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    MBFW: Carlos Miele F/W 2011

    All Photos: Winnie Jeng

    Carlos Miele’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection was a little less flashy than a lot of the other collections we’ve seen this week. The show itself was very relaxed, which allowed the focus to fall on what’s really important: the clothes.

    Miele was a nice break from the focus on fur and leather that we’ve been seeing so much of this season; though Miele didn’t avoid using either of these elements either, the focus was on soft and flowing fabrics. Despite the simplicity, the collection managed to be individualistic, and uses textures and color to achieve that end. Highlights: braided fabric details and loose headwraps, bright colors and interesting fabrics.

    MBFW: Joy Cioci F/W 2011

    All Photos: Winnie Jeng

    If the past couple seasons in New York have been any indication, presentations are here to stay. They allow press and buyers to get an up-close look at the showpieces without needing to schedule out hundreds of individual showings. For Joy Cioci, this format worked incredibly well, as it allowed a great glimpse of all of the detail-work that Cioci puts into her clothes.

    Silk, fur, and floral patterns are very prevalent, and combined with the muted color scheme, it makes the entire collection feel a bit ethereal. I think that Cioci may have been aware of this in her choice of presentation. A single barren tree in the center of the room gave a sense of fantasy, and sent a reminder that the collection was meant for Winter. However, the pastels and delicate materials used in the collection were a reminder of spring that has to come; this gave the collection a sense of vibrancy and life that is often lost in the seas of browns, greys, and blacks.

    Here are some of our favorite pieces from the collection:

    MBFW: Farah Angsana Fall 2011

    All Photos: Winnie Jeng

    Farah Angsana’s Fall 2011 womenswear collection started off with a ‘bang’ compliments of Nancy Sinatra. Or, more specifically, DJ Lina, who was mixing live for the show, began mixing with Nancy Sinatra’s ‘My Baby Shot Me Down’ (familiar to anyone who has seen Kill Bill), which built suspense in the room until the moment the final ‘down’ reverberated throughout. Then, came the first look, a beatiful silver fox coat with silk embellished appliqué lace tulle corset.

    Look after look came out to pounding electronic music until a final look came onto the runway and elicited a massive murmur from the audience—the only sound throughout the entire show that could be heard above the thumping bass. The dress: a white silk crystal encrusted gown with feather and organza ruffles and a silver fox stole; a look that completely ‘stole’ the show.

    All of the elements that made that gown so breathtaking were common motifs throughout the show: crystal embellishments, intricate embroidery, and fur. All of these elements could easily come across as overwrought and tacky, but instead they look refined and timeless.

    Here are some of my favorite looks from the evening:


    MBFW: Perry Ellis F/W 2011

    All Photos: Winnie Jeng

    The theme of the day at Perry Ellis was simple and classic. Pea coats, blazers, turtlenecks and sweaters in wool, leather, shearling and other animal-products were the most eye-catching and prevalent items in the collection. Almost every item in the collection was in muted earth-tones, which created a subdued, timeless look that would look great in an office or business setting.

    The show itself was a very traditional runway event that featured male models with coifed hair that was very modern, but definitely could have fit on the set of most classy ‘Grease’ production ever. When the show concluded, all of the models came back out on stage at once in matching Perry Ellis shirts and white pants.

    Some of my favorite looks of the show were:

    Check out the rest of the gallery below:

    Food Blog: Attention to Eating

    Into food blogs? Or food? Are you a foodie? You’ll probably want to check out Attention to Eating, a food site that covers random food thoughts, recipes, delicious food porn photos, and pretty much everything else related to dining and cooking.

    Coming Up: Heart Graffiti Jewelry Trunk Show

    Image from Heart Graffiti's website

    Sunday January 30th from 12 to 5 PM, Michigan based Jewelery company Heart Graffiti will be hosting a trunk show at Ann Arbor’s Renaissance boutique (located at 201 S. Division). If you’ve never seen Heart Graffiti’s jewelry before, you should really check out their website at http://www.heartgraffiti.com/to see their work. My favorite are the silver floral pieces. You can also see our photo shoot with Fovea Apparel to see more of their work.

    From the Press Release:

    Heart Graffiti will be featured in a Jewelry and Fashion Trunk Show on January 30th from 12 to 5 pm at Renaissance, an Ann Arbor boutique that has carried the world’s finest ladies and gentleman’s clothing for more than 37 years. Sip mimosas while trying on gorgeous, sculptural pieces from the Heart Graffiti collections including the Chrysanthemum ring (pictured) and the Gallery bracelet (pictured), as well as the latest in European fashions.  Visit www.heartgraffiti.com for more details.

    The Vintage Twin opens near UM campus

    The Vintage Twin, Ann Arbor’s latest vintage shop, opens its doors tomorrow (1/7) on East University. To celebrate, they hosted a grand opening party where people could drop in and see their merchandise before the shop officially opens its doors.

    The Vintage Twin (TVT), founded by Samantha Elias, made their start several years ago, selling their custom vintage pieces and styling services over the internet and via trunk shows, and now they’ve opened a new Ann Arbor store, selling vintage clothing and accessories, as well as remodeled clothing and original designs. For the remodeled clothing, they take existing pieces of vintage clothing and add their own creative flourishes. For their one of a kind pieces, they take vintage clothing and completely make it into brand new pieces. Vintage Twins sells both women’s and men’s clothing, and prices are typically under $45. Located at 617 East University, this is a great student spot.

    Check out some photos below:

    Green Hornet’s car at the North American Auto Show

    The annual North American Auto Show opens to the public on January 15th, and this year, the car from the new Green Hornet movie (starring Jay Chou and Seth Rogan) will be on display. Who doesn’t want a ’66 Impala outfitted with machine guns.

    [via Detroit Free Press]

    Stereo equipment straight out of the 80′s

    Onkyo just announced their latest line of high-end audio equipment which features a pre-amp, an amp and a CD player. Aside from the sound quality, which I’m sure is absolutely fantastic, the new line from Onkyo features a super-classic 80′s look. I kind of want one of these just so I can pretend I picked it up for $20 at a flea market. For more info check out the press release here.

    P-3000R Preamplifier
    The P-3000R pre-amp accepts both analog and digital sources, with connectivity options including AES/EBU digital connectors and a USB input for PC audio. A high-quality 32-bit Burr-Brown DAC is provided for each stereo channel, to optimize audio performance. Meanwhile, PLL (phase locked loop) technology minimizes the effect of clock jitter, and bi-amping capability provides greater flexibility for audiophile applications.

    M-5000R Power Amplifier
    Onkyo’s new M-5000R offers the best of the traditional and modern, with large front-panel analog power meters reminiscent of Onkyo’s classic M-405 from the 1980s combined with state-of-the-art distortion reduction technologies and exceptional high current capabilities.

    The company’s advanced AWRAT amplification design is at the heart of the M-5000R power amplifier. AWRAT comprises DIDRC technology along with a low NFB design, closed ground-loop circuits, and high instantaneous-current capability. While the 8-ohm FTC rating is a conservative 80 watts, the amplifier’s remarkable current capabilities allow it to drive even the most demanding complex-impedance loudspeakers to high levels, with a dynamic power rating of over 450 watts into 1 ohm. To minimize errors in stereophonic playback, the M-5000R uses a perfectly symmetrical alignment of power devices for the left and right channels.

    Power efficiency on the M-5000R is optimized by three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry and a new Quad Push-Pull amplification design that incorporates two extra transistors for each channel. Meanwhile, twin toroidal transformers and four 27,000 µF capacitors work to stabilize the power supply and current, respectively. A high-grade XLR input opens up the possibility of doubling power output via a BTL (bridged transless) set-up.

    C-7000R CD Player
    To ensure minimal signal interference, the C-7000R CD player employs a thermally regulated, high-precision clock with a state-of-the-art crystal oscillator. To further reduce potential interference, the player can be operated in analog-only or digital-only mode. Furthermore, analog and digital circuitry are physically separated and employ independent transformers: a massive toroidal transformer for analog, and an EI transformer for digital. The audiophile build-quality of the C-7000R is epitomized by a silent disc mechanism, a solid die-cast aluminum tray, and AES/EBU digital outputs.

    Prices range from $1500-$2500

    Sunday Sips: Hot Chocolate

    Photo by Winnie Jeng

    Hot chocolate is an old drink, very old; we’re talking about a beverage that people have been drinking for over two millenium. The first hot chocolate was likely first consumed by the Mayans about 2,000 years ago, which coincides with the cultivation of the cocoa plant. From there, it spread throughout Central and South America, where the Aztecs adopted it and began drinking their own version of this tasty treat.

    At this point, it was made from a mixture of vanilla, achiote, and chili peppers, passed back and forth between two cups until it developed a thick frothy texture. Because sugar wasn’t introduced to the Americas until much later, the hot chocolate of the time was very bitter,  but in spite of that, it was an extremely common drink that people across all walks of life drank as a staple.

    Later on, it was imported to Europe, where it was originally so expensive that the Spanish royal family actually used cocoa for wedding dowries. Eventually, people got the idea that it was much more palatable when sweetened and added to milk, and the modern hot cocoa was born.

    Modern hot chocolate (in America) usually consists of a cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla which is added to milk and heated. If you’re using the usual commercial hot chocolate powder packet, using milk instead of water will give the hot chocolate a much richer flavor.

    It’s also possible (and very easy) to make your own mix! I prefer this route because it allows me to control the quality of the ingredients (especially cocoa powder) I add. I also like adding a little bit of cayenne pepper and some cinnamon to the mix, but you can really do whatever you like (hell, add in a bit of instant coffee or some cardamom for some different flavors). This recipe includes powdered milk so that you can use hot water.

    If you’re looking for ways to make your hot chocolate a little bit different, try adding different spices, or just add a shot of liqueur. There are very few things you can add to hot chocolate to screw it up, so get out there and try everything.

    Instant Hot Chocolate Mix

    • 1 cup cocoa (higher quality cocoa will make for better hot chocolate so don’t be afraid to spend a little)
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • 3 cups powdered milk
    • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
    • 1 pinch of salt
    • 1 pinch of cinnamon
    • 1 pinch of cayenne

    Pour all of the ingredients into an airtight container or large ziploc bag. Shake to mix. When you’re ready to make a cup of hot chocolate, fill a mug 1/3 to 1/2 way with the powdered mix. Heat enough water to fill the mug to almost boiling and and pour over the mix. Gently stir the mixture together, and serve. Top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate (optional).