Un coup de foudre, that’s the French phrase for “love at first sight.” It’s a rare occasion when I find something I’d lie, cheat and steal to have, but an evening stroll in Tribeca led me into a girl wearing the leather studded booties pictured above. I contemplated kicking her knees and swiping the boots off her feet, but I decided a compliment  would be the less delinquent route. Introducing shoe designer Els Proost, her company, Elsa Shoes, easily ranked at the top of my latest obsessions.

Proost has quite the resume having designed shoes and accessories for Dries Van Noten, Emporio Armani, Maison Martin Margiela, Costume National, Hussein Chalayan, Angelo Figus and more, so there’s no doubt why they’re so damn gorgeous. Craftsmanship,comfort and a “fashionable amusing twist” reign among Proost’s design goals, and it’s safe to say she achieves them with every pair she constructs. Like the woman who married a rollerc0aster, maybe i’ll join the bandwagon and marry Elsa Shoes. Now that’s what I like to call a bright future!

Blackbook Magazine took some time to review what has lead to the success of certain cult brands, Martin Margiela particularly. The article talks about how Margiela’s market stradegy being more of an “absence equals presence” approach. It’s pretty short, but well worth reading.

Link

Link

We all know Margiela is a genius, so such good looking gloves should be no surprise from him. These mummy wrap gloves are perfect for the radpily approaching cold weather (which I suppose is already here). I think the coolest detail is the way they decided to not do the standard fingerless look.

You can get your own pair here at The Corner!

Anticipation runs high as us fashionistas wait for the release of “The Book,” a coffee table book that goes inside the design and construction process of all the goodies at Maison Martin Margiela. Published by Rizzoli New York, the book runs for $100 and is due out at the end of October. Until then, here’s a quick flip-through of what you can expect:

Sticker books, crotchless chaps, oversized diapers, skinful va-jay jays and used tissues? If you ask me, these were probably the inspirations for the Maison Martin Margiela Spring 2010 collection. Needless to say, MAJOR LETDOWN. Overall, things looked like a middle school craft project- poor construction, cheap materials and minimal heart. And the makeup, don’t even get me started…I could have done a better job and I barely know how to apply eyeshadow.

Renzo Rosso (founder and owner of Diesel and majority owner of Maison Martin Margiela since 2002), has confirmed that Mr. Margiela is no longer with, or designing the collections:

“Martin has not been there for a long time,” Russo told WGSN. “He is here but not here. We have a new fresh design team on board. We are focusing on young, realistic energy for the future; this is really Margiela for the year 2015.”

Haider Ackermann is rumored to take the reigns.

Rihanna rocks a full sleeve Martin Margiela creation to a show during Paris Fashion Week. Hate the rest of her look, but the white sleeve is amazing.

Courtesy of  Maison Martin Margiela…Only this type of genius can create a shoe-boot!

Maison Martin Margiela is selling these limited edition heels, not in pairs, but per piece for HK$9,900 each or HK$19,999 for the pair. I want them NOW!

Colette always has the best array of merchandise, from kooky (like the above) to red carpet ready.

One of our favorite street photographers Scott Schuman, better known at the Sartorialist, has organized his own pop-up at Barneys! Full of lust-worthy items, Schuman displays his luxurious taste at the ‘SartoriaLUST,’ which includes pieces from Maison Martin Margiela, Dries Van Noten, APC, and Ralph Lauren, among others.  Prices are high, but isn’t that the point of lust-worthy?

LINK LOVE: Racked

The Maison Martin Margiela Artisanale collection number’ 0? features one of a kind items reworked entirely by hand at the Atelier of the Maison in Paris.

GALLERY: RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Maison Martin Margiela Couture Fall 2009

Thanks NY Mag!

**WARNING** If you have an intolerance for shallow observations or you recently modeled in Men’s Spring 2010 Fashion Week, don’t read this. 

The end of June and beginning of July are of importance to me for one reason: men’s fashion week. Yeah,the tailored suits and spring apparel are nice, but what  I really look forward to is the hours I spend cooing over drop dead gorgeous models. The chiseled jaw. The supple lips. The piercing eyes. I’m like a kid in a candy-store!

But these past two weeks have been less than enjoyable for my model addiction. Is it just me, or are designers and bookers seriously skimping on the man candy this season? What once was a Cole, Ash, Luke and Taylor dominated field is now pillaged with some of world’s less fortunate looking creatures. Is there some sort of repulsive man trend I’m missing the boat on here? 

Costume National

Bernhard Willhelm

Walter Van Beirendonck

Maison Martin Margiela

Blaak Homme

Proceed in clawing your eyes out. 

Images courtesy of NY Mag.

GALLERY: RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Maison Martin Margiela Spring 2010 Menswear

Thanks NY Mag!

Arnhem a city in the Netherlands which is described as a new direction in fashion.

Surprisingly, Arnhem has been off the fashion radar up until pretty much now, despite the fact that the fashion festival, Arnhem Mode Biennale, engulfs the whole city at once, celebrating the works of other dutch and european designers. With installations from fashion legends such as Calvin Klein, Viktor&Rolf, Maison Martin Margiela, Balenciaga, and of course the big guns; this is a festival for the fashion deprived to learn of fashion’s heroes.

Beautiful as it is, I wish every county had a city as inspirational as Arnhem, celebrating fashion as it is supposed to be, not as a taboo as it is in some counties. In simple terms, I think London should celebrate british and european designers in the same light, as London exports so much talent, if a festival was held as a tribute, it would be a worldwide celebration!

Written by Dominique White as featured on DazedDigital

Margiela multi denim cape…love Margiela, hate the cape!!!

Photo from Vogue Nippon June 2009.

Or to put it more eloquently, wardrobe. Game. Proper. Yes, a lot of fuss is constantly being made over Michelle’s taste in clothing, but for good reason. Unlike her predecessors, nary a boxy, double-breasted suit or dated color scheme has come her way. And after seeing her in this outfit for the White House Evening of Poetry and Music event this past weekend, I feel compelled to bestow some praise. Wearing a breezy, altered mutli-patterned piece from British design duo Basso & Brooke’s spring/summer ‘09 collection teamed with a pair of white Maison Martin Margiela cropped trousers, the First Lady looked polished, comfortable, and effortlessly chic. Not to mention the drop disc earrings and alluring makeup, which really brings out the composition of this top. Which leads me to thinking…all of the former first ladies just dressed bad on purpose?