tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25344886448551647932024-03-20T02:57:31.513-07:00The Naive AestheteLaura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-4620822759923687572012-01-16T15:47:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:07:42.575-08:00The Red Carpet at the Golden Globes 2012<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I'll be the first to admit that my favorite part of any reputable award show is the red carpet arrivals. The surprise of who wore what, the breath-taking, beautiful starlets adorned in the best of a designer, and the inevitable actress who sadly misses the mark, all of it ads up to any fashionista's dream program. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This year's Golden Globe awards seemed to host the average number of "wow" gowns, mediocre dresses, and "what the heck was she thinking!??!" frocks. For the sake of all that is tasteful, I won't be focusing on the latter, but rather would like to put forth my list of the best-dressed ladies from last night's arrival show (in no particular order). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My first group focuses on some A-list actresses who always tend to stun the crowd with each of their impeccable styles. The second group centers more on seasoned actresses who take more serious roles, but are also always the essence of elegance. Finally, the third group focuses on the new-comers to the Hollywood scene; the girls we can look forward to seeing some really great stuff from for years to come (I know Zooey is a bit older, but I still consider her a fresh face). If need be, click to enlarge the photos for a closer look and enjoy!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUKZAh_S7yNVpR_NQYF0-Gwbg3nOw715bNQXVz0Ptecp26XZk5dc2-YeLW-JwhRGE_2JHPfLTVFtOSxmaRx5GiM07vT-jNcooDFcJMTKAAATjUmtWsjjLvsmJVjzPsKdsfVZmPrK1tY0/s1600/first3goldenglobes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUKZAh_S7yNVpR_NQYF0-Gwbg3nOw715bNQXVz0Ptecp26XZk5dc2-YeLW-JwhRGE_2JHPfLTVFtOSxmaRx5GiM07vT-jNcooDFcJMTKAAATjUmtWsjjLvsmJVjzPsKdsfVZmPrK1tY0/s640/first3goldenglobes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1-G6pNq9pmcz4LOxa4VzgArLmOXAG_SQfggdU-0Sec4pJ1Yt6Oiwkisf6hxlo1Sm5mJsNmJILAGOjRxGzD6P4ie9QGxnIZ3chT_xm8nOx_T0EHgRsarTZK_MGjK3KezpfyQUS9mqNhc/s1600/3groupGG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1-G6pNq9pmcz4LOxa4VzgArLmOXAG_SQfggdU-0Sec4pJ1Yt6Oiwkisf6hxlo1Sm5mJsNmJILAGOjRxGzD6P4ie9QGxnIZ3chT_xm8nOx_T0EHgRsarTZK_MGjK3KezpfyQUS9mqNhc/s640/3groupGG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I, of course, would have made a few slight changes to some of the ladies. For example, Angelina could do with not looking so frigid and uncomfortable, while Salma needs to get that two-toned hair off of her gown (the color is distracting) and off of her shoulders, as I think elegance usually comes in the form of an up-do. I think Helen Mirren was really overlooked this year as one of the best dressed ladies (maybe because of her age), but I thought she had it spot on (especially for her age); the color of the gown is perfect, her hairdo is elegant, the cut of the dress is impeccable--I'm in love with the whole look. My last minor tweak would have to be to Ms. Deschanel, because, while her custom-made frock may be both unique and gorgeous, her silly bangs and sixties house wife hairstyle really take away from the dress's modern and womanly feel. I think it's time for Zooey to lose the fringe and move on to a more mature cut that could really showcase her lovely eyes. Also, this dress has enough going on at the shoulders and neck without the distraction of debutant hair, get it back!! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Aside from my minor complaints (hey, there had to be a few), I really thought these women knocked it out of the park with their choices. I can't wait to see what the Oscars will have in store!! Did you get to watch the Golden Globes this year? Did you think anyone was unjustly left off of my list or undeservedly put on? As always, share your thoughts!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com4Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3747144 -73.697999 45.6426254 -73.409985999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-22978869614200519172012-01-14T19:26:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:17:22.337-08:00The Perils of the North<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well that temperature drop came on pretty fast, along with about one foot of snow (maybe more)!! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoTSepapvnHxjFSLx1koRGXn6FnDThiXg5_h9N2yg02QYy66iWk-wmDZiMgyS9ZXrDbHmC92gIOSS1PT04pq0TL1Stv_Pth8HQAd19MHKZy9NIAIUiQ4VlHlQpTP63In9qhy7Ld7nf_8/s1600/snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoTSepapvnHxjFSLx1koRGXn6FnDThiXg5_h9N2yg02QYy66iWk-wmDZiMgyS9ZXrDbHmC92gIOSS1PT04pq0TL1Stv_Pth8HQAd19MHKZy9NIAIUiQ4VlHlQpTP63In9qhy7Ld7nf_8/s400/snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2vRJA3zc31qVlkFwtlV_t0hDaEjMz-rsSKNrVf8vQG6F1fUeBlk0MBW_-9FPq03ovExr-atsxEh5yHziisz2vLhFbitiWxvu2mZeqw1KJvNQ3eHoFebHgWKfocTill49KLUk8w8T6bg/s1600/snowycars2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2vRJA3zc31qVlkFwtlV_t0hDaEjMz-rsSKNrVf8vQG6F1fUeBlk0MBW_-9FPq03ovExr-atsxEh5yHziisz2vLhFbitiWxvu2mZeqw1KJvNQ3eHoFebHgWKfocTill49KLUk8w8T6bg/s400/snowycars2.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">I've been trying to keep somewhat optimistic about staying fashionable through these treacherous times, but today when my Mac widget dropped below 0F I had to draw a line. Something about being in the negatives just forces one to choose logic over style (boo). This really begs the question: if you live in a climate where walking to the bus stop feels like summitting Everest, how do you keep your stylish flares about you? Here are my few ideas, starting with a good parka. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrALt8KpS2vSTwLs3DK9LpCHxeLJrDkAxKs2a3lgPGlid3DIjrVL7hAA5zG9inwbYYIQyLyJBdWh40WNpcaLE2KkXNOSCH2XkKCuNP9Fx3YK-pZrpcaRWVDWzAUFAK-26_IyUmp-wFHg/s1600/frontcoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrALt8KpS2vSTwLs3DK9LpCHxeLJrDkAxKs2a3lgPGlid3DIjrVL7hAA5zG9inwbYYIQyLyJBdWh40WNpcaLE2KkXNOSCH2XkKCuNP9Fx3YK-pZrpcaRWVDWzAUFAK-26_IyUmp-wFHg/s400/frontcoat.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1UYC5nVB0rHgSFo4UZ-juiTZuffQv65xEcM-qpmIrcpiHpYtrMVgkLkWcwesmRnQLuIJLP1psqwv5yegf0Z1GrMxDKpWx-mt8iS0C_z9i9F819I4VqQR6pJ25pQXoif6UPM-6fQjdUI/s1600/backcoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1UYC5nVB0rHgSFo4UZ-juiTZuffQv65xEcM-qpmIrcpiHpYtrMVgkLkWcwesmRnQLuIJLP1psqwv5yegf0Z1GrMxDKpWx-mt8iS0C_z9i9F819I4VqQR6pJ25pQXoif6UPM-6fQjdUI/s400/backcoat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yep, it was cold today, hence my creepy anonymity....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">My parka is actually a hand-me-down from my mother. She bought it in Switzerland in the nineties when I was but a tot, and to her utter surprise the fad is coming full circle this season (along with just about every other decade's style). Here are some cute parkas for all budgets that will keep you warm, and will allow you to still maintain your chic persona: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl75kWxK8w2EvPhzHWYa0Y9WtMUi9PneoJwiTGSHXUEZEgXSlk_mGs15LAfuSOTfP4ZgG0uKMPhkE3Ayprjs0nz_wXEHZb04aE4SE25JkhzU6A1BFL2WJDKAYOVW2jfU75-g7niM6IYE4/s1600/background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl75kWxK8w2EvPhzHWYa0Y9WtMUi9PneoJwiTGSHXUEZEgXSlk_mGs15LAfuSOTfP4ZgG0uKMPhkE3Ayprjs0nz_wXEHZb04aE4SE25JkhzU6A1BFL2WJDKAYOVW2jfU75-g7niM6IYE4/s640/background.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Another must have for the basic warm-blooded individual living in the northern most parts of our hemisphere, is a good pair of fingerless gloves. Why fingerless, you may ask? Well, just think of how much easier it makes your life if every time you want to text, grocery shop, write something down or just wiggle the old digits around you don't have to remove your entire glove! I find them incredibly convenient, my pair is from J. Crew.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzYviX158AaW1kL5-q1WxQ0YpZDY7pvGPz3znn8324tDmMtGUYbqjEsrRzWR6b6dqLmZ63Dh9Bc-G3p5tiEQnjAmha8ZSz_PLAQoYJeRznhJV6UhOpgt1YtXSKYYfh2zs3uNyY8kM75M/s1600/gloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzYviX158AaW1kL5-q1WxQ0YpZDY7pvGPz3znn8324tDmMtGUYbqjEsrRzWR6b6dqLmZ63Dh9Bc-G3p5tiEQnjAmha8ZSz_PLAQoYJeRznhJV6UhOpgt1YtXSKYYfh2zs3uNyY8kM75M/s400/gloves.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">The challenge in finding a good fingerless glove is that it's hard to find a pair that also has a cap to go over your fingers to keep them warm. So here are my picks for the coziest and cutest fingerless gloves (rollover the image for details):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
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<center style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/"><img height="480" onmouseout="this.src='https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/403694_2620810554728_1089090007_32173788_47246929_n.jpg'" onmouseover="this.src='https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/394264_2620810754733_1089090007_32173789_827835665_n.jpg'" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/403694_2620810554728_1089090007_32173788_47246929_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></center><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More winter clothing ideas to come, until then stay warm, toasty and fashionable (it is possible)! Feel free to send in your ideas of how to stay chic during these frigid times. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3747144 -73.697999 45.6426254 -73.409985999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-75743573939686457182012-01-12T10:31:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:48:08.309-08:00Fotoshop by Adobé<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In response to a comment I received today about airbrushing and its relation to the way that women view themselves, I've decided to post this genius spoof ad that dropped a couple days ago on YouTube. The advert highlights a hot new product that will "erase" blemishes and give you a hot new body, without even exercising! Because "why eat healthy and exercise when you can just look like you do?" The ad perfectly mimics the stock beauty product promotions that we see everyday on TV and really begs the question: where are our standards coming from?! As Jesse Rosten, the creator of the ad, so concisely puts it: <span style="color: #e06666;">“This commercial isn’t real, neither are society’s standards of beauty."</span> Cheers to that! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/S_vVUIYOmJM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S_vVUIYOmJM&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S_vVUIYOmJM&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So what does this satirical approach say to you? Has it opened your eyes a little bit? It certainly got me to thinking a bit. As always, please leave your thoughts. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx<br />
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P.S I'm certainly not trying to bash any celebs here, but here are a few examples of photos that are supposedly pre and post photoshop:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://itsawomansworld.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/kim_kardashian_photoshop.jpg?w=400&h=242" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://itsawomansworld.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/kim_kardashian_photoshop.jpg?w=400&h=242" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.modelmanagement.com/library/uploads/MADONNA-PHOTOSHOP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://blog.modelmanagement.com/library/uploads/MADONNA-PHOTOSHOP3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/1/11940/22_2007/britney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/1/11940/22_2007/britney.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Hmmm...</div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com1Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3747144 -73.697999 45.6426254 -73.409985999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-35543470919733242102012-01-11T19:48:00.000-08:002012-01-11T20:02:27.299-08:00You're Plus-Size or You're Anorexic<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You know what's more fun than job hunting? Everything. Especially writing thank you notes, watching obscene hours of "Revenge" (seriously check it out), blogging, flossing, trying to find matching socks...well you get the picture. I am doing it though!! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://getfile9.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-04-07/oErhAIBoHFkgveElbyIHBycGwypnneEhzojIscHvFgAHbJkonhnpGsuzzIdw/procrastination-fortune-cookie.jpg.scaled500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://getfile9.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-04-07/oErhAIBoHFkgveElbyIHBycGwypnneEhzojIscHvFgAHbJkonhnpGsuzzIdw/procrastination-fortune-cookie.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mantra These Days</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In other news, I feel like everyday on one fashion site or another I read something about how women feel about their weight in relation to what they see in the media, and the morality of the portrayal of women in fashion ads, magazines, fashion shows etc. Keeping with the promise of featuring more academic and thought provoking content on my blog, I've decided to tackle this subject from a slightly different angle. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There have been ads and stats coming out recently that highlight the fact that the typical skinny model is too thin, while the plus-sized model is the "everyday woman." Sadly, what I discovered on Wikipedia (now that I've graduated I can shamelessly use it as a resource) reports that the average American woman is a size 14, while the average plus size model is between a size 10 and a 12. So, do we really need to see more "everyday women" in the industry? Some say, yes of course, celebrate all body types! While other people disagree, and argue that by portraying more "full-figured women" in the media, it will send the message that an unhealthier lifestyle is okay. Sure, I see that side of the story, but unhealthier by whose standards? It's no secret that the high number of skinny women saturating our society, who are portrayed as the ideal, are equally as capable of contributing to diseases such as Anorexia and Bulimia. Not to mention that girls with naturally high metabolisms, who are just biologically skinny, are understandably offended by always seeing the skinnier models in magazines being accused of anorexia, while plus-sized women seem critically untouchable. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In my opinion, either claim is rather demeaning to women; the first argument seems to suggest that we should only celebrate larger women, which, let's face it, may not be the best approach in a nation of morbid obesity, while the second argument makes it seem as though it's not okay to embrace whatever size you may be, even if you live a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and exercise. Frankly ladies, where is the middle ground? If we're looking at this objectively, we're definitely still not celebrating all sizes here. I happen to fall somewhere in between a size 00 and a size 10 (and that's all you need to know!!) so where do I fit in to the fashion industry? Where is my representation? I say either represent the same 1% you have been, or represent us ALL! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The argument that fashion models are just "hangers for the clothing" who shouldn't distract from the designer's creations seems well founded, but we also have to keep in mind that we live in a world where models are now celebrities. I mean, really, like anyone at the Louis Vuitton S/S 12 show didn't see Kate Moss coming down the runway and think "Holy cow, it's Kate Moss! Oh and that dress is lovely too..." Get real. Models are plenty distracting, especially when they become household names. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ultimately this "she's anorexic" and "she's fat" repertoire is just the next manifestation of the mean girl in high school who is so insecure and jealous that she has to bring everyone down around her. It seems women have always been hard-wired to bring one another down for one physical flaw or another, but why? Why even separate the term "plus-size" from regular modelling? Why not just call it modelling? Men of all builds are represented in the media, big men, skinny men, even men with bellies, but they're ALL CALLED MODELS. Why are women any different? Here is a prime example of the way women exhibit their insecurities when they feel threatened by either the status quo or something different from themselves...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This ad, which I discovered on <a href="http://fashionista.com/">Fashionista.com</a>, was recently published in <i>Plus Model Magazine</i>: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fashionista.com/uploads/2012/01/KatiaJan2012_3-e1326228507297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://fashionista.com/uploads/2012/01/KatiaJan2012_3-e1326228507297.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now besides the fact that the stats in this spread are undoubtedly misleading as Anorexia is not about BMI, but a mental issue related to food, AND it is a magazine for plus size models, the responses from the public really showed what is at the core of this whole debate: larger women feel marginalized, unrepresented and pressured to be skinnier which leads to resentment of the skinnier women, while skinner women feel this resentment is unjustified as they either have high metabolisms or work hard for their figures, which leads to backlash:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"utter bollocks. ever heard of the word metabolism? or genes?"</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> "There will never be a happy medium with this topic, people are continuing to become more obese and just bigger in general. Just because the average women is a size 14, that doesn't make it okay. In a few years she'll be even bigger, then what???"</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"This emphasis on starvation-skinny figures (because yes, the vast majority of women cannot have these figures without starving themselves!) is incredibly damaging to our society."</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"As a young person I do not look at models and say let me skip a meal, why because I have a mind of my own! People need to quit thinking that teen girls are so stupid and impressionable!"</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"You do realize that while you might think that stretch marks and cellulite are a 90 year old's issue, a majority of women have them. It's a natural part of growing."</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> "yeah its natural for people who dont know how to eat and exercise right..."</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was happy to see some pro-women comments across the board as well: </div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"I hate this whole - "Plus-sized women are 'real' women, and thin women aren't" thing; this battle over what size is best. It's ludicrous, and it's just a part of the media's attempt to keep women unsatisfied with their size and jealous of one another no matter what ('cause hey, it sells more fashion and beauty product, ladies!)."</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"As long as a person is mentally and physically healthy, I dont see why people care so much about BMI."</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">"I wish we could stop making broad assumptions one way or the other. Thin does not equal "health" just as fat does not equal "sick"."</span> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know that this is not all black and white, of course, as there is a very high rate of Anorexia in our country, which can largely be attributed to what we see in the media. Similarly there is a soaring rate of obesity, which needs to be dealt with accordingly. However, we can't let the media dictate how women feel about women. We should be fighting hard to get models of every range into the industry, AND more importantly respecting ALL body types. That means from very skinny to curvy and fuller formed. I'm certainly not saying we should be advertising unhealthy overweight women, but just spread the love around; if you're healthy, you exercise, and you eat right, then what's the problem? Food for thought, I'd love to hear your opinions!! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx</div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com3Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3747144 -73.697999 45.6426254 -73.409985999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-37771693570460125672011-12-12T19:41:00.000-08:002011-12-13T12:16:51.034-08:00Deck the Halls with Boughs of Pink!!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think at least those of us living in the north can agree that winter is a bleak time with a palette that basically ranges from black to grey. It's hard not to feel a little brought down by all of the dark shades of winter, coupled with the freezing (literally) weather and the grey pall that covers the sky. Recently on blogs, however, I've seen much welcome pops of colors amidst the sea of monotone, which I really hope to see translating onto the streets soon. The primary culprit of these surprising breaks in a basic all black winter outfit? <span style="color: #e06666;">PINK</span>! I'm not a super girly girl, but I have my moments, and I can appreciate pink in moderation for sure.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I even put a few pink items on my finalized Christmas list (which my mom finally got me to cut down and specify). Honestly though, am I the only one who finds the holiday season a little...stressful? This year I've vowed to get all of my shopping done online to really minimize the stress, and I advise, if possible, that you all do the same--anything to minimize that holiday stress...Anyway, here are some really chic examples of how you can incorporate splashes of <span style="color: #e06666;">pink</span> into your holiday wardrobe! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmXjjLKF6V4DE05d4wGT6SAsu3Q6CQfWnH4GQzq55j8D1QzHo7IaMsN-JlzTcqYLqIZO-ycoOxqqQjFJJRQV4eGcHB-AtOSG8pR3vNaL95YjWemQqcgfG2MrPWXA1Tu965xkT3d6Jyj4/s400/2619854640_1_1_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="310" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zara Purl Knit Sweater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZTO_5C15kNUXIrcjJ5PlK1n-qN6odgp_w788nGsiUk0y-dHuTFfhM8zWjeube0Bx-j0dIK9rxeKlyEyvIqWsqUBlrssU34vFp08wwt-2d_-SuzZ9VCSerBs7Zq5mKd4dJjihmcdKzdE/s1600/1778126__DSC0775-horz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZTO_5C15kNUXIrcjJ5PlK1n-qN6odgp_w788nGsiUk0y-dHuTFfhM8zWjeube0Bx-j0dIK9rxeKlyEyvIqWsqUBlrssU34vFp08wwt-2d_-SuzZ9VCSerBs7Zq5mKd4dJjihmcdKzdE/s640/1778126__DSC0775-horz.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Markey HQ Anywhere Ankle Boot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-5JV4n3hjzmIzOQ_gt1fIQoceedBnd1xr4hpSAXDWJcPnS3l2nQ8cAbAK14ziNs38ITcd9LSKaVgxkGaSBCmVa2PBK9pxDnbQuohOuBn5Zjh5COfIxEYVgeQlABuwgtwvRBz5jRM3rs/s1600/1778649_Dec_11th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-5JV4n3hjzmIzOQ_gt1fIQoceedBnd1xr4hpSAXDWJcPnS3l2nQ8cAbAK14ziNs38ITcd9LSKaVgxkGaSBCmVa2PBK9pxDnbQuohOuBn5Zjh5COfIxEYVgeQlABuwgtwvRBz5jRM3rs/s640/1778649_Dec_11th.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambridge Satchel Company Neon Bag (pink)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yCAlIJ_pDxedpHyudMTC-2-PLu-S5BC1wEd7UJf3svJYNW-JRRh6VUFfdVOTnqQyqIuYi8carTx5inudnYhjntSDdJ9kpEFr6e43Px6M3vUyzHqBJG8pnXyS8yJPVhlGit23liHvG7I/s1600/1778965_fds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yCAlIJ_pDxedpHyudMTC-2-PLu-S5BC1wEd7UJf3svJYNW-JRRh6VUFfdVOTnqQyqIuYi8carTx5inudnYhjntSDdJ9kpEFr6e43Px6M3vUyzHqBJG8pnXyS8yJPVhlGit23liHvG7I/s640/1778965_fds.jpg" width="553" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Pink Socks </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhBl7_RvYEiG428vB9BVix7cbQ73mSPGqrAw8Tz4zuHWAkdo0izYKcAULtkGvJ_hplNjcO77xqRzsRcq-4iR7c31W95rcfXj1078VWUkz4ljmEeQYNijaYVXO0FiTDkHkMI1hqCtI8Iw/s1600/-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhBl7_RvYEiG428vB9BVix7cbQ73mSPGqrAw8Tz4zuHWAkdo0izYKcAULtkGvJ_hplNjcO77xqRzsRcq-4iR7c31W95rcfXj1078VWUkz4ljmEeQYNijaYVXO0FiTDkHkMI1hqCtI8Iw/s400/-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Very Own Lancôme "S.O.S Pink" </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJMiEgzckPePGQfx1PYfLp-_vWD5MaRKX2HqVZ0tHQKkno-TXxQNaoQgct1Ow8bkcFZsWA0nt0y4xF6wDI8CL5D1bRDYqF5kAXMNQhU9AXJ1HF1H1k30v_wHXoDuq199R5ZXX0ZcA2Sc/s1600/2864e4f07a7c13feef93b8ec3ce9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJMiEgzckPePGQfx1PYfLp-_vWD5MaRKX2HqVZ0tHQKkno-TXxQNaoQgct1Ow8bkcFZsWA0nt0y4xF6wDI8CL5D1bRDYqF5kAXMNQhU9AXJ1HF1H1k30v_wHXoDuq199R5ZXX0ZcA2Sc/s400/2864e4f07a7c13feef93b8ec3ce9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun Tacky Stuff!</td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">See? Whether it's your makeup, your accessories or your clothes, <span style="color: #e06666;">pink</span> really just works in the winter (plus your serotonin will thank you)! So go out there and get your girl on! And as they say here in Montreal (even on the bus monitors), <span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps">joyeuses fêtes! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps">Ciao for now xx </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
P.S. For you fellow fashion bloggers out there, I came across this really interesting TED talk from a very successful "ego blogger" that you guys should find pretty interesting. I found it really useful and inspirational!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>*Photos from Lookbook.nu and Zara.com</i></span></div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3747144 -73.697999 45.6426254 -73.409985999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-14042797894001521542011-12-10T14:06:00.000-08:002011-12-12T10:01:19.007-08:00¡HALA MADRID (fashion)!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250447_1817107182646_1089090007_31648716_1070983_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250447_1817107182646_1089090007_31648716_1070983_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's no secret that moving to a different city can subtly change a person's style, especially when that city is completely foreign and on the other side of the world. Today Real Madrid plays FC Barcelona (soccer teams for those who don't know) and the hype is bringing me back to those four months I spent living in Spain's capital. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Madrid was a really nice break from Boston's uptight homogenous style, but I also found that there were some unspoken rules that were expected to be adhered--and the only way one would find out about such rules was by wearing something seemingly harmless out of the house, and then being stared at on the metro, or walking down the street, or in a restaurant. Madrileños aren't exactly shy about staring in a way that would be considered rude in any American city. For example, going into my semester abroad, I knew that walking around barefoot was considered rude because feet have some sort of stigma in Spain. However, I didn't realize that along with this basic rule of always wearing house slippers or socks, it was pretty much necessary to always wear stockings or socks, even in 90 degree weather. If a girl wore flats, she also wore sheer stocking socks, and if she wore shorts, she also wore sheer or nude stockings. This fad struck me as really odd, and I think it also has a lot to do with their aversion to a natural look. Most Madrileños wear A LOT of make up, spend a lot of time on hair etc etc. Not that there is anything wrong with a look that's a little more...superficial...it was just a big leap from Boston, which has always been a bit more about celebrating natural beauty---probably because there are so many college students, while Madrid's mean age is a lot higher, so much so that it's creating problems with social security. On that note I also seemed to get the stink eye when I went outside with damp hair or no makeup...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">ANYWAY, I did not create this post to bash Madrid fashion, because there are parts of it that I really love, and I bought some great pieces while I was over there. Some of my favorite places to shop in Madrid were H&M (for some reason it's just better in Europe, and kind of sucks in the states), Pull & Bear, Bershka, Mango and Zara (duh!). Here are some of my favorite things I picked up: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zara Zebra Shirt </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFGYU4Y2xqArxd0G5vAIpmwEyulp83uSeaqE0j79ffl_zc63Xl-KgbxekGwwNe9XUl1HrPPyTSGLFrPmCmAS_2fNqhxnbbOfhhxZYHcWgMy-XZP9ZwGTyG5zg58XHaE1AXtQ2gKjNerc/s1600/upright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFGYU4Y2xqArxd0G5vAIpmwEyulp83uSeaqE0j79ffl_zc63Xl-KgbxekGwwNe9XUl1HrPPyTSGLFrPmCmAS_2fNqhxnbbOfhhxZYHcWgMy-XZP9ZwGTyG5zg58XHaE1AXtQ2gKjNerc/s400/upright.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pleated Black Bershka Skirt </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzkITh8MlrTjWnhHa4ghCwqCCVaoD0JPsGc1u-IPvy5og2vp_M7td38gn-a6oxrZq7BsqOd9_rHro71G4JG058RDF2dUzglGrrhOdLq8uQ5BJ6emkXeKH4Q1U5JxxaoOwGT0bXSsA9IU/s1600/249791_1817071501754_1089090007_31648513_5468952_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzkITh8MlrTjWnhHa4ghCwqCCVaoD0JPsGc1u-IPvy5og2vp_M7td38gn-a6oxrZq7BsqOd9_rHro71G4JG058RDF2dUzglGrrhOdLq8uQ5BJ6emkXeKH4Q1U5JxxaoOwGT0bXSsA9IU/s400/249791_1817071501754_1089090007_31648513_5468952_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pleated H&M Shirt </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgFjdlsGAQ1SSehyphenhyphenzXlPcLwV3WvQE243o76hd_GVzeLFIBIGdRcB1zi0I5u65jtsyjSeV22tf_6c86MtopzrNA6kV3ro41INHBugz9t6gHEhP2cMc-N-BZjiMCe2cL3EOI6W2vCg1Joc/s1600/254969_1816691292249_1089090007_31647594_302234_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgFjdlsGAQ1SSehyphenhyphenzXlPcLwV3WvQE243o76hd_GVzeLFIBIGdRcB1zi0I5u65jtsyjSeV22tf_6c86MtopzrNA6kV3ro41INHBugz9t6gHEhP2cMc-N-BZjiMCe2cL3EOI6W2vCg1Joc/s400/254969_1816691292249_1089090007_31647594_302234_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mango Sweater</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkAz5Xg2R8j1lnFOVDW2GxnHeqkU1tqHSY-Zx43w4PTRydDgtCkM9yTiiCYQVqxccYbifbSgGoIzy_Si4kOn0OBcAlTSfC6s6KRPkJIf8V_2g955g6llEGx7Q2Rbi_T_5jfgSOKMe7Xg/s1600/252336_1816733213297_1089090007_31647820_3490821_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkAz5Xg2R8j1lnFOVDW2GxnHeqkU1tqHSY-Zx43w4PTRydDgtCkM9yTiiCYQVqxccYbifbSgGoIzy_Si4kOn0OBcAlTSfC6s6KRPkJIf8V_2g955g6llEGx7Q2Rbi_T_5jfgSOKMe7Xg/s400/252336_1816733213297_1089090007_31647820_3490821_n.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b13pVkeLG08eWeUeYL6VfZfh9cP6lVr143pb6t0TM1yMyeUthsCY3p8uL3yiySWbmD2yIfuAVngYMoJH-CqM9j69RQA7X5tof8h16DHIdwO0XGO3XsmSIyigQta6BvX3CIWC_va44V4/s1600/230275_1773043001069_1089090007_31594633_1701329_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b13pVkeLG08eWeUeYL6VfZfh9cP6lVr143pb6t0TM1yMyeUthsCY3p8uL3yiySWbmD2yIfuAVngYMoJH-CqM9j69RQA7X5tof8h16DHIdwO0XGO3XsmSIyigQta6BvX3CIWC_va44V4/s400/230275_1773043001069_1089090007_31594633_1701329_n.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRvBjzV8R_imAT-cGNzIAfE71srvkEesWceVhu-yQRTDEQF7609JMCARF74zIcuyPSkJ8lg-lIMXCNY0rG0dV4q38bJT6kS3EuER8VQQZU0-gTitFoPLuK8zF_4pH2_U1FZspLbvt118/s1600/307872_2048363003897_1089090007_31884419_1926432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRvBjzV8R_imAT-cGNzIAfE71srvkEesWceVhu-yQRTDEQF7609JMCARF74zIcuyPSkJ8lg-lIMXCNY0rG0dV4q38bJT6kS3EuER8VQQZU0-gTitFoPLuK8zF_4pH2_U1FZspLbvt118/s640/307872_2048363003897_1089090007_31884419_1926432_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mango Dress</td></tr>
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All in all Madrid's style takes more risk than Boston's, but is a lot like New York in that the palette tends to be darker, a lot of black, but still fashion forward. It's a place to take big risks with nighttime fashion, for clubs, bars etc. Madrid is the best place in the world to find a fun time at any hour of the night/early morning...oh the times I tip-toed into my señora's house at 6 AM. I miss Madrid a lot at times, even though being abroad coupled with the culture shock made for a roller coaster experience. Fashion may be slightly different in the major cities across the globe, but I think trends are universal, and it's possible to make any culture's fashion a part of your personal style. Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Madrid! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com2Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3747144 -73.697999 45.6426254 -73.409985999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-89702411812001839912011-12-09T12:04:00.000-08:002011-12-10T08:30:24.936-08:00Controversy Couture<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Finals are finally almost over, and I can now resume my normal schedule of blogging (almost) everyday! These past few days I've had some time to think about my blog and the direction that I want to take it, and I realized that once and a while I'd like to bring a more academic edge to my posts. I am graduating soon, and I can't pretend that my education hasn't shaped a huge part of my life and the person that I am today. I'm proud of the critical thinker I've become over the past 4 (and 1/2) years, so why not exercise the ol' neurons and synapses from time to time--that's what my Controversy Couture posts will aim to do. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last week I gave a brief presentation in one of my English classes regarding the role of children in fashion advertisements, and particularly how they are either made to look younger than they are and sexy, or older than they are and still sexy. I find both of these tactics quite disturbing. Various ads have come out recently portraying children as adults and as objects of desire, which really seems to blur the line between what is appropriate and inappropriate regarding the portrayal of children in the media. <br />
<br />
One particularly disturbing ad by Marc Jacobs was recently banned in the UK due to "sexualizing a child" and really jumped out at me because of its obvious reference to <u>Lolita</u> by Vladimir Nabokov. I think the concept of a "Lolita" has really altered since the book was released into quite a disturbing ideal. The story of Lolita has become so romanticized, when realistically it was a story about a 12 year old girl being sexually abused and taken advantage of by a middle aged man. In the book, for those who have not read it, Humbert Humbert, the pedophile, kidnaps Lolita after her mom dies, drugs her and sexually abuses her. In an article regarding the ad, Marc Jacobs is quoted as wanting to portray Dakota Fanning as a "contemporary Lolita...seductive, yet sweet." This quote really struck an odd chord with me because I remember reading the novel and finding it very disturbing, so it seems so strange to me that anyone would want to romanticize this story. Why as a culture do we idealize youth to the point that fashion ads have become borderline pedophilic?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dailystab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/dakota-fanning-marc-jacobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.dailystab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/dakota-fanning-marc-jacobs.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I mean it's so obviously sexual in nature, yet it also promotes this idea that children are...sexy?? I can totally understand why something like this would be banned in Britain. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More recently, I read <a href="http://fashionista.com/2011/08/new-french-lingerie-line-jours-apres-lunes-is-for-girls-ages-four-through-12-does-it-cross-the-line/" target="_blank">this article</a> on Fashionista.com regarding a line of French lingerie for children. Um, what?? For what purpose do children need lingerie, right?? Here we see the same problem that we see in many recent fashion ads from the odd <a href="http://fashionista.com/2011/07/is-this-gorgeous-10-year-old-french-model-the-next-big-thing-or-is-it-just-creepy/" target="_blank">Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau</a> photos to the beyond-her-years <a href="http://www.teen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/hailee-steinfeld-miu-miu-ad.jpg" target="_blank">Hailee Steinfeld</a> Miu Miu ads. To quote from the article, <span style="color: #e06666;">"despite being more age-appropriate, even the photographs for the “femme” collection are unsettling. The way the young-looking model is posed with that sunglasses-wearing teddy bear–she’s made to look like a child, while the actual children are made to look like adults."</span> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fashionista.com/uploads/2011/08/61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://fashionista.com/uploads/2011/08/61.jpg" width="228" /></a><a href="http://fashionista.com/uploads/2011/08/Screen-shot-2011-08-15-at-4.32.55-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://fashionista.com/uploads/2011/08/Screen-shot-2011-08-15-at-4.32.55-PM.png" width="212" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some people are saying that Americans have a "prudish" attitude towards this line, but I don't really think that's what it is. If kids are running around in bathing suits that's one thing, but to deliberately make them look younger or older in an attempt to sexualize them?? I just feel like this youth thing in our nation is going a little too far. Some claim that such advertising is meant to be satirical, but as mommyish.com points out, <span style="color: #e06666;"> "regardless of the intention for the</span><i style="color: #e06666;">...</i><span style="color: #e06666;">photographs, </span><b style="color: #e06666;"><i>children are still being used to convey it.</i></b><span style="color: #e06666;"> And even if the intended message is sympathetic to these child models, we’re nevertheless seeing these girls with a projected adult sexuality — we’re still being asked to view them in an adult way."<span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: #666666;">It seems this misguided romanticized "Lolita" idea has pervaded the fashion world in more ways than one, and I'm inclined to agree that it reflects poorly on the industry as a whole. What do you think? Do these types of ads have a place in our society? Or are they just exploiting children and sexualizing them? </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Can you tell I've been writing essays all week? Haha. Well, hopefully this inspired you to think a bit about some aspects of fashion from a more critical stand point. Tomorrow, something a little more fun, I promise! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: black;">Ciao for now xx </span></span></div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com2Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3747144 -73.697999 45.6426254 -73.409985999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-1790570155061376042011-12-03T13:34:00.000-08:002011-12-03T13:36:08.772-08:00That Time When Finals Ate My Life<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hello! I am alive! And I've been dying to blog, I swear, it' just...school. I know, lame excuse, plenty of people go to school or have jobs and still manage to blog, but seriously, it's the start of finals, meaning I really need to 180 my lazy 'tude and start cranking out the papers. Therefore, up until about next Friday my blogging is going to be a bit sporadic and random BUT still awesome and entertaining and aimed at being fantastic. Bueno? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, what has been the apple of my eye these days? There are few things I've been obsessing over as of late, oddly enough makeup is one of them! I really don't enjoy wearing a lot of makeup (I'm more into the natural look), but I really like watching people put it on...that sounds creepy and voyeuristic. I just mean that observing a good makeup artist is like watching a really skilled painter, only the art ends up on a two inch space on her face. I've been really into the blog <a href="http://www.dulcecandy.com/" target="_blank">Dulce Candy</a> lately for this reason, and I suggest taking a peak. Also, from her blog, I've found some really cool suggestions for potential stocking stuffers or cute gifts for friends (or yourself). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.zoovy.com/img/smbsi/W243-H245-Bffffff/N/nyxmls02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://static.zoovy.com/img/smbsi/W243-H245-Bffffff/N/nyxmls02.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nyx Matte Lipstick "Shocking Pink"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoi9FuaBDwYWvD5S5g_ewcMvNkmPZkGkAVVW_zNejHHqdMoytgSAbOB-Ae0KadbA2vMlWKsenk8ZjM_bpg3rNbxreQsTXLuMBmGCymcZWZSznjWLU22R-7W37ClbRQBeHd6FxYoWr8ic/s320/IMG_2190wtmk.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoi9FuaBDwYWvD5S5g_ewcMvNkmPZkGkAVVW_zNejHHqdMoytgSAbOB-Ae0KadbA2vMlWKsenk8ZjM_bpg3rNbxreQsTXLuMBmGCymcZWZSznjWLU22R-7W37ClbRQBeHd6FxYoWr8ic/s400/IMG_2190wtmk.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.zoovy.com/img/smbsi/W243-H245-Bffffff/N/nyxmls03.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://static.zoovy.com/img/smbsi/W243-H245-Bffffff/N/nyxmls03.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nyx Matte Lipstick "Hippie Chic" </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtLNlK5SRG7EwJ0GBWg3FkS3cGbQyRKcMLhfVbYgxXw4i4qWeePj_O2GjFX9aRLrUSWp0-QoDakfM8BM5brAPyDVxGZNGeA2bxVzwNRsiGkmhrwd5Nq0C00kezzYYjs9xIZYH7mAuaOc/s1600/nyxhippiepink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtLNlK5SRG7EwJ0GBWg3FkS3cGbQyRKcMLhfVbYgxXw4i4qWeePj_O2GjFX9aRLrUSWp0-QoDakfM8BM5brAPyDVxGZNGeA2bxVzwNRsiGkmhrwd5Nq0C00kezzYYjs9xIZYH7mAuaOc/s400/nyxhippiepink.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sample of "Hippie Chic"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because everyone needs a good nude lip color and an outrageous Barbie pink one! Also Nyx has really good reviews across the board AND it's super cheap (6$ for a tube of this stuff!). The other thing I've been really torturing myself with is just staring at pictures of beautiful color-blocked sparkly shoes...yes please!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/4/3/3/4/1704334/pink/image1xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/4/3/3/4/1704334/pink/image1xl.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ASOS Hampton Platform Color Blocked Heeled Sandals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/2/2/6/2/1782622/orange/image1xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/2/2/6/2/1782622/orange/image1xl.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ASOS Pelican Platform Toe Car Print Block Heels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/4/8/8/2/1702884/nudesilver/image1xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/4/8/8/2/1702884/nudesilver/image1xl.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ASOS Hush Color Blocked Bow Platform Sandal</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/7/3/6/2/1702637/blackpink/image1xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/7/3/6/2/1702637/blackpink/image1xl.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ASOS Hush Color Blocked Bow Platform Sandal </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/5/6/1/2/1702165/peacock/image1xl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/5/6/1/2/1702165/peacock/image1xl.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ASOS Hysteric Glitter Platform High Sandals</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/7/1/7/2/1702717/minkgreen/image1xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/7/1/7/2/1702717/minkgreen/image1xl.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ASOS Sonya Bow Toe Cap Mary Jane Shoes </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/5/6/0/4/1704065/greycoralcartreuse/image1xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/5/6/0/4/1704065/greycoralcartreuse/image1xl.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ASOS Pace Suede Double Strap Platform High Shoe</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I just think they bring a really cool new flavor to a classic holiday party outfit. If I could get one, I'd have to go with the Hamptons. I mean, how gorgeous would they look with a chic Little Black Dress on New Year's? Well, hopefully you'll be hearing from me soon, blogging is such a great outlet for me, I really do plan on writing sooner than later. What's on your Christmas list this year? Time to start thinking about it! The holiday season is upon us. I'll leave you off with a classic (a.k.a NOT the Biebes' version)...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yXQViqx6GMY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com2Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3747144 -73.697999 45.6426254 -73.409985999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-7023862277215502392011-11-27T13:09:00.000-08:002011-11-27T14:15:11.050-08:00A Sunday Stumble<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Who doesn't love some good alliteration? I'm thinking about making this a permanent fixture on my blog, just highlighting something new and exciting that I've randomly stumbled upon (not like the discovery engine) during the week that I just had to share with you! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This week I discovered the mystical world of <span style="color: #e06666;">Tim Walker</span>, a fashion photographer who plays with fairy tales and his wild imagination to bring fashion photography to a whole new level. I think his work can speak for itself...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2w6AeiLLsyY/TKKfUjr42sI/AAAAAAABQ24/0LnxOaPLqMk/s1600/Lily+Cole+Tim+Walker+11-733885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="423" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2w6AeiLLsyY/TKKfUjr42sI/AAAAAAABQ24/0LnxOaPLqMk/s640/Lily+Cole+Tim+Walker+11-733885.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://auntmame.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/tim-walker-balloons.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="http://auntmame.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/tim-walker-balloons.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://auntmame.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/i2vaz9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://auntmame.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/i2vaz9.jpeg" width="470" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://geeseamongstlions.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tim-walker-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://geeseamongstlions.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tim-walker-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ashestobeauty1.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/tired-girl-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="441" src="http://ashestobeauty1.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/tired-girl-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.todayandtomorrow.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/tim_walker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.todayandtomorrow.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/tim_walker.jpg" width="484" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.booooooom.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/timwalker_hermes_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.booooooom.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/timwalker_hermes_07.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/iTjHmvYKHQSH5OGfyUegfmgTZghH1C54U23vf-I0X4dZCJZiNQk0qmbUPTt*WY4uI2kU3DpwYlejTLukcbzDp4iaFdIAsU-e/ladygrey15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://api.ning.com/files/iTjHmvYKHQSH5OGfyUegfmgTZghH1C54U23vf-I0X4dZCJZiNQk0qmbUPTt*WY4uI2kU3DpwYlejTLukcbzDp4iaFdIAsU-e/ladygrey15.jpg" width="474" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.productionparadise.com/newsletters/398/photos/12638/original/tim-walker-shona-heath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.productionparadise.com/newsletters/398/photos/12638/original/tim-walker-shona-heath.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.models.com/oftheminute/images/2009/01/6-wb-tim-walker_tw_pastel_009_20x24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i.models.com/oftheminute/images/2009/01/6-wb-tim-walker_tw_pastel_009_20x24.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJS47XFXda6H2HdPtN1VjnwpBAsznHA3V_SOeRIpdCbVx2Pg3D3UHnr4N0c7psiYDNF6TktKUF30dIS0gCENxw40y_-1m5e0AjDQbfBdhCWAUlTShingrVBmGegp2-p93TbzCNn0vTPfY/s1600/Caroline+Trentini+by+tim+walker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJS47XFXda6H2HdPtN1VjnwpBAsznHA3V_SOeRIpdCbVx2Pg3D3UHnr4N0c7psiYDNF6TktKUF30dIS0gCENxw40y_-1m5e0AjDQbfBdhCWAUlTShingrVBmGegp2-p93TbzCNn0vTPfY/s640/Caroline+Trentini+by+tim+walker.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/qW8PFQnnJoS2W4hEEyxUIxY-9Y-b-P2JeKCxJGfEDSyqmrgT8oQVzwOpddtcPwUBJIDuqYhAq-BTsbna1BlIlq*SssIXz0Pa/3180389898_f45701fd34_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://api.ning.com/files/qW8PFQnnJoS2W4hEEyxUIxY-9Y-b-P2JeKCxJGfEDSyqmrgT8oQVzwOpddtcPwUBJIDuqYhAq-BTsbna1BlIlq*SssIXz0Pa/3180389898_f45701fd34_o.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Kind of eerie and fantastic, right??</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Uhh, you're just discovering Tim Walker??</i> I'm sure many of you are thinking. Well, yes. Yes I am, and that's way I call myself the <span style="color: #e06666;">naive aesthete</span>. I have to say, just getting into the fashion world now, and getting to dig through the treasure box that it is, has been an exhilerating journey so far. Everyday I get to discover something new, like this! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tim Walker does a lot of editorial work for <i>British Vogue</i>, and ad campaigns such as Juicy Couture and Dior. His work is easily recognizable, due to its extravagance and Alice in Wonderland-esque charms. He's been a freelance photographer for 15 years now, and rumor has it he is now working on a film! <span style="color: #e06666;">Very exciting</span>. Monday promises a new fashion house highlight, who will it be??</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com2Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-62931798261506974812011-11-26T12:59:00.000-08:002011-11-26T13:03:41.148-08:00*Weekend Obsessions*<div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Boyfriend Shirt </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What's not to love? It's flattering, comfortable, and versatile! I may have been abusing my boyfriend shirt this week, but I can't help it! It just goes with everything...</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpXmQRh9DbTZm3uOF174rI2tEgToFRPrvtjw4sH8jmI5EAw8EhvsyIf2lPn2SIMzbHv7tXmAlylv_WXaSYvYsNxPHUikTd6RPVrocUiO0qr1YZMbMkh4HJpwHKfpWhlyRWlxaE0LO0so/s1600/orangepants2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpXmQRh9DbTZm3uOF174rI2tEgToFRPrvtjw4sH8jmI5EAw8EhvsyIf2lPn2SIMzbHv7tXmAlylv_WXaSYvYsNxPHUikTd6RPVrocUiO0qr1YZMbMkh4HJpwHKfpWhlyRWlxaE0LO0so/s640/orangepants2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boyfriend Shirt and Belt: J Crew, Shoes: Madewell, Pants: Zara</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNQNMwnV1iis-NYjiwvnZIYcTkZrMWJyWDt5D6KDSV3qQggu-uglXToy8qK4wabA-TRMa2O9RkzYwr1-mqGG-INQgp20yIN8JwCZ9bf6K-3w_kdFhRVFpKI5Q6MWUPuq_9egDFZpjOM0/s1600/orangepants4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNQNMwnV1iis-NYjiwvnZIYcTkZrMWJyWDt5D6KDSV3qQggu-uglXToy8qK4wabA-TRMa2O9RkzYwr1-mqGG-INQgp20yIN8JwCZ9bf6K-3w_kdFhRVFpKI5Q6MWUPuq_9egDFZpjOM0/s640/orangepants4.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNQNMwnV1iis-NYjiwvnZIYcTkZrMWJyWDt5D6KDSV3qQggu-uglXToy8qK4wabA-TRMa2O9RkzYwr1-mqGG-INQgp20yIN8JwCZ9bf6K-3w_kdFhRVFpKI5Q6MWUPuq_9egDFZpjOM0/s1600/orangepants4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoXyIVVOz9A-MyKY91mIIoeuy3DTu7s6Vo4uhbx5MKazhdVq_Ujd8fhVKGZntizCq-BWqQQqGPsKPYAylWjW5T4KelPlxSuufOm_IP1fzTaYF6YBxj1_O8r0b-L_HdWB0CHWOm-nl1jY/s1600/tanpants2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoXyIVVOz9A-MyKY91mIIoeuy3DTu7s6Vo4uhbx5MKazhdVq_Ujd8fhVKGZntizCq-BWqQQqGPsKPYAylWjW5T4KelPlxSuufOm_IP1fzTaYF6YBxj1_O8r0b-L_HdWB0CHWOm-nl1jY/s640/tanpants2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding Pants: Zara, Boots: Urban Renewal, Watch: Michael Kors</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay-pIgC_GUrIyQXKYLvs-4ohWQSGFO0RS8w-7H9u_ZMhFFgkb0uVGE71zPgI6kXqT8PmZIeEaAVklBLatZbyRTtjz4-GaFqrEE7zygqdZ2x8g89nMsWQFMS-Q_aOnByhDvdvI99Xe_x8/s1600/tanpants3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay-pIgC_GUrIyQXKYLvs-4ohWQSGFO0RS8w-7H9u_ZMhFFgkb0uVGE71zPgI6kXqT8PmZIeEaAVklBLatZbyRTtjz4-GaFqrEE7zygqdZ2x8g89nMsWQFMS-Q_aOnByhDvdvI99Xe_x8/s640/tanpants3.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjavb_D8q4Qc6G-DIlvaCbJ64JtMdHOURT-uj5OUlFpCRLYbtRPi1lGdqNaEFEQBpQJCGDIv05TXDFVhzXIS5vzFN0W_bQy_YZ_aLAyBy0b57fxN6WcsOj4GPm7ksffQDZ9XrVuvRav0s/s1600/blackjacket1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjavb_D8q4Qc6G-DIlvaCbJ64JtMdHOURT-uj5OUlFpCRLYbtRPi1lGdqNaEFEQBpQJCGDIv05TXDFVhzXIS5vzFN0W_bQy_YZ_aLAyBy0b57fxN6WcsOj4GPm7ksffQDZ9XrVuvRav0s/s640/blackjacket1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blazer: Silence & Noise, Bag: Longchamp</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQub3RHlUsL6wtuKr8nU4H_VMAolq6B_T6FHepKp_dPp592amrbnFbz_G-GK-A3GagdiCI1Jbqk7pL0yq5CS_BNHOAf3Rfiu7xgQbQ8tJ5-4wuNqrWIPi3XmS6GeiMdZuJJ1MP8rHN3U/s1600/blackjacket2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQub3RHlUsL6wtuKr8nU4H_VMAolq6B_T6FHepKp_dPp592amrbnFbz_G-GK-A3GagdiCI1Jbqk7pL0yq5CS_BNHOAf3Rfiu7xgQbQ8tJ5-4wuNqrWIPi3XmS6GeiMdZuJJ1MP8rHN3U/s640/blackjacket2.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD3-igxhWlysZDkBMGHDKBls_Vfh_mHGNG-So6Pr3G8rZhbjmx-rL1sC8rT1kY8ZRsCHnhqW6EeVZAUv_y5JMcIrAeUKazj-u1xhxavDswGiY_htLym2bb5YVQ1eUXnLQZiDPIKGwo6s/s1600/palmtrees1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD3-igxhWlysZDkBMGHDKBls_Vfh_mHGNG-So6Pr3G8rZhbjmx-rL1sC8rT1kY8ZRsCHnhqW6EeVZAUv_y5JMcIrAeUKazj-u1xhxavDswGiY_htLym2bb5YVQ1eUXnLQZiDPIKGwo6s/s640/palmtrees1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pants: H&MxVersace, Sweater: GAP</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGtNhaYywiP9LOUSpsCmm-kVeMF2S1rGxEtYJOtoXR7OAllSjjmfe19Sf-f9fuA48NAEPOTsj-_6VoeQaDoFrlosr7PngCgZdy-uiXuNiQBKF6hcD-Q7AX0qwEdhi8BwekZuU0NsZoig/s1600/palm+trees3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGtNhaYywiP9LOUSpsCmm-kVeMF2S1rGxEtYJOtoXR7OAllSjjmfe19Sf-f9fuA48NAEPOTsj-_6VoeQaDoFrlosr7PngCgZdy-uiXuNiQBKF6hcD-Q7AX0qwEdhi8BwekZuU0NsZoig/s640/palm+trees3.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmIXGBVibOEHanWqYdaFhx8zeVLf_8NLDajVUkkIPKYG2Wol4oVRvkjQ7mz5xWoXh1qkheN9M4qilUzT3yAwoyd6FJc_heHyzHZwpmUM7KWlZJjVq5q1yBTPW-6TvwxZ7Vnar36OsW-E/s1600/palmtrees+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmIXGBVibOEHanWqYdaFhx8zeVLf_8NLDajVUkkIPKYG2Wol4oVRvkjQ7mz5xWoXh1qkheN9M4qilUzT3yAwoyd6FJc_heHyzHZwpmUM7KWlZJjVq5q1yBTPW-6TvwxZ7Vnar36OsW-E/s640/palmtrees+4.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And some celebrities gettin' their boyfriend shirt on...</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.denimblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/alexa-chung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.denimblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/alexa-chung.jpg" width="388" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexa Chung looking stylish as always </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://crissies.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/welovewhiteshirtsjeans.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="http://crissies.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/welovewhiteshirtsjeans.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fergie, Mischa Barton, Rachel Bilson, and Keira Knightly all rockin' the boyfriend shirt</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So what do you think of the classic style? Do you rock your boyfriend shirt with leggings, jeans, or in a totally different way?? In my opinion, it's one style you can never go wrong with. More obsessions to come tomorrow! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </span>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com2Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-11854252830058587012011-11-25T14:32:00.000-08:002011-11-25T18:44:24.368-08:00Marc Jacobs: A History of Success<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Happy late Thanksgiving everybody!</span> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Up here in Canada, us Americans don't get any holiday recognition (the Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, as they have an earlier harvest to celebrate), but I managed to rally together my roommates and collaborate on a really delicious meal! I made cheesecake (deadly...) and the rest of the meal went to the boys. All in all, it was a fantastic make shift "family" Thanksgiving with lots of laughs, good conversation, and random YouTube playlists (Harry Potter theme song anyone?). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The semester is slowly (and quickly) coming to a close, meaning I'm getting piles and piles of work that always seems to be due on the same day. Regardless, I'm still so excited to sit down at my computer everyday (almost) and get those creative juices flowing right onto the pages of my blog. Today is my last day highlighting Marc Jacobs, which I know I've been a little flighty about, but there are just so many exciting trends and events happening in the fashion world right now, such as a long whispered about collabo between Tom Ford and H&M, that it's hard to stay on track!<br />
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Speaking of topical fashion news, a Marc Jacobs advert for his new perfume "Oh Lola!" was recently banned in the U.K by the ASA, essentially for depicting a girl as "too childlike and sexual". Check out the story <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/11/marc-jacobs-dakota-fanning-ad-banned-uk.html" target="_blank">here</a> and share your thoughts; is the ad pedophilic in nature, or simply portraying a story?<br />
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Anyway, here it is, my little abridged Marc Jacobs history, complete with photos of his work from over the years...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Marc Jacobs was born April 9, 1963 in New York City. He showed an affinity for art at an early age as he graduated from the High School of Art and Design, and then went on to study at Parson's School of Design in New York City (Project Runway anybody?) In the mid 1980s he then joined forces with Robert Duffy, who is still his creative collaborator and business partner, and together they formed Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc., which still exists today. A couple years later, in 1986, Jacobs designed his first collection under the Marc Jacobs label. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static02.mediaite.com/styleite/power-grid/images/profiles/1902/Robert_Duffy_x200_x290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://static02.mediaite.com/styleite/power-grid/images/profiles/1902/Robert_Duffy_x200_x290.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Duffy</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In 1994 Marc Jacobs produced his first full collection of menswear, and just three years later, in 1997, he was appointed created director of Louis Vuitton. He created LV's first<a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/chloe-so-pret-porter-meaning.html" target="_blank"> <i>prêt-à-porter</i></a> collection, and he remains the creative director to this day. Just ten years ago, in 2001, Jacobs introduced his secondary line, Marc by Marc Jacobs, which is a diffusion line with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries. <br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bio_8-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Jacobs#cite_note-Bio-8"></a></sup></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jacobs continued to expand his company, and in 2006 he started a new line of body-splash fragrances in affordable 10 oz bottles. These fragrances have become increasingly popular in recent years. Jacobs has established himself as a prominent figure in the NYC celebrity scene, and he is quite a celebrity himself. Various celebrities commonly attend his fashion shows, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Gordon" target="_blank">Kim Gordon</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Gallo" target="_blank">Vincent Gallo</a>. Jacobs commonly references past decades through his collections, particularly the 1980s and 1940s. Upon describing his clothes, Jacobs has said "what I prefer is that even if someone feels hedonistic, they don't look it. Curiosity about sex is much more interesting to me than domination. ... My clothes are not hot. Never. Never."</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK64X1_Q6_fs2_qS6UTBiJPpYz1RFs6Ir9-GpBKdz89v65my6oXF6CvHw1DWCpcLtU6d-4jgwnb0OAAr3haUYNcZZMXDdmsJMX5uUO787XuNJCYSM0J2TIwemaBg2rgwGOzu4RzISS_yY/s1600/vintage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK64X1_Q6_fs2_qS6UTBiJPpYz1RFs6Ir9-GpBKdz89v65my6oXF6CvHw1DWCpcLtU6d-4jgwnb0OAAr3haUYNcZZMXDdmsJMX5uUO787XuNJCYSM0J2TIwemaBg2rgwGOzu4RzISS_yY/s640/vintage.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage Marc Jacobs Dress, <i>date unknown</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rn7W5yrNpH9KudhcnUerdVIwWml533EAeGWOZSUHhazsuLzp9IxdyIObkMlvC3tCW8hh59iJpcBt9YG4fYjhp3P4yc_djoQl5KNKnX_xVrpB_lcFhkLmWfJAj4XDy-uK7A7HDmDvtxU/s1600/90stuni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rn7W5yrNpH9KudhcnUerdVIwWml533EAeGWOZSUHhazsuLzp9IxdyIObkMlvC3tCW8hh59iJpcBt9YG4fYjhp3P4yc_djoQl5KNKnX_xVrpB_lcFhkLmWfJAj4XDy-uK7A7HDmDvtxU/s400/90stuni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs Vintage 90s Tunic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSgy0xsnfymrCcfy-jiTzL4aovXPzqWJw2HVXyt0L-_sTHafkXMwGa5c-mFMQR5pLJdeMRyorl1wie-8IL1ygGMv3xzVcmCqk7imXziKaIPCweE9ZWzCGumdo_ZIr1CBIKYZPeslATfQ/s1600/1992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSgy0xsnfymrCcfy-jiTzL4aovXPzqWJw2HVXyt0L-_sTHafkXMwGa5c-mFMQR5pLJdeMRyorl1wie-8IL1ygGMv3xzVcmCqk7imXziKaIPCweE9ZWzCGumdo_ZIr1CBIKYZPeslATfQ/s640/1992.jpg" width="552" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs Editorial Elle shoot 1992</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1x-CQk17j8IIh_hKNUsamSJGFkdgiiVdsBUzaTGD3EFX5kdU1ZyXA_jB5ONGNar9mgi4ud1_w19F6XkMW-HBG5xTOj5Xeh6232bjE0ddy38Nt62jd7maD7_uHAcfZD2jSpk26Pe-iNKY/s1600/1992perryellis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1x-CQk17j8IIh_hKNUsamSJGFkdgiiVdsBUzaTGD3EFX5kdU1ZyXA_jB5ONGNar9mgi4ud1_w19F6XkMW-HBG5xTOj5Xeh6232bjE0ddy38Nt62jd7maD7_uHAcfZD2jSpk26Pe-iNKY/s640/1992perryellis.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs for Perry Ellis 1992</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkRwMp-igREz34EHwb0nXjPhC9CDPXgit4DmLhuHqyo5kkgn_D-mo1TMQctDZu7o-vrrxv-j1ZKIwt__zzsFmCFFiKyW0p37nF0bzvUP-H-yqjVKsWCr9jcvLbQr_2AlSqmCsTr4FRcI/s1600/fall1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkRwMp-igREz34EHwb0nXjPhC9CDPXgit4DmLhuHqyo5kkgn_D-mo1TMQctDZu7o-vrrxv-j1ZKIwt__zzsFmCFFiKyW0p37nF0bzvUP-H-yqjVKsWCr9jcvLbQr_2AlSqmCsTr4FRcI/s400/fall1999.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs Fall 2000</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8oSVVVW2HtvDY4ycO9DTQY0mZDXrvycBgIXYIuc9k4-J8nqvLIO0jNdFvNhqZVvur5ou9i9KoybWnpmqFOwSTC2PzGIlck5Go9jRXElcSNOOiBmXVBLUxcb1DpLbuH-SLem-TRo0vUE/s1600/fall2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8oSVVVW2HtvDY4ycO9DTQY0mZDXrvycBgIXYIuc9k4-J8nqvLIO0jNdFvNhqZVvur5ou9i9KoybWnpmqFOwSTC2PzGIlck5Go9jRXElcSNOOiBmXVBLUxcb1DpLbuH-SLem-TRo0vUE/s400/fall2000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs Fall 2001 with Sophia Cappola</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufvyhCLz2JjDOKjd_Xy9CgrZnEk7G2zU6r8mGiVzHC91-k1LnNLlBnYB_QesG2URIpUIiRbW49iHc6zILmX4LK6YnxyN0XnlBz7WwxiAQMuYSvFQRIf9-FqGf6scOBdh-MElPHxM1aTI/s1600/2005JLO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufvyhCLz2JjDOKjd_Xy9CgrZnEk7G2zU6r8mGiVzHC91-k1LnNLlBnYB_QesG2URIpUIiRbW49iHc6zILmX4LK6YnxyN0XnlBz7WwxiAQMuYSvFQRIf9-FqGf6scOBdh-MElPHxM1aTI/s640/2005JLO.jpg" width="419" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs Spring 2005 on Jennifer Lopez</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2v3IqZhZV6rwc9G0O66__i4oKQf1jVAFb2AUjBmt0V3jJWOf2XYtMtWqQLZnHl5Ahc3Fkr1YCAsY95hFTI5jNT8-xlRbrPwwO58ayafJ7fGbjltj803Ypw_djgejicaF2Ffu7Wa7zgA/s1600/2005KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2v3IqZhZV6rwc9G0O66__i4oKQf1jVAFb2AUjBmt0V3jJWOf2XYtMtWqQLZnHl5Ahc3Fkr1YCAsY95hFTI5jNT8-xlRbrPwwO58ayafJ7fGbjltj803Ypw_djgejicaF2Ffu7Wa7zgA/s640/2005KB.jpg" width="419" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs Spring 2005 on Kate Bosworth</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR2D-3r8gWVwckosl0t_366NJ1ziSS1SruPjRLbGvUZKZkVoFZILuU20Nwd12a2O57RNAnfOaGvC6XyBZisDyvNJOvvYh0k69NIHInB7qlCgSdu1G29GgnI5nlJb7AiHVcSUwYgXfk5A/s1600/Marc%252BJacobs%252BFall%252B2007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR2D-3r8gWVwckosl0t_366NJ1ziSS1SruPjRLbGvUZKZkVoFZILuU20Nwd12a2O57RNAnfOaGvC6XyBZisDyvNJOvvYh0k69NIHInB7qlCgSdu1G29GgnI5nlJb7AiHVcSUwYgXfk5A/s400/Marc%252BJacobs%252BFall%252B2007.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs Spring 2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPlP-ntpxC_P05UEzKJ5rWc_JaFmM1neaNUE7zZKn1RRtl6Q5vttwoX5D_7LUrePbKLJQBn1aRr-oEeKusGJAdulLz_m-8QFDBrvsB-DPl6u5veZnTWB17C1QNzklGDRdCKMq_j7DVvI/s1600/fall2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPlP-ntpxC_P05UEzKJ5rWc_JaFmM1neaNUE7zZKn1RRtl6Q5vttwoX5D_7LUrePbKLJQBn1aRr-oEeKusGJAdulLz_m-8QFDBrvsB-DPl6u5veZnTWB17C1QNzklGDRdCKMq_j7DVvI/s400/fall2008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs with Victoria Beckham 2008</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzasTFWAlr1ZSVAoZAq6_CQ4Nn_GkKbG_znudy_BVZak2Kv6awzf5hoBBPthS7fSrmZGzCMVBAdHPz9bqAhfrGbp-WhyphenhyphenM7nTYYxKDXqzaelT-ZWSFE0EGem7Gr2hL5CSj7Dx1WDsSqfs/s1600/2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzasTFWAlr1ZSVAoZAq6_CQ4Nn_GkKbG_znudy_BVZak2Kv6awzf5hoBBPthS7fSrmZGzCMVBAdHPz9bqAhfrGbp-WhyphenhyphenM7nTYYxKDXqzaelT-ZWSFE0EGem7Gr2hL5CSj7Dx1WDsSqfs/s400/2009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victoria Beckham in Marc Jacobs Spring 2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z07Gz5cJ-HXkFriGiy0T7e4BuimQO1PPYLy-vrL_HmyRKyUopihIwZZ0XOlZga3GXrXcdRRDkdbE6RktzGEGIDaNP4_mCROOdIWTyeUCuw7K_BFQ7s566nwhSM1admnamzRjnQP9Tfo/s1600/hath2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z07Gz5cJ-HXkFriGiy0T7e4BuimQO1PPYLy-vrL_HmyRKyUopihIwZZ0XOlZga3GXrXcdRRDkdbE6RktzGEGIDaNP4_mCROOdIWTyeUCuw7K_BFQ7s566nwhSM1admnamzRjnQP9Tfo/s640/hath2009.jpg" width="409" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs 2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgbHhhkMmic9LaQBoUa4jncREFRWtdbkQGWp-yGBiZPoLo8Gxk9zYdcjjwNO_vlf2i9xi1uC_vgSPxTRH7WkaG9kY-oIZ047iYULgjgu7PVy_ojp1LlPduDrUK9ili-YJKCTh2ukytwE/s1600/FA2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgbHhhkMmic9LaQBoUa4jncREFRWtdbkQGWp-yGBiZPoLo8Gxk9zYdcjjwNO_vlf2i9xi1uC_vgSPxTRH7WkaG9kY-oIZ047iYULgjgu7PVy_ojp1LlPduDrUK9ili-YJKCTh2ukytwE/s640/FA2010.jpg" width="344" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frida Pinto in Marc Jacobs Fall 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLCctkVUJ-CXSqGG9Y-2EP8aQyoNUsN-TrLOxLcMkYP99BV2u8Ormimo-8EwvMV-CCsRbKeboEd1vl44j31I9v_bXIAPiFuUCCrUpd-2rIj6u_8RJjz5Bd_l1b8QsMNwzMi-Z2emK-mU/s1600/resort+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLCctkVUJ-CXSqGG9Y-2EP8aQyoNUsN-TrLOxLcMkYP99BV2u8Ormimo-8EwvMV-CCsRbKeboEd1vl44j31I9v_bXIAPiFuUCCrUpd-2rIj6u_8RJjz5Bd_l1b8QsMNwzMi-Z2emK-mU/s640/resort+2010.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle Williams in Marc Jacobs Resort 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg2OXUQR5Z5vzj98rx1cfaUe1urCNzMQ4NSGsffjbfJwEF2l1DJLBL4c8hF9Ky2WeTS_rglZzLC9DSPjzxPCdPXSpb50b2ax-u-mmgaEtcrwQCJb4UrqrfX1yts8ia7Y7DBlkleisAjs/s1600/spring2010colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg2OXUQR5Z5vzj98rx1cfaUe1urCNzMQ4NSGsffjbfJwEF2l1DJLBL4c8hF9Ky2WeTS_rglZzLC9DSPjzxPCdPXSpb50b2ax-u-mmgaEtcrwQCJb4UrqrfX1yts8ia7Y7DBlkleisAjs/s640/spring2010colors.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs Spring 2010</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkzmldCLy1K-pv5SbHTIRhSjsD4m5RzV8IdSJNQ2eUBtri8SIucXJy8Eum33Z9ReM_R-eFd6gTQCufHqi4vrzMt55TNFz2kOaabkoflIF2yy-o_1Floojttr7s4khR6cuqbNrTEsmAUI/s1600/SS2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkzmldCLy1K-pv5SbHTIRhSjsD4m5RzV8IdSJNQ2eUBtri8SIucXJy8Eum33Z9ReM_R-eFd6gTQCufHqi4vrzMt55TNFz2kOaabkoflIF2yy-o_1Floojttr7s4khR6cuqbNrTEsmAUI/s640/SS2011.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leighton Meester in Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2011</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And you can, of course, refer to <a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/marc-jacobs-and-runny-nose.html" target="_blank">this post</a> to check out Mr. Jacobs' most recent line, it's pretty much to die for....</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, that was a lot of research, and a lot of beautiful clothing!! Jacobs has clearly made a smooth transition over the years, with each season being more exciting and innovative than the last. I'm guessing his innovation has a lot to do with why he wins so many awards...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hope you learned as much as I did! Tomorrow and Sunday, get ready for some exciting <span style="color: #e06666;">*Weekend Obsessions*<span style="color: black;">. What are you obsessing over this weekend (besides leftover turkey and pumpkin pie)?</span></span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-15979304207517543622011-11-23T16:32:00.000-08:002011-11-23T17:11:07.460-08:00Trendy Wednesday: Totes and Faux Fur<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, it's that time of year again, folks. The time when snow and ice glaze over the sidewalks, and people walk around like ice skating robots, hoping to make it from point A to point B without spilling their seasonal peppermint lattes. The time when while innocently waiting at the bus stop, a car flies by and kicks up dirty brown slush and splatters it across your camel-colored riding pants, causing them to resemble a failed Jackson Pollock painting. The time of year when Republicans and Democrats get riled up about political correctedness even more so than usual and wage the annual "War on Christmas." Yep, for the northeast and Quebec, <i>it's the most wonderful time of the year</i>. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>What a Grinch! </i>you must be thinking. Well, if you haven't heard, we've had our first heavy snowfall of the season up here in Montreal, probably around three inches. After being in Spain all of the last Winter, I am just not prepared for this slushy mess nor the constant fear of slipping on the sidewalk and waking up not remembering my own name!! Either way, I suppose it's time to whip out my Sorrells and fuzzy socks, because it' coming regardless. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cynicism aside it is <span style="color: #e06666;">Trendy Wednesday<span style="color: black;">!! </span></span>This week I've been drooling over certain items more than usual, as I was sick for a couple of days and therefore had too much time on my hands to scan fashion blogs and tease myself by filling up an online shopping cart and just kind of leaving it there...am I the only weirdo who does this?? Anyway, the objects of my desire of late have been tote bags and faux fur (a cold winter classic). So, accordingly here are my top five favorite totes I've stumbled across, and top five favorite faux fur pieces....enjoy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBN7jUway9b3kIuZogws0NU970kZ0PfxyUfYiGDEkQhcZUXb4CHDP64ZjRjA2rVyvriYy91t-_jRsa-JUMzAIP-Q1oSW_40O7HsUZh6OxW_XDJ79mqAWP7uSlgnr6WMXiPfK0gOINp1Q/s1600/5.acrossarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBN7jUway9b3kIuZogws0NU970kZ0PfxyUfYiGDEkQhcZUXb4CHDP64ZjRjA2rVyvriYy91t-_jRsa-JUMzAIP-Q1oSW_40O7HsUZh6OxW_XDJ79mqAWP7uSlgnr6WMXiPfK0gOINp1Q/s1600/5.acrossarm.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq83JmFZ29ZI5luwP1i5uuaQCspsIcYVtB6V54a7oK7DKohnjJc06vgRzeOvYgo952aTHrzGDGgXSlYV4p5eZQzfF60oGbxTzmWDwPf1Aw76dtVt9u87mg6hjzMDVAefJVAS1pS5QBAI/s1600/5.sidefront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq83JmFZ29ZI5luwP1i5uuaQCspsIcYVtB6V54a7oK7DKohnjJc06vgRzeOvYgo952aTHrzGDGgXSlYV4p5eZQzfF60oGbxTzmWDwPf1Aw76dtVt9u87mg6hjzMDVAefJVAS1pS5QBAI/s1600/5.sidefront.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCihMRk4fRSn5sIE9jru6U0oKmVuB78omXPNCs_vakAo8eTqOfoDsjU2wxdsJSoxZ4yKUiiaCA15J3g5laltaYjgrFTnqwXvgB7OMDk9IvLvEBn8z-BjLvgJHJgSDTQa4iKsEXyTLQrY/s1600/4front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCihMRk4fRSn5sIE9jru6U0oKmVuB78omXPNCs_vakAo8eTqOfoDsjU2wxdsJSoxZ4yKUiiaCA15J3g5laltaYjgrFTnqwXvgB7OMDk9IvLvEBn8z-BjLvgJHJgSDTQa4iKsEXyTLQrY/s320/4front.jpg" width="208" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrt0dq2mmKUDmOVb4e5HsSq1XhId30fiwztcMc5vAf-HnuB9o7teCya-IUS8zAT8XmfzYBOKUxy_n1WZQIyAi67b2hR3WOgprkAc6FKxEHTFeUJTiMAlriF0vZLPtaFYBubYM_lHhZqu0/s1600/4back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrt0dq2mmKUDmOVb4e5HsSq1XhId30fiwztcMc5vAf-HnuB9o7teCya-IUS8zAT8XmfzYBOKUxy_n1WZQIyAi67b2hR3WOgprkAc6FKxEHTFeUJTiMAlriF0vZLPtaFYBubYM_lHhZqu0/s320/4back.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjnha6-TK17ihLisqGlCYReCHCEiwdd6GY8MpqHLKbuQagqaB0WTgQm9gisT25zvpQSMP2zsVr4VWXxdEd2G_9HN_PdTJCO4seKXcS1zpLwfZ6koD9-baXGKgmfV45hCURLVtV_8arpY/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjnha6-TK17ihLisqGlCYReCHCEiwdd6GY8MpqHLKbuQagqaB0WTgQm9gisT25zvpQSMP2zsVr4VWXxdEd2G_9HN_PdTJCO4seKXcS1zpLwfZ6koD9-baXGKgmfV45hCURLVtV_8arpY/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37TAMODP8GiV3hk7YTMaMlVEGQxrhLtlpgaYyw3PCduO9nwuiCyKH6gadgsEB_fBBrunGXFMU-TIfTSeCRR9VZ1Bc-IqLjrINIEC2xnwjzAZ8BsfhhkHVkeaqSZz4w48UhG_SFWUC1sk/s1600/2newblacknew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37TAMODP8GiV3hk7YTMaMlVEGQxrhLtlpgaYyw3PCduO9nwuiCyKH6gadgsEB_fBBrunGXFMU-TIfTSeCRR9VZ1Bc-IqLjrINIEC2xnwjzAZ8BsfhhkHVkeaqSZz4w48UhG_SFWUC1sk/s320/2newblacknew.jpg" width="250" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGcBTprP4yapNdNFfgKq3O9IMJBJmgwUjPshPYE1M6n7bVXHXuqUe0M9Mk0aCn1_koGdExbP5A8SHuAfgyYGPGHuorSgBKia7EGOO5dUKsHZkct6rQrHjh_elA3rI41g4M-8-25Em-YE/s1600/2newwhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGcBTprP4yapNdNFfgKq3O9IMJBJmgwUjPshPYE1M6n7bVXHXuqUe0M9Mk0aCn1_koGdExbP5A8SHuAfgyYGPGHuorSgBKia7EGOO5dUKsHZkct6rQrHjh_elA3rI41g4M-8-25Em-YE/s320/2newwhite.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrFSHQDxEAURA5m32s8qSH9XfgOnWc0vOJPW31RA8xtrBOfeK5CHP0_kE-_-IlpeEDaDmq-gjcUVTnBT5-k5KZfcO9bVWYZThT4EuZwqS2Rjo3ccGsM4SRFkIUR2Bnm_xdQgL7C39C0E/s1600/1red.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrFSHQDxEAURA5m32s8qSH9XfgOnWc0vOJPW31RA8xtrBOfeK5CHP0_kE-_-IlpeEDaDmq-gjcUVTnBT5-k5KZfcO9bVWYZThT4EuZwqS2Rjo3ccGsM4SRFkIUR2Bnm_xdQgL7C39C0E/s200/1red.jpg" width="200" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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5. MARC BY MARC JACOBS 'Too Hot to Handle' Leather Tote</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. MARC BY MARC JACOBS 'Reversitotes' Tote</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. Dooney & Bourke 'Dillen II Janine Satchel' </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. Paul's Boutique 'Maisy Patent Large Shoulder Bag' (I may have ordered this one...)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">1. Hermés 'Kelly Bag'</span> (such a classic look, it's named after Grace Kelly for god sakes!)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqwwh9EsIk0ZO496vIAthX51MSd_AokxVoeqo6OSzYSs7aru_Omacr5kGuDHHd7C67ImkJBkE6wAE0P6LzxcKb9wCxabW3fAxHxMu_CO4PGeFtgl5-Sw1eAt_Q2pOujKBykmB-znz6rs/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqwwh9EsIk0ZO496vIAthX51MSd_AokxVoeqo6OSzYSs7aru_Omacr5kGuDHHd7C67ImkJBkE6wAE0P6LzxcKb9wCxabW3fAxHxMu_CO4PGeFtgl5-Sw1eAt_Q2pOujKBykmB-znz6rs/s400/3.jpg" width="270" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88_pTE3YLuhfekE_1XqYrp4zyt5V_jrMa9r7cjnF6EhEFmIKhu4xYxEgReWFLUt6c8cpgm0729koSGlcfJNhFSrlGLCgtAZAq17FwxabT5ykCnkSDuc5AMlGmUzXd_QYWwrh4qe4kc4k/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88_pTE3YLuhfekE_1XqYrp4zyt5V_jrMa9r7cjnF6EhEFmIKhu4xYxEgReWFLUt6c8cpgm0729koSGlcfJNhFSrlGLCgtAZAq17FwxabT5ykCnkSDuc5AMlGmUzXd_QYWwrh4qe4kc4k/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpsTVUfnKX4GF3euuhljjxxtMnYvD0EAnvK1TEArU3USWoMKrNq1ov_VXWm-1elE8TIbxqj_xJzoLJz6k5eDjkI__PDltK8r4AGCcBozK6XPXbs49G7Gk08_ViHDQRcRRbWz9PUmTguY/s1600/1front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpsTVUfnKX4GF3euuhljjxxtMnYvD0EAnvK1TEArU3USWoMKrNq1ov_VXWm-1elE8TIbxqj_xJzoLJz6k5eDjkI__PDltK8r4AGCcBozK6XPXbs49G7Gk08_ViHDQRcRRbWz9PUmTguY/s400/1front.jpg" width="312" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UfNeJtLhPwukb8T9phT6ztSwl0iOQW2PL-Gl_rJFUkzoON6kj05EFnLWQ5HzNNk0BWiw0DMkKK808zT3jO0IUAw-m0n6MB22anb_khnP06-S4B17lRye_EA2pYutvQEvR8IREMs_PXM/s1600/1back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UfNeJtLhPwukb8T9phT6ztSwl0iOQW2PL-Gl_rJFUkzoON6kj05EFnLWQ5HzNNk0BWiw0DMkKK808zT3jO0IUAw-m0n6MB22anb_khnP06-S4B17lRye_EA2pYutvQEvR8IREMs_PXM/s400/1back.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br />
5. Generation X 'Leopard Faux Fur Coat' <br />
4. Armani Jeans 'Faux Fur Collar Jacket'<br />
3. Levi's 'Sherpa Jacket'<br />
2. Rachel Zoe 'Faux Fur Vest'<br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">1. ASOS 'Faux Fox Fur Coat'</span> (this might be on my Christmas list...)<br />
<br />
So what do you think? Do you have a favorite tote or faux fur item that you think should be on the list?<br />
<br />
Lookin' forward to tomorrow when we delve into some Marc Jacobs history (and hopefully melted snow!!)<br />
<br />
Ciao for now xx</div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com1Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-58328126422757944312011-11-22T19:57:00.000-08:002011-11-23T09:28:49.424-08:00A Fond Farewell to a Friend<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">'Now is the hour we must say goodbye</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">soon you'll be sailing far across the sea'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Frank Sinatra</i></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Today I'd just like to take the time to say a few words about my tap dance teacher, Louise, who passed away this morning. I've known her since I started tap dancing at the age of 8, and she's seen my family go through a lot of difficult changes. She's always been hugely inspirational to me and anyone she meets, and she was even featured as a local hero in Connecticut last year. I haven't been in the past two productions she's put on because of being away at school, but whenever I visited home I always felt welcome to jump into a dance lesson with the regular group. She was 92 years old and danced up until the day that she passed. She was a former Rockette, who taught tap in an old school style while classic songs played on her record player. She taught in the attic of her house which she remodeled into a dance studio, and somehow, out of that small space, she created a show once a year for the big stage to benefit cancer research. </span></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">She brought joy to so many people by introducing them to the world of tap. Everyone she taught couldn't help but be affected by her passion, and feel proud to be her student. I'll never stop tapping, and I'll always have her in mind when I practice the time step. Her life lives on through her hundreds of students that loved squeezing into that attic once a week, and dancing to classic songs that became so endearing over the years. Wherever she may be, I know she must be dancing. </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Here are some photos I have to remember her by...</span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Louise and me the night she came to see our high school musical, <i>Anything Goes</i>, which I tapped in. A few of her students were in the production and she came to support us: </span></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BJvNaSTMJfy7u_AZcIte5R-t8Ep_8mm6tTkRH4AoQFEVxNS_2Giz6gYatEBGPf-afJpDo9HXo3qSPwijfa0IA0sppbU2dc2ENKeFW7yOFynKL_HWw-CQhnH-SiCGZDJ8yyBnLJd9KM8/s1600/198065_1002570819746_1089090007_30036612_9121_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BJvNaSTMJfy7u_AZcIte5R-t8Ep_8mm6tTkRH4AoQFEVxNS_2Giz6gYatEBGPf-afJpDo9HXo3qSPwijfa0IA0sppbU2dc2ENKeFW7yOFynKL_HWw-CQhnH-SiCGZDJ8yyBnLJd9KM8/s400/198065_1002570819746_1089090007_30036612_9121_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our Tuesday night Ladies group, we used to watch American Idol afterwards and snack on some munchies and wine: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207684_1009468912194_1089090007_30088273_2852_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207684_1009468912194_1089090007_30088273_2852_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> The sign outside the Garde Arts Center for one of Louise's shows: </span></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOekM2mmGLmfx_Ytra1o9nuXB6fxR58T-eL7wz8ZjpjYJbmkYEgAxlK1Ryrmry-V5QC2XOvuIGv7YoEsMAkCKBzli7mQ-kg6iGH8ymkbMXENzjR2Df-ErmXw_CfSMqMhYFXZaRm_Sth68/s1600/signguard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOekM2mmGLmfx_Ytra1o9nuXB6fxR58T-eL7wz8ZjpjYJbmkYEgAxlK1Ryrmry-V5QC2XOvuIGv7YoEsMAkCKBzli7mQ-kg6iGH8ymkbMXENzjR2Df-ErmXw_CfSMqMhYFXZaRm_Sth68/s400/signguard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
The Garde put out a tribute to her yesterday, a really kind gesture:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/390075_10150379130283315_18586803314_8327703_454041760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/390075_10150379130283315_18586803314_8327703_454041760_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A poor iPhone quality photo of Louise dancing in one of her shows: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_P2uR4Vaj1aO_2b3qVwDPHz0Ww-a1IZnS3FJIIcVbJIpV92LoScYTJIQYDLxev9xf0GgP_jtW6de9itLhq_wTrlY32pSfjXt6Kq1KDHO0UnZuv4WG1-cXLTD6J7KamqysensgLgne31U/s1600/dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_P2uR4Vaj1aO_2b3qVwDPHz0Ww-a1IZnS3FJIIcVbJIpV92LoScYTJIQYDLxev9xf0GgP_jtW6de9itLhq_wTrlY32pSfjXt6Kq1KDHO0UnZuv4WG1-cXLTD6J7KamqysensgLgne31U/s400/dancing.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Louise at my mother's wedding in October, the last time I saw her, with one of her students and her student's husband:</span></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKFaD5g2Gp64gLonMcMmn-U-Oz28JbJZGU4ZV0bRDHt9DSz-oVFmulTkjUIQbv3lQVrZ24bzPD5hmDQMb9PRIzjVbsLDvvL7k7GNx8dqk3odO0RRx3E1GkRP21LEcDKYan-3tdWDssMQ/s1600/297088_2495381184079_1239314029_33051716_405994986_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKFaD5g2Gp64gLonMcMmn-U-Oz28JbJZGU4ZV0bRDHt9DSz-oVFmulTkjUIQbv3lQVrZ24bzPD5hmDQMb9PRIzjVbsLDvvL7k7GNx8dqk3odO0RRx3E1GkRP21LEcDKYan-3tdWDssMQ/s400/297088_2495381184079_1239314029_33051716_405994986_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">And here's a video one of her grandsons, Casey, made about her career as a dancer:</span></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WsYAXPqVnYM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> Rest in peace, Louise...</span></span></h6>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com1Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-62188301808785755032011-11-21T18:17:00.000-08:002011-11-21T19:58:39.768-08:00Marc Jacobs and a Runny Nose<div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm not sure what I was expecting, <a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-survived-h-x-versace-launch-montreal.html" target="_blank">staying out in below freezing weather all night AND skipping out on sleeping</a>, but, now I'm paying the price of fashion (and it surprisingly did not come out of my wallet). I'm sick, I'll admit it already, I'm sick sick sick. I just hope it passes quickly, because midterms do not wait for you unless you're on your deathbed, and then you've got bigger problems...like dying. </div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway, in light of the recent <a href="http://www.marcjacobs.com/" target="_blank">Marc Jacobs</a> robbery (if you haven't heard about it, I'll explain in a second) I've decided to keep my topical streak going and focus on his fashion house. But first! Check out what I spotted in a store window as I was moseying down Avenue du Parc this evening, look familiar? (hint look up):</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL0Kaxq9d6mr4Irf8XsK3ZLSe6e-7DLBlECKjyT5VMCmyT4eDvAFbya4hD4fcUGu-nxZXuXItvOq3cSzADhbSgd-W10_qE99Ft9ABCT_EGkFbzjlJTsUApYf1SsnBgslyC2_qu7e1Law/s1600/cowswindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL0Kaxq9d6mr4Irf8XsK3ZLSe6e-7DLBlECKjyT5VMCmyT4eDvAFbya4hD4fcUGu-nxZXuXItvOq3cSzADhbSgd-W10_qE99Ft9ABCT_EGkFbzjlJTsUApYf1SsnBgslyC2_qu7e1Law/s400/cowswindow.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistT8dyXsTi54IT2bWgm6hcNCZMFIi1bzXCwMbljz5mAD0XS490C0zU8ino7ucOwZgWfSCVyEwXunBLj-qVDPni1AFpF_YCyiiKy8Avw7_Gdjsp08XebqrF7isyJsEDgO88XbPG7KCvGE/s1600/cowsclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistT8dyXsTi54IT2bWgm6hcNCZMFIi1bzXCwMbljz5mAD0XS490C0zU8ino7ucOwZgWfSCVyEwXunBLj-qVDPni1AFpF_YCyiiKy8Avw7_Gdjsp08XebqrF7isyJsEDgO88XbPG7KCvGE/s400/cowsclose.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Do you know from which textile designer these lovely cows were conceived? It's one of my favorite designers from the 60s and 70s that plays with pops of colorful designs. It's a Finnish company based in Helsinki, and the designs were first made famous in the States by Jackie O during the 1960 presidential campaign. Later on, in the 1990s, it again gained popularity via the hit TV show "Sex and the City." Still don't know? </div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's Marimekko! </div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Alright, well, onward to one of <i>Time Magazine</i>'s "Top 100" most influential people of 2010: Marc Jacobs. I figure we'll start in the present, and then work ourselves into all sorts of crazy directions. </div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was recently reported that selected duplicates from Marc Jacob's Spring/Summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection were stolen while in transit to London. Thankfully no original pieces were stolen, and the collection is still intact. However, Jacobs is still distraught, and recently tweeted that a reward will be offered to anyone who can help hunt down the thieves: <span id="intelliTxt"><span style="color: #e06666;">"See any chic truck drivers cruising around Europe dressed in #SS12 Collection? Get a pic & call 212-343-0222. Reward."</span> <span style="color: #666666;">Gotta love modern times, right? He soon followed up with </span></span><span id="intelliTxt" style="color: #e06666;">"We appreciate all the concern about our stolen #SS12 Collection samples! We do still have other samples thankfully. Life goes on. (sic)"</span><span id="intelliTxt" style="color: #e06666;"> </span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span id="intelliTxt"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span id="intelliTxt">So what is in this collection that is so good it literally needed to be stolen?? Let's take a look...</span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/APiOUrEnGjk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span id="intelliTxt">If you're not up for watching the whole video, here are a few highlights from the collection, it's very innovative and fresh. I kind of wish I was the robber...just sayin'. </span><br />
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<span id="intelliTxt">Pretty awesome, right? Who knew cellophane could look so hot! Well, it's about time for me to try and sleep off this nasty, encroaching cold. It's okay though. Whenever I'm feeling my worst I just peak into my closet and see a pair of <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4H4Dd1c6xQ/TsAq1x_ToaI/AAAAAAAAC1s/0Soj2DAt_jA/s640/versace+for+h%2526M+stampa+Versace.+palm+tree+patterned+leggings+in+slightly+glossy%252C+stretch+fabric.jpg" target="_blank">palm tree leggings</a> peeking at me, and it feels like it was all worth it. </span><br />
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<span id="intelliTxt">Ciao for now xx</span></div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-79751197837725090462011-11-20T17:46:00.000-08:002011-11-23T09:38:35.509-08:00Versace's History: A Family Affair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jetsetsocialite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/versace_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.jetsetsocialite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/versace_logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The fashion house <span style="color: #e06666;">Gianni Versace sPa</span> (commonly referred to as just <span style="color: #e06666;">Versace</span>) has a simple and short history, yet it is a tragic one nonetheless. The company was started by <span style="color: #e06666;">Gianni Versace</span> in 1978 when he was just 32 years old. The designer was born in 1946 in</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Reggio, Calabria, Italy, and grew up with his brother Santo and sister Donatella. In 1976 Santo, and Donatella moved to Milan to help Gianni shape Versace's vision, and two years later the fashion house emerged. In 1982 Gianni met his boyfriend of 15 years, Antonio D' Amico, who stayed with Gianni up until the day of his death. In 1997 Gianni was inexplicably shot to death by Andrew Cunanan on the steps of his mansion in Miami Beach, upon returning home from a morning walk on Ocean Drive. The murderer shot himself on a boat several days later, and for this reason, the purpose of the murder still remains a mystery. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Gianni Versace and Gianni with Antonio D' Amico:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/98/Gianni_Versace.jpg/220px-Gianni_Versace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/98/Gianni_Versace.jpg/220px-Gianni_Versace.jpg" width="238" /></a><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs208.snc4/38746_115292345189703_100001268138841_110206_1168224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs208.snc4/38746_115292345189703_100001268138841_110206_1168224_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Following Gianni's sudden death, his sister, <span style="color: #e06666;">Donatella</span>, who was the vice president at the time, stepped in as the creative director of the company, and <span style="color: #e06666;">Santo</span> became the CEO. Donatella is still the creative director of Versace, and has managed to create her own legacy while staying true to her deceased brother's aesthetic. </span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dontalla and Santo Versace respectively: </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wallpaper.com/images/98_versace_am04012007_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.wallpaper.com/images/98_versace_am04012007_f.jpg" width="264" /></a><a href="http://irenebrination.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55290e7c48833015391f54e53970b-320wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://irenebrination.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55290e7c48833015391f54e53970b-320wi" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Versace employs multiple teams of directors that work in each specific line, which includes, </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Atelier Versace, Versace Couture, Versace Sports, Versace Jeans Couture, Versace Home Collection, Versace Collection, and Versus (Versace). Today Versace is one of the most well-known international fashion houses, and, aside from clothing, distributes accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings under their various brands. Versace became a "household name" in 1994 after the widespread media coverage of Elizabeth Hurley wearing a black Versace dress. The black dress was made from pieces of </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">silk</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">lycra</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> fabric, with over-sized gold safety pins placed at "strategical places." The dress is often referred to as "that dress," and is arguably Versace's best known, and most idolized creation.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00645/news-graphics-2007-_645699a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00645/news-graphics-2007-_645699a.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rc6-QA465ia4FTMdW1qMjhqGV3mCIfrd1ikaozWnsZ3HrD0kI7l_u_vBtv5eoT7AtJ4OgYyl4zZfNFhfvbVsPQMbZ3001z8wToc2ebKThl4q0oC0COtAht0bcA5U_cVS3f-8zlh3Qug/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-05-19+at+22.41.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rc6-QA465ia4FTMdW1qMjhqGV3mCIfrd1ikaozWnsZ3HrD0kI7l_u_vBtv5eoT7AtJ4OgYyl4zZfNFhfvbVsPQMbZ3001z8wToc2ebKThl4q0oC0COtAht0bcA5U_cVS3f-8zlh3Qug/s320/Screen+shot+2010-05-19+at+22.41.42.png" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Since Hurley'<span style="font-size: small;">s debut, Versace has had various celebrities establish themselves as well-known fans of the line. For example, Elton John's most iconic pieces are often Versace, such as his sparklin</span>g suits covered in Swarovski crystals. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.popeater.com/media/2010/02/1265036140620.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.popeater.com/media/2010/02/1265036140620.jpeg.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/day/migrated-media/versace_elton_l070209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.usatoday.net/life/gallery/day/migrated-media/versace_elton_l070209.jpg" width="213" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Versace's other big celebrity fans include Tupac Shakur, Elizabeth Hurley, Axl Rose, Beyoncé, the late Princess Diana, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga, who is renowned for bringing back vintage Versace. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Many Celebrities have also been featured as "The Face of Versace" over the years, including Patrick Dempsey, Madonna, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Halle Berry, and the current "face" January Jones: </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MFNGdlolcXE/TBoFkiTPFcI/AAAAAAAAAEg/zS2VAqi_FSw/s1600/versace41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MFNGdlolcXE/TBoFkiTPFcI/AAAAAAAAAEg/zS2VAqi_FSw/s320/versace41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hairweb.org/images-stars/madonna-versace-brief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.hairweb.org/images-stars/madonna-versace-brief.jpg" width="274" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://horiwood.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/ashtonkutcherusweekly.jpg?w=500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://horiwood.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/ashtonkutcherusweekly.jpg?w=500" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/240x360/d_f/dmooreVersaceAd05B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/240x360/d_f/dmooreVersaceAd05B.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifeinitaly.com/files/imagecache/medium/HBerry%20Versace_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.lifeinitaly.com/files/imagecache/medium/HBerry%20Versace_0.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/14881/slide_14881_207814_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/14881/slide_14881_207814_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Here is a quick look at how the Versace aesthetic has transformed over the years, and how it has also stayed true to the brand that Gianni started almost thirty years ago: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Versace Dresses ca. 1980: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpiqhlTUDZ1qcddvlo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpiqhlTUDZ1qcddvlo1_500.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.281795677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.281795677.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Red Versace dresses of the 1990s on Catherine Zeta Jones and Cindy Crawford:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2008/specials/redcarpet/reddresses/catherine_zeta_jones2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2008/specials/redcarpet/reddresses/catherine_zeta_jones2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/14/Crawford_Red_Versace_1991.jpg/250px-Crawford_Red_Versace_1991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/14/Crawford_Red_Versace_1991.jpg/250px-Crawford_Red_Versace_1991.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Versace dresses of the early 2000s on Kate Hudson and JLo:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2009/12/2268592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2009/12/2268592.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Jennifer-lopez-green-versace-dress.jpg/393px-Jennifer-lopez-green-versace-dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Jennifer-lopez-green-versace-dress.jpg/393px-Jennifer-lopez-green-versace-dress.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Versace Dresses of 2007 on Agyness Deyn and Penelope Cruz:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/penelope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/penelope.jpg" width="275" /> </a><a href="http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/S2007RTW/VERSACE/RUNWAY/00250m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/S2007RTW/VERSACE/RUNWAY/00250m.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Versace dresses from 2011 on Blake Lively and January Jones:</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://necitana.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/blake-lively-versace-sp11.jpg?w=468&h=717" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://necitana.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/blake-lively-versace-sp11.jpg?w=468&h=717" width="260" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40QK1WKicOAprxi69EUSCz5xbL-wAc5mHV8FP0s9pjz5gGvy6NIHXUfUPIlHrlZ5VGQtUFwMO253n8q4Y6dkJ5TTV-j3m-0X2Vf5n-DVtgrnAEd973LKt3Y0N4xYbewmTqcvXFawfngPj/s1600/2054254437_7559565134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40QK1WKicOAprxi69EUSCz5xbL-wAc5mHV8FP0s9pjz5gGvy6NIHXUfUPIlHrlZ5VGQtUFwMO253n8q4Y6dkJ5TTV-j3m-0X2Vf5n-DVtgrnAEd973LKt3Y0N4xYbewmTqcvXFawfngPj/s400/2054254437_7559565134.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The 2011 collaboration between Versace and H&M on Jessica Alba and Kanye West: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gotceleb.com/wp-content/uploads/celebrities/jessica-alba/versace-for-h-m-fashion-event/Jessica%20Alba%20-%20Hot%20at%20Versace%20For%20H&M%20Fashion%20Event-02-560x841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.gotceleb.com/wp-content/uploads/celebrities/jessica-alba/versace-for-h-m-fashion-event/Jessica%20Alba%20-%20Hot%20at%20Versace%20For%20H&M%20Fashion%20Event-02-560x841.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEqZZsR51t_xuuWcJzGzVft8Fys4AErJ-ANzKfC4yFkmnKMlK6bkOq2hQQfBr4kLlUmvy9rLldw3fLyTbJn6PEKSYFzhvMpIdyw066waHapE7buciqib1F9uHaqISf8U60IPUGhsY61w8/s640/versace6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEqZZsR51t_xuuWcJzGzVft8Fys4AErJ-ANzKfC4yFkmnKMlK6bkOq2hQQfBr4kLlUmvy9rLldw3fLyTbJn6PEKSYFzhvMpIdyw066waHapE7buciqib1F9uHaqISf8U60IPUGhsY61w8/s400/versace6.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And finally, the Spring 2012 sea-inspired Versace collection: </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fashionfame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/versace-dress-2012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://www.fashionfame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/versace-dress-2012.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fashionfame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/versace-2012-dress.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://www.fashionfame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/versace-2012-dress.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, apologies for the rushed nature of the history of Versace, but this week was overshadowed by her H&M collaboration. Tomorrow I'll be highlighting a new designer, and the week should be business as usual including a <span style="color: #e06666;">Trendy Wednesday</span> with some <span style="color: #e06666;">*Weekend Obsessions*</span> to follow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx</span>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com2Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-38371553737551604072011-11-19T18:28:00.000-08:002011-11-19T20:53:46.145-08:00I Survived the H&M x Versace Launch, Montreal Chapter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://freakdeluxe.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Picture-11-300x171.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://freakdeluxe.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Picture-11-300x171.png" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Where to even start with the 8 hour adventure that was the <a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/come-e-bella-versace-and-how-to-survive.html" target="_blank">H&M x Versace</a> marathon? I suppose with my departure from home around <span style="color: #e06666;">3:00 am</span>. I left my house wearing 5 layers of shirts, 3 layers of pants, 2 layers of socks, gloves, a bear face hat, and a pair of fuzzy boots. I made sure not to drink anything for the two hours leading up to my departure, so I would be able to stand my ground in line all night without the uncomfortable urge to pee. I caught a cab, told the driver "St. Catherine and Peel," to which he probably wondered "why is this nomad going down to St. Catherine (aka Montreal's clubbing and party street) at 3 am?" Regardless, I made it there in about 15 minutes, was relieved to see a mid-size line stretched around the building (I wasn't about to go this alone) threw down my piece of cardboard, and planted my booty next to<span style="color: #e06666;"> H&M</span>. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There were also a couple of security guards there, which I really appreciated, who would periodically walk down the line asking if everyone was okay. Before fully committing to my sleepover on the street, I asked the one of them how many people were in line so far, "oh, I don't know," he responded "more than 280?" I asked hopefully, "definitely not, probably about 80 right now." The first part of the hurdle was over, I was not only in the <span style="color: #e06666;">top 280</span>, but probably in the first 100! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The street view to my left and right around 6:00 am:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9SMRIQWt1b2JN0yq2uutd-SFU-3-BKixRp3PSHacXL1BW5j5qKt0YfVDN3ipB37JmfBGxum7oId4Zh_6I0aJrAbtdzKSppViFU4Qoemz3t3bPb1UPcULMXCoEMkHf1yDledl5k3eU1Y/s1600/-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9SMRIQWt1b2JN0yq2uutd-SFU-3-BKixRp3PSHacXL1BW5j5qKt0YfVDN3ipB37JmfBGxum7oId4Zh_6I0aJrAbtdzKSppViFU4Qoemz3t3bPb1UPcULMXCoEMkHf1yDledl5k3eU1Y/s400/-3.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03_5C6ky3QRnwG64vAlSHXRCM88duhx4iiw62sPYFP6WhZbpfRRfCStEZC6jTnxmR8c9A5tOIXmRp4-IO7hfuIyj4gIgjC305weQbVq2s_Md78NvdKZyuorYvSsQQX7tATxRSqU3Ta3s/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03_5C6ky3QRnwG64vAlSHXRCM88duhx4iiw62sPYFP6WhZbpfRRfCStEZC6jTnxmR8c9A5tOIXmRp4-IO7hfuIyj4gIgjC305weQbVq2s_Md78NvdKZyuorYvSsQQX7tATxRSqU3Ta3s/s400/-1.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have to say that without the chick flicks I rented and uploaded onto my iPod, that 5 hour wait would have been near unbearable; so a special shout out to the films "Something Borrowed" and "Water for Elephants," for getting me through a sleepless night in below freezing weather on the streets on Montreal. Around 5:00 am my feet really started going numb, so I got up every half hour or so, did a little run-in-place dance to get the blood flowing, and then curled back into a ball of white puffy Northface warmth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As it was a Saturday night, a few groups of drunk people stumbled by slurring comments like <span style="color: #e06666;">"you all are crazy! Versace is amazing, but you're crazy!"</span> and as a group, we were probably asked "what is going on here? why are you all waiting in line?" at least six times. One kid got so fed up with the constant drunken question, that he finally just responded, "free clothes. They're giving out free clothes," this appeased the tipsy passerbys, and sent them on their drunken stumble home. Most people were in groups of two to seven people and stayed huddled under blankets together, clutching onto Starbucks cups, which was for some reason open at this odd hour. I powered through without coffee though, and let the adrenaline do the work for me. That last hour stretch was really the worst, but I just kept telling myself, once you get through this movie, the store opening will be just 45 minutes away! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Around 7:00 am everyone jumped up off of their makeshift campsite, and anxiously tried to see over the heads of the crowd.<span style="color: #e06666;"> H&M staff </span>had arrived and was handing out fliers specifying the rules of shopping to everyone in line, it really wasn't anything we didn't know, but it gave me a jolt of energy to know that things were finally getting started. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The bilingual flyer they handed out: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpa0hOLwmgEOfoF696vzmhInzh4QkI1sUUG2FQ-ulx2UzgXnMr1On1f7bLMFuCgn6RyHEGXUE5wnBWXSxklyvaqmBMZmbcmln9MVhFPKxv-KdwyNcpPzOvJvXIsvqWgavuSDr03dJRdM/s1600/flier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpa0hOLwmgEOfoF696vzmhInzh4QkI1sUUG2FQ-ulx2UzgXnMr1On1f7bLMFuCgn6RyHEGXUE5wnBWXSxklyvaqmBMZmbcmln9MVhFPKxv-KdwyNcpPzOvJvXIsvqWgavuSDr03dJRdM/s400/flier.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HEog-SF0b1uhQQxg-JUeYaAdcaJGstfOYb8qlJtrLD1hG-G0tQtuHBPHLCu__svbGPJvLDkQHru9SdMGyZ0NC39KvfwezHHnxh_HMW-8NQvbReZxGR7aIDNXrNqM3Y2rhdjhmuQxL0c/s1600/flier2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HEog-SF0b1uhQQxg-JUeYaAdcaJGstfOYb8qlJtrLD1hG-G0tQtuHBPHLCu__svbGPJvLDkQHru9SdMGyZ0NC39KvfwezHHnxh_HMW-8NQvbReZxGR7aIDNXrNqM3Y2rhdjhmuQxL0c/s400/flier2.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After about 15 more minutes of waiting, the staff returned, dressed in loud, colorful leopard print shirts with "Versace for H&M" embellished onto them in gold stitching, and handed out cards asking for our email addresses (hey, they gotta do some promotional work) in exchange for a 20% discount (which I could kick myself for forgetting to use!!) Finally, they returned again at about 7:30, with the highly coveted bracelets. I got a magenta colored one, with a time hand-written onto it; 9:20-9:35. I quickly texted my mom with the new developments "So let's do the math" she responded quickly. After some rough calculations, we decided that 15 minutes of shopping with a 5 minute break in between each group put me at about the fifth group.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The spoils of my labor: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_2p1ZCTeSY6zXChNPeyaCtVq3AkD8e2wqlmOQHFbxQM-sr6WPzDkXZX3pif2XPDhZhfYvj2Z4wAgtwh8jzWjS1f5aOfrF1qoYMWmridICANgGxjGDE9etW6waxhZOZjhH2XSYxFMnks/s1600/wristband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_2p1ZCTeSY6zXChNPeyaCtVq3AkD8e2wqlmOQHFbxQM-sr6WPzDkXZX3pif2XPDhZhfYvj2Z4wAgtwh8jzWjS1f5aOfrF1qoYMWmridICANgGxjGDE9etW6waxhZOZjhH2XSYxFMnks/s400/wristband.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskzu5Sd-VK34XcGEw0KnrBPdTCHZ8S45Q22VyXCmYeybGMbtvM-n21pXQyJ71njlQo4zsq0h-p8cVbm4kRw5Zqlcdmq5YY3F_XApr3aJOB0t3BB4JUbNAWj7ZA7aqFemIssuDA4DHRP4/s1600/wristband2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskzu5Sd-VK34XcGEw0KnrBPdTCHZ8S45Q22VyXCmYeybGMbtvM-n21pXQyJ71njlQo4zsq0h-p8cVbm4kRw5Zqlcdmq5YY3F_XApr3aJOB0t3BB4JUbNAWj7ZA7aqFemIssuDA4DHRP4/s400/wristband2.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Some people left the line once they got their bracelets, but I had been waiting too long to give up my spot now. It was worth staying there, because around 7:50 they opened the doors to the store, and let everyone in. I rushed in frantically just to feel heat, and upon entering, realized I had never looked so disheveled and homeless inside of a clothing store. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Blurry shot of the store front window before they opened the doors: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuQMnWor0wgWiGXg9pes1oggwYcFZBa39C1ut4vCNIgmvsVfE33Snb7EwaVILn9ERKVSgSfpZv5TVk8m65nQW2DHoHYO1UVyQcMJ6wquM0VlOaVZieCp8iNo3lsUqaPdRslQ9yAEe8TU/s1600/storefront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuQMnWor0wgWiGXg9pes1oggwYcFZBa39C1ut4vCNIgmvsVfE33Snb7EwaVILn9ERKVSgSfpZv5TVk8m65nQW2DHoHYO1UVyQcMJ6wquM0VlOaVZieCp8iNo3lsUqaPdRslQ9yAEe8TU/s640/storefront.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Most people bolted upstairs to the men's section (where rules didn't apply). I didn't actually want anything from the menswear, but I decided to mosey up there just to see what it was like. The Versace women's section was in a somewhat closed off area on the 1st floor, but security guards politely told people not to loiter around it until their allotted time.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The men's section, on the other hand, was utter chaos, at one point I heard someone yell "grab whatever you can!" I was shoved around a little bit, and within the blink of an eye, the section was practically bare, including the poor mannequins who had been stripped of their clothing and dignity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mayhem on the men's floor: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZ0imjcyLN2KxR-1z668Hz0sE7UUzaD6yFIM6tNRnB8Vx-Nn4LiLRWwvIuEibnyk0kL-DckFxTeZ-bL-F4VjikBpxsTCyaPAjx_v818cuGKNj-G011VUDpGKOHSyDn65BlkMjL4pGPCk/s1600/mensSection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZ0imjcyLN2KxR-1z668Hz0sE7UUzaD6yFIM6tNRnB8Vx-Nn4LiLRWwvIuEibnyk0kL-DckFxTeZ-bL-F4VjikBpxsTCyaPAjx_v818cuGKNj-G011VUDpGKOHSyDn65BlkMjL4pGPCk/s640/mensSection.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxip9BkzyqSMF7PegeFwVMzuAVudOwBuCQES2KrWup8w3PApnXa43mvsFW4RTFwFpvTgel2paUG0wbUsYZG6e5f1hpDYecaeJaWMmijBYWplzt2lDd87bdFzKUCbjcvTzLK8OnRNK00_I/s1600/mensSEction2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxip9BkzyqSMF7PegeFwVMzuAVudOwBuCQES2KrWup8w3PApnXa43mvsFW4RTFwFpvTgel2paUG0wbUsYZG6e5f1hpDYecaeJaWMmijBYWplzt2lDd87bdFzKUCbjcvTzLK8OnRNK00_I/s640/mensSEction2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I got over hanging out in that section pretty quickly and made my way downstairs. The elevators offered a perfect areal view into the small Versace section, and I decided to get off on the 2nd floor so I could watch the first few groups go through, and get an idea of where the pieces I wanted were set up. I met two nice girls there who I passed the time with, talking about the cold night we had gone through, what we were hoping to get during our time in the section, and pining over what people were already piling in their arms. The selection looked limited which made me nervous at first, and I texted one of my most fashion-forward friends, Emely, asking her whether or not they would restock between groups. Her reply made me nervous; "I don't know, my guess is no," but moments later she added "or maybe they do bc I'm sure they know ppl go crazy and don't want an outrage." Her second statement was substantiated, as I watched the staff restock during the 5 minute break between groups, while dancing around and singing to bumping dance tunes. They really made the best of what could've been a rather hellish experience for them, I give them so much credit for staying so positive and having so much fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bird's eye view of the Versace section: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-yLTZfWqSSa8wobEah8dUTPJrHptWkLJ2msKR5V8z4Rlo7R50AxN9Bxgprs4VWCWE-K-NyMy70C7p4rN61OnpHpTY-LHwvqTuTimV5qn6XPh3xxLBuC6o97I6J4e_dHqykxaVSCm5xI/s1600/elevatorView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-yLTZfWqSSa8wobEah8dUTPJrHptWkLJ2msKR5V8z4Rlo7R50AxN9Bxgprs4VWCWE-K-NyMy70C7p4rN61OnpHpTY-LHwvqTuTimV5qn6XPh3xxLBuC6o97I6J4e_dHqykxaVSCm5xI/s640/elevatorView.jpg" width="476" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Finally, my time slot started to creep up and I knew I should head downstairs. "Sending you happy thoughts!!" Emely texted. "Good luck, I hope you get everything you want!" the two girls I had been talking to said supportively. The general good vibes and respect going around was really nice to see, as I had heard so many horror stories of cat fights, women snatching clothes from each others hands and general nastiness. I'm sure the story was completely different for those poor souls brave enough to storm the store for the free-for-all that started at 12. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I lined up right outside the fenced off area that was full of people from the time slot before mine. They were waiting anxiously for the group ahead of them to finish shopping, and for the security guard to pull the white gate aside. Finally, they did, and my magenta group got let into the fenced off area. "15 mins omg I'm gonna faint for u" my mom's texting doubled during the time right before I was allowed into the Versace area, "Do people in your group look friendly?" I glanced around and was really surprised at the range of ages surrounding me, no one appeared to be below the age of about 18, but women up to the age of 60 or 70 waited next to me in line, along with some guys who were there to help out their girlfriends. One girl asked where the leather jackets were, to which the security guard replied "leather is all sold out," good thing I didn't want any. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Right before being let into the closed off Versace area: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My mom started a virtual countdown, and my heart started beating faster and faster, this is it, what I had been waiting for for almost half a day now. "I feel like I'm about to run a marathon," I texted my mom, she responded "good thing it's a short one, breath, it's only clothes." One minute to, and the staff was still frantically restocking, while managing to dance around and blurt out random lyrics to the pop song "Hello." The security guard propped herself up on the fence and what seemed like half-jokingly implored "remember, when I open the gate, don't push." My anxiety spiked as I realized I was finally about to reach the climax of this whole experience (my mom had compared it to climbing Everest). Thirty seconds later she pulled the gate aside and I rushed to the palm leggings. The staff was extremely helpful, <span style="color: #e06666;">"what size are you looking for?"</span> a woman asked me. Remembering that Versace would definitely run smaller rather than bigger, "an 8 and a 10" I blurted out. I then rushed around looking for the various things I had pre-picked online, and grabbed a pair of leggings my mom had asked for. Fifteen minutes was more than enough time, and within seven I had already scoured the small area and grabbed everything I wanted. Knowing that I was delusional from the night spent without sleep, I forced myself to circle through the area a few more times. Once I felt satisfied with my selections, I then went to exit the area, and a woman checked my pickings to make sure that I hadn't taken more than two of each item. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I could now go to the dressing room to try everything on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That was where it hit me. I put on a black, gold sparkled dress, looked in the mirror and thought, <span style="color: #e06666;">"Oh my God, I'm wearing Versace."</span> After my cathartic moment of knowing I was at the end, I left the dressing room with a handful of clothing, and was bombarded by ladies asking me to give them what I didn't want. "I'm sorry, I can't," I replied, "they'll think I stole things," I replied, showing them the plastic "7" sign that the staff had given me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Finally, I made it to the cash register, checked out, and was handed a giant colorful bag, that seemed to embody Miami beach, and left H&M with a big smile on my face. I caught a cab home, dished the whole story to my mother, got home, and crashed in bed from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm (I feel hungover right now). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The experience was literally like running a marathon for 8 hours, but it was so worth it. It was my first, and probably last time doing something this crazy, but it's an experience I'm so glad I got to have. So, now the exciting part, here's what I got out of my night/day of utter exhaustion, and o</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">f course, I have to start with the item I wouldn't shut up about: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #e06666;">The garment bags </span>were complementary and feel like silk! Well, what an experience that turned out to be. Do you have a crazy collaboration launch story you'd like to share? Have you heard anything about how the launch went in your city? Share your thoughts! Tomorrow, I promise I will finally talk about Versace's history, but for now I'm just going to enjoy this post-shopping high. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </span>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-16740601780639299802011-11-18T18:03:00.000-08:002011-11-19T21:35:02.595-08:00My Versace for H&M Launch Survival Bag<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Good evening friends. I'm getting nervous, I must admit. The <a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/come-e-bella-versace-and-how-to-survive.html" target="_blank">H&M x Versace</a> launch is just 12 hours away (people are already lining up!!) and I am heading out into the freezing Montreal winter (it flurried today!) in under<span style="color: #e06666;"> 7 hours</span>...I'll be facing these scary fashionistas on my own, and I really am starting to feel the pressure of the situation I've mentally vowed myself into. What an experience this shall be! Just think, by mid-afternoon tomorrow you'll know whether I survived or not, whether I got anything out of it, and pretty much every gritty, tired detail of my whole experience...are you ready? Well, I thought I'd share my survival bag with you guys, since it is the wonder-pouch that will be keeping me entertained, sustained and just plain SANE for 5 hours. I've done 10 hour bus rides with Greyhound before, so I'm hoping this pre-launch wait will be a cakewalk (or cat walk, hardy har har)...that's probably not the least bit realistic though, as the Greyhound isn't full of an angry mob of strung out Versace-addicts willing to take anyone down in their path just to get into that first group of 280 women. Aside from that, I should be fine though...Well, all things terrifying aside, here's what I'll be using to survive my sleepless night on the streets: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. Most importantly<span style="color: #e06666;"> MY WALLET</span> stocked with both cash and a credit card</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2.<span style="color: #e06666;"> My iPod</span> (a close second to my wallet) fully charged, and recently updated with some mindless movie rentals)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. <span style="color: #e06666;">My iPhone</span>, for games, music, and keeping people updated with the status of my well-being, also fully charged</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. <span style="color: #e06666;">My camera</span>, fully charged, for taking photos and interviews of the crazy night/day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5. <span style="color: #e06666;">Some magazines</span>, which will provide for excellent light reading (I've resigned myself to the fact that it will be near impossible to do anything intelligent)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">6. <span style="color: #e06666;">Hot chocolate</span>, I know it'll only last for the first hour at most, but the warmth will be so welcome</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">7. <span style="color: #e06666;">Sweet and Salty Bars</span> for sustenance and energy (and general deliciousness)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">8. <span style="color: #e06666;">WATER!!</span> It's so dry up here, 5 hours without it sounds dangerous, I will, however, have to watch how much I drink (can't be piddling on the sidewalk) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">9. <span style="color: #e06666;">My Northface Jacket</span>; literally the warmest thing on the planet, and so vital for a below zero night in the great white north (it's already 37 F) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">10. (not pictured) a tupperware <span style="color: #e06666;">container of beans</span> for energy and keeping my belly from rumblin' the night away</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, what do you think? Am I well prepared or am I missing something vital? What would be in your launch survival bag? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-29111995227776424992011-11-17T20:53:00.000-08:002011-11-21T21:54:37.564-08:00Thursday Bliss, Sequins and a little Versace<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thursday has been one of my favorite days for a while now, I guess if I'm speaking honestly, since I started college. Why you ask? Well, if you've spent even a semester at university, you know that Friday classes are easy to avoid, and if you simply must register for one, it's probably not going to be too early in the morning. I'm not saying I skip my Friday classes, that would be irresponsible, I just know that I can treat my Thursdays a little bit like a Friday, only better because there are FOUR days till Monday, not THREE. Anyway, this Thursday is particularly blissful for me; first and most importantly, as of tonight I have THREE FOLLOWERS!! This is just so exciting for me, and I have to give my first three a shout out; Annette, Danny and Tetyana, you guys are awesome! Other less important reasons include the fact that I finally bought my copy of the <a href="http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/deathly-hallows-part-2-header.jpg" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2</a> movie (call me a nerd, I don't care, <a href="http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/composition/18469589/view/1/producttypecolor/196/type/png/width/280/height/280/weasley-is-our-king_design.png" target="_blank">Weasley is my King </a>forever!!), the <a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/come-e-bella-versace-and-how-to-survive.html" target="_blank">H&M for Versace</a> launch is in two days <i>and </i>I have company, AND I recently discovered the wonder that is <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-u0ThESMZDcs1WgBeEZlO-8gxQonM9tTWpxJZugegVohHn5a7QF83uqn6aXYe2TyJCJs-wVnnlzggBAdVRVg4kgqaLO5vxFmixMv7G4Zz3U3f2PQ2mTc_Fle5nA72kYOo-3qWhcniqrMs/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" target="_blank">chocolate babka</a> (seriously folks, if you live near a kosher bakery, get on that!!). So, just to clarify, I am in fact guiltless, blogging in bed, watching Harry Potter with a nice chunk of babka by my side...can you think of anything more blissful? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, onto all things fashion, because I don't think I need to rub my utter euphoria in your face anymore. I SO regret not doing my Trendy Wednesday yesterday, because it is, in fact, one of my favorite parts of my blog. Therefore, this week I've decided to really switch it up and do a...<i>drum roll please</i>... <span style="color: #e06666;">TRENDY THURSDAY</span>!! They both begin with "T" right? And that does count as some sort of rhyme...assonance I think? But hold on to your seats, because I'm going to go ahead and switch it up even more, and highlight a different trend than the one that I promised last week. I know, I know, you were all really looking forward to finally finding out a non-Jersey Shore way to wear phython print, but I swear, this trend is just as fun! In the spirit of Versace, I'll be taking on Winter sequins! I know I haven't spoken much about Versace, so I'll get this out there now: her style is loud, bright, gaudy and, I'll just say it, kind of racy. Here are some looks from her advertising campaign for Fall/Winter 2011-2012: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.versace.com/uploads/7006829efe120640041de8d10563d3e7a7b54364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.versace.com/uploads/7006829efe120640041de8d10563d3e7a7b54364.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.versace.com/uploads/1882efa5df43d6176d6202bc610450b2a6e5a88c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.versace.com/uploads/1882efa5df43d6176d6202bc610450b2a6e5a88c.jpg" width="228" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.versace.com/uploads/bc4bbacbfa93917f720a5df7078584c74bfdc7c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.versace.com/uploads/bc4bbacbfa93917f720a5df7078584c74bfdc7c1.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.versace.com/uploads/f5eb3dca42269e7fa2d3dd727a1fa0260fc66f74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.versace.com/uploads/f5eb3dca42269e7fa2d3dd727a1fa0260fc66f74.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.versace.com/uploads/2b2ed085312d6befe3007ac88f239c1a1391fdc8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.versace.com/uploads/2b2ed085312d6befe3007ac88f239c1a1391fdc8.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.versace.com/uploads/fd35e642786a9e9589186b49d01411808053e532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.versace.com/uploads/fd35e642786a9e9589186b49d01411808053e532.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love the deep colors she uses, the fun textures, and the distinctly Greek vibe the collection gives off--some of her H&M collection definitely showcases these aspects of her aesthetic. Onward to the trend!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The reason I love sequins in the Winter is because they tend to be darker and richer golds, blacks and silvers, and they add such a cool aspect to the plaids, blacks, browns and mustard colors of winter. Sequins can borderline on looking tacky or like <a href="http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/pratt9999/10-164.jpg" target="_blank">tap-dance costumes</a>, but what girl doesn't love a little glitter in her outfit? After all, isn't there still a <a href="http://www.mypartyplanner.com/common/d_images/products/00/06/37/image_407479.jpg" target="_blank">five year old princess</a> still dancing around in all of our hearts? There in lies the beauty of the Winter sequins, the colors with Winter clothing makes it near impossible to look like you're about to bust into the old <i>soft shoe</i>, but you still get to sparkle! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Sequins are also a festive, fashionable alternative to the <a href="http://www.uglychristmassweatersforsale.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/UglyChristmasSweater2.jpg" target="_blank">ironic ugly Christmas sweater</a>. So, what's not to love? With that in mind, please enjoy some of my favorite sequins looks from some fabulous designers and my very own closet <a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/trendy-wednesday-architectural.html" target="_blank">once again</a>: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">J. Crew has always incorporated sequins into their fall/winter line so beautifully: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.jcrew.com/fsi/server?type=image&source=images/onFigure/30/30310/30310_WA9946_m.tif&width=393&height=393&effects=sharpen%2820%29&quality=90&profile=jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.jcrew.com/fsi/server?type=image&source=images/onFigure/30/30310/30310_WA9946_m.tif&width=393&height=393&effects=sharpen%2820%29&quality=90&profile=jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.jcrew.com/fsi/server?type=image&source=images/onFigure/32/32360/32360_GY6791_m.tif&width=393&height=393&effects=sharpen%2820%29&quality=90&profile=jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.jcrew.com/fsi/server?type=image&source=images/onFigure/32/32360/32360_GY6791_m.tif&width=393&height=393&effects=sharpen%2820%29&quality=90&profile=jpeg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.jcrew.com/fsi/server?type=image&source=images/onFigure/52/52278/52278_BR6301_m.tif&width=393&height=393&effects=sharpen%2820%29&quality=90&profile=jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.jcrew.com/fsi/server?type=image&source=images/onFigure/52/52278/52278_BR6301_m.tif&width=393&height=393&effects=sharpen%2820%29&quality=90&profile=jpeg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/photos/378678/j-crew-sequin-harem-pant-profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/photos/378678/j-crew-sequin-harem-pant-profile.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And of course <a href="http://www.freepeople.com/sequin-fever-bodycon-dress/" target="_blank">Free People's</a> ethereal style fits with sequins effortlessly: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKYvfcFpqcfGwiHpDbtPQmPx2eNUWgvD2gIfAXgZt3F0erC7uZptnohK9YxRFnDAUvlExdNX8EhUN2qc7xkY7ekhbesStdE-VeXAkR6f_gsg1kQ0LQwiRYqR_KJpSVGIyspaxvcC-StE/s1600/11172011112044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKYvfcFpqcfGwiHpDbtPQmPx2eNUWgvD2gIfAXgZt3F0erC7uZptnohK9YxRFnDAUvlExdNX8EhUN2qc7xkY7ekhbesStdE-VeXAkR6f_gsg1kQ0LQwiRYqR_KJpSVGIyspaxvcC-StE/s400/11172011112044.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you don't mind breaking the bank, this <a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/179338" target="_blank">Rachel Gilbert</a> dress is probably worth not eating for a few weeks: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/179338/179338_fr_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/179338/179338_fr_l.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have to say I'm pretty much in love with this Winter's sequins leggings trend, <a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/171510" target="_blank">Dolce & Gabanna</a> pull it off like rockstars: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/171510/171510_rw_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/171510/171510_rw_l.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Finally, I do love sharing stuff with you guys from my own wardrobe, here's an outfit I wore today (in celebration of all things Thursday!): </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yytT51EHTno4JLbrl0iqO_8H_Ik4hgFanK064glwTNDQjh3oDfeyJW2BROMIkIWCrmO1Jsr4slJx6KKrN85SfpgfWhdI72RBCzcJxUiNMTeuiRpuDSr7kmjDTUpiYcsE5clvTRQpyMM/s1600/sequins2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yytT51EHTno4JLbrl0iqO_8H_Ik4hgFanK064glwTNDQjh3oDfeyJW2BROMIkIWCrmO1Jsr4slJx6KKrN85SfpgfWhdI72RBCzcJxUiNMTeuiRpuDSr7kmjDTUpiYcsE5clvTRQpyMM/s400/sequins2.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nmIzFhN_1kulFFCkdYv1_BsOc9ujisOTU5qERD12F-DReRGolY6UMCJvhfyPsNCL9UYRR6Kb_mrtskeKqzJdaI75LwkrGYh2LUUjGDjVnKhOQtwzAAmCKte89oTKpLK1Aj2HECBTAd4/s1600/sequins1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nmIzFhN_1kulFFCkdYv1_BsOc9ujisOTU5qERD12F-DReRGolY6UMCJvhfyPsNCL9UYRR6Kb_mrtskeKqzJdaI75LwkrGYh2LUUjGDjVnKhOQtwzAAmCKte89oTKpLK1Aj2HECBTAd4/s400/sequins1.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Apologies about the bad coloring, curse you indoor lighting!!) But how fabulous are black sequins?? This lovely top is BCBG, but I was lucky enough to snag it from a vintage shop in Boston. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lastly, here is one of my favorite dresses for going out to dance, getting drinks at a swanky bar, or even just getting a nice meal: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigniboinIJvi__mwF3xIq0w6o1QFXLt_N5mZAhLzGqma8WRjHc-v7E3IJ1DnkuFqRyhY93P3nqTgCkfpJ_VUOw_eKR5XVdtq9GUTu_BNli_sbIL5yCGLWO9slaTF4FsvdDmIH7b8hSFYU/s1600/sequins2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigniboinIJvi__mwF3xIq0w6o1QFXLt_N5mZAhLzGqma8WRjHc-v7E3IJ1DnkuFqRyhY93P3nqTgCkfpJ_VUOw_eKR5XVdtq9GUTu_BNli_sbIL5yCGLWO9slaTF4FsvdDmIH7b8hSFYU/s400/sequins2.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipghUTvAbaaWY7XCBvTiA5AiqasRQ9P3ctTDARrteDaj2TmMwMwxdzdcZC3HWWlDiNKIIljR9zKQrFDTz8vnFfh5V90SDlkPCfZybSOFxpYAPSEHprHZ0I-iqSKPdQYDZRiPxPplbqfok/s1600/sequins1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipghUTvAbaaWY7XCBvTiA5AiqasRQ9P3ctTDARrteDaj2TmMwMwxdzdcZC3HWWlDiNKIIljR9zKQrFDTz8vnFfh5V90SDlkPCfZybSOFxpYAPSEHprHZ0I-iqSKPdQYDZRiPxPplbqfok/s400/sequins1.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, if you weren't a believer in sequins as real, everyday clothing, have I warmed you up to it a bit? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tomorrow I will finally give the previously promised history lesson on Versace, including a display of her clothing designs over the years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">THEN, on<span style="color: #e06666;"> SATURDAY</span>, get excited!! I'll be heading out to the front lines at 3:30 (AM FOLKS!) to wait in line for H&M to open at 8:30. While I'm there I won't just be basking in the glory of waiting in the freezing cold for 5 hours, sleep-deprived, and probably moody. No, no, I will be documenting the whole event with interviews, pictures, and then posting it right here for you to see for yourself! So get excited! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </span>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-14576268187514980872011-11-15T15:14:00.000-08:002011-11-15T16:49:26.965-08:00Come è bella Versace! (and how to survive her H&M launch)<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jetsetsocialite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/versace_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.jetsetsocialite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/versace_logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Are Versace and Starbucks in cahoots by any chance?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway, yes, that's right. <a href="http://www.wallpaper.com/images/98_versace_am04012007_f.jpg" target="_blank">Ms. Donatella Versace</a> (she's probably the type who shouldn't wear <a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/weekend-obsessions.html" target="_blank">pink lipstick</a>) will be the topic of discussion for the next few days, and not just on my blog. With all the hype going around about the launch of the <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/versace-html#path=1&transition=10&duration=500" target="_blank">Versace for H&M collection</a>, I couldn't help but cave and feature the fashion house this week. Also, I think it's an interesting house to contrast with Chloé, as it is so drastically different in all it's gaudy, unpredictable fabulousness. Just for those of you out there who don't know, the Versace for H&M line (featured in Sunday's post) hits most select H&M stores (i.e those in metropolitan areas) this Thursday, November 17th. However, the line won't be available to the North American public until Saturday, November 19th (which actually works out better because it means that I don't have to skip school to jump in line). And as far as I know the line will not be available for online purchase (except for ebay, and a sketchy <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-website-claims-sell-versace-h-m-120311797.html" target="_blank">Chinese website</a> that in <i>no way</i> seems counterfeit *cough cough*). Here's a video of the launch party that all the pretty stars and socialites got to attend <i>sigh</i>:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CPX2wdR92EM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The event has been well planned out and has very specific rules for the adrenaline pumped, stiletto wearing hazards to society that will be flooding the sidewalk outside H&M. I know I previously mentioned the protocol, but here it is in more detail:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The first 230 women in line get different colored wristbands which codify what time they can enter the store for their 15 minutes of shopping. During these 15 minutes, each woman is only allowed to select TWO items from each section, which is mostly to avoid the clothing turning up on <a href="http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=versace+for+h%26m&_sacat=See-All-Categories" target="_blank">ebay</a> (oops! it's already happened! But at a 30-40% markup? No thanks!). Men, who aren't half as excited about the collection as demonstrated by comments that relate the much advertised hot pink suit, seen here on <a href="http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/nov2011/7/2/mark-ronson-arrives-at-the-versace-for-h-m-fashion-show-pic-ap-203511917.jpg" target="_blank">Mark Ronson</a>, to a certain part of the female anatomy, don't have to wait in line, but cannot access the women's floor. It seems all the loopholes are closed then, and besides unleashing some serious, Black Friday style, fashion-induced rage, we'll all just have to civilly wait in line praying that those <a href="http://whatshaute.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Versace-for-HM-printed-leggings.jpg" target="_blank">palm tree leggings</a> don't sell out!! Okay, just breath, Laura, lower the blood pressure. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thinking about this logically, here are some tips that may help you sleep at night while you clench your teeth pondering "HOW WILL I EVER BEAT THAT QUEUE!?" </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
1.<span style="color: #e06666;"> Don't go! </span>(More clothes for me, muahaha!!) Seriously, if you can't handle a black eye, a pointy high heel stab, or the mad rush of a crowd, don't risk it! We all remember the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/14/missoni-for-target-crashes-site_n_961600.html" target="_blank">Target Missoni Incident</a>, a moment of silence for those involved...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. <span style="color: #e06666;">Get there EARLY</span>! I myself am NO EARLY BIRD...in fact any iota of positivity in the morning is enough for me to backlash with snarky comments and general hate rays. I mean, honestly, who wakes up and thinks, "wow, it's so cold in this room, I can't wait to jump out of my warm bed and shock my body with the fluctuating temperature of my erratic shower! Oh look, the sun is just rising!" I gagged just typing that. However, events like this are well publicized, majorly hyped, and definitely on the radar of a few thousand women per city. Again, think Black Friday: a sleepless night of grabbing at clothing you maybe wouldn't even find that attractive if the prices weren't low and your melatonin levels weren't bonkers. So, get good sleep, down an espresso, and be prepared to wait in line very very early. Realistically you're not going to be first in line, (unless you own a tent and don't mind being sexually propositioned by a homeless man) but you can be damn close, and just think of the benefits of being one of those first 230 women! That ought to be enough to keep your adrenaline levels high enough to get you through the morning...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. <span style="color: #e06666;">Bring a buddy</span>. Seriously, there is power (and safety) in numbers. Plus, what better way to kill those hours in line than with a few games of rummy or hangman...What am I 50? I guess you can compete for high scores on angry birds...or listen to music on Spotify? If you can't find anyone willing to risk her life for Versace, then just grab some good reading on your way out of the house, whether that be Vogue, Hemingway or New York Magazine. Also, don't forget your camera for proof that you survived the Versace for H&M launch (and to make that friend who couldn't make it jealous). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. <span style="color: #e06666;">Decide what you want BEFORE arriving at the store</span>. This one may seem obvious, but it's so vital, especially with only 15 minutes of shopping time, and a mob of aggressive, overly-caffeinated, impatient women! This ain't their first rodeo! It's every woman for herself! Meaning that even when you have that gorgeous pink, gold-studded dress in your hands, it could be ripped from your grasp in the blink of a heavily mascaraed eye...and hey, fair is fair, right? So, go in with an idea of the two items you want, dart for them, grab your size, and stuff them where the sun don't shine! Okay, don't do that, but do keep a close watch. It's also doubly safe to go in with a few back ups, just in the sad, but likely chance that what you're seeking is sold out.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5. <span style="color: #e06666;">Go in with a relaxed, fun attitude<span style="color: black;">. I know it's so hard to remember, but at the end of the day, these are just clothes that will go out of style within a year or so. And while it is a very high end designer producing these clothes, it doesn't make them magic beans or pots o' gold. In other words, there is not guarantee of you getting what you want, or even anything at all, as the launch in your respective city is completely unpredictable. So the only way to not feel completely depressed and defeated at the end of the day, is to go in with low expectations about the outcome, and the view that it's a fun event, and a rare occasion to be a part of! The last thing women need is another reason to turn on each other, so be respectful (though not naive, see point 4), make friends in line, and maintain your dignity. Because at the end of the day, your dignity may be the only thing you walk away with, so you'll want to have that intact. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, just to get you excited here are some more pictures from the line that will be launching Thursday for most of the world, and Saturday for North America. <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/versace-html#path=1&transition=10&duration=500" target="_blank">The H&M for Versace website</a> has a store locator so you can see just where you need to be during those wee hours of the morning of the launch. I'll be at H&M's Montreal location at St. Catherine and Peel. See you there? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What we have to look forward to is some kitschy, 90's inspired, bright, colorful, crazy-patterned fun statement pieces. The lines main aim was to offer a little something from every aspect of Versace's signature concepts, and to stay true to the Versace name, hence the line's title "The Very Best of Versace for H&M". There is a lot of criticism and praise for this line, which is understandable. However, while it may not appeal to all aesthetics, it does seem to offer a little something for everyone: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096046%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096046%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096046%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[-9.55]&set=key[width],value[609]&set=key[height],value[712]&set=key[x],value[312]&set=key[y],value[85]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096046%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[-9.55]&set=key[width],value[609]&set=key[height],value[712]&set=key[x],value[312]&set=key[y],value[85]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096052%2042021%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096027%2055028%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096027%2055028%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096027%2055028%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[-10.9]&set=key[width],value[599]&set=key[height],value[701]&set=key[x],value[395]&set=key[y],value[133]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096027%2055028%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[-10.9]&set=key[width],value[599]&set=key[height],value[701]&set=key[x],value[395]&set=key[y],value[133]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096067%2009090%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096067%2009090%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096056%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096056%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096039%2042021%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[-4.8]&set=key[width],value[342]&set=key[height],value[399]&set=key[x],value[445]&set=key[y],value[560]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096065%2009090%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096065%2009090%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096054%2072040%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096054%2072040%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096039%2042021%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096039%2042021%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096039%2042021%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[-4.8]&set=key[width],value[342]&set=key[height],value[399]&set=key[x],value[445]&set=key[y],value[560]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096039%2042021%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[-4.8]&set=key[width],value[342]&set=key[height],value[399]&set=key[x],value[445]&set=key[y],value[560]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(That red dress has generated a lot of hype on fashion blogs) </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, if you didn't know, now you know, and you can decide yourself whether it's worth potential french-tipped nail scars and acknowledging that the morning exists.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tomorrow, I'll do a brief history of Versace, and then we can maybe see the relation between the H&M line and her previous work! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx<br />
<br />
P.S Remember that for next week's <span style="color: #e06666;">Trendy Wednesday <span style="color: black;">I want to feature your take on this fall's snakeskin print trend</span></span>. Send in some pictures and I'll be happy to post them !!</div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-10511410143435360602011-11-13T13:19:00.000-08:002011-11-13T14:07:21.228-08:00*Weekend Obsessions*<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With Christmas coming up, it's really hard not to start thinking about what should go on the old wishlist. Mine tends to take form in November, and then drastically change up until the week before the lovely holiday. Looking at fashion blogs can sometimes be markedly dangerous, as I'll see a piece and do a crazy internet search until I find something comparable, and then decide that I NEED it. Oh, mild shopping disorders...Anyway, here are a few things I've been pining over this past week, nothing makes the heart beat faster than beautiful clothing, AM I RIGHT? One of the woes of being unemployed is that most of my salivating will go un-satiated, but a little drool is healthy now and then: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Hot Pink Lipstick</b>; now hold on! I know what you're thinking, <i>Hot pink lipstick?! Won't that make me look like a Barbie? </i>Well, the answer here is yes and no: yes if you look like <a href="http://seasonsofashion.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/orange-malibu-barbie.jpg" target="_blank">this</a>, and no if you look like a normal human being! I just got Lancôme's "S.O.S Pink" from their Color Design line:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBrG1Lx-4FfdiKh80n7jx4JBymtqMx3CrpA8-sPCtL_-EP5pQUm4dGW3MTBx9_F8VWj9eitZ2MkFV676mTs5oFrRHOvXwzcmMeNlhl4k4OTymENoJUbJ8FxO2RpOAKgKcGhO6Z_MX6sY/s1600/3605975092424_SWATCH1_SOSPINK_COLORDESIGNLIP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBrG1Lx-4FfdiKh80n7jx4JBymtqMx3CrpA8-sPCtL_-EP5pQUm4dGW3MTBx9_F8VWj9eitZ2MkFV676mTs5oFrRHOvXwzcmMeNlhl4k4OTymENoJUbJ8FxO2RpOAKgKcGhO6Z_MX6sY/s1600/3605975092424_SWATCH1_SOSPINK_COLORDESIGNLIP.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTux10Qi0hnKtVboTYHldogozRmt4cqsLJGUC-R_2reYd3SLrxAQ8KvhdHPj1exvV4gdy7zb1PrkiBk4cmdNDB6jQEjHigaOHezkiYMO-yMtQcXKEJ_rvVhM_wtQwew-T1077omlnwfcU/s1600/lancome+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTux10Qi0hnKtVboTYHldogozRmt4cqsLJGUC-R_2reYd3SLrxAQ8KvhdHPj1exvV4gdy7zb1PrkiBk4cmdNDB6jQEjHigaOHezkiYMO-yMtQcXKEJ_rvVhM_wtQwew-T1077omlnwfcU/s200/lancome+5.jpg" width="148" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhBl7_RvYEiG428vB9BVix7cbQ73mSPGqrAw8Tz4zuHWAkdo0izYKcAULtkGvJ_hplNjcO77xqRzsRcq-4iR7c31W95rcfXj1078VWUkz4ljmEeQYNijaYVXO0FiTDkHkMI1hqCtI8Iw/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhBl7_RvYEiG428vB9BVix7cbQ73mSPGqrAw8Tz4zuHWAkdo0izYKcAULtkGvJ_hplNjcO77xqRzsRcq-4iR7c31W95rcfXj1078VWUkz4ljmEeQYNijaYVXO0FiTDkHkMI1hqCtI8Iw/s320/-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's a little more toned down than the super HOT pink that the stars are pulling off, but still so fun and bright. It's definitely a color I would feel comfortable wearing to school (and I am NOT a makeup girl) and it's a pretty, less serious alternative for a night out, instead of bright red lipstick (which I also love). Check out some classy examples of this repeating (last year MAC launched a <a href="http://www.grooveeffect.com/post/012807-barbie-loves-mac---limited-edition-color-collectio.php" target="_blank">Barbie loves MAC</a> line) trend: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mybeautybunny.com/wp-content/uploads/alexis-bledel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.mybeautybunny.com/wp-content/uploads/alexis-bledel1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mybeautybunny.com/wp-content/uploads/Beyonce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.mybeautybunny.com/wp-content/uploads/Beyonce.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lip-gloss-pictures.com/uploadfile/2011/0821/celebrity-pink-lip-gloss-trend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.lip-gloss-pictures.com/uploadfile/2011/0821/celebrity-pink-lip-gloss-trend.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">See?? These ladies are not the <a href="http://media.onsugar.com/files/2010/03/13/2/546/5466239/0932f7e34eae61dc_kim-kardashian-troy-jensen-naughty.jpg" target="_blank">Kim Kardashians</a> or <a href="http://www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/MTV+Europe+Music+Awards+2008+Arrivals+U7xCiu2UUe-l.jpg" target="_blank">Katy Perrys</a> of the world, and they look fabulous! I think this trend looks great on any skin tone, as long as it's the right shade to compliment it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Versace for H&M </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This line has not yet hit the stores, so I sadly don't actually own anything in the flesh from this exciting collaboration, but let me just say it, <i>DAYYYUMMMM</i>!! These clothes are so vibrant and fabulous!! You definitely could not make a wardrobe out of the line without being asked if you are selling ecstasy, but if the pieces are put together in the right way, the resulting look can be really innovative, fun, and classy. Here are some of my favorite pieces found on the <a href="http://www.hm.com/ca/versace#collection/ladies/6101_webb_1" target="_blank">H&M website</a>:</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096053%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096053%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="272" /></a><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096054%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096054%2085017%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096058%2009090%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /><a href="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096063%2055028%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lp.hm.com/hmprod?set=key[source],value[/model/2011/D68%2096063%2055028%2099%209999%200.jpg]&set=key[rotate],value[]&set=key[width],value[]&set=key[height],value[]&set=key[x],value[]&set=key[y],value[]&call=url[file:/product/large]" width="273" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And here's a really chic example of pulling off a piece in a<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://naiveaesthete.blogspot.com/2011/11/chloe-so-pret-porter-meaning.html"><b>prêt-à-porter</b></a> way</span>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://cdn4.lookbook.nu/files/looks/medium/2011/11/13/1717254_versace-palms.jpg?1321188018" width="400" />*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ugh, it's just too cool. Sadly, the line is only in stores for a select time, starting November 19th, AND there's going to be a line, with wristbands, and the whole shebang. So...not sure how realistic this dream is turning out to be. It's still AWESOME to look at though, right? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Velvet Blazers</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I spotted this look on the <a href="http://alltheprettybirds.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">alltheprettybirds</a> blog and just had to see what I could find for myself:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/6320575804_3f67f8ef3c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/6320575804_3f67f8ef3c_b.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After not too much searching, I came across this beautiful blazer from <a href="http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-jackets-outerwear-2/slouchy-velvet-blazer/?cm_mmc=GAN-_-Affiliates-_-ShopStyle.com-_-Primary" target="_blank">Free People</a> (definitely moving up to number 1 on the Christmas wishlist): </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN6DSv2IeERBYZTzbTCy7HXfFZRNwE3ujhHmFAkBbCu4y-hwrsgDkABqyvN0HqU1POx4IXa-eOlOXEM7r8SMnRLw74B6HvJWmG9T7wVfcWU7KcyyakyrFYZzeDGV571Li919oIco6ISI/s1600/front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN6DSv2IeERBYZTzbTCy7HXfFZRNwE3ujhHmFAkBbCu4y-hwrsgDkABqyvN0HqU1POx4IXa-eOlOXEM7r8SMnRLw74B6HvJWmG9T7wVfcWU7KcyyakyrFYZzeDGV571Li919oIco6ISI/s320/front.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAxcj7c8yrHKmPWrgTfm_0QR_xhVwhagfhNRvAFpBO8zT9nuvKh6Tm2AaAbc71QMtnQgrfzIajPMmqjN_tm14KEpuVASp5uc8TrJZEIqe1pab8snM24WpLKs4h6FtcfQTpWlTT63tV1Q/s1600/bak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAxcj7c8yrHKmPWrgTfm_0QR_xhVwhagfhNRvAFpBO8zT9nuvKh6Tm2AaAbc71QMtnQgrfzIajPMmqjN_tm14KEpuVASp5uc8TrJZEIqe1pab8snM24WpLKs4h6FtcfQTpWlTT63tV1Q/s320/bak.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, I suppose that's enough needless drooling for one day. Monday I return to highlighting a new designer, but which fashion house will it be?! </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>* Image from <a href="http://lookbook.nu/look/2678693-VERSACE-PALMS" target="_blank">Lookbook</a></i></span></div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-14710293414555306432011-11-12T12:27:00.000-08:002011-11-13T14:12:07.227-08:00¡Ciao Chloé!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chloe.com/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="http://www.chloe.com/logo.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Wahhh! It seems I fell off the wagon there for a couple of days...I need not tell you why, I presume. Well, now that my days are all out of whack, I suppose today will be our final farewell to Chloé. I can't believe I went a whole week without grabbing any street fashion! I'm a pseudo-fashionista failure!! I promise, it will happen though. Just like I'll go for a run today...right. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway, today I thought it would be appropriate to just look at the evolution of Chloé through the fashion house's apparel, one decade at a time. As we've learned, Chloé has had a lot of big name designers on board (i.e Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney), and I think it'll be interesting to see how such different aesthetics can bend one brand into so many directions. Chloé is a super interesting house for this reason. Well, allons-y! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>The Sixties </b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.stellamccartney.com/default/" target="_blank">Karl Lagerfeld</a> in the Sixties (a really different vibe)</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>The Seventies</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Seventies/Eighties</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<b>The Nineties </b><br />
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<b>2002 with <a href="http://www.stellamccartney.com/default/" target="_blank">Stella McCartney</a></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<b>2007 </b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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So drastically different, right? Okay, well tomorrow, get ready for some of my <span style="color: #e06666;">Weekend Obsessions</span>, which includes everything from nail polish colors to wedges to faux fur! Also, looking to get some street style this week, get ready! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx<br />
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P.S. Some tunes for a mellow weekend, <a href="http://lanadelrey.com/" target="_blank">Lana del Rey</a>:<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/HO1OV5B_JDw/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HO1OV5B_JDw&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HO1OV5B_JDw&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div></div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-70488162062139443202011-11-09T16:47:00.000-08:002011-11-17T21:02:41.869-08:00Trendy Wednesday: Architectural, Surprising Backs!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm a big fan of surprises (good ones exclusively) especially when it comes to clothes. We see a lot of the same silhouettes over and over, which, don't get me wrong, can be great with different patterns, colors and textiles, BUT, add a little surprise to your favorite silhouette and it's that much better!! That's why I'm such a big fan of that little extra 'umph' that a creative back of an outfit can add to its overall appeal. I've been seeing this a lot with dresses lately, from the front you get your usual flattering silhouette, then you turn it around and BAM! <i>Where did that hotness come from?!</i></span><i> </i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, I'd like to share with you some fun, geometrical backs, a couple of which I cannot afford (curse you designer prices!!) and the some of which hang in my very closet (or, much to the dismay of my very orderly boyfriend, are draped all over my small room on various chairs, mirrors and bureaus</span>).<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Enjoy! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5WHlKodXwL_ta5Df-_qqU2R0yn_TMRWUQGXclLb3q9bQXqFv_ZKfFYCnDoYg2ChGwETr61FPXncwE182FG_bhcHcCd6RNK7QX-CLwoSrvlWb2XvsCUt6luWr2huMH_cxt5XthPpVHFQ/s1600/23593064_011_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5WHlKodXwL_ta5Df-_qqU2R0yn_TMRWUQGXclLb3q9bQXqFv_ZKfFYCnDoYg2ChGwETr61FPXncwE182FG_bhcHcCd6RNK7QX-CLwoSrvlWb2XvsCUt6luWr2huMH_cxt5XthPpVHFQ/s400/23593064_011_f.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I LOVE the back on this dress from <a href="http://www.freepeople.com/" target="_blank">Free People</a>. It's so geometrical and architectural, yet simultaneously so feminine and unexpected. Also, while it may be a bit pricey, it's definitely more affordable than most things I pine over. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2mkYjFZ-kjPdKSofVpw6ebowNyFAnHvFfCWdfPu91Q2I-hbm8i5B-sMXQGNfadfztXRCkmYeCq9UOa3UL4QAFk6g3sXEDgtAPNqBXt0AUnf0SvpTtvH_G0EIByyqXTGNeliOISJ9bo4/s1600/941_2f1a931cf9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2mkYjFZ-kjPdKSofVpw6ebowNyFAnHvFfCWdfPu91Q2I-hbm8i5B-sMXQGNfadfztXRCkmYeCq9UOa3UL4QAFk6g3sXEDgtAPNqBXt0AUnf0SvpTtvH_G0EIByyqXTGNeliOISJ9bo4/s400/941_2f1a931cf9.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Ain't asymmetry grande? <a href="http://www.carinwester.com/womens-shop/main-collection/dresses/otill-1105-1658750" target="_blank">Carin Wester</a> is a Swedish designer whose recent work show cases a lot of interesting back silhouettes, and she's also a bit more affordable as far as big name fashion designers go. I just love how this dress is so unexpectedly fabulous (thanks to <a href="http://www.thesartorialist.com/" target="_blank"><i>The Sartorialist</i> </a>for that back shot, I just think it falls so much nicer on a person than on a mannequin). This dress comes in a few other colors, such as black and white, and proves that playful geometry can be casual too! I particularly like this pattern because, like the last dress, the girly print conflicts with the structured cut of the back in a way that really works out beautifully. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmkVeDu29hMCfMuA18POhcoxryv3xxbzcPPByV-aM36calqkrAJoyxIgnnZC04gZFpD4-eLWs8ULy2Ww2bjqQiK7z4D_6pXviJNtYWJEeQY3e4yZXwTA-Vq3HbNmDaftyYngotXP07q4/s1600/blackfront.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmkVeDu29hMCfMuA18POhcoxryv3xxbzcPPByV-aM36calqkrAJoyxIgnnZC04gZFpD4-eLWs8ULy2Ww2bjqQiK7z4D_6pXviJNtYWJEeQY3e4yZXwTA-Vq3HbNmDaftyYngotXP07q4/s400/blackfront.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiggDhmCoC70hLyGPG3hvS3VjDZoKpL5ts1rLWN2xriEFWmyJ9cQIzYuZhxjY9bn5bm46EnZQ5flWgSY66G8JqsdiQgS2BhCANNeIM0NQjpGKMbPpjaZUR8Mm32JE9wxBwlx_pWd0JdA/s1600/blackback.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiggDhmCoC70hLyGPG3hvS3VjDZoKpL5ts1rLWN2xriEFWmyJ9cQIzYuZhxjY9bn5bm46EnZQ5flWgSY66G8JqsdiQgS2BhCANNeIM0NQjpGKMbPpjaZUR8Mm32JE9wxBwlx_pWd0JdA/s400/blackback.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">WELL, now that we've established that I am: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">1. <u>Not</u> a model</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">2. Haggard looking today (thanks midterms) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">3. Terrible at self-portraits </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">We can move on to the actual dress. I love this dress because it is such a basic LBD* for a casual or dressy look, and it even has adorable hidden pockets on the sides! Best of all, the back saves this dress from being a boring basic black dress, and gives it a little edge. This was great find, on sale from <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/" target="_blank">Urban Outfitters</a> (my kryptonite). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMNcf48Xsb02ECepRHzMVYCtvMJ8lPyMEDSu23hmM2hz19Gv3Tl-MNEk9hmH6PnbWR8etJQAhyphenhyphenOUsMr8fkRreVJktcq4Nc2OQXpt0jRcl5LmI2UaoVMzk99_kFefqaVymU71LCFK61SY/s1600/snakeback.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMNcf48Xsb02ECepRHzMVYCtvMJ8lPyMEDSu23hmM2hz19Gv3Tl-MNEk9hmH6PnbWR8etJQAhyphenhyphenOUsMr8fkRreVJktcq4Nc2OQXpt0jRcl5LmI2UaoVMzk99_kFefqaVymU71LCFK61SY/s400/snakeback.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvnbwJL4871HCEDLiG0z_7ONapR_22uBVw2BKwH5dUjidTwxJBIxVyyEAxFAdzdxZ2sKpgcHmL5OPGRc_zIgjfHsiYAYhK-b2KvM8ZfaVDNO_TI9QU2c34z-vLX364mXEiOx4r8rnfsI/s1600/TW1-F21Back.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvnbwJL4871HCEDLiG0z_7ONapR_22uBVw2BKwH5dUjidTwxJBIxVyyEAxFAdzdxZ2sKpgcHmL5OPGRc_zIgjfHsiYAYhK-b2KvM8ZfaVDNO_TI9QU2c34z-vLX364mXEiOx4r8rnfsI/s400/TW1-F21Back.png" width="265" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is obviously a more dressy representation of the geometric back. I love what this dress does because it takes the generic deep v back and inverts it; who would've thought it'd be just as seductive when flipped upside down? I found this treat at <a href="http://canada.forever21.com/Product/Main.aspx?br=f21" target="_blank">Forever 21</a> (my go to shop for finding party clothes). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A successful </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: small;">Trendy Wednesday</span><span style="font-size: small;">, I do declare! We've explored lots of different takes on the same trend, which ended up surprising even me (in a good way exclusively). For the next </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: small;">Trendy Wednesday</span><span style="font-size: small;">, I want to h</span>ear from YOU! Message me a look that has to do with next Wednesday's trend...drum roll...PYTHON PRINT, and I'll post it on the blog! You just have to send the picture by Wednesday afternoon. After the Chloé post on snakeskin print, I have faith in you to pull it off! Tomorrow is our second to last day of Chloé (que triste) as I've decided to reserve weekends for something else in the works... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ciao for now xx</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Little black dress </span> </span>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-5749826730109080742011-11-08T15:25:00.000-08:002011-11-13T13:56:50.906-08:00School Woes and Jovial Chloé Fall/Winter Trends<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chloe.com/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="http://www.chloe.com/logo.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Hello hello hello! While I am writing today, I'm sorry to say it will be quite abridged as my procrastination has reached and all time high and I am just now starting a 5-7 page paper due tomorrow! Oh senioritis...Sadly, that also means street style was a bust today as I was bustling about getting some midterm round two things completed.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
Anyway! I did promise trends from Chloé that are really heating up about now, so here are five major ones to check out before I leave you for a night filled with mental strain and Kraft dinner (I hope not!) So here we go: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. <b style="color: #e06666;">Python Print</b>; if you haven't seen it yet, you will. Snake print is taking Fall/Winter by storm, and it's so understandable when you see it done right. We've all seen our share of <a href="http://www.shefinds.com/files/2011/03/Snooki.jpg" target="_blank">trashy animal prints</a> and <a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTARoFkQSsXhCS3bjKewwGYc5jzhqVsdigl8LY1eG4_sPPEzvK6" target="_blank">tasteless snakeskin dresses</a> (apologies, <i>Jersey Shore</i>), but it's so capable of being <a href="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kahaflurrywear/92511EleonraC_3936LOW.jpg" target="_blank">classy</a> and chic. It can't help that it was turned neon in the 90s (and apparently <a href="http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.262126340.jpg" target="_blank">today</a>), so give it a chance!: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Trés chic, no? I'm always a fan of a good animal print, and I think snakeskin has been neglected for too long, so three cheers for our slithering friends! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">2. <b style="color: #e06666;">The Psychedelic Sixties</b>; they say fashion trends cycle, and this fall the 60s are taking center stage in the form of every silhouette imaginable. It only makes sense with all of the <a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSB_q2Mnj350yibO8SAYvO2eM6C5F6BJIkDrwDfd5I4jjLP-pzMm9b_kGKP" target="_blank">cat eyes</a> peering around: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.efashionstyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Chloe-Fashion-autumn-winter-2012-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.efashionstyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Chloe-Fashion-autumn-winter-2012-3.jpg" width="214" /></a><a href="http://images.vogue.it/imgs/sfilate/ai-11-12-collezioni/chloe/collezione/HQ/00240h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.vogue.it/imgs/sfilate/ai-11-12-collezioni/chloe/collezione/HQ/00240h.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
3. <b style="color: #e06666;">Let's hear it for the boys!</b> Menswear has never had more sex appeal now that it's been feminized. Time to whip out your button up oxfords and your fitted blazers ladies, men ain't got nothin' on these gorgeous looks. One of my favorite young fashion icons,<a href="http://24blogazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/A-Handful-of-Dust-Emma-Watson-24-Blogazine31.jpg" target="_blank"> Emma Watson</a>, is so great is pulling this off in a feminine and chic way: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/chloe/2011/paris/fall-winter/ready-to-wear/2011-02-07/361/public/811/photos/2011-03-07-16-37-15-mg-9214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/chloe/2011/paris/fall-winter/ready-to-wear/2011-02-07/361/public/811/photos/2011-03-07-16-37-15-mg-9214.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/chloe/2011/paris/fall-winter/ready-to-wear/2011-02-07/361/public/811/photos/2011-03-07-16-38-25-mg-9228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/chloe/2011/paris/fall-winter/ready-to-wear/2011-02-07/361/public/811/photos/2011-03-07-16-38-25-mg-9228.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. I'll have some <b><span style="color: #e06666;">mustard</span> </b>with that; it seems that every fall that lovely mustardy yellow comes back to add a much needed splash of color to the fall palette. The great thing about mustard is it can fit anywhere in your wardrobe. I rock it in scarf form and just love the warmth it can bring to any outfit. Check out <a href="http://www.gb93.com/site_images/2011-03-08/diane-kruger-michelle-williams-mustard-dress-sag-awards-2010-oscars-2006-425sc012410.jpg" target="_blank">these gorgeous gowns</a> worn this year by Michelle Williams and Diane Kruger, and just look how great it translates into a more casual look on the runway:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/features_fashion/files/2011/03/FallTrend70sHannah1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/features_fashion/files/2011/03/FallTrend70sHannah1.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://www.elleuk.com/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/chloe/autumn-winter-2011/collection/chloe-rf11-0932-chloe-paris-autumn-winter-2011/6908816-1-eng-GB/chloe-rf11-0932_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.elleuk.com/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/chloe/autumn-winter-2011/collection/chloe-rf11-0932-chloe-paris-autumn-winter-2011/6908816-1-eng-GB/chloe-rf11-0932_a.jpg" width="213" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">5. <b style="background-color: white; color: #e06666;">Work that dress, girl!</b> This fall designers are embracing the work-appropriate dress (alright, maybe my cheesy wordplay needs some help) in place of the feminine trouser, and what's not to love about that?! Dresses are comfortable, more fun to dress up, and demonstrate that women are strong figures in the modern day workplace. I'm all about this trend, especially as a woman about to go into the working world (fingers crossed!): </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ab1yz.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/chloc3a9-paris-fashion-week-fw-2011-2012-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ab1yz.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/chloc3a9-paris-fashion-week-fw-2011-2012-51.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CvZXQIp23Js/Tmkm0Mw_7ZI/AAAAAAAAIWs/NWmj8BU1EJs/s400/CHLOE+FALL+2011+-+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CvZXQIp23Js/Tmkm0Mw_7ZI/AAAAAAAAIWs/NWmj8BU1EJs/s320/CHLOE+FALL+2011+-+18.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">(If you couldn't tell, Chloé really embraced the whole python print thing) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Well my friends, I hate to say it but a little sheet of paper keeps glaring at me from across the room, silently screaming "what's your thesis!?" If only Spanish colonialism were as aesthetically appealing and easy to blab about as Chloé trends...that is not the world in which I live sadly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Tomorrow, as I mentioned in my last post, we can look forward to a <span style="color: #e06666;">Trendy Wednesday</span>! And I'll give you a hint: the trend is NOT one that I mentioned today, can you guess what it is?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">I guess I can't delay the inevitable any longer, parting is such sweet sorrow (especially when it inescapably means an end to the best kind of procrastination). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Ciao for now xx </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-76169900664009715812011-11-07T16:00:00.000-08:002011-11-15T16:55:01.274-08:00Getting to know Chloé<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.chloe.com/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="http://www.chloe.com/logo.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I was so determined to get out on the streets, talk to some strangers and take some really great photos. Sadly, my build up of confidence was unneccessary as I didn't spot any Chloé-esque attired women strutting their stuff on the sidewalk. Part of this is perhaps because I was only out of the house for a few hours today (that schedule of mine), and I also think that I am taking the Chloé street style look too literally. I need to look at clothes with a more leniant eye, and simply see how one outfit could be inspired by a certain aesthetic; in other words, it doesn't have to be a direct translation!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I'm hoping tomorrow with some more sunlit hours under my belt and a less strict attitude about inspired style, I will be able to deliver. Also, I need to keep out of my very <a href="http://www.fashtionistaworld.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Hipster-Fashion-3.jpg" target="_blank">hipster</a> neighborhood for photographs pertaining to this particular designer, because Chloe and ripped skinny jeans and plaid flannel shirts don't exactly coincide. Never fear though! I am a woman of my word and I intend to <strike>awkwardly</strike> confidently approach some strangers about their awesome sense of style the moment I am struck with the visual inspiration to do so! </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tonight, as promised, I plan to deliver a little background about the Chloé fashion house, which I think is important for understanding a designer and the evolution that a brand has taken over the years. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Chloé was founded in 1952 by <a href="http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9710/img499173203jpgobjiip13lv3.jpg" target="_blank">Gaby Aghion</a> (don't ask me to pronounce that please), who ran the fashion house until 1985. She is of Egyptian origin, but moved to Paris in order to start the design company with her partner Jacques Lenoir. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cue fashion designer <a href="http://styleblazer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/karl-lagerfeld.jpg" target="_blank">Karl Lagerfield</a>, that androgynous, fabulous man (what hasn't he been involved in?). In 1966 he becomes the main designer for Chloé, which leads to the house emerging as a symbolic brand of the 70's, and draws in big fashion icons, such as these lovely ladies*: </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://trendland.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Brigitte-Bardot_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://trendland.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Brigitte-Bardot_24.jpg" width="224" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbxOa_dOdrn6vBXib5xHUiADVsFCZDO9GGl-VWxBkbP0rdpJTbtlDcOnHOhpiOilL0vDJrlGugwhq7zlh0IrRjtw7dTksWKRkkBuLn_Zd08aIgxb3Z7Iu1fIk1c4mPGoPosGjPr62S00/s1600/jackie-kennedy2528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbxOa_dOdrn6vBXib5xHUiADVsFCZDO9GGl-VWxBkbP0rdpJTbtlDcOnHOhpiOilL0vDJrlGugwhq7zlh0IrRjtw7dTksWKRkkBuLn_Zd08aIgxb3Z7Iu1fIk1c4mPGoPosGjPr62S00/s320/jackie-kennedy2528.jpg" width="251" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.classicactresses.com/images/Grace-Kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.classicactresses.com/images/Grace-Kelly.jpg" width="255" /></a><a href="http://www.classicaltv.com/assets-uploaded/MariaCallas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.classicaltv.com/assets-uploaded/MariaCallas1.jpg" width="231" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No big, right? (Also how amazingly gorgeous is Grace Kelly in that picture!?...and all the time). Then, in 1985, the company is bought out by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richemont" target="_blank">Richemont Group</a>, and Gaby Aghion says 'au revoir' to her fashion house baby, which leads to a series of Artistic Directors flowing through the company. In 1997 <a href="http://www.style.com/blogs/stylefile/wp-content/uploads/stella-mccartney.jpg" target="_blank">Stella McCartney</a> brings new direction to the line, and focuses more on the femininity and romance of the clothing (something we can see in the designs today). Finally, that brings us to the current day Creative Director of the fashion house, <a href="http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2006/12/02/phoebe-philo_14.jpg" target="_blank">Ms. Phoebe Philo</a>. Philo has been running the house since 2001, and is renowned for bringing a more 'sensual' and 'personal' touch to the line. Her stylish eye has made the line what it is today, and draws in modern day fashion icons such as**:</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://stylebakery.com/celebstyle/images/Kirsten-Dunst-Chloe-Dress-Cannes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://stylebakery.com/celebstyle/images/Kirsten-Dunst-Chloe-Dress-Cannes.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="http://outfitidentifier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://outfitidentifier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/780.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bellisima!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That feels like enough history for today, yeah? There you have a brief, succinct evolution of Chloé as a brand, and how it has come to be the lovely feminine, sensual line that it is today. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow you can expect fall trends that appeared in <a href="http://www.chloe.com/#/collections/ready-to-wear/winter-runway-2011-2012/en" target="_blank">Chloé's Winter 2011/2012</a> line, and what flavors you can anticipate seeing (or maybe already do) on the street, or in store windows. Also on tap for tomorrow, I HOPE I PRAY, you can look forward to some Montreal street style!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ciao for now xx </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #ea9999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">P.S. I've decided that on Wednesdays (henceforth to be know by the moniker <i>Trendy Wednesdays</i>...gotta love the imperfect rhyme) I will be featuring a trend (unrelated to the designer of the week) that makes me squeal (in that omigoshsocute! sort of way). So get ready my fellow pseudo-fashionistas, I have a very <b>shapely</b> (<i>hint hint) </i>one in the works! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>* Briggitte Bardot, Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly and Maria Callas</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Kirsten Dunst and Natalie Portman </i><i>(both wearing Chloé)</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534488644855164793.post-62231745616654452222011-11-06T15:27:00.000-08:002011-11-13T13:59:17.952-08:00Chloé: 'Prêt-à-porter,' meaning...?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chloe.com/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="http://www.chloe.com/logo.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before we get started here, I need to come clean about something else (just call this blog my little confessional apparently): I am a night owl and subsequently terrible at doing ANYTHING in the morning. I blame this on being a student, and not having any commitments until noon most days (yet another reason I'm feeling so ready to say 'toodles!' to college life and my zombieqsque appearance (not the <a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/09/article-1364657-0D6A278B000005DC-685_468x286.jpg" target="_blank">trendy kind</a>), and hello to a career, and a schedule). Anyway, now that that's out there, onto bigger and better things...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Chloé is undoubtedly one of my favorite fashion houses, but admittedly this has not been the case for that long. Aesthetics develop over time, and mine have really started going bonkers in the past few months as I've been immersing myself in more and more fashion blogs. I swear I am infinitely less stressed when it comes to putting together an outfit in a bind than I was before I really started examining fashionable outfits and what makes them work (unintentional <a href="http://renewedfitness.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Make-it-Work.png" target="_blank">Tim Gunn</a> allusion).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: #e06666;">*If I can recommend one thing to other pseudo-fashionistas out there, it's to spend even just 15 minutes of your day checking out well put together outfits (on blogs, magazines, TV or wherever) and thinking about why they look so damn good! *</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, I think what makes Chloé so accessible, especially to a novice like myself, is the ready to wear aspect it possesses, or, in other words (french words) 'prêt-à-porter.' Yes, I've unveiled the big mystery! Prêt-à-porter = ready to wear. So, what does this mean in the fashion world? It means if you go to the runway show (you know, just walk in there and grab a seat, hardy har har) that you won't be looking at naked stick figures stomping down the catwalk in Cirque du Soleil style shoulder pads and Queen Victoria's petticoat (okay, perhaps a bit hyperbolic). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">You get the idea though right? It's something an everyday woman could take off the runway to go to work, hang out with her friends, or go out for drinks. ALSO, get this, the sizes are even made for more of an average woman (i.e NOT 'made to measure') so the standard sizes should fit most people (whatever 'most people' means to designers). Ready-to-wear is also the cheapest designer clothing you will find (which by no means implies that I can afford it), as designers use standard materials and equipment to make the clothing. Ultimately, it's the opposite of 'haute couture,' it's more practical and less ballroom-with-the-prince. Here are some examples from the Spring/Summer 2012 collection (abbreviated SS12 by those 'in the know') of some looks that I think really encapsulate the prêt-à-porter vibe that Chloé pulls off so effortlessly:</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://champagneandheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chloe00170m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://champagneandheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chloe00170m.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://images.vogue.it/imgs/sfilate/pe-2012-collezioni/chloe/collezione/HQ/00010h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.vogue.it/imgs/sfilate/pe-2012-collezioni/chloe/collezione/HQ/00010h.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.vogue.it/imgs/sfilate/pe-2012-collezioni/chloe/collezione/HQ/00090h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.vogue.it/imgs/sfilate/pe-2012-collezioni/chloe/collezione/HQ/00090h.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://www.elleuk.com/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/chloe/spring-summer-2012/collection/chloe-rs12-3404-chloe-paris-spring-summer-2012/7381691-1-eng-GB/chloe-rs12-3404_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.elleuk.com/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/chloe/spring-summer-2012/collection/chloe-rs12-3404-chloe-paris-spring-summer-2012/7381691-1-eng-GB/chloe-rs12-3404_a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/chloe/2011/paris/spring-summer/ready-to-wear/2011-10-03/1015/public/3383/photos/2011-10-03-10-37-41-chloe-0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/chloe/2011/paris/spring-summer/ready-to-wear/2011-10-03/1015/public/3383/photos/2011-10-03-10-37-41-chloe-0562.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://thebestfashionblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chloe36-600x899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thebestfashionblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chloe36-600x899.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'll give you a second to wipe off that drool...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gorgeous right?! So clean and fresh and colorful all at the same time, how is it possible?? Well, that in summation is why I love Chloé; I'm far more impressed when simplicity is just as gorgeous and show-stopping as over the top. Tailoring is a big part of that, as well as shape, textures and color. I could've easily posted that whole show, but I think I demonstrated some great self restraint. If you want to see the whole collection, check it out <a href="http://www.chloe.com/#/collections/ready-to-wear/summer-runway-2012/en" target="_blank">here</a> (you won't regret it). </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I think that pretty much sums up what I wanted to cover today. We have the whole week to faun over Chloé, so we'll take it one step at a time (keep in mind that I'm learning as I write, so we're all in the same boat here). Stay tuned, tomorrow we'll take a trip down memory lane and learn about Chloé's history, starting in 1952 all the way up to today! </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also!! Tomorrow marks the first day that I brush the dust off of the old D40 and attempt to deliver some Montreal street style as promised! This week I'll be featuring young ladies who embody the Chloé style; fresh, clean, tailored and just plain gorgeous! I'm excited to see what happens... </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ciao for now xx </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Laura Steelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03583650212970170090noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5086699 -73.55399249999999345.3744524 -73.698903499999986 45.6428874 -73.4090815