Harrods Girl's SS06 must have fashion item

This week's carnivale (host by The Bag Snob) question is:
What is your one must have fashion item for this Spring/ Summer?

This season, I'm crazy for simple, fashionable and pretty tops, in particular white and ivory/ pale coral color ones. Actually this craze of mine already started last fall, so I already have a few tops of such colors: A subtly beaded ivory, long-sleeve tee from Express; A boho, Balenciaga-'inspired' top from Zara; A white, crochet top from Marc by Marc Jacobs. OK, so may I won't actually need to buy too many more of this kind of tops, but it's so lovely to just stare at:

This Alicia + Olivia top is perfect for the warm spring weather. Although one must be careful with this top, or it will end up looking like a table cloth on you!

Another excellent top for the spring weather, from Cacharel. This one is less tricky to wear, but slightly boring.

This top by Marc Jacobs is soooo chic and casual. I love the ivory/ pale coral color, and the crochet details are so brilliant. Jacobs always knows how to make a girl swoon!

Pretty pretty blouse from Burberry Prorsum. The little bow in the front is cute in a non-sugary way.

White with black details tops are another must-have. I can't get enough of Miu Miu tops (right,) and the Chloe top (left) is just tres divine. If only I was rich and working...

Finally, this is obviously not white, but I am in LOVE! This Vanessa Bruno Trimmed Batwing top comes in coral, white and grey. Coral and grey are my favs because the white doesn't accentuate the fabulous details properly. Gosh, if I saw this top in a shop (as opposed to online,) my credit card might burn!

Category ›

SS06 Color: Brown

What color to match the nuetral palette of SS06 then brown right?

It is perfect for the safari look shown on the Zac Posen (left) and Michael Kors (right) runway.

And just the thing to look effortlessly chic in as seen here from the Zara catalog. The brown here provides such a nice contrast with her complexion.

It is just such a great, nuetral, soft and sophisticated color to wear. Not too girly or too hard core. Above, from Burberry Prorsum (left) and Marni (right). Here are a few of our favourite browns:

Polka dot cami from Ted Baker and silk brown top from Twelfth St by Cynthia Vincent. I especially love the top from Twelfth St, perfect for a night out!

Then there are the gorgeous dresses from top shop (left) and Rebecca Taylor (right).

And last but most definitely not least-these funky brown platforms from YSL.

Category ›

Le Sportsac Spring 06 Remix Collection

I must admit, my obsession with Le Sportsac has somewhat fallen since Gwen stopped designing for them. But in times of extreme procrastination, I do check back from time to time to see whats new. And today, I landed on their Spring 06 Remix Collection.

On first glance, I didn't like it. The retro pattern puts me off. But staring at it some more (I was seriously procrastinating), its actually not half bad. If one can just get pass the retro pattern thing, the design is actually quite cute. For instance, the large shock bag. It can be worn closed (left) or opened up (right) like a butterfly. I really like the versatility and style of this bag. And the blue color is perfect for this season's nautical theme!

The other style that I like is the Skratch style in both regular and large. The simple shape of it is made interesting with the crinkled design gathering in the center. A large yellow skratch will be great for the days, as the bright summery color scheme matches with the nuetral/white palette of SS06. And the small black skratch with its bold retro print would be just the thing for a night out.

They also have this style that can be used as a wallet by day and a clutch by night. But this seems to be the only color that works for this style. The other colors are mixed with raw instead of white leather, and the effect is just not quite as stunning.

An example of the color print and raw leather effect I was talking about. It just doesn't look quite right. I wonder if I would like it better if they had use white leather, providing it with less of a contrast. . .

Category ›

I am Fashion for Jane Blog

As you all know, Jane magazine recently got a new editor-in-chief, Brandon Holley. What you may not have realised is that Jane magazine finally revamped its website. And in this new website, Jane has caught on the blogging wave and now has 4 blogs.

Barneys Girl and I are both contributing-bloggers for Jane's Fashion & Beauty blog, so go check it out! Our posts there are also inspired by our everyday life and the fashion/ beauty we see around us. We would love it if you go comment on our posts -we would love to know what you think too.

Also, I recommend the Editors sound off blog, which is where Jane editors and interns blog -it's pretty funny to read!

Category ›

SS06 Trend: Polka Dots

This season, polka dots are back in the store. And no wonder really, as they are super fun and goes oh so well with this season's nautical stripes.

From the runway there are two ways you can wear this. Subtly layered as Marc by MJ does it or right at you as on the Diane von Furstenburg runway.

But when I say 'right at you' style I don't mean the super boldones from the sixties that comes to mind. I mean the more updated softer polka dots, such as these from Marc by Marc Jacobs. The white polka dots on the pale pink shirt looks like its barely there, and the small white polka dots on the silk dress is brilliantly balanced with the flowy pleated structure of the dress itself. I love that dress.

The polka dot on the dark blue Robert Rodriguez shirt is off balanced by the feminine style of the neckline. And the soft, flowy see-through material of the DvF top softens the large dots, making it an interesting but not vulgar pattern.

Leave the bolder polka dot prints for layering! These two from Urbanoutfitters and Forever 21 are perfect for it. Apart from other plain bold colored shirts, this rounded print will go very well with the sharp nautical stripes this season as well!

For more subtle polka dotting, try footwear. I simply ADORE these polka dot flats (it also comes in blue!) and platforms. You wouldn't have guessed it, but the flat is from Miu Miu and the platform from Anthropologie. If I didn't know better, I would've thought it was the other way around!

Category ›

Sephora Spring 06 Catalog

So the other day I recieved my very first Sephora catalog. And may I say, I am very impressed by it.

Expecting a boring old catalog with pictures of all their products, I was pleasantly surprised when I turned the pages and found make-up-how-to's from the professionals of our favourite brands, the latest make up trends, reviews on eye make up, foundations, the best eye creams and tidbits about their latest products. It is like reading a girly magazine on make-up and skincare!

I mean, does this LOOK like a catalog to you? The instructions were detailed and as helpful as any one would fine in say. . Allure.

And the reviews and little tidbits were straight and to the point- telling you exactly what you need to know. It saves time and it introduced me to a lot of products that I've never been aware of before because the selection at the store is just so vast that its overwhelming to look at everything. This magazine really broke it down for me. I read every word.

And best of all, it is FREE. So if you haven't already, I encourage you all to subscribe to one now. I usually don't have this much to say about a catalog, but the marketing team at Sephora is just genius!

Category ›

Paris Fall / Winter 2006 Wrapup IV

Miu Miu

As predicted, I LOVE this collection. It is totally fulfilling its role as Prada's younger sister line -the trends and shapes were like younger, brighter echos of the Prada collection. Key focus continues to be short shift dresses, coats and skirts. There were Prada's exterior bras, the typical Miu Miu school girl A-line skirts, and SS's T-shirt under strapless garment trend. One thing everyone noticed was that the material and fabrics Miu Miu used in this collection is even more luxurious and expensive than before. Most of the clothes remained neautral colored, but the metallic clothes (such as the mini dresses) were brilliantly colorful. The shoes, which of course is one of the best things in Miu Miu, looks chunky in a less girly way for FW. (Actually the shoes are starting to look more like art than shoes.)

Louis Vuitton

There were loads of cute stuff in this collection, but I felt is was a bit of a more sophisticated extension of the Marc Jacobs collection. There was that similar big hat covering eyes thing, and huge sweaters/ other shapeless clothes that Marc Jacobs has been so fond of in recent collections. The bags continue to be HUGE, with a tendancy to be metallic colors, esp bronze and silver. While this collection is still very lovable, perhaps Jacobs should try to differentiate between Vuitton and his own clothing lines.

Dries Van Noten

Another collection I absolutely adored. The clothes really give off that young, trendy yet still high couture tasteful vibes. I esp love the printed shift dresses (see the black and white flower printed one Sasha is wearing in the pictures above,) and the cresent moon printed halter neck dress (last picture.) Again, yet another collection of neautral colors, but done so beautifully here.

John Galliano

The girls all reminded me of a crossover between magicians and witches, with a rock'n'roll feel. Maybe it's because of all that black and those hats, or maybe it's the hairstyle. Even though the models looked more like dolls than real people in the show, a lot of these clothes were very wearable, (assuming you have that much money of course.) And I really want those platform shoes seen at the end of this collection!

Category ›