The yin and the yang of spring fashion:

In a cruel twist of fashion, easy, breezy styles fit for the patio and poolside have been front and centre for months, just as we are enduring a seemingly endless winter.

First, on the fall runways for spring there were jolts of colour shock — lavish swaths of electric yellow or brilliant red from the likes of Lanvin, or minimalist magentas cut to perfection from Jil Sander. In the depths of winter, we saw models in billowing living colour taunting us from magazine ads and feature spreads for the new spring look.

They were better than those beer ads; you could just feel yourself lounging poolside in the dappled light, happily covered up in a light-as-feather silk frock. What could be finer? Then there were the spring bouquets — art nouveau prints from Prada, overblown peonies from Balenciaga, bold splashy florals from Dries Van Noten.

Now, spring has arrived in stores in its multi-coloured, flowered splendour. Screeching yellows — often in graphic or floral prints with black and white — are everywhere, from Club Monaco to Mango, and tend to get a “Yuck, who can wear that?” response. They do get your attention, though.

It all gets better from there. Diane Von Furstenberg’s long dresses, so marvellous on the runway, translate into real life — almost. Easier still are hippie-esque floral gowns or ombre ones in which that bright bolt of blue or orange fades to pale.

And the flowers! Delicate bouquets and cabbage roses have an artsy bent, as if scrawled by the hand of a master. These are not mumsy florals, but meant for mixing and mismatching. Even Balenciaga’s fierce runway looks have morphed into splashy — but wearable — prints.

The perfect foil for all this extravagant colour and pattern? Khaki. The classic safari jacket brings the boldness down a notch.

Forty years ago, Yves Saint Laurent introduced the safari jacket, and it has travelled far and wide ever since.

Of course, it was not a new invention — the novelty was in transforming it into fashionable wear. It had been the outfit of Europeans on safari to Africa early in the 20th century. Think Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in Out of Africa — but take away the sweeping skirts.

The safari look remains, in one form or another, the classic travel wear of a certain breed of tourist, both female and male. Its hallmarks include patch pockets, epaulets, belts and button details. And naturally, it’s natural in colour — call it khaki, taupe or sand — anything but beige.

Saint Laurent introduced another daring innovation in 1968: transparency. Paired with the masculine jacket, it makes the perfect balance of yin and yang — and is very much the look of safari 2008.

Another positive: khaki is calm — it will tone down any hot hue or pattern of the season, from brilliant blue and screeching yellow to bouquets of bold florals.

Meanwhile, the snow lingers and we dream of the easy dressing to come. Which will make the pickings all the sweeter when spring finally settles in.

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Want to live out the glitzy “Sex and the City” dream?

A high-end travel company will give you the chance to walk, shop - and even flirt - like TV’s most famous single women in all their favorite New York haunts.

“It’s a real fantasy for women,” said Joanne Konstantinakos, 36, founder of the Destination on Location travel company. “They still talk about this show all around the world.”

Just eight to 12 women at a time will jet into the city for the five-night re-creation of everything Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda and Carrie would do.

It’ll cost $24,000 to join the fun and attend the May 27 premiere of the movie based on the famed series (airfare not included).

There’s a limo ride to the Plaza Athenee hotel, where the next-to-last episode of the show was filmed.

The women will find a welcome bag chock-full of gift cards for “SATC”-friendly stores like ABC Carpet & Home, Takashimaya and Jimmy Choo, and even a never-released Patricia Field handbag.

The first stop is SoHo House, an ultra-exclusive members-only club in the Meatpacking District.

Jet-lagged participants will be treated to a “pretty party,” complete with spa treatments, manicures and pedicures.

“It’s really off the hook,” Konstantinakos said.

One of the first women to book the trip is from Singapore, where the TV show was banned because of what authorities deemed its racy content too racy.

The group will get an exclusive shopping trip and cocktail party at Jimmy Choo, where characters from the hit HBO show often splurged on shoes.

The next day will start with brunch at Cafeteria on Seventh Ave., and the ladies will even get to sit at the tables where Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall sipped coffee on the show.

Since many fans of the show identify with one of the four characters, the tour plans to organize a special “Perfect Saturday” of activities that each character might enjoy.

For example, Miranda-types will take a laid-back shopping trip and go for a jog in Central Park.

Those who like artsy Charlotte will go gallery-hopping, while sex-starved Samantha wanna-bes will head for Babeland, a sex-toy shop in SoHo.

Even though the tour organizers aren’t promising a Mr. Big, they do vow to give the out-of-towners a chance to hook up with real New York guys.

“The power of ‘Sex and the Ci-ty’ is really so strong globally,” Konstantinakos said. “It has a huge appeal.”

Source

Is this an april fools joke?

Tuesday, April 01, 2008
(NEW YORK) Woody Allen has his limits. The acclaimed director, who professed a love of Versace sweaters at last month’s Barneys-hosted bash for Donatella Versace, filed a lawsuit on Monday against American Apparel Inc. seeking more than $10 million in damages over alleged unauthorized billboard and online advertisements that feature him dressed as a rabbi.

“Allen was unaware that AAI was going to utilise his image on its billboard and website,” the lawsuit said. “Allen was not contacted, nor did he in any way give his consent to the use of his image and likeness, and he was not in any way compensated for the same, either prior to the infringement or thereafter.”

The billboards featuring his image in New York and Hollywood were put up in May 2007. The images were subsequently displayed in advertising on the retail giant’s Web site and in sponsored advertisements on other Web sites.

The complaint added the unlawful use of Allen’s image for commercial advertising was “especially egregious and damaging because Allen does not commercially endorse any products in the United States of America.”

A spokesperson for American Apparel declined comment

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STILETTOS can be good for a woman’s sex life, says a study which claims wearing them “directly works the pleasure muscles linked to orgasm’.”

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23157982-5013016,00.html

You know, it’s about time they put out something positive about wearing heels!

ANTM cannot be that bad that Miss Tyra might be replacing herself?! Can it?

There’s been no shortage of tales about Tyra Banks‘ personality conflicts on the set of America’s Next Top Model, but the latest might be the most interesting since it could have a lasting impact on the show. OK! magazine reports that Banks isn’t getting along with photo shoot creative director Jay Manuel, and her days on the show could be numbered.

“It’s gotten so bad that Tyra and Jay aren’t speaking,” an insider told OK! magazine. The selective silent treatment isn’t limited to Manuel, either. “Tyra barely interacts with the contestants and only wants to show up on judging day,” the source told the magazine.

Net result? Banks (who wouldn’t comment on the rumors) might be looking for a new supermodel to helm ANTM. “She’s really throwing all her weight behind her talk show,” according to a source familiar with The Tyra Banks Show. “She’s putting lots of pressure on her staff to keep her show on the map. She had Barack Obama on, she had Hilary Clinton on — she got a taste of playing with the big boys and now Top Model seems to detract from her big plans.”

Source: MSNBC

I hope she doesn’t leave…who knows this could all be B.S. Look forward to the episode tonight when she says someone has the worst photoshoot EVAR!!!

Remember MTV Cribs? Is that show even still on? lol anyway…

My favorite part was not the fancy cars (that are usually rented btw) or the sick ass jacuzzi. The best part are the closets, I must say that Kimora and Mariah take the cake. I could probably live in there with my two kitties un-noticed for a few weeks.

Eva Longoria Parker

The 133-square-foot master closet in Eva Longoria Parker’s L.A. home is full of gorgeous gowns, shoes, shirts—and a coveted Hermes hot-pink crocodile Birkin bag. Taking a glance through her impressive shoe collection she calls her Christian Louboutin espadrille wedges “a beautiful pain” (she sprained her ankle wearing them in Paris) and says she has “always dressed for comfort”, which is easily confirmed by the 50 pairs of jeans and more than one pair of Ugg boots. “Tony loves me in Uggs. He says, ‘Wear your Hugs, honey’—that’s how he pronounces it with his French accent.”

Mariah Carey

The five-time Grammy award winning artist has an enormous, climate controlled closet in her 12,000 square foot Manhattan triplex. However, the vast space still can’t contain all of Mariah Carey’s shoes. “I have about 1,000 pairs of shoes. But lots are in storage,” she says. Carey designed the sweeping space with gold-leaf and bleached-wood floors. “Like Louis Vuitton luggage,” she says, “it will only look better over time.” Few girls would be able to fill the closet, which is arranged by color and material, as well as in event-specific groupings. “If someone else ever bought it [the apartment], she’d have to be a total diva!”

Kimora Lee Simmons

Kimora Lee Simmons, head of Baby Phat clothing line, combined two bedrooms in her 49,000-square-foot Saddle River, N.J. home to create her expansive walk-in closet. “I wanted my closet to look like a boutique,” she says. It contains over 500 pairs of jeans, 35 custom-made Hermes Birkin bags and an extensive collection of jewelry. The closet, which is decorated with leopard-print carpet, marble columns, a mini-bar, and flat screen tvs, only holds some of her clothes—the overflow is stored in other bedroom closets. Everything in her closet is photographed and stored on her computer so she can easily put together outfits, “I’m very neurotic is what my closet says about me,” she says. “It’s always in great order.”

Paula Abdul

The American Idol judge has an impressive walk-in closet in her 5,000 square foot Mediterranean style home in the San Fernando valley. All her outfits and coordinating accessories are numbered with tags so she can easily pack for trips and events. Her impressive shoe collection is made up mostly of high-heels—”I always wear heels unless I’m working out,” says Paula Abdul, who is just over five feet. Even with all of those shoes the former choreographer claims, “A comfortable pair of jeans, a great belt, and a leather jacket is all I need.”

Source: Instyle.com

So at work we were talking about random stuff, and someone brought up this website called polls boutique. I checked it out and lo and behold it is addicting! I like it because I can get other people’s opinions about things I want to post about or buy for myself. Take a look at my latest poll:

http://www.pollsb.com/polls/view/7822

Turns out these shoes by charles david won: