Victoria’s Secret 2007 Fantasy Bra for $4.5 mn

Earlier we have introduced Diamond Sudded Gold Braworth $108,600 that was sparkling, enticing and elite. But it couldn’t complete the design standard carved by Fantasy Bra. Following the custom of topping the charts in terms of its design, Victoria’s Secret has assured its permanent place on the pedestal by unveiling the entire lingerie set.

Beating the exotic fantasy bra for 2005 and 2006, this ultra-exotic set comprises of a thong, garter, cuff armlet and toning barrette with a sacred theme.

Designed and produced by jeweler Mouawad and model by Selita Ebanks, this unbeatable push-up bra collection is packed with countless diamonds, precious stone, gems, emerald and yellow sapphires worth $4.5 million. But with no doubts, it cannot beat the world's overprice bikini.

$1,355,000 Diamond Bra

The ongoing list of diamond and gold studded bra has got another worthy entrant. After disclosing the pricey undergarments viz. 950 grams gold underwear, diamond-gold studded bra, overpriced bikini, Victoria’s 2007 fantasy bra, $1.3 mn diamond Bra; the one featured above is all set to dominate the same the same audience. The very look at the bra makes one go crazy not because of its exotic form but due to the burning price tag.

The bra can be yours if you have a heart to shell out 10 million Yuan ($1,355,000). It is packed with 2,500 diamonds that weighs more than 100 carats. The bra is being displayed at a departmental store in Suzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province. If this bra has managed to win your heart and you dare to roll out this million dollar investment on to your bedroom, then hurry now!

Miniskirts Getting Shorter

Yesterday, in Victorias Secret’s New York store, the firm presented its latest designs. The show included the participation of four noticeable models, ambassadors of this brand.

Very smiling, Karolina Kurkova, Alessandra Ambrosio, Isabel Goulart and Selita Ebanks appeared in this place to show some of these new creations. The key trends included short dresses and undershirts combined with silver miniskirts.

Elite Handbag: ‘Queen of Barcelona’ Tote

It seems injecting bags with Botox wasn’t enough that Zagliani designer Mauro Orietti-Carella have to infuse it with a luxury pill of 18 karat gold. Featured above is a ‘Queen of Barcelona’ bag that could be the next must-grab accessory for filthy rich.

Designed in Italy, the tote is clad in python leather embedded with 18 karat gold and its internal territory is lined in suede, with enfolded spinner top handles and a bloated, quilted center board. It comes with one internal zip pocket and one mobile phone pocket. I am wondering if there are any celebrities volunteering for the bag marking the begging of their 2008 shopping.

Measurement: 16cm x 13cm x 4cm
Price: £1,265.00

Valentino Patent Histoire Bag

Influenced by ‘S’ factor; this smart, spacious and striking creation eyes a proud owner to justify its holding. Made up of gold patent leather, gold-tone base with black topstitching, this bag creates a different aura around it.

Braided with leather detail, its top handles with buckles are quite interesting. Also, the topmost flap with tab closure makes you feel the real magic of this pricey bag. It has two front flap pockets and a logo plate on side. Designed in Italy, this bag can be shipped to any part of the world if you can afford to drop $1,795.

Measurement: 12″H x 14″W x 5″D

Night Glasses with Glow in the Dark Equalizer

Get your groove on with a pair of Watsget Night Glasses. The shades come with a built in equalizer that’s sound activated, so you’ll look either really hip or ultra nerdy.

Unfortunately, the Watsget Night Glasses aren’t music activated like the T-Qualizer Music Activated T-Shirt. But that’s okay because wearing both would be overkill.

Carolina Herrera said she was inspired by the watercolors of Jeremiah Goodman, the interiors illustrator to the smart set, whose book, Jeremiah: A Romantic Vision, was published earlier this year. Diana Vreeland, Elsa Peretti, and Pauline de Rothschild were his clients, so you can imagine how lavish Herrera's fabrics were today. And she wasn't content to leave her floral silk failles be; she'd decorated them with artful swaths of jet beads.

She set the refreshing new mood—last season, by contrast, she'd cited Edvard Munch—with the first look: a flower-embroidered white top with billowy black cocktail shorts. Moving on, there were shirtwaist dresses and cocktail styles topped with sporty cardigans; a new perspective on the suit with those shorts again; and one solitary pair of pants, shown with a vibrant floral silk tunic.

But Herrera's heart was in her eveningwear. An overlush gown or two could've benefited from a paring back, but there were stunners aplenty. A pool blue and green polka-dot silk chiffon dress stood out for its simplicity, a corseted gazar number with a ruffle at the knee for its grandeur. But a cream crinkle chiffon top and black dévoré ball skirt with a coral belt best captured the show's lighthearted yet still soigné look.

The Gold Mini Dress

Definitely the star of the runways this season, you can find at least one in every store around: satin, metallic sequins, silk jersey or the sparkling opulent brocade are the main used fabrics and achieve the evening glamour effect.

Gold Jacquard Dress
A gold mini dress can be easily worn to a more casual party if layered over dark tights- it is a fresh new look reminding of Andy Warhol’s diva: 60s mod icon Edie Sedgwick.


Speaking of her, I don’t know if you’ve seen Sienna Miller in “Factory Girl” but I think these two gold jacquard dresses recreate a 60s look if teamed up with black hosiery, chandelier earrings and a pair of cute bootees.

You can look for your favorite golden hue as this color range from honey to copper sheens.

Esoteric Bermuda Suits

The top floor and glass roof of the Paris Temple of Esotericism was the venue chosen by Gaspard Yurkievich to present his menswear collection for spring 2008.

Bermuda shorts are certainly the centrepieces of the designer’s work this season. Sometimes delicately elaborated in pleats at the back, sometimes turned up at the bottom, they are worn with sleeveless pieces of light jersey and come in black, beige and are seen at their best in the season’s delicate shades form celadon blue to light jade.

To enhance the male silhouette for next spring, Bermudas are resolutely worn with town shoes, in lacquered “mirror” leather of two or three contrasting colours. Silver or grey are inlaid with emerald green in these fun and elegant pieces of footwear worn with very slack and brightly coloured see-through socks to underline the Bermuda line.

Suits at Gaspard Yurkievich also include Bermuda shorts, but the jackets’ collars are, this season, very slim. A black suit even forgets to turn the collar of a jacket keeping just the traditional split on either side of the chest, around the neck, as a memory of a male wardrobe’s symbol. The next look cleverly pushes forward the same statement and makes it very clear as the two same jacket collar splits are interpreted on an otherwise flat black jumper of jersey.

Sleeveless blouson jackets adorn their wide empty sides with an integrated belt for a cool effect. Worn on a very thin jersey top in shades of pastel, they create a delicate look for the 21st century young dandy.

Among the accessories, some big chain necklaces of sparkling silver did add style for young metrosexuals. But the bag in wickerwork looked too feminine to really appeal to men, just like the big eyeshade of the same material worn on the same look. The garments cut in a print of white and grey zebra-like pattern will certainly also be hard to sell.

In short, a delicate, elegant, innovative collection that could have benefited from a little more testosterone.

Free-Spirited, Cosmopolitan & Elegant

Borbonese, a label without a monogram, yet it has been known worldwide for its use of precious high quality materials and precise artisinal techniques.

To the Turin fashion house, elegance should not be flaunted; rather, it should be nurtured and engendered. And because of that fashion philosophy, it has been the favorite of high society and royalty. Classic and modern, free-spirited and cosmopolitan all at once, it has stayed ahead of the curve when it comes to luxury.

And for Fall 2007, Alessandro Dell’Acqua designing for Borbonese, was inspired by Charlotte Rumpling as seen through the eyes of Helmut Newton created a collection that is soft and airy light, with the silhouettes slightly elongated resulting to a supremely elegant look that is beautiful and highly covetable.

Jumpsuits in exquisite materials become the must of the season, an exciting new take on the suit. Fluid dresses feature geometric pleats and color inserts. Furs and python bands give it an extra piazza.

Playing on texture, Dell’Acqua used cashmere, leather and georgette to complement nylon, jersey and gabardine. It is a clever play on traditional luxury fabrics with high-tech materials as counterpoints.

And for conversation pieces, the chic and functional Borbonese bag with its signature occhio di pernice (O.P.) stamp, and metal fasteners in the shape of flathead screws, once again symbolized the brand’s elegance, strength and simplicity.

In Solitaire, the classic shape and line of Borbonese bags had been reworked to lavish dimensions of ultra glossy leather. Proposed in lustruous faux watercolor lacquered python with gold hardware, it comes in two basic sizes, maxi and regular.

Other permutations are the washed laminated lambskin in gunmetal or bronze tones with shiny nickel detailing and stained lamb in a palette of natural hues with antiquated brushed brass hardware.

Jive is an update of Borbonese’s all time favorites such as the Sexy and Estensible bags. In its new life as part of the Jive line, Sexy and Estensible feature a new design imprint created by the quilting (matelassé) using either crushed washed lamb, glossy lacquered python or shiny nylon sailcloth.

A recurring them of all the Jive bags are the functional zipped pockets and use of chains for handle junctures and shoulder straps.

‘We Are Not Alone’ from Kenzo Jeans

Dressing up the hallway fashionista, Kenzo Jeans took an entirely different path for Fall 2007 compared to its bigger sister, choosing a street wear appeal that young fashion followers would love.

Slim fit denim jeans in different washes were joined by slouchy plaid pants cuffed at the hem and Cracker Jack inspired trousers that were given suspenders at times.

Peplumed brief jackets adorned with oversized buttons strategically arranged to form a square, leather bombers and cardigans imprinted with graphic shapes, Kenzo Jeans’ outerwear is hip and classic all at once.

Staying true with the maison’s multi-cultural approach to fashion, elements of European aesthetics seen in the military-inspired jackets and Asian influence in the origami folded skirt, Kenzo Jeans tapped into today’s current sentiment of global village mentality.

In fact, Kenzo Takada, who was ahead of his time when he introduced multi-culturism during the 1960s, finds that the house he built on that philosophy is thriving because the world finally caught up with his vision of fashion.

And though this might sound like a cliché, even cheesy for some, but the title of Michael Jackson song ‘You Are Not Alone’ fits.

Send in the Clowns

Juggling inspirations that included Marcel Marceau, Pierrot, and Harlequin himself Victor& Rolf transformed the clowns' voluminous white costumes into "sugarcoated" ensembles for Spring.

Miuccia Prada engaged in some funny business of her own, enlisting Swedish illustrator Liselotte Watkins to create sexy sylphs for her diamond-patterned baby dolls at Miu Miu.

Pleated ruffs, meanwhile, appeared as frills on blouses at Ruffian and Sonia Rykiel and at VPL as quirky accessories. It seems fashion really is a circus.

Japan Spring/Summer Collections

I have a true admiration for Japanese and in fact Asian fashion mainly due to New York designers of Asian descent such as Derek Lam, Vera Wang, Anna Sui, and Philip Lim but also because of the street style blogs, especially Style Arena about Tokyo street style.

This is the reason why I start browsing for asian designers and started with Japan Fashion Week as a fashion week usually gathers the best designers. Thirty-six fashion houses presented their 2008 spring/summer collections.

Guess What's Hot

On a recent trip to Vancouver, I couldn’t resist doing a little shopping. With all the newest looks for the fall season hitting racks, stores were buzzing with fashionistas scrambling to be the first to get their manicured paws on the hottest finds. Guess and Marciano had a few incredible finds I couldn’t resist—sometimes it’s fun to be a trend setter as well as a trend hunter!

Here are a few of my favourite finds:

1. Lara Fur Vest - This beautiful vest from Marciano is my absolute favourite! Animal prints are hot for fall, but there’s a fine line to walk when it comes to leopard; often, you risk looking trashy. This vest is an absolute beauty and extremely flattering. Best way to wear it? Nothing underneath!

2. Royale Red Tanner Jacket - Bright red and daring, but very sexy! “A feminine piece with military inspiration,” the zip-up jacket has zippers on the cuffs and a gorgeous G-logo crest on the arm.

3. Whitney Rocker Jacket - This gorgeous navy blue jacket with crushed velvet liner can be dressed up or down. The “must-have coat with rocking style” can be worn in two very different ways. The jacket can be buttoned like a blazer or with the jacket panels buttoned to the breast for a sophisticated open look.

4. Leila Leopard Sweater - Once again we have that gorgeous leopard-print pattern that Guess does too well! The 80% silk dress looks extra chic with tights! The “sexy, slinky feminine sweater” has “short sleeves with ruching at shoulders for a puffed look.” The material gathers at the cuff which adds the illusion of an extra-tiny waist.

5. Jonquil Crystal Ring - A beautiful cocktail ring completes any outfit! In fact, the best way to wear a huge rock like this isn’t with a fancy dress—a tight white t-shirt, faded jeans and a big pair of sunglasses, and you’re ready to rock!

Charitable Swarovski

On October 18th , Swarovski will bring the biggest names in fashion and music together in London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall for the Swarovski Fashion Rocks for the Princes Trust 2007.

The charity event will include shows by international designers such as Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Valentino, Versace, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent Francois-Henri-Pinault-Profile Sep-07 as well as performances from the world’s top music artists.

“This is one of the most exciting combined fashion and music fundraising events ever, harnessing the powerful influences of fashion and music to raise money for youth charity, The Prince’s Trust,” said Elizabeth Saltzman, Chairwoman of Swarovski Fashion Rocks for The Prince’s Trust. Actor Samuel L Jackson is said to host the show while Naomi Campbell will pose for the 2007 campaign.

On this special occasion, the Austrian brand will also launch their new exclusive limited edition called The Swarovski Fashion Rocks collection for The Prince’s Trust. Scottish Christopher Kane and jeweler Stephen Webster worked together with the in-house team to design the line. The jewellery collection will be available from the London flagship as well as online.

Men's Lingerie

Lingerie is no longer just for the ladies, an increasing number of men are squeezing their buns into teenie tiny sexy undies too, and loving every minute. Ginch Gonch puts on an annual fashion show that could be likened to the Victoria’s Secret fashion how for men’s wear.

Ginch Gonch is all about fancy prints, patterns and fun designs.

“How do I love Ginch Gonch? Let me count the ways,” Slice said. “One - they have fashion shows in which extremely hot and greased up male models dance about in underwear. Remember when you had a crush on a boy in your class but you couldn’t openly stare at him because it would be weird? But then it was speech day and he was giving a speech, so you were allowed to stare at him? The Ginch Gonch show was that times a million.”

Men are no longer satisfied with ordinary boxers or briefs.

“Times are changing and guys are becoming more comfortable and excited to go out and why not, when they put on their underwear, put on something that makes them feel good?” asked GQ fashion editor, Damien Nunes.

In 2006, less than 50% of men’s underwear sold was white. As the trend picks up, the likelihood of an encounter with a tightie-whitie-clad man in 2008 is increasingly slim.

Chocolate & Swarovski Dress

What do girls love more than sparkling Austrian crystals and Swiss chocolate? A dress that combines both! This ultra-festive Lindt Chocolate’s Lindor Balls and Swarovski crystal coated dress was spotted on famous violinist, Linzi Stoppard.

Never have Lindt balls looked so appealing on a dress!

You have to wonder though if the creamy spheres of Swiss chocolate would melt if she sat down… and even if they didn’t, how uncomfortable would it be to sit on near-golf ball sized candies?

Either way, it’s smart marketing on behalf of Lindt. The beautiful, young violinist was snapped indulging in the chocolates in several publicity photos circling the net.

Louis Vuitton Charity Auction

Louis Vuitton lovers have until December 18 to bid for the Ultimate Travel Bag, created in collaboration with London Times fashion editor, Lisa Armstrong. The bag, similar in silhouette to last year’s classic Eole bag, is being auctioned off to benefit CLIC Sargent, a London-based charity for kids with cancer.

The Ultimate Travel bag, with its two compartments regally trimmed in purple leather, truly is the ultimate travel accessory. It comes with a passport cover, a blanket, cashmere eyeshades, a laptop bag, transparent toiletries kit, foldable jewelry case, laundry pouch, and a leather evening clutch. And yes, all that fits within regulation standards for carry-on cabin baggage.

Dolce & Gabbana's Winter 2008 Collection

Dolce & Gabbana has released its Winter 2008 collection, and its full of florap prints. Take a look of the runway in this Web Site and get your own conclusions about this trendy style.

The Dolce & Gabbana site further explains the new collection, “London Glamour- the D&G woman is fascinated by the mythical London boutique BIBA, which in the late 70’s revolutionized the rules of style, becoming the must have stop for rock stars and students alike.

Short dresses, shorts, short and long fitted pants, bellbottoms, tracksuits, slip dresses, chiffon mini-dresses, dresses with paillettes, tailored suits, angora and cashmere sweaters, fox furs. 14 ocelot printed chiffon gowns inspired by BIBA.

Satin, lacquered chiffon, crepe de chine, duchess silk, cotton, cashmere, sweaters in lurex, angora and cashmere, denim and lacquered denim, paillettes, red, black or ocelot printed fox fur.”

Pucci makes the pained smiles

The great Manolo Pucci shoes every once in a while, with the heading, "Pucci makes the smiles!" I bet, however, that he would agree these overly sweet, overly-patterned and overly-saturated heels from Pucci make those smiles to melt tragically into a sugary-vanilla-honey-induced diabetic coma.

Of course, you can always get the approach that these are so tacky they’re truly fabulous and scour the imagination (whatever’s left of it when you recover from that sugar coma) for opportunities to wear them. Here’s one: part of an outfit you wear at the first Antromeda 5-Earth interplanetary reception, so as not to to be outdone by all those wacky alien space.

graphic shoes–let your imagination go wild

I’m generally not much for "classic" when it comes to shoe styling. I like my shoes to have something a little different about them. Could be an interesting heel shape or a unique strap design or an out-of-the-ordinary material or pattern.

Take a basic shoe idea (say, a kitten heel d’orsay peep toe pump with an ankle strap), and do it in black leather… I’m probably not interested. But swap the black leather for a graphic print satin, and all of a sudden I’m covetous like woah. Like the Nine West Sabyne.

This pair is suddenly completely to die for in my book. So, I thought I’d go hunting around for other graphically interesting shoes. They’re so evocative of very specific types of people and places.

Tod’s Feather Flats

I’ve never been a fan of butterflies and other insects pinned inside shadowboxes. However, after seeing these unusual feathery flats by Tod’s, I’m wondering if how my Gap flats would look with butterflies on the vamp.

Braided Woven Hobo

# Egg shell woven leather.
# Gold-tone hardware.
# Braided top handle with rings.
# Slouched top.
# Made in Italy.

Luxury Leather: About Bottega Veneta
Since 1966, Bottega Veneta has established itself as one of Italy's leading luxury leather houses.

Today, under the helm of creative director Tomas Maier, the company creates subtly elegant accessories in soft suede and signature handcrafted latticework leather.

Saddle Bag

• Oat (white) faux leather. • Gold-tone hardware. • Top handles with rings; detachable shoulder strap. • Zip top and pockets at sides. • Made in Italy.

Price: $1,095.00

Bisanzio Bag

Blue python embossed leather

• Silver-tone hardware.• Buckled top handle.

• Attached luggage tag.

• 14 3/5"H x 14 3/5"L x 6 7/10"D.

• 100% leather.

• Made in Italy.

• Not available in California.

Price: $2,795.00

Mini Stud Ashbury Satchel

Dark tan house check

• Gold-toned stud detail.
• Top handles.
• Interior zip/cell pockets.
• Leather lining.
• 10 1/4"H x 19"W x 5 1/2"D.
• Made in Italy.

Price: $1,995.00

Chanel over-the-knee boots

Don’t you love this piping hot Chanel over-the-knee boot? I love how the classic Chanel color-combo is preserved in this lean, streamlined design, with the added glamour of the gold heel. Worried that the shaft look way too slim for comfort?

Fear not: I think I saw these on the runway and they’re meant to slouch a little. How much do they cost? I’m sure it’s something few mortals with normal budgets can afford. Which doesn’t make these sophisticated boots anything less than fabulous….

Woven-Trim Gathered Dress

Black.
• Gold woven trim.
• Sweetheart neckline; short sleeves.
• Gathered back with cutout detail (see below).
• V'd Empire waist.
• Gathered skirt; tapered hem

Price: $2,995.00

Leather Crisscross Pump

Gold textured Napa leather

• Tonal topstitching.
• Gold-tone hardware.
• Strappy crisscross upper.
• Buckled ankle strap.
• 4" pin heel.
• "Kati" is made in Italy.

Price: $665.00

Splendor in the grass

Another be-bowed flat, you will say? Surely, you must be joking, and there must be a limit to the number of bow-embellished flats the world’s designers can produce.

Well, not so sure about that one. The combinations of colors, textures, materials, designs based on these two simple concepts (flat+bow) are seemingly endless.

And so, I offer you these Miu Miu suede flats with bow, whose verdant splendor is simply melting my heart.

Prada flower heels

The Prada Spring 2008 shoe collection was very Art Nouveau, down to these fabulous (and improbable) heels, which are so postmodern and derivative that I’m not sure if they’re supposed to be real shoes or a commentary on the art of fashion influences in footwear.

At any rate–extravagant does not begin to describe them. Of course, I love them!

More shiny, flowery Pradavaganza:

I’m not sure what to make of all the crazy spats and tall-boot-sandals (boondals? sanboots? help me out here!), which seem to be completely impractical and just, well, over the top, but in a really creative, glittery way. I may not want to wear them–now–or ever–but they’re sure fun to look at!