La Cara

Fashion Crush > When you think of model Cara Delevingne, your first thoughts are probably of her insanely goofy Instagram selfies or how lucky she is to be Karl's latest muse. That's all fluff when it comes down to the booming career of this 21 year old British model, who in the last year has walked over 30 runways including her second appearance in Victoria Secret's coveted televised Fashion Show. With her famous eyebrows, Cara is spunky and gorgeous yes, but becoming the face of a brand synonymous with sexy was a choice unexpected. As one of La Perla's three new brand ambassadors, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott shoot Delevingne alongside supermodels Liu Wen and Malgosia Bela for their 2014 Spring Summer Collection. Between her smoldering photos and sit down interview, you almost forget she has any side but sexy.  

 

Check out the behind the scenes video:

 



 

Not Your Normal Skivvies

(Photos courtesy of ForLoveandLemons.com)

Look Book Lovin' >  X-Rated. Almost Offensive. Showoff. These are just a few of the pieces from For Love and Lemons debut Skivvies line and I have never been so amped about a collection, let alone a debut collection, of lingerie to be released. Largely due to their ability to create so much hype through social media, usage in campaigns and general wear by connected stylists, For Love and Lemons duo, Gillian Mahin and Laura Hall have successfully created a line of undergarments that every woman making her own rules in fashion has been waiting for.

Throw away your unflattering bandeau tops and forget about unwanted side boob. For every dress, top and outfit that you have never had the right bra for, The Skivvies collection has you covered.

Well, sort of.

Check out the incredibly hot look book here.
Shop the collection here. Also available on Revolve and Nasty Gal.

Lesson Learned.

Wish List > So I opted to sleep in instead of waking up at 5am for the November 14th release of Isabel Marant pour H&M collaboration. Seeing that the collection was sold out online before the stores even opened and only one location in San Diego carried the line, I never stood a chance. And now instead of staring at these fringe boots or abstract print skinnies, quilted leather pants or Penny Lane shag sweaters hanging beautifully in my closet, I am looking at photos of fall leaves on my Instagram. Le sigh.

But all is not lost. After berating myself for missing the release, I gifted myself. I could no longer take all the photos of every front-row invite blogger wearing their handpicked pieces from the collection. So I bought something better. The Multicolor Momo Bouclé Wool Blend Jacket from Etoile Isabel Marant. And seeing that this piece is now sold out as well, it makes my heart feel a little better. 

Lysted here.

McQ S/S 2013

 

Runway > I found these little goodies in my draft box and realized I had almost forgotten the honeycomb madness that took the runway for McQueen Spring/Summer 2013. Tortoise corsets and jewels filtered by honeycomb head pieces and bee motif print garments, Burton brought back the woman's shape with dresses that seemed to float above them and reminded us that woman are worker bees. Dominate, classy, and sexy yet not overt and incredibly powerful.

 

View entire show here.

 

Light Side of the Moon

Lookbook Lovin' > Nasty gal gets sporty in their November look book shot by Devyn Galindo. Set against a background of white sand and blue skies, Naomi Preizler models new and vintage pieces in eclectic hues and textiles. Of course my favorite piece from the collection is the top she is wearing above and it is nowhere to be found on the website for purchase. BUT they do you an amazing dip dye faux fur jacket in ombre brown which is just as fabulous. 

View entire lookbook here.

View the fabulous jacket here.

Anthropologie x Made In Kind

Retail Retell > This is something new for me that I find to be fantastic so I would like to share with you. A few years ago I wasn't much of an Anthropologie shopper. I judged it from the outside as a country terrain hippy store that took Penny Lane and stripped her down to House on the Prairie. Never judge a store until you walk in its shoes. Or dresses. Or house decor department.

Anywho. I did of course venture in and fall in love with the ethereal and feminine aesthetic of everything they have. I am even more pleased to have just discovered their monthly Made In Kind collections. Each month Anthropologie taps indie designers to create pieces for an exclusive collection. November's collection just arrived in stores and the designers are NYC brand JF & SON, Nadinoo designer Nadia Izruna, Brooklyn based Alexandra Grecco, and the husband-wife duo behind Place Nationale.  All of these diverse designers stick loosely to Anthro's feminine and nature inspired aesthetic while adding their own twist to create a beautiful, eclectic and romantic collection.

Maison Martin Margiela x H&M

Collaborative candy > In June of this year, H&M announced that it would be releasing a collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela in November 2012. It is almost November.

"It's a pleasure to present these re-editions of Maison Martin Margiela to a new audience, to those who were too young to buy the original pieces and those who didn't have access to Maison Martin Margiela before the days of internet shopping,"

The Collection will be released November 15th and I must say this is one of the top collaborations I believe to be done thus far with H&M. These pieces are phenomenal. Keeping their signature looks and even offering iconic styles remade and available at a more affordable price. The only thing that depresses me is the ability to get to them before they sell out. I may have to take a day off for this one..

View more of the collection here.

Olivia Palermo In Velvet

Cover Lovin' > Shot by Luc Coiffait, Palermo does what she does best in Velvet's 2012 September issue. She makes fashion look good. Olivia has an incredible and keen fashion sense that allows her to be feminine and decadent at all times. Always perfectly put together, sexy, classy and incredibly stylish, she is a fashion star with one of those natural abilities to hit the mark every time.  

Palermo prepares us for Fall in the most fantastic way donning Dior, Gucci Preen, Mulberry, Lanvin and more, set against a whimsical background. Seen here modeling looks very similar to her own style: dark and colorful, mix-match prints, layered and feminine, she looks right at home in looks we wish we had in ours.

Barney's x Disney

Campaign Obsession > Barney's and Disney. And no, I don't mean the purple dinosaur. What I am talking about is all of your favorite Disney characters, Minnie, Goofy, Snow White and more, transformed into high fashion runway models to don staple pieces from F/W 2012 Collections carried at the famous retailer.

Titled Electric Holiday, Barney's is know for it's ellaborate creative campaigns and this year's is no different. Creative Director, Dennis Freedman, hit a few roadblocks along the way while meeting with Disney animators. For example, Minnie Mouse's 2'ft frame needed to be transformed into a 5'11 runway model to be able to wear her designer duds from Lanvin. Yes, Minnie Mouse will be in Lanvin, Snow White in Nina Ricci, Mickey Mouse in Balenciaga, Goofy in Balmain, Daisy Duck in Dolce & Gabbana, Princess Tiana in Proenza Schouler, and lastly (and possibly the most fantastic thing ever) Cruella will be dressed in Rick Owens. (Insert cackle of excitement here).

This will not just be a Holiday campaign. There will be a "moving art short" featuring a film and 3-D light show, along with Barney's revered window displays. There will also be a ton of merchandise, including Mickey Mouse ears designed by L'Wren Scott and Rag & Bone, as well as  Vinylmation characters from DVF and Paul Smith. Barney's will also donate 25% of the proceeds from Electric Holiday purchases to a still unnamed charity.

Let Disney and fashion fill your heart this season, and feel good doing it.

 

LDR In My H&M

Campaign Obsession > I woke up this morning to find some Lana Del Rey in my H&M Fall/Winter Collection. Named as the face of the upcoming 2012 collection as well as set to appear in the winter campaigns, Lana seems to be everywhere. As you know Lana also appeared in the August Vogue Italia and I just happened to bump into her yesterday morning in West Hollywood while hunting for some vintage finds at the always entertaining Fairfax Trading Post.

I haven't decided my stance on LDR as of yet but my mind is made up as far as H&M is concerned. She looks fabulous. Their collection has a Bridget Bardot 50's housewife feel with the floral motif petal pushers and pink angora blend sweaters, the oversize cross stitch and tweed jackets. With Lana's porcelain skin, talon fingernails and striking red hair done to perfection, the collection brings old ideas to a beautiful light and Lana shines.

Weird Science

Fashion Obsession > Nasty Gal's creator, Sophia Amoruso, really should have thought about her devoted 'gals' before she came up with this idea. You can kiss my paycheck goodbye, I will literally be the woman who lived in her shoes. Because on August 27th, Nasty Gal releases their first collection for Fall 2012.

When I first heard Amoruso was doing a collection I thought the pieces would end up being a more expensive version of the items they sell now. But I am thoroughly impressed and ecstatic over the detailed and standout pieces Nasty Gal has created. Yes, you will see the bralettes and the fringe hot shorts, but you will also see 80's inspired cocktail dresses with sharp shapes and boning. Plunging necklines and bold colors. Fantastic feathers and curve revealing fits. Everything and more you could ask for, and things you have only dreamed of. The collection is only uplifted by Terry Richardson shooting the collection, styled by Sophia herself with nothing but a backdrop and a few vintage computers. Oh, and how could I forget, the girls are wearing shoes from the Nasty Gal x Jeffrey Campbell Collab.

There is absolutely nothing missing in this collection except its placement in my closet.

View and shop the entire collection here, availble August 27.

Terry Richardson for Pour La Victoire

Campaign Obsession > He is no stranger to shooting gorgeous women in heels but they are indeed strangers to the ad game. Pour La Victoire, the amazing shoe line that has brought beautiful stilettos to women everywhere, made a very smart decision tapping Terry Richardson for their very first ad campaign.

Shot in a private UES club, Richardson photographs the beautiful Jessica Hart donning PLV's resort and holiday lines. As always, he is able to achieve the ultimate sultry and feminine shots with his model, making the brands campaign virginity non existent in the very best way.

Kate Moss for Rag & Bone

Campaign Obsession > There are few words you need to announce to get my attention when it comes to fashion. Now, to the level of that attention is questionable.  

When I read that one of my ultimate design duos had asked Moss to be the face of their Fall '12 Campaign I knew immediately that they would not disappoint. My respect and complete adoration of this rocking timeless supermodel is never ending and still , with just the mention of her name, she grasps people's attention as they crave to see what she has done now. Ill have me some Glamorous Kate anytime, but put her in leather and denim and you have her at her utmost. Shot in the foggy streets of London, this campaign is all things Kate and classic UK Rock.

Long live the Queen.

Adidas Originals x Opening Ceremony

(Images courtesy of Opening Ceremony)

Collaborative Candy > The 2012 London Olympics do not begin until July 27th, but you can get into action with the FW 2012 Collection from Adidas and Opening Ceremony. Created in anticipation of the upcoming Olympics as well as the opening of their first London store, the collection is an ode to all things Olympic and 90's youth. 

Modeled perfectly by Xiao Wen and Camille Rowe, the collection is kept young and colorful, using playful prints-- a kaleidoscope mini-floral, a splatter-paint motif and my personal favorite, the iconic bandana print of OC. The collection is for the most part unisex and keeps the ode to the Olympics true by using fabrics such as dry-swim-spandex, neoprene, and reflective finishes.

View the entire collection and shop here but leave the bandana print for moi. 

Matthew Williamson Resort 2013

(Images Courtesy of Fashion Gone Rogue )

LookBook Love > Matthew Williamson is a constant favorite of mine, as you can always count on him for colorful, well-tailored and mixable pieces. In his Resort 2013 Collection, Williamson was inspired by the work of artist Mat Collishaw and German furniture designer Judith Seng. Using natural colors and geometric shapes, he keeps the color palette simple and elegant, while changes textures for wear. His evening pieces feature Swaroski crystals, fringing and feminine flowing fabric. His street wear, tailored pants paired with strong button ups and jackets. 

See the rest of the collection here

Raquel Zimmermann + Dior

(originally posted on Smashbox Studios Yello!)


Campaign Obsession > Funny finally meets fashion when Steven Meiser is behind the lens. Not taking it all too serious while having the ability to capture the beauty and intrigue the viewer all at the same time, is a feat rarely met but so well achieved in his videos. My favorite and possibly his most popular being for Lanvin Fall 2011 in which Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmerman donned in the designs got down to Pitbull "I Know You Want Me."   Lucky we are, as Steven Meiser and Raquel Zimmermann come together again to create this beautiful and honest video for Dior Joaillerie, a classic collection designed by Victoire de Castellane.

Zimmermann is shown in different stages from dolled up to natural, but the real beauty lies in the uncut scenes and her bloopers, making her seem that much more endearing and claiming me as a fan.

"I don't trust people who are always in a good mood. If you haven't seen the bad mood, you haven't really seen the good mood" - Raquel Zimmermann