Must Love Louboutins 2012

Christian Louboutin

Spring/Summer Shoes 2012

Christian Louboutin sets to impress the fashion-loving masses with his latest collection of exquisite designer shoes. The beauty of having even just one pair of these glamourous shoes, is that it can be worn with anything, anywhere, anytime. I think that's the magic of the 'Louboutin heel'. Celebrities and style icons wear them on and off the red carpet, with a pair of jeans or with a fancy evening gown. 

For Spring 2012, Mr Louboutin interprets the trendy wedge heel with a sexy hint of animal print. Sophisticated neutrals are elevated by wooden platforms and plush leather. Heels are bejeweled and spiked for a ritzy rock look. See-through plastic takes on a posh appeal. Ethnic patterns are ornately beaded and embroidered onto handcrafted heels. Feast your eyes on these decorative little foot ornaments...

The red and turquoise beaded pair is on my wish list. Which one is on yours?

Who Wore The Flapper Fringe Dress Better?

Who Wore It Better?
Gucci Sping 2012 Flapper Dress

The LACMA Arts & Film Gala was held this past weekend in Los Angeles, presented by Gucci. When events are hosted by elite fashion brands, it's only natural that stars choose to wear outfits made by designer themselves. Three starlets did just that, picking out 20's inspired dresses from the same Gucci collection, in the same colours, all with an interrelated design, proving that their taste in high-fashion dresses are very similar.

Zoe Saldana wore a cap-sleeved v-neck black dress with loosely fitting top, the skirt draped with gold thread tassels.  
Camilla Belle is no stranger to a glamorous Gucci dress. The actress wore a fringed dress with geometric design, hers differed with slots of white and wide striped straps.  
Evan Rachel Wood fit the part of a 20's screen queen in her knee-length version of the black and gold flapper dress, with higher v-neckline. 

Zoe wore her hair up in a tousled style, showing off her gold Neil Lane earrings. A smokey plum colour adorned her eyes.
Camilla had her hair done in a half-up half-down style. She wore pearl stud earrings and metallic silver eye makeup. 
Evan's wavy vintage hairstyle was in sync with her 20's style outfit. She accessorized with black drop earrings, smokey eyes and a cherry lip.



Zoey wore black peep-toe heels with a double chain ankle strap and a gold heel.
Camilla's strappy gold heels with thin metallic ankle strap are also by Gucci.
Evan Rachel wore gold T-bar sandals, with chain detailing and double ankle strap.


I think these looks would have been equally pretty...if they were all not worn to the exact same event. Together on the red carpet, these three actresses look like part of a stylish Gucci-clad girl band, when each of them should in fact, stand out. As you may know by now, I'm a Camilla Belle style fan, so I'm choosing her flapper fringed look as my favourite. Also her dress wasn't as similar as the other two. Who is your pick?

Make Your Own Lace Necklace

The Savvy Girls Guide 

To Making Your Own Necklace

I am one of the least crafty people you can find, so when I wanted to do a DIY accessory post, I knew I had to get the expertise and advice of the creative and kind Nadia van der Mescht from Cupcake Couture. Nadia is a South African based arts and crafts designer, specializing in exclusive wedding accessories, exquisite vintage-inspired corsages and stationery. She creates one of a kind pieces according to your personal taste and wedding day theme. Here Nadia shows us how easy it is to make a beautiful and trendy lace necklace. 

Step 1 & 2

Step 1:

Gather what you will need:

A piece of lace – you can find some at a haberdashery or even search for a vintage piece in your grannies sewing box.

Pliers

A small, sharp pair of scissors

Small jump rings:  available from most craft or bead shops

Chain: 

Lobster clasp

Step 2

Put the jump rings onto the ends of the chain using the pliers.

Step 3 & 4

Step 3Make a small hole in the lace.  Make it slightly away from the edge so that the jump ring doesn’t rip through.

Step 4

Thread the jump ring with the chain attached through the lace.  Do the same on both sides.

 Step 4 & 5

Step 5

Pull the chain to a peak at the centre this will allow you to find the middle easily.  Bend open a link and add the lobster clasp and jump ring.

Step 6:

This shows how it should look once done.

And Voila!

All done! An easy DIY with a pretty result

Special thanks to Nadia for her lending her time and skills to this guest post. I hope it will inspire you to create your own unique neckpiece.

Stylista of the Week - Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker brought her style and savor faire to the red carpet this past week, as she left New York City for her Australian tour. What's great about Sarah Jessica is that she doesn't stick to a specific style, always keeping her looks fresh and interesting. That's why she is hailed as 'Stylista of the Week'...or maybe I just needed an excuse to feature her outrageous hat somewhere on my blog.

1. Sarah tried on a colour-block look by Narciso Rodriguez for the 'Tower Heist' movie premiere in New York. Her taffeta dress combines unusual shades of soft pink, burgundy-bronze and deep royal blue. Black straps, a bow-belt & pointy-toe Manolo's tie it all together.

2. For the premiere of her movie 'I Don't Know How She Does It' in Melbourne, Australia, Sarah wore a dress from Prabal Gurung's Spring 2012 collection. It has a metallic purple bodice and white pleated skirt, splattered with shimmery violet. She carries a spiked Christian Louboutin clutch and walks in Pierre Hardy heels, her trademark bouncy curls in place.

3. The Sex & the City actress displayed a more sleek look at New York City Center's Reopening Gala. She chose an ensemble from Antonio Berardi's Spring 2012 line. Her contrasting charcoal grey and black coat dress was worn with sheer print tights and Manolo Blahnik heels. Her pulled-back hair matches the sophistication of this look.

4. SJP was a vibrant presence at a press conference in Melbourne. Her gorgeous sunshine yellow dress with colourful abstract print is by Vera Wang. This is my favourite of all her outfits. Aqua pearls hung from her neck and white pointy-toed Manolo's bedded her feet.

5. Sarah channeled Carrie Bradshaw at Melbourne's Oaks Day Spring Carnival yesterday. The actress looked splendid and stately in a two-tone pale pink and white Jonathan Saunders dress. She paired it with a glossy slate grey Antonio Berardi coat. An ornate crystal headpiece, string of pearls and her favourite white Manolo heels completed her look.

6. Sarah Jessica did her fashionable take on 'Ladies who lunch' at the VRC Oak Club Luncheon in Australia. I don't think anyone noticed her tweed Chanel dress. Instead, all eyes were on her enormous and elaborate black sculpted hat by Philip Treacy. A tad too much perhaps? But you've got to take your hats off (no pun intended) to Sarah Jessica Parker. She isn't afraid to experiment with out-of-the-ordinary new looks.

Friday Frills

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.

Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with 

love, grace and gratitude."

Denis Waitley

Hoss Intropia Winter 2011

Spain has given us some remarkable fashion brands; Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear and Mango, each with their own massive cult following. Hoss Intropia is another one of those inspiring brands, but unlike the contemporary feel of the others, this fashion franchise marches to the beat of it's own folkloric drum.

For Fall/Winter 2011, Hoss Intropia paints a bohemian picture in earthy shades of brown, cream, tan, khaki and black. The attention to unconventional detailing is what distinguishes the brand from its counterparts. They create their own unique prints and focus on innovative cuts, hand-beading and embroidery and mixing textures, using quality fabrics. The collection has the charm of a romantic countryside, with military-inspired masculine tailoring. Each eclectic ensemble tells a story of sophisticated style and laid-back elegance.  

I could easily go into a Hoss Intropia store and purchase my entire Winter wardrobe all in one go. I particularly love how each outfit is styled in this photo shoot. It shows off the versatility of the individual pieces, and how creatively it can be worn. All the shoes, bags, gloves, hats and accessories are also part of this incredible collection. The range is so extensive, their shapes are flattering, their fabrics luxurious, and their style refined. Hoss Intropia's Winter collection is kindled with originality, and a beauty that is honest and endearing.

Declarations Of A Drama Queen

There are some things that I'll never understand...Like how pictures never change but the people in them do. How your best friend can become your worst enemy, or how strange it is when your worst enemy turns into your best friend. How forever turns into a few short months that you'd do anything to get back. How you can let go of something you once said you couldn't live without. What you once thought was best for you turned out to be the worst decision you've ever made. When you thought you knew it all, there was something more to be learnt. How quickly trends pass but how steadfast true style remains. How in just one instance your entire life can change. How the people who once wanted to spend every second with you, think a few minutes of their time is too much to spare. How people make promises despite knowing how common it is for promises to be broken. All the things we said we'd never be are the people we've become. It's strange how we make money but buy friends. How you can have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. How we have the ability to hear, but not to listen. How we easily accept insults but shyly refuse compliments. How you can take a step forward yet still be in the same place. That we think about tomorrow before we are able to get through today. Sometimes you have to remove the clouds to see the bigger picture.

Tuesday Thrills - Jessica Simpson Shoes

Jessica Simpson may have gained fame due to her magnetic singing voice, but these days, it's her fashion line, the Jessica Simpson Collection that's receiving all the attention. Jessica began with a successful range of shoes, which grew into an entire fashion franchise, expanding to handbags, accessories, clothing, luggage and fragrances. It's her shoe line that I am most impressed by. Her trendy pairs of heels are modeled on high-fashion designs, at a price that is affordable and accessible. Her fashion-forward footwear is distinctively charismatic, serving up bold colours, geometric designs, sexy silhouettes and the essential stacked platform heel. These are a few pairs from her current collection that I'm smitten with...

1. Rhys in Tawny Blush, featuring a mustard platform heel. $89 or R697

2. Match in Burnt Sienna. Shades of autumn with leather criss cross trim. $98 or R767

3. Elso in Dusty Taupe Hibiscus. A coral & nude T-strap sandal. $89

4. Princess in Cranberry. Tri-coloured slingback. $89

5. Vadio in DP Purple. Vibrant in hot pink, yellow, purple & black. $98

6. Astor in Hot Fuchsia. Gorgeous pink slingback. $79 or R619

7. Waleo in electric Blue Violet suede. $89

8. Ely in Jungle Green. Suede colour block Mary Jane sandal. R98

9. Bendie in Blue Violet, with hot pink ankle strap, and turquoise platform. $89

1. Para in Houndstooth. Classic peep toe in trendy black & white print. $98 or R767
2. Pleasant in Black & Silver. Metallic colour blocked pair of peep-toes. $98
3. Litaa in Burnt Red. Patent and pinstripe with zipped edging. $98
4. Colie in Sand Seaside Stripe. Cream & brown stripes with double stacked heel. $98
5. Easten in Platinum Metallic Herringbone. A glamorous pair studded with sliver. $98
6. Cheetah in Taupe Grey Suede. Versatile shaded Mary Jane platform. $98
7. ChestoWedge in Black. Ruched ankle strap with straw wedge. $89 or R697
8. Pleasant in Tan. Earthy toned colour-blocked peep toe heels. $98
9. Kowloon in Desert Sand. Tan espadrille with criss cross cognac straps. $79 on sale for $29.98 or R235

To view the entire Jessica Simpson Collection, visit the official website here. They offer some great sales, however online shopping is only available within the US. For international orders, you can buy select items from the JSC range through Macys.com

Happy Shopping!