Máriel's Castle

Best in Show: Elie Saab Couture SS12

2012-01-26T11:07:00.000-05:00

First off let me clarify when I go shopping the trend for me is to maintain a respectful distance from fru fru embellished things specially if they are heavy on the sequins thus lays the mystery of my love for Ellie Saab.

Maybe the almost Lesage quality to his embroideries (and lightness of the overall effect) makes a difference. Or the fact said embellishments are on a runway and not a rack at a local store plays tricks on my eyes vampire glamour style or it is a repressed personality trait and I just need to start wearing dresses that could convincingly impersonate a treat at the closest bakery to feel complete…

Behold my picks for best in show:

Hello meringue

Cassata is that you?

Good to see you guayaba filling

Ummm lemon pie

Strawberrie mousse you blow me away!

Keep Smiling we're on Hollidays!!!!

2011-12-26T20:17:00.000-05:00

My luvs I hope you had a nice Xmas weekend and your presents were amazing!!! But we all know that’s not the important part right, right? Yeah we do, so be good and share a little joy until the end of the holiday season (and maybe beyond). Smile.

Bergdorf Goodman's Unleashed: Tails on the loose!

2011-11-16T19:23:00.001-05:00

Oh this is just too cute!

So Zara...I'll be visiting soon!

2011-11-15T22:12:00.001-05:00

The latest Zara lookbook has landed and boy I’m picturing myself wearing it all. I like the styling they used…would probably wear as shown. So let’s add a few of these total looks to the soon-available-clothes-I-need-to-own –a.s.a.p. right next to the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo collection from H&M. Oh yeah my wallet is already wincing.

pics via Zara

My 1 item wish list from Versace for H&M

2011-11-05T17:25:00.003-05:00

Are you into this Versace plus H&M hype??? To tell you the truth I like the collection but I don’t really care that much since the style of it is closer to the Gianni years…not my cup of tea; I prefer the less embellished recent collections. There’s the fantastic leather sheath but my choice would be this dress:

Sexy and elegant, the buttons don’t bother me so much and I’m crazy about the sleeves.

Cute Swimsuit Alert!

2011-10-25T21:55:00.000-05:00

Yeah with the way it's raining lately the beach seems farther than ever but that's no reason to gather supplies for your next quick getaway. I had never heard of KiKorpo but I will be doing some reasearch on it...sad the company page is rather limited.

Ana Beatriz Barros photographed by Yuri Sandberg. Pic via Fashion Gone Rogue

Andrej Pejic is the Cherry Lips Lyrics Come to Life

2011-10-11T22:09:00.000-05:00

This is one of the pics taken for S Moda magazine, photographed by Jonas Bresnan. Isabel Moralejo Styled. You like?

With your cherry lips and golden curls You could make grown men gasp When you'd go walking past them In your hot pants and high heels They could not believe That such a body was for real It seemed like rainbows would appear Whenever you came near the clouds would disappear Because you looked just like a girl Your baby blues would flash And suddenly a spell was cast

Fendi 1989 vs 2011: Example of Fragance Advertising Evolution

2011-09-20T21:21:00.000-05:00

The TV commercial for Fan di Fendi is just brilliant, I can’t get the song out of my head and the visuals are fun. It puts me in the clubbing mood. And just for fun how they did it in the past…not so hot. Like it?
1980 vs 2011

Nail Polish Love

2011-09-20T20:43:00.001-05:00

My favorite new nail polish color is Cute as a Button from Essie, it’s a bright pink-coral and it looks great with my skin tone. The runner up is Coral Canyon also by Essie (wore it for 2 weeks before changing to CasAB). Both shades are fantastic I find against several skin tones. What’s your favorite new polish?

NOT MY HAND...YEAH LAZY MUCH???

Nick Knight for Hermes A/W 2011

2011-09-19T22:23:00.000-05:00

How do you like this???

Pretty Pretty Biker Boots

2011-09-05T21:46:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I almost bought the most amazing biker boots ever but as luck had it my size was no longer on stock, neither was a half a number down -since my feet are slender can sometimes pull off- sad face.The things were on sale –very, very cheap- and they were so awesome I almost cried, I did not but it was close hahaha. So now hello to the Shirley boots from Frye that are equally fabulous but way more expensive than my intended buy. Good price at $288 but when compared with what I was going to pay for the other ones it seems soooo high.

Frye ShirleyStrappy Short Boots

pic via Shopbop.com

Lanvin Fall 2011 Campaign Movie

2011-08-29T21:15:00.000-05:00

Oh my I love this.The little Elbaz cameo? hahahaha so cute.

Hair Envy

2011-08-24T21:06:00.000-05:00

When I dream about myself my hair looks like this, long, shiny and cero frizz. Heaven.
Then morning comes and it’s shorter and it has mood swings. Yeah I better keep dreaming.

pic by Vanessa Jackman

Distracting you with Style

2011-08-23T22:18:00.000-05:00

Oh “$%&/) talk about leaving things hanging…22 days without posting a thing, I mean it’s not like posting a random image takes great effort, but you get busy and then lazy. But hey no excuse here’s a pretty pic to compensate the absence.

Sooooo....I have no clue who took this image.Lovely.

Random Update + McQueen Visual Candy

2011-08-01T21:21:00.001-05:00

How do you like this image????

AlexanderMcQueen via The Cut

Reminds me a bit of the snow queen of the Narnia movies...It is sooo good a representation of the brand no?
BTW today I wore striped Thakoon top plus a wide legged white jeans and huge carved wood platforms. I should have taken a picture. I did not. It was good. Sorry.
I was lazy today.
Tomorrow I will give you a visual aid of whatever I end up wearing...man I've been a very bad blogger these few days not posting.
Hopefully that ends today...I've been busy. How about you?

Loafer Styling Inspiration Since it’s Wednesday

2011-07-20T20:37:00.001-05:00

Yep Wednesday being the belly of the work/school week calls for a little pic me up.
This girl knows how to dress herself. The minidress is cute and perfectly complemented with those fantastic grey loafers. My school shoes were never this cool…how about yours?

pic via The Sartorialist

Next Best Thing to No Clothing

2011-07-18T21:09:00.000-05:00

It’s hot. Clothes should be optional. Sadly not the case. This is a good option.

pic by The Sartorialist

Le Bal des Roses: Dior's High Jewelry Collection

2011-07-14T19:45:00.000-05:00

OMG! Is this a collective drool moment or what? I’ve got no clue as to the price of any of these pieces but… we can dream. Hell I’m going to decide which ring I like the most and start visualizing it on my finger.
Victoire de Castellane collections always manage to take my breath away and this homage to Monsieur Dior’s favorite flower the rose is no exception.

The soundtrack kept reminding me of cartoon ducklings gliding on a pond. Do you remember it?

BAL BLEU NUIT

BAL CHAMPETRE

BAL d'AUTREFOIS

BAL de l'OPERA

BAL de l'OPERA earrings

BAL de MAI

BAL de MAI earrings

BAL de PARIS

BAL d'ETE

BAL ROMANTIQUE

BAL ROMANTIQUE earrings

BAL VENITIEN

Forget the Foulard Check Out Marni's New Sunnies!

2011-07-11T14:10:00.000-05:00

So the focus is the foulard I know but what really calls my attention from this pic from Marni are the sunnies. Shot of color and a little metal, what’s not to like?

End of the Week Treat: "Night Temptress" Tom Ford Fall 2011

2011-07-09T00:07:00.000-05:00

Guys I'm tired. Like beaten to a pulp tired. I've been busy on a project for the last two days and man I need like a 48 hour sleep marathon plus a reviving vitamin infused juice every half hour afterwards. For a day. Yeah.
If you want to check out the rest of Tom Ford’s ~~red eye project~~ Fall 2011 campaign go to FGR.

Tom Ford Fall 2011 Campaign pic by Mert & Marcus via Fashion Gone Rogue

It's in the Details: Stephane Rolland Haute Couture 2011-12

2011-07-06T16:21:00.000-05:00

The details that made up the dresses at Stèphane Rolland’s collection are swoon worthy, at times more than the outfit itself but that then is preference territory. Like Armani Privé Mr. Rolland had some japanese infusion, mostly obi's knotts and armors. A hit for me was the fact embellishment was focused on twisting fabric or adding sculpted metal rather than the usual paillettes and crystals.

As a whole the presentation made me think of space operas which explain why I went for neon’s and darkness in my illustration.

The styling had a futuristic vein and the makeup winked at the fabulous ladies of Dynasty/Dallas. I’m not a fan of that purple lipstick but for the purpose of this runway it works. Would you wear this lip color?

Glove love!

BTW: all pics -but the illustration- tnx to Imaxtree.com and Mateo Volta via Elle.com

Illustration: Givenchy Haute Couture 2011-2012

2011-07-05T22:41:00.001-05:00

So far the shows are looking good and since Haute Couture is more than evening gowns it is really good to see more casual options on some runways…Givenchy with all that white was not one of those, still it is so far my favorite collection, guess all those shiny shiny crystals are making me biased.
Ricardo Tisci created one dreamy confection after another. They must be heavy. Some of those wispy things probably weight more than the model wearing them. A bit towards the same lines of the last collection, but that’s his thing and he does it well. Visually all the frocks were light, for all the feathers, embroidery and what not’s, but then having a “runway” with the advantage of natural light and the romance of water flowing under a bridge as the background probably helped.

pic via Givanchy

July 4th: The Start of Haute Couture Season 2011/2012

2011-07-04T19:47:00.001-05:00

Partied your long weekend for all it was worth? Now moving on to a different sort of festivities Haute Couture Shows are here wohooooo!!!

Too much? Yeah ok.

But admit it couture is fun ~~we could even start a drinking game~~ it’s the time to feel inspired by fashion’s not so commercially oriented side. All the attention to detail on a single dress must at least make you smile in a thank-God-I-was-not-the-one-to-embroider-that-dress way, yep think of that when you are in the middle of a boring meeting this week and smile…see Couture has calming qualities.

Ok enough of that let’s get to business and head out to see what Suzy Menkes had to say of Dior’s first show sans creative director.

Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal HC pic via Vogue.it

backstage at Christian Dior pic via Vogue.it

more Christian Dior pic via Vogue.it

backstage Giambatista Valli pic via Vogue.it

Giambatista Valli pic via Vogue.it

I look at this detail and can't help but think of confectioners sugar flowers on a cake...

Net-A-Porter Editorial 2011 vs. Streetstyle 2010

2011-07-03T13:59:00.000-05:00

If these two outfits went to a party they would feel uncomfortable, maybe one of them would go home to change.

The left one is from Net a Porter’s Summer in the City shoot starring Honey Davis-Wilkinson, the photog was Koray Birand, the stylist name was m.i.a. and the right one is courtesy of chic girl from the streets taken around may 2010 by Stylesightings.

Now this post is not about pointing fingers but to illustrate how creativity runs in circles, like an algebra problem: two people go about the process in their unique way but arrive at the same result. And you’ve got to admit it’s kind of a funny coincidence, well maybe not if you are, as in the case of Natalie Massenet’s brainchild, a retail leader that is supposedly a trend maker and style influencer or at least aiming for that with your editorial arm. It’s possible the stylist responsible never saw the streetstyle picture, or maybe they did, liked it and forgot all about it –but the image kept floating in the subconscious- until it weaseled itself onto an outfit when the building blocks were right. The proportions, color distribution and fit are basically the same (well excluding the bag size and shoes). Which outfit do you like best?

Kate Moss: The Actual Wedding Dress

2011-07-01T17:24:00.000-05:00

Finally after all that speculation the dress is here! I like it. Works for her with the flapper-ish styling. Part of the interest was due to Kate Moss being a mayor style influencer the other half was the dress being designed by Galliano. Whatever he may be/say/do cannot cancel the talent. Do you like it?

pic via Grazia

Prabal Gurung's Resort 2012 + Rye Rye = Fun!

2011-07-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

Ok this works! I was expecting Rye Rye to wear more looks from Gurung's Resort Collection but at least what little she wore was good on her.

Pleated Skirts: 3 great ways to style them!

2011-07-01T14:10:00.000-05:00

Pleats have been on my radar a lot since the year began hence they have been referenced before at The Castle.Now, pleated skirts are top on my current favorites they are fun and easy to style plus they work in every length as the street style pictures below demonstrate.

Carolina Engman

Almost every single piece of Carolina’s look is from Zara, no mayor brands need apply, it’s quite a short skirt –in leather which enhances the cool quotient- made shorter visually because of the pleats so by covering her upper body things balance up. It all looks very modern and well sexy in a non-tarty way. This can also work with a neon clutch for a pop of color instead of the leopard she added.

Stockholm Streetstyle via Fashion Capuccino

Now girlfriend here is going for a look that looks cool without trying too hard while avoiding frumpiness. The bag bothers me a bit to be honest, but I guess that’s part of these-clothes-just-fell-on-me attitude. Not everything needs to be too perfect or maybe she just didn’t have a better bag for this. Anyways the fact the pleats are closed up to the hips is great for reducing bulk and playing up the hourglass figure the fitted jeans vest and belt create –oh yeah zipper instead of buttons only helps here-

Stockholm Streetstyle

Hair envy alert! Seems whoever is on the phone is annoying her no? Like she sort of tried to summon a smile when she saw the lens. Now maxi skirt with accordion pleats + pumps I have mixed feelings: flats or sandals or high heeled sandals would have worked better, something is off. Otherwise it’s such a great look, the monochrome theme elongates and even if both top and bottom are slouchy it still works, probably due to the lack of extras.

How are you wearing your pleated skirt?

Tom Ford's Fall 2011 Video Edition

2011-06-30T16:43:00.000-05:00

Yeah, a bit behind on the Tom Ford news front but better late than never or maybe I missed some bloggerdome rule on expiration date for posting...mmm.
Whatever. Maybe you have not seen it?
To be honest even my love for Mr. Ford can not make me like a few dresses on this here video.

Boxing Kitten Fall 2011 vs. The Kuna Yala

2011-06-30T16:03:00.001-05:00

This look from Boxing Kitten reminded me very much of the Kuna Yala women’s style of dress with their clash of prints and high waisted skirts. I’m not sure where the island natives buy their fabric but the brand sources theirs mostly from Western African countries.
Back to the look itself even if the shirt and skirt appear to barely share anything but a bit of yellow plus simple lines and both are very, very bold prints the result is still harmonious and wearable. If I were to wear this look as is the shoes would be different.

MiuMiu's Glittering Fall 2011 Shoes

2011-06-29T16:49:00.001-05:00

I’ve got mixed feelings for the Fall 2011 campaign from Miu Miu -check it @FGR- it’s cute and the 40’s references within the collection appeal to me but the clothes still look too old on 15 year old Hailee Steinfeld. Some outfits work on her others not at all. What catches my attention? Glitter shoes!!!
Mmmm…maybe it’s a DIY moment with some heavy duty glue and lots and lots of glitter. Oh wait here's one by The Rabbit-Hearted Girl. You are welcome xx.

Miu Miu Fall 2011 Campaign via FGR

Suede & Glitter booties? Yes please.

Miu Miu Fall 2011 Campaign via FGR

A Dress to Make You Hungry

2011-06-24T16:13:00.000-05:00

Virgine Magazine editorial styled by Hissa Igarashi, pic via www.psfk.com

If I had a dress made out of M&M's as girlfriend here I'd be naked in an hour...maybe less, you see the importance of good underwear? I do!

The Future of My Makeup Bag

2011-06-24T15:24:00.000-05:00

It’s kind of sad the almost barren state of my makeup bag at the moment, not that it is a strange occurrence but simply the status quo, how un feminine or maybe not? Like I’m missing some being-a-woman fun.
Well it’s not like plastering goo over all available facial surface equals being female, in the past men were into eyeliner as much as their women, after all it’s all about enhancing and just looking at images of celebs with their full face on vs. ones au naturel:

Makeup is the real life Photoshop. How can I not want in on that?
My plan is not to suddenly transform into the type that does not even go to bed without some color action on her face but at least one that puts it on when it matters say a date or meeting, hell for a night out! What happens is fear of going over the top and giving clowns everywhere a run for their paint so holding back occurs leaving me with sunblock, gloss/lip stain/lipstick and if I’m in the mood a little blush and maybe –and that’s a big maybe- filling in my eyebrows. If you’re twisting my arm then a little shadow and mascara, with the base mixed in with the sunblock or the moisturizer at night, finishing with powder. Light enough you can barely see it which is good but then there is not that much enhancement going on either. But hey I’m in good company Anna dello Russo wears nothing on that face of hers.
Words to illustrate where I’m coming from and my fascination with tutorials on YouTube, current fave’s panacea81, pixiwoo and sccastaneda. You see there’s a plan and it involves using the things I buy instead of barely looking at them and throwing them out when their expiration date arrives –you know three months for mascara blah and etc- so simple. My desire to wear false eyelashes for a night out will be fulfilled dammit!

pic via Fashion Bomb Daily

And while I’m at it concealer will also be there along with highlighter and soft contouring. If I have to get myself a gorgeous set of professional brushes

Sigma brushes -how cute are these?

and upgrade my makeup bag for auto-bribing me into it. If you’d like to recommend a product I’m all ears!

Yes, Apparently a Hawaiian Shirt can be Cool

2011-06-23T20:24:00.000-05:00

I know what you are thinking, well...not really but I do have an idea. Based on the following image I would have never believed otherwise but keep scrolling down and there will be proof.

Yep here you go a cool Hawaiian shirt courtesy of Stella McCartney’s Resort 2012 collection.

Well Hello Elle Vitenam

2011-06-23T17:38:00.000-05:00

My favorite pic from the editorial

Wow who knew Elle Vietnam could be so awsome? This editorial with model Dinara Chetyrova, styled by Phuong My and photographed by Jamie Nelson is brilliant! I will definetely keep an eye out for future works from this trio.
Check out the rest of the editorial at Fashion Gone Rogue.

Back online!

2011-06-18T17:15:00.000-05:00

Wow it's been days! but I wish to clarify it was not due to laziness on my behalf but on issues AGAIN with internet bugs, it was hell, anyways aparently it's all fixed now so we can return to regular schedule!!!

Bespoke 101: Tips to Order a Garment from Scratch

2011-06-03T18:19:00.001-05:00

Jumpsuits are cool at the moment and you have an idea in mind for the one you’d like to own. You decide to search for one but nothing in stores or online come close to what you want, if it’s not the fit then the amount of skin exposed or lack thereof, a few days later you come across the semi perfect mix of details:

Bess Daze cutout crepe $325 -hey on sale from $650 at NAP-

But it is out of your budget and without decent DIY skills no way can you alter one. Depressing. Do you cave and buy something that does not completely satisfy you or simply go without?

I know some of you guys might want to commission a piece of clothing at times and that’s when a seamstress/tailor –notice I do not mention a designer because that is a whole different deal- is the way to go but you are holding back because you have no clue how to go about it. And when we’re talking from scratch the term is bespoke.

Bespoke: is a term employed in a variety of applications to mean an item custom-made to the buyer's specification (personalized or tailored). The distinguishing points of bespoke tailoring are the buyer's total control over the fabric used, the features and fit, and the way the garment should be made. More generally, bespoke describes a high degree of customization, and involvement of the end-user, in the production of the good.

Not that knowing the exact term will give you any practical benefit but I just wanted you to know and for more not really necessary information bespoke is different from “made to order” and Couture -you can read my HC101 post for clarification on what Haute Couture entails-. Ok I’m glad you know all that now moving on…

Commissioning something is a lot like baking a cake you need the right ingredients and precise measuring ensure you get the right consistency and the higher quality your raw materials are the better the taste in the end.

Double Chocolate Devil's Food Cake with Raspberries via Joy The Baker's Blog

Ok analogy and pic brought to you thanks to hungry-while-writing! My point is you get what you pay for so keep that in mind.

Let’s make a checklist ~~those are always fun~~ well not really fun but we kind of need them to make sure your commissioned garment puts a smile on your face not a frown of frustration.

1.MEET UP: so you have a name –recommended by your best friend’s aunt’s cousin or you just picked someone from an ad- call to make an appointment and show up on time! When you visit the seamstress/tailor let her/him know you would like to see some work in progress and finished products before you start touching stuff and turning it inside out. The price will depend on how complicated your piece is and the finishes you want, say French seams as opposed to overlock, you can haggle a little but respect the work of others.

FRENCH SEAM

OVERLOCK SEAM

Take the time to talk and explain as clear as you can what is it you want –a doodle will do for now. If you like what you see establish when you will be back with the fabric –ask the amount and type you will need (crepe, silk, linen, stretch vs. no stretch, etc)- and when you can expect your order to be finished, also be sure besides fabric what else you might need to bring. If you don’t think it was a good fit let them know but let the door open in case you find no better option.

2.GATHER THE SUPPLIES: buy everything you need from the fabric, threads and zippers –sometimes the seamstress/tailor will provide this so check first, buttons –remember you have the option of using fabric covered ones, beads or other embellishments.

pic by Leone Fabre

3.GET FLAT: if you hand a sketch of a dress to 10 people you will get 10 different dresses regardless of how detailed and clear you think the illustration is. That’s were flat sketches come in, basically a front and back rendering of how the garment looks when not on a human body, it is also were you write down how wide the straps of a sundress will be or that the pockets on the pants are fake i.e. not functional because you don’t need the extra bulk on the hips. A piece of clothing is the result of all the little details that made part of its construction so review the items in your closet that are similar to what you want.
No need to be a designer to do this just a rough but clear drawing will work.

front and back view sketch and flat sketch

4.BE GRAPHIC: pictures are your friend, make a collage with images that show the fit you want on a pair of pants or the volume those ruffles need to have, never underestimate the power of visual aids.

5.BE THE BAMBOO: firm but flexible, you know what you want but sometimes the person doing the sewing knows better how a particular hem will look on the fabric you chose and other times you know a thinner waistband works best for your taste. So get clear on what works from the start to avoid wasting time on corrections when the garment is more advanced.

Versace Atelier dress and sketch

6.DELIVER: you have high expectations yes? But that also means you have responsibilities regarding your commission. If you need to make pay x percent of the total cost when placing the order then remember it, sewing won’t start before you do. You scheduled a fitting for Saturday at 8:30a.m. and you really reeeally want to sleep in? Tough luck, not showing up will only affect you in the end by adding days to the delivery date.

7.BUILD: having a good relationship with the sewing hands is always a good thing and gets you little perks along the way, for me sometimes this means I get special prices for being a “frequent shopper” and get to place last minute emergency orders which obviously means a little more expense, usually a seamstress/tailor won’t bother to accommodate any quick fix if they don’t know you.

Ok so that’s basically the skeleton guide of a fun process easy to get addicted to!

Cool necklaces under $50

2011-05-30T16:39:00.000-05:00

Interesting jewelry does not come cheap so it’s always nice to stumble upon pieces that look great without breaking the bank. I will keep looking for sure but so many e-tailers so little time.

Madewell $45

This one is perfect to complement the accessories marauding our attention in the black/gold combo.

Forever 21 $7.80

This shade of blue is big this season plus the Native American vibe is more than welcome. I would pair it with something other than denim to keep away from the usual mid-western look and go for a prancing in the islands one –think Greek Islands and go from there-.

Ann Taylor $48

Love how delicate it seems perfect for all the lace shenanigans spring will be full of without been too prim. Arghh sorry the low res pic but alas this was the best I could find.

Urban Outfitters $29

With all the neutral colored skins and the camel going around this little neckie would give edge to an outfit, I would use it to offset some of the extra girly stuff.

Think Yellow for Spring 2011

2011-05-20T18:50:00.000-05:00

Yes white is THE big trend for spring 2011 but you might want to think yellow instead. If you think the color does not work on your complexion think again, with a little careful selection you can find the one yellow shade that will highlight your pretty face -or hey there's always the accesories if you don't find the right one- and as a side effect lift your mood, after all it is the color of sunshine and happiness.
Yellow commands attention so you should probably avoid using it on “problem” areas...

Diane Von Furstenberg via NAP

Jil Sander via NAP

Velvet Angels "Le Star Dust" zip sandals via Blue Fly

Michelle Mason asymetrical ruffle dress via Shop Bop

Ksubi midnight runner shorts via Shop Bop

This is one cool necklace Yuval Scharf

2011-05-17T20:10:00.000-05:00

Meet Yuval Scharf I have no idea who she is but I like her neckie and pretty much the badassitude of the rest of her look so there you go! Since this pic was taken in Cannes one can assume she’s an actress or maybe a model crashing the parties *snicker*

And yes this necklace is fertile ground for a rather fab DIY project!

pic by Anne-Christine/Getty Images via Full Frontal Fashion

Paperclip inspired jewelry

2011-05-16T21:28:00.000-05:00

I love how a seemingly inane object can inspire beyond its initial function of which the paperclip is the perfect example; there is even a gigantic paperclip towel holder out there that is closer to an art gallery than an office supply closet.
Hellier takes the cute route with animals, precious metals and a dash of bling perfect for a delicate accent or as a layering element while Giles ss11 goes for something resembling a chic DIY that can provide the one bold focus of your look.

Hellier

Giles ss2011

Spring White: landing on my nails!

2011-05-13T17:35:00.000-05:00

I’ve mentioned before how I’m not into painting famous people faces or other garish crap like that on my nails but I do like to play with odd colors and experiment a little so when my sweater started shedding crystals I decided it might be cool to try and add them to my nails since they are small enough. This time I used just one sparkler but I like the idea now so I may be tempted to use more in the future. I did not want anything to visually disruptive so keeping it monochromatic works perfectly for me –feel free to go crazy with complementing or clashing colors, say red crystals over taupe nail polish?- just paint your nails as usual and add the crystals by pressing them –easier with pliers- to your top coat.
White enhances your tan so what’s not to like? (here I used French White)

ups this close up pic is a bit out of focus just ignore that

Why do we keep going back to flower prints for spring?

2011-05-10T15:28:00.000-05:00

Flowers for spring is such an expected choice and in many ways boring but we keep going back to them –designers and customers alike-. Why do you think that is? Is it because they are viewed as the epitome of tragic beauty and we try to immortalize that fragility because of some twisted romantic sense. Or maybe since spring is all about growth and new beginnings –cute baby animals- and flowers are basically sexual organs…ok lets not go there but you see my point.
It could be the simple fact that flowers are photogenic.

Benjamin Lennox

Cuneyt Akeroglu

Greg Kadel

some of the pics I got via Fashion Gone Rogue

Fashion for Charity

2011-05-05T11:58:00.000-05:00

If you are in the area be sure to drop by, since I'm not I do hope for someone to post pics since Korto will be there and she is one of my all time favorite Project Runway contestants.

My hair vs the HANAair: the review

2011-05-03T22:57:00.005-05:00

When contacted by Misikko to review the HANAair blow dryer I got exited because my hair is where my focus is when it comes to beauty related fluff, my hair is…temperamental, sometimes quite meek to my manipulations, wavy when I use a curl enhancing cream or straight if left to its own devices but then I turn around and it’s soufflé impersonating hair, so for many years I was a slave of weekly salon blowouts -with specific hairdressers to avoid cotton hair 20 minutes after exiting the salon. So in the spirit of full disclosure even if it pains my vain little heart let me share an example of it on an especially humid day when attempting curls.

Ha! that Da Vinci drawing came to mind for whatever reason...

Ok that was painful but necessary to illustrate why my hair can give styling tools a run for their money, in this case $194.99 on sale from $314.99. So let’s begin with the blower itself: the cord is long so you can move around comfortably, it comes with a concentrator, it has three settings for heat and two fan speeds, and also a cool air button to close the hair cuticle –and the change of air temperature only takes a few seconds so you can cool blast each section of hair individually- and it also came with a small bottle of serum to protect hair from heat plus a cute velveteen pouch to store it. The plug even has a white plastic storage protector.

It was cool of the Misikko team to include a few useful gifties that I was not expecting.

The monkey has no name yet!

So back to the way I had been dealing with the frizz, about four years ago I got an amazing $100+ flat iron –not ashamed to say I discovered it on an infomercial- liberty at last from the salon trips but if I tried the DIY blow dry before using it –I had a Revlon 1200 one- the results wear electric in a bad way so I opted to just give up on the blower all together, but that meant a lot of waiting for hair to be dry, basically lost time, so washing my hair equals a planed production most of the time. Now my iron has specifications similar to some of these Chi flat irons in case you were wondering.
To say my blow drying skills are rusty is an understatement however the experience was painless, it was really easy to figure out the settings and since it is not a heavy hair dryer my arm did not suffer –off course that might be due to my “technique” involving putting the blower on the vanity a lot in between sections to manipulate the hair in the brush and then moving the heat around a bit- also sections dried fast even with the lowest setting. It’s a shame it does not include a diffuser because that would mean lighting quick drying time when going for curls. After a few rounds of business I can say there is improvement in my process and hopefully soon I’ll be able to straighten hair instead of blow-drying it always slightly wavy so I could skip the iron when I want straight with volume.

Wavy is good!

The texture of my hair was really good, the hair always ended with soft volume, bouncy would be a good description and clearly different from the flat iron version. Yey for versatility points! The effect lasted until I washed –one time I made it to 6 days, I just had to see if it would hold or not-, I did notice that if I used the curl enhancer shampoo/conditioner by day three the hair curled a bit more –this may be due to my drying hair like hot rollers to begin with- however no frizz made an appearance which is the goal regardless of the styling.

Overall I was very pleased with my results each time I used the blower. If your hair is willful then investing in upscale hair curling/hair straighteners as the HANAair may be the way to go especially if for time or money heading for a salon once or twice every week is not an option for you.

Happy B-Day to Me!

2011-05-01T21:17:00.000-05:00

May 1st is the most beautiful day of the year -obviously I'm a bit biased but what can you do?- so celebrate with me and get a big slice of chocolate cake, bonus points if said choco-cake is a sculptural creation like the one below.

Cool Spring Bag Alert

2011-04-25T22:02:00.000-05:00

Hello cross-body bag from Paul&Joe! Not only is it beaded it also has leather tassels -which remind me of the red ones on my training bicycle- sooooo fun.
It's allegedly handmade which is a big plus and it won't take too much weight out of the wallet at $315.We.Like.

pic via Net-a-Porter

Let's go to the ball and dance with a rope!

2011-04-24T20:32:00.000-05:00

pic by Jeff Barks for Bullet Magazine via Fashion Gone Rogue

Did you miss me?

2011-04-19T20:11:00.000-05:00

Oh I hope you did! Had some issues with the modem since monday last week -which had to be replaced- but anyways...back to the regular programing hehehe just need to play catch up.

Fashion and Poetry on a Sleepy Sunday

2011-04-10T16:14:00.000-05:00

I can write the saddest poem of all tonight.

Write, for instance: "The night is full of stars,

and the stars, blue, shiver in the distance."

The night wind whirls in the sky and sings.

I can write the saddest poem of all tonight.

I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

On nights like this, I held her in my arms.

I kissed her so many times under the infinite sky.

She loved me, sometimes I loved her.

How could I not have loved her large, still eyes?

I can write the saddest poem of all tonight.

To think I don't have her. To feel that I've lost her.

To hear the immense night, more immense without her.

And the poem falls to the soul as dew to grass.

Serge Leblon via Fashion Gone Rogue

What does it matter that my love couldn't keep her.

The night is full of stars and she is not with me.

That's all. Far away, someone sings. Far away.

My soul is lost without her.

As if to bring her near, my eyes search for her.

My heart searches for her and she is not with me.

The same night that whitens the same trees.

We, we who were, we are the same no longer.

I no longer love her, true, but how much I loved her.

My voice searched the wind to touch her ear.

Someone else's. She will be someone else's. As she once

belonged to my kisses.

Her voice, her light body. Her infinite eyes.

I no longer love her, true, but perhaps I love her.

Love is so short and oblivion so long.

Because on nights like this I held her in my arms,

my soul is lost without her.

Although this may be the last pain she causes me,

and this may be the last poem I write for her.

Saddest Poem. Pablo Neruda

Maxi Trend Inspiration

2011-04-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

Do you already have a maxi skirt? You know they are mighty practical as well as pretty well when it is not raining and you had to wear flats –buzz kill- they also happen to hide your hairy legs between waxing appointments and given good proportions with the rest of your clothes elongate your figure.Win! So if you are afraid of coming out like an extra from Big Love at the compound think again; this trend is sexy and can be rough or edgy or romantic or whatever you feel like projecting to the world just check the examples I lovingly compiled for you munchkins.

Benjamin Lennox via Fashion Gone Rogue

Cuneyt Akeroglu via Fashion Gone Rogue

Hanneli Mustaparta

Acne via Hanneli Mustaparta

Style Admirer

Vanessa Jackman

Vogue.co.uk

The Fashion Spot

bjonestyle

natalieoffduty via bjonestyle

Draping Suits

2011-04-05T17:20:00.000-05:00

You know how draping can help enhance or conceal problem areas? Now apply that blessing to a bathing suit and parading scantily clad on a beach somewhere will become even more appealing. These two offerings via JCrew fit the sexy bill, the cut is flattering and the colors are many so chances are one or more will complement your coloring. And btw being $88 makes them quite a bargain.

Ignore the blue one on the left hehehe a bit too plain for my taste!

This screencaption pic via jcrewaficionada

Will you try to invest in Prada fashion lover?

2011-04-01T21:34:00.000-05:00

So apparently for real this time (5 times over the last 10 years) Prada is going public people! It’s the company that cried wolf or not we’ll see in July. As of yet no price is set for the IPO but I can guess it won’t be cheap, so can we regular fashion lovers get a piece of the action? It would be very grown up to invest in a few slices of the brand so the MiuMiu heels and Prada bags can eventually pay for themselves with the return of investment…totally possible since 2010 saw an increase in revenue, still getting access to the deal won’t be easy and then we have yet to learn how many shares will be offered, how many allotted to each financial institution handling the thing, etc. Also cero expectations on getting a big profit and the possibility that if the thing plummets thou shall give unto them even more cash to cover whatever and more. So yeah investing is tricky business even more so with IPO’s it could be the next cash cow or a money sucking black hole. But here's the deal I admit to buying $100+ jeans –you might be guilty of this as well- so that means I –and you- can afford a Prada nibble (let us pray for an IPO of $40 or less which would mean 2 or 3 little fashionable slices)…what do you think? To Prada or not to Prada?

Prada Spring 2011 pic via Style.com

I think you should braid your hair today!

2011-03-24T21:50:00.000-05:00

I think this is Kate Hutson's hair

Costume Design Thursdays Volume 2: Spartacus

2011-03-24T00:26:00.000-05:00

Wow I’m so on track with posting today I need to pat my back now for a job well done *grin*. Normally in the volumes of CDT I might be focusing on a single piece that stole my breath but today lets have a little look-c at some examples from one of my favorite series: the Spartacus franchise –yey gladiators- costumed by Barbara Darragh.

The level of detail on the costumes is so good and complemented very well with hair and makeup to illustrate the evolution of each character, their status improvements as the story moves forward, even moral value changes are registered as I noticed with Lucretia whose look was less aggressive in Gods of the Arena vs Blood and Sand when corruption was running rampant inside her head. Even the slaves reflect the house of Batiatus changes of status. Oh and did I mention the jewelry? Sadly not many detailed pictures or in depth information on the process of costuming Spartacus and the gang are available or maybe I need to flex my online search muscles?

Ahhhh behold Ganicus, so much work goes into his 3 little scraps of fabric.

Who will wear the Taylor-Burton diamond now?

2011-03-23T17:14:00.001-05:00

Success is a great deodorant.

-Elizabeth Taylor

She was an awsome Cleopatra in my book, the wardrobe was to die for!

One of her most famous fashion in film moments from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Ladies and Gents. the bling extraordinaire: Taylor-Burton diamond

The Krupp diamond ring

Fashion Camouflage 1: Joan Crawford

2011-03-22T21:21:00.000-05:00

My people behold the first example of how fashion can create the illusion of perfection: Joan Crawford. Girlfriend apparently had many a “defect” that needed to be fixed via clothes with the savvy guidance of Adrian. She was long waisted coupled with short stocky legs plus broad shoulders. To balance her out Adrian designed dresses that were long and usually dark in the skirt, to create the illusion of length; he also enhanced her shoulders rather than hide them which proved to be a raging fashion trend in her day lasting from the late 30’s to the late 40’s. No surprise there, in the past many trends emerged precisely from someone’s desire to hide the flaws of their bodies, take why men usually leave the last button of their jackets undone: King Edward VII had a beer belly so the bottom button of his jacket was always left open and his gaggle of imitators decided it was oh-sooo-chic. More than a hundred years later and men still follow the royal solution to looking dapper in a suit.

Color Eye Candy

2011-03-19T22:14:00.001-05:00


Quinta Witzel by Simon Burstall for Elle via Fashion Gone Rogue

The colors on this editorial for Elle's march issue are mesmerazing check it at FGR

Androgeliscious

2011-03-12T21:16:00.001-05:00

Most of the Chanel collection was lost on me sorry uncle Karl. But this look is head to toe fantastic in its masculinity yet disarmingly feminine at once. we.want.

Chanel RTW Fall 2011 via Style.com

Thank's for the shoes Marc!!!

2011-03-10T09:45:00.000-05:00

The charming part of the Louis Vuitton show for me were the shoes, ahhh the fantastic shinny ones especially as they can double as rain boots, talk about mixing sexy and utilitarian, a few that resembled turn of the last century boots in crude and purple or black *swoon*

ok models shaving is good

Some of the clothing was delicious but to be honest some silhouettes are a no no for me at least, still a few of the printed dressed and blouses and a few coats made me very happy.

All images of the LV rtw fw2011 via Style.com

Oh the nerve!

2011-03-09T19:56:00.000-05:00

Bad lazy blogger bad! I'm slapping my own hand for not posting in so long, hope you missed me...anyways a little morsel courtesy of Ellie Saab, one of my best friends is getting married soon and I need something to cover the hotness, if only that something could be this dress arghhhhh so if you've got $15,000.00 more or less to burn send them my way in the form of zee dress yes?

Ellie Saab RTW FW2011 via Style.com

Do you remember the song?

2011-02-22T22:40:00.000-05:00

pic by Solve Sunsbo via Fashion Gone Rogue

If you, if you could return

Don't let it burn, don't let it fade

I'm sure I'm not being rude

But it's just your attitude

It's tearing me apart

It's ruining everything

I swore, I swore I would be true

And honey so did you

So why you were you holding her hand

Is that the way we stand

Were you lying all the time

Was it just a game to you

But I'm in so deep, you know I'm such a fool for you

You got me wrapped around your finger

Do you have to let it linger

Do you have to, do you have to

Do you have to let it linger

For some reason this pic makes me hear "Linger" in my head but the one singing is Courtney Love with Dolores's voice, it's all that 90's revival crap, I swear I'll start dreaming of my middleschool crush any day now. Well the decade did have good music.

Lyrics from Linger by The Cranberries via Metrolyrics

Are you safe for me to wear you lace socks?

2011-02-18T16:31:00.000-05:00

So I could bet these dainty lace socks are really soft (being Marchesa and all the quality of the lace most be good) and would look amazing with the right outfit, but since the models didn’t walk any runway my guess is they are slippery as in from 0 to 30 seconds your face is on the sidewalk or you kick your left shoe to the head of the person walking infront of you on said sidewalk or you hail a cab only to find yourself sans one or both shoes when climbing in, I could go on with the silly examples of what can go wrong when friction is absent from the sock/shoes interaction but you already get where I’m getting at. I wonder if they are an easy DIY…

pic via Vogue.com

Ralph Lauren and The Last Emperor

2011-02-17T20:30:00.002-05:00

Ralph and team took a trip to their DVD collection when gathering inspiration for fall. To me it screamed The Last Emperor as soon as I saw the clothes…yeah big memory for movie wardrobes…it seems China is the 3 piglets to retail’s big bad wolf, but designers please do stop brownnosing, how many Chinese inspired collections so far? (Chanel I’m looking at you) Not a bad thing just a bid too obvious.

But back on the movie thing, the glasses and hairstyle is full Puyi a.k.a. The Emperor.

Traditional cuts (think cheongsam or qui pao) mixed with 1920’s fabrics and lotsa fur: straight out of the closet of the Empress and Concubine (dude had 5 wives but only 2 are featured on the film).

This is wife numero tres Tan Yuling

And permeating the whole offering is bad girl Eastern Jewel a.k.a. his cousin the spy, raised in Japan she apparently did not have China’s best interest at heart, but girlfriend had bad ass style (she was big on menswear).

Hello jewelry! Loved the dangling earrings especially.

pics via Vogue.com

It totally works!

2011-02-17T18:10:00.000-05:00

This outfit proofs that a white dress can work beautifully with black shoes (you know it could visually shorten our legs and we never want that). So yeah keeping an eye on the shape and length of things…obviously having long legs like Elettra here also helps.

pic by Phil Oh via Vogue.com

Let's not go there...

2011-02-10T21:07:00.001-05:00

It's on bitches! (well since yesterday but I was otherwise engaged)
Just one quip so far with this very 90’s-hide-the-pictures moment on the runway courtesy of Vena Cava, I mean yeah we loved Nirvana and the dark lipstick, go grunge! But I never rocked the baby T, I HATED it. This look just brought back bad fashion memories. The makeup I totally loved even if it is so school project with glitter landing in your face…which is completely fitting since yeah the 90’s equals school to me.
Just say no to the baby t.

pic via Style.com

pic by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage via The Cut

Lips Like Morphine

2011-01-31T18:58:00.000-05:00

pic by Vanessa Jackman

I want a girl with lips like morphine

Knock me out every time they touch me

I want to feel that kiss just crush me

And break me down

Knock me out

Cause I've waited for all my life

To be here with you tonight

pic by Jonas Bresnan

lyrics from Kill Hannah "Lips Like Morphine"

This is your pose

2011-01-25T15:53:00.000-05:00

How insane are the stilettos in the pic? Me wants!. Second this is a nude pose anyone can land, even if the body in question if far from underwear catalog worthy, small boobs? No problem. Went overboard with Chinese/Italian takeout? It won’t reflect. Whatever you imagine to be the problem with your body (don't let the hotness of girlfriend here intimidate you) if you've ever fantasized of taking a nude picture for vanity this is your pose: sexy and not too revealing, hell you can call it art and hang yourself proudly in your main wall. But I most warn you the hat is not quite working here, too Sunday best.

pic by Adrian Nina

Pleating my way

2011-01-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

Pleats are at the moment high on my “Things I want to wear” list, a black maxi skirt –sheer fabric with lining- plus a cotton sleeveless shirt with pleat insets on the side and collar fit the bill at the moment but I want to expand…yes instead of expanding a business operation or my knowledge on the principles of good investment what I want to expand is the use of pleated fabric among the pieces in my wardrobe.
Before that gives you the impression I’ve got a head full of air let me assure you closet greediness occupies but a small fraction of my interests and this being a fashion blog I’m assuming you suffer from the same inclinations.
But the pleats in my head at the moment are not the Fortuny type with their Grecian goddess airs that few if anyone can duplicate today –his technique was somewhat obscure- but rather sculptural and more straight forward.
And now I break into a fabulous rendition of “One way or another” as I ready for a night of party. What are you up to this weekend?

From Estrella Archs collection (of Ungaro/Lindsey Lohan fame)

Dion Lee pic via StyleBubble

Dreaming of leopard print shoes

2011-01-17T22:15:00.000-05:00

LITERALLY. My dream last night was both weird and funny, a segment of it took place in a sort of classroom and someone handed me a passport size picture of a lace up/bootie hybrid with a leopard print which I needed to draw -an art class maybe? - before I even started I could see my drawing was soooo amazing -in my minds eye how it would turn out- but for some reason I was also pissed off about something not shoe related. Other parts involved me walking with friends in a pharmacy admiring candy bars with the requisite supermarket music and opening umbrellas in the rain among other oddities. Are your dreams imitations of a shaman’s-trip-on-peyote or are they rather boring duplicates of your day or something else entirely?

These Charlotte Olimpia are the closest I've found to the ones in my dream and I think they are worth dreaming about no?

Blooming

2011-01-12T21:29:00.000-05:00

Would it look as beautiful if your outfit's print matched exactly the flowers in your garden? Or is this level of matchy-matchyness best left exclusively to paper?

pic via Antimonide

Expectations

2011-01-11T11:24:00.001-05:00

Honestly when I saw the cover of Out with Tom Ford and his lovahh I was a bit shocked, for some reason I always though TF’s partner of a gazillion years would be equally hot and manly but he turns out to be ~~old~~ delicate looking.
Anyways what I read of the interview was funny and cute, so Mr. Buckley may not be a cross between a firefighter and the duke of Suffolk (as played by Henry Cavill) but he makes his other half happy which is the important part (he does have beautiful piercing eyes plus reminds me a little of Tim Gunn which is always a good thing) and having been a fashion editor he may have advice worth gold when it comes to the empire Tommy boy is building.
Ain’t love grand?

pic via The Cut

Inconformities with the weather

2011-01-08T12:34:00.000-05:00

So how has the New Year been treating you beauties? The past few days I’ve been reading up a storm while enjoying amazing sunshine and cooling breeze. Since I’m on holydays the clothes are barely there but I dream of wearing leather pants and walking in the city thru the snow when it gets so hot I can barely think straight, an irony since when freezing my a** off I dream of wearing barely anything on warm weather while drinking lemonade which is exactly what I’m doing now…*sight*

Lachlan Bailey

Sergio Rosario

Vanessa Jackman

Crazy part being I’m not even fantasizing a styling I just dream of the perfect leather trousers to wear apparently without anything else, I tell you it’s the heat screwing with my head.

What of New Year's resolutions?

2010-12-28T22:06:00.001-05:00

Camilla Akrans

Waiting for the stroke of midnight is fun indeed, all of us full of hope and fresh resolutions for the New Year that will probably be dropped by the following weekend, nevertheless I decided to make a small list of things I want to get done in ~~the following 12 months~~ January, you know…in the spirit of not bitting more than I can chew.

Effective anti-procrastinator measures so I can feel satisfied with accomplishing my new year goals before loosing steam and guilt sets in for not getting around to cleaning my act.

1-Finish the pile of clothes that need to be adjusted or reworked myself or accept laziness and send them to the tailor (small stuff that should be done in an afternoon)
2-Finish 2 fabric necklaces that are half started
3-Eat at least one piece of fruit with every meal instead of my usual cookie/chocolate/random cake slice
4-Finally decide on the type of bangs I want and go for it before my mind changes again
5-Get around to send to the cobblers my cowboy boots and burgundy stilettos that need a bit of r&r
6-Force myself to hit the gym or martial art class (far more entertaining) at least twice a week
7-Nutella brownies need to be baked!

Nothing dramatic clearly but simple things that accumulate quickly and annoy while robbing us of time to pursue more interesting resolutions like planning that trip to Milan in May and what not.
Do you have your list ready?

pic via FGR

Have you been good this year?

2010-12-24T19:17:00.000-05:00

It’s X-mas people so I sincerely hope you were good this year so Santa will bring you amazing presents. A virtual hug to all of you beautiful people! The best is yet to come! Luv xx

It's raining...sadly not men...

2010-12-15T00:06:00.000-05:00

It’s been raining cats and dogs lately and my printed rain boots need replacement (water inside = wet socks grrrr x 1000) but they fought a good battle since they’ve been playing in the rain for more than 5 years with me –talk about a good investment- so today begun a search for my much needed splashing partner; in local stores the options are practically nonexistent which is incredible in a place that receives this much rain (we’re talking sidewalks morphing into rivers)…unless you head to a store that supplies the needs of highland producers since the workers usually can’t wear anything but rain boots but they are field worker oriented so I leave it to you to imagine what they look like…
Online? So far nothing I like is under a $100 but then again I will be wearing them a lot so eventually the search will stop and I will probably agree to pay mucho mas moolah than I had planned for a pair of rubber insulation. Recommendations? Send them my way: best if said pair plays nice with clothes that go from super casual to business casual!

Marina Rinaldi $690.00

Tory Burch $225.00

Hunter $175.00

Givenchy $200

Hunter $125.00

pics via Saks & NAP

Talk to me Harry Winston tell me all about it!

2010-12-12T18:31:00.003-05:00

F.B. is all smiles in Harry Winston’s campaign and who would not be while wearing all those sparkly wonders? How long does that kind of craftmanship take?
The three pics below are my favorites from the 2010 "Live the Moment" campaign lensed by Patrick Demarchelier and style directed by Fabien Baron, not just for the jewels in each of them but how they were showcased, honestly Freja’s face looks exactly like mine or yours would look if a darling someone gave us one of those just because today is sunday.

I’m loving the black lace ¿blouse/dress? here, the idea of piling on big chunky bracelets looks modern because of how varied they are, the multiple rings and no earrings. For the moment I’d have to resort to Swarovski and rhinestones to pull off the vibe for the holiday season, you see no H.W. something something in my hands yet *sigh*

This American luxury heaven has since its 1932 beginnings placed great importance on the stones and settings but maybe their design could be a little more daring no?

pics via FGR

It's all about the hair

2010-12-11T18:45:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I decided to let my hair grow again, for the past two years my hairstyle varied among really cool bobs with all sorts of angles and sharp edges, now I want it lush and slightly wavy Victoria’s Secret model-style and I’m happy to say I’m getting there with the help of coconut oil every week to hydrate (you should try it).
If there is one constant among the “angels” other than super hot bodies only hard ass diets can provide is the sexy hair, regardless of color it is always shiny and bouncy ready for some hairography. Bow to the hair.

Let it Snow

2010-12-06T21:59:00.001-05:00

Milo Keller Julien Gallico

pic via FGR

Costume Design Thursdays: Volume 1

2010-12-02T23:00:00.002-05:00

Shame I was not able to find a full shot of this Givenchy designed cocktail length dress that has haunted me for years that Jean Seberg wears in the black and white scenes from Bonjour Tristesse. When I saw the movie a few years ago I fell in love with the dress but then forgot the name of the movie and well…could not investigate it’s origins until recently when searching for something else (as it often happens to me) I came across the actress and from there to the movie to the dress jajaja. Deborah Kerr is also in the cast and her entire wardrobe is Givenchy, it’s a beautiful movie to watch for a virtual tour of the Riviera…a trip maybe Rodarte took when designing for Target *ahem* (not pointing any fingers but wow it’s like it belongs in the Adventures in Copyright section at Fashionista)

The technical part of wearing a plunging neckline

2010-11-29T16:04:00.001-05:00

Greg Kadel

There’s a lot written on the taste balancing act that comes from wearing a plunging neckline like the one Jessica Stam is wearing on the picture above, some recommend to keep the hems on the knee or longer or to cover your arms, but what about the technical issues? Do you wear a bra? If you have more than a B cup can you get away with this type of garment? Among other doubts.
In my opinion there is no reason a C cup girl (maybe even a D) can’t wear this type of neckline, but the key thing is to give the bust support to avoid looking saggy and to keep things from wriggling around too much, you can do this with adhesive cups or uplifting push ups.

Which you can trim if needed to conceal following the lines of your garment for a custom fit. Another item to assist your plunginess is double sided garment tape, the kind that leaves no residue on fabric or skin to prevent the neckline to move revealing more than you had planned. Adding a silicon nipple cover is also good to remove the worries of temperature changes but beware if your fabric is too thin as the pasties can draw more attention to the nips in which case you need thin adhesive pasties.
Now equally important is to keep the line from neck to end of neckline clean and flat, do not push your boobies together, what you want is to lift each breast in its own natural position making sure both are smooth and at the same height. Other than support what you need is confidence and an editing eye when styling.

Pics via FGR y Amazon

Be the man

2010-11-28T23:49:00.001-05:00

Sometimes it feels good to wear clothes that provide a little roughness, a sort of freedom from our femininity for different reasons. Are we trying to escape from something?

Emre Guven

Simon Burstall

Inez & Vinoodh

The Sartorialist

Vanessa Jackman

Ellen von Unwerth

Pics via FGR

Indestructible singing dress

2010-11-26T14:29:00.001-05:00

To me Robyn’s Indestructible is a sexy sexy song ( neck to neck with pretty much anything from Maroon 5) with an equally scrumptious video, the tubes filled with colored water the singer wears throughout not so much but then I got thinking how we need at least one dress that sings to us how it is gonna love us like it’s indestructible. The kind of outfit that no matter your actual figure improves it exponentially like a miracle hidding trouble zones like they were never there, does not let you go (no sagging anywhere), enhances your complexion with a flattering shade and gives you confidence so you keep smiling all day in an orgasmic daze from just looking in the mirror the hot looking you.
Where can we find such a fantastic dress? Searching mode kicked in and online I went to present you with a few potential singers but then we’d have to try them on to see if they deliver but at least it’s a start. If you have any send the link!

3.1 Phillip Lim

Alexander Wang

Isabel Marant

Hervé Léger

DVF

Notte by Marchesa

Tibi

Images via NAP

Hello Ballgowns!

2010-11-23T21:36:00.000-05:00

Cecil Beaton 1948

Images via Fashion Gone Rogue

Styling tips to help you channel the trendy big cats of Fall 2010

2010-11-22T17:19:00.000-05:00

Animal print is one tricky bastard of a trend, make a little mistake on the styling and it can go trashy faster than you would think so you need to handle with care.
While contemplating the massive offerings of animalia online I remembered I have my own leopard channeling top/skirt set in the deep end of my closet from my high school graduation, it’s a simple shape in rich colors which is perfect since the pieces are made from a fabric with a finish that while not disco ball shinny it is not exactly matte.
Honestly no idea why the animal print since it was not “in” at the moment (guess I just liked it) and will wear it soon, so far 3 outfits already planned as a set and individually, promise to take pictures for you guys to see it! (Yes I’m planning to post more than the occasional outfit pics soon enough).
And since fall 2010 is the season to channel big cats it would be a good idea to look at how fashion icons rocked their animal inclinations for a little inspiration.

Jackie Kennedy who sparked a leopard craze back in the day

Sophia Loren

A model wearing Dior Couture 1947

Grace Coddington

Ursula Andress

Audrey Hepburn in a scene from Charade

Marilyn Monroe channeling Jane of the Jungle

Barbara Stanwyc

So what have I learned?

-Keep it simple people: let the print do the talking while keeping the silhouette on the basic side
-Ladylike accessories work like a charm but you can also go tough
-Fabric quality is important for how the look turns out
-Animal print works as a neutral so have fun with contrasting jewel colors
-A little cat goes a long way on belts, pumps or bags
-Rock badass or ladylike both require the makeup to be simple: basically just liner and lipstick
(if red less liner please), avoid the mask face at all costs
-Bed hair and never-ending legs never looked so sexy

Did I missed something? Take to the comments and share!

A good reason to love Audrey Hepburn

2010-11-18T23:15:00.000-05:00

“My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses, and the little sleeveless dresses.”
-Audrey Hepburn

Grand Strategist : welcome back Mr. Ford!!!!

2010-11-15T16:29:00.001-05:00

I’m glad Tom Ford is back; more than his design talents I admire his fashion promotion super powers, he has a way of crafting interest and story around a product that few designers have (or marketing experts btw). It may seem a bit hypocritical or pretentious what he’s doing now limiting access to his shows but you can bet that’s a carefully conceived strategy meant to highlight his clothes now that we’ve seen all the other collections and dissected them to no end here he comes with fresh product. Brilliant strategy if you ask me from a self financed brand that even with a super star designer is miles away from the promotion budgets big companies have.
When it comes to the collection itself well…My mind was not blown away as I expected, the clothes are pretty but rather blah but this being a Tom Ford collection the details up close must be incredible and the fit perfect regardless of who tries them on.

Oh isn’t he looking stunning in these pics? I’m so happy you are back Tom!!!

Taste, Vanity or Low Self Esteem?

2010-11-13T20:48:00.000-05:00

Where is the line that separates simple vanity from low self esteem? Or is it just a matter of taste? I’m talking about the things we do for beauty or our perception of it at a given moment in time. Cultures before us removed teeth or incrusted jade into them, other blacked their teeth or stretched their lips or “artistically” scarred the skin on their faces.
Today we have Botox, hair dyes, colored contact lenses, liposuction and a variety of tricks that range from açai berry lotions to pigeon poop masks, take your pick because it’s all about what you can tolerate.
I used to have a teacher (a well known TV presenter by the way) that assumed everyone who dyed their hair, straightened it or wore colored contacts was acting on an inferiority complex of some kind and was not happy with who they were…yet she dyed her grays, once I called her on that but “that’s different” she insisted, how so? To me it’s the same to dye your greys or your whole head and I do not find it a sign of low self esteem or an issue of fitting in with the current cannon of beauty but a mere preference.
Like the time a friend of mine competing on a beauty pageant changed her brown hair for red to compliment her freckled skin and green eyes (advised by the organizers) a look she keeps to this day just because it suits her better. Then there’s the style consultant that only wears white, or the hordes of tanning aficionados and I could go on with examples like this when it is not about feeling inferior but trying to highlight what natural assets you already have. Don’t we all want to be the best that we can be? Sure people tend to take things too far (*ahem* Heidi Montag). But isn’t it pretentious to assume that because Beyonce dyes her hair blond she is trying to shed part of her blackness? This is the sort of thing my teacher would say.
True there is that thing about blonds having more fun or whatever but then society also assumes blondes are borderline stupid if not completely, so it is all perspective. If you like sunshine impersonating hair then by all means find a shade and blondify. Because if a change of hair color is a sign of low self esteem then so is using shape wear since it modifies whatever curves you may have providing fake perfection. So you might as well transform from head to toe.
I like facials and the occasional microdermabrasion, what does that say about me? I’m too young to think about Botox (and I’m scared of needles) but if in the future I did some is that me clinging to youth or simply maintaining things where I prefer them to be?
Maybe there is no line at all and we are all a bunch of vanity driven idiots with no love for ourselves because even the simple fact of shaping an eyebrow, wearing lipstick or cutting our hair a certain way is derived from the fact that we know we can look better and won’t accept the “real” us…hence the inferiority complex. Perhaps it is worse to feel this way and do nothing since it won’t do any good anyways and go thru life “embracing” without improvement of any kind.
It’s a tricky subject for sure, what do you think?

Zombiepocalypse wardrobe issues solved

2010-11-11T11:10:00.003-05:00

Ever wondered what would you were to a zombiepocalypse? Since I’m all about The Walking Dead show that question is on my head a lot lately, so if I’m ever cast as a zombie slayer in a movie/TV show –what are the odds of that but work with me- I’d like it to be... you know realistic and not a red asymmetrical mini dress a la Alice on Resident Evil.
Then came this editorial of Marie Claire UK and I think it could work provided one changes shoes and maybe add some protective guards on knees, elbows and some giant glasses to prevent any “contamination”. My reasoning behind this is a slayer needs heavier clothes to prevent scratching, leather boots to protect from bites coming from ground level and rubber soles to move almost soundless, slick design so nothing snags on objects lying on the way to the escape route, gloves are crucial. More importantly the outfits on this editorial fit the bill because they look powerful and could hide any possible blood spatter.
What do you think you’d wear?

Pics via Fashion Gone Rogue