WOMEN OF STYLE ( 2)

MARISA BERENSON
Actress and Model born 1946, Marisa Berenson's grand-mother was Elsa Schiaparelli: it is to say how predestined she was to become this stylish woman! Yves St Laurent named her "The Girl of the Seventies", in other words, the IT Girl and apparently the Real first Super Model since she claimed to be the highest paid model in her time...

But what makes Marisa a stylish woman is her very certain fashion sense: she is daring and knows what suits her. Would it be minimalistic or demure, she always pulls it out well.
What amazes me, is that even besides young women, she looks sexier and more attractive.

WOMEN OF STYLE ( 1)

LOULOU de la FALAISE
Fashion muse and very good friend of Yves St Laurent born in 1948, Loulou de la Falaise recently strated her own jewellery line ( www.louloudelafalaise.com).
She is undoubtedly a very stylish woman with a upscale ethnical kind of look. A mix between Old Russia velvet, Asian Corals and Chic Boheme, Loulou de la Falaise.
At almost 60 yo, she exudes a "glamour chicness" that only true sense of style can express.
I have always admired her sense of style and simply love her jewellery lines.

WHO IS THE NEXT STYLE ICON?

Looking at young starlets and celebrities, I often wonder who will be the next fashion icon that everyone will name in 50 years. Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Onassis gained their reputation thanks to an impeccable style throughout their lives. Would it be on the red carpets, staged photos, traveling or walking on the streets, their style remained flawless. Audrey wore Givenchy while traveling and one will remember the pictures of Jackie O (as opposed to a more contrived Jackie Kennedy) walking down the streets of St Tropez with the Bouvier Bag by Gucci along with her signature large shades in the 60s...

It is hard to find style icons nowadays. None of the actresses or celebrities seem to care enough to dress well in every circumstances. Appart from the big events where they all are dressed up by stylists, the casual leads the way.

In my mind, a style icon is someone whose style is timeless and which everyone aspires to be as demure/ chic/ elegant. It is a combination of chosing the right outfits and to wear them well accordingly to one's body shape.

SO, WHO IS THE NEXT STYLE ICON?
Please, submit your ideas, suggest a photo ( include picture sources ) and let me know who and why you think she is a future style Icon among the actresses/ celebrities/models/ personnalities of our time! I will post your arguments and pictures.

FASHION RECYCLING

A few years ago, when puma trainers were all the craze, even the less trendy of my friends were sporting the brand. Puma created new models every two months and a my friend's brother was mocking his 6 months - old trainers because they were soooooo outdated...

Being a true follower of fashion without much distance is something one would expect from most celebritites which fame is based on their looks. This could be true of Victoria Beckham but
Victoria - and it costs me saying that from someone whose whizz-bang breasts are constantly on display without a bra- actually displays signs of being a real stylish woman.

Victoria was recently caught wearing identical outfits several times ( notably the Louis Vuitton Outfit as featured on Justjared.com). This means that she picks her clothes according to what she senses is her style, clothes that fit her and in which she feels great whatever the trends. This requires a self knowledge and a self confidence in her own tastes. And this is what is expected from a style icon. She has a style of her own, that prevails throughout the fashion tendances and in which she feels herself.

I really like that Victoria Beckham recycles her clothes and wear them in variations: on the left picture for instance, she wears Dolce & Gabbana White Shirt with a wide leather belt, on the second picture, the same Dolce & Gabbana shirt with large trousers, and the belt again but with a tee etc...

She certainly has a style with products she enjoys wearing.

Victoria Beckham may not have any specific skills apart from shopping and being married to a handsome man but just following her movements to see what she is gearing in terms of outfits is worth it.

So, is Mrs Beckham a style icon? Let me know your opinion.

The wanky top model's new clothes

I will spare myself a lot of time by giving you some of the lyrics:

The newspapers shout a new style is growing, but it don't know if it's coming or going, there is fashion, there is fad some is good, some is bad and the joke is rather sad, that its all just a little bit of history repeating

The press never tires of repeating itself. And recently,in a very long line of designer-celeb collaboration with retail, they ceaselessly babble about the Kate Moss's "collection" for Top Shop, to the point where people are starting to get bored...

But the Top Shop collection is even more specific in terms of marketing stunt in the sense where there's no design made originality. Kate Moss is well known to buy a lot of clothes fromTop Shop. Moreover, the entire "collection" simply copies items worn by Kate Moss who mixes Top Shop items with designers clothing and the marketing stunt is not ashamed to say it, hence avoiding the critics since they do it in our face. Basically, since they claim the collection is a copy, it is OK.

To me, it is a bit a case of the Emperor New Clothes: the emperor being Philip Green manufacturing collections that partly were already sold by Top Shop. In other word, Kate Moss's collection hardly is a collection, rather a gathering of her own wardrobe. One can hardly speak of design!

But what is more insane to me is that the absurdity of this marketing stunt in terms of products: why pay £75 for boots that are a copycat of a £84 original ( only £8 difference) especially when Kate Moss herself keeps wearing the original Minnetonkas as she is been seen the past days on some "people" press photographs... Also, in the "Kate Moss Line" was seen a buttoned tank top, a classic that can be find for half the price ( of course, without the stupid label)

Basically, this is pure marketing stunt, an illusion. An excellent case of marketing and PR stunt.

CONCEPTUAL FASHION : ORTHO-EROTIC

When Fashion mixes orthopedics and whore style it becomes conceptual...

There are times in fashion when ugliness is " de rigueur". This summer, Fendi and Chanel lead the way thanks to their common Creative Director : Karl Lagerfeld.



Unfortunately, whenever I see these shoes featured in my magazines , invariably the orthopedic sandals my mother -in law wear come to my mind... So one can imagine my confusion when I associate these with erotica!

That is fashion. Fashion is here to mark the minds and to stretch the lines between what is beautiful and what is ugly ... However, considering what Coco Chanel once said: a woman should be two things: classy and fabulous, I wonder to what category these shoes above do belong.

Not the one to follow fashion blindly anyway, I nevertheless think that fashionistas will plebiscite the model to prefer to it the bi-colour pumps by Mr Lagerfeld for the 2004 collections: this is a creation in the true Chanel spirit... A Keeper.

Faking the cool

Mont Blanc has been known for generations as a maker of high-quality pens and other writing tools. As a teenager becoming aware of the world of prestige and luxury, Mont Blanc was to me an exterior sign of success, a typical gift any business(wo)man wannabe would get for Christmas or for the 50 y.old birthday, etc.

With the development of computers, sales of writing instruments probably fell and Mont Blanc certainly saw its main source of revenue dry out by the year... In any economical case, Mont Blanc shareholders would put the pressure to develop the company's activities.

As a strategy result, we have seen the product range expanding the past few years. Instead of remaining in the writing and business segment, they started to sell accessories such as belts, jewellery, eyewear, perfume, cologne and watches.

Everyone knows Mont Blanc in the world; the value of the brand is so high that they couldn't let it die with pen's usage or become a small niche market. This is why they work hard to convince us thanks to heavy marketing that Mont Blanc jewels are as great as Chanel Joaillerie or Van Cleef and Arpels.

Even though their pens are of a great craftmanship and their star shaped diamond is cutting-edge, I am very anxious to know whether the marketing will manage to convince us that they are jewel makers...

I am always very suspicious when a brand is heavily featured in magazines through ads but almost inexistent in the editorial pages. So, I made a mini survey among my friends, from all different genders and personnalities. The biggest result was that Mont Blanc still has a very established reputation, almost old-fashion and the second was that most people would rather buy competitors jewellery than Mont Blanc's for they are not perceived as professionals.

I am anxious to see how the brand will evolve and see whether the strategy was right or if one can't fake the COOL FACTOR...

Age and style in TV Series

Many women I know who are over 50 yo often express the fact that it is difficult to remain stylish when menopause kicks in and body shape changes, usually getting rounder around the waist. The few brands targeting elder women often are old fashion and others such as Prada - yes, Prada dressing women the age of Miuccia Prada - are somewhat more expensive than what most people would like to pay for their everyday's life wardrobe. Even Jaeger is now targeting a younger crowd.

Although little place is made in most markets for people over 49, I gladly noticed that a noticeable place was made on TV for elder women, and especially women who look great for their age without forcing on cosmetic surgeries. One of my favorite is 59 y.o. Candice Bergen who totally does look the part in Boston Legal and whose appearances in Sex And the City really made my day. Her stylists do a fantastic job and I am here trying to recompose a few of the guidelines principles that seem to rule their work:

1) Chunky necklaces: when one grows older, the neck has a tendency to crease and chunky necklaces hide the wrinkles and the few dapples that may come out with age. The chunky necklaces add structure to the area while distracting the eye from small details that might complex women.

2) Crisp Shirt and collars up: it is great to lighten the collar with white crisp shirts and give structure while drifting the looks upward.

3) Simple Cuts: it is sad to say that while we grow older, the features have a tendency to collapse under the weight of years... Lean and slick lines always are better because it balances the overall.

4) Contrasting colors: for both white and black complexions, contrast is a great ally, especially when used in very simple cuts. Women over 50 should dare wearing wide colors accessories such as Orange Scarves, Turquoise Blue necklaces, Ruby skirts as featured above...

5) Simple designs: Straight skirts are nice, even if one has bloated legs since style often is a question of proportion and thus, "short" length dresses are good looking when one has nice knees even when the legs are not skinny.

A STYLISH FRAUD

Some people claim to be interested in fashion and style. Among them Mary-Kate Olsen is a fraud. Writing a piece about her favorite bag for the New York Times she blabbers about one of the most eminent creations of Modern Fashion Design History... Her inability to explain why the 2.55 is her favorite is striking. for someone claiming to study fashion at University, she doesn't seem to be aware that this bag represents more than being a beautiful item.Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/style/tmagazine/25ttimeless.html?_r=4&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The 2.55 quilted bag designed by Gabrielle Chanel on February 1955 - hence the name - deserves better than a little "piece" by an overly mediatised Mary Kate Olsen who certainly can afford fashion but - like many rich brats - doesn't quite get why the bag is beyond simply being a bag. Gabrielle Chanel made several breakthrough in women's fashion history, a modern woman who really understood her times. Women had taken a lot of responsibilities during WW1 and WW2 when men were away and had become more emancipated. Values shifted and the more practical view on dressing suited them.

When Coco Chanel instaured black as a color, and not a colour to wear only in mourning, women plebscited it. Bags were usually with short handles for the upper class. Only messenger bags , which were bags for workers, had shoulder straps. Chanel was inspired by its practicality and she feminized it with double chain/ leather shoulder straps so women's hand would be free. It became a huge success, corresponding to a real demand of practicality and aethetics alltogether. Aside from being the first shoulder strap bag, the quilted material was inpsired by her Suede Sofa's pillows and, being truly original, required real craftmanship.

Although now declined in different sizes and with a different clasp, the original 2.55 - described by MK Olsen as her favorite - was perfect in size since it was discreet enough to be worn under the arm but big enough to put the necessary items of a busy modern woman. When Mk Olsen mentions the many sizes of the featured bag she owns, I suppose she refers to the 2005 edition of the quilted bag, revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and with a new turning clasp instead of the CC logo. I don't think she even noticed the difference with her "Designer's Eyes" and her ugly shades.

So, what to expect next from NY Times? A piece about Birkin by Hermes from Victoria Beckham? I hope not, I do not care to know that she can put her oversize shades in it!

WHOEVER STYLED KATIE HOLMES FOR THE OSCARS SHOULD BE FIRED

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HAUTE COUTURE ARMANI PRIVE DRESS? On Katie Holmes, it hardly looks like the original and the amendments made to it actually disadvantage Katie Holmes. I wonder what happened with Georgio...

I read/ heard that Posh Beckham would style Katie Holmes for the Oscars. I hope this is just a false rumor for whomever styled Katie has absolutely no sense of style - let alone sense of fashion and has absolutely no sense of body management in dressing...

Katie Holmes has a nice figure for being a mom of a 10 months old. However, she hasn't quite gone back to a "Hollywood body" ... This is however totally manageable... That is why I do claim her stylist did a lousy job.

The basic role of a stylist should be to first consider her weaker points and would work on how to emphasize her to her advantages...Here is a perfect example of how to nhance weak points of a body, and that Armani Privé dress precisely makes the falling shoulders, small breasts and not so gracious calves stand out. How odd

Katie Holmes is a brunette with delicate white complexion. It is thus very important she dresses in contrasting colors. The color is not entirely wrong but since she hasn't gone back to her figure, she should emphasize her beautiful face and hair.
Also, she is very tall and gracious. She could wear very minimalistic and structured dresses and should by ALL MEANS AVOID the ruffles. The dress by itseld lacks of structure and looks unfinished.
With such calves, she should try less delicate shoes and more original such as platform sandals and again, in another color...

The hair is also very old fashion and not very stylish. It actually comes quite flat and the details in the bun are quite tacky.

Again, if I were Katie Holmes stylist, I would have chosen another dress from the same collection. For instance the gown with transparent top suiting perfectly small boobs areas and conveniently hiding calves although showing a bit of leg! The little hat would add structure to the head and even drive the look towards her beautiful face and would even balance the large ears.
Styling someone is not very complicated when one can access to such splendours as Haute Couture Gown. I do believe it is a shame to make a Armani Privé look like it comes from Wal MArt... Frankly, what is it? Made to appeal to desperate housewives?

IS GUCCI IN A STYLISH SLUMP?

I was talking earlier about Gucci and, since today marked the last day of Fashion week in Milan, I realised I should say a few word about my opinion of Gucci style.

When Frida Giannini was appointed Creative director, I was anxious to see what she would come up with. I was very disappointed and although it doesn't really matter that I personally didn't like the new Gucci style, I believe it objectively was too funky/ slutty and I didn't really appreciated the sternness of these cuts (I still shiver when I think of THAT "Abba-ish" gold suit! ).

However, I do believe that even if attractive to a young crowd, it was pretty obvious that Gucci had lost its lush, its glamour and edgy chicness. My personal feeling is that Gucci somehow do no longer belong to the exclusive club of the " Grands de la Mode " such as Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior, Hermes, Yves St Laurent, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana etc which aim is to drive Fashion to its highest level.

After an almost psychedelic period, Gucci comes back to black and Grey but there is nothing great about it, instead, it is sad and boring. The dresses are messy and the minimalistic items are not interesting enough to stand out. There is a kind of "Hawai Pearl Harbour Bar songstress wearing dresses with Japanese inspired fabric crosses German lady in Vienna with black opaque wool and low quality tights" inspiration which is not very identifiable and which is not outstanding enough to be remarkable. It is another Gucci collection I don't look up to...

Gucci used to lead the fashion scene in the 2000s but it seems it is now far behind in terms of trends. If one looks at the Fall 2007 collections, one realises how little exalting the Gucci clothes are and howinspired by others, it actually is. No one could deny the last year's Yves St Laurent Rive Gauche influence in its main lines and cuts and accessory belts ( as featured on the left, with a model by YSL Fall 2006 and right Gucci Fall 2007), the Balenciaga inspiration in some of the cuts and especially wedge footwear. The Bermuda shorts and cropped trousers were all the rage last year even in retail... There is no doubt about it Gucci is two seasons later than everybody else.

This probably won't harm them the slightest and only the sales are relevant: the Olsen twins featured the Balenciaga boots so much that it only has come to the conscience of the public that these shoes are covetable... They will now buy the Gucci's. After all, when other move on to next level, it is sometimes wise to walk into their steps and pick up the left overs.
Having been a huge fan of wedges for years , I will probably get the Gucci's. But Gucci indeniably lost it identifiable identity with Tom Ford. Hence the very wide variations of Frida's collections. Some people may see great talent - and rightfully so- but a Fashion houses either need a conducting thread which remains in houses such as Lanvin, YSL, Balenciaga, Hermes or a very strong designer such as John Galliano to perpetuate the lines. I am no specialist, as I said, I sometimes don't understand Fashion but it my own conviction that Frida needs to find a style identity...
So if Gucci is in a Stylish Slump, we sooner or later will find out in their future financial reports and you will either hear from me, or not because I was wrong....

THIS IS WHEN I DO NOT UNDERSTAND FASHION

Flipping through my old magazines, I came across this February 2006 edition of Vogue UK, featuring this cashmere polo shirt by Gucci as the IT-Product selected by the Vogue UK editors.

Frida Giannini, whose main task apparently is to lead the brand further away from the Porno-Chic era instaured by Tom Ford - which largely contributed to revive the dying brand - invests on "casual sport" and Gucci classics of the 60s revival. She thus successfully brings her mission to fruition: her collections couldn't be further from Mr Ford's style.
If Fashion brands need to change their image, Gucci's style is turning into a mockery of itself in an attempt of revisiting its "classics". It becomes an issue when it looks like they copy Fred Perry ( Picture right, Cotton Polo Shirt, 20$) and become a new competitor of brands such as Hilfiger, Polo by Ralph Lauren or the inventor of the Polo Shirt, Lacote.

Gucci initially was known for its refined and beautifully crafted leather goods for a very sophisticated clientele. In the 60s, its "status symbols" products lead to a world-wide recognition of the brand. The mocassins with the snaffle bit , the GG logo and the bamboo handled bags are now part of our cultural history.

When the brand was in serious difficulties, Tom Ford's cutting edge style and Domenico De Sole strategies lead the brand to the top of the fashion name heap - but could it be that Tom's style didn' t permit the company to maintain its rentability? Is this why the company opted for a "melancholy positioning" to consolidate its profits? Apparently, the strategy is working since the Group confirmed great profits, an increase in turn over, Gucci ahead, and a rise in its gross revenues.

But isn't the role of luxury fashion houses to bring clothing to a higher level than, let's say a Polo Shirt, would it be in cashmere? Or even a poor copy of the Wrap dress by Diane von Furstenberg as featured in the 2005 ad campaign?

In the 2000s, I thought Gucci was brought back to a luxury status. The very same that made the name of the brand among an elitist society. In 2000, even though I could not afford their clothes I dreamed of the day when I could buy items from similarly beautiful future collections. The sleekness of the coats, the wonderful leathers, the exquisite materials, the excruciatingly beautiful lines made me drool over the magazines. I wanted to earn money to be able to afford the clothes and accessories. I went to the Gucci stores only to smell luxury and would pay an insane sum to drink an espresso at the Milan store where the chocolate was emblazoned with a G for Gucci! I didn't mind that it was sooo expensive because it was extremely beautiful and I did believe it justified the price.

Looking at today's Balenciaga, Lanvin and Prada collections, I realise what a precursor Tom Ford was. The minimalism of the lines, the importance of the cut, the contrasting subtle play on colors were so right on back then that the collections made by Tom Ford in 2000 are still very actual. Look at the long gloves that were the height of 2006 collections!

In comparison, the stripe Polo shirt, even being in Cashmere, evoques sporty week-ends at the rugby field rather than an evening at the Plaza Athenee Bar in Paris. And this is where I do not get Gucci. £365 ( 715 $) for a polo shirt? Really? I don't think so! and what about the rest of the designs, of the past years. This is when hommage is a cheating curve!

Below, the 2006 ad. The loafers, the jackets, the pantalon cigarette - everything screams 60s Gucci classics. Where is the creativity? Where is the cutting edge product? Could they use anymore flora Floral Pattern... What a shame. By going casual, Gucci dismissed the essence of luxury and high fashion.

Fashion houses should remember that Luxury prices have to be justified. Believing that the name makes it all is a insult of the now, well informed customer as I am. I know that the production costs of such a cashmere 1 ply since light, should be at most around $40piece when producing less than 100 pieces which is unlikely since the house has store worldwide. In other words, selling it at 700USD implies that most Gucci customers blatantly pay for the marketing. When brands such as gucci make me pay for a stupid ad such as beside: two idiotic women who look like men ( the large shoulders, beurk!) with a heavyset silhouette,I just don't want to spend a penny at their store...

Am I the only one?

THEY KILLED ANIMALS FOR THAT!!!

I love fur! I do not know anything more luxurious than fur and to the risk of getting PETA activists shouting at me under my window, I do encourage stylish women to wearing it. It gives great structure to an outfit and, moreover, it is actually extremely beautiful, when used advisedly and with great taste...

Again, I DO love fur but when I see people with the kind of coat Ashley Olsen is wearing on these pictures, I suddenly feel for the poor chinchillas or whatever the animals that were sacrificed to create THAT coat!

First of all, the fur is not brought to its best in this collage/ assemblage. It almost looks like faux-fur. Second, the 3/4 sleeve length gives a ridiculous aspect to it, especially since she doesn't wear long calf leather gloves ( But as my colleague Rick Rockwill ) puts it, we should not expect celebrities to understand style or fashion) and the collar is just inexistant which renders the whole look absolutely dull!

I know she meant to create a "casual yet luxurious" look but fails totally... One should really be more responsible when one wears fur: it should at least be awesomely stunning.

Strangely, even with the Fendi Tote and the Balenciage Boots, she decidedly looks like an old bag lady whose fur coat was found in a Charity shop bin.

Flip Flops or just a Flop

I do understand the interest of flip flops, what I don't understand is how rich celebs proving very stylish in most occasions, can be caught wearing shabby flip flops.

Of all people, Miss Richie, who's been the face of Jimmy Choo and who can sport 10 Hermes cuffs per arm at $200 each, should not be stingy on shoes! Especially since she probably gets loads of beautiful and comfortable ones for free anyway!
Ashley Olsen or Nicole Richie can't pull up with it... It is soooo Britney: a trend no one should try!

If you have a few hundreds spared for summer, spend them on flip flops, stylish ones of course.
Try a classic Prada or Tod's... Not only do they look good, but they also are comfortable. Here is a tiny selection:

STYLE VERSUS FASHION

One of the great advantages of style agains fashion is that fashion fades. Style prevails.

Through the ages, various body shapes were apprized: in medieval times, rounded stomach and small breasts were appreciated while large rears were considered the height of rules of beauty - with the connotation of rich and lazy ( as opposed to working class).

Beauty rules have evolved and today, many types of women are fancied. In Hollywood, , huge breasts are the must haves, whereas in fashion world, androgyn - verily childlike - types are the flavor of the moment.

In such versatile times, it is safer to remain faithful to one's style and personality, hence keeping the chances of attracting the male/ female companion that will truly love who you are. Don't cheat. If your nature is to be curvy, don't try to get flat, put your features forward.

There are famous girls who, without being skinny do manage to get - sometimes and often with the help of their stylist - stylishly dressed. Beyonce, as shown on the picture beside, is one of them. I also often like Queen Latifah in movies, even if the costume designer is the one who should get most of the credit. Nevertheless, Queen Latifah always pull off the looks so nicely and comfidently that she becomes more beautiful than most skinnies.

I wish people were more working on the style according to their body features rather than working their body to get in the Fashion clothing,,, This is so much edgier...

A WORLD OF HYPOCRITS Style is so much more than fashion

About the recent debate on skinny models, Karl Lagerfeld has been reported saying on WWD: "The idea of ‘regulation' is revolting [...]. Models are about looks, not about weight. For me, it's not even an issue; it's part of this new politically correct fascism."
As much as I agree with Karl Lagerfeld, I cannot help but commenting on the irony of the situation.

Mr Lagerfeld has (in)famously claimed to uniquely design for slender figures. In other words, plump fashionistas s'abstenir! God forbid that curvacious girls access to the heights of their clothing designs: fashion is something to be deserved! And starvation is one way to go, Mr Lagerfeld showing us the way by loosing 42kg. His only - and admitted - goal was to be able to wear Hedi Slimane sylphlike designs.

While Mr Lagerfeld is the sole designer I know to be honest about his intentions, the demand for size zero models follows a general fashion diktat. So much so in fact that the fashion crowd just looks the same. It is so boring that on The Sartorialist Blog, one raptures over a blue matching scarf here, a red pair of shoe there...

Mr Lagerfeld should not be too quick on slamming fascism when fashion diktats precisely make his bread-and-butter bycontributing to building the myth of fashion design. It is without any surprise that after a first democratisation of fashion through Ready-to-wear and the possibility for the crowd to afford - with blood and sweat sometimes- luxuries such as it- bags, they had to come up with something to make it even more unaccessible. In our over sustained society, weight loss is an issue and is what makes fashion unreachable by the commons... Again, Fashion has to be deserved, a reaction to the attitude of entitlement that characterize our society.

The furore about skinny models is a false debate and I do not believe in regulation. Why even bother when the world already is looking away to shift towards new fashion icons such as Beyonce and the Marilyn Monroe revival? These are only trends and as such, are only destined to disappear to reapper.

Fashion often offers an illusion of elitism for weak and conformist minds. It isalso the apanage of people who like to follow and expect other people to dictate them what to wear and decide about who they are, with disregard as to their personal features, would they be skinny with or without bust, hips etc.

Personal style says about you, Fashion says about who you follow.

ANGELINA JOLIE IS ST JOHN'S FACE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY COME UP WITH?

Recently, St John's signed her as their new face and she is contractually required to wear what only they call "Hollywood Glamour" gears at Red Carpet events ...

She probably got blinded by the $millions, imagining all the schools she could get built and the number of children she could save... What she didn't realise is that she also had signed for her stylish demise. The Golden Globe Awards Event certainly was a wake up call for the gorgious actress who allegedly was unhappy with what she was asked to sport. With great reasons: the color was flat on her, the skirt line was unflattering and rather boring, the decolletage without interest...
Surely, St John's creative team could have come up with something less generic for an event at which it is well known everybody is competing for elegance, style and glamourous attitude.

The brand's style is supposed to stand for strong and independant women. Instead, the only accessory that saves Angelina from bad reviews is her man. How independant an image is that!

Angelina is a glamourous person and certainly doesn't need the frocks. However, she should be among the best dressed.

The mother of three is Haute Couture material and therefore, I did work out a few looks for her with creations by Christian Lacroix, for the Collection Haute Couture - Winter 2006-07 (Note that these pictures are pure fabrication).

Of course, the publicity of St John's being associated to Angelina Jolie in people's mind is probably doing wonder, so why even try... I just wish they were more ambitious or at least, that they would set her free when it comes to high fashion events!

UGG-*LY* BOOTS are OUT

I can't believe it but I still see girls sporting Ugg boots.
Please someone, tell them ugg-ly boots are out - forever - or should be anyway.
Why anyone would like to look like Winny the Poo, even for the Carnival?
If you want to wear comfortable boots, there is an infinity of more stylish alternatives. Try these:

Dolce & Gabbana at Yoox



Giuseppe Zanotti at Yoox




Dior by Galliano




Sergio Rossi