Eyes To The Sky, Ears To The Streets: The Hotness & The Hot Mess 2009

2009 proved to be a wild ride for most. With the economy in a state of craze, the “Recessionista”  was born and fashion savvy ladies were challenged to get creative and spend wise, perhaps looking towards one of the million high-low collaborations that launched this year or going green with vintage. We welcomed new style icons from lady-like First Lady Obama to the polar opposite goo-goo get-ups of Lady GaGa. Ed Hardy continued to bring shame to the House of Swarovski (crystals) while our favorite no-pants-wearing New Yorker Kerin Rose dazzled us with bling-blam-BONG! eye wear and her line, A-morir, bedazzling done proper. Green became the new grey in the world of nails diding and Minx made the Midas touch a reality. Gals all over the globe went TKO for OTK boots and the motorcycle jacket secured it’s place as a fashion staple. Why Linsay Lohan was appointed Artistic Advisor of anything, namely Ungaro, is beyond me. And let’s PLEASE leave “Jeggings” in 2009.

What will you take forth in 2010 and what will you leave behind?

The motorcyle jacket has become a true fashion staple in recent years. Sure some have been hip to this since Marlon Brando wore the Schott Perfecto in the movie The Wild Ones and of course true school Rock ‘n Rollers and Punk Rockers alike are no strangers to this garment. In the “trickle up” theory of fashion inspiration, you can say that designers took the motorcycle jacket from bikers and rockers…a place of function and a more street fashion and borrowed the look to incorporate into high fashion and high price tags. So ladies, if you have one, hang on to it…if you have been thinking about it, go forth and make the purchase. This is a garment that has become a go-to piece and is a fashion investment. The runway shows for Resort 2010 are offering different variations and versions. From leather classics to different colors and patterns, non-leather and shoulder details. A leather version gets better with time and wear.  So make a wise choice in your purchase and know you’ve have a timeless classic. No motorcycle necessary.

Models Lara Stone and Baptiste Giacobini channeled Marlon Brando circa The Wild One.

In 2007, Chanel released a custom bicycle, complete with quilted side satchels and earlier this year, Chanel created a custom Segway x2. It seems like Uncle Karl fancies wheels and this time he wants to roar, not glide.

Cuckoo for Coco: Chanel Channels "The Wild One"

Last Friday, Karl was spotted in Paris, in front of the Chanel boutique on Rue Royal, shooting the “Starting Point” press kit for Chanel’s pre-spring collection. Models Lara Stone and Baptiste Giacobini channeled Marlon Brando circa The Wild One. The motorcycle, customized in Toulouse, France, is a similar model that Brando rode in the film. Unlike the bicycle, word on the street is that the motorcycle won’t be for sale – sorry ladies, no “Easy Riding” for you.

Photo via Hint Mag

Oh Jeremy Scott how do I love thee! Just when you think, “Yo! He can’t get more off the wall!”, Jeremy Scott goes and Troll-a-fies a traditional Toile du Juoy pattern (Troille du Juoy?) and puts it on a leather jacket. Wow. And as expected this just isn’t any leather jacket. The art of collaborations these days is working with the “originals” and when it comes to motorcycle jackets that would be Schott. Schott is an American owned and operated company with 90 years of history in NYC. Most famous for their “Perfecto”, the first zippered leather motorcycle jacket, Jeremy Scott has taken that style and made it his own. From protecting WWII “fly boys”  to influencing that Bad Boy look rocked so well by the likes of Marlon Brando and James Dean, Schott jackets are an important part of American and fashion history. This pièce de résistance is part of Jeremy Scott’s “Let Them Eat Gas” Collection and can be yours this SS09. Available for the ladies and the gents. Can we say matchy matcherton?

See more styles (my fav is the polka dots!) and a little fashion history after the jump!

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