I'm going to tell you flat out

Seeing as today is the day I turn one year older, I've decided to treat myself to a little rant (just want to give a shout-out to one of my friends for yelling "Happy birthday Angelica!" in the hallway today...you know who you are!).  Anyway, one thing I've noticed for the past season or so is that flat shoes are making quite a presence on the runways.  We seem to have gotten over that time when towering heels dominated, and are currently moving in a more comfortable direction.  As much as I adore heels, I always love a good pair of flats.  However, finding a good pair of flats is a totally different matter.

On my budget, I go shopping for shoes in retail stores, but I often leave empty-handed.  Aldo, an extremely popular place to shop for shoes here, is among the better of the bunch, but in no way does that mean it doesn't have it's drawbacks.  One, if you buy a pair of shoes there, you're bound to see 5 other people wearing the same pair the next day.  Two, their flats can sometimes prove to be a disappointment.

I present to you what I call the "knotted flat".  Actually, it isn't a bad design, in fact, it's quite nice.  Or at least it would be if every shoe retailer (it's not just Aldo) didn't beat the life out of this certain look.  Every season, every store has a version of the knotted flat.  Are you beginning to see my problem?  If I see the knotted flat one more time, I might scream in frustration.

So now I have our beloved designers to thank for lowering my stress levels.  The minute I walk into Holt Renfrew, I know I won't be knotted up.  Below, you will see a beautiful Valentino flat that embodies edgy romanticism.

Lanvin giving us dazzling embellished flats:

And Jimmy Choo with a pair I've lusted after for a year:

Now this isn't to say good flats don't come cheaply.  In fact, I bought a pair of Tahari flats happily within my budget.  And even better, I have yet to see anyone in the city with the same pair.

Image Source: Aldo, Valentino, Lanvin, Jimmy Choo

Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2011 RTW

If you ask me to say the first word that comes to mind when I hear "Dries Van Noten", I would say "prints".  For Spring/Summer 2011, Van Noten did not disappoint.  The "prints" in this case were reminiscent of the floral prints on Chinese ceramics.  But along with floral prints, the other big message in this collection was the ever-thinning line between menswear and womenswear.  What followed the opening look of an extremely oversized boyfriend blazer were loose-fitting pants and sheer button-down blouses.  

A sense of feminine attitude was retained by reproducing menswear in luxe fabrics, as well incorporating floral prints and beautiful ombré colouring (I can't get over the way the pants below change from stark white to delicate peach). 

Unfortunately, a full video of the show is not yet available, but from what I've seen, Van Noten shows that there's a lot more to the baggy cotton pant than you might think.  What Dries Van Noten achieved was easy, casual luxury: a balance that often requires skill to perfect.

Watch the edited show here: http://www.driesvannoten.be/video.php?collection=ss2011women

Image Source: Style.com

Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer 2011 RTW

The colour black seems to have an indisputable reputation for slimming elegance and perfection.  As chic as black may be, I myself gravitate towards colour.  Colour - whether bold, pastel, or jewel toned - tends to give life to an outfit in a way black cannot.  To my delightful surprise, Giorgio Armani managed to create a stunning collection using nothing else but black and navy.

Armani's theme for this collection was the night sky over the Sahara, which explains the dark, night-time hues, as well as the head wraps and the tribal-like jewelery.  But don't think design was lost to the lack of eye-grabbing colour; Armani easily kept us riveted with exceptional tailoring and structural excellence.  Carefully constructed frills and voluminous fabric stood away from the body:

Whereas clean jackets and skirts layered over slim pants streamlined the silhouette.

And for evening, Armani dazzled us with crystals and sequins in what can only be described as stars in the night sky.

Not only was this collection elegant, it proved to me that black can trump even the brightest star.

Watch the entire show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaYs4YyUZoM

Image Source: Style.com

Louis Vuitton Cuir Cinéma Intrigue

I'm jumping back and forth between Spring and Winter, but Louis Vuitton's Cuir Cinéma Intrigue is worth mentioning. Ever since I saw this bag in LV's ad campaign, I've counted down the days until I would finally be able to see it in real-life.

The coming together of three beautiful supermodels: Christy Turlington, Karen Elson and Natalia Vodianova dressed in LV's ladylike collection is probably another reason this bag stands out to me. Made in the iconic structure of a doctor bag, the LV Intrigue evokes 1950's glamour. With no logo to be seen except for on the bottom corner, this bag is perfect for anyone who just wants a timeless classic. Crafted from natural calf-skin leather, the LV Intrigue is going to set you back $4370. Intriguing, but I'll admire it from afar.


Image Source: Louis Vuitton

Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2011 RTW

Fall has just begun, and here we are, getting ready for when the flowers bloom again.  Although we're about half-way through Spring/Summer 2011 collections, it's never too late to start taking a look at them, and so I'll begin with Dolce & Gabbana.  Just yesterday, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana celebrated the 25th anniversary of their business, and what a show it was!  Their show was a flurry of white lace, baby-doll dresses, classic sheaths, and the odd sprinkling of corsets here and there.  The designer duo started off with virginal white lace (or at least as virginal as sheer lace with lingerie can be).

Staying true to the Dolce & Gabbana woman, there just had to be a bit of leopard print. 

And as a stunning end to it all, out came dresses bejeweled with crystals.  This picture doesn't do justice to the dress; it was breathtaking on the runway with the way the crystals caught the light.

What a great way to celebrate 25 years - by showing everyone what Dolce & Gabbana is all about.

Watch the full show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNEoJagANIU

Image Source: Style.com

Lanvin for H&M

Ok, so this post is a bit behind, but I felt the need to talk about it anyway (don't worry, I'll get to spring/summer 2011 collections).  As many people probably already know, Lanvin is teaming up with H&M to launch a collection on November 20.  Now, there’s been talk about Lanvin somehow “cheapening” its brand by getting involved with H&M.  I beg to differ.  Did Karl Lagerfeld end up cheapening his brand?  Did Stella McCartney cheapen her brand?  Sure, the quality of the products will never rival those of the designer brand, but I think a designer shows a willingness to expand by teaming up with fast fashion retailers.  Frankly, not all of us can afford a dress from Lanvin (me included), and it’s good to see a designer recognize that.  In fact, this collaboration might even prove to be beneficial to Lanvin’s image as well as its business.  Of course I will always appreciate and lust after the exquisite quality of Lanvin, but I, for one, would love to have a Lanvin label in my closet, even with the words “for H&M” after it.  

Image Source: H&M

First post!

Welcome to my blog, Red-Soled Fashionista!  I'm just your average teenager who, if it isn't already obvious, has a thing for fashion.  Now, I'd love to say I actually own a pair of Louboutins, however I don't.  But that's alright, because fashion is all about fantasy, isn't it?  And you, my readers, don't have to own Louboutins either.  This blog is for all kinds of fashionistas and is about all kinds of fashion: high and low.  As a busy student, I might not be as consistent as I would like with my posts, but I'll certainly try to keep up.  I love fashion, I respect it, I understand it, and I don't know what I'd do without it.  With this blog, I hope to connect with other like-minded fashion-lovers from all over the world.  So come and gather around, my fellow fashionistas (red-soled or not), and let's get talking.

Image Source:Christian Louboutin Ad Campaign