A Picture is Worth a Thousand.... Words

Tommy Ton shot this wonderful image while in Paris this season.  And sometimes this is all it takes for a shoe to go from simply beautiful to full on covetable.

I kind of need them.

YSL Palais Mohawk suede pumps.

Taking Stock

I usually need to get a few cardigans and sweaters each Fall.  I end am able to hold them over for a few years but I wear them a lot and they tend to get worn out.  I usually go to Target for some basics in solid colors and then JCrew for nicer v-necks. 

But this year, I'm not shopping at Target.

I stopped spending my money there when they stopped supporting people's rights by funding anti-LGBT rights politicians.   Now I don't support them.

So I've spent my money elsewhere.   I am looking for more more independent sources but also bought a few items at Gap. 

I'm finally getting to wear my olive green items (outfit post to follow).  I found a great olive sequined top that I wore under my jacket from YOOX and this cardigan is going to be the lighter version of that.  Plus, it's a great green to pair up with all sorts of colors.

V-neck sweaters are what I wear all winter long.  I got this in charcoal, purple, navy and tomato red.

Cowlneck is my second favorite neckline.  I'm sticking pretty close to my palette of greys and blacks but I like the fun stripe too.

I was smitten by these stripes, especially the black and white one.  Usually I buy argyle but I think I OD'd on argyle so I'm backing away this year.   These are especially comfy as I'm wearing the navy/red one right now with a denim skirt, navy tights and lace-up mid-calf boots.

I searched out a good promo code online so I got all of these for a pretty big discount.

How do you stock up for Fall? 

Le Sigh: Miu Miu Fall Winter 2010 Heels

I have a problem and that problem is call MIU MIU!

They really must stop making things that are so wonderful and so perfect that I have to posess them. Please Miuccia, Stop! For the sake of my wallet!

Here are the two latest "must haves"...

I adore the combination of fabric and metal in these cap-toe pumps.

Double bows!

Those are gorgeous but conservative. Equally gorgeous but less-restrained are these more loafer style with the metal flowers adorning the toe.

Same square heel, which I also love.

I'm seriously smitten.

I'm not saying that I am going to get a pair, but if I can't have both (I know! I know!), which one would you pick. Decision, decisions!

Buy them at Saks:

Metal Square-toe Platform pumps

Metal Flowers Square-toe Loafer pumps

Checking all the Boxes

While we all adore and went a bit ga-ga cutesy over the Miu Miu spring collections, I'm just as smitten with the fall heels.

I love love LOVE these wingtip-inspired patent peep-toe heels. The color combination is gorgeous, they're mary janes and have a bow.

How can you resist?

Miu Miu Spectator Mary Janes - $650 from Saks Fifth Avenue.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Arise Magazine African Collective - Part III

I was so excited to get a seat at the Arise Magazine African Collective Part III show this season. I was going to go last season but had to leave early and missed it. And this was a beautiful show.

Taking place in three parts with three designers spanning First Light, Noon and Midnight, the show space was conceptual and had great depth.

I have each segment on video with the final walk through showing all of the looks.

The first segment is Black Coffee from South Africa. This show featured the most amazing coats that were so oversized and lush. While they were wool, it was great to see a warm luxury look without the use of fur.

The Noon segment was Loin Cloth & Ashes from Tanzania. I loved the translation of the origami bird motif were pulled through to the folds and cuts of the clothes as well as in the accessories.

The third segment was Deola Sagoe from Nigeria. This collection was unique in its inspirations from Maasai warriors combined with 18th century European military uniforms. You would think those would be incongruous from one another but the intricacy of each complimented the other.

The close -

There are some additional still shots online. Check them out:

Here at Zimbio

At Posh Glam

At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week site

At BellaNinja - Black Coffee, Loin Cloth & Ashes, Deola Sagoe

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Katy Stern Venexiana Fall 2010

I was excited to see the Kati Stern Venexiana show while I was at Fashion Week. And I was not disappointed. While I was sad to see so much fur as a part of the show, which for some reason I wasn't expecting, the evening wear was gorgeous.

There was a beautiful range of fabrics which is what stood out the most to me. The range of black, cream and gold, as well as navy, sage and lavender was elegant but in a very refined way. The show featured several dresses in this striking gold.



But I loved the patterns...

This mix of colors was lovely in person.

Click to enlarge and see the beautiful flounce on the bodice.

This very sparkly dress was a bit of a stand-alone during the show but you had to admit it jumped out at you.

The burned out velvet was a great contrast to the lightness of the skirt.

I love this oversize and shimmery plaid.

I'm not typically a fan of the mermaid style but I loved the pleated inset in the back.

I need a place to wear a big princess-y skirt like this.

While most of the dresses were longer and more formal, I loved this sassy dress with the two-tier ruffles

But the showstopper of the night was this lavender and black dress. It's hard to tell in a still image but this dress moved! Those tiers were amazing and I was in awe. I need a good long entrance, a party to wear it to, and that dress. I mean, damn!

I don't have nearly enough opportunity to dress formal anymore but just knowing there are dresses like these out there makes me happy.

More images to be found on my NYFW Fall 2010 Flickr set.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Christian Siriano Fall 2010

There was quite a huge crowd for the Christian Siriano Fall 2010 show but luckily I was able to snag an aisle seat and grab some shots of the show. Overall I felt a very late 1930s - early 1940s evening wear feel about the pieces with soft drapey, flowy gowns, large ruffles and languid bows which were combined with strong and sometimes excessive shoes.



Per the information provided, Christian was "inspired by 1960s Parisian women who dressed up every day." The shoes were inspired by 18th and 19th century French antique furniture with filigree detailing and clawfoot lion's paw foot tubs.

The ruffles were a very strong theme from the dresses down to the Cabriole evening shoe shown in black and royal blue satin.

I found the severe Gladiator boot to be a challenging pairing with the flowy dresses but they could be an interesting work boot.

The shoe styles had very modern shapes, especially this Cloven boot, with wedge heels. Surprising with the My Man Godfrey style dresses.

I will be interested to see how these metallic embellishments are translated, if at all, to the real world Payless stores. The materials used in this collection - gold and silver filigree, patent croc in wine and charcoal and brown and black patent python - can be go really wrong when less expensive materials are used. And we have seen how the Spring runway designs were toned down for the stores from this:

to this:

There has been a statement that a limited edition "direct-from-the-runway" capsule collection will be available in select store in early March. I think it would be great if they do bring the full runway style to consumers.

See more images on my Flickr

Runway images on Style.com

Updates on Payless on the Runway

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: HauteLook Lounge

I just wanted to give another thank you and shout out to HauteLook. Last year they were very gracious and they have been equally wonderful this year.



It was great to see the team behind the deals in person again. Oh, and if you need an invite to HauteLook, just click here!



The lounge is perfectly set up and situated near the tents and they are kind enough to give us Internet access and even refreshments to keep us all going.



I even came and did a work call from here.



They also had some great partners there letting us all test out their products, including Luminess Air, Becca Cosmetics, GoSmile, and Sjal.

This year they added a few events and I made a point to stop by the decadestoo Trunk Show to check out the designer goods up for sale.

As always, HauteLook offered a wonderful port in the storm and I appreciate that they invited me!

Of course, I appreciate all their amazing deals too, but that goes without saying! ; )