Gossip Girl Fashion: 'Raiders of the Lost Art'
JustJared, Style.com

I haven't done a Gossip Girl Fashion post in ages. The show's fashion has been quite bland ever since it came back from its last break so I have just been watching. But since next week's episode is the penultimate of the season I thought I would at least choose the bits and bobs I liked because, let's face it, I am probably going to miss it over the summer.

I would like to thank the GG stylist team for finally injecting the show with some new designers. It was all about the Dries van Noten (FW11) blue tweed coat Blair wore this week. I loved how it looked paired with the patterned tights. I was not as big a fun of the citrus Brian Atwood pumps as part of this look – as much as it's about a POC this season. But I appreciate the fact that B recycled her shoes from earlier in the season.
I was also a fan of her other look – a classic camel coat covering up the (ironic) Hervé Léger dress and nude Sergio Rossi heels she has worn before in hot pink. The POC here was the Louis Vuitton  Monogram Fascination Lockit Bag in mustard.

JustJared

Serena kept things quite simple this week. She spent most of the episode in a simple look – the good part came with her outdoor ensemble. She wore a black coat with a chic pair of Repetto lace-up shoes, a funky Theodora & Callum scarf (worn before by quite a few celebrities) and, my favourite, a Jimmy Choo Lara Woven shoulder bag holding a Marc by Marc Jacobs laptop cover.

Plot-wise things have picked up quite a bit lately – we have found out who Chuck's real mum and dad are (or have we?) and the Gossip Girl username and password has got around. But the biggest shock yet came at the end of this weeks episode, which I won't spoil to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. As the cast of Laguna Beach would say – So. Much. Drama.

Are you still watching?

1. Furla python satchel, 2. Prada python and suede ankle-strap platform pumps, 3. Miu Miu suede chunky ankle boots, 4. Gucci python platform pumps,
5. Chloé crossbody bag, 6. Jimmy Choo suede and snake platform sandals, 7. Gucci small top handle bag

Giulia and I were talking the other day about how we had left accessories on the side lately, which is true. So I endeavoured her to find her favourite bags and shoes from the fall/winter 2011 collections from the Saks.com website. We decided to group them in three of the biggest accessory trends this season –70's, colour blocking and sparkle.

Going through the accessory section of the Saks' website is quite an experience. They have over two thousand shoes and over a thousand bags in stock! You can imagine how long it took us to go through both sections to pick our favourites. But it was sort of fun to see all the range that brands have for this season.
I wanted to start with the 70's because it's my personal favourite. I love the rich colour palette combined with the snakeskin and the suede. I love the colour block items to add a pop of colour during the winter when we all tend to wear so many dark colours. It just looks perfect to put a bright purple shoe with a black trouser! The spark is Giulia's favourite, she really likes her glitter! Miu Miu is obviously the master in that department and I must admit I am really into all these dark glitter that seems a perfectly glamourous choice for an evening look.

Pop of Colour

1. Rochas 'Borsa Rosa', 2. Elizabeth and James strappy leather sandals, 3. Boutique 9 wedge platform pumps, 4. Gucci Huston suede platform pumps,
5. Brian Atwood suede and metal platform pumps, 6. Fendi Silvana top handle bag, 7. Vionnet leather pochette, 8. Bottega Veneta messenger bag

Evening Sparkle

1. Miu Miu crisscross glitter ankle boots, 2. Proenza Schouler glitter pumps, 3. Miu Miu glitter pumps, 4. Anya Hindmarch glitter clutch,
5. Dior glitter and suede t-strap sandals, 6. Halston Heritage Sabrina mesh pouch

* This post is sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue

The Scent of Mellon

Jimmy Choo is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and they are doing so by launching their first ever fragrance: Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum. To create it, the brand's creative director Tamara Mellon wanted to combine ingredients that conveyed an idea of strength and beauty —namely "fruity Chypre with warm, rich, woody depths". Green top notes for an initial refreshment and an aura of Tiger Orchid. All of it with a "base of sweet Toffee meld with Indonesian Patchouli to leave a subtle, sensual memory on the skin." By the sound of it, Mellon has manages to create a visual image of the woman she has created her famous shoes for years. However attractive this may sound, it's clear that you'll have to head down to your closest stockist to see (or smell) for yourself if it lives up to the hype.

For the fragrance's campaign Mellon has used her own face photographed by the famous duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. I really like this particular ad. I am not the biggest fan of Jimmy Choo's accessory campaign but this works. There is something subtle and beautiful but strong about this image, which somehow makes me think of Christy Turlington. And I know it sounds sill but I like the fact that the dress matches the box.
I am also quite keen on the bottle. Not so much for its appearance but because of the thought behind it. Every bottle has been made from Venice's famous Murano glass but with very modern lines. Mellon wanted to convey the idea of tradition and contemporary design brought together.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Courtesy of Jimmy Choo]

let the sunshine in

On Wednesday night I attended the opening of the musical Hair in London. I came intrigued and left excited, astonished and utterly inspired. It seems shocking how the hippies, a sociological movement that happened so many years ago can feel so current and still inspire fashion nowadays. The Broadway cast, which showed the reason why the show is still so popular, strolled around stage in the most fun combination of flared and patched-up denim, tasseled suede and tie-dye colours.

Clockwise from top left: Chloé SS10 poncho, Vanessa Bruno Athé denim dungarees, Sass & Bide crochet vest, Chloé SS10 patched-up double denim, Jimmy Choo tasseled suede bag, Citizens of Humanity sleeveless denim jacket, Proenza Shouler sandals, Catherine Malandrino fringed dress, Halston Heritage slouchy bag, Acne fringed suede jacket, Lover cotton shirt.

[Pictures: Style.com, Net-a-Porter, Hairthemusical.co.uk]

I left the show as happy as can be and waiting for the moment to get home and put together a collage like the above that, to be fair, doesn't so much justice to the theatrical experience. I encourage you to get yourself tickets for the show asap and, in the meantime, to enjoy the soundtrack. I will be surprised if you can stop singing "Let the sunshine in" for even a minute. I know my flatmate can't.

I'm off.

Carey pulls an Anna

Carey Mulligan has proved she is both a serious actress and a respectable fashionista over the last few months. I guess her Vionnet and Prada choices for her biggest red carpet appearances helped establish her as someone that can take risks while looking carpet-appropriate. However, I am not completely sure about this last look. Carey pulled an Anna for her latest premiere appearance and everything from the tweed fabric, to the round conservative neckline, to the just-over-the-knee hemline seem to be wrong for her. She has a beautiful face (I love her hair) and a really nice body, so why not going a little more flirty?

Centre: Oscar de la Renta dress, Jimmy Choo mid-heels both @Net-a-Porter.

[Pictures: JustJared, AltamiraNYC.blogspot.com]

I'm off.

BCBG face-off

This is the first fashion face-off I have ever posted on soVIPzone.

On the left, Camille Guaty in SS09 BCBG Max Azria at Stella McCartney's party in LA. On the right, Paloma Carvajal (my sister) in the same dress paired up with mirror leather Jimmy Choo shoes and Purificación García patent leather clutch attending her own graduation.

Who does and doesn't do it for you?

I'm off.

put THEM on

I have often remarked to the point of boredom how exquisitely attractive I find women when they look down at me from incredibly high and luxurious heels. These warmer season ahead adds a definitive factor to the equation —the showcasing of legs. If a woman on heels is most attractive, it only gets better when legs that don't seem to end come out of pumps, wedges or platforms. This is why I went to my favourite womenswear online boutique and selected a small, yet luxurious, assortment of shoes.

Sergio Rossi

Both: Alexander McQueen

From left: Christian Louboutin, Fendi

From left: Pedro García, Jimmy Choo

From left: Miu Miu, Christian Louboutin

[Pictures credit: Net-a-porter.com]

I always unconsciously select one or two models per season I finally realize I am in love with. S/S'08 is the time for those amazing turquoise Sergio Rossi and for the McQueen's in any fabric or colour (blame Gwyneth and her mini Balmain for that).

What then, will I'll be running into you wearing any of these?

I'm off.