Trick or Treat in Style

Ok, so most of us may be a bit too old to go door-to-door, but that doesn't mean we can't dress up!  In celebration of Halloween, here are a couple of stylishly spooky and fun pieces:

DSquared

DSquared

Marc Jacobs

Charlotte Olympia

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Corto Moltedo

Givenchy

Happy Halloween!

Now that's what I call menswear-inspired

As you have probably already noticed, this is not a street style blog, or a blog where I document my outfits.  Reason for that is because I believe that there are already plenty of wonderful street/personal style blogs, and also, I simply don't have a digital camera to take pictures with.  But bear with me as I try to describe my latest fashion discovery.

As a frugal fashionista, I'm always looking for ways to re-invent my outfits.  Sometimes this means constantly mixing and matching, and sometimes this means borrowing from my mom's wardrobe.  Today, however, I borrowed from my dad.  I know, I know, this is nothing new for some people, but I never thought I'd find a fashion treasure in my dad's closet.  This Banana Republic shirt is almost exactly like what I found:

All I did was roll up the sleeves, unbutton the top buttons, and wrap a belt around it.  Voilà!  A perfect button-down tunic that actually fits.  I've been wanting to buy a button-down tunic for a while now, but now I don't need to!  Don't be afraid to borrow from your dad/boyfriend/husband/guy friend's closet!  You never know what you might discover.

Image Source: Bananarepublic.com

Nordstrom Fall 2010 Ad Campaign

I remember the first time I saw Ruben Todelo's ad campaigns for Nordstrom: I was transfixed.  Toledo, the artist who has worked closely with Nordstrom for 10 years, has created some of the most artistic and visually delectable ad campaigns.  For Fall 2010, Toledo worked with Coco Rocha (I promise I'll stop talking about her...eventually).  Here is the best of the lot:

One beautiful model + one extremely talented artist = one irresistible ad campaign.  It doesn't take a math genius to figure that one out.

See the few other photos here and watch a behind-the-scenes video here.

Image Source: Ruben Toledo

Seeing Double

As I was shopping yesterday, I came across something that always conjures up debate.  Town Shoes is a store that sells shoes and bags, and they have a line called the Red Carpet Collection, which is basically a line that offers designer inspired pieces at cheaper prices (and cheaper quality).  Sounds great, but I often find the resemblance to designer items too close for comfort:

Manolo Blahnik

Now, to be fair, these are not fakes.  They are merely close representations of the original.  I myself do not understand the reason for buying fake designer items, and I think that if you're going to buy a fake, why not save up the money for a real one?  I sure wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a fake, and pretending it's real. But again, the Red Carpet Collection pieces are not fakes.

Christian Louboutin

But is that ok?  The Red Carpet Collection may not be direct copies, but one look, and any fashionista knows where the inspiration came from.  In my opinion, the Red Carpet Collection is just too obvious, although some pieces are slightly different:

Christian Louboutin

"Inspired by" collections should have elements of the original, but be unique enough that it's not instantly recognizable, and that's where I think the Red Carpet Collection fails.  And it's not just the Red Carpet Collection line:

Barbie by Town Shoes

Prada

There are handbags as well.  The most common inspirations are Valentino, Fendi, and of course, Hermès:

Hermès

Would you buy from the Red Carpet Collection?  Personally, I never would, because I just can't stand seeing double.

Update: Unfortunately, a number of images from my original post are no longer available. I have tried to replicate the original post to the best of my abilities. 

Image Source: Kijiji, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Christian Louboutin Lace, Giuseppe Zanotti, Prada, Fendi

Jimmy Choo & UGG

This isn't new news, and I think a lot of us know about the collaboration between Jimmy Choo and UGG, but since yesterday was the launch event at the Holt Renfrew in my area, I thought I'd touch on it.

First of all, Jimmy Choo and UGG??  Have you ever heard of a more incompatible match?  Jimmy Choo is sexy, and UGG is, well, not.  You should probably know that I am a vehement critic of UGG.  They may be comfy, but the last thing I want is a marshmallow encasing my feet.  And I've seen way too many people walking on the sides of their UGG boots for me to really think good of UGGs.  Sorry ladies, UGGs are UGGly!  But anyway, let's take a look at the collection:

The studs, animal print, and fringe all slapped onto UGG's classic boot is making this to be one disastrous collection.  Jimmy Choo, word of advice: UGG is never worth your time.

Image Source: UGG & Jimmy Choo

Lanvin for H&M Preview

What a tease H&M is!  Two days after revealing the first photo of the Lanvin for H&M collection, another one pops up!  Slowly, bit-by-bit, H&M releases these photos and is keeping us on our toes!  No way am I going to miss this collaboration.

Image Source: Vogue.com

Model vs. Celebrity

Model vs. celebrity: who are you cheering for?  Me, I'll always cheer for the model.  While some people may rush to snag a copy of a magazine with their favourite celebrity on the cover, I always smile when I see a model on the cover of a fashion magazine.  It is, after all, a fashion magazine.

It's undoubtable that the fashion and movie/music industries depend on each other (see: the Oscars and Lady Gaga) and it's not to say that there aren't respectful, fashionable celebrities, but I just find that models embody what fashion is really about more so than celebrities.  You won't find me obsessing over what the latest red carpet fashion is, or what a certain celebrity has worn to the mall.  I much rather check out what models nowadays are wearing off-duty after shows.

It was almost impossible to find a cover of Elle from 2010 that didn't feature a celebrity, and so I had to show a cover from Elle Canada.  As you can see, a celebrity was used even on Elle's 25th anniversary issue.  Extremely disappointed in you Elle...

All I ask is that fashion magazines use models for their covers more often.  We see enough of celebrities on gossip magazines and television as it is.  I want our models back!  We all know they rock the covers better than anyone else.  Give the models a chance to be where they were meant to be.

Image Source: Harper's Bazaar, Fashion, Elle, Elle Canada, Vogue

You want Socks with that?

If you were to suggest wearing socks with heels a couple of seasons ago, I would have laughed at you.  But now, seeing as more and more fashionable women are trying it out (fashionable men do the opposite and wear no socks), I might even consider it.  Might.

Burberry got this trend right back in Spring/Summer 2010, but I've seen this trend go horribly wrong (never acquaint your white tennis socks with your pointy-toed Prada pumps.  Never.) and I'm still not completely ready to embrace this trend.  Below are two women snapped by The Sartorialist who have embraced this trend:

I commend both women for pulling on a pair of socks before leaving the house, but I think the woman in the first photo could have done without them.  There doesn't quite seem to be rules with this trend; it's basically wear what you think will work.  And sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

For those of us who aren't fashion industry people, a safe choice is tone on tone.  But if you look at yourself in the mirror, and your socks work well with your outfit, then I'd say you're safe to walk outside! 

Image Source: Style.com, Sea of Shoes

Lanvin for H&M Preview

There you have it!  Today, a sneak peek photo of Lanvin for H&M's collection was released.  Although this is only one photo, I'm liking what I see.  Lanvin's elegance and design elements are clearly seen in these four outfits.  The only thing left is the question of quality, and in order to find that out, we'll just have to wait.

Image Source: Vogue Italia

Loco Over Coco

Karlie Kloss has got it, Sasha Pivovarova has got it, Lindsey Wixson has got it...in fact, every model has got it.  Every model has a signature; something he/she is known for.  Karlie has her sauntering walk, Sasha has her cold stare, and Wixson has her pouty lips.

As you already know, Coco Rocha is my absolute favourite model.  What is she known for?  Many things actually.  Her intense runway face, her Irish dancing, and her amazing ability to pose.  On top of that, she's just plain gorgeous and has one awesome personality.  I am so glad to be seeing her back all over the runways for Spring/Summer 2011:

Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta

Zac Posen

Christian Dior

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Chanel

Hermes

On photoshoots, she is like none other.  Hardly ever is it her keeping up with photographer, it's the photographer trying to keep up with her.  She'll do anything for a good photo, including bend over backwards in heels.  You have to see her posing abilities it to believe it.

Check out her very own blog here.  If you have time, check out her wedding video - it's beautiful and so romantic.

Image Source: Style.com