Want To Make Change?

Here is something mind-expanding to read today: Massive Change, by Bruce Mau and the Institute Without Boundaries. Mau is a Canadian designer who has held a diverse range of jobs, from college professor to studio owner to creative director of I.D. magazine, and in this book he manages to synthesize the work of a host of disciplines in order to create a kind of manifesto about the way the world might work in the future.

Massive Change discusses everything from transportation to housing to sustainable business to the possibilities of the Internet. Experts from dozens of fields weigh in on the way our lives can be improved, whether from building high speed cross-country Maglev train lines, manipulating global economic policies, or simply planting more bamboo. It's an exhilarating read, if only because it presents an almost infinite scope of what the future of Planet Earth might be - and it's surprisingly optimistic. If nothing else, check out Massive Change for its gorgeous design; somehow it manages to present huge ideas in a very readable way. Look at Bruce Mau's website here.

Text Molly O'Brien

En Pointe

Not gonna lie - I'm horrible at dancing. Amid a frenzy of gyrating dancers, my best move lies somewhere between the Robot and the Running Man. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate great dancing. A minor obsession with ballet was stoked this summer when I saw the NYC Ballet perform a series of Balanchine and Wheeldon pieces in Saratoga Springs, including an insanely graceful one called "After The Rain" featuring principal dancer Wendy Whelan.

And balletophiles like myself will rejoice after watching the trailer for Black Swan, a ballet-themed psychological thriller starring Natalie Portman as a talented NYC dancer with a seriously derailing mental state. Directed by Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler), the film looks like the perfect combination of beautiful and creepy. Black Swan premieres in December, and I'll be dutifully practicing my arabesques until then.

Text Molly O'Brien

Far-Fetched Fall 2010

As summer comes to an end and work or school start to kick in, life defiantly gets more stressful. The weather starts to turn and we all slowly become lethargic. However, creating a great outfit can make your day that much better. As a fashionista, it’s completely normal to start brainstorming what to wear as the weather gets cooler each day. Here are some style tips for fall 2010:

Shoes: As you start shopping around for striking new shoes, you should look into buying clogs. Clogs are great because your toes aren’t out in the open and they have an extremely comfortable heel. ALDO, has great, affordable clogs that are chic for fall 2010.

Pants: Wide leg pants are becoming extremely popular.  AQUA, which is sold exclusively at Bloomingdales, has adorable silk cargo pants. You can wear these for a more casual look as well as pair them with above said clogs to dress up a little more. These are great because they add length to your legs and come in two different colors. There are also plenty of other brands such as Michael Kors, J Brand and 7 For All Mankind that sell trendy cargo pants in diverse materials.

Tops: The cargo pants go great with a light tank and a blazer as well as a floral shirt.

Don’t let the weather make or break your day, confidently strut your stuff into work/school and make a statement for Fall 2010!

Cara Jacobs

Lanvin for H&M?

Swedish clothing brand H&M (Hennes and Mauritz) are notorious for collaborating with high end designers without the high end price. In the past H&M has successfully worked with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, and most recently Jimmy Choo. Every time H&M releases designs from a fashion great, I notice huge line ups and the entire collection selling out within the first hour (cat fights may or may not be included). Yesterday on their website, they have released a video teaser on a NEW collaborator. Rumor has it that Lanvin’s creative director Alber Elbaz is going to work extensively with the stylish store. Lanvin is the oldest fashion house and was founded by Jeanne Lanvin in 1909. In Elbaz's talented hands, his designs, in my opinion, will suit the store very well. He has the talent of knowing what women want: simple yet feminine clothing. Although, there's some doubt as Elbaz admits, “I have a problem to do a collection that is a secondary line. I mean, you don’t want to be the stepsister. You want to be Cinderella. Show me one girl who wants to be the stepsister.” Of course, he wants to be the shining star and have his collection to stand out rather than be put in the back of the racks. If you have seen his Winter 2010 collection (with sexy skirt suits and black ruffled, layered dresses), you’d know he has nothing to worry about - any business women with an edge would be happy to purchase his line. However, when will we know for certainty if this collaboration is going to happen? Wait and see for the reveal

Text Jessica Moy

Camel Comfort

A few posts ago, I put the camel craze on the back burner to discuss my recent disillusionment with Lady Gaga. To be perfectly frank, I had no intention of picking the topic back up at a later date, but I quickly realized that this current obsession could not, no, would not be dismissed. I don’t think I could have continued, with any real conviction, to call myself a fashion blogger if I did not at least touch on what could arguably be considered fall’s biggest trend. With that said, how yummy does Chanel Iman look here? Although she was probably sweating profusely, I don’t think I have ever seen anyone look that cozy without wearing a snuggy. Not only does this image [taken at Michael Kors’ Fall 2010 RTW runway show] exhibit the color’s unbelievable richness but it also demonstrates the many different ways the look can be achieved, i.e. you could don a camel hued hat, scarf, boots, or all three if you like to live life on the edge. Needless to say, despite my initial indifference to this emphatic proliferation, it should be clear that at least one camel colored piece should be included in your fall wardrobe this season.

Text Jessica Best