Friday Faux Pas: Chanel Spring 2013 Hula Hoop Bag

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Dear, Karl…I realize that people have been saying that it’s been same old, same old for Chanel lately, but are things so dire that you needed to try and re-invent the wheel…errr…bag? This hula hoop purse (hoopurse?) is so not fetch, and yes, maybe I am the pleb that doesn’t get your “art”, but all I can imagine is some poor misguided soul with this bag of horrors dropping her pricey Chanel, only to watch it roll away down the street and under the wheels of a passing taxi. The horror! But…what are you saying? I should wear it to the beach, you say?! Duh! Silly me! What was I thinking?

KL: “It’s for the beach. You need space for the beach towel, huh? And then you can put it into the sand and hang things on it, and things like that. The bathing suit with it was the only thing with the Chanel logo, there was no logo.”

Why, of course! Everyone should have a huge hula hoop Chanel beach bag that costs a bajillion dollars to put your wet towel in, and other things like sand and those shells your find by the sea…and to hang dry your bathing suit on, of course! How chic and useful! Bravo, Karl. You’ve done it again. I am sorry I ever doubted you.

Photo Credits: Jezebel

Swarovski Fall 2010 Preview with Avril Graham

I blog for fun. Not for money, or free stuff, or for any other reason but one: I really do enjoy reading and writing about all things stylish, fashionable, and intriguing (to me). Plus, it provides a much needed mental getaway from my daily not-so-glam 9-5 grind. But if there’s one perk of fashion blogging that I particularly enjoy - it’s meeting cool people. Last week, huge thanks to Edelman, Al and I got to meet the gorgeous and friendly (interesting AND interested) Avril Graham – executive fashion and beauty editor for Harper’s Bazaar magazine. And if chatting with an editor of a hugely successful fashion magazine wasn’t enough,  we also got a sneak peek at Swarovski’s Fall/Winter 2010/2011 collection showcased at the Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville.

With the help of some models, Avril walked us through her favorite pieces from the collection, stressing that women should not buy cheap accessories to accessorize an expensive dress, but should opt for affordable, yet well-made alternatives instead. Perhaps, some Swarovski heirlooms? Indeed, I was quite impressed with more than a few pieces showcased: cocktail rings, dangly earrings, crystal-adorned bracelets, and clutches.  Avril, herself, wore a beautiful rainbow crystal Swarovski necklace with her Valentino LBD. The one item that had us all talking was the Karl Lagerfeld designed Atelier cuff (below). The unanimous opinion was “LOVE”…though I must admit, I did have trouble squeezing my not-so-skinny wrist into it, but it was all worth it!

Overall, as with the Atelier launch, I was impressed by the variety of looks, and with Avril’s endorsement of the brand, as well as with Karl’s pieces available for sale in the fall – there’s no better time to check out Swarovski jewelry collection.

Love, Pétanque and Saint-Tropez

Ok, so I know you might want to break up with me after this post…but I will ask you to reconsider, because though my Diane/Joshua coverage has been excessive, I simply cannot help it. It’s not just that they are sickeningly cute as a couple…what with the stylish yet matchy clothes, lots of PDA, and happily dancing the night away at a Chanel event with some wine in hand after winning a game of pétanque…but they are also so very watchable. Don’t you agree? I hope you agree, because these pictures made me smile today on this gloomy Toronto Tuesday…it made me happy for the two of them, because they seem real, and happy, and in love…and they do represent that young but not too young type of love, where you can’t stop smiling because the person you love is right there beside you, even if just to cheer you on during a silly game, or to share an ice-cream cone with, or to…just be.

I guess, theirs is a publicized love…with photographers usually following their paths most of the time, but it doesn’t feel staged like some couples…cough*Speidi*cough…Josh and Diane do not induce those wishes of painful self-gouging of eyes or nausea…I simply enjoy seeing photos of them, and imagining that they are truly and beautifully in love. And that is why I will continue posting photos of the happy couple…and hope that you might love them as well.

PS. Vanessa Paradis, too, attended Karl Lagerfeld’s celeb game of pétanque, among the many other fashion notables. And I do…oh-so love her too! Obsessed and infatuated.

PPS. Oh, and I sorta kinda get the basket now…where else if not to a Chanel event, right?

Photo Credits: www.laineygossip.com, www.zimbio.com

Vanessa Paradis for Chanel Cocoon Spring 2010

I must say, I really disliked the Lily Allen Cocoon ads last year…to style that girl as Audrey Hepburn’s most iconic character – that, to me, was blasphemous. There’s nothing Chanel or Audrey about Lilly.

Vanessa Paradis, however, is no Lilly Allen. She “screams” Chanel to me…that French je ne sais quoi that Parisian girls quite simply own – she’s definitely got it. Most people know her as Johnny Depp’s beautiful partner (in crime?), but to me, she’ll always be the “Joe le Taxi” girl! Her chic style has always been a huge inspiration to many, myself included. And I am very pleased with Karl’s choice this time around.

Love the softness of these images and the glint of naughty in her eyes in the top photo! Now if only she wasn’t holding the Cocoon bags! I never understood the appeal…to me, they are just so…ugly! Can’t find another word to say it. Not my cup of bag (let’s make this a thing!)…Do you like the bags? Vanessa? Hate the whole bloody campaign? Let me know in the comments!

Oh, and click here to watch my fave video of Vanessa, talking about falling in love with Johnny…le sigh.

Photo Credits: TFS

Elle Spain’s Disney Designers

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Karl Lagerfeld fell into some well (ala Enchanted) only to end up in a Disney-animated world? Well, Elle Spain certainly has given it some thought, and the results, I must admit, are pretty cool! Can totally see Donatella as a duck, it’s completely spot on! But then again, most of the designers in the spread are ducks (with the exception of Karl, and D&G). Were the folks at Elle Spain too scared to paint someone as a pig, a cow, or…gasp…an elephant in their April 2010 issue? I would guess so. I, for one, would never want to taste someone like Karl’s wrath! No, thanks!

I think these cartoons are pretty amazing! Do you? Sound off in the comments!

Photo Credits: www.refinery29.com

Friday Faux Pas: Chanel Fall 2010

No, no, no! First the clogs, and now this? I never thought I’d say it, but I am doubting Karl’s vision! Fur pants? Really? Where the Wild Things Are was released last year, and Opening Ceremony has already done a fur-filled collection. The thing is, I almost expect Opening Ceremony to release an edgy-ugly-on-purpose collection, but it is not normal, to me, for the house of flipping CHANEL to have Chewbaccas strutting down a Parisian runway.

The furry suits, and high-heeled monster boots are making me want to poke my eyes out and never lay them on another Chanel thing ever again (okay, maybe not ever again). And though I give Karl Lagerfeld props for using faux fur instead of real, this collection (though there were some nice pieces) is one hot icy mess. No, no, no!

Photo Credits: www.style.com

Size Doesn’t Matter

Or does it? V Magazine’s photoshoot, featuring a plus-size model Crystal Renn head to head with a skinnier colleague Jacquelyn Jablonski wearing exact same outfits is trying to tell us that it doesn’t. But with various immature comments, criticizing Renn, or even calling Jablonski, who is 5’9″ and measures 32/24/34, ”curvy”, it is painfully clear that this industry is not size-blind.

Having said that, a major magazine, showcasing beautiful and healthy girls wearing non-sample sizes, including a shoot photographed by Karl Lagerfeld, who has once famously proclaimed that “no one wants to see curvy women”, is perhaps yet another small step in the right direction. Until then, we have these gorgeous photos of Crystal to prove, that beauty surely does come in all sizes and shapes.

More photos after the jump!

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Lara Stone in Numéro Magazine

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Speaking of Karl. He shot Lara Stone and Baptiste Giabiconi for an editorial in Numéro magazine. The dress below is so gorgeous, it’s making me want to do bad things to my savings account. My Style Fille favorite Diane Kruger wore the Versace Atelier dress while promoting The Inglourious Basterds back in August…Ahh…to be styled by Lagerfeld…ultimate, no? Hot clothes, hot people, what else is there to life?

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More photos after the jump!

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SpongeKarl Square Pants?

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First there was the Polar Bear Karl, then Karl Purse, and now SpongeBob? I have to admit that I find this one adorable, yet it begs the question…Pourquoi?

Photo Credits: WWD

Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010

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Above from left to right: Givenchy, Celine, Chloé

Paris Fashion Week wraps up tomorrow, but I am too anxious to wait, so I’ll give you my faves today! Oh, Paris, how I love thee! So many amazing designers, so many beautiful creations…oh, how I wish I was there. I’ve been to Paris a few times now, and every time I find something different, something new to love about the city of light. And as far as fashion weeks go, this one is my favorite, hands down.

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Above from left to right: Christian Dior, Balmain, Nina Ricci

Again, I’m not sure if it’s because I am trying to see it, or if it really is an upcoming trend, but I am seeing nudes everywhere! But this being the Spring 2010 fashion week, there was plenty of color too! My favorite yellow at Stella McCartney, aqua at Viktor & Rolf, Kenzo, and McQueen, gorgeous red at Lanvin, orange at John Galliano, and many others.

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Above from left to right: Stella McCartney, Lanvin, Viktor & Rolf

And while I love me some Chanel, I wasn’t very impressed with anything from the spring collection this time around (or maybe it’s the clogs), so I am not including it in the highlights lineup. The collection I am definitely including is Alexander McQueen! Just look at the details! It’s underworld meets bug’s life! The fabrics, the shapes, the shoes, the hair! I couldn’t pick one, I love it all!

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And while, others are showering Louis Vuitton’s collection with praise, to me…I just didn’t get it. More clogs, furry tails hanging off shoes, mish-mash of shapes and patterns. Not my cup of tea. And seriously, are you kidding me with this…are clogs really going to be in this coming spring??? I, for one, will never ever wear clogs! This is a promise. There’s far too many beautiful shoes out there to waste my time wearing something so ugly!

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So c’est tout for Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010. I’m feeling a little sad to have to wait until the Resort collections will be released, but I think we had a great run with all these amazing clothes from London, New York, Paris, Milan…I guess we all can start making our wish lists for spring!

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Above from left to right: Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld, Miu Miu

Photo Credits: www.style.com