what the??

OK, I hate to be mean, but since when is Lindsay Lohan a designer? Who in their right mind would think to themselves "oh, that Lindsay Lohan has such a strong sense of style and a great eye for trends- I know, let's make her a creative advisor!"? Um, apparently the house of Ungaro did... I know that this isn't exactly breaking news (the collection came out in October during Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010), but it's something that has been bothering me for a while now. I know, I know, countless celebs are flocking to add "designer" to their lists of credentials, but who amongst us honestly takes their lines (with maybe the exception of Gwen Stephani) seriously? Paris Hilton has a collection of her own too, but you don't see her stuff at any Fashion week, do you? Just because Miss Lohan created a line of- in my opinion- mediocre leggings (dubbed 6126 after Marilyn Monroe's birthday) does not mean that she's ready for the big guns... I'm a little appalled that the Ungaro people brought her aboard to collaborate with Estrella Archs (a cheap publicity stunt to be sure), and I'm certainly not alone in my disdain for the collection. Woman's Wear Daily stated: "As for the clothes, they looked cheesy and dated…. Hot pink, orange and flashy, with an overworked heart motif relentless in its execution...". Um, duh! If anyone knows fashion it's WWD, so if you're listening Ungaro, please find a new, legitimate creative advisor already... geez.

Images courtesy of www.gettyimages.com

I really love my...

OK, so I may be guilty of sacrificing health in the name of beauty from time to time, but honestly, who isn't? I know just as well as the next girl that behind many of my daily beauty products lurk mean and harmful chemicals, but I'm not exactly willing to say goodbye to my mascara or eyeliner either... Lucky for my fingertips, there's Butter London. This brand of polish is what they call "3 Free", meaning that it is entirely devoid of toluene, formaldehyde and DBT (chemicals you want nowhere near your precious digits!). These nasties have plagued nail polish for far too long, but now we can all breathe a sigh of relief- Butter London style! And with an array of long lasting colors and treatments for your tired hands and feet, healthy beauty products never looked so good...
Image courtesy of www.butterlondon.com

second skin...

My latest jaunt to Winners proved to be a fruitful one, for not only did I leave with a pair of new leggings, but a spring in my step to boot! Leggings are a staple for me, and finding a pair that actually provides ample warmth during the chilly winter months can be something of a challenge... A friend recently told me that she had acquired a fine pair of "treggings" (trouser leggings) at Winners that she loved, so I dashed over to see what goodies I could procure for myself. And what goodies indeed! I bought a pair of thick, black Romeo & Juliet Couture leggings that resemble jeans (but not in a cheesy, Sirens kind of way!), which will provide the perfect buffer between me and all this dreadful winter cold. From this day forth, I think I shall refer to them as "jeggings" in honor of my dear friend...

I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want...

I'm the kind of girl who totes her whole life around with her in her purse... after all, you never know what you might need, right? Well after many a sore shoulder this year, I quickly realized that crossbody bags are in fact my best bet. And since Topshop always knows best, their collection of crossbody pouches are definitely on my most wanted list... I love the burnt orange, which would serve me well throughout the seasons, but if someone were to present me with a purple suede little number- or even a black studded one- I certainly wouldn't complain...
Image courtesy of www.topshop.com

Dear Gap, I love you...

Well, not exactly, but I do have a soft spot for their 1969 Premium Denim Always Skinny Jeans in Distressed (top). I bought mine a few months back, and my love for them seems to grow with each passing day. Not only are they super comfy, but the fit is amazingly flattering in the waist, hip and derriere... tres important. Plus they add some much needed edge to my daily uniform of boots and American Apparel Ts... They have quickly become my go-to jean, which is no small feat (so I'm hard to please- sue me). And at around $80 a pop, I'm thinking it might be time to branch out into some of their other styles and washes (below). Fall into the Gap you say? Why yes, I think I just might...

Images courtesy of www.gap.com

wonder kid...

Little Miss Tavi Gevinson blows my mind... this 13 year old blogger started Style Rookie at the tender age of 11, and has since amassed upwards of 50,000 readers. She serves as a style muse to many, including Rodarte, who kept this little lovely in mind whilst designing their collection for Target. Tavi has even partnered up with London-based Borders & Frontiers to create her very own t-shirts... Impressive? Well considering that this little lady has achieved more in her 13 years than many double her age, I would say yes...

http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/

Image courtesy of http://modusdowalwalker.com

designer love... Rodarte

The Mulleavy sisters and their whimsical goth designs captured my heart many moons ago... From their intricate knitwear resembling torn spiderwebs (derelict has never looked so good!), to their glamorous evening attire, this brand- along with its design duo- is so captivating that I can't help but love it (and them). The sisters studied at Berkley- one art history, the other English lit- before spending a year pent up in their familial home reading books about couture sewing and watching classic horror films... How rad is that? Then they worked odd jobs (one even sold her record collection!) to finance their first collection: a small, 10-piece offering that they took to New York in '05, dubbed Rodarte after their mother's maiden name. It wasn't long before Woman's Wear Daily caught wind of these two, which parlayed the Mulleavy's into the fashion world at warp speed. And the rest is, as they say, history...

Images courtesy of http://fashioncopious.typepad.com, http://www.shinystyle.tv and http://cruststation.wordpress.com

Santa baby...

Visual references are crucial to me. I constantly need fresh doses of interesting, aesthetically pleasing images to inspire me in all that I do... which I suppose explains my magazine addiction. That said, Street: The Nylon Book of Global Style and The Sartoralist- with their wealth of visual cues- are making an appearance on my holiday wish list this year. I'm an avid Nylon reader, and I've coveted this book since it was published a few years ago... and the Sartoralist (http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/) is insanely amazing, so I need this book in a bad way. I think it's time that I get better acquainted with these two gems, so if you're listening Santa, you know what to do...

I've got love for you if you were born in the 80s...

So it's no secret that my favourite decade is the 80's. Many a good thing emerged from this time period- spandex, the Breakfast Club, Madonna, neon everything, even crimped hair with teased bangs... and that's just to name a few. Music, fashion and movies were- in my humble opinion- at their pinnacle. OK, that might be an overstatement, but I'm trying to prove a point here people- the 80's were magic... And if you don't believe me, just look around you. This daring decade is constantly making a comeback, reimagined each time into sheer amazingness. From tuxedo blazers and subtle shoulder pads, to oversized headbands (thank you Marc Jacobs) and heck, even stirrup pants (yes, stirrup pants!), the 80's are everywhere. And each time I see elements from my beloved decade, it touches me... almost as though for the very first time.

Images courtesy of http://www.thefashionpolice.net and http://wesewfashion.wordpress.com

style crush: The Olsens

Two is always better than one, and such is the case with these two trail blazers. With a less than humble beginning, the girls rose to fame with the help of Full House and a series of Nickelodeon-esque stints. But from the fromage the twins rose, breaking away from their once childish image to reach it-girl celebrity status in what seemed like a blink of the eye. It was as though the twins woke up one day, expertly threw on some mismatched designer duds, grabbed a venti at their local Starbucks on their way to class, and voila! the paparazzi went crazy. From then on the girls quickly became fashion icons, popping up at major fashion events (in style!) and even starting their own clothing lines. Is there anything these pint-sized lovelies can't do? Certainly not in my eyes..

fashion balls

I love this photo for Atelier Versace Spring '09... I don't use the f word very often, but this photo is seriously fierce! And that's all I have to say about that...

Together at last!

So after months of pining after these surprisingly rad boots, I finally gave in and bought a pair... And with a storm watching weekend looming in my horizon, the timing could not have been more perfect! My options were limited due to their overwhelming popularity- I actually had to go to a couple different stores just to find my size! And although they were sold out of the classic Wellington style (top), I managed to leave Hemingway with a grey "Regent Gloss" pair (bottom) that I think will serve me well... and as the last size 8 available until January, I feel as though my Hunters were somehow fated for me. Come hell or high water, my feet are going to be toasty and dry, thank you very much!

I really love my...

All I ever need is my Weiner... Erica that is! I'm so in love with her antique key necklace that I wear mine practically everyday- and I have a couple of girlfriends who do the same. In fact, our Weiners have become something of a friendship necklace, binding us in our mutual love for the designer. I love that Erica uses antique keys of all shapes and sizes, transforming what was once old into something new and hip.. plus each key is unique, so you know that your Weiner will be as special as you are.

Check her out at http://www.ericaweiner.com/ - or my personal favourite - http://www.shopmarble.ca/

Marni mania...

Colors, and textures, and baubles- oh my! I love what Marni did for Fall '09 so much that now all I can think about is trying to create my own bib necklaces! I want to run to my nearest craft store, buy up their supply of odds and ends, and just see what transpires... then I want to layer up with knits, textured tights and a statement coat, painting the town red while showing off my latest jewelry creations... Realistic? Yes. Likely? Probably not, but this is the effect Marni has on me...

Little Girl & Boy Lost...

Leave it to Vogue to create something so deliciously whimsical... In their December '09 issue, the iconic mag enlisted the aid of the great Annie Leibovitz to photograph "little girl & boy lost", a hauntingly beautiful interpretation of the Metropolitan Opera's Hansel and Gretal. I love the fantastical forest, complete with man-trees, magical dust sprinkling elves, and sharply clad fish maitre d's... plus H & G are so darling in their all white ensembles as they trek through the enchanted wood. The blending of fantasy and fashion in this photo spread brilliantly channels the innocence of youth, all the while showcasing some incredible designer duds... I'm sure the Brothers Grimm would be proud.

attack of the sequins... the sequel

Remember how it was cool to wear sequined tops and dresses a couple of years back? I do. I remember not being able to enter a store without being bombarded by sparkle... from higher end shops all the way down to Sirens (no disrespect, Sirens has served me well over the years), sequins were everywhere. As a fan of all that shimmers and sparkles, I quickly climbed aboard the sequin express and invested in a couple of tops that I wore ad nauseum. By the end of the season I grew to despise them (surprise surprise), yet somehow I couldn't quite bring myself to throw them away... and thank God I didn't! Because from Gucci, to Versace, to Balmain and beyond, sequins are back and in a big way. Every store I come across is sporting the trend, only this year sequins have gone beyond the tops and dresses of days yore to adorn blazers, leggings and accessories galore... I guess some things are simply worth a repeat performance.