Madonna, meet Louis Vuitton

Let me start by saying I love Madonna. When I heard that she was the new Louis Vuitton ad girl I was excited, but really needed to see Madge and Louis together before completely signing off on the idea. When my February 2009 Teen Vogue came in the mail, other than being appalled at how thin it was, I was genuinely thrilled to see some of the first images of Madge for Louis and I love them. The images maintain Madonna’s attitude and presence while keeping in tact the integrity of Louis Vuitton, plus the ads (at least the one on the back cover of Feb 09 TV) show off Madonna’s signature asset: her magnificently sculpted legs. The only thing I don’t like about the ad is that she almost looks like Heather Mills… Decide for yourself.


Oh and I love that Toms made it into a fashion editorial (Feb 09 TV, p. 95). Their holiday look book, a toy, was the most creative and least offensive I remember taking in at Bbook last summer.

My temporary absence

I was thinking that if I have any loyal readers I have certainly not been treating them right. My, so far, week long lack of posts is due to the holidays and my own personal vacation (although it seems I post more when I'm not in school) from most things internet-related. I apologize and hope that you forgive.

Regrets, but I will be back shortly.

But whilst I'm gone know that I've stocked up on magazines for a long (family) car ride so there should be plenty of post-worthy fodder for me.

Oh, P.S., Ali Michael made COACD's top 25 faces of 2008 at #4. Way to go!! Karlie Kloss made #16. I'm a little hurt that my girl Chanel Iman (and the last leg of that trio) didn't make the cut.

Oh, Domenico and Stefano...

What were you thinking?!

As I've been (slowly) reading and flipping through my January 2009 Vogue and Elle I've come across the Dolce and Gabbana ads for their cruise collection and I have a few problems with it. Take a look:


The good: I like the black and white theme, it's nice and different for a cruise collection.

The bad: The model poses; concave is pretty done by now. Really, pick a new innovative pose for 2009, this one has had it's two or three year run it's time to move on and find something new and exciting - otherwise those models will be really bored.

The ugly: And it is ugly. The old women deserves a "what were you thinking?!" as does the really bad color editing in photoshop. If you look at the model on the far left in the nice white dress her left leg is paler than her right leg - in fact, her right leg looks like it got fake baked, but she forgot to do her left leg - any makeup artist to make that mistake would be fired before she could say "Dolce and Gabbana." But really, the old women? I'm still confused.

Mi vie en vogue....

This is a completely self-serving post bearing only one question: has anyone had trouble trying to renew their subscription to Vogue recently? I got mine as a Christmas gift a while back and I've had difficulty figuring out what's going on over in Conde Nast circulation because I only just today got my Jan 2009 copy (bummer, I know!)... anyhoo let me know if you have any idea what's up.


Speaking of the Jan 2009 Vogue, I was really antsy waiting for it (just ask my mom... it's one of the only things I've talked about since being home) because Anne Hathaway is the cover girl! I love her and have followed her career since her Princess Mia days. I am thrilled that she is doing so well and can't wait to read the articles (family is in town, thus delaying some of my mag reading). I also think the cover with the word "Change" plastered on Anne's chest is pretty amazing, a total double entendre, due to her life post-beau and how she has upheld herself throughout everything. I'll just consider this my Christmas gift from both of the Wintour and Hathaway - the gods at Vogue have given me a wonderful present.

Oh and the new Modern Bride features both Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson because of the impending release of their film Bride Wars. I love it when magazines get things right.

My favorite models of the moment

Chanel Iman, 19, entered the world of tent shows a year before my home town girl Ali Michael, but they broke the cover of Teen Vogue on the same month. Currently the muse for Phillip Lim and working toward being a VS model, this youngen is quickly moving up the ranks; in my mind she's on par with Kimora. Ali Michael, 18, who Wintour asked to personally congratulate after her first season, is now the face of a Lanvin fragrance; she's playing with the big dogs after her transition from Teen Vogue to Vogue. I love style.com, so let's have a looskie, shall we?

Chanel:

Dior (A/W 2008 RTW), Christian Lacroix (Spring 2009 RTW), Sonia Rykiel (Spring 2009 RTW), Derercuny (Spring 2009 RTW), Dior (Fall 2008 couture)


Stella McCartney (A/W 2008 RTW), Yves Saint Laurent (A/W 2008 RTW), Ralph Lauren (A/W 2008 RTW), Valentino (Spring 2008 couture), Alexander McQueen (Spring 2008 RTW)

Ali:


Lanvin's Jeanne Lanvin fragrance


Karl Lagerfeld (Spring 2009 RTW), Dior (Spring 2009 RTW), 3.1 Phillip Lim (Spring 2009 RTW), Anna Sui (A/W 2008 RTW), Sonia Rykiel (A/W 2008 RTW)

Fashion journalism I can believe in

As a writer I understand the need for unbiased journalism in most publications. Time magazine, yes. The New York Times, yes. US News and World Report, yes. But Elle, not so much. Fashion and politics have been co-minglers for, well, pretty much forever. Earlier in this fall several designers created visions for the First Lady-elect to wear on the day of her hubby's inauguration and you can bet your student loans that most to all of them were incredibly thrilled that it was Michelle over Cindy. Like I said: fashion and politics are seasoned co-minglers.

Hooray for the January 2009 American Elle:


When I cracked the January 2009 Elle I was way excited to see Robbie Myers' Editor's Letter addressed the recent election and I was even more excited to know that she wasn't afraid to print her opinions even though criticisms may ensue (and I'm sure she's getting hate mail or angry bloggers to voice their own opinions through their various outlets). So the jist of this post is just to give props to Robbi and Elle.

Now for my own take on the relationship between fashion journalism and unbiased reporting. Fashion journalism needs to report on fashion and things that affect it. The readership fashion magazines like Elle accrue want to know about runway shows, new trends, the celebrities featured inside and the newest beauty/health/fitness information. These same readers will pick up Time magazine or the Washington Post for hard news. They will log on to style.com to go through runway shows image-by-image. They will refresh ESPN.com every 30 seconds during the game for the quickest updates. The point is that all of these sources contribute different things to one person's arsenal of news gathering. And so for unbiased politcal journalism same person will reach for the Times on a newsstand while grabbing for Vogue because they want to see the new trends. Different publications are responsible for reporting different things and I applaud Elle for knowing that if it wants to publish its editors' opinions it doesn't need to be afraid to do so.

For the stocking

Small gifts and stocking stuffers can often be the hardest to come by. Truly, shopping for real gifts like cashmere sweaters and a nice bathroom set seem so easy; stocking stuffers are much trickier in comparison.

LUSH Mr. Butterball Bath Bomb, $3.95, available at all LUSH fresh homemade cosmetics counters. A great way to relax during the holidays. The perfect gift for friends, family and yourself. You honestly can't go wrong with any LUSH product.




Bond No. 9 New York Andy Warhol Perfume token, $85, made exclusively for Saks, is the perfect little compact. Forget powder foundation compacts or the passe lip gloss compact, perfume token compacts like this are the new trend. The other four Bond No. 9 New York fragrances are also available.







Coach Satin Pouch Charm, $58, found at Coach and department stores. It's small, charming and is the finishing touch for any female collegian's keychain. The teal is a fun color, one that always makes me smile. Unless the giftee is teal color blind, this is pretty much fail-proof.

The perfect holiday party dress

Being a college student is kind of like being a rich poor person. Let me elaborate. We live under the expanding arm of our parents' money: they pay for school (usually), they pay for the apartment (usually), they pay sorority/fraternity dues (usually) and they send care packages. But to be honest, aside from that, most college students have little more than a positive balance. So when it comes time for the holidays, the only cash in our wallets comes from what we make in text book buy backs and it goes to buying gifts for friends in family, leaving us more strapped for cash than we could have ever imagined. This financial stitch makes it increasingly hard to find that perfect little ensemble for the many holiday parties that we may find ourselves invited to.

Enter the perfect holiday party dress:


It has an exciting silhouette, is black, has a jeweled neckline and is a family-friendly length hitting six inches or less above the knee (ok, so maybe more than six inches on me, being almost 6' and all). Plus a simple black cardigan pairs perfectly to keep you warm and cozy. This Shoshanna embellished dress can be found at Neiman's for $495. If I lived in Highland Park I would certainly snatch this up in an instant and insist that "with a dress like this all of the season's holiday parties would find me." I'd take it out with this Judith Leiber heart-shaped gold clutch, also found at Neiman's for $255 jsut for a little added zing.


In the spirit of reminiscing and updating my blog more often I plan on adding my take on the "editor's picks" I worked on everyday last summer at BlackBook. I will muse on things I love, can't afford, but wouldn't mind if they could grace my closet - even if for just a day.

Fashionably Warm

December means a gust of cold air in even the warmest parts of the country. Bring on all the pea coats, scarves, trenches, hats with ear flaps, and wool undies because it's time to bundle up and faced our first chapped lips of the season. Just like anything else hanging in our closets, winter coats deserve stylish consideration. But what's that; there's no happy medium for Goldilocks? Here to solve your problem are three of the trendiest and classiest winter coats economy-ridden, Christmas worn-thin wallets can afford.

Stand up collars are so smart, I wish they had become a trend last year when I bought my winter coat. The convertible collar is perfect for bundling up, or just leaving down when it's just cold enough for a coat. New York and Company really got this one right. The military double breasted touch and belt give the coat an edge and makes it masculine in a really attractive way, but the soft gray color still makes it feminine enough for the girliest of girls. The best thing about this coat is that the gray makes it a little bit of a blank slate for a pop of color when accessorizing with hats or scarves, but at the same time, if it's just warn with skinny jeans and boots, it's classy enough to stand on its own.




Berry and jewel tones have come into the season with a settle to score. Pretty much any store - Old Navy, Gap, Ann Taylor Loft, etc. - have introduced pops of these shades in their cashmeres, sweaters, scarves, cardigans, clutches and shoes. So to make a classic pea coat in a berry tone like this Banan Republic wool-blend seems like a no-brainer! With a coat in these bolder shades, everything else can be played down. Like the model in this picture grays and blacks are very complementary, but even pairing subdued shades of eggplant or sapphire would work also. So if you're brave and need to update your five-year old winter coat, conside this a stron contender.




Baby doll cut coats are incredibly girly and figure-flattering, but the best thing is that this coat adds a new sillhouette to the standard body-hugging staple in most of our closets. One of the best features of this coat from Ann Taylor Loft is that the black color keeps it from being too over-the-top and trendy, instead it can work for a few years until you find something you like more.

I need to get this off my chest

Pun fully intended.

It occurred to me after watching week after week of Stylista I am indefinitely annoyed by Megan. This rant, however, it is not because of her bitchiness, it is for her lack of unmentionables. Namely, a bra. The girl is fashionable, she has style, and she knows how to buy good clothes, but she is sorely lacking a certain something that'll make her girls stand taller and prouder.

After last week's episode with her the white tank it was all too obvious that she wasn't wearing anything to keep her from telling the world she's cold. She needs to meet Victoria. And probably Sarah Blakely, too. Before a girl can be figure flattering on the outside, she needs to have the right gear underneath. Megan might know the fashion industry, but she could use to take some notes here (especially if she is to style celebrities that don't have a model's figure).

My Best Friend is the Body by Victoria Full Coverage Uplift Bra. Certainly not new to VS, this old faithful is actually a recent addition to my bra drawer and quickly becoming a favorite. It fits comfortably, hugs you just right, is perfect under t-shirts, blouses and even dresses. The straps are thick and supportive, but not too. The bra, as the name denotes, adds a little oomph, but definitely not too much. In fact, wearing a push-up or padded bra on a daily or almost-daily basis will help decrease the effects of gravity on the chest, which is a nice bonus. Maybe not the sexiest of bras, but definitely utilitarian and comfy to boot. A good choice for anyone, any size.


Everyone's Best Friend is Sarah Blakely and her Spanx. Story has it she offered Saks the idea for her product, which would have given Saks licensing and copywright and all that jazz, they said no, she looked elsewhere and came out on top. The story's ending is good because women can buy her product anywhere, plus the WWW. Her body-shapers can come pretty much anyway you want them. My personal opinion is that all women should own at least two pairs (one in their skin tone and one in black). I actually break my own rule by owning two nude pairs in different cuts, but at least I have them. Want your cottage cheese cellulite days behind you? You don't even need a genie to grant that wish. The ones that are high-waisted, to your bra, and extend down your thigh are the best in my book.

The Bridesmaid. If Spanx aren't your style, then this paper thin, no-line showing thong is the next best thing. The Victoria's Secret Low-Rise thong is a nylon-spandex blend that is like another layer of skin that covers only what needs to be covered. It comes in a bunch of colors so you can match every type of pant/skirt/dress you own. Thongs are pretty self-explanatory so there's not much else to say about this one except to make sure you pick the right size; pick the wrong size and the no-show thong turns into the love-handle highlighter.

Fashionista Fodder

I'm an avid reader of the Fashionista blog. In fact, that blog kept me updated on little things over the summer and every once in a while gave me fodder for the BlackBook blog. And now, I take those skills into my own and publish something here. The subject: knock-offs. The main players: Steve Madden and Forever 21.

Anyone who stumbles upon Fashionista on any given day can probably find a story on the first page about how either Steve Madden has ripped off a designer shoe or how Forever 21 redid a designer dress. Hell, Forever 21 does double duty knocking off shoes and apparel. Most of the time it is blatant. If Forever 21 takes something it spins it by adding lace or changing the color, but never something as vital as a pattern or cut. When Steve Madden takes something, not much is changed either. My editor this summer had it right when he said "Steve Madden is the Forever 21 of shoes." Never a truer statement has ever been uttered.

It shames me, as a budding fahsion journalist, to report on such indecencies as what these two retailers do what seems almost daily, certainly every season (um, Steve Madden - Dior gladiators much? too bad SM was a season late on that nab). Today, Fashionista reported Steve Madden taking the YSL tribute sandal - yes, the tribute sandal - and tweaked it a little in order to produce a shinier, cheaper (looking and priced) version. The real YSL is on the left and the knock-off Steve Madden is on the right, but I doubt I needed to point that out.


I do hope that I'm not the only one offended. Trends are meant to be followed, but specific designs are not meant to be knocked-off in this manner. This belongs in Chinatown, not Macy's.