Shoes of Prey

A male semi-metrosexual friend recently pointed a manicured finger to a fab new site that has launched and could provide answers to the perfect shoe conundrum. Shhh don't tell everyone..ShoesofPrey.com has launched to subdued applause but like a marrow on steroids has the potential to grow and grow. The concept is simple: design your perfect pair of shoes, then have them custom made. Affordable bespoke shoes are surely like the holy grail, an end to all outfit matching woes? I hope so. After all no-one likes to compromise on the perfect pair. Check out www.shoesofprey.com and begin the design process. 

♥ BexBella

Fashionair

Fashionair is a breath of fashion fresh air - & it's everywhere. I'm liking 7 days of style..
Fashionair is the newest fashion e-portal on the block. It's Topshop, combined with Net-a-Porter with a little twist of Grazia magazine. Launched by Simon Fuller - it is set to be a huge success.

7 Days of Chic is a fab link that showcases personal style profiles & some try-hard philosophies on life. My personal favourite is the delightfully dishevelled India Wadsworth & of course Poppy Delevigne's delicious exploration of London

♥BexBella

Grey Gardens the film, starring Drew Barrymore (every fashionista should watch)

View the trailer for the new HBO film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW5ryhrzYC4Grey Gardens has been remade by HBO, starring the inevitably cute and vulnerable Drew Barrymore. I have formed a profound attachment to the original 1975 film, depicting a documentary of the real, everyday lives of Edith “Big Edie” Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale. This society mother and daughter unit are both crazy and complicated, living in squalor and isolation in their dilapidated East Hampton mansion. Amongst the house guests were dozens of cats, raccoons and possoms.
To get a flavour of the original view this excerpt on YouTube:

The original 1975 Grey Gardens documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jLNV4CbBYc&NR=1

The recent remake is an awkward one to appraise due to my love for the former version. Barrymore’s interpretation of Little Edie is decidedly dicey and her annoying faux-drawl is unfortunately off-putting and strained.
On occasion it is difficult to suspend disbelief and not see Barrymore as cringe-worthy. There is also a disappointing scene where Jackie O makes a cameo and delivers a lament to living in a gilded cage. However on the whole, the movie is worthy of being added to the DVD collection.

The two women were American royalty due to their being aunt and first cousin to Jacky Kennedy/Onassis. Their stories of grandeur and high society and their parading around in couture gowns whilst singing and divulging gossip about the courting of high profile suitors such as Howard Hughes and John Paul Getty, who asked to marry Little Edie is jaw-droppingly compelling.

In terms of impact, Grey Gardens has had an immense influence on the fashion industry since it’s original 1975 conception. The infamous documentary, showed two extraordinary women and their quirky eccentricities that have since become fashion icons, drawing acclaim from the industry in raptured fascination and admiration of their unique, individual style. Harpers, Vogue (et al) have all created photographic layouts inspired by the women’s “alternative” lifestyle.

The enduring (although resentful) relationship between these too complex women is profoundly inspiring. Their connection and understanding of each other’s strange existence is deep and all-consuming. They are each other’s world, and have consequently been adopted as gay-icons due to the community belief that they were living on the fringes of society and were judged by ignorance and prejudice. Although their comical individuality; (was) like a breath of fresh air amid America’s society staid, sameness.

♥BexBella

Career Cat Fight - bad girls prosper

Tough Stuff by BexBella featuring Sonia Rykiel sweaters

Fashion is not always about girls & pearls.  It's sometimes a rough- tough cut throat industry.  With recent global economic happenings the fash-pack are sharpening their manicured claws in readiness for the ultimate career catfight.  Back-biting and bitches are reveling in these obscenely torrid times.  

Personally I’ve always been a bit like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, naive and innocent with sparkly shoes.  I have often been caught exhibiting that same butter-wouldn’t melt, constantly surprised expression.  I am, most people agree, too agreeable.  So how will I survive in these new turbulent times, let’s hope nice girls get ahead?  Though I fear bad girls may prosper?

My plan is flawless.  Dress the part: it’s time to toughen up princess.  Check out this styling, to help muster some hard-edged masculinity.  Tip: wallflowers need not apply for promotions.

♥ BexBella

Horse Play - not just a hobby horse

 

Horses are a mystery object with a beguiling mix of wisdom and child like vulnerability.  They stampede like ebony hand carved statues in the hands of a small child.  Smooth, robust & strong with a tangible intelligence in their deep black eyes.  Fashion; worships beauty and physical perfection, equines envelop these concepts wholly.

The taming of a mythical beast is something that fashion & art can relate to on many levels. It’s alleged Pegasus soared above the world trying to reach the sun.  That, my friends is a creative's fate, looking at the world from a higher place, with a talent to see a whole myriad of exquisite, folkloric things.

Autumn always makes me think of riding on sweet, wet, dewy grass on misty mornings.  Wearing layers of chunky knit cardigans, vests, tight jods and a flat heeled leather boot.  It's true I could fly to the pale lemon sun.  

Here is a newly created Polyvore set that embodies this equine obsession..images by moi, words by Lord Byron.

♥ BexBella

Balmain Baby

When I close my eyes and imagine a spectacularly cool ensemble I picture sculptured jackets, skinny legged drainpipes with an iridescent sheen, a killer rocker heel, maybe add a little sequin into the mix. The result in my head is an uber-cool fashion moment the likes of which are impossible to source. Until Balmain hit. Balmain is my new BFF.

Balmain Autumn 09-10 Ready to Wear is a little like watching Sienna & Jude on the red carpet. So painfully perfect that it actually provokes a physical reaction. The Balmain girl is like the cool older sister. You aspire to be her, covet all that she embodies and know that if you could just get your hands on any item in her wardrobe your life would explode into hip-dom.

There’s a serious colour palette of morbid charcoals but somehow the monochrome isn’t tiresome, it’s achingly on trend. Buckles, belts and rivets and hot silhouettes including shoulder-moulder blazers pony down the runway. Seriously subtle sex appeal.
♥ BexBella

Bride to Be

Ever since Carrie angled those razor-sharp cheek bones and held up her gloved palm (read Paloma Picasso) to the camera in that Vogue shoot during out of control preparations for her “Big” day, I have been semi-obsessed with the art of wedding style. If Miss. Bradshaw- the eternal single girl can swish and sashay with a grin, whilst dressed in bridal couture, without feeling any apparent meringue indignity, then maybe we shouldn’t overlook nuptial chic.

It seems everyone in Paris was doing brides. Not like that, tut-tut at your smut *disappointed frown*. Every designer from Jean Paul Gaultier to Viktor & Rolf was showing whiter shades of pale. JPG presented a dream-like, wispy, negligee of a virgin bride. Even Lacroix presented veils although they obscured Bambi-like legs not a bride’s demure visage.

Chanel was all white too. In white, nurse-preppy, above knee, hopscotch dresses, styled with intricate posey-rose headdresses to rival any veil. Karl’s wrist mitts were once again a popular theme. But, if you squint, the twin sets, collars and coats seem a tad like a frosty, English, mother of the bride.
But the finale was worth waiting for. What a twist. As modern and unexpected as Carrie’s end of film closet proposal. The bride was a boy. Okay maybe that wasn’t the case but wouldn’t that be jaw dropping genius?

■ BexBella