Haute Couture FW06 I

It is finally the season of the beautiful, mega expensive Haute Coutures again!

Chanel
Karl never fails to amaze me with the many ways he reinterpret's Coco's original designs while still keeping it very much Chanel. This time around he went for being modern, by encompassing modern styles and techniques with Chanel's intricate classic designs.
He started off with these black and white, very straight and structured creations- very neat and cute.
I love the intricate details given to Haute Coutures. I esp adore the black dress on the right, with the gold leaf details. It makes it look so delicate.

I think these two tweeds looks may actually BE warm enough to actually be worn in Fall/Winter 06/07!! Its thick without looking bulky. And btw, the things that look like scrunched up tights on their legs (as I'd originally thought) are not tights, but very long boots in materials that look like stockings. Don't know what Karl was thinking there.Ah, the modern technique I was talking about that Coco didn't have back in her time. Love the grey dress, its looks so adorable! The red one is very dramatic and reminds me of John Galliano's last vampire/french revolution collection for Dior.
The evening gowns were of course absolutely beautiful. And while the white wedding dress is not something I would choose for myself, it IS very cute, modern and young.

Valentino
The other haute couture classic I look out for is Valentino. You can always trust them to produce the most elegant and gorgeous clothes.

Influenced by the Russians, this season Valentino started off with a richly embroidered black coat that screams Russian. Then there was this black and white dress- I love the sleeves.

The poofy sleeves were very common in this collection, having been encompassed into chic suits and set. I love the gold outfit, it reminds me of a more elegant and fitted version of recent Chloe creations.

Of course, the classic elegantly fitted looks were still there with gold trims and details added on to give it a more russian flare.

Sigh, I adore these slinky silver and gold dresses with leaf details. It so elegant and classy.

Naturally the evening dresses were stunning. Sigh . . . . I got to work harder!

Diamond Tennis Bracelet

Recently I've been seeing this bracelet absolutely everywhere I go. And I must say, its definitely rubbing off me. It is simple yet elegant, something that can be worn from day to night and will never go outof style- definitely a keeper.

This bracelet is called the "Tennis Bracelet." It is said that back in the 1987 US Open, former World No.1, Chris Evert accidentally broke the bracelet and the game was actually interrupted to allow Chris to recover her bracelet. And that is how the name came about. I thought that was pretty interesting. Can't win a match without looking good first. Kind of like my theory for dressing up for exams: you look nicer, you feel more confident and so you'll naturally do better! LOL.

If I were to splurge on a diamond bracelet, this would be on the top of my list- but thats not until much much much later.

Miu Miu FW06 Campaign

Miu Miu is on the highway to become more than just ‘Prada’s younger line’ and blossom into a huge label of its own. Followed by showing its FW06 collection in Paris instead of Milan (to grab more spotlight,) three Asians have been shot in the FW06 campaigns: Zhou Xun, Dong Jie (Chinese actresses) and Rina Ohta (Japanese model.) This is obviously a move into the Chinese/ Asian market, but something even more shocking was planned: the Miu Miu site is actually up and running now! Here are some preview photos taken off the website:

Absolutely divine *drools*!

Go check out the whole campaign @ www.miumiu.com! Like finally, Miuccia Prada decides to do something on the internet. I hope she makes more use of the Prada website soon too.

I love this campaign, (although not as much as the SS06 Prada campaign.) Last week when I wrote about the new LV ads, I commented that the LV ads were overly commercial and looked like catalogue photos. Now this series of Miu Miu ads is simply amazing –the lighting; the location; the photography; not to mention the GORGEOUS clothes, shoes and bags. (Yes, I am indeed very in love with Miu Miu's fashion.)

The campaign was shot in the restaurant that the FW show was held, La Perouse. The interior looks fantastic with the artistic lighting. The only thing I have to complain about is that I wish Miuccia used models instead of movie stars. I was just looking back at the FW06 catwalk photos and saw a lot of other models who could have been used instead. But anyhow, this looks like it is going to be my favourite FW06 campaign!

Happy 4th of July!

Celebrate the 4th of July holiday with these very patriotic pieces!

Blue and candy red striped dresses perfect forthe summer days, both from Anthropologie.

This season's hottest white eyelet and lace shirts from Diane von Furstenburg and Tracy Reese (don't like the orange/peachy dress though).

The lacy blue tunic shirt looks sooo unique (AKA New York Market) and the intricate white jacket and long blue shirt inside is just goooorgeous (Twelfth Street By Cynthia Vincent)!

Keep warm in the air conditioning. I simply LOVE the white striped blazer with the splashes of red from Alicia + Olivia. And the white biker jacket from AX is just cool.

Stroll in the summer sun in these elegant Versace wedges. For something more comfortable, there's always these adorable red Tod's flats.

Add some color to your look with this blue Marc by Marc Jacobs bag (that will also totally last your through fall) and this red Fendi B Bag.

Lastly, there is the white Dior saddle bag and the red Vuitton Bedford bag that are just fabulous.

Have a great Independence Day everyone!

Lookalike Bags

I was searching for photos for the post on white bags last Thursday when I saw a lot of bags that were 'inspired' by high end bags, and I thought it would be fun to look at them. Now these 'inspired' bags I am talking about are not the obviously-fake ones sold on unreliable-looking websites. These bags are from high street retailers, shops that we all usually shop in. I am not saying it's right or wrong for high street retailers to go copy things by high end brands, but simply thought it would be interesting to show you the bags I happened to stumble across online:

I'm sure you all recognise the YSL Muse bag, which is this season's IT bag. It's also one of the most copied bags I've seen this season. The top photo shows the YSL Muse bag ($1895), and the bottom photo shows 'inspired' ones from Urban Outfitters ($58).

Another spotlight bag this season -Fendi B-bag (top). Obviously the bags aren't exactly the same, but I'm sure you can see the similarities. I can't find out how much the B-bag shown in the picture costs, but the 'inspired' one is by Bebe for $239. To be honest, I'm slightly surpised at how much the Bebe costs, considering it's not exactly an 'original' bag.

The Chloe tote (left) is one hot bag this season. I'm not so hot on the 'inspired' one since it looks kind of cheap in the photo, but it does look incredibly practical -think about how useful it would be for going to school, (not to mention I wouldn't have to worry about making the bag dirty!) The Chloe Betty is sold at $1550 and the Urban Outfitters at $98.

The Marc by Marc Jacobs North/South Holdall bag (left) is another one of this season's practical and stylish bags. It looks great to carry around the city. But I think the Gap tote (right) looks pretty too. It doesn't have the instant 'fashionable-feel' to it, but it looks fantastic to carry things around (although definately in a less city environment,) and it's only $48.

Another Marc by Marc Jacobs lookalike is this one: Core Canvas Tote (left). While the Marc Jacobs bag is cute, it's also one of those very seasonal bags, meaning that it will be instantly recognised as 'so last season' next summer (because prints are so much more recognisable and less versatile than plain leather.) This is why the Reserve Hopsack City Tote by Free People is a brilliant alternative, not to mention it's really cute too. I can't find out how much the Marc one costs anymore since it's off the websites. The Free People one sells at $148.

The last one if the Diorissimo by Dior. It looks like a pretty classic monogrammed Dior bag to me, (it's not really my taste but I'm sure someone like it.) Bebe has a very similar one for $169 if you like the design more than you care about the label. Otherwise, the Diorissimo sells for $890.

Wasn't this fun!

Dealing with Old Magazines

Recently I’ve been busy reorganising and packing all my stuff because my family is moving. So after I reorganised and threw away MANY things (like old stationary, letters, catalogues, documents etc.) I got to the magazines. The question is should I chuck them away also?

The old magazines I am talking about are mainly British Vogues from the past two years, Teen Vogues since it started and a few random issues of magazines I deem as ‘special’: the last ever issue of The Face, a few Japanese Seventeen (not that I know how to read Japanese), two thick September issues of US Vogue, the first ever issue of Chinese Vogue, and the Gemma-edited issue of Australian Vogue of course.

I’m usually not very sentimental about old things that I don’t use anymore. If something is totally useless and doesn’t represent a huge phase of my life, I would throw it out without thinking much. I am planning to keep the special issues of magazines and Teen Vogues, but I am still debating about the old British Vogues. I mean, it’s unlikely I’m going to be rereading those any time soon. But I’m really hesitant to get rid of them because the editorials (and some ads) are just SO pretty. Remember the July 2005 ones with Lily Cole? Sigh, the dilemmas a fashion editorial junkie faces…

I'm curious, do YOU usually keep your old magazines? For how long and which ones?

Btw, reorganising and throwing useless old things away is a lot fun and VERY satisfying. Do try it out!

Barneys Girl Shops the UO Sale

So I thought I'd do a bit of virtual shopping at my old favourite Urbran Outfitters. After having been disappointed many times before when the items I saw in real life did not compare to what I saw online, I've learnt to have a more discerning eye when picking things out on the Urban Outfitters site now. Here are a few 'safe' items that I feel will be good buys from their site that is on sale at the moment.

First up, this Free People Morning Glory dress for $89.99. I love the simple design and the refreshing color. Its perfect for a casual summer day dress. Since its from Free People, expect the material to be delicate and flimsy.

I expect this is one of those things that would disappoint if one see's it in real life. The material is probably very thin and coarse, with not much of a shape to it. But for $24.99 I thought it might be a fun fashion buy. I like the stripes, the color isn't too cheap and the scoop with the buttons is interesting.
Mixed links chain for $14.95. I have a weakness for these kind of designs lately and it can't really go that wrong. . . .
Another fun buy this season are these brown Miss Sixty's platforms for $89.99 which are very SS06 Chloe/YSL/Miu Miu. A great match for any of your summer outfits!

Finally, for something more comfortable, casual and classical, there are these studded flip flops for $24.99.

They are also doing a limited time promotion right now, where an additional 25% will be taken off sale items. The promotion ends Sunday (July 2nd), so hurry up and check it out!