tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11849236475152039962024-03-14T10:15:25.305+02:00The Silk StilettoEnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-2416007769622127312013-02-07T09:00:00.000+02:002013-02-07T09:00:04.242+02:00Love, a Prabal Gurung creationIt is that day today. The day when one of the two busiest periods in fashion begins. In expectation for the collections to be revealed later today and in an attempt to quiet my very excited inner voices, what better to do than scour the Internet for something to pass the time? And, thankfully, to find a surprisingly romantic and freshly out of the oven ad for Prabal Gurung's collaboration with Target, debuting in stores February 10th. An ad which I would like to share also with you guys, because I don't want to keep the goodies to myself :)<br />
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I thus give you... LOVE :)<br />
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<br />Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-7081910904365534872013-02-06T15:00:00.000+02:002013-02-06T15:00:10.180+02:00The fashion weeks are coming<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Yes, they are finally here - fashion weeks galore, starting tomorrow in New York.<br />
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Over the next month, we will be treated with the best the fashion world has to offer on a daily basis. We'll be waiting and watching, alternatively pining and dissing, we will love some things, we will hate others, we will be surprised and bored, excited and under-whelmed. Regardless of what our thoughts will be, though, we will be entertained and literally bombarded with photos, we will uncover the trends for this fall and winter in beauty and fashion and get a sneak peek into what we can expect to see in stores in just a few months.<br />
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It's going to be a busy, busy month, and I will be here to share with you my favourite looks and collections... Counting the minutes :)</div>
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<br />Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-72209986326305832932013-02-06T09:00:00.000+02:002013-02-06T09:00:07.305+02:00Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda, a very private affair<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Haute couture shows used to be a private affair. A very private affair. Now, they are becoming increasingly democratized (as proved by the live transmissions of the Dior, Valentino and Elie Saab shows in Paris a few weeks back), just like so many other aspects of the fashion world. All the more reason for private affairs to excite our enthusiasm and tug at our curiosity. Much like the shows that Tom Ford has been staging for the past few seasons, which let no photographer or camera share a glimpse of the collections to the outside world until the designer himself is ready to unveil them. Following a similar suit, Dolce & Gabbana last week presented their second ever Alta Moda collection to a select audience and it took days for photos to leak out. Some photos, because for the rest, we just have to guess.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From what we've seen, as profane outsiders that we are, the collection was a reinterpretation of all things Italian in classic Dolce & Gabbana style with a bit more flair for the elegant and extravagant. Insiders report and the photos seem to confirm that</span> the collection was a vision of virginal whites, a combination of chastity and sensuality that only the true Sicilian beauties can pull off with such aplomb.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The cherry on top of the cake was, undoubtedly, the final bridal look - a gown of delicately ornate golden lace, complete with a crown and a veil. For reasons beyond any rational explanations my mind has been able to conjure up, this style stuck with me - perhaps for its madonna quality, perhaps for its obvious references to the power of the Church and regality in older days, perhaps for the pose of tranquility the model evoked.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's amazing how just three simple images can evoke such strong feelings in a simple human. But this is me, a mere human, humbled and awed by the quality of the details and the craftsmanship, as well as the creative talent of these two designers.</span></div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-73908038328016365042013-02-05T15:30:00.000+02:002013-02-05T15:30:02.423+02:00Zara, my not-so-secret supplier of shoes <div style="text-align: justify;">
My name is Ena and I am a Zara-aholic. I have been addicted to the brand for the past 12 years, ever since I was 14 and preparing to go to high school and I discovered the shop in Paris in the summer before. I remember that, at the time, my budget was not particularly impressive and Zara was a little bit on the high-end of my possibilities, but it was one store which made the looks and trends I was pining for a little bit more available. </div>
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Since then, I've entered many a Zara stores in many countries and bought many things, big or small, that have earned me compliments and brought many smiles to my face. But one thing I have always relied on Zara for have been shoes - yes, I know that shoes are an investment and I completely agree that you should have the major styles you need (an elegant pump, a good pair of winter boots, a delicate sandal) in the best quality you can afford. But what about diversity? Or those trends that you know will not make it to the next season? Is this really worth spending hundreds of euros when you can usually get something nice for under EUR 100? Of course not! </div>
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So the answer is Zara, and even more so because they offer good quality for the price I pay. I've had flats from Zara that I've worn for seasons before they completely fell apart, I've had evening shoes that got me through many an important occasion over the years, I've had shoes that have taken me to some of the most important moments of my life (my prom night, my first job interview, my graduation from university and even my first date with my husband). I've even had shoes over which women with much more generous budget swooned over.</div>
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Forgive this long introduction, but you have to understand a little bit where I am coming from in order to get any kind of realistic appreciation for my excitement at Zara releasing the first photos of its new spring/ summer 2013 collection. Disclaimer - it does not make my top ten, but it doesn't mean that I haven't found a couple of models that will undoubtedly join their friends in the closet the moment they hit stores :)</div>
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Main trends? </div>
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Not surprising, the hidden platform sneakers are still a hit. While I have, so far, been a little bit against this trend, for no other reason apart from the fact that I believe that a sneaker is a sneaker and a high-heel should be a high-heel (yes, call me a traditionalist), I have to say this blue version is kind of growing on me. I think it's the colour that could just turn me yet :)</div>
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The high heels are as diverse as the trends for the new season. From stiletto heels (interpreted very interestingly with a mix of materials) to ultra-high thick and curved heels, the new collection has something for everybody. </div>
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A pleasant surprise are the several mid-heel options available. These make for a very classy look with a retro feel and will, I believe, be an interesting option for comfortable workwear. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zOIBK2U8krQ/UQ7UPMUzb7I/AAAAAAAAB_0/pazL7JxKixs/s1600/kitten-heel-leopard-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zOIBK2U8krQ/UQ7UPMUzb7I/AAAAAAAAB_0/pazL7JxKixs/s320/kitten-heel-leopard-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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A nice addition are also the cage-sandals, available in a bold leopard print - if you're going for edgy and high fashion, why not go all the way?</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-14291577135151567932013-02-05T09:00:00.000+02:002013-02-05T09:00:10.239+02:00'In a holiday mood'boardPlanning for and dreaming of... <div>
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<li>long days with little to do</li>
<li>sun and fun and beach and laughter</li>
<li>freedom and a feeling of lightness</li>
<li>traveling to somewhere new to rediscover the beauty of life </li>
<li>time to think, to dream, to love</li>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-1581046936617992512013-02-04T16:00:00.000+02:002013-02-04T16:00:04.914+02:00Shoe vitamin LouBi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Since we are on the topic of shoes today, I would not have been able to forgive myself had I not shared these fun, colourful and, truthfully, very energizing window displays that Louboutin has debuted in store all across the world. In a true creative burst that I hate not seeing more often, the shoemaker extraordinaire designed the world's first shoe-pharmacy: giant pills of happiness with red soles :) <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The giant packs of vitamins are, without a doubt, just what the doctor ordered for the under-the-weather feeling washing over me this winter month. Entitled Vitamin LouBi, the visitor to the store is advised that, for best results, the remedy should be taken daily, and always in pairs. Now, if only these vitamins would be covered by health insurance... :)</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-10782006712239330132013-02-04T09:00:00.000+02:002013-02-04T09:00:08.991+02:00Shoe of the week - Manolo Blahnik <div style="text-align: justify;">
Sure, anyone who's ever watched 'Sex and the City', which would comprise more or less every woman of my acquaintance, knows about Manolo Blahnik. Some of them undoubtedly eat, sleep and dream Manolo Blahnik. 'Cus that's just the kind of guy he is, and his special gift is to make shoes over which you coo and woo and forget to eat and sleep. And while all his collections have at least one pair I imagine not living without (even if I do usually surprise myself by actually managing to live without, somehow), the model I'll be talking about today is even better - if that were even possible.</div>
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The shoe of the week is, this time, this beautiful strappy sandal by Manolo Blahnik for Antonio Berardi's Spring Summer 2013 collection. This is one of those shoes that, when I first saw them, I was speechless, and my mind murmured 'perfection' in a awed little voice. Yes, they are my definition of perfect. They combine it all - they have a creative twist of modernity, yet they are classic and low-key enough to be able to be worn with just about anything in my wardrobe; they are sexy and a little bit edgy, yet with clean lines enough to be worn during the day; they can switch easily from work to an evening out; the colours they were available in on the runway were the perfect neutrals; and, more important, they really don't look too uncomfortable... All in all, this seem like one investment that would pay off for itself in sheer pleasure over time :)</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-1629628853832289802013-02-03T09:30:00.000+02:002013-02-03T09:30:01.249+02:00Guilty fashion pleasure of the day - Lana for Moja.ro<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you're Romanian, you know about Săpânţa. If you have Romanian friends, you really need to ask them. If you are neither Romanian, nor have Romanian friends... well, first of all, it's a shame :) And second, you can find out more about it on the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/29/magazine/one-of-a-kind-transylvania-the-merry-cemetery.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a>. Or from clothes :) </div>
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Namely from Lana for Moja.ro, a capsule collection of dresses, jackets, tights and clutches with clean, minimal cuts, but prints that make a stunning statement. In fact, all the pieces feature key images from the crosses at Săpânţa, from a tractor to one woman working over her sewing machine or another being hit by a car. Don't worry if it sounds weird, or deranged, or plain awful. I assure it's none of these things, except a great sense of humor when it comes to clothes and a wonderful interpretation of traditional Romania. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6EijfuJNVM/UQy3W0yp9II/AAAAAAAAB7k/Ob-Qn3UOepU/s1600/lana-bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6EijfuJNVM/UQy3W0yp9II/AAAAAAAAB7k/Ob-Qn3UOepU/s400/lana-bag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The entire collection is available on <a href="http://www.moja.ro/index.php?route=product/category&path=29_293" target="_blank">Moja</a>, or, if you are interested in seeing more of Lana's talents in action, on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Lanaa.ro" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.<br />
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-80029345544859130152013-02-02T09:54:00.000+02:002013-02-02T09:57:13.761+02:00The clean colours of Stella McCartney's Spring Summer 2013 campaign<div style="text-align: justify;">
Don't you just love it when there is that wonderful chemistry between a brand and a person? When the image and the message just go together and it all clicks? And when they realize it too, so they keep on it, creating a meaningful relationship and a cast of other beautiful things? Because I know I do. </div>
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Just as I love Natalia Vodianova (love, love, love, in fact) and Stella McCartney (maybe with the exception of the one-before-last collection of her, which I failed miserably to understand). And so, naturally, I love the new Stella McCartney spring summer 2013 campaign, featuring the above-mentioned Russian beauty in big-eyed girl poses shot by Mart&Mercus. </div>
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Stella McCartney’s Spring Summer 13 collection was all freshness and lightness, thanks to modern fabrics, oversized shirts and T-shirt dresses and clean, curved lines. The colour palette encompassed clean whites, sharp citrus shades and vibrant apple green. It's no surprise, then, that the campaign ads are fresh and clean with a certain doll-liked quality and no artifices - it's the clothes that take center stage and they are as straightforward as their maker. A campaign that very much reminds me of an older time of ads, some 15 to 20 years ago, when I would admire these cool, distant women like the Barbies of my playhouse in the few foreign fashion magazines that made their way here. A beautiful walk down memory lane and a just as beautiful proposal for the future warm season.</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-76393836586582341682013-01-31T14:15:00.001+02:002013-01-31T14:15:17.556+02:00Red noses for a brighter dayI know it's winter, just as I know that it's likely to continue to be a winter for another month or two. It's just the way the world (and nature) work in these parts. But, even after all these years, I still get slightly depressed when I wake up to a grey and overcast day like today. The thing to make it all better today? And sure, a new pair of shoes from, say, Giuseppe Zanotti would be the best cure-it-all, but in the absence of a fairy godmother, the next best thing is... a little shopping, that benefits me and others, all at the same time.<br />
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Just like you can never have too many shoes, you can also never have too many T-shirts - part of the reason why I am so excited to be able to grow my collection with the new Stella McCartney capsule celebrating Red Nose day (on March 15th). The T-shirts themselves are playful and fun, with a series of popular culture icons from Marilyn Monroe to the Beatles and Kate Moss sporting fabulous red noses.<br />
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What I love most is that the collection is also available for kids, featuring the cutest giraffe :) The Ts are available in all TK Maxx stores, or <a href="http://www.tkmaxx.com/stella-mccartney-t-shirts-for-red-nose-day/icat/9494" target="_blank">online</a>. I'm getting mine now. One of each, that is - I need many red noses to make me laugh with this weather :)<br />
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<br />Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-1332590814665878082013-01-30T09:00:00.000+02:002013-01-30T09:00:04.141+02:00Shoes of the week - Etro<div style="text-align: justify;">
When you think Etro, shoes are not the first thing to come to mind. In fact, perhaps, shoes are not at all or in any moment what come to mind. Etro is all about their prints, instantly recognizable, ethnic, traditional, with a bit of a different spin every season. This fall, the direction was a more daring and romantic feel, with velvet dresses and satin skirt suits in darker colours. Reminiscent, if you will, of what we've previously seen in the 30s and 40s. Which leads us back to the shoes, from which we had digressed. </div>
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These 120 mm pumps are from Etro's fall line. The dark, rich colour, the laces around the ankle and the combination between the silky satin of the front and the warm suede of the back all point to this same old-school style that defined the runway collection. Still, the shape is modern and sleek. A contrast which makes them a great addition to any wardrobe, the perfect item to add a bit of a difference to a more contemporary or edgy look. Which is why they are my shoes of the week. Oh, and also because you can now get them, on sale, from <a href="http://www.luisaviaroma.com/index.aspx?&gclid=CLGPzeWhjbUCFUON3godGD8Atw#getData.aspx|CallType=Product&prodId=AHU4&des=&cat=95&gender=women&group=shoes&vendorColor=Qk9SREVBVVg=&season=sale&seasProdID=56I" target="_blank">luisaviaroma</a> :)</div>
<br />Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-89482190297061187052013-01-29T14:00:00.000+02:002013-01-29T14:00:06.021+02:00SAG 2013 - only the worst<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday, we documented the best and most beautiful looks from the SAG 2013 red carpet, and it was quite the line-up. The Sunday awards show certainly gave us plenty to behold. Unfortunately, it failed to stop only at the positive. As a result, today we have a line-up of a different kind. A reverse kind. </div>
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Here are my 5 top worst dressed ladies of the evening:</div>
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1) Anne Hathaway - Oh, Anne, and you were doing so well! The gown she chose for the SAG is barely a couple of days old, as it was only unveiled last week as part of Giambattista Valli's Spring Couture line. It was a splendid dress on the runway and it pains me to put it on this here list, but, unfortunately, it failed to translate its beauty on the red carpet. On Miss Hathaway, the dress had nothing of its former appeal, looking drab, unfitted and somewhat deflated, after having lost all of the flare of the skirt which gave it a twist. The result is very similar to a girl who has yet to grow any breasts trying on her mother's clothes. Anne, do step it up next time, please!</div>
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2) Freida Pinto - Why, oh why? I complained that you were missing from the Golden Globes because I thought you would amaze us, but, had I known the kind of amazement you had in store, I would have spared on my enthusiasm. The Roland Mouret dress was a bold move of the kind we are accustomed to expect from this dark beauty, but this time, it flopped before taking flight. The bright colour makes a striking statement against miss Pinto's skintone, but with the fluid drape of the dress and its floor-length, it manages more to swallow her whole. Watch out for the pink human-eating dress monster!</div>
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3) January Jones - Maybe it's because I've grown so used to the elegant look of Betty Draper and I lack the imagination to see her beyond this persona, but I've always failed to understand her fashion sense. And this is just the latest example of it. JJ (*smirk*) used the SAG 2013 to don a fashion forward dress from Prabal Gurung's pre-fall 2013 collection - a laudable attempt. If only she'd let the dress as it was, namely short. Adding the extra material to make it floor-length managed only to transform an otherwise striking dress into a banal white and black combination, which swallows her up from the waist down and eats her up from the waist up. The look was also not helped by the bouffant do - was she going for a Jersey Shore vibe that I couldn't get?</div>
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4) Julie Bouwer - It's a leather gown. Leather. I understand risks, really I do, but it's a leather gown. Not on the red carpet. Not like this. No.</div>
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5) Jaimie Alexander - The Marc Bouwer dress is a sculptural beauty, so I understand her appeal for the dress. I understand where her passion came from. I understand the gamble. Talking about understanding, I don't think, however, that Jaimie Alexander understood the dress. She did not understand the attitude, the aplomb, the confidence you need to pull it off. The personality. Like this, it felt like the dress was wearing her. And she was the junior invited to prom and choosing a showy dress, only to have people raise an eyebrow.</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-17544253691988200262013-01-29T09:28:00.000+02:002013-01-29T09:28:00.718+02:00Tuesday mystery<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious - the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art."</span></div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-3902581815836273882013-01-28T15:29:00.000+02:002013-01-28T15:29:21.768+02:00SAG 2013 - only the best<div style="text-align: justify;">
Award season keeps rolling on, and thunderingly so, if the SAG is the case in point. With a backdrop of gloomy weather, the stars had no easy task of shining on the red carpet, yet there was, thankfully, quite a bit of shining and some bright colours to liven up the mood. The Screen Actors Guild Awards are generally considered a trial run for the Oscars. I hope that's true of fashion as well, because I've seen some nice outfits on this red carpet and, if taken just one step up, as is the norm for the Oscars, the Sunday of February 24th will be a mighty stylish one. </div>
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Here are my favourite 10 looks from last night:</div>
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1) Marion Cotillard - She's back! Thankfully! After that red/orange neither-here-nor-there dress she chose for the Golden Globes, this time Marion stood out for all the right reasons. In a sea of column dresses (which, don't get me, look great on the right person), her impressive Christian Dior white bodice with deep blue asymmetrical skirt was a delight. Different, but elegant, very French, very Dior, simple and stunning. I also loved how clean she kept the look, with perfectly coiffed hair and minimal accessories (although, if she'd wanted to achieve perfection, black was not the colour of shoes she should have opted for).</div>
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2) Helen Hunt - Another beautiful (beautiful, beautiful, beautiful) look from the stunning 50-year old. I am always in awe of women aging gracefully and how some are able to retain their stunning persona by simply being confident in themselves and not worrying about age. Helen Hunt's look tonight was the perfect example of this - her platinum beaded mermaid dress by Romona Keveza (a designer best known for her stunning wedding dresses!) and all its sparkle was only surpassed by the happy glow of the actress. This is what I think a sexy woman needs to look like!</div>
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3) Nicole Kidman - This dress may not be all that I know Nicole Kidman could be capable of pulling off, but I loved it for two main reasons: first, because I don't know many stars brave enough to wear a Vivienne Westwood on the red carpet (which is a real shame) and two, because it showed that the blonde actress had not forgotten that she's beautiful and sexy. Mrs. Kidman is one classy lady and her outfits are always chosen to reflect her delicate and natural elegance, but this look was the clear example that just a bit of oomph will do no harm, quite the opposite.</div>
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4) Jessica Chastain - Jessica Chastain and Alexander McQueen make a heavenly match. After 'that' dress from last year's Oscar ceremony, this must be one of the fiery actress' best look in the British designer. Channeling her inner Jessica Rabbit, Chastain chose a very va-va-voom red dress which clung to her body drawing a beautiful hour-glass silhouette. It was classy and sexy and beautiful, all the best words to describe any dress.</div>
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5) Amanda Seyfried - The young actress joined a long line of actresses wearing different variations on blue (including Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Lange), but, leaving this uniformity detail aside, her Zac Posen choice was right in all respects. The navy colour strikingly complemented her enviable waves, the shape was simple, elegant and perfectly fitted, yet made instantly youthful with her choice of a long, art-deco pendant. I like a woman who is not afraid of bringing her own personal touch.</div>
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6) Kerry Washington - As I've said on numerous other occasions, white is not an easy colour to pull off on a gown anywhere but at a wedding, and God knows we've seen our fair share of white lately, enough to declare ourselves satisfied for one decade to come. Nevertheless, I love that Washington chose it! There is no other coloristic choice that would have had a greater, more striking effect against her skin tone. Furthermore, the cut of the Rodarte gown and the slightly antagonistic details, like the delicate studs on the carpet and the lace accented small train, were a lesson in how to make sweet look edgy with aplomb.</div>
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7) Nina Dobrev - A breath of fresh, spring air. This is what Nina Dobrev brought onto the red carpet with her bright pink Elie Saab gown. Fitted to perfection, with subtle side laced cuts, the dress looked flawless and elegant, even if it kept its slightly casual feel. Dobrev's monochromatic approach to accessories and her simple hairdo only added to the beauty of her look, undoubtedly one of the most remarkable of the evening.</div>
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8) Naomi Watts - Form-fitting and beautiful cut? Check. Intricate detailing for a subtly sophisticated look? Check. Flowing locks and a bright pink lip colour? Check. Naomi Watts was, once again, a complete and utter vision of style. I adored her Marchesa metallic silver embroidered gown and was once again convinced that if there is one actress out there capable of switching it up AND always managing to keep her own style, it is this Australian beauty.</div>
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9) Jessica Lange - Proof number two that beauty and sensuality have nothing to do with age. Jessica Lange looked amazing in her J.Mendel dark blue dress with draped subtle detailing over the upper part and a flowing, light skirt. I may have complained that the colour was featured on many, but I feel that, for a woman in her 60s, dark blue may be a more flattering alternative to the drastic feel of black, allowing for a look that is on the lighter style of classic elegance.</div>
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10) Sarah Hyland - Prints are another difficult thing to pull off on the red carpet, as is such a tricky colour like the bright violet number Miss Hyland chose for the SAG awards. But her bet paid off and the abstract print was subtle enough to be eye-catching, but not overwhelming, while the sexy simplicity of the Dolce & Gabbana dress made for a sophisticated overall look.</div>
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Jennifer Lawrence - I love that I did not have to wait long to see a Christian Dior Spring 2013 Couture dress in full action. This being said, I had really hoped it would have been one of the more striking gowns in the collection. Sadly, with its dark navy blue nuance (the colour of choice of too many a stars) and the embarrassing wardrobe malfunction just as the beautiful star walked up to receive her award, I just cannot be convinced that it was the best choice out there.</div>
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Kiernan Shipka - Simply adorable. The cute 'Mad Men' young star chose an Oscar de la Renta pretty petal-pink dress with silver and white embellishments and silver Oscar de la Renta silver nappa peep-toes. A choice with which she could hardly go wrong. The overall effect was stylish, yet age-appropriate and she looked completely at ease with her couture choice. Can you only imagine what this young lady is capable of in the future, if she can already rock Oscar like she just did? :)</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-20313618889181740472013-01-25T10:30:00.000+02:002013-01-25T10:30:03.522+02:00Haute couture, haute plaisir - last day <div style="text-align: justify;">
Saving the best for last, is what some people would say, considering that the last day of Paris Haute Couture shows was headlined by none other than A-list favourite and the master of female body illusions, Zuhair Murad. The Beirut-based designer sent down the runway an allegory of extravagance and gold, with delicately embellished gowns for the strong, self-confident and sensual woman not afraid of the pleasures of a little bit of luxury. With a Baroque resonance, the dresses were superb in their detailing. On one, a richly embroidered bodice dissolved into sequined arabesques on a nude silk tulle train. Others drew their origins from ancient Greece, with fluid panels of light-coloured chiffon and silk tulle, set off with gold or platinum embroideries.</div>
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Rad Hourani’s first official couture collection paid homage to his approach to unisex fashion with an almost religious procession of boys and girls going down the runway in androgynous looks highlighted in their simplicity by the basic colours of black and white. Geometric and structural, the show was a statement of the power of equality and modernity, with sleek pieces like sleeveless tuxedos and futuristically crisp coats and jackets. As the designer himself said, “It’s a language I’m very dedicated to, I think it’s something very important in our society. Unisex isn’t just a garment reference—it implies that age doesn’t exist, religion doest exist, and so on. There are no boundaries.” </div>
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This week of couture was wrapped up in style by a display of Herve L. Leroux's creations. Leroux is the man credited for making curve-hugging bandage dresses a hit before there ever was Max Azria and the Herve Leger craze. Even if he has been absent from the fashion forefront for over a decade, Leroux made a comeback in style (excuse the pun), with an array of glamorous, old Hollywood-ish dresses in powerful shades of yellow, magenta, bronze and petrol. Elaborately draped from silk jersey, custom-made for Leroux in Italy, the gowns oozed simple elegance and hinted at a possible return to the big league for the French designer. </div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-40094990991162787022013-01-24T13:00:00.000+02:002013-01-24T13:00:08.756+02:00Haute couture, haute plaisir - day 3<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Today was, if I can say so, the 'hautest' plaisir of all, namely because I love Elie Saab and Valentino. Together with Oscar de la Renta, they are my glamorous soft spots. I swear to you, I cannot help but be completely swooning over all their collections and secretly wishing I was a multi-millionaire to be able to collect them all. But, sigh, as that is not bound to happen anytime soon, the couture shows will just have to do, and they are a treat all by themselves.</div>
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Elie Saab was a low-key, low-effort affair, with none of the drama and visual impressiveness of its fellow couturiers Dior or Chanel. No. There was only a simple U-shaped runway and the models walking slowly on top of it, like enchanted emissaries of a fairy-land. The Lebanese-born designer stuck to what he knows best, complicated embroideries with intricate beading and touches of sparkle on waves of lace - some might call this boring or playing it safe, but it's a signature. Saab is the master of this particular art and, in this collection, he took it one step forward to play not only with the visual illusions of decadent embellishing, but also with transparencies that reveal and cover the female body as beautifully as a charm. The result was a light fairytale world of princesses and an ode to femininity.</div>
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Gardens seem to be the leitmotif of many of the shows we've seen this week, but if Dior and Chanel chose to construct a life-size green-leafed background to showcase their work, Valentino did more - he took the concept and incorporated it into his work. Curlicues of fabrics were a fixture on most of the pieces shown, from the dresses to the feminine suits, echoing the wrought-iron gates and fences of old-school public parks. One gray dress with embroidered birds was even paired with a black cape made from this kind of tubing, making the model wearing it look like a mobile birdcage. Black lace was arranged on one A-line skirt to look like a garden maze, and a procession of shimmering green leaves snaked up a sheer ruffled dress. This was also a very modern and sober(ing) interpretation of the feminine, with a number of sleek looks without decorations which nonetheless summoned attention and awe.</div>
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Gaultier, as always, was an exuberant dissonance of colour, cuts and patterns. The inspiration for his collection was the majestic and rich culture of India and, while this extravagant Indian gypsy style could easily draw onto kitsch, the French designer kept it elegant and memorable. There was an abundance of deep colours, gold threaded silk, heavy prints and intricate embroideries matched by slim shapes, fitted jackets and form-fitting dress.Throughout the show, Gaultier hinted elegantly to some of his greatest hits — the trench, the smoking, the sleekness of corsetry, cone bra included. And even if this collection is not bound to establish a new perspective on fashion, couture is, after all, about the power of good craft and the artistry of style, and there was no lack thereof.</div>
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The day ended with the Artisanal collection of Maison Martin Margiela, now in its second season of Couture runway. It was a spellbinding show of a different note that the other collections of the week. In a faithful continuation of its founder's spirit, the house unceasingly looks to reinvent instead of innovate the ways in which we think of glamour and dressing, bringing a certain playful experimentation and an edgy quality. Just take the last three looks, whcih were made from thousands of metallic candy wrappers embroidered onto pongee silk. Other pieces were just as interesting, fusing wistfully romantic twenties with the more utilitarian contemporary staples of a trench or a parka. A mix and match of styles that is not for the faint of heart and not exactly haute couture either, but offers wit that anyone can appreciate to its true measure.</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-46749513968045269292013-01-23T14:56:00.000+02:002013-01-23T14:56:22.518+02:00Haute couture, haute plaisir - Day 2 in Paris<div style="text-align: justify;">
Day two of Paris Haute Couture debuted with high drama and the theatrical aesthetic of the Chanel show. Like in a gothic fairytale of a damned woods, the models strutted down the runway with organised chaos in their hairdos and dark makeup of some kind of harlequins of the damned. The dresses themselves were rich in details and adornments, with delicate Chantilly lace combined with traditional Chanel tweed, tulle, beaded and sequined flowers and eau de nil feathers - an assortment of visual inspiration, from the great English ladies of the 18th centuries and their drawing room tragedies to the lost swans of Swan lake and a feminine version of Doomsday. A massively impressive collection, which defied both trends and tradition to establish itself as what haute couture is supposed to be - the closest thing to art that fashion allows.</div>
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Stéphane Rolland has often said he approaches each of his creations as if it were a sculpture. Yesterday, he proved to all that he has certainly managed to perfect his craft and vision with an almost monochrome collection so architectural, with lines so clean that they appeared to have gone from sketches to runway without any middle process in between. The shapes felt natural and organic, of refined fabrics like silk and organza, a contemporary view of Da Vinci's concept of simplicity as sophistication. It was a beauty to behold.</div>
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There was nothing simple, however, about the Armani Prive show. This was a massive display of creativity matched by a historian's enthusiasm for the beginnings of the 20th century and the riveting mixed heritage of the confluence between Europe and Asia. The gilets, the zouave-like pants and the fez-type hats that every model had fitted to her head, as well as the bold colour palette of rich reds, oranges, and saffron brought to mind the viziers of days of yore. Yet still, the striking silhouettes and the abundance of sleek pants and masculine details were reminiscent of the woman of the 20s and 30s, the strong figure on the brink of emancipation, rebelling against convention and setting out to build her own path. It was eye-catching and beautiful, yet another masterpiece from Signor Armani.</div>
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A difference exercise in creativity was Ulyana Sergeenko's new collection. Having stepped out (literally) from a book, her creations were inspired by the great US literary benchmarks of 'Gone with the wind' or 'Huckleberry Finn'. And, as is always the case with the Russian's sense of style, visible in both her persona and her designs, the end result was unapologetically theatrical and of a different era. While, overall, the collection may have seemed like a mere ensembles of costume for a period movie, what pleasantly surprised was the attention to details - the buttons on the back of the gowns were made of porcelain and hand-painted with the characters of Russian nursery rhymes, while beautiful crocheted embroideries drew attention to delicate silk blouses. It's this sense for the subtle that could make the difference for this designer in the future.</div>
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Perhaps not exactly what you would expect from the description 'haute couture', but Bouchra Jarrar's collection insinuates itself into your mind and alerts your senses with its casual sensibility and practical modernity. The collection featured a string of gorgeous coats for a wearer with great personality, each with its own detail of difference - an asymmetric closure or collar, an inventive scarf or a a striking bit of fur thrown in for good measure. The cuts of each of the clothes were riveting and the overall feel was one of impact and subversive lust.</div>
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In stark contrast, Alexandre Vauthier was all things dark, mysterious, slim and sleek. The night lady that preys on the unsuspecting, the strong silhouette of sexuality revealed and a modern homage to a hauntingly beautiful feminine presence.</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-45206221622820964332013-01-22T18:00:00.000+02:002013-01-22T18:00:03.931+02:00Haute Couture, haute plaisir - Day 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
Drum roll, please, because that magical time of the year is here. And no, as much as I did enjoy Christmas this year, it's certainly nowhere close in magical terms to the beautiful weeks of Paris Haute Couture. With a drab weather outside and no hope for an early spring coming around, tell me please, what could be more beautiful, more satisfying or more exciting than to behold the magic of a true interpretation of spring's lightness of spirit by the most masterful of couturiers?</div>
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And so it began, proudly aligned with the stars on my birthday this year, the best present of all. And I confess, I am, since yesterday, mesmerized and giddy like a little girl in a fairytale dollhouse. Christian Dior was the first show I saw and it set a great tone for the week, with its fresh outlook on spring classics. This was a collection of subtlety - the subtle merging of minimalism and joyful exuberance, of sharp lines and romantic embellishments, of modern cuts and classic style. I appreciated the deceptively simple lines complemented by the refined reinterpretation of Dior florals, the gentle evolution from the dark colours in the beginning of the show to the strong palette of any rebirth of nature and then onto romantic pastels, as well the marriage of strong masculine elements with the fragility of the feminine.<br />
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Giambattista Valli, on the other hand, walked a different road - a collection of sculptural shapes with basic colour schemes and a fresh reinterpretation of the traditional. Valli opened with a stream of classic-cut coats and dresses with a contrasting monochrome visual which felt at the same time dramatic and simple. As the show evolved, so did the aesthetics to a perhaps confusing mix of rigor and an edgy view of the floral patterns associated with spring. This couture collection felt as if it was speaking to a newer, younger generation, which wishes to break away from tradition in a respectful way and craves for a "live in the moment" philosophy in an ever-lasting environment. Contrasting, yet completely appealing.</div>
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At the other extreme, Alexis Mabille was a show of frilly playfulness, of girlish craftmanship and whimsical interpretation of couture. The collection was a vision in pink, with the delicate and otherworldly silhouettes of dolls dressed in waves upon waves of sheer chiffon, lace, satin and layers of veil. While beautiful in its attention to details, the collection felt like it was lacking a common aesthetic backbone. But, as it is the first time Mabille is playing at the grown-up table, we'll call it acceptable and await with interest the next game.<br />
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Drawing inspiration from the mazes of Tokyo streets and the sobriety of the Japanese society, Christophe Josse presented a collection of intricate embroideries and refined trimmings that adorned a mostly duo-chromatic ensemble. A balancing act of unconstricted lines and an ascetic aesthetic, it was the very apotheosis of simplicity and calmness. </div>
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A bit of Asian inspiration was also visible in Maurizio Galante's work, from the use of traditional Japanese fabrics to the kimono-like details of some of the ensembles, fused together with a bohemian and subtly negligent aesthetic. The clothes spelled freedom and individuality, with an almost antagonistic mix of fluid silhouettes with stricter geometrical cuts and embroidery. An interesting match altogether, without a doubt, but somehow very deja-vu and, as such, not quite what I would call memorable.<br />
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Perhaps the most electrifying show of the day was, however, Iris van Herpen's. And a very literal interpretation of the word it was.“Inspired by a childhood dream, a desire to understand control and re-create lightning,” the Belgian designer made a visual impact with her 'Voltage' collection and its presentation which featured a living sculpture with what looked like purple lightning passing through her body. The dresses were a testament to imagination and innovation, with complex designs which seemed to have come from a half-nightmarish future and created the illusion of independent movement. A true sight to behold.<br />
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-16365678345261511352013-01-21T15:00:00.000+02:002013-01-21T15:00:14.735+02:00Shoe of the week - Walter Steiger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Walter Steiger's 'Punchy' sandal is the perfect definition of a paradox. It's a delicate and minimalistic sandal on the leg, with a high and somewhat intimidating unmistakable heel. It's convex curve speaks of aggression in a kind of gothic-like atmosphere or, perhaps, in an animalistic way, much like a claw seeking its prey. </div>
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The 'Punchy' clearly packs a punch by its sculptural nature, as well as by its complex sensuality and sophistication. No surprise that it was one of the footwear of choice for a Vogue Germany editorial with Salma Hayek - a powerful woman needs an equally powerful shoe. Walter Steiger delivers above and beyond.</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-30469089212172115862013-01-21T08:00:00.000+02:002013-01-21T08:00:02.856+02:00A bit of a special day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, the picture gives it away, today is my birthday :) And today, on such an important day, relaxation and partying are on the menu, along with some pretty fashion thrown in for good measure. Oh yes, and some Paris Haute Couture, as the Fashion Week begins today. Oh, the simple joys of a birthday :)<br />
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<br />Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-15787932653633979132013-01-20T09:30:00.000+02:002013-01-20T09:30:02.771+02:00Jessica Chastain in 'Art Meets Fashion'<div style="text-align: justify;">
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If you remember, one of the most disappointing looks at the Golden Globes was, for me, the unflattering dress chosen by Jessica Chastain. And that's because, ever since last year's Oscars and her brilliant Alexander McQueen gown, I've had a secret girl crush on the actress. I love her exquisite natural look, the beautiful shade of red of her hair, the uber-light skin tone and her daring and colourful style choices. Which is why I was so disappointed at the Globes and, then, so thrilled to see her on the cover of W magazine. Better said, on the covers (yes, plural) of W magazine. </div>
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Chastain, sometimes called 'the ultimate muse', lived up to this title as she played muse to four of the most important visual artists of this generation (George Condo, Rineke Dijkstra, Chantal Joffe and Mickalene Thomas) for the W's 'Art Meets Fashion' edition. The results are as different as can be, and, as the actress admitted, the entire process was both interesting and fun: 'I love the feeling of giving myself over to another strong point of view. It’s the best kind of trust - the belief that an artist will take care of me while creating something unique.'</div>
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Enjoy! :)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><span></span></span>Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-45048819524544687662013-01-19T09:30:00.000+02:002013-01-19T09:30:00.707+02:00Guilty pleasure of the day - Assouline albums<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I must have been around 15 when I first heard of Assouline and, at the time, I was going through a secret "I want to be a chic Parisian" phase. My dreams of growing up consisted, mainly, in dressing in neutral black and white, sensually smoking cigarettes over a glass of wine and living in an apartment with books on the floor and beautiful art albums. So, when I found out about Assouline and first touched one of their albums, I immediately integrated it into my dreams. And that's because they were just right - beautiful luxury books about the 'savoir vivre', in all the different shapes it can take. Responsible for some of the world’s most beautiful and luxurious books, Assouline publishes subjects that represent the full spectrum of its two founders’ interests, the very pinnacles of lifestyle: art, design, travel, and of course, fashion. For it isn’t just knowing how to live, but knowing what to cherish, what to immortalize, and what to present to the world. </div>
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The story behind the brand is just as marvelous as the albums it publishes. Prosper and Martine Assouline are two very interesting, erudite people (Martine is African-born and Swiss- and South American-raised; Prosper was Morocco-born and Paris-bred) that, in 1991, they fell in love, married, and then had their son Alexander. The couple welcomed their second “child” in ‘95, in the form of their first published collaboration. With words by Martine and images by Prosper, the book depicts La Colombe D’Or, a charming hotel in the south of France they call a “second home” — and which also boasts one of the world’s most impressive collections of modern art. Since that first book, they've published over 1,000 titles, running the gamut from 'Picasso' to 'In the spirit of St. Barths' or 'The Trench Coat'. My favourite? 'Gaia', Guy Laliberté’s collection of photographs of the Earth shot while aboard a private space voyage, 'Barbie', 'The big book of Chic', 'Bals' and 'Dior'. Five different topics, but all equally guiltily luxurious and necessary for a truly stand-out lifestyle. </div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-65465410545397376502013-01-18T09:00:00.000+02:002013-01-18T09:00:02.534+02:00The high and lows of Golden Globes after-parties' fashion<div style="text-align: justify;">
I wish I could announce that we're resuming our series of presenting this season's ad campaigns, but that will have to wait until Monday, because today we have something more important on our plate... namely finishing our debate of the Golden Globes fashion with a look at the after-party dresses (red carpet or no, the after-party is where the fun is at). And since some of our leading ladies changed outfits for the parties going down, there was no way we were going to be missing out on that fun...</div>
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Emma Roberts in Maria Lucia Hohan - 3 times bravo! Once for choosing a very talented Romanian designer (who I absolutely love). Twice for the dress itself, which is the perfect combination of sassy and classy. Thrice for the overall look, down to the shoes and to the cute up-do and jeweled headband.</div>
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Nina Dobrev in Oscar de la Renta - Black Swan Emma Roberts, step aside... here comes prima ballerina Nina Dobrev in a beautiful light aquamarine hued dress with overlays of flowery organza. It was sweet, it was flattering and it was very much out of a fairytale for little girls. And I'm all for fairytales in life! And before I forget, kudos for the Jimmy Choo's ;)</div>
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Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad - Another beautiful Zuhair Murad, another win for Ms. Lopez. I'll admit I love it better than the red carpet version she chose - it's more grown-up, mysterious and dark, just how we like her :) PS: Please check out the feathery train, it's something you don't see every day!</div>
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Miranda Kerr in Zuhair Murad - Zuhair Murad seems to be the weapon of choice for the bold, sensual woman. Orlando Bloom's sweetheart looked anything but sweet in her deep burgundy low-cut dress, and we all loved her for it!</div>
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Berenice Marlohe in Monique Lhuillier - JLo, look-out, someone else was going for the sizzling dark beauty award and the stunning navy embroidered tulle illusion gown by Monique Lhuillier damn near won her the prize. Now, you are big girls, you can share, can't you? :)</div>
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Nikki Reed in Jenny Kayne - Such a simple gown, but the colour sends it right to the top of "by God, this is a beautiful dress" list. Well done, Miss Reed. No need to look so bashful!</div>
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Ashley Tisdale in Issa - It's simple, it's effortless, but it's also a really good look. I like the side cutouts that add just the needed touch of sexy and the simple accessorizing - it's what a confident woman chooses.</div>
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Selena Gomez in Atelier Versace - Wow, a Versace gown really can work wonders. As in this case, transforming a Disney doll in an uber-glam sexy young woman. Sign me up for one too!</div>
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Vanessa Hudgens in Jenny Packham - Unlike her friend Ashley Tisdale, Miss Hudgens pulled all the stops: long and form fitting - check; sequins all around - check; very revealing low cut neckline - check; gold embellishments on the shoulder - check. Result? Little girl playing dress-up. Sorry, better luck next time.</div>
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Freida Pinto in Antonio Berardi - Ah, Freida, Freida. I missed you on the red carpet and this is why. This beautiful dress by master Berardi with a unique holographic-embroidered carbon-fibre details is why. Because if you had heads turning and spinning at the after party, can you imagine what you could have done on the red carpet?!</div>
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Jessica Alba in Louis Vuitton - Chess anyone? I'm guessing somebody informed Mrs. Alba that it was a "dress as your favourite object" party or else this dress has no excuse.</div>
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Archie Panjabi in Basil Soda - A bold look, with a lot of decolletage, but quite clean and elegant overall. Would have loved it much more if it didn't look so much as a "wedding dress".</div>
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Michelle Monaghan in Vera Wang - I love the colour, I really do. Unfortunately, it's about the only thing I like. The dress just doesn't make sense to me... why does it look like it's made from three incongruous part sewed together? They ran out of fabric after doing the skirt and they had to improvise for the upper bodice? That sure would explain the weird and unflattering whole between the breasts. Next time, let's go for a full dress, agreed? Ah, and also - accessories that match the colour of your dress to the very last Pantone shade? I really think we could be just a tad more inventive than that. </div>
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Kate Beckinsale in Gucci - This looks like the dress I made for my Barbie when I was 6, right down to the shade. No, I was no seamstress whizz-kid. So no, this is not a compliment to her look.</div>
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Julianne Hough in Jenny Packham - Punk rock in pink satin, that's a nice touch. Too bad the night did not end too well for the dress.</div>
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Louise Roe in Manish Arora - Of all the shiny choices, where to look first? Should I go for the tank top with a golden fishing net overlay or the pink gold, uber-shiny patterned skirt? I just cannot decide. That can't be good, can it?</div>
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Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Roksanda Ilincic - Wrong, wrong, oh so wrong. Where to start? Should it be the nun-like white high collar, the sheen of the black fabric, the strange single-bar detail at the bodice, the flat hair? It just made no sense stylistically and was certainly not nice to look at.</div>
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Sophia Bush in Lisa Ho - Between the too-long bangs and the very frothy details on the shoulders (it looked like many flyswatter sewed together), I just cannot say for sure if Sophia Bush was actually in there. Could you?</div>
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Lana del Rey in Houghton - I love women in suits, I swear I do. I just don't love when they're wearing suits that are two sizes too big. I think I'll just stick to your CDs, your voice is just the right size.</div>
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Amanda Peet - White dress with big blue polka dots and opaque black tights that seamlessly bledn into some quaint pointed-toe black Mary Janes? Coupled with an uncertain length that subtracts about 10 inches of your height? Suuure, I'd probably also check the mirror and think I look good to go out.</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-47044437749394542202013-01-17T14:00:00.000+02:002013-01-17T14:00:06.922+02:00The not-so-good looks of the Golden Globes (part 2)<br />
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Eva Longoria in Emilio Pucci - Why, why, why? The petite actress usually knows so well what works for her, so it's surprising to see such a major misstep from her, especially as she's wearing a custom gown (custom as in made specifically and only for her). The dress, with its deep neckline, thigh-high split and open back, sure did bring drama - the drama of a bad look that made the beautiful Latina seem short and bulky. Sure enough, the Snooki puff she was rocking did nothing to help.</div>
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Nicole Kidman in Alexander McQueen - Of all the Alexander McQueen gowns out there, why did she have to pick this one? Nicole has such a sculptural frame and an elegant figure that it's usually difficult to make a wrong choice. And yet this one has too much going on, from the golden ornaments around the neckline to the sheer material covering the midriff area and the lines of material over the same area. A beautiful woman needs much less to show off her looks.</div>
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Rachel Weisz in Louis Vuitton - It pains me to have to put yet another beautiful and talented actress on this list, but this look does not do her any favours. In fact, it looks more like, in a panic over having nothing to wear, she picked up any old office dress and added some polka dotted materials to turn it into an evening gown. Sadly, this is not usually what lands you on the right side of style.</div>
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Alyssa Milano - Alyssa, run... the dress is looking to swallow you whole. For a moment, I thought I'd missed her pregnancy announcement, but then I realized that this was just a very unfortunate drape. As well as a most unfortunate colour, which clashes with her skin tone and with her turquoise accessories. So, take a bad shape, an unflattering colour and a too long dress and what do you have? A spot on the worst dressed list.</div>
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Emily Mortimer in Jenny Packham - No, no, no! I am all one for appreciating this English rose's attempt at daring fashion, but, unfortunately, the silver sequin gown was just that little bit too tight and clung in all the wrong places. Perhaps it would have worked if the neckline were not as high and the cut not quite as austere, but on this occasion there was nothing to save it from looking as if the Tin Man got into designing evening wear.</div>
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Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184923647515203996.post-34208027119416724152013-01-17T09:00:00.001+02:002013-01-17T09:00:10.450+02:00The not-so-good looks of the Golden Globes (part 1)<div style="text-align: justify;">
This could also be named the 'why, why, why' column. You know, as in 'why, why, why did you wear that?!' Apart from the gorgeous gowns that blew us away, the red carpet also had its share of fashion missteps. And it's a long list, with some names that really should have no place here. What were they thinking?</div>
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Jessica Chastain in Calvin Klein - I love the 'seafoam' colour and the daring cut for the usually classic Chastain, but what's up with the fit? Did her tailor seek revenge on her? Did she lose 10 kilos right before the ceremony? She forgot to look in the mirror? It's a pity I have to say this about the lovely redhead actress, who I'm usually a big fan of, but this ... dress truly leaves much to be desired. Swimming in it does not a good look make.</div>
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Halle Berry in Versace - Anyone with this body would love nothing more than to show it off with every possible opportunity, but there are times when too much really is too much. And this Versace number, as sexy as it may have been meant to be, carried too much punch to make any sense - the print, the careless slices at the midriff and thigh, the bodice which was just a tad too tight and the slightly see-through material. Taken on the whole, it screamed more to be worn at the beach over a cute bikini than on the red carpet at a major awards' ceremony.</div>
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Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior Haute Couture - Really? I mean... really? This is the best that Ms. Cotillard could come up with for the Golden Globes? I've seen her wear better outfits to much less formal events. I appreciate it's a Christian Dior, proving once more her prefference for the classic masters, but the drape that eats half her dress and belt, the asymmetrical length and the mini-train in the back which seems to just be limping there, the drab hair and the shoes that clash - they all spell a style disaster. A very sad story, really.</div>
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Emily Blunt - It is so rare to see this gorgeous actress take a style misstep, and yet... how else could one classify this pea-green dress? The hue does nothing for her skin tone, the lace is reminiscent of an old bedspread and the cut... well, it's just wrong. On top of it all, did they think that the dress was not bad enough so they added two side cutouts for fun? There is something in this look that I just don't get.</div>
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Kerry Washington in Miu Miu - First, a confession - I think Kerry Washington is one of the most beautiful women alive. And I've been completely in awe of the style she's been rocking recently to promote 'Django Unchained'. I mean, talk about stepping up your game. Unfortunately, at the Golden Globes she dropped the ball. The Miu Miu dress had so much potential if only (IF ONLY) her skin-coloured sheath had actually matched her skin colour and had also continued all the way down, instead of stopping inestetically above the knees. Miss Washington, please take a cue from Jennifer Lopez on how it's done and try again.</div>
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Giuliana Rancic in Celia Kritharioti - A lady of usually good taste, Giuliana Rancic took her fashion cue from Morticia Adams when she dressed for the Golden Globes in an ill-advised gothic number. All that black, the lace and nude material that completely obliterated the upper side of the chest and the high neckline that seemed close to choking her to death was not one of her best choices. And the worst part? She was on TV for hours on end, scaring viewers with her outfit.</div>
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... to be continued ...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"></span>Enahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706562306585489938noreply@blogger.com0