Oh the hair! The makeup! The dress! The earrings! The cigarette holder!
Tom Ford began as a designer for Gucci in the early 90s and then moved on to Yves Saint Laurent before beginning his own line "Tom Ford" in the mid 2000s. In the past few years he has really blown up, at least in my fashion lovin' eyes. His designs, which are fantastic, are not only in the magazines, but he is in them as well. He has begun modeling his own line - which is completely okay by me. He has an instinct for what is sexy with out being over the top and with being over the top (see his ads for his men's cologne; I don't dare post them myself!) Mr. Ford is without a doubt a very sexy man: that jawline, his five o'clock shadow, that sexy-deviant smirk. And I don't think anyone looks better in a tuxedo. He is polished and rugged at the same time - he is, well, a bit of sex on a stick.
He designs exquisitely for both men and women- his new spring line for women is amazing. Notice the hemlines on the dresses - they hit right below the knee. The white suit shows no skin.Yet they exude sex appeal. I especially love the black backless dress which I first saw in the latest issue of Elle magazine on Katie Holmes; she wore the dress with white pumps and it was perfection. When women and men alike wear Ford they look hot, they look like fun, they look like sex. Very glamorous sex.
Despite all this, it wasn't until early last year that I understood the talent and force that is Tom Ford. His directorial debut "A Single Man" was showing in Landmark theaters everywhere and my boyfriend was taking me (for our anniversary) to see a film about a gay man directed by a gay fashion designer. I was very happy. When I was in the theater with my cherry coke I became astonished. The film was beautiful: the colors, the clothes, the scenery. The 1960s were fascinating to begin with; now they had the genius eye of Tom Ford to boot. Julianne Moore was nothing short of perfection. Each frame as a still could be a Vogue fashion spread. The music, the fashion, the story, the acting: Julianne Moore, Colin Firth - if beauty and fabulousness could kill, I'd surely be dead. Bravo, Mr. Ford, Bravo.
It all started with a pair of Steve Madden leopard print flats I received as a gift. The obsession began slowly: leopard earrings, a head band, a cardigan, a muscle shirt. Finally leopard print tights showed up in every clothing store in Oslo, along with hats, gloves, purses, even MC Hammer pants. I was like a kid in a leopard print candy store.
It wasn't until I squealed with delight when I spotted a leopard ear headband at my local H&M I realized I had a problem. I bought them only because I decided to be a leopard at my school's carnival (at least that's what I told myself). The fact that all I needed to complete my costume were cat ears only confirmed my addiction. I needed to take a hint from Kate Moss - she is always stunning without ever crossing that fine line from leopard chic to leopard costume. Maybe head to toe leopard complete with cat eye makeup and ears will satisfy my urge for the fabulous print? At least tone it down a notch or two, so I am looking more femme fatale than feline.
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 isHerve Leger) with her legs up in the air.
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.
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.
