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If I could pick one thing that Christophe Decarnin has taught me, it's to appreciate shoulders. The Balmain designer is all about the shoulders, and, most importantly, he knows how to make them look fierce but still feminine. Where once I avoided all things shoulder-padded with a ten-foot-pole, now I tiptoe carefully and curiously. My closet now houses a few blazers, some of which fit like a glove, some that are menswear inspired, and even one that has the once-dreaded padding! I've learned, thanks to Decarnin, that big shoulders are chic, and even better if I can streamline the rest of the silhouette.
look from SS09 (left), look from FW09 (right)
I've also learned (à la Decarnin) that the more embellished the look is, the better.
Whenever I want to be inspired, I'll look through Balmain's fashion shows, and I always emerge feeling motivated by the sequins, studs, and short dresses that Decarnin sends down the runway. Though his looks are unfailingly bold and daring, they are always in celebration of women and their bodies. Dresses are cut with a slinky and tight fit, then punched up with disco detailing, intricate studding, and crazy shoulders.
It's a formula that, to me, says: I am a woman, I am gorgeous, and if you mess with me I will take your eye out with the rocks sewn onto my incredible clothing.
looks from FW09
Now that you've all heard a little about what inspires me, don't forget to tune in to tonight's episode of The Fashion Show (10 p.m. EST) to see some designer-inspired competition!--Venus
The Stolen Girlfriends Club was formed back in 2005, but it has since amassed a cult following from the likes of Kate Bosworth and Rumi Neely of popular blog Fashion Toast.
Their clothing, inspired by edgy detailing and bold shapes, is increasingly well-received by the younger generation of fashionistas--those who enjoy wearing carefully patterned cobweb leggings and delicately pieced paperclipped dresses.
A favorite from their collection is this pair of silk bandage cut-out leggings ($149 at PixieMarket.com).
I think this pair strikes the perfect balance. Definitely not boring, and not too edgy--I don't feel as though I'll get weird stares as I walk down the street!
Love 'em or hate 'em? If you're a fan, here are 9 more ways to rock leggings.
--Venus
Have you always dreamed of being an editor for a major fashion magazine?
Now, you totally can do that (in cyberspace, that is). Enter, Fashion Finder: Secrets of Fashion NYC Edition, a new game for fashionistas only.
In it, you'll pretend to be Abigail Andrews, a true trendspotter and newbie assistant at a fashion magazine. As Abigail, you'll help manage an editorial calendar, search for hot fashions around the Big Apple, visit several stylish locations, and choose amazing photography for the upcoming issue.
And the best part is, you'll probably pick up some fashion tips and trends along the way to employ into your real-life wardrobe!
Do you think you have what it takes to be a glamazon? Play the game! Let me know how it goes, fashion maven.
--Ysolt
How much would you spend on a handbag?
Louis Vuitton has just come out with the most expensive handbag ever - $42,000 to be exact. This literally has me in “stitches” – no pun intended. Fine – pun intended. So get this – it’s made out of recycled patterns (15 different past spring and resort styles to be exact) – hence the name “The Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag”.
It’s hideous isn’t it? Well, regardless, it’s limited edition and ugly or not, you can be sure that fashion victims and label whores alike are going to be clamoring for it.
According to the New York Post, the patchwork bag was crafted with a complex pattern to ensure it can’t be faked. Please – it’ll be on the corner of every New York street in fifteen minutes for $20.
What do you think of it?
Watch the best and worst looks of the week on the latest Fashionator video.
Have you ever played the game, "If I could be any celebrity it would be...."? OK, fine. But I have. And I really think I'd be Madonna. She is just beyond fabulous - pretentious at times, yes (with the faux British accent), but seriously cool nonetheless.
Anyway – Madge has designed a line for H&M that’s coming out March 22nd – I’ll be the freak camping out – and she did a commercial for them advertising her creations.
It’s hilarious and hip and so her. Watch it now and then tell me your thoughts.
On your marks, get set........shop. An athletic movement has rocked the fashion world for spring. Designers featured anorak, high heeled sneakers, track pants and parka dresses galore down the runways.
If done right, I think this trend could be cute - like the Max Mara dress on the right above. But what terrifies me is that the wrong people will be wearing it the wrong way - I don't want to see anyone sporting the look on the left above (looks great on the 90lb model - but imagine it on someone.....normal.)
Look, the Juicy Couture track suits were bad enough - let's hope people wear this trend in a classy way. How do you guys feel about it?
Watch the best and worst dressed Fashionator video.
The fashion world has hit an all time low. As if the Paris Hilton clothing line wasn’t bad enough, GIRLS GONE WILD is starting a clothing line. Yes, you heard me. The company that produces videos of young women running around half and sometimes fully naked is producing a clothing line. Ironic, yes?
This is classic – WWD did an interview with the founder of the company and he was quoted as saying,
“There’s a little Girls Gone Wild in every girl. That’s what we want to bring out, but without being cheesy.” WITHOUT BEING CHEESY? I’m laughing and crying at the same time.
I’m not done. The tagline for the line is “When clothing isn’t optional”. You can’t make this stuff up.
Life is full of difficult decisions – but apparently, choosing between sex and clothing is not one of them.
According to an article recently printed by Reuters, “sixty one percent of women polled said it would be worse to lose their favorite article of clothing than give up sex for a month.” I wonder who they are sleeping with……actually, I wonder which designer made their favorite article of clothing! Prada? Gucci? Marc Jacobs?
I did a bit more research and came up with some quotes about this topic from notable women.
In the eternal words of Madonna, “Manolo Blahnik’s shoes are as good as sex….and they last longer.” Can’t argue with that.
And our favorite fashionista, Sarah Jessica Parker was quoted as saying, “Most marriages don't last that long, but with Blahnik, you can be monogamous.”
What do you guys think? The below poll was done for a study regarding the topic.
Fashion Week kicks off today in New York City. It's exciting - the lights, the cameras, the painfully thin models that are desperate for donuts.
While being thin is still in with the designers - the cause du jour in the fickle fashion world is keeping dangerously skinny models off the catwalks. Milan and Madrid recently banned models with a body mass index less than 18 from participating in the shows and now New York is considering the same.
I think it's great but I just hope this isn't the "trendy" thing to do right now and by next season they'll be a new "in" issue with the fashionistas - like banning flats on the runways.
WATCH THE LATEST FASHIONATOR VIDEO
What do you guys think?
A couple of weeks ago fellow fashionista Liz reported she was witnessing the same fashion crime being committed over and over again every morning. Women were wearing sneakers to work with their ensembles. Listen lovelies – save your kicks for Jack La Lanne will ya? Melanie Griffith’s character in Working Girl should not be considered a style icon. Liz found some great alternatives on Zappos.com which incidentally should be in the favorites lister of every woman’s web browser. Can you say free shipping? Anyway, I digress.
My solution to those of you who need a comfortable commute? Cole Haan’s Air Pump series – and no “looks like a pump, feels like a sneaker” comments please. They are seriously chic – meaning, I actually was looking into buying a pair before I knew they were comfortable.
Anyone else have any other suggestions?
So just about every celebrity A to Z alive from Justin Timberlake to Jennifer Lopez to Beyonce has started their own fashion line. Some are still around and actually doing quite well while others (i.e. Justine Bateman's clothing line - yes, the Justine Bateman that was in Family Ties) have folded in a hurry.
And now they are all jumping on the fragrance train. Kate Moss and Gwen Stefani (to name a few) have both just signed deals to produce their own fragrances. What’s with all these celebs and their personal perfumes? Not sure I want to smell like Kate Moss – especially with Pete Doherty in the picture.
Anyone taken a whiff of a starlet's scent lately?
Trend or Foe – nerdy glasses? Four eyed fashionistas are turning in their oversized shades ala Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen for a new kind of specs appeal. Professorial aka "geek" glasses. The influence of course came from the runway - they were shown going down the catwalk during the Miu Miu, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga spring shows and now young hollywood is catching on. Starlets such as Britney Spears, Chloe Sevigny, Amanda Peet and Rosario Dawson have already sported this "heading to the chem. lab look". What do I think? Believe it or not I’m into it. I think men are suckers for the sexy secretary thing and besides, I’m SO over the big sunglasses boho look.
What's your take on it?
During a recent one-on-one interview with Barbara Walters, style icon and Vogue Magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour disclosed that she has had the same bob with bangs hairstyle since she was 15 years old. I know Ms. Wintour isn't your average...human being, but isn't it a right of passage to experience at least three horrific/laughable 'dos during a lifetime? Hey - I sported a "Linda Evangelista" style short wedge cut in my 20's - and believe you me, I ain't no Linda Evangelista. It was met with audible gasps (and not in a good way) by those who knew me...er, and a few from those who didn't know me.
So what do you guys think? Take this poll - oh, and feel free to share some of your most memorable coifs.
Hair trend alert: Bangs of all lengths are back with, well...a bang this season. Paris Hilton first started um, banging in a big way last month and then Gwen Stefani, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson soon followed. On the right face, I think this new in “do” can look kind of retro-cool. But beware, if not styled properly, it may result in a Brady Bunch effect.
What do you guys think?
WATCH THE LATEST FASHIONATOR VIDEO
According to... well every fashion magazine out there – the bubble skirt is the silhouette of the season. As if the skinny leg wasn’t enough of a challenge for anyone with curves, designers have now created a skirt/dress to enhance your hips and ass. What a scream. I’ll stick to eating donuts and wearing a-line skirts thank you very much.
How do you feel about this style?
WATCH THE FASHIONATOR VIDEO
It’s a bird, it’s a plane. Actually it is a bird. I think. Well something flew onto this model’s head during an Alexander McQueen fall fashion show in the form of a kooky looking hat. And what a normal person might shoo away or even shoot for that matter, the glamorous world of fashion embraced as sheer genious.
Vogue Magazine has listed hats as must have accessories for fall and they featured this fine feathered fedora by Philip Treacy as a coveted item of the season.
I did a little research to find out how much this would retail for and while I couldn’t find any retailer who actually sold this plumed panama (gee, imagine that), I went on Ebay and found Philip Treacy hats on sale from $40 to up to $480.
Now, my job wouldn’t be complete unless I came up with three things that $480 would be better spent on.
1. Six brazilian bikini waxes at New York’s famed J.Sisters Salon. Total: $476
2. 15 bottles of Michael Kors leg shine. Total: $480
3. 12 handknit J.Crew pom-pom hats. Total: $474
Any other suggestions?
My first order of business is to address what is going on in the denim market. Yes, yes we all know that unless you have the body of a twelve year old boy, you simply cannot pull off the skinny jean trend. Got it. But it’s the prices of jeans that I’m really having a problem with lately. $300 for a pair of jeans that still make my ass look big? For $300 they should perform liposuction and exfoliate my cellulite at the same time.
I was browsing through the Barneys New York website the other day looking for cool stuff that I could afford - NOT – and I ended up in the denim area. All of the jeans were ridiculously expensive and completely unflattering. There was one pair in particular by a company called Superfine that retailed for $272. Superfine? I think not. And here’s the hilarious part. They didn’t even look good on the model. What a scream.
I’m calling for a ban on denim price gauging. We must stop the stores before they increase their prices one more cent. Unless of course they make me look fabulous. Anyone else in on this with me?
