Fashion,Style & Beauty on Fashion Girls

I don’t know if you share the same feeling, but when summer comes I really love to wear sandals, actually I would be wearing sandals all summer, especially flats, they’re comfortable, and very chic at the same time. Also what, they make my feet feel cool and I love the feeling in summer. Now you know, after all these years I’m now quite an expert on sandals, but sadly just on wearing them, not on making them. So today let’s ask an expert why every summer is the season of the Sigerson Morrison sandals!

It isn’t the weather getting to her—Miranda Morrison swears that the hot color for sandals this summer has been a “fluorescent lemon curd.” And that’s not all, Kari Sigerson, her partner, adds: Coming in a close second is the perfect pinkish nude, not really a ballerina color, more of a beigy pink, like the inside of a perfectly cooked tuna!” The pair’s eponymous line, Sigerson Morrison has emerged these past few years as the go-to address for cool, effortlessly chic footwear: Remember the black and white tribal flat? Or the graphic buckled ankle sandal before that? They describe their popular wares as “simple summer styles,” especially flat sandals. Historically, the firm has been known for flat, strappy confections in unexpected hues (in a sense, supersophisticated takes on flip-flops) that add the perfect dash of color to the season’s inevitable cotton dresses or tees/shorts combos. “We’ve always been a destination for flats, but we offer four-and-a-half-inch heels too,” Morrison says.

Whatever the height, the styles flying out of Sigerson Morrison’s Nolita door this season are, as ever, all about ease and comfort. The biggest star of the season? Hands (or, er, feet down) is, according to Morrison, “a style that zips up the back, and the front is woven from tubes of soft nappa—sort of squishy leather noodles with absolutely no lining or edges. As soon as people tried them on they didn’t want to take them off.” Another style that looks like it’s a heel, but in reality is built on a platform and has a woven upper is also a hit. “I think that most of the time people are looking for sandals that make their feet look pretty. It depends on the foot, whether you want to be very bare or cover up,” Morrison explains.

And more good news: In the topsy-turvy world of fashion, where uptown department stores are already piled high with shearling over-the knee-boots and sandals are pretty much a distant memory, things are different at Sigerson Morrison. Here, classic summer-worthy footwear is in stock year-round, and new styles are offered every month except October and November. Which means you can indulge in a little lemon curd and pink tuna, even if, and when, the temperature finally plummets.

I love sandals indeed, and Sigerson Morrison sandals are totally gorgeous, however I still think that sandals are summer thing, so you probably won’t see me wearing sandals in winter, but early autumn maybe.

I love fashion, who doesn’t? However as I’d always love to read fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle… I do have lots of things to complain about, but this is not about the magazines, my question here is: Why does the good stuff never actually get produced?

It’s easy to critique American Vogue, but there are things I really admire about the magazine. For instance, Meredith Melling Burke’s Index pages. They accomplish what so many market pages don’t–they tell a compelling story while also legitimately attempting to sell the reader on the items featured. In a recent issue–I think it was July–she offered up a pair of gorgeous red suede Sigerson Morrison kitten heels. They were immediately added to my list of fall Needs.

Problem is, they didn’t get produced.

Before I even stepped a foot in the Sigerson Morrison boutique door, I emailed my PR contact to see if the shoes were in the store yet. He said that they weren’t in the New York store, which had only purchased the black version, but the LA store had bought them in red. I figured I’d place a phone order with the LA boutique after I saw the black version in person. So yesterday after work, I popped over to Sigerson, only to be told that the black kitten heels were still in production and wouldn’t be on the floor for another week or so.

Oh, and the salesperson also informed me that NO red shoes were produced, and that my PR friend had lied to me. There weren’t enough orders, so it wasn’t worth producing them. “Was it the English guy?” said the salesperson. “I need to tell him to stop giving out false information!”

Whether or not the salesperson or the PR guy were right I’m still not sure. But I am a little disgruntled. Over the last couple of years, I’ve begun to do what I already was telling everyone else to do: Buy a few things that I really love instead of a ton of things that I only like. The problem? The things I really love are either never produced or, if they are, they don’t look the way they did on the runway, or sometimes what’s even worse is, I don’t even get a chance near them before they were sold out!

I get that buyers believe most women would prefer the sleeveless version of the bracelet sleeve Erdem dress I so desperately wanted for my wedding. But in an era when women can peruse runway looks hours after they’ve debuted, is it right for buyers to make decisions like that for us?

To be honest, I do complain about the whopping price designer pieces sometimes throw out, but nothing is so frustrating like this: I have the money but I just can’t buy the thing I love, because they’re never produced! Have you ever badly wanted something, only to find out it was never made?

Are you ready for fall? Yes, me either, but we can always keep an eye on what’s coming next, and in fashion this means you have to always shopping for the future, otherwise you can never get the ones you really want. Well, as you might have already felt, the backpacks are truly coming back, let’s just see how Tory Burch has our backs all covered with a reorder of her Palma Bag.

Who’d have thought that outside of the school gates, the humble knapsack would be so popular? “We sold out in a few weeks!” laughs an elated Tory Burch of the sophisticated nylon Palma bag ($295) that was featured in Vogue’s May issue. Those who missed out the first time around on Burch’s updated version of this practical classic (that’s fast becoming a staple fall accessory!) should get in line for the second delivery that hit stores this week. It’s easy to see why this stylish take on utilitywear, all lustrous gold hardware and sleek leather straps, hit a need-it-now nerve. “It taps into a sense of nostalgia,” muses Burch of the pack’s universal appeal, “and anyone can wear it: men, women, children, no matter their age or style.” Can we expect more shoulder candy from the designer in the future? “We’re introducing two backpacks into our resort collection,” she reveals. So if you’re not quick enough for round two, there’s always next year!

Well, would you like to dress like a student and carry a backpack, or just carry a backpack, anyway, you’d better get ready for the wind of backpacks.

Sandals are the most welcomed footwear in summer, for they’re light and feels cool, and usually they’re cheap. But you know, when it comes to fashion everything can be different, sandals aren’t that cheap at all. So our question is : Why K.Jacques sandals are so damn expensive?

It’s the height of summer now and wearing as little as possible feels right. This goes for shoes, too. Who wants to clomp around in heavy footwear in this godawful heat?

Enter K. Jacques, purveyors of strappy leather sandals. The label was started in the 1930s in St. Tropez, France by an Armenian refugee. They were made-to-measure for each customer and the shop often made sandals for wealthy, famous people on holiday in St. Tropez. Many of the styles haven’t changed since then, though they do offer trendier options every year.

They cost between $200 and $400. This is a bit of sticker shock for what at first glance appears to be a nondescript flat sandal made from a strip or two of leather. I dug a bit to try to figure out how they can–and do–command that price.

1) Impeccable French heritage with a compelling story: Refugee makes good, attracts rich tourists.

2) The company has been family-owned since its inception and the shoes are handmade in a small factory in St. Tropez by “skilled artisans.” Handmade is obviously more time consuming and therefore, more expensive. I like to think of a bunch of women with lace caps lovingly sewing leather while humming Edith Piaf tunes.

3) The leather is sourced from France and Italy. Italian leather is often considered the best quality in the world, so there you go. Ka-ching.

4) Because of reasons 1, 2, and 3, K. Jacques has collaborated with some of the most prestigious designers and brands in the world. The company has worked with Isabel Marant, Karl Lagerfeld, Balenciaga, Givenchy, and Missoni, among many others. This has helped to establish a decent reputation as a luxury brand.

5) The styles are simple, just trendy enough, and look expensive without being overly flashy. Logos are still considered crass in this uncertain economic climate. And the shoes are cute! The styles they just did in collaboration with Opening Ceremony are really quirky (picture at left).

All in all, K. Jacques has a clean reputation, makes a quality product, and has that magical quality all brands lust after–caché. And if you cruise the Net-a-Porter sandal page, they look downright reasonably priced next to the $935 embellished Lanvins.

Anyway, I still think that sandals should be a lot cheaper, but if you don’t mind wearing the same sandals for several years K.Jacques would be a good choice, and since their sandals are handmade so they’re indeed very comfortable. But that &935 Lanvins, I really don’t know what to say.

Every girl loves high heel, they’re elegant and mostly gorgeous. As far as floral goes lately, it finally get on our shoes gorgeously. If you happen to be looking for a nice pair of floral high heels or just a pair of unique high heels, here’s a good news for you: somewhere in the world, you can just  rendezvous with Roger Vivier.

Come next January, the first ever Rendezvous collection Bruno Frisoni has designed for Roger Vivier will wend its way around eight cities—including Hong Kong and Milan—all across the world. Frisoni decided to do this instead of the couture offerings he usually shows. You’ll no longer order the shoes to your exact specifications, but, apparently, make a reservation for whatever you‘re interested in, and then take possession of it weeks later. (It’s to be assumed that the Vivier gang are planning to make this reservation process far easier than trying to snag a table at the Waverly.)

But just because he’s lifting the exclusivity of the couture approach somewhat, it doesn’t mean Frisoni hasn’t let his imagination soar, while also capturing the more intimate, personal feel that has marked the shows thus far. There are straw shoes adorned with a rose—woven by a milliner—in a shade that looks like wheat kissed by the sun. Or tea-stained silk mesh pumps embroidered with flowers constructed out of beads (pretty) and wooden petals (pretty surprising). “These techniques would be too fragile for the regular Vivier collections,” he says, “but they”re just right for this one.” Both styles rest on a heel that Frisoni calls Nouvelle Vague (New Wave)—which it is, in more ways than one; it’s a different shape for the house, and a different shape for heels, a sensual, languid curve that elevates the feet 110 millimeters or so above the ground.

That’s not all that’s new. The house’s Inés de la Fressange has been busy with a passion project of hers: Roger Vivier perfume, worked around five classic fragrances (rose, santal, iris, amber, neroli), created by nose Rami Mekdachi, which will be on sale in Vivier boutiques come October. The packaging (plain clear glass bottle, unfussy stopper and label) is as simple as the scents are luxuriously heady. Those fragrances are meant to be personal and intimate too. When de la Fressange presented them—in about ten minutes flat—there was no hoopla, no hard sell; just her speaking from the heart about why she loved them so much. “There,” she said, laughing, “that has to be quickest perfume launch ever!”

This is sweet, I love colorful vibrant things for the hotter season!

I literally cheers for every weekend, although sometimes I just stay at home and have a nice rest. But most weekends I’d love to have a picnic or do something else with friends and family. So since we might be out for a whole weekend, I really need a nice big weekend bag.

In case you don’t already know, I’m a sucker for a good weekender bag. There are so many excellent ones out there–from the preppy to the minimalist to the, dare I say, directional. (As directional as a weekender can get.)

Given that it’s a holiday weekend, I’m assuming plenty of you are heading off to a family barbecue, a country cabin, or most likely, the beach. Maybe a combination of all three. I, for one, am writing this on a plane to Chicago. (Yes, American Airlines has Wi-Fi at every altitude!)

One thing’s for sure: Whether you want to spend $10 or $10,000, no one should be without a sturdy, good-looking weekender. And this might be a choice for us:  Pendleton Spirit of the People’s Weekender retails for $198.

I’m totally into Pendleton’s weekender: the colors, the print, the longevity of virgin wool. Now I just want a Pendleton blanket to match.

OK, how do you like it? Or you have other ideas? Please tell me in the comments.

All girls love bags, and we love floral prints especially for this spring/summer, so the Valentino Resort backpacks look just fabulous to me! Yes, we know something about Valentino bags, they make the most feminine purses, they do fancy floral prints, and they’re so fond of gorgeous bows… Well, just check this out.

The new stewards of Valentino, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, have got their red-carpet bona fides in order, so for Resort, they’ve extended the line deeper into daywear. The accessories, no surprise, are going in the same direction. (Chiuri and Piccioli, after all, began their careers at Valentino in the accessories department.) Yes, you can still find the most embellished evening bags, the satin pumps, and Chantilly lace pieces, but what really caught my eye were the more casual pieces, like these nylon backpacks. They’re done in the same soft floral prints used for many of the ready-to-wear pieces, and finished (of course!) with the Valentino bow.

These floral backpacks are totally adorable—if maybe a little too glamorous for a picnic in the park. But totally perfect for a short trip, or some girls’ night out, anyway, just love them!

Summer is colorful, we want everything to be colorful in summer even shoes. We love some colorful shoes to brighten our whole day! Although there’s quite some colorful shoes out there, but these colorful shoes made of plastic discs got to be the most wonderful ones, let’s see.

The colorful summer days are filled with colorful articles, say the bright-colored skirts, floral dresses, green flowered T-shirts, flowery hats and these beautiful shoes designed by Gaetano Pesce for Brazilian brand Melissa. They’re all made of plastic discs, enabling the consumers to create new styles by cutting circles away from the edges.

They’re bright, they’re cool, and they’re creative. The MELISSA + Gaetano shoe is available in six different colors: transparent, off-white, translucent orange, black, red and blue, just like summer itself, bright and colorful!

Ok, talking about handbags, maybe not so seasonally appreciated, but the messenger bag is totally hot in any season, and for these hot messenger bags, we love the Mulberry Alexa, and maybe you love the famed Proenza Schouler PS1. But today we’re going to talk about copyright.

Well, replica designer bags are not breaking news any more, but this is really a shame: Navoh Bags Proenza’s PS1 and Mulberry’s Alexa in One Fell Swoop.

We love affordable, chic handbags, and that’s what label Navoh says it’s all about: Faux leather handbags priced at $125 and under.

But we’re not okay with blatant knockoffs.

We just don’t get why Navoh would bother out-n-out copying Proenza Schouler’s famed PS1 for its Fall 2010 collection. It’s literally the same exact bag in a cheaper material, from the colorways to the hardware.

Proenza Schouler isn’t a big company–and the boys make most of their money off of their genius accessories.

So copies like this are a huge deal. And downright shameful, in our opinion.

Navoh has also done an obvious re-imagining of another hot messenger bag, Mulberry’s Alexa, down to the braided handle. It’s not as exact as the Proenza copy, but it’s pretty close.

Well, well, all I’ve got to say is up here, then what’s your opinion on this? One thing more, really, we’re shocked that Navoh left Alex Wang alone.

Heads up fashion girls, the warmer season has absolutely arrived and that means it’s party time now. So would you like a gorgeous soiree purse for those many parties waiting ahead?

Well, are you a little tired of being elegant, or are you attending to go with a little more girly look? If so, this Betsey Johnson Betsey’s Soiree Crossbody Clutch is just something you’re looking for.

In case you were, for some reason, completely unaware of Betsey Johnson’s affinity for all things pink, sparkly, bow-adorned and in-your-face girly, her new Betsey’s Soiree Crossbody Clutch should clear things up right away. Awash in an ample dose of sequins that gleam for miles and miles, this petite purse is designed to hold all of your evening essentials in style.

What I love is that it has a shoulder strap, so it’s not merely relegated to being awkwardly switched from hand to hand and tucked under your arms all night long. Merely for convenience, that’s a great thing. It’s also available in three other hues, so if you don’t take after Betsey and her pink-ness, you might find favor in gold, black or gray.

I’d really go with this pink one myself, it looks just totally girly and gorgeous as well. This shinning bag retails at Nordstrom for $98 each.