Tuesday, January 18, 2011

A Selection of the Newer Perfumes

Let's look at a brief description of some of the new perfumes of the past few years.  I have more knowledge of some than others, so do write and tell me at the email address below if you are very familiar with a particular new perfume and why it appeals so much.  Write also if there is a special luxury perfume less well known that you want to share with others.  A few from the previous decade are included because of their dominance in world sales now, but it is impossible to list every perfume and which might just happen to your favourite.
Prices where given, are approximate to give you an idea of possible cost in December 2003 and will more than likely vary with supplier.  Also I have tried to give an idea of the starting prices of these perfumes where practical.  Please note we do not sell perfume. 
For meanings of EDT and EDP go to the bottom of page.

Perfumes Favoured in the Noughties

Ardenbeauty by Elizabeth Arden (floral green) - A rich elegant floral with green notes, Rubrum lily, golden sweet orchid, a twist of lemon, on a base of Indian sandalwood, amber and musk.  £32.50 for 50ml EDP.  Launched 2002.
Emporio Armani Night for Her by Armani - A seriously seductive, mysterious voluptuous and sensual perfume with a woody, floral and amber base hinting at peonies, lily of the valley, blackcurrant, cranberry amid sandalwood, patchouli and myrrh.  Ideal for winter. £30 for 50ml EDP.
Sensi by Georgio Armani (floriental) -  A refined, stylish perfume that encapsulates Armani fashion with woody, floral and oriental notes of Kaffir lime leaves, barley, Palisander woods, vanilla and delicate flowers mimosa, jasmine.   £39 for 50ml EDP.  Launched 2002.
Boss Intense by Boss (oriental) - A sensual mesmerising fragrance of amber base notes, spice mixed with vanilla, all mingled with vanilla orchid and warm wood notes.  £29 for 50ml EDP.  Launched 2003.
Initial for Women by Boucheron (floral) - A  sweet and romantic refreshing floral with notes of lily of the valley, Turkish rose, cinnamon, patchouli, blackcurrant leaf and vanilla. Launched 2000.
Burberry Brit by Burberry (oriental) - Very reminiscent of all things British, with soft wood, sugared almonds, lime, pear and amber tones.   £23 for 30ml EDP. £36 for 50ml EDT.
Gloria by Cacharel (oriental)  - A fresh oriental, with notes of Hibiscus, roses, amaretto and vanilla ideal for rock chicks. £18.50 for 50ml EDT.
Chance by Chanel (oriental) - A watery floral with a warm background. £31.50 for 50ml EDT.
»
Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel (oriental) -  A fresh oriental perfume.  £40 for 50ml EDT.
Clinique Happy by Clinique (floral) - Launched 1997, but one of the world's most popular perfumes of now.  Full of fruits and flowers with a white floral base including magnolia and red grapefruit and blonde woods making this an upbeat warm scent in a rather dull bottle.
Clinique Simply by Clinique (floral) - A watery floral blend of white flowers with a touch of aniseed and a creamy warmth.   £32 for 50ml EDT.
Celine Dion by Coty ( floral) - Ripe fruits with soft florals.  £20 for 50ml EDT.
Ghost by Coty - A sweet, flowery, but modern classic perfume.  £27 for 50ml EDT.
ISA  Bella by Coty (oriental) - Vanilla and balsam with florals create a deep mysterious smell.  £27 for 50ml EDT.
Cool Water Woman by Davidoff - An aquatic blend.  £21 for 30ml EDT.
Escada Ibiza Hippie by Escada - A blend of amber, pear, freesia and cranberry.  Launched 2003.
Dior Addict by Dior (floriental) - Sexy sandalwood based scent with vanilla rose and jasmine and the rare Jamaican flower The Queen of the Night.  £39 for 50ml EDP, £23 for 20ml EDP.
Sicily by Dolce and Gabbana (chypre) - A twist on citrus, herbs and blossoms, including honeysuckle, Italian bergamot, jasmine, hibiscus and sandalwood.  £30 for 25ml EDP.
Magot by Etro (chypre) - Fruits mixed with blossoms and patchouli combine to give a sensuous perfume once settled.  £48 for 100ml EDT.
Celine Pour Femme  - A spicy woody fragrance with rich florals.  £21.50 for 30ml EDT.
Fendi by Fendi (oriental) - A modern scent of amber, musk and vanilla on soft woods.  £40 for 100ml EDT.
Serenity by Ghost -  A feminine scent that contains, bergamot, lily of the valley, Peony and Tonka beans.  £28 for 50ml.  Launched 2003. 
Very Irresistible by Givenchy (floral) - This is the world's first floral aromatic scent.  Fresh with a heart of rose, combining 5 different roses and star anise with verbena.  £27.50 for 30ml EDT.
Hot Couture by Givenchy ( floral) -  Sexy and sensual flowery scent with a heart of lily, magnolia and fruity raspberry, amid black pepper overlaid with vetiver, sandalwood and ambergris notes.  Launched 2000.
˚
Quel Amour By Annick Goutal -  A fabulous new fragrance with the discrete scent of peonies mixed with wild roses and geranium rosa, is enhanced by fruits such as pomegranates, redcurrants, cherries and peaches. £35 for 50ml. Launched 2002.
Gucci eau de Parfum by Gucci -  A rich, musky, heady, exotic and erotic, luxurious perfume with orange blossom, thyme, cumin and heliotrope that mellows into an elusive scent.  Not for the shy and retiring.  £26 for 30ml EDP
Gucci Rush 2 by Gucci - A gentle luxurious perfume for those who prefer the fresh and flowery.  Launched 2001.
L'instant by Guerlain (oriental) - The latest offering from  the wonderful Guerlain range. A delicious classy oriental scent roundly finished with a powdery feel.  £30.50 for 50 ml EDT. £52 for 100ml EDT.
Mahora by Guerlain (floriental)-  A heart of frangipani, jasmine, tuberose, ylang ylang and neroli overlaid with vanilla, sandalwood and vetiver.  This is a serious, sultry memorable exotic fragrance for those who like to make a statement.  You will either love it or loathe it.  If you like Dior's Poison you will like this.  I love Guerlain perfumes, but this is the one I find too obvious and too cloying.  Launched in 2000.
Chic by Carolina Herrera  - A seamless, fresh, elegant scent blend with Bulgarian roses, orange flower, mandarin, freesia, ambrette, and vanilla.  Launched 2002.
Marc Jacobs by Marc Jacobs (floral) - A modern, crisp, clean, feminine perfume based around the mystery of gardenia, musk, cedar and ginger.  Launched 2001.  Very popular.
Glow by J.Lo (floral aldehyde)  - A warm sexy and fresh floral fragrance of jasmine, orris, grapefruit and orange flower, with sandalwood, soft musk and amber.   Some may find it too sweet, but my husband always says "you smell lovely" whenever I wear this.  £21 for 30 ml EDT.  Launched 2002.
Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan - A beautiful floral scent that is refreshing, subtle and feminine.  £27 for 30ml EDT. £37 for 50ml EDT.
Flower by Kenzo (floral) - A simple straightforward powdery floral fragrance. It combines poppy, rose, vanilla, violet and hawthorn. £27.50 for 30ml EDP.  £38 for 50ml EDP.
Truth by Calvin Klein (green) - A refreshing woody oriental fragrance ideal for casual wear.  £34 for 50ml EDP.  £21 for 30ml EDP.  Launched 2000.
»
Michael by Michael Kors - A sophisticated much loved scent with woody undertones, freesia and tuberose on the surface.
Attraction by Lancôme (floriental ) - An attractive stylish perfume which is fresh, floral and green to start with, then hints at an amber and vanilla note on iris, syringa and patchouli.  £28.50 for 30ml EDP.  Very now.
Connexion by Lancôme - An attractive, friendly, happy scent with a warm musky feel.  It is like a bouquet of white flowers and includes magnolia, wild roses and hibiscus together with the fruitiness of blackcurrant and blackberries and the lushness of whipped cream, vanilla and patchouli.  The lingering smell of this perfume hauntingly reminds me of a long lost favourite perfume of many years ago. £25 for 50ml EDT.  Launched 2003.
Miracle by Lancôme - A contemporary feminine white flowers perfume with zesty sharp green notes in a haze of jasmine and magnolia, all underscored by spices and amber.  Perfect for casual and daywear.  Launched 2001 and hugely popular.
Tresor by Lancôme (floriental) -  Re-launched as long ago as 1990 this feminine scent is high on the USA top ten list of best selling scents in this decade. Containing lilac, apricot, amber and musk it is a sharp floriental fragrance.  £28 for 30 ml EDP.
Pour Elle by Ted Lapidus (oriental) - Rich blossoms on a cushion of exotic wood and oriental notes.  £37 for 50ml EDP.
Beautiful by Estee Lauder (floral) - Launched in the 1990s, but one of the most popular perfumes in the USA top ten.  A lovely scent like a bouquet of flowers with citrus woods and spices.  £30 for 30ml EDP.
Intuition by Estee Lauder (oriental) - A beautiful soft sensual scent with vanilla, fruits and floral notes that is modern and wearable.   £36.50 for 50ml EDP. Launched in 2000, hugely popular and still in the USA top ten perfumes.
Beyond Paradise by Estee Lauder (oriental) - A light, radiant, tropically fresh, simple, but warm and full exotic perfume, using lingering scents of flowers like Natal plum blossoms and crêpe jasmine and moss.  Very now.  £27.50 for 30ml EDP.  £37.50 for 50 ml EDP.
Pleasures Intense by Estee Lauder (floral) - Intensely feminine this is a fresh take on the original Pleasure, but with more intense concentrated Eau de Parfum violet tones and ideal for summer. £48 for 100ml EDP.  Launched 2002.
Glamourous by Ralph Lauren - A dress up or down special floral fragrance made from the Casablanca lily, Siam wood and musk.  £41 for 50 ml EDP.  Launched 2002.
Romance by Ralph Lauren (chypre) - This contains chamomile, freesia, tangerine, ginger, violet and oakmoss and makes a light perfume.  £25 for 30 ml EDP.   Launched 1999.
Stella by Stella McCartney (floral) - Fresh simple delicate flowers such as roses offset with amber and woods.  £37.50 for 50ml EDP.
Kingdom by Alexander McQueen (chypre) - A spicy, bright, sensual and exotic fragrance full of character that turns heads.  Contains ginger, vanilla, woods and myrrh.  £31 for 30ml EDP.
Enjoy by Patou (floral) - A lively, sensual fruity floral for grown ups.  £31 for 30ml EDP.
»
Malabah by Penhaligon (oriental) - Smells of exotic spices mixed with oranges in a far eastern harbour.  £57 for 100ml EDP.
Premier Jour by Nina Ricci (floriental) - A subtle, slightly exotic musky scent with notes hinting at sugared almonds, gardenia, mandarin, and sweet peas and all that is lovely of a long summer's day.  Launched 2001.
Absolu by Rochas - A gentle spicy fragrance with sandalwood, cinnamon and a sharp twist of pepper. Soft enough for office wear.  Launched 2002.
Aquawoman by Rochas - This is a sharp aquatic scent, a blend of nacre, amber, musk on criste marine.  Launched 2002.
Manifesto by Isabella Rossellini - A fresh floral scent launched in 2000.  Made from an exotic mix of fruits, soft flowers, spice with under tones of sandalwood, white musk and chestnut.
Extreme by Paul Smith - A sophisticated  fragrance of mandarin, blackcurrant, freesia and amber.  £20 for 30ml EDT.  £27 for 50ml EDT.  £37 for 100ml EDT.
Kate Spade Parfum - (At present exclusively available at Harrods in UK) - a beautiful new simple sensual fragrance of white flowers, neroli, jasmine with a heart of gardenia.
Anna Sui dolly Girl by Anna Sui (floral)  - A flowery, sweet, girly fresh scent, reminiscent of melons and apples, roses, jasmine, and magnolia.    £20 for 30ml EDT.
Vera Wang The Fragrance by Vera Wang  -  The perfect scent for brides. Roses calla lily, gardenia and stephanotis with lotus iris, woods and musk combine to make a classic floral bouquet for the dream day.  £48 for 50ml EDP.  2003.
Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood - Exotic tempting and sultry combining sandalwood, patchouli, Turkish rose vanilla, lilac, cilantro and orange blossom with musky floral overtones. You may not like this at first but put it on an hour before you go out and let it develop fully into a warm sexy winter scent. £35 for 50 ml EDP.  Launched 1998.

Very Valentino by Valentino (oriental) - A classic scent with green notes on a base of musk, exotic flowers and vanilla.
Nu Eau de Toilette by YSL (oriental) - A blend of woods, vanilla and spices that make a sensual sophisticated, spicy, sexy scent.  From £39. £52 for 100ml EDT.
Baby Doll by YSL (fruits) - A feminine fruity citrus scent with freesia, spices, peach grapefruit, rose, ginger, pomegranate and cedarwood.  Launched 1999.

Perfumes August 2005

Newest Perfumes
The new elegant grown up hourglass silhouette of this autumn will demand more sophisticated old fashioned heady fragrances.  The newest perfumes to attract attention have the traditional fragrance notes of violet, rose or lily.  1990s ozonic notes are not the flavour of the month this autumn.

Limited editions are also popular in perfumes. The latest reissue is of an old favourite of mine and is available exclusively from Harrods. The Harrods perfume department stock unusual and hard to find perfumes and if like me you have longed for years to have some Lancôme Magie eau de Parfum you can now buy it from Harrods this season.  
Magie was launched in 1950.  It has a great 50s feel to it, heavily loaded with rose and jasmine and is a memorable scent.  You won't sneeze when you use this perfume.  As soon as I heard of it being for sale again I rang Harrods to order some and it arrived just a few days later.  DO NOT confuse this scent with Magie Noire.
Violet scents will also be on sale this autumn especially from Alexander McQueen and Anick Goutal.  Both will have scents based primarily on violets.  Miss Dior Cherie is the latest 2005 perfume from Dior launching anyday now.

A Brief Reminder of the Constituents of Perfume

»
78% to 95% of specially denatured ethyl alcohol with a remainder of essential oils makes the product we call perfume and is also loosely called scent or fragrance.
Products with 22% of essential oils are the costliest form of fragrance and are called Perfumes.
EDP or Eau de Parfum comes next, having between 15 and 22% essential oils. It can last  about 4 hours on the wearer.
That's followed by Eau de Toilette (EDT) with 8 to 15% oils, whilst the weaker Eau de Cologne has just 4% essential oils.
The lightest dilution of fragrance of all is Eau Fraiche with 1 to 3% essential oils and is for those who crave super subtlety.
Choose from the major categories of Floral, Oriental, Floriental, Chypre, Green Marine, Animalic  and Fruit (Hesperidia).

Perfumes are easy to buy over the internet and often at a discount, just use a reputable supplier.

Perfume as a Gift

The $10 billion perfume market place needs to keep up with the consumer's desire for new fragrances.  To put a new perfume on the market costs from £500,000 to a £1,000,000.  So the scent has to reflect modern tastes in smell perception, to sell well enough to recoup initial development costs.
In 2003 alone, over 70 new perfumes were launched in the UK.  Most annual perfume sales are made in the run up to Christmas.  Yet at anytime of the year, many of you are wondering what to choose for gifts as well as at Christmas. 
Perfume, aromatherapy and luxury beauty products are often the first choice because they are special and extravagant.  They are also often novel with the 'latest' item in a trend setting designer brand product range.   Designers are warming to this novel limited selcetion idea and now in 2007 have started to make niche private collection perfume ranges.
Couple these facts with the knowledge that most perfume coffrets are sold beautifully packaged and you have a gift that says 'you are special and deserve to be pampered' to the recipient.  With the average mass consumer in mind, many such gift packages are pitched around either the £25, £35 or £49 mark and can offer excellent value for money.  
Often they contain either an EDT or EDP with some body lotion and perhaps a matching shower or bath gel, providing the perfect products for layering your scent.  Old fashioned bath cubes are no longer the item that a woman looks for in her Christmas stocking.  Layered designer fragrance has far more appeal for the modern miss.
»
Television and glossy magazine advertisements for perfumes are intended to convey the message that an individual can fantasise that they are part of the glamour that is inherent in the advertisement, if they wear that particular perfume.  No wonder so many of these advertisements give an impression of being steeped in luxury with liquid gold, iridescent and silken draped materials that say exotic, erotic and expensive.  The message in a bottle is clear - wear the perfume and you have a share in the fantasy dream world of luxury.  But beware, be guided by your nose and what suits you and your personality rather than the fantasy image of the advert and the luxury of the packaging however cool it seems at a moment in time. 
Every woman has a wardrobe of about 6 or 7 scents, some will have even more.  Of the average ownership about 2 bottles are gifts, 2 are image/trend driven and a couple are self selected by the individual because they are old favourites related to their true personality.
I have just counted 9 bottles on my dressing table and know there are 2 more in a kitchen drawer for a quick spray without running upstairs, whilst a small spray sits in my handbag.  Once Christmas and the January sales come there will be several more.  When you own half a dozen bottles, you have to use those fragrances daily as they will go off if left languishing in a drawer for too long.
Some people like myself, make a point of using perfume every day.  For me it is part of getting bathed, dressed and made up.  Applying a perfume is the final act of making a signature statement for the day.  However own more than 10 and you soon find that one is likely to go off from lack of more than occasional use.
A simple way of using a fragrance daily is in bath products so you use scent almost without thinking about it.  The best way is incorporated in bath or shower gel or as routine after bath spray.  Today only a few perfume brands sell these easy and quick to use spray body oils.  It seems to me a marketing point is being missed here as I know I am representative of many women who do not have the luxury of time to rub in body lotions other than occasionally when rushing to get out of the house.  Yet I do use after bath oil sprays regularly. These few brands include Chanel No.5, Chance, Eau de Cartier, Angel, Gloria and Romance.
»

Designers Have Trouble Dropping Shoulder Pads

The shoulder pad began to act as an accessory for women to stylize a garment.  Garments, particularly knitwear, sweatshirts, oversized big shirts and T-shirts started to appear with detachable Velcro fixing shoulder pads.  Women made their own decisions about whether an item looked the way they wanted it to look.
Designers tried to drop the shoulder pad in the same way they tried to drop the mini for the maxi in the sixties, but as in the case of the mini the public stuck to what they wanted and they wanted shoulder pads.  By its nature a shoulder pad creates a smooth line over the natural hollows of the collar bone area.  Women suddenly noticed that shoulder pads smoothed out body postural imperfections and they liked the effect.
Eventually designers began to get their way.  The sleeve inset to shoulder line began to drop further and further down the arm which meant that the quite rounded shoulder pads rather than the initial sharply squared off versions began to hang somewhere between elbow and shoulder point. Visible support of shoulder padding was seen in garments for over ten years because women liked the way clothes hung on them.
The concept of executive dressing for women at work was firmly established by 1987 and remained in a much subtler minimalist form in the 1990s.  By 1991-3 shoulder pads although still around began to decrease in size and over the next few years shoulder width gradually became smaller and narrower and pads slowly began to be left out of knitwear and even lingerie. Women also started to cut them out of garments as they moved on to newer looks.
Despite everything you may read today about power dressing being dead, it is still alive and well in the corporate office such as a legal office where a simple well cut black, taupe or navy trouser suit or pencil skirt and jacket remain the staple business attire for women who want to be taken seriously.

Get Big Shoulders and Get Noticed

1980s Fashion history shows that as the fashion for female identity in the workplace took hold, so shoulder width grew.  Increasingly large shoulder pads were used to support the wider cut of sleeves. 
Right - Big Shoulders of the 1980s - Quite mannish suits and appliqué shoulder padded knitwear for women were both softened with ties, bow ties and floppy scarves tied in artist bows all often worn with long boots. 
  Fashion history and costume history 1980s.Women's shoulders had started to actually look like designers had once drawn them at the  start of the 80s decade.  Designers had tried to promote wide shoulders of American footballer dimensions in the early 1980s and although women initially laughed, eventually shoulder width had a rounded coat hanger effect just like those early designs and reached dimensions not seen before in the 20th century.
Left - The big jacket look was also transferred to evening wear. Wide shouldered, rich jewel shaded brocades or gold lame or lace jackets were made up following day styles. 
To soften the masculine effect the sleeves of jackets and blouses were worn pushed up or rolled up to reveal attractive satinised contrast jacket linings which in itself was a way of accessorizing it.

80's 90's retro tees

Lavish use of both fine and costume jewellery was worn day and night on the show and it drifted into mainstream fashion. Big, almost huge gilt fashion earrings several centimetres across drew attention to faces drowning in shoulder pads. Stones could be fake or real. Diamante, pearls and gold chains were intended to tell the rest of the world you had arrived.
The women in Dynasty wore all the trimmings of jewellery along with a wide range of lavish covetable underwear and lingerie.  In the 80s the all in one body the teddy, known in some countries as a bodysuit was a favourite outfit for bedroom scenes.  Another 1980s fashion to find favour was the comeback of French knickers and camisoles lavishly embellished with crusty corded lace.
Big was best and fashion hair styles of the 1980s grew bigger to match the look.  Mousse and gel was essential to create the style. The effects of excess mousse were so horrifying on waking up that it became normal to wash hair daily. As the eighties progressed the TV series 'Dallas' created hairstyles that blossomed ever bigger like opening flowers. 
»
Both Dallas and Dynasty heralded the return of the shift dress in strong colours.  Fuchsia pinks, sea greens, purples, royal blue and red shimmered in silk and polyester foulard copies.  Lavish use of fabric in batwing sleeves was in keeping with the excessive largesse of the era.  The 1980s saw the revival of an old fashion, the batwing sleeve. The batwing style was translated into two tone sweater knits with cowl collars.  Sometimes they were covered in satin appliqué free forms often worked over a mohair or angora knit.  Shoulder pads were essential in knits.
1980s blouses were based on romantic looks of earlier eras in fashion history. The blouses had intricate stock or cravat effect neck wrappings, deep pleated shoulder tucks or swathed crossover fabrics.  All were made up in silk or polyester satin foulard or crepe de chine substitutes which softened the harshness of severe man tailored jackets.  Snug fitting jersey knit bodies that buttoned under the crotch and gave a smooth silhouette also became popular especially after the mid eighties.

Fashion Influences of the 1980s

Power Dressing

1980s fashion history is memorable and quite distinctive. A variety of fashion looks ran parallel to each other in the 1980s. Women of this era began to feel they that really could at last choose from one of the many contrasting looks available. The fashion look that was the most powerful over the decade was the wide shoulder.   Fashion history reveals that the 80s fashion look was a tailored look. It was hard to go anywhere without at least a jacket, but preferably a complete suit. This was influenced by several movements including media influence on 1980s fashion through the popularity of TV dramas like 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas'. Costume dramas brought fashion into real everyday eighties life.
Corporate business suit dressing, Margaret Thatcher in tailored evening suits, Yuppies and the copying of styles worn by Diana Princess of Wales, all contributed to stamping the era with a style that now seems to shriek vulgarity quite simply because Laver's Law is operating.
Power dressing,  New Romantics, stretch dressing and sportswear all lent a significant feeling that a woman could be anybody she chose to be. 
These four looks are predominant in the fashion and costume history of the 1980s.

Influence of Television Soap Series 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas'

Influence of Television Soap Series 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas''Dynasty' the 1980s television fantasy soap series promoted fashions which enlarged the shoulder. One of the main characters was played by the naturally broad shouldered film star Linda Evans.
Nolan Miller, the Dynasty film set costume designer decided to go with her big shoulders and give slight emphasis to them. Every other actor had to be shoulder padded, but with more depth to match her shoulders.
In the 1980s 'Dynasty' was watched by a global audience of over 250 million viewers. Many who watched did so for a look at the 80's fashions which were always over the top and frankly camp. Throughout the 80s styles did filter to the mass market in watered down versions.
1980s fashion favoured applied decoration on suits and T-shirts and beadwork on clothing which all pandered to the ideals of a time of conspicuous consumption. The 1980s was a time of greed and individuals living a lie that they had everything whether it be fashion, champagne or property.  Many fell into debt as the only way to acquire an 80's lifestyle for many was via the credit card.

Temporary Hair Dye 1980′s

Temporary hair dye was all the rage back in the 80′s. Pink, purple, blue, red. Just about every color you can think of was available. Here is an example of what temporary hair dye looked like in the ’80s.
Temporary Hair Dye
Cyndi Lauper wearing temporary hair dye in the 1980's.

80′s mesh hair ties

Here is a photo of an 80′s mesh hair tie on a 1980′s looking model. This style mesh tie was made very popular by music artist and actress Madonna.
80's Mesh Hair Tie

Go Crazy

Ohhhh I did something totally insane and spent money on a pair of boots that look like this:

Yes. They will be here tomorrow. Wonderful Guess "Maeve" boots. Kind of gothic but I can't wait to wear it with my chiffon dress with tights and leg warmers, a black blazer, and some crazy coloured scarf.

So now for some outfits that I would gladly wear. Because we all have Lacroix, Moschino and Schouler lying around in our closets.

SO EXCITED. SO IN LOVE.

But not nearly as excited or as in love with the fact that Barack Obama is now our President!!

Chin up, walk tall



They are mighty tall, and I walked around them for a while thinking that I should probably return them because they're so tall.

Except they're so awesome so I'm not going to return them.




Who doesn't like some Jak & Jil for their weekend?

Feeling Tickled Pink


I'm feeling like wearing a lot of soft pink colours! After looking at this site.

Some fancy things I would like to wear right now.

Oh, I just want to wear chiffon and go around in bare feet (even if I did just purchase huge crazy boots). Yes, I want spring. I'm all ready for it.

8 Wacky Marriage Laws Still on the Books

8 Wacky Marriage Laws Still on the Books …
It’s hard to believe how many strange marriage laws still exist in obscurity in the dawning of 2011. The majority of them aren’t necessarily enforced – but they sure are funny! The ability to marry someone by proxy, to get married as a joke – does your state have these laws hidden somewhere in their charters? Take a look at these 8 wacky marriage laws still on the books and see if your state is represented!


1. Marriage By Proxy

In Montana, you can get married without even being there! Someone can stand in for you to say “I do.” Actually, several states allow this law, such as Texas, California, and Colorado. However, it is only in Montana that a double proxy wedding ceremony is allowed – meaning that, yep, neither the bride nor the groom necessarily has to be there! The kicker is, this law is meant for people who are in the military, so they can still marry their sweethearts even if they get sent overseas.

2. The “I Do” Prank

You would think that getting married as a joke only existed in Las Vegas, right? Nope! In the state of Delaware, prank marriages are so common that when you try to get your marriage annulled there, one of the options you can choose as a reason for the annulment is “prank.” Well, the wording is more professional – you can dissolve your marriage due to reasons of a dare or a jest – but still!

3. Remarriage Redux

If you live in Kentucky, you better be sure about the person you’re marrying. Why? Because it is officially illegal to remarry the same person more than three times. You know how some couples get divorced and remarry – and then get divorced and remarry, and then get divorced? Well, that fourth remarriage is simply not allowed. Frankly, it’s probably a good idea to step into a trainwreck relationship like that anyway. I mean, if you aren’t sure by the third time, it’s probably time to throw in the towel, don’t you think

the meaning of all the bad dreaming

the meaning of all the bad dreaming



(sweater courtesy of Mercury Duo, Forever 21 lace shorts, Tristan Blair wedges, Elizabeth and James knuckle ring)


Time for a good scare. Was walking around in a rainy Pacific Beach last week and dragged Colin into a uhh well, let's face it, stripper store when I saw the legwarmered mannequins wearing these feathery masks I never knew I needed. Couldn't find the most awesomely horrible light blue one I wanted from the window but walked out with a black one and a white one. I always need options. Oh and also picked up this snake bracelet that's currently wrapped around my rear view mirror. And this is why when people ask me where I shop I say everywhere. For spring I think I'm going to start a small collection of droopy open knit sweaters like this one to live in.

synchronicity


1. One Teaspoon beaded bustier dress bought in New Zealand and LF long sheer dress from San Francisco
2. marsh life in Sonoma
3. sunset from Hollywood Boulevard
4. prepping in sequins in Palm Springs

easyryder



(vintage shirt and bag, Zara scarf, J Brand Gigi jeans, Jessica Simpson Dany platforms)

Some pattern mixing for a walk across a dark field..uhh or something like that. Blogging is so strange, and not only for allowing the creation of sentences like that gem there. This bag makes everything better...I bought it from a Tibetan vendor last summer at Kobe's swap meet in San Diego, which is totally hit or miss and therefore quite exciting. And always worth it for the kettle corn and generic Sharpies from Mexico (actually those suck). Would have to take it with me if I ever moved to the desert to live in a patchwork tent with a pygmy goat. The scarf can come along too, since it's just split in the middle and can now be worn as some sort of a slutty poncho though I'm torn on the sanity levels of this newfound option. Scary stuff.

currently

leather shorts + cotton scarf



Weirdly this Zara scarf has become my new favorite belt. I think I like knowing that I'm wearing a giant cheesy horse print that no one can see.

Making use of an overcoat's pocket

You'll see many a pair of gloves in the top pocket of the overcoats worn by the gents at Pitti Uomo, but you'll see few pocket handkerchiefs in their place. Tailor Valentino Ricci doesn't make the mistake of leaving his pocket bare, however.
coat pocket handkerchief

Fashgasm 17.1.2011

Written by Allan Barger on 17.01.11

Yesterday's most popular picture

Kinga Rajzak & Iselin Steiro: Lanvin S/S '11 Ad Campaign
From Kinga Rajzak & Iselin Steiro: Lanvin S/S '11 Ad Campaign
Follow the link for more
All new galleries after the jump

Latest editorial

Click here to read 'Fashgasm 17.1.2011'
Picture Gallery Preview
Kinga Rajzak & Iselin Steiro: Lanvin S/S '11 Ad Campaign
Kinga Rajzak & Iselin Steiro: Lanvin S/S '11 Ad Campaign
Kinga Rajzak & Iselin Steiro: Lanvin S/S '11 Ad Campaign
Kinga Rajzak & Iselin Steiro: Lanvin S/S '11 Ad Campaign