Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Sienna Miller and Savannah Miller


Yesterday I watched Factory Girl and I really enjoyed it. I was a bit weirded out by Hayden Christensen's very long and dirty fingernails, but I got over it. Sienna Miller surprisingly didn't stink! Poor old Edie Sedgwick, sad ole gal. Used up by Andy Warhol and kicked down by Diana Vreeland at her lowest.

On a slightly brighter note, the Miller sisters (aren't their names idiotically peppy? Sienna and Savannah? It's so U.K.-petit bourgeousie) have joined forces to...guess what??? Launch a collection called Twenty8Twelve.

Now excuse me while I go barf.

Monday, July 30, 2007

The Gap, Lululemon

The Gap's been suffering for a long time. Sure, you can go in and get little bits and bobs, the odd pair of pants or a halfway wearable coat, but in terms of really stocking up there...I don't think so. They haven't had a must-have item in ages. Plus, they haven't changed with the times. Plus, the store never has enough merch or people in it...it looks dead. It's got a new CEO, the ex-head of Shoppers Drug Mart, a Canadian drugstore for those of you not familiar with it. Shoppers Drug Mart ain't no super store either, if you ask me...it's just a necessary evil. He doesn't know fashion, is what I'm reading. What's there to know? You dont' have to know fashion, you just need to hire people that no fashion. Like, duh.

Lululemon offered it's IPO, and it's doing quite well. Lululemon is a Canadian success story. Athleisure wear at a just-high-enough-to-be-aspirational price point.

Personally, I've tried to like Lululemon and I just don't. I like Stella McCartney for Adidas.

Stella!!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Kate Spade is a stepping down as desgner

Kate Spade and her hubby, Mr. Kate Spade are stepping down from their posts as Designer and CEO, in a breaking news report from WWD.

Just as well.

I never liked her stuff even though I tried to...I just...I don't. Her designs...they're boxy. Predictable. Boring. Clench-jaw Upper East Side prep school girls. Not a fan. I'm speaking about her clothes and shoes, though. No comment on her housewares, her dishes and such. They are ok, I suppose. Inoffensive, anyway.

Of course like all designers these days, she doesn't own her own company, the company Liz Claiborne Inc does. She just works for them. It's kinda messed up when you think about it. It's your name. It's you. It's built around you. But you don't own it anymore. You sold it and now you're an employee. Weird.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Tracy Reese is totally underexposed


This American designer whips up, season after season, dresses that are flirty and pretty and feminine and classy. Oooh, I'm in love.

Tracy Reese, people!

She's awesome, she needs to be discovered in a major way. She's more talented than many, many designers out there, no names mentioned. I can't wait to go to NYC and check out her new store.

And guess where a line of her dresses is carried? Anthropologie. Of course.

Why isn't she a household name? It's just wrong.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Trend watch...or not

This is admittedly very inward looking, and even a bit perverse to admit, but here goes:

I never personally care about upcoming trends until they've arrived. Is that wrong?

It's just that they don't mean anything to me until I covet them deeply.

I can't be bothered to figure out what might be hot next season. I don't even know what to wear to work tomorrow, let alone whether bracelet length jackets will be hot for Christmastime.

Though, I do get excited when totally hot collections come out (see under my Dior tag), or when I see specific ads for specific goods, like a new bag or shoes.

Anyhow, who cares about all that. Have you read Lainegossip.com today? I love her more and more each day. She's so lecherous.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Penelope Cruz' line for Mango



So...

Penelope Cruz and her sister Monica (not pictured here...but what is there to see, really? They're virtually identical) have launched a line for Mango. Gawd, I'm getting tired of writing those words. "Such-and-such just launched a line for such-and-such."

Of course, this line is all sultry and sexy just like la Cruz herself. I always thought she was a bit dopey looking, but she's aged for the better, and now she's all siren-like. Isn't Tom Cruise dumb? They split up just when she was starting to look good. Same with Nicole Kidman, eh? He dumped her for Penelope and then she got really hot. But now she's got a bad case of the Frozen Face.

Major digression. Sorry.

Did Penelope design any of this line, or was it her sister Monica? Who knows. Who cares.

I guess the pieces are nice. I don't know. I don't care. I can't think about faux fur just yet. Fall clothes, yes, faux fur, not yet.

Mango just confuses me. Is it better than Zara? Worse than Zara? Is it Zara?

All I know is that Spanish fast-fashion labels have clothes that are true sizing and I feel like a giantess when I try their stuff on.

Digging Penelope's Brigitte Bardot 'do.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Fashionista.com: style like you mean it


Late post today. Was busy practicing my woeful Daisy Buchanan driving skills with my poor, steel-stomached cousin.

Anyhoo, on with it.

Loving fashionista.com, with their talk about Blackle, the black-screened version of Google, and all the luverly things it matches, like vampy Chanel nail polish and Chloe shoes and all that jazz. They are not that mean though (the "mean" is highlighted in red on the site, see above).

They need to be meaner.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Phillip Lim, Thomas Pink open stores in NYC


Phillip Lim makes such cute clothes. I read somewhere that Anna Wintour gave him a major boost at the beginning of his career. Here he is at his brand new store on Mercer street in SoHo, with Debra Messing, who looks like a hag in this dress. Sorry dress, no offense to you.

Thomas Pink makes all kinds of fancy shirts for erstwhile playboys and wannabe Gordon Geckos, one presumes, and it has just opened an NYC shop, too, on -- where else -- Wall Street.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Libertine for Target

Check this out:




It's kind of Mayflower Pilgrim-y, but I like it!

Only available at Target. Of course. Add that to my ever-growing list of stores I'd love to see in Canada. I wish Target would replace all the Wal-Marts in Canada, I really do.

When I was in Tarjay in Boston, I saw a really really really cute Isaac Mizrahi blouse with pintucking , in cream. Alas it was not my size and there was only one left.

Of course you'll note, this fondness for Target's apparel offerings is in direct opposition to my usual stance that there is far too much throwaway clothing in the world.

I am nothing if not a hypocrite.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Tory Burch


Forgive the non-blog yesterday. I was without my beloved body appendage: my laptop. Sans iBook lappy, I am a mess, lost, just utterly lost. So lost in fact, that I watched the whole Victoria Beckham Coming To America 1 hour special that was on. Awesome. Not. That's one hour of my life I won't be getting back.

Let's talk about Tory Burch. Who is she? A socialite I think. And a designer.

What is she known for? Really cute flats, I must admit, and a strangely bewildering lineup of beachy California Republican daywear. Like tunics, tops, etc.

Her first season was really cute. Now, not so much. I mean, look at this ugly boatneck top. Looks like something from Old Navy circa 1997.

Ick.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Where have the days of cherishing your clothes gone?

And I'm an offender, too. You know, buy it today, wear it one season, chuck it? Buy so many things you never get to wearing half of them?

Whatever happened to saving your money for a special dress or pair of pants or shoes you really had to have? And when you bought it, you adored it and wore it again and again, and you wouldn't buy anything else for a long time. Where have those days gone?

I remember being a teenager and visiting Italy and being surprised at how little the gals there have in their closets. Maybe 3 outfits at most per season, but every piece was exquisite, coveted, cherished, impressive. They had one winter coat. Not 4. And that winter coat would be a Fendissima or a MaxMara, not some junky buttons-falling-off one season knockoff.

I'm just sayin'.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

NYTimes Style Tag Cloud



I love tag clouds. Look at this one, which you'll find next to Cathy Horyn's blog today on http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com

The best thing about tag clouds in my opinion is that they summarize what people are talking about in the (fashion) world today, a glimpse of what's hot and what's merely simmering. As I understand, the bigger the word, the more popular it is.

Tangentially, Cathy Horyn is a pretty good fashion writer, not always compelling but certainly with an encyclopedic knowledge of the industry. As Ali G would say, Respeck.

As a blogger she is kinda weak, but that's understandable I suppose, give that her primary occupation is writing copy on tight deadlines for the Times.

She has even narrated slideshows for the web in the past. She has this unintentionally hilariously droll, deep-pitched voice.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Lazarus in a Ted Baker suit


To begin this fashion story, my friends, I need to meander off the path of strictly fashion for a bit, if you'll bear with me.

Last winter, an early morning phone call. Niall was off reporting in Kitchener. Early morning phone calls rarely deliver good news. This was no exception. On the line: Kalle Karkas of Finland, Niall's close pal (and my friend, too, and a rather dapper fellow, I might add--think Prada-meets-futuristic-Scandinavian). Bad news, their good friend Ivan was stricken with a brain tumour, and the prognosis was not good. I was shaken. I told Niall when he got home. He was glum. He called Francesca, Ivan's wife at their London home, the next day. It wasn't good. He was in the hospital. We pondered our mortality. I told Niall to call again after a few weeks had passed. He didn't call. He wanted to call, but I don't think he could bring himself to, just in case bad news awaited on the other end.

Months passed. I nagged, he ignored. What else is new.

Today, news.

Looks like our friend Detective Ivan McNally is alive and blogging. And he's a blogger after my very own heart. He writes about his daughter Camilla's christening:

"Sunday is a success, especially for me. I don't know if it was the Ted Baker linen suit, Nicole Farhi shirt and Patrick Cox loafers, the English accent or a combination of both, but I ended up fighting the wife's mother's mates off with a proverbial stick."

So here are Niall and I all this time convinced that he is dead, and the fecker is blogging about his Patrick Cox shoes and fending off a bunch of his mother-in-law's horny cougar chums in Rome.

I love it.

Fashion. It's the only thing that separates us from the animals.

BTW, his blog is really good, he is a gifted and heartfelt writer: http://thebastardchildofgenehunt.blogspot.com.
BTW part II, how awesome is our friend Francesca's outfit? Digging the flirtily ruffled top and chicly effortless floral-overlay skirt? She is gorgessity epitomized, as ever.



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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Oh how I want this Chanel watch



If I start saving my pennies now, maybe I can afford it someday.

It's over $3,000, which isn't completely insane, considering the price of Rolex watches.

It's made of ceramic, ain't that cool? I saw it years ago and liked it so much I ripped out the ad from a magazine and affixed it to my bulletin board at home. I loves it.

More recently, I saw it on the arm of some celeb in a magazine cover, which reminded me how much I adore it. Was it Jessica Alba on Self? I can't remember.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Is it time for Fall yet?

It's July 9th.

It's hot outside.

I'm so over summer clothes, and I'm into the Fall season.

Yesterday I was at my favourite Canadian department store (Holt Renfrew) looking at all the pretty garments on sale, all flossy, pretty bits with strings and bows and sheerness and all that fluffiness that I adore. But I barely picked up a single sale item for a second look.

(Except for a cute silk Marc Jacobs top I've been eyeing up for months but have nixed because I'm too sweaty to wear silk. The only one left was not my size. But anyhow, I digress.)

I have been gravitating to the fall items. A coat in dark green corduroy. Sweaters.

What's wrong with me?

Oh, and Holt's does carry Free People, where I bought a cardigan with a chinoiserie style frog clasp in Boston. It's a stand-alone store there. It's got cute little cap sleeves, and though I'm not a cap sleeve person, I couldn't pass it up.

Friday, July 06, 2007

style.com

I'm majorly loving Vogue and W magazines site.

And, I'm rather bowled over and frankly, intimidated by writer/blogger Sarah Mower's quick-as-can-be blogs that, yes, while poncey in typical Vogue fashion, are nonetheless totally spot on, insightful and written by someone with a long fashion memory.

Sigh. I'm jealous.
Is she gorgeous and skinny too, like other Vogue writers?

Cause that would be just wrong.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

It's Fashion Week in Paris

Not that I ever paid much attention to the fashion shows before. Until this week, that is.

I think, and this is tentative because I'm certainly not a fashion oracle, but I think, from what I've been seeing in the French collections, Lacroix, Dior and Givenchy , is that Fall 07 will be about detail, richness....clothes that look like they cost the (exorbitant) amounts that they do. Lots of ruffles, embroidery, top-notch tailoring (ok, it's always about top-notch tailoring) but I mean, the type of tailoring that takes it up another level.

How will H and M and Forever 21 crib these looks? I look forward to seeing their spin.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Dior part II






Sorry, but just one post was not enough to do Dior's fabulousness justice.

Apparently I wasn't alone in being gobsmacked in the best way about this collection.
Even the gossipistas were all over it...
Perezhilton.com posted about it (and he doesn't do fashion posts normally)
Laineygossip.com posted about it (neither does she)

I am in love.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Galliano for Christian Dior


I'm breathless.

I mean, look at this.


The beauty.

This is all over the fashion news today. The show was yesterday.

Oh Galliano for Dior, I love you this season!

I've always loved Galliano, even at his most ridiculously flamboyant. Even when he dropped a pile of weight and had a rippled stomach which he would flash on the runway. Even through the minimalist Calvin Klein 90s. I've always hated minimalist clothes. Give me rococco anyday.

Anyhow, this collection isn't so much rococco as it is Dior's New Look mixed with romantic costume drama.

Gorgessity. I'm without words.

Sarah Mower for Style.com writes:
"Those color effects were ravishing. Running from the palest pinks through mauve, ice blue, crimson, orange, and emerald, they often appeared to shade from one hue to another in the rich folds of duchesse satin skirts and the tiny-bodiced jackets sitting above them."

OK, I have a few words.

For my part, I think these looks are imminently wearable (pared down, of course) and I can't wait for them to trickle down into the fashion vernacular.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Shoshanna


A long long time ago (back when I was a teenager), there was a story in The Star or The Enquirer (doesn't really matter) about how Jerry Seinfeld had just started dating a 17-year old girl, and how he was even going to take her to the prom. Isn't that gross?

Her name was Shoshanna Lonstein.

Ring any bells?

She also reportedly dated Fabio. Yep, that Fabio.

Anyhoo, I believe that they split up after she finished university, and in short order he married Jessica Sklar.

I have no idea how I remember this when I can barely remember family members' birthdays, but so it is.

OK, so, back to the fashion angle....Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss (she got married, not to Jerry, obviously) has her own line of clothing for years now, called Shoshanna. Lots of sundresses and swimwear for buxom gals that aren't fat, such as herself (and myself, too).

And now, really cute blazers too, as seen in this NYTimes photo.

Read the accompanying article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/06/29/fashion/20070701_PULSE_SLIDESHOW_1.html