Must Have Shoes and Sandals

One of my weaknesses are shoes (sandals). Whenever ever I like one, I'll never have the "inner peace" until I own it. It's funny because sometimes I tend to have nightmares about them.

I enjoyed the article posted on Net-A-Porter. It was entitled as "Sole Searching", an "IT" list of some must have shoes and sandals for women who are always on the go in terms of fashion. It also include some fashion tips and tricks on how to flaunt the shoes and sandals. Here they are:







Funny that a pair of really nice shoes make us feel good in our heads - at the extreme opposite end of our bodies. ~Levende Waters




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Kate Hudson's WildAid Photo Shoot in Africa

Last year, Kate Hudson teamed up with celebrity hairstylist David Babaii to endorse a new line of hair care and styling products, "David Babaii for Wild Aid". The products contain natural ingredients and are free of sulfates, chemical preservatives, animal products and animal testing.

This year, Kate and David had a photo session in Africa with the lions and will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the global wildlife conservation organization, WildAid. WildAid campaigns worldwide to end illegal wildlife trade, works with governments and communities to raise awareness and stop the buying of endangered wild animals and products.

Here's the sneak peek of the making of the new ad campaign in Africa. In this "In the Wild" photoshoot, the pair celebrated “the nature in beauty and the beauty in nature.”








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Peacock Pretties By Tricia Fix & More

Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might... have any of these peacock-inspired dresses by Tricia Fix, Milly and Hayden-Harnett.

You totally expected some peacock rhyme, right? Well, I am lazy, and nothing rhymes with peacock, so here are the dresses.

($275, Tricia Fix, Couturecandy.com)


($330, Tricia Fix, Couturecandy.com)


($259, Milly, Neiman Marcus)

($210, Hayden-Harnett)

Oh Hayden-Harnett. I just cain't quit you.

Bearded Confusion

Do you remember this chap from the sartorialist? Are we witnessing the comeback of the beard? Are razor sales about to plummet? If you can't be bothered to read the below post, I'll tell you...the answer is no...for the lazy readers out there, my conclusion is that the fashion of beards (like most fashions) is cyclical. Read on if you want to see and read about beards...

The reason for this post is that I came across two articles this weekend where the author declared the comeback of the beard! I wouldn't go as far as calling the emergence of a few celebrities sporting facial hair, alongside a small increase on the streets of London choosing to put down their razor. I also have to add that the week before in the Observer (I think) one columnist discussed the return of the freshly shaven look and went into great detail on how best to shave (more on this point later in the week!) so I am pretty confused to be honest...I don't know if I'm coming and going (whichever it is as I can't grow a beard myself so I will always be pretty clean shaven).. regardless of which particular razor standpoint is making a Rocky style comeback right this second I want to talk about beards with you now.

A bearded George Clooney one of a growing number of celebrities flirting with facial hair.

I can see Leitch's point where he says "Stubble was for pouting, knitwear-sporting continentals, while an unfettered facial flourishing was for ecological protestors and other antisocial elements" as in recent years facial hair has been up against it. How different from the Victorian era, when beards - a mark of wisdom, gravitas, moral rigour, imperial paternalism, you name it - were de rigueur in England. The emergence of a number of celebrities opting to grow bards has reassured the general public that it is again fine to put down that razor. No longer is the beard an object of feminine disgust, masculine ridicule and universal suspicion. That said in some circles full beards have been seen as an emblem of masculinity, an advertisement of one's importance, competence or integrity. Sir William Golding without his beard looked like an awkward chemistry teacher; with it, he was King Lear. An aged Sean Connery without facial hair would still be a good-looking man, but his pointy white chin makes him regal, noble, a grizzled knight worthy of respect.

This is the beard Bond would have grown had he retired from the service. Neat and tidy but not obsessively so, it has charm, maturity and manliness written all over it.

Facial hair comes in and out of fashion. It’s cyclical. Most men at some point in their life flirt with it. I am still waiting for my last push of puberty before I can ever dream about the possibility of growing a beard. In the meantime I will stay confused but will enjoy looking into the the wonderfully inspiring and slightly weird world of beard:

World Beard Championships, Beard Community, 10 Most inspiring beards of all time,
all about beards

Super Shiny and Super Cheap

Yep, i'm talking about Lip Gloss, not your brand-new and used plastic couch covers. Thanks to the checkout stand research and subsequent purchase my clever friend conducted on her last trip to Walgreens, a new Lip Gloss has been discovered: INCOLOR Squeeze 'n' Shine Super Shiny Tasty Lip Gloss in Clear by Jordana (now that's a big shiny mouthful). It has just the right thickness and slightly sticky texture that brings out your natural lip color, and lasts through a two hour movie, plus previews, staying smooth and crystal clear on your puckered lips. It's also a bargain at $1.99, and seventeen times cheaper (and less goopy) comparably than MAC's Lipglass which sells for $14. Available in five redhead colors, besides Clear from Walgreens.com

Cea ma influenta style icon in UK

Nu este nici Victoria Beckham, nici Kate Moss, nici Sienna Miller, ci Coleen McLoughlin, logodnica fotbalistului Wayne Rooney. Ea a fost votata de 1200 de femei, cititoare ale revistei Look, ca cea mai influenta style icon britanica. Clasamentul arata astfel:
1. Coleen McLoughlin
2. Kate Moss
3. Sienna Miller
4. Victoria Beckham
5. Cheryl Cole
6. Kylie Minogue
7. Gwen Stefani
8. Keira Knightley
9. Lily Allen
10. Angelina Jolie




credit foto: coleen-mcloughlin.net

RUN DON'T WALK to Rue La La For Their Nicole Miller Bridal Sale! Seriously, GO!

So, despite my previous run-in with a HORBS Nicole Miller "special evening gown" that I thought might make a dece wedding dress (I thought wrong), I tried on several ACTUAL Nicole Miller wedding dresses this weekend at Michelle in Brooklyn Heights. My Michelle experience was great, and I really liked two of the Nicole Miller dresses I tried on. I'm not going to go with either dress because they're too "big" and "cupcakey" on me, but they did feel wonderful on, and if I wanted a big dress, I'd go that route for sure, and I'd be happy to buy from Michelle.

BUT, actually I probably wouldn't because RueLaLa.com is having a Nicole Miller bridal sale for like the next few MINUTES or something, and one of the very dresses I tried on -- the silk faille mermaid with beaded details -- on is available. Originally $2600, available at RueLaLa in sizes 0 - 16 for $650 (!!!!!!!!). SERIOUSLY! GO! GO NOW! (You need an invite to log in -- lemme know in the comments if you need me to invite you!)

($650, Nicole Miller Bridal, RueLaLa.com)

Brian Atwood Atrocity

I usually really like Brian Atwood heels (and will admit to ALMOST ALWAYS thinking of RYAN Atwood from The O.C. [RIP]), but these are both EVERY color too many and every shade of wrong:

(Apprx $574 USD, Brian Atwood, Net-a-porter.com)

I'm counting the SECONDS until they show up on Mariah Carey's feet.

Sad panda.

Reflect Forward with Massey

If you happen to find yourself in London in the month of April you should certainly make a trip to Clerkenwell to catch Reflect Forward. Craft Central’s Reflect Forward initiative offers designer makers the chance to research and show a new body of work and next month one of our favourite designers, Carolyn Massey showcases her craft next month. During our interview with the lady herself we mentioned she had been announced as the first ever fashion designer to be awarded the Reflect Forward award and April sees her showcasing her talent for a wider audience.

"Carolyn's proposal to research historical garments whilst creating a cutting edge contemporary look sat really well with the Reflect Forward aim to enable designers to use museum collections as starting points for creating bold and fascinating new work."
Kate Osborn, Craft Central.

Fresh from LFW, the exhibition will showcase Massey's AW09 collection. Inspired by the Museum of London and National Army Museum, the collection saw her revive seemingly forgotten historic details and silhouettes. The exhibition pulls together the research and development that went in to the collection and offers an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ peek. I was fortunate enough to visit the designer at her studio last month where I could see the collection up close and the beauty really is in the details. At the time I wished more people could see the collection in this manner and now is your chance.

A closer look at the knits and accessories from Massey's aw09 collection.

After having a good nosey around her workspace it was clear that Massey is at her happiest when researching something she has found, either an old picture or an actual garment. By taking elements from pieces she has seen and found whilst combining them with her vision for menswear she create something new. This exhibition is guaranteed to be a delight. With free admission, the exhibition will be open to the public from 1-25 April and if you are in London during this period it would a crime not to go.

Sheer style or sheer madness?

I was fortunate to visit bStore yesterday and ventured downstairs into the basement to peruse through the delights on offer during their sample sale. I walked away with an unexpected buy...a sheer shirt by U - Handmade in England. Such a buy was far from my mind when I set off for the day (although I did want to get something from the label as I've been an admirer for some time) but I fell in love with it, in my mind it is one of the best buys I could make for the upcoming Summer season and what a bargain!

One of my favourite looks of the season - Jill Sander s/s 08

There can be little doubt that sheer clothes have strong connotations with femininity but recent menswear shows have explored sheer fabrics. Sheer popped up on a plethora of Spring/Summer menswear catwalks (Topman Design, Deryck Walker, Dries Van Noten) my personal favourite being the technical meshing of Jill Sander (as shown above)

Of course though, runway trends do not necessarily translate well into everyday wear. My advice would be to approach this trend with a little caution and subtlety but ultimately (as always) with confidence. Use sheer as a useful tool when layering - think of bright colours under sheer shirts/cardis/jackets or for a more subtle look sheer scarves layered to add texture and something different. Please see me modelling the shirt with a variety of colours, giving off different effects...

The recent issue of fashion156 is if by magic The Sheer Issue and the editorials within it demonstrate the myriad of ways of playing with sheer fabrics, as expected in womenswear but the boys are not forgotten! I will leave you with an image from the Man editorial...

Image from the recent fashion156 issue - The Sheer Issue - check it out if you can, the editorials are pretty awesome!

alberta and brigitte

Even though Alberta Ferretti's fall 08 collection is filled with beautiful fabrics, pretty drapes and elegant colours, my eyes were instantly drawn to the hair and make-up when I clicked through the collection. The result can be amazing when a designer decides to channel an icon or another fashion era and mix it with the looks of today. The models smoky eyes, pale lips and long-lean-sex-machine hair reminds me so much of Birgitte Bardot, though there's no doubt that miss Bardot brings the long-lean-sex-machine hair to another level, and no one, not even models can compete! Alberta Ferretti has taken it down a few notches, and has turned Brigitte Bardot's sex appeal into a slightly sweet, innocent look. In my opinion, a perfect look when you want to look subtle sexy...but still, sometimes you just want to go full out and have fun just like the gorgeous Brigitte !

Yuko Ogura Wallpaper

Yuko Ogura Wallpaper