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

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

Being An Angel!

     I'm sure more than half of the country was tuned in last night on CBS watching the largest fashion show of the year, The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.  And if you weren't, well, you have no life.  I know I had a bowl of ice cream in front of me while watching the beautifully tanned and toned models strut the runway.  People wait all year to watch this fabulous show, men and women both.  The one of a kind intricate outfits, the top most gorgeous models in the world, the best singers of the time and the next seasons lingerie.

     This show takes a full year to prepare, literally, they start working on the next year the day after the show finishes.  They have the top millenary designers, apparel designers, creative directors, jewelry and stone designers and more working on each individual piece for the models wear.  This year there was a little controversy with one of the outfits, which lead to it being cut from the show all together.  The Calendar Collection of outfits was missing the gobbling month of November.  The original design was a large authentic-looking Indian headdress full of feathers to the floor and meant to look like an original chief head piece.  Unfortunately, for the designers who put in all the hard work, they had to cut this outfit out of the showing on television because it caused too much controversy with the Native American community, understandably so. 

     As far as the angel wings go, they are a signature for the Victoria's Secret Angels (the models).  The larger the wings are the longer they have been an Angel.  This years wings weren't as big as in the past but the outfits themselves seemed to have a bit more detail on them than usual.  Overall, this was a breathtaking fashion show.  I assume they are already drawing out the next designs for next years show.  Take a look at these photos and see just how in-depth these "outfits" (although the models are half dressed) really get.

The controversial headpiece

Every angel gets its wings!

Ciao, 

Annie

* A Winter Wonderland of White! *

     Walking in a winter wonderland...with your fashion forward splash of white!  It's December folks, the weather has turned to cold and the leaves have traveled out in a blaze of glory.  Now, darlings, let's bring out those winter whites, creams, ivories and bones.  The ones that we wear in spite of the dark season to add a shot of light to the ever so dull days.  It's sophisticated, adds some flower to your life along with a clean crisp clear sense of fashion.  Now, I'm not telling you to run outside in your white tank top and shorts in hopes that a ray of 80 degree sunlight will shine down.  No, not a chance in hell!  Let me show you some examples of "winter whites", to prevent any confusion. 

3.1 Phillip Lim  

Balmain

Chloé

Moncler Gamme Rouge

Rachel Zoe

Shine bright like a diamond!

Ciao, 

Annie

The Winter Pastel Trend!

     Just when you thought that pale colors were supposed to be saved for the spring season there has been a slight change in plans.  Lilac, cornflower, mint and peach are all colors that we noticed on the autumn/winter runways.  And now it's time for them to come out with us and freeze in this weather.   There is absolutely no need to stick to black this winter, break out of your shell a bit.  
     I'm kinda digging this trend, to be honest.  I love that we can have a little Easter blast of color in the freezing peak of winter.  Peach cashmere sweaters worn with light blue corduroy pants, while it's snowing outside, perfect.  And how about a coat?  The stores are crawling with pastel cover-ups, so, take your pick!
     Accessories are even following this trend.  Splashing in a pale pink bag with a structured outfit makes for a great new-season alternative to the deep dark usual winter colors.  You don't even have to stick to the dark nail colors either.  Go on and pick out those great colors from London's Butter collection.  It's nice to add a little color this season, it will keep everyone smiling!

Peachy keen!

Ciao, 

Annie

A Vintage Story: A Tale About Me!

     In every fortunate woman's house, packed away in boxes that are stacked carefully on top of one another, is a collection of what is now considered vintage couture that tells the story of a fabulous women who, back in her day, had it all.  I'm sure many women in their 40's-50's have those few boxes that shelter their fashion memories.  But, nothing tells a story like the ones I have seen.
     As I sat, staring at these boxes that read Chanel, Prada and Gucci in worn black permanent marker, in a home that I felt so familiar and comfortable in, I died to see what lived in them.  I wondered if the pieces inside were returning the stare through the tiny torn up peep hole in the corner.  Without even knowing what was inside, I asked myself, do they crave to be worn as much as I crave to wear them?  Taking a sneak peek in one of the boxes, just to fulfill the wonder that was going on in my head, I find a tan linen Chanel suit meticulously folded, label up.  As I carefully unfolded I came across bottoms that were wide legged, elastic waste, and perfectly pleated down the front.  Then the top, baseball jersey inspired with outlandishly large Chanel C's across the left breast and then the gold symboled buttons trickled down like rain.  That was a turning point in fashion history for me as well as the time that I got into deep trouble with my Aunt for rummaging through her dearest collection.
    Then it all came to me, at my age she was wearing all of this.  The full make up, the designer suits, the labeled shoes and best of all she got the invite to all the parties where she could show it off.  It shows that celebrities aren't the ones that have all the fashion secrets.  They are hidden amongst the changed women of our lives that can no longer fit into them, have no place to wear them or they are mothers that no longer have the time to get themselves ready like they used to.  It's the vintage secret, these women's pasts hold the key to the future that young women wish to live in.
     As I sat there dripping in vintage Chanel, because I had to try it on,  I wondered to myself, why let this go to waste?  In the lifetime of the clothing, it had been in style, went out of style and is now back in full swing.  Why keep them locked up in the basement where they can't breath?  It should be against fashion laws (i'll look into it!).  These pieces should be past on to the next generation, without worry because clothing speaks for itself.  The more it's worn, the more stories it will generate.  And for those women that pass it on, there is no need to worry about their stories getting lost amongst the crowd because they are the ones that started it all.  They are what inspires and creates the younger one to be like them.  And that is just a little vintage tale, about me.

Vintage is the new black!

Ciao, 

Annie