These amazing works of design and whimsy, crafted by young design students in collaboration with Pucci, are created completely out of paper.  Using texture, form, and shadow, these talented artists turn the simplest of materials into a luxurious fashion statement.





These dresses would certainly not look out of place at a fashionable fête under the stars. Or, take to a winter wonderland party and embellish with Swarovski accessories. Just be careful to not let the snow or ice get on your dress - it would slowly disappear!

Courtesy of New York Magazine

Time to get excited!
The ever popular Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011 is coming up soon! Get ready for new and exciting designer duds from the Old Guard - Gucci, Armani (above), Prada. and others - and a taste of new, young, and upcoming designers to look out for!

Here at Vonk, we're busy securing invites, meeting designers, and scoping the scene for the Great Event. We'll keep you posted on all the parties, the fashion, and the fun!

Courtesy of New York Magazine

Courtesy of the Museum at FIT

If any of you fashionistas out there live in the NYC area (or are planning to visit in the next few months), it would be an absolute shame to pass up the amazing FREE exhibit being shown now at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).  The exhibit is titled "Japanese Fashion Now", and is a retrospective on contemporary Japanese fashion, roughly covering the early 80s up to the present moment.

The showcase is chocked full of original, satisfying, and often outrageously ingenious fashion creations from the land of the Rising Sun. Well-known brands and designers such as Comme des Garçons an Yohji Yamamoto are on display here, as well as hip, upcoming (and relatively unknown) talent. 

Courtesy of the Museum at FIT

Yum. That's all I have to say about these delightful Gucci silk and satin pumps. They are lavishly covered in light blue crystal elements that pop against the soft taupe color of the shoe.

At $1,100 retail, I don't realistically think I'll be able to land my hands on these anytime soon, but a girl can dream can't she?

Some looks I'd try out while wearing a pair of those killers:

1. Michael Kors; 2. Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti; 3. Easton Pearson

In dire times such as these (i.e. the dead of winter), it can be very difficult to dress in a stylish way. It has happened to many of us - you've picked out a winning outfit for the evening, only to have the statement you wanted to make drowned out by a sea of sweaters, scarves, oversized jackets, and floppy hats.

But there's hope! Here are some tricks we have learned after working hard to stay cute, cozy, and practical:

Spring Cocktail Dress = Elegant, Encompassing "I have to look nice" Winter Ensemble

Do you own a cocktail or party dress that you love but A) it's thin and strapless, and/or B) you never seem to have a place to wear it?


Classy, understated (or overstated if that's your angle) well-made silhouettes are a perfect choice to balance the bleak practicality of most warm winter wear. Here are a few suggestions for incorporating your dinner dress into a polished, frost free look:

Layering tights. This is one of the most important ways to keep a sleek look and keep the cold out. Start with a thin pair of sheer stockings, and over these layer a thicker, more substantial "sweater" tight.




Take those leg warmers from the back of your closet. While we can agree that leg warmers add a certain "funky fun" charm to certain outfits, they lack sophistication and can make most sleek outfits seem bulky and awkward.  But! They are perfect for your arms!


Wear them under a sweater to add an extra layer of warmth to your arms (to make up for the strappy/sleeveless dress).  This makes a big difference - just try it out!

A fashionable scarf or piece of fabric works really well as a stylish head cover - just make sure to cover your ears! For days when it is simply hovering around freezing and no negative temperatures are involved, a stylish scarf or any long piece of material can keep you warm and sleek - just don't forget to cover your ears!

 And there we go! Throw a daunty scarf around your neck, and slip into your favorite trench or pea coat.

As we enter 2011, the start of a WHOLE NEW decade, many of us fashionistas are ready to throw off some of the angst of 2010.  (The economy? Snowpocalypse? Jeggings??)

 No. Just....No.

Though some designers are choosing to take an understated route for their 2011 collections, dripping their collections with pieces reflecting subtle consumption mixed with obvious quality, fashion-savvy folk and some more daring designers are playfully pulling from less economically stressed decades.  Delicate and intricate lace, harking back to a more playful, carefree era, made an appearance at the Oscar de la Renta and Zac Posen Spring 2011 shows; 80s punk and leather featured heavy in the Balenciaga collection.

But what about those who even go a step further - pulling from an era in history that only exists in the art, writings, plays, and popular conscience of the people who fondly reflect on its importance?

Futuristic Punk - 80s style dystopian chic.

And, for our NYC residents especially, the Steampunk trend has most certainly gained "steam" over the past year, and seems to be a strong force in the indie fashion scene...

Steampunk - think of a bespoke risk taker in an H.G. Wells universe. Taken at an event in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

One huge aspect of "statement" trends such as these - which draw heavily from current trends but still exist outside the mainstream realm of fashion - are accessories, such as lavish costume earrings or sparkly, stately collars.  We'll keep our eyes peeled for more exciting, future-forward (or nostalgia-heavy!) style on the fashionable streets of the world!