Street Style Sundays!

I promised that I would be peppering this blog with not only industry news but also personal fashion inspirations and such.... So I am starting a new post series called "Street style Sundays". I may live in the middle of Iowa 9 months out of the year but that will not stop me from hunting for the chicest looks out there! Here are a few shots I took this afternoon, enjoy!

Location: Downtown Iowa City

Kanye in Paris?

We are half way done with fashion Month and my favorite fashion week location is almost here! PARIS FASHION WEEK is where shit goes down!

I would give my first born child to have tickets to the shows this year. (I'M A FRENCH GIRL TRAPPED IN AN AMERICAN GIRL'S BODY!) There is a lot to look forward to with the first Dior RTW collection with out the infamous Galliano. Marc Jacobs is rumored to be Galliano's replacement which will be a huge step in Marc Jacobs' career. His work at Louis Vuittion has been breathtaking and he has really grown as a designer through out the years, churning out more sophisticated lady-like collections every season.

Another BIG, BIG, rumor of the season is the famed musician turned fashionisto-- Kanye West is to be showing during Paris Fashion Week! Kanye has been trying to inch his way into the fashion industry for years. His first works being a collaboration with Louis Vuitton with a collection of sneakers. A lot of people have mixed feelings about Kanye entering the fashion business, He has no training what so ever, and he probably couldn't even drape his way out of a paper bag. However, Kanye has taken great steps in trying to learn about the business. He has been meeting with Louise Wilson from the prestigious London fashion school, Central Saint Martins.

Kanye has picked a great team of people to help him with his first Women's RTW collection,

the list of heavy hitters:

Riccardo Tisci from Giveinchy

Australian Harper's Bazaar's Christine Centenera

Louise Wilson from Central Saint Martins

It is rumored that, The Samurai, sporty garments, luxury garments and embellishments will play an important role in shaping the overall look.

I have no doubt that the collection will be the talk of the town, whether Kanye WOWs on the runway or flops is up to him...and his ego.

RUNWAY SHOWS TO WATCH FOR #PFW:

KANYE WEST

DIOR

LOUIS VUITTON

ISABEL MARANT

GIVENCHY

BALMAIN

LAVIN

MIU MIU

J' ADR

Anna Dello Russo is one of my favorite fashion icons. She is the Editor at Large at Vogue Japan. Anna has a fearless and fun perspective of fashion and is not afraid to take a risk. With over 4,000 pairs of shoes and a separate apartment just for her clothes, she is definition of a fashion addict. Check out her personal blog here.

Anna's current project includes her collabroation  for Macy's INC clothing line.

Online Citizens and Fashion

I recently read a fascinating article called Being a citizen online: New opportunities and  dead ends. The article focused on a study that was done in 2002 which tried to find out the correlation between political activisim and internet use in the United States. The article argued that the internet has not enhanced in the engagement of politics, stating that it is a resource where people selectively seek out what information they want to learn about.

I disagreed with the researcher's conclusion about the uses of the internet. I think that the internet is a great tool for political issues and making citizens more aware of what is going on around the world. One of the most powerful features online are social networking sites. Websites such as Facebook, Google+, and Twitter have changed political strategies forever. During the presidential election in 2008 Obama's team relied heavily on social networking sites to spread his ideals and connect to the younger generation. Many people could ask him a question on Twitter and have it answered in a YouTube video, or donate money through Obama's website. I would go as far to make a bold statement saying that if it weren't for Obama's tech savvy strategies he wouldn't be in office today!

The internet also is a place where like minded people can create a community. In the fashion world bloggers have made fashion more accessible and have spiced up the industry. Many blogs focus on reporting fashion news and sharing opinions on various issues. There are also street style blogs where bloggers can share photos of fashionable people. Because of the internet a 15 year old girl from the Chicago Suburbs can blog about her views on fashion and be invited to glamourous fashion shows around the world (StyleRookie).

Here are some amazing fashion blogs, where the bloggers have become big names in fashion and owe thier fame to social networking...

Tavi Gevinson - Style Rookie

A 15 year old sensation from the Chicago Suburbs who has taking the fashion world by storm with her well written blog pieces on runway trends and fashion musings. She is currently working with the former founder of Sassy Magazine on a fashion publication.

Bryan Boy - BryanBoy

Bryan is a blogger who is from the Philippines and who was one of the first major fashion bloggers. Bryan started blogging at 17 on his parent's computer. He has connections with all the fashion players such as Marc Jacobs and Anna Dello Russo.

Jane Aldridge - Sea of Shoes

Jane is a girl from Texas with over 90 pairs of shoes! She started her blog with her mother in 2007. It has been very successful and has allowed her to do designer collaborations with Urban Outfitters and Gryphon.

The Dark Orchid.

*Created using photos from AmericanVogue.com and Polyvore.com

The first week of fashion month is officially over and it seems like we have a lot to look forward to about for the upcoming spring. One of the shining stars of New York Fashion Week this year is Prabal Gurung. Gurung turned up the heat and sent bold colors and graphic patterns down the run way. 

Gurung refered to drawing inspiration from the famed Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki's 1997 "Sensual Flowers" photo series. Araki is known for his provocative photos of geishas being tied up in bondage and the mix of innocence with dark under tones. In this spring collection. Araki's Sensual Flowers series contained pictures of flowers of sexual suggestion and with intense colorful patterns. Gurung designed with a dark but powerful beauty in mind, much like the "Sensual Flowers". 

The most distinctive feature of the collection was the kaleidoscope patterns printed on the garments. The patterns projected and femininity but also a mysterious shield with the use of dark intoxicating purples. The subtle hints of sheer fabrics in the gowns was sexy yet tasteful, allowing a women to show off her assets while still being a lady. You can tell that Prabal really pushed his creativity with this collection and has only left  me feverishly hungry for more.

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Welcome to Chic Prayers

Hello and welcome to Chic Prayers, the fashion blog that tries to scratch beneath the surface. My name is Michelle and I'm a current college student who has had a love for fashion since she can remember. Although I am currently located in the Midwest I seek high fashion everywhere.

I wanted to create this blog in order to discuss the behind the scenes of the fashion industry as well as the multibillion business operation fashion really is. If you are interested in learning about upcoming designers and taking a look at how fashion fits in globally this is the perfect blog to visit!

I would also like to use this blog as a platform for discussion about interesting or controversial issues in the fashion world as well as current news.  I will occasionally sprinkle this blog with street style, interviews with professionals, and my fashion inspirations.

If you have any questions for me feel free to comment :)