A very fashionable holiday.

Givenchy

The holidays are fast approaching and I was asked about buying a gift for a fashionable person. Like most people we know someone fashionable and amazing with great style and a lot of whimsy! Sometimes it can be difficult buying a gift for them. But have no fear because it's actually really easy! You find the most success in rarity. You can go buy someone something fabulous and expensive but if it's easily attainable it's not as special. If you can get something rare it doesn't even have to be expensive that's what makes a great gift! For example you could buy an easy to get Louis Vuitton bag, not very exciting, and it will be a nice gift. Getting something as rare as like an alligator backpack from 'The Row' would blow them away. That doesn't mean anything you get them has to be rare. It's the thought that counts (kind of)! So pay attention if your best friend has been lusting over something every time you go to the mall with them buy them that! Just hope nobody else buys it for them also. A few great pieces would be the Givenchy barking dog shirt or scarf which ever you like. It is the must have T-shirt. It goes along with the idea something rare can be extra special. One of the best gifts you can give even if they already have one is a Alexander McQueen scarf. The McQueen skull has always been a huge hit. It is relatively obtainable but they are just so great nobody would be displeased with one. 

 

-Austin

Versace for H&M

About 3pm Yesterday I started seeing tweets about people lining up for their pick at the collection. I think the collection is great but I don't think it is worth spending the night in the cold streets of NYC. Then the people that are reselling stuff they just bought...
I read that someone bought a leather jacket for a hundred and fifty dollars then turned right around and sold it for eight hundred. That is not okay. I agreed with Tom Ford when he said he Didn't like to see people wearing something exactly the same as he had it on the runway. Now I'm sure some people are just a little over excited that there is finally something Versace that is more affordable. Moderation is key.
I'm not saying you shouldn't buy the collection. Because you totally should it's fantastic! Just don't go crazy. I ordered the silver tank top, leopard green shirt, black and white shirt and the black shorts which are amazing! I'm really excited because some of it is very summery and fun which I love!
If I were going to wear any of it I would go with the leopard shirt, short shorts and a nice cute pair of gladiator sandals. That is going to be just about all I wear in Italy next summer. I am just a little bit disappointed that there aren't any gladiator sandals like the ones from the Versace SS 2012 collection. I haven't been able to find them anywhere so my chances are still pretty slim seeing as they are still only available in one collection.


-Austin

Arm Party! (The Man Repeller)

Leandra Medine is a fabulous blogger who coined the term "Arm party" I have always thought that wearing things wrist accessories could make or break you outfit and it does! Some people can do it amazingly well. Leandra is one of those people. I have never really worn anything on my own wrist other than multicolored friendship bracelets. Their is one bracelet I have wanted for years. The Collier de chien homme by Hermès! I just find it amazing. One day I'll buy the 18 karat gold version that cost 69,000 dollars. Even though it is made of gold the leather and silver one is just as cute! What are you suppose to do in the presence of a bracelet that cost more than most cars? But back to what I was trying to stay before I went on a tangent thru my fairyland. You can look good with bracelets or really bad... Accessories are important. You can (but should never) walk out in public with a Chanel bag and animal bracelets... Never. Things that don't mix: Couture and plastic/rubber.  This next piece by Hermès is on my personal must have list! I love it! My favorite colors are Hermès orange and yellow! So naturally I would love this. The first time I saw this on a man (it's made for women) was in a picture where he had it on one hand another type of bracelet on the other have and a Hermès belt on. Personally I would never wear a 'H' logo on my wrist and waist. To me it screams try hard... If you can really put a great outfit together you shouldn't have to rely on a designer for more than one piece. If you can't shell out anywhere from 500 dollars to 69,000 dollars on bracelets start small. Ralph Lauren has some great leather bracelet that are surprisingly cheap  some of them start at like 49 dollars! They actually have one I want.. It's a leather quad wrap bracelet and it's amazing.


http://www.manrepeller.com/ - Leandras' fabulous blog!

-Austin

Paco Rabanne.

I didn't even watch the Spring/Summer 2012 show until today but when I did I loved it! The whole time I was sitting watching it I was in love with the silvers and blue colors! The 2012 summer show looks like Alexander McQueen, Chanel and Giuseppe Zanotti had a fabulous baby and gave it to Manish Arora! I love studs! As long as they are used in moderation. Then you had the very closely put together almost pin like pieces. It looked like pieces of Raw crystals it was fantastic! However I did not enjoy the over whelming metal pieces. I thought they were a bit much. I respect them as a piece of art but they are so non functioning nobody would ever wear them.
Clearly there is McQueen inspiration here what's so great about it is how well it was carried out! People don't just go out and try to recreate something Alexander McQueen created... They can't. Usually. This piece just exemplifies how some people can get it right!
I love this dress because it is a more bold version of the simple Chanel dress.
Obviously I love the way Chanel does it but sometimes you want to wear a shimmering metallic dress! Adding some complexity, even if it's one outfit, makes you a bit more interesting. Especially if you don't go all out and crazy all the time. The dress on the left is a fantastic representation of my idea of adding a layer of originality and difference! I don't know what all that blue stuff is but I love it! I honestly think it's just something to make a simple dress pop and look amazing.. It does a really good job. If you went to a party in that I'm sure you would be the only one looking that amazing. Now on to the shoes. Normally I don't like shoes that seem to much like another designers shoe. I feel as if there was a bit to much use of inspiration. This collection of shoes did have some resemblance but they look better than just being copied and adding some minor detail and calling it your own. I thought the shoes from this show were fabulous! The whole collection was very robotic and metallic but the shoes were just great! I enjoy mechanical looking shoes. Who wouldn't want a pair of shinny silver snake skin heels like these? I also like the platform on most of them. There is texture with the bumps and spikes. You can see the resemblance to Zanotti but looking at the shoe you know it is Paco Rabanne.







-Austin

Fall and winter Fragrances!

  Pull out the cashmere scarves and your favorite trench coat. Cold weather is here and ready to play.

It's has been a very strange transition from summer to fall for me. I don't live where it becomes fall and then it's cold every day until April. Here it can be 30 one day and 75 the next. The weather might change but your fragrance for the season should not! Once again I have picked the best fragrances for this season. First the Gucci Pour Homme. I love this one because it is the regular version of my spring and summer time favorite the pour homme sport. Never wear summer fragrances in the winter. It should not be twenty degrees outside and you smell like a basket of fruit. That goes for everyone! Gucci almost always has really great fragrances and that makes it a bit easier to transition from one season to the next.

   Winter was made for Burberry. You can't really go wrong with it. London is a really good all season fragrance or you can switch it up later with the Burberry Brit it's more of a late winter and very early spring fragrance. Brit would be great to wear to a New Years eve party! 
Most of the Burberry would be good for winter just don't wear Burberry 'summer' when it isn't summer.
Bleu de Chanel. When ever I find something really specially and amazing in the fashion world I want to hold on for dear life. This is one of those things. Until something new, bigger and better comes out I will smell like two    things the whole year Gucci sport in the spring and summer. Bleu de Chanel in the fall and winter. There is something about it that just electrifies me. If you don't have it you need it and if you haven't tried it you should! Stop reading this and go buy it...

  For women it's a bit different. Women should wear something floral NOT gross candy sweet. I don't really like that anyway but that's a summer thing... I fully support any woman who wants to wear Chanel 'Eau Fraiche' all year. I think it is one of the greatest fragrances ever. If you're going to wear it in the winter make sure it's very light. Gucci and Burberry are also very good choices for the winter. Gucci guilty is great for women. My favorite Burberry women's Brit Eau de Parfum.





-Austin