BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

 

I'm all about cutout, especially when it comes to swimwear. What about you? Do you like these one-pieces or do prefer bikinis?

WWW INFLUENCE

Ever since the runway shows months ago, Ralph Lauren's western inspired quintessential Americana designs in his SS11 collections stood out to me as one of the most cohesive and iconic collections of them all. How do you feel about the trend? Is it making you want to bring out your inner cowgirl?

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

I'm a huge Helmut Lang admirer...who are your favorite designers and why?

PUT IT IN NEUTRAL

Forgive me for the dry period...

Both neutrals/nudes and big, bold look-at-me brights are in for this spring and summer. Which trend are you embracing the most, or are you doing both equally? Let me know by leaving a comment in the c-section!

SPIKE IT UP

FOR WOMEN

Elie Tahari is one of my favorite designers because of his dedication to accentuating the female form and his embracement of curves. I love how his SS11 collection was so romantically elegant and how his T Tahari collection carried the same elegance, but added more sleekness and a bit of edginess to it.

THE STANDARDS

Do you have anything else to add to the list?

MAKING THE TRANSITION

I don't know about you but I'm done with Winter already—especially with all the snow we got in the tri-state area. What's your way of transitioning from Winter to Spring?

ONE OF MY FAVORITE COLLECTIONS

 

It's so early to be thinking about pre-fall when there's (literally) feet of snow outside on the ground and it's the middle of January but anyway...who's Pre-Fall collection made you feel as exquisite as this one made me?

GET INSPIRED

Which look is your face? Who are you currently looking towards for outfit inspirations?

SJP ON THE JANUARY COVER OF ELLE

Green is actually one of the only colors I feel comfortable wearing. Especially emerald and Kelly green. What's your fave?

STRIPES. BRIGHTS & GLORIOUS TAILORING

MAXING OUT

Whose pre-fall collection are you drooling over? I wanna know!

Feeling Exotic

I'm not the biggest sandal girl...

And leopard's usually too obviously vulgarly sexy for my taste but I'm in love with these Miu Miu calf hair leopard print sandals. I think because the hue of the browns and beiges are subdued and muted and the five inches whisper my arch's name and make them tingle.

And notice the sexy zipper on the heel in the back. The colors and shape of the shoe scream daytime Parisian chic but the adornment makes them nighttime doable. 

White Fever

Anyone who knows me knows that I loathe white shoes...


...Even under a wedding gown.


But these Brian Atwood babies are almost making me change my mind.


Almost.

A Little Boyish Charm...

I don't like wearing cocktail dresses...

To cocktail parties.

I don't like the stale concept of wearing a brightly hued or black polyester, tight, strapless and above-the-knee dresses with metallic or black strappy sandals. It's just too clichéd, expected and uncomfortable.

I'd much rather run to a classic, a favorite of mine—a sharply tailored tuxedo jacket, minus a tail because that is taking it too literally, too far. Of course it would be worn with an exquisitely louche blouse, preferably sheer, or a dainty, vintage-inspired corset underneath and without a doubt chancy platform heels.

ASB,

xoxxxo

The Lust Fest Continues...

Ah! Here are the six-inch Christian Louboutin black suede and leather gold rivet-embellished sandals I was lusting over in the 3.1 Phillip Lim Fall RTW collection last week!

These shoes exemplify what my stye for statement heels are. Pairing these haute runway shoes off is a challenge though. I would never wear them with a flashy LBD or cocktail dress—that's too cliche and predictable. I'd mix them with some much more casual.

Can you believe that these babies cost nearly $1,500! I would call it absurd, but there are people who would actually pay that much for it...

ASB,

xoxxo

Fall/Winter Looks I'm Looking To Recreate...

Alice + Olivia Fall 2010 RTW

The  bold shoulder of this primal print jacket is absolutely stunning over this drapy flesh tone blouse, both such contrasts to the black harem pants and I love that. Well, I already have my Topshop wedge ankle booties...

Alice + Olivia Fall 2010 RTW

The same qualities are evident in this ensemble...the strong shoulder, the black wedge (minus the peep-toe), black harem pants—easy enough to make my own adaptation of it. Well at least I hope so.

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2010 RTW

I just want these loose fitting pants. Perfect for swiftly cruising from building to building, class to class, meeting to meeting. And the simple winter white sweater, genius.

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2010 RTW

I can't say enough about this garb. You already know my sentiment of maxi dresses, flowing materials, and neutrals...but what I love about this is the contrast between the volume of the skirt and the fit of the belted cardigan with those sheer sleeves (e x q u i s i t e much). For a while I hated belts, now I'm in love with what they can do to an outfit, taking it from anticipated to unpredictable.

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2010 RTW

Again the belt adds that je ne sais quoi element to the outfit. The sparkle is just enough glam for the look to still be sophisticated and not cheap. (BTW, I would lose the white tights with both looks and swap it with black ones for the previous and knee highs and a garter belt for this one.)

3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2010 RTW

Well, I'd flip the X to the back, and wouldn't wear a shirt with such a high neckline—I'd much rather opt for a blouse with a bit of side cleavage. 

3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2010 RTW

The trademark red sole give these babes away—I had to post these from the same collection because they are nothing short of g o r g e o u s. The platform is tall enough, the hardware is prominent enough without being overpowering—simply lustful.

ASB,

xoxxo

Footwear Or Jokes?

I'd shave my head before I slipped my feet into these mohawk shoes. Tsk, tsk, I know. YSL is one of my favorite accessories designers but this is just a joke to me—minus the funny part...

A creative masterpiece, genius...just trying to figure out where and when would these Alberto Guardiani lipstick heels ever be appropriate?

I want to glide my feet into these Kobi Levi gum heels and try them on...just to see how they would feel. I imagine as yucky as it looks.

ASB,

xoxxo

An Expression of Love...

Balmain is my ultimate favorite designer. I absolutely die for Victoria Beckham's structured, elegant, status defying frocks, drool over Stella McCartney's lady-like menswear and can't get enough of the comfy glam of Alexander Wang's T collection, etc., etc., etc...but Balmain is the master of bold shoulders, studs, gromments, acid-wash, distressed jeans, shredded cut-offs, thigh high splits, etc., etc., etc.

His S2011RTW collection did not disappoint...It made my eyes water and widen like a child on Christmas morning, enraptured by the studded, shredded, ripped and acidic couture. Can I just say that I love that his models were bared faced (or at least made to look like it) with dewy skin and bone straight hair? Well, I did.

Of course, as I said Balmain is my favorite designer. D e s i g n e r.


Never would I ever shell out tens of thousands of dollars...


Even on things as gorgeous as these. I'm much too attached (or detached) to reality for that. I'd rather just grab a handful of safety pins, kitchen shears, sandpaper, marker pens and get to work.

ASB,

xoxxo