The Trend Cup

The Great Race ...

2009-12-29T12:27:00.003-05:00

Honda FC Sport

At 6:40 A.M. I had a conversation with my mother about cars. As random as it may seem, I was explaining my admiration for the updated Chevy Malibu and Ford Taurus vehicles. "I don't really notice cars. They only time is if I'm buying one, or it just really stands out to me," was my mother's response.

Well as it turns, car designers are rapidly turning up the heat on vehicle shells for both the present and future. Above and below this post, are just a few examples that would surely make my mother's head and many others turn. Check em out!

Chevy Camaro

Bugatti Grand Sport

To read the actual article which was featured on GQ.com click here:
http://www.gq.com/cars-gear/cars/200911/new-cool-cars-bentley-camaro-bugatti#slide=1

"Fancy Heights" meet "Broken Hip"

2009-12-28T14:28:00.000-05:00

It's something more than an age old belief. It is more like an age old tradition that has withstood the test of time. Fashion as the great sacrifice that is. Some women (and men as well) have put the fit of a gorgeous shoe before food and shelter. Only eons ago did women break ribs to fit society and the corsets created by them.

However, fast forward to modern day 2009, and apparently that sacrifice is still just as strong as ever. Recently an article came out exposing a model revolt against Alexander McQueen's "Armadillo/Alien" shoe pictured to the right.

One model in particular Abbey Lee Kershaw, especially steered clear of this runway show. This coming after a fall at Rodarte, and fainting at another runway show.

Now, I myself am an avid lover of fashion and will become a designer in my own right one day. Buuuuuut, where is the line drawn when it comes to the safety of your living mannequins? Is it too much to step back and say maybe this WON'T work? They say fashion is revolutionary and not evolutionary, so only time will tell how much more extreme we progress. Better yet, only time will tell what the bodily cost will be.

To see a video of the McQueen shoe in action scroll down:

... and to see the repercussions:

From the depths .... something unexpected

2009-12-08T18:00:00.001-05:00

-December 8th, 2009-

-Chris Brown-

-Graffiti-

Today marks the debut release of Chris Brown's "Graffiti" album, which comes as a follow-up to 2007's "Exclusive".

Today also serves as a jury as to how strong CB Mania really is in the Rihanna/Chris Brown aftermath.

Many Chris Brown fans could not believe the news, when it was reported that he had beaten girlfriend and pop/r&b singer Rihanna.
Now, almost nine months later both have released albums.

In the case of Chris Brown, the jury is out and I don't believe that he has lost his touch. Graffiti has been flying off of store shelves, and he has ensured that fans would not be disappointed. Songs like "I Love U", "Pass Out", and "Lucky" are just a few of my favorites to say the least. Chris Brown may have been cast out briefly, but he never left the game, and is definitely back, bigger, and better!

Check out the #graffiti trending topic on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23graffiti

They give HOPE to the rest of us out there ...........

2009-11-20T02:48:00.008-05:00

Sooooo basically my friend Alex [thaaside.blogspot.com], showed me this vid a few days ago. Just the same, I do not know these people. However, everything in this video is just what I think the world needs more of. Hell, I want to know where I can find some of what they have! Anywho, I was left speechless and happy by the end.

Check it out and smile:

Marissa, will you marry me? from justin on Vimeo.

SHE SAID YES!!!

Read all about the proposal:

http://bit.ly/ZCYXi

Walk this - %$@! - I'm Okay !!

2009-11-17T17:50:00.006-05:00

Mishaps on the catwalk, shameful but funny all at the same time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1kwN0jDwNo

Know Your Limits !

2009-11-17T17:39:00.009-05:00

This advertisement pretty much speaks for itself in the end ....

Have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8vCUSD6nuc

Life Imitates Art // Art Imitates Dreams, pt. 2

2009-11-12T00:31:00.009-05:00

As stated in the last post, I will be featuring a few artistic pieces from various backgrounds. Of the pieces to be shown, only one belongs to me. The rest are creations and productions from the minds of other creative individuals and will be attributed as such. Have a look:

Other forms of art ....

Kaufmann House, Frank Lloyd Wright

"Daredevil", Marvel Comics

Light Art, Jennifer Steinkamp

Life Imitates Art // Art Imitates Dream, pt. 1

2009-11-11T13:09:00.003-05:00

If I have not yet made it clear in my previous blog posts, I am an Apparel Design and Merchandising student in college. I have a slight obsession with fashion, and a strong passion for a career in the industry.

The truth of it all however is that, before I was a designer, I was an artist. I am still an artist. I got my start young, and only accidentally fell into fashion via some random art class project that for me, morphed into something more.

Despite designing tasteless garments, my family encouraged me to continue. From there I grew better and became more skilled.

Now as a young adult I am combining both as a future career path. My point in giving this little background of sorts is that ART is what has gotten me to where I am now. This blog is called The Trend Cup, and while it is more fashion oriented I can never forget my artistic roots.

What I have decided to do, is in my next blog post feature various forms of art (photography, sculpture, installation, etc.) from a variety of artists. Simply, I want to show others what has been for me, a lifetime of inspiration and a light in my life :)

The Twilight Hour ...

2009-11-01T02:05:00.015-05:00

Bram Stoker ... Dracula (1897 novel)
Anne Rice ... Interview with the Vampire (1994 adaption)
The Queen of the Damned (2002 adaption)
Stephanie Meyer ... Twilight (2008 adaption)
True Blood ... (2008 TV Series)

Above are the titles of a few well known vampire tales both new and old, novel and theatrical production. As Halloween drifts away until next year, I thought I would take a moment to look at the ever growing popularity of the "bloodsucking fiend," and what happens when people step out of the screen and into reality.

I can honestly say that until a friend of mine spoke of Stephanie Meyer's, Twilight book series I had no idea of the growing sensation that was brewing in between the pages and in the hands of millions of readers. The novel which delved into the world of vampire Edward Cullen, grew even bigger in mass media with the debut of the 2008 movie adaption of the book. From there television series such as True Blood and movies like The Vampire's Assistant have followed.

My point if not a lengthy one is this ... what happens when the characters are not fictional? What happens when they are people in real life who claim to be a part of this phenomenon? I stumbled upon this Youtube clip of a documentary filmed back in 2007.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=539xWgHhatM&feature=player_embedded

Creepy isn't it ....

Look Mom!! No Hands!!

2009-10-30T20:10:00.009-04:00

Today's blog revolves around one of my newer best friends ........ the Apple iPhone 3G. More importantly what makes the iPhone a true companion are the applications that can be downloaded to fit your lifestyle. One of which I would briefly like to talk about is the AppBox Pro created by AllaboutApps. Basically the AppBox Pro has every random thing you could need as a utility feature for your iPhone.

Here is what this neat app looks like:

This little app features such utilities as the sales calculator, iPhone battery life, loan calculator, translator, flashlight, period calendar and more. All in all I highly recommend this app for any iPhone and/or iTouch aficionados like myself who use it pretty often !!

Recycle Restore Reuse

2009-10-26T00:00:00.015-04:00

A few weeks ago here at CMU, I attended a career day for my Apparel Design and Merchandising program. This is an annual event that is always followed by a list of seminars the day after. I, of course attended one which may I say was amazing.

In this seminar one of the things discussed was how apparel today needs to have some staying power. Essentially the fact is [YES] we are in an economic slump and the average consumer NEEDS the outfit that they are buying to stretch for a few occasions.

This means taking that full length dress and turning it into a mini, or pairing a nice crisp button down with say jeans and a pair of Chuck Taylor's or Steve Madden loafers. Ultimately the choice is yours, however it never hurts to take the "then" and turn it into the "now ".

The Trend of Trending

2009-10-02T03:13:00.019-04:00

After much encouraging (and forcefulness) I am finally posting my first blog post for The Trend Cup. Despite being the creator I can honestly say I have no idea what I'm doing but I think I'll find a groove soon enough. I can say that The Trend Cup is more than just clothes and accessories. It is a mixed pot of life, lifestyle, and of course the CLOTHES :)

The moral of my whole rambling banter - - - sit back and enjoy what is to come in the future!

Speaking of trends I recently stumbled upon a forgotten trend thanks to a friend.

The quality music video.

A guy I know recently posted his list of top three favorite music videos on Facebook. One of which just happened to be Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai. After smiling at the memory of seeing this video some years back I started thinking about other music videos from the past and present. Some that came to mind were "Scream" featuring Michael Jackson and Janet, "Only" by Nine Inch Nails. Then I took a nice walk back to the summer of '99 with the TRL Video Countdown.

I remember the excitement and anticipation I used to feel waiting for TRL to come on at 3 p.m. I believe it was. That was back when MTV was more music than talk and it actually embraced the 90's kid much like myself. Now MTV is dull, the music video is mostly puff if not almost dying and I wonder .... what ever happened to the 3-5 minute movies of the past and will they ever return ?

**I originally had the video embedded on my blog. However, youtube took it down so follow the link and check it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQb2WXSqyl4&feature=related