Balenciaga: The Scarf to Covet

Keira Knightley's article in Vogue romanticizes Africa from a colonizers point of view. There are photos of her in couture soaring above African "tribes people" and herding a group of cows in Marc Jacobs with "natives." I'm just going ignore the article (she kept an LV journal filled with musings reminiscent of a dimwit European settler) and focus on her look because frankly, I have minimal patience for such trite reading.

She is wearing head to toe Balenciaga. The side striped pants were all over the fall07 runway and are perfectly slouchy and fitted around her waist. She wears them with a bright blue button down and I love the thick white cuffs. The best piece is the fringed scarf. I'm obsessed with this accessory. It's the perfect topping with its light patterns and dangling coin detail.


On the runway, variations on this scarf were thrown together with intense gladiator heels and patterned dresses.
This variation was preppy (the fitted blue blazor screams Eton schoolboy) but tough. The scarf was pulled up close to the model's face as if she were a bandit, about to pull it over her face and perform the most daring (and glamorous) heist of the decade.
This scarf reminds me of the Palestinian Keffiyah. This symbol of liberation for Palestine has also become a controversial fashion statement. Freja Beha rocked one backstage at a Rag & Bone show.
So if a Balenciaga scarf isn't within your reach, check out Desert Store for $10 keffiyahs and wear it like Kiera or Freja, carelessly thrown around your neck.
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In Vogue

April's Vogue features the curvaceous Scarlett Johannson on the cover and the usual smattering of pretty people in ALT's column.

However, the main theme was unique. I really appreciated the different focus in this issue. Intead of profiling the granddaughter of Estee Lauder or another cookie cutter socialite who, bored of their fabulous wealth, formed an eponymous fashion line for children/dogs/their friends, Vogue delved into a touchy topic for fashion: shape.

There was a lovely fashion spread with American model (one of the few that are well known) Hilary Rhoda and plus size model Crystal Renn. Renn is a size 12 in a world where a 6 is considered a tad too large. She's such a stunner.

These are my three favorite shots.

Her eyebrow is raised, daring you to run your eyes down her figure. Her earrings are the best accessory (I can live without the gloves, didn't Lagerfeld/Lohan kill that trend?). They look like maki sushi.

Renn's expression is captivating in its innocence. I love that she's wearing a Marni shift & belt, I've been admiring Marni's simple shifts for a while.
She looks like a bronzed goddess in this picture. Her jawline is so powerful and her firm pose reminds you that the waif girls clacking on runways wouldn't look so alive and vibrant in this Hermes gown.
Rhoda was also lovely and the resemblence between the two models was interesting. Pull out your Vogue and try to pick out Rhoda from Renn and you'll be surprised by how many times you get it wrong.

I'm enamored with the electric-violet leggings Rhoda wears. They're from American Apparel ($30) and the shocks of color throughout this outfit (watch, hat, orange line on socks) are nice touches to a quiet palette.


The Dries Van Noten sequin tank is so gorgeously decadent. I would love to wear it with black skinny jeans for a night out, too bad its way over my budget.
The Shape issue has other articles to chew on. "Walking a Thin Line" (about the situation with too thin models) and Silicone Valleys (why the average woman is pumping herself with silicone) are great pieces.

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