Savage Beauty

The Metropolitian Museum's Costume Institute Gala this year paid tribute to the late, great Alexander McQueen. The exhibit featuring some of his most fantastical creations is appropriately titled, Savage Beauty. The waiters all wore tartan sashes as a tribute to McQueen's Scottish heritage. I so wish I could go to New York and see this! The only ladies I am showing you below, are the ones wearing McQueen. I feel that wearing anything else is somewhat disrespectful, given the fact that the gala is supposed to be celebration of him. It's surprising how many chose not to wear the designer! Shocking, really. Who wouldn't want to wear Alexander McQueen?








Salma Hayek, who served as a chair for the Gala. Clutch also by Alexander McQueen.




Gisele, who always looks stunning at the Met Gala. Some models seem to never learn a thing about style, but this bitch knows.

Daphne Guiness. This piece really was only meant for the runway, so obviously she would choose to wear it.

Sarah Jessical Parker. I love the nude colour!

Naomi Campbell in another look that on any other night should stay on the runway. I must commend her and Ms. Guiness for not playing it safe on an evening dedicated to the man who never played it safe. Daphne Guiness kinda dresses like this all the time, though.

Coco Rocha

Models Liu Wen and Constance Jablonski with John Demsey

Hilary Rhoda

Sarah Burton, the current designer at Aleander McQueen, who has been infusing the line with her own touch, while letting the true colours of Lee Alexander McQueen still shine through.

Alexander McQueen with Sarah Jessica Parker as his date at the only Met Gala he ever attended, Anglomania in 2006.

He will forever live on in the hearts of fashionistas everywhere.

If you care to see what everyone else wore go to style.com and look under people and parties.

The Hats of the Royal Wedding

I've always wanted to go to a British wedding so that I could have a reason to wear a fabulous hat, preferably by Philip Treacy. I have an amazing black feather fascinator, but there is really nowhere to wear it in Calgary. The royal wedding only solidified my desire to attend a wedding in jolly old England. While none of the guests came close to looking as good as the bride, some of them did have pretty fierce hats.


Zara Phillips in a Philip Treacy hat.




Three blondes in three whimsical fascinators - William's cousins on his mother's side.




Princess Michael of Kent - faboosh.




Lady Sophie Windsor in a Philip Treacy hat and Armani suit.




Prince Harry's girlfriend Chelsy Davy looking like a hot mess. As usual.



Camilla Duchess of Cornwall in a Philip Treacy hat. This bitch knows how to wear a hat.

Victoria Beckham in a dress of her own design, a Philip Treacy hat, and the highest Christian Louboutins currently in production. There is something I find a little weird about this hat; it looks like a giant beetle. She has the best accessory of any of the guests, however: David Beckham.

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson in a Philip Treacy hat. The British socialite, who was once a nanny for Prince William and Prince Harry, was supposedly trying to detract from her coke-ravaged nose which has caved in. Apparently, she is now clean and has had fillers put in her nose in an attempt to counteract the damage from her previous 400 pound (about $700) a day habit.

Oh no. Princess Eugenie in blue Vivienne Westwood and a Philip Treacy hat and Princess Beatrice in Valentino and a Philip Treacy hat. So far the best reviews I've heard of these two are "They look straight out of Alice in Wonderland" and, my favorite "They look like the Ugly Stepsisters." Ouch.

The Duchess of Cambridge Chooses McQueen for the Royal Wedding

Kate Middleton, now Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, chose to wear a dress by Sarah Burton from the house of Alexander McQueen for the most important day of her life. The dress will go down in history as classic, elegant, and beautiful. Similar to the wedding dress worn by Princess Grace of Monaco, it featured long lace sleeves, a full skirt, and a two metre train. Prince William was clearly impressed by the gown as we could see him saying "You look beautiful," as his bride arrived at the altar.
Choosing McQueen is a perfect tribute to the designer, who was often inspired by the royal family in his designs. The dress worn by the maid of honour and sister of the bride, Pippa Middleton, was also McQueen.
The tiara worn by Kate was her "something borrowed" from Queen Elizabeth, who was given it by her mother on her eighteenth birthday. Her earrings were a gift from her parents and featured a diamond oak leaf with a tiny diamond acorn, to represent the new Middleton family coat of arms.
It was certainly a day for the history for the history books! Up next: The Hats of the Royal Wedding.



The bride and her sister.



The train, featuring hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace.


Waving to the crowds.



Her diamond earrings.


Pippa Middleton, also looking gorgeous. Prince Harry really needs to get with her!


The carriage ride from Westminister Abbey to Buckingham Palace.


The radiant bride.


The kiss that will go down in history.

Fashion in the Movies

Fashion on film can be a huge style influence. Because it is referencing real life, often the clothing we see in the movies can be much more wearable than what we see going down the runways. The first film to have a sartorial impact on me would have to be Clueless. In grade four I actually
wore a kilt with knee socks and chunky heels to school. Totally inappropriate for a nine year old, I know. I blame Cher.



Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, shopping on Rodeo Drive.


Cher and Dionne rocking the plaid. This is the look I tried to emulate.





Unfortunately, I was also inspired by Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion. Fortunately, it only went as far as a lime green pleather jacket, and I managed to avoid the marabou-trimmed PVC dress.


Hooker-chic...terrifying.

Another unfortunate film I took inspiration from was Spiceworld. I suppose I was a fan of the giant foam platforms worn by the girls before the film came out, but in the movie I got to watch them all prance around in them for a full 90 minutes! I couldn't resist, and I bought a huge foam black and white pair.




Now that I have shared some of the poor fashion choices from my past, it's time to talk about the films that one should take some fashion cues from.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

A classic choice, Ms. Audrey Hepburn as the ultimate girl about town - the original Carrie Bradshaw - shows us that great style will always endure. Every girl needs a perfect little black dress (obviously), pearls, oversize black sunglasses, and a trenchcoat.

Stay chic, rain or shine.

La Belle de Jour

I must admit I have never actually seen this film (it's on my list), but it stars the French actress Catherine Deneuve and it came out in the 1960s. She plays a hooker, which is not genrerally someone I would advise emulating, but this is the classiest hooker I have ever seen. and she gets the cat-eye makeup down perfectly. She wears lots of perfect trenchcoats (not sure that there is anything underneath, though), and all her shoes are designed by Roger Viver.

To Catch a Thief

Cary Grant and Grace Kelly come together to show us how to do glamour properly. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and set on the French Riviera, Grant plays a retired cat burgalar and Kelly is the woman who catches his eye. The famous costume designer Edith Head brought the glamour of the 1950s to life on-screen (she even won an oscar for it).

This really makes me want to get away to St. Tropez and put on all my most glam outfits.

The Devil Wears Prada
Although this movie is basically just a parade of one designer after another, there are ways to make it work without the Vogue closet. Just please, please don't scrimp on the shoes! Never run out for the subway without the perfect bag and coat combo. Say yes to tailored jackets and skirts. And always accessorize!


Anne Hathaway discovering the importance of designer shoes.


Head to toe Chanel...if only...



Wherever you get if from, be sure to always some inspiration in your fashion choices!

Topshop is Coming to Canada!

Fashionistas rejoice! British fashion retailer, Topshop, is coming to Canada. In partnership with The Bay, there will boutiques within the department stores, as well as free-standing stores. I have been to the flagship store in London's Oxford Circus, and it is amazing. Topshop is bit like Zara, featuring up-to-the minute fashions at easily accessible price points, but with a mix of brands. And also amazing shoes. Kate Moss and Sienna Miller are both fans, and in the past Kate has done capsule collections for the brand. I really hope it doesn't take too long for Topshop to make it's way out west...I'm already making room in my closet!

In Loving Memory of Elizabeth Taylor

The world has lost one of its greats. Elizabeth Taylor passed away on March 23rd, 2011. One of the most talented and beautiful actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age, with her bewitching violet eyes, she will not soon be forgotten. She won two Academy Awards, for her performances in Butterfield 8 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, as well as a Humanitarian Academy Award for her work fighting AIDS. In the 1950s she was voted the most beautiful woman in the world.



Throughout her colourful life she was married eight times, twice to the same man. That man was Richard Burton, whom she called the love of her life. In one of her last interviews, she was asked if he were still alive would they have been married again, and her reply was, "It was inevtitable that we would be married again, but it's not up for discussion." According to reports, she had saved all the love letters he had ever written her. Theirs was a love story for the ages. Perhaps the two are reunited at last.


Elizabeth Taylor is best known for her roles in National Velvet, A Place in the Sun, and of course, Cleopatra. She met Burton on the set of Cleopatra; apparently during the filming of a love scene the director had to yell "Cut!" several times before they broke apart. The term "paparazzi" was coined during the filming in Rome in response to the chaos that follwed the pair as they began their romance.


I am not sure there has been a stonger woman in Hollywood than Elizabeth Taylor. She has survived divorces, widowhood, alcoholism, and multiple illness, all the while being scrutinized by the public. A woman of true gumption, she will forever live on in our hearts.

With Richard Burton, wearing the famous Burton-Taylor diamond, weighing in at 69.42 carats.

Taylor as Cleopatra.







With Paul Newman in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Wearing a turban, a fashion statement Taylor championed.

A still from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

With Burton in Cleopatra.

Fabulous headdress.

In National Velvet at age 12.

The famous violet eyes.

Farewell, Elizabeth. We will never forget you.