You know how sometimes you go to a party all dressed up and hope that someone takes your photo so that the next day it shows up on one of these awesome street style blogs? Well, at the Louis Vuitton party held at the Natural History Museum, Bill Cunningham stalked me and took hundreds of photos of my outfit, my darling shoes, and my miniature hat, all of which I bravely wore on the subway coming from the Bronx. I searched for days, almost weeks, to find at least a glimpse of myself on the NY Times Style section, to only today find my butt featured in a men’s style video…Of course, welcome to my life!

If you like, watch the video here.

What if I told you rocking a designer clutch could be done for as little as $80? They might not be quilted lambskin or alligator leather, but Oonagh O’Hagen x Browns recently released three adorable totes with screen-printed Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton clutches on them! Hey, might as well be glamorous while lugging groceries home from Trader Joe’s! 

GET IT AT: Browns 

Thanks Refinery 29!

With their Fall ‘09 collections having hit the runway, we’re expecting just as great of a show for Spring 2010 from these top 20 designers.

MAINSTREAMERS

Alexander McQueen:

Each of McQueen’s Fall ‘09 pieces were sculpted to perfection to create forms in unique patterns and versatile shapes.

Marc Jacobs:

Marc Jacobs was all about the bright colors with this collection. Grabbing inspiration from 80s fashion, the neon hues and big shoulders were a hit on the runway.

Prada:

With fur shapes, wool suits, and some knee high boots, Prada styles hit the runway in edgy fashion

Balenciaga:

With draped satin and silk, paired with fitted tops and flowy dresses, the Balenciaga collection was all about luxury and versatility.

Louis Vuitton:

Bubble skirts, coats, and a ton of accessories marched down the runway for Louis Vuitton Fall’09, of course, bright colors added that perfect touch on all pieces.

Donna Karan:

Fitted coats and long skirts accessorized with belts and necklaces produced a strong collection for Donna Karan this fall.

Alexander Wang:

Focusing mostly on blacks and whites, Alexander Wang explored much more with textures for fall ‘09. With each style paired with a matching accessory models looked the part from head to toe.

Moschino:

Ruffles and roses were at the forefront of Moschino’s line up for this Fall ‘09 collection. Navy and black dresses with a hint of red adds that special something to each piece.

Roberto Cavalli:

Lace leggings, fur jackets, and knitted fabrics were all part of Roberto Cavalli’s image for Fall ‘09.

Lanvin:

Leave it to Lanvin to let loose black gloves and intriguing silhouettes down the runway. With dresses and coats in beige, black, and white, the designer remembers the excitement of color with the occasional spark of red.

Proenza Schouler:

Though many designers stuck to inspiration of the past for Fall ‘09, Proenza Schouler kept it modern for the runway. High necks and fitted coats were all a part of the designers vision for the season.

Alexandre Herchcovitch:

Alexandre Herchcovitch was all about the idea of chaos for his fall ‘09 collection. Taking inspiration from big cities, multi-textured coats and printed dresses marched down the runway.

THE INDIE TEAM

A. F. Vandevorst:

For Fall ‘09 A.F. Vandevorst dreamt-up silk dresses and fur vests colored in quite a specific scheme. With trenches in variations of beige, green, and black it’s clear that this collection was one of a kind.

ADAM:

Releasing an array of colorful styles, ADAM put forth bright, upbeat separates for Fall ‘09.

Erdem:

It was all about embroidery and intense color for Erdem’s Fall ‘09 collection; lace and satin worked together to create ensembles fit for the runway.

Haider Ackermann:

With flowy dresses under more fitted and architectural coats, Haider Ackermann found that perfect line to combine edge and sophistication.

Ann Demeulemeester:

Stiff black works combined with soft white dresses allowed Ann Demeulemeester to explore the importance of balance for Fall ‘09.

Rodarte:

Working with pale schemes, leathers, and silk-screened styles, Rodarte lead a flood of breathe-taking dresses and skirts down the catwalk.

Phi:

Zippers and sequins were among Phi’s best looks for the Fall ‘09 season. Edgy styles made it clear that the collection was really for the strong and independent woman.

Albino:

Focusing on geometric shapes and silk dresses, bronze, black, and even a few bright-colored numbers made a strong statement when they took the runway.

First she was caught giving it up to Gucci for a little charity cash, then she stretched herself out for the big boys at Louis Vuitton, and now it seems Madonna, fashion’s ultimate groupie is giving up the goodies to Dolce & Gabbana.  It must be Jesus fault for staring in their ads but the rumor on the catwalk is that her Madgesties next video, “Celebrate” will be dolled out in head to toe D&G.

I honestly don’t know why all these design houses kill themselves for this granny. Everyone with an eye on fashion knows her only true love is that Jersey douchebag, Ed Hardy.

QUICKLINK: Madonna’s Next Video Is a Dolce & Gabbana Fest

Louboutin booties for 207$? Dream on. As I’ve now learned from The NY Daily News, if you think crazy markdowns are too good to be true, they probably are. Yes, we all know that sites like Bluefly.com, Guiltgroup, and Hautelook give great deals on designer clothing and shoes (Bluefly sells Louboutin for $200-$1100), but these deals are legit, and the shoes are manufactured in Louboutin factories, not sweatshops in China or Thailand. 

Each year, $600 Billion counterfeit products are sold, causing a $512 Billion loss in global sales. And each year, Harper’s Bazaar runs an editorial investigation on fake trade, and the significance of purchasing authentic luxury products. They’ve put together a site called Fakes Are Never In Fashion, to help readers learn the dangers of buying fake, and how to be sure you’re buying the real deal.  There’s also a blog called Counterfeit Chic, that tips off online shoppers to fakes, and Lululemon even posted on their site a 9 step how-to for spotting their fakes on the web and on the street.

You may think that buying fakes isn’t a big deal, just a more affordable way to get designer(ish) goods, but aside from being illegal, and costing billions of dollars to the retail industry, most of these goods are produced overseas in sweatshops, under disturbing conditions. NY Daily News reported:

“In a recent sweatshop raid in Thailand, a group of children, all under 10 years old, was found assembling leather purses. Horrifyingly, their limbs had been deliberately broken to keep them from escaping. The owners had tied their lower legs to their thighs so the bones wouldn’t mend.”

After reading this, I’ll never for a second consider following one of the vendors on Canal street down a dark alley or into a shady apartment, and even though I can’t afford luxury designers, I’ll save my money for Portero or Bag Borrow or Steal or buy vintage styles or from a good boutique that’s more in my price range.  

Many people might see buying fakes as a harmless crime, but when you think about who is making these fakes, think twice before you buy.  You may think you’re ’sticking it to the man’ by buying ripped off designs, but you’re basically telling the evil man that it’s okay to use and abuse children to make your fake Louis Vuitton handbags and Jimmy Choo shoes.  Get smart, and if you can’t afford luxury items, look somewhere else!

Some expeditions are so rare and fantastic that they merit a huge celebration forty years later—as was the case for last night’s Louis Vuitton party honoring Buzz Aldrin (above left) and the first successful voyage of man onto the moon. My own expedition—across the park to the Upper West Side to the Museum of Natural History—was decidedly less buzz-worthy, but I can almost guarantee my destination was more fashionable than Neil Armstrong’s forty years ago.

Because Louis Vuitton is one of the few luxury brands surviving—and thriving—during the recession, it is to be expected that they throw over-the-top, lavish parties that compete with the bacchanals of ancient Rome—after all, who’s left to do it?

I arrived early and the atmosphere outside was unexpectedly calm—no ravenous party crashers frothing at the mouth for their free Moët. Usually I walk the step-and-repeats, but I took one look at the gigantic carpet with a cluster of video crews at the end and decided to pass. I imagined later that it would have been one small step for me, and one giant rattling of my fragile nerves.

Downstairs was still mostly empty and so the full selection of hors d’oeuvres could be enjoyed without the terrible despair that ensues after you trail one of those handsome cater waiters, only to find that their silver platter has been pillaged. Food, however, lost all value when I spotted Bill Cunningham in his signature blue windbreaker, darting rapidly around the room with his camera like a lone ranger. I positioned myself strategically and waited. Sure enough, my outfit was blessed with Mr. Cunningham’s approval in the form of a few camera flashes and I quietly checked off another achieved goal on the running list I keep in my mind.

The first celebrity I spotted was Cassie—immediately recognizable by her half-shaved head, which on one side makes her look like a glamorous goddess and on the other, like a Thai lady-boy. I assumed from the star shape etched into Cassie’s bald side that she was she was celebrating the celestial occasion in her own special way.

Shortly after, Whitney Port arrived. Almost immediately, a steady stream of strangers approached Whitney—all wanting a piece of the reality star. I was guilty of this as well—but at least I was fabulously dressed, so it was excusable in my mind. I went up to the delightful Ms. Port, who’s bubbly and beautiful in person. I asked if she ever had dreams of being an astronaut while growing up.

“You know, I think everyone somehow thinks in one way or another that being an astronaut is so whimsical and amazing, but I don’t know, after fourth grade, learning about the whole solar system and doing a report on Venus, I was fine just settling with that.”

I couldn’t bait her on what she’d do if she were locked in a space shuttle with her City

co-star, Olivia Palermo. “I’d make it work,” she said. “I’m not like that; I’m not territorial.”

The most interesting interaction that night I had observed was not Buzz with the president of Louis Vuitton North America on the grand staircase, but rather between Whitney and Jessica Szhor (Gossip Girl) when the latter had arrived. Despite having ostensibly never met before, Jessica made her way over to Whitney and introduced herself. It made me wonder whether the famous share some sort of supernatural bond with one another.

Jessica was wearing Louis Vuitton Fall 2009 shoes—the ones with the sky-high crazy heel that looks like an hourglass—and that, come to think of it, wouldn’t look out of place as moon shoes. I posed the same question to her.

“I think I was always a little bit too scared of what would happen, but I think it would be amazing to go to the moon and that’s the one place I’d want to go to that’s crazy and far away because people have made it back.”

“If you could go to the moon, who would you take with you?” I asked her. “My mamacita!” she cooed.

–Adrien Field

www.AdrienField.com

GALLERY: RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Louis Vuitton Spring 2010 Menswear

Thanks Men Style!

Thoughts?

SOURCE: NY Mag

Unless you’re a Broadway star, you most likely can’t sing as well as you act. In addition, if you’re dumb enough to sell your soul to reality television, you probably aren’t literate enough to write a novel, let alone spell your name. That being said, it is beyond me how today’s celebrities think they can be virtuosos and dabble in careers that require talent. Here’s a list of the ten most annoying, basically talentless, celebrity multitaskers. Read it and weep: 

1.) PARIS HILTON: Even though she’s only famous for being daddy’s little future trust-fund baby, Paris has unfortunately soiled the world as an actress, reality television personality, singer, model, fashion designer, perfumer, television producer and porn star. And people wonder why foreigners laugh at Americans. 

2.) KATE MOSS: Aside from blowing coke, Kate has flirted with modeling, acting, singing, designing for TopShop and writing a cookbook! 

3.) LINDSAY LOHAN: When LiLo isn’t taking part in bulimic vomit sessions, she enjoys acting, singing (poorly), modeling, designing leggings and pretending to be a lesbian. 

4.) KANYE WEST: When the people at the Gap send Kanye home after a long day of interning, the Louis Vuitton Don loves to rap, write songs, design shoes, attending shows at fashion week and shave Amber Rose’s head.

5.) LAUREN CONRAD: Although Lauren’s clothing line failed miserably, she avoids suicide by keeping busy with being a reality television personality, appearing in Family Guy, singing, writing her autobiography and attempting to sell the remainder of her clothing line. 

6.) HILARY DUFF: She hasn’t been in the tabloids lately, but Hilary’s repertoire consists of acting, singing, modeling, designing clothes and looking like a horse with those veneers of hers. 

7.) PETE WENTZ: Being a douche bag is tough work, but Wentz still finds time to sing, act in CSI, design hideous clothes and own several bars. 

8.) HEIDI MONTAG: Wiping Spencer Pratt’s ass is awfully time consuming, so props to Heidi for making time to be a reality television personality, actress, singer and model. What an ambitious girl! 

9.) FERGIE: Aside from being the universal spelling-bee champion, Fergie prides herself on her singing, acting and designing careers. G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S. 

10.) NICOLE RICHIE: With a second baby in her belly and a reality television, singing, acting, maternity-wear designing career under her belt, Richie is the ultimate mom.

Maryna Linchuk lounges around in lingerie, sequins and fur in this editorial. Check out her Louis Vuitton thigh-high boots, wouldn’t you just love to lounge around in them too?

GALLERY: Maryna Linchuk for Numéro Korea

SOURCE: Fashionising

Let’s all take a good look at this, and make the unanimous decision that the ‘photoshopper’ should be credited for this more than Steven Meisel (supposedly this took over 23 Photoshop layers to create).

Does the monogram print ever get old? I think not!

Gallery: Louis Vuitton: Fall 2009 Accessories Collection

via Selectism

Madonna for Louis Vuitton F/W collection, shot by Steven Meisel.

Thoughts?

SOURCE: YVY Mag

The latest watch from Louis Vuitton, made of 115 hand mounted pieces, has no visible mechanisms and floats inside an invisible face. Totally customizable, with options in platinum, yellow gold, diamond, rubies and sapphires, the watch can also be engraved. Available only by special order.

For once it is not Louis Vuitton who is suing someone for faking their bags, they now get to experience the all the fun of being sued. It could be up to $12 Million worth of fun, all because they charged $6,000 for a piece of framed handbag scraps. When you consider that the handbag itself sells for $1,000 it seems pretty ridiculous. I take that back, $6,000 for any type of handbag scrap is ridiculous, I’d sue too.

SOURCE:  Racked

GALLERY: RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Louis Vuitton Resort 2010

Thanks Style!

Definitely not a look for the bashful.  Celebs have been spotted a few times now wearing perfectly matched dresses and leggings.  My mom used to always tell me to compliment, not match, but I think taking advice from Leighton Meester (at the MET Gala) may be a better option?

Get some crazy leggings at The Costume Dept. or by Brian Lichtenberg, go and search for the perfect matching dress, and be the first to try out this trend!

M.I.A. in Brian Lichtenberg leggings (with a matching leopard tee!)