Where have they been travelling?

Rachel Roy: “I was in Ghana at the orphanage that Margherita Missoni introduced me to. She and her mom work on it, and now myself and my daughter my older one, we work on it. Kids run up to the cars as you’re arriving. Little girls, they wanted my lipgloss. It’s the same everywhere! In terms of what can make someone feel god about themselves, it’s universal.”

Thom Browne: “I just got back from back from Tokyo, and it’s amazing. Tthe best place to go is to the Okura Hotel and experience the lobby.”

Clothing essentials for the journey?

Rachel Roy: It depends because I have 2 distinct lives when traveling. I have with my girls, because then it has to be comfortable and quick: for example I’m taking my girls to Miami this weekend, so in my bag I will have men’s Levis 501s and indian thong sandals. And I won’t take them off. Then I have business, so that means I’m usually presenting a collection so I’m wearing something from the collection.

Thom Browne: A grey suit! Of course.

Were/are you a thrifter?

Rachel Roy: I grew up shopping in Salvation Army by necessity. I wasn’t that cool of a 12-year-old, I just couldn’t afford anything. And I didn’t like the options in Mervins. Also I was quite tall so things didn’t fit. I liked the hunt of it, and to this day there is not a garage sale – well you’re not gonna find them in NY, but if I’m away – that I can’t walk by without stopping. I can’t stop looking. One strong passion is making something beautiful out of something someone has discarded. That was pretty much my childhood. The other is proving that things really aren’t modern today unless you mix it.

Thom Browne: I used to be, but not as much now. [My involvement with Fashion for Action is] more for the organization [Housingworks]. It’s an amazing organization, they do such amazing work and give back. I think we’re all so lucky, it’s nice to be able to give back.

Shop Housingworks year round in NYC for thrift worth the hunt.

From a bird’s eye view of the contents of my bag, you’ll see color on top of pattern on top of sheer on top of lamé, and you’ll even see a fanny pack. There are big pieces, little pieces, warm pieces, swimming pieces and a $1 vest. Here lies before us an infinite algorithm of wild wear for an epic journey. Let me break it down for you.

Sack It To Me

This is a time when those rucksacks I was talking about will come in handy. That blue backpack holds everything you see here. For the festival itself, it’s best to be hands free, erego a tiny backpack or fanny pack are key. Also, string your beverage around your body in a traditional Spanish wine gourd for good luck.

CROP IT TOP

Starting on top, I’ve brought a series of bandeaus. The three on the right are swimsuits. The thin striped American Apparel, and the sequined Pat Field ones are not for bathing, though no guarantees. They’re better than a traditional bra because if you take off your top, you’re still wearing enough of a shirt. The shirts are cropped, wide and loose. They flow and are light as air.

High Waist, Zero Waste

With cropped tops and bandeaus, the best partner is a loose high waist. A flowing floral skirt (with pockets!), a short floral flounce, or a long patterned short are resilient to dirt because it becomes one with the pattern. Or go stretch short denim for the daisy inside ya.

Safety Shorts

When you’re carefree frolicking about, cartwheeling in said floral skirts, you’ll only give happy surprises when your bum is not bare, but covered in shine. American Apparel does great things for happy bikers, and Missoni makes a killer covering bikini bottom.

Dress it Up

Though cutout and crazy here, what you see beneath is a floor length paisley halter dress from Shopmamie that has taken me through some wild festival times. That leopard piece is a piece of holed chiffon that wears like a dress – a Salvation Army find. Then Urban Renewed that fabric on the right into a side paneled patterned piece.

In Case of Chill

If the night brings a chill, I’ll bring my brightest. Both relics from my Mom and Grandma.

Get Armed

But what if it’s not cold enough for a whole jacket? Of you think it might get chilly later and you just don’t feel like carrying a whole extra shirt? Well, my friends, you need sleeves. Made by Tilly and William, they fit snug around the tops of your shoulders and hug your arms like leggings. Made of mustard lace, sold at A. Turen, and psychedelic prints, they can be trippy and practical.

Pants of Two Fittings

Leggings with flair (not flare) and floor length gauchos from circa 2004 will suit me well if the night dips into chill.

Mud Friendly Shoes

Your shoes must be strong, and so must your feet. If TOMS are good for children in third world countries, they can certainly survive 4 days at Bonnaroo. The mismatching “Birkenstocks” are actually by a company named Gold Star which I bought in Rome last summer – they are resilient. The middle pair are by Off The Beaten Track, which I bought specifically for festival-going.

What else?

Makeup – make it bold colors on the eyes, sparkles on the nails, and violent lips.

Water bottle – bring your own for free, earth friendly thirst quenching.

Maya Water Facial Mist - this is an absolute must to revive and moisturize tired skin

Phone + Pop phone – Okay, I might not need the whole telephone while galavanting, but I’ll need my blackberry to

TWEET YOU EVERYTHING!

Follow me @JessicaLapidos as I traverse Bonnaroo…. this could get weird. I’m psyched.

Who wore it best?

Fine, I see your point. But I’m not a model, she is. How’s a lady to compete with that?

Dior Homme

Junya Watanabe

Rick Owens

The second my pants become too short on my legs, they wind up on the racks of a Salvation Army or Goodwill. But if the Fall 2010 menswear collections in Paris and Milan taught me anything, it’s that flood water pants are going to be huge this fall. Designers and labels like Dior Homme, Junya Watanabe and Rick Owens showed a variety of short, flood-water pants and slacks in their Fall 2010 collections.

But you’ve got to be careful with this one otherwise you’ll end up looking like you’re too poor for new pants! Rock the floody pants with a pair of nice patterned or solid socks and oxfords or boots. Lots of layers and accessories will make the floody pants look trendy and intentional instead of dorky and accidental.

Images Via: GQ

It seems that last night’s Video Music Awards were more of a nightmare than bedtime entertainment. If the Disney prepubescent boys didn’t make your ears bleed and the fact that Britney Spears took home three awards didn’t make you check into a psych-ward, then surely the evening’s worst dressed stars made you claw your eyes out. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the 2008 VMA’s take the cake for having some of the worst dressed stars on live television. 

Here is a brief recap…I think the photos do more justice than any description will:

Christina Aguilera- It looks like you are wearing a trashy, spider web inspired Halloween costume. “I am beautiful, no matter what they say”…keep telling yourself that sweetheart.

Ashley Tisdale- sparkly and glittery, oh yes…but it looks like you robbed some girl at her junior prom.

Lindsay Lohan- next time pick something that is figure flattering, doesn’t pucker and preserves your youth. I didn’t know that 22 was the new 58.

Lady Victoria Hervey- The Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory called. They want their butterflies back. All of them.

…And last but not least, Perez Hilton, leave the fashion commentary up to people who don’t steal from their local Salvation Army.

Thanks Jezebel!