Elie Saab Fall 2011 Couture Part 2

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Often times when I choose my favorites from any Elie Saab show I am overwhelmed with how many I love.  So I have to break them into themes!  I have already shown some their brilliant white dresses and will eventually show their ice blue ones.  Right now I am loving the sheer nude dresses from the collection especially the first which drapes so beautifully and has a lovely neckline, much preferred over deep v necks in my opinion.

Bulgari Jewels For Summer

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I was instantly drawn to the pretty pink and green color combination of this Bulgari necklace.  The pink and green jewels combined with gold are perfect for summer or spring.  I especially love the earrings as they are much more wearable than the necklace which can be worn only on the most special occasions. 

What I Would Wear To: Kenya

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When I think of Africa and safaris, I cannot help but think of Grace Kelly in Mogambo.  Please forgive me for the impracticality of this outfit, but in my dreams this would be the perfect outfit to wear on a safari in Kenya.  The fabric of the dress instantly conjured images of the fabric used for traditional safari jackets and from there I decided to ad an Hèrmes scarf to protect one's face and hair as well as traditional Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses to fight against the African sun and an Hèrmes watch as an accessory, jewelry did not seem appropriate.  What would you wear?

Jackie O Style Inspiration

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Last fall we saw 1950's style skirts, shoes, and dresses float down the runway.  This year has transgressed into the 1960's.  Until recently I always thought of the 1960's as mini dresses, bright swirled prints, and flower child inspired dressing; but recent runway shows have prompted me to take another look.  I have been very inspired by the lady like aspect of the sixties, especially that of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.  She always looked so chic and pulled together with her classic shift dresses, pearls, and over sized sunglasses. 

Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Toit

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Hermès has introduced a new perfume in their garden collection inspired by their roof top garden in Paris.  Un Jardin Sur Le Toit contains notes of apple, pear, magnolia, rose, and green herbs.  I have yet to smell this perfume as it has not been widely distributed yet, I believe it is currently only available in Hermes boutiques, but it sounds like the perfect fresh, light, summer fragrance to me.  Have any of you tried it yet?  If so, what do you think?  

What I Would Wear To: Santorini

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Thank you reader Sarah B.C. for your suggestion for this post!  When I think of Greece I think of the pristine white buildings and stunning turquoise oceans, which is why I also think of crisp white sundresses and turquoise jewelry.  This Marc by Marc Jacobs dress is all cotton which would be cool in the hot Mediterranean and the wedges will not get stuck in the sand.  You can see purchasing information here, and I hope to hear more suggestions for my next post!  

Time For Tea

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I thought I would share a post of some lovely pictures I have found; I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday with lots of time to sit and have a cup of tea and some macaroons.

What I Would Wear To?

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For those of you that have been following my What I Would Wear To series, or any new readers, I would like your opinion on what my next locale should be.  Where is your dream vacation spot that you would like to see an outfit for?  I will try and complete all requests so please leave any ideas!  Thank you!

Fall Wardrobe Desires: Burberry

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Despite the fact that summer is still in full swing, I cannot help my self from thinking about my fall wardrobe.  Fall is an interesting season for fashion, not too hot and not too cold, leaving plenty of options in fashion.  These Burberry pieces would be the perfect additions to any fall wardrobe any year as they are classic pieces that will stand the test of time not only in style but quality as well.  I love this short trench coat for those days when there is light sprinkling and no need for a coat to ones knees.  This light silk scarf will keep the wind from hitting you without being too warm like cashmere would.  And these boots are the perfect flat riding style  boots, comfortable and will keep your feet warm and dry while still being stylish.  I am in love with dark brown leather boots and purses right now, they are so much warmer than black.  What are you looking forward to adding to your fall wardrobe?  

Ballerina Buns

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While I do like slightly messy chignons at times such as the ones at the Valentino Couture show, I often prefer a perfectly clean and smooth ballerina style bun.  The ones at the Chloé spring 2011 ready to wear show were perfect and matched their elegant ballerina inspired sheer pinks and wrap dresses perfectly.

Haute Couture Laws

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I have frequently wondered how certain brands such as Juicy Couture could call there mass produced clothing "couture".  And while apparently that is allowed, calling a collection Haute Couture is not.  There are very particular laws in France regarding this prestigious title, which is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris.  The law states that only, "those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves" of the label haute couture.  The criterias were established in 1945 and have since been updated in 1992.  The design houses must follow these rules: they must design made-to-order for private clients with one or more fittings, they must have an atelier in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full time.  Each season they must present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.  There are different categories one can belong to, official members, correspondent (foreign) members, guest members,  jewelry, and accessories. Design houses such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Valentino, and more are members.  Most couture shows end with a wedding dress like the Elie Saab one shown above.     

Square Heels

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I have recently been falling for square heeled pumps and have begun seeing them in stores and magazines at an increasing rate.  Not only do I really like the sixties inspiration, which I have seen in this Blake Lively fashion spread and this Emilio Pucci collection, but there is definitively an appeal to having a little more stability.  These Stuart Weitzman shoes are $395 and can be bought here.  

Book Review: Christian Dior's Little Dictionary Of Fashion

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While it is easy to find books about designers from the golden age of couture, it is not easy to find one written by one of the designers.  This fashion dictionary written by the great couturier Christian Dior and features his opinions on fashion in dictionary format from accents to zest.  There are multiple definitions per letter on anything you may want to know about fashion from ball gowns to trimmings to colors.  Some of the advice in this book is antiquated as most of us do not wear fur or veiled hats anymore, but I find those sections and interesting look into the past, and many of the advice remains relevant.  This book, which has a lovely cloth cover and beautiful photographs and illustrations, would make a lovely gift for any vintage fashion lover. 

What I Would Wear To: Monte Carlo

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For this installment of my series What Would I Wear To, I created an outfit for Monte Carlo.  This outfit is inspired by the luxurious local in Monaco and by who else, Grace Kelly.  I really love the neckline of this Lela Rose dress as I do not care for low cut clothing, and it reminded me of Princess Grace.  I also thought she would approve of the pearl jewelry and the Hermes head scarf for drives down the windy coast.  I love the Fendi shoes, mainly because if you look closely the raffia fabric of the shoes has a very similar texture to the dress!  This is what I would want to wear if I ever have the opportunity to visit Monte Carlo, what would you wear? 

Elie Saab Resort 2012

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While I always love Elie Saab's elegant and beautiful collections, they can at times be a bit similar to past seasons.  However for his recent resort collection that all changed.  Although there were some similar silhouettes in this collection, the feel was much simpler.  There was a lot less beading and shorter hemlines, a very wearable collection for those that do not have the need for a floor length crystal encrusted gown.

Tocca Perfumes

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Today I stumbled upon these pretty pastel Toca perfume bottles and was even more attracted to them once I smelt them.  The scents ranged from floral, fruity, and sweet and were not too over powering.  What started as a clothing brand, Tocca is now more known for its exquisite taste in scents, candles, perfumes, and more.  The best part about their beauty line is that if you love a fragrance you are likely to find a candle, soap, or lotion to match.

What I Would Wear To: Casablanca

 

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My last two destinations in my What I Would Wear To series were both major European cities, so I thought I would try a more exotic locale for my third.  When I saw this Anna Sui dress it reminded me of the lavish Casablanca Morroco, which I would accessorize with gold Jimmy Choo's and gold and jade jewels.  And while this outfit is not practical for sight seeing, it would be lovely for dinner out as long as one covered their shoulders.

Marie Antoinette's Perfume

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While many have envied the lifestyle of Marie Antoinette, her extravagant palaces and crown jewels are not exactly attainable for the every-woman.  But now you can have a piece of her beauty regimen, the house of Lubin is reviving a perfume originally worn by Marie Antoinette.  This perfume was created for Antoinette by the royal noose Jean-Louis Fargeon in mind of the gardens at the Petit Trianon.  The scent which consists of rose, jasmine, and bergamot is named Black Jade; like the deep jade colored vile Antoinette kept the perfume in while imprisoned in the Temple Tower of Paris.  What is the cost of smelling like France's most infamous Queen?  130 dollars and you can purchase the scent at aedes.com. 

Jaqua Beauty Returns

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I was quite upset  a few months ago when I discovered Jaqua, a beauty company known for their decadent sweet flavored products had closed due to family issues among the sisters who had created the brand.  Luckily I recently learned that the company has opened its doors once again!  I am a huge fan of their butter cream frosting body butter, which truly smells like fresh baked cupcakes and frosting, and the scent lasts a while even while just wearing the body butter.  They have a multitude of dessert and drink  inspired flavors such as raspberry butter cream frosting and pink champagne.    

What I Would Wear To: Paris

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For the second installment of my new series What I Would Wear To, I created what I would ideally wear to the city I most covet to visit, Paris.  I would love to go during the Spring when the trees and flowers are in bloom and the weather is warm enough to wear this adorable Nina Ricci dress.  I especially like the light pink color of the dress and would pair it with these beige Jimmy Choo slingbacks, Majolie pink opal earrings, and of course an iconic french Chanel handbag. 

Marchesa Resort Collection 2012

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The Marchesa resort collection featured an array of candy colored dress ranging from floor length to cocktail length.  It was nice to see formal dresses in a rainbow of shades versus the usual black or red.  This collection was simpler than past ones by Marchesa, which I like.  Sometimes their dresses can be a little too over the top, although they are always beautiful.