The Milan Fashion Shoe!

    The clothing that circulated during Milan Fashion Week was wondrous but the shoes, they were extraordinary.  These agile photographers can really get down and dirty to get the perfect shot and not even one blurry heel, amazing!  It seems to me that we are expecting a wide variety of style for Fall 2013.  I'm not here to talk about the clothing though.  I'm talking below the belt, like way below the belt, all the way to the floor in fact, to the soul!

       Above we have designs from the talented Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.  For years they have been capturing inspiration from the tiny Italian island of Sicily and have been transforming these ideas into exceptional collections.  Each shoe has been carefully put together to represent the Venetian and Byzantine mosaics that harken back to the twelfth-century cathedral that sits quietly in the city of Monreale.  This bejeweled look transcends the entire collection and really makes the footwear elegant and intricate.  Looking like they came right out of the twelfth-century Dolce & Gabbana store (no, that didn't exist), these shoes really bring the time period to life and the fabric and jewel choice could not have been any better.

         

     And Salvatore Ferragamo...one of the sleekest, sharpest and minimalistic brands of Italian fashion.  Massimiliano Giornetti, the creative director, was previously a menswear designer.  So, he did what he knew best and carried over his menswear past to his women's wear present.  Worked pretty darn well if you ask me!  This construction, not fit for comfort, but made so clean and sharp that you wonder if anyone really cares about comfort?  The entirety of his collection was understated with such grace that his accessories shined, not just because they were patent leather either.  They were a bit edgier than the clothing, but still followed that sleek look Giornetti was going for.
     The shoe market is just thriving.  It always amazes me from season to season when I come across shoes that I've never seen before.  I mean, how many different shoe designers can there be?  And not only do we see new and exciting shoes from season to season, but it changes from designer to designer.  Ahhh, I love it!

     Next Up, Paris Fashion Week!

Ciao,

Annie

The Queen Of The 2013 Oscar Awards!

     How is that for a Best Actress award winning 2013 Oscars ensemble?  I'd say that this one will go down in the books, not just because she gracefully tripped her way there either.  For all of you that could keep your heavy eyelids open last night to finish this annual awards ceremony you know that Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress from her lead roll in the film Silver Linings Playbook.  But, honestly, let's talk about that freaking dress!  Dior Haute Couture.  Need I say more?  No, but I will anyway. 
     This comes as no shock considering Lawrence is practically the face for this prestigious French brand and has been buddy buddy with designer Raf Simons' for every awards ceremony she has attended this year.  Wouldn't you just love to have The Raf Simons' as your designer at hand for all the awards ceremonies you are attending?  Dream on dolls!  But, I mean really, this one is the icing on the $100 Magnolia Bakery birthday cake.  She is simply radiant in this dazzling crinkle strapless gown, complete with an ultra voluminous skirt that pours over with fluffy layers and a form-fitting bodice.  Pale colors were flooding the runway last night, pale pale pink was a great choice for Lawrence as it highlighted her jewelry of choice.
     On to the jewelry.  If you ask me, which you are because you are reading my blog.  I would say that that little itty bitty Chopard necklace was the glue to this look.  Draped across her somewhat open back it certainly verified the chic and graceful touch she was going for.  Cannot wait to see what she has for us next!

Breath taking!

Ciao,

Annie

The Power Of A Manicure & Kicking Bad Habbits!

     We are all culprits of a bad habit or three.  Maybe you constantly play with your hair or chew with your mouth open. Perhaps you occasionally belch aloud in public, smoke cigarettes like a chimney, or bite your nails.  There are some habits that just seem impossible to kick.  Since my youth, I'm afraid I would fall into the category of colossal nail biter.  I admit, initially I was a voracious thumb sucker, but some time around age 6 (yes, I sucked my thumb at age 6 - so what) I discovered an enormous satisfaction in biting my nails... to the quick.
     People around me hated it.  If I was watching TV with my family they were constantly subjected to the, "chomp,chomp,chomp'" (attractive, huh?), and like clockwork came the, "stop biting your nails!"   After a while, I started to notice it was out of boredom that I would resort to gnawing my nails.  But thankfully one day, several years back, (ok so it was only 2 weeks ago!) I discovered a cure for nail biting.  This cure has been out there for ages, but only after a consecutive month of weekly manicures have I officially realized that nail polish has saved my life - or at least my nails!
     It's not that I'm new to the world of mani's, I've enjoyed getting them for years - almost as much as I've enjoyed chewing them off!  So what gives you ask?  Why stop now?  You wouldn't be asking that question if you'd seen the Essie Spring 2013 palette.  They're far too gorgeous to chew on, and off.  And perhaps I'm just growing up a bit because I'm obsessed with a perfect, non- nibbled, manicure.  It's that simple.  I have kicked the habit!  No rehab - cold turkey!  At least until I see the Essie summer collection!
Giving you habit breakers a perfectly polished thumbs up!

Annie 1 : Nail Biting 0

Ciao,

Annie

Oh, Betsey!

     If you are a firm believer in rainbow colored candy and couture then I bet Betsey Johnson is one of your designers of choice.  Betsey's Fall 2013 runway collection sported more color than Monet's Water Lilies.  With champagne, cool shades, and fresh kicks lining the runway she was prepared to put on an outrageous show.  For those of you who aren't familiar with her designs, let's just say that they are different, and I use the term loosely.  

     Let's start at the top and work out way down, shall we?  Some might call this a bad hair day, but Moe from the Three Stooges would say it was an average hair day, give or take a little color.  Active wear is totally happening here, maybe Betsey thinks the world will wake up in Fall of 2013 and get fit... who knows?  BJ, wouldn't be my choice of lettering to put across the chest of a woman's tee or down the leg of a sweat pant, but she's not about to change her name now... get your mind out of the gutter!   Lastly, solid colored high top sneakers are clearly the vision Betsey has for the future of your feet.  

     Let's put this all together now.  Betsey's future woman is heading to the gym in her BJ attire, with her 'Moe' cut bobbing in the wind, sporting cool shades and tightening her velcro sneakers, thinking about how she'll reward herself with a big glass of bubbly and she is doing this all while talking on the phone to her three kids about how there isn't enough time in the day.  Good luck to you future Betsey woman!  

Cray!

Ciao, 

Annie

When Jealousy Took Over!

     As I was groggily walking back to my apartment after a day of sorting out size 7X muumuus I received a text message from my Aunt.  It reads, "Can you please get L and D from your uncle's office on your way back from work and bring them to the apartment, M and I are heading to a fashion show, tell you more later!"  I take a glance at the message and to avert walking into a tree I didn't fully finish reading it, I just decided to call to make things easier and less dangerous, for all.  She clarifies that she no longer needs me to fetch the kids and that, "the thing didn't last as long as I thought."  So, I frantically hung up because I was going under ground, where the rats party and the service sucks!    Gasping for air once I hit Christopher Street, I decided to reread my messages just to avoid that awkward eye contact with the women that stand outside of the lotion store and asks me everyday, "Can I ask you something?"  NO, you cannot ask me something!
     As I near the end of the message I see fashion show.  Wait, WTF, fashion show, they are going to a fashion show and I am on Washington?  That's so wrong in so many ways.  Not the kind of wrong when you're heading into the dressing room and grab a size 2, but you meant to grab a 4.  It's the kind of wrong when you buy the 2, get home and try it on, only to realize that you can't zip it up and that it was a $300 final sale.  It was that kind of wrong.  So, needless to say, I called her.  She gleefully answers, "Annie, i'll explain as soon as we get to the apartment."  Well, those 5 minutes felt like 5 hours.
     So, they walk in the door with a goodie bag that consists of Karen Walker's new look book along with a shleeda pair of $345 dollar glasses.  We sat.  They proceeded to tell me that a friend of a friend got them tickets and from there on all I heard was blablabla because my jealousy took over.  Fast forward to right now as I'm laying on my bed writing this post.  I noticed that they never mentioned seeing any bloggers or fashion icons.  I yelled to the other room, "Did you b****'s see anyone worth crying over?"  The answer was no and that made me feel a little better.  Until this.  I pulled up a picture of Leandra Medine, The Man Repeller.  I said, "Not even Leandra?"  After all, last week she posted a whole page on the lovely Karen Walker, she must have been present for her show.  M comes a bit closer to the screen and then lets out this earth shattering scream, "Yesssssss, she was front row, had a stunning red skirt on with a red lip and bangs!"  My thoughts - should I hit her right here and right now? - but then I realized she was 10-years-old, so I refrained.
     Now you can see that not only new fashions and trends come out during fashion week, but the claws do as well.  I know that there is no crying during fashion week, but hell, I was tearing up when I realized my 10-year-old cousin went to a Karen Walker fashion show and saw Leandra Medine AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT!

Leandra Medine

Karen Walker Shades

Blogger envy!

Ciao, 

Annie

No Rest For The Wicked!

     Well folks, fashion week is creeping up right around those sewing machine corners.  February 7th-14th is the showing of the Fall 2013 designer collections.  Per usual, Mercedes Benz fashion week will start out with designers like Nicholas K and Kenneth Cole then come to a grand finale with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.  We have all seen the pre-fall collections, right?  And, designers have been saying that those mini collections are a great indication of what is to come.  It's kinda like taking a sneak peek at some of your presents before Christmas, but when the day actually arrives you are completely surprised by the things you didn't find (great analogy, I know!).  I anticipate that we will be seeing lots of quilted pieces, an array of colored outerwear, and everything inspired by menswear.  How about those leopard spots?  Looks like we will still be seeing them trouncing around the streets.  Oh, those tartan plaids, the Irish in me says yes!  And of course, the black and white trend that has adopted the trickle down theory each and every season, this one just isn't going to fade so, hold on and get ready for the ride.  Here are some of my favorite pre-fall designs and I hope we see more like them next week.  But, we all need that little surprise factor that I know those slaving designers are preparing to show us.

Chloé

Chloé

   

BCBG

BCBG

     

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Alice & Olivia

Alice & Olivia

It's almost here, hold your horses!

Ciao, 

Annie