Dolce & Gabbana - stunning finale photos

The finale of most fashion shows will either show a bridal look or have all the models parade in a line. 

In contrast Dolce & Gabbana sends the models in the finale on the runway in a pack.

Makes for stunning photos.

Witness:

SS 2010

SS 2010

AW 2010/2011

AW 2010/2011

AW 2010/2011

AW 2010/2011

AW 2010/2011

SS 2011

AW 2011/2012

SS 2012

SS 2012

SS 2012

SS 2012

AW 2012/2013

AW 2012/2013

AW 2012/2013 mens

SS 2013

AW 2013/2014

AW 2013/2014

Trenchcoat style

The trenchcoat is no longer just beige and its certainly not boring. 

In the mild Australian climate it's the perfect topper for eleven out of twelve months of the year.

Take a look at some of the options....

Pastel power

As a sculptured dress

As a floral garden

For the magpies

More magpie trenches at Burberry SS 2013

Animal trench

Ombre trench at Burberry SS 2013

Bright & oversized, but only for tall people!

Bright with neutral accents (including buttons)

Bright in leather, Burberry AW 2013

Bright with a full skirt

Checkerboard trench

Piped in a bright

Piped in a classic white

Wear it open & belted for a sectioning (read: slimming) effect

Biker trench

Gone dotty trench

Textured and outdoorsy

The cape trench - aka the baby trench

The classic trench looks cool with animal, a hot bag & the belt tied in a knot

Are you ready to get in the trenches?

Trinket storage - English bone china

As I have grown up in front of your eyes (hahaha), you have seem me go through various obsessions.

You may recall artificial flowers, cushions, 1,000 TC bed linen and now I have a new one. 

English bone china.

The double benefit with this one is that it looks pretty & can also be used to store my pretty trinkets. 

I have two tall boys which have numerous of these trinket containers & I rotate them around depending on the mood. 

Here are the latest ones on show....

I love how the large one has the flowers all the way to the edge with no border.

a better view of the baby cup - notice the 3D painted dots....

the little one in front has the picture on the inside
& I dont want to scratch it, so I leave it as is.
The large round dish is a Limoges Paris, the others are English. 

Shop your closet - the Gucci loafer

To celebrate their 60th anniversary, Gucci has re-released the classic loafer which was born in 1953.

Of course, the colours & leathers & soles may differ, but the essence of the shoe will be the same.

So I went through my shoe room & pulled these two babies out from the back of the room to the front - a red suede pair & a green leather pair with a rubber sole.

I had bought these two in 1995 at a warehouse sale - they were part of the AW 1992 collection & I even have a copy of US Glamour magazine where the red ones were featured in editorial. back then, it was a big deal for me to have my stuff featured in a magazine.....

The sale was the first big name warehouse I had ever been to - it was at Sydney Town Hall & I queued up for 2 hours along George St to get in, on a weekday. Yes I was late for work but I had arranged a half day annual leave. The sale was bedlam.

Back then had no idea how to navigate a sale and no idea what to expect. Its a wonder I managed to get these - in my size & in colours I actually wear.

I also snared a rasberry red fitted sweater in 100% wool, which I have never worn (too fitted for my easy style) & am finally looking to re-sell.  

Now that Gucci is re-releasing the loafer, these will get some extra wear.

Which brings me to the moral of the post:

1. Yes, things do come back in style.

2. But they rarely come back exactly the same - most of the time they are worn in a different way & if you wear them the same way you will look dated.

3. It is more likely that accessories will come back in vogue closer to the original form. It is more likely that clothes will need to tweaking so they dont look dated.

4. Just because something is classic, doesnt mean its doesn't date. Your suits of the 80s and 90s dont look smart in the noughties. Your jeans in the 70s, 80s and 90s will look dated now. While classics are less likely to date than trend items, you need to assess every single piece every season. 

5. Now more than ever, something very distinctive from yester-year may work today due to the proliferation of trends & the street looks that filter upwards into collections. But again, each piece needs to be assessed every season before you decide its suitable.

6. If you want the retro look - by all means go for the dated stuff.  

Pretty girls, pretty photos

All photos by Tommy Ton

Retail Legal Dilemma - what would you do?

Here is a situation which I would like your opinion on.

You are at a department store going through a stack of specials on cosmetics and skincare.

One stand in particular has a sign on the top:

"50% off, prices as marked"

You pick up a body lotion, original price $20.
It is marked at $14.
It scans at the register for $14.

There are many of the same body lotions on the same stand, so the line item has been placed there deliberately by the store staff & not accidentally moved around by customers.

FYI: Legally, you are entitled to have that item at $10 because the "50% off" overrides the "prices as marked".

Knowing this, I'd like to know what you would do.

1. Would you ask the sales assistant (SA) for the price to be reduced to $10?

2. If the SA says "it was a mistake" or tries to fob you off, would you insist on the $10? Maybe even ask for a supervisor?

3. Would you leave it & walk away on principle?

4. Would you buy it anyway at $14.