A Woman's Right To Shoes

Givenchy

What is it about shoes that just makes us women swoon?  For some they are an addiction, their drug of choice.  The beauty of shoes is that you are never too fat for them, (no matter the time of the month) and as Wendy at HARRY'S of Seatoun said to me this morning, "you could be having a day where you feel that your clothes are just not looking their best on you, but you never get that with shoes."  And for that, shoes truly are a gift from heaven, oui?


According to the GUARDIAN newspaper in Britain, one in two British women own more than 30 pairs of shoes.  The article went on to say that one in four women would rather buy a pair of shoes than pay a bill.  HARPERS BAZAAR conducted a survey once and discovered that one in ten women said she spent more than £1000 on shoes in a year and that 8% of women own more than 100 pairs of shoes.

Here is my current collection of shoe lust - this is mega, be warned because there is bound to be something here that you will want, must have, lust after, maybe even contemplate killing for, but most of all I promise you that you WILL dream about them!

Dries Van Noten

Gucci

Balenciaga

Balenciaga

Balmain

Barbara Bui

Alexander McQueen

Proenza

Celine

Dior

Jimmy Choo

Galliano

Givenchy

Gucci

Gucci

Louboutin

Louis Vuitton

Manolo Blahnik

Marni

Michael Kors

Ohne Titel

Pierre Hardy

Prada

Prada

Sonia Rykiel

Sigerson Morrison

Tuleh

Valentino

Valentino

Valentino

Valentino

Vivienne Westwood

YSL

YSL

YSL Tributes

I remember Carrie in Sex and the City realising to her horror that she had spent so much money on shoes over the years that she literally could have bought an apartment with the money she had spent.  


Shoes give you an instant lift, surgery without the knife, so to speak. Heels transform the way you walk and how you carry yourself because they instantly give you that sexy walk that Marilyn Monroe was so famous for because you are forced to stick out your derriere in one direction and your breasts in the other.  Instant sex-bomb.  It's easy to see how Carrie couldn't help herself.


Ciao for now,


Hx


Sources: JakandJil.com, Cherry Blossom Girl, Style.com, The Guardian,   If I have missed anyone, I apologise.

Great Dane: Malene Birger

BY MALENE BIRGER is no longer Denmark's best kept secret.

MALENE BIRGER was part of DAY BIRGER ET MIKKELSEN until 2003 when she started up her epononymous label BY MALENE BIRGER in 2005.  It has since become one of the most successful Scandinavian labels alongside DAY.  MALENE's strong sense of style and aesthetics has made her a renowned figure on the worlds fashion stage.

MALENE BIRGER was crowned fashion queen of Copenhagen by MTV Europe. Her Copenhagen Boutique was also named one of the worlds finest in terms of design and decor by the international trend magazine, Wear Global.  

Princess Mary of Denmark attended the Malene Birger show at Denmark Fashion Week.

MALENE BIRGER's design aesthetic is glamour, elegance and femininity and is defined by the classic style of the 50s and 60s, featuring excellent use of colour, fabrics, prints and is highly wearable.  I think it is the colour palette and the slightly bohemian edge that draws me over and over again to the designs of MALENE BIRGER, and her signature hand painted prints and features of beading, sequins, crystals, cotton balls and floral themes. 

BY MALENE BIRGER is worth saving your pennies for because it is well constructed and trans-seasonal as she designs pieces that you can layer, which means that you can wear your favourite pieces through-out the year, definitely getting your monies worth.  

“The best way to break through is to keep it simple and to focus.” - Malene Birger

BY MALENE BIRGER spring/summer 2009 is mixed of 50’s styled voluminous, high waisted pleated skirts and contoured couture lines such as corsette like belts and bondage boots in contrast to sleek 70’s dresses and florescent swimwear separates. The designer's motto for 2009 is "the pleasure principle".

Claudia Schiffer is a fan.

Sexy pencil skirts, dresses that fall above or right below the knee, and shirts with drapery, pleats, or gathered at the shoulders in the natural tones sand, bamboo, cream white, bright white, brown and black; accentuated by neon in coral and vivid yellow.  Alongside you will find bright pastel colours, such as soft coral, bright lilac lavender, deep purple orchid, cool poolside green, mustard yellow and turquoise aquatic.  BY MALENE BIRGER uses fabrics that are both natural and synthetic from semi to high shine such as metallic silk yarn and mercerised wool mix.

MALENE's early design influences came from her grandmother, and her mother had a well honed fashion sense with a keen eye for the latest trends.  After serving an apprenticeship as a window stylist she went on to gain a degree at the acclaimed Denmarks Design School.  Her fashion echoes style icons from the past into the present; she creates wearable stories with a mix of metaphors taken from popular culture.

MALENE has won numerous design awards and a prestigious Gazelle Award from the Danish Business newspaper Børsen, as the fastest growing company in Copenhagen.
Outside the design studio MALENE is just as influential. She is a philanthropist and has contributed to charity as a special Ambassador to UNICEF Denmark.  

MALENE BIRGER manages to keep in touch with the romantic feminine clothes that every lady loves whilst showing some of her personality and sense of humour.

For spring summer 09, the BY MALENE BIRGER collection included a whole host of very desirable pieces from flowing maxi dresses to leather pencil skirts and pussy cat bow blouses. The collection has a feel of both lady like seduction and a romantic day dream. The clothes are amazingly flattering and very wearable. They are practical for today's modern women who likes to look and feel good.

MALENE's accessories collection features shoes, bags, belts, jewelry, eyewear and other adornments. MALENE BIRGER DARLINGS are specially-selected items from her collection which she sees as style trends for the season.

A brand concerned with beauty on every level. BY MALENE BIRGER benefits from incredible attention to detail while never losing sight of the fact that each piece must perform for our day-to-day lives. Every piece is a must-have purchase.  So, If you like your clothes to be just that little bit different then you need to become acquainted with MALENE BIRGER.




Ciao for now,


Hx

Sources: fashionoffice.org, designerhighstreet.com, net-a-porter.com, bymalenebirger.

Happy Friday

I think that Mother Nature has September confused with August because it is suddenly freezing again and the beautiful spring warmth we had experienced for most of last month is gone, gone, gone.  


Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Ciao for now,

Hx




Source: JakandJil.com/blog

Because I felt like it...

Ok, so I know I've been fiddling with my blog layout again... I just can't help myself, I told you before that I love to re-arrange the furniture in my house; I guess that my blog is just an extension of that!

My parents flew over from Oz last night.  They are going to spend a few weeks with us here, hanging out with the grandkids and such.  I can't wait to just show off Wellington to them, there is so much I want them to see here.  So if I am a little slack in my blogging, please forgive me.

I promise to make it up to you.

Catherine Baba - so chic.

I guess the recession has made some of us a little more creative with our wardrobe.

Photo by Elanor Harwick from Gwendolyne.

J'adore this photo.  So cute.  

While we're on the cute theme...

Love this look of a long, flowing skirt worn with a tailored jacket.

Close up, this skirt is covered in studs.  Tough chic.  So cool.

Ciao for now,

Hx
P.S.
It's really happening!  Filming has commenced on the Sex and the City movie sequel!!  Much excitement!

Sources: JakandJil, Gwendolyn, , People, Google.