The H&M blog for their Roberto Cavalli collection has released some photos from the upcoming collection (due November 8, 2007). These pieces are every bit as whimsical and glamorous as his other designs, yet with H&M pricing, you and I can now afford them!

There was one piece, a leopard print dress, which nearly made me weep it was so wonderful. I don’t have to explain how phenomenally expensive this piece would be in a Cavalli boutique. My personal countdown has begun, and I have officially requested the day off work to dive into this collection on its release date.

My most favourite item shown so far is a white blouse which looks to be nearly band-costume like. I love it! As expected, there is much animal print and metallics. Below are some images from the RC for H&M blog. One of the images shown below is a gorgeous gold cocktail dress which I am also particularly excited for.

A jewelry shot was also released (below).  These pieces are every bit ornate and detailed as one would come to expect from Cavalli, regardless of the fact that these will be produced for a fraction of what he normally may charge.  Prepare to prime yourself to be every bit of an everyday exotic.

On Thursday November 8th, 2007, Roberto Cavalli will be releasing his specially designed line through Swedish retail giant H&M. Madonna’s line sold out in mere hours, so I would suggest scooting yourself down there as early as possible!

View the official H&M press release here.

The press release states that Roberto Cavalli will be creating a collection for men and women described as “…no place for shyness and no possibility of ending up with a mainstream wardrobe of everyday basics.”

I, for one, am eagerly anticipating this collection’s release. I am not thrilled at the idea of many slob-like people buying such items and not understanding the gravity and worth of such a collection (who may in turn pair these pieces and pair them with ill fitting outfits) but one can only hope for the contrary!

The line will be released to 200 select H&M stores (not yet determined) and will consist of 20 pieces for the mens collection and 25 (including lingerie) for the womenswear line; both including accessories.

Good luck and happy shopping!

I’ll let you decide if you’re going to need five months to get used to these ones, or not!

Womenswear:

Lingerie-Inspired
From camisoles to flowing sheer fabrics. I would say that these styles tend to make you look very under dressed, but we’ll see how the designs materialize in the coming months. I do, however, enjoy Marc Jacobs’ take on this slip-dress shown below. View the spring 2008 collection here.

Ombré
These dip-dyed looks are making an extreme comeback. Seen on everything from purses and clutches to dresses to shoes, this can be a fresh look if done correctly. Below is Prada’s patent leather tote featuring the distinct ombré fade. There is also a very similar bowler version that works well indeed with the color choices the house went with.

White Suits
Saturday Night Fever, anyone? Both men and women will be sizzling with the white suit this coming spring. This has been seen in Michael Kors’ collection, as well as Rag & Bone and Chaiken (pictured below).

One Strap Dresses
While treading quite close to Grecian goddess status, I saw one dress done by Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. line that caught my eye. A strapless piece is below a layer of sheer tulle which pulls over a shoulder for the asymmetrical look which extends down to the bottom of the frock for a tulip bottom effect.

Tie Dye
Don’t worry, this season isn’t a hippie extravaganza just yet. Instead of all-over bursts, count on small, concentrated areas of expression; or single areas of focus. Photos of these pieces were suprisingly hard to come by, as soon as I have one to include I will. In the meantime, keep a watch out for Narciso Rodrigeuz’s spring collection. He has a few dresses and cardigans which feature the look.

70s Safari Inspired

Welcome to the jungle inspired by the disco era. I am personally not that thrilled to see this particular one come back, but what can one do? Below is the DKNY offering for this look.

Nude Gowns

Light, graceful and feminine. And breezy. You can’t forget the breeziness factor. Pictured below is Monique Lhuillier’s possibly breeziest dress yet, which also is quite reminiscent of a fairy’s look.

Ruffles

This is look is reminiscent of the old west, only with paved roads and funkier shoes. Christopher Kane’s explanation of the ruffle inclusion in his collection was late night viewings of horror films like “Carrie”. It works for me.

DIY Clutches

This one is quite interesting. Basically, you grab your bag under the handle, and let the straps dangle below. Any of your bags can potentially run with this new trend, and allows a small reprieve for your wallet!

Menswear:

Neon!

I’m really loving that designers are keeping the colored denim, perhaps only because now the green jeans I bought in London last summer (which happen to be identical to the model’s below!) or maybe it’s my hate on for most things neutral. Either way, expect splashes of bright colors where you least expect it. Salvatore Ferragamo offered a lovely splash of red under his spring suit, while Gucci provides us with the glimpse of green.

Minimalistic Layering

This comes as no shock, but springtime heralds the time for flowing clothing with more of an airy, springtime look. Shown below is a man exactly as he should be in the springtime, compliments of Band of Outsiders.

Sheer Fabrics

Adding even less weight to the male look this season, the look of barely there fabrics surface. This is the way to door sheer without looking like a male escort. To the right is Fendi’s, while the left belongs to Yohji Yamamoto.

Synthetic Attack!

The reign of the unnatural fibres has begun. Burberry Prorsum has a beautiful burnt sienna trench (pictured below) that I cannot wait to see on the stylish man (though I will only have a faint hope of seeing this one during my trip to London in March…sigh…)

Cropped Pants

Cynics may be calling for immediate flood preparation when they spy these cropped pants, but I welcome this new wave of cropped pants. Paired with the right shoe and shirt, the potential for outfit combinations is limitless! My absolute favourite look of the season is shown below on the right by Junya Watanabe, while the left is Comme des Garçons (a look which I can’t help but think rings quite true to Pete Doherty).

I call these my indie granny heels.  Usually, I don’t venture out of the realm of the flat (considering I tower at basically 6 ft without assistance) but these were too vintage-pretty to pass up.

I found these at Urban Outfitters for $88 CA plus tax.  I picked up a pair in black, though they are offered online in a more vivid range of colors.  For all you tall girls (or boys; let’s not discriminate…) this little number is a godsend.  The shoe is comfortable enough to be worn for long periods while you won’t be wheelchair bound for an evening affair after all-day wear.

I do like these with skinny slacks, but they are one of those versatile styles that can be worn with nearly everything from dresses to shorts, with tights, socks, or barefoot.

I was very pleased to see they were made out of leather and not some fall-apart veggie variety.  They fit well (even with socks), and are true to their advertised sizes.  If you’re poised for a visit to America, or have an American P.O. box, you can get these for $10 cheaper online.

One last item worth mentioning is the sole; the designer added an oval sized rubber grip.  This is your deciding quality if you cannot decide whether to buy vintage or not.  Take my word for it, heels with a slick bottom are good for one thing only: eating sidewalk.

Verdict: if you can get them online or in America, do.  With the dollar as it is, it will be worth it.  A good little shoe that will go with anything and is worth the money.

Hello, my name is Victoria and I love lamé.

This is my confessionary statement of adoration for this liquid metallic fabric that to the uneducated ear sounds so icky, yet so intriguing!

I’ve had this morbid fascination when it came to these accessories ever since I heard Balenciaga was making custom pairs for $100,000 each. That is no typo. One hundred grand. I’ll let you calculate all the necessary life goods that one would be purchasing before a pair of these bad boys, and make no mistake: they are constructed out of fabric; not actual gold. Nicholas Ghesquiére is either a madman, or a genious.

Here’s the deal: I bought my first pair of lamé leggings from the South Granville American Apparel about three weeks ago. I’m not going to lie, I was hesitant. I grabbed up a pair of gold lovelies; and was quite the hesitation monster while feeling quite humbled by the potential of myself looking as C3-PO’s long lost daughter entered the change room.

Suddenly they were on. I looked down and thought: my god, this is magical! I stood inside, kind of dazzled at my own bottom half for a minute or so, then realized my very patient friend Kim was still waiting outside for me to show myself.

There I was. I didn’t really know what to say except for “I think….I think I love them! Are they horrible?” Standing by the room door mirror, I examined the side view damage. Bear in mind that since these are pretty much as tight as you can possibly have a pant-style legging there is no escape for any “generous” proportions. If you’ve got alot, anywhere, they’ll show it.

Kim was more than a little boggled by the visual. We decided that if they were smooth, I was venturing into statue-style liquid gold territory so I rumpled them up some and was good to go.

I decided to brave the crowds of judging eyes, since I had seen them worn by some waifs in Vogue [among other magazines]. I figure, who the hell wears lamé?! Goddamn awesome people do. This will be rad. I paid the $40 CA pricetag, and skipped out of the store as one happy customer.

My first wear was a success; my friend Curtis Santiago‘s cd release party. I chose to wear them as a pant with a very long black Gsus t-shirt that read “sport bores me to death” in matching gold capital letters, as well as my new black ankle boots. I was loving it, and definatley got the crowd reaction I was gunning for.

Now comes the frightening side of lamé. Realize that yes, body type matters with this one. You really don’t want to end up looking like Ms. Beth Ditto [of The Gossip], which is to put it politely; is a giant metallic sausage. Treat that fabric with respect and you’ll come out of your party just fine.

A few items I intend to grab up before the’re gone are the bodysuit (which would look space-stellar under a vest and shorts!), the silver twins to my gold leggings and two headbands to match.

All in all, if you decide to dive into the land of metallics for this fall (and I suggest that if you can, you do!) treat this baby with caution. The last thing we want is to see another Beth or gal in a pink 80s getup with mismatched gold leggings. Spare us all the visual torment!

I’m going to come out and say it.

I love suspenders.

The whole idea of an androgynous uniforms for women have always appealed to me fashion-wise and I am thrilled for the glorious return of the suspender!

There are a few things to consider before you don a pair of these delights:

What are you pairing them with? Nothing, after all, screams visual disaster moreso than strong accessories that clash with your overall look and colors. Be sure to take those pants and shorts into consideration with your top (especially if you’re wearing bold colors or prints) to be sure that they will jive with your final addition.

How androgynous do you want to look? To achieve a more feminine air, utilize a lower cut silk blouse or deep vneck sweater with a more fitted cut. If you’re ready to cross into a realm previously only permitted for the boys (and my personal preference) select a more standard shirt or sweater with a higher neckline and pair with a Palestinian or tea scar and a light blazer. The suspenders can be worn under or over the blazer, depending on how bold you want to be!

What is your style? Bear in mind the ensemble dictates how successful your end visual will be, and how much it impacts your audience. If you’re going for the Kate Moss Dior Homme-esque look, chances are you’ll be successful. If you’re pairing only jeans and a sweater you must be more careful and pay attention to the few details you have that will stand out the most.

What is your body type? Suspenders grab attention towards your mid-section, so make sure you’re wearing an appropriatley cut top that will compliment the look.

Some naysayers will denounce this trend, saying it’s clownish and silly. I heartily disagree, as long as you’re put some thought into all of your pieces and have coordinated well you’ll have this one in the bag.

As my continuous love affair with everything 80s-throwback-style continues, now is the time for me to revel in another appearance: the ankle boot. A lovely leg-lengthener for all and a boot which looks just as lovely as a flat or heeled; this is a positive addition to your wardrobe.

I treated myself to two pairs a few weeks ago from (cringe) Payless. I was perusing the site recently and also found a pair of Hassel Collar ankle boots in a variety of colors.

Both styles of are approx. $60 CA. each without a sale, though I see on the US website that they are selling for about $30 US each. If you have a US P.O. box to mail your beauties to, or can spare a day for a trip down I would highly recommend it as retailers have not (and will not) adjust their US/Canadian prices according to the fluxing dollar values. Take advantage while you can!

Nordstrom has a beautiful design by Frye; the “Liv” bootie. I’ll classify this under my “if only” wish list. It is a beautiful black leather with metal buckle detailing over the front, with a classic rounded toe and heel just thick enough to not cause bodily harm while walking over a city grate. This creation will cost you $247.95 US.

Now, the hardest part.

How the *%&* do you wear them?

My favorites are:

• A dark wash skinny jean. A blue dark wash is perfect for fall, and offers a chance to break up all those blacks and grays that will be undoubtedly thrown upon your legs as the weather gets colder. This also works for a dressing up an outfit, as well as going city-casual.
• Leggings! With shorts (dress or otherwise) or a mini skirt, this will lengthen your legs and create a very thin silhouette. This choice is best paired with a boxy blazer or pea coat to personify this even more.
• A dark slack. I found some wonderful Vince skinny black slacks at Winners recently ($60, what a steal!). This pant also has the advantage of being able to step it up for a night occasion, or used easily to compliment your daywear.

Points to avoid:

• Long skirts. Even on the tallest frau, this will make you look like one big stump and an escapee of the nearest Huderite settlement. If you must wear a long skirt or dress, grab a pump or full-length boot.
• Bootleg jeans. The leg is the last place you want unsightly ankle wrinkles and fabric gather. It makes for a thicker leg and gives a heavier feel to your whole outfit.
• Jeans that just don’t fit. I realize this should be a given, but I must add it anyhow. Please, girls: buy your size! Get fitting help from a professional if necessary. Any employee in your neighborhood boutique/shop should be happy to assist you with this. Remember: if it’s they’re too small (I don’t care how thin you are) you will get muffin tops and look like you’re walking on two wrapped sausages. Alternatively, the saggy mum bum isn’t a recommended look either, so get that consult if you need it!

(Previously posted 2007-09-10)

I will advise you this: unless you go on a middle weekday evening and have a high tolerance for belligerent and convincingly mentally retarded shoppers who probably dressed themselves in the dark while drunk, don’t bother. Or medicate yourself as required beforehand.

Perhaps I built the store up too highly in my mind. In London, the H&Ms had funky mod cuts that challenged the average shopper to broaden their wardrobe horizons; and at an affordable price. Their staff were fairly knowledgeable about what was in stock, what was expected to arrive soon and where things were located throughout the store.

I was looking for highlighted items from most of their advertising. Choice dresses and double-breasted coats were on the docket for purchase. I found one grey shift dress out of the group, in a size 14 (?!). Also, to build on the sizing mystery about this store’s layout; it seems that the sizes are stacked from largest up front to the smallest up back which would contradict every other retail experience I have had previously.

The staff were largely teenagers that had no idea what the hell they were doing, or where they were going. Granted, it was a gong show in there, but I expected more proper staffing and scheduling. Slobbish customers were tossing things wherever and creating quite a mess; though I still don’t find this an acceptable excuse for the lack of actual customer service individuals manning the change rooms, tills, and assisting with the finding of garments.

After I managed to find approx. 6 items that caught my eye, it was an approximate 20-25 minute wait for a change room. My friends Quentin & Stephanie had made the trek with me from Vancouver, and I had previously done a pilgrimage all the way from Abbotsford, so there was no way I was going to drop everything and leave. We waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually we were permitted entry.

That being said, what I eventually found was cool, but not spectacular. I ended up getting a black knit dress ($35), a silver skinny tie ($15), a red & blue gingham long sleeve button up shirt ($30), black knit leg warmers ($8) and [my personal pick of the trip] a black utilitarian medium-sized messenger bag with an adjustable strap ($30).

Despite all of this, I will be giving this store one more shot, next weekend when the holiday traffic won’t force me to contemplate retail-induced suicide (and all of you cynics who believe shopping must be put off until after a holiday weekend, hush…it’s not a realistic thought for the majority of us).

I’d like to have a comb through all of the stock after it has been replenished, which I was told by some slack-jawed cashier “every day, or every other day”. Perhaps I am holding onto a failed dream of affordable euro-style clothing for North American masses. Perhaps I am foolish to think that we would be shipped a lot worth a second glance by the savvy, stylish European shopper.

I once had a dream that was H&M. It certainly didn’t involve any of this.

As fall descends upon us, we find the glove trend of yore has burst upon us once again.

Since little cropped sleeve jackets are also in the favour of the fall 2007 trendmonster, this is a perfect addition in replacement of a dull long sleeved shirt or chilly bare skin [unless you plan on getting near frostbite!].

I am pleased to report that opera gloves are making a vivacious comeback. Visually pleasing colors are being pushed by most fashion houses to break up the dominant greys and blacks we come to expect during these months. Carolina Amato has some positively lovely selections; though you’re going to be expected to part with $285 US per pair. Can you just picture these with a cropped blazer? Bliss!

Let’s face it. Not many can afford such dandy items, so I would suggest going to your neighbourhood Winners [if you're in Canada or are close to the Canadian border]. I found a pair of silky soft black mid-length gloves for $29.99; and the best part of it all is the detailings. They have three subtle strap pieces sewn onto the top of the glove; and three brass buttons. Needless to say, I was quite thrilled to find them.

As a second choice you could roam the vintage stores for gloves, but I find that they are largely for very tiny-handed old ladies and are not fit for most. I found these were also typically as expensive as the new pieces which really made no sense as they showed visible signs of wear and much age related winkling of the leather.

For something in more of a mid-range, you can find a mid-length standard lambskin glove with a cashmere lining at Coach for $98 US. These are offered in black, as well as a few color options. Neiman Marcus also gives you an oppourtunity to jump on the patent-leather trend train. Their opera gloves by GIM tag at $175 US. Color ranges include black, dark grey, dark brown, dark green and plum.

Though you will have to tip your spend scale to the +$800 mark for these babies, I feel that these Burberry offerings are truly worth mention. Officially named Burberry quilted patent gloves; I initially saw these in an Elle magazine and almost died. Shown online at Neiman Marcus for the hysterically frightening pricetag of $810, these are the mothers of all fall gloves. Though they are black, the trademark Burberry quilting and wrist buckles more than make up for the lack of vibrance. The shine will command attention still, and let’s face it; you’ll look like you really mean business if you put a pair of these on.

If you’re on a budget, get one basic black mid-length and one opera length. You can build onto the colors after that base has been established and you’ve been accustomed to wearing them.

As for the men, Coach also offers a similar more cropped version of the women’s glove in black. I also found a pair of dark brown Prada gloves at Overstock.com for $199 US; which despite the high figure is quite the deal (approx. $125 off). If you live near the Winners in downtown Vancouver, they have been getting prime haute stock (think Gucci, Armani, etc) at a fair discount. It just proves that if you know where to look there is absolutley no need to pay out full price.

Time’s a wastin’ and the weather is only getting chillier. Get out there and grab a few pairs before your hands suffer the consequences of glove neglect!

Coming from someone who thinks a 5 inch zipper is lengthy enough; this recent wave of high waisted offerings really didn’t thrill me at first look.

Initially, all I could see in my mind was the dreaded “mom” jeans. You know the ones. Hopefully it wasn’t actually your mother wearing these frightening straight-from-the-early 90s hell beasts of the denim world; but I can personally recall a friend of mine during my high school days having a mother who ponched it up with the best of ‘em. I mentally reviewed the possibility of this on me, shuddered in disgust and moved on.

I had forgotten a few things in my initial shell shock:

1) I don’t have a granny ponch.

2) I’m not going to tuck in a tent-like denim shirt.

3) Designers do know how to cut things differently and more flatteringly, I mean, times change.

4) If you pair the pants or skirt with the right top, the high waist can actually be very flattering!

5) I’m not in the 90s anymore. It slips my mind from time to time.

I found out a couple nights ago while I was doing my semi-annual wardrobe cull that I actually do own a high waisted mini-skirt. It was one of those Value Village “its $2.50 so I won’t bother trying it on” kind of deals.

Having little experience in this field, I put it on and threw on a few different shirts to see which looked better. Surprisingly, I ended up settling with my black “drop beats not bombs” t-shirt from TopShop. The letters started just after the point where the skirt ended if tucked in, so things jived well. Unfortunately I never actually ended up going out, so the combination is lying low until this weekend (hopefully!).

I’ve found two particular high waisted skirts that I prefer overall: American Apparel’s and the Gsus pink pencil skirt. Sadly, the Gsus skirt was from the summer collection and is now nearly impossible to find. Not even an eBay query returned any results to “Gsus high waist”. Sigh.

Left to right: unknown, Miss Selfridge

Models are mainly pictured with a blouse-type top, though I encourage you to get creative with ripped up t-shirts or something edgy. I did see a photo of some random at a magazine party a month back wearing this skirt and she had made the mistake of pairing it with another Gsus t-shirt saying “fuck you and everyone you know”. This top would have been brilliant in another pairing, but the bottom words were cut off within the skirt. How do you miss that?!

The above denim is by Miss Selfridge (a UK label). They’re hitting another trend mark straight between the eyes with their inclusion of some lovely purple suspenders as well!

There are definitely some pluses when going for these bottoms; case and point:

1) No more muffin tops. For those unfamiliar; they are unsightly saddlebags of fat [a.k.a. love handles] that pour over the brim of pants that fit too tightly. This is a most unflattering look that can make the skinniest girl look like you’ve just swallowed a bucket full of pudding.

2) No more bum cracks or underwear ride-ups. For those who are familiar with the mentally slaughtering sight of some woman’s crack in your face or the rollercoaster ride up of a hello kitty thong, this one will get you cheering.

3) They define that waist of yours. Have a small waist hiding under those layers? This will surely bring it out.

For those of you that decide to venture down the high waist road, please bear the following in mind: this is a very unforgiving cut! If you have an out of shape mid-section, don’t bother. Nobody wants to look like a rolled sausage. I also hazard you to watch your hips; the very thing that can give you a visual advantage waist-wise can get cancelled out easily if your hips look as wide as a football net.

Though I normally approve of most suspect American Apparel styled items (especially lamé!), their Vegas high-waisted hot shorts scare me half to death. I openly challenge anyone to put these on and make them look damn good. If you think you can, upload the photo to a photo share, such as Flickr, and link me up.

If you’re over six and have no reasonable excuse (such as clamming), do yourself a favor and pass on these fancy wellies. I’ve seen these popping up on Winner’s shelves, and I’m really not sure what frightens me more; the color combinations (with possible glitter) or the fact that these things can’t seem to stay in stock.

The scariest have got to be the animal print. What grown woman should be traipsing around the city sporting a pair of leopard print rubber boots? No self respecting one. I wouldn’t call this bit embracing your inner child, either. Children should not be made to wear such atrocities; as we expect with adults.

I came across a site where I fished off some images of these beasts. Sadly these have been unleashed by a British Company onto this world.

There is one saving grace [throughout my entire online search] to the whole printed wellie craze. Burberry, yet again, has provided us with the classiest option for a rain boot possible. Their Nova Check boot offers the same functionality, yet saves our eyes for despair. This could look potentially darling among a matching Nova Check umbrella and military trench; though the downer is they are $170 USD

My thoughts on the matter are this: if you decide you simply must have a pair, save up. During that time, you can decide if you really want to wear something a fifth grader will be pulling on to jump in the school yard puddles with. It’s your call.

After having much fun with my original blog, conjecture+, that I decided to get a little more specific with my fashion-orientated posts. Initially, I will be backfilling this site with my previous posted material and adding the new posts I’ve been writing in the mean time. I hope you all enjoy it.

Victoria