Victoria Secret Fashion Show

Tokyo Fashion News

Goth Glam: Mandy Coon

Every so often I discover a designer that I didn't know about.  Or one that's new and emerging as a rising talent in the world of fashion.

Today I discovered New York City based designer Mandy Coon.  I love the use of texture and lines in the fall collection.  The pieces seem to have an architectural feel with the use of geometric lines and silhouettes.  I would even describe it as goth glam.  

http://www.mandycoon.com/

Go for Gold

Dressing for the holidays is easy when you go for the gold.  Find this in most stores from low to high price points, whatever fits your budget.  This look is perfect for that gala event or the best way to celebrate the New Year.

Elie Tahari

Mango, Brocade dress

Halston Heritage

Ivy Prosper for Style & Culture

Holiday Trends

It's the Christmas season and that means plenty of shopping for gifts, parties and many festive occasions.  Here is Style & Culture's list of the top holiday trends for 2010.

Sequins
You'll find this in almost every store this holiday season and so many different price points.  A sequin tank, cardigan or blazer is the perfect topper with a pair of slim trousers or pencil skirt.  Avoid wearing large accessories when you're in sequins because it can look too gaudy.

Lace
Lace dresses and skirts are also a great trend item for holiday dressing.  This can sometime look unwearable on the rack but once you try it on, you'll see how great these dresses can look.

Designer Lace trends 2010

Off-Shoulder
The one-shoulder dress or top is also a big trend for evening.  The shoulders can be seen as a sexy area of a woman's body.  This asymmetric look is both classy and simple.  A great choice for a gala event or for ringing in the New Year.

Ruffles
Ruffles, bows and tiered fabrics are details that continue to be a dominant trend in women's clothing.  The perfect way to be feminine and sexy.

Valentino Fall/Winter 2010-2011
www.millionlooks.com

Jessica Lowndes in Luisa Beccaria Fall 2010

Tuxedo or Military Blazer
The tuxedo or military styled blazer is your best option for those who don't like to wear dresses.  It's a chic way to incorporate the menswear inspiration for evening.  Pick bold colours like red or purple or a classic winter white.  Wear with skinny pants and a lace cami underneath with long dainty necklaces.

3.1 Philip Lim 

Valentino Spring 2011 Collection

Valentino at The GAP

Designer collaborations with mass market retailers continues to be a huge success.  Just as H&M has launched its collection by Lanvin, in a few days The GAP will feature designs by Valentino.  Unfortunately it won't be available in any North American stores.  The limited edition items will be in selected locations in Europe; London at the Oxford Street location and Dover Street, Colette in Paris and at it's new Milan store.

Valentino for Gap

Valentino for Gap

Jessica Simpson Talks About Being a Designer

Karl Lagerfeld at Macy's

Karl Lagerfeld has confirmed he will be designing a one-time collection of limited edition women's clothing for Macy's department stores.  The line will be available in 250 stores and online in September 2011.  

The designer has become an icon in the world of fashion.  Having been the head designer for Chanel since 1983, he's become synonymous with that brand.  However, Lagerfeld's list of labels he has been the creative force behind include, Chloe, Fendi, and his own label Karl Lagerfeld.  In 2004 he also created a limited edition collection for fashion retailer H&M. 

Google in Style

www.boutiques.com

Take a quiz, choose your preferences and then Google will help you find and create your own online boutique.  This week Google launched Boutiques.com.  A website that helps you match the latest fashion to your personal taste.  This site is designed for the style-conscious.  Google has brought in fashion trend-spotters to develop this into something that is easy to use and can help anyone achieve their best style.




http://www.boutiques.com/

Tory Burch makes Oprah's Favorite Things

Oprah has once again chosen her favorite things! Tory Burch's flannel and metallic tote bag along with the cute flannel ballerina flats made the list.

 Tory Burch is a luxury lifestyle brand with sense of sophistication at moderate price points. The product line includes handbags, shoes, jewelry and ready-to-wear.
http://www.toryburch.com/

Sheerly Lace

Rihanna in Elie Saab Couture at American Music Awards
(Photo: Pizello/AP)

Sheer lace is a key trend for winter 2010.  This is a great way to dress up for the upcoming Christmas and holiday season.  Rihanna's sheer lace, floral patterned, floor length gown stole the red carpet at the American Music Awards last night.  

11th STRUTT Wearable Art Show

The 11th Annual Strutt Wearable Art show was another huge success.  Artists, designers and models came together to raise funds for the Niagara Arts Centre.

This is Canada's largest wearable art show.  Paper, plastic, newspaper, coffee filters, kitchen sponges....you name it, they wore it on the runway.  Designers created some of the most interesting, wacky and creative works of art.  It was not only a runway show but also a performance.  Models became the characters of the clothing they wore.  Running around on stage, flirting, dancing, tossing things in the crowd and even 'schmoozin' with the panel of judges.  All the artists work were being judged by a panel and winners received cash prizes for their efforts.

See the video highlights of the event below.

What is Sneakerpedia?

If you are a 'sneaker-head' this is definitely something for you. Hip-Hop Culture has played a large part in this sneaker obsession of young males.

Sneakerpedia Trailer from Sneakerpedia on Vimeo.

Katy Perry 's Purr

Katy Perry has launched a new fragrance called, Purr.  It seems like every celebrity is lending their name to the fragrance business. Perry already sold 1300 bottles of her fragrance in London last week at her launch there.  In her New York appearance she drove around streets of NYC  in a personalized truck and managed to sell 45 bottles in  Greeley Square in under 3 hours.

Lanvin for H&M Runway Debut

The anticipated runway show with the Lanvin collection for H&M.  It will be in stores November 20th!

Ivy for Style&Culture

Beyonce's Video Banned on Daytime TV in UK

Beyonce's commercial for her fragrance Heat was found to be too racy for daytime television.

Damn Heels

http://damnheels.com/

Kate Middleton gets the Late Princess Diana's Ring

Engagement and wedding ring worn by Diana, Princess of Wales

 (Photo by Dan Chung: Reuters) 

Prince William has officially proposed to his longtime girlfriend of eight years, Kate Middleton.  As a fashion blog, the news about this engagment comes with the ring he has given to her.  This classic piece once belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana.  It is a blue sapphire and diamond ring that his father, Prince Charles, gave to Diana in February 1981 when they were engaged.

Lanvin Sneak Peak

Lanvin H&M Collection Sneak Peek

Culture: Jakarta Fashion Week

Tribute to the Kebaya

 Jakarta Fashion Week began it's opening night with the tribute to the Kebaya.  This is the traditional outfit worn by Indonesian women.  Designers created their own modern interpretation of the historical look which includes a blouse made of cotton, silk, lace, brocade or velvet.  The centre front of the blouse is held together with a brooch and has no buttons in the front of the blouse.
Twenty of Indonesia's top designers took part in this tribute on opening night.

Bubble Girl, Jakarta Fashion Week

Ina Thomas, Jakarta Fashion Week

Ina Thomas, Jakarta Fashion Week

Marisa Nasution, Jakarta Fashion Week

Denny Wirawan
http://dennywirawan.com/

Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) wrapped up recently with collections shown by some of the most well known and creative talents throughout Indonesia.  This year over 100 of Indonesia's best designers showed their collections.   This is only the 3rd Jakarta Fashion Week and it's growing each year.  It was held at the Pacific Place shopping mall in South Jakarta to a large audience of the fashion and media industry.


The beauty of the event was how it displayed the rich cultural heritage of the country through the use of traditional fabrics, prints and colours.  Just take a look at the above video from Denny Wirawan's collection at JFW in the spring and you can see how beautiful the design work is from this country. 

Ghea Panggabean

Wirawan has been nominated and won awards in the Indonesian fashion industry.  He was also selected as one of the top 5 designers in Indonesia by the Jakarta Post.

Other designers at JFW included Ghea Panggabean, Carmanita, young talent Adesagi Kierana and many more.  

Adesagi Kierana poses with a model

Carmanita, Jakarta Fashion Week

Lady Gaga's New Perfume

Lady Gaga is set to launch her very first signature fragrance.  In a partnership with Coty Inc., she's not the first superstar to license her name and image to a fragrance.  Lady Gaga is one of the world's most successful artists having sold over 13 million albums worldwide.  She is also one of the most influential musicians today in style and beauty.  With a larger than life image, the fragrance will likely be the perfect extension of her brand of art, music, fashion and style.

The fragrance has not been named yet and will be launching in the spring of 2012.  Coty plans to give Lady Gaga creative control on the creation of the new scent.  

Limited Edition Louboutin

Louboutin - Peace of Shoe (Photo by: Courtesy)

Louboutin has lent his efforts to raise funds to benefit the Grameen Foundation.  This non-profit organization helps people (especially women) in poverty-stricken nations through microfinance loans and technology to help start businesses.  Louboutin recently unveiled his new shoe at a charity event in Los Angeles.
 
This limited edition shoe will retail for $1495.  Only 33 pairs have been created.  Each one is numbered and signed by Louboutin himself.  They will be available in New York, Miami and Los Angeles only.  This pretty shoe is a classic peep-toe design trimmed with hand stitched and embroidered Indian ribbon.  It will be available in champagne, lavender and pink.

Louboutin has chosen to have 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this shoe go to the Grameen Foundation.
http://www.grameenfoundation.org/

If you'd like to purchase the shoes you must contact the Louboutin stores in NYC, Miami or L.A. directly.

Peace of Shoe in all three Shades

No Runway Show for Spring 2011

Instead of the typical runway show, designer Julian Louie decided to show his Spring collection by doing an art installation.  Clothing hung up like laundry displaying all the pieces at various angles, Louie wanted all the pieces in collection to stand alone as opposed to having complete looks like in most runway presentations.

What do you think of the collection?

Lemlem by Liya Kebede

If you haven't already heard of her, I'm sure you've seen her face.  Supermodel Liya Kibede is the Ethiopian beauty who's made her mark in the fashion industry as one of its most successful models.  As the first black woman to be the face of Estee Lauder, she's graced the magazine covers of Italian Vogue, American Vogue, Time and I-D magazine.  She's been featured heavily on the runways around the world and continues to be one of the few black models working regularly in the industry.

Kebede has used her name to promote awareness of issues that are close to her heart.  Inspired by the desire to build business and create a level of independence for the people of her homeland, she created a product that could be produced in Ethiopia.  The collection of handcrafted items helps those who have lost work gain employment while building on the skills of the people.

Watch as she talks about creating for her label Lemlem.

Check out the website for her fall collection: www.lemlem.com

What Paris is showing us for Spring 2011

How to Buy Tall Boots

Buying tall shaft boots can be quite the challenge for many women.  Long legs, short legs, thick legs or skinny legs; there seems to always be something to think about.

How do you pick the right boots?  Here's how.

Buckle Boot helps with adjusting calf width

If you have a WIDE calf:

• Search for boots that will allow for comfort and stretch.  Details like buckles that loosen, elastic gores and stretch materials help with proper fit. 
• Another option if finding lace up boots then you can adjust the tightness however you like.  
• Pull-on boots are your worst nightmare when you have wide calves or a bigger foot because they usually won't pull up or stretch enough for the fit.
• Something else to look for are brands that actually make the style with a wider calf.  Zappos carries many styles on their website.
• If all else fails you can go to a shoe repair store or shoe-maker to have the calf widened.  This is done with elastic inserts or extra materials.

Lace Up Boots are good for custom fit on calf

Elastic Gore help for fit on wide calf

 If you have SKINNY calves that's a whole other ball game.  Women whose legs are very thin have a hard time getting boots to stay up or worse you look like a little girl wearing mom's boots.

 IF you have Skinny Calves:

• It's all about 'trial and error'. You'll need to find the brand that fits you and stick with it. 
• Pull-on elastic boots are usually a perfect fit.  Women with large calves can never get into these and skinny legs usually look great in them.  
• Check out the website http://www.duoboots.com/pages/narrow_calf_boots/  They have a large selection of boots designed for narrow calves.
• Find a good shoe repair shop who can take in the boots when needed. I have done this before.

 If you have LONG legs:

Lucky for you almost every boot works for you.  You don't have to worry about your legs being overwhelmed with the length of the boot.  Pick styles that show off your leg.  Over the knee boots work for longer legs too.

If you have SHORT legs:

• Over the knee boots can swallow up your legs and make you look even shorter
• Avoid boots that hit you in the middle of your calf because it chops the leg and can make you look even shorter. 
• If your calf is wide it will also make it look wider if it stops mid-calf.
• Did you know you could have the top of your boot shortened if you take it to a shoe repair shop?  Just like getting your jeans hemmed you can get your boots taken down to fit.

 
Ivy for Style & Culture

Sam Edelman Boots

Chinese Laundry

Concept Korea at NY Fashion Week

Concept Korea and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NY.

Concept Korea is an international program designed to help American and Korean designers in working together to build a strong business and develop emerging talent.  They have brought together 3 designers to show that Korea is rising in the world of fashion.  The designers include Kwak Hyun Joo, Lee JuYoung, and Lee Jean Young.

http://www.conceptkorea.org/

Holiday Shoe

Isabel Toledo for Payless

For only $44.99 these are a great holiday shoe designed by Isabel Toledo for Payless.

DKNY Spring 2011 Fashion

As usual the collection for DKNY is young and fresh.  Donna Karan talks about the new spring ready to wear line from DKNY.

I love it.  What do you think?

Ivy for Style & Culture

Sao Paolo Fashion Week Spring 2011

Brazil's best designers show their collections for Spring/Summer 2011.  Designers included Cia Maritima, Ellus, Cori and many more.  Enjoy the video with highlights from fashion week in Sao Paolo.

Bustle's Spring 2011 Collection

Bustle's Spring 2011 collection featured a rock n roll edge with a touch of soft femininity.  The runway show featured looks with mixed patterns, stripes and pale shades of green, blue and grey. 

100 Years 100 Designers

Designer Vera Wang with Editor Bridget Foley

Women's Wear Daily has written a book celebrating the best 100 designers over the last 100 years.  The fashion business is one that's always changing and adopting new trends every season.  Designers included in this book have changed fashion around the world and made a lasting impact with their creations.  Those chosen for the book include Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Gianni and Donatella Versace  and of course Chanel.  

100 Years of WWD

Feet Hurting from Cute Shoes? Afterheels is your answer...

AfterHeels vending machine

AfterHeels

Afterheels may be the solution end of the day shoe blues.  I can't tell you how many times I have had my own feet hurt from cute shoes after a long day or night on the town.  Friends have often commented on the fact I carry flat shoes or flip flops in my bag to change for when they hurt.

There is a new product being marketed as the 'world's first ever vending machine compact shoe'.  Afterheels.  The shoes are designed and manufactured in England. Who would have thought a woman can buy shoes and a bag of chips from a vending machine.  The machines are in nightclubs in England.  I'm sure it will be just a matter of time before we see this machine all over the world.

Check the website for more details:   http://www.afterheels.com/

Will You Wear Dolce & Gabbana this Winter?

World Fashion & Media Summit

Lanvin for H&M

I promised to keep you posted on the launch of the anticipated collection by Lanvin for H&M.

Check out the gallery of the collection at this link:  http://www.dose.ca/style/photogallery.html?id=3764268

Rachel Mara - LG Fashion Week - Toronto