I have this friend from Jordan - let's just call him "Jordan" - who lent me his watch about a month ago. It was this huge clunky metal monstrosity, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Sure, it might have looked out of place on my bony little wrist. But I wore that watch non-stop for a week (more like two), and I got addicted. Eventually Jordan needed his watch back, but now I miss it like an amputated limb. I find myself scanning jewelry cases for it during my Christmas-shopping excursions, and sometimes I even glance down to check the time only to have nothing more than hair and freckles staring back at me. Sooner or later I'll probably become one of those crazy old bag ladies standing on the street corner asking strangers for the time...well maybe those people don't really exist, but I promise it's not going to be pretty. I need that watch back. Now.

Best of Balenciaga 2007

Form + Function = The Palestinian Scarf

On the Fringe

This girl almost makes me want to cut my bangs again. Almost.

Photo: The Sartorialist

Spasibo, Louis

As much as I've made it obvious that I'm so over celebrities posing as fashion models (see September post), I can't help but love Mikhail Gorbachev in this ad for Louis Vuitton. But really, does the last president of the Soviet Union count as a "celebrity"? He's certainly no Lindsay Lohan.

The Darjeeling Luggage

Wes Andersen's new movie, The Darjeeling Limited, follows the journey of three brothers on a train excursion through India to find their mother. Their father died, leaving them all of his possessions, including Adrien Brody's sunglasses and a set of the most covet-worthy luggage ever. Each brother gets several pieces of his father's "baggage" and carries it with him throughout the entire movie. Although the gorgeous orange cases stamped with a pattern of palm trees and animals, as well as their father's initials and the number of that piece of luggage, is supposed to represent something larger in their lives, I found that I couldn't take my eyes off of it for the sake of its sheer beauty.

Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton provided the costumes, as well as the luggage, making The Darjeeling Limited one of the best costumed movies in the memorable past.

Captions – Above: the movie poster; Middle: the brothers' perfect LV suits. Take special notice of Adrien Brody's sunglasses and belt - two items they kept referring to throughout the film. Bottom: The luggage in all of its glory.

Nothing spectacular happens in this clip about the movie's production, but it does feature the Marc Jacobs luggage carried by Adrien Brody.

Treat, Please!

Boys and girls, Halloween is almost here! What are you going to be?

I want to be a famous blond, but I can't decide which one. Here are some of my options:

Debbie Harry because she was hot.

Heidi Klum mostly because I can't stop thinking about "Project Runway."

Heidi from "The Hills." But where will I find someone creepy enough to be my Spencer?!

Now & Then: Posh Spice

Pre-Beckham, pre-motherhood, and pre-L.A. Posh Spice flaunted her figure in tiny slip dresses and super stilettos.



Post-Spice Girls, post-brunette, and post-U.K. Victoria Beckham only wears designer duds and looks about 20 pounds lighter.

Fantastique

Kristin Scott Thomas at Lanvin – classic.
P.S. What's with the guy eating a Popsicle behind her?

Running Through My Mind

This is all I can think about today:

America is my country, and Paris is my hometown

I know we missed NY Fashion Week, London Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week...but this is Paris!

Just in case anyone finds themselves in the City of Light today, here's the schedule:

10am - Atsuro Tayama, L'Académie, 14 Rue Royale, 8th

10:30am - Gai Mattiolo, Palais de Chaillot, 1 Place du Trocadéro, 16th

11am - Dice Kayek, Le Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Soufflot

11:30am - Commuun, Atelier Richelieu, 60 Rue de Richelieu, 2nd

12:00pm - Vivienne Westwood, Le Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Delorme

1pm - Gaspard Yurkievich, Le Carrousel du Louvre, Salle Gabrielle

2:30pm - Christian Dior, Espace Ephémère Tuileries, Jardin des Tuileries, 1st

3:30pm - Isabel Marant, Espace Jardins du Louvre, Place du Carrousel, 1st

4:30pm - Sharon Wauchob, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 21 Rue de l'Ecole de Médicine, 6th

5pm - Cher Michel Klein, Hôtel Westin, Salon Concorde, 3 Rue de Castiglione, 1st

5:30pm - Undercover, Hôtel Westin, 3 Rue de Castiglione, 1st

6pm - Fatima Guerrout, Salon Brasilia, Maison de l'Amérique Latine, 217 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 7th

6:30pm - Maison Martin Margiela, Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy, Salle Marcel Cerdan, Porte 28, 8 Boulevard de Bercy, 12th

7pm - Jean Luc Amsler, Salle Gaveau, 45 Rue la Boëtie, 8th

7:30pm - AF Vandevorst, Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy, La Grande Salle, entrée principale, Porte 1, 8 Boulevard de Bercy, 12ath

8:30pm - Yohji Yamamoto, Carreau du Temple, 3 Rue Dupetit Thouars, 3rd

Look A Little Closer

Is it just me, or does Terri Hatcher for Badgley Mischka look like a middle-age Guess girl?

I really wish Mark Badgley and James Mischka would put a little more thought into who they choose to represent their clothing. Terri Hatcher? Really? As much as I hate to admit it, I think the Olsen twins were a better pick.

Now that we're on the topic though, why are designers still following the trend of celebrity endorsers instead of using trained models? Angelina Jolie for St. John, Scarlett Johansson for LV, Lindsay Lohan for Miu Miu?!! Come on! I want to see Gemma Ward or Lily Cole or Agyness Deyn (thank you, Burberry) or one of the other hundreds of models working in NY/London/Paris/Milan.

Plus, Sienna Miller on the cover of Vogue?!! Please. What has she done lately other than model in ads for Tod's?

Poor real models...before they know it, they'll be out of a job. Soon we'll probably see someone as unqualified as Paris Hilton strutting down a runway. Oh, wait.

Booties for Big Girls

I saw these shoes. I put them on. I had to have them.

What East-Coast girl doesn't need a pair of oxford booties to help her walk through all those fall leaves? Although I feel like these shoes are my most frivolous purchase in a very long time, I also feel like I needed these shoes more than I needed any of the other shoes in my entire closet.

And really, isn't that when you know you've made the best buy of the season?

Resort 2008

I browsed through the Resort 2008 collections this morning and picked my three favorite looks from my three favorite collections. In general the collections felt a little nostalgic and safe. My runaway favorite by far had to be Balenciaga with close runner-up Lanvin (I heart Alber Elbez times 10) and then Burberry Prorsum for the sophisticated coats and dresses I've come to expect from Christopher Bailey.

Happy resorting!

Balenciaga

Lanvin

Burberry Prorsum

Summer Wish List

If only I had these lovely dresses to wear out at night in Armory Square...I think I would be the happiest girl in all of Syracuse, NY...sigh.

Yves Saint Laurent

Chloe

Gucci

Anna Molinari

Oscar de la Renta

She's a Jezebel

I'm mostly obsessed with stationary and greeting cards, especially anything that is letter pressed. I'm completely obsessed with Jezebel stationery, which combines fairy-tale scenes with an 18-century sensibility and clever titles. These cards appear to sell at various retail stores nationwide, but I've never run into one in person. I only stare at Jezebel's web site and long for the day when I will actually hold one of these beauties in my hand and then hang it on my wall.

"henry and gertrude, criminal lovers"

"maybelle, chanteuse"


"the little stowaway charlotte"


"pearl says: it's only a paper moon"


http://www.ilovejezebel.com/

"NEET" Magazine Site

Last summer, my then-roommate Judy told me about this new-ish online magazine called "N.E.E.T." Immediately, I asked where I could buy it. Of course I couldn't buy it anywhere! I could only view it on my small computer screen.

I've kept up with the issues this far, and it just occurred to me tonight to share one of my favorite web sites with our Fashion Blog readers. Sorry it took me so long, guys.

"N.E.E.T.'s" editor Stephanie J. lives in London, but other contributors live in the states and various parts of Europe. "N.E.E.T." is dedicated to grassroots, DIY fashion and features products that the reader can buy online as well as providing links to the online boutiques. The magazine reads like a print version with over 150 pages of content that you can scroll through at your leisure, advertisements, articles and photo spreads.

"N.E.E.T." really is as great as it sounds.

http://www.neetmagazine.com/

Why?

Something to wear to this year's state fair...I'm so glad I don't live in the Midwest.

Attention Marc Jacobs Fans!

Marc has decided to join the world of Myspace. So, head on over to his profile and add him as a friend. He'd love to hear from you!

Coco Chanel: The Movie?

That's right according to reports from A Socialite's Life:

Meanwhile Audrey Tautou scores the role of a lifetime. Ms. Tautou will have the honor of portraying fashion vixen Coco Chanel. The film will be centered around Coco's childhood and rise into the world of couture. The biopic isn't due to start filming until 2008, but another picture is already underway. Danielle Thompson has begun the first stages of her Chanel biopic.

I for one, think this is pretty exciting. I can't wait until we get to at least see some screen shots. I bet the costuming will be amazing

Go. Figure

My friend and I were walking through Target a couple days ago, scouring the area for some colorful, cute party plates and decorations. Almost at the exact same time we spotted the new Go. International line, featuring designer Patrick Robinson, and rushed over to check it out. I’ve always been intrigued by the Go. International concept – high-fashion designers making clothes for the average budget. But I’ve never literally bought into the clothing until now. From what I saw, Robinson has created a line that appeals to my sense of summer style – flowing dresses and camisoles, light cardigans, cuffed shorts and well-cut swimsuits – and all with incredible details and prints.

My favorite item in the collection is this granite, above-the-knee skirt. I love it not only because gray is my new black for summer, but I also love the almost-paper-bag cinched waist and the raw-edged tiers at the bottom. Admittedly I’m not a huge fan of the “medallion” print items, but I can find so many other pieces that I love, that it’s hard to focus on the negative.

Patrick Robinson might not be as well known to most of America as other Go. designers like Luella Bartley, Behnaz Sarafpour and Proenza Schouler, but he has been in the industry for a long time working at big-name houses that most people would recognize. Before starting his own label in 1996, Robinson designed for Giorgio Armani and Anne Klein. In 2003, he was named Creative Director of Perry Ellis Women’s Sportswear, and in 2005, he was name Artistic Director for Paco Rabbane.

His line for Go. International will only be available until July 15, before L.A.-based label, Libertine will premier their collection.

"Bitten" by the Fashion Bug

Which celebrity doesn’t have her own clothing brand or line of shoes or a namesake lip color nowadays? Jennifer Lopez has J.Lo; Gwen Stefani has L.A.M.B.; Beyoncé has House of Deréon; Madonna has Madonna for H&M; the list seems endless. Finally the time has come for super style-maker Sarah Jessica Parker to reveal her new clothing line, Bitten, which will be released on June 7 through mall-based retailers Steve & Barry. The collegiate-marketed store will sell every item in the 500-unit line (including jewelry, shoes and accessories) for $20 or less with the tagline for the brand appropriately stating, “Fashion is not a luxury.”

In her own words, SJP describes the philosophy of the clothing line as “a way of giving women without financial means access to good, simple, well-made clothes to feel proud of.” (Glamour magazine, June 2007)

This line of thinking might stem from her upbringing in a family of eight children and little means. “I was envious,” she admits. “I got all of my oldest sister’s hand-me-downs. And by the time I inherited them, they were really out of fashion.”

Although SJP makes it clear, “We’re not Balenciaga.” She also states that, “They’re well-made clothes that feel of-the-moment.” What more could a college girl, or any girl, ask for?

Other celeb labels in the works...Amanda Bynes will also premier her line, Dream, through Steve & Barry's on August 10. And Kate Moss released her line, Kate Moss for Topshop, this week through the namesake store as well as Barney's New York.

R.I.P Isabella Blow

This morning I received "breaking news" from Women's Wear Daily that Isabella Blow, stylist and former fashion director of the Tatler and London Sunday Times, died. The circumstances are "still being determined," which doesn't sound great, but I thought The Fashion Blog readers would appreciate the update.

Born in 1958, Isabella Blow was known for her support of young designers and discovered such fashion names as Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan, Stella Tennant and Sophie Dahl. She is also credited for discovering milliner Philip Treacy, who became known for making her the eccentric hats that she wore on all occasions.

Love It or Hate It: Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton is really back and forth with her fashion choices. She’s also one of those people where you usually absolutely love her outfits, or you can barely stand to look at them. I’ll admit that for events, I think she usually can pull it together. It’s usually the day to day outfits that leave me wondering what was going on in her head. Anyways…here is another slide show featuring her different styles, and again feel free to weigh in on her in the comments section.