Fall 2007 Fashion

There are 10 key pieces for each season, and this fall, it is no exception.

1. The cape: a new triangular silhouette updates the silhouette and don’t forget to balance this volumous top with skinny trousers and chunky heels. Look at this cape from Jil Sander. It’s refreshing and exudes a ‘darth vader’ kinda look.

credit: style.com

2. Super wide belts: double or triple buckled belts pull in the entire waist to give that gorgeous hourglass figure. It’s super flattering to the body, and you can wear it over a dress or a fantastic trench coat.
This belt is from Burberry Prorsum – love their collections this year.

credit: style.com

3. A belted tunic: I think these were seen at Marni or Miu Miu. Anyways, a belted tunic can be worn over a slim fitted pencil skirt with knitted stockings and the new Prada curved patent shoes will look fierce. Also, you can wear a tunic over a turtleneck will look great too.

4. Trousers are so in this season. High waisted, slouchy, widelegged trousers are great with a slim fitted men’s shirt and chunky heels or oxfords. Another alternative is a tailored pair, which will look great with a a feminine, dressy shirt and stilletos.

5. Hats, hats, hats! Remember my post on the Lanvin hat that I bought while I was in Melbourne? Yes, it’s official: hats are in this season! They were all over the runway, from Hermes to Marc Jacobs, everyone was hat-ted.

6. Textures. Quilting was featured in so many collections, from jackets to trench coats and even patent quilted gloves that go up to the elbow (as seen in Burberry Prorsum)

7. Patent everything. Enough said.

8. Evening tanks, dresses or knits look fabulous, especially with bronze or matte silver sequins. Tres chic!

9. Pencil skirts will be worn by everyone with opague tights and oxford heels (see YSL)

10. Turtlenecks are sexy, especially the thin cashmere ones. Make sure they’re of the best quality.

A peek into my life

A little while back, a friend asked me to do this little questionaire. Just for my darling readers, I shall.

Describe your style. Sleek, modern and edgy.
Who rules in your closet? Calvin Klein – timeless pieces that one can wear all year round.
What’s in your bag? iPod, Prada coin case, Prada Lizard Skin wallet, Hermes Agenda, cellphone, dVb sunglasses.
Best bargain? Pair of Pierre Hardy calfskin leather boots.
Good-luck charms? Hermes leather/palladium ring – been wearing it everyday since I bought it.
Whose closet would you like to raid? Jude Law and David Beckham.
Signature scent Dior Higher Energy
What are you wearing now? Marc by Marc Jacobs cream T-shirt with ties, black denim skinny jeans by Miu Miu and Pierre Hardy boots.
First big fashion purchase? Violet Burberry trenchcoat
Signature accessory Hermes enamel/palladium clic clac bracelet, leather watch and Hermes ring, dVb sunglasses

Bag pick of the year Prada Jacquard Logo bag, Balenciaga Extra Courier, YSL Croc embossed Downtown/Tribute (for the ladies), Hermes lindy (ladies!), Valentino pleated leather bag in red (ladies!)

Product you can’t live without Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Malin+Goetz Vitamin E Oil-free Moisturizer, sunscreen.

Summer signature outfit? I love wearing those city shorts (shorts that are made of formal trousers material) with cuffs, black patent sandals and a simple, one-coloured T-shirt.

Fall/Winter signature outfit? Bomber jacket with straight cut jeans or a trench coat with skinny jeans.

Most coveted labels Lanvin, Hermes, Prada.

Basically, I don’t like to wear clothes that are too loud or are too in-your-face. The occasional loud tees are alright, but I only limit it to clubbing nights-out. Clothes that spell out the designer name is just too flashy – something that I dislike. Accessories pull any look together, but as a rule of thumb, keep it simple. Sunglasses also add to any outfit – aviators are always in style, oversized shades glam it up, and, retro visors bring back some fun from the 80s too. For shoes, I’ve got a nice collection of different colours and styles. Flip flops are casual, but looks great with jeans. I love boots worn with jeans or even formal trousers, and mocassins or boat shoes look fabulous with both jeans/trousers or shorts. It’s a pity that Singapore doesn’t have 4 seasons, and now that I’m stuck here for 2 years, all my jackets are going to be retired into the closet. Jackets are so great ‘cos you can wear a vintage T-shirt underneath, but still look sharp with the jacket over the tee.

Hermes Black Enamel Clic Clac

I cannot tell you how addictive Hermes is. I’ve been waiting for this bracelet for ages, and saw it at the Harrod’s store yesterday. I immediately put my name down to reserve it, and picked it up today. I find that Black + Silver looks better than Black + Gold… I really like this for it’s clean, sleek look. Yes, the H may be a little showy, but then again, only those well-versed in Hermes or fashion can spot it, right? 😉

P.S Feel free to leave comments! =)

Hermes – What you need to know

Introduced in 1984, the Birkin was named after actress Jane Birkin, who codesigned the bag with then-Hermes chairman and CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, after complaining that the Kelly (named after Grace Kelly) was not practical for everyday use. Why does this cost so much? It takes 1800 hand stitches just to make one. The Birkin comes in many different colours and leathers. One of the most coveted colour is the Blue-Jean colour, which has been carried around by famous stars like Victoria Beckham and Lindsay Lohan. Togo and Clemence leather are quite common in the production of Birkins as well. Other exotics include Lizard, Glazed Crocodile, Matte Crocodile and Ostritch. Of course, special orders are available, ranging from fabric to double or triple colours. The Birkin featured above is the Crocodile Birkin with Diamonds – truly, one of the rarest Birkins in the world – it is reported that Kelly Osbourne purchased one for mum, Sharon Osbourne as an apology. Sizes include: 25cm, 30cm (very common), 35cm (also very common), 40cm (usually carried by men), 45cm and 50cm (travel birkin). Weight is also an issue for the Birkin as they are quite heavy. Depending on the leather, one must be careful of colour transfer. Box leather is especially prone to this.

The JPG Birkin is Jean Paul Gaultier’s take on the Birkin. It looks younger and fresher. The difference between the JPG Birkin and the normal Birkin is that the JPG Birkin is longer in terms of length, shorter in terms of height and has longer handles that allow shoulder carry – this is unlike the Birkin, where one needs to have extremely skinny arms to shoulder carry. However, one of the complaints about the JPG Birkin is that the wide base makes it odd to shoulder carry.. Also, a complaint from a friend whose mum has a JPG Birkin is that because it’s so long, it tends to hit people when carried by hand. Exotics are available for JPG Birkins as well.

The Kelly was named after Grace Kelly, and looks much more formal than the Birkin, especially when closed. I know of many ladies who love the Kelly for its formal look and love teaming this with more formal clothes. The Kelly has been reinvented in 2007, where the Kelly Flat was introduced – whereby a belt was provided to literally tie up the Kelly when flattened. There are 2 types of Kellys – Kelly Sellier and Kelly Retourne. Sizes range from a mini, to a 28cm to a 32cm – both of which are more common. There also is the JPG Kelly, which is a mini-version of the Kelly, as seen on Victoria Beckham.

Credit: shopmom411 from tpf

This is known as the Haute a Courroies, and looks quite like the Birkin. The difference between this HAC and the Birkin is that the HAC is taller. Other than that, they’re pretty similar. I do know of some men who choose HACs over the Birkin. Also, the HAC is available for special order. Fergie was recently pictured with a special order bi-coloured HAC.

(To be continued!)

P.S Feel free to leave comments! =)

Hermes black box double tour bracelet

Finally, I’ve bought an Hermes bracelet! This is in box leather, which means that it’s going to be awfully scratched up with use. However, I’m glad I bought this because it fits my wrist (a first, because it’s long enough. I liked the other double tour ones, but they were far too small.). Also, the leather is so soft and feels like a dream! Hopefully, the bracelet in white epsom leather. Gorgoues!!

P.S Feel free to leave comments! =)

Then and now.

I was at a fabulous English inspired furniture shop today and spotted a September 2002 Vogue on an eucalyptus wood coffee table. I was flipping through it, and what I saw in the editorials were the striking similarities with the current trends right now – with the only difference that the trends now are a little more polished and sleeker. Like the whole volume look that rocked fashion world for A/W 06/07. An article I saw was pretty interesting, and seeing that how current it actually looked, I thought that it might be worth a mention here.

3 looks that were rocked in 2002, and can be definitely be done today as well.

1. Glam
The look is revolved around the pencil skirt or fitted trousers, dramatically high heels, structured jackets, lush leather totes, and the overall look should be polished.
Think: Timeless croc heels, structured jackets, fitted bottoms, large bling-y jewellery (but not too many as you’ll look like a christmas tree), croc totes, large totes, Chanel 2.55s, Hermes Birkins, Hermes Kellys, Lanvin Kentucky totes, etc.
Look: Flawless complexion, lip liner + lipstick + lip gloss, full bronzer+blush sculpturing, mascara-ed lashes, clean eyeliner.

2. Grunge
It’s a little Olsen twins on a very good day, a little Lohan, a little Zoe-bot.
Think: Rick Owens leather jackets, premium hoodies from Puma (not the generic kind..the ones like from 96hours), too-cool-for-school T-shirts, skull/pistol charm necklaces, kitten heels, those Balenciaga boots, Rolling Stones T-shirts, giant YSL Muse bag in patent black, Balenciaga Weekender with gold studs.
Look: Natural complexion (tinted moisturizer with concealer where needed), mascara, lip gloss.

3. Goth
Think: Black black black. Lots of strong lines, play with volume, play with textures and fabrics. Black shirts with a super tight pair of black jeans, black pantent heels, etc.. For bags, think Marc Jacobs Stam, YSL Double bag, Miu Miu ruffled leather bags, Prada Gauffres.
Look: Smoky smoky smoky eye, natural lips (just a dab of lip balm), loads of attitude.

Some fashion trends keep resurfacing after a while… Let’s just hope stuff like too-short footless leggings will get out of fashion. And push that scruffy, no-effort-put-into-dressing look off the table.

P.S Feel free to leave comments! =)