Carine Roitfeld rocks in Givenchy coat & Miu Miu shoes

I am lusting for those Miu Miu shoes on Carine.... but can only find the black, fluorescent yellow & gold version on net-a-porter which is actually really foul & tacky.... The black & red version Carine is wearing is so her and the colours go really well with her Givenchy leopard coat...

Get well soon Decarnin...........

First it was McQueen's suicide, then Galliano's racist comments and the next..... well Christophe Decarnin who is suffering from metal health problems...

Who will take the reign at Balmain? the Paris fashion house that Decarnin revived so successfully for 5 years with his sexy, short, tight rock'n'roll designs that made every fashion editor lust for everything in his collections?

Emmanuelle Alt wearing a stunningly hot Balmain tailored jacket

What Carine Roitfeld did next...

When Carine resigned from Paris Vogue in Jan 2011, she stated she wanted to pursue in her own personal projects.... so what is the first project?

She will join Barneys as a guest editor,stylist & muse for Fall/Winter 2011-2012. This will be her first time to work on the retail side of things for the fashion industry. She will collaborate with photographer Mario Sorrenti & creative director Dennis Freedman on the ad campaign & catalogue plus style the store's windows in September 2011. So wanting to go to New York then just to check it all out!!!!

I want J Lo's everything in the Gucci ad....

I haven't been a fan of Gucci since Tom Ford has left... Gucci to me seems to be no longer desirable.

But the recent J Lo & her kids for Gucci Ad campaign.. absolutely love... J Lo looks divinely sexy in Gucci.... to the point I actually want everything she's wearing in the ad.... Maybe the credit must go to Emmanuelle Alt for styling the ads.....

Can't wait for 2011 Fall RTW collections to hit the stores...

The Paris 2011 Fall collections have come & gone.....and I can't wait till the collections hit the stores...

Loving the 'kinky' Louis Vuitton show... the see-through skirts, thigh high stockings, diamond handcuffs & the rubber dominatrix boots... such a contrast move from the 'And God created women' Fall 2010 collection.... The models being handcuffed still holding onto the divine LV bags..... so ironic... definitely want the handcuffs..

Want the LV handcuffs... what a fashion statement?

Want EVERYTHING from the Valentino collection... I reckon Chirui & Piccioli have injected this young blood into Valentino which makes the label even more desirable.... Exquisite Valentino craftsmanship as always in the dresses & coats in a new Valentino colour which is divine - Blackish Red.... perhaps the colour to wear for Fall 2011.

Loving the new Valentino colour....

And the so wearable Celine collection.... Phoebe's design skills continues to make the every Collection so classic & subtle you can wear it in 10 years time and it will still be cool... Will definitely be yet another sell out collection.

Lusting over this Celine bag already...

Who knew that purple, yellow & green would go so well in the Givenchy show? (The orchid prints actually reminded me 80s Versace style & maybe even the costumes that Empress Dowager of the Qing dynasty use to wear)..... I must get those gold tipped pumps to add to my ever expanding shoe collection... and give that see through skirt trend a try as my dedication to Riccardo....

Riccardo's inspiration maybe?

Riccardo Tisci & Carine Roitfeld for Dior?

Rumours are mounting that Riccardo Tisci will take the reigns as the head designer for Dior & Carine will act as the label's stylist. How cool a pair are they? Though I do prefer Riccardo for Givenchy, the dark Gothic touches & Catholic influences he adds to every collection he has designed for just makes it a more amazing 'Givenchy' piece.

The coolest people on earth to pair up for Dior?

J'adore Phoebe Philo....

I loved Celine when Michael Kors was the head designer but I truly adore Celine now that Phoebe Philo has taken over.... Have you seen the fall 2011 RTW collection? Apparently her inspiration was from the 'sensual luxury automobile'...

I want this Celine jacket now!

Another overly wearable, overly classic, overly COOL & damn fine collection by Phoebe with numerous shades of brown (my favourite colour) and hints of blue, orange and red. She continues to use the block colour theme she did a few seasons ago. Like every other season, I want it all.... NOW! Definitely heading back to Hong Kong this winter to buy it all....

So long Galliano...

The once great John Galliano.... British Designer of the Year 1987, 1994, 1995 and 1997, the first British designer to head a French haute couture house in 1995 (Givenchy), awarded CBE in 2001, designs a dozen collections a year, a genius in haute couture (did you see his designs for Fall 2010 Couture based on tulips... amazing!!!!) but now SACKED & gone to a rehabilitation facility in Arizona for alcohol problems.

Dior presented its last and final collection by John Galliano on Tuesday. There was much anticipation as to who would take the final bow at the end of the show since his anti Jewish comments made in a Paris bar. The answer - Dior's atelier team - the seamstresses, tailors and embroiders who brought Galliano's sketches to life.

Galliano's replace has not yet been named but according to speculation, possibly Riccardo Tisci, Haider Ackermann or Hedi Slimane?


Get well soon John.... hope you will be back again....

Due Diligence on Rick Owens leather jacket

• Details of Investment

 

 The great creations by Rick Owens..... where do I start? Best known of course for his fitted luxurious distressed leather jackets which are like works of art.


I recently invested into a Rick Owens brown leather jacket after watching the Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection and falling in love with the entire collection.

 
When the jacket arrived, I swear I hugged it to sleep every night since. The leather was so buttery soft and its smell was just so deliciously divine. I took it with me on a recent trip to Hong Kong. The jacket kept me warm, it made me look cool, it fitted so well, everyone around me loved it, it goes with everything and I felt suave!

• Financial Cost

A Rick Owens leather jacket will set you back minimum AUD2000. I bought mine at net-a-porter.com but sometimes you can get it jackets from previous seasons for approx AUD1,200 from outnet.com. But also try inc.cc.com, antonioli.eu, brownsfashion.com, luisaviaroma.com to get your dream jacket. Conclusion - Rick Owens leather jackets do not come cheap but when your breath the smell of that leather, the craftsmenship that has gone into the jacket and the way it sits so damn well on your body it is worth every cent and you will never wear another non Rick Owens leather jacket ever again.

• Valuation & Returns of Investment

Picture these fashion moments:-

Jennifer Aniston wearing hers with John Meyer in  2009

Gwyneth is rarely seen without wearing one

Carine Roitfeld looking hot in hers.

 Seriously, you can't go wrong!!!  The investment returns of a Rick Owens leather jacket will give you a higher level of satisfaction than the current exchange rate between AUD to USD!!! (applies to my fellow Australians only...)

• Risk Factors

Considering Rick Owens leather jackets come with an expensive tag, you must look after it with care. I have had mine for a few months now with no major scratches or damage done from the recent trip to Hong Kong. But since Rick Owens leather jackets are made from 'distressed' leather, wear and tear will just add to the attitude of  the jacket.

• Overall Rating

Invest right now... if you can't, save up to invest in one. I have had no regrets. This jacket will definitely be passed down my generations.....

 

The fashionable leggings...

I recently had dinner with my good friend in Hong Kong and he asked me 'What is it with girls and leggings?... I see every women wearing a pair... seriously, girls as young as 6 to women as old as 70'. I thought about it for a while and realised I too have a few pairs of black ones stashed away in my wardrobe.... purely for gym purposes of course. But then remembered that I started wearing them at a young age of 7. I loved them then... especially the luminous highlighted coloured ones that my mother had bought for me when I was a kid.


I reckon women believe leggings are probably one of the most easiest item to wear.... simple, no fuss, no buttons, comfortable & cheap... Leggings seems to have made it as one of the fashion staples in every girl's wardrobe... I must admit though, not a lot of people can get away with wearing them. Especially with the recent outburst of leggings made with different materials and colour (the shiny, leather/latex ones made famous by the brand 'Les Chiffoners' and worn by many fashion editors back in 2008).

Carine Roitfeld wearing hers in Jan 2011

Irina Shayk wearing hers out shopping

If you have must wear them, here are a couple of rules:-

1/ make sure you wear them with a G string or at least a pair seamless underwear (visit Victoria's Secret, currently 4 pairs for USD 24.50). Nothing kills a hot chick wearing black leggings with FM boots but from the back have the serious visible panty line problem. Not hot at all.

2/ stay away from light coloured leggings.... seriously... since we are not all blessed with long non cellulite legs, it will reveal EVERYTHING bad about your legs and behind.

3/ wear them with a top that at least covers halfway down to your butt. 

4/ keep your leggings length to be about an inch above your ankle when teaming them with high heels or flats, showing that little bit of ankle flesh will help elongate your legs.


If you are not a supermodel with endless legs or an editor from Paris vogue, I recommend to leave them for home wear or going to the gym. Why not opt for wearing the skinny jeans instead?

Turbans making a comeback?

Who would have thought that the 'Turban' would make it as a fashion item? A popular headgear worn by people in the Middle East, North Africa & Southwest Asia to help keep the user cool in the hot desert environments.

First it was the gold turban Kate Moss wore to the 2009 Met Costume Gala, then SJP in Sex & the City 2 teamed hers with a pink Halston dress & even Tavi wore one but I reckon Salma and Kylie looked pretty damn good with theirs. Not sure if this trend would make it to street fashion though....



Salma wore hers to the Paris fashion shows

Kylie wore hers teamed with a Chanel coat 

The new editor of Paris Vogue....

My favourite editor Emmanuelle Alt has made it!!!! She will be the new editor of Paris Vogue from February 2011 taking over the reigns from Carine Roitfeld. I am sure the styles of Balmain & Isable Marant will be evident in every issue of Vogue Paris....