Aux petits airs de Provence…
During this delighting month of August I took a break to go back to my roots... Which means France! Its such a different culture, a different lifestyle, a different vibe... And of course a different sense of style!

 These pictures were taken in the South of France (Provence) during the Monday market. In this market you could find everything from food (delicious cheese and saucisson) to jewellery, clothes and random articles.

We can see that the colorful prints haven't gone away for this summer! I feel like those market baskets can be taken the high fashion way which the LUXE label CHANEL has done, paying tribute to this traditional french bag.

Other GEANTS DE LA MODE like TORY BURCH and HERMES have also immortalized the straw bag in their collections.

 

Nonetheless stylish Icons Alexa Chung and Kate Moss each interpret the trend their own way. Alexa shows how baskets can be ultra chic and fashionable (wonder how much that piece of straw costs) while Kate Moss uses the trend in more of a practical way totally blending with her rockish-boho style that makes her trademark.

The south of France has it's markets(it's baskets) but what about the stylish youth? I visited a city called Montpellier, although it was in the middle of vacation, I was not disapointed.

The immaculate artist look: hat, ray-ban, beard, half-done-up-loose-romper with his sketches. This guy isn't dressing like an artist, he probably really is one... Note that there is a new trend in the air for Guys: BEARDS. I think it's a great hit, sexy but not to much it's like a statement, it makes the outfit and the person?

When your walking down the streets that could be Toronto, Paris, New York, Tunis... there is always (if your lucky) some interesting people wearing some interesting outfits. Dressing up isn't necessarily a reflection of your personality, sometimes it might express what you would like people to perceive you as, or maybe someone that you which you could be or none of the above... some people just don't care what they wear... (it's a shame but hey, everyone has their own passions).

  

The dress on it's own could have belonged to somebody's grandma but this is what the magic of vintage and great style does to you: with matching red converse and sunglasses this young lady brings back the dress to the 21rst century with swag.

An amazing festive and colorful atmosphere was at the rendez-vous for this year's 2011 Caribana Festival in Toronto.

 

A cute and easy outfit. I was drawn to those oversized striped shorts. They make the outfit happen paired with a slim brown belt. Adorrrable!

When I snapped a shoot of this city girl, I really thought it was a great and again, comfortable easy outfit. Let's just say that the pink/red lipstick brings this casual attire to another level. But I then came to notice the brown bag that another girl was wearing on the background of the photo. Nice bag probably my favorite thing in this picture.

Fashion Obsession:
   Jeffrey Campbell
I recently discovered "Lita", the shoe from Jeffrey Campbell ( better late then never) and fell completely and utterly head over heels for the boot. 

Described as a "small family owned fashion forward footwear label", the Jeffrey Campbell shoes have been seen, worn, bought and talked about all over the globe.

The shape is a bit eccentric and comes in every color, pattern and texture. It's the new Vintage street wear "Louboutin". The chunky boots definitely have the power of making anyone look tall and lean. They are so many amazing models... How can we choose? This is the kind of shoe where you buy 5 pair of the same model in 5 different colors...Should our wallets be worried?

With a long skirt, chunky socks or again simple jeans, this shoe makes any outfit look FIERCE.

Fashion Inspiration: 
Abbey Lee Kershaw 
Abbey Lee Kershaw is an Australian Model who has literally been seen everywhere from New York and Paris Fashionweeks to campaigns for Tom Ford, Chanel, Clavin Klein and Versace.

I love this girl not because of how famous and adored by designers she is, but because of her personal style! She has such a unique grove, perfectly channeling the boho-hippie vibe, looking incredible wherever she goes. From caramel to bleach blond hair, this model is forever making a lot of fashion lovers jealous with envy over her amazing style.
WOOLALA!! I am lost for words on this checkered Fur coat!! I mean, have you ever seen anything like this before? Pairing it with dark green, burgundy and black tones, two words: Ultra-Fashionable. And this Fendi Satchel? Abbey definitely learned a few tricks from the big fashion moguls of this world.

I love that Abbey pulls off an outfit wearing the same coat and bag. She's not one of those celebrities who only wears an outfit once! If you truly know how to style yourself than you know how to wear the same items in different ways! I love the printed leggings (I think they're from HM?) with the light blue boots. And those maxi skirts with black boots look like the perfect item to wear!!

Now this is what I call a Fashion couple. The pair looks incredible, each in their own style without doing the whole matchy matchy thing that couples do. Musician Matthew Hutchinson is probably one of the only guys who I've seen wear polka dots in a fashionable way, and Abbey's boho mix of dark yellow, denim and black just works like perfection.

It's so much more easier to dress in the fall because you have so much choice with sweaters, layering, tights, pants... But Abbey carries her classic black boots through all seasons. Looking ultra trendy in a white shirt and denim skirt or in a gorgeous blue dress. Terrible influence.... I feel like going shopping Vintage right now...

I can't stop saying it but it's undeniably true: her style is sooo COOL. She manages to match the seemingly unmatchable items daring to try things that people normally wouldn't wear together. I think that this is definitely a new trend: MATCHING THE UNMATCHABLE!!! By the way these Chanel cuffs are so artsy...follow the trend, wear it with anything...

Miu Miu has a new face!! And to complement the artsy and creative brand we have no one other than the new and fresh actress Hailee Steinfeld!!

 

The actress embodies the vintage hipster and casual cool look that the brand is going for. I personally think that this choice of look is great for the fashion house. The campaign ads are well put together showing that you ca still be cool and look good (and comfortable) ANYWHERE.  I think that pairing white socks underneath high heeled sandals is a great idea, but make sure to be wearing heels or else you might look more grandma than stylish... 

 Wait but it's not the socks, it's an actual shoe isn't it? The socks still look fabulous on sandals, and the fake sandal/sock shoe at miu miu is cool. I like the curved shape in the heel.

The trend goes as far as wearing sandals with colored socks!! Surely we could push to printed socks, no? It's worth a try...

I love the pink and gold on those amazing looking shoes! I'm all about the shoes for this Miu Miu Collection!

 

Such an artsy, vibrant Fashion!! Now it's up to the fashion lovers to pull it off and blend the trends to their own style

Paris Haute Couture F/W 2011 FAVOURITES Part III

Azzedine Alaïa
For his first Haute Couture show at Paris Fashionweek designer Azzedine Alaia truly showed the public of what he is capable off. Finally a designer with a new and different point of view that has not already been seen or expressed anywhere else.

I really like the Velvet and Burgundy color. I feel like velvet is a front runner for the fall/winter trends. Anyways, trend or not I will still have something velvet! After all what's in it for fashion if you can't be adventurous in your style and your looks? It's fun to follow trends but it's even better when you make your own...

 

I really like this ruffled dress (or skirt?).  It's almost like the Valentino ones seen on previous runways but not quite. I like the idea of parring the  ruffles with a mini crocodile-like jacket. The elegant and hip look is so hard to find in a single outfit but Alaia did it well.

 

Adorable little winter dress. Cool collar with mini buttons and the gold/silver print on the burgundy background, so cute! I don't know if you can notice but the silver/white platform on the booties is MAJOR major new trend alert! I LOVE IT!

Paris Haute Couture F/W 2011 FAVOURITES Part II

Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli really impressed me for this collection. They were versatile in their choices of colors, structure and fabrics while still maintaining a cohesive ensemble.

 I am in complete adoration of the gold feather belt. It really changes everything saving us from a too much white or too much pink outfit. I would say that this element makes the whole outfit stylish and trendy.

Orange/red is the "must have" color off the season. It could work perfectly as a skirt or mini dress with opaque gray tights!

I feel like I have seen these looks and colors on the runway before, most likely chez Chanel... The pencil skirt is my favorite, these looks are definitely more mature and womanly. I guess I am just tired of seeing the same cuts and looks, I think we need change...Aren't you tired of always seeing the same things?

This is better but again, the leopard prints have already been seen and worn and the feathers is a déjà vu at McQueen. The structure of the dress looks good on the runway and particularly on this model but would you really wear this at an event?