3rd Trimester Style Inspiration

Photo: sourced via Wikifashion

As insurance for the days when I know I'm going to feel blah in the coming months, here are some snapshots of Russian Freelance writer, Miroslava Duma, during her pregnancy summer/fall of 2010. She had a baby boy in October of that year.

I may not be able to relate to her wardrobe budget, but at least I can relate to her petite-ness. She's my height and I can look to her style savviness as inspiration to make it through the 3rd trimester.

P.S. I hope everyone had a sweet holiday season spending time your loved ones sharing lots of laughter and glorious gluttony!

Photo: sourced via Wikifashion

Maternity jeans - my new best friend(s)

COH Avedon skinny mat jeans
Avail at NAP for $122 on sale

After a almost a month of wearing my pantalons undone, I had to cave in or face the prospect of 4 more months of not being able to wear jeans. Well, ones that stayed up anyhow. I do have a denim addiction- it would be a bad mix of hormones and withdrawal. Absolute crisis! I had to entertain the idea of maternity jeans.

I swore that I would not buy maternity clothes... but when I tried on these funny-looking jeans with big belly panels, I was impressed. So comfortable and no more belly stabbing by hardware! And they look unbelievably normal below the panel. I retract my oath. Being the thrifty shopper, I found that Net-A-Porter was having a sale that included a few maternity styles by Citizens of Humanity. I decided on the COH Ava straight legs in size 27 (they do tell you to go up a couple sizes) and there was one size, 24, left of the COH Avedon black skinnies (with a sale, I can gamble, right?)

I ordered online on late Saturday night and voilà, they arrived on our doorstep at 6 pm today- a mere 2 business days later. Did I tell you I love NAP?!?  Both fit, both pass all the denim try-on tests, and I love them. I've already warned dear hubby to never mind me if I wear the same pants every day until the spring... :)

In Vogue: The Editor's Eye

Now is one of those rare times when I actually want to have cable - or an active TV! On December 6, 2012, HBO will premiere its documentary In Vogue: The Editor's Eye. If will feature the past and present Vogue editors who, through their influence and creativity, have cemented this publication as a fashion 'bible'. To this day, Anna Wintour is still the formidable master and commander. And no, the devil wears a lot more than Prada!

I definitely would like to be enlightened by the women who held what I would consider one of my dream jobs.

Do check out the preview at Vogue.com and set your PVR for December 6, 2012. Enjoy!

Sneak peek  and other Vogue Diaries segments are available at Vogue.com

Yearning for Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant SS 2013
Photo: Monica Feudi/Feudiguaineri.com
via Style.com

Since I've been a little obsessed with these Isabel Marant Jenny boots lately, I checked out IM's spring summer 2013 collection to see what we have to look forward too once the trees bloom again. The runway was an explosion of tropical/western prints in black, white, and red. The cuts had the very traditional Isabel Marant flair with bohemian embelishment, lace and a slight edginess with studs. Very skimpy and slim pieces that would jive more in Southern Cali or a place where a woman's BMI is 18 or less.

Isabel Marant SS 2013
Photo: Monica Feudi/Feudiguaineri.com
via Style.com

I look forward to see these in the IM boutique when we are in Paris next year. Maybe just for kicks, I'll try to see if I can get one leg in the red studded pants. :)

Isabel Marant SS 2013
Photo: Monica Feudi/Feudiguaineri.com
via Style.com

Beauty commercial parody

I often get into this debate with people as it is sometimes assumed that when a woman looks through a magazine, she sees photos and ads of models and celebrities she wants to look like- thereby setting unrealistic expectations for herself to strive to be super skinny, blemish-free, wrinkle -free... and making her feel unworthy and need to buy things to look like "that".

I can't speak for anyone else, but I take offence to this argument because I view magazines for ideas of whats new in fashion, who's making what, how clothes are styled, how street wear is combined, and what story an editorial is trying to convey. I truly appreciate the beauty and glam of the models/actresses but I take them for what they are: mannequins and entertainers. It's their job to look they way they do and the final product we see on paper and digital format is almost always edited and commercially retouched. I hope most women are aware of this fact.

That is why this video written and directed by Jesse Rosten is so funny true! As the creator's caption states: 'This commercial isn't real, neither are society's standards of beauty."  

Wish listed book

Since I can't make it to any of the exhibits... the book is available at Amazon!

Simon's scope out results

Ichi faux leather skirt
Available/Photo from Nelly.com 

Just a little update on an earlier post this month about Quebec retailer, Simon's, that had opened in Edmonton.

We had the chance to check out the mammoth, well lit store and it excites me to share that they did bring in the high end goods! I really did not expect that they would. Ladies (and gents), there is a little back section that houses Balmain, Chloe, Missoni, etc for your perusal. I fell completely in love with a Dries Van Noten top from F/W 2012 RTW that I tried on. But that top would have meant two and not four winter tires this year.. so I ended up having to face reality and went home with some more budget friendly items like a Yumi knitted winter dress and an Ichi faux leather skirt. Both on sale- not bad for first visit!

Yumi knitted dress
Available/Photo from Oasis 

Fleeting watch lust

My good ol' Tissot stopped ticking last week and when I dropped it off for a new battery, I started browsing at the other timepieces. Nothing was interesting in Rolex, Cartier, Baume & Mercier, or Longines showcases; however this retailer had some others beautiful watches to fawn over.

They had some pricey Chanel J12's to help crank my interest. I've written before about my love of the J12's and my friend's beautiful purchase. This time I was drawn more to an old (and at 1/4 the Chanel price tag) favourite watchmaker of mine- Tag Heuer. They had a lovely Formula 1 Ladies's steel and ceramic chronograph 41 mm watch. I normally love the racing-endorsed watch collections but most are very masculine with some gaudy race and checkered flag colours. I was surprised to find a nice women's design that's elegant but sporty- I doubt Lewis Hamilton sports any of the diamond and ceramic ones on the Tag H ad campaigns, though! Of course the sales associate was trying to tell me I needed a smaller watch. I told her no way. I tried on this other F1 black on black gorgeous one but goodness, who pays $1900 for a rubber strap? I love big men's watches, especially chronograph and exposed-skeleton watches... but we know in order to afford the makers of the latter variety, that requires an income where we move the decimal place to the right about 3-4 spots. :)

By the time I picked up my watch the next day and the Tissot was ticking again... this fleeting desire went away. This is, until my watch dies again in a couple years! My husband is probably thinking, thank goodness! I do not blame him at all...

Tag Heuer Formula 1 Ladies Timepiece
41 mm steel ceramic chrono with 12 diamonds
Avail at Ł1550 at Ernest Jones (about $2200 CAD)

Up-coming retail therapy catalysts

I know I am not the only one who finds shopping for luxury goods in Canada difficult. By shopping, I mostly mean "window shopping"- to see, touch, try on, and drool over things that are so beautiful but are not affordable. Yet, they are things you put on a wish list and strive to save up for that grand moment when you can bring that special item home... anyhow, when it comes to those dream items, it is truly quality (and label!) over quantity. 

But there are at least 3 new store openings coming in the new future that can shift the balance between quality and quantity:

  1) Quebec retailer, Simons, has just opened in Edmonton this fall. I expect the West Ed Mall store will carry its house lines: Twik, Icône, and Contemporaine. Simons' Quebec stores also carry hard to find lines like Balmain, Junya Wantanable, Stella McCartney, Vanessa Bruno, and Carven that there may be hope of some product "transfers" out west.

2) Holt Renfrew plans to open a more lower priced store called HR2 in Spring 2013. Supposably to fill the void in the contemporary middle market by offering women & men's apparel and accessories from the familiar luxury designers' secondary and diffusion lines. Given the Edmonton's Holt Renfrew's selection of goods, they only simply have to rename the store.

3) Rumour has it Nordstrom is opening in Canada! I am definitely keeping my ears high alert to hear of more details on this expansion. :) 

Back on the jean wagon - Chimala denim

Chimala ankle denim ankle pants
$455 available at madewell.com

There was a time (circa 2000) when prices of denim jumped from $75 for a pair of jeans to $155 with  Juicy Jeans and Diesel... then within a year or so, you had $200 pairs of Seven for All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity taking over the denim market. I only remember this too clearly because I worshipped denim, as I've laid out in my 'denimology' post.

Now, the new standard 'regular' price bracket we are familiar with has loomed around $250-$300. The more embellished, the higher the retail price. Of course, there are the $500-$800 pairs of Dolce & Gabbana or Balmain jeans.

Needless to say, I have not been keeping up with the denim pulse. Until today. I saw Jane Aldridge model a pair of Japanese-made Chimala jeans on her blog, Sea of Shoes. The distressed denim looks so cozy, soft, and lived-in- even in the photos. Great photography work or not, I was intrigued and looked the brand up. They are exclusively on Madewell.com and wow, they are pricey- $455 to $483 for a pair. By the website's product description the makers of these jeans have"turned expert fading and washing into an art form." My interpretation? Hole-y jeans to create major holes in your wallet!

Simons-Slimane Showdown

Curiosity has been settled in regards to how the big debuts went down at Paris Fashion Week SS 2013. Newly minted creative directors Raf Simons and Hedi Slimane both showed their first collections for Christian Dior and Saint Laurent (YSL) respectively. Reviews so far have been great for both with the exception of Cathy Horyn on Hedi Slimane, but that's another story.

I am not a fashion critic but personally I found both collections embodied the legacy of their respective houses. Dior's lady-like silhouettes and romantic glamour were present and YSL's renowned skinny pansuit was on the runway but with a 60's/70's rock chick twist. For a person of little stature, I would find the Dior collection more wearable as it seems a girl needs to be 6 ' tall (and super skinny!) to pull of the Saint Laurent looks. But there's an edginess to the the latter collection as well that draws me in.

Nevertheless, I definitely favoured the "techo-buttlerflies" beauty look created by Pat McGrath for the Dior show over the bewitching black wide brimmed hats worn on the Saint Laruent runway. Take your pick!

Here are some looks to compare (sorry I gave up on trying to format the photo layouts- they look fine on my draft page!) :

Dior S/S 2013
Photo: Yannis Vlamos (gorunway.com)
via Style.com

Saint Laurent S/S 2013
Photo: Monica Feudi (feudiguaineri.com)
via Style.com

Dior S/S 2013
Photo: Yannis Vlamos (gorunway.com)
via Style.com

Saint Laurent S/S 2013
Photo: Monica Feudi (feudiguaineri.com)
via Style.com

Dior S/S 2013
Photo: Yannis Vlamos (gorunway.com)
via Style.com

Saint Laurent S/S 2013
Photo: Monica Feudi (feudiguaineri.com)
via Style.com

Givenchy Spring/Summer 2013

Givenchy SS 2013
Photo: Monica Feudi /Feudiguaineri.com
via style.com

Paris Fashion Week is underway and the Givenchy SS 2013 just went today. I love how dark Riccardo Tisci has been for the last 7 years but for the spring season there was baby blue floating in there with the organza and ruffles. Style.com's review notes the theme of Catholicism as there were some priest-like collars and bishop's sleeves. Pricey way to look like a nun, but dark and romantic nonetheless. More runway photos are Style.com's cool new feature atmosphere photowall.

The other highly anticipated shows for Paris FW are Dior & YSL. I've already scouted out Raf Simmon's debut from September 28 for Christian Dior and I'm waiting for Hedi Slimane's first collection to run October 2 for Saint Laurent, as YSL is now called. Is there really a showdown between the newly inaugurated creative directors of the two big historical fashion houses? I guess we will find out...

Givenchy SS 2013
Photo: Monica Feudi /Feudiguaineri.com
via style.com

Alexander Wang's mini fashionista niece

Does this python dress come adult-size?
Photo: www.tumblr.com/tagged/aila-wang

I've featured fashionable kids in the past and now this little girl has me taking more notes! Well, with the possibility that I will get to put this research to good use starting next spring. ;)

This adorable and edgy tot is Aila Wang, the niece of American designer Alexander Wang. Photographers have snapped photos of her mini sartorial style at NY Fashion Week. Word has it she is only three years old and her uncle designs her clothes. Lucky kid! I know there's always the debate over parents dressing kids up "adult-like" but I don't see child "toddlers and tiaras"-style pageantry here. No makeup, made up hair, or heels. Just a more couture twist on the a wee girly girl style. Mom and dad's should consider if you're seeing a lot of pink frills around your house. :)

Photo: www.tumblr.com/tagged/aila-wang

Cool flatforms- very on trend
Photo: www.tumblr.com/tagged/aila-wang



Leather tshirt - would you wear one?

When it was highlighted as a trend this past spring, I didn't care for them. But does it ever happen that you start liking things that you at first scorned? This is the case here. Why I am drawn to the boxy, no shape, pseudo-unflattering silhouette a leather tee is beyond me. There's no rocker child that needs to come out. Lords knows where I would wear it... all I know is that I desire to have one!



Givenchy lambskin tshirt (comes in red or black)
$1330 at Barneys.com

Nicole Richie wearing her own Winter Kate laser cut out leather tee
$450 - Sold out
Photo: peoplestylewatch.com



Balenciaga faux leather tee
More affordable at $228 at Farfetch.com

Fantasy House-sitting





Front lawn view of Mr Louboutin's home
Photo: Alexandre Bailhache/WSJ photo

Inspired by a recent visit from a friend who was "house sitting", I got the notion that I would love to "house sit" for Christian Louboutin's 13th century manor in the Vendee region of France. Dana Thomas of The Wall Street Journal has visited his regal abode and put together an in-depth profile of Louboutin's French country side home. I encourage a read to get the full details on the artifacts Louboutin has collected from his world wide travels- pieces in which he uses to decorate his home and his 8,000 pair shoe archive. He has that many pairs spanning his 20 years of designing shelved away in a quaint rustic barn. Can you see why I would choose his home over any other?

 

Actually, I would also lose myself in his enchanted garden of peonies and wisteria. So if he divides his time between 5 homes in Paris, Portugal, Egypt, Los Angeles, and this country manor... that would mean very lengthy house-sitting stays! What would I wear everyday of my stay.. a new pair of Louboutin shoes, bien sur!

 

Go to the Wall Street Journal article to see the full gallery.

 

Of his garden, Mr Louboutin says "It allows me to see blends of colour,
juxtapositions of gloss and matte surfaces"
Photo: Alexandre Bailhache/WSJ photo

 

Net-A-Porter's Fall Dress Guide

Ok, I give in! I look outside- it's cold, grey, and windy. It makes me sad that fall is here temperature-wise. But I must admit, fall is my favorite season for clothes. I love riding boots, wool coats, and sweaters. While I was in the US last week, I was seeking out discounted end of season summer dresses to wear at my sisters wedding in Mexico but failed at finding anything. I completely shut myself off from looking at anything fall-related. One week later, the tide has turned. I think this week's Net-A-Porter online magazine is a great guide for the ultimate day dress. The one piece that you can wear to work, meetings, interviews, and out for an evening of dinner and drinks. Heck, I'd wear a day dress to window-shop. It is that versatile.

The fall trends outlined everywhere this season (ie: bordeaux leather, duo-tone, neo-goth, asia major, 70's print, baroque, bejewelled, sci-fi, pantsuit, military) may be inaccessible for the everyday woman and without proper interpretation and implementation, trying to following these trends can be overwhelming. Besides, some of "trends" have been recycled multiple times in the last few years that it's redundant to call them trends.

Anyhow, I suggest looking into NAP's online magazine. I completely agree their list will help you find a more classic, flattering, and wearable dress that you can pull out every fall, year after year.

First suggestion is the flip hem dress:

Image screen cap from net-a-porter.com
Go to NAP Magazine page for full texted article

The streamlined and sexy dress (NAP calls it the 'miracle' dress):

Image screen cap from net-a-porter.com
Go to NAP magazine page for full texted article

A coulour for any season (imo)- the red dress:



Image screen cap from net-a-porter.com
Go to NAP magazine page for full texted article

My favorite- the leather dress! Especially the featured tweed leather-hemmed Milly one..

Image screen cap from net-a-porter.com
Go to NAP magazine page for full texted article

The collar dress- a look re-emerged by Victora Beckham's and Carven's collections

Image screen cap from net-a-porter.com
Go to NAP magazine page for full texted article

And last but not least, my ultimate favorite- the sweater dress! The only downfall is packing for winter getaways is a pain because of the bulkiness of these pieces. But more often than not, our winter trips are to more tropical locales, right?

Image screen cap from net-a-porter.com
Go to NAP Magazine page for full texted article

Of course, since its NAP magazine, every item featured is available with just one click! Happy browsing!

Vacation acquisitions

We Canadians sure love cross border shopping, don't we? Now that the government has increased the personal exemption limit to $800 if you are gone longer than 48 hours, the more you can shop duty free.

Even better is shopping Seattle (or anywhere in Washington) for Albertans- it is tax free! Just let them know you are from Alberta, show your driver's license, and they deduct ALL taxes off your total. Pretty nice!

Coincidentally, both hubby and I picked up Burberry tees and aviator sunglasses- and yes, we order the same menu items, too! Kidding aside, I was seeking out Tom's classic aviator sunglasses but ended up picking up these Chanel ones in the gold colour:

Photo: from purseforum.com

I love them! Never thought I could pull off aviators before. Then I found a couple things at Nordstrom Rack including Gryphon shorts and this Winter Kate Willow vintage silk top:

Photo: from Planet Blue (sold out)

It was my consolation find as I had to heart-breakingly walk away from a Marni top that was marked 80% off to $269. That was still a bit steep for a top- I am in conservative mode, right?!?

The price of cheap

My two pairs of $31 bargain Topshop sandals arrived just as we got back from vacation. Of course, you get what you pay for. Both are leather and pretty cute. But like cheaper footwear, they sorta squeak when you walk! I'd like to point out that no matter how cool they look on...

What's not so cool are the orange leather dye marks that come off onto your skin! This is just my second wear. Definitely not as bad as taking off the sandals after the first wear, which looked like a horrible inverse Beverly Hills orangy spray-on farmer tan!

Summer getaway packing

There are perks to being petite and it's even better with summer vacationing- a girl can pack 4 shorts/pants, 3-4 dresses, 7-8 tops, 2-3 pairs of shoes & clean underwear for all days away (no mid trip laundry for me!).. all in a carry-on for a 10 day west coast trip!

All of this:

Went into this... with room to spare for toiletries & maybe another pair of shoes?

Style intervention.. to do or not to do!

Normally if my mother fails to dress her age, we give her a hard time about it. We can only go to so many weddings with her dressed in someone's prom dress. With strangers however, I tend to just observe and wonder if they are aware of their little fashion faux pas. The last couple days I had to hold myself back and fight the urge to say something to this lady I see on my commute everyday.

You see, she is quite older- I would guess in her late 50's or early 60's by her appearance. And she does have amazing legs for her age.. but yesterday she wore something almost exactly like this outfit: (exact colour with no navel baring and slightly wee more length in the skirt.. and she paired it with shiny gold high heeled pumps)

Photo: from google searching under "kids neon green track skirt suit"

And today, she wore double pig tails and this sweater & short skirt (again!). I feel so cruel for sneaking a photo, but I couldnt illustrate the situation without doing so. I think the yellow/grey sweater was pretty funky, but I think she has so much potential. I've seen her dress classy and appropriately for her age on other occasions! She can definitely show off her great legs in a pencil skirt or in a shift dress. How do you tell a stranger its not in their best interest to dress like a 6 yr old? I tell myself to mind my own business, but it's too much to bear! oh dear...

Topshop sandal bargains

As depressing as it is, fall apparel has nixed summer sales racks to the back corners. Don't let the salespeople convince you to start buying riding or biker boots just yet. Or be convinced by their stories of how down jackets were sold out back in early summer because customers feared them selling out by winter. Point is, we've had the most beautiful, sunny summer in years and there are a few weeks left of it and chances are, an Indian summer will follow.

Let me remind you with some Topshop dirt cheap summer footwear finds:

Beaded gladiators (comes in aqua/green, pink or white), ~ $48 CAD reg

Leather & chain demi-wedges (comes in black, white & tan), ~$31 CAD on sale

Rose gold leather strappy flats, ~$35 CAD reg

Leather studded T-straps, ~$31 CAD on sale

Gold t-straps, ~$11 CAD on sale

All can be found at Topshop.com while they last. Prices online are in UK pound sterling, but hope the conversion here helps. I ordered a couple pairs for myself because this pair (below) that I've been eyeing up on the Barney's Warehouse Sale - as well as Neiman Marcus, Saks, & SSense summer sales- hasn't been marked down any lower than $399-$595. From $995 that's a nice deal...but... you know. :)

Lanvin rose gold toe-ring sandals, $399 at Barney's Warehouse Sale

Five minute storytelling

It's been a little summer hiatus- or the truth is I haven't found anything of interest of late. It happens... sometimes things do get a little uninspiring even for those truly obsessed. And with the heat wave, who wants to look at fall/winter stuff that is trickling into the stores now? I'd rather have a million Klondike bars than look at fall boots right now.. :)

But I do wish to share something I enjoy, even though they are simply advertisements. They call them fashion short films. Most are stories told within 5 to 8 minutes. You may recall the Chanel ones with Audrey Tautou on that midnight train, or the Dior Lady series with Marion Cotillard. Some are well done, cinematographic rich and others drag or are quite senselessly cheesy. I just saw the new Gucci short film/ad with Blake Lively and I wasn't riveted by it at all.

There is a write up about Quention Jones, a young fashion short film maker that I just read. She does shorts for Chanel, Victoria Beckham, Hogan, and Kenzo. Her latest project debuted on Style.com and it's worth a watch and the article is worth a read. The advert is for Tibi's Fall/Winter 2012 and its a series of moving stills- like animation. Tibi is based in NYC and has nice contemporary street wear.

Also check out this short clip from Hogan.com, "A Day in the Life of Quentin Jones" and get a feel of the creative process:

Video: from www.hogan.com

Guilded camelia for the tootsies

$850 at the Chanel Boutique, oh how lovely they are! Tonight, I dream of gold...