My Favorite Fall Looks

Well, my fashionistas, it would appear that fall is in the air. The leaves are turning colour, there is a chill in the air, and the days are much shorter. There is an upside, though. Now we can start wearing the fashions we saw go down the runways all the way back in February! Here is a list of some of my favorite looks that I will be wearing this fall.

Clean & Classic
This is a look that never goes out of style. Brought back into the fashion limelight primarily by Phoebe Philo at Celine, I liked it best on the Gucci runway, featuring beautiful camel colours, sexy boot-cut trousers, leather, and fur.



Gucci F/W 2010

Celine F/W 2010

The classic pointy-toe shoe is also back in a big way for fall. Unfortunately, it was often featured on a low or even kitten heel, which I am NOT a fan of. Louis Vuitton did my absolute favorite style of the season. The pointy toe makes it classic, but the chunky heel and oversive bow keep it modern.







Louis Vuitton Shoes in ostrich and crocodile A/W 2010


Fur (real or faux)

Oh, how I love this trend...the fur trend can be done in a very classic, grown-up way or in a young, fun way. And this season, faux fur is more than acceptable. Karl Lagerfeld sent a plethora of it down the Chanel runway, and if it's good enough for Karl then it's good enough for me.




Chanel A/W 2010


Gucci F/W 2010


Leopard-print
Now, this is one trend that never seems to die. This season, though, it was out in full force. Seen at Dries Van Noten, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana. With this trend try to keep the silhouette classic, and beware or wearing this in anything other than accessories after a certain age, for fear of looking like a cougar.


Dolce and Gabbana F/W 2010


Dries Van Noten F/W 2010




Gucci bag F/W 2010



YSL shoes A/W 2010

Lady-like Glamour
Rather than the overt sexiness that we have seen on the runways over the last few seasons, this is a more grown-up approach to sexy. References to the 1950s, with full skirts or tight pencil styles, and lots of bustiers with sweaters was seen at Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, and Louis Vuitton.


Louis Vuitton F/W 2010


Dolce and Gabbana F/W 2010

Charlotte Olympia

Charlotte Dellal is the designer behind the fabulous shoe line Charlotte Olympia. Ms. Dellal loves a nice platform and is eschewing the (unfortunate, in my opinion) trend of kitten heels for fall...a girl after my own heart. Her line was launched in 2006, and has been snapped by the fashion saavy ever since. Based in London, the designer has each shoe made in Italy and finished with a signature gold spiderweb on the sole.





A fabulous pink heel with the spiderweb logo.

The designer explains the spider web logo: "I've always had a thing for the story Charlotte's Web - because of my name - and I think it probably stemmed from that. But I loved the story, it's very sweet - there's always one book that you really remember, and I have a copy of it that I have framed and put in my office. Spider's webs are often thought of as being quite Halloweeny and dark but they can be delicate and pretty - I have one as my logo - as well as dark and vampy, which is what I like about them." (quote courtesy of vogue.co.uk)


This combination of the vampy and delicate is evidenced in the collection, and what I think makes it so fabulous.


As per usual, SJP as Carrie Bradshaw knew a good shoe when she saw one and wore two different styles in Sex and the City 2. The first was the most popular style, the Dolly.



The Dolly, a canvas stiletto, featuring a gold "island" platform. Carrie wore these at Stanford's wedding.





The second style is not actually seen in the film, but it's a really cute leopard pair. Ms. Dellal loves her leopard and includes it in all her collections. The big news for Charlotte Olympia is the new store opening in London. This will be the first Charlotte Olympia store, and I really wish I could take a little trip over to London to check it out. The fall collection is "a lot of black eclipsed by colour" in the designer's own words. The store will also feature clutch bags with a spider clasp and stockings, some of which come free with a shoe purchase. The new store also features the first dress collection by Charlotte Olympia. The dresses are all designed to go with the shoes, rather than the other way around.





The Dolly in leopard, a version of this is part of the Fall 10/11 collection.








The fabulous Margo in green python.

Shoes on display in the brand-new store.

Bruce the leopard in the front window of the store.

Singer Cheryl Cole wearing a Charlotte Olympia dress. This same leopard print has been featured on various shoes, such as the wedge below.

I think what I love most about Charlotte Olympia is that her shoes are sexy, unique and edgy. And obviously, the higher the better. Sadly, there is nowhere in Canada to buy them. There is a small selection available on Net-a-Porter, but that's not really the same as being able to try them on. Looks like I need to make that trip to London...

Marie Antoinette: The First Tabloid Darling

It's time for another Marie Antoinette post! Something the the queen had in common with many of the rich and famous today was her popularity as a subject of the early tabloids, or "pamphlets" as they were known. The way she chose to live her life provided much fuel for those who wanted to tear her down and, just like today, everyone loves a trainwreck (see Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears). She was accused of squandering the court's money on expensive fashion, jewellery, gambling, champangne, and fabulous parties, while the rest of the country was starving. Being a foreigner (she was Austrian) and also a woman, she was an easy target for those looking to find someone to blame for France's problems. The marriage between Marie Antoinette and the King was not consummated until nearly eight years into the marriage, and the public decided that this was because the king was gay. They also accused Marie Anoinette of being a bit of a skank and finding ways to amuse herself with other men. The skank angle always manages to make the papers fly off the shelves.
A pamphlet sketch of Marie Antoinette, criticizing her lavish lifestlye, and extravagent tastes.

In the eighteenth century no one could get away with blatant accusations against royalty, so the pamphlet writers had to be a bit creative, using satirical drawings to get their point across. If the tabloid journalists of today had to do this, perhaps we would all be a lot smarter from trying to figure out what they were trying to say. Some things never change though, as it still is almost always women on the front of the tabloids in the the checkout line at the grocery store.

In the film Marie Antoinette she is shown to be actually having an affair, something which was never actually confirmed. True or not, I wouldn't really blame her. Being stuck with a gay husband really gives anyone the right to have an affair.



Kristen Dunst with her lover in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette


Sadly, the queen was blamed almost entirely for the French Revolution. This is outrageously unfair, as it's pretty obvious that one person can't be responsible for all the problems of a country.






Pamphlet drawing showging the revolutionaries searching and then finding the royal family, after they fled Paris

I think a lesson that can be learned from Marie Antoinette's sturuggle to please an unhappy pulic is that we should never judge another until we walk in their shoes (and if it's Marie Antoinette's shoes, they would be fabulous). However, I do encourage judgement of fashion, please continue to keep that up!

The Best Swimsuit of All

So, I'm not really sure how I forgot to put this one on my list of top swimsuits, but I don't think anyone will disagree with me in giving Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royal the top honours for best swimsuit of all time. Enjoy...

The Best Bikinis in History

In honour of summer, I thought I would do a post dedicated to some of the most best - and most famous - bikinis of all time. One of my favorite pastimes in the summer involves a bikini, a drink, a fashion magazine, and the sun. If I'm lucky, there might my a bit of sparkling sea or lake nearby. Now, a fabulous bikini is one thing, but ladies don't forget the accessories! A hat, some jewels, sandals...these are all important components to any seaside ensemble. Please let me know if you think I missed any!


Ursula Andress in 1963's Dr. No. One of the most well-known Bond chicks, Honey Ryder knows how to accessorize her infamous white bikini with a knife belt. Emerging from the sea with her conch shells, she created the most well-known bikini scene in film history.

How I would style it: Lose the knife, unless you really are a conch fisherwoman, and keep everything else.


Raquel Welch wears a fur bikini in One Million Years BC, 1966. While not so practical for the beach, or anywhere else really, Ms. Welch does look fierce in her prehistoric fashion.

How I would style it: For Halloween. That is about it.




Brigitte Bardot, the French bombshell, was credited with bringing the bikini to American beaches in the early 1960s, where it was previously considered scanalous. Ms. Bardot (who in recent years has become a bit of nut), is one of my blonde muses. Everytime I do a cateye, I think of her.

How I would style it: Add some huge sunglasses, because now there is the papparazzi to hide from.


Marilyn Monroe, the most famous sex symbol of all time. Of course it would be her to pair her bikini with heels. Bringing the glam, love it!
How I would style it: Add an oversize hat. Bikini + heels + big hat = glam rich lady.


Pamela Anderson, in full Baywatch regalia, circa 1992. This is only included because the Baywatch swimsuit is so famous, and it's kinda funny.
How I would style it: I wouldn't. Super-high cut swimsuits really should stay in the '90s.




Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid. Ariel's purple bikini top is one fashion statement that made a huge impression on me as a 5-year old. Sadly, once she got legs wearing a bikini was perhaps not so acceptable.
How I would style it: Again, for Haloween! And I did...


I wish you all a summer full of bikinis and beaches!

Christian Louboutin Fall/Winter 2010-2011

Lace, crystals, studs, tulle, bows, shimmer, spikes, silk, fur, metallics...what more can you ask for in a shoe fantasy? Well, luckily this is not just a fantasy but a fantasy brought to reality by Christian Louboutin for his Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collection. Some of the styles were designed for Marchesa, and I think that the collaboration between Mr. Louboutin and Georgina Chapman (the mastermind behind Marchesa) is a match made is fashion heaven. All in all, I would say the collection is fantasmagorical!

P.S. I picked the images in my personal favorite colour the shoe is available in.



Louboutin has continued with his Bridget family of shoes. Below is a quick timeline of the Bridget.







The original Bridget bootie from Fall 2009





The Bridget Strass (as seen on Carrie Bradshaw in SATC2), also from Fall 2009




Bam! Bridget's Back, shown in silver, also available in gold or black.



The Madame Butterfly bootie, designed for Marchesa, whose collection was inspired by the opera Madame Butterfly. Shown in purple suede, also available in black and red and a pump version in gold or black.




Gorgeous pale grey tulle booties, shown here on the Marchesa runway.
Also available in black and gold.



The Amber sandal, also available in black.





The Clou Noued slingback, also available in black. Love those spikes!



Spikes are often a feature in Louboutin's runway collections, and this year was no exception. Subtle spikes, like the ones on the Bridget's Back bootie and the Clou Noued are fun, but huge exaggerated spikes make a real statement.


Does anyone else remember the spiked heels Louboutin did for Rodarte for Fall 2008? I sure do...just one more reason to be jealous of Victoria Beckham. Her metallic pink ones are my favorite, but they came in a few other styles and colours.


Louboutin's latest incarnation of the extreme spike for the Blonds Fall 2010/2011 runway show. This is the definition of FIERCE.

So, to sum up, all these shoes make me almost willing to move into a carboard box so I can afford them. I need to look away, my heart rate is increasing at an alarming pace.

The Blonds

One shout out to all my readers before I get to the subject at hand: thank you so much for reading! And please leave more comments, I want to know what you all think.
I found out the other day who designed that crazy red outfit worn by Samantha is SATC2! It was The Blonds, an amazing design duo who have made outfits for Lady Gaga, J.Lo, Beyonce, Christina Agiulera, and many more fierce divas. Crystals and spikes are prominently featured in
their designs.






Lady Gaga wearing a corset by the Blonds





Katy Perry in the Blonds at the 2009 VMAs


Rihanna in 2 different looks from the Blonds, and not really pulling off either one. The outfit on the left is really unflattering, and the one on the right just looks trashy. Love the Louboutins on the left, though.

The duo behind the label are a couple based in NYC, David and Philippe Blond. Philippe is the blonde face of the company, and I must say he is quite trannylicious. I read an interview with them in Calgary's Metro paper and the picture there had me fooled.


The picture that fooled me! Does anyone else think that David looks exactly like Will from Will & Grace?




Britney in the Blonds.


Philippe obviously had a bit too much champagne in this shot. Love the fur coat and the massive crystals on this outfit.






The ponytail coming off the shoulder is CRAZY!


I looove The Blonds!!! I need this for my Lady Gaga costume in August (for a party). Sadly, I think I will instead buy a glue gun and ALL the crystals at Michaels, as I don't think I can afford the real stuff. If you want to see more go to http://www.theblondsnewyork.com/ or check them out on MySpace.