girl + style

Add sophistication to your wardrobe and years to your face

2007-09-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Marc Jacobs's fall ready-to-wear collection got the following write-up on Style.com:

This was American sportswear, but with a European sense of impeccability. Some might call it "grown-up."

What followed after can definitely be coined "grown up" - an array of business suits, leisure suits, trenches and dresses that Grandma would approve of.

An otherwise scholarly sweater/skirt combo is jazzed up with bright colour. The knee-length, sleeveless dress is kept simple but for the read trimming around the collar.

I think what went wrong with Marc's less appealing pieces was that he failed to add punch to them somehow. Creating a mid-calf-length, long sleeved dressed buttoned up to the neck takes away sex appeal from even the most youthful nymph but making it a nondescript shade of grey makes it look downright mumsy. It looks like something a girl might wear during the Great Depression, when the food is scarce and money scarcer.

The most alarming aspect of the collection was the dramatic transformation of one Zosia Prominska:

summer vaca

2007-08-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

Obviously the blog has been as good as deserted for the last two months. I apologize for the abrupt stop in posting new material, because what with summer and busy schedules, spending time updating didn't fit into my schedule.

I hope that you, dear reader, will get a breather, enjoy the rest of summer (despite the lack of sun--at least on the Canadian side) and come back once September hits.

American Vogue is shallow

2007-06-25T04:43:00.000-07:00

A hilarious post about the decline of substantial articles in American Vogue, with examples from the current issue.

Read

it's wednesday

2007-06-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

Exams are done, I've got two weeks until summer school starts (to get English12 out of the way) and life is good.

Today should be a pretty lazy day. I'm just sitting at the computer, listening to old Metallica and Hendrix, trying to copy the eyeliner look of this D&G model. I'll probably head off to Chapters in a while to catch up on my mags reading and then go rollerblading at 8.

from africa

2007-06-13T09:19:00.001-07:00

Picture of Keira Knightley in the latest Vogue issue:

I'm sort of torn on Keira. On one hand, the majority of her facial expressions in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy have consisted of a rigid pout, but then she seems like the sort of girl who doesn't let fame get to her head and would be a good person to hit downtown with.

But the typewriter? Bah, can you say pretentious?

Love the boots, though.

source: Vogue

exams

2007-06-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

Updates have unfortunately been very sporadic, and I'm afraid I won't be able to focus on the blog until Tuesday at 11:00 am when exams are over.

Have a good week and happy studying (to those in the same predicament).

carmen dell'orifice

2007-05-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

This is the world's oldest supermodel. Can you guess her age?

If you said 75, then your age-judging skills are impressive because you're right. Her face doesn't look artificial so I'm going to guess her impeccable skin is a result of a rigorous beauty regime.

high jump: coco rocha

2007-05-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

Fashion Television did a profile of Coco Rocha and I just had to link it. She is just too adorable and good-natured for words (could this be the dawn of the nice model?). Included is her dance for Gaultier fall'07.

coming up vintage

2007-05-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

I've really started getting into films, particularly from the last three decades of the 20th century. Since we're officially started getting into summer blockbuster territory, I've had to get my smarts-fix elsewhere. Where better than the heavily politicized films like People vs Larry Flynt, Dawn of the Dead, Apocalypse Now, Taxi Driver, Dr Strangelove, among others? And signifying that my interest in vintage doesn't just concern movies and clothes, I've picked up a couple of John le Carre spy novels (The Honourable School Boy and The Little Drummer Girl) to tide me over during upcoming exam time.

And for Raiders of the Lost Ark, I feel like Marion Ravenwood was so elegantly portrayed by Karen Allen.

picture source

comfort me with style

2007-05-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

When the high-fashion version of the anorak hit the runways and magazine pages earlier this spring, I was one of the first skeptics raising an eyebrow and repeating a mantra set in by stylists and couturiers everywhere, "Style and comfort? No way." Whenever I pick out my outfit, I work by combining various items of clothing no matter how uncomfortable one of them may be. So usually I'm found limping slightly from a wedges blister, but I feel that pain is a small price to pay for not settling for lofty quality or orthopedic footwear (read: Birks).

Two days ago, being the kind creature I am, I volunteered to marshall for the local track meet. Although the weather was fairly questionable, I didn't pay too much attention to dressing warmly despite warnings from friends. At 9 am, when we were gathering in the stands, I was a bit conscious of being over-dressed as a sea of sweatshirts and track pants invaded my line of sight (I was wearing black dress pants, mangeta tshirt and blue cardigan, both from Mango).

The bitter wind, cold and rain didn't take its toll on me for another hour, as I shivered and cursed under the bitterly grey skies. Thankfully, our supervisor lent me his windbreaker (which hung like a giant tent on me). Now I am paying for my foolishness with a brain-clogging cold, having fallen prey to the "it's almost summer!!1!" mentality despite the fact that it's more like February outside.

But at least I will be paying more attention to the wool and knit goods from now on.

filming chanel

2007-05-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

Rumors are abound that there are plans to make two films about Chanel (one about Coco's affair with Igor Stravinski starring French actress Marina Hands and the other about her private life rumored to star Audrey Tautou of The DaVinci Code fame). Of course nothing will happen until filmmakers get approval from the House, so nothing might come up of this.

Depending how they approach the content, it could turn out good, or end up going the way of Marie Antoinette and Factory Girl.

source: Reuters and In Fashion
picture from Chanel

goodbye for the weekend

2007-05-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry updates have been slow these past couple of days. Life is catching up to me. I'm leaving for Montreal in a couple of hours. I will probably resume regular updating on Tuesday.

Has anyone seen the La Femme interview on Style Scout? Is she the cutest thing ever or what?

And here is what I thought was a good entry on the "I'm Not A Plastic Bag" craze. Bag for life or just this season?

busy bee

2007-04-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry that updates have been fairly sporadic lately. I've got a ton of final projects and tests.

I am, however, enjoying a break when I leave for Montreal in four days. Since this is my first come visiting that particularly city, if anyone has tips of what to check out and best places to people watch, I'm all ears.

white forecast for the summer, again?

2007-04-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Betsy Johnson x 2, 3.1 Philip Lim

So Fashion File is touting white as the main color of summer 07, and I'm slightly weary since not only is it a repeat of last year but there's also a very fine line between gorgeous designer clothes and ratty white Gap shirts and shorts that are bound to appear on the masses.

we've got soul, we've got style

2007-04-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

I've been so bogged down by projects and constant demands, that I've had no time to escape my little Toronto-attached 'burb and go exploring the city. Well, yesterday, following my instincts to neglect the pile-up of final projects and go out, I ended up going to see Hot Fuzz (not a porno flick by the way) all the way in the heart of Toronto. I took the Queen streetcar for the duration of Queen West (a good 50 minute commute) and happened to rediscover one of my favourite neighborhoods.

Riding past the kaleidoscope of fashion that's present on the street makes me really questions why Toronto hasn't got a street style photographer blogger a la Facehunter, Sart, and the crop of other fellow posters who put their city's fashion online.

In the mean time, there's the Street Trends & Photos section of Toronto Street Fashion.

picture taken from TSF

relaxing

2007-04-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

The new ads for Nine West. I am seriously considering buying the bag, but I'm not sure which color would be better. I'm sort of inclined toward the green but I already have a green bag. And yellow is more fun for summer.
I am just heading off for coffee, and to read The Constant Gardner.

Lancome embraces green

2007-04-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

Lancome has "embraced" a range of eco-chic initiatives that include their launch of Primordiale Cell Defense, which defends your skin against the damaging effects of the sun, environment and high temperatures. And since they have so been inspired by their new spokesmodel, Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann (daughter of Isabella Rossellini and granddaughter of Ingrid Bergman) who proposed going in a new environmentally-aware direction, the company has promised to plant one tree for each bottle of Cell Defense sold, for the first 10,000 bottles.

So is this a new gone-green approach that companies embrace to "give back to the community"? Or a marketing ploy to win over environmentally-conscious consumers?

picture from China Daily

story from Vanity Fair

working the two-tone

2007-04-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

taken from facehunter

Grind me up

2007-04-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

Grindhouse, Grindhouse, Grindhouse. Three hours of pure fun, hot chicks on bikes and with guns, cocky guys, odd limb detachments (a la Sin City) and a whole lotta blood. And Rosario Dawson's bangs.

There's been some hate on the 'net about her kickin' do, but I think they're edgy and cool.

So what are your thoughts?

The style from Europe

2007-04-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

I was browsing Style.com and came across Sartorialist's best of Paris and Milan. I'm posting my favourites below, and I've noticed how I tend to favour looks with one stand-out piece. My by-far preferred are the last two, what with the gorgeous coat and the striking hair.
source

the no bake policy

2007-04-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

Summer's fast approaching (although you wouldn't say that from looking out my window - with all the snow-covered streets) and magazines are breaking out the bikini, tank tops and shorts selections. But rarely do I see satisfactory sunscreen coverage. I got Teenglow in the mail today and there was the obligatory page dedicated to stating what a sunscreen was, the importance of wearing it, the different brands, etc. As soon as I saw the words Life Brand Essentials Sunblock, I had to put down the magazine. Here is the essential tip for buying sun screen:

Don't be cheap. That doesn't mean that it had to be La Mer or cost $400 per jar, but I'd suggest staying away from brands such as Life or Coppertone, since they usually make your face look as if you took an oil bath.

And don't think that a foundation spiked with SPF 15
will cover you properly. "Most of us apply foundation only where we need it or
we use a light layer, which doesn't add up to enough protection," says NYC
dermatologist Lisa Airan. (from iVillage)

and more alarmingly...

If the prospect of cancer isn't enough of a deterrent, keep in mind that sun
exposure is the cause of almost all wrinkles and age spots.

So what products give you the coverage without the greasy look or sticky skin?

La Roche-Posay High Protection UVA-UVB Sunblock Lotion with SPF 45

This is more of a lotion for those summer days when the sun is at its hottest as wearing such a high SPF is not comfortable enough for everyday. Absorbs very quickly and doesn't leave any white residue.

Marcelle Hypoallergenic Suncreen with SPF 30

Marcelle products continue to impress me. I usually slather it on generously in the morning, and in about five minutes, it all absorbs, leaving a glowing complexion (all you need is a sweep of blush and you're good to go).

Also worth looking into (especially if you're looking for a more inexpensive option) is L'Oreal Ombre range of sunscreens. I've used one last summer and it is top notch.

I'm looking into buying another one (either from Clinique or Vichy) so I'll keep you guys updated on how well those work.

The Make up and Beauty Blog also has some suggestions (although I'd recommend getting a higher SPF than 15)

Galliano references, is genius

2007-04-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Little Red Riding Hood, courtesans in big hats, 16th-century royalty, hippies crossed with bag ladies, modern takes on flappers (flapper style is really in this season, with the short cropped hair and a page spread in LOULOU on how to do your Louise Brooks-inspired make-up), and gothic lingerie. And whether or not it's your cup of tea, you have to admit that Galliano grabs your attention.

make up: Pat McGrath
set design: Michael Howells
hats: Stephen Jones
hair: Julien d'Y

picture source: style.com

Scarlett in Vogue

2007-04-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

Lovely Scarlett is Prada (left) and Dolce & Gabbana (right).

Pictures: style.com
Read interviw: scarlett letters

Make-up look for spring #1

2007-03-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Alexander McQueen's spring 2007 ready-to-wear collection and as talked about in FASHION magazine, I'm going for a pale, powdered look all throughout April.

Look shown off by Bruna Tenorio (left) and Kim Noorda (right) at the McQueen show.

Designer: Paule Ka

2007-03-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

I was reading FASHION when I came across a photoshoot and the shoes took my breath away. They really aren't for everyone, but I am going crazy for them. Designer Paule Ka's website revealed even more sights for sore eyes. The first three dresses are perfect for April and I am staring at the feet of the last four models in crazed delight.

Paule Ka website

young birds in the '20s

2007-03-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading Fall On Your Knees (which is not an instruction manual, if you are wondering), by Ann Marie MacDonald, a book that takes place during the first decades of the 20th century, thus briefly baring mentions of gaudy flappers. In case you're not familiar, flappers were young women during 1920s who wore short dresses, cut their hair into bobs and picked up black jazz musicians (seriously--is there a better lifestyle than this?).

Since at the turn of the century, societal dictations and honest-to-goodness decency imposed strict dress codes (ie long skirts and buttoned collars), these women were seen as somewhat outrageous.

Louise Brooks, actress, who followed suit with the flapper trend

Flapper fashion circa Autumn 1928

louise brooks pic from
flapper pic from wiki
info taken from wiki

in vogue, self-portrait

2007-03-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

While doing a project, I needed some cutouts from Vogue, and I decided to reread the September 2006 issue. Just goes to show you, that the magazine does get it right occasionally.Picasso's Self-Portrait, 1972.

Chuck Close's Big Self-Portrait, 1967-1968. (I covet this piece, and love to imagine hanging it in my future home).

There's that wonderful Picasso self-portrait, crayon and whatever, of a big head with very big eyes and stubble all over. It's such a great, great work, one of the last things he did. It looks like a skull. My self-portrait with beard stubble, which I guess was done a few years earlier than Picasso's, is in the same spirit--nonheroic, not portrait-as-celebrity or the Warhol sense of superstars, but reality and awkwardness and painfulness and all of that stuff.

It's hard to remember how late Picasso was trashed, as was late de Kooning. To really have an impact, an artist has to finish great. Had Matisse not done his cutouts, which he reinvented in Nice, I don't think he would be considered a great artist today. You really need a great endgame. And when Picasso was marginalised at the end of his career by the critics, he had tremendous urgency for artists. Artists looked at that work and saw unbelievable energy and invention at a point where most artists are just content to plow the same field. Attitudinally he's saying, vital to the end, inventive till the end, take risks. It was extremely encouraging.

What you do is you go out and reinvent the whole God-damn ball game.

source: Vogue Sept 2006

full metal jacket

2007-03-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

I was watching Full Metal Jacket yesterday, the first half of which is one of the most enjoyable moments in cinema. The film has some of the best stylistic and thematic shots and camera work. And the special lenses and techniques Kubrick and co. worked out specifically for this film are now widely used.

The film reminded me of Junya Wanatabe's Fall'06 collection, whose theme was war and battle.

watanabe pics: style.com
Film Facts

shoes, shoes, fall's accessories

2007-03-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Miu Miu, Lanvin, Burberry Prorsum.

Reading Style.com's Top Ten Accessories list, only three things leaped out at me: Miu Miu's demure pumps, Lanvin's sky-high heels and the Burberry's looooong gloves. Not a particularly engaging list.

Not impressed:

Fendi, Giambattista Valli, Balenciaga

Furry bags? Skull jewelry? Wide belts? Not too many new concepts this season.

the tease

2007-03-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

Dita von Tease on the runway for Gaultier Spring Couture Show 07.

One of the celebrities, if you will, that I've been fascinated with is Dita von Tease. I don't know if this is strictly true, but here is a quote from Wikipedia:

In spite of this, Von Teese states that she never uses a stylist. "The one time I hired a stylist, they picked up a pair of my 1940s shoes and said, "These would look really cute with jeans." I immediately said, 'You’re out of here.'" She does her own make-up, and dyes her naturally blonde hair black at home.

What's really refreshing about Dita is the old school Hollywood glamour way she has about her. I remember reading an interview with her in Flare, where she said that she always tries to be overdressed wherever she goes. And isn't it the final irony that a burlesque dancer looks the classiest at a premier?

@ mango fashion awards party

2007-03-19T16:44:00.000-07:00

My God, this girl must have the longest legs I've ever seen. She is gorgeous.

from face hunter

LOULOU, don't let me down too!

2007-03-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

LOULOU has to be the magazine I look forward to every month the most. It's not the smartest mag around (in fact, there are hardly any articles at all). That's what makes it so fresh - instead of reading recycled material EVERY month like with other mags (read: Flare, Elle to name two), you're treated to trend dissections and how to make them work for you as well as style hunts around Canadian cities. It's the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon.

A while ago, LOULOU added a web feature called "Street Styling," where readers can submit a picture of a friend (or themselves) who they consider to be fashionable. I went to check it out today, and I was not impressed. This is one of their featured photos and Q&A:Where did the clothes you’re wearing in the photo come from? Top: Abercrombie and Fitch, tank top: Urban Behaviour, skirt: GAP, shoes: Aldo.

What are your favourite stores or boutiques? Abercrombie and Fitch, Aldo, Urban Behaviour.

Who is your source of inspiration? Heidi Klum.

Maybe it's just me, but is that outfit at all suitable to be posted in a web feature called Street Styling? People can dress however they want, but come on, let's call a spade a spade. Or boring, in this case.

Source: LOULOU Street Styling

Matching business sense

2007-03-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

A while ago, Aesthetics + Economics did a post about Lancome Pout-a-Porter collection, especially the Proenza Pink (based on... you guessed it--the Proenza Schouler Spring 2007 show). The post outlined the brilliance of using a fashion brand to market make-up, which can be accessed here.

So what topic had a two-page spread in April's Flare?

MATCH GAME: Hit the right note with the perfect scents inspired by spring's top trends

Now, anyone who's read my earlier entries knows that perfume is really not my thing. But this Agent Provocateur bottle is almost irresistible.

matching Agent Provocateur Maitresse Eau de Parfum with the dominatrix look at Dolce & Gabbana

So what do you make of this trend? Is it a joining of companies with similar styles? Or just another chance to grab our money by attaching make-up and perfume companies to fashion? Or a little of both?

"We are diverse!"

2007-03-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

What do savvy politicians and proud Torontonians have in common?

When asked their favourite thing about Toronto, they are most likely so say "the diversity of the city."

It's certainly true, but for all the pride, we still seem to have some cultural and business lag. Yesterday's Metro News had a front page headline: Fashion rap on province. MPP Cheri DiNovo is trying to get the provincial government "to add fashion design to its list of recognized cultural industries..."

Milan has a minister of fashion, Quebec spends tax dollars to support designers,
and Japan pushes its fashions around the world. But here in Ontario, the fourth-largest design centre in North America, the government doesn't even count fashion design as a cultural industry.

This article comes at an appropriate time, what with Toronto Fashion Week having kicked off Monday. It's a bit appaling that the Ministry of Culture needs such prodding. Even if you ignore the art and culture side of it, fashion is an enormous business. I seem to recall a while back that a politician wanted to make it mandatory that movie theatres keep a certain percentage of the films they screen Canadian to give Canadian films and art a fair chance. But keeping designers working in Ontario, by giving them grants to start their business, to broaden our pool of Canadian fashion apparently wasn't even considered as a means of getting Canada into the international limelight.

Arts Council of Ontario grants to filmmakers range from $2,500 to $5,000 for
emerging artists and from $5,000 to a maximum of $40,000 for mid-career or
established media artists.

ALSO IN NEWS: Marc Jacobs checked himself into rehab. Read about it here, here and here.

article source: Metro News

To the lip rescue!

2007-03-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

This winter had been particularly bad for my lips, to the point where the cold had made them chapped and unsightly. Using the Burt's Bees chap stick didn't work as it didn't so much a moisturize as go over my lips in a caked-on, goopy mess. At Shoppers, I was debating which clear lip gloss to buy when I came across...
This stuff is magic in a tube. It smells fantastic, it absorbs easily and, although its price is fairly up there in terms of chapstick, it won't set you back by very much. So if you have the same problem as me, and are tired of trying product after product to no prevail, give this a shot.

NOTE: Wow, I just Googled one of the chapstick's active ingredients (oxybenzone - which absorbs UVA rays) and it could be or could not be potentially dangerous for you! Because it is either quickly absorbed by the skin or it's not absorbed at all. So basically, use at your own risk, is what they are saying. So either suffer the consequences of going out in the sun without adequate protection, or suffer the consequences of using adequate sun protection.

source: article

Balenciaga, nice jackets, and gymwear

2007-03-08T17:06:00.000-08:00

Apart from some killer shoes, I really loved the jackets at Balenciaga fall 07 show. There are naval tones (especially in the bottom left and centre) as well as military undertones (top left), and they are very striking and beautifully cut.

But...

I am all for deconstructing fashion and crossing over boundaries and casual wear as formal, yadda, yadda, yadda. But those are exactly, exactly, the pants I used to wear to the gym. Down to the 2 white stripes along the side. There is no distinguishing detail. They are pants you will pick up at your local supermarket, without the $400 price tag.

images from style.com
Balenciaga video (for clearer visual of the gympants)

McGrath: Pat on the head

2007-03-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

At Gucci Fall'07, models made up as cross between scholar and femme fatale.

In the past, McGrath, at Dior couture show, works her magic.

Time Style&Design article (2003): The Shape of Things to Come (Pat McGrath)

Gucci stills from style.com

Oscar de la Renta Fall'07 backstage Youtube video

Gucci Fall'07 backstage video

Jumpin' Jill

2007-03-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

A bit reminiscent of the last season, but the color appeals to me.

source: Spanish Vogue

Blast from the past

2007-03-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take you to a pre-Civil War time, to the time of cinched waists, flaring skirts and oversized sleeves, when a man called Franz Xaver Winterhalter did paintings of royalty (was appointed court painter by French king, Louis-Philippe).Portrait of Madame Barbe de Rimsky-Korsakov, done in 1864. (Technically, not pre-Civil War, but I'll let it slip.)

Portrait of Elisabeth of Bavaria, Empress of Austria, painted in 1864.

The Empress Eugenie Surrounded by Her Ladies in Waiting, painted in 1855.

pics/info from wikipedia

Where's my hair again?

2007-03-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

The weather reports have officially made clear that we are at the mercy of the elements. I don't about you, but the thought of wearing new clothes onto to get salt or mud on them (completely inevitable, if you are me) is disheartening. Especially since it is so disastrously cold. (For you non-Torontonians: our fair city had a serious snow storm on Thursday, March 1--coinciding in an unfortunate manner with my friends' birthday party--and due to shifty planning, I managed to stay outside for an hour and a half waiting for my ride). I don't know about you, but trudging around in freezing weather with a constant sheet of snow falling onto your clothes and hair, then standing on a painfully crammed bus for half an hour with your oversized tote cutting off circulation in your arm is about as glamorous as shopping at Sears.

So I can't wear particularly what I like during winter. Instead of pining or risking pneumonia by defiantly refusing to shelf my flats and heels, I've been concentrating on my face. I'm not going to lie; I'm a fairly boring make-up operator, but only because what may look cool and matching in my bathroom mirror looks freakish and garish in the proper outdoor light. So I have been discouraged after pulling a few "ooooh, that's embarassing" faces in the girls' bathroom mirror.

But I am determined to change all this over the (hopefully) last several weeks of winter by getting some inspiration from the runway looks (toned down to fit the everyday life). I've always had two ideal looks: heavy eyes (mascara, eyeliner and a vibrant eyeshadow) and natural blush-only for a (this is an awful description I've seen used in too many magazines) "just-did-yoga" type of aided healthy glowing look.

I was going to post a couple looks that I'm trying to master these days, but my camera is out of commision. For hair, I've been trying to get it in a sort of polished wind-blown look, but so far, it just looks like I've got ponytail bends.

By the way, what's with Vogue having Jennifer Hudson on the cover of their "Power" issue? Shouldn't they have picked someone who actually wields power instead of a girl no one's ever heard of 3 months ago?

pics from style.com

Fit for a doctor

2007-02-23T05:47:00.000-08:00

In twelve years, when I am working as a neurosurgeon (humor me here), this is what I will wear to work:

Etro fall'07

Philosophy: for the mistress

2007-02-22T16:29:00.000-08:00

Is it me or do these shoes scream "mistress"? Can't you just imagine some tall, perfectly-proportioned "other woman" with really good hair and discreet sunglasses striding to a hotel for some lunchtime infidelity? Also, she may or may not be a dominatrix.

From heel hell

2007-02-08T16:04:00.000-08:00

I can't be the only one who has the misfortune to continuously come across these super-straight heels, am I? It's been cold in Toronto for someone, and the masses have brought out their gear to ward off the season's harsh climate. Unfortunately, many women are also mistakenly duped into wearing this type of shoe where the heel begins right at the end. I think I can safely assume that unless you are SJP, heels are probably not at the top of your Comfortable Footwear List. Women wear shoes because they look good, which in turns makes us look good, or they go with our outfit. And the shoe above gets a big fat x on all those fronts. You don't have to live in stilleto boots to wear fashionable winter footwear, because there are plenty of chunky heels that look good enough to eat (see: winter wishlist Ann Sui boots). Please, I am be just another voice on the 'net, but this type of heels doesn't look good on anyone. ever.

Unfortunately, these particular heels aren't the best example (but it took me long enough to find them so I'll have to make due) because they are a decent height. The stuff I see on the subway daily is a good half the height of the pictured heel. And a tiny heel really just rarely looks good on anyone. So unless your feet are under 6 1/2, it'd be a good bet to leave them at home.

What sort of do-not-resuscitate things do you guys see on your daily commute?

Pictures taken from Naturalizer.

Still alive, but just barely

2007-01-22T18:48:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, unpades have been extremely sporadic. Until the end of the month, Thomas Jefferson, stoichiometry and genetics are taking up my time. Once this test overload is done with, I will be able to resume my duties as a fashion devotee once more.

Brain damage

2006-12-28T16:51:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder how a certain subject or custom developed and who got the bright idea to try something new and come up with a brilliant (or brilliantly mad) solution? I am one of those naturally curious people who has constant questions about everything from everyday life things faced by all to political, social and economic issues. (How/who did develop the system of prison? Who came up with the idea of paper money? How is it that people were able to be persuaded to use "paper" that's not the same worth as a material product? Why does hair remain "frazzled/dead" even after it recovers from a disasterous dye-job?) This is probably why I have books about cancer in my library and am looking to read Vanity, Vitality, and Virility: The Science Behind the Products You Love to Buy by John Emsley.

What has been bothering me for some time was lobotomy: even in the technically deprived past, surely people would refrain from tampering with something about which there was so little information? Well, obviously not.

(I know the five people who are probably reading this are confused as to why a fashion/style blog is venturing into such unpleasant territory. Well, I think there comes to a time where spicing things up is not only welcome but also refreshing. Yes, I could post another series of shoes/bags/shirts that I would die for, but I think you guys are resourceful and can be left to your devices for a while. Plus, (and I may be alone in thinking this) getting a break from all the product-pushing, especially during this Boxing Day-time, can be nice.)

So lobotomy was thought up by Friederich Golz in 1890, who practiced on his dogs and found the results pleasing, as the dogs became calmer. Later, good old Gottlieb Burkhardt, head of a Swiss mental institution, thought it would be a good idea to perform this on six of his schizophrenic patients. Aside from the two that died, the experiment proved to be successful.

In 1935, over at Yale University, Carlyle Jacobsen attempted front and prefrontal lobotomies on chimps and once again, found them calmer after the operation.

But it was Antonio Egaz Moniz who put lobotomy on the map.

He found that cutting the nerves that run from the frontal cortex to the thalamus in psychotic patients who suffered from repetitive thoughts “short-circuited” the problem.

With his colleague, Almeida Lima, he came up with a prodecure of drilling two small holes on either side of the head and inserting surgical knife to sever the prefrontal cortex from the rest of the brain. He was tampering with some delicate stuff, and rightly thought that lobotomies should only be used in extreme circumstances since many of his patients didn't survive. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1949.

Did you know?

Between 1939 and 1951, over 18,000 lobotomies were performed in the US, and many more in other countries.

Info: A Brief History of Lobotomy
Picture: Simpson Crazy

What they say...

2006-12-27T16:07:00.000-08:00

"Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follow religiously the new."
--Henry David Thoreau

"We live not according to reason, but according to fashion."
--Seneca

"Fashion is as profound and critical a part of the social life of man as sex, and is made up of the same ambivalent mixture of irresistible urges and inevitable taboos."
--Rene Konig

"Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months."
--Oscar Wilde

"It is fancy rather than taste that produces so many new fashions."
--Voltaire

"Fashion is an imposition, a reign on freedom."
--Golda Meir

"What a deformed thief this fashion is."
--William Shakespeare

"Fashion is a social agreement, the result of a consensus of a large group of people."
--Stella Blum

I think I agree largely with what Stella Blum said. I suppose "large" can be subjective and open to interpretation from just about anyone. It can mean the staff over at Vogue who wield impressive power over their readers/anyone rich enough to consult the mag before popping into Holts/Saks. Or just general bodies of people--in Canada, I think being fashionable is pretty much open to whatever end of the spectrum you follow. Or just even designers and their consulting teams.

But on the whole, these claims that fashion "steals" people's individuality are hardly groundbreaking. Even back in ol' Bill's time, people were hardly unique compared to others, and then what?-fashion comes along, and turns 'em all into carbon copies of each others? Since we're exposed to the same social mentality from birth, it's hardly surprising that we chose to dress somewhat similarly when we're old enough to make decisions about what we wear.

Voltaire's aphorism cracks me up. Looking through some of the collections makes me give him a nod of general agreement.

Quotes are taken from www.thinkexist.com/quotations

Perfume the movie

2006-12-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

One film I am really looking forward to is Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

To those who haven't heard of the film, here is a synopsis from www.cinemaclock.com:

France, 18th Century. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille has a unique talent for discerning the scents and smells that swirl around him, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. Strangely lacking any scent of his own, he becomes obsessed with capturing the irresistible but elusive aroma of young womanhood. As Grenouille's obsession turns deadly, twelve young girls are found murdered. Panic breaks out as people rush to protect their daughters, while an unrepentant and unrelenting Grenouille still lacks the final ingredient to complete his quest.

The stills from the film look good, and I am very much hoping that it brings us the historical sets and lavish costumes with actual plot content and substance, unlike the earlier Marie Antoinette whose director no doubt spent the budget on hundreds of Manolos rather than hiring a competent writer.

Stills can be seen at the official website. (And can we agree not to mention Alan Rickman's horrid wig hairline in the name of good taste?)

(Plus, get a load of the girls' red hair! I wish that I was so heretically lucky to get vibrant-coloured tresses/courageous enough to venture onto the dyeing road).

If you're going to the official website, give a listen to the music. I thought it's very beautiful (if a bit creepy) and stands very well on its own.

Supreme shoe lust

2006-12-25T16:47:00.000-08:00

When it comes down to it, especially when it is fashion, I am about two things: bags and shoes. Clothes can be manipulated to suit your mood or style, by adding extra touches to make them feminine, aggressive, grunge, classy, or just about anything that says "style" to you. Bags and shoes, and most accessories for that matter, are what they are. That's what makes a good bag so hard to find, since bad-quality leather, lack of attention to detail and sloppy stitching cannot be fixed.

And so it is exceedingly difficult for me to browse online catalogs of these goods without falling madly in love and then mooning around gloomily as a result for my student budget.

Of course, what is the point of a blog if not to share your thoughts (or objects of my affection, in this case) with your readers.

What I like about these Marc Jacobs utility boots is that, although they look very comfortable, the heel is cut fashionable enough to not suggest orthopedic footwear. Even though when it comes to lace-ups, I tend to favour the boots that stop at the knee, this design really makes the shoe easy to work with. $798.00

I am all about the ankle boots. But it seems that most designers either cut the design too high, or add too much distracting patterns and shapes to the top. In my opinion, the ankle boot looks best when it is classically cut. These Christian Louboutins embody my vision in a simple yet striking package. And for $645.00, you can cherish them forever.

For the last couple of days or so, I'm been solving a case of designer identity, otherwise known as "Is It Or Is It Not?"

It seems that when my grandmother came back from Russia, not only did she bring photos to destroy my perception of a certain relative, she also managed to acquire a Fendi bag. But I'm skeptic about it: on closer inspection, the leather seems good quality, but the stitching is all over the place. Honestly, I'm sure that I, with my minimal sewing machine training, could put together a better product. And that's saying a lot, coming from a girl who set off to make a fitted sleeveless tee, and ended up with a giant muumuu-like shirt with sleeves to my elbows. But then the design looks too unique to warrant a cheap re-production. I would post a picture, but my camera-lacking household doesn't permit me to do so.

However, this designer-doubt is generating from the fact that I was suprised to find a designer F stamped into the handles, because my grandma (much as I love her) is a suspicious source of fashion wisdom and designer goods. Case in point: when she said to me "Why don't you buy a nice jean jacket? You can wear it so well with your jeans."

So while I continue my rousing game of designer detective, you can head on over to Net-A-Porter (where the pictures are from), and have your very own shoe-love experience.

Don't go before your time, dude.

2006-12-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

My grandmother recently got back from Ukraine and, besides the presents and souvenirs, demands for pictures were voiced before she even had the chance to sit down (we're truly not the most polite family). It has been six and a half years since I have seen any of my friends and family personally, and with our large extended families in Ukraine and Siberia, interests were peeked.

Most of the news and phographic evidence weren't uplifting. One of my mom's cousins was hopping between jail and his heroin addiction, his mother tired of lending him money. My dad's niece got married, and took it upon herself to get badly dyed purple hair.

Now I remember this niece. It was the same girl who came to visit us when I was about 9, and who I desparately begged to take me to the clubs whenever she was going out at night. I remember the brown jeans with the slashed holes she used to wear (all right, she wasn't the most stylish person--but it was the 90's). I thought she was the coolest person I ever met.

So when I heard she got married and there were pictures, I was thrilled. I'd finally see how she was fairing after all these years of separation. What greeted my eyes was shocking: old, weary face, lifeless eyes, a geriatric uniform of shapeless pastel shirt and pants to blend in with her mother and my 40-something aunt, hair cut to suit her transition into an old woman. "But she's only 27!" I almost shouted. Surely this can't be what has become of the pretty, chic city girl in my Slavic home land?

I went online to make sure that Ukranians weren't countering political and economic unease by turning into gargoyles well before their time. Street Style managed to assuage my fears with these pictures:

Looks a bit like Lohan, but I love the hair, and the bag. (I'll choose to ignore the leggings... just this once.)

Normally, I'm cautious about the whole grunge thing because it's so easy to overstep your boundaries and end up wearing something you can't pull off. But this one kind of grew on me. Plus, oh god, that guy's pec-peek makes me grin.

No, I don't think she's been watching the Vuitton Ready-to-wear Spring collection.

I think there's lots she could learn from these femmes (to borrow a word from La Femme).

Photos taken from Street Style Ukraine.

Silhouettes and warriors

2006-12-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

Now, Giles and I haven't seen eye-on-eye regarding his 07Spring ready-to-wear collection, because truly, I can't believe anyone but the very coked-out designer would think that wearing a giant piece of fur in the shape of an egg will somehow flattered anyone. I know couture isn't supposed to be practical and all, but come on now.

Well, perusing the UK Vogue website, I came across some 80's dresses. This particilar one by Giles makes me forgive him a little about his bad judgements:

Now, maybe if it didn't have the wonky 90's padded shoulders, I could proclaim my totally love for it. Because, let's face it, with some trends (particularly the padded shoulders--I know it's socially significant, and all), but it's bad enough to suffer through them once.

By Georgio Armani:It's... so... 80's! But I'm drawn to the skirt. It's purple... with polka dots. And I love it. It's a bit far-out... but it's so striking! Although it would look a lot better with a good solid-coloured jacket. Say... in black.

You've got your Urban Warrior, by Underground:
I know that some high end fashion designers pride themselves on being creators of something so artistic and avant-garde that the normal masses would never aspire to don their designs (not even getting into the astronomical costs that makes designer clothes out of the reach of most people).

But walking downtown, I continuously see cyclists and pedestrians covered head-to-toe, with only their eyes peaking out, materials wrapping their heads.

It's not to mirror any fashion trends - the covered faces are to protect themselves from the vicious wind. But when you look at them, they do resemble the urban warrior - eyes squinting, determined to get to their destinations, battling traffic and impulsive drivers. The headwear is black and stretchy, the shoes are scuffed white sneakers, the jeans corduroy and in ill-budding colours, but on some contrasting level, they do relate.

UK Vogue

How Vogue can you go?

2006-12-05T15:30:00.000-08:00

In the world of fashion, Vogue magazine is considered the cream of the crop and a highly revered publication. You are unlikely to find a fashionista worth her salt who doesn't know the name Anna Wintour. Little girls would flip through pages of lacquered individuals dressed in impeccable clothing and wish that someday it would be them strolling in designer clothes (at least it was true for me).

But like with most things, Vogue's reputation seems to have outgrown its actual voice in terms of real fashion. Celebrities and heiresses have taken the main spotlight and truly stylish women have been cast out in fear of alienating their readers (all right, all right, they still regularly feature SJP--but really, we get the picture). Increasing numbers of articles are completely trivial drivel that's pathetically used as padding.

Now, were this any other topic that has been covered as extensively in the interwebbing sphere, I'd led it to rest for fear of being irrelevant but these points are even more evident in the December issue. At first I debated whether or not to pick it up at all. The cover (Kidman's frazzled hair, her bored and contemptous smile, the dull colour scheme) seemed to warn me of the hollow content in the pages of this so-called Fashion Bible. I went against my better judgement and decided to purchase it so I could persue the pages at my leisure.

Andre Leon Talley (a man who rubs me the wrong way, to tell you the truth) gives his opinions on the Spring ready-t0-wear 2007 collection. I imagine him and Anna Wintour sitting in a lavishly decorated room, delicately sipping over-priced wine and talking about a preference of clean, well-tailored Chanel suits over the more modern woman-armour from Marc Jacobs and McQueen. Then they would spot another fashion powerhouse, cooly peck each other on the cheek before sitting back down, content that they are easily the most well-known fashion personalities. What I am trying to say is that, in the privacy of their homes, where tabloids can't axe them for their thoughts, I have no doubt that Ms Wintour and Talley think themselves vastly superior to other mere Earthlings who can't attend whatever fashion shows they wish, and don't have the privelege of inciting awe whenever they go out. And that's absolutely fine - it's not against the law to have an ego the size of Jupiter, but there's only a certain amount of time that has to pass before this schtick gets tired and the world moves on.

And while I'm at it, can I suggest to Vogue to fire their layout editor? Going from a fascinating article about Oriana Fallaci's brave reporting to an asinine recount of pregnancy difficulties just highlights Vogue's loss of the magic touch. And placing Paris Hilton's tacky Heiress perfume advert next to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is just tasteless. If there's a person who's less entitled to fame and money, I've yet to find them.

The Kidman cover article was a bit stale. Yes, Nicole has a new film out, and you mean to tell me she is down to earth, but still, you know, beautiful, and loves living in privacy, and loves being a mother and is totally fulfilled and content with her husband and children?

Really? Wow! But didn't we hear this about... oh, say, every female celebrity who has ever married/had children?

Yawn.

What makes perfume so sweet

2006-11-27T16:55:00.000-08:00

I live in a world where the latest perfume release is inherently irrelevant. I'm not an obsessed collector nor am I a girl who picks out a bottle and for years on becomes the Girl Who Wears This Particular Designer Scent. This could be because I grew in a small little town where it was unlikely you'd be assalted with heavily applied latest version of Lily of the Valley-type abomination, unless you sat near the 30-somethings with the badly dyed hair. (In Toronto, elevators and subway trains are breeding sites for purgent mixing of different incorrectly-applied fragrances, resulting in watering eyes and the inability to breathe).

And don't get me wrong, it's not as though I'm set against perfume. I'd love to be a proud owner of Chanel No 5 or similar some such fragrance. But as with other designer artifacts, I don't buy things that don't appeal to me just because of their label. (I passed up on a vintage brown YSL luggage bag for that very same reason -- it may have been designer, but there's no point in buying something as scuffed and hideous unless you're planning to use it as your next residence). And so every time I dutifully unfold the little samples in magazines, I always think with a certain naive hope Maybe this is the one... before my nostrils are invaded by something that smells like household soap or an $80 rip-off of Calgon.

But when I read about Sarah Jessica Parker's perfume commercial shoot in Paris in December's Vogue, I was ready to be brought to the other side if by nothing else but the fact that it's SJ and the gorgeous Lacroix dress she is wearing.

Celebrity Mound

Winter wishlist

2006-11-24T15:58:00.000-08:00

Being an atheist, Christmas is not something I look forward to or attempt to celebrate. So holiday music and the bringing out of the Christmass tree are usually met with a cynical roll of the eyes. The hopeful claptrap of the winter holidays does nothing to warm by black heart. But having said that, I am a sucker for free stuff, and this list is as much for me as for anyone wanting to get me gifts this December. (Friends, listen up.)

What is on my Wanting list:

Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not A Christian"
Alfred Kinsey's "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male"/"Sexual Behavior in the Human Female"
Kinsey DVD
Night of the Living Dead DVD
Susannah Frankel's "Visionaries: Interviews with Fashion Designers"
Caroline Evans's "Fashion at the Edge: Spectacle, Modernity, and Deathliness"
John Emsley's Vanity, Vitality, and Virility: The Science behind the Products You Love to Buy
Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises
The ability to read in French, so that I can shelf my inferior American Vogue for good
A subscription to any of the following: i-D, Vanity Fair, American Vogue, W, Adbusters, American Scientist

Oh, and these boots by Anna Sui would be great. But I'm not holding my breath.

Doo-Ri Chung and CFDA overlook

2006-11-20T16:48:00.000-08:00

... was the recipient of the Vogue Fashion Fund.

Pictured here with Penelope Cruz. May I just say that I love the simple lines and cut of the dress.

Of course the fashion set came out to party, so here are some highlights:

Milla Jovovich and Carmen Hawk (in their own designs)

Giancarlo Giammetti and Narciso Rodriguez

Lily Cole, with designers Richard Ascott and Philip Colbert. And I am really adoring this picture.

Agyness Deyn. Come on, how cool does she look?

Marc, and the Olsen twins. What is that green see-through cover that MK/A has on? I can't tell if I really love it or hate it.

Whoa-nelly! What has Kate Spade done here? An oversize, bright colored coat with shiny slippers. Does it get any more maternity clothes than this?

CFDA

Fur overload

2006-11-17T10:34:00.000-08:00

I know this topic has been done to death by fashion bloggers worldwide, but browsing through Style.com over my spare, I came across there hideous monstrosities:

This one is only good for Halloween, when you want the five-year-old trick-or-treaters to think you have grown a bird's nest instead of a head. Vision is optional.

This is the fur ball to rival obsessive cat ladies everywhere. (Honestly, though, I would give anything to see a normal woman wear this.)

This is a bit of a repeat of the first picture, but now, instead of just the boring bird nest, we're got an extralarge moustache as a hat/face covering. I mean, maybe if you're into the whole Marx Brothers thing, but for me, personally, a big no.

Giles

Bags of our fathers

2006-11-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

I grew up in a small village in southern Ukraine. When I was a little girl, my mother began to make trips to Odessa, where she bought wholesale products, which she later sold in our town for a profit. To make these trips, by bus no less, one required fairly sturdy, cheap bags that would be big enough to carry a fair amount of product and easy to replace if one happens to break. I remember these bags as though it was yesterday because they remained with our family throughout my childhood, when my parents actively made a decent living in sales. Big, rectangular, with a red, blue and white pattern, they were often utilized in my home.

Marc Jacobs obviously thought the same thing, because here they are in their fleamarket glory:

Now, this picture is truly Ukrainian. Lots of layering to keep warm into the winter, a weary face, flower-like hair accessories that resemble curlers, and a handy bag to store your produce in. You can't help but think that in a minute this girl is going to peek out of the house, see her dirty son, and yell at him for getting mud on his clothes again.

Louis Vuitton SS07

King watch

2006-11-14T16:55:00.000-08:00

For the last several weeks I have been a complete hermit, leaving my room only for the occassional meal and to peruse online fashion news. It had gotten to a point where I could barely navigate my way around downtown Toronto (yes, it was that bad).

But now that school has retreated to being merely a dull nuisance of work, I was finally able to head downtown, where I could be assured that worn Uggs and Juicy Couture sweatpants are not a fashion staple enjoyed by trendy Torontonians.

Of course, Toronto is no rival to fashionable cities like Milan and New York, and you're unlikely to see gaggles of fashionistas slinking on Spadina in their five-inch Louboutins, but we've got charm. Plus the chilly weather just makes you want to layer several sacks over your body, not break out the tiny jackets.

So wondering down King West, I was hit with reassuring sights: confident business women striding in smart suits, hip girls in skinny jeans and knee-boots, very cool guys in jeans and trench coats, in designer shoes and chic scarves. In fact, I think there were more impeccably dressed men than women miling about. Let's be thankful for the metro movement.

NOW 25th birthday bash:
Those waisted pants are gorgeous, and the clean simple pieces really make the outfit stand out.
Look at that smile. Look at those tights. And those boots. One word: fantastic.

NOW party pics

Russian fashion

2006-11-10T17:21:00.000-08:00

Science courses have been keeping me busy, but I'm trying to stay on top of the fashion world (because, let's face it--it's much more important).

Namely, five Russian designers are showing their collections at China Fashion Week in Beijing, starting November 19. And not only that, but they're getting a separate day to showcase Russian talent! We're finally moving up in the world.

The five designers: Sergey Teplov, Yulia Nikolaeva, Olga Romina, Julia Dalakian and Tatiana Parfionova.

Parfionova, in St Petersburg earlier this year:

And here's a bit of Russian Fashion Week '06 in Moscow overview.

Natalia Valevskaya:

Katya Mosina:

You know, I've never been a blind Russian patriot ('cuz, you know, I'm not Russian... at least not directly) but I'll admit that the Russians do have a distinct look. The clothes by Ms Mosina remind me of the cool stylish figures I read about in my Mom's Russian fashion magazines when I was but a girl of eight. But then on the other hand... there are the walking disasters that have "Russian" written all over it, such as the woman clothed in the beige sweatsuit with Bermuda shorts horrorshow. And, dear God, are those little carpet rectangles sewn in on her shoulder?

Be warned, dear readers: that is exactly the uniform of a middle-aged woman trying to desparately retain her youth by wearing hideous ill-fitting ensembles.

Well, I'm off to study nucleotides and endosymbiotic theory. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

Russian Fashion Week in Moscow

Russians in Beijing

Snow white and disappointment

2006-11-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

So I went to H&M today, to check out the Viktor & Rolf collection, mostly just intent on buying the scarf. Of course, silly me, I (rather foolishly) assumed that a coveted label at low prices would not sell out most of its designs only five hours after it debuted.

By the time I got to the store, at around 3, the scarves were gone. And the heart blouse I wasn't sure about was also nowhere to be seen.

And I have to admit that, as much as I was looking forward to this, the clothes looked a bit cheap. Especially the V&R (heart) H&M t-shirts. I know, I know, at 24.99, what was I expecting, right? The clothes (or whatever was left over) just looked very drab and uninspired. Which really is a shame, because as I left to browse through the rest of the store, I found some dresses and jackets that looked fairly sophisticated and they that didn't cost more than any shirt V&R presented.

On a much brighter note, though. Isn't this the most Snow white-inspired outfit that you have ever seen? I'm absolutely in love with it.

Vivienne Westwood S07

Viktor & Rolf come to TO

2006-11-08T17:14:00.000-08:00

So tomorrow, the Viktor & Rolf collection will be available in the Eaton Centre and Bloor H&M stores. I really want the scarf (not pictured).

And I'm kind of eyeing the blouse with interest. But I'm not sure that it's the sort of thing I can pull off without looking very strict-librarian.

Viktor & Rolf for H&M

Sex and the City, the movie?

2006-11-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

OK! Magazine reported that the Sex and the City movie is "back on track," that talks have begun with the stars' teams about the possible movie.

As much as I looove SATC, is a movie really necessary?

For one thing, what would happen? As far as I saw, the last episode tied things up in terms of plot and "who will end up with who."

Another thing--the writers probably won't have free reign over subject matter and rating. I'm sure that some major studio will hop on the project right away and try to make it as PG as they can to attract as wide an audience as possible. So where would it leave the fans who are used to lines such as "Fuck me badly once, shame on you. Fuck me badly twice, shame on me." and

Samantha: Ladies! Seamen, twelve o'clock!
Miranda: I pray when I turn around there are sailors, because with her, you never know.

But I'll just shut up and show pictures of what makes SATC so great (besides the wit and humor, anyway):

First 4 pics taken from Carrie's Diary
The rest are from hbo.com
Sex & the City film in the works

Anna Sui

2006-11-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

These dresses make me wish I had several grand in the bank, just so I could buy them.

Anna Sui 2007 Spring Collection

Lacroix 07S Hits & Misses

2006-11-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

For the 2007S collections, designers seem to have gone one of two ways. Either really pastel, modest suits and dresses with a few choice colour outfits thrown in to accentuate the clean look. Other chose colourful, flashy dresses and pants (namely Christian Lacroix). Of course that is all good and well, but there are bound to be complete misses and clothes can go either way (too drab to be shown to a group of fashion elite or too hippie with clashing colours).

And it really pains me to say it, because I really love the rest of his collection, but this outfit is too old lady for words. You can even see that just wearing it is causing the girl to hunch over with age. Someone pass her a cane before she falls down!

From a certain distance, those white heels look like white runners. Not fashionable.

You can really see the designer had a bit of a black blobs on white fixation. If it were at least knee-length, it wouldn't have been as bad. But as it is in the picture, it makes a model look shapeless. What chance to regular women have?

It wasn't all bad, however. Aside from those two disasters, the colours and cuts of the other garments really won me over. And the haircuts really have to be commended. They compliment the clothes and make them more dramatic.

Christian Lacroix 07 Spring Collection

Slavs on the Runway

2006-11-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

Perusing style.com's spring ready-to-wear collections, I can't help but notice the dominance of Slavic girls (especially DKNY). Was I not paying attention or is this a fairly new invasion? Though being Slavic myself, had it not been for the names of the models in the right-hand panel, I would have never guessed their ancestry. I guess something about being a long-legged waif makes one look international.

La Perla has some really fantastic clothes in their spring collection. For instance this dress: it's so light and flowy that you can just imagine Tatiana strolling down the street in Paris or maybe fanning herself and drinking espresso in one of the chic cafes in Yorkville. Though, the dress is probably more appropriate for summer, what with Canadian climate.

I'm not sure if I'm really loving this dress. It looks a bit too simple, but there's absolutely no doubt that it was made for Bruna Tenorio, who is lovely and coy.

But the shoes... the shoes are phenomenal. I am glad not every designer thought that having your models wear glorified dollar store, thick-strap man-sandals was a great accent to the lavish clothing, a la DKNY.

What happened, Donna Karen? You had such lovely ankle boots in your ads for the fall line.

Spring boxes

2006-10-31T17:00:00.000-08:00

Style.com posted the top spring trends on their site. Some of the shoes are too ridiculous for even the most confident fashionistas (read: the Chanel gold and silver high platforms) but the Valli black-and-white briefcase-inspired bag is absolutely gorgeous. Manolo Blahnik still has it, although the first word that pops into my head when I saw his shoes: bondage. Not that it's bad, just not necessarily what I expected from the stylish-but-sweet designer.

Poor girl that decides to wear Marc Jacob's shoes, though. I'm sure she'll be stopped continuously, and asked why she's wearing two turtles on her feet.

Choo and the Wind

2006-10-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

I choo, choo, choose you!

Beautiful patent shoe by Jimmy Choo. Of course I'm not sure I'm in the market for a 385-pound pair just yet, even if they as irresistible as those above.

On an unrelated note, I just watched the second part of Gone With the Wind yesterday. The dresses still blow me away. Who wouldn't feel like a princess wearing something like a pearl-white dress below: