Rag Report: Sparkling Enchantment

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

In this month’s Vogue, readers are exposed to precious metals, like gold, stitched into fabrics creating a fairytale essence. Bruce Weber photographs model Karen Elson in a spread titled “The Enchanted Garden.” The looks are magical and as delicate as the nature that surrounds them.

In the first photo, Elson wears a Tom Ford metal-and-silk jacket layered over an Oscar de la Renta lace-trimmed silk blouse. Her tousled red curls illuminate in the sunlight and mimic the precious metals in her jacket. She has plump deep berry lips and holds an intense gaze. Her features are soft, and therefore give the photograph a whimsical tone.

The next photo features Elson in a Tao Comme des Garçons cotton jacket and matching dress. The white cotton and floral stitching give her an angelic look. The baby lamb makes her appear pure and innocent. Once again, her radiant locks reflect the sunlight and form a halo of light around her head. The background is blurred so she is the focal point of the photograph.

Elson blends into the trees with a Valentino embroidered tulle dress in her next photo. Unlike the previous two photos, her face is in the shadows, making the dress the center of attention. The gold threads sparkle in the sunlight and instantly catch the eye. This photo is intriguing because Elson’s arms blend in with the trees. Her lean body is elongated as she offers a dream catcher above her head.

This spread offers a sense of magic, innocence and purity. The fabrics sparkle and shine like the sun that reflects them. Nature sets a peaceful mood and creates a relaxing atmosphere. A walk in the Enchanted Garden seems to be the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

-Brittany Fowler

Rag Report: Down-to-Earth Under the Fireworks

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

Katy Perry went from the singer of “kissed a girl” to a pop culture sensation overnight. It’s no wonder Elle magazine put “pop’s sweetest vixen” on the cover of their March issue. Carter Smith captured Perry and Joe Zee styled her in the latest trends. Readers can see the personality of this pop sensation and, how grounded she truly is.

In this photo, Perry has her arms spread like an eagle allowing us to see her as she is. Her facial expression is soft yet serious, showing us she has nothing to hide. There is a sense of promiscuity in her gaze, but also a contrasting sense of innocence. She is wearing a white Pam Hogg lycra romper with chiffon sleeves and a gold headband around her waist. Her outfit offers angelic connotations, which conveys a sense of innocence.

The second photo Perry wears a strapless Oscar de la Renta dress with a swansdown skirt and Christian Louboutin water snake pumps. Her luscious wavy hair frames her soft facial features. She wears an interesting expression of confusion or uncertainty, which shows us that although Perry is full of self-confidence, she doesn’t always know the answers. In the article readers will get a sense that Perry [doesn’t feel like she can “act like an entitled bitch yet.”]

Readers see a more sensual and seductive side of Perry. She is wearing a Blumarine silk-bland dress with a Robert Lee plated brass collar around her neck. All of the angles of her face are beautifully pronounced as she gazes into the mirror. The shadows also add to the atmosphere and the lights create noticeable highlights on her face.

The articles and photos portray Perry as a fashionable, bold and fun pop star. She is in love with her career, husband, Russell Brand, and staying true to herself.

-Brittany Fowler

Rag Report: In Bloom

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

Springtime and flowers are like peanut butter and jelly; they go hand-in-hand. It’s only natural that spring designer collections are filled with floral delights. Elle’s February issue features a 10-page spread with model Devon Akoi in 2011 blooming designs from the likes of Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and Vera Wang.

Marc Jacobs updates wintry leather with a lighter hue and a flower design on this silk gauze dress. The bottom of the dress falls like flower petals and the red neck piece is like a wildflower emerging after the cold of winter.

While this silk crepe Tommy Hilfiger dress is a solid color, the shade of yellow is so like that of spring daffodils that the image of a flower comes to mind. The crepe material is also delicate like the daffodils that bloom in springtime.

The New York Botanical Garden is a perfect backdrop for this spread. The conifers mirror the embroidery on this Oscar de la Renta gown, a print refreshingly different from normal floral patterns. The poured-glass flower brooches from Mark Walsh Leslie Chin serve as a beautiful embellishment that enhances, rather than clashes, with this dress.

This floral spread comes at a perfect time. When most are still suffering from winter blues, the colorful blossoms and patterns shown here make the world look a little brighter and springtime look a little more within reach.

-Jessica Dysart

Designer Confidential: Breaking the Mold

Designer Confidential highlights the work of SU's greatest fashion asset: its student designers.

Although sophomore, fashion design major, Christina Riggio is still learning the basics of being a designer, she already knows exactly what she wants. “A lot of people say they want to be a famous designer, but my aspiration is to work for a famous designer. I would love to be a creative director at Ralph Lauren or Donna Karan,” said Riggio.

Riggio is heavily influenced by contemporary fashion, drawing inspiration for her sketches from magazine spreads and the latest runway collections.

“My favorite designers are ones that can develop, and not use the same design [concept] over and over again. Like you look at Ralph Lauren, and this season he did...fringe, [a] kind of cowgirl theme...You['d] never think to do that,” said Riggio.

For this reason, Riggio favors the on-trend but innovative designs of Stella Mccartney, Oscar De La Renta and of course Ralph Lauren. Right now, Riggio has several projects in the works, one of which is designing a ten-piece collection drawn on the classic American designs of the late Geoffrey Beene and the modern eco-luxe looks of Danish design house Noir. Both are known for their use of organic fabrics.

“You can’t use any stretchy materials, or knits or polyester. You can only use silks, cotton, or chiffon; nothing made out of synthetic fibers. I’m using see-through chiffon over this gorgeous pink silk. The whole collection [has a] sheer, cut-out look.”

Through all her designs, Riggio keeps the basics in sight, emphasizing "color and fabric" because she wants to be unique.

"I really want to make something that stands out,” she said.

Dream Job: Creative Director at a big fashion house, like Ralph Lauren or Donna Karan.

Why you should look out for her: She was one of a select few Freshmen chosen to have her designs featured in last year's "Cents 'n Sensibility" fashion show, with two of her pieces making the cut.

Designer Confidential: “I made my prom dress. I used a very slippery silk and I really didn’t have any intense sewing skills, but I made the dress on my home sewing machine and wore it [anyway]. I was really proud...”

-Julie Kosin