Links a la Mode - this week`s 20 best blog posts voted by the Independent Fashion Bloggers

+ A La Modest: 7 Common Reactions to Style
+ Best of Bklyn: In Favor of Knickknacks – How to Personalize Your House Into A Home
+ Boheme Noir: The definitive IN/OUT list for Fall 2010 bags
+ Closet Confections: Fashion Bloggers Take On Product Placement: A Video Response
+ Cute and Little One: Product placement and blogger responsibility: a blogger’s role in influencing product advertising.
+ Daisy Dayz: Inspiring locally-designed headwear
+ Fashion Cents: 3 Tips to Consider for Open-Toe Boots/Shoes for Fall
+ Fête à Fête: YSL’s new Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks
+ Holier than Now: 11 Great Jewelry Sites You Might Not Know About
+ Hunting and Gathering: Why Classic Jewelry Never Goes out of Style
+ Independent Fashion Bloggers: Want to be a professional blogger?
+ Interrobangs Anonymous: On going grey in your twenties
+ Love Brown Sugar: Why Don’t You Love Me? A curvy girl’s ode to outfit posting on fashion communities
+ Miss Viki: AND_i captivating jewelry show coverage, with video
+ OK, Bowtie: Underneath: why everyone needs pretty underwear
+ One More: Does a bloggers dress size affect readership and is the blogging community becoming divided over it?
+ Ruby-Eyed Okapi: A Modest Approach to Halloween Costumes
+ Style Every Day: How to change that horrible mess of jewelry on your dresser to supreme organization
+ The Lingerie Addict: How to Buy Vintage Lingerie for the Perfect Pin-up Figure
+ Tickle Me Chic: Fashion-inspired Halloween Costumes
+ Vogue Mornings: Ten Tips for Achieving Work/Life Balance
Source

Retrospective: Style icon Marlene Dietrich & Dior`s D`Trick collection

MARLENE DIETRICH (1901 - 1992)

When Marlene Dietrich died at age 90, the headline of her New York Times obituary decreed her a "Symbol of Glamour."

"Dietrich artfully projected cool sophistication, self-mockery, and infinite experience," said the article. "Her sexuality was audacious, her wit was insolent and her manner was ageless. With a world-weary charm and a diaphanous gown showing off her celebrated legs, she was the quintessential cabaret entertainer of Weimar-era Germany."

Dietrich's infamous role as Lola-Lola in iconic German film The Blue Angel (1930) made her an international star. Yet she shed none of her risqué sexiness as she became a household name: rather, she brought it along with her, and helped pioneer Victor-Victoria chic, often donning tails and a top hat in her films and on stage.

"She has sex but no positive gender," critic Kenneth Tynan once wrote. "Her masculinity appeals to women and her sexuality to men."

Her height was Height was 5ft 6 and her measurements were 35-24-33.

"Glamour is what I sell, it's my stock in trade."

"I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men."

"Don't ever follow the latest trend, because in a short time you will look ridiculous, don't follow it blindly into every dark alley. Always remember that you are not a model or a manniquin for which the fashion is created."

"Elegance is rarely found today. Woman are not brought up to know about it and therefore lack even the desire to acquire it."



In his summer 2004 collection John Galliano revived her glamour in his Dior D`Trick collection, adding even more sex-appeal through chiffon & lingerie and more edge through leather & tattoos. The result was an luxurious, uber-glamorous collection that was loved by today`s style icons like Gwen Stefani, who wore complete D`trick looks in her "It`s my life" video.

Runway video


Sources: 1 2 3 4

Marlene may be gone but her heritage remains forever.
LONG LIVE GLAMOUR!

Retrospective: Givenchy Haute Couture S/S 09

Oh I love this graceful & feminine collection! The round shapes, the drapery, the shoulders, the powder colours and the sleek, beautiful hair. So dignified and elegant!

Links a la Mode - this week`s 20 best blog posts voted by the Independent Fashion Bloggers

+ 365 Fashion Rehab: Lessons from a (Reformed) Shopaholic: A beautiful handbag repaired (for free!). One more reason to buy quality over quantity.
+ Boheme Noir: The first ladies of Vogue – a closer look at the most important editors in chief.
+ Daisy Dayz: Friend Friday: How to learn from your mistakes and let your blog grow
+ Devilishly Pleasurable: Reflecting on the evolution of my blog and tips for better blogging!
+ Fish Monkey: The notion of flattering dressing is oppressive and unnecessary. Rather than conforming, why not chose a different shape?
+ Hazel Eye Personality: Who has what it takes to be the next big and game changing designer? It takes a lot of time, passion and sanity to make it in the fashion world.
+ Independent Fashion Bloggers: Work Smarter, Not Harder–3 Ways to Massively (and Permanently) Increase Your Traffic.
+ Miss Viki: “Love Me” and what is wrong with our beauty ideals, if anything?
+ No Guilt Fashion: I put on my game face and tried out my biggest fashion trend fear
+ Passionista Place: qvc, hsn…oh my! find out why home shopping networks have become a bit of an addiction for a modern passionista like me.
+ Seamstress Stories: Reflections on the role that mirrors play for our body image and self-perception.
+ Showcase Edge: Indie Fashion Goes Back to the future. A look at designers who hand-make clothing inspired by times of the past
+ Sidewalk Chalk: I’m a poser, baby: 7 steps for posing naturally in outfit photos
+ Stylish White Female: Transitioning from vegetarian to vegan: Some things are hard to give up. Fur is not.
+ Taxonomy of my Wardrobe: Shopping the Wardrobe. My version of this month’s Harper’s Bazaar Buy Now wear Forever list selected from my own wardrobe.
+ The Coveted: Three Way With a Long Chiffon Skirt
+ The Curvy Fashionista: Nordstrom reaches out to plus size fashion bloggers to collaborate on its newest plus size endeavor- Sejour
+ The Demoiselles: She is not a fashion blogger. She’s just a woman, sitting in her bathtub.
+ The Simply Luxurious Life: In a world that seems to be changing quicker than the seasons, what does it mean to be a lady?
+ The Wondergirl: retail-me-not: waxing poetic on two interesting happenings of late in the world of specialty retailing.
+ Vogue Mornings: How not to lose motivation when blogging, a few quick solutions to the problem many bloggers face.
Source

Burberry Winterstorms collection

Soft quilted leather biker jacket


Skinny studded check cashmere scarf




Double breasted textured leather trench coat (for him)








Large studded leather tote bag


Studded trench coat




Studded beat check hobo bag



The Burberry Winterstorms collection is now available in stores and on Burberry.com.

Karl Lagerfeld designs his own island

The un-news of the year:
Karl Lagerfeld designs is own island in Dubai

KARL LAGERFELD is helping to design his own island - the Isla Moda. The designer has teamed up with Miami-based architecture firm Oppenheim and the KOR hotel group to create the manmade island, situated 20km off the coast of Dubai.

The resort complex will comprise three luxury hotels, 150 residential villas and a host of chic boutiques. Inspired by the floating palaces of India and cruise ships, Karl's new venture will be the first ever fashion island.

The project will be completed by 2014.Source

Entire Dubai is a place filled with luxury hotels and luxury boutiques - what is Lagerfeld`s input supposed to be? He is selling his good name and "air of exclusivity" to a project without class, attracting people without class...this all sounds like "luxury without sense" to me...If I want to "experience fashion" I`ll go to Milan and Paris - both are filled with exclusive luxury boutiques and luxury hotels who have class AND HISTORY!

Such attempts to "quickly build luxury with money" (but without sense or history) disgust me beyond words! True luxury and class can only grow SLOWLY and naturally. Things need time to grow and become good. Luxury is only what prevails and finds it`s place in history (just think of Chanel`s part in fashion history!).

What do you think about Isla Moda? Any desire to go there? Do you think it`s possible to "quickly build luxury"?

The first ladies of Vogue

Anna Wintour

Personal style: Earlier in her career, she mixed fashionable T-shirts and vests with designer jeans. When she started at Vogue as creative director she switched to Chanel suits with miniskirts. She continued to wear them during both pregnancies, opening the skirts slightly in back and keeping her jacket on to cover up.

According to biographer Jerry Oppenheimer, her ubiquitous sunglasses are actually corrective lenses, since she suffers from deteriorating vision as her father did. A former colleague he interviewed recalls trying on her Wayfarers in her absence and getting dizzy. "I think at this point they've become, you know, really armor", Wintour herself told 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer, explaining that they allow her to keep her reactions to a show private. As she rebounded from the end of her marriage and the turnover in the magazine's editorial staff, a fellow editor and friend noted that "she's not hiding behind her glasses anymore. Now she's having fun again."

Quote: "If you look at any great fashion photograph out of context, it will tell you just as much about what's going on in the world as a headline in The New York Times."

Carine Roitfeld

Personal style: Her preferred jacket styles are edgy, tailored and chic with a strong biker/rock'n'roll element. Roitfeld likes to mix the masculine with the feminine and favours designers such as Balmain, Balenciaga and YSL, who excel at this. At the moment this means embracing the big-shoulder trend.

Jeans are 'for [her] assistants' and holidays, although she's not averse to a denim skirt, providing it tallies with her sharp-tailoring ethos. Think sexy body-con dresses and pencil skirts cut to the knee.

She always wears high heels. Killer stilettos are by far the fashionistas most flattering and feminine choice. Her favourites include the YSL Tribute. Look for something with a hidden platform for added "comfort" and anything with straps, laces or buckles aka 'bondage light'.

Her legs are always bare. Even in winter. They must be tanned, lean and ready for action year-round. If this is not an option then black opaques are the only way to go.

Quote: "You know, I love Tom Ford, and I love what he has done."

Christiane Arp

Personal Style: Classic and minimalistic. She always wears her hair in a bun. Lots of black suits with clean white shirts.

Quote: "For me, shopping is about taking some precious time for myself.

Franca Sozzani

Personal Style: Her personal style is classic and elegant and her signature smile and wavy blond locks are quite stunning. Franca does not like wearing the latest trends. Instead she opts for classic pieces from all kinds of designers.

Quote: "I really don’t care that much about other people’s opinions. Really. You can’t be loved by everyone. It’s impossible."

Sources 1 23 9

Who is your favourite Vogue chief editor?

Wunderkind S/S 11 collection

Inspired by the portugese garden Wolfgang Joop showed big cherry prints,




blossoms on white,


A-line dresses with petticoats paired with blazers and draped foulards,


combinations of navy blue and red,


long, flowing chiffon drapery and print-mix,


babydoll dresses,


material-mix and emphasized shoulders,


style-mixes between serious and playful & business and romantic,


bleached-denim-look jackets to chiffon flower skirts,


lace-chiffon mix along print-mix and


high-waist A-line dresses.

A very playful & feminine collection with emphasized silhouettes and daring mixes of prints and materials.
Copyright: Wunderkind

Wunderkind S/S 11 show coverage

Wunderkind`s spring/summer 2011 show was held at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, october 6th 2010.

It was built for the Paris world fair in 1937. It does not only host the Museum of modern art but it also used as a fashion show location a lot.



The show took place on the first floor...



...in a minimalistic white room with a fancy installation in the center of the ceiling.



German Vogue`s chief-editor Christiane Arp sat front row, dressed very cool in all black, wearing a knee-long leather coat, 7/8 length trousers and biker boots along with retro-sunglasses.



The woman sitting in front of me wore cute cat-ears (with feathers) in her hair.



My view from row 5















Designer Wolfgang Joop looking as fresh & good as ever.



Wunderkind model Luisa Bianchin (in her own clothes) after the show.



Wunderkind model Barbora Dvorakova (in her own clothes) after the show.

Picture sources, other than my own: 1 2

Fashion history: The 80s/90s Yuppie

Yuppie was a 1980s acronym for 'Young Upwardly Mobile Professional Person'. The word was coined by the advertising industry to capture the essence of a particular type of work hard, play hard, ambitious minded city career person.

The hectic lifestyle of a yuppie meant that after long hours of work, rare free time was spent in a self indulgent way frittering away the cash earned on anything, from expensive perfume, to a bottle of fine champagne. Conspicuous wastage was part of the attitude. The term applies to men whose ages range from about 21 to early 40s.

Yuppie-style is always matching and usually upscale. They like to flaunt their good taste. Even if the young professionals are in debt to their ears, they work hard to maintain the image of success. For day they sported wide shouldered jackets and for weekends they wore a Barbour to effect a country aesthetic to assume the appearance of a more advantaged lifestyle.

The ultimate yuppie fashion film is American Psycho. The short clips will give you a more in-depth view of...

...the grooming and vanity



...the importance of conformity and status-symbols



How to dress like a Yuppie

1. Wear business suits. In your free time wear clothes that are considered casual, these are usually khakis and polo shirts. Make sure you see someone else wearing the outfit before - yuppies are conformists.

2. Spend money on an expensive watch and make sure that your sleeves are always rolled up enough for people to see it.

3. Look for outfits in neutral colours like grey, beige and olive. Yuppies do not like to stand out with bold colors. They may end up making an unintentional statement.

4. You should have neat straight hair that doesn't need too much hair product.

5. Carry a sweater with you by draping it over your shoulders and tying the arms loosely around the front. This should look very casual as if you put it there without a lot of though. And the sweater should never fall off or hang crooked.Sources: 1 2 3

I LOOOOOVE the look but what strikes me most is the aspiration to conformity. From today`s perspective its pathetic but it still has more class and effort than today`s fetish for "individuality" - that everybody expresses with THE SAME H&M "vintage" blazer...

What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Secretly attracted to it? ;)