Sep 29, 2009

Must See Fashion Film: The September Issue



Drop whatever it is you’re doing immediately and go see The September Issue featuring Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour. The film by R.J. Culter is both an inspiring and intimate look at what goes on behind the scenes to put together the coveted September Issue at Vogue magazine. The film which premiered last year at The Sundance Film Festival is now open in 12 countries and more than 50 markets. “It’s been an extraordinary and whirlwind experience,” says R.J. Culter. The film even broke the $2 million dollar mark in the U.S. earlier this week. It’s absolutely a must-see film for anyone who loves fashion and wants a never-before-seen look behind the pages of Vogue. The handbags, the shoes and the endless rolling racks filled with designer clothes are enough to make even the most seasoned fashion industry veteran drool.

In the film Anna is both candid and coy. She lets viewers see her daily life both in the office and at home. And although throughout the film she often looks expressionless it’s hard to ignore the fact that in the fashion world she’s practically “the pope” as one of her staff members points out. Everyone knows that if Anna Wintour gets behind something it sells. Even the CEO of Nieman Marcus asks Anna in the film if she can help work with the designers on production and delivery because they simply aren’t doing a good enough job keeping up with the demand for merchandise.

Anna Wintour grew up in London in the 60’s and fell in love with the fashion revolution that was going on in Europe at the time. Her father, Charles Wintour, was a newspaper editor for London’s Evening Standard and persuaded her to pursue a career as the Editor of Vogue.

Grace Coddington, the Creative Director at Vogue also plays a major role in the film. She’s the woman behind all the fashion spreads in the magazine and her background includes 15+ years with British Vogue and another 15+ with American Vogue. Her best advice from the movie? “You can’t stay behind. You have to go charging ahead,” says Grace.

“Fashion is about looking forward,” says Anna Wintour and you can certainly expect to look forward to this fabulous film.

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Bellevue Fashion Week

The premier of The September Issue was brought to Bellevue by The Bellevue Collection as part of Bellevue Fashion Week. For more Bellevue Fashion Week information click here.
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Sep 28, 2009

I Heart Style Rookie


As a fellow fashion blogger I can appreciate good fashion content and that is why I am a major fan of Tavi Gevinson, a quirky 13-year-old fashion blogger from Chicago who is quickly taking the entire fashion industry by storm. She was recently invited to sit front row during New York Fashion Week at Maria Cornejo, Marc Jacobs, Yohji Yamamoto and Alexander Wang. Tavi’s website “Style Rookie” has over 4 million followers and the content is uber impressive for someone so young. This girl’s got major talent! Check out her site by clicking here.

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West Seattle Fall Fashion Affair


The weather is changing and yes, it’s time to start shopping for your fall fashion wardrobe. That is exactly why you should join Sweetie, Carmilia’s, Edie’s, and Clementine this Thursday evening for the second annual West Seattle Fall Fashion Affair showcasing the latest fall trends! It goes without saying that if you shop early you’ll get the best selection. Be sure to pick up a punch card and visit all 5 participating stores. Full cards are redeemable at West 5 for a complimentary glass of bubbly! Sweetie will be serving champagne, wine and sumptuous sweets for this fabulous shopping event, so bring a friend and drop by to see their newest fall fashion arrivals. Several stores will be offering a gift with purchase so be sure to check out all the boutiques.

Sweetie
4508 California Ave. S.W.
West Seattle

Clementine
4447 California Ave. S.W.
West Seattle

Edie’s
4310 SW Alaska St.
West Seattle

Carmilia's
4528 California Ave SW
West Seattle

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Sep 24, 2009

Galah by Lenna Kai

As part of my portfolio for The Art Institute of Seattle I displayed several pieces from Seattle online boutique La Rousse. The one pictured below is from Galah by Lenna Kai. It's a puff sleeve charcoal stretch twill dress handcrafted in Seattle with an exposed gold zipper in the back. Click here for more info.

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Sep 20, 2009

More Bellevue Fashion Week Events

Along with the more notable fashion runway events for Fashion Week ’09, which runs September 29 – October 4, 2009 at The Bellevue Collection, are a host of complimentary in-store events and mini runway shows -- all loaded with style.

Fashion Week Extra Events

Tea Time with TIGI at Beauty Works
Monday, September 28, 1-3 PM
Are you a Brunette Goddess or a Super Star? Are you a Rockaholic or do you rock the catwalk? Sip iced tea, and play with product while TIGI expert, Susan Grizzle answers all of your questions, and helps you find which TIGI personality you are! Stop in and enter to win a prize.

Dismero Event at Papillon

Monday, September 28, 4-8 PM
Come to Papillon to celebrate our fabulous Italian Sportswear line Dismero- for you to take with you- special purchases on all our Italian lines. Sip Prosecco and nibble on Italian delicacies.

Complimentary Skincare Consultations at Aveda

Every Day of Fashion Week
Visit Aveda for your complimentary skincare consultation and receive a sample of a masque best suited for your skin type.

An Evening In Black and White with Sebastian at Beauty Works

Tuesday, September 29, 6-8 PM
Did you love Sebastian's Threads? You will love Microweb Fiber! Come and learn about Microweb Fiber and the rest of the fabulous new line with our Sebastian specialist, Chrissy Sayre. You will be able to play with the products, enjoy a snack, and participate in an in-store drawing.

Curls Night Out by Deva Curl at Beauty Works

Wednesday, September 30, 4-7 PM
Sick of flat ironing your hair every day? Fearful that the Seattle rain will make your waves rear their unruly head? Stop denying your curls and embrace them! The Deva Curl line was created by Lorraine Massey, author of the book Curly Girl. Come and let our very own designer, Linda Jacobs, walk you through a new way to love your curls with these amazing products.

Skin Bar Event by Dermalogica at Beauty Works

Thursday, October 1, 4-7 PM
As the seasons change, so does the needs of your skin. Our skin care specialist, Inga Lajauskiene, can help! Stop by for a specialized Dermalogica face mapping, and find out what your skin needs to keep that healthy glow all year round. There will samples and testers, as well as a chance to win a fabulous Dermalogica gift basket.

Grand Opening of HUGO BOSS

Thursday, October 1
Join HUGO BOSS and Details to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new BOSS Store. Enjoy specialty drinks and the chance to win exclusive prizes as you shop the newest BOSS collections for men. For event details visit the BOSS Store. Register to receive exclusive information on HUGO BOSS events and collections and a chance to win a $1,000 HUGO BOSS wardrobe by visiting www.hugoboss-store.com.

Business Casual Seminar at Road

Thursday October 1st, 7 PM
This event will cover acceptable workplace fashion. How to start with the basics and add the elements of fashion. Picking the right color and how to achieve the perfect fit will also be covered. Special one on one consultations will be available as well.

Hair U Wear by Ken Paves and Jessica Simpson at Beauty Works *Sydney's TOP PICK!

Friday, October 2, 4-8 PM
Get the glamour of long silky voluminous hair without having to do the work of growing it! We will do a color match, and show you how to apply these popular extensions. Learn how to utilize the extensions for different styles and how to properly store and clean them so that you can have your extensions for years to come. During this event, all hair pieces will be 50% off.

KOS Launch Event at Louie Permelia

Saturday, October 3
The world's hottest new fashion footwear line. KOS, an elite purveyor of high quality, high fashion shearling boots. Come see an exclusive preview of the new fall line-up. Enjoy wine and cheese for this exciting event.

MINI RUNWAY SHOWS
Invite the teens, men and women in the family for these exciting mini runway shows. The following stores will feature shows in Center Court of Bellevue Square daily from Sept. 30th – Oct. 4th A complete schedule of mini runway show times is posted on bellevuecollection.com/fashionweek.
  • Ann Taylor
  • Aritzia
  • Banana Republic
  • Billabong
  • Cache
  • Eddie Bauer
  • Escape Outdoors
  • Exofficio
  • Express
  • Free People
  • Gap
  • GUESS?
  • Helly Hansen
  • Louie Permelia
  • Lucy
  • Macy’s
  • MARQSMEN
  • Martin & Osa
  • ROAD
  • Vans
  • Zebraclub 
For more information on all Fashion Week ’09 events, click here. 

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Sep 19, 2009

Jean Paul Gaultier + Target


Could it be? A possible collaboration between Target and Jean Paul Gaultier!? Sources told WWD that Gaultier could be up next in Target’s Designer Collaboration series. “We don’t have anything to share other than we admire his work and incredible design aesthetic,” a Target spokesman said Thursday. We all know something is in the works and we'll post more details soon!

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Fashion Week in London is Underway

London Fashion Week sponsored by Canon is in full swing! Tomorrow’s shows include Betty Jackson, Nicole Farhi, Matthew Williamson, and Vivienne Westwood Red Label. Other amazing fashion week shows include Christopher Kane, Paul Smith, and Twenty8Twelve. Check out more Fashion Week Coverage by clicking here.


You can also keep up with London Fashion Week on Twitter by clicking here.
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Sep 15, 2009

Elevate Seattle Fashion Show


Get to the heart of fashion and get your tickets now to Elevate, a dinner, silent auction, fashion show and fundraiser benefitting Olive Crest. Featured boutiques and designers include Karan Dannenberg Clothier, The Finerie, Derek Andrew, Jaxx Men and Marilyn Berg Designs. Sponsors include Rocket Dog, Expeditors, Pink Restaurant, Salon Divas and more.

What: Elevate Fashion Show & Fundraiser

When: Friday October 2nd

Where: Colombia Tower Club

Time: 6:30pm

Tickets: $150

More info: Click here.
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Sep 14, 2009

True Religion Opens at Bellevue Square

Today True Religion announced the opening of a new branded retail store at Bellevue Square Mall. Located at 575 Bellevue Square, the 1,900 square-foot branded retail store will offer shoppers the entire True Religion collection for men, women and kids, including its signature jean styles, its expanding denim, sportswear and handbag collection, and a full range of licensed product, such as footwear, swimwear, headwear and fragrances.

“We are excited to build upon our presence in the Pacific Northwest with the addition of our Bellevue Square retail store. Bellevue Square will mark our second full-price retail store in Washington and serves to complement our existing Seattle location,” said Jeffrey Lubell, chairman, chief executive officer and chief merchant of True Religion Apparel, Inc. “Consumers in the Pacific Northwest have exhibited strong demand for True Religion Brand Jeans merchandise and we seek to meet that demand through the ongoing expansion of our branded retail stores and the coordination with our premium wholesale partners.”

“We are pleased to partner with Bellevue Square, which is exemplified by its high-profile, high-traffic location in downtown Bellevue, luxury retail partners and affluent customer base,” said Michael Buckley, president of True Religion Apparel, Inc. “Located in one of wealthiest communities in the U.S., Bellevue Square is estimated to generate average sales per square foot well in excess of the national average.”
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Hunter Trunk Show at Posh on Main


If you love boots check out the Hunter Trunk Show at Posh on Main on Saturday, Sept. 26th from 12pm-5pm. Within the past decade Hunter has moved from being a Scottish company with a predominantly British clientele to being a truly global brand with a range of products that reveals the proud heritage of the company while also reflecting modern trends in style and fashion. Come see for yourself.

What: Hunter Trunk Show

When: Saturday, Sept. 26

Where: Posh on Main 10245 Main St. in Bellevue

Time: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
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Move over Polyvore, Looklet is Taking Over!


Move over Polyvore. I just fell in love with Looklet. It’s an online styling studio that lets you put together full outfits on a virtual model. All you do is select your item then drag and drop it. All clothes are real, selected by stylists, from real designers. Looklet adds hundreds of new outfits each week and keeps track of new designers and promising new talent in the industry. Users can select their own model and even change the background so that their virtual styling session is set in the perfect location.

Once you put together a set you can also view it as is, up close or even from behind. You can also click on each item and be taken directly to the website it came form. And of course, once you create new looks you can easily send a link for others to check out via Facebook, Twitter and Myspace.




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Sep 10, 2009

Art & Fall Fashion & Pacific Place




Preview what’s new for fall at Pacific Place when the All For Fall Art & Fashion Event takes place Saturday, September 19th. Informal modeling will showcase fall’s finest from Barneys New York, Tiffany & Co., Twist, True Religion Brand Jeans, Something Silver, Club Monaco, Benetton and more from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Atrium on Level 1, followed by a design competition from 5 to 7 p.m.

Under the direction of Event Impresario Eduardo Khawam, up-and-coming designers will compete at Pacific Place to earn a spot as one of the Top 12 Designers at the Columbia Tower’s Masquerade Ball on October 24. The challenge is to incorporate art into their designs as inspired by our partner, Seattle Art Museum (SAM). Judges include Project Runway Season 5 designer Blayne Walsh.
Guests can also enter to win a pair of SAM VIP tickets to see the Michelangelo Public and Private and Alexander Calder: A Balancing Act exhibitions. Simply stop by the Concierge Desk on Level 1 to register (no purchase necessary). For more information, call (206) 405-2655.
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NY Fashion Week is Here!!!

The shift to fall weather isn’t such a bad thing because if you’re in the industry it means New York Fashion Week! The event runs September 10th-17th and features Spring 2010 collections. I can’t wait to see how many shows Anna Wintour sits front row at and of course, what she thinks about fashion for this next season.

Here’s a list of my fave NY Fashion Week highlights and must-see shows:

Thursday, September 10th
10am- BCBG Max Azria

Friday, September 11th
2pm- Charlotte Ronson
6pm- Nicole Miller

Saturday, September 12th
10am- Lacoste
8pm- Vivienne Tam

Sunday, September 13th
11am- Derek Lam
1pm- DKNY
4pm- Diane Von Furstenberg
5pm- Rebecca Taylor

Monday, September 14th
10am- Carolina Herrera
1pm- Tracy Reese
2pm- Donna Karan

Tuesday, September 15th
10am- Badgley Mischka
2pm- Max Azria
8pm- Narciso Rodriguez

Wednesday, September 16th
9am- Tory Burch
10am- Michael Kors
11am-Nanette Lepore
2pm- 3.1 Phillip Lim
6pm- Anna Sui

Thursday, September 17th
9am- Ralph Lauren
2pm- Isaac Mizrahi
4pm- Calvin Klein
8pm- Tommy Hilfiger
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Sep 7, 2009

Impulse Boutique Moves Downtown

After a six-year stint in the Fremont neighborhood, Impulse women's boutique is moving to 913 Western Avenue. Impulse will now be located adjacent to Totokaelo, its sister store opened in November of 2008.

Opened in 2003, Impulse was owner Jill Wenger’s first retail store. Impulse stocks woman's designer clothing and accessories, who’s creators have evolved over the years from local up-and-comers to a 'who's who' in cult fashion brands. Today, Impulse and Totokaelo represent some of the world’s most sought after designers, including Maison Martin Margiela, Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto and Junya Watanabe. Wenger recalls, “If I had a solid grasp of how much I didn't know about retail and small business ownership, before opening a business, I might have paused for a few seconds before starting. My learning curve is pretty much a straight upwards-shooting line." The secret to Wenger's staying power includes a firm dedication to picking lines that are timeless, versatile, and well-crafted, and delivering a consistent, thoughtful, and personalized shopping experience unmatched by other retailers.

In 2008 Totokaelo [the downtown store] initially opened out of a need for square footage. Wenger and her staff simply outgrew the Impulse space. "Totokaelo.com launched in June of 2008. It was a huge deal. Almost immediately following the website launch, we were seeing sales almost twice what we'd ever seen before. It was crazy." Wenger continues, "We were shipping 20 to 30 packages a day out of a 100ft2 closet underneath a staircase. It got to a point where my team and I were literarily bumping into each other. I opened a larger space downtown simply because we needed more room." And now, less than a year later, the lease on Impulse is up and it's time to simplify. Totokaelo, the downtown store, has enough room for both stores to come together and room to grow.

Wenger looks forward to moving the two businesses under the same roof in order to provide the customized and relationship-centric experience, which has become the cornerstone of her businesses. Currently, the inventory represented on Totokaelo.com is split between the two retail stores. Wenger states, "This makes processing online orders and answering questions about clothing difficult, as there's a lot of directing clients to the store which houses that item, calling the other store to get measurements for a client, and driving half of the items from an order across town where the other half waits to be shipped. It's a lot of processes and memo's, and I'd rather be focused on styling and photo-shoots."

By simplifying, Wenger does not mean slowing down. In spite of the economic recession, the combined Impulse/Totokaelo/Totokaelo.com triad saw sales grow by 40% in the first half of 2009. Wenger is currently working on a redesign of Totokaelo.com and a push towards evolving more diverse editorial content in both the shops and online.
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Sep 3, 2009

Product Runway Picks a Winner



Last Friday, the Interior Design Coalition of Washington (IDCW) hosted its second annual Product Runway show in Seattle. The event showcased 18 teams of architects and design teams paired together to create garments out of textiles and materials meant for the home. More than 1,000 attendees attended the event at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall and watched models walk the 120-foot runway wearing everything from floor tiles, to leather and to upholstery swatches. This year’s winning team was Seattle architecture firm SkB Architects, Pental Granite & Marble, the Pacific Northwest’s largest importer and distributor of natural stone and tile, and Luwa, the premier appliance and vacuum distributor. Their winning design was a dress made from stainless steel tiles and vacuum cleaner liners. SkB drew inspiration from both Pental and Luwa’s sleek and versatile product lines. Luwa’s Miele line of appliances are designed to be modern and functional so the garment designed to be streamlined, elegant and tailored. Because these appliances are subtle, they allow for the tiles and stones incorporated into any design to stand out. The team used these elements to create a winning garment that is sleek, maintenance-free and has multiple uses, similar to the little black dress.


Photo Credit: Matt Pietrek
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Eva Shops at Ferragamo


Actress Eva Mendes was recently spotted carrying a leather handbag from Ferragamo's Fall/Winter 2009 collection at the Excelsior Hotel on Thursday, September 3rd. Snag your own handbag for Fall when Salvarote Ferragamo opens up his shop at The Bravern in Bellevue on Sept. 12th. Click here for more info.
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Hotel 1000 Hosts Tiffany Wendel Personal Stylist


On Tuesday, September 29, Hotel 1000 will host personal stylist Tiffany Wendel to offer free, one-on-one styling sessions, advice on the latest fall fashions and tips for updating an existing wardrobe.

WHAT:
An evening of fall fashion to learn about the latest fall trends, how to make them work with different body types, lifestyles or budgets, as well as tips for repurposing and updating existing wardrobe items.

WHEN:
Tuesday, September 29
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Free, 15-minute one-on-one styling tips with Tiffany Wendel
6:15 – 7:00 p.m. – Fall Fashion Trend Presentation and Q&A with Tiffany Wendel
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Free, 15-minute one-on-one styling tips with Tiffany Wendel

WHERE:
STUDIO 1000 at Hotel 1000
1000 First Avenue, Downtown Seattle
206-957-1000

DETAILS:
Personal stylist Tiffany Wendel and Seattle’s premier luxury destination Hotel 1000 have created a special evening dedicated to fall fashion on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 in the hotel’s STUDIO 1000 event space. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., celebrity stylist Tiffany Wendel will offer free, 15-minute style consultations on a one-on-one basis or in pairs. At 6:15 p.m., Tiffany will lead a talk on fall fashion and the latest trends hot off the runways of New York and Los Angeles fashion weeks.








There will be plenty of time for Q&A and a first-hand view of the best new fall looks as showcased by The Finerie (http://www.thefinerie.com/), Sway & Cake (http://www.swayandcake.com/) and Barneys (http://www.barneys.com/). During the event, Hotel 1000 will serve free appetizers from BOKA KITCHEN + BAR and offer a cash bar.

This event is open to both the general public and hotel guests. It is strongly suggested that guests sign up for an available consultation time slots prior to the event by calling 206-357-9455.

ABOUT TIFFANY WENDEL:
With over five years experience as a stylist and closet consultant in LA, Tiffany has styled for tv, film, theater and of course, for regular women with crazy lives. Tiffany is currently a buyer for the LA Boutique, Dari, which takes her to fashion weeks in NY and LA on a regular basis, but her home base is here in Seattle. Tiffany has also made t.v. appearances on Style Network Style Star, E! News, E! Fashion Police, Access Hollywood and TLC, A Makeover Story. Celebrity clients include Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Leah Remini, Gabriel Union, Natasha Henstridge and Kristin Davis. For more info click here.
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Sep 2, 2009

Must-Have Fall 2009 Fabrics


Switching over my wardrobe from summer to fall is hard enough because I’m obsessed with chic sandals and mini dresses. Lucky for me this fall is filled with fabrics I can live in and get excited about. So with that being said, here’s a look at some of my favorite Fall 2009 Fabrics.

Leather- As seen at YSL, Max Mara, Bottega Veneta, Alberta Ferretti, Michael Kors, Prada and DKNY among others. Leather is classic and when it's done right it can look amazingly polished. Not quite into the leather trench or full leather dress? Try a fitted leather jacket and some dark denim with a pair of heels.



Bottega Veneta (Photo: Marcio Madeira)



Alberta Ferretti (Photo: Marcio Madeira)

Velvet -As seen at Chloe, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney and Carolina Herrera. I admit I haven't worn velvet since the mid 90's and it's a difficult fabric to wear if you're not a size zero but I still suggest that you experiment with it this fall. 



Bottega Veneta (Photo: Marcio Madeira)



BCBG (Photo: Marcio Madeira)

Lace - As seen at Louis Vuitton and D&G. I love lace. It's so romantic and of course, there are so many ways to wear it. I also love that lace looks so beautiful with pearls. 



Louis Vuitton (Photo: Roberto Tecchio)


D&G (Photo: Marcio Madeira)

Herringbone & Tweed- As seen at Christian Lacroix, Gucci, Luella, Alberta Ferretti and Proenza Schouler. Thankfully this fall isn’t all about menswear like it was last year- but that doesn’t mean the trend is dead. If you don't feel like going all the way, get a nice pair of charcoal pumps in a menswear fabric of your choice. 



Alberta Ferretti (Photo: Marcio Madeira)


Gucci (Photo: Marcio Madeira)

Sequins- As seen at Balmain, Gucci and Marc Jacobs. The 80’s wouldn’t be quite so outrageous if it wasn’t for the sequins. I mean really, how else could you make an over the top sweater pop? Sad but true, sequins are back and they’re not just for the party girls who shop at Top Shop. Sequins are for everyone. My advice- don’t wear it head to toe. And if you’re too scared to try this trend, play it safe and get a sequins clutch to carry around this fall instead.



Marc Jacobs (Photo: Madeira)


Gucci (Photo: Marcio Madeira)

Silk- Beautifully draped dresses made of shiny silk were seen on the runway at Louis Vuitton, Donna Karan, Dior, and Balenciaga. They are feminine and easy to wear. 



Louis Vuitton (Photo: Roberto Tecchio)


Balenciaga (Photo: Marcio Madeira)

Metallics- As seen at Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. It's a total 80's trend but could end up being so cute if you can find a way to pull it off. I'd suggest not going head to toe metallic- but you'll have to make the call for yourself. 



Louis Vuitton (Photo: Roberto Tecchio)


Marc Jacobs (Photo: Marcio Madeira)


D&G (Photo: Marcio Madeira)

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