She Is Doing A Lot Of Freelace...

  As word spread back in January, that Carine Roitfeld was free of her post at Paris Vogue, people immediately started speculating on what she would do next. Well, so far she will have worked with Tom Ford on his eponymous line, she will have started her own magazine, and also opened a branch of Harper's Bazaar in Paris, she HAS actually consulted with Barney's NY on their fall campaign, (the only one of the above that is true...) among many, many other stories. Now Mme. Roitfeld is going to be launching her own clothing line... This is actually the one I have been expecting, and actually hoping for!
  According to the pic tweeted by an Amber Atherton, she has already produced garments with "Carine Roitfeld" labels! Now, this is the ONLY anyone in the industry has seen, and 1 tweet, does not a true story make. However, if this is true... Let's all pray there is a menswear line!!! Please, let there be a menswear line!!! PLEASE!

Louis Vuitton's Windows Are Brills!

Louis Vuitton Spring 2011 Windows

  I love good displays! Clever is always great, but when they are executed perfectly, it gives me goosebumps! I remember in January of 2000 the Barneys NY windows in NYC were all white, with white furniture, and white mannequins in designer party dresses, lounging about with champagne glasses spilled all over... filled with opaque pink liquid... and Pepto Bismol bottles strewn about... Totally representing exactly how everyone in the city was feeling...

Louis Vuitton Spring 2011 Windows

  Well, the Louis Vuitton windows are totally done that great this season! I wish I were near a major store to see them in real life! My absolute favorite is the ostrich egg display. The eggs are strung up, and the cracked ones have accessories stuffed in them, all in front of a padded fuscia background! LOVE! The actual ostrich with it's neck extending through the wall, and piled with LV "Lockit" bags is no less clever, and so great!

Louis Vuitton Spring 2011 Windows

  And finally the Giraffe is just Great! I love the exotic cartoon quality of this theme! They are so cute, and so funny, if I were there, I would have to stop in, just based on the windows themselves, even if I had no idea what the store was... Does that person even really exist!? Anyway, I hope you like them too! If you are in NYC, send me some pics of the windows, I would love to see more!

Celine Luggage Shopper!

Celine Luggage Shopper
From Styledrop.com

  I am living for this Celine Shopper! The tote has been out for a couple years now, and has been in the forefront of my mind for the entire time! The simple shape, the drastic contrasts they have done to differentiate seasons, everything about it is great! It seems big enough to hold my wardrobe change, and books for school, but doesn't look overwhelming! The subtlety of the Celine logo at the top of the bag, adds minimal designer flare, and isn't braggy. People in San Diego aren't really aware of the Celine brand as much as say the Chanel interlocked C's or the LV on a Louis monogrammed tote. Celine isn't as ostentatious as Gucci, or flashy like Dior. It is the perfect bag for me right now! With tax season upon us, and returns coming in the mail soon, I wonder, if I talk enough about it, will someone get it for me to shut me up!? Hmmm... Now do I want the classic, with the cream colored suede, or the amazing matte black crocodile version? Both? I guess you're right...

Now This Is A Cover!

Kate Moss on the May 2011 issue
of Paris Vogue! Image from
Fashionista.com

  I have to say that I was rather excited to hear that Emmanuelle Alt was taking over at Vogue Paris... Her personal style is amazing, and I have loved seeing what she does for companies, as far as her branding skills go. So it was sad for me to admit that her first issue cover was a bit disappointing, however I am just gonna say that this month was her debut for me! The new cover of Paris Vogue is BRILLS! Kate Moss wearing that navy jeweled Armani Prive Jacket with the helping hands of all those men, it reeks of fantastic 80's fashion spreads, and still is modern and clean enough that it remains current! The red background shows off the navy beads on the jacket, and Kate is working her classic Kate boredom right out of the magazine! So Good! This will be the first issue of Vogue Paris I buy under Emmanuelle's watch! Nice Work Girl!

Wow, Garance Has Some Choice Words For Us!

Garance Dore Photo from
Chaosmag.com

  Garance Dore apparently has no intention of working for American Vogue in the near future. Not that she needs to, she is one of the most prolific street style bloggers out there right now, and one of the most popular style/fashion blogs around. That being said, in one of her recent posts, she has generously decided to "translate" some commonly used phrases used by people in the fashion industry! It is a pretty witty post, and amusingly accurate... I tend to think that people are saying these subtexts when receiving compliments from people I don't know very well... What? Don't you?
  With sayings such as "You look so healthy" being subtexted to: "Is that a muffin top about to pop out of your jeans?". Or "You want my dermatologist’s/dietitian’s/hair-dresser’s contact?"  translating to "You really gotta do something, my dear. Time to get some SERIOUS work done…", it really keeps you giggling... For the most part. She ends up making digs at fashion insiders, who may or may not take themselves too seriously! 

Anna Wintour Photo
from Style.com

  One of the jabs goes to Vogue writer, and party girl, Lauren Santo Domingo, or on Twitter, @TheLSD. Garance translates "If I were an elegant lady in my early 80′s living, say, in Dallas, this would be the best blow-out ever" to My name is Lauren Santo Domingo and I know exactly how to talk to my hairdresser. And I share it with my followers!". Ouch, yes, LSD is a little out of touch with reality sometimes on her Twitter feed, but the thing is THAT is her reality! That is actually why I follow her on my Twitter feed (@ianca)... It is amusing, and not meant to be as ridiculous as it comes out. The big one though is directed at someone a little more powerful... "I’ve had the same haircut for 55 years now, and I don’t think I’ll be changing anytime soon." is supposed to mean "I’m so important, I’m like my own brand. And I’m my own logo. No no no, shhhh. Relax. I’m not for sale : I work in fashion."!!! Yikes, Anna Wintour is definitely not going to be happy about that one! 

Your Favorite Messy Super Star, and Mine...

Courtney and Madonna at the MTV VMA's 1996
Photo from MTV.com

  Do you remember the MTV Video Music Awards from 1994? Afterwards when Madonna was being interviewed by Kurt Loder, wearing the teal Tom Ford for Gucci blouse, and velvet hipster jeans... Then randomly make up started flying through the air, and suddenly Courtney love was there in all of her special glory! What if you had the opportunity to have that ensemble... No, not Madonna's, Courtney's... Well, now the chance is yours!

Chanel Sandals $549
Photo from ebay

Red Dress $299
Photo from ebay

  Ms. Love has opened up her own ebay store! Calling it Courtney Love Couture, she is pawning off her collection of designer duds! From Givenchy sandals with a starting bid of $268, to a $2,999 Marc Jacobs dress, the selection is loaded with stunning fashion items! There is even a red velvet baby doll dress a la 90's, messy Courtney! That beauty is going for a mere $299 starting price! One item I would love to see go to auction would be the Steve Maddens a blatantly wasted Courtney bragged to Madonna about on that fateful night in 1996... Madonna's simple reply? "Mine are Gucci..." Now that would be a "Great Find" post!

A Fashion Profile! Anna Dello Russo!

  Who is that woman with the cherries on her head? That woman is Italian stylist, and fashion editor Anna Dello Russo! With a degree in Italian Lit and Art History from the Domus Academy in Milan, Anna is one of the most recognizable women on the fashion skyline! Mostly because of the shape of her shadow! 

  Her current position as Fashion Editor at Large for Vogue Nippon, lends her the access to the most "Fashion" of fashions. She is regularly seen in amazing pieces from Miu Miu to Balmain, and often in amazing headdresses. Before that she spent 18 years at Vogue Italy, and L'uomo Vogue, where she served as Editor at both!

  As someone in San Diego, not the most fashionable of cities, I love looking at her! Seeing what she does can inspire and teach lessons on how to brave... Her Blog header says it all, "I don't want to be cool, I want to be fashion!" and I think her fearless charisma does just that!  Helmut Newton said it best, when he called her a "fashion maniac!" For God sakes, she reportedly owns 4000 pairs of shoes, not to mention the Prada striped fur stole! So today, on the day of her birth, I sit in San Diego, and imagine the party she is at right now... and sigh... Happy Birthday Anna... Wish I were there!

Images from Fashioncoup.com

   Also from  Trealamode.com

I Am On A Quest!

Lanvin Spring 2011 Sandals
Photo from Style.com

  So while searching for my summer shoes... Dare I say sandals... I was looking through images from the men's spring shows. It is safe to say, it has been determined that I love, LOVE Lanvin, and think that between Alber Elbaz, and Lucas Ossindrijver the brand can do no wrong. So it should come as no shock to you that I went straight to the Lanvin section of Style.com looking for my 2011 sandal. What I came across shocked me... Again, because I remember being shocked back in June when I first saw the show.
  Athletic Sandals. Nearly orthopedic, hiking sandals that are most often seen on middle aged hippy men, who commune with nature regularly, were mixed in with all the Lanvin staples. The nude chiffon tee's, plum colored silken trousers, and necklaces made from horn, and bits of hardware, were being finished with theses "Teva" wannabes. They even have the lug soles and nylon straps, just like their urban naturalist counterparts. I have been looking for  a new sandal (as if I was going to wear gladiators again...), but could this be the one? I would obviously forgo the cargo shorts, and palm tree printed tee's so often associated with the style, and go for slim forest green chinos, white button up, and big statement necklace. But on Luisaviaroma.com they are selling for $595, so that got me thinking...

  I went to ebay. The first step was to eliminate all of the printed nylon straps, and find a pair with minimal branding. I know I won't find exact, so just a hint will do. I wanted simple, and reminiscent of the Lanvin wonders, but blatantly NOT running, hiking sandals, and NOT $600! But they were nature sandals after all... So I chose the most basic ones available! What say you? Beige, black, or khaki? Or should I avoid going down this slope either way? I mean first the sandals, next thing you know I am staying at a Vedic Ashram, eating cold oatmeal... Slippery slope people...

The "Birkinest" Of Birkins Goes On The Block Tomorrow!

Birkin's Birkin!
Photo from Vogue.com

  No, not the $100,000 albino crocodile bag, with a diamond encrusted lock. The original Birkin... In 1981 Jane Birkin was on a plane from Paris to London seated next to the then CEO of Hermes Jean-Louis Dumas, and Fashion History was made! It was the birth of The Birkin. Hermes' iconic bag that I find myself mentioning at least once a day was conceived on that flight, and tomorrow, the Original Birkin Bag goes for auction on eBay... Starting price you ask? A mere $2000...

Birkin's Birkin!
Photo from Vogue.com

  I would like to think that my future Birkin would look like this, as my philosophy is "It's a bag... USE IT!"  I love the way bags look when they are used a bit, they look better with my personal style philosophy... There are stickers stuck to it from her travels, and prayer beads wrapped around the handles. This is definitely NOT Victoria Beckham's purse. This bag has traveled from Haiti to Burma and endless miles in between. The proceeds raised will be donated to Japanese Relief Funds through the Red Cross, so it isn't just a great fashion find, it's a great cause too!