Chanel Nail Parade

Chanel Nail Parade, showcasing their fantastic, collectible polishes. In a very Chanel way.

Audemars Shows Love

Audemars Piguet show their love with the Royal Oak, wall clocks to support the once Tsunami-ridden, Japan.

Tech-Chic

                                                       Louboutin Fall 12', perfect for any tech-lover. Want.

Black Beauty

                                                     Aston Martin DBS Casino Royale.

                                                 
                                               
                                                All black, Ceramic. Hublot Skull Bang.

Happy Birthday Howard Carter!

Howard Carter got an infamous google doodle today, marking his birthday. My favorite google doodle thus far, due to my unapologetic obsession with Egyptology as a child. 

Rose-tinted Shades

'PHILLIPS' shades by A-Morir.

VB goes EVOQUE

Victoria Beckham standing in front of her latest collaboration, with Land Rover for the new Range Rover Evoque.

Bugattis in Paris

The magnificent OOAK, Bugatti L'Or Blanc, spotted in Paris. The first time its been seen, since being bought by its Saudi owner.

Lam-baby!

Not all SUV's were created equal. The latest concept release from Lamborghini, the EXP 9F. Emphasizing on the word concept. Frowns.

Marc Jacobs goes South

Window display at Marc Jacobs at Bal Harbor, Miami.

iPad Mini?

Just another rumor? NetEase doesn't seem to think so.

No?

Now say it with me. "Yes, Becky, I will do anything you say." By Swiss artist, Markus Raetz.

Guerlain + Pucci =

The coolest powder thus far. Meteorites perles d'azur. Summer 2012 collection. Check out sephora online for the full range of products.

Christian loubout-attoo

Yes, Louboutin temporary tattoos. Not sure if they are produced by him, or if they top the Chanel ones.

Dior Takeover

Raf Simons has officially been appointed to take John Gallianos place at luxury house, Dior. 

Balmainia

Balmain Crocodile mens blazer, Spring 2012.

Bejewled Beetle

Hand decorated Maquech Beetle, with attachment of course. Worn as jewelry in Mexico. 

Golden Balmain Goddess

Balmain gold, laminated nappa skirt. Can be bought here for $11k minus some change. And shes not so bad either.

"The Worlds first all-diamond ring"

150 carats. Made by Shawish Geneva. Valued at $70 million.

Floating Cinema?

Archipelago Cinema, Thailand.

250 Years of Creed, 20 ans of Christian - Allez!

I'm a big occasions person on the contrary, I will be the epitome of 'that Mother' who writes endearing notes, on no less than either kitsch, kawaii notelets or the opposite, being some high end card enclosed in a golden foiled (real, of course) envelope, titled 'To my Darling' on the front. Moreover, I love celebrating milestones, occasions and any other nonsensical Holiday that there is. And designers are no different, milestones in a business's viewpoint is a fantastic time to create ooak items, collectable items, collaborations with random companies they have no correlation, and better yet, get totally crazy! Christian Louboutin, being the one who of course took the folle route. A man who hasn't always been on the edge of every womans tongue, from actresses to prostitutes, politicians and everyone in between. No, this couldn't be further from the truth. His beginnings as a designer were humble, a small store, as my Mother recalls in London, in the early 90's is where I had my first encounter with the genius. And strangely enough it was his trash, kitten-heel mules I remember my Mother purchasing so vividly. Almost like my mind was telling me to remember them, as I would one day be wearing the 'lady peep' version of the trash-encased delights. The lights went black for a time after, but the spotlight was on, full-beam in the early 2000's when I was re-aquainted with the vamped up, red-bottomed collection. And from then on, his name has been mandatorily in my mouth on a more than often basis. Which brings me to today, 2012, celebrating his 20 years in business, one of the most fabulous, glitzy, show-girl esque collections i have seen in a while.

May you wait no longer.

                                           

Happy Anniversary Cherie!

Below are some fabulous items, from the Louis flats, embellished with Louboutins name, encrusted with oil-washed green spikes and an array of other novelties. To the pill clutch/strap bag, appropriately marked with the Louboutin logo on one side and '500mg' on the other. Clearly he is completely aware of the addiction he has injected into the world. My personal favorite (and yes, the most expensive :-s) is the 'Artemis Plumes', this stunning lime green, iridescent, ombre into sherbet orange Python skin bag with a shoulder strap that will help you resemble the most colorful Parrot in the jungle. And if anything like the jungle, mates should be leaping at your rainbow advances. I have included his sketch of that one too. As well a pic of two of the other amazing Artemis bags in the Capsule collection; one with a shoulder strap, emulsified with little curled leather pieces as well as dangling mini golden, red-heeled Louboutins. How darling. And another with a shoulder strap, that resembles a childs play set of Parisian Iconic infrastructures, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and two little Parisian men dressed in the correct attire serving your favorites. And of course a massive statue on another mini Louboutin shoe in the middle. Enough talking, feast your eyes on this.

Finishing comments go to the $1,750 flacon of Creeds latest, yet extremely limited (Supposedly 300) 'Royal Service' fragrance. Being given a generous sample, courtesy of Neiman Marcus I was astounded at what a beautiful scent this was. I felt Creed began to lack youth, but if this is any idea as to what the next 250 years will be, it is smelling damn right good. Many are complaining about the price point, however I think the hand blown 6.8OZ glass decanter, with a numbered collar attached, also signed by Mr Creed himself, in a metallic silver pen has justified it well enough for me. Not to mention the oh-so-limited nature of it-This certainly isn't the next Flowerbomb. I believe something of this nature is certainly a mini investment, if not an ornate piece that can be handed down for years to come. The longevity of this perfume is also another reason I have fallen for it, not to mention the chameleon affect that takes place, from spray to dry down. The sillage is soft and almost sensual to me, I see myself wearing this from morning to night. Blood, sweat and tears would only add to this already personal scent.

Top note: Like the opening of a palace door, the top note is bergamot from CREEDFleurissimo, worn by the Monegasque princess on her wedding day plus orange zest of Love In White, worn by two U.S. First Ladies.  To this gala start, Mr. CREED adds a hint of crisp Mediterranean grapefruit.

Middle note: Iris from the favorite CREED of Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary,Fantasia de Fleurs.  Mr. CREED adds youth and a contemporary feel with a dab of neroli and gentle daffodil.

Base note: Musk from Queen Victoria’s CREED Fleur de Bulgarie with amber from Eva Peron’s CREED Ambre Cannelle.

Drum roll......

SHE SELLS SEASHELLS

And I ain't talking about the tongue twister. Shells are everywhere this Spring, from the large pearl encrusted Conch shell clutch from Chanel, to the Versace shell-clad prints. I have no doubt many lesser retailers such as Forever 21, Topshop, H&M will also be sporting aquatic accessories.

                                    Chanel Conch Clutch attired with a gorgeous Sea Urchin ring

                                              Versace's Starfish print and gawdy golden ring

                                                       Chanels pearl encrusted Conch Shell

                                           Lanvins spin on it: Scallop shaped evening bags

                                                 Versace's Scallop, mixed shell and Coral print

                                                                   Lanvin Necklace

SS12... And other rainbow frills

Oh, the excitement. This season is a riveting, rainbow war. Neons stampeding their way through the nude jungle, thrashing any mute or jewel tone that steps in their way. Slicing the heads off of monotones alike. But this has been a long battle in my eyes. Neons have always played a backdrop to the drooling brights, the Gucci green, the Versace purple, the Hermes Orange and so forth. Finally they have stepped up to the stage left, right and centre. But Im actually a little disappointed in the usage of most, yes its a neon, but like all colors, some shades don't quite hit the spot. I'm loving Versaces pastel spin off on the neons, pastel indeed but there is this raging neon inner fire in these pastels. Not to mention the leather, studs, seashells and seahorses adorned throughout the collection. Blumarine hit it on the head with the neons, bringing them to the forefront of their collection, for them the neon blood has been seeping its way through the wounds of the past few SS collections.

Versace

                                                                          Blumarine

                                                         'Washed-out-neon' AG jeans

Personally, which is so typical for me, unlike the rest of the world parading their neons right now, as much as I am too, I am even more taken up by the rhetorical pastels throughout ss12. Pastels are found in every SS collection, every year. But maybe my aging eye has just realized it loves them, or maybe the social acceptance of the neon palette has brought me to an equilibrium.

                                                                             Versace

                                                                    Roberto Cavalli

                                                              Chanel sneaker/trainer

                                             Christian Louboutin does pvc & neon for SS12

Another realm I have been stalking is the cosmetic stands in all stores, to name names; Givenchy, YSL, Dior- pure obsession. From Diors ROSE SCENTED, yes, scented when dry nail lacquers. To YSL and Givenchys eye and cheek palettes.

                                                                               Dior

                                                                Dior rose scented polish

                                                                YSL above and below

                                      

Fruits, floral, fancies, lace, bag charms, kawaii doll embellishments etc. All words used in various collections. Typical of most spring collections, sure, but every year designers are faced with the challenge of reinventing, renewing them.

                                                                      Mara Hoffman

                                                                              Lanvin

                                  Christopher Kane SS12 (Already own the rainbow vortex dress)

                                       Louis Vuitton SS12 keeping it classy and feminine in pastel

                                                                Mara Hoffman SS12

                                                                         Louis Vuitton

Donatella chose colorful fruits for the Spring 2012 collection for giant retailer H&M. After maHUssive success last season, it was acquired back by demand. No doubt she will do well again, collabos are mainly sell outs simply due to the media hype they naturally obtain. Missoni and Target in the same sentence, Versace and H&M in the same sentence sends women into a bank balance-declining frenzy.

                                                         Versace for H&M Spring 2012