The Skitch: Mary Katrantzou S/S 2012

These late night sketch parties I'm having with myself are really paying off (must be those nerves of mine keeping me up!) and with my lastest picks for skitches, I'm coming to a conclusion: I'm turning over to the print side little by little. Or at least I'm venturing a bit with something other than blocked colors in heavy tones. I may not be as bold as to wear something as "printastic" as Mary Katrantzou (also because it's out of my reach), but her pieces sure make a hell of a statement when it comes to fashion vis à vis art. She trumps all other print master in my book (sorry, Pucci!). Graphic synergy at its highest expression.

With this one I tried to use many different brushes so I had fun playing around. Much more expressionist than my other illustrations, but I definitely thought it was proper... at least to catch the essence of the prints. Here's my favorite outfit from her s/s 2012 runway show. The flowiness of the pleated skirt is just divine for summertime!

Would you guys be bold as to wear a Mary Katrantzou-like print? Let me know in the comments below! 

pic via style.com

reserved rights D. Velazquez 2012

The Skitch: Anna Sui s/s 2012

Hey! To finish up the Anna Sui fashion skitch, here's the illustration. I went a little more, well... sketchy than I usually do with this one. I wanted to create something maybe a bit more playful so not staying within the lines and splatters of random color were in order (at least I think) to match up with the quirkiness of the cat eyeglasses, the vivid print and color and the whole vibe of the collection in general. And of course, I also wanted to focus on the turbans, being as the Skitch-I-Y for Anna were turbans. 

I was going to post this illustration yesterday, but just as I was about to save my work after two hours sketching and working on an EPK for a short film I'm collaborating on, Photoshop decided to crash on me and I still haven't upgraded to  CS5 (no auto-save backup!) so indeed my work was lost. Not a problem. Start from scratch? Well, I do have a million and one things to do but I can squeeze in another sketch! *Chuckles* No, really. I did create this blog to keep me drawing and post my illustrations so after a long hair pulling and tear jerking scene on my part, I decided that it's OK. After all, if I didn't save it every once in a while it's because I still haven't learned my lesson to back everything up after a session of work. *tsk, tsk, tsk!* Lesson learned, mental note noted!

Anyways, this look was modeled by the ever charming Karlie Kloss. It's amazing how much she's grown after all these years. And to think that amazon of a woman is only 18! Did you guys see how stunning she looked at this years MetGala in Jason Wu? GORGEOUS. 

Karlie pic via Style.com
reserved rights D. Velázquez 2012

Here's the Skitch: Anna Sui s/s 2012

For those who have known me for years, it's no surprise that every once in a while I like to toss aside my usual fashion taste for a bit and like to unlatch my belts and trade them for loose fitting pieces, dip dye my monotone wardrobe into somewhat summery prints and trade my favorite black pants for flowy skirts. It's a very rare sight, but not impossible to imagine. After all, I live in a tropical island where the temperatures get kind of ridiculous sometimes and although I am one for sticking to my personal style no matter the inclement conditions, I can't help but switch that up every once in a while. Enter one of my all time favorite boho-chic designers: Anna Sui.

For s/s RTW 2012, she gifted us with an inspiring flashback via Puerto Rican fashion illustrator Antonio López (proud to say he's from Utuado, Puerto Rico, same place my grandmother is from!) to the early 70's. What I adore about her designs is that no matter how much her prints and styling blast you to the past, her cutting and construction is relevant to any moment in time and any woman can wear them flatteringly. Crépe de chine and chiffon flowed freely. They're effortless pieces yet modern while maintaining a vintage quirk some designers try to achieve but fail to do so as swimmingly as Sui does. Her pieces can be easily styled and it's a look that can carry on for years and years. I mean, you can get an Anna Sui piece from five years ago ans it'll still be as relevant as the next season.

As you all may have read before on my Pucci Skitch post, I'm not huge on prints but there's something about Anna's prints that always warm my heart. Whether it be little hearts or bold paisleys, her prints are some of my few faves. Also, her accessorizing is sweet. Turbans for summer? YES! What more summery, chic and fabulous than that? Sandals with socks? Well, maybe I'll skip on that but it's definitely a style that a lot of girls can carry if done correctly. It's all brightly spirited. I know that whenever the summer bug hits me, I'll always reach out to Sui for inspiration!

Photos via

Style.com, Models.com,
http://wewastetime.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/antonio-lopez/

Here's the Skitch: Emilio Pucci s/s 2012

Emilio Pucci by desiree-velazquez-rodriguez featuring paisley scarves

OK. Now I just feel guilty. You guys can grill me all you want. I deserve it for posting this so late. I've been quite busy but that doesn't mean I've forgotten the blog. Oh no! It's become like a child of mine. I think it would be quite hard to forget it now. I've got so many ideas for this that now it's hard to ignore. Also, I've got set the Skitch-I-Y I want for this Emilio Pucci version of the Skitch process, but I haven't had any time or extra money to get the remaining materials so as soon as I can, I'll do it and post it. Anyways, done with my excuses... on to the review!

So, Emilio Pucci. The name's iconic reference is obvious: bright, kaleidoscopic 60's influenced prints. Prints so vibrant they might even get you dizzy in a fashion haze. For this s/s 2012 season, Peter Dundas decided to move the iconic Pucci detail into gypsy, free spirit girl vibe. But this look is definitely not stuck in the 60's. Dundas managed to make it look relevant and modern. To me, the girls who walked down the runway are the type of laid back spirit girls every woman wants to be once in a while. Like with Fendi, I'm not a huge Pucci fan (due to the prints in this case), but with collections like this I might have to change my opinion.

There was a lot of midriff showing going on, a lot of lace and sheer sexiness in the most appropriate places, but that doesn't mean it looks wrong. Au contraire, this is how sexy should be done. It wasn't overpowering and it was fitting for the inspiration. Little peasant tops, flowy skirts and vibrant prints added to all of this, but there were also quite a few tailored looks that to me, balanced the collection from becoming a gypsy festival. That was the modernizing element that could make any one of these looks appropriate for any occasion and for any type of woman.  What I did love about some of these more polished tailored looks was that those details had a sort of menswear edge to them, thus taking the sexiness this collection already alluded to a whole other level. There weren't as many structured looks as we're accustomed to see from a Dundas show, but it was just enough for this collection. I'd say it's still a win/win situation.

In terms of accessories and styling, well I was more than pleased. I absolutely love the cross necklaces and how the models wore them. They reminded me of some cross necklaces I used to have when I was a teenager in all my rebel[ish] angst. That goth/religious feel that's directly connected to the gypsy lifestyle is there. I don't know if that's why they appeal to me or because simply they can make any look seem instantly bad-ass. Probably more the latter. The makeup was perfect. The dark eyes made the girls seem mysterious. Also, it was like that "all-day" makeup at the end of a long day. Same with the hair: free, laid back and fun. I guess this collection really called out to me for various reasons, some already stated above. Another reason why I was so excited for this collection? It reminded me the way my mother used to dress in her teenage and early college years. At least with what I've seen in pictures. 

All that being said, here are some of my favorite looks from the collection. Check them out and comment below on your opinions about this s/s 2012 Pucci!

photos via Style.com