Everyone's a Critic

The fall RTW shows of recent years have been my favorites, so naturally I've been psyched about the approach of fashion week. After a weekend of Valentine festivities, I finally committed this evening to catching up on the shows that I've missed thus far, and I have to be honest - I'm still waiting to fall in love (although in all fairness, we're still awaiting shows from all of the majors).

While the blogosphere is predictably buzzing about Alexander Wang, I can't say I was a fan...at all. Black leggings, black jackets, asymmetry - blah. Simplistic apparel for The Matrix. Not my style. While I love the rough, punked-out heels, bags and belts that are so prominent in fashion these days, I prefer to balance them with more feminine or hippie dresses, etc.



Almost everyone seems on board with this whole black, cutouts and sheer trend-and I admittedly like some of the pieces. I just can't get over my fear of what I KNOW the skankified knockoffs by Bebe and Marciano are sure to look like.
'I work the corner after 2am'-not a look I'm going for. Even scarier than the dresses themselves is that I KNOW how these unknowing consumers will wear them- with hooker heels instead of the demure or masculine alternative to take it down a notch. Unfortunate.
P.S. Cutout knee leggings at Ohne Titel, cutout leggings at Alexander Wang, cutout shoulders at Charlotte Ronson.

*Images @ Style.com*

Is it me or is Charlotte Ronson's line almost a complete departure from what I'd consider to be 'her own style'? It's like she lassoed all things trendy and put them together in her new line in it's attempt at edginess. Admittedly I like some of the studded boots...but would rather buy some from a brand where that image is authentic.
Click Here For Charlotte Ronson's Collection

I liked some of the pieces at Nicholas K-although I'd obviously be wearing them differently than they were styled on the runway- a little cleaner and more feminine.

*Images at WWD*

Lastly, I often love Diane von Furstenberg and when I saw the word "nomad" used in a review I got really, REALLY excited. Unfortunately, I didn't love most of the collection, save a couple of pieces, most notably the dress at left, and the enormous knit cocoon at right.

*Images at WWD*

To be continued as the week and shows press on...

Studded Jackets

Circa the discovery of Miu Miu's pre-fall collection, I'd questioned whether a jacket was studded and decided that whether or not it was, someone should be making some seriously studded jackets. Still no answers regarding the Miu Miu piece, however I did come across this studded coat by Burberry at Neiman's. While I'm in no way in love with it-specifically the shape, it does answer the question-"Is anyone doing this?". I still want one...just not one like this.

Angel Inspired

-David Lindbergh photo from TFS

I am a complete sucker for all things that reference angels, so much so that I've got a small, winged halo tattoo. The fascination started when I spent a couple of weeks in Italy one summer going from art museum to church and back again. Now, I see white feathers and I'm sold. Ever since a feature in Vogue a year or so ago, I've also had an image of my wedding dress involving white feathers (no desire for anything traditional here). Below are some of the designs I've saved to my inspiration folders over time:


*Elizabeth & James Feather Vest from Chickdowntown.com
*Your Slip Is Showing black & white ostrich feather slips
*Marciano headband
*Badgley gown
*Collette Dinnigan feather skirt
*Feather heel shoes- I think they were Zanotti?

What design references are you a sucker for?

Because We Cannot Discuss Fashion Without Acknowledging Lenny

No explanation needed.
I've decided my boyfriend's style is a muted version of Lenny's...a DRASTICALLY muted version, but reminiscent nonetheless. I told him but he didn't seem to have a mental image of what Lenny's style was like...perhaps luckily for me.




*Images from Absolutenow.com*

p.s. favorite part: the layering, and the necklaces-awesome.

Because A Girl Can Wish

This would be my 'practical' wish list, meaning they're things I'd get everyday use out of...No Ice Capades, blinged-out mini dresses here. The only thing I was specifically looking for and couldn't find was an adequately studded leather jacket-the closest thing I found was Rick Owens for men.

1. Vintage Balenciaga enamel sunglasses at Intermix
2. Elizabeth and James Harem Pants at Eluxury (*nevermind that my boyfriend will surely hate these*)
3. Gucci Darwin Backpack at Saks
4. Marc Jacobs Stone Applique Belt at Net-a-porter
5. Alex Monroe Feather Hoop Earrings at Net-a-porter
6. Isharya Daisy Filigree Earrings at Net-a-porter
7. Marni Leather Platform Sandals at Net-a-porter
8. Zanotti Leather Collar Ankle Sandals at Net-a-porter
9. Zanotti Cut-out Shoe Bootsat Net-a-porter
10. Ann Demeulemeester Wrap Boots - as seen on model. I could LIVE in these.

11. Although not shown, I mustn't forget the Versace Pre-Fall boots (in a previous post). Yum.

Loving

This controversial Daisy Lowe pic from the Pringle of Scotland campaign-styling too-looove:
*Image courtesy of Style.com*

Inspired : Nude Below the Belt

If you're like me, your complexion isn't best flattered by flesh tones-at least not when they're competing with your face. However, I'm loving nude/tan/beige footwear for spring and even more so, the nude thigh-high look (not necessarily styled as shown). With this post, I also confess my ongoing love of Shopbop.com's lookbooks.



Also check out the amazing footwear at http://omelle.com - just starting to make a preliminary appearance on shopbop in lookbook photos, not yet available for purchase.

Reinvention

Dear Giuseppe Zanotti & Balmain,

Take notes.




Love, D&G


Unlike the aforementioned fringe sandal by GZ for Balmain, D&G succeeded in the re-vamping of an enduring trend. Loving their take on the everlasting gladiator.

Shared Closet Space: Part 2

More to come as soon as I can photo them (for lack of net images)



Click Here

*Bwahahaha*

Gucci is hitting the 90's hard in their pre-fall collection...my boyfriend will surely be psyched about the prevalence of plaid on women.

http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/#/slideshow/article/1963278/1963280

Miu Miu Pre-Fall 2009

I am ALL KINDS of smitten with these looks and more specifically, the jacket at far right...and the middle furry vest...aaannnd I never grow tired of the knee sock thing, especially not these, seemingly of the stirrup variety?

I'm now officially lusting after somewhat of a studded jacket-I can't tell if that's actually what's going on with the piece at right (doubtful), but it sounds like a good idea...although to be fair, it's current February in LA and I still rarely find occasion to wear my wintry wardrobe.

Dear Giuseppe Zanotti, Really?

I understand that most trends last farrrr longer than I ever really expect (or would like)-even the ones I genuinely loved... but really? REALLY? Isn't it only the lowest of the low end manufacturers that are supposed to be releasing things like this NOW:

And Balmain, you sanctioned this, really?

P.S. I truly love you both, REALLY. Send me something magnificent...*something ELSE, and I'll have forgotten by next week.


Unoriginal sandal courtesy of Guizeppe Zanotti for Balmain
@ a shopbop.com near you.

Spring 2009 Couture Favorite

I'm completely in love with Lacroix's Spring 09 couture show- it's so very saccharine but all of the layering and combining of prints and colors just blew me away. #2 is my absolute favorite with #1 coming in a very, VERY close second. I think I need to experiment in the combining of some prints...which my wardrobe might need some infusions of. I'm lusting after that striped skirt in #2 (If it's even a skirt, it's hard to tell?). The only thing I'm not smitten with in this collection is the footwear.

See full collection at: http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/S2009CTR-CLACROIX

p.s.
Christian quite obviously agrees with me, more IS more.

Confession: I Have A New Girl Crush

Let me preface this by admitting that one of my guilty pleasures is reality TV...very bad reality TV-as in MTV style bad. I'm not proud of it. In any event, to all those familiar with MTV's "The City", I'm smitten with Adam's girlfriend, Allie- full name, Allie Crandell. Turns out she's got a legit modeling career with Wilhelmina, and has done a few music videos as well-I'd post but embedding is disabled, so click through here for her appearance in Duran Duran's "Falling Down".

At a mere 5'8, she's on the short side-likely ruling her out of the runway scene...but that height also puts her in the Kate Moss category...and I think there's something intriguing about her-she's stunning, but if you've seen "The City", you've seen her blatant fragility. I'll hope for big things for her-there aren't a whole lot of pics of her bouncing around the web.




p.s. Has everyone noticed that www.ActiveEndeavors.com went out of business?

"I don't understand $400+ shoes, it's not like they can make you breakfast" - The Boyfriend

In a world of shoes like these:










How does one resign themselves to these?



Such is my current dilemma. I'm looking to commit to some quality, beautiful, long-lasting shoes...but GAH!

Sincerely,
I don't care if I'm impractical, I want the pretty ones

Addressed: The Feather Trend

Feathers all over the place, on the hems of slips and dresses, on headbands, dangling as earrings- but I like this one by Laura Kranitz with it's slightly more hippie feel (maybe that's the Vermonter in me). AND, it's a mere $20 at www.80spurple.com, or easy enough as a DIY.

A Pre-Fall Feast For The Eyes

Some favorites...

VERSACE

LANVIN

BURBERRY

I'll take the Versace shoes, the Burberry pants and everything Lanvin.

I also liked Zac Posen-not shown. Many, many designers were going with a 1940's-1950's point of reference- See the movie "Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day", it's visually quite beautiful-the interiors, costume, etc-although upon further inspection it takes place in 1939-but, nonetheless...

For lack of a better photo:

Proof : Less Is Not More

This Valentino Spring 09 embellished fingerless glove just screams for a DIY attempt of sorts-and obviously it's best paired with an equally, if not MORE blingy counterpart. One of these days I'll actually get around to executing the DIY ideas...maybe after I've finished moving.

Now THAT'S an LBJ I'd Settle Down & Start A Family With

Little black jacket awesomeness by Margiela and Elizabeth & James respectively. Both available at www.ELuxury.com. The $775 for the E&J Superfine Leather Jacket feels almost like a bargain when up against Margiela's $3,145 Zip-Sleeve Bomber. To shamelessly quote clueless, "As if!". But DAMN the styling going on in my brain makes it almost seem worth it, albeit completely infeasible- because unfortunately, I'm just NOT that irresponsible.

Boyfriend Style (Not the Katie Holmes Kind)

I work in the fashion industry, but have virtually no enthusiasm whatsoever when it comes to men's fashion. In addition to the obvious fact that there's far less room for creativity with men's apparel, I think the main reason is that my 'type' of men are no-fuss, gritty manly-men who keep it clean and simple. Take my boyfriend for example, he's a jeans and t-shirt guy. He shies away from anything even slightly embellished, he prefers single-breasted- and definitely forget excessive pockets. However, his style is one of my favorite man-styles ever-and it isn't as straightforward and plain as you might think.
I love his style because he couldn't care less about what anyone else thinks. He's got no qualms about wearing women's sunglasses (in fact I think he prefers them), he's always hiding various extra-long necklaces (rosaries, beads, chains, etc) underneath his shirts, he'll put a scarf on with just about anything-even wearing MINE around the apartment-fringe, studs and all (and I'm guessing he'd wear it in public too), and lastly, he's been known to wear slippers out of the house. Oh, and how could I forget, his collection of bracelets and rings rivals my own. And he 100% rocks it-all of it. The lesson in all of this- I suppose it's 'own it and you can pull off virtually anything'.

P.S. It might be worth noting that I thought he owned his style long before I loved him as well...Now if only he'd quit busting on the 'un-sexiness' of my plaid shirt.

Note the plastic rosary beads-->

Marketing Brilliance, Sensory Dessert

Check out the most gorgeous commercial I have ever seen. Unfortunately the picture quality isn't better, but you'll get the idea. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant marketing work on upping the level of class associated with the brand. How badly do you desire to attend this party?

P.S. Note the gorgeous dresses.

Premium Denim For Your Premium Booty

On February 28th, Members Only releases some of the most insane denim we've seen thiw season-we're even re-thinking our general distaste for skinny jeans. Feast your eyes. LOVING the Storm Jean in black and the Coco Skinny(the two left-most pairs).
Click thru and check 'em out:

An Open Letter To: The Girl Hiking in Front of Me Wearing Booty Shorts

Dear Girl Hiking Runyon Canyon in Booty Shorts,

Thank you for motivating today's entire workout and for setting my breakneck pace.
I first spotted you when you were two ridges ahead of me, taking a breather as I began my ascent of the leftmost ridge of Runyon (also known as my own personal hell for 25ish minutes a day - hopefully more like 10 in the near future). My immediate reaction was "uuuuugh, no she didn't". From there on out, my mission became to pass you...which I quickly accomplished. Then, I ran up the extra long, steep slopes just to make sure I'd grounded you into your proper place.
Darling, not even Giselle should be hiking with her bare ASSets on display. I could be the proud owner of an elusive, mythological onion-butt (of which you weren't) and I'd still keep my shiz tastefully under wraps. So, to the girl in the booty shorts and knee socks...and every other girl I regularly see up there in their god-awful skivvies, the flattering lighting in your apartments and your strategically tilted mirrors are lying. It doesn't look that good while the directional sun sets over the otherwise gorgeous canyon. Lock it up, ain't no Photoshop in real life. Please and thanks.

Sincerely,

Bearing your fleshy ass while allegedly sneaking in an exercise is not clever, it just looks like you're trying to distract from your personality...or face.

Shared Closet Space: Part 1

Moving in with the boyfriend.
Re-evaluating the wardrobe.
Forgotten and often unworn treasures.
What was mine could be yours.
Ebay.
'Nuff said.

Heaven Sent

How often are these bootishes the focal point of my dreams? What do you mean 'what would I wear them with?'- EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER AND WILL EVER OWN!?


Coming soon to a shopbop near you...

If Marie Antoinette had been a Rocker...

Every day my junk email account is bombarded with "New Arrivals" from a bzillion e-tailers, "Account updates" from Paypal, "New Release" notifications from Amazon, Ebay garbage and a slew of spam of even lesser value. I also get a few Daily Candy emails, which I admittedly leave unread only to accrue about 2-3 months worth before eventually sifting through them and relegating the especially good ones to a 'DailyCandy' folder. Today, I happened to open one on its actual date of publish only to be pleasantly surprised. Behold the work of New York jewelry designer Katherine Sturgis:



Her handmade, friendship bracelet-esque braided jewelry combines materials ranging from embroidery thread to leather, chains and swarovski. It manages that very delicate balance between pretty and glamorous yet unpolished, edgy roughness that I love so very much- reminding me on an aesthetic level of Pedro Garcia shoes. Perhaps the best part is that they are quite reasonably priced with some pieces costing as little as $115. Or, if you're like me, you're inspired and itching for daylight hours to venture out to the jewelry supply and craft stores downtown. Strike while the iron is hot-rhinestones and swarovski are supposed to be big this spring, and I don't see the edgy rocker trend as reinterpreted and reinforced most recently on the runway of Balmain as going away anytime soon.

Eye On: Isabel Marant

I'm obsessively lusting after a very large portion of Isabel Marant's Spring 09 collection- it'd be an absolute dream of a casual, everyday wardrobe for me. Feminine but with a slightly gritty, messy and disheveled edge, it satisfies my unending affection for little dresses but also my general distaste for all things overly polished and fussy when it comes to everyday wear. Easy throw-on wardrobe that could and should replace sweatpants in my life. In essence, perfection. I'll be finding a way to DIY a pair of those chain-strung boots as soon as I can find an acceptable slouchy, suede pair to serve as a foundation. (*Click through to Polyvore for clickable links to full-size pictures*)


isabel marant spr09



*Please excuse ass-less model, you know how we feel about booty around these parts*

Images from: http://content.coutorture.com

Confession: I'm a Product Whore

It's only now that I'm moving that I'm being forced to re-examine my habits and acknowledge the accumulation of the mountains of half-empty products in my bathroom drawers. There are very few that I've developed such a love for that they get restocked month after month without the slightest interest in dabbling in the competition. Most get replaced in favor of different brands, scents, methods, etc.

The products that have earned my unwavering commitment are as follows:


Product favorites

Capri Blue Jar Candle in Volcano
Murad Essential-C Cleanser
Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Pandora (Used as eyeliner)
Chanel Ligne Precision Liner Brush
Bronze Universel de Chanel Sun Illuminator
Chanel Le Pinceau Teint #16 Foundation Brush
GO SMILE Whitening System
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer with SPF
V/S by Gianni Versace for Women
Philosophy Sugar Cookie Body Wash


What're the products that've earned your affection?