Beauty

You know, fashion changes so much, this is after all what makes the industry and the art so very interesting. At least for me anyway! We have already taken a look at the most important aspects of the fashion for last year – fashion and beauty trends from 2007. And they were all lovely! But what happened in the business?! Believe it or not, designers come and designers go, but they all cater to the masses and when one house changes creators for another, it’s big news. This year the industry saw a LOT of changes, and a lot of revolutionary outcomes as a result. The runway down the Great Wall of China is the kind of thing I am talking about. Now THAT took some serious artistic genius, and THAT is what I love about fashion. So what was big, who was big, who wasn’t, and how is this going to affect us this year? Let’s have a look at the first five (in no specific order)…..

The designers worked for the MASSES this year! And I just loved it. Who wouldn’t? Pick up a dress by Proenza Schouler at Target, and you can STILL tell people you are wearing Proenza Schouler. Noone needs to know the difference, right? Yes, many big names really worked for the people this year and the fine (but sadly, oh so very *not straight*) boys of P.S. fed their hungry fans pieces going for $39.99 for the Go Target brand. And these also caused quite the frenzy overseas at Colette. Kate Moss followed suit with the Topshop line and Vera Wang did the same for Kohl’s. In fact, you can no longer purchase Vera at Kohls as the line is completely sold out. You snooze you lose! The big winner here for the masses was Roberto Cavalli. His fans lined up outside H & M for 24 hours just to snag some of his mass marketed pieces.

I know, you all just love to hate her, but I have to mention her, I just HAVE to. Mrs. Becks, Victoria Beckham, or Posh, call her what you will (I am sure many of you have your own names). Busy girl! No wonder she doesn’t have time to eat! Yes, she made waves in the industry this year as well. Why? She authored That Extra Half an Inch, a book we have featured here. She also established herself as the designer of dVb (denim by Victoria Beckham), she’s married to the cutest man from Europe…what else what else…well, there is the whole Spice Girl reunion thing as well. Catch her on the cover of ELLE this year, and this spring, yes, she will be the new face of Marc Jacobs. Man, I don’t really like this girl, but MAN I’d really like her LIFE!

This year was Henry Holland’s Opus as well. Apparently you weren’t anybody in the industry unless you became immortalized on one of his T-shirts. What, it just takes a cheeky saying and some cotton to go big? I could so do that….He was better known for slogans such as “Do Me Daily, Christopher Bailey”, “Wham Bam Thank you Stam”, and “Flick your Bean for Agyness Deyn”. Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters went crazy knocking these babies off and they just FLEW off the shelves. The most famous one? Holland’s own opus he wore at the show for his Fall 2007 collection: “One Trick Pony”. Wow. WAY too much information.

Happy Anniversary! This year hallmarked some big milestones for some of our faves. Valentino celebrated his 45th year in the biz at his teensy little chalet in Rome. The affair hosted 500 VIPs and ran for 3 days. Someone remind me NOT to throw out the Valentino card next year! John Galliano for Christian Dior celebrated his 60th and of course in the industry, it is all about out-doing the last designer so he swept Valentino’s soiree to pieces by hosting a sunset party at Versailles. His runway show for the party included supermodels Gisele, Shalom, and Linda and included an orchestra, gospel choir, and well, he could not forget the flamenco dancers. (well, that would just be rude). Ralph Lauren was another classic that celebrated an anniversary, and this was his 40th year in the design biz. No flamenco dancers for Ralph, his was definitely a much more downscaled affair to remember, and was quintessential Ralph Lauren. Classic, elegant, and gorgeous. His was held in New York Fall Fashion Week for the spring collections, and came in the form of a candlelit gala at the Conservatory. The party was as much Ralph as anything could be — manicured gardens, champagne, and timeless elegance as only Ralph can do. Yes, Happy Anniversary and wishes for many many more for ALL of these design gods.

Saving my favorite for the last today!! WHEEEE!!! Believe it or not SHOES actually made statements this year, when Saks Fifth Avenue opened their own store exclusively for shoes. But no no no girls, this was not just any shoe store. You may call it, Shoe Temple. Yes, if my time comes before this exquisite architectural foot shrine closes, please bury me underneath the Louboutins. This “store” is so big it has its own ZIP CODE. Yep, 10022-SHOE. And I am not even joking. It holds 10,000 square feet of space and is home to over 100 THOUSAND pairs of shoes. And yes, you will find plenty of Louboutin, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, Yves Saint Laurent, Giuseppe Zanotti, Givenchy, Prada, and Roger Vivier to name a few. I want to win a trip to New York just to see this store. And yes, I’d have to buy new shoes for it. Just so I could say, those are the shoes I wore in the Shoe Temple. And just for maybe just a day, I would look, not touch, and just be the happiest girl in the world. Ok, y’all know I’m gonna hafta touch at least one pair…but thats IT. I simply must! And no, I’m not kidding when I say you must refer to this haven as the Shoe Temple.

Photos: Elle Magazine

Who says you can’t wear white after Labor Day? Well, you never heard that from ME and you certainly won’t hear that from style icon Sarah Jessica Parker. Here she is in a LWD, little white dress vis a vis Fendi. *sigh* Whether this girl is wearing a pair of $20 buck jeans from her own line or a fab Fendi piece, she is a knockout (and no, I don’t care who disagrees, NO horse face comments allowed here!). Add some Azzedine Alaia sandals to the look, and bam, you got yourself a style girlfriend! Sorry girls, I can not find a look-alike neckalace anywhere, but for the record? It is REALLY cool!

Like this look? Well, not exactly Old Navy prices, but I did find some sales for you with designer tags on ‘em….Take it!

From Chloe, a label that my fave Stella has been known to work with, we have this pretty little Chloe Balloon sleeve beach dress. This pretty number is crisp and clean and features cute little white cotton puff sleeve with scoop neck and scalloped trim.

Pair it with these sandals from Aerosoles. You can’t go wrong with a label like that. This is sophistication and comfort all in one. The T-Strap is super sexy and the leather is just gorgeous. But that does not give justice to the piece de resistance, the extra cushioned sole patented by Aerosoles.

So pretty isn’t it? And just think how great you will look this spring if you win this bag and tote around all of your essentials. Whenever something fun pops in my mailbox, I want you all to be the first to know. Only at ELLE Magazine can you enter to win this Chloe Maya bag. Entries are being accepted until January 15th 2008 and you are permitted to enter one entry daily. Enter now, and enter HERE!!

Today we are going to have our last look at Nina Garcia’s The Little Black Book of Style. Not that I have saved the best for last, but the topic of bags deserves its own post. What does Nina have to say about bags?

“The bag, like the shoe is a great place to have fun and play with colors, textures, and shapes. But, as with the shoe, you should have at least one classic bag (okay, make that three) that will go with you anywhere. 1.) A tote or shoulder bag for daytime and for carrying around almost anything. If it fits a pair of shoes, even better; 2.) A clutch: for nighttime and for just the opposite – carrying almost nothing – lipstick, i.d. credit card, powder, and perhaps a perfume roll-on; 3.) An in-between bag that is medium sized and has a chain link strap for those in between days, perfect for day or night.”

Let’s start with the basic, the classic tote. My personal recommend here is that you go with one that will last you from season to season. Spend the money on a leather tote that will match with ANYTHING. This, I guarantee, WILL BE your favorite bag. When you are buying your staple tote, get one with straps that will go over your shoulder. Totes are typically used during the day time when you have a million other things in your hand – lunch, cell phone, child, what have you. As pretty as the short handles are, they are not practical. You want a good practical bag that looks great and fits everything. The tote is great just because of all that it stands for in its name – tote. This bag is your go anywhere with anything bag and yet you can look stylish at the same time you are lugging around all your schtuff. For me it’s the one pictured here by Chloe, the Chloe Square Silverado tote. Picture this with some of our other bones – jeans, white shirt, trench, and ballets. See how everything starts to come together? Yes, you can take this with your business suit, with you errand running on Saturday, or on the subway it will fit your newspaper and everything else beautifully. And yes. An extra pair of shoes works well in this.

The clutch is ever so timeless and designers are getting very creative these days. The clutch requires nothing more than the above mentioned items but I am going to add cell phone to the list. You just never know when that first slash blind date is going to crop up, and for emergency only the cell phone is a must. But there are no clutches too small to hold a cell phone. If I am going to recommend what you want in a clutch, and you know I will, you want something in black, preferably patent. Why? If you only buy ONE clutch, the black patent will take you anywhere your evening wants you to go. I invested in one 7 years ago and it has never failed me since. I have since picked up a couple extras just for fun or they caught my eye, but my most used clutch is my loyal and faithful black patent. Never out of style. This one also works ladies with the bones – Capital L. Capital B. Capital D. Little Black Dress. On a night out this works also with your jeans and white shirt and black patent heels. And the trench? Of course! Here’s another piece by Chloe that you can’t go wrong with, the Chloe Elvire patent clutch bag. Very pretty closure details and a sleek modern look that will never go out of style in this black patent piece.

Ok, I was going to go with another black piece for the medium sized bag just because black is such a versatile choice for a handbag be it big or small. However let’s stick with Chloe for this selection as well just because their selection is irresistibly versatile. I love this Chloe Alice medium embellished bag for your medium sized bag as you can fit slightly more than a clutch and slightly less than a tote. AND with all of these neutrals going on just think how easy this will go with everything. And yes, it features the chain link strap that Nina recommends so take it from day to night very easily.

That’s it for Nina, if you want more goods from her you will have to buy the book. I will say, it is worth the $10 from Amazon, she has been in the business for a very long time, and when it comes to being an expert, she’s got that one hands down. Let’s look at some last of her pearls of wisdom:

Any of these items can be found at crazy, phenomenal prices or at crazy affordable prices. The cost does not matter here. What matters is that you buy them as classic as possible. This is not where the drama is going to come from, this is your white canvas. The drama is next.