by Christian Lacroix (2007)

If Christian Lacroix wants to talk fashion, I am listening, or in the case of the exquisite and inspiring Christian Lacroix on Fashion, I am looking. I found this all color coffee table book for a surprisingly cheap 25 at a local shop and have been gazing at the contents ever since. Any fan of incredibly detailed clothing and sartorial history will find themselves equally transfixed.

Divided into themes like “colour” ( “The red that I love to use everywhere… comes from my mother.. She always dressed me in red, or at least a touch of red, which had a cheering effect”), “Checks, plaids and tartans” (“Eccentric yet conservative, checks and their Scottish cousin, tartan, re the essential embodiment of British dandy chic.”), “ceremony”, “graphics”, “patchwork”, “cobwebs”, “black”… the book features short, colorful descriptions and beautiful photographs of beautiful clothing.

From ivory garden party dresses from the 1900s, capes from the 1880s, the work of Mainbocher, Chanel, Gres, YSL, Heim, Vionnet, Worth, Dior, Rabanne, Ungaro, Balenciaga and of course, many from Lacroix himself – there is so much style here it will make your toes curl with excitement.

Click here for the rest of Christian Lacroix on Fashion

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Posted on May 31, 2010

Rock Pop Fashion

The Look (rockpopfashion.com) is an ultrahip stroll down the psychedelic, super cool sentimental Kings Road. With impressive images (that are not easily found anywhere else) of Britain’s heyday of cutting edge youth culture and fashion. McLaren, Siouxsie, Mary Quant, Iggy Pop, Vivienne Westwood and Marc Bolan are all here, plus the biggest hangouts of the day like Carnaby St., Granny Takes a Trip, and Westwood and McLaren’s shop SEX.

But even more exciting, especially for those of us that didn’t grow up in a time and place that looks incredibly fun, are the names and places that are new: Dinah Adams, Wonder Workshop, Antony Price, Marion Foale and Sally Tuffin, Harry Gordon, Jah Wobble, Pamela Motown, and the list goes on. I love new discoveries and The Look is spilling over with them.

Click here for the rest of The Look

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Cupcakes and Satin

Christopher Kane‘s collection for the Versace little sister line, Versus has a definite point of view. Limited but bold in shape, details and color, it makes quite an impact and even if most of us can’t pull of all the body con, it makes me long for the full skirts he calls “cupcake” skirts, more turquoise and bright red in my wardrobe and stylishly sci-fi bombshell cut out necklines. His grommet, alligator, and neon collection for Topshop was equally yummy though a bit outside my budget sadly.

Click here for the rest of Christopher Kane for Versus

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Posted on March 7, 2010

Lace and Bell Shapes for Fall

Though Erdem has been around for a few years and the collections have been consistently nice (as I look back into the archives), it’s only recently that the line made a huge bleep on my radar. I’ve looked and re-looked at his Fall 10 collection over and over finding more to love each time: with florals, body flattering shapes, and lace the clothes are pretty and feminine without being gloopy and rote; I love the voluminous puff sleeves and bell skirts as well as that dreamy grey lace.

One of designer Erdem Moralioglu’s inspirations was one of Jim’s favorite films, Picnic at Hanging Rock which friend Ashleigh posted stills of a while back on RC.

Click here for the rest of Erdem

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Posted on February 28, 2010

On Sale March 7th

While my personal list of must-haves from the Gaultier Target collection arriving in stores this Sunday might not be quite as long as some other designer collaborators (Rodarte, Tracy Feith, Anna Sui), there’s still plenty to get excited about starting with that bright yellow dress that will have me up first thing in the morning shopping online. Also like the sailor stripe, but wish there were more of his signature stripes sprinkled throughout the tattoo prints (never my favorite), lovely painted florals, and chic leather. I do hope the fingerless gloves are for sale and not just styling extras.

Click here for the rest of Gaultier for Target

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Posted on February 28, 2010