Little Crimes of Paris

Little Crimes of Paris by Yanidel

Gossip Guys: While You Weren't Sleeping

Just like what it must've been for Blair Waldorf this week, Gossip Girl has been a major brain fog. For Blair, it was the lack of sleep that finally got to her and she was totally off her game; for us, it was the plot twists, after the plot twists, after the plot twists....

Among all the things happening in this week's exceptionally busy episode - namely Eric's 18th birthday party, Operation Save Bass Industries, Operation Destroy Bass Industries, Operation Raina, Operation Drug Mule, the return of Vanessa, as well as Blair's (surprisingly not annoying) budding romance with Dan - were some great outfits worn by the ever so sexy cast. Let's take a look at what the guys were wearing!

Photo credit: The CW

Corporate espionage never looked so sexy thanks to Chuck Bass, who was sporting this brownish tweed jacket slightly reminisce of the FW2011 Burberry Prorsum one sans the furry collar (see below). Also loving the polka dots tie - great balance of playfulness and dandyness.

Photo credit: Burberry

Photo credit: The CW

Eric van der Woodsen finally had a new outfit (it's his 18th birthday after all)! I love this very age-appropriate ensemble he was wearing at his party - a dark plaid shirt paired with a tweed vest, complete with a tie and a pair of pants in a darker hue. It looks very Ralph Lauren, catches the right amount of attention but not so in-your-face. Great job, Eric!

Photo credit: The CW

And the duffle coat is BACK for the fourth time in a row! Now begs the million dollar question: Will we see it for the fifth time next week?

Photo credit: The CW

This marks the very first time Ben Donovan is featured in our fashion recap! The resident ex-con is catching up with the fashion on the Upper East Side and was wearing this cute fitted black jacket with leather details.

Wondering Dan Humphrey and Nate Archibald were? Find out after the jump!

Shopping Intel: H&M Fashion Against AIDS 2011 Collection (with Price Lists)

After the previously announced environmentally-friendly Conscious collection, H&M will be launching another special collection for a great social cause in April. The Fashion Against AIDS campaign is back looking way more polished up this year - quite a departure from the previous loud, colorful and celebrity-backed collection from last year.

I really like the use of softer, pastel colors which are perfect for the Spring / Summer look and the use of typography is quite refreshing. My favorite pieces so far from the unisex collection are the grey and orange parkas, several message t-shirts, the grey sweatpants, and oddly, the typography jumpsuit:

 

 

 

 

The collection will be available in all H&M stores on April 28, 2011. 25% of all sales will be donated to HIV/AIDS projects to promote safe sex and raise HIV/AIDS awareness worldwide. Find out the prices for all items in USD right after the jump!

Gossip Guys: It-Girl Happened One Night

Gossip Girl lost me on Valentine's night. I didn't quite understand how one is supposed to prove one's worth by throwing a decadent party; how a full-time college student could also work at a fashion magazine as an executive assistant, full-time; how said full-time college student/fashion magazine executive assistant could tell whether love is true or false by eavesdropping behind curtains; and how an ex-convict could get over being thrown under the bus in public and then come crawling back in just a few hours. But then again, nothing is impossible on the Upper East Side. 

What I did get, though, was all the hot outfits every one was wearing. Let's dive into our weekly Gossip Girl menswear fashion recap!

Photo credit: The CW

Nate Archibald strikes again in this classic black peacoat. This one isn't as gorgeous as the Gucci one from last week, but still looks great. That's the thing I love about peacoats - you can never really go wrong with them. So it'd be wise to invest heavily in one that fits you well and in a color and cut that you can wear for a long time.

Here's a very nice peacoat I found online from American Eagle Outfitters which looks quite similar to the one Nate was wearing. Too bad only the biggers sizes are available; otherwise, at US$89.95 it's a total bargain.

Photo credit: American Eagle Outfitters

Photo credit: The CW

Chuck Bass was the one throwing the decadent party I was talking about earlier. This outfit is perfect for the party and Chuck looks smashing with the white bow-tie and rose accessory. I thought the white bow-tie was a curve ball considering we're usually accustomed to bow-ties in a different color than the shirt. But the monochromatic effect worked out really tastefully and the rose was spot-on. In an outfit like this one, you know he's definitely someone's valentine.

Photo credit: The CW

So I was right about Eric van der Woodsen having a smaller clothing budget than the rest of the core members of the cast! Eric was spotted wearing the same duffle coat three weeks in a row! Even though he looks cute with the navy scarf which hid his usual plaid shirt and sweater combo, they really need to get him in another coat or jacket. He's supposed to be rich.

As for Dan Humphrey, he hopped on the leather gloves bandwagon but looked rather boring in this grey and black number.

Wanna see more of Nate Archibald? And guess who's still lurking around when we thought he was exiled for good last week? Find out after the jump!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all 12 Cavaliers readers! 

Here's my very own personal Valentine's Day playlist to share with you all. There's a bit of everything for everyone - like a box of chocolates, from me to you. Hope you'll enjoy it with (or even without) your valentines!

SS2011 Shopping List Item #5: Baseball jackets

Photo credit: PopSugar.com

Photo credit: PerezHilton.com 

Photo credit: 5preview

5. Baseball jackets

My obsession with baseball jackets has reached fever pitch after Zac Efron, Joe Jonas, and Lookbook.nu celebrity Andreas Wijk were seen wearing them back to back to back over the last couple of days.

Baseball jackets are perfect for this Spring / Summer because the sporty look is totally on trend, but at the same time, the retro vibe is also very timeless. Wear a simple t-shirt underneath like Zac and Joe or layer it up like Andreas - they're super versatile and can be very easily blended into our everyday wardrobe.

As a side (and cheeky) note, this baseball jacket trend might very well have been brought on by one of my favorite and the most popular show on TV right now - Glee!

Photo credit: Fox Broadcasting Company

Last year, denim jackets were huge; this year, I think baseball jackets are the new denim jackets!

Recap of the previous four items on my SS2011 Shopping List:
1. Leather belts with a twist
2. Clothes with blotches of paint on them
3. Leather shoes with colorful soles
4. Light beige-tone jackets

Gossip Guys: Panic Roommate

This week on Gossip Girl, everyone is back scheming and plotting: Dan, Eric and Damien teamed up against Ben, but in the end, Ben triumphed while Damien waved the white flag; Chuck's plan also backfired but all's not lost when Blair stepped in with some damage control after her own plan (sort of) worked and she got way more than what she bargained for.

Like every other episode, all the dirty work was done in stylish and chic outfits, so without further ado, let's move on to our weekly Gossip Girl menswear fashion recap!

Photo credit: The CW

Nate Archibald is back... fashion-wise! After donning one too many plaid shirts and the occasional tuxedoes, Nate was seen wearing this gorgeous peacoat from Gucci's FW2010 collection (see below) on this week's episode. I'm loving everything about this coat, from the color to the collar, and the elbow patches to the cuffs... absolutely everything. I've been on the scout for a nice peacoat for some time and I think I've found thee perfect one. Or at least the perfect one to reference after when looking for a close substitute at Zara or H&M.

Photo credit: Gucci via GQ.com

Photo credit: The CW

Not to be upstaged by his roommate, Chuck Bass spent the entire episode trying to win Raina Thorpe's heart in this preppy combo with a pinkish purple shirt, purple paisley tie and a classic navy peacoat - which mildly reminds me of the one from Lanvin's collaboration with H&M last year (see below). If you're in the mood to go preppy and dandy all the way, this color coordination would do no wrong.

Photo credit: H&M

Photo credit: The CW

Another peacoat! Seriously, they're trying to make me feel bad about not owning one myself. Now even the least fashionable of the bunch, Dan Humphrey, has one. Dan was sporting this grey one and I think I've seen something quite similar at H&M (see below). Not loving the green x beige scarf but otherwise a nice effort from Dan.

Photo credit: H&M via Styles I Love

Missing Damien already? And what about Eric? More looks from the guys on Gossip Girl after the jump!

Guess who's coming to town?

U.S. clothing and accessories giant, American Eagle Outfitters, is finally making a landing in Hong Kong this March! Find out where it's headed to right after the jump!

SS2011 Shopping List Item #4: Light Beige-tone Jackets

Photo credit: Robert Geller

Photo credit: Ermanno Scervino

Photo credit: 3.1 Phillip Lim

4. Light beige-tone jackets

I wish I could be poetic and say we'll all be needing a light beige-tone jacket for those chilly nights in Spring or a relaxing day at the beach enjoying the Summer breeze, but let's be real - it's for the ridiculously cranked up a/c. At the mall. Or in your office.

As you all must've heard by now, beige, camel, grey, khaki and all earth-tone colors will be major this season. Fabric-wise, light and comfortable are key. The marriage of these two brings us these gorgeous jackets that would definitely come in handy functionally, as well as aesthetically.

If you're not a huge fan of the color, what you can do is get a navy blazer or jacket and then pair it up with beige-tone shorts. Finish the look with a pair of desert boots and you're good to go!

Revisit items #1, 2 and 3 here, here and here, and stay tuned for more items to come!

Shopping Intel: H&M Conscious Collection (with Price Lists)

It's always great to see big companies taking care of the environment. In H&M's latest aptly titled 'Conscious' Collection, we can see how the environmentally conscious high street fashion powerhouse created these sustainable looks with organic cotton, Tencel® and recycled polyester. The collection includes looks for the ladies, as well as kids.

The fabrics are perfect for the Spring / Summer weather, especially since they're all in different shades of white. These are my favorite pieces from the collection - they can easily be blended into our wardrobe and are great for freshening up old looks from last year or so.

This refreshing collection will be up on the racks in all H&M stores worldwide on April 14, 2011. While it may not be as high profile as the game-changing collaboration with Lanvin last year, it's definitely worthy of our support for its cause, the versatility of the pieces and their very affordable price tags! Full price lists in USD (including womenswear and kidswear) and the rest of the ad campaign after the jump!

Style Notes: H&M SS2011 Trend Guides & Styling Sessions

Swedish clothing giant H&M continues to galvanize the fashion world with their seasonal trend guides and exclusive styling sessions!

I'm absolutely loving all the looks Hanneli picked out, but especially the grey and black sweaters with the two contrasting fabrics in the second and last look! They hint a bit of Rick Owens mixed with a bit of Neil Barrett. Mental note: Must buy.

As for the hottest SS2011 trends, we've already spotted them back in December last year from the brand's video lookbook, but it's always helpful to get confirmation from the pros: blue, beige, grey, khaki, and white will dominate; aim for long, loose silhouettes with fabrics that create movements; blazers and uniform inspired jackets continue to reign, but added to the mix are desert boots and leather belts.

Looks like I will have to add some more items to my shopping list! Stay tuned for more on what to wear this Spring / Summer! And as a special treat for the female readers - check out the SS2011 trend guide and styling session for womenswear after the jump!

Zara SS2011 Lookbook

Photo credit: Zara

恭喜發財! Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Wishing all 12 Cavaliers readers a very happy Chinese New Year and lots of purchases, love and prosperity in the Year of the Rabbit to come!

Gossip Guys: Damien Darko

Another week goes by on the Upper East Side, and just like any other week, lots of dramas go down. Friendships and dangerous liaisons alike are broken, mended, and rekindled. As dramas happen, so did the fashionable outfits worn by our favorite Manhattan elites. Let's take a look at what the guys have been wearing this week!

Photo credit: The CW

I wouldn't be wearing this outfit to the first day of work... but I guess attire etiquette is a little different at fashion magazines. Having that said, I'm really feeling this thick knit cardigan Dan Humphrey was sporting in this episode. Grey knitwear has been huge in FW2010 and looks like Dan is, after all, becoming fashion-savvy after having spent all this time on the Upper East Side.

Photo credit: The CW

When Damien Dalgaard showed up in this simple, black on grey ensemble, I was like 'Woah!'. That is, gentlemen and gentlemen, the picture definition of dashing. (Although I'm sure the wind was working to his advantage, too, with the tail of his coat flapping behind him like Batman's cape.) I love the juxtaposition of the structure and formalness of the coat to the softness and casualness of the grey t-shirt. The leather gloves are definite highlights of the look. Now I want a pair of leather gloves!

Photo credit: The CW

Eric is mostly m.i.a. from the show but this week he made a comeback in this very cute grey duffle coat. Not a fan of the checked shirt and blue sweater but the coat really made the look luxe and you can tell this kid's family is loaded.

A Gossip Girl episode would be incomplete without Chuck Bass and Nate Archibald - find out what they were wearing this week after the jump!

H&M Summer 2011 Lookbook

H&M's Summer lookbook has reaffirmed the rule of thumb that Summer looks are supposed to be easy and breezy. The pieces look really light and comfortable. The white jacket and shorts paired with the pink sweater reminds me of Jil Sander's SS2011 collection; and I'm really digging the shorts plus boots combo in the first look!

More looks after the jump!