Go high

Christian Louboutin classics

Steve Madden

Steve Madden

Christian Louboutin

S. Madden

T.U.K

Yves Saint Laurent

Victoria Beckham

Heels - women hate them; women love them. Many people claim that a "man had to have invented them". I don't care - I love them. They give us better posture, make our legs longer, leaner, sexier and can really make or break an outfit. I don't know when they came into play, maybe 2 or so years ago, but I am absolutely in love with platform pumps. They are ridiculously tall, ridiculously stylish and ridiculously sexy, and I really want a pair in every color.

Yves Saint Laurent might have my favorite style of platform pumps: skinny, skinny heel, concealed platform and every fabulous color I could imagine. Victoria Beckham has a pair in every color and texture: matte, patent, suede. They exude glamour and sexiness and it is guaranteed that when you walk into a room wearing these shoes all eyes will be on you - and they'll be thinking very good things.

The platform pump can make a turn for the worse as you see in the purple T.U.K disaster above. The silhouette of the shoe is ruined. The sleek, sexy style gone. The glittery closed toed look that Steve Madden came out with are nice, except for one flaw, which takes the look from stylish to stripper in one line. The visible division of shoe and platform give off a hooker/stripper vibe and that is a look I do not recommend. Avoid the crazy details when it comes to your platform pumps - stick with classy, stick with sleek- play it up instead with colors and textures. And good God go high - just do a practice run in your living room first because nothing says hooker more than a girl on her back wearing a short dress (even if it is Herve Leger) with her legs up in the air.

Ugg-ly

Ugg

Ugg-ly

Ugg-lier

Ugg-liest
Jimmy Choo

 

I know I can't be the first person to make the connection between Uggs and the word "ugly", because that is what they are. I can't seem to wrap my head around how big of a fashion trend these boots have become. Imagine the girl who stands in front of the mirror thinking: "Hot pink tank top with dirty bra strap showing? Check. Faded jean miniskirt? Check. My Uggs? Check. Is it over 80° outside? Check!" I wouldn't want to walk a day in her shoes.They are brown, sheepskin and shapeless - not words I want to be used to describe one of my fashion staples. I also believe you have to be about 7 feet tall for them to be something close to flattering. 

Ugg boots have been around for a few decades, but what brings them to my attention now is Jimmy Choo's new line for Ugg: Studs, fringe, sheepskin. No. Choo's heels are fabulous, but to begin to design - and design ugly - for Ugg baffles me.

In conclusion (after being quite mean and critical): Uggs aren't stylish - they are ugly. No better word can describe them, so try and try hard not to wear them unless it's below zero and you're inside with all the lights turned off. Even then think twice.

Black vs. Naked

Alice + Olivia

Torn

American Apparel

Stella McCartney

Alexander Wang

Everyone has heard of the "Little Black Dress" every girl has one in her closet- or at least should. It is the go to dress but, does this dress need an upgrade? Think naked- think nude. Scary? I think so. Made famous by Carrie and the girls in Sex and the City "The Naked Dress" could just be your next go to dress for a HOT night on the town, and if you go nude it will be hot. I am loving the long sleeved version of The Naked Dress that Alice + Olivia  and Torn have done (especially love the detail on the shoulders), it is nude and tight and bearing, but quite possibly modest too; the American Apparel version even has adjustable straps so you can control exactly how much like sex you want to look.

The question is: could this be a new alternative or even a replacement for date night fashion? A more modern, edgier and scandalous look? I'm not sure... there is still something extremely sexy about the Little Black Dress- the Alexander Wang piece with the nude mesh back - Can you get sexier? On the other hand we do know how Carrie's first date with Mr. Big went when she was wearing naked. The decision is yours.

Winter boots: found??

Boot option

Boot option I'll surely say no to

 My Nine West booties

My winter boots

It took me a month, but I have found my winter boot. They are not ideal, and they sure as hell aren't as fantastic as the Dior boots in my first post, BUT they will do for now. I found and bought them just in time for as I was unpacking my bags the first snow of the year fell, and it was nothing short of amazing- just beautiful, beautiful white covering the world.

I got immediately excited because that meant I got to wear my new boots. I tried on my first "winter outfit": a white dress, a black knit cardigan, gray wool blend tight and of course my boots. I even combed my hair for this faux outing and maybe - maybe not put on another layer of mascara. Looking at myself in the mirror that big stupid grin on my face turned into a big frown. I looked and felt like an idiot... it was a sad, sad time.

My boots, I thought made me look dumpy and I can't remember ever wearing that much clothes. Ever. Everyone said I looked fine, but being used to ballet flats, wedges and flip flops (and not to mention the fantastic hot sun) I began to resent the boot wearing season. Luckily a package came from the US of A carrying my three favorite things: books, Starbucks and shoes. My boyfriend bought and packed up the Nine West booties I'd been longing for, and they almost revived my love for the boot wearing season. Almost. Just as long as I don't fall on a patch of cold, harsh ice when wearing them.

Gray obsession

Lucky Brand

Lindex

H&M

Alexander McQueen

Elizabeth and James

DVF

The color in between two basics: black and white. Why shouldn't it be used just as often? I am loving coats, bags and boots in this color (or for some anal retentive people "shade") for fall and winter. The softness of gray is great for layering on different pieces, as well as accessorizing. I especially love the muted color of the Elizabeth and James boot which softens and the suede gives them a great texture and you can wear this style with pretty much anything. Get excited by the fabulous blandness and pair gray with vibrant colors like blue, purple and my favorite, yellow. This arty and quite flashy Diane Von Furstenberg scarf with her image on it is great - tie it onto your bag or wear it as a scarf under that amazing gray coat for a bright flash of color in these upcoming dreary winter months.

Everyone loves Kiehl's...

Calendula toner complete with petals

Moisturizer

Yerba Mate cleanser

Avocado eye cream

Mango-Papaya face scub

Mixed Berry toner with real berry chunks!

... Or at least they should! Kiehl's is a line of skin care products, but they also have shampoos, conditioners and even stuff for your dog. They started in 1857 in New York and they use all natural ingredients - so no horrible chemicals. And this, I think, is the very best part: they don't test on animals and they never have. I decided to try Kiehl's for that reason. To eat an animal as nourishment is one thing, but why does an animal need to suffer so I can have pore-free skin and luscious eyelashes?

I have been using these products religiously for a few years now and I love, love, love it! I use the Calendula toner, which is made with real calendula flowers and you can see them in the bottle - which is really neat; the avocado eye cream; the Yerba Mate Tea cleanser; and your basic moisturizer with SPF.

My skin has never looked better. As far as I know you cannot find Kiehl's products in Norway, but glory be hallelujah, this must be why we have the internet. So, I say: "Clear, fabulous, glowing skin and a clear conscience?" Yes, please.

To clog or not to clog?

Aldo

Diane von Furstenberg

Dior

Traditional Dutch clogs

Rachel Bilson

I say not to clog. There is one fall fashion trend that I especially cannot stand and that is the clog. I do not like them for any other reason, really, other than I think they are hideous. Clogs are bulky, unflattering and remind me of the shoes nurses wear. In my opinion a fabulous shoe should be seamless with the body; elongating it, giving it a flattering posture. A clog style, for a lack of a better word, clogs the body down. I can't think of a single good way to wear them - even Rachel Bilson in her effortless style can't make them look anything but, well, silly. Let the 18th century Dutch milking maids keep this look.

Search for the perfect støvletter

In moving to Norway from San Diego I have come to find that I am seriously unprepared for the change of season. Being a dresses and skirts kind of person (besides from what I like to call my very comfortable but ugly "airplane pants") I don't own a decent pair of pants or jeans and I don't own a single pair of boots or as the Norwegians call them: støvletter. Pants are the least of my worries because as of  now I have decided to wear fabulous wool blend tights along with skirts and dresses and beautiful warm coats all winter - let us see how long I last... Still a pair of boots I must have; I am thinking along the line of the Dior Cavaliere Buckle Bootie. Unfortunately I do not have $1,250 to spend on a cavaliere bootie, so I must find a replacement! Stay tuned.