To-Die-For Vintage Wedding Dress On Etsy!

($300, VonlenskaVintage.Etsy.com)

Granted, you'd definitely be flipping the script a little, but if you're looking for a super non-traditional vintage wedding dress, then seriously? Yes. This cream-colored, beaded drop-waist dress has more potential than Lindsay Lohan circa late 2004 -- like, right after she did Mean Girls but before she slid down the coke ladder and into the anorexic abyss.

I love how it's sorta '30s-meets-'80s but not overly either, which makes it still sort of modern without screaming "I THRIFTED THIS AND THEN WORE IT TO MY WEDDING!" Because there's a time and a place for yelling about thrifted stuff, but maybe your wedding isn't it.

Anyway, this could also be a lovely end-of-night dress, if you're so inclined. I'm not, but if you are, then go for it.

This Old Navy Tote Bag INFURIATES ME!

($4.99, Old Navy)

WHO! Not "that"... it should be WHO! "I Heart Boys WHO recycle!"

THAT/ WHO Grammar Rule =
WHO = PEOPLE
THAT = THINGS

I refuse to believe it should be any other way!!!! Grrr!

Stuart Weitzman Bulletin Heels: I Surrender!

($156, Stuart Weitzman, Zappos.com)

While spending HOURS (sadly that's not even an exaggeration) looking for those elusive Stuart Weitzman Trianon heels, I came across these Stuart Weitzman Bulletin heels. Not for a wedding, obvs (at least, not for mine... though if you wore these for your wedding, you'd fully have my utmost respect), but for real-deal straight-up everyday bawsin'. It's kind of like a pair of purple suede heels came down with metallic robo-acne. And I'm fine with that. Plus, you could just stick a Post-It to the side of your shoe to remember stuff and if someone asked you WTF is up, just be like "So? Lady Gaga's doin' it, so I am too."

Beacon's Closet Scores: Leather Motorcycle Jacket & Redonk Heels

Dropped some stuff off at the Park Slope Beacon's Closet today and exchanged some old stuff for some new-old stuff, including... these ridiculous...LY AWESOME brown leather studded heels from Italian brand B&H or Bag-Het or something. They're studded but not in a super on-trend way, which I kinda like. They were $15.95 and in perfect condition.



And, for some bizarre reason, this PERFECTLY fantastic old-school black leather motorcycle jacket from Bona Drag (seriously!) was just sitting there! Waiting for me! For just $29!

It's currently available at Bona Drag for $95. For real.

+ Past Beacon's Closet scores...

A PLAGUE ON YOUR HOUSE, STUART WEITZMAN!

($360, Stuart Weitzman, Zappos)

Not only are these Stuart Weitzman Trianon a fashion MIRACLE -- I mean LOOK at that Deco heel. Could you DIE and come back to LIFE? -- but they'd match my Jenny Packham wedding dress (bought it, btw, at Mark Ingram. Totally painless, and they were wonderful!) PERFECTLY. It's like Jenny Packham and Stuart Weitzman collaborated and MADE my dress to GO with these flipping GORGEOUS heels. Like to borrow a line from Beauty Blogging Junkie's Amber, I'm breathing into a bag over these. HOWEVER, I'm out for BLOOD because they're only available in a 9.5. I breathlessly emailed Zappos who were all like "oh, you're a total doll, lovey, but you're SHIT OUT OF FUCKING LUCK BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY MORE IN." (They didn't swear, but still.) SO NOW WHAT?

Look, I realize that if I DON'T get these, it's not the end of the world. I know I've lived a Very Good Life and that I'm really truly fucking blessed just to have functioning body systems and arms and legs and hands and feet, but speaking of feet, I WOULD STEAL THESE OFF OF SOMEONE'S ACTUAL FEET -- RIP THEM OFF THEIR ANKLES (if they were a size 8). LIKE, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? WHO DO I NEED TO SLEEP WITH TO GET THESE IN A SIZE 8? Because I'll do it, and I'll sleep with them (quickly, drunkenly, and then deny that it ever hapened). I'm effing serious here.

Anyone know anyone in Stuart Weitzman PR? Anyone know Stuart Weitzman? I REFUSE to believe that there isn't a size 8 sitting in a warehouse somewhere. And I... I'm gonna go Nancy Drew on Stuart Weitzman ass and I'ma FIND 'EM!

YEAH, BISHES!

Private Sample Sale: Foley + Corinna Bags

Not sure if this is still going on (sorry dudes - late pass), but Foley + Corrina in the Lower East Side is (was?) having a private handbag sample sale. Call 'em up at 212-529-2338 to see if you can get an appointment to check out what's left of their selection of bags at 50 - 75% off.


I wouldn't be mad at their Mid City Tote in Ombre for like $200 or so. (Normally it's over $400.) Anyone gone? Went? Lemme know!

Saturday Sale! Aloha Rag

NYers, check out Aloha Rag's sample sale. It's today --

When: Saturday, May 30th.
Where: 505 Greenwich between Spring & Canal
What: 40 - 70% women's and men's -- Alexander Wang, Repetto (!!!), 3.1 Phillip Lim, Giuseppe Zanotti, Martin Margiela, etc. What?

Pedro Garcia = Shoe Porn

($237, Pedro Garcia, Net-a-Porter.com)

Pedro Garcia's knotted platform in dusty rose. What I wouldn't do to these...

PS: Overstock has a dece amount of Pedro Garcia shoes.

Star Trend: Bag Tod's. Style Lesson.

Celebrities want to carry much stuff with them as normal people do.But they have to stay fashionable and elegant.

That's why Carla Bruni, Kate Winslet, Julia Roberts and many other celebrities chose G-bag Tod's like they made plans with each other to to it together. It suits casual attire and austere style as well. All the bags are hand made and made of soft genuine leather.




1. Kxenia Sukhinova 2. Halle Berry 3. Freida Pinto 4. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy 5. Anne Hathaway 6. Katherine Heigl 7. Kate Winslet 8. Julia Roberts 9. Ingeboga Dapkunaite

Picture Postcard: Savage Grace

I must admit that I am struggling this morning after a work jolly where the drinks were flowing free but I'm excited because I've packed my bag and will be leaving for Manchester when the clock strikes five. In an ideal world though my day before I leave London would involve me lying on my sofa watching a film in my darkened living room instead of pretending to work in a hot, loud office. After reading the Mr Peacock interview with Style Salvage favourite, Kwannum Chu yesterday if I were at home, I would be watching the wonderfully stylish and weird Savage Grace. I talked about the film soon after watching it last summer but if you've not had a chance to see it for yourself it is well worth it for its style alone! The film is a tale of money and madness, incest and matricide and tells the saga of Brooks and Barbara Baekeland - heirs to the Bakelite plastics fortune - and their son Anthony, unfolding against a glamorous international background.

When asked who his style icons were, the always wonderfully turned out Kwannum responded with Sebastien Flyte from Brideshead Revisited and Anthony Baekland from Savage Grace. The character played by Eddie Redmayne is one of the most stylish men I have seen on the silver screen for as long as I can remember. Comparisons can certainly be drawn with The Talented Mr Ripley but I believe this film has more style substance. I will leave you with the best style related one liner I have ever heard which was uttered by Anthony whilst declaring his suit was Anderson & Sheppard..."One can walk in to Gieves but one has to be walked into Anderson & Sheppard."

FashionBinge Demonstrates Fortitude: Mike & Chris Chapman Jacket

($745, Mike & Chris, Net-a-porter.com)

Wants versus needs, wants versus needs. I am demonstrating DISCIPLINE and FORTITUDE by not rationalizing how this Mike & Chris leather jacket is SUCH a good deal (even though it is) and how I work hard (because I do) and therefore DESERVE IT (because I DO!)... I'll just let it... sit there. And admire it from afar. Sigh.

+ Shop the Net-a-porter sale. Or don't. It's still depressingly overpriced.

Silver Spoon Attired

I would be hard pushed to find an image that makes me any happier than the above shot. No amount of cute kittens, puppies, or even Cesc Fabregras lifting a trophy and the like could compete to a simply wrapped present (albeit a gift to myself) garnished with tasty and free penny sweets. You may recall that I was riding the wave of pop up store excitement earlier this month and was particularly enamored with the opening of 143. This two week store reacquainted me with Silver Spoon Attire, which is a label I've heard so much about but up until recently never had the chance to examine up close and personal. Over the gloriously sunny weekend we decided to shopping and as we were slightly overcome by the heat we sought shade in this store and it was a good thing we did too, because this was the last weekend that the store was open. It must have been a good two weeks because the shops stock was greatly depleted but I spotted the shirt that caught my attention on the opening night and thankfully it was the last one and in size 'smedium'! I'm so pleased to have finally acquired my first Silver Spoon Attire item. The label is known for providing comfort through using fabrics that are usually reserved for more casual styles and manipulating them to be structured and more tailored and this sits perfectly with my preferred Spring style.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside (on my balcony)...my new purchase worn with rolled up Uniqlo wool trousers and now, slightly battered suede bstore lace ups.

The blue denim chambray button down polo shirt with patchwork paneled pocket fits in nicely in my softly tailored Spring/Summer wardrobe. The latest issue of h(r)r collective (fast becoming one of my favourite online reads) take material interest in chambray and rightfully so. Did you know that it is now most common in shirts but was first designed for sunbonnets in Northern France? The natural soft tone of the fabric is what got me hooked and I can vouch that this button down polo feels damn good to the touch and feels even better on. Whilst wearing it I feel I should be strolling down the promenade with a fast melting 99 in hand, oh I do like to be beside the seaside...

Charlotte Ronson Sample Sale: She Shops, She SCORES!

NYCers, get thee to the Charlotte Ronson sample sale. You WILL NOT leave sorry. Or emptyhanded.

Stuff I got:
Bijou espadrilles -- AVEC pyramid studs! For $30! Whut? This will be my FIRST foray into espadrilles and/or wedges. I'm skeeered! White ones available at 6pm.com.


Denimy motorcycle jacket. Originally $279. Sample sale: $50. It's a little big, but whatevs. The asymmetrical zipper = win.


For real-cute embroidered top, except I got it in heather grey, and I'll somehow be able to resist the urge to pull it up and reveal my navel. Somehow, I'll just be able to do that. I think it was like $15! Srsly!


Charlotte Ronson sample sale:
Wednesday, May 27th through Friday, May 29th
10am—7pm
1071 Sixth Ave between 40th and 41st Sts, suite 301 (212-643-4810)

What Is This J. Crew Catalog Trying To Tell Me?

Anyone else get the June 2009 J. Crew catalog? (Um, which I wouldn't even GET if it weren't for a CERTAIN BRIDESMAID'S DRESS... ahem... JK LOVE YOU MEAN IT LOVE YOUR HAIR HOPE YOU WIN!)

Anyone else notice that the model on the cover is holding a REALLY large flower? A flower in bloom? Page 4 informs the reader that the flowers are one-of-a-kind, not available for purchase (pity, that) and that they "just couldn't resist" using them for the shoot... They COULDN'T resist using an ENORMOUS flower that's full of folds and may or may conjure images and ideas of labial folds?

I mean, there is basically an enormous Georgia O'Keefe-style FLOWER VAGINA sitting on my coffee table right now. I'm uncomfortable.

Skeptical? Here's a closeup shot:

You could at least buy me dinner first.

Bridal Binge: Ring-a-ling!

I'm now literally dreaming about the Piaget Possession ring, but this one is calling my name now, too....


Tiffany Frank Gehry Torque ring in 18k white gold, $650.

UPDATE: This ring is soooo not right. It was all square and mannish looking on my finger. Didn't fit with my engagement ring at all. The lady straight up told me not to do it, and that I should get a "classic" platinum ring and "leave the funky" for other areas of my wardrobe. However, none of the other Tiffany rings spoke to me. Le sigh.

RCA Class of 2009

RCA's MA graduate show is one of the most exciting places to discover the fashion stars of the future and Dazed Digital recently previewed the RCA's Class of 2009. The thirty six MA students, in menswear, womenswear, footwear and accessories are hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow alumni, including Ossie Clark, Philip Treacy and Christopher Bailey. More recent graduates who are making an impact on the fashion world right now include Erdem, Holly Fulton, milliners Justin Smith and Soren Bach, and most importantly for us, menswear designers Aitor Throup, James Long and Katie Eary.

The show takes place at the College in the Henry Moore Gallery on 10 June 2009 (more info here) but DD exclusively got a sneak preview of some of the newest and freshest menswear and womenswear talent that will be unleashed this year. Having only seen a few images I don't think it is fair to pass any judgement just yet (other than to say, I can't wait to see more) so here are a selection of designs alongside the graduates own words on their collections...

Alex Mattson: "This collection is my fantastical vision and of a gang called ‘The Sixth Sun’. The Sixth Sun gang is a Mexican biker gang that has reverted to ancient Mayan/Aztec beliefs and rituals after realizing that their ancestors had predicted the future."

Charlie Ross: "This collection embodies the rebirth of a destroyed civilisation - playing on the moral - 'to continue living the way we do will ultimately lead to our undoing'." All the fabrics and materials used in the collection are recycled, reclaimed, by-products or are eco-friendly.

Mason Jung: "Sartorial Burden - My inspiration is based on the antipathy towards formal wear for its fossilised forms and attributes of restricting individuality."

Jasper Sinchai Chaprajong: "This is the journey of my past-present-future of love. Ideas come from relationships, the first feeling of love and the colours associated with it, blue for man, yellow for woman, mix the two you get purple, but then what happens after love when a relationship breaks down? Is loving really that simple?"

Mathew Miller: "The collection 'Masculinity and his jovial approach to the macabre', was born, laser cut polka dot bombs, dancing skeleton pique bibs, cute cable knitted skulls, unexploded pom poms, and engineered army boy digital prints, aesthetically cute with dark undertones."

Kimchoong Wilkins: "Referencing both the anatomical drawings of Vesalius and the eroticism of Hokusai, the collection revolves around skin, sinew, muscle, and bone. It pumps sex back into a craft that has become lust-less, prompting arousal and addiction for men's knitwear by examining the relationship between seduction and repulsion."

Bronwen Marshall: "I was inspired by the horrific facial injuries of World War I, where recognisable features were distorted and made abstract. I have taken other beautiful and natural forms like horses and birds and combined their organic shapes with geometric futuristic patterning. I wanted to create a collection that captured the aggression and sadness felt by these men."

The RCA’s MA show is always packed with spectacular, individual work and the above images suggest that this trend is sure to continue this. I just cannot wait to see the complete collections in June and am a little annoyed that I can't take the afternoon off...oh well, in the meantime I will just keep re-reading the feature on DD.

June 2009 Fashion Magazine Covers

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart on June 2009 magazine covers of Life & Style and Girlfriend Australia


Left: Bar Refaeli for Elle Italy June 2009 Issue
Right: Reese Witherspoon in Elle UK June 2009


Left: Renne Zellweger in Marie Claire Czech Republic June 2009 Cover
Right: Beyonce Knowle in Glamour Russia



Left: Elizabeth Hurley in Tatler UK
Right: Edita Vilkeviciute in Vogue Autralia

Mix-and-Match Fashion: Bags and Shoes OR Bags and Sunglasses

Years ago, women were fond of accessorizing their wardrobe by wearing accents to match the pieces of their outfits. It has been noted that during 1950s, women acquired bags, belts, gloves, hats, shoes, jewelries and cosmetics in matching colors. They became so obsessed of this mix-and-match fashion statement that the legacy still lives on in today’s fashion trends. In addition, fashion styles in complementing colors is also a big hit nowadays.

Here's some of the perfect mix-and-match of bags and shoes and sunglasses for this summer!

Bags and Shoes from Instyle




Bags and Sunglasses from Vogue