season five

go natural with summer straw accessories

Nothing says easy breezy days of summer like light and natural accessories.  Straw, raffia and natural rope add a natural touch to accessories like totes, espadrilles, hats, belts and even jewelry. Toss a straw tote over your shoulder along with your beach towel, and sunscreen and you’re ready for a day at the beach. For a unique tote, colorful ombre shading adds a fresh take to an over-sized straw tote from Plaza Too.

To up your poolside style factor,  a wide brimmed straw hat and sweet wedge espadrilles will add instant glam to your basic black bikini and tunic cover up.  For a bit of luxe raffia trend inspiration look to Stella McCartney’s straw raffia clutch and Wink NYC’s raffia bangles.

Shown here clockwise from top left:
Wide Brim Womens Hat, $16.99 at Tilly’s
Nantucket Tote Espresso Natural Raffia, $75 at Plaza Too
Rebecca Taylor Sand Wedge Wrap Heel Espadrilles, $49.99 at Amazon
WINK Raffia Bangles, $46.99 at Wink NYC
Stella McCartney Raffia Clutch, $558.75 at Net-a-Porter

This is a guest post from our friends at thefind.com

I want it! the linus bike

I finally found the perfect city bike. This 3-speed "Dutchi"  Linus was inspired by the French bicycle designs of the 50's and 60's, comes in 3-speeds and the right shade of red. $525 at the Venice store. (via Refinery29)

carine roitfeld inspires a lookbook

I love and am continually inspired by Carine Roitfeld's edgy style so I read with great interest that Joseph has created a private label collection inspired by the Parisian Vogue editor. The London based retailer describes the collection as "not classics, but fashion for everyday." Pieces in the fall collection include a leopard-print rabbit-fur car coat (LOVE), a chocolate leather bomber jacket with fox-fur lining, a merino sheepskin tunic dress and a boyish, gray Lurex tweed car coat, all styled with pieces such as leather leggings and cropped jodhpurs. The collection will be priced 30 to 40 percent lower and available at Joseph stores worldwide, select Bloomindales and Ron Herman in Los Angeles. (WWD via Refinery29)

strike a pose: cameron diaz for V magazine

Cameron Diaz channels Madonna - circa 1987 -  for the August issue of V Magazine. The actress recently appeared in "My Sister's Keeper," as the mother of a terminally ill child. She will appear in the horror film "The Box" this fall. The August issue of V Magazine hits newsstands today.

happy independence day

 

dazzle them with sparkly sequin accessories

Infuse demure and classic with a bit of glittery glam and you will instantly up your style factor a few notches. We are loving a bit of sparkle (used sparingly) in the form of a sequin cardigan or sequin tee worn with denim, or black pants. Dazzle them with a knock out statement sequin clutch such as this Prada ombre style or make your toes twinkle with a pair of sequined ballet flats. The sequin wearing rules require complete restraint or you could be mistaken for a stray fireworks accident this Independence Day.

Featured here from top left clockwise:

J.Crew Bottle sequin jacket in olive, $499.99 at J.Crew
Jenny Sequin Ballet Flats, $18.80 at Forever 21
Donna Karan Collection Sequined L/S Tee, $1,595.00 at Neiman Marcus
Prada bronze ombré trimmed sequined clutch, $1,000.00 at Bluefly.com
Felix Rey Sequin Fiesta Basket Clutch in gold, $45.00 at RevolveClothing.com

This is a guest post from my friends at thefind.com

san francisco ranked 9th most sylish city

San Francisco ranks ninth in a recent study judging stylish cities worldwide. Slightly more stylish than Barcelona and falling just behind Madrid, the city was chosen because it is home to dozens of important industrial design firms that have created many products millions use --and admire-- every day. Boo! That's embarrassing and decidingly un-stylish. What gives?

The 2009 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands Index, released on June 16, surveyed 10,000 people from 20 countries in April of this year. Cities were judged on lifestyle, buzz, multiculturalism, cultural life and attractiveness. Respondents were asked to rank 50 cities on such varied subjects as climate, physical attractiveness, restaurants and nightlife. (via Forbes)

jimmy choo for hunter boots

There's been much fashion media ado about the Jimmy Choo for Hunter Boots collaboration. After they were seen on celebrities like Rachel Bilson and Charlize Theron, the croc-embossed boot inspired a 4000 deep waiting list. A very limited range of sizes (two to be exact) are still available at Saks.com for $395 and a February 2010 ship date. No thank you! First, waiting lists are so last century and secondly, why bother? The Hunter classic (above) is exactly the same except for the croc. In this case, I believe the original is still the best. Hunter wellies ruled at Glastonbury last week despite the clear skies. Check out the fashion from the festival at Style.com 

what people drink - the celebrity edition

Mutineer recently ran a photo montage on the magazine's blog featuring celebrities and thier drinks. It makes for nice light summer reading. Check it out here. (via Hip Tastes Blog)

marc jacobs kooky advertisements

I'm not a big fan of Marc Jacobs but can't help love his kooky ads. Although the advertisements have been a fixture of fashion magazines for nearly ten years, they remain fresh because of a growing list of interesting subjects doing wacky things or nothing at all. This unique longevity is the result of the friendship between the designer and Bavarian-born photographer Juergen Teller, a creative collaboration now compiled in the 576 pages of "Marc Jacobs Advertising 1998-2009" (Steidl). Over the years the campaign has featured Michael Stipe, Sofia Coppola, Winona Ryder, Rufus Wainwright, Victoria Beckham and many more. These ads are baffling to even the most bizarre among us - and that is why I love them. See more pictures from the campaign at Hint Magazine

christy turlington for yves saint laurent

Next up Christy Turlingon for Yves Saint Laurent the Fall/Winter 2009 advertising campaign photographed by Inez Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. The fashion world is lovin' the Eighties. Fashion Spot

more madonna for louis vuitton

 

This just in: new photos from the latest Louis Vuitton campaign featuring Madonna and photographed by Steven Meisel. Love the Borderline-esque fingerless gloves!  Design Scene

leaked madonna for louis vuitton ad

Cyana.Trend.Land just published the first leaked photo of Madonna for Louis Vuitton’s Fall/Winter 2009-2010 ad campaign shot by Steven Meisel. The ad campaign, Madonna's second for the luxury design house, will be officially released in August. This is pretty neutral for Madonna - I'm curious what she will bring for the six other spots.

michael jackson, style icon

A friend on Facebook wrote tonight "RIP Michael Jackson. He's the first person the media actually killed." True, the media has been unkind to Jackson in recent years - justly or unjustly. The fashion media was a bit more kind - if only to acknowledge during the Eighties and into the Nineties, Michael Jackson was as much a trendsetter for fashion as he was for music. There’s the red leather motorcycle jacket he rocked in the “Beat It” video; the white ankle socks, black fedora and black loafers he wore when he moonwalked; the military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses he toured in during the “Thriller” era; the white V-neck T-shirt that he always eventually stripped down to onstage, and finally, there was that glove, first worn during a performance of “Billie Jean” during a television special in 1983. More than two decades later, The King of Pop’s style endures. For spring 2009, Balmain sent a Jackson-esque military jacket down the runway. According to WWD, from which this blog entry was adapted, Jackson hits like “Thriller” and “PYT (Pretty Young Thing)” are soundtrack staples for runway shows even still. R.I.P. WWD

bryan adams fashion photographer

Two fashion bloggers wrote about Bryan Adams this week. Seriously, what are the chances? Cyana.Trend.Land, a blog and fashion newsletter, reports on BA's photography achievements including published work in L’uomo Vogue, British Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Interview magazine, and Esquire. Check out her site for pictures of Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan, Cindy Crawford, Amy Winehouse and more.

on my radar for fall: balmain tuxedo jacket

This Balmain jacket could reinvent my life, or a least my wardrobe. The sharp shoulders will add edge to everything I own. I can just see it with my J Brand skinnies and peep-toe Stella sandals. Or a little feminine mini dress for balance. Sigh.  Sadly, even at $3,205, it is SOLD OUT at net-a-porter. Snooze you lose.

recapture the glamour of a black swimsuit

Bedeck yourself this summer in a gorgeous black swimsuit. Black is the go-to color for all out glam while lounging poolside. There are many styles, one piece and bikinis to choose from. Shown here are styles from Melissa Odabash, Shay Todd and Zimmerman. Black will make some of the wobbly bits not so noticeable and create a chic streamlined appearance. Cover up pre-poolside in a glam Diane Von Furstenburg coverup tunic. Then keep undercover with an extra wide brimmed hat and black aviator shades. Be sure to add a dash of self tanner and don’t forget the matching black Tory Burch sandals.

Shown here from top left clockwise:

Paul Smith Women’s swimsuit, £ 95.00 at Paul Smith
Melissa Odabash Anna halter bikini $185 at Net-a-Porter
Shay Todd Handkerchief swimsuit $230.00 at Net-a-Porter
Zimmermann Halter neck swimsuit, $450.00 at Net-a-Porter
Sunglasses: Fendi Aviator sunglasses, $325 at Net-a-Porter
Sandals: Tory Burch Miller 2 patent leather sandal, $195 at Plaza Too

This is a geust post from my friends at thefind.com

bryan adams gets a stamp

Bryan Adams gets his own Canadian postage stamp on July 2. As his self-appointed U.S. publicist (pro bono) I feel compelled to report on this and to also mention the guy has achieved number one status in more than 40 countries and recorded numerous chart-topping singles. He is also an accomplished photographer, using the proceeds of his photographic projects to support numerous non-profit causes, most notably for women and breast cancer. Add to this an Oscar, Grammy Award, many American Music Awards and Juno Awards. Here is a picture of me with him on stage in Vegas a few years ago. I am a terrible singer but a cute outfit and 4-inch Gucci stilettos will take you far - and on stage. There is a lesson in there somewhere.

elles@centrepompidou

Paris' Georges Centre Pompidou is hosting a major exhibition of the art of women until May 24, 2010. The museum is dedicating the space its reserves for the Museum’s permanent collection to the work of female artists, effectively re-transcribing the history of art since the beginning of the twentieth century from a gendered perspective. This exhibit has been both applauded for its support of women and disregarded for its segreation. What do you think? I think I need to go see it.

neon pink flashback inspiration

Think PINK this summer as we transition into fall. The ’80s influence continues and we are loving the sizzling hot hues, especially neon hot pink. The stark contrast of neon pink with black looks fresh and fun for clothing and accessories. Pair a hot pink shell blouse with an over sized black boyfriend jacket or skinny jeans, or go from head to toe in a hot pink asymmetric dress. There are also hot pink accessories such as this cheeky Alexander McQueen clutch, neon pink belt or pink thong sandals to choose from if you’re looking for just a dash of neon hot pink color.

This is a guest post from my friends at thefind.com

homage to madeleine vionnet in paris

The latest exhibition at Paris' Arts Décoratifs pays homage to Madeleine Vionnet. Vionnet dominated haute couture in the 1930s setting trends with her sensual gowns worn by such stars as Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn and Greta Garbo. Called the "Queen of the bias cut", Vionnet is best-known today for her elegant Grecian-style dresses and for introducing the bias cut to the fashion world. She was also a champion feminist in her time. She fought for copyright laws in fashion and employed what were once considered revolutionary labor practices - paid holidays and maternity leave and  day-care. Vionnet's vision of the female form revolutionized modern clothing. Today, Madeleine Vionnet is considered one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th century. Until January 31, 201o.

saks does an email check - brilliant!

In my day job I am very focused on email marketing. In the direct marketing world, the email inbox has been referred to as the "beating heart of the internet" and email is the tightest link invested between seller and buyer. In need of a new pair of leggings I checked out Saks.com recently but moved on.  Yesterday I received the above email - brilliant marketing. I bought the leggings (I really do need them).

kate gets lifted up....

Airline passengers landing at Paris' Charles des Gaulle Airport this summer will be greeted by a billboard of Kate Moss lying suspended in the arms of six  "officer and a gentleman" men in uniform. The billboard is the first-ever for French leather goods brand Longchamp. Using shadowy lighting, the faces of the men have been blacked out to leave a graphic line of white circular hats, while the final man holds Longchamp’s new Gatsby bag. Additional billboards to follow in London and New York's Time Square for the holiday season.  WWD

bruce & emma willis do honeymoon hotel

"Honeymoon Hotel," the portfolio shot by Steven Klein for the July issue of W, is receiving mixed reviews online. Seriously, comments range from "fantastic" to "narcissistic crap". What do you think? Check out the spread on W's website.

the queen likes net-a-porter and so do I

Christopher Bailey and Natalie Massenet received a nod from Britain's Queen Elizabeth this past weekend. Massenet, the founder of Net-a-porter.com, and Bailey, creative director of Burberry, were both named MBEs, or Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, as part of the Queen’s birthday honors list. Natalie Massenet, founder and chairman of Net-a-porter.com, is one of my professional idols. I adore her. Congrats! WWD