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Victoria Beckham’s Inspiration: The Brit School Teacher (From the Archives)

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I suppose it makes sense when you think about it, with those pencil skirts, high-heeled stilettos and trademark tight-lipped facial expression.  Posh Spice once claimed that she never even owned a pair of flats, but was busted this summer when she was caught in flip-flops at Disneyland. Far from dressing like a relaxed Californian since her move to the States, Victoria has gone the other way, dressing more un-laid back like ever before in tailored, tight pieces that scream “uncomfortable”.

When asked about this change in style,  the Essex-born Victoria told Company Magazine in an article out this week:

“It hasn’t, not at all. I am very British in my style. Think school teacher…..I love pencil skirts and fitted blouses, classic cut dresses and well fitted jeans mixed with classic tailoring.”

Hmmm. Having lived in the UK, I can honestly say that most British girls are actually some of the most relaxed dressers I know, bordering on the scruffy, especially if they spend a lot of time in the Country. Victoria, I believe has a style of her own, purely made for the pages of the tabloids.  Why the woman sold 400,000 copies of her book on fashion, The Extra Half an Inch is completely beyond me. The Guardian newspaper sums it up rather perfectly.  Here’s a bit of it:

I have no qualifications to write this book; that’s why I’ve got someone else to do it for me. But let me share my insights anyway. First I’d like to knock something on the head. The idea that, once you have a bit of money, you start wearing couture and stilettos all day and live on caviar and champagne is just nonsense. They’ve both got far too many calories.

My own inspirations come from Grace Kelly, Jackie Onassis and Giacometti sculpture, but this book is not my attempt to tell you what or what not to do. It’s my last chance to cash in on what remains of my fame before David retires.

I am grateful for the possibility of being close to Victoria’s credit card” – Roberto Cavalli.

From the Archives: Holiday Shopping: The Dressy Pump

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These days it all seems to be about the impending holidays, from my friends’ dreading opening the “Christmas List” on Facebook, to stores and malls already decked out in Christmas displays, to signs everywhere telling me its time to shop, shop, SHOP!  Not that I need my arm twisted to do the latter, but it’s a fact of the holidays, and the sooner you start, the less overwhelming the season becomes.

So let’s start with footwear.  Whatever the occasion, be it a party for the office, with friends or a romantic rendezvous, a new pair of shoes will do wonders to put you in the festive mood.  Normally, the word dressy comes to mind, and we all know that dressy usually equals = heels. Yes, we all feel sexier in them, but I’d say that the average woman, would most welcome a break from them – but only if the affair does not entail having to wear a long gown.

Flats, or should I say, “dressy pumps” are perfectly acceptable for all your December affairs, provided they are dressed up with the required sparkly embellishments that scream “holiday season”. Take these oh-so-pretty silver be-jewelled flats ($100) from Zara pictured above.  Unless you’re truly vertically challenged, they should take you through most of the season in relative comfort and safety (think slippery, wet roads due to climate change), and the object of envy from your friends and colleagues in their sexy but pain-inducing (and expensive) golden Jimmy Choo heels. Or for a more flirty look, I’d go for these sweet pink sequined Kate Spades, on sale from $275 to $165 at ShopBop.

While dressy thongs are okay in the summer months, I’d stay clear of them in the holiday season, whether or not you live in a warm climate. I just feel too much foot doesn’t work this time of the year, in the evenings at least.

Which decade are you? The 70’s!

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1970s:

Where do I start? How about I make a list of the words that come to mind: Hot pants! Platform shoes, jeans, bell bottoms, polyester, mini skirts, maxi skirts, Yves Saint Laurent, Charlie’s Angels, disco fever, cat suits, trouser suits, custom t-shirts, three piece suits, and the list can go on…

This is the decade in which my mother was in her twenties and when I was born. I have seen the pictures, and I have fit into her old clothes that still have a special place in her walk-in closet. I definitely like the whole ‘boho’ look that came out of the late 1960s and 1970s and admit to owning many clothes in that style, but I cannot imagine living during this decade. I’ll leave that look to Sienna Miller and Kate Moss.

Gaultier Bids Hermes Au Revoir

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Hermes lovers be prepared for change.

Jean Paul Gaultier, artistic director of Hermes International SCA’s women’s ready-to-wear unit, is leaving to concentrate on his own label after working for Hermes for the past seven years. He will be showing the last collection he will be making for Hermes in October for the 2011 Summer-Spring collection. The fashion house is going to replace Gaultier with Cristophe Lemaire who has been Lacoste’s artistic director since 2001.

The split is said to be an amicable with Gaultier quoted as saying that it “has been a marvelous adventure which has allowed me to learn about a new ‘savoir faire’.” In a statement released by Hermes International they said that they are “deeply grateful to Jean Paul Gaultier for his outstanding creative contribution during these past seven years.” Grateful or not, in fashion business is business and I guess Hermes knew that they just needed some new blood to take their apparel section to the next level.

Hermes has also releases a statement saying that they will continue to have a relationship with Jean Paul Gaultier since they currently have a 45% stake on the designer’s own label and have no plans of selling their share anytime soon. According to fashionista, Steff Yotka, Hermes’ actions indicate the opposite of that statement and that Jean Paul Gaultier’s label might suffer setbacks, even go bankrupt, like Christian Lacroix did after he left Pucci in 2005, if some other fashion conglomerate doesn’t swoop in to help him bankroll his label. For now that is all just speculation and with more time in his hands we can hope to see even better things from Jean Paul Gaultier’s label by winter.

Alice in Fashion Wonderland

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Dressing up in Disney costumes is not just for Halloween. In fact Disney’s Alice in Wonderland has such intriguing costumes that it will be showcased at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) gallery in Losa Angeles from May 27 to June 1, 2010. No doubt the exhibit is a a publicity gimmick to get more people interested in buying a Blu-Ray and DVD copy of the movie, which will be out on June 1. As a publicity gimmick though this one sure is cool, interesting and totally captures the imagination.

The exhibit will have three sections with the first section showing the actual costumes used in the movie, the second one showing modernized version of Alice in Wonderland-inspired everyday clothing, and the third one showing Alice-inspired gowns created by FIDM designers. The costume that I would personally be most interested in seeing is Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen dress (will her hairpiece be there as well?). I know Alice’s gown must be divine in real-life but it just hold much less interest to mean in terms of detailing. The Madd Hatter’s hat will also be shown as well as his costumer, which means that movie fans will surely be thrilled with the exhibit since they can see the actual stuff used in the movie. In my opnion though fashionistas and designers will probably be even more thrilled to see the Alice-inspired creations. The modernized Wonderland clothes that will be exhibited were created by highly recognizable names like Avril Lavigne and Tom Binns. It will be a mish mash of established designers and amateur celebrity designers.