Cristmas Gifts: Diamonds are a girl´s best friend, Moschino to remind us of it

As I was scoping the web for Christmas gifts ideas to offer to my brand aware friends, I found this great collection of hats and gloves by Moschino. Full of wit and sense of humour Oh so chic, distinctive of the Italian Fashion house. For less than 100€, these little items adorned with Swarovski messages and patterns are delightful. 

I know where I am going to splash my cash for my dearest friends! After all, accessories shouldn´t be dull!

What to wear in Gstaad

Ski holiday don´t come up cheap but one shouldn´t make any  sartorial sacrifice on the pist. 
My Swedish husband - who does know one thing or two about protecting oneself against the cold - taught me that one could easily stand the extreme temperatures would one be naked but the feet and the back of the neck well heated.
While stylish options for the neck are easy, finding stylish footwear is a trickier issue.
After some research, I found ski boots that  accompany me to Gstaad: the Troll by Stuart Weitzman.

Their platform will protect from the snow, they are functional but their design is appealing. It adopts the traditional and retro style of traditional alpine footwear with the cross laces yet in a very modern form.
The little fur at the top is just a delish. The boots conveniently close in the back by a long zip!

One can find this little treasure on www.the-temple.com for 475€
They are so comfortable, cosy and warm, I think I will sleep - ...naked... - in them...

Jewish designer at the helm of Dior

Rumour has it that Marc Jacobs is to replace John Galliano who was let go following the scandal of him hurling anti-Semitic comments in a public place.

Is it fashion irony or fashion diplomacy that Marc Jacobs, who embodies the typical New-York Jewish gay, would follow Galliano?
Phoebe Philo - currently working at Céline -  is said to take in the steps of Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton, where he´s been officing for 14 years.
Both would remain in the stable of LVMH a pool of disposable and interchangeable winning designers.

The luxury industry is a great merry-go-round. It seems that only Karl remains sternly on his throne.

The paradox of buying REAL Louis Vuitton

There is a price to pay for success. In the world of luxury however, brands rarely are the victims but the clients can be.
Yesterday, I was told the story of a shop assistant who'd saved money for months to buy a Louis Vuitton bag.

It had been her dream for years. She'd been longing for the bag and dreamed about it as a symbol of what she wished to convey in terms of self image.

Her first outings with the bag did not give her the expected effect as friends and acquaintances complimented her on how "real" her "fake" Louis Vuitton looked. Appalled, she thought at first it was normal for the people who knew her lifestyle and salary level to assume her bag was a fake as it was discordant with her status but she kept catching snide comments in the bus, the tramway, the restaurants etc

Buying any item from Louis Vuitton with the monogram canvas - the most imitated brand´s staples- has become risky for those who can´t get exposed to the scrutiny for buying "real" doesn´t guarantees to be treated better.

A dedicated buyer of luxury myself, I don´t buy "tacky" since I don´t need the validation. I buy bags I like and so do I with clothes so I thought no one would believe my bags are imitations So it was a big surprise when entering my favourite Yves St Laurent boutique wearing one of my Mombasa bags I heard a sales assistant say with a suspicious air that my bag has a "weird" colour, implying that it was a fake.

Even though I know my Mombasa is the real deal, it made me realise that the shopkeeper's perception of me was that I don´t belong to the world of "privileged" and she assumed that my bag would be automatically to be a fake.

In this materialistic world, acquiring a status symbol is no longer enough, it is a question of the riches of the world considering you to belonging in it. If one wears labels, one has to be consistent all the way. Clothes, lifestyle, car, flat, address, interior design, holiday etc are all the criteria you will be judged upon... If you wear cheap shoes with your Birkin, it won´t even matter whether you spend a yearly rent on it, you will not be considered "worth it".

This is a contradiction of the most perverse nature since 80% of Louis Vuitton´s turnover is represented by the sales of items priced 500€ on average, a price that belongs to the lowest price range of their lines. Even though the whole establishment has been buying Louis Vuitton for over a century, one has to own all the other signs of wealth to be considered "worth" it. If you don't belong, don´t buy the monogramme canvas if you don´t want to expose to nocive remarks.

Luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton certainly are watching out for for the middle ranges that tend to take market share in the luxury entry price point market (Longchamp, Lancel, Anya Hindmarch etc). Gucci or Fendi have decided to dissociate their brand and their canvas products.One of the resort lately was to invest in marketing around their heritage items, thus Gucci featuring the "iconic" symbols such as the green-red bi-colour band or the Baguette when it comes to Fendi. Yet, again, in this world of reality, the turnover is mostly made by the wannabes ready to spend 500€ on a bag that will provide them with the validation and signs of success. For it is very human after all to scream about financial realisation.

So, maybe, if spending more than 1000€ on a Louis Vuitton item, think about buying an iconic item. 

Converse: Sales at Spartoo.co.uk

The Converse Chuck Taylors are staples. I cannot imagine having too many, in different colours and materials.This year, Converse did a series of extra original looks, yet keeping the same touch in their lines and quality.
Well, because Spartoo loves its clients so much, they are having a special sale on Converse.
Don't you just love it when your favorite shops pamper you?

Don't miss the opportunity of getting your fave, I reckon there won't be all sizes left for long...
www.spartoo.co.uk

NEW TREND: After the boyfriend's pants, wear the hat

People stopped wearing hats. There was a time - and it was not that long ago- when a decent soul would not go down the streets their head uncovered.
Nowadays, and to my great pleasure, hats are back and this summer especially since Straw trillbies are all the rage.
My favorites for girls are the white version as it softens the face and gives spark to dull outfits. Perfect for an urban yet casual chic look.

This hat can be purchased on Amazon.

DESIGNER TO WATCH: Iris van Herpen

When attending the LONDON Fashion Week last fall, I had the great pleasure of discovering very promising designers.

Iris Van Herpen was by far one of my favorites and I predicted a
stellar career for the London based Dutch talented woman.

I wasn't wrong since Harrod's just announced they were now selling her creations.

Iris Van Herpen is not a newcomer in the fashion sphere but this year she outdid herself and her collection made a strong effect with her interlaced leather pleats, reminiscent of a post-industrial gypsum flower. This collection, with its new volume - yet wearable- in a garment is very endearing.

Iris Van Herpen has several collections under her sleeve, but none are as impressive as this one. Sometimes, creativeness can be so grandiose but a lucky inspiration and I must admit I am very keen on following her to see if this was a lucky inspiration or if she's going to sustain the ambition.

TO BE FOLLOWED...

If you can't make it to Harrod's, have a look on her website:

http://www.irisvanherpen.com/

During her first state visit in Britain, Carla had to measure up to the queen and Camilla Parker Bowles. Her style had to bear the scrutiny of most newspapers and magazines in France and in the UK, to finally being given the big thumb up...

Arriving at a lunch yesterday with Princess Letizia of Spain who looked drop dead gorgeous, Carla might have regretted not to rethink the outfit, knowing that even the Queen of Spain is quite youthful, yet very appropriate in her style.

Princess Letizia, was sporting an eggplant tiered dress by Spanish designer Felipe Varela, adding to lilac platform heels. The dress colour suited her skin tone and hair perfectly and had the perfect length to elongate her calves. The cut is so good that her thin waist is properly emphasized without being too tight.
Carla's dress should have been longer and she should not be weary of wearing heels... Kitten heels work better with longer shapes that go mid-calves as one can see in many movies of the 60s.

Carla's stylist should also be aware that she's got small squinty eyes and that fringe emphasizes strongly the bottom of her face.

Maybe Carla didn't want to outshine her host, in which case, she looked sufficiently good to not upset her either.

Simple elegance: Charlize Theron

Although usually I am the first to criticise stars and actresses that dress in black too often, I have to make an exception for Charlize Theron who is not afraid of taking risks but even so doing, she usually looks stunning and effortless.

Charlize joined Hanks's friends, colleagues and co-stars in New York to honour the star with the Film Society's 36th Annual Gala Tribute at the Lincoln Center.

Mlle Theron sports a lace dress by Lanvin Pre-Fall Collection 2009.
What do you think?

Carrie Bradshaw's look for less

If, like me, you read fashion magazines, you cannot have missed the information that Matthew Williamson is the latest designer to collaborate with H&M.

What I failed to know was that, even one year after the release of Sex and the City: The Movie, the Carrie Bradshaw look - i.e. as featured in the movie - still prevailed. Why else would Williamson design a dress highly inspired from the pink dress she wore in the movie and a similar studded belt?

Strangely, the H&M dress seems to be of better quality and cut than the number - certainly a designer item- worn by Carrie as the fabric is all crinkled at the front.

Personally, I always recommend wearing tulip shape skirts/dresses. It is broad on the hips and thus comfortable but more to the point, most of us can wear it and look good in it. Of course, to wear anything short, one has to have nice legs.

Below, find how to emulate that look. Nothing easier.
The shoes though, are customized: Patricia Field explained she added a mesh upper to the Dior black pumps. Personally, I don't really like that pink dress with these shoes as they shorten the leg because of the dress's length.

Why not wear any gladiator heel like the character who couldn't get enough of the gladiator heels Extreme by Dior she wore throughout the movie. The Bakers and the New Look number were the closest to it but gladiator heels are everywhere in many variations:

Look of the week: LE NEO-SAROUEL

Zara features a few sarouels in the current line after it has been seen in Hermes, Rick Owens, Nina Ricci, Kenzo etc summer and winter collections.

Although it may appeal essentially to a younger crowd, the sarouel is very comfortable and can reveal itself as one of the most flattering and elegant trousers of the season.

Here are a few ideas about how to sport themost fashionable piece of the season.

A designer to follow: Kara Ross

As far as new designers go, Kara Ross already has made a name for herself and her work has been featured in magazines such as Vogue US or Harpers BazaarUS. There is very little doubt that her style will translate overseas.

The designer has a real ability in retouching the classics and add a modern twist. Her pieces are strong yet understated. A look that works for everyday as well as for evenings.

Her rings and cuffs are especially vibrant and would highlight most black and boring wardrobes. Let's not forget a lovely and simple but remarkable collection of bags as well.

Let's wait and see but it would be a shame if no one saw the potential in Kara's collection.

Prices vary between 150£ to much more...
www.kararossny.com