Couture Snob

Celeb Trend: Thick Glasses

2009-01-06T11:00:14Z

From Left: Ali Hilfiger, Scarlett Johansson, Chloe Sevigny

I don't know about anywhere else, but here in New York City and in Paris everyone and their mother seem to be sporting quirky thick "nerd" glasses. I go back and forth with what I think about them. I have dozens of glasses that I almost never wear myself -- including thick rimmed ones from Donna Karan that I've had for about a million years now. I don't wear glasses unless I'm driving my car which ends-up being pretty much never (I'm such a bad driver that I once got pulled over in the Hamptons for drunk driving even though I was completely sober!). That said, I do think glasses can complete an outfit, especially when they're used as a statement pieces like these thick ones and, at least in my opinion, all the ladies pictured above pull off the trend fabulously! Would you wear glasses like these? And do you always wear the same pair of glasses or do you mix things up to tailor them to your outfit/mood?

Balmain Spring 2009

2009-01-05T17:00:27Z

Please forgive me for bringing up Facebook again but each day I find myself reconnecting with long lost friends from as far back as junior high school! Of course with that comes nostalgia for what once was and what may come back again. Like Madonna; not Madonna as you know her now but Madonna as I knew her in 1983. When she dressed me up in her love (all over, all over) with white lace and black studded belts and booties. Oh what I wouldn't give for my old studded belts from high school though this time around I won't wear the black lace fingerless gloves. Apparently Christopher Decarnin of Balmain has heard my prayers (along with the prayers of every woman/man who grew up in the '80s) because his Spring 09 collection is a luxe interpretation of Madonna's street wise fashion from her humble beginnings (funny how she had more style when she only made $10 a night as a bouncer at a sleazy bar as opposed to now that she's worth hundreds of millions).

I'm dying, really dying for the studded Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain sandals on the left. If I can get my hands on them I promise I won't wear acid wash jeans with them. I have been discussing the thonged toe with my fellow shoe whore Sasha Fierce. We both agreed that it matters not if they cut off the circulations of our big toe-- these are worth it! But I am not worried as these are Zanotti designed and his shoes have never hurt me, yet. Available at Bergdorf Goodman this Spring.

Miu Miu Shoe Dilemma

2009-01-05T11:06:10Z

I was at Bergdorf the other day with a friend to return a dress her boyfriend had gotten her -- all you ladies that are dating/married to guys with good taste count your lucky stars!! Somehow though I ended-up wandering off and buying two pairs of shoes myself. They were both a steal -- two pairs of Miu Miu shoes from their fall 2008 collection for a combined cost of just over $600 (something like 50-60% off)! Unfortunately, despite the deal I'm torn as to whether or not I should keep them. One of the pairs is the one pictured above, but in the blue and gray color scheme. These shoes are dangerously high (they only have a tiny platform), and I worry that like pumps from the fall 2007 Proenza Schouler collection that I bought last year, I won't wear them more than once. Anyone else get heels from Proenza Schouler that season? They had a range of single color pumps that had gorgeous spike heels. The heels must have been six inches though with only a tiny built-in platform and I ended-up only wearing them once -- in San Fran no less -- and feeling completely uncomfortable. That said, the heels on the Miu Miu pumps are wonderfully original and so fun -- like Lego meets Mickey Mouse:) As for the second pair, they're one of the sandals with Swarovski embellished heels. I have a few Swarovski-embellished shoes already included a red Dorothy-esque pair from Ferragamo and a pair of Dolce & Gabbana ones with crystals that wrap around the ankle -- so I know from experience that some of the crystals always, always fall off -- but they're so beautiful I'm finding the idea of learning my lesson nearly impossible. When it comes to good deals, should we take risks!??

Celeb Trend: Fringe

2009-01-02T11:00:19Z

Photos from People.com

I am all over wearing a little fringe! Nothing too wild like I'm a cowgirl or anything, but a touch of fringe on a handbag, for example, I'm with it! Vanessa Hudgens is wearing her Botkier "Morgan" fringed satchel ($650) above and while I don't love the Botkier piece nearly as much as my Wyeth Tote from Hayden-Harnett ($725) I think it spices-up her outfit. Similarly while I'm not a fan of the fringe at the bottom, I love the peek-a-boo of the fringe on the top of Nicole Kidman's draped fringe Jil Sander dress. All that said, I know when it comes to fringe people are very love-it-or-hate-it as a few people knock me when I wear fringe accents (even if it's just a tiny bit on the side of my handbag!). Do you like fringe? If so tell us in the comments how you rock a fringe look!

YSL Lola Platform

2009-01-01T11:00:00Z

I don't know how the heck you'll walk in these but who cares, they are HOT!! I will hang on to my hubby or anyone else around me from the valet to my table and that's all I need to worry about. These are not city shoes for sure, but if you are going to a fabulous party or dinner, go to YSL right now to pick these up. Just make sure not to get too tipsy and these are already tipsy all by themselves. And keep the sodium intake to a minimum as swelling is not a good thing with these. At Bergdorf Goodman for $895

Snob Designers of 2008

2008-12-31T17:00:15Z

10. Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton Ready To Wear- Forget what we've said about his bags or his personal life; MJ revealed his exceptional talent with LV's RTW collections this year. Fall 08's darted, pleated and sculpted line shows MJ's newfound maturity (or sobriety) and announces he is a force to be reckoned with. He is perhaps the most influential designer of the decade even if he does have a penchant for wild bags that drive us nuts!

9. Miuccia Prada- Each season Miuccia Prada evokes strong emotion in all of us. It matters not whether you love or hate her; all that matters is the unwavering passion she continually brings to her designs. I mean seriously now, who else can convince rock stars to dress like Sicilian widows?

]]> DVF- The wrap dress has evolved to an entire collection of clothes, bags and shoes for the modern woman. The Legendary Diva shows no signs of slowing down!

7. Alexander Wang- The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner has a knack for mixing naughty and nice. A sexy black bondage dress peeks under draped chiffon so you can go from dinner with the parents to night clubbing without missing a beat.

6. RM by Roland Mouret- He kills me with precisely tailored dresses that make me feel like I am the hottest chick on the planet. Worth every penny! (So says the hubby :)

5. Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga- This was an off year for Ghesquiere but we still love him. The most photographed little black dress of the year was also the least wearable-- the fabric too thick and stiff that gave one the appearance of ooma loompa. Still, he's the coolest dude on the planet. Just ask Carine Roitfeld, the coolest chick on the planet.

4. Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy- Gladiator shoes. Need I say more?

3.Stefano Pilati for YSL- I weep, I really weep when I walk into a YSL boutique. And it's not just the bags I'm obsessed with; I've bought more YSL shoes, jackets, dresses and tops than any other designer this year. Each piece is deliciously distinct with its own voice; my floral sheath could not be more different from the silver peplum vest of the same collection.

2. Vera Wang- From Vera Wang signature artsy frocks and glittering Philip Crangi for Vera Wang jewels to Simply Vera at Kohl's-- we bought it all. I feel instantly smart when I wear Vera Wang; her intelligence and mindfulness is reflected in every piece that bears her name.

1. Oscar de la Renta - Put on an Oscar de la Renta dress and you will feel like the most beautiful creature alive.

Snob Worthy Mentions:

Alexander McQueen- Worth starving for!

Michelle Smith for Milly- I adore Milly; its retro chic sportswear are pieces you will wear time and again.

Thakoon- It'd be hypocritical of me to put him on my top ten list because I don't actually own any of his pieces. I love looking at them but they just don't look good on me. Still, worth checking out as he is the sweetest and hey, if his frocks are good enough for the First Lady, they're good enough for you.

Derek Lam- He had a stellar year both with his signature line and for Tod's. We look forward to seeing him each season and always pick up a piece or two.

YSL Shoe-Gasm Continues!

2008-12-31T11:00:29Z

Will this ever stop? I can't buy any more shoes but OMG-- YSL just won't stop tempting us! Sasha sent me this photo a couple of weeks ago and I tried to ignore it but can't stop thinking about these amazing shoes. The Tribute platform's latest incarnation, in taupe suede (so impractical but do we care?!?) with a glittering jewel on top. Swoon!

Apparently the recession/depression hasn't hit the folks at YSL, these are priced at $1,145. I won't be getting them but if you'd like to treat your feet to this jewel to celebrate the new year-- Call or email Eddie Curtis at Bergdorf Goodman 212-872-8940

Haute Thoughts by Heidi Dillon: DON'T LET CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS STOP YOU FROM GETTING DRESSED UP!

2008-12-30T17:00:27Z

Heidi Dillon is the founder of The Fashionistas

While dismal economic news has chastened most of us and lavish spending has become unpopular in certain circles, let's not let these dark times prevent us from enjoying what we have this holiday season and, please, let's not let it stop us from looking our best when we go out. Even if you haven't purchased any new cocktail pieces, I know that you all have them in your closet, so, by all means, wear them. Get dressed up. It's OK.

Two weeks ago I attended two holiday parties in Dallas. The first was to celebrate the launch of the new Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe. Since Rolls Royce represents the epitome of luxury in the auto industry (surpassed only by Bugatt at $1,000,000), and the guests were all people who theoretically could afford the $425,000 price tag, I expected to see everyone decked out in full holiday splendor. I wore an incredible pair of black sequined karate-style pants by Proenza Schouler with a simple black cashmere top and some killer Fendi satin shoes with 51/2 heels -all topped off with an old, but very dear, mink coat. (jump for more!)

]]> My friends at Cartier were there showcasing some beautiful pieces from their newest jewelry collection, adding yet another layer of luxury to the evening. Sadly, only myself and maybe two other women were dressed for the occasion. The rest of the crowd looked as drab as a board meeting at IBM. After I downed a couple glasses of Ruinart champagne, the people at Park Place Rolls Royce unveiled the the new Phantom Coupe which is truly a beautiful piece of automotive artistry.

Our next stop was at my favorite Dallas store, FortyFiveTen (that's where I bought my great sequined pants). Owner Brian Bolke brought in Kelly Klein to sign her new gigantic picture book, Horses and jewelry designer Kimberly McDonald who makes incredible pieces from geodes and diamonds. While her things are a bit pricey, her work has an understated, bohemian look that I like - not at all the in-your-face bling that really does seem gauche right now. Being one of Dallas' fashion gurus, Brian's parties usually inspire people to put their best fashion foot forward, however that was not the case last evening. One friend of mine who I can usually count on to show up in the latest Lanvin cocktail number was sporting a Rick Owens jacket and a pair if jeans. While Rick is the coolest of the cool, my friend's outfit would have been perfect for a chic lunch at the latest sushi place but really missed the mark for a holiday soiree. Looking around the room got me a little depressed. My friend wasn't the only one to embrace the new dressing down trend. All of my gay boyfriends were coveting my outfit, but apparently I really stood out because an editor from Paper City asked me "you're so dressed up. Where are you going tonight?" I replied "it's Christmas in Dallas. We are supposed to be dressed up".

As for New Year's Eve festivities tomorrow night, don't hold back-- go all out and dress up like it's 1999!

Frugal Snob Simpson Sisters: A Bold Contrast

2008-12-30T11:00:33Z

Guest blog by -- Julia DiNardo , the founder/editor of Fashion Pulse

Although I wouldn't quite call myself a huge fan of Jessica or Ashlee Simpson's music or general fashion choices, I do have to remark that when they are dressed casually, in a simple, paired-down, yet stylish way, I think they look at their best. Case in point is this image of the two sisters; I wouldn't be surprised if they had purposely coordinate their outfits to match, but either way the looks come across as laid-back, put-together chic. Who can really go wrong with a lot of black mixed with some black and white pieces?

To get the "Simpson sisters black & white look," start off with a great black handbag. Either choose from the framed, reptilian sort, or a slouchy hobo will do the trick. Anya Hindmarch for Target Small Python Hobo Bag in Black ($34.99, Target) or the Quilted Faux-Leather Hobo ($10, Old Navy). If you want to splurge-- check out the Anya Hindmarch Vigo Python hobo

]]> Next on the list would be a black cardigan or shrunken blazer to wear over your high contrast top. Stay relatively warm and stylin' In this Priorities Black Wool Blend 'Luella' Cropped Jacket ($69, Bluefly.com) or add a touch of refinement with this & Simply Vera Vera Wang Solid Blazer ($61, Kohl's).

And now, for the most integral part of the look: the black and white shirt! For a casual take, go with the Eco-Ganik Black and White Striped Racerback Tank ($85, Singer22.com) or the JoyRich Black and White Three-Quarter Sleeve Top ($48, RevolveClothing.com). What also would work is this Michael Stars Heather Stripe Turtleneck ($36, Nordstrom) or the Tory Burch Abby Boatneck Top ($81, Tory Burch). This look is also attainable by simply wearing a white long sleeve crewneck or v-neck tee paired with a black and white scarf. If you opt for this route, try the Black & White Plaid Scarf at Oak for $42 or the inexpensive Buffalo Plaid Scarf for $6.99 at Charlotte Russe.

Although the picture doesn't quite show what pants the ladies are sporting, we would recommend some black leggings if the tops are a moderate, tunic length, or skinny black jeans, like the J Brand Stockholm Jean in Noir ($196, Singer22.com). So as you can see, you can totally hit the mark with "Simpson sisters black & white look" and still have some money to shop those post-holiday sales!

-- Julia DiNardo is the founder/editor of Fashion Pulse -- visit the site for daily updates on trends, runway collections, industry buzz, beauty, and more.

Images via instyle.com

Frugal Snob: Color me bright tights

2008-12-29T18:02:07Z

I'm going through a thirty-something crisis and am coveting all things I had when I was 5 years old. I was quite the miniature style maven back then and always had a pair of cheeky opaque white, red, pink, or purple tights with my dresses. I got a pair of Merona purple tights at Target on a whim last month (now $1.48 on the website-- for a couple of dollars you can instantly update your wardrobe!) and it's turned out to be more useful than my drawer full of Spanx. I wear my purple lovelies with gray or black shift dresses and pair them with boots or Marni platforms. Colorful tights worn with simple dresses make me feel fun and young without looking ridiculous. Now I'm on a mission to get more colors; I found a gorgeous aqua blue (Aruba) from Hue on Bareneccessities and a pair of deep blue. I'm really jonesing for a pair of fuschia tights, will continue hunting. At least this is an inexpensive obsession, most of the tights are under $10. Blue tights from Merona.

When shopping for tights, keep these key points in mind:
*Solid colors are best-- Merona has great solid color tights (I'd stay away from polka dots and stripes when doing bright colors, that should be left to the 5 year olds) at Target or you can go luxe with $400 tights from Maison Margiela.
*White and ivory colors-- This should not be worn if you don't have slim legs, you'll just draw attention to them and make them look bigger than they are. Stick with dark blue, dark purple, etc.
*Moss green- is not a good look on anyone, it looks like mold and well, who wants moldy looking legs!?!?
*Not ready for colorful tights? Grab a pair of gray tights and wear them with everything!

What do you think of the current tights trend? Snob or Slob?

Rachel Pally Jumpsuit: Snob or Slob?

2008-12-29T14:00:42Z

I am not much of a jumpsuit girl (traumatized by the green corduroy jumpsuits I wore in 3rd grade) but had to post this one. The front of the jumpsuit appears to be semi normal-- a t shirt tucked into a pair of pants, right? Wrong. Apparently the shirt is merely a flimsy bib and if the very thin model can't pull it off, I don't know who can. I don't like going without a bra and in the model's case, she shouldn't, either. I guess they were going for shock value but ended instead with cheese value. The very wide leg pants just further the sloppy look. This is an outfit that will probably end up in my email box from US magazine to critique for fashion police! As for the celeb I predict will wear it... Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton (they're one and the same as far as I'm concerned). $209 at Rachel Pally Kate Jumpsuit

What do you guys think? Snob or Slob?

Lauren Conrad in Tracy Reese

2008-12-29T11:04:25Z

So everyone and their mother tuned in for the series finale of The Hills ! Am I the only one glad that this show is finally over? Don't get me wrong I'm a huge fan, but with the stars of the show constantly in the press I feel like I know everything that's going to happen before it even airs on the show. Plus, poor Lauren is the star of The Hills, but yet is barely ever on the show -- someone get her a love interest pleaaaaase!! I'm way more excited for The City and still am kicking myself for missing my friend Jane's birthday where Whitney, her boyfriend, Olivia and the rest of the show's cast were partying it up! All that said, when Lauren was talking about going to the SLS party she questioned whether it was appropriate to wear a lime green dress to the black tie affair which peaked my interest. Personally while I don't think the dress -- which is from the Spring-Summer 2009 Tracy Reese collection and is called the Peplum Strapless Dress ($330) -- was appropriate for a black tie affair I do think it's super cute and would totally wear this for a cocktail party. Though I would pair it with an over-sized necklace and a huge cocktail ring:) The Tracy Reese Peplum dress will be available beginning in February at eluxury.com. Check out their current special with additional 30% off all sale items!

Fall 2009 Fashion Week

2008-12-27T03:32:55Z

Its been hard reading WWD, Fashion Week Daily, and other daily fashion publications lately given all the cut-backs -- Carmen Marc Valvo, DKNY, Vera Wang, and Betsey Johnson are just some of the big names that have already announced they will not show at the Bryant Park tents during New York Fashion Week. Fendi and Marni won't do Men's shows this year and Zac Posen is putting his planned contemporary line on hold. Donna Karan and Calvin Klein's Francesco Costa are cutting back their collections -- and that's just a slither of all the bad news. At this point I'm wondering what the fate of Fashion Week even is this year. What are your thoughts on the fate of Fashion Week or Fashion Month rather if you consider New York, London, Milan, and Paris collectively? Is it inappropriate for designers to have big shows this year?

Hayden-Harnett Madeleine Riding Boots

2008-12-26T11:00:59Z

I was lucky enough to get the chance to interview Hayden-Harnett designer Toni Hacker back in October and she's so great! I'm dying to get my hands on a pair of her Madeleine Riding Boots ($448) which come in a beautiful brandy color (also black and eucalyptus). Toni was so excited about her new (and first!) collection of boots a few months ago when I interviewed her and she let me feel the samples so I know that they're super comfy and cozy! I keep gearing-up to head to her store in Greenpoint because I'm not sure what size I am so I don't want to risk getting the wrong one online, but this damn cold weather keeps making me chicken-out! In addition to boots, come January 2009, Hayden-Harnett will have a whole range of flats, sandals, wedges and pumps:) But, in the meantime, check-out the boot collection and preview of the Hayden-Harnett Spring collection here!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO OUR FELLOW SNOBS!

2008-12-25T05:00:00Z

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. And hopefully you have everything you want waiting for you under your tree. We had yet another amazing year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support and love. Have a safe, fun and incredibly well dressed New Years =)

Love always,
Couture Snob Kelly and Couture Snob Tina