It’s no secret that Viktor & Rolf really love Shalom Harlow. The supermodel’s stunning face and open mouth provided the backdrop to the designing duo’s spring 08 fashion show, and now she is the ONLY model walking the runway for their spring 09 collection. Now it is apparent just how much Viktor & Rold love their enthusiasts. In order to give all their fans the coveted chance to have a front row-seat at their show, Viktor & Rolf opted to showcase their collection in a video available on their website. Shalom was filmed walking down a single white runway surrounded by rows of empty chairs. Edited to look like multiple models were walking down the runway, it took more than 50 technicians to create the video.

No doubt the experimental idea cost just as much to make as a runway show. According to Fashionologie, Shalom had to act as fit model and then afterwards walk the 70-foot runway five times in each of the 20 looks- including three dresses embroidered with 20,000 Swarovski crystals each, which weigh in at about 44 pounds per dress- allowing the cameras to capture all the necessary angles. To compensate for the two 14-hour days in high heels the work required, Viktor & Rolf had a foot masseur on set to keep Shalom on her feet. I need one just thinking about it!

Learn more about the avante garde designers with The House of Viktor & Rolf.

I saw this street style look while looking at Elle.com’s Street Chic: Milan Fashion Week photographs. To me, this look epitomizes perfect fall 2008 style and incorporates a handful of trends- fringe bag, peep-toe boots, sleeveless vest and colored tights- without being excessive or looking like a fashion victim:

This is my own recreation of this sublime, ultra-chic look:

A sleeveless jacket, like this super-versatile style from Mason, is the defining piece in this look. While not as much as a stand-out piece as the blue Yves Saint Laurent the woman is wearing above, the simple cut and black color mean you can wear it many different ways throughout the season.

I found this great tank dress and had it bookmarked before I even realized it is the same Mason dress photographed under the sleeveless jacket above. It was meant to be.

The steel grey of these Hue tights are almost a perfect match for the tank dress above and together they’ll elongate your silhouette. A diminutive 5′1″, this is often a factor when picking out my outfits, and should be for you as well.

This fringed hobo from Vanessa Bruno is gorgeous and a big step in taking this look from so-so to absolutely perfect.

A pop of color in the form of a super cute peep-toe bootie from Stuart Weitzman adds a playful element to the look. Jewel tones are perfect for fall and winter, and you’ll be surprised at how many outfits this color will work with. They’ll take a simple black tank dress to a whole other level.

Top it all off with my favorite basic sunglasses, the Ray Ban Wayfarer in black.

Voila! A great fall look inspired by street style. The best thing about these pieces is that, although great when paired together, any one of them can be mixed and matched with pieces you already own to update your wardrobe for fall.

Image Source: Elle.com

The Guardian online recently posted an interview and photo shoot with British actress Emily Mortimer that I absolutely adored, the nerdy fashionista that I am. Mortimer is styled as literary heroines and the shoot features life-size books as props and quotes from the novels that the inspired the styling. Not only is it a clever idea for a shoot, but a unique and fun way for the actress to showcase herself as icons such as Holly Golightly and Anna Karenina.

“They hadn’t tampered with her natural beauty, yet somehow they had succeeded in heightening it … She wore eye make-up and her hair was fuller, like a lion’s mane. She still looked every inch the lady, but she was exciting now.”
Valley Of The Dolls, Jacqueline Susann

“Her dress was richly trimmed with Venetian lace. In her black hair, all her own, she wore a little garland of pansies.”
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy

“She wore a slim, cool black dress, black sandals, a pearl choker … Her mouth was large, her nose upturned. A pair of dark glasses blotted out her eyes.”
Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Truman Capote

“A woman can never be too fine while she is all in white. No, I see no finery about you; nothing but what is perfectly proper.”
Mansfield Park, Jane Austen

“I should put on my red dress and it would be thin as a veil … It would make a flower shape as I sank down, in the middle of the room, on a gilt chair.”
The Waves, Virginia Woolf

Inspired to curl up on the couch and catch up with one of your favorite literary heroines? Click on the book names above to add the classic to your personal library.

Source: The Guardian

Christophe Decarnin has done it again with Balmain’s spring 09 collection. He manages to invoke Michael Jackson, show ripped stonewashed jeans, bandage wrap dresses, tons of sequins and broad shoulders all without being too 80’s or too tacky. Of course, the perfect French tailoring with shrunken sleeves and skinny legs helps to keep this rocker-girl look chic and cool.

What really caught my eye in this collection, however, were the sky-high diamanté-and-stud sandals. They look very similar to the uber affordable Steve Madden sandals (albeit flats) that I have been wearing obsessively all summer.

Granted, these Banglez Gladiator Sandals don’t exactly have the same cool-factor as the heels strutting down Balmain’s runway but they are comfortable, cute, affordable and I get tons of compliments on them. If you are looking for something with a heel, there is a similar style from Steve Madden  as well, the Bling Studded Sandals.

Now all you need is a perfectly tailored blazer and stonewash skinny jeans to emulate Balmain’s Parisian party-girl look.

Image Source: Style.com

I have been a fan of Julie Verhoeven’s work since her whimsical illustrations appeared in Mulberry’s spring 2008 collection. I was happy to see her work once again taking clothes from good to great, this time at Versace. According to WWD, the artist was commissioned to create two fanciful collage pieces using expressions of Versace iconography, with a focus on the Medusa. Her canvases were translated into festive prints and used on bags, swimsuits and gowns.

I am not normally a huge fan of Versace- it tends to be a little too flashy, tight and, well, tacky for my taste- and was surprised to hear of this collaboration. I have to hand it to Donatella, however, no doubt these prints will be as coveted as the fairy bags from Prada’s spring 2008 collaboration with James Jean and the rest of the collection was pretty, sassy, structured, and for the most part, short, of course.

To hold you over until the collection becomes available you can add a little whimsy to your life with a replica Prada Fairy bowler bag.

Photo Source: Style.com, It’s Nice

Sequins always seem to me to be more at home on a holiday collection than fall or spring. Yet, for spring 09, sequins have been as ubiquitous at the shows as flower prints, pastel colors and chiffon- infact, perhaps more so. They showed up in all sorts of sizes- extra large at Threeasfour, extra small at DVF and minuscule at Ohne Titel, colors- I love the navy blue of the D&G slacks and ombre at Blumarine, and applications- the 3-D at Jenni Kayne and Alexandre Herchcovitch are a lot of fun… well, until you have to sit down.

(Jenni Kayne, Mathew Williamson, Erin Fetherston, Alexander Wang, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Ohne Titel, Malo, Blumarine, Threeasfour, Brian Reyes, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Just Cavalli, DVF and D&G… PHEW!)

While I love some of these looks (Phillip Lim, be still my heart), I can’t help but wonder if after a holiday season where the racks will no doubt be full of sequins, will the trend really last through spring? I would say for spring, take the sequins in an unexpected direction as at Jenni Kayne. The sequined skirt paired with a simple denim button-up and leather belt will seem fresh and new after all the sequined minidresses at your office’s holiday party.

Get ‘em while they’re hot! This MLH peacock sequin dress and Tufi Duek mini shift feature the sequin trend in colors perfect for fall:

Photo Source: Style.com

Alice Dellal is hardly the first daughter-of-a-model-rock-and-roll-chick turned fashion muse, yet something about her laissez-faire attitude and half-shaved off gorgeous wavy hair has caught my attention. I’m not the only one. Mario Testino has already shot her for French Vogue, she is modelling and designing a collection for Mango, starring in the new Agent Provocateur campaign and Elle UK has named her “the new Jade Jagger” (fitting as her best friend is none other than Lizzie Jagger).

I couldn’t help but notice during NYCFW that designers, such as Alexander Wang and an uncharacteristically grungy Proenza Schouler, seem to be drawing some inspiration from the edgy party-girl.

Get the Alice Dellal look in a cropped fringe top from LaRok and Juicy leather bomber jacket:

Photo Sources: Style.com, From The Desk of Phyllis, Cobain in a Coma

Back in February, Ashley pointed out that the seasonal guidelines for fashion didn’t seem to apply tp the fall collections. The clothes were a little more lightweight, floral and feminine than what is usually expected for fall. Come September, and we are seeing the phenomenon all over again. I kept forgetting that I was looking at spring collections while checking out the looks from NYC Fashion Week. While there were definitely collections I loved, I kept getting inspired for my cold weather wardrobe, which was a little odd. Then came Luella’s collection, from the often rain-drenched London, full of spring cheer. And honestly, I could use a little right about now. The collection is bright, floral, lacy, ultra-feminine, a little tongue-in-cheek and was presented at a venue called The Crystal Palace, for Pete’s sake. A collection like this gets me excited for next spring and for fashion in general. Which is exactly as it should be.

Get the ultra-feminine Luella look with bright purple lace gloves, a large hair bow and adorable t-strap pumps from Oh Deer!:

Photo Source: Style.com

I am not quite sure how Catherine Holstein never quite made it onto my radar until now, but I am seriously loving the casual and well edited spring 09 collection:

While a spring collection, I definitely will be incorporating some of the sartorial aesthetics into my fall wardrobe. The post-prada knit turbans (decidedly better suited to fall than to spring) and oversized leather belts are perfect accessories over the jeans, lightweight tees and grandpa cardigans I have a feeling will be the staple of my cold weather attire. Lastly, the color story of muted khaki and pops of saturated red, periwinkle and mustard felt right on for either fall or spring.

Get the look with Catherine Holstein’s oversized yellow wool cardigan and beige sheer double pocket tee.

I have heard a lot of comparisons between the anticipation, competition, parties, let-downs and egos involved in the two events that are capturing the nation (well, at least as far as I am concerned): Fashion Week and the Presidential Election. While fashionable folks are being quoted weighing in on the election and pundits comment on the candidates clothing choices- I think my favorite fashion-meets-politics moment has officially arrived:

These cheeky campaign buttons, featuring slogans for our favorite catwalk queens, are being passed out in the tents and, oh man, do I wish I was there to snag myself a few! A Stam/ Donaldson ticket is one I could really get behind come this November.

Join in the fun with Sociology’s Rock the Vote tee:

Source: Fashionologie