Shoe Of The Day

Ok so anything that is so coveted in the Sex and the City movie deserves to be on this site. So I needed to put on these Manolo Blahnik shoes because hell Carrie wore them or rather left them in the new/old apartment. So If you can get these sexy little things they are at Neiman Marcus for $945.00.

Here is the link: Manolo Blahnik Shoes

Styles Of The World United Kingdom

The next fashion capital is the United Kingdom, really London for that matter. Charles Worth the first fashion designer is actually from London, though he made his name in Paris. Though the center for women’s fashion design is in Paris the center for men’s fashion design is located in London. It can be described as very traditional, elegant, clean-cut yet conservative, and fabrics that show somewhat of imperial elegance, but this elegance can also come with a bit of dramatic flare. The famous British designers include Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Luella Bartley, Sir Hardy Amies, Christopher Bailey of Burberry, Bruce Oldfield, and Christopher Kane. Now for the outfit I have picked to represent British fashion design this Stella McCartney dress. It shows the Mod style of London, yet it still has that clean-cut feel. If you want this dress you can get it at Neiman Marcus for $795.00.

Here is the link: Stella McCartney Dress

Shoe Of The Day and Something Not So Pretty

Today's shoe are these amazing mary jane pumps from J.Crew. With mary jane's being back in style and all the rage right now it's not hard to love these! You can get them at www.jcrew.com for $225.00 eat them up!

On an uglier note there are these Prada heels that just makes you wonder what they were thinking! It so sad when something so expensive is so hideous! I guess if you really want these they are at www.blufly.com for only $576.00.

Styles of The World

I was doing some research today about fashion design when I came across the five major capitals of fashion (France, United Kingdom, Italy, United States, and Japan) and their descriptions. I then remembered how different each country really is from another in their fashion sense. So I decided to dig deeper into the topic of styles of around the world and see what techniques made each nation a fashion capital and what makes them different from each other. So each day I will research and post a new capital and show you what their style is all about.

I first start with France where its capital, Paris is where almost all the French fashion houses reside. Before I go in-depth about French fashion, I believe you should know about the history first. The first fashion designer in the world, Charles Worth made his name in Paris, France in the 19^th century. Often called the father of haute couture, he made dresses that flattered the women shape, not using ruffles and making the dresses out of simple but rich fabrics. The dress to the left is one of his creations, amazing isn’t it?

Now that you know how it all started, let’s see what it has become. I think most of us know the fashion houses: Chanel, Dior, Lanvin, Cholѐ, Hermѐs, Guy Laroche, Yves Saint Laurent, and shoe designer Christian Louboutin. Well these are the major fashion houses of Paris, that each year, are what making the French style. I believe a few words can describe French fashion design, chic and stylish with the bit of sophistication, clean cut and to the point. Like this dress by Dior, it has everything that embodies the French style. The cut of the dress is neatly done to flatter a womanly figure and a cowl type of neck line that bring attention and drama. To top everything off they accessorize the sleeves with pearl like flowers. Making this the perfect chic dress to flatter any woman.

Shoe of the Day

Jimmy Choo truly is god! With yellow being "in" right now along with patent leather, these shoes are amazing! Now only if I could afford them.

Now if you can afford these babies go on to www.blufly.com and they are only $468.00.

Inspiration

First and for most my informal name is Tori Wilson, even though I wish my design collection to be called Victoria Anne. As I grow older my life surrounds fashion more and more. Wanting to be a designer, most of my inspiration comes from Jeanne Lanvin, one of the first Haute Couture’s. Though some say that they are couture; (ex: Juicy Couture) truly they are not. To be a real Haute couture you must have follow these rules:

1. Design made to order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
2. Have a workshop in Paris that employs fifteen people at full-time.
3. Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.

This is what I want to do as a designer, bring back haute couture something that Lanvin helped start almost 100 years ago. My dream is to bring back Haute Couture, even when it is a dying art. I want to do this through designing and bringing back the classic style of 20,30,40, and 50’s yet adding my own edge. Just going online and looking at vintage gowns I see the great they have in them and even the greater potential.

Like this gown I found on one of my favorite vintage shopping websites, www.Hemlockvintage.com. The 1940’s dress is not designer or anything yet, it still embodies how much attention to detail with which the dress was made. I love how fitted it is to the body, rather the mannequin, and even the matching silk scarf that hangs from the strap. It seems attention to detail was much more important in vintage clothing. Perhaps this is because they did not have the resources to do everything by machines in huge factories, rather doing everything by hand and an old fashion sewing machine. Whatever they did back then I feel will out last anything I have today because of the attention to detail they paid just to make the dress look amazing.

Now I go back to my true inspiration of all vintage clothing Jeanne Lanvin. Being an Haute Couture her designs had to be fabulous. My personal favorite is this gown from the winter of 1935, which now resides in the Victoria and Albert museum in London. You can tell without any close ups at all that this gown was all about attention to detail. Why you ask? Well because of the way it falls on the person/ mannequin, it falls perfectly to flatter a body. Also it shows the skillful use of trim/ruffle which was a trademark of Jeanne. Jeanne Lanvin was an extraordinary designer and very influential in the 20’s and 30’s fashion world. One day I hope her influence shows through on my designs, with a bit of 2000’s edge of course.