Meet the Leg Breaker, Her Highness Armadillo!

Imagine a world submerged in water, and man in the process of devolving into fish again! At least that's what McQueen wanted us to conjure during his Spring 2010 show. Maybe in a watery world a one foot tall heel might help humans wade above water till the "devolution" into sea creatures is complete! Yet as things stand today are these Armadillos, the giant sisters of stilettos an absolute necessity or a gross fashion crime?

First it was the issue of the reed thin models getting thinner every year and now with shoes like these with each passing year they seem to be getting taller as well! Seriously, is a 6 foot tall model wearing a one foot tall heel and weighing 95 lbs the new definition of beauty? Or is it just that McQueen is tired of fighting his legal battles with Steve Madden and hence created something that is copy proof?

What is the limit for this "thin as a reed and tall as a tree" obsession? Is it time to set some standards for maximum permissible heel height as well?

To muse, baring the affordability factor would you do the Armadillos? If so, why? And designers please DON'T KILL THE MODELS with your perverted ideas of fashion!

Image Source:www.vogue.co.uk

Victor & Rolf's influence on designers...

(Left to Right) - Victor & Rolf Spring 2009 Ready-ToWear, Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 Pre-collection,Valentino Fall 2009 Haute Couture,Victor & Rolf Spring 2009 Ready-To-Wear

However much one might argue about the cut and construction of a dress its final redemption lies in its recall factor, after gazing at zillions of clothes on the runway, if one can still nail a dress by its designer off the runway, then I guess the designer has done his job well, maybe thats the reason why identifying which designer's creation a celebrity is wearing is more often a child's play! Most of the high end designers have something unique in each of their collections which gets imprinted in one's memory so much so that however differently a dress might be accessorised and worn it still stands out testifying its creator's work!

Now before I dither off further you might be wondering whats the point of all this rambling! Well I'm just recounting my experience with regard to Victor & Rolf's Spring 2009 Ready-To-Wear collection. Though the collection was slim with just 21 looks still the paucity in variety was compensated in more ways than one by the futuristic designs comprising the collection namely the Swarovski crystal-banded dresses accented with candy-striped rills of organza, and geometric patterned black and white tights. Seems like the collection has impressed not just me but the designer fraternity in general to such an extent that I could find simpler versions of the mentioned dresses in Valentino's Fall 2009 Haute Couture and Alexander McQueen's Spring 2010 Pre-Collection!

Now the question is, am I too impressed by Victor & Rolf to conjure a nonexistent connection or do you also feel the influence of Victor & Rolf in Valentino's and McQueen's collections?

Image Source:www.catwalking.com www.alexandermcqueen.com

A Night Out...

This spring had been a tough one for you, not only at work trying to keep your job but also on the personal front, frantically despairing to lose all the winter weight gained by indifferently giving in to plum puddings, roasted turkeys and endless bottles of wine.And after the New Year party, you were, all tired, depressed, bloated and heavier by 15 pounds.You stepped on the weighing scale innumerable times, just hoping that the scales might be a bit too hard on you, but the truth was out there, the time to pay for the gluttonous sins committed during the holiday week of Christmas and New Year.You thought of all the new clothes that lay unworn, and that by now are a cool three sizes too small from you, tears well up in your eyes but after momentarily giving in to melancholy, you rebound with determination to melt those extra pounds before the sun got brighter and people basked by the sea, letting the salty air play their hair, in a season called summer.

You gave up on junk, meticulously shopped fresh fruits and vegetables every single day on your way back from work, cooked your own food, counted calories and every morning ran by the Seine river with a regularity that could be likened to the rising of the sun, and now three months later you pride yourself not only for the lost pounds but also for your determination in achieving what you wanted to, you feel you can surmount any obstacle, conquer any mountain, oh what it feels to be light as a feather and fit as a fiddle!!And just when you couldn't wait any longer to show off your toned body, in drops an invite from your friend for an evening of fun at the newly opened club.What better excuse have you got to flash those leggings which now accentuate your lean long legs?

As opposed to the usual LBD that would be spotted on you on such occasions, you decide to blend in a little white into the black that you normally wear at night!! While not exactly a conservative when it comes to dressing, you still feel a bit shaky about those "x-ray" print leggings and decide to show just a tad bit of it by covering it with a long monochrome tunic on top and black over-the-knee boots at the bottom.You neutralise your monochrome clothes by blacking out on accessories, for you still want black to be the dominant color of the evening.Finally you up your funkiness quotient by wearing a hexagonal cuff watch in black and finish the look with a black clutch embellished with golden grommets, and do I need to say which way heads turn when you walk down the street!! Did I hear someone whistle "Downtown Girl"??

P.S:Just a small note of caution - the leggings shown above work best on tall girls with slender thighs, as the vertical plane of the thigh is cut horizontally where the boots meet the thighs owing to the boots being in a much darker color than the leggings, creating an illusion of a shorter, stumpier thigh, to avoid that substitute the skeleton print leggings with black leggings to create an illusion of long endless legs.

Mad about the look? Emulate it as follows:

1.Stella McCartney Lizard-print silk dress

2.Alexander McQueen Skeleton-print Lycra leggings

3.Stella McCartney Over-the-knee boots

4.Marc by Marc Jacobs Hexagonal cuff watch

5.Stella McCartney Patent rivet-detail clutch

Image Source:www.net-a-porter.com

Fringes, John Galliano or Alexander McQueen ?

Left:Alexander McQueen Spring 2009 Ready-To-Wear

Right:John Galliano Fall 2009 Ready-To-Wear

So whats your take? I'm too partial to John Galliano to make my choice but both the dresses are very pretty.While you have to wait for some more months for Galliano's fringed dress to hit the stores, if you are really besotted by fringes and have to do it NOW, then go the McQueen way.There is as much drama happening at the back as there is on the front in this Ombré fringed dress of McQueen's.Wondering what I'm saying? See for yourself...

Alexander McQueen Ombré fringed dress

Image Source:www.style.com www.coutorture.com www.net-a-porter.com

Spring Trends 2009 : Go Nude

Spring usually evokes thoughts of bright colors, of lime green, fuchsia, orange and canary yellow.While all these colors are definitely welcome, given the overload of grays and blacks done during Fall, this spring it is worth tucking in some neutral shades in between the brights, for not only do they break the pattern of your dressing, but also avoid you being labelled as "Miss Flash Light", and remember the more extensive your color palette, the broader are your options of mix and match.

One common concern regarding the color is of doing it without looking pale and washed out.Another most used to perception is, think nude, think formals, most cannot think beyond the nude trousers.The beauty of the color is that it can be worked in many different ways, right from a canvas for embellishments(they make them stand out making you the shimmering queen of the evening), to creating contrasting looks with colors like black, violet to just plain nude with interesting details worked in, the options are truly endless.

The important trick in working nude is to subtly contrast the look with your skin tone.If you choose to do nude in a shade close to your skin color, contrast it with black or go in for shimmer or embellishments as they make the look stand out.In case of doing plain vanilla nude, choose a shade at least two shades lighter than your skin tone, and make sure the dress has some detailing in the form of frills, origami folds, ruffles or layering.Still left wondering how to get your nude look right? Learn from the runways of Spring 2009 Ready-To-Wear, to play with nude in more ways than one!!

On my way back from the crafts class.

Spot me!!

I'm a girl of sharp contrasts.

I gotta go swimming after the party.

I'm the definition of power dressing.

I'm the centre of the universe.

I'm all tied to myself.

Did I just step out of your dream?

Image Source:www.style.com

Bull / Bear

No, no, no I'm not talking about stock markets, share prices or even about the fashion industry's future in the current economic climate, I guess that's best left to nerds who call themselves economists or whatever.Fall 2009 Ready-To-Wear show witnessed two designers almost at the opposite ends of the spectrum, while Agatha Ruiz de la Prada's show was all cheery and bright radiating optimism, Alexander McQueen's was gloomy, dark, vampired and pessimistic. Whose side do you take?

Golden Delights...

With dark times surrounding us, a little sparkle can go a long way in eradicating the "down-in-the-dumps" mood, maybe that's the reason why we have seen a lot of "gold" on the runway during the spring and fall fashion shows.Do you need more reasons to wake up at six in the morning, rush through all your chores, and head for work?

Go ahead and add these sparklers to your closet.

1.ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Gold Feather Pendant

2.ALEX MONROE Fern Leaf Earrings

3. KENNETH JAY LANE Crystal Chunky Cuff

4.MIU MIU Swarovski Platform Sandals

Image Source:www.net-a-porter.com

Peek into the Fashion Closet

While the short dresses still have to wait their turn, whats more dreamy than conjuring up a vision of slipping into this fantasy on one of those much awaited and planned out all girlie gossip-over-lunch affair on a bright summer day?

Heart it? Go ahead and get the look.

1.Alexander McQueen Sleeveless fitted dress

2.Alexander McQueen Neon panel clutch

3.Alexander McQueen Patent platform pumps

Image Source:www.net-a-porter.com

Spring Trends 2009 : Animal Instincts and Butterfly Effect

What do you do during tough times? Bring out the animal instinct in you, the instinct to surpass all odds and triumph all privations.Perhaps, thats the message these designers wanted to send across this spring.As for the butterfly, we all know that a flutter of its tiny wings can either accelerate, delay or even prevent a tornado.Be tough as an animal and "strong" as a butterfly to sail through this "economic tornado" that we are currently in.

I'm all ready for the peacock dance.

Beware of the lion queen.

I'm going to hum a song.

I sure feel like a fish out of water.

I'm a beetle fan.

Dare to fight me?

Meet the monarch.

I'm the kiss of death.

I never let go.

Its not just the butterflies that find me sweet.

Catch me if you can.

I'm mobbed.

Climbing to the top, isn't as easy as it seems.

I don't do cat fights.

Image Source:www.style.com

Patriot's Day Out

Left:A girl attending Spring 2009 Ready-To-Wear Fashion Show in London

Right:Catherine Malindrino during her Spring 2009 Ready-To-Wear Fashion Show

Ever heard of "wearing your heart on your sleeve"?

Alexander McQueen Union Jack Ankle Boots

Image Source:www.style.com www.net-a-porter.com