blogger spotlight...

I've read many a fashion blog in my day, believe me, but nothing quite compares to A Thought is the Blossom... This personal style blog chronicles the adventures of the lovely Starr Crow, who puts together more fantastic outfits than I can keep track of. And her penchant for vintage has definitely secured her a special place in my heart... With a combo of expert styling and fantastic photography, A Thought always keeps me coming back for more. All I can say here is blog on, sister!

Images courtesy of A Thought is the Blossom
Collage by Vickie

Feeling festive? Forget the Easter bonnet of days yore... This year, why not don a Benoît Missolin Miss Fortuna headband instead? Made of lovely glass pearls, this statement piece will surely command the attention of all you encounter. But priced at $357, this headband may be hop or two out of reach...

Image courtesy of Style.com

outfit envy...

Is there anything greater than a go-to dress? You know, a tried and tested little number you can throw on at a moments notice and feel fabulous every time? The answer is, of course, not a chance... That said, I love this simple, striped H&M dress on Liebemarlene Vintage's Rhiannon Leifheit. She looks adorable in this nautical-esque piece, which seems like the perfect lazy Sunday garb for relaxing or adventuring. At once casual and polished, this dress can morph to meet the needs of whatever situation presents itself... And with prices as low as H&M's, there's no reason not to build a wardrobe around such fabulous basics. In the case of the go-to dress, less is by no means more...

Images courtesy of Liebemarlene Vintage

photo of the day...

I'm sorry, but how totally rad is this photo? When I saw it on Vain and Vapid this morning, I actually stopped and just stared at it for several moments in sheer awe... To say that I love it would be a gross understatement- I'm completely enamoured by it, and I don't care who knows it! Featuring the uber gamine Iekeliene Stange wearing Givenchy, this photo from Lula's issue #10 has captured my heart in a serious way... Whoever said that love at first sight doesn't exist clearly hasn't seen this photo yet!

Image courtesy of Vain and Vapid

the clothes make the man...

LOVE this outfit, recently posted on the Sartorialist... I don't know who this man is, but what I do know is that he's got some serious fashion balls! Any guy who can pull off a floral scarf with ease ranks pretty high in my books, not to mention his beautiful coat and interesting use layers, which score him additional points on the cool-o-meter... Plus his shades and scruffy hair are definitely working for him, adding an air of nonchalance to his otherwise polished look. All I can say here is rock on brother!

Image courtesy of the Sartorialist

so what?

When I saw this ring on The Cherry Blossom Girl back in January, it was love at first sight- big time. Seriously, how adorable is this piece? I absolutely love this fresh take on the angel wing trend of years past, this time resurrected by the fabulous Sowat. This haute line hails from Paris, which only adds to its cool factor, non? And any ring that can elevate my meager digits to heavenly status is fine by me... Angel wing ring, anyone? Mais oui!

Image courtesy of The Cherry Blossom Girl

Banshee Beat

I absolutely adore these collages from Banshee Beat... Her fusion of art, fashion and fantasy makes me want to run to the nearest craft store, rip into my magazine collection and just see what transpires. Her creations are so quirky and dynamic that I sometimes feel like they might spring to life and enchant me with their beauty... Thoughtful and engaging, these collages inspire me to create beauty and change in my own life-- if that's not true art, then I don't know what is.

Images courtesy of Banshee Beat

photo of the day...

Image courtesy of Russh Magazine, Oct/Nov '09 issue

stop--rewind

When I saw this photo posted on the Sartorialist today I had a minor case of deja vu... You see, I was certain that I had admired this outfit somewhere else many moons ago. And after a few minutes of stealth detective work, my suspicions were confirmed. As it turns out, this look was posted by the fabulous Alix on the Cherry Blossom Girl waaay back in January. I remember loving her distressed denim, Lacoste cape, Chloe booties, and how they all tied together. The overall look becomes one of casual sophistication as Alix blends high end pieces with more relaxed items (think Levi jeans and a Uniqlo top). I can just picture her jaunting around Paris on a lazy Sunday afternoon in this look, stopping to admire a few fabulous vitrines and enjoy a scrumptious pastry along the way... Doesn't that sound divine? If ever you find yourselves in need of a little inspiration, check out her blog- this girl's wardrobe is, in a word, insane...

Image courtesy of the Sartorialist

J.W. Anderson

J.W. Anderson's womenswear line is totally rad- wouldn't you agree?

she's got the look...

Ok, so I know this outfit is a touch over the top, but I'm loving it all the same... The mixing of denim and fur here is surprisingly fresh, and the belt just seems to pull the look together. Not to mention her shades, messy hair and leather messenger bag, which lend a bohemian vibe to her elaborate ensemble. All in all, I'm definitely a fan.

Image courtesy of the Sartorialist

Balmainia

When I was recently asked by Thirds Magazine if I would like to contribute to their fabulous site, it was more than I could do not to jump for joy! And when the subject of Balmain's Fall 2010 collection was suggested, I couldn't have been more excited. As a long-time lover of the design giant, it was both an honor and a joy to offer my humble thoughts about the line... A big thank you goes out to Thirds for the opportunity- I hope you guys like it!

You can check the article out here...

Image courtesy of Style.com

photo of the day...

Image courtesy of Sequin Magazine

what the hellz, yo!

How do you say awesome? I believe the word you're looking for is Hellz. That's right amigos, Hellz. Their Spring 2010 collection is nothing short of amazing, and if you don't believe me, then just check out their lookbook. Amply named obsessed with you, this collection is pretty much the epitome of urban cool. In fact, it "reflects an obscure view of modern fashion and the obsession that it becomes"--I couldn't have said it better myself! I love the juxtaposition of grunge chic with feminine cool, evidenced in their oversized graphic T's, two-tone leggings and edgy accessories, versus their tailored jackets, hip hugging minis and snug tops. When it comes to this collection, all I can say is Hellz yeah!

Images courtesy of whatthehellz.com

Louis Vuitton Fall 2010

As many of you know, I'm a sucker for all things vintage. Be it clothing, accessories or housewares, vintage is my jam... so when I checked out Louis Vuitton's Fall 2010 offering, I was pleased as punch by the direction designer Marc Jacobs steered the collection. I absolutely loved the 50's/60's vibe he channeled, complete with hourglass silhouettes, luxe fabrics and delicate details (think fur buttons and bows affixed to shoes!). It's this level of glitz and glamour that has become synonymous with the Vuitton name, and the Fall 2010 collection is certainly no exception. I can't help but think of Joan Harris, the voluptuous office manager from my beloved Mad Men, strutting around the office in one of these looks, commanding the attention of all around her... Or even Betty Draper, the pretty housewife, all dressed up for one of Don's many business functions. All in all, this collection has my heart a flutter with nostalgia... Jeepers!

Images courtesy of Style.com

Permanent Vacation S/S 10

Imagine this if you will: the sun is shining, you have the day off, and you're wearing the perfect little outfit to gallivant the day away... can you think of anything more divine? Me neither. This idyllic image is precisely what comes to mind as I peruse Permanent Vacation's S/S collection, however. The Swedish design team's aesthetic effortlessly captures the essence of the season while remaining footloose and fancy free, if you will. And with an expert mix of florals and stripes, the clothes are at once feminine and edgy, open to the interpretation of the fabulous femmes who wear them. Now if only a permanent vacation was an actual possibility...

Images courtesy of Permanent Vacation

if looks could kill...

Always a source of outfit inspiration, The Clothes Horse has pulled another gem from her wardrobe repertoire. I love how she paired her cute little dress with a tailored blazer, not to mention the fur trim and textured tights, which add a certain je ne sais quoi to the look... Our young muse looks fun and flirty here, outfitted for anything from a demure tea party to a fabulous fete. Oh Rebecca, what can I say- you're just too cute for your own good!

Image courtesy of The Clothes Horse

out on a Lim...

I'm sorry, but I simply had to post this picture from Phillip Lim's Fall 2010 collection in honor of my boyfriend... You see, not only does he practically have the exact same denim jacket, but he's been wearing it on the regular since he got it a few months back... And although his version hails from the 90's and is of questionable origin (don't ask!), he wears it very, very well. I guess you could say that he's ahead of the fall trends-- just don't tell him I said that!

Image courtesy of Style.com

photo of the day...

When I saw this photo on The Girl in the Check Scarf I simply had to post it... It may very well be one of the most stunning shots I've ever seen! Model Jessica Stam looks ethereal as she delicately hangs amidst the birds... Not to mention the soft lighting and sun peaking through, which lends an angelic tone to the photo... And that dress is nothing short of perfection. Love, love, loooove it!

it must be award season...

A big thank you goes out to the fabulous Anastasia and Duck for presenting me with the Happy 101 award! This honor comes with a couple of conditions though... namely, the recipient must name 10 things that make them happy before passing the award on to 10 other fabulous bloggers. Well, here goes nothing...

10 things that make me happy:

1. Family & Friends

2. Nail polish

3. All things vintage

4. Cupcakes

5. My boyfriend

6. Puppies

7.Travelling

8. Jewelry

9. Reading/Writing

10. FASHION!!!

It's so hard to choose only ten! And now I'd like to pass the Happy 101 along to...

1. I Heart This Blog

2. Maple Sucre

3. The Buzz on Fashion

4. In Her Stilettos

5. Me and Marisa

6. The Girl in the Check Scarf

7. Mara New York

8. Spicy Candy

9. Fashion Whore

10. 'Cause I'd Rather Waste My Life Pretending

you can leave your hat on...

They say that Italians do it better, and in Moschino's case, I wholeheartedly agree. I know that their Fall 2010 collection is a tad over the top, and I certainly won't be donning a black cowboy hat anytime soon, yet I'm somehow drawn to its larger-than-life aesthetic. It feels as though designer Rosella Jardini was channeling the supermodels of the late 80's/early 90's that I grew up worshiping when designing this collection... you know, those strong, powerhouse women who wore whatever they liked and made it look fierce? Yeah, them. I'm pretty sure that if I were of age during that time, I would be sporting similar looks... in fact, my thrifting partner-in-crime, Jen, reminds me of this every time we shop together! I imagine that I would have rocked the long, ruffled black dress, camel trench, leather skirt suit, and Chanel-esque ensemble the most back then, complete with teased hair, heavy makeup and flashy gold jewelry... doesn't that sound divine? For now I suppose I'll simply admire Moschino's collection and dream of what could have been...

Images courtesy of Style.com