Featured on Top Button!

Yes, it's another post about Top Button. But I can't help it, I love the site! And I know, it's not really a feature, but it's one step closer to one. I didn't leave the comment unsigned, I actually linked back to IBT, but I guess that was deemed unnecessary? Anyways, maybe it was a fluke and only two people including myself submitted suggestions, but this still makes me smile.

Update: Check out the homepage again today (Thursday) to see another featured suggestion by moi. The initial suprise and 'excitement' is now gone.




Visit the www.topbutton.com homepage for today only for a peek.

I Want You To Know About...

Yet another 'I Want You To Know About...' post! A site I am still presently discovering, www.TopButton.com, is quickly become my go-to guru for information regarding sample sales, upcoming trends, and the latest in film. The site seems to be jam-packed with fashion insider information, as well as various critiques on various fields.
I’m excited to learn more about Top Button, and you should be too! Membership is seriously a cinch and I have a feeling IBT will have a bright future with this place.

iLove This Idea!

I’m not sure I grasp the point of it, but here’s something new from the world of water. Forget about vitamins in your Evian or raspberries in your Aquafina. How about a magazine featuring the latest trends in fashion and beauty? iLove is the latest thing to show up in a water bottle. Peel away a protective layer and read the attached 32 page glossy. Apparently, it’s positively overflowing with everything from health and fitness to Hermés and other fashion friends.

iLove is currently only available in Australia, but I have a sneaking suspicion this ingenious product will make it’s way to North America soon enough.

Check out www.ilove.com.au for more details.

Slaughter House Rules

Unfortunately, this entry is nowhere close to as uplifting and light as the film Cider House Rules. You may remember my previous post concerning the use of fur in the fashion industry. Things are really starting to heat up now, with a new video focused on fur farms narrated by Stella McCartney. The graphic movie depicts your typical U.S. slaughter house and the ways owners go about murdering animals such as racoons, foxes, and minks. So for those of you who reason that the animal is killed for meat, and taking its fur is just an economic way to use the entire animal, think again. These creatures are caged and tortured only for the benefit of ‘fashion’.
Also, check out this article from Handbag.com. Author Alice Temple explores the fur trade industry and the warped perception we all seem to have of it.
And if you need any more convincing, have a look at this Chinese fur farm, where animals (mostly dogs, I might add) are skinned alive for their fur. Afterwards, the suffering creature is not even put out of its misery.
It makes me sick to know such things go on in our world. And please don’t think that this is only one farm. To quote PETA, “These farms can hold thousands of animals, and the practices used to farm them are remarkably uniform around the globe.”
Think back to the huge protest outside the Jean-Paul Gaultier boutique. Animal rights issues are not going away. You can either be part of the problem or become part of the solution.
So please, put away your fur or think twice before you pick up that Burberry fur-skirted trench coat. By shifting the demand in the fur trade industry, you could be saving hundreds of animals annually.

Item of the Day: The Fateful Holmes Houndstooth Cape

I saw this cape jacket less than a month ago in Fashion magazine. Even when I first saw it, it had that ‘WOW’ factor that every girl loves to feel. And during one of my routine visits to the indispensable Neiman Marcus website, I felt the same sudden chill. What should make the front page but the very same Houndstooth cape by Pink Tartan! How eerily creepy that that eye-catching piece has made its way into my life twice now. I do believe it’s a sign that I should buy this gorgeous item, but let’s truly evaluate the situation.
Yes, Houndstooth is very now and very trendy, but that’s just the problem. This trend could evaporate before I get to wear the jacket twice. When buying into trends, I’ve always been sure to exercise caution. Never invest too much! This cape comes in close to $500. So is it worth it? Who really knows? Houndstooth has proved to have staying power, but does my taste? Such an elaborate piece will surely tire me after six months. I’ll keep you updated…
In the meantime, drool for free or check out these more wallet-conscious versions.

Here, a houndstooth cape jackie currently going for $70 on Ebay.com.

A long houndstooth jacket cape for $65 on Vintageous.com

The Forgotten

I was browsing through slides of Semaine de Mode de Montréal and found myself marvelling at the S&S ‘07 collection by Envers. Other presentations that mildly tickled my fancy were Rush Couture, Valerie Dumaine, and Eve Gravel. But to be perfectly honest, I like to be spellbound in order to truly covet a collection. And it’s easy to become overtly impressed by something when in the presence of a hundred bores. Envers was without a doubt the most creamiest crop from SMM 2007.
SMM is often overlooked for many reasons, one of them being the somewhat lacklustre collections. Quebec is known for poutine, not Prada. Designers have seemed to accept that and perhaps, appreciate it. Montreal doesn’t present the same pressure as Milan or Paris. And with that in mind, developing artists can experiment with little scrutiny during SMM simply because the media does not flock towards it like they do the others.
Which was why I was so impressed with the Envers presentation. It was almost too edgy for the celebration of casual and outerwear typically shown throughout the week. Not to mention it’s relevance in current fashion, quickly complimenting the solemn satin shown at Prada and the loose fits at Stella McCartney.
We were shown basic palettes and deeper hues, paired with adorable silver pumps and the notoriously feminine Springtime-cut. Envers also gave us a taste of men’s fashion, introducing unfinished Converse, man cleavage, and airy polos.
So from what I’ve gathered after looking at photographs, the overall mood of the show wasn’t your average prissy-stoic attitude. It was friendly, free, and brightly amateur. It takes designers like Yves Jean Lacasse to remind me that my hometown isn’t hurtin’ as bad as we all think it is.

Credit: www.mfw.ca

Rising Trend

What I’ve been noticing plenty of on the streets of fashion-fall-behinds are flat riding boots. Zero heel and zero fuss, apparently, as a slew of generic equestrian products make these shoes a breeze to care for.
It’s always fun to see the girls who, God bless them, think they are the trendiest creatures on the Earth (or at least in their school) and pick up on dropped trends a little too late. But who cares about the fast-paced fads of fashion? It’s all about what you want to wear. But in this case, equestrian riding boots are looked upon by many girls as a go-to trend worthy of their time and money when really, those nickels and dimes should go towards a more lasting heel. But then again, ‘tis the season to rock the boot, so here’s some fallen grace to those who need it most.

"Nicolette" Flat Boot, Payless Shoe Source, $34.99

Scalloped Suede Boot, Marc by Marc Jacobs, $575.00

Mossimo "Giselle" Flat Boot, Target, $34.99

Balancing Act

Today I wore a dirtied chocolate jumper, complete with a slouchy turtleneck and broad empire-waist. I paired the baby doll with whites tights, vintage Goldie flats, and a gold metallic tobo (part hobo bag, part tote). I made the colour really stick with vibrant gold lids and sheer lips. Feeling pulled together, I left the house into the harsh wind. I was but a foot from my doorstep when that wind greeted me and I realized that this dress wasn’t as roomy as I once thought. And it didn’t take me long to realize that yanking down my skirt would be on heavy rotation today.
My point is this: why is it deemed acceptable to wear a very short skirt or dress, so long as it is paired with a heavy-set top like a turtleneck or chunky knit sweater? Sure I wore tights, but such can hardly make up for the severity of my dress hem? I find it horrible that if those tights were misplaced from my legs and the turtleneck and long-sleeves were switched to a scoop neck t-shirt with either short or quarter-inch arms, I would have heard the “S” word a lot today.
Take into consideration any of the variables: change the neck, leg, or arm, and there would have been a completely different image conveyed.
But I’ll give the shallow minds of superficial girls everywhere the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it’s my somewhat decent reputation which saved me in the end.
And if nothing else, it could merely be a balancing act. Maybe there are rules that say wearing a short skirt can be forgiven with the proper sweater, or vice versa. And is this really new information to any of us? I’ve worn leggings a million times before knowing full well that I am required to wear an oversized, baggy sweater along with them. You can only wear one piece of leopard-print, while making damn sure that everything else is neutral, and just forget about neons with neons.

The Sun Just Got Brighter

I hate tooting my own horn. Honestly, I do. But when I saw the immersion of those 80’s-inspired Wayfarer glasses (white rims, black lens) rising as a trend for S&S ’07 and late fall 2006, I had to laugh.
Before the past summer even began, I had started a jogging regimen. I ended up jogging with a friend and meeting her at a halfway point between both of our homes. It’s just a small plaza with a Chinese food place, a movie store, a supermarket, and a variety. We stopped in at the variety for some drinks and this extremely aged display of sunglasses caught my eye. Mostly adorned with leftover 90’s pieces, the display also featured a very catty pair of Wayfarer-esque sunnies. I picked them up believing they were a nice alternative to the oversized sunglasses which dominated my wardrobe. They looked funky, suited my face, and definitely fit my budget at an astonishing $1.50.
Low and behold, less than five months later we are seeing the inauguration of such puppies on the faces of Lohan and Olsen. They are running for hundreds no doubt, distributed by bigheads Ray-ban, Chanel, and Proenza Schouler.

Credit: http://stylebites.blogspot.com

Sunday Confession

A new edition I’ll be adding to IBT, Sunday Confession, will commence on this lonely Sunday in October. It is spent boiling sugar water in a pot as my kettle is out of service right now. My tummy is begging for food, but I say no and subject myself to green tea instead. I’m very cold and it’s very early, and for some reason that combination has led me to be very honest.

I confess to you that I went through a stage of wearing various fishnets and patterned socks over florescent tights. Where did I get the idea? My own mind had been brewing it one day, I suppose. But I am sorry to say that I was overtly attracted to the idea after I read a fashion editor recount it as her greatest fashion faux pas.

What’s your confession?

Hey!

I’m back! So sorry this hasn’t been updated in awhile. I’ve been horribly busy, lazy, and truth be told, I haven’t had a lot to blog bout. Not that I necessarily do now, but I figured it was as good a time as any to get back on the blogging circuit.
I plan to leave well enough alone when it comes to Paris Fashion Week. The subject has been beaten to death, and we all know our favourites. I know I sort of let you all down with the promised updates, but every other fashion site in the world was on those collections like white on rice.
So yesterday, being a Friday, I thought it a good idea to go shopping. I shopped into the wee hours of the night (in department store-speak, of course) sifting through every rack I could. I found a few cute little items that I thought would be nice to share with you. And since digital cameras aren’t taking a liking to me these days, descriptions are all I’ve got.
The first thing I picked up was a Co-Lab golden metallic handbag. I was interested in the shape, mostly because it is an invariable cross between a hobo and tote style.
Next, I picked up a very cute laced lingerie camisole in pink, along with a various undergarments.
I would then find a thickly knitted cropped cardigan in champagne. It had gorgeous tassel buttons in a rich brown.
And it was around this time that I picked up the mother of my purchases that evening: a Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2005 meets Chloe Fall 2006 with a touch of Spring Marni circa any fresh year shirtdress. It is made from a cotton jersey to look like sweat cotton. It is very sheer and very short. It has this perfect length that could translate into a shirt or a dress, or even blocked to be a skirt. Anyways, the sleeves are double-pressed, meaning there is a slight fold on the hem of them.
And finally, I snagged a cute zebra-print tank top that’s rather tight, but hopefully losing some weight will help me fit into it!

Paris Quickie

I’ve been horribly busy (and also rather lazy) as of late, so I haven’t had the time (or the willpower) to write up the second edition of ‘The Finale’. But as of right now, I am totally loving: Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Ann Demeulemeester, Costume National, Véronique Braquinho, Valentino, Sophia Kokosalaki, Dries Van Noten, Andrew Gn, and Akris.

The Finale Part l

This is it - the Big One. And how else do we conclude our fashion forwardness for S&S ‘07 but in a way so fantastically perfect it hurts that I didn’t think of it before? Three new categories have been introduced to IBT: Proud, Poor, and The Jury’s Out. Designers will be placed into one of the afore mentioned slots, along with a brief summary of the show. Such will allow for a much needed simplicity in the hectic land of Paris during its legendary fashion week.
So if you are in a hurry and want to get the dirt as soon as possible, scroll through the quickie critique of all featured designers, get the scoop, and see a few snapshots throughout. Enjoy!
I’m proud of Maison Martin Margiela. Although this collection wasn’t exactly my taste (we’re talking striped pieces with a Poncho Pal meets 80’s worker bee feel), I can definitely respect the wear-ability of it. And yet it somehow has managed to be nothing short of over-the-top. The cape t-shirts featured give me a homely sense of divine summertime, a long overdue presence, I might add. Everything has a very lightweight look to it, and comfort seems to be a constant. Most of the collection is graphically cut with an edge of unexpected simplicity. The whole thing is not exactly an A+, mind you. There is a slight case of netting at a point during the show, but it seems designer Margiela is laughing along with us.
Wunderkind is poor. If it weren’t the world of fashion I’d call the first few looks tasteless menswear with a horrible cut. But, of course, I’m not allowed. We are supposed to give our designers artistic preference, though he gave us nothing in return. I was disappointed, but my hopes were honestly never very high. Unsightly footwear paired with a melange of tattered suits, subtly bejewelled peasant skirts, and a bad take on girly frocks makes for an upset blogger. In an effort to afford the audience hats, Wolfgang Joop whipped up some interesting pioneer bonnets and evened them out with safety pin accessories with those cheesy fake flowers strung on the point. As for fit, it was all over the board, along with my lunch. I wasn’t sure if I could make it through the images of Wunderkind but I have and I’m glad. I finally have a chance to tell you all about that little disaster.
The jury’s out on Rick Owens. I can definitely relate to the mindset that this man was clearly in when he concocted these pieces. Shapeless, couture-esque things. Some are dresses, some are overcoats, some are skirts, and some are blouses. Lots of different wear, just like any other collection. The problem is, I can hardly tell where the shirt ends and the skirt begins. I loved the use of tulle (we don’t see it as much as we should these days) but I wasn’t sure about the shapes. I like to see lightness in S&S ‘07 but this seemed to be more outlandishly invisible than light. Part of me is still debating whether or not Owens pinned together rips of chiffon and satin minutes before the show began. It’s artistic, I see that. And I’ve never looked to Paris for truly street-ready clothes. I just didn’t expect such uncommon territory for Rick Owens this time around. It seems his styling is getting less and less complicated as the seasons go by. What do you think?
I’m proud of Balmain. In this collection, I saw Chanel, I saw Jil Sander, I saw last season Chloé even. But I had a hard time finding Balmain. Though amongst all of those khaki bubble skirts, wrap dresses, and golden details, I think I liked it. On the one hand, I saw very clean-cut looks, while a moment later I was introduced to hobo chic with gorgeous touches (I would kill for a farmer cotton bubble skirt with Roman gold leaves). In fact, I got a very mystical vibe, almost like Caesar just after he was stabbed. Things were kept teeny tiny, and in that small canvas there was tons of elaborate effect.

The Return of Doutzen and Some Funky Footwear For You

And maybe it’s just me, but I haven’t seen Doutzen Kroes at many of the S&S ‘07 shows this year. Or at least not as many as she did last season. Surprising, considering Doutzen was once thought to be one of the most sought-after models in the world. We all know how easily models go ‘out of style’, which must attribute to the fact that models are a part of the most quick-altering field around. The Doll faces (Gemma, Lily, Cintia, Jessica) have practically shoved out The Glamazons (Hilary, Gisele, Carmen), it seems, and are hurriedly being replaced by The Factory Workers (Bette, Lara, Sasha, Freja). So when models step back into the spotlight, models like Doutzen Kroes for example, it makes me smile because we all know how cutthroat and harsh the realm of modelling is and once you’ve made it, you have to fight for it. Doutzen is simply gorgeous, and is rather deserving of a second-pace slot at shows like Dsquared.
On another note, Dsquared also seems to be dusting something off and placing it at the forefront of their collection. A hybrid. Meet the LaSchouste, a cross between the funky flavourings of Lacoste and the muted intricacies of Proenza Schouler. Yes, I have invented the title myself and no, I don’t think it will catch on.

Credit: Style.com


Above: DSquared, Below: Proenza Schouler

Versace Victory

I’m not usually a fan of Versace’s Euro-trash, over-the-top behaviour pieces, but the S&S ‘07 was fabulous. When I first glanced at and began seeing things I liked, I resolved it to be my nature of fashion forgiveness and my easily impressionable mind. But soon I found almost every look in the collection to be a smash-hit, which is much more than a Hater like me could every ask for. The 80’s swing detail and New Wave appeal has definitely made me rethink the terms of Versace.
And maybe it’s a turning point for head designer Donatella Versace as well. Remembering back to an episode of FT I saw about a month ago, suddenly this change of pace is making sense. Donatella informed host Jeanne Becker that she has come to a new stage in her life. And being the skeptic that I am, I figured that was a European’s way of saying they had a new idea in mind for shell-encrusted leather formal wear. Now I know better!
Looking better than ever, the new and improved Donatella of Versace fame has risen against her past faux pas and created a collection so incredibly relevant I can hardly contain myself. Versace has definitely done me in this time. I’m newly reformed and loving every minute of it!



Credit: Style.com

In Full Blume

I have just checked out the latest from Blumarine for S&S ‘07 and am definitely in love. Blumarine didn’t do much to mix it up for next season, but who can complain? Sticking to the traditional birthday girl blues is what the label is famous for. I can nary find a look I disliked. The runway wasn’t the adventurous type, considering Blumarine designer Anna Molinari stuck to solid trends and simply chic fabrics that never go out of style.
I even got a taste of the apparently very hot Victorian layered lace with tulle place setting. The soft, cotton candy colouring also tied the look together. So my notions have been confirmed; the romantic lace will carry on lightly into next season.
Throughout the runway, I got several chills, mostly translatable into Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel Couture 2006 feelings. Though I didn’t get the sense that Blumarine had ripped off anyone. The mood was very serene yet energetic, classic yet daring.
And on another hand, the footwear was fabulous. Mary Janes sat perfectly with the two-piece suits, tailored cardigans, and voluminous soiree frocks.
The colouring was also wonderful, featuring shade after shade of gorgeous lavenders, blues, and creams.
I have already selected pieces that I can easily see myself wearing on any given day, as well as light skirts and chic cardigans to be envisioned on the likes of ‘It’ girls like Lindsay or Mischa.
Clearly, Blumarine has managed to appeal to everyone’s tastes for S&S ‘07, a feat they always seem to achieve. I am so proud of this timelessly classic house, existent for decades in ever present glamour.

Credit: Style.com

Topshop To Be Americanized

Britain’s first born of high street fame, Topshop, will be opening its delightful doors to American citizens very soon. In fact, rumours that it will materialize almost magically in less than a year from now have been fluttering around. As a Canadian shopper, I know two facts of life. Firstly, the United States has far better shopping than that in Canada, to the point where it is no longer fairly comparable. And secondly, anything that comes from overseas, be it the UK or Tokyo, will welcome American customers first and Canadians second. I can understand a company wishing to introductory cater to a country who’s dollar beats out many. But as the war rages on in the Middle East and the Canadian dollar climbs higher and higher, how could a multi-billion dollar company like Topshop exclude Canada from its original running? Fiscally, we are diversifying each and every day. Are we so lowly that we cannot even barter the tidings of a new high street competitor? I definitely think not. Canada is just as willing to participate in estranged shopping as the United States. If not more so. We are hurting for affordable stores that offer something more than your average American Eagle. We aren’t all fashionably-challenged here in Canada. There are just as many Hollister-Bots down below! So if Topshop does happen to overlook our country within the next few years, so be it. They are missing out on a hell of a lot of business. And I suppose I could always drive down to NYC for a little taste…

Credit: http://blogs.papermag.com/