1940's fashion..

The sound is a little annoying, but still interesting to see how 1940s fashion is still mixed in with many of the styles we wear today.

I am so vintage obsessed!

They weren't too far off

Always a splash

Like many women who are fashion obsessed, I can't help but go straight towards anything that's made in black.  I love color, but black is the easiest and most fun for me to accessorize.  You can do just about anything with it.  An easy way to spice up any full black wardrobe, is adding a color with your shoes.  I love to wear my pink knee high low boots whenever my outfit seems a bit monotone.  They're comfortable, easy to throw on, and always make your legs look longer and thinner.  When fall hits, boots are my go to shoes... these boots Steven by Steven Madden

this brand tends to run a bit pricey, but they make great, long lasting shoes, so I think it's well worth the money. 

For the lover of shoes...

As if fashion, more specifically shoes, could not get more explosive, designers are pushing it to the limits in these upcoming fashion seasons.  2009 F/W & 2010 S/S collections are serious eye candy.  Though most of us average consumers will not be able to just through these shoes on our Mastercard, looking at them may just be enough.  Considering the over the top amazingness in the designs, I'm not really sure where one could pull them off unless going to a red carpet event. Shoes are  going to put more focus on the heel.  I love this idea. 

These shoes by top shop (www.topshop.com) are in an amazing cobalt blue, with fabulous mirror accents.  The heel has this like structured architecture feel, I would pair them with skinny jeans and some awesome black or silver top.  Or if you want to be dressier, do a I would do a little black dress, bandeau style, silver jewelry, and again, keep the focus on the shoes. 

Christian Sirano anyone? His shoes are OUTRAGEOUS.  The boot with the arched heel is innovative, and will be all over the pages of Vogue in these upcoming months.  Check out payless.com for a pair resembling the brown boots!  His line for Payless is fantastic and there are purses to go along with them.  Definitely take time to check that out, and continue back because there will be more added to the collection.  

Chanel never fails.  Always

 keeping things classic, but adding that necessary edge we all need.  These shoes take us back to a magical and romanctic era.  Putting on the white, 1800 styled shoes would instantly make you feel like a queen.   The outward curve of the heels add that edge, to confirm Chanel's fashion-forwardness.  

The black pair, not lagging far behind, are another favorite of 09/10 fashion season.  I love the flowers adding texture to the shoe.  I, personally, would pair the black ones with a hot pink number, something simple, but vibrant.  

Finally, these classic white and black numbers.  A shoe to wear with a pair of super skinny jeans, a high waisted pencil skirt, or a mini dress.  An amazing shoe that can be paired with anything, it's simple, but still has the wow factor in a way only Chanel can do. 

Ohhhhhh John Galliano!   These shoes below are nothing short of magnificent, seriously.  They're whimsical, playful, creative, innovative, and just down right amazing.  It's like a candy fanstasy, or a carousel ride.  These take me back to my days running around the yard pretending to be a princess.  The feathers, the beads, the, the tulle, they're masterpieces.  

I'm also loving the pairing with the socks.  I would love to rock these out with a plain mini skirt, and a simple top.  Pearl necklace for jewelry, to keep the outfit cohesive. 

I am totally embracing this new generation of shoes.  They are more amazing than ever!

Balmain + Christophe Decarnin = Love.

Aside from my Ralph Lauren obsession, I have never been a label whore.  I really just love clothing and fashion, if it's fabulous, it's fabulous, even if it's from Old Navy (I have great t-shirts from there).  But recently I have been fawning over the new Balmain collection.  

If you follow the fashion blogs as closely as I do, you may remember Pink and Shakira showing up to the same event in the same, amazing dress.  

Or Penelope Cruz rocking this vintage number:

After I feasted my eyes on this beautiful creation, I quickly Googled 'Balmain' to peruse the collection.  Everything I saw was covered in sparkles, spikes, studs, or holes (in a good way).  It was like a wanna-be rockstar's dream.  

I pulled my tongue back into my mouth and went on to read about the history of the company.  It was no surprise that the designs come from Paris, France, the fashion capital of the world.  The line was started by Pierre Balmain, who came from a family who was familiar with textiles and loved clothing.  His mother and sisters owned a fashion boutique in the 1920's/30's, and though he first went to school for architecture, his heart always remained with fashion, which eventually he went on to pursue.

Balmain designed for his line until he passed away in 1982.  Such designers as Herve Pierre, Oscar de la Renta and Laurent Mercier took over the designing roles in the years to follow, but most recently Christophe Decarnin has taken over the Balmain line.

He has put an edge into the fashion line that only a true French bred designer could pull off. If you can afford a $5,000 coat, or $2,000 shoes, then put that money into this brand.  It's fashion forward, fabulously designed, and worth every penny (unfortunately, I don't have that many pennies saved yet).  

Zip it

Zippers are not only on the fly this year.  They are on our dresses being fully exposed or our boots being used to form a design.  Now added to the list: jewelry made out of zippers.  On the Etsy website (http://www.etsy.com/), which is website for people to sell their handmade items on, I stumbled on a fabulous cuffed bracelet with a zipper being used as the design on it.  

I love it!  It sort of has a bohemian feel, with a dash of rocker that's added by using the zipper as a design, sort of giving it a hard look. Ah, obsessed.  Unfortunately it's sold out, but I'm crossing my fingers she'll put them back on sale!  I'll be sure to post a direct link to her page when I find out!

<3

MJ Obsession

There were many reasons for me to obsess over the Michael Jackson movie: It gave us insight into how much energy he put into creating the one of theworld's most anticipated concerts.  It opened our eyes to how amazing he is as a singer, even when he isn't "warmed up".  And it showed us how natural his dance ability really is. 

--Most importantly, he confirmed that he truly is a fashion icon.  

Michael Jackson, since I can remember, has worn a similar uniform every time he has made a public appearance: White t-shirt, tailored pants, white socks, black formal shoes, and topped off with an amazing tailored blazer or fitted jacket.  Whether it was drenched in sequins, or mirrored something of a man in the Military, he formed a style that even a person with no fashion knowledge could spot.  

I sometimes think his style is under rated, and

 I know many of you disagree.  But it seems only after his death it was truly recognized.  

As I had stated in an earlier blog post, the Military jacket has made it's reappearance since the 80's in late 2008.  Yet no one was really relating it to the King of Pop until recently.  

Almost all our clothes are now bedazzled with sequins, but no one really ever credited this new trend to the King of Pop.

After watching this amazingly tear-jerki

ng and breath taking documentary, my 

opinion about Michael (though always positive) had really changed.  It just gave me a different perspective of him and who I had imagined he was.  

Forever in my eyes, Michael will be best singer, song writer, dancer, and dresser in the world.

A favorite piece, by Top Shop mirroring Michael's signature shoulder padded, sequin covered blazer.

Denim prices, finally gone down

We all know designer jeans to be a bit over priced, considering denim isn't exactly the most expensive of all the fabric choices out there.  "So, early in the decade designer jeans became 'premium' jeans -- as in, you had to pay a premium price to wear them: $340 for Acne jeans, $350 for Ksubi jeans, $359 for True Religion jeans, $395 for Notify jeans, $580 for Dior jeans and so on." says Eric Wilson, of New York style section. 

Luckily for us consumers that aren't exactly making millions yet, denim prices are lowering this year.  '"The key price is under $200 now," said Eric Jennings, the men's fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue.  'The super-expensive stuff is not performing as well.'"

"Rock & Republic, another popular label, introduced a Recession Collection this spring with styles under $140, about $40 less than before."

The premium denim fad has come to an end, which has its pros and cons.  Some of our very favorite lines are now non-existent due to the sudden down fall in denim sales.  

"Many of those labels, once the next big things, are but memories.  Remember Blue Cult? Antique Denim? Paper Denim & Cloth?"  For any serious fashionista, those 3 names should job your memory.  During my high end denim sales days back in college, I was constantly recommending Paper Denim & Cloth for those who wanted a relaxed, straight leg fit.  They were my favorite pair of jeans for a good 2 years!  And poof!  Gone.  

So, take a gander at the full article above to find out all the facts.

Recession has some positive aspects after all... 

*Eye Candy

Corset

Just a close up of the corset I decorated (with the help of my crafty mother). 

I can't wait until next year!

Halloween weekend

I hope everyone had a fabulous Halloween weekend!  I got my inner pin up on & danced among the streets with miss Lady Gaga!  

<3

Eye candy...