All Babes are Wolves: August 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

VMA 2011 Faves

Watched a bit of the VMAs last night and was thrilled to see Tom Ford's gorgeous violet Fall 2011 gown on Katy Perry - love her pink hair too.

There was a lot of bling & quirk on the red carpet, and given we are suffering a particularity grey, rainy, dull old day in Auckland city today - I'm liking the sparkle! I'm don't think we'll be seeing anything this blingtastic at New Zealand Fashion Week. But then again - you never know!

Katy Perry in candy coloured Atelier Versace & Jimmy Choos

Not so keen on the Dior outfit - but love the shoes!

Jessie J in bedazzly bling

Kelly Rowland in spiked Louboutins and Falguni & Shane (Reminds me of Beyonce's Gucci)

Zoe Saldana in Barbara Bui

Kim K in Kaufman Franco

I had to throw in Deena from Jersey Shore in her rainbow dress!

Speaking of Italian Americans...I love Lady Gaga's alter-ego Joe Caelderone. He stole the show in demure Dior Homme looking like Hedi Slimane crossed with Grease's Danny Zucco.

Joe's cover debut for Vogue Japan

Monday, August 22, 2011

Tom Ford & Gucci Luxe for Fall 2011

As here in Godzone we reach the end of Winter, I'm loving these rich velvety Fall looks from my fave, Tom Ford. Sultry Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel stars as a vampy film-noir type and knocks it out of the park. I love that Tom uses "real women" for shows and campaigns, i.e.women who have boobs & and a butt. I'm a sucker for rich violet, scarlet red and deep emerald green. Smoking hot. Totally reminds me of those early 90's glossy, Halston-esque looks for Tom's first few seasons at Gucci.

Amazonian beauty Lara Stone, below, stars in his latest fragrance and makeup campaigns.

Speaking of Gucci, their concurrent Fall 2011 campaign is very similar: Red, green, purple palette, glossy red lips, luxe 70's style decor, furs, velvets. Luxa-a-licious!

This last one reminds me of one of my favourite images, Erin Cumming & Ryan Locke for Gucci F/W1998.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Hot in Yellow

Yesterday I decided to do a post about YELLOW! I have been craving colour for the past 18 months and noticed an injection of yellow in the fashion mags & red carpet pics lately. Funnily enough, I haven't worn yellow since I was 12. I wore a yellow Esprit short-sleeved shirt to a birthday party with cobalt blue plastic beads , & my friends started singing "dear little maid in yellow" to me, some song in a play we were doing at school. That was the finish of me and yellow. I felt like a corn cob. Shortly after that I embarked on my 20 year love affair with black, with nary a colour to be seen on my person (apart from vermillion talons, and the odd pair of purple fishnets). Upon moving from chilly London to sunny Sydney in 2000, I rejoiced in the beachy, sexy saturated colour-popping fashion that Sydneysiders do so well. As a good friend says "Sydney is more LA than LA!" It's fun, bright, a bit trashy & a bit flashy. The home of the annual Gay & Lesbian Mardis Gras has to be, really.

Fashion Editor for Australian Harper's Bazaar Christine Centenera in Aussie designer Josh Goot dress

Heidi Harrington-Johnson in yellow jeans for Ksubi Kolours

Check out my darling friend Ally Grrrl's brand spankers new blog for more SYDNEY COOL! Some fab splashes of yellow here in Sydney's Inner West. One yellow dress that always catches my eye is Michelle Williams' stunning Vera Wang at the Oscars in 2006 was pretty fabulous.

Now back in NZ, I MISS COLOUR! Very few designers here do it right. Often it is more frilly layery frou frou than the tailored colour blocking that I love. So imagine my delight this morning upon waking up to find this little gem (above, Canvas Magazine) in the Sunday paper! Lo and behold - a yellow Tibi dress takes prime position. On telling my friend in London across Viber this morning about this post, she warned me "Ooh, but not everyone can wear yellow can they?"Good point. The general rules are if you are pale skinned, go for darker ochre yellows & mustards. Olive-skinned brunettes suit canary and buttercup brights.I'm still not sure if I'm brave enough to wear yellow, but I am inspired by some of these 2011 Spring & Summer editorial looks!