Love, Angel, Music, Baby!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the grand finale of New York Fall 2011 Fashion Week has come and gone and what a truly grand finale it was! The last major show of the week was L.A.M.B by Gwen Stefani and I must say that they definitely saved one of the best for last:

The show was broken down into sections each bearing its own distinct look. There were soldier girls, Rasta girls, Navajo girls and girls from London. With all of these different looks piled together into one collection one gets the feeling that Stefani is yet another designer who is of the belief that fashion should be taken a little less seriously. More fun should be had!

Be tough one day and soft the next. Maybe you’re feeling a little ethnocentric in the morning and by evening, have a change of heart and therefore wardrobe, into something a little more minimalistic. That is the beauty of this collection alone. All of this versatility can be achieved!

Take a look at the entire L.A.M.B. collection to see Stefani's diversity at work on the runway.

Stay close fashion week fans. Next stop ... London!

Cheerio 'ol Clothing!

Marquis

Follow Marquis on twitter

Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

What kind of boots should a woman wear with a skirt or dress. Does the skirt have to be a certain length to wear with a certain height of boot?

Sincerely,

Willing to try it

------------

Dear W.T.T.I.,

There was a time when the shaft of your boot dictated what length skirt or dress you wore, but that rule is no longer being applied, at least for this season. Ankle boots are being paired with bare legs and shorts or mini skirts; thigh high boots with skinny jeans and knee high boots with every look in between those mentioned and then some.

Although, if you want to wear boots in a more traditional capacity, then relegate your ankle boots to just being worn with jeans or long pants. If pairing them with a skirt, knee-length is best, provided you add a pair of tights the same color as the booties in question. This will give your legs a lengthy silhouette; pairing them with colored tights should have the same effect, but also add the elements of color and playfulness to the look.

Knee high boots can be paired with jeans, or again, knee-length skirts or dresses. The beauty of these boots is that with or without tights or stockings they only bare a little leg so the decision is yours as to whether you want to add them or not.

Over the knee, or thigh high, boots aren't for everyone, but they worked for Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" so they could be something to try your hand at - the boots, not the call girl service, of course. They work well with shorter skirts at night or jeans and leggings if you want to take them for a daytime stroll.

Nancy Sinatra once famously sang: "These boots are made for walkin', and thats just what they'll do." So no matter the height or style, if you care for your boots properly they're guaranteed to last you for as long as you'd like and through as many outfit pairings as you can imagine. "Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!"

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Lets Party Like its ... 1994!

Inspired by the early nineties, Jeremy Scott created one of the more visually entertaining collections of the week. Scott is of the belief that fashion should be about fun and play, so much so that he frowns upon some of his more serious designer contemporaries.

There were some real pieces of interest shown for menswear in addition to the fabulous frocks and frills for the ladies. This was exciting to me considering that even as a man I find the vast majority of menswear to be, well, boring. Here are two of the coolest menswear looks that I am craving like candy:

And less we forget a little clothing eye candy for the ladies:

Love the furry shoes!

Its definitely worth your while to marvel at the entire collection.

Make sure you come back tomorrow for the swan song post for New York Fashion Week Fall 2011!

Love and Lingerie,

Marquis

Follow Marquis on twitter

The Future is Now

Think tough. Think chic. Think monochromatic. Think unisex. Think Rad Hourani. A true futurist, the Canadian designer designs for people—class, gender, race and all other societal distinctions are forgotten in a way that everyone is equalized through his clothing.

This season in the world of Hourani, everyone was wearing matching black tights and some form of expertly handled wool. In addition to the clothing, he collaborated with Aldo on a chunky unisex heel* that I will be on the haute hunt for, to quote June Ambrose.

If you look closely and carefully enough you will notice that the collection consists of only six pieces that are manipulated in almost every which way imaginable —twisted and contorted, flipped and flopped, mixed and switched, until he had 26 distinct looks. Genius. Absolute genius. If you’re anything like me, and dress androgynously monochromatic anyway, you could invest in the tights, shoes, and three or four of the outerwear pieces and essentially be set for the season!

View the entire collection if you're ready for the future of fashion!

Wear something black,

Marquis

Follow Marquis on twitter

* correction: the shoes posted are from the Spring 2011 collaboration of Hourani and Aldo, but they're still Rad!

Lacquered Up!

For the first beauty post, I’m giving a tutorial on how to give yourself a manicure that will help maintain your nail’s health, strength and beauty for less than what it would cost you in time and money to visit a nail salon.

Begin with a clean nail. Use nail polish remover and cotton balls to take off old polish. Now would also be the time to clip your nails if necessary. Though be sure not to clip too much; you want to leave enough nail to be able to file and shape them without making them shorter than desired.

File your nails to the desired length and shape. It is a good idea to use a metal nail file. They are cost effective since they seemingly last forever and are gentler on nails. It is vital that nails are filed in one direction to prevent tearing and breakage. I recommend using a buffing block which has 4-types of grit to file nail tips, remove ridges, smooth nails and buff for a natural shine.

Wash your hands and moisturize with lotion. Once finished rubbing in the lotion, use cuticle oil on each nail to moisturize dry cuticles.

Apply cuticle oil any time your cuticles look or feel dry. I use it twice a day, minimum. I like apricot cuticle oil by essie.

Push cuticles back gently using a metal cuticle pusher. The flat square side is intended for pushing back cuticles while the cupped side is for cleaning underneath nails. Notice that I do not use, or suggest using, a cuticle cutter - you risk exposing your nail bed to bacteria if you cut incorrectly, which can lead to an infection!

Use a nail primer. This helps remove any oils from your nail bed and prepares them to receive the polish. I recommend this primer by Deborah Lippmann.

Consider using a nail strengthener. This is an optional step, however, if you feel that your nails are weak consider purchasing one to use. I have yet to find a real difference between brands.

Apply a base coat before using color. This will keep your nails from becoming stained and make removing polish easier. Here I am using first base coat by essie. Let it dry, then continue to the next step.

Polish nails using the color of your liking. I am using Gris Montaigne by Dior, which was on runways last New York Fashion Week. Shades of gray are extremely popular right now and for a girl on a budget, designer nail polish is a way to have a bit of luxury without taking out a loan.

Let the polish dry, then apply a second coat.

Top it all off with a top coat. I swear by Seche Vite which is a quick-dry top coat. I promise, this top coat dries in 2 minutes or less!

Recommended daily maintenance. Use cuticle oil to moisturize as needed and reapply a top coat every 2 to 3 days until you're ready to start the process over again.

Expect regular posts on the subject of nail care, maintenance and nail art among other posts on beauty. Until next time, enjoy playing in polish; your nails are one of your most important accessories!

Follow Ashleigh on twitter

Simply Beautiful...

As a member of the fashion industry I often feel that we are challenged to defend our affinity for beauty as more than, well, just an affinity for beauty. With our academic studies of design and merchandising we forget how to sit back and just enjoy clothes that are simply beautiful. No fuss over innovative techniques or avant garde aesthetics. Just simple, beautiful, wearable clothing. The Alice + Olivia fall collection is an opportunity to do just that.

Take this opportunity to enjoy the breath of fresh air that is a soft and feminine blouse paired with beautifully tailored trousers, or a simple frock that really makes you feel and look like a lady.

I invite you to to view the collection merely for its beauty. Come back and lets talk about it.

Double Kisses,

Marquis

Follow Marquis on twitter

Hoorah for Herrera!

Darlings,

The Carolina Herrera show was so haute I am giving you this blog while the tea is still steaming! Take a look at the pictures for yourself. Señora Herrera crushed the competition with her gloves alone! She is without a doubt my favorite designer working in America. Her collections give you classic, chic femininity that is still relevant! She is the highlight of every New York Fashion Week for me.

The show opened with a beautifully crafted grey wool coat dress—feminine and clean. Then came look three and along with it we were introduced to the gloves. The gloves, darling, the gloves! They were these beautifully dramatic brown suede moments that blossomed in a loose flared fold at the elbow. The furs were another fashion moment all on their own, and her mingling of silks and embellishments into the collection were genius. I honestly can’t write another word. You just need to see it yourself! I now command you to click the above link!

Sequins and Suede,

Marquis

Follow Marquis on twitter

P.S., to quote my friend Mikelle Street, writer of the blog Musings of a Gallivanting Boy, “Nobody wears Carolina Herrera like Carolina Herrera!”