H&M Fall 2009

I am extremely excited about fall this year, I could honestly care less about any resort collections. I want fall to quickly arrive so that I can return to leather driving gloves and structured blazers. If having seen upcoming collections, you are still not convinced fall is the season for you please have a look at the upcoming H&M fall 2009 sneak peek! If this doesn't make you wish the leaves off the trees, nothing will. I tried on this victorian like blouse and I ADORED it however I didn't purchase it because I wanted something I oculd wear within the next week, but its definately an item I would like for fall. I also like this velvet big shoulder dress, it says to me holiday party DRAMA! I like the idea of pairing it with studded cuffs i like the mix of soft and hard including the leather corset belt it was a great way to take this look in a direction. This could have easily become 3rd grade picture day, if done incorrectly so please proceed with caution. Gloves, and lace tights, give it edge. ( photos from Nitrolicious)

Purple Envy

I'm a huge make up whore. (excuse the expression) One of my favorite looks are most of Kim Kardashian smokey eyes. In this post makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic did a array of purples on the kardashian clan. I am thinking of doing a DIY of this look later this week, possibly Friday, Just in time for the weekend! This post is great because the makeup artist Mario explained in great detail the products that he used and how he used them, it doesn't get anymore detailed than this. I also think it might be fun to play around with the colors say use shades of pink or green instead of purple....enjoy the post! This was a really fun shoot with a mermaid theme. I don’t use bright colors that often so I was excited to do so this day. I really pushed for the smokey purple eyes instead of the usual black and I love it! LOL. So girls and guys, GET THE FACE - On Kim - I used Giorgio Armani Silk Luminous foundation to get a more glowy look. I mixed a couple of the colors to get the exact match. It’s set lightly with Laura Mercier translucent powder. The brows are filled in with CORK by MAC. On the lids I used Stars N’ Rockets by MAC. In the crease, outter corners and under the eye, i used Deep Truth - also by MAC. Right below the Deep Truth shadow, I blended Creme de Violet shadow (a lighter shimmery purple, MAC) all the way down to the cheek bones. I also swept a bit of it on the brow bone. The liner on the top is a very pigmented black liquid that I blended myself from GIELLA cosmetics. In the inner rim of the eye, I used the black power point pencil from MAC and ALOT mascara - Bad Gal mascara by Benefit. For this shoot, my assistant and I cut up a bunch of different lashes and I placed them in peices all over the lash line so I wouldn’t be able to tell you the brand or style type. For blush, I used Angelika by NARS and the bronzing powder by LORAC ( framing the whole face and on the hollows of the cheeks). To get that glow all over the skin and on the bridge of the nose, I blended my own color with different pigments and shimmers but you can get a very similiar effect by using Shroom shadow by MAC, or if your skin is darker, try Trace Gold blush by MAC. For Kim’s lips, I used alittle bit of the foundation on them, followed by a clear gloss. So easy ;-) On Kourtney - I used the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer in Fawn all over her face, followed by Laura Mercier loose powder in Beige. On the lids - Creme de violet. On the outer crease is vibrant grape and also on the lower lash line. I used Smolder by MAC on the inner rim of the eyes and blended into the vibrant grape (with more on the outter corner). I filled in her brows with Espresso shadow by MAC and brushed them with the MAX FACTOR clear brow gel. Her eyes are lined with Feline, also MAC. For eyelashes, I used L’oreal Voluminous in Carbon Black. On the apples of the cheeks, I used NARS blush in Desire and I framed her face and the hollows of the cheeks with the new Tantalizer baked bronzer by LORAC. Lips are lined with Spice by MAC, blended towards the center. Lipstick is called Mario Pinched My Lips by GIELLA cosmetics, followed by a clear gloss. On Khloe - For skin, I used the Matte Velvet foundation by Make Up For Ever and set it with the HD translucent powder, also by MUFE. Khloes eye makeup is almost identical to Kourtney’s, except on her lids, I used red violet by MAC - so refer to her eye makeup above. I used a few coats of the Lancome definicils mascara on top and bottom lashes. Her lashes are filled in with Lingering pencil by MAC. The apples of cheeks are brushed with Orgasm by NARS and the cheekbones with Good as Gold by MAC. Framing her face is the Guerlain Terracotta bronzer. For lips, I used Lingering lip liner by GIELLA cosmetics blended all the way in and followed by the Lip Enhancing Gloss in Expose by Smashbox. On Kris - Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation followed by Make Up For Ever HD powder. Brows are filled in with MAC shadow in Cork. I used creme de violet by MAC all over her lid and vibrant grape on the outter lids and on the crease. I then used Carbon by MAC on the outter crease for more intensity. The inner rim is lined with Smolder pencil by MAC. Lancome definicils mascara on top and bottom lashes. NARS blush in Desire on the apples of her cheeks and Smashbox bronzer all over in Suntan Matte. I used Artificial Light Luminizing lotion by Smashbox on the cheek bones for a glow and on the center of the lip. Lips are lined with subculture by MAC and turkish delight gloss by NARS. ps. I know you’re going to ask about the concealer, LOL but I can’t say because I was testing out and blending some formulas (with no names or colors yet). ;-) Hope you guys GET THE FACE!! XO Mario

Dream Girl

In my mailbox recently was the latest issue of Elle magazine. While in the elevator skimming through it, something caught my eye. BARBIE! But, these were different barbies, I said hmm. My barbie never came with a Chanel bag...So naturally I'm intrigued. Excited about reading the full article I began to ponder, If I were a barbie what would I be called. *laughs out loud* I would be a "Fierce is the new Fabulous" Barbie limited edition complete with metal studded liquid leggings and a tweed Chanel jacket.......Read on...

Style A to Zee: Dream Girl

Joe Zee turns his homespun styling techniques toward the one and only Barbie

By Joe Zee | May 15, 2009 9:00 a.m.

Photo: Len Lagrua

Fashion Editor Barbie in Chanel, Hermès, and Balenciaga.

At the risk of sounding like a finger-snappin’, cape-wearin’, color-lovin’ male-fashion-editor cliché, I have to confess that I spent a lot of my childhood playing with dolls. Not the kind that join you for tea parties, mind you, but the one I could style and make over. She was a statuesque glamazon who never once objected to my fashion experimentation—and her name was Barbie.

Convinced she never had anything good to wear—I never liked her collections at Toys “R” Us—I set out to create new looks I’d seen in fashion magazines. I redesigned outfits using thread, glue, and scissors; I turned skirts into tops, tops into belts, and coats into dresses; I styled and restyled her hair, sometimes adding fabric for headscarves I’d cut from my mother’s clothes (she still doesn’t know). I was determined to make her look spectacular every time she stepped out of her box. Who cared about the inappropriately dressed Cabbage Patch Kid? My concern lay strictly with one Barbie Millicent Roberts.

So it was sweetly ironic that decades later my career path would take me back to dressing glamazons—only real ones who went by names like Cindy and Naomi. This was around the time a new model, Nadja Auermann, burst onto the scene with killer legs and dimensions that were widely compared to Barbie’s, had Barbie been real. However, Barbie’s measurements (5" bust, 31/4" waist, 5 3/16" hips) actually translate to a 39" chest, 21" waist, and 33" hips—clearly not Nadja and something closer to a pole dancer!

I bring up my doll-playing formative years because this month is our annual Body Issue, and for the occasion I enlisted an old friend, who coincidentally turns 50 this year. I mean, how many 50-year-olds do you know who have a face full of plastic and still look this good?

To pull this off, I gained entry into Mattel’s top-secret headquarters in L.A., where I styled four individual Barbies. I love the girls I created because they all represent my favorite elements of fashion. My inspiration came not only from the runways but also from the personal style of cool, iconic women and ELLE’s own fashion editors. After a day of pinning, prodding, and picking hair color and styles, I’m so excited that the results—instead of ending up in a pile on my playroom floor—can be shared with you!

SUperModel Sporty Barbie

This is the quintessential ELLE girl. I was inspired by all the great hallmarks of ELLE in the ’80s, when towering supermodels dominated these pages in neon neoprene and swimsuits on beaches

and volleyball courts. So you can imagine my delight when, after styling our Supermodel Sporty Barbie, I saw some of those same ideas walk down the runways for fall. My advice is: La

yer the color! The sexier, the better! And sunglasses are a must. Tennis racket optional, of course.

NIGhtLife Barbie Being a part of the insidery, night-crawler crowd demands a certain sense of style. First of all, she’s a rule-breaker—especially when it comes to fashion. She defies convention, often opting for the unexpected, and my Nightlife Barbie is no different. In this case, I’ve taken a ruffled miniskirt and transformed it into a bandeau top, while tapering her black shiny suit pants to make them skinnier and cooler. And lastly, again with the details: Throw in an armload of glittering jewels and a python clutch to carry your cab money home.

BOHO BARBIE

This girl adheres to the style dicta that anything goes and excess is best! Pile it all on with patterns over textures over colors over shapes, and bring to life a fashion gypsy of sorts. My biggest advice for this look? Don’t follow any guidelines about the way you dress because everything works together—an easy rule if you’re in a hurry. For my Boho Barbie, I mixed a lot of elements designed for her over the years, including a ’70s shearling (Outback Barbie) with a floral off-the-shoulder top (’50s Bad Girl Barbie) and modern-day skinny jeans. Toss in an animal print and you’re all set.

Gilt Groupe

WHAT: Alejandro Ingelmo

SaleWHEN: Monday, May 11, 2009 @ 12pm EST

WHERE: GILT.com

If anyone needs an invitaiton please feel free to drop me a comment or leave a message to become a member to take advantage of the sale! GILT.com

Also on Monday Herve Leger Sale starts 12pm EDT!!!!! I'm beyond excited! and Thursday is Chole!!! *Nice*

Trenddoll.com Repost DIY over and over and over again

I follow http://www.trenddoll.com/, and you should as well recently they posted a AMAZING DIY, on Rodarte Leather Cut out thigh Highs, which is well worth the repost! I am going to try excecuting this DIY providing my ADD doesnt kick in...I'll keep you posted!

Alright…so this is the issue on this wonderful Friday. We have another case of OVERLY PRICED accessories just for the sake of saying it’s labeled name. And while I love high-end accessories like th next fashion fanatic…I wont ever (not even if I won the lotto) splurge on nonsense. Granted Rodarte’s buzz-worthy thigh-highs are interesting…but in all reality…it’s really not that deep! Especially that $920 price tag..(minus the tax). Perhaps it could be that the $920 distracts us from the mere fact that these thigh-highs are simply that….just thigh highs! Nothing to protect the “bush” or crack….just our thighs. But hey, you got to love the innovative pursuit done but Rodarte….but there are some very scissors savvy dames who have taken the look up a notch on a pair of American Apparel Lamé leggings adding their creative twist on things. Six Six Sick’s Tiffany has the skill & patience to match her DIY version of Rodarte’s Thigh Highs….for a fraction of the cost. But if you are anything like me…you would most likely practice on a pair of thirftshop bought stretch pants before butchering a pair of $42 stretch pants…right? Exactly! Check out how it’s done after the jump - TGIF! DIY INFORMATION & Photos - via Tiffany @ Six Six Sick

DIY Rodarte-style leggings, Coven sweater, Count Aapo Tee, Burberry booties, Antti Asplund cross necklace, Iosselliani ring.So, after getting a headache from doing so much Rodarte knitting, I decided I would take a small “break” from my dress project, and make some diamond cut leggings, similar to the ones that they showed at their Spring 2009 show. Thinking that this would be a pretty easy project, since it’s a no-sew, no-knit DIY, I grabbed my old American Apparel wetlook leggings, which were starting to look tired anyway, and decided to give them a makeover. While it was pretty easy, it was actually much more time consuming than I ever expected, and I would take knitting another couple of pairs of Rodarte tights over doing this project again. Just warning you. If you are interested in doing it, here’s how.

What you need:

1 pair of wetlook leggingsshears (I suggest Gingher)

tailor’s chalkgraph paper

*a lot of time (and preferably the Twin Peaks box set to keep you company)

*anal retentive attention to detail

Inspiration: The leggings from the Rodarte show, which I haven’t actually seen in person, appear to be made of laser cut leather, with zippers up the back. They aren’t actually full leggings, they’re thigh highs that are held up with a garter. The pattern in the front is completely cut out in diamonds, and has the appearance of large fishnet.

Close up, you can see that the pattern become irregular at the back. I followed the same idea, cutting out the entire front section of the legging, while cutting diamonds selectively (but not arbitrarily) from the back. Also note that since the wetlook fabric is spandex, it will stretch a lot more than the leather

. I started by making a stencil for myself on graph paper, which approximated the size and pattern of the diamonds.

2. Carefully, I cut out each of the diamonds 3. I turned the leggings inside out, and placed the stencil on top of it. Using tailor’s chalk, I transfered the pattern onto the legging, starting first with a couple of rows. I proceeded to carefully cut out the diamonds, starting at the tip of a diamond and making a tiny V shaped incision with the scissors, and then cutting around. Try to keep the lines clean, and straight! When I finished, I repeated the step, being very careful to line up the stencil with my previous cut-outs to ensure a uniform pattern. Continue this step until you reach the bottom of the leg. Do the other leg. 4. For the back of the legging, I used the stencil to design a more random pattern. I also made sure that I cut some random diamonds down the side of the leg, to avoid having a long continuous line of unbroken black fabric.

Anyway, this is kind of a massive pain in the ass project, and if you do it, don’t be surprised if you find yourself thinking “F***, I’d rather be knitting/blogging/making out” so I advise you to do it bit by bit. I completed this pair after working on it a little bit every day for a week.

-Tiffany Of Six Six Sick

My Mother, My Hero

Give the gift of beauty to the woman who taught you about being beautiful. Pick up the perfect present for Mother's Day with the My Mother, My Hero set: four Stila makeup favorites tucked in a glam bag. Choose next-day air or pop into a Sephora store and make your mom glow on the outside as well.

What it does:

Stila My Mother, My Hero contains beauty-full essentials that create luminous looks. Tucked in the brushed gold clutch, there's a sheer plum lipstick, a thickening mascara, a shimmering bronze eyeshadow trio, and an illuminating finishing powder. It's the perfect pampering gift for Mother's Day.

This set contains:

- 0.17 oz Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Gold (gold, bronze, ivory)

- 0.32 oz Illuminating Finishing Powder in Bronze (bronze shimmer)

- 0.13 oz Lip Color in Natalie (a perfect plum)

- 0.15 oz Lash Visor Waterproof Mascara in Black

- Gold Linen Clutch

Summer in the City

Visit a collection of catwalk queens. Opening today, The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion exhibit features fashion photography and video of iconic models and the couture they've inspired. The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion May 6, 2009–August 9, 2009 The Tisch Galleries, 2nd floor Exploring the reciprocal relationship between high fashion and evolving ideals of beauty, The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion focuses on iconic models of the twentieth century and their roles in projecting, and sometimes inspiring, the fashion of their respective eras. The exhibition, organized by historical period from 1947 to 1997, will feature haute couture and ready-to-wear masterworks accompanied by fashion photography and video footage of models who epitomized their epochs.

House of Chanel (French, founded 1913) Karl Lagerfeld (French, b. Germany, 1938)Ensemble, spring/summer 1992White cotton knit and black silk tulleThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Chanel, 1993

Peter Lindbergh (German, b. 1944)Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford in Giorgio di Sant'Angelo, Vogue British, January 1990

House of Dior (French, founded 1947) by John Galliano (British, b. Gibraltar, 1960)"Lucky" Evening Gown, haute couture fall/winter 2005–2006

Loomis Dean (American, 1917–2005)Cabine of Christian Dior, 1957

Museum Hours

Monday: Closed (Except Holiday Mondays)Tuesday–Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.Friday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.Sunday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m

Address

1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street

New York, New York 10028-0198

Information: 212-535-7710TTY: 212-570-3828

MET Costume Institute Gala 2009

So I know every blogger in the world posted photos of Monday night's "The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at New York's Metropolitan Museum. However, heres the best thing, I decided to post only my very favorites though it was sooo hard, because I loved so many of the fashion choices. Let me just say in advance, Rihanna was my favorite. I know alot of people didnt "get it" but I just saw it as FIERCE. This was a costume event so my favorites were more people who wore outfits that you wouldnt wear to say the cocktail hour. I mean, if you're going to be a bear you mind as well be a grizzly! Here they are in no particular order.....

1. Sasha for Giambattista Valli 2. Dree Hemingway for Alexander Wang 3. Lily Donaldson for Narciso Rodriguez 4. Anja rubik for Balmain 5. Sessilee Lopez for Zac Posen 6. Alek Wek for Ungaro

7. Miranda Kerr wearing Jil Sander

Costume Gala Drama

"Its an Alaïa" "An a-What-a?" "An Alaïa! Its like a really important designer!" -Cher (Alicia Silverstone), Cluless

Seven models were to wear outfits by Azzedine Alaïa to tonight’s Costume Institute party to celebrate the opening of the “Model as Muse” exhibit, but Alaia has asked them not to wear the dresses. And some of the models, including Naomi Campbell, have decided not to attend the party because the designer’s work is not in the exhibition. A spokeswoman for Campbell said this afternoon: “As Naomi has been the muse of Azzedine Alaïa for 23 years, she feels she doesn’t want to attend unless she can represent his work.” Dresses were also made for Linda Evangelista and Stephanie Seymour. It’s unknown if they plan to attend the gala. As anyone who follows fashion knows, Alaia has a long and special association with models. At the start of her career, Campbell lived with Alaia, whom she calls Papa, and Seymour and her husband Peter Brant stay with the designer when they’re in Paris. It’s hard to separate their careers—and bodies—from Alaia’s fashion. And they are not the only models associated with Alaïa. There’s Marie-Sophie Wilson, Veronica Webb, Farida Khelfa and Tatjana Patitz. Nonetheless, apart from one photograph, by Gilles Bensimon of Elle, Alaia’s work has no place in the Met’s exhibition. At least in terms of fashion, the 80s is mainly represented by clothing from designers like Versace and Armani, and there’s no elaboration of Alaïa’s relationship with models. Alaïa said in a telephone interview this morning that he was not fully informed by the Met about the subject of the show, nor was he invited to attend the opening. He had made dresses for the models, at their request, but last week, when it became clear to him that his work was not in the exhibition, he asked the models not wear the dresses. “It would have been silly to have seven girls wearing my dresses at the party and not have anything of mine in the exhibit,” he said. He blamed the omission not on the Met’s chief costume curator Harold Koda, but rather on Anna Wintour, the editor in chief of Vogue, who organizes the party. “She has too much power over this museum,” he said. (Alaïa has had very little presence in Vogue in the last 15 years.) He also conveyed his displeasure to Marc Jacobs, whose company is sponsoring the event, in a telephone call on Saturday. Reached this morning, Koda said that Wintour has no involvement in Costume Institute shows. He said Alaïa had not been asked to loan garments for this particular exhibit, despite his history with models, because the curators didn’t believe the designer would agree to participate in a group show. Koda added that he hopes to someday have a one-man exhibition of Alaïa’s fashion — provided the Met changes its policy about monographic shows of living designers. At the press preview for the exhibit this morning, Jacobs said, referring to his call from Alaia: “He’s very upset. Azzedine is a great friend of mine. I admire him so much… He’s had a huge influence on the way women are shaped, the way women look. I do think he’s one of the greatest influences. I’m really sad that he’s not part of this exhibition.” *Article Courtesy of New York Times* HOWEVER....Here's Naomi arriving at the after party in Versace, WORKKK!

When Bad Things Happen to Good Sample Sales

So everyone who has a heartbeat heard about the Jimmy Choo Sample sale in Chelsea. It just got way too big for itself and I decided early on that I wouldnt be attending, my boxing gloves are in the shop. The wait was around four hours. I think you might do just as well heading to the Jimmy Choo outlet and without the wait. Whether you got a good deal at the depended on if you were willing to wear used shoes. Inside, there was a decent-sized selection nicely distributed between sizes. If you buy one pair, you pay $250; two go for $480; three for $630; and if you buy four, they're $200 each. However! Used shoes are only $75 ($175 for boots.) The downside is that some of them are seriously damaged—we spotted a pair of sandals missing a giant iridescent medallion on one side—so be prepared to dig for the ones that only have scuffed soles.

Bags run on a similar system: $400 for small ones, $500 for mid-sized, $600 for large, and an extra $200 if they're made from an exotic animal like a crocodile or a mink. Damaged or worn bags cost $150, but none were found that seemed to fit that description.