STYLE – Page 17 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

STYLE and INSPIRATION

Out with the old, IN with the old recreatedI often wonder how fashion designers get it together to keep coming up with new ideas for something original and inspiring for every season (including “resort wear” which is considered another season in fashiondom which makes five) and all those nerve wracking make-or-break shows. Something that will make people excited to want to go out and buy that new shirt right away. To be “that girl.” Because you know the easiest way to transform yourself is through clothes – if you dress for your mood (not necessarily the occasion). Sometimes you see something totally wild. You can admire it (on someone else) but never consider it for yourself and sometimes it’s like….I like it but it’s been done before…again and again (maybe they’ve just added some more buttons, zippers or pockets but otherwise it’s the same). In any event you must be very creative to keep plugging away at it and try to outdo your last performance. Just as much pressure as a musician has to come up with a new hit, but not wanting to be totally typecast…….as a

The New World Order - Vintage Alaia Shearling Bomber Jacket — **The New World Order – Vintage Alaia Shearling Bomber Jacket (website below)**

Designer, Musician, Artist (one who paints + draws), Actor, Photographer, Chef, Writer……(blogger?) and even Politicians (The best reality TV drama going is Trump vs Cruz vs Clinton vs Sanders). I’ve been watching the U.S. debates like any other interested Canadian.

By being typecast I mean restricted to one style (a recognizable signature style such as a Picasso painting), that are the kinds of things that people “expect” of you . But even with Picasso, the style may be recognizable but it’s not “always” the same. You know what I mean. Maybe you eat the same cereal all the time but one day you put blueberries over top and another day strawberries. There must be an element of surprise.

In the mad crazy world of invention, everything seems to be intermixed lately. Fashion and Art, Art and Food, Beauty and Culture. A designer visits an art gallery and gets ideas for his next collection. Actors are models, models are actors and regular people are starring in their own version-of-reality TV series. It’s interesting.

For myself in general, I draw inspiration from everywhere. People, the media (like everyone else, is a big contributor) through TV, magazines, newspapers, online with other peoples blogs, music, books, stores, movies (amazing ones this season), art, travel, restaurants, nature and on the street. I’m usually more inspired when I’m travelling and things look different and fresh and I’m living more in the moment (which we say we should do but mostly do not). It’s not only for trying to come up with new ideas for the blog so it doesn’t get stale (I hope) but also in day to day life, in areas like cooking and finding a new recipe for fish or maybe trying out a new running route to keep from getting bored.

As for restaurants, why do you think Cauliflower is having a moment of fame right now trying to outshine Kale in many restaurants? The chefs have come up with some pretty incredible ways of serving it. It’s still the same vegetable but now it tastes so much better. We never thought of baking it with chilli and lemon before? Hell; I was just taken out to a popular restaurant and they had a delicacy of chocolate covered crispy chicken skin on the menu. When I asked the waiter what happened (like did the chicken fall into the pot of melted chocolate by mistake) I can’t remember but I think it actually did. In any event, it was a mistake. But one most people like because it’s new (if you didn’t know that it was chicken, it could be walnuts). And if it wasn’t served cold, it would be more greasy. Yuck! Not like the intentional chocolate covered bacon many chefs are now serving. At a party someone brought orange chocolate covered bacon. Really?? I went off again…but really…

I’m wondering how important any of this is to any of you? I believe inspiration is a big deal. At least something else to keep us going, a curiosity towards finding a different way, idea, recipe, whatever…

Isn’t that what life is about?

Some Inspiration when it comes to STYLE:

Portraits by Willy Vanderperre — **YOKO ONO – Portrait by Willy Vanderperre**

An online magazine featuring interesting women:

http://thegentlewoman.co.uk/library

The passage of time has been miraculously beneficial for Yoko Ono. While previous generations held grudges and questioned her motives, in the 21st century Ono is cherished for her provocations and wisdom. As a musician and multimedia artist since before the term was coined, Ono holds the rare position of courting a global audience without ever having to compromise her work, which is often wilfully impenetrable.

At the age of 77, Ono continues to think of the long-term, with two forthcoming exhibitions and a recent album, as well as progressing her ongoing project around the world, asking the masses to imagine peace. It is a message from which she will never waver.

Text by Liz Hoggard, Styling by Olivier Rizzo

Shopping Online:

The New World Order NYC: http://thenewworldordernyc.com/

Vestiaire Collective Website:http://www.vestiairecollective.com/

Shop the closets of fashion lovers from Paris, Berlin, Milan, New York City, and more. Mix ‘n match high street, luxury vintage and new pieces with Vestiaire Collective.

**Vestiaire Collective – St. Laurent Leather Biker Jacket**

WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION?

DESTINATIONS, Girl Who Would be King

Travel: On the Road – The Glamping Life in Style

There is a certain style to GLAMPING and it means No Tent Required.

Photo: Mikael Jansson, Vogue (OF COURSE, **YOU MUST DRESS THE PART)**

Nothing wrong with those adventurous, real outdoorsy, down to earth types who lug around a backpack and set up their tent and make a fire to cook their food. It’s just not for me at this stage (and it never was). But I love the outdoors, breathing in fresh air and sleeping partially outside.

I forgot my gown for this trip but at least I brought my heels - taken 3 years ago. — I forgot my gown for this trip but at least I brought my heels!

The next step up from tent camping is owning a VW Eurovan Camper that comes equipped with a fridge, a 2 burner stovetop, a furnace, 2 fold down beds (you can call it a two-bedroom but it’s a bit of a stretch), storage space, surround sound for music and a pop top so you can actually stand up and move around a bit. And a shower…out the back (you have to open up the back so it’s better in warm temperatures and it’s not always the best idea to use it completely naked). Just ask me how I know this!

The best thing about a smaller camper is that you get to park it almost anywhere rather than having to stay in an RV park. Almost…because many places don’t let you camp overnight just anywhere but there are countless beautiful state parks which means you can drive into a spot either right on, or much closer to lakes, rivers and the ocean. It feels like camping…just much more comfortable. That, and wearing my cashmere pajamas. Having a dog or two wagging along is a big bonus. In fact, I wouldn’t want to do it without them.

The added advantage of a smaller camper is we’ve ended up in places and spaces that could not accommodate a large RV, like the middle of the Redwoods, Ca, the Badlands in S. Dakota and on top of Dead Horse Canyon, Utah (where Thelma & Louise drove off that same cliff, we decided to take the slow road down). It’s an adventure in itself.

glamping with Debbie & a flask helps! — **glamping** with Debbie… *a flask comes in handy!*

Having a luxury RV like a Country Coach or Prevost is a way of life for many people and I can relate to the charm of life on the road and stopping here and there for a length of time. But you should see some of these RV’s…I’m talking luxury homes away from homes. Million dollar+ homes on wheels that are nicer than many people’s condos. I have a few friends who live like that. They have a home base but drive their luxe coaches from place to place and set up anywhere from a few weeks to several months. The true beauty of travelling this way is that you get to see so much more than if you were to hop on a flight to go straight from A to B. You must also have the luxury of time.

Owning a vehicle/home like a large RV means that you must reside in RV parks that are setup for that size of home away from home. There are only a few RV parks that I’ve encountered (one is “Outdoor Resorts” in Las Vegas where our friends stayed – it was beautiful with a huge outdoor living space complete with tiki hut, living area and kitchen) that I can imagine myself staying in, except no VW’s allowed. Anyway, it’s whatever works for you. These people end up paying each night to park, more than some hotels charge.

So even though I love the roominess of some RV’s I’ve come across, what I really want is…. drumroll…..an AIRSTREAM. Only people who really know me will understand this. Yes, since the first time I saw one I’ve wanted one. There’s just something about the Airstream. It has a caché of its own.

Owning one for camping purposes is the equivalent to owning a Vespa for scooting purposes.

Allright allright allright… it’s the stylishness I confess. I’ve been eyeing them for a while now. One guy even caught me taking pictures of a vintage model in Palm Springs a perfect place for one wouldn’t you say?.. and there I was snapping away and it turned out to be his Vintage Airstream. Then we had a whole conversation on them becoming more mainstream now (aw, I hate when that happens), more pricey and more exclusive and definitely a collectible. He owns two but has homes elsewhere….blah, blah, blah…(airstream talk). His name was Matthew.

If you don’t believe me just refer to the paragraph below from a recent article in Vogue Magazine. I mean….it’s Vogue, so let’s talk about style.

The first Airstream was built in 1929, and almost 90 years later, the iconic aluminum trailer still has quite a following: Matthew McConaughey and Lenny Kravitz are proud owners, and many restaurants, shops, and hotels have invested in Airstreams as new forms of food trucks, showrooms, or guest room options. And let’s not forget the Airstream’s supporting role in Karlie Kloss and Taylor Swift’s BFF road trip for Vogue back in February.

See? I told you so!

Mini “V” and Airstream in Los Olivos, Ca. Adorable, and let’s just say – more affordable!

driving away in my red pickup truck

Stay tuned for Part Two

STYLE

Style: what to wear UNDER what you wear

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again… “it’s what’s underneath that counts”

jesus fernandez lingerie from Buenos Aires

It’s the slipperiness of the silk, the sauciness of satin, and the delicate lingering of lace that can make lingerie so arousing.

Lingerie (including corsets, camisoles and a few garters) has been a passion of mine for a very long time. It still is, but to a lesser degree because I already own so many pieces. It takes a special man to appreciate your lingerie…because when it comes right down to it we women know that most ~~all~~ men don’t care how nice your lingerie is. They just want to see us naked.

JF lingerie - I LOVE this complete outfit — JF lingerie – I LOVE this complete outfit

On the other hand, as you begin to remove whatever you happen to be wearing overtop (remember it’s Valentines Day this Sunday) isn’t it much more seductive to be seen in a lacy, racy number than in granny underwear? I’m just saying…..I think he’ll take notice even if he never says anything. Men have it so much easier. A nice pair of boxer shorts that aren’t torn to shreds (eww) – perfect!

JF lingerie lace triangle bra & panties — JF lingerie lace triangle bra & silk/lace panties

But honestly I’ve always been attracted to beautiful lingerie whether it be retro romantic, sexy, plain pretty or terribly trashy (reserved for special occasions). Keep in mind that interpretations of what makes underwear sexy varies from woman to woman, and from man to man. The sexiest part is the way it makes you feel…kind of like a signature perfume. In fact, nothing except your perfume gets as close to your skin.

Having said that, I also really like some of the sporty combos I’ve been seeing (since it doesn’t make any sense to wear lace to the gym). It gives you an underlying (ha, ha) confidence just knowing you have it on. A little secret.

That’s why I added lingerie to my repertoire of things to sell in boutiques and online. I found a special brand in Buenos Aires when I walked by a store that was closed – the mannequin in the window was wearing a set I wanted. It was very simple but extremely lovely and feminine (with no wiring, padding or anything of the like and I had never seen anything quite like it in North America) so I went back the next day and bought it then asked to speak to the owner. We had a meeting and I ended up getting the exclusive rights for sales in Canada at the time. The line sold very well to repeat customers who understood the workmanship, guys who wanted something special for their ladies and an actress who starred opposite Tom Cruise (filming a few scenes in Vancouver) who came into the shop directly from the airport specifically looking for lingerie. She mentioned seeing the ad I had put in the Vancouver Sun (for the first time) on the flight over from Los Angeles. She took several pairs into the dressing room and left with five sets.

It was a good run even with the complicated European sizing difference, but I decided to end the lingerie business to concentrate on other areas.

I like this quote from a Passion for Lingerie – “You know it’s a bad day when you put your bra on back to front and it fits better”

La Perla – LaPerla.com

Here are a few ideas of lingerie sets I think are simply sublime – although they won’t replace your can’t-live-without seamless t-shirt bras and commandos. Still…….necessary!

Kiki de Montparnasse - sold at net-a-porter.com Bra: $225 Panties: $155 Garter: $150 — **Kiki de Montparnasse** – sold at: net-a-porter.co

L'Agent buy Agent Provocateur. Sold at net-a-porter.com Bra: $110 Panties: $50 Garter: $65 — **L’Agent by Agent Provocateur.** Sold at: net-a-porter.com

My Love of Lingerie Board on Pinterest at: https://www.pinterest.com/girlwhowould/love-of-lingerie/

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style at the Beach/Pool – What suits you

Getting ready for a little WINTER GETAWAY?You don’t want to pack too much but you want to make sure you have everything you need.

A bathing suit is always one of the most essential things to consider for your resort/vacation stay… but what about all the little extras that go along with it….like your beach towel, sun hat, after swim cover up and beach bag. Don’t you love beachy accessories?

It’s weird that I still have a thing for bathing suits even though I have a whole drawer dedicated to them. I just love a nice swimsuit – either a one or two-piece and I have a collection from various travels. This time on holiday I took only two – one of each kind but the problem was I didn’t want to ruin either of them in the hot tub. The hot tub (après swim or in the evening) tends to stretch your suits from their original shape over time. You have to immediately run them under cold water after being in the Jacuzzi. One time I had to have a designer swimsuit altered a size smaller because the bottom got stretched out. Normally I wouldn’t care but this one was too nice to throw away.

I keep thinking that I’ll take along an old suit that I don’t really care about for hot tub purposes only but I can’t bring myself to wear something I don’t like. Anyway, I wasn’t planning on it ~~only scheming~~ but I ended up buying a few new bikinis on sale that I planned to use only in the hot tub because the prices were too good to pass up (ha, ha, that’s what I told myself). Problem was they’re really nice and as I ended up liking them so much I had to limit my time in the hot tub altogether. It’s not the worst problem someone could have in the big scheme of things. But still…

In Palm Springs I came upon a swim wear store that caught my eye because of their playful display at the front entrance. I loved the brightly coloured little zippered bags to enclose stuff like sunblock, lip balm and the like and also believe it or not, old fashioned bathing caps.

Canyon Beachwear

Did I really say that?

Canyon Beachwear

Bathing caps are normally not something that attracts my attention but these were kind of fun and reminded me of something old time movie star Esther Williams might have worn in “Million Dollar Mermaid”. Maybe they’re making a comeback.

Because let’s face it, there’s nothing less attractive than covering your head in one of those ugly stretchy caps and then wearing swim goggles to boot …..nothin!

Unless you're Will Ferrell - of course then, anything will look good on you. — Unless you’re **Will Ferrell** – of course then, anything will **look good** on you.

My INspiration – Canyon Beachwear @

http://canyonbeachwear.com

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style ICON – David BOWIE

We all know the various ch ch ch changes that David Bowie went through over his vast successful career and since he was the man of style I had to dedicate a whole post to him because:

This shows his unkempt elegant side. KMazur/WireImage — I love this photo – it shows his unkempt, sexy, elegant side.
Photo: KMazur/WireImage

can’t believe he is no longer among us
he was the original man of style
his was one of the first concerts I went to see at the Montreal Forum
I have four friends who got up close and personal with him – in a professional sense
He was one of a kind and the first and best person at re-inventing himself. Surely that’s where performers like Madonna & Lady Gaga got the idea from.
out of countless crazy, fun and fashionable images these are my personal favorites
A swashbuckler, with scarf and white shirt. Photo:
Jorgen Angel/Redferns

Things were looking peachy with “Let’s Dance” Photo: Paul Natkin/WireImage

Guess I love a well-dressed Bowie best. Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns

Bowie’s most normal look of the 70’s. Photo: Steve Morley/Redferns

Handsomely dressed down. Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

He can really rock a suit.
Photo: KMazur/WireImage

RIP

Tipping his hat to Sinatra Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images — Tipping his hat to Sinatra.
Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images

Looking for a part with "Interview with a Vampire?" He was also an actor. Photo: Hayley Madden/Redferns — He brought Baroque back. Photo: Hayley Madden/Redferns

Bohemian fashion crossroad? Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images — Bohemian fashion crossroad?
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

I too would cover my lets with a trench coat if meeting Tina. Wise idea. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images — I too would cover my legs with a trench coat if meeting Tina Turner. Any wise woman would. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

In '97 with his longtime wife IMAN on his 50th birthday - Jan/9 Photo: KMazur/WireImage — With his longtime wife IMAN **on his 50th birthday** – Jan/9/1997
Photo: KMazur/WireImage

My friend Dee Lippingwell took this photo among many many others. — Rock Photographer & friend **Dee Lippingwell** took this photo among many many other great ones of Bowie.

Source: Billboard & Dee Lippingwell

He will be missed!

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: the MEN

The Most Stylish Men in Fashion

Last week marked the beginning of the Fall 2016 men’s season, and along with it feedback from some of the fashion experts at Vogue. It was the first time that Vogue Runway covered the men’s shows. To whet your appetite, editors weighed in on the best well-dressed dudes.

Here, my paired down version of the most stylish guys in fashion. I narrowed it down from 30, Starting with…

Franck Chevalier

“Jean Paul Gaultier protégé and stylist to some of the greatest musicians of all time, Chevalier’s own look is a brilliant combination of vintage, streetwear, and original pieces he designs for himself.

Maurice Mullen

“To me, it’s Maurice Mullen of the London Evening Standard, who I always look forward to seeing at the London shows. I have never been able to comprehend the number of immaculate Savile Row suits he must have, nor his ability to deploy the loudest patterns and colors and the killer clashing pocket handkerchief—and plaid trousers on occasion!—while being the most gentlemanly and wickedly insightful neighbor to sit next to at a show.” —Sarah Mower, Vogue.com Chief Critic

Gene Krell

Photo: Courtesy of Nao Krell / @inagakikrell — Photo: Courtesy of Nao Krell

“Style is but one of Gene Krell’s admirable qualities, and he has it in spades. Born in Brooklyn, Krell was part of the London scene as hippie segued into punk. And then he brought Vogue to Asia. His street style look is built on tailoring, with British and Italian touches. And the man has range: Krell can work a tattooed surf look with as much ease as a toggle coat and brown suede shoes.” —Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue.com Archive Editor

Ian Bradley

“No one does the retro-hipster-nerd look better! With Ian you know it’s super-authentic, and every time I see him it makes me smile.” —Kelly Connor

Yohji Yamamoto

“Yohji gets my vote. His is the gold standard by which all other designer uniforms must be judged. Consistent, pragmatic, and elegant, there’s nothing not to love about his look.” —Kristin Anderson, Vogue.com Fashion News Writer

Raf Simons

Former Dior Designer “Raf Simons is the greatest of all time. The end.” —Steff Yotka, Vogue.com Fashion News Writer

John Nollet

“French hairstylist to chic women like Nicole Kidman and Vanessa Paradis, John Nollet has his own signature style worth noting: white shirt, sharp jacket, trimmed beard, and artfully messy, shoulder-length hair. Sometimes he ties it back in a knot or braids it with one of his own couture feathered hairpieces, which he designs with Maison Lemarié; that contrast between his natty clothes and wild, bohemian hair is so cool—and so French. Bonus: He’s incredibly charming (and handsome)!” —Emily Farra

Karl Lagerfeld

“Kaiser Karl is a cluster of contradictory style statements, clashed together like a game of sartorial Consequences: Edwardian collar and stickpin with streamlined hypermodern suiting, biker gloves and goth rings, 18th-century powdered pigtail—like a Prussian general—and Terminator sunglasses. It shouldn’t work, but it always does. Lagerfeld has crafted an instantly identifiable image: He’s the most recognizable designer of our times and, I’d argue, the most stylish man on the planet. There aren’t many fashion designers people dress up as for Halloween, and there aren’t many people for whom formal dress is for life, not just the red carpet.” —Alexander Fury

Stefano Pilati

“The Zegna designer has my vote. Why? To me, he is the epitome of fearless, intuitive elegance: always intensely masculine, but those cuts, those fabrics, the tattoos, the jewelry . . .” —Sally Singer, Vogue Creative Digital Director

Mystery Man

Don’t know who he is, but I think he deserves to be included.

Any other favorites?

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style – window fashion

Today I’m posting some of my favorite Spring 2016 window displays because I’m still in holiday mode.

so this doesn't look like Spring but Tiffany is always in style — so this doesn’t look like Spring but Tiffany is *always* in style

How

far away is Spring?

Photos: d. king – taken at the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas.

STYLE

Style – the SKINNY on Jeans

I’m definitely a SKINNY girl when it comes to wearing jeans. Believe me I have all kinds and all lengths from faded and distressed to torn up and dressed-up dark denim and I love them all but 9 times out of 10 I will go to grab my skinnys. It seems to be the most flattering for my body type and like a legging (which I also tend to live in ) the most versatile for layering and wearing a blouse or sweater over top. You can dress the skinny up or down as they look equally good with heels or plain white runners (not the ones for actual running). Even though I secretly long to wear my super soft Hudson bell bottoms with hippie boots…I just never get around to doing so.

Kate Moss - google images — Kate Moss – google images

My favourite skinny jeans are ones that have a little bit of stretch but don’t lose their shape when washed. And just like another simple staple (the White T-shirt), it’s not so easy to find the perfect fit. They’re everywhere but all are not created equal.

Which brings me to a recent article in Vogue talking about the Superfine label. Have you heard of it?

Long before the skinny jean had reached its zenith of popularity, Superfine was pioneering the shape. Launched more than a decade ago, the label rose to prominence on the gams of cool-girl stalwarts like Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, in many ways becoming synonymous with a particular brand of lean, London rock chic. Says the brand’s founder, former stylist Lucy Pinter: “At that time there were a ton of denim brands that came out of L.A. Everything was blue and distressed and bootleg. Back then I started because we wanted to make a skinny jean and no one did one. Obviously that silhouette—with no branding—other people ran with that and did very well with [it].” With the designer denim boom that followed not long after, the line remained something of a cultish entity, never fully taking hold in the United States.

All that will surely soon change, though; Pinter and co. are doubling down their efforts stateside, having launched in the U.S. for fall with an array of stockists (Saks Fifth Avenue, Shopbop, and Nordstrom). Strong retail hopes aren’t the only thing Superfine is banking on; the designer herself has relocated to Los Angeles, where production of a brand-new secondary range, Fine By Superfine, will be based. As Pinter tells Vogue.com, “The problem with our denim in the past was it was all being made with Italian fabrics, in Italy, with these incredibly high-end wash developments and zippers and hardware. It became really expensive, so we sort of out-priced ourselves from that really lucrative denim market.” Per Pinter, the aim was to isolate Superfine’s more typically “contemporary” elements (jersey, sweats, and yes, plenty of denim) and give them room to breathe under the Fine By label.

That’s just super fine by me. I’ll be on the lookout for the label.

I’m curious to find out which jeans are your go-to favourites?

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

style: party month

It’s that time of the year again: that seasonal conundrum of WHAT TO WEAR? to the annual office Christmas party.

Leave it to Louboutin — Leave it to **Louboutin** (Nordstrom, Vancouver). **Sometimes it’s best to start to dress from the ground up!**

The first cardinal rule? There’s no need to don the ornamental bells and whistles of a Christmas tree. You can still keep it simple but add a dash of bling & a red lip.

The second? Unless the theme is ugly Christmas sweaters, then make somewhat of an effort. If your party is right after work and you don’t have the time to change then at the very least slip on a pair of pretty party shoes and/or a decorative piece of jewellery.

It doesn’t have to be too much, just something festive. You can keep them incognito until the night kicks off. If you want to up the ante on the accessories, the only thing you need is a simple pair of drop-dead drop earrings to keep in your bag. They’ll add a slight shine to your ensemble if the rest of your look is pared back. Speaking of bags….

How about an elegant evening clutch bag? These are found at KATE FRENCH Wear - 2352 W. 4th Ave. in Vancouver. There is a lot more to this store than what is shown here. — How about **an elegant evening clutch bag?** These are found at **KATE FRENCH Wear** – 2352 W. 4th Ave. in Vancouver. *There is a lot more to this store than what is shown here.* Clothing, etc.

Luckily, there are easy one-step tricks to the holiday office party trade. The best thing to do is to keep it simple yet with a little more chic ‘oomph’ than usual. Try a sleek A-line tea length skirt; it has that immediate Grace Kelly effect of polish. If your work place is casual and you usually wear jeans then opt for a black cigarette pant and oxford button-down or lacy blouse.

These Canadian made clutch bags come in handy after the holidays too. I love the ease of the handle. KATE FRENCH Wear - Vancouver. — You can’t go wrong with these *made in Canada simple but* classy **clutch bags** which will come in handy after the holidays too. I love the ease of the handle which just slips over your wrist. **KATE FRENCH Wear, Vancouver.**

Rule #3 – if you’re into glam & glitter then this is the month to pull out all the stops.

Rule #4: no matter where you work, remember you’re still amongst your colleagues so go easy on the liquor. party5

Think about this old quote that Phyllis Diller once said:

“What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day”

Rule #5 – have fun, make it festive and look and feel your most FABULOUS! party4

HAVE A MERRY TIME

STYLE

style classics – Mary Jane Memoirs

I’ve been going through all my shoes deciding which ones to keep, which ones to give away but when it comes down to my Mary Janes I have a hard time parting with any of them.

Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes - a REALITY SHOE — **REALITY SHOE** (Photo: HBO)

The Sex and the City Moment:

When Carrie Bradshaw sees a pair of Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes for the very first time in a fashion closet and cries out, “I thought these were an urban shoe myth!”

From flats to heels, the Mary Jane might just be one of the most iconic and versatile shoes of all time. No other footwear has been through as much evolution as the popular-to-this-day Mary Jane.

Legend has it the name came from a comic strip dubbed Buster Brown in the New York Herald in 1902. In the comic, a little girl named Mary Jane wore flat shoes with a small leather strip across the front. Since then, everyone from Mary Quant to Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior and Rei Kawakubo has capitalized on the style. The Mary Jane looks particularly chic —and it seems every designer is putting their own twist on the emblematic shoe.

Here is a TIMELINE of some of her best moments:

THE ORIGINALS

The Mary Jane played a key role in model-off-duty style during the 60s, as seen on Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton.

THE CINEMATIC ICON

In Clueless, Cher shows her love of the essential style in multiple scenes—whether they’re white patent with a thick heel or flat and metallic, paired with over-the-knee socks.

THE WHIMSICAL CARTOON

The fictional but stylish Alice in Wonderland sports a pair of black Mary Janes and knee-socks during her adventures with massive caterpillars, talking cats and rude flowers.

RED CARPET WORTHY

Cate Blanchett takes a step out at the Venice Biennale in a long green gown and simple pair of black patent leather Mary Janes.

Speaking of cartoons, I just watched the non-animated film version of “Cinderella” and Cate Blanchett plays a perfectly awful step-mother. Great rendition of the classic Disney fairytale (just had to tell you).

THE NEW CROP – Fresh off the Runway

Today’s versions come in metallic shades, covered in glitter, in lush velvets and with the occasional Lucite heel.

Mary Janes came elegantly gilded at Rodarte, in geometric shapes at Giles and even in the form of sugary-sweet pastel boots at the SS16 collections.

AND here’s another reason to love dancing the TANGO:

from Comme il Faut - Buenos Aires (I bought shoes there). — **Come il Faut – Buenos Aires** (I bought shoes there). *Soft Black Silk…Ahhhhh*

Source: Kristen Bateman for “The List” – Harper’s Bazaar