Cathetine Malandrino… sighhhhh!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Catherine Malandrino’s clothes.I first heard of her when Blair Waldorf wore the marroon dress in Gossip Girl, and I checked out CM’s website for gorgeous clothes.

I chanced upon the store in Meat market, and fell in love with absolutely everything. This is what you call design and fashion. Gorgeous use of pleats, fabrics, and vision. While I loved everything, I found three to be very interesting. I had seen them online but these clothes you have to see in person and touch and feel the fabrics to get complete pleasure of fashion. The first one is of using hands on her dresses. The hands feature on the shoulder and one side of the waist. In one case it looks as if someone is grabbing the breast, but it is done so tastefully that it comes across as more elegant than sleazy. The second is of an eagle. The eagle’s wings are across both shoulders that meet just above the waist and join to form the head, which extends to the waist. The eagle was used on another dress where the wings formed the sides of each waist and met majestically at the back of the waist. The third was of a face… the face was on the side of one waist with pleats coming out of the lips. I had the vision of water springing out of the lips and going in all directions which is where the pleats went.

The clothing had really experimented with ruffles and pleats, forming ringlets, rossettes, and ruffles in all areas of the dress. A lot of sheer fabric was also used as a top layer. I thought DVF dresses were good, but CM is MUCH MUCH better than DVF. This is what you call design, unlike DVF where the prints and fit do the job which has more to do with use of fabrics rather than design. Unfortunately most of CM’s clothing were sizes 2 and 4, which I could NEVER fit ever. Damn. I am sure she has more sizes online, probably just not in stores. I will go back to the store again, just to relive the fun and pleasure I had in just seeing the gorgeous designs come to life.

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Theory

Theory is a clothing (men & women), handbags, and shoes brand sold through department stores and its own stores. The brand is VERY pricey. Its USP is that its clothing is made of a lycra-like material that makes it stretchy and comfortable; the clothes last quite long. I wonder, will customers pay $150-$200 for clothing that is so basic when they can get something cheaper? Will the brand last in this economy? Its collection in Bloomingdale’s was better than the one in their store in Meat market. Good collection, I have eyed their clothing for a while but never purchased any. Most people buy the brand on sale. Its parent compeny is a Japanese company. I do wonder about its being a healthy going concern. If I had $300 to spend, I would spend it on  Caltherine Malandrino dress… also, Theory’s collection features suiting and wear to work, meaning people don’t buy it as frequently. However, I have heard that the brand has a cult-following, and I so did like their denim pants in Bloomies. I have not seen that color used often. I also liked their ruffle plaid dress which had a sheer black overlay and looked cute.

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Herve Ledger, a trend-setter

Herve Ledger is hands down my favorite designer. I love his bandage dresses. He is extremely creative in adding different elements of color and style to make his dresses all look different. Gilt had them on sale, $2,ooo pieces for $400-$500. Not surprisingly, within a day they were all sold out. They were such gorgeous pieces and such a pleasure to look at, every one of them. I looked at all of them very closely. You have to have a to-die-for hourglass figure to carry his clothes off. They are very fitted. Blair Waldorf wore one on Gossip Girl with a cardigan and looked gorgeous. Bloomingdale’s does not have the gorgeous ones that were on sale on Gilt. Anyway, enough of my blogging. I have to go check out appliances and my patient husband is waiting in the next room. Hee.

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Jumpsuits everywhere

Remember when I blogged about jumpsuits? Now this overgrown toddler trend is everywhere! Who brought this trend back? Models don’t look as bad, and neither did my co-worker who wore one today, but I am not changing my mind about this. Why oh why would you want to wear one of these? What if you wanted to pee – so uncomfortable. And what about the odds and ends of the body – they would show while walking and sitting. FYI if Gwyneth Paltrow, skinny as she is can’t carry it, nobody can.

I came across an article on jumpsuits that made me have to talk about them again. The YSL one looks dowdy and dull. Stella McCartney’s take makes the model look broad at the top and skinny at the bottom – not flattering at all. Where does the jacket end and pant begin? Zero + Maria is okay, but so shapeless down from the waist. Issa is not bad, but imagine the gathering of the flowing fabric around the thighs giving it an unflattering look. Maje looks skinny skinny skinny… Helmut Lang is also shapeless right at the start of the hips. Spiegel is actually not bad, while Target is so old fashioned and 80’s that the fad is best left dead. New York & Company, well, I am not going to say anything bad about my company… if you have to buy a jumpsuit buy it from my company. Seriously, you won’t regret it because the prices are so low that they accommodate all fashion mistakes that one is likely to make during the fadshion phase in one’s life. At least you will make fashion mistakes on a budget 🙂

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Christian Louboutin rated by Yelp

Yelp lists Christian Louboutin as a best shopping stop in New York. After reading reviews I realized that CL’s trademark is the red sole. I checked out the collection on Neiman Marcus, and the heels are gorgeous. However, they do not justify the price tag. Do shoes with red soles justify the hefty price tag? Really? Maybe I need to check the store out – it is on my to-do lists. I have to see it now, what with the reviews raving about it. The red soles seem “sex-kitten”-like; maybe that is why people like them! I have seen Hollywood walk in CL on the red carpet, so either it is truly special or another over-rated and over-priced product. Seriously, what is the mark-up on this?

The brand also has wedges. If the USP of the brand is red soles, why would someone want to pay so much for a wedge from CL? Who would be able to see the red sole? I have to check this store out.

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Valentino

I love Valentino, but never had a chance to look at it closely. I walk by upscale stores such as Chanel, Prada, etc., but never have the courage to walk into them. See I don’t want to be snubbed by the salespeople there. Obviously I think its a waste of money to spend on these brands, but one can look, can’t one?

I had a chance to look closely at Valentino designs on Gilt. I love his designs. What a wonderful way to use roses on clothes! The last time I remember Angela tried to use them on Project Runway and she came across as tacky, and her “designs” were terrible. Clearly pulling roses off is a difficult feat.

I love anything with vertical pleats, especially in a dress.

In general, I like jackets with asymmetrical closure in the front. But asymmetrical tops can go either way.

I love the top below, with the detail and rosette. So chic!

I love love love the top and skirt below. I absolutely adore pleated skirts like the one below, and ruffle tops. And the pink one has awesome details and rose ruffles using romantic soft sheer material.

The jacket below is so breathtaking, especially when paired with the pink top and black skirt above. So priceless!

I either love tweed or hate it. The dress below is really cute.

I like the white skirt below, but the pleating in the front joining the frills is weird and not wearable. What if it stretches a bit and comes off? I would prefer it without the stitch holding the pleats in the middle.

Valentino Red is probably the cheaper version of Valentino. It has cute pieces, but not with as much detailing as Valentino. I love the top below with romantic sheer ruffles. I like sheer chiffon in general, my only concern is that it tears easily and would be an ironing nightmare.

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Oscar 2009

Overall a very disappointing red carpet at the Oscars. Red color, statement jewelry, and one shoulder dresses were the trend.

A (wo)man (Robin Roberts) is presenting with dear Tim Gunn. Robin looks so much better with longer hair.

Love love love the Slumdog kids – adorable

Poor Jessica Biel – her laundry was hanging from her boobs, have to still catch her (non) shoes. And what is with her hair?

Kate Winslet – love love her earrings, like the combination of black and grey, but am still undecided on her overall dress.

Vanessa Hudgens walked through a garden hence the spring flowers on her bosom

Like Miley Cyrus’ dress – makes her look tall, HATE her harsh voice.

Super skinny Anne Hathaway’s fish-scales Armani gown is uber-gorgeous, but her bones are sticking out from it which totally ruins the dress

Love love love Marisa Tomei and her ravishing dress with structural pleats… sigh! I love pleats and drapes, and structural elements in clothes.

Beyonce wore her couch – did her mom design this too?

Like Tina Fey’s dress. What’s up with her left eye though, the one hidden by her side bangs?

Amanda Seyfried came wrapped as a present.

SJP is the ugly Cinderella.

OMG! Who let this animal out?

Freida Pinto disappoints again.

Gorgeous Halle Berry, love her gown by Marchesa.

Reese looks so matronly.

Natalie Portman needs to eat.

Heidi Klum wore one too many bracelets.

Penelope Cruz won Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Christina Barcelona. Her speech was awesome and from the heart. Very sweet.
Anthony won for cinematography for Slumdog. His hair was such a mess. Looks like someone woke him up from his nap and he came as he was – he wore sneakers.

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The jumpsuit – fashion fad or folly

I hate jumpsuits – they look dowdy and ugly, and are impractical. If at all, they would work well only as shorts, not pants or capris. They look like high-waisted mommy jeans and you have to have a very flat stomach to make them work. When you sit, they tend to balloon up in the front. I really don’t know why someone would want to wear a jumpsuit.

Embarrassingly enough, I did have 3 in my closet. When I look back, I realize that I made a few fashion mistakes, and this was one of them. I had one in black with white vertical lines, one in hot pink, and one in light brown shorts. I would never be seen dead in them today! Such fashion disasters. Good thing I wore them at home, or paired them with a jacket. Nobody should wear jumpsuits ever, except for toddlers. Nothing can make it fashion-forward – no belts, handbags, shoes, accessories, nothing. They should be purged for good.

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Jill Stuart

I have heard of Jill Stuart, but came across the designs for the first time on Gilt. They feature drapery and pleats, and I cannot figure out what the essence is. What does the designer stand for? Not much innovation in designs. I like how the dresses flow though. Frills, pleats, and ruffles have been done to death in Spring & Summer 2008. I hope we continue to see pleats; I really like pleated tops and skirts – so classic!

The dress below is weird looking with ruffles all over, not sure how it would look on “real people”. Love the shoes though.

The ruffles of this top remind me of crocodile skin. On close-up the ruffles/pleats are done well, but overall crocodile/alligator-like. But the shoes are charming.

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More sales from Gilt Groupe

I love Gilt Groupe and their sales. My second fav is Rue La La. I don’t like The Top Secret because their site is blah. Gilt is truly high fashion, Rue La La has stuff that you can actually buy because it is easier on the wallet. I wanted to post Alexander McQueen pictures but the sale has ended at Gilt – sob. I love the dark beauty in his clothes, reminds me of old country Wuthering Heights-type of darkness. And I love the subtle structural elements in his skirts.

I came across Josie Natori lingerie. Gorgeous lace camisoles! I love the sexy romantic look of lace in any form.

Now for some rants. The Ports 1961 blouse below is dull and boring, and costs retail $785, sale $218. All the clothes by Ports are dull and boring and ridiculously overpriced. Who buys them? A better (much) cheaper is available on our site.

I hate high-rise pants – they remind me of mommy-jeans. They make a person look much older. Everyone has a version of sailor high-rise – who brought back this style? If a toothpick model cannot look good in them, nobody can.

I like crinkle. It looks good in pictures and on models. But would you really wear the below dress? Doesn’t it look too crumpled, and not in a making-a-fashion-statement-way?

The only dress I like from Ports is the one in white – its romantic and sweet, perfect for a date. But a common style.

Now for shoes. As Carrie Bradshaw said, “I will literally be the old woman who lived in her Choos”! I was reading in Internet Retailer that women spend the most on Handbags (3 times that of clothes), and then on shoes. Wow! No wonder handbags are so expensive. Shoes you can get at big sale prices, not handbags. I love the wedge below from Pour La Victoire. Lovely! And the bootie, and 3 oxfords in snake skin, white, and marroon. I love everything marroon… looks so sophisticated and rich. And I have a soft spot for booties and oxfords. So “tailored” and European. If only they were comfortable!

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