Pre-Fall: Balmain

My favorite fashion seasons are always the 'in betweens'.  Resort, pre-fall, etc.  First up for my pre-fall series, is Balmain.  Balmain traded in its Christopher Decarnin with Olivier Rousteing, and with that, began to redefine the fashion house who brought football style padded shoulder blazers to the masses, but then got sidetracked with----only that. 

To start, Rousteing went less Las Vegas and more  czarist Russia, less scruff and more glam.   Blazers and bombers came in men's proportions, and he showed loose pajama pants in quilted silk or dévoré velvet.  While taking the Balmain silhouette in new directions with an oversized and self-defined 'comfy' look,  the overall collection still felt rich and classic---lots of wearable inspiration for fall.  

Pictures from Style.com

Comic-Con

 I apologize. I am bad. I am THE worst blogger.  I was at a work conference last week and two girls, who I presumably work with, were whispering and doing that shifty eyes thing in my direction.  Note, if you are going to be discreet when you talk about something turn around, inform your friend 'don't look now, but..' and proceed to gossip.  Jeeze, don't people learn anything from teen movies these days?  Anyway, the point is, I walked over there, smiled and then made them talk to me, at which point I got the question "don't you have a famous fashion blog or something?".  Flattered, but horrified, I said no, I neglect this blog worse than a mother from Toddlers & Tiaras neglects their spray tan gettin', go-go juice drinkin', fake teeth wearin', corset wearin' 3 year old.  Sad.  I love you blog, I'm sorry.  That being said, I just haven't been inspired.  By things.  I have been travelling here and there and everywhere, trying to find inspiration. Lately I have been inspired by Australia and Italy--Bondi and the Amalfi Coast to be exact, but that's for another post.  But here guys, here is a post that I feel is worthwhile.  SUPERHERO POP CULTURE ZOU ZOU ZING! I just went home to visit my parents, which meant a stop at my all time favorite Wisconsin store--Savers.  Yes you heard right--the BEST clothing store in Wisconsin is the midwest (or..?) version of Goodwill.  I have purchased from Savers---get ready, a mid century mixed wood/steel perfume tray, costume nationale combat boots, a vintage PUCCI jumpsuit (yes, kids. PUCCI), loads of vintage wrap dresses, and now this.  So I picked this up and had this moment where I couldn't decided if I loved or was disgusted by this. That is how I usually know, it is actually fabulous.  Yes, I get that I run the risk of looking like Carmen Miranda visiting the set of Pee-Wee's Playhouse.  Yes, I get it, but I folks, see another vision.  Phillip Lim and Balenciaga and their tribute to the comic book.  There's also this whole prints thing going on now that is not going away, so I say, this mixes both.  So behold my dress.  It was $2.99 and may be losing those 90s sleeves, but you will see this adorn my Olive Oyl-esqe (I can wish) body this summer.  

Balenciaga f/w 2012 

Elin Kling in Phillip Lim f/w 2012's Kapow sweater

winterliketheseason find $2.99 from Savers.

Words Are Very Unnecessary

It's Saturday, and sunny, so what better way to celebrate than with Depeche Mode and Dior.Dior's latest video entitled "Secret Garden" was filmed by the famed Inez and Vinoodh in Versailles and accompanied by one of my favorite bands (and songs) of all time----Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence".  Old and new, pop culture and couture all come together to create a little magic.  Enjoy!

Shop: Mango, what you should be wearing

I don't want to hear complaints any longer about what to buy, what to wear or that you can't afford something.  Put down that Big Mac right now and put your $4 into your piggy bank while you grab a big glass of water instead (trust me, you will thank me later).  Mango, again, shows girls what they should be looking like and guys, it is affordable.  Most everything on this page is under $100.  Big Mac money. Seriously.  When you go to the Mango store, please resist the urge to judge the stuff as tacky.  I get it. The stores are ridiculously ugly--bad lighting, bad merchandising and all that jazz.  However, look past the florescent lighting and think of the summer collection, styled by style goddess Geraldine Saglio.  She got it so right and this is so me.  Loose, not tight, casually sexy.  So, mess your hair, line your eyes, and get your best safari gone sexy outfit from Mango. Go. Now.  Run.  Wear these clothes and thank me later.

All photos from www.mango.com

Say What? Cartier Juste un Clou for less

Cartier’s Juste un Clou jewelry collection is back for a limited time only and features bracelets and rings shaped out of a single nail in 18-karat white, yellow or rose gold. The pieces range in price from $2,175 – $34,000.  Yes. You heard me. That is the price.  The collection was originally introduced back in 1970, and is back on will adorn the fingers and wrists of the fashion elite. A quick Etsy search turned up this gem, and for $54, a steal compared to that of Cartier, while still giving the same look.  

Cartier "juste un clou" ring, $2175

AlexandersExcellence sterling silver nail ring, $54

Say what? The Hooker Shoe Rules Again!

Man, those adult lingerie stores are way ahead of their time.  I mean, we all remember their Givenchy shout-out from the fall, right?  Now this.  They are killing it.  So, the spring is all about pastels, and most notably, white leather.  And the IT shoe is going to be an ankle strap shoe.  So let's blend this in the fashion blender---the ankle strap white leather shoe.  Ridic.  The shoe we will are hear until our fashionably decorated ears bleed is the Alex Wang Joan shoe, although YSL, Jil Sander and Derek Lam also make showings this season.  Alex Wang Joan.  Let's talk. It is hot.  Crazy hot.  And also $545, which is great if you have decided like Uncle Karl that he did alot of dinner in his life, and thus is now over eating (love him) and so you can save money from not eating.  For the rest of us, I present the hooker shoe! Found on an Ebay store, called, "I Love Sexy" (you can't make this stuff up), they are merely $27!.  Good news, you can eat and still pull off a chic look.  

White pump from "I love Sexy", $27, buy them here

Alex Wang Joan $545, buy them here

Say what? Isabel Marant and Alex Wang for less

Guess where I am going tonight? To Mango.  Yes, never thought I would say that.
Mango.  I admit it, I am going, fast.  The collection for spring is amazing.  From the pastel Marant-esque sweater to the near identical Alex Wang esque bondage heels.  My favorite? The tuxedo dress and gold rimmed belt.  For $59~!  Say...whaaaaaa?

Video: Nailing It

Brilliant campaign Chanel.

Video: Karl on Karl

I know I have been video-tastic on this blog. Yes. It is one part laziness, because honey boo boo chile, work's been busy, uh-kay?  But, the videos out on the interwebs are just amazing lately.  Case in point. See below.

I am in Love with a Frenchie

You know when sometimes you are in love, and you are speechless.  Cannot describe why you are in love...words do not adequately describe your love.  You just do.  He. Just. Gets. You.   Well French Vogue. You have me speechless with this video to relaunch your website. Wham.  My favorite song as a child. Anja, Emmanuelle Alt as George Michael.  I love you.  You. Just. Get .Me.  

Fim: C'etait un rendez-vous

When trying to come up with a Valentine's Day gift guide for my relationship-ed friends' men and thinking of all things masculine, it dawned on me---what is more manly than a high reving engine, squealing tires, and disregard for all the rules of the road, all shot artistically and in Paris (because for me, at least, a man should appreciate a good French film)? It led to to remember this 9 minute French short "C'etait un rendez-vous", shot in the early late summer morning in 1976 by French filmmaker Claude Lelouch who mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Mercedes and drove at breakneck speed through the streets of Paris.  No streets were closed, no permits were secured, and rumor has it that Lelouch was arrested when the film came out.  No dialogue, just the roar of the engine, the squeal of the tires and feeling the adrenaline rush through your body as you watch.  Breathtakingly insane.

Editorial: the Seeker

In the March issue of US Elle, Kate Lanphear styled a shoot that I love.  She never gets it wrong.  Enjoy.

Men of Style: l'hiver edition

A well dressed man, in my eyes, looks like this.  Enjoy.  Happy Saturday!

Collection: Givenchy Pre-Fall 2012

My two favorite seasons in fashion are the 'in-betweens':  not F/W, not S/S, but rather, resort and pre-fall.  They are the seasons where the days are hot, but the nights are cold, or the days start to get warmer, but the mornings are still crisp.  You can wear bare legs, but want to throw a coat over it, you can wear boots but can get away with a lighter top. How excited am I for the pre-fall collections that are currently being show.  All I can say, is wow.  First up, is...can you guess it readers? Who is my favorite? Yes, Givenchy.  Un--Be--Lieve--Able.

Riccardo Tisci created pieces, that once again will be on the tip of every fashion loving girl or gay's tongue soon for a number of reasons. First off the block, this is 50s meets 70s equestrian---can't beat that.  Second, Tisci has taken some of the most popular moments at Givenchy and reworked them.  The classics are back, people! Embrace closets of old and new for this season by following Tisci's lead. Also worth mentioning are the nods to masculine tailoring and the incredible boots showcased.  The boots the boots....oh ma gawddddd child, the BOOTS.   I once heard a man refer to this style of boot as the "hoof boot." Well, if it makes me look like a horse, a goat, a cow, I'll happily moo, baaaa or nayy! These boots are a must for Pre-Fall and I have a feeling we'll be seeing them all over fashion week in Feb/March.

It's also worth mentioning that Givenchy has clearly been inspired by street style photographers. One look at this look book and you feel like you're logging into The Sartorialist for your morning update.  Not to mention, the stop sign makes me feel like I am in middle school and this is my first day of school outfit.  It's brilliant!  

Photos courtesy of Style.com

Shop: Ash Paradise

First it was the Givenchy bag (pics coming up) that was ridiculously marked down and now these bootie beauties by Ash!  My poor bank account.  Currently on sale on The Outnet for $130 (from $260), these boots will take you from winter to spring to the music festivals that await us all this summer.   Get them now, good sizes are all still available

Vogue Italia: IVC 2012

This may just be the most brilliant thing I have seen. Italian Vogue released a video to accompany the ironic January cover that pays homage to the shopping networks QVC and HSN.  Seriously, who ever said fashion lacked a sense of humor, needs to watch this.  Having grown up in the midwest and lived in Korea, j'adore a good home shopping channel. My agent in Korea once tried to get me to be on a home shopping channel there, but it would have just basically been me and some Russian girls in our underwear. Uh, no thank you. Here, however is a channel I would be on----you will get a glimpse of the previously discussed car themed Prada collection, Gucci's Crysler Building inspired flapper dresses, Balenciaga, Chanel, YSL and many more, all accompanied by elevator music that one might except to hear when watching "Love Boat".  Love it.

Campaign: Givenchy S/S 2012

I know the word 'campaign' is all over the news these days...Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, Obama,  but the only campaign I am currently excited about is the Givenchy S/S 2012 advertising campaign that was released last month.  Everyone who knows me knows that I am all about the neo-surfer look.  Whatever that means, I always like to dress like I am a former surf pro going to a high class event, but at the beach.  Figure that one out.  In any case, Ricardo Tischi does it again, taking my all time favorite idea of the surfer and giving it the Givenchy twist with the darkened sky, black surf board and dusky seashore to perpetuate the brand's Gothic and romantic designs.  

Je Voudrais: Balmain S/S 2012

So what it is more than my rent for a year.  A girl can dream :)

Image courtesy of Style.com

Editorial: Feeling Frühling

The January 2012 issue of Vogue Germany featuring model Monika Sawicka and shot by Knoepfel and Indlekofe shows exactly what I wish I was wearing right now as I sit bundled up trying to survive this cold spell.  That Prada coat with the green spikes and car print is major major major.  See you in the spring in hot pants and patterned jackets, going into hibernation now .  

All photos found at Fashnberry