favorite shows from FW 2013 - part 1

now that we've all more or less been exposed to the full-on autumn chill, it's time to remember our favorites from the fall-winter 2013 collections. since I've simply got too many shows I want to talk about, I'm planning to do this in three parts to facilitate the reading process. enjoy & feel free to rave about your favorites in the comments section!

louis vuitton

marc jacobs presented this charming collection of what I call post-coital retro at right where it belongs: "hotel louis vuitton", which was constructed inside louvre museum specifically for the show. paying ode to a beautifully stripped-down liz taylor in butterfield 8; robes, pj pants, satin camis, embellished tulle nightgowns, and lace-edged slip dresses reinterpreted with houndstoot tweed (which were my favorite of the collection), all told the unmistakably particular story of a walk of shame- a very chic one indeed. and I'm pretty glad that the louis vuitton woman has to endure this- you know, some lingerie just has to be seen (although in some looks she had a few really nice coats on to cover up her boudoir chic, but even at those cases she couldn't help but allow us a glimpse into her slip). the dusty color palette consisting of lavender, navy, cream, taupe, moss and touches of flirtatious black seemed secretive rather than demure.

dries van noten

sturdy, shiny oxfords, suits pants, classic blazers and coats, crisp button-down shirts are decorated with feathers, flapper fringes, embellishments, tulle- all that glitters.inspired by the legendary dance partners ginger rogers and fred astaire from the 1930s, the collection is constantly strolling around the absolute edges of both femininity and masculinity, all in once. one thing that stays put during these back-and-forth trips is the vintage-mindedness. strangely, this doesn't feel at all like a case of victor/victoria. this feels very, very right. PS mr. van noten, we've been getting along really, really well lately, aren't we? your spring-summer 2013 was probably my favorite collection in years, just quietly, until this one came along. and, fyi, I'm on the verge of calling you my absolute favorite fashion designer.

alberta ferretti

oh helllloooo downton abbey, perhaps with a touch of the age of innocence. as we watch a young girl mature into a woman through this beautiful collection, the velvet is soft and the embroideries are delicate. serenity of fully saturated colors and uber-luxurious details also seem to accompany her in this sensitive period of passage and help her to figure it out. ferretti certainly knows a thing or two about this whole femininity thing. I also love the idea of adding a touch of the uber-chic late-fifties-to-early-sixties figure to a very fin de siècle spirit.


congrats, you've somehow managed to reach the end of part 1- can't wait to talk about dior, rochas & valentino awesomeness in the next episode of fall collections ravemania with deniz.

that's a good look: wispy birkin bangs

low in commitment, high in impact: sparse, wispy bangs à la jane birkin are surprisingly easy to pull off, style and maintain compared to a thick, blunt fringe; and much less painful to get rid of when you get bored of them- if you ever do, which I wouldn't really expect. I recently swapped my blunt deschanel bangs with a lighter-than-air birkin, and it's been a dream in the styling department. plus I get to feel like jane, i.e. my favorite converted parisian once in a while, although no way I would personally leave london for paris.

we will always have cannes.

 there's something incredibly magical about the idea of a lovely holiday town full for a week with movie stars, directors and producers, I think that's at least one of the reasons why we are so obsessed with cannes film festival. I've always been interested in the off-time looks in cannes than the red-carpet. easy, breezy, summery but still incredibly glam. so here you go, a few old star photos I selected that reflect the spirit of cannes. oh, sweet nostalgia.

Brigitte Bardot

Jane Birkin

Catherine Deneuve

Grace Kelly

Sofia Loren

                                 

1. a must for endless press conferences and dinners. beige sheath dress, tara jarmon, 190 EUR
 2. loafers are ideal for your off-time in cannes; to take a walk on the shore, or do some boating. tod's "heaven" loafer, $365

3. add some riviera-style bling-bling with coral-inspired accesories. kenneth jay lane 22 karat gold coral-inspired cuff, $215

4. swim like a star with this retro french-inspired one piece. topshop black scallop-stripe one piece swimsuit, $60

5. give a break from your regular lipstick by switching to a dash of sheer, shiny tomato red: not a single bit less glam. rouge coco shine "rebelle" sheer lipstick, $29

6. to protect from the sea breeze in the evening, wrap yourself up a bit. kain alva linen-blend cardigan, $285

7. sun is your enemy, and there will be plenty of it, so don't forget to pack a strong shield. clarins sunscreen for face wrinkle control cream spf 50, $30

8. star treatment to your feet.

9. miss dior chérie is summery and relaxed with tangerine and jasmin undernotes, while wild strawberry and caramel popcorn notes make it a star-worthy, remarkable scent. christian dior miss dior chérie eau de parfum, 30 ml, $71

10. not without your powder; especially when there are so much paparazzi around. dolce & gabbana perfect finish powder foundation in bisque, 39 EUR

11. to recreate that star glow, look no further. nars "orgasm" illuminator, $29

breton time!

sometimes I hear people talking about me as "the girl in stripes". oh, you can't possibly know how I love breton tops! they work absolutely every way possible- combine with cigarette pants and flats and you're audrey hepburn. wear it under a trench and you're a parisiénne. mix and match with other patterns to add an eclectic appeal. wear it under your blazer and pants for a smart casual business look.

 

the undeniable charm of breton shirt, popsiclepout tarafından long sleeved blouses ile yaratıldı

those of you who know me have probably heard that I'm leaving for paris next month, to study there till june. as someone who is obsessed with french chic, I know it would be a fatal mistake to go without a real proper breton. not that I don't own countless breton-like striped shirts and sweaters- so many it's ridiculous, but I'm lacking a "real deal", a heavy-cotton, heavy-duty fishing breton shirt; ohe of those they call "meridien."

I had my eyes on this GAP one for a while; the shape is surprisingly right and the material is thick as I wanted it to be, and quite cheap compared to other options, but it happened to be out of stock when I finally went to buy it. argh!

GAP, $29

 A.P.C. makes these wonderful -but overpriced- ones. oh, some day...

A.P.C., $200

J.Crew sells this lovely one buy the quintessential french brand St James, at a more accessible $85.

J.Crew Saint James, $85

meanwhile; let's get some inspiration from the "forefathers":

audrey hepburn

brigitte bardot

charlotte gainsbourg

lou douillon

the sartorialist

there's more to life than books, but not much more.

bookstores have always mesmerised me with their stylishness and tranquility. warm lights, that delicious book scent diffused all around and the almost infinite selection of books to lose yourself in makes an irresistible combination. and for a trip to bookstore, what kind of apparel can be a better choice  than 50's-style girly frocks combined with classic accesorizing and horn-rimmed nerd glasses? 

seems like I desperately need to spare a lazy saturday just to hang around in a cozy bookstore. some great new books and magazines along with a good cup of coffee- oh, it sounds like a dream to me now.

"smart dressing" by olivia graham for the gloss, via sarah klassen

cherries in the snow

I'm a bit obsessed with this 1953 revlon ad nowadays, not only because I adore everything vintage but also it reminds me of these lovely, little but significant things about being a woman. after 57 years after the shade's original release, "cherries in the snow" lipstick and nailpolish are still available today, and if it's such a timeless, universally flattering shade of pink-red, I'm craving to try it. I'll let you know once I get my hands on them!

take a bow.

after all the overwhelming whim over bow headbands over the last two years, it's hardly exciting to see one. but this photo of catherine deneuve from 60's is sure refreshing and inspiring. it's amazing how sweet the headband looks; paired with her long, back-combed bob... and of course, that face. that wonderful face.

photo source: fashionising

halloween costume idea for the super-duper-lazy audrey hepburn fan: jo stockton from funny face

lazy? audrey hepburn fan? still looking for an extra-easy halloween costume? welcome to the club. oh, and I have  the answer that you need: jo stockton of funny face.

a lean, simple, all-over black ensemble is jo stockton's usual daytime look. not a universally recognizable costume, I must admit. but especially if you're going to a classic hollywood-conscious halloween party, it's gonna be oh-so-cool. and, could it be easier? I don't think so.   

what you need:

• a black turtleneck
• cropped black cigarette pants
• black penny loafers
• a beige parka to throw on if you're cold.
• optional: socks, either white or black. she wears a white pair in the famous dancing scene and the promotional photoshoot, and black in the paris tour scene. in my opinion, white should be opted for a signature jo stockton look. actually; there's a pretty interesting story about the socks. during the promotional photoshoot, director stanley donen wanted her to wear those white socks with her black loafers, to add definition. audrey; pretty self-conscious about her rather large feet, refused. it's said that the discussion went as far as audrey ended up reducing to tears, and she had to wear the socks afterall. after seeing the photos, she sent a note to donen, saying "you were right about the socks." 
• for an extra-jo apppeal, take something nerdy with you, like a book on philosophy- extra points if it's on empathicalism.

 

jo stockton from funny face- for halloween by popsiclepout featuring a parka coat

for the makeup part; concentrate on eyes: a thick black top liner, falsies and thick groomed brows- even audrey's natural brow shape had to be augmented a bit with brow pencil on top. keep skin nice and matte, and lips muted in a rosey pink.

go for a simple, neat sideparted ponytail. a dab of anti-frizz serum will keep it smooth, shiny and in perfect shape all night.

seems to me you're ready- now enjoy jo's dance & try to pick up some of her tricks!

check out my previous halloween posts, too!

• another signature audrey look:  holly golightly of breakfast at tiffany's.
• 30 rock's liz lemon

photo source: fabulous audrey hepburn

season checklist: ladylike bags

I'm really glad fashion has taken this 50's-inspired chic, sophisticated and elegant direction this season. and it's not just clothes: seems like these structured "mad men" bags are the perfect arm candy now.

as for me; I first set my eyes on the lovely, precious genuine croc vintage bag that used to belong to my grandma in fifties and it screams "I should belong to betty draper". it's been sitting in my mother's wardrobe forever- not really her thing. so I thought, why not? and although it took me weeks, I finally convinced her to let me borrow the bag for the season. can hardly wait to try it!

my picks for the season:

1. valentino, 2. pierre cardin vintage, 3. fendi, 4. nancy gonzalez, 5. marc jacobs, 6. alexander mcqueen, 7. valentino, 8. chloé

tiffany's, anyone?

anne hathaway for vogue US november 2010, by mario testino.

I feel like a spark or two could help, but still find these cool.

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bonjour paris!

this must be one of the most exciting scenes in the history of film. three different ways of awesomeness and three different faces of paris. oh, and three different ways to look impossibly chic. what else could one ask for?

from funny face, 1957

au bout du souffle

this scene is always a good one for inspiration.

from au bout du souffle [breathless], 1960.

zooey in wonderland

seems like hipster cutie zooey deschanel looked ridiculously sweet in american society of cinematographers 24th annual outstanding achievement awards.  it's a simple formula that always works- a pretty, girly dress and classic black pumps... and the rhinestone clutch and the bracelet add just the right dose of bling-bling. isn't she channeling alice in wonderland? her adorable girly-retro makeup is also worth considering: lush bambi lashes over her baby blues, completed with sweet peachy cheeks and a matte warm pink pout.

elle us march 2010: seeing is believing

my love affair with mix & match patterns and vintage appeal goes on, which gives me enough reason to fall in love with this Elle US editorial aswell. totally sold on the vermillon-orange lip color, too. I think it gives a retro appeal as a classic red lip red does, but in a much more casual, fresh and original way. can anybody recommend a similar shade?

model: egle tvirbutaite (never heard of her before, but she looks fantastic. a beauty with classic features accompanied by a partly wild, partly fragile appeal... I must google her sometime.)
photographer: max farago

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