bLavish

Strappy Lanvin Canvas Wedge Pumps

January 3, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel at 4:38 pm | Comments off

There’s nothing like strappy sandals to get you ready for the thaw of spring. Here’s a pair that will work with tights in the wintertime, if your feeling a little anxious. They aren’t exactly your average strappy sandals. First, they’re made by cutting edge couturier Lanvin, the oldest fashion house in Paris, so you know the quality is impeccable. Secondly, they combine a number of seemingly contrasting materials in a way that is elegant and cool.

The black and white python skin printed canvas gives these pumps an exotic, luxurious look that extends right onto the covered platform. There’s something about the combination of a peeptoe and a covered platform that is ultra-feminine, but still a bit casual. The pale blush grosgrain ankle ties give them a look that is refreshingly French, and also very hip, given this season’s obsession with pinky nudes. The cork soles are about as comfortable as you can possibly get in a heel that’s over five inches. The great thing about these shoes is that they look totally opulent, but the canvas upper and cork wedge make them not only wearable, but even a little practical. Not that we need shoes to be practical, do we, ladies?

Louis Vuitton Fanny Pack

December 26, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel at 11:00 pm | Comments off

Ah, the much maligned fanny pack, butt of many jokes, joke of many butts. The question is, is it possible to make one of these babies chic? Ironic, sure. Sassy, perhaps. But chic? I am the proud owner of an LV fanny pack and even I doubt its sophistication. But, in terms of convenience and accessibility, they’re really not to be beat. Seriously, there’s a lot to make fun of here, but seriously, this is a low maintenance answer to the oversized, overfilled totes that women are carrying these days.

This one happens to have a lot of bells and whistles. I might take that front tassel off, but that’s a personal preference. It might cut down on some of the throwback jokes. But, hey, Rhianna has a giant LV fanny pack and no one makes fun of her (okay, a few people do). And, really, I’d say that mine is one of the most envied items in my closet. And for $2k, you can take it with you.

A Sassy Stocking Stuffer For Your Sweetie

November 29, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel, For Her, Holiday Gift Ideas at 8:30 pm | Comments off

Looking for a stocking stuffer that’s not ho-ho-ho-hum? How about these adorable little knickers by Stella McCartney? This “Knickers of the Week” gift set comes packaged in a cute box with a drawer for each day.

Each pair of knickers is made of a sheer, comfortable blend of polyester and silk. They are trimmed in flirty bits of lace and embroidered on front with the day of the week and a sweet little flower. Who really cares what day it is when all of them are equally pretty?

Let’s be honest, guys, no woman lives in sexy lace lingerie. But that doesn’t mean that her everyday basics have to be bland. These are a great gift because they’re comfy, simple, and a little bit sassy. In other words, just right for everyday.

Lanvin Starts A Shopping Frenzy At H&M

November 22, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel at 9:36 pm | (1) Comment »

When H&M announced that they were pairing up with Alber Elbaz to create the limited edition Lanvin Hearts H&M line, fashionistas across the globe rejoiced. The only thing better than getting to live out your high fashion fantasies is getting to live them out at a fraction of their usual prices.

The line finally hit H&M stores on Saturday, and dedicated fashionistas camped outside the 5th Avenue outpost of H&M to be the first in line. Some fans arrived as much as 13 hours in advance, huddling together at the stores entrance overnight. At 8 am, the store opened for throngs of impatient shoppers. H&M controlled the crowd by allowing in groups of twenty shoppers at a time, and roping off the coveted line in the women’s section.

The highest ticket item was a faux fur coat at $349, and the lowest priced items were jewelry and accessories, which disappeared quickly. If you’ve ever taken a peek inside one of Lanvin’s boutiques, you know that it would be hard to walk out with a pair of socks for $349, much less a coat.

H&M expects to sell out of the Lanvin Hearts H&M line within days, if not sooner. If you want to get your hands on any of those precious baubles, you’re going to have to fight it out on eBay and be prepared to pay up to three times the original prices.

Marc Jacobs Cheeky Shearling Scarf

November 21, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel, For Her, Holiday Gift Ideas at 10:00 pm | (2) Comments »

If you’re in the market for a fabulous holiday gift for a fabulous fashionista, look no further. This is one gift that will score major points. It’s part luxury, part sass, and warm and cozy all over.

In all honesty, I’ve never seen anything like this Cheeky scarf. It’s got all the opulence of a fur stole with none of the stuffy, middle-aged aesthetic. The navy and white polka dotted tie gives it a 40′s retro look that will be fabulous with everything from a smart cocktail dress to jeans.

The Cheeky scarf totally solves the problem of how to stay warm and fashionable all at the same time. And at $280, it’s so reasonably priced that you could use it as a stocking stuffer.

The Diana Dresses At The Museum Of Costume

November 19, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel at 12:43 am | Comments off

Whether or you’re the kind of person that admires the royal family or not, if you love fashion, you probably have a soft spot in your heart for Diana’s preppy sense of style. Her stylish digs defined the 1980′s, and inspired a generation of royalty-loving girls to glam up their everyday looks.

The Museum of Costume in Bath, UK will be showcasing the princess’ dresses until January. They say of the exhibit, “The exhibits include dresses worn during the Royal tours of Canada and New Zealand in the early 1980s, evening dresses by couturier Catherine Walker from almost ten years later around 1990, and little black cocktail dresses by designers such as Versace from the mid 1990s.”

The collection spans sixteen years, and includes day dresses and evening wear alike. What’s missing is Diana’s wedding gown from her marriage to Prince Charles, but that’s no surprise. It’s a safe bet that the Queen Mother is keeping that over-fetishized bit of frippery is kept under close lock and key.

John Varvatos Cashmere Hoodie

November 14, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel, For Him, Holiday Gift Ideas at 9:00 am | Comments off

There are few things as luxurious and practical as cashmere. It’s soft, it’s lightweight, it’s warm, it’s the perfect cold weather fabric. My black cashmere hoodie is literally the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received, and since then, I’ve been on the lookout for other versions to gift to others.

This John Varavtos leather-trimmed cashmere hoodie is the perfect holiday gift for the most stylish man on your shopping list. While most of Varvatos’ designs are heavily rock-n-roll inspired, this one is low key enough to work for men who maybe aren’t that rock-n-roll.

The leather trim is restricted to the pockets and shoulders, so it’s very discreet, and it also reinforces areas that will get the most wear. The pockets also zip, which, if you wear a lot of hoodies, you know is really handy. I’ve lost countless lip balms, dollar bills, and even credit cards from unzippered pockets. The front zipper zips both up and down, which will come in handy to give your man room after all the giant holiday meals you’ll be eating.

This hoodie has it all: comfort, style, and practicality. For $599, it’s a no brainer.

The Row Kimpon Leather Pants

November 14, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel at 5:00 am | Comments off

There’s nothing like having leather pants to pull on to make the cold weather bearable. And, there’s nothing like showing up to all your holiday parties in a totally enviable outfit. These stunning white leather pants will cover both bases in one fell swoop.

When the Olson twins became fashion designers, I was a little dubious. Okay, a little more than a little. Honestly, I was one of the naysayers that thought there was no way two spoiled Hollywood teens were going to come up with anything interesting. I thought The Row would simply disappear after a few seasons, either when the sisters got bored, or the public got bored of them. I was wrong.

Since The Row came on the fashion scene, they’ve been producing luxurious and totally wearable clothes. The prices are about as steep as any other high end label, and the quality of the craftsmanship is equally competitive. These fabulous pants are bold, supple and exciting. They have classic jean styling with a slightly flared leg, and are made of ultra-soft lambskin. With a simple white sweater and some sparkling jewelry, it’s definitely going to be a white Christmas.

Designer Spotlight: Rick Owens

October 31, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel at 11:38 pm | (1) Comment »

As far as I’m concerned, Rick Owens is the best designer that ever came out of Los Angeles. Perhaps because he’s the only designer out of the city of angels that doesn’t make bright, boho dresses. On the contrary, Rick Owens’ dark designs are gothic and avant garde.

Rick Owens has taken the idea of dark glamour to a whole new level. His minimal, asymmetrical aesthetic is about the most bizarre thing to come out of the Americas, despite the fact that he shows in Paris. You might call Paris his spiritual home, as his designs boast an edgy, European aesthetic that is not the norm in the U.S.

In fact, while he is, in fact, a US citizen, his work is far more popular in Europe. He designs almost entirely in black and leather, and his pieces have a slouchy, casual look that many Americans don’t understand. He is what you might call a “designer’s designer,” much like Issey Miyake was called in the 1990′s. However, his designs not only dominate the runway, they influence all of today’s fashion. His unique blend of chic and motorcylist styling can be seen on runways, and in department stores, the world over.

Roger Vivier’s Rendez Vous Collection

October 25, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel, Artsy Fartsy at 8:00 pm | Comments off

The elite fashion accesory house, Roger Vivier, will debut a limited edition series this January. This not an ordinary, seasonal collection. Each of the nine bag and shoe lines have been inspired by artists such as Gotthard Graubner, Jen DeBuffet, and Charley Harper. Only ten pieces of each object have been produced, and will travel amongst seven Vivier boutiques this Winter. The boutiques are located in New York, Miami, Paris, London, Milan, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, the capital cities of the fashion world.

The designer for the line, Bruno Frisoni wants each visit of the collection to a gallery opening. He told W magazine, “The collection arrives at a certain date, stays for a week, and when the edition is out, it’s finished.” Don’t worry about having to fight with other patrons in these glamorous boutiques, though, the line will be available for pre-order starting in November. The shows range from $995 to $10,300 and the bags from $1,275 to $8,600.

The collection uses all natural materials, such as leather, wood, cord, feathers, and canvas from the exquisite ateliers of Lesage, Montex and Lemarié. The dramatic designs are sculptural organic creations with restrained bursts of color that will appeal to the line’s elite and stylish clientele.

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