BCBG Max Azria Pre-Fall 2013!

     And they are out, the pre-fall 2013 collections are finished and we are moving our way into the future.  Max and Lubov Azria's pre-fall collection was full of soft romantic fabrics that resemble the twenties, thirties and even bits of the forties.  The Azria's traveled to Istanbul, Turkey this past September and they were taken away by the stunning scenery.  The cobblestone streets, the temples, the famous Hagia Sophia and the beauty of the Turkish capital.  The temples are famous for their stunning mosaic tiles that lavishly decorate the amazing architecture.  You can see how the clothing mirrors the Turkish style through the chiffon sleeve jumpsuits, the palazzo pants, the longer lengthen skirts and the inspired mosaic tile prints.  The fur and leather accents give this romantic look a bit of a modern edge twist, which everyone needs now a days  The soft colors with a hint of bright here and there is a great way to spice things up yet, keep that classy and sophisticated aroma in the air.  I can't believe we are already onto pre-fall 2013.  What a beautiful and elegant start coming from BCBG Max Azria.

What country do you get your inspiration from?

Ciao, 

Annie

Ambassador Anna Wintour?

     As rumors do, they have been circulating like wild fire, and the latest fashion rumor is that Anna Wintour could potentially become the Ambassador of London?  Hold on world and just wait one minute, is this real?  Although she has been keeping quiet about it, that hasn't stopped the rumors from continuing.  Ambassador Louis Susman's roll is up and it is time for the President to begin his search for a replacement ambassador to withhold the position.  Miss Wintour has donated tens and thousands of dollars towards the Obama election campaign and has been a close follower of President Obama.
     As most of you know, Anna Wintour is UK-born and has been the editor of the US Vogue for over two decades.  With the glistening contact book that Anna Wintour has, I'm not surprised that she is being considered for the enormous job of being an ambassador.  Although there are no personal announcements that are going to be made anytime soon, in regards to the future ambassador to London, we know that the 62-year-old Miss Wintour is being considered.
     If this change were to occur, Wintour would be greatly missed by US Vogue and all of it's readers.   I'm not sure if there is any type of replacement for her, she does her job better than anyone could.  This accessible, smart and bright woman has carried US Vogue and has transformed it into the wonderful masterpiece it is.  If she were to go, she will be greatly missed.

A woman with many talents!

Ciao, 

Annie

A New Face For Balenciaga Perfume!

     Balenciaga has brought on the starlet from The Twilight Series, Kristen Stewart.  She is currently their new face for their fragrance, Florabotanica.  Stewart says that the imagery of this fragrance is one of a girl sifting through a garden, gorgeous but intoxicating.  Flowers in gardens can be sweet and soft along with poisonous and dangerous.  The fragrance is meant to be worn by women who are mysterious and daring.  I think Kristen Stewart is a perfect face for this scent because she is trendy, edgy and generally plays mysterious characters.  Go out and test it and tell me what you think!

Smells devine!

Ciao, 

Annie

A Little Collaboration!

     Ani Sui's Fall/Winter 2012 runway show reveled a two-piece collaboration that combines the legendary Coach Legacy silhouette with the classic Sui bohemian aesthetic.  These limited-edition bags are beyond exquisite with the one hand-crafted details of leather interwoven with contrast stitching and the other having an old Western feel with the whipstitching trim and burnt leather pattern.  It was an unusual collaboration to see Coach and Ani Sui being on different ends of the design spectrum.  But, Ani Sui said herself that the Coach Duffle was such an iconic part of the Coach brand and that she was honored to be able to put her own twist on such a classic design.  Personally, I think it is great when designers decided to do collaborations with one another.  It allows us to see how they put their ideas together and create such wonderful pieces of artwork.  There are so many ideas going on between designers and design houses, check one of them below!

Collaborate with style!

Ciao, 

Annie

Keeping Your Fingers Warm & Fancy!

     Do you ever go outside to get in your car and you notice the frost that has softly coated the door handle?  Then you get in the car and put your hands on the freezing cold steering wheel?  Nothing solves this problem like leather/pleather gloves.  They are the driving (and walking, for that matter) savior!  As the tight fabric snugs next to each individual finger somehow it creates such warmth to the hands.  I've noticed that designers are getting fancier and fancier with their driving gloves.  As you can see below there are bright colors, studded additions, woven fabric, chain and fur accents, and they are even extending past your elbows now.  Quite a change from the original black or brown sleek leather look.  But, it's good we have moved on to bigger, better and more dramatic things.  This is a winter accessory that can add a bit more fuss to your outfits.  I would advise you all to go out there and get your gloves before your phalanges start getting chilly.

Bottega Veneta

Causse Gantier

Haider Ackermann

Valentino

Burberry

Causse Gantier

Miu Miu

Fingers need some snuggling too!

Ciao,

Annie

From The Halloween Archives of Vogue

   Let's see what Vogue has pulled out of their archives for Halloween inspired ideas over the years.  Dressing up, that's what Halloween is all about!  And where is a better place to find inspiration for dressing up than the archives of the exclusive Vogue fashion shoots?  Maybe you can find some last minute inspiration from these photos for tonights fun.

Happy Halloween!

Ciao, 

Annie

The Stress Of Halloween!

     The holiday where 'women get away with wearing absolutely nothing and don't get arrested for indecent exposure' is just rounding the corner.  If you are a women and you still dress up for Halloween then you definitely get the "oh shit, what am I going to be" jitters.  Generally, it happens a week before you need your costume, when you have already missed the 3-7 business day shipping window.  And you are screwed.  If you think I am currently describing myself...you are right!  But, if you are creative like me then have no fear.
     First stop, your childhood dress up trunk.  For those of you who still have one, I am sure that you can find tons of basics.  A tutu, witch hat, cowboy hat, old brides made dresses, perhaps even some fairy wings.  Now, pick a basic and decided on a costume.  Here is how I made four costumes just from my dress up trunk.  Of course, I had to go out to the local Wal-Mart or JoAnn Fabrics to pick up a few odds and ends, but it was cheap and easy.

Tinkerbell

     Tinkerbell, the classic All-American fairy.  It doesn't get much simpler than this.  All you need is a pair of wings, a green dress (a green tank top and a tutu), a pair of wings, and a wand.  You can get your wings at Wal-Mart or any Halloween store.  The wand can be made out of a stick that you spray paint dark green.  The dress can come from Forever 21 and you can cut the hem in a zig zag shape.  If you decided to use a tutu instead then all you need to do is dig through your tank tops and find a green one!  It's so simple.  To top it off, literally, put a cute little sock bun right on top of your head.  Some glitter to toss at your friends and voila! 

Cowgirl

     You don't have to look as Pinup as this chick here, but a cowgirl is another easy costume to pull off. Go to your summer collection and grab your Daisy Duke denim shorts.  Any flannel shirt tied at the waist, will due.  A cowboy hat and some nice cowboy boots to complete the look.  Pretty easy, right?

Bumble Bee

     If you feel like buzzing around on Halloween a bumblebee will be a nice fit for you.  All you will need is some black and yellow striped tights, a black leotard, a yellow tutu and some black and yellow wings.  If you have a black headband you get make the antennas out of pipe cleaners and add some yellow pompom balls at the end.  A simple way to add stripes to the costume is to get silk ribbon and let it hang off the tutu, the more stripes the better.  Be creative with this one.  

Witch

     Although many would say I could have gone dressed as my everyday self I thought I needed to play up the part a little more.  A tight black dress with a mini broom and my childhood witch hat did the trick.  Some tight knee high boots and dark black makeup, I looked just like the Wicked Witch of the West!  

     There are so many more costumes that you can create if you just dig through your closet and your old dress up trunk.  Don't go to those Halloween stores and spend $100 on some costume you are going to spill beer on and wear once.  Sometimes taking a trip to your local thrift store might spark some great ideas as well.  Use your imagination.  After all, it's Halloween, you can be whatever you want!

Spook ya later!

Ciao, 

Annie

The Plaid Brigade!

     Fall rolls around and the plaids come out to play, that's just how it goes.  Plaids are always the fall/winter cozy go-to, whether it be casual or fancy.  In fact, I'm wrapped up in a plaid scarf right now. Classic me, blogging about what I'm wearing.

     Ok, let's break this down a little bit.  The more casual plaids tend to be the rugged flannels worn with black leggings and some Chucks (insert my everyday look here).  I snuggle up by the fire in my flannel with a good magazine and occasionally doze off.  It's the life, right?  

     Moving on to the other side of the plaid rainbow it gets a little bit fancier.  In the past few years plaids have been being used more and more in business wardrobes.  For example, a classic pencil skirt paired with a chiffon plaid shirt.  It's kinda the classic J. Crew look, preppy upperclass society-ish.  You know what I mean!  It totally passes all office standards.

     Carrying on.  How about the short sleeve plaid look?  I know, it sounds a little strange and a little male-ish.  It's not, it's so not!  It's that 'I borrowed my boyfriends shirt and made it fabulous' thing.  Ahhh, so much potential.  You can wear a long sleeve under it or a nice bulky swearer over it.  Ohhh, it's so wonderful.  Or, if you are so fetch that you dare to wear it alone, let your elbows hang out and enjoy the air party!  As you can see, I am a little excited about it.  You should be too!

It even works from head to toe!

Plaid-erific!

Ciao, 

Annie

A 10 Year Old's Perspective!

     As I lay on my beat up leather ABC Carpet & Home couch with my cousin we discussed fashion.  What else do I ever talk about anyway?  Once she began rattling off outfits and what she notices as "fashionable", I started thinking.  Why not hear what she has to say?  A fashion perspective from a 10 year old could be quite comical.  But, considering she is in my family, I had a feeling it could be spot on.  

     When asked, what are the current trends?, she replied with such wit, "Patterned pants, fur coats and vests, scarves, oversized knit sweaters, neon colors, dangling earrings and large rings."  Then she says with such vigor, "As for the feet, booties, they are everywhere!"  After I picked up my jaw, I kept the questions coming.  Where do you get your fashion sense from? And without hesitation, literally none, she blurts, "the street, duh!".  So right then and there I handed her the computer.  In this day and age you are born knowing how to operate a MacBook so, I asked her to find outfits that are in style.  Check out what she found.

H&M

T Tahari Essentials

B Brian Atwood

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Fendi

Rebecca Minkoff

Kate Spade

Rag & Bone

     She found this all on her own, I shit you not!  I peered over and she was on Bloomingdales.com.  Who knows what Bloomingdales is at age 10?  It's fabulous.  I ended with this,  "What would you like to be when you grown up?"  The answer was, "A fashion designer."  Now, that explains it all, right?  So, after all, regardless of who becomes President, this is proof that we will have fabulous fashion in the future if there are more young girls that think like this.

In the words of a 10 year old, "Stay like me, fabulous!"

Ciao, 

Annie

The Sneaker Kick!

     As I wander aimlessly around NYC I tend to look down.  Not because I'm insecure and like to keep to myself but because I'm curious to see the shoe trends that are stomping around.  Now that we have made that clear, sneakers are so totally in.  Trendy ones, of course, but none the less, they are sneakers.

Now, the spin on all of this is that these women aren't in their jogging clothes or their relaxed Sunday outfit.  They are wearing dresses, skirts and other fabulous outfits.  

     My take, this is a grunge trend that happens to work perfectly.  You're feet need to stay comfortable, especially in the city when you are pounding the pavement from day to day.  What is more comfortable then a nice pair of worn in sneakers?  And what is better than those nice pair of worn in sneakers being accepted by the fashion public and being worn with skirts and dresses?  NOTHING!  Don't get me wrong, this def isn't something that you will be wearing everyday, but it is nice to take a break from your 120mm Louboutins once in a while.

     I have pulled a few different types of sneakers that I saw on the streets and happen to know from experience are quite fabulous and comfortable to beat.

Frye

Steven By Steve Madden

Nike     

Converse

ASH

Just for kicks!

Ciao, 

Annie