Londyn Pe: The Fashion Trendsetter

Londyn Pe a.k.a. Lauren Powell is a walking time machine. It seems like everyday she is representing a fashion decade from the past. "When people see how I dress, they say I dress 80s, but my favorite decade is actually the 20s. I wish I could get my hands on some more clothing from the 20s." This New York born and Maryland raised trendsetters style is inspired by fashion from everywhere and she switches it up whenever she thinks of something new. To her fashion is art and her body is the canvas. She believes anyone with a creative mind can put together pieces the way she does. When walking the halls of her school, The Art Institute of Charlotte (where she is majoring in Fashion Marketing and Management), she gets in the mind state of her style icon Gwen Stefani. "She the best and doesn't care what anybody has to say about what she wears. That's the mentality you have to have nowadays." Which is really true. Gwen Stefani isn't the only style icon that Londyn Pe admires. When asked who inspired your latest haircut, she replied, "Hahaha. Rihanna. I'm not gonna even lie. I love her stylist, which makes me love her even more, lol." But when it is all said and done, and life comes to an end, Lauren only wants to be remembered as one thing..."FLY!"

The Royal Court: Graphics in Fashion

In the world of fashion, 2008 was truly the year where designers based their collections around graphics and geometric shapes for the spring and fall seasons.

These graphics and geometric shapes bring about a new look in any collection. On the high-end level of haute couture, designers such as Emilio Pucci, Anna Sui, and Balenciaga stepped out the box and took creativity and color to another level. They are the royal court of “who’s who” in graphics in fashion.

The Prince of Prints

The “prince of prints”. Fur, ice and crystals. Couture designer Emilio Pucci best describes graphics in fashion. His inspiration came from the natural landscapes of the Mediterranean and the exotic culture. He created an external logo with his signature graphics, abstracts and kaleidoscope of color prints.

Each and every one of Pucci’s collections, dating all the way back to the 1950s featured his signature geometric and abstract prints, so his Fall 2008 Collection was no different. The inspiration was drawn from the mountain and the cold. The prints have a recurring mountain theme and the accessories capture what the snowy season is all about. Featured in this wintery wonderland collection were icicle necklaces, silvery sequins, crystal beading and bags that mimicked shards of ice. They collection began with dresses, leggings, and winter coats that ranged from dark grey and yellow to white and black. The collection ended with icy sapphires, corals, various shades of emerald and aqua blues, even Jamaican water would envy. Pucci definitely didn’t let his fans down with this collection.

The Queen of Eccentric

Just from looking at Ms. Sui’s Fall 2008 Collection it is safe to say that she is a multi-cultural and talented person. Born in America, Anna Sui has always had an eye out for fashion. At a young age she began making her own clothes. “I was completely obsessed. I don’t know how my parents put up with me,” Sui stated. Since then she has evolved into one of America’s top designers with her eccentric style and bold colorful patterns.

The Fall 2008 Collection is the most colorful of them all. Every tunic, pants, and shirt has some style of a geometric pattern, almost tribal-like. The aesthetic movement, Tiffany vases, fortuny pleats, Gustav Klimt, and American Indians are the inspiration for this season. It is evident that Anna Sui has many inspirations (the prince of prints, Emilio Pucci being one of them), and she makes good use of her surroundings.

The King of Pansies

This year Balenciaga has outdone himself by using some astonishing graphics in his Spring 2008 Collection. The color scheme consists of a plethora of vibrant colors, such as snorkel blues, tangerine oranges, kelp greens, soft pinks, and bumble-bee yellow—just to name a few.

Nicolas Ghesquiere, the head designer for Balenciaga says he was exploring new territory because he had done prints before, but never thought of using flowers to enhance the collection. Bringing nature to the runway, Balenciaga is in full bloom this spring using pansies, peonies, daffodils, and hyper- gorgeous hydrangeas to his advantage, with this revolutionary technique.

Balenciaga wanted to create ensembles on the catwalk with standout shoulder lines, wide-bell shaped hips, and knee-high, woven, leather gladiator boots. Nicolas Ghesquiere has an eye for architect design and he is a sculptor of shape, with innovative graphics he is promised longevity in fashion industry.

This is only the beginning for graphics in fashion. 

Sexy on the Beach: The New Trend in Swimwear

Looking sexy on the beach has been kicked up a notch and taken to another level. A level that is exotic, stylish and trendy. A level that is meant for the woman who is fashion forward yet playful, classy, and seductive. A woman who demands attention and knows exactly what she wants.

A combination of the finest materials, natural jeweled pieces, wood chunks, rare stones and gems create the alluring and intriguing collection in Amaya Swimwear.

Lila Nikole Rivera, the 2005 Magna Cum Laude graduate of The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale created Amaya Swimwear. The concept of the swimwear line was to produce a stylish, exotic and wearable swimwear line for women that love to glam up their beach wardrobe.

The Collection:

In my opinion the evolution of the swimsuit and print designs has changed drastically. They are no longer the simple and solid colored one and two pieces. Swimsuits are now sexier, daring, and detail oriented.

Currently Amaya Swimwear has seven collections of swimsuit designs never seen before. The collections include: Signature, Kaleidoscope, Graphix, Rainforest, Candy Rain, The Black Out, and Aquatic Effervescence. Majority of the swimsuits are made of imported Italian Lycra blend which are all hand sewn, not factored produced. Besides from the "out of the box" designs and structure of the swimsuits, the most eye-catching factor are the colors, which are bright and vibrant. They range from fuchsia, yellow, various shades of purple and green, blue, orange and many more color combinations are seen throughout each collection. Next to color is the graphics and prints. They range from snake, zebra, stripes, and jigsaw patterns and prints.

If you are that fashion forward woman who desires to have all eyes on her, then you should be wearing Amaya swimsuit.

Envy Me...Why Not?

Hello! Welcome to my Blog. My name is Aysia Renee and I study Fashion Marketing and Management at The Art Institute of Charlotte. The title "Envy Me...Why Not", represents my swimwear line and slogan House of Envy. Hope you enjoy my blog...Remember: "Dare to be Sexy, Dare to be You, Dare to be Envied!"