Recently in Belts Category

This has got to be the sweetest outfit I've seen all year. Kate Mara (no idea who she is, someone please enlighten me) rocks Dior's frilly dress with a fabulous white laser cut Oscar de la Renta belt (I ordered mine at the trunk show, can't wait to get it!!  Email Mindy at Oscar to order one).

The clutch is also Dior and I love that she (or her stylist) chose black-- it makes the outfit dressier and less sugary.  My only complaint is her hair.  She couldn't have done something better with the hair?  It looks like sloppy wet hair pulled back in a scraggly ponytail.  I'm not advocating a head of curls or a blow out; how about a brush and maybe a dab of hair product?

What do you think? 

Invest in a few key accessories this season and you'll update your wardrobe instantly. The cage from YSL stirred up the runways and now it's making its way to the realways. But don't go head to toe and overdose in the grid, choose one (the YSL- soft patent grid belt OR the YSL - Metallic strappy cage sandals , not both) and mix it up.

This pair of GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI platform sandals are perfect with the grid belt € 345.00, it has a similar vibe without being too matchy match. But if you have no love for belts go for the uber modern cage sandals below, € 890.00.  Throw on YSL - Crystal predator cuff instantly dress up a pair of distressed jeans or glam up a simple dress, € 1250.00.

From the LBD to jeans, a boho chic dress or skirt-- learning the fashion grid is key to the season.  All at Luisa via roma.

I just scanned my calendar and have half a dozen black tie events planned for the rest of the year. I used to love dressing up for these things when I didn't work and didn't have children but now am tired and grumpy. Pizza and a DVD at home with my son and hubby is actually the highlight of my life these days. Let's not even go in to how much gowns cost but Couture Snob Heidi and I justify gown purchases because they are timeless and we can wear it year after year (it's what we tell our husbands anyway). I am not a lover of overly beaded and embellished... I like my gowns to be elegant, which is why I love this Ungaro gown but it seems to lack something. Then I saw this belt, now that is a statement! It is just the small detail that will make the gown from pretty to fabulous-- plus I'll be able to wear it with other things! But I have a problem with the belt costing more than the gown. So I'll have to pass on both.

But what about you? Do you think it's worth it to buy a belt that costs so much more than the actual gown??? Ungaro gown Net a Porter $1,130 and Ceinture belt at Net a Porter $1,730

I was really against animal print clothes, bags, accessories, etc, as a young girl.  It just seemed so,,, well,,, old to me.  But now that I am old, my inner Leo is coming out and I am yearning for a piece or two of leopard to add to my wardrobe.  My three year old son wholeheartedly agrees.  I was looking at a vintage YSL leopard coat from Decades today and he was hanging on my arm as he likes to do and he looked over and said "oh, a cheetah dress mommy?  You gonna be a cheetah?  How 'bout giraffe?  I like giraffes.  Maybe you can dress like monkey?  Monkey is my favorite."  How cute is he!?!?!?  So I am still looking for that perfect little piece (hopefully one that won't make my little one think I am dressing up for Halloween), maybe a belt or a vintage short swing coat like the one Kate is sporting in this photo.  But it's tricky because you can go from stylish to tawdry in a minute with too much leopard.   Like this ocelot skirt for example, it's just a bit too much.  But the belt, that works for me and would look fab on a black dress or skirt.  What do you think of animal prints?  Snob or Slob?

One of the treasures I brought back from Paris is my favorite belt of the moment (and possibly of all time)-- the Collier de Chien belt from Hermes.  I have been wanting this belt forever but they never carried small sizes in the US (what-- do they think we're all obese?) so I had to wait until I got to the Paris boutique to get the size 76 (still big but at least manageable around the hips though I am going to try to get Claude to size it down to a 70).  Anywho, my lovely, fabulous, punky glam belt is in black calfskin with silver hardware.  I know, despite my efforts to pretend I am still a teen, I show my age everytime I talk about how great the 80's were.  This belt reminds me of the glory of the 80's when Pat Benatar flaunted her studded belts and cuffs with pride.  I feel instantly tough when I put it on, and I even walk differently-- there is a boldness in my step and a "don't f$*% with me" sneer that I take on without meaning to.  Bizarre but true.  It's borderline trashy but being Hermes, it is made exceptionally well and hopefully will dispel any speculation that I am A.) a streetwalker or B.) an ex of Sid Vicious.  $1,575 USD or 1200 Euro.