Shoes for a Princess

Everyone went absolutely ga-ga for the Sophia-envisioned Marie Antoinette movie. And who could blame them given unbelieveable-although-it-was-probably-this-excessive style of the wardrobes. And then when our beloved Manolo did the shoes, well, that was the icing on the already big pink sugary cupcake.



Not ot be outdone (although a bit late, perhaps?) Mnsr. Louboutin has partnered with Jean-Francois Lesage of the famed French embroidery house Lesage to create a very limited shoe inspired by the queen.

Look at the front of the ankle strap - it is Marie with her hair styled with a ship at full sail.

These are striking shoes and they should be with two artists working to create them.

I love the yellow and blue but my heart is lost to the pink, of course.

There will only be 36 pairs of the shoes made, and each pair will come in a specially created box. They will only be made in pink, yellow and blue.

Oh, yes, and they are $6,295.

But is that too much to pay for true art? I think not!

You can see them in person to get the full effect: on February 23rd these little treasures and the maestro behind them will be at the Christian Louboutin South Coast Plaza boutique and on February 26th they'll land in New York City, at the Madison Avenue boutique.

- with Glamour

Un, Deux, Trois... Moi

A very long time ago, Lady Coveted tagged me with a "1, 2, 3" request. Since then, I've been slack with my getting to it! Of course, right now I'm using my Kindle, so I don't really have page numbers. Although I did pull out the Simplify Your Christmas book for it's annual pre-seasonal review - but that would be awfully boring (I have issues with doing too much and getting stressed out during the holidays).

Instead I'll use the book that's been sitting on my nightstand for months waiting for me to finish it - Antonia Fraser's Marie Antoinette biography.

Sadly, I have the cover with Kirstin Dunst on it rather than the lovely portrait of Marie. I hate when they do that to books when a movie comes out. I'm not buying the book because of the movie - ick!

Anyhow, what I am supposed to do is this -

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.

Okay -

1. Book has been lifted!

2. Page is open!

3. The pages starts out describing reports of Marie's beauty around the time of her coming to the throne following Louis XV death and how, even though folks could have been exaggerating since she was royalty, given the large number of reports, her beauty cannot be disputed.

4. The words:

The result was a plethora of comparisons to goddesses and nymphs - much as had been made on her wedding journey, the difference being that Marie Antoinette was now a visible woman, rather than an unknown girl. Madam Campan compared her to the classical statues in the royal gardens, for example, the Atalanta at Marly. There was the story of the twelve-year-old boy, educated in the classics, who flung himself at the Queen's feet at court, seeing in her the embodiment of "all my father's goddesses."

Poor pretty Marie. She tried very hard but was trapped by the circumstances of her family, her husband and her times. I think she tried to cope with a bad situation and wasn't as frivolous as she's been made out to be.

What I like best about the period is seeing how a culture, reaching it's pinnacle of excess, falls in to decay. Like the fading bloom from a rose. The materials and detailing and fabrics are amazing... and inspirational.

I'm bad about giving out tags, if you're interested, let me know.

Now, I should go finish this book so I can put it on the bookshelf!

Fall Favorites: Rich Details

A few weeks ago I went through something like 700 images and, of course found a ton of amazing pieces that I just fell in love with. There's far too many to put in one post so I'm going to have to group them and space them out.

The first group are what I'm calling the "Rich Details" group.

Obviously embellishments of all sorts are being integrated into the design of all levels of fashion and almost every garment type being made. I think this is why we are seeing a comeback of items like hats, fascinators and gloves. There is a desire for rich, interesting details and unique elegance.

The most obvious is the use of lace by Prada. I love the colors of the clothing pieces, especially the orange but I love the creamy lace on their bags.



There are ruffles, ruffles everywhere I look. Bruno Frisoni did an amazing job incorporating satin ruffles into modern designed shoes. I love the contrast of modern and old world in these Bruno Frisoni Mesh Peep-toe Ruffle pumps.



The banding design of the ruffle-edged straps on this Bruno Frisoni taffeta sandal reminds me of the collars from Marie
Antoinette. More blue to love.



I think this sandal is so unusual. You'd have to have an equally rich yet somewhat restrained dress to go with these. The straps are so different. Of course I'd want to wear them all the time. What about some skinny black jeans or latex leggings?



I just love how a wide ankle tie can call attention to a small ankle. I find it very sexy. Bruno Frisoni is continuing to do it right with this sandal.



These Valentino booties are sugary sweet but the suede is totally sumptuous and which I think helps to toughen them up just the smallest bit. I'm sure they were meant to be paired with a couture gown but they need far more time out and about than that. Maybe placed on my desk?

I'd wear these with jeans cropped just above them and then a big poofy-sleeved top with a loopy tie or a long coat.



These last two are more restrained but the material they are made with seems so textured.

I love the wool tweed of these Manolo Blahnik pumps. And the coral leather and white accents make them perfect for transitioning into fall while still keeping a bit of the late summer sparkle.



I like when Stella McCartney sticks with satins and velvet. Her stuff still seems a bit over-priced but at least she gets great colors. I can't get over all the blues. And I can't seem to resist them.

These look like total party shoes to me. They would have been great for the Costume Institute Superhero gala.



There are more selects to follow. One thing they all have in common is that they certainly are not plain. But my theory is, if you are going to spend the money, you should get something that stands out. Something that will make people stop, look and admire.

More Accolades for Manolo

Speaking of Manolo, it looks like there are even more awards for our favorite designer.

Now, as noted by Vogue -

Manolo Blahnik's contribution to fashion will be immortalised in September when he receives the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award in LA.

Recognising the UK-based cobbler's impact on fashion within the entertainment industry - most recently in the Sex and the City movie - The Rodeo Drive Committee and the City of Beverley Hills has awarded Blahnik with its 12th annual Walk of Style Award.

Following in the footsteps of Giorgio Armani (who won the first award in 2003), Salvatore Ferregamo, Gianni and Donatella Versace and Tom Ford, Blahnik will receive a plaque to adorn with his signature and a quote that will sit on the famous Los Angeles sidewalk.

Aside from Sex and the City and Absolutely Fabulous, the designer's iconic shoes won a costume design award for Marie Antoinette and he is now a household name, known for luxury and elegance.

(He deserves that award. Look at these! I want them)

As Wanda McDaniel, chairman of the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style selections committee tells The Daily: "Manolo Blahnik's relationship with the entertainment industry is legendary."

Congratulations, Mnsr. Manolo!

Decades of Decadence

Today was one of those rare days where you feel like you have all the time in the world and not much to do. I did most of my errands on Friday and Saturday, so today I was just reading and watching some TV with the pets.

I'm finishing up Antonia Fraser's auto-biography of Marie Antoinette. It's a great book with tons of information. Fraser is a writer who can give you the facts but keep you engaged through the human elements.



Then tonight we were watching the latest episode in the HBO John Adams miniseries, which is also great. In this episode, Adams is in France looking for aid against the British. Adams takes his job there seriously, of course, but he encounters the decadent French Court.

You could tell that this society had reached the peak of excess with their manners and clothes and vicious wit and I was struck by how like the 1980's it felt.

This may have been top of mind because of I was watching some classic VH1 videos today, but I thought back to Bud Fox's (Charlie Sheen) paper money apartment in Wall Street after Daryl Hannah got her "interior design" hands on it. With the tubs of gelato, pasta maker and sushi maker it was the dream life. And the fashions were just as excessive as the lifestyle.

I'm not taking Cyndi Lauper or Madonna, who were dressing more for performance than for real life, I'm thinking about squeaky-clean "every girl" Debbie Gibson. In her video you can see the over-the-top fashions - from the bicycle pants to tulle skirts, from big hair and jewelry to the polka dot gloves.





Now I'm not saying that I wouldn't love one of those tulle skirts right about now. But what concerns me is how you could see in hindsight, the craziness at the "peak" and the ultimate correction that takes place in the society. in the 1700's it was a bloody revolution against the nobles and wasteful rich. It only took about 20 years for this to come about.

We are in a similar time period, being 20 years after the 80's peak. And there is an ever growing division between the rich and the poor. Celebrities and celebutants are acting as immature and wasteful and decadent. There are foreign wars and a discontent with our leaders. It will be curious how the next few years unfold. Fashion is a great predictor and reflection of the times. I wonder what it will be saying?

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
While I was out of town on business I dropped into Old Navy. I haven't shopped there in a while because sometimes the disarray and noise makes for a stressful shopping experience, but as my luggage got lost I wanted to grab something comfy to wear in the hotel room. I got a cute t-shirt and some pj pants but I also grabbed a few tops, including a poof sleeved white button down.

My outfit today started with this top and then a dove grey pleated Isaac Mizrahi skirt from Target. With it I wore my Lecia peep-toe slingbacks in Parospa from Nine west (in real life they are more nude than pink).



This was a very cool and neutral outfit for my first day back to work.

The Focal Point
And every outfit has a focal point. Typically, for me, it's shoes, but today it was the poofy-ness of the shirt sleeves:

They poof just at the elbow and have a Marie Antoinette feel to them that I luv! I'm inspired to buy more embellished girly things. What will eBay turn up??? Hmmmm......