All Hallow’s Eve

Oh, it was a fun, fun night! Did you figure out who I was? Well, here it is:

Lady Gaga (and her friend Tyrone...)

Lady Gaga! It was so much fun, and everyone knew who I was supposed to be. A lot of people didn’t even know that it was me (maybe it wasn’t the costume). Props to the other Lady Gaga that night, rocking the spiked shoulder piece. The one thing I was missing was a Disco Stick, but overall, I was very happy with how it turned out in the amount of time I had.

Lady Gaga and her mobster friend

My favorite costume of the night goes to the Tetris pieces at The Pub! They were well-made, and totally creative, and they could all be fit together! Unfortunately, I didn’t stay to see if they won the costume contest or not, and I haven’t heard anything, but they were number one in my book (not that it actually counts for anything)!

My second favorite costume goes to my sister and her roommates in Bellingham, WA. She and her four roommates decided it was going to be a Mario Party at their house, and dressed accordingly. I know it seems a bit biased, but once you take a look at the pictures, you’ll see that they truly were great costumes. I have it on good authority (aka straight from the horse’s mouth) that the costumes were homemade, with a good deal of felt, glue, and pleather going into them. They also won a $100 prize at the Halloween party they attended!

I’m interested to hear how everybody’s night was, and how their costumes turned out. Hook me up with your photos and stories, and I’ll post them!

A Dress for Every Season

Haider Ackermann Spring 2010 RTW. Photo by Marcio Madeira.

As much as I enjoy watching everything that comes down the runway each season, the pieces I like the best are usually at the end of each show: the dresses. They’re the ones you see on the red carpet at the awards shows-the dresses that make you feel like a princess (at least that’s what I think it would feel like). If you watch the Rachel Zoe Project on Bravo, this is when her trademark phrase, “I die!” comes out the most and stars like Kate Hudson, Eva Mendes , and Anne Hathaway turn to Zoe for her brilliant and beautiful advice. But I’m getting off topic- this column isn’t about Rachel Zoe- it’s about the dresses.

The Spring 2010 RTW season saw a new crop of these envy-inducing, replica inspiring designs. It was interesting to watch the range of colors, from jewel tones to simple blacks and whites, and the shapes, from the classic empire (pronounced ohm-peer) silhouettes at Reem Acra, to the less traditional, free flowing designs at Valentino and Haider Ackermann.

Reem Acra Spring 2010 RTW. Photo by Marcio Madeira.

The hardest part about any dress, and anything in fashion, is finding the right shapes for your body type. If you’re pear-shaped, you want to balance your body shape by bringing attention to your upper half through details in the neckline or by choosing a shape that skims over your body, like this empire dress at Azzaro. Women with hourglass shapes should play up their curves with figure-hugging dresses like this number at Lela Rose,  and avoid shapes that drown your figure. Apple-shaped women should stick to simple designs, and use belts, or dresses with a cinched waist to create a smaller waistline and elongate the torso, like this lovely Luca Luca dress, The smart ruffles around the lower half of the body lend shape where “Apples” are usually lacking, while the belt draws observers eyes away from a broad top.

If you’ve got an event and are looking for ideas, or if you just want to drool like I do, I’ve picked out my favorites (there’s 90 of them!), so check the Photos section. I want to know what you think too, so send me ideas or photos of dresses that you think should be included, or any questions you may have! Happy Dressing!

A Halloween Guessing Game…

Okay everyone, Saturday is Halloween! Here are the clues to my costume:

-leotard-

-fishnets-

-wig-

-heels-

Go ahead and guess! I’ll definitely be posting pictures from Saturday night’s adventures, so stay on the look out. Also, feel free to email your pictures too! Great costumes are accepted!

So if you are already one of the lucky ones who knows what my costume is, keep it to yourself! Happy Halloween!

A Little Off-Radar…A Minor Rant, If You Will

Okay, so I know this is a little off of my general subject of fashion, wonderful clothes and beautiful things (again, totally based on my opinion), I feel…hmm, obligated to bring up some things that may bother me. Today’s example comes from Fred Meyer West, in Fairbanks, AK. I will be writing in the form of a letter.

Dear FMW,

Today, whilst browsing your well-timed and season-appropriate Halloween section, I stumbled upon something that, to put it simply, enraged me.

It is not even Oct. 15, and yet you have surprisingly jumped straight past Thanksgiving and run headfirst into Christmas. (See photos below!) Don’t get me wrong, Christmas is a beloved holiday of mine, and I too eagerly await is arrival, but really…how soon is too soon? I do not claim any particular marketing knowledge, so perhaps your strategy is over my head, but show some respect for those “minor” holidays betwixt All Hallows Eve and Christmas! I mean, even the President pardons a turkey! And how can you abandon the splendor of the Macy’s Thanksiving Day Parade? Parents proudly hang the outline of their children’s hands (dressed as turkeys) for all to see!

Is there nothing sacred anymore, conglomerate retail world?

Your retail addicted and seasonally confused friend,
Lexi

My Favorite Show from Paris Fashion Week

A photo of the Chanel runway set in the Grand Palais. Image courtesy of Imaxtree

Chanel, 1774? Petit Trianon, anyone? If you’re not sure what that means, it is a reference to the original “Queen” of fashion, HRH Marie Antoinette, and the small chateau on the grounds of Versailles that she used as a sort of refuge from court life. Often jokingly referred to as a “farm” during her time there, Karl Lagerfeld used this hoedown theme to the fullest in his Spring RTW in Paris on October 6, 2009.

The set featured a barn built in the center of the Grand Palais (complete with the Chanel logo), haystacks, and dirt. Lily Allen also made a surprise performance, rising up on platform underneath the barn. Decked in Chanel, the British songbird sang her latest single, “Not Fair,” which has its own special twang to it.

But we haven’t even made it to the clothes yet. Spring fabrics like lace, linen, and a lightweight tweed, in colors from classic Chanel black and white, to biscuit, with some poppy red and ice blue, the entire collection mesmerized me.

Sasha Pivovarova @ Chanel Spring 2009. Photo by: Monica Feudi/GoRunway.com

The fresh attitude Lagerfeld brought to classic shapes, like the two-piece skirt suit, and to some newer shapes (like a minidress with a train) made me hope, hope, hope for the line to catch on and inspire some look-alikes throughout the retail world (only because, unfortunately, I can’t afford the real deal–but a girl can dream!).

There were also many familiar faces at the show, including Prince, Rihanna, Claudia Schiffer, and rows of fashion and style editors from Elle, Vanity Fair, Vogue (in multiple international editions), and Women’s Wear Daily. Many of these people also tweeted the entire show, including one of my favorite Twitter finds, Mr. Joe Zee, Creative Director of Elle Magazine.

Chanel Spring RTW 2010 Video

Here is video from style.com (the online home of Vogue) with details from the Chanel show, as well as interview with some of the fashionable people (my opinion) who were there!

September 2009: Vanity Fair and Haute Couture

Amy Fine Collins on Haute Couture Style: vanityfair.com

This is an excellent article from Vanity Fair’s September 2009 issue, chronicling the life of Haute Couture, complete with photos. If you’re interested in fashion at all, Haute Couture is fashion at its most elemental, and in my opinion, best, and this article does a great job of examining haute fashion since Marie Antoinette.

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Paris in Las Vegas

Oct. 3, 2009- Paris Hilton @ The Hard Rock Cafe

No, not the hotel, I’m talking about Paris Hilton. The hotel heiress chose to debut her new line last night at The Hard Rock Hotel, posting throughout the night on twitter:

“My runway show is rocking! All the models look so hot in my bikini and sunglass lines. Hugeee!!! Loves it!!!”

Paris herself walked in her show. And afterward:

“The fashion show was amazing! I’m so proud and happy!”

Keeping with some of the seasons trends (neon and the 80s), the line featured mini-dresses, among other things, and of course her sunglasses line, which she promoted earlier in the day at International Vision Expo at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

Paris Hilton @ The Hard Rock Hotel

It was interesting to see what Paris came up with, and while the clothing sticks to her woman-about-town image, I am very much a fan of the sunglasses she debuted. Large-rimmed, in squares, ovals, and rounded-edge squares in multiple colors, there are pairs for every facial shape, and they’ll be available in March for less than $100 a pair. I’m pretty sure I’ll be rocking them.

Check out the only article I could find today:

Las Vegas Sun article by Melissa Arseniuk

A Reusable Resource

I'd wear them, would you? Photo by Don Ashby & Olivier Claisse courtesy of style.com

I generally don’t like to define myself by a season, but I absolutely love fall. The colors are beautiful, in most places it’s not too cold, and the air is crisp. In terms of fashion, I love fall for two reasons: Fashion Week(s) and boots. (Although I like tend to like the Spring shows better because the designers are showcasing their Fall designs, and I dig the Couture shows.) But I love boots. I’m not talking about your everyday Uggs (or Ugg wanna-bes), even though I have a pair and they are totally comfy and warm- I’m talking about the grey suede, over-the-knee boots by Chinese Laundry, or the brown leather, buckle-detailed, heeled boots by Botkier. Booties are, of course, included.

Some people say that it is the accessories that make the outfit. I respectfully disagree. A good pair of shoes (in this case boots!) can complete an outfit.

These boots were made for walkin'. Photo courtesy of Don Ashby & Olivier Claisse on style.com

Whether pairing flat boots with a casual high-waisted skirt, blouse, long cardigan and tights, or making a pair of brightly colored booties the focal point with a LBD or jeans when you’re going out, the season provides a perfect excuse to go out and buy a few new pairs of shoes. And boots are generally reusable from one Fall/Winter season to the next, so once you’ve found a pair or two that work for you, you won’t have to worry too much about the ebb-and-flow of trends in your footwear. While I am always up for a new pair of shoes, my wallet can’t quite handle it, and a good recessionista knows how to get the bang for her buck when she can.

Have you found your perfect pair yet?

Boots!

Perez Hilton a.k.a. Coco Hilton

Just for fun, I’m adding this link to Perez Hilton’s fashion watch site. Everybody loves to hate him, but he’s got some great scoops, and he can be pretty funny!

Coco Hilton!