Christmas is fast approaching, and even with the carefullest planning you always end up with something to buy someone at the last minute. But the stores are always totally crazy right now and everything you wanted is always gone, and random things are on sale, and it's just total chaos. So, I rounded up some easy gifts for the fashionista in your life. And then of course some random things and some things that I just want.
The Beautiful Life: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, and Glorious Excess in the 1970s Paris by Alicia Drake, $8.95 at amazon.com, Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones, $11.97 at amazon.com, Hungry By Crystal Renn, $16.50 at amazon.com: Everyone forgets about books! Books are such a great, easy gift. I do this with my dad every year. Well, he actually buys me books he thinks I'll never read and then pays me to read them, but that's besides the point. Obviously books work as a gift for anyone (Pride and Prejudice is always a winner. Just saying), but there are some great fashion-related books out right now that a lot of girls would love to see under the tree. The Beautiful Life (not like the CW sitcom) tells the stories of fabulous Parisian designers in the high-flying '70s--full of excess, drugs, intrigue, back-stabbing, and general juiciness. Any of sort designer expose is a serious page-turner for me. I've read and reread Fashion Babylon about 10 times, and it's still fresh and interesting. Edwards-Jones interviewed a ton of industry insiders and compiled their experiences into a peek into the life of an anonymous British designer as she puts together a collection. It's snarky, it's enlightening, it's heart-breaking, and it's hilarious, and trust me, even the most seasoned style aficionado will come away having learned something from this novel. Hungry is the book I really want. It's Crystal Renn's biography. If you don't know her, she's probably the most famous plus size model of the moment, but she wasn't always plus size. It's the story of her struggles as a regular runway model, battle with her body image, and her ultimate self-acceptance. Although it has a lot of fashion-related tidbits, I think it's interesting on a human level to experience her fascinating life story.
Obligatory Lara Stone pics: here's her in the new Louis Vuitton ads. Girl replaced Madonna, so major kudos on pulling that one off. I know a lot of people think she's awkward looking, that she has a Neanderthal brow, that she's weirdly proportioned for a model, but she's honestly my favorite model. She reminds me of Angelina Jolie. Her face has this raw, animalistic quality to it that can be insanely sexy or insanely alien-weird, and she does all that with gap teeth. And it's always nice to see a model that looks healthy.
Kron by Kronkron shoes: Green, black, and cream heels: 44,900 KR, blue, black, green, and white heels: 48,900 KR, black and cream heels: 36,900 KR: I have to thank Susie Bubble for posting about these shoes. Or maybe rant at her for showing me these shoes that make me want to drain my bank account. Either way. These are exactly the kind of shoes I've been waiting for: eccentric, on-trend, unique, with a bit of couture vibe but without the couture price (the prices are in Icelandic Kroners, but I've deduced that they're all under $375. I think). I love how these heels have a slightly retro, menswear vibe with the little tassels, but the bright colors and mix of textures give them a very fun, modern feel. This first pair plays off oxfords (these are my favs!), the peep toe adds a dash of flirtiness, and the thick heel and platform are on-trend and practical. This second pair feels a little Balenciaga to me--maybe it's the construction of the blue/white/black detailing, and the striped heel is so fun. It's hard to see, but the detail on the front of this last shoe is a huge bow. The contrast of the bow over the somewhat masculine lines of the shoe is fantastic, and this is such a refreshing take on the shootie trend.
Lush Brazened Honey Mask, available in stores, Ugg Australia Dakota Moccasins in Go Wine, $100 at uggaustralia.com: I'm intrigued with Lush. Their stores are always so lovely smelling, and I love their natural products and aesthetic. Evidently they only sell these face masks in store because they're so fresh they need to be refrigerated and can only be kept for 2-3 weeks. As far as I've deduced this tub costs about $10-15 and you get about 6 uses out of it, which is pretty decent, especially if you only get it every few months as a skin picker-upper. They have a wide variety of masks, but I'm interested in this Brazened Honey mask. It's supposed to exfoliate, detoxify, revitalize, and nourish your skin, and according to Makeup Alley it gives you a lovely, fresh glow. The Ugg Moccasins are a great last minute Christmas gift for any girl. Yes, they're Uggs, but they're slippers, so you really can't wear them out! The moccasin styling is fun and a little more chic than your average slipper, and the garnet hue is fun. These would definitely lighten up that Christmas morning pajamas ensemble.
So remember when I said Pre-Fall 2010 was over? I lied. Style.com has been sneaking collections in behind my back, so there's more of that below. Also some random things that I want (of course), and a lovely editorial with Jac and Crystal Renn from V Magazine.
Steven Alan Gathered Sweater, $168 down from $285 at stevenalan.com, Secrets of Charm for SA Lila Dress, $220 at stevenalan.com, Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Black Honey, $14 at sephora.com: How cute is this sweater? It reminds me of those nautical Breton tops, with the boat neck collars and blue and white stripes, but redone with a slightly more modern touch. It still has the stripes and boat neck collar, but this time it's in a softer color palette, has a boyish, oversize fit, and is 100% cashmere. I'd wear this with the sleeves pushed up, a straight leg pair of dark wash jeans, and a brown pair of equestrian-inspired boots. I think I love the name of this dress' designer as much as the dress (Secrets of Charm? So sweet). The cut is very '50s housewife, with the straight fit and slightly de-emphasized waist. The volume from the drooping, geometric pockets adds an abstract, of the moment touch. Toss this on with a tangle of gold necklaces, a men's brown leather belt, and some sick heels, and you're good to go just about anywhere. I can't put into words how much I love this lip gloss. Yes, it looks extremely vampy and mildly unwearable in the tube, but on your lips it's another story all together. I'm very pale, and a thin wash of this across my lips says "I just ate a handful of blackberries" with a lovely, deep berry flush. There are no Goth vibes at all. You can layer it on more thickly for a richer berry tone, but even on my pale skin it's more "I watch True Blood" than "I want to be a vampire," which is always a good thing. "One Size Fits All," shot by Terry Richardson for V Magazine, which hits newsstands on January 14. I think this spread is really interesting. They put the same outfits, accessories and all, on Jac Jablonski and Crystal Renn, and shot them in similar poses. I kind of wish the spread had been entirely Crystal Renn, because as much as I love Jac, Crystal is blowing her out of the water. I don't want to go into the whole emaciated models/body distortion issue in fashion, but I think Crystal Renn is insanely gorgeous. V also included the models' measurements; both girls are 5'9', and Jac is 32/24/34, and Crystal is 36/31/41, so take that plus size label with a grain of salt (Lara Stone has even bigger boobs. Is she plus size? No).
Reem Acra, Reem Acra, Tibi: Reem Acra is one of those designers that has jersey draping down to a science. This first look is a very soft take on last season's Balmania, which is very fitting. The '80s are fun, but the softer, flowier '70s are coming back with a vengeance. This dress makes a seamless transition between the two. It has the strong shoulder, embellishment, and powerful LBD (the it girl's version of a power suit) aspects of the '80s, and the soft, sensuous drape of the '70s in the deep neckline. I have to give this purple gown credit for having volume at the waist and somehow making it look flattering, which is very hard to do (see Exhibits A and B). The way it drapes at the waist gives it a bit of a casual, easygoing vibe, but the brooch-like detail pulls everything together and makes it red carpet appropriate. Why can't Blake Lively wear something like this for a change? I think the overall composition of this look from Tibi is stronger than the parts. The dress is very Lolita on acid, the tights add a winter appropriate touch, and the thigh high boots are very on-trend and balance out the crazed sweetness of the dress nicely.
All Missoni: Oh, how I love Missoni. They've managed to take thin knits to a whole other, extremely versatile level. Evidently all the leggings here have really thick waistbands, so you can fold over the top to make a mini skirt or pull up the top to make a strapless jumpsuit. As much as I hate the jumpsuit idea, that's extremely clever, and it's nice to see that they're thinking of the consumer in new ways. I love how all these looks have fairly limited color palettes, and yet they look so rich due to the mixture of prints, textures, and layers. I think the honey and black color palette (left) is a really fresh, chic take on neutrals, the oversized trench in the middle is so chic, and as much as it pains me to say this, the poncho on the right makes me smile. There's something so homespun and folksy about it.
All Naeem Khan: Naeem Khan claimed to be very inspired for Moulin Rouge for this collection, so obviously I love it. You can definitely see that influence in this first dress, with it's showgirl worthy feather skirt and ornately layered top. You really don't need to wear anything with it. It's an entire ensemble all on its own. This toga-esque gold dress reminds me of the Marc Jacobs Kate Moss wore to the Met Gala, but much more wearable. The soft drape of the cut is very on-trend, but the thinness of the fabric and the short hemline ensure that it still flatters your shape without being overwhelming. This last gown is SMOKING. It manages to be drop dead gorgeous with long sleeves and no accessories--the sequins are even bling all on their own. The cut is simple but flattering, and the v-neck balances out the sleeves and full skirt perfectly. Couldn't you see this on someone like Angelina Jolie or even Helen Mirren? It's a really well-designed dress that would work for pretty much every age group.
And the moment we've all been waiting for: Rodarte for Target!!! Cue girly squealing. Maud and I went last night just in case they'd started putting items about, but that was a no-go, so we trekked over at 8:10 AM Sunday morning (crazy Target holiday hours), and ten minutes after the store had opened people were already losing their minds. Maybe it's because the Rodarte sisters are from our town, but there were a couple very determined, frightening people at our Target who snatched up everything and took over the dressing rooms. Most of the collection made it to our store, everything but the belts, tights, leopard print jacket, and the lace cardigan. I watched what was going in and out of the dressing rooms in hopes that someone was trying on all the lace cardigans at once, but nope. It's ok, Maud and I were still happy campers. Keep reading for pics and my thoughts on the collection:
Sequinned Rib Dress, $44.99 (sold out): I actually liked this more than I thought I would. There's something kind of catchy about the cut from the front, and the ribcage print is so quirky. This dress is really cute from the front, but I tried on a medium and it was a struggle to get it over my chest and hips, but the waist was really baggy. But you can't belt it at the waist without obscuring the print. Hmm. And the back has no sequins, which kind of diminishes the effect, although you still get a lot of bling for $44.99. All in all, if you can find it, it fits, and you have the cash, I'd get it. It's not the kind of dress you see often.
Crepe Lace Print Dress, $34.99 at target.com: This dress is really sweet. It's a nude, polyester slip (unlined) with a simple elastic waist and a black lace print. I really like the idea of the trompe l'oeil print, which is equal parts trendy and refined, and I think this would be a very versatile, easy to work with piece. How cute would this be with a navy belt? The reason I didn't get it is because the small just didn't fit me quite right. It makes my chest look point, and although I love Mad Men I'm not a fan of the cone boob.
Black Cami with Lace, $19.99 (sold out), Tulle Crepe Lace Skirt, $29.99 (sold out): This cami was actually really cute. It also comes in nude, ochre, and a magenta. I really like it tucked into a loose, casual shirt for a boudoir-inspired look. It's decently made and has a cute lace detail at the chest. The issue for me was that the fit at the chest was too tight in the XS, but the body was too big in the small, and it's the kind of piece you can get a lot of places, so I'm going to wait it out for the right cami. This skirt was my least favorite piece, hands down. It's not that it's an ugly skirt, because it's actually pretty cute. It's the fit. Maybe it's just not cut for me, because it literally added 20 pounds to my frame, made my hips look distorted, and made me look pregnant. My stomach's no washboard, but I'm in good shape. That's just not acceptable.
Crepe Slip Dress in black, $39.99 (sold out): I thought I would fall head over heels in love with this, but I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's obviously adorable. I love the idea of the sheer overlay on top of the vintage-looking slip, and it has this great Gothic/romantic/vampire vibe to it that is right up my ally. My issues with this dress were that the bows on the shoulders are a little awkward looking, there's a LOT of static cling (no really, A LOT), and the fit was interesting. The waist and the body fit me pretty well in the small and the medium, but the bust was too big for me in both, which made the chest area look droopy and ended up making this look more nightgown than party dress. BUT if you have a larger chest I think this dress would really work for you, and the cut is really flattering. An a-line skirt looks good on everyone!
Crepe Slip Dress in Tan/Ochre, $39.99 (sold out): Same dress, different color. This one's a small (the black was a medium) and you can see how the bust area is just a little off. If you look good in yellow, you might like this little number. Yellow makes me look jaundiced, so no.
And here's what I ended up getting:
Leopard Print Lace Dress, $44.99 (sold out): I got it! I got it! It was funny because when we walked in Maud grabbed this and I grabbed the skeleton dress and there was this funny "I know I have what you want but I don't want to give up what I'm holding moment" but this came home with me. It's painted lace, which I absolutely love because the swirls of the lace behind the print give the illusion of actual leopard hair, and how fur grows in curvy patterns (if that makes any sense). The body is lined, but the sleeves aren't, which I actually like because that makes it easier for me to push the sleeves up a little bit. There are 3 oversized bows down the back, which I'm a little torn about. It kind of makes you look like you have back tumors from far away. I think I want to cut two of them off, leave either the top or the bottom bow, and use the other two as accessories because they are pretty cute. As for the fit, I think it'll be hit or miss for a lot of people. It's a body-con dress and it's not stretchy, so it's either going to work or it won't. I lucked out, which surprises me to no end because nothing ever fits my chest/hips and my waist at the same time. I'm wearing a 5, which is a little loose on me, but I think the 3 would be a little tight (which makes sense because I'm a 4, but grrrrr). If it helps my measurements are 36-27-36, but I think you could have up to 38 hips and still fit the 5. I'm 5'8', so it's a short mini, but it's not indecent by any means (even my dad approved it). If you want this I'd drive over to Tar-jay now, because I literally had two people try to steal this out of my hands. Swiss Dot Dress, $39.99 at target.com: And here's the other thing I walked away with. I didn't think I'd like this at all, but in person it's so adorable. Very modern Alice in Wonderland/Cinderella, AKA the perfect palette for all my edgier accessories. It's a baby blue, with a swiss dot pattern on the skirt, blue lace at the bodice, and illusion netting at the neckline. The netting is very sheer, but it's gathered at the sleeves and the collar, and at the keyhole cut out in the back. The actual skirt is definitely mini-length, but the overskirt (which is the a-line Swiss dot part) makes it more daytime appropriate. My only issue with this is that it cuts down a few inches below my bra in the back, which is a plus if you're into the exposed lingerie trend but otherwise kind of a hassle. What I really love about this dress is that the cut is extremely flattering. The sweetheart cut of the bodice both adds and accentuates curves, the fitted waist highlights your thinnest part, and the a-line skirt hides any lower body dislikes and creates a great hourglass shape. I also love that this looks like a fab vintage '50s prom dress without any of the vintage fit discrepancies. I really like this with a moto jacket and a men's leather belt to counter-act the sweetness of the dress itself. =
Overall I think this was a very strong collection. I feel like I really got a lot of dress for the prices I paid, and the general vibe was very Rodarte, that quirky, slightly Gothic, twisted princess feel. I do wish I'd gotten to see the black lace cardigan, the leopard belts, and the lace tights. I might go back and check on those. There were a few more pieces that I didn't try on--a denim jacket (boring), denim shorts (actually very cute, but FYI they run small), a few tees that weren't remarkable, a lace tee (cute but the lace print was very floral), a leopard hoodie (so out of place), a fugly peach wrap dress, a weird raincoat, and a few bikinis.
Seriously guys, I'd head over to your local Target if you haven't already. The collection was totally picked over half an hour after being put out, and some stores put the collection out a few days ago.
Taking a little mini break from the gift guides to bring you guys some more Pre-Fall 2010 coverage (I think this is the last of it), and the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland trailer! The real one this time. I know it's not really fashion related, but I'm going to make it fashion related. Somehow. Eventually. Whatever. It looks seriously epic, and it comes out in about three months, and I can't contain myself anymore. It's also 0 degrees here with windchill, and I am slowly losing my mind, so take everything today with a grain of salt.
Did other people know this was going to be a Disney movie? It looks seriously dark for Disney, but maybe that's just me. Speaking of Disney, did anyone see Princess and the Frog? I NEED to see that. Really, really badly. Alright, on to the good stuff:
All J. Mendel: I love J. Mendel. He's made the transition from furrier to ready-to-wear designer so smoothly, and has the amazing talent of making me want everything he puts his hands on. For instance, this cropped leather/fur jacket. It's an interesting take on the motorcycle jacket trend, with a bit of aviator inspiration in the woolly-trimmed collar. How glamorous are these two gowns? I really like that he's used similar draping techniques to come up with two entirely different looks. This first gown is very Penelope Cruz (did anyone see what she wore to the Nine premiere? I die), the slight volume at the hip is very on-trend without being over the top, and the cap sleeve feels new on a red carpet gown. This metallic gown is smoking. Literally. The burnished pewter color is so much sexier than a gold or silver--it has a slightly more dangerous feel to it--the corset-esque detail on the bodice is a flattering tie-in to the lingerie trend without being too boudoir, and the skirt falls so, so perfectly. This better get some red carpet exposure.
All Vera Wang: I think I like Vera Wang now, guys. She may have just gotten a new stylist, but everything feels more wearable and approachable now, but with the same slightly disheveled fairy tale feel to it. First off, love the knee socks (great contrast to the luxe clothes). And that first coat has a great military meets Russian Anastasia feel to it in the tension between the stark lines and the richness of the fur trim. I would wear these second two outfits as is. They're pitch perfect. The combination of the drapey, jewel-toned silk top and the flowing motorcycle jacket is genius, and the straight leg pants keep the focus on what's going on up top. I always love sequins for daytime, and there's no better way to do it than a slip dress and a slouchy cardigan. There's something very haphazard about it, and that's what makes it so appealing. The bits of tulle peeking out from the hem give it the perfect twisted fairy tale finishing touch.
Tory Burch, Temperley London, DKNY: The pieces in this Tory Burch look are really basic and not all that interesting on their own, but all together there's something so clean and yet so powerful about this ensemble. The leggings don't even bother me. I think it's the all black color palette with the touch of sheen at the waist and the camel colored shoes that do it for me. This Temperley London look sounds like it shouldn't work (neon + draping + lace panels?), but it does. The restraint is what keeps this dress from being overwhelming. There's draping, but it's very subtle, there's neon, but it's contrasted nicely by the black tights and lack of the accessories, and the hint of sheer black lace peeking out from the collar gives it all a bit of a Gothic romantic edge that works because the black is a neutral color. I'd wear this with bare legs, a sick pair of black platforms, and tiny black rhinestone studs. The collar on this DKNY dress is to die for. The '70s off-the-shoulder cut suddenly feels fresh again, and the wrapped/overlay detail is not only very on-trend, but made really interesting by the way that it distorts the red and black stripes. The quietness of the skirt lets the top shine, and the shoes ground the ensemble perfectly. So drop-dead summer chic.
Nicole Miller, Nicole Miller, Rag & Bone: This first Nicole Miller dress looks a little wrinkly, but I'm going to attribute that to a lack of either a steamer or a model fitting and conclude that I like it. The shoulder cutout is saucy without showing too much skin, and the black/grey panelling is done in a way that's both subtly interesting and really, really flattering. The second Nicole Miller dress I like even better. I mean first off, there's that neo-folksy/Matrix-inspired print going on, which is really interesting paired with that sweetheart necklace and Grecian-draped tulip skirt. It almost looks like a beetle (with the petals on the skirt as wings? maybe?), but in a really good way. This Rag & Bone look really reminds me of Alexander Wang with the sporty layering and sheer fabrics. It's basically just a sheer crop top over an a-line tank dress and some scrunchy leggings, but the combination of shapes in that plain color palette is so striking. There's something very angelic and yet slightly twisted about it.
