Color Study - Orange

Ready for the next installment of the Color Study series?

Orange is pretty unrepresented in my closet. I cannot wear it in shirt form at all, although I really do like the color. And I only, obviously, have a few shoes that barely squeak in to the group.



Since there are only five (I don't think I've added any since I took these) it will be easy to break it down:

Top Row, left to right:

- Guiseppe Zanotti Cam Albiconna Nappa
- Hetty Rose Love Platforms
- JCrew Liz in Neon Orange

Bottom Row, left to right:

- Isaac Mizrahi Hannah Orange Flash
- Olivia Rose Tal Silvy II






The details are the best part:

I have a free weekend... maybe blues or greens next???

Ensemble du Jour

Since I've been swamped lately and not feeling great on top of that, I haven't been online that much. So you get an outfit post to tide you over.

This is sort of a simple work outfit but I like the skirt and shoes.



The top is an Old Navy grey tee paired up, tonally, with a Mizrahi for Target skirt from a while back. I really liked when he did the big blooms on the skirts.



Hello flash!



This hair clip facinator was a little experiment from when I was feeling crafty the other day. I'll admit I was inspired by a piece from Pretty Good Things but her pieces are a gazillion times better than mine. I much prefer her hot pink version and must get it soon!




I really love the peachy-ness of these Guiseppe Zanottis. They're just so summery.

Nothing fancy, just another day at work.

But tassles!

Okay, back to work and trying to feel better!

Eeeewwww!!!!

Umm..... all I can say is:



Heatmiser? Is that you???

Giuseppe Zanotti Women's I90110 Open Toe Flat Sandal - $679 at Endless

Ensemble du Jour

This Spring weather has me crazy. On Tuesday it was gorgeous and a wore a girlie skirt and these peachy suede Guiseppe Zanotti heels.



Then yesterday (and today and into the weekend) it's crummy and rainy and cold. I wore black and grey and I'm wearing black and grey again today!

Yesterday I wore my new Wet Seal strappy booties in black. I'll have to wear the white ones soon because I luv them. So cool. I wore them with latex-y leggings from Twelve by Twelve, a black mini-skirt, cami and my delia's rugby stripe boyfriend cardigan.


3-25-09 - by Princess Poochie on Polyvore.com

I think this was a bit out there for the work folks but don't know why? I was all covered up... it was just the materials that "surprise" them I think.

Shiny!

Today is much less interesting. It's rainy and my feet are cold so I'm wearing my snuggly wellies. but I do have on cute Hansel from Basel knee-patch thigh-highs!

3-26-09 - by Princess Poochie on Polyvore.com

Maybe the sun will come out so I can wear some darn color!

Ensemble du Jour

As I've been stressing over what clothes to pack for my trip to NY next week, I've been trying on some items I've had packed away for various reasons. But if clothes have hung around for more than a year it's because I really really like them.

The Outfit
It's still surprisingly cool here so when I decided to wear this skirt, I was able to pair it with a lightweight cashmere sweater in a slightly different shade of grey. For jewelry I wore my jade bangle and a jade circle pendant that my parents brought me from Chine when I was a freshman in high school. Both jade pieces are more white jade than the typical dark green.



For shoes I pulled a tone from the tulip design of the skirt and wore these delicate melon suede Guiseppe Zanotti heels that were a major bargain from a few years ago.



I love the shape of the heel and the color, of course, but I think the tassles were what sold me. I think tassled shoes are so cute.



They're a great tonal mix of suede and regular leather.



The Focal Point
Now typically I'm not sure having a giant flower right at your hips is the greatest idea (and this angle would seem to attest to that) but since it's a pencil skirt it actually isn't too bad. Plus, I love the giant flower skirts that Mizrahi did for Target. I also have the white skirt with the giant pink peony.



I don't think this will come with me to NY but it's pretty cute. I'm glad it's back in the rotation. Now I just need to find more tops to pair with it.

Eeeewwww!!!

When I first saw these I was totally horrified. Not only because they are just terrible in their own right, but that they were made by Giuseppe Zanotti, whose shoes I often am undeniably in love with. What does this mean? Is there something within their genetics that links them to shoes I actually like.

No! No! No! It cannot be true.




These look like they only belong on the feet of Darkness from Legend (yeah, I liked it. It was before Tom Cruise turned into a nutcase.) Who, while very cool and wicked, does not possess daintly slyph-like feet.



These horrors cost a mere $800. That may be even scarier than the shoes!

Patterns and Scale - Dior Spring Couture 2008

I wish that I had more time to immerse myself in all of the runway shows, especially Couture, because they level of fantasy and excess are best displayed there. And while I hope that more of that attention to detail will translate over to real life, I know that much of it can only live well when it is just "a dream".

In Galliano's Spring 2008 show for Dior, I was just swept away but what he presented. I loved the use of over-scaled patterns and silhouettes. You could see the very open and fresh-faced 60's mod influences, especially in the jewelry but you also see the intrigue and glamour (influenced by a favorite of mine - the Madame X Sargent painting) in the make-up (made especially sultry in the non-organic embellishments), and the nods to Klimt in much of the pieces' embellishments.



It was interesting that the tempered the excess of the clothes with a simple wardrobe of shoes. Yes, they, in and of themselves, are excessive but in using the same style (only varied in color and material) he kept the focus firmly on the clothes and helped to ground the variety of shapes, patterns and textures.



As the Manolo has said before, we are passing the zenith of this style of shoe. Especially when, you see a high-concept shoe on a couture runway concurrent with equally outlandish styles available for anyone to buy. Not just high-end, although they are there, but modified to a mass-market level.

Here are some examples all available now:

Guiseppe Zanotti at Piperlime - $750



Kors Michael Kors at Saks - $230



Nine West Taildrop - $79



Check out more of the show and detail shots on Style.com

Photo montage - Catwalk Queen & Shiny Style

Tailored for Spring/Summer 2008

This is such a schizophrenic time of year when looking at shoes. It's the middle of winter, but you're seeing early Spring and Resort sandals and peep-toes, leftovers from Fall going on sale and it's all rainy and crummy outside so you feel like you can't wear anything but boots and wellies.

Plus, you're broke from all that darn holiday shopping and spending on others.

But now is the time to get in there and pre-order any of the shoes you are in love with for Spring and Summer or, guaranteed, there will be slim pickings in a few months. I've already received two of my favorites - the Prada Spuntate flower heels and the Miu Miu Capretto jeweled sandal (both of which are freakin' amazing!) - because if those were to have run out before I got them I would be seriously heartbroken.

In looking through all of the new arrivals quietly drifting into stores I've seen a lot of color - bold blues, pinks, corals, reds and yellows - which I think I will save for another post. But another thing I've seen a lot are some strong tailored looks. Not tailored as in menswear, which we saw in the Fall of this year, but more like classic 40's influences as well as some safari elements mixed in through the use of colors and materials.

Of what I've seen out there, here are some of the ones that rise to the top for me. In somewhat of an alphabetical order with front and back views as available. (click on the text to visit their page):

Dior Jeweled Python Slingback - $1450 - Neiman Marcus



I love exotics and the shape on this is great. Plus the jeweled element adds a contrast.

Giuseppe Zanotti Patent Open Toe Slingbacks - $492 - Saks





I love tan and red together and this sculpted heel just puts it over the edge.

Giuseppe Zanotti Patent Trim Spectator Pumps - $595 - Saks





This may be my favorite of the bunch. Guiseppe Zanotti is fast becoming one of my top designers. I love the classy stacked heel and the red patent at the back.

Gucci Sissi High Heel Peep-toe- $550 - Neiman Marcus



A very classy peep-toe and I love a well done white heel. Also available in black.

Jimmy Choo Eliza Patent Sandals - $585 - Saks





Just throwing in a little uber-glamour there. Kind of like a palette cleanser. What a heel! This comes in red with a black heel but I think the black with green is much sexier. Back to the show...

Jimmy Choo Erica Nappa Pumps - $660 - Saks





That to me is a real power shoe, perfect with a structured suit but still seasonally appropriate. I love that clay/taupe color too.

Louboutin Moyen Empire Cork Slingback - $735 - Saks





Very sexy, yes, but still sort of tough looking too. It has a very hot weather vibe to me.

Louboutin Quadrillette Leather Sling backs - $620 - Saks



These look eminently wearable all summer long. A great height, a great color and breezy. Perfect with work clothes or linen pants.

Louboutin Xatrinxia Platform Sandal - $425 - Saks





These are some serious statement shoes and, I think, sort of a departure for Louboutin. But they check all the right boxes for a tough, tailored safari-summer-ish look. I'm not sure if I would get them but I think in the right environment they would be amazing. They have to be accessorized with a icy drink that has an umbrella. And can you believe the "low" starting price for a Louboutin? Maybe because they are so different.

Manolo Pointed Toe Suede Slingback - $815 - Neiman Marcus



These have to me by second favorite. They are so lady-like and perfect. Of course they are totally pricey but they are suede and have lizard trim, so I guess that explains it. You could invest in these and wear them forever. They are very reminiscent of a pair of Ralph Lauren slingbacks I have from about 10 years ago. I still wear them.

Manolo Leather Kati Crisscross Pump - $666 - Neiman Marcus



I'm sure there will be events and nights out during the warmer months. These gold heels are tough enough for jeans but would be gleaming paired with black.

MARC by Marc Jacob Color-block d'Orsay Sandal - $395 - Neiman Marcus



These would be perfect with a linen shirt-dress in either a tan or dark brown then pair it with wood bangles and a large bag that incorporates the rusty orange. I'll bet you could walk all day in those.

Stuart Weitzman Gator Printed Slingback - $285 - Neiman Marcus



Yeah, I'm a sucker for an alligator/croc print especially when it is as classy as this. If you can't find a pair as good as my vintage ones, these are a good way to go. Get the brown and the black and you'll always have something to wear.

Tod's 85 Pump - $465 - Saks





Clay and white patent with restrained but luxe looking embellishments. What's not to love. This would be great with a tennis looking outfit all in classic white. Dress your guy in white bucks and your good to go.

Enjoy!