the girls are back in town

Mariacarla Boscono struts it in Dior Haute Couture Fall 2007, courtesy style.com

Stella, Naomi, Angela, Linda, Amber, Helena, Shalom.
Sasha, Lindsay, Mariacarla, Gisele, Raquel, Irina, Doutzen, Stam, Coco, Caroline, Lily.

Raquel Zimmermann in Dior Haute Couture Fall 2007, courtesy style.com

John Galliano rounded up the best of the best to walk Dior's 60th anniversary couture show at Versailles on Monday.

And oh yeah, the clothes were fucking amazing, too.

Dior Haute Couture Fall 2007, courtesy style.com

die schönste

Heidi Klum at the CFDA Awards, courtesy style.com

Seriously. The woman is wearing a sparkly poop sack. And she still looks fabulous.

Sometimes life just is not fair.

patrick blahbinson for target

Heavenly Temple look by Patrick Robinson for Target, featuring the Linen Vest in Kona, $24.99, and the Short-Sleeve Woven Shirt in Angel Food, $19.99

Patrick Robinson for Target is now available, and this stuff is simple--nothing very exciting and probably some nice staples for your summer wardrobe. It's kind of like an edited version of the Mossimo collection.

The outfit above is a good example of the problem with the collection. It could easily go two ways: "cute if a bit overdone," or "medieval kitchen wench." Do you really want to gamble with those odds?

Then there's this.

Denim Cargo Pants in Dark Wash by Patrick Robinson for Target, $39.99

What is going on? Did I drink too much tequila, get in a time machine, and travel back to 1999?

Reversible Tank in Granite/Oxford New Blue by Patrick Robinson for Target, $16.99

Twill-Tape Tank in Oxford New Blue/Ebony by Patrick Robinson for Target, $14.99

The tanks, however, could easily be season-long favorites, especially at these prices. Of course, I wouldn't expect them to last any longer than one season, either.

P.S. This means Proenza Schouler for Target is on clearance.

Pleated Underwire Top in Ebony by Proenza Schouler for Target, $11.89

If you're busty (XL) but still have the bod for a bikini, run, don't walk, to target.com and score the Proenza Schouler pleated underwire top and pleated scoop bottom bathing suit for a mere $11.89 each. I promise it doesn't look as much like a bra in person--it's completely classy, cute and sleek.

Short Sleeve Sweatshirt in Heather Gray by Proenza Schouler for Target, $12.59

Also, I'm not gonna lie--I kind of want this sweatshirt. I know it's not particularly cute, plus if you need a sweatshirt, why would you want it to have short sleeves? Here's the truth: I want to spend $12 bucks and be able to wear something that says Proenza Schouler on the front. Is that so wrong?

the new j crew

Satin and Jute Avignon Clutch by J. Crew, $98

I'm a convert. I haven't been excited by this many J. Crew items in years. I finally followed the buzz from some of my favorite blogs to take a look at the new arrivals at J. Crew. There are dozens of items on that page that I'm coveting. Even more out of my price range than before, but pretty impressive for the mall ...

she's back y'all

Well, at least her abs are.

I don't know how she did it (I'm guessing the millions of dollars at her disposal didn't hurt) but Britney is looking fABulous!

tmz

The beauty of Brit is that she never lets us forget her roots (see cowboy boots and Ms. Junior Texas Cheerleader 2001 hot pink belly-baring shirt). We know where you came from Brit-Brit; thanks for bringing us back.

when fashion hurts

I am a firm believer in the power of fashion. Don’t believe me? Watch She’s All That: a simple tight red dress (and contacts) transforms Rachel Lee Cook from a nerd to someone Freddie Prinze Jr. could actually love.

However, there are some fashions that are not meant to be: hot pants, dickies, most anything donned by Lil’ Kim.

This list of fashion faux pas has been generally benign until now.

The “Stop Snitching” fashion line is designed to scare would-be witnesses from coming forward. The “Stop Snitching” movement extends to murder, robbery, and rape.

classical values

Sixty Minutes recently did a story regarding this “movement,” interviewing rapper Cam'ron (artist of such classics as A Pimp's A Pimp and Where The Fuck You At). Cam’ron tells Anderson Cooper that if a serial killer moved in next door to him, he "wouldn't call and tell anybody on him. But I'd probably move… But I'm not gonna call and be like, you know, 'The serial killer's in 4E.'"

This seems counter productive to a safe and healthy society.

*picture of Lil' Kim from the gals at www.gofugyourself.com
*picture of mock turtle necks provided from The Vermont Country Store, Purveyors of the Practical & Hard-To-Find

the worst idea ever

Sheryl Crow, in the weeds. An appropriate place to save the world.

Sheryl Crow has an idea of how to save the world. I'm all for saving the world but I can't get on board with this idea:

"I... like the idea of not using paper napkins, which happen to be made from virgin wood and represent the height of wastefulness. I have designed a clothing line that has what's called a "dining sleeve." The sleeve is detachable and can be replaced with another "dining sleeve," after usage. The design will offer the "diner" the convenience of wiping his mouth on his sleeve rather than throwing out yet another barely used paper product. I think this idea could also translate quite well to those suffering with an annoying head cold."

I'm all for the saving the world but I REFUSE to wear a shirt that has a "dining sleeve" stitched on to it. What would that even look like? I would imagine something like this:

Prototype of Dining Sleeve clothing line

richie rich

Bernard Arnault, courtesy forbes.com

A couple of weeks ago, Forbes published their list of the richest people in the world. Bill Gates is still #1, with $56 billion, but the person I fantasize about finding myself secretly related to is Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Arnault is worth a mere $26 billion, but his company owns such iconic brands as Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Donna Karan, Givenchy, Pucci, Sephora, Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Benefit Cosmetics, Fresh, Makeup For Ever, Parfums Givenchy, Aqua di Parma, Tag Heuer, De Beers, Le Bon Marché, Moët and Chandon, Dom Pérignon, and Veuve Clicquot, among others. (For a full list, visit www.lvmh.com.)

I think I'm going to start writing Bernard letters calling him Daddy.

fashion lament

Apparently, Baby doll dresses are the "in" thing this summer:


I went to the store and tried it on. I ended up looking pregnant. Like I should be holding my lower back and complaining of hemorrhoids.
This is a very hard look to pull off. Even the model kinda looks like she should slap a "baby on board" sign to her Toyota Prius (which is what I imagine models in baby doll dresses drive).

it's a sad thing to be jealous of 13-yr-olds

Chloé Paddington, $1540 at net-a-porter.com

I just ran across this article from November '05 that analyzes the business of luxury goods for teenagers. Teens and young people now make up a significant portion of the high-end market. I'm not surprised that 10% of the women who buy Coach bags are 18-24 years old, but the anecdotes from teenagers in the article drive me crazy. I can't believe I still get jealous of girls who get Prada bags for their 13th birthday parties. I try to be morally outraged, but then I realize that I can see myself buying expensive things for my own kids someday ...

ridiculous controversy

Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2007 Advertisement, courtesy msnbc.com

Stefano and Domenico are pulling this ad from campaigns worldwide, after insistence from both the Spanish and the Italian governments. While I generally believe that images like this contribute to a variety of negative consequences for women, I just don't understand: why this ad? why now? This is not the first or the last time that a strange, sexualized, objectifying image will be used in fashion. I think D&G are, for some reason, the scapegoats for the entire fashion industry.

(via fashionologie and bunnyshop)

fashion is fun again!

Agyness Deyn in John Galliano Fall 2007 Ready-to-Wear, courtesy style.com

Love the set design, love the colors, love the over-the-top shapes, love the scrawny girls workin' it like they're more than corpses floating down the runway.

John, you silly little man ...

John Galliano, courtesy style.com

wrapping up oscar coverage

The big trends we saw at the Oscars were asymmetrical necklines and strapless dresses. Before we say good-bye, though, we have to make sure to cover ...

The Good

Gwyneth Paltrow in Zac Posen, courtesy oscar.com



Rachel Weisz in Vera Wang, courtesy oscar.com



Reese Witherspoon in Olivier Theyskens for Nina Ricci, courtesy oscar.com

The Bland

Rinko Kikuchi in Chanel Haute Couture, courtesy oscar.com



Jessica Biel in Oscar de la Renta, courtesy oscar.com

In Biel's case, the color was spot-on for 2007's spring and autumn trends, but there's something about the execution that was lacking. Plus my boyfriend's first comment when he saw her was, "She's not wearing a bra!" You know it's bad when a man who can barely properly identify undergarments can tell.

Beyonce in Giorgio Armani Prive, courtesy oscar.com

In pictures where you see only Beyonce's top half, she looks great. Then you see her strike that pose and she suddenly looks like a streetwalker.

Jennifer Lopez in Marchesa, courtesy oscar.com

OK, there's nothing wrong with this dress. It's a very pretty dress. But for some reason, I just don't like it. She looks like a rich, pregnant woman in the '70s.


And the Ugly

Jada Pinkett Smith in Carolina Herrera, courtesy oscar.com

Let's not even discuss the fact that this ensemble looks like it's from 1999. The gown is doing a serious disservice to Pinkett Smith's breasts, and there is just no reason a woman should tolerate that. She's hot! She's a mom! She has a wonderful family! She should not have to carry around four boobs, all of which look like they belong on a bodybuilder, on the biggest night of the year!

Anne Hathaway in Valentino, courtesy oscar.com



Anne Hathaway in Valentino, courtesy oscar.com

Anne gets two pictures, so that you can admire both of the big, hideous, black velvet bows on her dress.

Kirsten Dunst in Chanel Haute Couture, courtesy oscar.com

Dunst looks like a drowned poodle. However, she is positively the picture of perfection next to this Bond girl's hot mess:

Eva Green in Givenchy, courtesy oscar.com

the oscars: cate blanchett

Cate Blanchett in Giorgio Armani Prive, courtesy oscar.com

Like I said, flawless and stunning, as usual. This is one of the few dresses with a narrow skirt that didn't strike me as too informal for Oscar night. I'm sure being an otherworldly beauty helps in the "able to pull off any outfit" department.

live blogging the oscars: helen mirren (hot hot hot!)

Helen Mirren in Christian Lacroix, courtesy oscar.com

I'm obsessed with Helen Mirren tonight. Can you believe she's 62?! Jack Black and Will Ferrell were so right when they sang about wanting to go home with her. We should all be so lucky to be that hot when we're 62.

live blogging the oscars: cameron diaz

Cameron Diaz in Valentino, courtesy oscar.com

I'd probably be more enthusiastic about this dress if I weren't so ambivalent about Cameron. I find her much-cited "down-to-earth" personality charming, but there's something about her that I find so stupid-looking at the same time ... which is pretty much the way I feel about the dress, too.

live blogging the oscars: maggie gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Proenza Schouler, courtesy oscar.com

Loved Maggie's Proenza Schouler dress, especially if you overlook that tiny bit of post-baby pudge she still has when you see it from the front (not that I could look that good that soon after inflating to five times my normal size). I also liked the dress she wore at the dinner for the technical awards, which we saw briefly as she described it.

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Proenza Schouler, courtesy oscar.com

live blogging the oscars: penelope cruz

Penelope Cruz in Atelier Versace, courtesy oscar.com

Penelope Cruz is the epitome of the Oscars: glamorous, tasteful, and just exciting enough to not fall in the "Jennifer Hudson" category. Plus, what you can't see in this picture is, her jewels are absolutely stunning yet conservative enough that she doesn't look like she's dripping with diamonds. (Only complaint: I would love to see some bling on her neck.)

live blogging the oscars: jennifer hudson and kate winslet

Jennifer Hudson in Oscar de la Renta, courtesy oscar.com

It's hard to find pictures so soon, but so far everything looks pretty bland. Case in point: Jennifer Hudson, who is absolutely beautiful and should be rockin' her hot bod, is wearing a color that doesn't make her gorgeous skin glow the way it should, yet the dress has nothing obviously wrong with it.

Kate Winslet in Valentino, courtesy oscar.com

Kate Winslet was the same: nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about, either.

I'll post a pic of Cate Blanchett as soon as I find one. As usual, she was flawless and stunning.
Update: Cate Blanchett post is available here.

this just in

New looks by Proenza Schouler for Target are now available exclusively online through Thursday. I love this voile bustier dress--the Proenza Schouler look for less.

Voile Bustier Dress in Cabin Brown by Proenza Schouler for Target, $39.99