Chanel: Black and White

I really like the black capped Chanel boots sent down the Fall '07 runway.

They're are so chic, dipped in black, a rebellious statement on otherwise dainty boots.

Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco wore the short version of the boots perfectly with a look that you could find on most stylin' college girls (most sans Chanel shoes).

Steve Madden has flats channeling the same style as the Chanel boots with a luxe quilted tip. For $70 you can glam up your summer staples of ripped Earnest Sewn jeans and trapeze dresses.
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Chole: The Young and the Fashionable

I'm obsessed with the new Chloe ads (Spring/Summer '07). These ladies (Anja Rubik and Raquel Zimmerman, the third is a mystery to me...if you want to enlighten me please comment!) are living a young and fast life dressed in the most exquisite gam baring dresses.

Chloe singlehandedly inspired me to buy blouses with details like puffed sleeves and delicate little buttons trailing down the front.

The first ad's key feature is the sunglasses that have been spotted on loads of celebs, the youthful set (olsens) and even a few old birds.
She's holding up her hand like "I'm so fabulous, stop and check me and my super mod bangs out." The hair! So voluminous and shiny with one eye lazily peeking out. The lime green and yellow eyeshadow sexes up the lacy blouse.
I love that there's a high energy model next to a mellower model in one shot.

This ads left me with with some longing for Chloe in my closet so I checked out Net-a-Porter. Sadly, I don't have a home so I can't take out a second mortgage to finance my shopping dreams.
There were a few pieces that were potentially possible to buy.

This smock dress would be perfect with sky-high wedges or simple thong sandals and a brown leather belt to create a waist, or even by itself and let the dress just drape. The balloon sleeves are a nice touch too. Pick it up for $335.
Chloe has a lil peach tunic with enough rouching to distinguish it from the run of the mill American Apparel sundresses. This coverup is $185.


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Gem Theory

A lil bling goes a long way. I'm not really a huge fan of draping yourself in jewels a la Elizabeth Taylor. You shouldn't be a reflective surface when you're young.
Leave that to fading movie stars and Texas trophy wives.

That said, I'm feeling the baubles popping up all over the runway.

I love the belt Lagerfeld created in his Fendi Fall '07 collection. It cinches the coat well and is the perfect accessory to rock over a simple black dress. I'm also enamored with the bright blue wedges Lagerfeld used for this look. The accessories are stellar and are given the spotlight while the coat and tights serve as the foundation.


An easy way to add some glitz to your get up is with a headband.
The front headband is from Marc Jacobs, he knows what a girl wants. This shot from Teen Vogue shows a quick way to go from an average student in leggings to glamorous.

This net headband is probably more than you spent on books this quarter so check out this number from Fredflare.com for only $5. You'll look super glam and could even buy a few for your buds.

You can slip on this light blue ring from Banana Republic adding Wattage to your manicured nails for $42.


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Jimmy Choos You Can Afford

Please don't welcome Spring with gauchos or your little brother's YMCA tee.
It's no long kitschy cool, lets at least pretend we're stylish young adults.
The following are the playlist for your Spring, what you need to check out and perhaps tap into the "emergency" credit card you have for books or food...I won't tell the rentals.

1. Fashion and music collide with "The Jimmy Choo's" by Harvard band Chester French.
They sound as if the Beach Boys, Weezer and Ratatat had a love child. Their tunes are catchy and ache for you to listen on a sun drenched beach with your buds.
An added bonus is that the 2 guys behind Chester French are adorable! Who doesn't have a soft spot for a prepster with a guitar?

2. Step into some sandals and let your feet get some sun! I love these lovely leather shoes from J.Crew and Frye. You can pick up the first from J.Crew for $118 and the Frye from shopbop for $140. They're versatile, you can wear 'em in the evening with a jersey dress or during the day with linen pants or a jean mini skirt.
The buckles on these shoes add a fresh take on such a simple style.
I'm impressed by Frye's ability to produce the perfect boot and now the perfect sandal, cornering the market on all seasons.
3. You can find the ultimate party dress from Alice + Olivia. It's similar to the FCUK gold and navy shift that was everywhere fall/winter '06 but has an updated pattern: the giant chevron stripe that is odd for a dress but it works!
It's pricey but its hard to find clothes with sequins that don't look like they belong in the closet of a five-year-old or pole dancer. You can find it at shopbop.com for $396.

4. My favorite model, Liya Kebede, is starring in an ad campaign for H&M with Erin Wasson, another stunner. Liya wears a blouse with puffed sleeves and a ruffled button front. It's the perfect spring top and can be yours for $30. Hurry to H&M before the crazed masses find it after rushing for Madonna's new line.


5. Update your Macbook's background with Jeffrey Fulvimari, pop artist extraordinaire, prints
at jeffreyfulvimari.com. His artwork has a teasing air, poking fun at the beautiful people.


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A Spring in Your Step

It's the season between flip flops and winter boots. Spring's almost here!
A good transition shoe is the flat but I'm sure you lovelies already have some variation of the ballet flat. Here's an alternative to the ballet slipper, they would be perfect with cut off tights under a sundress.

If you're in the mood for patent check out these flats from shopintuition.com for $205.


Laura Poretzky is the designer for Abaete, one of the brands who popularized the mod shift, and is now doing a shoe collection for Payless. This metallic style is only $20 and is just as cute as the expensive version above.

So go get your feet somethin' nice to wear, don't go barefoot like those nasty celebs and please get a pedicure to cure your feet of a winter of Uggs.

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Zip It

We've been plagued with so many trends in denim over the past couple of years. The flare, the skinny, the wide leg, the acid wash, the "I paid $200 bucks and all I got was this mangled piece of cotton", etc ad infinitum.

I'm still on the skinny jean bandwagon but I'm feeling the side zipped jean.
The zip refreshes the style adding a little rock and roll to your look.

Ksubi, formerly known as Tsubi, is the current gold standard of jeans.
Everyone from Madonna to the glitterati crew (i .e. La Lohan) has been spotted in Ksubi. If you've recently 1) won the lottery 2)hooked up with a investment banker or 3) had a birthday you can pick these up from Barneys for $215.


For a more reasonable alternative I'd recommend going to your local Urban Outfitters and looking for side zip Lux jeans.
I scoured the net for a pic but couldn't find any but I know they're in stores so go now.
I estimate their price to be about $60 and I promise you they are lovely!
One of my faves, NZ sported them last weekend in the dark rinse and the fit rivaled pricier options.

If you don't think this look has staying power, I'd recommend checking out the home of all that is cheap and trendy. Forever 21 has a pair of side zip jeans (in black also) for $33.
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Back Again: Theyskens

Olivier Theyskens is known for his talent creating exquisite clothing.
However his purist policy (i.e. not deigning to create an "it" bag that mere mortals can purchase) did not spell out financial success and his gig at Rochas came to an end when the house closed.
Thankfully, he's back working for Nina Ricci and we have stunners like Reese's dress for the Oscars.
Eat your heart out Ryan.
I love the layers of regal purple forming the perfect train and how the dress softly cascades down her body without making her look like a deranged barbie doll (see penelope cruz, oscars '07).
From Theyskens fall '07 runway, these were my faves.

This jacket is sublime. I love the muted grey and the waves that cut across the front. The ruffles could be too girly but their definition adds a steely touch. Paired with grey jeans, this is an outfit I wish I could sweep off the runway.


This deconstructed dress is a little bride of Frankenstein. I can imagine it being picked out of an old chest, fraying at the edges, slightly decrepit. But I think its enchanting.
I wish there was a grey mist swirling around the model because this dress is frightfully beautiful.
Even with a yellow pattern there is an undercurrent of tension in the gown, a hardness that is very appealing in a world of pretty frocks.
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