Everyone was shocked when Miss Miley chopped off her gorgeous locks, and dyed her hair bleach blonde. Was she going to pull a Britney Spears and go off the rails? That would be a total waste of the countless hours of Pilates classes.
When Britney Spears came out with her video "Baby One More Time," she was 17 in a midriff bearing school girl get-up (considered to be cute, but sexy). Along with similar age and styled artists: Christina Aguelaria, Mandy Moore, and Jessica Simpson. When Miley showed some cleavage in a yellow gown (at the same age) critics were harsh, noting her 'daring cleavage' must be breast implants. She couldn't escape her child star image.
Thankfully Miss Miley didn't fully go B. Spears on us and only shed some pounds and her Hanna Montana image. The Pink-esque bleach blonde hair cut and ripped bod, made people disassociate Miss Miley with Hanna Montana. Helping to define herself as a celebrity, artist, and trendsetter.
People will look at the cover of Cosmo and think "Damn"-- she's got style and sex appeal!
Cosmo couldn't have put it better "It's Miley B*itches.."
The Celine ID Choker Necklace will be a staple accessories for years to come. The Celine choker is iconic, and no designer can hack a decent replica. People are willing to pay double retail to attain the Celine Choker, and there is reason why. Fashion trends come and go, and this necklace isn't going anywhere. So my advice is to invest, or follow another accessory trend.
The best of the worst immitation ID chokers is the Nicholas ID Necklace. Australian brand Nicholas' forte is clothing- the cut, the color, the style; impeccable. But as you can see above, the ID necklace hangs awkwardly and looks like a ten dollar accessory you could pick up at Claire's or eBay (ironically it retails for 110 USD). My motto is you only live once, so do what you want, live how you want, buy what you want. Because at the end of the day, if you purchase an imitation necklace, you are going to regret it and be 110 USD short.
Anyone in fashion knows the hype that still surrounds the Christian Louboutin Un Bout Illusion Pumps from 2012. But apparently J. Mendel wanted a piece of that success in 2013. Unfortunately to make that success happen, you should have heeded Picasso's advice-- "Good artists copy, great artists steal." The J. Mendel shoes are more or less a copy (sans PVC) of the Louboutin's-- J. Mendel proves he is far from a 'great artist.' These shoes will not be J. Mendel's great success for the 2013 shoe season.
Images from 2013 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA) of Stylist Christine Centenera.
The first image is Christine Centenera at the Alex Perry fashion show, wearing the love-or-hate-it Kanye West x Giuseppe Zanotti 6K sandal-- which I have to say, she rocks well with her knee-length floral dress, padded, black biker jacket, and tousled locks.
I spy the 2013 Givenchy Black Woven Lace-Up Ankle Booties!!!
Kourtney Kardashian!!! She has proven to be relatable over the years
with her fashion choices. Below you can see how she integrates a Juicy
Couture Faux Fur Capelet (which was a must-buy at the time, and don't
worry I bought one, and wish I could find another! Not only was it a
well-priced, but I still wear it to this day with the average person
assuming it is couture) with a Gucci Trilby hat and Proenza Schouler
pochette.
I
remember at the time the coat retailed for around 300 USD. And in this
world, how you put yourself together says a lot about you. We live in a
shallow world, where we are judged in what we wear, and we judge others,
whether we want to or not. And more than anything, we want to emulate
the people we respect- whether that be in their mannerisms, lifestyle,
and/or fashion. We find ourselves dying to wear what they wear, live how
they live, and dress how they dress. The only problem is, most
teenagers, young adults and/or adults, don't have the disposable income
to buy a new coat every season as the fads come and go.
There are
still many people that do not even have the funds to purchase a warm
coat, let alone it be a trendy item. But watching these shows can alter
our perception of reality. Making us believe that we have to own
everything out favorite celebrity/idol owns, regardless of the cost.
These shows can push people to live beyond their means. I love that
Kourtney Kardashian wears lower priced items, and still makes them look
couture. She seems to be frugal, as evident in her 'extreme couponing'
fad, regardless of having the means to buy anything she wants. It makes
us ordinary people feel hopeful that we can keep up with the ever
changing world of fashion. And still wear the exact item the celebs
wear. I most recently was searching the web, and came across a pair of
black knee-high gladiator sandals Kourt was just spotted in. My heart
instantly dropped, thinking they were the Chanel runway gladiator
sandals from years past (as seen in the runway photo below). But to my
astonishment, they were Stuart Weitzman (retailing at 398 USD)! I
instantly ordered them, because you can never have enough shoes, right?
Especially at prices like these. I fed my hunger of wanting to dress
like a celeb, without starving my wallet.
Sometimes I beg for the days when Kim would wear her Report Signature boots and snap back to reality. The days she didn't try so hard to be perfect, Kim was closer to it. Very excited to see what the next season of Keep Up With the Kardashians brings! Fashion mixed with Brody Jenner?! Yum.
Jessica Biel WOW's us all at London Fashion week with her choice in dripping, spiked Tom Ford Spiked Wedges. Who needs JT for arm candy, when you have such amazing foot candy?
These Tom Ford stunners also come in gold, gold python, and yes, of course the black. All seen below.
Louis Vuitton has beautifully crafted and structured classic bags like the Alma and the Speedy. But they lack any diversity in fabrication. They are either vernis or patent and Louis Vuitton always chooses the same boring set of colors; pink, orange, red, blue and off white. Occasionally there is some variation, the pinks are a little brighter or muted one year, the reds have more blue or orange the next and the off white is fairly constant. They might add a metallic element to the patent but it is so subtle it needs to be observed under a microscope.
Every time I enter a Louis Vuitton Store I am bombarded and overloaded with an endless display of monogram from bags to wallets and even scarves. Over the years Louis Vuitton has appealed only to the under 18 population or the tasteless over 40 crowd. The multicolor canvas collections are as common on the under 18 crowd as sneakers in a basketball game. The mommy and me crowd can’t wait to one up the other with the latest addition to their dull brown monogram or damier collection. What happened to the bags for the over 18 but under 40? Where do I fit in? And where are the stylish bags for my generation? It seems to me they thought the silver and gold monogram collection from years past was more than enough to satiate the appetite of trendsetters for years to come. I always walk in to the store hoping their new collection will thrill me and they have produced a piece that is truly unique and not meant for the under 18 or over 40 crowd.
Over the weekend I visited my local Louis Vuitton store and did my usual walk through. I saw the monogram collection, the vernis, the patent and assorted variations. The sales associate brought out bag after bag of styles I’d seen in some new color variant. Finally I got bored and walked into the men’s section to take a break from the monotony of what was being presented. Laying out of place in the men’s section was the most gorgeous bag! I quickly grabbed it and brought it over to the women’s RTW section, only to have a very flustered SA chasing after me demanding I return the bag I had taken. Apparently showing it to his best customer. Luckily, they had a second bag and I walked out of the store delighted. I had found the yellow speedy cube, the perfect bag I could easily transition from day to night. I am in raptures by the cross body strap and the lemon yellow color. Finally LV had made a bag worth of a fashionista’s purchase.
At risk of seeming
unsophisticated, I am going to simply state that my guiltiest pleasure
is cuddling on the couch and watching The Vampire Diaries. It is not the
show one would imagine a fashionista would watch, but despite the
obvious lack of couture and occasional cheesy dialogue, with the overuse
of the word 'Epic', it has its redeeming qualities. It reminds me of
how much I miss more accessible styles and brands. Don’t get me wrong, I
love the seemingly endless stream of Louboutin, Givenchy and Tom Ford
pieces that currently inhabit my wardrobe. But some days, couture is
just too much, too overwhelming. Too much height, too much of a
statement and well, just too much coming out of my bank account.
The Vampire Diaries and its youthful fashion evokes a sense of
nostalgia. It takes me back to a time where being cool or popular was
not making a loud statement with bank-breaking, couture items. In every
age bracket, there is something that distinguishes the seemingly 'upper
brow' from 'low brow' classes. In grade school, it was who had the
brightest, new toy. And in most high schools, it might not be that 10k
Hermes Birkin or Celine ID necklace (seen on every celebrity now), that
we as adults crave to silently say 'I have arrived.' Around 10 years
ago, in my high-school days, the 'it' trend was a Tiffany's ID bracelet
and matching ID necklace (kind of ironic how items of this sort are
trending back around).
But the price point was 285 for the necklace and 185 for the bracelet.
At this
time, fitting in and having what everyone else had was still
paramount to social standing. Despite these items having a low price
point they were still hard to obtain. And yet our iconic fashionistas
overlook
these lower priced items because they are not haute couture. These items
are
just as integral to every fashionistas wardrobe as haute couture. It is
the ability to take the
everyday item and mix it with couture fashion that tests your ability
as a
fashionista.
To dismiss Steve Madden, Charles David and the like, as being cheap
and not worthy of a fashionista's time shows just how caught up on
branding we are. The Charles David Regiment boots were featured on The
Vampire Diaries and seen on other celebs as well. A true fashionista
does not need to always wear strictly couture. She integrates items
from all design houses to create a signature style that is unique and
truly her own.
The Vampire Diaries' accessible fashion has made me go back to my roots
and inspired me to find ways to integrate different fashion items at
every price point. Would people
be dying for the Charles David Regiment boot if Nina Dobrev hadn't worn
it, in what I consider the hottest TV show? Probably not. But it is just
the beginning for us to open our eyes to brands and items that were
cast away to the island of misfits.
Now the Regiment Lace-up Charles David boots Elena
Gilbert has worn are supposedly 'sold-out', I find it my sole duty to
scour the internet and boutiques, for this item everyone wants and no
one can attain. After all, that is my talent? That is how I am building
my empire? I was always the “it” girl. I could always get the item
everyone wanted. Even now I have the most coveted couture pieces in the
world. I have brand exclusives for mine and other geographic regions but
I am having trouble obtaining the more accessible Charles David
Regiment Lace -up boots? Something is entirely wrong with this picture.
Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I need to prove to myself I am
still the “it” girl in all facets of fashion and not just the couture
realm. I know I am not the only one who feels this way. If I was, the
boots would not be sold out world wide and highly sought after. I made it my mission to obtain
these boots and today I finally found them. So when I sit down to watch
The Vampire Diaries tonight I can breathe a sigh of relief. I’ve still
got it.
Aside from being a talented singer Rhianna is synonymous for fashion with a flair. I not
only rely on her for clothing inspiration but she is my go to girl for accessories i.e. her
Christian Lacroix Gold Choker, Celine ID Necklace and her to die for collection of
vintage Chanel pieces. The 2013 Grammyʼs were going to be my spring preview of what
pieces would be hot and what I should incorporate into my wardrobe this season. I know
I am not the only one disappointed by Rihannaʼs fashion performance. Her red Alaia
looked more of an extension of the red carpet then a typical RiRi statement dress and
her lack of jewelry did not enhance her look nor did it set her apart from the carpet she
was walking on. I am surprised Chris Brown didn't walk on her.
Knowing RIhanna was performing left me with a ray of hope that just maybe she would
pull through with either a dress or jewels that did not blend in to the scenery. Again, I
was disappointed with her choice of dress and lack of accessories. I was expecting a
look on par with the Victoriaʼs Secret fashion show in the very least. Yes, CBS would not approve of the snatch-stealing slit, thigh-high stocking and garter exposure. But even if she borrowed bits and pieces of her VS fashion look (ie. pearl necklace) she would have hit a higher note of respect with me, especially in her beautiful performance of 'Stay.' There are icons that exude class and grace, but us accessory lovers count on our blinged out babe.
What happened to the bold fashionista I had come to admire? Did her stylist Mel
Ottenburg have the day off? I understand complying with dress code guidelines but
even a schoolgirl in uniform can differentiate themselves from the girl next to them. The hit show that sadly just ended, Gossip Girl, proves such point. Blair Waldorf was able to trend her high school uniform to be part of her mother's fashion empire. Turning a simple skirt and blouse into a must-have piece. Dressing for the Grammys should have been a no brainer for Rihanna given that she
has the freedom to choose between designers, styles, fabric texture, accessories and
has a team of individuals at her fashion beck and call to help her.
For the 2013 Grammy's, CBS sent an email enforcing a strict dress code. US weekly referenced the CBS memo in their article "Grammy Awards 2013 Biggest Dress Code Violators: Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Rowland, Rihanna and More!" Make sure female breasts, buttocks, buttock crack, and sheer material that could expose nipples be covered. As well as my favorite exert to the female attendees: "Bare sides or under curvature of the breasts is also problematic", so please make sure not to #trend the 'side boob' at the 2013 Grammy's. As well, "please be sure the genital region is adequately covered so that there is no visible 'puffy' bare skin exposure."
We allow artists creative license to create music, yet restrict it in their fashion? Aren't music and fashion both art? Where do we draw the line in letting artists create? CBS could have hastened their memo in writing to the ladies attending: "Don't dress like a total 'skank', bring some class this year." Regardless of any letter, people may listen, but will do, or dress how they want in the end.
The Grammy's might be a time to award artist(s) of their talented music made in the prior year. But we watch the Grammy's for the fashion and performances, right? Us, regular people want something to talk about, a scandal, wardrobe malfunction: 'side boob', 'nip slip' - or even the ability to gaze at runway, couture gowns (my personal favorite).
Who remembers J Lo's plunging Versace dress from the 42nd Grammy Awards (13 years ago)? Hmmm... Everyone? It went down in fashion history. And who will remember her black Anthony Vaccarello dress with Angelina Jolie like leg slit from the 55th Grammy's? My guess? No one after this week. I am in complete disagreement with The Huffington Post's article "Grammy Awards 2013 Worst-Dressed Celebrities: Jennifer Lopez' Slit & Katy Perry's Boob Window Flopped (PHOTOS)." More people were wondering why such an iconic fashionista was wearing a moo moo, and were wishing they could see her 'bikini wax in hi-def'- it would definitely out way how Vaccarello's dress looked like a hanging piece of meat, on such a curvaceous icon. J Lo is not supposed to hide her curves, but flaunt them. It is as true a fact as "the grass is green."
