Lite

Model Arlenis Sosa looks precious in a diiiiivine pastel graphic mini at the Topshop party.

So appropriate for spring.

Fierce easter bunny.

xx til next,

A

photo: style.com

The Mix

This editorial shot by Mario Testino for Vogue UK encapsulates everything I love about fashion. For me it's all about tulle and leather, secondhand military jackets paired with weightless coral silks. It does help of course, that Kate is the queen of the high/low sensibility- effortlessly combining couture and studded cuffs. I could wax poetic for days, but I think I will for once just stop and let you enjoy. 

xx til next,

A

scans from fotodecadent

Deja Shoe

Every season we see countless pairs of killer footwear traipse through the Tuileries each one more insanely fetishist and feisty than the next. Despite the wide variety we see every year there is always one undeniable standout style, last season we saw the YSL tributes, before that the Balenciaga vertigo inducing plats. This season the unanimous winner was the Louis Vuitton "Spicy" sandal. The Spicy is one part Safari and two parts Kindergarten arts and crafts project. The Spicy was spotted south of the ankle on almost every French fashion editor and Romanian model and even on Kanye West's new mannequin Amber Rose. Don't wait on these ferocious recession proof wonders.

xx til next,
A

Source: Style.com

Get inside Erin's brain.

Fashion's coolest bird, Erin Wasson's inspiration board.

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A

Super Structure.

This Nina Ricci coat would be the perfect foil to one of Balmain's itsy bitsy Ziggy Satrdust dresses.

Don't you agree?

xx til next, 

A

Longevity

The career of a model can last as little as a few seasons. There are some models however, who have true staying power. Kate Moss, Angela Lindvall, Shalom Harlow, and Natalia Vodianova to name a few. My favorite of these catwalk queens is undeniably Erin Wasson. She is gorgeous in that earthy, raw, Venice Beach way- killer. All of my guy friends dig her. Even with a longtime Maybelline contract she still has a strong personal street style, a brilliant collaboration with best bud Alexander Wang, a burgeoning jewelry line and a half pipe in her backyard. What's not to love? 

xx til next,

A

P.S. Best tattoo placement ever. 

Fluorescent Adolescent

You used to get it in your fishnets,

Now you only get it in your nightdress!

Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness,

landed in a very common crisis.

-Arctic Monkeys.

As far as romantic rock and roll pairings go, I've been feeling a little let down since Pete and Kate's demise. Nothing inspires more than a chain-smoking model and her volatile rock star beau. Instead of mourning the breakup of my favorite love affair, I have transferred my energy to a new blossoming romance. 

Alex Turner (Front man for Arctic Monkeys) and Alexa Chung (British TV personality and model) are pretty young things quite in love. Turner is the quirky adorable vocalist and songwriter for AM, and we can't help but smile at the thought of him and Chung painting the London-town red. (A good Chinese red DV would say) And Alexa, well I would say I'm moderately obsessed with her for the following reasons:

-"Old boyfriends have accused me of deliberately dressing to look ugly."

-"My style is at once scruffy and preppie, I'm like a spoilt brat who only has access to her grandmother's wardrobe."

-"I never dress to please men."

-"Basically, I want to look like I'm wearing a wig."

Sienna Miller watch your back. Alexa's beauty, wit and youth feel far more fresh for 2008. 

xx til next,

A

Our flies are undone for Lily Donaldson.

For over a year I have been shamelessy style-stalking Lily Donaldson. I would have to say she stole my heart away when I saw her strange, awkward gait tumbling down Lanvin in 07. An adorable alien!  I just eat up strange beauty. Maybe it's the fact that she looks like a beautiful nymph- something kooky straight out of Lord of the Rings (What could possibly be more chic than a femme Legolas?) or maybe just because she is is madly in love and dating Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld who is deliciously mad hatter and long haired (Can you imagine Carine as a stepmother? I'd just die!). Either way I've got a girl crush. This is not helped by the fact that some of her besties include Gemma, Irina and Margherita. We fell even more deeply enchanted with her when we learned that at 16, she dropped out of high school to hit the catwalk. How terribly brilliant of her. 

xx til next,

A

Balmain's new Focus

While it may be limited to catwalkers with tomboy bodies and killer legs, the rock chic look has been triumphantly reinvented by Christopher Decarnin this season at Balmain. Billy Idol-izer's rejoice! The skintight metallic tubes and cropped/shirred ankle pants paired with rocker ankle booties and absolutely sick little jackets are perfect for a Saturday night at Villa or even a Tuesday at Hyde. Each and every model pounding down Balmain's fall runway looked like a Jagger darling, and Natasha Poly and Abbey Lee just drove home the point. The look is can only be described as "Turn on, tune in, drop out."

xx til next,

A

Photos all Style.com

Blue Doors of Tunis

Two years ago I took a holiday in Tunisia. Prior to this trip, I was rather confounded as to the desirability of this vacation destination. Yes, perhaps Lord Byron waxed poetic and Eugene Delacroix consumed great canvases with North African Scenes but I was not yet convinced. 

When I arrived however, I was awestruck by the beauty I found. Not just by the white sand beaches and cool green sea, but the vast bleakness of the desert. The svelte palm trees supplying little shade. The mystic quality of the air and the incredible architecture. Each and every house framed by a blue door, varying from a soft light sky blue to a deep and highly pigmented turquoise. The luxe bougainvillea in jewel tones. 

And now I find that many of fashion's most influential designers are of Tunisian descent; Azzedine Alaia, Hedi Slimane, and Max Azria. Could it be the Proximity to Milan and Paris? Or maybe Tunis is a much more chic locale than it is credited for. Either way, I highly advise a trip. 

xx til next, 

A

Quote of the Day

"We're French! We smoke, we show flesh, we have a lot of freedom."

-Carine Roitfeld, Editor, French Vogue.

Things I just adore.

In my life, I love to focus on beautiful things...Botero and Champagne, Party Frocks and Rigaud Candles, Sushi at Matsuhisa and Waterford Crystal. But some of life's most exquisite pleasures are simple and easy to attain. Here are some everyday things I definitely adore. 

1. Second day Mascara.

2. Trader Joes' Pinot Grigio.

3. Impromptu Facebook photo splurges.

4. Tealights.

5. Our fabulous new throw pillows- just 10 dollars on Melrose. Turned our IKEA couch into a Marrakech mirage. 

6. Theory tanks. Truly the most amazing second skin. 

7. Driving on Fountain Ave with Caroline, listening to Razorlight's Golden Touch. 

8. Sunday morning coffee on Larchmont.

9. Perfect penmanship, all caps architectural. 

10. AXE on Abbot Kinney for the most simple, incredible Bolognese in the world. 

xx til next, 

A

Why Don't You?

Why Don't You....

..Place your heels in the bookcase? Louboutins surely must be more Feng Shui than Rhonda Byrne's The Secret.

..Buy flowers for yourself? Nothing is more attractive than a beautiful girl and a bouquet of florals, and of course everyone will be wondering about your marital status. (This is best played with a coy smile and something interesting like lilac or ranunculas.)

..Purchase magazines instead of lunch? Vogue is a much more well balanced meal for me. 

xx til next, 

A

The Model Off Duty

Few things are more chic than the look of a model off duty. I prefer this look above all others, because models understand that key pieces; black skinnies, simple tanks layered with basic tees and a shrunken leather waistcoat are all that is necessary to look appealing and approachable. Dressing should never distract-in fact it should blend so perfectly it appears almost as a uniform. Natasha Poly, Ekat Kiseleva, Raquel Zimmerman and Lindsey Ellingson demonstrate this appeal perfectly.

Alas, these ladies also have the benefit of designer friendship-which often translates to incredible heavy, hardware emblazoned shoes and handbags of the moment-gifted to them by Marc, Frida, or Karl. Lucky girls, just don't be a theif and snatch your YSL shoes off the fall runway without asking. I hear Stefano wants a word with you Chanel. But who could stay angry with her? She is young, and kleptomania for style's sake is an admirable crime. 

xx til next,

A