a tee and a pair of thigh highs

"she's like, 'i'll do the thigh-high boots pregnant.' she wears the same kind of stuff she did before. i think women are sexier when they're pregnant, so why not go for it?"
- michael kors on heidi klum

ciara in a simple white tee and christian louboutin's circus suede and net thigh highs. so hot!!

something's gotta give

“it is the characteristic excellence of the strong man that he can bring momentous issues to the fore and make a decision about them. the weak are always forced to decide between alternatives they have not chosen themselves.”

- dietrich bonhoeffer

rodarte motorcycle jacket

usd3,795 @ bergdorf goodman nyc

biker jackets never went out but with rodarte's version just in, an update may just be in order. something's going to have to give. what will it be - the european holiday, the laser hair removal package or next month's rent? hmm. tough.

the new blouse

"i won't take my clothes off because i can't believe it's necessary. you can be sexy with your clothes on just as well as you can by taking off your blouse."

- heather thomas

jason wu fw09

chloe asymmetric silk blouse

gbp530.43

matthew williamson sequin-embellished silk t-shirt

gbp1,373.91

marc jacobs perforated silk blouse

gbp756.52

derek lam oversized hessian t-shirt

gbp543.48

alexander mcqueen silk crepe pleated blouse

gbp460.87

ladylike chic has returned this fall. try pairing your staple pencil skirts with the new t-shirt blouse for a chic workwear option. netaporter has some great examples (above).

not exactly the look we were going for....

"success is dangerous. one begins to copy oneself, and to copy oneself is more dangerous than to copy others. it leads to sterility."

- pablo picasso

alice + olivia shrunken military jacket

usd440 at singer22

alice + olivia beaded collar zebra stripe blazer

usd495 at nordstrom

dear, oh dear....

watching you, watching me

"wear your learning like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out, and strike it, merely to show that you have one."

- lord chesterfield

christopher ward henley chronograph in gold

gbp345

chunky, statement jewellery continues to be a strong trend this fall. with all those bangles running up your arms, it's important that your timepiece can hold its own against them. established four years ago, christopher ward is available exclusively online (and ships globally). their pieces are more classic and subtle than the enamel/iced versions which are very popular right now but are offered at the same price point.

good foundations

"we are very excited about this new brand which will have its own unique offering.  it’s time to give the sale customer a place she can call her own."

- natalie massenet on netaporter's little sister, theoutnet.com

net-a-porter has a few more suggestions for building a classic work wardrobe this fall.  update your boyfriend blazer, pencil skirt, shift dress and all-weather trench with a new shoe shape (shoots, brogues or thigh high leather - all accompanied by a hidden platform) and pops of colour/texture in the form of scarves and long necklaces.  the key is to build on the staples you already own and love by layering in fw09 trends.

zara-licious

"the customer is the centre of our particular business model, which integrates design, manufacturing, distribution and sales through a wide network consisting of our own stores."

- zara website

check out zara's latest drop!! luv the shoulders, draping and thigh high boots. remember the balmain-alike sandals? bidding hasn't stopped yet!! you've been warned. get to a store near you, like, yesterday:

- ifc mall, central

- pacific place, admiralty

- times square, causeway bay

- harbour city, tsim sha tsui

- 1 austin road west, tsim sha tsui

- new town plaza, shatin

lots and lots of leg - part II

“i live for meetings with men in suits. i love them because i know they had a really boring week and i walk in there with my orange velvet leggings and drop popcorn in my cleavage and then fish it out and eat it. i like that. i know i'm entertaining them, and i know that they know.”

- madonna

loro piana leggings

usd1,150

stella mccartney satin inset leggings

usd795

alice + olivia sequin leggings

usd298

leyendecker cut-out leggings

usd140

rock and republic valentina snake leggings

usd125

bergdorf goodman also have an extensive range of hosiery. pair yours with an animal print tee and cropped leather biker.

fw09 trend reports

"if you are not in fashion, you are nobody."
- lord chesterfield

several fw09 trend reports were released this week:

topshop

lace-up boots

one-shoulder dresses

structured minis

sequins

trench coats

harem trousers

net-a-porter

global nomads

after hours

glossy dynasty

90's minimalism

boy oh boy

punk ranger

left bank

new bourgeousie

style

biker brigade

boudoir crossing

fourties and fabulous

party like it's 1983

ruch hour

smart investments

balmain mania

"i'm no model lady. a model's just an imitation of the real thing."

- mae west

kate moss in balmain fw09

george at asda "star trek" mini dress

67% viscose, 29% metal-effect fibre, 4% elastane; made in england

gbp16

balmain ss09 runway look #4

topshop studded tube dress by rare

sweetheart neckline, all-over criss-cross stud detail; machine washable

usd138

selita ebanks in balmain ss09

bebe sequin striped dress

square neck, padded shoulders, exposed back zipper; dry clean only

usd149

the real thing goes for thousands of pounds. the high street version definitely won't feel like couture but you will be able to afford the bangles, clutch and sparkly sandals aswell. with so many easily accessible copy-cats out there, leave the real mccoy to the celebs.. or diy!! at least until the markets improve.

a real deal

"jewellery takes people's minds of your wrinkles."

- sonja henie

j.crew jewelled garland earrings

hand-casted brass with hand-set glass stones; surgical steel posts

usd79.50

j.crew constellation locket

czech glass crystals on 18k shiny gold-plated brass; 32" chain

usd50

j.crew jewelled garland bracelet

hand-set glass stones interspersed with grosgrain bows; 7 1/2" length

usd95

j.crew pearl-cluster bracelet

12k gold-plated brass chain linking pearls and fireballs; 7 1/2" length

usd78

j.crew majesty stone bracelet

hand-cut glass stones on hand-casted brass chain; 7 1/2" length

usd78

j.crew is going upmarket with its new collection of "instant heirloom" jewellery. the styling is elegant and very old-school whilst the prices are extremely recession-friendly. one could even imagine them being used as wedding pieces....

work it

"i'm not squeamish at all. as a child I dragged a dead squirrel home on my skateboard and cut it open and tried to look at its brain."

- jessica biel

jessica's got the row's lambskin colton jacket working for her be it shopping with friends or on the red carpet. very cool indeed.

the jo-bros work theirs too!!

diamonds and pearls

"the rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment, are diamonds and pearls."

- jean de la bruyere

erickson beamon multi-strand pearl and crystal necklace

[close-up]

chanel classic flap bag in white cowhide

timeless accessories make easy companions for lazy sunday brunch.

caging lunatic

"you can cage the singer but not the song."

- harry belafonte

acne cage skirt ss08

susie bubble in norwegian wood leather cage skirt and belt

 

susie bubble in norwegian wood floral cage skirt

savant a-line cage skirt and bandage bralette

savant a-line cage skirt

topshop structured mini fw09

to be worn as an accessory rather than an item of clothing in itself, the cage skirt is currently experiencing a comeback of sorts.  although technically acne's original version first popped up on their ss08 runway, it was never produced for stores [gasp] so the fashion pack have not been able to rip into this until now.  norwegian wood has a fabulous online store via etsy and debut label savant is offering a more grown-up version at i dont like mondays.  try layering patterned versions over solids (like a form-fitting tube dress a la christy last monday) or vice versa (the solid stripes of the cage actually work well in breaking up a busy print).  for the fuss-fearsome, topshop have a very cute all-in-one option in the form of a seamed, structured tulip mini.  a penny for your thoughts?

especially fur you

"the duchess!  the duchess!  oh my dear paws!  oh my fur and whiskers!"

- white rabbit in alice's adventures in wonderland by lewis carroll

lanvin fw09

etro fw09

emilio pucci fw09

antonio berardi fw09

on the street - at the cafe, paris

on the street - teddy bear too, nyc

on the street - vika, paris

on the street - les tuileries, paris

kate moss

"mario testino portraits" show

national portrait gallery, london

2002

fur has mesmerised women for decades.  fashions come and go, but furs always remain.  there is something incredibly girly about the movement alone and then the way the hairs immediately stand when an icy chilly breezes by is fantastically romantic.  fur continues to make a statement this season, as illustrated by the above runway looks and so chicly translated to "the street" by the sartorialist's (my favourite blog of all time!!) subjects.  wear it fluffy and hip length with silky nothingness underneath.  kate moss has been wearing hers like this for years.