Marchesa & Marchesa Casati

It is a sad reality that our generation socialite icon, Ms. Paris Hilton, has diminished the meaning of "being socialite" from high social status, glamorous, artistically liberated and fashionably expressive to trashy, tacky, untastefully liberated (pls, the tapes!) and unfashionably expressive (her love of matching colors from head to toe and the smug smile...).

It is great that the new socialite quality designers Georgina and Keren brought to us Marchesa - again. The british born designers were inspired by vintage and Asian influences (like the beautiful Japanese kimono printed tube dress Misha Barton worn), and the legendary European socialite in the late 19th century Marchesa Luisa Casati, became the company's namesake and muse.

Marchesa Casati was "possibly the most artistically represented woman in history after the Virgin Mary and Cleopatra, the portraits, sculptures and photographs of her would fill a gallery." She spent a fortune hosting the most elaborate parties where the servants and maids are all dressed in just gold leaves. Marchesa has also created many inspiration for designers - "She wore live snakes as jewellery (which has became great inspiration for jewellery design nowadays) and was infamous for her evening strolls, naked beneath her furs whilst parading cheetahs on diamond-studded leashes (again, a very fashionable imagery)". (Information was from Marchesa Casati official site , if you would like to read some more about her)

I am glad we have designers like Georgina and Keren in our generation. They are bringing back the more dreamy and romantic quality of a socialite that leaves room for little girls to imagine. Though I think they do have beautiful collections of satin, sheer, lacey, flowy evening gown, I personally love their more artistically eccentric and asian inspired designs. I would definitely love to see them do more of that and go crazy with it. Here are some of my favorites: first 4 pieces (and Mischa worn the first one beautifully) are from Autumn/Winter 07 collection, last 3 pieces are Spring/Summer 07 collection and the last one are the beautiful designers themselves):

Bringing Sassy back

Back in the school days, there are always a few individuals who are so "effortlessly cool". They are the ones that people secretly stared at and wished that they know her secret recipes for fashion. Stella McCartney must be one of those cool girl back in school. And now she has graduated to design some of the most fabulous "effortlessly cool" outfits for the rich and lucky ones.

And then the fashion world presented us the new IT-Girl. Alice McCall. The fresh face british stylist turned designer who spent 2 years working at MTV London styling the Stylissimo series and the presenters then styled Natalie Imbruglia for Torn and worked with her for another 2 years. She has worked as a freelance stylist and made some 50s' customized dresses to sell at boutiques. Until 2 years ago, she finally started her own label and showed at Australian Fashion Week 04. Her design is Oh-So-Sweet and Oh-So-Artsy-Babe-Too-Cool-For-School. She can turn that geeky girl sitting in the corner of the classroom to the IT-Girl-Now.

That fussy feeling you get when you wear cashmere...

Yes...winter is coming. I always have mixed feelings with winter. I dread the sharp wind on my face as I walk on the street (which makes a minute feels like forever), the nights out that require lining up for coat check, the pale skin, no more tennis and slowly retreating to the gym completely. But on the bright side, winter is joy, it's full of celebrations and festive dinners with family and friends, it's when you start appreciating little things like holding a cup of coffee to warm your hands, and how about the warm and fussy feeling you get when you wrap yourself with your favorite cashmere?

I have invested in some lengthy off shoulder cashmere sweater in black, grey and pink from Club Monaco last year. I remember they were almost all I wore thru the winter... This season tho, they could probably pass for a one piece with skinny jeans or tights with boots.

This season I spotted the chocolate brown and navy blue striped V neck cashmere tunic from C&C California. It is gorgeous! I love the way the model is wearing it, and the whole outfit is just so effortless and versatile...altho it is on the pricey side ($245) but I am sure I will be wearing it again and again and again...^^

New York Designers (Part I)

This is already my second year working in nyc...can't believe it! Time goes by so fast, but a lot of times I still feel like a fresh grad. After my 3rd birthday in the city I finally realized one thing different - this year I am wearing an absolutely fabulous dress of a New York comtemportary designer Mara Hoffman, whose line of clothes were also feathered in some episodes of Sex and the City (I later found out this fact). So, this has proof that, at least my wardrobe, have slowly moved away from the college/fresh-grad fashion to more of a twenty something new yorker trend.

I must admit, exploring the New York fashion scene has done a complete makeover for me. I used to shop in the "general area" like Soho, East Village, 5th Ave... but since I started working in the upper west side I began to look at alot of pricey but mysterious brands at boutiques like Montmartre, Intermix, and New York Look.

These are what I found:

Mara Hoffman - She is my favourite designer now and I actually owned 4 dresses and a black coat from her already (that can almost buy two roundtrip tix to HK...) I have to say what made me fell in love with her instantly and stay in love with her everytime I see her pieces, is that she produces such great quality clothes with very adorable details. She is definitely one New York designer that can keep up to the hype - the feathered Sex and the City designer has vision of her own. She is not the one who just does some bubble dress or feather prints for a sure sell, the way the dress fits the body, the lovely hidden pockets on every dress and coat to create the kind of sexy but cozy effect, the use of luxurious fabric that is soft and gentle to the body. Yes... it's the work of love.

Some items I got:

Shoes Shoes Shoes...

Fashionistas are always in a quest of finding the perfect shoes for...well, every single outfits and every single circumstances. Which will vaguely includes: walkable work shoes, walkable and cool work shoes, shopping shoes (that could mean 10+ different kinds), running shoes, tennis shoes, beach flops, red carpet ready high heels, showoffy fashion shoes (diff from season to season, tho could be reused), that classic black shoes (and thats also a whole different category).

Actually referring back to the "walkable work shoes and walkable + cool work shoes" I realized that actually wearing walkable shoes to work is not really all that important. Especially for OLs. The time they spend walking on the street when shopping during a nice satuaday would definitely exceed the time they spend walking on the street from monday to friday on work days.

Well, for this season I was mostly deciding on: walkable and cool work shoes, classic boots, and shoes.

Brian Atwood $620, what a beautiful patent shoes! It was worn by quite a few celebrities already such as Mischa Barton, totally adorable with little demure mini-dress. Since my savings is close to non-existance...this is a no deal for me...

And then there is this suede (not as hot as patent) ankle boots by Isaac Mizrahi for Taget (yes there is this designer + lower-end brand cross over thing) that cost $43 (plus shipping). I like the look of it but was doubting the quality, but when it shipped to me finally I was surprised to experience that all around padding and softness of the boots. It is definitely one of my great find at a great price! :) now I am considering getting the brown one as well...

Speaking of the Designer + lower-end brand cross over thing...I have been seeing alot of that recently, it is definitely a very good boost for both the designer and the lower end company, the famous ones like H&M with Stella McCartney and Karl Largerfeld; for shoes there are Imitation of Christ designer Tara Subkoff for Easy Spirit, Vivienne Westwood and Thakoon for Nine West, and Isaac Mizrahi for Target...etc.

I especially loved Tara Subkoff super high heels for Easy Spirit, which has soothed the high heels lovers' feets with those Easy Spirit's signature cushioned insoles. I was seriously debating whether to get one or not every time I shop on shopbop.com and intermix... But they are $430 and that would really put a huge huge cut on my fashion spending allowance on the season which I have just started. So I would just have to adore them...wonder if I would bump into some on the street and be terribly jealous...

Here is another one of my earlier conquest, the cream color patent high heels from Nine West for $89. I actually got this a few months ago, and everytime I wore it I got quite alot of compliments...I even have someone who mistaken this as a pair of Christian Louboutin ;) However, I have to say it would slowly damage your feet if you insist on wearing it to go shopping...this is definitely very well made and versatile shoes that could match tons of my outfits, and hey, they are actually on sale on for $59.99...sigh...

I was just randomly shopping at Betsy Johnson on upper west one day, and found this beautiful peep-toe highheels...they are also on sale! It was $224 originally and I got it for about $150 ^^ I love the details of the shoes, the little tassels on each side of the heel with crytals decoration, the metallic leather, the Christian Louboutin like red bottom...so sexy, sassy and fashionably delicious! oh, check out the fuchsia pairs, this one is just mesmerizing...

Maybe a little too much for me but I am just a little more conservative about shoes...I am those who doesn't want the shoes to be too over powering the whole outfits...but these really...they can definitely make a statement. ;)

Pedro Garcia, one of my favorite shoes designer from spain who make breathtakingly gorgeous heels. Tho as of now I haven't own a pair...(but very high on my shopping list) They are all beautifully crafted, very elegant and classy, I especially love this beige satin platform pumps. They are $327, which is about right for high end designer shoes.