Come on Get Happy

We've only had a nip of Fall but the recent balmy weather made me think of blooms. I went back through Spring 09 RTW and pulled some favorites. These collections make me happy. After this I'm walking to the flower market and buying something colorful. You should too.

Basso & Brooke
I love the massive bobby pin hair pieces, carved platforms and sculptural obi belts. When you have so much going on, it helps to accentuate the waist. A belt does the job but so does a visual trick like the diagonal line created by contrasting colors/prints (top right). I also love a sleek, colorful one-piece with a great belt... classic.


























Erdem
Painted fabrics... these remind of me of the oily stickers I collected as a little girl... and my favorite picture books The Fisherman and the Sea, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Where the Wild Things Are... all romance and nostalgia.
























House of Holland
The polka dots, the bike shorts under jean shorts, the little hat worn back on the head, the cuffed jeans, the sport bra, the matching mini skirt and denim jacket... Henry Holland loves the 80's. I threw in the bloomer onesie becasue I love bloomers, and onesies.

Bright and Bold on the Runways

A noticeable trend on the runways for Spring ’09 was the bright pops of color across the board. Déjà vu. I looked back in my “inspirations” folder and found photos of women sporting the look this past spring in NYC. Glad to see stylish women always ahead of the trends!

Spring '09 on the runway (left to right: Ely Kishimoto, Devi Kroell, Josh Goot, Alexander Wang)

Spring '08 on stylish women about town

(Photos from Style.com)

Are You a Wangster?

Just had to share this post from Refinery 29 by way of I Am Ashleigh. They’ve given us a global “photo definition of this stylish neologism” inspired by Alexander Wang. And you see? Like Ashleigh, you can take a designer look you love and recreate it!

Gigi Favela Ankle Boots in Post Express

Styles: Right Ankles
September 28, 2007


BOOTS NEEDN'T REACH THE KNEES these days. This fall, a stampede of ankle-grazing footwear exposes more than a glimpse of stockings. [more]

Unsung Designers Always a Step Ahead of Trends

I love this darling pink Daryl K dress ($440), just out for summer.


















Only, I already own this gorgeous semi-sheer dress by Kareen Smith ($325) (THAT I BOUGHT IN MARCH! so I'm getting 2 seasons out of it!) Kareen Smith is still taking orders on this dress, but not for long. Order yours before she moves on. Both dresses are 100% silk.



Shop Kareen Smith's Spring/Summer collection right here.

Love the Look: Tell Me About It, Stud...

2007 is the year of the stud. From Spring through Fall, these luxury labels added some edge to their collections by punking up their accessories lines.

Burberry Studded Bag



















Balenciaga Studded Wedge



















Dolce and Gabbana Studded Heels...















...and Spikey Peep Toes



















Christian Louboutin Studded Boot



















Gigi Favela "Sonya" Punkie Studs ($360. in, left to right, white gold, black or turquoise. Limited quantities available. Get yours now at Unsung)

Unsung Designers Always a Step Ahead of Trends

Silk and lace: elegant, sensuous, ladylike, sado-masochistic. No matter how you like to wear them, these contrasting textures are a match made in fashion heaven. Below, Dolce and Gabbana F/W07 on the left, Ouvrez la Porte F/W06 on the right.

Bows evoke a romantic past.
















Lace at the breast is sweet and sexy.

Love the Look: Mirror, Mirror on the Feet

My new favorite look: "mirror" metallic shoes. At first I thought it would be too much, too shiny. But after seeing them on many a stylish woman in NYC and Paris, I'm sold. Because they're an accessory and on the feet, they can really pop an outfit. Besides, I can check for lipstick on my teeth while pretending to have dropped something.

At Louis Vuitton, Paris 2007 (courtesy of the Sartorialist @ Style.com)



















Who's doing it:

Pierre Hardy silver platform pump



















Christian Louboutin gold skyscraper pump



















Gucci open-toe, ankle strap platform with metal studs



















Burberry open toe platform



















And our very own Gigi Favela round toe pump

Love the Look: Glamour in Black and Blue

Some of my favorite evening dresses for Fall 2007 are in beautifully contrasted black and blue (and anything but bruisey).

Carolina Herrera's midnight navy and black: Notice the layers of organza and the amazing beading. Yet the shape is still slim and elegant.



















Zac Posen's matte navy and shiny black: Sweet, but the black taffeta gives it an edge.



















Oscar de la Renta's royal blue with splashes of black and canary yellow: I love the dramatic collar… Oscar knows glamour.



















Nathan Jenden's black-on-navy pattern: A little bit goth. Check out the zebra stripe Creepers!



















Erdem's two-texture navys with black to break it up: The most sexy-glam mini in satin and lace. The colors are dark but they really pop!



















Abaete's navy silk charmeuse with black accents: Even a simple shirt dress can be dressed up in a luxe fabric and some volume under the skirt.



















All photos courtesy of Style.com.

Brilliant: Why Doesn't the Devil Wear Gucci?

For great fashion advice: "Fashion is utterly subjective and quite frankly if you love it, then wear it, but there is a fine line between self-expression and utter cluelessness" or a good chuckle: "...there is definitely a gaping gulf between what designers think women should wear and what men would prefer women to wear. This is largely because fashion is dominated by gay male designers who don't give a hoot about what straight men will find attractive," I recommend the Telegraph fashion section's dry wit.

This particular feature led me to waste all morning on the Telegraph website instead of posting on this and other blogs.

"Furrowed brows, hoots of laughter and snorts of derision - yes, the bizarre world of London Fashion Week is upon us again and the male of the species is as incredulous as ever. Each day's coverage brings a fresh batch of outlandish, and often unwearable, designs - and with it more questions for women (to attempt) to answer. Clare Coulson provides three baffled Telegraph men with an idiots' guide to fashion." (from Telegraph.co.uk, 14/02/2007)
Read the entire Q&A.