A Word, Please

Fashion has a message, darlings. And sometimes it ain’t so subtle! At Viktor & Rolf (right), it was in three dimensions. At PPQ (left), it was cheekily art-y. From the sublime to the ridiculous, from block letters to barely visible script, words were the word on the runways for both Fall 2008 and Spring 2009!
Top left photo via nymag.com.All other runway pictures via style.com except where noted.
Right: Maison Martin Margiela's surreal printed projection
Left: Designer Henry Holland and model Agyness Deyn, pictured via trashionista.net
Different seasons, same idea: two Jean-Charles de Castelbajac tee dresses.

Pictures via Paris Vogue and nymag.com.
Chris Benz
Vivienne Westwood Red Label
Travel-themed writing at
Antoni & Alison, via nymag.com
Topshop Unique
Iceberg’s comic strip live
Emanuel Ungaro’s subtle script
Left: Vena Cava’s newsworthy frock
Right: an Obedient Sons and Daughters suit with cursive embroidery; photo via nytimes.com.
Roberto Piqueras’ punctuated prettiness.

This photo courtesy Fellow Fashionista My Own Yellow Cat .

Christian Francis Roth's "tag" tee, via nymag.com
Braccialini handbag. Visit braccialini.it
Bulgari tote, at bulgari.com
John Galliano loves his newsprint! Radical runway hair at left; tote at right, via style.it.
Marc by Marc Jacobs Big Tote, available at Harvey Nichols.
Juicy Couture Day Dreamer tote with fairy tale embroidery, available at Bergdorf Goodman
DSquared white nylon logo appliqué tote. For this and next, go to bluefly.com.
Christian Louboutin red calf Madison Tag boots. Graffiti goes glam!
Juicy Couture Sabrina Logo rubber boot, at shopbop.com.
Replay ballerina flat, pictured courtesy Vogue Italia
Sonia by Sonia Rykiel sweater dress, at net-a-porter.com
American Apparel city print baby rib top
Miss Sixty back seam neon logo tights, at asos.com.

Talk about making a fashion statement!

MONOGRAMMATIC

INITIALLY . . .

The writing is NOT on the wall; it’s on your dress!

In this increasingly homogenized world, it is sometimes a challenge to create a singular style. In previous years, monograms were the go-to for personalization. And of course, the name necklace was a nice way for a gal to keep from having to introduce herself [and yes, I have a cursive "Carrie" on a gold chain, just like SJP in SATC -- it is my name, after all!]. This season, designers went a step further, graffitiing their garments at the recent shows.

Take, for example, this Ashish n Soni dress, awash with random letters. Could they be spelling out a message? Photo at upper right courtesy nymag.com.

At Miu Miu, models wore their initials on their clothes (see Lara Stone at left, sporting an "LS" on the lapel of her SCUBA-inspired dress at the Fall 2008 show). Reminds me of summer camp, when mom used to sew a label inside all of our Benetton tees and Izod shorts, lest there be confusion in the bunk!

How creatively kitschy are these typewriter key rings, from ecoartware.com?

Or, keep it simple with a preppy monogrammed umbrella from Neiman Marcus (left).