuck in the baggy era), a nice pair of leather shoes or sneakers which depends on the age). Then I’ll just call it a day and publish this trend report. Yawn! Filipino men are so boring fashion wise. But I’m a sucker for those “pormas” since men become Mr. Mabango (a male equivalent of Ms Mabango) with that kind of get up. They don’t have bags too, they just have a leather wallet tucked in their back pocket.
I’m in a trends class, so I better look for something not so mundane. I hunted for exciting new man trends in Brasil-pilipinas event and there were many unusual yet exciting outfits I have found. Fedoras and hats, I found a lot of those in the event. I asked my resident alpha male (my boyfriend), lovingly called Nate, if he would wear a fedora hat in a mall. He said he was “too old to act like that Justin ‘Timberland’ character”. Another, resident alpha male, my brother, said it was too gay to wear fedora hats to a mall.
From a sociological point of view, the men who wore the fedora hats can be classifies into three groups; 1) The I’m too young to care group , 2) the artsy group and 3) I’m too confident or cool to care what others think group. Also, none of them were cute except for the Brazilian professor (pwede na) , and Amer’s boyfriend. Most of them were gay or the odd artsy types (not the Mr. Mabango we can show to our parents). I guess fedora’s can assist us spot gays in the Philippine metropolis or maybe solely in this event.
The fedora was worn by men since 1919 but it was initially worn by women. It’s been worn in Justin Timberlake’s Seňorita video (2001), Britney’s inebriated paparazzi pics (post-Federline), celebs vacationing in Cabo, and eventually Rockwell Tent. So in the trend cycle chart, the fedora’s probably cycled 6x over, and it’s probably in its early adopter stage since it is only sported by a tiny portion of the Filipino populace or maybe I’m hanging out in the office or SOFA too much that I don’t see the pervasiveness of the fedoras. I somehow feel that it is at it’s peak now due to my quick visit in Megamall. I saw the fedora in Bench, SM mall and, lo and behold, GAP. It’s sold in the mainstream market now. I cant exactly pinpoint it in the cycle especially if it keeps resurrecting everywhere. It’s actually a cute thing to wear in the beach if it’s made of straw, not wool or felt. I only saw a wool fedora in a beach worn by a Japanese man (yes, I’m racist now aside from matapobre).
The fedora plethora can fall under Popcorn’s “Clicking with Mancipation” trend. In my own point of view, I think the fedora represents a “movement” that rejects the pack mentality. It acknowledges that every man is UNIQUE. Not every guy must succumb to the Mr Mabango apparel. Straight men can be vain and wear the cool things that gay people wear, like fedoras (even inside the mall).
Regarding fashion leadership, basing it in the Philippines society, my best bet is the “trickle down theory” I saw it in American pop culture first before I saw it resting on Sarah Meier’s head. I think this was circa 2004. I think the people seen above are just buying surplus, since they stated that they bought it in an ukay-ukay, Divisoria, and some other small scale store.
Now to the kiddies…
After the world has seen Mr. And Mrs. Smith, the obsession for Angelina Jolie has intensified, especially after she was rumored to be the reason why the golden couple (as in literally golden with all the faux tans) have divorced. Ok, she’s worth obsessing about. She has the exotic f**k me looks, a UN passport, millions of dollars, a hot partner, great roster of movies, flying skills, and etc. Many have attempted to be like their demigod Jolie, by spending thousands of dollars to get those goldfish lips, wearing her clothes, getting her dragon tattoos, getting her nose or her mental idiosyncrasies. Not everyone can afford couture gowns, endure painful surgeries and recovery periods, tattoos, and some people find her speech in the Oscar’s ludicrous! So many turned they’re kids as a channel to venerate Angelina Jolie. They gave their kids Mohawks, which I admittedly find adorable. But ladies, even if your “Maddox” has a cute do, or even adopt a Cambodian kid, you will still look like the mom that you are, JUST GIVE UP, you’ll never look like Angelina Jolie. Even Megan Fox does not look like her. She looks like a Thai transvestite (nyar!).
The whole kiddie Mohawk the fad is more of a trickle-across theory, let’s just remove Angelina Jolie as part of the theory because it will be a trickle down thing. The moms of the kids were from the same class probably lower uppe rclass, they belong to the same age group-late twenties, and they even belong to the same high school. So far, I haven’t seen a “kanto” kid with a Mohawk. When I asked my driver if he knows who Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, he said he knows celebrities named Brad Peet and Angelina Jolly. To my dismay, they actually exist.
I don’t know where exactly know where the kiddie Mohawks are in the trend cyc le, since I saw around two kids last year sporting the do. I think it’s still in it’s introduction stage. It’s not yet the hip thing for kids. It the kiddie Mohawk is a cycle- it must be a really slow one. Maddox had the do back in 2005.
If I were Popcorn, I’ll classify this kiddie trend as a pleasure revenge trend. Since, this is the couples who did this to their kids are young couples and they sort of gained some financial independence already. They are doing this to shock their parent or to shock the priest baptizing their latest child. This hairdo is still somewhat unconventional to the conservative older crowd.
Recently, I saw a lot of children wearing printed tops with skulls on it. If kids are miniature version of us, my examples here are not the reflection of their parents. I’m thinking that the parents are too tired to think about the image of the “punk” child is projecting. Perhaps their shirts were the only spare tops they had after the kid spilled his chocolate pudding for the nth time.
I saw skulls and punk themes on children’s wear circa 2005-2006. During the height of this annoying girl- Avril Lavigne, Sum 21, and all those angry screaming band kids. Since I’m a closeted punk, I take heed of details like this. Skulls and punk in general is going down the trend cycle chart. I saw some shirts with skull in SM recently. DECLINE stage is the verdict. Seriously, I’m really sick and tired of skulls!
In fashion leadership, I guess, it’s trickle down once again. I saw the shirts in the US in Gwen Stefani’s store- LAMB during Feb 2006.
As a popcorn trend, I wouldn’t know where I can classify it. Its either a pleasure revenge to piss off grandparents again by their kids unfortunately or 99 lives. I classified it as 99 lives sine the parents made their kids wear those shirts since it’s the only remaining shirt they have left in the yaya tote or most of the available shirts for kids now has skulls or some punk statement.


Carla Sta. Cruz

”Timeless style for Timeless occasions.”

Van Heusen Store @ Greenhills Shopping Center

Started in 1881 by Van Heusen Moses Phillips as he began selling hand sewn shirts from a small wooden handcart; laying the foundations for a company which was later on called Van Heusen.

1919, John Van Heusen begins a nine-year quest that leads him to invent the world’s first collar.

In 2005, Van Heusen is the number 1 dress shirt brand in America. Today, it is also the largest selling dress shirt in the world. In 2007, the brand rules over 70 nations across 5 continents and commands more than a billion US dollars in retail sales worldwide.

With their strong brand, the talented people behind it, Van Heusen is no wonder very competitive in the market.

Since Van Heusen is a Men’s Wear, I would like to associate it to the ‘lifestyle trend’, ‘Mancipation’. Fashion is not only for women but also for men. They also have a choice to look good especially in the clothes they are wearing. Men can be vain and fashionable. With a more open-minded society nowadays, there is a market niche for stylish men's wear.

by Kat Cortez

"Do I look like a rockstar now?"

Children's wear would have been fun to feature if I were writing about a little girl's dress or skirt. But because I couldn't find a child in the mall who wouldn't be shy to take a picture, I decided to take a picture of my 4-year-old cousin, Joaquin. I thought that he was actually such a perfect person to write about since he chooses his own clothes when he dresses up. I remember his mom saying that she found him odd because "most kids get excited to unwrap presents and see toys, Joaquin gets excited when he has a new shirt or a new pair of sneakers!" :) He enjoys picking out his clothes and he always has a clear vision of how he wants to look -- "I wanna look like a rockstar.".

He was in my room one day and then I asked him if I could take his picture. Our conversation went a little something like this:

Me: Joaquin! Can I take your picture for my class?

Joaquin: Okay, wait. I'll ask my mommy.

(20 seconds after)

Joaquin: Okay! She said yes! Come with me to my room, I'll choose. Can I be a rockstar?

Me: Sure!

As we were going through his closet, he'd tug at something and expect me to pull it out of the closet for him to wear. I was surprised at the number of times he changed his mind! Hahaha! :)

His outfit, consists of a plaid long sleeved polo, a printed yellow shirt, khaki pants and Converse sneakers. Everything that he is wearing, he chose for himself. I even offered to roll up his sleeves. "No, it's supposed to look like a jacket!" was the answer I received.

Going with the theme of shoes (as with my previous blog entry), I decided to focus on his shoes. Converse shoes is an American Brand that came into existence in the early 20th century. It was created in order to provide people with shoes that have rubber soles. The shoes are commonly referred to as "Chuck Taylors", a name that was popularized by the Converse ambassador, basketball player, Charles "Chuck" Taylor.

The Chucks were known as the official shoes the the NBA until the 50's when they were out-shined by new big brands such as Puma, Nike and Adidas.

Although Chucks are a staple, they were a big trend during the early 90's because of the grunge era. Basing on the information, I believe that the Theory of Fashion Leadership that can be applied here is the Trickle Across Theory. The shoes became an all-American brand that it was seen worn by the people on the street to the A-list celebrities on red carpet premieres.

Chucks in casual wear

Chucks in formal wear