A Perfect Pairing

This may not be news to everyone because it hit a day or two ago, but I'm still catching up!

It seems, to celebrate Barbie's 50th birthday, Mnsr. Louboutin will be creating a pair of special pumps in the Barbie Pantone 219 Pink.

Barbie in one of her many fashionable guises - © Rex Features via Vogue.com I actually have this orginal bathing suit, along with a number of other outfits, handed down from my mom

"Barbie needs to wear great shoes because every girl needs to wear great shoes," Louboutin tells WWD. "I guess I always had a little 'girlie side' who liked Barbie."

Mattel is also planning on hosting a special runway show during New York Fashion week featuring 50 other designers creating Barbie-ispired looks. According to Vogue.com -

Fifty designers will produce life-sized outfits inspired by the doll, setting off a string of celebrations. In 2009 a new range of beauty products - boasting such names as All Doll'd Up - is planned, while collaborations with the likes of Vera Wang (a life-size wedding gown which includes a Barbie wearing its own mini version too) and Jeremy Scott (a capsule collection inspired by her), as well as the opening of an House of Barbie in Shanghai, are among other fun and games.

But the power of Barbie doesn't stop there - Mattel will embark on a three-year partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America from next February (the first toy company to do so) as well as sponsor New York's IMG organised Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

If you've seen some of the Designer Barbie collector dolls, I'm sure the fashions will be fabulous... and not all pink. I just wonder how many will look back to some of the original outfits, which were amazing, and which will come up with more modern designs. Personal I love the old outfits, of which I have many from my mom and aunts - they had the original blonde Barbie and the Barbie with the black hair in the bubble-cut. They were amazing.

They had great accessories too, including quilted metallic gold clutches and white and cork wedge shoes. Not the plastic junk you see now. So, there are a lot of directions Louboutin could go with his Barbie shoes. He could do a frothy sandal, like the ones from the Resort line (which I love!)

Of course these bright bright pink wedge sandals would be perfect for Barbie's California girl lifestyle.



But I like the more modern glam Barbie. Wouldn't these Clichys be perfect? I have these and they are HIGH! So they would work with Barbie's tippy-toes.




But, of course, what could be more iconic or classic than the Louboutin Simple Pumps in super girly pink? I mean, I know I had Barbie in mind when I bought them!

Barbie pink shiny heels and Louboutin red soles. Yummy!

I hope they sell them too!

More Reading:

- Vogue.com - here and here

- WWD - here

- StyleHog - here

- Barbie - EverythingGirl.com

- Barbie for Grown-ups
- Barbie Collectors

Subliminal influences

I'm still watching all my favorite old movies when they come on, trying to get back into good spirits. Tonight I was watching Mary Poppins and realized I recognized something familiar.

This is my jacket and my Lou Lou Loves You bow. I thought it was a bright and cheerful combo, right?



Then I realized I must have looked like Burt from the painting scene!



Not that I don't like this. I was just hoping I usually look more like Mary (practically perfect, right?) than Burt dancing like a penguin.

Nice.

Of course, it goes without saying I want that pink pony from the merry-go-round.

Also, I can't believe Dick Van Dyke. This man is 82 (+?) but he still can kick some ass. Did you see him in Night at the Museum? He does not age!



And since we're still on the subject of musicals... here's a clip just for fun. The most romantic scene EVAH!



Yum!

Pet Me Poppa

When I'm upset I tend to self-medicate with old movies, especially musicals.

After crying over lost files for a while I'm watching Guys and Dolls.

I especially like this act - Pet me Poppa.

You have to watch a better version of this, if you've never seen it. I love love love the outfits. Can I go around all day like this... and I want those pom-pom shoes and glittery stockings.

This Kind of Sums It Up

When the month started out with me having to dive head first into our giant trash can, I should have know the universe was not setting me up for a magical holiday season.

So far this month -

- I've been car sick for 48 hours straight
- Stuck with the dogs while the hubby was gone for 4 days during a ton of crummy weather
- Work horrors too many and varied to list

I'd say this weekend capped it off but with the month just being half over I'd think I was tempting fate by speaking too soon because -

- The kitten's mysterious flesh eating disease may be coming back.
- I have more work horrors ahead of me this week
- I have to go to court for a ticket on Friday. The hope is that I'll only have to pay more money than I've already paid.
- I left my computer at work to be updated and cleaned up on Saturday. Not only was it cleaned up, it was cleaned out! All the files I had on my laptop for work are now gone. In theory they are backed up to a drive but now that drive is inaccessible. Which means the proposal I was working on for a presentation on Wednesday morning is gone. GONE!

- And to cap it off, it is my month to be responsible for bringing lunch to our entire office which took almost all day for me and the hubby to make. On the way home from dropping off 4 pans of enchiladas and 2 things of cupcakes at my office for tomorrow, the fan belt in the car broke. So me, the hubby and one of the dogs were all stuck on the highway in the dark in the rain.

Suffice it to say, I have no good outfit pictures and I now demand that this month better improve and 2009 must be awesome to make up for it.

Calling all Magpies

It is becoming more and more apparent that I'm obsessed with sequined thing. I just can't get enough!

I mean, I have the 3 sequined Manolos, the lovely black Oh Deer! Jamocha's and as I look through the closet, all this!

I got this skirt from YOOX last year in the after Christmas sales. It is probably the cause of all this madness.



Then a cute little dress on the cheap from Old Navy. I wear this with tough strappy sandals, a boyfriend cardigan and a belt.





I love JCrew's embellished tees... even if they are over-priced. I don't like crewnecks but I like wearing this under blazers.



I had to swipe Gala's same sequin hoodie. It was just too cute and too reasonable not to. For $20-something bucks from Forever 21, this is really well made.







I also got this cardigan from there...




... and this v-neck. Why, yes, I do like black sequins.

I was VERY excited to get my silver sequin Chuck. I mean, how adorable are these?!? Love them!

And last night I went to Target (evil place!) and saw this tee shirt in black with black sequins. Feather detail done in sequins? Yes, please! And only $10.

I am actually wearing it right this second! It is a crew neck, but I'm wearing it, predictably, under a (grey wool) jacket. I love it!!!

Do you ever find yourself organizing your closet and realize you have become obessed with something?

I think I need to step away from the sequins.

Not Fair

I was going to say: If life were fair, I would have these, but that sounds awfully selfish.

Instead, I'll say: I want these. Give them to me NOW!

This is why I love Resort shoes. Yes, that is the most delicate lilace suede.

Le Sigh!



And these, like a cascade of frangipani blossoms dancing around your feet. They have them in black too, but how could you resist the pink?




Mnsr. Louboutin, I applaud you.

Both at Bergdorf Goodman.

Lavender Suede Platform Slingbacks here

Petal Sandals here

Today's Glamour Level

Not so high...

But they do have sequins!



I've been wanting these for ages... look I'm sparkly!



Happy Tuesday!!!!

Tips from the Luxury Business Newsletter

For my work, I read a lot of information speaking to retailers, especially those targeting the Luxury market. But in this time of economic troubles, even the luxury research group can help provide some tips for "cash-strapped shoppers"

Expert Pam Danziger offers shopping tips for consumers this holiday season. Her credentials as a shopping authority include her latest book, entitled Shopping: Why We Love It and Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience from Kaplan Publishing.

My business is advising retailers and marketers how to get shoppers to spend more money when they shop, but this year with shoppers feeling the economic squeeze, it is only right that I turn the research around to help the cash-strapped shopper," Danziger explains.

Danziger offers five tips that will make shoppers more effective this holiday season.

1) Don't buy it just because it is on sale: Finding things on sale is great and bargains give the shopper a thrill, but one of the best ways that shoppers can save money is not to get trapped into buying things they don't really need or want just because it is on sale. You can easily spend too much money if you focus on what you are saving, rather than what you are spending in order to save.

My rule of thumb about approaching items on sale is it is only worth buying IF it is something that you would pay full price for. My advice: Be watchful and careful when responding to sales. Keep your wits about you and only buy if it is really something that you would want at full price. If you wouldn't pay full price for it, than it probably isn't worth buying it on sale.

2) Don't be afraid to spend for quality: This is another trap for shoppers, especially those prone to shop only for sale items. It is often better to spend more, sometimes a lot more, for quality that will give you a lifetime of wear or use than to buy lots and lots of cheaper stuff. You definitely should spend more for an item that is a classic, that will always be in style and appropriate for all occasions. Sometimes you want to go for the cheap, but other times the smart shopper splurges for the best.

I have met shoppers in research who say they only buy something if it is on sale. That is simply a losing proposition because often times what is on sale is the stuff nobody wants anyway. Shoppers should never be afraid to pay full price or spend more if the quality and value is there. And this brings me to my next piece of advice…

3) Educate yourself about what quality is: Shoppers often limit their shopping trips to just the stores they usually shop in and never cross the threshold of a luxury boutique or department store because they feel priced out. Forget it! The only way to learn about quality is to experience it and that means taking time in upscale stores like Saks 5th Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman or Nordstrom to see, feel, touch and try on the better brands.

To be a smart shopper, you have got to educate yourself about what quality is. Then you can take what you learn and apply it to shopping in the mass-market stores, as well as in the manufacturer's outlets and discount shops.

4) Mass-market has never been better: This is the really big opportunity for shoppers today. The retail environment has never been better for shoppers with excellent quality products available at all price points. You can find outstanding quality goods that can rival the luxury brands in stores like H&M, Target, Gap, Banana Republic, J Crew, Ann Taylor, Macy's, the list goes on and on, if the shopper knows what to look for. Armed with education and understanding about the quality features of the top-notch brands, you can shop much smarter and more effectively in any store. You don't have to buy the well-known brand name anymore to get quality, but you do need to be smart when you shop.

5) Think strategically before you go to the store: One of the most profound changes my research has found among shoppers, especially younger shoppers, is how strategically and business-like they approach shopping. They plan in advance by researching over the Internet the products and brands they want and the stores that are their destination before they head out to shop. Impulse shopping takes a back seat, while shoppers become more careful, more strategic and let their left-brain lead when shopping.

The simple fact is retailers play to emotion and pepper their store with powerful emotionally-laden cues and clues that encourage the shopper to indulge, buy and spend. The best strategy for shoppers to block these efforts is to keep their left brain in control and use discipline when entering the retail environment.

Danziger concludes, "Armed with these strategies, shoppers this season can take advantage of the wonderful shopping opportunities available in this recessionary environment without digging themselves deeper and deeper into debt buying more stuff that ultimately may not be worth it. Today's shopper needs to keep focused on value – getting the most value for the least amount of money. Often times that may mean turning away from poor-quality stuff marked down to fire sale prices and trading up to a more premium, higher quality brand that will offer years of use and enjoyment."

About Pam Danziger and Unity Marketing -

Pamela N. Danziger is an internationally recognized expert specializing in consumer insights, especially for marketers and retailers that sell luxury goods and experiences to the masses as well as the 'classes.' She is president of Unity Marketing, a marketing consulting firm she founded in 1992.

Advising such clients as PPR, Diageo, Waterford-Wedgwood, Google, Lenox, Swarovski, GM, Orient-Express Hotels, Italian Trade Commission, Marie Claire magazine, The World Gold Council, and The Conference Board, Pam taps consumer psychology to help clients navigate the changing consumer marketplace.

Her latest book is Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience (Kaplan, $27) is in the bookstores now.

Her other books include Let Them Eat Cake: Marketing Luxury to the Masses-as well as the Classes, (Dearborn Trade Publishing, $27, hardcover) and Why People Buy Things They Don't Need: Understanding and Predicting Consumer Behavior (Chicago: Dearborn Trade Publishing, 2004).

She has appeared on CNN's In the Money, NBC's Today Show, CNBC, CNN International, CNNfn, CBS News Sunday Morning, Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto, ABC News Now, NPR's Marketplace and is frequently called upon by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, American Demographics, Women's Wear Daily, Forbes, USA Today, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune for commentary and insight.

Pantone Color of the Year 2009: Mimosa

It's always exciting to see what Pantone announces as the new colors for the year. These are the colors you are going to be seeing in fashion and in your home accessory options. Typically fashion leads the way and trends are then translated into decor but you are beginning to see this lag shrink significantly.

As the "global authority on color" we use Pantone products every day in my agency.

When selecting the color for the year, Pantone looks to world trends but they also choose colors to influence the world too. And with this upcoming year's choice, they are certainly doing that. They did not go with a color reflecting a cautious fearful mood, but a strong hopeful one.

The deep, warm, bright yellow, the color of fresh juice...



And the color, perhaps, of hope? The color of change? I think so!



Pantone is not only for art directors or interior designers, although many of their tools are aimed for these uses. They do have a great little Shopping Color guide which is only $20. I bought this deck and it is fun to use to plan out new outfit color combinations and inspirations. They have some books that you should check out too.



If you really want the in-depth coverage and to be ahead of the game, you can download the Fashion Color Report for Spring 2009. This pdf contains the inspiration, prominent colors, signature colors and color philosophy of many of fashion's top designers. It's a great cheat sheet to help guide your choices going into next year.


I'm just going to be reading it because I have a great love of color. I sometimes wish I could narrow down my wardrobe to a more streamlined palette but then I get seduced by a teal or a pink and the black/grey/green parameter goes out the window!

Do you have a favorite color for Spring?

More to learn:
- New York Magazine coverage
- Vogue.com coverage
- Color Matters
- Color Voodoo
- Search Flickr by Color

Dress: Ossie Clark via Vogue.com
Photo credit -Barak and Michelle Obama - EPA via Telegraph UK

Designer Focus - Max Kibardin

It can be awfully hard to keep up with all of the great fashion talent from all over the world. Luckily the Internet makes it easier to create connections and bring focus to work that we may never see.

Max Kibardin has had a few years' worth of collections and has gained some great recognition but is just now getting more prominence outside of Europe. It seems that currently Saks has some level of exclusivity for selling pieces from his collection, although they are not comprehensive... but I'm sure that you could order more directly or track down a stocklist.

In looking at his site, I am loving a bunch of the pieces from his Autumn/Winter 2008 looks. The designs are retro but the metallic materials make them very modern.

One of my favorites is this two-tone mary jane -



But then you get this floral, asian pump. Wildly different. I get a 1920's Hong Kong feel from this.

This snakeskin pump has some great cutout elements.

The heels on these are so great. I love that they are skinny from the back which gives them a delicacy you don't expect.

These may possibly be a contender for the metallic oxfords I want. They don't look too "jazz shoes-ish".

But these are my favorites. I love the shape, the woven detail and especially the dusky teal color.

Not only is Max talented, but he's cute too. You have to check out Miss Imelda's coverage of his previous collections and see more images of his work as well as great information on his influences.

Perfect Pairings

I am very excited to see Baz Luhrmann's Australia. I was totally enamored with Moulin Rouge... more so than I ever expected to be. Much of that was due to the music but the fashion was, of course, amazing.

An Australia looks to be just as gorgeous.

What has really excited me was when I read that Salvatore Ferragamo was creating all of the shoes for the movie.

What is interesting, is that Ferragamo is not interpreting the styles of the era (as Manolo Blahnik did beautifully for Marie Antoinette) or using actual vintage shoes (pulled from the La Rose dead stock for Down With Love) but rather brought out styles from their actual archives to add a unique authenticity to the costume design:

"We are extremely proud and honored to work with the visionary filmmakers, director Baz Luhrmann and designer Catherine Martin. We were very confident that, through their passion and creativity, they would realize an unprecedented vision." states James Ferragamo. "My grandfather, Salvatore Ferragamo, began his career working in costume design for the American Film Company, a precursor to Twentieth Century Fox, so it is only fitting that we carry on his name and our company's heritage by collaborating once again on a film from Fox."

Ferragamo continues, "In fact, in The Covered Wagon (1923) one of the first films that my grandfather worked on, he created a pair of riding boots. These archival boots were referenced when creating the riding boots for Nicole Kidman's character."

In conjunction with costume designer Catherine Martin, the Ferragamo design studio referenced many shoes from the archives, including some worn by aristocrats during the '30s and '40s, characters similar to Lady Sarah Ashley. The color palette and design details, while created to help realize the filmmakers' fantastical vision, were also authentic to the designer and the period. The deep Ferragamo red that features in the evening sandal worn by Kidman's character during the pivotal Governor's Ball scene was already something of a House signature in the '40s. And the ribbed wedge detail featured in the shoe worn by Lady Sarah Ashley at her homestead on Faraway Downs derives from a style created originally for Katherine Hepburn.

All the shoes were made by hand, including this lovely evening sandal, in ruched deep red velvet with stingray accents. The sandal will be sold as a limited edition at Ferragamo stores worldwide. The shoes come in distinctive and collectible packaging and are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity that tells the history and unique features of the shoes.




While I love Victorian and Georgian style of dress, I am completely in love with the Post-Edwardian styles they have used to portray Lady Ashley. The structured, tailored looks with amazing detail work have a very strong appeal for me. I think I would dress this way all the time if I could.



This is in large part due to the equestrian elements that much of these styles are derived from. I rode dressage and did jumping for years and love the look. I actually feel more comfortable in a buttoned-up look like this than I do in something like jeans and tee's.



This movie is going to be EVERYWHERE over the next few months, but if you are eager to begin your immersion, here is even more to get you started:

Interview & Images in July 2008 Vogue

Gallery of images from Australia

I'm very excited to see what shoes they do end up selling and how they are received. Will this movie kick-off a trend for extreme tailoring as Moulin Rouge re-ignited a love of corsetry and decadence?

And just for some added fun, if you love horses, Australia or amazing filmwork, I hope you have seen The Man From Snowy River. This is one of the most amazingly filmed location movies ever and this scene in particular always gets me choked up and fills me with awe:

Near Death Experience

The title pretty much sums up how I feel right now. But as soon as I can get up off the bathroom floor, I'll be on here writing away!

Excuse me....

24 Hours in Savannah

I feel like I've been totally inaccessible for ages and totally slack in the posting department. I had to go on a trip (well, at this writing, I'm in the middle of it, typing from my hotel room at at 12:45 a.m.) with my clients on a super-secret, hush-hush mission to Savannah.

Sadly we were driving which means I was totally wiped out due to car sickness, which I get terribly (along with on planes and boats, etc. Blech!) so I'm terribly behind in writing and reading all the many Tweets flying around today.

In spite of it being little more than a 24 hour trip there and back with little more than half the time in the car and the other half in meetings, I stocked up on provisions. I actually brought more food and drinks than clothes and shoes, if you can believe that. But as I was going to the land of BBQ, meat and butter, I figured pickings might be slim for vegan me. I went to Whole Foods the night before and stocked up on Lara bars, apples, chocolate, crackers, macadamia nuts, and some bottles of flavored green tea.



I'm glad I did because we got on the road really early and the team started the trip by grabbing breakfast at Chick-fil-a.

I munched on a clementine and a Lara bar.

Then for lunch we pulled off the highway into a McDonald's. I really never eat fast food and think McDonald's is the worst but I thought at least I could get a salad, right?

Wrong!

Highway McDs are limited in their options, so I got a small fries, apple juice box and the apple-walnut salad, which was crap!

But I did get a sweet My Little Pony from some one's Happy Meal! It is the purple Pegasus one in the back with the long pink hair.



We were a little early for our meeting, so after dropping our bags off at the hotel, we poked around a few stores including the lovely The Paris Market. I wish I had more to spend because I saw a ton of things I was immediately in love with. Luckily my parents live close by so I can come back when I visit them next time.



I did get one thing, though. This big "P" encrusted with pearls. P for Pink! P for Poochie! Now I need to find a new home for it.



After our meetings, we ended up going to the Lady & Sons restaurant for dinner. It was sort of for research so no choice there. All I can say folks is take your Lipitor. There are no "lite" or real veg-friendly options here, unless you search and modify a bit. I ended up having a fried green tomato and the server helped me out by modifying a salad to be vegan. I added a baked potato topped with their roasted red pepper sauce, so in the end I was more than okay.

It is interesting the Paula Deen story and how in love folks are with her. When we got there a huge tour bus of over 50 folks were just leaving!

After that we went to the Mansion on Forsyth Park which is an AMAZING hotel. I think I need to make a special trip just to stay here. The decor and art just blew me away with its decadence and over the top glamour.

We hung out in the Casmir Lounge and had a few drinks. I had just a single Kir Royale but the rest of my team got a bit... shall we say... "tipsy." And I'm being kind. I had to drive us all home. The lushes! ; )

After a long day it was good to get back, read through 40 pages of Tweets (!!!) and take a hot hot shower. The Marriott we're staying at is in the historic district and they had great in-room toiletries by Davies Gate, which I'd never heard of.

I used the Quinoa shampoo and Amaranth conditioner. I really liked them. I'm going to have to check them out when I get home.

So, now I'm beat. I have a bunch more I could write, but I'm putting my phones on the charger and I've got my outfit all laid out for tomorrow (argyle sweater from Target, khaki pencil skirt, Chanel mary janes, ShoeMissy rosette and JCrew acorn bracelet).

It's going to be an early morning and another long day tomorrow, so I better get to sleep. Maybe I'll have time to do more if I get up on time!

Ensemble du Jour

Sorry this was taking forever! Work has been sooo crazy. I know this month is going to be a mess when I had to dive head first into my trash can yesterday.

What a great way to start the month!

Anyhow... yesterday I wore a grey outfit to match the grey day outside.



12-1-08 by Princess Poochie

The top is from Anthropologie. I loved the contrasting collar and cuffs with the pearly grey buttons.

It has a bit of a school uniform vibe and I enhanced that with a button front little plaid skirt, white tights and my black patent mary janes.

What is it about white tights and black mary janes that instantly transports me back to being a Catholic school girl?

As much as I hated the uniform then, I find I keep dressing in plaid pleated skirts!